Manila Standard - 2019 April 12 - Friday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

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

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 61 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Black hole photo shown for 1st time ASTRONOMERS on Wednesday unveiled the first photo of a black hole, one of the star-devouring monsters scattered throughout the Universe and obscured by impenetrable shields of gravity. Next page

New human species dug up in Callao The human family tree has acquired a new branch with the unearthing of a previously unknown species of human that lived on an island in today’s Philippines some 50,000 years ago.

Next page

TRIBE OF PRIMATES. A handout image made available by Florent Detroit and taken on Aug 9, 2011 shows a view of the excavation in the Callao Cave in Cagayan province north of Manila where an international multidisciplinary team discovered a new hominin species, the Homo Luzonensis (inset). The study of the fossils dated from 50 to 67,000 years highlights a singular mosaic of morphological characteristics that differentiates the new discovery from other species of the genus Homo. AFP

PH protest vs. China pressed High-tech US warship watches over Balikatan drills A US warship laden with high-tech fighter planes took center stage at key war games in the Philippines Thursday, brandishing military might as fresh tensions bubble in the contentious South China Sea. The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, with at least 10 F-35B stealth jets on deck, stood guard as amphibious tanks rolled onto a Philippine beach located a short sail from is-

lands also claimed by China.

The vessel was in the area for the long-running Balikatan USPhilippine military drills, which come as Manila pushes back against the recent presence of hundreds of Chinese ships near its Pag-asa (Thitu) island.

“We can’t disclose the official movements of the USS Wasp for security reasons, but they have

been operating in the South China Sea region… as part of the exercise,” US spokeswoman Second Lt. Tori Sharpe told reporters.

President Rodrigo Duterte had largely set aside the once-tense dispute over China’s expansive claims to the resource-rich waterway, but told Beijing last week to back off over the “swarming” Next page Chinese boats.

Rody to bring up swarming of Sino ships at Belt forum

By Nat Mariano

T

HE Palace on Thursday did not rule out that President Rodrigo Duterte would raise the presence of Chinese ships around Pag-asa Island when he visits China for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation from April 24 to 27.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said this might be brought up when the President meets with President Xi Jinping at a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the forum.

Next page

JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE. A US V-22 Osprey takes off Thursday from the USS Wasp, a US Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship, during the amphibious landing exercises as part of the annual joint Philippine-US military exercise on the shores of San Antonio facing the South China Sea. AFP

PSA family budget Rody’s high rating rubs off on admin senatorial bets ‘miserable estimate’ By Nat Mariano A PHILIPPINE Statistics Authority official on Thursday defended the P10,481 estimated minimum budget needed by a family of five to survive in a month.

But the statement was quickly slammed by two labor groups that said the amount was anti-poor in a modern and modernizing economy, adding the threshold implied malnourished Filipinos and a miserable standard of living.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Partido Manggagawa said the PSA’s announcement would be used by business groups and the government to avoid raising the salaries of ordinary workers.

“If we are going to this standard basis for our public and private policy to uplift our people from poverty, it would appear there is no sense of urgency in this poverty threshold standard amount set by the PSA,” TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said.

“There’s no prospect of hope for the millions of poor Filipinos.” Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating has influenced senatorial survey results showing the inclusion of his preferred candidates in the so-called “Magic 12,” Malacañang said on Thursday.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the

people who support the President also believe the candidates he supports in the May elections.

“Most likely, since they believe in the President, the voters would also believe who the President endorses,” Panelo told Palace reporters.

In a survey released by the Social Weather Stations on Wednesday evening, the Chief Executive’s net satisfaction

Food price spiral feared amid prolonged dry spell THE dry spell gripping the country could last until May or June and could lead to a spike in vegetable prices, an official said Thursday.

But Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said the government would be imposing measures to cushion the impact of El Niño on basic goods, particularly farm products.

In other developments: • Farmers and fishermen on Thursday demanded a P10,000 livelihood assistance from the government for the rural families affected by the dry spell brought by El Niño.

Next page

HOTEL LUCKY CHINATOWN.

rating remained “very good” in the first quarter of 2019, at +66.

Meanwhile, Pulse Asia reported that eight of out the President’s preferred 11 senatorial candidates made it to the winning circle in its latest survey.

Pulse Asia listed 16 candidates who would have a statistical chance of winning if the midterm polls were held durNext page ing the survey period.

Property giant Megaworld formally opened the P750-million Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila, its 8th hotel development in the country. Leading the opening and ceremonial rites were (from left) Jeremy Russell S. Go, resident manager, Hotel Lucky Chinatown; Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, chief operating officer, Megaworld; Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Kevin L. Tan, chief strategy officer, Megaworld; and Raymundo R. Melendres, managing director, Global One Hotel Inc.

‘Criticisms work in Duterte favor’

By Nat Mariano THE more the critics attack the administration, the higher the rating President Rodrigo Duterte gets, the Palace said on Thursday, after the Chief Executive’s net satisfaction rating remained “very good” in the first quarter Social Weather Stations survey.

According to SWS, 79 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the President’s performance, 8 Next page

A2

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Repatriation order on Libya poised T

By Nat Mariano

HE government will monitor the conditions in Libya before issuing a repatriation order for the Filipino workers there, Malacañang said Thursday.

ting caught in the escalating violence” in Tripoli.

He said the order came upon the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs had previously raised Alert Level III in Tripoli and some areas within a 100-kilometer radius of the capital, which is considered a voluntary repatriation phase.

Bello said the Labor department remained prepared for “any exigency of forced repatriation if the situation deteriorates,” adding the Philippine government, with the DFA, continued to assess the situation in Libya.

He said an augmentation team would be dispatched this week to Tripoli to ensure the welfare of the Filipino workers there.

As the tension escalates in Tripoli, reelectionist Senator Nancy Binay appealed to the government to activate emergency hotlines where to allow the workers’ families to contact them.

There are more than 1,000 registered Filipinos in Libya, but 90 percent of the foreign/migrant workers in the country do not have proper travel documents and seldom receive consular support.

WikiLeaks’ Assange nabbed in UK

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Labor department was on top of the situation in Libya following the violent power struggles there. “[Labor] Secretary [Silvestre] Bello III is handling the situation rightly, correctly.

They [the Filipino workers] are saying they are not affected because [the war is]

far from them,” Panelo said.

“So it depends on the situation. The government will monitor the situation first before we act.”

On Wednesday, Bello imposed a total deployment ban of Filipino workers bound for Libya to “ensure their safety and security and to avoid get-

PH...

From A1

Palace can't make heads or tails on budget signing

“My educated guess is since we have already raised that, they [China] may respond to that during the bilateral talk. They will have to respond to our protest,” Panelo said.

He said such a meeting would be “a proper venue” for a discussion of issues of mutual concern regarding security and trade relations.

A note verbale sent to Beijing protesting the presence of the Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea around Pag-asa Island has drawn no response so far.

The Palace earlier said China “has no business” in the waters near Philippine-held Pag-asa Island.

Philippine sovereignty is “non-negotiable,” Malacañang said on Thursday as the country upheld its diplomatic protest against China.

Panelo said the government will continue to assert the country’s sovereignty while being “kind” to Beijing in terms of diplomatic relations.

“They should tell us exactly why they are there and what are they doing there in the first place... We are not kind to them now, we are demanding them to leave the place,” Panelo told Palace reporters.

“In other words, we are kind in the sense that we are courteous to them but with respect to sovereignty issue, that’s a different issue. We have to assert our sovereignty,” he added.

Asked whether the Philippines would be open to compromise with China over the presence of Beijing’s vessels in the Philippine-claimed territories, Panelo said: “It’s non-negotiable.”

In a Palace press briefing earlier, Panelo said China has helped the Philippines in terms of procuring armaments and rebuilding Marawi City.

“You must remember that China is one of the countries that helped us win Marawi... They have been giving us assistance.

As for us, we are only returning the courtesy,” Panelo said.

According to the Palace official, in order to pay the country’s kindness forward, China should go away the Philippine-claimed areas in the disputed waters.

“We’re supposed to be friends. And as to the President, he says ‘Friends don’t do that.’

If we are friends, we should be friendly in terms of our actions,” Panelo said.

AFTER announcing that the signing of the P3.7-trillion 2019 national budget had been calendared next week, the Palace on Thursday said there was a “high probability” that the spending bill would be signed after Holy Week.

The ceremonial signing of the General Appropriations Act of 2019 was initially calendared for April 15, Monday.

But Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said “calendared” schedules had chances of being changed.

“The budget signing was already calendared and then removed, but it may still push through. All of his [President Rodrigo Duterte’s] schedules are subject to change without prior notice,” Panelo told reporters.

He made his statement even as an official said the House of Representatives led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will respect Duterte’s veto power over the proposed 2019 budget for the

common good of the people.

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., chairman of the House committee on appropriations, who heads the House committee on appropriations, made the statement in light of the imminent signing into law of the 2019 national budget on April 15.

Andaya earlier accused the Senate of sabotaging the programs of Duterte, especially the “Build, Build, Build Program” after it allegedly cut down unilaterally some P83 billion under the national budget.

“We respect the veto power of the President, and we are convinced that he will exercise such authority for the benefit of the nation and of our people,” Andaya said.

Panelo said there was a high probability that the budget would be signed after the end of the Lenten season as the President would still study the long-stalled measure.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the President would also finalize his veto message before signing the spending bill.

He hoped Duterte would sign the budget before the measure lapsed into law on the last week of April.

On March 26, the Office of the President received a copy of the 2019 General Appropriations Act as Congress broke months of budget impasse between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Nograles said if the President slept on the budget, it would then lapse into law.

The so-called budget irregularities as alleged by both chambers of Congress would also be approved once the President failed to act on it.

The country has been operating under a reenacted budget since the start of 2019 after months of delays in the budget deliberations.

Duterte has previously said the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product will “slide” if the country continues to operate under a reenacted budget, and that “everybody will suffer.” Nat Mariano, Maricel V. Cruz

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange’s nearly seven-year stay at Ecuador’s embassy in London came to an abrupt end on Thursday when police entered the building and arrested him after Ecuador withdrew his asylum.

Assange has been living at the embassy in London’s plush Knightsbridge district since 2012 when he sought refuge there after being accused of sexual assault in Sweden—allegations that have since been dropped.

Footage shot by Ruptly, a video news agency, showed a frantic-looking Assange, with a large white beard, being carried down the embassy steps by several men into a police van.

“I can confirm that Julian Assange is now in police custody and rightly facing justice in the UK,” British Home Secretary Sajid Javid said on Twitter.

“No one is above the law,” he wrote, thanking Ecuador for its “cooperation” in the long-running case.

WikiLeaks accused Ecuador of breaching international law by withdrawing his asylum and said the country’s ambassador to London had “invited” police into the embassy building to carry out the arrest.

“Ecuador has illegally terminated Assange political asylum in violation of international law,” the whistleblowing website said on Twitter.

Russia accused Britain of “strangling freedom” with Assange’s arrest, in a Facebook message by foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

The 47-year-old Australian was due to appear in court later on Thursday. He faces prosecution for breaching the conditions of his bail in Britain in 2012. AFP

High-tech...

3,500 American, and 50 Australian troops.

Duterte had threatened to quit the drills as part of his pivot away from former colonial master the US and toward China, but they have carried on after being toned down for a few years.

As Duterte has adopted a friendlier stance with China, the US has moved to shore up its ties with Manila and assert its presence in the South China Sea. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged in March to come to the Philippines’ defense in case of an “armed attack” in the sea, a clear assurance Philippines leaders had long sought.

Duterte has been criticized at home as being too eager to grow ties with Beijing, and giving up too much leverage on the South China Sea issue.

China has been reserved in its comments regarding Manila’s recent uptick in assertiveness over the Pag-asa Island, saying that it was working with the Philippines and looking into the reports regarding Chinese ships.

On Wednesday, personnel from the Philippine and US Arm participated in so-called “Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise” at Col.

Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Crow Valley, Camp O’Donnell, Tarlac.

CALFEX is part of this year’s “Balikatan” exercises, which started April 1 and will conclude on Friday.

“Service members from across the Philippine and US militaries came together using their ground maneuver, artillery, mortars and air elements to successfully execute this complex live fire event,” Stryker Brigade Combat Team commander, US Army Col. Leo Wyszynski, said in a message to reporters.

“Throughout the exercise, from planning to execution, we’ve shared tactics and techniques that will allow us better operate together to ensure regional stability,” he added.

During the exercise, supporting air and ground combat elements worked together to provide indirect and suppressing fire, to allow the main ground forces to advance and destroy a hypothetical enemy.

Once the combined team neutralized the hypothetical threat, they consolidated in preparation for potential follow-on orders.

“The CALFEX does not only showcase the Philippine and US militaries’ capabilities in combined arms, it also highlights how both militaries work together in joint operations,” 1st Brigade Combat Team commander, Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Leopoldo A. Imbang Jr. said.

The exercise tested the service members’ maneuver warfare skills and strengthened their ability to fight together. Training events such as CALFEX help participating forces maintain a high level of responsiveness and enhance combined military-to-military relations by enabling a multinational, multi-service cadre of troops to work together towards accomplishing a common goal.

“Without a doubt, training over the last week has increased the readiness of our forces,” Wyszynski said.

The CALFEX was part of a broader series of joint Philippine-US interoperability events during Balikatan, which also includes an amphibious exercise, military operations in urban terrain, and aviation operations. AFP, PNA

by 15 points from the previous +73. It stayed “very good” in the Visayas at +69, up by 7 points from +62 last December.

It stayed “very good” in Balance Luzon at +56, up by four points from +52 in December. It also stayed “very good” in Metro Manila at +61, up by three points from +58 three months ago.

Rural net satisfaction with the President stayed “very good” at a record-high +69, up by 12 points from +57, surpassing the previous record of +67 in September 2016.

Urban net satisfaction also stayed “very good” at +62 despite a two-point dip.

The President’s rating also remained “very good” in class ABC, marking a record-high of +69 from the previous +62.

“It stayed very good in class D or the masa, at a new record-high +68 in March, up by 10 points from +58 in December. This surpassed the previous record of +66 in June 2017,” SWS said.

“It stayed very good in class E, at +58 in March, although down by seven points from

+65 in December.”

Panelo said the survey results send a “crystal clear message” that the overwhelming majority who support the President does not believe the critics’ black propaganda.

“These political adversaries are being swallowed by their own hubris. Survey after survey they are being repudiated. They appear to be ensconced if not entangled in their own web of lies that they cannot unshackle themselves from it,” he added.

Panelo said the figures serve as proof that the critics’ attempts to put the President in a bad light are simply not working.

“The critics, detractors and the political opposition have been deaf to the voice of a great majority of our people and blind to the sweeping changes in the political and social landscape effected by this unorthodox, maverick and daredevil leader who is fiercely devoted to— and protective of—the interest of the greater masses of our people,” he said.

Rody’s...

From A1 According to the pollster, reelectinoist Senator Grace Poe, an independent candidate, remains the topnotcher in the senatorial race with a voter preference of 72.6 percent.

Senator Cynthia Villar, another reelectionist, came in 2nd, garnering the support of 63.7-percent registered voters. She was followed by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, whose voter preference of 58.5 percent translates to a statistical ranking of 3rd to 4th places.

Meanwhile, former presidential top aide Christopher Go, whose senatorial bid is backed by 55.7 percent of registered voters, falls within the 3rd to 5th places. Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano came next with a 52.2-percent voter preference. Former Senator Lito Lapid also emerged in the list with the support of 48.4 percent of voters, equating to a statistical ranking of 5th to 8th places.

Sharing 6th to 9th places are Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay (45.5 percent), and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa (44.8 percent).

Completing the “Magic 12” were former Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr. (40.9 percent, 7th to 10th places), Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos (39.0 percent, 9th to 12th places), former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino (35.7 percent, 10th to 16th places), and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada (35.2 percent, 10th to 16th places).

Also included in the Top 16 list of probable winners were Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV (33.8 percent), former Senate President Aquino Pimentel III (33.6 percent), former Senator Sergio Osmeña III (33 percent), and former Senator Manuel Roxas II. Since the start of the campaign period, the President has been actively campaigning for his preferred candidates, attending rallies hosted by the ruling PDP-Laban party.

Duterte’s own candidates include Dela Rosa, Go, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, Pimentel III, and Tolentino. The other guest candidates he publicly endorses are folk singer Freddie Aguilar, Angara, Cayetano, Senator JV Ejercito, Marcos, and Villar.

The Pulse Asia survey, which was conducted from March 23 to 27, 2019 used face-to-face interviews of 1,800 representative adults. It had a + 2.3-percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95 percent confidence level: +6.5 percent for Metro Manila, +3.5 percent for the rest of Luzon, +5.3 percent for the Visayas and +4.7 percent for Mindanao.

Poe thanked her supporters for putting their trust in her. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

From A1 The Philippines called the boats’ presence “illegal” and Duterte threatened China with possible military action if it touches the island.

China claims most of the sea, including waters and islands close to the shores of its neighbors. It has built artificial islands and military installations that the US warned could curtail right of passage by non-Chinese vessels.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have also all staked claims to various islands and reefs in the sea that is thought to have rich petroleum reserves deep beneath its waters.

The Wasp’s participation in the exercises represents “an increase in military capability committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the US navy said in a press release on its arrival last week.

The two-week Balikatan exercises, which opened April 1, include some 4,000 Philippine,

‘Criticisms...

From A1 percent were undecided, while 13 were dissatisfied with his leadership.

“Compared to December 2018, gross satisfaction with President Duterte rose by five points from 74 percent, gross undecided fell by 3 points from 11 percent, and gross dissatisfaction fell by two points from 15 percent,” the SWS said.

“This gives a net satisfaction rating of +66, classified by SWS as very good,” it added, noting a six-point increase from the previous very good +60 in December last year.

According to the pollster, the six-point increase in the President’s net satisfaction rating from December last year to March this year came from all regions.

In Mindanao, Duterte’s net satisfaction rating stayed “excellent’ at a record-high +88, up

Food...

From A1

PSA...

From A1

Manuel Rosario, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan secretary general, accused the government of being remiss in placing mechanisms as early as 2018 to mitigate the impact of El Niño.

“The Department of Agriculture said agricultural losses have reached P5 billion [in the first quarter of the year]. Who is at the losing end? Isn’t it us, the farmers?” Rosario said.

• The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Thursday the country was expected to experience an overall heat index rating of “extreme caution.”

Many parts of the country could experience a heat index of 32 degrees Celsius to 41 degrees Celsius under the extreme caution category, the agency aid.

“People are likely to experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion and even heat strokes,” the weather bureau said.

• The Energy department on Thursday warned it would not hesitate to impose sanctions and call for imprisonment against the companies or individuals found sabotaging the Luzon grid in the wake of the recent red and yellow alerts.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella made the statement after the Luzon grid was plunged into red alert status on Thursday due to lack of available generating capacity amid continuing high demand.

Aside from the possibility of a stronger and prolonged El Niño episode, Castelo said, the continuing rise in global crude oil prices could provide upside price pressures over the near-term.

“Vegetables are what we need to monitor because of the drought now happening in several regions in the country,” Castelo told reporters.

“That’s why the government is here; we want to minimize the effects.

There will definitely be effects on agricultural products.”

Castelo said the members of the National Price Coordinating Council would be holding a meeting on Wednesday afternoon to make sure the government was ready to address the effects of El Niño on agricultural products.

“The NPCC will particularly do a close watch on the effects of El Niño on the price and supply of agri products,” Castelo said.

“We intend to address this through the NPCC by finding out how we can help farmers continue production or minimize at least the ill effects of El Niño.” PNA, with Rio N. Araja and Alena Mae S. Flores

Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro also slammed the Duterte administration for “giving a low priority to pay increases.”

“The PSA says that in 2018 a family of five needed at least ₱7,337, on average, to meet basic food needs for a month,” Tinio said.

“We believe that setting such an incredibly low food threshold― so out of touch from the realities that Filipino families face especially those in the rural areas―is intended to deny the demand for urgent and substantial salary and wage increases.”

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, PSA Assistant Secretary Josie Perez said the P10,481 could already make a family of five afford “nutritious foods.”

“Hindi naman puro noodles ‘yan, kasi binase rin po namin yung computation ng food threshold doon sa food bundle na nire-recommend ng [Food and Nutrition Research Institute],” Perez said.

At a press briefing Wednesday reporting the 21-percent decline in the country’s poverty incidence in the first half of 2018, the PSA said no less than P10,481, on average, was needed for a family of five to meet their basic food and non-food needs for a month.

The P10, 481 estimate was broken down into P7,337 for the basic food needs and P3,144 for the basic non-food needs like shelter, clothing, utilities, transportation and communication, Perez said.

She said the food items considered in the basic food budget were based on the nutritious food bundle recommended by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

The food bundle included meals with egg, coffee or milk, rice and fruit for breakfast; mongo beans, fish, rice and fruit for lunch, fish, pork, vegetables, fruit, rice and snacks like bread for dinner, Perez said.

She said she was aware that the P10,481 could be considered in assessing the minimum wages in the country, but she noted that wage boards had their own method of computation.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes criticized the PSA over its estimate, describing it as unrealistic. Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

Black hole...

From A1 The image of a dark core encircled by a flame-orange halo of white-hot plasma looks like any number of artists’ renderings over the last 30 years.

But this time, it’s the real deal.

“The history of science will be divided into the time before the image, and the time after the image,” said Michael Kramer, director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy.

Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation called the feat a “huge breakthrough for humanity.”

The supermassive black hole immortalised by a far-flung network of radio telescopes is 50 million lightyears away at the centre of a galaxy known as M87.

“It’s a distance that we could have barely imagined,” Frederic Gueth, an astronomer at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research and co-author of studies detailing the findings, told AFP. Most speculation had centred on the other candidate targeted by the Event Horizon Telescope: Sagittarius A*, a closer but smaller black hole at the centre of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Locking down an image of M87’s supermassive black hole at such distance is comparable to photographing a pebble on the Moon, the scientists said. AFP

New human...

From A1 The species, dubbed Homo luzonensis after the island of Luzon where its remains were found, is not a direct ancestor of modern-day humans, but rather a distant ancient relative.

But the discovery, published in the journal Nature on Thursday, adds to a growing body of evidence that human evolution is not as linear as was once thought.

It also raises questions, including how the species arrived on the island and who its ancestors were.

The “remarkable discovery... will no doubt ignite plenty of scientific debate over the coming weeks, months and years”, said Matthew Tocheri, associate professor of anthropology at Canada’s Lakehead University, in a review commissioned by Nature.

The researchers from France, the Philippines and Australia found the remains in the Callo Cave, where a bone dating back 67,000 years was discovered in 2007.

It was not initially clear which type of early human that bone came from, but more recently the researchers discovered seven teeth and five different bones at the site, dating back between 50,000 and 67,000 years. AFP, with Rio N. Araja

News

A3

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ex-PNP chief Purisima’s plea for case dismissal junked anew

Pangilinan says review of gov’t deals sets bad precedent

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER National Police chief, Allan Purisima lost yet another round at the Sandiganbayan as the court junked his plea for the outright dismissal of the perjury case he is facing saying that it is better that he response to the accusations against him instead of seeking the outright dismissal of his case through a demurrer to evidence.

Purisima is also facing several other cases in connection with his alleged unexplained wealth as well as interfering in an anti-terrorist operation that resulted in the death of 44 Special Action Force troopers at the hands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels as well as other gunmen in Maguindanao. The operation was hidden from the then acting National Police chief, Leonardo Espina.

In its resolution dated April 8, the anti-graft court said: “The testimonial and documentary evidence presented by the prosecution, unless successfully rebutted by the accused, appear to be prima facie [at first glance] sufficient to support a finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

Purisima earlier filed a motion for leave of court with the purpose of filing a motion for demurrer for evidence if the former motion is approved.

If Purisima files a motion for demurrer to evidence without an approved motion for a leave a court, he will lose the chance to present counter evidence should the demurrer is denied.

In his motion for leave of court, Purisima said the Ombudsman failed to prove that he made a “willful and deliberate assertion of a falsehood” in his SALNs. He said the prosecutors did not even secure copies of his SALNs from the Office of the President, which is the legal custodian of his SALNs before his appointment as PNP chief.

Purisima, however, merely challenged the strength of the prosecution’s evidence without stating the grounds for the court to consider his motion and its attached demurrer, the court’s April 8 resolution said.

The court added: “It must be stressed that the court cannot be compelled to go beyond the motion and examine in detail the discussion and arguments of the accused in the appended demurrer to evidence since leave of court has not yet been granted.”

Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna wrote the resolution while Associate Justices Oscar Herrera Jr. and Michael Frederick Musngi concurred.

REHABILITATED. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (middle) led the reopening of the Quirino Bridge in Manila after its complete rehabilitation and strengthening of its southbound portion in Paco, Manila. Norman Cruz

PNP puts up 4,500 police desks for Lent, summer

By Joel E. Zurbano and Rio N. Araja

T

2019.’’

HE Philippine National Police has established more than 4,500 police assistance desks/centers nationwide as part of “Oplan Ligtas Sumvac

PNP spokesperson, Col. Bernard Banac said that as of Wednesday, a total of 4,548 PADs are currently manned by 25,723 police personnel in order to ensure safe travel of motorists and commuters for the summer months and the Lenten season.

Banac said the PNP is encouraging the public to observe precautions especially while travelling to various destinations.

The safety tips were also given to travelers and tourists taking public transportation, as well as visiting churches, beaches and resorts.

For those who are travelling using their own cars, always follow these tips: Plan your drive, drive your plan. Run the BLOWBAGETS checklist (Battery, Light, Oil, Water, Brakes, Air, Gas, Engine, Tires and Self); Install Smartphone apps that can be useful in planning a road trip by selecting the shortest and safest route; and identifying motorist assistance points, rest stops and location of

Pacquiao is honorary Korean envoy for public diplomacy

By Ben Cal LEGENDARY Filipino world boxing champion and Senator Manny “Pacman” Paquiao has received another accolade when the Embassy of the Republic of Korea designated him as Honorary Korean Ambassador for Public Diplomacy and President of the Platinum Jubilee Committee to commemorate the 70th year of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and the Philippines Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man formally handed the honorary title to Pacquiao during a ceremony held at the Korean Embassy in Makati on Monday.

The appointment was made on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee (the 70th anniversary) of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea on March 3, 1949.

In an e-mail to the Philippine News Agency, Han said that “Pacquiao was recognized as the perfect candidate for this position because he is a man of great discipline and determination, having risen from a life of adversity to achieve success not only in the ring of professional boxing but also in the arena of politics and governance, and also because he is exceptionally popular all over the world as a legendary athlete with boxing championship titles in eight divisions. PNA

GMA proud of gender equality in PH

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has taken great pride in the achievements of the Philippines in advancing gender equality and the role of women.

Speaking during the Global Parliamentary Conference at the World Bank Headquarters on Washington DC, Arroyo said she is proud to be coming from a country with a rich history of progress towards gender equality.

“Historically, the Philippines has been progressive about the role of women in society. On a personal level, I am fortunate that the first Philippine female president, Cory Aquino, paved

the way for me, and I became the second Philippine female president,” Arroyo said.

She added that when she was president in 2005, the Philippines was ranked as sixth country in the world that narrowed the gender gap.

“In 2005, when Forbes magazine listed me as the fourth most powerful women in the world, that was memorable for me, not because it reflected on me personally, but because it projected the Philippines, and Filipino women, onto to the world stage.

I was President, too, when the World Economic Forum Report ranked my country in 2006 as No. 6 in successfully narrowing the gender gap,” Arroyo said.

police outposts.

Vehicle documents such as Certificate of Registration, Official Receipt as well as the driver’s license should be kept inside the vehicle in case of emergency and checkpoint; See to it that the driver had enough rest and in good condition before going on a long drive; and Keep calm while driving and always obey the traffic rules and speed limits.

For travelers using bus terminals, airports and seaports: Arrive early in terminals, sea and air ports when travelling with the elderly and children; secure your tickets and passports; avoid wearing expensive pieces of jewelry; Look after your belongings and constantly check them; be alert against snatchers; and If possible, travel light.

For those who are leaving their homes during vacation:

Don’t let many people know you are leaving your home unattended; Make sure house doors are locked; Make sure that appliances are unplugged; and as much as possible, use burglar alarms or install CCTV. The PNP is urging the public to invest on high-security lock mechanisms to secure their houses and ask some force multipliers in the barangay (village) to check their houses from time to time.

In using social media: Do not share flight information such as clear picture of your passport and flight details, if you must share, at least wait until you returned home from the trip.

Keep your plans to yourself or your family and make meet ups private; and do not post information of your trip real time, this may indicate that there is nobody inside your residences. You might have to delay posting your pictures/videos if you want to safeguard your belongings.

The PNP also encourages the public to be careful while swimming in beaches and swimming pools to avoid drowning.

“If you plan to swim on a beach, you have to make sure that you are in the company of people who know how to swim and know the first aid station in the vicinity as well as the PNP assistance desk,” Banac added.

BUSINESS tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan said on Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to review government contracts could set a negative precedent for future deals between the government and private corporations Pangilinan made the assertion following Duterte’s order to the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice to review all contracts entered into by the government.

The order came after the Palace said that officials of the Maynilad Water Services Inc. who negotiated for the concession agreement with the government, may still be held accountable amid plans by the firm to drop its arbitration proceedings against the state.

Maynilad is one of the companies owned by Pangilinan.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Palace is leaving it to the Justice department to determine whether or not the water concessionaire violated its contract with the government.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Duterte was no happy with the provision in the contract that says that if the Philippine government interferes in any manner that would reduce or delay the implementation of agreed water rates, the government will indemnify the company for any losses.

In 2017, the Philippine government was ordered by an international tribunal in 2017 to pay Maynilad after it won a P3.44-billion indemnity claim.

Pangilinan, who chairs Maynilad, insists that the same terms were also included in the concession agreement of Manila Water Company Inc. which recently experienced a shortage in its water supply.

“Well, those provisions are the same for both concessionaires, alam naman nila ‘yun eh,” Pangilinan said. “It’s stipulated on the contractual arrangements, so that was the right given to us in the contract so we exercised it.”

Earlier, the business tycoon said that the company was willing to drop the arbitration case provided that both parties come to terms on the tariff issue.

Meanwhile, Senator Franklin Drilon also warned the government should exercise caution in reviewing the contract with Maynilad.

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Do not use pop music for your campaign jingles!

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE JUST don't.

Like most wage-earners, I sleep in on weekend mornings. Imagine my irritation at being jerked awake the past few weeks by the loud blaring of campaign jingles outside my window in the early hours.

What’s more annoying is that these jingles are cribbed from popular music—the Voltes V theme, Hotdog’s ‘Bongga Ka ‘Day,’ Lou Bega’s ‘Mambo No. 5,’ and Queen’s ‘We

This is Philippine political communication— unimaginative, boring, and dull.

Will Rock You,” among others I’ve heard here in Makati. ‘Bongga Ka ‘Day,” are you serious? Is nothing sacred?

Josephine Santiago, directorgeneral of the Intellectual Property Office, said on a dzMM radio show recently that under copyright law, politicians may not use someone else’s music indiscriminately and substituting their own campaign-related lyrics.

Speaking in Tagalog, she said “There is a need to ask permission to use someone else’s composition, lyrics, or sounds [melody]. If we do not know who the composer or lyricist is, we can ask the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers to coordinate for us.”

She added that it is also not al-

lowed to use someone else’ music, without permission, in the playlist at a campaign sortie, miting de avance, or other election-related activity. “They need to get permission to use the music, both local and foreign,” she said, saying that Filscap also coordinates with representatives of foreign musicians.

Can the composer or lyricist complain if their music was used in such a manner? “Yes,” said Santiago. “Only the owner or holder of a copyright can use the music or give permission for it to be used by others.” Works such as music are “creations of the mind, pinaghirapan ng mga gumawa nito.

Respeto ang aming adbokasiya,” she said.

Santiago agreed that using music and other intellectual properties such as superhero images and so on without permission is a kind of theft.

Using popular music during election campaigns is a tactic that taps into the audience’s frames of reference—their knowledge of the song and associations with it, memories, links to the past.

This is an attempt to influence the audience’s emotion and attitudes by inducing ‘associative meaning,’ in line with the semantic analysis of Geoffrey Leech, in particular the subtype ‘affective meaning,’ related to personal feelings or attitudes.

“Music is one of the critical elements of any political ad, because it instantly establishes the tone of the video,” says Safemusiclist.com. “Aim for music that creates emotional response,” whether positive or negative, depending on the message.

They warn that “using a track by a popular recording artist may get your soundtrack the instant recognition but may introduce the licensing and performance royalties liability.” Get licenses for the music you want to use,

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

M

Chico River loan deal

ALACAÑANG must explain fast and satisfactorily the terms and conditions of the government's $62-million loan agreement with China for the Chico River irrigation pump project in the Cordillera region.

The opposition has raised some constitutional issues surrounding the loan agreement with China and sought a nullification of the financing arrangement. The high court has just directed Malacañang to answer the petition of leftist lawmakers, who questioned the legality of the loan deal.

The petitioners claimed that Philippines stood to lose natural gas deposits in Recto Bank or Reed Bank as collateral in case of a loan default.

Petitioners argued that the agreement violated several provisions of the 1987 Constitution, citing that the loan agreement contained an express waiver of sovereign immunity over the country’s

patrimonial assets in favor of China.

The charges at the outset seem credible because of past dealings between China and other nations. The petitioners cited the case of Ecuador, which was forced to grant China control of 80 percent of its oil production after it defaulted on a Chinese loan for its Coca Codo Hydro Dam, and that of Sri Lanka that surrendered to China the control of its Hambantota port, also after failing to pay its loan.

The Philippines, of course, has never defaulted on its previous debt agreements with foreign nations and multilateral lending institutions like the World Bank and the In-

ternational Monetary Fund.

At worst, it declared a debt moratorium in 1984 at the height of a foreign exchange crisis that crippled the Philippine economy. That moratorium was a plea for more time to reschedule the payments over a longer period on the promise that the Philippines would restructure the economy to improve its debt repayment capacity.

The government, however, must disclose the terms of the Chico River loan deal with China to prove that it did not compromise national sovereignty. It must do so convincingly to validate the economic feasibility of the project, which among other things aims to provide a stable supply of water to around 8,700 hectares of agricultural land, benefit 4,350 farmers and their families and serve 21 barangays in the provinces of Kalinga and Cagayan in Northern Luzon.

Turn to A5

SMC Global Power AS A power producer and retailer, SMC Global Power Corp. is perhaps unrivalled in the Philippines—in financial and resources wherewithal, generating capacity, scale of operations, diversity of power sources, efficiency and cost structure, pricing and market power, revenue and profit-making capacity, expansion plans, and tremendous potential for growth.

SMC Global Power is today the cheapest seller of electricity. It has longterm contracts to supply power to Albay and Bulacan provinces at less than P3 per kilowatt hour. Compare that pricing to the P12 per kwh that Meralco charges subscribers.

Low-cost power means low-cost manufacturing production and lower cost of doing business. Low-cost production and lower cost of doing business mean more employment, greater industrialization, and more prosperity.

The Philippines has among the world’s most expensive electricity rates.

As a result, power cost as much as 20 percent of production cost and also 20 percent of the operating expenses of 22 million households in the country.

By itself with already 4,200 megawatts of power capacity and future expansion plans and acquisitions, not to mention its willingness to price its electricity at very reasonable rates, San Miguel Global Power’s business cannot but produce huge revenue streams and sustain its profitability.

SMC Global Power’s combined installed capacity is about 19 percent of the National Grid, 25 percent of the Luzon Grid and 9 percent of the Mindanao Grid.

The business cannot but expand. The Philippines needs 43,700 megawatts of additional electricity over the next 20 years. It takes at least three years to build and make operational a power plant. The red tape can overpower a power project proponent. This means there could be serious shortages of electricity in the coming years, if not now.

With its size and nimbleness, SMC

Global Power will be at the forefront of energy expansion to meet expanding national demand.

At present, SMC Global Power already contributes a substantial portion of its mother company’s revenues and profits.

In the whole of 2018, SMC Global Power chalked up revenues of P120.1 billion, up 45 percent, and operating profits of P33 billion, up 37 percent. In 2018, SMC Global Power accounted for only 12 percent of SMC group revenues and a stunning 28 percent of total operating income.

If SMC Global Power were a listed company and with an earnings multiple of ten times income, SMC Global Power would easily be worth P330 billion in market value, if not much more.

Its is the seller of the cheapest electricity today.

SMC Global Power has generating assets worth easily P490 billion. SMC Global Power is the holding company for San Miguel’s power generating assets—including supply and sale.

With its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, SMC Global Power is one of the largest power companies in the Philippines. It benefits from diversified fuel sources, including natural gas, coal and hydroelectric.

San Miguel Corp. entered the power industry in 2009, thanks to the vision and foresight of Ramon S. Ang, the vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp. Back in 2002, he envisioned to change San Miguel’s portfolio of business to include not just beer, beverages, foods, and packaging but growth industries like power generation, fuel and oil refining and marketing, and infrastructure.

San Miguel was already the largest food and consumer products company.

With the diversification, San Miguel, almost overnight, became the largest infra company in terms of toll operaTurn to A5

Are we winning the war on poverty?

Is this even a doable target?

THE good news on the socioeconomic front is that the proportion of poor Filipinos declined in the first half of 2018, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The agency reported that poverty incidence—or the proportion of the population living below the poverty line to the total population among Filipino individuals—was estimated at 21 percent in the first half of 2018, below the 27.6 percent registered in the comparable period in 2015.

Poverty incidence among families stood at 16.1 percent in the first half of 2018, lower than 22.2 percent record-

ed in the same period in 2015.

According to the PSA, 16 out of 100 families were poor in the first semester of 2018. During the same period last year, a family of five needed around P10,481 per month to meet their minimum basic food and non-food needs.

The Duterte administration wants to bring down individual poverty rate to 14 percent by 2022. Is this a doable target?

That's possible, if the government can borrow an additional $300 million from the World Bank to continue the

implementation of the government’s conditional cash transfer program for another two years starting next year.

The Department of Finance is seeking the loan from the Washingtonbased multilateral lender to partly finance the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The Philippine Social Welfare Development and Reform Project 2 will cost $3.44 billion, but the government will shoulder the bulk or $3.14 billion.

According to the World Bank, the additional financing for the 4Ps will support and strengthen not only the implementation but also program monitoring and evaluation.

The beneficiary households will continue to be selected using ‘Listahanan,’ which is expected to be updated

Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Gulle City Editor Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

Separate economics from state!

Speech of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen U.S. Presidential Office video conference (Continued from Thursday) WE ARE making these investments not because we pursue confrontation. Quite the opposite. Our intention is to uphold the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act, and provide for lasting peace across the Taiwan Strait. But we can’t do this when we don’t have the ability to deter coercion and aggression.

Our diplomats across the region are also working hand in hand to promote our shared values and interests, and push back against the growing tide of authoritarianism around the world. We know the dangers of authoritarianism too well. It is an ideology that is fundamentally at odds with freedom, and the people’s right to choose.

As the TRA states: “Peace and stability in the area are in the political, security, and economic interests of the United States, and are matters of international concern.”

Last month, Taiwan and the United States announced the launch of the Indo-Pacific Democratic Governance Dialogue, which will be a platform for us to pursue joint projects advancing good governance and human rights among like-minded countries.

We are also cooperating to advance religious freedom in the region. Last month, Taiwan and the US co-hosted a Dialogue on Securing Religious Freedom in the IndoPacific Region, to make a stand, as religious freedom is being threatened around the world. We want to safeguard the religious freedom of all peoples, because no one deserves to be punished or “reeducated” for his or her own faith.

The Global Cooperation Training Framework is another shining example of our joint work on pressing global issues. We have not only tripled the budget for this program, but we are engaging on more issues than ever before, ranging from women’s empowerment to media literacy.

And recently, we have welcomed the inclusion of Japan, making this truly a framework for regional partners to promote our shared values and interests.

We also want to push back against the notion that our values can—or should—be dictated by economic carrots and sticks, particularly by authoritarian governments.

So we are stepping up our work with the United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation to find opportunities to jointly invest here in the region, and across our diplomatic allies. Our engagement dates back to 1952, and an entire article in the

Are we...

From A4

this year. The project will track compliance of households belonging to priority beneficiary groups. The priority groups under the 4Ps program are first, pregnant women and children aged zero to five years old, in order to address malnutrition; and, second, children aged 15-18 years old, to address high dropout rates.

The annual budget for the delivery of cash transfers under the 4Ps is around $1.7 billion, so the additional financing will cover about 9 percent of the annual budgetary amount over 2020 and 2021. The Asian Development Bank is also preparing a parallel project expected to provide additional financing to 4Ps cash transfers.

The World Bank believes that since the 4Ps program started to be implemented in 2008, it has “played a critical role in poverty reduction (by an estimated 1.5 percentage points per year according to 2015 data), expanding coverage to reach 4.4 million households, (around 20 percent of the country’s population), and providing benefits averaging 10 percent of income of the poor.”

Three rounds of evaluation since 2008 have convinced the World Bank

SMC...

From A4

tions, the largest fuel and oil company (Petron), and now, the largest power generator and supplier.

With RSA’s guidance, SMC Global Power acquired rights to administer the output produced by Independent Power Producers (“IPPs”) in privatization auc-

TRA is dedicated to this relationship.

But today, we have gone from a net recipient of aid to a high-tech powerhouse. And we have the capability and expertise to work with the United States to support the economic development of our friends and partners.

All of this is taking place at a time our international space is under unprecedented challenge.

China has engaged in a relentless campaign to deny our right to participate in international affairs. They don’t do this because it is a DPP administration, or because we don’t recognize the 1992 consensus. They do it, because they genuinely believe that the people of Taiwan don’t have an independent right to participate in global affairs.

That is troubling and destabilizing for the healthy development of cross-strait relations.

So we are grateful that the United States and other like-minded countries have continued to support us in our international endeavors.

We have seen all that the United States has done to help maintain our diplomatic alliances and counter China’s influence there. And following our biannual international organization consultations, we have seen a coalition of like-minded countries gradually emerge to continuously support Taiwan’s participation in UN-specialized agencies, and make sure that Taiwan’s contributions can be appreciated by the international community.

Economic relations are another area where we have seen great progress since the passage of the TRA. Today, Taiwan, a country of 23-million people, is the United States’ 11th largest trading partner. It’s a complementary relationship, not a competitive one.

And trade has continued to increase significantly.

Our global enterprises are investing in and procuring from the United States at a rate that few people in the time of the passage of the TRA could have imagined. And vice versa, as major US technology giants, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM expand their presence in Taiwan over the past year.

Despite these positive developments, we see potential to do more.

Which is why I have made clear our intention to engage in a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.

We have the potential to work together in crafting an agreement that is based on our values and ideals, which can be used as a model for the

of the program’s “continued impact in closing income gaps in school enrollment and use of essential health services.”

Poverty reduction should be the end-result of the national government's frenzied Build, Build, Build infrastructure project and various social services, such as education, health and housing. The administration should build upon the gains already made in previous ones, and tap as many sources of funding as possible from both domestic and foreign sources, if it's really serious in improving the quality of life of Filipinos now living on the margins of society.

Crooked cops get their comeuppance If they thought they could get away with brazen disregard for the rule of law and outright violation of institutional rules, they are gravely mistaken.

The Philippine National Police bared the good news recently: A total of 2,528 rogue cops have been dismissed from the service and another 4,511 suspended for various offenses since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in July 2016 until February this year.

PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde himself made this announcement after the recent arrests of police officers involved in robbery-extortion and tions conducted by the government through the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (“PSALM”).

Through its subsidiaries, San Miguel Corp. became the Independent Power Producer Administrator (“IPPA”) of the following plants: (1) San Miguel Energy Corp. (“SMEC”) became the IPPA for the Sual Power Plant, a coal-fired thermal power plant located in Sual, Pangasinan, in No-

rest of the Indo-Pacific region.

The Taiwan Relations Act envisioned a relationship in which our shared interests could be protected.

And it provided a framework where one day we could defend our shared values. In today’s world of increasing complexity and challenge, this has been more necessary than ever before.

One thing that we learned from the previous century, is that the forward march of democracy is not a given.

Even as we speak, forces working against freedom and democracy are becoming more active around the world. For while we measure progress in terms of freedom and individual liberty, the metrics they use are fear and control, both at home and abroad.

In fact, less than two weeks ago, China’s PLA sent two fighter jets across the median line of the Taiwan Strait, breaking a tacit agreement that has served the interests of peace and stability over the past two decades.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton tweeted: “Chinese military provocations won’t win any hearts or minds in Taiwan, but they will strengthen the resolve of people everywhere who value democracy.

The Taiwan Relations Act and our commitment are clear.”

We could not agree more.

Given the traditional and non-traditional challenges facing us today, the need for a collective response has never been clearer. And Taiwan is ready, willing, and able to do our part to achieve our shared vision.

So on the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, we must be willing to work harder to ensure that the people of Taiwan can continue to live free from fear, and coercion for their belief in democracy.

The TRA drafters began their work 40 years ago. But their work remains unfinished. Their vision will only be fully achieved when our region becomes free, open, and democratic.

Taiwan is not just a recipient of this. We are a partner in this.

At this critical moment, it is more important than ever to ensure that the letter and spirit of the TRA prevail, and that the values we share continue to shape the future of our region.

Even though I am not in Washington DC with you all, our shared vision has made our two countries feel closer than ever before.

And together, with your support, we will continue to remind the world that Taiwan is an irreplaceable force for good in the world.

kidnap-for ransom cases.

He lamented that despite efforts to cleanse their ranks and the increased salary for police officers, some of his subordinates still get involved in lawless activities out of greed.

"No matter how much salary is given to us, if there are really people who are blinded by money, are too greedy and envious of the material wealth of others, these cases will happen," he told the media in Camp Crame recently.

Albayalde also assured the public that the PNP is implementing a system of checks and balances to ensure that police officers do not abuse their authority amid the government’s relentless war on drugs: "Some police officers may become abusive because the President said he will back us up, but he did not say he will back us up if we abuse our authority."

Scalawags in the police force are not a recent phenomenon. But while it's true that they're only a handful compared to the total number of personnel, one bad cop is enough to erode the credibility of the entire institution.

Hence, the police leadership should enforce the strictest discipline not only among the rank-and-file, but also among the officer corps. ernhil@yahoo.com vember 2009; (2) Strategic Power Devt. Corp. (“SPDC”) became the IPPA for the San Roque Power Plant, a hydroelectric power plant located in San Manuel, Pangasinan in January 2010; (3) South Premiere Power Corp. (“SPPC”) became the IPPA for the Ilijan Power Plant, a natural gasfired combined cycle power plant located in Ilijan, Batangas, in June 2010.

The Sual Power Plant, San Roque

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DC—not a single lawyer, not a single building.”

Instead of investing in lawyers and lobbyists, Microsoft spent money on technology.

But then the sleepy codgers in WashAWARD-WINNING news correspondent John Stossel recently reported ington, DC, noticed Microsoft’s sucabout Facebook founder Mark Zucker- cess.

“They were literally brought in front berg kissing the rings of US regulators: of Congress,” recounts Brook, “yelled Please, regulate me!

That was Facebook founder Mark at by a Republican, Orrin Hatch from Zuckerberg’s message to US Congress Utah. He said, ‘You guys need to get recently. “Lawmakers often tell me we involved here in Washington, DC. You [Facebook] have too much power over need to build a building here, hire lawspeech, and frankly I agree,” he wrote yers here.’ … The unspoken text: ‘You in an op-ed. “[W]e shouldn’t make so need to bribe me.'”

The company didn’t immediately many important decisions … on our obey. own.” It sounds so self-sacrificing.

“Microsoft said, you know what?

But give me a break. Big companies You leave us use regulation to alone,” says Brook. their advantage.

“We’re busy. We’re His smaller comCrony capitalism running the biggest petitors can’t afcompany in the ford the squads of is a threat to future world. There’s a lot “compliance of- innovation. to do!” ficers” that FaceBut that wasn’t book employs. the end of it.

“You, as a “Six months company, welcome regulation?” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican-South later, a knock on the door at Microsoft: Carolina, asked Zuckerberg during a ‘We’re from the Justice Department and we’re here to prosecute you because congressional hearing.

“If it’s the right regulation, then yes,” you’re offering … customers a product for free,'” paraphrases Brook. “Internet replied the CEO. “Would you work with us in terms Explorer. At a time when [customers] of what regulations you think are neces- were paying money for Netscape, they offered it for free.” sary in your industry?”

The government called that a viola“Absolutely,” replied Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg’s not stupid. He sees tion of anti-trust (anti-competition) law. which way the wind is blowing. He Free services might make Microsoft too issued his plea to be regulated after re- popular and a monopoly.

“For 10 years they had to fight that ceiving months of criticism from politilawsuit,” says Brook. “They lost. They cians.

If he cooperates early and enthusias- got regulated. They got controlled. tically, Facebook is likely to get to work Guess how much Microsoft spends today in Washington, DC? Tens of milwith the regulators to shape the rules. lions of dollars.”

This is sad for two reasons.

A company that should focus on One, the US First Amendment says Congress “shall make no law … abridg- pleasing customers had to start thinking ing the freedom of speech.” You’d think more about pleasing government.

Today, “they have a beautiful buildZuckerberg would know that, but no, he called for government to “require ing about equal distance from the White companies to build systems for keeping House and from Congress. They have lawyers, lobbyists, they spend a lot of harmful content to a bare minimum.”

Currently, his own website is a money,” says Brook, “and indeed a lot wonderful forum for all kinds of use- of other tech companies like Google ful speech. There’s hateful speech, too, learned the lesson.”

The lesson is that if you don’t want but it’s the private company’s job to decide whether to police that, not govern- politicians destroying your business, you must go to Washington or Imperial ment’s.

The second reason Facebook work- Manila to give them money. Kiss their ing with regulators is sad is that if any- asses.

“A lot of the lobbying and so-called one should fight for permissionless, unregulated innovation, it should be cronyism,” explains Brook, “is selfdefense.” people like Mark Zuckerberg.

Yes, Zuckerberg, and practically all It’s no accident that the amazing wealth creation that brought us Face- of our taipans, are acting in self-defense, book, Google, Instagram, Microsoft, but it’s still ugly. And this crony capiAmazon, etc., happened in the two big talism is a threat to future innovation. metropolitan areas farthest from Wash- Entrepreneurs will learn to do things government’s way instead of heeding ington, DC. As Yaron Brook, chairman of the the market.

“If we really want to end cronyism, Ayn Rand Institute, says: “Microsoft in the early 1990s was the largest com- reduce the power of politicians over our pany in the world, incredibly success- lives,” argues Brook, correctly. “Sepaful. They spent exactly zero dollars on rate economics from state.” lobbying, on cronyism, on lawyers.

They had no presence in Washington, eric.jurado@gmail.com

Do not...

From A4

use royalty-free music, or commission an original composition.

All this will fall on deaf ears, because this is not the first election that pop music has been used for candidate’s ads. You’d think that by now candidates and campaign teams would have learned about copyright.

But the problem is that artists do not complain about the unauthorized use of their work. Foreign artists wouldn’t know, and local ones seem to think that complaining would take more and time and resources than they’d care to spend on such a matter.

Many of the candidates are lawyers and all have lawyers on their team.

They know they’re infringing copyright but they don’t care, knowing that no one will complain, much less Plant and the Ilijan Power Plant are collectively referred to as the “IPPA Power Plants”. SMEC, SPPC and SPDC are collectively referred to as the “IPPA Subsidiaries.”

An IPPA under the IPP Administration Agreement (the “IPPA Agreement”) has the right to sell electricity generated by the power plants owned and operated by the IPPs without having to bear any of the large upfront capital expenditures for

bring suit. That’s impunity for you.

And if a candidate shows this kind of disrespect towards artists and flouts the law, then how can they treat ordinary folk any better? And people who copy or imitate don’t have any originality or creativity. Plagiarism is intellectual dishonesty. How then are they going to run their bailiwicks—in the same old style, nothing new, nothing changed?

It’s disheartening and off-putting.

Cribbing pop music for a political jingle is a sleazy move, not classy at all. It’s manipulative when it should be persuasive. But this is Philippine political communication—unimaginative, boring, and dull.

Y’all stop using the Voltes V theme for your political jingles, dammit. I grew up watching that show. Don’t ruin it. / FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO power plant construction or maintenance.

As an IPPA, SMEC, SPDC and SPPC also have the ability to manage both market and price risks by entering into bilateral contracts with offtakers while capturing potential upside from the sale of excess capacity through the Philippines Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (“WESM”). biznewsasia@gmail.com

A6

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Telecom law now makes work option okay

IN BRIEF CJ to media: Be more circumspect BAGUIO CITY—Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Thursday urged members of the media to be more circumspect of what they are going to write and publish, particularly information coming from some “quarters all out to be destructive.”

Bersamin said there was a need for the media to be more judicious, especially with the prevalence of “fake news.”

“There is relative truth and there is fake truth. I meant by that characterization to caution each of you to be discerning for only thereby may you insulate yourselves from the manipulation of quarters all out to be destructive instead of being constructive,” Bersamin said, in his speech during the Pressing Matters: A forum on Judiciary Coverage.”

According to him, members of the media and the organization they represent should remember that their obligation “is towards the people alone.”

“Being media persons, you should inform and not mislead and this, you can do only if you write or broadcast your reports accurately and responsibly,” the top magistrate stressed.

Meanwhile, Bersamin launched the High Court’s new and improved website, which includes a court locator directory for lower courts and an e-library of the tribunal’s decisions and resolutions.

The new site would be easily accessible online to the public than previous iterations of the judiciary’s official website sc.judiciary.gov.ph. Rey Requejo, PNA

DAR installs more farmers THE Department of Agrarian Reform has installed more farmers in Negros Oriental in a 150-hectare land belonging to ex-senator Rene Espina under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program through compulsory acquisition.

Undersecretary for Field Operations Office Karlo Bello, along with Louie Naranjo, DAR’s lawyer-provincial program officer, recently installed 110 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Polo, Tanjay City.

“It is noteworthy, that the DAR installed the first batch of the agrarian reform beneficiaries on their awarded land, amidst resistance of the petitioners in July 2012,” the agency said.

Moreover, 11 qualified farmers were also installed in two landholdings totaling to 20.37 hectares in Abis and Manlingay, Mabinay.

Elvira Bation, provincial agrarian reform program officer, and Manuel Galon Jr. led the installation, followed by an open forum to remind farmer-beneficiaires of their responsibilities “now that they already own the land that they till,” DAR said. Rio Araja

American to be deported by BI AN AMERICAN citizen wanted for rape in Alaska will be deported to face criminal charges in his home country, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

Ordered deported was Carmen Daniel Perzechino Jr. who was arrested by members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit at his apartment in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Perzechino is subject of an arrest warrant by a Superior Court in Kenai, Alaska where he was charged with two counts of sexual assault in the first degree and one count of kidnapping-injury with sexual assault.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he issued the mission order for Perzechino’s arrest at the request of the US Embassy in Manila which informed the BI about the latter’s presence in the country.

Perzechino reportedly fled to the Philippines last Feb. 11 after receiving information about his impending arrest to evade US authorities.

Morente said Perzechino’s passport was already revoked by the US State Department to facilitate his immediate deportation as an undocumented alien.

“We are at one with our foreign counterparts to ensure that justice is served,” said Morente. “The crime was committed 18 years ago, but now he has been caught by our men, and will be sent back to his country to face trial,” he added. Vito Barcelo

COMMEMORATIVE MARKER. An unidentified priest unveils the statue of Jesus as a commemorative marker to symbolize the golden anniversary of the communication ministry of Radio Veritas Asia to Global Asian, during the Golden Anniversary attended by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and other Asian priests at the Vieritas office in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

DOJ orders BI: Terminate job contracts of 8 people

By Rey Requejo

J

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the Bureau of Immigration to immediately terminate the job contracts issued to eight individuals over their involvement in the alleged P9.2-million extortion of 15 Korean nationals whom they arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga last March 6.

“Upon review of the terms of engagement of the job order contractors and the evidence adduced against them, the Justice secretary found that factual and legal bases exist for the immediate termination of their contracts,” Justice Undersecretary Mark Perete said, in a statement.

This came after 15 Korean nationals filed a complaint to the Office of the President and the Department of Justice against 18 BI intelligence officers for apprehending them despite having proper documents and brought them to the BI

main officer where they were forced to shell out various sums of money under threat of detention.

The other 10 BI officers allegedly involved in the incident have been placed under preventive suspension pending final result of the investigation on the matter.

BI spokesman Dana Krizia Sandoval earlier said the agency will decide appropriate criminal and administrative actions against them within three months.

“The 10 BI officers and employees are now subject to proceedings to de-

Suspect’s claim in Silawan murder ‘muddles’ case

SAFE TRIP SLOGAN. Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the holding company of NLEX, SCTEX and CAVITEX, in anticipation of the surge of travelers this Lenten season, is again implementing the expanded ‘Safe trip Mo Sagot Ko.’ Photo shows officials led by Easytrip Services Corp. president Eugene Antonio, NLEX Corp. vice president Project Management Nemesio Castillo, NLEX president and GM Luigi Bautista, DoTr Undersecretary Mark de Leon, MPT South Corp. president Roberto Bontia, Toll Regulatory spokesman Bert Suansing and NLEX vice president for Technology Glenn Campos during a news conference in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Senate Electoral Tribunal dismisses Tolentino protest

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Senate Electoral Tribunal has dismissed the electoral protest filed by defeated 2016 senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino against Senator Leila de Lima as it released the results of the recount of the contested ballots in the pilot precincts.

In its Notice of Resolution 16-142 dated Feb. 21, 2019, but released only last April 4, the Tribunal granted Tolentino’s motion withdrawing his electoral protest against the former Justice secretary, thereby closing and terminating the entire electoral protest he filed in June 2016.

It also granted De Lima’s motion to make public the results of the revision and appreciation of recount proceedings covering 319,228 ballots from 654 clustered precincts that were earlier examined by the Tribunal.

“The motion for withdrawal of the election protest manifests the desistance of the Protestant from pursuing the case. There

termine their administrative liability for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service,” Perete stressed.

Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said a probe was being undertaken on corruption allegations against certain airport personnel.

Morente made the statement after receiving information that some BI officials posted at the Port Operations Division might be involved in human trafficking.

“We will elevate this to the Department of Justice [DOJ], our mother department, for investigation,” Morente said.

“We suspect that other agencies may be included in this complaint as well, as anti-trafficking efforts is a shared responsibility of all members of the InterAgency Council Against Trafficking,” he added.

being no law or jurisprudence that prevents its approval, the Tribunal hereby grants the same,” the resolution read.

“The Tribunal, in the exercise of its discretion, [also] opted to release the results of revision and appreciation in the pilot precincts as these proceedings had already been completed,” the 31-page resolution added.

SET confirmed that the results of the initial determination of the concluded revision of pilot precincts did not show any proof of alleged irregularities or fraud in the 2016 polls that purportedly led to the defeat of Tolentino in the said elections.

“The results negated his allegations that pre-loaded SD cards were used or that his votes were not counted,” SET noted.

“After conducting the [barcode matching and vote matching proceedings] on 532 clustered precincts, it was confirmed that the barcodes of the actual paper ballots correspond to the barcodes of the picture images, and that “the votes” appearing on the actual ballots and picture images were the votes that were

counted by the VCMs,” it added.

In fact, the tally of votes covering 319,228 ballots from 654 precincts during revision and appreciation even resulted to an increase of 895 votes for De Lima and only 702 for Tolentino, or a net gain of 193 votes in De Lima’s favor.

In the appreciation proceedings, SET noted that votes showing voters’ clear intention, even though they failed to comply with the 50 percent shading threshold set by the Tribunal and as long as they do not have any unnecessary markings, were counted.

It may be recalled that Tolentino repeatedly claimed alleged fraud and irregularities as the cause of his defeat in the 2016 national and local elections. De Lima won over him by a margin of 1.33 million votes.

In his motion dated last Jan. 3, Tolentino told SET that he “voluntarily” withdrew his electoral protest against De Lima to allegedly give his “undivided attention” in campaigning for the senatorial post in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections.

THE claim of a second suspect in the celebrated Christine Lee Silawan murder in Cebu appears, according to crime observers, to have muddled the onemonth-old case.

Police Regional Office 7 chief Debold Sinas told reporters in Cebu the suspect, a 43-year-old father of five, admitted killing the 16-year-old victim on March 10 in Barangay Bankal in LapuLapu City because she refused to have sex with her.

There was no immediately available comment from the suspect’s family, and neither from the victim’s.

Sinas had no other details pending coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation Region 7 Office.

NBI 7 had filed murder charge against Silawan’s ex-boyfriend, arrested on March 16, following a DNA result which showed the bloodstain on the shoe of the former boyfriend matched the specimen taken from Silawan’s parents.

The name of the second suspect has been withheld by prosecutors, pending filing of a charge against him.

Police quoted the suspect as saying in Bisaya: “I was not pressured to confess.

Since my arrest, I have been bothered by what I did not only to Christine but also to the boy who was arrested by the NBI. He did not commit the crime. I’ve been evil.”

But he was detained after the police recovered a caliber 45 pistol from him during a buy-bust in his house in Bankal on Tuesday, April 9.

During the interrogation following his arrest, the police said that was the time he confessed to killing Silawan on March 10.

The suspect was reported to have guided personnel of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office led by Police Colonel Limuel Obon at the crime scene in Sitio Mahayahay in Barangay Bankal Wednesday morning to show how he carried out the crime.

EMPLOYEES in the private sector can now have an option of working in an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunication or computer technologies following the release by the Labor department of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the ‘Telecommuting Act.’ Signed recently by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the IRR of Republic Act 11165, or the Telecommuting Act, shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and posting in the DOLE website.

Based on the IRR, an employer in the private sector may offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a voluntary basis or as a result of collective bargaining.

The new work scheme will be a management prerogative or collective bargaining option, as well as based on the voluntariness and mutual consent of the employer and employee, taking into account the nature of the work to be done.

“The work arrangement must not be less than the minimum labor standards set by law, and shall include compensable work hours, a minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days, entitlement to leave benefits, social welfare benefits, and security of tenure,” Bello said.

To effectively implement the telecommuting program, the employer and employees shall adhere to and be guided by the mutually agreed policy or telecommuting agreement.

The policy includes the applicable code of conduct and performance evaluation and assessment; appropriate alternative workplace; use and cost of equipment; observance of data privacy, and occupational safety and health, among others.

Companies who will adopt the telecommuting work arrangement must notify DOLE’s nearest field or provincial office.

Road Board abolition facilitated

By Vito Barcelo PUBLIC Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar created a Turn Over Committee to facilitate the implementation of Republic Act No. 11239 that abolished the Road Board which has been subjected to controversy over its fund control and allocation.

Villar signed Department Order 35, for the creation of the committee, which will be responsible in preparing an Implementing Rules and Regulations for RA 11239.

“This committee will be in charge with coordinating and facilitating the transfer of all records, property, assets, equipment and funds of the Road Board, including unexpended appropriations or allocations,” said Villar.

Villar said the committee would evaluate the position description of the existing permanent positions of Road Board and recommend, if necessary, the absorption of these employees, and determine the particular office to which the said employees would be assigned.

The Turn Over Committee will be headed by DPWH Assistant Secretary Eduardo Ramos, and will be composed of the Department’s Directors of Finance Service, Human Resource and Administrative Service, Information Management Service, Legal Service, Planning Service, and Bureau of Equipment.

RA 11239 also instructs the DPWH to absorb, “as needed,” the employees of the secretariat of the abolished agency, “without diminution of their salaries and other benefits.”

“Employees who are separated from the service as a result of the abolition of the agency and its secretariat shall receive separation benefits, ” the law stated.

The law also gives the DPWH to take on “all the rights and assume all the obligations and liabilities of the Road Board, and all its records, property, assets, equipment, and funds.”

The abolished Road Board was tasked to manage the funds collected from the motor vehicle user’s charge, which is used for road maintenance and drainage, installation of traffic lights and road safety devices, and for air pollution control.

Sports

A7

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

McIlroy chases golf history at outlier Augusta National

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. AFP

AUGUSTA—Rory McIlroy renews his quest to complete a career Grand Slam when the the 83rd Masters tees off in the stately confines of Augusta National here Thursday.

The atmosphere might not rival the serene, almost spiritual ambience that McIlroy experienced during a non-tournament week at the fabled course, but it certainly harks back to a more dignified— and less digitized—age in sports and life.

“It’s pure golf,” says four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods—the player most bedeviled by boisterous fans who at most venues these days are so busy snapping selfies they barely have time to watch him hit a shot.

Not only are Augusta’s “patrons” encouraged, if not required, to act with decorum outside the ropes, the throng of media that follows him is not allowed inside.

“Some of the events, like the Open Championship—because the golf courses are so old that there’s not a lot of room —there’s sometimes 75 to 100 people inside the ropes following us,” Woods said. “That gets a little distracting and it gets a little difficult at times.

“Here, it’s just us playing and you see some of the greatest golf you’ve ever seen here. I think that’s one of the reasons why.”

The Nationals’ Dota 2 finals set

A

FTER 40 group stage games across five teams, the first Dota 2 conference of the 2019 The Nationals is now heading into its playoff as the top three teams will be fighting for the title on Sunday at the Gariath Concepts in Eastwood City, Libis.

The three playoff-bound teams are the Cignal Ultra Warriors, who finished with the best record at 13-3, followed

by PLDT-Smart Omega at 11-5, and the Suha-XCTN Punishers with an 8-8 card.

Cignal gets the top seeding and heads directly into the best-of-five grand finals at 3 p.m., while second seed PLDTSmart plays No. 3 Suha-XCTN in the best-of-three playoff showdown starting at 10 a.m.

The total pot money for this conference is P700, 000, with the inaugural champion taking home P400, 000.

Eliminated in the playoff stage of The Nationals are two teams with the youngest players, the Happy Feet Emperors (511) and the Bren Epro (3-13).

The Warriors clinched the top seed when they secured a 2-0 win against Epro during their last group stage matchup last Tuesday. Their tempo is currently the best in the league, finishing games in

Games Sunday

(Gariath Concepts, Eastwood City, Libis) 10 a.m. – PLDT-Smart Omega vs Suha-Execration Punishers (best-of-three) 3 p.m. – Cignal Ultra Warriors vs Winner of Semifinal (best-of-five)

an average of 31 minutes.

Their carry, Nando, also leads the league in last hits and GPM (gold per minute).

While they remain as the favorites, the Warriors’ potential finals opponent has shown that they pose a serious threat. Of Cignal Ultra’s three losses, one of those came against Omega and two against the Punishers.

Omega is one of the league’s most efficient teams and their coordination reflects in the stats sheet—as their cores

Nasjo and Palos are currently first and second in KDA or kills-deaths-assists ratio. Their captain Ronn also leads the league in assists.

Meanwhile, the Punishers are living up true to their name as their carry Jamesy and Japoy are currently top two in kills per game.

The Nationals is the country’s premier esports league, with the contested Dota 2 right now just one of the three games on spotlight in the competition’s first year.

The playoffs can be watched this Sunday starting 9:30 a.m. through livestreaming at FB.com/PHNationals. It will also be in 5Plus via TV5 starting at 10 a.m., as well as in OneSports and EGG Network via CignalTV starting 3 p.m.

Japan names new Olympics minister after string of gaffes TOKYO—Japan on Thursday appointed a new Olympics minister to replace a gaffe-prone politician forced to step down after the latest in a string of embarrassing mis-steps.

With less than 500 days to go until the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters he had re-appointed the “experienced” Shunichi Suzuki, who had already served as Olympics minister between 2017-2018.

“I hope Mr Suzuki... will recover trust (among the public) and lead us towards a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Abe told reporters.

Suzuki’s appointment came after his predecessor Yoshitaka Sakurada quit late Wednesday after comments seen as disrespectful to survivors of the 2011 tsunami.

He reportedly told a political gathering that securing the re-election of a local lawmaker was more important than recovery in the area hit by the quake-triggered tsunami and nuclear meltdown that claimed more than 18,000 lives.

More than 50,000 people have not returned to their home towns following the disaster, and Japan has dubbed the 2020 Games the “Reconstruction Olympics” in a bid to showcase recovery in affected regions.

“We regret the news that in the midst of accelerating preparations and with less than 500 days to go until the Tokyo 2020 Games, the minister responsible for the Games has resigned,” Tokyo 2020 organisers said in a statement.

“Contribution to the reconstruction effort of disaster-hit areas is a main focus of Tokyo 2020, and we will continue our efforts to prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Games... with the key aim of helping to re-strengthen those areas,” added organizers.

Suzuki on Thursday said Sakurada’s comments were “inappropriate” and vowed to push forward with the reconstruction of disaster-hit areas. AFP

CYCLING CHAMPS. Members of the Excellent Noodles Cycling Team are shown after winning in the recent Tour of Pines, Vuelta, Dagupan 2019 (Category 40). The team won both stages of the bikefest, the Dagupan City to Baguio City opener and the Ambuklao to Baguio City final lap, to capture the overall championship.

Dakak launches golf course; Gibson, Norman involved DAKAK Golf Club formally announces the launch of its breathtaking new golf course inside Dakak Resort.

Dakak Golf Chairman Cesar Jalosjos and Dakak Golf President Rick Gibson will lead officials during the formal launching today in a media conference at the Manila Hotel..

“We are very pleased with the results of the development,” said Jalosjos, who has been overseeing the project. “It will be an unforgettable experience to play there.”

Natural wonders dominate the 50-hectare, 6,500-yard par 72 wonder.

“Most of what you will see is unheard-of in golf,” said Gibson, a former Asian Tour champion guiding the finishing touches on the course’s back nine. “To begin with, there is a record 1.9 miles of ocean in play, beating the record 1.6 miles of Pebble Beach.”

The front nine of the Greg Normandesigned course is already open for play, with the grass already being laid down on the back half of the course.

Dakak Golf course will be fully operational by November.

There are three par 3s, three par 4s

and three par 5s on each nine and every hole has its challenges. Seven of the first nine holes face the Sulu Sea, a feature unique to Dakak. Many of the holes require a golfer’s shot to go over water, with one needing a near-perfect tee-off over a waterfall to get onto the green. The entire property is a seamless blend of blue and green, with almost no man-made structures in sight.

Luckily for Dakak, all the needed materials for completion are right on site, with the grass for the course being specially grown nearby.

Mobile phones are prohibited, with those breaking the rule escorted off the grounds.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley knows the policy makes the club “an outlier” but he thinks patrons appreciate it.

“It’s refreshing,” McIlroy said of seeing fans who “don’t constantly have their face in the device.”

There’s no running, no sprawled in the sun sleeping, and no fan photography at the Masters, no “You da man” bombast and—if the marshalls have their way—no applauding of a less popular player’s poor shot.

It all creates an atmosphere like none other in modern golf, but it’s the course itself that makes the Masters the ultimate experience for some of golf’s greatest.

“Some of my best shots I’ve ever pulled off have been here,” Woods said of a course that is a test of creativity—and the ability to pull off a seemingly outlandish shot—as much as the US Open is a test of stamina.

“Augusta National allows you to do pretty much whatever you can imagine in your mind in each situation,” said Spain’s Jon Rahm, who tees off in his third Masters alongside 14-time major champion Woods and China’s Li Haotong at 11:04 am (1504 GMT). AFP

Pistons rout Knicks to nail last ticket to NBA playoffs NEW YORK—The Detroit Pistons clinched the final ticket to the NBA playoffs Wednesday, sealing their first postseason berth since 2016 with a 115-89 defeat of the New York Knicks.

With Eastern Conference rivals the Charlotte Hornets losing to the Orlando Magic elsewhere in Wednesday’s final round of regular season games, the Pistons would have advanced regardless of their result against the Knicks.

But the result against the team with the worst record in the NBA this season was never in doubt as Detroit moved into the lead before pulling away for a comfortable win.

Luke Kennard scored 27 points off the bench for Detroit, while starters Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson delivered 20-point displays to lead the Pistons into the postseason.

Drummond finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds while Jackson had 21 points and seven assists.

Detroit’s reward for claiming the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference is a first round playoff duel with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The result also represented vindication of sorts for head coach Dwane Casey, who has led the Pistons back to the postseason in his first year.

Casey, who was harshly fired by the Toronto Raptors last year despite a 59win season, said his Detroit rebuilding plan was ahead of schedule.

“We’re still in the growth process,” Casey said afterwards. “We’re ahead of the curve. This is the first step for us, for our young guys to experience the playoffs and to understand what it takes to get there and hopefully make some noise.

“It’s a great first step for our organisation and our fans. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re not where we were,” he added.

Hornets stung by Magic In Charlotte meanwhile, Kemba Walker exploded for 43 points in vain as the Hornets slender playoff chances ended with a defeat to Orlando.

Walker’s superb display was backed with 22 points from Jeremy Lamb and 18 points from Miles Bridges.

The Magic however ran out 122-114 winners with Terrence Ross scoring 35 points from the bench in 29 minutes. AFP

Thais Jantavara, Choowong take charge in PH Golf Tour eliminations RATCHPOL Jantavara tamed Luisita’s backside with a 32 and went on to fire a 67 and seize control halfway through the Philippine Golf Tour Asia third season Qualifying Tournament in Tarlac Wednesday.

Jantavara birdied three of the first four holes at the back then holed out with another birdie to jump from middle of the pack to the top of the heap with a 141 after a 35-32 that more than made up for a shaky 74 Tuesday.

Compatriot Wongsakorn Choowong likewise sizzled at the back with three

birdies in the last seven holes to shoot a 69 and move to second at 142 in a tie with erstwhile leader Marcos Pastor, who slowed down with a 75 after opening with a 67.

Aussie Fidel Concepcion shot a 70 while local bet Kris Etter turned in a 73 for joint fourth at 143 while six players – Aussie Weston Lane (76), Thai Kittiroj Chantharothai (74), Luke Trocado of South Africa (75), Rohan Kathuria of India (76), Korean Moon Seung Ryul (79) and Taric Can of the US (79) made the 65-plus ties cut at 155.

But they will have a lot of catching up to do in the last 36 holes of the elims with only the top 40 and ties to gain Category 6 berths for the new PGT Asia season kicking off next week, also at the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course.

Others boosting their bids are Thai Puk Pradittan (71), American Pete Vilairatana (71), Japan’s Issei Mori (72) and Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang (75), who all assembled 144s, while another stroke back at 145 were Korean Cho Phil Kyu (71), Sebastian Hansson of Sweden (72), Japanese Ryui Hashimoto (73),

Singapore’s Deng Shan Koh (73) and Thai Tawan Phongpun (74).

The other Filipino bidders in the hunt are Anthony Fernando and Enrico Gallardo, who carded 71 and 73, respectively, for 146s, Omar Dungca (72-148), Nico Evangelista (75-149), Santiago Cabo (76-149), Cookie La’O (74-150), GJ Katigbak 77-150), Jet Mathay (75151), Robert Pactolerin (75-151), Darren Saqui (76-151), Orlan Sumcad (78151), Richnell Albano (74-152), Joseph Suarez (76-152) and Kuresh Samanodi (79-152).

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

Taiwanese steals thunder from Saso

By Peter Atencio

Tzu-Yi Chang stole the thunder from fellow amateur Yuka Saso, unleashing a scorching frontside windup to shoot a six-under 65 and wrest a one-stroke lead over the Fil-Japanese and Thai pro Arpichaya Yubol in the second round of the ICTSI Manila Golf Ladies Classic at the Manila Golf Club.

Augusta chief dismisses idea for a women’s Masters golf AUGUSTA—Augusta National Golf Club is still basking in the glow of its first Women’s Amateur, but don’t expect a women’s Masters featuring the world’s top female pros at the fabled Georgia club.

“Our focus throughout our history has been on, as far as our efforts to promote the game outside of the Masters have always been, on amateur golf,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said on the eve of the Masters on Wednesday.

“I think what we would like to do, and hopefully will achieve, is doing things that will benefit professional golf, benefit professional women’s golf, and all of golf. But by promoting women amateurs, the future stars of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, we’d like to think that that is something that’s going to benefit them, as well, and I think that the LPGA would agree.

“So that’s the track we are going to continue to take.”

A field of 72 of the world’s top women amateurs competed last week in the 54-hole tournament, the first two rounds taking place at neighboring Champions Retreat before the top 30 played the final round at Augusta National -- the club founded in 1933 that excluded women until 2012.

American Jennifer Kupcho won the inaugural title, firing three birdies and an eagle in the last six holes for a four-shot victory over Mexico’s Maria Fassi.

Tiger Woods, a four-time winner of the Masters, was impressed by the quality of golf on view in the final round.

“They only got one practice round in, so for them to learn a golf course like this, in one day, and go out there and perform like they did, it was incredible,” he said. “It was incredible to see, and I think that it adds to the allure of Augusta National and the Masters tournament, and I think what they have done for women’s golf is a huge step in the right direction.”

Ridley said he hadn’t anticipated the “emotional response” to the event, from players, their families and Augusta National club membership and staff.

“I think it made us a better organization,” he said, although he refused to be drawn on whether the club erred in refusing to admit women members for so long.

“No matter what the issue is, you know, we can always look back and say we could do better. No question,” he said. AFP

Painters, Hotshots start best-of-7 semis

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE semifinals of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup kicks off with an intriguing match up between Rain or Shine and Magnolia as they open their best-of-seven affair.

The Elasto Painters and the Hotshots both try to draw first blood when they meet in Game 1 at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Coaches of both protagonists gave some key factors that their respective teams must observe heading into the series.

“We have to take care of their pressure defense,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. “We have to limit Victolero our turnovers and their offense for us Garcia to have a good chance.”

“It’s about grit and will for us. It’s Chito Victolero. “We need to be more another tough series and it’s against determined and consistent than them the No. 2 team,” said Magnolia coach (Rain or Shine).”

Both teams will be entering the series with momentum on their side.

Rain or Shine, the second seed, is armed with a two-game winning streak, while Magnolia is probably the hottest team entering the Final Four phase, having won two in a row as well and five of its last six.

The Painters took care of business right away to advance on their first try, dumping NorthPort, 91-85, last Sunday.

On the contrary, the Hotshots needed to gather themselves to advance.

Once on the brink of elimination, Magnolia came back from a 0-1 series deficit against Barangay Ginebra and won the last two games to move forward and score the 2-1 victory.

What’s impressive was that the Hotshots took down the Gin Kings emphatically in those last two wins, winning by an average of 21 points.

Sytiongsa, Pila forge title duel Begornia strikes gold in SEA squash meet in Visayas play

REYMARK Begornia capped his improbable run in the 5th Southeast Asian Cup Squash Championships Wednesday night with an 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 win over Sinapore’s Benedict Chan in the men’s singles finale at the Kerry Sports courts inside the Shangri-la Hotel in Taguig City.

In an intense duel of nerves in the deciding fifth and final set, Chan was the first to blink, succumbing to three successive mid-game errors that Begornia exploited on the way to capturing the gold medal after 61 thrilling minutes of action in the tournament organized by the Philippine Squash Academy.

It was the first major international title for the lanky 5’11” racket-wielder, who completed a four-match sweep of his stint that gave the hosts their first mint in the six-nation competition backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and MVP Sports Foundation.

Malaysia’s Noor Ainaa Amanti Binti Amani Binti Ampandi came back from a first-set deficit to down Singapore’s Sneha Sivakumar, 6-11, 117, 11-9, 11-6, in clinching the women’s gold medal of the competition also supported by Alaska Fortified Milk, Jollibee, Meralco, PLDT, Salming and Dunlop, the official ball.

Reymark Begornia goes for a backhand shot against Singapore’s Benedict Chan in the men’s singles finals of the 5th Southeast Asian Cup Squash Championships at the Kerry Sports courts inside the Shangri-la at The Fort last Wednesday.

“I just kept my patience, especially in the fifth set. Medyo magulang po ang kalaban pero pagod na rin siya,” noted Begornia in savoring the hard-earned triumph that drew cheers from the small but lively hometown gallery.

“This is a great win for Macmac (Begornia’s nickname). He was all effort and all heart and truly deserves the vic-

tory,” said national coach Manu Yam. “He played a calculating game but was also willing to take risks, which paid off.”

PSA president Robert Bachmann, who witnessed the close match from start to finish, was elated by Begornia’s performance. “What Macmac did was epic!

He never gave up. This is a major breakthrough for him.”

PH’s SEA Games bet Poliquit dies

Rafael Poliquit Jr.

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD amateur Tzu-Yi Chang sizzled with a five-under par 65 to steal the overall lead from Filipino-Japanese ace Yuka Saso Thursday in Round 2 of the ICTSI Manila Golf Club Ladies Masters.

Chang, a first timer at the Manila Golf Club course, came close to the course record of 63 which was set

by Miguel Tabuena in a club tournament last year.

Guided by a local caddy, Chang played with caution as she finished with a two-day total of 137, one stroke ahead Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who placed second with her three-under 68 tally for a 36-hole aggregate of 138.

Saso, who started at hole no. 10, started falling behind after a bogey off a 20-foot missed green putt on the 155-yard 15th hole.

After submitting an even-par 71 for the day, Saso fell into a share of second spot with Yubol.

Chang started her day with three of seven birdies and a bogey and in the first nine holes, coming up with a two-under par 33 in the front nine.

“I needed to play smart. One shot at a time. Because it is easy to miss your shots when you go on the wrong side,” said Chang.

Saso, who had two birdies and two bogeys, managed to card a onepar 36 in the first nine holes following her mishap on the 14th hole.

She said the strong winds in the last five holes kept her improving the quality of her putting since round 1.

“No improvement on my putting because of the strong wind,” said Saso, who went on to finish with a one-sub par 36 in the back nine.

Japanese Mina Nakayama tallied a 2-under par 69 for a 140 in third place, while opening day co-leader Hsuan Chan carded a 69 for a threeway tie at 141.

Sharing 5th to seventh places with Nakayama is another Japanese Yui Noritomi and Thai bet Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro.

Taiwanese Babe Liu also fired a three-under 68 to a two-day tally of 142 in eighth, followed by local pro Pauline del Rosario (143).

RAFAEL Poliquit Jr., one of the country’s top bets in long-distance running, passed away yesterday due to complications from an illness.

Poliquit, 30, was in a coma while undergoing treatment at the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon, according to Philippine Athletic Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico.

He was said to be suffering from complications caused subdural empyema at the time of his death.

Last December, Poliquit won his big-

gest race ever when he ruled the men’s side of the 42nd Milo-National Marathon in Laoag City, alongside Mary Joy Tabal in the women’s side.

He was supposed to be the country’s bet in men’s division of the marathon in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Poliquit got pointers from two-time SEA Games champion Soh Rui Yong, while preparing for the Milo meet, It was Poliquit’s third Milo national crown last year when he clocked his personal best of two hours, 29 minutes, and 47 seconds. Peter Atencio

HARVEY Sytiongsa hacked out a shock reversal over top seed Jacob Rolida then edged Masaichi Otake in an extended duel to seal a title duel with third seed Rolando Pila in the fourth MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championships at Cebu Country Club yesterday.

The eighth-ranked Sytiongsa pulled through in a roller-coaster clash with Rolida in morning quarterfinals, winning two of the last three holes for a 2-up victory. The CCC bet then survived a late meltdown in an afternoon clash with Otake to snatch a victory on the 19th hole and barge into the finals of the serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Sytiongsa actually went 2-up against Otake with two holes to play in regulation but bogeyed them, enabling the latter to extend the match. But the former recovered and toughened up in the playoff, scoring a par while the latter ended up with a bogey as Sytiongsa sealed a final clash with his fellow club bet.

Pila, a caddie at CCC, dominated Martin Mendoza in the quarters and came away with a 3&2 win then used his familiarity with the tight layout to outfox the fancied Chan at the backside in their semis clash, coming up with clutch birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to carve out a 2-up triumph.

Sytiongsa and Pila dispute the crown in a marathon 36-hole finale with top seed Junia Gabasa and No. 2 Pamela Mariano likewise clashing for the ladies crown, also over 36 holes, in the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific and hosted by CCC. Gabasa routed Ashley Llena, 9&8, in the semis while Mariano blasted Marie Suelo, 8&6, in the quarters then held off Grace Quintanilla, 1-up, to earn a crack at the crown.

Chan and Otake tangle for third place over 18 holes with Llena and Quintanilla also disputing the bronze in ladies play of the event which also features the MidAmateur Open division.

IN BRIEF

Delayed budget slows growth—IMF

THE International Monetary Fund said it reduced the 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.5 percent from 6.6 percent due to the delayed approval of the 2019 national government budget.

IMF resident representative Yongzheng Yang said another reason for the downgrade was the slowing external demand as reported by the IMF in the April 2019 World Economic Outlook.

“The downward revision to the growth forecast for 2019 mainly reflects weaker-than-expected external demand and lower-than-expected public investment partly reflecting the delay in the approval of the 2019 budget,” Yang said in a message to reporters.

The IMF said the lingering trade tensions between the US and China and the policy normalization in advanced economies might affect the majority of the countries in the world.

The 2019 GDP forecast for the Philippines is faster than the 6.2-percent actual expansion in 2018. Only Vietnam and the Philippines are expected to grow by more than 6.5 percent this year among the five major economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Julito G. Rada

DP World plans green logistic hubs

DP WORLD’S subsidiary ATI Philippines committed to set up “green economic zone logistic hubs” and an eco-industrial park in the Philippines, according to Philippine Economic Zone Authority deputy director-general Theo Panga.

A globally-known port operator, DP World invited Peza to make a presentation about business prospects in the Philippines to its top management and Jebel Ali Freeport Zone locators.

Panga said the green logistics hub is characterized by integrated one-stop shop, multi-modal transport, use of kinetec energy to power up cranes and fast ship berthing.

Its full automation allows for remote operation and control of quay cranes, vessel pilotage and other building management system and the application of various simulation training facilities.

Peza is trying find ways to reduce cost of cargo transport while enhancing logistics efficiency in the economic zones. Othel V. Campos

BIR sues cargo firm for fake tax stamps THE Cagayan de Oro City office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice against a cargo corporation for allegedly evading the payment of more than P210 million in taxes and for unlawful possession of counterfeit tax stamps.

The BIR said in a statement Cagayan de Oro City-based KDT Cargo Logistics Inc. and its board of directors failed to file excise tax returns, unlawfully removed the articles subject to excise tax without payment of tax and illegally possessed counterfeit Internal Revenue stamps in violation of Sections 236, 255, 263 and 265(c) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 as amended (Tax Code).

The BIR said that results of the investigation conducted in March 2019 by National Bureau of Investigation found during the random testing “that the cigarette packs contained in the spin dryer labels have spurious or counterfeit internal revenue stamps which bear and carry the identical serial number on some brand of cigarettes or have no tax stamps.”

Business ICTSI starts talks to buy Hanjin’s Subic shipyard P

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. is in talks with creditor banks of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines on the planned acquisition of the Korean shipbuilder’s facilities in Subic, Zambales.

ICTSI president Enrique Razon Jr. said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting that the company started making presentations to the banks on the planned acquisition.

“We are still making presentations to the banks. The banks own it now. We are developing a master plan for Hanjin but

we don’t want to talk about it too much,” Razon said.

Razon said a part of the discussion with the banks is whether ICTSI should have joint venture partners to buy Hanjin’s facilities.

Razon said ICTSI would not venture into shipbuilding and planned to develop the property into “several things.”

“We don’t want anything to do with shipbuilding. It is a large facility so it will be several things,” Razon said.

“The Philippines is not really competitive in this area. Nothing that the shipyard uses is made in the Philippines, unlike Japan, China and Korea [where] they make the steel, the machinery, all of that,” he said.

Creditor banks of Hanjin, including local lenders Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands and BDO Unibank Inc., earlier agreed to a debt-to-equity swap scheme to save the company.

Razon said the creditor banks of Hanjin would want to sell their stakes in the company.

“The banks will eventually give it to someone. They’re not gonna run it themselves. The banks definitely want to get rid of it. The bank only cares to be paid back,” Razon said.

The financially-troubled South Korean shipbuilder filed for a voluntary rehabilitation in January amid mounting debts to Philippine and Korean lenders.

Meanwhile, Razon said he was cautiously optimistic about the port business for 2019 as global trade was not expected to grow significantly over the next few years.

“So even if global trade doesn’t grow at all, which is more or less my expectation overall, you will have strong growth in places like Africa and other markets but the main trade routes―Pacific, Atlantic― probably won’t grow. But we will get growth from having modern [facilities].

Almost all our facilities are modern,” Razon said.

OLX invests $56m for 10% of Carousel

CAROUSELL, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds marketplaces, said it received a $56-million investment from Naspers through classifieds business arm OLX Group.

The deal will also see Carousell acquire OLX Philippines, with the mutual goal of serving the Filipino community to buy and sell online with greater ease and flexibility. The total deal is worth $56 million and gives OLX Group a 10-percent stake in Carousell.

The investment from Naspers, one of the largest technology investors in the world, values Carousell at more than $550 million and is a testament to Carousell’s ability to develop world class online classifieds marketplace solutions in Southeast Asia.

Carousell registers the highest engagement rate and time-spent across all online marketplace players. Carousell’s advancement in product and innovative technology, coupled with OLX Philippines’ local experience in managing online classifieds will deliver a seamless user experience of the platform.

WORLD POPULATION REPORT. The United Nations Population Fund launches the State of of World Population 2019 Report entitled ‘Unfinished Business: the pursuit of rights and choices for all in the Philippines. Attending the event are (from left) Commission on Population finance chief Salvacion Collao, PopCom administrations chief Lourdes Nacionales, information management and communications chief Susan Codotco, deputy executive director Lolito Tacardon, PopCom Undersecretary Juan Antonio A. Perez III, UNFPA-Philippines representative Iori Kato, national program officer for population and development Vicente Jurlano and international operations manager Pamela Aine.

Bloomberry to begin construction of $308-m cruise port in 3rd quarter

PRU LIFE UK RENEWS LICENSE. British life insurer Pru Life UK, a subsidiary of international financial services group Prudential Plc, renewas its license with the Insurance Commission to continue operations in the Philippines and carry on with its mission to help Filipinos achieve their financial goals through its life insurance solutions. Pru Life UK president and chief executive Antonio de Rosas (left) receives the certificate of authority from Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa.

BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp., the owner and operator of Solaire Resort & Casino, is set to start construction of a $308-million cruise port in Parañaque City in the third quarter of the year.

Bloomberry chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the firm completed the master plan for Solaire Cruise Center.

“We are set to start construction in the third quarter of the year and hope to complete phase one by 2021,” Razon said.

Razon submitted a proposal to the Duterte administration last year to build a cruise port facility in Parañaque. The proposal includes marine and terminal facilities, homeport and port-of-call operations, an expanded harbor offering dining, retail, shopping, entertainment and maritime recreation and walkable esplanades and plazas.

The project is expected to be a cata-

lyst for economic development as the company aims to develop a Philippinescentric cruise industry with a domestic itinerary. It also hopes to decongest traffic around the airport.

Razon said the Bloomberry was also set to proceed with the construction of Solaire Metro North in Vertis North Complex in Quezon City. This will be the group’s second integrated resort casino in the country.

“We aim to break ground within the year,” Razon said.

Razon said while the master plan was already completed, the company was still finalizing the budget for Solaire Metro North.

Bloomberry announced in February that it obtained a P40-billion loan to fund the second casino project.

Bloomberry reported a record consolidated net profit of P7.16 billion in 2018, up 18 percent from 2017 level on doubledigit growth of gaming revenues. JBA

NLEx extension to Port Area’s Road 10 expected to be completed by December NLEx Corp. said Thursday it expects to complete the construction of the P6billion elevated expressway from Circumferential Road 3 in Caloocan City to Radial Road 10 near Port Area by December this year.

The company said the C3-R10 section of NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 was under way to connect North Luzon Expressway to Port Area.

The 2.6-kilometer elevated expressway will traverse Caloocan Interchange in C3 to R10 in Navotas City.

The C3-R10 section is seen to boost transport logistics as cargo trucks will have direct access from Port Area to the

provinces in the north and vice versa via NLEx. The elevated expressway will reduce the travel time from NLEx Valenzuela City to R10 from 23 minutes to just 11 minutes via Balintawak-Edsa Monumento and from 26 minutes to just 13 minutes via Balintawak to A. Bonifacio/ C3 Road.

It is the extension of the 5.65-kilometer portion of NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 from Karuhatan, Valenzuela City to C3 Road, Caloocan City which was opened on Feb. 28 and has since served more than 100,000 vehicles.

The Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.

said that in anticipation of the surge of travelers in the Lenten season, it would again implement the expanded “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” along NLEX, SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway and ManilaCavite Expressway.

The company expects a 10-percent surge in vehicle traffic at the three toll roads during the Holy Week.

Around 700 tellers and patrol officers will be deployed at the NLEx-SCTEx network to enhance traffic management and toll collection services.

The NLEx-SCTEx traffic management teams will adopt extended working hours on April 15 to 22 to closely

monitor and manage the expected high volume of vehicles in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Tarlac, San Miguel and Tipo toll plazas.

Cavitex will also deploy more traffic patrol officers and security personnel to manage the traffic and assist motorists.

Additional tellers will also be on standby to facilitate faster toll transactions.

Road works at the expressways will be suspended on April 12 to 22 unless safety repairs are required.

Real-time traffic situation at the NLEx-SCTEx network can be viewed on NLEX Corp.’s Facebook page pm April 17 to 22. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

B1

February trade deficit widened as exports fell 0.9% TRADE deficit widened in February, as exports fell 0.9 percent and imports rose 2.6 percent, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

Merchandise exports declined to $5.18 billion in February from $5.23 billion a year ago, while imports increased to $7.97 billion from $7.76 billion.

The numbers translated into a trade deficit of $2.79 billion in February, wider than the $2.54-billion shortfall registered in the same month last year.

Data showed trade deficit in the first two months hit $6.708 billion, up 16 percent from the $5.763-billion gap in the same period last year.

The PSA linked the drop in exports in February to reduced export sales of metal components (-27.8 percent); gold (-18.4 percent); machinery and transport equipment (-16.7 percent); other manufactured goods (-12.6 percent); and ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships (-3.6 percent).

It said the increase in imports was due to the positive growth in transport equipment (up 30 percent); cereals and cereal preparations (28.4 percent); mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (15.5 percent); other food and live animals (9.6 percent); and telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (7.6 percent).

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the slowing growth momentum manifested in the latest trade figures.

“Imports continue to grow, albeit at a more subdued pace in 2019 compared to previous years. The fuel import bill has increased but the slowdown in shipments of raw materials and deceleration in capital goods imports reflects slowing growth momentum and should be a cause of concern,” Mapa said in a report.

He said the elevated borrowing after the Bangko Sentral’s aggressive 175-basis-point rate hike salvo last year might be hampering capital expansion while the budget delay, which put government projects on hold, led to the contracted importation of construction material.

PLDT, Cisco sign 3-year contract to modernize network

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said Thursday it signed a three-year contract with global technology leader Cisco to modernize its fiber network and prepare for 5G services in the country.

Under the partnership, PLDT and Cisco will deploy cutting-edge technology to design and build automated, highly reliable, highly scalable, software-defined, next-generation infrastructure utilizing telco’s existing fiber network to seamlessly deliver customized digital experiences to customers.

The large-scale investment with Cisco is a part of PLDT’s broader transport network transformation project which will be implemented over the next three years.

“This investment will raise PLDT’s fiber network to the next level. Today we mark another major milestone in PLDT’s efforts to help the country gear up for the Industrial Revolution 4.0, enabling us to move up to the next generation of digital technologies, such as 5G, software-defined networking, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things,” PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“At Cisco, we are committed to working with our customers to transform their infrastructure, so they can unlock growth opportunities as everything becomes connected. PLDT is at the forefront of this transformation, and we are proud to partner together to deliver best in class services across the Philippines,” said Cisco chairman and chief executive Chuck Robbins.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market slips on profit-taking

T

HE stock market fell slightly Thursday on profit-taking, with few catalysts to drive buying and investors still on edge over a brewing trade battle between the United States and Europe.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 18.48 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,990.05 on a value turnover of just P3.1 billion after closing above 8,000 points Wednesday. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 115 to 59, with 49 issues unchanged.

Alliance Global Group Inc.of tycoon Andrew Tan dropped 3.3 percent to P15.78, while Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. declined 2.4 percent to P2.01.

GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty family lost 1.9 percent to P882.50, but

major property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 3.1 percent to P46.75.

The pound, meanwhile, held its gains Thursday in Asia after Britain and its EU partners agreed to once again extend the deadline for Brexit, days before the cut-off for avoiding an economically calamitous no-deal divorce.

Asian equity markets mostly fell.

White House threats this week to hammer $11 billion worth of EU goods with tariffs jolted markets, which have been rallying this year on optimism that China and the US were close to ending their own battle.

The warning revived concerns about Donald Trump’s protectionist agenda that has taken aim at US trading partners.

Hong Kong shed 0.8 percent and Shanghai tumbled 1.6 percent despite a jump in Chinese inflation that indicated stabilization in the world’s number two economy. Sydney lost 0.4 percent and Taipei retreated 0.6 percent. There

were also losses in Jakarta, Mumbai and Bangkok.

But Tokyo reversed an early loss to end 0.1 percent up, with Wellington also up. Seoul and Singapore were barely moved.

After hours of late-night talks Prime Minister Theresa May was given until the end of October to pass her deal for leaving the bloc through parliament, having failed three times already.

The extension allows for an earlier exit if May achieves it, with a review taking place on June 21.

News of the delay allowed traders to breathe a sigh of relief and the pound rose slightly soon after the deal but observers said the reprieve was only brief with the agreement merely kicking the can down the road.

“The problem for traders and investors is that the extension... does not bring us any closer to a resolution,”

said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com.

“The cliff-edge has simply been pushed back. We are in a period of peak uncertainty for UK politics and that won’t help investors pile back into UK assets.”

And there remains much uncertainty, with the prime minister under intense pressure from hardline Brexit supporters in her Conservative party not to compromise in her talks with the opposition Labour party, while the discussions are moving slowly.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: “May will now have to return to the UK and make the case to her disgruntled Brexiter MPs later today that the UK will... be in the EU for another six months.

“This is not likely to go down well, which could well increase internal party maneuvers to replace her.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.6 16,530 83 2,655,430 131.6 1,284,560 1.3 10,000 26.85 200,300 18.56 2,300 12.1 115,000 4.5 30,000 0.45 30,000 78.2 5,263,640 0.92 171,000 13.72 206,200 56.6 768,020 184 4,190 110.1 80 57.2 80 25.9 14,700 180 114,580 62 980 1.13 8,000

967,255 221,203,662.50 169,173,904 13,000 5,399,620 42,928 1,400,920 135,560 13,500 410,939,138 154,510 2,829,094 43,588,350.50 789,320 8,808 4,576 381,830 20,617,771 60,339 9,040

954,970 6,334,667.00 41,183,368 -3,860,670 -592,406 -295,592,955.50 -27,600 -2,804,398 -121,773 190,925 -200,205 4,194,597 1 -

36.1 16.02 0.95 1.39 0.241 1.97 15.78 29 14.66 45 1.96 5.25 5.85 11.5 15.8 9.45 7.26 1.59 21.5 79.5 29.7 2.66 10.8 12.9 1.73 317.2 50 3.85 3.63 10.32 23.25 15.22 20.8 380 0.189 6.3 1.38 4.26 6.41 1.59 11.6 46 5.2 4.7 1.7 2.26 1.27 12.82 105 7.43 1.01 157 2.5 1.73 1.23

INDUSTRIAL 36.3 2,462,500 16.2 505,200 0.96 455,000 1.43 856,000 0.247 2,480,000 1.99 25,675,000 15.82 747,100 29.35 46,300 15.7 5,400 48.9 224,600 1.96 213,000 5.25 5,900 5.99 19,000 11.54 409,600 15.94 680,700 9.64 421,100 7.27 99,100 1.59 55,000 22 665,500 79.75 22,970 30.4 197,500 2.78 9,556,000 10.92 2,346,700 13.1 214,200 1.8 384,000 317.2 335,080 51 4,070 3.85 172,000 3.7 52,000 10.32 3,600 23.25 3,294,000 15.3 2,319,000 21.05 11,122,200 381.4 114,010 0.19 750,000 6.3 1,730,400 1.39 1,493,000 4.33 17,000 6.41 1,183,800 1.6 22,097,000 11.98 44,200 46.15 662,000 5.21 97,000 4.7 20,000 1.7 3,000 2.26 177,000 1.3 102,000 13.2 623,500 108.8 261,240 7.5 351,000 1.03 384,000 157.3 1,779,430 2.51 16,000 1.74 2,377,000 1.23 3,050,000

89,575,500 8,173,326 433,580 1,192,760 602,030 51,498,970 11,847,412 1,354,620 85,888 10,119,030 419,290 30,975 113,299 4,736,524 10,858,416 4,003,839 720,464 88,030 14,540,310 1,828,923.50 5,918,215 26,420,440 25,506,698 2,783,268 676,770 107,146,204 207,520 665,170 189,930 37,348 77,489,455 35,478,146 234,279,275 43,538,610 144,380 12,415,667 2,072,430 72,920 7,609,707 35,771,560 522,908 30,524,490 509,409 94,000 5,100 410,470 130,720 8,171,520 28,225,764 2,639,767 391,710 280,603,309 41,510 4,130,920 3,812,770

-24,702,675 -310,090 172,690 -1,814,710 -3,803,038 -387,555 -1,570 112,945 20,000 -95,383 -63,770 -109,640 2,174,609.00 -79,243 5,273,765 -647,355 3,837,520 1,336,984 -688,576 -23,303,726 -16,461,485 11,526,456 -83,286,690 71,062 11,400 98,150.00 -1,818,254 703,320 -29,640 25,564,655 -509,409 -3,519,386 12,129,763 47,042 202,593,625 2,500 -893,100 1,250

0.55 59.2 15.6 0.77 6.45 19.96 1.41 1.42 912 7.63 12.1 15.08 0.231 866 6.9 63.6 0.5 5.16 16.6 0.55 4.66 0.039 2.99 177 950 0.95 1.32 470 266.2 0.234 0.365

HOLDING FIRMS 0.56 4,252,000 59.2 428,100 15.6 11,593,000 0.77 571,000 6.5 130,000 20.15 22,600 1.45 9,056,000 1.43 707,000 912 325,030 7.7 1,268,200 12.16 7,071,700 15.08 295,000 0.245 720,000 866 168,180 6.9 53,500 63.6 1,189,360 0.52 963,000 5.2 416,400 16.6 1,453,900 0.56 725,000 4.69 15,424,000 0.039 9,100,000 3.07 1,294,000 178.9 1,019,290 958 95,060 0.95 3,934,000 1.35 109,000 497 1,120 266.2 3,190 0.247 1,860,000 0.375 10,520,000

2,383,820 25,497,766.50 182,415,540 441,630 844,930 452,710 13,016,710 1,007,440 297,524,180 9,763,941 86,024,646 4,472,654 167,150 147,359,090 371,376 77,016,106 481,710 2,170,985 24,298,820 418,140 72,390,900 354,900 3,947,010 182,149,930 91,083,060 3,794,040 144,200 551,736 856,244 442,310 3,911,300

-54,550.00 93,832 -75,312,676 454,930 505,940 -39,736,905 -178,600 -33,267,210 -1,904,114 -77,641,415 1,149,929.50 -563,393 2,599,292 22,090 -11,511,690 57,870 33,828,227 43,216,250 429,700 -58,564 -22,250

14,040,884 399,870 87,066 54,600 634,490 1,045,171,490 2,627,690 3,170,690 536,723 1,117,120 1,800 205,040 56,000 3,765,140 10,609,710 1,363,880 31,220 11,978,160 1,722,860 76,756,621 1,607,100 2,126,000 6,842,240 4,200 1,691,900 223,742 40,267,330 31,660 411,850

-983,130 385,686,780 2,430 -1,407,770 0 -89,980 9,136 1,561,675 -580,200 -4,541,200 -395,040 12,004,573 -36,500 -17,200 -17,673,455 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.5 82.4 131.5 1.3 27.25 19.1 12.3 4.54 0.45 78.5 0.9 13.72 56.9 189 110.1 57.2 26 180.5 61.7 1.13

58.6 83.7 132 1.3 27.45 19.1 12.3 4.55 0.45 78.8 0.92 13.74 56.9 189 110.1 57.2 26.05 180.7 62 1.13

58.5 82.35 131.2 1.3 26.85 18.5 12.08 4.49 0.45 77.75 0.9 13.72 56.45 184 110.1 57.2 25.9 179.5 61 1.13

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

36.6 16.32 0.95 1.39 0.241 2.07 16.2 29.4 15.96 45 2 5.25 6 11.52 15.96 9.6 7.26 1.62 21.7 79.8 29.75 2.7 10.94 12.96 1.76 322 51 3.85 3.63 10.74 23.9 15.26 21.05 385 0.19 6.94 1.41 4.26 6.44 1.61 11.76 46.05 5.3 4.7 1.7 2.38 1.3 13.16 105.9 7.65 1.07 159.6 2.5 1.75 1.25

36.75 16.32 0.96 1.43 0.247 2.07 16.2 29.4 16 49.5 2 5.25 6.01 11.62 15.96 9.66 7.32 1.62 22 79.8 30.5 2.8 10.96 13.1 1.8 322.6 51 4 3.7 10.74 24 15.4 21.5 385 0.2 7.8 1.42 4.33 6.5 1.65 11.98 46.15 5.3 4.7 1.7 2.38 1.3 13.2 109 7.65 1.07 159.6 2.68 1.75 1.29

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

0.57 59.75 16.02 0.8 6.5 20.25 1.42 1.42 915.5 7.7 12.16 15.28 0.232 900 6.95 66.45 0.52 5.16 16.86 0.55 4.7 0.039 3.01 179 967 0.99 1.32 486.8 270 0.234 0.37

0.58 60.95 16.26 0.8 6.5 20.25 1.45 1.44 920 7.7 12.28 15.28 0.245 900.5 6.97 66.45 0.52 5.24 16.88 0.58 4.71 0.039 3.07 179.4 967 1.01 1.35 498 270 0.247 0.38

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

13 0.78 11.32 1.95 0.76 45.5 2.42 4.19 6.49 0.54 0.9 0.241 0.4 11.6 23.25 0.51 0.125 1.52 1.4 5.8 0.365 0.49 1.76 0.42 2.6 45.35 24.5 1.98 3

13.1 0.78 11.32 1.95 0.77 46.95 2.43 4.22 6.49 0.54 0.9 0.242 0.4 11.6 23.65 0.51 0.125 1.53 1.41 5.8 0.365 0.52 1.86 0.42 2.6 48 24.5 1.98 3.05

12.84 0.77 11.3 1.95 0.75 45.5 2.41 4.14 6.49 0.53 0.9 0.241 0.4 11.32 23.1 0.5 0.124 1.51 1.39 5.71 0.355 0.47 1.76 0.42 2.51 45 24.1 1.96 3

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

39.55 1.66 7.05 0.74 7.25

39.95 1.66 7.05 0.74 7.28

39.55 1.6 6.91 0.74 7.12

39.65 1.66 7 0.74 7.2

3,280,700 1,092,000 74,600 29,000 7,396,700

130,135,600 1,809,890 519,213 21,460 53,216,122

25,753,935 164,920 -7,400 -22,832,504

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

12.28 20.2 0.041 2.48 12.88 0.07 85 5.45 6.8 2.13 10.08 895 1,910 5.8 389 3 1.82 132 11 7.09 0.129 5.21 3.02 15.78 3.71 0.94 22.3 0.71 4.52 3.49 1.68 2.48 4.4 10.2 3.19 4.51 7.61 120 2.86 1,163 0.86 1.03 49.75 80.3 8.61 2.47 0.69 0.4 5.7 0.7 15.4

12.8 20.3 0.042 2.48 12.94 0.072 88.8 5.5 6.9 2.13 11.7 895 1,920 5.82 400 3.01 1.9 133.5 11 7.09 0.13 5.22 3.09 15.78 3.72 0.94 22.7 0.72 4.78 3.53 1.75 2.48 4.5 10.38 3.19 4.53 7.75 120 2.99 1,168 0.87 1.07 49.75 80.6 9.05 2.51 0.69 0.405 5.71 0.72 15.9

12.12 19.8 0.041 2.41 12.7 0.07 85 5.41 6.5 2.13 10.06 895 1,894 5.79 388 2.93 1.82 131.1 11 7.09 0.127 5.1 2.95 15.4 3.66 0.91 22.3 0.62 4.46 3.47 1.68 2.45 4.38 10.16 3.19 4.5 7.6 120 2.85 1,152 0.85 1.03 49 79.9 8.61 2.45 0.68 0.395 5.64 0.7 15.4

SERVICES 12.8 19.98 0.042 2.43 12.84 0.071 87 5.41 6.9 2.13 10.88 895 1,894 5.81 399.8 2.94 1.9 131.2 11 7.09 0.13 5.16 3.09 15.4 3.68 0.94 22.65 0.64 4.78 3.52 1.75 2.45 4.47 10.16 3.19 4.5 7.75 120 2.93 1,165 0.86 1.05 49 80.05 9.02 2.49 0.69 0.395 5.66 0.72 15.84

36,800 61,700 15,200,000 215,000 7,088,000 34,610,000 1,746,690 222,100 91,400 1,000 226,500 80 19,650 5,138,000 1,990 816,000 12,000 2,272,540 4,000 12,000 3,250,000 1,244,100 77,000 41,400 1,305,000 534,000 368,400 5,695,000 122,000 3,950,000 5,000 1,017,000 111,000 14,000 4,000 23,000 17,000 26,870 2,117,000 130,625 6,597,000 40,800,000 393,800 637,210 272,700 8,327,000 509,000 8,760,000 191,300 1,499,000 1,705,800

453,278 1,234,572 628,200 521,580 90,780,696 2,454,330 153,079,362 1,210,150 595,800 2,130 2,474,814 71,600 37,401,455 29,848,912 791,886 2,416,060 22,000 299,620,400 44,000 85,080 415,220 6,416,133 232,760 637,940 4,810,330 490,920 8,320,895 3,804,830 547,940 13,834,240 8,470 2,496,320 489,310 143,268 12,760 103,790 129,961 3,224,400 6,222,860 152,167,570 5,672,900 42,829,190 19,397,960 51,041,930.50 2,438,728 20,677,330 349,550 3,490,550 1,087,084 1,060,160 26,675,274

-4,736 -24,290 -4,828,016 21,501,151 -10,920 6,800 1,122 -4,297,160 51,870 50,850 10,200,688 -363,052 -622,160 -1,799,030 -46,010 1,660,995 2,603,890 113,180 12,760 0 0 -1,555,480 -38,311,085 -33,540 -3,300,740 1,625,575 -45,395,051.50 -126,000 -187,440 -4,130 173,800 199,108 11,330,378

569,300 2,581,900 1,026,780 139,790 14,340 31,680 1,211,410 135,600 69,611 10,425,950 1,630,450 98,280 56,130 65,600 99,600 291,020 6,282,770 369,610 295,380 51,700 36,430 1,718,240 54,289,617 66,261,975

-695,800 -969,160 129,700 5,800 701,980 -13,250 -1,489,390 50,000 10,320 -537,061 27,663,750

MS

PROPERTY 12.96 0.77 11.3 1.95 0.77 46.7 2.41 4.18 6.49 0.54 0.9 0.242 0.4 11.48 23.5 0.5 0.124 1.52 1.39 5.8 0.365 0.52 1.84 0.42 2.51 48 24.1 1.98 3

1,084,800 518,000 7,700 28,000 840,000 22,570,300 1,089,000 759,000 82,700 2,095,000 2,000 850,000 140,000 330,000 453,800 2,712,000 250,000 7,883,000 1,236,000 13,282,100 4,460,000 4,230,000 3,746,000 10,000 666,000 4,930 1,666,000 16,000 137,000

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

0.002 1.27 2.92 12.9 1.29 1.32 2.7 0.295 8.17 1.66 0.255 0.117 0.112 0.0082 0.0083 1.08 2.59 1.04 0.92 0.011 3.03 3.43 7.68 22.7

0.0021 1.33 2.92 12.9 1.44 1.32 2.71 0.295 8.2 1.66 0.275 0.117 0.124 0.0082 0.0083 1.11 2.63 1.04 0.92 0.011 3.1 3.48 8.1 23.35

0.0019 1.27 2.86 12.02 1.29 1.32 2.69 0.29 7.99 1.56 0.255 0.117 0.112 0.0082 0.0083 1.07 2.55 1 0.9 0.011 3.03 3.43 7.42 22.4

MINING & OIL 0.002 286,000,000 1.31 1,979,000 2.88 353,000 12.86 10,900 1.44 11,000 1.32 24,000 2.69 449,000 0.29 460,000 8.15 8,600 1.56 6,559,000 0.27 6,130,000 0.117 840,000 0.124 500,000 0.0082 8,000,000 0.0083 12,000,000 1.07 265,000 2.56 2,439,000 1.03 369,000 0.9 325,000 0.011 4,700,000 3.1 12,000 3.44 498,000 7.92 6,911,100 23.3 2,868,700

ABS HLDG PDR DD PREF FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

19.4 97 450.6 494 5.64 900 925 94.75 1.01 102.7 972 980 75 76 72.95 72.6 74.5 73.5 73.7 73.9

19.4 97 450.8 494 5.64 900 930 95 1.01 102.7 972 980.5 75.9 76 73 72.6 74.5 73.5 73.8 73.9

19.12 96.3 450.6 494 5.61 900 925 94.75 1.01 100 972 980 75 75.75 72.95 72.5 74.5 73.5 73.7 73.9

PREFERRED 19.12 43,600 97 5,680 450.8 800 494 20 5.61 570,000 900 1,790 925 1,130 95 250 1.01 2,000 100 2,020 972 20 980 180 75.9 6,370 75.75 37,730 73 1,520 72.6 6,400 74.5 14,000 73.5 9,300 73.8 9,600 73.9 600

836,084 550,610 360,560 9,880 3,200,204 1,611,000 1,045,750 23,695 2,020 202,055 19,440 176,450 478,956 2,864,214 110,950 464,440 1,043,000 683,550 708,017.50 44,340

-350,376 -

LR WARRANT

1.92

1.93

1.88

WARRANTS 1.92 94,000

179,200

-

656,170 6,244,520

14,490 -1,514,510

743,213

192,016

25,100 147,609.60

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.82 1.27

4.83 1.29

4.74 1.23

FIRST METRO ETF

119.6

119.6

119

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.04 10

10.04 10

10.04 9.7

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,324,085

INDUSTRIAL

103,895,702

HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY

84,970,446 116,196,217

SERVICES

158,251,553

MINING & OIL

343,623,153

GRAND TOTAL

825,426,987

4.78 1.24

SME

137,000 5,018,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119 6,230 DDS 10.04 9.7

2,500 15,020

VALUE 1,745.83 (UP) 3.35 1,110,097,817.26 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,837.20 (DOWN) 116.44 1,276,874,748.33 HOLDING FIRMS 7,735.68 (DOWN) 138.22 1,270,985,846.82 PROPERTY 4,168.18 (UP) 29.09 SERVICES 1,624.09 (DOWN) 6.89 2,470,189,926.70 MINING & OIL 7,818.70 (UP) 139.31 1,007,262,535.25 PSEI 7,955.80 (DOWN) 52.73 147,779,681.91 All Shares Index 4,888.92 (DOWN) 20.96 7,290,848,907.53 Gainers: 80; Losers: 116; Unchanged: 45; Total: 241

CEMEX unit gets pioneer status, perks for expansion SOLID Cement Corp., a wholly-owned unit of CEMEX Holdings Philippines Inc. and operator of the Antipolo cement factory, recently obtained a ‘pioneer’ status from the Board of Investments as a new producer of cement in the city.

The status entitles the company to certain fiscal incentives and tax holidays and allows it to build a new and independent production line while boosting the total capacity to 3.4 million metric tons a year.

Solid Cement, which currently has a capacity of 1.9 million metric tons, serves the markets of southern Luzon and the National Capital Region. It produces products that carry the Island and Rizal Cement brands.

“Securing BoI approval signifies that we are on the right track as an investor supporting Philippine growth. We are looking forward to delivering a steady supply of building materials for customers even as we continuously work towards being a partner for nationbuilding,” said CEMEX president and chief executive officer Ignacio Mijares.

The company is investing $235 million for the cement plant in Antipolo that will generate a new capacity of up to 3.4 million MT by 2020 from the current 1.9 million MT. It tapped China’s CBMI Construction Co. Ltd. for the engineering, procurement and construction of the project.

With more than two decades in the country, CEMEX has contributed to the advancement of the construction industry through capacity innovations.

The creation of a new production line in Antipolo is one of the initiatives that CEMEX has set to allow for more efficient production and supply delivery, especially for projects at the National Capital Region and South Luzon.

“This will allow us to further serve the cement requirements of the country during this important period heralded as the Philippines’ golden age of infrastructure,” added Mijares, referring to the company’s support for the government’s “Build, Build, Build” agenda.

The BoI approval also strengthened CEMEX’s foothold as a leading cement manufacturer.

“We always utilize opportunities to increase productivity and reduce unitary distribution costs. The tax exemption will enable us to improve our prices and have better profit margin,” said CEMEX tax director Adrian Bancoro.

Hanergy of China taps Greenergy to sell solar products

By Jenniffer B. Austria GREENERGY Holdings Inc. of businessman Antonio Tiu has teamed up with Chinese multinational company Hanergy Thin Film Power Asia Pacific Ltd. to distribute solar powered products in the Philippines.

Greenergy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it was appointed as Philippine distributor of solar-powered related products of Hanergy.

The exclusive distributorship comes at a time when the Philippines has a shortage of electricity, said Greenergy chairman Antonio Tiu “This tie-up is very timely as the company will be in a position to provide immediate solution in the metropolis to the current power crisis by expanding capacity with clean, renewable energy using thin film,” said Tiu. “The thin-film technology of Hanergy allows us to harness solar power not just through solar panels on rooftops of buildings, which presents a limited space, but also on all windows of the buildings. This will now allow highrise buildings to have a significant part of its electricity needs supplied by solar power,” he added.

Greenergy under the agreement will promote and sell all Hanergy solar products, including the new and innovative Film Flat SOLARtile. The agreement covers one year with an option to renew upon expiration of the original term.

Hanergy group is the world’s leading thin-film solar power company.

Established in 1994, the company is headquartered in Beijing with a total of 15,000 employees.

It has branches in provinces acorss China, as well as in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa, with core businesses covering hydropower, wind power and thinfilm solar power.

World

B3

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Dalai Lama to be discharged

OPENING.

Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary (background, left) and her twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine arrive for the public opening of the new Panda House in Copenhagen Zoo on April 11, 2019. AFP

Battle for Tripoli escalates as UN meets over the crisis

T

RIPOLI-The battle for Libya’s capital intensified as the UN Security Council met Wednesday to discuss the crisis gripping the North African country, where armed rivals are locked in a deadly power struggle.

The closed-door talks in New York come a day after the United Nations postponed a Libyan national conference aimed at drawing up an election road map because of fighting raging on Tripoli’s doorstep.

Libya has been riven by divisions since the NATObacked overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with various armed groups and two parallel governments vying for territory and oil wealth.

Heavy clashes were heard Wednesday in the Ain Zara district on the southeastern outskirts of Tripoli as military strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces pressed an assault aimed at taking the capital from the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

“The clashes have intensified. We’re afraid to leave the house,” a resident told AFP by telephone from the area, where roads were reported to have been blocked, hindering people’s efforts to flee.

S. Korean court orders ban on abortion lifted SEOUL―South Korea’s constitutional court on Thursday ordered the country’s decades-old abortion ban to be lifted in a landmark ruling over a law that campaigners say puts women at risk.

South Korea remains one of the few industrialized nations that criminalizes abortion, except for instances of rape, incest and when the mother’s health is at risk.

But the nine-member bench ruled by seven to two that the 1953 statute aimed at protecting lives and traditional values “goes against the constitution” and ordered the law to be revised by the end of next year.

“The abortion ban limits women’s rights to pursue their own destinies, and violates their rights to health by limiting their access to safe and timely procedures,” the court said in a statement.

“Embryos completely depend on the mother’s body for their survival and development, so it cannot be concluded that they are separate, independent living beings entitled to rights to life.”

Bursting into tears of joy and celebrating, hundreds of women—including teenagers and females with disabilities—cheered wildly in front of the Constitutional Court in central Seoul, where the official ruling was announced.

“Women deserve to be happy as much as we want to be today,” activist Bae Bok-ju told AFP. “Today’s decision was made because countless women ceaselessly fought for their rights for so many years. We deserve the world’s attention and we deserve its recognition,” Bae added.

Under the ban, women who undergo the procedure can face up to a year in jail and a fine, while doctors who performed the procedure are given two years in prison.

The 1953 law had been widely flouted and rarely resulted in prosecutions, but activists had claimed it left women facing being unable to pay for terminations, unsafe procedures and social ostracisation. AFP

The violence has already displaced thousands and left several dozen people dead.

The Libyan Red Crescent said it had evacuated civilians on Wednesday morning but had so far only had access to combat zones controlled by the GNA. Led by Fayez al-Sarraj, the GNA’s authority is not recognized by a parallel administration in the east of the country, which is allied with Haftar.

Thirty families were evacuated from Ain Zara and Wadi Rabi, a district further south, to reception centres or to homes of relatives and friends, the Red Crescent said on its Facebook page.

The UN Security Council began meeting behind closed doors to consider next steps, with diplomats saying Britain was discussing a possible draft resolution.

“We agree with the secretary-general that there should be a ceasefire but at the moment we do not have a text,” British Ambassador Karen Pierce told reporters ahead of the talks.

Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls swathes of the country’s east, said it had seized a barracks in the Aziziya area around 50 kilometers south of Tripoli after “ferocious clashes”.

It said several fighters loyal to the UN-backed gov-

ernment had been detained and their weapons seized.

“For the moment, it’s still a game of cat and mouse,” said a commander from a pro-GNA group.

“We’re still organising ourselves. The war hasn’t truly started,” he told AFP. The internationally recognised government carried out several air raids against LNA positions south of Tripoli, and also hit supply lines in central Libya, GNA spokesman Colonel Mohamed Gnounou said Tuesday.

Haftar’s forces appear to be advancing on two fronts, from the south and southeast of Tripoli, while coastal roads to the east and west of the city are defended by fighters loyal to the GNA. Haftar has defied international calls to halt the surprise offensive launched on Thursday.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was “deeply concerned by the situation in Libya.”

“The current military operation and advance on Tripoli are increasing the suffering of the Libyan people and putting civilian lives at risk,” he said in a statement.

The UN children’s agency UNICEF said “nearly half a million children in Tripoli and tens of thousands more in the western areas are at a direct risk due to the intensification of fighting”. AFP

Trump misses deadline for his tax returns WASHINGTON―The Trump administration will miss a Wednesday deadline set by congressional Democrats demanding to see President Donald Trump’s tax returns, the treasury secretary said.

Trump is the first US president since Richard Nixon to refuse to divulge his tax information.

Critics say his refusal seems to suggest he has something to hide.

Democratic Representative Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sparked a battle last week when he made the request using a little-known provision in the tax code.

Neal said: “It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials.”

But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin released a letter Wednesday evening saying he was checking with the Justice Department as to the constitutional issues raised by the Democratic request.

In the letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, Mnuchin wrote: “The Committee’s request raises serious issues concerning the constitutional scope of congressional investigative authority, the legitimacy of the asserted legislative purpose, and the constitutional rights of American citizens.”

Trump’s acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, asked Sunday whether Democrats would ever see the returns, was unequivocal.

“Never,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”

“Nor should they.”

Mulvaney asserted that since voters knew ahead of the 2016 election that Trump would not reveal his returns and then elected him anyway, the matter was “already litigated.” AFP

Britain given six-month Brexit delay

DEMONSTRATION. Sudanese protesters march towards the military headquarters during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum on April 11, 2019. AFP

Music for the masses winning Indonesian voters’ hearts TANGERANG, Indonesia―From Indonesia’s hip-swiveling juggernaut dangdut to thumping rock bands and Islam-infused tunes, music could be the clincher for winning hearts―and votes―as the world’s third-biggest democracy heads to the polls next week.

Political platforms aside, candidates know it is entertainment that draws the crowds to campaign rallies in musicmad Indonesia.

Just ask millennial voter Muhammad Ariel, who went to a concert where popular rock band Radja performed in support of president Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi.

Screaming “where are Jokowi’s fans”, Radja’s energetic show and thumbs-up for Indonesia’s heavy-metal music loving leader resonates with young voters like Ariel, who make up almost one third of the electorate.

NEW DELHI―The Dalai Lama is “doing very well” and will likely be discharged from hospital in New Delhi on Friday as he recovers from a chest infection, his spokesman told AFP on Thursday.

The 83-year-old Buddhist monk, Tibetan spiritual leader and thorn in Beijing’s side was admitted to the Max hospital in the Indian capital on Tuesday with what another aide described as a “light cough”.

“Generally, his holiness is fine. He is doing very well. Still on medication but he is doing very well and will be discharged,” said Tenzin Taklha, the Dalai Lama’s personal spokesman.

“This morning he was in his normal routine.

He was doing some exercise... Basically he is cured but will continue his course of medicine,” Taklha added.

The Nobel peace prize winner is based in the northern Indian hill station of Dharamsala and has been in permanent exile there for some 60 years along with thousands of others.

He fled the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959 and across the frozen Himalayan border to India at the age of 23, disguised as a soldier, as Chinese troops poured into the region to crush an uprising.

In India he set up a government-in-exile and launched a campaign to reclaim Tibet that gradually evolved into an appeal for greater autonomy -- the so-called “middle way” approach.

The self-described “simple Buddhist monk” has spent decades criss-crossing the globe mixing with monarchs, politicians and Hollywood actors pressing his case.

His status as a global symbol of peace whose message transcends faith earned comparisons to visionaries like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. AFP

Jokowi’s camp has said that winning over millennial and first time voters was crucial.

“I’m a Radja fan because their songs are great, but it’s also because we’re going to vote for the same candidate,” Ariel said from the rally near the capital Jakarta.

More than 190 million people are set to cast a ballot for thousands of candidates, from the president down to local legislators, in the Southeast Asian nation’s biggest-ever election on April 17.

Music is essential in this nation of 260 million, where song-and-dance is a staple of television shows, sporting events, presidential debates and even the central bank’s recent economic review.

And it’s a must-do at election time.

“Music is meant to capture the interest of people on the lower rungs of society,” said Hamdi Muluk, a University

of Indonesia psychology professor who has a speciality in politics and voter behaviour.

Jokowi’s rival Prabowo Subianto is banking on capturing the attention of conservative voters in the world’s biggest Muslim majority nation with concerts featuring Islam-inspired gambus music.

The retired general’s musical arsenal also includes Rhoma Irama, a geriatriclooking version of Elvis Presley who is famed as the King of Dangdut.

The hugely popular style―which runs the gamut from religion-inspired lyrics to a raunchier version involving sensual dance moves similar to twerking―takes its cue from Hindustani and Arabic music.

Dangdut is infused with a hypnotic percussion beat backed by a multi-instrument band. AFP

BRUSSELS―European leaders agreed with Britain on Thursday to delay Brexit by up to six months, saving the continent from what could have been a chaotic no-deal departure at the end of the week.

The deal struck during late night talks in Brussels means that, if London remains in the EU after May 22, British voters will have to take part in European elections―or crash out on June 1.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she would now keep working to get her withdrawal agreement approved by parliament to ensure an orderly split, saying her goal was to leave “as soon as possible”.

The other 27 EU leaders met without May over dinner to thrash out what European Council president Donald Tusk called “a flexible extension until 31 October”.

May later returned to agree the new deadline, which British newspapers were quick to note falls on Halloween.

She will address the House of Commons on Thursday before her officials meet for further talks with the main opposition Labour party to try to find a way through the political deadlock.

Without a postponement, Britain would have ended its 46-year membership of the EU at midnight (2200 GMT) on Friday with no deal, risking economic chaos on both sides of the Channel.

Tusk had proposed a year-long delay, but said: “It’s still enough to find the best possible solution. Please do not waste this time.”

He suggested May’s government now had time to ratify the deal agreed with EU leaders in November, to rethink its approach or to stop the entire Brexit process.

The summit conclusions say Britain must hold European elections set for May 23 or if “the United Kingdom fails to live up to this obligation, the withdrawal will take place on 1 June 2019”. AFP

Makati to build columbarium for public use

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

B4

By Joel E. Zurbano

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

E. Samar hospital operations set as benchmark

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY―Eastern Samar has become a benchmark for the provincial government of Agusan del Norte following the performance of the former’s hospital operations.

“We also have seen your LGU’s tenacity in facing them as seen in the performance of your LGU and provincial hospital… specifically the pharmacy operations,” said Agusan del Norte Gov. Maria Angelica Amante Matba.

“We will greatly appreciate to talk with your people, to learn from them, gain insights from the encounter, and comeback to our province enriched with the experience of having shared some learning time with you. We will forever grateful for accommodating our request,” Matba said in a letter to Eastern Samar Gov. Marcelo Picardal.

Seeing the “significant number of similarities in the challenges” of the two provinces, the Agusan governor asked her counterpart for a benchmarking activity on April 11 to 12.

Matba said they will be sending one board member, five heads of offices, and three officers from the Provincial Governor’s Office, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial General Services Office, Provincial Budget Office, Provincial Accounting Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, and Provincial Hospital.

They will be visiting Eastern Samar Capitol and meet with the provincial accountant, general services head, hospital administrator and provincial health officer “to learn from your processes and mechanisms to meet these challenges and how were you able to make the most of the opportunities around you,” Matba said.

The Eastern Samar government reported that it had collected a total of P164,007,151.22 as of December 2018, exceeding its P100-million take in 2017.

Provincial Administrator George Erroba said the increase in their hospital collection “is the result of Picardal’s mechanism to ensure efficient delivery of government services to our constituents.”

“This includes the full implementation of ‘No Balance Billing’ policy and the establishment of Provincial Governor’s Office in the hospitals to regain the trust of the public in terms of the services of the health care facilities in the province,” he said.

As one of poorest provinces in the country, Eastern Samar embarked on a development program dubbed as “Proyekto 25” to lower its poverty incidence of 46.3% to 25%.

MAKING THE ROUNDS.

Leyte 1st District Rep. and Tingog Party-list first nominee Yedda Marie K. Romualdez braves the summer heat to walk with residents of Barangay Opong in Tolosa, Leyte as she makes her campaign rounds ahead of the May midterm elections. Ver Noveno

‘Mountain tourism’ pushed in Reg. 10

By Lance Baconguis

C

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Department of Tourism in Region 10 and the provincial government of Camiguin are pushing for the promotion of mountain tourism with the opening of the Timpoong and Hibok-hibok mountains to adventure seekers.

Camiguin, one of the country’s top tourism destinations, wants to be on the radar of adventure seekers and nature lovers as it develops its framework for a mountain-toseas adventure tourism approach.

Timpoong and Hibok-hibok are also national monuments and Asean heritage parks.

Timpoong stands at 1,500 meters above sea level, while adjacent Hibokhibok rises to 1,200 meters asl.

Both mountains are declared Cent-

ers for Biodiversity as an Asean heritage park ― officially known as the Mt. Timpoong-Mt. Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument—and is among the few such protected areas in the country.

Similar sites in the Philippines include the Mount Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range, Mt. Malindang Range, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, and

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

DoT Region 10 Director Marie Elaine Unchuan said the number of protected areas in the region—Mount Kitanglad in Bukidnon, Malindang in Misamis Occidental, and Timpoong-Hibok-hibok—has inspired the DOT 10 to launch mountain tourism as part of a circuit for tourist activities in the region.

“Mountain tourism is the latest addition to the products of DOT-10, which has introduced farm, dive, faith and cultural tourism in the region,” Unchuan said.

Before the mainstreaming of “climb tourism,” she said local government units have to put in place frameworks to set the rules.

“Legislation should be in place, and communities must be involved in this,” Unchuan said.

Mount Hibok-hibok as seen at 2 a.m. from the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Barangay Itum, Mambajao in Camiguin. Lance Baconguis

THE Makati City government announced on Thursday it will establish a public columbarium offering free cremation and inurnment services to city residents.

The new project, according to Mayor Abigail Binay, aimed to relieve the bereaved family of the burden of costly funeral expenses and, at the same time, provide an innovative solution to the shortage of interment space in Makati.

“Our city engineers, architects and urban planners have already drawn up a site development plan for the construction of the columbarium. Makatizens can look forward to a worry-free and cost-free yet decent way of laying their loved ones to rest,” she said.

Binay said the columbarium will be built on a 4,000-square meter property along Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Valenzuela that used to be the Makati Catholic Cemetery.

“Aside from free cremation and inurnment services, we will make provisions for a viewing area where family and friends of the deceased can gather to pay their respects before the ashes are placed inside the crypt or vault,” she added.

The city chief executive also pointed out that the columbarium will be just across the St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church, adding to its sanctity as a final resting place.

She assured residents that the facility will have people-friendly and environment-friendly features which promote safety, convenience and sustainability.

“Its landscaping will also inspire tranquility and dot the concrete skyline with a refreshing patch of greenery,” she said.

According to the site development plan from the city engineering department, four three-story buildings with landscaping and parking areas will be constructed.

Onion farmers in N. Ecija suffer from ‘bad timing’

By Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga— Wrong timing and other reasons are behind the poor harvest and low profits of Nueva Ecija’s onion farmers, a Department of Agriculture official said.

Instead of planting as early as last October, the farmers planted from December to January—when the market was oversupplied with imported onion, which made it hard for them to recover their investments, said Benjamin Baltazar, DA operations officer in Central Luzon.

While onion farmers in Tarlac are enjoying the fruit of their early labor, Baltazar said their counterparts in 22 towns of Nueva Ecija were selling their produce at very low prices for immediate cash needed to finance the next planting season.

Traditionally, farmers store their produce and release them to the market just in time during the season for more profit. But, “planting onion from December to January was too late and not profitable, while the best time is still October,” the DA official said.

Central Luzon has 11,000 hectares of land planted with onion—10,000 hectares in Nueva Ecija to just 1,000 for Tarlac. Other onion-producing provinces in the country are Mindoro and Iloilo.

According to Baltazar, each hectare produces about to 10 to 15 tons of onion per harvest. At the moment, onion prices are P19 to P22 per kilo of yellow onions and P14 to P18 for the red variety.

More affordable houses available in Hanjin Village, says developer CASTILLEJOS, Zambales―A socialized housing developer is offering affordable houses to OFWs and workers in the province.

“There are still 231 affordable units available here at Hanjin Village in Ba-

rangay Nagbunga,” said Fiesta Communities Marketing supervisor Richie Legaspi during an open house event here.

“Our cheapest unit only has a monthly amortization of P3,900, with no other charges aside from the reservation fee

of P5,000,” he added.

Once the loan process is finished at the Pag-ibig Fund, the unit can be immediately occupied, Legaspi said.

Hanjin Village was inaugurated in April 2013 initially for workers of Korean ship-

building company Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. in neighboring Subic.

However, Hanjin announced its bankruptcy a few months ago, displacing its workers and leaving houses unoccupied. Butch Gunio

SM arm refurbishes covered court NASUGBU, Batangas—What was once a basketball court in Barangay Bulihan here is now a multi-purpose covered court.

Through the joint efforts of SM Foundation and Manila Southcoast Development Corp., the covered court was renovated and repainted, making it the 156th wellness center of the foundation and its fourth special project.

SM Foundation also included the re-

painting of the chapel adjacent to the multi-purpose covered court.

During the inauguration and turnover of the covered court, Barangay Bulihan chairman Edwin Botobara thanked MSDC and SM Foundation for their generosity, as the building can now serve different functions such as barangay assemblies and programs.

The neighboring barangays of Calayo, Looc and Papaya will also benefit from the court.

Signing the deed of donation for the covered court refurbished by SM Foundation and MSDC are (inset, from left) Col. Arceo Palomares, MSDC Security manager; Hon. Romeo Basco- Barangay Councilor for Sports; Hon. Edwin Botobara, barangay chairman; Mario D. Chavez, MSDC Site Administrator; and Dalfhen Samson, SM Foundation assistant project manager.

Life

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

CULTURE AND MEDIA

@MStandardLIFE FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

C1

An unfathomable faith

FAITHFUL. Plaza Miranda in Quiapo is alive with devotees.

By Diana B. Noche

T

HE Spanish influence endures in the Philippines today, in the names and language of the people and in their fidelity to the Catholic Church.

A Filipino is Catholic just by breathing the air. This faith has so infiltrated the life of the people—the kitchen, the town plaza, the barangay hall, the school—that despite other subsequent faiths and quasi-religious cults, Catholicism and the Filipinos’ intensity to practice it remains inconceivable to grasp.

Popular religious beliefs are the protective devices which the human mind is unable to attend to. They are just too complex to understand, too straggly to explain or bring to light—a profound, almost irrational belief that gives credence to what some agnostics call “a crime against wisdom.”

Moral patterns are learned, or taught, in each one’s lifetime from forebears and become modified, undergoing updated rituals in the process, an “aggiornamento” without a drastic leap of faith. Such is the pillow-breasted assurance of the Catholic Church that for ages has continued to hold a powerful allure to those who may be spiritually errant.

We have been witnesses (and participants) to the unique cycle of rebirth and salvation offered by the Catholic Church: washing off life’s dirt, renunciation of a life indulged without constraint, a Saturday confession reparative to the soul, atonement, and release.

This Catholic cycle of washing away like a sandcastle, a one-size-fits-all characteristic forgiveness of sins, is a thoroughly Pinoy ethos in which he sees himself as having now connected to holiness. Thus, exoneration allows him to peep into the existence of another world despite the absence of material proof.

But man is a well of mortal frailty. Who among us is so freaking saintly that never made a bad stumble?

Most times, the odds in everyday life get unexpectedly high and the coping mechanism stalls. We fall through all the cracks. Old ceremonies do not easily die. Essentially it’s an endless chase for the next redemption, minus

'Holy Family with Clouds' by the carvers of Talleres de Maximo Vicente

A statue of 'The Pieta,' originally by Michelangelo

the fear of rejection. Forgiveness becomes a given, a sure thing. God is not dead.

Holy Week in the Philippines kicks off in the cruel summer months—March or April— and, more than any time-honored religious practices, brings out without fail the latent Roman Catholicism streak in us.

The prayerful mood starts with the Ash Wednesday, reminding us to comfortably deal with our mortality. The annual religious observance starts on Palm Sunday, followed by a week of meditation on the life and death of Christ, recreating a history observed through prisms of centuries of hindsight, the kind of elaborateness that shoehorns the faithful into the full week’s moments.

A few times it all gets a bit surreal. The Lenten period is supposed to be of one lonely, refining silence, of soul searching, some breast-beating, a taming of the chaos in one’s conscience, of trying to heal inside wounds that do not bleed, yet refuse to heal. The period is supposed to reaffirm one’s faith in the only world he knows despite its having gone doddery in its axis.

All over the country the Holy Week becomes the great embracer of all the faithful

and sinners as well. An eerie presence of past events—the entry into Jerusalem down to the last gasp for air among two thieves—attempts to recapture that occurrence. There exists a surface line that separates spirituality from a zealot’s unreserved fealty to the faith he has chosen to embrace.

The capstone of the Good Friday observance—self-flagellation with borillos and the crucifixion spectacle at San Pedro Cutud in San Fernando, Pampanga—has become, contrary to Lenten rationale, a sort of a spectator sport or an updated odyssey of a sacrosanct pietism.

We have grown attuned to this summertime state of religious affairs that the Holy Week, with the routineness of clockwork, opens and happily ends with a basketful of Easter eggs.

The real beauty of the Holy Week does not come from external qualities. It springs from plumbing the depths of the human soul. “Bonhomie” is an ingenuine precept. We can’t be nice all 365 days. But Holy Week or not, it would help Christianity to remember some old general orders, especially the “do unto others” clause and hope that nobody steals your laptop.

Talleres de Maximo Vicente's religious artwork on exhibit

RUSTAN’S presents a special exhibition of the religious imagery collection by renowned santero Maximo Vicente, Sr. The exhibit, which will open on April 22 at Rustan’s Makati fifth floor, will present the creations of the Talleres De Maximo Vicente, which Vicente had set up at Calle R. Hidalgo in Quiapo, Manila in 1908 and later moved to M. Adriatico Street in Ermita.

The talleres was known to produce images that could rival those made by the best artisans of Europe, boasting artistry and workmanship. Each commissioned image takes anywhere from three to 12 months to complete.

Examples of Talleres de Maximo Vicente handiworks include the Santo Niño de Praga of San Beda College in Mendiola and San Beda College Alabang, the statues of the main and side altars of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Broadway Avenue, the crucified Christ in Trece Martires, Virgen Milagrosa, San Vicente de Paul, Sta. Luisa in San Marcelino Church, Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Iloilo, and the statues found at Assumption Convent in San Lorenzo Village and Alfonso de Liguori Church in Magallanes.

Photos by Diana B. Noche

A predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines observes the Lenten season religiously--beginning on Ash Wednesday up to Easter Sunday--and practices various time-honored traditions.

'Our Lady of the Assumption' by Maximo Vicente Sr.

C2

Entertainment

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘TODA One I Love’ Timely and relevant political romcom

I

F YOU would do a quick survey with your social media friends as respondents, or let’s say with anyone you chanced upon on the streets and ask them about local politics, they would say that the situation in the country isn’t funny for most Filipinos. With divisions in the political belief, character assassination here and there, dirty tactics and black propaganda...this election period has not even reached its peak.

Kylie Padilla and Ruru Madrid are paired up once again in a series, this time playing the roles of lovers Gelay and Emong, respectively.

To keep our sanity, although some people find politics a big circus and a potent source of entertainment, there is a place that everyone can turn to relieve some of the pressure. Political comedy television shows are a good way to help us to laugh at the things that we otherwise find disturbing.

This form of escapism is where TODA One I Love, a political romcom starring Kylie Padilla, Ruru Madrid, and David Licauco, is anchored in. And televiewers are loving it, which is why an extension is nothing but expected.

“It’s a story of family, love, and politics, interwoven with a lot of humor,” Kylie told Manila Standard in an interview.

“And I think, that what makes the series relevant. Not just because it’s the election period but people can relate to every situation that we feature in the series, including the characters, which are inspired by the people we normally see in our own community,” she carried on.

Since its premiere last February, TODA One I Love continues to be the nightly TV viewing habit of Filipinos. The success of this GMA News and Public Affairs’ election offering only proves how much the viewers appreciate the program’s premise and how much the fans support the KyRu loveteam, with Kylie and Ruru giving justice to their characters Gelay and Emong, respectively.

“It doesn’t feel like work when we’re on set so I guess the audience could see that, could feel that happy vibes. And everybody is in sync, everybody knows their character and it’s so fun,” Kylie said.

Adding more kilig to the equation is the note-worthy presence of chinito heartthrob David.

Ruru Madrid, Kylie Padilla and David Licauco, stars of the timely political romcom, 'TODA One I Love.'

In 'TODA One I Love,' chinito heartthrob David Licauco gives his best as he doesn't want to be known only for his chiseled physique.

“I was intimidated by Kylie and Ruru at first. I feel like I have to keep up. But that’s good for me,” he said.

But beyond the funny lines and romance of this Kapuso primetime show, are the realities of Philippine politics, with every episode reflecting on what is happening in society.

Kylie has been nothing but thankful for the people who continue to support their show. In an Instagram post, she shared how grateful she was to everyone who continues to watch and support TODA One I Love, adding that she loves her character Gelay.

“Gelay is such a gem. She is too good.

I love that she speaks her mind and just chooses to do the right thing every day,” the actress said. “I’m thankful to GMA Public Affairs for writing such a subtlety powerful character. She triumphs over the sexist tendencies of society and she does it with grace. She is head strong yet caring and full of heart.”

She also noted how the show has other beautiful characters, showing different kinds of women. “Our show is proudly ruled by women, strong smart, ambitious women eager to get what they want.

I’m happy to be part of this project. It is definitely a show that is timely and relevant to our social climate,” she added.

TODA One I Love is written by Volta delos Santos, Robert Raz, Mario Banzon, and Aya Anunciacion. It is directed by Jeffrey Hidalgo and Nick Olanka.

Catch TODA One I Love weeknights on GMA Telebabad.

Kapuso viewers abroad can also catch TODA One I Love on GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www. gmapinoytv.com.

‘Yellow Rose’ centerpiece SM Cinema opens 333 screens for ‘Avengers: Endgame’ narrative in San Francisco fest

A scene from the Cinematografo Originals film starring Grammy nominee Lea Sailing.

LESS than a month after it was announced that it was chosen as the Opening Night film at the prestigious 35th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) where it will make its World Premiere, ABS-CBN Cinematografo Originals Contest seed grant winner Yellow Rose was chosen by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) as the Centerpiece Narrative for CAAMFest37.

The prestigious festival will take place from May 9 to 19 in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of Asian American Heritage Month.

CAAMFest, the nation’s largest Asian American film festival, is an 11-day feast of the senses, with film, music, food, and digital media from the world’s most innovative Asian and Asian American artists.

“Our CAAMFest audiences inspire us to deliver meaningful events and showcase new works that challenge our perceptions of Asian America,” said CAAM’s Festival & Exhibitions Director Masashi Niwano in the organization’s press release.

Written and directed by Filipino

American award-winning film documentary and commercial director Diane Paragas, Yellow Rose tells the story of a headstrong Filipina teen from a small Texas town, fighting to pursue her country music dreams while facing the threat of deportation. Its CAAMFest appearance is its San Francisco premiere.

The film stars Tony Award nominee Eva Noblezada, Tony Award-winning actress and Grammy nominee Lea Sailing, country music star Dale Watson, Liam Booth, Gustavo Gomez (The Walking Dead), Libby Villari (Boyhood), and Princess Punzalan, and features original songs written by Watson, Paragas, Noblezada and cast.

Yellow Rose will be screened on May 11—AMC Kabuki 8, 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, May 16 – Piedmont Theatre, 9:00 p.m. during the festival.

Entering its 37th year, CAAMFest will continue to be an anchor event celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

For more information, visit https://caamedia.org/

EVERYONE is anxious to watch the epic finale to the story that we have been following since 2008. This is why from April 24 to 28, SM Cinema will be opening its 333 screens across 64 branches nationwide for Avengers: Endgame.

Cinemagoers can catch the exciting comeback of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as they take solo spotlight in all Digital 2D, 3D, SM Cinema IMAX, Director’s Club Cinema, Event Cinema, and Megascreen Large Format cinemas in any of the 64 SM Cinema branches across the country.

Additionally, SM Aura Premier and SM Mall of Asia will host 24-hour, non-stop screenings of Marvel Studios’ conclusion to twenty-two films, on the same period.

Avengers: Endgame starts right after the grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and left the Avengers ranks in fractures. The remaining Avengers are then compelled to take one final stand to attempt to save the world and defeat their greatest nemesis once and for all.

Avengers: Endgame is produced by Kevin Feige and directed

by Anthony and Joe Russo. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, A fan art of the highly anticipated movie featuring the main Jon Favreau, and Stan characters Leeare the executive producers, and Christopher Get the best seats in the house, and save as much as P20 by Markus, and Stephen getting your tickets via www.smcinema.com or the SM Cinema McFeely wrote the screenplay.

App.

‘Fire or Ice: A Musical Spectacle’

Figure skater Sofia Guidote plays the role of Daenerys Targaryen

FANS of HBO’s Game of Thrones who eagerly await the premiere of the show’s final season can quench their thirst as SKY, the country’s largest cable provider, brings a musical show set on ice.

Dubbed as Fire or Ice: A Musical Spectacle, the show will be staged at 6:00 p.m. today and tomorrow, April 13, at the SM Skating Rink in Megamall.

Witness a Game of Thrones-inspired spectacle which will be divided into two, Fire and Ice, that represent John Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, respectively.

Mallgoers and fans are also in for wonderful Game of Thrones performances. 4G Guitar Quartet sets the tone as it opens the show while ice skating exhibitions by Sofia

Guidote, a member of the Philippine National Figure Skating team, and Joel Minas, a highlevel figure skating coach for SM Skating, follow. The duo will play Daenerys and Jon Snow.

Cameras are a must-bring because, after the program, viewers will have the chance to have a photo op with the cosplayers, Daenerys Targaryen, and the Night King.

Until April 15, SKYcable subscribers can watch all episodes of Game of Thrones Seasons 1 to 7 on demand via HBO GO for free. Simply download the app and register your SKYcable account. For more details, visit mysky.com.ph/ freehbogo. Tune in to the premiere of the last season of the highly talked about HBO series, this April 15.

Motoring

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

C3

Isuzu PUVs enhance operations at PITX

E

xecutives of Isuzu Philippines Corporatio paid a visit last March 26 to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City to witness how Isuzu’s modernized public utility vehicles are helping enhance PITX’s services and operations.

Touring the PITX facilities were IPC President Hajime Koso, Sales and Marketing Division Head Joseph Bautista, and Corporate Communication Manager Nora Liquido. They were met by PITX General Manager Mariano Antonio Arroyo.

The IPC officers were transported to PITX on board an Isuzu QKR77 cab and chassis platform configured into a Class 2, 23-seater, air-conditioned, modernized PUV with the rear body designed and manufactured by Almazora Motors Corp.

This PUV is one of the 15 units franchised to the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative (SETSCO) plying the southwest Manila route from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to PITX and vice versa.

The SETSCO franchise also signifies IPC’s pilot endeavor with the modernized PUV. These PUVs started operations June 18 last year.

On board the modernized PUV, the IPC officers enjoyed its amenities, comfort, and safety. The PUV body is compliant with Philippine National Standards (PNS 2126:2017). The passenger cabin floor-to-ceiling height and gangway provide more space for passengers to move easily inside. The passenger door is safely situated on the right-hand side, facing the sidewalk. Other design features of the body include panoramic win-

dows and windshields, full-body insulation with GeneQ shield, automatic door closer, ECE-compliant headlamps, brake system, wipers, windshield washer, side view mirrors, and provisions for persons with disabilities.

Completing the modernized look and features of the new PUVs are the LCD/ LED TV monitors, electronic signages, fire extinguishers, GPS navigation system, CCTV, dashcam and back-up cameras, and the automatic fare collection system—all geared for passengers’ safety, entertainment, and added convenience in fare collection.

As the group disembarked at the designated unloading area and entered the PITX facilities, they witnessed the spacious, airport-like facilities—all geared for the convenient, comfortable, safe, and speedy transit of passengers coming in and out of southwest of Metro Manila.

The arrivals and departures of provincial buses are well-segregated and orderly (buses arriving from the provinces are directed to the 2nd level, while departures are at ground level), with numerous LED monitors on the hallways indicating bus schedules, destinations, arrival and departure times, and strategically placed speakers announcing transit updates. Ticketing booths are numerous and conducted expediently. Passenger

IPC President Hajime Koso (right) and IPC Sales and Marketing Division Head Joseph Bautista embark on a whirlwind tour of the PITX.

waiting areas are similar to those of airline lounges. The multi-level PITX is airconditioned all throughout, with various food stalls and merchandise stores lining the walkways for passengers’ shopping needs while in transit.

The PITX also offers loading and unloading bays for metro jeepneys and garage-to-terminal (GT or UV) shuttle vans.

The PITX, built and operated by Megawide Construction Corp and the Department of Transportation, started operations on November 5, 2018 under the Public-Private Partnership program, has been projected to be able to handle up to 200,000 passengers daily, servicing the following routes in the Cavite and Batangas provinces: Kawit, Noveleta, Cavite City, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, Ternate, General Trias, Trece Martires, Indang,

Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Mendez, Alfonso, Nasugbu, and Lian.

IPC President Hajime Koso, visibly impressed with the facilities and systems already in place at the PITX, remarked: “The PITX is a prime example of how public-private partnerships can work in harmony to improve the lives of the people. Isuzu Philippines Corporation is delighted to play its part in this business model, as we provide the modern PUVs necessary for the convenient, safe, comfortable, and efficient transit of passengers between PITX and their places of work, leisure and residence in southwestern Manila, Pasay and Paranaque cities.”

IPC Sales and Marketing Division Head Joseph Bautista added: “SETSCO’s modern PUVs are merely the start of IPC’s wholehearted effort to support the gov-

ernment’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which is envisioned to replace 200,000 old jeepneys nationwide with new, safe and environment-friendly public utility vehicles. IPC has been slowly but steadily adding Isuzubranded modern PUVs to transport fleets and cooperatives around Metro Manila and in the provinces since the government program started in June 2018.”

PITX GM Mariano Antonio Arroyo acknowledged the significant role the modern PUVs play in the fulfillment of PITX’s mandate. He affirmed that modern PUVs such as those of Isuzu have helped immensely in expanding the branding, purpose, and public acceptance of the PITX. He described that even before commuters enter PITX, they have had a taste of modern commuting inside the Isuzu modern PUVs. Motoring@MS

HARI reigns, tops regional CV award

A typical morning traffic situation at the Calamba Toll Plaza.

SMC Tollways draws up contigency plans for Holy Week SMC Tollways—The operator of Skyway, NAIAX, SLEX and STAR in the south – said that its contingency plans will be in place a full week before the expected surge to the provinces of vehicles from Metro Manila during Holy Week.

Similar contingency plans will also be laid out in TPLEX in the north.

Approximately 10% increase in vehicle volume is expected during the Lenten season.

Manuel M. Bonoan, president of the operations and management companies of Skyway, NAIAX, SLEX and STAR, said that “this is to assure our travelers that the ride along the tollways will be smooth and safe.”

As early as the first weekend of April, enhanced traffic management measures will be implemented including the fielding of additional ambulant tellers and traffic patrol teams, specifically in areas where heavy volume is expected. “All field personnel will be required to be on standby and not go on leave or vacation,” Bonoan added. “All road works will also be suspended.”

Alec C. Cruz, head of operations of SMC Tollways, added that temporary toll collection booths will be installed to speed up transaction time at the toll plazas.

In partnership with Petron Lakbay Alalay, Motorist Assistance Stations will also be set up at the following areas: : TPLEX – Petron KM 134 Northbound and Southbound and at the TPLEX Toll Operations Compound Northbound; Skyway—C5

and Merville Southbound, Sucat Layby At-grade Northbound; SLEX—San Pedro Gas Station Southbound, KM 44 Petron Gas Station Southbound, and KM 44 Petron Gas Station Northbound; and STAR – Petron Malvar Southbound and Malainin Lay-by KM 92 Southbound, Petron Lipa Northbound and Lapu-Lapu Lay-by KM 90 Northbound.

Meanwhile, heavy volume is expected in the following areas: TPLEX Northbound: April 17 (Wednesday)—April 19 (Friday) in Tarlac Central Toll Plaza, Urdaneta Toll Plaza, Pozorrubio-MacArthur T-intersection, Binalonan Toll Plaza, and Pozorrubio Toll Plaza.

TPLEX Southbound: April 21 (Sunday)—April 22 (Monday) in Tarlac Central Toll Plaza, Urdaneta Toll Plaza, Pozorrubio-MacArthur T-intersection, Binalonan Toll Plaza, and Pozorrubio Toll Plaza.

Skyway (At-grade) Southbound: April 16 (PM Tuesday), 17 (PM Wednesday), 18 (Thursday), and 20 (Saturday) in C5Alabang At-Grade Skyway (At-grade) Northbound: April 21 (Sunday)—April 22 (Monday) in Alabang Viaduct to Skyway On Ramp (Skyway Main Plaza B) Skyway (Elevated) Southbound: April 17 (PM Wednesday) in Amorsolo to Magallanes Area NAIAX Westbound: April 17 (PM Wednesday)—April 20 (Saturday) in NAIAX Main Toll Plaza B

NAIAX Eastbound: April 17 (PM Wednesday)—April 20 (Saturday) in NAIAX Main Toll Plaza A SLEX Southbound: April 17 (PM Wednesday), 18 (Thursday), and 20 (Saturday) in Calamba Toll Plaza A and B, Carmona, Sta. Rosa, Eton-ABI Exits, Cabuyao, and Ayala Toll Plaza SLEX Northbound: April 21 (Sunday) —April 22 (Monday) in Ayala Toll Plaza, Calamba Toll Plaza Entry, Exits in Filinvest and Alabang Viaduct STAR Tollway Southbound: April 17 (PM Wednesday), 18 (Thursday), and 20 (Saturday) in Sto. Tomas Entry, Lipa Toll Plaza, Balagtas Toll Plaza, Sto. Toribio, and Ibaan-San Jose Interchange STAR Tollway Northbound: April 21 (Sunday)—April 22 (AM Monday) in Toll Plazas in Sto. Tomas.

Android and Apple users can download the traffic navigator app, Southern Tollways or visit www.southerntollways. com. They can also check the official Twitter accounts of Skyway (@SkywaySOMCO) and SLEX (@OfficialSLEX).

For 24/7 emergency assistance and traffic updates, motorists may contact the following hotline numbers: For Skyway, NAIAX, SLEX, and STAR: (02) 318TOLL (8655). Other contact numbers: Skyway: Globe—0917-539-8762, Smart —0999-886-0893, and Sun—0932-8546980; SLEX: Globe—0917-687-7539; STAR Tollway: Globe—0917-511-7827, Smart—0908-511-7827; and TPLEX: Globe—0917-888-0715. “30”

AUTOMOTIVE company Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. achieved another milestone as it won the 2018 Regional Distributor of the Year award for Commercial Vehicles ( in the Asia-Pacific/ Russia & Commonwealth of Independent States at the Hyundai Truck & Bus Regional Convention 2019 held in Cebu City recently.

The award represents HARI’s 2nd major CV award in as many years since being granted the sole distributorship of Hyundai Trucks and Buses in 2016.

No less than In Cheol Lee, Executive Vice President for Hyundai Motor Company’s (HMC) Commercial Vehicles Division presented the award to HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez- Agudo.

Ms. Perez-Agudo said, “It is with great pride that we accept this award from Hyundai Motor Company. To be recognized as Regional Distributor of the Year after only two years in the commercial vehicle (CV) business is a testament to how driven and dedicated we are to become the Filipino’s trusted partner to success.”

HARI bested 25 other regional distributors to earn top honors. Other Asia-Pacific/Russia & CIS commercial vehicle distributors were cited for their performance, including the General Group of Myanmar, Hyundai Motor Ukraine, and Hyundai Commercial Vehicles Thailand.

This milestone award follows HARI’s considerable success in the commercial

vehicle business despite a challenging environment. The company also won the 2017 Regional Excellence Award for Asia & Pacific for its rapid growth and unparalleled brand loyalty. Other awards include the 2018 Excellence in Customer Satisfaction for CV After Sales and the 2018 Best in CV After Sales Operation. HARI also brought home the gold in the 1st Hyundai Truck and Bus World Skill Olympics held last October 2018 in South Korea.

“HARI has become a top global performer in commercial vehicles underscored by numerous awards. We aim to sustain our excellence as we draw inspiration from our growing number of customers who prefer and trust the Hyundai brand for their CV needs,” Ms. PerezAgudo added.

HARI’s strong CV sales performance over the last year has reinvigorated its growth trajectory. Total sales of Hyundai Trucks and Buses in February 2019 grew 119.5% year-on-year, while year-to-date sales in the first two months of 2019 grew 113.9%. The success of Hyundai Trucks & Buses in the Philippines is based on their world-class quality, versatility, and cost-efficiency.

Perez-Agudo ended, “We see Hyundai commercial vehicles in the Philippines supporting and driving the national infrastr ucture program, Build Build Build.”

HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo holds up the 2018 Regional Distributor of the Year award alongside In Cheol Lee, Executive Vice President, Commercial Vehicle Division, Hyundai Motor Company.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

Text and photos by Lester Dizon

‘2

019 seems to be a lucky landmark year for us’, confided Francis Jonathan C. Ang, the Chief Operations Officer of the Auto Nation Group.

We were having a casual conversation over a sumptuous Chinese lauriat lunch at the Legend Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant right across the World Trade Center in Pasay City when Frankie, as he likes his friends to call him, told us that 2019 marks his 30th birthday, the 60th birthday of his father, ANG President Felix R. Ang, their company’s 30th year in the auto business, and their 15th year as the official Philippine distributor of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM automotive brands.

During the exclusive media luncheon meeting, Joseph Ayllon, ANG’s PR and communications head honcho, introduced us to the guests of honor, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Asia-Pacific executives led by Steve Zanlunghi, head of Jeep brand for Asia-Pacific; Mike Tsesmelis, Managing Director for FCA Asia-Pacific; and Isaac Yeo, Country Head for the Philippines.

After light conversation and a hearty lunch, we crossed the road onto the WTC and into the 2019 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) where the all-new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was unveiled at the Jeep pavilion by the FCA AsiaPacific and ANG executives.

The Jeep pavilion was a hive of activities at the recent staging of the Manila International Auto Show.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is now available at the ANG dealerships in two-door or four-door body styles and with a choice of engines – a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that churns out 268 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 400 Newton-meters of torque at 3,000 rpm OR a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 that produces a smooth 286 horses at 6,400 rpm and 353 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm. Both engine choices will be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Wrangler Rubicons are Trail-Rated, featuring the 4:1 Rock Trac HD full time four-wheel-drive (4WD) system with locking differentials, 4-wheel heavy-duty FNC disc brakes with ABS, skid plates, front and rear tow hooks, winch-ready front and rear steel bumpers, heavy duty suspension, meaty LT255/75R17C tires, and other rugged features.

Despite its off-road stance and rugged demeanor, the Wrangler Rubicon is comfortable interior and offers smooth ride that belies its tough and rugged exterior.

JEEP WRANGLER Rubicon unveiled

Jeep Asia-Pacific Head Steve Zanlughi

The Jeep booth becomes a pulsating hive of activity at the MIAS.

There are leather seats, climate control system and an infotainment system with a 8.4-inch touch screen display that works with Apple CarPlay, Google Android Auto, and navigation. There’s also ParkSense rear parking assist system, ParkView rear parking camera, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, and a lot more safety,

performance, comfort and convenience features.

The 2019 Jeep Wranger Rubicon fetches P3,990,000 for the two-door with 3.6-liter V6; P4,090,000 for the two-door with 2.0-liter turbo four; P4,390,000 for the four-door with 3.6-liter V6; and P4,490,000 for the four-door with 2.0-liter turbo four.

Owning an EV: Nissan shatters 3 myths

Owning an EV: Nissan shatters 3 myths The Nissan LEAF has 435 liters of space for luggage. This has the real-life equivalent of filling a conventional bathtub with luggage.

BANGKOK—Electric vehicles (EV) aren’t just for early adopters anymore. With more than one-third of Southeast Asian consumers considering EVs for their next vehicle purchase, the demand from people in Asia and Oceania to learn about EV ownership is increasing.

To help, the fourth video of Nissan’s EV Education Series, addresses three facts to easily explain the simplicity and advantages of EV ownership. Tim Jarvis, Australian explorer and environmental scientist, and Naya Ehrlich-Adam, founder of sustainable food business Broccoli Revolution in Bangkok, Thailand team up to bust some of the common myths around owning electric vehicles.

Through their first-hand experience of the world’s best-selling EV—the Nissan LEAF— they also share surprising facts.

“Our educational video series is aimed at creating better acceptance and adoption of electric vehicles by both individuals and societies in the region,” said Yutaka Sanada, regional senior vice president for Nissan Asia & Oceania. “By sharing the genuine interest of real-world individuals as they learn the ease and benefits of electric vehicles, we aim to debunk current misperceptions as well as inspire audiences for the future.”

Battery-powered cars reduce spending on fuel and maintenance With fewer moving parts in an EV, owners can save on maintenance costs as well as fuel.

Most drivers in Southeast Asia travel less than 80 kilometers a day, using approximately 5.6 liters of petrol. By driving the Nissan LEAF with a 40kWh battery, vehicle owners can save up to USD $6.00 per day or over USD $2,190 per year. In Australia and New Zealand, for every 1000km travelled, Nissan LEAF drivers will save approximately USD $50.00 by charging the vehicle’s battery , compared to a petrol-driven car.

Maintenance and service costs are also considerably lower for EVs. In the US for example, EV owners experience an average savings of more than USD $650 per year.

Moreover, it’s predicted that the cost of an EV will drop below that of conventional-fuel vehicles by 2040, with EV sales growing exponentially year on year.

EVs have the same space as standard cars, and can accelerate like one too Many consumers believe that EVs have limited space and acceleration. However, EVs today offer a full-powered vehicle experience especially designed for modern drivers, and

without a tailpipe engine, they have much larger space allowances as compared to regular cars. As an example, the Nissan LEAF has 435 liters of space in the trunk—the equivalent of filling a conventional bathtub to the brim with luggage, and still having room to spare8.

In addition, a Nissan LEAF can comfortably accommodate up to five adults.

Furthermore, the concern that EVs can’t pick up speed adequately is a myth. Boasting 148bhp, the Nissan LEAF can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. The car’s battery pack also sits down in the chassis for a low center of gravity that allows the car to hug the road, for greater speed and stability.

One of the key benefits of EVs for modernconsumers is that the car sends zero emissions into the atmosphere and is environmentally friendly. Air pollution is the highest environmental consumer concern in Asia-Pacific, with 85% of people extremely or very concerned about this issue. Thus, electric vehicles with zero-emissions and virtually silent operations, present a viable solution for owners to help do their part for an improved urban future.

As Tim Jarvis articulates in this latest Nissan EV Ownership video, “If everyone drove electric cars, we would be in a far better place.”

Caltex Ka-Roadtrip offers aid to motorists WITH Holy Week just around the corner, Caltex, marketed

by Chevron Philippines Inc. has started preparations for the expected heavy influx of motorists.

From April 17 to 21, families and barkadas braving the road to observe the Lenten season with families in the province and undertake Visita Iglesia or simply have that hotly-anticipated long-weekend vacation can avail of free vehicle check-ups and emergency road assistance offered by the Caltex Ka-Roadtrip Motorists Assistance Program to help ensure passenger and driver safety.

Motorists can also make the most of the exciting promos that await them when they fuel up at Caltex NLEX, SLEX Southbound and NLEX Northbound. They can try their luck at the Liter Lottery promo wherein they have a chance to get a P10/liter fuel discount when the last digit of the plate number matches the last digit of the liter meter upon purchasing a full tank’s worth of fuel. The promo is available from 12NN to 8PM on Holy Wednesday (April 17), and 8AM to 5PM on Maundy Thursday (April 18) and Easter Sunday (April 21).

The Toyota Motorist Assistance Program is ready to assist Toyota vehicle owners at Caltex SLEX Southbound, SLEX Northbound and Rosario, La Union from April 18 to 21 from 8AM to 5PM. GMA is also rolling out its Bantay Biyahe on April 18 from 10AM to 3PM at Caltex SLEX Southbound and on April 21 from 5PM to 10PM at Caltex SLEX Northbound. Various other sponsors will have their booths to assist motorists.

The Caltex Ka-Roadtrip Motorists Assistance Program has been helping motorists during major holidays such as Undas, Lent and Christmas since it was launched in 2013, easing the way Filipinos traveled through heavy traffic.

Families and barkadas won’t have to worry about the heavy traffic because they get the cleaning power of Techron— which maximizes power to lighten a car’s load—when they fuel up with Caltex. With Caltex, drivers and passengers can rest easy and enjoy their journey.