Manila Standard - 2019 May 10 - Friday

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GDP GROWTH AT 5.6%: BUDGET IMPASSE DRAGS DOWN ECONOMY

By Julito G. Rada ECONOMIC growth decelerated to a four-year low of 5.6 percent in the first quarter from 6.5 percent a year ago, weighed down by the delayed approval of the 2019 government budget, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

The PSA said Thursday this was the slowest growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) recorded in 16 quarters, or since the economy grew 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2015. It was also

slower than the 6.3 percent expansion in the fourth quarter of 2018.

“As we have forewarned repeatedly, the re-enacted budget would sharply slow the pace of our economic growth,” Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a briefing.

He said the economy “should have grown by as much as 6.6 percent this first quarter if we were operating under the 2019 fiscal program.”

Data showed that trade and repair of Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 85 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte won’t sue ‘plotters’ Seeks to unmask them all in public

SolGen pushes quit call on IBP chief over ‘Bikoy’

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday night he has no plans to sue individuals and groups that he accused of conspiring to oust him.

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By Rey E. Requejo SOLICITOR General Jose Calida on Thursday demanded the resignation of Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo for giving a platform to a man who claimed to be behind a series of online videos accusing the President’s family and allies of accepting drug money.

In a statement Thursday night, Calida accused Fajardo of using his position to advance his personal political agenda, after Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narco List” videos, held a press Next page

TEEN PHILIPPINES. Nikki de Moura (center), Miss Teen Philippines 2019, is joined by (from left) 3rd runner-up Mikki Barcela, 1st runner-up Patricia Beerda, 2nd runner-up Nicole Borromeo, and 4th runner-up Joanna Kalkschmidt during the Grand Coronation Night at the Frontier Theater Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City. Norman Cruz

2019 POLLS: THE FINAL PUSH

Gordon slams vote-buying in ‘Gapo

Iglesia endorses Belmonte, slate

SENATOR Richard Gordon on Thursday warned narco-politics has arrived in Olongapo City amid reports of rampant votebuying by certain incumbent officials.

In a press conference, Gordon said supporters of Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun and Mayor Rolen Paulino were reportedly caught overseeing the vote-buying operations.

“Their modus operandi is they invite people to certain houses and locations, make them line up outside, counter-check these peoples’ names against the voters’ list, and, once confirmed as voters, give them P1,000 each and identification cards,” he said.

While the senator acknowledged that the illegal practice is common during elections across the country, what makes the incidents in Olongapo City more reprehensible is the possibility that the money

THE Iglesia Ni Cristo has endorsed Joy Belmonte, a candidate running for mayor of Quezon City in this month’s midterm elections.

Belmonte, who is on her third term as vice mayor, thanked the INC for its support.

“I was informed on Monday that the INC will support me and the majority of the candidates in my slate,” Belmonte said on Thursday.

“This is very, very good news for us, and of course for Quezon City because we are committed to our promise of giving selfless, top-notch service that will benefit the city’s residents.

“Kaya nagpapasalamat ako kay kapatid na Eduardo V. Manalo at sa buong kapatiran ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa buongpusong suporta nila sa atin. Isa po itong Next page

Voters go for incumbents, young bets

By Joel E. Zurbano VOTERS in Metro Manila prefer incumbent officials and young candidates to be the leaders in their locality with just four days left before the midterm elections on Monday.

Meanwhile, more groups are endorsing the reelection bid of Makati City

Court slaps down Trillanes’ petition

By Joel E. Zurbano RICHARD GORDON

Next page

JOY BELMONTE

Mayor Abigail Binay and her team in the May 13 elections.

After getting the support of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Binay and her team then got the support of various organizations: transport groups, vendors, homeowners, senior citizens, the youth and the LGBT community.

Next page

May 13 special Sara makes strong no-work holiday pitch for admin bets

By Nat Mariano

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte declared May 13 as a special non-working holiday three days before the midterm elections.

He signed Proclamation 719 declaring May 13 a holiday to “enable people to properly exercise their right to vote.”

“I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the

DAVAO CITY—Delivering its final salvo before Monday’s elections, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago led by presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte rallied voters Thursday to choose the candidates who could continue helping President Rodrigo Duterte in the country’s much-needed reforms.

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“They released black propaganda that included my daughter. I’m not interested to file cases,” Duterte said during a campaign rally in Bohol late Wednesday.

Hours earlier, Malacañang released a new set of diagrams that accused the Liberal Party, the Magdalo group, and journalists of working “hand in hand” to discredit the government and strengthen the opposition’s “Otso Diretso” senatoNext page rial slate.

A PASAY City judge has rejected a plea of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to dismiss the inciting to sedition case filed against him in connection with his speech regarding the alleged hidden wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte in Next page 2017.

Rody bugged by cockroach Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s unpredictable speeches frequently contain bombshell pronouncements, but the surprise this time came in the form of a cockroach ambling along the leader’s shoulder Next page

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News

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

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Youth chief draws flak over anti-left quip

By Maricel V. Cruz A MILITANT lawmaker on Thursday slammed National Youth Commission chairperson Ronald Cardema over the latter’s alleged electioneering and threat to “wipe out” left-leaning organizations.

Rep. Carlos Zarate was referring to Cardema’s rallying the people’s support on social media for the Duterte Youth party-list, which he touted as “pro-gov’t/pro-military.”

Cardema also urged voters to reject the Kabataan, Gabriela, Act Teachers, Bayan Muna, and Anakpawis party-lists, which have critical to government policies.

Cardema said in a Facebook post: “If President Duterte is a hardliner, the Duterte Youth is more radical for change for our generation.”

“We will defeat you in Congress debate and wipe you out in the streets with your NPA comrades, rapists, criminals and terrorists.”

In response, Zarate labeled Cardema’s statement as “inciting people to harm us.”

“The statement as it is, if you read it, You’re telling fanatic supporters, wipe them out, kill them,” he told ANC. Zarate noted a Bayan Muna coordinator, Escalante City Councilor Bernardino Patigas, was shot dead in April while campaigning for reelection.

Meanwhile, reports. Quoting a local official from Kidapawan City in Cotabato said skirmishes between security forces and communist insurgents on Thursday drove 280 families from their homes.

Sporadic firefights erupted as troops from the Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion clashed with New People’s Army guerrillas in remote Barangay Kinarum in the town of Magpet.

Kinarum Barangay Chairman Ruben Lanaja told the police that 280 families of Sitio Kirundong are temporarily taking refuge in the barangay basketball court.

Lanaja told Magpet Police’s Captain Rolando Dillera that NPA insurgents from the 53rd Front Committee fired at the 72nd Infantry Battalion troopers as the soldiers were doing their routine foot patrol.

Rody...

From A1 The bug popped up on Duterte as he was extolling the virtues of the candidates he has endorsed in next week’s midterm polls at a campaign rally late Wednesday.

An aide tried and failed to scrape the critter away with some papers, but Duterte brushed it aside as the government broadcast cut to a smiling but bemused audience in the central city of Bohol.

Duterte, who was nearing the end of his roughly 90-minute address, joked that the insect belongs to the opposition party.

The leader’s critics quickly took to Twitter to mock his close encounter with the roach, which is more frequently seen scurrying over refuse.

“The cockroach must have realized that duterte is the trashiest trash it has ever seen,” wrote @andy_crush.

“And I never thought I would say this but GOOD JOB EXPOSING THAT TRASH, DEAR COCKROACH,” @keeyaaraaa posted.

Duterte is on the campaign trail to rally support for his candidates in next week’s midterm polls, in which some 18,000 seats ranging from local councils to the upper house Senate are up for grabs. AFP

Court...

From A1 Judge Remiebel Mondia of the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 45 denied Trillanes’ motion for lack of merit in a decision dated Feb. 22 that was released only on Thursday.

Trillanes, a military man and coup leader turned politician, is a fierce critic of the President.

In November 2017, a group of lawyers led by former congressmen Jacinto Paras and Glenn Chong filed charges of inciting sedition and proposing to commit coup d’ etat against the senator.

The group cited as basis for their complaint the statement of Trillanes during his speech that soldiers might shoot Duterte to fulfill his wish that he be shot if the allegations he had hidden wealth were proven.

“Now, Mr. Duterte said he can be shot dead if there is P40 million in his accounts.

He said that in front of the soldiers,” said the complaint, quoting Trillanes.

The lawyers’ group accused Trillanes of committing “conspiracy or proposal to commit coup d’ etat and inciting sedition” for encouraging the military to go up against the President, saying he should be indicted under Articles 136 and 142 of the Revised Penal Code.

In his privilege speech on Oct. 3, 2017, Trillanes accused Duterte of having bank accounts with transactions amounting to over P2 billion from September 2006 to December 2015.

Manuelito Luna, the complainants’ legal counsel, said the speeches by Trillanes―including his privilege speech in the Senate― were not protected by immunity from suits.

“The Oct. 3 privilege speech against the President and the government is not protected speech under the speech or debate clause,” Luna said.

The complaint cited as another basis Trillanes’ speech during the launch of the Tindig Pilipinas movement on Oct. 14, 2017 involving Duterte’s alleged bank deposits.

Special court for ‘dengvaxia’ sought

By Rio N. Araja

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ARENTS of Dengvaxia victims on Thursday urged the Supreme Court to create a special court for criminal and civil complaints in connection with the deaths of 133 children due to the controversial dengue vaccine.

Sunachen Dominguez, spokesperson of the Justice for Dengvaxia Victims Movement, also called for the resignation of Prosecutor General in officer-in-charge

capacity Richard Anthony Fadullon and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. She also hit Fadullon for consolidating the Dengvaxia-related cases.

“Instead of separate cases, Fadullon ruled to take into one account all cases of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide that happened in just one city or place,” Dominguez said.

“So that would merely mean that the respondents, if found guilty, would only be meted out six years of imprisonment only, which is probational,” Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta told the Manila Standard.

“We cannot control what the parents would want to do,” Acosta added.

Downpour ushers in wet season—weather bureau THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Thursday told the public to brace for afternoon and evening rainfall “almost every day,”—an indication of the end of drought and dry spell brought about by the dry season and El Niño phenomenon.

In a dzMM radio interview, Robert Sawi, weather forecasting section chief, attributed the heavy downpour in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon to a frontal system that had enhanced the moist Luzon area.

“There was heavy rainfall in Luzon, particularly in the north. The rains had helped address the water need. In Metro Manila, the downpour fell into the watershed of La Mesa Dam. The rains helped increased the water

(level),” he said.

“As if it was a premonition... an indication that the wet season is already approaching,” he said.

“Expect that almost every day in the evening and in the afternoon that there will be rains,” he added.

But Manila Water Corp. said while the recent rains had added a few centimeters to the water level of the La Mesa Dam, it was still not enough to bring levels back to normal.

“We welcome the rains that have been pouring over Metro Manila these past few days. But we cannot rest easy with it,” Jeric Sevilla, group head for Corporate Strategic Affairs at Manila Water, said in a statement.

PAGASA this week monitored two low pres-

sure areas close to the Philippines, one southwest of Ilocos Sur and another east of Cagayan.

According to Sevilla, the rains on Wednesday were not enough to bring the water level back to the regular level of 78 to 79 meters.

“While the heavy rains last night added 10 centimeters to the level of La Mesa Dam, the level of 68.55 meters, as of 5 a.m., May 8, is still way below the critical level of 69 meters,” he said.

“We still need a lot more and continuous days of that much rain for us to refill La Mesa.

Secondly, even if we are able to refill La Mesa and we begin to draw water from it again to augment the still-deficient water supply, it is certain that we will encounter water quality issues,” he added. Rio N. Araja

Duterte...

“But they aren’t worth anything. Just look at them. Look at how dirty they play. It’s very dirty,” he added.

All the persons and groups named by the Palace have denied the allegations.

Panelo, on the other hand, said it was the President’s constitutional duty to release the information about the plot.

Panelo, the President’s chief legal counsel, said the Duterte administration welcomes the exercise of constructive dissent. “When it, however, crosses the line of acts falling as crimes under the Revised Penal Code, then the dissenters become transgressors of law and the constituted authorities are duty bound to enforce the law and cause their prosecution,” he said.

“The diagram of personalities and groups shows the linkages among them. It appears they are working together to discredit the administration by planting the seeds of hate on the President for him to lose the trust he earned from—as well as the mandate given him—by the people,” he said.

He said the Palace would leave it to the Justice Department to do its job to “prosecute the people who appear to have violated the law.”

At the same time, Panelo dismissed as lies the accusations hurled by Bikoy, calling them “incredible and absurd.”

“Nevertheless, the Justice secretary has urged Bikoy to file a complaint against the personalities he identified in the videos, including those related to the President. If he files a complaint, the investigating prosecutor will have to conduct the required preliminary investigation to determine a finding of prob-

able cause,” he said.

Since Wednesday, the Palace has denied concerns that the release of the unsubstantiated diagrams was a crackdown on legitimate dissent and free expression.

Former government officials, journalists, and even athletes Hidilyn Diaz and Gretchen Ho, denied any involvment in a conspiracy.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said the new diagrams were a list of people who are mad at the President.

He questioned the inclusion of Diaz and Ho, however.

Pressed to say if he believes the matrix and the alleged plot to oust Duterte are credible, Sotto replied: “It’s just a matrix. It should just be taken as it is. It need not be credible or incredible. One’s perception is the factor of consideration.”

Senator JV Ejercito said he did not believe there was any danger of the government being overthrown.

Senator Grace Poe, on the other hand, said it was difficult to believe in the matrix, because no evidence has been presented. Any name, she added, could be added to the diagram.

Diaz, an Olympics silver medalist, questioned her inclusion in the list.

In a video post on Facebook, she said she was far too busy preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to be part of any political plot against the President.

Ho, an ABS-CBN News TV host, said she was surprised that she was included in the diagram, saying she was mainly focused on lifestyle and sports. With PNA

From A1

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Justice Department would determine if there was sufficient evidence to file charges against those included in the newly released diagrams.

In the same campaign speech, Duterte slammed those behind “Ang Totoong NarcoList” videos circulating online that accused members of his family of accepting drug money, and said he ordered Panelo to “reveal them all” to the public.

Duterte said he believed the narrator of the videos, who called himself “Bikoy,” sounded like a military man, and said the Magdalo group was behind them.

“I said [to Panelo] reveal them all including who the voice that they used belongs to.

Do you know whose voice was that? That was a soldier, a Magdalo. It was a Magdalo production, [Senator Antonio] Trillanes. You’ve heard how he talks,” Duterte said. “It’s a soldier’s lingo. It is sarcastic.”

Duterte would not say where the new diagrams came from, except to say that they were from the foreign intelligence community.

Duterte spent his remaining campaign sorties to criticize the opposition’s eight-person senatorial slate.

“Otso [Diretso] has created another black propaganda... Honestly, do people really believe in Otso Diretso? You will go straight to hell. If you vote for them, it’s up to you,” Duterte said.

SolGen...

From A1

conference at the IBP main office to air his accusations against the President’s family.

Calida said he supports the position of the Davao City chapter of the IBP, which criticized Fajardo for allowing the office of the IBP to be used as a “staging area” for Advincula’s press conference, even though the organization is supposed to be non-partisan.

“Fajardo has turned the IBP into a highly politicized organization, when it should advance the rule of law and stand for truth and justice. He is a disgrace to the IBP. He does not to speak for all the members of the IBP. But his actions reflect badly on the organization and consequently, the legal profession,” Calida said.

The IBP president said Advincula went to the IBP to seek for legal assistance, but that they turned him down after evaluating his request.

The IBP admitted that the case of Advincula is political in nature because the individuals he accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade are candidates in the upcoming elections.

However, the Solicitor General questioned why they gave the former convict a platform to peddle his false stories in the first place.

“The action of the president of the IBP betrays his intention to make the organization a venue for his political aspirations,” Calida said.

Calida said this was not the first time that Fajardo has sought to meddle in politics as the

outgoing IBP head earlier urged the Supreme Court to reverse its quo warranto decision in Republic v. Sereno.

“He should be reminded of the purpose of the IBP, which is to promote the best interest of lawyers and the courts. The IBP should be in the forefront in advocating obedience to the law,” Calida said.

Former IBP national president Vicente Joyas believed that the current leadership of the organization was aware and consented to Advincula’s plan to surface at the IBP headquarters.

“It was not sudden as they claimed because there already were media people when Advincula arrived. It was obviously arranged,” he said, in an interview.

Earlier this year, the IBP also hosted two groups of foreign lawyers and journalists who visited the country and conducted investigations on killings and harassment of lawyers and media practitioners who have been critical of the Duterte administration.

Also on Thursday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III underscored the need to impose more severe penalties for perjury following the accusations hurled by Advincula against the President’s family.

“We should strengthen the law. That is one good (piece of legislation) that we should file in the 18th Congress. Let us impose graver penalties for perjury to instill fear [on] those who make fake news or those who tend to lie,” said Sotto in an interview over radio dzMM. With PNA

Voters...

From A1 Several groups representing various sectors in Makati have come forward and endorsed Binay and her Team Performance slate, declaring their full support.

Young candidates like Quezon City vice mayor Maria Josefina Belmonte, former Manila vice mayor Isko Moreno and former Taguig City congressman Lino Edgardo Cayetano, and incumbent leaders such as Mayor Abigail Binay of Makati City, Mayor Roberto Eusebio of Pasig City, Pasay City Rep. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco will most likely get elected for mayor based on the recent Metro Manila survey conducted by the RP Mission and Development Foundation Inc. The survey was conducted between May 4 and May 8 and covered 8,000 respondents in the National Capital Region.

The question posed for the mayoralty race: “If the elections for mayor are to be held today, who among the following candidates will you vote for?”

The survey results showed that Joy Belmonte is the leading candidate for mayor with 65 percent over Quezon City Rep. Vincent Crisologo who got 30 percent, while former congressman Chuck Mathay received only 3 percent.

Belmonte is up by +5 percentage points from the previous survey, giving her a lead of 35 percent over Crisologo.

GDP...

From A1

Sara...

From A1

motor vehicles, motorcycles, personal and household goods; manufacturing; and financial intermediation were the main drivers of growth in the first three months.

Among the major sectors, services had the fastest growth of 7 percent, followed by industry with 4.4 percent. The agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing sector barely grew by 0.8 percent in the quarter.

Net primary income from the rest of the world rose 1.9 percent, resulting in the 4.9 percent growth of the gross national income.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 in April after a long impasse between the two houses of Congress.

Pernia said government’s consumption expenditure grew by only 7.4 percent in the first quarter, slower than 13.6 percent a year ago, while public construction contracted 8.6 percent.

Pernia remained optimistic, however, saying the full-year growth target of 6 percent to 7 percent remained possible if the economy would expand by an average of 6.1 percent over the next three quarters.

“This is still achievable given the current performance of the private sector and if the government sector is able to jump-start and speed up the implementation of its new programs and projects,” Pernia said. With Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Duterte is the founder of the regional party to support the candidacy of senatorial candidates who would help the President.

HNP is supporting the reelection bid of Senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Aquilino Pimentel and JV Ejercito and the return of former Senator Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada.

It has also endorsed the candidacies of former presidential aide Christopher Go, former Bureau of Corrections director Ronald dela Rosa, former Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, journalist Jiggy Manicad, Dong Mangudadato, and former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.

The candidates were presented anew on Tuesday night during the coalition’s miting de avance at the San Pedro Cathedral plaza in

this city amid their chants by their hordes of supporters and followers.

The program had just started when heavy downpour sent the mammoth crowd to save themselves from the rain. The tents set up in the plaza were jampacked with supporters.

Before the program, a Mass was held at the San Pedro Cathedral attended by the Davao mayor, the senatorial aspirants and their followers.

This was followed by the ringing of the bells for several minutes to usher the start of the program.

For the nth time, all the senatorial aspirants took their turns in laying down their platforms and projects in the event of winning a seat in the Senate.

The reelectionist senators spelled out their achievements during their stint in the Upper House.

Villar, the frontrunner in the latest Pulse Asia survey, said she established 1,932 livelihood programs all over the country.

Persida Acosta

Gordon...

From A1 came from politicians with links to the narcotics trade.

“They are buying votes because they are desperate. They are losing the elections.

They have done this before and they are doing it now,” he said.

“It is very clear that all these money come from drugs. Not only is Rep. Khonghun violating the Omnibus Election Code, he is also manifesting the power of drug money in shaping and killing our democracy,” he added.

Gordon said President Rodrigo Duterte himself named Khonghun as among the narco-politicians in his drug list. Paulino, on the other hand, is facing graft an corruption charges.

“Our people have taken affidavits from witnesses who themselves have received P1,000 from the people of Khonghun and Paulino as well as those who saw people who were given P1,000 each and instructed to ‘vote straight’ for the Khonghun-Paulino ticket,” he said.

“We also received information about a doctor who could not even enter his house yesterday because so many people were lining up outside his house to get money. Upon inquiries, it was discovered that the house were there was a queue belonged to Charles Padrigo, a contractor and a known supporter of Congressman Khonghun, Mayor Paulino, and their associates,” Gordon added.

Gordon said the vote-buying operations happened in Old Cabalan, Barretto, East Tapinac, Gordon Heights, Mabayuan, New Kalalake, Sta. Rita, andWest Bajac-Bajac.

“The Khonghuns are fighting a very costly battle against the Magsaysay clan, who is fielding Mitos for congress. On the other hand, Rolen Paulino, who withdrew his candidacy for mayor because of his graft and corruption cases , substituted his son as candidate for mayor after he was charged with graft and corruption by the Ombudsman,” he added.

“Do not take their money. It is drug money. We will not let our city and the province be filled with drugs,” he said.

Iglesia...

From A1 malaking karangalan sapagkat ang pangunahing templo at ang opisina ng INC ay nandito mismo sa Quezon City.”

When asked why she thought the INC gave her the endorsement over the other mayoralty candidates, Belmonte said she believed the support of the majority of the people of Quezon City was with her.

“We are overwhelmed by the support we have been receiving across all groups in Quezon City, and I think the INC shares our vision of wanting the city to keep developing to bring more progress down to the people,” Belmonte said.

She attributed the endorsement to her clean track record and to the successful programs she had implemented as vice mayor.

“I personally will not take this for granted.

If elected, I will make sure that my platform for inclusive development is felt by all,” Belmonte said.

“We will improve and eradicate corruption in the city services. We will implement the projects that directly benefit the poor and marginalized.”

Belmonte said the INC endorsement was proof that the voters were receptive to her platform despite the black propaganda being used against her in the runup to the May 13 elections.

In the most recent survey conducted by RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. from May 4 to 8, 2019, with 8,000 registered voters, Belmonte widened her lead over her primary opponents, Rep. Vincent Crisologo and Ismael Mathay III.

May 13...

From A1

powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Monday 13 May, 2019, a special [non-working] holiday throughout the country for the National and Local elections,” the proclamation says.Meanwhile, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said it would activate the 24/7 operations of its Overall Command Center from May 10 to 16 as part of its preparations to secure power transmission operations and facilities during this year’s senatorial and local elections.

NGCP said the contingency plans were in place to monitor and quickly address any grid disturbance. Since May 13 had been declared a special non-working day, NGCP’s critical units, such as System Operations and Operations and Maintenance, remained fully staffed and operational.

The Commission on Elections has previously said it is ready to serve at least 60 million voters who will exercise their right to vote on May 13. There are now more than 61 million registered voters throughout the country. With Alena Mae S. Flores

News

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FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Poll teachers to receive ‘tax-free’ honorarium

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta PUBLIC school teachers who will serve as members of the Electoral Board are assured of getting their honorarium on time and tax-free, the Commission on Elections assured Thursday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that teachers will receive their honararia tax-free if they are earning P250,000 or less a year.

“No tax would be withheld from the teachers’ honoraria if they would file a sworn declaration on having an annual income of within the threshold,” Jimenez said in a statement.

Jimenez said the honorarium will be paid in cash and no longer through cash cards.

Comelec Project Management Office Deputy Project Director Teopisto Elnas said their Finance Department already released the corresponding amount for each city and municipality to their Election Officers.

Based on the Election Service Reform Act, the corresponding honoraria for poll workers are: Chairperson of the Electoral Boards—P6,000; Members of Electoral Boards—P5,000; Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO)— P4,000; and Support Staff—P2,000.

More than 200,000 teachers will be part of the electoral board for the election on Monday, May 13.

Meanwhile, reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara said the government needs to prioritize their welfare and interests.

He said the government should set a higher minimum pay for teachers if it wants to recruit and retain highly effective educators who will prepare Filipino students for the challenges of the future.

“If we value education and we intend to create a more educated generation of Filipinos, then we need to pay teachers a professional, livable and respectable salary,” said the lawmaker from Aurora, who is running under the platform “Alagang Angara.”

He noted that attracting and retaining excellent educators is one of the most important drivers of a well-functioning public education system—a system that must prepare diverse students with complex needs to participate in today’s knowledge-driven economy.

FACEBOOK INACTION. Members of several health groups gather outside the Facebook Philippines office on Thursday, May 9, to express their disappointment over the social media giant’s alleged inaction on complaints regarding pages and posts that reek of falsity, malice, and impunity. Norman Cruz

Ex-Speaker Alvarez downplays libel case F

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

ORMER Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is not worried over the libel case filed against him by his former benefactor, Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. of Davao del Norte.

“I have not received the resolution [of the prosecutor elevating Floirendo’s complaint to the court] will attend to it as soon as we receive it,” Alvarez said.

Floirendo filed libel charges against Alvarez over the alleged defamatory statements that the former Speaker made against the Floirendo family.

Quezon City Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Dindo Venturanza recommended the filing of libel charges against Alvarez for allegedly making “defamatory and malicious imputations” against Floirendo, when he branded the latter a landgrabber.

In a press conference on March 21 last year, Alvarez said: “Hindi Floirendo

apelyido ko para maging landgrabber.”

Alvarez earlier went on a rampage against Floirendo and his family that owns Tagum Development Corp. (Tadeco), that is operating a 5,000-hectare banana plantation.

Alvarez worked to nullify the Bureau of Corrections’s contract with Tadeco over the plantation. The plantation is inside the reservation of the Davao Penal Colony.

Alvarez’s statements against Floirendo and his family were carried in both print, TV and online media.

Alvarez’s words, “Hindi Floirendo apelyido ko para maging landgrabber” wrongfully imputes a crime, vice, or

defect against Floireindo and his family and accused them as land grabbers, Venturanza said in the resolution.

Floirendo said Alvarez smeared not just his reputation but also that of his father, Antonio O. Floirendo Sr. and the rest of his family—and his father who has died can no longer personally address and confront the allegations made against him

by Alvarez.

“Given the acrimonious relationship of the parties (Alvarez and Floirendo), the motives of (Alvarez) in making such statements and that he has no actual malice in when he made the defamatory statement is highly suspect,” the prosecutor added.

Venturanza also said that Alvarez’s statement can not be considered fair comments since these “had nothing to do with complainant, being (a) member of Congress, or in the discharge of his function as a member of Congress.”

On April 26, Assistant City Prosecutor Marizen Grutas denied to grant Alvarez’s plea for the dismissal of the libel complaint against him.

Sulong Dignidad to fight for workers’ rights, job security

Angeles City court amends HDO vs. Dumlao

SULONG Dignidad Party-list said it will push for a comprehensive prolabor agenda that will ensure job security, increase job opportunities, and promote labor rights.

According to Sulong Dignidad president and first nominee lawyer Rico Paolo Quicho, the group will promote legislation that will help ensure proper compensation and the protection of workers rights in the country.

“One focus of our legislative agenda is taking care of our labor force and make sure that they are given proper compensation, safe working environment, and room for professional growth and development,” Quicho said.

Quicho said Sulong Dignidad will propose legislation that will increase and optimize salaries and wages of workers both in public and private sectors.

He said they will also push for laws that will promote the welfare of all workers such as the Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy (MCWIE).

“Our constitution states that all workers, without exception, are entitled to social and labor protection.

However, workers in the informal sector are not covered by the Labor Code of the Philippines,” Quicho said.

“We need to make sure that workers in the informal economy are afforded with equal rights and recognition by law. It is imperative that appropriate programs and services be extended to them,” he added.

Aside from recognizing the rights of informal workers, Quicho said Sulong Dignidad supports amending the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions to make it easier for foreign investments to enter and create more job opportunities.

“We need to improve competitiveness and attract investments, both local and foreign, into manufacturing and other stagnant sectors of the economy,” Quicho said.

THE Angeles City Regional Trial Court on Thursday amended the hold departure order it earlier issued against police colonel Rafael Dumlao III who was tagged as the brains behind the 2016 killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo to cover all seaports and airports nationwide and not only the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Angeles City RTC, Branch 56, Judge Irin Zenaida Buan expanded the coverage of the HDO after state prosecutors headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera filed an urgent ex parte motion asking the court to amend its May 8 HDO against Dumlao since it specifically mentioned only the Travel Control Bureau of the Bureau of Immigration and only one specific airport-NAIA. The HDO was issued after Buan allowed Dumlao last Monday to post bail for his temporary liberty.

“Acting on the urgent ex parte motion and finding the same to be well taken, said motion is granted.

Wherefore, let an amended order be issued in these cases directing the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to prevent accused P/ Supt. Rafael Dumlao III from utilizing all airports and seaports of the Philippine island to escape and flee to another country during the pendency of these cases,” the court said in the amended order.

In its petition, the prosecution panel said the May 8 order directing only the BI in NAIA “would render inutile the very purpose of the HDO since there are other airports and seaports where accused can clearly and easily depart from to escape and seek refuge to another country,” read part of the motion.

The prosecution panel said there is a need for the court to amend the HDO to include all offices of the BI “in all airports and seaports of the Philippines.”

By Rey E. Requejo

CAMPAIGN VIOLATIONS. Motor riders pass through campaign posters in

Baseco, Tondo in Manila. Comelec has asked the public to report candidates violating campaign rules such as oversized and misplaced posters ahead of the midterm election. Norman Cruz

Parking slots for NAIA white taxis removed

By Joel E. Zurbano THE management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has started removing designated space for white taxis at the airport following the recurrence of abuse and other irregularities committed by taxi drivers against air travelers.

“Beginning last Monday, May 6, we have removed the white taxi queuing lane in NAIA Terminal 1 as a prelude to eventually putting an end to the privilege given to them to line up and pick up passengers in the four terminals,” said Eddie Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority.

He said that while they do not intend to limit the choices to MIAA accredited transport, they are also duty bound to protect passengers from enterprising drivers.

“This campaign against abusive taxi drivers also extends to the drivers of MIAA accredited transport services. No one is exempted here. We have no room for people who continue to destroy the reputation of NAIA and damage the

image of our country before the world.

Sadly, this people simply have no love for country,” added Monreal.

On Wednesday, Austrian travel video bloggers Mike and Nelly thanked MIAA authorities for the arrest of taxi driver Jhumil Bule who was the subject of their vlog posted in their Youtube channel.

In the video, the driver was forcing the couple to pay additional for the pieces of luggage they had. Being frequent visitors to the Philippines, the couple refused to pay more saying that they are aware that no such additional payment is required.

Monreal immediately ordered the Intelligence and Investigation Department under Col. Roque Alcantara to locate the driver who was later identified as Jhumil Bule from Taytay, Rizal. Coordination was made with the Taytay PNP which led to the arrest.

Monreal personally appeared to the Intelligence office and admonished the driver and instructed Alcantara to surrender Bule’s driver’s license to the Land Transportation Office and recommend for its revocation.

Solon seeks repeal of ‘Doble Plaka’ law AN OPPOSITION leader in the House of Representatives on Thursday sought the repeal of the ‘Doble Plaka’ law that requires motorcycles to have bigger number plates roughly the size of a short bond paper in both their front and back sides.

“We will definitely introduce a bill in the next Congress repealing that flawed law that was passed rashly, without careful consideration of the potential consequences,” Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Lito Atienza said, referring to the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Law, or Republic Act 11235.

President Rodrigo Duterte has already ordered the Land Transportation Office to suspend the implementation of the highly controversial law due to rider safety concerns.

The law requires the LTO to prescribe bigger color-coded number plates that are readable from the front, the back, and the side of the motorcycle from a distance of 15 to 20 meters from the vehicle.

The measure is supposed to help suppress the surge in violent crime being carried out with the use of motorcycles, especially riding-in-tandem attacks by professional killers. Maricel V. Cruz

Energy Efficiency Law a major leap—Win PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s signing into law of the “landmark” Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act is a major leap forward in realizing efficient ways of utilizing energy in the country that are attuned to acceptable international standards, said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

“We are grateful to President Rodrigo Duterte for making this possible when he signed Republic Act No. 11285 or the Energy Efficiency Act,” said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy.

He also considered very timely the signing of this landmark law, especially now that our growing economy needs more power supply in the next few years.

With this law, he said the additional power supply will not come in the form of new power plants, but in savings from energy efficiency and conservation.

He added that the Energy Efficiency Act is also a win not only for the government, but also for ordinary consumers who stand to have more money in their pockets through energy efficiency and conservation measures.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Over 162k of waste hauled from Pasig River THE Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission hauled 162,390 kilograms of waste (5,413 sacks of garbage), which were pushed by the high tide in Manila Bay into the Pasig River, during a series of massive clean-up operations which started last April 27.

The huge volume of waste along Pasig River at present is caused by the backflow of Manila Bay—a natural phenomenon observed especially this time of the year, by the San Juan River and some esteros draining garbage and polluted water after the recent heavy rains.

PRRC’s River Warriors, River Patrols, River Watch, and other employees are doing manual cleanup daily with the use of limited cleaning implements and utilizing two small trash boats.

Cleanup operations are done in San Juan River and Manila, including the Malacañang area.

PRRC is now placing new trash traps and continuously cleaning up San Juan River—one of the major tributaries of the 47 identified waterways connected to the Pasig River and carries the wastes of the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Quezon. PNA

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Opinion

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The ‘Bikoy’conspiracy

THE “Bikoy” conspiracy alleging that President Rodrigo Duterte and his family are receiving payoffs from Davao drug syndicates is getting murkier but less credible. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has scrapped the scheduled hearing of Peter Joemel Advincula, also known as Bikoy.

Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Panfilo Lacson doubt Advincula’s story and want him to present evidence instead of wasting the Senate’s time for partisan purposes.

Perhaps we can revisit this after the elections, when there are no longer any political agenda to be served.

The Palace, through Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, dismissed Advincula’s claim and said the real conspiracy is being weaved by the opposition Liberal Party, the Magdalo group of Rep. Gary Alejano, Senator Antonio Trillanes, and the media, who are allegedly seeking to topple Duterte. All the three groups have denied the administration’s accusation.

“Criticizing the administration is the legitimate duty and right of the press in its traditional adversary relationship vis-a-vis government,

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

and not a sinister plot of inciting to sedition,” said a group of journalists who did not want to be identified lest they are included in Malacañang’s matrix like Malaya columnist Ellen Tordesillas.

Tordesillas, who is a constant critic of all administrations, has never been this haraassed, even at the height of the Marcos martial law years.

With only four days left before the May 13 midterm elections, it’s hard to tell whether it is the opposition or the administration which stands to suffer from the back-and-forth allegations spawned by Bikoy.

To elect the right people, perhaps it’s best to vote for the independents and ignore both opposition and administration candidates. This of course is unfortunate for the qualified candidates from both sides of the political aisle. But it is a right step dyto break the grip of the political dy nasties to see the emergence of new names in the Senate and the House.

Personally, I would like to see Alejano, Romulo Macalintal, Neri Colmenares and of course Juan Ponce Enrile win for more sober and active debates on the Senate floor. Let us do away with candidates who sing durand dance to entertain the crowd dur ing political rallies, or someone who strips to show he does not have a tattoo on his back.

When the dust has settled on the May 13 elections, it could be a more appropriate time for a Senate investigation of the Bikoy allegations.

This would be when any agenda no longer serves a political party.

People would still like to know the truth surrounding Bikoy’s claims.

More appropriately, charges should be filed in the proper court instead of a Senate hearing where there

T

Lethargic GDP growth

HE economy as expected grew at a slower pace in the first quarter of 2019 after both chambers of Congress took a longer time in passing the 2019 budget. The gross domestic product expanded at a four-year low of 5.6 percent in the first three months of the year, the slowest growth in 16 quarters, or since 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2015.

Economic managers warned earlier that a delay in the approval of the 2019 spending program and a reenacted 2018 budget would reduce government's spending program and, eventually, curtail growth. President Rodrigo Duterte finally signed the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 in April after the long impasse between the two houses of Congress.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia noted that the economy “should have grown by as much as 6.6 percent this first quarter if we were operating under the 2019 fiscal program.” The first-quarter GDP figures told

the story. Government expenditures rose just 7.4 percent in the first quarter, slower than 13.6 percent a year ago, while public construction contracted 8.6 percent because of the constraints under the reenacted budget.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the economy could have received a “tremendous boost” from a much higher state spending on infrastructure modernization and human capital formation at the start of 2019 if the Senate and House resolved the budget impasse early.

Government spending under the reenacted budget as

a result dropped in the first three months of 2019 by some P75 billion. Dominguez said the cutback meant a “lost opportunity to fund new infrastructure projects, a setback aggravated by the public works ban this election campaign period.”

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that national government disbursement fell 8 percent to P287.3 billion in the first three months.

Economic managers expect the economy to grow at a more robust pace in the succeeding quarters with the 2019 budget finally signed

by President Duterte. Lawmakers, meanwhile, should quickly set aside their differences in deliberating future budget proposals. Hundreds of thousands of jobs, vital social services and major infrastructure projects should not be held hostage by useless bickering in Congress.

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Saving Laguna Lake TODAY, I use my column space for the position paper of the Management Association Paper urging what it calls “a holistic Laguna Lake rehabilitation for water security and eco-tourism.” MAP has more than 700 CEOs in its ranks.

Here is the statement: Water security and the environment are major concerns of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

It is for these reasons that MAP urges an immediate effort by the national government together with local government units and the private sector to clean, conserve, rejuvenate and preserve Laguna Lake and its watershed.

Laguna Lake is the largest freshwater lake in our country and among the largest in Southeast Asia. It is an ideal and logical source of potable water and has a vast potential for eco-tourism.

Unfortunately, the water quality of Laguna Lake has, despite sporadic efforts, continuously degenerated from neglect and wanton disregard for the lake’s wellbeing much like other natural resources of our country.

We strongly applaud President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) for seeing the despoilage of Boracay and exercising strong political will by taking draconian measures, including its temporary closure, to rehabilitate and save it from human overexploitation. Now we see the very rewarding positive results even after just a brief period.

We urge PRRD to take similar action and order a Save Laguna Lake action by issuing an Executive Order to direct all national and local government units and instrumentalities to immediately implement all existing laws, rules, regulations and directives to protect and rehabilitate Laguna Lake and the forest cover of its watershed in the surrounding hills and

mountains.

The public must be warned that the government will strictly enforce existing laws that prohibit, under pain of penalty, the dumping of waste into the lake. Polluting industries, such as factories, fish culture, poultry and livestock farms, must be strictly regulated and restricted to a sustainable level.

Other sources of pollution must be prohibited, and these include the use of vessels powered by fossil fuels.

Here’s what more than 700 CEOs have to say.

Only vessels using clean energy, such as electric or natural gas, shall be allowed as is required in environmentally protective countries.

All development and structures must be banned within a no-build zone starting from its high water mark to within preferably no less than fifty meters, especially in populated areas, to allow space for public recreation and enjoyment of a national resource.

We urge PRRD to direct the national and local water boards to render and tap Laguna Lake as a dependable, inexhaustible and proximately-located source of raw water for Metro Manila and the lake’s surrounding communities, with other sources such as dams serving a complementary role to ensure water security under all circumstances, including potentially catastrophic earthquakes. Further, that all resources, including funding from whatever source, be devoted for the said purpose.

Necessarily, massive reforestation must be undertaken in the surrounding hills and mountains to enhance the productivity of the watershed. Ideally, indigenous wood species, fruit-bearing trees and bamboo should be utilized.

We also urge PRRD to direct the Department of Transportation to plan Turn to A5

Enhanced PH-China economic cooperation IT APPEARS there’s no stopping the momentum of enhanced economic relations between the Philippines and China despite what Malacañang has described as “irritants” in bilateral ties.

When President Rodrigo Duterte attended the Second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing from April 25-27 along with 37 other heads of state, he also met with Chinese President Xi

of 19 business agreements valued at $12.16 billion. The agreements covcov ered a wide range of investment arar eas including energy, infrastructure, An official said facilities, internet there’s no harm in taking tourism-related connectivity, agriculture and training advantage of official of Filipinos in China. The business deals are expected to create more development assistance than 21,000 jobs for Filipinos. while these are still Earlier in April, the country hosted the available. first Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), considered the Davos of Asia. The BFA seeks to unite Asian countries to achieve comcom Jinping. That meeting yielded a one- mon development through the integraintegra billion renminbi (P7.7 billion) grant tion of the regional economy. With this to the Philippines, and the signing Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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Landbank clarifies points on Overseas Filipino Bank

IN RESPONSE to issues raised about the Overseas Filipino Bank in your article “DOF told to name board members to Overseas Filipino Bank” published in the Manila Standard on May 8, 2019, LANDBANK would like to clarify the following points: 1. On OFBank’s Board of Directors Currently heading the OFBank is a nine-member Board of Directors composed of six Directors from LANDBANK and three Directors on holdover capacity, pending official appointment of the three Directors to represent the Department of Labor and Employment, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and an OFW Representative, in accordance with EO 44 series of 2017.

2. On the Bank’s Operations The Overseas Filipino Bank has been operational since its launch in January 2018 and has already introduced various products and services for its target markets: the land-based OFWs, seafarers, immigrants, and Filipinos with working visas.

These include deposit products such as the EMV-enabled Visa Debit Card, OFBank Checking Account, Easy Savings Plus, High Yield Savings Account, USD Savings Deposit, and USD Time Deposit; a l o n g with various loan products such as housing,

multi- purpose, salary, and SME loans. Remittance services are likewise available to OFBank clients through LANDBANK’s extensive network of remittance partners worldwide.

As of end-April 2019, around 2,000 new OFW accounts have been opened with OFBank.

3. Continuing initiatives and plans OFBank is currently in a transition process to move toward a “One- Branch Digital Bank” model.

This includes consolidating OFBank branches which started in March 2019 upon receipt of approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Part of the transformation to utilize mobile and online platforms is the integration with LANDBANK’s iAccess retail banking portal, which allows OFBank clients to conduct banking transactions online. The OFBank Mobile Banking App was launched in July 2018.

The OFBank Board of Directors is further reviewing the Bank’s business model to ensure that the needs and concerns of the target clientele are aptly addressed.

Thank you and I hope we were able to clarify these issues. Please feel free to call us at 405-7634 if you have other questions.

CATHERINE ROWENAB. VILLANUEVA First Vice President, Corporate Affairs Department Land Bank of the Philippines

In happy Bhutan, the PM is a doc on Saturdays

By Nidup Gyeltshen IT'S Saturday in Bhutan and Lotay Tshering has just completed urinary bladder repair surgery on a patient at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital.

But Tshering is no ordinary doctor.

During the week, he also happens to be prime minister in the Himalayan kingdom famous for measuring citizens' Gross National Happiness.

"For me it's a de-stresser," said Tshering, who was elected prime minister of the nation of 750,000 people last year in only its third democratic election since the end of absolute monarchy in 2008.

"Some people play golf, some do archery, and I like to operate. I am just spending my weekends here," the 50-year-old told AFP. No one at the hospital bats an eyelid as Tshering, wearing a faded lab coat and crocs, walks through the busy corridors. Nurses and hospital attendants continue with their jobs as normal.

A case apart The Buddhist kingdom is in many ways a case apart, benchmarking itself on happiness instead of economic growth.

One of the pillars of Gross National Happiness is conservation of the environment. Bhutan is carbon negative and its constitution mandates that 60 percent of the country remains forested. It is also big on ecotourism and

Enhanced...

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year’s theme of “Concerted Action for Common Development in the New Era,” the event was attended by 100 business leaders from China, 100 business leaders from the Philippines and 100 executives from Chinese enterprises in the Philippines.

Addressing the gathering, China Embassy Charge d’Affaires Ad Interim Tan Qingsheng said bilateral relations “have entered a golden age with political and security coordination, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.”

At the same time, he denied any hidden agenda in loan agreements with the Philippines, adding that speculation regarding the so-called China debt trap was “completely groundless.”

Tan cited figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showing that Chinese loans account “for merely 0.65 percent of the total debt” of the Philippines. “Even if the planned financing is implemented, the figure will only be around 4.5 percent by 2022. If we compare the interest rates in US dollar terms, the interest rate of Chinese loans is actually very similar or even lower than that of other countries,” he pointed out.

The Chinese envoy also said that more job opportunities for Filipinos will be created through the economic cooperation between the two countries.

He said about 50 large-scale Chinese companies based in the Philippines have employed more than 16,000 Filipinos so far, and the number is expect-

charges a daily fee of $250 per visitor in high season.

The capital Thimphu has no traffic lights, the sale of tobacco is banned, and television was only allowed in 1999.

Archery competitions, with liberal amounts of the local firewater, are a national craze. Phalluses painted on houses to ward off evil are also a common sight.

But the "Land of the Thunder Dragon" also has its problems, among them corruption, rural poverty, youth unemployment and criminal gangs.

Tshering, who trained in Bangladesh, Japan, Australia and the United States, began his political career in 2013, but his party failed to make headway in that year's election.

After losing, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck commanded him to lead a team of doctors and travel with the monarch's entourage to far-flung villages to provide free medical treatment.

Now as prime minister, he spends Saturdays treating patients referred to him and Thursday mornings offering medical advice to trainees and doctors. Sunday is family time.

Back in the prime minister's office, a lab coat hangs on the back of his chair.

This, he said, serves as a reminder of his election pledge to focus on healthcare.

Patients don't have to pay directly for healthcare in Bhutan, but Tshering says that much more remains to

be done despite important strides in medical treatment.

While the country has seen major improvements in life expectancy, a reduction in infant mortality and the elimination of many infectious diseases, the number of lifestyle diseases—including alcoholism and diabetes—is on the rise.

"We must now slowly put more focus on secondary and tertiary healthcare," Tshering said.

ed to increase in the coming years.

The diplomat stressed during the Boao Forum that bilateral economic ties have brought tangible benefits to both sides, with total trade volume in 2018 reaching US$55.7 billion, with an 8.5-percent year-on-year increase. China is now the Philippines’ top trading partner, the largest source of imports and the fourth largest export market.

Earlier, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran, the chief economist of the Department of Finance, debunked fears that we would be drawn inexorably to a China debt trap as “overblown” and “overdiscussed.”

Beltran said that with an interest rate of 2 percent per annum for projects financed by China versus an internal rate of return (IRR) of at least 15 percent, the Philippines would easily gain 13 percent from these projects.

“You only lose money if you mismanage the project and that will take a very stupid manager or a very corrupt manager. And these are very good projects which should have been implemented 20 years ago,” Beltran told a recent forum of business journalists.

Beltran said that since the Philippines needs to upgrade its infrastructure and the projected IRR is very high, there’s no harm in taking advantage of official development assistance (ODA) while these are still available.

“There’s a limit to how much you can get from ODA source and what we’re getting from China is what they allocated to us,” he said.

“We are not favoring China; It’s just they allocated $9 billion for us and Japan also said they’re going to give $9 billion. So we let them choose which

projects which they can implement given their resources and capabilities,” he added.

The DOF believes that our per capita income might breach $4,000 this year, which makes us an uppermiddle income country. At present, our per capita income of over $3,000 puts us in the low-middle income category which qualifies the country for most ODA packages consisting of grants and loans.

At any rate, among the participants in the 2nd Belt and Road Forum were top officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), headquartered in Washington, D.C, which gathers 189 countries “working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.”

For Changyong Rhee, the Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, the BRI project is a “very important contribution” to the global economy as it would help improve the infrastructure requirements in the lowincome countries and also promote regional cooperation and connectivity in trade, investment, finance and human mobility. The IMF official said his organization “is in very close collaboration with Chinese authorities on sharing the best international practices, especially regarding fiscal sustainability and capacity building.” This is an interesting development that we’ll monitor in the months ahead amid the ongoing US-China trade war.

Under the PM's knife At the hospital, Tshering's patient, a 40-year-old man named Bumthap who underwent a five-hour bladder repair surgery, told AFP he was pleased with the results.

"Now that I have been operated on by the prime minister, who is considered one of the best doctors in the country, I feel more relieved," he said.

Politics, the prime minister said, is a lot like being a doctor.

"At the hospital I scan and treat patients. In the government, I scan the health of policies and try to make them better," he said.

"I will continue doing this until I die and I miss not being able to be here every day," he added.

And on the days when he drives his car around the capital Thimphu—instead of using his official chauffeur— an-all-too familiar urge takes hold of him.

"Whenever I drive to work on weekdays, I wish I could turn left towards the hospital." AFP

ernhil@yahoo.com

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

How not to make an intel matrix

ficial checklist, just on sound common sense. What kind of ouster are we even talking about? Is it physical, where the target is to be bodily ejected from the Palace, as was done with the dictator Marcos? Or is it an ouster through elections, which is a legitiTHE Palace has been releasing infor- mate act? Ouster through public opinmation matrices that fall short of the ion? Ouster through impeachment or gold standard of true intelligence ac- other legal means? The matrices antivity, and it’s hurting their credibility. swer none of these questions because The first iteration of the matrix, they are illogical and the products of published by The Manila Times, im- incompetent minds that can’t even plicated lawyers and journalists criti- imitate a genuine intel report, as a curcal of the President and his adminis- sory internet search shows. tration.

I typed ‘What is the output of intelThe publication of this matrix led ligence agencies’ into a search engine to the resignation of Manila Times and the second article that popped managing editor Felipe Salvosa II, up was a post at the Federation of who said on social media, “A dia- American Scientists website (fas.org) gram is by no means an evidence of titled “Intelligence Collection Activi‘destabilization’ or ties and Discian ‘ouster plot,’” plines.” and questioned the The article source briefly defines We, the people, are The second ma‘intelligence’, trix, which the Pal- not stupid. explains the inace says aims to telligence cycle, discredit the adminand enumerates istration, includes the intelligence politicians and celebrities, among collection disciplines. What it dede them news personality Gretchen Ho scribes as intelligence work is above and Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn and beyond the primitive matrices we Diaz. are told are evidence of an ouster or Many members of the public and propaganda plot. the opposition laughed at the matriThe matrices the Palace are toutces, which seem to be the work of ing are not intelligence according to grade schoolers, as Aquino presiden- standard, and are definitely not worth tial spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. P2.5 billion. To put it another way, Communist leader Jose Maria Si- they look like the product of a stormson said the diagrams were “not even ing session, without the brain. worth a scrap of toilet paper.”

Of the second matrix, Panelo said its Duterte spokesman Salvador Pane- objective is to “to discredit this adminislo, who presented both matrices to the tration for the purpose of the election,” public and media, first said the infor- and that there is a “deliberate conspiramation came from the President, next cy” to do so, participated in by “the Libhe said he didn’t know. eral Party, the yellows, Magdalos, and Which brings us to the question— media outfits as well as organizations how much actual genuine intelligence indicated in the matrix.” work went into the making of the maIs he conflating legitimate districes? Even Lacierda’s social media sent and freedom of expression with post about senatorial candidate Gary conspiracy? Panelo says not: “It can Alejano was included in one of the never be a crackdown. This governmatrices, and it didn’t make sense be- ment cannot crack down on those who cause everything else there was either are practicing the freedom of expresan organization or a person. sion.”

The Duterte administration enjoys But it seems he is discrediting the P2.5 billion in intel funds. Where is opposition’s criticism of the administhe money going? Because it certain- tration by claiming that they are conly isn’t funding quality intelligence spirators—which he also denied. info. If there were an actual ouster It might seem confusing but it is not. plot, and if real intelligence work had The matrices do not make logical sense been conducted, the output would be as conspiracy or plot. What they show greater and more significant than a list at the most are lists of people who do of disgruntled citizens and activists not agree with the way the President and a few stray personalities puzzled and his administration govern. about their inclusion.

What galls me most about the ma\A genuine intelligence report trices is that we, the public, are exwould be much more detailed and pected to swallow these allegations precise. For example, if it were about hook, line, and sinker just because an ouster plan, it would include the they said so. principal instigators of the plot; their We, the people, are not stupid. strategies to bring about the ouster, We, the people, reject lies, innuensuch as physical, psychological, and does, and unsubstantiated accusations. other forms of conflict or warfare; We, the people, demand truth and the strength of support; weapons and transparency and the highest standard other hardware or equipment comple- of governance. ment; dates of planned attacks or concerted actions; and the like.

Brains are in short supply this season, I’m not even basing this on an of- lol. /FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

The ‘Bikoy’...

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is a tendency for some senators to grandstand.

It is in the proper court where Bikoy can present evidence and the government can impugn his allegations. No badgering of witnesses who are cowed by the honorable Senate panel inquisitors.

On another matter, the Canadian government announced it would shoulder the cost of shipping back of tons of garbage dumped in the Philippines. This includes toxic medical trash. The Duterte government threatened to declare war on Canada if it it

Saving...

From A4

does not ship the garbage back. This is a far cry from its soft approach on illegal Chinese workers in the country who are taking away jobs from Filipino in the on-line gaming industry.

Why the double standard on China and Canada? Canada is a friendly nation which is not encroaching on the West Philippine Sea. Like China, it is generous with grants and loans for Philippine infrastructure projects.

This is aside from granting work visas to many Filipinos to their progressive and expansive country.

We need to review our external relation with countries that help the Philippines instead of straining bilateral ties. This is basic in diplomatic relations. nance of the relevant agencies.

This Save Laguna Lake Movement must be participated, supported and sustained by all. Ideally, this Movement should be adopted by private corporations as among their primary social responsibility projects.

Civil society, including all environment protection organizations, are stakeholders and must participate.

Lastly, let the Save Laguna Lake Movement be the model for the protection and rehabilitation of all our freshwater lakes, and replicated all over the country.

and implement a lake ferry transportation system to provide convenient, affordable and reliable connectivity between the towns and cities around the lake.

Further, for the Department of Tourism to plan, develop and implement eco-tourism projects to fully exploit the lake’s potential, and for the Biodiversity Management Bureau (formerly Parks and Wildlife Bureau) to recommend public recreational parks for implementation and mainte- biznewsasia@gmail.com

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News

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Marcos bats for wide agri modernization

By Rey E. Requejo

T

O AVERT widescale food shortage, senatorial candidate and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos vowed to push for a massive agricultural modernization and industrialization must be implemented immediately in Mindanao, dubbed the country’s food basket. production but will help alleviate poverty in the region as well,” she said.

“With the growing population that needs to be fed, the government should attend to modernizing agriculture posthaste,” Marcos added, fearing that since Filipino farmers were getting very old, “we may end up one day with no one tilling our lands.”

Marcos said critical to improving the food security situation in the country was making the production cost competitive.

“It only costs P6 to produce a kilo of rice in Vietnam, yet it takes P12.50 to achieve the

“It is the height of irony that Mindanao, which is considered as the country’s food basket, is experiencing food shortage,” Marcos said.

Marcos, the only incumbent local official running for senator in the May 13 midterm polls, noted that the southern region of Mindanao produces 40 percent of the country’s food requirements, yet holds the record of having some of the poorest provinces.

“Embarking on a massive modernization program for agriculture in the Southern Philippines will not only address the decline in food

2.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION THE FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SPC POWER CORPORATION, WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

same here in the Philippines. The production cost is more than double,” she noted.

“We need to improve our mechanization program and give our farmers fertilizers, agricultural inputs and hybrid seeds. We have to expand our irrigated areas and develop our distribution system so farmers are able to earn enough while we keep food prices at affordable levels,” Marcos said.

Marcos urged the government through the Department of Agriculture to bankroll the construction of the much-needed agricultural infrastructures, such as the building of silos for better storage of agricultural produce and more farm-tomarket roads.

The DA must also promote improved varieties and alternative crops to achieve higher income for farmers, she said.

Marcos also suggested that it is high time for the DA to aggressively promote “smart farming”, such as tropical greenhouse farming and aquaponics through government grants.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Black Start Service (BSS): Payment for the service provided is based on hourly rate per occurrence:

PB104=PhP1.7570/kWh+VOM+Actual Fuel Cost C. Cost of Incidental Energy (“IE”) shall be computed using the formula below: IE={[G*(AR+Fuel+VOM)]-REVWESM-G} 13. Applicants submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery of its opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS. ERC CASE NO. 2019-011 RC

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SPC POWER CORPORATION, Applicants. x------------------------------------------------x

14. The rates under ASPA was subjected to a simulation by NGCP, the results of which are as follows:

SSS released over P30.5-b salary loans in 2018 STATE-RUN Social Security System on Thursday said more than P30.5 billion in salary loans were released in 2018 to over 1.8 million memberborrowers.

SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio said that salary loan acquisition rose to 5.3 percent last year compared with the preceding year.

“We are glad that we are able to help more of our members on their financial needs in the form of salary loans,” Ignacio said.

Of the total loan releases in 2018, more than 166,000 or 9.22 percent of the 1.8 million loan releases were through Union Bank of the Philippines’ Quick Card.

This figure is almost triple compared with the 55,835 recorded in 2017.

Ignacio said: “Over the years, we have seen that more members opt to receive their salary loan proceeds through electronic means since they do not have to wait for their checks to be delivered to their houses or offices and go personally to the bank to encash the check.

“We have decided to further expand the program of salary loans through UBP Quick Cards by allowing more kiosks in additional branches nationwide.”

To date, of the 10 additional branches, four of which already have UBP Quick Cards kiosks. These branches are Cubao, San Francisco Del Monte, Marikina, and Binondo.

SSS branches that offer the program since 2015 are Diliman, Makati-Gil Puyat, Pasig Shaw, Makati-Ayala, Kalookan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Alabang, Bacoor, Biñan, Dagupan, Baguio, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. The Salary Loan Releases Thru the Bank Program authorized UBP to provide an efficient and convenient mode for the release of salary loan proceeds of the member-borrowers.

Indicative Rate Impact P/kW-mo P/kWh-equivalent 13.5851 0.0289 1.0337 0.0022

DR BSS

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation is attached as Annex “C”.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 19 February 2019, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and SPC Power Corporation (SPC) filed an Application dated 29 January 2019, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA), with prayer for provisional authority.

The pertinent portions of the Application which are hereunder quoted as follows: NATURE OF THE CASE 1.

This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) between the NGCP and SPC dated 18 December 2018, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority.”

15. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Visayas Grid.

16. The ASPA shall be effective for a period of five (5) years, to commence immediately upon the effectivity of the provisional approval (“PA”), or in the absence thereof, the final approval (“FA”) of the instant Application.

In the event that the PA or FA, as the case may be, does not state a particular date of effectivity, the Agreement shall be effective on the date agreed upon by the Parties.

17. SPC, as a generation company, falls within the ambit of Sections 6 of the EPIRA. Attached are copies of relevant documents proving SPC’s due registration as a generation company, relevant permits to operate the Generation Facility and audited financial statements, as follows: Documents Certificate of Compliance Certification of No Existing Power Supply Agreement Articles of Incorporation Latest Security Exchange Commission - General Information Sheet Latest Audited Financial Statement WESM Registration

THE PARTIES 2.

3.

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 9511 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

Applicant SPC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal place of business at the 7th floor, Cebu Holdings Center, Archbishop Reyes Ave., Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of the Power Barge 104 (“Generation Facility”) located at Tapal Wharf, Ubay Bohol which was certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Ancillary Services (“AS”) in the forms of Dispatchable Reserve (“DR”) and Black Start Service (“BSS”).

ANTECEDENT FACTS

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid AS and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and AS tariffs to the ERC. As defined in Section 4(b) of the EPlRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (“ASPP”) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services Cost Recovery Mechanism (“ASCRM”) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC. Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on different dates published in newspapers of general circulation a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services Providers, inviting all gridconnected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services. Upon receipt of the intention from SPC to provide ancillary services, NGCP commenced negotiations with SPC for the execution of an ASPA. NGCP agreed to procure and SPC agreed to supply AS in the forms of: (a) DR under a firm and non-firm arrangement; and (b) BSS under a non-firm arrangement. A copy of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement between NGCP and SPC dated 18 December 2018 is attached as Annex “A”.

10. During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on the Generation Facility, and certified that the generating units have met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing DR and BSS. A copy of NGCP Accreditation Certificate Nos. 2018-V0037 dated August 20, 2018 (for DR) and 2018-V0037 (for BSS) are attached as Annexes “B” and “B-1”, respectively.

FIRM AND NON-FIRM CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATE AND IMPACT SIMULATION 11. Under Clause 3 of the ASPA, SPC shall provide NGCP with the following as specified in Schedule 1 of the ASPA: A. Firm Contracted Capacity: 1.

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve) - up to 21MW for 24 hours.

B. Non-Firm Contracted Capacity: 1. Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve) - up to 7MW If Non-Firm DR is not scheduled, the unscheduled unit may serve as a standy replacement unit in case a scheduled unit for Firm DR becomes unavailable.

1.

Black Start Service (BSS) - up to 28MW with 200kWEDG

Note that the capacities listed above are the maximum ancillary service capacity that can be provided for each generating unit.

However, nomination and schedule shall be based on the latest AS Certificate.

12. The Applicable Rates for the capacity covered by the ASPA as provided in Schedule 3 are as follows: A. Firm Contracted Capacity Applicable Rate: 1.

Annex “D” “E” “F” “G” “H” “I”

While SPC is a co-applicant, it manifests that the instant Application shall neither modify, diminish or constitute a waiver of SPC’s rights nor expand its obligations and responsibilities as a generation company under EPIRA. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 18. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2(b), EPIRA). To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. 19. The current levels of available contracted AS in the Visayas Grid have not yet reached the desired levels necessary for the system security and reliability. Thus, Applicants executed the ASPA. A copy of the relevant actual data showing the required and available levels of AS in the Visayas Grid, entiled as “Visayas Dispatchable Reserve Availability” are attached as Annex “J”.

20. As the demand for power in the Visayas increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability, and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth. The importance of AS to be provided by SPC, which is to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Visayas Grid cannot be overemphasized.

21. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Visayas Grid.

In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lisaflor Bacani-Kater of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP, which is attached as Annex “K.” PRAYER 22. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission: a.

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA executed on 18 December 2018; and

b.

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA. Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 14 June 2019 (Friday) at Nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) at Metro Center Hotel Bohol, C.P. Garcia North Avenue, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

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

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

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

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

(This space is intentionally left blank)

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

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the opposition or comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

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

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA and PAUL M. CERVANTES Energy Regulatory Commission, this 29th day of April 2019 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson & CEO

Dispatchable Reserve (DR): PhP0.85/kW/hr

B. Non-Firm Contracted Capacity Applicable Rate: 1.

Dispatchable Reserve (DR): PhP1.25/kW/hr

(MS-MAY 10 & 17, 2019)

FINAL GOODBYE. Philippine Constitution Association president and former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez pays his last respects Thursday to former House Speaker Prospero Nograles during a wake at Cosmopolitan Chapel in Davao City. Nograles is one of the most outstanding speakers of the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno

SC asked to void $211-m dam loan deal with China

THE Supreme Court has been asked to nullify the $211.2-million Kaliwa Dam loan project of the government with China.

In a petition, the Makabayan group led by senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares asked the High Court to declare null and void the loan agreement for the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project forged in Novermber 2017 by the government with ExportImport Bank of China to be implemented by China Energy Engineering Corp.

Petitioners also sought immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order enjoining the implementation of the project.

They also asked the high court to order the government to submit procurement and other documents for the Kaliwa Dam project as well as all other loan agreements with China.

The same group filed last month a similar petition questioning the government’s $62-million loan agreement with China for the Chico River irrigation pump project in the Cordillera region.

They raised practically the same arguments in this new petition on the Kaliwa Dam project.

Petitioners alleged that the confidentiality clause in the loan

agreement violates the constitutional right of the Filipino people to information on foreign loans under Section 21, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution.

“The Confidentiality Clause of the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement is a brazen disregard of the constitutional right of the Filipino people to information on foreign loans obtained or guaranteed by the government, and is considered inimical to the national interest,” read the petition.

The group further argued that the loan agreement likewise violates Section 20, Article VII of the Constitution, which requires prior approval by the Monetary Board.

They said the assailed deal also violates Section 7, Article II of the Constitution, which states: “The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.”

“The choice of the laws of China as the governing law of the agreement and Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) as the tribunal circumvent Section 7 of Article II of the Constitution,” they argued.

Rey E. Requejo

PH, US, Japan, India navies sail in SCS THE navies of the Philippines, United States, Japan and India sailed for the first time together in the South China Sea as part of their week-long maritime training exercises.

Six ships from the four countries sailed across international waters to Changi in Singapore, where the second phase of ASEAN-Plus Defense Ministers’ Meeting Maritime Security Field Training Exercise 2019 will be concluded.

Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad, head of the Philippine Navy delegation, said in a statement, “The group sail showed the active participation of the Philippine Navy as it strengthens its relationships with allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region.”

“This gives us another opportuni-

ty to learn from like-minded navies.”

Philippine Navy’s patrol vessel BRP Andres Bonifacio joined the activity sailing with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense force vessel, JS Izumo and JS Murasame, India’s ships INS Kolkata and Shakti, and the US’ Pacific Fleet vessel, USS William P. Lawrence.

“Our bond of friendship with our regional partners is a strong as our commitment to maintain peace and stability [in the] region,” said BRP Andres Bonifacio commanding officer Captain Jerry Garrido Jr. The activity, which started in Busan, South Korea, is aimed at deepening the partnership and foster mutual understanding between participant countries.

Sports Miracle win sets up Spurs vs Liverpool LONDON—Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham were saluted on Thursday after producing the second English Champions League “miracle” within 24 hours to set up a final against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Lucas Moura’s last-gasp strike took Spurs to the European showpiece for the first time in their history as he completed his hat-trick and sealed an incredible 3-2 win over Ajax to leave the young Dutch side heartbroken.

Ajax, leading 1-0 after the first leg in London, scored twice in the first half in Amsterdam on Wednesday through Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech, leaving the visitors with the improbable task of needing to score three goals without reply.

But Moura struck twice within four minutes in the second half and steered a low shot beyond the despairing dive of Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana in the 96th minute as Spurs progressed to next month’s final in Madrid on away goals.

It matched the drama of the previous night at Anfield, where Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit.

“Really, this was too much. This was a gin-addled north London fantasy,” wrote Barney Ronay in the Guardian. “At half-time in Amsterdam Spurs were 3-0 down to Ajax and drifting into the realm of last things and end times, trying, at best, to lose well.

“Six minutes into stoppage time at the end they were in some other place entirely, propelled to a first Champions League final by that impossible hat-trick goal from Lucas Moura, who was irresistible all night, a cartoon of scurrying craft and malevolent energy.”

The Times hailed Spurs’ never-saydie attitude. AFP

Mojdeh getting comfortable facing veterans

By Peter Atencio SWIMMER Jasmine Micaela Mojdeh, who set two Philippine junior records during the 2019 Palarong Pambansa, is finally getting comfortable when facing older opponents in the high school level.

And this is what she learned to do when she swam against older rivals last week in Davao City.

“Mas gusto ko na pong lumaban sa high school level. Kasi napu-push po ako,” said the 12-year old Mojdeh yesterday at the weekly “Usapang Sports” by the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila.

After the Palarong Pambansa, Mojdeh is getting ready to join two more international meets, with the first one in Ontario, Canada with a six-member group, which earned medals when the last Palaro was held at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao campus aquatics center in Mintal.

Mojdeh leaves for Ontario for the coming Dr. Ralph Dickens international meet with Palaro medallists Saira and Lia Pabellon, Xander and Mica Talosig and Francis Cordero.

After that, Mojdeh will go with other Palaro medallists to see action in July in the ASEAN School Games in Indonesia.

During the Palarong Pambansa, Mojdeh got three golds and two silvers, and on her debut in the secondary girls’ division.

Last year, she was the most bemedalled swimmer of the 2018 Palaro in Vigan after winning six golds and a silver medal.

A7

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Dubs grab 3-2 lead; Bucks advance L

OS ANGELES—Golden State pulled out a 104-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday as the Warriors survived the loss of superstar Kevin Durant to grab a 3-2 lead in their second round NBA playoff series.

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson nailed clutch three pointers late in the fourth quarter for the Warriors but the buzz after the game was not about the win but rather the health of Durant.

The Warriors said he had suffered a right calf strain but Durant is expected to undergo an MRI scan to Thursday to determine the full extent of the damage.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr sounded cautiously optimistic—hoping for the best but also preparing for something worse if it does turn out to be more serious like a ruptured Achilles.

“We are all disappointed for him. Excited about the win but concern for Kevin.

He had been on this incredible playoff run. I am proud of the guys and the way they pulled out this win and we will see about Kevin tomorrow,” said Kerr.

Durant’s injury occurred innocently enough after he hit a jumper from the

right side with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.

He took a step forward then grimaced in pain and looked down at his lower right leg.

“He’s done a lot for us. We got to have his back—that is what tonight was about,” said Warriors Stephen Curry.

Thompson finished with 27 points, Curry 25 and Durant 22 for the Warriors, who continued a run of home wins by the teams in the series.

James Harden was the game’s leading scorer with 31 points for the Rockets, who were outshot by the Warriors from the field 46 percent to 42 percent.

‘It’s amazing’ Elsewhere, Milwaukee became the first team to reach the NBA’s final four as the top-seeded Bucks beat the visiting Boston Celtics with a 116-91 series-clinching victory.

The Bucks used balanced scoring and a stingy defense to eliminate the fourthseeded Celtics in five games, avenging a seven-game first round loss to Boston last season.

“It’s amazing. It was a team effort,” said Antetokounmpo. “We did not mess around with the game. We did our job. We defended. We moved the ball. That’s how we were able to close the game.”

The Celtics had reached the NBA semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers each of the last two seasons.

It marks the first time since 1983 that the Bucks have won a playoff series against the Celtics, who won the first game in this year’s series before dropping four consecutive contests.

Milwaukee advances to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will have the home-court advantage over the winner of the other East second round series between the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers.

They meet in game six in Philadelphia on Thursday, with the second-seeded Raptors holding a 3-2 lead.

Greek giant Giannis Antetokounmpo

New owners for Pasig five, Imus in MPBL

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with fans during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Pagunsan, Chan grab lead with 70 as foes falter LAUREL, Batangas – Rey Pagunsan forged an early solid partnership with reigning national junior champion Aidric Chan as they combined for a two-under 70 to grab a two-stroke lead over siblings Daniella and Lanz Uy, Tonton Asistio and Judson Eustaquio, and Art Arbole and Joel Yamyamin at the start of the Delimondo National Pro-Am at Splendido Taal Golf Club here yesterday.

Pagunsan and Chan launched their drive on No. 16 in the first of two shotgun starts and overcame a double bogey on the 18th on a wild drive with three pairs of back-to-back birdies against another double bogey to seize early control with the dreaded Splendido wind hardly felt in morning play.

Two pairs threatened to dominate the afternoon group with strong starts but the Enrico Gallardo-JR Bagtas and Michael Bibat-Louie Aguinaldo tandems blew a pair of early three-under cards with shaky Aidric Chan (right) checks the wind velocity as Rey Pagunsan looks on. finishes, enabling the Southwoods duo of Pagunsan and Chan to stay ahead of the five holes from No. 2. But they bogeyed on superb putting, including a 25-foot107-team field in the P2.7 million event the seventh and spent the rest of the day er on No. 10 and another 10-foot putt groping for shots while trying to salvage on the next. sponsored by Delimondo.

“I never putted this well but also Starting off on No. 1, Gallardo and at least pars, to no avail. They bogeyed Bagtas birdied three of the first 10 holes Nos. 11, 12 and 16 and dropped two drew solid support from my partner,” but double bogeyed the par-3 12th, bo- strokes on the par-4 18th and limped with said Pagunsan of his 18-year-old teammate, who is coming into the event geyed the next and dropped strokes on a 75 instead.

Those foldups allowed Pagunsan and brimming with confidence following a 16th and 17th for a 74.

Bibat and Aguinaldo made quite an Chan to regain the lead with the veteran victory in the National Junior Open at impression with three birdies in their first campaigner anchoring their strong start Sherwood recently.

UTP forming National Juniors’ Team for international tourneys IN A bid to continue developing fresh Filipino tennis talents, Unified Tennis Philippines is forming the 2019 UTP National Juniors’ Tennis Team, which will represent the country in International Tennis Federation and Asian Tennis Federation tournaments.

“We are helping our top junior players compete in international competitions to further hone their skills as they are the future of Philippine tennis. We hope that this year’s team will be as successful as last year’s,” UTP President Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

The cut-off period for the ITF and ATF tournaments is from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019.

The top two players of the Boys

has had no trouble in this series delivering big points for the Bucks, who will be making their first appearance in the final four since 2001.

Antetokounmpo led seven players in double figures with 20 points and also tallied eight rebounds and a game-high eight assists.

Khris Middleton (19 points), Eric Bledsoe (18), George Hill (16), Nikola Mirotic (10) and Ersan Ilyasova (10) also scored in double figures for the Bucks, who shot 44.7 percent overall.

Milwaukee also outscored the Celtics 45-21 from beyond the arc.

Guard Malcolm Brogdon, returning from a heel injury that had sidelined him since March 15, scored 10 points in 17 minutes.

Milwaukee has dominated games by throwing a blanket over Boston’s Kyrie Irving, who shot one-for-seven from three-point range on Wednesday.

He was six-of-21 overall and finished with just one assist.

Irving also shot eight-for-22 and sevenfor-22 in the Celtics’ two home losses on Friday and Monday. AFP

and Girls 18 and 16 Under category will be selected for an ITF tournament while the top two players of the Boys and Girls 14 and Under category will be sent to an ATF tournament.

UTP is also doing a similar search for representatives to the WTA Future Stars Girls 14 and 16 Under category through the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls Tennis Challenge.

The Top 8 ranked girls in both categories from Jan. 1, 2019 to Aug. 31, 2019 will play in a round-robin competition this September and the champions will be sent to the WTA Future Stars tournament in its new host country in Shenzhen, China.

Last year, UTP formed several

teams that played in Malaysia and Indonesia and were successful in producing winners with the Eala siblings Alex and Miko reaching the finals of the AGS-ITF in Indonesia.

In the Sarawak 13th ATF 14 and under series, Johndy Velez won the Boy’s Singles, Rupert Tortal and Brent Cortes won the Boy’s Doubles and Alexa Milliam won both the Girl’s Singles and Doubles titles.

UTP’s campaign is backed

by Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop and is supported

by Chris Sports, Toby’s Sports, HEAD, Babolat, Mr. Freeze, Unilab, Navegar, STI, and Madi- UTP Board Members, led by President Jean Henri Lhuillier (third from right), pose with members the 2018 UTP National Juniors Tennis Team. son Galleries.

ASIG and the Grindhouse Kings were a winning combination in the ChooksTo-Go 3 x 3 tournament.

But in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, the two entities parted ways as Pasig had already identified a new group which will take over the ownership of the Pasig Pirates.

The Pineda Construction group will assume ownership of the Pirates starting May 10 as the MPBL approved its take over on its operations. The group will officially sign in as new owner at the mansion of league founder Senator Manny Pacquiao, along with expansion team, Bicol Volcanoes.

Aside from taking over the Pasig Pirates’ franchise, the new owner is also bringing a familiar face who will manage the team.

Long-time Sta. Lucia Realty team manager and two-time PBA Executive of the Year awardee Buddy Encarnado has been appointed team manager of the Pasig Pirates, as confirmed by owner Gene Pineda.

With Pasig finding a new partner which will run the show in the MPBL, the Grindhouse Kings instead inked a deal with the Imus Bandera. Under the agreement, Grindhouse Kings will be the managing partner of the rebuilding squad owned by Ruby Navarro.

Lou Abad, who manages the Grindhouse Kings, confirmed the partnership and he will bring along Budds Reyes, who will become the new head coach of the squad.

Imus has undergone a rebuilding process, releasing key players like MPBL All-Star Ian Melencio, deadshot swingman Winston Baltazar, pesky guard Dan Alberto and ex-pro Jomari Sollano.

SBP unveils new logos THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas formally unveiled the new logos of the federation and the Gilas Pilipinas team on Wednesday in time for what would be a busy stretch for Philippine basketball in the second half of the year.

SBP President Al Panlilio was joined

by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial during the ceremony that preceded Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum between San Miguel and Magnolia.

While the SBP logo is just a ‘slight refresh’ from the original design first made when the federation was established in 2007, the Gilas logo has ‘more of a big change’ according to Panlilio.

“With the help of Cignal, what came out of our research is that the Gilas name is the most powerful. So what we really do is use the branding of Gilas across all the pillars,” said the SBP president. “‘Yung Philippine eagle is still there, but ‘yung rendition niya is quite different, with an emerging basketball, showing our love for the game obviously. And the italicized font illustrates the ball motion towards a bright future for the sport,” Panlilio added.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

JuneMar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen raises his record 6th BPC award prior to the Philippine Cup’s Game 4.

SEA Games’ hosting gets P1B boost

PHILIPPINE Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano thanked President Duterte and the Cabinet for their overwhelming support to boost the SEA games preparations and ensure the highest quality of hosting an international sports competition. These developments are expected to boost the confidence of our athletes and inspire them to perform well in their respective sports events.

“We are very much encouraged by the support of the President and the Cabinet.

During the Cabinet briefing, we committed to have the best viewed and best hosted SEA games,” Cayetano said.

In a Cabinet meeting held last Monday, Cayetano presented the updates on the preparations for the SEA games to be held from November 30 to December 11, 2019.

PHISGOC welcomed the approval of President Duterte of the additional P1 billion funding for the country’s hosting of the 30th Philippine Southeast Asian Games.

“We briefed the President and the Cabinet about the progress of the preparations including the construction of the major infrastructure facilities where the events will be held such as the Athletics Stadium, Aquatics Center and the Athletics Village,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano was joined by the Bases Conversion Development Authority President, Vince Dizon and Executive Board member and PHISGOC Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara.

In the presentation, they highlighted that the SEA games is an opportunity to showcase an image of a nation that is safe, vibrant and competitive.

“The President agreed to augment the current budget of the SEA games because he understood the importance of the SEA games to the Filipino athletes and its longterm benefits to the tourism and economic sectors in the country,” Cayetano noted.

Last year, the PHISGOC proposed for P7.5 billion to fund the expenses necessary to ensure that the hosting will meet world-class standards.

For this year’s SEA games, there will be 56 sports and 523 events that will be participated by 11,250 athletes and team officials in 11 countries.

Congress, however, slashed P2.5 billion from its proposed budget.

Beermen, Hotshots break 2-2 tie today

By Jeric Lopez

W

ITH the pivotal series lead on the line, expect San Miguel Beer and Magnolia to hold nothing back as they go at it again in their competitive finals’ showdown in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

The series is leveled at 2-2 and the scheduled Game 5 at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum will be a pivotal point for both protagonists.

After squaring up the series by taking Game 4 dominantly, 114-98, San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria is final-

ly seeing the fight that he seeks from his wards.

“Everybody is now more focused.

We’re showing team effort now and this is the kind of game that we’re looking for in the team,” said Austria.

“We know the importance of this next game that’s why we need to keep that kind of level.”

Behind now six-time All-Filipino Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo, the Beermen easily out-wrestled the Hotshots in Game 4 following a much efficient showing on both ends.

Fajardo dished out a monster double-double effort with 31 points and 14 rebounds in Game 4 to make sure his “six-peat-seeking” squad is on equalfooting heading to Game 5.

Even after dropping Game 4 in lopsided fashion, the Hotshots still like

where they are right now.

“In the first place, all we want is a chance against San Miguel Beer and at this point, we have that,” said Magnolia ace spitfire Paul Lee. “If there’s a chance in the end, we’ll definitely try to grab it.”

For Hotshots’ coach Chito Victolero, his team’s defensive sting needs to comeback for them to have a better chance at taking Game 5.

“Hindi kami puwede makipag-sabayan sa kanila on offense that’s why it’s a matter of bringing our defensive mindset, something we were not able to do the last game,” said Victolero.

Mark Barroca and Rafi Reavis were at the forefront of Magnolia’s critical 86-82 win over San Miguel in Game 3 last Sunday night to earn a key lead in the series.

Go For Gold shines in Vietnam Cycling Tour THE Go For Gold Developmental Cycling Team got tested in a series of punishing mountainous terrains and gallantly passed the grade in a challenging four-day bikathon in Vietnam.

Ismael Grospe Jr. was named King of the Mountain in the prestigious Dien Bien Phu 2019 international race while fellow Go For Gold riders Daniel Ven Carino and Ean Cajucom nearly hit the target in the sprint classification.

Jericho Jay Lucero then put the finishing touches to an impressive campaign against an elite field of riders by placing second in the torturous final stage behind Vietnamese climber Huynh Thanh Tung.

“Our young guns have proven that our faith in them is well-placed,’’ said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go. “Despite being young athletes, they raced well against older and more experienced cyclists,’’ added Go, vice president for marketing of Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corp., the organization behind the Go For Gold program.

After making it to the top 10 of the general classification, the 20-year-old Grospe also duplicated his feat as Ronda Pilipinas best young rider by winning the same award in Vietnam.

“We did well in this race, but it

Coach Ednalyn Hualda (4th from left) is shown with cyclists (from left) Jericho Jay Lucero, Ean Cajucom, Marc Ryan Lago,Daniel Ven Carino and Ismael Grospe.

doesn’t mean okay na. There are a lot of things to improve on and we have to do it gradually. Hindi pwedeng biglain,’’ said Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda.

Marc Ryan Lago, another promising

cyclist who also rides for the national team, checked in third overall in the best young rider race followed by Lucero at fourth and Cajucom at seventh, their combined efforts with Grospe helping the team finish fifth overall out of 12 teams.

Cage pool expands with 3x3 inclusion

By Peter Atencio THE Philippines will now have a bigger pool of players to choose from and field in the 3x3 basketball competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

This was after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas included cagers who have seen action in the ongoing Chooks to Go 3x3 series in its selection process.

SBP 3x3 program director Ronnie Magsanoc said the federation will now discuss this possibility.

“That is also an option. ‘Yung mga nasa Chooks-to-Go, most of them have made it to the Top 100 already.

They will always be considered even a part of the pool because of their ranking,” said Magsanoc in a statement.

Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol are among the top players in the Chooks to Go series which reached a high rank.

The others are Leonard Santillan, Troy Rike, Karl Dehesa, Jaypee Belencion, Arvin Tolentino, Sean Manganti, Anton Asistio, Ron Lastimosa, Dylan Ababou, John Wilson, Larry Muyang, Roosevelt Adams, Leo De Vera, Paolo Hubalde, Jojo Cunanan, Chris De Chavez, Jan Jamon, and Rey Suerte.

It is the goal of organizers behind the Chooks 3x3 series to help the Philippines make it into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after they organized the first-of-its-kind league in the country.

The 3x3 tournament of the SEA Games will be held at the FilOil Flying V Center.

La Salle ends UP’s reign, makes finals Matches Thursday

(Rizal Memorial Stadium) 2 p.m. – DLSU vs FEU (Women Finals) 4:30 p.m. – DLSU vs Ateneo/FEU (Men Finals)

DE La Salle ended University of the Philippines’ reign with a 2-1 victory Thursday to make a return trip to the championship match in the UAAP Season 81 men’s football tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The newbies are delivering the goods all season for the Green Archers.

A week after Xavi Zubiri carried them to the Final Four, it was Shanden Vergara’s turn, producing the 77th minute winner for De La Salle.

“They contributed a lot,” said coach Alvin Ocampo of La Salle’s talented rookie batch.

The Archers are back after a fouryear absence and are seeking to end a 21-year title drought in the one-game final at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday next week at the same Malate venue.

De La Salle became the fourth straight No. 3 team to make it to the Finals, duplicating the feat by University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University and Ateneo.

“In the Final Four, anything can happen. It is more on who wants it more and who is prepared forthe semis. Now we are one step closer on our goal right now,” said Ocampo, who was a member of the last Archers side that won their fourth and last championship in 1998.

De La Salle is on course for a golden double, as its women’s team also made it to the Finals and is eyeing a third straight crown on Thursday next week.

Jovan Marfiga opened the scoring for the Archers in the 20th minute before the Fighting Maroons equalized 18 minutes later courtesy of King Miyagi.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Business TODAY

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

B1

BSP cuts interest rates by 25 bps

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday reduced the overnight borrowing rate by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent, the first time in more than six years, after inflation rate eased to the target range and economic growth decelerated to a four-year low.

Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin Diokno said the interest rates on the overnight lending and deposit facilities were also reduced accordingly.

“The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment that the inflation outlook continues to be manageable, with easing price pressures owing to the decline in food prices amid improved supply conditions,” Diokno said.

He said the latest baseline forecasts in-

dicated that inflation would likely settle within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for both 2019 and 2020, while inflation expectations moderated further.

The last time the board cut the policy interest rate was on Oct. 25, 2012, when it reduced the key policy interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.5 percent.

Diokno said in deciding on the stance of monetary policy, the Monetary Board noted the impact of the budget delays

on near-term economic activity but took the view that the prospects for domestic demand remain firm supported by a projected recovery in household spending and the implementation of the government’s infrastructure program.

“In addition, the Monetary Board observed that the global economic growth momentum has slowed down in 2019.

Meanwhile, indications of slower growth in domestic liquidity and credit require careful monitoring,” Diokno said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported earlier that inflation rate slowed to 3 percent in April from 3.3 percent in March. The Monetary Board said the risks to the inflation outlook remained broadly balanced for 2019.

The board slightly reduced the inflation forecast for 2019 to 2.9 percent from 3 percent made during the previous meeting, while the forecast for 2020 was slightly

raised to 3.1 percent from 3 percent.

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the board also took note of the lower monthly inflation for the past few months and the slower GDP growth.

GDP growth in the first quarter slowed to 5.6 percent from 6.5 percent a year ago, following the delayed approval of the 2019 government budget.

“We also considered the slower world GDP growth [which could result in slower demand], and the decrease in Meralco rates in May 2019,” Guinigundo said.

Guinigundo said the board considered the increase in Dubai crude oil and the adjustments in jeepney fares.

When asked if the BSP would consider cutting the interest rates further in the coming months, Diokno said the Monetary Board would continue to be “data dependent,” taking into account the vital data both domestically and globally.

IN BRIEF

Meralco to follow supply bidding rules

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. expressed willingness to comply with the Supreme Court ruling ordering energy companies to undergo a competitive selection process for power supply agreements.

“We have to follow the decision of the Supreme Court. I think ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission]…provide us the generators the terms of reference of the CSP,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

Meralco signed power supply agreements with seven generators in April 2016 to secure 3,551 megawatts of capacity needed in its franchise area that became the subject of the Supreme Court case.

The SC ruled that all PSA submitted by distribution utilities to ERC on or after June 30, 2015 should undergo a competitive selection process―a form of competitive public bidding for the purchase of electricity by DUs. The decision was in connection with the case filed by the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Pangilinan said that with the high tribunal’s decision, the ERC needed to review the pending PSAs which involves a total capacity of 7,000 MW. Alena Mae S. Flores

SMC’s income fell 18% to P12.8b in Q1 CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said Thursday net income dropped 18 percent in the first quarter to P12.82 billion from P15.6 billion recorded in the same period last year on the weak performance of the fuel and food businesses.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-quarter consolidated revenues rose 7 percent to P250.9 billion on the back of strong volumes across major businesses.

The company said the fuel and oil and food businesses were pulled down by volatile global oil prices and higher raw materials cost.

“The slowdown in these businesses is temporary. We are not taking them lightly and we’re seeing clear signs of recovery. We anticipate higher consumer spending from an improving economy, primarily the easing of inflation.

The election season also usually brings us good results.

We’ve implemented a good number of measures to recover lost ground and further strengthen our competitive positions in industries where we are in,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

“We’re off to a good start in terms of our volume and revenue performance. Our businesses are performing strongly despite the challenges, and we are confident that as it was in the past, we will overcome the impact of these economic challenges faced. Meanwhile, SMC’s other major businesses continued to deliver strong results,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

ICTSI’s earnings jump 77% to $72m PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Thursday net income attributable to equity holders surged 77 percent in the first quarter to $72.4 million from $40.9 million a year ago on the strong operating income, good performance in Australia and Papua New Guinea and lower financing chargers.

ICTSI said the first-quarter income was highlighted by strong operational and financial performance at VICT in Melbourne, Australia and a significant improvement in the operations at Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce S.A., its joint venture container terminal project with PSA International Pte Ltd. in Buenaventura, Colombia.

ICTSI said revenue from port operations increased 18 percent in the first quarter to $383.8 million from $325.4 million a year ago while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization grew 25 percent to $222.5 million from $177.5 million.

“ICTSI has continued to grow and delivered a strong first-quarter financial performance underpinned by operational improvements and higher contributions from our new ports including VICT in Melbourne Australia, Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea. While we remain very mindful of the economic backdrop, we remain confident about the future prospects of the business as we build on this positive momentum,” ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. said.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 2,478,672 twenty-foot equivalent units in the quarter, up 7 percent from 2,325,540 TEUs handled in the same period in 2018. The increase in volume was attributed to the improvement in trade activities, new shipping lines and services and continuous volume ramp-up at certain terminals.

Foreign tourists grow 7.6% to 2.2m INTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals increased 7.6 percent in the first quarter to a record 2.2 million from 2.05 million in the same period in 2018, data from the Tourism Department show.

The Tourism Department said the record-high international visitor arrivals this year provided an encouraging sign that Philippine tourism was on the right track.

“The DoT is working on enhancing our tourism products and tourism infrastructure to entice tourists to choose the Philippines as their next destination,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat.

South Korea remained the top source market with 519,58 arrivals in the first three months, up from 477,087 a year ago. Arrivals from China, the second biggest group, grew 24.87 percent to 463,804 from 371,429. Taiwanese visitors, a sub-grouping of the Chinese group, increased 30 percent to 77,908 from 59,877 in 2018.

Visitors from the United States rose 3.1 percent to 293,780 in the quarter while arrivals from Japan reached 177,769. Othel V. Campos

SURPRISE INSPECTION. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez holds a surprise inspection of an establishment allegedly serving only Chinese customers at China Food City in Las Piñas City. Lopez saw no customer discrimination happening in the area but asked the Las Piñas government to evaluate if the business permit of the food hub applies to all the 30 food stalls in the complex. The license and permit of a business under MFD Cuisine were the only ones visible and available in the area. If all the stalls are under one ownership and registration, there must also be a common receipt, the trade chief said. The DTI chief summoned Las Piñas business permit and licensing office chief Wilfredo Gaerlan to issue a suspension of operations pending the correction of the necessary permits.

DOTr seen to endorse Naia Consortium offer to rehabilitate airport

By Jenniffer B. Austria PLDT Inc. said Thursday net income fell 3 percent in the first quarter to P6.7 billion from a year ago on lower gains in the valuation of the company’s investment in German technology venture Rocket Internet.

The country’s largest telecom company said core net income rose 6 percent to P7.2 billion as consolidated service revenues climbed 7 percent to P38 billion in the three-month period.

Service revenues of three major business groups accounted for 94 percent of total service revenues and reached P35.8 billion, up 12 percent from the same quarter in 2018.

The 12-percent increase was higher than the 6-percent growth registered in the whole of 2018.

Data and broadband service revenues grew 21 percent to P24.4 billion and accounted for 68 percent of total service revenues excluding international operations.

“Two things stand out in our results for the first quarter of 2019.

First, close to 70 percent of our service revenues are now from data and broadband underscoring the fact that our secular shift to data and digital services is moving at a faster clip reflecting our ability to attract more data customers and migrate our legacy subscribers to data,” said PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan.

“Second, our individual wireless business, which started to take off in the last quarter of 2018, gained more momentum in the first quarter this year, surpassing even our expectations,” said Pangilinan.

Among the major business groups, individual wireless posted the highest growth of 18 percent to P16.9 billion, on the back of rising data usage and a surge in subscriber growth.

The growth was driven by the prepaid segment which accounted for about three-quarters of the wireless business that posted 28-percent growth.

Broadband and data revenues rose to nearly P11 billion and made up 65 percent of wireless revenues amid the growing number of subscribers.

Revenues of the home business grew at a moderate pace of 3 percent to P9.1 billion as the impact of the Labor Department’s ruling on outsourced services and the consequential disruption of repair and installation services starting mid-2018 continued to impact the net takeup of home broadband subscribers.

METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENTS CORPORATION NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation said it expects to endorse to the National Economic and Development Authority the unsolicited offer of Naia Consortium to rehabilitate and develop the Ninoy Aquino International Airport next week.

“Maybe next week. We don’t see any [impeding] issue,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Transportation Undersecretary for planning Reuben Reinoso earlier said there were provisions in the consortium’s proposal which appeared to require a government guarantee.

The consortium secured an original proponent status for the rehabilitation and upgrade of Naia in September 2018. The declaration of the original proponent is considered the first step in the rehabilitation and expansion of Naia which is operating beyond its rated capacity.

The consortium’s proposal is still subject to review and approval by Neda’s board and to a Swiss Challenge in accordance with the requirements of Republic Act No. 7718 or the BuildOperate-Transfer Law. The consortium’s members are Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

The unsolicited proposal, which was submitted to the DOTr and Manila International Airport Authority on Feb. 12, 2018, aims to transform Naia into a regional airport hub and expand its capacity to meet the anticipated growth in passenger traffic.

The Naia project supports the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program with its plan to develop the airport into a world-class facility and a regional air transport hub by upgrading its airside, landside and air navigation support― building on the gains already achieved by the DOTr in terms of improving the traffic of aircraft movements on its runways.

The P102-billion proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of Naia, upgrading airside facilities, developing commercial facilities to increase airline and airport efficiencies, enhancing passenger comfort and experience and elevating the status of Naia as the country’s premier international gateway.

PLDT’s profit declined 3% to P6.7b in Q1

Please be advised that the Annual Meeting of the stockholders of METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENTS CORPORATION will be held on Monday, 27th day of May 2019,11 a.m. at Ballroom II and III, The Grand Hyatt, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines for the following purposes: I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 18, 2018 Report of the President and Chief Executive Officer Approval of the 2018 Audited Financial Statements Ratification of the Acts of the Board of Directors and Management for the year 2018 Election of the Directors for the ensuing Year Appointment of External Auditor of the Company for the year 2019 Approval of the Amendment of the Second Article of the Company’s Amended Articles of Incorporation X. Other business that may properly be brought before the meeting XI. Adjournment Minutes of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is available at the website of the Company, www. mpic.com.ph and will be distributed to all stockholders as of record date along with the Information Statement.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on the 27th day of April 2019, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting.

In compliance with the SEC Advisory dated May 6, 2015, a copy of the Interim Unaudited Financial Statements of the Company as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 with Management Discussion and Analysis shall be posted in the website of the Company (www.mpic.com.ph) on or before May 15, 2019. A hard copy of the same Interim Unaudited Financial Statements will be provided to any requesting shareholder, free of charge, as soon as said Interim Unaudited Financial Statements becomes available but in no case later than May 15, 2019.

Very truly yours,

ANTONIO A. PICAZO Corporate Secretary

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B2

Business

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Lower Q1 growth sinks stocks, peso

T

HE stock market and the peso slumped Thursday after a government report showing economic growth slowing down to a four-year low of 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2019.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 171.07 points, or 2.2 percent, to 7,755.62 on a value turnover of P9.2 billion. Losers beat gainers, 109 to 88, with 43 issues unchanged.

The peso also weakened to 52.309 against the US dollar Thursday from 52.11 the previous day ahead of the late policy meeting of the Monetary Board.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia blamed the delay in the approval of the 2019 budget to the sluggish economic expansion, the slowest growth rate recorded in 16 quarters, or since the

economy grew 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2015.

“As we have forewarned repeatedly, the re-enacted budget would sharply slow the pace of our economic growth,” Pernia said in a briefing. He said the economy “should have grown by as much as 6.6 percent this first quarter if we were operating under the 2019 fiscal program.”

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, fell 4.2 percent to P134, while Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest bank, dropped 3.4 percent to P82.50.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. declined 3.5 percent to P51.20, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, lost 4.2 percent to P134.

The rest of Asian markets once again fell into the red on Thursday as investors anxiously await the start of high-stakes trade talks between China and the Unit-

ed States.

After several rounds of negotiations, the two-day meeting in Washington, which kicks off later in the day, has taken on huge significance after Donald Trump threatened to ramp up tariffs on Chinese goods from Friday blaming backsliding by Beijing.

The president’s remarks Sunday battered global equities and fueled fears the economic superpowers—who appeared just last week to be nearing a deal— could become entangled in a brutal trade war with worldwide consequences.

In afternoon trade Hong Kong stocks were hammered more than two percent while Shanghai ended 1.5 percent lower and Tokyo sank 0.9 percent.

Seoul plunged more than three percent, while Singapore, Taipei, Jakarta and Mumbai were also sharply lower. But Sydney and Wellington each chalked up 0.4 percent gains.

While Trump has looked to soothe

concerns—telling a rally Wednesday that “whatever happens, don’t worry about it. It will work out. It always does”—investors are on edge.

China, for its part, said an escalation was “not in the interests of the two countries’ people” but warned it would impose “necessary countermeasures” if the tariffs on $200 billion of goods were more than doubled Friday.

Commenting on the visit to Washington of China’s top negotiator, Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets. com, said: “So is Liu He really coming to do a deal? I think probably it’s (a) case of gaining a reprieve in order to avert the rise in tariffs.

“It looks like we are yet a wee bit away from a comprehensive trade deal.

But the Vice Premier’s visit and the prospect of tariffs being hiked is all a bit of an unknown right now and the market positioning is defensive as a result.”

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58 200 82.5 1,805,830 2.16 57,000 134 7,163,620 1.2 9,000 27.45 86,500 18.92 97,200 11.2 365,800 4.7 18,000 1.39 18,000 0.48 450,000 72.6 5,878,860 0.92 36,000 13.72 4,000 54.15 394,190 180 1,880 57.95 640 27 101,500 170 560,020 1,795 220 59.8 50,000

11,600 149,353,608.50 123,450 961,374,413 10,800 2,371,185 1,838,696 4,118,584 82,340 24,780 214,750 428,754,450.50 32,940 54,880 21,285,903 338,573 37,119.50 2,710,370 95,555,988 394,975 2,990,000

-84,281,170 -98,279,786 376,355 1,473,786 205,218 -88,246,918 -1,820 -3,936,087.50 2,073,655 -50,632,202 -161,550 -

34.5 15.44 0.76 1.4 0.249 2.35 14.84 25.8 87 1.89 5.45 5.3 10.46 15.82 9.1 7.5 20.05 76.25 34.6 2.44 13.46 10.12 1.7 300.4 3.91 21.55 14.3 22 373 0.19 5.88 1.22 4.4 5.99 9.4 1.67 11.68 43.9 4.75 4.8 1.6 2.1 1.25 13.64 113.8 6.79 0.128 0.9 159.8 2.52 1.17 1.02

INDUSTRIAL 34.5 2,133,500 15.68 759,200 0.78 572,000 1.4 41,000 0.255 8,050,000 2.38 20,817,000 15.02 686,100 27 61,000 87 10 1.95 292,000 5.45 200 5.3 21,000 10.6 7,326,100 15.96 233,900 9.1 112,800 7.53 759,300 20.85 4,341,900 76.6 166,540 35.4 151,900 2.45 6,423,000 14.42 9,945,300 10.14 168,500 1.76 20,000 302 745,640 3.91 1,000 21.55 1,419,200 14.48 922,000 22 4,076,900 373 336,990 0.19 1,930,000 5.88 7,800 1.23 653,000 4.41 105,000 6.01 2,192,100 9.4 100 1.77 31,863,000 11.98 54,600 43.9 164,200 4.85 285,000 4.8 52,000 1.61 118,000 2.11 34,000 1.29 19,000 13.72 2,470,200 114.5 193,600 6.8 97,300 0.128 10,000 0.91 271,000 160.1 1,156,860 2.53 345,000 1.25 16,795,000 1.06 4,088,000

74,865,515 11,903,512 441,730 57,410 2,039,990 50,047,910 10,318,388 1,656,040 870 563,750 1,090 115,790 77,910,738 3,717,534 1,027,724 5,713,807 90,262,340 12,728,981.50 5,348,230 16,059,360 141,326,040 1,711,918 34,850 225,465,182 3,910 31,042,110 13,341,472 90,890,335 126,573,446 366,700 45,864 801,960 468,620 13,181,630 940 55,023,040 647,152 7,237,895 1,370,790 249,600 190,280 71,660 23,910 33,920,820 22,181,477 663,782 1,280 245,220 185,519,114 940,070 20,941,760 4,281,460

-59,112,620 170,936 13,723,500 -2,307,592 -260,000 -870 195,000 -94,380 -13,289,212 1,141,064 -44,688 -2,085,460 4,681,710 -5,281,642 695,230.00 113,090.00 8,923,620 -755,230 -54,249,030 -19,967,920 -1,232,286 44,967,805 -97,722,822 -136,800 193,440 -4,044,111 4,873,770 -51,976 -2,649,495 -1,346,740 -9,473,102 -300,909 -21,600 -46,765,193 -1,299,980 3,120

0.68 53 14.34 0.78 6.5 16.98 1.36 1.37 898 7.4 11 14.66 0.275 863 6.18 64.5 5.8 0.51 4.55 17 0.56 4.28 0.04 1.15 3.04 195.9 2.45 956 0.85 1.38 276 0.242 0.35

0.64 50.8 13.58 0.75 6.5 16 1.33 1.35 874 7.25 10.5 14.02 0.248 845 6.17 60.7 5.77 0.5 4.36 16.5 0.56 4.2 0.039 1.06 2.95 183 2.45 931 0.81 1.33 268 0.235 0.335

HOLDING FIRMS 0.65 47,795,000 51.2 3,292,440 13.58 13,931,200 0.78 523,000 6.5 250,000 16.08 24,000 1.35 3,818,000 1.36 526,000 889 399,650 7.26 414,400 10.52 6,369,600 14.44 67,700 0.275 90,000 845 390,080 6.18 34,100 60.7 3,287,110 5.8 7,800 0.5 70,000 4.48 280,000 16.88 6,667,900 0.56 60,000 4.2 38,273,000 0.039 3,600,000 1.15 522,000 3.03 1,523,000 195.5 3,393,670 2.45 1,000 940 481,450 0.85 545,000 1.38 4,000 275 7,020 0.238 120,000 0.34 15,620,000

31,781,650 168,505,000.50 192,535,320 396,960 1,625,000 389,738 5,127,770 714,890 354,850,980 3,009,730 67,294,054 968,268 23,330 331,844,600 210,641 201,805,102.50 45,143 35,500 1,247,410 111,935,066 33,600 161,873,980 143,100 567,430 4,552,200 660,207,226 2,450 453,247,840 449,330 5,420 1,926,198 28,520 5,393,750

-658,460 -84,781,305.50 -87,425,202 1,625,000 -80,918 289,450 -106,410,915 128,533 -11,154,820 26,630 -31,123,560 12,360 -87,594,317 -1,156 -767,000 874,334 -43,496,210 22,000 -921,170 -21,466,949 -111,344,710 -683,500 -234,850.00

14.48 0.75 2.32 0.78 46.95 2.38 4.74 0.53 0.79 0.86 0.24 0.38 10.9 26.4 0.48 1.57 1.35 5.67 0.35 0.495 1.75 0.47 2.8 24.25 1.96 3.02 39.5 1.9 6.8

14.3 0.73 2.16 0.76 46 2.34 4.62 0.52 0.78 0.85 0.234 0.38 10.62 25.25 0.48 1.55 1.32 5.41 0.335 0.47 1.69 0.445 2.7 23.05 1.96 3.02 38.65 1.79 6.72

1,481,108 239,620 1,549,510 298,520 601,432,870 283,270 2,229,660 1,330,550 83,180 194,190 137,440 190,000 4,584,948 13,591,740 360,000 9,617,200 558,270 141,278,985 3,436,750 224,345 2,869,650 390,750 280,750 45,573,380 1,960 51,340 488,383,760 9,369,830 507,422

-284,010 -224,890 -35,024,400 49,680 467,020 12,000 2,207,398 506,095 2,055,980 5,534,953 -266,900.00 -136,940 -2,800 -10,139,670 -269,619,390 -131,350 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58 84.5 2.27 137 1.2 27.55 18.94 11.4 4.58 1.35 0.475 73.8 0.93 13.72 54.1 182.6 58 26.4 172.6 1,800 59.8

58 84.5 2.27 138.9 1.2 27.55 18.94 11.46 4.7 1.39 0.485 73.8 0.93 13.72 54.2 182.9 58 27.15 175 1,800 59.8

58 82.5 2.16 133.9 1.2 27.35 18.9 11.18 4.55 1.35 0.47 72.6 0.9 13.72 53.7 179 57.95 26.4 169.3 1,795 59.8

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

35.6 15.74 0.78 1.41 0.249 2.37 15.04 27 87 1.9 5.45 5.65 10.8 15.9 9.15 7.52 20.3 76.25 35.45 2.57 13.5 10.14 1.7 300.4 3.91 22.2 14.5 22.15 378 0.19 5.88 1.23 4.55 6.05 9.4 1.68 11.98 44.85 4.9 4.8 1.61 2.11 1.26 13.7 116.4 6.95 0.128 0.91 164.8 2.87 1.34 1.07

35.6 15.78 0.79 1.41 0.26 2.47 15.3 28 87 1.95 5.45 5.65 10.8 15.96 9.15 7.56 21 76.8 35.5 2.57 14.58 10.24 1.78 303.4 3.91 22.25 14.78 22.7 379.8 0.19 5.88 1.24 4.55 6.1 9.4 1.78 12 44.85 4.9 4.8 1.64 2.11 1.29 13.9 116.4 6.95 0.128 0.91 164.8 2.87 1.34 1.09

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

0.68 52.55 14.3 0.76 6.5 16.98 1.35 1.37 897 7.4 10.82 14.1 0.248 860 6.18 64.5 5.77 0.5 4.37 17 0.56 4.26 0.04 1.11 2.99 188 2.45 950 0.82 1.33 276 0.235 0.34

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS

14.48 0.74 2.29 0.76 46 2.38 4.74 0.53 0.79 0.86 0.234 0.38 10.82 25.6 0.48 1.56 1.35 5.58 0.34 0.49 1.7 0.445 2.75 23.6 1.96 3.02 39.5 1.87 6.8

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.72 7.1

0.72 7.18

0.72 7.08

0.72 7.12

10,000 2,289,400

7,200 16,298,261

2,719,206

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

12.3 19.2 1.27 0.4 0.044 15.88 2.5 11.74 0.068 81.1 7.05 5.72 6.5 11.1 1,988 5.16 400 2.6 133 10.86 6.97 0.126 5.55 15.5 3.82 0.74 21.2 0.54 5.3 2.76 1.68 1.63 2.1 3.39 9.8 4.2 114 2.94 1,250 0.7 0.89 44.75 70.65 9.24 3.22 0.66 0.335 5.63 0.69 16.54

12.3 19.26 1.27 0.405 0.045 15.9 2.6 11.74 0.068 81.1 7.05 5.83 6.5 11.1 2,010 5.2 410 2.65 134.9 11.38 6.98 0.126 5.74 15.7 3.88 0.74 21.25 0.55 5.34 2.87 1.72 1.63 2.14 3.41 10 4.46 114 2.94 1,290 0.7 0.91 44.9 72.95 9.24 3.25 0.67 0.335 5.68 0.71 16.76

12.1 19.06 1.27 0.4 0.044 15.88 2.5 11.1 0.067 81 7.04 5.69 6.46 10.54 1,972 5.16 390.2 2.58 129.3 10.64 6.97 0.125 5.5 15.5 3.82 0.74 20.3 0.53 5.2 2.65 1.67 1.63 2.05 3.24 9.6 4.1 114 2.82 1,231 0.69 0.88 44.05 70.4 8.86 3.05 0.66 0.325 5.63 0.68 16

SERVICES 12.1 19.2 1.27 0.4 0.045 15.9 2.6 11.1 0.067 81.05 7.04 5.8 6.46 10.6 1,999 5.18 410 2.65 131 11.38 6.98 0.126 5.66 15.5 3.87 0.74 20.3 0.55 5.32 2.85 1.72 1.63 2.07 3.24 10 4.2 114 2.85 1,290 0.69 0.9 44.8 72 9.17 3.25 0.66 0.325 5.68 0.71 16.02

7,400 155,400 7,000 1,120,000 20,400,000 2,600 157,000 11,051,800 22,190,000 347,110 7,200 372,400 60,000 86,700 101,190 129,000 2,060 521,000 4,225,540 8,900 23,500 410,000 2,324,900 10,300 591,000 40,000 1,207,000 903,000 192,200 16,840,000 33,000 5,000 1,542,000 126,000 9,400 49,000 21,180 2,414,000 353,170 1,913,000 10,942,000 645,200 810,740 18,700 8,656,000 541,000 4,890,000 273,900 2,831,000 2,664,200

90,222 2,980,322 8,890 448,050 902,300 41,322 399,260 125,304,806 1,503,670 28,120,401 50,724 2,144,181 389,100 923,908 202,203,610 666,017 836,898 1,366,300 554,257,402 95,578 163,880 51,520 13,193,205 159,878 2,279,170 29,600 24,809,210 487,190 1,010,076 47,106,440 55,270 8,150 3,206,100 416,550 92,877 205,700 2,414,520 6,932,180 446,385,700 1,323,850 9,761,250 28,826,755 58,436,216.50 171,194 27,630,750 357,480 1,601,000 1,551,135 1,958,470 43,043,286

1,220 -72,386,652 -2,262,302.50 21,824 -104,000 59,340,540 -173,486,838 -340,100 -670,580 292,130 -96,270 267,900 2,890 74,849,330 -262,510.00 -1,028,500 -12,560,215 -36,173,391 8,423,590 -75,240 -678,372 -13,997,848

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

0.0019 1.24 12.18 1.26 1.2 2.8 7.98 1.61 0.24 0.111 0.112 0.0084 0.0084 1.03 2.37 1 0.54 0.91 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.56 3.08 7.87 23 0.0068

0.0019 1.29 12.2 1.33 1.38 2.85 7.98 1.63 0.24 0.115 0.12 0.0084 0.0084 1.03 2.38 1 0.58 0.91 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.56 3.1 8.1 23.35 0.0068

0.0018 1.24 11.02 1.26 1.2 2.74 7.75 1.6 0.235 0.111 0.112 0.0084 0.0083 1.03 2.35 0.98 0.54 0.89 0.011 0.011 0.011 3.56 3.07 7.72 22.25 0.0068

MINING & OIL 0.0018 34,000,000 1.24 1,701,000 12.1 35,800 1.33 14,000 1.38 2,000 2.82 325,000 7.91 2,200 1.63 58,076,000 0.24 90,000 0.115 1,600,000 0.12 450,000 0.0084 1,000,000 0.0083 2,000,000 1.03 9,000 2.35 1,380,000 1 70,000 0.57 4,000 0.9 129,000 0.012 2,100,000 0.012 6,800,000 0.011 20,500,000 3.56 60,000 3.08 744,000 7.8 434,000 22.4 2,747,400 0.0068 1,000,000

64,500 2,131,060 399,514 18,410 2,580 904,600 17,183 93,975,360 21,500 180,650 51,780 8,400 16,700 9,270 3,253,440 68,700 2,260 116,260 24,900 82,400 225,500 213,600 2,292,760 3,388,187 61,542,755 6,800

1,800 -1,503,500 -358,194 74,890 -3,560 22,000 -67,620 -674,033 -2,367,860 -

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

18.7 474.8 494 97 102 494 5.25 945 97.75 0.98 970 100 975 75 76.1 71.2 73.7 73.75 73.25 73.5

18.7 474.8 494 98 102 494 5.25 945 98 1 999.5 100 975 75 76.1 71.2 73.75 73.75 73.25 73.5

18.62 470 494 96.25 102 494 5.25 940 97.75 0.97 970 100 975 75 76.1 71.2 73.7 73.7 72 73.5

PREFERRED 18.62 10,500 474.8 250 494 2,000 98 250 102 17,080 494 10 5.25 1,500 940 20 98 860 1 71,000 999.5 1,040 100 830 975 2,780 75 2,700 76.1 7,500 71.2 9,780 73.7 2,890 73.7 5,700 72 13,410 73.5 2,190

196,316 118,552 988,000 24,185 1,742,160 4,940 7,875 18,850 84,067.50 70,430 1,023,630 83,000 2,710,500 202,500 570,750 696,336 213,000 420,147 965,732.50 160,965

-9,316 4,940 40,000 494,650 -

LR WARRANT

1.94

1.94

1.88

WARRANTS 1.93 76,000

144,570

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.12 1.05

5.25 1.07

4.95 1.04

4.95 1.05

14,314,092 1,986,530

1,079,801 137,070

FIRST METRO ETF

117.5

117.6

116.5

1,465,385

119,370

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.1 10.2 1

10.2 10.2 1

10.1 10.2 1

101,990 25,500 4,000

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 14.42 0.74 2.17 0.77 46.8 2.35 4.66 0.53 0.78 0.85 0.235 0.38 10.9 25.5 0.48 1.55 1.33 5.42 0.34 0.495 1.74 0.465 2.79 23.05 1.96 3.02 38.65 1.85 6.75

102,800 324,000 698,000 389,000 12,875,800 120,000 478,000 2,543,000 106,000 228,000 580,000 500,000 424,000 526,600 750,000 6,187,000 422,000 25,451,800 10,080,000 463,000 1,665,000 840,000 103,000 1,945,700 1,000 17,000 12,595,100 5,060,000 75,300

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

17,102,723

INDUSTRIAL

133,534,748

HOLDING FIRMS

162,605,210

PROPERTY

87,903,843

SERVICES

122,402,786

MINING & OIL

135,482,644

GRAND TOTAL

663,771,809

SME

2,830,100 1,895,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.5 12,550 10.2 10.2 1

DDS

10,000 2,500 4,000

VALUE 1,718.56 (DOWN) 49.74 1,671,694,844.88 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,504.40 (DOWN) 150.61 1,356,000,545.60 HOLDING FIRMS 7,414.27 (DOWN) 205.95 2,943,796,813.69 PROPERTY 4,118.74 (DOWN) 56.01 SERVICES 1,606.32 (DOWN) 7.41 1,346,994,268.235 MINING & OIL 7,466.08 (DOWN) 104.00 1,646,900,729.21 PSEI 7,755.62 (DOWN) 171.07 169,037,687.43 All Shares Index 4,807.85 (DOWN) 69.13 9,152,193,666.38 Gainers: 88; Losers: 109; Unchanged: 43; Total: 240

Manila Water posted lower net income of P1.23b in Q1

By Othel V. Campos MANILA Water Co. Inc. posted a net income of ₱1.23 billion in the first quarter of 2019, down 27 percent year-on-year, after the firm grappled with the water supply shortage in its concession area.

Revenues grew 8 percent to ₱5.1 billion, driven by higher tariff and improved operations from its concession areas outside Metro Manila.

A voluntary, one-time bill waiver program to compensate for the inconvenience brought by the water shortage, however, capped the revenue growth.

Operating expenses jumped 39 percent to ₱2.5 billion, up 39 percent from a year ago, mainly because of a penalty of ₱534 million imposed by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Net income margin stood at 24 percent. Excluding the impact of the water supply shortage, core net income rose 22 percent to ₱2.1 billion.

Manila Water said it restored 98 percent of water availability to at least eight hours at 7 psi, or at ground floor level, as of May 8 this year.

Net profit of unit Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc. outside the Metro Manila coverage, meanwhile, climbed 7 percent to ₱174 million in the first quarter of 2019, as division Estate Water expanded its customer base.

The unit established Estate Water to exclusively provide water and used water services to Ayala Land Inc, Estate Water registered a net income of ₱93 million in the first three months of 2019, up 166 percent on year.

Other domestic subsidiaries such as Clark Water, Laguna Water and Boracay Water registered lower earnings for the period due to a slowdown in demand and higher operating costs.

Manila Water Asia Pacific, which holds Manila Water’s international investments in the region, more than doubled its income to ₱135 million with the full recognition of the acquisition of East Water in Thailand, coupled with additional profit from MWAP’s industrial park water supply operations at PT Sarana Tirta Ungaran in Indonesia.

The operating subsidiaries in Vietnam—Duc Water and Kenh Dong Water—contributed lower profits on decreased demand.

Pilipinas Shell says earnings in Q1 flat at P2.3b

By Alena Mae S. Flores PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. posted a flat net profit of P2.3 billion in the first quarter amid higher excise taxes and depressed regional refining margins.

The country’s second biggest oil company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange that total volumes rose two percent on the strong performance of its marketing businesses and operational efficiency.

The company did not provide additional financial figures.

“We were able to overcome the challenges during the first quarter by leveraging on our integrated business, the strength of our brand and technical synergies with the Shell group—ensuring that the actions we implement remain consistent with our overall strategy,” said Pilipinas Shell president and chief executive officer Cesar Romero.

“Last quarter, we launched important campaigns to promote our world-class products and services. We are already seeing great results from these activities and we expect this to further improve our performance for the rest of the year,” he said.

Despite the second tranche of excise tax increase, Pilipinas Shell said it kept its premium fuel penetration and retail volumes, leveraging from the strength of its brand and excellent service.

The company during the quarter launched new marketing campaigns promoting high-quality Shell FuelSave and Shell V-Power fuels. Pilipinas Shell’s non-fuels retailing business maintained its double-digit growth as it continues to anticipate the evolving needs of consumers.

Pilipinas Shell plans to increase its capital expenditure budget to P6 billion this year, which includes investments in a hydrogen optimization project in its refinery in Batangas.

“This year, 2019, we are increasing our planned capital expenditure to P6 billion. This is to support the further expansion of our retail business and improve the flexibility of our Tabangao refinery,” said Pilipinas Shell chief financial officer Jose Jerome Pascual III early this week.

World

B3

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ride-share drivers strike as Uber sets to go public

IN BRIEF Guaido’s deputy arrested in Venezuela

CARACAS―Venezuela —Intelligence agents arrested on Wednesday a senior leader of the opposition-dominated National Assembly, in the latest action against the lawmakers who joined a failed uprising against President Nicolas Maduro last month.

Edgar Zambrano is deputy to National Assembly speaker Juan Guaido, who is recognized as the country’s leader by more than 50 states, and who organized the April 30 revolt.

“We warn the people of Venezuela and the international community: the regime has kidnapped the first vice-president” of the National Assembly, said Guaido, who heads the body and has been in a power struggle with Maduro since declaring himself acting president in January.

“They are trying to destroy the power representing all Venezuelans, but they will not achieve it,” Guaido said.

The United States and several Latin American states criticized Zambrano’s arrest.

On the Twitter account of its now-closed embassy in Caracas, Washington called the detention “illegal and inexcusable.”

It warned of “consequences” if he is not immediately released.

Early Thursday US President Donald Trump―whose country was among the first to back Guaido―said he was “discussing the terrible abuses by Maduro.”

Trump did not mention Zambrano but said the US will stand with the people of Venezuela “for however long it takes!”

Along with the US, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Peru protested his arrest.

Separately, Venezuela’s Supreme Court indicted three more lawmakers for backing Guaido’s uprising which set off two days of clashes between security forces and protesters.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab says the clashes left six people dead.

The three lawmakers―named as Freddy Superlano, Sergio Vergara and Juan Andres Mejia―are accused of high treason and conspiracy.

This brings to 10 the number of opposition lawmakers indicted for supporting Guaido, following a court announcement on Tuesday that seven others will be prosecuted.

Soon after the announcement, the Constituent Assembly―which effectively acts as a regime rubber stamp―stripped the seven of their parliamentary immunity.

Guaido was himself stripped of immunity on April 2.

The Constituent Assembly, which Maduro created to sideline the National Assembly, has said it would suspend the immunity of any lawmakers who backed the uprising.

Guaido said in a speech after the first indictments on Tuesday that the government’s “only response... is to persecute, because they no longer govern, because they no longer have command.”

Venezuela has suffered five years of recession that has seen more than 2.7 million people flee poverty, hyperinflation, food shortages and insecurity since 2015, according to United Nations figures.

On Wednesday Maduro warned of a possible “military escalation” with neighboring Colombia -- which recognizes Guaido as interim president -- after Bogota accused Caracas of sheltering leftist guerrillas on its territory. AFP

Blushes over 50-dollar note

SYDNEY―Red-faced bank bosses in Australia admitted to an embarrassing error Thursday, revealing their state-of-theart $50 note had a typo.

The yellow and green note, which is worth around US$35, came into circulation last October. It has multiple security features -- including microprint of a speech

by Australia’s first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan.

But the technology seemingly did not include a spell checker.

It took seven months for the public to notice “responsibility” was repeatedly misspelt in the text of Cowan’s 1921 maiden speech.

“I stand here today in the unique position of being the first woman in an Australian parliament. It is a great responsibilty,” the text reads, missing an “i”.

The script is barely legible to the naked eye and the Reserve Bank of Australia may have got away with it, were it not for one eagle-eyed radio listener.

But there are no plans to pull the notes from circulation.

“The Reserve Bank of Australia is aware of it and the spelling will be corrected at the next print run,” said a bank spokesperson.

Edith Cowan played a crucial role in winning the vote for women in Western Australia and at the age of 60 entered parliament. There she was instrumental in opening the legal and other professions to women. AFP

74TH ANNIVERSARY. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with an elderly woman as he arrives for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on May 9, 2019, to mark the 74th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. AFP

Suu Kyi tries to save face with release of reporters Y ANGON―After relentless diplomatic pressure and global outrage, fallen democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi finally decided that a pardon for two Myanmar journalists jailed for reporting on a Rohingya massacre was the only way to resolve an issue that has dogged her government for nearly 18 months.

Observers say the unexpected release of the two Reuters reporters was a political decision timed to save face for the country’s civilian leader, after a vigorous international campaign that saw Amal Clooney join their legal team, Time magazine put the pair on their cover, and journalism awards and honors pile up―including the prestigious Pulitzer Prize.

A presidential pardon freed Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, from prison on Tuesday to a media frenzy and messages of congratulations from the White House to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The pair spent more than 500 days behind bars under colonial-era state secrets convictions after probing

the extra-judicial killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims during a military crackdown.

Global attention on the reporters and the damage already done to the country’s reputation were “potentially costly” to the government, said independent analyst Richard Horsey.

Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi―already seen as a pariah by many for her perceived complicity in the Rohingya’s plight―provoked outcry when she refused to intervene, insisting the “rule of law” must be followed.

The abrupt decision to release the pair this week was made because Myanmar’s leaders had “taken into consideration the long-term interest of [the] country”, said government spokesman

Zaw Htay.

Retired Thai diplomat Kobsak Chutikul, who has worked in an advisory capacity to Suu Kyi’s government, told AFP that senior officials had all known a pardon must be granted at some point but “nobody felt they could bring this up with her”.

Political timing was also a factor, observers say.

Myanmar is due to go to the polls next year and this was a chance to “get it out of the way” beforehand rather than risk overshadowing the vote, Kobsak said.

Behind the international condemnation, backroom diplomacy appears to have played a key role in convincing Suu Kyi to pardon the reporters.

One man waiting among the crowds outside the gates of Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison was British health expert Lord Ara Darzi, whose name barely came up during regular media coverage of the saga.

A close confidant of Suu Kyi, he has regularly visited the country over the past two years in an advisory role on a Rakhine state commission. AFP

South Africa’s ANC takes early lead

AT THE BEER BOOTH. A view

of the general atmosphere at the Sapporo Premium Beer booth at the ‘Night Market’ presented by The Los Angeles Times on May 08, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.

AFP

In Russia, thousands search for the remains of those who died in the Soviet era SINYAVINO―A skull and bones laid out carefully on a piece of oilcloth are all that remain of a Red Army soldier who died fighting the Nazis outside Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg.

Thanks to volunteers who carry out regular digs at battlefield sites outside the city, the soldier will finally be buried, decades after the end of the war.

The digs began in the 1980s but in recent years volunteer numbers have risen as patriotic rhetoric from politicians focuses public attention on the Soviet victory in World War II. Some 42,000 people are involved in looking for remains of Soviet soldiers across the country, according to official figures.

Every spring, groups go to a hilly area called Sinyavino to the east of Saint Petersburg that saw heavy fighting from 1941 to 1944, as Soviets attempted to

break through a Nazi blockade.

One such group is called Ingria―a historic name for the region―that was formed in 2000.

Two dozen Ingria volunteers were spending a fortnight camping out in Sinyavino in the run up to Victory Day on May 9, a public holiday in Russia that sees events in all cities and most towns.

Ranging in age from 15 to 65, they used spades and metal detectors to search in overgrown woodland.

The group seeks to identify each soldier―though this is often impossible― and pay its final respects before burying them in military cemeteries.

“When you are there at the dig, you realize what price was paid for victory and how hard and cruel the war was,” said 30-year-old chemist Alexei Chupikov.

NEW YORK-Thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers turned off their apps in a US-wide strike Wednesday over pay and working conditions, casting a shadow over this week’s keenly anticipated Wall Street debut of ride-hailing leader Uber.

Uber is expected to launch its initial public offering on Friday giving it an estimated valuation of some $80 billion, one of the biggest tech listings in recent years but rather lower than its earlier hopes of around $100 billion.

The launch will be a major milestone for the company, which has raised billions and disrupted the taxi industry in cities around the world.

It will also come in the rear-view mirror of a troubled market debut for Uber’s largest US rival Lyft, which has lost more than 15 percent of its value since its March IPO. Strikes that took place Wednesday highlighted a dilemma for ride-share firms, which have faced challenges from regulators and traditional taxi operators for using a business model relying on independent contractors.

One group protested outside the New York Stock Exchange, where Uber is set to list shares, with some signs reading “Invest in our lives— Not their stocks.”

Similar actions took place in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington and in Uber’s home town, San Francisco.

Protests were held in Britain as well with drivers in London, Birmingham, Nottingham and Glasgow called on to log off apps and demonstrate outside Uber offices, according to the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain.

Rideshare companies maintain that drivers are able to thrive and maintain work flexibility, and that their business model would not work if drivers were treated as wage-based employees.

Uber and Lyft did not immediately comment on the protests.

“While we aim to provide an earnings opportunity comparable to that available in retail, wholesale, or restaurant services or other similar work, we continue to experience dissatisfaction with our platform from a significant number of drivers,” Uber said in a filing with securities regulators. AFP

“It’s nothing like the beautiful images in films.”

At Sinyavino, trenches and shell holes are still visible and volunteers turn up shell casings, hand grenades, helmets, cutlery, coins, medals and even a soldier’s razor.

Ingria “found the remains of 16 soldiers here” on their latest dig, said the group’s leader, 64-year-old historian Yevgeny Ilyin.

Over the last two decades, Ingria volunteers alone have found the remains of more than 3,000 Soviet soldiers.

A total of 714 soldiers found by groups at Sinyavino were interred in nearby military cemeteries this week.

Coffins were lowered onto pine branches in a mass grave as a Russian Orthodox priest read a funeral service, watched by local officials and some relatives of the dead.

One of the soldiers was identified through his name scratched on a flask.

The soldier, Pyotr Novikov, died in 1942 and the diggers managed to track down his niece Maria Gavrilova, 60, who had traveled from a region south of Moscow to pay her last respects.

“We’re so grateful. All my life, our family thought he was missing in action, but now he isn’t any longer,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Diggers were only able to name 18 of the soldiers buried this week, and the leader of the Ingria group Ilyin acknowledged that identifying remains is very difficult due to army customs at the time.

Red Army soldiers were issued with metal medallions where they were supposed to put a piece of paper with their name, surname and date of birth in case they were killed. AFP

PRETORIA―South Africa’s ANC surged into the lead in early official results Thursday with 55 percent of the vote in the first electoral test of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid to reinvigorate the ruling party.

With just over a fifth of voting districts tallied, the Election Commission put the African National Congress well ahead, with its closest rival the Democratic Alliance trailing with a distant 26 percent.

The Economic Freedom Fighters, founded six years ago by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema, was sitting at eight percent Ramaphosa, 66, took over last year after the African National Congress (ANC) forced then-president Jacob Zuma to resign after nine years dominated by corruption allegations and economic problems.

The party that wins the most seats in parliament selects the country’s president, who will be sworn in on May 25.

“The outcome of this election will be a major boost for investors... and investor confidence, it’s about confidence and about the future,” Ramaphosa said after voting on Wednesday.

The ANC’s reputation was badly sullied under Zuma.

“We apologize for our mistakes.”

Support for the ANC has fallen in every election since 2004 with the party taking 54 percent in 2016 municipal elections, compared with 62 percent in 2014’s national vote.

Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress were swept to power with a landslide in the country’s first multi-racial elections that marked the end of apartheid in 1994. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Mothers hold up their babies behind a row of books under the Unang Aklat program of IGFI, which covers Barangays Palihan, Bacong and Pandatung in Hermosa, Bataan. They are the host communities of the Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park, a 162-hectare industrial estate managed by the ICCP Group’s Science Park of the Philippines Inc.

BARMM opens 1st Ramadan trade fair COTABATO CITY—The Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has opened the first-ever Bangsamoro Ramadhan Trade Fair inside Shariff Kabunsuan Complex, the seat of the regional government, in this city.

The trade fair, held in coordination with the region’s Ministry of Tourism, will open daily at 4 p.m. until the end of the Ramadan period on the eve of June 5. It will highlight the various food and non-food items such as souvenir products by BARMM traders.

The autonomous region comprises the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur; the cities of Cotabato, Marawi and Lamitan; and the 63 villages from six towns in North Cotabato province.

“The Ramadan trade fair this year is more family-friendly as it has a bigger dining area for friends and family and also a common space for visitors,” said Rosslaini Sinarimbo, officer-incharge of the MTI-BARMM, during a press briefing earlier on Wednesday.

Sinarimbo said the trade fair would have a total of 73 booths highlighting the products made by various tribal communities in the region.

“We want to establish the BARMM compound here as a future tourist destination as it represents the whole of the region,” said Shalimar Candao, officer-in-charge of DOT-BARMM. She said a tour around the complex is also available for visitors that would bring them aboard a BARMMoperated electric vehicle to sights such as Blue Mosque, the Negosyo Center, various modern office buildings, and the trade fair center, among others.

Nightly programs will also be featured during the “iftar” (sunset breaking of the fast) that would run up to midnight.

Sinarimbo said the trade fair intends to generate income for the traders, particularly those from Marawi City who are still reeling off from the destruction brought by the five-month siege perpetrated by a terror group in the area.

“Let us promote the local economy,” Sinarimbo said. The security aspect was arranged to fit the activity’s requirements.

Wearing revealing clothes such as sleeveless shirts, shorts, and the likes are not allowed inside the fair. Motorcycles are also not allowed to enter the BARMM compound. PNA

Maguindanao close to leaving ‘poor’ list

By Nash B. Maulana

B

ULUAN, Maguindanao―Maguindanao is almost off the list of the country’s top 10 poorest provinces, according to the latest poverty incidence figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority from its survey conducted during the first semester of 2018.

Basilan, which had been out of PSA’s list of 10 poorest provinces in 2015, is back, topping the chart of the latest published poverty survey. It is followed

by Lanao del Sur and Sulu, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Island, and Eastern Samar in the upper five of the list.

Maguindanao, dubbed “MagandaNOW” by the provincial government, has moved up to ninth in the first semester of 2018 from the seventh-poorest slot in 2015.

But Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said most reports on the poverty index are widely misunderstood locally in the course of the survey.

The governor said it often means that only salaries from government employment could constitute a “family income” and that the “expenditures” refer to expenses of non-employed family members, even if they are also earning by means other than gov-

ernment employment.

Mangudadatu, who is exiting his post after winning three consecutive terms from 2010, said Maguindanao’s locallygenerated revenues from income taxes and business and real property taxes are utilized substantially to fund college education for deserving children of poor families through the Maguindanao Program on Education Assistance and Community Empowerment (MagPEACE).

The program has become the vehicle for some 7,000 or more students raised in poor families to overcome the hard way through earning their college degrees, he said.

The level of simple literacy rate in Maguindanao has increased 8.3 percentpoints from 81.0 percent in 2010 to 89.3 percent in 2015, among the province’s 834,304 household population aged 10 years old and above.

FEELING GOOD.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and vice mayoralty running mate Amado Bagatsing are in good spirits after the latest survey commissioned by their ‘Team Legacy’ showed that both remain on top of preelection surveys in Manila, with Estrada garnering 51.8 percent vote preference and former lawmaker Bagatsing getting 54.5 percent.

‘Unang Aklat’ work for moms, kids in Bataan READING is undeniably a good habit to form―not only does it educate the mind, but also helps build one’s character and develop social values.

ICCP Group Foundation Inc. recognizes this significance and has made reading and other programs related to education part of its mission to implement sustainable corporate social responsibility activities to benefit the surrounding communities where the ICCP Group operates.

To support the value of reading and education, IGFI partnered with the Adarna Group Foundation, Inc., the CSR arm of Adarna Publishing House, to implement the “Unang Aklat” project.

Together with the municipal local government of Hermosa, Bataan, the project aims to educate mothers with children up to four years of age on the importance of early literacy.

Unang Aklat with IGFI covers Barangays Palihan, Bacong and Pandatung—host communities of the Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park, a 162-hectare industrial estate managed by the ICCP Group’s Science Park of the Philippines, Inc. To date, 11 workshops have been conducted and 115 books have been given to each of the 56 mothers and children who directly benefitted from the project.

The titles cover topics on the Importance of Early Literacy, Developmental Milestones, Selecting Age Appropriate Books, Read-Aloud, Home: A Child’s First School, and Ready for School.

“Reading at this early age is an important form of stimulation,” said SPPI president and CEO Richard Albert I. Osmond. “Studies suggest that teaching your child to read early has multiple benefits and is the key to your child’s academic future, especially since reading is at the heart of all formal education.”

GSIS earmarks funds for El Niño Mindoro victims THE Government Service Insurance System is allocating P320 million for its active members and old-age pensioners in the province of Occidental Mindoro who have been affected by El Niño weather conditions.

The deadline of application for the loan is May 21, the GSIS said in a statement.

Under the program, members with no existing emergency loan may borrow P20,000 while those who still have outstanding balance in their previous emergency loan account may be granted a P40,000 loan.

Old-age pensioners in the area may apply for a P20,000 loan, the agency added.

At present, a total of 9,738 active members and 1,078 old-age pensioners in the area are qualified to apply for the loan, GSIS said.

To qualify, active members must be working or residing in the calamity-declared area, not be on leave of absence without pay, have no arrears in paying monthly mandatory life insurance or social insurance premium contributions, and have no unpaid loans for more than six months.

They should also have a minimum net take-home pay of P5,000 after the monthly premium contributions and loan amortizations have been deducted.

Japanese Embassy turns over new classrooms to Davao Norte school THE Japanese Embassy has turned over new classrooms for Del Pilar Elementary School in New Corella, Davao del Norte under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project.

On Tuesday, Second Secretary Atsushi Kobayashi of the Embassy of Japan attended the turnover ceremonies for

the project approved in 2016 and is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance through the GGP. The grant covered the construction of four units of classrooms with the necessary school amenities, which will directly benefit more than 650 students in the municipality.

Angeles bets tied going into May 13 ANGELES CITY―Barely a week before the local elections, Angeles City mayoral candidates Alex Cauguiran and Carmelo Lazatin Jr. are statistically tied in a recent survey conducted by the former’s Kambilan Party.

Irene Mae Manabat, Kambilan Da Reng Abe Party spokesperson, said Cauguiran got 35 percent of the vote in the latest poll dated April 20 and 21, with Lazatin at 37 percent.

Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno, the third mayoralty candidate, slid down to 24 percent, with the undecided voters at 4 percent, said Manabat, who added that Kambilan trained and commissioned a number of volunteers students as numerators.

“From a statistician’s point of view, the two top candidates are statistically tied,” said Manabat, an academic researcher by profession and a holder of a Doctorate degree in Business Management from the Systems Plus College Foundation.

“Lazatin’s votes are in a plateau, so the rise or fall (of his votes) are negligible. Nepomuceno is on an irreversible downward trajectory, while Cauguiran, most probably, will rake in the undecided voters while solidifying his loyal forces in the endgame,” she added.

Cauguiran is running under the 34,000-strong Kambilan Party affiliated with incumbent Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda. Romeo Dizon

Regional Director Alberto Escobarte of the Department of Education Region XI, and Schools Division Superintendent Josephine S. Fadul of Davao del Norte also graced the ceremony.

Every year, enrollment in Del Pilar Elementary School has been continuously increasing. Due to the limited ca-

pacity of the municipality to construct new classrooms, there is congestion in the existing school buildings, Kobayashi noted.

This limitation also triggered the school to utilize existing dilapidated classrooms to conduct classes for the students, the diplomat said.

NEW BYPASS. The North Luzon Expressway has inaugurated the Pulilan-Baliuag Bypass Road (pictured) starting from Brgy. Tibag, about 200 meters away from the NLEX Pulilan exit, all the way to the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Tarcan. It helps cut travel time from Baliuag to the Balintawal toll plaza in Quezon City to just 45 minutes, while complementing the Balagtas Bypass Road to greatly reduce the travel time of motorists heading to the eastern towns of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. The road was formally opened to the public on Friday by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and NLEX officials. Orlan Mauricio

Life

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

CULTURE AND MEDIA

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

C1

An homage

to trees M

ULTIMEDIA artist Rosscapili commemorates the beauty of nature through his flawless orchestration of color.

In his latest exhibition, entitled “Bravura: Homage of Trees,” at The Crucible Gallery, the Tondo-born artist showcases nine acrylic on canvases and five metal sculptures that mimic the fluidity of his style.

Usually working with acrylic and water-based materials, Rosscapili explores metal and hard steel with the metal sculptures, which he eventually wants to see displayed in other venues.

'Bravura I' (2019), 30 x 30 acrylic on canvas

“I dream someday to transform the sculpture in bigger spaces producing tree art-environmental public pieces,” he shared.

“In a way, those I’m going to show are just maquettes.

Bravura: Homage to Trees is ongoing at The Crucible Gallery located at the 4th level, SM Megamall. Call (02) 635-6061 or email studiorosscapili@yahoo.com.

'Lyrical Morning' (2019), 3ft x 6ft acrylic on canvas

'Sunset Jazz' (2019), stainless steel sculpture

'Bravura II' (2019), 30 x 30 acrylic on canvas

The world is alive with uniquely Filipino products

EJ Villacorta leads Beyond Steps classes at Sunshine Place.

Therapeutic dance class at Sunshine Place

SENIOR recreation center Sunshine Place is hosting Beyond Steps, the first choreographed therapy class.

A form of therapy, Beyond Steps enhances the individual’s need to know and learn the importance of a patterned dance which can actually heal ailing minds and bodies. The class is said to boost and strengthen one’s physical state as well as awaken their state of mind.

Besides improving heart and lung function, weight management, and motor skills, the class taps into one’s

'Climax' (2019), 16-inch brass sculpture

awareness, self-confidence, self-esteem, sentiments, thinking process, agility, thinking process, and memory skills.

The class will be conducted by Emily Jo "EJ" Villacorta, a retired psychometrician from the International School Manila. She incorporates her theater experience in Beyond Steps.

Regular class schedule starts on May 16. Call (02) 856-4162 or email seniorhubjupiter@gmail.com for more information.

LOCAL crafts and designs continue to flourish and reach wider audience thanks to many Filipino artisans and creators that keep traditional Philippine arts sustained and updated.

Local products retailer Kultura Filipino has recently brought together artisans behind some of the amazing products it carries to talk about how culture and communities come together in their creations, as well as how these products provide livelihood for families as far north as Abra and as far south as South Cotabato.

Beyond Borders aims to continue the Inabel tradition through their stylish inabel blankets, covers, towels, and napkins.

Their items are handwoven using antique wooden looms and a weaving technique that is handed down through generations.

Through its livelihood program, Beyond Borders aims to see more women return to the loom and for them to see the value of preserving the intricate craft that has long been with their families.

Meanwhile, Gifts That Give Back promotes two social advocacies: environmental awareness and economic empowerment for the artisan women of Tondo. The stylish handbags and accessories of GTGB are made of recycled and donated pull tabs as well as threads, cords, and strings.

Invisible Sisters works with poor women producing fashion products from plastic waste—plastic, metal wires, and scrap cloth—through handcraft production techniques.

The name “Invisible” refers to their use of waste materials kept from landfills and waterways, reducing solid waste pollution, and from the participation of poor urban women who are unable to participate in the formal economy.

EN Barong Filipino has, for more than 50 years, devoted meticuThe artisan women of Tondo create GTGB's stylish handbags and accessories made of recycled materials.

Kultura Filipino carries items from social enterprises that promote FIlipino crafts and designs.

lous attention and respect to the nation- tifully and thoughtfully designed by al attire, and elevated the design and artisans using traditional techniques, upcycled products, and are creation of the barong to an crafted by Filipino women art form. While paying homfrom various communities age to the proud national hisaround the country. tory that gave birth to such G&G works with commua delicate and distinctive nities as far north as the Tinattire, the social enterprise guian Tribe of Abra and as continues to find new exfar south as the Klowil-T’boli pressions that keep barong tribe of Lake Sebu in South fresh, current, and unique.

Cotabato, as well as persons The first locally assemwith disability, individubled Filipino watch brand, als with special needs, Ibarra was established urban poor, underserved with the inspiration rural communities, womand passion for the art en at the correctional, of watchmaking and men in prison, and former the dream to rekindle the Gifts and Graces product members of NPA. Filipino heritage of timeFinally, Tumandok keeping. Skilled Filipino technicians assemble Ibarra Crafts Industries is a social enterprise watches using world class of Philippine handicrafts based in Bago materials manufactured City, Negros Occidental which uses raw and sourced from the materials found in nature: banana bark, bamboo, capiz shells, and saddle oyster best.

Gifts & Graces shells, which are then transformed into products, made by sophisticated home furniture and acceshand and made with sories. Each product is a work of art and love, painstakingly handmade by skilled heart, are artisans providing sustainable livelibeauhood and alternative source of income by utilizing their natural creative skills.

Go to www.kulturafilipino.com to know more about these social enterprises..

C2

Entertainment

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Former singer finds her true voice XYRENE Parsad-Valencia almost had everything a budding music artist could dream of. A third-placer in the GMA talent search Are You The Next Big Star?, Zyrene was under contract with Viva. She was doing a lot of shows while promoting her own record.

Xyrene with husband Nico Valencia

In 2010, she was tapped to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito fight in Dallas, Texas. After the performance, she was commended by the National Historical Institute for singing “Lupang Hinirang” the proper way.

“I visited NHI to get pointers. I tried to sing the national anthem every morning so I can be more familiar with its tempo and lyrics. I also jogged every day to improve my breathing. I was cited by Congress for being the only one who sang it the right way,” she told Manila Standard in an interview.

Zyrene said Viva had a lot of plans for her career. After singing the National Anthem, she was supposed to have a concert at the Music Museum, she was supposed to embark on an album tour as well. But love took over with Zyrene leaving showbiz in favor of marriage. She married Nico Valencia, whose father was former governor of Oriental Mindoro.

“Nico was my first boyfriend and we’ve been together for three years before we got married. When I came back from Texas he proposed to me. Who would say no to the person you want to be with forever,” Zyrene said adding that she never regretted her decision.

The couple first met when Zyrene was assigned to interview Nico’s father, former Mindoro governor and congressman Rodolfo Valencia.

“We were on a Supercat to Mindoro when Nico’s dad told me I was pretty.

Then, he said that he had a son and introduced Nico to me. We were two right people meeting at the right time. Nico was free and so was I. In fact, he’s my first and only boyfriend,” Zyrene narrated.

Zyrene, now 33, works as the wedding director. Nico, on the other hand, is running in mid-term elections under the partylist Juan Movement, whose advocacy is nationalism, patriotism, and family values.

They plan to start a family after the elections.

“Good things happen to people who patiently wait. We are waiting for the proper time to have a family,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Xyrene and celebrities Arnel Ignacio and Alex Gonzaga are among those who support the partylist group, whose other nominees include Jhun Llave and Mark Boado.

“I support Juan Movement because I believe in its causes. Sometimes, we go just go to a place and ask what we could do, what assistance people need. We work silently. And we thought we could engage more people by raising more awareness.

We can encourage more people to support our causes if we bring this to the national level,” she said.

Among the priority bills Juan Movement aims to pass if they get enough votes during the May 13 elections are lowering cinema admission fees for Filipino films to help revive the dying Philippine film industry and bills protecting Philippine history markers like the Bataan Death March markers and other heritage sites all over the country.

From left: Arnell Ignacio, Jhun Llave, Alex Gonzaga, Mark Baodo, and Nico Valencia

Hero Bautista to star in a Netflix movie OCCASIONAL actor and reelectionist councilor Hero Bautista will star opposite Maria Ozawa and Daiana Menezes in Fusion, a film that will be streamed on Netflix.

The 50-year-old politician, who was accompanied by his sister Harlene when he met with the entertainment press on Wednesday, revealed that the film will start production after the mid-term elections.

“I just wanted to share this with our friends from the press who are here today,” Hero started. “We can’t reveal the plot just yet, but I’m sure it’s going to be something big since it will be available on Netflix.”

Hero, who is running for another term as councilor in

Quezon City’s 4th district, also discussed the projects he has initiated for the city.

“We have initiated a few projects already including scholarship programs, medical and dental missions. Right now, we are helping QC tricycle drivers convert their vehicles into solar-powered units.

We also have introduced a unified ID system for the city,” he shared.

The IDS he was referring to links all government agencies in the city government that will allow residents to do transactions without the hassle of providing different forms of identification.

He’s also working on a project for QC’s “junior citizens,” which he said would give residents between 29 and 59 years old discounts on medical and hospital expenses.

“We grew up doing public service.

And even in showbiz, we grew up doing something for the people. Namana naming yun sa aming tatay kaya we are just continuing his legacy,’ he ended.

Occasional actor Hero Bautista with his sister, film producer Harlene Bautista

Tootsy

PEOPLE NICKIE WANG

behind the scenes S

TRAIGHT out of college she joined the country’s leading media company to work in the sales department, 23 years later, Elvira “Tootsy” Echauz-Angara now plays so many roles one would think she’s a superwoman.

From being a fashion icon, wife to Senator Sonny Angara, mom to three talented kids, and of course a media executive, Tootsy’s plate seems so full but she faces each day with a positive disposition.

“I wanted to be a reporter but I was told that I’m more fit to work behind the scenes. But it worked out quite well,” the 44-year-old Tootsy told Manila Standard in an interview.

She’s currently on leave to assist her husband who’s traveling around the country. Sen. Sonny Angara is gunning for a Senate seat as a reelectionist.

“Before kasi, Sonny’s dad was there to help him out. Now someone has to manage it, to oversee everything, so I decided to take a break until May 13,” she said.

It was also a conscious effort on her part since she works as sales head in ABSCBN and it’s inevitable for her to deal with political ad placements.

that they need to deal with. Sonny though, I still don’t know if he’s just really good at mind conditioning, we’re used to it since his dad was like that as well. They grew up in that kind of setting so I don’t feel bad about it. That’s our set up even before marriage,” she carried on.

Needless to say, Tootsy and her children already feel comfortable with the kind of set up they have and kind of accepted that Sen. Sonny’s job is “very demanding in terms of time.”

“Javier, the small one always makes tampo, but the two already understand the situation especially that they have their own thing. Kids are very independent.

Sonny was raised by very traditional and

“Since I’m campaigning for my husband, seeing other politicians placing an ad, I felt uncomfortable. So, I spoke to my boss and said that it’s a little awkward.

And I don’t want people to say that there’s a conflict of interest since they might think I have media access,” she explained.

Although she and her husband are on the campaign trail, their family still finds some time to bond. But she admitted that there are a few things they need to sacrifice to make things work.

“When Sonny and I were still dating, I kind of accepted that his life would be like this. When we were watching movies back then, he’d only sleep because he’s in law school. We dated for five years before we tied the knot,” Tootsy narrated.

“I have some friends who have politician husbands, and they take it against their husband that they have to leave whenever there’s something urgent

Tootsy with husband Sen. Sonny Angara photographed during an out of town sortie.

strict parents. Me, I was raised by a hippy mom, so we’re really different but one thing we agree on is that we really want our kids to pursue their own dreams that’s why the eldest is a tennis player, my daughter is an artist, she’s into music. We were both also never forced that’s why we let our children decide what they wanted to do.”

But what’s an ordinary weekend like at the Angara’s residence? By ordinary we mean, mom and dad don’t have any other “work commitment” and the children don’t have any training or practice for the sport and activity they love.

“Sometimes we sing using the mic you connect to your TV set. Although you wouldn’t see Sonny singing in public, he’s unstoppable at home. The whole family loves watching movies together.

We bond inside the car. We love traveling.

We take the kids to weddings we attend to,” Tootsy shared.

With a family that seems so happy and perfect, Tootsy revealed that they are like any other normal double income household. Their relationship as a family faces the same challenges as everybody else. Her married life, too, is nothing extraordinary.

“Sometimes we argue but at the end of the day we respect each other views,” she concludes.

The Angara family loves to bond whenever they can.

They enjoy traveling and watching movies together.

Motoring

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

C3

Toyota Rush: Fortuner’s mini-me?

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By Lester Dizon

he enormous success of the Avanza/Xenia prompted Toyota to create a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) based on their compact MPV’s unibody chassis platform. Thus, the third generation Daihatsu Terios (F800) was unveiled in Indonesia on November 23, 2017, along with the second generation Toyota Rush.

To differentiate it from the Avanza/Xenia compact MPV, the new Rush/Terios compact SUV is more streamlined than its predecessors. It has a rear liftgate instead of a side-opening rear door and the spare tire that’s mounted underneath. The new Rush/Terios model is sold in a single 2,685-millimeter wheelbase variant only, and nicely fills the void between the compact Avanza and the larger Toyota Innova MPVs. Speaking of the Innova, it shares its IMV platform with the Toyota Hilux pickup and the Toyota Fortuner, which is currently the best-selling SUV in the country. Thus, it is seen that the Toyota Rush is the budget SUV for those whose hearts say “Fortuner” but whose wallets say “Avanza”. Despite sharing the unibody chassis of the Avanza, the Rush offers similar interior amenities as its bigger SUV brethren. Our Rush 1.5 G test drive unit is a 7-seat variant, configured in 2-3-2 layout covered with comfortable and durable cloth seats, and with the second row foldable in a 60:40 split while the third row is 50:50. With the third row backrest folded down, there are 217 liters of storage space, which is expanded to 514 liters when tumbled up. Folding or tumbling the second row seats adds even

Toyota Rush 1.5 G

European look in the shifter with a gated quadrant.

more storage space and cargo-carrying capacity.

The front seats are generously padded and bolstered to provide a high perch for the driver and front passenger. With a large windshield and tall seats, the view outside is unperturbed. Second row seating is likewise comfortable, albeit with less padding, but we noticed that the larger 60% split folding seat is mounted at the right side, perhaps due to the fact that the Rush is assembled in Indonesia, a righthand-drive market. The third row may be a little cramped for taller passengers but it can be great place for kids since there are a lot of cubby holes to put their drinks, gadgets and stuff. It only goes to show that you can make a compact SUV out of a compact MPV with a lot of thoughtful engineering and design.

StandOut The Rush surprised us with the interior space it offered despite having a rearwheel-drive chassis, where the engine, a

103-horsepower 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder 2NR-VE with double overhead cams (DOHC), sixteen valves (16V) and dual intelligent variable valve timing (VVTi), and 4-speed automatic transmission is positioned north-south while a driveshaft runs underneath the cabin. This longitudinal drivetrain layout and the resulting intelligent packaging differentiate the Rush from its front-wheel-drive competitors.

Those who believe that front wheels were made to steer and rear wheels were made to provide drive ought to be very happy with the Rush.

Like the Fortuner, Hilux and Innova, the live rear axle of the Rush requires an ingenious suspension design to make the ride tough enough to handle seven (or more) passengers plus their belongings and comfortable enough not to jar the passengers and their belongings. The slight trade-off is that the ride feels a bit choppy at speed when there are only front passengers but when you’re travelling as

Iconic Aston Martin featured in Washington’s all-new Spy Museum

of CIA analysts in the 2011 situtral to spying for decades last century. role needles room where, holding deeply imation s all manner of odd item ng Amo of one

By Paul Handley been has eum Mus The Spy ct intelligence, they must decide throughout the museum are a sabo- perfe te priva lar popu most al’s capit US the her to advise President Barack A LIPSTICK pistol, a button-hole teur’s exploding lump of coal, pills whet 2002. in ed open it the Absince ns natio desti auan ing Cuba Obama to approve a raid on camera, a lethal umbrella and opens officially that CIA operatives enter possiises d prem poun com new The stan Paki espibad, the : botta table thentic waterboarding use to sedate barking dogs and d coul er summ the of d n. ahea just Lade ay, housing Osama Bin onage world’s heroic, ingenious and on Sund the sketchbook of a KGB agent oper- bly st season. touri hplex issues are engaged and Was in Com show the on in all are York sides New id sord iconic ating undercover in the is re, befo as , show On ewashed. The museum puts Ined whit not ington’s all-new, much-expand 1964’s James 1950s. from DB5 in Mart n Asto the spying world’s failures, show on . ternational Spy Museum objectives of spies have not “The .” nger dfi “Gol er thrill ding a display of the actual inThe hugely popular showplace that Bond changed over the centuries,” said inclu an for room also is there now But telligence that, if it had drawn more once conjured James Bond and Auseil- Craig Melton, whose massive collecsurv er ent Amb s 1980 sleek lly equa l actua coreof attention, might have helped prev tin Powers as much as it did r of the tion of espionage gear is the urso atprec 2001 the 11, e, er dron emb lance Sept ’s has aeda ue Al-Q intrig life-and-death Cold War um. muse the ator. grown and, in the tailwind of 9/11 and Pred “The only thing that has changed is tack. e is a British World War II oneTher And, with a waterboard on display up. n grow r, Terro on War the on the technology, and how they accomsecti l actua an and , arine subm man steel and a video discussion of actual parRelocated in a gleaming new penetrated plish the objectives.” that el tunn /MI6 CIA the of of size the ticipants, there is a disquieting debate le and glass building doub Could you be an agent? et Sovi tap to s 1950 the in in Berl CIA’s use of torture after 9/11. its former premises, the Spy Museum East The museum’s coverage is global, on the ons. icati mun com ‘The essence of espionage’ t. Chistill amazes and charms with the tales galore: a and mostly without judgemen ets gadg are there And d worl er The museum has its roots in the technoloand gadgets of the undercov ise from the na’s theft of US secrets and disgu an wom nant preg 0-piece collection of Melton, 7,00 going back centuries. display; so is the theft, centu on is gy a in en hidd le need de suici a navy veteran and engineer who, But now it also depicts the complex CIA and ries ago, of China’s silkworm and tea a cis Fran by use for , coin r dolla r silve beginning in the 1960s traveled the and often unsettling challenges of the pilot cultivation know-how by Westerners. e plan spy U2 the ers, Pow Gary d aske d to amass. world of shadows, with visitors Woven in between are engaging, worl et Union in Sovi the by n dow shot advertised that he was a buyer simu He and es gam in clever interactive gned interactive exhibits -desi well .

- of any spy technology, and he sought lated situation rooms to decide: could 1960 n ma- and challenges that press the ques yptio encr rical histo are e Ther out and befriended agents and offiI be an intelligence agent? ma, tion: what would the visitor do?

Enig s any’ Germ ding inclu es, chin de from all sides of the Cold War suici - Disguises, microdots, One tests a person’s lock-picking cials and a display on e. gam ors visit the micro- ability, while another takes “As the wall fell in Berlin, I was ory, mem of tests of s serie a gh throu techdot - there,” he said, and the collection’s nology judgment and observation in a simu extensive spyware from East Germalated spy operation. cenny’s Stasi service is the result. ors In yet another, visit Weeks after the Soviet Union take the crumbled in December 1991, he traveled to Moscow.

“I went and knocked on the door of KGB headquarters and said I’m here to buy spy equipment,” Melton said.

While he raised some susp icio ns, many realized he was a genuine collector who didn’t talk about politics. AFP Aston Martin DB5

a family or as a team, the Rush can provide a smooth comfortable ride. Road feedback is transmitted to the driver by stylish 17-inch 10-spoke polished/painted aluminum alloys wrapped with Dunlop Enasave EC300+ measuring 215/60R-17 tires, which makes the Rush resemble the Fortuner even more. In fact, they resemble each other so closely that my eyes used to trick me into mistaking the Rush for the Fortuner when I see one on the road.

Going back to my 2005 observation about the Avanza in Indonesia, I realized that our Philippine market, which is heavily influenced by American tastes, will embrace the bigger SUV more than the compact MPV in spite of our narrow roads. Our Indonesian brothers seem to be more practical by choosing the Avanza over the larger Kijang (Innova) or the Fortuner. But with the growing population of Toyota Rush units we now see on our roads, I believe that our market is beginning to see the light.

Ferrari are ‘credible contender’ for F1 title, insists boss FERRARI CEO Louis Camilleri insisted on Tuesday that the company’s Formula One team remained a “credible contender” despite a difficult start to the season.

Ferrari dominated winter testing in Barcelona in February but have been outraced by great rivals Mercedes in the first four Grands Prix of the season.

“The first races clearly did not meet our ambitions, but we remain confident that we have all the necessary assets to be a credible contender for the championship,” Camilleri said at the unveiling of the luxury car manufacturer’s better-than-expected quarterly results.

Mercedes have made the best start in F1 history, sweeping the first two places in all four races. They have 173 points in the manufacturers’ ranking, 74 ahead of Ferrari.

“We’ve proven that we have a fast car, and we are actively focused in improving its overall balance and performance,” Camilleri said before praising the drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, and the race staff.

“We have the privilege to have two great drivers and a great team. We have a united, determined, serene and talented team both on the track and in Maranello, who will give their all to finally fulfil their ambitions.”

Vettel is the best non-Mercedes driver in the individual standings with 52 points, but trails far behind Valtteri Bottas on 87 and champion Lewis Hamilton on 86.

Hamilton had harsh words for Ferrari after the latest race in Baku.

“Until they start to perform at the level we are now, then this is how it’s going to be,” he said. “They’re going to have to pick it up if they want to fight us.”

Vettel, who was third in Azerbaijan, agreed.

“He is right,” said Vettel. “We need to pick it up.

“We have a good car, but we’re not using it to get the results we should be getting.” AFP

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

Motoring

Bridgestone

marks 88 years with 3 plus one promo in PH

HE Tyre Press, the world’s leading publication for the wheel and tire industry, recently published a report about the top tire manufacturers in the world.

Formula Ford, Formula Opel-Lotus, Le Mans, and professional karting. Bridgestone tires helped Mika Häkkinen and McLaren-Mercedes win the Formula One Driver’s Championship and Constructor’s Championship title in 1998 and Michael Schumacher and Scuderia Ferrari win the titles from 2001 to 2004.

With the purchase of the Firestone Tire

It named Bridgestone of Japan as the No. 1 tire brand in the world, in terms of global sales, production and total earnings. Michelin (France) was 2nd, Goodyear (USA) was 3rd, Continental (Germany) was 4th and Pirelli (Italy) was 5th.

Early years Bridgestone’s No. 1 ranking is the result of years of experience, loads of engineering, and careful planned evolution. The very first Bridgestone tire ever produced was a motorcycle tire made in April 9, 1930 by the Tabi Socks Tire Division of Japan. On March 1, 1931, founder Shōjirō Ishibashi established the Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. The company was named using the reverse amalgamation of Ishibashi: ishi – stone and bashi—bridge.

Bridgestone did not depend on the then-dominant European and North American technology but instead relied on manufacturing tires using Japanese technology. It initially experienced technological, production, and sales problems at the start but eventually, quality and manufacturing processes were improved that led the tire brand’s rapid expansion in domestic and overseas markets. After the hostilities of World War II ended in 1945, Bridgestone immediately resumed its operations in their Kurume and Yokohama factories despite the extensive damage to their Tokyo head office.

The increased demand for their tires prompted the company to undergo a modernization program from 1951-1955 to improve their manufacturing facilities.

Their efforts were rewarded in 1953 when sales surpassed 10 Billion Yen and made Bridgestone the No.1 tire manufacturer in Japan. They opened the Tokyo factory in 1960 to cope with the expanding Japanese automotive industry. After adopting the Deming Plan to improve overall quality control activities, the company started opening overseas plants and sales offices

and Rubber Company in 1988, Bridgestone got into Champ Car, IndyCar, and Indy Lights in 2000. All their racing experiences went into the Bridgestone tires that you can buy off the shelf.

From manufacturing their first tire in 1930, to making golf balls in 1935, aircraft tires in 1936, bicycles in 1949, motorcycles in 1952, to making racing tires for Formula One, Bridgestone has evolved continuously with the times.

Today, the Bridgestone Corporation has 181 production facilities in 24 countries with 47 tire manufacturing facilities, 29 tire-related plants, 19 raw material plants, 89 diversified product plants, 4 technical centers, and 11 proving grounds around the world. Bridgestone has also announced plans to open production facilities in Cameroon, Africa (2020), Myanmar (2012), South Korea (2022), Kenya (2023), Estonia (2024), Puerto Rico (2025), Belarus (2026) and Bolivia (2027) to meet the rising tire demands in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Oceania, the Middle East and Africa.

Text by Lester Dizon

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Bridgestone tires helped Michael Schumacher and Ferrari win in 2001 up to 2004 .

in Asia, North America and Europe.

Tire Technology Firsts Bridgestone was the first Japanese tire company with rayon cord tires in 1951 and the first with nylon tires in 1959.

They introduced their first radial tire, the Bridgestone RD10, in 1967 and won the prestigious Deming Prize in 1968 for their quality control activities. Despite the economic slowdown caused by OPEC oil embargo in 1973, Bridgestone continued to establish proprietary radial tire technology in their new manufacturing facilities. They introduced the Super Filler Radial in 1978 and the high-performance Potenza in 1979. They also went into diversified products like the Bridgestone Metalpha steel cord plant in Tennessee, USA, which now dominates the supply of steel cords to majority of the world’s tire manufacturers.

The company likewise went into motorsports to improve their tires’ performance, safety, and durability features.

Since 1976, Bridgestone supplied tires to Formula One, Formula 2, Formula 3,

Black Badge

Rolls-Royce celebrates 115 years of excellence and innovation ON MAY 4, 1904, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce met for the first time at The Midland Hotel in Manchester, England. It was an encounter that will change the course of automotive history. Henry Royce started an electrical and mechanical business in 1884 and made his first motor car, a two-cylinder Royce 10, in his Manchester factory in 1904. Charles Rolls was the proprietor of C.S. Rolls & Company in Fulham, an early motor car dealership. Rolls was impressed with the Royce 10 and agreed to take all the cars Royce could make. The two gentlemen agreed to badged their products as “RollsRoyce” motor cars that will be sold exclusively by Rolls. The first motor car under their partnership, the Rolls-Royce 10 HP, was unveiled at the Paris Auto Salon in December 1904.

Exactly 115 years later, the marque Sir Charles Rolls and Sir Henry Royce agreed to form on that fateful day continues to set global standards for innovation and excellence and uphold their legacy as the originators of the “Best Car in the World“. Both gentlemen would undoubtedly be astonished at the modern RollsRoyce vehicles produced today, especially with the new materials, technology and manufacturing methods that transformed the automotive industry more than a century after the debut of their first 10 HP two-cylinder motor car. Despite the numerous changes, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars retains unbroken links to those pioneering days in certain key areas. The company’s approach, instincts and values would be immediately and pleasingly recognizable to its founding fathers.

The Architecture of Luxury In its first years from 1904-1906, RollsRoyce produced four models—the £395 10 HP two-cylinder, £500 15 HP threecylinder, £650 20 HP four-cylinder, and £890 30 HP six-cylinder—and sold a mere ten cars. In 2018, it delivered 4,107 motor vehicles—the highest annual total in its history—to customers in over 50 countries.

To satisfy global demand for its products, the company has developed a common platform that underpins all new models. Known as The Architecture of Luxury, it comprises an aluminium space frame that can be scaled to fit different applications by using different-sized floor pans and cross members. Rolls-Royce Motor Car’s new production processes ensure stiffness and integrity while deliv-

ering the marque’s signature Magic Carpet Ride.

Black Badge is Rolls-Royce’s response to a small and select group of clients who have asked the marque for motor cars with specific, focused characteristics that reflect their different take on life, success and the luxury they consume. These people choose to define themselves differently from their wider social group; a subset within a subset. For over a century such individuals, possessed of a dark and restless spirit, have been drawn to Rolls-Royce’s unique allure. Luminaries including Sir Malcolm Campbell, Howard Hughes and Muhammad Ali have all shared the marque’s founding philosophy; an uncompromising refusal to accept the status quo and a constant yearn to innovate, create and advance. Their restless spirit was also shared by the marque’s co-founder, Charles Rolls, himself one of the great disrupters of his day. His appetite for advancement and adventure included a passion for aircraft that would ultimately lead to his untimely demise at only 33 years.

It is this indomitable spirit that, since the launch of Black Badge, has captivated so many of today’s young owners, who are drawn to Rolls-Royce in the knowledge that no other luxury house is possessed of the vision and flexibility to meet their demands both in design and engineering terms. Indeed, Black Badge serves to amplify the inherent characteristics that have driven so many new, younger patrons of luxury to the marque.

In conceiving Black Badge versions of Wraith, Ghost and Dawn, the marque’s Bespoke designers and engineers drew upon their instinctive understanding of the unique lives of these extraordinary men and women to create both design and engineering treatments that perfectly amplify the inherent values of these great Rolls-Royce motor cars. Black Badge models are the “alter egos” of the standard models: darker, edgier, with more power and torque and enhanced driving dynamics to open up the RollsRoyce brand to new audiences. Styling details include a dark-chrome Spirit of Ecstasy, wheels and carbon-fiber interior components, plus the “inverted” black-on-silver RR logo. As with every other Rolls-Royce, customers can add whatever Bespoke elements they wish, so even a Black Badge car can be any color you desire. Lester Dizon