Manila Standard - 2019 August 9 - Friday

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GDP GROWTH SLOWEST IN FOUR YEARS

Story on B1

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 176 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Not enough being done vs. dengue’ Still ‘no cure’ for virus; cleanup drive pushed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

a comprehensive response plan following the continued surge of dengue cases.

“The Department of Health’s seeming band aid solution to the problem is to distribute dengue kits that may contain mosquito repellent or net, soaps, a thermometer, antipyretic tablets and other items that may alleviate the symptoms of dengue,” Deputy Minority Leader Janette Garin, a former DOH chief, said.

Garin said the department should “stop using the DOH funds and the people’s money for buying the useless Next page dengue kit.”

A

FORMER Health chief said the government response on the national dengue epidemic has been lacking even as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III acknowledged there is still no cure for the dreaded mosquito-borne viral illness.

Duque said the best way to combat the dengue epidemic was for communities to clean-up their surroundings and eliminate

• Global infections: 390 million per year

• Global deaths:

Around 25,000 annually

2.5-billion people are potentially at risk

PH surveillance:

China airs ‘grave concern’ ‘Two Chinese over Pagcor’s POGO hub survey ships sailed in PH’

MOSQUITO MASCOT.

The superb mosquito mascot at the Department of Health in Manila, with a knot on the head, is about to make a stand, with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III repeating Thursday there is still no cure for dengue.

Lino Santos

all mosquito breeding sites, but Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez said the government must adopt

By Rey E. Requejo, MJ Blancaflor and Julito G. Rada

(January to July) 146,062 cases 622 deaths

CHINA on Thursday expressed “grave concern” over a proposal to transfer Chinese working in offshore gaming op-

erators to self-contained communities or hubs, saying this might infringe on their basic legal rights.

In a statement, China urged he Philippine government to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines.

Earlier, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said the proposal to confine the Chinese workers to designated areas was intended to limit their interactions with locals amid complaints of their unruly behavior.

But the embassy said it has always reminded Chinese citizens overseas to abide by local laws and regulations and not to work illegally in foreign countries.

It said a large number of Chinese citizens have been illegally recruited and

By MJ Blancaflor THE Palace on Thursday said the government will file a diplomatic protest against China if it is proven that their survey ships did not seek permission to sail in the country’s territorial waters.

Recently, two Chinese survey ships were found to have sailed within the Philippines’ EEZ. In a series of tweets, Ryan Martinson of the China Maritime Studies Institute at the US Naval War College posted photos of Chinese ships and their track.

The first ship, Zhang Jian, “has been operating” east of the country since Aug. 3, Martinson said. Between Aug.

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Sandra told: File Lakas, 2 ex-presidents’ party, gains more members raps vs. PCSO men By Maricel V. Cruz

By MJ Blancaflor THE Palace on Thursday challenged Sandra Cam, former board member of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to file charges against corrupt officials after she had announced that she is ready to name high-ranking persons in the agency who were allegedly involved in illegal activities.

“Our position always is if you have any complaint against any particular employee or person relative to the commission of any crime or violation of laws, then file, make a formal complaint,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

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EDSA commuters told: Have patience

By MJ Blancaflor THE Palace on Thursday called on EDSA commuters to be more patient, saying the Metro Manila Development Authority is “doing enough” to ease the heavy traffic in the major road.

The stricter yellow-lane policy of the MMDA has been blamed for the gridlock in EDSA, affecting many bus riders.

“We have to ask the commuters to be patient. I’m sure the MMDA is doing enough,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters. Next page

LAKAS-CHRISTIAN Muslim Democrats, the party that propelled Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the highest position in the land, is slowly regaining its former strength as more members at the House of Representatives join it.

On Wednesday the Lakas-CMD president and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez administered the oath of membership to two legislators: Fidel Nograles of Rizal and Fredenil Castro of Capiz.

The party now has 11 members in the chamber, an indication that Lakas-CMD’s is slowly but surely regaining strength.

The ruling PDP-Laban party has demanded that Rep. Rida Robes of San Jose del Monte resign as chairman of the House Committee on People’s Participation for joining the National Unity Party and yet sits as chairman of the committee.

Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the panel representing the party in the on-going House reorganization, slammed Robes for bolting the PDP-Laban as soon as he was appointed chairman of that committee.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who is PDP-Laban president, said only 12 members of his party, not 30 as stated in earlier reports, had transferred to the NUP. Next page

GET-TOGETHER. A meeting between the Rotary Club of Manila and the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity at the New World in Makati has former and current public servants in a get-together Thursday— (from left) former Solicitor General and Pampanga Gov. Estelito Mendoza, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, and incumbent House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez. Diana Noche

Wrongful arrest?

A CANADIAN man got more than he bargained for when he tried to call information—he got arrested.

The 73-year-old resident of Chebogue, a town in Nova Scotia, inadvertently dialed the 911 emergency hotline when he intended to dial 411 Next page for information.

Toilet humor A BOLT of lightning struck a septic tank in Florida, setting off a chain reaction that obliterated a couple’s toilet.

Luckily, no one was using the commode when it blew up during a storm Sunday, said Marylou Ward, who owns the house in Charlotte county in westcentral Florida.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PCG, MARINA execs in hot water S

IX officials of the Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority were relieved from their posts following last weekend’s tragedies at sea in the Iloilo Strait that killed 31 people.

The order was given by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade during his visit to Guimaras on Wednesday night.

“I want them immediately relieved

8chan creator: Shutdown move sinister, cowardly MOVES to shut down the chat forum 8chan are “sinister” and “cowardly,” its owner said Wednesday after he was called to appear before US Congress to explain the hate content linked to deadly US shootings.

In a video uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday, Philippine-based Jim Watkins said the deadly weekend attacks in the American cities of El Paso and Dayton were a tragedy.

But he insisted 8chan had not broken any laws, and devoted most of his sevenand-a-half-minute video to criticizing the subsequent moves to shut down his forum.

“It is actually sinister behavior. Ours is one of the last independent companies that offer a place you may write down your thoughts free from having to worry about whether they are offensive to one group or another,” the American said.

Watkins portrayed efforts against 8chan as part of the “power consolidation” of the internet by a few strong and rich companies.

“It will effectively silence the masses, and leave them with no place to voice their messages,” Watkins said.

8chan, which promotes itself as a site devoted to the “darkest reaches of the Internet,” has been home to posts from right-wing extremists, misogynists and conspiracy theorists.

A manifesto denouncing a “Hispanic invasion,” said to have been written by the young white male American suspect in the El Paso attack, was posted on 8chan shortly before he gunned down 22 people and wounded more than 20 others.

On Tuesday the House homeland security committee invited Watkins to testify on what he is doing to address the “proliferation of extremist content, including white supremacist content, on your website.”

El Paso was the “third act of white supremacist extremist violence” linked to 8chan, committee chairman Bennie Thompson said in his letter to Watkins.

Thompson also cited screeds by suspects in the California synagogue attack that killed a worshipper in April and the murder of 51 Muslims at New Zealand mosques in March. AFP

Lakas,...

From A1

The oathtaking of Nograles and Castro was witnessed by Deputy Speaker Prospero Pichay of Surigao del Sur and Reps. Juan Miguel Arroyo of Pampanga, Paz Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City, Christian Unabia of Misamis Oriental and Aleta Suarez of Quezon.

Castro, who served as House majority leader during the 17th Congress, rejoined the Lakas-CMD after he resigned as president and as a member of the National Unity Party.

Castro said he resigned from the NUP out of delicadeza because he openly supported the speakership bid of Romualdez.

“I used to be the Lakas-CMD party chairman in the whole province of Capiz and I was also appointed district chairman concurrently. It is a homecoming because I have returned to Lakas, my original party,” he said.

On the other hand, Nograles, who comes from a family of lawyers, joined the political party of Romualdez, leaving the ruling PDP-Laban.

The 32-year-old Nograles is a cousin of Cabinet Secretary and former Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles and PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles.

Nograles of Rizal has authored several bills that uphold the rights and welfare of lawyers and citizens who are poor, such as providing free legal assistance by universities and colleges “to provide underprivileged Filipinos with the legal services they need but cannot afford.”

Earlier, Romualdez said the LakasCMD was open to others who wished to be part of the party’s resurgence.

Lakas was established after Ramos bolted Laban in the wake of the convention in Cavite where he lost to then Speaker Ramon V. Mitra. The Ramos delegates to the convention were allegedly boxed out by the Caviteños who openly sided with Mitra.

Arroyo ran and won the vice presidency as the running mate of then Lakas standard bearer Jose de Venecia. De Venecia lost to former President Joseph Estrada while Arroyo garnered more votes than Estrada.

Before agreeing to run under the Lakas banner, however, Arroyo had already organized the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino to be her vehicle in her planned candidacy for President. Now Senate President Vicente Sotto III was her KAMPI cofounder. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

from their posts so we can give way to a more thorough and impartial investigation,” Tugade said.

“If they are found negligent, we will make sure that the necessary criminal charges will be filed against them.”

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night gave P50,000 in cash assistance to the families of those who died in the capsizing of three motorboats at the Iloilo Strait on Saturday.

President Duterte distributed the money during his visit to the fatalities at the Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes and Cre-

matory in Iloilo City.

The President was also scheduled to meet the families of the nine fatalities in Guimaras.

Covered by Tugade’s order were four PCG officials, including the station commanders in Iloilo and Guimaras, as well as Marina’s regional director in Western Visayas.

Tugade issued the order to PCG Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino and MARINA OIC Administrator Narciso Vingson Jr., who were both with him in Guimaras to inspect vari-

ous port facilities and to personally extend their sympathies to the families of the victims.

Tugade pledged to help provide the qualified family members of victims with employment in the Marina, PCG and the Philippine Ports Authority.

He ordered Marina to expedite the release of permits to the Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) fast craft vessels that will be used to augment the number of ships plying the Guimaras-Iloilo route, while the suspension on wooden hull boats are in place. MJ Blancaflor

‘Not enough...

From A1

be swayed by “fake news peddlers.”

Romualdez said what is needed now is “an emergency response that involves integrated action from the national level down to barangay level.”

Romualdez said she has been in close communication with DOH officials in Region VIII to map out plans on how to prevent the dengue outbreak in the region from turning a full-blown epidemic.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the fight against dengue is not for DOH alone to wage but for the whole country.

“One agency cannot win the war. It must be joined by the people,” Recto said, adding there is no magic pill against the virus.

“There is, however, a cocktail of solutions, the formulation of which DOH takes a leading part.”

Health officials earlier warned the den-

gue epidemic will peak in October with an estimated 10,000 cases a week.

DOH records showed Western Visayas has the highest number of dengue cases with 23,330; followed by Calabarzon with 16,515 cases; Zamboanga Peninsula with 12,317 cases; Northern Mindanao with 11,455 cases; and Soccskscargen with 11,083 cases.

With the declaration of a national epidemic on Tuesday, the DOH can mobilize funds from the P177-million dengue program budget and the P40 million allotted for the most affected regions. If these are not enough funds, then the Quick Response Fund can be used.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said six provinces, 11 municipalities, and one barangay in Palawan have declared states of calamity as early as June 25 to address the outbreak.

China...

laws will be observed.

“We will not allow any violation of their rights as visitors or working nationals in this country. We certainly have the Constitution to guide government authorities in dealing with them,” he said.

Earlier, the Chinese embassy in Manila said some workers were abused and subjected to “modern slavery” due to severe limitation of their personal freedom.

“They are confined to live and work in certain designated places and some of them have been subjected to extortion, physical abuse and torture as well as other ill-treatments,” the statement read.

The embassy in Manila also alleged that Chinese workers’ passports were taken away by employers.

“At the same time, dozens of kidnappings and tortured cases of Chinese citizens who gamble or work illegally in gambling entities in the Philippines have taken place. Some Chinese citizens were physically tortured, injured or even murdered,” the embassy said.

Panelo said the government could not act without the filing of formal complaint.

The government on Thursday said it would continue to issue tax identification numbers of TINS to foreign workers despite the Chinese statement.

In a statement to reporters, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he has not yet seen the statement from the Chinese embassy but said the economic team would issue a statement once they have studied the Chinese statement.

“We will not suspend the issuance of TINs to foreign workers,” Dominguez said.

“As for the BIR, we are simply implementing the Tax Code, and requiring those earning Philippine-sourced income to pay income tax,” Dominguez added.

Earlier, Pagcor chairman Andrea Domingo said the hubs would have all the basic needs of foreign POGO employees, such as office and residential spaces, food establishments, wellness and recreational activities, and service shops.

She said the hubs were in fact being established for the protection of foreign workers.”They are no longer exposed to crimes being committed against them on streets, they are assured of good working conditions and decent living quarters, and will be given their proper visas as there will also be other relevant government agencies setting up offices at the hubs,” she said.

Earlier, the Labor department said foreign nationals working for POGOs numbered about 138,000.

In their report to Dominguez during a meeting held recently, DOLE and the Bureau of Immigration came up with a reconciled list of 138,001 workers, of which 54,241 were issued alien employment permits and another 83,760, who were granted special working permits.

Dominguez said assuming that each foreign national was earning an average of $1,500 a month and taxed at 25 percent of his or her gross income, he came up with a rough calculation of P32 billion a year in income taxes to be collected from these workers.

‘Two Chinese...

project contractor will move two 180-tonner cranes to be used for the installation of the coping beams.

Panelo also said the rainy season had contributed to the heavy traffic in EDSA. “I think the rainy season has contributed to the density of traffic. The MMDA is doing its level best to do something about it,” he said.

The agency came under fire after it instructed city and provincial buses to stay only on the yellow lane, causing buses to occupy several lanes and blocking several lanes for motorists.

Bus drivers were ordered to use two lanes only to ease the congestion on EDSA. The MMDA started the implementation of the policy on Monday despite the writ of preliminary injunction order issued by Quezon City court.

Provincial buses were also banned from traversing the stretch of EDSA from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. With Joel E. Zurbano

Toilet humor From A1

For his part, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is open to using the Dengvaxia vaccine that the government had banned in December 2017 over revelations that its use could lead to severe infections among those who had not been infected before.

“I’d rather go to the side of science if it would mean saving people’s lives,” he said.

“Many people have died. It’s an epidemic. I want to hear the words of the experts, doctors. I will be guided by their announcements,” the President added.

Garin, who is still facing a slew of criminal and civil cases in connection with the use of the vaccine during her watch as the Health secretary during the Benigno Aquino III administration, said she hoped the DOH would listen to “real experts” and not

From A1 hired for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations and casinos.

“In many cases, the employers of Philippine casinos, POGOs and other forms of gambling entities do not apply necessary legal work permits for their Chinese employees. Some Chinese citizens are even lured into and cheated to work illegally with only tourist visas,” the embassy said.

The statement also emphasized that any form of gambling by Chinese citizens, including online gambling, gambling overseas, opening and operating casinos overseas to attract citizens of China as primary customers, is illegal.

“Many of the Chinese citizens working illegally in Philippine casinos or POGOs and other forms of gambling entities are subjected to what media described as ‘modern slavery’ due to severe limitation of their personal freedom,” the embassy said.

“Their passports are taken away or confiscated by the Philippine employers. They are confined to live and work in certain designated places and some of them have been subjected to extortion, physical abuse and torture as well as other ill-treatments,” it added.

The embassy also said threre were dozens of kidnappings and torture cases of Chinese citizens who gamble or work illegally in gambling entities in the Philippines.

“Some Chinese citizens were physically tortured, injured or even murdered,” it said.

The embassy also expressed alarm that offshore gambling has resulted in crossborder crimes, such as money laundering, which undermines China’s financial supervision and financial security.

According to the embassy, offshore gaming for Chinese has also contributed to China’s increasing social problems and crime rate.

“The Chinese side hopes and urges relevant departments of the Philippine government to pay more attention to China’s position and concerns and take concrete and effective measures to prevent and punish the Philippine casinos, POGOs and other forms of gambling entities for their illegal employment of Chinese citizens and crack down related crimes that hurt the Chinese citizens,” the statement said.

The Chinese government vowed that it would carry out more operations to prevent and combat cross-border gambling as it sought cooperation with Philippine law enforcement agencies to curb such illegal activities.

It warned Chinese companies or individuals in the Philippines to “immediately stop relevant illegal activities, otherwise they will be punished in accordance with Chinese law.”

Malacañang on Thursday urged exploited Chinese workers to file charges against their employers in the wake of China’s statement.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government will not allow any abuse of foreign visitors and vowed that

EDSA...

From A1

Meanwhile, The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority still wants to push its controversial policy prohibiting provincial buses from entering Epifanio delos Santos Avenue.

The voluntary dry run activity for the scheme being observed by city buses will also continue, according to MMDA assistant secretary and spokesman Pircelyn Pialago.

“We don’t need to scrap the voluntary dry run of the provincial bus ban because we were not given enough chance to prove the effectiveness of the policy in the first place,” she said.

The MMDA also said it will close to vehicular traffic the Sevilla Bridge in Mandaluyong on Saturday to give way to the ongoing construction of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3.

The bridge will be closed at 10 p.m. as the

From A1 5 and 6, it came as close as 75 nautical miles from Siargao island.

The Chinese oceanographic survey ship “Zhanjian” was completed in 2016 and is described as a “far sea survey ship” that has a fixed scientific research staff of some 40 persons, according to Chinese marine research vessels.

Martinson tweeted on Wednesday that another oceanographic research vessel of China called Dong Fang Hong 3 has been found northwest of the Philippines. The closest it got was Ilocos Norte, according to the map that Martinson posted.

Presidential Spokesman Panelo said he is still waiting for the confirmation of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon if those survey ships had been granted permission to be there.

“It is always a concern of this government if the security of the state is threatened or endangered,” he said.

Earlier, other Chinese vessels were also found within Philippine waters without permission.

Four Chinese Navy ships transited Balabac Strait in Palawan in June, ignoring radio warnings.

Some Chinese warships have also crossed Sibutu Strait in Tawi-Tawi four times since February without informing Philippine officials.

A Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning passed also passed the strait in June.

Earlier, the Philippines had filed a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of Chinese fishing vessels stationed near Pag-asa Island in February and July.

Article 246 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which China is a signatory, states that marine scientific research can be conducted in EEZs if permission is granted by the coastal state.

In his fifth visit to China, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will raise the creation of the binding code of conduct between the claimants in South China Sea. China has been “delaying” the creation of the code that will outline the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, President Duterte said in a chance interview Thursday.

In 2002, ASEAN member countries and China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid tensions and to resolve maritime disputes peacefully.

The parties have yet to craft a binding code of conduct more than 16 years since the declaration was approved.

“We would talk about what’s the situation in the China Sea or West Philippine Sea, I’d like to call it. Everything. And why is the Code of Conduct not yet crafted,” Duterte said.

“It’s becoming a very big issue. I do not want trouble for my country but whether we like it or not, however, on which side you are, it would not be good for my country to be in a state of violence,” he said.

“It used to be our toilet,” Ward told the local news outlet Wink. “We have nothing now.”

Photos show the toilet in bits and, outside the house, a trail of what looks like freshly turned soil running from the septic tank to the bathroom.

Lightning ignited methane gas from fecal matter built up in the pipes, Jordan Hagadorn, owner of A-1 Affordable Plumbing, which dealt with the incident, told USA Today.

“The toilet exploded in home owners master bathroom sending porcelain airborne like a missile [the porcelain penetrated into wall]. Most likely all sewer piping will need to be replaced and septic tank,” the plumbing company wrote on Facebook. AFP

Senate minority smells 'pork' in 2020 budget, vows scrutiny

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon vowed Thursday to scrutinize the P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget amid reports the spending outlay contains at least P35 billion in pork barrel.

“Whether it is pork or beef, we will find out when the budget is submitted to us. We will question it and exert every effort to weed out pork from the national budget,” Drilon said.

The Budget department is expected to submit the 2020 National Expenditure Program to Congress next week.

But Drilon said the minority was prepared to scrutinize the budget to make sure every item was in accordance with the Constitution and the Supreme Court ruling on the PDAF or pork barrel, and was for the best interest of the public and not lawmakers.

The pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013.

Drilon said how to get rid of pork barrel was a challenge to the new leadership of the Senate, particularly the Senate Committee on Finance headed by Senator Sonny Angara.

“It’s a challenge to all of us in the Senate, particularly the committee that hears the budget each year. We are confident that Senator Angara will see to it that the budget is ‘pork-free,’” Drilon said.

The insertions of pork barrel by some lawmakers caused a three-month delay in the approval of the 2019 General Appropriations Act. “Let us chop off pork in the budget. Anything that smells and looks like pork and bears a resemblance to the PDAF system must be taken out immediately,” Drilon said.

During his time as Senate president in the 16th Congress, it was Drilon who led the upper chamber in abolishing the PDAF system.

Drilon also urged the public to examine the budget to make sure pork barrel would not be included in the 2020 national budget.

Sandra...

From A1

Earlier, Cam said she has incriminating evidence against officials, which she will present during a legislative probe on the PCSO. Cam said some of the corrupt officials are members of the PCSO’s Board of Directors and friends of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I don’t want to preempt the President in naming these people involved. So I have to wait for the upcoming Senate hearing and I am willing to name them with all the documents I kept,” Cam said in a television interview Wednesday.

Panelo assured the public that the investigation on alleged corruption in PCSO will be “fair and impartial.”

The Palace spokesman also reiterated that the operations of the small town lottery were included in the ongoing investigation.

Duterte previously ordered the shutdown of all gaming operations of the PCSO, including lotto, to eradicate “massive corruption” in the agency.

He approved the resumption of lotto operations after a four-day suspension, but the STL and Peryahan ng Bayan remain suspended pending investigation.

The Palace earlier said Duterte will name about 10 PCSO officials involved in a multi-billion-peso corruption scandal.

In an interview on ANC Headstart, Cam said she believed STL should be transferred to the Games and Amusement Board.

“I think lotto is enough for us,” said Cam, adding that this numbers games is free from corruption because it is automated.

Cam alleged that friends of the President whom he appointed to the PCSO are behind the alleged large-scale corruption involving STL. “This is about massive corruption inside the PCSO involving retired generals that were being appointed there,” Cam said, noting that many STL operators have failed to remit revenues to the PCSO.

Wrongful...

From A1

The man told operators he had misdialled but police responded anyway to check on him. That’s when they found 100 firearms—94 long guns and six handguns.

They were legally owned, but improperly secured, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Wednesday.

The firearms were confiscated and the man was arrested on Monday for unsafe storage of a firearm.

“It is unusual for us to discover something completely different when we arrive,” Nova Scotia police spokeswoman Jennifer Clarke told AFP. “They were basically in plain view throughout the house. As soon as our officers went into the home with permission, they saw the firearms.”

The man, who was not named, has been released and will appear in a provincial court on Oct. 5. AFP

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solon files tax reform bills outlined in SONA

By Maricel V. Cruz

CONDOLENCES.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte condoles with the kin of one of the victims of the recent motorboat accident as he visits the wake at the Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes and Crematory in Iloilo City on Aug. 7.

Presidential Photo

BI to probe issuance of PH passports to aliens

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has called for investigations on the issuance of Philippine passports and other identification documents to illegal aliens following the arrest of several foreigners possessing genuine Philippine passports.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente believed that a syndicate is behind in the modus, saying syndicates that assist aliens in acquiring Philippine documents are still out there operating and this would likely have security implications.

Morente said two Indian nationals were arrested by operatives of the BI’s Intelligence Division. They were identified as Satbir Sandhu, 25, and Mandish Sandhu, 24 in a high-rise condominium in Mandaluyong City after falsely representing themselves as Filipinos.

According to BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., the Indians were the subject of a complaint from a concerned citizen.

“Upon issuance of the Mission Order, we located Mandish, who presented an original Philippine passport under the name Jeff Sunga Sandhu,” Manahan said.

“Also with him was his brother, Satbir who presented a Philippine postal ID and Manila Police Clearance under the name Sunny Sunga Sandhu, a Filipino national,” he said.

Manahan said that their fingerprint records revealed that both were former residents in the Philippines and used Indian passports.

Mandish was likewise found in possession of a Philippine birth certificate, saying he was born to a Filipino mother.

LandBank loans to agri sector steady THE Land Bank of the Philippines remained aggressive in supporting the agriculture sector over the years, with robust growth in loans and focused implementation of lending programs.

The bank’s loans to agriculture has been on the uptrend in the past 10 years, from P93.3 billion in 2009 to more than double at P219.5 billion as of June 2019.

These include P42.31 billion in loans to small farmers, fishers, and their associations and P177.32 billion to other players in the agri-business value chain.

“LandBank is the biggest lender to agriculture especially to small farmers and fishers. We have been steadfast in pursuing our mandate of supporting the agriculture sector through easily accessible financing.

We will intensify our support and multiply our effort of lending to more farmers and fishers in order to boost their production and increase their income,” said LandBank president and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.

The Bank has always been compliant with the Agri-Agra Credit Law which requires banks to allot at least 10 percent of its total lending portfolio to agrarian reform beneficiaries and 15 percent to farmers and fishers. The share of the bank’s agri loans against its total gross loans was at 27.45 percent as of June 2019.

Davao pols urge Du30 to lift ML in city P RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has been asked to lift martial law in his home city of Davao.

The resolution filed by Councilor Mabel Acosta, chairman of the peace and public safety committee and approved by the City Council specifically asked the president to stop the implementation of martial law in the city, as earlier expressed by Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Carpio earlier said that the imposition of martial law in Davao City left some investors wary.

The council’s resolution drew support from Art Millan, president of Davao City Chamber of Commerce.

“Martial law has negative connotation. Some countries are still issuing travel advisory. So we are supporting this [resolution],” Millan said.

The police and military in Davao City also expressed their support to the lifting of military rule in the city.

“Wala kaming na-receive against human rights ng ating personnel... kahit naman walang martial law, dinidisiplina namin ang personnel namin,” said Police Maj. Jason Baria, spokesperson of Police Regional Office

Davao Region.

Army 10th Infantry Division Captain Roberto Escalona, meanwhile, said that the peace and order situation in the city remains under control.

In May 2017, the president placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law after Islamic State-inspired terrorists attacked and held the Islamic City of Marawi.

The first martial law declaration in Mindanao was supposed to end after 60 days, as indicated in the Constitution, but Congress later voted to extend it until the end of 2017 to help troops end the siege.

Martial law in Mindanao has since been extended twice, with the latest until the end of 2019.

Ruling on ERC’s Fil-Am leaders laud $15-b SMH airport role on power supply deals stays THE Supreme Court has upheld with finality its May 3, decision requiring the Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct a competitive selection process on all power supply agreements submitted by distribution utilities on or after June 30, 2015.

During its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC denied the motions for reconsiderations filed by the Office of the Solicitor General on behalf of the ERC and the counsel for respondent Panay Energy Development Corp. for lack of new arguments that would warrant the reversal of its earlier decision.

“Acting on the following motions for reconsideration of the decision dated May 3, 2019, the Court resolved, by the same vote and with Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting joining the majority, to deny with finality the said motions for reconsideration as the basic issues raised therein have been passed upon by this Court and no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision,” the SC said in a two-page resolution.

In its May 3, decision, the 15-member bench ruled that the ERC committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it unilaterally postponed the effectivity of the CSP requirement by issuing ERC Resolution No. 13 and ERC Resolution No. 1.

The CSP rules require power distributors to get at least two offers for supply of electricity before awarding a PSA, ensuring the least cost for electricity consumers.

The SC stressed that the authority of the ERC was limited only to the implementation of the CSP, and that the ERC had no power and authority to postpone the CSP’s application.

With the ruling, the SC pointed out that all PSA applications submitted by the DUs on or after June 30 2015 were required to comply with the CSP in accordance with 2015 circular issued by the Department of Energy.

Rey E. Requejo

CARSON CITY, California—Several Filipino-American leaders lauded the $15-billion international airport in Bulacan by San Miguel Holdings led by its president Ramon S. Ang even as they cited the collective and long term economic effects of said modern airport in terms of tourism, trade, job generation and business.

This sentiment was jointly expressed

by Asian Journal Group of Publications Chairman Roger Oriel and former Pangasinan Brotherhood Association President Eddie Ferrer during the recent Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo showcasing world-class Filipino products at the Southbay Pavillon Mall here in Carson graced by Trade and Industry Commissioner Elnar and Dagupan City Special Envoy for International Relations Melandrew Velasco.

“We welcome with great pride and expectations the approval of the Bulacan International Airport as this will further boost travel and tourism to complement the booming economy now being experienced under the administration of President Duterte,” said Oriel whose

Asian Journal publishes on print, on line and digital platform including the muchacclaimed Balikbayan monthly magazine.

For his part, Ferrer, who heads the E.C. Ferrer Customs Brokerage, Inc., said: “We salute Mr. Ang for his vision and derring-do attitude for investing in large scale big ticket projects such as the Bulacan international airport, skyways and the Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union Expressway or TPLEX. Modern road networks and world-class airports are what a modernising Philippines need in the millennial times.”

The twin statements came shortly after conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) announced plans to build the country’s biggest air gateway after emerging as the winner in the P735-billion New Manila International Airport tender with no rivals by the Swiss challenge deadline last July 31.

“It is our single-biggest investment in the country. It is a landmark Filipino project that will be built at no cost to the government and with no subsidies or guarantees of any kind,” SMC president Ramon Ang said in a statement last week.

A LEADER of the House of Representatives has filed separate measures covering three of the remaining tranches of President Rodrigo Duterte’s comprehensive tax reform program along with a new “sin” tax reform bill that aims to further increase excise taxes on alcoholic drinks and smoking alternatives such as heated tobacco and vapor (vaping) products.

Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur filed House Bill 1909 that proposes to reduce the corporate income tax rate from 30 to 20 percent by 2029 and rationalize fiscal incentives; HB 1908, which puts in place a just, equitable and impartial real property valuation system for local government units based on international standards; and HB 1907 that encourages the development of the capital market by making the tax system in the financial sector fairer, simpler, more efficient and revenue neutral.

President Duterte called on the 18th Congress in his fourth State of the Nation Address last week to act on these tax reform bills to enhance growth and raise funds for his priority programs over the final half of his sixyear term.

Villafuerte, who is deputy speaker for finance, said these three CTRP packages will broaden the revenue base, simplify and update the country’s complicated tax system, and ensure the country’s long-term fiscal stability, which, in turn, will help the government hit its target of securing an “A” investment grade credit rating before 2022.

Leni asks CIDG to furnish evidence in sedition case

By Rey E. Requejo THE camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday asked the Department of Justice to order the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to provide the respondents with all its evidence and affidavits of witnesses, in connection with the sedition charges filed against her and 35 other opposition personalities.

In an eight-page motion filed through her counsel Marlon Manuel, Robredo sought the DOJ’s approval for production and copying of evidence.

The vice president noted that based on news reports, the police has other evidence to support the allegations of Peter Joemel Advincula, but these have been withheld in the complaint filed before the DOJ. “Nevertheless, assuming that such ‘evidence’ exists, the same has been deliberately withheld from the instant proceedings, in patent violation of respondent’s rights to due process,” Robredo said.

In particular, Robredo is asking the DOJ to require the PNP-CIDG, as complainant, to produce the additional evidence and witnesses they referred to in their complaint.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang (foreground) does the thumb-up sign with former President Fidel V. Ramos (right) at the latter’s RPDEV office in Makati during a recent gettogether. Joining them are ( from left) MWSS Chairman Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco, Dagupan City Special Envoy for International Relations Melandrew Velasco, engineer Alfredo Reyes, Gen. Wilson Victorio (ret.) and sportsman Freddie Jalasco.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

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Taking on the water service profiteers BUHAY Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza, in his most ardent advocacy, is raising anew the issue against the duopoly of the Ayalas’ Manila Water and Manny Pangilinan’s Maynilad for non-compliance of the waste water management stipulated in their contract.

Instead, Atienza said, the two conglomerates are turning Manila Bay and Laguna lake into two big cesspools worse than Boracay. Despite the continuing cleanup of Manila and Laguna de Bay, the government ef-

They are doing a disservice to the public, this lawmaker says.

fort is for naught because there is no pipe to filter solid waste from going into the two bay receptacles.

“This is pure profiteering without any concern whatsoever for the welfare of the consuming public,” said Atienza who had served as Environment and Natural Resources Secretary under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He bewailed that the two business conglomerates had been able to get away with noncompliance of the waste water management clause for which they were

awarded the contract as exclusive water distribution concessionaires.

Atienza has the distinct honor of serving Manila for three consecutive terms. It is an acknowledgement and appreciation of the people that the likes of Erap Estrada, Fred Lim, Mel Lopez, Ramon Bagatsing and even the legendary Arsenio Lacson failed to achieve.

Recalling that the rich and powerful Lopez family had sold its stake in Maynilad to Manny V. Pangilinan’s group, Lito laments that MVP and the Ayalas have since then hopped, skipped and jumped their way to the bank to rake in huge profits as exclusive water service concessionaires..

“It’s downright criminal negligence. The Ayalas and Pangilinan should and must refund millions of pesos to consumers for non compliance of the waste water management contract and now non-delivery of the basic water commodity. That’s at least P50,000 per consumer dating back to 22 years. Atienza also cited the two conglomerates’ $500-million loan from the World Bank borrowed under government sovereign guaran guarantee. That means that if the two titan companies default on their payment on the WB loan, it would be the government and the people who will pay the amount borrowed.

“Even if I sound like a lonely voice in the wilderness, it behooves me to point out this brazen corporate greed and non-implementation of waste water management—the very ground for which the two conglomerates were awarded the contract by the government. Perhaps it’s time the government cancel their contracts

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

T

Weak economic growth

HE Philippine economy as expected grew more slowly in the second quarter of the year, weighed down by the delay in the approval of the 2019 budget, an anemic agricultural sector due mainly to El Niño, and the ban on construction activities during the midterm elections, The economy just expanded by 5.5 percent in the April-toJune period from 5.6 percent in the previous quarter. The weak expansion puts tremendous pressure on the government to stimulate the economy in order to achieve the 6-percent to 7-percent growth target this year.

The government faces a tall order in getting the economy back on track. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has conceded that the Philippine economy must expand by an average of at least 6.4 percent in the second half to reach the low-end of the full-year growth target. The country's economic

managers and the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas know the drill. They will have to stimulate or pump-prime the economy to achieve the growth objective.

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral just reduced the borrowing rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent amid low inflation and the sluggish economic growth. The move aims to spur borrowing by companies through lower interest rates to fund their expansion. The rate cut, along with an expected infusion of liquidity into the financial system within the year, will lower the cost of funds and serves as an

incentive to hire more workers through expansion.

The government will also have to step up spending, especially on infrastructure projects, in order to catch up on the backlog during the first five months of the year. Public construction, according to government data, dropped 27 percent in the second quarter and offset the growth of private construction. President Rodrigo Duterte was able to sign the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 only in April after a couple of months of impasse between the two houses of Congress.

The outlook on the global economy, meanwhile, is not upbeat amid the trade tension between the US and China.

But the local economy is holding on. Household spending remains strong and it's just a matter of pushing the right buttons to spur the economy.

Turn to A5

Flip-flop IT WASN’T too long ago when President Rodrigo Duterte said: “My only sin is EJKs.” He must have been referring to what happened in Davao City when he was still the mayor there. But he must also be referring to what had happened in the entire country after he assumed the highest elective post, when it became increasingly clear to the human rights community here and abroad clear that his war on drugs had gone far beyond the bounds of the Constitution and our laws.

Speaking before newly appointed officials in Malacañang recently, President Duterte said he would drag down to hell those who would try to put him behind bars. In other words, he would fight tooth and nail attempts to prosecute him and send him to jail over his war on drugs. This is a complete turnaround from his earlier remark that he was willing to be jailed for alleged extrajudicial killings.

The United Nations Human Rights Council recently adopted an Icelandled resolution calling for a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

If the Duterte administration has nothing to hide, then how come it seems to be moving heaven and earth to prevent any probe by the international community of its anti-drugs campaign?

When he was still Davao City Mayor and gunning for the presidency of the Republic, Duterte partly anchored his campaign platform on a solemn pledge to get rid of the drug menace in three to six months.

Today, halfway into his six-year term, Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs continues without let-up. We still read daily newspaper reports of drug busts with police claiming that suspected drug pushers and users resisted arrest and fought back (“nanlaban,” usually with their weapon of choice: Rusty .38 caliber

revolvers, according to TV footage).

What is clear at this point is that no really big-time drug trafficker appears to have seen the inside of a jail since July 2016.

The official death toll in the war on drugs now stands at more than 6,000.

That’s according to the Philippine National Police. But human rights groups insist that as many as 20,000 extra-judicial killings or EJKs have taken place since 2016, when the war on drugs began. While these human rights groups have failed to substantiate their claim of 20,000 EJKs linked to the war on drugs, what stands out

That should send chills of apprehension down the spines of peace-loving citizens. is that the war on drugs has exacted a heavy toll on lives, with due process and the rule of law honored more in the breach than in the observance.

That should send chills of apprehension down the spines of peace-loving citizens amid well-grounded fear that the body count in the war on drugs could rise further in the days to come.

Send ‘em to the gallows?

While at this, lawmakers are locking horns on the contentious issue of restoring the death penalty, particularly for big-time drug trafficking and plunder.

We’ve heard it all before: Those calling for the restoration of the death penalty argue that it would serve as a deterrent to the commission of heinous crimes. On the other hand, those opposed to capital punishment claim that there’s no conclusive evidence that it serves as a deterrent to crime, and that what would really deter crime is the certainty of arrest and prosecution of criminals.

Did the imposition of the penalty of death by firing squad on convicted drug trafficker Lim Seng immediately after the imposition of martial law Turn to A5

Welcoming migrant babies born on board ships

By Anne Chaon THE Ocean Viking is bound for the

Libyan coast, and beside stocks of medicine and pregnancy kits, on-board midwife Marina is busy painting a turtle on the ship's migrant shelter.

As well as preparing to treat the exhausted, dehydrated Africans the ship hopes to rescue, experience has taught her that she must be ready to welcome the children—and any babies that may be born on board.

With the Italian government refusing to let migrants land on its shores unless other EU countries help take

them in, the rescuers are preparing for a long wait before disembarking.

"We know that we may have to keep patients on board for a while. It's a new challenge," says Stephanie, a German nurse on board. There is also a doctor, another nurse and the midwife.

They asked not to be identified by their full names for fear of prosecution by authorities.

The Ocean Viking mission is jointly operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the migrant aid charity SOS Mediterranee.

Those two groups also operated the Aquarius, a rescue ship that made headlines last year when it spent days

at sea after Italy and Malta refused to let it dock.

Among the migrants pulled from the water by teams on the Aquarius in its three years of rescue missions were hundreds of pregnant women.

Born in a storm MSF has set up a clinic on the bridge of the Ocean Viking. The white container has an emergency room, a separate room with three sleeping berths and a delivery room with blue bedsheets.

Generally, pregnant women who are nearing their delivery date are enTurn to A5

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Opinion A food shortage EXPECT a food shortage in the coming years.

Production of major agricultural products is down.

Rice prices have collapsed, thanks to unabated importations. Because rice prices have collapsed, it is now hugely unprofitable for Filipino rice farmers to produce rice. Farmers have stopped planting rice.

The price of palay in the farm has dropped to as slow as P8 per kilo, according to some experts. That is palay. Every 100 kilos of palay convert into 63 kilos of rice. So if palay price is P8 per kilo, that translates into P11 rice price. To convert that into retail price, double it, so P22 per kilo.

Cost of palay production is P17 per kilo or P24 in rice terms. Why produce palay when you lose half of what already is your very meager capital?

Rice is very important to the economy. It is 15 points of the 100 points of the Consumer Price Index. In general, food is as much as 55 points of the CPI. You increase the price of rice, you accelerate inflation as it did in September-October 2018 when inflation rose to its highest in 11 years because of a rice shortage.

This year, the collapse of rice prices at the farm gate should have benefitted rice consumers, you and me. Rice should be as low as P25 per kilo, retail.

But no. Rice prices remain very high.

At the San Juan public market yesterday, the lowest price for rice was P32.

The highest: Above P50 a kilo. Who is making money? The traders.

Before the so-called Rice Tariffication Law, the farm gate price of rice was as high as P30 per kilo. This, in turn, was sold by rice traders, who are a small circle of racketeers, to as high as P50 per kilo. Rice tariffication means anyone can import rice because there is no more quota limit, as long as one pays the tariff, which is about 35 percent.

Taking...

From A4

and take over their operations,” suggested Atienza.

He also wondered why the rest of media do not report on this anomalous practice when they too are affected by the onerous expensive bills but non delivery of essential service.

He pointed out that Manila Water and Maynilad are collecting money for wastewater management built into consumer’s’ monthly bill. That is public money these two companies parlay into their other financial projects like condominium towers and telecom-

Flip-flop From A4

in 1972 deter criminals from engaging in the illicit trade? I don’t think so.

But let’s take a more recent example. Did the killing of more than 6,000 drug pushers and users by the police in legitimate operations make criminals cowering in mortal fear of the law? Not by a long shot.

Welcoming...

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titled to a medical evacuation—even in Italy, where authorities under farright interior minister Matteo Salvini have turned away some migrant rescue boats.

In recent years, at least 35 babies have been born on military or humanitarian relief vessels in the Mediterranean, according to an AFP count.

Six of them were born to mothers rescued by the Aquarius, the teams on the mission say.

In May 2016, Desire Alex was the first baby born on the ship. The baby boy was named after the ship's captain.

Five others followed, their first

Imported rice is only half of the price of locally produced rice. So right away, you have a 100 percent profit margin. You pay 35 percent as tariff, you still have 65 percent gross margin. You pay corrupt customs and other government people 20 percent, you still have 45-percent margin. You allow the retailer 20-percent margin and you end up with 25-percent net profit. That is assuming everything is legal and is in order.

The solution is an agricultural revolution.

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EvEryman the Philippines’ third largest bank and is 56 years old, is now more of a commercial bank than a bank for agriculture. President Duterte wants it shut down. Indeed, if Land Bank had been financing agriculture, agriculture wouldn’t do so badly.

In the first half of 2019, agricultural production as a component of the Gross Domestic Product or GDP, was up only 0.24 percent.

Per new Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the country’s agriculture sector grew by a measly 0.56 percent growth in 2018 or below the government’s target of 4 percent. In 2017, the sector registered a growth of 3.95 percent, -1.41 percent in 2016, 0.11 percent in 2015, and 1.83 percent in 2014.

In the past 30 years, agricultural growth has averaged 0.2 percent. So 30 years times 0.2 is 6 percent. In the past 30 years, the Philippine population rose from 62 million in 1990 to 106 million today, an increase of 44 million more mouths to feed, or up 70 percent. 70 minus 6, that’s an implied food shortage of 64 percent. Filipinos missed eating 64 percent of what they should have eaten in 30 years. We should have eaten 100 kilos of food but ended up eating only 36 kilos. Because of food shortage. How sad.

The result is malnutrition. Malnutrition affects the brain. It makes you stupid. No wonder Filipinos keep electing the wrong leaders. Out of stupidity. Because those leaders think Filipinos are stupid, they become corrupt, incompetent, or both. Because our people are stupid and our leaders are corrupt, incompetent, or both, the Philippines has not solved its poverty in the last 30 years.

Thirty years ago, there were already 25 million very poor Filipinos. Today, we still have 25 million very poor Filipinos. Normally, to remedy that you need a revolution. Since we don’t have the budget for firearms and most if not all the generals are with Duterte, people cannot stage a revolution.

The solution then: A revolution in agriculture. Can Secretary Dar do it?

But what if you smuggle the rice?

Then you save on the 35-percent tariff. Add that to your 25-percent margin and you are good at 60-percent gross profit. Because of greed, everybody now wants to be a rice importer and trader. Damn the poor farmer.

Government will take care of him.

But the government cannot take care of the rice farmer—yet. The tariffication law is supposed to provide a P10 billion annual subsidy to rice farmers. The yearly P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund from rice tariff collections is supposed to be spent as follows: P5 billion for mechanization; P3 billion for high-yielding hybrid rice seeds, and research; P1 billion for training of farmers; and P1 billion for farm credit.

Right now, nobody knows what to do. What does mechanization mean?

Harvesters, threshers, jeepneys, trucks, tricycles or carabaos? These are all machines used in the rural areas. Is P3 billion enough for hybrid rice seeds? Hybrid seed is very expensive and needs lots of water or irrigation (free under Duterte if you are in a NIA area), lots of fertilizer (very expensive), and lots of tender loving care (farmers are loving, but only if you are a human being and lovely). Is P1 billion farm credit enough?

The state-owned Land Bank, now biznewsasia@gmail.com munication carriers. They are amassing more wealth from public money meant for improving services they were expected to implement, Atienza alleged.

Atienza’s efforts were given due credence when the Supreme Court last Tuesday imposed a P2-billion fine on both Maynilad and Manila Water including the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. for non-performance and delivery of their functions.

He said he has asked lawyer Romulo Macalintal to get a copy of the high court ruling so together they can work on getting consumer refunds from the duopoly of theMVP group and the Ayalas.

“I know that what I said won’t endear me to the Ayalas and Pangilinan, but my primary concern are my constituents whom I am sworn to serve,” said Atienza, adding that Manila Water and Maynilad instead of complying with wastewater management in their contracts, are wasting public money and using it to increase their wealth.

Atienza at the same time warned he would also be relentless against those waiting in the wings to secure concessionaire contracts in case the two present distributors are replaced even as he urged the government to factor in an iron-clad clause for wastewater management.

In fact, the illegal drugs trade appears to have even gained more momentum after three years of the takeno-prisoners approach of authorities.

Senator Franklin Drilon and other senators are on the right track in opposing the restoration of the death penalty, now being pushed by some of his colleagues, among them Manny Pacquiao and Bato de la Rosa.

The frenzied push by Pacquiao et al. for the restoration of capital pun-

ishment appears to be merely a kneejerk reaction to the proliferation of illegal drugs. I’m afraid that given the preponderance of pro-administration senators now, the death penalty bill could easily pass the Upper Chamber.

So what will they think of next if the drug menace continues unabated despite the restoration of the death penalty?

names in several cases reflecting the incredulous relief of their mothers: Newman, Favour, Mercy, Christ and Miracle.

Christ's mother gave birth on the open sea in a boat filled with men.

When she climbed on board the Aquarius, her baby was still attached to her by the umbilical cord.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

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board," Marina said.

"I ask for a medical evacuation... [it was] impossible."

Favour was born the next day and in perfect health, the midwife says.

She shows a photo on her phone of the child—now a toddler, living in Italy.

Marina says she has observed that "the movements of the boat, espeChoppy waters 'favor cially in a storm, favor contractions" contractions in childbirth.

Marina was one of the medics who Another trigger for labor, she says, took care of Favour on a stormy night could be the relaxation that comes in December 2016. from the relief the mothers feel once The baby's mother, a Nigerian they board a rescue boat. woman who lost her husband in Libya, had begged the smugglers to let Unexpected pregnancies her get on the boat—as a "favour."

The Aquarius rescued nearly 4,700 "Coming to see her around 4:00 women in nearly three years of opa.m. I found her standing up holding erations. Most of them had suffered her stomach... We had 150 women on violence and sexual abuse on their

The kudu mentality

By Joel Vega WE HAVE heard it all the time, the current administration is resistant to international scrutiny when it comes to human rights and respect of the law.

Their argument rests on one idea alone: International bodies should not encroach on national sovereignty.

Is this idea fool-proof? Can it stand against the arguments of the law?

“No” is the clear answer. Patriotism is never a good defense to set aside questions of law, nor the idea of national sovereignty carries heavier weight in this age where human values rise above or have proven to have a lasting, universal value than parochial ideology. History, global and local, are replete with examples.

Why should the Philippines as a “young” democracy invest in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948?

The answer is because we have seen its benefit to human good; it is a collective achievement in the last 71 years, preventing deadly wars in Europe, Asia, the Americas and elsewhere, and mitigating other conflicts that would have erupted or worsened. True, there are wars still erupting and some governments are abetting them, but the ideal has been built and enshrined, and destroying the few already in place only betrays the negativism that will not in any way help humanity.

The Duterte administration, or any other administration, stands to benefit in the longterm if ethical standards are in place. The common idea circulating among the staunch and misguided followers of Duterte is this: There is a rising feeling or tide of patriotism that needs to be acknowledged and hence it is hugely popular to play to the discontented crowd and stay with the herd.

Consider the kudu, an antelope-like animal which reduces risk of predation by staying with the herd. The political herd in our country are stoking the fires of patriotism and remain blind to the wanton disregard for basic human rights. Drug addicts or suspects, whatever their alleged violations are, remain members of our society and are entitled to the same rights as anyone else—a fundamental and shared principle.

Breaking the law and turning back on our international obligations are not only unethical but also reckless and speaks of arrogance in the face of goals to achieve and encourage human decency and maintain peacekeeping.

If our current leaders and a segment of the Filipino population do not have adequate motivation to support and respect human rights and peacekeeping goals, the practical question now is—are there other reasons to pursue international compli-

journey.

In 2016, 4.4 percent of the women rescued by the boat were pregnant.

By 2018, that number increased to 10 percent.

Marina helps all the women who come to her and says her assistance is vital for those who have been raped.

"If you are pregnant, if you think you are pregnant, come and see me.

It will remain confidential," she says.

Women who ask for pregnancy tests are given them but some of those rescued do not even know they are pregnant. "Sometimes it's up to me to tell them," she says.

Marina has also treated many young girls, minors travelling alone, and women and girls who have come from Libya's so-called "connection houses," where migrants are forced into prostitution.

ance? Is there any good that can come out of it, one that will rise above the easy sentiments of patriotism?

Yes, but we need to shift our perspective from viewing peacekeeping as a burden to one that offers clear opportunities. Human rights are closely tied to peace-keeping measures, and economic progress in turn can only thrive in times of peace. Closely observing human rights provide practical benefits, and if our country or regions in our country remain in the grip of violence, it is not because of the failure of the law, but the lack of will to enforce them and the worsening cases of injustice. How many lawyers have been killed in the last few months? Are there effective investigations looking into these killings? Is there a quality assessment being done on our justice system?

There is another worrying trend unfolding now, aided by the swiftness of modern media such as the Internet to disseminate false news and deceive the most vulnerable in our society.

Adding to these challenges is the election of political kudus to both the Senate and the Lower House. Judging by the debates in both houses, and the appointments of the most dubious names to key positions, we are, as a nation going off-track, similar to a ship of fools setting out to the high seas in stormy weather. Instead of lifesavers we are given lightweights, hiding under the guise of a boxing champ or worse a killing-machine executor.

The bottom-line.

When answering the question “Why should we keep our commitments to universal commitments like the UDHR?” Understand that peace-building and respect for human rights are difficult processes, one that is vulnerable given the shifting alliances in local and global politics. Big players may prove unreliable and costs are high when economic and political interests come into play.

In the long-term, we stand to benefit in real economic and political terms when supporting universal agreements. Now that the face of populism has reared its ugly head, there is more urgency to gather forces beyond borders. The histories of developed countries were as bloody as what we are seeing now happening in our country. All the more reason for us to learn from their experience, and that learning process will lead us back to the most basic and binding declarations such as the UDHR. Joel Vega works as an editor in Arnhem, The Netherlands, and has recently published his first book of poetry “Drift,” under the imprint of the UST Publishing House.

Faced with numerous unwanted pregnancies, MSF now offers abortion pills on board.

"We did not do it before, but we had so many requests," the midwife says.

"Many women do not say [that they are pregnant], or do it just before disembarking."

A painted zebra, elephant, turtle and bird wings now decorate the walls of the on-board shelters in preparation for the migrants.

There are also drawings done by rescued children on board the Aquarius.

The MSF medics have stocked bandages, drugs and other medical supplies as well as soft toys, games and cards.

"We are pretty well equipped," says Stephanie. "But we hope we do not have to deal with this situation for too long." AFP

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

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BoC seizes smuggled products from China

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Bureau of Customs seized five shipments of smuggled agricultural products from China worth P24 million at the Manila International Container Port, officials said Thursday.

In a statement, the BoC said the mis- declared only as apples, oranges and declared shipments arrived at MICP pears. on separate dates last month and were It also revealed there were discrepan-

cies in the weight and declared value of the shipments.

Based on X-ray and physical inspection, the shipments also contained carrots, onions and potatoes.

Four of the five shipments were consigned to Ingredient Management Asia Inc., and one to Mcrey International Trading.

The seized carrots were estimated to be worth P15 million, the onions to be P4 million and the potatoes to be valued

at P5 million.

MICP has heightened its efforts against the smuggling of agricultural products in order to fulfill part of its mandate which is to protect our local farmers against harsh and unfair competition.

The seized goods will be condemned

by Customs since these were not covered by any Phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Quarantine and may carry plant diseases and pests that can affect our local agriculture.

Recto: Let’s use P46-b road users’ tax in clearing

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Lawmaker files bill banning alcohol sale

By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on health has filed a bill prohibiting the selling, serving, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in all streets, pathways, plazas, alleys, sidewalks, parks, and parking areas.

Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan’s House Bill 3047 prohibits the consumption of alcohol in all establishments between 12 to eight o’ clock in the morning.

Restaurants, clubs, hotels, retail stores, supermarkets, fastfood chains, canteens, cafés, bar and cocktail lounges and other places with common business areas located within Metropolitan Manila, highly urbanized areas, and Special Economic Zones or Ecozones, however, may be allowed to sell or serve alcohol until two in the morning, Tan, the panel’s chairman, said.

“This measure is a proactive response to the growing clamor of the people and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s commitment to curb criminality in the country by banning the consumption of beer, wine, liquor and similar intoxicating beverages in public places,” Tan said.

Tan, a doctor, said: “Alcoholism and violence have clearly become key public health issues that require urgent attention. Hence, it is imperative for the country to initiate a national policy to curb alcohol consumption in public places.”

President Duterte announced during his fourth State of the Nation Address that he wants a law ordering all drinking establishments to close at midnight, but Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte merely wants a ban on liquor consumption by midnight.

According to the World Health Organization, the harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions. It also found that 3 million deaths every year result from harmful use of alcohol worldwide and latest causal relationships have been established between harmful drinking and incidence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis as well as the HIV/AIDS.

SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Thursday proposed to use the P46-billion road users’ tax in road clearing and improvements.

In a statement, Recto said the national government should have “equity” in the road clearing operations it had mandated local governments to undertake.

“Its participation should go beyond issuing orders and deadlines, but must also include contributing to the tools and resources local governments need to rid thoroughfares of obstructions,” Recto said.

“Once roads are cleared of encroachments, the hardest part is to keep them that way―and to ensure that some form of national government-local government partnership is needed,” he said.

Recto said one funding source that can augment local efforts are the billions in unspent Motor Vehicle User’s Charge collections, which are car registration fees paid at the Land Transportation Office.

Unspent MVUC collections stood at P46.25 billion as of December 2018.

For 2019, government projects to collect P13.9 billion.

While the use of the MVUC has been modified by a new law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 8, 2019, it can still be used to complement road clearing operations, Recto said.

He was referring to Republic Act 11239, which abolished the Road Board and earmarked all MVUC collections “solely for the construction, upgrading, repair, and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and road drainage” that will be specified in the national budget.

Under these terms of use, he said if the local government conducted the cleaning, the Department of Public Works and Highways should follow to repair road drainage, sidewalks. It should also do the asphalting of affected roads.

Recto said the MVUC fund would have been the ideal source for the purchase of road clearing equipment like tow trucks and emergency response vehicles to traffic jam-causing accidents, but “these expenditures are no longer in the menu of the new law amending the use of MVUC.”

SMUGGLED AGRI PRODUCTS. Customs

personnel inspect Thursday the contents (above) of a shipping container filled with smuggled from China agricultural products— carrots, onions and potatoes —with an estimated value of P24 million. The shipments, consigned to Ingredient Management Asia Inc., and Mcrey International Trading were ordered seized. At right, farmers in Atok, Benguet, a major highland vegetable producer in the region take preventive measures by hastily harvesting potatoes and carrots to prevent the crops from rain damage caused by the monsoon and Typhoon ‘Hanna.’ Norman Cruz, Dave Leprozo

Indonesia, PH to conduct more trainings

PNP gets P784m DepEd flagged for non-liquidation worth of new cars By Rio N. Araja PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde on Thursday announced the acquisition of P784 million worth of vehicles, guns and other equipment as part of the command’s effort to improve operational capability especially in the provinces.

Albayalde, who personally witnessed the blessing of newly procured police equipment held at the PNP Heritage Park in Camp Crame, said the fund was sourced from the Capability Enhancement Program which is being given on top of the annual budget for the PNP. “These equipment are expected to enhance the basic operational requirements of PNP units, especially city and municipal police stations, public safety battalions and company, and national support units,” Albayalde said.

The PNP has been receiving P2 billion a year for its modernization project. But for the last three years, Albayalde said they already received P22 billion.

For his part, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chairman of the PNP National Headquarters Bids and Awards Committee presented to Albayalde the newly acquired police equipment amounting to P784,688,248 bankrolled by appropriations from the PNP Capability Enhancement Program of 2014 to 2019 and from the General Appropriations Act 2018.

THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Department of Education for non-liquidation of P13.9-billion expenditure over the past years.

It said “the significant amount of unliquidated cash advances is a result of the leniency of the DepEd in granting, liquidation and monitoring of cash advances, which is contrary to existing COA rules and regulations, and DepEd guidelines relative thereto.”

State auditors said the Education department spent P13.9 billion without legal basis or adequate documentation.

Various expenses ate up the department’s P13.2 for Region 7, followed by

P312 million for trainings/seminars and midyear/annual planning and assessment activities in lavish resorts and tourist spot sites by the central office, P101 million worth of various expenses for Region 3, P45 million various expenses for Region 2, P34.5 million for various expenses for Region 9, P29 million various expenses for Region 1, P24 million fund transfer for school-based feeding program for Region 1’s Compostela Valley, P20.7 million for repair and construction expenses from the basic educational facilities fund for Region 10, P17 million for repair and rehabilitation of school building projects for Region 7 and P11-million payment for the PCAB contractor despite the contractor’s license expiration.

Du30 raises bounty for killers of 4 cops

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday raised anew reward money to P6 million for the capture of those behind the killings of four policemen in Negros Oriental.

In a lengthy speech in Malacañang, Duterte made the announcement during the oathtaking of the newly promoted star rank officers of the Philippine National Police.

“If you’ll bring the head, [I’ll give you] P6.5 million,” he said.

The government initially offered

P1.3 million for the capture of the murderers, and later raised it to P3 million, then P5 million.

Duterte has been blaming the New People’s Army for the murder of four policemen in Ayungon town in Negros Oriental last month.

Charges have been filed recently against 10 suspects following the spate of killings in Negros Oriental.

Among the arrested suspects, three men admitted being involved in the killings of the four policemen who were hogtied and shot in the head.

INDONESIA and Philippine Army units will conduct various trainings as part of the ongoing effort to defeat terrorism.

This came as the commandant of the Indonesian Army Command and General Staff College, Majen. Kurnia Dewantara, paid a courtesy call on PA Chief-of-Staff, Major Gen. Jesus B. Sarsagat, at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Wednesday.

The two senior leaders discussed the continuous cooperation of the two armies to combat terrorism through the conduct of various training exchanges here in the Philippines and Indonesia, said PA spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala in a statement.

Dewantara is in the country and is heading a 61-member delegation from the IACGSC for an Overseas Study Tour from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9.

The program aims to expose the students from the Indonesian Army to a holistic approach on international military affairs.

It also aims to further strengthen the current ties of the PA and the Indonesian Army when it comes to training exchanges.

“We agree that the cooperation between Indonesia and Philippines should be maintained because we face the same threat of terrorism.

Through these training exchanges, we are able to learn from each other to develop the best approach to fight it and then solve the problem together,” Dewantara said.

“As we face terrorism, we also have to deal with new threats like in cyber security. The Philippine Army also sees the importance of strengthening our information sharing and exchanges of intelligence as a way to defeat terrorism,” Sarsagat said. PNA

Sports

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

UAAP to hold girls’ basketball as demo sport T

HE University Athletic Association of the Philippines will have a new event for its 82nd Season.

For the first time in league history, a Girls’ Basketball tournament will be held together with the Boys’ Basketball Tournament as a demonstration sport.

The tournament is being eyed to begin on either October 26 or 27, according to event sub-host National University.

“It’s long overdue for the UAAP to have a basketball tournament for the girls,” said UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag, Boticario who started his first professional venture in basketball as coach of Assumption High School’s basketball team back in the 2000s.

Schools that have committed to join the four-team meet are Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle-Zobel, University of Santo Tomas, and Adamson University.

The league is hoping that the rest of the member schools develop their Girls’ Basketball program as well so that the student-athletes’ transition from juniors to the collegiate game will be seamless.

“This is very important for the development of our women’s players. Schools want to recruit girls out of high school who are already fundamentally sound,” said Ateneo’s Representative to the Board Erika Dy, who coached the Ateneo Lady Eagles from 2013-2015. “Without a Girls’ Division, there is not much interest from young dreamers to begin with at that level.”

Manila this, the league is hoping that having this tournament will Besides TODAY prospects for the country’s Girls’ National Team.

“Having a Girls’ Division is consistent with the UAAP’s mission to provide a training ground for our future national athletes. As much as the college teams will benefit from this, it’s really our Gilas Women’s Team that will reap fruits from it in the future,” said Dy, who played for De La Salle-Zobel in high school.

“It’s a big step forward for women’s basketball. In the ASEAN re-

gion, we really need the exposure sa women’s side,” added UAAP Basketball Commissioner Jensen Ilagan.

Helping Ilagan oversee not just the Girls’ Basketball event but all four UAAP basketball tournaments is the league’s first-ever female Deputy Commissioner in Edith Boticario.

Boticario, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Wellness from University of Makati, is a FIBA-licensed official and a former PBA referee.

“This is a testament to the league’s commitment to inclusiveness,” said Saguisag.

Standard help the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in identifying the top young

2019 until December 2020, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, computed in the table below:

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE EVENT REGULATED FM PASSTHROUGH FOR FLOOD DUE TO ENHANCED SOUTHWEST MONSOON RAIN CAUSED BY TROPICAL DEPRESSION “JOSIE” IN LUZON, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Luzon

19. NGCP seeks to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and facilities. It must be emphasized that the rehabilitation of the assets damaged by the FME required capital infusion, the recovery of which should be allowed immediately in order to avoid any financial strain in the operation of NGCP and to allow the continuous provision of transmission services to the grid customers.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire that operates and maintains the nationwide transmission system pursuant to Republic Act No. (RA) 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).1

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

2

Under RA 9511, NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair, and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines.

21. A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Manager, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the instant Application, is hereto attached as Annex “L”.

Pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), NGCP is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged as a result of a force majeure event (FME), as defined in Article I, Section 1.3 of the RTWR.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission to: 1.

DECLARE the flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie” in Luzon, as Force Majeure Event (FME);

2.

Immediately GRANT Provisional Authority to implement and bill the following FM Pass-Through Amounts to Luzon customers starting the billing month of October 2019 to December 2020, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered:

STATEMENT OF FACTS 4.

From 21 July to 23 July 2018, an enhanced southwest monsoon caused by tropical depression “Josie” was prevailing in Luzon.

5.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed, among others, that tropical depression “Josie” entered Philippine Area of Responsibility on 21 July 2018 and exited on 23 July 2018. A copy of the PAGASA Summaries of Tropical Cyclones and Daily Rainfall Observed in PAGASA Stations for the month of July 2018 is attached hereto as Annex “A”.

Mendez seeks 2 straight IRONMAN 70.3 Cebu title MAURICIO Mendez knows fully well of the odds he’s facing in pursuit of a back-to-back championship in Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 in Cebu on Sunday but the Mexican star hopes he’ll be spared of the misfortune that spoiled his most recent title-retention drive.

Mendez was all set to sweep the first two editions of the IM 70.3 Davao last March but suffered a technical problem on his bike and failed to finish, enabling German Markus Rolli to snare the crown on his very first IM 70.3 race in the country.

This time, the 2016 XTERRA world champion expects to get the breaks and race trouble-free although he would also need some luck to buck a talent-laden field and emerge a repeat winner in the 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa in Mactan.

After his Davao feat, Mendez sustained his top form and nailed his first IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific title in Cebu in what he described as “the biggest win of his career.”

“I’m super happy, I trained myself to win but didn’t know what to expect because everyone was doing the same, they are all super strong athletes,” said Mendez, referring to a slew of top rivals from talent-rich Australia, including Braden Currie and former three-time world titlist Tim Reed, and Bermuda’s Tyler Butterfield.

But the challenge that awaits him this Sunday could be the toughest in his young career with Reed also back in form following a recent win in Subic. Add the likes of Tim Van Berkel, Sam Betten, Luke McKenzie, Lindsey Lawry, Mitch Robins and Justin Ghosh, all from Australia, Bahrain’s Eric Watson and New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone, Mendez is indeed in for his most exacting outing.

Kinaadman, Velez share honors in Maasin PPS tilt JOSHUA Kinaadman flashed top form and dominated the PPS-PEPP Mayor Nikko Mercado Open Championship while John David Velez and France Lorin Idjao ruled the MCF Global national age-group at the Maasin Lawn Tennis Club in Leyte last weekend.

The top-seeded Kinaadman dropped just five games on his way to the singles finals where the Lapu-Lapu City bet reigned with a 6-2, 1-0(ret.) win over No. 2 Norman Enriquez, who had to endure a pair of three setters over Elmer Alila and Velez to get a crack at the crown worth P15,000 in the centerpiece event held as part of the city’s 19th Charter Day celebrations.

Velez, the former Davao star now playing for Asenso Ozamiz Tennis Club, lived up to the hype in the accompanying MCF Group I age grouper, sweeping his way to the boys’ 18-and-under singles plum with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Vinz Lominoque. He also took the 16-U title with a walkover win over Sai Lago.

A MCTA protégé and La Salle-Lipa mainstay, Lago also made it to 14-U finals and 14-U doubles finals but opted not to play due to personal reasons.

On the other hand, the unfancied Idjao, from La Salle-Lipa, stunned top seed and doubles partner Gabby Zoleta in the semis, 4-2, 4-2, then repulsed Judy Anne Padilla, 6-4, 7-5, to snare the premier crown in the girls’ side of the event sponsored by the MAC’s Crankit Foundation headed by coach Patricia Concon-Puzon, the second of four MCF-backed tournaments with San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and Iloilo hosting the last two stops.

6.

7.

This fact was echoed in a Barangay Certification signed by the Punong Barangay of Brgy. Kalaklan, Olongapo City dated 25 June 2019 (attached hereto as Annex “B”); a Certification from the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Olongapo City (attached as Annex “C”); and Olongapo City Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 108, s. 2018 on 23 July 2018, the latter further declaring Olongapo City under a “State of Calamity” on 23 June 2018 (attached hereto as Annex “D”).

During the onslaught of the enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie” on 22 July 2018, the City of Olongapo experienced flash floods causing damage to NGCP’s Olongapo Substation located in Brgy. Kalaklan, Olongapo City. Approximately thirtytwo (32) meters of its perimeter wall collapsed, while a portion of the wall foundation eroded at the back portion of the substation, due to flash floods, coming from the mountain ridge and accumulated in the creek beside the collapsed wall. The flood waters also left the substation switchyard covered in mud and debris, and submerged various transformers and equipment spares from the indoor and outdoor warehouses. NGCP was forced to shut down Olongapo substation due to the continuous rising of flood water inside the substation control room and switchyard and to prevent further damage to affected assets and facilities and electrocution of personnel. Power was restored in Olongapo substation on the evening of 23 July 2018 after NGCP implemented temporary measures by laying sandbags along the collapsed wall.

9.

After the flood brought about by the enhanced monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie”, subsided, NGCP immediately started the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and facilities in order to fully restore transmission service to its customers. Attached hereto is the Consolidated Details of Expenditures for North Luzon Operation and Maintenance (NLOM) District 5 of NGCP, as Annex “E”, and the Before and After Rehabilitation Pictures of Affected Assets in NLOM District 5 is hereto attached as Annex “F”.

The total cost incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and facilities damaged by flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie”, including the recoverable values of the damaged assets (Net Fixed Asset Value) is Ten Million Six Hundred Forty Six Thousand Eighty Five Pesos and Seventy One Centavos (Php 10,646,085.71), breakdown of which is shown in the table below:

8,688,295.31

Operating Expenditure (OPEX)

1,937,790.40

Net Fixed Asset Value (NFAV)

20,000.00

Total

10,646,085.71

*Capital Expenditures/Operating Expenditures, exclusive of VAT (pursuant to TRAIN law) and Permit Fees 10. Under Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR, NGCP is allowed to recover the cost for such repair, restoration, and rehabilitation. Thus, pursuant to Article X, Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR, NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission an FME Notice dated 11 September 2018, which was filed within the three (3)-month reglementary period, reckoned from the occurrence of the FME flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie,” copy is attached hereto as Annex “G”. Receipt of said Notice was acknowledged by the Honorable Commission in its Letter dated 19 September 2018, copy is attached hereto as Annex “H”.

11. Within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of the flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie” in Luzon, NGCP hereby files the instant FME Application, in accordance with Article X, Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR. FM PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT COMPUTATION 12. NGCP has not recovered from its Industrial All-Risk (IAR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the cost NGCP incurred in the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and facilities in NLOM District 5 damaged by the flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie” because the total cost to repair the affected transmission assets and facilities is within the policy’s deductible amount of One (1) Million US Dollars ($1,000,000.00). Attached is a copy of the Certification of the NGCP Trade and Insurance Manager dated 16 April 2019, stating that the cost to repair the damaged transmission assets and facilities is not covered by the pertinent IAR Policy with the GSIS, as Annex “I”.

2019

2020

0.13

0.01

P/kWh

0.00026

0.00002

APPROVE the FME CAPEX and OPEX amounting to Ten Million Six Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand Eighty-Five Pesos and SeventyOne Centavos (Php 10,626,085.71) incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and facilities due to FME flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie”;

4.

APPROVE and ALLOW the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and facilities damaged by the FME southwest monsoon rains and tropical depression “Josie” amounting to Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00), given that it would have been fully recovered by NGCP if these Transmission Assets and Other Related Facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by the said FME;

5.

APPROVE, after due notice and hearing, the proposed FM Pass-Through Amounts to be collected from the Luzon customers starting October 2019 billing month to December 2020 or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, as follows: Luzon

6.

2019

2020

P/kW-mo.

0.13

0.01

P/kWh

0.00026

0.00002

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

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

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-Trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 27 August 2019 (Tuesday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.), at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

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:

AMOUNT Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)

Luzon P/kW-mo.

3.

FME CLAIM 8.

0.00002

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

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

nd

0.01

0.00026

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Notice is hereby given that on 19 July 2019, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application dated 12 July 2019, seeking the approval of Force Majeure Event Regulated FM pass-through for flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie” in Luzon, in accordance with the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates, with a prayer for provisional authority.

Mauricio Mendez

0.13

P/kWh

17. Also, NGCP considered the NFAV of the transmission assets and facilities damaged by the FME in Luzon in the FME claim, given that NGCP would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by said FME. A copy of the Details of the NFAV in relation to the assets affected by FME flood due to southwest monsoon rain caused by tropical depression “Josie”, is attached hereto as Annex “K”.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

3.

P/kWmo.

16. Further, the FM Pass-Through Amounts in this Application do not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhP0.0366/kWh, as computed in accordance with the relevant formula prescribed by the RTWR. A copy of the FMTA Computation is hereto attached as Annex “J”.

ERC CASE NO. 2019-055 RC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

2.

2020

15. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts for the years 2019 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the expenditures incurred by NGCP relative to the FME flood due to enhanced southwest monsoon caused by tropical depression “Josie”, pending the reset process for the next Regulatory Period.

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Applicant. x - -- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - x

1.

2019

1) The petitioner’s name and address; 2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3) A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, and PAUL CHRISTIAN M CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 30th day of July 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

13. Thus, it is but proper for NGCP to file the instant FME Application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and facilities in NLOM District 5 which were damaged by the FME above-described, pursuant to the RTWR. 1

14. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts, in P/kW-month, as additional network charges for Luzon starting the billing month of October

2

Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaining Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for Other Purposes” Republic Act No. 9511 entitled “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for Other Purposes” (MS-AUG.9 & 16, 2019)

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@manilastandard.net; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

San Miguel Beer import Chris McCullough shoots a floater against the TNT defense in a PBA game won by the Beermen in two overtimes, 127-125.

Beermen, Texters resume war

By Jeric Lopez

E

XPECT the hostilities to intensify even more as TNT KaTropa and San Miguel Beer resume their war in the continuation of their fierce best-if-seven championship showdown in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association

Following a Game 2 classic which needed two overtime periods, Game 3, scheduled at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, is once again anticipated to be a slugfest.

With the series now knotted at 1-1, the Tropang Texters and the Beermen are

expected to fight tooth-and-nail in Game 3 as both are eager to get a pivotal upperhand.

San Miguel Beer was able to equalize after coming through with a hard-fought, 127-125 squeaker in a double-overtime thriller in Game 2 Wednesday night.

The Beermen were able to take advantage of the late ejection of TNT import Terrence Jones and the fouling out of Troy Rosario to muscle their way in the clutch.

“Like in Game 2, never giving up will be the key for us,” said San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria, who commended his team for keeping its composure to be able to tie the series. “We expect the same kind of game.”

TNT coach Bong Ravena does not want a repeat of what happened in Game 2 wherein the Tropang Texters were a free throw make away from icing the

game in the first overtime.

“Definitely, all the little things are important and we have to take care of all of them, including better free throw shooting,” said Ravena.

Terrence Romeo came alive in Game 2, piling up 29 points and setting a new conference-high for him as he likewise hit clutch baskets down the stretch to help San Miguel Beer pull through.

“Hindi madali kalaban ang TNT. Pahirapan talaga,” admitted Romeo after his squad tied the series. “Kailangan namin is more focus and less turnovers para better ‘yung chance namin to win again.”

Former Batang Gilas star lifts Lyceum past Perpetual

By Peter Atencio FORMER Batang Gilas cager Mclaude Guadana came up with another great showing as he led Lyceum to a 93-81 swamping of the University of the Perpetual Help Junior Altas yesterday at the UPHSD gymnasium in Las Pinas.

Guadana struck with 33 points for the Junior Pirates, who posted their fourth win in six matches in the junior division of the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament.

Jaerolan Omandac contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Junior Pirates, who joined the La Salle Greenies in second spot. Gyle Montano added 14 points in the Junior Pirates’ bid to catch up with co-leaders San Beda and Arellano, which share the lead at 4-1.

The Junior Pirates quickly took charge with a 26-17 first-quarter lead, with Guadana knocking in 10 points.

In the second period, Guadana banged in 10 points to push the Junior Pirates to a 49-35 halftime edge.

“Kailangang doblehin namin ang energy sa game. Kasi, hindi nila ibibigay ang panalo dito sa homecourt nila,” said Junior Pirates’ coach JC Docto.

Yuki Kawamura unloaded 22 points,

while Emman Galman made 20 points for the Jr Altas, who now have a 3-4 slate.

Meanwhile, with 10 days of rest behind them, the College of St. Benilde Blazers are getting ready to move ahead of the defending champion San Beda Red Lions when they take on the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers at 2 p.m. today in the senior action the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.

Monsoon rains over the week and unpredictable weather saw the Blazers missing two games. They will have a chance to post their fifth straight triumph this time.

Later, the San Sebastian Stags will miss suspended coach Egay Macaraya when they clash with the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals at 4 p.m.

In the junior side, the Greenies will go for the solo lead when they take on the JRU Light Bombers at 10 a.m.

The Blazers will play without top performer, Justin Gutang, who missed their encounter with the Stags because of a partial MCL tear he sustained against the Cardinals two weeks ago.

But they will welcome the return of one of their veterans Yankee Haruna, who got back in action last week after he injured his jaw in the PBA D-League last May. Macaraya will sit away from the bench

DONATION. Manila Jockey Club Chairman Alfonso R. Reyno Jr. (center) handed a

check to the Philippine Red Cross, through its Chairman, Sen. Richard J. Gordon (right), as part of MJC’s commitment to donate P1 million to the organization annually to help support its charitable projects. The Reyno family has also committed to donate 10 hectares of land in Villa Reyno beside the Cagayan State University campus in Piat, Cagayan, five hectares of which shall be for a Philippine Red Cross Operations Center. The other five hectares shall be devoted to a Philippine Red Cross housing project for deserving beneficiaries in the region.

in the next game of the San Sebastian Stags after he was penalized with a onegame suspension for an unsportsmanlike conduct during one of their timeouts in their matchup opposite Lyceum

two weeks ago. The Stags’ mentor was sanctioned for ordering a player to slap the injured hand of Lyceum cager Harry Nzeusseu in the closing minutes of their Pirates’ game with the Stags.

Juvic bucks brutal conditions, pads lead to 3 in Riviera golf

Juvic Pagunsan (rightmost) bests Clyde Mondilla (left) and Angelo Que in their twoday duel in the featured threesome.

SILANG, Cavite—Juvic Pagunsan succumbed to harsh conditions but still kept his spot on top despite a one-over 72, even padding his lead to two halfway through the ICTSI Riviera Classic in survival of the fittest at the Langer course here yesterday.

Howling winds and pelting rain forced even the long hitters to take 2-club adjustments in tackling each hole with Pagunsan, a noted strong finisher even in the most challenging conditions, yielding two strokes on the par-4 18th that marred his one-over 35-37 card.

But his two-under 140 total proved enough to put him two strokes ahead of Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who stumbled with a 72, and the charging Tony Lascuña and Japanese Takahashi Keisuke, who fired identical 70s that proved to be the norm in a punishing day at one of the country’s toughest championship courses.

The troika pooled identical 142s with Clyde Mondilla, the reigning Philippine Open champion, coming through with a rare eagle-3 on No. 16 to at least soften the impact of his double-bogey and bogey mishaps on No. 11 and 13, respectively. He

saved a 72 and took solo fifth at 143.

Diminutive Joenard Rates, a former PGT Asia leg winner, closed out the frontside in birdie-double-bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie fashion that best typified the field’s daylong struggle, salvaging the other 70 for joint sixth at 144 with Jhonnel Ababa, who also fumbled with a 72.

“As I’ve said, nothing is certain here even if I’m in the lead,” said Pagunsan, upbeat but cautious of his bid for a record fourth straight victory on the Philippine Golf Tour following a sweep of the last three legs of the Visayas swing in Bacolod, Negros and Iloilo last June.

“There are so many good players out there, so I need to focus on my own game and not be complacent,” added the most feared player in the P2.5 million tournament put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Barely surviving the ordeal, Van der Valk vowed to stay focused and fight for every shot in the pivotal third round of the 72-hole championship serving as the sixth leg of this year’s PGT.

PH netters make ITF main draw TEAM Philippines formally joined an eight-team field to the main draw of the 2019 International Tennis Federation World Junior Team Tennis finals in Prosjetov, Czech Republic.

The Filipinas, behind Alex Joy Milliam and Alexandra Eala, may have lost to the United States, 0-3, in their last game in Group B. But their 2-1 win-loss record allowed the Filipinas to join Team USA in the quarterfinals.

To reach the semifinals, the Philippines will have to next deal with the host Czech squad.

In their game with Team USA, Tsehay Driscoll scored a win in the first singles with her 7-5, 6-3 triumph over Milliam before Claire Ngounque turned back Eala, 7-6 (73), 6-3.

In the doubles, Driscoll and Qavia Lopez outplayed Milliam and Eala, 6-4, 6-2.

Earlier in the week, Milliam and Eala came up with big wins to lead Philippines to two straight victories.

Their efforts lifted the Filipinas to a 3-0 rout of Venezuela and a 2-1 triumph over China.

Since 2003, the Philippines has not reached the finals. This is the first girls’ squad to have gone this far since 1993 at the clay courts of the TK Plus Arena.

The Philippines reached the quarterfinals with a doubles’ victory over China in the third tiebreak, after the pair of Milliam and Eala escaped with a 6-7(4), 6-3, 10-3 triumph over Jiatong Cai and Yiwen Xiang. Peter Atencio

Tolentino: POC unity a work in progress EFFORTS to seek unity from within the executive board of the Philippine Olympic Committee is a work in progress.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said this as he convenes the executive board for another meeting today.

“With or without a quorum, the meeting will be held. I am reaching out to them,” said Tolentino.

Tolentino made efforts to reconcile with other members of the POC’s executive board when he convened a meeting two weeks ago at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

But most excused themselves for various reasons, including bad weather, medical issues and other previous appointments.

So far, Tolentino reinstated secretary general Patrick Gregorio.

He also formalized his appointment of Gregorio and his deputy, Richard Gomez, and those of Col. Lucas Managuelod (membership), Atty. Alberto Agra and Atty Billy. Sumagui (legal) and former POC chief Ricky Vargas and (constitutional commission), among others.

The first General Assembly under Tolentino’s watch will be on Aug. 13 will be at the Diamond Hotel on Roxas Blvd.

The POC said he will no longer be the chef de mission for the 2020 Tokyo Olympiad.

And he is expected to about the one that he will appoint to take his place.

Peter Atencio

Bulacan whips Valenzuela five MALOLOS—Bulacan trounced Valenzuela, 97-79, at home and posted back-to-back wins in the MPBL Lakan Season at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium here.

The Kuyas drew double-digit production from six players to give the Classic a sound beating and improve its winloss record to 5-4.

Jun Bonsubre had a double-double performance, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds in what was one of his steadiest games since being acquired by the Kuyas from the Mandaluyong El Tigre prior to the start of the season.

Dan Sara was an assist shy from recording a double-double, tallying 11 markers and nine assists.

Four other players also came away with twin digit outputs – JR Alabanza (11), Jess Diputado (11), Jovit dela Cruz (10) and Jhan McHale Nermal (10).

Also coming up with similar convincing victories were the Davao Occidental Tigers and the ZamboangaFamily’s Brand Sardines.

The Cocolife-backed Tigers picked up their fifth consecutive win by dumping the Navotas Clutch, 94-74.

IN BRIEF

San Miguel posts P26.15-b earnings

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said Thursday net income declined 5 percent in the first half to P26.15 billion from P27.58 billion a year ago, dragged down by the weak performance of petroleum and food businesses.

SMC said in a statement first-half net sales rose 2 percent in the six-month period to P509.4 billion from P499 billion in the same period last year. Income from operations went down by 14 percent to P57.6 billion.

San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. registered a 5-percent decline in net income to P14.7 billion while San Miguel Brewery booked a 12-percent growth in profit to P13.25 billion. Ginebra San Miguel Inc. reported a 94-percent increase in net income to P980 million.

San Miguel Purefoods Inc. posted an 85-percent drop in first-half net income to P447 million on the rising cost of raw materials.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Foreign reserves hit $85.2b in July

THE country’s gross international reserves rose by $250 million in July to $85.18 billion from $84.93 billion in June, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday.

“The month-on-month increase in the GIR level was due mainly to inflows arising from the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and income from its investments abroad as well as the national government’s net foreign currency deposits,” Diokno said in a statement.

Diokno said the increase in reserves was tempered by payments made by the government for servicing its foreign exchange obligations.

“The end-July 2019 level of GIR serves as an ample external liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.4 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to 5.2 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.8 times based on residual maturity,” he said.

Julito G. Rada

BoI: Not all tax perks are wasted

TAX incentives should remain relevant to attract and influence the decisions of investors, especially if all the basic infrastructures and investment climate are relatively similar to each other, Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said Thursday.

“Not all incentives are wasted, not all incentives are bad. Incentives are able to attract investments into the country which would not have come in considering the advantages of other countries in terms of infrastructure, cost efficiencies, labor costs or resource availability,” Rodolfo said.

“Incentives can help compensate for the disadvantages of locating in our country. Investors who have availed of incentives have likewise paid revenues on other tax dues coming from their operations. Taxes were paid such as on withholding taxes from salaries, VAT, real estate taxes and the net effect is positive revenue contribution to the government,” he said.

Rodolfo said that in countries like Thailand and Vietnam, investment incentives contributed to achieve rapid growth. Developing countries would even increase incentives to make up for certain infrastructure handicap or disadvantages, he said. Othel V. Campos

Business GDP grew 5.5% in Q2, the slowest in 4 years T

By Julito G. Rada

HE economy grew 5.5 percent in the second quarter, the slowest in four years, as the El Niño dry spell, delayed approval of the government budget and ban on construction activities during the midterm elections tempered household demand and government spending.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the second-quarter gross domestic product growth was the lowest outturn in 17 quarters. The GDP grew 5.6 percent in the first quarter this year and 6.2 percent in the second quarter of 2018.

Economic growth in the first half averaged 5.6 percent, below the low end of the government’s target range of 6 per-

cent to 7 percent set for the entire year.

“This means that we will have to grow by an average of at least 6.4 percent in the second half to reach the lowend of the full-year growth target of 6 to 7 percent in 2019,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a news briefing.

“As we have anticipated, these have been challenging times. The past year, we had enumerated the major ones that we thought would impact our economic performance, namely the El Niño phenomenon, the increasing protectionism in advanced economies and the election ban on construction activities,” Pernia said.

Pernia said he remained optimistic for the economy going forward and the government was not “disappointed” by the second-quarter results. “We are just challenged,” he said.

Pernia expressed optimism that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas under the helm of Governor Benjamin Diokno would do something to prop up the economy. The BSP’s Monetary Board cut the benchmark borrowing rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent in its

meeting Thursday amid the decelerating inflation rate and slower economic growth.

“I’m sure the BSP will do something…. Diokno knows it by now.

He is a pro-growth central bank governor...I’m quite optimistic he will do the right thing,” Pernia said.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said household spending, which accounted for the lion’s share of economic growth, failed to offset contracting capital formation with growth slipping below the first quarter even as inflation remained in a downtrend.

He said elevated borrowing costs continued to divert disposable income from consumption to higher interest expenses.

The PSA said the main growth drivers in the second quarter were the trade and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, personal and household goods; manufacturing; and other services. Among the major economic sectors, services had the fastest growth with 7.1 percent, while industry expanded by 3.7 percent.

FGen’s LNG hub project approved

THE Energy Investment Coordinating Council through the Department of Energy declared the $1-billion liquefied natural gas terminal project of FGen LNG Corp. in Batangas province as an energy project of national significance in accordance with Executive Order No. 30.

“We would like to sincerely thank the Department of Energy for approving our application for the FGEN Batangas LNG Terminal Project as an energy project of national significance. We believe that this project is crucial to ensure the continued operations of the 3.2-gigawatt existing natural gas-fired plants given the expected reduction in gas supply from the Malampaya field up to the expiration of the contracts by 2024,” Jonathan Russell, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of First Gen Corp., said in a statement.

FGen LNG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen, one of the country’s biggest power players.

“First Gen will continue to work hard to ensure that this project will also be available to allow the development of new gas-fired capacity, with a lower carbon footprint that will support the introduction of more intermittent renewables for the Philippines,” Russell said. Alena Mae S. Flores

LandBank Leasing to open Clark branch

LAND Bank of the Philippines Leasing and Finance Corporation is putting up a branch at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac to serve the financial needs of different government agencies once the National Government Administrative Center is fully developed.

State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Malaysian partner MTD Clark Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement with LLFC for the establishment of a leasing and financing facility for NGAC. “The MOA will be historic in a sense that it will not only greatly assist the fast-tracking of the New Clark City development but will open new doors for government agencies to avail of this novel instrument, which has not been fully utilized in the Philippines,” said BCDA president and chief executive Vince Dizon.

Under the agreement, BCDA, MTD and LLFC will collaborate on a framework to provide a viable option for government agencies to avail of LLFC’s leasing and financial facilities for the acquisition of an office building or office space in NGAC. Jess Malabanan

PILLARS OF FRANCHISING. The Philippine Franchise Association honors the key figures who catalyzed the franchising industry’s growth in the Philippines during the 2019 Franchise Excellence Awards at Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

Receiving the legacy awards are (from third, left) Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chair and treasurer and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., former Finance Secretary and Philippine Stock Exchange chairman Jose Pardo, first PFA president Manuel Siggaoat, PFA chairman emeritus and father of Philippine Franchising Samie Lim and PCCI president and PFA vice chair Ma. Alegria Sibal Limjoco. With them are (from left) PFA chairman Alan Escalona, Trade Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña and PFA president Richard Sanz.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

B1

PLDT posts 4% profit growth, appoints new Smart president

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said Thursday net income grew 4 percent in the first half to P12.2 billion from a year ago, on the back of 6-percent growth in revenues.

The country’s largest telecom company also announced the appointment of Alfredo Panlilio as the new president of Smart Communications effective Aug. 8. Panlilio will remain the executive vice president and chief revenue officer of PLDT, on a concurrent basis.

PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said core income was stable at P13.2 billion, excluding equity in losses from Voyager, accelerated depreciation and gains from the sale of Rocket Internet shares.

PLDT’s consolidated service revenues rose 6 percent to P76.6 billion, the highest half-year revenue level it posted since the second semester of 2014.

“We have sustained our revenue growth, led by our consumer wireless business, by significantly improving customer experience through superior network services and targeted service offers. Moving forward, we shall bolster this momentum by further enhancing customer experience across our various businesses through strategic organizational adjustments and the ongoing overhaul of our IT systems and customer service processes,” Pangilinan said.

PLDT’s consumer wireless business set the pace for growth in the first half of 2019, boosting revenues by 20 percent year-on-year to P34.4 billion. Data and broadband accounted for two-thirds of these revenues.

Smart, TNT and Sun acquired 8.7 million new subscribers in the first half of 2019, pushing the total to more than 66.8 million as of endJune 2019.

Bangko Sentral cuts rate by 25 bps to 4.25% amid low inflation, tepid growth THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday cut the overnight borrowing rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent amid low inflation and the tepid economic growth.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, who is also the chairman of the board, said the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were reduced to 3.75 percent and 4.75 percent, respectively.

“The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment that price pressures have continued to ease since the previous meeting. Latest baseline forecasts of the BSP indicate that inflation remains likely to settle within the inflation target [2 percent to 4 percent] for 2019 up to 2021,” Diokno said in a news briefing after the board meeting.

“Inflation expectations have also mod-

erated further to levels consistent with the inflation target based on the BSP’s survey of private sector economists. Moreover, the risks to the inflation outlook continue to be seen as broadly balanced for 2019 and 2020, while they are seen to tilt to the downside for 2021,” Diokno said.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief market strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the rate reduction was expected and came hours after the Philippine Statistics Authority announced that gross domestic product growth hit a four-year low of 5.5 percent in the second quarter.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said he was expecting the BSP to cut policy rates again by 25 bps at the September meeting given previous comments from Governor Diokno pointing to a total of 50 bps worth of rate cuts before the end of the year.

“Furthermore, we expect the BSP to reduce the reserve requirements further in the fourth quarter after it completes its 2019 rate cut cycle to help infuse fresh liquidity into the market. RRR reductions will be put on hold as BSP gauges whether additional funds are diverted to productive activities and not simply parked at BSP’s overnight facilities,” Mapa said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday reported that inflation eased to a two-year low of 2.4 percent in July from 2.7 percent in June. The July inflation was also significantly slower than 5.7 percent a year ago. This brought the average inflation in the first seven months to 3.3 percent, within the government’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

Diokno said that weaker global economic prospects continued to temper the

inflation outlook. He said the potential adverse effects of a prolonged El Niño episode to inflation had subsided.

“The Monetary Board noted that prospects for global economic activity are likely to remain weak amid sustained trade tensions among major economies.

Domestically, the outlook for growth continues to be firm on the back of a projected recovery in household spending and the accelerated implementation of the government’s infrastructure spending program, after the delay in expenditures due to the legislative impasse in the approval of the budget in January to April 2019,” he said.

Diokno said the benign inflation outlook provided room for a further reduction in the policy rate as a pre-emptive move against the risks associated with weakening global growth. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks close flat; PLDT advances T HE stock market closed flat Thursday before the meeting of the Monetary Board later in the day when it reduced interest rates by 25 basis points.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 3.23 points, or 0.04 percent, to 7,914.16 on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 103 to 91, with 45 issues unchanged.

Investors also shrugged off the gross domestic product figures in the second quarter released by the Philippine Statistics Authority earlier in the day.

The economy grew 5.5 percent in the second quarter, the slowest in four years, as the prolonged El Niño dry spell, de-

layed approval of the government budget and ban on construction activities during the mid-term elections tempered demand and spending.

Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, fell 5.9 percent to P5.75, but PLDT Inc., the largest telecommunications firm, advanced 6.8 percent to P1,164.

Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. climbed 6.2 percent to P11.90, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator and also owned by Razon, rose 3.2 percent to P130.

The rest of Asian markets rose Thursday on bargain-hunting by investors following a week of heavy losses due to anxiety over the deepening US-China trade war.

But tensions remained high, prompting a rush on safe-haven assets such as bonds, gold and the Japanese yen.

Bond yields plunged on Wednesday as prices climbed, with the benchmark US government 10-year note dropping to multi-year lows, while French and German bond yields, already in negative territory, set new record lows.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei gained 0.4 percent, after shedding more than 1,000 points in a four-day losing streak.

But investors stayed away from active buying with the yen remaining strong, raising worries for Japanese exporters’ earnings and the impact on their repatriated profits.

Shanghai also climbed 0.9 percent, enjoying a boost after global index complier MSCI announced it would increase the weighting of Chinese shares in its indices from 10 to 15 percent from late August.

Hong Kong rose 0.7 percent while Seoul added 0.6 percent. Sydney gained 0.8 percent but Singapore dropped 0.4 percent.

Equities had tumbled Monday after Beijing allowed the yuan to slide sharply against the dollar following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would impose 10 percent tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese goods starting September 1.

But Beijing’s move to stabilize the yuan after both onshore and offshore rates dropped below the key 7.0 per dollar threshold helped to ease investor fears.

Even though the central bank set the currency’s central parity rate above 7.0 for the first time in 11 years on Thursday, analysts were unruffled, saying the yuan fix was stronger than expected.

“The fact that it’s only gone through 7 today and it didn’t on Tuesday really tells you that they are signaling to the market that we don’t want the currency to depreciate too quickly,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 94.15 4,554,210 2.27 2,000 146 1,738,330 26.45 46,200 18.78 900 12.16 762,400 4.6 117,000 0.47 320,000 71.7 3,295,070 1.03 857,000 13.18 28,800 49.7 147,800 187.9 260 111.3 160 58.1 10,370 29.95 18,900 192 2,157,140 59.9 560 1.12 59,000

428,664,236.50 4,540 256,148,763 1,223,030 16,854 9,266,032 513,000 150,200 236,722,167 881,560 377,290 7,347,455 49,017 17,848 604,920 567,345 405,712,866 33,528 66,080

183,709,670 -41,579,083 -901,430 -2,243,810 -86,301,964 -21,000 -774,735 -323,259 29,950 228,875,156 -3,591 -1,120

35.25 13.88 0.71 1.31 0.245 3.1 14.2 13.84 16 72.1 88.5 2.04 6.02 9.27 14.6 9.52 7.5 1.63 25.75 83.7 65 2 14 8.5 1.63 230 3.3 8.62 22.5 13.48 18.02 359.6 0.184 1.76 4.7 5.31 9.15 2.65 11.3 37.7 5.09 5 1.67 2.06 1 13.2 101.1 6.95 1.1 160 2.43 1.34 1.15

INDUSTRIAL 35.25 690,400 14.28 454,900 0.74 341,000 1.31 3,000 0.25 2,410,000 3.27 34,324,000 14.34 463,700 14.2 182,900 16.38 1,500 74.9 3,320 88.5 130 2.05 660,000 6.25 31,400 9.27 7,971,700 14.86 2,949,800 9.93 1,024,000 7.62 812,100 1.63 7,000 26.2 1,817,600 83.85 312,840 65.9 447,000 2.07 7,307,000 14.06 1,525,000 8.69 462,700 1.64 140,000 230 1,463,450 3.42 4,000 8.98 3,900 22.8 488,900 13.5 626,600 18.8 194,100 368 149,790 0.184 790,000 1.83 3,491,000 4.79 24,000 5.35 1,435,800 9.27 3,502,000 2.66 27,248,000 11.5 201,500 37.85 201,900 5.12 13,700 5 74,000 1.79 8,226,000 2.06 15,000 1.03 223,000 13.38 44,400 101.7 149,680 6.96 87,000 1.13 718,000 161 396,240 2.43 200,000 1.36 4,621,000 1.18 1,983,000

24,465,360 6,469,890 248,470 3,930 595,340 110,647,670 6,695,164 2,605,452 24,296 242,932.50 11,508 1,352,850 195,967 74,680,366 43,862,904 10,082,031 6,173,478 11,430 47,477,380 26,327,521 30,486,492 14,940,310 5 21,441,888 3,978,853 230,700 338,885,090 13,320 33,978 11,143,870 8,525,708 3,600,946 54,742,112 146,100 6,346,300 113,160 7,666,041 32,218,420(32 73,107,310 2,349,042 7,648,375 1 70,356 370,000 14,731,360 31,060 226,490 588,814 15,252,561 611,940 810,870 64,019,898 489,420 6,308,550 2,298,450

-8,950,810 606,416 4,970 36,235,790 21,130 82,092 -11,200 -2,658 30,000 -8,403,589 -2,632,948 -1,444,825 -228,103 9,780 14,685,715 -8,206,745 4,048,896 ,804,420.0003 -20,193,398 -517,775 -138,922,682 377,690 6,677,814 -1,070,174 3,308,258 -1,439,280 -1,634,010 ,199,999.9999) -84,540 ,702,450.0003 -125,000 -17,800 44,950 2,132,582 29,900.00 -9,363,710 430,820 -956,300 1,160

0.89 49.95 14.46 0.69 15.24 1.2 1.23 926 3.82 6.75 9.79 13.78 0.237 885 6.17 65.55 6.05 0.5 4.4 14.26 0.64 4.6 0.04 1.33 174 972.5 0.87 1.35 413 0.23 0.28

HOLDING FIRMS 0.97 55,100,000 49.95 783,100 14.46 3,319,100 0.69 87,000 15.4 75,600 1.22 543,000 1.27 84,000 930 137,640 3.9 1,884,000 6.82 300,700 9.79 3,284,300 13.8 36,900 0.244 1,890,000 900 80,140 6.5 2,100 66 916,560 6.46 1,100 0.5 280,000 4.4 755,000 14.3 1,828,700 0.65 2,975,000 4.76 14,282,000 0.04 100,000 1.35 857,000 175 104,570 981 234,490 0.87 1,469,000 1.39 14,000 415 310 0.23 610,000 0.28 2,030,000

51,698,760 39,285,090 48,511,100 60,310 1,175,470 661,010 103,370 128,040,380 7,313,960 2,046,961 32,235,820(20 509,198 452,860 72,048,270 13,296 60,614,752 7,060 140,040 3,329,340 26,209,286 1,976,190 67,724,620 4,000 1,156,480 18,305,831 230,933,970 1,295,900 18,980 128,530 140,860 568,650

12,406,180 -33,965,370 -2,797,840 -102,100 -1,146,590 366,240 -121,302 ,799,950.0005) -32,753,990 -23,549,761 605 -251,220 -1,663,742 38,449,790 67,500 -23,786 -12,306,130 13,500 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

93.9 2.27 149.8 26.5 18.3 12 4.5 0.46 72.5 1 13.1 49.5 191.7 115.3 58.95 30.5 182.5 60 1.12

94.9 2.27 149.8 26.65 18.78 12.22 4.69 0.47 72.5 1.05 13.18 50 191.7 115.3 58.95 30.5 192 60 1.12

92.2 2.27 146 26.35 18.3 12 4.3 0.46 71.5 0.99 13.1 49.3 187.9 111.3 58 29.5 182 59.8 1.12

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG 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 TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

36 14.26 0.71 1.31 0.255 3.1 14.56 13.84 16 76.9 88.6 2.05 6.25 9.5 14.6 9.82 7.63 1.65 25.75 85 67.3 2.01 14.04 8.74 1.67 231.2 3.3 8.62 22.7 13.78 18.68 365 0.186 1.79 4.79 5.35 9.15 2.68 11.68 37.75 5.09 5 1.73 2.08 1.04 13.2 104.9 7 1.16 162 2.46 1.35 1.2

36 14.28 0.74 1.31 0.255 3.28 14.58 14.5 16.38 76.9 88.6 2.05 6.25 9.6 14.96 10.2 7.63 1.65 26.6 85.25 69.8 2.08 14.08 8.74 1.68 235 3.42 8.98 22.85 13.82 18.8 368 0.186 1.85 4.79 5.37 9.27 2.73 11.68 38 5.2 5 1.83 2.08 1.04 13.38 104.9 7.1 1.16 163.7 2.46 1.39 1.2

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP AYALA LAND LOG 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 SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.89 50.2 14.64 0.72 16.26 1.2 1.24 930 3.82 6.79 9.93 13.8 0.238 909.5 6.17 66.3 6.05 0.51 4.41 14.4 0.67 4.6 0.04 1.36 177 990 0.94 1.35 413 0.231 0.28

0.97 51 14.74 0.72 16.28 1.22 1.27 935 3.92 6.86 9.93 13.8 0.244 918 6.5 66.9 6.46 0.51 4.48 14.4 0.68 4.79 0.04 1.38 177 997 0.94 1.39 415 0.231 0.285

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

15.72 0.82 2.02 1.03 49 2.21 4.75 6.16 0.58 0.77 0.88 0.237 0.435 10.76 24 0.465 1.87 1.38 6.14 0.33 1.5 0.39 2.03 43.5 25.5 2.35 3.22 36.85 2.16 5.86 7.68

15.78 0.84 2.02 1.03 49.4 2.23 4.81 6.16 0.58 0.79 0.88 0.237 0.435 11.2 24.15 0.465 1.89 1.38 6.14 0.33 1.55 0.41 2.03 49.4 26.05 2.4 3.22 36.95 2.17 5.9 7.69

15.66 0.82 1.97 0.99 48.7 2.18 4.74 6.16 0.56 0.77 0.88 0.236 0.425 10.4 23.65 0.46 1.84 1.35 5.75 0.315 1.49 0.39 2.01 43.5 25.3 2.31 3.22 36.4 2.13 5.86 7.6

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL 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 JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

10.5 18.5 1.6 0.52 0.048 2.28 11.2 0.06 90.5 7 7.06 5.95 9.76 1,980 5.36 415 1.87 127.9 9.7 5.4 0.111 5.15 14.52 3.6 0.87 19.4 3.2 2.6 1.41 2.35 2.7 8.5 4.91 8.23 138 3.78 1,100 0.71 0.68 44.1 79.1 9.32 3.11 0.74 0.34 5.47 0.73 15.7

10.7 18.9 1.63 0.53 0.048 2.4 11.9 0.062 93.9 7 7.11 5.95 9.89 2,030 5.4 420 1.91 134.5 9.7 5.4 0.115 5.25 14.52 3.62 0.94 19.5 3.28 2.67 1.41 2.39 2.81 8.5 5.3 8.23 140 3.86 1,164 0.71 0.69 44.8 80 9.32 3.18 0.74 0.345 5.51 0.74 15.76

10.5 18.5 1.52 0.51 0.048 2.28 11.2 0.06 90.5 7 7.01 5.95 9.56 1,971 5.33 415 1.86 127.9 9.7 5.4 0.111 5.13 14.52 3.47 0.87 19.4 3.18 2.56 1.4 2.32 2.7 8.4 4.91 8.22 138 3.75 1,092 0.7 0.66 44.05 78.05 9.32 3.08 0.73 0.34 5.46 0.72 15.6

SERVICES 10.52 18.9 1.63 0.52 0.048 2.4 11.9 0.062 92.25 7 7.08 5.95 9.89 1,971 5.39 420 1.91 130 9.7 5.4 0.115 5.22 14.52 3.47 0.94 19.4 3.28 2.67 1.4 2.39 2.71 8.4 5 8.22 140 3.78 1,164 0.7 0.68 44.8 80 9.32 3.11 0.73 0.34 5.5 0.73 15.68

11,000 358,700 35,000 1,516,000 5,200,000 60,000 6,567,500 11,910,000 141,820 1,200 558,800 50,000 17,200 92,355 38,100 890 2,584,000 3,667,380 600 1,200 600,000 1,690,800 100 724,000 91,000 91,600 16,000 3,676,000 32,000 543,000 135,000 72,300 8,000 4,000 110 1,023,000 145,780 531,000 13,043,000 119,400 537,480 35,100 2,620,000 313,000 3,330,000 1,630,600 672,000 2,435,800

115,742 6,743,174 56,410 789,850 249,600 138,660 76,091,660 720,670 13,083,574(1, 8,400 3,949,379 297,500 166,628 185,120,790 204,173 372,280 4,881,010 481,307,224 5,820 6,480 67,200 8,809,533 1,452 2,556,130 83,160 1,782,004 51,240 9,675,840 44,880 1,274,340 367,380 610,704 40,210 32,900 15,200 3,890,360 166,935,695 371,730 8,855,910 5,337,950 42,448,036 327,132 8,150,330 228,990 1,134,550 8,971,002 486,920 38,237,504

-7,070,720 -67,800 387,807.4996) -78,822 -297,500 -2,367,210 192,908,461 -393,032 -678,478 3,571,110 35,020 -361,670 4,574,065 185,500 -1,340 -95,910 -1,648,852 2,392,780 43,310 68,000 -3,249,340 -28,120 -2,847,500

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

0.0016 1.28 2.66 12.6 1.1 2.72 0.275 7.8 1.45 0.208 0.113 0.115 0.011 0.011 1.03 2.52 1.03 0.85 0.011 0.012 0.011 5.96 4.1 11.26 22.45

0.0017 1.29 2.73 12.98 1.1 2.72 0.275 7.85 1.51 0.208 0.113 0.12 0.011 0.011 1.07 2.67 1.04 0.88 0.011 0.012 0.011 6.1 4.12 11.6 22.45

0.0016 1.26 2.66 12.44 1.1 2.72 0.27 7.68 1.44 0.2 0.109 0.112 0.0098 0.01 1.03 2.52 1 0.85 0.011 0.011 0.01 5.88 3.98 11.02 22

MINING & OIL 0.0017 36,000,000 1.28 5,847,000 2.73 47,000 12.5 7,400 1.1 9,000 2.72 110,000 0.27 350,000 7.68 20,600 1.5 1,614,000 0.207 640,000 0.11 5,180,000 0.12 1,130,000 0.0098 140,200,000 0.01 42,200,000 1.06 140,000 2.64 9,381,000 1.02 32,000 0.87 724,000 0.011 21,300,000 0.011 30,300,000 0.01 56,300,000 6.06 515,600 4 1,294,000 11.48 2,432,500 22.4 2,191,000

59,000 7,447,210 126,900 92,862 9,900 299,200 94,850 158,968 2,392,120 128,900 570,690 129,310 1,415,850 450,400 147,050 24,539,240 32,200 622,960 234,300 363,300 614,200 3,085,865 5,210,730 ( 27,709,616 48,824,365

13,550 -120,220 -11,000 743,140 -21,500 387,969.9998) 2,599,272 -3,531,520

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

17.4 490 498.8 100.1 101.4 105.5 499 5.36 950 949 99.5 0.98 100.3 1,010 1,030 1,021 1.42 1,005 75.3 77.95 75.1 75.5 75.6 75.6 75.95 75.5

17.5 490 499 100.1 101.4 105.5 500 5.36 950 960 100 0.99 102.6 1,010 1,030 1,021 1.42 1,010 76.5 78.95 75.4 76 76.5 75.9 76 75.95

17.3 490 498.8 100.1 100.5 104 499 5.36 950 949 99.5 0.98 96 1,010 1,030 1,021 1.42 1,005 75.3 77.95 75.1 75.5 75.6 75.6 75.9 75.5

PREFERRED 17.5 166,800 490 57,550 499 2,550 100.1 10 100.6 57,080 104.1 313,630 500 1,000 5.36 100 950 1,140 960 1,090 100 50,000 0.99 207,000 102.4 51,340 1,010 135 1,030 5,050 1,021 160 1.42 1,000 1,010 40 75.5 1,960 78 21,200 75.4 44,460 76 12,000 75.75 69,000 75.9 7,800 76 7,790 75.95 11,190

2,899,240 28,199,500 1,272,448 1,001 5,744,812 33,059,805 499,340 536 1,083,000 1,040,010 4,984,341.50 203,860 5,086,098 136,350 5,201,500 163,360 1,420 40,300 147,690 1,654,097.50 3,351,626 910,115 5,227,634 591,210 591,673.50 849,687.50

-1,426,190 -3,297,735 -66,625 -30,630 849,687.50

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.7

1.7

1.65

1.65

174,000

293,190

5,070

SME ITALPINAS XURPAS

6.18 1.01

6.71 1.02

6.18 1

6.69 1.01

1,659,100 1,085,000

10,862,753 1,093,130

-478,917 -199,260

FIRST METRO ETF

119.3

119.7

119.3

774,133

1,194

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.28 10.4

10.3 10.4

10.28 10.4

117,220 52,000

14,420 -

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 15.74 0.82 2.02 1 48.9 2.2 4.79 6.16 0.57 0.79 0.88 0.236 0.43 10.5 24 0.465 1.85 1.36 5.75 0.315 1.51 0.41 2.03 49.4 25.3 2.35 3.22 36.5 2.17 5.86 7.69

420,300 477,000 20,000 10,248,000 8,562,600 481,000 504,000 1,100 13,248,000 5,000 2,000 70,000 1,160,000 1,966,200 151,300 520,000 37,171,000 246,000 64,539,700 10,370,000 2,953,000 1,140,000 308,000 300 2,982,200 303,000 1,000 9,664,000 481,000 57,800 4,529,900

6,616,194 394,410 40,350 10,239,710 418,940,700 1,054,650 2,411,380 6,776 7,545,390 ( 3,870 1,760 16,560 498,950 20,973,614 3,620,840 240,450 69,177,050 332,230 376,673,765 3,289,500 4,457,250 456,150 621,620 14,230 76,043,070 712,970 3,220 352,950,560 1,033,270 339,134 34,767,501

59,504 -18,260 -527,570 -51,830,705 -61,250 403,930 395,969.9999) 3,080 5,202,262 -921,240 23,428,530 -205,776,650 -51,898,485 -164,500 -25,270,270 -12,571,345

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

14,616,898

INDUSTRIAL

123,401,720

HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES

95,106,312 172,703,916 67,505,716

MINING & OIL

358,206,731

GRAND TOTAL

834,292,227

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.4 6,480

10.3 10.4

DDS

11,400 5,000

VALUE 1,847.47 (DOWN) 7.81 1,395,650,586.48 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,931.37 (DOWN) 30.27 1,286,137,969.63 HOLDING FIRMS 7,676.14 (DOWN) 35.91 937,841,699.80 PROPERTY 4,161.55 (DOWN) 18.62 SERVICES 1,611.83 (UP) 47.90 1,404,269,571.03 MINING & OIL 8,122.61 (UP) 119.69 1,089,043,635.95 PSEI 7,914.16 (DOWN) 3.23 124,785,747.6409 All Shares Index 4,818.32 (DOWN) 9.09 6,250,460,470.57 Gainers: 103; Losers: 91; Unchanged: 45; Total: 239

Bloomberry’s profit jumped 52% to P2.5b in 2nd quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp., the owner and operator of Solaire Resorts & Casino, posted a net income of P2.5 billion in the second quarter of the year, up 51.6 percent from P1.6 billion yearon-year.

Bloomberry said in a financial report filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange second-quarter revenues gross gaming revenues of Solaire rose 17.2 percent to P13.55 billion from P11.56 billion in the second quarter of 2018, boosted by robust growth in mass table drop and slot coin-in in the second quarter of 2019. revenues from mass table drop and slot coin-in grew 13.9 percent and 23.1 percent to record levels of P12.5 billion and P65.5 billion, respectively.

The volume from the VIP segment, meanwhile, fell 5.4 percent.

Non-gaming revenues, comprising of hotel, food and beverage sales, increased 12.7 percent in the second quarter of 2019 to P1 billion on higher average daily room rate and occupancy rate.

Bloomberry also owns Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino in South Korea. Jeju Sun registered P134.7 million in gross gaming revenues in the second quarter of 2019, up 157 percent from P52.4 million on year.

Bloomberry attributed the significant rise to the increased level of play in VIP and mass segments as a result of the highly competitive casino programs of Jeju Sun. Bloomberry’s net income in the sixmonth period fell by 12.3 percent to P4.7 billion from P5.33 billion on year.

Solaire registered a net income of P5 billion in the second quarter of 2019, a decrease of 15.9 percent from last year’s P6 billion mainly due to higher foreign exchange losses and interest expense.

Gross gaming revenues climbed 6.6 percent in the first half of the year to P26.15 billion from P24.53 billion.

Jeju Sun registered a net loss of P369.3 million in the first half of 2019, an improvement over the loss of P667.9 million in the same period last year.

The gaming firm also reported over 3.2 million visitors in Solaire in the first half of 2019, down 2.7 percent on year.

SM Prime signs electricity supply deal with Aboitiz

By Alena Mae S. Flores SM PRIME Holdings Inc., one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, has chosen Aboitiz Power Corp. to supply 15 of its shopping malls and residential projects with reliable power of up to 110 megawatts over a three year period.

SM Prime signed a retail electricity supply contract with Aboitiz Power to supply the company with an aggregate demand of 50 up to 110 MW for three years during a ceremonial signing agreement on Wednesday.

“With our continuous expansion in the coming years, we need a power supplier that will enable us to support our existing and future partners with reliable and cost-effective power. We believe that Aboitiz Power, with its extensive power generation assets, can provide what we are looking for,” said SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim. AboitizPower, along with partners, has a net sellable capacity of 4,471 MW from its portfolio of renewable energy and thermal power plants located across the country.

Aboitiz Power chief operating officer Emmanuel Rubio said the company welcomed the partnership with SM Prime.

“We are more than honored to be chosen by SM Prime as its supplier of choice. We are excited to more than just provide reliable and cost-efficient power supply, but to also work with them in looking for better solutions to support SM Prime’s thrust in providing its customers with top quality products and services,” he said.

Early this week, Nestlé Philippines Inc., a leading food company, tapped Aboitiz Power to supply clean energy to its manufacturing facility in Lipa, Batangas province.

Aboitiz Power is also delivering clean energy to two other Nestlé factories in Cabuyao, Laguna and Tanauan, Batangas, as well as its corporate administrative office in Makati City.

World

B3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trump consoles, but slams his opponents E L PASO―Trump consoled the victims of mass shootings in Ohio and Texas on Wednesday, but despite promising a message of unity, he continued to rail at opponents while facing protests that his rhetoric on race has fueled extremism.

RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE. People buy vegetables at a wholesale market in Jammu

on August 8, 2019, as some restrictions on movement remained in place in the city following the Indian government’s controversial move to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomy.

India on August 8 hit back at nuclear rival Pakistan’s downgrading of diplomatic ties over its clampdown on Kashmir, saying its decision to strip the restive region of its autonomy was an ‘internal affair’. AFP

Hong Kongers use traffic cones, kitchenware to battle tear gas HONG KONG―As a tear gas canister clatters onto a street in Hong Kong, a prodemocracy protester wearing heat-proof gloves and carrying a traffic cone sprints from the crowd to put it out.

Police have ramped up their use of the crowd control measure as two months of rallies in the global financial hub have turned increasingly violent, peaking with 800 rounds fired on Monday in what protesters called a “tear gas buffet”.

Hardcore demonstrators are responding with ever more creative methods to neutralize the threat, harnessing everything from traffic cones to kitchenware.

Their arsenal includes several musthaves: heat-resistant gloves, so they can pick up searingly hot canisters, and respirators that have been dubbed “pig snouts” in Cantonese.

Online forums host discussions on which models of 3M respirator filters work best against tear gas, and which local hardware stores still have the preferred models in stock.

“I really need to get one! The good masks are already very hard to find on the street,” wrote one commenter.

On the streets, protesters compare notes on their equipment and offer tips.

After police fired tear gas at protesters hurling bottles and bricks on Monday, one bystander gasped and rubbed his eyes, attracting the attention of a passing demonstrator who handed him a mask.

“This one’s not the good one but it will work,” he said. “You’ve always got to carry one!”

Demonstrators have formed special “units” in charge of tackling tear gas, which leap into action as soon as a canister is fired.

Some wrap their arms and legs in cling

IN BRIEF US upgrades HK travel warning

HONG KONG―Washington on Thursday warned US citizens to “exercise increased caution” when traveling to Hong Kong, as protesters announced three days of new demonstrations at the city’s airport.

The financial hub has been rocked by two months of unrest, initially triggered by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.

The demonstrations have evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform that has seriously disrupted the city with sometimes violent protests.

On Thursday, the US State Department warned citizens to “exercise increased caution,” upgrading its previous advice to “exercise normal precautions”.

The warning notes that demonstrations in the city have been mostly peaceful “but some have turned confrontational or resulted in violent clashes.”

“These demonstrations, which can take place with little or no notice, are likely to continue,” the advice adds.

The US warning comes after countries including Australia, Britain, Ireland, Singapore and Japan issued heightened travel warnings for Hong Kong.

Images of clashes between masked protesters and police firing tear gas in Hong Kong’s streets have made global headlines, and on Tuesday China gave its sternest warning yet to the prodemocracy demonstrators.

But the protests are expected to continue, with demonstrators planning three days of rallies at the city’s airport from Friday afternoon.

On Monday, a general strike called by protesters saw more than 160 flights canceled and transport in the city paralyzed.

wrap to prevent the painful skin irritations that the gas and pepper spray can cause, and they carry saline to rinse the eyes of anyone affected.

Canisters are sometimes picked up and lobbed back at police or extinguished straight away with water bottles.

Some carry traffic cones, which can be popped on top of canisters to contain the gas before protesters douse them with water.

Months of street battles against police have allowed protesters to develop a sophisticated response to crowd control techniques, said Tony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst with IHS Jane’s.

“What’s happening in Hong Kong allows the protesters to learn and they’re developing skills,” he said. “They’re becoming in a sense, an organized army, which they certainly weren’t in the first phase.”

They might be an “army”, but their equipment is mostly improvised, with one recent tool of choice coming straight from the kitchen.

When police fired tear gas at residents in the working class neighborhood of Wong Tai Sin, a local grabbed a cheap aluminium wok lid to snuff out the gas.

The cooking lids have now become standard issue for some protesters -- part of an arsenal that also includes umbrellas and even swimming goggles to protect against pepper spray.

While tear gas is a common crowd control method worldwide, it had rarely been seen in Hong Kong before the latest protest movement.

Its use during the Occupy Central blockade of city streets in 2014, the city’s last period of civil unrest, caused widespread outrage.

AFP Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the planned airport rallies.

On July 26, protesters gathered at the airport for a demonstration, sharing their message with tourists arriving at the busy transport hub. The protest was peaceful and did not interrupt flights.

But Cathay Pacific has seen bookings drop as the crisis continues in Hong Kong, chairman John Slosar warned Wednesday.

“The protests in Hong Kong reduced inbound passenger traffic in July and are adversely impacting forward bookings,” he said. AFP

Cocaine washes up on New Zealand beach

WELLINGTON―Cocaine worth millions of dollars has washed up on a New Zealand beach with police urging the public Thursday to hand in any more packages that may turn up.

Police were called to Bethells Beach in West Auckland on Wednesday evening when packages of the drug were found along the shoreline.

“Police attended and located approximately 19 packages, which testing has confirmed contained cocaine,” detective inspector Colin Parmenter said.

He estimated the street value at NZ$3 million (US$2 million).

Local media reported said the packages were contained in netting and the presence of shells indicated they had been at sea for some time.

“There is a small possibility that further packages may turn up on the beach and we ask any members of the public to contact us immediately if they do,” Parmenter said.

“And we will be sending regular patrols in the coming days to continue to check for further washed up items.”

It is not the first time a large amount of drugs has been found on a New Zealand beach.

In 2016, 500 kilograms of methamphetamine, with a street value of nearly NZ$500 million, was found on a beach in the far north of the country. AFP

Trump flew to El Paso, Texas, where a self-declared white supremacist murdered 22 people last weekend at a Walmart heavily frequented by customers of Hispanic origin.

He spent about an hour and a half at a hospital with staff and victims before he and his wife Melania were driven to the city’s emergency operations center to meet with police officers.

Protesters gathered in the streets, watched by armed police. “Go home. You are NOT welcome here!” and “Trump hatred, racism not welcome here” read two of the signs.

Similar scenes unfolded at an earlier stop in Dayton, Ohio, the site of another mass shooting over the weekend, in which nine people died.

Pro-Trump protesters also took to the streets in both cities, illustrating the sense of division in the country ahead of next year’s election.

Journalists were mostly kept away from the Republican president, but in brief comments near the end of the twocity trip, Trump said he’d had an “amazing day.”

Then after praising the “heroes” who confronted the killers, Trump used his one appearance before the cameras to reignite his feud with opponents who accuse him of racism and who had argued against him visiting either Ohio or Texas.

“They shouldn’t be politicking today,” he said,

calling Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, who questioned the use of Trump’s visit to Dayton, “very dishonest.”

Apparently stung by the less-than-enthusiastic reception given to him by some leaders in both cities, Trump also made a point of insisting that he’d been treated warmly.

“The love, the respect for the office of the presidency, it was—I wish you could there to see it,” he told journalists.

Trump returned to that theme in a tweet announcing his departure from El Paso, saying: “The Fake News worked overtime trying to disparage me and the two trips, but it just didn’t work. The love, respect & enthusiasm were there for all to see.”

Earlier, Trump’s social media director Dan Scavino tweeted that the president had been treated like a “Rock Star” in the Dayton hospital.

The White House, which had kept away news photographers, saying that it didn’t want to treat the visit as a photo-op, subsequently published its own pictures showing Trump alongside medical staff, police and victims.

In Dayton, Trump told shooting survivors that “you had God watching. I want you to know we’re with you all the way,” according to presidential spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.

But the traditional presidential role of consoler-inchief blended awkwardly with accusations that Trump is himself to blame for rising tensions in the United States over race.

Trump vehemently denies any racism but his choice of language, linking Hispanic migrants to murder, rape and invasion, is widely seen as at best incendiary.

A famed border city, El Paso is at the center of Trump’s high-profile political campaign against illegal immigration and his keystone project of building walls along the Mexican frontier. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan— Students are the future of a country.

Thus, it is only fitting to equip them with the right skills and knowledge to help the country’s journey towards development.

Malampaya engineers shared their substantive expertise and career learnings to over 300 petroleum engineering students of Palawan State University at the second Philippine Oil and Gas Student Summit held recently at the Asturias Hotel here.

Eugene Castillano, Shell senior discipline engineer for Process, highlighted the importance of goal setting, collaboration, and creativity when overcoming challenges in the operations.

“We need to be volatile and be creative because problems now are RITE OF PASSAGE. Freshmen students of the University of Santo Tomas for complex. We need creative ideas to academic year 2019-2020 walk through the Arch of the Centuries (front view solve these complex problems,” he said. inset) to mark the start of their college lives on Tuesday, Aug 6. Norman Cruz The students were treated to a fun and interesting session as Gerald Misajon, Shell senior discipline engineer for Pipelines, gave a glimpse of what they do during subsea operations through video clips.

Misajon also talked about how they overcame environmental challenges through advanced equipment and robots.

Arianne Buna, Shell senior discipline ngineer for Rotating, emphasized the power of data in maximizing the operating potential of a project safely and efficiently. during his term.

“Proactively looking at data and

By Vito Barcelo Domagoso vowed to lower real property analyzing it are crucial to make ANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso announced that and business tax rates by 40 percent during informed decisions. By looking at data, his campaign in the May elections, where he we are able to anticipate problems and the city council passed on Wednesday night an ordinance beat Estrada by nearly 140,000 votes. plan ahead even before that problem that would cut real estate tax rates in Manila by 40 percent He said the high tax rates are burdens for occurs,” he said. families across the nation’s capital. over three years to make collections more efficient.

Meanwhile, Belinda Racela of As for the unpaid workers, Domagoso The Manila chief executive said the tax cut order workers in February 2019 but have yet claimed they were promised jobs at City Chevron conveyed an inspiring piece on will be implemented in three phases. The first to receive their salaries.

Hall but refused to say if they were actually pursuing passion as a career, of finding Business taxes and real property taxes are hired to campaign for Estrada in the last what you love to do to thrive and excel. will see a 20-percent tax reduction this year, with another 10 percent added in 2020 and a imposed by local government units under the elections.

Racela also shared the “ABC’s’” or Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic similar 10 percent cut in 2021.

“One thing is for sure, I will give them the skillsets students must obtain as “It’s already passed, we are just doing the Act No. 7160. what is due to them. The city government they enter the energy industry: Aptitude, Manila’s real estate tax was raised by 300 will spend some P1.65 million in the first Implementing Rules and Regulations,” the Behavior, and Communication. mayor said during a meeting with barangay percent under the administration of former tranche of reimbursement,” the mayor said.

Capping off the sessions is Pilipinas Mayor Joseph Estrada to pay the capital’s officials at the Manila City Hall.

The amount would vary in succeeding Shell Foundation Inc.’s Sebastian Also during the meeting, Domagoso vowed P5.5-billion debt in 2013. tranches because the duration of their However, according to the Commission on contracts differ, as some were hired for 3 “Baste” Quinones, who talked about the to give the unpaid salaries of 324 Manila government workers who were contracted by Audit, Estrada left behind a P4.4-billion debt, months while others for 5 months, Manila role of engineering students in nation as the city was only able to collect P10.5 Public Information Office chief Julius building, helping and empowering the previous city administration.

He said these employees were hired as job- billion of a possible P14.10-billion tax take Leonen said.

Filipinos.

CYAN underprivileged MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Dengue cases down 22% in QC, says Joy

By Rio N. Araja DENGUE cases in Quezon City went down by 22 percent this year compared to last year, according to Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Despite this, Belmonte on Thursday directed concerned health and barangay officials to stay vigilant and double their efforts in fighting dengue infections, following the Department of Health’s declaration of a national dengue epidemic.

Citing a report from the city’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, the mayor said a total of 2,730 dengue cases with 21 casualties were reported from Jan. 1 to July 27.

In 2018, there were 3,498 cases and 26 deaths in the same time span, she added.

In 2017, the city government recorded 7,527 dengue cases with 75 deaths, while there were 8,158 cases with 74 deaths in 2018, Belmonte said.

The mayor said they are closely monitoring the top 10 villages with the highest number of dengue cases in the first six months of 2019.

These are barangays Payatas A and B, Commonwealth, Batasan, Fairview, Kamuning, Tatalon, Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Bagong Silangan and Bagbag.

Even before the national epidemic was declared, Belmonte had already put in place several measures as part of efforts to combat the mosquitoborne disease.

She assured the availability of rapid diagnostics test kits or NS1 in health centers to help diagnose and assess dengue cases, and arrange a referral mechanism for patients with warning signs of dengue and are in need immediate hospitalization in government hospitals within Quezon City.

Manila cuts tax rates by 40%, pays workers

M

Manila

Standard

El Nido inns get LTE boost

TODAY HEAD OFFICE: PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, 1226 Makati City Customer Care: (02) 777-2266 or 1-800-10-777-2266 (Domestic Toll Free)*Email: customercare@pbcom.com.ph*Website: www.pbcom.com.ph

BALANCE SHEET (Head Office and Branches)

BALANCE SHEET (Parent Bank and Financial Subsidiaries)

As of June 30, 2019

As of June 30, 2019

Asof March31, 2019

Asof March 31, 2019

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ASSETS

ASSETS Cash and Cash Items P 1,240,516,188.88 Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 11,019,653,377.64 Due from Other Banks 1,717,888,741.22 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 828,755,881.15 Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net 4,042,690,880.83 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net 15,138,511,718.06 Loans and Receivables - Net 51,549,710,703.91 Loans and Receivables - Others 52,099,456,703.66 General Loan Loss Provision 549,745,999.75 Other Financial Assets 537,119,919.32 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net 983,753,827.81 Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net 1,512,689,424.78 Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net 711,665,554.20 Other Assets - Net 5,239,715,121.91

P

TOTAL ASSETS

P

P 94,522,671,339.71

1,559,925,250.90 12,533,570,218.37 2,494,867,566.41 1,565,628,052.50 3,489,419,902.52 15,343,884,501.84 51,807,534,902.99 52,289,472,245.19 481,937,342.20 442,542,153.24 1,020,329,476.05 1,546,552,984.32 668,853,642.31 5,607,676,390.28

Cash and Cash Items P 1,268,209,845.35 Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 11,082,159,308.86 Due from Other Banks 1,958,427,765.94 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 828,755,881.15 Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net 4,042,690,880.83 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net 15,138,511,718.06 Loans and Receivables - Net 53,298,046,670.03 Loans and Receivables - Others 53,889,910,617.29 General Loan Loss Provision 591,863,947.26 Other Financial Assets 592,134,144.09 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net 24,903,266.16 Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net 1,618,300,846.44 Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net 778,806,075.08 Other Assets - Net 5,846,559,429.11

98,080,785,041.73 TOTAL ASSETS

P 96,477,505,831.10

P

P

1,587,409,043.123 12,590,298,553.10 2,692,871,648.59 1,565,628,052.50 3,489,419,902.52 15,343,884,501.84 53,566,060,690.57 54,104,204,286.54 538,143,595.97 501,445,311.14 24,801,920.39 1,647,028,607.63 737,045,645.77 6,214,874,060.26 99,960,767,937.43

ERIC O. RECTO Chairman LEONARDO B. DAYAO Vice Chairman Members PATRICIA MAY T. SIY CARMEN G. HUANG BUNSIT CARLOS G. CHUNG LUCIO L. CO SUSAN P. CO RALPH C. NUBLA, JR.

LIABILITIES

LIABILITIES Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: Interbank Loans Payable Other Deposit Substitutes Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

P 70,407,183,578.23 8,211,091,633.19 589,062,000.00 7,622,029,633.19 621,174,751.09 2,310,919,477.82

P

TOTAL LIABILITIES

P 81,550,369,440.33

P

71,387,499,942.61 11,353,820,562.67 1,566,827,500.00 9,786,993,062.67 7,888,706.19 688,350,234.15 2,056,686,094.27

Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: Interbank Loans Payable Other Deposit Substitutes Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

85,494,245,539.89 TOTAL LIABILITIES

P 72,178,173,047.56 8,268,264,830.48 646,235,197.29 7,622,029,633.19 636,933,822.22 2,445,113,394.88

P

P 83,528,485,095.14

P

73,130,619,854.11 11,407,545,636.15 1,620,552,573.48 9,786,993,062.67 7,888,706.19 703,985,943.91 2,187,053,842.14 87,437,093,982.50

LEVI B. LABRA GREGORIO T. YU JACK E. HUANG JESUS S. JALANDONI, JR. EMMANUEL Y. MENDOZA CONRADO A. GLORIA

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY P 14,278,374,781.56 2,436,950,049.22 -3,743,022,931.40

P

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P 12,972,301,899.38

P

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P 94,522,671,339.71 P

Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

14,278,374,781.56 Capital Stock 1,981,314,119.36 Other Capital Accounts -3,673,149,399.08 Retained Earnings Minoroty Interest in Subsidiaries 12,586,539,501.84 TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 98,080,785,041.73 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

GILDA E. PICO

P 14,278,125,906.49 2,450,883,457.22 -3,780,055,612.33 66,984.58

P

14,278,125,906.49 1,995,247,527.31 -3,749,766,532.88 67,054.01

P 12,949,020,735.96

P

12,523,673,954.93

P 96,477,505,831.10

P

99,960,767,937.43

1,036,120,537.22 532,410,857.92 655,924,457.91 63,500,146.55 6,299,182,756.73 5,883,730,637.48 870,543,838.49 5,013,186,798.99 94,921,075.53

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others

P 1,324,662,880.32 326,454,899.98 467,153,900.47 904,246.55 2,966,169,340.11 6,125,675,205.87 1,131,855,361.26 4,993,819,844.61 71,514,947.49

P

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

P 11,282,535,420.79

P

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others

P 1,324,662,880.32 326,454,899.98 467,153,900.47 904,246.55 2,966,169,340.11 6,125,675,205.87 1,131,855,361.26 4,993,819,844.61 71,523,938.49

P

14,565,782,019.34 TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

P 11,282,544,411.79

P

1,036,120,537.22 532,410,857.92 655,924,457.91 63,500,146.55 6,299,182,756.73 5,883,730,637.48 870,543,838.49 5,013,186,798.99 94,912,625.53

14,565,790,469.34

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) 53,738,419,831.40 Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 1,638,963,127.74 Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 2,732,579,273.18 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 5.08% c. Net NPLs 1,231,744,699.50 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 2.29% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) 80.10% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) 59.98% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses 8,837,270,539.14 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses 4,451,542.86 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 0.01% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 1.04% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises 10.78% Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 11.56% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 16.61% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) 13.65% c. Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 13.65%

53,975,399,284.36 1,685,927,039.17 2,361,092,456.07 4.37% 737,795,875.13 1.37% 91.82% 71.40% 9,182,681,270.78

1. List of Financial Allied Subsidiaries (excluding Subsidiary Insurance Companies) 1. PBCom Rural Bank, Inc.

3. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Consolidated Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 16.48% 15.89% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) 13.56% 13.05% c. Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 13.56% 13.05% 1/

Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati )S.S.

0.00%

We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

15.87% 13.01% 113.01%

1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Controller, SVP

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 31st of July 2019 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 31st of July 2019 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

Doc. No. 479 Page No. 97 Book No. XXV Series of 2019.

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2019 IBP no. 656155 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. VI-0024312 Appointment no. M-183 -(2019-2020) PTR no. 7333104 Jan. 3, 2019 Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg.

Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

Doc. No. 480 Page No. 97 Book No. XXV Series of 2019.

PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & Chief Executive Officer JOHN HOWARD D. MEDINA EVP-Chief Operating Officer

Mayflor Dasalla (above), who owns Inn Go Tourist Inn in El Nido, says mobile LTE technology through Smart Communications has made it easier for both hotel owners and tourists to travel to the island retreat.

DELBERT S. ANG IT SVP-Branch Banking ALAN E. ATIENZA SVP - Treasurer RICARDO R. MENDOZA SVP - Consumer Finance JOSEPHINE G. CERVERO SVP-Trust and Wealth Management ARLENE M. DATU SVP - Comptroller

JANE L. LARAGAN SVP - General Services DANIEL M. YU SVP - Global Operations JORGE ALFONSO C. MELO SVP - Legal Services MICHAEL STEPHEN H. LAO Corporate Secretary

0.01% -

0.79% 9.55% 11.75%

PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

FOR small hotel owners in El Nido, Palawan, technology has changed the way they do their business—from marketing and promotions, to reservations and payments.

Mayflor Dasalla, owner of Inn Go Tourist Inn in Barangay Masagana, El Nido, says technology has made transactions convenient for both customers and hotel owners.

“We’re listed online. We used to wait for tourists to come in and find us.

But that’s a thing of the past now,” said Dasalla. “Today, we know exactly when they are coming, and we can already prepare their rooms for them in time for their arrival.”

Online booking and review sites like Booking.com, Agoda and TripAdvisor have all played a big role in putting establishments like Dasalla’s Inn Go on the map—and at the fingertips of tourists from all over the world.

To address the data needs of the growing number of tourists in Palawan, PLDT and Smart are currently upgrading their fixed and wireless facilities in the islands.

EXPEDITO G. GARCIA, JR. SVP - Transaction Banking

2. List of Subsidiary Insurance Companies 1. PBCom Insurance Services Agency, Inc.

4,713,036.77

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati )S.S.

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Controller, SVP

Shell engineers share expertise to Palawan kids

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2019 IBP no. 656155 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. VI-0024312 Appointment no. M-183 -(2019-2020) PTR no. 7333104 Jan. 3, 2019 Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg.

Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

Member: Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Maximum Deposit Insurance for each Deposit P500,000.00

Smart has ramped up the rollout of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) connectivity and LTE-Advanced across the islands, particularly in the capital Puerto Princesa, and in the popular areas of El Nido, San Vicente and Coron.

“Currently, we have 35 rooms, and during the peak months of November to June, we’re at 90 percent occupancy,” Dasalla says. “For payment, technology has also made it convenient both for the tourist and the hotel owner—the tourists pay online even before they come here.”

Smart is also set to roll out new sites across the island group to cover priority areas such as major roads, points of convergence such as tourist areas and airports, and populous barangays, among others. PLDT-Smart is also upgrading its transmission infrastructure in the islands to fiber.

212 Bataan reviewers gain aid BALANGA CITY—A total of 212 reviewers for board licensure examinations recently received their financial assistance under the Iskolar ng Bataan program here.

Vice Gov. Cris Garcia spearheaded the distribution held at the Bataan Department of Education office.

Iskolar ng Bataan coordinator Ramon Canas said reviewers who were already program beneficiaries got P5,000 in financial assistance, and

those who were not received P3,000.

“You will pass the exam,” Canas quoted the vice governor in encouraging the beneficiaries.

“Beware of fake news proliferating in social media,” Garcia also warned them.

The vice governor also advised beneficiaries to visit the Hotjobs Bataan website and the Facebook page Iskolar ng Bataan Alumni.

Butch Gunio

Singapore 54 National Day th

C1

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

Vibrant and Innovative Economy A*STAR’s Future of Manufacturing (FoM) Initiative A*STAR’s Future of Manufacturing (FoM) Initiative aims to help Singaporean enterprises adopt the latest Industry 4.0 technologies, so as to remain relevant and ahead of the pack in their respective industries. The key thrusts of the FoM Initiative – Tech Depot, Tech Access, and Model Factory @ A*STAR – are public–private partnership platforms that drive technology innovation and knowledge-transfer across different enterprise types, especially Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore.

Model Factory @ A*STAR The Model Factory @ A*STAR enables the ecosystem of research performers, end users, technology providers, and system integrators to jointly innovate and testbed Industry 4.0 technologies. It is co-located at two of A*STAR’s research institutes – the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and the Advanced Remanufacturing Technology Centre (ARTC).

With the Model Factory, companies at different stages of their tech adoption journeys can learn about the latest manufacturing technologies, and collaborate with stakeholders to experiment with, and jointly develop, technology solutions. The end goal is for companies to adopt, in part or whole, the Model Factory platform on their own factory floors.

Racer Technology is a Singaporean MedTech manufacturing company that chose to adopt advanced manufacturing technologies from the Model Factory @ SIMTech, so as to increase its overall efficiency and agility in responding to customer demands. Between 2017 and 2018, Racer adopted four Model Factory @ SIMTech solutions – the Overall Equipment Effectiveness Monitoring System (OEEMS), the Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) System, the Inventory Tracking System (ITS), and Workflow Mobile (wfMobile). These solutions allow Racer to have real-time visibility of its production schedules, so that it can quickly identify and address key problems in its manufacturing processes. Since adopting the technologies, Racer has increased the efficiency of its factory floor by up to 70 per cent, and also enjoyed cost savings of up to 70 per cent.

Another Singaporean company, Abrasive Engineering (AE), is working with the Model Factory @ ARTC to co-innovate digital solutions for improved productivity. AE manufactures machines for, and provides services in, shot peening – a manufacturing process that strengthens metal components so that they last longer. AE serves mainly the aerospace, auto-

A STAR PIPS Signing Ceremony at ITAP 2018. motive, medical, oil and gas and electronics industries. Some of the solutions co-innovated with the Model Factory @ ARTC include the addition of sensors and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity to AE’s shot peening machines, which allow for data analytics that track its activity for optimal performance. This will help to optimise machine maintenance cycles, reduce machine downtime, and in turn, minimise disruptions on the factory floor. Advanced image analytics and an online quality check system are also tapped on for quality control of the shot-peened metal components. This provides quality assurance as well as manpower savings. The digitalisation of the entire process also allows for data to be visualised and organised in a manufacturing intelligence control room, so that the end-user can make quick decisions to ensure productivity is kept at an optimal level.

Tech Access Tech Access supports SMEs’ innovation efforts by providing them with access to A*STAR’s installed base of equipment and facilities, user training, as well as consultancy to optimise equipment effectiveness. The primary aim is the eventual deployment of advanced technologies in local companies.

With Tech Access, SMEs avoid unnecessary risks and capital expenditure by experimenting and prototyping with A*STAR technologies

first, before making the decision to scale up and acquire similar equipment if they wish to do so. A*STAR’s suite of research equipment and facilities offered are in the areas of 3D Additive Manufacturing and Robotics, among others.

Tech Depot This one-stop platform on the SME Portal offers SMEs a suite of easily adoptable, Ready-To-Go (RTG) technology solutions that can help them to plug technology gaps, digitalise and automate workflow, and improve overall productivity. Launched in April 2017, the various solutions listed on Tech Depot have been developed and pre-qualified by A*STAR, Enterprise Singapore, and the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA). Tech Depot also comprises technology solutions supported under the Productivity Solutions Grant.

A*STAR’s Programmes for SMEs In addition to A*STAR’s Future of Manufacturing Initiative, the organisation offers a wide range of assistance to help SMEs address challenges in technology development, deployment and adoption, and is committed to helping them maintain their competitiveness through R&D. A*STAR’s programmes for SMEs include: Operation and Technology Roadmapping (OTR) Programme

Through the OTR programme, A*STAR partners SMEs to help them develop long-term technology roadmaps aligned to their business goals. The process enables companies to grow their businesses by exploiting the right market trends, products, services and technologies.

Since the launch of the OTR programme in 2002, A*STAR has helped companies establish long-term growth strategies driven by innovation, and remain competitive.

Building on the success of the Operation and Technology Roadmapping (OTR) programme which targets individual companies, A*STAR launched its Consortium OTR (COTR) programme in 2018, and is working with local Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) to develop technology roadmaps for groups of local companies within the same sub-sector. As of January 2019, COTRs in various sectors, including Food Manufacturing and Lasers & Optics, have been completed.

Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading (T-Up) Programme To help local companies build in-house R&D capabilities and enhance their competitiveness, A*STAR seconds its research scientists and engineers (RSEs) to the industry under the T-Up programme.

For example, between 2011 and 2016, A*STAR seconded three researchers under the T-Up programme to Admaterials Technolo-

gies, a materials testing firm specialising in construction of materials, to help the company build new technological capabilities in environmental and microbiological testing. These two areas of services are increasingly demanded by various industries, from construction, building maintenance, to food manufacturing.

Besides helping Admaterials to set up brand new environmental and microbiological testing labs, the A*STAR researchers also trained AdMaterials’ staff to run the two laboratories.

Admaterials has since hired 20 chemists for both laboratories, contributing to a 20 per cent increase in staff strength.

In another example of a T-Up secondment, Mr Wong Kim Sing, a senior research engineer at A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), was seconded to a Singaporean pest management solutions provider, Pestech Holdings, from July 2017 to June 2018. During his secondment, Mr Wong helped to develop RodentEye - an automated, cost-effective rodent surveillance system that integrates the use of sensors, data analytics and Internet of Things (IoT). The system allows for real-time, 24/7 monitoring of rodent activities in commercial premises, and has the potential to reduce manpower costs by an estimated 50 per cent for the average pest control company. Pestech has deployed RodentEye to more than 50 sites to

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MOTORING

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

HYPER EXUBERANCE

• Pagani debuts 800-hp Huayra Roadster BC

By Lester Dizon

A

SPONTANEOUS, unstoppable emotion.

A burning desire that led the Client to dream of a new work of art: another Pagani creation. This is how, in 2017, the idea of the Huayra Roadster BC came to life.

From a curious set of circumstances, a demanding research project was launched with a meticulous, almost obsessive focus on details and design in order to create a highly distinctive, street-legal Pagani hypercar that would combine the unparalleled sensations of driving a roadster with the most advanced technology available today.

Every effort made by the Pagani team, whose designers, engineers and master craftsmen work continuously to achieve the most extreme levels of scientific research and uniqueness, was focused on the pursuit of an ideal: to exceed the customer’s expectations and repay his absolute faith.

This trial of unprecedented dedication was finally completed under the guidance and discipline of the ultimate polymath, Horacio Pagani.

Each and every component of this supercar is the result of scrupulous analysis and Team Pagani’s critical approach that is specifically designed to constantly question every outcome and achievement. As the only way to guarantee true perfection is to never fall too much in love with the successes attained, but rather being able to observe them with a critical eye. All this effort was translated into innovation, invention and exploration of unexplored paths in order to break new ground, never follow car trends and always seek to build truly timeless creations.

This is the essence of the Roadster BC. Extreme, exuberant and shaped by hand in line with the fundamental concepts of Leonardo da Vinci’s Art and Science, the cornerstones of Pagani Automobili’s creative phi-

losophy. A road machine created with the latest technologies derived by Pagani track experience and in accordance with the key concepts of Pagani’s DNA. In other words, an intuitive and easy-to-drive vehicle you can master after just a few miles and in which you can enjoy a full open-top experience without affecting the performance.

From the aerodynamics to its exterior and interior design, and right down to its tiniest part, the Roadster BC’s chemistry and combination of advanced composite materials are unprecedented. Also, the elements that escape the eye of the expert have been optimized to offer genuine emotions and reach new horizons on multiple fronts. Like in a sophisticated watch, every single component of the Roadster BC is a concentration of Pagani Automobili’s ultimate design, technology and engineering expertise encapsulated in just 1,250 kg (2,756 lbs).

Can one focus on extreme performance without compromising satisfying, smooth driveability? Can lightness and safety be fused with design and elegance? The solutions lie in the agile and expert hands of those who believe that perfection and uniqueness can only be reached through painstaking care, manual skill and craftsmanship. Pagani aspires for perfection, creating the greatest hand-built cars with a true hymn to the Renaissance. There is something that comes before absolute performance, speed, design and style. That something is called safety and at Pagani Automobili, it is a mission.

Aerodynamics The Roadster BC was designed to gener-

ate an aerodynamic load with a downforce target of 500 kg at 280 km/h (1,102 lbs at 174 mph), while maintaining a ground clearance that will allow passengers to enjoy driving at its finest, whether it’s on public roads or racetracks. To achieve this the team focused on finding a balance between its internal air-flows system and its external aerodynamically-sleek silhouette in all driving conditions. While the front has been developed to guarantee the heat exchange required for the Pagani V12 engine and simultaneously generate an effective downforce, the rear completes air extraction and keeps the vehicle’s pressure center constant and the wing becomes extremely effective even at average road speeds.

Besides, the active aerodynamics system combined with its dynamic suspensions enhances the car stability by adapting its aerodynamic setup to suit specific driving requirements. The Roadster BC offers you maximum control during a thrilling experience, especially when the new Titanium sixexhaust pipe system starts to exalt the roar of the Pagani twelve-cylinder engine. For the first time in Pagani Automobili, this exhaust system features two extra direct outlets from the catalytic converters to exploit the blown diffuser principle and generate further downforce.

Chassis and Materials “Through intense scientific research for developing the Carbo-Triax HP62 and Carbon-Titanium HP62 G2 formulas, we succeeded in achieving some extraordinary results that allowed us to reduce the weight of the vehicle considerably and optimize mechanical features. Even so, when we presented these achievements to Horacio, along with the fact that they involved a

450% increase in material costs, his reaction was, “the customer deserves even more!” – Francesco Perini, Head of Concept & Composite Design.

The Roadster BC features new, exclusive composite technologies based on carbon fibre and carbon-titanium that offer an increase of 12% in torsional rigidity and 20% in flexional rigidity compared to Pagani Automobili’s state of the art technology till today. This increase in the mechanical properties of the materials applied, in particular in the chassis torsional and flexional rigidity, also allows its dynamic response to be augmented when driving, as well as its safety in critical conditions.

V12 Engine “What is great about this working relationship is that we have the same attitude.

We’re never satisfied with the status quo as Horacio Pagani always puts what is normally taken as proven to the test. I think that, together, we have always believed we could overcome even the most difficult challenge and attain ever-higher levels of perfection.”—Tobias Moers Image result for Pagani Huayra Roadster BC Engine Know-how, tradition and over 125 years of technical history for Mercedes-Benz and 50 for AMG plus 20 years of close cooperation with Pagani, a universe of knowledge for giving birth to the Pagani V12. A completely new engine that boasts a level of power and elasticity that will glue drivers to their seat and leave its mark on their shoulders. 800 hp and a torque of 1,050 NM already at 2,000 rpm, with one of the best weight-power ratios in the category. The Pagani V12 features a set of innovations, including two new turbos, a revolutionary

hydroformed manifold, twin throttle bodies and four water- air intercoolers; all of this supported by a sophisticated electronic system designed by Bosch for making the maximum use of its potential. Last, but not least, this jewel complies with the latest international carbon footprint and gas emission standards, including California’s environmental regulations, without having to resort to a hybrid system.

Suspension This vast enterprise of technological research was also applied to the suspension unit that has always been a technical prodigy and a source of pride for Pagani Automobili. Roadster BC is trustworthy and exciting as it is the result of endless work on numerous elements: the rigidity of the chassis, the vehicle’s dynamics, the elastokinematics of the suspension and the lowering of its center of gravity and weight, to name just a few.

Having explored, tested and perfected all these aspects, electronics were then added to further increase performance, stability and safety. These improved electronics not only reduce dive, squat and roll effects intensely but take the control and safety of the vehicle to a new level. Plus, the system offers a great chance of exploring the entire vehicle’s mechanical platform, giving its best performance in extreme situations by facilitating the driving experience.

Transmission The Pagani by Xtrac transverse sevenspeed sequential gearbox allows all the power and exceptional reactivity of the Pagani V12 to be transferred to the road. The flywheel-clutch unit consists of a tripledisc clutch, an electronically controlled differential and a racing-style three-way coupling system. The complete transmission system is 35% lighter than a dual-clutch transmission unit. This transversal structure not only helps save overall weight; it also allows polar inertia to drastically limit oversteering, typically dangerous in midengine cars.

Image result for Pagani Huayra Roadster BC Transmission Wheels and Tires “Horacio always sets fascinating challenges. Every time we work together, we find ourselves facing new horizons to push back. These are extremely useful stimuli for us as they allow us to experiment and develop new ideas with an extraordinary partner. Pirelli’s DNA is founded on its innovation and its drive to surpass itself and achieve technological excellence in every product. In fact, all Pagani projects bring something new.” – Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Pirelli.

16 modernized PUVs to Transport Service Co-op in Bulacan IN A formal ceremony held last July 26, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) turned over 16 units of its modernized public utility vehicles (PUVs) to Sampol-Bulac-Santa Maria-Meycauayan -Transport Service Cooperative (SBSMM-TSC) at the Activity Center of the City Hall Annex in Barangay Sapang Palay Proper in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan province.

After an early morning motorcade showcasing the modern PUVs that began in Sampol, passing through Santa Maria, and ending at San Jose del Monte Activity Center, IPC executives, led by Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda, Department Head of Fleet Sales Mario Ojales, and officers of

Isuzu Quezon Avenue turned over to SBSMM-TSC officers Chairperson Elizabeth D. Villacruz and Vice Chairperson German Manao Jr. 16 Isuzu PUVs. Witnessing the turnover were guests from the local and national governments, the Department of Transportation the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Office of Transport Cooperatives Land Bank, Centro Manufacturing Corporation, CoolAire and Eudoo Technology.

The modern Isuzu PUVs assembled using the Isuzu QKR77 platform with rear body designed and manufactured by Centro Manufacturing Corporation, are Class

Isuzu Modern PUV line-up turned over to Sampol-Bulac-Santa Maria-MeycauayanTransport Service Cooperative.

2 PUVs fitted with air-conditioning system

by CoolAire and a side-facing seat configuration. The Isuzu QKR platform is assembled in the Philippines and is equipped with Euro IV-compliant 4JH1-TC diesel engine that delivers excellent fuel economy.

The new PUV body is compliant with Philippine National Standards (PNS 2126:2017). The passenger cabin floorto-ceiling height and gangway width provides more space for passengers to move easily inside. The passenger door is safely situated on the right-hand side, facing the sidewalk. Other design features of the body include panoramic windows and windshields, full-body insulation, automatic door closer, and provisions for persons with disabilities.

For SBSMM-TSC, a well-established transport entity in Bulacan that operates over 600 jeepneys, its acquisition of Isuzu modern PUVs will not only provide worldclass transport to its riding public but will also make possible for the cooperative to reap the numerous aftersales advantages of IPC’s vaunted “PUV-X” program.

The “PUV-X” Program enumerates Isuzu’s 10-Point Advantage: 1) Isuzu’s proven reliability, durability and efficiency; 2) Experienced Body Builders; 3) Accredited Accessories Suppliers; 4) An unmatched 3 years or 150,000 kms warranty coverage;

IPC Executives and SBSMM-TSC OFFICERS (Chairperson) Elizabeth D. Villacruz and (Vice Chairperson) German Manao Jr. during ribbon cutting.

5) Nationwide dealership network of 43 outlets and counting; 6) Expert Truck Executives (Truck Elites) to help customers; 7) Nationwide parts availability, competent and trained service technicians, technical assistance from Japanese and Filipino engineers, and Isuzu Service Medic vans for roadside assistance anytime; 8) Drivers and mechanics trainings; 9) Extensive fleet management system, and; 10) All-around

customer assistance.

The 16 modern PUVs that SBSMMTSC is now using are the latest additions in support of the government’s efforts to modernize all PUVs by June 2020, as embodied in the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) that envisions the replacement of some 200,000 PUVs nationwide 15 years and older with new, safe and environmentally friendly vehicles.

Motoring

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019

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Driving the future: T nd Prius holds 2 campus tour

OYOTA Motor Philippines has established a partnership with De La Salle University and staged the second leg of Toyota’s Hybrid Electric Vehicle Campus Tour in the university’s Manila campus.

One university at a time: TMP officers and DLSU representatives seal the partnership with a handshake.

Time to save the environment: One ecooter at a time WE’RE in the age where technology has become our lives. Everywhere we go and in everything we do. we rely on technology, But some of these developments have also taken their toll on our environment, and with pollution getting worse, especially air pollution, what changes are we willing to make for the planet? How drastic, or maybe how simple would it be to decrease our carbon foot print?

With this in mind, there have already been business that have taken the lead in terms of saving mother earth. These include recycling, reduction of usage of plastics and other products that will further weaken our environment, and those that have stepped towards and pushed for pollution-free way of living. What better way to save mother earth by taking it to the next level through travelling without contributing to the pollution anymore.

Established in 1992, Da Yang Motors has moved towards a viable solution with the release of their electronic motorcycle series in March 2017. An environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuel guzzling motorcycles, the Ecooter also known as “Sports Car of All

E1

E2

Electric Scooters” was launched in the hopes of bridging the gap between our ever-growing reliance on technology and conservation of our planet. Today with a joint venture with China’s top IT group and leading global suppliers, the company brings consumers the ECOOTER E2, which boasts a 4200W electric motor that reaches top speeds of 90 km/hr over the 2500W of the ECOOTER E1.

The model also features a larger battery capacity for longer travel (140 km) and an ergonomic design for a relaxing and comfortable drive. Keeping consumers in mind, the E2 is also coupled with an intelligent interactive cloud system that allows users to view real time vehicle information through the Ecooter App, providing easy monitoring and maintenance for the super scooter. And with its double parallel battery system, your Ecooter can bring you to even further mileage.

Having adventures while keeping the planet healthy has never been easier.

Ride with ECOOTER now!

The partnership, meant to expand the knowledge of the academe through the latest automotive industry trends and direction, was made possible through DLSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Students and faculty members participated in an educational seminar conducted by Toyota’s technical experts, which focused on the beneficial effects of Toyota hybrid technology to the environment. A brief forum was also opened to discuss common misconceptions about hybrid electric vehicles.

Seminar attendees were given the chance to see the Prius model up-close, which was displayed at the school’s Central Plaza.

Free vegetarian snacks courtesy of Quorn were also distributed to students throughout the day, in line with the activity’s sustainability theme.

“Our continuous activities on HEVs are geared towards the youth because they are the ones who will benefit most from this technology. With enough support and proper implementation, the untapped potential of hybrids can improve our transportation systems and our environment in the long-run,” said TMP First Vice President Cristina Arevalo. “Toyota is driving the future, one university at a time.”

The DLSU leg of the Hybrid Campus Tour series is part of Toyota’s global ini-

tiative to promote vehicle electrification toward sustainable mobility. In the Philippines, Toyota is firm on its stance that HEVs are the ideal transition phase for a greener and more energy-efficient automotive landscape.

Last May, the Toyota Hybrid Electric Technology Conference at the Grand Hyatt Manila was attended by over four hundred guests from different sectors like the government, academe, and environmental organizations. Prior to the conference, Toyota started its Hybrid Campus Tour series by partnering with Mapua University last March.

In order to further widen the use of hybrid technology, TMP is looking to bring electrified versions of its existing models to the Philippines. This business direction is aligned with the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, aimed at eliminating the company’s carbon emissions by the next three decades.

“TMP is well on its way to introducing various technologies and features available in other countries, such as the Hybrid Synergy Drive for fuel efficiency and Toyota Safety Sense for human safety,” she added. “This year will be an exciting time for the motoring public as we continue the push for electrification, and customers can definitely expect more options from Toyota if they’re looking to own environment-friendly cars.”

HARI bats for EV adoption LAST month, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. took part in the 7th Philippine Electrical Vehicle Summit organized by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Hyundai showcased two fully electric vehicles at the event, the KONA and the IONIQ. HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo came out strongly in support of EV adoption in the Philippines.

“Electric vehicles represent the future of Philippine mobility. It is clear that EVs have the potential to reduce our dependence on imported fuel, cut the nation’s carbon emissions, and create jobs for Filipinos in battery manufacturing, to name one example.

“For our part, the hybrid IONIQ and fully electric KONA-the first subcompact EV SUV in the country-are available from our network of dealerships.

We continue to work closely with gov-

ernment to help craft sound EV policy and create a competitive EV industry,” Perez- Agudo said.

The recently held EVAP Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit further clarified the steps the government must take to make EVs a viable option for vehicle owners.

First, we at HARI underscore the need for a comprehensive EV roadmap to set the policy direction and strategically use tools such as regulations and procurement measures. Technical standards and protocols for the use of charging stations and registration procedures should be set.

Second, we recommend that government identify areas in the Philippines where EVs can make the biggest impact and set up pilot test zones. Jeju Island in Korea is an excellent example of setting up a pilot city for electric vehicles.

Third, we encourage government to

spur investment in battery manufacturing by developing an attractive incentive package. Benefits for investing can take the form of tax exemptions, subsidies, and other non-fiscal support.

We envision a future when electric vehicles like the IONIQ and KONA are attractive and sustainable options for every vehicle owner in the country, and we look forward to helping make that vision a reality.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s Senate Bill 2137, the Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act, seeks to create a national framework that addresses charging station infrastructure, EV investment incentives, and registration procedures.

In an interview with HARI, Senator Gatchalian said, “The E-vehicles Act will put the house in order. All the government actors will now be collaborating, fixing the bureaucracy, and promoting EVs.”

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

Singapore 54th National Day

Singapore Cooperation Program This year, we have a new Climate Action Package of courses in our training calendar aimed at supporting the capacity building of developing countries in long-term climate mitigation and risk adaptation strategies. We also continue to offer a wide-ranging

plethora of courses – covering topics such as connectivity, international law and smart city development.

In support of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SCP aims to help fellow developing countries to achieve the 17 SDGs. #SCPforSDGs

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INCE 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) has shared our development experience with more than 126,000 government officials from over 170 countries, territories and international/regional organisations. The focus of SCP is on human resource development as we believe that people are the most valuable and renewable asset. The SCP is also evident of our commitment to give back to the international community, having received assistance from others during our early years of independence.

Vibrant...

From C1

Write up and photos by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Singapore

pabilities. NSCC’s tium will focus on stakeholders inincreasing producclude A*STAR, tivity and operationNanyang Technoal efficiency through logical University technology and data FACTORY (NTU), National analytics. Industry OF THE University of Sin4.0 initiatives such FUTURE gapore (NUS), and as process automaSingapore Univertion, smart manusity of Technolfacturing and digiogy and Design talisation through (SUTD). the Industrial InterThe Technolnet of Things will be ogy Centre for test-bedded through Offshore and PIPS projects. More Marine Singaspecifically, PIPS pore (TCOMS) will zoom in on arThe Technoleas such as continuogy Centre for ous manufacturOffshore and ing, bio-catalysis, REPRODUCE WHOLESALE ASTAR Factory of the Future Singaadvanced process Write up and photos by A*STAR Marine pore (TCOMS) is control and process Singapore’s first analytical technology, digitalisation, and enhanced pharmaceutical operations. research and development (R&D) centre for the industry.

This will raise the bar for pharma manufacturing, resulting Jointly opened by A*STAR and the National University of in more sustainable processes and quicker production of ac- Singapore (NUS) in 2016, TCOMS enables the local mative pharmaceutical ingredients that would allow drugs to rine and offshore engineering industry to undertake highervalue activities through various global partnerships. The reach patients faster.

National Supercomputing Centre Singapore (NSCC) centre has signed MOUs with various industry players - inEstablished in 2015, the National Supercomputing Cen- cluding Singapore's Keppel Offshore & Marine and Sembtre (NSCC) manages Singapore’s first national petascale corp Marine - to explore research collaborations in marine facility with high performance computing (HPC) resources and offshore engineering technologies.

TCOMS’ anchor research facility will be the next-genavailable to support science and engineering computing needs for Singapore’s academic, research and industry com- eration Deepwater Ocean Basin (DOB), an ocean basin munities. Its vision is to democratise access to supercomput- facility equipped with state-of-the art wave and current gening, support national R&D initiatives, attract industrial re- eration systems that can simulate harsh ocean environments search collaborations and enhance Singapore’s research ca- - including those in ultra-deep waters. The facility, slated to be complete in 2019, will facilitate the development of innovative concepts including intelligent floating platforms and ships, autonomous systems, marine robotics and subsea systems. Research at the facility will be aided by petascale supercomputing capabilities. This allows researchers to access leading technologies such as smart sensing, physical modelling, numerical simulation and real-time data analytics to better understand non-linear fluid structure interactions in complex sea states.

A Global City and Home for All New Catalytic System by A*STAR’s ICES and Japanese Company IHI A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) and Japanese engineering firm IHI Corporation have developed a new catalytic system that can help companies to cut emissions by efficiently converting unwanted carbon dioxide into fuel. The reactor system, which uses a specially-developed catalyst, allows for efficient conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen to methane.

Methane is the main component of liquefied natural gas, used for most of Singapore’s electricity generation. Now, instead of storing the captured carbon dioxide to keep it from harming the environment, firms can convert it to fuel. This makes environmental and economic sense for energy-intensive industries, and power utilities companies, which generate large amounts of carbon dioxide. More broadly, an effective catalyst increases yields, cuts waste and reduces energy needs.

A demonstration unit was launched on Singapore’s Jurong Island in May 2019 to show the process to potential customers.

IHI is now scaling up the technology, which might hit the market as soon as 2020. IHI is in talks with potential customers in Singapore and Japan, with a larger demonstration unit to be set up in Japan.

A*STAR’s Collaborations with SMEs in Sustainable Food Waste Management A*STAR collaborates with various SMEs in the area of sustainable food waste management. One such SME is Westcom Solutions, a company that specialises in food waste reduction and recycling services.

When founder Mr David Tan set up Westcom Solutions in 2016, he imported food waste processing machines and microbes from Japan. However, these microbes were not effective or efficient in breaking down local food waste, due to differences in food consumption habits and environmental conditions between Singapore and Japan.

Realising the need to develop a customised solution for the Singapore market, Mr Tan contacted A*STAR’s SME Office, which linked Westcom to A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) for its microbial biotechnology expertise. ICES began collaborating with Westcom in 2017, and initial R&D activities were conducted at ICES’ industrial biotechnology lab on Jurong Island.

A*STAR helped Westcom to develop a now-patented microbial solution customised B Drone Surveillance

A Advanced Robotics

Robotics and automation technologies help boost productivity as part of the government’s efforts to shift towards higher value manufacturing.

A*STAR has a number of teams dedicated to robotics. In Singapore, U RERW L FV L V W DSSH G RQ W R FRP SO H P H Q W W KH Z RU N IRU FH Q RW W R U H SO DFH

H Industrial Internet of Things

For everything from remote factory supervision Z KH Q DWW DFKH G Z L W K FDP H U DV W R FDU U \ L Q J lightweight items quickly across the factory floor.

Objects such as manufacturing machines and environmental V H Q V RU V DU H L Q W H U FRQ Q H FW H G W KU RX J K DZ L U H O H V V Q H W Z RU N W R SU RY L G H G DWD Z KL FK L V W KH Q DQ DO \ V H G L Q DY DU L H W \ RI Z D\ V W R improve productivity. Examples include better product G H V L J Q DQ G P DFKL Q H G L DJ Q RV W L FV W R SU H G L FW Z KH Q P DFKL Q H V Q H H G P DLQ W H Q DQ FH W KX V U H G X FL Q J W KH L U G RZ Q W L P H

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date, including shopping malls and restaurants, and projects that total deployment will reach 200 sites over the next two years. Over 70 pest technicians and sales representatives have been trained to use RodentEye. The company has also successfully broken into regional markets (India, Philippines, Hong Kong and Thailand) with the product.

A*STAR Collaborative Commerce Marketplace (ACCM) A joint effort with the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore, the A*STAR Collaborative Commerce Marketplace (ACCM) was launched in 2016 as a one-stop collaborative platform to facilitate business matching, partnerships and research collaborations amongst platform members, especially SMEs. Many TACs have signed up for ACCM to date, and are actively promoting the platform to their members through internal collaterals and announcements.

Theme 4: Global-Asia Node of Technology, Innovation and Enterprise Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS) The Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS) is a partnership between A*STAR, the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and pharma companies GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), MSD International GmbH (Singapore branch), and Pfizer Asia Pacific.

The S$34 million consortium agreement was inked in October 2018, and aims to drive the transformation of the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and help it gear up for the future economy.

With the local pharma sector facing global pressures on drug pricing and increased competition, the PIPS consor-

An intelligent inspection system that uses a combination of cameras and scanners to measure complex parts quickly, DV Z H O ODV Y H U L I\ W KH DX W KH Q W L FL W \ of premium parts.

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such as 3D printing, robotics and

G Green Manufacturing

Efficient use of renewable resources such as solar panels to generate electricity; savvy building designs that promote passive cooling to maintain comfortable room W H P SH U DWX U H V Z L W KRX W DLU FRQ G L W L RQ L Q J EH W W H U Z DV W H Z DWH U treatment to reduce pollution, etc.

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through the Internet of Things and Data Analytics to boost manufacturing SU RG X FW L Y L W \ 7 KH IDFW RU \ Z L O OEH P DG H even more efficient with green manufacturing solutions, drone V X U Y H LO O DQ FH DV Z H O ODV V P DU W FRQ W U RO rooms and storage management systems.

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F Smart Control Room

$ IX O O \ L Q W H J U DWH G FRQ W U ROV \ V W H P W KDW G RH V DZ D\ Z L W K the countless monitors, knobs and buttons that could lead to human error. Tapping on the Internet of Things, the connected and smart control room is an organised Z D\ IRU P DQ DJ H U V W R P RQ L W RU W KH SU RFH V V L Q J O LQ H

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C Industrial 3D Printing

. Q RZ Q L Q L Q G X V W U \ V SH DN DV $ G G L W L Y H 0 DQ X IDFW X U L Q J W KL V technology creates intricate parts more efficiently.

E Smart Storage System

3D objects from computational data by building them up in

production of complex, customised and previously inaccessible G H V L J Q V 7 KH SU H FL V H DG G L W L RQ RI P DWH U L DODO V R P L Q L P L V H V Z DV W H IRU a reduced environmental footprint.

D Autonomous Vehicle Technology

To move heavy equipment and goods around a cluttered indoor environment safely, and efficiently.

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For fast and accurate inventory management, companies could tap on technologies such as A* The data collected from this system can also be analysed to manage production capacity and predict the demand of the goods, to improve efficiency in production and ensure that customers receive their orders in a timely fashion.

Copyright © 2016 by Agency for Science, Technology and Research. All rights reserved.

for local food waste – it can break down bones, dough, tofu and sugar cane, among other things, quickly and effectively, in a safe, pathogen-free manner. A*STAR also assisted Westcom with amplifying the potential of these microbes to break down large amounts of food waste – Westcom’s largest machine can process up to 10 tons of food per day – and advised Westcom on a simple, inexpensive storage and stabilization solution for the microbes, in the form of sawdust.

With these new capabilities, and no longer having to import microbes to operate its food waste processing machines, Westcom has been able to reduce its operating costs by up to 30 per cent.

The patented microbial solution is also a cutting-edge one that has helped the company rake in millions in revenue last year: It reduces the volume of food waste by up to 90 per cent.

The remaining 10 per cent is converted into odourless organic fertilizer, which can be used immediately without further processing. No waste water is discharged throughout the treatment either.

It breaks down food waste within 24 hours; most other solutions available in the market take 7 days or more.

It allows for the food waste processing machine to be operated at a lower temperature; at 40 degrees Celsius instead of the usual market standard of 80 to 120 degrees Celsius. This leads to energy savings of up to 50% for Westcom’s clients.

Westcom primarily packages the fertilizer by-product for its clients to use, or sells it to landscaping companies.

Westcom’s machine at JTC’s Pandan Loop Industrial Estate produces about a ton of fertilizer every month.

A*STAR also helped to train and upskill Westcom’s R&D staff. A*STAR researchers were seconded to Westcom from 2017, under A*STAR’s Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading (T-Up) scheme. The A*STAR researchers helped Westcom set up its own 1,000 sq. ft R&D laboratory, and trained Westcom’s newly hired laboratory engineer, to facilitate the SME’s independent largescale in-house production of a proprietary microbes mixture for food waste processing. Westcom currently has the capacity to produce two tons of microbes a month. Westcom has since hired additional R&D staff, bringing the total R&D headcount to five, a quarter of the company’s total headcount. Westcom’s laboratory engineer still frequently returns to A*STAR for training sessions.

To date, Westcom has spent a few million on R&D, researching and test-bedding new technologies for sustainable waste management. The company now has six patent registrations under its belt.

This year, Westcom also launched its subsidiary Westcom Technologies to better market the company’s products and solutions to potential clients. Westcom has also expanded its business internationally; entering the Taiwan and China markets, and currently boasts a client portfolio of about 30 companies, both local and international, including JTC, DBS, SIT, and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Westcom and A*STAR are currently exploring further collaborations in sustainable food waste management.

These include solutions to break down bio-degradable plastic waste that may be commonly disposed alongside food waste (e.g. plastic cutlery, straws, and cups, etc), and large animal bones, from butcheries or abattoirs.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit society.

As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability.

We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of talent and leaders in our Agency and research entities, the wider research community and industry. A*STAR’s R&D activities span biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis.

For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.