Manila Standard - 2019 September 26 - Thursday by Manila Standard

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PH loses P3-b foreign grants THE Philippines lost P3.2 billion in foreign loans as President Rodrigo Duterte suspended deals with 18 countries that backed a United Nations investigation on his administration’s war on illegal drugs, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez admitted Wednesday. During a budget briefing with the Senate Committee on Finance, Dominguez said: “Yes, these are suspended while the relationship [between the Philippines and the donor countries] are being examined.” The lost amount includes P2 billion for climate change initiatives, as President Duterte halted the negotiations and implementation of agreements covering grants and loans from the nations that backed the UN Next page probe on the drug war.

MASK OF PROTECTION.

Students wear face masks Wednesday as they attend class in Jacinto Zamora Elementary School in Pandacan, Manila after a student died due to diphtheria, an acute, highly contagious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes. (Inset) A worker from MMDA Environment Enforcer team conducts fogging in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City, under a state of calamity due to an increase in the number of dengue cases and fatalities this year. Norman Cruz

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Childhood cancer survival rate seen rising from 35% to 60% By Macon Ramos-Araneta DESPITE a scarcity of oncologists to attend to some 5,000 cases annually, the survival rate for the childhood cancer will likely improve from the prevailing 35 percent to as high as 60 percent as the Philippines becomes a World Health Organization “focus country” in its global initiative against the disease. The Philippines was identified as as the first “focus country” in the Western

WHO warns: One in 3 tots vulnerable to polio O

NE in three children five years and below risk contracting polio and other diseases because of low vaccination rates, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines, said the current immunization rate for polio is at 66 percent, far below the 95 percent target. “We need to radically raise that up and protect all the children,” Abeyasinghe said in a press briefing Wednesday. At 95-percent immunization, even vulnerable children would be protected from the disease, he said. Some 11-million children under the age of five are the most vulnerable to vaccine-preventable illnesses such as polio, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tentanus and measles because of low immunization rates, he said. Despite the recent Dengvaxia scare, clinically proven vaccines are safe and are the only way to prevent an outbreak of highly infectious diseases that have no cure, Abeyasinghe said. He said parents should have their children vaccinated with three doses of the oral polio vaccine. “It is critically important that children have access to vaccines,” he said. So far, the Department of Health has confirmed two cases of polio—after 19 years without a single incident. The first was a three-year-old girl in Lanao del Sur; the second, a five-year-old boy in Laguna. Next page

7 die, 14 survive in dragon boat sinking off Boracay waters ILOILO CITY—Seven members of the Boracay Dragon Force Team died while 14 others survived when their boat capsized about 200 to 300 meters off Lingganay Resort in Barangay Manocmanoc in Malay, Aklan, Wednesday morning. The 21-man team boarded their dragon boat at 7:15 a.m. from Barangay Balabag for the White Beach for their training. A report by the Public Information Unit of the municipality of Malay said one of the survivors said the sea was calm when they departed from Bal-

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abag, but rough waves gradually filled the boat after the reef. “The boat sank, and the paddlers were holding on to the boat. However, strong waves and current made the boat roll over making it unstable and displacing the paddlers,” the report added. The report, attested to by Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II Catherine O. Fulgencio, said the victims were not wearing life vests and one of them did not know how to swim. Based on initial reports provided to Next page

Duterte okays four new laws By MJ Blancaﬂor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed four new laws which would now become part of the country’s jurisprudence. The first, now called Republic Act 11449, imposes stiffer penalties to hackers and card fraudsters who can face life imprisonment and up to P5 million in fines. The second exempts broadcast, online media and wire services from revealing their sources, expanding the measure that used to be confined to print media. The President signed Republic Act 11458 on Aug. 30 expanding the coverage

‘Ondoy’ redux: The day MM ‘sank’ By Maricel V. Cruz ON THE eve of the 10th anniversary of the devastating Tropical Storm “Ondoy” Thursday (Sept. 26), environmental groups reminded all cities and municipalities of the need to build disaster-resilient communities in the face of more extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change.

“As we recall the wrath of Ondoy, we urge all city and municipal governments to assess their compliance to the provisions of two vital post-Ondoy laws—Republic Acts 9729 and 1012—to foster climate adaptation and disaster resilience, especially in our poor and vulnerable communities,” said Noli Abinales, founder of Buklod Tao and former president of the EcoWaste Coalition. Next page

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7 LOST, 14 SAVED. The Philippine Coast Guard says at least seven members of the Boracay Dragon Boat team died after its boat capsized off Sitio Lingganay, Barangay Manoc-manoc, Boracay Island. The PCG’s search and rescue operations helped save 14 of the 21 members but seven bodies were recovered, their identities withheld pending notification of their next of kin. PCG Photo

9 in10 Pinoys lead positive lives—SWS By MJ Blancaﬂor ABOUT nine in every 10 Filipinos rate their lives positively in the last quarter of 2018, the Social Weather Stations announced Tuesday. The polling firm said 86 percent of respondents rated their lives positively, while 10 percent had a pessimistic view. Meanwhile, only 4 percent rated their

present lives neutral. SWS said this gave an Anamnestic Comparative Self-Assessment score of +2.60. It was not clear why the results were released only this month. While the mean score posted last year remains positive, this was lower than the +2.82 score achieved in the last quarter Next page of 2017.

2 House members clash with senators By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST representative sought to slash the budget of the Senate since senators “do not have a constituency” in an incendiary move following Senator Panfilo Lacson’s disclosure that 22 deputy speakers of the House will get an additional P1.5 billion each under next year’s proposed budget. “Besides from demanding an apology from the Honorable Lacson, would you also advocate taking out a budget from the Senate, no initiative coming from them, since they do not have a Next page

LESSONS LEARNED. Ten years after the fourth worst natural disaster in the Philippines—Tropical Storm ‘Ondoy,’ which brought floodwaters as high as the second floor in low-lying parts of Metro Manila–which affected almost one-million families or nearly five-million people, graphic in the bulletin board of lessons are ecological management tips, preventing generation of garbage and ensuring that discards are properly sorted out, with mismanaged wastes exacerbating hygiene and sanitation problems. File Photo

FB: Pols’ posts to go unchecked SAN FRANCISCO—Facebook will not fact-check the statements politicians post to the site, the social network announced Tuesday ahead of the US 2020 elections, even as it works to discredit false information meant to maTurn to A3 nipulate public opinion

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Hazing cadets’ watchlist sought R

EP. Alfredo Garbin on Wednesday asked the Justice department to at least issue a watchlist containing the names of all the dismissed Philippine Military Academy cadets involved in the hazing death of Darwin Dormitorio.

was resigning his post following the hazing death of Cadet 4th Class Dormitorio. Brig. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, commandant of the Corps of Cadets, also quit his position. Dela Rosa vouched for Evangelista’s character, saying he knew the PMA chief “very well.” He described him as a very good officer. Garbin said the dismissal of the four cadets was not the end of the legal proceedings against them. Ordered dismissed from the PMA were Cadet Third Class Shalimar Imperial, Cadet Third Class Felix Lumbag, Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanupao, and Squad Leader and Cadet Second Class

Nickoel Termil. “Not only did they repeatedly maul Darwin Dormitorio, they electrocuted his private parts and damaged his internal organs. What they did to Darwin was brutal, inhuman and merits criminal trial,” said Garbin, one of the authors of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018. He said all educational institutions, including the PMA, had an obligation to prevent and prohibit hazing. Garbin on Monday filed House Resolution 368 asking the House of Representatives to direct the appropriate committee to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the hazing death of Dormitorio. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Garbin said a watchlist “is what can be done so far because criminal charges have not yet been filed as investigations are still in progress.” “We request the DOJ to have a holddeparture order ready for swift issuance the moment those implicated are formally charged. These steps we suggest are needed to prevent the suspects from flee-

ing by going abroad,” Garbin said. He made the statement even as Senator Ronald dela Rosa lamented the resignation of Philippine Military Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, saying the career of another good officer was wasted because of the hazing incident. Evangelista announced on Tuesday he

WHO...

Narco-cops’list to Rody; Sampaloc drug queen named

Despite these, Abeyasinghe said that the Philippines has not lost its “polio-free” status because there have been no cases attributed to wild poliovirus. The virus circulating is a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2), which has been found in Manila and Davao waterways. Meanwhile, seven suspected cases of polio in Zamboanga Peninsula turned out to be negative for the virus, the Health department said Wednesday.

SENATOR Richard Gordon will submit to President Rodrigo Duterte a list of names of about a dozen police officers, most of them still in active service, who are linked to the illegal drug trade. In an ambush interview, Gordon said Wednesday it is up to the President to announce the names of the so-called “ninja cops” linked to illegal drugs, as revealed by former Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Benjamin Magalong. Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office on Wednesday bared the identity of the “drug queen” in Manila who is the alleged mastermind of the recycling of seized illegal drugs by “ninja cops.” NCRPO Chief Guillermo Eleazar said Guia Gomez-Castro, former chairwoman of Barangay 484, Zone 48 in Sampaloc, Manila, was the alleged drug queen who reportedly had left the country. During the Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice committees’ hearing on the corruption in the Bureau of Corrections, Magalong, who is now mayor of Baguio City, requested for an executive session where he made the disclosures to the lawmakers, including Gordon. “We know what’s in the executive session and it’s very shocking,” he told Senate reporters, while refusing to give further details. Gordon thinks “only a couple of them” (police officers) are no longer connected to the drug trade. While 17 senators voted to authorize Gordon to reveal the identities of the policemen, the senator opted to just send the records of the executive session first to the President. “[Duterte] appointed these people, so he would make the announcement if he cares

to,” he said. Whether or not the President identifies the rogue cops, Gordon said the Senate will continue its probe based on Magalong’s revelations. Eleazar made the statement on GomezCastro even as 50 policemen assigned in different police stations and offices in Luzon and in Metro Manila were sent to Subic, Zambales, for a 30-day retraining in line with the PNP’s program of ridding its ranks of rotten eggs. PNP spokesman Bernard Banac said the 50 policemen would be the third batch of the focused reformation/reorientation and moral enhancement program for police officer in line with its internal cleansing efforts. Castro was the same drug queen being referred to by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino, who he claimed was selling at least P13.6 million worth of shabu weekly in just two streets in Metro Manila. Eleazar said the case build-up was continuously being conducted by investigators against Castro. “We have some information and this is part of our case build-up operation. Our government is exerting a concerted effort. All concerned agencies, including PDEA with the active support of the PNP and other agencies, are working together to combat drug trafficking not only in Metro Manila but across the country,” Eleazar told PNA. He said they were also looking at the possibility of the involvement of Castro in the death of some ninja cops who were tagged as her protectors in the recycling and distribution of shabu in the metropolis. He said eight of the slain ninja cops in their records were reported to have been killed by unidentified gunmen, most of

them motorcycle-riding assassins. “We have reasons to believe that she could have ordered a gradual purging in order to stop the trail leading to her upon sensing that her police protectors had already been identified,” Eleazar said. He said Castro had already left the country and was replaced as a chairwoman of a barangay in Sampaloc in July 2018. Asked about her whereabouts, Eleazar said the intelligence reports indicated she could be in Canada. “The subject [Castro] arrived on Sept. 18, 2019, via PR flight PR 119 in Manila direct from Vancouver, Canada. Subject departed Sept. 21, 2019, via 5J931 Manila to Bangkok, Thailand. It seems like she is traveling in/out of the country every month or two,” Eleazar said. He said they were not discounting the possibility that some of the ninja cops could have been ordered killed by the drug queen each time she sensed that they could spill the beans on her. “These are all the subject of our investigation. We are also looking into the possibility that she may also have had a hand in the death of some of her drug distributors,” Eleazar said. “The President has been very tough against illegal drugs. This could be the reason why she has been very particular about her safety.” Eleazar said this should serve as a warning to policemen about the danger of conniving with drug syndicates. “They have nowhere to go. Either the drug syndicates would eliminate them or they may end up being arrested or neutralized in our intensified campaign against scalawag policemen,” Eleazar said. PNA, with Francisco Tuyay

with cancer. WHO Collaborating Center for Childhood Cancer co-director Dr. Catherine Lam described as “ambitious but achievable” the goal of a 60-percent survival rate for children. She is currently in the Philippines working with stakeholders to ensure that the program properly takes off. Dr. Patricia Alcasabas, president of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Oncology, admitted that there is much more to be done to achieve the goal. She attributed the low survival rate for childhood cancer to late diagnosis. She also cited the lack of manpower, saying there are only 41 child oncologists to attend to the 5,000 children that have cancer yearly. Dr. Scott Howard of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology said the ideal is to have one oncologist for every 25 children with cancer. In the United States, it is one oncologist for every 15 children with can-

cer. In the Philippines, it is one to 120. Alcasabas said there are at least 4,788 Filipino children identified with cancer annually. “The country has 130 hospitals treating children with cancer but only three have dedicated pediatric oncology wards, of which two are in Metro Manila and one [is] in Davao,” she said. Through the global initiative, Alcasabas said stakeholders of childhood cancer aim to increase the prioritization of the disease at national and global levels and increase the government’s capabilities o provide quality services for children. While many projects are yet to be done to ensure better outcomes for children with cancer, Philippine Cancer Society representative, Dr. Adriano Laudico, said the government has been consistent in providing help for children with cancer. “For almost 10 years now the government

has been giving free chemotherapy agents for acute lymphocytic leukemia, which is the most curable type of childhood cancer,” Laudico said. For his part, Domingo said the government is keen on the effective treatment of childhood cancer. “We have the cheap medicines act which gives access to affordable and quality medicines… PhilHealth has also expanded their benefit packages, and leukemia is one disease to which we give more compared to other packages,” Domingo said. “There will be separate funds for children with cancer through the UHC and NICCA laws. We’re a low-income country but we won’t remain a low-income country for long, and we foresee there will be more funds from alcohol and tobacco…especially for treatable cancer so the children can still be productive members of the society,” he added. With PNA

worth of rain in just 12 hours and leaving 710 dead in its wake. A joint panel in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, has consolidated several proposals to create a Department of Disaster Resiliency. Among the bills that were consolidated were House Bill 4 of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Deputy Speaker and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte; and House Bill 1151 authored by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez. The two Romualdezes stressed the need for Congress to enact the bill, saying the DDR would guarantee a unity of command, a science-based approach and a full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters. “The Philippines is one of the countries often visited by strong typhoons. Around 19 tropical storms enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in a year and of these, usually six or nine make landfall. Natural disasters of increasing magnitude and frequency, such as typhoon Haiyan, have continued to affect our country, which is now the second most vulnerable in the world to disasters and climate change,” they said in HB 1151.

Nearly 74 percent of the population and 80 percent of the land area are identified as vulnerable to disasters, with the capital of Manila considered at “extreme risk,” they said. “This ‘new normal’ requires a more focused and in-depth attention in the way we understand, prepare and respond to natural disasters,” they said. “Notwithstanding all the disaster preparation and coordination plans, there were still significant losses of life, injury and damage to property when Typhoon Yolanda, considered as the world’s strongest typhoon ever recorded, struck Philippine territory. Despite the government’s efforts and preparations thousands of people perished,” they added. HB 4 proposes to establish the Emergency Response Department to take over the policy-making, coordination, integration, supervision, monitoring and evaluation functions of the present ad hoc inter-agency council. In the bill’s explanatory note, Cayetano and Duterte described ERD as one equipped with bureaus specifically tasked to deal with concerns related to the pillars of disaster risk reduction and management, namely, disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, and humanitarian and disaster response.

“He (Defensor) can dream on. It takes years to consistently study and learn how the national budget works. If he will start doing it only now, his term will outlive his learning curve,” Lacson said. “I dare him [Defensor] to try,” Sotto said. Castro earlier demanded an apology from Lacson for his alleged reckless and irresponsible accusation on the passage of the proposed P4.1-trillion national government budget for 2020, saying the senator’s statement tarnished the image of the House of Representatives. Castro said Lacson as a gentleman and former chief of the Philippine National Police should be

responsible enough to admit his mistake. “Perhaps Senator Lacson could extend a sincere apology to this institution and to all the members of this House of Representatives,” Castro said. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading two resolutions extending the validity of this year’s national budget until December 2020. The chamber approved the resolutions the same day the House Committee on Appropriations, led by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, adopted Joint Resolutions 9 and 10 filed by Reps. Loren Legarda of Antique

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The survey, conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, had 1,440 respondents with sampling error margins of ±2.6 percent. Malacañang on Wednesday welcomed the results of the survey, saying it showed that the public had “felt genuine and meaningful change.” “While the the Chief Executive has given priority to the improvement of peace and order in the country, it cannot be disregarded that he has also laid the foundation that will propel the nation to progress and reach new heights,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. He also said the survey results encourage the administration as the public recognize the “bold strides undertaken by the President and his administration” to pursue inclusive and sustainable programs. Panelo also slammed Duterte’s critics for “deliberately” ignoring his efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos. “They have chosen to focus on PRRD’s fiery rhetorics, particularly with regard to his relentless campaign against illegal substance,” Panelo said.

Childhood... From A1 Pacific because of its strong political commitment and foundation efforts supporting children with cancer, said Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo. In February 2019, the government signed into law two landmark bills— the National Integrated Cancer Control Act to ensure quality health services and financial protection for patients with cancer, and the Universal Health Care program. UHC, the first of its kind in the Western Pacific Region, intends to provide all citizens with national health insurance coverage in the context of coordinated health system reforms. Domingo stressed they are very positive and optimistic that this will be realized due to the new health care system and very good program for our children afflicted

‘Ondoy’... From A1 RA 9729, or the Climate Change Act of 2009, directs local government units to put together and regularly update their Local Climate Change Action Plans to reflect changing social, economic, and environmental conditions and emerging issues. RA 10121, or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, requires Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans (LDRRMPs) to be drawn up, reviewed and tested. “Let the tragic memories of Ondoy and other extreme weather disturbances remind us of the need to faithfully carry out the provisions of RA 9729 and RA 10121,” Abinales said. Recalling the massive garbage crisis in the aftermath of Ondoy, Abinales also emphasized the need to fully enforce RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, to alleviate the impact of natural disasters. Tropical Storm “Ondoy” swept across Metro Manila and parts of Central Luzon on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, bringing a month’s

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constituency anyway?” Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Michael Defensor told Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro Castro on Wednesday. The party-list lawmaker also chided the Senate, which he described as an institution that “cannot discipline a member amongst their ranks,” and demanded an apology from the entire Upper House. Defensor’s statement drew sharp rebuke from Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

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Coast Guard District Western Visayas Commander Allan Victor T. dela Vega, the rowing team was preparing for a Taiwan competition. A spot report by the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center of the Malay Municipal Police Station said seven members of the team were brought to different hospitals and clinics in Malay, Aklan but were declared dead on arrival. Fatalities were Mark Vincent Navarette, Comar R. Acob, Maricel Tan, Johann Tan, Richel Montoya, Antonette Supranes, and John Vince Natividad. Of the 14 survivors, two are Chinese and Russian nationals. The survivors were identified as Yhen Aytona, Mark Baccay, Kenneth Bandalan, Jao Buenaventura, Julia Kurbaniizova, Robel Licerio, Janice Lumbo, Lani Ordas, Edwin Paradas, Marc Sabado, Kathleen Sabado, Jayrold Violanda, Maggie Xie, and Von Navarrosa, the founder of the Dragon Force. The Coast Guard said an investigation is underway.

and Ronaldo Zamora of San Juan City, respectively. The two resolutions propose to extend the life of this year’s national budget. The two joint resolutions seek to amend Section 65 of the General provisions of Republic Act 11260, otherwise known as the GAA of Fiscal Year 2019, which provides that all appropriations shall be available for release and obligation until Dec. 31, 2019. This developed as House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said the resolutions’ approval at the chamber was a welcome development as it would ensure the continuity of President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority projects.

MMDA now hiring 300 traffic men By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced Wednesday it is recruiting 300 traffic personnel to strengthen the force managing the congested main roads in the National Capital Region, especially the 23.8-kilometer Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. “We really need additional people at this time. Many enforcers have also been removed because of their involvement in corruption and other cases, so there are actually vacancies,” said MMDA spokesman and Assistant Secretary Pircelyn Pialago. In related developments: • The House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation has adopted a resolution recommending to the executive department the creation of a traffic crisis inter-agency management council to address the traffic problem in Metro Manila and the affected provinces. The committee, led by Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, on Wednesday passed House Resolution 353 intended “to consolidate and harmonize all transport and traffic policies to address the urgent traffic crisis in Metro Manila and in the Philippines.” • The Senate Committee on Public Services led by Senator Grace Poe is set to conduct on Oct. 2 its third technical working group meeting on the government’s transportation road map to address the traffic crisis in Metro Manila. “These can be summed up as PPP― plano, pondo at pagsisiyasat,” said Poe as she cited the need to have a concrete plan with a time line and deadlines. Pialago said applicants must have at least two years of college and not more than 35 years old, at least 5’2 in height for female and 5’4 for male. Those interested are required to bring personal data sheet, transcript of records, clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation and barangay and birth certificates. Majority of the MMDA traffic enforcers are classified as job order employees. They receive P8,000 a month as a starter but not entitled to benefits and hazard pay. Chairman Danilo Lim, however, made a promise that traffic enforcers hired based on a job order scheme would be given a permanent position and casual employment status in the agency. He said the agency was also planning giving hazard pay and other incentives to traffic enforcers whose lives are at risk while on duty. Lim said it was high time the government recognized the hard work of the MMDA’s front liners manning and managing the traffic along EDSA, the metro’s most busy thoroughfare. A research study conducted by Emmanuel Baja of the National Institute for Health-University of the Philippines revealed that the traffic enforcers on EDSA face health risks that include high blood pressure and respiratory problems due to exposure to black carbon and heavy metals. With Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PH... From A1 They include a 21-million euro (P1.2billion) loan from France to fund the Bus Rapid Transit program of the Department of Transportation and the $46-million (P2 billion) loan from Germany for climate change studies, which Dominguez said they are looking for a substitute. “The 21 million euros from France … we already found a substitute for that. It would be a soft loan, and we can get very similar terms from another multilateral agency,” he noted. Long before the President issued a memorandum suspending the flow of aid from nations in favor of the probe on the local drug war, Dominguez said the Duterte administration had been instituting policies to ensure that donor countries do not hold the country hostage. “In 2019, the European Union offered us a grant and they said if you will not behave, we will take this back. We did not accept that. We are not working on that policy anymore,” he said. “We should have the right to cancel the grant. So we said, the wording should be, we will give this to you until such time that it will be illegal for us to give it to you, and they agreed,” the finance chief added. The probe into the Duterte administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs was initiated by Iceland in a resolution which the UN Human Rights Council adopted last July 11 after an 18-14 vote during it 41st regular session in Geneva, Switzerland. Based on government figures, more than 5,000 people have been killed during police operations under the war against drugs. However, local and international human rights groups contradict the official figures, claiming that the number of victims is around 20,000 since the police report does include those killed outside police operations. A group of human rights lawyers led by the Free Legal Assistance Group has questioned the legality of the drug war before the Supreme Court, but the high court has yet to rule on the petition. The lawyers claimed that the documents submitted by the police were rubbish since details of non-drug related operations were included.

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Carpio: China may reclaim Scarborough British police S arrest 23 in UPREME Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio believes China, to which the administration pivoted since 2016, will try to reclaim Scarborough Shoal before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term in 2022.

PLANNED REFORMS.

At the same time, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., in a speech before the Asia Society in New York, described Beijing’s South China Sea code as like “a manual for feeding a dragon in your living room.” Locsin described China as a “hegemon” in the way it seeks to deal with its neighbors in the South China Sea and expressed support for continued US presence in the region. A hegemon is a leading or major power which enjoys an edge over people who would otherwise be that power’s peers, that is, someone who enjoys hegemony, a predominating influence over others. Locsin told an Asia Society Beijing seeks a code of conduct for the South China Sea that “is all about how Southeast Asia and China will engage with each other and no one else.” Locsin added: “[Such an agreement would be] implicit recognition of Chinese hegemony. In short, a manual for living with a hegemon or the care and feeding of a dragon in your living room.” For his part, Carpio said the Chinese would make the attempt in three years because the President himself had said he could not stop them from building structures in the shoal locally known as Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc. “We all know they have a plan and they will do that before the end of the term of President Duterte, and because that is the time they will also sign the Code of Conduct,” Carpio told a seminar for journalists on reporting on maritime issues on Wednesday. Carpio was referring to an agreement between China and Southeast Asian nations on activities in the South China Sea. The Code of Conduct, Carpio said, is designed to “manage the dispute” but would not settle its merits.

Release of over 300 non-GCTA surrenderers may start today

Duterte signs... From A1

of RA 53, commonly known as Sotto Law. Under the 1946 law, journalists are not compelled to reveal their sources published in their news reports, except in cases involving national security or if the Congress requires it. The President also signed Republic Act 1149, which creates 150 positions—100 regional trial courts and 50 municipal courts assigned by the Supreme Court— or the Judges-at-Large Act which aims to decongest courts handling numerous cases. The regional trial judges-at-large and municipal trial judges-at-large will be assigned to Regional Trial Courts and to any first-level court in the country, respectively, according to the law. The Supreme Court will determine the length of their temporary assignment and they will be entitled to the same salaries, privileges, allowances, benefits, and rank and title as those of their counterpart trial court judges, the law read. The President also signed a new law—the fourth—expanding access to educational services by allowing foreign universities to collaborate with local schools in the country. Signed on Aug. 28, Republic Act 11448 establishes the administration of transnational higher education in the country to enhance the global competitiveness of students and universities and improve human resource base. The law provides the framework

border loops

Newly installed Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag, with Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, during a chance interview Wednesday briefs media people covering the Senate regarding the reforms and plans he intends to implement at BuCor. Ey Acasio

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Justice is hoping to start releasing within today the first batch of more than 300 non-Good Conduct Time Allowance surrenderers. “Considering the number of PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) involved, we plan to release in tranches, the first of which will hopefully happen today (Thursday),” Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said. This came after Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would order the release of the more than 300 PDLs once they were duly verified that they are not the subject of a manhunt ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte. As of last Sept. 23, there were 2,221 PDLs who surrendered, which is 307

of operations of foreign higher educational institutions and allows overseas operations of local universities. Foreign universities may establish branch campuses in the country through a local partner. Under Republic Act 11449, hacking a bank system and skimming at least 50 debit or credit cards and online bank accounts are now considered as economic sabotage and non-bailable offenses. It carries a penalty of life imprisonment with fines from P1 million up to P5 million. Meanwhile, a person possessing at least 10 counterfeit devices and committing bank account access will face 12 to 20 years of jail time and at least P500,000 fine. If he was unable to access any account, penalties will be reduced to 6 to 12 years of imprisonment with P300,000 fine or twice the equivalent of the aggregate amount of all affected bank accounts. Fraudulent use of a credit card is also punishable with 4 to 6 years of jail time and a fine that is double that value of the obtained credit. “The state declares that the commission of a crime using access devices is a form of economic sabotage and a heinous crime and shall be punishable to the maximum level allowed by law,” it read. The new law also requires all banks, card issuers and stores accepting card payments to conduct initial investigation on any reported fraud incident. The law requires them to make “real-time reports” to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-

FB: Pols’ posts... From A1

While the social network relies on third-party factcheckers, including news organizations such as AFP, to help it discredit viral misinformation, it will stop short of wading into the veracity of political claims. “We don’t believe... that it’s an appropriate role for us to referee political debates and prevent a politician’s speech from reaching its audience and being subject to public debate and scrutiny,” said Nick Clegg, Facebook vice president of global affairs and communications. “This means that we will not send organic content or ads from politicians to our third-party fact-checking partners for review,” he said. Worries have run high ahead of the November 2020 polls following revelations of a wide-ranging misinformation campaign on Facebook and other social platforms, largely

LONDON —British police announced on Tuesday that they had arrested 23 people as part of a series of investigations into suspected people smuggling. The arrests were made between Sept. 11 and 21, and included 11 individuals suspected of facilitating illegal crossings of the Channel—between France and England—in small boats. Among those being held are British, Iraqi and Iranian nationals, according to the interior ministry. “The organized crime groups behind the illegal attempts to cross the border, either by land or sea, are putting the lives of vulnerable people in serious danger for their own financial gain,” said Steve Dann, director of the ministry’s criminal and financial investigations. More than 80 people who entered Britain illegally on small boats have been returned to Europe. Border Force cutters are now patrolling the Channel, and equipment including CCTV and night goggles have been deployed on the French coast, according to police. British authorities intercepted two small boats in the Channel carrying 21 migrants on Sept. 11, days after intercepting 86 migrants on similar vessels—thought to be one of the largest number of apprehensions in a single day. They included people from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam. AFP

more than the 1,914 PDLs who were in pardoned, and to a certain extent those the original BuCor list. who are out on parole. The BuCor list was supposed to have However, before these individuals can contained those who were convicted of be re-released, the BuCor would have to heinous crimes but were prematurely recommend for their release and justify it released. before the panel created by the Oversight Perete said it would be a “tedious Committee on Corrections. process” and would take longer time to thoroughly review the City of Makati prison records of the more than Committee on Awards on Disposal 300 PDLs. 7th Floor, Makati City Hall Building II Nonetheless, he explained J.P. Rizal cor. F. Zobel Sts., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City that the BuCor has a list of PDLs, whose cases are not Tel. No. (02) 870-1793/1779 GCTA-related, who are set to be www.makati.gov.ph released. INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SALE OF UNSERVICEABLE This list includes those who were ordered released PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT in compliance of the court The CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, through its Committee on Awards on Disposal orders arising from acquittals, (CAD), wishes to announce to the public and all interested buyer/s to join the sale commutation of sentences,

Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police. The new measure amends the “Access Device Regulation Act of 1998” and acknowledges that technology on access devices “have been exploited by criminals and criminal syndicates in perpetrating fraudulent activities that ultimately undermine the trust of the public in the banking industry.” Republic Act 11458 includes publishers, owners, writers, reporters, contributors, opinion writers, editors, columnists, managers, and media practitioners involved in the writing, editing, production, and dissemination of news for any print, broadcast, wire service organization, or electronic mass media, including cable TV and its variants. Under the law, divulging a journalist’s source will only be required if the court, House of Representatives, or the Senate or any committee of Congress demands such for the state’s security. Malacañang released a copy of the new law only on Wednesday. Senator Grace Poe, former chairperson of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, earlier said the law could not be used to protect a person from libel suit but aimed to encourage whistle blowers to expose themselves. “If they cannot approach government institutions, then they should at least be able to approach the media,” Poe said. Under the Judges-at-Large Act, only natural-born citizens at least 35 years of age and have practiced law in the country for 10 years shall be appointed as judges-at-large.

directed by Russian operatives, in the 2016 elections. Overwhelmed by such disinformation, Facebook has set up partnerships with media outlets to verify articles and posts found to be of a dubious nature, with journalists’ contributions appearing below problematic content, which is labeled as doubtful. Exclusion of politicians’ discourse has been part of Facebook’s policy for over a year, Clegg said. “However, when a politician shares previously debunked content including links, videos and photos, we plan to demote that content, display related information from fact-checkers, and reject its inclusion in advertisements,” he said. Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister, joined Facebook less than a year ago to help fix its scandalplagued image following Russian social media campaigns during elections. Facebook, meanwhile, walks a fine line in its attempts to balance freedom of expression with regulation of inappropriate content. AFP

through Public Bidding of SEVENTY ONE (71) UNITS OF UNSERVICEABLE MOTOR VEHICLES on a “AS IS, WHERE IS” basis on October 8, 2019, detailed as follows: Items Motorcycles Sedans Wagon Coasters/Vans Buses Fire Trucks

No. of Units 11 14 25 11 4 6

Floor Price (PhP)

Locations 1. Basement, Makati City Hall Building II 2. Sultana Warehouse, Brgy Olympia 3. Pio del Pilar Warehouse, Brgy Poblacion 4. Botanical Garden, San Lorenzo Village 5. DepEd Division Office, Guadalupe Nuevo 6. Makati Central Fire Station, Brgy San Antonio

1,013,100.40

No bid shall be allowed lower than the said Floor Price. Schedule of bidding as follows: Activity Issuance of Bid Documents

Inspection of Unserviceable Property

Pre-Bidding Conference Deadline for Submission of Bid Offer Opening of Bid Offer

Date September 26-27, 2019 Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 2019 October 4, 2019 September 26-27, 2019 Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 2019 October 4, 2019 October 4, 2019 October 8, 2019 October 8, 2019

Time 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 - 9:00 AM 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 1:00 - 5:00 PM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:01 AM

Bid documents shall be issued only to interested bidders upon presentation of a Letter of Intent and a non-refundable fee of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (PhP1,000.00) to the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat not later than nine o’clock in the morning of October 7, 2019. Interested bidders are advised to conduct actual inspection of the unserviceable property subject for disposition. The CAD will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 4, 2019, Friday, 10:00 AM at the Pio del Pilar Conference Room, 21st Floor, Makati City Hall Building I, J.P. Rizal St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City, to discuss the Eligibility Requirements and the Technical and Financial Components required. However, only those interested bidders who have purchased bidding documents are allowed to raise and submit queries or clarifications regarding the auction. Deadline for the submission of bids is on October 8, 2019, Tuesday, 10:00 AM, at the Pio del Pilar Conference Room, 21st Floor, Makati City Hall Building I, J.P. Rizal St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City. The time for the deadline of the submission of bids shall be based on the Philippine Standard Time (PST) pursuant to R.A. 10535 otherwise known as “The Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013”. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the said address. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of Cash, Manager’s Check or Cashier’s Check in favor of Makati City Treasurer in the amount equivalent to at least Ten Percent (10%) of the bid. Late bids shall not be accepted. The winning bidder shall remove all 71 units of unserviceable motor vehicles within thirty (30) calendar days upon issuance of an approved Sales Invoice. For further inquiries, interested bidder/s may call or contact the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat at Tel. No. (02) 870-1793 / 1779. THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS, TO WAIVE ANY FORMALITY THEREOF AND TO ACCEPT ONLY SUCH BIDS THAT ARE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

ARNOLD C. MAGPANTAY Vice-Cnairman Committee on Awards on Disposal M. Standard – Sept. 26 & 30, 2019

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Why hazing occurs EVERY now and then, we hear and read about instances of hazing in colleges, universities and other institutions. Young men aspiring to be lawyers, soldiers, cops and others get killed. This brings forth the question: Why do these things continue to happen? In the military and police academies, why do upperclassmen resort to hazing? Is this even real brotherhood? Now we hear once again that a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy has died at the hands of his upperclassmen. Why do they continue to do it, knowing that hazing is classified as a heinous crime?

Brotherhood, you say? In the early 1950s, while I was taking up law subjects as a Bachelor of Arts student at Ateneo de Manila, we organized Aquila Legis (Law of the Eagle) at the Ateneo College of Law. Louie Javellana, who would become an associate justice of the Supreme Court, was our president. The only thing required of us lowerclassmen was to kneel in front of our girlfriends and give them flowers. Sadly, that fraternity developed into something else. In the case of student fraternities in recent years, initiation rites end up violently. That is supposed to give the members a sense of belonging. I do not see the logic behind it. What a barbaric act! Psychologically speaking, hazing is

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

resorted to be criminal minds to show their dominance over others. But camaraderie comes naturally to people who have been friends for a long time. It is not achieved through violence and control. *** Two ranking officials of the Philippine Military Academy resigned following the death of a cadet. Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, PMS superintendent, and Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro, commandant, both stepped down, Evangelista said that since he was the one responsible as superintendent, it was a good time to resign to pave the way for further investigation if needed. Bacarro said he quit because of the principle of command responsibility. But the resignations bring to light the question: Were they aware of what was going on under their watch? It would seem not. At any rate, we need a full investigation still. Involved here are young men who had lofty dreams of being highranking officials of the military. Can you imagine what they will do in the event they indeed become military officers? *** We journalists are often accused of being corrupt, I think this is unfair to those who have made journalism their life work, and who are honest and upright. Of course there are bad apples among our ranks. I would say they are the exception rather than the rule. I am proud to say that in my almost 70 years as a journalist, I have never been accused of being corrupt. There is what is known as attackand-defend journalism, which is selfexplanatory. There is also envelopmental journalism, where PR people hand out cash or other benefits to reporters and columnists. The easiest to bribe are camera

Name the ninjas

FTER three years of the aggressive campaign against illegal drugs, Filipinos may feel it is uncharacteristic of the Philippine National Police to invoke phrases like “due diligence,” “protecting the rights” and “undue persecution.”

And yet, these words appear in the PNP statement reacting to the Senate’s authorization of the Blue Ribbon Committee to make public information from an earlier executive session when some 19 police officials were tagged as “ninja cops.” “Ninja cops” are high-ranking policemen involved in recycling drugs that have been seized in police operations. The senators voted 17-0 to reveal the names of the rogue cops behind what is known as the Agaw-bato scheme. The cops were supposedly named by the former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who also

said a high-ranking police official was protecting his subordinates in the drug scheme. Then again, the Blue Ribbon Committee might not even be the PNP’s biggest concern; the Palace is said to be consolidating the names of the erring cops before President Rodrigo Duterte himself announces who they are. The plea of the PNP to protect the rights of its cops who may be included in the list smacks of hypocrisy when, just a few months ago, its leadership threw its complete support behind the naming of individuals in a so-called narcolist—never mind the quality and reliability of the vetting process used to come up

with the names. The existence of these ninja cops do undermine and make a mockery of the Duterte administration’s war against drugs. Policemen are supposed to be at the forefront of implementing it with the best intentions. In the past three years, the PNP has been under scrutiny from various sector and even by the international community for its zeal in implementing the President’s war. Cops have been portrayed as indiscriminate and unforgiving in their drive to put away drug pushers. That they themselves profit from the fruits of their extraordinary labor is a travesty of law and order they have sworn to uphold. The PNP, as enforcers of the law, should be held to a higher standard in the battle against illegal drugs and corruption. Let’s hear who these erring cops are—and set them as examples among their colleagues on how not to do the job.

Turn to A5

PEN 85, CRIC 2019, and the first LARO conference POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE THE Philippines is host to two international academic events happening soon—the 85th PEN International Congress and the Communication Research International Conference— while LARO, the first academic conference on game studies in the country, will be held next month. *** “Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress the truth,” wrote Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate and former PEN main case. PEN International is the world’s first global organization of writers. Its primary advocacies are the promotion of literature and the freedom of expression; they were the first “to point out that freedom of expression and literature are inseparable,” and were among the first non-governmental associations to advocate for human rights. PEN, founded in London in 1921, has been famous for decades for speaking up in behalf of oppressed writers around the world. In Soyinka’s case, he was marked for immediate execution by the state of Nigeria. In 1967, playwright Arthur Miller, one of Marilyn Monroe’s exhusbands, wrote Nigeria’s then-head of state General Yakubu Gowon for Soyinka’s release, which was granted. Soyinka went on to become a globally lauded poet and playwright, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. PEN holds annual congresses and this year’s will be held in Manila from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, organized by Philippine PEN, which was established in 1958. This year’s conference theme is “Speaking in Tongues: Literary Freedom & Indigenous Languages,” in conjunction with the United Nations’ declaration of 2019 as the International Year of the Indigenous Languages. The congress will focus on the topics of indigenous writing, linguistic di-

versity, and multiculturalism. In a serendipitous coincidence (or perhaps not), October is National Indigenous People Month in the Philippines (Proclamation No. 1906, 2009). The congress’s objectives are to “promote literature and its expression in various languages and forms, including those of the indigenous people and cultural minorities; defend free speech, and promote expression and measures that address current concerns in societal environments, including peace, women’s rights, and linguistic diversity; and serve as a meeting-place for writers and readers from all over the world to exchange ideas and creative endeavors, and to increase understanding and international cooperation.”

Writers and academics will come in from all over the world. Philippine PEN boasts two Nation National Artists in its leadership: the found founding chairman is F. Sionil José, while the chairman is Bienvenido Lumbera. Writer and professors Charlson Ong and Joselito ‘Lito’ Zulueta serve as president and national secretary, respectively. The first day of the conference will be taken up with committee meetings (Writers in Prison, Translation and Linguistics, Women, Peace) a panel on dying tongues, and the welcome ceremony/opening dinner. The next two days will have assemblies and another panel, “Stifled Voice, Throttled Liberties: SOS on Endangered Freedoms.” On the evening of Oct. 2 will be held “Free the Word! Manila: A Special Night of Poetry and Performances” that will see readers/writers performing translations of works originally written in dying or marginalized languages. Expect to see multiart, multimedia performances as well. The last two days are open to the Turn to A5

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The coco levy saga

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PPI

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tions; and a fixed life of 30 years. To my mind, the 30-year term expedites the full utilization of the fund. President Duterte reiterated the need to pass such bill in his last SONA. As governor of Quezon Province, one of the largest coconut-producing provinces in the counIN 2017, the Supreme Court defined the try, I share the President’s sentiments. nature and use of the coconut levy fund and coconut assets. The Court in its decision declared that the coconut levy funds Will our coconut and assets are public funds and must be used solely for the benefit of the coconut farmers ever have industry and its farmers. This certainly brought hope to our coconut farmers, after a happy ending? a drawn out and controversial legal tussle that lasted several decades. At present, the total amount of the The coconut industry needs our supfund and assets are estimated at P100 port more than ever, in the face of so billion. many challenges to its viability. Our To preserve the integrity of the public coconut farmers continue to suffer as nature of the fund, there are bills in the a result of declining copra prices in the 18th Congress creating a trust fund for world and local markets. Let us not forthe sole and exclusive benefit of coco- get that a number of our coconut plannut farmers and for the development of tations have been destroyed by past the coconut industry. The bills include typhoons. The country lost 33 million safety measures to prevent misuse of the coconut trees from typhoons Pablo and fund, among them: regular auditing by Yolanda, while many remain vulnerable the COA, possibly in coordination with to destruction every rainy season. Some PCGG; congressional oversight func- of our coconut trees are also old and left

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

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

barren and must therefore be replaced. Our farmers also have to deal with “cocolisap,” a biological pest that, in recent years, caused a massive infestation that fell over hundreds of thousands of trees. I highly urge our government officials, particularly our legislators in both the House and the Senate, to expedite the passage of this bill, lest our farmers think that we are not empathetic to their needs. It is high time that we allow the use of these funds for the further development of our coconut industry. We need research facilities and seed banks that will protect and ensure the supply of viable coconut seeds, particularly the better and resistant varieties. We need to develop sustainable methods of planting, harvesting, and processing of coconuts and its byproducts to maximize productivity. Our industry needs to modernize through availment of technologies and techniques, that will raise the standards of this sector to global competitiveness. With proper use of the funds, dedicated solely and exclusively to the benefit of the coconut farmers who were the source of the funds, the saga of the coco levy fund will have a happy ending.

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

Tragedy at the Academy WE ARE currently witnessing a tragedy unfolding at the Philippine Military Academy. Once again, a young life was cut short and his dreams with it because of a practice we as a country cannot seem to stop. In addition, several lives possibly more will now be destroyed and a father’s dream for his son to follow his footsteps has turned into sorrow. The careers of officers who otherwise would be retiring in glory to enjoy a well-deserved retirement now have their service reputations tarnished forever. Senior cadets who were direct participants to what is now being termed as maltreatment have now been either dismissed or suspended. Lt General Ronnie Evangelista, the superintendent, has just resigned together with Brigadier General Bartolome Bacarro, the commandant of cadets. Others have also been relieved from their posts. With the passage of the Anti-hazing law and the prominent media coverage of latest hazing incidents in civilian institutions, one would think that other institutions including those in the military have taken notice or learned a lesson and taken steps to stop the practice. It appears, however, that the practice has continued quietly with the same intensity and brutality. The added tragedy in this hazing incident is that cadet Darwin Dormitorio could have survive if treated and attended to competently and professionally. From the available media reports published so far, one can deduce that the station hospital was lacking in equipment or lacking in competent medical staff to treat patients. Cadet Dormitorio was confined and treated at the station hospital for about a month before he died. Why did the doctors not refer him to better equipped hospitals in the city for proper diagnoses? Is it because these doctors did not want the public to

find out that the injury was caused by hazing? If that is the case, then these doctors should be thoroughly investigated for possible misconduct or negligence in the performance of their medical duties. Now, in addition to the two other cadets who have been maltreated and brought to other hospitals a third cadet has been evacuated to the V. Luna hospital because of what officials are saying that all these cadets were also victims of maltreatment.

What molds a good military leader? Good for them because they are expected to recover but for Cadet Dormitorio, it is too late. He was laid to rest in Cagayan de Oro yesterday. Because the incident happened in a military institution, the issue of command responsibility has to come out. The common definition of command responsibility is that the commander is responsible for everything that happens in his unit. Victory, defeat and other failures or sins of omission falls unto the shoulders of the commander. It is for this reason that Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and Brig Gen Bartolome Bacarro tendered their resignations. As to whether the death of Cadet Dormitorio will be the last remains to be seen. Unfortunately, there are still many people including unfortunately graduates of the PMA who still believe in the necessity of the practice in molding the character and quality of future military leaders. This is why even with the Anti-hazing law, the practice will be difficult to stop. Police General Oscar Albayalde, for example, said in an interview that hazing is a matter of perception. That as far as he is concerned, the kind of hazing he received was what molded him to be the kind of officer that he is today. He seems to imply that there is a kind of hazing that could be described as benign. But that is where the danger lies. It

is open to interpretation and abuse. Senator Bato dela Rosa also said that times have changed but it seems that our premier military institution has not yet found a better way to inculcate discipline instead of cadets being brutalized to the point of death as the case of Dormitorio and the three other cadets who are now recuperating have shown. The old practice is still alive and kicking. For whatever its worth, there is this training video that I watched one time about the way the German Army train their current recruits. The German Army was defeated in two world wars. But even in defeat, their enemies had high regard for the German Army because of the quality of their training. It is thorough and tough but the traditional fearsome talking noncommissioned officers who were always barking orders have changed their methods. Today, military instructors take their time to explain why recruits are being asked to do what they are doing instead of just being ordered. This may look very unmilitary but when evaluated, it was found to be even more effective than the traditional system. There are therefore other ways to achieve an objective without the customary brutality of the traditional method. West Point, the institution where the practice of hazing originated, have also done away with the practice long time ago. Today, after cadets complete their plebe year, there is some sense of equality among the cadets. In the Philippine Military Academy, the class system lasts until death. And for so long that this culture continues, I am not so confident that we have seen the last of this practice. Maybe it is better to simply leave the PMA to grapple with this problem on its own in the hope that change is possible and the school can eventually find a way to do away with this very destructive culture of inflicting grievous physical injury to the point of death because of the mistaken belief that it is part of what molds a tough military leader.

Let Taiwan on board to build an inclusive United Nations

How much GDP growth in 2019? in the fourth quarter of 2018 to 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2019, (because of) the delayed passage of the national budget," ADB declared. "(It) held back government spending, (and) public construction conWITH 2019 heading toward the end tracted by 8.6 percent while growth of its last quarter, the leading finan- in government consumption eased, cial institutions are looking back year-on-year, from 12.6 percent in at the Philippine economy's per- the fourth quarter of 2018 to 7.4 performance in the last three quarters cent in the first quarter of 2019." in order to determine whether and Asia's development bank said that where adjustments need to be made the negative effect of the 2019 nato their earlier quarterly and semes- tional budget's delayed passage was tral forecasts. One of the first to reinforced by what it called lackhave done so is Asia's very own de- luster global trade and economic velopment bank, activity," ADB Manila-headquarsaid. Growth tered Asian Dein exports of The ADB is not out velopment Bank goods and ser(ADB). of line in suggesting vices slowed Following a a deterioration in the as a result of... review of the the downturn in Philippine economy’s changes that have the electronics taken place in this growth prospects cycle," it noted. country's economic and downscaling its ADB hinted environment since forecast for Philippine that it might the end of 2018, have downeconomic growth. ADB has decided scaled its 2019 to take a somewhat Philippine GDP less sanguine view growth projecof the Philippine economy's 2019 tion by more than two percentage growth prospects. At the end of 2018 points were it not for the operation of Asia's development bank believed that two positive factors: higher housenear-term economic conditions were hold consumption and higher private such as to make possible 6.4 percent investment." The increase in housegrowth of Philippine GDP (gross do- hold consumption undoubtedly was mestic product) in 2019; in its most partly a result of the steady decline recent Asian Development Outlook in consumer prices."Inflation in the supplementary report ADB said it Philippines slowed to 2.7 percent in reduced the figure to 6.2 percent. At June 2019, averaging 3.4 percent in 6.2 percent, the Philippine economy the first half," it noted. would be growing at the same rate as Annual GDP growth rates of 6.2 in 2018, when GDP posted its lowest percent and 6.4 percent are within the growth rate in three years. 6-7 percent range targeted by the PhilWhat changes in the Philippine ippine Development Plan, 2017-2022. economy's operating environment Is the ADB out of line in suggestdid ADB put forward to justify its ing a deterioration in the Philippine 2-percentage-points downscaling economy's growth prospects and of its 2019 growth prospects? ADB downscaling its forecast for Philipidentified two culprits: the late ap- pine economic growth in 2019? It proval of the 2019 GAA (General is not. Citing varying negative facAppropriations Act)—President tors, most of the other international Duterte signed it into law in late financial institutions—including the April—and the decline in exports of World Bank and the International both goods and services. Monetary Fund—have been revising "Growth moderated in the Philip- downward their forecasts for 2019 pines, from 6.3 percent year-on-year Philippine economic growth.

PEN 85,... From A4

sustainable materials management and the circular economy, ecological conservation and green networks, and international partnerships. These areas complement the main theme of the UN High-Level Political Forum 2018, the SDGs, and the 5Ps—people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnership—referred to in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. International organizations are created to meet the common objectives of its members, not to serve the interests of just one member. Article 100 of the UN Charter clearly states that “In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization.” Regrettably, the UN sits idly by whenever China seeks to impose its so-called “one China principle” on the UN system. The most recent example involves dozens of NGOs being denied Consultative Status by the UN Economic and Social Council simply because a reference to Taiwan in their documents contradicts China’s demands. A truly inclusive UN would not leave anyone behind. Today, however, Taiwan passport holders are blocked from entering UN premises for public visits and meetings. Taiwanese journalists and media outlets are also denied accreditation to cover UN meetings. These practices are unjust and discriminatory, and contravene the

principle of universality upon which the UN was founded. The UN should make its actions and words congruent, and take immediate action to rectify its exclusionary practices. The Philippines is Taiwan’s closest neighboring country to the south. There are more than 150,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan, with over nine thousand inter-marriages between the two countries. The Taiwan government has also granted the visa-free program to the Philippines since 1 November, 2017, and has resulted in the tremendous increase of Filipino people visiting Taiwan which is expected to exceed half a million in 2019. Taiwan is also highly recognized by Filipinos as a true friend who always extend a helping hand in time. Given the strong bilateral relations between our two countries, and the sharing of common values such as democracy and freedom, Taiwan’s isolation from UN is also the concern of our Filipino brothers and sisters. I hereby call on the Philippine government, its Congress, and its people to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations and related technical meetings, mechanisms, and activities. Taiwan should be awarded the same rights as other countries to be able to exercise its full commitment to help the world to achieve the SDG goals. Mr. Chuang is the director of the Press Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines.

public, with public lectures and panels and the “Videoke Slam: Manila Challenge” on Oct. 3, and the Philippine Artists Congress on Oct. 4, open to Filipino- and Philippine-based artists, scholars, cultural workers, and critics working in all the fields of artistic endeavor. In case anyone is wondering—yes, this Congress is a huge deal indeed, with writers and academics coming in from all over the world. *** Thanks in a large part to the efforts of communication research academics from the University of the Philippines’ College of Mass Communication and the communication departments of other universities in the country, the profile of the discipline has been much elevated in recent years, particularly through the staging of national and international comm-res conferences. UP Diliman is host to this year’s Communication Research International Conference on Oct. 17 and 18. With the theme “Crossroad and OffRoads in Online Worlds,” prominent communication and media scholars and practitioners will examine the present and future of research in the field, as well as look at current communication phenomena that engage content creators and users online. Among the event’s many speakers are National Chengchi University’s Dr Trisha Lin, on “Screen dependency: A mixed method approach to understand user groups in multiple countries;” Florida State University’s

corruption of the press is when there is a change in administration and the incoming president appoints an editor or a columnist to a government-owned and From A4 -controlled corporation. There are perks people for TV and photographers of that come with this appointment. So newspapers. The normal rate these how can the editor or columnist now be days, I hear, is P5,000. free to say anything against the appointTo me, the most insidious manner of ing authority?

Lest I am misunderstood, I am not saying that anybody in media appointed by a president is corrupt. Corruption is a result of the underpayment of media people, despite the risks and other inconveniences they face while on the job. I urge owners and managers of media to get together and consider journalism

as a risky profession. Journalists should have commensurate pay! *** The problem of government people is that once they sit in their air-conditioned offices, they lose their capacity to think out of the box. Take the case of EDSA traffic, which has resulted in daily nightmares for

By Jerry Chuang THE 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a high-level meeting wherein all Member States are equally represented to discuss a wide range of international issues opened on September 17, 2019 at UN Headquarters. Regrettably, Taiwan was once again excluded from the UN General Assembly due to political interference. President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has reiterated that Taiwan’s 23 million people have the right to participate in the UN system. She also emphasized that Taiwan is committed to joining hands with global partners to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to forge the world we want, and the future we need. After many years of effort, Taiwan has made great strides in alleviating poverty and achieving zero hunger. Our percentage of low-income households has been reduced to 1.6 percent. Launched in 1993, the National Health Insurance program now covers 99.8 percent of the population. In 2018, our waste recycling rate reached 55.69 percent, our literacy rate 98.8 percent, and our infant mortality rate 4.2 per 1,000. These figures far surpass SDG standards. The government of Taiwan has further identified six major areas of interest with respect to the SDGs: smart water management, sustainable energy transformation, clean air,

Why...

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Dr Mia Lustria on “Web 2.0 and mass interpersonal persuasion,” and BBDO Greater China’s Chief Operating Officer Hans Lopez-Vito on “The impact of digital economy on brand communications and research.” Researchers from all over the country and region will also present papers in parallel sessions on both days. *** The Game Developers Association of the Philippines is hosting the first academic conference on game studies, the Ludology Academic Research Output (LARO) Conference, and is inviting researchers to submit their abstracts. The selected works will be presented at SMX Convention Center, Pasay on Oct. 23, 2019, the same week as one of the largest game conventions in Southeast Asia, the E-Sports and Gaming Summit. LARO provides an opportunity for academics to create discussions about games and gaming that, according to Gwen Foster of International Game Developers Association-Manila, goes beyond “hardware and software advancements” into “the study of culture and the discourses surrounding gaming, non-digital forms of play, and the communities engaging in their creation, and their experiences." Submit papers and proposals to submissions@laro.study, questions to inquiries@laro.study. Tickets to the conference are available on Event Brite. All universities should encourage and support their faculty and students in conducting research—apart from constructing knowledge for society’s benefit, it’s what makes and breaks a school’s standing. /FB and Twitter: @ DrJennyO

commuters and motorists alike. We are fortunate that there are visionary businessmen like Ramon Ang, San Miguel president and COO. Ang has submitted an unsolicited proposal to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to build a 10-lane expressway over EDSA. I think this is practical and doable.

News

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

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IN BRIEF Cimatu leads cleanup of Pasig River ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday led a technical inspection of Pasig River in response to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call to clean it. He vowed to get rid of informal settlers and go after polluters of the historic river. Metro Manila Development Authority chairperson Danilo Lim and representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard joined Cimatu during the two-hour inspection tour of the river. He noted several violations including the three-meter easement from the riverbanks. “We have the authority to restore the three-meter easement, and MMDA and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission are working on this,” he said. The President appointed Cimatu to head the PRRC. Rio N. Araja

Immigration agents nab four Chinese fugitives FOUR Chinese fugitives wanted in mainland China for kidnapping, forgery and other crimes were arrested by Immigration agents in separate incidents in Pasay and Taguig. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said that one of the aliens was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 while three others were collared at their residence in Bonifacio Global City. Arrested at the NAIA was Liang Yang, who is wanted for forgery in his country. The three identified as Shi Chun Tan, Cai Rong Li and Li Shao Bai were arrested inside a high rise condominium tower at the BGC. BI Port Operations chief Grifton Medina said Yang was apprehended at the NAIA 2 terminal upon his arrival, and was excluded hours later via a Xiamen Air flight to China where he is now detained and undergoing criminal prosecution. Vito Barcelo

Classify racy tabloids as porn—Castelo By Maricel V. Cruz

F SHE'LL have her way, a female legislator from Quezon City, said racy tabloids that publish sexy photographs and stories will be rated “X” or “For Adults Only” Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo of Quezon City, a retired show business personality, filed House Bill 4733, which states that racy tabloids that contain sex stories and images are distributed “for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal” and thus, should be classified as such. These reading materials are masquerading as newspapers to evade various laws as well as local ordinances that prohibit pornography, Castelo said. "Movies and television programs are strictly reviewed and classified

with the end in view of achieving intelligent viewing and protecting our children," Castelo said in the bill's explanatory note, "by the same token, smutty tabloids should be regulated in such manner as to keep them at bay to protect the moral integrity of our children." However, the bill may experience rough sailing in the House as many congressmen are expected to oppose the bill under the guise of defending the freedom of the press, one of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Citing a study by the Commis-

sion on Population, Castelo said pornography drives the youth to engage in sexual activity at a young age. "With our country experiencing rising rates of teenage pregnancy, coupled with alarming increase in HIV infections, our leaders would do well to incorporate systematic domestic regulatory system banning the youth from all forms of pornography in their programs," she said. "The immediate passage of this timely proposed measure is thus most earnestly sought," she added. HB 4733 mandates the drafting of its implementing rules by the Executive Department. In addition, the bill leaves it to the courts to determine the penalties for violation of its provisions.

Contempt case vs. BI officials thrown out THE Sandiganbayan turned down a petition to cite Bureau of Immigration officials in contempt. In a 14-page decision dated Sept. 11 released to media Tuesday, the antigraft court’s First Division dismissed for lack of merit the petition to cite for indirect contempt filed by engineer Modesto G. Membreve against BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente, Special Investigator Emil Almodiel and other immigration officers of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Membreve sued the Immigration officials after he was prevented from leaving the country last March 28 with his family on a flight to Hong Kong when Immigration officials asked him to produce an “Allow Departure Order” or ADO, which would have permitted

him to travel despite the standing Hold Departure Order issued by the antigraft court against him on Aug. 7, 2017. The HDO had been issued by the Sandiganbayan in the pending criminal case against Membreve, a former regional manager for Caraga of the National Irrigation Authority. During the pendency of the criminal case, in trips to Japan previously, Membreve had obtained an ADO from the court to temporarily allow him to travel despite the HDO. On his family’s trip to Hong Kong, however, the BI main office did not process the ADO from the court in the immigration agency’s computers due to a glitch. The glitch arose from the representative of Membreve’s failure to

inform the BI that the petitioner also used the alias “Modeste”, which had been in the BI’s database aside from “Modesto.” Ruling against contempt, the court explained the immigration officials’ “refusal to process the ADO application of the petitioners could not have been attended with malice, bad faith and gross negligence” since Membreve’s representative merely applied for the issuance of the ADO in the name of Modesto G. Membreve and failed to inform that he is also using Modeste as an alias. The court said had he also used the name ‘Modeste’ in filing for an ADO, the Immigration official could have made the necessary verification under such name. PNA

Senate agrees to reset SK, village polls in Dec. 2022 By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled in May next year would be held on Dec. 5, 2022 once the proposed measure for its deferment is enacted into law. The Senate approved on second reading Senate Bill No. 1043 which seeks to hold the village and youth council elections on December 2022. The bill seeking to postpone the barangay and SK elections scheduled in May next year had hurdled second reading in the Senate Tuesday night. Under the bill, the next round of barangay and SK elections will be conducted on Dec. 5, 2022 instead of the second Monday of May 2020. It also provides that subsequent synchronized barangay and SK elections shall be held on the first Monday of Dec. 2025 and every three years thereafter. The amended Senate Bill No. 1043, a consolidation of five bills, was contained in Committee Report No. 4 and presented in the plenary by Sen. Imee Marcos, chair of the electoral reforms and people’s participation. If enacted into law, there will be two elections in 2022—the presidential elections in May while the elections for village and youth leaders will be in December of the same year. The last barangay elections were held in May 2018 by virtue of a law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte postponing the October 2017 polls.

RULES OF PROCEDURE IN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS ‘Teachers payRepublic hike’ of the Philippines House of Representatives among Go’s priorities 18th Congress

THE increase in the pay of public school teachers will be among the top priorities RULE I of newly elected Senator Christopher Go. of Rules Applicability He discussed his plan on the teachers’ Section Applicability of Rules.—These Rules shall apply to all pay hike after1.the implementation of the for impeachment in the House of Representatives against the fourthproceedings and final tranche of their compenVice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members sationPresident, adjustment in 2019. of the Constitutional and the Ombudsman for culpable violation Aside from the publicCommissions school teachers, the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes or Go isofalso looking into increasing the salbetrayal of public trust. ary of all civilian personnel in the government in consonance with the principle of II RULE equal pay for work of equal value. Initiating Impeachment He believes this move will also attract and retain competent committed civil Section 2. Mode and of Initiating Impeachment.—Impeachment shall be servants. initiated by the filing and subsequent referral to the Committee on Justice of:1 “No one should be left behind. The a verified complaint for impeachment filed by any Member of the approach a.should be holistic wherein all House ofshould Representatives or; government workers be included,” said Go. a verified by any citizen upon a resolution of “Let usb.take care of complaint ordinary filed workers,” he added. endorsement by any Member thereof; or The former aide of President Rodrigo c. a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment filed by at least Duterte also vowed to(1/3) pushoffor measures one-third all the Members of the House. to address problems of informal settlers and provide affordable houses. Sectionthem 3. Filing and Referral of Verified Complaints.—A verified Gocomplaint stressed for that housing intervention impeachment by a Member of the House or by any citizen upon should be pursued so that Filipino famia resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof shall be filed with the office ofindividually the Secretaryhave General andown immediately referred to the Speaker. lies would their roof over their heads. Anone impeachment complaint is verified “This is of the matters I want to by an affidavit that the complainant the complaint and the allegations therein are true and correct of studyhas andread pursue to address thethat6.5-milhis personal knowledge based be on no authentic records. lion housing shortage. Thereorshould squatter in our own country,” he said. An impeachment complaint required to be verified which contains Goaalso supports the creation of Departverification based on “information and belief”, or upon “knowledge, ment information of Disaster and Resilience to lacks scale aup the verification, shall be treated as an belief,” or proper country’s disaster resiliency and preparedness. unsigned impeachment complaint. He cited the need for a specific department to focus on disaster risk itreduction The Speaker shall have included in the Order of Business within ten management. Macon (10) session days Ramos-Araneta from receipt. It shall then be referred to the Committee on Justice within three (3) session days thereafter.

RULE III Finding Probable Cause for Impeachment A. COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS Section 4. Determination of Sufficiency in Form.—Upon due referral, the Committee on Justice shall determine whether the complaint is sufficient in form. If the committee finds that the complaint is insufficient in form, it shall return the same to the Secretary General within three (3) session days with a written explanation of the insufficiency. The Secretary General shall return the same to the complainant(s) together with the committee’s written explanation within three (3) session days from receipt of the committee resolution finding the complaint insufficient in form. Section 5. Determination of Sufficiency in Substance.—Should the committee find the complaint sufficient in form, it shall then determine if the complaint is sufficient in substance. The requirement of substance is met if there is a recital of facts constituting the offense charged and determinative of the jurisdiction of the committee. If the committee finds that the complaint is not sufficient in substance, it shall dismiss the complaint and shall submit its report as provided hereunder. Section 6. Notice to Respondents and Time to Plead.—If the committee finds the complaint sufficient in form and substance, it shall immediately furnish the respondent(s) with a copy of the resolution and/or verified complaint, as the case may be, with written notice that the respondent shall

1 The Supreme Court decision in Francisco et al. vs. House of Representatives (GR No. 160261, 10 November 2003), states that Impeachment proceedings are initiated upon filing of the complaint and/or resolution and its referral to the Committee on Justice.

answer the complaint within ten (10) days from receipt of notice thereof and serve a copy of the answer to the complainant(s). No motion to dismiss shall be allowed within the period to answer the complaint. The answer, which shall be under oath, may include affirmative defenses. If the respondent fails or refuses to file an answer within the reglementary period, the respondent is deemed to have interposed a general denial to the complaint. Within three (3) days from receipt of the answer, the complainant may file a reply, serving a copy thereof to the respondent who may file a rejoinder within three (3) days from receipt of the reply, serving a copy thereof to the complainant. If the complainant fails to file a reply, all the material allegations in the answer are deemed controverted. Together with their pleadings, the parties shall file their affidavits or counter-affidavits, as the case may be, with their documentary evidence. Such affidavits or counteraffidavits shall be subscribed before the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice or the Secretary General. Notwithstanding all the foregoing, failure to file an answer will not preclude the respondent from presenting evidence to support the defenses. When there are more than one respondent, each shall be furnished with a copy of the verified complaint of a Member of the House or a copy of the verified complaint of a private citizen together with the resolution of endorsement thereof by a Member of the House of Representatives and a written notice to answer. In this case, reference to respondent in these Rules shall be understood as respondents.

B. HOUSE ACTION Section 11. Vote Required for Approval.—A vote of at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House is necessary for the approval of the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment. If the resolution is approved by the required vote, it shall then be endorsed to the Senate. On the other hand, should the resolution fail to secure approval by the required vote, it shall result in the dismissal of the complaint for impeachment. Section 12. Where Dismissal Recommended.—When the report of the Committee on Justice dismisses the complaint, it shall submit to the House a resolution for the dismissal of the verified complaint and/or resolution of impeachment. A vote of at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House shall be necessary to override such resolution, in which case the Committee on Justice shall forthwith prepare the Articles of Impeachment. Section 13. Vote by Roll Call.—The voting on a resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee on Justice or a contrary resolution dismissing the impeachment complaint shall be by roll call, and the Secretary General shall record the vote of each Member. RULE IV Verified Complaint/Resolution by One-Third of Members

Section 7. Submission of Evidence and Memoranda.—After receipt of the pleadings, affidavits and counter-affidavits and relevant documents provided for in Section 6, or the expiration of the time within which they may be filed, the Committee shall determine whether the complaint alleges sufficient grounds for impeachment.

Section 14. Endorsement of the Complaint/Resolution to the Senate.—A verified complaint/resolution of impeachment filed by at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and in this case the verified complaint/resolution shall be endorsed to the Senate in the same manner as an approved bill of the House.

If it finds that sufficient grounds for impeachment do not exist, the Committee shall dismiss the complaint and submit the report required hereunder. If the Committee finds that sufficient grounds for impeachment exist, the Committee shall conduct a hearing. The Committee, through the Chairperson, may limit the period of examination and cross-examination by members of the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to issue compulsory processes for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and other related evidence.

The complaint/resolution must, at the time of filing, be verified and sworn to before the Secretary General by each of the Members constituting at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House.

Hearings before the Committee shall be open to the public except when the security of the State or public interest requires that the hearings be held in executive session.

The contents of the verification shall be as follows: “We, after being sworn in accordance with law, depose and state: That we are the complainants in the above-entitled complaint/resolution of impeachment; that we have caused the said complaint/resolution to be prepared and have read the contents thereof; and that the allegations therein are true of our own knowledge and belief on the basis of our reading and appreciation of documents and other records pertinent thereto. ______________” (Signature)

After the submission of evidence, the Committee may require the submission of memoranda, after which the matter shall be submitted for resolution. Section 8. Protection to Complainants or Witnesses.—The House may, upon proper petition, provide adequate protection to a complainant or witness if it is shown that the personal safety of the complainant or witness is in jeopardy because of participating in the impeachment proceeding. Section 9. Report and Recommendation.—The Committee on Justice after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House containing its findings and recommendations within sixty (60) session days from the referral to it of the verified complaint and/or resolution. Together with the report shall be a formal resolution of the Committee regarding the disposition of the complaint which shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten (10) session days from receipt thereof. If the Committee finds by a vote of the majority of all its Members that a probable cause exists on the basis of the evidence adduced before the Committee, it shall submit with its report a resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment. Otherwise, the complaint shall be dismissed subject to Section 12 of these Rules. Section 10. Report to be Calendared.—The Committee on Rules shall calendar the report and the accompanying resolution of the Committee on Justice regarding the disposition of the complaint in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives. The House shall dispose of the report within sixty (60) session days from its submission by the Committee on Justice.

RULE V Bar Against Impeachment Section 15. Scope of Bar.—No impeachment proceeding shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one (1) year. RULE VI Prosecutor in All Impeachment Proceedings Section 16. Impeachment Prosecutor.—The House of Representatives shall act as the prosecutor at the trial in the Senate through a committee of eleven (11) Members thereof to be elected by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum. RULE VII Applicability of the Rules of Court Section 17. Rules of Procedure.—The Rules of Court shall, as far as practicable, apply to impeachment proceedings before the House. Adopted, September 2, 2019

Sports

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pinoy aces aim high in Taiwan tilt T

AINAN, Taiwan—Jay Bayron and Tony Lascuña set out for a power duel with the leading players of PGA of Taiwan (TPGA) as well as their fellow Philippine Golf Tour Asia campaigners, upbeat but wary of their respective bids in the Nan Pao TPGA Open unfolding today (Thursday, Sept. 26) at the Nan Pao Golf Club here.

“Length-wise, I think we can measure up with the rest of the ﬁeld,” said Lascuña before pointing to putting as key to their campaign in the $100,000 event, the second PGTAsanctioned tournament this year after the Daan TPGA Open in Taichung last May.

Lascuña missed the Taichung event after withdrawing at the last-minute due to hand injury. But back in form with a string of top five finishes, including a couple of runner-up efforts, on the PGT the last few months, the former three-time

Bayron

PGT Order of Merit believes he’s due for a big finish. “My ball-striking and iron game are quite okay so it will boil down to putting,” said Lascuña, seeking a followup to his last victory at PGT Forest Hills in 2017. “Age has somewhat slowed me down but the desire to excel and win are still there.” Bayron also hopes to use hunger and redemption as motivation as the multititled campaigner who last tasted victory— in back-to-back fashions at Aboitiz Invitational and PGT Riviera in 2016 —tries to end not only a long slump but also a number of below par performances, including a missed cut stint in the last Aboitiz tilt at Wack Wack and a tied for ﬁfth at Pueblo de Oro where he contended in the ﬁnal round.

“I feel good about my chances this week. The course is in good condition but the greens are unpredictable and could decide the winner on Sunday,” said Bayron, who hopes to come up with a strong start unlike in the rainhit Daan Open where he never recovered from an opening 72 and wound up tied at 27th. But the Pinoy duo will be in for a tough outing with the rest of the 125-player starting field all geared up for an early assault at the treelined, relatively-flat par-72 layout in hot conditions, including the hosts out to redeem themselves from their failed bid at Daan Open where Song Mengyu squandered a huge lead in the final round and lost by two to PGTA mainstay Wisut Artjanawat.

Centro Escolar five trounces hapless University of Makati IT was a show of force by eight-time defending champion Centro Escolar University in the opening weekend of the WNCAA Season 50, trouncing hapless University of Makati, 69-27, at Mall of Asia Arena. University of Asia & the Paciﬁc also dominated San Beda College Alabang, 60-34, played after the opening ceremony graced by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and the hip hop dance competition. All but one of seven volleyball games, meanwhile, were decided in straight sets on Sunday at St. Scholastica gym. SBCA got back at UA&P, 25-15, 25-23, 25-15; Assumption College San Lorenzo downed Philippine Women’s U, 25-18, 25-19, 25-11; and UMAK beat St. Scholastica’s College, 25-9, 25-19, 25-11, in the seniors level. In the midgets level, De La Salle Zobel waylaid St. Stephen’s High School, 25-3, 25-2; newcomer Assumption Antipolo overcame defending champion St. Paul College Pasig, 25-17, 25-19; Miriam College beat Assumption San Lorenzo, 25-21, 2523; and St. Scholastica put one over San Beda, 2511, 20-25, 25-16. St. Paul ruled junior hip hop and UA&P the senior division.

Members of the PH Blu Girls team

PH Blu Girls crush Koreans, 10 to nil THE Philippine women softball team opened its bid for a 2020 Tokyo Olympics slot with a 10-1 victory over Korea in Group B at the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania Qualiﬁer on Tuesday at the Shanghai Chongming Sports Training Center. The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls dominated the match right from the start, but national coach Randy Dizer remained modest with the team’s feat saying the game was close and “only their (Koreans’) three errors saw us score ﬁve runs in the sixth innings to pull away.” Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier, however, was elated with the inspiring win by the world No. 13-ranked Blu Girls against No. 23 Korea and hoped the team can sustain its winning ways. “I’m very happy with the strong performance that the Philippine Blu Girls showed today, let’s

continue to cheer them on and hopefully they can clinch the Olympic spot,” said Lhuillier, who is also President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. Eight countries are playing in this tournament with the winner getting the sixth and last spot for the women’s softball event of the 2020 Olympics. In the other Group B match on Tuesday, world No. 8 China outplayed No. 11 New Zealand, 8-3. In Group A action, No. 37 Indonesia edged No. 42 Hong Kong, 5-6; and No. 7 Australia defeated No. 6 Chinese Taipei, 5-1. Five countries have already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Japan claimed the first spot as host of the Games. USA got the second berth as the 2018 WBSC world champion followed by Italy, the Europe/Africa Olympic qualiﬁer winner.

NBA fines Giannis for contract comments LOS ANGELES—The NBA slapped the Milwaukee Bucks with a $50,000 fine for comments about a contract extension offer for reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the league said Tuesday. The fine pertains to recent comments from Bucks general manager Jon Horst regarding a supermax extension for Antetokounmpo. The team is not permitted to offer the contract extension until the summer of 2020. Asked about Antetokounmpo’s contract situation on September 12 at a town hall event, Horst replied, “The answer right now is we can’t talk and negotiate anything. Giannis, basically a year from now, will be eligible for a supermax extension. At that time, of course, he’ll be offered a supermax extension.” Antetokounmpo, 24, won the league’s MVP award in 2018-19 after averaging 27.7 points. Meanwhile, sports giant Nike reported a jump in quarterly earnings Tuesday as increased marketing investments paid off with strong pricing of direct-to-consumer offerings and huge growth in China. The footwear and apparel company, which has beefed up its “Nike Direct” business through smartphone applications and other programs, achieved higher sales in all regions. Net income for the quarter ending August 31 was $1.4 billion, up 25 percent from the year-ago period thanks to higher gross profit margins. Revenues climbed seven percent to $10.7 billion The biggest jump in sales was in China, where revenues rose 22 percent to $1.7 billion compared with the 2018 period. The company has said previously that it has seen no negative hit to its standing with Chinese consumers from the prolonged US-China trade war. “Our targeted strategic investments are accelerating Nike’s digital transformation and extending our competitive advantage,” said Chief Financial Officer Andy Campion. AFP

RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING INQUIRIES

IN AID OF LEGISLATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives 18th Congress Section 1. Power to Conduct Inquiries.—Pursuant to Section 21, Article VI of the Constitution, the House of Representatives or any of its committees, may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with these rules. The filing or pendency of a case before any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial or administrative body shall not stop or abate any inquiry conducted to carry out a legislative purpose. Section 2. Modes of Initiation.—Inquiries may be initiated through the following modes: a. motu proprio action of a committee on any matter within its jurisdiction upon a majority vote of all its Members; or b. upon order of the House of Representatives through: b1. the referral to the appropriate committee of a privilege speech containing or conveying a request or demand for the conduct of an inquiry, upon motion of the Majority Leader or the Deputy Majority Leaders; or b2. the referral of a resolution to the appropriate committee: Provided, That all resolutions directing any committee to conduct an inquiry shall be initially referred to the Committee on Rules for the determination of the necessity and propriety of the conduct of such inquiry; or b3. the referral of a petition filed or information given by any person not a member of the House requesting such inquiry to the appropriate committee, Provided, That such petition or information shall be submitted to the Speaker under oath stating the facts upon which it is based, and accompanied by supporting documents, and thereafter included in the order of business for referral to the Committee on Rules which shall determine the necessity and propriety of the conduct of such inquiry. Section 3. Change of referral.—the referral of the privilege speech, resolution, petition or information may be changed on motion of the majority leader upon receipt and approval by the Committee on Rules of a written request from the chairperson of the committee to which said privilege speech, resolution, petition or information was originally referred. The Committee on Rules shall decide on the said request within a reasonable time from receipt thereof. Section 4. Conduct of Inquiry. – The committee(s) authorized and directed to conduct an inquiry may:

Leader & the Deputy Minority Leaders or the Members deputized by them shall be added to the total number of committee or subcommittee members, as the case may be, if they are present in a meeting. In cases of joint referrals, a quorum must be present in each of the committees concerned. Section 7. Executive Sessions.—If the committee or subcommittee deems that the subject matter of the discussion in a public hearing may endanger national security or may be offensive to decency or public morals, it shall conduct the examination in an executive session. Attendance in executive sessions shall be limited to Members of the committee, the committee secretariat staff and such other persons whose presence are required or allowed by the Chairperson. Testimony taken or evidence presented in an executive session, or any summary or excerpt thereof or documents related thereto, in whole or in part, shall not be made public, unless authorized by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum. Section 8. Attendance of Witnesses.—The committee shall have the power to issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to witnesses in any part of the country, signed by the Chairperson or acting Chairperson and the Speaker or acting Speaker. However, if the committee is unable to secure the signature of the Speaker or acting Speaker on a subpoena ad testificandum and/or subpoena duces tecum, it may request the Committee on Rules to act on the matter. Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Rules through a majority vote of all its Members after determining that the attendance of a witness is indispensable to the effective conduct of the inquiry, the Speaker shall issue a subpoena ad testificandum and/or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of a witness. Within Metro Manila, subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his duly authorized deputies. Outside Metro Manila, service of these processes may be made by the appropriate police officer or authority of the town or city upon request of the Secretary General. Subpoena shall be served to a witness at least three (3) days before a scheduled hearing in order to give the witness every opportunity to prepare for the hearing and to employ counsel, should the witness desire. The subpoena shall be accompanied by a notice stating that should a witness wish to confer with the secretary of the committee prior to the date of the hearing, the witness shall convey such desire to the committee by mail, telephone or any other electronic communication device. Section 9. Rights and Duties of Witnesses.—The rights of witnesses including their right against self -incrimination shall be respected.

a. upon a majority vote of all its Members, invite any other interested committee(s) or Members thereof to attend its hearings: Provided, That the committee(s) or Members thereof so invited shall not participate in the preparation and approval of the report on the investigation; and

Witnesses who are not government officials summoned by the committee shall be entitled, upon their request and subject to the approval of the Speaker, to reasonable transportation expenses and such other amounts as may be deemed necessary for their stay in Metro Manila.

b. constitute sub-committees composed of at least one-fifth (1/5) of the total number of committee Members for the purpose of performing any and all acts which the committee as a whole is authorized to perform in the conduct of an inquiry except to punish for contempt.

Witnesses shall testify under oath to be administered by the Chairperson or by any other person authorized by law.

The findings and recommendations of the sub-committees shall be submitted for approval and other appropriate action(s) thereon by the mother committee: Provided, That findings and recommendations including summary statements thereon or publications related thereto shall not be released by any Member of the sub-committee and the secretariat staff prior to the inclusion of the final committee report in the Calendar of Business as provided in Section 17 hereof. Section 5. Joint Inquiry or Investigation.—When a privilege speech, resolution, petition or information is referred to two or more committees, a joint inquiry by the said committees shall be conducted. Section 6. Quorum.—One-fifth (1/5) of all the Members of a committee or a majority of all the Members of a subcommittee shall constitute a quorum. For purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers, the Majority Leader, the Deputy Majority Leaders, the Minority

A witness shall be limited to giving information relevant and germane to the subject matter under investigation. The committee shall rule upon the admissibility of any testimony or information presented by a witness. Privileged communications shall be respected. Any witness desiring to deliver or present a prepared or written statement before the committee shall file a copy of such statement, under oath, with the secretary of the committee within forty-eight (48) hours before the hearing at which the statement is to be delivered or presented. Such statements or portions thereof that are relevant and germane to the subject of the investigation may, at the conclusion of the testimony of the witness, and upon approval by a majority vote of the Members of the committee, a quorum being present, be inserted into the official transcript of the proceedings. A witness shall be allowed to request for and be granted postponement of the appearance before the committee or sub-committee on grounds that render such witness physically unable to attend the inquiry or investigation: Provided, That the

fact of physical inability to attend the inquiry or investigation is supported by appropriate medical or other certification as may be required by the committee or sub-committee, and: Provided further, That no witness shall be granted more than two (2) postponements of appearance before the committee without justifiable cause. Section 10. Rights and Duties of Persons Affected by a Hearing.—Where applicable, any person named in a public hearing or in the released record of testimonies given in executive sessions, who has not been previously so named shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, be notified of such fact by registered letter, return receipt requested, to the address of such person last known to the committee. The notice shall include: a. b. c. d.

a statement that the person has been so named; date and place of hearing where the person was named; name of the person who testified; and information that a copy of the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation is available for the perusal of such person in the house.

Any person so notified who believes that one’s character or reputation was adversely affected may, within seven (7) days after receipt of said notice: a. communicate with the secretary of the committee; and/or b. request to appear in person before the committee in public session and give testimony, at the expense of the concerned person. Any person testifying under the foregoing provisions shall be accorded the same privileges as any other witness appearing before the committee, and may be questioned concerning any matter relevant and germane to the subject of the investigation. Section 11. Contempt.—The committee may punish any person for contempt, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present, there being a quorum. The following shall be grounds for citing any person in contempt: a. b. c. d.

refusal without legal excuse to obey summons; refusal to be sworn or placed under affirmation; refusal to answer any relevant inquiry; refusal to produce any books, papers, documents or records that are relevant to the inquiry and are in the possession of the concerned person; e. acting in a disrespectful manner towards any Member of the committee or any misbehavior in the presence of the committee; or f. undue interference in the conduct of proceedings. Contempt of the committee shall be deemed contempt of the House. The person cited in this section may, upon order of the committee, be detained in such place as the Chairperson or acting Chairperson may designate. Section 12. Penalty.—By a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present, there being a quorum, those cited under Section 11, paragraphs (e) and (f) shall be detained for a period not exceeding ten (10) days in a place designated by the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Section 13. Appearance of Counsel.—The person at whose instance the inquiry was initiated may be represented by counsel. A witness shall be informed by the committee or subcommittee of the right to be represented by counsel. When informed by a witness of the desire to be represented by counsel or when such witness requests to be represented by counsel, the committee or sub-committee may provide a counsel de oficio or allow such witness to choose own counsel and be assisted by the same. The participation of counsel for the witness during the hearing and while the witness is testifying shall be limited to advising on the legal rights of said witness. Counsel for a witness shall conduct oneself in a professional manner and shall observe proper decorum. Otherwise, upon a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum, such counsel shall be subject to contempt or to such other disciplinary action that may include censure and removal from the room where the hearing is being conducted. A counsel ordered removed from the room where the hearing is being conducted may, upon such counsel’s request,

be allowed to remain in the room as an observer. The counsel shall sit in the place reserved for the general public and shall have no participation in the proceedings. In cases where a counsel for a witness is ordered removed from the room, the witness shall be given reasonable time as may be determined by the committee to secure the services of another counsel. Should the witness deliberately or capriciously fail or refuse to obtain the services of another counsel, a counsel de officio may be provided to the witness by the committee within a reasonable time. Thereafter, the hearing shall continue and the testimony of such witness shall be heard. Section 14. Safekeeping and Release of Record of Testimonies of Witnesses.—The testimony of witnesses shall be recorded verbatim. Records of testimonies given in executive sessions shall be placed in the custody of the Secretary General who shall ensure their preservation and confidentiality. A witness or the counsel of such witness may obtain transcripts of any public testimony of witnesses from the secretary of the committee at the expense of the witness and upon written request duly approved by the committee chairperson. No committee report, an excerpt or summary statement of the contents thereof, or any publication related thereto, shall be released by any Member of the committee and its secretariat staff prior to the inclusion of the report in the Calendar of Business. Section 15. Termination of Inquiry.—The committee shall terminate an inquiry, and submit a report thereon within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of commencement unless the committee, by a majority vote of members present, there being a quorum, deems it necessary to extend such inquiry. The inquiry commences on the date of referral of the privilege speech, resolution or petition or information to the concerned committee. Section 16. Report of Committee.—The report shall contain the findings of the committee on the subject matter of the inquiry, the grounds on which its findings are based and its recommendations, if any. The report shall be approved by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum. Members who vote against the approval of the report and who do not sign the majority report may make concurring or dissenting opinions. The report, together with any concurring and dissenting opinion, shall be filed with the Secretary General who shall include the same in the Order of Business within three (3) days from receipt thereof. In case of joint inquiry, the committees concerned shall be jointly responsible for submitting the report to the House on the measure referred to them for consideration. The first committee mentioned in the joint referral shall be the lead committee and shall be principally responsible for preparing the report to the House: Provided, That the committees may decide to designate which committee among them shall prepare the report. Section 17. Plenary Action on the Report.—The report, upon inclusion in the Order of Business, shall be referred to the Committee on Rules for appropriate action. The Committee on Rules shall, thereafter, include the report in the Calendar of Business. Upon inclusion of the report in the Calendar of Business, the Plenary may approve or adopt, disapprove or reject, in whole or in part, the report and its recommendation(s) or commit it to the archives. Section 18. Internal Rules.—The committee tasked to conduct an inquiry may adopt internal rules of procedure: Provided, That these rules are consistent with the Rules of the House and to these rules. Section 19. Rules of Procedure and Evidence.—The Rules of Court shall be suppletory to these rules. Section 20. Effectivity.—These Rules shall take effect seven (7) days after publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Adopted, September 2, 2019

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

Sports National University forward Dave Ildefonso (1) dribbles past one FEU defender during their 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament match.

TNT KaTropa blasts Blackwater Elite, 135-107 By Jeric Lopez KJ MCDANIELS introduced himself quite nicely. The prolific TNT import scattered a game-high 41 points to go with 22 rebounds for a doubledouble to lead the Tropang Texters to a rousing 135-107 rout of Blackwater to post one in the winning column in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. In fact, the former NBA player already had a double-double in the first half as he spearheaded TNT’s early decisive onslaught. Local stars RR Pogoy and Jayson Castro did damage, too, scoring 22 and 17 points, respectively, for TNT. The trio scored 37 of TNT’s 63 first half points as their fiery offense enabled their squad to break the game open early. Led by McDaniels, who caught fire right away with 13 points in the opening canto, the Tropang Texters were able to erect a comfortable 15-point bubble, 34-19, heading to the second frame. In the second, TNT hiked its lead to 23 points, 53-30, on a Pogoy jumper halfway in the quarter, enabling the Tropang Texters to breeze the rest of the way for a stellar conference debut. Troy Rosario and Don Trollano were key cogs for TNT as well, contributing 18 and 17 points, respectively. The Commissioner’s Cup finalists shot an astounding 65 percent from the field in the first half to carry a 63-46 cushion to halftime. Blackwater shot an abysmal 37 percent from the floor in the first 24 minutes, causing its early downfall. The Elite, who struggled mightily all game long, was never in it and was unable to find any rhythm at all. Bobby Ray Parks’ explosion of 39 points, a career-high, was the lone bright spot for the Elite. Marqus Blakely’s forgettable night didn’t help either. The Blackwater import only managed four points while shooting only four times.

Ateneo University Lady Eagles players Ponggay Gaston (left) and Roma Mae Doromal dust off the sand during a break in the action in the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament.

Bulldogs bare fangs to rout Tamaraws By Peter Atencio

HE National University Bulldogs got their act together and ﬁnally scored their ﬁrst win in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

Dave Ildefonso, scoring better than his previous game, totaled 20 points and had eight rebounds for the Bulldogs in their 61-39 swamping of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Their 22-point win over the Tamaraws is the biggest blowout victory of the season with Migz Oczon providing a crucial nine points for the overall effort. Shaun Ildefonso added only eight

points, but made up for it with six rebounds for NU, which eclipsed the, 21-point, 50-71 loss that they suffered at the hands of the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday. Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles deﬁed the hot hands of Rey Suerte, and scored slightly better than during their game with the Bulldogs as they won over the University of the East Warriors, 85-68. Angelo Kouame delivered 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Eagles, who stayed unbeaten after eight encounters. Rey Suerte unloaded 15 points for the Warriors, who share the same 1-5 slate with the Bulldogs. NU’s Issa Gaye, who got plenty of minutes under the boards, knocked in seven points and 13 rebounds in helping deliver NU to its ﬁrst win in six outings.

“They are matured enough. If you see how we played today, we played good team offense and defense,” said NU coach Jamike Jarin. Oczon led the way for the Bulldogs in the ﬁrst period, making seven points as NU held FEU to just four points and went on to take a 14-4 edge after the initial 10 minutes of action. FEU committed 12 turnovers and got held to seven points in the next quarter off NU’s tight watch on both ends of the ﬂoor. The Bulldogs went on take a 37-13 edge at halftime. NU eventually took their biggest lead at 29 points off Dave Ildefonso’s basket from his brother Shaun’s pass in the last 4:10 of the third period. Barkley Ebona, picking up the slack off a scoreless Pat Chuente, shot 20 points and had eight rebounds for FEU, which now has a 2-4 card.

PH triathletes defend SEA Games titles FILIPINO triathletes were crowned champions in the past two editions of the Southeast Asian Games. They don’t intend to relinquish the throne, especially now that the Philippines is hosting the 11-nation sportsfest on Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. Cebuano teenager Andrew Kim Remolino and John Chicano will represent the country in the men’s individual race while Kim Mangrobang and Kim Kilgroe are the bets of the local triathlon association in the women’s division. “They had gone through several qualifying events. The best two performers in those series of qualifiers have been chosen to do the individual races,” said Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco. The Philippines bagged the gold and silver medals in both men’s and women’s individual races in the 2015 Singapore and 2017 Kuala Lumpur editions. Nikko Huelgas, who was sidelined by injuries early this year and missed defending his title, was the back-to-back champion in the men’s while Claire Adorna won the women’s in 2015 and Mangrobang in 2017. Remolino, a 19-year-old prized find from Talisay City, Cebu, topped all the qualifying races for Filipino elite competitors in the swim-bike-run Olympic event. “May pressure talaga dahil kailangan depensahan natin ang gintong medalya sa SEA Games. Ibibigay ko lahat ng aking makakaya,” said Remolino, the Young Hero awardee for triathlon in the recent Siklab Youth Sports Awards 2019. Remolino seized the spot in the men’s individual after crossing the finish ahead of all Filipino elite racers in both the 2019 Gyeongju ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships in Korea two months ago and the Subic Bay International Triathlon last April.

National triathletes, from left: John Chicano, Nikko Huelgas, Julius Constantino and Andrew Kim Remolino ride their bikes during the 2018 PSC Philippine National Games in Tabuelan, Cebu.

Huelgas, however, will still race in the mixed team relay with Fer Casares, Chicano, Adorna, Kilgroe and Mangrobang. In duathlon, Doy Comendador and Jarwyn Banatao will compete in the men’s division while Monica Torres and Jelsie Sabado aim for a 1-2 ﬁnish in the women’s individual race. Comendador and Torres will join forces with Pawee Fornea, Joey Delos Reyes, Ephraim Inigo and Sabado in the mixed team relay.

Choco Mucho beats Water Defenders in PVL tiff YOUNG Choco Mucho finally got to unleash its vaunted triple-tower combination of Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag and Bea de Leon as the Flying Titans rolled past the BaliPure Water Defenders, 25-16, 25-12, 25-16, to press their backdoor semis drive in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday. It was Choco Mucho’s second straight win after an alarming fivegame skid and though the Flying Titans remained at seventh with a 4-6 card, the victory kept the team’s playoff hopes alive with just a game or two separating the second to sixth teams. Tolentino, the league’s leading scorer with a 20-hit norm, fired away 13 kills and finished with 14 markers, Madayag, back in the league after a stint with the national team in the inaugural ASEAN Grand Prix last week, added 11 points and de Leon, who suited up for the squad just last week while trying to recover her form, came off the bench and added two points in a two-set stint as a reliever, the last a dink that finished off the Water Defenders and ousted the latter from the semis race. BaliPure fell to 2-10 and even a sweep of its last four games in the double-round elims among nine teams won’t merit a shot for at least a playoff for the fourth and last semis berth in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision. “This team is very young and they continue to learn every match,” said Choco Mucho coach Oliver Almadro. “Just what I’ve been telling them, every match is a learning process. We have to accept that we’re still not as strong as the other (established) teams but we’re going there for as long as we continue learning and aiming at what is above.”

POC tweaks agreement with PSC, Phisgoc THE Philippine Olympic Committee is taking a cautious stand in assisting the Philippine Sports Commission in disbursing the funds that have been allocated for the procurement of equipment that will be used in the many events of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Secretary General Edwin Gastanes said this yesterday following a General Assembly meeting of the POC at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City. The POC is now implementing the revisions that they have made in their tripartite agreement for the third time with the PSC and the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee. Meanwhile, the POC is providing ﬁnancial assistance of around P10,000 to the families of seven members of a dragon boat team who perished Wednesday. The victims died after their vessel sank in the waters of Boracay island, Aklan. A total of fourteen members of the Boracay Dragon Boat Team survived the incident, according to reports. Three of the victims were female while four others were male, and members of the team were getting ready for an international meet. The revisions were made to speed up the process of acquiring sports equipment using government funds totaling P6 billion. “We are using public funds. So, we are very careful,” said Gastanes. So far, the requests of 43 national sports associations have been addressed. And more will be handled as the opening days of the Games approach. Peter Atencio

Growling Tigresses blank Lady Eagles in beach volleyball UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’ Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor topped Ateneo’s Ponggay Gaston and Roma Mae Doromal, 21-13, 21-11, for its second straight win in the women’s division of the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament Wednesday at Sands SM By The Bay. The four-peat seeking Tigresses pulled away from a 11-10 lead at the end of the technical timeout by netting five straight points to pull away for good to take the

upper hand. UST was hardly threatened in the second set to prevail and stay perfect. Meanwhile, last year’s runnerup De La Salle and Far Eastern University were also undefeated in two other matches. The Lady Spikers’ Tin Tiamzon and Justine Jazareno overcame Adamson University’s Kring Uy and Chen Ave, 19-21, 21-18, 15-12. The Lady Tamaraws’ Sheena Gallentes and Sheila Mae Kiseo

also went through the wringer before beating University of the Philippines’ Rosie Rosier and Euri Eslapor, 21-18, 21-23, 15-12. University of the East’s Lyen Ritual and Juliet Catindig entered the win column with a 21-9, 21-17 romp of National University’s Andrea Abian and Chlea dela Fuente. The Lady Warriors are now tied with the Lady Falcons at 1-1, while the Lady Eagles, the Lady Maroons and the Lady Bulldogs remain winless in two matches.

IN BRIEF

Mindanao-Visayas cable link on target GRID operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines aims to complete the P52billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project within the December 2020 deadline. NGCP chief finance officer Nanette Bugnosen said construction of the MVIP, one of the biggest power infrastructure projects to date, was underway. NGCP earlier held the groundbreaking for the cable terminal stations that serve as the landing points of the two 92-kilometer submarine cables. The project will move around 450 megawatts of power from the Visayas and Mindanao and vice versa. “I hope we finish as scheduled. We have already awarded part of the submarine cable. We are still nego with some LGU for the necessary permits to proceed with the work and also we are negotiating with some land owners for ROW clearance. When these are all complete, we proceed with the construction,” Bugnosen said. The MVIP was provisionally approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission in 2017. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

DANECO allots P1b for energy projects DAVAO del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. is spending over P1 billion on electrification projects, including the installation of a 72 kV submarine cable to improve the energy supply on the Island Garden City of Samal. National Electrification Administration administrator Edgardo Masongsong led the groundbreaking and time capsule laying for the construction of Daneco’s new office building in Tagum City, the setting up of the 69 kV overhead subtransmission line for a submarine cable connection, and installation of the 72 kV submarine cable and the 20 MVA substation on Samal Island. Masongsong said the electrification projects were expected to boost the economic and tourism activities on Samal Island and unlock many opportunities for the residents. “The projection in the next five years, the power demand on Samal Island alone is expected to reach 35-megawatt (MW) from the existing 10 MW,” the administrator said. Alena Mae S. Flores

PH wants to talk to other ASEAN countries on joint oil exploration By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi said he is open to joint oil and gas exploration with other Southeast Asian countries to help the Philippines achieve energy security. “What the President [Rodrigo Duterte] is saying is let’s get the resources available for our energy security. We can fight, talk, argue, debate boundaries but what is more important is we get our resources,” Cusi said at the sidelines of the Association of Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and the Western Pacific CEO Conference 2019. “In the ASEAN, we have overlapping borders like the Philippines and Vietnam, so we said why don’t we talk with each other and discuss the problem which is resource development,” Cusi said. Cusi, in a speech during the AESIEAP CEO Conference, stressed the significance of resource development. “Given our shared borders within the ASEAN, it is imperative that we jointly explore our available resources both for our peoples’ benefit and to help augment regional energy security,” the energy chief said. Cusi vouched the proposal during the 37th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in Thailand in early September. “Given our shared borders, it is imperative that the ASEAN members jointly explore and harness available resources to ensure the region’s energy security and to benefit our people,” Cusi said.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

ADB reduces GDP growth forecast for PH to 6% this year

PH chicken exports to Korea to resume KOREA is set to conduct an onsite inspection and process a proposal to accredit new poultry processing facilities in the Philippines for the resumption of chicken exports to South Korea, the Agriculture Department said Wednesday. Agriculture Secretary William Dar and an ofﬁcial delegation from the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs met on September 23, 2019 to deliberate on the plan of Korea to resume chicken meat imports from the Philippines. It has been two months since South Korea lifted the ban on Philippine chicken exports while its appetite for Philippine chicken has increased over time. The accreditation of facility that will process chicken for export to Korea is also expected to reopen the market to Philippine duck meat and poultry egg shipments. The Philippines has been appreciative of the Korean government for lifting the suspension. “We are hoping to increase the volume of export of poultry products to South Korea,” Dar said. Korea’s chicken imports in 2018 reached 140,000 metric tons. They are expected to increase to 145,000 metric tons in 2019 on higher demand and cheaper price. Othel V. Campos

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

BUSINESS FORUM. Investors and government officials attend the Puerto Princesa Business forum in Pasay city. With the theme “Puerto Princesa. Your Investment. Our Commitment.,” the business forum presents a snapshot of the diverse business opportunities that make investing in Puerto Princesa City an advantageous choice. Gracing the event are (from left) Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Rodriguez Bayron, United States Agency for International Development deputy mission director Patrick Wesner, Astoria Hotels and Resorts Group president Jeffrey Ng and Palawan Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Bobby Castro. Ey Acasio

BIR shuts down big POGO with over 8,000 employees By Julito G. Rada

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue said Wednesday it closed down the operations of Philippine offshore gaming operator Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corp. with over 8,000 employees for allegedly violating the country’s tax laws.

Department of Finance officials led by assistant secretary Antonio Lambino and BIR officials entered the Eastwood City office of Great Empire to effect the closure. Great Empire’s other offices in Parañaque and Subic were also facing closure.

Great Empire was one of the POGO operators that received a notice of violation from the Quezon City government for failing to present sanitary permit, environmental clearance and employees’ occupational permits. Reports said Great Empire operated from the fourth to the 19th floors of an unfinished building. The BIR said the closure of the taxdodging POGO was in compliance with the earlier directive of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to close down POGO operations found to be violating Section 115 (b), in relation to Section 236 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. “Results of the investigation showed that GEGAC is not registered for VAT purposes violating the Section 108 vis-a-vis with Section 115 of the Tax Code as certified by the Revenue District Office 019—Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” the BIR said.

The closure order was issued by BIR deputy commissioner for operations Arnel Guballa. Dominguez said in a message to Finance reporters that the number of foreign employees in Great Empire’s Eastwood location was around 8,100, “with a few hundred more in Parañaque and Subic.” When asked what would happen to the foreign employees, Dominguez replied: “I suppose they will be processed by the Bureau of Immigration.” Dominguez earlier this month said the government would start to close down “as soon as possible” offshore gaming operations that were not complying with tax laws. Dominguez said the crackdown would be led by the DOF, in partnership with other government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Pepsi-Cola stops snacks production to focus on beverage By Jenniffer B. Austria SOFTDRINKS manufacturer PepsiCola Products Philippines Inc. said Wednesday it will discontinue its snack production line to focus on and strengthen its beverage business. PCPPI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved the closure of its snacks production line. The company would also initiate the negotiations for the discontinuation of the locally-made Cheetos with PepsiCo to focus on and strengthen the company’s core business lines. “PCPPI has decided to leverage on its core competency in the beverage space which has been the bottling giant’s core business for 70 years,” the

company said. “Employees of PCPPI’s snacks plant in Cabuyao, Laguna will be transitioned into their new roles in PCPPI following management’s thrust of leading its employees well. This transition allows PCPPI to further optimize and strengthen the production and distribution of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages to millions of Filipinos nationwide,” it said. Meanwhile, PepsiCo will continue to import and sell Cheetos in the Philippines, along with its other brands of snacks such as Lays, Doritos, Rufﬂes, Red Rock Deli, Fritos, Tostitos, Sunchips, Smartfood, Munchies and Rold Gold. “These brands will continue to be

supplied and available in-store in the Philippines,” PCPPI said. PCPPI reported in 2015 it would produce PepsiCo’s world-famous snacks brands locally in line with the company’s thrust of becoming a premier food and beverage company in the country. PCPPI then constructed a P650million snacks plant designed to be a world-class foods manufacturing facility located in a 9,800-square-meter lot in Cabuyao, Laguna. PCPPI is a licensed bottler of PepsiCo and Pepsi Lipton International Limited in the Philippines. Lotte Chilsung, one of the biggest beverage companies in South Korea, is the leading shareholder of PCPPI. It co-manages PCPPI with PepsiCo.

The Asian Development Bank on Wednesday reduced its 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6 percent from 6.4 percent, citing the impact to the economy of global uncertainties and the delayed approval of the national budget. It also reduced the 2020 growth forecast to 6.2 percent from the previous estimate of 6.4 percent based on the latest update of its Asian Development Outlook report. The multilateral lender said the lower growth estimates for the Philippines were caused by the slowdown in domestic investment in the first half after the budget delay disrupted public expenditure particularly on infrastructure. President Rodrigo Duterte signed the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 only in April after months of impasse between the two houses of Congress. The ADB, however, said the government’s catch-up plan would boost the economy in the second half especially with the implementation of big-ticket infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program. “The recovery in public spending should also boost private consumption which is currently well-supported by steady overseas workers’ remittances, moderate inflation and low unemployment,” ADB country director for the Philippines Kelly Bird said. Global debt watcher Fitch Ratings earlier kept its growth forecast for the Philippines this year at 6.1 percent, saying that growth was expected to improve in the second half following a weak first half. Fitch said in a report titled “APAC Sovereign Credit Overview 3Q19” that economic growth would improve modestly in the second half. “Growth was weighed down [in the first half] by the delay in budget implementation and a weak external environment. The agency is maintaining its full-year 2019 growth forecast of 6.1 percent, continuing to place the Philippines among the region’s fastest-growing economies,” Fitch said. “However, we expect weaker global growth and escalating USChina trade tensions to prevent a stronger pickup in 2020 and 2021, and for growth to remain around 6.3 percent,” it said. Economic growth in the second quarter slowed to a four-year low of 5.5 percent from 5.6 percent in the first quarter and 6.2 percent a year ago, weighed down by the El Niño dry spell, rising protectionism in advanced economies, delayed approval of the national budget for 2019 and the ban on construction activities in the run-up to the midterm elections in May. The sluggish and slower-thanexpected expansion for the April-toJune period was the slowest since the 5.1-percent GDP expansion in the first quarter of 2015. This brought the first-half GDP average to just 5.6 percent below the low end of the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent set by the government for the entire year. Julito G. Rada

BSP sees inflation rate settling at 2.5% in 2019 THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revised downward the 2019 inflation forecast to 2.5 percent from the previous estimate of 2.6 percent amid the continued softening of consumer prices, Governor Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday. “Based on BSP’s latest projection, inflation is expected to average at 2.5 percent for 2019, lower relative to the previous forecast of 2.6 percent [as of Aug. 8, 2019],” Diokno said. “We take into account in the new forecast the bombings in Saudi Arabia. Also, we have no changes in oil assumptions and foreign exchange. Economic growth assumptions are the same,” Diokno said in an interview at the sidelines of a financial technology event called Finovation 2019 by eCompareMo.com at Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City. Diokno said the government was confident of meeting the growth target this year. “We are still hitting 6 percent... the lower end of the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent for 2019,” Diokno said.

Inflation rate in August slowed to a 35-month low of 1.7 percent from 2.4 percent in July. Economists said this development could prompt monetary authorities to further reduce the policy interest rates in their meeting this week. The Philippine Statistics Authority said the slowdown was due to slower increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages. The August print was the slowest since the 1.7 percent inflation in September 2016. This was also slower than 6.4 percent in August 2018. This brought the average inflation in the first eight months to 3.1 percent or within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the government for 2019. The Monetary Board cut the overnight borrowing rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent on Aug. 8, taking into account the continued downward trajectory of inflation rate. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were reduced to 3.75 percent and 4.75 percent, respectively. Julito G. Rada

SIEMENS USERS’ GROUP CONFAB. First Gen Corp. welcomes to Manila nearly one hundred international delegates and suppliers to the annual Asia-Pacific Users’ Group for Siemens SGT-4000F gas turbines. Six of the gas turbines are used in First Gen’s 1,000-megawatt Santa Rita and 500-MW San Lorenzo power plants in Batangas. Inset shows First Gen executive vice president and chief commercial officer Jon Russel (right) greeting Siemens Power Generation Service Asia chief executive Brian Byrne before the three-day conference opening.

Business

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks close flat; URC declines T

HE stock market closed virtually ﬂat Wednesday in nervous trading after US Democrats launched formal impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump and on renewed trade fears as the president adopted a hard line on China.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 2.30 points, or 0.03 percent to 7,896.24 on a value turnover of P5.8 billion. Losers, however, overwhelmed gainers, 145 to 59, with 48 issues unchanged. Aboitiz Power Corp. rose 2.6 percent to P40, but Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, dropped 4.5 percent to P158.60. Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan fell 4.7 percent to P11.30, while unit Megaworld Corp., the largest

developer and lessor of ofﬁce spaces, slumped 5 percent to P4.72. In a dramatic move, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry after US markets closed. Democrats accuse Trump of abuse of power in a reported attempt to pressure the newly-installed president of Ukraine to open a corruption investigation into his lead challenger for the White House, Joe Biden, and Biden’s son Hunter. Trump denounced the inquiry as “Witch Hunt garbage” and said he would release a transcript of his phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky. “The impeachment hearing announcement delivered a knock-out blow to stocks markets already weak at the knees,” Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA, said in a note. Concern over US political turmoil added to worries over international trade

after Trump ripped into China at the UN, declaring that the time of Beijing’s “abuses” of the system was “over.” Touting what he argued were the beneﬁts of his tariff war with China, Trump reiterated his hope that a trade agreement “beneﬁcial to both countries” could be struck. “But as I said very clearly, I will not accept a bad deal for the American people,” he said. The US political twists and Trump’s uncompromising comments ahead of USChina trade talks next month hit markets. Tokyo closed down 0.4 percent and Shanghai slipped 1.0 percent while Hong Kong was 1.2 percent lower in afternoon trade. Seoul fell 1.3 percent, Singapore dropped 0.8 percent, Taiwan gave up 0.4 percent and Mumbai was down 0.7 percent. Oil prices took a hit, with WTI off 0.9

percent and Brent down 1.1 percent following Trump’s tough talk on China and after data indicating a build up in US crude inventories. “Oil markets continue to sell as risk sentiment remains sour after Trump accused China of currency manipulation, theft of intellectual property and product dumping,” said Stephen Innes, Asia Paciﬁc market strategist at AxiTrader. “Mind you this is nothing shockingly new but coming on the cusp of trade negotiations, it doesn’t exactly suggest he’s laying down the welcome mat for the Chinese delegation.” In currency trading, the pound slipped against the dollar. It had rallied Tuesday following Britain’s Supreme Court ruling that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s suspension of parliament was “unlawful,” providing a spark of hope that Brexit will be more orderly than previously feared. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019

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HIGH

LOW

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

55 91.55 2.02 142.5 1.11 25.55 18.6 12 5.4 0.435 67.75 0.92 44.85 180.2 114.1 57 27 196 1,840 59.05 1.15

55 92.4 2.02 142.8 1.11 25.6 18.6 12.02 5.4 0.435 68 0.94 44.85 180.2 122 57.35 27 198 1,860 59.2 1.15

54 91.35 2.02 140.2 1.11 25.1 18.3 11.88 5.18 0.43 66.1 0.92 43.8 180 114 56.5 26.7 193.2 1,835 59.05 1.09

FINANCIALS 54 2,300 91.5 1,448,300 2.02 6,000 142.8 1,339,300 1.11 2,000 25.15 125,300 18.6 25,200 11.96 647,900 5.18 952,600 0.43 50,000 67 2,517,450 0.94 144,000 43.9 273,800 180 4,570 122 630 57.35 2,530 26.75 35,400 198 460,490 1,835 75 59.05 34,560 1.09 104,000

125,529 133,044,858.50 12,120 189,842,909 2,220 3,166,255 465,682 7,715,680 5,010,400 21,550 168,176,806.50 132,500 12,135,085 822,891 76,223 143,693 947,890 89,875,052 138,075 2,040,774.50 113,550

30,626,808 -15,566,095 -1,971,190 -260,400 2,180,986 200 -66,061,444.50 -119,600 -5,053,870 -25,228 -10,715 -30,761,056 -1,121,955 -

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 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

38.95 16.08 0.7 1.3 0.248 2.74 14.24 115.1 10.4 19.3 30.75 72.5 77.1 2.13 6.15 5.9 9.1 15.78 10.48 7.16 25 81 48.15 2.56 14.28 8.22 1.52 219.8 52.2 5.42 3.53 8.25 21.3 13.76 18.5 368 0.19 5.3 2.05 4.26 5.1 10.4 2.44 10.74 34 5.21 5.12 1.85 2.4 1.07 11.64 90 7.4 0.127 1.08 165.5 2.42 1.25 1.25

40 16.2 0.7 1.31 0.249 2.74 14.24 120 10.42 19.3 32 74.95 77.15 2.14 6.15 6 9.28 15.8 10.72 7.16 25 81.1 49.35 2.56 14.3 8.27 1.54 219.8 52.2 5.45 3.53 8.25 21.4 13.78 18.5 370 0.19 5.49 2.06 4.43 5.1 10.4 2.5 11 34 5.27 5.14 1.89 2.58 1.09 11.64 92 7.45 0.127 1.12 165.5 2.42 1.26 1.28

38.5 15.9 0.66 1.3 0.24 2.63 14.06 115 9.78 17.08 30.6 71.85 77.1 2.1 6.15 5.9 8.95 15.62 10.4 7.06 23.5 80.05 46.75 2.43 14.06 8.05 1.51 212 52.2 5.31 3.53 8.23 21 13.5 18.32 365 0.19 5.3 1.9 4.26 4.97 10 2.31 10.74 32.55 5.2 5.1 1.81 2.39 1.04 11.5 90 7.33 0.127 1.06 156.8 2.42 1.15 1.2

INDUSTRIAL 40 3,057,300 16.16 643,100 0.67 2,575,000 1.3 181,000 0.248 3,350,000 2.66 1,476,000 14.2 358,500 120 440 9.8 1,703,000 18.6 4,400 31.6 102,000 72.1 2,220 77.1 1,920 2.13 294,000 6.15 12,000 6 5,600 8.97 1,690,700 15.74 1,130,100 10.7 341,600 7.12 1,184,200 24.2 2,568,500 80.05 155,710 47.4 328,100 2.53 7,767,000 14.3 211,500 8.15 241,300 1.51 83,000 219 1,038,710 52.2 100 5.4 87,500 3.53 14,000 8.23 3,800 21 180,100 13.5 116,700 18.5 75,600 370 224,150 0.19 300,000 5.49 200 1.94 29,221,000 4.43 13,000 4.99 3,417,500 10.34 79,700 2.5 26,649,000 11 31,100 32.55 457,700 5.25 108,300 5.1 43,200 1.87 1,644,000 2.5 80,000 1.04 529,000 11.52 492,400 92 348,940 7.45 70,700 0.127 10,000 1.08 347,000 158.6 3,834,510 2.42 10,000 1.18 13,568,000 1.21 4,276,000

120,969,475 10,344,744 1,736,040 235,320 809,760 3,924,690 5,084,000 52,152 16,829,508 80,540 3,213,450 161,519.50 148,101 626,110 73,800 33,050 15,191,340 17,784,012 3,608,648 8,411,171 62,037,035 12,553,037.50 15,553,330 19,334,450 2,997,860 1,965,279 126,300 225,191,560 5,220 471,608 49,420 31,330 3,802,955 1,578,578 1,385,698 82,545,008 57,000 1,079 56,603,040 55,550 17,111,829 810,048 64,108,160 339,804 15,122,120 563,845 220,426 3,032,590 196,290 555,430 5,691,710 31,690,764.50 521,586 1,270 378,310 608,582,795 24,200 16,271,250 5,252,140

59,126,725 1,581,182.00 36,800 561,330 1,147,448 -266,675 -3,148,330 426,680 -1,590,349 11,285,746 2,522,544 -4,451,439 -40,468,290 -1,507,985 11,468,335 -775,450.00 -131,324 753,460 16,304,010 5,220 1,183,615 -212,592 -601,060 14,821,726 -3,970,770.00 -5,916,079 1,038 -2,510,730 199,760 -13,636 -150,962 -16,610 -1,581,678 -9,989,557.50 10,900 -438,566,308 24,200 -1,098,940 -204,130

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

0.93 54.85 11.8 0.78 6.9 13.26 1.15 900 3.6 1,718 6.76 8.7 13.5 5.2 0.23 845 5.89 74.5 5.31 5.97 0.53 4.42 14.66 0.62 4.98 0.039 1.32 177 1,006 0.9 1.29 444 229 0.228 0.26

0.96 54.85 11.8 0.78 6.9 13.26 1.19 908 3.61 1,718 6.76 8.74 13.5 5.2 0.23 860 5.89 75.1 5.31 5.97 0.55 4.42 14.82 0.62 5 0.039 1.33 180 1,015 0.9 1.29 444 232 0.231 0.265

0.9 53.5 11.22 0.76 6.9 12.94 1.15 884.5 3.46 1,718 6.65 8.5 13.38 5.2 0.229 825.5 5.88 73.1 5.31 5.26 0.5 4.38 14.14 0.59 4.8 0.039 1.29 175.8 995 0.85 1.27 444 225 0.224 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.92 24,102,000 54.55 616,330 11.3 12,209,800 0.77 999,000 6.9 14,200 12.98 13,500 1.17 1,883,000 908 531,350 3.5 2,483,000 1,718 5 6.66 660,700 8.69 5,751,100 13.5 125,500 5.2 1,000 0.229 490,000 833 159,460 5.88 10,500 75.1 1,870,370 5.31 100 5.9 4,700 0.53 634,000 4.41 259,000 14.5 3,664,600 0.6 579,000 4.92 18,339,400 0.039 1,200,000 1.32 235,000 180 539,280 1,015 217,620 0.88 320,000 1.29 260,000 444 10 229 1,430 0.23 1,700,000 0.255 1,190,000

22,372,540 33,446,067 138,582,898 764,120 97,980 175,458 2,198,420 474,576,795 8,682,000 8,590 4,422,627 49,795,049 1,688,656 5,200 112,310 133,724,775 61,742 140,063,428.50 531 26,796 324,010 1,139,480 53,373,236 346,630 89,754,299 46,800 305,480 96,005,472 219,647,182.50 277,680 330,910 4,440 325,626 383,860 309,400

-423,160 -8,710,016.50 -39,408,354 -52,430 52,941,485 2,973,570 8,590 686,616 -20,022,932 5,200 -68,982,660 -39,984 104,042,034 -39,550 35,149,556 13,656,942 -19,500 7,259,704 42,799,067.50 12,800 4,440 -109,906 -

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

15.14 0.86 1.91 0.92 48.7 2.13 4.85 0.57 0.73 0.216 0.39 9.83 21 0.45 0.121 1.65 1.2 4.97 0.315 0.43 1.44 0.38 2.05 53.75 24.8 2.34

15.14 0.88 1.97 0.94 49.2 2.14 4.85 0.57 0.73 0.216 0.39 9.9 21 0.455 0.121 1.65 1.22 4.98 0.315 0.43 1.45 0.385 2.09 53.75 25.05 2.38

15.1 0.84 1.91 0.88 48 2.08 4.68 0.53 0.73 0.215 0.38 9.51 19.78 0.45 0.121 1.57 1.19 4.7 0.3 0.425 1.39 0.375 1.99 53.75 24 2.31

PROPERTY 15.1 828,000 0.86 1,773,000 1.93 259,000 0.9 4,590,000 49.2 7,921,900 2.09 1,517,000 4.69 760,000 0.54 26,500,000 0.73 75,000 0.215 80,000 0.385 1,120,000 9.55 586,500 19.84 535,900 0.45 810,000 0.121 20,000 1.6 29,833,000 1.19 1,018,000 4.72 26,913,000 0.31 15,210,000 0.425 360,000 1.41 2,611,000 0.385 260,000 1.99 745,000 53.75 30 24.6 995,400 2.32 91,000

12,509,148 1,508,700 497,710 4,118,620 385,594,090 3,190,680 3,590,740 14,427,030 54,750 17,240 428,350 5,730,555 10,746,128 364,550 2,420 47,703,190 1,219,490 127,873,920 4,673,650 153,700 3,668,080 98,650 1,498,400 1,612.50 24,271,790 211,490

-457,136 -44,100 14,299,275 -726,610 894,050 -161,640 7,300 5,582,691 -696,576 10,103,930.00 -52,729,020 -24,850 899,940 2,080 537.5 -3,760,640 2,380

NAME

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

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

3.2 36.6 2.53 0.87 7.55 5.81

3.36 37.2 2.54 0.88 7.77 5.85

3.2 35.95 2.47 0.87 7.45 5.7

3.36 37.2 2.5 0.87 7.77 5.85

16,000 9,081,800 1,299,000 301,000 6,691,200 75,000

51,360 332,565,880 3,252,280 262,170 51,301,215 434,790

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

10.1 18.4 1.81 0.67 0.047 2.31 11.26 0.055 92.6 6.88 7.03 2.14 9.92 1,860 5.22 429.8 10.88 1.62 1.78 130.1 9.03 0.112 5.18 2.86 13.52 3.12 0.91 18.9 0.45 3.4 2.4 1.15 1.22 3.14 2.83 8 5.04 3.15 1,110 0.75 0.57 40.5 78.5 9.11 2.82 0.72 0.345 5.42 0.68 16.28

10.1 18.5 1.83 0.72 0.047 2.32 11.34 0.057 92.6 6.88 7.08 2.14 10.2 1,878 5.24 435 10.88 1.64 1.78 130.7 9.48 0.115 5.26 2.86 13.52 3.13 0.91 19.06 0.45 3.4 2.4 1.35 1.22 3.17 2.83 8 5.05 3.15 1,116 0.75 0.57 41.35 78.5 9.11 2.85 0.72 0.36 5.42 0.7 16.28

9.85 18.16 1.7 0.67 0.046 2.3 11.1 0.055 91.6 6.84 6.92 2.14 9.9 1,832 5.21 429.8 10.88 1.57 1.75 128.5 9.03 0.111 4.94 2.86 13.52 3.06 0.91 18.9 0.45 3.4 2.34 1.15 1.22 2.89 2.79 8 4.81 3.01 1,100 0.73 0.53 40.2 76.75 9.1 2.64 0.69 0.325 5.42 0.67 15.92

SERVICES 9.85 18.2 1.7 0.7 0.046 2.3 11.3 0.056 91.95 6.84 6.98 2.14 10.18 1,853 5.24 435 10.88 1.6 1.75 129.1 9.48 0.112 5.05 2.86 13.52 3.07 0.91 19 0.45 3.4 2.39 1.3 1.22 2.9 2.79 8 5.05 3.03 1,108 0.73 0.54 40.3 78 9.1 2.69 0.69 0.325 5.42 0.7 15.92

20,700 72,100 200,000 32,307,000 2,200,000 235,000 2,627,800 20,620,000 105,500 1,700 1,471,800 1,000 54,700 38,765 155,100 1,160 100 1,290,000 26,000 962,940 8,700 110,000 3,806,700 3,000 200 449,000 350,000 50,600 190,000 39,000 1,132,000 80,000 19,000 8,833,000 130,000 4,800 10,600 1,084,000 47,135 3,826,000 14,831,000 292,200 239,460 10,100 3,406,000 1,138,000 25,190,000 1,000 1,154,000 440,700

207,319 1,316,678 346,980 22,568,230 102,600 541,780 29,581,122 1,147,440 9,702,321 11,635 10,289,722 2,140 546,420 71,801,110 809,043 504,394 1,088 2,055,410 45,930 124,289,408 79,926 12,310 19,267,060 8,580 2,704 1,390,540 318,500 961,208 85,500 132,600 2,668,470 101,260 23,180 26,337,540 365,600 38,400 53,359 3,287,150 52,087,605 2,812,470 8,048,710 11,802,625 18,711,507.50 91,961 9,166,840 792,030 8,566,150 5,420 779,010 7,123,514

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK 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

0.0017 1.17 2.5 12.08 1.18 2.65 7.96 1.76 0.242 0.111 0.107 0.011 1.16 4.27 1.23 0.5 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.011 8.91 3.85 12.04 22.35

0.0017 1.17 2.5 12.08 1.18 2.66 7.96 1.77 0.255 0.111 0.107 0.011 1.17 4.29 1.26 0.5 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.012 8.92 3.95 12.04 22.75

0.0017 1.15 2.5 12.08 1.15 2.62 7.72 1.7 0.229 0.107 0.106 0.011 1.13 4.12 1.14 0.5 0.89 0.011 0.012 0.011 8.5 3.8 11.32 22.15

MINING & OIL 0.0017 49,000,000 1.16 2,197,000 2.5 2,000 12.08 5,000 1.15 24,000 2.65 1,135,000 7.91 900 1.72 34,255,000 0.23 4,750,000 0.107 3,320,000 0.106 3,860,000 0.011 1,200,000 1.13 433,000 4.19 13,043,000 1.18 999,000 0.5 8,000 0.89 183,000 0.011 1,300,000 0.012 100,000 0.012 4,200,000 8.75 1,436,700 3.83 914,000 11.34 1,369,400 22.75 238,500

83,300 2,537,330 5,000 60,400 27,660 2,997,760 7,087 59,135,780 1,120,120 360,930 412,130 13,200 495,410 54,478,850 1,195,820 4,000 163,590 14,500 1,200 46,400 12,491,912 3,487,820 15,943,160 5,368,875

15,080 -172,250 6,143,820 -317,790 37,380,730 0 -43,218.00 23,000 2,328,186 324,965

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

18.1 501 503.5 100.5 105 101.8 108.8 5.1 99.65 0.99 101.5 1,000 1,050 1,081 108 1.73 990 78 75.05 75.6 77 75.9 75.15 76.6

18.1 501 503.5 100.5 105 101.8 109 5.1 99.65 1 101.5 1,000 1,060 1,081 108.1 1.73 990 78 75.1 75.6 77 75.9 75.25 76.6

18 501 503.5 100.5 105 101.8 108.8 5.08 96.5 0.99 101.5 1,000 1,050 1,080 108 1.6 990 77.9 75.05 75.6 76.5 75.35 75.15 76.4

PREFERRED 18 173,000 501 400 503.5 4,130 100.5 500 105 2,520 101.8 12,240 109 10,430 5.08 5,700 99.5 30,220 0.99 820,000 101.5 1,250 1,000 10 1,060 4,440 1,080 10,570 108 4,400 1.6 9,000 990 1,500 77.9 69,160 75.1 1,500 75.6 800,000 76.5 1,512,060 75.4 12,300 75.2 31,210 76.4 28,040

3,114,100 200,400 2,079,455 50,250 264,600 1,246,032 1,136,784 29,010 2,918,141.50 811,810 126,875 10,000 4,702,070 11,417,160 475,270 15,080 1,485,000 5,394,120 112,600 60,480,000 116,424,520 931,595 2,346,341.50 2,142,860

-1,953,000 -52,750 -540,500 75,670 1,730 47,580 241,392 -

LR WARRANT

1.6

1.57

WARRANTS 1.57 19,000

30,010

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

6.85 10.22 3.22 0.95

6.98 10.4 3.22 0.96

6.6 9.9 3.09 0.92

6.7 9.94 3.09 0.92

FIRST METRO ETF

118

118.4

117.2

MS USD DMPL A1

10.38

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

10.38

SHARES 8,754,960

116,799,941 83,588,850

PROPERTY

148,044,007

SERVICES

130,579,513

MINING & OIL

124,128,843

GRAND TOTAL

617,197,204

10.38

SME

828,300 448,100 2,000 4,014,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.4 8,440 DDS 10.38

16,670

95,128,255 -67,240 -20,303,147 -11,600 985 21,259,994 -210,858.50 107,533 8,255,480 1,088 -15,957,912.00 196,999 6,170 -66,140 558,870 -56,200 15,200 -104,550 -14,438,130 -14,660 -429,210.00 -8,040,425 -4,401,259.50 2,789,660 -6,500 204,000 1,189,166

3,200

5,532,757 4,486,795 6,310 3,743,490

141,664 3,220 -163,270

994,218

117,500

173,034.60

VALUE 1,792.20 (DOWN) 2.68 666,424,416.50 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,655.43 (DOWN) 155.53 1,494,570,303.27 HOLDING FIRMS 7,845.68 (UP) 20.24 1,726,244,549.005 PROPERTY 4,108.82 (UP) 10.89 SERVICES 1,554.89 (DOWN) 4.32 1,246,647,778.63 MINING & OIL 9,144.58 (DOWN) 73.32 475,649,671.41 PSEI 7,896.24 (UP) 2.30 160,471,896.598 All Shares Index 4,770.09 (DOWN) 0.88 5,784,772,686.41 Gainers: 59; Losers: 145; Unchanged: 48; Total: 252

MJC buys Ayala Land rights, title in Vertex One By Jenniffer B. Austria

RACETRACK operator Manila Jockey Club Inc. said it purchased the rights, title and interest of Ayala Land Inc. in Vertex One, an office building in Sta. Cruz Manila, for P511.65 million. MJC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it had taken control of Vertex One following the acquisition. ALI’s interest in Vertex One consists of office units with an aggregate area of 13,517 square meters and 206 parking spaces. MJC and ALI earlier took over the development, management and operation of Vertex One through their unincorporated joint venture, known as the San Lazaro BPO Complex Joint Venture. With the latest deal, both parties terminated the joint venture partnership. ALI assigned to MJCI the tenant and service contracts of Vertex One. Vertex One is a 15-storey stand-alone building with efficient, large floor plates of approximately 2,157 sq. m. gross leasable area. It primarily caters to the business process outsourcing companies. It features 100 percent back-up power, redundant cable risers, a centralized chilled water system for cooling, multiple telecom providers, and high-speed, large-capacity elevators. Retail establishments are found on the ground floor. MJC said the acquisition would increase the company’s revenues. It plans to continue leasing out the office spaces it acquired from ALI. The company said it funded the acquisition through internal funds and bank loan. MJC in 2007 teamed up with ALI to redevelop a portion of the former San Lazaro Hippodrome into a residential, commercial and business district in Manila. MJCI moved its racing operations from Manila to a sprawling 77-hectare property in Carmona, Cavite. The company in July teamed up with AKL Properties Inc., an affiliate of ALI, to develop its 60-hectare property in Carmona, Cavite into a business hub. This means MJC will have to relocate its horse-racing track to another location. MJC said the relocation of the racing track would subject to the renewal of its horse racing congressional franchise set to expire on November 22, 2022.

EDC teams up with NGO to save rare native trees By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Development Corp., the biggest producer of geothermal energy, teamed up with non-government organization Philippine Permaculture Association to protect and propagate 21 rare and threatened native trees species in Nueva Ecija. Around 152 seedlings from these species were planted in the premises of Cabiokid Foundation Inc., a 13-hectare permaculture development site and integrated farm that serves as PPA’s demo farm as part of EDC’s BINHI program. BINHI is the only corporate-led program that identiﬁes and propagates 96 rare and threatened native trees species. Through the program, EDC has reforested over 9,500 hectares with these indigenous species. BINHI now has over 150 partners nationwide that help propagate these tree species. Some of the species planted include Yakal-saplungan, Yakal-malibato, Malabayabas, Betis, Apunan, Pianga, Kamagong, Kamagong ponce, Ipil, Tindalo, and Supa. These species have dwindled in number in the wild, and are no longer familiar to the younger generations. The PPA promotes knowledge on permaculture, the practice of integrating people and the environment to create diverse, stable and resilient agricultural systems for sustainable agriculture. EDC recently forged a partnership with Knowles Electronics Corp. and the University of San Carlos in the recently-inaugurated BINHI arboretum in Talamban in Cebu City. Premium Philippine native tree species such as Narra, Mangkono and Molave will be grown and propagated inside arboretum inside the USC campus as part of EDC’s Binhi program.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

World

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tropical fish swim into Europe waters

INSTRUCTION SESSION. This picture taken during a guided tour with the Russian army shows Syrian elite soldiers taking part in an instruction session with Russian military trainers, on September 24, 2019, at an army base in Yafour, some 30 kilometers west of Damascus. AFP

Impeach move begins on Trump IN BRIEF W Climate activist wins Swedish prize

STOCKHOLM―Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on Wednesday won the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes called the “alternative Nobel Prize”, the jury for the Swedish human rights prize said. Thunberg was honored “for inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reﬂecting scientiﬁc facts,” the Right Livelihood Foundation said in a statement. “Her resolve to not put up with the looming climate disaster has inspired millions of peers to also raise their voices and demand immediate climate action,” it added. Thunberg’s global climate movement “Fridays for Future” began in August 2018 when she started sitting alone outside Sweden’s parliament with her now iconic sign reading “school strike for the climate”. The message has struck a chord with youths around the world. Last Friday, an estimated four million plus people took to the streets in over 150 countries to join the “Global Climate Strike” protest, demanding action from politicians against climate disaster. This year’s Right Livelihood Award also honors three others, including Sahrawi human rights activist Aminatou Haidar “for her steadfast non-violent action, despite imprisonment and torture, in pursuit of justice and self-determination for the people of Western Sahara”. Lawyer Guo Jianmei received the award for her “pioneering and persistent work” for women’s rights in China. AFP

ASHINGTON― Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi Tuesday announced the opening of a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, saying he betrayed his oath of ofﬁce by seeking help from a foreign power to hurt his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

The dramatic move―the first step in a complex process that stands little chance of driving Trump from office― pushed US politics into a perilous new chapter just 14 months before new elections for control of the White House and Congress. Following the bombshell developments from Trump Tower in New York―after addressing the UN General Assembly―the president denounced the inquiry as “Witch Hunt garbage”― while also claiming it would help his reelection chances in 2020. “The actions of the Trump presidency revealed the dishonorable facts of the president’s betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security, and betrayal of the integrity of our elections,” Pelosi told a highly anticipated news

conference in the US capital. “Therefore, today I’m announcing the House of Representatives moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry.” Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and other Democratic Party leaders had resisted taking the step for months, preferring to focus on the coming election fight. But a combination of the newest allegations that Trump offered Ukraine aid in return for help to damage Democratic White House front runner Biden, and a groundswell of support for impeachment among the party’s rank and file, appeared to tip the balance. “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law,” she said. The ramped-up push for impeachment was fueled by a scandal over Trump’s reported attempt to pressure the incoming president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to open a corruption investigation into Biden, and Biden’s son Hunter, who had done business in the Eastern European country. Triggering the confrontation was an as yet secret whistle blower complaint reportedly centered on Trump’s phone call July 25 with Zelensky. Seeking to head off the looming impeachment threat, Trump announced Tuesday he would release the transcript of the call. “You will see it was a very friendly and totally appropriate call. No pressure

and, unlike Joe Biden and his son, NO quid pro quo!” he tweeted. Live news channels played Pelosi’s speech on TV over the lobby bar at Trump Tower, where the president retreated Tuesday afternoon after an intense day of UN diplomacy. “PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT” he lashed out on Twitter afterwards. “Such an important day at the United Nations, so much work and so much success, and the Democrats purposely had to ruin and demean it with more breaking news Witch Hunt garbage,” he wrote. Trump has admitted discussing Biden with Zelensky, but denies he tied hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Kiev to it investigating the former US vice president. On Tuesday the US leader said he had frozen aid to Ukraine, but only to force European allies to increase their own support for Zelensky’s government. Trump’s decision to release the transcript was too little to appease Democrats, who are demanding the White House release to Congress the complaint from the intelligence community whistle blower, believed to contain additional evidence of wrongdoing. Lawyers representing the whistle blower said in a statement on Tuesday that there had been a “decision to release the whistle blower complaint,” but did not provide further details. AFP

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

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

Moon proposes peace zone UNITED NATIONS―South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday proposed that the United Nations create an “international peace zone” to replace the peninsula’s divide, saying the idea would both reassure the North and inspire the world. The left-leaning leader, whose diplomacy paved the way for historic summits between President Donald Trump and North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, laid out his rosy vision for the last Cold War frontier in an address to the UN General Assembly. He asked the international community to commit to designating the international peace area to replace the 250-kilometer Demilitarized Zone that has split the two Koreas for more than 60 years. Moon said the zone would offer an added incentive for Kim to give up nuclear weapons, the focus of more than a year of on-again, off-again talks between North Korea and the United States. “The establishment of an international peace zone will provide an institutional and realistic guarantee for North Korea’s security,” Moon said. “At the same time South Korea will be able to gain permanent peace,” he said. Moon voiced hope that the zone, which is four kilometers wide, would become the home of UN agencies dedicated to conﬂict resolution and the environment and eventually be declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, the UN cultural body. “It can become an international peace zone in name as well as substance,” Moon said. Despite the intense military buildups on each side of the Demilitarized Zone, “paradoxically it has become a pristine ecological treasure trove,” he said. “When the DMZ that cuts the midriff of the Korean peninsula is turned into a peace zone, the peninsula will evolve into a bridge nation that connects the continent and the ocean and facilitates peace and prosperity,” he said. AFP

PARIS―Cod, sole and plaice might be regulars on European dinner tables but as climate change heats the oceans common species are heading to cooler northern waters―with profound potential consequences for fish stocks and consumers. Experts say bluefin tuna, seahorse and the bright triggerfish from the tropics are swimming to Europe’s warming seas while fish such as cod are migrating northwards. “We will see less of the fish we know, and we will see tropical fish arriving that we did not know (here) until now,” said Clara Ulrich, a fisheries scientist and assistant director at the French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea. She said the bluefin tuna is returning to the North Sea and said seahorse and balistes, a tropical fish seen in hot areas, are arriving in European waters. Ulrich explained it is not that species such as cod have disappeared from European waters but there will be less of them along the French and Spanish coasts and more of them in colder climates such as in Norway and Scotland. “It is not that fish migrate to the North as such, but it is that fish populations in the south are becoming less and less productive and therefore their density is decreasing,” she said. “While fish from colder areas can benefit from an increase in temperature and become more productive themselves,” she added. “Fish resources are very dynamic. It’s not physics, not everything happens as planned,” said Manuel Barange, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at the FAO, the UN agency for agriculture and food. “There will be changes from year to year, but we do expect that there’s [a] shift of species, of warmer water species towards the north,” he added. This may require adaptation on the part of consumers, who he said should make the most of the new species that become available. “Anchovies arrived in the UK and I’ve seen them in the UK markets, they are incredibly cheap, because nobody buys them, so we need to start DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH educating the WAIVER OF RIGHTS public to start Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extra-Judicial Settlement has eating the fish been executed by the heirs of the late that they have CONIGUNDA ANIÑON NICOLAS, namely: William A. Nicolas married rather than just to Ludilieta D. Nicolas,; Antonio A. Nicolas married to Remedios Z. simply the fish Nicolas, Nenita A. Nicolas married to Nestor Ramos, Rico A. Nicolas that they used married to Lourdes Nicolas, and Aida A. Nicolas married to Rafael Gumatay, to have and all of legal age, over personal and real properties, per deed executed on 02 they like to September 2019 before Notary Public eat,” Barange Atty. Mary Jean R. Bernabe-Tongco Doc. No. 293; Page No. 60; Book No. said. AFP 159; Series of 2019.

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

EARTHQUAKE VICTIM. Mourners carry the coffin of an earthquake victim during a funeral

on the outskirts of Mirpur on September 25, 2019. Rescue workers battled on September 25 to reach people affected by a shallow earthquake that rocked northeast Pakistan a day earlier, killing at least 22 people and injuring hundreds more as it tore roads apart and felled buildings. AFP

19 killed, dozens wounded by shallow quake MIRPUR, Pakistan―At least 19 people have been killed and 300 injured after a shallow earthquake rattled northeastern Pakistan, tearing car-sized cracks into roads and heavily damaging infrastructure. The quake sent people in Lahore and Islamabad running into the streets. With rescue operations expected to continue overnight, residents in the worst-hit areas described their horror as walls collapsed and houses fell. The epicenter of the 5.2-magnitude quake was near the Kashmiri city of Mirpur, roughly 20 kilometers north of Jhelum in agricultural Punjab province, according to the US Geological Survey. On one of the district’s two main roads, AFP reporters could see cracks at least four feet deep, some ﬁlling with water from a nearby canal. Television images showed cars wedged in to some cracks, while a bus and a truck lay by the side of the road.

In the village of Sahankikri, on the outskirts of Mirpur, residents said almost all the 400 houses were damaged. “We are shelterless now,” said one, Shamraiz Akhtar. “I will never foreget the horrible sound” of the quake, another resident, Muhammad Ramzan, told AFP. “It looked like the entire village tossed and turned and spun around.” “We... were sitting having a gossip when suddenly the earthquake shook us all. Fortunately the wall collapsed the other way, burying one of our buffalo,” 23-year-old student Nabeel Hussain said. Piles of rubble could be seen as darkness fell on the village, with the sound of women wailing in mourning. Others spoke only in whispers, fearful of aftershocks. “At least 19 people have been killed and more than 300 wounded,” Sardar Gulfaraz, deputy inspector general of police in Mirpur, said in televised comments. AFP

The Masbate Gold Project (MGP) is a joint operation of FRC and Phil. Gold Processing & Refining Corp. (PGPRC). The proposed project expansion covers the increase of throughput ore being processed in the PGPRC plant from 7.3 million MT/yr to 9 million MT /yr. The proposed expansion will require an upgrade of plant equipment to improve the processing capacity for low-grade ore to maximize the extraction of gold. It will utilize the existing low-grade stockpile as raw material to better manage the stockpile inside the MGP area. All interested parties who wish to attend or participate in this Public Hearing should preferably confirm their attendance/participation and may give their opinion(s) in a concise position paper to the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EIAMD) of this Office through mail or through email at eiamd.emb.co@gmail.com, three (3) days before the Public Hearing schedule. Those who will not be able to register or submit written positions may be given the opportunity to share their issues on the day of the hearing itself. The project’s EPRMP and Executive Summary for the Public (ESP) are downloadable at our website: www.eia.emb.gov.ph (kindly access the Notice of Public Hearing/Consultation link found in our website) while the hard copies will be available in this Office and in the following offices: 1) EMB Region V Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City 2) Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) Municipality of Aroroy, Province of Masbate For more details, please contact EIAM Division of this Office at telephone number (02) 920-2240 to 41 and look for the project case handlers Engr. Carlo Vic Arida, EnP and Engr. Mary Therese Gonzales, EnP.

(MS-SEPT. 19 & 26 , 2019)

LGUs

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Navotas youth learn digital marketing By Jun David

SCREEN TIME. Students from San Mateo Municipal College gather for a selfie with director Brillante Mendoza, who hosted a special screening of his film ‘Hilom’ at SM San Mateo in Rizal. In the film, Mendoza sheds light on the status of health services in rural areas of the country. Manny Palmero

Antipolo SBI vaccination drive kicks off ANTIPOLO City is strengthening immunization efforts to protect children and adolescents from vaccinepreventable diseases through the School-Based Immunization Program recently kicked off at Bagong Nayon IV Elementary School. Themed, “Back to BakUNA: Una sa Lahat, BakUNA,” the SBI Program of the Department of Health - Center for Health Development Calabarzon, in partnership with the Department of Education and the Antipolo City government, highlighted the role of parents in fortifying the health shield of their children through timely vaccination against diseases. The SBI Program includes measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria and human papillomavirus vaccines that are administered to eligible students in public elementary schools. The inclusion of HPV vaccination in the SBI Program aims to protect young women from cervical cancer later in life, among other diseases associated with HPV. Under the DOH’s SBI Program, HPV vaccination is given to grade 4 based on DOH’s recommended age group to receive the two doses of HPV vaccine, six months apart, for protection against cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipino women, next to breast cancer. Over 7,000 new cases of cervical cancer are recorded every year in the Philippines. Of these cases, close to 4,000 lead to death, according to the DOH. The DOH’s SBI Program also enables children and adolescents to be on track with their immunization schedule so that they can be shielded from the health problems caused by infections such as those that can develop from HPV.

SOME 970 Navoteño youth gained knowledge on online retail, electronic commerce and digital marketing in the 7th Youth Entrepreneurship Summit held by the City Government of Navotas. The participants were inspired by the success of guest speakers, Irish Apple Neulid, a former participant of YES and now a thriving online entrepreneur and owner of Toyang Online Shop and Toyang Closet; Danielle Alexis Morales, co-owner and founder of TeeHouse Digital Printing; Millicent Dumalaong, owner and founder of Kamila’s 4AM Art. Michelle Ann Lim, a Senior Marketing and Communication Specialist from Air Global, Inc., taught participants the basics of Digital Marketing, as well as techniques in successfully using digital platforms in promoting businesses. Meanwhile, representatives from Bangkulasi Senior High School, one of the beneficiaries of Nego-Eskwela, a school-focused skills training program of the city government, discussed Enhancing Skills of Management and Entrepreneurship through Life Long Learning. E-SMELL is a school project that thrusts the concept of entrepreneurship and self-employment as an alternative way of earning a living and building a career. In his speech, Mayor Toby Tiangco noted that even the biggest conglomerate in the Philippines started from humble beginnings. The key is having the courage to try and persevere until their goal is reached, he said.

BARMM set to submit budget

By Nash B. Maulana

OTABATO CITY—Moving against a House bloc resolution, Bangsamoro officials have stepped up efforts to submit the Regional Expenditure Program to the national government following a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Sept. 17.

Earlier, a block of Muslim lawmakers, representing the provinces comprising the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, asked the Manila government in a resolution to create a national office of the Department of Public Works and Highways to implement infrastructure

programs and projects in BARMM areas. Malacañang had set a meeting between the president and BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, curiously the day before House Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman filed Resolution No. 33 on Sept. 16.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM interior minister who accompanied Ebrahim to Malacañang, said the President signaled the need for the region to submit proposals to draw national funds and implement government programs, as provided in the region’s charter, Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Sinarimbo said the meeting delved into, among others, issues of transfer of programs, projects and funds of national agencies operating in the areas of the autonomous region. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament also passed a counter-

resolution to House Bloc Resolution 33, opposing the creation of a national DPWH office to implement infrastructure projects in BARMM areas. But Sinarimbo said he and Ebrahim were in Bangladesh on an e-governance tour when the BTA Parliament passed that counter resolution on Sept. 18. Sinarimbo said consistent with the BOL, the President asked the Department of Budget and Management to release to BARMM funds of national programs intended to be implemented within its areas, for as long as the region had complied with required proposals on Programs, Activities and Projects spending.

Smart, PSF mark 10 years since ‘Ondoy’ with national tree planting PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications is leading a nationwide tree planting activity on Friday, Sept. 26 to commemorate the 10th year since Typhoon “Ondoy” (international name Ketsana) hit the Philippines and caused severe flooding, loss of lives, and damage to property. The simultaneous tree planting initiative across the country is part of the #PlanetSmart initiative of PLDT and Smart, which aims to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by harnessing technology and promoting collective effort for environmental protection. It is also in line with the celebration of the World Environmental Health Day. “Deforestation is one of the causes of flooding, and we saw that during ‘Ondoy.’ The devastating floods opened the eyes of everyone to the importance of saving our forest cover, particularly in the Marikina Watershed,” said Ramon R. Isberto, PLDT-Smart public affairs head. PLDT-Smart employees and partners will conduct simultaneous tree planting sessions in Marikina Watershed, Antipolo; Talavera Watershed, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija; and Cebu Hillyland, Cebu City; while volunteers will plant mangrove seedlings in Minanga, Buayan, General Santos City. Smart has been planting trees since 2004 in an effort to offset its greenhouse gas emissions in its operations.

Antipolo City Health officer Dr. Concepcion G. Lat (right) and Antipolo Councilor Susan G. Say (left) during the HPV ceremonial vaccination.

A Smart employee plants a seedling during a tree planting activity last year on Mt. 387 in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

Together with various private collaborators, community stakeholders, school partners, and volunteers from PLDT-Smart and sister-companies, Smart has planted over one million seedlings and propagules in adopted planting sites.

These include the Marikina Watershed and Ipo Watershed, Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad Critical Habitat and Eco-tourism Area, Calatagan, Subic, Mt. Banahaw, Puerto Princesa, and Calabanga in Camarines Sur in Luzon;

Camanava’s first milk bank opens in Malabon City THE City Government of Malabon officially launched Wednesday the first Human Milk Bank in the Camanava area. Malabon City Mayor Lenlen Oreta led the inauguration of the facility, located at Ospital ng Malabon, which aims to give free breast milk to infants, especially those with medical conditions. “Human milk is indeed life-saving,” said Oreta, a known health and nutrition advocate. “We hope our milk bank helps many, and ensure children have access to human milk, whatever their standing in life.” Dr. Mitzi Tanchoco, medical director of OSMAL, said the facility will collect, sterilize, test and store safely the human milk that has been donated by Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta (center, in blue), Councilor Enzo Oreta (second from left) and Rotary Club International Officials lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the first Human Milk breastfeeding mothers and provide it to Bank in Camanava located at the Ospital ng Malabon. infants in need. tation of its “First 1,000 Days of Life” The Human Milk Bank, which in- help of the Rotary International. Malabon Councilor Enzo Oreta not- Ordinance, which provides care and cludes a pasteurization machine, human milk analyzer, peristaltic pump ed that the establishment of the Human nutrition to mothers and children at the and freezer, was established with the Milk Bank boosts the city’s implemen- most critical time of their development.

Life

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

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

19 parents who make it ‘possible’ PARENTING STORIES. Guests watch in awe as The Museum of Amazing Possibles showcases 19 stories of individuals who enable children—theirs or otherwise—reach their full potential. organizations that help make kids and youth of various abilities life-ready. Smile PH partner Cai Pasis uses technology and everyday items as her medium to help kids see the joy in learning, and how vital life skills such as patience and grit are developed by going through things step by step. Dr. Rudy Amatong is known as “Lolo Doc” as he makes sure his students, residents, and patients have a strong foundation at an early age. Meanwhile, Dr. Maricel Ridon-Cristobal, a polio survivor, now helps kids

By Bernadette Lunas

HAT makes a parent happy? Well, it appears it’s quite simple.

Every mother or father feels a rush of pride and joy seeing their children reach a milestone. It does not have to be a huge one—like being rich and famous—it could be something as simple as seeing their kids walk for the first time, tie their shoelaces, be their own person. They say being a parent is no walk in the park; it has neither weekend break nor holiday, it’s a 24/7 job. To celebrate those moms and dads who continuously strive to nourish and nurture their children, Nestlé Nankid launched its newest global brand campaign Amazing Possibles. The campaign was brought to life through The Museum of Amazing Possibles at Yuchengco Museum in Makati City. It featured and celebrated 19 parents who make it possible for their children (biological or otherwise) to reach their full potential and achieve a better future. A mother of five, Joy Sotto believes that what we do is a reflection of our hearts, which he teaches her kids on a daily basis. Meanwhile, Robbie de Vera, a father of one, believes that setting up values at an early age can help his son grow up and be successful in the future. Social media personality and brand ambassador Cat Arambulo-Antonio revealed her initial fear of pressuring daughter Alana to live up to the big

shoes of her parents. But to her surprise, the three-year-old has no problems becoming her own, from dressing up and knowing what she wants. Alana, Cat said, is her own person. Working single mom Fate Quimada does not let her responsibilities in her

Cat Arambulo-Antonio

Joy Sotto

of two Kris Caparas teaches her two Also featured in the 19 Amazing Poskids by letting them experience the sibles are Nicole Hernandez-Delos Angechallenges of life. les, Mikki Luistro, Larry Mercado, Ivy The Amazing Possibles campaign Sabay, EN Pineda, Dr. Rommel Bernardo, also recognized those who have become Dr. Marysia Recto, Dr. Joselyn Alonzoparents to communities and people Eusebio, and Dr. Francis Dimalanta. around them. It also featured different “We know the depth of emotions narratives from health care professionthat parents experience as their child als, volunteers, and civic workers. achieves every amazing possible, the Fabien Courteille, founder of Gawad astonishment, happiness, and fulfillKalinga-Plush and Play, helps empower ment that parents experience has rea community by improving the quality mained the same throughout the years, of life of kids and elevating their aspiraunchanged by shifting mindsets and tions. beliefs. This is why Nestlé endeavors to Fabien Courteille Dr. Rudy Amatong Independent Living Center founder lay the path towards more amazing posArchie David, whose soft spot for chilsibles,” enthused Arlene Tan-Bantoto, career hinder her from developing a dren with exceptionalities has led him have a new hope in life, just like how business executive officer for Nestlé Ingood relationship with her son. Mother to develop various communities and her doctor did for her. fant Nutrition.

Condo 101: To rent or to buy

SOME look at condominiums as a temporary home, a half-way or a short-term place to live in. Others consider it a permanent property or a long-term source of income. Architect Esteban Y. Tan has kept the following crucial factors in mind in designing the Tower E of Valencia Hills community in Quezon City to help prospective condo owners with their decisions.

Location, location, location

Determine whether the condo unit will be used as a temporary or permanent home.

Expense versus investment

The main decision factor in renting or buying a condo is money, or lack thereof. The lack of available funds leads many condo-hunters to rent instead of buy. If, however, the plan is for a prolonged stay, experts say renting is not the better option as rent will turn out to be an expense that cannot be recovered. On the other hand, buying property will only be a worthwhile investment if the unit and the area it is in are marketable. Hence, the first step is to assess what the property will be for. Buying the property will be more suitable for families who are ready to settle down and use the unit as a permanent home. Professionals with a stable career can also consider investing in the property as a home base in the short-term and an additional source of income in the long-term. Those who are still exploring career opportunities or with no clear plans of settling down, however, will benefit from the flexibility of renting a unit.

In the real estate game, this is the foremost consideration—perhaps that’s why it is repeated three times. Living in a prime location means easy access to one’s place of work and essential services like hospitals, schools, places of worship, and key business hubs. Location will also define a certain lifestyle—your choice of locale must afford you conveniences and a level of enjoyment. With the worsening traffic conditions in the metro, it’s ideal to reside closer to one’s workplace and necessities. For instance, the Architect Tandesigned Valencia Hills Tower E affords residents proximity to lifestyle centers like Robinsons Magnolia and Greenhills Shopping Center, hospitals such as St. Luke’s and Cardinal Santos, various educational establishments such as Immaculate Conception Academy, La Salle Greenhills, and Xavier School within a 3-kilometer radius. LRT2 Gilmore Station and several transport options are also available within a few Proximity to establishments and blocks of the property. transportation hubs is important.

Well-designed swimming pool and other amenities determine the quality of life.

Quality of life

Swimming pools, gyms, and common areas are a standard in high-quality compounds, but the difference lies in how innovative, well-designed, and well-built these amenities are. On top of this, potential buyers should also consider the density of the property. In well-planned communities, residents enjoy privacy and personal space despite sharing facilities and amenities with other residents. The soon-to-rise, 28-story Valencia Hills Tower E, for instance, only has six to eight units on every floor.

Bottom line

Experts say the decision to whether rent or buy all boils down to how the property will be used and how much one can afford to spend. Renting gives flexibility while owning builds equity with a possibility of future income. Owners have the freedom to design their units and transform them into homes that are to their liking while renters have the freedom to move easily according to their plans.

Life

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Modern living in Mandaue

ARGETING investment-savvy millennials and young families looking to settle down in Cebu, Amaia Land offers in its Mandaue property cleverly laid-out units, chic facilities, and accessibility.

Units include studio, deluxe, and premier, with sizes ranging from 24 square meters to 41 square meters. Some cuts are convertible into one- or two-bedroom units. Featuring an L-shaped configuration in its design, the Tower 2 of Amaia Steps Mandaue offers 288 units to prospective homebuyers. Family and community bonding is fostered at leisure facilities that include a swimming pool, a multi-purpose hall, a serene landscaped courtyard, and a children’s play area. For the convenience of its homeowners, Amaia Mandaue also has its own retail shops on the ground level. As in all of the developer’s projects, Amaia Steps Mandaue, which is on Pla-

ridel St. corner UN Avenue in Barangay Alang-Alang, is located near schools (University of Cebu is one) and retail establishments (Pacific Mall, Gaisano Grand Mall and S&R). Dining establishments, hospitals, and churches are close by, as are transport hubs for jeepney, buses, and shuttle services. It is also within comfortable driving distance to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Ayala Center Cebu, and Maayo Hotel. The Mandaue property is likewise built following Ayala Land’s standards. Aspiring Filipino homeowners may buy a home in Amaia Steps Mandaue through flexible payment schemes such as cash, deferred cash, and bank financing. Go to amaialand.com for more information.

Foster family and community bonding at the property’s leisure facilities.

Ensure Gold presents a touching story of how mothers’ simple glances could mean so much for their children.

The power of a mother’s look

Play area where kids can enjoy hours of fun.

20 couple-employees of the SM Group exchanged marital vows at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

20 couples tie the knot in mass wedding TWENTY couple-employees of the SM Group exchanged marital vows in Catholic rites ceremonies sponsored by Felicidad T. Sy Foundation. The couples tied the knot at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life with Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Reyes, SSP as officiating priest. Six other priests joined the celebration to officiate. Standing as main sponsors at the ceremonies were Linda Atayde, executive director of SM Foundation; and Rollie Macatangay of the religious committee of SM under the Felicidad Sy Foundation. They also acted as candle sponsors. In an interview with Maricar Sano and Joey Concepcion, one of the newly wedded couples, they said the occasion gave them the opportunity to have their union blessed in a special ceremony with “all the works.” Maricar was dressed in a beautiful white gown while Joey was in a dapper suit. SM had offered wedding attires but the two opted to have their own outfits made-to-order. The two have been living together and has an eight-year old son named Adriel Dane who was ring bearer at the wedding. Maricar who works at the Shoe Department of Megamall said, “my life is complete...this ceremony completes it.” Another couple, Lorna Padilla, who works in the ladies department of SM Quiapo; and Sheldon Balatero, stockman of kids department of SM Sta. Mesa already had a civil wedding in

ONE of the first lessons children learn is how to read their moms. Without even saying anything, messages are conveyed with just one glance. It is because of those glances that children who then become adults are unknowingly guided in life, from learning basic manners at home to getting motivated as they face challenges. This connection also helps sons and daughters know how their parents feel when they look into their eyes. In its newest digital video, Ensure Gold tells a touching story of how moms can love and care for their child selflessly and how their simple glances could mean so much to their child. The story also shows how children or caregivers can give back the gift of strength to their aging mothers. “This is not only so they are able to do everyday activities with ease, but also help them continue doing things that make life meaningful and fulfilling. That way, they have the strength and energy to continue making memories together with their families and friends,” the brand said in a statement. Ensure Gold cites a research that shows nine out of 10 aging adults are not meeting the daily recommended amounts of key nutrients for a healthy and active life. Adults aged 40 and above lose 8 percent of muscle mass every decade, and after 70 that rate almost doubles to 15

percent. Muscle loss is invisible to the eye, but it can be noticed through signs and symptoms such as weakness, decelerated walking speed, unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, body pain, and cramps. Abbott’s new Ensure Gold with HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyric acid) is now available in the Philippines to help older adults build and maintain their muscle mass and continue doing everyday activities that they love. The an adult nutrition supplement is scientifically formulated with high quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, and a total of 28 vitamins and minerals to help aging adults stay strong. A unique nutritional ingredient in Ensure Gold is HMB, a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine. HMB is naturally found in small amounts in some foods and in the body, but levels may decline with age. HMB has been shown to support muscle health. “Abbott helps people live their best life by providing nutritional support for Filipinos’ aging loved ones. We believe nutrition is the foundation of good health and are so excited to bring the new Ensure Gold with HMB, through which adults in the Philippines can gain strength to carry on doing the things they love each day, and into their golden years,” said Dr. Jun Dimaano, medical director for Abbott Asia Pacific.

iPhoto

The couples with Felicidad Sy, the matriarch of the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation, Inc.

July 2 last year. When the religious group of SM announced the mass wedding, they grabbed the opportunity. They also encouraged their friends in SM to avail of the offer. Jenalyn Mangalinao of Savemore and Harold Impas have been living together for four years. They were scheduled to join the mass wedding last year but because Jenalyn was pregnant, she had to postpone the church ceremony to this year. They now have a baby boy. “Natupad na rin ang pangarap namin,” and to top it all, “napakagan-

da ng ceremony and reception namin (Our dreams finally came true, and to top it all, we had a lovely ceremony and reception). We would not have been able to afford this on our own. “Maraming salamat kay Nanang!” exclaimed Jenalyn. The catered reception which followed at the St. John Paul Youth Center of the Shrine was a gift of the foundation to the couples who brought along their families. The couples were each given a personalized gift from “Nanang” Sy, matriarch of the foundation.

Lanao del Norte chef wins countrywide cooking contest After months of fiery competition, Chef Roseller Fiel II (center) of Lanao Del Norte emerged the first champion of Solane Kitchen Hero Chefs’ Edition—a competition organized by Solane to recognize the cooking prowess of the best chefs across the nation. Impressing the judges with his winning three-course meal: Kilawin na Baboy with butter-poached lobster, grilled talong and ampalaya, and cococream vinaigrette; Humba Bisaya with brown rice pilaf; and Dodol with caramel-tisa sauce and peanut-ginger brittle, Chef Fiel bested four other competitors on the final round and won P100,000 cash and a culinary trip to Japan.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

SNAPSHOT

Royal fight against gender violence

Prince Harry and Meghan visited a Cape Town rights group fighting gender violence. Rape and murder of women have reached epidemic proportions in South Africa.

ABS-CBN... From C4

ABS-CBN’s international coproduction division has other partnerships and collaborations with other companies from all over Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe. “We chose to partner with ABS-CBN because they have been so instrumental in the development of talent here both in front and behind the camera. I think they have the most experience and they have just been amazing partners. This is going to change the way people perceive the entertainment business in the Philippines,” Devlin said. This series is a wonderful opportunity for Filipino talent as majority of the cast will be from within the country. The female lead will be a Filipina actress who will star alongside American actor Christian Kane, who has starred in a string of TV series including Angel, Leverage, The Librarians, and Into the West. Electric Entertainment is the company responsible for hit television series, The Librarians, which premiered

Pageant Concept... From C4

Ms, Mrs, and Classic Grand Universe 2019 tonight The first-ever Ms., Mrs., and Classic Grand Universe 2019 is set to crown their inaugural titleholders when the pageant holds its coronation tonight at Tangahalan ng Pasigueño, Pasig City Hall Complex, Caruncho Ave., Pasig City. All eyes will be on Alma Concepcion, who at 43 is competing in her third international pageant after the Miss Hawaiian Tropic International 1992 when she was only 15 and in Miss International 1994 at 17 where she made it to the Top 15 and awarded the prestigious Miss Friendship special award. Concepcion is vying in the Ms. Grand Universe category for women ages 25 to 45 years who are single moms or divorced, with or without children. “I’m practically starting from scratch

its fourth season in December 2017, and Leverage, which aired from 2008 to 2012. The company has also produced movies, among which is the thriller, Bad Samaritan, which ran in cinemas in 2018. Dean Devlin, who is the chief executive officer of Electric Entertainment, is the series’ executive producer and is set to write its first two episodes and direct its finale. Off Tropic marks Devlin’s debut in television production in the Philippines with Filipinos. He gained worldwide renown for producing the hit movies Independence Day, Godzilla, and The Patriot. Present at the contract signing were ABS-CBN chairman Mark. L. Lopez, ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo L. Katigbak, ABS-CBN chief operating officer for broadcast Cory V. Vidanes, ABS-CBN head of international production and co-production division Ruel S. Bayani, Electric Entertainment chief executive officer Dean Devlin, actor Christian Kane, Off Tropiccoexecutive producer Francis de la Torre, and line producer Steve Lee. The series’ production in Cebu is slated to begin in November. after 25 years since I competed in Tokyo. I’ve been preparing myself and training hard with Gilbert Flores camp. I hope to inspire others on how to fight and overcome life struggles,” said Concepcion. The Philippines’ other entry, Leah May Luna-Panisales, a managing director, mother of three boys from Davao City, is competing in Mrs. Grand Universe, for married women ages 25 to 45 years, with or without children. The third category is the Classic Grand Universe, which is for women 46 years old and above, married or unmarried, widowed or divorced, with or without children. The Ms., Mrs., and Classic Grand Universe 2019, which aims to raise funds for the establishment of a home for abused or abandoned women and children, is presented by Guinto Entertainment Productions, produced and organized by Jenny Guinto and Angela Janine Guinto Torres in collaboration with Megastar Productions headed by Ovette Ricalde.

Ms. Grand Universe is an international pageant for single mothers

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, September 26, 2019

ACROSS 1 Reside 6 Sudden impact 10 Suggestive 14 Cowboy contest 15 Yield to 16 — Khan 17 Ram, in astrology 18 Bit of straw 19 Gridiron advance 20 Wager 21 Sun, in Mazatlan 23 Waterproofing 25 Threat ender (2 wds.) 28 Ritzy 29 Expression 31 Pick up slowly 33 Cut of meat 34 Castle defenses 35 “Post-” opposite 38 Without help 41 Led to a seat 43 Firm up 44 Alleviated 46 Zen question 47 Make changes 48 Saffron dish 50 Slinkies 52 Maria Conchita — 54 Fine-toothed blade

56 Classified wd. 57 Sparkler 60 — spumante 61 Toupees 63 Terre — 65 Perjured 66 Found a roost 67 Occasion 68 Oz pooch 69 Cravings 70 Tablelands DOWN 1 Dreary 2 The bride — white 3 Newspaper feature 4 “Malcolm X” director 5 Red-ink entries 6 Dewlaps 7 Kyoto sash 8 Smaller amount 9 Prepares for the printer 10 Roomy sleeve 11 A second time 12 Narrow opening 13 Yin complement 22 Pamplona cry 24 Covered with water 26 Rajah’s wife 27 Self-esteem 29 Stopper

30 Make sharp 32 Praise 34 Consumer gds. 35 Introductions 36 True 37 Ferber or Best 39 Wooded valleys 40 Gradually diminishes (2 wds.) 42 Barely gets by 45 Age 47 Japanese martial art 48 Burst 49 Ball game

opener 50 Timex competitor 51 Eight voices 53 Keeps on going 54 Come to a standstill 55 Ruse 58 Famed lava spewer 59 New York players 62 Tonic go-with 64 Livy’s hello

PRINCE Harry on Monday urged South African men to turn their back on toxic masculinity as his wife Meghan applauded girls for “standing up for what’s right,” as the British royal couple launched their first official tour since becoming parents in May. The pair joined campaigners in Cape Town fighting South Africa’s stratospheric rates of violence against women on the first stage of a 10-day swing through southern Africa. Prince Harry, Meghan, and baby Archie landed by commercial flight from London before heading to Nyanga—a township crippled by gang violence and the highest murder rate in the country, and a far cry from Cape Town’s image for pristine beaches and rolling vineyards.AFP

Edward Norton’s new drama to open th 14 Rome Film Fest

Edward Norton’s ‘Motherless Brooklyn’ is a detective mystery set in the ‘50s.

DWARD Norton’s Motherless Brooklyn will be the opening night film at the 14th Rome Film Fest, which will run from Oct. 17 to 27 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome. It was announced by Artistic Director Antonio Monda and Laura Delli Colli, President of Fondazione Cinema per Roma, in agreement with General Manager Francesca Via. “Motherless Brooklyn is a magnificent noir, in the tradition of the finest classic cinema, and a compelling adaptation of the excellent novel by Jonathan Lethem,” Monda declared. “Edward Norton displays a firm hand and unblinking eye in directing this eternal story of ambition,

corruption and racism. It is a great honour to open the Rome Film Fest with a film of such quality.” Then, on Oct. 18, Norton will be the focus of the Rome Film Fest’s traditional Close Encounter - an onstage conversation with Antonio Monda, in which they will discuss Motherless

Brooklyn and delve into the most important events of his cinematic career, with clips from some of his memorable films. “Italian cinema has had an enormous impact on my own tastes and aspirations as a filmmaker,” Norton stated, “and so to have my film open the fest in Rome is truly a fantasy made real. It’s truly a great honor, and I’m so delighted. And I believe, though this is an American epic and a New York noir, that Italian audiences will quickly feel the resonance of the themes within their own recent experience.” Three-time Oscar nominee Edward Norton (Birdman or [the Unexpected Virtue of Innocence], American History X, Primal Fear) directed, wrote, produced and stars in Motherless Brooklyn. Norton plays Lionel Essrog, a lonely private detective living with Tourette Syndrome, who ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna. Armed only with a few clues and the engine of his obsessive mind, Lionel unravels closely-guarded secrets that hold the fate of New York in the balance. In a mystery that carries him from gin-soaked jazz clubs in Harlem to the hard-edged slums of Brooklyn and, finally, into the gilded halls of New York’s power brokers, Lionel contends with thugs, corruption and the most dangerous man in the city to honor his friend and save the woman who might be his own salvation. The stellar ensemble cast also includes Bruce Willis, Gugu MbathaRaw, Bobby Cannavale, Cherry Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Leslie Mann, Ethan Suplee, Dallas Roberts, Josh Pais, Robert Ray Wisdom, Fisher Stevens, with Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and will be released internationally beginning Oct. 31.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

Zee Sine trains spotlight on Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra SKY continues to push the boundaries of content offerings with the expansion of Zee Sine, the ﬁrst and only Tagalized Bollywood channel in the country, with shows that feature Indian cinema’s brightest stars, including former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, Miss World Aishwarya Rai, and Hollywood celebrity Priyanka Chopra. Aside from Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, among the celebrities that fans can expect to catch on the channel’s upcoming features are Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor, to name a few. Developed with the taste and likes of the Filipino audience in mind, Zee Sine has a wide range of content—from

drama, comedy, romance, action, thriller and musical, carefully selected based on stories relatable to its audience. In Zee Sine, the localization process goes as far as creating movie themes like Unli Tawa Monday, Hari ng Aksyon Thursday, Pinoy Bollywood Box Office, Star of the Month, Bollywood Divas and Kilig Monday. Even the original character names in the movie are changed to names familiar to the audience and the stories are told in a language close to the Filipino heart. Zee Sine offers three original movies and three original drama series on weekdays and five original movies on weekends and premieres three first airing movies every month, on weekends. Alongside the movies, Zee Sine also brings TV series that feature the latest love teams from India in the afternoon

SKY’s Zee Sine features some of Bollywood’s brightest stars including former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, Miss World Aishwarya Rai, and Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra.

on weekdays. Come 2020, Zee Sine will continue to bring the biggest Bollywood blockbusters and award-winning drama series and more. Zee Sine’s pages on all social media platforms engage Bollywood fans across the country as it delivers the latest news, trends, movie teaser and trailers of the up and coming movies, trivia and updates on the celebrities are

on Zee Sine’s social media accounts. Fans also get a chance to win Channel merchandise in the monthly contests. Zee Sine is a part of Zee Entertainment, which is available in 173 countries and entertaining over 1.3 billion viewers every day. Today, Zee Entertainment has 10 local audiences targeted channels across the world, and three in South East Asia. Subscribers can enjoy Zee Sine on channel 112 for Metro Manila, channel

424 in Cebu and Davao via SKYcable Select for P20 pesos only. SKYcable Select allows SKY customers with cable subscription the option to add channels to their existing channel lineup for a customized TV viewing experience. For more details on ZEE Sine and other SKY products and services, visit mysky.com. ph, call the Sales hotline (02) 418 0000 or your local SKY ofﬁce, or visit SKYzone or SKY ofﬁce nearest you.

Misters of Filipinas crowns

5 NEW TITLEHOLDERS PAGEANT CONCEPT ETON CONCEPCION

NURSING graduate leads the new set of winners at the 7th Misters of Filipinas pageant with ﬁnals held at Fill Oil Flying V Center in San Juan City, on Saturday.

Geo Ong’s hard-hitting music video for ‘Pekeng Kaibigan’ went trending.

Rap with substance

Levin Arguelles, a 22-year-old Cavite native and graduate of Bachelor’s degree in Nursing at the University of Santo Tomas, was named Mister International Philippines 2019. He won Best in Formal Wear, Best in Regional Costume and Mister Photogenic. Tomas Peñaﬂor, Jr., a 25-year-old native of Dinalupihan, Bataan and graduate in Radiolic Technolgy at Perpetual Help College of Manila, was named Man of the World Philippines 2019. He is a member of Eat Bulaga’s “That’s My Bae, Twerk It” dance crew and a semi-ﬁnalist on It’s Showtime’s “Gandang Lalake” in 2014. He won Best in Talent and Best in Resorts Wear. Vandave Paragas, a 20-yearold model and native of Bayambang, Pangasinan, was crowned Mister Tourism and Culture Universe Philippines 2019. He bagged the Mister David Salon, Sha-Wraps’ Video Challenge, and Mister Go Hotel special awards. Kevin Jay Secoya and Gianluca Lanta were named Mister

This year’s top winners of Misters of Filipinas 7th edition

Model of the Universe Philippines 2019 and Mister Model Worldwide Philippines 2019, respectively. Secoya, 22, is the reigning Mister Cebu 2019, and Lanta represented the Filipino community in Italy Joseph Xavier, 24, of Pili of Tabaco City and Bonjour Adaza Jr., 20, of Misamis Oriental, finished as first and second runnersup, respectively. Misters of Filipinas 2019 board of judges included actor Rafael Rossell, Miss UniverseCambodia 2019 Somnang Alyna and Miss Eco International 2019 first-runnerup Maureen Montagne. Continued on C3

JUST a month about youth. The apart, mainstream funky hip hop piece label Viva Records is interestingly titled presented to “PNE,” in reference YUGEL the media two to the famous band led LOSORATA local acts who by Chito Miranda. practically belong It makes sense to the same for a young person genre and style. No problem; both to chill and just go partying, rappers Because and Geo Ong are instead of spending much time certified YouTube sensations, nursing heartbreaks or self-pitying meaning they’ve proven themselves to somehow get attention. Real bankable even before they signed up problems in life are yet to come, kids! for industry backing. Planning to release a new fullThe numbers could tell. Because, length album the soonest possible, also described as a trap-soul music Because wants to add more musicality act, has his track “Marlboro Black” to his sound by incorporating different garnering more than 30 million genres into the mix. views, while Geo’s music video for Geo, on the other hand, is finding his new single “Pekeng Kaibigan” his niche by keeping his lyrics reached a million views in just two aggressive and straight to the point. days. These are fellows you have to While he may visually come as a boyput into the hardcourt even if their next-door attraction, the dude knows respective kind of play appears to be there’s more to rapping than using it just mirroring each other. Both have as a way to be cool and girl-magnet. hot hands making shots. He seriously tackles current social Real name BJ Castillano, Because, issues. who is taking up music business His songs narrate the struggles management at Meridian College, of hard workers (Breadwinner) may not be your typical idol at and gold diggers (Parokyana). His first glance. One scribe insisted latest is about opportunists (Pekeng he resembles the grown-up Niño Kaibigan). But then, of course, his Muhlach. Read: between the lines. music videos are eye-grabber by Yet, when he starts talking, he speaks. themselves, keeping up well with his “I want my music to be serving storylines. those music listeners who are not “Pekeng Kaibigan” boasts of a even into hip-hop,” he said, referring music video that combines snappy to his move to switch things up this dance moves, steamy bed scenes, and year with livelier and thematically old-school rap. Geo’s charm finds positive tracks as opposed to slow- itself at the center of this organized paced and noticeably darker themes. chaos. It’s quite a quick turnaround “Yung mga music video ko ay for the young man who debuted paraan ng pagkwento ng istorya ko with Heartbreak SZN album. He must para mas tumatak pa ang mensahe have felt there’s too much bittersweet ko,” he shared. love songs and he’d instead make use To prove he’s no poser, he ensured, of his power to influence by coming “Dapat totoo lang ako lagi sa sarili out with a “positively chill track” ko.”

ABS-CBN goes Hollywood THE country’s leading media and entertainment company, ABS-CBN,is venturing into Hollywood production for the US film and TV outfit Electric Entertainment, which is headed by Filipino-American producer Dean Devlin with a soon-to-air U.S. crime series titled Off Tropic. The series is a crime drama set in Cebu and will air in the United States via the cable company, WGN America. It is ABS-CBN’s first

foray into Hollywood television production. “This is a ﬁrst of many strategic partnerships and collaborations with partners from all over the world and we are very thrilled that we are partnering with a formidable team, Electric Entertainment, to line produce the US series for them,” ABS-CBN head of international production and coproduction division Ruel S. Bayani, said. Continued on C3

Because is out to chill his funky single ‘PNE’ in reference to the band Parokya Ni Edgar.

ABS-CBN executives wtih Christian Kane, Dean Devlin, Francis de la Torre, and Steve Lee.