Manila Standard - 2019 November 22 - Friday

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Rody inherited Aquino’s problem on drugs—Palace

By MJ Blancaflor, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Palace hit back at former President Benigno Aquino III Thursday for questioning President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision not to give Vice President Leni Robre-

do, the newly appointed anti-drug czar, a Cabinet post because he does not trust her.

“Lest we forget, the drug problem ballooned in magnitude in his time, obviously due to his neglect in countering this evil that is putting this country into the precipice of a generational destruction,” presi-

dential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“The Philippines has been plagued in the past with petty, divisive and parochial politicians. Fortunately, change has arrived with President Duterte having the interest of the Filipino people foremost in

READY, AIM, FIRE.

President Rodrigo Duterte takes aim, preparing to tactically “fire” at the right time in the right direction—with one of the firearms exhibited during the 80th anniversary of the Defense Department at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday. Malacañang Photo

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 281 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PDEA chalks up P7.9b drug haul

Teener nearly lost his lungs to vaping

By Rio N. Araja and Julito B. Rada

A 17-YEAR-OLD Canadian nearly lost his lungs after five months of intensive vaping, but the ingredient suspected of doing the damage, diacetyl, is different from the substance US authorities blame for dozens of deaths.

The case, described Thursday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), deepens the mysteries surrounding e-cigarettes, which have grown so popular US President Donald Trump earlier this week backed away from a proposed ban on certain vaping flavors, fearing such a move could cost him votes.

Vaping has been blamed for 42 deaths in the United States since the past summer. Canada has been relatively spared, with only eight identified patients, and no deaths.

The CMAJ study centers around a 17-year-old male vaper who was in good health and vaping daily, particularly green apple and cotton candy flavored refills as well as those containing THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana which Canada legalized in October of last year.

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THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has seized at least P7.6 billion worth of illegal drugs from January to August.

“Our program consists of supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction. For the first eight months of 2019 alone, we have confiscated 1,130 kilos of illegal drugs worth P7.6 billion,” he said.

“That is how big our problem is,” he added.

Most illegal drugs are smuggled by mail and parcels from the United States and through the Golden Triangle syndicate that would ship the drugs in Southeast Asia, Australia and other European countries, he said.

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Du30, IBP clash on vaping

Rody bucks TRO but lawyers go for legal process

Task force deploys 7,899 forces to secure SEA Games

By Roy Tomandao CAMP VICENTE LIM―A total of 7,899 Security Forces and Resources of Task Group Southern Luzon are set to secure the sporting events that will be held in the CALABARZON region for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The contingents and resources were presented Thursday during the Send-Off Ceremony here in Calamba City graced by the Functional Area Director for Games Security and Safety-PHISGOC retired AFP General Gregorio Pio Catapang.

Meanwhile, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday slammed former president Benigno Aquino III for the latter’s criticism against the P55-million worth of cauldron that will be used for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

At the same time, Cayetano accused the opposition of politicizing the SEAGAMES issue as FORCES AND RESOURCES. Police Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. (center), commander Task Group Southern Luzon, presents it is preparing for the the forces and resources and is acknowledged by the Special Task Force 30th SEA Games Commander Police Brig. Gen. Lyndon Lawas Next page

(3rd left) during the send-off ceremony Wednesday at Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City. Roy Tomandao

Fearful wait for justice, decade after

JUSTICE DELAYED IS... File photo taken on Nov. 24, 2009 shows a police investigator gathering evidence near the bodies of victims of a massacre after gunmen shot people in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. None of the alleged masterminds in the now known Ampatuan massacre has been convicted, leaving families fearful justice may never see the light. AFP

A DECADE after 58 people were killed in the Philippines’ worst political massacre, none of the alleged masterminds have been convicted yet, leaving families fearful that justice may never come.

Though a verdict is now due next month over the bloodshed that drew international outrage, there is no guarantee of a conviction and the painfully slow-moving trial could still be derailed by corruption or even violence.

“We are afraid for the life of the prosecutor or even our judge,” said Mary Grace Morales, whose sister and husband were among 32 journalists killed in the attack, making it one of world’s deadliest on me-

dia workers.

In the years since the leaders of the Ampatuan political dynasty were accused of masterminding the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, at least four witnesses have been killed before they could testify and death threats have been common.

One of principal accused, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, remains in the Makati Medical Center.

Ampatuan family leaders, who ruled the impoverished southern province of Maguindanao, are charged with organizing the mass killing in a bid to quash an election challenge from a rival clan.

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By MJ Blancaflor and Rey E. Requejo

P

resident Rodrigo Duterte has warned the courts against issuing a temporary restraining order on his verbal directive to stop the use and importation of electronic cigarettes nationwide.

But the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said the courts still hold the power to hear any petitions challenging the legality of Duterte’s order.

IBP National President Domingo Egon Cayosa said any citizen can go to the courts to challenge the vaping ban.

“I’m sure the President as a lawyer Next page

Three directives protect farmers

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Julito G. Rada PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has issued three directives to protect the interests of rice farmers even as his administration has vowed to continue liberalizing imports of the grain.

Duterte ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) to increase the country’s emergency buffer stock from 15 to 30 days by buying more palay from farmers.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

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Rody renews charges vs Leila, offers ‘sex tapes’

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte again accused opposition Senator Leila de Lima, insisting she received money from drug payoffs as the lawmaker marked her 1,000th day in jail over allegations of drug charges.

Duterte, speaking at the anniversary celebration of the Department of National Defense on Wednesday, slammed De Lima over a video that supposedly showed her having sexwith her driver Ronnie Dayan.

“She allowed to be filmed when she was having sexual intercourse with her driver, who was the collector.

And that picture has been making the rounds. You saw it all, Duterte said in his speech.

“Can you really believe a woman like that? Allowing herself... She was then the Justice Secretary. And if you want, I will give the disc to you. Look at the way she slurped after doing it.

And her doggie...her favorite doggie was walking around.”

Duterte also said the “greatest insult” he received from international rights groups was their refusal to accept that the drug charges against De Lima were true.

“On my oath as President, I’m telling you, it is true. If she really did collect money, why? She was not into business but ambitions can blind you.

That is why you need money to run for senator. You need millions to do that, he said.

PDEA...

P13-b smuggled goods seized T Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said they were able to foil the entry of shabu shipments worth P2.96 billion in three separate incidents, while other illegal substances worth P151.74 million were also seized over the January-October period.

Meanwhile, Customs has destroyed 20 tons of smuggled and expired food

products and medicines and dilapidated computer parts in an effort to de-congest the storage facilities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Port of NAIA Customs district collector Carmelita Talusan said the proceedings were held in Trece Martires, Cavite, on Thursday and were in line with the commissioner’s orderr to clear the stor-

age facilities of abandoned and illegally shipped items.

In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Guerrero said the bulk of the goods seized as of Oct. 24 this year were mostly counterfeit products worth P7.81 billion, and which were intercepted in 14 separate incidents in various ports.

Cigarettes and other tobacco products valued at P1.69 billion were also confiscated, along with P107.59 million worth of agricultural products, Guerrero reported during a recent Department of Finance Executive Committee meeting.

The other seized goods were vehicles and accessories worth P67.25 million; used clothing valued at P54.66 million; steel products, P12.61 million; general merchandise valued at P9.39 million; and

Du30...

use and importation of vaping devices and ordered the arrest of those who will be caught using e-cigarettes in public.

The Philippine National Police on Wednesday ordered all police units nationwide to enforce the ban and to ensure that all violators will be arrested.

PNP camps and offices were also declared as “No Vape Zone.”

The Department of Health has reported the first confirmed case of vaping-associated lung injury in Central Visayas involving a 16-year-old girl who complained of “sudden-onset severe shortness of breath.”

“Judges, I know that you can determine whether a vaping is good or not, but unfortunately, your indolence does not inspire confidence. It takes you too long to decide and so do not interfere in this,” Duterte said.

He also asked the police to impose the ban despite the absence of a written order from the Office of the President.

“Do not worry. Just stop it. And the police, do your work. The Armed Forces, do your work. I will take full responsibility alone. Nobody else, but me,” he said.

“You are protected because I’m ordering you a legal order preventing injury to the Filipino children,” he added.

Vaping devices were also banned in

Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, the US state of Massachusetts, and India.

E-cigarettes, which vaporize a solution that users inhale, became popular as a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes.

Former Supreme Court spokesman and now UP College of Law professor Theodore Te said that while he is against smoking and vaping, arresting those who vape only on the basis of Duterte’s word is wrong.

“I’m 100 percent against smoking and vaping but there is a wrong way to do the right thing and no right way to do a wrong thing. Arresting those who vape on the basis only of one person’s word is the wrong way to do the right thing,” Te said, adding that even first year law students know this.

Philippine National Police officer-incharge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Thursday said vape users arrested would not be detained but be brought to police stations for blotter reports.

In related developments: • The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority tapped a team to monitor the selling, advertising and promotion of vaping products, electronic cigarettes and tobacco products within a 100-meter perimeter of schools in

By Julito G. Rada

HE Bureau of Customs has confiscated from January to October this year some P12.92 billion worth of smuggled goods, most of which were illegal drugs plus counterfeit goods, cigarettes and other tobacco products.

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knows that. The fact that he has articulated his position does not hinder our courts from performing their constitutional duties,” Cayosa said. “At the end of the day, any citizen who feels aggrieved by the order can actually go to the court to challenge the order.”

In a speech Wednesday evening, the President said the courts should not interfere with his imposition of total ban on vaping, the latest addition to his orders that were implemented even without written documentation.

“And they said, what’s the law? Never mind the law. The law will come. Tell them I ordered it. And I’m asking the judiciary. Any judge. I’m asking myself to the Supreme Court, I’m having a hard time controlling crime and you know all sorts of toxic materials being imbibed by the young,” Duterte said.

“Judges, I warn you, do not issue restraining orders to the Customs, to the Coast Guard. I will not obey your order because of the peculiar situation this country finds,” he added.

Citing health risks, the President issued the warning a day after he prohibited the

other products, P58.20 million.

Guerrero said that as of October this year, Customs had also filed 20 cases against illegal operations that impeded the bureau’s revenue collections and revoked the accreditation of 160 importers and 20 brokers in line with its anti-corruption campaign.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue had also stepped up its drive to improve tax administration, with the temporary closure of 567 establishments under its Oplan Kandado program from January to September 2019, BIR deputy commissioner Arnel Guballa reported during the same Execom meeting.

Guballa said that represented a 346.45-percent increase over the 127 closures the bureau had implemented in the previous year.

With Joel E. Zurbano Metro Manila. MMDA Health and Environmental Protection Office director Dr. Loida Alzona said the agency’s environmental enforcers will also strictly going after those establishments selling vaping devices.

• Senator Christopher Go said the President will soon issue an executive order to ban the use and importation of electronic cigarettes and vapes. The senator, who initially spoke about recommending to the President the need to regulate e-cigarettes or vape, told reporters that the President has already made a decision and will release an executive order soon.

• The Department of Finance is expecting an executive order from Malacañang that will officially ban the use of e-cigarettes or vaping in the country due to health concerns, Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday.

• Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Thursday questioned the ban, saying it should not be imposed if vaping is really less dangerous than smoking. He said health authorities should be more circumspect and arm themselves with the scientific studies done in the United Kingdom and other advanced countries. With Joel E. Zurbano, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Julito G. Rada

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Aquino and Vice President Leni Robredo attended the third anniversary event of the Bahay Pagbabago Community-based Reformation Center in Dinalupihan, Bataan.

Robredo, for her part, lauded the efforts of Bataan, the Philippine National Police and the community as a whole in making the program possible.

She underscored the importance of society for having a stake in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

Meanwhile, a regional trial court in Manila has ordered the forfeiture of P23 million worth of drug proceeds in favor of the government, the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC) said Thursday.

In a decision promulgated on Aug. 30, 2019, the cour granted the AMLC’s petition for civil forfeiture of over P23 million, which stemmed from the proceeds of drug trafficking.

On Sept. 18, 2014, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - Region 1 (PDEA-RO1) implemented a search warrant at the residence of Genaro Taliño in Brgy. Becques in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur and found bags of shabu and six bank deposit slips.

PDEA-RO1 referred the deposit slips to the AMLC for financial investigation. It later filed a petition for civil forfeiture before the Manila court.

The petition covered the accounts, including 11 other related accounts.

The RTC granted the petition and made permanent the asset preservation order dated Jan. 18, 2016. The decision also directed the forfeiture in favor of the government and placed under the authority and disposal of the AMLC, the 15 bank accounts with balances amounting to over P23 million.

As of 2018, the AMLC has turned over almost P49 million cash and seven hectares of land, estimated to be worth P10 million, to the Bureau of Treasury. The recent RTC decision brought AMLC’s total turnover to over P82 million worth of assets.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that UNIVERSAL POWER SOLUTIONS, INC. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Component of Integrated Renewable Power Facility Hub (R-HUB) in Maramag, Bukidnon on a Pioneer Status under Book I of EO 226 otherwise known as the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, as amended.

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

NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service

Teener...

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The lesions that appeared in his lungs differed from those seen in the US, where more than 2,000 people have fallen ill from what authorities call e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).

In the US, the lungs of patents presented various injuries, but mainly alveolar lesions in the air sacs at the end of the airways.

Some had suffered chemical-like burns.

US investigators have recently concluded that the culprit is vitamin E oil, which is added to liquid e-cigarette refills, particularly those containing THC. But in Canada, doctors in the CMAJ study determined the lungs of the young vaper suffered from bronchiolitis obliterans, which is inflammation of the small airways off the lungs called bronchioles.

The patient had gone to the emergency room after developing a persistent cough and doctors, believing he had pneumonia, first prescribed antibiotics, before hospitalizing him and putting him on life support.

The young man’s condition grew so dire a double lung transplant was considered before his condition improved.

He stayed 47 days at the hospital, his

doctors told AFP. His injuries were similar to those observed in people suffering from “popcorn lung,” a condition found in workers in a microwave popcorn factory who had accidentally inhaled diacetyl, a product used by the food industry which gives popcorn a buttery flavor.

Diacetyl is safe if ingested, but dangerous if it enters the lungs.

Studies have been warning for years that this product is ubiquitous in electronic cigarette liquids, but no case of injury has previously been reported.

The Canadian doctors concluded that the injuries documented in the study show that vitamin E oil isn’t the only dangerous substance e-cigarette users risk coming into contact with.

Four months after leaving the hospital, the patient’s lung functions were still down to 45 percent of what would be expected for someone of his age and height, according to the authors of the study from the Lawson Health Research Institute and the University Health Network in Toronto.

“This would be classified as severe obstruction,” lead author Karen Bosma, associate scientist at Lawson, said in an interview. “It’s similar to someone who has severe lung disease from smoking their whole life.” AFP

Fearful...

Three...

“We are just praying that nothing happens in the next month,” added Morales, referring to the verdict that the Supreme Court ordered be delivered by December 20 for some 100 defendants.

The trial has moved at a glacial pace, with allegations of bribery and delay tactics against the dynasty’s lawyers, which previously included Salvador Panelo, now President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman.

However, even routine cases can take years to make it through the Philippine court system, which is notoriously overburdened, underfunded and vulnerable to pressure from the powerful.

Many people with a vested interest in halting the case remain free. Of the nearly 200 defendants charged, about 80 are still at large, including 14 Ampatuans.

“These are dangerous people. They have been involved in many killings,” Nena Santos, a lawyer who represents 38 of the victims’ families, said referring to the suspects.

Santos said she believes the prosecution will secure convictions of at least the main players, but added “of course the final judgment depends on the judge.”

Hail of gunfire This case is particularly highprofile as it was carried out in broad daylight on a convoy carrying an Ampatuan family rival’s wife, relatives, lawyers and the journalists, who were killed in a hail of gunfire. AFP, with

He also directed the NFA will accelerate the turnover of its inventory by buying more palay and selling more regular milled rice, at an average of 20,000 50-kg bags or more of rice per day.

At the same time, Duterte extended to two years from one year the unconditional cash transfer for small farmers affected by low palay prices, with a budget of P3 billion per year.

This will benefit 600,000 farmers.

Finally, the President directed the DA through the Bureau of Plant and Industry, to strictly implement the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC).

For instance, the agency will conduct pre-inspection at the point of origin of imported rice stock to ensure rice quality and safety for consumers and at the same time protect the spread of crop pests and diseases.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said Duterte met with him, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez Wednesday night during which the President made it very clear that he strongly supports Filipino farmers who are confronted with low palay prices this harvest season as a result of the influx of imported rice.

“We discussed and the guidelines….

The President is really looking out for the farmers and this is the directive,” Dar said.

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M. Standard – November 22, 2019

Rey E. Requejo

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Rody...

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his mind as we battle against the dreaded and destructive evil that is destroying the basic fabric of society,” Panelo said.

Aquino on Wednesday remarked that normally, one would appoint a person that he or she trusts.

But Panelo said Aquino would be better off focusing on his criminal case than involve himself with the drug menace, which he ignored during his six-year presidency.

At the same time, Panelo said Robredo should not be bothered if the President said he does not trust her with confidential matters.

Robredo’s election to the vice presidency “does not automatically clothe her with trustworthiness,” he said.

“Trust is earned. The missteps of the VP did not inspire confidence in the matter of keeping to oneself classified information,” he said.

The President said Tuesday night he could not trust Robredo with a Cabinet position and confidential information on the drug menace because she is part of the opposition and would likely to jeopardize state secrets.

He said this after appointing her as co-chair of the 21-member Inter-Agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs (ICAD), which has been executing government efforts to combat the illegal drug trade.

Panelo said: “Her job in leading the agencies involved in the anti-illegal drug campaign requires competence and creativity. Trust comes into play only as regards the non-transmission of state secrets that imperils the safety of the Filipino people and the sovereignty of the country.”

The Palace official earlier said Robredo’s insistence on getting classified information and talking with “enemies of the state” or personalities critical of the administration’s anti-drug campaign did not sit well with President Duterte.

“Since she will not be given access to privileged communication,

Task force...

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2022 national elections.

Cayetano said Aquino also used to beg the Senate not to criticize the P10-billion budget for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in 2015.

Brig. Gen. Vicente D Danao Jr., as the Commander of Task Group Southern Luzon, presented the forces and resources and was acknowledged by the Special Task Force 30th SEA Games Commander Police Brigadier General Rey Lyndon Lawas.

The Southeast Asian Games is a biennial regional multi-sport event that the country will be hosting starting on Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, 2019. A total of 9,840

she should not be bothered by the expressed lack of trust by the appointing power with respect to the confidentiality of state matters requiring secrecy,” Panelo said.

“After all, she is tasked to help end the illegal drug trade in the country and not to get secret information of the government to share the same with her foreign and local peers,” he added.

For her part, Robredo urged President Duterte to simply let her know if he no longer wants her to ICAD co-chair.

“If he does not want me here, just tell me directly. I am easy to talk to. If he thinks that he has erred in appointing me and wanted to revoke it, just say so,” Robredo said.

She said she wrote the President to clarify her mandate as anti-drug czar.

At least two senators believe Robredo is entitled to know information about high value targets (HVT) and related matters in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said that since Robredo is the second-highest official of the country, she is entitled to get the data on HVT even if she was not appointed as co-chair of ICAD. Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima also questioned the Duterte administration’s refusal to share intelligence information with Robredo.

“We see a lot of duplicity here. What vicious political game is Duterte and his men playing this time?” said De Lima.

Lacson said the Vice President as ICAD co-chair is involved in policy formulation. Because of this, there is the need to give her even the basic information about illegal drugs.

“Because if she sees it, studies the list and gives her policy direction, she said there is a shifting from [looking into] the demand side to the supply side. And that’s important,” said Lacson.

“Because when you say high value, they are more on the supply side. These are the suppliers. These are the big-time drug traffickers. And it’s better to give her access [to information] since she was appointed as ICAD co-chair,” Lacson added.

With PNA athletes who will compete in 529 events in 56 sports make this edition the largest Southeast Asian Games in terms of sports and events contested.

The event will have competition venues spread across 23 cities across the country, divided into four clusters.

Catapang commended Danao for the excellent security preparations. He encouraged the contingents to play their important roles in securing not only the athletes and the delegates from the eleven participating countries but also the spectators who will flock at the sports venues to witness the events.

Danao said the contingents from PNP CALABARZON already knew their primary functions while on the field.

With Maricel V. Cruz

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Public deserves safe MRT rides, Poe reminds DOTR

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Grace Poe said the public deserves a safe and comfortable MRT3 ride in their daily commute with huge budget poured in as subsidy to its operations and for its maintenance.

During interpellation of the P147billion proposed 2020 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Poe said she expects the agency to fulfill its target to complete the rehabilitation of MRT3 by July 2021.

“You will be done by 2021, all those rails will have been replaced?” she asked.

“Yes, complete rehab, almost like brand new,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, sponsor of the agency’s budget, said.

Poe noted that the MRT subsidy has been continuously rising—from P3.4 billion in 2016; P4.6 billion in 2018; P4.7 billion this year, to P6 billion in 2020.

“In addition, the cost of MRT rehabilitation project this year jumped to P5 billion from P1 billion last year. May we know the reason behind this for the record?” Poe asked.

Gatchalian replied, “Because of the bugged operations of MRT, basically ridership targets were not being hit.

If we don’t hit the ridership targets, government has to cough up the guarantee. Basically over the years, we are not hitting the desired number of ridership. Hence, government has to compensate the proponent through the increase in subsidies.”

“That’s the problem and the reason we are not meeting those targets is because also of the maintenance issue which is hopefully going to be addressed,” Poe said.

Upon Poe’s questioning, Gatchalian said that the DOTr has already signed a consent agreement with Sumitomo Corporation to operate the Dalian trains and for the maintenance of MRT3.

Poe said the details of the cost of the Dalian train inventory by Sumitomo should be disclosed.

“I think we have to be very prudent about this agreement to make sure that it is cost-effective. From the very beginning, I was already very apprehensive about accepting Dalian trains precisely because of its incompatibility on so many levels, beginning with the signalling system.

Anyway, it’s water under the bridge now,” Poe said.

She added: “When you see people lining up outside waiting for their train rides while it is pouring outside, umuulan o napakainit, ang aga-aga nandoon na sila, parang wala ka namang puso kung hindi ka pa rin makokonsensiya dito sa mga nagawa, marahil ng mga nakaraan, pero pagkakataon na kasi natin na ayusin ito.”

NEW TRACKS. Workers prepare new sets of rail tracks which will replace the old tracks at the MRT station in Pasay city. Ey Acasio

Palace upbeat that Pinoys would soon ‘appreciate’ China

By MJ Blancaflor

M

ALACAÑANG on Thursday expressed optimism that Filipinos will soon appreciate China, after its trust trating worsened from “poor” to “bad.”

The Palace, however, said it was not surprised with the results of the poll by the Social Weather Stations which indicate that China remains to be the least trusted country among Filipinos, with a net trust rating of -33 points.

“China, like any other country, will be eventually appreciated by the Filipinos by reason of the President’s independent foreign policy which has resulted in significant benefits favorable to the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

He said that China, the world’s biggest exporter, could even become a “role

model” of the country “in reducing, if not totally eradicating, poverty.”

From -24 points last June, China’s net trust rating decreased by nine percentage points in September, according to the SWS. President Duterte has sought closer investment and trade ties with Beijing, including over resources in the disputed sea, since he became president in 2016.

But China‘s aggressiveness in the South China Sea sparked anti-China sentiments among Filipinos.

“Despite the territorial dispute not being the sum total of our relationship

with China, the Office of the President will neither court nor force any citizen to change his or her sentiments toward our giant neighbor in the North,” Panelo said.

“We will respect their conviction the way we value their allegiance to the Republic and its elements,” he added.

In August, the military reported several unannounced passage of Chinese warships and survey ships within the country’s exclusive economic zone, including in the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the Spratlys and in Sibutu Islands near TawiTawi.

This prompted President Duterte to order all foreign vessels to get clearance from the government first before sailing through the country’s waters.

On June 9, a Chinese trawler also rammed and damaged a Filipino fishing vessel that was anchored at Recto Bank.

Since it was first surveyed by the SWS in August 1994, China’s net trust rating has been positive in only 9 out of 51 polls.

Anti-Drilon blogger gets six-month jail sentence THE Supreme Court affirmed with finality the conviction and imprisonment of Ilonggo blogger Manuel Mejorada over ‘libelous’ articles against Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

Mejorada will serve imprisonment of two years and four months and one day, as minimum, to four years and two months, as maximum, to be served simultaneously.

The convicted blogger is expected to serve his sentence at the New Bilibid Prison pursuant to Republic Act 10575 or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, which charged the Bureau of Corrections with custody and rehabilitation of national inmates or those sentenced by a court to serve a term of imprisonment of more than three years.

The libel case arose from a series or article written by Mejorada accusing Drilon of overpricing the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center, which the court found libelous.

It was also Mejorada who filed a graft case against Drilon before the Ombudsman, which was later dismissed for lack of merit. The Ombdusman even said that contrary to the allegations of overpricing,the government was even able to save a huge amount of money allotted for the ICC’s design.

The Iloilo Convention Center, now a prime convention destination in Western Visayas, is credited for Iloilo’s rise as a premier MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) hub in the country.

Drilon thanked the High Court for its decision Pursuant to the rules, the records of the case will be remanded to the Pasay Regional Trial Court, which will subsequently order Mejorada to serve his sentence.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

HARVEST TIME. A farmer treshes his palay in Gerona, Tarlac province after President Duterte declared that he would stop importing rice during harvest season. Manny Palmero

Du30 orders govt’ offices: Settle your paperworks PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government offices and departments to complete their paperwork by Dec. 15., as he complained on their sluggish performance in attending documents.

“Even the Cabinet members, they have one month to decide. I must have your decision of the papers before you. And I said last night, it has to be Dec. 15.

It’s been so many months now,” he said in a speech Wednesday night.

“Papers that are on your table must be out with a decision. If it’s for approval, good; if it is for denial, fine.

But let it out,” Duterte added.

The President said pending transactions could be a source of corruption, which he has been criticizing since his presidential campaign in 2016.

“It seems that things are moving very slow and that is why it is still a source of corruption. The longer you sit on the paper or nothing at all—either you are not working,” he said.

He added that government officials who are too slow in performing their duties should be removed from office.

“If you think that you are not up to the mandate of being hurried up, and then you go out and tell your commander to replace you. In the Civil Service, it’s more...Even the directors, I saw some contracts there,” Duterte said.

MJ Blancaflor

Legislator urges Congress to investigate illegal couriers

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives will investigate the proliferation of unregulated couriers which are allegedly being used by unscrupulous individuals for illicit activities.

In filing House Resolution 481, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza stressed the need for Congress to enact a law that will regulate foreign owned couriers and freight forwarding services to protect Filipino consumers from unscrupulous and unlicensed companies.

“There is a need to craft a law in order to regulate the couriers services in the country to protect the consumers and the legitimate players of the industry,” Atienza said.

In his resolution, Atienza cited

incidents where some OFWs are being tagged as smugglers have increased due to lack of measures to regulate the freight and courier service industry.

“The rapid growth of e-commerce resulted in the rise of the demand for courier and freight forwarding services, which started sprouting like mushrooms,” Atienza said.

Atienza cited the Quiapo explosion in May 2017 which was traced to a package sent and carried by a Grab driver to its consignee.

In another instance, Atienza said a TNVS driver was arrested while delivering another drug package to a consignee.

A news report aired on television detailed how a package delivered by a

courier company to an online customer was pilfered, taking her months before she was reimbursed by the courier company for her loss.

Atienza said that lacking the needed training and qualifications, these unlicensed couriers and forwarders are apparently prone to exploitation by unscrupulous individuals to apply, and later on steal, lose or damage the property of customers.

“Worse, customers are left uncertain with regard to who to run after the value of their lost, damaged, or pilfered shipments since there is no clear identity of the liable party, as these operators claim their drivers are simply independent contractors, which means these operators are simply facilitators,” he said.

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that UNIVERSAL POWER SOLUTIONS, INC. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Component of Integrated Renewable Power Facility Hub (R-HUB) in Ubay, Bohol (Phase 1) on a Pioneer Status under Book I of EO 226 otherwise known as the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, as amended.

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

NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service M. Standard – November 22, 2019

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Opinion

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cayetano’s P50-million cauldron SENATORS are questioning the P50-million cauldron commissioned

by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano for the Southeast Asian Games.

According to Cayetano, the cauldron—to be aflame during athletic competitions in the SEA games to be hosted by the Philippines—is a work of art and symbol of the sporting event.

This is money that could have been spent to build more classrooms or develop sports.

He also said it is only P45 million and not P50 M as reported in media. The Speaker is the concurrent chairman of the SEA organizing committee.

So okay, it is P5 million less but it still expensive. This is money that could have been spent to build more classrooms or develop sports. The country needs these badly.

The Philippines finished in sixth place in the 2017 SE Asian Games.

Vietnam, which went through two major wars against the French and the Americans, did even better than the Philippines in the overall standings.

The Philippine Sports Commission said it did not know the cauldron cost that much. Butch Ramirez, PSC head, says that cost does not include expenses for the kerosene to keep the

cauldron lit up throughout the Games which start on Nov. 30.

The senators were mild in the tome of their questioning of Cayetano, a former colleague in the upper chamber. The more pressing questions were asked by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon who thought the cauldron was too expensive, considering it is going to be used only once. There was no mention that the cauldron would be turned over to the next host with part of the cost to be shouldered by them.

Drilon also asked why several new facilities were built for the Games instead of rehabilitating the existing ones like the Rizal Memorial sports complex in Manila. Cayetano said it would cost more to repair and rehabilitate the sports complex along Ocampo street in Manila as it has really gone to pot.

Questions are being asked why Cayetano, who is already saddled with work as Speaker of the House, was still made chairman of the SEA organizing committee. His term as Speaker is also being challenged by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco who, under a gentlemen’s agreement, was supposed to take over the speakership after Cayeteno had occupied it for 15 months. But Cayetano wants to stay on, claiming the supermajority in the House wants to retain for “a job well done.”

President Rodrigo Duterte who brokered the agreement between Cayetano and Velasco now says he will leave the House speakership issue for the House members to decide.

That, it seems to us, is allowing Cayetano to welsh on the agreement and stay on as Speaker.

As Speaker of the House, Caye-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

M

New water source in Metro Manila

ETRO Manila will finally have an alternative water source.

State regulator Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System approved last week the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project proposed by the joint venture of tycoon Enrique Razon and businessman Oscar Violago. The approval of the Wawa project will significantly reduce the heavy dependence of the country's two concessionaires on Angat Dam, the sole source whose water level has often breached the critical level due to drought conditions.

Both Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. started to ration water again on Oct. 24, 2019 as Angat Dam continued to be below

the ideal level.

The approval of the MWSS may have been late but the emergence of the Wawa project as an alternative water source ensures ample supply, especially during the dry months.

MWSS chairman Reynaldo Velasco conceded that Wawa Dam was an integral part of the overall short-, mediumand long-term water flagship projects of MWSS to ensure water security.

“We are in a catch-up mode as far as water supply source is concerned,” says Velasco. “Wawa Dam, which used to be the water source for Metro Manila before Angat Dam was completed on 1967 and became operational, has been identified by water experts as the best potential water supply source for Metro Manila.”

The proponent of the Wawa water project in Rodriguez (formerly Mon-

talban municipality) has committed to supply 80 million liters per day in 2021 and more than 500 MLD in 2025 to address the current water crisis in Metro Manila.

The MWSS, meanwhile, should be pro-active in identifying and developing new water sources to augment the supply of Angat Dam and the Wawa project.

It should heed the earlier call of the House of Representatives to formulate a national water security plan to ensure the uninterrupted supply of the vital commodity to households and other users.

It should be a shame if the MWSS and other related government agencies fail to draw up the plan, considering the country's vast supply of water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater and rainfall.

Turn to A5

Fans remember Da King WITH just 35 days to go before Christmas, Filipinos are gearing up to celebrate the coming holidays with colorful Yuletide decor, happy family reunions, cordial gift-giving and much merrymaking and good cheer.

In fact, the Christmas season starts early in this country, with Christmas carols already being aired as early as the first week of September.

For the family, friends, fans and supporters of the departed Fernando Poe Jr., more commonly known as FPJ, the acknowledged King of Philippine Movies, this will be a time of reflection and prayer, and without a doubt, no small measure of yearning for the happy times in years past.

Next month, on December 14, which falls on a Saturday, they will mark the 15th death anniversary of FPJ, who died from heart failure in 2014 at age 65 at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City.

On this day, his loved ones and supporters will gather at the Manila North Cemetery to remember the life and times of their idol whom they fondly call Da King. They will pay tribute to his kindness and generosity, and his love for the downtrodden and the oppressed.

FPJ's family as well as his fans and supporters have every reason to grieve over his untimely death. Many feel that his passing had been the inevitable outcome of emotional distress over the alleged rigging of the 2004 election in favor of his political opponent, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who even apologized on nationwide television for calling an official of the Commission on Elections to inquire whether he had acceded to her request to ensure a lead of a million votes for her.

To this day, his family and supporters feel there's been no justice for FPJ, that's why they still grieve over his death.

It cannot be denied that FPJ is part of the lives of millions of Filipinos. In all his films, FPJ epitomized an indomitable spirit, and inspired Filipi-

nos to always stand for what is right and what is just. In various roles, he always fought the powerful and the influential who abused and oppressed the poor and the powerless.

It's not surprising, therefore, that up to now, even in death, FPJ Poe, Jr. commands the respect and even veneration of many Pinoys.

Take the case of Michael Policar, from Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, who said in Pilipino: "Last November 1, we still lit a candle in front of our house for FPJ. I cannot forget the movies that he made. I make it a point to watch his movies on TV that I might have missed in the moviehouses. It's a pity, because he could have been our president."

They still grieve his death.

There's also Dean Ramos of Novaliches, Quezon City: "Up to now FPJ has yet to achieve justice. He died unexpectedly quite possibly because he was cheated in the 2004 presidential election. For me, his fight for justice should be continued by Senator Grace Poe." Fifteen years after his death, the memory of Da King is kept alive by "Ang Probinsyano" the longest running teleserye hereabouts.

The title of this teleserye is borrowed from an FPJ movie in 1997. In fact, its official name is "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano."

Here, Coco Martin plays the fictional character Ricardo Dalisay, a police officer who fights an unending succession of bad guys, from corrupt government officials to syndicates engaged in trafficking in illegal drugs, kidnapping, electoral fraud and other criminal acts, among others. And like in FPJ's movies, Dalisay endures attacks from his enemies before he exacts revenge not only with his uncanny sharpshooting skills but also with his lightning-fast fists sending adversaries writhing in pain.

And to make sure that viewers do not forget that Cardo Dalisay is the Turn to A5

Australian leader denies climate link amid smoke and bushfires AUSTRALIA'S Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming.

As dozens of new blazes scorched the countryside and the country's largest city was cloaked in hazardous smoke, conservative leader Scott Morrison defended his climate record, saying Australia was "doing our bit..

His comments came after weeks spent refusing to speak about the link between climate change and deadly fires described by the emergency services as unprecedented in number and scale for the early bushfire season.

As more people in the southeast of the country were told to evacuate their homes and schoolchildren in Sydney were again forced to play indoors, Morrison dismissed mounting calls for action.

"The suggestion that any way shape or form that Australia—accounting for 1.3 percent of the world's emissions... are impacting directly on specific fire events, whether it is here or anywhere else in the world, that doesn't bear up to credible scientific evidence," he told

ABC radio.

Scientists, former fire chiefs and residents touched by bushfires have all drawn the link between this season's more intense fires and climate change.

Drought, unseasonably hot, dry and windy conditions have fuelled the unprecedented blazes. Scientists believe many of those factors are made worse by rising global temperatures.

On Thursday bushfires burned across every region of Australia with residents in Victoria warned to leave high-risk areas and officials in New South Wales reporting more than 600 homes have been destroyed in recent weeks.

Morrison is facing calls to cut greenhouse gas emissions and rapidly transition to renewable energy—a sensitive debate in light of Australia's lucrative mining industry.

Australia has committed to globally agreed climate targets to help limit warming, but its emissions continue to rise and targets are only being met with the use of some creative carbon accounting—using credits gained in past decades.

While Australia's burning of fossil fuels accounts for only a fraction of

global emissions, coal dug up Down Under and burned around the world makes the country a major emissions exporter.

Code red Devastating fires along the country's east coast have claimed six lives since mid-October.

Now the fire danger has moved into states further south, with more than 60 fires breaking out in Victoria on Thursday—including five at "emergency" level—after a so-called "Code Red" fire danger was declared for the first time in a decade.

Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said firefighters were batting "some of the worst conditions that you'd expect to see, often in February or March, and we're seeing them in November."

"It is incredibly dry, it will continue to get drier as the months go on over this summer, so the conditions we see today are likely conditions that we'll confront over this summer," she said.

The Bureau of Meteorology said "large areas" of central and eastern Victoria broke maximum temperature records for November—includTurn to A5

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion BizNewsAsia turns 18 ON MONDAY night, Nov. 25, 2019 at the City Club Grand Ballroom in Makati, BizNewsAsia marks a milestone—its 18th anniversary of publishing the Philippines’ largest and most influential weekly news and business magazine. The event also marks my 71st birthday.

The CEOs and top honchos of the Philippines’ largest companies have confirmed their attendance. By largest, I mean, largest in revenues, largest in market value, and/or largest in wealth or net worth. If you are a regular reader of BizNewsAsia, you know who these companies are.

The Big Business of the Philippines is a very small society. As I keep saying only 100 families own the economy and politics of this country of 7,300 islands, 24 million families, and 107 million Filipinos.

I have been a business writer for 50 years. I have known, befriended, and watched a number of our taipans and tycoons become big. They say behind every great wealth is a great crime.

That is not always true.

What is true—always—is that behind every great wealth is punishing hard work, relentless drive for excellence, and purposeful ambition. The late John Gokongwei Jr was right— “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.”

When the late Henry Sy Sr landed in Manila from China in 1936 as a boy of 12, he had only ten centavos in his pocket. By the time he died early this year, his wealth was worth $17 billion. How did he do it? Pure hard work. No illegal drugs. No selling of get-rich-quick scams. Just punishing work 24/7.

Tatang Henry worked so hard he had little sleep. Always sleepy in class, he decided to quit. So he did not finish school. He did finish his goal— to be No. 1 in malls and retailing, No. 1 in property, and No. 1 in banking. In all three, Henry had no close second.

You know why many Filipinos are poor? Sheer laziness. Lack of drive.

Lack of ambition. Never mind having a creative mind.

How can you explain why 25 million Filipinos are poor despite a rich country whose land and natural resources can feed and sustain a population of more than 200 million? It is not just simple laziness. It is also laziness to study.

When Singapore was just starting as a nation, 50 years ago, they had nothing. Singaporeans had no resources, no land, no water, no toilets. In contrast, Manila had one of the oldest water and sewerage systems in Asia and Asia’s first expressways. The entire island of Singapore you can sink into Laguna Lake and you still have

You know why many Filipinos are poor? Sheer laziness. Lack of drive.

Lack of ambition. Never mind having a creative mind.

24,000 hectares still extra.

Yet today, the per capita income of Singapore is nine times that of the Philippines—$90,000 (purchasing power parity) vs. $10,000.

Singapore reckons its founding from 1965. Filipinos reckon their republic from 1898. We had a lead time of 67 years. Longer, if you acknowledge that the Philippines was westernized from 1521, when Magellan landed in Mactan and was quickly decapitated by Lapu-Lapu’s men. Cut to pieces, Magellan’s body was never found.

Today, a Filipino child can go to school free—free elementary, free high school (required by the Constitution), and free college (ordered by President Duterte). I think the quality of teaching in public schools should have improved. Why? Because public school teachers are paid better than teachers in private school—P25,000 vs. P15,000.

Of six future taipans who landed in either Cebu or Manila just before

the war, only one is still alive, Lucio Tan. The others have all died, but not after building great fortunes—Al Yuchengco who died in 2017 at 94; George Ty who died in 2018 at 86; Henry Sy who died in January 2019 at 94; and Gokongwei who died Nov. 9, 2019 at 93). Gotianun had wealth of $501 million, Yuchengco $600 million, Ty $2.2 billion, Sy $17 billion; and Gokongwei $5.9 billion. Kapitan Lucio Tan is worth $3.9 billion per BizNewsAsia reckoning.

What do these taipans have in common? They started penniless. They ended up dollar multi-millionaires or billionaires.

To be sure, you don’t need to finish college to be wealthy. Half of the ten richest men of America are college dropouts. Nearly all our first generagenera tion taipans did not finish college. The billionaire college dropouts of America were inventors. The billionaire college dropouts of the Philippines were industrialists. They didn’t invent anything. They just developed new ways of doing old things. A common trait of these dropouts—hard work. Also, they could be ruthless. They finish off their competitors at the first opportuopportu nity. Lapu-Lapu style. He finished off the first conquering tyrant at the first sign of invasion.

In BizNewsAsia, we like competition. But our rivals have voluntarily finished themselves off. Entrepreneur magazine has quit print publishing.

So has Forbes Philippines.

This makes BizNewsAsia a monopoly. Sadly, I don’t have the fabled billions of a monopoly. Maybe, I am in the wrong business. Publishing is an endangered profession. Print publications are losing subscribers and advertisers who have gone digital.

A number of local big newspapers are losing readers, circulation, and money. Thankfully, that is not happening with BizNewsAsia. We remain a very strong brand. I will not say very profitable because BIR has been on the lookout lately. But hey, I do a lot for this country promoting the Philippines as an investment and tourism destination. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Donkeys decimated amid Chinese demand for traditional medicines

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

Myanmar town brings hope to Muslims enduring ‘apartheid’

By Richard Sargent/ Su Myat Mon HTOO Maung sits down to lunch, sharing a bowl of traditional noodle soup with old friends, an ordinary act that has become extraordinary in Myanmar's Rakhine state—because he is Muslim, and they are Buddhist.

They used to live side by side as neighbors.

But now he can only visit them under a strict curfew enforced by armed guards before he must return to the muddy camp where he and the rest of Kyaukphyu town's Muslims have been confined for seven years.

In 2012 inter-communal unrest swept through swathes of western Myanmar, including Htoo Maung's home town, after allegations spread that a Buddhist woman had been raped by Muslim men.

Mobs ransacked homes and police rounded up Muslims for their "own safety" to sites that would later be turned into camps.

More than 200 died, tens of thousands were displaced and the stage was set for the bloody purge of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine five years later.

Many fear the enduring deep sectarian suspicions and religious divisions are irrevocable and authorities claim any attempt to reintegrate communities could trigger new unrest.

But some Muslims in Kyaukphyu have managed to maintain a cautious relationship with Buddhist friends, raising hopes that old communal bonds may not be completely severed.

"The people from the town didn't attack us," Htoo Maung says, suggesting outsiders were to blame.

Kyaukphyu ethnic Rakhine MP Kyaw Than insists his town is ready to welcome the Muslims back, but can only do so with the government's green light.

"Everyone in the camp is a citizen," he says, decrying the "lack of humanity" shown to the town's Muslim population.

We are not illegal But there is no forgetting the new social order.

Htoo Maung, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, and the other Muslims from the camp are only permitted to visit town for two hours at a time under the chaperone of weapon-wielding police.

He is bereft at the loss of his old life.

"I feel so sad—I never imagined this could happen." Htoo Maung tells AFP, as he looks at the overgrown patch of land where his house once stood.

He adds: "We are not illegal."

He and many others in the camp are Kaman Muslims. Unlike the Rohingya, they are an officially recognised minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

But their status did little to help them as the unrest spread.

Before the attacks, some were teachers, lawyers and judges, while

BEIJING—China's demand for donkey skins to make a traditional medicine could wipe out more than half the world's donkey population in the next five years, researchers said Thursday.

Nearly five million skins are used every year to make ejiao, a gel believed in China to be a remedy for troubles ranging from colds to ageing, putting enormous strain on donkey populations around the world, Britain-based animal welfare group Donkey Sanctuary said in a report.

Ejiao was once the preserve of emperors but is now highly sought after by a burgeoning middle class, with production growing 20 percent each year between 2013 and 2016, Donkey Sanctuary said.

China's domestic donkey population has collapsed by 76 percent since 1992, and the country imports most of the donkey skins it uses, mainly from traders in South America, Africa and Asia.

There are currently around 45.8 million donkeys in the world, Donkey Sanctuary said.

The donkey skin trade has resulted in "suffering on an enormous and un-

acceptable scale," the group's chief executive Mike Baker said in a statement.

Researchers documented instances of unhygienic and inhumane processing conditions, including donkeys being crudely bludgeoned on the head at one slaughterhouse in Tanzania while still conscious and restrained.

At a holding facility in Brazil, malnourished animals were being kept in the same pens as "hundreds of donkey carcasses" that had contaminated the only available water source, "putting remaining donkeys at risk of either infectious disease or severe dehydration."

Researchers warned the largely unregulated supply chain that has sprung up to meet rapidly expanding demand could put ejiao consumers in danger while contributing to the spread of disease.

Inadequate hygiene conditions increase the risk that "infected vectors, such as insects, may also be present on the product," the report said.

Additionally, "donkeys owned by vulnerable communities along trade routes are at risk of being infected with diseases carried by donkeys

'passing through.'"

People living near donkey slaughterhouses in Kenya and Botswana have also reported exposed waste pits filled with donkey carcasses abandoned after their valuable skins were removed, contaminating local water supplies and attracting pests, the report added.

Pressure on suppliers has also caused an increase in donkey theft, threatening the livelihoods of the 500 million people in the world dependent on the animals for transporting goods and farm work, the researchers found.

A number of countries have begun to turn against the donkey skin trade.

Botswana, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Gambia all impose restrictions on it, while Zimbabwean authorities blocked a private donkey slaughterhouse under construction and Ethiopia closed its only functioning abattoir.

Donkey Sanctuary said China's ejiao industry must move toward "more sustainable sources of raw materials," including lab-grown donkey-derived collagen. AFP

Australian...

not be there when a fire occurs, because you will not survive if you are there'," he said.

The fire danger was also elevated to "extreme" in the island state of Tasmania off mainland Australia's southeastern coast, one of several areas where a total fire ban was declared.

For the second time in three days, smoke from bushfires blanketed Sydney, Australia's biggest city and an area that is home to more than five million people, sending air quality plummeting to hazardous levels.

In South Australia, the state capital Adelaide was also shrouded in bushfire smoke and residents were being told to stay indoors for health reasons.

More than 110 fires are still burning in worst-hit New South Wales and neighbouring Queensland, while in South Australia more than 40 fires broke out during catastrophic fire conditions Wednesday.

The country is bracing for challenging fire conditions to continue throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer.

AFP

tano is the third in line to succeed the President after the Vice President, Senate President in case he is incapacitated. The fourth man in the succession ladder is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. *** Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo who was appointed as anti-illegal drug czar debunked fake news that she has invited United Nations prosecutors to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects. She also said she is not insisting to get from the Drug Enforcement Agency the list of high-value drug lord targets. Robredo said she is

is a central character in the teleserye as his Lola Flora, who always preaches restraint and prayer amid the most trying circumstances.

If "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano" serves to remind Filipinos that the memory

of Da King is alive and well—at least in the hearts and minds of his family and avid followers—there's also Sen. Grace Poe, FPJ's and Susan's adopted daughter who made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2016 on a

pro-poor platform.

Her Senate biography points out that she "made Philippine election history by garnering the highest number of votes of more than 20 million in the May 2013 elections. This over-

From A4

ing in Melbourne where the mercury reached 40.9 Celsius—while a dramatic dust storm swept through the town of Mildura, turning the sky a vivid orange.

Country Fire Authority chief Steve Warrington earlier told people living in high-risk rural areas to leave for the safety of cities.

"We are saying, 'do not be there, do

Fans...

From A4

reincarnation of FPJ in the boob tube, Susan Roces, FPJ's widow in real life,

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cayetano’s...

From A4

others fished or drove ox carts transporting cargo and people between the shore and the wooden boats that moor off the working beach.

Those jobs in the town are now exclusively carried out by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, who have also taken over any still-intact homes of Muslims.

Saw Pu Chay leads a women's rights group in a downtown building that served as a mosque before 2012.

Cavities in the wall where Islamic symbols were gouged out stand testament to the 2012 violence.

The 53-year-old defends using the building, saying local Muslim friends sometimes stop by to see her on their way from the camp to the market.

"I know them well as we've lived alongside them since we were young.

They've lived here for generations," she says, while making it clear she considers the Rohingya further north as unwelcome outsiders.

Kyaukphyu camp residents are desperate for a chance to rebuild their lives.

"It's just like a prison," says camp leader Phyu Chay of his current 'home,' adding: "There are no jobs and we struggle to get hold of proper medication."

Unacceptable and criminal Some 130,000 Muslims, the vast majority Rohingya, are languishing in various camps in central Rakhine.

Hundreds of thousands more fare little better, trapped in villages with virtually no freedom of movement.

Amnesty International brands the "institutionalized system of segregation and discrimination" so severe it constitutes "apartheid."

They continue to lack access to education, healthcare and work—a situation Amnesty's Laura Haigh describes as both "unacceptable and criminal."

Many have been forced to accept a controversial National Verification Card (NVC), a limbo status offering few rights until holders "prove" their claim to full citizenship.

Rights groups condemn the NVC as a discriminatory tool foisted on many Muslims—particularly Rohingya—who they say should already be treated as full citizens.

Few have successfully negotiated the convoluted bureaucratic path to obtain full ID. Authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

Under international pressure, the government has announced it will close all the camps.

But in the current plan, those "freed" would not be allowed to return to their former homes.

Instead they would be resettled in new accommodation close to the former camps with continuing heavy restrictions on movement.

The UN, NGOs and rights groups fear the strategy simply "risks entrenching segregation" and urge the government to grant Rakhine's Muslims the full freedoms they deserve.

Phyu Chay says: "All our human rights have been violated." AFP

aware of the sensitive nature of this list and will not compromise it by making it public.

If the administration has this list, why then does it not go after these high-value targets instead of concentrating on small time drug runners and users?

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo disputed Robredo's statement that most of the illegal drugs in the Philippines come from China. Shabu is also manufactured here by Chinese drug lords in connivance with Filipinos. Robredo wrote the President to ask about her mandate and parameters as anti-drug czar, even without Cabinet rank. Mr. Duterte made clear Robredo can only attend Cabinet meetings when the subject of drugs is on the agenda. whelming mandate inspires her to work hard towards her father’s dream of uplifting the lives of the Filipino people." ernhil@yahoo.com

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TODAYNOVEMBER 22, 2019 FRIDAY,

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Villanueva supports move to impose taxes on POGO

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Joel Villanueva has described the over taxation concern on Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) as unfounded, saying its poor regulation has contributed to mounting social concerns like the rising property prices and increase in criminality and illegal activity.

Villanueva expressed support Thursday for the move to impose taxes on this particular sector of the gaming industry, which has seen unhampered growth in the past three years.

He said it took three years before POGO was convinced “by our government to pay the right taxes. We can no longer return lost opportunity to collect taxes.”

“So we are supporting initiatives to pass laws that will put clear rules in the imposition of taxes on POGO to have a clear interpretation of our tax code.”

“How can we put a price on this sector’s impact on the rising social concerns such as the growing property prices and increase in crimes, among other issues?” added Villanueva, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development.

BI to hire 1,500 personnel to address ‘lack of manpower’

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Bureau of Immigration needs to hire more than 1,500 immigration officers to address the “lack of manpower” in the bureau that has led to delays in the processing of documents, long queues at the international airports and intelligence work.

Immigration Deputy Commissioner Aldwin Alegere said the bureau needed at least 800 intelligence officers to be deployed nationwide, while another 700 as fingerprint examiners, translators, IT

personnel Immigration Officers and Immigration Assistants.

The BI, with an allocated budget of P1.5 billion, has only 107 intelligence agents to go after foreigners allegedly involved in

illegal activities nationwide.

Of the 107 BI agents, 53 were hired under job order.

The bureau recorded 5.6 million tourist arrivals in October this year, while there are more than 2 million foreign residents, mostly workers in the country.

“Right now, we only have 107 intelligence agents, 53 were job orders nationwide,” Alegre said, adding “low salary is the reason why many are not applying to work in bureau.”

He said the bureau is urging congress to expedite the passage of a bill that seeks to address the problem of low pay in the BI.

PUBLIC INFORMATION SHEET FOR DIRECT USE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING PROPOSAL FOR DIRECT USE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING 5307 Corn 1.

Applicant’s Name Syngenta Philippines, Inc.

2.

Applicant’s Address 12th Floor, Two World Square, # 22 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, 1630 Philippines

3.

Telephone Number/ Facsimile Number, E-Mail Address of the Applicant Tel. +63 (2) 370 2100; Fax: +63 (2) 856 9260; E-mail: jet.parma@syngenta.com

4.

Name of Responsible Officer/Authorized Representative Jet Marcial G. Parma, President and Commercial Unit Head, Philippines Ma. Emeru Bool - Rodriguez, Seeds and Traits Regulatory Manager, Philippines

5.

Description of the Regulated Article for Direct Use 5307 corn was genetically modified using Agrobacterium tumafaciens-mediated transformation. It contains the transgene ecry3.1Ab, which encodes the eCry3.1Abinsecticidal protein which is active against a number of significant Coleopteran insect pests such as Leptinotarsadecemlineata (Colorado potato beetle), Diabroticavirgiferavirgifera (Western corn rootworm), Diabroticalongicornisbarberi (Northern corn rootworm) and Diabroticavirgiferazeae (Mexican corn rootworm).It also contains the transgene pmi,which encodes the PMI protein. PMI was used as a selectable marker during the development of 5307 corn.

6.

If to be imported, Country (ies) of Origin of the Regulated Article Canada, USA, or from other countries which will have cultivation approvals in the future.

7.

Brief Summary of Potential Effects on Human and Animal Health and the Environment (summarize human and animal health and environmental assessments done and studies implemented indicating potential effects on human and animal health and the environment)

QUARANTINE FIRST. Thousands

of Filipinos who work abroad line up Thursday for international Certificate of Vaccination at the Bureau of Quarantine in Port Area Manila after several countries required OFWs to have polio vaccine.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s Philippines and the Department of Health (inset) announce their partnership for the “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio,” with McDonald’s Philippines President Kenneth Yang and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III attending the ceremonial opening. Norman Cruz

5307 corn has been adequately assessed to demonstrate its safety as food, feed, and its safety to the environment. Studies conducted show that the eCry3.1Ab and PMI protein produced in 5307 corn do not have homology to any known or putative mammalian toxin and share no biologically relevant amino acid sequence similarity to known or putative allergen. Furthermore, studies show that 5307 corn is nutritionally and compositionally similar to, and as safe and as the conventional corn.

5307 corn will be imported for direct use as food, feed, and for processing in the Philippines. In the event that there is an accidental release of grains in the environment during the importation of the Third Party Importer, chances of survival of 5307 corn is unlikely since it will generally occur in industrial areas which are highly disturbed habitats unsuitable for significant plant establishment. The spilled grains have to reach the soil and need to be exposed to specific favorable conditions, such as light, moisture, and temperature so that germination and plant establishment will occur.

8.

Brief Summary of Potential Benefits (Describe how the new trait will benefit farming, the farmer, the environment, and society as a whole) 5307 corn has the ability to resist damage caused by a number of significant Coleopteran corn insect pests. The use of this technology can reduce insecticidal application, thus reducing cost of production and less contact by farmers to insecticides.

Since 5307 corn will be a traded commodity, the society will be the main beneficiary in case importation will be required to supply the industry with grains of corn and corn products to feed millers, for use in poultry, livestock, aquaculture, and other industries.

9.

Countries Where Approvals Have Been Granted (for FFP; for Commercial Propagation) (As of April 2019) 5307 corn has already been approved inAustralia (Food), Canada (Cultivation, Feed and Food), China (Feed, Food and Processing), Colombia (Food and Feed), Indonesia (Food), Japan (Cultivation, Feed and Food), Korea, Republic of (Environment,Food and Feed), Malaysia (Feed, Food and Processing), Mexico (Feed, Food and Processing), Nigeria (Feed, Food, Processing), Philippines (Feed, Food and Processing), Russian Federation (Food and Feed), Singapore (Feed, Food and Processing), Taiwan, Province of China (Feed and Food), United States (Cultivation, Feed, Food and Processing), and Vietnam (Feed, Food and Processing).

The public is hereby invited to submit their comments to the BPI Director (within 60 days from date ofpublication) on the Proposal for the Importation of 5307corn for direct use as food and feed,or for processing

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that UNIVERSAL POWER SOLUTIONS, INC. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of 40MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Component of Integrated Renewable Power Facility Hub (R-HUB) in Dasmarinas, Cavite on a Pioneer Status under Book I of EO 226 otherwise known as the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, as amended.

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

Director Bureau of Plant Industry San Andres, Malate, Manila E-Mail bpibiotechsecretariat@gmail.com

NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service M. Standard – November 22, 2019

Approved for Publication: __________________ GEORGE Y. CULASTE OIC-Director Bureau of Plant Industry Date:

(MS-NOV. 22, 2019)

N OTICE

Republic of the Philippines

National Irrigation Administration

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Northern Samar Irrigation Management Office Catarman, Northern Samar Office Address : Capitol Site, Brgy. Dalakit Catarman, Northern Samar

Telefax No.: Telephone No.:

(055) 251-8274 (055) 251-8274

INVITATION TO BID No. 05- 2019 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Northern Samar Irrigation Management Office (NSIMO), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites Domestic Contractors, registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), to bid for the hereunder contracts. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

ITEM/DESCRIPTION

Approved Budget for the Contract

Duration

Cost of Bidding Documents

1. Bugko IP # 01 – 2019 Restoration of Diversion Dam

–

Php 13,865,461.67

240

Php 25,000

2. Bugko IP #022019 Rehabilitation of Diversion Dam

–

Php 24,756,733.12

420

Php 25,000

3. Bugko IP #032019 Rehabilitation of Diversion Dam

–

Php 8,043,182.14

210

Php 10,000

4. Irawahan CIS NSIMO #03- 2020Repair/ Improvement of Lined Canal @ MC and Construction of 2-units Elev. Flume along MC; Supply and Installation of Steel Gates and Stabilization of Dam

Php 6,580,080.28

270

Php 10,000

Prospective Bidders are not allowed to participate if they have negative slippage in their on-going contracts. Individuals with Special Power of Attorney (SPA) are not allowed to transact and participate in the procurement utilizing another construction firm. The pre-bid conference shall be open only for those who have purchased the Bid documents.

The schedule of BAC activities is listed as follows: Issuance of Bid Documents (Date and Time Schedule)

Pre- bid Conference (Date and Time Schedule)

1. Bugko IP #012019

Starting November 27, 2019 (8AM-5PM)

November 28, 2019 (10AM)

2. Bugko IP #022019

Starting November 27, 2019 (8AM-5PM)

November 28, 2019 (10AM)

3. Bugko IP #032019

Starting November 27, 2019 (8AM-5PM)

November 28, 2019 (10AM)

4. Irawahan CIS #03- 2020

Starting November 27, 2019 (8AM-5PM)

November 28, 2019 (10AM)

Receipt & Opening of Bids (Date and Time Schedule) December 10, 2019 (9AM) December 10, 2019 (9AM) December 10, 2019 (9AM) December 10, 2019 (9AM)

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents from the address above and upon payment of its respective non-refundable amount to the cashier.

The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

(SGD) CESAR R. ECHANO BAC Chairman (MS-NOV. 22, 2019)

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

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-NOV.. 21, 2019)

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”.

PROJECT NAME

Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Air Transport Services (A321NEO #5 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4122 and Serial No. MSN9196) with a capacity of 236 passenger seats on a non-pioneer status with home base at Airline Operations Center, Manila Domestic Airport, Pasay City.

IN THE MATTER OF : ALLIED CARE EXPERTS (ACE) : MEDICAL CENTER-DIPOLOG, INC. : (Registrant) : x------------------------------------------------x

REGISTRATION OF SECURTIES Initial Public Offering

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 28 October 2019, a sworn Registration Statement (“RS”) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ·Commission”) on behalf of ALLIED CARE EXPERTS (ACE) MEDICAL CENTER - DIPOLOG. INC. (the ‘Company’) for the registration of Two Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred (227,500) common shares with par value of one thousand (PhP1,000.00) per share broken down as follows: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial Public Offering) Issued and Outstanding Founder`s Shares (not included in the Offer) Issued and Outstanding Common Shares (not included in the Offer) Total

Equivalent to 3,550 blocks or 35,500 10 shares per block at an offer common shares price ranging from Php150,000 up to Php400,000 per block With par value of PhP1,000.00 600 per share 191,400

With par value of PhP1,000.00 per share

227,500 common shares

According to the documents presented, the following persons are the directors and executive officers of the Company: Name AMADO MANUEL C. ENRIQUEZ FERNANDO P. CARLOS CALSEN CALACAY ANA MARIA H. LIMSI SYLVIA C. BALISADO MARRIETTA T. SAMOY GEANIE CERNA-LOPEZ ROSEMARIE L. DUBLIN MIGUEL ANTONIO R. ENRIQUEZ GENEROSO M. ORILLAZA RAYZEL A. CALAPE OSWALDO J. LAMDAG JONATHAN P. AMANTE BEODALDY BOMBEO VICTOR CABRERA JR.

Position Chairman Director/President/Chief Executive Officer Director/Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Director/Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Director/Corporate Secretary Director/Asst. Treasurer Director/Asst. Secretary Director Director Director Director Director Independent Director Independent Director Independent Director

The Registration Statement, its attachments and any amendments therein (collectively referred to as “RS”) are open for inspection by Interested parties during business hours. Copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to every party upon request at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. Said RS and its updated version may be downloaded from the company’s website: www.acemcdipolog.org VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director (MS-NOV. 22 & 29, 2019)

CEB ‘fast becoming largest air carrier’

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is fast becoming the largest carrier in terms of capacity at Clark International Airport and two airports in Palawan after its started its direct commercial flight service between Clark and Guangzhou; Clark and Puerto Princesa; and between Puerto Princesa and Hong Kong.

By the year end, CEB will hold 28 percent capacity share in Clark. It has been continuously operating flights in and out of the airport since 2006.

From Clark, CEB operates 190 flights weekly to Bacolod, Bohol, Caticlan (Boracay), Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Narita (Tokyo) and Singapore.

“Cebu Pacific has taken a measured pace of expansion in Clark, but we have always

believed in the potential of Clark. Over the past 12 months, our capacity growth in Clark hit over 90%. With the growth in passenger traffic in Clark, we are bullish that the new routes we launched over the past few months will continue to perform strongly,” CEB chief strategy officer Alexander Lao said Thursday.

Meanwhile, CEB will cap 2019 with a 46 percent total capacity share in Puerto Princesa, the main gateway to Palawan, and the Busuanga Airport, which caters to Coron and the rest of northern Palawan.

CEB operates 190 flights weekly to and from Palawan, equivalent to over 1.1 million seats.

Aside from Hong Kong and Clark, CEB has direct flights to Manila, Iloilo and Cebu from Puerto Princesa. From the Busuanga Airport, on the other hand, the airline operates direct flights to Manila and Cebu.

CoA to NFC: Gov’t subsidy better option than borrowings

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Northern Foods Corp. to request for a bail out after noting its deficit in retained earnings account ballooned to P765.79 million as of May 31.

The NFC, a government-owned or controlled corporation under the Land Bank of the Philippines, suffered losses dating back several years on top of unpaid interest on loans.

Financial statements submitted by the government-owned and-controlled corporation showed it posted net losses of P31.594 million in 2015, P25.09 million in 2016, P42.86 million in 2017, P34.623 million in 2018 and P52.829 million in 2019.

The unpaid loans had caused interest to climb from P38.39 million in 2015 to P41.811 million this year.

“The audit team noted the significant deficit in the retained earnings account which soared to P765,789,418.15 as of May 31, 2019, thus casting doubt as to the ability of the agency to continue operating,” the report read.

Calls for pneumonia vaccines bid up CALLS for an open, competitive bidding for pneumonia vaccines heightened recently as medical experts and solons joined the push for more suppliers to be tapped in the tender.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay held at the Cafe Adriatico last Wednesday, Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, chair of the House Committee on Health, said the call for bidding for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) should not favor a single supplier.

“Specifications in biddings should not favor a single brand. Bids should not lean towards certain companies,” stressed Tan, a doctor of medicine.

The Department of Health (DOH) recently suspended the call for bidding for PCVs, a move that was lauded by doctors and vaccine experts who noted that the original call for bidding involved a single vaccine manufacturer.

The postponement of the bidding is seen opening the possibility of a more competitive tender that will give the Filipinos the power of choice.

“Medical supplies that are needed by the government pass through Health Technology Assessment, which determines their costeffectiveness,” Rep. Tan said.

“Allowing multiple bidders will allow the government to leverage on the vaccines’ cost- effectiveness.”

Speaking in the same Kapihan, Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo, in turn, noted that the DOH had been calling for open tenders.

“But, for PCVs, the specifications were very specific to just one vaccine brand,” Usec. Domingo noted.

“Specifications for biddings should be generic so that all brands and suppliers can participate,” he added.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Fil-Am golf organizers hoping for fine weather BAGUIO CITY—Organizers of the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament are confident that the weather will cooperate when games begin on December 1 at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay golf courses.

“The weather is good this year unlike last year,” said Fil-Am co-chair Anthony de Leon during a press conference at the CJH golf club Wednesday.

With good weather the past two months, both golf clubs were able to spruce up their fairways and greens.

BCC was also able to finish the golf cart path and players can tour the link with no hitch. Some of the older players see the course as punishing due to its terrain.

Last year has been bad for the Fil-Am when rains damaged portions of the two courses, particularly during the onslaught of typhoon Ompong in September.

Only once did the organizers cancel a game, during the 2008 edition when some of the senior games were reduced to three days because one playing day was removed due to heavy rains.

The two golf clubs are once again bracing with the coming of close to 1,400 players from the Asia-Pacific rim, according to De Leon and co-chair Tim Allen of CJH. Roanne Galicia of the technical committee said that there will be 157 teams in the regular divisions of 833 players, alternates not included. On the other hand, the seniors’ division will have 96 teams or 507 players and “still counting” for both, she added for the tournament that will end on December 18.

“It is only until the captain’s meeting will we be able to finalize the number, but 1,400 is not far,” said Allen, who admitted that it is only until the captain’s meeting when they can finalize the number of players for the tournament.

“But it is slowly growing from the 1,100 players that played when I came back five years ago,” added the American John Hay golf manager.

At least 80 teams are on the reserve list, hoping to take part in the golfing event founded by the late Sen. and actor Rogelio dela Rosa and then Camp John Hay commander Major Archie Black in 1949.

Since it is the 70th staging, Fil-Am spokesperson Andrew Pinero said that it will have something “spectacular” that will make the tournament worth remembering.

The Fil-Am starts on December 1 with the first day of practice round and the captain’s meeting. Two more rounds are scheduled on December 2 and 3 with the tournament proper beginning on the 4th and will be played until the ninth.

PH dancers eye 13 golds in SEA Games

Bugle Notes storms to a 6-length win and claimed the P1.8-million purse in the 2019 Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup on Sunday.

Bugle Notes claims rich Danding Cojuangco Cup B

UGLE Notes unleashed an impressive burst of speed going home to stun an elite field that included a twotime defending champion and a Triple Crown winner, winning the rich 2019 Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup on Sunday at the Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park Racetrack in Naic, Cavite.

With jockey Jonathan B. Hernandez on its mount, Bugle Notes made its move at the halfway mark after running third in the pack as it grabbed the lead from Viva Morena and never let go, increasing it further down stretch to claim a six-length win in the prestigious race held in honor of the San Miguel Corp.

Chairman, a stalwart in the horseracing industry.

The racing weekend was also highlighted by the 24th staging of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners

(MARHO) Breeder’s Championships.

Bugle Notes finished with a fast time of 2:00.4 in the long 2,000-meter race, with quartertimes of 24, 23, 24, 24, 24.

“Ginandahan lang po ang alis. Pagbreak in, bandera kaagad ako. Ang instruction, ang pinakamasamang puwesto sa ganitong kadami na kabayo, pang-apat o panlima. Pero napaganda pa kasi naging pangatlo kaagad. Pagdating ng medya milya, inaalagaan ko na puwesto ko, hinintay ko na rekta. Noong hinila ko, madami pa, punong puno pa,” said Her-

nandez of Bugle Notes’ emphatic win.

The victory, worth a whopping P1.8 million from the total guaranteed purse of P3.15 million by the sponsoring Philippine Racing Commission, ended the two-year reign of SC Stockfarm’s Hitting Spree and added fuel to the hot streak of the Bell Racing Stable, with owner Elmer de Leon personally receiving the special trophy donated by Amb. Cojuangco himself.

De Leon also owns Union Bell, a twotime winner in the 2019 Philracom Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Race with an opportunity of scoring a three-race sweep on Dec. 1.

Runner-up Murika got P675,000 as runner-up, followed by third placer Truly Ponti, which earned P375,000. Super Sonic received P150,000 at fourth, while 2017 Triple Crown champion Sepfourteen settled for fifth, worth P100,000.

EXPECT dancesport to turn into a gold mine when the country competes in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Dancesport Council of the Philippines president Becky Garcia said their goal is to sweep all 13 events in a bid to help Team Philippines reclaim its glory in the prestigious biennial meet set from 30 November to 11 December.

Garcia said they hired two foreign coaches to help them polish their skills.

Alina Novak of Poland and Alexander Melnikov of Russia were in the country three weeks ago to train Filipino dancers in the Latin and Standard events, respectively.

Nowak is a veteran dancer who won the Adult Latin Division of the World Championship while Melnikov is a seasoned mentor who preaches the ideals of balance, coordination and movement.

Aside from learning at the feet of foreign coaches, the Filipino dancers also trained in Italy last month, where they attended a dance camp.

Garcia said she’s not making any promises, but they are looking for a sweep in the biggest, most prestigious multi-sport tourney in the region.

“I don’t want to predict but if we can go for a sweep, we’ll do it,” said Garcia, whose wards emerged with two gold and two silver medals the last time the country hosted the Games in 2005.

“We had a training camp and we hired foreign coaches. We had a good preparation for the SEA Games and the athletes are ready. We just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.”

Garcia said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Philippine Sports Commission had been helping them in their preparation.

Although she refused to divulge the extent of the support, she said that it’s already enough to help them in their quest for glory.

“We’re thankful to Pagcor and PSC for supporting our training and preparation,” she said. “They have been very supportive.”

Volcanoes get boost from Globe before Olympic qualifying tilt THE Philippine Volcanoes got a show of support from Globe before leaving to compete in the biggest rugby event in Asia that will decide which team will join host Japan in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

With Globe Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala leading the send-off ceremony, the Volcanoes will battle Guam, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates on November 23 and 24 in

Incheon, South Korea for the remaining slot for Asia in the Rugby Sevens event of the Summer Games next year in Japan.

“I’ve been a great believer in sports. It brings national unity and brings our distinct communities of Filipinos from different backgrounds together. I think we have tremendous talent here. I wish you much luck and have no doubt that you guys will be there and make the country proud,” Zobel said.

While the quest to compete in the biggest stage is daunting, the Volcanoes remain upbeat on their chances to bring home the last ticket in the Asia Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

“The opposition is very strong. We can’t discount the determination of the other teams to get into the Olympics especially Hong Kong and host South Korea. All teams participating in Incheon are expected to give their all and leave everything on the pitch. But

The National Men’s Rugby Team poses with Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Globe Chairman (5th from right, standing); Rick Santos, President, Philippine Rugby Football Union Federation (3rd from left, standing); Yoly Crisanto, Globe SVP for Corporate Communications (4th from right, standing); Jake Letts, General Manager, Philippine Volcanoes, (3rd from right, standing) and other officials during the Globe send-off for the team. The Philippine Volcanoes are set to compete in Incheon, South Korea this coming weekend for a berth in the Rugby Sevens event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan.

Tabal has one less SEAG rival to worry about

By Peter Atencio CEBUANA Olympian Mary Joy Tabal will have less to worry about when she gets ready for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The region’s top long distance runner Jane Vongvorachoti won’t be joining the women’s marathon event on Dec. 6 in Capas, Tarlac.

The 35-year-old Vongvorachoti, who has a personal best of two hours, 50 minutes and 51 seconds last year, is now based in London and competing there. She is expected to be in the sidelights if ever she comes to the Philippines because Vongvorachoti is now helping coach Thailand national women’s team in long-distance running.

But, the 30-year-old Tabal still won’t be letting her guard down in her Thai rival’s

absence.

“I’m making sure that aside from looking into my competition, I’m also making sure that I’m ready for anything,” said Tabal, who just arrived from her two-and-a half month training stint in Japan yesterday as she talked about her preparations with her coach John Philip Duenas.

The defending champion from Cebu City will be watching for two Vietnamese, who could challenge her if they are fielded in.

There’s Le Pham Thi Hong, who took the silver back in 2017 and has a season’s best time of 2:52.14.

Then there’s Thi Hue Pham, who has a personal best of 2:54.31.

But there is still doubt if Thi will be fielded in, since her specialty is the 5,000-meter run and the 10,000 meters.

Aside from Duenas, two other coaches in Japan are helping Tabal get ready for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

She is also getting inputs from Japanese mentors Yuhei Sato and Akio Usami at the Nippon Sports Science University, where Tabal began training last Sept. 4.

Before she left for Japan, Tabal has been working on her endurance training.

To prepare her for the SEA Games, Tabal placed 14th in the Ottawa Scotiabank Marathon in Ottawa, Canada last May 26.

Tabal clocked a season’s best of two hours, 49 minutes and 57 seconds, an improvement from her time of 2:55 in the National Milo Marathon last December in Ilocos.

It was through the Milo event that Tabal was able to compete in Canada.

we are equally steadfast too to make it to the Tokyo Games and bring honor and glory to our country,” Jake Letts, former national player and now Philippine Volcanoes General Manager, added.

Globe has been supporting rugby and the Philippine Volcanoes since 2010. Two years ago the company renewed its partnership with the national team specifically to help the team qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

Sports

Santo Tomas retains table tennis crown

A8

TWICE-TO-BEAT. Talk N’ Text’s Ray Parks soars for a basket against San Miguel Beer’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the KaTropa, 114-109, to grab the No. 3 seed and the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas turned a heartbreaking loss into another championship, taking down rival National University, 2-1, in the best-of-three Finals, Wednesday at the Blue Eagle Gym. This is the Tiger Paddlers’ second straight championship and 28th overall.

Graduating senior Raymark Mabuang closed out both the second and third ties of the championship to gift the UST the record-setting plum.

The Thomasian standout took down Romualdo Ramiro Jr. in a match that ended at 12-10, before taking another four-set win over Louis Llamas in that final tie.

For his valiant stand, Mabuang was later adjudged the Most Valuable Player.

The doubles tandem of Mcleen Dizon and Prince Garcia was the difference in both the won ties as they turned it around with wins for the 2-1 leads for UST. The Thomasians came back from a set down and swept Franz Mogol and Harold Celeridad after the break. They then dominated Jon Sinchongco and Celeridad in just three sets later that afternoon.

Long-time mentor Jackson Que was proud that his team came up with another championship. “Two months before the UAAP, talagang nagbago tayo ng lineup agad. So, nasira yung plan natin,” he shared.

“Pero thank God, nabuo pa rin yung team at nagperform pa rin yung mga players.”

UAAP Season 82 Women’s Table Tennis release: UST claws gallant Ateneo, roars to 13th UAAP Women’s Table Tennis tiara

Eagles deflect praise, laud Tigers instead

By Peter Atencio

A

TENEO just made history by completing a historic and unheard-of 16-0 sweep of the season, including back-to-back wins against University of Santo Tomas in the finals to seal another grandslam – its second in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

But coach Tab Baldwin and take our hats off to the fallen his mighty Blue Eagles don’t Growling Tigers. want us to shower them with “The only other thing that I praise. Instead, they want us to really have to say is just… it’s

very difficult in defeat. I’ve been there plenty of times in my life. The players and coaching staff of UST they probably don’t want (this). They (Tigers) don’t wanna hear a lot right now.

They’re hurting. But I want it on the record of saying that the fight that they showed in this finals, I think it really flattered us. I think what they gave out their on the court, what they had to give, really flatters us,” said Baldwin.

“I appreciate all of them. I respect them also, much they know that, I’ve told them that.

We certainly know what kind of team they’ll be next year.

They’re gonna be extremely difficult, extremely strong basketball team. Congratulations to them and I wish them well in the future,” he added.

Indeed, the Tigers’ path to the championship was a rocky one, but they survived them all.

To reach the finals, the fourthseeded Growling Tigers had a tough outing after the elimination.

“They went through three door-die games. First, they hurdled the third seeded Far Eastern

Tab Baldwin

University Tamaraws, 81-71, in the first stepladder semifinals.

Then, the Growling Tigers beat the twice-to-beat University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, with scored of 8969, and 88-65, to arrange a title showdown with the Blue Eagles.

“First of all, we would like to congratulate UST din. They had three do-or-die games, but they succeeded. It’s really hard to defend them. Kitang kita kanina.

It was a close game. Congrats to coach Aldin. Siguro sa panalo namin kanina, we just wanted to win. We promised that we’ll do whatever it takes to win in Game 2 kasi mahirap manalo sa Game 3? Do-or-die pa. Sabi nga ni coach Tab magsisimula sa aming limang seniors,” said Ateneo’s Mike Nieto, whose third championship meant a lot to their family and their father Joseph.

The Nieto family celebrated their “fourth” championship as elder Joseph “Jet” Nieto was part of the 1987 squad that gave the Blue Eagles their first cage

crown.

The Blue Eagles completed a perfect season by beating the Tigers, 86-79, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

This allowed the Blue Eagles to complete a historic16-0 sweep of the 82nd UAAP season.

The last time an immaculate season sweep was achieved was in 1993, when an Aric del Rosario-coached University of Santo Tomas completed a 14game title romp in UAAP Season 56, with the unbeaten team in the elimination round being crowned champion outright.

“Sobrang sarap mag three-peat lalo na pag galing pa sa grade school, sa high school, and you promise your teammates, your family, that you will do everything that you can to win the championship. Ang sabi ko lang naman sa kanila hindi tayo papatalo. Kahit gano kahirap, kahit anong challenge na dumarating samin. Hinding hindi kami magpapatalo. We’ll just play the Ateneo way,” said Matt.

Tabora, Tan stay alive in Bowling World Cup FILIPINO pintopplers Krizziah Tabora and Merwin Tan rallied Wednesday to keep their qualifying hopes alive in the 2019 Bowling World Cup international finals in Palembang, Indonesia.

Tabora, winner of the world crown two years ago in Hermosillo, Mexico, shot a six-game series of 1187 to rank 12th in the women’s division with 3519 pinfalls in 18 games.

Tan, 20-year-old marketing freshman in St. Benilde Antipolo, jumped to 24th spot from 29th in the men’s competition by carding 1208 for a 18-game total of 3577 pinfalls.

Men and women bowlers from more than 100 countries will play another six games Thursday to determine the 24 campaigners from each division who will advance to the second stage of the prestigious event where legendary Paeng Nepomuceno holds the distinction of being the only four-time men’s titlist so far.

Tabora rolled games of 179, 255, 191, 198, 193 and 171 to im-

prove from 17th to 12th place, while Tan posted 202, 204, 198, 178, 203 and 223 to hold on to the last qualifying position.

Natasha Roslan of Malaysia regained the women’s lead with 3768 -- 43 ahead of American Kelly Kullick. Russia’s Maria Koshel was third with 3710, followed by Dominican Republic’s Aumi Guerra (3667), South Korea’s Eunhee Jeon (3614), Germany’s Nadine Geissler (3582), Brazil’s Stephanie Martins (3575), Australia’s Rebecca Whiting (3571), Indonesia’s Shinta Ceysaria Yunita (3567), and Venezuela’s Karen Marcano (3560).

South Africa’s Francois Louw led the men’s field with 4210, followed by Germany’s Oliver Mong with 3900, Finland’s Niko Oksanen (3807), Indonesia’s Ryan Leonard Lalisang (3796), Kuwait’s Jasem Alsaqer (3796), South Korea’s Wanhee Lee (3781), Australia’s Sam Cooley (3741), Ireland’s Christopher Sloan (3733), Latvia’s Daniel Vezis (3725) and Brazil’s Renan Zonghab (3720).

IN BRIEF

BCDA to maintain Clark sports facilities

NEW CLARK CITY―Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive Vivencio Dizon assured Thursday that the world-class sports facilities constructed in Tarlac province for the Southeast Asian Games on Nov. 30 will not become “white elephants.”

“The last thing that this government will ever allow is for these facilities to become white elephants...,” Dizon said at the sidelines of a media tour sponsored by BCDA. “These facilities were not built just for the SEA Games... these are parts of a masterplan [for the New Clark City],” Dizon said.

The sports facilities will host the aquatics and athletics events for the games. It also has dormitory facilities for the participating contingents.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the project worth of P6 billion was “well spent” not only for Filipino athletes but also for the country. “This is a worldclass facility... The last time we had a worldclass sports facility, which is Rizal Memorial Coliseum, was in 1934,” Dominguez said, adding the facility would also boost tourism in the area. Julito G. Rada

PH coins recognized in Rome conference

PHILIPPINE coins and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ coin education campaign both gained international recognition in an award ceremony in Italy last month.

The International Association of Currency Affairs recognized the BSP in the Excellence in Currency 2019 Coin Awards at the biennial Coin Conference in Rome on Oct. 15, 2019.

Established in 2007, IACA’s Excellence in Currency Awards Program promotes and recognizes excellence in currency production, processing, management and distribution.

The BSP’s New Generation Currency coin series and the Coin-Ed Campaign were among the top three finalists awarded in the Best New Circulating Coins and Best Public Education Program categories, respectively.

The NGC Coin Series which includes the 10-Piso, 5-Piso, 1-Piso, 25-Sentimo, 5-Sentimo and 1-Sentimo, was released in circulation in March 2018.

IACA cited the enhanced aesthetic of the NGC coins, cutting-edge security features and improved wear and corrosion resistance capabilities. The NGC coins feature native flora, heroes and stylized Philippine flag.

Julito G. Rada

South rail to start in Q2—Salceda

PHASE 1 of the P175-billion Philippine National Railways South Long Haul project from Calamba City, Laguna to Legazpi City, Albay will start construction in the second quarter of 2020.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, who has been pushing for the project for many years, said the bidding for the 408-kilometer PNR segment was completed November this year and would be awarded to the winning contractor in April 2020.

The PNR Long Haul stretch consists of a 639-kilometer standard gauge railroad tracks from Manila to Sorsogon, a component of the PNR Luzon System program.

“Finally, the PNR South Railways project which we have tediously designed as a key that will unlock economic potentials of the vast Southern Tagalog and Bicol areas, will soon be a reality,” said Salceda, the project’s original proponent.

The PNR South Railway segment will cut the Manila-Legazpi travel to less than five hours. It runs from Manila to Matnog in Sorsogon with nine major stations―Manila, Los Baños, Batangas City, Lucena, Gumaca, Naga City, Legazpi City, Sorsogon City and Matnog.

Salceda said the PNR Luzon System under the Department of Transportation is among the big-ticket infrastructure projects under an official development assistance agreement recently signed between China and the Philippines.

Business Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno (center) and executives of the Philippine Payments Management Inc. lead the official launch of QR Ph—the Philippines’ national QR code standard for digital payments at the BSP headquarters in Manila.

Diokno, along with Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. president and chief executive Eugene Acevedo (left) and UnionBank president and chief executive Edwin Bautista, tries a fund transfer transaction to the PayMaya account of the BSP governor by scanning the QR Ph code in his PayMaya app—the first e-wallet in the country to adopt the national QR code standard.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

L

ISTED Synergy Grid & Development Philippines Inc. is entering into a share swap with businessmen Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto, Jr., the major shareholders of National Grid of the Corporation of the Philippines, which could pave the way for the backdoor listing of the national grid operator. the remaining 40 percent of NGCP. “The share swap will be undertaken to formally consolidate Mr. Sy’s and Mr. Coyiuto’s ownership and control of NGCP through a common corporate structure,” Synergy Grid said.

Aside from implementing the share swap agreement, the increase in the company’s capital stock will also enable the Synergy Grid to raise additional capital either though private placement, public offering of shares or a combination of both to fund projects and investments.

While the company has not made specific plans on planned capital raising program, Synergy Grid said it “intends to make a public offering of its shares

as soon as possible after the completion of the share swap to meet the minimum public ownership requirement under the SEC and PSE rules”.

Under the share swap agreement, 2.05 billion common shares of Synergy Grid will be swapped with 86.430 million shares of One Taipan. About 2.05 billion common SGDP common shares will be swapped with 871 million common shares of Pacifica21.

NGCP was required to become a public company by January 2019 or 10 year after assuming operations of the Philippine electricity grid from National Transmission Corp. when it won a 25-year license which can be renewed for another 25 years.

The grid operator early this year asked for a deferment for its planned IPO. In 2011, NGCP explored the possibility of going public through backdoor listing via Synergy Grid also via a share swap deal.

The plan was later dropped, Lawmakers threatened to withdraw the franchise of NGCP for its failure to conduct an IPO.

ARKHON ENDORSER.

Retired Philippine Basketball Association player and businessman Chris Tiu (right) reunites with Rain or Shine co-team owner Raymond Yu after being named endorser of Arkhon Premium Building Solutions.

Asian Coatings Phil. Inc., which owns Rain or Shine Elastomeric Paints, also manufactures the new product line of premium construction chemicals that includes Arkhon ready-to-use skimcoat.

By Julito G. Rada

Semirara asks DOE to reconsider coal trading suspension SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. appealed with the Department of Energy, which imposed a one-month selective coal trading suspension and fines against the integrated mining company.

“We would also like to stress that the DOE Resolution dated Oct. 15, 2019 is not yet final and executory. Our pending motion temporarily defers the implementation of the coal trading suspension, which would allow SMPC to continue serving its coal customers,” SMPC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

The department imposed a one-month suspension against SMPC for allegedly violating Section 7.2 of the circular due to coal trading or transaction with Gold Anchorage, an unaccredited coal trader “except deliveries of SMPC-owned

B1

SAN Miguel Corp. said the Skyway Stage 3 project, which stretches from Buendia in Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway in Balintawak, Quezon City, is set to open by April next year.

NGCP plans backdoor listing via Synergy Grid

By Alena Mae S. Flores

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PDIC readies filing of criminal charges against directors of AMA Rural Bank STATE-RUN Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. said Thursday it will file criminal charges against the directors, corporate secretary, officers and employees of the closed AMA Rural Bank of Mandaluyong Inc. for their alleged refusal to account for and turn over bank records under their accountabilities.

The PDIC gave the accountable individuals 24 hours to report to the receiver and comply as mandated by law, or face legal action. As of Nov. 19, 2019, only 16 accountable employees of the bank reported at the bank premises.

The PDIC sealed bank equipment, vaults and cabinets containing bank records. After the 24-hour deadline expired, the PDIC commenced the inventory-taking with a person-in-authority as witness.

It also sought the assistance of government authorities in the conduct of investigation on possible fraud, irregularities and anomalies that may have been committed in the bank.

Section 26 of the PDIC Charter states that the refusal to turn over, destruction of or tampering of bank records by any director, officer, employee or agent of a bank are punishable with imprisonment of not less than six years up to 12 years or a fine of not more than P10 million, or both, at the discretion of the court.

When a bank is served a notice of closure, employment is terminated by operation of law but directors, officers and employees who hold assets, records, documents in trust or under administration have a duty to account for and surrender them to the receiver as well as provide information relating to the assets/ records.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

SMC eyes opening of Skyway 3 by April 2020

QR CODE STANDARD.

Sy and Coyiuto are also majority shareholders of Synergy Grid.

An information statement filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange showed that Synergy Grid would increase its authorized capital stock to P5.05 billion divided into 5.05 billion common shares to be able to swap for a 67-percent stake in One Taipan, which is owned by Sy and Pacifica21 of Coyiuto.

One Taipan owns controlling shares in Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., which holds 30 percent plus one share in NGCP, while Pacifica21 has controlling shares in Calaca High Power Corp., which in turn owns 30 percent minus one share in NGCP. The State Grid Corp. of China holds

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

power plants and other local power plants with existing coal supply agreements.”

SMPC earlier disclosed that it supplied 4,768.73 metric tons of Semirara coal to Gold Anchorage on May 23 as trial shipment. The buyer issued assurances to SMPC that it had submitted and applied for a coal accreditation certificate with the DOE on April 5.

Under the rules, the DOE will either issue a certificate of accreditation or reject the application.

On shipment date, the buyer was unable to submit the said accreditation as it was still pending with the DOE. SMPC said it then discontinued its supply and any trading with the said buyer.

SMPC said on the DOE suspension order dated Nov. 14, 2019, it was completing the requirements to comply with

the conditions. “We intend to reply to the DOE by Friday,” it said.

“Upon receipt of our submitted documents, the DOE shall evaluate our submissions for approval. We estimate that this will take around 15 days. However, this timetable could change depending on the review process of the DOE. We wish to assure the investing public that we are focused on complying with all the directives of the DOE so we can resume operations at the soonest possible time,” it said.

SMPC stopped its coal mining operations after receiving an order from the DOE to suspend all mining activities covered by coal operating contract no. 5 based on the results of the investigation on the mudflow incident in Semirara Island, Antique province last month.

The DOE said the suspension would

ANG

“Today, travel time between Baliktawak up to Buendia in Makati takes several hours. With the Skyway Stage 3, that will only take 15 minutes. Motorists from the south can also go directly to any point in Makati, Manila, Quezon City, and bypass Alabang and EDSA,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

“More importantly, Skyway 3 will take out about 50 percent of vehicles on EDSA, according to our estimates,” Ang said.

Skyway Stage 3 has four sections, with Section 1 running from Buendia to Plaza Dilao, Section 2 from Plaza Dilao to Aurora Boulevard, Section 3 from Aurora Boulevard to Quezon Ave. and Section 4 from Quezon Avenue to EDSA/Balintawak.

The company is also constructing the Skyway Stage 4, a 58.09-km road from the south of Metro Manila Skyway to Batasan Complex, Quezon City. The project aims to decongest EDSA, C5 and other major roads, while providing a faster alternative route for motorists coming from Rizal and the CALABARZON area. It is expected to be completed by 2022.

San Miguel earlier said it would submit an unsolicited bid for a $3-billion elevated expressway along EDSA patterned after an Indonesian project.

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

Greenergy submits offer to construct tramway in Manila GREENERGY Holdings Inc., a listed company owned by businessman Antonio Tiu, submitted an unsolicited proposal to build a modern tramway system in Manila.

Greenergy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it submitted the proposed financing, implementation and operation of a modern tramway system to the local government of Manila.

No other details were given the company including project cost.

Greenergy president and chief executive Antonio Tiu said in a text message the company was still doing the final feasibility to determine the total cost of the project.

The planned tramway aims to connect Roxas Boulevard to Makati Subway, a project of Philippine Infraved Holdings Inc. which is also controlled by Tiu. It will run from Port Area to Vito Cruz.

The Makati Subway project is an 11-kilometer intra-city mass transport system with up to 10 stations that will connect key points in Makati’s two districts with no cash out from the city government.

Once completed, the $3.7-billion Makati subway project is expected to accommodate up to 700,000 passengers per day aboard six car trains.

Share price of Greenergy fell 1.94 percent Thursday to P2.02.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks fall; Semirara, Jollibee drop T HE stock market fell Thursday along with the rest of Asia after US lawmakers passed a bill supporting Hong Kong’s civil rights, sparking fears it could derail delicate ChinaUS trade talks.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 79.17 points, or 1 percent, to 7,818.89 on a value turnover of P5.7 billion. Losers routed gainers, 157 to 38, with 41 issues unchanged.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp. of the Consunji Group slumped 9.6 percent to P19.76, while parent DMCI Holdings Inc. dropped 4 percent to P6.70.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and elec-

tricity distribution, hospitals and infrastructure, declined 4.7 percent to P4.42, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, fell 2.6 percent to P198.60.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, led losses as Asian markets tumbled on Thursday.

Investors already nervous about the progress of negotiations were sent running for the hills after both houses of Congress overwhelmingly agreed to the bill and sent it to be signed by President Donald Trump.

Hong Kong shares tanked more than two percent at one point before clawing back slightly to sit 1.6 percent down by the close. But there remains a lot of nervousness that the key trade and financial hub could take a heavy hit if its status is revoked, leaving it exposed to similar US tariffs to the mainland.

Tokyo ended 0.5 percent lower and Shanghai finished 0.3 percent off.

Sydney, Singapore, Seoul, Jakarta and Taipei also retreated but were off early lows.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act requires the president to annually review the city’s favorable trade status and threatens to revoke it if the semi-autonomous territory’s freedoms are quashed.

They also passed legislation banning sales of tear gas, rubber bullets and other equipment used by Hong Kong security forces in putting down the protests, which are now in their sixth month.

Beijing said Thursday it “strongly” condemned the move and was ready to take measures to “resolutely fight back.”

Officials had already summoned a top US diplomat on Wednesday over the Senate’s passing of the bill and warned of “strong” countermeasures should it be signed into law.

The White House has not threatened to veto the measure and Trump is ex-

pected to sign it, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The move comes just as US and Chinese negotiators try to put the finishing touches to a much-vaunted mini trade deal that is seen as the first part of a wider agreement. Markets had been rallying in recent weeks on optimism it will be signed off soon.

“China’s strong response to the Hong Kong bill news is something to be taken seriously in terms of how it impacts on the trade discussions,” said National Australia Bank’s Ray Attrill.

“Who knows where we land here? All we’d say for now is that we have a good idea where markets will reprice if and when a phase-one deal gets done and depending on whether it includes some tariff rollbacks.

“But what happens between now and then is frankly anyone’s guess.”

With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review thurSday, noveMBer 21, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

53.75 92.25 1.9 157.8 1.11 25.2 18.58 13.06 4.33 7.73 1.21 802 0.39 67.05 0.87 12.7 20.65 41.75 173.1 58.95 25.45 202.8 59.25

54 92.85 1.9 157.8 1.13 25.25 18.58 13.06 4.37 7.73 1.21 824.5 0.395 67.7 0.88 12.7 20.65 41.8 174.4 58.95 25.55 203 60

53.7 90.9 1.9 154.3 0.98 25 18.2 12.62 4.23 7.73 1.21 802 0.39 66 0.87 12.7 20.65 41.2 173 58.95 25.2 197.1 59

FINANCIALS 53.8 3,040 90.9 2,273,360 1.9 7,000 154.3 1,827,670 1.13 598,000 25.15 89,000 18.2 1,000 12.66 289,100 4.37 209,000 7.73 500 1.21 1,000 818 940 0.39 170,000 66.95 1,717,250 0.88 10,000 12.7 8,000 20.65 500 41.2 167,500 173.8 260 58.95 690 25.4 131,400 201 689,820 59 3,870

163,468 207,646,388.50 13,300 282,798,128 619,560 2,230,885 18,504 3,688,750 895,890 3,865 1,210 754,665 66,450 114,372,851 8,710 101,600 10,325 6,952,120 45,099 40,675.50 3,327,150 137,990,310 229,059.50

71,020 -112,937,048 -34,969,736 -613,635 -576,446 -6,045,659.50 -870 -3,612,540 -15,678 -1,285,835 313,821 5,310

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD 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 MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA 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

36.25 2.58 14.16 0.6 1.22 3.74 0.242 2.43 15.08 6.59 18.4 28.5 65.05 68.2 2.08 5.34 5.1 8.85 15.08 10.32 7.23 22.4 77.7 42.55 2.03 13.92 7.82 1.42 205 47.55 8.22 19 12.54 17.06 327 0.182 5.3 1.43 4.65 9.71 10.94 32.3 5.05 5.35 1.99 1.97 1.01 11.7 85 7.89 0.126 1.07 151.8 2.43 1.21 0.99

36.25 2.58 14.46 0.6 1.22 3.74 0.247 2.48 15.12 6.7 18.4 28.7 65.05 68.2 2.09 5.34 5.3 8.85 15.1 10.4 7.25 24 77.7 42.55 2.07 13.98 8.2 1.42 207.8 47.55 8.92 19 12.56 17.14 327 0.182 5.3 1.48 4.7 10 11 32.3 5.05 5.46 2.03 1.97 1.01 11.7 90 7.89 0.126 1.07 152.5 2.5 1.21 1.01

34.55 2.44 13.7 0.59 1.22 3.5 0.235 2.28 15 5.7 18 28.5 65.05 68.05 2.06 5.34 5.1 8.73 15 10.3 7.22 22.4 76.8 40.9 1.98 13.9 7.75 1.36 198.1 47.55 8 18.5 12.4 16.86 316 0.182 5.3 1.37 4.51 9.4 10.86 31.9 5 5.35 1.99 1.97 1 11.5 85 7.8 0.12 1.02 150 2.43 1.09 0.98

INDUSTRIAL 34.7 2,116,700 2.46 7,509,000 13.96 215,200 0.6 130,000 1.22 27,000 3.65 4,270,000 0.243 1,160,000 2.34 5,527,000 15.08 144,200 5.7 1,988,400 18 1,000 28.5 18,900 65.05 1,960 68.05 940 2.06 45,000 5.34 30,400 5.24 1,100 8.75 638,000 15.1 28,200 10.4 236,800 7.22 486,700 24 3,023,900 76.9 141,670 41.8 29,500 2.02 15,823,000 13.98 337,000 8.19 307,800 1.42 437,000 198.6 781,770 47.55 700 8.92 16,600 19 99,400 12.48 95,200 17.14 840,500 319 224,290 0.182 960,000 5.3 100 1.4 3,027,000 4.56 1,198,000 9.41 42,000 11 18,800 32 338,800 5 1,041,400 5.46 5,900 2 976,000 1.97 22,000 1 90,000 11.6 63,300 90 266,570 7.85 99,600 0.121 10,450,000 1.05 432,000 152 812,790 2.5 108,000 1.12 16,894,000 0.98 2,892,000

74,006,445 18,768,020 3,028,264 77,700 32,940 15,290,580 274,660 12,922,660 2,174,216 11,798,807 18,120 538,710 127,498 64,025 93,500 162,336 5,758 5,587,222 424,186 2,439,306 3,515,261 71,129,895 10,900,643 1,222,200 32,201,670 4,694,350 2,442,045 605,140 156,287,582 33,285 135,374 1,859,718 1,188,606 14,360,116 71,384,528 174,720 530 4,228,090 5,480,390 398,717 206,254 10,833,590 5,208,652 31,784 1,945,390 43,340 90,100 734,260 23,880,620.50 779,689 1,274,240 443,590 123,054,439 269,440 19,225,580 2,872,900

-49,537,000 -2,219,250 1,580,938 2,520,460 3,031,560 841,294 -238,286 -28,560 -1,909,714 99,556 -90,860 -1,790,663 -10,706,920 -7,859,329.50 -136,490 -756,270.00 -2,441,760 1,516,934 -49,549,993 -181,434 -94,886 -6,371,414.00 -14,310,096 -282,240 -778,950 -14,234 -1,786,775.00 -4,933,650 -20,865 96,280 4,683,627.50 62,400 -35,069,206 269,440 -10,624,730 -

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

0.8 50.75 11.3 0.75 6.79 12.56 0.91 0.98 825 3.44 7.02 6.97 13.38 0.21 890 77.75 0.51 3.99 13 0.55 4.67 0.036 1.26 160 1,070 0.84 1.25 215 0.212 0.226

0.8 51.9 11.36 0.75 6.8 12.7 0.97 0.99 825.5 3.45 7.07 7.05 13.38 0.21 890 77.95 0.51 4.06 13 0.58 4.67 0.037 1.3 160 1,070 0.84 1.25 215 0.215 0.226

0.76 50.5 11.12 0.69 6.79 12.34 0.91 0.97 810 3.38 7 6.67 13.38 0.205 871.5 75.55 0.485 3.99 12.7 0.54 4.42 0.036 1.25 157.6 1,050 0.83 1.22 213.6 0.211 0.226

HOLDING FIRMS 10,258,000 0.78 51.9 659,120 11.22 12,195,100 0.72 336,000 6.8 2,100 12.34 4,500 0.95 2,479,000 0.98 1,314,000 811 288,730 3.38 2,652,000 7.04 5,534,900 6.7 38,521,300 13.38 300 0.205 170,000 876.5 74,390 77.95 915,830 0.5 455,000 4.04 35,000 12.8 4,029,200 0.58 150,000 4.42 18,592,000 0.037 200,000 1.3 137,000 160 96,340 1,070 232,485 0.84 271,000 1.24 320,000 213.6 340 0.211 240,000 0.226 110,000

8,007,730 33,820,808.50 136,706,100 237,600 14,260 56,180 2,347,640 1,282,570 234,323,605 9,011,690 39,005,097 259,849,224 4,014 35,650 65,220,695 70,504,405.50 223,045 141,130 51,641,678 83,540 83,491,520 7,300 171,400 15,399,338 247,838,480 225,090 395,010 72,838 51,140 24,860

-913,900 -18,213,763.50 -2,582,852 541,000 -94,344,925 -160,330 5,665,353 -136,530,030 -43,803,890 -21,858,734.50 -29,279,242 -27,772,740 -8,162,877 48,343,310 -8,400 -

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

14.84 0.78 8.85 1.63 0.93 45.7 2.01 4.82 6.4 0.59 0.84 0.194 0.435 10.26 19.6 0.455 0.121 1.55 1.25 4.65 0.234 0.395 1.36 0.37

14.86 0.79 8.85 1.68 0.95 45.7 2.02 4.82 6.7 0.6 0.86 0.2 0.445 10.28 19.6 0.455 0.121 1.56 1.25 4.65 0.234 0.395 1.37 0.37

14.8 0.71 8.83 1.63 0.84 44.15 2 4.7 6.2 0.58 0.84 0.194 0.43 10.24 18.78 0.45 0.12 1.53 1.23 4.56 0.213 0.395 1.29 0.36

PROPERTY 14.82 7,338,200 0.76 3,503,000 8.83 5,000 1.68 11,000 0.86 10,582,000 45.2 13,189,200 2.01 5,810,000 4.78 48,000 6.7 7,700 0.58 3,149,000 0.86 25,000 0.2 30,000 0.43 1,560,000 10.26 1,718,000 18.86 308,400 0.45 1,930,000 0.121 400,000 1.54 6,388,000 1.24 610,000 4.6 12,937,000 0.216 28,980,000 0.395 310,000 1.32 5,213,000 430,000 0.36

108,895,664 2,659,230 44,190 17,980 9,097,150 593,758,920 11,680,610 227,600 48,070 1,836,640 21,020 5,880 673,850 17,626,600 5,893,428 869,900 48,350 9,876,880 754,710 59,441,170 6,527,090 122,450 6,890,400 155,200

-109,650 169,660 -89,560,815 10,588,600.00 85,960 17,275,718 -509,948 -2,622,880 -13,791,090 58,780 622,920 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

2.02 25.5 2.16 39.7 2.45 1.55 7.61 5.2

2.03 25.85 2.18 39.75 2.49 1.57 7.65 5.25

2 25.25 2.16 38.45 2.43 1.52 7.59 4.9

2.01 25.65 2.18 39 2.48 1.52 7.62 5.25

650,000 1,868,600 25,000 11,666,600 233,000 3,801,000 2,484,300 145,100

1,307,430 47,811,060 54,380 453,785,045 570,260 5,842,490 18,920,909 729,631

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

10.1 17.32 1.53 11.64 0.47 0.039 18 2.62 10.94 94.4 6.91 6.31 5.5 1.97 8.88 1,907 5.28 426 1.4 121 7.91 3.35 4.5 2.27 2.98 0.91 18.58 0.53 3.39 2.36 1.04 3.08 2.55 7.95 150 2.8 1,100 0.64 0.44 39.9 75.5 8.81 2.75 0.67 0.305 0.62 18.04

10.1 17.32 1.53 11.64 0.47 0.039 18.1 2.66 11.4 94.4 6.91 6.46 5.5 2.04 8.88 1,948 5.31 426 1.4 125 7.91 3.35 4.58 2.27 3 0.91 18.58 0.54 3.4 2.36 1.05 3.08 2.55 8 150 2.82 1,107 0.66 0.45 40 76.3 9.15 2.78 0.68 0.305 0.62 18.18

10 17.1 1.52 11.46 0.46 0.039 18 2.59 10.86 91 6.9 5.89 4.8 1.97 8.83 1,901 5.27 416 1.33 120.8 7.9 2.4 4.28 2.03 2.9 0.91 18.2 0.45 3.39 2.25 0.98 2.8 2.49 7.9 150 2.68 1,085 0.62 0.41 39.5 75 8.81 2.59 0.66 0.3 0.62 17.68

SERVICES 10 17.2 1.52 11.5 0.47 0.039 18 2.59 11.4 91.2 6.9 5.91 5.1 2.04 8.83 1,937 5.28 416 1.33 122 7.9 2.4 4.31 2.18 2.9 0.91 18.22 0.45 3.4 2.25 1.05 2.82 2.55 7.95 150 2.74 1,098 0.62 0.42 40 76.3 9.15 2.64 0.67 0.3 0.62 17.68

2,500 79,900 139,000 7,912,700 2,430,000 200,000 428,100 529,000 1,861,900 40,190 6,200 2,258,700 249,500 6,000 38,200 97,940 123,000 170 670,000 2,556,290 2,600 72,000 2,581,000 277,000 1,178,000 2,000 30,800 4,448,000 90,000 1,724,000 140,000 6,751,000 18,000 4,200 40 842,000 93,070 6,287,000 10,210,000 998,500 204,390 5,100 3,869,000 2,067,000 5,260,000 1,281,000 916,900

25,070 1,372,070 212,330 91,069,402 1,121,500 7,800 7,705,900 1,376,090 20,831,210 3,670,347 42,814 13,794,324 1,240,694 11,890 337,940 189,661,010 650,872 72,310 908,440 311,332,892 20,560 205,530 11,370,000 589,050 3,440,100 1,820 562,852 2,109,700 305,190 3,944,940 139,840 19,613,750 45,720 33,315 6,000 2,283,820 101,904,810 3,959,190 4,365,700 39,839,080 15,591,299.50 46,401 10,266,160 1,384,820 1,580,750 794,220 16,341,922

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

0.0016 10.62 1.1 2.56 11.68 2.52 0.275 7.27 1.9 0.212 0.103 0.0086 1.02 3.41 1.07 0.57 0.82 0.011 0.012 3.28 11.9 21.9 0.0061

0.0017 11.16 1.11 2.56 11.68 2.52 0.28 7.6 1.9 0.212 0.103 0.0086 1.03 3.41 1.07 0.66 0.82 0.011 0.012 3.28 11.9 21.95 0.0061

0.0016 9.8 1.09 2.56 10.5 2.51 0.27 7.24 1.81 0.203 0.102 0.0086 1 3.22 1.04 0.54 0.8 0.011 0.011 3.21 11.42 19.76 0.0056

MINING & OIL 0.0016 258,000,000 10.38 3,957,700 1.09 167,000 2.56 100,000 11.1 26,100 2.52 269,000 0.27 520,000 7.5 3,700 1.81 7,353,000 0.209 180,000 0.102 1,250,000 0.0086 6,000,000 1.02 1,060,000 3.26 7,973,000 1.06 5,000 0.58 4,241,000 0.81 411,000 0.011 200,000 0.011 20,600,000 3.25 62,000 11.42 751,300 19.76 4,759,800 0.0058 29,000,000

412,900 41,050,291 183,480 256,000 289,766 676,150 141,750 27,251 13,439,960 36,750 128,090 51,600 1,069,590 26,045,740 5,280 2,528,220 329,230 2,200 227,300 200,950 8,748,328 98,841,814 172,800

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF C DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 4 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

17 103 100.1 506 5.1 99.7 1.02 1,060 101 1,030 78.35 75.15 76 77 75.15 75.2 75.2

17 103 101 506 5.1 99.7 1.02 1,065 101 1,030 78.5 75.15 76 77 75.15 75.2 75.2

16.9 103 100.1 506 5.09 99.7 1.01 1,060 101 1,025 78.35 75.15 75 77 75.05 75.2 75.2

PREFERRED 16.9 51,600 103 9,000 101 5,500 506 1,870 5.09 50,000 99.7 80 1.01 31,000 1,065 430 101 60 1,025 2,020 78.35 8,010 75.15 10,000 75 2,250 77 7,750 75.1 82,210 75.2 8,000 75.2 21,850

877,060 927,000 555,050 946,220 254,502 7,976 31,410 456,175 6,060 2,070,600 627,588 751,500 170,870 596,750 6,174,348.50 601,600 1,643,120

LR WARRANT

1.45

1.45

1.4

WARRANTS 1.4 121,000

171,890

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

4.96 11.82 2.56 0.96

4.96 12.16 2.56 0.96

4.7 11.52 2.5 0.87

4.75 11.6 2.5 0.87

FIRST METRO ETF

118.3

118.3

116.5

MS USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.28 0.95

Trading Summary

10.28 0.95

SHARES

FINANCIAL

8,415,092

INDUSTRIAL

88,077,181

HOLDING FIRMS

103,905,058

PROPERTY

142,171,755

SERVICES

71,300,176

MINING & OIL

347,500,501

GRAND TOTAL

781,108,340

10.08 0.94

SME

674,000 747,700 45,000 18,244,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.6 18,040 DDS 10.08 0.94

6,020 63,900

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP -17,390,655 -222,199,845 -73,800 -9,201,786 -76,500 -40,823,744 -9,950 2,734,200 3,723,480 -2,082,303.50 9,674 -120,013 -988,240 140,090,465 8,000 -42,647,347 15,000 260,100 461,620 -358,256.00 57,790 247,970 -6,000 -62,740 -28,500,355 -482,950 -41,700 899,955 -15,059,525.50 3,393,320 -97,210 4,348,068.00 -283,196 -13,320 -126,000 -6,370,940 59,590 -10,553,660 102,840 108,830 -10,367,050 659,700 18,870 -

3,245,280 8,761,116 113,720 16,272,750

211,920 8,330 174,130

2,111,691

-

60,885.60 60,202

-

VALUE 1,880.29 (down) 32.71 805,493,422.06 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 9,880.67 (down) 109.09 764,213,685.942 HOLDING FIRMS 7,755.15 (down) 33.47 1,315,201,172.98 PROPERTY 4,035.26 (down) 56.52 SERVICES 1,542.53 (down) 7.09 1,684,342,535.932 MINING & OIL 7,984.61 (down) 496.42 924,137,299.442 PSEI 7,818.89 (down) 79.17 194,871,013.9896 All Shares Index 4,670.76 (down) 46.64 5,718,803,031.61 Gainers: 38; Losers: 157; Unchanged: 41; Total: 236

Meralco opens new substation in Bridgetowne of Robinsons

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co. inaugurated Thursday one its most technologically advanced power infrastructures, an integrated and fully-automated Gas-Insulated Switchgear substation that will power Bridgetowne, the premiere township development project of Robinsons Land Corp..

The new substation at Bridgetowne, which straddles the cities of Pasig and Quezon City, is part of Meralco’s roadmap to ensure adequate and reliable power supply to the growing needs of the locators within the 31-hectare project.

Bridgetowne is comprised of residential condominiums, office buildings, shopping centers, a five-star hotel, as well as parks, a school, a hospital and public art installation.

“RLC allowed Meralco to build this substation for the exponential growth expected for Bridgetowne,” Meralco president Ray Espinosa said during the launching ceremonies.

Meralco’s facility, with an initial capacity of 83 mega volt-ampere, is situated in a 1,293 square-meter parcel of land provided by RLC through a collaborative real estate arrangement. Residential communities in the area are set to benefit from the Bridgetowne substation.

“The Bridgetowne substation will definitely improve dependability and reliability of electricity service in the Bridgetowne community and surrounding growth areas, as it relieves expected critical loading of nearby Hillcrest, Cainta, and SM-Shangri-la substations. Likewise, the new technology utilized is expected to deliver an unprecedented amount of functionality for the benefit of Meralco and its customers,” said Meralco head of networks Ronnie Aperocho.

Meralco’s digital substations include Valencia substation in N. Domingo in San Juan and the Pagcor substation near Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Other digital substations up for installation include Eton Centris in Quezon City, Net Park and Arca South in Taguig and Escoda in Manila.

Proximity to a substation improves electric reliability and dependability, making it more enticing for businesses and BPOs to move their office spaces into Bridgetowne.

PayMaya adopts QR code standard of Bangko Sentral

By Darwin G. Amojelar PAYMAYA Philippines Inc. became the first e-wallet in the Philippines to officially adopt QR Ph, the national QR code standard launched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

PayMaya users can now receive money transfers from other institutions such as UnionBank, LandBank, Chinabank, AUB and RCBC through the QR Ph code generated within the PayMaya app, represented by the QRPh logo in the middle of the code bearing the national colors of the Philippines.

QR Ph is available for person-to-person (P2P) fund transfers upon launch but will soon be expanded for merchant QR payments.

“This is yet another milestone initiative that will help accelerate the adoption of digital payments across the country. We congratulate the BSP for spearheading the launch of the national QR code standard, QR Ph, as we reaffirm our commitment at PayMaya to fully support all efforts for wider cashless adoption and financial inclusion for all Filipinos,” said PayMaya founder and chief executive Orlando Vea. With QR Ph launched and for full implementation by June 2020, more Filipinos as well as micro and small enterprises are expected to onboard the formal financial system as they are now able to easily do inter-operable electronic fund transfers and digital payments for their day-to-day transactions using their mobile phones.

The adoption of QR Ph is a collaboration between the BSP and Philippines Payments Management Inc., the country’s payment system management body under the National Retail Payment System regulatory framework. PayMaya is a member of the PPMI. Aside from integrating QR Ph to its app, PayMaya has been working with government agencies including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Social Security System, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

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World

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HK campus stalemate persists as US bill sets up China clash

INSTALLATION. Workers install a Christmas tree on the Grand Place square in the city center of Brussels on November 21, 2019.

AFP

HONG KONG―Hard-line Hong Kong protesters held their ground on Thursday in a university besieged for days by police as the US passed a bill praising the city’s pro-democracy movement, setting up a likely clash between Washington and Beijing.

Beijing did not immediately respond to the passage in Washington of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which voices strong support for the “democratic aspirations of the Hong Kong people.”

But China had already threatened retaliation if the bill is signed into law by President Donald Trump, and state-run media warned Thursday the legislation would not prevent Beijing from intervening forcefully to stop the “mess” gripping the financial hub.

“Some may expect this to deter Beijing. Such thinking is naive,” the Global Times said.

“If we take this US bill seriously and shrink from tackling riots, Hong Kong will suffer from an accelerated collapse of the rule of law and be erased

Top diplomat implicates Trump in explosive impeach revelation W ASHINGTON―A senior US diplomat directly implicated President Donald Trump Wednesday in a scheme to force Ukraine to probe a political rival, in bombshell testimony to a televised impeachment hearing.

Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, told lawmakers he followed the president’s orders in seeking a “quid pro quo” deal for Ukraine to investigate Democrat Joe Biden in exchange for a White House summit.

Sondland said Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani led the effort at Trump’s direction to pressure Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky for the investigation and that top officials in the White House and State Department knew about it.

The unexpectedly damning testimony drew a sharp backlash from Trump who tweeted: “This Witch Hunt must end NOW. So bad for our Country!”.

Trump said he barely knew Sondland and had not

spoken to him much, despite the senior diplomat having donated $1 million to his inauguration and testifying that he had spoken to the president some 20 times while ambassador.

Democrats said Sondland’s seven hours of testimony before the House Intelligence Committee had bolstered their case for Trump’s impeachment for what they have labeled “extortion”.

“Today’s testimony is among the most significant evidence to date,” said committee chairman Adam Schiff.

“It goes right to the heart of the issue of bribery as well as other potential high crimes or misdemeanors.”

A succession of Democrats hoping to win the nomination to take on Trump in next year’s election also said the testimony had strengthened the case for impeachment as the issue dominated the opening exchanges in their latest televised primary debate.

Sondland said Trump directed him and two other senior diplomats to work with Giuliani.

From early in the year, Giuliani mounted a pressure campaign on Zelensky’s government to investigate Biden over his son Hunter’s ties to a Ukrainian energy

company, Burisma, and to probe a conspiracy theory espoused by Trump that Ukraine helped Democrats against him in 2016. Biden is one of the favorites to challenge Trump in next year’s presidential election.

“Mr. Giuliani demanded that Ukraine make a public statement announcing the investigations of the 2016 election/DNC server and Burisma,” Sondland told the panel.

“Mr Giuliani’s requests were a quid pro quo for arranging a White House visit for President Zelensky.”

Far from being a “rogue” operation outside normal US diplomatic channels, Sondland told the hearing top officials―including Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo―were kept constantly informed.

“We followed the president’s orders,” he said.

Like Trump a multimillionaire developer with a chain of high-end hotels, Sondland, who wore a $55,000 Breguet white gold watch to the hearing, fended off pressure from both Democrats and Republicans.

He had not implicated the president in earlier private testimony, when he answered scores of questions by saying he could “not remember”. AFP

Pope Francis kicks off Asia tour with temple visit BANGKOK―Pope Francis will visit one of Thailand’s famed gilded temples Thursday to meet the supreme Buddhist patriarch, on the first full day of his Asian tour aimed at promoting religious harmony.

The 82-year-old pontiff is on his first visit to Buddhist majority Thailand, where he will spend four days before setting off to Japan.

His packed schedule a day after touching down in Bangkok includes a meeting with the king and the prime minister before leading an evening mass expected to draw tens of thousands of people from across Thailand, where just over 0.5 percent of the population is Catholic.

He also has an appointment with the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch at the glittering gold Ratchabophit temple in Thailand’s historic old quarter, built 150 years ago by Thailand’s former king mixing traditional and gothic styles.

It is a highly symbolic visit for the head of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics, who carries a message of peace, religious tolerance and nuclear disarmament on his sweep through Asia.

“Pope Francis always respects other religions, always treats his counterparts with respect... that’s why he would like to pay respect to the leader” of the Buddhist faith in Thailand, said Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, who helped with some of the visit planning.

Before arriving, Francis praised the Southeast Asian country as a “multiethnic nation”, and hoped his trip would strengthen the Catholic community’s bonds of friendship with “many Buddhist brothers and sisters”.

Earlier Thursday the Pope was met

by Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Cha-O-Cha at government house for a red carpet welcome with dozens of top officials.

He was accompanied by his cousin Sister Ana Rosa, who has lived in Thailand for decades and will be accompanying the pontiff as a translator. AFP

from the modern world.”

Hong Kong’s benchmark stock index fell 1.56 percent in morning trade and other Asian markets also slid over fears that Congress’s move could throw a spanner into the delicate USChina effort to reach a trade deal between the world’s two largest economies.

There was a noticeable reduction in the police presence at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), which entered the fifth day of a stalemate that has emerged as the axis of the city’s increasingly angry democracy movement.

Fiery clashes between police and protesters armed with bows, arrows and Molotov cocktails had caused injuries on both sides in previous days and led hundreds of the campus occupants to flee, with most of them quickly arrested by police.

They included two protesters held on Wednesday as they tried to emerge from a sewer around half a kilometer outside the campus.AFP

IN BRIEF US-born panda arrives in China

BEIJING―The US-born giant panda Bei Bei has arrived in southwestern China after a 16-hour flight, with plenty of bamboo for him to munch on as he settled into his new home.

The four-year-old cub, whose name means “precious, treasure” in Mandarin, appeared to be contentedly eating and ambling around his new cage at a research center in Sichuan province, according to the images broadcast Thursday by state broadcaster CGTN. Bei Bei traveled aboard a specially outfitted Boeing 777F cargo plane called the “Panda Express”―paid for by FedEx―accompanied by his keeper from the National Zoo in Washington and more than 70 pounds of bamboo and other treats.

China lends pandas to zoos around the world― a program dubbed “panda diplomacy”.

Once young pandas reach the age of four, they are repatriated to breed with other pandas at sanctuaries in China. The animals are considered “vulnerable” to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Bei Bei was welcomed “home” on Thursday with a ceremony at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Sichuan, local media reported. AFP

18 jihadists killed by police

OUAGADOUGOU―Burkina Faso authorities said 18 “terrorists” were killed when they attempted to attack a police base in the north of the country, where security services have been struggling to quell a rising jihadist revolt.

“The attackers were repulsed thanks to a prompt response,” police said in a statement after Wednesday’s assault in Arbinda, Soum Province.

One police officer was killed and seven officers were injured, the statement added.

Weapons, motorcycles and GPS equipment belonging to the jihadists were recovered from the scene.

It comes after the Burkina Faso army said it had killed 32 “terrorists” last week in two operations in the north of the impoverished and politically fragile Sahel country.

The country’s badly equipped, poorly trained and underfunded security forces have been unable to stem jihadist violence, which has intensified throughout 2019 to become almost daily.

Attacks have been claimed by a range of jihadist groups, including Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

The Sahel region, including Burkina Faso’s neighbors Mali and Niger, has been afflicted by the violence despite the presence of the regional G5 Sahel force as well as troops from the US and former colonial power France. AFP

Bush fire threat spreads in Australia

PREMIERE. Clint Eastwood and Director of AFI Festivals Michael Lumpkin attend the ‘Richard Jewell”’premiere during AFI FEST 2019 Presented By Audi at TCL Chinese Theater on November 20, 2019’ in Hollywood, California. AFP

‘Google, Facebook business models threat to rights’ SAN FRANCISCO—The data-collection business model fueling Facebook and Google represents a threat to human rights around the world, Amnesty International said in a report Wednesday.

The organization argued that offering people free online services and then using information about them to target money-making ads imperils a gamut of rights, including freedom of opinion and expression.

“Despite the real value of the services they provide, Google and Facebook’s platforms come at a systemic cost,” Amnesty said in its report, “Surveillance Giants.”

“The companies’ surveillance-based business model forces people to make a Faustian bargain, whereby they are only able to enjoy their human rights online by submitting to a system predi-

cated on human rights abuse.”

With ubiquitous surveillance, the two online giants are able to collect massive amounts of data which may be used against their customers, according to the London-based human rights group.

The business model is “inherently incompatible with the right to privacy,” Amnesty contended.

The report maintained that the two Silicon Valley firms have established “near-total dominance over the primary channels through which people connect and engage with the online world,” giving them unprecedented power over people’s lives.

“Google and Facebook dominate our modern lives―amassing unparalleled power over the digital world by harvesting and monetizing the personal data of billions of people,” said

Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s secretary general.

“Their insidious control of our digital lives undermines the very essence of privacy and is one of the defining human rights challenges of our era.”

The report called for governments to implement policies that ensure access to online services while protecting user privacy.

“Governments have an obligation to protect people from human rights abuses by corporations,” Amnesty maintained.

“But for the past two decades, technology companies have been largely left to self-regulate.”

Facebook pushed back against what it contended were inaccuracies in the report, saying it strongly disagreed with its business model being characterized as surveillance-based. AFP

SYDNEY―The fire danger was elevated across wider swathes of southern Australia on Thursday, with residents warned to avoid at-risk areas as smoke from bush fires choked Sydney and other major cities.

Devastating fires along the country’s east coast have claimed six lives and destroyed more than 500 homes since mid-October, with climate change and unseasonably hot, dry conditions fueling the unprecedented blazes.

Now the fire danger has moved into states further south, with a so-called “Code Red”―the highest possible fire risk in Victoria―being declared in the state’s northwest for the first time in a decade.

“What that means is that if we see fires in those areas they will be fast moving, they will be unpredictable, they will be uncontrollable,” emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters.

Country Fire Authority chief Steve Warrington told people living in rural areas to leave for the safety of cities. AFP

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that UNIVERSAL POWER SOLUTIONS, INC. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of 40MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Component of Integrated Renewable Power Facility Hub (R-HUB) in Laoag, Ilocos Norte on a Pioneer Status under Book I of EO 226 otherwise known as the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, as amended.

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

NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service M. Standard – Nov. 22, 2019

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

B4

LGUs

Balangay is the first-ever wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia demonstrating early Filipino boat-building and seamanship expertise during pre-colonial times.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

National boat declaration for balangay sought A LAWMAKER has called on his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a measure declaring the balangay as the country’s national boat on or before December 14, or 500 days before the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan and the First Circumnavigation of the World.

“I am hoping the House Bill No. 4953 will be approved in the chamber in time for the start of the 500-day countdown on December 14 to highlight the boatbuilding and seafaring genius of our ancestors,” said Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun, principal author of the bill.

“This next 2,000-kilometer round trip balangay voyage would take about a month to complete,” he added.

The measure has already been ap-

proved on second reading at the House rently berthed and cross the Sulu Sea to of Representatives. reach Butuan, the ancient kingdom of The balangay boats will sail from San Filipinos’ pre-colonial ancestors.

Vicente, Palawan where these are cur“It will be a great honor to join the

representatives from the City of Butuan From Butuan, the balangay boats will to welcome the balangay boats,” said sail to Cebu-Mactan with a few brief Fortun who served as Butuan City vice stops along the way before returning to mayor before joining Congress.

Palawan.

63 Cotabato brgys join BARMM Sinarimbo said the 63 barangays have voted consistently in favor of joining the autonomous region in three past plebiscites. Their previous affirmative votes, however, had been overturned by the negative vote at the municipal and provincial levels.

“We are happy that they are now with us as we transition to the next level of the struggle,” Murad said.

During the plebiscite in February, 63 villages in the municipalities of Midsayap, Aleosan, Pikit and Kabacan voted overwhelmingly to join the BARMM and

By Nash Maulana

C

OTABATO CITY—All 63 barangays of Cotabato Province that voted favorably to be part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have officially joined the region.

Acting Governor Emilou TaliñoMendoza led the turnover to top Bangsamoro officials on Wednesday.

“In behalf of the BARMM, the Ministers, the Members of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority,

we hereby officially acknowledge and accept the 63 barangays of North Cotabato that voted to be part of the Bangsamoro Government,” BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim said.

BARMM Interior Minister Naguib

ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The turnover was witnessed by top BARMM officials, including Deputy Minister Hatimil Hasan, Public Works Minister Eduard Guerra, Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua, Cotabato Provincial Board Member Kelly Antao, and regional information chief Norodin Salam.

Macacua said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is grateful to Mendoza, her fellow local officials, the barangay executives of the 63 villages and their constituents for their efforts in pushing for the in-

clusion of those areas into the BARMM. “We are honored to be reunited with our brothers and sisters in Cotabato Province who have been separated from us in the last 40 years by a Presidential Decree (341), issued by then President Marcos, though it was never subjected to a plebiscite,” Sinarimbo said.

Sinarimbo said the transfer of the local of local government jurisdiction was “not about separation; but is about reuniting our people. It is not about creating boundaries; but is about building a bridge to reconnect them.”

‘Hero’ Coast Guard member gets promoted

TRAILBLAZING. Makati City, represented by Mayor Abigail Binay (center), made it to the top 6 finalists in the Innovative Idea category of the World Smart Cities Awards held Wednesday in Barcelona, Spain. Makati is the sole Philippine finalist in the Smart City World Expo Congress.

DPWH starts building P50m farm-to-market roads in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY—The Department of Public Works and Highways has started the construction of the P50 million worth farm-to-market road projects in various villages in central Leyte.

Of the nine FMR road projects, seven are ongoing and two have yet to start,

Gerald Pacanan, Public Works Leyte 2nd district office chief said.

Among the ongoing projects are in Cabariwan village in Dagami town; Hibunawon and Sagcahan both in Jaro town; and roads linking Lima to Socsocon, Arabunog to Cancaraja, and Mana-

banay to Sapsap in Pastrana town.

The construction of these projects started in the last week of September and early October this year. The target completion is early next year.

“These projects are expected to help increase agricultural productivity in the

BTA seeks support for child rights

By Nash Maulana COTABATO CITY—The parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority has adopted a resolution calling on the legislative body to help provide support to the Bangsamoro Children’s Declaration in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children.

Authored by Bangsamoro Social Welfare Minister Raissa Jajurie, BTA Parliament Resolution 147 was overwhelmingly co-authored by practically all the 60 BTA parliament members present during Wednesday’s deliberation.

Bangsamoro children are among the poorest in the country and are left behind under all major indicators of development: · Child poverty is highest in BARMM at 63.1 percent, twice as high as the national average at 31.4 percent; at least 1.6 million

out of 2.5 million children in BARMM are living below the poverty line. · An estimated 260,000 children are not in school, and only one in five children from those enrolled complete elementary education. · Every year, 400,000 adolescents who could be in school are not. · Around 300,000 children below the age of 5 or one in two children are chronically malnourished and stunted, compared to one in three children stunted nationwide. · Less than 30 per cent of infants are fully vaccinated. · At least 70 percent of children do not have access to toilets at home and over 30 percent of schools are without toilets.

“Almost 30 years after the Philippines ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, far too many children are still left behind particularly in BARMM,” said Karin Hulshof, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific.

area and provide residents better access to basic social services such as health and education,” Pacanan said.

He said this development will benefit all commuters by providing them smooth and convenient transport from farming communities to commercial centers. PNA

CEBU CITY—Apart from being promoted to the next higher rank, the Philippine Coast Guard member hailed for his heroic acts amid the sea tragedy off Sibonga, Cebu is being considered for commissionship starting with the initial rank of Ensign.

Ralph Barajan is now a full-fledged Petty Officer 2nd Class after the Coast Guard promoted him for his “exemplary act” during the sinking of M/V Siargao Princess on Nov. 7.

PCG Staff Chief Commodore William Isaga announced Barajan’s promotion during the 52nd founding anniversary of the Coast Guard at its Central Visayas station here Wednesday afternoon.

Isaga said Barajan, who is a registered nurse, only needs to submit the required documents and undergo an almost one-year training before the PCG would confer him the Ensign rank.

“Really, a hero is not just a six-foot tall masculine figure. A hero is an ordinary person, doing an extraordinary job in an extraordinary situation, and I think that definition fits the newly promoted PO 2nd class officer Barajan. I am so happy that of all the people inside the unfortunate ship, there was a Coast Guard. It made me so proud to be a Coast Guard,” Isaga said. PNA UNICEF Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Karin Hulshof and UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyun Dendevnorov (middle, front row) pose with Bangsamoro youth representatives at the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and World Children’s Day on Nov. 20 November, the Parliament passed a resolution calling for the BTA’s full support of the Bangsamoro Children’s Agenda.

UNICEF Philippines

Life

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

YOUNG LIFE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

C1

Compliments:

Hard to give, harder to receive

By Angelica Villanueva

P

RAISES such as “You look great today!” are usually shot down with a shy “No.”

Many people think twice before giving someone a compliment, while other cringe when they receive any kind of praise directed towards them.

And don’t get us started on Filipinos.

Pinoys are generally shy, a trait which influences how we behave and interact with others. In fact, this concept is so ingrained in us that Australia’s Cultural Atlas said, “Filipinos may be more motivated to succeed by a fear of shame rather than fear of failing the task at hand.”

Many Filipinos tend to feel shy and conscious when

given a compliment, often arguing that it is not true for fear of seeming overconfident.

Psychologists say receptivity to compliments is a reflection of our self-esteem and deep feeling of self-worth. “In other words, receiving praise from others when we feel negatively about ourselves elicits discomfort because it conflicts with our existing belief system,” said Guy Winch, Ph.D. But again, culture plays a big role, he said.

In a social experiment led by Mentos Philippines, actors Paulo Avelino and Gabbi Garcia were tasked to compliment mall-goers through a small digital screen posing as static ads. They would try to get the attention of passersby at the mall and interact with them by paying them compliments. The social experiment culminated with Paulo and Gabbi revealing that they were actually at the mall.

MAKE SOMEONE'S DAY WITH COMPLIMENTOS. Bestselling candy brand Mentos makes giving and

receiving compliments easier with its limited edition CompliMENTOS whose packaging comes with a compliment.

Gabbi Garcia and Paulo Avelino encourage more people to give and openly receive compliments.

Through the social experiment, Paulo said, “I learned that people were shy and embarrassed at first, but they were thrilled to receive compliments and nice comments. They sort of lost their shyness.”

Meanwhile, Gabbi learned that compliments provided a sort of connection with the people she met.

“What I saw was how they were not just flattered but touched by the compliments,” she shared.

The experiment revealed how Filipinos remain self-critical or too modest to accept, let alone believe, compliments.

Vision Board Coach Trixie Baretto Esguerra, also known as “Positivitrix,” said that speaking the truth, appreciating the outside appearance, and

giving people a nice and genuine smile are the basic steps of giving someone a compliment.

Positivitrix also said people must always practice giving compliments with each other for three reasons: it makes the world a better place; it is engaging; and it is not for sale.

To encourage more Filipinos to give and receive compliments, Mentos brings to the country its limited edition CompliMENTOS. The roll features a new packaging with 16 different compliments such as “You fill me with excite-mint,” “You are super cool,” and “You make my world roll.”

Mentos CompliMENTOS is now available at Shopee and in all supermarkets nationwide.

BULLETIN BOARD

PLM students learn emergency preparedness, response

Eco-friendly

earbuds

House of Marley's Liberate Air True Wireless Earphones are made of sustainable materials such as bamboo, recycled silicone, and upcycled fabric.

THESE pair of earbuds sound great for the environment.

House of Marley’s (HOM) Liberate Air True Wireless Earphones, made from sustainable materials such as bamboo, recycled silicone, and fabric, are now available in the Philippines.

Liberate Air is the audio brand’s answer to better-for-theplanet alternatives that offer quality audio that don’t come at the expense of the environment.

“We strive to reduce our environmental impact by using materials such as non-toxic silicone, wood-fiber composite resin, and ground plastic. From sustainably harvested materials to upcycled fabrics, our products are eco-friendly, including the packaging,” said Sunil Karamchandani, chief operating officer of Innovee Trading, the exclusive distributor of House of Marley in the Philippines.

Each pair of Liberate Air was engineered with audio systems that deliver HOM’s “signature sound” that highlights the energy, emotion, and detail of every recording. It is resistant to sweat and water droplets, and has a sensor-activated touch control technology feature for easy use.

The wireless pair’s two-hour charging time offers a ninehour onboard battery life and an additional 32-hour playtime stored in its case for another two hours of charging. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 that easily pairs with any device with Bluetooth connectivity within a 10-meter range Now available at Power Mac Center, Liberate Air is welcomed into the store’s comprehensive list of audio tech offerings through “Sounds Good! Coastal Cleanup,” a 100 percent sustainable event done in partnership with HOM and non-profit organization CORA (Communities Organized for

NEARLY 1,000 students of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila recently joined a seminar on emergency preparedness and response organized by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications.

Smart brought to PLM its TNT Tropang Ready caravan, which featured lectures, games, and other interactive activities geared toward educating the public on disaster preparedness.

During the event, the participants learned practical tips on what to do in cases of fire, typhoon, flood, or earthquakes, among other calamities, as well as basic first aid skills.

The Tropang Ready program aims to empower the youth with prepar-

edness and response skills that will enable them to mobilize members of their families and communities in times of calamities.

Since 2016, the TNT Tropang Ready caravan has been to nearly 20 state universities and colleges all over the Philippines, and conducted trainings on disaster preparedness and response to more than 30,000 students.

TNT Tropang Ready is part of Smart’s #SafePH program, which promotes preparedness through network resilience, and continuous availability of communication services and mobile solutions and activities that help communities mitigate disaster risks.

HOM's eco-friendly earbuds deliver quality sound and come with sensor-activated touch control technology.

Resource Allocation) Philippines, held at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.

“With the recent ‘Sounds Good!’ coastal cleanup, our goal is to not only support HOM and its strong commitment to its advocacy, but also give back for the protection of the environment,” said Joey Alvarez, PMC director of product management, marketing, and space planning.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila students learn basic first aid skills during the TNT Tropang Ready caravan.

Entertainment

C2 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

McCartney to headline 50th Glastonbury festival

HERE’S a “little” competition happening between KyCine and SethDrea, the love team of Kyle Echarri and Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin and Andrea Brillantes, respectively.

The onscreen tandems are asking their fans to vote via a Facebook poll that runs until today.

T

“It’s just a friendly competition. It’s up to the fans whether or not they want to see our movie first. But both movies are good. It’s just a matter of which movie will be seen by the audience depending on the result of the poll,” says Kyle who is starring opposite Francine in Silly Red Shoes.

The digital movie revolves around sweet and shy Chuck (Kyle) and simple and good-hearted Ashley (Francine).

Planning to revive his family’s worn out shoe business, Chuck asks for the help of Ashley to model a new pair of shoes for a contest. Insecure of her “alien feet,” which change sizes every day, Ashley finds a reliable and determined shoemaker in Chuck.

As the two grow closer, they discover a secret behind a mysterious pair of red shoes that seem to be too perfect for Ashley.

Seth Fedelin, Francine Diaz, Andrea Brillantes, and Kyle Echarri attend the back-to-back press conference for their iWant movies.

GOLD SQUAD movies mark

iWant 1st anniversary fred Vargas, Criza Taa, Jin Macapagal, and Victor Neri in the cast.

Are you Team Silly or Team Wild?

Vote for the movie you want to watch first via Dreamscape Entertainment’s official Facebook page (facebook.com/ DreamscapePH) until today at 10:00 in the evening.

Watch The Gold Squad’s first movies on the iWant app (iOs and Android) or iwant.ph for free on Nov. 23 and 27. ***

Mama Mia! The Musical

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina and Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English (2EDENG3), present Mama Mia! The Musical, a theater play happening today at the Riverbanks Ampitheater starting at 5:00 p.m..

The school production is produced

by Amabel Capistrano and directed

by Jairus Psalm R. Infante.

The Gold Squad on the set with production squad

Directed by James Mayo and coproduced by Dreamscape Entertainment and Spring Films, Silly Red Shoes also stars Anna Luna, Karen Reyes, and Herbert Bautista.

Meanwhile, in SethDrea’s Wild Little Love, Sam (Andrea) is a spoiled, rich girl forced to attend a public high school as punishment for her wild, chaotic behavior. Having a hard time adjusting to her new environment, she gets help from hardworking chick magnet Jake (Seth), who teaches her the ways of the simple life.

As the two start to catch feelings for each other, they slowly discover that the large gap between their socio-economic backgrounds will hinder their blossoming relationship Directed by Benedict Mique and co-produced by Dreamscape Entertainment and LoneWolf films, Wild Little Love includes Carmina Villaroel, Al-

Glass, actress Emma Stone and the musician Chuck Berry— Glass-Stone-Berry.

All 135,000 tickets for the 50th anniversary festival went on sale last month and sold out in 34 minutes, organizers said.

AFP

A scene from 'Gitarista (The Guitarist).'

Kolkata Int’l Film Fest features PH titles FOUR Filipino films are among the spectacular roster of the 366 movies showcased at the 25th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) in Kolkata, India.

Gitarista (The Guitarist) by Jason Orfalas and Mindanao by Brillante Ma. Mendoza competed under the Asian Select (NETPAC Award) and the International Competition: Innovation in Moving Images sections, respectively. Gitarista stars Cedrick Juan, Noel Comia, Jr., and Anna Luna, while the Mendozadirected film features Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon.

Continuing its run in various international festival circuits, Ang Hupa (The Halt) by Lav Diaz made it to the international scene again; this time, under the KIFF’s Maestro section. The film is topbilled by Joel Lamangan, Piolo Pas-

cual, and Shaina Magdayao.

Completing the lineup for the Philippine entries for KIFF is Latay (Battered Husband) by Ralston Gonzales Jover, which screened under the Cinema International section and stars Allen Dizon, Lovi Poe, Snooky Serna, and Mariel De Leon.

The eight-day film festival was kicked off with a grand opening ceremony graced by big personalities and dignitaries in the industry. Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan inaugurated the KIFF at the Netaji Indoor Stadium last November 8.

Board of Control for Cricket in India President Sourav Ganguli expressed that KIFF is a celebration of cinema, and filmmakers get the opportunity to showcase their works at the festival.

The 25th Kolkata International Film Festival ran from Nov. 8 to 15.

Kapuso programs, personalities win at 41st Catholic Mass Media Awards VARIOUS programs and personalities of GMA Network were recognized at the 41st Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) held at Teatro ng GSIS last Nov. 13.

The country’s most awarded and toprating news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho was honored again with the “Best News Magazine” award.

The show, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, is hosted by GMA News pillar Jessica Soho.

Unang Hirit’s special coverage for the Lenten season, Unang Hirit sa Vatican and Italy, took home the “Best Special Event Coverage” award. This is the second time Unang Hirit’s Lenten special won at the CMMA. The special coverage featured UH host Susan Enriquez doing a live coverage from various holy sites in Rome, Vatican City, and other Italian landmarks.

Multi-awarded Public Affairs program Reporter’s Notebook was named as “Best Public Service Program” for its investigative report “Silang Pinakamahirap”—a two-part special which took viewers to one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines.

Sahaya, GMA’s inspirational epic drama series about a young woman from the Sama Dialut tribe whose unquenchable thirst for knowledge inspired her people

The cast of the school production ’Mama Mia! The Musical’

Level up with Dimples Romana this Holiday season THE cool breeze, the twinkling lights, the hustle and bustle of buying gifts. Yes, Christmas is near and the spirit of Noche Buena is on full blast with thoughts of creating the most perfect of memories from giving the perfect gift to serving the best during the season of love and joy.

For actress Dimples Romana, the new brand Ambassador for CDO Premium Holiday Ham, Noche Buena and ham come hand-in-hand when it comes to creating memories during Christmas festivities.

“Christmas will not be complete if there’s no CDO Premium Holiday Ham on the table. Yung salo-salo na sama- sama kayo, magdarasal kayo, kakain kayo, parang parte na rin talaga to have that ham there.”

It’s a tradition she grew up with and something that she continues on as a wife and mother of two. If you check her social media posts, you will know that her whole family, the Romanas and the Ahmees, always celebrate together at home during Noche Buena.

“We make it a point that no matter how busy we are, we need to make time (to be together),” she shares. In fact, they make sure they

PAUL McCartney will take star billing at next year’s Glastonbury, when the legendary British music festival marks its 50th anniversary, organizers said.

Glastonbury co-organizer Emily Eavis said the former Beatle would headline the Pyramid Stage on June 27—the traditional highlight of the event in Somerset, south-west England.

“Having Paul McCartney coming back to headline the Pyramid next year is an absolute dream come true,” she said in a statement on the festival website on Monday.

“There really was no one that we wanted more for the 50th anniversary.”

McCartney previously headlined Glastonbury in 2004.

This year’s headliner was grime star Stormzy.

He dropped hints on his Twitter feed before the announcement by posting photographs of the composer Philip

have a theme for the year, “Minsan Pinoy, minsan Spanish, pero ang hindi nababago, yung CDO Premium Holiday Ham. Favorite siya no matter what theme we do for Christmas.”

More than just a celebrity endorser, Dimples is very choosy about what she gives her family.

The delicious smoky flavor with pineapple sweetness of CDO Premium Holiday Ham fits her choice because it is made from tender pork pigue, the finest cut in making a ham, and has absolutely no extenders. Plus, it is guaranteed ASFsafe as it is pork that was carefully sourced from credible suppliers.

As someone who knows her way around the kitchen, Dimples is excited by how her favorite ham has leveled up the pineapple flavor by adding even more pineapple glaze.

“You don’t need to bother boiling the ham in pineapple juice as it has already been cooked in the sweet indulgence of pineapple,” she shares.

Recognized recently as one of the best by the Asian Academy Creative Awards for her role as Daniela in Kadenang Ginto, what got Dimples most excited about shooting for the brand’s commer-

cial was not about acting.

“Siyempre, ang pinakaunang tinanong ko, meron po bang ham sa TVC shoot? Ha ha ha!

Naghanap talaga ‘ko,” she says in jest.

A certified foodie, Dimples confesses. “Hindi ko alam if it’s the Kapampangan in me, bukod sa masarap akong magluto, masarap din akong kumain. Iba kasi kapag ine-enjoy mo talaga.

It shows how passionate you are about things. Not only for food but for life. Alam mong ine-enjoy mo ang buhay mo at kumakain ka ng gusto mong kainin at nasi-share mo sa pamilya mo.”

That’s Dimples Romana for you. A premiere actress who only wants the best for her career and her family.

As the new face for CDO Premium Holiday Ham, she sums up what makes it a stand-out favorite and levels up the Noche Buena table. It’s a quality product that was created from the heart by CDO Foodsphere, Inc. to be shared with family and loved ones. A quality that is simply the best.

Dimples Romana

From left:Barangay LS DJs Papa Dudut, Papa Marky, Papa Obet, DZBB anchor Joel Reyes Zobel, Dobol B sa News TV Executive Producer Rommel Seva

to better themselves, won as “Best Drama Series;” while weekly sitcom Daddy’s Gurl was awarded as “Best Comedy Program”.

The highly successful Afternoon Prime drama series My Special Tatay won a special citation for “Best Drama Series or Program”.

Meanwhile, Biyahe ni Drew of leading local news channel GMA News TV took home the “Best Adult Educational/Cultural Program” for its “Sustainable Tourism in Zambales” episode.

Toppstar TV, GMA’s kiddie musical variety show in partnership with Rebisco Topps Sarap, received a Special Citation for “Best Children and Youth Program”.

For radio, Super Radyo DZBB’s Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide, anchored

by Mike Enriquez and Joel Reyes Zobel, bagged the “Best News Program” award while Zobel’s Anong Say N’yo? also won as “Best News Commentary”.

Talk To Papa, hosted by Papa Obet and Papa Marky of Barangay LS 97.1 Forever!, was likewise hailed as “Best Counselling Program”.

Every year, the Catholic Mass Media Awards honors students, professionals, and organizations that uphold Christian values among Filipinos through mass communication.

Motoring

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

C3

Hyundai expands flagship

F

rainwater project

ROM its initial beneficiaries—the 200 students of Rawang Elementary School in Barangay Tandang Kutyo—the Hyundai Rainwater Harvesting Facility is out to scale its reach to other waterchallenged areas in Tanay as partners in sustainability, Hyundai Motor Company, Better World Korea, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., H.A.R.I. Foundation, Inc. (HFI) and the Tanay local government enter the second phase of their partnership.

Better World Korea, the corporate social value arm of HMC, through HFI, the corporate social responsibility arm of HARI, recently donated a Hyundai HD36 light truck customized into a potable water delivery truck. The formal turnover ceremony took place last October 23, 2019 at Tanay Municipal Hall.

The water delivery truck is expected to be a regular sight in Tanay as it shuttles to and from Rawang Elementary School to collect and deliver potable water to neighboring communities, starting with Barangay Plaza Aldea.

In his welcome remarks, Tanay Mayor Hon. Rex Tanjuatco warmly thanked Hyundai, noting that said communities have been in dire need for a source of pure water prior to the installation of the facility.

He recalls, “In the first three months after the rainwater harvesting facility was installed, the people were hesitant to drink. So, the teachers and the students of Rawang were the first ones to make use of the water. The rest of the community decided to draw water only when they saw that the children were not getting sick and that they were needlessly spending on buying water

Clean, potable water for all. HFI President Maria Fe Perez-Agudo (L) formally turns over the Hyundai HD36 truck, customized into a water delivery truck, to Tanay Mayor Rex Tanjuatco. from other places. In the next few years, we realized that Rawang was producing excess water, so the donation of this water delivery truck is a great help to us. Kesa bibitbitin pa nila ang kanilang mga lagayan, ang truck na ang magdadala ng tubig sa kanila.”

In response, HFI president Maria Fe Perez-Agudo said, “Meron tayong maagang pamasko sa mga tagaTanay--isang regalong pangmatagalan.

Malapit sa puso ng H.A.R.I. Foundation ang proyektong ito dahil kitang-kita at damang-dama natin ang benepisyong naidudulot ng pilot Rainwater Harvesting Project... Ngayon na nasa Phase 2 na tayo, lalong dapat na maisulong natin

ang pagdulot ng malinis na tubig na pang-inom para sa lahat—one community at a time. My dream is to multiply the success of the Hyundai Rainwater Harvesting Project to the various islands of this country.”

Rawang Elementary School head teacher, Catherine Resurrecion considers this develop- ment as a blessing to Tanay. “Mapapadali ang pag-supply ng malinis na tubig sa paligid ng Rawang.

Ito ang solusyon sa problema ng tubig.

Sinigurado ng aming partners na palaging potable ang tubig. We were helped to maximize (the gifts of) nature—rain water. The water truck will be a channel for our school to be of service to more

communities.”

Ms. Resurrecion also pointed out an increase in the enrollment in her school, from 150 (2017) to 200 (2019) because people have seen how the school is meeting the basic needs of the community: the availability of drinking water, as well as water to clean the toilets, water to bathe in, and water to sustain the community’s vegetable farming. It also enables the school to properly implement the Department of Education’s (DEC) “Wash in Schools” hand-washing program, which helps safeguard the health of underprivileged school children in re-mote areas.

The pilot Rainwater Harvest-

ing Facility was launched in Rawang Elementary School on March 22, 2017, fruit of the partnership of HMC, Better World Korea, HFI, and the Institute for Global Education, Exchange and Internship (IGEEI). An invention of Prof.

Han Moo Young of the Engineering College of Seoul National University, the Rainwater Harvesting Facility is a filtration method capable of producing and storing as much as 25 gallons of potable water a day from rain gathered in roof gutters.

The project garnered for HFI the Gold Award at the 2017 Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists.

Petron embarks on a nostalgic trip

Despite a ten-year high for October sales European car sales are still down for the year.

European car sales zoom to decade-high speed EUROPEAN car sales hit their highest October level in a decade, an industry body said Tuesday, as the sector recovers from a stall last year over tighter pollution regulations.

The 8.7 percent rise in registration to 1.18 million vehicles “marked the highest October total on record since 2009,” said the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Year-on-year comparisons are inflated as a number of carmakers had difficulty meeting the stricter pollution WLTP measuring meth-

odology that went into force on September 1, 2018, sending sales more than seven percent lower in October last year.

Over the first 10 months of this year, sales are 0.7 percent lower compared to the same period last year.

A global growth slowdown triggered by trade wars and Brexit uncertainty has hit the car industry particularly hard, with German carmaker Volkswagen saying last month that worldwide demand has fallen around five percent. AFP

THROUGH more than 85 years, Petron has been an integral part of the Filipino narrative, through all the ups and downs and in the best and the worst times. Since 1933, it has remained resilient in the face of overwhelming challenges and rejoicing in the soaring successes of the Filipino nation.

What truly distinguishes Petron is its deep understanding of the needs of Filipino motorists, founded on a heritage of service that spans more than eight decades, serving generations of Filipino families. This is the theme of Petron’s new marketing campaign, “Kasabay sa Lakbay,” a sentimental journey through important life experiences where Petron has been the Filipino’s reliable partner.

Fueling the Nation With its vast network of service stations, ranging from mega stations on major thoroughfares and highways to small, strategically stations in remote, rural areas, Petron has been serving the fuel needs of Filipinos.

Keenly aware of evolving industry trends and the latest technological advances, Petron has always been at the forefront of fuel innovation. It has taken the lead in introducing fuel products that help protect the environment while ensuring optimum driving performance and delivering improved fuel efficiency. All Petron fuels – Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6, Petron Xtra Unleaded, Petron XCS, Petron Turbo Diesel, and Petron Diesel Max—are formulated and produced locally at Petron’s Bataan refinery, the largest and most advanced refining facility in the country.

Petron was the first to offer a full range of Euro 4 gasoline and diesel fuels well ahead of the government’s deadline. Most recently, Blaze 100 was acknowledged as the best gasoline in the country, as certified by international laboratory tests and proven in actual field tests on local road conditions.

Petron always puts the needs and welfare of consumers at the heart of its endeavors. This year, it launched its Fuel Wise campaign to help empower a more informed and more responsible population of Filipino motorists. Since the campaign’s launch, Petron has been traveling across the country to enjoin more motorists to learn and

benefit from the campaign.

The spirit of service is embodied by the country’s longest-running motorist assistance program, Petron Lakbay Alalay. Manned by Petron employee-volunteers and now on its 33rd year, it has evolved into a road safety advocacy to ensure that holiday travelers enjoy safe and worryfree journeys.

Especially on long holiday weekends when families and friends embark on road trips to neighboring provinces, Petron employees offer their time to serve at designated Petron Lakbay Alalay locations. There they offer free service checks to ensure vehicle roadworthiness, free medical assistance, clean rest rooms, and even free goodies from partner establishments.

Fueling Hope As a responsible corporate citizen, Petron is deeply committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others, especially on those who have less.

Its flagship CSR program Tulong Aral ng Petron (TAP) provides a brighter future for the Filipino youth by fueling HOPE (Helping the Filipino Children and Youth Overcome Poverty through Education). It has provided scholarships to more than 16,000 students in elementary, high school, and college since 2002.

Petron also helps its communities build the foundations for a better life through its programs on environment, health, entrepreneurship and livelihood.

Kasabay sa Lakbay As a Filipino company, Petron has withstood the test of time and proven its steadfast commitment to Filipino motorists. Spanning almost three generations of drivers since 1933, it has been an integral part of our grandparents’ journey as the country recovered from the ravages of war and gained independence. It fueled our parents’ adventures through the rest of the century, and advanced with us into the new millennium powered by new technologies. Just as it has been a reliable and constant presence in our life journeys, Petron—Kasabay sa Lakbay—will continue to be there for the future generation of Filipino drivers.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

Text and photos by Diana B. Noche

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CUSTOMIZED car is like a piece of art. It always attracts a considerable crowd no matter where it goes; its powerful visual appeal can set the heart on fire. The exterior catches the eye and stops people agape in their tracks. Souping up an old car (or a brand new one) can be likened to doing a restoration work on an old, faded Old Master—a consequential interaction between art and technology through each painstaking customizing step.

The world is crammed with free choices and whimsies—some better or more figmental than others—but each choice is a powerful consequence so grin or bear it. An overkill of mods, however

Motoring CUSTOMBUILT TO POP THE EYE

stuffed with innovative thinking will punish the car’s efficiency. Some reworks, including trick modifications like installing oversized spoilers, wheels, tail pipes, and mufflers, neon lights underneath the car, funky vinyl wraps, bumper stickers, and loud sound system could work against effective driving and can be looked upon as more showy instead of practical. But, it’s your car. Drive it.

Climb mountains. Defy the street floods.

Take absolute control of the roads. Then after a while, you’re going to take a deeper look into your baby and decide to add those flashes to the machine, make it eyepopping, and don’t worry about it being overly fancy. It’s your car, other drivers can eat their heart out. Modifications and some rounds of changes plus accessories infused on the car may not work well for everybody. What is tasteful and common sense to some will look as an overly customized dash to others.

With a wide scope of build configurations, high-test customs, and reha-

bilitated motor vehicles, custom-tailored cars, performance cars SUVs, 4x4s, and off-roaders, Tradeshow International, Inc., through its President, Sophie de los Santos, finishes up another solid event— its 25th since the first #SportTruckShow was initially staged in the Philippines in a venue that is now known as the Metrowalk. The Manila Auto Salon (MAS), together with the SportTruckShow, and an equally interesting event—the Tactical, Survival and Arms Expo—continue to attract great crowds (November 14 to 17) at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The venue is also awash with automotive aftermarket vendors.

Airpro Fragrances Philippines is making a debut of its vehicle fresheners in the country. Airpro has nine scents: Fresh Wave, Tutti Frutti, Citrus Fusion, Tokyo, Manila, London, New York, Paris, and Dubai.

A large in-stock selections of restoration parts and accessories to add pizazz to your vehicles packed the venue. With

nearly 200 cars restored to the original pristine condition and ground-up redesigns, aftermarket vendors at the venue proved their presence are important and necessary partners for the automotive industry. Some aftermarket vendors that complimented the show: Rapide Auto Services, J Works Unlimited, Star Bright Custom, Urban Elite Autoworks, Atoy Customs, Demon Tweaks Autoworks, Auto Genix Car Works, Sailun Tires, Nippon Paint, Aikka Color Mixing Specialist, Seilin Brakes, Parts and Coolants, Bienzone Car Accessories, Emtrac Battery, oculus Auto Detailing Hub, Pro Fender Service Center, Potpourri Tropicana Scents, Lube Star Motor Oil, BMC Air Filter, Raimol Motor Oil and Lubricants, Euro Decals, Glaz Stain Guard, and Top Flip Pick-up Bed Cover.

One standout is the Mercedes Benz Unimog 1450 4x4, a certified true beast of an off-roader. It has a massive frame, a sort of hopped up rhino on steroid overload, and looks truly capable of grunt work.

A lot of engineering work went into it so that maximum performance is assured when it goes out to do what it’s built for.

Then there’s the Charger. Its shell was in a rough shape and showed a good deal of hard runs down the years of use. A few things got freshened up, did a little engine beefing up, added some very subtle accounts, and voila! You’re seeing a goodlooking car, with an add boyish appeal for a car who was supposed to be old and tired.

With an elevated ride height that gives the Ford Super Openn ample clearance, driving it over rutted roads and slosh would be no problem and the driver’s good view of the road would make him comfortably in command of his vehicle.

There was no need for anything fancy.

It’s superb as it is.

The green Porsche with its high impact color is a veritable time capsule, with its iconic shape so well-preserved, with some minor updates, leaving no stone unturned, and the result is a restored beauty that easily thrives on modern day pressure, ready to venture into remote locations and cruel terrain.

While car manufacturers assure that the vehicles going out their gates have been carefully assembled with parts and components engineered to function well together, customs shops and restoration services are doing a great deal of aftermarket help. Reworks, seamless welding jobs, parts replacements, repairs and rebuilds keep the motor industry on its feet, provide more attention to making each unit perform at its peak capacity.

With an addition of restyle and function, car salons will make each car a joy to ride in any kind of road.

tics industries. The re-engineered Hino FC9JL7A medium-duty truck is designed to deliver powerful driving performance, high durability, ergonomic comfort, good transport quality and flexible bodybuilding capability.

The all-new Hino FC9JL7A mediumduty truck has a higher gradeability of 45.2 percent. It boasts increased resume-

accelerate (R/A) gear ratio of 4.88 from 4.33, increased wheelbase of 4,990mm from 4,350mm and increased alternator limit of 90A from 60A. The fuel capacity has doubled from 100 liters to 200 liters for maximum capacity and the air over hydraulic brakes enhanced with anti-lock braking system (ABS) for a safer driving experience. The air-conditioning unit and

power windows have likewise been improved for added comfort.

As the only one-stop shop for trucks and buses in the Philippines, HMP continues to deliver top-of-the-line, customizable commercial vehicles that enable its partners to fulfill logistics and transport demands from across different sectors.

Hino truck gets an upgrade HINO Motors Philippines, exclusive distributor of Hino trucks and buses, has launched he upgraded FC9JL7A medium-duty truck model under the Hino 500 truck series at the Transport and Logistics Expo, which ran from August 15 to 17 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

HMP also showcased its Hino Class 2 PUV with Centro Cab-less body during the three-day expo. This Class 2 PUV reflects Hino’s commitment to improve the local transportation system through the PUVM program.

Hino said its vision of a more connected community includes a modernized system of transportation comprising vehicles that are environmentally safe, durable and comfortable for the Filipino commuters. More Hino trucks, including the Cerito, Class 2 and Class 3 Hino PUV, are displayed at the Truck Lot located at the parking area across the World Trade Could Center.

“We have seen great developments

in several sectors in the Philippines, including industries from transport and logistics. With the rising demand for efficiency and reliability that come alongside these improvements, we are confident that HMP’s products and commitment to Total Support will enable many businesses to not only meet their customers’ demands but to maintain a high level of satisfaction as well,” HMP President Mitsuharu Tabata said.

As the leading exhibition for delivery vehicles, trucks, transport system, materials handling logistics including supply chain equipment, the Transport and Logistics Expo showcases the latest in transport and logistics solutions to connect manufacturers as well as suppliers with more Filipinos.

Delivering Total Support with improved medium-duty truck HMP is maximizing the capacity of its products to meet the needs of drivers and customers and keep up with the growing demands of the transport and logis-