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Manila politician, Lazada linked to narcotics sale By Rio N. Araja PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino said Thursday Manila’s drug queen is a politician, and linked the online shopping company Lazada to the sale of drug paraphernalia. “She has a brother-policeman,” he said

of the drug queen. “She is into politics so she is so powerful, and has connections with local government officials and with the Philippine National Police. She has other relatives who are also involved in drugs.” Because of her connections, she was able to evade arrest on two occasions, he said.

At a press conference Thursday, Aquino also accused Lazada of selling drug paraphernalia through its website. “You can now order a tooter from Lazada,” Aquino said, referring to a cylinder that is used to snort drugs. “At first, we didn’t believe it until we ourselves found the items on Lazada.” “We need an explanation from Lazada. Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 218 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN AID OF LEGISLATION. Former CIDG director and current Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong testifies at the Senate public hearing Thursday in connection with the Good Conduct and Time Allowance issue. Also in photo is former BuCor director Nicanor Faeldon. Ey Acasio

‘Inmates run drug trade’ Ex-CIDG chief Magalong: All roads lead to Bilibid

PH polio-free no longer; virus reemerges; DOH warning out By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

thoroughly. The DOH said one polio case was confirmed in a three-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur. Aside from the confirmed case, a suspected case of acute flaccid paralysis was awaiting confirmation. In addition, the poliovirus has been detected in samples taken from sewage in Manila and waterways in Davao as part of the regular environmental surveillance. The samples were tested by the Research Institute for Tr o p i c a l Medicine a n d

HINESE drug lords detained at the New Bilibid Prison “remotely manage the entire drug trade in the country,” the former chief of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Thursday.

NINETEEN years after the Philippines was declared by the World Health Organization polio-free in 2000, the Department of Health on Thursday confirmed the disease was reemerging in the country. In this regard, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III strongly urged parents, health workers and local governments to fully participate in the synchronized polio vaccination. “It is the only way to stop the polio outbreak and to protect your child against this paralyzing disease,” he said. Aside from immunization, he reminded the public to practice good personal hygiene, wash their hands regularly, use toilets, drink safe water, and cook food Next page

Testifying before a Senate investigation of corruption at the Bureau of Corrections, Benjamin Magalong, now Baguio City mayor, also said that based on their investigations, “all roads practically lead to the NBP.” Magalong, who had also been chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, debunked reports that there is a shabu laboratory inside the NBP, the country’s national penitentiary, saying it was easier and safer to establish drug laboratories on the outside. Police officers would release arrested Chinese drug lords in exchange for as much as P50 million as part of a scheme called “Agaw Bato.” This involved arresting Chinese drug traffickers and seizing their drugs, then freeing them for a ransom and arresting another Chinese national to replace the freed suspect. Next page

DA, DTI rule out ban on raw pork

106 tracker teams fan out to rearrest GCTA fugitives

By Othel V. Campos and Maricel V. Cruz THE Trade and Agriculture departments on Thursday assured the public that raw pork with certifications from the National Meat Inspection Service and processed pork products from trusted brands were safe to consume and should not be banned in supermarkets and wet markets. Both departments and the National Food Authority monitored the prices of pork products in Farmers Market, Mega Q Mart, and Kamuning Public Market Next page

By Francisco Tuyay, Joel E. Zurbano, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

UNWANTED RETURNEE. This file photo, taken on Feb. 2, 2002, shows a health worker administering oral polio vaccines to an infant in Manila as part of a nationwide campaign. Polio has returned to haunt the Philippines after a 19-year absence, with health authorities Thursday reporting one case of the debilitating disease as the country’s immunization program took a hit after a dengue vaccine scandal. AFP

Iran-backed attacks ‘act of war’, US warns

HURTFUL HAZE. Indonesian Muslims wear protective masks as they perform a mass prayer for rain on a hazy day in Palembang on Wednesday. Indonesia has arrested nearly 200 people over vast forest fires ripping across the archipelago, with police saying toxic haze sends air quality levels plummeting and sparking flight cancellations. (Story on A2) AFP

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced strikes on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure as an “act of war,” as Riyadh unveiled new evidence it said showed the assault was “unquestionably” sponsored by arch-foe Iran. The comments raise the risk of a wider conflict in the tinderbox Gulf region after the weekend strikes on the heart of the kingdom’s oil industry knocked out half its production, rattling energy markets. “This was an Iranian attack,” Pompeo told reporters Wednesday on his plane before landing in the western city of Jeddah, calling it “an act of war.” “This is an attack of a scale we’ve just not seen before.” His comment came as Saudi Arabia displayed what it said were fragments of 25 drones and cruise missiles fired at two facilities in the country’s east, Next page engulfing them in flames.

The Princess Bride sets off firestorm

Strawberry Fields opens to public

MENTION the possibility of a remake of the 1980s cult classic “The Princess Bride” and Twitter goes over the edge. That was the lesson learned by Sony Entertainment’s chief

BEATLES fans can now take a trip through the childhood sanctuary of John Lennon that inspired the seminal song “Strawberry Fields Forever,” with the former children’s home opening its doors to the public. Turn to A3

Turn to A3

AT the stroke of midnight Thursday, police began a manhunt for hundreds of heinous crime convicts who have not turned themselves in, following the expiration of a 15-day grace period set by President Rodrigo Duterte. The convicts were among 1,914 inmates erroneously released from prison under the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law. At least 106 tracker teams from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are tasked to locate and re-arrest the 249 criminals, labeled as fugitives, after they failed to surrender during the 15-day period. So far, 1,665 prisoners have surrendered to the police. PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said CIDG Next page

Budget for palay buy endorsed MORE than 50 lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday filed a resolution seeking a supplemental P15billion budget to allow the National Food Authority to buy unmilled rice from local farmers as prices plummet due to imports. Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Thursday said two million bags of rice seeds would be distributed to farmers as one of the mitigating measures to ease the burden of those affected by the Rice Tariffication Law. The House of Representatives is expected to set a record of sorts on Friday as it is poised to pass the P4.1-trillion proposed national budget for 2020 on second reading and Next page on third and final reading on the same day.

New ad tech stems paper’s revenue loss THE Washington Post on Tuesday unveiled a new ad tech platform touted as a way to help newspapers counter the loss in online revenue to major platforms Google and Facebook. Turn to A3

News

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

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DFA chief rejects appeal to UN

Haze spreads; DOH readies face masks

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Health department said Thursday it is preparing to distribute protective equipment to the public should the haze from the forest fires in Indonesia continue to spread to the Philippines. “The Department of Health is pre-positioning supplies including masks if needed, Undersecretary Eric Domingo said in an ambush interview. “We are monitoring the air quality if it is already beyond acceptable levels, if it is already hazardous.” Domingo said children and the elderly, especially those with lung diseases, were more vulnerable to particulate matters from haze. The haze from Indonesia has already reached Tawi-Tawi, parts of Palawan, Koronadal City and Metro Cebu over the past several days. According to GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, the southwest monsoon is drawing the smoke from the forest fires in Indonesia toward the Philippines. “If the monsoon winds spread, there’s a big potential that we will be affected by the smoke,” Cruz said. The Health department earlier warned affected residents to wear face masks outdoors and to consult a doctor should they experience breathing problems.

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The mere fact that it is selling this is already illegal,” he said. “With the availability of improvised tooters on online shopping, most likely, drugs are also being sold through it,” he added. He said Lalamove, an on-demand sameday delivery service, and the Gcash application that enables users to buy items and pay them through texting, are also being used for illegal drug activities. In his earlier statements before a Senate budget hearing, Aquino had said the drug queen traded in seized and recycled drugs that came from corrupt policemen. Last year, the National Bureau of Investigation and PDEA conducted separate operations to arrest the female big-time drug trader but the suspect managed to escape. Aquino blamed the so-called “ninja” or corrupt cops for her aborted arrest. The highest police officer involved in the recycling of the illegal drugs was a chief master sergeant or a senior police officer 3, he said. Like the PNP, Aquino said the corrupt cops constitute only a small portion of the police force. He said they moved from kidnapping to the recycling of seized drugs. On Thursday, PDEA arrested a pharmacist and a nurse in separate buy-bust operations in Metro Manila that resulted in the seizure of assorted illegal drugs worth P625,500. Aquino identified the suspects as Juan Carlos Reyes Antonio, a licensed pharmacist, and Nilo Manipon Ramirez Jr., a registered nurse from the Philippine Orthopedic Center. The buy-bust operation against Ramirez revealed that he bought his tooters from Lazada, Aquino said.

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“The attack was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran,” defense ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki said. Tehran-linked Huthi rebels in the kingdom’s southern neighbor Yemen have claimed responsibility, but both Washington and Riyadh have ruled that out. But he would not be drawn on whether Saudi officials believed Iran would ultimately be found to be the culprit. Pompeo said there was no evidence for media reports the attacks had been launched from Iraq— caught between its two main sponsors, Tehran and Washington. Late Wednesday CBS News cited an unnamed US official as saying that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved the attack, on condition that it be carried out in a way to deny Iranian involvement. US officials quoted said the most damning evidence against Iran was unreleased satellite photos showing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps making preparations for the attack at its Ahvaz airbase. Diplomats at the United Nations said experts were expected in the kingdom to lead an international inquiry. Pompeo met Saudi Crown Prince Moham-

PH polio-free... From A1

verified by the Japan National Institute for Infectious Diseases and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The DOH said a single confirmed polio case of vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 (VDPV2) or two positive environmental samples that are genetically linked isolated in two different locations is considered an epidemic in a polio free country. DOH, in close coordination with local government units and concerned national agencies, and with the support of WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and other partners, is preparing a rapid response to

Award. My many good friends in the UN vote against us. We’ve nothing comparable to offer.” But Locsin said the Philippines could never abandon the ruling, which invalidated China’s massive claim over almost the entire South China Sea―including Manila’s exclusive economic zones and the West Philippines Sea. “We gotta be realistic. We can never ever give up the Arbitral Award. Our people will kill us in our beds and rape our sons if we do it,” Locsin said. “But we will never ever get the UN to vote for the Arbitral Award. So let’s leave it as is; move on to mutual beneficial co-

OREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday turned down the idea of former top diplomat Albert del Rosario to elevate the Philippines’ arbitration victory against China over the dispute in the South China Sea before the United Nations. Locsin sided with the position taken by Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo that raising the 2016 Arbitral Award at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York would be a “futile exercise,” given that the body had no enforcement mechanism. Locsin even painted a grim picture of what would happen if Manila

brought the case before the General Assembly. “We will lose in the UN, which is dominated by the countries grateful to China for its indisputable generosity in development aid,” Locsin said in his Twitter account. “We’ve always lost Non-Aligned Movement votes to include our Arbitral

51 Chinese workers rescued from Baclaran sex den young Chinese women who, the police suspect, were subjected by the syndicate to forced labor and prostitution. Seven Filipinas were also placed under police custody while the 51 rescued women were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Police recovered some evidence, including money amounting to P1.8 million as proceeds of the illegal activities at the raided building. “The police operation stemmed from a report received by the NCRPO regarding an alleged prostitution den operated by Chinese personalities,” said NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. “A series of casing and surveillance were conducted which prompted a rescue and entrapment.” There were reports that the Chinese women were engaged in the sex trade and were being paid by customers P9,000 to P22,000.

ABS-CBN News said the building had 30 ordinary rooms and 7 VIP rooms, which the patrons, most of them also Chinese, could rent. The place was operating from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. and was extending its operating hours on weekends to serve more customers. The reports also showed that Filipino customers could not enter the premises without a Chinese companion. Olivarez said the place had no business license to operate but it had a building permit. Eleazar said the latest raid in Parañaque City was part of the police and the national government’s continuing crackdown on sex trafficking in Metro Manila. Early this month, two Chinese women were arrested in Makati City for sex trafficking. Police busted the racket following confidential information regarding a sex trade involving foreign nationals in San Antonio village. With Vito Barcelo

tracker teams will be equipped of revised lists of the fugitives. “The manhunt will be done with or without a reward. Though a reward may be helpful to entice possible informants against convicts who fail to surrender,” Banac said. Earlier, President Duterte said police could make warrant-less arrests and said it would be “better” to bring them in dead rather than alive. But Banac said “the PNP will exert all efforts to arrest them...following the prescribed procedures and with utmost respect for human rights.” “We believe that through swift and relentless arrests, we can convince and expedite the surrender of more freed convicts,” Banac added. Metro Manila police director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Thursday said there were 202 convicts residing in Metro Manila. Twenty-one of these 202 convicts already surrendered to the police, while three turned themselves in directly to BuCor. Two have reportedly died of natural causes. Justice Secretary Markk Perete said the rearrest of the convicts who fail to surrender will be warrantless on the grounds that they are evading their sentence. BuCor released these prisoners on account of the Good Conduct Time Allowances, entitlements provided under Republic Act No.

10592 or the expanded GCTA Law. However, the government has now taken the position that those charged with heinous crimes should be disqualified from earning any kind of time allowance under the law. Authorities have revised the implementing rules of the law to formalize this exclusion. The names, offenses, dates of and reasons for release of the 1,914 convicts are in a list prepared by the BuCor, but a revelation of errors in the information prompted the BuCor records chief to admit that it was hastily put together. The Department of Justice has cleaned up the list and will forward it to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for guidance on who to arrest, to avoid cases of mistaken identity and save government resources, Perete said. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said released prisoners who would question the rearrest may go to court. He has also said the government will welcome any legal challenge to its interpretation of RA 10592. “If you were not entitled [to GCTA] to begin with, even if you acted in good faith, that’s really beside the point. You have to go back and serve your full sentence,” Guevarra said. Perete said 1,025 convicts erroneously released were now back in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed the connection between

witness Yolanda Camilon, and two BuCor officials—Correctional Officer III Veronica Buño and Correctional Senior Inspector Maribel Bansil. Camilon testified before the Senate that she paid P50,000 for the release of her common-law husband Gadrey Gamboa from the New Bilibid Prison. NBI Director Dante Gierran told the Senate hearing that the cellphones owned by Camilon, Bansil and Buño showed that they communicated with each through text messages. The exchange of messages in February was validated through the digital forensic examination conducted by the bureau. Under questioning at the Senate, Buño she admitted that she texted Camilon. Her phone has been turned over to the NBI in an attempt to recover the deleted messages. Meanwhile, NBP hospital chief Ernesto Tamayo told the hearing there is no hard evidence to support allegations that money changed hands for hospital passes for inmates who were not really sick. Nursing attendant, Meryl Benitez, also denied any knowledge of payoffs, saying she had not heard or seen any exchange of money inside the NBP hospital. But NBP doctor Urcisio Cenas said he had heard of such payoffs. In the last hearing, Cenas was accused of allegedly receiving money—at least P1,000 every visit, which he denied.

med bin Salman in Jeddah to discuss a response to the strike, which took out 6 percent of global supplies. Meanwhile, the Huthis threatened to hit “dozens of targets” in the United Arab Emirates, part of a Saudi-led coalition against the rebels. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, earlier said the administration has concluded the attack involved cruise missiles from Iran, and said evidence would be presented at the UN General Assembly next week. Vice President Mike Pence reiterated President Donald Trump’s comments that “we don’t want war with anybody, but the United States is prepared.” Trump, who has already re-imposed sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy, promised on Wednesday to “substantially increase” the measures, winning quick praise from Riyadh. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, himself under US sanctions since July 31, described the measures as “illegal” and “inhuman.” Trump’s move was an “admission that [the] US is deliberately targeting ordinary citizens,” he said on Twitter. The apparent hardening of the US position came as Iran’s supreme leader ruled out negotiations with Washington “at any level.” That appeared to douse hopes for a dramatic meeting between Trump and his Irani-

an counterpart Hassan Rouhani at the United Nations next week. As of Wednesday, the United States still had not issued Rouhani and his delegation visas for the New York meeting, Iranian state media said. Maliki said Saturday’s attack did not originate from Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is locked in a prolonged conflict with the Huthis, “despite Iran’s efforts to make it appear so.” He said the strike was beyond the capabilities of the militia—who have, however, mounted dozens of smaller attacks on Saudi territory. Observers say the Saudi experience in Yemen, where despite their vast firepower they 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 a war, Riyadh’s ambassador to London Prince Khalid bin Bandar told the BBC. Iran has backed Huthi claims of being behind the attack, and Rouhani said Wednesday it was a rebel “warning” about a possible wider war in response to the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. State media said Tehran had written to Washington through the Swiss embassy on Monday, denying any role in attacks on Saudi installations and warning it would respond to any action against it. Trump’s administration is considering re-

sponses 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 supplies soothed the markets. Oil industry officials in Manila said they expect pump prices would soften toward the end of the week. “After three days the increase next week is now P1.90 per liter for diesel and P2.50 per liter for gasoline. We expect this to go down a little more in Thursday’s trading,” an oil industry official said. As this developed, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian revived calls for the creation of a think tank to bridge research and policy gaps in the energy sector in hopes of fostering greater energy security, sustainability, and affordability. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on energy, made the call in the aftermath of the attack on oil fields in Saudi Arabia. House leaders on Thursday said the latest jolt in oil prices underscores the need for the Philippines to put up its own stockpile reserve so that the government can move swiftly to stabilize domestic supply and prices during an emergency. Alena Mae Flores, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz with AFP

By Joel E. Zurbano POLICE arrested 31 Chinese nationals and rescued 51 sex workers during a raid of a suspected prostitution den late Wednesday night in Parañaque City. A composite police team swooped down on the Diamond Bay Tower building under construction along Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran village shortly before midnight, raiding the third floor where several massage parlors had been turned into sex rooms. Thirteen suspected maintainers and 18 male customers, all Chinese nationals, were arrested in the operation conducted by operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office and the Parañaque City Police Station. The raid was conducted in close coordination with the Parañaque City government led by Mayor Edwin Olivarez and the Bureau of Immigration. The raid resulted in the rescue of 51

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the polio outbreak. This includes a series of synchronized oral polio vaccinations to protect every child under the age of five years in areas at risk beginning in October 2019. The DOH is also working with partners to strengthen environmental and Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance throughout the country to detect poliovirus. Polio is an infectious disease which spreads rapidly. It can cause paralysis and, on rare occasions, can be fatal. There is no cure for polio—it can only be prevented with multiple doses of polio vaccines that have long been proven safe and effective. In a joint statement, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund raised concern that polioviruses were now circulating in Manila, Davao, and Lanao del Sur.

WHO Representative in the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said “WHO and UNICEF are working closely with the Department of Health to strengthen surveillance and swiftly respond to this outbreak. “We urge all parents and caregivers of children under five years of age to have them vaccinated so that they are protected against polio for life.” Oyun Dendevnorov, UNICEF Philippines Representative, said “It is deeply disconcerting that poliovirus has re-emerged in the Philippines after nearly two decades. “The outbreak calls for urgent action to protect more children from being infected. It reminds us of the importance of increasing immunization coverage to 95 percent of children to stop polio virus transmission in the Philippines.

Budget... From A1 The swift passage of the budget fulfills President Rodrigo Duterte’s desire to have the money measure approved soonest. President Rodrigo Duterte’s certification of the proposed PP4.1trillion national budget for 2020 conveys the importance of its passage to finance needed government programs and services. “Government operations must never be hampered and our constitutional mandate to serve the Filipino people must prevail over partisan considerations,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. The House’s Joint Resolution 18 directs the NFA to use the amount for the urgent procurement of at least 750,000 metric tons of palay from local farmers at P20 per kilo and to sell NFA rice to consumers at P27 per kilo, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas told reporters. Lawmakers estimate that the NFA could only purchase at least 350,000 metric tons or 7 million sacks of palay at a farmgate price of P20 per kilo with its current P7-billion budget for buffer stocking for 2019. Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz and MJ Blancaflor

operation. Such is life.” On Monday, Del Rosario prodded Foreign Affairs to make a strategy on “how the global village of nations can be convinced to take a stand on the rule of law in support of the Philippines.” According to the former top diplomat, the UN General Assembly had previously passed a resolution calling on the United States to comply with the judgment of the International Court of Justice in connection with a case filed by Nicaragua over Washington’s interference with its domestic affairs. However, Panelo said nothing came out of it even as the US later extended economic aid to Nicaragua.

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This way, he said, they earned twice— from the illegal drugs and the ransoms paid. Like PDEA chief Aaron Aquino, Magalong said some police recycled the confiscated drugs either to resell or plant as evidence. Magalong said the bulk of illegal drugs seized during raids was sold back under a scheme called “fast break.” “The illegal drugs would be concealed and later, they will be used in another transaction,” said Magalong. He said the resale of recycled drugs has evolved into an enterprise. While Magalong said this resale involved police officers, he refused to name names, and asked for an executive session. He said the crooked cops were high-ranking officers. Senator Richard Gordon, head of the committees investigating BuCor, said some of the police that were recycling seized drugs were still in active service. But Magalong told senators that the illicit trade in recycled drugs has been tempered. Even drug equipment was recycled, Magalong said, and used to create the impression that multiple drug raids were launched. Part of his testimony came from a sworn statement he executed in a congressional inquiry in 2015. In the same hearing, former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said removing telecommunications, including Internet connection, at the NBP would keep convicted drug lords away from the drug business. In a related development, Aquino said he would ask the new BuCor chief, Gerald Bantag, to allow PDEA to bring back its satellite office in the NBP and allow them to conduct surprise drug tests on inmates. Under the administration of then BuCor chief Ronald dela Rosa, the bureau removed PDEA’s office at the NBP. With Rio N. Araja

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Thursday and found that the prevailing prices of pork were stable ranging from P200 to P220, but vendors said that public fear from the virus was affecting pork demand. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, for her part, ordered for samples to be taken from hogs in La Loma. “Our industry there is quite big and we have to protect our business there. That is why I asked for samples to be taken from there as well just so we can reassure the public,” Belmonte said. At the same time, a party-list lawmaker sought a congressional inquiry into the outbreak of African swine fever in Rizal and Bulacan provinces. Party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat of Magsasaka, who suspects that pork smuggling is the cause of the outbreak, filed House Resolution 336 urging the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to look into the outbreak. “It is the responsibility of the government to take all actions necessary to protect the livelihood of our hog raisers and the hog industry as a whole,” Cabatbat told a news conference. “We suspect that the cause of the infection is smuggling,” he added. The Department of Agriculture earlier declared outbreak of the disease in Guiguinto, Bulacan; Rodriguez, Rizal, and Antipolo City. Similarly, 14 of the 20 blood samples from pigs in suspected areas were found to be positive for African swine fever, according to the DA. The samples were collected from hogs in three barangays in the Rizal province where around 100 pigs died last month. The DA earlier imposed a ban on pork imports from countries with recorded cases of ASF like China. “How did this enter the country? There are many ways. It may have been brought in inadvertently when a carrier of the disease coming from a non-affected area entered the country, but this is very remote,” Cabatbat said. “That is why we suspect that pork smuggling is the reason,” he added. Cabatbat stressed his party-list group believes “we can do that to prevent the entry of the disease through legal or illegal means.” Meanwhile, processed and semi-processes pork meat brands found in supermarkets and groceries were certified by the Food and Drug Administration, hence, safe to consume. Canned meat and hotdogs are cooked, these products are safe to consume and must not be banned. Most of the local canned meat were produced by the members of the Processed Meat Association of the Philippines Inc.

News House condemns ambush try vs. Espino By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has denounced the ambush of a former governor who also served as legislator. In House Resolution 330 authored by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, the chamber condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the ambush of of former Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr. in San Carlos City, Pangasinan. Espino also served as a three-term governor of the province before reclaiming his seat in the House in the 17th Congress. Espino was the police commander in the Ilocos Region when he retired from the uniformed services. He immediately joined politics. In the resolution, the congressmen urged the Philippine National Police to immediately arrest the assailants as they called for a speedy legislative investigation, in aid of legislation, to prevent similar attacks against government leaders, past and present. Espino’s two-vehicle convoy was waylaided in San Carlos City on Sept. 11. One of his bodyguards, police Staff Sergeant Richard Esguerra, was killed in the ambush while the others are still recovering. The assailants left their getaway vehicle in Barangay Cubol in the same city. Found in the vehicle were two M-16 riﬂes, a face mask, clothes and a baseball cap. “Such a murderous act has no place in this society especially under the administration of President Duterte, who has won broad and deep popular support for his tough stance against crime,” the resolution read. Espino is still recovering from a wound suffered in the ambush.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOH given ‘measly’ P2m for sanitary public toilets By Macon Ramos-Araneta

NLY a measly P2 million out of the P196million budget sought by the Department of Health was allocated to build sanitary toilets under Environmental and Occupational Health is not enough to address open defecation.

Speaking before the Senate subcommittee hearing on the proposed P160.15-billion budget of the DOH, Health Usec. Myrna Cabotaje said the department asked for such amount, but “for this purpose, only P2 million was given to them.” Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on environment, aired her disappointment over the small budget allocated by the DOH to address open defecation. “By estimation, given that there is at least 3.5-million Filipinos practicing open defecation in Metro Manila, there are at least 700,000 households needing adequate sanitary toilet facilities,” said Villar. “Assuming we put the cost at a minimum of P1,000 per person, we will need a total of P3.5 billion for a period of 10 years if we are to achieve the target to end open defecation by 2030 in Metro Manila alone,” added Villar. During the budget hearing, Villar also shared her frustration over the delay in the construction of toilets in Bgy. 649, Baseco Compound in Tondo, which only succeeded to build 500 toilets in the period of three years.

As one of the densely populated barangays in Manila, Barangay 649 has a total population of 43,000. Of the 8,000 households, 80 percent have no access to a sanitary toilet facility. To directly address these problems, Villar asked DOH and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to act, which prompted the selection of the area as one of the recipients of the Environmental and Sanitation Project of Provision of Communal Public Toilets in 2016. “President Duterte created a task force to clean and rehabilitate Manila Bay. If we cannot solve the problem of open defecation in Metro Manila, we all know that the waste of 3.5-million residents will end up in Manila Bay,” she said. “That is why I am asking you, are you really serious in your promise to end open defecation by 2030?,” Villar asked DOH ofﬁcials. DOH Secretary Francisco Duque supported Villar’s statement that there is a need to hasten the construction of toilet facilities in Baseco. Villar also suggested to give the money to another government agency that will be more capable of ﬁnishing the toilet

project in Baseco. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairman of the Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Finance, raised concerns on the budget for the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, saying that it might not be enough to cover all expenditures under the said law. Health ofﬁcials admitted that “with the 67 billion, the department will not be able to execute the full intent of the UHC as the budget approved is lower than what is proposed.” DOH appealed for help from the senators to increase the budget for the program. “With the implementation of the Universal Health Care [UHC] Law, we need to ensure that our hospitals are properly equipped, and we should aim to have more barangay health stations and rural health units.” Noting that the program’s low disbursement and utilization rates urged DBM to decrease its budget, Go asked if the DOH has already implemented improvements in terms of its disbursements. “The reason why DBM submitted a very low budget for HFEP is DOH’s low disbursement and utilization rate, meaning most projects are not completed. Did the DOH improve now in terms of disbursement? What is your obligation and disbursement rate for the HFEP budget this year?” Go asked Go urged the Department of Budget and Management to sit down with the DOH and PhilHealth to discuss the deﬁcit.

Rapper faces drug charges in Makati FLIPTOP rapper Marlon “Loonie” Peroramas is facing drug charges in Makati City. Peroramas was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted at the basement parking of Herald Suites Polaris in Barangay Poblacion around 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Police also arrested Peroramas’ sister and manager Idyll Liza Peroramas, 28; rapper David Rizon, 35; photographer Ivan Agustin, 26; and driver Albert Alvarez, 57. Makati City police station commander Col. Rogelio Simon said 15 sachets of high-grade (kush) marijuana worth P105,000, a Samsung mobile phone, and the P6,000 cash money used in the buy-bust operation were recovered from the singer and his companions. Simon said his men conducted surveillance operations on Perorama’s illegal activity prior to the buy-bust. He added they also received information that the rapper and his companions sells drugs during his previous gigs (concerts) in the city. Joel E. Zurbano

Imee defends Du30 remark on Loot TAKING the cudgels for President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks towards former Daanbantayan, Cebu mayor Vicente Loot, Senator Imee Marcos said the chief executive merely wanted to stress a point. As she also came from local government, Marcos said she understands the position of Duterte. ”Sometimes, there were instances, although I must admit that I don’t know the circumstances, that if one came from local government, sometimes, one has to rant, the relationship to the people is too personal,” Marcos said. “So sometimes, I’ve seen the President, he has respect for shock value and oftentimes, he also resorts to shock value to be alarming to catch public attention,” she said. In this way, he can make people listen to what he has to say. “Because sometimes in the local, people are tired of listening. Talaga naman sisindakin mo, baka naman sinisindak tayo,” Marcos said of the President. While admitting that this habit of local ofﬁcial like the President who hurled invectives doesn’t translate well in the national stage, unfortunately very often, our opposition has no sense of humor or else the whole mistake is exploited by all manner of media. Macon Ramos-Araneta

BOMB THREAT. Mapua University on Thursday morning announced a suspension of classes and office in its Intramuros, Manila campuses due to a reported bomb threat. Norman Cruz

The Princess... From A1

executive when he casually ﬂoated the notion in an interview published Tuesday, prompting a social media ﬁrestorm from thousands of fans and a large handful of celebrities, many personally offended by the very idea. “There’s a shortage of perfect movies in this world. It would be a pity to damage this one,” Cary Elwes, who starred as dashing protagonist Westley, wrote on Twitter, borrowing a famous

line from the film. The 1987 hit love story, directed by Rob Reiner and written by William Goldman, came to represent fairytale film perfection for a generation of moviegoers. One of its most famous lines, “Inconceivable!” delivered by actor Wallace Shawn, seemed to summarize Twitter’s collective outrage. “Oh really?” retorted US actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who is married to Christopher Guest, also known as Count Rugen, a man with an extra finger, by fans of the beloved film. “Well, I married the six fingered man,

obviously why we have stayed together for 35 years and there is only ONE The Princess Bride and it’s William Goldman and @robreiner’s” she wrote on Twitter. In addition to Elwes and Robin Wright, who starred in the ﬁlm’s leading roles, “The Princess Bride” featured a potpourri of Hollywood notables such as Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal and wrestler Andre the Giant. Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra mentioned the possibility of a remake in an interview in Variety for a proﬁle on the movie’s executive producer, Norman Lear. AFP

New ad...

Strawberry...

The daily, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, said the new self-service ad-buying interface called Zeus Prime would be offered to other newspapers as part of its Arc Publishing platform. “Through Zeus Prime, buyers will be able to easily execute an ad campaign by creating an ad format in a single click and targeting across a marketplace of trusted publishers,” said Jarrod Dicker, vice president for commercial technology at the Post. Dicker described the system as “a trusted alternative to platforms” that would be offered to newspapers and media companies starting in 2020. The new system aims to give advertisers an alternative to the “duopoly” of Google and Facebook, which control some 60 percent of US online ad revenues, according to research ﬁrm eMarketer. It also looks to give newspapers better monetization and ad targeting to free them from dependence on the large platforms. “There has always been a rally cry to build an ecosystem that pulls everything together, but oftentimes ends in a stumble due to the fact that performance is just easier and cheaper on platforms at scale,” Dicker said. “However, this time it’s different.” Zeus Prime is the latest in a suite of tech services being offered by the Post since Bezos bought the daily as a personal investment. One element is Zeus Insights, an ad-targeting system that aims to deliver more relevant ads but without the invasive online tracking methods used by rivals. This deliver ads based on content readers see instead of using tracking “cookies” which may follow a user around the web. Dicker said the Zeus technology allows for a better connection with readers and ads that are aligned with appropriate content, avoiding the embarrassing juxtapositions seen in recent years. “The Zeus technology suite enables this connection with brands, bringing revenue back to publishers, through an ecosystem that demands premium performance, highlytargeted data capabilities and seamlessness in buying across the board,” he said. AFP

Lennon used to climb over the fence from his aunt’s house, where he grew up, and play with other children at the Strawberry Field orphanage. Its importance in shaping Lennon’s personality was laid bare in the classic 1967 psychedelic hit. Around 60,000 fans flock each year to the site to have their photographs taken outside the famous red gates, but until now have never been allowed beyond. “The gates are open for good,” Major Allister Versfeld, mission development officer of the Salvation Army charity, told AFP. “This is a unique opportunity for people to come and explore the garden.. and just enjoy what many have said; there’s a real sense of calm and peace.” The site, in the city’s Woolton neighborhood, was a Salvation Army children’s home up until 2005, when it became derelict. But it has now been turned into a centre to help 18 to 25 year olds with learning disabilities find employment, partly funded by opening its doors to the public. “We have got the visitor exhibition which tells the story of the Salvation

From A1

Murder suspects of Kidapawan broadcaster indicted THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security on Thursday reported that murder charges have been filed against all three suspects in the killing of Eduardo Dizon, an anchor of Brigada News FM in Kidapawan City. PTFoMS executive director, Undersecretary Joel Egco, said the case was filed on Wednesday, just as PTFoMS member-agencies and media observers were holding their regular meeting in Malacañang. Mariam April MasturaLinsangan, acting city prosecutor of Kidapawan City, filed the information for the crime of murder before the Regional Trial Court of Kidapawan City docketed as Criminal Case No. 5281-2019. Indicted were Junell Jane Andagkit Poten alias Junell Gerozaga; Sotero Jacolbe Jr. alias Jun Jacolbe; and Dante Encarnacion Tabusares alias Bong Encarnacion. Tabusares and Jacolbe are both local broadcasters. “The three, acting in conspiracy with treachery and evident premeditation, planned to kill Dizon, who was shot several times and died last July 10,” the PTFoMS said in an update. In the PTFoMS statement, it said Mastura-Linsangan conducted the required preliminary investigation and personally examined Madonna Dizon, the wife of the victim and the principal complainant and her witnesses that there was reasonable ground to believe that the crime had been committed, and the accused were probably guilty and when convicted of murder after due process, has a penalty of reclusion perpetua. Mastura-Linsangan also narrated that respondent Gerozaga, the alleged gunman, filed a motion for extension of time to submit counteraffidavit but no counter-affidavit was filed on the agreed time, thus, the complaint was later on resolved. “It’s a cliché that the wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow, but this Dizon murder case is an exception,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, who cochairs PTFoMS. “For the nth time, the Duterte government has proven that we will be relentless in pursuing the perpetrators behind media violence,” he added. “We at the Task Force are enforcing a direct order from the President, that is, to go after the evil-doers behind these criminal acts against media men without fear or favor—as there are no sacred cows in this administration,” Egco said. The PTFoMS also reported that Hilario Cavan Lapi Jr., who was admitted to the Witness Protection Program, was likewise granted a certificate of admission by the Department of Justice. Lapi was originally named as respondent for acting as lookout during the commission of the crime. “The city prosecutor has given ‘full faith and credit’ on the said WPP Certification and therefore did not include Lapi being a state witness in the criminal complaint filed against the three suspects in the killing of Dizon,” the PTFoMS said. PNA Army, the children’s home and that connection with John Lennon,” explained Versfeld, in front of the gates. ‘It matters to us’ “We’ve got a café, a retail space and wonderful gardens for people to explore. All the money that is raised... stays at Strawberry Field and is used for our steps-to-work program.” Lennon was brought up by his aunt, even though his mother Julia lived nearby until she died in a car accident. Strawberry Field became a place were he could not only meet other children, but contemplate, according to Versfeld. “He came to play with the children and observe what was going on,” he said. “He found some sanctuary and peace and calm here. “That song, many would look at the lyrics and wonder what was going on, but actually I think that was a space that he found and a place that was special to him.” The original gates went offsite a few years ago but have now been returned. Lennon’s lyric “It doesn’t matter much to me” is written on the walls of the exhibition, contrasting with the café, where the words “It matters to us” are displayed above videos showing the work of the Salvation Army. AFP

Opinion

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Where are they?

AN ESTIMATED 7,000 foreign workers in the country cannot be traced by the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration. This is the height of government inefficiency—or a gross complicity to make money out of the mostly Chinese workers under the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations scheme. These shadowy workers cannot be found because the intention is not to find them. There appears to be basis for this scenario. Finding these Let us not workers would hospitable. open a can of worms in a Senate inquiry, including the fact they are not paying any income taxes to the Philippine government. Since the government seems bent on not finding these overstaying and now-illegal workers, Filipino citizens can expose where they live. Condo unit owners are alarmed at the proliferation of Chinese residents in their buildings. Administration officials of condominiums must check who buys or rents and then determine who are here under a long legal work arrangement. Otherwise, these foreigners must not be allowed to rent or buy a unit. Real estate agents must also cooperate in checking the immigration status of their prospective clients.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Lest I am seen as anti-Chinese, let me be clear: I am simply for legal and proper acquisition of real estate property. Because of the moneyed foreign buyers or renters, purchase or rental prices of condo units have skyrocketed beyond the means of the locals. Real estate agents might not be too happy about making it hard on foreign clients because it would affect their earning capacity. The sales and rental of condos have been brisk. Do not wonder why with so many condo towers rising in the metropolis, there is no glut and developers keep building. Moneyed foreigners snap them up at pre-selling prices because foreigners under Philippine law cannot buy a house and lot so condos are in for them. be too Popular places for sale and rental of condos and vacant house are in Paranaque and the reclamation area near where the casinos are located. Abroad, foreigners are asked for their passports to determine their legal status as to whether they can rent for long-term leases. Diplomats are not exempted from this requirement. In Hungary and Poland where I was assigned as Philippine ambassador, I was asked to submit a copy of my passport to determine my legal immigration status. It should be the same in this country. The Department of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration are now coordinating to contain the entry of foreign workers in the POGO program

Tinderbox region

HE attack on Saudi oil facilities last week serves as a reminder that crude prices can easily shoot up at a moment’s notice. Oil prices in the world market surged nearly 15 percent Monday in a knee-jerk reaction to the series of drone attacks on two facilities of Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia.

The strikes immediately knocked out 5.7 million barrels per day of Saudi’s oil production, or 6 percent of the global output. Saudi Arabia’s production cutback is significant, being the world’s biggest crude exporter. The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable nations to higher oil prices. It imports 76 percent of crude imports from the volatile Middle East region, with nearly 40 percent of the volume supplied by Saudi Arabia. Fortunately, the incident did not elicit immediate response from Saudi Arabia and the United States. The US has blamed Iran for the attacks de-

spite the claim of Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen that they were responsible for the assaults. Oil prices in the world market stayed near $60 a barrel after hovering just above $50 in recent weeks prior to the attacks on Saudi Arabia. The prices seem to be holding, but oil traders are understandably nervous and monitoring closely the development in the tinderbox region. The Philippines, meanwhile, has remained conservative on its assumption of oil prices relative to its inflation rate target. Bangko Sentral ng Pililipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the government would

stay within its inflation target of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2019 as long as oil prices did not exceed $85 per barrel. But the Philippines’ macroeconomic assumptions could easily backfire if the Middle East situation deteriorates, or if the US and its allies in the region launch a counter-attack on Iran. Oil prices in the world market could then surge to as high as $100 a barrel if the situation escalates and draws other nations to the conflict. Prolonged high oil prices will induce a slowdown in the global economy that will adversely affect developing countries like the Philippines. The geopolitical tensions in the oil-rich Middle East are also a reminder that countries heavily dependent on imported oil should continue their program to exploit non-fossil fuels and renewable sources of energy. The conflict in the Middle East has no short-term solution yet and no country can control the vagaries of oil prices.

Turn to A5

All-out war vs. insurgency oners approach to the Maoist rebellion. But can the military defeat the rebellion on its own, a feat it has failed to achieve in the past 50 years? The government has unveiled what it calls the whole-of-nation approach WHAT exactly did President Rodrigo to the insurgency. The creation of a Duterte mean when he said late last multi-agency National Task Force to month that the public should expect a End Local Communist Armed Con“very radical change” in the govern- flict is part of this initiative. Part of ment’s war against the communist its work is to undertake peace talks insurgency? at the local rather than the national What he told the military during level, since the peace talks with the a recent gathering was that it is now National Democratic Front in Euurgent for them to defeat the insur- rope ended a dismal failure. But the gency. NDF stoutly opposes the idea of lo“I do not think that we can afford cal peace talks as this would undercut to wage a war for another 50 years, its control over its political apparatus so I am telling the military, ‘Can we and armed units on the ground. end it now?’ We The governcannot afford to ment has also moved in other pass it on to the directions as next generation. They might be The rebel underground part of an overunable to hanall effort to is likely to bear the dle it. It has defeat the inbrunt of the mailed-ﬁst to be now,” he surgency. One said. is the recent policy of the Duterte “I’m serving proposal to aladministration in the notice to everylow the police days to come. body that in the to increase coming months, their presence it will not really in schools and u n i ve r s i t i e s , be bloody, but including the there will be at least a little trouble for our country,” University of the Philippines, as a Duterte added. means to curb recruitment of youth Turning his attention to the Mao- and students to the New People’s ist rebels, he said: “You cannot win Army. It’s intended to drain the pond a fight for social justice or for a bet- that feeds the rebellion, but will it ter life in your country if you [wage] work and keep students from beefing revolution. It won’t work. You can’t up the rebel ranks? even control a single barangay.” News reports indicate heightened “Even if you did not exist, land re- efforts by the government to hunt form would still be the program of down rebel leaders, including those any government here in the Philip- who surfaced during the short-lived pines. That’s the truth. Because even peace talks but returned to the unwithout the element of violence and derground when the political negoarmed struggle, the time will come tiations went nowhere. The military that you have to equitably distribute even wants CPP founder Jose Ma. land to the people.” Sison sent back to the Philippines From where we sit, we can inter- from The Netherlands to face a raft pret Duterte’s remarks to mean that of charges related to the 50-year-old the government would now wage a rebellion. If these are a portent of Turn to A5 search-and-destroy and take-no-pris-

EVERYMAN

Trump a threat to the world’s future

By Val Abelgas DESPITE the clear and dangerous signs of the effects of climate change the world experienced in recent weeks, President Donald Trump remains determined to stop global efforts to slow down global warming. The category 5 Hurricane Dorian, one of the strongest ever, left a trail of devastation in the Bahamas; a raging wildfire wiped out a huge portion of the Amazon rainforest; millions of Americans experienced unprecedented extreme heat; and glaciers continued to melt down in the Arctic region, among others. Just this week, the Trump

administration threatened to revoke California’s legal authority to set its own auto emissions standards. For the last 50 years, the state of California has led efforts to reduce carbon monoxide emissions, which has been identified as one of the major causes of global warming. Following former President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which mandates that car manufacturers double the fuel economy of all new cars and light trucks, California has set high auto emission standards for all cars sold in the state. Four of the United States’ biggest car makers agreed with California and

signed a voluntary agreement with the state on fuel efficiency rules. Trump called the leaders of the four companies as “foolish executives” as he insisted climate change is a myth that could slow down the American economy. Thirteen other states followed the lead of California and also set stiff auto emission standards, and even Canada is now using California’s standards for its own cars. And now, Trump wants all states, including California to toe his line, which we all know is good for the bottom line of his billionaire friends but disastrous not just for Americans, but for the rest of the world. Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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Opinion The good in PEZA I GOT a reaction to my Wednesday (Sept. 18) column on taxes. Army reserve Brig. Gen. Charito B. “Ching” Plaza, the director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, disputes the contention of the Department of Finance that PEZA zones are a drain of precious taxpayers’ money. DOF had estimated that in the past three recent years, the government gave away P1 trillion of tax money in terms of foregone taxes to just 3,150 registered companies. Most of the incentives went to PEZA locators. Ching Plaza says it is wrong to look at only the tax incentives side of the PEZA business. The better perspective is how PEZA locators have contributed to the progress of the Philippines in terms of exports earned, jobs created, manufacturing boosted, and enhancement of the country’s image as a friendly, warm, and hospitable destination for investments, without red tape, without corruption, only with red carpet treatment. Ching wants to expand the concept of ecozones to create industrial estates, agri-business complexes, tourism destinations, and defense industrial complexes. DOF claims that among 3,150 companies receiving tax incentives, 1,169 have been receiving incentives for 10 years at least. Plaza says incentives are given to companies not as companies but for their projects and they have been undertaking different export projects for more than ten years. It is no different, say, from San Miguel or Ayala, or Shell, or Citibank all which have been around for more than 100 years operating different projects which receive incentives. Just because these companies are a century old or older does not mean they have been receiving tax incentives for 100 years. “PEZA grants incentives not for the company but to its export-oriented products and services only,” the gutsy widow points out. Mrs. Plaza is one of the authors of the Special Economic Zones law and Republic Act 7901 which created the CARAGA region which consists of five provinces— Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur,

Trump... From A4

To the embarrassment and outrage of the American people, majority of whom have expressed concern about climate change in survey after survey, Trump seems willing to do it alone in his and his Republican friends’ crusade against the war against global warming. Trump, who pulled out the US in 2017 from the Paris Agreement to globally reduce greenhouse carbon emissions, sat out the recent G-7 summit on climate change. Instead, he bared plans to encourage more oil drillings. “I feel that the United States has tremendous wealth, the wealth is under its feet. I’ve made that wealth come alive,” he said. “I’m not gonna lose that wealth on dreams, on windmills, which frankly aren’t working too well.” That’s the problem when you elect as president a shrewd businessman whose narrow vision only looks at the bottom line, unmindful of the long-term ill effects of the methods used to make his business profitable. In another controversial rule that goes against global efforts on climate change, the Trump administration announced plans by the US Department of Agriculture to roll back environmental review and public participation requirements for actions and projects that would have adverse impact on the

Where... From A4

after negative media publicity. Because gambling is illegal in China, the Philippines has taken many of the Chinese clientele from Macau with Resorts World and Solaire casinos drawing the gambling-crazed Chinese from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands and to say we have porous borders would be understatement.

and Dinagat islands. PEZA operates 395 ecozones. It has 4,341 locators. The most important PEZA incentive is an income tax holiday or exemption from income tax for four to eight years. If you think that is overly generous, it is not. Indonesia and Singapore have ITH of five to 15 years. Thailand has fixed eight years. Locators pay only a 5-percent tax on gross income—in lieu of all national and local taxes. That is much lower than the regular 30-percent tax paid by corporations on their revenues, net of deductions, or an average of 10 percent. Plus tax and duty-free importation of capital equipment, spare parts, supplies, and raw materials. And zero VAT on all local purchases.

Ching Plaza says it is wrong to look at only the tax incentives side of the PEZA business.

Best of all, there is no red tape since PEZA is a one-stop 24/7 shop. Locators need not trudge from door to door, shuttling from one government agency to another, which can be tedious, cumbersome, timeconsuming and expensive (in terms of the potential for bribery). Locators often receive preferential electricity and water rates since there is no VAT and PEZA does run utilities. They virtually own the factory land which is leased for 75 years. A major condition is that locators must export 70 percent of their production or charge dollars for their services. In return, the PEZA earns precious dollars—$54.22 billion in 2018, $197.46 billion since 2015 (80.5 percent of total PH exports from 2015 to 2018). Job generation is tremendous— 1.5-million jobs. With each workers being a head of family of five, the 1.5 million support 7.5 million— people who would otherwise join the ranks of the poor without the PEZA companies. There are 22-million poor Filipinos. They are 20 percent of the population. Without PEZA, there would have been 29.5-million poor Filipinos; poverty incidence would have been 27.8 percent, instead of 20 percent.

The cost to social stability and social equity of such loss of employment would have been unimaginable. Think of a worsened insurgency or a separatist movement. And how much would government have invested to absorb the 1.5-million joblessness? At P3 million per job, 1.5-million jobs would have necessitated an investment of P4.5 trillion. Compare the P4.5 trillion to the P1 trillion in taxes foregone in the past three years by government which money was given way as tax incentives. And can government put up projects aggregating P4.5 trillion in so short a time to avoid a costly social unrest from the sudden displacement of 1.5-million workers? In 2017, the DPWH was given a gargantuan budget of P467.7 billion. It spent only 34 percent or a third of that. Infra projects are usually quick gestation and offer instant jobs. In 2017, the Department of Transportation was given a budget of P55.7 billion. DOTr spent only 25.6 percent or a fourth of that. Clearly, the government has no capability to undertake quickgestation job-generating projects, even if money were not an issue, to absorb the ranks of the unemployed because of the mass exodus of foreign investors from the PEZA zones. “There would be social unrest if PEZA zones were phased out,” warns Ching Plaza. Two previous major attempts at tax and economic reform did not produce the desired results. Instead, they worsened an already bad situation. Under TRAIN 1, the tax on diesel was raised from zero to P4.50 per liter in three years. The idea was to raise revenue, tax the rich (since SUVs are mostly diesel powered), and control pollution. Instead, high diesel taxes triggered an 11-year-high inflation. The government’s taxmen and economic planners forgot that diesel is used by fishermen for their fishing boats, farmers for their irrigation pumps, buses for mass transport, and trucks to ferry mass consumption goods. A rice shortage and a surge in rice prices were blamed for the 2018 inflation spiral. So the government allowed private importers to bring in rice by the millions of tons. The result: Depressed palay prices at the farm and millions of farmers on the brink of further penury. biznewsasia@gmail.com

country’s national forests. “This proposed rule is a blatant attempt by the Trump Administration to rip out the backbone of our conservation laws in order to fast-track commercial projects on our National Forest land,” said Attorney General Becerra, who is leading other attorneys general in efforts to block the proposal. “These treasured public lands must be preserved for the safety and use of future generations, not stripped for profit.” Trump has a surrogate in Brazil, where wildfires threatened to destroy the great Amazon rainforest and the populistnationalist-ultrarightist Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro refused to act to stop the fires until French President Emmanuel Macron threatened to kill a major trade deal between France and Brazil. Like Trump, Bolsonaro doesn’t care about climate change and wants to deforest much of the Amazon to pave the way for commercial and industrial development. Bolsonaro doesn’t give a hoot that Amazon, in its current state, produces a big chunk of the world’s oxygen and like other major forests, is responsible for catching some of the carbon emissions that would otherwise go to the earth’s atmosphere and worsen global warming. Like Trump, Bolsonaro only cares about the wealth that the Amazon, without the forest, could bring to Brazil. These ultra-rightists and populists do not look way into the future, just at the bottom line.

The world’s scientists overwhelmingly agree that the climate is changing rapidly, and the planet has already warmed dramatically since preindustrial times due to human activity. But the Trump wouldn’t listen. In a clear rebuff of his position on climate change, 13 federal agencies released a report in 2017 that concluded the United States would warm at least three more degrees by 2100 unless the use of fossil fuels was dramatically curtailed. It also connected climate change to other environmental issues, like record-breaking wildfires and storms, and warned of negative effects on the economy and American livelihoods. Still, Trump wouldn’t listen. Like most of his fellow Republican leaders, Trump is worried that efforts to combat climate change could “devastate” the economy. Never mind that hurricanes are getting stronger each year, that wildfires are becoming a common occurrence, that temperatures are rising rapidly, that sea levels are rising, and glaciers are melting. Trump’s arrogance—and ignorance—is a threat to the future of the world, a future that wouldn’t look any better despite his “Make America Great Again” promise if global warming remains unchecked. To people like him, money is everything.

But let us not be too hospitable to a fault and make the country a doormat for undesirable aliens. While the gaming industry is good for the Philippine economy, there are concerns that it could also pose a security problem with the entry of high-tech skilled foreigners. This fear of foreign access to our sensitive security apparatus is now more vulnerable to tapping by foreign powers in light of our territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, we are seeing a slight

dissent among Cabinet members over the statements of the President. Foremost of this is the different view expressed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on the possible joint oil exploration deal with China in the West Philippine Sea. Lorenzana thinks the Philippines must have a larger share of resources extracted from Philippine territory even if the Chinese would provide the capital and equipment for the exploration. Of course, if the exploration is being done in Philippine territorial waters and our seabed!

Mr. Abelgas is a former editor of Manila Standard. He now lives in the United States.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Consistently inconsistent the former Malacañang resident bum summoned the senators to the Palace to ensure they would vote for the conviction of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona over a flimsy and correctible offense (Continued from Thursday) of filing an erroneous Statement TAKE the case of the Inekon of Assets, Liabilities and Net extortion allegation in the MRT 3 Worth? We all know Corona was bidding. While we are aware that impeached simply because he was the one who offered or gave the appointed by former President bribe to rig that particular bidding Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and that was a party to the crime, we instead he upheld the recommendation of focused on the supposed recipient the Presidential Agrarian Reform of the $30-million bribe, former Council rescinding Cory Aquino’s presidential sister Ballsy Aquino stock distribution option, paving Cruz and husband Eldon. As it is the way for the distribution of a private company’s orientation Hacienda Luisita. to seek to make profit, it would Bayan Muna keeps claiming it is only be expected to everything in fighting for human rights and equal its capacity to secure a favorable rights. But where were they when term for itself, hence the logical the janitress was being bullied by reason to focus on the government a gay dressed as a girl demanding representatives. he be allowed to use the women’s Or maybe, r e s t r o om? let us simpliThe janitress fy the matter was later more. When a on bullied motorist bribes again by Time to rebuild their a traffic enone of their crumbling credibility. forcer of cop, colleag ues do we criticize in Congress the motorist or when they move heaven were already and earth to in the police have the kotong cop or enforcer precinct. Up to now, we haven’t relieved from duty? heard a word from them. But Meralco, in this case, The list of their inconsistency clearly had no hand in the goes on. I can recite a litany but bidding. So, why the extra push the limitation of space prevents against the utility firm? What me from doing so. gives? Nonetheless, the successful This is not the first time Bayan Competitive Selection Process Muna raised issues against proves that Bayan Muna is Meralco on this subject. Before, consistently inconsistent on their it protested against the late filing allegations. When the dust settles, of Power Supply Agreement it will show that what Zarate has application, saying they were filed been blocking would at the very after the deadline and even after least, ensure power-sourcing at office hours. the least possible cost and ensure As a “principled” organization, adequate stacking to minimize, if I was expecting more from Bayan not avoid, power interruptions. Muna and Zarate. I was expecting Constructing new power plants them to deal on the merits and not is an urgent measure to solve on mere technicalities. Protest the country’s energy security on technicalities are only for requirements. We don’t want those losing bidders. Why, is to again experience the serious Bayan Muna now representing a power shortage in the early 90s. business interest rather than that That crippled our economy. of the people? Maybe they can take their The problem with Bayan Muna cue from one of their former is that they are taking positions colleagues in the Makabayan bloc, contrary to their purported former Kabataan Congressman orientation and principle. Last Terry Ridon. A brilliant lawyer, year, they adopted the case of Ridon has already moved on from lawyer Maria Lourdes Sereno, the technical issue concerning crying the case lodged against her CSP as the issue is already a was a clear manifestation of the settled jurisprudence, the SC lack of judicial independence. having ruled on it. Instead, he But wait, didn’t they also cry that is now focused on the pricing, there was no judicial independence whether this would really benefit when Sereno upheld the opinion the public as it was intended to that the Enhanced Defense provide. Cooperation Agreement was a Meanwhile, Bayan Muna mere executive agreement, ergo, and Zarate can start revisiting doesn’t need a Senate concurrence? their positions and maybe start Are they also telling us there was rebuilding their crumbling no judicial independence when credibility.

All-out... From A4

things to come, then the rebel underground is likely to bear the brunt of the mailed-fist policy of the Duterte administration in the days to come. Health for all imperiled Can the government afford universal health care for Filipinos in keeping with its constitutional mandate to “protect and promote the right to health of the people?” For the first year of UHC implementation next year, Congress has allocated a total of P166.5 billion. Of this amount, P67.4 billion would be earmarked for government subsidy to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. for free health insurance coverage for millions of Filipinos, P9.5 billion would be for the deployment of health care personnel to the provinces, P9.4 billion for medical assistance to poor patients, and P5.9 billion for health facilities. To the layman, the P166.5-billion allocation for universal health care may look gargantuan, and could assure adequate health care especially for the poorest of the poor. But that’s not really the case. In fact, according to Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, who heads the House committee on health, the UHC program has

an estimated P62-billion budgetary shortfall in 2020. To augment UHC funds, she has proposed to allocate for the program the P1.2 billion returned to the government last year by Dengvaxia maker Sanofi. The use of the refund—representing the value of unused dengue vaccines when the Department of Health decided to stop the vaccination program due to deaths that were blamed on the vaccine—would no doubt support expanded health services to benefit more people under the program. The funding shortfall is so serious that PhilHealth concedes that the UHC may take three more years to fully implement due to lack of funds and personnel. It says the program is “ambitious” and “challenging” but the Duterte administration intends to make it happen. Aside from funding, the other issue in UHC implementation is the absorptive capacity of PhilHealth as they have to recruit more people, put up more local insurance offices and extension offices. If that’s the case, we can only conclude that Filipinos especially those in the margins of society will have to wait some more before they can avail themselves of the benefits of universal health care. ernhil@yahoo.com

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San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

21. Considering that an FM Pass-Through Amounts are not included in NGCP’s Final Determination for any regulatory period, the proposed FM Pass-Through Amounts can be recovered pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR where NGCP is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of an FME. A copy of the FM Pass-Through Amount Computation is attached in the said Application.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE EVENT REGUlATED FM PASS-THROUGH FOR TYPHOON LANDO IN LUZON AND SABOTAGE INCIDENTS IN MINDANAO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. 2016-179 RC

22. Further, the FM Pass-Through Amounts in this Application will not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhP0.0341/kWh in accordance with the RTWR. A copy of the FMTA Computation is attached in the said Application. 23. Also, NGCP considered the NFAV of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FMEs Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao given that NGCP would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by said FMEs.

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

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 07 October 2016, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application dated 03 October 2016 seeking the approval of its Force Majeure (FM) event regulated FM pass through for typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao in accordance with the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RSTWR), with prayer for provisional authority. In its Application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following: 1.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO ) pursuant to Republic Act No. (RA) 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA). Under RA 9511, NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines. On 15 January 2009, NGCP assumed the transmission functions of TRANSCO, including the operation, management and maintenance of the nationwide electrical grid.

A. Typhoon Lando in Luzon

From 14 to 21 October 2015, Typhoon Lando was inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with maximum winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 220 kph. Due to its rains and gusty winds, NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in Luzon were damaged causing widespread power interruption over the area. A copy of the Certification dated 18 January 2016 issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (P AGASA) is attached in the said Application. In compliance with Article X of the Rules for the Setting of Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR) , NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission a Force Majeure Event (FME) Notice dated 12 January 2016, a copy of which is attached in the said Application. Sabotage Incidents in Mindanao

On 9 October 2015, sabotage incidents occurred in Pikit, Cotabato, causing damage to NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in Mindanao. Copies of the Investigation Report dated 10 October 2015 issued by Pikit Municipal Police Station and After Clearing Report dated 21 October 2015 issued by the 6th Infantry (K) Division of the Philippines Army in Pikit North Cotabato are attached in the said Application. In compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission an FME Notice dated 3 November 2015, a copy of which is attached in the Application. In response thereto, the Honorable Commission issued an Acknowledgment Letter dated 3 December 2015, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex “F.” Further, on or about 29 October 2015, sabotage incidents occurred in Marinaut, Islamic City of Marawi, causing damage to NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in Mindanao. Copies of the Memorandum Report dated 29 October 2015 issued by Marawi City Police Station and Investigative Report dated 28 January 2016 issued by the NGCP District 2 Security are attached in the said Application. In compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission an FME Notice dated 27 January 2016, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex “I.” In response thereto, the Honorable Commission issued an Acknowledgment Letter dated 29 February 2016, a copy of which is attached in the said Application.

10. Immediately after the devastation of Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao, NGCP started the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related facilities in order to restore transmission service to its customers and the public. As a result, NGCP incurred additional costs for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the said damaged transmission assets. FORCE MAJEURE EVENT CLAIM 11. Under Section 1.3(a) of the RTWR, an FME is defined as a “typhoon, storm, tropical depression, flood, drought, volcanic eruption, earthquake, tidal wave or landslide; or an act of public enemy, war (declared or undeclared), sabotage, blockade, revolution, riot, insurrection, civil commotion or any violent or threatening actions.” 12. Lando was categorized by PAGASA as a “Typhoon” in its Certification dated 18 January 2016. On the other hand, the bombing incidents in Mindanao are clearly acts of sabotage considering that unknown perpetrators unlawfully destroyed NGCP’s transmission assets using improvised explosive devices. Therefore, Typhoon Lando and the sabotage incidents in Mindanao fall within the definition of an FME in accordance with Section 1.3 of the RTWR. 13. Pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the same RTWR, NGCP is allowed to recover the cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao through an FM Pass-Through Amount (FM PTA). 14. Within three (3) months after the occurrence of Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao, NGCP filed before the Honorable Commission FME Notices dated 12 January 2016, 3 November 2015 and 27 January 2016, pursuant to Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR. 15. Thereafter, within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of the FME Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao, NGCP hereby files the instant FME Application, in accordance with Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR. FM PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT COMPUTATION 16. It must be noted that NGCP has not recovered any amount from its Industrial All-Risk (IAR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2015 as compensation for the damage and cost it incurred in the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FMEs Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao. Thus, it is but proper for NGCP to file the instant FME Claim Application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FMEs Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao. 17. The cost NGCP incurred as additional FME Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operating Expenditure (OPEX) for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao is Thirteen Million Four Hundred Forty-Eight Thousand, Ten Pesos and Eighty-Seven Centavos (PhP13,448,010.87). 18. Further, the recoverable value or the Net Fixed Asset Value (NFAV) of the assets destroyed by Typhoon Lando in Luzon is Two Million One Hundred Eighty-Four Thousand, Seventy-One Pesos and Thirty Centavos (PhP2,184,071.30). The summary of the expenses is shown in the table below: FME/REGION Typhoon Lando Sabotage Incidents In Mindanao TOTAL

FME OPEX/ NFAV CAPEX (In PhP) 6,850,454.97 2,184,071.30 6,597,555.90

13,448,010.87 2,184,071.30

Total 9,034,526.27 6,597,555.90 15,632,082.17

19. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts, in P/kW-month, as additional network charges in Luzon and Mindanao starting the billing period of November 2016 to December 2020, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, computed as shown in the tables below: Luzon

24. NGCP respectfully moves for the issuance of a provisional approval for the immediate recovery of the FM PassThrough Amounts pursuant to Section 3, Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. 25. NGCP needs to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities. It must be emphasized that the rehabilitation of the assets damaged by the aforementioned FMEs in Luzon and Mindanao required capital infusion, the recovery of which should be allowed immediately in order to avoid any financial strain in the operation of NGCP and to allow the continuous provision of transmission service to the grid customers. 26. In addition, the timely implementation of the FM PassThrough Amounts will allow the equal or even spread of the increases or decreases in tariffs from the initial implementation of the recovery of the cost. 27. A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Head, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the instant Application, is attached in the said Application. 28. Lastly, in compliance with Rule 6 of this Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, NGCP’s compliance with prefiling requirements for the instant application is attached in the said Application.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

News

2016 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the CAPEX incurred relative to the FMEs Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao pending the reset process for the Transmission Services for the Fourth Regulatory Period.

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

P/kW-mo. P/kWh

2016 0.23 0.00044

2017 0.01 0.00002

2018 0.01 0.00002

2019 0.01 0.00002

2020 0.01 0.00002

Mindanao P/kW-mo. P/kWh

2016 0.54 0.0011

2017 0.05 0.0001

2018 0.05 0.0001

2019 0.05 0.0001

2020 0.04 0.0001

20. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts for the years

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

DECLARE Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao as Force Majeure Events (FMEs);

Immediately GRANT Provisional Approval to implement and bill the following FM Pass-Through Amounts to Luzon and Mindanao customers starting November 2016 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered:

Luzon P/kW-mo. P/kWh Mindanao P/kW-mo. P/kWh

2016 0.23 0.00044

2017 0.01 0.00002

2018 0.01 0.00002

2019 0.01 0.00002

2020 0.01 0.00002

2016 0.54 0.0011

2017 0.05 0.0001

2018 0.05 0.0001

2019 0.05 0.0001

2020 0.04 0.0001

APPROVE the CAPEX and OPEX amounting to PhP13,448,010.87 incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to FMEs Typhoon Lando in Luzon and sabotage incidents in Mindanao;

APPROVE, after due notice and hearing, the proposed FM PassThrough Amounts to be collected from the Luzon and Mindanao customers starting November 2016 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, as follows:

Luzon P/kW-mo. P/kWh Mindanao P/kW-mo. P/kWh

2016 0.23 0.00044

2017 0.01 0.00002

2018 0.01 0.00002

2019 0.01 0.00002

2020 0.01 0.00002

2016 0.54 0.0011

2017 0.05 0.0001

2018 0.05 0.0001

2019 0.05 0.0001

2020 0.04 0.0001

APPROVE and ALLOW the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FMEs Typhoon Lando in Luzon amounting to PhP2,184,071.30, given that it would have been fully recovered by NGCP if these transmission assets and other related facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by the said FMEs; and

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

NGCP prays for other relief deemed just and equitable under the premises. On 05 April 2017, the Commission issued an Order and a Notice of Public Hearing, both dated 22 March 2017, setting the Application for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, and expository presentation for Luzon on 07 June 2017; expository presentation for Mindanao on 19 June 2017; and Pre-trial Conference and presentation of evidence on 21 June 2017. However, on 05 May 2017 filed its Motion to Reset of even date stating therein the unavailability of its witnesses on the scheduled hearing dates and the improbability of completing the compilation of its documentary evidence on time for the scheduled hearing due to the voluminous documents involved. IN VIEW THEREOF, the instant Application is hereby set anew for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference and presentation of evidence on the following dates: Date and Time

Venue

Hearing Coverage

08 October 2019 ERC Hearing Room Jurisdictional (Tuesday) at ten o’clock 15th Floor, Pacific and Expository in the morning Center Bldg. San Presentation for Luzon (10:00 A.M.) Miguel Ave. Pasig City 16 October 2019 ERC Mindanao Field Expository (Wednesday) at two Office Mintrade Bldg. Presentation for o’clock in the afternoon Monteverde Ave. cor. Mindanao (2:00 P.M.) Sales St. Davao City 23 October 2019 ERC Hearing Room Pre-trial Conference (Wednesday) at two 15th Floor, Pacific and Presentation of o’clock in the afternoon Center Bldg. San Evidence (2:00 P.M.) Miguel Ave. Pasig City All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1) The petitioner’s name and address; 2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3) A statement of the relief desired. All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person;

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

INC Museum now open to the public

HE country’s newest world-class museum is now open to the public, with interactive displays and exhibits at par with the best museums around the globe.

Iglesia Ni Cristo Auditor General Glicerio B. Santos Jr., in a statement Thursday, explained the museum would showcase the history and cultural heritage of the Philippines’ largest homegrown church to give the public a better understanding of the roots of the INC and the church’s 105-year journey. “The museum is open to everyone, not just INC members, because we believe that the museum’s exhibits have a beautiful story to tell—one that we want to share with all our countrymen,” said Santos Jr. The museum, which was launched on Aug. 31, 2019, is housed in a five-floor building, with a total area of 46,098.54 square meters. It features historical and thematic exhibits, a children’s museum and timeline, mementos of INC First Executive Minister Felix Manalo and his successors Eraño and Eduardo Manalo, as well as information about the history and milestones of the church. Present at the museum’s inauguration were national and local government officials led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. Also on hand were legislators such as Senators Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar, Ramon Revilla Jr., Grace Poe, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Aquilino Pimen-

Gov’t attention sought on ‘questionable bid’ THE Department of Energy and other power industry regulators have been urged to stop what an advocacy group described as dubious bid rating method for billion-peso power contracts adopted by two electric cooperatives. Aya Jallorina, executive director of Matuwid na Singil sa Kuryente Consumer Alliance, in a press statement, asked: “What is `rubric` and what is it doing in the power industry? “Why is an academic system of rating students’ essays being used to determine winners of public biddings for multibillion peso contracts in the power industry?” The consumer group raised these and called the government’s attention to “the emergence of a new but highly questionable bidding method being adopted by electric cooperatives that would lead to higher power rates in off-grid missionary communities and set an undesirable precedent for a competitive selection process.”

3) The grounds relied upon. All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 10th day of September 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

(MS-SEPT. 20 & 27, 2019)

Jallorina said the ‘’rubric’’ scoring system being used by two electric cooperatives in Palawan and Marinduque was “highly subjective and arbitrary and is a dubious mechanism to award to the preferred supplier and discourage true competition. “The government should disallow this method of bidding for supply power contracts.” The MSK raised this in a letter to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi; Agnes Devanadera, chairman, Energy Regulatory Commission; Arsenio Balisacan, chairman, Philippine Competition Commission and Administrator Edgardo Masongsong of the National Electrification Administration. The MSK was referring to the rubric scoring system adopted by the Marinduque Electric Cooperative (Marelco) and the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) to determine the ``lowest responsive bid’’ for multi-billion peso power supply contracts.

‘2-m voter applicants have registered so far’ By Vito Barcelo

2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

tel III, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, and Sherwin Gatchalian. With them were members of the House of Representatives led by Majority Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. Among the Metro Manila mayors present were Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Pasay Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar, and Navotas Mayor Toby Tiongco. According to Museum Director True Santos-Matias, the development of the museum took years, “because we wanted to make sure that the museum would integrate the newest technology and innovations utilized in the world’s top museums.” “All museums are treasuretroves of information, but the excellent ones stand out because they are really engaging and truly immersive. That is what we wanted to achieve here,” explained Matias. Matias added that the design elements and features of the museum incorporate native materials and nods to the church’s history.

THE Commission on Elections on Thursday said more than two-million voter applicants had been filed with the Comelec and expected to reach 2.5 million before the registration period would end on Sept. 30, 2019. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said most of the voter applicants were aged 18 and 15 to 17 who are eligible voters for the Sangguniang Kabataan and village elections in May 2020. Jimenez said the Comelec satellite offices were open from Monday to Friday which ends at 5 p.m. of Sept. 30. “Aside from registering as new voters, those who have been delisted from the Voters List can apply for the reactivation of their

registration,” he said. “Data from the Election and Barangay Affairs Department [EBAD] show a running total of 2,013,105 applications nationwide, covering the period of Aug. 1, 2019 to Sept. 7, 2019,” Jimenez said in a statement. This number is composed of 1,537,616 regular registrants, those aged 18 and above; and 475,489 eligible voters for the SK election—those 15 to 17 years old. Calabarzon had the highest regular voter registration turnout with 262,510 applications. The Bicol Region, on the other hand, had the most number of first-time registrants for the SK polls at 55,622. He said there are more female than male registrants this year.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Stars, Warriors rev up playoff drives in MPBL; Sharks prevail THE Manila Stars and the General Santos Warriors hurdled their respective rivals on Wednesday (Sept. 18) to boost their playoff drives in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season at San Andres Sports Complex. Powered by Chris Bitoon, Aris Dionisio and Gian Lloyd Abrigo, the Stars outsteadied Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines in the homestretch to prevail, 96-91, and stay close to pacesetter San Juan Knights in the North division of the 31-team MPBL founded by Sen. Manny Pacquiao. The Warriors, on the other hand, banked on Juju Bautista and Pamboy Raymundo to subdue the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors, 91-82, halting a twogame slide and rising to 11-4 in the South division where they occupy third spot behind the Davao Occidental Tigers (12-2) and the Bacoor Strikers (12-3). Bautista, filling in for Mikey Williams, tallied 23 points and 5 rebounds, while Raymundo posted 14 points, 11 assists, plus 6 rebounds for coach Rich Alvarez. The Realtors saw their three-win run broken despite the 23-point, 8-rebound effort of Jeron Teng and fell to 9-4 behind third-ranked Makati Super Crunch in the North. Only the top 8 teams from each division will advance to the playoffs. Bitoon ended up with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists; Dionisio finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds and four steals; while Abrigo posted 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Stars, whose biggest lead was only eight, 6759, in the third quarter. The Cebu City Sharks repelled Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, 74-70, to snap a three-game skid and climb to 5-8. William McAloney sizzled for the Sharks, being supported by Casino Ethyl Alcohol, with 28 points and 8 rebounds as none of his teammates could tally double figures. Zamboanga, which will trade Reed Juntilla for Alvin Pasaol of the Bataan Risers, settled for an 8-8 slate, still among the top 8 South teams. Robin Rono scored 21 while Raffy Reyes added 18 for Zamboanga. The MPBL travels to Iloilo City on Thursday with a doubleheader pitting Valenzuela against Mindoro at 6:30 p.m. and Pasay against Iloilo at 8:30 p.m.

Wizards’ guard Thomas has thumb surgery WASHINGTON—Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas, twice an NBA All-Star, will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing successful surgery Wednesday on his left thumb. The operation to repair a rupture of the radial collateral ligament of the thumb was required after Thomas suffered the injury during a routine preseason workout on Monday. If the recovery timetable is accurate, the 30-year-old American will miss the ﬁrst one to three weeks of the 201920 campaign as well as the entire preseason, losing crucial time with new teammates after signing with the Wizards as a free agent last July. “This was an unfortunate setback for Isaiah, but with his resolve and the top care he will receive from our medical team, we expect him to make a full recovery,” Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said in a statement. “In the meantime, he will continue to mentor our young guards and have a positive impact on the team as we start training camp.” Thomas has played for six clubs in eight seasons, making All-Star backcourt appearances with Boston in 2016 and 2017, averaging a career-best 28.9 points in the 2016-17 campaign. Thomas played only 12 games for Denver last season, missing the ﬁrst 56 games of the season with a nagging hip injury he suffered in the 2017 playoffs for Boston. He underwent right hip surgery in 2018. AFP

Curry commits to play for US team at Tokyo Olympic Games

Jhonnel Ababa watches his shot disappear into the cup on No. 10

2 eagle feats net Ababa 2-shot lead at Del Monte J HONNEL Ababa pulled off a rare two pitchin eagle feats to spike a second straight 67 as he broke off a tie with Tony Lascuña to seize a two-stroke lead over a charging Zanieboy Gialon halfway through the ICTSI Del Monte Championship at Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon yesterday.

Ababa sustained a bogey-free start Wednesday with a birdie-eagle charge on the ﬁrst two holes but went on a rollercoaster ride from there, fumbling with four bogeys against the same number of birdies although his other eagle on the par-4 10th and superb putting kept him on top at 10-under 134. “My putting clicked although I misread some putts that led to bogeys,” said Ababa, who highlighted his 33-34 card with a brilliant 60-degree wedge shot from 70 yards that dropped in on No. 2 and a 56-degree feat from 90 yards that rolled into the cup on No. 10. In control of the stellar ﬁeld, Ababa vowed to keep attacking the mountaintop course that virtually lay defenseless in the absence of the wind, enabling 23 others to turn in under-par scores for the second straight day. “I’ll still go for eagles tomorrow (to-

day), hopefully at the par-5s,” added the winningest player on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia with four victories. Gialon, still in hunt for a first PGT crown since dominating the field by six at Calatagan, Batangas in 2017, sizzled with six birdies in a 10-hole stretch from No. 4 and shot the tournament-best 65 in hot conditions to wrest solo second at 136 for a spot in the final group in today’s pivotal round of the P2.5 million tournament serving as the seventh leg of the 10th season of the circuit put up by ICTSI. “Finally, I got my game going,” said Gialon, who birdied the first two holes then rebounded from a bogey on the third with three straight birdies from No. 4 and added three more on Nos. 9, 11 and 13. “ I could’ve shot better if not for missed putts on the last two par-5s.” Lascuña also gunned down two eagles but on the layout’s par-5s at the back

(Nos. 14 and 18) but shot just two birdies against four bogeys and settled for a 70 as he dropped to joint third at 137 with unheralded Elmer Saban and a steady Ira Alido, who carded 68 and 69, respectively, heading to the last 36 holes of what looms to be a fiery shootout among the best and the brightest plus a couple of surprises. Fil-German Keanu Jahns fired a 68 for solo sixth at 138 while Johvanie Abaño bounced back from an opening 73 with a 66, including five birdies at the front, to take the cudgels for the local talents. Joining him at 139 are Richard Sinfuego and Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who both shot 69s. Noel Langamin, who led Del Monte’s Interclub title romp in 2011, missed joining Abaño at seventh with a late bogey mishap at the front, finishing with a 68 and dropping to joint 10th with Greg Gonzales of the US, who turned in a second 70, and reigning Philippine Open champion and top local favorite Clyde Mondilla, who carded a 69. Juvic Pagunsan, eyeing a record fifth PGT victory after a sweep of four tournaments in Bacolod, Negros, Iloilo and Riviera, checked his skid in time, hitting an eagle on the par-5 No. 7 and holing out with a birdie on the ninth to save a 73 for a 142, eight strokes behind Ababa.

Ifugao boxing prospect Martin gets 1st acid test IFUGAO boxing prospect Carl Jammes Martin will be having his litmus test when he takes on a veteran journeyman for his next bout. The 20-year-old Martin, unbeaten in 13 bouts, 12 ending via knockout, will battle compatriot Benezer Alolod in a 10-round bantamweight clash Friday night in Mandaluyong City. Martin, who hails from Hingyon, Ifugao, has fought foreign foes in his last seven bouts, stopping them all by an average of three rounds. “Marami naman po kasi na mga matitibay na Pinoy boxers at gustong gusto ko po na makalaban ng matibay para masubukan din po ako,” said Martin upon wrapping up his training at the MP Highland Gym in Manila. The 28-year-old Alolod is a veteran of 36 bouts and has compiled an overall record of 19-12-5, seven via stoppage. While Alolod had 12 losses in his 10-year career, the Polomolok-native pugilist suffered only three stoppages in those defeats. “Ibig sabihin po nu’n, talagang may tibay siya kaya sa training namin, tinutukan po talaga namin ang pagpapakondisyon,” said Martin. Martin and Alolod will ﬁght for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation Bantamweight crown. In Thursday morning’s weigh-in held at the Games and Amusement Board ofﬁce in Makati City, Martin weighed in at 119lbs, while Alolod came in at 118lbs.

Ifugao boxing prospect Carl Jammes Martin (left) with his opponent compatriot Benezer Alolod (right) and matchmaker Jimmy Vallares.

Also in the card is Philippine superbantamweight champion Mark Anthony Geraldo, who will stake his national crown against Lorence Rosas of Palawan in a 12-round title bout. Dubbed “Fists of Fury”, the Friday night event promoted by Shockpunch Promotions and Ifugao Boxing Promotions will be held at the Mandaluyong Elementary School Gym.

SAN FRANCISCO—Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry says he expects to play for the United States at next year’s Tokyo Olympics, telling ESPN: “That is the plan, for sure.” The 31-year-old guard, a three-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, has never played for a US Olympic squad, although he did help American teams win the 2010 and 2014 Basketball World Cups. “Definitely want to go,” Curry said of the Olympics. “I’ve never been on the Olympic team. I’ve been on two World Cup championship gold medal teams, but the Olympics is the experience that I want. And next year hopefully will be it.” The Americans, with a squad of mostly younger and lesser-known NBA talents, finished seventh last week at this year’s World Cup in China, with Spain taking the title and raising concern about whether or not a US team of NBA stars could win a fourth consecutive Olympic title next year in Japan. “We’re still the best,” Curry said. “If we get the guys that are supposed to be there, in terms of, you know, representing us in the Olympic stage and commitment has been there, and I think it will be there next year.” Curry and other big-name US NBA players are expected to fill out next year’s Olympic roster. The squad could potentially include James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis and Paul George. “Obviously knock on wood, you don’t want any injuries or things like that to interfere,” Curry told ESPN in the interview. Among the assistants to US national team coach Gregg Popovich is Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Curry and the Warriors will attempt to reach the NBA Finals for a sixth consecutive season when the 2019-20 campaign begins next month. The only team to manage such a feat was the Boston Celtics dynasty team that went to the Finals 10 times in a row from 1957-1966 and won nine titles in that span. Golden State will move into a new $1 billion arena in San Francisco but will be without Kevin Durant, who left after last season to join the Brooklyn Nets. A torn Achilles tendon figures to sideline Durant for all of the upcoming campaign. AFP

Magic... From A8

1992 Barcelona Olympics. Johnson had retired from the NBA after revealing he had contracted the HIV virus and played in the 1992 NBA AllStar Game and at Barcelona. The jersey was photo-matched to Johnson’s appearance in an Olympic quarter-ﬁnal contest against Puerto Rico, which the Americans won 115-77. The auction also features game-worn jerseys belonging to baseball greats Willie Mays and Ernie Banks. The Banks jersey is a gray Chicago Cubs road uniform top from the 1969 season while the 1968 Mays jersey from the San Francisco Giants in a home uniform shirt. Holzman, who died in 1998 at age 78, coached the New York Knicks to their only two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. Among his items now available is a 1970 NBA championship ring, his Hall of Fame induction ring, his 1970 NBA Coach of the Year trophy and the nets used in the clinching games of both NBA Finals won by the Knicks. Other items include a bat used by former New York Yankees star Lou Gehrig, a 1957 contract signed by Yankees legend Mickey Mantle and a 1936 Winter Olympic ice hockey gold medal belonging to British goaltender Jimmy Foster. AFP

Children’s Games ease 120 kids’ rough journey AROUND 120 participants climbed mountains as others waded through rivers just to join the Happiness Project Mindanao-initiated Philippine Sports Commission Sports for Peace Children’s Games at the Barangay Tawantawan covered court in Baguio District in Davao City last September 14. The Happiness Project Mindanao incorporated a tree-planting activity near Panigan River before the Larong Pinoy games were played by the children. PSC Mindanao cluster head Ed Fernandez said: “Children from the outskirts of Barangay Tawantawan were fetched because it was hard for them to come to the barrio center. They wade through rivers, climbed mountains, rode precariously in trunks and walked kilometers of dirt road to be at the multipurpose gym.” Of the 120 children who came, 80 percent were indigenous peoples (IPs), particularly Manobos.

Barangay Tawantawan is a remote barangay in the third district of Davao and is home to the IPs and city’s watershed. Happiness Project Mindanao director EJ Fernandez spearheaded the plant and play activity in partnership with PSC. PSC Chairman William I. Ramirez, in a recent meeting with PSC Mindanao staff in Davao City, reiterated President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive to bring sports to the grassroots level. The Children’s Games series in Davao region were also held recently in New Bataan, Compostela Valley with 200 participants, Lower Tamugan in Davao City also with 200 kids and Malita, Davao Occidental with 250 children. Up next will be the Children’s Games in Agdao, A young girl enjoys playing the sack race during the Happiness Davao City on September 28 and in Maragusan, Project Mindanao-initiated PSC Children’s Games held September 14 in Barangay Tawantawan, Baguio District, Davao City. Compostela Valley on September 27 and 28.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Cariaso gets baptism of fire in PBA opener By Jeric Lopez

With Zulkifli out, 3 PH sprinters get chance By Peter Atencio WITH Malaysian sprinter Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli skipping the women’s 200-meter dash of the 30th Southeast Asian Games athletic meets, three Filipino sprinters will be in contention for podium finishes. The 26-year-old Zaidatul, who took the silver medal in the 100-meter and 200-meter events back in 2017, had subpar finishes during her six-month stint in the United States. “Sprinters from Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines have clocked better times in the 200m this year,” said Malaysian coach Mohd Manshahar Abdul Jalil in an online interview/statement which came out on the Malaysian Star. Zaidatul, according to her coach, has been prone to injuries. And so as not to aggravate her hamstring injury, Zaidatul will have a limited stint in the Games. In the last SEA Games, Zaidatul joined the 100m, 200m and 4x100m. But, this time Zaidatul will only run in the 100m and the 4x100m mixed relay, which will be held for the first time in the SEA Games, explained Zaidatul’s coach. So far, Filipino-American standout Zion Corrales-Nelson, who is doing her preparations in the US, is among the three Filipinas who could unseat Vietnamese sprint queen Le Thun Chin, who won the 100-m and 200-m sprint golds two years ago. The other two Pinoy standouts are Kristina Knott and Kayla Richardson. Corrales-Nelson has clocked good times of 11.41 seconds and 23.16 seconds in US NCAA meets early this year. Her performances are below the 11.56 seconds and the 23.32 seconds that Le registered during the 2017 SEA Games. Zaidatul, who had times of 11.74 and 23.63 seconds to claim the silver behind Le, had 11.65 seconds in the 100-meters in an Ipoh meet and an undisclosed below par time in the 200-meters.

Magic’s Dream Team jersey in sports auction LOS ANGELES—A 1992 US Olympic ‘Dream Team’ jersey worn by Magic Johnson and memorabilia from former New York Knicks coach Red Holzman are among items available in an online auction that began Wednesday. SCP Auctions launched the bidding process for several items from NBA legends and Major League Baseball greats in the auction, which runs until September 28. The item expected to receive the biggest bids is the blue USA jersey number 15 worn by Johnson as a member of the ﬁrst US Olympic collection of NBA stars, which rolled unbeaten through the Turn to A7

Arum tell Pacquiao: Fight Floyd, or retire L

OS ANGELES—Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum believes Manny Pacquiao should retire from the sport soon unless he can land a lucrative rematch with Floyd Mayweather. Arum, who promoted Pacquiao during the Filipino icon’s golden years, told the World Boxing News website he wanted to see the 40-year-old hang up his gloves soon. Pacquiao, who won a bruising 12-round battle with Keith Thurman to capture the WBA welterweight crown in July, has not scheduled his next fight. But Arum said he believed Pacquiao, who turns 41 in December, would be risking lasting damage if he extends his career much further. “Pacquiao, I promoted him for many, many years,” Arum told World Boxing News. “He’s an exceptionally good human being, really a fine guy, extraordinarily charitable and a delight. “But he’s (almost) 41-years-old. And if you’re 41 you can’t take punishment. You can’t take blows like he did in the Thurman fight. “Sure, he won that fight—but he took

a lot of punishment. That punishment is going to have a serious effect on how he lives the rest of is life.” Arum, who earlier this year said he feared Pacquiao risked brain damage before his fight with Thurman, said however the Filipino should consider a rematch with Mayweather. Mayweather, who is now retired, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 “Fight of the Century” which largely failed to live up to the hype. “If he gets Mayweather, do that fight and retire,” said Arum. “If he doesn’t get Mayweather he should retire. It’s not worth it for him to continue boxing.” Meanwhile, Middleweight king Canelo Alvarez is to make a two-division jump in weight classes to take on Russia’s WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, it was confirmed on Friday. Alvarez, 29, announced the November 2 date in Las Vegas in a short post on Twitter. Online streaming service DAZN

also confirmed the bout. World Boxing Council title-holder Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) has never fought at light heavyweight before. Alvarez and Kovalev, 36, had been in negotiations earlier this year to fight in October, only for Kovalev to reject an offer from the Alvarez camp. Alvarez meanwhile was stripped of his International Boxing Federation belt after refusing to accept a fight against mandatory challenger Sergey Derevyanchenko. In comments to ESPN on Friday, Alvarez said he was relishing the challenge of facing the naturally bigger Kovalev, who retained his title with an 11th round knockout of Britain’s Anthony Yarde last month. “The second phase of my career is continuing just as we had planned, and that’s why we are continuing to make great fights to enter into the history books of boxing,” Alvarez told ESPN. “That’s also why I’ve decided to jump two weight classes against one of the most feared champions of recent years. “Kovalev is a dangerous puncher, and he’s naturally the bigger man, but that’s the kind of challenges and risks that I like to face.’’ AFP

The 7-horse cast composed of (from left) Doctora, Princess Eowyn, El Debarge, Cerveza Rosas, Trust Me, Good Voyage and Heiress of Hope burst out of the gates. Princess Eowyn eventually scored a 6-length win in the Sampaguita Stakes Race, one of the year’s top stakes races.

NEW Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso is set for his baptism of fire as Alaska, along with three other teams, sees action on opening day of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup today. Cariaso’s Aces’ go up against Columbian Dyip in the conference’s opening game at 4:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. In the second game at 7 p.m., Rain or Shine clashes with NorthPort, with both teams parading familiar imports. Alaska and Columbian are presenting fresh reinforcements. The Aces will parade Justin Watts while Khapri Alston will banner the Dyip. Cariaso, who took over for Alex Compton, is looking to turn things around for Alaska, who had a mediocre run in the past few conferences. “We’re looking forward to a fresh start,” said Cariaso. “Hopefully we can start on a high note.” This Alaska coaching stint is Cariaso’s second in the league as he first held a coaching job at Ginebra briefly in 2014. For the nightcap, the Elasto Painters will have Joel Wright as its import, while Mychal Ammons will suit up for the Batang Pier. Wright previously played for Magnolia, while Ammons was TNT’s former import.

Red Lions notch 12th straight win THIS time around, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers refused to let the San Beda Red Lions move away by a big margin in the first three quarters. But when the Red Lions finally woke up from a slow start and what could be their worst game of the season, San Beda limited the Heavy Bombers to just four points in the final period and came away with a 65-47 swamping yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center. James Canlas went on to unload 18 points for the Red Lions, who posted their 12th straight win in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament. Calvin Oftana backed up Canlas with 12 points in helping the Red Lions move three notches ahead of the Lyceum Pirates. “We had a scare there. We did not do a good job there. And it’s really tough playing against a team like JRU, which has nothing to lose,” said Red Lions’ coach Boyet Fernandez on their game situation, which never happened to them in their 11 games. Agem Miranda fired 14 points for JRU, who now have a 4-8 win-loss slate. Chester Jungco’s split charity in the last 2:17 of the third period allowed JRU to smash a 42-all deadlock, moving them ahead by a point. A layup and two freebies from Canlas followed in the last 14.3 seconds and the San Beda began moving away, 47-43, at the end of the third. Awful shooting from JRU in the fourth allowed San Beda to pull away on an 11-0 blast as it took a 58-43 spread in the last 3:24. The Red Lions, who were limited to six points in the second period, will next meet San Sebastian on Tuesday. Earlier, the San Beda Red Cubs, with Rhayyan Amsali hitting 16 points, pulled off their seventh win in fending off the JRU Light Bombers,88-68, in junior action. Peter Atencio

Princess Eowyn, Guce team up for 1st time, win Sampaguita race TEAMING up for the ﬁrst time ever, Princess Eowyn and superstar jockey JB Guce looked like a veteran of many winning battles as they came through with a masterful six-length triumph in the Philippine Racing Commission’s 2019 Sampaguita Stakes Race at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite on Sunday. Princess Eowyn engaged El Debarge, ridden by jockey JA Guce, to a furious neck-and-neck race before grabbing the pole at the half-mile point as it scooted home pulling away, leaving the 7-horse ﬁeld scrambling on her trail. “Ngayon ko lang po ka si siya (Princess Eowyn) nasakyan,” revealed Guce. “Tinanong po ako ng owner kung anong diskarte, sabi ko, pasarida. Kung kaya mauna, mauna na. Pero alam ko po na

‘yung kalaban ko, may tulin din (El Debarge and Cevesa Rosas). Nagpasarida kami para lamang kami sa puwesto at hindi na maabala, kung saka sakaling may magpupumilit, sabi ko kahit ibigay namin ang harapan, pero bantayan ko na din po kaagad.” As it turned out, Eowyn and Guce were never threatened as soon as the duo seized the lead. “Pinakiramdaman ko kung kaya pa ng kabayo nila sa half mile pa lang. Pagkakuha ko, hindi ko na binitawan. Nag-abang nalang po ako kung may dadating, wala naman, sa homestretch dire-diretson na,” said the multi-titled jockey, who feels that the win is the start of a long, winning partnership. “Hopefully, simula pa lang ito,” said Guce.

The victory was worth a whopping P1,200,000.00 for owner Edong Diokno, whose other “more popular horse” in Boss Emong took the second leg of the Philracom’s Triple Crown Series last June. A total of P2 million was allotted by the sponsoring Philracom in the Sampaguita Stakes Race feauturing some of the country’s best up-and-coming ﬁllies. Heiress of Hope of owner Benhur Abalos III and jockey AR Villegas secured the runner-up purse of P450,000, while Doktora of owner JM Yulo and jockey CV Garganta bagged P100,000. Races 1, 2, 4 and 5 were dubbed the Manila Horsepower Special Race held in memory of the late Philracom Commissioner Wilfredo de Ungria Jr. Fire Bull ruled Race 1, Facing Dixie took Race 2, Hiconicus won Race 4 while

Fort McKinley secured Race 5. The Philracom Charity Race for the benefit of the Sto. Nino de Malolos Foundation Inc. was won by Minalim. Other winners were Casino Royales (Race 7), Fire Dancer (Race 8), Goldsmith (Race 9), June Eleven (Race 10), Double Sunrise (Race 11) and Rhaegal (Race 12). Several big stakes races are still in the offing from Philracom in the coming months – such as the first legs of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on Oct. 6 and the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge on Oct. 20, followed by the 2nd leg of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on Nov. 3, the Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup on Nov. 17 and the 2nd leg of the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge on Nov. 24.

IN BRIEF August foreign funds reversed to net outflow FOREIGN portfolio investments or “hot money” flew out of the domestic markets in August as fund managers reacted negatively to both the local and international developments, particularly the lingering trade tensions between the United States and China, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday. Data showed hot money in August posted a net outflow of $392 million, a reversal of the $225.85-million net inflow a year ago. “Domestic and international developments for the month included the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, the devaluation of the Chinese yuan, inversion of the US Treasury bond yield curve, heightened protests in Hong Kong and the lower gross domestic product outturn for the second quarter of 2019,” the BSP said in a statement. The economy slowed to a four-year low of 5.5 percent in the second quarter, weighed down by the delayed approval of the national budget for 2019. The sluggish expansion brought the average growth in the first half to 5.6 percent, below the 6 percent to 7 percent target range. Julito G. Rada

Business

Puerto Princesa set to hold business forum THE city government of Puerto Princesa under the stewardship of Mayor Lucilo Bayron, along with the private sector and the United States Agency for International Development, will host a business forum on Sept. 25 at the Luzon/Visayas Ballroom of Soﬁtel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City. With the theme “Puerto Princesa. Your Investment. Our Commitment.,” the business forum aims to present a snapshot of the diverse business opportunities that make investing in Puerto Princesa City an advantageous choice. Taking the stage are some of the country’s business movers and shakers including Jeffrey Ng, president of Astoria Hotels and Resorts Group and current chairman of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association; Maximo Ricohermoso, president of MCPI Carrageenan Corp.; Kimpearl Licup, managing director of Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa in Puerto Princesa; Haidee Enriquez, vice president for operations of the Sitel Group; Quintin Pastrana, president of WEnergy Power Pilipinas Inc.; and Bobby Castro, chairman of the Palawan Chamber of Commerce.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BLOOMBERRY’S P124-M DONATION. Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Bloomberry Resort & Hotel Inc., operator of Solaire Resort & Casino, donates P124 million to Philippine Red Cross. This is the largest single donation ever received by PRC. Attending the ceremony are (from left) BCFI executive director Filipina Laurena, BCFI president Donato Almeda, PRC chairman and chief executive Richard Gordon, PRC director Dr. Christie Monina Nalupta and PRC governor Carissa Coscolluella.

San Miguel pursuing plan on 1.2-km Boracay bridge S By Darwin G. Amojelar

an Miguel Corp. is pushing for the approval of its unsolicited proposal to construct a 1.2-kilometer bridge from Caticlan in Malay, Aklan to Boracay Island for P5.5 billion. “The Boracay project is the most important component to save Boracay. There is a need to push for government approval. Someone is blocking it for personal reason. I think we should set aside that personal reason,” San Miguel president and chief operating ofﬁcer Ramon Ang. San Miguel submitted the proposal to the Department of Public Works and Highways, but the agency has yet to issue and original proponent status for the project. The project is a 1.2-kilometer limitedaccess bridge infrastructure between Boracay Island and Caticlan in Malay, Aklan in the main island of Panay. The bridge is not envisioned to cater to

vehicular through-trafﬁc, so as not to congest the island. It will be provided with loading/unloading areas on both ends to process the movement of commuters, solid waste, goods and supplies. San Miguel currently operates the Boracay Airport in Caticlan and is upgrading the airstrip into a world-class airport. Ang earlier said building the CaticlanBoracay bridge would be a novel approach to resolve Boracay’s environmental woes and bring about growth to other areas in Aklan. The bridge, he said, would reduce the need for tourists and tourism workers to stay on the island. The accessibility of Boracay, through the

proposed bridge, would enable developers to build hotels and resorts outside the island. These can be premiere destinations in their own right, as these areas also boast of beautiful beaches and coastlines, Ang said. New establishments can be positioned as alternative or more affordable accommodations for tourists, Ang said. He said accommodations for workers could also be built. Ang said with the new bridge, thousands of tourism workers from neighboring provinces would no longer need to reside in Boracay and contribute to the island’s population growth and wastes. “The development of neighboring areas would boost Aklan’s economy as a whole while keeping the island of Boracay sustainable for generations to come,” Ang said. Ang said the construction of a bridge could also resolve the garbage and sewage problem on the island and could be used as a safe way to deliver sewage via pipes which would be built into the bridge design out of Boracay. Maintenance and repair will also be easier to manage, he said.

Cusi asks ERC to act on Mauban coal plant papers

CONGLOMERATE Phinma Corp. is investing $50 million via preferred shares in a cement company in Vietnam. Phinma said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed a term sheet agreement involving the investment of $50 million in Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company, which owns the largest cement plant in Vietnam. Song Lam is a subsidiary of Vissai, the largest privately-owned cement manufacturer in Vietnam that exports to 37 countries including the Philippines. It has a total production capacity of 13.6 million tons a year. Phinma said Song Lam would also be a major supplier of its cement subsidiary Philcement Corp. The investment via preferred shares will entitle Phinma to receive annual fixed cumulative dividends of 7.5 percent. The preferred shares are convertible into common shares. “Phinma will also be entitled to nominate one member of the board of directors as well as the chief financial officer of the company,” the company said. Following the disclosure, the Philippine Stock Exchange immediately implemented a trading suspension on Phinma shares, pending the submission of additional disclosure requirements regarding the transaction. Share price of Phinma closed at P9.18 Wednesday. Philcement, which is 60-percent owned by Phinma, is currently constructing a cement terminal in Mariveles, Bataan. The facility is scheduled to be completed and operational before the end of the year. Phinma re-entered the cement industry last year. In its first year of operation, the group’s cement business made strong inroads in re-introducing Union Cement brand into the market, achieving P1.5 billion in revenues over the year. Union Cement is available in selected markets of North and Central Luzon, parts of the Visayas, and Northern and Southern Mindanao.

Economists, ex-DOF heads support four tax reform packages By Julito G. Rada

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to act on the pending water rights issue of the 455-megawatt San Buenaventura power plant in Mauban, Quezon which delayed its commercial operations. “I wrote ERC and I manifested to ERC the importance of it being online because that supply is necessary to augment the present supply of the country,” Cusi said. The San Buenaventura power plant, a new power supplier of Manila Electric Co., was supposed to come online on Sept. 15 but it was unable to deliver power commercially because of regulatory issues. San Buenaventura Power Ltd. is a partnership between Meralco PowerGen Corp., the power generation arm of Meralco, which owns a 51-percent stake and New Growth BV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Electricity Generating Public Company Limited of Thailand, which owns the remaining 49 percent. The power facility is the first coal plant in the Philippines to utilize the state-of-theart supercritical technology that has been proven to increase operational efficiencies and significantly reduce emissions. “I stressed the importance. I just emphasized the importance of that supply. It has to be acted upon,” Cusi said. Meralco PowerGen president and chief executive Rogelio Singson said his company was still waiting for the ERC to resolve the water rights issue. “I am aware of that. [We are] still waiting for the government to act on this new 455-MW supercritical [project]. We have been ready to go commercial operations since Sept. 16. So we are not able to realize our target deadline of Sept. 16 because of this,” Singson said.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Phinma infusing $50m in Vietnam cement company

DA to distribute 2m bags of rice seeds ABOUT two million bags of 20 kilograms each of certified seeds under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund are set for distribution to rice farmers this year. The Agriculture Department said the seeds could be planted on 1 million hectares of rice land. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said this would help increase palay yield to six tons per hectare in high-yielding provinces by 2024. Among the rice seed varieties for distribution are NSIC Rc 160, Rc 216, Rc 222 and two location-specific inbred varieties. “So far, we have identified 57 provinces based on the size of area harvested, yield level, cost of production and share of irrigated area. These municipalities and cities must also have an annual area planted of more than 500ha for dry season 2019-2020,” he said. Farmer-beneficiaries are those listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. Each farmer is allowed to obtain seeds for two consecutive cropping seasons until December 2020. Othel V. Campos

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

EASTWEST AWARDS. EastWest Bank wins two operational excellence awards from partner organizations Wells Fargo and Standard Chartered Bank for their exceptionally high straight-through processing rates in 2018. Receiving the awards are EastWest head of financial institutional sales Aileen Guce (fourth from left), Rhasciel Petallo-Bustos of bank operations group (fifth from left) and other officials of EastWest Bank.

Businesses turned less bullish in third quarter—BSP survey BUSINESSES turned less bullish in the third quarter, results of a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show. The business confidence outlook on the economy remained positive at 37.3 percent in the third quarter, slightly down from 40.5 percent in the second quarter. The BSP said the lower confidence index could be attributed to seasonal factors such as then slack in the demand and slowdown of business activities during the rainy season, the decline in orders leading to lower sales, lack of supply of raw materials, perceived unfavorable effects of various government policies such as the Rice Tariffication Law and banning of provincial buses on EDSA and stiffer competition.

“The lower but positive confidence index means that the number of optimists declined but continued to be greater than the number of pessimists for Q3 2019,” the BSP said. The confidence index is computed as the percentage of firms that answered in the affirmative less the percentage of firms that answered in the negative with respect to their views on a given indicator. It said the sentiment of businesses in the Philippines mirrored the less buoyant business outlook in Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, India and Norway. However, business sentiments in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Greece, Hungary, Israel and Ukraine were more optimistic.

Results of the survey showed that for the fourth quarter 2019, the business outlook turned more upbeat as the confidence index climbed to 56.1 percent from the second-quarter survey result of 47.6 percent. “This was the highest next quarter confidence index since Q4 2016. Respondents’ more positive outlook for Q4 2019 was due to expectations of higher consumer demand during the holiday and harvest seasons, continued increases in orders and projects, more favorable macroeconomic conditions [i.e., lower inflation, stable exchange rate and lower interest rate], higher government spending/infrastructure and business expansion,” the BSP said. Julito G. Rada

FORMER ﬁnance secretaries and top economists expressed strong support to the urgent passage of the remaining four packages of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program. They manifested their support through a joint statement signed in a meeting last week with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III; Senator Pia Cayetano, who chairs the Senate committee on ways and means; and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who chairs the House committee on ways and means. The remaining four packages of the tax reform program, which are currently being deliberated in Congress, are Package 2 or the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act, Package 2+ or the “sin” tax reform further increasing excise taxes on alcohol and e-cigarettes, Package 3 or the Real Property Valuation Reform and Package 4 or the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act. The statement was signed by former Finance secretaries Cesar Virata, Alberto Romulo, Margarito Teves, Roberto de Ocampo and Jose Camacho, former National Economic and Development Authority heads Cielito Habito and Arsenio Balisacan, Fermin Adriano of the Asian Development Bank Institute and Filomeno Sta. Ana of the Action for Economic Reforms. The economists and former DOF heads said in a joint statement these tax reforms along with the proposed amendments to the Public Service Act, the Foreign Investments Act and the Retail Trade Act would help the Duterte administration achieve its twin goals of attaining an “A-minus” sovereign credit rating in the next few years and reducing poverty incidence from 21 percent in 2015 to 14 percent by 2022.

Business

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market ends flat; Globe declines T HE stock market closed virtually ﬂat again Thursday, ignoring the decision of the US Federal Reserve overnight to reduce interest rates.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 3.97 points, or 0.05 percent, to 7,911.32 on a value turnover of P4.1 billion. Losers beat gainers, 108 to 86, with 53 issues unchanged. Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications ﬁrm, fell 2.3 percent to P1,890, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group lost 1.1 percent to P880. Conglomerate San Miguel Corp., however, rose 2.8 percent to P178.80, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. climbed 2 percent to P49. Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly rose Thursday after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, but investors were left unsure about its next possible move. While the Fed met expectations with

a 25-basis-point reduction, the lack of strong forward guidance disappointed many, who were also concerned about a growing split in the policy board between hawks and doves. Equity traders have spent much of this month in a positive mood, betting that central banks are taking a more accommodative tone with monetary policy to support the stuttering global economy. Tokyo’s Nikkei was up more than one percent ahead of the announcement but pared the gains in the afternoon to end 0.4 percent higher as the yen rallied against the dollar. Shanghai rose 0.5 percent, Sydney and Seoul were each up 0.5 percent, Singapore added 0.1 percent and Wel-

lington gained 0.2 percent. However, Hong Kong, which has struggled all week under the weight of concerns about the impact on the economy of long-running, sometimes violent protests in the city, fell more than one percent by the break. Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta also fell. The European Central Bank unveiled a fresh round of bond-buying stimulus and another rate cut this month, and there had been hopes the Fed would indicate a further reduction in borrowing costs this year. Fed boss Jerome Powell said the board did not expect a recession but trade uncertainty is creating “cross winds,” hitting business investment and exports. He added the bank will “will act as appropriate” to maintain economic growth. However, the board is split, with ﬁve members expecting or preferring a rate hike by the end of the year, ﬁve seeing

no change, and seven forecasting or wanting to see another cut. Tim Foster at Fidelity International pointed out that policymakers’ so-called “dot plot” projections do not show any consensus for further cuts this year. “After raising rates nine times in the past four years, the Fed kicked off the wave of global central bank easing with their dramatic dovish pivot in January,” he said. “But simple rate cuts are now rather old-fashioned compared to the ECB’s comprehensive and complicated package of easing measures last week.” And Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at OANDA, said the Fed could regret its decision to not be more forthright. Its “lack of conviction in signaling more rate cuts will probably be a policy mistake that is wasting the effectiveness of the ﬁrst two rate cuts,” he said in a note. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

56.5 93.5 139.7 1.16 25.7 18.6 12 5.46 1.29 760 0.44 68 0.95 13 20.8 46.2 179.5 113.5 57.9 27.3 197.8 1,830 59.4 1.1

56.5 93.75 140.7 1.16 25.9 18.6 12.06 5.98 1.29 760 0.445 68.75 0.95 13 20.8 46.2 180 113.5 57.9 27.5 199 1,830 59.6 1.1

54.15 92.5 139.6 1.16 25.65 18.6 11.9 5.4 1.26 760 0.44 67.95 0.95 13 20.8 45.75 179.5 113.5 57.9 27.3 196 1,825 59.35 1.1

FINANCIALS 54.15 840 93.2 4,948,010 140.2 653,680 1.16 20,000 25.65 16,300 18.6 400 12 415,700 5.88 3,076,900 1.26 76,000 760 1,850 0.44 280,000 68.35 1,171,950 0.95 74,000 13 53,700 20.8 200 45.8 94,200 180 8,620 113.5 10 57.9 100 27.4 10,200 199 452,150 1,825 410 59.6 5,280 1.1 41,000

46,887 461,056,856 91,568,090 23,200 418,615 7,440 4,986,446 17,754,422 96,030 1,406,000 123,250 80,073,937 70,300 698,100 4,160 4,316,800 1,547,825 1,135 5,790 279,000 89,282,613 748,300 313,745.50 45,100

-15,440,376 8,009,933 -254,175 3,870,664 -142,372 -36,574,829.50 -950 -4,160,935 -120,560 -25,527,159 -59,407.50 -

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY 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 PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON 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

39.3 15.92 0.71 1.32 0.246 2.65 14.1 135 10.52 17.9 32 72.55 80.2 2.12 6 6.12 9.04 15.78 10.42 7.18 1.79 26 81.8 50 2.41 13.74 8.56 1.61 226 4.98 3.56 8.49 21.9 14.1 19.3 372 5.3 2.1 5.18 2.76 10.7 34 5.14 5.05 1.82 2.31 1.1 11.84 91 7.5 0.125 1.13 166.7 2.42 1.25 1.3

39.7 15.94 0.74 1.33 0.25 2.69 14.4 135 10.88 18.5 32 75.45 80.2 2.12 6.13 6.12 9.05 15.78 10.56 7.24 1.79 26.05 81.8 51.7 2.42 13.96 8.6 1.61 226 5.12 3.56 8.49 22 14.1 19.36 372 5.3 2.12 5.18 2.8 10.98 34.3 5.2 5.15 1.84 2.31 1.12 11.92 91.5 7.5 0.128 1.13 169.6 2.42 1.26 1.33

39.25 15.54 0.7 1.32 0.246 2.65 14 121.3 10.42 17.88 31.7 72.25 78 2.03 5.91 6 9.01 15.56 10.38 7.16 1.77 25.4 81 49.5 2.3 13.74 8.5 1.61 222.8 4.98 3.56 8.49 21.75 13.88 19 367.8 5.3 2.06 5.1 2.7 10.54 34 5.14 5.05 1.79 2.3 1.08 11.74 90.75 7.35 0.125 1.07 166 2.42 1.22 1.29

INDUSTRIAL 39.5 449,400 15.88 140,600 0.74 5,868,000 1.33 68,000 0.25 910,000 2.67 452,000 14.04 3,655,200 121.4 1,000 10.58 1,175,100 18.5 49,100 31.75 204,000 75.45 1,280 78 1,090 2.1 393,000 6.13 9,200 6 93,800 9.01 293,100 15.72 1,750,600 10.54 733,300 7.18 5,816,700 1.77 3,000 25.8 5,135,900 81.05 3,040 49.9 102,350 2.39 6,385,000 13.96 140,100 8.5 60,100 1.61 1,000 223 424,150 5.12 133,000 3.56 1,000 8.49 200 21.95 1,536,900 13.88 85,300 19 725,400 371.4 74,880 5.3 100 2.09 2,889,000 5.11 1,241,600 2.71 18,681,000 10.84 45,900 34.05 4,145,900 5.2 36,000 5.15 2,000 1.83 588,000 2.3 20,000 1.12 12,000 11.8 134,300 91 332,980 7.4 44,500 0.128 650,000 1.1 750,000 169.6 169,400 2.42 15,000 1.26 1,729,000 1.32 3,247,000

17,759,930 2,217,110 4,261,780 90,330 226,720 1,208,660 51,207,386 122,113 12,513,036 890,020 6,521,830 92,689.50 85,518 823,460 54,845 564,966 2,646,959 27,533,262 7,701,000 41,858,744 5,350 132,733,975 246,953.50 5,106,736.50 15,097,980 1,947,304 511,706 1,610 94,784,994 677,830 3,560 1,698 33,641,845 1,187,666 13,835,950 27,721,922 530 6,062,950 6,366,958 51,232,200 499,014 141,192,235 186,822 10,170 1,063,840 46,160 13,190 1,581,462 30,302,644 330,115 81,420 810,090 28,635,445 36,300 2,153,140 4,252,050

-2,427,720.00 1,385,708 -93,990 101,680 1,281,858 519,232 -180,000 -5,019,860 613 -485,184 -2,270,734.00 21,802,874 2,183,320 -18,588,497 2,278,035 -51,411.50 4,086,763 5,980,750 -342,426 -118,288 -24,733,016 -96,360 -881,214 -4,863,420 -5,807,602 417,460 -636,411 -1,980,980 -38,736 13,686,225 21,197 -924,890 -20,170,258.50 7,450 7,670 2,506,596 36,300 -398,800 -249,110

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 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.91 54.5 12.56 0.8 6.9 13.3 1.21 1.21 900 3.51 6.78 8.93 13.5 0.24 885.5 5.85 75 5.38 0.51 4.53 14.48 0.65 5.06 1.34 3.09 174.5 2.44 1,015 0.84 1.29 229.8 0.234 0.255

0.97 54.9 12.58 0.8 6.9 13.3 1.21 1.21 903 3.52 6.86 9 13.68 0.24 885.5 6.19 75 5.38 0.51 4.53 14.8 0.65 5.12 1.38 3.09 179 2.44 1,019 0.88 1.29 232 0.234 0.255

0.9 53.8 12.18 0.79 6.9 12.94 1.18 1.21 898.5 3.43 6.75 8.88 13.5 0.24 871.5 5.85 72.05 5.3 0.49 4.42 14.48 0.62 5.06 1.33 3.09 174.5 2.44 1,000 0.84 1.27 229.8 0.234 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.97 35,326,000 54.9 599,960 12.38 5,398,000 0.79 908,000 6.9 2,400 13.3 33,900 1.19 3,015,000 1.21 361,000 900 229,470 3.44 2,261,000 6.79 1,533,600 8.92 4,733,400 13.68 6,900 0.24 10,000 880 117,160 5.86 2,600 72.5 536,440 5.3 47,100 0.51 26,000 4.44 794,000 14.8 235,400 0.65 133,000 5.07 14,089,700 1.38 85,000 3.09 2,000 178.8 466,950 2.44 19,000 1,005 82,115 0.84 668,000 1.27 413,000 229.8 620 0.234 10,000 0.245 1,560,000

33,282,400 32,664,614.50 66,640,204 717,330 16,560 443,866 3,598,080 436,810 206,494,385 7,810,660 10,398,579 42,195,935 93,330 2,400 102,733,420 15,254 39,079,049.50 250,210 12,900 3,555,610 3,456,406 84,060 71,499,464 113,850 6,180 82,907,949 46,360 82,916,850 561,280 529,890 142,540 2,340 386,690

-1,425,600 -4,614,238 -22,696,340 -242,000 -9,538,930 676,750 -3,357,189 -35,369,422 1,368 2,400 -41,365,015 -9,938,850.00 530 163,160 1,185,978 -4,175,888.00 -16,583,032 -9,148,900 -168,120 -38,500 -4,596 165,640

15.2 0.84 1.83 0.93 48.1 2.15 4.92 0.55 0.73 0.85 0.218 0.4 9.6 21.2 0.455 0.13 1.63 1.24 4.29 5.01 0.315 0.445 1.47 0.39

PROPERTY 15.2 1,580,800 0.86 3,687,000 1.87 253,000 0.95 3,791,000 49 8,494,900 2.15 941,000 4.92 193,000 0.55 11,185,000 0.73 1,000 0.85 13,000 0.228 370,000 0.4 280,000 9.77 826,700 21.3 29,200 0.46 50,000 0.13 10,000 1.65 3,803,000 1.25 11,000 4.29 20,000 5.01 6,375,500 0.315 4,120,000 0.445 30,000 1.48 1,418,000 0.39 180,000

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

15.26 0.85 1.88 0.95 48.1 2.16 4.99 0.56 0.73 0.87 0.229 0.4 9.66 21.2 0.455 0.13 1.66 1.24 4.29 5.07 0.32 0.445 1.49 0.39

15.26 0.87 1.88 0.96 49 2.17 4.99 0.56 0.73 0.87 0.229 0.4 9.83 21.6 0.46 0.13 1.66 1.25 4.29 5.1 0.32 0.445 1.51 0.39

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

2.07 24.95 2.32 3.35 35.1 2.41 5.98 0.92 7.62

2.07 25.2 2.38 3.35 35.45 2.45 5.98 0.92 7.69

2.02 24.95 2.32 3.24 34.85 2.41 5.82 0.92 7.62

2.04 25.1 2.36 3.24 35.45 2.45 5.82 0.92 7.68

83,000 917,800 8,000 3,000 4,148,800 638,000 257,100 32,000 1,976,200

168,550 23,024,880 18,940 9,940 145,782,885 1,537,620 1,507,276 29,440 15,156,926

-7,060,610 6,110,115 -495,803 -5,472,065

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

10.06 19.44 1.77 0.68 0.049 2.38 11.02 0.056 90.9 7.05 6.22 2.17 10.28 920 1,945 5.26 1.7 1.84 129.5 9.23 4.5 0.113 5.37 14.3 3.16 0.91 19.5 0.445 3.49 2.48 1.19 1.23 3.3 2.89 8.2 2.76 4.74 135 3.22 1,172 0.73 0.58 42.55 80.5 2.75 0.69 0.37 5.4 0.7 16.42

10.4 19.6 1.78 0.75 0.049 2.42 11.12 0.057 92.4 7.12 6.22 2.17 10.6 920 1,945 5.3 1.72 1.93 130.8 9.23 4.5 0.113 5.38 14.3 3.23 0.91 19.7 0.445 3.49 2.5 1.19 1.23 3.47 2.89 8.2 2.76 5.05 137.7 3.24 1,177 0.74 0.59 42.55 80.5 2.84 0.7 0.37 5.4 0.71 16.6

10.04 19.3 1.71 0.67 0.048 2.37 11.02 0.056 90.9 7.02 6.22 2.17 10.06 920 1,890 5.25 1.69 1.84 129.1 9.23 4.5 0.11 5.31 13.52 3.16 0.91 19.5 0.445 3.4 2.48 1.18 1.23 3.25 2.76 8.1 2.76 4.73 135 3.17 1,155 0.72 0.56 42.1 78.3 2.75 0.69 0.36 5.39 0.69 16.3

SERVICES 10.2 19.3 1.75 0.74 0.049 2.38 11.04 0.056 91.65 7.05 6.22 2.17 10.32 920 1,890 5.25 1.71 1.92 130 9.23 4.5 0.112 5.31 13.52 3.19 0.91 19.5 0.445 3.4 2.5 1.18 1.23 3.43 2.76 8.1 2.76 5.05 137.7 3.2 1,159 0.72 0.58 42.3 79.8 2.84 0.7 0.36 5.4 0.71 16.6

15,600 190,300 42,000 100,064,000 90,000 102,000 1,308,800 10,730,000 13,910 366,100 100 1,000 309,700 90 92,025 139,400 353,000 6,000 964,400 900 4,000 1,330,000 724,900 500 337,000 1,000 58,700 170,000 32,000 207,000 55,000 4,000 3,300,000 113,000 10,700 2,000 15,000 93,330 338,000 51,900 1,256,000 16,435,000 162,300 6,400 850,000 210,000 6,790,000 29,900 358,000 3,817,000

159,356 3,690,786 73,930 71,317,060 4,380 243,220 14,447,572 602,610 1,273,705 2,586,819 622 2,170 3,184,888 82,800 175,276,195 732,494 599,700 11,480 125,407,863 8,307 18,000 147,210 3,863,408 6,994 1,078,330 910 1,146,076 75,650 109,650 516,270 65,280 4,920 11,188,680 314,680 87,020 5,520 71,290 12,849,727 1,080,680 60,311,020 911,950 9,384,540 6,860,885 510,474 2,371,320 146,720 2,465,350 161,366 249,390 62,920,388

-1,090,360 12,000 -1,992,384 66,167.50 -145,015 622 2,170 -128,602,765 -23,504,778 282,584 -163,190 21,524 -32,400 451,040 29,766 -178,140 -927,590 -452,170 -96,100.00 -2,721,225 -109,083.50 1,092,190 3,600 38,336 11,318,638.00

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

0.002 1.23 12.14 1.19 2.68 0.29 7.98 1.72 0.226 0.111 0.109 0.012 1.21 4.17 1.11 0.5 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.011 9.3 3.97 12.5 23.5 0.007

0.002 1.23 12.14 1.19 2.69 0.29 7.98 1.75 0.24 0.111 0.109 0.012 1.21 4.29 1.17 0.54 0.93 0.012 0.012 0.012 9.4 4.04 12.7 23.5 0.007

0.002 1.19 11.7 1.19 2.67 0.28 7.7 1.69 0.221 0.11 0.109 0.012 1.17 4.17 1.11 0.5 0.9 0.012 0.012 0.011 8.97 3.97 12.2 23.2 0.007

MINING & OIL 0.002 17,000,000 1.2 2,106,000 12.14 1,100 1.19 7,000 2.67 1,108,000 0.28 90,000 7.97 22,400 1.7 5,061,000 0.235 400,000 0.11 1,390,000 0.109 200,000 0.012 700,000 1.2 96,000 4.22 5,333,000 1.15 318,000 0.53 108,000 0.93 377,000 0.012 29,600,000 0.012 800,000 0.012 6,700,000 9.17 644,300 3.97 102,000 12.36 952,500 23.5 114,800 0.007 1,000,000

28,900 2,547,450 12,958 8,330 2,966,860 25,300 173,048 8,690,220 91,190 153,410 21,800 8,400 114,060 22,584,820 360,510 54,480 349,990 355,200 9,600 75,800 5,854,124 406,320 11,801,984 2,692,020 6,500

9,600 2,670 0 367,320 -9,280 6,540 1,476,320 -44,000 321,083.00 -32,000 805,574 -1,075,490 -

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

18.5 102 101.9 107.1 5.08 970 97.4 101.5 1,024 101 109 990 78.5 75.05 76.5 75.25 76 76.8

18.54 102 101.9 107.1 5.17 970 97.4 101.5 1,024 101 109 990 78.5 75.05 77 75.25 76 76.8

18.5 102 101.9 107 5.08 970 97.2 101.5 1,024 100 109 982 77.8 75.05 76.5 75.25 76 76.75

PREFERRED 18.52 288,000 102 230 101.9 500 107 12,950 5.17 21,100 970 10 97.25 1,100 101.5 10 1,024 1,160 100 12,810 109 150 982 50 78 18,950 75.05 7,000 77 620 75.25 52,900 76 70 76.75 130

5,329,632 23,460 50,950 1,385,677 107,197 9,700 106,954.50 1,015 1,187,840 1,285,412 16,350 49,180 1,477,570 525,350 47,690 3,980,725 5,320 9,983

-1,417,772 -1,187,840 9,900 150,500 -

LR WARRANT

1.7

1.61

WARRANTS 1.68 45,000

72,890

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

6.73 11.36 2.3 1

6.9 12 2.3 1.02

6.73 11.36 2.3 0.99

SME 6.87 11.36 2.3 1

3,293,608 10,348,932 13,800 2,830,120

FIRST METRO ETF

118.4

118.6

118

MS 24,096,824 3,173,230 465,770 3,552,510 415,491,840 2,031,410 955,540 6,228,920 730 11,070 80,870 112,000 8,069,691 623,635 22,800 1,300 6,240,070 13,650 85,800 32,116,999 1,304,100 13,350 2,114,430 70,200

-1,197,362 1,720 2,850 22,627,555 -1,414,040 188,090 4,000 7,220,701 -21,320 1,300 510,170 -12,182,371 754,830 -

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.38 10.04

TRADING SUMMARY

10.38 10.04

FINANCIAL

15,861,782

INDUSTRIAL

75,763,314

HOLDING FIRMS

73,868,968

PROPERTY

57,977,715

SERVICES

151,928,607

MINING & OIL

74,315,838

GRAND TOTAL

453,904,649

10.38 10.02

482,100 883,700 6,000 2,814,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUND 118.6 2,460 DDS 10.38 10.02

2,400 11,000

-143,730 -22,382 -

291,105

-3,552

24,912 110,340

VALUE 1,800.12 (up) 3.71 1,018,523,074.72 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,980.25 (up) 22.52 849,294,624.59 HOLDING FIRMS 7,827.34 (down) 71.1 799,226,056.56 PROPERTY 4,059.53 (up) 50.11 SERVICES 1,585.63 (down) 8.61 789,100,155.54 MINING & OIL 9,395 (down) 21.25 584,186,213.23 PSEI 7,911.32 (down) 3.97 59,420,411.18 All Shares Index 4,782.96 (down) 3.47 4,116,529,177.2 Gainers: 86; Losers: 108; Unchanged: 53; Total: 247

Metrobank board okays sale of CDs worth P25b By Julito G. Rada METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in terms of assets, plans to raise up to P25 billion through the issuance of long-term negotiable certificates of deposits in a bid to fund future growth and expansion. Metrobank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday the board approved the plan in a meeting a day ago. “The board of directors of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. on Sept. 18, 2019 approved the issuance of PHP-LTNCD of up to P25 billion in one or more tranches of at least P2 billion per tranche,” the bank said. It said the notes would have “tenors of 5.5 up to 10 years, subject to regulatory approval and market conditions.” Earlier this month, Metrobank said it was also planning to raise at least P5 billion through the issuance of the fourth tranche under its P100-billion bond and commercial paper program. The bank tapped ING Bank N.V., Manila branch and Standard Chartered Bank as lead arrangers for this issuance. “This fourth tranche will have a tenor of at least three and a half years to be priced using the applicable interpolated PHP BVAL Reference Rate benchmark. The bank is looking to raise at least P5 billion, with the option to upsize,” it said. The final issue size, terms, and timing of the issuance will be subject to market conditions. Metrobank has raised an aggregate of P56.75 billion from offerings of peso bonds since November 2018. The bank in the first half continued to solidify its strong position as one of the biggest lenders in the country in terms of assets, loans, deposits, and branch network. Net income in the first six months jumped 18 percent to P13 billion from P11 billion in the same period last year on sustained strength in core businesses. The deposit base hit P1.6 trillion, with CASA (current account, savings account) ratio at 61 percent to total deposits. Credit demand was mainly broadbased, as both the commercial segment (comprised of corporate, middle market and SMEs) and consumer portfolio (including mortgage, auto, and credit cards) posted mid-single digit growth. Net interest margin grew by 6 basis points to 3.83 percent. Net interest income rose 10 percent to P36.5 billion, accounting for 73 percent of the bank’s total revenues of P50.2 billion. Non-interest income stood at P13.7 billion, up 16 percent year-on-year. The bank’s consolidated assets totaled P2.3 trillion while equity stood at P296.5 billion.

Megaworld set to build beach mall in Mactan By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWORLD Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, is spending P1.5 billion to build a two-level beach shopping mall in Cebu. The mall, called Mactan Newtown Beach Walk, is within Megaworld’s 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown development in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. “Megaworld Lifestyle Malls is bringing a fresh, new concept of mall development in Cebu that recreates and innovates the beach lifestyle experience,” Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin Tan said. “We take inspiration from some iconic coastline commercial developments in South California, where visitors can enjoy coffee, meet friends over lunch or dinner, watch a movie, or simply shop around in this laid-back beach atmosphere,” he added. The mall will be highlighted by a 1.4-hectare man-made lagoon at the center. The lagoon will have floating boardwalks and a bridge that will connect both sides of the mall. With a maximum depth of around 1.5-meters, it can also serve as venue for future water sports activities, such as jet ski, wake-boarding, stand-up paddling and boating. It will also have its own man-made shoreline at the perimeter. It will offer four state-of-the-art cinemas, a food hall, al fresco areas, Traveler’s Lounge, and a view deck, allowing visitors and mall goers to have a panoramic view of the sea and nearby islands. The mall complex will have a threestory boutique hotel, offering 48 spacious guestrooms with retail shops at the ground level. The mall will be operated under the Megaworld Hotels brand. Megaworld will use solar roof panels on the new mall and utilize an open layout scheme for passive cooling and natural lighting in most of the development’s common areas.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Thousands of schools closed due to haze from forest fires KUALA LUMPUR―Thousands of schools were shuttered across Malaysia and Indonesia Thursday, affecting at least 1.7 million pupils, officials said, as toxic haze from rampant forest fires sent the air quality plummeting. Nearly 2,500 schools were ordered to shut their doors in Malaysia―including nearly 300 in the smog-hit capital Kuala Lumpur―over soaring health concerns sparked by toxic haze from out-of-control blazes in Indonesia’s Sumatra and Borneo islands. Indonesia said hundreds of schools in hard-hit Riau province on Sumatra would also be shut Thursday, with 800 closed in one district alone, while about 1,300 were shut in its Central Kalimantan province on Borneo. The closures affected at least 1.7 million students in Malaysia. It was not clear how many pupils were forced to stay home in neighboring Indonesia. Jakarta is deploying thousands of security forces and water-bombing aircraft to tackle the blazes, mostly started by illegal fires set to clear land for plantations. The fires belch smog across South-

MEETING. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo takes part in a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on September 18, 2019. AFP

east Asia annually, but this year’s are the worst since 2015 and have added to concerns about wildfire outbreaks worldwide exacerbating global warming. Thursday’s school shutdown marked the first mass closure in Kuala Lumpur as air quality deteriorated to “unhealthy” or “very unhealthy” levels on an official index in many parts of peninsular Malaysia, to the east of Sumatra, with the capital’s skyline shrouded by dense smog. Malaysia’s Sarawak state, on Borneo, was also smothered in toxic haze, as the fires hike diplomatic tensions. Borneo is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. A growing number of Malaysians were suffering health problems due to the haze, with authorities saying there had been a sharp increase in outpatients at government hospitals―many suffering dry and itchy eyes. Air quality was in the “unhealthy” range across Singapore Thursday morning, according to the National Environment Agency, as the city state’s environment minister called it a “major setback” in the fight against climate change. AFP

Climate change bites in Australian Outback

TANTHORPE, Australia―An unprecedented water shortage in drought-stricken eastern Australia is driving home the brutal realities of climate change and threatening the much-mythologized Outback way of life. From sunny Queensland all the way to Sydney, more than a dozen small towns are facing their own “Day Zero” within months, a water crisis reminiscent of the taps being turned off in Cape Town and Chennai. It’s getting hotter, it’s getting drier, and adding to the misery, precious water supplies are being tasked to ﬁght hundreds of bush ﬁres ripping through the Australian countryside. In the small horticulture hub of Stanthorpe, Queensland, a prolonged crushing drought has left water supplies at the local dam sitting meters below normal levels. Despite sitting within the basin of Aus-

tralia’s biggest river system―as do all of the towns running dry―Stanthorpe is set to run dry by Christmas. Authorities will have no choice but to truck-in water at a monthly cost of Aus$1 million ($690,000)―a temporary reprieve expected to remain sustainable for just 12 months. In Angus Ferrier’s orchard, citrus trees that once blossomed in orderly rows now lie in a twisted heap. His farm’s water own supply will be empty within weeks, so he has dug up thousands of trees and expects to sacriﬁce the same number again before the year is out. “They were eight years old,” he said,

pulling a dried ﬂower off a gnarled branch, “so eight years of your life, gone in a day.” The local growers’ association believes drought will cost the region’s economy Aus$100 million this season alone -- an enormous amount for a small community like Stanthorpe. Farmers are taking radical measures just to survive, spending a small fortune to truck-in water for their crops or renting land in other districts that have been less badly affected. “I do know of some growers who are literally bone dry and have decided to plant nothing this year and practically close their businesses down in the shortterm,” Ferrier said. Their struggles have had a knock-on effect in town, where shops are on the brink of shutting, and desperation has led to several instances of water theft across the region. To the south, the entire state of New

South Wales was declared in drought last Country”-has long been buffeted by December. Some reservoirs are as low drought and ﬂoods. as one percent of capacity, and smaller But scientists say weather extremes towns such as Guyra have effectively are exacerbated by climate change, already run dry. which Australians—even some in these Water is being trucked in until a fast- conservative bush areas—increasingly tracked Aus$13 million pipeline comes acknowledge. AFP online at the end of September. But at current water usage rates, even the pipeline’s supply will only last the wider 30,000-strong Armidale district another year. “We are looking at alternative N OTICE sources of water, not just that which Notice is hereby given that QPAX TRAFFIC comes from the sky by way of rain,” SYSTEMS VALENZUELA, INC. with office address Suite 304 State Condominium 1, 186 Salcedo St., Armidale Regional Council CEO Su- at Legaspi Village, Makati City is applying for registration wit,h the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator san Law said. Public Private Partnership - Local Government “A hydro-geologist has identiﬁed of Unit (PPP-LGU) Project (No Contact Apprehension nine sites around the Guyra region Program of Valenzuela City) under the Infrastructure Logistics including PPP-LGU project under the where we will be drilling to see if and 2017 IPP on a Pioneer status. there’s groundwater there to suppleAny person with valid objection/s on the abovement our supply.” mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, Australia-dubbed the “Sunburned under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

IN BRIEF

(SGD) MARYANN E. RAGANIT Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-SEPT. 20, 2019)

Pioneering Tonga PM laid to rest NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga―Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa Thursday as the Pacific kingdom bid farewell to prime minister Akilisi Pohiva, the pioneering democracy campaigner who died last week aged 78. Tonga declared a public holiday and national day of mourning for Pohiva’s state funeral, which saw members of the royal family join crowds packed into the city’s Wesleyan Centenary Church. Children in school uniforms waited patiently along the roadside to pay their respects as a hearse carrying Pohiva’s flag-draped coffin passed by. They were joined by adults wearing ta’ovala, the traditional Tongan straw mat wrapped around the waist, many carrying large pictures of the man who fought for decades to get them a vote. Others bore signs honoring Pohiva, one reading “Rest in love PM, my hero”. Pohiva, a former history teacher, began his push for democracy in the mid-1970s, when Tonga was an absolute monarchy dominated by the royal family and nobles. He was elected to parliament in 1987 and in 2014 became the country’s first popularly elected prime minister after the reforms that gave ordinary voters more say in their government. AFP

Panda’s death stirs suspicion BANGKOK―Chinese experts arrived in Thailand to investigate the death of a beloved giant panda, zoo ofﬁcials said Thursday, as millions of netizens in China questioned the cause of the male bear’s sudden demise. Chuang Chuang, a resident of Chiang Mai Zoo since October 2003, died Monday aged 19 after years of living in an air-conditioned enclosure with female Lin Hui. The pair were on loan from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu as part of Beijing’s so-called “panda diplomacy” and were supposed to be returned in 2023. Pandas can live up to 30 years in captivity and Chuang Chuang’s sudden death has raised questions about his care. China “urgently dispatched panda experts” to investigate the cause of death, according to a statement released by Chiang Mai Zoo Thursday, and a ChineseThai “joint working team” will perform an autopsy. Thailand has long obsessed over Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui, as the notoriously sex-shy pair had struggled to conceive and were shown video clips of successful panda couplings in an attempt to stir their libidos. AFP

LAUNCHING. Haven attends the Ted Baker London AW ‘19 launch event at Hideaway on September 18, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Disappearing snow caps spell trouble for La Paz LA PAZ―Water resources are running dry in the world’s highest-elevation capital due to the combined effect of the Andean glaciers melting, drought and mismanagement. But instead of surrendering, the locals in Bolivia’s capital La Paz are ﬁnding new ways to tackle the changing climate. The sky-high metropolitan area’s 2.7 million people have already been jolted by climate change: a severe drought that lasted for several months from 2016 into 2017 was Bolivia’s worst in 25 years, leading to water rationing and widespread protests in several cities. In a sign of possibly worse to come, the Andean snow caps-which have been relied on to ﬁll the city’s reservoirs―are disappearing at a rate that has alarmed scientists. In a gray and misty Valle de las Flores district in the east of the city, people are beginning to adapt to disappearing water resources. There, Juana and her colleague Maria wash clothes for a living at a municipal wash-house, which is fed by spring water. Public wash-houses―where the water is free―are becoming more popular, as residents change their habits around water use, getting their laundry done and escaping rising water charges. “It’s true that there are more people coming here than ever before,” since water started to become more scarce, said Juana, as the women scrubbed and wrung-out garments for a fee of 20 bolivianos, or around $3 per dozen items. AFP

Petitioner and Private Respondent REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES were married on November 15, 2013 REGIONAL TRIAL COURT at Pasay City, Metro Manila. Their NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION marriage was registered in the Local BRANCH 114, PASAY CITY Civil Registry of Pasay City. Their marital relationship was unsuccessful IN RE: PETITION FOR and led to Divorce later and have not RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN been blessed with any offspring. On DIVORCE AND DECLARATION September 07, 2016, at the instance OF CAPACITY TO DECREE FROM and insistence of Private Respondent THE UNITED TO REMARRY UNDER HIDEAKI FUJIMOTO, respondent and ARTICLE 26, FAMILY CODE, petitioner were divorced. This divorce was an absolute one and capacitated SP. PROC. CASE NO. the Private Respondent to Remarry, R-PSY-19-01208-CV according to Japanese Laws and Regulations. To date, however, her JERALYN GRUTA ESPECTACION, Divorce with former husband, Private A.K.A. “JERALYN ESPECTACION Respondent HIDEAKI FUJIMOTO, FUJIMOTO”, has not been annotated on their Petitioner, corresponding Certificate of Marriage. -versusFinding the petition sufficient in form LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF and substance, notice is hereby given PASAY CITY, THE ADMINISTRATOR that the hearing of the petition is reset AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL on September 26, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. sitting at Room 402, Hall of Justice OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS Building, F.B . Harrison Street, Pasay AUTHORITY AND HIDEAKI City. All parties interested may appear FUJIMOTO, and appear and show cause why the Respondents. x---------------------------------------------x said petition should not be granted. copy of this order be published in AMENDED ORDER Let newspaper of general circulation once A verified Petition for Judicial a week for three consecutive weeks at Recognition of Foreign Divorce and the expense of the petitioner. Declaration of Capacity to Remarry Under Article 26, Family Code was filed Likewise, let copy of this order be by petitioner through counsel, alleging furnished the Office of the Solicitor among others that she is Jeralyn General, the City Prosecutor of this Gruta Espectacion, a.k.a. “Jeralyn Court, the Local Civil Registrar of Espectacion Fujimoto, a Filipino Pasay City and the Civil Registrar citizen of legal age and residing at No. General, Philippine Statistics Office 287 I.Medina St., Pasay City. But for and Hideaki Fujimoto.

AFFIDAVIT

purposes of this petition petitioner may SO ORDERED. be served with legal processes at her counsel’s address at No. 109 Pasadeña Pasay City, Metro Manila, August St., Pasay City, Metro Manila. Private 29, 2019. Respondent Hideaki Fujimoto is a (Sgd.) RESTITUTO V. MANGALDAN, JR. Japanese national, of legal age, a Acting Presiding Judge resident of Japan, whose last address and permanent domicile in Japan, as RVM/roe/hbb foreigndivorce known to the Petitioner, is at 234-1 (MStandard-Sep. 6, 13 & 20, 2019) Nisikimati Yonago Shi Tottori, Japan.

I, ROMEL T. BAGTANG, of legal age, married, Filipino citizen, with residence address at Purok 4, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga City under oath, depose and state that:

Republic of the Philippines Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

Republic of the Philippines) Province of Kalinga ) City of Tabuk )

(1) I am the lone business owner of MEL`S CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, duly registered under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); (2) The said business is now changing its current status, SINGLE PROPRIETORSHIP, to a CORPORATE status bearing the name RT BAGTANG CONSTRUCTION AND DEV`T. CORP.; (3) The said business has no pending case whatsoever be it civil, criminal or administrative case; (4) All business documents necessary and pertinent to the change of status has been submitted to and registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). (5) Being the holder of majority of the shares of stock, I have the controlling interest over the said corporation; (6) As such, I am executing this affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing. In witness whereof, I have here unto set my hand this 12th day of September, 2019 at Tabuk City, Kalinga, Philippines. Affiant further sayeth naught.

IN THE MATTER OF

: : CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT : CORPORATION : x----------------------------------------x

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 6 September 2019, a sworn Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION for the registration of One Billion Four Hundred Million Pesos (Php1,400,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers. According to the papers presented, the following persons are the officers/ directors of the corporation: Name Dr. Andrew I. Liuson Stephen C. Roxas Grace C. Liuson Josef C. Gohoc Atty. Sabino R. Padilla, Jr. Peter S. Dee George Edwin Y. SyCip Helen C. Roxas Benjamin I. Liuson Emma A. Choa Rudy Go Melita M. Revuelta

ROMEL T. BAGTANG TIN NO. 183-358-018-000 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this September 12, 2019, in Tabuk City, affiant exhibiting his Community Tax Certificate NO. 00557884, issued on January 4, 2019 at Tabuk City, Philippines.

(MS-SEPT. 20, 2019)

REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL PAPERS

Melita L. Tan Romeo E. Ng Rosario D. Perez Winefreda R. Go Atty. Emma G. Jularbal Dorothy U. So Catherine Grace T. Wong

Position Director/Chairman of the Board Director/Chairman of the Executive Committee Director/Vice-Chairman of the Board Director/President Director Independent Director Independent Director Director Director Executive Vice-President/Treasurer Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/ Compliance & Corporate Information Officer/Data Protection Officer/Investor Relations Officer Vice President/Alternate Compliance & Corporate Information Officer Vice President Vice President Vice President - Executive Affairs Vice President - Purchasing Department Vice President - Legal Affairs/Corporate Secretary Assistant Vice President-Head of Internal Audit Department Assistant Corporate Secretary

Said registration statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively known as “RS”) are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to any party, upon request at such fees as the Commission may prescribe. The RS and the Prospectus dated 6 September 2019 and the corresponding updated version may be downloaded from www.cityland.net.

(MS-SEPT. 20 & 23, 2019)

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO Director Markets and Securities Regulation Department

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

PLDT, Smart back GenSan Tuna Festival

FOR this year’s Tuna Festival, General Santos City pushed for environmental and education awareness with the support of PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, the festival’s official advocacy partners. PLDT and Smart showcased homegrown innovations #PlanetSmart recyclables collection system and #LearnSmart educational apps. The festival is celebrated every year during the anniversary of the charter inauguration of General Santos City, also known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. Throughout the celebration, Smart set up its #PlanetSmart recyclables collection system at the Oval Plaza and Plaza Heneral Santos. The #Plan- One of the giant, colorful floats catches the eye of onlookers in the Tuna Festival parade in General Santos City, as Smart etSmart collection bin includes a re- representatives discuss the #PlanetSmart and #LearnSmart installations with LGU and DepEd officials on the festival sidelines (inset). verse vendo machine, where users can dispose of their plastic bottles and used drink cans in exchange for free Smart Load. The trash collected from the #PlanetSmart bins will be turned over to the local waste management office for recycling. “We teamed up with the GenSan local government unit for this activity as mission on Appointments of the BangBy Nash B. Maulana part of our campaign to promote envisamoro Transition Authority Parliament. ronmental conservation,” said Smart Cusain said another factor is the FFICIALS moved to address a persisting issue on purported public affairs senior manager Nova graduated retrenchment of employees, delays in release of salaries in some agencies of the fledgling following the abolition of the ARMM, Concepcion. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “This is also in line with this year’s which is a natural consequence of the Tuna Fest campaign message of prodissolution of government offices. tecting our oceans through sustainSome agencies of the defunct BARMM Acting Executive Secretary Arabic subjects in some public schools able development and responsible use Abdullah Cusain said Thursday affected were reportedly delayed, as the former ARMM were drawing flak from conof our oceans,” Concepcion added. workers are mostly those holding service signatory of their paychecks has been tractual employees, purportedly over During the Tuna Festival, Smart or job-order contracts whose renewable appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte delayed releases of salaries. also showcased its mother tongueAffected employees have written tenures granted by the previous adminis- to a higher position. based teaching apps under the tration had expired last June. Cusain said the process of renewal has anonymous letters to the media, saying #LearnSmart program. Cusain said the BARMM has re- been slowed down by several factors, in- they were waiting for their salaries deThe award-winning program features newed many of the affected workers’ cluding a requirement by the Civil Ser- layed to a second or third month. Otheducational apps in various languages, contracts up to Dec. 31, 2019 when even vice Commission that in any event it will ers claimed they were owed up to four which mobile users and Indigenous Peoregular appointments will be terminat- only recognize the region’s Chief Minis- months of unpaid salaries. ples learners can use to enhance their Meanwhile, the teaching personnel of ed, because of the abolition of the Au- ter and other presidential appointees as learnings in several areas. the BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher tonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. signatories of regional appointments. He said one option that can unburden and Technical Education are spared from BARMM Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, con- Ebrahim from having to go through thou- the impending termination of their sercurrent spokesperson for Chief Minis- sands of documents for his signature al- vices as an offshoot of ARMM’s abolition, ter Murad Ebrahim, said he received most daily would be for regional Cabinet as a new signatory would have to be desigreports that salaries of teachers of appointees to be confirmed by the Com- nated as soon as possible, Sinarimbo said.

BARMM eases salary delays

DOT 11 holds Davao Oriental Sawom divefest

TO PROMOTE and develop the dive tourism industry in the Davao Region, the Department of Tourism Region 11 held the first Sawom Dabaw, the Davao Oriental Dive Festival in Governor Generoso (GovGen) town. “Sawom”, which literally means to swim or dive, featured discovery dive tours among participating dive center operators, industry stakeholders, underwater photographers and media. According to DOT 11 regional director Tanya Rabat-Tan, they envision the province as the next diving getaway of the region its rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity. She noted that it has the region’s longest coastline of more than 500 kilometers, exemplifying the richness of its coastal and marine resources that can be harnessed for sustainable tourism. Rabat-Tan said that the event is a step towards DOT 11’s “Islands to Highlands” tourism thrust of discovering new “ridge to reef” sites it can offer to adventure-loving local and foreign visitors the region. The divers explored the dive sites of GovGen, namely Sigaboy Island, Coral Garden, Cape San Agustin and Great Wall, a drop off near the coast of Tagabebe village which teems with barrel sponges, soft coral and gorgonian fans.

HARVEST FESTIVAL.

Lt. Gen. Gilbert Italia Gapay, Commander of AFP’s Southern Luzon Command; Dr. Isa Cojuangco Suntay, Director of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation; Marivee E. Dauz; Maj. Gen. Robert Dauz, Commander of the Armor (Pambato) Division of the Philippine Army; and Ltc. Elizabeth Macadangdang (from left) harvest vegatables during the ‘Hardin ng Lunas Harvest Festival’ to mark the 43rd Founding Anniversary of the PA’s Armor Division at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. Lino Santos

(Photos from top left) LANDBANK president and CEO Cecilia Borromeo delivers her message to the farmers of Tarlac . (Top right) Farmers line up to receive their cash cards loaded with P15,000. (Bottom) Borromeo and Governor Susan Yap lead the ceremonial awarding of the LANDBANK Cash Card to the farmerbeneficiaries, joined by Vice Governor Carlito S. David (5th from left), Provincial Board Members Saturnino B. Mandal and Joy Gilbert Lamorena (leftmost, 2nd from left), DA-ACPC Director II Cristina Lopez (3rd from left), DA Regional Technical Director Nelson Bautista (4th from left), and LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron (right).

SURE Aid Program helps Tarlac rice farmers first TARLAC CITY—More than 1,000 rice farmers in the Province of Tarlac have received loan assistance of P15,000 each under the Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance Program for Rice Farmers (SURE Aid Program) launched by the Department of Agriculture and Land Bank of the Philippines on Wednesday. LANDBANK president and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and Tarlac Governor Susan A. Yap led the launching.

Vice Governor Carlito S. David, Provincial Board Members Saturnino B. Mandal and Joy Gilbert Lamorena, Province of Tarlac Senior Agriculturist Celso Torres, DA Regional Technical Director Nelson Bautista, and DA Director II Ma. Cristina G. Lopez of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, and LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron joined them. Also present were Victoria Mayor

Christian Yap, Anao Mayor Rafael Naral, Pura Mayor Freddie Domingo, Ramos Mayor Diosdado Reginaldo, and Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan. The P1.5-billion SURE Aid Program is government’s initial relief response to rice farmers who are tilling one hectare of land and less, and are affected by the initial impact of lower palay prices. The one-time, zero-interest, no collateral loan of P15,000 is payable up to eight years.

No-contact apprehension now in V’zuela VALENZUELA City Mayor Rex Gatchalian recently launched a pioneering no-contact traffic apprehension system to address traffic management and road safety problems in his city. The local government unit initiative supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent call for reclaiming public roads, which means clearing public streets from obstructions from both public and private vehicles. “We are proud to announce that we are implementing the No-Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) to instill traffic discipline among motorists and road users and in effect will enhance traffic flow leading to better productivity for our city. It will improve our road safety which will also be very beneficial to the people of Valenzuela,” Gatchalian emphasized. Beginning Sept. 16, full enforcement of NCAP was implemented wherein high speed camera systems with full high definition technology installed in key intersections in the city to detect traffic violators and capture their vehicles’ plate numbers. Motorists using Karuhatan Road are expected to be extra careful not to violate traffic rules, as the city government spearhead the strict traffic enforcement to improve and decongest vehicle flows. Violators receive citation tickets by mail with the photo capture of their violation incident. Similar technology is being used in developed countries such as the United States, Europe and other parts of Asia. “We are grateful that this system is finally being utilized because it will greatly help our traffic enforcers as apprehension would be more accurate and efficient, as well as, avoid ‘kotong’, if ever there are enforcers engaging in such. This is a big help to our enforcers and would teach traffic discipline to Valenzuelanon,” said Jose Valenzuela, officer-in-charge of the Public Order and Safety Group Department of Valenzuela.

Coastal Cleanup at SM by the Bay

SM BY the BAY and SM Mall of Asia is set to hold the global celebration of the 34th International Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 21 to spread awareness in keeping the coastline clean for generations to come. This is in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region office, International Coastal Cleanup Philippines, Pasay City and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Philippine Coast Guard, and SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. To be held at the Central Park of the bay area inside the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, the International Coastal

Cleanup is one of the biggest events of SM by the BAY to support its advocacy in caring for the environment. This year’s coastal cleanup is expected to encourage thousands of volunteers to participate and show their concern for the environment in cleaning the coastal stretch of the SM by the BAY. Through the years, participants have come from different sectors of the society including students, firemen, policemen, teachers, athletes, SM employees and many more. Paired volunteers will be assigned to different stations wherein one will serve as the collector and other, the tabulator. Data collected will then be forwarded to Ocean Conservancy for final tabulation.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

YOUNG LIFE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Take care of your , kids! SEEING EYE TO EYE. Eye doctor and Vision Express chief of professional services and clinical instruction David Hornfield emphasizes the importance of getting regular eye checkup and having the right and good quality prescription glasses especially among those who are exposed to blue light-emitting devices and engaged in near-vision work.

By Bernadette Lunas

ANY kids these days learn how to scroll and tap touch screen devices earlier than getting a complete sentence out. And while it is fascinating to see a two-year-old tinkering with a gadget, this practice has led to a spike in myopia (or nearsightedness) cases among children.

“There is now an epidemic of myopia in Asia,” David Hornfield, a doctor of optometry, revealed in an interview with Manila Standard. According to this articulate eye specialist, more children, and at younger age, too, are becoming myopic or nearsighted due to two Gs: genetics and gadgets. “Probably [the cause] is a little bit genetic; some parents are nearsighted already, and the genetic DNA was passed on. But mostly due to the LEDs, the cellphones, the laptops, the iPads, and everything they do nowadays; it is with a screen that gives off high energy visible radiation,” said Hornfield. If one or both parents are nearsighted, it is highly likely that their children will be nearsighted or have a tendency to develop the condition, according to the American Optometric Association. But the actual development of myopia may be affected by how a person uses their eyes. And, yes, prolonged exposure to blue lightemitting screens such as those that Hornfield mentioned, as well as near-vision work—which usually is the case with gadgets—may result in nearsightedness.

is too curved, hence the light entering the eye isn’t focused correctly. A research by Michael Cohen Group found that children as young as two years know how to use touch screen devices. Hornfield said kids had better vision before the ubiquity of this technology. “But what’s happening is we need these gadgets in our life now. And they’re changing our eyes. And because children are becoming this way, their children will probably become this way because the DNA will be passed on.” Not only children have poor eyesight. The eye doctor said, “Vision of people today, across all generations, is worse than before.” Now lets close our eyes and let that sink in.

What can be done

You see—or maybe, you hardly see—eye checkup is becoming more important due to this trend. “I think children should be examined as young as 4 or 5 years old,” posited Hornfield.

See you at Vision Express

What is nearsightedness

AOA defined myopia or nearsightedness as a visual condition in which an individual can see close objects clearly while objects farther away appear blurry. It occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea

She's ready for her close-up trying on a new pair of sunglasses.

Eye doctors at Vision Express Kids are trained in handling eye examination regardless of the patient's age.

Parents receive suggestions on which pair is suitable for their kids.

And as a person ages, regular eye examination must still be done regularly, especially since the eye is a living tissue. “It can change shape (expand or contract) for no reason at all. You might change but another person might not at all. Everybody is totally different. You cannot judge it on what they’re doing, what they’re eating. Both can be doing near-work all the time and one changes and one doesn’t,” explained Hornfield. Since young patients can be quite challenging to examine, much less keep seated for the entire procedure, Hornfield and two other optometrists from the United Kingdom came to the newly opened Vision Express Kids at Greenbelt 5 to teach eye doctors how to handle children better. “[Performing eye checkups on children] is very different,” he said, in such a way that “it’s hard to keep a child seated, so you get whatever you can fast. And you make games and be silly with them as much as possible. So they will look at you and look through the machine.”

Hornfield, chief of professional services and clinical instruction at Vision Express, ensured that the eye doctors at the company’s first store targeted to 17 years old and below are ready to accept their young clients and perform the company’s seven-step eye examination procedure at the store for free. “We want to do more tests that are relevant instead of just doing refraction, which is really just putting a patient in front of lenses. We want to look in the eyes, we want to check for lazy eyes, we want to check if the patient sees with both eyes together properly, we want to look in they eye for diseases, we want to see a patient who maybe has external eye infection in their lids or under their lids.” Vision Express Kids, operated by Branded Lifestyle, Inc., aims to cater to the increasing demand for eye care services and products for children and teens. “We want to provide Filipinos with a higher eye care service, because in the Philippines eye examination only takes five minutes, and it shouldn’t be like that, it should be intensive that you know the background of your eyes,” Neelam Gopwani, assistant vice president for marketing and business development at BLI, told Manila Standard. “We concentrated on eye care first then we brought in the products,” she added. While primarily catered to kids (Gopwani said “60 percent of the store is dedicated to kids”), Vision Express Kids have products for adults, too. The branch offers the largest Ray-Ban Junior selection, including Aviator Junior, Blaze Aviator Junior, Wayfarer Junior, Wayfarer Round Junior, Round Junior, Blaze Round Double Junior, Clubmaster Junior, The General Junior, and Chris Junior. It also offers Guess Kids eyewear line: the Colorpop collection features thick-rimmed rectangular frames in dual colors, and the Eyecandy line features thin, lightweight models in various wide-framed shapes. Vision Express Kids also carries its in-house brand Tony Morgan, in styles and sizes for children 17 and below. Vision Express Kids is on the 3rd floor of Greenbelt 5 in Makati City.

BULLETIN BOARD

World education fair slated for October

STUDENTS in the Philippines looking from the world’s leading universities The one-day event happening at to further their education overseas have during the Study World Education Fair Makati Shangri-La, aims to empower a chance to meet with representatives on Oct. 5. students with the information they need to pursue an education abroad. Partner universities include Glasgow Caledonian University (United Kingdom), Manchester (UK), Marshal University (United States of America), Newcastle University (UK), Oregon State University (USA), Queen’s University of Belfast (UK), Istituto Marangoni (United Kingdom), International College Glasgow (UK), International College Liverpool (UK), University of Nottingham (UK), University of York (UK). Leeds Beckett University (UK), University of Leeds (UK), S P Jain Global School of Global Management (Australia), SIM Global Education (Singapore), Canadore College (Canada), De Montfort University (UK), Goldsmiths University of London (UK), HULT Business School (USA, UK), Mander Portman Woodward – Participants meet with representatives from international schools. MPW (UK), Oncampus UK, Univer-

The Study World Education Fair aims to empower students with the information they need to pursue an education abroad.

sity of Portsmouth (UK), University of St. Andrews (UK), University of Strathclyde (UK), and Shorelight Education (USA), among others. UKEAS, the organizer of the event, said some of the top benefits one can enjoy from studying abroad is access to courses not offered in the Philippines while seeing

and immersing in new cultures. “This is a chance to develop new connections for future networking, explore new interests, improve your career prospects on a global stage, and experience independent living.” Go to www.ukeas.ph to register.

assions, and values, and serves to and Jeff Remigio, director of content and programming; ervices from pirate sites. and AVIA policy and research director Clare Bloomfield. to welcome another Online Since its launch in November 2018, iWant, which provider signing up to the code. boasts the biggest library of Filipino video content, has industry was first discussed in produced original movies and series month after month e ASEAN Telecom Regulators —setting itself apart from other streaming platforms and FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 a way to create pan-ASEAN changing the landscape of Filipino entertainment and well, CEO of the Asia Video digital content. It now has 3.8 million app downloads and nickie.standard@gmail.com AVIA), the trade association for 13 million subscribers.

Entertainment

British actor Jude Law

Pinoy triumphs at tourism INTERNATIONAL and culture pageant in Myanmar VINA and SHAINA’S beautiful vision Entertainment WarnerMedia

PHILIPPINES Yves Campos won the title Mister Tourism & Culture Universe 2019 in the finals night held in Yangon, Myanmar on Saturday. Campos’ counterpart Roxanne Baeyens almost made it a double victory celebration for the Philippines after she was named as 1st funner-up in the dual pageant. The 26-year-old Campos, a native of Cebu City and presently works as a Nurse in Hawaii, was also awarded the Mister Popularity and Best in National Costume with his golden Sarimanok-inspired costume created by Allan Dela Fuente. V i e t nam’s Quach Thanh Lam was named 1st runner-up while Korea’s DongShe immediately went ahead to hun Chun was the ribbon cutting of the salon 2nd runner-up, and India’s Ravi Rabranch. Thereafter, she had a jput was 3rd runnerquick chat with the press to up. El Salvador’s Frantalk about her new televi- cisco Roberto Galvez and sion project, Sandugo, and France’sGuillaume Canahow she juggles her time da finished as 4th and 5th, rebetween show businessspectively. and managing her salon, Campos was asked the question “As an ambassador of tourism, which now has 24 branchwhat would you do to promote es across the country. the tourism industry worldwide?” The 43-year-old actress during the final Q and A portion. “Technology has been revealed that the success everywhere in our lives. Given the of the beauty salon chain honor became possible because of to be the next Mister TCU, I will the help of her sisters and use this [title] to promote tourism. Social media has been the the hardwork of theirmost loyalvaluable tool, and I believe, the employees. best way is through vlogging. believe "It's the people you that tourism is the backbone of every work with. I thank county’s identity and we should we the Ystilo team for proud of it,” Campos answered. Baeyens, on the other hand, is a always rooting for 22-year-old Fil-Belgian beauty, who each other," she hails from Baguio City. She was also started. named Miss Popularity and was Top "And my sisters 5 for her hot, Darna-inspired naare very support- tional costume made by Angelica Allado-Fonacier. Miss Indoneive. They're very

LIVELY Vina Morales greeted the guests and some members of the press who attended the reopening of Ystilo salon in Festival Mall in Alabang two weekends ago.

acquires ‘Big Bang Theory’ for new platform

Vina and Shaina Magdayao put up the first lent customer service,” the singer and actress Ystilo branch in Fairview. The two have been carried on. the hands behind its operations. Ystilo, now known for its concept as a Breast modern cancer Vina was the face of Ystilo back then, and Spanish salon, is celebrating 21 advocate in the later years, Shaina eventually became years in the beauty salon industry. BeGlyssa Perez an image model for the younger generationvies of forhind the scenes, managing the operations Ystilo salon patrons. are Sheila and Sheryll whose hardworkMiss World Philippines "We decided to make our dreams ing and determination made it possible for title a reality by starting a salon with a once Ystilo to become one of the most successmore. concept to keep clients in style," ful and long-standing salons in the country Vina told reporters. today with branches in Luzon, "Our vision isBS-CBN to offer Network continues Visayas, andthe Mindanao. to be choice of young Filipigood and quality service To thank its loyal clients, nosour in South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Jim to our clients. And Ystilo has some Kudarat, big promosSaranParsons gani, after bagging mission is to be the and General Santos(Soccksargen) on its salon services runof 'The leader inBest the salon ningParangal until Nov. of 30.the Visit Big the TV Station award at the 5th Aral Young sia Olivia Gunawan wonbyMiss Tourism & Culture Uniindustry providthe nearest Ystilo branch Bang Educators’ of Soccksargenfor(YECS). verse 2019 withing Malaysia’s Wenanita Augang and CamTheory' the trendiest andConvergence more details. eroon’s Audrey Wafack, winning 2nd and 3rd, respecupdated hairstyles, Following the reopentively. Canada’s Milissa Grande and France’s Sonia Ait reasonaing Show). of its branch in the WARNERMEDIA group announced is places. the fifth time the KapamValues Oriented Mansour, tookproviding the 4th This and 5th that it had secured the rights for ilya network the top award RoundingSouth up the metro Kapamilya priced products are winthe Tuesday The Miss & bly Mister Tourism andreceived Culture Universe was The Big Bang Theory on its upcoming from award-giving body,Myanwhich ners are the TNT Boysof(Music Artist online platform HBO Max, the latest and offering opening its other founded in Myanmar’s withthe a mission to promote also presented it with 20 more awards of the Year) and Moira Dela Torre’s mar to the rest of the world with the winners in this pageant excelbranches in move in the fight for back catalogs various and entertainment song “Tagpuan” (Song of the Year). will actively involve for andits initiate thenews promotion of tourism M a r i k i n a , between streaming services. programs andprograms. personalities this year in YECS is a UNEworldwide and cultural exchange All 279 episodes of the comedy show, Fairview the awarding SCO-accredited * * * ceremony held in General stretching across 12 seasons, will be T e r r a c e s available when HBO Max launches in City.Glyssa Perez pursues alliance of Breast cancerSantos advocate in Quezon spring next year, the company said in a TV Patrol won Best News Proyoung proplatform in Miss World PH gram Perez while tries its anchors De secCasfessional City and statement. Australian born Glyssa her luckNoli for the tro and Bernadette won teachers Classic television series have become another ond time at the 2019 Miss World PhilippinesSembrano pageant where Best to Male News Anchor and Best Feand edua hot commodity in the escalating battle she finished First Princess Laura Lehmann two years ago. in La male News Anchor, respectively. Mafor streaming supremacy. The Wall Street cation The 24-year-old Commerce graduate in Sydney, AustralUnion. Journal reported that WarnerMedia, a tanglawinwas recognized as Best Edustudents

ABSCBN hauls in 21 troph Best Station at Aral Para

ia is now more determined to win the crown. subsidiary of telecom operator AT&T, had cational Programwith as its Kim across Perez, who has a strong resemblance her anchor first cousin, agreed to pay $500 million over five years Atienza was hailed as Best Educational Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina, won her for The Big Bang Theory. Program Host. Completing the winners first title, Miss Woodcroft, at the age of 16. Her other titles WarnerMedia refused to confirm the sum from the Integrated News are Miss WOW Blacktown, MissABS-CBN WOW Charity 2012, Miss to AFP. and Current Affairs are Umagang Kay Philippines-Australia 2014, Miss Bohol 2016 and Miss JCI "It's one of the biggest shows on broadcast Ganda (Best Morning Show), The BotPhilippines 2016. television of the last decade, and the fact that tomline (Best Public Affairs Program), A breast cancer advocate since 2014 and serves as spokeswe get to bring it to a streaming platform and Salamat Dokof(Best Public Service person of the Philippine Foundation Breast Care, Inc. for the first time in the US is a coup for our (KASUSO), Perez is Program). using it as platform to raise awareness new offering," said Robert Greenblatt, Over on theandentertainment to educate people on its prevention to raise fundsside, to WarnerMedia Entertainment chairman. Kapamilya stars Cococancer Marhelp Kasuso patients itin was the country. Being a breast WarnerMedia has already agreed to shell Actor) and Yolita, Angel from Locadvocate is closest totin her(Best heartTV as her mother out $425 million over five years to acquire sincancer (Best TV Actress) who took home Danao, Bohol, is breast survivor. Friends for the new platform. the of topBruce honors, which also included Netflix said on Monday it had acquired Perez, who is a fan Lee and classic martial Kathrynprogram Berthe global rights to popular sitcom Seinfeld arts movies, pursuespopular a breastyoung cancerstars prevention Actressproject, of the Year), from 2021, without revealing the value of with Kasuso callednardo ‘You (Movie are Worthy’ which C with her lovethat team the transaction. focuses on impartingalong to cancer patients theypartdon’t Be ner Daniel Padilla, who both It came after the streaming giant lost the have to face the disease alone and having the support of won (Loveteam of to rights to Friends and the American version others is an important keyasto KathNiel survival. She has applied hands-on. It's really of The Office—the two most-watched series the Year). Kathryn’s box-office patients exercise-based and mindfulness wellness activities the love for your it has on offer. hit movie Hello, Love, Goodbye, Yves Campos emerged which consist of Zumba, Yoga, Meditation and Breathing work and your craft NBCUniversal is paying $500 million which is now the highest-grossing victorious in the second exercises which aim to enrich the quality of life and helps that make you last over five years for The Office. Major players Filipino film of all time, won Movie edition of Mister and Miss with the physical and mental well-being of the patients. like Netflix and Amazon are keeping an eye in this kind of busiof the Year. Tourism and Culture Universe Perez, who was also a former track and field athlete on Apple and Disney, which will launch BEAUTIFUL (left)herself and Shaina Magdayao Meanwhile, YECS recogness," she added. in Myanmar and DUO. netballSiblings player,Vina hasMorales dedicated in also serving herhave been their streaming services later this year, and the faces of Ystilo beauty salon chain, which now celebrates its 21st anniversary. nized ABS-CBN’s top-rating proTw e n t y - o n e community and hopes to inspire in empowering the future then NBCUniversal and WarnerMedia in grams Kadenang Ginto Maxine’s (Best Daytime generation. Will Perez duplicate her cousin feat years ago, sisters 2020. AFP TV beauty Program), (Best to win a major national title? It’s That Showtime will be known Entertainment Show), Thecoronation General’s during the Miss World Philippines 2019 grand Daughter Primetime TV 15, Sescheduled at the Smart Araneta(Best Coliseum on Sept. WHO doesn’t know Sylvester Stallone (Sergio Peris-Mencheta). We can telecast liveonly on GMAries) -7. Maalaala Mo Kaya (Best Drama as a US Army veteran John Rambo in the guess how cruel and intense this could get. Anthology), and Wansapanataym (Best American media franchise action film hits This time, it will be a lot different Rambo: First Blood (1982), Rambo: First from the previous series as he is dressed Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), in cowboy attire gallantly riding a horse. and Rambo (2008)? No one but no one. There will no longer be jungle and This year, our favorite legendary hero is mountains, only flatlands ready to be pushed one last time to exact vengeance razed by our hero. like it his alone. We had First Blood about With a larger, sharper, and more lethal four decades ago. Now, Rambo is going “Heartstopper” knife, and his iconic to give his final combat a go in Rambo: bow and arrow, Rambo will be giving us “My idol CatrionaUSA, Gray.worked I thinkas by Lumiere International, and will residing inisColorado, Last Blood. another bloody rampage showcased in the she’s the perfect embodiment of a true have its Coronation Finals night on commercial model with Wilhelmina The fifth entry to the Rambo franchise, last four chapters of the franchise. Filipina. Traits that make meUSA. proud as Sept. 22, 2019 in Batam, Indonesia. Modeling Agency, Denver, John Rambo spends his time at the family As tough as the character he is playing, DeForestis has attending to The winner will reign as the pageant’s a Filipina our been beingbusy conservative, ranch in Arizona coping from PTSD rath- Sylvester Stallone is still showing us his ETON her duties advocacytoasother Mrs.peoECO official ambassadress. patriotic andand hospitable er in peace and quiet until his friend and perfect form even now that he’s already CONCEPCION International, in the USA and Baguio. She ple,” said Ang whose advocacy is to *** ranch worker, Maria (Adriana Barraza) in his 70s. He is a brilliant actor who had paid her a courtesy callrich withheritage, the newly Bicolana businesswoman named promote county’s asked for his help to rescue her daughter, also happens to be an accomplished REIGNING Joy Mrs.Ang ECOwill International electedand Baguio City Mayor Benjamin CAMILLE compete culture tradition. Mrs. Philippines- Albay 2019 Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal) from kidnap- screenwriter, sharing the writing credits 2019 Shiela joined Magalong and participated in the Siapno Businesswoman and benefactress against thirtyTeodoro-DeForest delegates from around The Miss Tourism Worldwide pers. Rambo obliges to the call and returns alongside Matt Cirulnick. And let us not in the celebration the 110th Baguio Creek clean-up drive and tree-planting to his expertise - the killing fields. forget, “Sly” Stallon was nominated for the world in the of Miss Michelle Vitug Encarnacion Charter Day during her thanksgiving activity in Baguio City. His search for the daughter brings him to Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Tourism Worldwide visit to the City Pines. Together with her two sister Mexico, Upon discovering that she is sold Screenplay for a single movie —Rocky. 2019 pageant inof Batam, The statuesque remove, Camille Joy Ang, 19, in a as a sex worker run by a brutal cartel. Directed by Adrian Grunberg (second Indonesia. Ang, a 45-year-old queens, who are also advocates for is currently is Indonesia representing DeForest, who won her international title the environment in the other divisions A journalist named Carmen Delgado (Paz unit director for multiple episodes of 19-year-old student of the Philippines in the second edition in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in June, was of the pageant, Ms. and Teen ECO Vega) teams up with him against the sex Narcos and director to Get The Gringo), Cruise Hotel of Miss Tourism Worldwide. awardedLine Bestand ECO video presentation International, they provide and trafficking ring. Rambo: Last Blood is the walloping actionManagement Lyceum Enraged by this loathsome mob Rambo packed final installment for Rambo. in the pageantatwhich featured different represent a platform for women to have University of Baguio the Philipgoes full blast. Nothing could stop him. From Viva International Pictures and locations of City and Benguet a larger voice and share their passion for pines, will try keep was crowned Mrs. PhilHe will fight face to face with the ruthless MVP Entertainment, the action-packed focusing on thetoenvironmental issues the protection of the environment. With the title for the Phil-in the Northern the help of the media, DeForest hopes ippines Albay in a Pilipinas leader of the syndicate, Hugo Martinez film opens in Philippine cinemas today. affecting communities Cory Quirino (3rd from left)2019 with Mutya ippines won by Zara conferment ceremony Highlands. that Baguio and Benguet residents will Carbonell held DeForest,ina2018. former flight stewardess strengthen their awareness and to be plastic wastes andrecently non-use at andDisproper hav “There’s pressure, Suites in Orand publicthe affairs staff at the British more concerned of their environment disposal of covery single-use plastics. She’s and following wingraduated with and natural resources. tigas, Mandaluyong Embassy inZara’s Manila, been a spokesperson on proper waste on a degree in BS Tourism last year, but I feel con- at University “You don’t need a crown to serve,” segregation andCity. proper garbage disposal. of theand Philippines-Asian fident capable to try Institute of DeForest would always emphasize as an title gave the The Mrs. The ECO International Tourism. Married an American pilot, environment spokesperson. DeForest’s organization aims to bring home thetotitle Bicolana to providemother a platform the Pagsanjan, Laguna native, now platform focuses on reduction of that allows women again for the country,” the world T and around wife, who just to

Caviteña aims for back-to-back win in Miss Tourism Worldwide PAGEANT CONCEPT

Stallone’s ‘Rambo’ heads back to theaters

said the charmer from Imus, Cavite. Ang won over several applicants in special screening conducted Wednesday, September 11, 2019 by the local franchise holder, of ACROSS the Queen 49 Watercraft 30 Old horse Hearts Foundation, 1 They may be 50 Intensity 31 Snapshot mopped 53 Versatile 32 Diner Inc., makers of 6 Weep loudly (hyph.) 33 Lion sounds 9 ArmyMrs. wearAsia-Pacif59 “The Mam35 Set 13 Fray ic moth Hunters” 38 Grand entrancPhilippines 14 Dog nail heroine es pageant, headed 16 Cargo space 60 Vault 39 Sixth notes by Mitzie 17 Sherlock’s lady Go61Gil. Heart outlet 40 “That’s obvifriendteen beauty,62who Not e’en once ous!” The 18 Island near 63MuTeam 42 Thicken was a candidate in Corsica 64 Distinct 43 Lure tya Pilipinas 19 Not working 2019,65will Uptight 45 Wage 20 100th anniverTook food 46 Surpassed bring three gowns,66yelsary 67 Saturday morn- 47 Perfume label low, pink and white, as 22 Competes for ing fare word 23 Winsletby or the pageant required Capshaw as wellDOWN organizers, as a 24 Wood ash prod- 1 — -a-brac national by extinct uct costume, all 2 Nearly 26 Spider traps 3FiliHot spot the award-winning 30 Rowdier 4 Didn’t stay pino 34 Less designer processed Edwin 5 More glossy Uy. Shepiece will be 6per35 Chess Hounds’ leads 36 Long March 7 Kukla’s palnumber 2019, forming a Hawaiian-Tahitian on leader 8 Rum cake for the Talent competition. second year, 37 Ohio or Oregon, 9 Sour-cream bits

turned 42 on Sept. 15, the right to compete in Mrs. Philippines International 2019 pageant in December. A woman of substance, 49 Sled runner Encarnacion is the president 50 Writer — Grey 51 Ogled and CEO of Belmere Skin 52 Not — — to Care Centre, a popular wellstand on 54 Eric the Red’s ness and beauty clinic that son promotes a holistic approach 55 Game on horseto a lifestyle of beauty and back 56 Snack cookie wellness. A sponsor of beau57 Getz or Mikita ty pageants, Encarnacion’s 58 Cup handles advocacy is giving back to charitable institutions like the SMILE (Share More in Love and Effort) Foundation, which helps out indigent Filipinos. Encarnacion shares her time by holding seminars and feeding programs, providing i t s scholarships to the poor and donating is presented school supplies.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Veteran actor Sylvester Stallone in a scene from the fifth installment of the 'Rambo' movie franchise.

to Yves 38 Electrical connectors 40 Floppy contents 41 Gents

10 Volkswagen kin 11 Marseilles Ms. 12 Bullring cheers 15 Rolls in mud 21 Arrest

Motoring

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Hyundai PH spreads wings in Baliwag, Bulacan

Rosita and Joseph Sy cut the ceremonial ribbon during a break in the stormy weather.

Trucks fit for a king

By Lester Dizon

URING the Philippine-China (Chongqing) Trade and Investment Forum organized by the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry held at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City on September 16, 2019, Kingling Motors Philippines Inc. signed an agreement with Qingling Motors Co., Ltd. of China to distribute and market Qingling Isuzu light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles in the country. A fleet of Qingling Isuzu trucks was displayed at the parking area adjacent to Buffet 101 across the boulevard from the Conrad Hotel as a “soft launch” of the venture. On display were Qingling Isuzu LEGA 100P with FB body, MEGA 100P aluminum van and mini dump truck, PEGA K800 drop side truck, SEGA cab and chassis, GIGA 6-Wheeler 420HP tractor head, GIGA 10-Wheeler tractor head, and NKR 600P modern PUV. The ribboncutting ceremonies were delayed because of the intermittent rains but officials of Qingling Motors Co., Ltd. and Kingling Motors Philippines Inc. were able to cut the ribbon during a break in the weather. On May 13, 1985, Qingling Motors Co., Ltd. was jointly established by Chongqing Automobile Manufacturing Plant of China and Isuzu Motors Co., Ltd. of Japan as the first Sino-Japanese automotive business enterprise and commercial vehicle manufacturer. Isuzu represented a sizable stake in the joint venture while the State represented the major shareholder. Around 2.5Billion RMB was invested to put up the manufacturing facility, which created jobs for more than 3,000 employees. On June 16, 1990, Qingling and Isuzu jointly opened three productions lines for final assembly, welding and painting. On November 25, 1992, Qingling and Isuzu became the first assembler in the Chinese national light-duty commercial vehicle industry to achieve an annual production of 10,000 vehicles. On August 17, 1994, with the approval of the Chinese Government, Qingling Motors Co., Ltd. issued 500 million shares of stocks and became the first Chinese automotive enterprise to be publicly traded in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code HK1122). Qingling and Isuzu Joint Ventures In October 1994, Qingling and Isuzu

jointly launched the N-series commercial vehicle, the 100P light-duty truck. At the same time, Qingling and Isuzu inaugurated the engine assembly plant and started the localization of the Isuzu 4JB1 diesel engine. In 1996, Qingling started exporting engine and transmission components to the Isuzu engine assembly plant in Japan, which is distributed to Isuzu afﬁliates around the globe. In 2000, Qingling and Isuzu started the production of the F-Series heavy-duty commercial vehicles and the next-generation N-series light-duty trucks with the new Isuzu 4K diesel engine in 2004. In May 2007, the Qingling Isuzu (Chongqing) Engine Co., Ltd. was established with an investment of around 84 Million US Dollars. Qingling and Isuzu both hold a 50% stake in the joint venture that manufactures, assembles, and distributes Isuzu diesel engines. Isuzu Qingling Engineering and Autoparts In September 2011, Qingling and Isuzu signed a memorandum of cooperation to signify their joint entry into the rapidly expanding heavy-duty commercial vehicle market in China. In July 2012, Isuzu invested 3 Million US Dollars (75% share) while Qingling invested 1 Million US Dollars (25% share) to establish Isuzu Qingling (Chongqing) Engineering Co., Ltd. to plan, design and engineer new products including a new heavy-duty truck and its relevant components. Also, in July 2012, Isuzu invested a 51% share while Qingling invested a 49% stake to establish the Isuzu Qingling (Chongqing) Autoparts Co., Ltd. With a total investment of 240 Million US Dollars, the joint venture was created to produce and market vehicle and engine parts and components. In 2014, the factory manufacturing heavy-duty engine parts

and components was in full swing and the mass production of the Isuzu 6Uheavyduty diesel engine started. In 2017, the Qingling Isuzu GIGA heavy-duty commercial vehicle line was introduced. Technical Developments and Awards Today, the Qingling Motors (Group) Co., Ltd. is one of the leading automobile manufacturers in China. It has 43 subsidiaries, several factories, and a research and development (R&D) center. The partnership between Qingling and Isuzu has expanded greatly to include technology, manufacturing, management, marketing, capital control and processes that help grow and enhance the core competitiveness of the joint enterprise. Qingling transformed traditional industries by using advanced technologies, by developing manufacturing systems, and by improving production processes from basic blank-casting including forging and aluminum casting, to spare parts manufacturing including engine, gearbox and cabin components, up to ﬁnal vehicle assembly. They also established the Technical Development Center, Mould Center, Forging Die Center, and Physicochemical Center to further the technological development of Qingling and Isuzu products. Currently, Qingling manufactures, distributes, and exports Isuzu light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, diesel and gasoline engines, spare parts and components. They manufacture products for the domestic and overseas markets with world-class quality and competitive prices. They have also received various national and international awards including “2010 China Top 500 Machinery”, “2010 China Top 10 Truck”, and a 5th place ﬁnish in the “Lorry’s Top 10” list. Kingling Motors Philippines Inc. In the Philippines, Qingling Motors Co., Ltd. initially appointed JAC Trucks distributor Rosita T. Sy as the local distributor of Qingling light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles. The Qingling commercial vehicles were displayed in the 2019 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) and created a buzz in the local commercial vehicle market. Because of the growing demand for commercial vehicles, Isuzu Motors Co., Ltd. of Japan approved the entry of the Qingling Isuzu GIGA heavy trucks into the Philippine market, and allowed Qingling Motors Co., Ltd., as the authorized global distributor, and Kingling Motors Philippines Inc. as the local distributor, the use of the Qingling Isuzu brand name in the Philippines. Wu You Sheng, the Minister of Global

In electrification race, Volkswagen launches mammoth bet at Frankfurt auto show WITH a new electric car and range sporting a spruced-up logo, German car giant Volkswagen enters the Frankfurt IAA car show hoping bets worth tens of billions of euros will pay off. The new model, known as ID.3, is the highest-proﬁle response from Germany to strict new European carbon emission limits and to battery-powered competition from the US and China. In an interview Tuesday, chief executive Herbert Diess told AFP that VW is “very sure that it will work”.

“It’s the ﬁrst electric car coming to customers that has characteristics that will make it very hard to turn down,” he added, namechecking a roomy interior, fast charging and an “attractive” price at 29,900 euros ($33,000) for the base model. Alongside the ID.3 is a new, more streamlined logo set for rollout across Europe and then the world, in VW’s ﬁrst brand update since 2012. “The car for the new era is here,” Diess said at the unveiling late Monday. With ID.3 and its attendant range, “they

Volkswagen’s ID.3 comes as the high-profile response to Europe’s carbon emission limit.

can catch up the shortfall in electric mobility,” said industry expert Stefan Bratzel of the Center of Automotive Management -- adding that “it has to be a success”. The moves mark a new stage in the Wolfsburg-based behemoth’s efforts to regain respectability after years of scandal. In 2015, VW’s admission to installing software to cheat regulatory emissions tests in 11 million vehicles worldwide inflicted massive reputational damage. It was the biggest industrial debacle in post-war German history. Future platform But while “dieselgate” has so far cost VW more than 30 billion euros ($33 billion), it has also become a “catalyst for electric mobility” at the firm, Bratzel said. A slew of future cars will be based on the battery-powered platform known as “MEB” that underpins the ID.3. VW is introducing the technology just as tougher new European emissions regulations enter into force. From 2020, manufacturers’ fleets must produce on average less than 95 grammes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre. AFP

HYUNDAI Asia Resources, Inc. formally opened the latest addition to its growing commercial vehicle dealership network in the Philippines, right in the booming first class municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan. Hyundai Trucks & Buses-Baliwag, operated by the LausAutoGroup, is the seventh inaugurated CV dealership since HARI’s appointment as official distributor of Hyundai commercial vehicles in the Philippines in 2016. The LausAutoGroup has been a key partner in the past 15 years as Hyundai bolstered its presence in key areas of Central and Northern Luzon. These regions are now hotbeds of major economic and transportation developments, such as the New Clark City, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 7 (MRT7), and the soon-to-rise New Manila International Airport. In his speech, Baliwag Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella, thanked Hyundai and HTB-Baliwag for setting up shop in his beloved town. “Lubos kong ikinagagalak na napakaraming kumpanya ang nagtitiwala sa aming bayan upang dito po maglagay ng kanilang negosyo. Hopefully, Baliwag would be the fourth city to rise in Bulacan. At naniniwala po ako na ang ganitong klase ng negosyo ay napakalaking tulong po sa aming bayan.” In response, HARI President & CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said, “The time has come for the future of mobility. We are at the right place and the right time. Hyundai opens a new chapter of driving success in this progressive municipality. A first-class town deserves nothing less than first-class vehicles and services from a first-class commercial vehicle dealership.” On the same note, HTB-Baliwag Dealer Principal Lisette Laus-Velasco called to mind her father and LausAutoGroup founder, the late Levy Laus’ passion for countryside development. “He commit-

ted to create a Metro Central Luzon by sharing resources and opportunities to the region’s seven provinces, including Bulacan, which is part of the growth corridor of this region.... Definitely, with Hyundai Trucks and Buses, we can provide the necessary logistical and business support foreseen for Bulacan as it continues to rise as an investment hub and another beacon of the future.” HTB-Baliwag offers a variety of worldclass, durable, and fuel-efficient models like the County commuter minibus, Hyundai’s Modern Jeepney Class 2, and the Hyundai HD truck series (HD 65/72/78) that are built with rigidly constructed high-tensile strength steel frame perfectly matched with modern Euro-4 powertrains that allow optimum performance. In addition, Hyundai commercial vehicles are backed by a 3-Year, 200,000-kilometer Mileage Warranty (whichever comes first). First-class vehicle dealership in a firstclass municipality. Hyundai Trucks & Buses-Baliwag is now ready to link and elevate business mobility within Baliwag and from Baliwag to the rest of Northern Luzon. Adhering to Hyundai’s Global Dealership Space Identity (HGDSI) standards, Hyundai Trucks & Buses-Baliwag is also part of the Philippine Green Building Initiative (PGBI) and is “grEEEn” (Geared for Resiliency and Energy Efficiency for the Environment) certified. The dealership’s dedicated and customer-focused Sales and After-Sales professionals are ready to bring expert mobility solutions to entrepreneurs. HTB-Baliwag also provides Call for Service Inspection (CSI), a network-wide aftersales program that makes it easier to maintain a fleet of Hyundai commercial vehicles. Through this proactive service, customers can call for a Hyundai Service Team to come and assess the condition of their Hyundai Truck and/or Bus vehicle or fleet of vehicles at no added cost.

PUSONG BALIWAG. TATAK HYUNDAI. At the inauguration of Hyundai’s newest commercial vehicle dealership were from left Hyundai Trucks & Buses-Baliwag Dealer Principal Lisette Laus-Velasco; Baliwag Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella; HARI President & CEO Ma. Fe Perez- Agudo; and HARI COO & CFO Ladislao Z. Avila, Jr.

PH team returns to Sepang for Asia Road Racing event WITH a renewed confidence, Access Plus Racing-Ducati Philippines-Essenza is set to return to the Sepang International Circuit for the second time in this year’s Asia Road Racing Championship. That’s because not only did the team score their best result in 2019 on this very same track, but they’re also featuring an expanded three-rider lineup this weekend. Timothy Joseph “TJ” Alberto and Jonathan Serrapica kicked off the season on the high note earlier in March by delivering strong results on their ASB1000 debut. Alberto would get a best 6th place finish during opening race of the year, while his teammate Serrapica was 7th across the line on board their pair of Ducati Panigale V4Rs. Although six months have since passed, the experience still leaves good memories with both riders as they aim to improve even further for Round 6. The team is also putting its hopes on a third entry as Italian rider Federico Santi joins their lineup this September 20 to 22. As a former 125cc, 250cc, and Superbike World Championship rider, he brings with him over a decade of experience to aid Access Plus Racing-Ducati Philippines-Essenza improve bike setup and overall race pace on the 5.542 km circuit as well as boost their chances of scoring a podium finish.

The penultimate event of the Asia Road Racing Championship features Qualifying at 10:50 AM and Race 1 at 4:15 PM local tim on Saturday (September 21). The final 11-lap Race 2 then happens at 4:15 PM on Sunday (September 22). TJ Alberto, #77 Ducati: “We’re all glad to be back in Sepang. We got our best results in ASB1000 on this circuit during the season opener in March. Now after five rounds in the ARRC, I feel we have improved a lot and can close the gap even further to the front runners.” Johnathan Serrapica #48 Ducati: “This is going to be our second time in Sepang this season and it’ll be a good way for us to test how much we’ve learned in 2019. We also have Federico Sandi with us, who gives us extra motivation this weekend. I already have a clear plan what I need to do and hope to get good results in Malaysia” Federico Sandi: “I feel very honored to be part of Access Plus Racing this September. It’s not my first time at the Sepang International Circuit. Last time I came here was in 2008 with the 250 class World Championship, but I have never raced in superbike here before. Still, my goal is to be consistent, most especially to help the team improve the Ducati Panigale V4R and be fast all weekend.”

Access Plus Racing-Ducati PH guns for a podium finish this time.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto on Toyota Fortuner TOP automotive manufacturer Toyota Motor Philippines updates the infotainment system of its best-selling midsize SUV, the Toyota Fortuner. All six variants of the Toyota Fortuner will now have the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mobile compatibility features pre-installed. The head unit’s hardware also receives signiﬁcant changes such as a new dedicated SD card slot for multimedia, 6.75-inch total screen size, and 512 MB of RAM with 8GB of ROM (both previously at 256MB). The updated Toyota Fortuner is now available in all 70 Toyota dealerships nationwide. “Toyota listens to the demands of

the local market, and we are always on the lookout when it comes to adapting technologies that make driving easier, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone,” said TMP First Vice President Cristina Arevalo. “Equipping the Fortuner with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is something our customers will surely appreciate.” Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both smartphone mirroring services that allow drivers to focus on the road with quality-of-life features such as GPS navigation, music playback, and managing texts and calls, all through the vehicle’s built-in display. Their common goal is to minimize driving distractions by making

it easy for drivers to control these factors by using voice commands, touchscreen panels, and traditional knobs or buttons in their car’s infotainment setup. “We’re conﬁdent that this much-anticipated set of software and hardware improvements will make the Toyota Fortuner even more appealing to its target market,” she added. Year-to-date, the Toyota Fortuner already sold a total of 12,519 units, again cementing its status as the SUV of choice among Filipinos. Next to Metro Manila, Toyota Fortuner sales in terms of volume are strongest in Calabarzon (Region IV) and Central Luzon (Region III) areas.

Toyota Fortuner gets an infotainment upgrade.

F1: Hamilton eyes S’gapore hat-trick through the haze

Isuzu officers flash the thumbs-up sign at the Cebu launching of the D-Max LS-A. From left: Hiroto Nakaguro - IPC Asst. Division Head for Sales; Joseph Bautista - IPC Sales Division Head; Hajime Koso - IPC President; Steve Gingco - Isuzu Cebu, Inc. General Manager Eufemio Ybanez - Isuzu Cebu, Inc. Branch Manager; Ilderim Castanares – Isuzu Cebu, Inc. Branch Manager.

TOUGH ENOUGH

• Isuzu D-MAX LS-A makes Visayas debut

RESH from the Manila launch of the most stylish modern iteration of one of its most iconic diesel workhorses last August 29, Isuzu Philippines Corporation then headed to Cebu City--the “Queen City of the South”--to showcase to Visayans the new D-MAX LS-A pickup last September 14 at the SM Cebu Seaside Mall. The event also kicked off IPC’s “Tough Enough” lifestyle campaign for the D-MAX LS-A with the D-MAX 4X4 public test drive at the open parking grounds of the mall, which demonstrated the durability, fuel efﬁciency, and overall value for money of the D-MAX LS-A 4x4 variant, highlighting the pick-up’s complete package of features that cater to the modern Filipino lifestyle -- the lifestyle that maximizes the best qualities of the urban professional and the weekend adventurer. The formal launch of the D-MAX LS-A for the region was held later in the afternoon at the mall’s Mountain Wing Atrium.

IPC President Hajime Koso said that “the DMAX LS-A represents nearly century of Isuzu’s experience and innovation in the design, engineering, and workmanship of diesel-powered utility vehicles. The D-MAX LS-A is infused, as well, with features that address the demands of a market that value both hard work and play, business with leisure.” At the heart of the D-MAX LS-A is the powerful and fuel-efﬁcient 4JJ1-TCX 3.0-liter 4-cylinder In-line Blue Power Diesel engine with VGS turbo intercooler that generates 177 PS @ maximum power and 380 Nm @ maximum torque. Initially available in 4x4 variant, IPC will also offer its 4x2

variants in the coming months. Both variants will have an option for either 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift or the 6-speed manual transmission with gear shift indicator. The powerplant and drivetrain, however, are just the starting points for what makes the new D-MAX LS-A perfectly suited for the evolving modern demands of the market. Boasting modern exterior styling, the D-MAX LS-A has a very dark gray front grille and bumper, coupled with side step board and rocker panel, cargo extender and roof rails. For occupant comfort and convenience, the D-MAX LS-A is equipped with the auto-climate control air conditioning system, passive entry/ push start-stop system, 12V accessory socket, three USB charging ports, 15 storage compartments and 10 cup holders. The new D-MAX LS-A comes in the following colors: Cosmic Black, Sapphire Blue, Titanium Silver, Red Spinel, Splash White, Silky Pearl White. With all the added features on the D-MAX LS-A, IPC announced that there will be a more competitive pricing for this variant.

LEWIS Hamilton will be hoping his march towards a sixth Formula One world title around the streets of hazy Singapore this week is not affected by smoke from wildfires raging in neighbouring Indonesia. The National Environment Agency is forecasting pollution at the “low end of the unhealthy range” for Sunday’s showpiece night race after dense smog last weekend. Formula One bosses are reported to have a contingency plan in place should the “highly changeable” air quality deteriorate, though the race weekend is still scheduled to go ahead as planned. Hamilton, who has a 63-point lead in the title race over teammate Valterri Bottas after winning eight grands prix this season, and Mercedes have prospered in the past at the Marina Bay Circuit. But they could do little to prevent Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc from storming to consecutive victories on power-friendly layouts in Belgium and Italy in the two races since the summer break. Hamilton has taken four of Mercedes’ five victories at the demanding 23-turn city-centre street circuit and is looking for a third consecutive triumph in race that even without the threat of smog is traditionally draining because of heat and high humidity. But Hamilton remains wary of Leclerc, who has outshone his error-prone Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel since joining the Italian team at the start of the season. “I am not looking forward to the next race thinking it will swing our way,” Hamilton said of the 21-year-old from Monaco. “I hope that it is competitive between us -- I want this battle to continue.” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also expects Ferrari to be in the shake-up in Singapore, despite the Italian marque struggling on circuits lacking long straights this season. “We knew that Spa and Monza would be difficult for us,” Wolff said of the previous two races. “On paper, we should be strong in Singapore -- as should Red Bull. Let’s see if we are really demolishing them there. “But I have no doubt that Ferrari will have learned and will have a good package.” Red Bull have enjoyed 12 podium finishes in Singapore since 2008, including three wins, and the Milton Keynes-based outfit will be hoping Max Verstappen can improve on his second-place finish from a year ago to stay ahead of Leclerc in their battle for third in the overall standings. Vettel knows his chances of recording a first victory since Belgium last year will have diminished due to the nature of the remaining circuits on the calendar, but the German four-times world champion will be looking to seize on any opportunities that may fall his way. “I think we still have some races coming where we will be probably more competitive than others, but overall it’s just about getting a good weekend,” Vettel said. “I think the speed is there, so I’m not worried, it’s honestly just a matter of putting things together. But we have a lot of races and a lot of time.” AFP