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PROTESTERS LEAVE HK AIRPORT AMID FEARS OF MILITARY ACTION

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 182 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HONG KONG—Pro-democracy protesters retreated from Hong Kong’s airport on Wednesday following two days of hugely disruptive rallies that turned violent and plunged the global financial hub further into turmoil.

The protests ended early Wednesday morning following a series of clashes in which a policeman drew his gun after being beaten by demonstrators and other officers fired pepper spray.

The rallies paralyzed one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, deepening a 10-week crisis that is the biggest challenge to

Philippine Airlines said the Hong Kong Airport Authority has advised all airlines to cease ticket sales at the Hong Kong International Airport “in view of tightened security measures.”

All passengers who wish to book flights out of the special administrative region may do so online or through PAL’s reservations hotline (855-8888) or at the ticket office at the East Ocean Center in Tsim Sha Tsui East Kowloon.

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BACKWARD FALL. A Hong Kong policeman (center) falls backwards as cops scuffle with pro-democracy protesters during demonstrations Tuesday at Hong Kong’s International Airport. Hundreds of flights were canceled or suspended at the airport as the protesters staged a second disruptive sit-in at the sprawling complex, defying warnings from the city’s leader who said they were heading down a ‘path of no return.’ AFP

Two Cabinet men tagged Anti-corruption body probes 200 officials,15 in PCSO

7 in PhilHealth ‘mafia’ named

By MJ Blancaflor

T

WO Cabinet secretaries are being investigated for their alleged involvement in corrupt activities while at least 200 officials and personnel from various agencies, including 15 former and current officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, are being subjected to a lifestyle check, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commissioner Greco Belgica said Wednesday.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta A FORMER Philippine Health Insurance Corp. board member-turnedwhistleblower on Wednesday identified seven officials in the so-called PhilHealth mafia that ensured there were no review of rates and overpayments, and who manipulated the processing of claims for their own benefit.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s hearing into the alleged fraud and corruption within PhillHealth, former board member Roberto Salvador named the seven officials as: Paolo Johan Perez, Regional Vice President (RVP) of PhilHealth Regional Office 4B; Khaliquzzaman Macabato, RVP of PhilHealth Regional Office ARMM; Valerie Anne Hollero, Assistant Corporate Secretary; Dennis Adre, RVP of PhilHealth Regional Office XII; Masiding Next page

HEALTH ISSUES. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (left), beside Rep. Janette Garin, former Health secretary, answers ques-

tions from Senator Richard Gordon, chairman, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (far right) and Senator Christopher Go, chairman, Senate Committee on Health, during the Senate public hearing Wednesday on the privileged speech of Senator Panfilo Lacson titled ‘PhilWealth and Department of Wealth and Fraudulent Medical Claims to the Philippine Health Insurance.’ Lino Santos

Speaker’s deputies at 22; more to be appointed

PRIORITY TAX. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (center), in a huddle with Speaker Alan Cayetano (right) and Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda during a committee hearing on priority tax measures. Ver Noveno

China ships intrusions bared

By Francisco Tuyay AT LEAST five Chinese warships have intruded into Philippine waters in the Sibutu Strait, Western Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said.

This brought the number of Chinese People’s Liberation Army vessels that have recently entered Next page the country to 13.

Belgica said the investigation of the two Cabinet officials, whom he declined to name, started in February and is expected to be completed in October.

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PH dengue fatalities highest in Asia

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SPEAKER Alan Peter Cayetano has named 22 deputy speakers—the highest number in history—and has included the President’s son, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, as one of them.

On Tuesday night, the chamber announced the appointments of Representatives Deogracias Victor of Ilocos Sur, Vilma Santos of Batangas, Mujiv Hataman of Basilan and Michael Romero of 1-PACMAN, bringing to 22 the number of deputy speakers.

Word was that Cayetano would add two more deputy speakers.

Other deputy speakers are Representatives Pablo John Garcia of Cebu, Rosemarie Arenas of Pangasinan, Henry Oaminal of Misamis Occidental and Rodante Marcoleta of the party-list group Sagip;

THE Philippines has the highest dengue fatality rate in all of Asia with 720 deaths recorded from Jan. 1 to July 27, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.

The 167,607 dengue cases reported during the same period was 98 percent more than the same period last year, he said.

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Duque attributed the spike in dengue cases to the “late response” to the mosquito-borne disease.

Duque led the clean-up drive inside the DOH compound in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Wednesday.

With still no cure for dengue, Duque said the best thing people we can do is to clean their surroundings, and eliminate Next page

Global measles cases triple, says WHO MEASLES cases nearly tripled globally during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2018, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, amid growing concern over public resistance to the vaccine.

So far this year, 364,808 measles

Hot wiring Buddhism A 400-YEAR-OLD temple in Japan is attempting to hot-wire interest in Buddhism with a robotic priest it believes will change the face of the religion— despite critics comparing the android to “Frankenstein’s monster.” Next page

cases were reported around the world, compared to 129,239 cases during the first seven months a year earlier.

These numbers are “the highest [registered] since 2006,” WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.

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Penguin fossil THE fossilised remains of a huge penguin almost the size of an adult human have been found in New Zealand’s South Island, scientists announced Next page Wednesday.

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News

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

2020 budget lined up for panel debate THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations is expected to soon begin the deliberations on the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020.

The panel’s chairman, Rep. Isidro Ungab of Davao City, said the House was expected to receive the money measure on Aug. 20.

“We will immediately conduct hearings, briefings as soon as we receive the [National Expenditures Program] on Aug. 20. Our plan is to start it [committee deliberations] on Aug. 22,” Ungab told reporters.

Ungab said the House leadership under the stewardship of Majority Leader Martin Romualdez of Leyte was aiming to approve on third and final reading the 2020 Budget Bill on Oct. 5.

Romualdez on Tuesday night rallied his colleagues to pass Malacañang’s proposed 2020 P4.1-trillion national budget on time.

Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, appealed to the 44-strong Visayan bloc where he belongs to give its full cooperation in ensuring the swift passage of the national budget before the 18th Congress takes its first break starting Oct. 5.

To abbreviate the budget proceedings, Romualdez said, the House leadership will continue to hold budget briefings to ensure the active participation of the President’s economic managers, heads of various departments and line agencies ahead of the formal deliberations of their respective budgetary requirements for next year. Maricel V. Cruz

Crocodile kills 10-year-old boy in Palawan A BOY was killed after being snatched from a boat by a saltwater crocodile in the southern Philippines, as the reptiles’ shrinking habitat leads to repeated attacks, authorities said Wednesday.

The 10-year-old was on board with his two older siblings near the town of Balabac, which is notorious for confrontations with the massive creatures, when he was yanked into the water.

His father failed to find the boy after an overnight search, but a fisherman discovered the child’s half-eaten remains late Monday in a mangrove swamp, a police report said.

The Philippines’ booming development and population have steadily invaded the creatures’ habitat, forcing them into eversmaller stretches of swamp.

Humans and crocodiles sharing the same space has resulted in multiple runins, in which people have been killed or mangled by the animals.

“Since 2015, we’ve never had a year with zero [crocodile] attacks” in Balabac, said Jovic Pabello, spokesman for a government council that works to conserve the environment of the Palawan island group that includes Balabac. AFP

Protesters...

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Chinese rule of Hong Kong since its 1997 British handover.

US President Donald Trump deepened fears Beijing may be prepared to stage a military intervention to end the unrest, saying on Tuesday his intelligence had confirmed Chinese troop movements toward the Hong Kong border.

The unrest, which has seen millions of people take to Hong Kong’s streets, was sparked by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.

But it quickly evolved into a much broader campaign for democratic freedoms, and to stop the growing influence of China’s authoritarian rulers in the semi-autonomous city.

Suspicion, violence On Monday and Tuesday, thousands of protesters wearing their signature black T-shirts gathered at Hong Kong’s airport, forcing hundreds of flights to be cancelled.

After initially just voicing their demands with peaceful demonstrations, the protesters adopted more aggressive tactics on Tuesday and created barricades with luggage trolleys to block passengers at the departure halls.

Late on Tuesday night, the protests descended into a series of violent confrontations with police, and demonstrators scuffling with passengers desperate to get on flights.

In one particularly ugly scene filmed by media, a group of protesters ganged up on a policeman and beat him. They stopped their attack when the policeman pulled his gun and pointed it at them, but did not fire.

AFP

House panel okays tax reform part 2

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday approved the second part of the administration’s tax reform measure, dubbed the Corporate Income Tax and Incentive Rationalization Act (CITIRA) bill, by a 27 to 2 vote.

The committee, led by Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay, approved House Bill 313, which proposes to cut the corporate income tax rate and rationalize the incentives for businesses. The CITIRA bill used to be called the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill.

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez attended the committee deliberation.

The bill is expected to be tackled in the plenary session next week.

This developed even as the House opened the plenary debates on the bill increasing the excise tax rates on alcohol products, where Romualdez is one of the principal authors.

Last Tuesday, the panel approved Salceda’s House Bill 1026, which increases the excise tax rates on alcohol products and the indexation rate to 10 percent to account for inflation and income.

Police go after teachers linked to rebels’ recruitment

Two...

THE Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Wednesday vowed to file cases against the teachers of students allegedly recruited by leftist organizations.

“We will be filing cases against the teachers for child abuse in relation to the Child and Youth Welfare Act, PNP-CIDG director Major General Amador Corpus said during the hearing of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said his department overwhelmingly supports the resurrection of the AntiSubversion Act, a move that would defeat the Communist Party of the Philippines, its military arm the New People’s Army, and its front organizations to overthrow the government through violence, deceit, propaganda and other illegal means.

He said the revival of the anti-subversion act seemed inevitable to finally put an end to the conflict that had claimed the lives of some 100,000 policemen, soldiers, government officials and innocent civilians.

“If we truly want to end this scourge of society, the Anti-Subversion Act is urgent, critical and inevitable, Año said.

Francisco Tuyay, with PNA

‘Speaker’s...

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Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato, Evelina Escudero of Sorsogon, Loren Legarda of Antique,Conrado Estrella III of Abono, Prospero Pichay Jr. and Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, Roberto Puno of Antipolo City, Eduardo Villanueva of Cibac, Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. of Camarines Sur, Raneo Abu of Batangas, Neptali Gonzales II of Mandaluyong City and Dan Fernandez of Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.

On the other hand, Representatives Benjamin Agarao Jr. of Laguna, Joel Mayo Almario of Davao Oriental, Mercedes Cagas of Davao del Sur, Joaquin Chipeco Jr. of Laguna, Luis Ferrer IV and Alex Advincula of Cavite and Gavino Pancho of Bulacan were named members of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments while Representatives Narciso Bravo Jr. of Masbate and Ann Hofer of Zamboanga Sibugay were named chairmen of the committee on public order and security and on foreign affairs, respectively.

Under ousted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, there were 18 deputy speakers, a number that exceeded what is allowed under Section 31 of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

This section of the House rules provides that the chamber should have 14 deputy speakers, 10 deputy majority leaders and seven deputy minority leaders.

Penguin...

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The giant waddling sea bird stood 1.6 meters (63 inches) high and weighed 80 kilograms, about four times heavier and 40cm taller than the modern Emperor penguin, researchers said.

Named “crossvallia waiparensis,” it hunted off New Zealand’s coast in the Paleocene era, 66-56 million years ago.

An amateur fossil hunter found leg bones belonging to the bird last year and it was confirmed as a new species in research published this week in “Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology.”

Canterbury Museum researcher Vanesa De Pietri said it was the second giant penguin from the Paleocene era found in the area.

“It further reinforces our theory that penguins attained great size early in their evolution,” she said. AFP

From A1

“There’s a complaint so we are dutybound to investigate,” he said during a Palace press briefing.

PACC is also conducting a lifestyle check of close to 200 officials from the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Former PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan and ex-board member Sandra Cam, who resigned from their posts because of corruption issues hounding the agency, were also included in the PACC lifestyle check, Belgica said.

“My estimate is at least 200 [employees],” Belgica said.

He said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade had voluntarily asked the PACC to investigate himself and his employees to ensure there is no corruption in his department.

Belgica said they would finish the lifestyle check this year.

He also urged other government officials to subject themselves voluntarily to a

7 in PhilHealth...

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Alonto Jr., RVP of PhilHealth Regional Office Region X; Jelbert Galicto, RVP of PhilHealth Regional Office CARAGA and William Chavez, RVP of PhilHealth Regional Office Region VII. The seven officials, who have been suspended, denied any wrongdoing.

Hollero said it was their group, in fact, that reported fraud and testified in an August 2017 hearing on good governance and public accountability in the House.

But Salvador told the panel chaired by Senator Richard Gordon that the word “mafia” refers to a closed group of people in a particular field having control or influence.

“They have influence. What they were doing, they were destroying the present administration if they will be touched from their current positions,” Salvador said.

Gordon described as “ludicrous” the admission of PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales that the state insurance company would need “whistleblowers” to unearth fraudulent transactions in the agency.

In the hearing, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon pressed Morales on where anomalies within PhilHealth take place.

“Maybe we have a general idea of where the anomalies take place? We want to know where corruption happens in PhilHealth and who is responsible. Without naming names first. Is it the claims? Is it the service provider?” Drilon said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Morales merely said anomalies “can happen at any point in the process.”

Global...

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The numbers are especially worrying since only about one in 10 actual measles cases are believed to be reported worldwide, according to WHO. Measles, which is highly contagious, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organization has in recent months sounded the alarm over vaccination rates.

Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Ukraine registered the highest number of cases, WHO said.

China...

From A1

“Since these warships entered our territory, these should have been coordinated [with us]. We have informed the national leadership so they can engage with their counterparts through the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Sobejana said.

“It was not an innocent passage, because innocent passage is in a straight line.

When you are in a curb, that is no longer considered as innocent passage,” he added.

HB 1026 was expected to be approved on second reading Wednesday night.

In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to pass a bill that also intends update the incentives given to big businesses, such as tax holidays to attract more foreign investors, as well as the bill increasing the excise tax on alcohol products, heated tobacco products and vapor products.

HB 313, authored by Salceda, proposes to bring down the corporate income tax rate from 30 percent to 20 percent, and to ensure that the grant of fiscal incentives would help bring in the greatest benefits, such as higher and more dispersed investments, higher quality job opportunities and better technology.

The bill proposes to grant income incentives for a maximum of five years, removing the perpetual five percent

incentive on gross income earned and limiting income tax holiday.

“The measure also aims to ensure fairness and transparency in the grant of fiscal incentives and enhance the accountability of corporate taxpayers through refinement in tax administration,” Salceda said.

The 17th Congress under the leadership of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the measure, then House Bill 8083 and from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN under Republic Act 10963.

The TRABAHO bill used to be called TRAIN 2, in reference to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion that was passed in the first half of Duterte’s term.

TRAIN, which took effect in January 2018, imposed new and higher taxes on fuel, sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco products and reduced the income taxes for millions of individual taxpayers.

lifestyle check.

Belgica said the two Cabinet officials have been accused of violating Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act based on the complaints filed.

“The investigation cannot be revealed to the public,” Belgica said, saying the officials were innocent until they were proven guilty.

Belgica said one of the complaints was filed by an official from the Cabinet secretary’s department while the other was submitted by a private citizen.

The two Cabinet members, Belgica added, have been cooperating with PACC investigators.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said he would not tolerate even a “whiff” of corruption from any government employee.

“It will be finished soon and will be submitted to the President and the Ombudsman. Whatever the President says, we will follow,” Belgica said.

Duterte will not interfere with the work of the PACC, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“When the investigation is done, that’s the time he will decide on its recommendation,” Panelo said.

“That’s the job of the PACC. We will

await its final report and recommendation on the matter,” he said.

Among those who were included in the PCSO lifestyle checks were the 10 officials tagged by Duterte for alleged corruption.

Duterte previously said he will name those officials “in due time.”

Last week, General Manager Royima Garma submitted to the PACC the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of the 15 officials under investigation, Belgica said.

Belgica also said he would issue a memorandum to Cam to substantiate her claims of corruption in the agency.

“She will be allowed to submit the evidence to us, to the President, to the Ombudsman and we will welcome that. She was the first one to call out corruption in PCSO,” Belgica said.

“We are interested to hear what she has to say to us, not to take it as the truth, but to investigate and allow it to go through the process,” he added.

On July 26, Duterte ordered to halt all gaming operations of the PCSO, citing “massive corruption.”

The suspension of lotto was lifted four days later, but the operations of other games remain suspended pending the investigation.

“PhilHealth is a very large and complicated organization, we handle 10-million claims a month… Some of these have to be handled manually because they cannot be fed automatically into the system,” Morales said.

At the hearing, PhilHealth officials admitted that the agency lost an estimated P153 billion in overpayments and possible fraud.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said there was a need to review PhilHealth’s case-based payment system, which is prone to abuse.

“Serious allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement erode public trust in our health care institutions and endanger the lives of people by denying them the medical treatment they need,” she said. “We need to have more stringent procedures to protect the public health sector against bad and abusive practices.”

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, meanwhile, said PhilHealth should beef up its anti-fraud system.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’re not talking about instituting a spy system within PhilHealth, but rather a system that will be able to spotanomalies efficiently,” he said.

He said anti-fraud is a necessary expense that pays for itself because it deters costly fraud that would leave a hole in PhilHealth’s pocket.

PhilHealth should have in place a strong IT system that is capable of coming up with a more transparent billing process, Angara said.

Senator Lito Lapid, on the other hand, said he has filed a bill increasing the penalty for fraudulent claims for benefits from PhilHealth, the Social Security System and the Pag-IBIG Fund.

In Madagascar, which registered around 127,500 cases during the first half of this year alone, numbers have meanwhile dropped considerably in recent months following an emergency national vaccination campaign, the UN health agency stressed.

Measles cases have soared worldwide, with the African region seeing a 900-percent jump in cases year-on-year, while cases rose 230 percent in the western Pacific.

Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sudan, South Sudan and Thailand have all seen major outbreaks of the disease. AFP Sobejana said the vessels entered Sibutu Strait in two occasions—two in July and three this month.

The Chinese warships left immediately after these were spotted by air and naval patrol units, he said.

In February, four Chinese warships also infringed on Philippine waters in Sibutu Strait, prompting Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana to raise the issue with Chinese Ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua.

Similar sightings of four warships were also recorded in Balabac, Palawan near the West Philippine Sea.

PH...

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all mosquito breeding sites in their homes such as water in vases, tires, and the water drain in the back of refrigerators.

On Tuesday, the North Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council passed a resolution urging the provincial board to declare state of calamity in the province due to dengue.

Gov. Nancy Catamco, concurrent PDRRMC chairman said dengue cases in the province have already reached an “epidemic threshold” with 16 deaths from Jan. 1 to Aug. 12 this year.

The dengue fatality figure is 221 percent higher compared with the same period last year.

Despite massive government drive against dengue-carrying mosquitoes, many communities in the province are still plagued by dengue, the governor said.

“This is a matter of life and death. From now on, no Cotabateño should die of dengue, we are acting quickly,” Catamco assured the public, in a statement issued after the PDRRMC meeting at the provincial capital.

The resolution was unanimously approved in Tuesday’s meeting and was forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, chaired by Vice Governor Emmylou Mendoza.

Once the province is placed under state of calamity, the provincial government may use 5-percent of its annual budget to fund anti-dengue activities. With PNA

Hot...

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The android Kannon, based on the Buddhist deity of mercy, preaches sermons at Kodaiji temple in Kyoto, and its human colleagues predict that with artificial intelligence it could one day acquire unlimited wisdom.

“This robot will never die, it will just keep updating itself and evolving,” priest Tensho Goto told AFP. “That’s the beauty of a robot. It can store knowledge forever and limitlessly.

“With AI we hope it will grow in wisdom to help people overcome even the most difficult troubles. It’s changing Buddhism,” added Goto.

The adult-sized robot began service earlier this year and is able to move its torso, arms and head.

But only its hands, face and shoulders are covered in silicone to replicate human skin.

Clasping its hands together in prayer and speaking in soothing tones, the rest of the droid’s mechanical parts are clearly visible.

Wiring and blinking lights fill the cranial cavity of its open-top head and snake around its gender-neutral, aluminium body.

A tiny video camera installed in the left eye completes an eerie, cyborg-like frame seemingly lifted straight out of a dystopian Hollywood sci-fi thriller. AFP

News

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Investigate uncollected taxes from foreign workers’

Approve all pending TNVS applications, LTFRB told

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Othel V. Campos and Darwin G. Amojelar

CITING the Department of Finance’s computation, Senator Win Gatchalian on Wednesday said that the government is losing about P22.5-billion uncollected taxes annually from registered and unregistered foreign workers, including those in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators industry.

He also said the Bureau of Internal Revenue estimates that P18,750, excluding taxes on allowances and fringe benefits, are not being collected from each foreign worker every month.

Because of this, Gatchalian filed a resolution to investigate the uncollected taxes as well as related issues on the effective implementation of Philippine tax, immigration, and labor laws.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 89, Gatchalian noted that the significant influx of Chinese POGO workers and the approximately 130,000 individuals not paying taxes to the Philippine government have “clearly raised red flags on the implementation of our tax, immigration and labor laws.”

“There is a need to review our capability and enhance our capacity to enforce our tax, immigration, and labor laws to balance the protection we need to accord our people vis-a-vis to the contribution of industries and foreign workers to the country’s economic growth,” he stressed.

Gatchalian also pointed out last month, the BIR only collected P200 million from foreigners who were mostly Chinese working in the POGO sector.

He said July was the first month that the government mandated the automatic withholding of personal income taxes from the foreign workers.

Citing news reports, Gatchalian added that the BIR was having difficulty issuing Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) at a faster pace and bigger volume than usual.

For July, the BIR reportedly was only able to issue 10,000 TINs to some 130,000 unregistered POGO workers in Manila, Parañaque and Pasay.

He said these implementation drawbacks, including the failure to monitor the revenues and revenuegenerating activities of the POGO industry, do not only have an impact on the potential tax revenue loss, but also raises issues on fairness with respect to Filipino taxpayers who regularly pay taxes.

“It is imperative for the Senate to conduct an assessment and careful analysis to determine how these tax collection agencies can better perform their functions prior to introducing another set of laws which these agencies may have difficulty implementing,” he said.

CORDONED OFF. DENR Secretary

and BIATF Chairman Roy A. Cimatu gave instructions to cordon off the beachfront area in Boracay’s Station 1 where the ’pooping’ viral video happened. The area will be temporarily closed for swimming for 48 hours or until water quality tests show safe levels for human contact. DENR-SCIS Photo

Solon proposes ‘partial’ prov’l bus ban along EDSA

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

D

EPUTY Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte has proposed a compromise proposal to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority—that provincial buses be allowed to traverse Epifanio de los Santos Ave. during non-peak hours like after midnight till before dawn.

“Rather than totally prohibit provincial buses from traversing EDSA, the MMDA should consider a compromise formula in which these public utility buses [PUBs] are allowed on the National Capital Region’s main highway during nonpeak hours,” said Villafuerte, one of the congressmen who attended the Senate Committee on Public Services Tuesday on the implementation of the provincial bus ban as well as on other traffic problems gripping

Metro Manila.

Villafuerte, former Camarines Sur governor, first made this suggestion during this week’s Senate inquiry into this controversial MMDA project that has met separate legal challenges before the Supreme Court and a regional trial court in Quezon City.

Villafuerte earlier filed House Resolution 165 seeking an inquiry into MMDA Regulation Number 19002, which seeks to prohibit provincial buses from traversing EDSA and to

shut down these PUB terminals along this major thoroughfare.

The Bicolano solon had called on MMDA to junk its “failed experiment’ on a total provincial bus ban on the belief that this was an “anti-poor and anti-small business” project that would adversely affect commuters, especially those coming from the provinces who would be forced to cough up more money to pay for costlier transport alternatives in the metropolis like Grab and taxis.

“As a probinsyano, a simple compromise solution I believe is for MMDA to allow provincial buses on EDSA during non-peak hours such as 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.,” he said.

He said that buses in Naga City, for example, that leave at 8 p.m. arrive in Metro Manila the following early morning at between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.

“That would allow provincial buses to come in non-peak hours, hence partially solving the traffic congestion problem buffeting EDSA.”

Du30 signs three new laws, declares Sept. 8 a holiday House minority bloc

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed three new laws and declared Sept. 8 a working holiday.

The President signed Republic Act 11360, which requires hotels and restaurants to distribute service charges in full to their rank-and-file employees.

Under the new law, all service charges shall be “distributed completely and equally among the covered workers except managerial employees.”

Under the previous setup, only 85 percent of the service charge went to employees while the remaining part will be acquired by the management.

ATM WOES.

A customer withdraws money from an Automated Teller Machine in Manila amid the looming increase in fees for withdrawing cash from ATMs following the decision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to lift the six-year moratorium on ATM fee increases.

Norman Cruz

The President also signed Republic Act No. 11362 or the Community Service Act, which authorizes the court, in its discretion, to require community service for minor offenses.

Under the law, the court may require community service instead of imprisonment for arresto menor (one day to 30 days imprisonment) and arresto mayor (one month and one day to six months).

Duterte also signed a law reorganizing and strengthening the Cooperative Development Authority or the “Cooperative Development Authority Charter of 2019” (Republic Act No. 11364).

The CDA shall have its head office in

the National Capital Region and shall maintain the existing 16 extension offices.

The President also declared Sept. 8 of every year a working holiday to commemorate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Virgin Mary’s birth on Sept. 8, nine months after the Dec. 8 celebration of her Immaculate Conception as the child of Saints Joachim and Anne.

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary originated in Jerusalem, Israel in the early 6th century.

With PNA

to hold inquiry on DepEd ‘ anomalies’

By Maricel V. Cruz THE minority bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday called for a congressional inquiry into alleged anomalies at the Department of Education after a 2018 Commission on Audit report revealed that more than three million books amounting to P113 million were left unused in the DepEd’s warehouses and around P254 million worth of Grade 3 learning materials were filled with errors.

At a news conference, House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. said that the bloc will support a resolution to be filed by Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-Teachers) Rep. France Castro calling for an investigation into the COA findings.

“If the COA findings are accurate, then I believe everyone can agree that this kind of waste is simply unacceptable, especially for an agency that has to maximize its resources,” said Abante.

“The DepEd gets just over half a trillion pesos for the close to 22.8 million students enrolled in our public school system. It is their responsibility to ensure that every peso we invest in our children’s future is a peso well spent,” he added.

Abante said the minority bloc is concerned about the recurring problems involved in the procurement of learning materials for public school students. With PNA

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority will release an order that will render all applications of transportation network vehicle system (TNVS) nearing completion or approval to be deemed approved already by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to aid the riding public from the daily hassle of commuting.

In line with this, ARTA will ask the LTFRB with the complete list of applications for certificate of public convenience, according to agency director general Jeremiah Belgica in a briefing Tuesday at the ARTA office in Makati City.

“We have also asked the LTFRB to streamline their procedures and give us an updated Citizen’s Charter as soon as possible,” he said.

In a letter forwarded by ARTA to the LTFRB on July 24, 2019, the antired tape agency sought the LTFRB’s explanation for certain issues such as irregularities in the issuance of CPC and provisional authority; compelling applicants to submit requirements that tend to lengthen processing; and nonissuance of franchises for hatchback vehicle models.

What the agency found most irritating was the seeming nonchalance of the transportation agency to immediately process requests that created a long queue every single day before the LTFRB office and the unceasing laments posted by the citizenry on its complaints action center.

Longer jail time for terrorists backed THE Armed Forces of the Philippines said it supports Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s proposal to extend the detention of terror suspects without an arrest warrant to a period of 30 to 60 days.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said this would provide ample time for investigators and other law enforcers to gather evidence against the suspects.

“So that enough time will be given to investigators and law enforcers to gather information and evidence that will build up a strong case when the trial processes begin,” he said.

The defense chief made this proposal during a hearing of the Senate committee on national defense and security, adding that time must be given to law enforcement agencies to develop their case against terror suspects. PNA

De Lima okayed to visit ailing mom DETAINED Senator Leila de Lima has been granted a 48-hour furlough from her detention by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to allow the lawmaker to attend to her ill mother.

In separate orders dated Aug. 13 and 14, the Muntinlupa RTC Branches 205 and 256 under Judge Liezel A. Aquiatan and Acting Judge Gener M. Gito, respectively, allowed the senator’s request citing humanitarian consideration.

The Philippine National Police, at De Lima’s expense, was asked to bring her to NICC Doctor’s Hospital in Naga City where her mother Norma Magistrado De Lima is confined.

The furlough also extends to any other hospital where the mother may be confined or at their family house in Barangay San Agustin, Iriga City. PNA

Comelec clarifies ‘cash advance’ issue THE Commission on Elections on Wednesday said that the poll body’s unliquidated cash advances is only P131 million, and not P1.6 billion as reported by the Commission on Audit.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that as of July 31 this year, the Comelec has already disbursed P1.4 billion to the Special Disbursing officers while the P179 million went to Comelec officers and employees.

The Comelec spokesman made the statement in response to COA’s letter to Comelec directing the poll body to settle P1.63 billion worth of unliquidated cash advance as of September 2018.

“It is actually down to P131 million. I don’t know why they reported an older figure, but as of July 31, our unliquidated cash advances stood at P131 million,” Jimenez said.

Vito Barcelo

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hoaxes FAKE NEWS is unverified news—rumors or gossip.

I have been a journalist for nearly seven decades. I have seen several forms of fake news. I myself have been sued 17 times. Of those, I have apologized four times because I was careless, or did not verify facts.

I have covered 10 presidents starting from President Elpidio Quirino. During Quirino’s incumbency, his political enemies peddled fake news that he and his wife had a “golden orinola.” This fake news item stuck with them for years. It did great damage to their image.

There was also a rumor that President Ramon Magsaysay snuck out of the Palace at four o’clock in the morning for a tryst with a woman in high places.

The ultimate casualty is the truth.

Then, during the time of President Macapagal, there was a rumor that his Executive Secretary Fenny Hechanova and his wife traveled to France with a suitcase full of cash to be deposited in Switzerland. Their host supposedly poisoned them with gas—which they survived. The suitcase disappeared.

Even at that time, money transfer could be done through the wires!

But as far as I can recall, the biggest hoax of the century was the so-called Yamashita treasure. TomoyukiYamashita was known as the Tiger of Malay because he reportedly raided and ransacked the temples of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand for gold and treasure.

Thus, when Yamashita became commander of the Japanese imperial forces in the Philippines, he reportedly brought

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

with him treasures from Malaya and other countries occupied by the Japanese.

That was, of course, pure nonsense, but it did not prevent treasure hunters from all over the world to come here digging. Some of them even went to Fort Santiago!

Even Marcos believed it at the time.

He called my brother Desi, the hero of Bessang Pass—a battle which led to the surrender of Yamashita—to team up with General Zosimo Paredes to hunt for the Yamashita treasure. The twomonth hunt was financed by businessman Santos Pelaez.

My brother was skeptical but proceeded with the hunt, anyway.

Upon his return, my brother said it was a fruitless expedition. The only thing they discovered was a case somewhere in Nueva Vizcaya that contained skeletons of soldiers.

Another example of fake news is the so-called exposé of Senator Ninoy Aquino that Marcos had some 400 muslim soldiers massacred on the island fort of Corregidor.

That exposé became headline news because it was reportedly an attempt of Marcos to invade and occupy Sabah.

The story was attributed to one Muslim soldier who escaped the massacre—later called the Jabidah massacre—after which the Senate condemned Marcos. The Muslim group was reportedly headed by Col. Eddie AbMartelino, who assumed the name Ab dul Latif.

But if it really happened, there would have been clamor for the head of Marcos by the relatives of the Muslims. But where were they?

The trouble with fake news is that people believe them and act on this belief. The ultimate victim is the truth. *** Another example of fake news was the reference to the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. My gulay, it was not a revolution. It was baloney!

This piece of fake news has to do with history in connection with the 1986 People Power revolution that the Yellos have circulated and that was accepted as

I

Cultivating activism

N A Senate probe last week, some parents narrated how their children—students of Polytechnic University of the Philippines and FEU Senior High School—had left their homes to join militant groups. During the hearing, there was a suggestion to field more cops to schools to deter recruitment of students by leftist groups.

But Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, denied that the hearings were meant to suppress student activism.

We hope Dela Rosa is not just backtracking from an earlier position after being criticized for it. Student activism, after all, is neither bad nor undesirable. In fact, it is good and must be encouraged.

Education is not confined to lectures and discussions in the classroom. These days, it is also very easy for young people to be informed about—and get involved in—what is happening to their community, their local government, their country, even the world.

Apathy would be the real tragedy here.

Students are expected to recognize that they have a stake in what is going on around them. They must be encouraged

to keep themselves informed, think critically about issues, form their own opinion based on their logic and their core beliefs, and not rely on parroted statements coming from numerous voices online and offline.

Teachers may not like to be questioned and challenged. Parents may believe their authority is being undermined.

These are, of course, not true. If they are raised well, the youth will find a way to raise important questions or express opposing views without arrogance and irreverence. They will be able to initiate difficult conversations, agreeing to disagree while still respecting others.

Activism speaks truth to power. What is wrong with calling out excesses and failures? What shame is there in holding views contrary to the accepted ones, and in holding officials accountable for their

action or inaction?

Change does not happen if one waits around for it. One has to actively pursue it, and pursue it even more ardently when it becomes elusive. Refusing to challenge what has always been there guarantees only staleness. The youth have all the right to discontent—their future, after all, is a product of our present choices.

Then again, this is not to say that parents, teachers and public officials must lean back and just allow their children to fend for themselves.

Guidance remains crucial. Elders should tell them, for instance, that all opinion must be based on facts and not inherent biases. There is no single solution to all the country’s ills. Problems are not solved by starting fires, picking fights and attacking persons. And they should know better than to be “recruited” by any group of any persuasion without them knowing the consequences of their actions.

Only inept, insecure leaders would scoff at activists. Our country would have a bleak future if the young did not think hard about the world they are in.

Mindful activism—a far cry from mindless, careless troublemaking—is needed so that the next generation will be better than the one before it.

Turn to A5

Who gets to use public toilets?

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE GRETCHEN Diez, by virtue of being dragged away from the ladies’ room by security guards at the Farmers Plaza mall in Cubao, Quezon City, singlehandly propelled the current discourse on transpeople rights in public spaces.

Diez had the presence of mind to livestream video of Tuesday night’s incident on her Facebook account.

The footage clearly shows a female, later identified as Chayra Ganal, a janitress working at the mall, hitting Diez and her cellphone.

Bataan representative Geraldine Roman, who is also a transwoman, immediately proceeded to the police station where Diez was held and negotiated for her release. Rep. Risa Hontiveros, well-known for her advocacy for women’s and LGBTQ rights, sent one of her lawyers to assist.

The mall authorities initially pressed a charge of undue vexation against Diez for taking video of the incident. Diez was handcuffed at Quezon City Police District Station 7 in Cubao, then later taken to the Anti-Cybercrime Division after police confusion on how the case should be handled.

The mall later dropped the charge and Ganal wrote an apology letter for her actions during the confrontation.

Diez was released and as of presstime says she intends to take legal action against the mall.

Araneta Center, where Farmers Plaza Mall is located, is being roundly criticized by netizens for their “rainbow capitalism.” Araneta Center has crosswalks painted in rainbow stripes, in reference to the LGBTQ community’s rainbow-colored flag, and held several Pride-themed events in June.

Netizens are questioning why mall authorities did not provide proper education about LGBTQ rights to their personnel.

At the root of the incident is the issue of gender identity, and how public spaces accommodate the needs of people of diverse sexual orientations.

Diez, who identifies as a woman,

believes that as such she is entitled to use the women’s restroom. She does not feel safe in a men’s restroom, where she runs the risk of bullying or aggression for her gender identity and expression.

Ganal believed Diez, who is biologically male, should use the men’s toilet. Thus she insisted she was only doing her job when she prevented Diez from entering the women’s restroom.

However, it is unacceptable that she assaulted Diez, slapping her multiple times and insulting her, clearly reflecting Ganal’s personal prejudices against transwomen.

At the root of the incident is the issue of gender identity, and how public spaces accommodate the needs of people of diverse sexual orientations.

Transpeople identify as the gender opposite to that they were biological biologically born with. Though born male, Diez identifies as female, feels female, and presents (projects a physical appearance) as a female. Per LGBTQ rights accepted in many places worldwide, Diez should be able to use the restroom she wants to, the one where she feels comfortable in.

Some have pointed out that biological males in women’s spaces, no matter how they present themselves outwardly, still pose a threat to women’s safety. This is a controversial topic abroad, where some men pose as trans in order to gain access to women, leading to incidents of harassment, aggression, and violence.

The argument has also extended to beauty pageants—last year, transwoman Angela Ponce was crowned Miss Spain—and certain sports where transwomen often defeat biological women, leading to complaints from the latter and from women’s organizations.

On the other hand, why would one assume that a person using a restroom Turn to A5

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It’s not only EDSA The traffic problem is much, much bigger.

TRAFFIC on EDSA is now at its worst that even the House of Representatives has to help find a solution.

Earlier in the week, Transportation Committee Chair Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento said his panel is now conducting a series of consultations with all transportation stakeholders to be able to draw up a solid and viable one-year roadmap to finally solve the traffic problem along EDSA. Sarmiento said EDSA’s traffic problem is causing too much economic losses for the government and for our people on a daily basis. The National Economic and Development Authority estimates the country is losing at least P3.5 billion a day due to the traffic problem.

The ultimate goal is to reduce the volume of vehicles on EDSA. For us to attain it, the collective effort of the executive, legislative, judiciary and the private sector is needed, Sarmiento said.

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

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

One proposal is, according to the lawlaw maker, to seriously look at proposals to consolidate the franchise of all Metro Manila bus companies for us to enable to apply a synchronized dispatch system on EDSA. With about 3,000 to 4,000 buses operating in Metro Manila (excluding the colorum which is about the same number as the legitimate ones), they have to compete with each other most of the time, especially during off peak hours.

Their load factor is less than 50 percent which makes them inefficient in the use of road space.

Aside from consolidating bus operations under a franchise, Sarmiento says they are also looking into doing away with the boundary system.

As drivers today operate on a boundary basis, putting them on regular salary, according to Sarmiento, will assure us of better service. Loaded or not, they

will have to run as there will be no more need for competition.

Also part of the possible roadmap, Sarmiento said, is the modernization of the fare collection system of all city buses. The manual system of collecting fares and issuing tickets is too inefficient and prone to systems loss. It also causing a delay in the transition of buses in loading and unloading zones.

But because of current multiple operators, it is not cost effective to have a tap-card system in place for our fare collection. If we have consolidated operations, then we will have enough volume to have that system.

“Under single super franchise comprising of existing franchises, it is also cost- inefficient for them (bus operators) to have fleet maintenance systems. Having that big of a franchise will enable operators to get big discount purchases on bus units and even fuel,” Sarmiento said.

Sounds feasible. But as what we have learned from MMDA’s experiment along EDSA last week, if we are to come up with a traffic solution, it should not be limited to EDSA EDSA is one of the major arteries in Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

But first, road discipline WHEN I was Minority Leader, the worsening traffic situation on EDSA was a thorny issue that was often tackled during press conferences and featured in this column. Various solutions were offered then. If memory serves me right, there were several options that were tabled for discussion: emergency powers for the President; no garage, no new car policy; the modified odd-even scheme. What is currently in place is the no-window scheme. It appears to have little effect on decreasing the volume of vehicles on EDSA. I repeatedly called the attention of the Executive in addressing this problem which reportedly results in P3.5-billion loss in revenues.

Time and again, commuters and travelers alike bewail the seemingly eternal problem of traffic congestion in Metro Manila, particularly along EDSA. Months ago, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) proposed a ban on provincial buses from traversing EDSA to ease traffic. This has been met with different reactions from government officials and the public. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has recently issued a writ of preliminary injunction which stops the implementation of the provincial bus ban.

Buses are often blamed for the traffic.

While buses may not be totally blameless, there are other factors at play. The LTFRB and MMDA have previously purged EDSA of colorum buses, but this effort remains to be felt by those of us on the road. Erring bus drivers and operators continue to maneuver EDSA wantonly and carelessly. We have seen buses make sudden swerves and worse, completely stopping in the middle of road either to load, unload or even wait for passengers. Perhaps, there is a need to look at the bodies tasked to implement and regulate traffic.

This should get traffic going. traf There is a public impression that traffic enforcers are often in cahoots with illegal bus drivers and operators. They seem to get away with this lack of decorum. There is also poor enforcement of traffic management laws and a lack of road discipline by motorists and pedestrians alike.

Hence, the provincial bus ban may not be as effective as it is hoped to be.

We need to address first the problem of the regulatory mechanisms in place before we head to implementing various policies. At this point, I would also like to emphasize the importance of

adequate and proper driver education which should be strictly examined and corrected starting from the issuance of driver’s license.

The provincial bus ban is of particular concern to me as governor. Many of my constituents frequently travel to the metro by bus to sell their products, engage in business, and work. Those who live closer to Manila, like commuters from Laguna and Batangas, take several rides to get to their destinations. Productive and efficient use of time is cut short by the hours wasted in traffic.

While the responsible government agencies, and the Senate, are deterad mining whether the bus ban is an adequate solution to the traffic problem, perhaps the DOTr can improve its services and ensure that the trains and rails are running regularly. Building Line 7 and the subway system should be fast tracked. Perhaps our LGUs can help by making sure the alternate routes in their areas are open, and not converted into parking lots.

It has been said that our traffic situations mirrors our collective behavior. We should ask ourselves, are we undisciplined, lacking in proper road decorum?

Do we as individuals follow the same rules that we insist should be applied to everyone? The President’s SONA challenged us to see if we have become our own enemy. In the traffic situation, are we, as individuals, part of the problem, or part of the solution? To my mind, we start with being disciplined on the road.

That should get the traffic moving.

The EDSA congestion WHAT does one do about a problem like EDSA? It seems that nothing works at all.

In a recent interview, MMDA Traffic Chief Bong Nebrija expressed his frustration about the traffic congestion on the main thoroughfare. His frustration is perfectly understandable—but he cannot afford to be showing that in public because MMDA’s mandate is to manage traffic in the Metro area and the agency must continue to try to find solutions regardless of setbacks. MMDA’s traffic and transport planners must realize that even the best of plans do not end up being implemented.

In many cases, the plan that will be adopted is the one that can be allowed under certain circumstances because of politics and other reasons that will prevent the best-laid plans from being implemented.

The MMDA effort to decongest EDSA by transferring all provincial bus stations out of the road continues to meet with a lot opposition, the latest being a TRO from a Regional Trial Court in Quezon City. The transfer of the bus station out of EDSA is a correct move. It is not only the estimated 3,500 buses that will be taken off the road— it will also eliminate at least 160,000 trips going to and coming from EDSA which is substantial. The MMDA solution of requiring provincial buses to dislodge passengers only in Valenzuela and Santa Rosa, Laguna, however, is not the best solution. Although it will solve a problem, it will also create another problem—in this case, a much bigger problem than the one it is trying to solve. To transfer passengers from a land transport mode to another land transport will require the same number of vehicles to move the people, which will simply add more vehicles to the metro road network. Surely, the MMDA

It’s not...

From A4

our road network. To declog the main artery and just leave the tributaries as they are would only transfer the flak to other areas, giving the same result—a still clogged network.

And that was what happened last week. MMDA tried to unclog EDSA which resulted into heavy traffic spilling over to other roads connected to EDSA, including the eight- to ten-lane Commonwealth Avenue.

Sarmiento is on the right track. It’s good of him to start looking for solutions unlike the female senator in the other chamber whose pasttime is looking for things to criticize and starting investigations without coming up with any committee report and recommendation.

But we should not just concentrate on EDSA. We should look at the traffic problem from a holistic perspective.

planners must realize this. In addition, it will add two or more trips for provincial bus passengers which will cause a lot of inconvenience to them.

We do not know whether MMDA has a Plan B or whether the agency is insisting on this move because of what President Duterte said about the five-minute travel time between Makati and Quezon City. This cannot be achieved now or in the foreseeable future and traffic and transport agencies should refrain from trying to make this happen simply because the President said it.

Is it any wonder that we have such a huge traffic problem?

This plan of MMDA is not new. Some people came out with this plan more than 20 years ago but was never implemented because a passenger transfer using the same mode of transport is not going to solve the problem. If it were a sound plan, the so-called integrated terminal in Parañaque should already be very busy and being used by bus companies even without MMDA doing anything. The fact that it has remained idle shows the weakness of the plan.

What can MMDA do in the meantime to decongest EDSA? Unfortunately, not very much. The agency can wait until the Skyway connecting NLEX and SLEX is completed sometime next year and then transfer the bus stations along EDSA out to other parts of the metropolitan area. By then it will be easier for the provincial bus companies to comply because there will be more exit and entry points to the metro area.

MMDA planners must be sensitive to the problems experienced by the public every time the agency wants to implement a traffic plan. The Skyway will also be able to provide relief to EDSA because motorists can now have a choice

Hoaxes From A4

gospel truth by some sectors of the national and international press.

This was the misperception that President Corazon Aquino was the icon of democracy. She was made out to be responsible for the revolution that ousted the strongman Ferdinand Marcos. This is farthest from the truth!

The truth is that when Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and PC/INP chief Fidel Ramos broke away from Marcos, Cory was in Cebu.

She only later on returned to Metro Manila. She then hid in the Pink Sisters convent. The nearest that Cory Aquino got to EDSA was at the corner of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA where the POEA building is located. She returned to the convent where she continued to hide. That’s a fact and I dare the Yellows to contradict it.

And yet, she was called the icon of democracy as if the exile of Marcos was all her doing.

on whether to use EDSA or the Skyway.

There are also other actions that the MMDA can take to make driving along EDSA more bearable. One is to try to rationalize the operation of the city buses along EDSA. Right now, city buses along EDSA are operated as jeepneys and this is worsening the congestion.

And because of the size of the buses, the effect on travel time is enormous. The MMDA, for instance, could assign specific bus stops so that buses cannot load and discharge passengers anywhere.

Requiring bus companies to schedule trips rather than allowing non-stop operation the whole day will allow units to be taken off the roads at certain times of day which will decrease the number of buses using the road. Another is controlling the use of EDSA by jeepneys. Still another is selling road space to single occupancy private vehicles like Singapore. This will require more CCTVs on the roads entering EDSA but this should be all right because more CCTVs are needed for enforcement anyway.

Metro Manila unfortunately is characterized by a motoring public with very little or no driving discipline at all and a road system that that is not sufficient to accommodate the ever-increasing number of vehicles. Everybody complains but no one wants to be the first to give way. A good 20 percent of the traffic problems in Metro Manila could easily be mitigated if only the motoring public is a bit more patient and try to observe traffic rules even in the absence of traffic enforcers. We have to realize that the government cannot put a traffic enforcer in every road intersection. As I have written before, the Metro area is the only urban center in the world that fences its roads to force motorists to observe traffic rules. It is also the only one that allows its roads and sidewalks to be used for dwellings, businesses and recreation.

With that kind of situation, is it any wonder that we have such a huge traffic problem? Provincial buses are not only the culprits when it comes to the EDSA congestion.

It’s a distortion of history. Unfortunately, some local and foreign media turned this into a historical event.

Santa Banana, Cory was just a beneficiary!

Speaking of EDSA, on Feb. 23, 1986, Jaime Cardinal Sin called on people, through the radio, to go to EDSA at the vicinity of Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame where Enrile, Ramos and Col. Gregorio Honasan were encamped.

Sin believed the people should gather to protect this group because there were reports that Marcos might order the bombing of the place. He did not, because he did not want anybody to die. That to me was a consolation—a testament to the character of the man.

About half a million people gathered at EDSA. In the end, the US government decided to spirit away Marcos and his family to Clark. From there, they were loaded in a US military transport plane to Honolulu Hickam Base.

[To be continued]

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Presidential children in government, 1946-2019 election but lost. Having served for three terms as governor of Ilocos Norte, the Marcos’ family’s home province, Imee Marcos made a successful run for the Senate in this year’s election.

WITH the incumbent chief execuNot one of the five children of tive’s offspring highly visible on the Corazon C. Aquino showed any innational landscape, I thought that it terest in politics or public service might be useful to review the record during their mother’s presidency of presidential children involvement (1986-1992). The closest thing to in government affairs since the ad- public service by an Aquino offministration of the first post-World spring was Ballsy Aquino-Cruz’s War II chief executive of the Philip- service as her mother’s appointment pines. secretary.

The only offspring of President Like the children of President Manuel A. Roxas (1946-1947) to Aquino, President Ramos’s five become involved in Philippine gov- daughters had no interest in politics ernment affairs was his son Gerardo or public service, notwithstanding Roxas, who the careers of graduated to the their father, Senate from the grandfather First District of If only we had another (ambassador President Roxand Secretary as’s home prov- kind of political culture of Foreign Afince, Capiz. Two in this country. fairs Narciso decades later, Ramos) and Senator Roxas’s aunt (Senator son Mar would Ra Leticia Rabecome a senator also. mos-Shahani).

The only son of President Elpi ElpiAfter his term of the presidency dio Quirino (1947-1953), Tommy, (1998-2001), Joseph Ejercito Estrada served as his father’s aide-de-camp was followed into public service by and presidential son-in-law Luis his wife Loi and sons Jinggoy and JoGonzales later served as Philippine seph Victor (J.V.)—who became senaambassador to Spain. tors—and granddaughter Janella.

Neither of the two daughters of While his mother, Gloria MacaPresident Ramon Magsaysay (1953- pagal-Arroyo, was president (20011957) was interested in politics, but 2010), Mikey Arroyo launched his his son and namesake, Ramon Mag- candidacy for the position of represaysay Jr. later served two terms in sentative of the Second District of the Senate.

Pampanga. He won and went on to The only offspring of President serve another term. President ArCarlos P. Garcia (1957-1961), Linda royo’s only daughter Lourdes joined Garcia-Campos, did not follow the the Department of Foreign Affairs. footsteps of the nation’s eighth chief Youngest son Diosdado Ignacio ran executive. and won a seat as Congressman of During her stay in Malacañang as the second district of Camarines Sur the daughter of President Diosdado from 2010 to 2016.

Macapagal (1962-1965), Gloria MaBenigno Aquino III, who served capagal-Arroyo evinced no inclina- as Chief Executive from 2010-2016, tion toward politics. Neither did her was a bachelor and therefore had no brother Diosdado Jr. nor her half-sib- children to join him in politics or lings Arturo and Cielo. But decades public service. later, the two presidential daughters This brings us to today’s situation. carved out successful careers in poliPresidential-children-in-governtics for themselves—Gloria as presi- ment is very much the case. President (2001-2010) and Cielo as vice dent Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter governor of the Macapagal family’s Sara succeeded him as mayor of home province Pampanga.

Davao City and heads the political From the very start of the first party that she founded for the 2019 presidential term of their father election, Hugpong Pagbabago ng Ferdinand Marcos (1966-1969), Pilipinas (HPP). President Duterte’s Ferdinand Jr. and his older sister older son, Paolo, the former vice Imee gave indications of being in- mayor of Davao City, has just been terested in politics and in holding elected Representative of Davao public office. During the martial- City’s Second District. The other law rule of her father, Imee Marcos presidential son, Sebastian, also is got him to decree the establishment active in the city’s politics. of a national youth organization, In the US several decades ago, a the Kabataang Barangay, with her- big political commotion was creself as chairman. A few years after ated when it was shown that Mauhis return from EDSA Revolution- reen Davis was involving herself in imposed exile, Ferdinand Marcos the administration of her stepfather, Jr. won a seat in the Senate and President Ronald Reagan. If only we was re-elected six years later. He had that kind of political culture in ran for vice president in the 2016 this country.

Who gets...

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is there with a nefarious motive? Why not understand that they just really need to pee?

Others are proposing the designation of ‘third sex’ or ‘neutral’ restrooms. But this option still ‘others’ transpeople and delays their mainstreaming into normal social life.

A study published in the March 2019 issue of the journal Sexuality Research and Social Policy found that “reports of privacy and safety violations in public restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms are exceedingly rare….fears of increased safety and privacy violations as a result of nondiscrimination laws are not empirically grounded.”

In other words, the perception that transgender people are a safety risk to cisgender people in public restrooms is wrong. Actually, it is transpeople who are more likely to be verbally or physically assaulted in such instances, as we saw in Diez’s case.

Education is the key here, and it is necessary for those working in public spaces and who are likely to encounter LGBTQ people on a daily basis, in both private and government sectors.

First, about SOGIE—sexual orientation and gender identity and expression—what it all means, and how to support people as they navigate their identity and self-expression.

Second, about assault. The kuyog culture and the enjoyment of schadenfreude must stop. It’s a failing of Filipinos that they beat up on people who

are already down.

Third, about the rights of people who are filming incidents in public spaces. This is not illegal. It provides documentation of the event. For this reason, cops abroad wear body cameras.

If the person being filmed—say, a security guard or law enforcer—is doing nothing wrong, then why object to being videotaped? It’s the guilty who complain and claim ‘privacy.’

Fourth, we must renew the value of ‘kapwa.’ Kapwa, the “core construct of Philippine psychology,” as academics would have it, is the shared inner self, and among other traits it valorizes pakikilahok, an act of community in aid of a person; pakikiramdam, perceiving another’s emotions in order to guide one’s interactions with them; and kagandahang-loob, helping someone in need because all are perceived to belong to one encompassing Filipino community.

To sum up, let me quote Depeche Mode from 1984: “So we’re different colours / And we’re different creeds / And different people have different needs “It’s obvious you hate me / Though I’ve done nothing wrong / I never even met you / So what could I have done “I can’t understand / What makes a man / Hate another man / Help me understand…”

“People are people and why should it be, you and I should get along so awfully”~still Depeche Mode, the same song /FB and Twitter: @ DrJennyO

A6

News

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Some banks want higher ATM fees

IN BRIEF Travelers told: Be Vigilant

THE Manila International Airport Authority on Wednesday urged air travelers to be aware of the presence of criminal groups operating at four terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The MIAA management came up with the warning following the arrest of Rodolfo Rosauro Anto Jr., 46, of Cabuyao City, Laguna; and Elena Aquia Elera, 43, of Muntinlupa City, both members of the notorious Salisi Gang.

On Saturday, Anto and Elera were arrested by NAIA police and Aviation security personnel following an attempt to victimize travel agent Cheryl Perez at the airport terminal 2.

Perez said while she was waiting for the arrival of her foreign guests when Anto and Elera approached her and started a conversation.

While one of the suspects got her attention, she noticed the other one tried to take a brown pouch from her bag. She shouted and asked for help.

The suspects tried to escape but airport police officer Gino Apinar and Aviation Security Group officers Alvin Panor and Amor Cordova chased and arrested them at the parking lot.

Meanwhile, Immigration authorities intercepted a Filipina bound for Tokyo for presenting a fake Philippine passport at NAIA. The 19-year-old woman, whose name was withheld due to anti-trafficking laws, presented a five-day itinerary to Jeju Island and Tokyo, to allegedly go on a vacation with her Japanese boyfriend, BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said.

Joel Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

River deadline: It’s December

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday ordered a December deadline for the cleanup of Navotas City’s Bangkulasi River, one of the filthy water bodies that drain into Manila Bay. “Cleaning up the Bangkulasi River, which is part of the Malabon-Navotas River system, is an essential part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation program because the river system directly empties into the historic bay,” he said.

He instructed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources team assigned to the river system to “produce drastic improvements by December this year” in order to reduce the fecal coliform levels in Manila Bay by yearend.

Undersecretary for Solid Waste and Local Government Unit Concerns Benny Antiporda said the team would “aim to prevent more wastes from flowing into the river system before cleaning it.”

“We are planning to use some interventions to prevent wastes from coming back to the river,” he said.

He threatened to issue cease-and-desist orders against establishments without proper sewage treatment plants.

But he clarified the crackdown was “not about destroying the economy of Navotas, but about waking them up to say that Navotas is a model city.” Rio Araja

By Julito G. Rada

SEAFARERS FAMILY CONGRESS. Seafarers, maritime industry leaders, and government officials gather for the two-day Seafarers Family Int’l Congress starting Wednesday at the Manila Hotel to tackle issues faced by the seafarer community through discussions and talks for industry stakeholders. The opening was graced by Senator Pia Cayetano and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade (third and fourth from left, respectively), joined by (from left) International Maritime Organization goodwill ambassador George Hoyt; Marissa Oca, founder and president of Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc.; Ambassador Win Naing of Myanmar Embassy; and Dr. Conrado Oca, president of Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines.

Sexual discrimination vs. transgender rapped

By Vito Barcelo, Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said Wednesday the discrimination experienced by transgender Gretchen Diez exposed the country’s great awareness and policy gaps on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

In a statement, TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza said the incident, if unchecked, would continue to happen to more transgenders because there was lack of SOGIE sensitive and responsive awareness and orientation among the people.

The TUCP issued the statement after Diez was handcuffed and brought to the police station for using a female toilet in a mall in Quezon City.

In related developments:

• Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte denounced the discrimination against a transgender inside Farmers Plaza in Cubao despite an ordinance protecting the rights of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex community.

“We condemn this kind of discrimination toward members of the LGBT+ community,” she said, referring to the incident involving Diez.

She said the incident should have not occurred due to the existence of the Gender Fair Ordinance that prohibits all forms of discrimination against the LGBT+ sector.

Diez was detained by police after she was barred from using the ladies’ restroom by a female janitor inside the mall at Araneta Center, a commercial area known for its public displays of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

“This type of discrimination is bound to happen because there is also no mandatory SOGIE sensitive and responsive workplace and business policy standards that businesses and employers must abide to,” (sic) the TUCP said.

• Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, replying to questions, said straight women who feel offended by the presence of transgender individuals should not use toilets in

COA flags MRT 3

THE Commission on Audit has flagged the Metro Rail Transit 3 for a decrease in the number of its passengers and income by 26 percent since the Department of Transportation took over the transit’s operation and management in the past four years.

In a 2018 audit report, the commission said MRT 3’s passenger ridership and ticket sales went down at their worst levels last year, wherein 13 out of the 24 train set were only operational on a daily basis.

Based on COA’s four-year analysis of the train’s operations, a 26-percent decline in annual passenger ridership from 140,152,161 in 2017 to 104,275,362 in 2018 was observed.

On the other hand, income collections from ticket sales also plunged by 26 percent from P2.77 billion in 2017 to P2 billion in the same period, COA said.

“These regressions are largely attributed to the decreased number of train sets plying on the rail tracks caused by the termination on Nov. 3, 2017 of the maintenance service contract of Busan Joint Venture and implemented by 183 Busan Universal Rail Inc.,” the report read.

“It bears emphasis that the maintenance services of the MRT 3 system were taken over by the DoTr-MRT3 maintenance transition team thereafter.” Rio Araja

‘Palace must justify 2018 DOH commends reporters ban’ House panel for hiked taxes

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

CLEARING OPERATION. Members of MMDA and QC Department of Public

Order and Safety conduct a clearing operation Wednesday along Florentino Street cor.

Banaue and Quezon City, towing the illegally parked vehicles there. Manny Palmero

Mitigate impact of climate change—ABAC PH APEC Business Advisory Council Philippines Wednesday echoed the support for the World Trade Organization and stressed the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change especially on the most vulnerable communities.

These issues were highlighted by the region’s business leaders in the third ABAC meeting held last June 22 to 25 in Hangzhou, China, the group said in a statement released Wednesday.

Established in 1995, the WTO sets the global rules of trade.

This multilateral trading system provides for a more predictable and competitive international business environment.

Through this mechanism, economies such as the Philippines can play on a level playing field as other more developed economies.

“The common trading framework provided by the WTO allows Philippine products to compete fairly in the global market.

While it is not perfect, we should work to

malls and other places where human beings congregate.

A reporter asked Roman, who admitted to having undergone a sex change operation, on what to do with women who are not present in the company of trans-women in the toilet for females.

Roman answered: “Why, do they go to the bathroom to get offended or what not. They should just use the cubicle to do their thing. They should not talk to the transgender.”

• Farmers Plaza Property Manager Morriel A. Abogado, in a statement released to media, said: “It’s an unfortunate incident that Farmers Plaza management would like to assure the public we could never condone.

“We would like to apologize to Ms. Diez for the treatment she has received from a member of the cleaning crew. We also would like to extend the apology not just to the LGBT community but to the public in general for the actions of said crew member.

“After reviewing all the reports, and the video Ms. Diez has uploaded on Facebook, we assure the aggrieved party and the public that we are looking into the matter, and will take appropriate action.

strengthen and improve the system, rather than undermine it,” according to ABAC Philippines chairman Tomas Alcantara.

The expansion of world trade in recent decades has lifted over a billion people out of poverty. In the APEC region, extreme poverty rate fell sharply to 1.8 percent in 2015 from 41.7 percent in 1990, while poverty rate dropped to 13.4 percent from 63.1 percent over the same period.

For ABAC 2019 chairman Richard Von Appen of ABAC Chile, reforming the WTO and in particular, resolving the crisis in its dispute settlement system is one strong message the Council will deliver to APEC Leaders in this year’s annual dialogue that will be held in Santiago in November.

“We also need to reform the rules to make sure that the WTO remains relevant and fit for purpose—including to ensure that modern business models can flourish, and that women and MSMEs can access the opportunities and benefits of the glob-

al economy,” he added.

ABAC PH meanwhile underscored that the challenge for APEC is not only making economic growth inclusive, but also sustainable. As such, Alcantara shared, “as APEC looks forward to a new vision beyond Bogor Goals—of free and open trade and investment in the region by 2020—sustainability, most crucially addressing climate change is one of ABAC’s priority.”

Climate change must be immediately addressed, citing serious risks and repercussions not only for business, but also for the rest of society, the statement said.

It added: “The world is getting increasing number of natural disasters, 70 percent of which occur in the Asia-Pacific.

“In the Philippines alone, Typhoon “Ompong” (International name: “Mangkhut”), considered as the strongest typhoon in 2018 that also wreaked havoc in Guam, Hong Kong and Southern China, brought $623 million in damages to public infrastructure and agriculture.

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said Wednesday the regulator was closely evaluating the requests of banks to increase automated teller machines fees and assured the public that any increase would be “reasonable and market-driven.”

Fonacier told a news briefing less than 10 banks had applied for the increase but she did not divulge their identities.

“The main reason of banks [in applying for higher fees] is to recoup the cost of ATM services. It is really on the cost.

The BSP has to look at it and find out if the basis is reasonable,” Fonacier said.

“It is not principally to drive the income of the banks… There are costs involving ATM services. There is also a matter of security risks,” she said, adding some ATMs of banks are located in risky areas.

“There are a lot of factors to consider.

That is why the BSP is carefully looking at the banks’ request to increase fees. But [any increase] should be reasonable and market-driven,” she said.

Vicente de Villa III, officer-in-charge of the BSP’s financial technology subsector, said it would take 20 days to complete the evaluation process for the applications.

“Part of the evaluation process is banks must submit cost considerations [such as] hardware costs, software costs, security costs, etc… But banks have different strategies to maintain their machines,” de Villa said.

De Villa said prices should be transparent so that consumers themselves could make informed decisions.

“At the end of the day, it’s making these services accessible to consumers…,” he said.

ATM fees currently range from P11 to P15 per transaction.

The BSP last month lifted the moratorium on adjusting ATM fees by banks through memorandum 2019-020. The moratorium was implemented on Sept.

27, 2013.

The BSP acknowledged the concerns of the banking public on news reports about the possible increase in ATM fees.

“The BSP assures the public that its policy on ATM fees is guided by best industry practices and that it is driven with the broader welfare of consumers in mind,” it said.

SIMILAR to raising the tax on tobacco as a tobacco control measure, increasing the excise tax on alcohol products is a best buy and win-win intervention for reducing alcohol consumption and increasing revenue for health, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.

The Department of Health commended the House Committee on Ways and Means for approving House Bill 1026 which seeks to increase taxes on alcohol products.

Forty-three members of the House Ways and Means Committee voted for the approval of the bill.

Duque cited the Food Nutrition and Research Institute’s Clinical and Health Survey, which showed that more than half of Filipinos aged 20 to 59 engage in harmful use of alcohol in the form of binge drinking, or drinking excessively in one sitting.

Duque also said the same survey indicated that the youth were also at risk for adverse health effects of alcohol consumption.

It is reported that among Filipino youth aged 10 to 19, 14.9 percent consume alcohol, and 36.7 percent of these are underage drinkers (2015).

Notably, the alcohol-attributable number of road and traffic accidents in the Philippines has reached a total of 10,372 fatal and non-fatal accidents from 2016 to 2018, as reported in the DOH Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.

Reports and studies on alcohol, the DOH chief said, strongly recommended implementing aggressive public policies for the reduction of public alcohol consumption, including increasing taxes to make these products less affordable and accessible, especially to the youth.

According to Duque, building on the public health impact of Republic Act No. 10351, or the Sin Tax Law of 2012, the DOH supports all undertakings to increase taxation on alcohol.

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court did not issue a restraining order enjoining Malacañang from implementing its 2018 ban that prohibits the reporters of online news outfit Rappler Inc. from covering any event attended by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a resolution dated July 30 but only released on Wednesday, the SC instead required the Office of the President, including three agencies attached to it, and the Presidential Security Group to comment on Rappler’s petition filed last April.“The Court resolved to require the respondents to comment on the petition within 10 days from notice,” stated the resolution signed by Clerk of Court Edgar Aricheta.

Aside from the Office of the President and PSG, the other respondents are the Office of the Executive Secretary, Presidential Communications Operation Office and Media Accreditation Registration Office.

In its petition, Rappler and several of its reporters—Pia Ranada, Mara Cepeda, Raymon Dullana, Franklin Cimatu, Camille Elemia, Ralf Rivas, Baltazar Lagsa and Mauricio Victa— asked the SC to strike down for being unconstitutional the order of President Duterte banning its reporters from covering Malacañang and public events attended by the Chief Executive.

The petitioners argued that the order violated the Constitutional guarantees of freedom of the press, freedom of speech, due process and equal protection.

They also stressed that it constituted prior restraint on the press, which the high court earlier defined as any form of government restriction on the freedom of expression.

The petitioners said the ban abridged the freedom of the press and violated the equal protection clause for “singling out” Rappler and denying its reporters access to any and all newsworthy public events involving Duterte.

According to them, for a free and independent press, to be truly meaningful, requires its enjoyment of editorial independence to gather information obtained from sources free from any intervention or alteration by the government.

Manila

Standard Cooperative Development Authority TODAY

LIST OF DELISTED COOPERATIVES for the year 2018

No. NAME OF COOPERATIVE

ADDRESS

Region

1 2 3 4 5

Manaoag, Pangasinan Labrador, Pangasinan San Jacinto, Pangasinan San Jacinto, Pangasinan Rosales, Pangasinan

Region 1 Region 1 Region 1 Region 1 Region 1

Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan San Jacinto, Pangasinan Villasis, Pangasinan Bauang, La Union Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur Narvacan, Ilocos Sur San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte Committee of German Doctors for Developing Countries, Phase 8, Bagong Silang 6 Sachiangco Street, Tonsuya Unit 202 Jolliland Condominium, 670 EDSA Magkakasama Multi-Purpose Hall, Laura St., Purok 3, Area 5, Old Balara

Region 1 Region 1 Region 1 Region 1 Region 1 Region 1 Region 1 NCR

Villonco Road, Sucat G/F, Pilsons Market, Brgy. Balintawak No. 161 Holy Family Ave., Holy Family Village, Bagumbayan

NCR NCR

Stall #40 UP Shopping Center, UP Diliman 331 Quezon Blvd., Quiapo, 2/F OMI Bldg., Bonifacio Drive cor 20th St., Port Area Blk. 195 Lot 6 Ilang-Ilang St., Brgy. 177 Area D #44 Boracay Drive, Camella IV, Poblacion

NCR NCR

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Calasap MPC Labrador NHS MPC Pangasinan Iloco MPC Nambalangan-Guibel MPC LIKHA (Lakas, Isip at Kaisahang Hango sa Kultura) MPC Sta. Barbara Peacekeepers Credit Coop Sunrise MPC Evergreen Consumer Cooperative Ballaigi 83 Credit Coop Gusing Women’s MPC Great Samaritan Credit Coop Apo MPC Abot Kamay sa Kalusugan Multi-Purpose Cooperative

14 15

AGF Fishing Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. Air Aviation Cooperative

16

Alitaptap Multi-Purpose Cooperative

17 18 19

Apparel Solutions Multi-Purpose Cooperative Balintawak Traders Credit Cooperative Banal Na Mag-anak Service Cooperative

20 21 22

Blessings Credit Cooperative Brethren Multi-Purpose Cooperative BS Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative

23 24

Caloocan North Consumers Cooperative Camella Homes IV Homeowners Association Multi-Purpose Cooperative

25

CE Savers Employees Credit Cooperative

26

Center for Assistance of Rural Entrepreneurs Associates Multi-Purpose Cooperative 27 City Secretary’s Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative 28 29 30 31

Commonwealth Cooperative, Incorporated Cuenca Bakers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Cultural Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative Dangerous Drugs Board Employees Credit Cooperative

32

Division Employees Credit Cooperative (DECC)

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Unit 401, Musan 1 Mansion, 8224 Constancia cor. Obrero Sts., Brangay Olympia #1 Pearl St., Greenland Pasig Subd., Rosario City Secretary’s Office, 2/F Legislative Wing, Quezon City Hall, Diliman

NCR NCR

NCR

361 MTI Bldg., Sen Gil Puyat Avenue 94 M. Almeda Street 172 Aurora Blvd.

UGI Mega Plaza Bldg., ADB Ave. cor.

Garnet Road, Ortigas Center

NCR NCR NCR

Flora A. Ylagan High School Consumers Cooperative FMC Employees Credit Cooperative Friends of St. Augustine Savings and Credit Cooperative Fuel Movers Service Cooperative

Malakas St., Bgy. Pinyahan 6407 Riverside St., Sitio Tatalon, Bgy. Ugong 218 Artiaga St., Bgy. Corazon de Jesus

NCR NCR NCR

Gintong Ani Multi-Purpose Cooperative Girl Scouts of the Philippines Staff Multi Purpose Cooperative

Unioil Sucat, Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Brgy. San Dionisio AFPGIC, AFPMBAI Bldg., EDSA cor. Col. B. Serrano Road #18 Gaspar Street, Pachero Village, Balubaran

51 52

GSP National Headquarters, 901 Padre Faura St., Ermita Rm. 106 Medalla Bldg. Cor. McArthur Avenue, Bgy. Socorro, Cubao Unit 16-26 2nd Flr. San Elias Bldg., 38 Ortigas Ave. Ext., Rosario 7/F, Land Bank Bldg., Gil Puyat Avenue 11 Kalantas St., Western Bicutan Unit II, 7/F Paseo Center Bldg., Paseo de Roxas, Salcedo Village 2/F, Parish Center, GSP Complex, Regalado Avenue, Fairview Park 114 Himlayan Rd., Bgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora 7 P. Liwanag St., BF Resort Village No. 17-A F. Blumentritt Ext., Brgy. Hulo

58 59

Arba Road, Talanay B, Batasan Hills 47 Molave St., Project 3 B13 L128 Pampano cor. Plapla Sts., Longos 306 Citisquare Bldg., A. Rodriguez Avenue, Manggahan Unit 311 One, Beatriz Tower, Lauan St., Brgy. Duyan-Duyan, Project 3 Villonco Road, Sucat, Brgy. BF #6 Estrella St., Tañong

GLAD Service Cooperative

45

Global Dollar Builder Credit Cooperative

46 47 48

Global Filipino Cooperative Global Taguig Consumers Cooperative Golden Hands Multi-Purpose Cooperative

49

Good Shepherd Cathedral Transport and Multi-Purpose Cooperative Hawak Kamay Credit Cooperative

Heaven’s Harvests Marketing Cooperative HKB Transport Service & Multi-Purpose Cooperative 53 Holy Cross Multi-Purpose Cooperative 54 Homesite 85 Caring Group Credit Cooperative 55 Honest Transport Service Cooperative 56 Hygiene Partner Service Cooperative (HyServ Cooperative) 57 Infinite Service Cooperative

61

NCR NCR NCR

DTI Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative Entrepreneurs Credit Cooperative of Pateros Filipino Hairdressers Multi-Purpose Cooperative First Country Savings Development and Loan Cooperative

42 43

60

NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR

Genicor Multi-Purpose Cooperative

50

NCR NCR

Brgy. Payatas, IBP #100 Kaingin Road, Brgy. Samson, Balintawak #007 J.P. Rizal St., Pamplona I 3/F DDB-PDEA Bldg., NIA Road, National Government Center, East Triangle, Diliman c/o San Francisco High School Campus, Bago Bantay

41

44

NCR

Janz Multi-Purpose Cooperative Kalipunan ng mga Kooperatiba sa Malabon (KAKOMA) Kalipunan ng Responsableng Kababaihan ng Valenzuela Credit Cooperative (KARESKAVA Credit Coop) Kapatiran Multi-Purpose Cooperative

62

Kapuso Multi-Purpose Cooperative

63

Karangalan Manpower Service Cooperative

64 65

Karangalan ng Silangan Consumer Cooperative Kaunlaran ng Barangay at Kawani ang Simula Consumer Cooperative (KABAKAS)

66

Kooperatiba ng Sambayanang Kiwanian at Iba Pa

1495 Gov. I. Santiago St., Malinta

La Consolacion School, Mercedes Ave., San Miguel #083 Pantranco Compound, Himlayan Road 1107, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Area II Room 306, West City Plaza Bldg., #66 West Avenue 6 Bonifacio Ave., Christine Village Bagong Silang, Phase I, Pkg. 3, Bgy. 176 M-I, JL Bldg., A. Mabini St., Kapasigan

NCR

NCR NCR NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

NCR

NCR

46-C Rd. B Brgy. Veterans, Proj. 7 Paseo de Roxas

NCR NCR

#47 M.A. Roxas St., San Roque

NCR

Marikina TODA Credit Cooperative Mary Cause of Our Joy-Soldier’s Hills Mutual Camella Homes MultiPurpose Coop. (MCJ-SMC MPC)

35 Gardenia Homes, Gen. M. Ordoñez St., Parang MCJ Jubilee Center, Soldiers Hills Village, Brgy. Putatan

78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

MIST 87 Credit Cooperative Mothers on the Move Credit Cooperative (MOMCC) Napocor Village Senior Citizens Consumers Cooperative NARAA Multi-Purpose Cooperative Navotas, Caloocan, Malabon Drivers and Operators Credit Cooperative

NCR NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, Loboc St., Napocor Vill., Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora #26 P. Santos Ave., Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo

NCR NCR

1 T. Policarpio St., Bgy. San Jose

NCR

North Harbor Port Vendors MPC Orient Multi-Purpose Cooperative OTAG Multi-Purpose Cooperative Pag-asa sa Kabuhayan Savings and Credit Cooperative

Pier 8, North Harbor, Tondo FSS Bldg., 89 Scout Castor, Brgy. Laging Handa Office of the Adjutant General, Camp Aguinaldo Beulah Land Iemelif, Greenfields I Subd., Novaliches

NCR NCR NCR

87

Pag-asang Pinoy Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PAP-MPC)

Block 154 Lot17 Pascua Street, Bgy. Rizal

NCR

88

Philippine Airlines Employees’ Associations’ & other Airline Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative

#2014 J. Gabriel St., Baclaran

NCR

Fil-Pacific Apparel Corporation, Inc. Compound, Villonco Road, Sucat

NCR

2613 Dian St., Malate

NCR

89 Polaris Service Cooperative

90 91

Positive Consumers Cooperative (PCC) Samahan ng Mga Mangingisda ng Sibol Sa Dagat Consumer Cooperative

NCR

37 San Rafael St., Sipak

NCR

92 93

Samahan Sa Senado Ng Mga Kawani Sa Pabahay Sambayanang Konsti Credit Cooperative

The New Senate House, Govt. Financial Center, San Antonio de Padua, Sub-Parish Compoun +N2709d., San Mateo, Batasan Road

NCR

94 95

San Lorenzo Ruiz Credit Cooperative San Miguel Rengo Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative

4/F J & T Bldg., R. Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa Dr. A. Santos Ave., Sucat

NCR NCR

96

San Pedro Bautista Ugnayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative

#69 San Pedro Bautista St., SFDM

NCR

Sarangani Service Cooperative

Suite 101 FEMII Bldg., A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Brgy. 656, Zone 69

NCR

Km. 19 Quirino Highway, Bgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches #17 J. Dela Cruz St., Brgy. Salapan 698 Barangay Cupang #57 Diamond St., Northview 1 Subd., Batasan Hills

NCR NCR NCR NCR

97 98 99 100 101

Sea Hooks and Baits Workers Cooperative Seamen’s Club Multi-Purpose Cooperative Semiconductor Industry Consumer Cooperative Shared Vision Cooperative

116 117 118 119

2/F Lemon Square, 1199 Edsa No. 705 G. Lazaro St., Dalandanan 2479 Cagayan St., Sta. Ana 9A-07 Victoria Towers, Panay cor. Timog Ave.

NCR NCR NCR NCR

121 University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Employees Cooperative (UPCMCEC)

26 Jacinto Plaza Bldg., 58 Amang Rodriguez Ave., Bgy. Santolan Plaridel Hall, College of Mass Communication, U.P. Diliman

107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115

Union Obrera Multi-Purpose Cooperative United Christian Multi-Purpose Cooperative Unlad Bayan Consumers Cooperative Uniting People Towards Success Marketing Cooperative (UPSMC) 120 Universal Service Provider Cooperative

NCR

NCR NCR

145 Ilocos Sur St., Bago Bantay

NCR

West Rembo elem. School, West Rembo

NCR

124 125 126 127

#76-B, K-7th St., East Kamias NCR Unit 343 Mile Long Bldg., Amorsolo St., Brgy. San Lorenzo NCR YKL Color Laboratories, 24 Sto. Domingo NCR

Workers Initiative Multi-Purpose Cooperative Works Asia Multi-Purpose Cooperative YKL Color Employees Credit Cooperative Ernesto Rondon High School Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Road 3, Brgy. Proj 6

NCR

Unit 906 Tycoon Center, Pearl Drive, Ortigas

NCR

3rd Floor, Rotary Center, Roces Avenue NKK Bldg., 23 Champaca Cor. Ilang-Ilang St., Pingkian III, Bgy. Pasong Tamo

NCR

131 ABS Service Cooperative 132 Addition Hills Savings and Credit Cooperative

8185 Sgt. Fabian Yabut St., Guadalupe Nuevo 147 Lloyd George St., Bgy. Addition Hills

NCR NCR

133 Agricultural Credit Policy Council Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ACPCEMPC)

28/F OSMA Bldg., San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center,

NCR

16B Cuatro de Julio St., Galas Allegro Pacific Bldg., Brgy. Sto. Nino

NCR NCR NCR NCR

139 Anchor Credit Cooperative 140 Apollo Extension Credit Cooperative 141 ASEAN Agricultural Specialists and Trainers Advocacy Cooperative

206 Rosal St., Bgy. Pasong Tamo 2/F Corinthian Plaza, Paseo de Roxas Unit 1408 Antel Global Corporate Center cor.

Julia Vargas & Meralco Ave., Ortigas Ctr., Brgy Ortigas #2 Malabon City, Metro Manilaakas St., Brgy. Pinyahan 974 Aurora Blvd., Proj. 4, Cubao Agricultural Training Institute, Elliptical Road, VASRA, Diliman

142 Association of Security Guards Advocacy Cooperative (ASEGCO)

B3 L16 Wiltor Height, Pasong Tamo

NCR

No. 21 Road 12, Project 8 400 Salamisim St., Bacooc, Sta. Mesa

NCR NCR

128 1 Union of Workers Cooperative of the Philippines (1UWCP) 129 5PJAPI Credit Cooperative 130 Abled Senior Citizens Service Cooperative

134 Agro-Harvesters Multi-Purpose Cooperative 135 Allegrian Multi-Purpose Cooperative 136 Alliance for Philippine Security Guards Cooperative (AFPSEGCO) 137 Amcham Employees Cooperative 138 AMTI Employees’ Credit Cooperative

143 Awatu Livelihood Services Cooperative 144 Bacood Stop and Shop Mendiola Quiapo Transport Service Cooperative (BASSMEQUIA-COOP)

NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR

145 Baesa Adventist Academy Consumers Cooperative 8 Baesa Rd. Baesa 146 Balangay Multi-Purpose Cooperative 126 A. Labao St., Napindan 147 Balingasa High School Multi-Purpose Cooperative Bgy. Balingasa

NCR NCR NCR

148 Barangay Pasadena Basic Eclessial Community 186 F. Benitez St.,Brgy. Pasadena Savings and Credit Cooperative

NCR

149 150 151 152

Rm. 309 Armons Bldg., 142 Kamias Road, cor. Anonas 61 Boni Avenue, West Crame, Cubao Galas, Bignay B6 L10 Marcos Ave., Happy Glen Loop Subd., Samson Road, Deparo

NCR NCR NCR

4/F, Ben-Lor Bldg., 1184 Quezon Avenue

NCR

Barcelona Credit Cooperative Bellman Multi-Purpose Cooperative Bignay Consumer’s Cooperative Bro. Joseph Consumers Cooperative

153 Bureau of Agricultural Statistics Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative 154 155 156 157 158

Caloocan Teachers’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative CAPPI Group Multi-Purpose Cooperative CHSM Employees MultiPurpose Cooperative Citi Dynamic Services Cooperative Community Development Specialists Producers Cooperative

NCR

Division of City Schools, Caloocan Office, 10th Avenue NCR Allegro Pacific Bldg., Brgy. Sto. Nino NCR #163 Mendiola St., Brgy. San Miguel NCR Unit 106 Redgold Bldg., 1840 E. Rodriguez Avenue, Cubao NCR 15-D Tower A, Kingswood Makati Condos, Ocampo Sr. Cor. Pasong Tamo St., Bgy. La Paz NCR

159 Concepcion High School Teachers’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Purok 4 Malanday,

NCR

160 Condo Owners Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Unit 11C Greentbelt Parkplace Condominium, 112 C. Palanca St., Legaspi Village

NCR

161 Confederation of World War II Filipino Convets Bldg., Old PVAO Cpd., Rm. 2, Veterans Sons and Daughters Credit Cooperative Bgy. 659-A, Zone 71 A. Villegas St., Arroceros

NCR

162 Darshmitz Multi-Purpose Cooperative 163 De Castro Elementary School Multi-Purpose Cooperative

36 Gladiola St., Bgy. Roxas Everlasting St., De Castro Subd., Sta. Lucia

164 165 166 167 168

DPWH Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Brgy. 652 Zone 68 #9 Explorer St., Moonwalk Village, Talon 5 Dreamville, Ligid, Tipas 6/F Ben-Lor Building, 1184 Quezon Avenue, Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), Nagtahan, Sampaloc

NCR

CSWDO-ECCD G/F Legislative Bldg., Valenzuela City Hall, MCArthur Hi-way, Bgy. Karuhatan 1660 Dr. A. Vasquez St., Bgy. 696, Zone 76, Malate Pier 8, North Harbor, Tondo

NCR NCR NCR

DPWH Housing Multi-Purpose Cooperative Dreamhouse Realty Credit Cooperative Dreamville Bagong Sikat Tricycle Transport Cooperative Dynamic Multi-Purpose Cooperative Earist Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (EEMC)

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

5/F Hizon Bldg., 29 Quezon Ave. #30 Lamco St., Lawang Bato Unit 603 Diplomat Condominium cor. Russel St., Brgy. San Rafael, Brgy. 76 Zone 10

NCR NCR

175 Fashion Link Multi-Purpose Cooperative 176 Federation of Teachers’ Cooperative 177 Fine Harvest Technology Producers Cooperative (FHTPC)

Km. 14 Villonco Rd., Sucat 177 M. Martinez St. Brgy. Plainview #2 Watercrest New Era, Diliman

NCR NCR NCR

178 179 180 181 182 183

Allegro Pacific Bldg., Brgy. Sto. Nino Floodway, Maybunga # 239 Blk 9 BASECO Compound, Bgy. 649-2-68, Port Area 5th Flor, Star Cruises Ctr., 100 Andrews Ave., Newport City 1822 M. Hizon St., Sta. Cruz

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

439 Shaw Blvd., Brgy. Additional Hills 27/F Raffles Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Brgy. San Antonio

NCR

No. 2661 Taft Avenue, Malate, Brgy. 719 Unit H, 5/F, Strata 100 Bldg., Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Caridad cor. Amor St., Hilltop Mansion, Lagro #457 Chico St., Napico, Manggahan 4/F Northridge Plaza 12, Congressional Avenue, Barangay Bahay Toro

NCR NCR NCR NCR

#16 Marian Road 1 San Martin De Porres Bantayog Ng Mga Bayani Foundation, Quezon Ave. Block I, Lot 5, Cabalata St., Barangay Tatalon, 77-A Dr. Natividad St., Tipas

NCR NCR NCR NCR

Finishers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Floodway Multipurpose Cooperative Fren-Neth Consumer Cooperative Gabay Sa Pag-unlad Credit Cooperative Gintong Alay Sa Kabuhayan Credit Cooperative Goldilocks Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GEMPC) 184 Great Molave Service Cooperative 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194

Harvest Shofar Service Cooperative Health Code Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative Hilltop Mansion Multi-Purpose Cooperative Human Access Service Cooperative Human Care Multi Purpose Cooperative I C S Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative Igpaw Consumers Cooperative Inner City Development Cooperative Innovative Service Cooperative International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative

NCR

NCR

NCR

MICT Complex, North Harbor

NCR

195 iSERVE Services Cooperative

Unit 809 Antel Corporate Tower, Julia Vargas St., Ortigas Corporate Center

NCR

196 JeshAM Multi-Purpose Cooperative 197 Jezreel Valley Consumers Cooperative 198 Kaagapay sa Kaunlaran Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KASAKA)

670 Waling-Waling St., Pangarap Village B14 L10 Garnet St., Ph. II, Merry Homes

NCR NCR

#2485 Radium St., 1017 San Andres Bukid,

NCR

199 200 201 202 203

Kaakbay Entre-Workers Cooperative Kaibigan ng OCW’s Credit Cooperative Kapatid sa Paghahanap-buhay Credit Cooperative Kapitbahayan Credit Cooperative Kasambahay Multi-Purpose Cooperative ng Brgy. San Lorenzo Makati

#2218 Kings Bldg., F.B. Harrison Rm B & C, Ben-Lor Bldg., 1184 Quezon Ave. 9 New Apartment, Artex Cpd., Panghulo 2nd Flr., Bgy. Hall, Bgy. 767, San Andres Bukid 132 Colonnade Condominium, Carlos Palanca St., Legaspi Village

NCR NCR NCR NCR

Kooperatiba ng Manininda sa Makati Lady Luck Credit Cooperative Las Pinas Environment Multi-Purpose Cooperative Lingap Kalikasan Consumer Cooperative Luzviminda Hotline Network Credit Cooperative Makaneneng Vendors Credit Cooperative, Inc. Malate Catholic School Credit Cooperative Mango Tree Residences Housing Cooperative Manila Bulletin Multi-Purpose Cooperative Marikina City Jeepney Operators and Drivers Credit Cooperative

4771 Barasoain St., Brgy. Olympia 1052 Algeciras St., Brgy. 472, Zone 47, Sampaloc Lot 3 Blk 3, Golden Acres Subd., Pamplona 624 F. Blumentritt St., Barangay Hulo 2718 Kristine Joy Bldg., Ma. Aurora St., Poblacion 189 Malolos Ave., Bagong Barrio 1030 A. Mabini, San Andres 227 J.P. Rizal St., Proj. 4, Cubao Muralla St. cor. Recoletos St., Intramuros

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213

214 Martinez Memorial Credit Cooperative 215 Master Color Workers Cooperative 216 Mediators’ Forum Service Cooperative

No. 7 St. Bernadette Dela Costa Home, Barangka #198 Mabini Street, Maypajo 21 Galguera Compound, Ercarnation St. 26 Oliva Street, Valle Verde IV, Barangay Ugong, 1600

218 MIMAROPA DAR Employees Cooperative (MIDAREMPCO) 219 Molave Multi-Purpose Cooperative

221 MRH-Site 4 Credit Cooperative 222 MRV Homeowner’s Cooperative, Inc. 223 NAFTI Transport Service & Multi-Purpose Cooperative 224 NAPPCO Workers Credit Cooperative 225 National Defense College of the Philippines Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NDCP-MPC) 226 Natures Bliss Marketing Cooperative 227 NELFI National Capital Region (NCR) Credit Cooperative 228 NEMPEX Transport Service Cooperative 229 Nenaco Community Credit Cooperative 230 Northstar Savings and Credit Cooperative 231 Nurses Vox Healthcare Services Cooperative

122 Virgo Transport Cooperative 123 West Rembo Elementary School Multi-Purpose Cooperative

170 Ellinwood Credit Cooperative 171 Entrepreneur Consumer Cooperative 172 Environmental Management Bureau National Capital Region Credit Cooperative 173 Equitable Service Cooperative 174 Extraordinary Employees’ Cooperative

Loyal Team Service Cooperative Manila Mandarin Employees Union Consumer’s Cooperative, Inc. Marikina Footwear & Leathergoods Manufacturers Cooperative

Fil-Pacific Apparel Compound, Villonco Road, Sucat #1211 Quezon Avenue, Brgy. Sta. Cruz 3H 3rd Floor, EYG Bdlg., Shaw Blvd. Cor. Edsa 368 Km. 19 East Service Road, Upper Sucat hi-way, Brgy. Sucat, 8 Marcos Cruz St., Sta. Elena Room 906 Tower 1, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue

220 MRH Condominium Credit Cooperative

NCR NCR NCR

69 70

Mega-Trend Multi-Purpose Cooperative Mentor Active Network Multi-Purpose Cooperative Merchants Multi-Purpose Cooperative Metro Alliance Multi-Purpose Cooperative

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

169 ECCD Valenzuela Savings and Credit Cooperative

NCR NCR

74 75 76 77

217 Megaserv Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MS-MPC)

NCR

II-Unap Avenue, Phase 5, Manuyo Dos 2391 Osmeña cor. Baras St., Rizal Village, Poblacion

72 73

NCR NCR NCR NCR

St. Tropez Filipino Community Credit Cooperative Sta. Monica Insurance Agency Cooperative Sta. Perpetua Multi-Purpose Cooperative Star Special Employees Credit Cooperative Sto. Niño Parochial School Development Cooperative TABAK Service Cooperative Talent Unlimited Consumers Cooperative The 8 Consumer Cooperative Tindig Ayco Airnite Multi Purpose Cooperative Tonton Multi-Purpose Cooperative TRIDOMMA Transport Service Cooperative Trinoma Multi-Purpose Cooperative Tullahan River Alliance Housing Cooperative Ugnayan Magkapitbahay sa Camarin I (UMASACA) Consumers Cooperative

NCR

67 Las Piñas Neighborhood Credit Cooperative 68 Le Souffle Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative

71

No. 21 Ilustre St., Bgy. Don Manuel Suite 207, Cityland 8, 98 Gil Puyat Avenue 280 D. Tuazon St. 140 J.P. Rizal St., Barangay Milagrosa, Project 4 Sto. Niño Parochial School, Corrigidor St. cor.

Ilocos Sur St., Bago Bantay 29 Santan St., Bgy. Capri, Novaliches 4420 Bayview Drive, Brgy. Tambo 2/F Manila Memorial Park Bldg., 2283 Pasong Tamo Ext. 2286 Sitio Matarik, Barangay 176, Camarin Coltrans Compound, 2253 Aurora Blvd. (Formerly Tramo) 2022-B J. Abad Santos St., Tondo San Roque, Bgy. Bagong Pag-asa 150 Ginintuang Landas St., Sta. Monica 2150 Champaca Ext., Brgy. 174, Camarin

102 103 104 105 106

NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR

232 Nuwhrain Development Cooperative (NUWDECO) 233 OFW Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative

2/F, #82 Bernabe St., Annex 16-18, Blk 2 Lot 3, Better Living Subd., Bgy. Don Bosco Rudgen Bldg. I, #17 Shaw Blvd.

Blk 2 Lot 29, Rupee cor. Yen Sts., Villa Carolina I Subd., National Highway, Brgy. Tunasan MRH Site 2, Ascoville Road, Phase XI Bagong Silang Project MRH Site 4, Bldg. 9A-IV2 Tala MRV Chapel, 5 R. Tadeus Street, Sta. Lucia

NCR NCR NCR NCR

Lot 4 Industrial Block, Lapu-Lapu St., Dagat-Dagatan

NCR

No. 23 Narciso St., Canumay East

NCR

NDCP Bldg., Academic Row, Camp Gen. Aguinaldo

NCR

358 Panay Avenue, Brgy. Paligsahan

NCR

# 37 Cordillera St., Barangay Highway Hills 617 Valdez Compound, Paso De Blas Pier 2, North Harbor, Tondo Unit 248 2/F Mile Long Bldg., Amorsolo St., cor Herrera St., Pio Del Pilar 526*528 United National Ave. (c/o Jade Bookstore), Ermita G/F Del Mundo Bldg., 2125 Taft Ave., Malate Unit 718 AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Ave., Cors. Sapphire and Garnet Sts., 1605 Ortigas Center

NCR NCR NCR

234 Our Lady of Hope Multi-Purpose Cooperative #161-A William Shaw St., Grace Park 235 Outmost Filipino Workers Credit Cooperative (OFWCC) 14/F, 1409 Robinsons Equitable Tower, ADB Ave., Ortigas Center 236 Paltok Senior Citizens Consumers Cooperative 4413 Ponte St., Brgy. Sta. Cruz 237 Pamana Pag-asa Boni Producers Cooperative Barangka Ibaba Multi-Purpose Bldg., Zone 2, Bantay Bayan Outpost, MRR Track, Barangka Ibaba 238 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig Student Consumer Cooperative PLP Campus Bldg., Alcalde Jose St., Kapasigan 239 Pangunahing Kooperatiba ng CFC South B Blk 27 Lot 22, Merville Access Road, Kalayaan Village 240 Pasang Masda Multi-Purpose Cooperative Suite 203, 2/F 42 Prince Jun Condominium, Timog Ave. Cor. Scout Tuazon 241 Pasig Environmental Multi-Purpose Cooperative 75 Pasig Blvd., Bagong Ilog 242 Pateros National High School Multi-Purpose Cooperative P.N.H.S. Hererra St. 243 Pateros’ Devotees of Sta. Martha Multi-Purpose Cooperative

NCR NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

578 Martinez del 96 St.

NCR

244 PEL Makati Employees Cooperative 245 PGA El Jovir Redecor Credit Cooperative

#106 Valero St., Salcedo Village PSVSIA Center 1, 1957 España Blvd. cor.

Craig St., Sampaloc

NCR

246 247 248 249

56F Stanford St., Cubao #14 Violet St., Purok 5, Malanday, 595 Mcarthur Highway Cor. Calle 4, Bgy. 78 Pinagbuhatan High School, Urbano Velasco Ave., Pinagbuhatan

NCR NCR NCR

250 Platinum Creation Multi-Purpose Cooperative 251 Postal NCR Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative

No. 12 F. Pasco Avenue, 1610 Santolan

NCR

Liwasang Bonifacio, Lawton

NCR

252 Powerlink Packing Services Cooperative

Fil-Pacific Apparel Corporation, Inc. Compound, Villonco Road, Sucat

NCR

253 Primus Inter Pares Multi Purpose Cooperative 254 Proactive Global Services Cooperative 255 Productive Work Specialists Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PROWORKS)

Asahi Glass Compound, Brgy. Pinagbuhatan # 324 Custodio St., Santolan

NCR NCR

241-F. P. Tuazon Ave., Brgy. Socorro, Cubao

NCR

Philippine Palm Oil Producers Cooperative Philippine Transport Credit Cooperative PHLMort Credit Cooperative Pinagbuhatan High School Multi-Purpose Cooperative

NCR

256 PSI-Wings Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative ICT Bldg., NAIA 257 Purple Life Marketing Cooperative Unit 3A Forab Bldg., 121 Kamuning Road 258 PWR Business Options Transport Service Cooperative No. 25 J. Luna Castro St., North Susana Executive Village, Matandang Balara 259 Quedancor Employees Association, Inc. (QUEMAS) Multi-Purpose Cooperative Quedancor Center, 34 Panay Avenue, Brgy. Paligsahan 260 Quezon City Polytechnic University Multi-Purpose Cooperative #673 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches 261 Quick and Fast Credit Cooperative Unit 12A, 12th Floor, Ramon Magsaysay Center, 1680 Roxas Blvd., Malate 262 RAGC Multi-Purpose Cooperative 263 Rich Class Cooperative (RCC) 264 RMJM Employees Credit Cooperative 265 RR7 Multi-Purpose Cooperative 266 Samahan ng Maralitang Pamilya (SAMARPA) Multi-Purpose Cooperative

RAGC Cpd., Bo. Pinagbuhatan Rm. 911 City and Land Mega Plaza, ADB Ave. cor. Garnet Road, Ortigas Center 30/F Ayala Life FGU Center, 6811 Ayala Ave., Salcedo Village 8/F BIR Bldg., Sct. Santiago cor. Quezon Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle

NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

#18-A Ally 4, Villa Beatriz, Old Balara

NCR

SAMARA Philippines Multi-Purpose Cooperative San Sebastian Producer’s Cooperative Santos Women Multi-Purpose Cooperative Servicio Multi-Purpose Cooperative Sikap Consumer Cooperative South Harbor Employees Credit Cooperative (SHEMCCO) 273 South Signal Village Producers Cooperative

25/F Discovery Center, Brgy. San Antonio, Ortigas Center #15 Cadena de Amor St., Wawa 153 St. Mary St. Santos Homes I Subd Kaingin Road, Barangay Santo Niño Livelihood Office, Elsie Gatches St., Ph. I, BF Homes G/F ATI Head Office, A. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Brgy. 652, Zone 68 Lot 1-C Everlasting St., Purok 14, Zone 6B, Brgy. South, Signal Village

NCR NCR NCR NCR NCR

274 Southville III Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association Service Cooperative

Phase I Blk 14, Southville III, NBP Reservation, Barangay Poblacion

275 Specialist Credit Cooperative 276 SPMSI Employees Cooperative

2295 Jannov Bldg., Pasong Tamo Ext. The Enterprise Center, 5/F Tower 2, 6766 Ayala cor. Paseo de Roxas St.

NCR

277 St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Credit Cooperative 278 Taguig Fish Processing Producers Cooperative 279 Taguig Guadalupe Market-Market Transport Service Cooperative

R. Thaddeus & M. Raymond Sts., Sta. Lucia Kentucky St., Bambang

NCR NCR

496 Mabolo St., Cembo

NCR

Blk 5 Lot 1, Pinagbuklod ng Sta. Ana 384 Guiho St., Zone 1, Barangay Signal Village Rm. 502 5/F MSA Prime Center, Prime St., Madrigal Business Park 2, Alabang

NCR NCR

267 268 269 270 271 272

280 Taguig Pasig, Angono, Tay-Tay Transport Service Cooperative 281 Taguig Rising Sun Multi-Purpose Cooperative 282 TBP Service Cooperative 283 Technology & Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) Employees Dev’t. Cooperative, Inc. (FR. MKT) 284 Tescor Multi-Purpose Cooperative 285 The Broadband Marketing Cooperative 286 The Methodist Men and Women Financing Credit Cooperative 287 The New Exodus United Neighborhood Multi-Purpose Cooperative 288 The Real Bank Employees’ Credit Cooperative

NCR NCR

NCR

NCR

10/F City State Center Orambo NCR 16-A Albany St., Cubao NCR Lot 14-A Blk 3, Neptune St., Del Nor Subd., Bgy. Talon 5NCR Central United Methodist Church, 694 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita NCR Lot 33 Blk 7 Pkg. Phase 2, Bagong Silang

NCR

7/F President Tower, # 81 Timog Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle

NCR

289 Tondo Medical Center (TMC) Credit Cooperative Tondo Medical Center, Honorio Lopez Blvd., Kalakal St., Balut, Tondo 290 Tonsuya Elementary School Teaching and Non-Teaching Personnel Consumer Cooperative Sancianggo St., Tonsuya 291 Topnotch Multi-Purpose Cooperative 2nd Floor Nasson’s Bldg., 8467 West Service Road, Sun Valley 292 Tricycle Welfare Movement Multi-Purpose Cooperative #1 Alley 11 P. Rosales St., Brgy. Sta. Ana 293 Tumana Credit Cooperative 294 University of the Philippines College of Education Administrative Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative 295 Urban Bliss Barangka Market Service Cooperative, Inc.

NCR

NCR NCR NCR NCR

Blk. 76 Angel Santos St., Tumana

NCR

UP College Of Education, Diliman

NCR

Urban Bliss Project, Barangka

NCR

296 UTFM - Makati Transport Cooperative 297 Veterans Federation of the Philippines Employees Consumer Cooperative

Ayala Avenue Corner Malugay Street, Brgy. San Antonio NCR

298 299 300 301 302 303 304

Rm. 126 Tia Maria Bldg., C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona NCR Villamor High School, Pasig Line, Sta. Ana NCR 548 Calbayog St., Brgy. Highway Hills NCR San Juan, San Simon, Pampanga Region 3 Arcega Street, Tabing Ilog, Marilao, Bulacan Region 3 Fiesta Homes, New Cabalan, Olongapo City, Zambales Region 3 Region 3 14th St., New Kalalake, Olongapo City, Zambales

Victory Multi Purpose Christian Cooperative, Inc. Villamor High School Multi-Purpose Cooperative W.E.C.A.N. Savings and Credit Cooperative San Simon Swine Raisers Multipurpose Cooperative Marilao Magsasaka Multipurpose Cooperative Kaibigan Subic Credit Cooperative Kalalake National High School Employees Consumer Cooperative 305 Gordon Heights Operators and Drivers Transport Services Cooperative 306 Tagapagtaguyod ng Banal na Mag-Anak Producers Cooperative 307 Collective Alternative Resource Program Credit Cooperative (CARPCC) 308 Women of Sitio Buno Credit Cooperative 309 Guimba District Hospital Primary Mulitpurpose Cooperative 310 Mariveles Builders Multi-Purpose Cooperative

PVAO Cpd., Gatpuno Villegas St., Ermita

NCR

Blk 19 Waterdam Road, Gordon Heights, Olongapo City, Zambales

Region 3

1000 Concepcion, Baliuag, Bulacan

Region 3

DAR, Diwa ng Tarlak, Brgy. San Vicente, Tarlac City

Region 3

Sitio Buno, Matatalaib, Tarlac City Pacac, Guimba, Nuva Ecija

Region 3 Region 3

Lakandula St., Poblacion, Mariveles, Bataan

Region 3

311 Masa-Gana ng Iba Este Multipurpose Cooperative (MIEMPC)

Barangay Iba Este, Calumpit, Bulacan

Region 3

312 Palimbang Service Cooperative

Brgy., Palimbang, Calumpit, Bulacan

Region 3

313 Lingap sa Bayan ng Diyos (LIBAD) Multipurpose Cooperative

Ground Floor, Knights Of Columbus Bldg., Poblacion, Calumpit, Bulacan

Region 3

314 Pulilan Marketing Cooperative

580 Rizal Street, Paltao, Pulilan,Bulacan

Region 3

315 Farm Alliance Multipurpose Cooperative

# 66 Barangay Tenejeros, Pulilan, Bulacan

Region 3

316 Hantungan Neighborhood Credit Cooperative

No. 1515 Dr. M. Pascual, Norzagaray, Bulacan

Region 3

317 Met Rover Credit Cooperative

1348 Macarthur Highway, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Bulacan Region 3

318 Pidusaw Producers Cooperative

Hilltop, San Lorenzo, Norzagaray, Bulacan

Region 3 (MS-AUGUST 15, 2019)

Sports

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

A8

Ramirez wants public to know venues of SEA Games events

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

By Peter Atencio

Thai Nemittra Juntanaket watches the flight of her ball after making an approach shot with an iron.

Fil-Am ties national swim mark ANOTHER Filipino-American standout could make the cut in the national swimming team that is being formed for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Seventeen-year-old Jaden Christian Olson surpassed a Philippine record and equaled another last Friday in the United States.

Olson eclipsed Jerald Jacinto’s 50-meter backstroke mark in the junior division and matched Ryan Papa’s men’s 100m backstroke national record when he saw action in the National Club Swimming Association Summer Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.

According to the event’s official website, he clocked 56.48 seconds for the silver which equaled the 22-year mark of Papa in the 19th SEA Games in Jakarta.

In the male 50m backstroke event, he topped the morning preliminaries in 26.45 seconds, before Olson took the gold medal after clocking a new Philippine national best time of 26 seconds.

A member of the Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club, Olson went past Jacinto’s 26.32 second record which was submitted during the 50th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships.

Olson and Jacinto will represent Philippines in the 7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest from August 20 to 25.

They are among the top contenders for the national team for the SEA Games.

Last week, Olson also clocked 24.55 in the 50-m freestyle of the NCSA Summer Championships. Peter Atencio

Thai vaults ahead as Superal falters L

IPA CITY, Batangas—Thai Nemittra Juntanaket recovered from an early mishap with a strong windup, birdying three of the last six holes to salvage a 72 and grab a two-stroke lead over Marvi Monsalve as Princess Superal hobbled at the finish at the start of the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Ladies Classic at Mt. Malarayat’s composite course here yesterday.

Juntanaket, out to make up for her joint 18th at Pradera Verde Ladies last month, fell behind early with a triple-bogey on a lost ball on the first hole of Mt. Malipunyo but after a run of brave pars, she hit back-to-back birdies from No. 13 of Mt. Makulot then added another on the par-5 No. 16 to save a 39-33.

With Superal blowing a two-under round after 12 holes with a horrendous five-over card in the last six holes, Juntanaket surged ahead with Monsalve assuming the challenger’s role with a 74 she spiked with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17.

Defending champion Onkanok Soisuwan missed seizing solo second with bogeys in the last two, dropping to joint third at 75 with Superal and fellow Thais Numa Gulyanamitta and Alisara Wedchakama as most of the bidders, save for Juntanaket, floundered at Mt. Makulot tricky holes.

“Except on No. 1, my game is good. I actually struggled at the front but recovered and played good at the back,” said Juntanaket, who hopes to sustain her form

and finally get a title shot in the P750,000 event put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “I’ll make sure to have a good score on No. 1 tomorrow (today) and hit the fairways and greens,” added Juntanaket, whose sister Nimmita, however, stumbled with an 80.

Monsalve, meanwhile, banked on her putting to survive a rollercoaster stint on what she described as “good and very challenging” course.

“Compared to Mt. Makulot, it was difficult to putt at Mt. Malipunyo where the greens are hard and one needs a good drop (approach) to get a good shot at birdies,” said Monsalve.

But it was a sorry finish for Superal, winner of the last LPGT leg at John Hay, who had appeared to be in control after bouncing back from a bogey on No. 2 with birdies on Nos. 5, 8 and 10. But after two pars, she bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14, dropped another stroke on the 16th and holed out with a double bogey.

“I didn’t know what happened, got

confused with what to use on my second shots. My long game and putting were okay but almost all of my approach shots at the back went over,” rued Superal, who hopes to settle down on club selection in the last 36 holes.

Korean Hwang Min-Jeong, who as an amateur bested the pros here in 2015, birdied No. 18 but not after dropping strokes on Nos. 2, 3, 12 and 17 and making a double bogey on No. 9 for a 40-37 and a 77 for joint ninth with Thai Chouvarest Chourkittisopon, a stroke behind joint seventh-running Ajira and Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro, who both carded 76s, as the Thais dominated the first 18 holes of the 54-hole championship with seven in the Top 10.

The local aces groped for form in the heat and wind with Midlands leg winner Chihiro Ikeda fumbling with a 78 in a tie with comebacking Cyna Rodriguez and Gretchen Villacencio while former leg winner Sarah Ababa limped with a 79 for a share of 14th with Pamela Mariano.

Eagle Ace Superal, meanwhile, skied to an 80 but emerged as the leading amateur with Korean Kwon Tae Yon and Mafy Singson both turning in 81s and Sam Bruce and Samantha Martirez submitting 82s in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.

Djokovic, Federer advance as Serena pulls out CINCINNATI, United States—Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer overwhelmed opponents at the WTA-ATP Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday (Wednesday Philippine time), where Serena Williams withdrew because of back trouble.

Williams had hoped to rebound from the back spasms that forced her out of the WTA final in Toronto on Sunday, where she lasted only four games before retiring.

But the 23-time Grand Slam champion said her back was “still not right” casting a further shadow on her chances at the US Open starting in Flushing Meadows on August 26.

For Djokovic and Federer, back in action for the first time since the Serb’s victory over the Swiss in the Wimbledon final, it was a smooth start to their US Open build-up.

Defending champion Djokovic double

Bacoor Strikers star player Gab Banal leads another fastbreak attack for his team in this file photo. Bacoor tripped Master’s Sardines in Bacoor City last Tuesday

faulted three times as he dropped serve in the opening game against Sam Querrey but quickly put things right and pulled away for a 7-5, 6-1 victory over the American.

“I ended the match well even if the start was nervy,” said Djokovic, who would break Querrey twice to take the first set then roll to victory.

Federer, seeded third, remained unruffled by a one-hour rain interruption at 2-2 in the second set, eventually defeating Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round at the event he has won seven times.

“I’m very happy, even if it was a bit tricky with the rain delay,” Federer said.

“I’m happy to be back on court.

“This is the start of a long, long hardcourt swing. It’s good to begin with a win.

Williams, meanwhile, was left just try-

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Sam Querrey of the United States during Day 4 of the Western and Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. AFP

ing to get healthy after pulling out of her scheduled first-round match against qualifier Zarina Diyas.

“I came to Mason (Ohio) on Sunday and have tried everything to be ready to play tonight, and was still hopeful after my practice this morning,” Williams said in a statement released by tournament officials.

“But unfortunately my back is still not

right.”

It’s another injury blow for the 37-yearold American, who was hampered by knee trouble earlier this season and remains in search of her first title since the 2017 Australian Open.

In early action, Stan Wawrinka won a first-round battle as he eliminated 2017 Cincinnati champion Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). AFP

Bacoor Strikers subdue Bacolod in OT, 107-100 BACOOR won in overtime and Rizal pulled off an upset on Tuesday to highlight the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season at Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor City.

The Bacoor Strikers were tested to the hilt before subduing Bacolod Master’s Sardines, 107-100, while the Rizal Xentro Mall Golden Coolers rallied from 20 points down to shock the Batangas City Athletics, 78-76.

Gab Banal, showing why he was named MVP of the MPBL Datu Cup, posted 10 points, including back-toback triples, in extra time to power the Strikers to an 8-2 record in the South division of the 31-team league.

The versatile Banal wound up with

29 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds for coach Chris Gavina, who drew 18 points from Mark Pangilinan, 15 points and 19 rebounds from Michael Mabulac, and 12 points and 14 rebounds from Michael Canete, paving the way for Bacoor’s domination underneath, 70-38.

Bacolod, which engaged Bacoor in a shootout that netted a league-best 30 triples, forged overtime at 88-88 on a triple by Jopher Custodio with six seconds to go only to fall short and drop to 3-7.

It was Pao Javelona, however, who topscored for Bacolod with 27 points, followed by Custodio with 23 and Mark Tallo with 17.

Just when the Golden Coolers ap-

peared doomed after they trailed by 12 in the last five minutes, Benitez, who ended up with 27 points and 8 rebounds, conspired with Jett Vidal and Buenaventura to turn the game around for their second win in nine starts.

The Athletics, who missed the services of crack point guard Jeff Viernes, skidded to 3-3.

Quezon City trounced Imus, 105-93, in the second game of the tripleheader which drew a packed crowd, including MPBL founder Senator Manny Pacquiao.

The Quezon City Capitals checked a two-game slide to rise to 5-4 while the Imus Bandera tasted their third straight defeat and fell to 2-6.

INFORMING the public of the venues for the games of the 30th Southeast Asian Games is the main concern of the Philippine Sports Commission now that the biennial meet is just three months away.

PSC chairman William Ramirez raised this concern after he affixed his signature during the signing of a tripartite agreement between the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine SEAG Organizing Committee.

“I would like to tell them that we would like to immediately have signs in all venues that these are the places where the games are to be played. I am suggesting that immediately all venues should have identifications,” said Ramirez during the signing ceremony held yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino signed the agreement with Ramirez, along with Phisgoc president and CEO Ramon Suzara.

Ramirez, who is also the chef de mission of the national team, noted the lack of signages and tarpaulins when he visited playing venues that are being prepared for the Games when he and three other commissioners conducted ocular inspection at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

With the agreement in place, the government sports agency will able to quickly releasing the full assistance to the operations of the Phisgoc with a budget of P6-billion that is under the care of the PSC. On the other hand, the Phisgoc now has the obligation to submit reports on its financial activities to the PSC and the POC, and turn over excess funds that it has in its possession.

As for the POC, it will now be able to monitor the activities of the Phisgoc, the technical aspect of the Games, oversee its expenditures and marketing activities.

Ramirez expressed disappointment when he and members of the board visited the places that have been tapped inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as venues for the biennial meet.

The beachfront area will be the site of the triathlon competitions, which will be at the Boardwalk along Dewey Avenue.

The Boardwalk will also be used for duathlon, open water swimming and modern pentathlon.

When PSC officials went to the Subic Bay Exposition and Convention Center, they also noted that the rooms that will be used for muay, table tennis and pencak silat are still bare.

PH rules East Asia chess tilt TEAM Philippines took home 37 gold medals to win the overall championship in the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

In the event that was held from August 1 to 10, Mongolia and Singapore both had 19 gold medals. Mongolia took second while Singapore settled for third.

There are 13 countries that joined, according to a dispatch sent by National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director Jayson Gonzales.

Among the winners are Al Basher Buto (Under 10 boys), Ruelle Canino (U12 Girls), woman FIDE Master Gladimir Chester Romero of Cagayan de Oro (U12 Boys) and Angelie Biete (U16, silver).

And this includes China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taipei, Vietnam and Thailand.

There were a total number of 250 competing players who saw action.

Also getting medals are Michael Concio Jr., bronze, U16 boys; Dasmarinas bet Kaye Lalaine Regidor, U12 Girls; Sta. Rosa, Laguna’s Jerlyn Mae San Diego, bronze U16; Dasmarinas woodpusher Ruth Joy Vinuya, gold U16, girls; and Far Eastern University- Diliman chesser Elah Sarelle Perez bronze, U18 girls.

Meanwhile, the country’s top youth woodpushers led by Vincent Ryu Dimayuga will see action in the Open Kitchen Rapid Chess Tournament dubbed as IM Joel Banawa Chess Cup on September 1 (Sunday) at the Open Kitchen, Rockwell Business CenterSheridan, Highwayhills, Greenfields District in Mandaluyong City.

Joining Dimayuga are defending champion Angele Tenshi Biete of Las Pinas City, Gladimir Chester “Rocky” Falconit Romero of Tanauan City, Batangas, Mar Aviel Carredo of Quezon City, Austin Klhoe of Mandaluyong City, siblings Ivan and Jericho Cu of San Juan City as well brothers Prince and Oshrie Jhames “OJ” Reyes of Dila-Dila, Santa Rita, Pampanga.

Tournament registration start at eight am to 10:30 am followed by simple opening ceremony. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

EastWest’s income rises 21% to P2.7b

EASTWEST Banking Corp., the financial unit of Filinvest Development Corp. and one of the largest universal banks in the country, said net income in the first half jumped 21 percent to P2.7 billion yearon-year, driven mainly by higher fees and commissions, higher trading gains, and lower credit costs.

The bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday the first-half performance resulted in a return on equity of 12.3 percent.

Total assets grew 22 percent to ₱389.5 billion on year, while revenues rose by 8 percent to ₱13.2 billion from ₱12.2 billion in the same period last year.

The bank attributed the increase to fees and commissions which rose 30 percent to ₱2.7 billion as well as securities and foreign exchange trading gains which climbed to ₱629.5 million from last year’s ₱218.5 million.

“Last quarter [first quarter 2019], we mentioned that due to tight liquidity and higher funding costs, our margins were ‘squeezed.’ We are slowly seeing improvement on this and anticipate a better second half for 2019,” bank president and deputy chief executive Bobby Reyes said in a statement. Julito G. Rada

Business

GMA improves profit to P1.35b in 6 months

GMA Netwok Inc. on Wednesday reported a net income of P1.35 billion in the first half of the year, up 10 percent from P1.23 billion year-on-year.

The broadcasting network posted consolidated revenues of P7.91 billion, a 7 percent increase year-on-year.

“Main driver for the top-line growth was the presence of political advocacies and advertisements aggregating to about three-fourths of a billion pesos until May this year,” said GMA. Without the boost from these electionrelated placements, year-to-date revenues from regular advertisers finished lower by 3 percent.

Advertising revenues, which included airtime revenues and online advertising, led the growth chart with an 8 percent increase to P7.26 billon from last year’s P6.7 billion.

The network’s production cost, talent fees and other direct costs which comprised 53 percent of total operating costs, rose 4 percent to P3.17 billion from a year ago. Darwin G. Amojelar

ATI’s net income jumped 53% to P2.1b in 1st half ASIAN Terminals Inc. said Wednesday net income jumped 53 percent in the first half from a year ago on higher cargo volume in Manila and Batangas ports.

The port operator owned by businessman Eusebio Tanco said net profit amounted to P2.14 billion from January to June, up from P1.40 billion it earned in the same period last year.

ATI said revenues climbed 23.5 percent in the six-month period to P7.04 billion from P5.70 billion in the same period of 2018, driven by higher international containerized cargoes handled

by Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal.

MSH handled nearly 650,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of international boxed cargoes in the first six months―a new mid-year record for the port and higher by 15 percent than the first half of 2018.

BCT in Batangas continued to expand its role in enabling trade in Southern Luzon and helping reduce road traffic along metro roads, following the completion of a major terminal upgrade early this year.

ATI said that with a bigger terminal footprint complemented by four quay cranes, eight rubber-tired gantry cranes and other modern equipment, BCT facilitated the delivery of more than 160,000 TEUs of foreign boxed cargoes for industries in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

This is higher by 45 percent than its mid-year cargo volume last year, setting BCT on pace to surpass 2018’s full-year throughput of nearly 250,000 TEUs. ATI also attributed the record cargo volume to port efficiency measures implemented in collaboration with customers, port authorities and other stakeholders. Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

B1

July car sales climbed 13.5% to 28,038 units

By Othel V. Campos

Phoenix increases share sale to P7b

THE board of Phoenix Petroleum Corp. increased the company’s planned issuance of perpetual preferred shares to P7 billion from the previously approved P5 billion.

Phoenix said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Wednesday the preferred shares would be listed with the PSE and the public offering registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission .

“Issuance was increased as another financial institution signified intent to come in as a joint underwriter for P2 billion on top of CBC Capital’s P3 billion underwriting commitment,” Phoenix senior vice president for external affairs Raymond Zorrilla said.

The Phoenix board earlier approved the appointment of Chinabank Capital Corp. to underwrite the sale of the company’s perpetual preferred shares amounting to P5 billion.

“Proceeds from the fundraising will be used to fund the company’s expansion requirements,” Phoenix said earlier.

Alena Mae S. Flores

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

CIMB MILESTONE. The all-digital, mobile-first CIMB Bank Philippines garners 500,000 customers six months after opening its doors for business in the country. The bank reaches the milestone on a strong proposition of co-creation and partnership with GCash.

Celebrating the milestone at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taguig City are (from left) CIMB Bank Philippines chief executive Vijay Manoharan, CIMB Group chief executive Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, CIMB Group Ventures & Partnerships chief executive Effendy Shahul Hamid and GCash head of savings Kim Aimei Seng. Lino Santos

DOTr awards Bulacan airport to San Miguel

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Department of Transportation said Wednesday it issued the notice of award to San Miguel Holdings Corp. for the P734billion Bulacan International Airport project.

Under the notice, SMHC will undertake the financing, design, construction, supply, completion, testing, commissioning and operation and maintenance of the new international gateway.

San Miguel Corp. said with the NOA in place, SMHC would submit the necessary documents to the DOTr special bids and awards committee within 20 days after receipt of the notice.

Transportation Undersecretary for

planning and project implementation Reuben Reinoso said that once completed, the project would help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while also providing the traveling public a world-class airport geared to give the Filipino people a comfortable life.

“Finally, we can push forward with the Bulacan International Airport. It will provide a major convenience to the people of Central Luzon and northern part of Metro Manila. Once operational, this new airport will give connectivity options to our citizens,” Reinoso said.

The DOTr concluded the Swiss Challenge for the unsolicited proposal of SMHC on July 31 when no other party challenged the original proponent for the construction of the airport.

The SBAC Technical Working Group issued resolution and executive brief on Aug. 1 recommending that the contract

be awarded to SMHC. The Bulacan International Airport is expected to commence construction by the end of the year and is targeted for operations within four to six years.

San Miguel tapped the services of global firms Groupe ADPi, Meinhardt Group and Jacobs Engineering to design and build the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan.

All three companies were involved in building world-class airports including Changi Airport in Singapore, Atlanta Airport in the US and Charles de Gaulle Airport in France.

The initial designs, some of which were released earlier, envision a futureready airport focusing on overall passenger experience and sustainable technologies consistent with the needs of the environment and the local communities of Bulacan and nearby provinces.

Tariff Commission hikes cement duties to P12 per bag CONSUMERS should brace for higher cement prices following the decision of the Tariff Commission to raise the safeguard duties to P12 per 40-kilogram bag of imported cement from the provisional P8.40 per bag.

The commission concluded its investigation on the influx of imported cement in the country and found that imports were hurting the local cement manufacturing industry.

Cement importers, however, asked the Trade Department to review the duties recommended by the Tariff Commission, saying they would impact on the cost of construction and infrastructure projects.

“But somehow the increase will

positively raise the revenues of the local manufacturing companies. We, as importers, can only earn so much. But we will continue to import if only to fill the shortage that local cement cannot serve,” said Philippine Cement Importers Association president Napoleon Co. Cement companies argued that there was enough domestic supply of cement while Philcement Corp., one of the biggest importers, claimed that there was a supply deficit of 6 million metric tons.

Importers also cited other costs aside from safeguard duties. These include stevedoring, trucking and warehousing charges which are also factored into

the total cement prices.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the department was open to evaluating the result of the Tariff Commission’s investigation, “but we welcome their findings that there was injury to the industry and that the safeguard duty should be P297 per MT or P12 per 40kg bag.”

The Trade Department asked for a week to determine if the government should impose a cap or ceiling on the price of local cement.

Data from importers showed that demand for cement reached 34 million MT, while domestic production was only 28 million MT. Othel V. Campos

AUTOMOTIVE sales climbed 13.5 percent in July from a year ago, the first time the sector posted a double-digit growth after the government revamped taxes on vehicles in January 2018.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report their members sold 31,810 vehicles in July, up from 28,038 units they delivered in the same month in 2018.

“It is noteworthy that positive factors such as continued and strong sales campaigns and stable supply of units have outweighed the unfavorable effects of the off-peak season to the overall sales growth,” said Campi president Rommel Gutierrez.

“Historically, July is considered as one of the lean months of the industry.

Nonetheless, we are optimistic that if we are able to sustain this growth trend, we will be able to exceed our sales performance last year,” he said.

Data showed that passenger car sales jumped 34.7 percent in July to 9,532 units from 6,975 units a year ago while demand for commercial vehicles picked up by 6.4 percent to 22,418 units from 21,063 units.

Light commercial vehicles increased 12.2 percent to 17,677 units while Asian utility vehicle sales dropped.

Month-month sales slightly went down by 0.4 percent from 31,950 vehicles sold in June 2019.

The two industry group said total vehicle sales in the first seven months rose 3.1 percent to 205,945 units from 199,628 units in the same period in 2018.

Passenger car sales declined 1.8 percent in the seven-month period to 61,816 units from 62,159 units a year earlier while commercial vehicle sales went up by 5.5 percent to 144,130 units from 136,669 units.

Light commercial vehicles posted the highest growth of 21.3 percent to 126,460 units while the rest of the commercial vehicles performed poorly.

Sales of trucks and buses went down 38.1 percent.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. retained its position as the market leader with a 42.52-percent market share in July.

It was followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 17.47 percent; Nissan Philippines Inc. with 12 percent; Suzuki Philippines Inc. with 6.37 percent; and Ford Motor Company Phils. Inc. with 6.36 percent.

3 conglomerates report mixed income results

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATES JG Summit Holdings Inc., Alliance Global Group Inc. and DMCI Holdings Inc. turned in mixed income results in the first half after cost pressures weighed on revenues.

JG Summit of the Gokongwei group said net income climbed 79 percent in the first six months to P17.6 billion from a year ago while AGI, the investment holding company of billionaire Andrew Tan, registered a flat profit of P12.5 billion.

DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji family booked P6.7 billion in consolidated income in the first half of 2019, down 22 percent from P8.6 billion in the previous year.

JG Summit said the favorable first-half results came on the back of a 10-percent increase in revenues and mark-to-market and forex gains amid the favorable macroeconomic environment.

“We are pleased to report a record P17.6-billion net income in the first half.

With inflation easing and a generally favorable macroeconomic environment this year, we continue to experience strong growth from our food, airline and real estate businesses. Our exposure to a diverse mix of core businesses and investments has certainly helped us achieve such earnings momentum. We hope to sustain this growth for the balance of the year,” JG Summit said.

Meanwhile, AGI said all major subsidiaries in property, liquor, gaming and quick service restaurant businesses contributed to the 15-percent growth in revenues to P82.8 billion in the first six months.

“We believe the group’s strong topline performance was achieved on the back of a highly favorable domestic economy which cushioned the impact of some challenges in the global market,” AGI chief executive Kevin Tan said.

ALLIES FOR RICE SECTOR. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III (left) and Agriculture Secretary William Dar agree to implement an assistance program to help rice farmers adjust to the low prices of palay (paddy rice), following the passage of Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law. It entails an unconditional cash assistance that will be allocated and distributed to RTL-affected farmers by expanding the ongoing survival and recovery program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rise; URC, ICTSI advance T he stock market rebounded Wednesday after a rally in Wall Street overnight, ending a threeday slump as investors welcomed news the US decided to defer tariffs on Chinese products.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 70.20 points, or 0.9 percent, to 7,858.65 on a value turnover of P6.6 billion. Gainers beat losers, 112 to 83, with 40 issues unchanged.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, rallied 7.7 percent to P234.20, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the largest port operator, advanced 6.2 percent to P127.50.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, climbed 4 percent to P169.50, while major property developer Ayala land Inc. gained 3.5 percent to P48.90.

The rest of Asian equities rose Wednesday as investors breathed a collective sigh of relief at news the US had delayed tariffs on a swathe of Chinese goods, easing tensions in their bitter trade war.

The US gains filtered through to Asia where Hong Kong edged up 0.3 percent in the afternoon.

The rise helped reverse some of the more than two percent lost in the previous two days from concerns about rising political tension that saw the city’s airport—a major international hub—shut down for two days.

The increasingly violent demonstrations have also been referred to as “terrorism” by Beijing, stoking

Trump said the decision was made to protect consumers heading into the holiday shopping season, with 10 percent levies on electronics goods— which were due on September 1—put off until December 15.

“By the time December comes around the US will be less than one year away from the next presidential election, and Trump won’t want to be remembered as the Grinch,” said David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK. The news provided some muchneeded respite for investors, who have come under intense pressure from a range of issues including concerns about the global economy, Hong Kong’s protests, the trade war and Brexit.

Wall Street’s three main indexes surged on the announcement, with the tech-rich Nasdaq up two percent, and the Dow and S&P 500 more than one percent higher. With AFP

fears China will take a tougher line, with observers still concerned about the outlook for further unrest.

Shanghai added 0.4 percent but early big gains there and in Hong Kong were pared after data showed Chinese factory output expanded last month at its slowest pace in 17 years as the economy struggles with the impact of the trade war and a weakening global demand.

Tokyo ended one percent higher and Singapore gained 0.1 percent, Seoul added 0.7 percent, Sydney put on 0.4 percent and Taipei put on 0.6 percent.

There were also gains in Mumbai, Jakarta and Bangkok though Wellington dipped.

Donald Trump also said top-level negotiators for both sides had held “very productive” talks by phone, while an official told AFP the president’s top trade representative would speak again to his opposite number in two weeks.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 57.2 7,760 90.3 1,366,920 148.5 1,817,310 26.35 35,400 18.3 200 11.54 547,200 4.9 784,000 752 380 0.435 450,000 70.3 3,891,110 1.01 1,341,000 13.1 2,800 47.85 54,800 188.4 100,410 57.55 5,110 28.4 57,900 189.3 271,170 1,750 350 59.2 56,350 1.11 17,000

443,872 123,785,212.50 265,997,009 933,495 3,660 6,365,768 3,915,700 286,060 196,650 274,019,043.50 1,294,920 36,680 2,611,410 19,077,660 294,118 1,634,855 51,663,069 612,965 3,325,154 18,870

-3,432 -8,021,152 11,462,822 128,930 -1,415,658 -100,406,862.50 -196,000 -1,082,110 19,038,112 472,120 -3,194,361 -344,431 -

34.1 13.2 0.71 1.29 0.24 2.98 13.94 12.1 15.5 36 70 82 2.02 6.05 8.95 14.8 9.15 7.49 1.74 24.75 81.1 54.9 1.98 13.86 7.9 1.55 219 3.41 8.36 22.5 13.42 18.24 356.4 1.68 4.78 5.09 9 2.7 10.2 36.7 5.01 5 1.69 1 12.5 97.5 6.8 1.08 161.2 2.48 1.13 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 34.2 1,027,100 14.2 168,100 0.72 624,000 1.31 94,000 0.247 550,000 3.15 14,314,000 13.94 879,100 12.24 391,100 16.06 2,500 36.2 21,500 83.95 32,150 102 16,010 2.04 43,000 6.07 26,100 9 3,092,100 14.8 900,400 9.17 1,109,800 7.54 348,900 1.74 4,000 25.5 3,147,600 81.15 182,950 56.6 259,280 1.98 4,473,000 14 842,500 8.13 457,000 1.55 21,000 234.2 1,470,580 3.41 12,000 8.36 6,500 22.75 324,700 13.6 146,400 18.5 401,800 356.4 127,160 1.83 12,146,000 4.79 19,000 5.11 796,100 9 2,500 2.85 49,034,000 11.1 63,100 36.7 153,800 5.12 86,700 5 1,000 1.77 1,994,000 1.03 43,000 12.54 598,700 101.5 31,930 6.99 21,400 1.08 527,000 169.5 2,070,650 2.48 1,000 1.16 3,181,000 1.12 1,372,000

35,254,285 2,302,718 445,940 123,520 134,160 44,133,600 12,359,302 4,790,764 38,840 777,575 2,630,384 1,540,126 87,360 158,627 27,858,019 13,350,792 10,215,654 2,616,239 6,960 79,905,050 14,909,561.50 14,606,549 8,884,330 11,792,160 3,750,960 32,600 337,256,798 40,920 54,530 7,413,165 1,975,662 7,439,320 45,861,060 21,723,140 90,840 4,072,537 22,650 137,247,620 694,770 5,678,545 435,675 5,000 3,538,540 43,660 7,509,150 3,220,681 149,035 574,710 350,260,105 2,480 3,667,570 1,523,440

-22,111,730 158,200 217,040 3,688,970 -4,178,366 73,640 -227,355 -15,782 -9,390,763 -3,775,670 -1,743,347 -189,233 -18,189,020 -12,855,350 3,346,554 -986,580 -6,698,144 -1,428,853 4,694,876 664,365 1,285,300 -3,221,202 -19,775,450 -9,851,620 -911,259 -6,298,760 -1,343,340 -1,007,674.00 -1,412,378 79,845,067 -245,170.00 16,250

0.93 51 14 0.7 7 15.5 1.2 1.23 944 3.67 6.96 9.25 13.8 4.79 0.243 898 65.6 6.48 0.52 4.47 14.38 0.63 4.69 0.039 1.31 2.87 175.1 1,026 0.84 1.41 257 0.237 0.265

0.86 49.3 13.3 0.69 7 14.76 1.17 1.2 923 3.54 6.68 9.08 13.78 4.67 0.243 849 63.55 6.46 0.5 4.4 14.18 0.6 4.5 0.038 1.25 2.8 174 978 0.81 1.36 256 0.228 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.87 43,901,000 49.45 1,473,200 13.3 9,213,800 0.69 420,000 7 12,100 15.36 43,400 1.19 880,000 1.23 244,000 935 307,460 3.66 2,010,000 6.9 1,389,200 9.08 5,933,000 13.8 4,300 4.67 2,000 0.243 150,000 858 234,250 65.6 1,527,210 6.48 2,000 0.52 313,000 4.42 150,000 14.18 946,000 0.63 537,000 4.5 13,427,000 0.038 900,000 1.3 189,000 2.8 4,000 174.3 485,690 1,004 338,500 0.83 104,000 1.41 28,000 257 80 0.237 100,000 0.265 560,000

38,869,850 72,932,010 124,805,344 291,690 84,700 652,268 1,041,190 293,420 286,513,440 7,332,900 9,594,444 54,323,505 59,294 9,460 36,450 201,333,085 98,913,055 12,932 157,330 661,170 13,472,370 332,810 61,220,630 34,400 243,500 11,320 84,595,873 338,959,635 84,320 38,300 20,500 22,900 145,950

896,460 -65,832,928.50 -64,177,382 5,660 -59,062,790 764,970 1,101,715 -32,028,856 -27,600 -52,432,430 -12,871,990 -30,840 5,891,258 -5,696,860 -19,000 -19,498,409 -241,380 13,600 -2,560 -

15.72 0.82 10.04 2 1.03 49.2 2.21 4.66 6 0.57 0.78 0.89 0.235 0.42 10.26 23.4 0.465 1.73 1.33 5.47 0.315 0.465 1.48 0.4 2.05 25.1

15.46 0.8 10 2 0.97 47.4 2.15 4.56 6 0.55 0.75 0.83 0.232 0.415 10.06 22.6 0.465 1.68 1.31 5.26 0.305 0.46 1.43 0.38 2 24

6,892,268 869,770 104,180 40,000 7,607,060 879,628,595 2,531,300 11,381,800 862,200 10,525,460 122,520 186,410 357,370 145,500 7,233,626 4,592,070 9,300 209,035,910 1,916,250 309,731,358 1,043,200 32,450 5,974,790 49,700 1,246,710 57,529,330

-399,776 139,400 -10,000 -257,268,660 238,060 1,120,120 -862,200 423,440.00 2,249,978 -1,634,000 -85,114,110 -133,757,380 -28,910 -15,217,325

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

57.2 89.5 142 26.5 18.3 11.56 5 755 0.44 71.95 0.95 13.1 47.8 190 57.55 27.9 194.4 1,756 59.1 1.11

57.2 91.65 148.5 26.5 18.3 11.8 5.17 755 0.44 71.95 1.03 13.1 47.85 190 58.35 28.4 194.4 1,756 59.3 1.11

57.2 89.5 142 26.3 18.3 11.5 4.85 752 0.435 70.3 0.95 13.1 47.25 187.1 57.55 27.9 185.2 1,750 59 1.11

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION 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 PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

34.1 13.98 0.71 1.31 0.246 3.05 14.1 12.4 15.52 36.05 73.4 82.05 2.02 6.1 8.98 15 9.21 7.5 1.74 25.1 81.5 56.5 1.99 13.86 7.9 1.55 220 3.41 8.51 22.5 13.42 18.5 369 1.7 4.78 5.1 9.15 2.75 10.2 37 5.04 5 1.69 1.01 12.62 97.5 6.8 1.12 161.2 2.48 1.15 1.08

35 14.2 0.72 1.34 0.247 3.15 14.3 12.58 16.06 36.2 86 103 2.04 6.25 9.2 15.22 9.31 7.54 1.74 26.1 82.4 57 2.06 14.04 8.4 1.56 234.8 3.41 8.51 23.5 13.76 18.78 369 1.85 4.79 5.16 9.15 2.85 11.1 37.4 5.2 5 1.82 1.03 12.62 101.5 7 1.15 171.1 2.48 1.18 1.14

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

0.9 51 14 0.69 7 14.78 1.18 1.21 930 3.54 6.68 9.16 13.78 4.79 0.243 855 65.4 6.46 0.51 4.4 14.38 0.6 4.6 0.039 1.25 2.87 175 980 0.84 1.41 257 0.229 0.265

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

15.72 0.82 10.04 2 0.97 47.4 2.19 4.64 6 0.55 0.75 0.84 0.232 0.415 10.06 23 0.465 1.7 1.33 5.47 0.315 0.465 1.48 0.385 2.05 25.05

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

2.12 3.19 35 2.3 5.75 7.33

2.24 3.19 35.9 2.35 5.75 7.48

2.12 3.19 35 2.27 5.63 7.25

2.15 3.19 35.5 2.28 5.63 7.45

364,000 129,000 14,396,300 1,467,000 155,400 7,480,000

783,950 411,510 509,983,180 3,372,830 879,313 55,373,112

395,560 -98,950,140 -30,716,731

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

9.9 18.74 1.6 0.52 0.048 19.5 2.34 11 0.06 91.1 6.99 6.82 6 9.42 890 1,955 5.34 421 1.68 125.9 9.21 5.36 0.109 5.19 14.6 3.3 0.92 18.9 0.45 3.3 2.49 14 2.26 2.69 8.5 5 136 3.4 1,177 0.69 0.5 45 80.9 3.06 0.74 0.335 0.7 15.7

10 18.74 1.6 0.52 0.049 19.5 2.34 11.16 0.061 92.45 6.99 6.97 6.4 9.42 890 2,000 5.37 421 1.72 130 9.64 5.36 0.109 5.29 14.6 3.34 0.93 19.5 0.45 3.3 2.57 14 2.29 2.69 8.5 5.06 144.9 3.5 1,190 0.7 0.54 45 80.9 3.26 0.74 0.34 0.72 15.8

9.85 18.46 1.5 0.5 0.046 18.08 2.25 11 0.057 91.1 6.99 6.75 6 9.35 890 1,910 5.33 411 1.64 123.9 9.21 5.35 0.109 5.18 14.6 3.3 0.92 18.9 0.45 3.3 2.49 14 2.2 2.61 8.2 5 136 3.39 1,150 0.68 0.485 44.3 78 3.04 0.73 0.32 0.69 15.62

SERVICES 10 18.58 1.54 0.52 0.049 18.98 2.25 11.04 0.058 91.65 6.99 6.87 6 9.35 890 1,959 5.35 421 1.64 127.5 9.64 5.35 0.109 5.25 14.6 3.3 0.93 19.32 0.45 3.3 2.54 14 2.22 2.65 8.25 5.05 143 3.5 1,170 0.69 0.54 44.75 78.5 3.15 0.73 0.32 0.72 15.78

24,900 218,600 218,000 180,000 12,500,000 15,200 176,000 3,237,300 21,220,000 380,660 3,000 721,100 103,000 24,200 50 44,115 47,000 1,280 1,699,000 1,842,080 1,400 4,500 1,730,000 1,652,000 100 252,000 50,000 771,700 50,000 3,000 277,000 400 1,156,000 114,000 21,000 6,200 2,240 2,441,000 149,875 958,000 79,830,000 486,300 626,480 6,543,000 656,000 3,140,000 3,376,000 1,054,900

247,265 4,060,280 330,680 90,220 591,800 280,232 401,290 35,750,584 1,232,160 34,873,101 20,970 4,920,274 647,670 227,189 44,500 87,050,540 251,527 537,596 2,817,150 235,009,966 13,281 24,090 188,570 8,627,429 1,460 833,000 46,230 14,908,816 22,500 9,900 698,650 5,600 2,579,900 303,960 174,440 31,011 316,768 8,423,110 176,050,215 661,630 41,665,000 21,815,795 49,185,610 20,747,460 479,990 1,019,200 2,356,670 16,615,288

5,000 12,656.00 -21,265,286 -21,069,301 -299,467 20,038,350 -114,420 90,514,740 -5,450 416,900 336,774.00 -98,690 211,220 59,138 53,170 -26,559,175 68,310 1,196,200 1,514,345 2,284,435.50 304,850 48,000 6,724,268

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

0.0016 1.36 2.79 12.52 2.68 0.27 7.83 1.44 0.207 0.116 0.0095 0.01 1.04 2.43 0.99 0.5 0.83 0.012 0.012 0.011 5.54 4.07 12.12 23

0.0017 1.4 2.8 12.98 2.72 0.28 7.85 1.47 0.208 0.116 0.0096 0.011 1.07 2.55 1.01 0.5 0.84 0.012 0.012 0.012 5.8 4.07 13 23

0.0016 1.34 2.79 12.5 2.67 0.27 7.65 1.43 0.199 0.113 0.0095 0.01 1.04 2.43 0.99 0.47 0.83 0.011 0.012 0.011 5.54 3.9 12.12 22.45

MINING & OIL 0.0017 372,000,000 1.37 17,976,000 2.8 4,000 12.7 49,000 2.71 1,065,000 0.275 200,000 7.77 5,800 1.43 767,000 0.206 580,000 0.115 240,000 0.0095 36,000,000 0.011 19,400,000 1.07 246,000 2.53 2,960,000 1.01 13,000 0.47 110,000 0.84 70,000 0.011 9,300,000 0.012 30,400,000 0.012 41,100,000 5.65 370,800 3.97 3,071,000 12.78 5,234,800 22.9 1,099,500

627,300 24,477,940 11,180 614,654 2,868,210 55,500 44,840 1,108,050 116,130 27,290 344,500 203,700 259,820 7,413,930 12,890 54,700 58,130 108,800 364,800 452,200 2,087,805 12,145,050 66,499,314 25,092,740

-28,900 62,020 -11,760 -248,820 -1,980 59,380 -130,376 14,460,810

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

17.38 500 105 104.7 5.21 960 0.98 98 1,019 1,030 1,030 102 108 76 78 75 76.2 76 76.4 76.3 76

17.38 500 105 104.7 5.36 970 0.99 102.1 1,019 1,035 1,030 102 108 76 78.5 75.5 76.2 76.2 76.5 76.3 76

17.3 500 105 104.7 5.21 960 0.98 98 1,019 1,030 1,030 102 108 76 78 75 76.2 76 76.4 76.3 76

PREFERRED 17.36 114,200 500 10 105 470 104.7 20,000 5.35 49,000 970 580 0.99 74,000 102 50,640 1,019 195 1,030 1,660 1,030 5 102 1,940 108 650 76 12,500 78.5 130 75.5 8,340 76.2 1,000 76.2 25,000 76.5 5,000 76.3 8,450 76 12,570

1,984,444 5,000 49,350 2,094,000 262,100 557,400 72,570 5,123,207 198,705 1,714,600 5,150 197,880 70,200 950,000 10,190 628,564 76,200 1,901,000 382,400 644,735 955,320

-1,817,888 -10,184 -

LR WARRANT

1.62

1.62

1.6

WARRANTS 1.61 57,000

91,670

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

6.32 1

6.72 1

6.32 0.98

6.64 0.99

6,248,547 1,072,310

-27,516 -110,880

FIRST METRO ETF

117.2

118.3

117.2

698,192

-2,451

USD DMPL A1

10.3

10.3

10.3

51,500

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 15.6 441,600 0.81 1,072,000 10 10,400 2 20,000 1 7,633,000 48.9 18,209,600 2.17 1,169,000 4.6 2,481,000 6 143,700 0.57 18,686,000 0.78 163,000 0.89 218,000 0.235 1,540,000 0.42 350,000 10.1 714,200 23 198,800 0.465 20,000 1.68 122,725,000 1.31 1,451,000 5.28 58,171,600 0.315 3,360,000 0.46 70,000 1.45 4,116,000 0.4 130,000 2 621,000 24.45 2,346,700

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,809,028

INDUSTRIAL

108,330,057

HOLDING FIRMS

85,950,968

PROPERTY

274,852,003

SERVICES

149,049,904

MINING & OIL

542,372,071

GRAND TOTAL

1,173,394,873

SME

941,800 1,083,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.3 5,940 10.3

DDS

5,000

VALUE 1,826.28 (up) 7.28 756,553,772.04 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,928.30 (up) 227.32 1,292,972,004.73 HOLDING FIRMS 7,658.82 (down) 12.19 1,438,529,834.06 PROPERTY 4,073.00 (up) 79.60 SERVICES 1,591.96 (up) 22.22 2,115,958,500.22 MINING & OIL 8,230.03 (up) 27.04 803,508,567.56 PSEI 7,858.65 (up) 70.20 145,064,286.5272 All Shares Index 4,768.92 (up) 26.70 5,560,606,332.14 Gainers: 112; Losers: 83; Unchanged: 40; Total: 235

Resorts World operator bares move to delist from exchange

By Jenniffer B. Austria

TYCOON Andrew Tan plans to delist Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., the operator of Resorts World Manila, from the Philippine Stock Exchange.

TIHGI said in a disclosure to the exchange its board of directors in a meeting held Aug. 13 approved the voluntary delisting of the company’s common shares.

The gaming firm said it would conduct a tender offer for up to 1.582 billion common shares owned by the public.

The buyback of 1.582 billion shares will require the company to shell out P8.6 billion based on the stock’s closing price of P5.43 per share, .

“The conversion from a public entity into a private company will allow the Company to timely address evolving market demands and rapidly changing customer needs without compromising its business strategies to competition,” the company said.

TIHGI said it would file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PSE on or before August 19 the terms and conditions of the tender offer, including the price and timetable. The company plans to be delisted from the PSE on Oct. 15, 2019.

Listed in 2013, TIHGI opened the Resorts World Manila, country’s first integrated casino and leisure complex in Pasay City in August 2009. It is currently developing its second integrated resort and casino called Westside City Resorts World on a 30.5-hectare property within the Pagcor Entertainment City complex in Parañaque.

TIHGI registered a 50.4-percent decline in net income in the first six months of the year to P844.7 million from P1.67 billion recorded year-onyear due to higher financing charges and higher depreciation expense.

Gross revenues increased 49.9 percent to P16.5 billion in the six-month period from P11 billion on year.

The company attributed the increase to the improvement in volume in both the non-VIP and VIP segments as a result of a bigger gaming capacity and 747 additional rooms from Hilton Manila Hotel and Sheraton Manila Hotel.

Vista Land hiked net income in six months to P5.7b VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc., an integrated property firm owned by tycoon Manuel Villar Jr., registered a net income of P5.66 billion in the first six months of 2019, up 11.2 percent from P5.09 billion year-on-year.

Vista Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday consolidated revenues increased 11 percent to P23.4 billion from P21.1 billion on year.

Real estate revenues climbed 8.4 percent to P18.02 billion from P16.6 billion a year ago, boosted by double-digit growth in sales of Camella and Communities, the company’s housing brands that cater to the low-cost and affordable housing segments of the residential market.

Vista land said it launched P16 billion worth of residential projects, mostly outside of Metro Manila.

Leasing revenues during the period increased 17 percent to P3.9 billion from P3.3 billion in the prior year period on additional gross floor area leased and an increase in rental rates of existing malls.

“We are very pleased with our 1st semester results which brings us closer to achieving another record year,” said Villar, chairman of Vista Land.

“Vista Land continues to deliver solid performance, fueled by the performance of our core housing business in addition to our continued expansion in our commercial assets,” he added.

Reservation sales rose eight percent in the first six months of the year to P41 billion on strong demand from overseas Filipino workers.

“We remain optimistic for the industry given the sustained demand in our residential business as well as the continued growth of our leasing business propelled by the steady growth in the disposable income, Overseas Filipino remittances, sound Philippine macroeconomic fundamentals and continued infrastructure development around the country especially in areas outside Metro Manila, where we have a competitive advantage given our geographic reach,” Villar said. Jenniffer B. Austria

B3

World

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

NICE DAY FOR FISHING. In this picture

taken on August 13, 2019, a man fishes at the Dal Lake during a security lockdown in Srinagar, after the Indian government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomy.

AFP

Disneyland sued over ‘double standards’ SHANGHAI―A Chinese student is suing American giant Disney alleging double standards because the company bans visitors to its Asian theme parks from taking their own food.

The lawsuit against Shanghai Disneyland takes the entertainment company to task because the same strictures do not apply in its US or European parks.

The legal action, which has sparked widespread support on social media, comes as China and the US spar over trade, and as tensions rise between the world’s two largest economies.

The student, surnamed Wang, says she had her “rights violated” after being barred from bringing in her own meal, forcing her to buy “overpriced” food inside the park.

The David-and-Goliath legal challenge has lit up China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform, with the Chinese-language hashtag “Disney sued for prohibiting bringing own food and beverage” attracting more than 600 million views and tens of thousands of comments.

“Many people may also feel that their rights have been violated, but (they) did not sue due to the time involved. As law students, (it) is our duty,” Wang told online media The Paper. AFP

Britons arrested over record drug bust

Trump’s hands-off policy assailed

W

ASHINGTON―President Donald Trump was assailed Tuesday for his hands-off approach to the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, avoiding criticizing Beijing even as he cited US intelligence reports of Chinese troops moving to the territory’s border.

Critics on both sides of the political spectrum accused Trump of abandoning the longstanding US policy to support democratic movements and giving Beijing a green light to intervene in one of the world’s most important financial and trade centers, a semi-autonomous Chinese region.

As protesters battled police in Hong Kong’s airport Tuesday, partially shutting down air traffic, Trump appeared ambivalent, telling journalists the situation was “very tricky.”

“I hope it works out for everybody including China. I hope it works out peacefully, nobody gets hurt, nobody gets killed,” he said.

Shortly afterward, Trump tweeted that US

intelligence “has informed us that the Chinese Government is moving troops to the Border with Hong Kong.”

“Everyone should be calm and safe!” Trump wrote, retweeting a video of military trucks in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.

But the US leader had no words in support of the protesters as Hong Kong experiences its largest crisis since the British handover of its former colony to China in 1997.

After more than four months of protests, his administration has mainly called for both sides to avoid violence, while denying Beijing’s accusations of US interference.

“Trump favors both sides in Hong Kong protests.

Hardly a profile in courage,” said Nicholas Burns, a former senior US diplomat now at the Harvard University Kennedy School.

“The only side the US should be on is democratic rights for the people of Hong Kong.”

The protests, which began in March and have intensified since then, are against a move by the Hong Kong government to allow the extradition of criminal suspects to China, which opponents view as an incursion into Hong Kong’s more transparent

justice system.

But they have come as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s and Trump’s governments have plunged ever deeper into a wrenching battle over trade that is dragging down the economies of both, with no sign of a resolution.

In late July Trump praised Xi’s approach to the protests, one day after organized triad gangsters attacked protesters, sending 45 to hospitals.

“China could stop them if they wanted,” he said.

“I think President Xi of China has acted responsibly, very responsibly,” he said.

Days later, he blasted China’s trade policies but, regarding the Hong Kong protests, said Beijing “doesn’t need advice.”

“That’s between Hong Kong and... China, because Hong Kong is a part of China,” he said.

Thomas Wright, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution, accused Trump of essentially giving Xi “a green light” to intervene in the territory.

In a tweet Wright called it the “Worst foreign policy decision of his presidency.”

His stance on Tuesday contrasted with those of top legislators in Congress. AFP

Beijing’s evolving rhetoric on Hong Kong BEIJING―When Beijing said this week that it saw the “first signs of terrorism” among Hong Kong’s young pro-democracy protesters, it marked an ominous step in a progression of escalating rhetoric.

Weeks of rallies, demonstrations and occupations have seen millions of people take to Hong Kong’s streets in the biggest challenge to China’s rule of the semi-autonomous city since its 1997 handover from Britain.

And as the tensions between demonstrators and Hong Kong authorities intensify, so has the messaging from the central Chinese government as it seeks to shape how the protests are perceived both overseas and on the mainland, where social media and news outlets are tightly controlled.

Here’s how Beijing’s framing of the protests has evolved: On June 9, crowds bring central Hong Kong to a standstill to protest a controversial extradition law that critics say would erode freedoms in the city.

Organizers say more than a million people marched through the streets in opposition to the bill. State-run news agency Xinhua downplays it as a “public procession.”

That evening’s main news broadcast by state-run CCTV does not mention the protests, and censored searches for the demonstration on China’s Twitterlike Weibo platform yield no results.

But in the following days, state media changes tactics: they deemphasize the opposition marches and focus on support for the bill instead.

“800,000 say ‘yes’ to rendition bill,” reads one China Daily piece, which describes the opposition rally as a much smaller counter protest of “about 240,000” people. AFP

SYDNEY―Four British men were arrested in Australia and New Zealand in an international drugs sting that netted a record haul of potent MDMA, Australian police said Wednesday.

Authorities seized 766 kilograms (1,670 pounds) of the “highest purity” MDMA recorded in Queensland state, with a conservative street value of Aus$90 million ($US61 million).

The bust involved coordination between Australian, New Zealand and British authorities.

“Organized crime syndicates are making significant profit at the expense of our Australian community but more importantly they are placing our young people’s health at risk,” Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker, of Queensland police, said in a statement.

Police said the MDMA was to be sold in pill and capsule form.

“We believe the drug would have been diluted with other agents and had the potential to make between six and 12 million capsules,” Wacker added.

Two British men aged 51 and 40 were arrested in Australia, along with a 26-year-old Queensland man, and face charges relating to drug possession and supply.

New Zealand police charged two more men from the UK, aged 60 and 49, after a separate linked bust of 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of methamphetamine last week. AFP

Japan braces for powerful storm

TOKYO―Japan was bracing Wednesday for a severe tropical storm expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds during the peak holiday period, with dozens of flights and bullet train services canceled.

The storm, named Krosa, is expected to churn slowly over western parts of the country, potentially affecting millions of people returning to major cities from their hometowns after the traditional “Obon” summer holidays.

Japan Airlines scrapped 62 domestic flights to and from airports in southern Japan for Wednesday.

“All the flights from and to Miyazaki and Tanegashima airports have been canceled and Manila partially for Amami airport,” a spokesman Standard TODAY told AFP. All Nippon Airways meanwhile canceled 34 flights for Miyazaki airport. Both airlines said they would decide later how many flights they will cancel for Thursday, when the storm is forecast to make landfall.

Meanwhile, West Japan Railway announced the cancellation of Thursday’s shinkansen bullet train service between Osaka and southwestern Japan.

Krosa, which is packing maximum gusts of 144 kilometers per hour, was expected to hit the southwestern Shikoku island on Thursday before moving across western Japan, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said. AFP

BLOCKADE. Pro-democracy protesters block the entrance to the airport terminals after a scuffle with police at Hong Kong’s

international airport late on August 13, 2019. Chaos erupted at Hong Kong’s airport for a second day on August 13, 2019, as pro-democracy protesters staged a disruptive sit-in that paralyzed hundreds of flights, defying warnings from the city’s leader who said they were heading down a ‘path of no return’. The latest protest witnessed especially ugly scenes at one of the world’s busiest airports as small groups of hardcore demonstrators turned on two men they accused of being spies or undercover police—and as desperate travelers pleaded in vain to be allowed onto flights. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Young, educated and furious: A survey of HK’s protesters HONG KONG—The vast majority of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters are university-educated, almost half are in their twenties and nearly everyone loathes the police, according to an academic survey that sheds new light on the movement.

Ten weeks of demonstrations in the financial hub have seen millions of people take to the streets, increasingly violent clashes breakout between hardcore protesters and police and, more recently, flights grounded at the airport.

The rallies that began in opposition to a bill allowing extraditions to mainland China have morphed into a broader bid to reverse a slide in democratic freedoms.

Researchers from four of the city’s universities surveyed participants across 12 protests— including mass rallies and “fluid” and “static” demonstrations— between June 9 and August 4 and found 54 percent were male and 46 percent were female.

Overall, 77 percent of the 6,688 respondents said they had a tertiary (higher) education, with 21 percent saying they had a secondary (high school) education.

The 20-29 age bracket was the most represented with 49 percent, compared to 11 percent under 20 and 19 percent aged between 30 and 39.

Sixteen percent were 40 and above. Exactly half (50 percent) considered themselves to be

middle class, while 41 percent said they were “grassroots”.

When asked why they were demonstrating, 87 percent said they wanted the extradition bill to be withdrawn, 95 percent expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the protests and 92 percent called for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry.

The survey, called ‘Onsite Survey Findings in Hong Kong’s Anti-Extradition Bill Protests’, was published on August 12 and led by researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University.

AFP

(MS-AUG. 15, 2019)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CLEANWAY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS INC., with office address at Meridian Industrial Complex II, Brgy. Maguyam, Silang, Cavite is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Industrial Waste Treatment Facility under ther Preferred List - Strategic Services (Integrated Waste Management Facility in Capas, Tarlac) on a Non Pioneer status, with project site located at Sitio Kawili-Wili, Brgy. Cut-Cut II, Capas Tarlac.

Any person with valid objections on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-in-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-AUG. 15, 2019)

LGUs

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

B4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

BSP-QC scouts fly PH flag in int’l ‘Camporee’

By Rex Arcadio R. San Diego II THE Philippine flag flew high with other nations’ colors in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, South Korea as a group of Quezon City scouters represented the country in the Namdo International Youth Camporee from Aug. 3 to 8.

The Quezon City Boy Scouts Council group, composed of nine scouts and seven adults, left for South Korea last July 31.

Leading the group were City Councilors Eric Medina and Jorge Banal, who serve as joint contingent chiefs.

Councilor Hero Bautista and Emmanuel Castor acted as co-chairpersons of the international committee program.

QC Council-BSP board members engineer Reynaldo Montano and Esperanza Fe Castor-Pangan, Deputy Council Commissioner Esther Hernandez, and Field Scout Executives Bobby Nengasca (District-V) and Marjorie Domingo (Private Schools) completed the advisers’ group.

The Quezon City government provided financial support to the participants to the Camporee.

The scouts’ group was composed of Grade 7 students from Ateneo de Manila University High School Department and from Ernesto Rondon High School.

They are Amadeus Gabriel Venod, Joseph Enrico Viray, JP Christian Gamolo, Jesus Venancio Viray, Ethan Michael Aguirre, and Ross Steven Uy.

Isko to leaders: Watch what you say in public

By Vito Barcelo GOVERNMENT officials should be careful in making pronouncements to the public as it may be considered policy, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso said in unsolicited advice to them Wednesday.

Domagoso also praised President Rodrigo Duterte for being “emotionally authentic and relatable to the public.”

In an interview with Richard Heydarian on the GMA TV program FYI, Domagoso said a leader’s subordinates are likely to consider their leader’s verbal pronouncements as part of their tasks.

“As a general rule, you really have to be careful especially on a particular position because it’s going to be a policy without [you] even writing it,” the Manila chief executive said.

The mayor also observed that a lot of subordinates down the line will always use and utilize words coming from the mouth of the leader, who “might be sending the wrong signal.”

Domagoso also said public officials should be authentic and relevant to the public.

“If there’s one good thing about President Duterte, he admits, expresses his feelings towards the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Manila North Cemetery administration has buried about 200 skulls and bones found scattered inside the gravesite, the local government of Manila reported Wednesday.

In a statement, the local government said the mass graving on Tuesday was done after Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan, through a memorandum, said they can no longer trace the owners of the collected skulls and bones. With PNA

IP ASSISTANCE. Siguil Hydro Power

Corp. in cooperation with the Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, has donated a brand-new 4X4 rescue vehicle to the Municipal Tribal Council of Maasim, Sarangani. The vehicle will serve five upland barangays and will be used for disaster and quick emergency response during calamities and urgent cases such as illnesses and pregnancies. SHPC Project Director Greg Gonzales (left) hands over a symbolic car key to Fulong Benjamin Donato of the tribal council (second from left). Looking on are provincial government officials and officers of Alsons Power and CLAFI, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Alcantara Group, including Alsons VP for Corporate Affairs Bong Tungpalan (right), Sarangani Energy Corp. human resources and project assurance head (second from right), and CLAFI executive director Richlie Lyndon Magtulis (fifth from right).

US BACKS MAKATI. Makati Mayor Abby Binay (right) listens intently to David Nufrio, acting commercial officer of the United States Commercial Service, the trade promotion agency of the US Embassy, as Nufrio conveys the interest of the US Government to team up with the Makati City Government in pursuing Smart City initiatives. During a courtesy visit to the mayor on Tuesday, the US official also said his office will be assisting American information and communications technology companies that want to do business in the Philippines, particularly in Makati. Binay said the city welcomed the opportunity to work with the US Government in promoting economic growth as well as sustainable and inclusive development.

Schools, village chiefs may suspend QC classes

S

CHOOL heads and barangay chairpersons in Quezon City may suspend classes in their respective jurisdictions if they believe that public safety will be compromised during inclement weather.

This was explained to the representatives of Quezon City’s School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils who attended an orientation on localized class or work suspensions called by the QCDRRM Office.

The QCDRRMO discussed the city’s protocols in declaring class or work suspensions due to inclement weather or other reasons.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte had issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 last July 19 that sets general guidelines on localized cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices.

One of the issues raised during the

discussion was the authority given to schools and barangays to suspend classes if and when necessary.

The representatives were reminded that school heads may cancel or suspend classes “in cases where urgent action is needed to prevent loss of life or bodily harm,” as per DepEd Order No. 43 series of 2012 Section 2-B. They were also told that, under the new guidelines, barangay chairpersons may also suspend classes and work in their respective jurisdictions if justified in their Pre-Disaster Risk Assessments.

“The barangays, through their

chairpersons, may declare suspensions,” QCDRRMO head Mike Marasigan said.

The barangays and schools are told immediately report their decision to suspend classes to the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Under the guidelines, city-wide class suspensions will be announced by 4:30 in the morning and no later than 11 a.m. for afternoon classes.

Earlier, Belmonte said only the QC Public Affairs and Information Services Department and the QCDRRMC are authorized to announce class and work suspensions and cancellations.

“Announcement will come from QCDRRMC and PAISD is the only office that can send out that news,” the mayor said. Rio N. Araja

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte inspects the mobile offices that will be used as temporary barangay hall for Damayang Lagi. The city government is set to demolish Damayang Lagi’s barangay hall as it encroaches the sidewalks of La Felonila Street and E. Rodriguez Avenue. The barangay will be temporarily housed in two 40-foot container vans that will be placed on a vacant lot owned by the Department of Finance.

Pampanga gov comes to aid of 170 OFWs SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga―Repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers from this province, numbering about 170, were assured of employment based on their skill and business requirements.

Gov. Dennis Pineda made this assurance Wednesday after the OFWs trooped to the Capitol to seek his assistance to get jobs and to feed their families.

The workers, former employees of the construction company Saudi Oger Unlimited (SOL Nation) based in Riyadh, said they were repatriated several years back because of a labor dispute.

Pineda also promised to provide the workers with free airfare to Saudi Arabia on Aug. 22 to settle their labor problems with their employers, mostly because of lack of payment of salaries and other benefits.

Pineda instructed Luningning Vergara, head of the Pampanga Public Employment Office to ensure the workers will be employed after submitting their resumes and other requirements for government and private companies in the province and elsewhere.

“For those who want to be employed, I will find each of you a job that suit your skills and capabilities,” Pineda said during the meeting.

The workers said they are grateful to the opportunities that will be given

by Gov. Pineda and Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda.

According to Alexis Ordonez, coordinator of the SOL workers, they won their case against the construction company last July 30, but until now they have not received any compensation.

Ordonez said most of the employees, who are now senior citizens, are being ignored by companies in the industry who usually favor young workers, even with their lack of experience. Romeo Dizon

Universities in Southeast Asia tackle Fourth Industrial Revolution

By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—Universities in six Southeast Asian countries have converged in a faculty forum at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture and the University of the Philippines Los Baños to discuss the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr. said there were at least 66 participants from UPLB; Institut Pertanian Bogor, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and University of Brawijaya, all in Indonesia; Universiti Putra Malaysia; Kasetsart University in Thailand; Tokyo University of Agriculture in Japan; and National Taiwan University.

These institutions are members of

the Searca-initiated Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Dr. Sanchez said the faculty forum with an inaugural run last July 23-24 was jointly organized by Searca and UPLB. “The Fourth Industrial Revolution has been fast evolving and that higher

education institutions [HEIs] should keep up with it,” he said.

Dr. Sanchez explained that there is a need to shift emphasis away from growth learning, knowledge consumption, and conformity, and build the huge capacities for innovation, creativity, and collaboration to enable younger generations to take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

JCI Olongapo, DTI tout local products OLONGAPO CITY―JCI Olongapo and the Department of Trade and Industry in Zambales have signed a partnership agreement to promote local products.

The agreement is for the “Go Lokal, Go Global Campaign” that advocates local products, particularly those produced by micro, small and medium enterprises.

JCI Olongapo will showcase local products during their regular membership meetings and their regional and area conferences, giving the products greater exposure to other markets.

DTI-Zambales will provide business mentoring support to local entre-

preneurs endorsed by JCI Olongapo, including those from the adopted Aeta communities.

“This underscores our belief that Filipino products are world-class. As a global organization of young leaders, it brings us pride to showcase our countrymen’s ingenuity to our friends from other countries-our simple way of helping the local economy,” said JCI Olongapo president Jason Gavina during the signing event last Thursday.

JCI Olongapo, the local arm of the Junior Chamber International, was established in 1958 and has been a training ground of young active citizens and leaders in the community.

Butch Gunio

P

ROVIDING residents with resort-like amenities—elevating the living experience, blurring the lines between home and getaway—has been a popular step for many property developers.

Case in point: Amaia recently opened a new amenity hub in its Nuvali property. The said hub features a resort-style swimming pool, the largest among all pools in the developer’s projects.

Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening were project manager Cybill Samillano, project sales director Charmaine Tee, and brokers manager Jasmine Espiritu. The opening event saw the residents happily joining the Amaia Steps Nuvali sales team in the fun celebration.

“An ‘endless summer’ is in store for Amaia Steps Nuvali homeowners who virtually have a premier travel ‘destination’ just outside their doorsteps,” enthused Samillano.

Aside from having access to the swimming pool, homeowners can also enjoy other facilities of the amenity hub, which include a kiddie pool, a basketball court, a kids’ play zone, a grand lawn, and a cozy central clubhouse.

On opening day, Athena Academy—a swimming, music, and art school—held a complimentary onehour swimming lesson for residents’ children and guests who pre-registered prior to the event.

Aside from upscale amenities, Amaia Steps Nuvali prides itself on offering current and prospective residents sleek

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

Life HOUSEHOLD

C1

RESIDENTS’ RESORT.

Residents of Amaia Steps Nuvali can enjoy a year-round summer fun at the property’s newly opened amenity hub, which features a large, resort-style swimming pool.

Living in an ‘endless summer’

The Nuvali mid-rise residential condominium has a total of 1,140 studio and premier units.

The new amenity hub also features a kid’s play zone, a grand lawn, a kiddie pool, a basketball court, and a cozy central clubhouse.

and stylish condominium units amid relaxed, laidback vibes.

With a total of 1,140 studio and premier units in four- and six-story developments, it is the first affordable mid-rise residential development in Nuvali, Ayala Land’s 2,290-hectare township in Laguna, envisioned to be the Philippines’ first ecocommunity development.

Amaia Nuvali’s well-designed studio and premier units are priced from P3 million to P7.1 million.

The property developer currently has a promotion through which buyers can save as much as P2 million on select units until August. Some units have balconies that allow residents to look out on expansive green spaces.

Turn to C2

Life

C2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

High-quality linen, towel elevate everyday living

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ANADIAN Manufacturing marks its 60th anniversary with a new collection of premium bed linen and towels, delivering on its vision of everyday living in comfort and style.

This year’s Lifestyle by Canadian, Modern Linen, and Hello Dolly collections, which were launched during the 11th Canadian Manufacturing Trade Show, include a variety of bath towels made from top-of-the-line materials from all over the world, bed linens that feature modern designs and creative prints, and infant and children’s wear that combines style and comfort.

“Our 2019 collection is a reflection of the intense research, hard work, and passion we put into all the products we have introduced to the market over the years,” said Canadian Manufacturing marketing director Chand Daryanani.

This year, Lifestyle by Canadian launches new design variants for its four bed linen categories—the Urban Living Deluxe, Pick N’ Go, Color Series, and Whites.

Canadian Manufacturing launches new variants for its four bed linen categories.

The new Lifestyle Urban Living Deluxe is a reversible bed linen collection that boasts a buttery smooth 220 thread count and cotton sateen sheet for that royal feel every night. Meanwhile, the Pick N’ Go 2019 collection is divided into three sub categories: the Eclectic Oasis, a collection with distinct geographical patterns; Tropical Pop, with bright and colorful tints; and Mystic Dreams, a collection featuring lush foliage and calming streaks of blue and gray.

The new Color Series highlights a percale finish and features a 200 thread count woven and 100 percent cotton. For its Modern Linen 2019 collection Canadian rolls out linens featuring happy The new towels are made of high-quality materials, most are environment-friendly, bringing a luxurious feel akin to hotel living.

colors and modern prints, as in playful designs for kids and soft earth colors such as pistachio, powder blue, safari, and turquoise.

For its bath collection, the company launches 10 new Lifestyle towel series, namely, Cotton USA, Brazilian Cotton, Cotton made in Africa, USA Lites, Ultralite, Basic, Feather Lite, Travel Lite, White Collection, and Cabana.

Made with cotton grown without the use of pesticides, insecticides, or synthetic fertilizers, the Cotton USA is ultra-soft, highly absorbent, and safe for the skin. The Brazilian Cotton collection uses cotton grown in Savannas Brazil and comes in ocean colors.

Cotton made in Africa is thick, absorbent, and weaved from environmentally friendly yarn. USA Lites uses unique fiber, while the Ultralite towel collection is easy to dry and perfect for delicate skin.

Towels of the Basics collection are soft to the touch as there are no short threads that stick out and prickle the skin. Meanwhile, the lightweight, highly absorbent, and ultra-soft towels from the Feather Lite collection are for those who do not like heavy towels and prefer the soft feel of a luxury towel.

People on-the-go will find the Travel Lite variants perfect with their quick-drying material and high-quality yet lightweight feel. The crisp White collection gives the luxurious feel of hotel living.

In addition to new linen and towel collections, Canadian Manufacturing also rolls out a variety of infant wear from Hello Dolly. The collection is packed with Disney Baby, Fisher-Price, and Peanuts apparel, and the classic must-have white infant wear.

Lifestyle by Canadian bed linens and towels, and Hello Dolly clothing are now available in all leading department stores nationwide.

Clark township a new favorite music festival venue MUSIC festivals are often held in places that promote rest amid the lush backdrop of nature; they make use of stunning greenery to enhance the enjoyment of the audience.

Less than two hours away from congested Metro Manila, Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga is becoming an all-in-one destination catering to both business people and leisure travelers.

The 201-hectare township consists of Quest Hotel and Conference CenterClark, Mimosa Golf Course, Workplus office campus, and the newly developed

nature sanctuary Acacia Park.

The development is steadily becoming the preferred leisure destination in northern Luzon. It is a regular venue for marathons and fun runs.

Bolstering Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City’s position as a top destination for recreation and outdoor activities is its hosting of the Oddisee Music and Arts Festival happening on August 24.

Oddisee—pronounced as Odyssey— will feature favorite local indie acts such as The Ransom Collective, Munimuni, Leanne & Naara, Oh, Flamingo!, Carousel Casualties, Basically Saturday Night, Lola

Amour, Wicked Adobo and many more.

“We are happy to host the first music festival in Clark as it showcases Filinvest Mimosa+’s lush greeneries and open spaces,” says Filinvest vice president for townships Don Ubaldo.

He adds, “We wanted to bring in more vibrancy and activity anchored in music and arts to the already vibrant culture of Pampanga. People in this region do not have to travel far to experience a different level of music scene.”

Tickets are available at www.mynila. com/events/oddisee-music-and-artsfestival.

Filinvest Mimosa+ Clark is hosting the Oddisee Music and Arts Festival on August 24.

Hands-on mom Iya Villania-Arellano joins the Grand Baby Fair to talk about Babyflo.

Iya Villania-Arellano lets the love flow

Landers celebrates 3rd anniversary MEMBERS of Landers Superstore were treated to a magical afternoon filled with enchanting musical shows and exciting games as the shopping destination celebrated its third anniversary

at its ArcoVia City branch in Pasig.

The Super Anniversary Show kicked off with “Stories from a Suitcase,” a musical presentation where kids got to sing and dance along to popular fair-

Nico Bolzico and Landers Superstore marketing director Pinky Angodung

Kids dance and sing along to fairytale tunes.

ytale tunes. Adults also joined in on the fun as they participated in Landers Minute Games, a Minute-To-Win-It-inspired segment hosted by Nico Bolzico.

The event capped off with another musical show by Clowning Around, followed by a short meet-and-greet with well-loved fairytale characters.

EVEN a hectic schedule as an actress and host does not stop hands-on mother Iya Villania-Arellano from spending quality time with her sons, Primo and Leon.

The mother of two visited the Babyflo booth at the Grand Baby Fair to talk about how the brand has been her ally in raising her kids. The event gathered the most trusted brands and specialists in maternity, parenting, and child care under one roof.

“I just love how Babyflo makes bath time with my boys as fun and easy as possible,” she shared, adding, “I also love Babyflo’s tagline, ‘let love flow,’

because I think it’s a huge part of being a mom, to let everything just naturally happen, whatever you’re doing with your children. Parenting can be very challenging, and with Babyflo, everything just flows better. Bonding time becomes more special.”

Leon, Villania-Arellano’s second born recently joined the Babyflo family, and the proud mother mused how her youngest child is a great fit for the brand.

“Leon is a water baby, and he loves bath time. Babyflo products make bath time with him all the more enjoyable,” she said.

Living...

It is also close to commercial centers such as Solenad, S&R, Shopwise; offices such as Laguna Technopark, Lakeside Evozone, Evotech; leisure facilities like Seda Hotel and Canlubang Golf and Country Club; churches like St. Benedict, St. John Bosco, and St. Joseph; and schools like Miriam College and Xavier School.

From C1

Located on West Conservation Avenue in Nuvali, Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna, Amaia Steps Nuvali is just five minutes away from the main entrance of Nuvali, along Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road.

Entertainment PAGEANT CONCEPT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘Hobbs & Shaw’ loses speed but still leads box off ice

ETON CONCEPCION

Mr. Philippines JB Saliba is a model and an athlete

World’s most desirable men gather in Manila

UNIVERSAL Pictures’ Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw slowed a bit but clung to the top spot in North American theaters this weekend, taking in an estimated $25.4 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

That was a drop-off from the previous weekend’s $60 million, but was enough to keep the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham action film ahead of new Lionsgate release Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which placed second with $20.8 million for the three-day weekend.

Scary Stories, based on the children’s horror books, was produced by actor Guillermo

del Toro. It stars Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, and Gabriel Rush in a story about small-town teenagers who are tormented by a book they removed from a haunted house in 1968.

In third place, in its fourth week out, was Disney’s The Lion King, at $20 million. The remake of the popular 1994 film has an all-star voice cast including Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogen, James Earl Jones, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Fourth spot went to new Paramount comedy Dora & the Lost City of Gold, at $17 million, while placing fifth, in its second week out, was Sony’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, at $11.6 million. AFP

Mister World 2019 candidates were introduced to the media during a press presentation held at Novotel at Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

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HE country’s hosting of the 10th Mr. World pageant finally got off the ground with the press presentation of 80 of the world’s most wanted bachelors now in town for the three-week competition.

Hosted in Manila for the first time through the efforts of ALV Productions, headed by Arnold Vegafria, director of Miss World Philippines, Mr. World 2019 aims to showcase the country’s top tourist attractions and warm hospitality of the Filipinos to the world.

Mr. World, established in London in 1996, is the world’s largest and most recognized international male pageant owned and licensed by the Miss World Organization, headed by its chairman and CEO Julia Morley.

Some of the early favorites are Mr. Mexico Brian Faugier, Mr. Brazil Carlos Franco, Mr. Chile Felipe Rojas, Mr. Ireland Wayne Walsh, Mr. Lebanon Jean Paul Bitar, Mr. MauritiusAlexandre Curpanen, Mr. Montenegro Nemanja Kaludjerovic, Mr. Nigeria Nelson Enwerem, Mr. South Africa Fezile

Mkhize, Mr. Spain Daniel Torres, Mr. Thailand Anakin Nontiprasit,Mr. Austria Albert Nodale, and Mr. Philippines Jody Baines “JB” Saliba.

Other countries who stood out during the press presentation were Czech Repulic, Argentina, Greece, Canada, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, India, and Samoa.

“I’m super excited to be in my second home country. I’ve been here many times. My mom is from Laguna, which is not very far from the Philippines,” Fil-Austrian Nodale said in jest as he introduced himself.

“I’m a professional speaker, university lecturer, and business coach. I promote cultural diversity. It’s important that you don’t just promote your own culture, but also to understand all cultures in the world,” Nodale added.

Saliba expressed excitement to

compete in his home turf and help promote the country. The 26-year-old, 5-foot-10 Saliba hails from Olongapo City and holds a degree in Sports Science from the University of the Philippines. He is a former member of the UP-Maroons baseball team and appeared in the reality series Amazing Race Philippines Season 2, an indie film, and TV drama anthology.

The model-athlete who loves dogs, golf, wake-boarding, swimming and acting, will attempt to become the first Filipino to win as Mr. World.

The delegates of Mr. World 2019 will visit several top destinations around the country for the preliminaries which consist of extreme challenges that include the first ever Mr. World Beach Party competition for the Beach Champion title. Other challenges are the Army Assault Course, Extreme Fitness, Ultimate Sport, Multimedia, Talent and Style & Fashion.

Reigning Mr. World 2016 Rohit Khandelwal of India will pass on his crown at the finals coronation night set on Aug. 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City.

Dwayne Johnson (left) and Jason Statham arrive at the July 13 premiere in Hollywood of Universal Pictures' 'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw'

GMA Kapuso Foundation renews partnership with AFP GMA Network’s socio-civic arm, GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continued their partnership in implementing programs that uplift the lives of underprivileged Filipinos.

The memorandum of agreement signing held on Aug. 2 was led

by GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel C. Tiangco, GMAKF EVP and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog, together with General Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., AFP, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The AFP has been continuously supporting GMAKF by providing transportation and security to poor and remote areas of the country. It was also one of GMAKF’s key partners in the successful construction of developmental infrastruc-

ture projects. Under the Rebuild Marawi Project, the construction of its first two Kapuso schools was finished while the third school is currently being constructed in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Under the the Kapuso Tulay Para Sa Kaunlaran Project, the construction of two steel and concrete bridges in Buhi, Camarines Sur was completed while a third bridge is currently being built in Paquibato, Davao City.

Also present to witness the signing were GMA Network’s EVP and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, Major General Antonio Parlade, Jr. AFP, Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7 AFP; Major General Andres Centino AFP, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 AFP, Major General Felipe Bejar, Jr., AFP, The Chief Engineer, AFP, and Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP Spokesperson.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

ACROSS 1 Small farm 6 Reindeer herder 10 Cold-shoulder 14 Stream 15 State definitely 16 Bright ring 17 Invisible swimmer (var.)

18 Function 19 Cato’s year 20 London’s Big — 21 Zero through nine 23 Zen question 24 Squinted at 26 Luau souvenirs 27 Scrape 29 Diminutive 32 Ill-mannered person 33 “So long!”

34 Nicklaus’ org.

37 Science course 40 Military trim 42 Visitor from Melmac 43 Capsizes, with “over” 45 Square of glass 46 — -craftsy 47 Picked 49 West Coast sch.

51 New 53 Harsh criticism 54 Odd facts 56 Codgers’ que-

ries 59 Famed lava spewer 60 Pilaf base 61 Fateful card 63 Caspian Sea tributary 64 High spirits 65 — Kagan of the Supreme Court 66 Big name in surrealism 67 Building additions 68 Subway patron DOWN 1 Beach sidler 2 Hoarfrost 3 Capable of withstanding high temperatures 4 Calendar abbr.

5 Exchanged 6 Spacious 7 Refrained from 8 Animal skin 9 Veep’s superior 10 Jolted 11 Vietnam capital 12 Arm bones 13 Twelve, maybe 22 Fury 25 Rank above viscount 26 Simpson kid

27 “Waterloo” group 28 Be very angry 30 Deceives 31 Coxcomb 33 Skippers’ OKs 34 Did the walls 35 DNA component 36 Ra’s symbol 38 Pods for stews 39 Pull down 41 Hit — (discover) 44 Melodious 46 Chemical com-

pound 47 201, to Claudius 48 Auto part 49 Extremely 50 Watercourse 52 Roulette bets 53 Quarrel 54 Willow or birch 55 Tiny stream 57 Sharpen 58 Top performer 62 — Baba

From left: Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP Spokesperson; Major General Felipe Bejar Jr. AFP, The Chief Engineer, AFP; Major General Andres Centino AFP, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 AFP; Major General Antonio Parlade Jr. AFP, Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7 AFP; General Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr. AFP, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon; GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel C. Tiangco; GMA EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong; and GMAKF EVP and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog.

Gracenote...

From C4

“Baso at Bote,” which is the band’s first release under Universal, is a song that encapsulates the overflowing feeling of a first time experience outside of his/her comfort zone, whether it would turn out as a regret or as something unexpectedly enjoyable.

As requested by many fans, the track is the band’s first track where bassist Jazz Jorge takes center stage as lead vocalist.

Along with the song’s debut comes a whole day of activities in store for Gracians (the moniker for the band’s supporters) and music lovers alike, as the band will be touring various radio stations and bars to promote the song.

At least 50 bars across Metro Manila simultaneously conducted the song’s premiere at 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 9.

“Baso at Bote” is released ahead of the band’s upcoming album Small World, which the band hints as a “combination of everything” they’ve done before but with a fresh new take.

The track is now available for streaming on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music, and all major streaming platforms.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

Acel’s aces YUGEL LOSORATA FEW ladies on the local band scene can lay claim to legitimate star tag with real hits to mention and a voice distinctive as a songbird “in a tree by the brook.”

Acel, who rose to fame carrying her maiden surname Bisa, belongs to that elite circle. She fronted for Moonstar88 for just a quarter of the band’s two-decade existence. Yet, being the master recording voice behind big hits like “Torete” and “Sulat,” OPM fans generally consider her stint in the group as having cemented her legacy.

The timing of Moonstar88’s emergence on the music scene couldn’t be more perfect. She was on board in the period between the limelight exit of alternative rock acts and the entry of a new wave of local bands sometime in the mid-2000s. At a time the acoustic scene was lording it, Acel and her gang showed it’s still okay to be plugged in.

The drawback of such success meant she would have a difficult time duplicating it as solo even if she has continued to churn out good performances even after she left Moonstar88 in 2004, or the same year she got married to her friend Danny van Ommen.

In fact early this year she was already thinking of “quitting entirely.”

But fate intervened and she got a turnaround call from Star Music’s Jonathan Manalo who expressed interest in songs she passed at Himig Handog songwriting competition.

“Acel, during the blind screening, when we heard your song, I just knew it was you,” Manalo told her.

It was revealed she made it to the Top 20 but missed the final cut. Instead, she found herself signing a recording contract with Star’s sub-label DNA Music.

She was quickly asked to record her take of Rico Blanco’s “Your Universe,” which became the theme song of the movie Between Maybes starring the controversial Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto.

Acel certainly caught a bus worth waiting for.

She also recorded and released the original “Pitik Bulag,” arranged and produced by Jack Rufo. The title pertains to a Filipino traditional game wherein one player closes his eyes and must correctly guess the number of fingers the other player flashes once the hand is flicked.

Acel related, “A relationship is not a game that someone should win. We must try to choose to be kind with the words we say and things we do when we find ourselves in a disagreement.”

In a special gig last July 18, she, with friends and fans, celebrated the release of the song and its music video featuring young, real-life couple Kat and Bryan with senior versions of themselves portrayed by her parents Simplicio and Paulina Bisa—both established literature professors and novelists who have been devoted to each other for well over 50 years.

Looks like the moon and stars, probably 88 of them, have aligned for Acel this year. Her future looks brighter than ever.

GLYDEL has nothing but good words for ‘KaraMia’ co-stars Glydel Mercado with husband Tonton Gutierrez and Beautederm's Rhea Anicoche-Tan (center) pose for a photo op during their contract renewal with the leading beauty and wellness brand.

M

IKA dela VERY Cruz and Barbie WANG Forteza, lead stars NICKIE of the defunct GMA series KarWANG aMia, have been praised for their impressive performance in the primetime drama.

But that was just icing on the cake, being complimented by the public is a great motivation but it’s the real deal when your co-actors are the one giving you all the thumbs up.

Glydel Mercado, who plays the antagonist Julia Garcia in the top-rating series, has nothing but good words for the two young stars. Last week, in an interview with Manila Standard during her renewal of contract with Beautederm Corporation, she praised both Mika and Barbie for their professionalism on the set.

“Some talents, even the senior ones, they arrive on the set without studying their lines and scenes. But Mika and Barbie, apart from they act really good, they always come prepared,” said Glydel who arrived at Annabel’s on Tomas Morato with her husband Tonton Gutierrez, who also renewed his contract with the leading beauty and wellness brand.

“Before and in between takes, you would see them studying their script. I have nothing but great respect for young talents like them. I admire their professionalism considering their age. They must have undergone good training. That’s the kind of professionalism we see from people who stay in show business for a long time,” she added.

While still waiting for some television and big screen assignments, Glydel is

going to busy promoting Beautederm products. She and her husband have just signed a two-year contract with the brand.

“We believe in their products that’s why we use them. It’s nice to promote something that you really use,” shared Glydel during the contract signing graced

by Rhea Anicoche-Tan, the lady behind the fast-rising brand.

Netflix film to be shot in the Philippines

Independent producer Chris Santiago was ecstatic when he revealed

with Manila Standard that A-list Hollywood actors will come visit the country to start the filming of a Netflix movie.

The action film is under pre-production and will feature local actors, too.

“It’s like Argo, only the setting is Manila.

It’s an action film and the story revolves around post-Martial Law era where the situation was still chaotic and violent,” Santiago said who added that he’s producing seven titles set for digital release. “iWant, iFlix and Netflix have been a great help to us. They have given us jobs and more opportunities. In America, they’re opening Amazon and Disney, all those digital streaming apps that allow more people access a wide range of quality content. They’re really helpful,” Santiago said.

Meanwhile, Santiago, who is a member of the Association of Authorized Small-Town Lottery (STL) Agents for Visayas and Mindanao made an appeal after Pres. Rodrigo Duterteordered the suspension of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office games, including STL, Keno, Peryahan ng Bayan and other popular lotto games.

The President has already lifted the suspension on the lotto games after investigators found no anomaly in its operations but STL remains suspended as of this writing.

“We support the move of the President, it just strengthens the public trust on PCSO and its other operations. If the suspension of STL operations would be lifted, too, it will be beneficial to those who rely on it as a source of livelihood,” the spokesperson for the Association of Authorized SmallTown Lottery (STL) Agents for Visayas and Mindanao said.

“Illegal betting games are coming back again, and we don’t want that to happen.

So we humbly ask the President to consider our request to lift the suspension by having it properly investigated. Our group follows all the rules and regulations of PCSO. Our operation is legitimate and legal,” the spokesperson added.

In a statement sent to the media, the group said that the members are in good standing. They don’t have any shortfall in terms of their remittance to PCSO, and they don’t have any legal, technical or judicial problems.

“We went through proper bidding process and we followed the proper course when we applied for franchise. It’s just sad that more than a million people are getting affected by the suspension,” the spokesperson ended.

Members of the Association of Authorized Small-Town Lottery (STL) Agents for Visayas and Mindanao

Gracenote signs with Universal Records

Acel’s single 'Pitik Bulag' and its music video can be heard on Spotify and watched on YouTube, respectively.

ELECTRO-POP-ROCK band Gracenote is back with a latest single “Baso at Bote,” which the four-piece band HAS JUST released under Universal Records.

The quartet, composed of Eunice Jorge (Vocalist, Keyboardist, Violinist), Jazz Jorge (Bassist/ Back-up Vocals), Tatsi Jamnague (Guitars), and EJ Pichay (Drums), has come full circle with Universal Records, the label being the one who distributed their first album First Movement back in 2012.

The contract signing was held at the Universal Records office in Quezon City. Present during the signing were the band members, Universal Records General Manager Kathleen Dy-Go, and Gracenote’s Business Manager Darwin Hernandez. Continued on C3

Electro-pop-rock band Gracenote is back under Universal Records for its latest release 'Baso at Bote.'