Manila Standard - 2019 September 19 - Thursday

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BuCor purge gets under way

By MJ Blancaflor, Rey E. Requejo transfer of jail guards to the provinces, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panand Macon Ramos-Araneta

elo told reporters.

“It’s total revamp. He’ll remove all PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a total revamp of the Bureau of of them there. Remove all the officials, Corrections in the wake of reported the employees,” he said.

Duterte’s order came a day after the anomalies, Malacañang said Wednesday.

The revamp will involve the removal designation of former jail warden Gerald of BuCor officials and employees and Next page VOL. XXXIII • NO. 217 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Du30 sets ultimatum vs. convicts

BUT BET TER DEAD

?

By MJ Blancaflor, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will offer P1-million bounty for the capture of each of heinous crime convicts— dead or alive, but better dead—if they will not surrender to the authorities.

HEINOUS CRIME CONVICTS

ERRONEOUSLY RELEASED UNDER GCTA

P1,000,000

Duterte earlier ordered 1,914 heinous crime convicts who were freed under Two more convicts in the the Good Conduct Time Allowance rape-slay of the Chiong sisters in Law to surrender on or before Sept. 19 Cebu—James Uy and Josman for a “recomputation” of their benefits Aznar—surrendered Wednesunder the measure. day evening, Justice Undersec“I will just set the timeline and then retary Markk Perete said. The the one million prize is available to two turned themselves in at the those who can capture them dead or New Bilibid Prison compound. alive. But maybe dead would be a better option,” Duterte told reporters Tuesday Under the Republic Act 10592, heinight, suggesting it would cost more to nous crime convicts are excluded from send them back to prison.

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PH oil supply adequate—Cusi

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy department on Wednesday said the Philippines has enough oil inventory to weather any impact of the drone attacks in Saudi Arabia, even as the agency expressed hope that oil prices will stabilize following

8 Coastguards draw prison term for Taiwanese slay

By Rey E. Requejo

A MANILA City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday convicted eight Philippine Coast Guard personnel for opening fire and killing Taiwanese fisherman Hong Shih Cheng in the Balintang Channel off the coast of Batanes in May 2013.

Judge Eduardo Ramon Reyes of RTC Branch 15 ruled that the prosecution did not present direct evidence to prove who killed

the Taiwanese.

But he said it presented circumstantial evidence “sufficient to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt of Commander Arnold Enrique dela Cruz, Seamen 1st Class Edrando Quiapo Aguila, Mhelvin Aguilar Bendo II, Andy Gibb Ronario Golfo, Sunny Galang Masangkay and Henry Baco Solomon, Seaman 2nd Class Nickey Reynold Aurellio and Petty Officer 2 Richard Fernandez Corpuz.

The eight Filipino crewmen claimed they

had shot in self-defense after the fisherman’s vessel sailed directly at them in the seas just north of Luzon.

Judge Reyes convicted the men of homicide and sentenced them to a minimum of eight years in prison, though they will be allowed to remain free while they appeal.

“We are filing a notice of appeal so that what we perceived as errors of the trial court will be thrashed out,” Paul Jomar

Palace clears the air on ‘ambush’ tale

By MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta

MALACAÑANG denied Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte had admitted he ordered the ambush of former mayor Vicente Loot whom he accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said

WEATHER Wet weather prevails—PAGASA

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is monitoring at least three weather systems affecting the country and could spawn rain in Luzon and the Visayas.

Tropical depression “Nimfa” is not forecast to make landfall, but it will still trigger rain over Basco, Batanes. It has remained stationary in the northern Philippine Sea. “Nimfa” is expected to bring frequent light to moderate with occasional heavy rain today, Thursday.

Meanwhile, a shallow low-pressure area has been spotted in the Turn to A3

the Chief Executive, who hails from Davao City, only “misspeaks” the Filipino language since he is not proficient with it.

In a speech on Tuesday, Duterte said he ordered the ambush of Loot, a former Daanbantayan, Cebu mayor, who was implicated in his list of alleged narco-generals in 2016.

Speaking at a Malacañang event, Duterte Turn to A3

Saudi, US gear up for retaliation raid SAUDI Arabia said it will unveil the results later Wednesday of its probe into attacks on key oil installations, as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heads to the kingdom to discuss possible retaliation.

Riyadh, which is bogged down in a five-year war against Tehranaligned rebels in neighboring Yemen, has said that the weapons used were Iranian-made, but has not directly blamed its arch rival.

Turn to A3

P4.1-trillion budget gets priority—Palace Next page

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reports that Saudi Arabia will be able to return to production soon.

“We have enough inventory to last us for 30 days at least,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay. “We just heard the good news that Next page

Calamity fund eyed to keep ASF in check

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Agriculture has P1 billion in Quick Response Funds under this year’s Calamity Fund that it can tap to stop the spread of the African Swine Fever, said Senator Juan Edgardo Angara.

Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said government should now “break Next page

CHIEF’S CONSOLATION.

President Rodrigo Duterte condoles with the kin of one of the killed soldiers as he posthumously awards the Order of LapuLapu Rank of Kalasag during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday.

Presidential Photo

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

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P4.1-t budget certified urgent

By MJ Blancaflor and Maricel V. Cruz

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020.

the national spending plan.

The 2020 budget, Duterte said, will “expedite the funding of various programs and projects and will ensure budgetary preparedness that will enable the government to effectively perform its constitutional mandate.”

At the Lower House, Deputy Speakers Michael Romero of 1-Pacman Party-list and Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur said the money measure will be passed

on second reading on Friday (Sept. 20).

“We can no longer afford to lose P77 billion per month because of the economic slow down triggered by the delayed implementation of the national budget.

It has become imperative for us to make sure that each day of the coming year’s government operations is covered by the provisions of the 2020 General Appropriations Act,” said Romero, president of the the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc.

In his letter to the leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the President said the timely passage of next year’s General Appropriations Act is crucial to “maintain continuous gov-

ernment operations.”

The government was forced to run on a reenacted budget this year for four months following wrangling among lawmakers over alleged insertions in

BuCor...

From A1

Tax-evading POGOs face ax, Finance warns ryone, but we have to broaden the base and ensure everyone complies and we make it easier for them to comply. So I think it will be unfair if we are not serious to make the law apply to everyone,” Chua said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III previously directed the Bureau of Internal Revenue to shut down POGOs and their service providers if they fail to pay the tax

liabilities of their foreign workers.

Dominguez issued the order following the BIR’s disclosure that collections have remained slow despite the issuance of 130 letter-notices to firms with tax liabilities worth P21.62 billion.

“We ask Filipino companies and the Filipino workers to pay the right taxes.

And I think regardless of the investors or the workers, everyone should follow,” Chua said.

having their terms shortened as a reward for good behavior in jail.

The Philippine National Police earlier reported about 600 convicts have turned themselves in so far—although the Justice department puts the figure at more than 900.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said that after that deadline, the police may carry out warrantless arrests and even use force against the convicts if they resist arrest.

Duterte’s order came amid allegations of corruption in the implementation of the GCTA Law. While the President is against releasing those convicted of heinous crimes, he ordered the Justice department to speed up the release of old and sickly inmates.

“I will set 70 years old or 75, 70. They cannot run,” he told reporters.

The Chief Executive also claimed that criminals jailed for a very long time have turned into homosexuals.

“Most of them don’t want to go because they have lovers inside the jail. If they will be freed after 30, 25 years, they won’t look for women,” he said.

“They have acquired latent homosexuality. They don’t have the desire to kiss women,” he added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra sought to play down the President’s “dead or alive” remark. “’Dead or alive’ should not be taken literally,” Guevarra said.

“Law enforcers are supposed to effect peaceful arrests, but they may use reasonable force if the subject of the arrest violently resists and endangers the security of the arresting officer,” he said.

The controversy over the GCTA arose after reports that convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez might be released soon sparked public outrage.

The Justice department said 964 prisoners convicted of heinous crimes have turned themselves in on the eve of Duterte’s deadline.

On Monday, the Justice department and the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued new implementing rules and regulations for the GCTA Law, including a provision dis-

qualifying some heinous crime convicts, recidivists, habitual delinquents and escapees from getting early release.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said two convicts released under the GCTA Law said they would surrender to him.

“I don’t know why they want to surrender to us at the Senate. They can go directly to the police,” Sotto said in Filipino. He said the released convicts may be scared—or may want to reveal something to the Senate, which is holding hearings on the GCTA Law and corruption in the Bureau of Corrections.

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said at least 24,000 convicts had already been released since 2014, citing figures submitted by BuCor. He also said two or three bureau officials would be recommended for prosecution in connection with the alleged sale of GCTA credits.

These recommendations would be in a report that would be released in two or three weeks, he added.

The charges will include bribery, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and gross negligence, Martires said.

Those under preventive suspension will not automatically be included in the charges, he said.

In a separate interview, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Senator Leila de Lima and former DILG secretary Manuel Roxas II should be barred forever from seeking public office for the alleged irregularities in the implementing rules and regulations of the GCTA law.

“They are the ones at fault since they are the ones who made it. The people who are below there are [just] being guided. They are the Cabinet members.

They should [own] their mistakes,” Enrile said.

Enrile was Senate President when the GCTA was signed into law in 2013.

He said there should be no confusion in the provisions of the Republic Act 10592 or the GCTA law as Section 1 clearly states that heinous crime convicts are among those excluded from being released earlier than their prison sentence based on good conduct.The IRR of RA 10592 was signed when De Lima and Roxas were secretaries of the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Enrile said that supposed addition of heinous crime convicts as beneficiaries of the GCTA Law is “unconstitutional, non-existent, and void ab initio [from the beginning].”

“Whoever did that should answer for all of these problems,” he said.

Meanwhile, three BuCor officials detained for contempt in the Senate asked the Court of Appeals to issue a writ of habeas corpus as they challenged their detention for telling lies and withholding information.

BuCor records chief Ramoncito Roque, legal chief Fredric Anthony Santos, and Bilibid hospital medical officer Ursicio Cenas asked the Court of Appeals hear the case, declare their arrest and detention unlawful, and order their permanent release, saying the senators denied them due process.

They also assailed what they said was the indefinite period of their detention, citing a Supreme Court ruling that says persons cited in contempt by the Senate may only be detained until the termination of the legislative investigation where they were ordered confined.

Also on Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto spoke of the high cost of detention.

Based on the proposed appropriations and projected inmate population for 2020, the annual cost of housing, feeding, guarding, and transporting one Bureau of Jail Management and Penology detainee will be about P101,887. At BuCor, the cost is P91,407 per prisoner per year.

While the P70 budget for three daily meals is inhumanely low, it is still higher than the P18 per meal cost of the government feeding programs that benefit 3.7-million children.

The annual cost of the P15 daily medicine allowance is twice the national government’s per capita health spending of P2,638 for 2020.

He said the tax burden for one inmate was four times the annual price tag for sending a child to public school or college.

“But we can only decongest our jails… if the wheels of justice will turn faster, by more hands who will move it,” Recto said.

“The billions of pesos we pay for our prisons is the annual national penalty we pay for our slow justice system,” Recto said.

ployed to these agencies.”

It was only on Sept. 10 that the Department of Budget and Management released P82.5 million to the DA to carry out measures to “arrest and abate” the spread of ASF. Angara noted that 35 percent of the amount or P32 million will be spent to boost security screening measures at the international airports.

Another P28 million will go to laboratory testing of meat and meat products.

“It is good that we’re strengthening our quarantine curtains, but what we lack are funds to fight ASF on the ground, especially now that the local governments are fully mobilized,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“But if the ASF epidemic will worsen, and will down many farms, and some financial aid for those stricken is needed, then this can be included in the 2020 budget,” Angara said.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte began the distribution of cash assistance to hog raisers affected by the AFS scare.

Owners of 146 pigs culled in Barangay Bagong Silangan since Sunday’s operations were the first recipients of the financial help from the city government.

Belmonte said the city would be pro-

viding P3,000 and P1,500 for every culled pig and piglet, respectively.

“Scholarships and livelihood will also be provided to affected families of illegal hog raisers to help them find new ways to earn a living,” she said.

“We cannot just leave them that way, especially in times when they need the help of the city government. We are just here always ready to help them recover from the problem,” she added.

As a preemptive measure, Belmonte ordered the immediate culling of pigs from Area 5 in Sitio Veterans and Area 2 in Sitio Oriole in Barangay Bagong Silangan after blood samples were confirmed by the Bureau of Animal Industry as positive for the ASF. “We went above and beyond the Department of Agriculture’s protocol to ensure that the virus won’t spread to nearby areas so I ordered the immediate culling of the pigs,” she said.

The chief veterinarian, Dr. Anamarie Cabel, said the 1-7-10 protocol requires the culling of infected animals.

The city mayor urged barangay officials within the one-kilometer radius to cooperate by identifying informal backyard hog raisers and assist the veterinary office in getting blood samples to be submitted to BAI for testing.

Bantag as the new director-general of the BuCor, replacing Nicanor Faeldon who was fired.

The President has ordered a stop to corruption within the bureau, Panelo added.

He also said the BuCor employees and officials will be on “floating” status for the meantime.

“What is important is they are no longer there,” he said.

The move will also likely give Bantag a free hand to select his own personnel.

The BuCor came under fire following the release of about 2,000 heinous crime convicts under the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law that reduces a prisoner’s sentence for good conduct.

The Ombudsman and the Senate have launched separate investigations on the BuCor employees to unearth irregularities in the computation of GCTA. The bureau is in charge with the custody and rehabilitation of national offenders, who have been sentenced to three years of imprisonment or more.

Its headquarters is at the New Bilibid Prison Reservation in Muntinlupa City.

The bureau has 2,862 employees, 61 percent of whom are custodial officers, 33 percent are administrative personnel and 6 percent are members of the medical staff, based on the Department of Justice data from 2008.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday gave Bantag his orders to clean up the mess generated by the premature release of heinous crime convicts.

Guevarra issued the orders when he met with Bantag at the DOJ main office in Manila, their first since the Palace announced the latter’s appointment.

“I met with Director General Bantag for the first time this morning. I told him to focus on three major objectives, in order of urgency, namely clean up the GCTA mess, full computerization and stop the illegal drug trade inside,” Guevarra said, when asked what transpired during their meeting.

Bantag immediately left and did not speak to the press.

On Tuesday, Guevarra defended the appointment of Bantag despite the criminal cases he is facing in connection with the deaths of 10 inmates at the Parañaque City Jail when he was still its warden, saying the President has good reasons for appointing him as the BuCor chief.

“The President has total discretion and absolute prerogative in the appointment of the BuCor director general,” he said, adding there is no need for the President to consult him before making an appointment.

Senator Christopher Go, who had said the next BuCor chief should be “a killer,” said Bantag did not fit the bill, even though he faces homicide charges. With Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

By MJ Blancaflor

Calamity...

From A1 the glass of this emergency fund” and use it to implement the DA’s containment protocol against a disease which threatens a key food source that also adds P280 billion to the economy annually.

“This ASF is by all accounts a calamity. It may not have the dramatic footage that typhoons create, but in terms of damage to livelihood, and the households affected, it is just as damaging,” Angara said.

Angara said stopping the spread of ASF must be done now before it engulfs the entire industry and endanger the jobs of tens of thousands of people.

“If agriculture disasters like pests, droughts and ASF are rated, the latter has the potential of becoming a highcategory calamity,” Angara said.

Angara said funding for anti-ASF measures can be taken from the P20billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, more commonly known as the Calamity Fund, in the General Appropriations Act for 2020.

Under this fund, the DA is assigned P1 billion in QRF, “which by their nature, should have been forward-de-

TAX evading Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators will be closed and padlocked “as soon as possible,” the Department of Finance said Wednesday.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua said “Oplan Kandado” will be applied to any gaming operator that refuses to pay taxes or liabilities.

“We are lowering the tax rates for eve-

Du30...

From A1

PH...

From A1 Saudi Aramco was able to restore and production will be back to normal immediately so that is a good development and I hope that the price will correct and we will be monitoring how the global market behaves but what we would like to assure [the public] is the inventory we have is sufficient to keep the economy running,” Cusi said.

He said world oil prices went up after the Saudi Arabia drone attack over the weekend that cut about 6 percent of the world’s supply of oil.

“That would affect us because… 76 percent of our crude imports are coming from the Middle East and I think 37 percent is from Saudi Arabia,” the Energy chief said.

Cusi also assured the public that while there is available supply, government may also suspend the implementation of the excise tax.

“Government has prepared a measure in case the price will escalate because of that, under the Train Law, if the price breaches $80 per barrel for three months, the government may suspend the excise tax,” he said.

Duterte fumes over recycling of illegal drugs

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday slammed the alleged recycling of illegal drugs that were seized during police operations, adding the government personnel involved in those activities should be killed.

He made the statement after Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino said the “recycling” of seized illegal drugs by law enforcers remained “rampant.”

“This corruption in drugs, the recycling that they are saying, you should really kill all crooked cops,” President Duterte said in a speech in Malacañang.

Aquino has previously said several sources have confirmed that unscrupulous anti-narcotics agents either sell seized illegal drugs or use them to plant as evidence in bogus operations.

Duterte also noted the prevalence of the practice of recycling drugs.

“I have to have evidence, that’s why I said just follow them. This is not really outright. But if they will catch, for example, 20 kilos, they will only report 10 kilos,” he said.

“Then they will receive an award.

The others will recycle. They will sell it. Too many. And it’s so prevalent.”

Philippine National Police deputy spokesman Kimberly Molitas said law enforcers had intensified the internal cleansing of the ranks.

“We never denied that there are policemen who are like that, that’s why we strengthened our internal cleansing,” Molitas said in a television interview Wednesday.

But Metro Manila Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar disputed the claim, saying there could only be “isolated and limited” cases of drug recycling in Metro Manila.

Duterte has been widely criticized for his campaign against illegal drugs in which thousands have been killed during police operations.

He vowed to eradicate illegal drugs during his presidential campaign in 2016.

8FromCoastguards...

A1 Alcudia, one of the lawyers of the officers, told AFP. Taipei welcomed the court verdict.

“Justice has been served,” Taiwan foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said in a statement Wednesday.

The killing caused a deep rift between the Asian neighbors, with then Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou describing it as “cold-blooded murder.”

After the fatal shooting, Taiwan ordered a freeze on the hiring of Filipino workers, warned its tourists against traveling to the Philippines and staged naval drills near its sea border with Manila.

Then Philippine President Benigno Aquino repeatedly apologized for the killing and sent an envoy to Taiwan, but these actions were rejected as insincere.

An agreement was subsequently put in place to avoid using force in fishing disputes to avoid similar incidents.

Coast Guard spokesman Armand Balilo said while they respect the court’s decision, it may “disappoint” some personnel. With AFP At the same time, Cusi said the department is looking at putting up a strategic oil reserve through state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. to prevent any supply disruption in times of crisis.

“Petroleum is in the hands of the private sector, the government is not in the supply chain and that’s what we have been trying to do, to bring back government to participate in the supply chain and we develop a strategic reserve,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cusi said government is also serious about pursuing oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea, where the Recto Bank is located, to ensure energy supply security.

“We are this serious and the President really would like to make use of the resources for the benefit of the Filipino. We quarrel about the territory or sovereignty but if we can get the resources out and we can use it, it would better if we can do it immediately,” he said.

He said there is still no firm timetable for the joint venture but the Philippines has completed the framework for the planned joint exploration with China and is only waiting for a meeting with their Chinese counterparts so they can begin.

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Duterte to dissolve Pasig board

By MJ Blancaflor

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday night he would dissolve the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and transfer its task to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, believing the major river “is impossible” to revive.

This comes a week after Duterte fired PRRC chief Jose Antonio Goitia over allegations of corruption.

“Over the years, the factory waste, of houses, everything [go to] Pasig River.

How can you clean that? So this com-

mission in Pasig, I’ll remove it, place it under General [Roy] Cimatu of DENR,” Duterte said in Malacañang during the oath-taking rites of government officials.

“Even Pasig Bureau, Pasig department, department of Pasig. That Pasig [River],

you cannot clean it because we don’t have zoning,” he added.

The PRRC is primarily tasked to implement programs and projects aimed at reviving the polluted Pasig River connected to the Laguna de Bay and the Manila Bay, which is undergoing massive rehabilitation by a special task force headed by the DENR. The commission was formed in January 1999 under an executive order signed by then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Duterte appointed Goitia in 2017 to lead the agency but the President said the latter spread word about his supposed appointment as Bureau of Customs collector and asked money from the people within the agency.

Last month, Duterte signed EO 90 transferring the chairmanship of PRRC from the Department of Budget and Management to the DENR. In his speech, he suggested that rehabilitation efforts should be initially directed to factories near the river.

“You have to overhaul the entire city.

Unless you build new cities outside and people will migrate and there’s a lessening of people here, maybe you can start.

But you can start with the factories. They are all chemicals there,” he said.

In a joking mood, he said: “I take a bath there sometimes if I want bacteria in my body to be immune.”

ARTA files charges vs. erring gov’t employees

By Othel V. Campos THE Anti-Red Tape Authority has filed for-

mal charges against erring employees of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Registry of Deeds due to violations committed under the Ease of Doing Business Law. ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica, on Wednesday, went to the office of the Civil Service Commission to personally file the first batch of cases against several government employees following thorough investigation.

The violations were found after ARTA received mounting complaints against said agencies.

ARTA conducted a series of meetings and spot-checks on both LTFRB and ROD to confirm the allegations.

Some of the violations committed under Section 21 of Republic Act 11032 of the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018” include imposition of additional requirements other than those listed in the Citizen’s Charter and failure to render government services within the prescribed processing time on any application or request without due cause.

Another ground for the case was the failure to attend to applicants or requesting parties who are within the premises of the office or agency concerned prior to the end of official working hours and during lunch break.

“We have been constantly reminding those who have violated and/or have intentions of violating the law that we will find a way to penalize each and everyone of you. This is just the start of our campaign against red tape,” Belgica said.

The EODB Law, however, imposes stricter penalties. The law gives ARTA more teeth in pursuing anti-red tape cases as it introduces stricter rules such as the two-strike policy, which spells out penalties warranted for the first and second violation of the law.

Penalties for the first and second offense are as involved administrative liability with months suspension; and administrative liability and criminal liability of dismissal from the service, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and forfeiture of retirement benefits and imprisonment of one year to six years with a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P2 million.

ARTA is committed to simplify requirement and process and has gone full speed in implementing the landmark legislation, Belgica noted.

Saudi,...

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However, the Saudi defense ministry said its spokesman would present evidence from the site of the weekend attacks that halved Saudi oil production, sending global energy markets into a tailspin.

He “will announce the final results of the investigation and present material evidence and Iranian weapons proving the Iranian regime’s involvement in the terrorist attack,” the ministry said.

Late Tuesday, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said international investigators, including from the UN, were joining the probe, having announced that output would return to normal by the end of the month.

The kingdom wants “proof based on professionalism and internationally recognized standards,” he said.

The Saudis will present the evidence ahead of Pompeo’s arrival.

The US chief diplomat is set to meet with de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss how to respond to the strikes, which the US says originated in Iran.

“As the president said, we don’t want war with anybody, but the United States is prepared,” Vice President Mike Pence said

LEGAL CONSULTATION. Philippine Coast Guard personnel found guilty of killing a Taiwanese fisherman in 2013 confer with their lawyer before leaving the Manila Regional Trial Court on Wednesday. The eight were allowed to post bail since they would still file an appeal before the Court of Appeals. Norman Cruz

Bureau of Customs to auction off 2 planes seized be auctioned is the Air Republiq. First time in history that the bureau will sell an aircraft,” Talusan told Manila Standard.

Talusan tapped Robert Quintana as the lead Customs NAIA officer to conduct the public auction which will be held either last week of September or mid-October.

“The schedule and other details will be published in newspapers. This aircraft will be sold as is where is,” she said.

Also up for auction is the British-made Skyjet (BAE 146-100) plane which was forfeited early this year after its operator failed to pay P90 million in duties and taxes for its importation last year.

The bureau´s district collector ordered the aircraft to be forfeited also for violating Sections 224 (Power to Inspect and Visit), 400 (Goods to be Imported through Customs Office), 401 (Importation Subject to Goods Declaration), and 405 (Liability of Importer for Duties and Taxes) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. The aircraft was first alerted on March 29,

2017 by collector Talusan as then district collector of Port of Subic and requested for a Letter of Authority to demand proof of payment of duties and taxes as no record of any import entry or warehousing entry was filed by the owners.

According to Magnum Air, it purchased the plane from its previous owner without knowledge that it has unsettled tax obligations.

Based on reports, the Skyjet aircraft operator was a former registered locator of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority but was delisted and has ceased operations in 2014.

Magnum Air filed a case of syndicated estafa as early as February 2016 against the previous management for illegal acts and other irregularities. A copy of the complaint has been submitted to BoC in the seizure proceedings.

Customs officials said they are readying the auction of the two planes the soonest time possible to gain non-traditional revenues for the bureau.

Palace...

From A1

said, “General Loot...nanalo pa na mayor.

In-ambush kita, animal ka, buhay pa rin.”

(General Loot...you even won as mayor. I ambushed you, you’re an animal, still alive.)

According to Panelo, what Duterte meant to say was, “In-ambush ka na, buhay ka pa.”

(You were ambushed, but still alive.)

“Let us be clear and categorical: The President did not order the ambush of Gen. Loot,” Duterte’s spokesman said.

Loot survived the May 2018 attack that left four others injured.

Panelo also said the public was now “familiar [with]” and “used to the language” of Duterte.

But three senators said the statement— before Malacañang issued a clarification— of Duterte that he ordered the hit on Loot should serve as a warning to the latter and other government officials linked to illegal drugs.

Whether Duterte was joking or not, he said Loot would be “better off minding his physical security 24/7.”

“Well, you should ask him first if he was joking or serious when he said that,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

“Midway into his term, we should already be familiar with his penchant for saying something as serious as that and dismissing it as a joke afterwards.”

Senator Christopher Go, former special assistant of Duterte, said the President was just joking. However, he said this was also a warning to Loot.

Saying it’s just the way the President speaks and delivers a speech, Go noted he would not make an admission about the ambush.

“Why would the President do that,” he also said.

“That’s a joke. But a warning to, all that if you engage in drugs, if you are a governor or even a mayor, if you enter drugs, [you are] at your own risk,” he said.

“I was the one who told you, I’ve known the President for the past 21 years, whether it’s true or whether it’s not true, we watch what he said in his speeches or in his whispers or body language, bantayan na lang po,” he added.

Asked if he thought the President really ordered the ambush of Loot, Go answered in the negative.

“The President will not do that. And he will not admit in public that he will do that,” he said.

Loot, a former general, and his family survived the ambush at a wharf in Daanbantayan. In 2016, Duterte tagged Loot as one of the five “narco generals” but they all denied the allegations.

The President earlier denied any role in the 2018 ambush of Loot and even accused former Interior secretary Mar Roxas of ordering it.

Panelo stressed what Duterte meant was that Loot was still alive despite being ambushed.

in a speech in Washington on Tuesday.

“We’re locked and loaded and we’re ready to defend our interests and allies in the region, make no mistake about it,” he said, echoing President Donald Trump’s words on Sunday.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the Trump administration has concluded that last weekend’s attack involved cruise missiles from Iran and that evidence would be presented at the UN General Assembly next week.

Prefer not to meet The apparent hardening of the US position came as Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out negotiations with Washington “at any level.”

This appeared to nix remaining hopes for a dramatic meeting between Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the United Nations next week.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One over California, Trump said he too had cooled on what had always seemed to be a diplomatic longshot.

“I never rule anything out, but I prefer not meeting him,” Trump said.

Yemen’s Huthi rebels claimed responsibility for Saturday’s oil installation attacks, which took out six percent of global supplies.

But a senior US administration official

cast doubt on that claim, saying that while the Huthis said they used 10 drones, one Saudi oil facility was hit “at least 17 times,” and another twice by “precision-guided munitions.”

Additionally, neither the type of drone “nor the cruise missiles employed in the attack can reach the facilities from Yemen.

It’s not possible,” the official said.

The Huthis are at war with Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, turning the impoverished nation into a proxy battlefield for Tehran and Riyadh.

Observers say the torrid experience in Yemen, where despite their vast firepower, the Saudis have failed to subdue the ragtag but highly motivated militia, has made Riyadh circumspect about wading into another conflict.

“I certainly hope we’re not [going to have another war],” Riyadh’s ambassador to London Prince Khalid Bin Bandar told the BBC in an interview.

“Almost certainly it’s Iranian-backed, but we are trying not to react too quickly because the last thing we need is more conflict in the region,” he said.

Iran has stuck with its account that the Huthi rebels are responsible, with Rouhani saying Wednesday that they carried out the strike as a “warning” about a possible wider

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Bureau of Customs announced on Wednesday it would auction off two planes seized by the government for lack of required documents and failure to pay duties and taxes.

This will be the first time in the history of Philippine Customs to auction off an aircraft.

Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport district collector Carmelita Talusan said they would sell off the forfeited 80-seater Magnum Air (Skyjet) and the declared abandoned 50-seater twin turbo propeller aircraft of Air Republiq to generate additional revenue.

The Air Republiq (ATR 42-320) plane will be the first one to be auctioned off and will take place at JM Aerofix Wing Hangar located at the NAIA General Aviation Area in Pasay City.

“The Customs NAIA has two seizures, the Skyjet and the Air Republiq. The first one to

war in response to the Saudi intervention in Yemen.

Support for war?

The increasingly complex conflict dovetails with the Trump administration’s attempt to curb Iranian power through a “maximum pressure” campaign of crippling economic sanctions.

Trump began that campaign after unilaterally pulling out of a 2015 international deal meant to reward Iran for allowing restrictions on its nuclear industry.

The new stage of the long-running USIranian standoff has raised speculation over whether it will lead to conflict.

Trump called off a retaliatory missile attack on Iran in June after the Iranians shot down a spy drone.

He said he did not want to kill what generals told him could be up to 150 people.

Trump’s administration is considering responses to the latest attack, including a cyber attack or a physical strike on Iranian oil infrastructure or its Revolutionary Guards, NBC News reported, citing unnamed US officials.

Oil prices have see-sawed since the attacks, with record gains Monday followed by a tumble Tuesday as the Saudi assurances on supply soothed the markets. AFP

CPP official nabbed by gov’t troops

By Francisco Tuyay A RANKING official of the Communist Party of the Philippines was arrested by military and police operatives in Laguna Tuesday evening, the military said Wednesday.

Army Capt. Jayrald Ternio, Public Affairs Office chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said Antonietta Tonog Setias-Dizon, alias Tonet, head of the CPP’s National Organizing Department, was arrested at her safe house at Villa Olympia Subdivision, San Pedro Laguna at about 11 p.m.

Col. Alex Rillera, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade which has operational jurisdiction in Laguna, said Dizon was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Santa Cruz, Laguna RTC Executive Judge Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca for the crime of murder.

The Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), reacting to the reported arrest, condemned what it described as illegal arrest of its former deputy secretary general.

In a statement, the group said, “Dizon was illegaly arrested based on trumped up charges like murder in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur and linking her to the CPP-NPA by planting files like ‘communist’ paraphernalia, flash drives and the like, also caught in her supposed possession are gun and explosives which are pure desperate moves by the state forces. As of the moment, she is currently detained at the San Pedro Police Station.

“Wayback in 2015 Dizon had already experienced military harassment, wherein she had to spend the night and take refuge in the office of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, because she may get abducted, or worse killed by agents surrounding the building.

“Dizon feared for her life and safety, so along with other leaders of COURAGE, they filed a petition for a Writ of Amparo and Writ of Habeas Data in the Supreme Court to protect their life, liberty, and security from harassment and threats by the state.”

The military said seized from Dizon’s safe house were one cal. 380 pistol with a magazine and 7 bullets; 48 pieces of live ammunitions for Cal. 380; 2 blasting caps and wirings; 10 pieces blasting caps; 2 mobile phones; 2 hard disk drives; one USB flash drive; a CPP/NPA flag; a green cap with CPP logo and subversive documents.

Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., commander of the 2nd ID, said “the arrest of alias Tonet is another major blow to the NPA terrorists’ movement for it will create leadership vacuum that will further speed up their imminent defeat.”

Early this year, several top CPPNPA-NDF leaders to include Rafael Baylosis, Edilberto Silva were arrested following the termination of peace talks between the government and the communist movement.

President Rodrigo Duterte abrogated the peace talks due to what the military described as the series of hostile acts committed by the NPA against innocent civilians and ambush incidents on military and police personnel.

Southern Luzon Command Chief Lt. Gen. Gilberto Gapay described the arrest of Dizon as a big blow to the CPP and a significant reduction to its manpower, both at the national and local levels following the intensified security operations of government forces and massive surrender of its members.

Last week, 65 CPP-NPA members returned to the fold of law and availed themselves of the E-CLIP in Bicol.

Wet weather...

From A1

vicinity of Mayontoc, Tarlac.

According to Pagasa, the LPA will merge with the trough of “Nimfa” within the next 48 hours and is forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon.

The southwest monsoon would continue to affect parts of Luzon and the Visayas.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy monsoon rain will prevail over Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, the northern portions of Palawan, Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras.

Occasional light to moderate rain will persist in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Batanes, Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, the rest of Central Luzon and the Mimaropa region.

The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will have scattered rain and isolated thunderstorms.

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Martial law had its purpose FORTY-SEVEN years ago, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law.

The proclamation closed down all media networks.

On this day, the chief of security of Channel 9 called me at home to say “Sir, na-martial law na tayo. You better come because Channel 9 has been padlocked.”

I rushed to the network, located along Roxas Boulevard. I was then manager of public affairs.

When I reached the network, I was told to await further instructions.

Too bad we only remember a few things.

At half past five the following morning, I decided to go home. But I felt like having coffee so I stopped by Hotel Intercontinental. That in itself is another story.

I reached my house only to receive a call that I was being summoned to the office again because the President wanted to have a nationwide address justifying martial law.

Later, when we reached Malacañang, Press Secretary Francisco Tatad said he would first introduce the president. He was so nervous he was scratching his legs. I could not forget that moment.

In that broadcast, Marcos said his proclamation of martial law was backed by the 1935 Constitution which says he could do so when public safety demands it.

He cited the rebellion by the communist movement, already taking over media, the academe, labor and even parliament.

The communist rebellion, Marcos said, was worsened by the separatist movement in Mindanao.

Later, the Supreme Court upheld the proclamation of martial law.

There were arrests of opposition leaders, Senator Benigno Aquino, Jose Diokno and other members of the opposition. Media arrests also worsened the situation.

Still, nobody can deny that the first two years of martial law brought about relative peace and stability in the country. That is, until some cronies and supporters of Marcos started abusing their privilege.

What many people remember about martial law are the disappearances and killings. We forget that martial law broke the backbone of the communist movement and put a stop to the Muslim separatist movement. It drove Nur Misuari into exile.

What is unfortunate is that every time we mention martial law, all we remember are the atrocities.

We forget that under Marcos, we had our first Light Rail Transit system, and expressways in the North and South.

We forget many other positive things from that era.

To me, that is the tragedy of martial law.

Thus, when we mark the anniversary of the so-called People Power Revolution, where half a million people gathered on EDSA to celebrate Marcos’ exile, we are not reflecting what really happened. Half a million people hardly represented the will of some 80 million Filipinos then. It was not a revolution, just a fluke! It was a mere change in regime, nothing more. *** I don’t know if Malacañang realizes it, but the denial of the President’s statement on a mayor of Cebu caused even greater confusion. President Duterte said the Cebu mayor was on his list of narco-politicians, that he had had him ambushed, and that he was surprised he was still alive.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A

Divorced from reality

T THE Senate hearing this week on three divorce bills, many of the old arguments for and against divorce surfaced.

Those against the law say divorce is evil because it destroys the sanctity of marriage and jeopardizes the psychological well-being of the children.

In this day and age, there remains a certain stigma on so-called broken families, thus the pressure on families to remain intact—even only to keep appearances.

The premium on appearances has caused many couples to stay together for optics’ sake, despite the unhappiness, dissatisfaction and the existence of other partners or families. The hypocritical situation then trumps the socalled evil that staying together supposedly avoids, and is equally if not more damaging to children who must live in these conditions.

While there is an option for legal

separation and declaration of nullity, these require a psychological basis for the marital breakdown, some of which are trumped up or exaggerated just to build a strong case. With the prohibitive cost, these legal options are also anti-poor.

That marriage is a sacred unit of society is not disputed. It is indeed heartbreaking to see that such sanctity is violated, not by the availability of divorce as an option, but by dishonesty, lack of respect, apathy, abuse.

In the case of abusive marriages, those who want out of the relationship are deemed selfish for refusing to make sacrifices to keep their family whole. They are blamed for “destroying” the family when it is the abusive partner’s behavior that made a sham of the union in the first place.

Sometimes, too, relationships that begin idyllically simply run their course because the parties have simply grown apart. Must they stay for the sake of staying even when the union has become joyless and uninspiring, and when they each find happiness with someone else?

Opposition to the law is premised on at least two erroneous notions:

That people actually like terminating relationships, and that they will rush to avail themselves of this option once it becomes available. Foremost, divorce is and should always be a last resort. It is difficult to imagine brides and grooms contemplating their estrangement at the outset.

Finally, a divorce law will not force anybody to actually get divorced. If some people are genuinely happily married, good for them. May their happiness know no bounds. If some are content with maintaining double lives, appearing whole, and if they feel the inconveniences of the separation would far outweigh the relief and happiness that freedom would bring, nobody forces them to use it.

They should not, however, deny those who want to be true to themselves the opportunity to be free from an oppressive arrangement, and to open themselves to the possibility of discovering that marriage could be actually blissful.

There is a reason that all other countries except the Vatican already provide this option to their citizens. It is not difficult to see why—if we just keep an open mind.

Turn to A5

Quadricula/Hocus II: History as art people, and places. Custodio’s style is uncannily similar to antique Filipino religious art, lending verisimilitude to each piece. The colors are deep, dark, and rich; gold leaf is used liberally in many of the paintings, and a smoky effect suffuses the works and bestows an STERN friars stand against a backdrop air of hoary age. of blood-red, hands raised in blessing or accusation. A skeleton hunches over, peering without eyes or brain at a book. Men crowd around a Bible in flames, the pages The artists that spilling Hebrew, Roman, and Greek letcomprise Hocus are an ters that they attempt to catch in vain.

The stuff of nightmares, perhaps, but interesting pair. also depictions of history as imagined by the fervid mind of Saul Hofileña Jr. and executed by artist Guy Custodio.

The large-scale paintings are best Together they are HoCus, from the first syllables of their last names, and viewed with the exhibit’s accompanying their partnership is an elaborate col- book that explains in details the complilaboration never before accomplished cated imagery in each work and the references to the historical events, many of in Philippine art.

‘Hocus’ might bring to mind the in- them harrowing and disturbing.

Here are two that I found particularly cantation ‘hocus pocus’, but there is no trickery here, only magic, as these paint- interesting: “Lashes in the Name of God” (oil on ings pull the viewer in and back through time to the nearly 400 years of the Span- wood), portrays the 17th century practice prevalent particularly in the provish colonial period.

Still basking in the unprecedented inces of lashing “natives in order to success of their first exhibition entitled force them to go to Church and attend “Hocus,” (2017), Hofileña and Custodio Holy Mass” (text from the book). “[Some friars] lashed even women return with “Quadricula: Hocus II,” an exhibit of 41 vibrant historical-themed and girls with cat-o’-nine tails or latigo paintings that kicked off last Sunday ruso, a whip with nine strands knotted at (Sept. 15) at the National Museum of the end, with thorns and metal nails, a veritable instrument of torture.”

Fine Arts.

“Triduana” (oil on canvas) shows an ‘Quadricula’ refers to the grid used by the Spanish colonizers in their urban Andalucian woman flipping the Cartas planning of Manila, and as “superim- Philippinensis tarot cards (the first playposed on the landscape of the conquered able Philippine tarot cards designed by Hofileña). She represents the Spanish territories,” says Hofileña.

The subjects of the Quadricula/Hocus empire. Above her are ranged priests paintings are set in the time of the Pa- from the four friar orders flying kites tronato Real, a subject that is of special from their pulpits, while in the center stands Saint Triduana, who plucked out interest to Hofileña.

The term refers to the power of royal her eyes after they were complimented patronage granted by the papacy that by a nobleman.

The work is an “allegory how our controlled the appointments of Church officials, a key feature of the building souls were pacified through a symbiotic of the Spanish colonial empire. Mis- relationship of Church and State which sionaries were willing to administer consequently led to the loss of our lands conquered territory for the Spanish and identity.”

The “Quadricula: Hocus II” exhibit Crown in return for extensive concessions. This led to the colonial system is curated by former National Museum of governance decried by Jose Rizal in director Gemma Cruz Araneta, who arranged the paintings in chronological his novels.

Each near-surreal Quadricula/Ho- order according to their historical subcus painting is crammed with com- ject. As viewers enter the first of two Turn to A5 plex references to historical events,

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Consistently inconsistent LEFT-LEANING organization Bayan Muna never fails to have its voice “heard” on any national issue that would allow it to get TV airtime or space on local broadsheet. Sadly, most of the time, they are for the wrong reasons.

In particular, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and chairman Neri Colmenares continue to make noise on even the most mundane issues to rouse the militancy of the Filipino consumers against the current administration.

Zarate has a penchant to ‘dip his fingers’, ‘sawsaw’ in the local parlance, on issues that has no direct relation to what his party-list’s supposed objectives: to protect consumers’ rights.

It seems the left-leaning lawmaker is not keen on focusing his actions to meet his party’s goals. Rather, he appears to be ‘a man with a mission’ and with selfish intention of sabotaging economic development, for reasons only he knows.

Over the last couple of months, Zarate and his party mates from Bayan Muna had been consistently blocking the implementation of competitive selection process (CSP), even filing a temporary restraining order (TRO) before the Su-

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

preme Court (SC) to stop the process.

Ironically, they were initially among the heavy supporters of CSP and its implementation.

Why is Zarate now after Meralco?

Under the Supreme Court ruling, all power supply agreements (filed after June 30, 2015) were obliged to undergo a Competitive Selection Process to allow other potential power suppliers bid for the contract. The process is aimed at providing consumers get the best deal.

And this, the CSP in particular, was also part of the demands of Bayan Muna.

PSA is a requirement from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Department of Energy to allow a genera-

tion company to construct power plants to help supply the country’s power.

However, after the CSP proceeded last week, awarding PSAs to three generation companies: Phinma Energy Corp., San Miguel Energy Corp. and South Premiere Power Corp. which offered the lowest rates for Meralco’s’ search for the supply of 1,200 megawatts starting December, Zarate doubled on his attack against the utility firm, this time, not only blaming it for the nation’s acute power shortage, but also accusing Meralco of rigging the bid.

But contrary to Zarate’s allegation that Meralco is out to manipulate the bidding process, Meralco never had a hand in the CSP as it was administered by the Third-Party Bids and Awards Committee constituted pursuant to the DoE Circular.

The TPBAC was formed and headed by local and international procurement expert lawyer Ferdinand Domingo, with lawyer and former Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. The ERC was also assigned to enforce all pertinent rules and regulations.

Two days after the first round of bidding, the TPBAC oversaw another 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 Making room in the metro TRAFFIC congestion in Metro Manila has been a grueling topic to discuss, much more to experience. For years now, legislators, both at the House and Senate, have been conducting hearings left and right on the proposed solutions to this worsening traffic. However, despite countless discussions, these talks lead us nowhere nearer our destination.

While I acknowledge that the new roads, bridges, expressways, and railways being constructed shall decongest major roads and highways, the construction entails closure of portions of roads. These worsen traffic. There are proposals to prohibit private vehicles along EDSA at certain times and assign specific lanes to public utility vehicles.

Traffic enforcement agencies have tried various schemes. However, these ideas are only band-aid solutions and, as commuters agree, have minimal impact, if any, on improving the traffic situation.

To my mind, what needs to be decongested is not EDSA, but the entire metro. Efforts to decongest our roads will be all for naught if Metro Manila or the National Capital Region remains

overcrowded and overpopulated. And our numbers are still growing. The Philippine Statistics Authority projected Metro Manila population to reach 13.04 million by 2018. If this projection is correct, over 13.04 million are crammed in Metro Manila’s 61,960-hectare land area.

The National Capital Region is no longer a sustainable choice for residence and employment.

People from the provinces make a mass exodus to the Metro, with the hopes of finding gainful employment.

I strongly urge our government agencies and officials to utilize the potential of the countryside. At the risk of being repetitive, I put forward my proposal of transferring the center of governance and establishing new centers of trade and commerce in the Pacific side, particularly in Quezon Province. In the previous Congress, I filed House Resolution No. 1120 which sought for the consideration of the possible relocation of the national government centers to

General Nakar, Quezon, and the consequent construction of the national circumferential road to provide access to the new government hub.

In all my years in public service, “countryside development” was a goal of every administration. Developing the countryside, decongesting the Metro and relocating centers of government to just one area outside of the Metro is a win-win situation. This will give Metro Manila some breathing room and a chance to be rehabilitated. The countryside will be developed into new cities that will be sustainable and livable. Economic opportunities will be spread out and be available across the board. Cost of land is cheaper in the provinces, like in General Nakar, and affordable settlements may be established. More people will then be able to have decent housing.

Instead of debating over the traffic situation, we should get to the root of the problem. Metro Manila is no longer a sustainable choice for residence and employment. We should follow the example of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia. The successful transfer of their centers of government made their respective administration more effective and responsive to the needs of the people. To me, developing the countryside in this way displays the kind of forward thinking that we need for a growing economy.

The standoff IT SEEMS that the office of Senator Grace Poe and the office of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade are communicating through press releases which can give us an idea of the kind of relationship that exists between the two offices.

Reading the papers the last few days, we can only deduce that all must not be well between the two. The longer this continues, the longer Metro Manila traffic problem will fester. If the two principals refuse to talk, is it possible for the two to designate representatives so that things can at least move?

As far as I know, there is no effort on the part of the Department of Transportation or the Metro Manila Development Authority to draft a traffic plan for submission to the office of Senator Grace Poe as a basis for crafting a law that would grant President Duterte emergency powers. Senator Poe was quoted in a newspaper report as asking for a traffic master plan, but then proceeded to talk about transport projects and right-of-way acquisitions.

I tried to call Senator Poe’s office to ask for some clarification and was referred to a press relation officer. When I asked him if he is the action man on traffic, he told me to just go ahead and ask the questions. But when I did, he abruptly told me that the office will call back—which, up to this writing, has not happened.

The same is true with the office of Chairman Danilo Lim of MMDA. I wanted to know why no traffic plan has been forwarded to Senator Poe’s office up to now and whether the reason is because no one is competent to make one or simply because MMDA and DOTr are just refusing to submit one. I also did not get to talk to MMDA Chairman Lim.

Consistently...

From A4

bid—this time to supply Meralco 500 MW of mid-merit capacity effective 26 December 2019 for five years. After the opening and evaluation of the bids, the TPBAC declared the bids submitted by First Gen Hydro Power, Phinma Energy and South Premiere Power to be the best bids.

Several generation companies keenly participated in the open and transparent bidding process. Besides the three winning gencos for the 1,200-MW contract, two more companies SMC Consolidated Power Corp. and Masinloc Power

Martial law...

From A4

Now the Palace says that the President did not say anything about the ambush, just the fact that he is surprised that the mayor was still alive.

It’s almost always like that when Mr. Duterte utters something that gets him

Thus, up to now, I do not have a definitive answer on why no plan has been submitted or why there appears to be very little communication between the office of Senator Grace Poe, DOTr, and MMDA. The traffic problem is so huge that the three offices should be able to bury or forget whatever differences that exist between them for the sake of the suffering motoring public. It would be the height of pettiness indeed if the reason for the failure to communicate is so that the other would get blamed for the government inaction.

Can’t these government offices work together instead of bicker?

The grant of emergency powers is not a magic wand that will instantly solve the traffic problems overnight. Still, as I have written last week, if emergency powers are granted based on an agreed plan submitted by DOTr and MMDA, it will at set in motion a process in which coherent action can be started. Even if everything in the plan is not completed during this administration, the next government can continue with it.

What the public is waiting is for government to act based on a professionally crafted action plan.

What could be so wrong with these three offices getting together in order to set the parameters of a law that will be passed? It is what is expected and it is what should be done. But all three seem to be standing their ground, waiting perhaps for one to cave in.

Let us hope that this is not the case and that very soon, all three will come together to do what is best for the public. *** One of the proposals to decongest

EDSA is by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, the chairman of Committee on Transportation of the House of Representatives. He should be commended for it.

The plan is a bit similar to the one proposed a few years ago but which was not implemented. The only difference is that the new proposal picked the operation to be in the leftmost lane, and not in the outer lanes. The intention of the new proposal seems to be to add to the capacity of MRT 3 which is now in the process of upgrading to add more trains in order to maximize ridership to 500,000 passengers a day instead of the current 300,000 plus daily.

This plan also seems to assume that EDSA has six effective lanes. But if one examines the road, it only has five lanes and only three lanes can be used continuously from north to south and vice versa. The two outer lanes crosses many roads like Shaw Blvd., Bonny Serrano, Kamuning and Cubao to name a few which is causing part of the congestion because vehicles queuing to cross these roads instead of sticking to two lanes are actually forming three lanes, causing the congestion. So, if the innermost lane is taken over by this carousel-type bus operation, only two effective lanes will be left. Three lanes will now be allocated for bus operations. Instead of reducing the number of buses on EDSA, more will be added.

This is not to shoot down the plan. At least a responsible government official has given some thought to solve part of the problem. Another proposed solution is by Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice to completely ban private vehicles along EDSA during the morning and evening rush hours. I do not know how best to describe this weird suggestion but it is a proposal borne out of desperation. It shows the complexity and difficulty of the problem.

The operative word that can best describe a solution is “bearable.” If at the end of the day, the government can make driving in the metro area more bearable than the way it is, then the government would have succeeded.

Partners Co. Ltd. also joined the procurement process.

What is even more puzzling is that Zarate is trying to tell the media that the CSP will result in higher electricity rates, when in fact, they were the ones who pushed for the CSP, as it was seen as favorable for consumers, especially since the rates from all three best bids were evidently lower than the average generation cost today.

Once implemented next year, electricity consumers expect to save around P0.28 per kwh or P9.46 billion annually for 10 years from the new 1,200-MW PSA. On the 500-MW contract, consumers are also expected to save another P4.4 billion annually for the next five

years. This is equivalent to an additional rate reduction of around P0.13 per kWh for consumers by yearend.

There is also another caveat to that: Under the contract, the power supplier who fails to follow through with the contracted capacity shall pay a fine of P908 multiplied by each megawatt-hour per day, which would be used to reduce the generation charge to consumers.

I just can’t fathom why Zarate and Bayan Muna are zeroing in on Meralco.

Assuming there was rigging in the bid, aren’t we supposed to focus on the government agency supposedly responsible for effecting such?

into trouble. It strikes deep into the President’s credibility. *** I don’t know what President Duterte is up to, but he should have named somebody else instead of Gerald Quitaleg Bantag as chief of the Bureau of Corrections.

The man is a former Parañaque City

jail warden facing homicide cases for hurling a grenade during a confrontation with inmates. True, he is not yet convicted, but why appoint a controversial person in the first place?

Is the President being true to his word that he would appoint a killer to the BuCor? ***

(Continued tomorrow)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Eastern Luzon developing more slowly than Western Luzon THE big commotion last year about Benham Rise—the discovery that Chinese ships had been roaming the Rise without the knowledge and authorization of the Philippine government—made most Filipinos aware of the existence of a vast expense of Philippine-owned sea off the eastern coast of Luzon. It did something else too: it brought to their attention the economic situation of the provinces on the eastern side of this country’s largest island.

Excluding the island provinces Growth of Batanes and C a t a n d u a n e s , uneven. there are seven provinces along the coast of Eastern Luzon. In four provinces (Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, Ilocano and Ibanag are spoken, two (Aurora and Quezon) are Filipino-speaking and four (Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon) are Bicolano speaking. Cagayan and Isabela are in the Cagayan Valley.

There is no scenic Eastern Luzon highway linking the eight provinces; there is only one Maharlika (originally the Philippine-Japan Friendship) Highway. The only west-east highway is the highway linking Marikina City and Infanta, Quezon.

Official GRP (gross regional product) data for Luzon indicate that of the six regions into which Luzon is divided—Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Calabarzon and Bicol—the two Eastern Luzon regions have been the economic laggards.

Needless to say, the No. 1 Luzon region in terms of economic growth and physical development has been the NCR (National Capital Region).

This is hardly surprising, considering the fact that NCR’s 17 LGUs (local government units) are among the wealthiest in the country and NCR’s historical political and economic advantages especially (location, government presence, physical facilities and financial infrastructure). Official estimates place NCR’s contribution to GDP (gross domestic product) at approximately 15 percent.

The second best economic performance has been posted by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon). Growth has been greatest in Cavite and Laguna, undoubtedly because of their greatest proximity to NCR. But Batangas and Quezon have been catching up.

The No. 3 Luzon region in terms of economic performance has been

Central Luzon, which stretches from Pangasinan and Bataan in the west to Nueva Ecija in the east. The presence of two huge former military installations—Clark air base and the SubicOlongapo naval complex—in the region has guaranteed its emergence into an economically vibrant part of Luzon.

This advantage has been buttressed by the operations of two of this country’s two leading agricultural industries, viz., the rice and sugar industries. The development of Clark as a major civil aviation hub and of Subic as a shipbuilding ship repair center have caused an acceleration of Central Luzon’s economic development.

The Ilocos region has been hit hard by the government’s fiscal moves against has been its traditional lead crop, tobacco. But the region’s leaders have tried to compensate for that by investing heavily in tourism and in the production of indigenous energy resources.

CAR has been the worst economic performer among Luzon’s western regions. There is general agreement that his has been the result not of lack of physical resources—Baguio City’s vigorous tourist industry attests to that—but of lack of leadership on the part of the regional authorities. With increased investment and government attention, CAR’s tourism industry can really take off.

Luzon’s eastern regions—Cagayan Valley and Bicol—could be doing much better, economically speaking, than they have. The agricultural industries of Cagayan, Isabela, Camarines Sur and Albay—producers of rice, corn and sugar—have remained strong, but they are increasingly threatened by the competitive impact of globalization and regional free trade. Very sensibly, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon have been moving more and more into tourism. Given the absence of positive prospects for an influx of manufacturing projects—and the confusing government policy towards mining—harnessing the tourism potential of Luzon’s eastern seaboard is the way for the Bicol economy to go.

Clearly, the eastern part of Luzon has continued its historical record as an economic laggard compared to Luzon’s western part. A look at the Duterte administration’s 75-majorprojects infrastructure program indicates no major project for Bicol or the Cagayan Valley. Under the circumstances, the leaders of these two regions will just have to do their best with the resources allotted to them by the General Appropriations Act and work hard to attract a consistent flow of private investment, especially into manufacturing.

Quadricula/...

From A4

galleries, they move through a timeline of history, from when the first Spanish friars stepped on our soil to the revolutionary wars that erupted as Filipinos wrested their budding nation from the Spanish grip.

Among those at the opening of the exhibit were Commission on Audit Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, National Museum Director Jeremy Barns and Assistant Director Ana Maria Theresa Labrador, and multi-awarded poet Marne Kilates.

The artists that comprise Hocus are an interesting pair.

Hofileña is a lawyer, law professor, and prolific author of books on international law and Philippine history. He is also a collector of art and historical documents, books, and artifacts, from which he draws material and inspiration for his works.

His extensive reading has given him a wide and deep grasp of aspects of Philippine history that move him to create visual art.

“Sometimes… my brain is filled with images that tug at my pen,” he says.

“I translate the images in my mind into words because I cannot paint, and

Some 11,900 Customs brokers are protesting the President’s move to remove them from doing business at the bureau.

I cannot think of any law that would outlaw brokers doing business with Customs.

Duterte was apparently exasperated by reports that some brokers have become

Guy Custodio, who is unaware of history, had to read my thoughts in order to translate them as images on canvas or antique wood.”

Custodio studied fine arts at Los Angeles City College and the restoration of religious Spanish art at workshops in Barcelona, Zamora, and Salamanca. He perfected his art in Spain where he lived for 20 years. Today he works on the conservation and restoration of Philippine churches, most recently helping restore the Inmaculada Concepcion church in Guiuan, Samar.

Each Quadricula/Hocus painting tells a story, Hofileña says, and this narrative is translated into tangible images by Custodio’s brush. “My mental images tell the viewer/reader of events long hidden under the stacks of our collective forgetfulness,” he explains.

Custodio adds, “Each painting was meticulously researched by Saul, and I have painted, faithfully, the scenes that he had in his head, so that we can present our country’s history.”

The most compelling reason to view this exhibit comes from Hofileña: “These are our stories. We are the stories that we tell.” *** “Quadricula: Hocus II” runs up to March 15, 2020 at Galleries 27 and 28, 4/F National Museum, Manila. /FB and Twitter: @ DrJennyO

fixers and are involved in smuggling imports and contraband, like illegal drugs.

But without brokers, who will deal with Customs and go through the rigmarole?

Customs brokerage is a legal profession. They have a job to do. The President should instead get rid of fixers posing as brokers.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

News

Standard

A6

TODAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 THURSDAY, mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOLE denies allegations of corruption T

By Vito Barcelo

HE Department of Labor and Employment denied allegations of a Hong Kong based online service provider to Overseas Filipino Workers that “corruption exist within the DOLE who have been profiteering from OFWs for decades,” as it also denied that investigation on the bidding of HK online system has already been completed.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF lLOCOS NORTE FIRST JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 12 - LAOAG CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION TO SURRENDER THE CO-OWNER’S DUPLICATE COPY OF OCT NO. 14714 AQUINO A. TUNGPALAN, Petitioner,

CAD CASE NO. 14 G.L.R.O Rec. No. 1137 Lot No. 3738 Laoag Cadastre OCT No. 14714

-versusLILIA HERNANDEZ, Respondent. x---------------------------------------------x

“Labor Undersecretary Claro Arellano has denied the claim of Polaris Tools Ltd., and said investigation is not yet over,” former DOLE undersecretary Nicon Fameronag said on Wednesday.

The alleged anomaly in the awarding of online system deal at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong had prompted a DOLE investigation.

Fameronag, who is also president of Lilac Center, accused the Hong Kong service provider of undermining the investigation and urged the DOLE to reprimand the company from issuing any statement.

“We urge Secretary Bello III to draw the attention of Polaris Tools Ltd. for its reckless public statements that tend to cast doubt on the DOLE investigating panel and its ongoing probe,” Fameronag said.

The advocacy group’s call came after Jaime Deverall, Polaris Tools president, publicly cast doubts on the legitimacy of the DOLE probe, saying, in an interview with the South China Morning Post, that “There’s a combination of corrupt officials within the Department of Labor

and Employment and employment agencies who have been profiteering off Filipino workers for decades . . .”

According to the group, Polaris Tools officer David Bishop claimed that Deverall had already met with the head of the DOLE investigating team, but Undersecretary Arellano has denied the claim.

“Mr. Bishop is trying to condition the minds of the Filipino people and the OFWs that Polaris Tools Ltd. will be vindicated in the investigation, thus undermining the work of the investigators,” Fameronag said.

Fameronag also bared that Polaris Tools, through Bishop, had warned the Lilac Center to back off the investigation and threatened the Lilac Center.

ORDER Filed by plaintiff through counsel is an Ex-Parte Motion to Publish Dispositive Portion of the Decision.

Alleged in the motion is that plaintiff moves and prays that the dispositive portion of the Decision be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

The motion is partially granted.

The dispositive portion of the Decision is hereby ordered published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines for two (2) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense.

The Officer-in-Charge of this Court is hereby directed to furnish the respondent copies of the Decision at her given addresses also at petitioner’s expense.

SO ORDERED. August 20, 2019, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

NIDA B. ALEJANDRO Presiding Judge

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FIRST JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 12, LAOAG CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION TO SURRENDER THE CO-OWNER’S DUPLICATE COPY OF OCT NO. 14714 AQUINO A. TUNGPALAN, Petitioner,

CAD CASE NO. 14 G.L.R.O Rec. No. 1137 Lot No. 3738 Laoag Cadastre OCT No. 14714

Indigenous Script. To celebrate National Teacher's Month this September, the Light Rail Manila Corp. and the PLDT-SMART Foundation collaborate for the month-long celebration of the event with the special GABAY GUROthemed train that offers free ride to teachers. Photo shows teachers riding the Gabay Guro-themed coaches enjoying the BAYBAYIN articles during their trip from Balintawak station to the Central station in Manila. Manny Palmero

-versusLILIA HERNANDEZ, Respondent. x----------------------------------x DECISION This is a petition for the surrender of Co-Owner’s duplicate copy of OCT No. 14714 filed by Aquino A. Tungpalan.

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1

Alleged in the Petition is that petitioner and his father, Roman Tungpalan are the absolute and registered co-owners of the parcel of land designated as Lot No. 3738 situated at Brgy. 42, Apaya, Laoag City, Philippines covered by Original Certificate of title No. 14714; that being the absolute and registered co-owner, the petitioner is in possession of the owner’s duplicate copy of OCT No. 14714; that the respondent borrowed the owner’s duplicate copy of the said title from the petitioner as she had registered a deed of conveyance in her favor with the Office of the Register of Deeds of Laoag City as the presentation of the owner’s duplicate copy is a pre-requisite for its registration; that the deed of conveyance in favor of the respondent was registered and annotated at the back of OCT No. 14714 and thereafter returned the said owner’s duplicate copy of the title to the petitioner, however, unknown to the petitioner, respondent had requested for a co-owner’s duplicate copy of OCT No. 14714.

That petitioner being one of the heirs of Roman Tungpalan had executed a Deed of Adjudication and Sale in favor of William B. Munoz conveying a portion of 1,331 square meters of Lot No. 3738 covered by OCT No. 14714.

That the petitioner caused the registration of the said Deed of Adjudication and Sale with the Office of the Register of Deeds of Laoag City but the latter denied the registration of the said document on the primary ground of failure to surrender and present the co-owner’s duplicate copy of OCT No. 14714; that the petitioner had repeatedly demanded from the respondent but she refused and continuously refuses to lend or surrender the same to the petitioner or to the Office of the Register of Deeds of Laoag City.

Because respondent is residing in Hawaii, U.S.A, summons was effected upon her through publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines for two (2) consecutive weeks and through registered mail with return card.

A perusal of the record shows that the mailed copy of the summons and its attachments was received by the respondent as evidenced by the registry return card attached to page 40 of the record.

Despite receipt of the Summons and its attachments, no answer was filed by the respondent.

Because no answer was filed by the respondent, the Motion to Declare Respondent in Default2 was granted.3 When Aquino A. Tungpalan testified, he reiterated the contents of the Petition.4 In addition, he testified that the parcels of land covered by OCT No. 14714 are Lot Nos. 3724, 3738 and 3924 all situated at Brgy, 42, Apaya, Laoag City. He further testified that he came to know about Lot No. 3738 because it was his father, Roman Tungpalan, who was then the tenant and cultivator of the said parcel of land. And that his father usually bring them to the parcel of land and assisted him in cultivating the same He furthermore testified that the owners of the parcels of land were Calixto Saturnino, 5/20 share; Heirs of Esteban Saturnino, 5/20 share; Paulino Saturnino, 1/20 share; Victoria Saturnino, 1/20 share; Dolores Saturnino, 1/20 share; Leon Saturnino, 1/20 share; Agustin Saturnino, 1/20 share; Eligio Saturnino, 1/20 share; Hermogenes Saturnino 1/20 share; Sotero Saturnino, 1/20 share; Elena Saturnino, 1/100 share; Marcelo Saturnino, 1/100 share; Quirico Saturnino, 1/100 share; Lourdes Saturnino, 1/100 share; Victor Saturnino, 1/100 share; Monica Luna, 1/160 share; Catelina Luna, 1/160 share; Santiago Luna, 1/160 share; Fausto Luna, 1/160 share; Agustin Luna, 1/160 share; Felix Luna, 1/160 share; Emilia Luna, 1/160 share and Esperanza Luna, 1/160 share, as appearing in the OCT No. 14714.

In the middle of 1951, his father bought the shares of Marcelo Saturnino and others of Lot No. 3738. And in 1989, he and his brother, Eligio Tungpalan, bought Esteban Saturnino’s share.

Respondent borrowed from him the owner’s duplicate copy of OCT No. 14714, as her parents, Spouses Jose P. Tungpalan and Ruperta C. Tungpalan, acquired a portion of Lot No. 3924, however, unknown to him, she requested for the issuance of a co-owner’s copy of OCT No. 14714. He came to know of the issuance of a co-owner’s copy to the respondent when he and the other heirs of Roman Tungpalan sold a portion of Lot No. 3738 to their neighbor, William Munoz, because the registration of the Deed of Adjudication and Sale that he and his co-heirs executed was denied registration by the Register of Deeds of Laoag City.

A perusal of the c;ertified copy of OCT No. 14714,5 Entry No. 181951 found at the last page thereof reads: “Upon request of Lilia T. Hernandez, surving (sic ) heir of the sps. Jose P. Tungpalan and Ruperta C. Tungpalan, a co-owner’s duplicate of the foregoing certificate of title is issued in her favor.”

Date of instrument - Jan. 20, 2006 Date of inscription - Jan. 20, 2006 at 3:45p.m.

File-T-0-14714

As proof that the registration of the Deed of Adjudication and Sale was denied, he presented a Notice of Denial6 issued by the Land Registration Authority.

In light of the evidence presented, testimonial and documentary, the Court is convinced that petitioner is entitled to the relief prayed for.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition is hereby GRANTED. Lilia Hernandez is hereby directed to surrender the co-owner’s duplicate copy of Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. 14714 to the Register of Deeds of Laoag City within five (5) days from notice.

SO ORDERED.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CAVITE GATEWAY CONTAINER TERMINAL, INC. with office address at ICTSI Admin Building, MICT South Access Road, Port Area, Manila is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Seaport (Cavite Gateway Container Terminal) under the Preferred Activities - Infrastructure and Logistics including PPP-LGU under the 2017 IPP on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Brgy. Capipisa, Tanza, Cavite.

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) MARYANN E. RAGANIT Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

Advertising Department 832-5547 DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extra-Judicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of the late CONIGUNDA ANIÑON NICOLAS, namely: William A. Nicolas married to Ludilieta D. Nicolas,; Antonio A. Nicolas married to Remedios Z. Nicolas, Nenita A. Nicolas married to Nestor Ramos, Rico A. Nicolas married to Lourdes Nicolas, and Aida A. Nicolas married to Rafael Gumatay, all of legal age, over personal and real properties, per deed executed on 02 September 2019 before Notary Public Atty. Mary Jean R. Bernabe-Tongco Doc. No. 293; Page No. 60; Book No. 159; Series of 2019.

(MS-SEPT. 19, 26 & OCT. 3, 2019)

(MS-SEPT. 19, 2019)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman Quezon City 1116 Telephone Nos.: (632)927-15-17, 928-37-25; Fax No.: (632) 920-22-58 Website: http://www.emb.gov.ph / Email: mail@emb.gov.ph

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING On the ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (EPRMP) of the proposed MASBATE GOLD EXPANSION PROJECT of the FILMINERA RESOURCES CORPORATION (FRC) in the MUNICIPALITY OF AROROY, PROVINCE OF MASBATE. Notice is hereby given to all parties who wish to give their opinion regarding the proposed MASBATE GOLD EXPANSION PROJECT to attend a Public Hearing on 04 OCTOBER 2019 (FRIDAY) at 9:00 AM (registration starts at 8:00 am) to be held in VICTORIO V. PATO MEMORIAL RECREATION CENTER, SAN ROQUE, BARANGAY PURO, AROROY, MASBATE. The Public Hearing is being conducted in connection with the review of the EPRMP of the aforementioned project by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The Masbate Gold Project (MGP) is a joint operation of FRC and Phil. Gold Processing & Refining Corp. (PGPRC). The proposed project expansion covers the increase of throughput ore being processed in the PGPRC plant from 7.3 million MT/yr to 9 million MT /yr. The proposed expansion will require an upgrade of plant equipment to improve the processing capacity for low-grade ore to maximize the extraction of gold. It will utilize the existing low-grade stockpile as raw material to better manage the stockpile inside the MGP area.

All interested parties who wish to attend or participate in this Public Hearing should preferably confirm their attendance/participation and may give their opinion(s) in a concise position paper to the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EIAMD) of this Office through mail or through email at eiamd.emb.co@gmail.com, three (3) days before the Public Hearing schedule. Those who will not be able to register or submit written positions may be given the opportunity to share their issues on the day of the hearing itself.

The project’s EPRMP and Executive Summary for the Public (ESP) are downloadable at our website: www.eia.emb.gov.ph (kindly access the Notice of Public Hearing/Consultation link found in our website) while the hard copies will be available in this Office and in the following offices: 1) EMB Region V Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City

Done in the City of Laoag, this 5th day of August 2019.

2) Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) Municipality of Aroroy, Province of Masbate NIDA B. ALEJANDRO Presiding Judge Exhibit “A” rollo, pp. 1-4 Rollo, pp. 7-48.

See Order, rollo, p. 54.

Supra, note 1.

5 Rollo, pp. 70-75.

6 Exhibit “E”, rollo, p. 76.

1 2

For more details, please contact EIAM Division of this Office at telephone number (02) 920-2240 to 41 and look for the project case handlers Engr.

Carlo Vic Arida, EnP and Engr. Mary Therese Gonzales, EnP.

3 4

(MS-SEPT. 12 & 19, 2019)

(MS-SEPT. 19 & 26 , 2019)

MIAA collects P2.1-m fines from erring taxi drivers

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Manila International Airport Authority has collected about P2.1 million in additional revenues through apprehensions against erring transport vehicle owners and operators from January 2018 to August 2019.

Of the total amount, P1.4 million was generated through apprehensions in 2018 while the rest was made from January to August this year.

“In 2018, we collected P1.4 million and from January to August this year, we got P700,000,” said MIAA Intelligence and ID Pass Control Department manager Roque Alcantara.

Alcantara said this actions were made in compliance with the directive of MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal to intensify the campaign against erring transport providers.

“We are also suspending them, made cancellation of access pass and confiscate their vehicles when the need warrants,” he added.

Most of those apprehended, according to Alcantara, were taxi drivers and vehicle owners caught overcharging passengers, car pooling (double charging), presenting fake fare rates, non-issuance of official receipt, contracting passengers, use of tampered meter, solicitation, arrogance and discourtesy, misrepresentation of transport classification and fare rates, and not flagging down, among others.

For the year 2018, the MIAA Customer Relations Center recorded a total of 301 complaints against white taxis and another 56 during the first quarter of 2019. All these complaints were endorsed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for appropriate action.

Bills on access to education for undeserved sector okayed

By Maricel V. Cruz A PANEL in the House of Representatives on Wednesday consolidated four measures that would boost accessibility to education of underserved sectors of the country such as out-of-school youths, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and senior citizens by institutionalizing the alternative learning system.

The House committee on basic education and culture, chaired by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, consolidated House Bill 1586, 4392, 917, and 1586 filed by Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez and House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez; San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida ”Rida” Robes; Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales; and Pangasinan Rep. Tyrone Agabas, respectively.

The committee will prepare the final draft of the measure after it granted the motion of Negros Occidental Leo Rafael Cueva to consolidate the proposed measures.

Romulo then designated Yedda Romualdez to head the technical working group that will harmonize the consolidated version and ensure that it will capture Grades 11 and 12 and Technical Education Skills Development Authority curriculums.

In her sponsorship speech, Yedda Romualdez underscored the need to provide a viable learning alternative to the formal education system that will address all learning needs of the marginalized learners.

“This bill intends to strengthen the ALS by defining it as the other lung of the Philippine educational system and by clearly defining its role within the education system of our country,” said Yedda Romualdez, the chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, in her sponsorship speech.

Rep. Romualdez, who previously chaired the House Committee on Accounts, recalled that thousands of out-of-school youth and persons in disadvantaged situations, including those who cannot afford formal schooling for reasons of poverty, employment or other pressing circumstance, have benefitted from ASL when it was first introduced in2001 with the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 9155, otherwise known as the Governance in Basic Education Act. The 17th Congress under the leadership of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved on third and final reading Rep. Yedda Romualdez's bill on ASL. “I hope that with your support we can expedite the passage of this bill and thus realize this longoverdue improvement in our educational system.

Barbers keeps House drug committee post SURIGAO del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers retained his post as chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, in plenary session Tuesday night, announced the appointment of Barbers, along with other lawmakers who were tapped as chairmen, vice chairmen and members of respective committees at the Lower House.

Barbers was the chairman of the dangerous drugs committee during the 17th Congress.

He is known for his anti-illegal drug campaign as a legislator, proposing then to require all lawmakers and their employees to undergo a drug test to ensure that the so-called “House of the People” will be a “drugfree” workplace.

Barbers welcomed his appointment as he renewed his commitment to support the President's war on drugs.

“The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Alan Cayetano should underscore its commitment, support and participation to anti-drug policies, programs and projects by ensuring that its own workplace is a drug-free institution,” he said.

In the past Congress, a periodic drug test for all lawmakers was proposed following the conviction in February 2011 of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson for drug trafficking in Hong Kong. Maricel V. Cruz

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Beermen gun for semis seat MACAO—San Miguel Beer eyes an outright semifinal berth in the East Asia League Terrific 12 as it battles no less than defending champion Ryukyu Golden Kings at the end of the group stage Thursday at the Tap Seac Multisports Pavilion here.

The Beermen and the Golden Kings tangle in the main game at 7 p.m., needing no less than a victory to avoid any quirks of the quotient system and advance to the Final Four of the tournament featuring some of the top commercial ballclubs around Asia.

The winningest franchise in PBA history seized the top spot in Group B after demolishing a gutsy Shenzhen Aviators team, 90-76, to the delight of the partisan Filipino crowd at the venue.

Governors’ Cup import Dezmine Wells exploded for 29 points, while Terrence Romeo finished with 17 points, including back-to-back three-pointers late in the game that took the fight out of the Aviators.

The Beermen pulled off the victory despite playing without injured starters June Mar Fajardo (ankle) and Marcio Lassiter (knee), along with Alex Cabagnot (flu).

Big man Kelly Nabong will only arrive in time for the game against the Golden Kings after attending to a personal matter in the US. The rousing win by San Miguel somehow made up for the losses absorbed by Blackwater Elite and the TnT Katropa in their respective group.

The Elite, playing without starters Mike Digregorio (flu) and rookie Bobby Ray Parks (Achilles injury), along with big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini, fell to the Seoul SK Knights in Group A action, 93-77, while the Katropa, minus Troy Rosario, Don Trollano, and Brian Heruela, came up short against former NBA player Lance Stephenson and the Liaoning Flying Leopards, 96-91, in Group D. The setback left the Katropa and Elite in a must-win game in their final assignment in the group stage. Blackwater faces the Chiba Jets next, while the Katropa will be up against Niigata Albirex Basketball.

Only the top team in each group will advance to the crossover semis, with the two winning sides at the end of the Final Four disputing the championship and the $150,000 prize money.

A7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Students must watch SEAG for free

D

EPUTY Speaker Mikee Romero (1Pacman Partylist) yesterday urged the Department of Education and Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee to allow students towatch the grandest regional sports festival for free.

Romero, who is taking part in the biennial meet being a member of the PH polo team, said the Phisgoc should allot a portion where students—especially those fromTarlac and Pampanga—can cheer not only for Filipinos but also for other athletes.

“Wehave state-of-art athletics and swimming centers, but it will look ugly if thereare no student-cheerers,” said Romero.

Being a former amateur basketball ‘godfather,” Romero knows how crowd support can make impact in the country’s all-out bid to reproduce the Miracle of 2005.

Having been in so many memorable battles before—being a former amateur basketball“godfather—Romero believes in the magic of crowd support.

“We did it 14 years ago so I see no reason why we can’t duplicate our golden achievements during the 23rd SEA

Romero

Games. With President Duterte’s total support and crowd support, I’m confident we can do it again,” said Romero, who is one of the founding directors of the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players.

“If you are competing and you see your kababayans cheering their hearts out, I’m

sure you will do everything humanely possible to win,” said Romero. “That’s what I want to see and hear when we hold this year’s SEA Games.”

The biennial meet is set from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 with the opening set at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan while the closing ceremony is at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The last time the country hosted the biennial sporting event, the Philippines collected 113 gold medals—26 ahead of perennial champion Thailand.

Romero, who bankrolled the PH basketball team that lorded it over during the 2007 Ratchasima Games in Thailand, said DepEd officials should also cooperate in this endeavor since the country’s honor is at stake in this event.

“Instead of adding burden to their parents, let us allow students to watch and cheer for our athletes,” said Romero. “Let them feel the spirit of SEA Games.”

The secondary venue will be Subic while the tertiary venue will be Metro Manila and the other nearby cities, including Tagaytay City.

San Miguel Beer’s Governors’ Cup import Dezmine Wells drives to the basket against a defender from the Shenzen Aviarors.

Asian cruise up for an ace at Highlands A FOUR-NIGHT Asian cruise for two will be staked as hole-in-one prize when the Highlands Ladies Cup holds its 14th edition on Oct. 5 at Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club.

The Royal Caribbean/Baron Travel is putting up the Singapore-Port KlangPhuket-Singapore package for ace on No. 17 of the rolling layout. If nobody scores a hole-in-one, the Asian cruise prize will be raffled off among the participants, according to the organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter.

Over 150 players are expected to see action in the annual18-hole tournament, backed by W Group, Auto Nation Group and Pacific Online as Diamond sponsors, which will have a shotgun start and will be played under the System 36 scoring format.

Registration is ongoing with fee pegged at P3,500 for members and P4,500 for non-members, inclusive of green fee, cart, lunch, giveaways and raffle stub. For details, call Midlands Golf Services at 0917886-5226 (members) and Analaine Blas at 0966-713-5199 (non-members).

Also up for grabs are prizes for the top finishers in various divisions, including the centerpiece ladies division and the men’s Classes A, B, C and seniors category, of the event supported by Platinum sponsors Security Bank, Smart Communications, Inc., ComWorks-Martin Leyeza and San Miguel Corp. and Gold sponsor IMG. Other backers are PLDT SME, Regent Travel, Sha-Wrap, New Golden City Builders, CIF by Unilever, Petron and Baron Travel (Silver), Wee Community Developers, Inc., Asia Brewery, SL Agritech Corp., Burlington Socks, H&E, Parola Maritime Agency, Champion, Orocan, Concrete Masters, Kawsek, Inc., Wenger Watches, Ruiz Jewelry, CaraDerme, DellaSolare, Microtel by Wyndham, Quest Hotel, Marie France, Universal Robina, Santi’s/ Werdenberg Int’l. Corp., Studio 337 and Marilex Corp. (Bronze with Erlinda Gamut and New Bistro Deli as donors.

Lascuña, Ababa forge ahead with 67s 2k announces inaugural NBA TONY Lascuña and Jhonnel Ababa churned out a pair of 67s on opposite nines as the Davaoeños wrested control on hostile turf for a one-stroke lead over Ira Alido and Aussie Jack Lane-Weston at the start of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship at Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon yesterday.

Out to make up for his playoff setback to local ace Reymon Jaraula at Pueblo de Oro over the weekend, Lascuña bucked a bogey on No. 7 with four birdies in the last 10 holes to match Ababa’s five-under par round, a bogey-free card he spiked with two birdies in the last four holes at the frontside of the tight layout that bedeviled the games of the home bets.

“Got my iron game and putting going.

I got a bit careless on No. 7 and made a bogey but regained my rhythm after I birdied No. 10,” said Lascuña, the former three-time Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion out to end a two-year title spell in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Ababa, who missed joining the playoff cast at Pueblo by just one stroke, put in a flawless round in hot, humid conditions but rued his missed eagle chances on

2k20 Global Championship

Tony Lascuña back in the title hunt after a playoff loss

the three par5s that he birdied with solid driving and superb iron game.

“It was kind of perfect but had some lapses in judgment and blew my eagle chances on Nos. 6, 9 and 14,” said Ababa, the winningest player on PGT Asia with four victories but winless on PGT this year.

Reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla and Paul Miñoza both holed out with birdies on the ninth to card 71s as they emerged the bestplaced players from the host province at 18th, four behind the hot-starting Lascuña and Ababa.

NEW YORK—2K is excited to announce it is partnering with the National Basketball Association, National Basketball Players Association and ESL, the world’s largest esports company, to create the NBA 2K20 Global Championship.

Featuring more than $100,000 in prizes, the NBA 2K20 Global Championship is a new competitive tournament designed for aspiring NBA 2K20 players worldwide.

The global tournament will feature headto-head competition in a series of online and offline events that will take place from October 2019 to February 2020, culminating in a final event in the United States to crown the first-ever NBA 2K20 global champion. Registration is open today at www.nba2kgc.com.

“We’re excited to partner with the NBA, NBPA and ESL to create this firstof-its-kind tournament for NBA 2K,” said Jason Argent, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations at 2K. “For anyone who is interested to test how their skills match up on a global scale, we encourage you to register and see if you truly have what it takes to become the best head-to-head player in the world.”

“The global scale of the tournament reflects the incredible growth of basketball around the world,” said Matthew Holt, NBA Senior Vice President, Consumer Products & Gaming Partnerships. “The NBA 2K20 Global Championship offers a chance for anyone in the world to compete.”

“We are thrilled to be working with these partners in creating this milestone event in gaming,” said Josh Goodstadt, EVP of Licensing for the NBPI, the commercial arm of the NBPA. “Our players come from all over the world and this is a unique experience which will allow fans from every corner of the globe to engage and compete with them through NBA 2K.” From October to November 2019, aspiring NBA 2K20 players will compete in local online qualifiers in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions that will lead to online playoffs, which will determine who advances to the regional finals.

Regional finals will be held as live events at the ESL studios in Los Angeles, Paris and Sydney, where each winner will receive $15,000 and other prizes from the NBA and 2K.

Grand Prix Season Singapore filled with exhilarating experiences beyond the track GRAND Prix Season Singapore returns with its thrilling run from Sept.13 to 22, highlighted by a robust mix of exclusive parties, food offerings, retail promotions and music, sprinkled with a dash of culture and topped off with a whole lot of adrenaline.

Singapore will truly amp up its lifestyle offerings as the city gears up for the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix race weekend.

For the first time, the race season will include neighborhood parties at four iconic locations in Singapore—Orchard Road, Clarke Quay, Kampong Glam, and Jewel Changi Airport. Each neighborhood party will feature a curated line-up of offerings, and will give both locals and visitors the opportunity to experience the unique characteristics of each location.

Live life in the fast lane with exciting nightlife experiences

A diverse set of nightlife experiences await thrill-seekers and partygoers alike across the different neigborhoods including Clarke Quay and Kampong Glam. At Clarke Quay, Music Matters Live joins the off-track parties with a cool racethemed outdoor arcade and a slot car circuit racing competition. Meanwhile, the urban art enclave, Kamplong Glam, comes alive with the Block Party on the vibrant streets of Haji Lane.

Club-hopping gets even more exciting with plenty of GPSS partner party hubs like The Riverhouse and CÉ LA VI. Bask in a star-studded atmosphere at The Podium Lounge, an official pop-up FORMULA 1 after party venue that will host stars of the racing community. To top it all off, enjoy dazzling fashion shows, grid girl performances and aerial shows.

GPSS staples, The Circuit and Sky Grandé Prix,takes the thrills to new highs.

In the highly anticipated 9th edition of The Circuit, expect no less than a panoramic experience from the top of the Raffles, amidst sky-high revelry to the tunes of international DJs. While for its 8th year, Sky Grandé Prix lets guests soak in the high life while raising glasses to a series of fine indulgences—from cuisine, champagne, fashion, to supercars— while taking in the view from the 55th floor of the iconic Marina Bay Sands.

Raves and dance music abound in the Lion City during the thrilling weekend with Zouk, Singapore’s premiere dance club, transporting Socialisersto a futuristic garage in the year 3028—from race cars to robots, showing visitors what it means to be a citizen of the future. Jive to the music of renowned electronic music producer and composer Henrik Shwarz as Blackout Agency and Jagermeister takes the rave to a one-of-a-kind pop-up dance club that remains top secret.

Cap off the Grand Prix Season Singapore weekend at The Podium, the official pop-up FORMULA 1 after party venue that will host stars of the racing community.

Sports

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

A8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

TIP battles Marinerong Pilipino as D-League semis commence Games Thursday (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig) Game 1 of Best-of-3 Semis 1:30 p.m. - CEU vs BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare 3:30 p.m. - Marinerong Pilipino vs TIP

TECHNOLOGICAL Institute of the Philippines and Marinerong Pilipino put their history aside when the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup semifinals begin on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Partners in the 2018 Foundation Cup that led to a semis trip, the Engineers and the Skippers are now foes as they are set to slug it out in Game One of the best-of-three affair at 3:30 p.m.

“Poetic. Marinero-TIP last conference,” quipped TIP head coach Potit De Vera. “With that partnership, we made it all the way to the playoffs. It’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be fun.”

The Engineers have been nothing short of impressive this conference, clinching the two-seed in Group B with their 5-1 card before maximizing their win-once edge over Black Mamba in the quarterfinals.

But they will be in for a tough challenge as they will face the Skippers, undoubtedly Group A’s top dogs, which have been unscathed so far with seven straight wins behind the leadership of Eloy Poligrates.

The former PBA cager has been on a tear with averages of 23.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.0 rebounds, making him the frontrunner for the Conference MVP honors.

De Vera, though, is undaunted.

“We are here to compete,” he said.

“It’s going to be one great player against five TIP players. Isa lang naman ang bola so we have to take care of one guy against five guys. That’s how we look at it. They’re gonna play against a TIP team, not a TIP player. It doesn’t matter kung sino yung mga who’s who nila ngayon sa lineup, we’re gonna compete.”

Coach Yong Garcia, however, isn’t fazed much with history whatsoever, as his only concern is correcting Marinerong Pilipino’s flaws as it plans to make it all the way to the big dance for the first time in franchise history.

SBU Red Lions face dangerous Heavy Bombers BIG man Donald Tankoua is expected to lead the San Beda University Red Lions once again as they face the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers at 2 p.m. today at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center.

In their last game, Tankoua played a big factor when the Red Lions endured a late rally to put away the Arellano University Chiefs’ to take a 73-66 win, last Friday in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

The Red Lions were up by 11 but Arellano rallied to within a point. But Tankoua scored eight straight points from the inside to bring them back up by seven in the closing minutes.

And now, Tankoua is expected to play an important role again when the Red Lions seek their 12th straight victory. And that’s after he finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.

“They rallied back, cutting the lead to just one. But our defense stepped up.

Without Donald, we will not win this game. I’m happy he stepped up. I’m sure that the other teams will try to stop him,” said Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez.

So far, the Red Lions have extended their winning streak to 23 games, including the 11 that they have won this season.

The Heavy Bombers have a 4-7 card in seventh spot.

On the other hand, Arellano Chiefs (2-9) take on the University of Perpetual Help Altas (3-7) at 2 p.m.

In the junior division, the solo-leading San Red Cubs will seek to streak their slate 11 wins in 12 games, in their 10 a.m. clash with the JRU Light Bombers. Peter Atencio

UP Fighting Maroons forward Kobe Paras (6) charges to the hoop against three National University Bulldogs defenders during their game. Paras led UP to victory over NU, 80-79.

UP Maroons trip hard-luck Bulldogs

By Peter Atencio

T

HE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the Adamson Falcons fought off separate foes, and claimed key victories yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The wins over the National University and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers kept UP within striking distance of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

The UP Fighting Maroons, banking on lessons learned from previous games, had another close encounter, and came out with flying colors in holding off National University, 80-79.

This earned the Fighting Maroons their third win in four games, and they moved to second spot, behind the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles (4-0).

It’s been a heartbreaking campaign for the Bulldogs, who have lost four consecutive close games to go 0-4. They lost on a buzzer-beater to the Falcons. Lost in overtime to the Growling Tigers. Lost by

a point to the Green Archers. And now this one-point loss to UP. Kobe Paras scored 25 points for the Fighting Maroons, who caught up to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the standings.

The Adamson Falcons, getting big plays from Fil-American Val Chauca in the last two minutes, outplayed the Growling Tigers, 78-71, to gain a share of third at 3-2 with UST. After squandering a 14-point advantage in the last 2:13, the Fighting Maroons watched as they and the Bulldogs blew a couple of scoring chances which could have decided the game in NU’s favor NU’s first chance to beat UP came after Dave Ildefonso who knocked in a trey with 11.6 ticks left, to put the Bulldogs within one point.

UP could have extended its lead but

David Murrell missed his charities, and this gave NU an opportunity.

But Bulldog cager John Lloyd Clemente’s 15-foot jumper fell short of its target as the buzzer sounded.

“We’ve got three close games already. I think if we are smart enough, we’ re wise enough, we have to learn how to close it out. The fact of that is I know we can.

There were just lapses but we’re going to learn from that,” said coach Bo Perasol.

Kobe Paras paced UP with 25 points, six rebounds, and two assists, while Bright Akhuetie hit another double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Javi Gomez de Liano scored 17 points on a 5-of-7 shooting from the three-point arc.

Ildefonso also made 25 points for the Bulldogs, who are winless after four games.

The Falcons, led by Jerrick Ahanmisi with 24 points, enjoyed a nine-point, 7162, edge in the last 3:07 when a trey from Jeron Lastimosa touched off a 9-0 blast.

Two freebies, a trip to the line and a split in the final minute saw the Falcons moving ahead of the UST, 72-71.

WNCAA launches 50th season at MOA WITH 15 schools joining this season, the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association celebrates its 50th season with a two-game bill when the basketball games commence on September 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Assumption College of Antipolo joins the league as it celebrates its golden anniversary and bears the theme: “Destined for Greatness.”

The league will have a unique setup this year, with all member schools sharing the responsibility of hosting the competitions this season.

The Centro Escolar University Lady Scorpions open their title retention bid with at 2 p.m. game against University of Makati.

The Lady Scorpions will be going for their ninth straight crown after turning back Philippine Women’s University, 70-37, in the finals last season.

Also taking part are Assumption College-San Lorenzo, Chiang Kai Shek College, La Salle-Zobel, La Salle College-Antipolo, Miriam College, St. Jude Catholic School, San Beda-Alabang, St. Paul-Pasig, St. Scholastica, St. Stephen’s High School, and the University of Asia and Pacific.

Angelicum College is on leave.

With the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex undergoing repairs and renovation for the 30th Southeast Asian

Philippine Sports Commissioner Celia Kiram (left) administers the oaths of office of the WNCAA Season 50 officers led by president Yolando Co (second from left) during the media launch Wednesday at Aristocrat Malate. At right is executive director Vivian Manila.

Games, most of the games will be held in different schools, and on a home-andaway format.

“Today, we celebrate 50 years of the WNCAA and we expect another golden season as we continue our mission and vision of empowering women athletes in their field of excellence,” WNCAA executive director Vivian Manila said.

Manila discussed the coming season with other board members during

a launch yesterday at the Aristocrat Restaurant in Manila.

Philippine Sports Commission board member Celia Kiram, who was a guest of honor with deputy executive director Guillermo Iroy, promised the facilities of the RMSC will be available next season once the makeover is finished.

The WNCAA was founded in 1970, with the desire to empower women with equal rights and opportunities in sports. Peter Atencio

Wilson fires 44 as San Juan subdues Pampanga ANGELES CITY—When it’s crunch time, the San Juan Knights can always lean on John Wilson.

Showing vintage form, Wilson scored the Knights’ last 12 points in overtime and wound up with 44, a new Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League record, as they bested the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 102-97, on Tuesday, September 17 at the packed Angeles University Foundation Gym here.

Wilson, the 2009 NCAA MVP with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, made 5 of 9 two-point attempts and 9 of 17 triples apart from sinking all of his seven free throws to power the Knights to a pacesetting 13-1 record in the North division of the Lakan Season.

Skywalker Mike Ayonayon supported Wilson, who shattered the 41 points of Leomer Losentes of the General Santos Warriors, with 24 points plus 12 rebounds, followed

by Jhonard Clarito with 15 and 12, respectively.

The Giant Lanterns, who forced overtime at 85 following a layup by John Dexter Maiquez with 33 seconds to go, dropped to 9-5.

Maiquez wound up with 24 points while Levi Hernandez, Reil Cervantes and Michael Juico posted 14 each.

The Davao Occidental Tigers cruised to an 88-76 victory over the Bicol Volcanoes earlier.

Mark Yee, who scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his 29th MPBL double-double lifted the Cocolife-backed Tigers to a 12-2 card in the South division of the 31-team league founded by Sen. Manny Pacquiao with Kenneth Duremdes as commissioner.

Other major contributors for the Tigers, who controlled the boards, 4227, were Emman Calo with 15 points, Bogs Raymundo with 11 and Chester Saldua with 10.

Basilan Steel shrugged off a sluggish start to beat Imus Bandera, 9685, in the opener and rise to 9-5.

PSC, POC set up SEA Games working group

WINTER OLYMPICS MASCOT. Children wearing panda costumes group together during the official reveal of the mascots for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. China has chosen its most iconic animal—the panda—to be the official mascot. AFP

AN executive board and working group is set to take over the daily preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games, now that it is on its final stages.

With Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez expected to take a front and center role, the board will tackle the many details that need to be addressed as the opening day of the biennial meet approaches.

“We are now making adjustments,” said Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chairman and House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano following a series of meetings at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The board headed by Ramirez will be composed of representatives of the Phisgoc and the Philippine

Olympic Committee.

On the other hand, Ramirez will also coordinate with the working group of Monica Mitra and PSC deputy executive director Guillermo Iroy.

Cayetano explained that they are forming a new group within the Phisgoc to address certain issues should situations involving venues, equipment and accommodation which may arise during the meet set to be staged from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10.

The solon from Taguig explained issues involving the Games have arisen because the Games budget of around P6-billion was released four months late. Questions concerning the procurement need to be addressed. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

Inflation target stays despite Saudi attack

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the timetable for the reduction of the benchmark interest rates stays despite the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities which could impact on the domestic economy and trigger inflation pressures.

“As long as the oil prices don’t exceed $85 per barrel, we are still within our inflation target [of 2 to 4 percent],” Diokno said at the sidelines of a renewed partnership event between PayMaya and McDonald’s in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Diokno said he was expecting oil prices to return to normal levels after a week or two. “Now it is showing signs of adjustments. So we will meet Sept. 26 and make a decision…,” Diokno said.

Diokno said earlier the BSP was closely monitoring the global and domestic markets’ response to the developments in Saudi Arabia.

The policy-making Monetary Board of the BSP is set to meet on Sept. 26 and most analysts expect the regulator to further cut the policy rates as inflation is anticipated to continue its downward trajectory in the coming months. Julito G. Rada

WTO starts probe on PH rice imports

THE World Trade Organization initiated a preliminary safeguard investigation on rice as requested by the Philippines.

Initiated by the Agriculture Department, the WTO investigation started on Sept. 11 upon receipt of the document and the notification from the Philippines.

The Agriculture Department, the author of the document, urged interested parties to submit comments through its Policy Research Service.

A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or are threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.

The reasons for the filing preliminary safeguard investigation included the continued increase in rice imports that coincidentally occurred with the drop in farmgate prices of palay resulting in income loss for farmers.

The WTO started circulating the communication to members of the WTO Committee on Safeguards on Sept. 12.

Othel V. Campos

Bank of China named RMB clearing bank

BANK of China Manila was named on Wednesday as the clearing bank for renminbi business in the Philippines, following the memorandum of understanding signed by the People’s Bank of China and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Deng Jun, country head of Bank of China Manila, said the development would not only make local RMB transactions easier in support of the already existing Philippine RMB trading community but also boost local investments and other financial activities, further strengthening the economic relationship between Manila and Beijing.

As a clearing bank, Bank of China Manila will enable local financial institutions to transfer RMB funds and participate in China’s foreign exchange market, security market and bond market.

It will also help local banks expand their product scope and provide better convenience for clients and investors looking to enter the Chinese financial market, increase their RMB asset holdings or diversify their investment portfolios.

“This new facility will help drive the currency’s use for payments and investments, further promoting cross-border settlements, trade financing, project investments, and loans. Ultimately, this projected surge in financial activity will foster the shared development of both countries,” Deng said.

DOE reluctant on extension of Malampaya gas service contract THE government is not inclined to extend the service contract of Malampaya natural gas project operator Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. under the same terms, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Wednesday.

“There is no such thing as extension. If we both agree, with the other party possible, I have to study what is good for our country. That facility will already be owned by the country [at the end of the contract period]. I cannot agree on just extending the same terms. It will be owned by the Philippines. The landscape changes,” Cusi said during an interview after the Kapihan sa Manila Bay at Cafe Adriatico.

SPEX is the operator of SC 38 and owns a 45-percent stake in the Malampaya Consortium whose contract will expire by 2024. Other consortium members are Chevron Malampaya LLC with a 45-percent stake and state-run PNOC Exploration Corp. with 10 percent.

The Malampaya platform provides natural gas to the country’s five natural gas facilities with a combined capacity of more than 3,000 megawatts.

“The word extending if I’m going to extend it on the same terms and conditions, I will not because what I am saying is it has changed. It will be owned by the Philippines. It has been paid for and so the facility should become ours,” Cusi said.

Cusi said Spex should not ask for an extension but instead make an offer to the Energy Department.

“They [should] propose…An offer of extension is different...We are asking also for a proposal...We will look at that proposal,” Cusi said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Business Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. is awarded Best Service Provider in Cash Management at the Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain and Risk Management Awards 2019. The accolade honors banks with exemplary cash management solutions for businesses.

Receiving the award are Metrobank institutional banking sector head Mary Mylene Caparas (left) and Metrobank institutional transaction banking division head Christian Paul Philippe Orlino.

S

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang told reporters the company planned to build a 10-lane elevated expressway on top of EDSA. He said the proposal would be submitted to the Transportation Department on Monday or Tuesday next week.

Ang said the proposed EDSA elevated expressway would stretch from Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City to Samson Road in Caloocan City or Balintawak, Quezon City.

San Miguel currently operates the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, South Luzon Expressway, the Skyway System and the NAIA Expressway.

It is constructing the Skyway Stage 3, an 18.68-km, six-lane elevated expressway that will extend the existing Skyway from Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City and link the South Luzon Expressway to NLEX. The project aims to decongest major thoroughfares, including EDSA while creating new transport routes.

Skyway Stage 3 has four sections: Section 1 will run from Buendia to Plaza Dilao; Section 2 from Plaza Dilao to Aurora Blvd.; Section 3 from Aurora Blvd. to Quezon Avenue; and Section 4 from Quezon Ave. to EDSA/Balintawak. The project is expected to be completed by

the first quarter of 2020.

The company is also constructing Skyway Stage 4 which will start from the south of Metro Manila Skyway to Batasan Complex in Quezon City. The project is expected to be completed by 2022.

SMC Infrastructure is also building the 22-km Metro Rail Transit Line 7 from North Ave. in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

The Department of Transportation said the construction of MRT-7 was nearly half-completed. It said the ongoing civil works include the guideway construction, underground/depressed and at-grade excavation or concreting works and installation of coping beam, girder and trans-slabs on the elevated structures.

Aside from expressways, SMC Infrastructure has interests in water, airport and port businesses.

PSALM declares failure of bidding on Malaya power plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. on Wednesday declared a failure of bidding on the 650-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant in Pililla, Rizal after only one group submitted an offer.

“Unfortunately, PSALM was constrained to declare a failure of bidding during the public bidding held for the Malaya plant. This was because there was only one bidder that submitted a bid,” PSALM president Irene Garcia said.

PSALM held the bidding for the Malaya facility Wednesday but only AC Energy Inc. of Ayala Corp. submitted a bid.

“Under the PSALM bidding procedures, if only one bid is received by

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

B1

By Jess Malabanan

SMC proposes elevated expressway above EDSA AN Miguel Corp. said Wednesday it will submit an unsolicited offer to build an elevated expressway along EDSA to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

US equity firm investing $250m in Converge ICT

METROBANK AWARD.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

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

PSALM by the bid submission deadline, then there will be a failure of bidding. There were actually four qualified bidders for Malaya, but only AC Energy Inc. submitted a bid,” Garcia said.

The other pre-qualified bidders for the Malaya power plant bidding were DMCI Power Corp., D.M. Wenceslao and Associations Inc. and FGEN Reliable Energy Holdings Inc. D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc. sent a letter to inform PSALM about its decision to withdraw from the bidding supposedly “due to current market conditions and uncertainty of supply of fuel.”

FGEN Reliable Energy Holdings Inc. and DMCI Power Corp. did not state their reasons for not pursuing their interest in Malaya facility.

“We will immediately prepare for the second round of bidding as soon as we submit the matter to the PSALM board,” Garcia said.

“PSALM will commence the second round of bidding as soon as possible once the schedule is cleared with the board. While it is unfortunate that the bidding failed, PSALM remains very much committed to privatize the Malaya power plant this year. Failure of the first round of bidding will not deter us from trying again, and again, until we are able to successfully dispose of this asset,” she said.

The Malaya plant consists of a 300MW unit with a once-through type boiler and a 350-MW unit fitted with a conventional boiler. It serves as a must-run unit which means it is required to run when supply is tight.

ANGELES CITY―American private equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC is infusing $250 million into Converge ICT Solutions Inc. Warburg Pincus managing director Saurabh Agarwal said the long-term partnership with Converge aimed to transform the lives of Filipinos across the Philippines and around the world by bringing high-speed fiber broadband to each barangay.

Converge president and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy said the partnership with Warburg Pincus would allow Converge to reach more people and serve more Filipinos by providing the kind of internet access needed to thrive in today’s world and offer the most affordable service plans.

Uy said that only 63 percent of the Filipino population had direct access to the internet.

“Given how vital connectivity is in today’s lifestyle, that figure shows how considerable the gap to be bridged is. We need more investors in the IT industry. This is where Converge ICT can truly make a national impact,” Uy said.

Agarwal said Warburg Pincus, the oldest growth investor in the world with a 53-year history of investing, was among the first private equity firms to invest in Asia, starting in China and India 25 years ago and in Southeast Asia seven years ago. The company has invested more than $70 billion in 800 companies across 50 countries and currently has more than $60 billion under management and over $20 billion available in new capital to invest in exciting companies.

He said Warburg also sought to invest in market-leading companies with superior management teams and sustainable competitive advantages.

“And we saw in Converge all of these core strengths. Converge exemplifies a company that is uniquely able to capitalize on attractive macro fundamentals and secular tailwinds in the Philippines to grow, while at the same time, serving a critical yet unmet need of the Filipino people,” Agarwal said.

He said when Dennis Uy and his wife Grace set-out to build Converge in 2012, they wanted to make highspeed internet accessible to the Filipino people.

“Their vision and value proposition resonated well with many Filipinos, propelling Converge to become the fastest-growing telecoms company in the country. It is truly a remarkable business and growth story, and we attribute that to the leadership of Dennis and Grace, and the dedication of their teams. In the past 12 months that we’ve gotten to know them and their teams, I’ve seen how dedicated and persistent they’ve been in pursuit of excellence and growth,” Agarwal said.

Agarwal said the Philippines, with its young digital-savvy population and thriving services industries, combined with the country’s focus on infrastructure spending, was poised for further explosive growth, especially in the telecoms sector.

Bulacan airport to break ground in December SAN Miguel Corp. expects to start the construction of the P735-billion Manila International Airport in Bulacan province in December this year after the Transportation Department signed the notice to proceed for the new international gateway.

“I believe the groundbreaking would be before the end of the year or December,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said during the signing of the concession agreement on the Bulacan airport.

Ang’s statement came after Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade announced that he signed the notice to proceed for the construction of the new airport.

“This airport would be a game-changer for the industry and for our economy,” Ang said.

“This is our single largest contribution to the Philippine economy and our biggest investment in the country, thus far. It will be a sustainable, world-class facility that can compete with the best in the world, and become a source of national pride for Filipinos,” he said.

The project is expected to fuel trillions

of dollars in economic activity, potentially contributing about 9 percent of gross domestic product by 2025.

The airport, which will be built at no cost to the government, will be fullyfunded by private equity with no government guarantee or subsidy.

Ang said the company was planning to raise $5 billion from existing shareholders of San Miguel and the remaining $10 billion through borrowings from foreign banks.

Tugade said the Bulacan airport project is “very substantive because this is a game-changer.”

“It’s all about comfort. It’s all about convenience. It’s all about putting life to President Duterte’s wish and desire,” he said.

Tugade said having three major airports would be beneficial to Filipino air passengers. “If we have Bulacan Airport, NAIA and Clark Airport, let it be a battle of commercial competitiveness.

And who benefits? It is the riding public because they will be given a freedom of choice,” Tugade said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN. SM Supermalls launches its annual 100 Days to Christmas countdown which features exclusive holiday activities, promos and surprises from September to December 2019. SM also kicked off its Christmas Bears of Joy and #DearSMSanta, both centered on the spirit of giving. SM rings in the season with the new ‘Happy SM Mallidays’ jingle and a curated Christmas playlist available on Spotify.

Joining the countdown are (from left) members of the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, host Dimples Romana, Mr. Christmas Jose Mari Chan, Carol Sy, SM Supermalls chief operating officer Steven Tan, Grace Magno and Chito Bauzon.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines; Jollibee drops S tocks fell Wednesday as investors remain on alert for developments in the Middle East after the attack on Saudi oil facilities rocked markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 16.94 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,915.29 on a value turnover of P6.7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 107 to 90, with 43 issues unchanged.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, declined 3.2 percent to P223.20, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the largest port operator, lost 2.5 percent to P130.

Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest nickel miner, rallied 2.4 percent to P4.20, while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group

rose 2 percent to P1,020.

The rest of Asian equities were mixed Wednesday, with attention turning to the Federal Reserve’s key policy decision later in the day.

Crude prices tumbled Tuesday and were almost unchanged in Asia following news that Riyadh will get its two major installations back online earlier than expected, though analysts said there was nervousness on trading floors about oil security in the future.

With fears low for now of a military retaliation against Iran—accused of being behind the strikes—focus is now on the Fed, which is expected to cut interest rates while its post-meeting statement will be closely followed for clues about future plans.

Equity traders shifted cautiously with Asian markets struggling for traction.

Hong Kong was 0.1 percent off, while Tokyo finished 0.2 percent down after a

10-day winning streak. Sydney slipped 0.2 percent and Singapore fell 0.4 percent with Bangkok also off.

But Shanghai ended up 0.3 percent, Seoul added 0.4 percent and Taipei rose 0.5 percent, while Mumbai and Jakarta also rose.

Global markets have spent most of this month rising on bets that central banks, led by the Fed, will move to a softer monetary policy to offset a slowdown in most economies exacerbated by the China-US trade war.

“A rate cut of 25 basis points is universally regarded as a done deal by global markets,” said OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley.

“What will be closely watched is the press conference 30 minutes later, where we will gain more clarity as to whether the Fed has moved to an explicit easing bias.

“The likelihood of a shift from neu-

tral to easing will be high as the (policy board) will not be able to ignore the storm cloud around the rest of the world that must eventually start raining on the United States.”

Oxford Economics estimates the Fed will cut three more times this year, which would erase all its 2018 rate hikes.

The Fed has been forced to pump more than $100 billion into US financial markets owing to a tightening of liquidity that had seen short-term lending rates spike for companies.

Dealers have been given some optimism by the US and China’s resumption of trade negotiations next month, with a delegation from Beijing reportedly visiting Washington this week for preparatory talks.

However, there are fresh worries about the impact on the already stuttering world economy from the Saudi oil attacks on Saturday. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

57 93 2.13 138.5 1.2 25.8 18.6 11.96 5.4 1.32 760 68.5 0.94 13.2 46.05 180 57.5 27.35 199.7 1,830 59.4

57 94.1 2.13 139.8 1.2 25.8 18.6 12 5.56 1.32 760 68.65 0.96 13.2 46.05 180 57.5 27.5 199.7 1,840 59.7

57 92.1 2.13 138.5 1.16 25.65 18.6 11.9 5.3 1.32 750 67.85 0.92 13 45.9 178.9 57.5 27.3 197 1,830 59.4

FINANCIALS 57 300 93.5 5,933,380 2.13 5,000 139.7 1,497,050 1.16 16,000 25.65 730,100 18.6 100 12 233,700 5.4 508,400 1.32 25,000 750.5 290 67.85 2,600,630 0.96 444,000 13 10,400 45.95 187,300 179.5 2,180 57.5 1,700 27.4 16,100 198.3 446,230 1,840 120 59.4 14,140

17,100 554,651,168 10,650 208,768,655 18,600 18,752,610 1,860 2,790,862 2,737,801 33,000 218,450 176,967,155.50 411,330 135,400 8,608,425 391,650 97,750 441,325 88,380,461 219,650 840,968

43,134,556 -95,264,452 -17,944,570 529,756 -92,228,425 0 -6,589,900 -19,185 -25,821,817 -784,427

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS 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 ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

39.9 15.94 0.71 1.32 0.244 99 2.68 14.1 115 10.4 17.5 32 75.85 78 2.09 6.1 6.14 9.18 15.4 10.36 7.2 1.73 26 82 49.5 2.46 13.66 8.6 1.56 230 4.99 3.54 8.33 22.25 13.98 19.1 370 2.08 4.49 5.3 9.18 2.69 11 33.9 5.23 5.14 1.77 2.21 1.12 12 91 7.2 0.132 1.18 167.8 2.42 1.27 1.27

39.9 15.96 0.71 1.32 0.246 107.9 2.7 14.22 120.9 10.52 18 32 75.85 80.2 2.12 6.1 6.14 9.18 15.76 10.42 7.2 1.73 26.1 82 50.95 2.46 13.88 8.6 1.6 230.2 4.99 3.56 8.4 22.25 14.1 19.3 374 2.1 4.49 5.3 9.18 2.78 11 34 5.23 5.14 1.84 2.4 1.12 12 91.75 7.4 0.133 1.18 167.8 2.42 1.27 1.31

38.8 15.78 0.7 1.3 0.244 99 2.62 14 115 10.32 17.3 31.7 72.85 78 2.01 5.9 6.01 9.03 15.2 10.1 7.17 1.73 25.9 81.2 49.35 2.33 13.66 8.52 1.55 223.2 4.99 3.4 8.33 21.65 13.96 19.02 367.6 2.03 4.4 5.15 9.18 2.66 10.7 33.65 5.12 5.14 1.76 2.21 1.08 11.8 90 7.2 0.128 1.1 165.8 2.42 1.25 1.27

INDUSTRIAL 39.8 513,600 15.92 532,000 0.7 605,000 1.31 27,000 0.246 730,000 107.9 20 2.65 3,657,000 14.02 2,811,500 120.9 720 10.44 438,200 18 18,600 31.7 900 75.5 610 80.2 800 2.12 776,000 6.09 19,400 6.01 71,700 9.04 320,500 15.66 1,603,000 10.42 98,300 7.18 1,277,900 1.73 2,000 26 1,240,900 81.2 160,630 50 16,300 2.42 11,662,000 13.8 162,000 8.56 428,300 1.6 9,000 223.2 316,300 4.99 10,000 3.55 34,000 8.4 800 21.7 886,300 13.96 73,500 19.3 408,700 374 77,680 2.1 3,109,000 4.48 22,000 5.18 2,687,400 9.18 1,900 2.75 31,970,000 10.7 20,000 33.95 170,000 5.19 54,500 5.14 33,900 1.83 627,000 2.4 762,000 1.12 130,000 11.82 182,800 91 316,110 7.4 95,500 0.128 1,540,000 1.13 683,000 166.7 739,610 2.42 16,000 1.25 2,144,000 1.28 1,381,000

20,353,810 8,472,840 424,020 35,260 178,980 2,069 9,656,650 39,362,184 83,330 4,573,506 330,770 28,680 44,751 63,062 1,629,520 115,149 432,679 2,908,759 25,036,176 1,008,736 9,183,997 3,460 32,260,395 13,085,047 813,220 27,905,570 2,235,288 3,665,492 14,020 71,356,092 49,900 116,880 6,699 19,321,210 1,027,784 7,864,220 28,924,700 6,435,200 97,800 13,974,624 17,442 86,999,880 215,348 5,768,380 280,846 174,246 1,127,680 1,783,480 142,680 2,160,572 28,772,083.50 697,848 204,370 763,700 123,195,820 38,720 2,691,290 1,775,800

7,629,235 320,842 -526,200 -68,242 47,914 453,840.00 -377,977 -1,585,703 20,649,236 527,430 -7,540,590 4,608,865 -1,834,250.50 268,390 9,704,930 -1,511,868 243,309 -31,498,166 -5,358,750 -590,396 -1,092,198 13,216,406 1,810,990 -4,538,923 -894,740 3,251,170 185,562 -2,147,372 -27,187,270.50 -738 -110,910 -55,609,306 38,720 44,300

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 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.89 54.7 12.76 0.78 7.01 13.7 1.21 1.23 910 3.5 6.81 9.06 13.52 4.5 0.24 897 75.25 0.52 4.58 14.2 0.66 5.04 0.038 1.39 172.6 2.44 1,000 0.86 1.29 235 0.229 0.24

0.92 54.7 12.76 0.8 7.01 13.7 1.23 1.27 912 3.52 6.81 9.06 13.68 4.5 0.242 897 75.25 0.52 4.58 14.5 0.66 5.12 0.039 1.39 175 2.45 1,020 0.88 1.29 235 0.229 0.26

0.88 53.85 12.46 0.78 7.01 12.92 1.2 1.22 900 3.4 6.77 8.92 13.52 4.5 0.24 886 74.5 0.495 4.51 14.2 0.63 4.99 0.038 1.33 172.6 2.44 987 0.85 1.29 223 0.228 0.24

INDUSTRIAL 0.9 7,421,000 54.6 727,730 12.5 5,452,800 0.79 176,000 7.01 300 13.3 37,100 1.21 615,000 1.25 449,000 900 313,470 3.48 3,227,000 6.78 560,500 8.99 4,086,000 13.68 26,800 4.5 20,000 0.242 50,000 890 73,850 75 1,342,820 0.51 343,000 4.53 137,000 14.46 1,255,100 0.65 80,000 5.06 14,007,400 0.038 12,700,000 1.34 104,000 174 182,500 2.45 4,000 1,020 625,240 0.85 5,000 1.29 227,000 229.8 1,360 0.229 300,000 0.255 3,720,000

6,699,320 39,716,188 68,402,420 139,280 2,103 488,136 742,550 548,990 283,687,930 11,147,630 3,800,280 36,731,621 366,336 90,000 12,020 65,795,440 100,589,763 170,455 620,710 17,994,258 50,450 70,637,836 488,500 140,420 31,767,801 9,780 627,769,810 4,310 292,830 309,408 68,500 940,700

97,690 -15,296,942.50 -21,181,944 -42,920 -34,519,890 1,175,240 -516,033 -5,809,581 -24,336 -10,314,175 71,344,454.50 -126,820 -86,974 14,711,916 2,151,943 506,183,067.50 -124,190 -256,400

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

15.24 0.84 1.86 0.97 48.8 2.16 4.84 5.9 0.55 0.73 0.84 0.218 0.4 9.5 21.5 1.65 1.24 5.14 0.315 0.45 1.53 2.06 25 2.33

15.24 0.84 1.94 0.97 49.1 2.18 5.03 6.1 0.56 0.73 0.87 0.231 0.4 9.68 21.6 1.65 1.24 5.14 0.32 0.45 1.53 2.06 25.2 2.35

15.22 0.83 1.82 0.93 48.05 2.15 4.84 5.9 0.55 0.73 0.84 0.218 0.4 9.5 21.2 1.63 1.24 5.05 0.315 0.435 1.48 2.01 24.85 2.33

PROPERTY 15.22 319,100 0.84 206,000 1.88 12,000 0.95 5,535,000 48.05 8,554,600 2.16 689,000 4.98 2,669,000 6.1 1,900 0.56 9,876,000 0.73 14,000 0.87 86,000 0.218 250,000 0.4 80,000 9.66 64,400 21.2 72,500 1.65 6,053,000 1.24 103,000 5.06 12,262,900 0.315 4,360,000 0.445 910,000 1.5 1,346,000 2.06 249,000 25 1,889,000 2.35 11,000

4,861,862 171,770 22,360 5,231,710 416,307,370 1,488,170 13,246,580 11,262 5,470,340 10,220 72,300 57,020 32,000 617,779 1,542,605 9,966,690 127,720 62,415,216 1,376,500 398,100 2,016,950 504,630 47,217,985 25,830

-980,534 -99,200,890 -1,328,400 5,828,050 -7,140 45,360 63,718 -346,025 4,523,250 15,004,436.00 76,800 -350,050 -212,650 -2,266,490 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.36 35.35 2.48 5.7 0.92 7.66

3.36 35.35 2.48 6.2 0.92 7.7

3.21 34.75 2.42 5.7 0.92 7.65

3.35 35 2.46 5.99 0.92 7.68

53,000 6,705,500 237,000 779,900 111,000 1,409,300

170,970 234,550,640 579,400 4,667,664 102,120 10,815,418

-19,607,225 2,480 -11,742 -4,962,020

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

10.4 19.4 1.65 0.66 0.047 18.26 2.47 11.02 0.057 91.3 6.58 7.02 2.2 10.2 915 1,969 5.27 426 1.7 1.88 132 9.45 4.98 0.11 5.28 2.87 14.34 3.27 0.93 19.54 0.46 2.52 1.2 1.4 3.33 2.83 8.25 141 3.27 1,177 0.73 0.56 42.5 79 9.08 2.8 0.69 0.365 5.48 0.69 16.42

10.4 19.92 1.8 0.69 0.05 18.26 2.47 11.16 0.057 92.9 6.88 7.12 2.2 10.3 920 1,969 5.33 432 1.72 1.97 132.8 9.45 4.98 0.11 5.4 2.87 14.34 3.27 0.93 19.7 0.49 2.56 1.33 1.4 3.33 2.83 8.25 141 3.27 1,177 0.73 0.57 42.55 80.5 9.29 2.82 0.7 0.375 5.5 0.71 16.48

10.04 19.4 1.64 0.64 0.047 18.26 2.39 10.9 0.056 90.7 6.58 7.02 2.1 10.14 915 1,935 5.26 426 1.66 1.83 129.2 9.45 4.5 0.11 5.27 2.87 14 3.12 0.91 19.5 0.455 2.48 1.2 1.32 3.19 2.76 8.2 140 3.16 1,165 0.71 0.54 42.4 78.7 9.08 2.72 0.69 0.36 5.46 0.69 16.4

SERVICES 10.04 19.64 1.77 0.67 0.05 18.26 2.39 11.02 0.056 90.7 6.6 7.05 2.1 10.28 920 1,935 5.26 432 1.69 1.97 130 9.45 4.5 0.11 5.35 2.87 14 3.15 0.91 19.7 0.455 2.49 1.2 1.39 3.24 2.8 8.2 140 3.19 1,169 0.73 0.57 42.5 80.5 9.29 2.75 0.7 0.365 5.46 0.71 16.42

10,600 131,300 1,898,000 51,159,000 600,000 100 280,000 3,648,900 2,680,000 72,920 2,500 271,400 7,000 169,000 700 18,990 135,000 620 1,256,000 25,000 823,170 100 58,200 540,000 1,735,400 7,000 1,700 953,000 291,000 147,100 350,000 281,000 198,000 23,000 4,226,000 31,000 3,500 30 1,107,000 33,505 350,000 22,999,000 289,600 19,910 10,300 2,465,000 334,000 4,960,000 14,289,200 2,396,000 4,056,800

106,642 2,587,082 3,291,580 34,354,900 29,300 1,826 679,370 40,213,434 152,680 6,668,076.50 16,620 1,914,654 14,800 1,721,058 642,950 36,840,300 711,247 267,020 2,102,830 46,580 107,073,277 945 270,630 59,400 9,279,189 20,090 23,888 3,050,070 267,430 2,873,714 166,500 700,220 246,600 31,600 13,633,290 87,180 28,720 4,220 3,552,590 39,217,750 250,690 12,733,450 12,304,880 1,592,841 94,213 6,777,850 232,610 1,807,400 78,582,439 1,685,410 66,647,058

1,004.00 -908,200 -17,060,212 -5,066,142 -11,356 -21,748,400 41,840 -83,853,845 618,699.00 2,820 193,680 56,674.00 -84,700 305,980 -10 -159,170 -15,281,900 -39,290 -150,160 -3,915,670 -1,096,484 4,220,340 -3,650 -22,509 15,739,402

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

0.0018 1.25 2.56 12.16 2.67 0.29 7.97 1.8 0.226 0.111 0.109 0.0097 0.011 1.17 4.06 1.13 0.5 0.92 0.012 0.011 9.21 3.99 12.7 23.35

0.0018 1.25 2.56 12.16 2.7 0.29 7.99 1.81 0.226 0.111 0.111 0.01 0.012 1.21 4.25 1.13 0.55 0.93 0.013 0.011 9.45 4 12.78 23.5

0.0017 1.22 2.56 12 2.67 0.29 7.8 1.72 0.222 0.111 0.109 0.0097 0.011 1.17 3.97 1.09 0.5 0.91 0.012 0.011 8.75 3.97 12.48 23.1

MINING & OIL 0.0018 27,000,000 1.23 1,427,000 2.56 1,000 12.14 2,300 2.69 523,000 0.29 10,000 7.97 13,500 1.72 10,276,000 0.226 130,000 0.111 540,000 0.111 40,000 0.01 800,000 0.012 7,800,000 1.21 54,000 4.2 18,409,000 1.11 80,000 0.53 750,000 0.93 692,000 0.013 3,800,000 0.011 900,000 9.3 1,331,800 3.98 158,000 12.52 529,300 23.5 558,900

47,100 1,748,220 2,560 27,722 1,409,350 2,900 105,997 18,096,940 29,220 59,940 4,380 7,850 93,000 64,980 75,569,030 88,240 398,400 635,190 45,700 9,900 12,088,448 630,340 6,678,468 13,108,665

5,600 6,250 3,387,450 5,824,460.00 -26,680 104,237.00 -27,706 -5,480,980

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF C DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

18.66 503.5 501 102 102 5.1 97.4 0.99 100.3 1,049 1,076 109 997 78.65 77 75.05 76

18.66 505 501 106 102 5.1 97.4 0.99 100.3 1,054 1,080 109 998 78.65 77 76 76.5

18.44 503.5 500.5 101 102 5.08 97.4 0.99 100.3 1,030 1,076 109 997 77.6 77 75.05 76

PREFERRED 18.5 155,600 505 3,520 500.5 100 106 10,500 102 3,870 5.08 242,000 97.4 16,600 0.99 302,000 100.3 5,000 1,054 1,345 1,080 925 109 150 998 1,770 78.6 15,750 77 2,000 76 34,710 76.5 36,040

2,880,918 1,775,600 50,055 1,077,000 394,740 1,233,600 1,616,840 298,980 501,500 1,411,560 997,400 16,350 1,765,780 1,238,211.50 154,000 2,631,785 2,744,440

LR WARRANT

1.66

1.66

1.65

WARRANTS 1.65 79,000

130,520

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

6.83 11.1 1.02

6.98 11.56 1.02

6.71 11.06 0.99

SME 6.73 11.34 1

5,133,953 4,408,602 1,923,520

-47,405 -

FIRST METRO ETF

118.5

118.6

118.1

476,879

63,960

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.36 10.1

10.36 10.1

10.36 10.02

10,360 29,146

-

MS TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

15,423,861

INDUSTRIAL

75,698,634

HOLDING FIRMS

63,136,159

PROPERTY

68,045,890

SERVICES

149,810,083

MINING & OIL

75,875,679

GRAND TOTAL

451,059,337

755,400 388,600 1,921,000

EXCHA NGE TRADED FUNDS 118.6 4,030 DDS 10.36 10.02

1,000 2,900

-1,211,956 375,250 -

VALUE 1,796.41 (up) 8.54 1,312,535,518.10 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,957.73 (down) 103.92 616,718,944.556 HOLDING FIRMS 7,898.44 (up) 42.87 1,500,825,031.38 PROPERTY 4,009.42 (up) 46.68 SERVICES 1,594.24 (down) 12.66 978,328,301.155 MINING & OIL 9,416.29 (up) 30.89 2,187,088,059.30 PSEI 7,915.29 (down) 16.94 130,991,874.201 All Shares Index 4,786.43 (down) 7.77 6,738,430,782.69 Gainers: 90; Losers: 107; Unchanged: 43; Total: 240

AGI approves another share buyback plan worth P2.5b

By Jenniffer B. Austria ALLIANCE Global Group Inc. of Andrew Tan plans to spend another P2.5 billion on share buybacks.

AGI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved a new share buyback exercise for 12 months beginning September 23, 2019.

“We continue to pursue a share buyback because we believe in our stock’s underlying value, which is backed by our strong franchises across all our business segments, years of profitable operations, and continued expansion thrust,” said AGI chief executive officer Kevin L. Tan. The new program comes after AGI completed an earlier share repurchase activity of up to P5 billion that began on September 20, 2017.

The previous buyback ran for 24 months when the company purchase 309 million shares, accounting for about 3 percent of the pre-buyback issued and outstanding shares.

“The share buyback is also EPS-enhancing and should improve our share values moving forward,” added Tan. AGI is mainly engaged in property, liquor, gaming and quick service restaurant businesses.

The conglomerate recorded an attributable net income of P8.1 billion in the first half of the year, up 4 percent yearon-year, after consolidated revenues rose 15 percent to P82.8 billion.

The group also announced earlier that it was allocating P410 billion in capital expenditure from 2020 to 2024.

The company is earmarking roughly 73 percent of five-year capital spending plan for Megaworld’s residential development projects, as well as the aggressive construction of office buildings hotels and commercial malls.

Another 15 percent will be spent for for Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., which is expected to develop the next integrated resort in Westside City along the famed Manila Bay area.

Golden Arches Development Corp., which holds the exclusive franchise to operate quick service restaurants in the Philippines under the “McDonald’s” brand, will get about five percent of the group’s capital expenditures.

The unit will finance the rollout of 50 to 60 stores annually over the next five years.

Liquor unit Emperador Inc. will account for four of the group’s budget to fund its largely maintenance spending after heavy investments since 2014.

Cebu developer bares 3 projects in Bacolod City CEBU Landmasters Inc. unveiled two new residential development and one hotel projects in Bacolod City.

CLI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it launched Casa Mira Bacolod and Velmiro Plains Bacolod and started construction of the P1.345-billion Citadines Bacolod City.

“Bacolod is a very important market for Cebu Landmasters. As we expand our presence in the city, we are excited to serve the evolving lifestyle and market needs of the Bacolodnons and at the same time contribute to the economy of the city,” said CLI chief executive officer Jose Soberano III. Citadines Bacolod City is a 200-room development of CLI in joint venture with Bacolod-based Capitaine Inc. Located along the city’s main thoroughfare on Lacson Street, the hotel sits on a 4,502 square meter lot. It will have 14 floors with gross floor area of 24,861 sq. m.

The company expects to ride on the emerging tourism industry in the city.

Visitors to Bacolod are increasing, with the city is fast becoming a choice destination for international meetings and other events in Western Visayas.

Citadines Bacolod City is one of the four serviced residences under the CLI and The Ascott Limited strategic alliance, which includes the newly-opened Citadines Cebu City, Citadines Paragon Davao and lyf Cebu City.

CLI early this year announced plans to expand its investments in the hospitality sector, given the tremendous growth of tourism in the country.

Soberano said the company would build 15 hotels in next three to five years.

The group’s hospitality portfolio is currently close to 1,000 rooms. In addition to its partnership with serviced residences operator The Ascott Limited for Citadines Cebu City, Citadines Bacolod City, Citadines Paragon Davao and lyf Cebu City, CLI signed a deal with Radisson Hotel Group for Radisson Red in Astra Centre in Mandaue City. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business/World

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Support for jailed Russian actor MOSCOW―Russian celebrities have launched a major solidarity campaign in support of a young actor who they say was wrongfully jailed for a crime amid a crackdown on the opposition.

On Monday, a Moscow court sentenced 23-year-old actor Pavel Ustinov to three and a half years in prison for violence against police at an opposition protest even though he claimed he was simply a bystander.

His conviction brought to six the number of people sentenced to jail time ranging from two to four years for taking part in a recent wave of anti-government demonstrations.

But Ustinov’s sentencing sparked particular outrage because the court refused to consider video footage that showed police in an apparently unprovoked attack on the actor.

The celebrities, most of whom usually steer clear of politics and have millions of followers on social media, said the case tarnished the reputation of au-

FREE AGAIN. This undated handout photo from Zoos Victoria and Phillip Island Parks obtained by AFP on September 18, 2019, show a Fiordland penguin being released back into the ocean on Phillip Island, south of Melbourne. The penguin was rescued by Melbourne Zoo’s Marine Response Unit on the coast of Victoria after travelling some 2,500 km across the Tasman Sea. AFP

Electricity pricing in PH enters new era FILIPINO consumers may not OUT IN be aware of it, but the policy to subject power supplies to a THE OPEN competitive selection process, or bidding, is making the cost of electricity product more transparent and market-driven.

It is a breakthrough reform in the power sector and effectively wipes out suspicions of a sweetheart deal between electricity producers and distributors.

The purchase of electricity under the CSP option will translate into relatively lower cost given the nature of the bidding process. Critics of the power reform, thus, should rethink their view because the old procurement system has not resulted in lower electricity prices in the Philippines, one of the highest in Asia.

Over the last couple of months, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and chairman Neri Colmenares have been blocking the implementation of the CSP, even filing a temporary restraining order before the Supreme Court to stop the process. Ironically, the two were initially among the heavy supporters of CSP and its implementation.

The Supreme Court has ruled that all power supply agreements, or PSAs, filed after June 30, 2015 are obliged to undergo the CSP to allow other potential suppliers bid for the contract. The process seeks to provide consumers the best power supply contract. The PSA is a requirement from the Energy Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy to encourage generation companies to build power plants in order to meet the country’s demand.

The CSP has finally proceeded, with Meralco, the largest utility company in the country that Zarate has been consistently blaming for the nation’s acute power shortage, awarding PSAs to three generation companies.

Phinma Energy Corp., San Miguel Energy Corp. and South Premiere Power Corp. offered the lowest rates in the utility firm’s search for the supply of 1,200 megawatts starting December.

Two days after the first round of bidding, the Third-Party Bids and Awards Committee oversaw another bid—this time to supply Meralco’s 500 MW of mid-merit requirement effective December, 26 2019 for five years. TPBAC, headed by local and international procurement expert Ferdinand Domingo and former Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., declared the offers of First Gen Hydro Power, Phinma Energy and South Premiere Power as the best bids.

The formation of TPBAC and its task belie the accusation of Bayan Muna that Meralco and the Department of Energy were manipulating the CSP. Lower bids The CSP drew the interest of other companies. Besides the three winning gencos in the 1,200-MW contract, two more companies, SMC Consolidated Power Corp. and Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd., joined the procurement process.

The results of the bidding will eventually benefit electricity consumers. They can save around P0.28 per kwh or P9.46 billion annually for 10 years starting in 2020 from the new 1,200-MW PSA. On the 500-MW contract, consumers are expected to save another P4.4 billion annually over the next five years. This is equivalent to an additional rate reduction of around P0.13 per kWh for consumers by the end of the year.

Consumers had the most to gain from the CSP, especially since the rates from all three best bids were evidently lower than the average generation cost today, contrary to Zarate’s claim.

The CSP also imposes penalty on the winning bidder if it fails to honor its contract. The terms of the supply deal stipulate that the generator that fails to follow through with the contracted capacity will pay a fine of P908 multiplied by each megawatthour per day. The fine will be used to reduce the generation charge to consumers.

The successful CSP bidding process has actually contradicted Bayan Muna’ allegations. The CSP in fact ensures power-sourcing at the best possible least cost and encourages the build-up of reserves to minimize, if not avoid, supply interruptions.

Constructing new power plants is an urgent measure to solve the country’s energy security requirements. Nobody wants to again experience the serious power shortages in the early 90s that crippled the Philippine economy.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard.net or extrastory2000@gmail.com

thorities.

“I think that this is a completely trumped-up case,” film actor Alexander Pal said in a video posted on Instagram.

Pal, who helped kick-start the campaign, said the video proved his innocence.

Footage from the scene showed police in full riot gear lunging at Ustinovwho was standing with a phone in his hand near a metro station-and beating him with batons.

Danila Kozlovsky, a Russian star who appeared in the British TV series McMafia, said the “monstrous injustice and cynicism with which it’s being done can happen to everyone.”

The celebrities compared Ustinov’s case with that of journalist Ivan Golunov, who was detained in June on trumped-up drug charges.

He was freed after an unprecedented campaign of solidarity, which saw three major newspapers publish the same front page with the headline “I am/we are Ivan Golunov.” AFP

Summer of protests batters HK economy

H

ONG KONG―As pro-democracy protests grind on for a fourth month, Hong Kong has been left counting the cost, with the city’s tourist industry battered and businesses forced to lay off staff as they struggle to stay afloat.

Images beamed around the world of black-clad demonstrators battling police in full riot gear on streets usually lined with shoppers have led travelers to shun the financial hub.

And with protesters and the government showing no signs of backing down, there are worries things will not improve any time soon.

August witnessed the biggest fall in overseas visitors since the SARS epidemic of 2003 claimed nearly 300 lives and unleashed widespread panic in the city, according to government data.

Among the worst-hit areas is Causeway Bay, a normally bustling commercial precinct home to a slate of luxury brands where last weekend shoppers and bystanders were caught up as police fired volleys of tear gas at masked youths.

A neighborhood pharmacist, who asked to be identified only by his surname Chiu, told AFP the overseas customers who accounted for half his sales had slowed to a trickle since the protests began in June.

“The social atmosphere is not good,” he said, adding that he has repeatedly had to shut his shop as tear gas canisters bounce down the street. Takings, he says, have tumbled 40 to 50 percent.

“Local customers also seem to buy

less.”

He said his business was faring worse than during 2014’s Umbrella Movement, which saw the city grind to a standstill after a months-long blockade of busy roads.

Across Hong Kong, on-year tourist arrivals fell 40 percent in the last month, the city’s financial secretary Paul Chan said, led by a collapse in visitors from the mainland―by far the largest group.

Hotel occupancy rates are down around half and the retail and dining sectors have been severely affected.

“It is worrying that so far there is no sign of improvement in the near future,” Chan wrote in a blog post.

Adding to the problems for Hong Kong, the long-running crisis has coincided with weak global demand and the grinding China-US trade war.

Earlier this month Fitch downgraded the city’s sovereign rating citing the protests. AFP

New York state bans flavored e-cigarettes

FESTIVAL. This photo taken on September 17, 2019, shows a participant wearing a colorful costume during the annual ‘Khong Dee Muang Nara’ (good products of Narathiwat) festival in Thailand celebrating Narathiwat’s culture and tradition. AFP

Love for bingo endures in Glasgow GLASGOW―Most nights of the week, Margaret Fisher can be found sitting in the same seat in the same Glasgow bingo club she has been frequenting for nearly 25 years.

“All my friends have been playing forever―I’ve not really spoken to anybody who’s never been in a bingo hall,” the 70-year-old Glasgow resident told AFP, easing into a game in the bingoloving city.

“I’m not a gambler but I do like bingo... the atmosphere and the adrenalin rush when you’re playing.

“You meet friends, have a good time and it gets you out and about,” Fisher said, shortly after paying £5 ($6, 6 euros) entry to take her regular spot next to the lucky charm-laden table of her friend Tina.

Historically beloved by British grandmothers, the game sees players win payouts if they match sets of numbers between one and 90 announced by a caller―traditionally shouting “bingo!”

when they mark off all their numbers.

Fisher said that she had once scooped £2,000 in prize money. But normally players at her club can hope to win up to £1,000 at Sunday night games and up to half that midweek.

Unlike other gambling games, bingo tends to attract more women than men.

Analyses show the ratio is typically 80:20 women to men, according to The Bingo Association chief executive Miles Baron, a former marketing chief for the Rank gambling company.

In British cities―Glasgow in particular―bingo has also been strongly associated with the working class, often handed down from one generation to the next.

“My mum went with her gran, and then as soon as I was old enough she was like ‘you’re coming to bingo!’” said 22-year-old Nicole Croly, also at the gargantuan club, run by gaming brand Mecca, in the city’s gritty East End. AFP

NEW YORK―New York became the second US state to ban flavored ecigarettes Tuesday, following several vaping-linked deaths that have raised fears about a product long promoted as less harmful than smoking.

A health council passed emergency legislation proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo outlawing flavored vaping products amid an outbreak of severe pulmonary disease that has killed seven people and sickened hundreds.

The ban comes into force with immediate effect. Michigan became the first state to declare a ban earlier this month, but that law has yet to be implemented.

“It is undeniable that vaping companies are deliberately using flavors like bubblegum, Captain Crunch and cotton candy to get young people hooked on e-cigarettes―it’s a public health crisis and it ends today,” said Cuomo.

President Donald Trump’s administration announced last week that it would soon ban flavored e-cigarette products to stem a rising tide of youth users.

The move could later be extended to an outright prohibition of vaping if adolescents migrate to tobacco flavors, seen as more legitimate products that help smokers quit their habit, said the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates e-cigarettes.

“New York is not waiting for the federal government to act, and by banning flavored e-cigarettes we are safeguarding the public health and helping prevent countless young people from forming costly, unhealthy and potentially deadly life-long habits,” Cuomo added.

Shops in New York now have two weeks to remove vaping products from their shelves. The ban does not prohibit menthol or tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes have been available in the US since 2006 and are sometimes used as an aid to quit smoking traditional tobacco products like cigarettes. AFP

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

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Manila to copy Singapore vertical housing model

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

I

NSPIRED by the late Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s public housing initiative, touted as the best public housing project in the world, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso hopes to replicate it “even at 90 percent.”

“Lee Kuan Yew did it very well,” said Domagoso, who has repeatedly asserted there’s nothing wrong to copy programs if it would be for the good of the people and the country.

During the Samahang Plaridel media forum at the Manila Hotel, he expressed hope that “in God’s graces, he would have the strength, the knowledge and the capability” to provide decent housing with dignity for poor Manila residents.

Saying the houses will be given for free to intended beneficiaries, Moreno stressed the government should be spending for, and not earning from, the public.

He downplayed fears that giving out free housing might encourage laziness among the beneficiaries.

The mayor said that after providing housing and jobs, discipline must be inculcated in the minds of the beneficiaries, like the need to send their children to school, among other issues.

“We really have to develop. Mr. Yew did it ―in a full ecosystem, in a full cycle,” stressed Domagoso, who also acknowledged it would take time before the city government can realize this dream for Manileños.

Domagoso said he is dead set on building “massive housing” and not just mass housing, which he said carries a double meaning. He likened mass housing to houses for doves or birds.

“Parang bahay ng kalapati, just for the heck of saying there’s housing,” said Domagoso, who added these are usually 18-square-meter units.

Having once lived among the squatters

Globe president and chief executive officer Ernest Cu (right) presents Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso with a facsimile of a Manila-branded GCash card in rites at Manila City Hall on Wednesday. Globe aims to spearhead the digital transformation of the country’s capital by providing fast and reliable Internet connectivity in key areas with GoWifi and delivering financial technology services to the city’s scholars via GCash. Ey Acasio

of Tondo district, Domagoso said he knew the feeling of living in a limited space, thus the city government is designing 42-squaremeter houses for the Vitas and Del Pan residents who are indigents.

He said the house will sport two bedrooms, allowing parents and children to sleep separately.

“I grew up in a squatter [area], I know this. I heard this [cases when children were

being molested by their own fathers]. And we don’t want to face this problem in the future,” related Domagoso.

Asked when they will start constructing the houses in Vitas and Del Pan, both in Tondo, Domagoso said it would depend on the availability of funds. He said the building of these houses was not provided for in the budget under the previous city administration.

“I can’t promise because what we have is old money, old budget. In the previous plan, no plan at all for this. I don’t know when to start,” admitted Domagoso, as he also cited the findings of the COA that the past administration is missing P4.3 billion in funds.

But once fresh funds start coming in due to city hall’s efficient collection of taxes, Domagoso said he is hopeful they can start building the houses by 2020.

GSI not POGO, just Sino firm’s partner, says Ou GRAPEFRUIT Service Inc. has denied being involved in illegal online gambling or any illegal online activities, and insisted that it is the authorized service provider of a corporation that operates a cryptocurrency business that is legitimate and legal in the Philippines.

GSI was raided by operatives of the National Capital Regional Police Office and Bureau of Immigration last Sept. 11.

In his letter to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente dated Sept 16., Xingfeng Ou, Chief Operations Officer of GSI, said the mission order from the Immigration bureau was directed only against four Chinese nationals who are allegedly fugitives from justice and hiding in the Philippines.

Only three of the Chinese, namely Chen Xianfeng, Qi Heng and Wang Changsen, were arrested during the raid, Ou noted.

“It is clear that only Chen Xianfeng, Qi Heng, Wang Changsen, and Qin Shuxin are the subjects of Mission Order No. JHM2019-270. Thus, the arrest of other persons pursuant thereto is illegal unless the same falls under the rule of warrantless arrest,” he argued.

GSI is located at the 37th floor of One Corporate Center in Julia Vargas Avenue cor. Meralco Avenue, Barangay San Antonio, Pasig City, where the raid took place.

He pointed out that GSI is not a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator and not in any way involved in online gambling activities.

Ou insisted that their company is a service provider of another CEZA licensed company involved in financial technology solutions offering offshore virtual currency exchange service.

He said that GSI is a “qualified Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport Enterprise” and was authorized to do business pursuant to Certificate of Registration CSEZFP Enterprise No. CF-426 issued by CEZA. Accordingly, and being the authorized service provider of Golden Millenial Quickpay Inc. Limited, it may perform business at CEZA-accredited premises like the One Corporate Center in Orgtigas.

Ou insisted the company had no knowledge the Chinese nationals were fugitives, because when they applied for work at GSI, the company only relied on the documents they submitted, i.e. valid passports, valid visas, among others.

GSI presumed that they are not fugitives from justice, since they were issued passports by the Chinese government and they were given visas to enter the Philippines, he added “Also, the fact that they were able to pass through Chinese and Philippine immigration presupposes that they are not fugitives and/or that their names are not included in the watchlist of Interpol, otherwise, they should have been arrested at the airports,” Ou said. Jun David

BFAR inaugurates fish landing center in Cagayan town

By Brenda Jocson

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade (third from left) and BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Murad Ebrahim Al-Haj (right) lead the turnover of LTFRB 12 facilities, witnessed by MOTC-BARMM Minister Dickson P. Hermoso (center), MOTC Deputy Minister Von Al Haq, and LTFRB BARMM Head Akmad Brahim (second from right). Mark Navales

PIAT, Cagayan―To provide better post-harvest handling, processing and marketing of fish and fishery products, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has inaugurated a Community Fish Landing Center in this pilgrimage town of Cagayan province.

The project, which will enable fisherfolk to derive steady income from their catch, is a joint project of BFAR in Cagayan Valley, National Anti-Poverty Commission and the local government unit here.

Max Prudencio, BFAR Region 2 information officer, said the CFLC is a two-story building also designed as a hub for sharing

knowledge and information, facilitate organization development among fisherfolk including women and for fish catch monitoring for scientific studies.

Mayor Carmelo Villacete, who led the inauguration of the project on July 29, expressed the LGU’s plan to develop the facility to be able to supply the fish requirement for Piat, including the nearby towns of Santo Niño, Tuao and parts of Kalinga province.

The new facility is located in a strategic area in Barangay Maguilling here, which according to Villacete is a good place for other economic activities like seafood eatery, resembling the “dampa” business concept popular in Manila.

Poor elderly in NV receive pensions

BARMM gains LTFRB off ices, modern PUVs from Region 12

By Mark Navales

COTABATO CITY―The Department of Transportation has turned over the facilities of the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board in Region 12 to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Officials marked the historic occasion on Sept. 12 with a caravan of modern public utility vehicles, which were showcased at Camp Siongco.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade graced the two events with LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra, as they unveiled the modern PUVs for the region’s transport organizations.

Tugade emphasized that the application for a PUV franchise only requires a processing fee of P500.

The turnover of LTFRB-12’s facilities began

with a ribbon-cutting by Tugade and BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Murad Ebrahim Al-Haj, as witnessed by MOTC-BARMM Minister Dickson P. Hermoso, MOTC Deputy Minister Von Al Haq, and the new LTFRB-BARMM Head, Akmad Brahim.

“I come here to say to BARMM-MOTC Minister Dickson Hermoso and BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ebrahim that the DOTr and LTFRB are in full support in whatever way that we could be of help, we will do it,” Tugade said.

Ebrahim said he “greatly appreciated” the turnover of the refurbished LTFRB 12 building inside the BARMM compound.

After a series of coordination meetings in Davao City and Koronadal City a few months ago, the turnover was made possible through the endeavors of Delgra and LTFRB 12 Regional Director Paterno Reynato Padua.

By Ben Moses Ebreo

E-LEARNING TOOL. Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez presents to Schools Division Superintendent Maria Magdalena M. Lim and education officials a Raspberry Pi board, a functional single-board computer for several tech projects, along with hundreds of E-Learning tools for the teachers in the city, during a simple turnover ceremony at the DepEd division office in Barangay San Dionisio.

CEMEX brings health services to Davao village via KKK initiative GUIDED by its social development vision of “Building the Nation Together,” CEMEX Philippines Foundation recently embarked on a medical mission in Barangay Tibungco, Davao City through its “Kalusugan, Kaligtasan, Kahandaan” or KKK initiative.

More than 300 members of the local community benefitted from the healthcare services provided by a team of doctors who supported the initiative, together with

CEMEX Holdings Philippines’ employeevolunteers.

Medical consultations, health and nutrition seminars, circumcision for young boys, as well as medicines and vitamins were made accessible during the mission.

Many also availed of the free haircut services provided by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as their participation in the program.

“Making healthcare more accessible is a

Villacete said there is also a need for other bodies of water in their area to be evaluated for fish culture purposes and to increase fish supply.

Dr. Nelson B. Bien, BFAR Region 2 director, said the bureau is ready to provide technical assistance and fingerlings with its revitalized fish farms in the region for higher fingerling production.

In addition to the new fish facility, the BFAR Region 2 has also awarded fishing boats, fishing gears and post-harvest equipment such as freezers and fish stalls.

Bien said the BFAR has targeted the establishment of 25 more fish landing centers in the Cagayan Valley region.

cornerstone in building a more productive citizenry for nation-building,” said Chito Maniago, executive director of CEMEX Philippines Foundation and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Regional Director of CEMEX Philippines.

“More than this, the outreach program is really intended to show care for our countrymen by helping prevent illnesses through proper healthcare. This is why, with our team of doctors and AFP personnel, CE-

MEX employee-volunteers made this initiative possible,” he added.

On behalf of the beneficiary community, Barangay Captain Merjade Calvo expressed her gratitude for CEMEX’s continuous support for helping improve the social welfare of communities like Barangay Tibungco and looked forward to a brighter future and more meaningful partnerships between the company and their barangay.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya―Officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development here said they have already paid the social pensions of poor elderlies in the province for the first semester this year.

Mary Grace Pascua, Social Welfare and Development team leader, said 25,043 elderlies who are 60 years and older were given P500 monthly stipend to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs.

“The recipients were elderlies not receiving any pension from GSIS, SSS or AFPMBAI and other insurance company, and without permanent source of income or regular support from their relatives to meet their basic needs,” she said.

Pascua said they already paid the recipients in the 15 municipalities in Nueva Vizcaya amounting to over P750,000 from the social pension fund for the province this year.

“The preparation of summary payments are ongoing and we have already paid their social pensions for the months of July and August 2019,” she added.

According to Pascua, the Unconditional Cash Transfer for Social Pension was also released to the beneficiaries.

She said 22,224 of the 25,112 total clients in the province for 2018 were already paid more than P53 million of the P60-million fund allotted.

Pascua said 2,888 clients covering over P8 million were still unpaid at present.

5 home decorating tips to beat the rainy day blues AH, the comfort of home on wet season! This is a time when it could be the only escape from the inconveniences brought by rainy days, but sometimes home can be a place of gloom, too.

Restore the life and beat the rainy day blues with these five home designing tips from real estate developer NorthPine Land, Inc.

Life HOUSEHOLD

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

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ABOVE AND BEYOND. The four honorees of this year’s‘The Many Faces of the Teacher’(from left) Venus Metilla Alboruto, PhD.; Yrene AguilarDineros; Junmerth Cretecio Jorta; and Aletta Tiangco Yñiguez, PhD., go beyond their duties to share their knowledge with students and communities.

The meaning

Use bright colors to liven up a room.

Throw in some colors

Liven up a space by adding some happy colors. Opt for bright-colored cushion covers and throws or experiment with bold prints. Swap your grays, blues, and dark hues for pinks or bright colors such as tangerine.

of being a teacher

T

HEY say teachers are the foundation of every society. They are the person behind every great mind; they prepare, they mold, they nurture students to help them reach their full potential, and, hopefully, pay it forward.

Despite their huge role and contribution to the nation, educators face all kinds of challenges just so they can reach out to more learners. You can say it is not easy being a teacher.

But these four educators go above and beyond their role to share their knowledge with students and communities, paving the way for a better future.

Diwa Learning Systems, Inc. and Bato Balani Foundation, Inc. present these four honorees of “The Many Faces of the Teacher.”

Experiment with various lighting.

Let there be light

Light plays a very important role in the interiors of a home and its décor as it can make a room bigger and more refreshing. But on days when natural light is sparse, experiment with mood lights, scented candles, and even chandeliers to make the house look and feel cozy and inviting. Place floor lamps in corners to eliminate shadows and offer a peripheral illumination that brightens up the entire room.

citizens. She gives classes on basic literacy as well as skills training on dressmaking, food preparation and housekeeping, wellness, electronics, and customer service.

“Ever since I started my career as a teacher in 1980, I have already taken the role of a second mother to my students. My students just have varying ages now,” shares Dineros.

To date, she has the most number of ALS students in District IV, Quezon City. Through these classes, she hopes that her students can have better opportunities for employment overseas.

“Yes, I wear many hats. That is because I want to do everything I can for these people who have been neglected for the longest time by our educational system, while I still can,” said Dineros.

“Some would say that I should already be spending my spare time and weekends resting. But, how can I, knowing there are still so many who need me? During these times, I attend to my ALS students. I teach them basic literacy so that they can get a diploma.”

And because she also has bigger dreams for her students, she teaches them Nihonggo, a language she learned after receiving a scholarship grant in Japan.

Making education fun

Make sure a décor also has a function.

Aesthetics with a purpose

Who says that umbrella stands can’t make nice entrance statements? Use a sleek vase or a unique-looking basket at the front door as an umbrella stand which can also serve as entrance décor at the same time. Similarly, use a nonboring coat hanger to wow guests.

Fresh (or even plastic) flowers are a lovely addition to any room.

Innovating teaching practices is part of an educator’s role, especially for large-sized classes of 55 to 60 where learners get distracted quickly. To ensure everyone in the class focuses on the lesson, Venus Metilla-Alboruto, PhD. uses Strategic Intervention Materials (SIMs) that allow her to provide the right environment for learners to thrive in.

SIMs are a series of interactive modules she developed which focuses on science process skills development and knowledge in different scientific concepts. Alboruto uses SIMs to let students learn and understand the different lessons.

According to Alboruto, SIMs are a complete package that comes with activity cards, comics that will attract their interest to read, as well as assessments that can also help absentee students and even working students. They are able to bring it home and return after every lesson.

“As a public school teacher for 17 years, I have met students who were like me when I was young—many of them come to school without paper and pen, on empty stomachs, and needing care and attention,” says Alboruto.

“Seeing how they need inspiration drives me to do my best as their teacher. Hence, I am always trying my best to apply innovative strategies to make them stay motivated in class. I always bring extra pen and paper, and sometimes extra snack, and provide them with Strategic Intervention Materials that enable them to work independently or with their peers, and cope with the lessons that they missed to master.”

Through the Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute, Alboruto upgraded her SIMs using augmented reality and called it SIMATAR.

Blooming beauties

Serving his purpose

Junmerth Cretecio Jorta started as a public school teacher in 2012 at Kalaganan Central School. He shared that there was an empty feeling inside that he wanted to fill up—looking for a purpose in teaching.

“I asked the Lord’s guidance,” he said. “Gawin akong missionary teacher.” The time came when the principal at Kalaganan Central School finally asked him to handle Kèupiyanan Tè Balugo, a school for the Indigenous People learners of Sitio Balugo, Barangay Kalanganan in Bukidnon Sitio Balugo is hours away from the main road. But Jorta, through his faith and belief that he needs to take care of the community, managed the discomfort of sleeping in a classroom and having to cook for himself. “God called me to be there,” he enthused.

He saw that many of the students go to school with empty stomachs or miss school because they have nothing to eat.

But through his program called “Balugo Pagkaon Sakto,” more and more students in the community in Bukidnon have enrolled and continued to study.

Fill vases and empty wine bottles with vibrant blooms like sunflowers, rain lilies, or orchids. There is nothing like a house filled with lovely flowers!

The soothing sound of wind chimes lifts moods.

Listen to the chimes

During breezy days, wind chimes give a sweet and pleasant sound. A soothing music can surely lift anyone’s spirit.

Giving everyone a chance

Yrene Aguilar-Dineros is regarded by her students as a mother figure. Dineros, who is currently an Alternative Advocating for the environment Learning System Instructional Manager and a Master TeachAs a biological oceanographer, Aletta Tiangco Yñiguez, er II at Quezon City High School, helps out-of-school youth PhD. not only takes care of her students but also the enviby integrating skills training in her ALS classes. ronment. She is currently an Assistant Professor 7 at the She also teaches dropouts, working individuals, and senior Turn to C2

Life

C2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

The sweet connection between a mother and son IT COULDN’T GET ANY SWEETER THAN THIS. The sweet connection between Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and her son Nate shines in their latest TV commercial for a fast food chain giant.

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HE sweet relationship of Regine Velasquez and son Nate is put front and center in their newest TV commercial.

Their second commercial together for Jollibee’s Jolly Spaghetti features the mother-and-son duo’s sweet moments as they spend quality time together.

“He’s very sweet,” Regine says of Nate.

“He really is malambing ever since. He’s always spending time with me, and our favorite bonding moment is watching TV together. He loves that, and he always wants me to watch what he’s watching.”

Regine shares that they still spend a lot of time together even though Nate is already going to school. “When he doesn’t have school, we’ll just be in bed together,” she shares. “He’ll be tinkering with his iPad, then we’ll watch TV, then we’ll buy Jolly Spaghetti and eat.”

This side of Regine and Nate is true to life. She shares that long before they did the commercial, they went to a Jollibee and did something like what they

Teaching kids money through play

Regine and Nate bond over Jolly Spaghetti.

did in the ad. “We went to Jollibee, Nate ordered Jolly Spaghetti for us, we ate and took pictures,” she recounts.

“He loves Jolly Spaghetti. This is no joke,” says Regine. “On his first day of taping, he’s like, ‘I want to eat it!’ But he couldn’t yet. If he has a choice, he’ll eat

it. He really loves it.”

Jolly Spaghetti Solo is available for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and drivethru at Jollibee outlets nationwide for P50. A meal with a drink is priced at P55. The Jolly Spaghetti Family Pan (good for 4-5) is P200.

DOMESTIC LIVING

Innovative washing machines THE award-winning washing machine line designed by Swedish brand Electrolux has come out with its most advanced model yet. The said model has clothing care features that help keep garments looking like new even after several wash.

The UltimateCare 900 Front Load Washing Machine ensures clothes receive the right wash without compromising their quality with its SensorWash that automatically detects dirt and adjusts cycle times, and UltraMix technology that activates detergent so that clothes can be washed at lower temperature.

It also comes with Vapour Care option that finishes the wash cycle with a soft spray of vapor to remove allergens and germs, and Load Sensor that displays real-time laundry weight and recommended detergent for every wash.

Another exciting addition to this washing machine is Wi-Fi connectivity.

Through the Electrolux Life App, users can remotely control their appliance, allowing them to choose wash or dry programs and receive notifications on the go. The Care Advisor also provides intuitive guidance to assist in expertly

A BANK and an indoor recreation center team up to teach children financial responsibility through fun and practical play.

BPI Family Savings Bank President Maria Cristina Go said KidZania, a place where kids learn through real-life role-playing activities, is the perfect place to make the concept of money more tangible.

Since 2016, over 800,000 children have learned the basics of banking and financial responsibility through BPI and KidZania.

“Financial literacy is very critical in order to survive and succeed in life. At an early age, children should already know how money works, how to earn and spend it, how to manage it, save it, and even how and where to invest it,” said Go. KidZania is an indoor city run by kids, where they can earn and spend kidZos, KidZania’s currency, when taking part in activities, as in the real world. Children can fill over a hundred roles across 65 establishments such as publishing or pharmaceutical, or pay for services rendered in a beauty salon or training in a school.

“Ultimately, they gain financial awareness as they have the liberty to manage their own kidZos—from budgeting to spending and saving,” said Go. “Kids learn that they can earn money by being productive and useful, that they can use the money for their needs and wants, and that they can save money for their future, to achieve bigger dreams.”

Inside KidZania, there is a special BPI branch where kids are given special accounts and ATM cards for their kidZos. Their savings gain interest over time, which the kids can spend in their next visit.

Go said an example of a very useful product for kids is the Jumpstart savings account which is available through BPI and BFSB. Jumpstart is for savers aged 10 to 17 years old and requires only a minimum deposit of P100. A portion of the funds can be protected from unplanned withdrawals, and parents can easily transfer money to the account for allowances. The Jumpstart Debit Card can also be used for cellphone reloading.

cleaning up to 48 fabrics and 40 of the most common stains.

The UltimateCare 900 Front Load Washer Dryer is suitable for those with less space in their home. In addition to the same features as the washing machine model, it also includes SensiCare System that measures temperature and humidity and adjusts the drying time to the moisture levels in each load to protect clothes from over-drying.

Finally, the UltimateCare 500 Front Load Dryer provides clothes the care they deserve with gentle drying for up to 32 percent less wrinkles.

BPI head for deposit products Ma. Carmina Marquez and head for corporate affairs and communications Owen Cammayo teach children basic financial literacy through play.

The meaning...

From C1

UltimateCare 500 Front Load Dryer

UltimateCare 900 Washer Dryer

University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and has been teaching for over 10 years.

Yñiguez is one of the country’s foremost experts on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) more widely known as red tide. She and her team of scientists and students are figuring out the triggers of this phenomenon and the potential for predicting it.

She currently leads COASTS (Community Alliance for the Sustainability of our Threatened Seas), a partnership between the academe, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, coastal communities, and LGUs. It aims to improve food safety, livelihood security, and ultimately good quality of waters

through an early warning system that would help address problems related to the occurrence of HABs. Aside from teaching her students and reaching out to communities, she also lead summer camps helping high school students understand the fragility of the environment and rehabilitate the way people interact with marine life. She also manages a Facebook page called Baybay-Dagat to further her advocacy of caring for our oceans and securing it for the next generations.

“Even though I didn’t set out to become a teacher at first, I am now thankful I can share my own continuing curiosity, wonder, and discoveries about our oceans. I hope I can stir the same feelings in my students, as well as the people they engage with in their daily lives,” shares Yñiguez.

Entertainment

Film recall

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

’Pinas Sarap’ celebrates 2nd year with food adventure in Spain IN CELEBRATION of Pinas Sarap’s second anniversary, join Kara David in an epic journey to Spain—the country that has substantial influence in Filipino history, culture, and cuisine. The GMA News TV program takes viewers to a five-part gastronomic adventure beginning today, Sept. 19 For the first time in Philippine television history, Filipinos joining the celebration of the famous La Tomatina Festival in Buñol will be shown. Kara

will join the highlight of the event, the much-awaited tomato fight.

One of the most important ingredients in Spanish cuisine is tomato, a culinary practice that was passed on to Filipinos.

In part one of Pinas Sarap’s Spain Special, Kara will delight the viewers’ palate with Albondigas, a Spanish dish made with tomato.

Don’t miss Pinas Sarap’s 2nd Anniversary Special today at 7:15 p.m. on GMA News TV.

Dignitaries posed during the recent press screening of the music-fueled movie Cold War to promote Cinema Europa 22 scheduled to run Sept. 20 to 24 in Greenbelt 3, Makati.

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USIC as a tool in pushing film narrative is more often than not effective YUGEL as one can imagine. Who can’t LOSORATA associate the tragedy of holocaust to that Oscar-winning score written by the greatJohn Williams featuring Itzhak Perlman on violin? Or John Barry’s music for the romance between the characters of Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour in Somewhere In Time?

“I always like using music dramatically as a character in the film,” director Parel Pawlikowski was quoted as saying in reference to his work for Cold War, adding, “Music became the holy spirit of the whole story.”

I had the chance to see and hear for myself what he meant as the film was screened for the press in line with this year’s Cine Europa which opens tomorrow, Sept. 20 at Cinema 1 of Greenbelt 3 in Makati City. From the get-go, the movie offers musical strains that should keep viewers glued, whether coming from classical piano playing or some raw voice wailing sincerely from the heart.

Cold War, described as a passionate

love story of a couple set against the ruins of post-World War II Europe, is “an impossible love story in impossible times.” Yet music crucially made that all possible.

If the movie serves as hint of what to see in Cine Europa 22, then music should be counted as vital ingredient to the festival run. All in all 13 movies are lined up by the EU Delegation to the Philippines and embassies of various European nations involved.

Film viewers will be treated to a fiveday free admission and first-come, firstserved festival that includes interesting entries from Italy (Being Leonardo da Vinci, An Impossible Interview), United Kingdom (Mary Shelley), and

France (Tour de France) which stars a 20-year-old rapper whose trip to Paris is expected to conclude with a concert of reconciliation. Norway’s The King’s Choice may likely take cues from that Schindler’s soundtrack as it is based on a true story where the Norwegian King is poised to choose between surrendering to or getting killed by the Nazi-run German armed forces.

“Cine Europa is a distinctive way to showcase European cultural diversity and to open up opportunities in the cultural and creative industries,” related Thomas Wiersing from the EU Delegation.

The festival valued by organizers as a “most influential cultural diplomacy tool” is scheduled to go to the provinces of Bohol, Iloilo, Cebu, Naga, Palawan, and Leyte. It is said that it wants to reach out to more Filipinos so it is making a run to Bohol in Oct. 11 to 12.

Poland Embassy’s Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz informed screening guests of how a touching Filipino film (Quezon’s Game) mirrored the Cine Europa entries which for him reflect the same values of humanity, friendship, and hospitality. “We want to motivate people to show compassion, to hope and survive, and promote peace.”

Music in movies, with proper treatment and delivery, can justifiably capture such sensibilities.

Extra International...

British pop veteran Rod Stewart urged men to have their prostates checked regularly after getting the all-clear following a cancer diagnosis

Thursday, September 19, 2019

56 Library patrons 60 Ersatz butter 61 Smooth fabric 63 Walkie-talkie word 64 Moo companion 65 Competition 66 Fuzz 67 Klondike — 68 Future flowers 69 TV’s Hawkeye DOWN 1 Restaurant bigwig 2 Superman’s mum 3 Shade trees 4 Heavy-duty truck 5 Acrobat 6 Tints 7 World Series mo.

8 Scrape aftermath 9 Everest adjective 10 Bays 11 Moby Dick’s foe 12 Jot down 13 Tinted 21 Baseball stat.

23 Famous Khan 26 Tag — (accompany) 27 Ivory —

28 Cyclist — Armstrong 29 — -turvy 30 Daisylike bloom 31 Part of a shoe 32 Wildlife refuges 33 Toastmaster 36 Contented sigh 42 Bar sing-along 43 Homer’s seafarer 44 College board 45 Skier’s transport 47 Sweater letter 49 Give — —

From C4

This project is a collaboration between the offices of JCI Makati President Kurt Soliman and JCI Bacoor Pambungad President David Clado.

All three marquee singers are former fronts for big-name bands, with Dimaculangan having served as voice

From C4

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Musical sign 5 Halloween disguise 10 Glove filler 14 Dining area 15 New Mexico’s flower 16 Mariner’s hello 17 Funny Bombeck 18 Heavy rock genre 19 Loan figure 20 Ties down 22 Told a secret 24 Half a bikini 25 “I” trouble 26 Minimally (2 wds.)

30 Generally (3 wds.)

34 Take on cargo 35 Pop-up item 37 Electronic junk mail 38 Possess 39 Butter serving 40 Snapshot 41 Head support 43 Auditorium guide 45 “Runaway Bride” groom 46 Very 48 Compunction 50 Moonbeam 51 Army off.

52 Due to

Benefit...

GMA...

From C4

Classic television series have become a hot commodity in the escalating battle for streaming supremacy.

The current major players like Netflix and Amazon are keeping an eye on Apple and Disney, which will launch later this year, and then NBCUniversal and WarnerMedia in 2020. AFP *** Rod Stewart reveals prostate cancer fight British pop veteran Rod Stewart has been given the all-clear after battling prostate cancer, the music stalwart has revealed.

The 74-year-old, who released his 30th studio album last year, told the audience at a weekend prostate charity fundraiser that he was diagnosed two years ago.

The raspy-voiced singer said he received positive news about remission in July following treatment, according to Britain’s Daily Mirror.

“Two years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Stewart told the audience at the event in Surrey, southwest of London, it reported.

“No one knows this, but I thought this was about time I told everybody. I’m in the clear, now, simply because I caught it early. I have so many tests,” he added.

The father-of-eight, who appeared at the event with former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood—who was previously diagnosed with lung cancer— urged men to have their prostates checked regularly. AFP

Kara joins the highlight of La Tomitina Festival, the much-awaited tomato fight.

break 52 Make a reservation for 53 Charles Lamb 54 Dollar fraction 55 Gutter site 56 Watermelon part 57 Black-hearted 58 Split 59 Sp. miss 62 Souvenir item

Secondly, on having a designated safety officer in the workplace, GMA confirms that it actually has sufficient number of DOLEcertified safety officers catering to its employees. The “workplace” covered by the OSH Law is deemed to refer only to those places where services of the employees are regularly rendered. The IRR cannot expand the coverage of the law to include temporary, moving, or shifting locations. Extending said requirement of the law through the IRR to all temporary taping locations would unreasonably burden the industry with a requirement which is beyond the contemplation of the law.

GMA maintains safety and security in tapings through extensive discussions among its safety officers, the program’s officers, and staff and its contractors in coordination with Barangay officials having jurisdiction over the locations for security, traffic and crowd control matters.

Lastly, on designating first-aid responders, GMA validated that

to 6Cyclemind, Acel to Moonstar88, and Fernandez to Rivermaya. Other acts slated to perform in the concert are Asia’s Got Talent’s Meleena, fliptop rapper Rapido, journalists-led The Pub Forties, and electropop duo Beat Per Machine.

The blood-letting program is scheduled today 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. while the modern farming seminar will take tomorrow, Sept. 20, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. three production staff who have completed the Philippine Red Cross’ lecture demonstration on First Aid and Basic Life Support—CPR were present on the location site on the day of the accident. Despite the safety measures undertaken by GMA, it was determined that what happened was an unforeseeable accident.

Moreover, in an article published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sept. 7, it was mentioned that GMA Network refused to comply with DOLE’s directive to provide a list of the locations of all its teleseryes, which shall be subject to inspection by its representatives. GMA, for its part, said that there was no refusal to provide the information.

The locations and schedules were not submitted immediately because of their tentativeness and the fact that they are too numerous to remember from memory. These tapings are under the supervision of different officers and thus needed ample time to compile.

However, a list of regular taping locations and schedules was submitted within the prescribed period.

The Kapuso Network assures that it will continue to cooperate with the DOLE on this matter.

Snapshot...

From C4

To name a few exciting activities, the guys and girls of Aéropostale tested their accuracy at iDarts, got real low in skirts with a game of limbo, and got tangled in a game of Twister as well.

The hunt capped off at Brick and Mortar where the awarding took place. The winners, the DJs team, won a 3-day-2-night all-expense paid getaway trip in one of the beaches in the Philippines. As part of the celebration, Aéropostale also held a giveaway contest in which 25 lucky participants won one Aero outfit each.

Aéropostale opened the campaign by having a Scavenger Hunt as it does not only bring out the brand’s fun, lively and vibrant personality but to also launch the brand new mission ofAéropostale – to discover the world and share about it.

On Sept. 10, Aéropostale reopened its doors to the public at SM City North Edsa. Be sure to look out for the brand new fashion choice of the youth. Lots of exciting fashion trends and cool surprises are in store for those who do.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 American live-action sitcom 'Seinfeld' will be streaming on Netflix starting 2021.

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

After losing ‘Friends,’ Netflix buys rights to ‘Seinfeld’

Top love teams KathNiel, MayWard and LizQuen hit the red carpet for the annual fashion and charity event, ABS-CBN Ball.

STARS descend on ABS-CBN Ball

red carpet to honor late

GINA LOPEZ’S LEGACY

Star-studded performance led by Pilita Corales, Regine Velasquez, Gary V and Martin Nievera.

VERY WANG

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NICKIE WANG

HE Shangri-La Fort illuminated further as ABS-CBN stars and executives placed heart at the center of the occasion by raising funds for the Bantay Edukasyon, the Bantay Bata 163 program that is actively in search of scholarship grants.

The artists walked the famous red carpet in modern Filipiniana to honor the legacy of the late philanthropist, G Diaries host and the Leading Lady of Ecotourism, Gina Lopez and to mark the 65th year of the Kapamilya network in the business.

Hosted by Billy Crawford the program opened with Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano spearheading the Gina Lopez tribute to the tune of “I Believe I Can Fly.” Followed by a toast led by ABS-CBN Chairman Mark Lopez and President Carlo Katigbak to cap off the heart-warming feature to the founder of Bantay Bata 163.

In commemoration of ABSCBN’s 65 years in the service of the Filipinos worldwide, a medley of the most timeless theme songs from some of the best Kapamilya shows were then brought to life by the exceptional performances of divas Pilita Corales, Dulce, Vina Morales and young performers Moira dela Torre, Lala Vinzon and Elha Nympha. Idol Philippinesparticipants Lance Busa, Lucas Garcia, and Zephanie Dimaranan also joined the power vocals namely Jed Madela, Erik Santos, Regina Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Arnel Pineda, Martin Nievera, and Gary V in the star-

ABS-CBN executive Charo SantosConcio

studded production number.

The night ended with a little more recognition, which started with reallife couple Richard Gutierrez and fiancée Sarah Lahbati, who took home the NU Essence’s Couple of the Night award and Bea Alonzo as Metro’s Best Dressed. Chie Filomeno was named Ever Bilena Red Carpet Stunner. While the freshest and most gorgeous young ladies also stole the show with their special recognitions, the new Darna Jane de Leon won the Belo Beauty on the Rise award, while Maymay Entrata was named Belo Belle of the Ball award and finally, Chie Filomeno was hailed as the Ever Bilena Red Carpet Stunner.

The second ABSCBN Ball was seen via livestreaming in ABSCBN Metro Channel and Metrodotstyle. Fans worldwide also celebrated passion and love as they tweeted non-stop about the event, pushing the official hashtag #ABSCBNBall2019 to the top of the day’s Twitter trending list.

STREAMING giant Netflix said Monday it had acquired the global rights to popular American sitcom Seinfeld from 2021—a feather in its cap as the battle among online video platforms for coveted content heats up.

The company did not reveal the value of the transaction.

But the move was a bit of a rebound for Netflix, which has lost the rights to Friends from next year and to the

American version of The Office from 2021 -- the two most-watched series it has on offer.

The digital broadcast rights to Seinfeld have been held by Hulu, a Disney subsidiary, since 2015.

NBCUniversal paid $500 million over five years to get The Office, and WarnerMedia shelled out $425 million, also over five years, to acquire Friends for its new HBO Max platform. Continued on C3

GMA responds to DOLE’s investigation on the Eddie Garcia incident

Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law: failure to submit an incident report within 24 hours: to employ or designate a safety officer; and to employ or designate a certified First Aider.

GMA, in its Comment, explained that after completing its thorough internal investigation, the Network initially gave a copy of the results to the family of Garcia as a matter of respect and thereafter voluntarily submitted a copy to the DOLE on July 5 in compliance with the law and its IRR. Regarding the first finding, GMA noted that the IRR, as worded, states that such a case of “work accidents resulting in disabling injury or death” is an exception to the requirement that a report be made within 24 hours from the occurrence.

Nonetheless, GMA submitted the report within one month from the accident The late Eddie Garcia with over 600 film and television roles and a which occurred career spanning seven decades, was widely regarded as the 'great- last June 8.

Continued on C3 est Filipino actor of all time.'

GMA Network filed its Comment on Sept. 16 on the preliminary findings of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the investigation on the incident involving the lateEddie Garcia.

Prior to the formal hearing, DOLENational Capital Region Regional Director Sarah B u e n a Mirasol stated that GMA allegedly committed three violations under the

Benefit concert Band of Hope in Bacoor Festival

Noel "Owen" Formento, VP for community development, The One Big JCI Project RGY

A FUND-RAISING concert highlights this year’s Bakood Festival in the city of Bacoor, Cavite to be headlined by popular acts Ney Dimaculangan, Acel, and Jason Fernandez.

Dubbed The Band of HOPE, the benefit show will be staged tomorrow, Sept. 20, 5:00 p.m. at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor Government Center along Molino Avenue. Proceeds will be used to buy medical supplies for hemophilia and dialysis patients.

“The Band of Hope is part of our tricolor advocacy project in JCI that includes a blood-letting drive for red, a tree-planting and farming seminar for green, and this act of sharing the message of love and hope through music for yellow,” said Noel “Owen” Formento who sits as VP for community development, director for public relations, and project director for The One Big JCI Project RGY. Continued on C3

SNAPSHOT Aéropostale executives grace the reopening of the brand's store at SM City North Edsa

Aéropostale’s fashionable mission Star Magic talents Julia Barretto, Gerald Anderson, and Bea Alonzo

AS PART of Aéropostale’s relaunch, the brand made a buzz around BGC by commencing with a Scavenger Hunt.

In the Scavenger Hunt, five teams of five were tasked to go around BGC to do different missions. The different teams consisted of DJs, volleyball players, young celebrities, and content creators. These players are the epitome of Aéropostale’s market – they brim with youthful ideas, they are connected and involved, and they know how to live life imaginatively and responsibly. Continued on C3