Manila Standard - 2019 December 10 - Tuesday

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PH TEAM TOPS 300-MEDAL MARK, MAKES SEAG HISTORY

By Peter Atencio and Timn Obligacion

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 299 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SHOWING no signs of slowing down even after it clinched the overall championship of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines achieved another historic first when it breached the 300th-medal mark in the biennial meet.

The Philippines’ 300th medal—a silver—came from Jenna Kaila Napolis in the 49-kg category of jiujitsu at the Laus Convention Center in Clark on Monday.

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PHILIPPINE PRIDE.

(From left) Kumite Individual Final (61kg) Christine Berberabe Lim (gold); Josie Gabuco (48kg) boxing (gold); Carlo Paalam (gold, 49kg) boxing; husband and wife team Rachelle Anne and Paul Marton dela Cruz (gold) in archery competition (mixed team category); and tae kwon do gold medallists Dave Cea (74kg); Louise Pauline Lopez (57kg); and Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison (80kgs).

Lino Santos

SEA GAMES MEDAL TALLY (As of December 8/ 8:00 P. M.)

GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL PHILIPPINES THAILAND VIETNAM INDONESIA MALAYSIA SINGAPORE CAMBODIA MYANMAR BRUNEI LAOS TIMOR

SEAG organizers face graft probe

By Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz OMBUDSMAN Samuel Martires on Monday said he has created a sevenmember fact-finding panel to look into allegations of corruption involving members of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee and other concerned agencies.

“If evidence warrants the filing of a case of corruption, then we will do so,” he said, vowing an impartial investigation.

“All agencies covered would be investigated since there was one source of money that flowed. PHISGOC is included,” he said, referring to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee. “We cannot be selective.”

PHISGOC is chaired by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and several private individuals.

The country is hosting the 2019 SEA Games with a P7.5-billion budget.

101 90 78 75 50 42 6 18 5 5 1

105 101 90 102 66 59 31 48 6 23 5

341 270 247 246 166 151 41 69 13 28 6

Rody hits Noy, Gloria Over ‘plunderous’ water contracts

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

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday took a swipe at former Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III, saying they allowed the country’s Constitution to be bargained away over the “plunderous” agreements with water concessionaires.

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Meralco hikes electric rates

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER rates will increase by P0.3044 per kilowatt-hour, translating to a P61 adjustment in the typical household’s monthly bill, the Manila Electric Co. said Monday.

Meralco said the overall rate for a typical household consuming 200 kilowatthours increased to P9.8623 per kWh in December from P9.5579 per kWh in November because of higher generation charges.

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135 79 79 69 50 50 4 3 2 0 0

MISS UNIVERSE. 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray from the Philippines puts the crown on the head of the new Miss Universe 2019 South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi on stage during the Miss Universe pageant at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on Dec. 8 (Monday in Manila). Earlier, Family Feud star Steve Harvey was criticized for his announcement that it was Miss Philippines who won the national costume but referred to the costume worn beside him by Miss Malaysia. “The Miss Universe Organization immediately confirmed that Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados is the winner of the 2019 National Costume competition,” according to a statement read from the organization. AFP

The water firms, he said, should also be afraid because the government contract with them violated the Anti-Graft Law. “I cannot imagine two administrations allowing our Constitution to be bargained away,” President Duterte said in a speech in Malacañang before police and military men, as he lashed out anew at Maynilad and Manila Water.

In the Senate, Senator Francis Tolentino asked the Senate to investigate the apparent “onerous” contracts executed between the Philippine government and the water concessionaires.

In a privilege speech, Tolentino said the probe was urgent since, over the Next page

Aquino in hospital for routine check, ‘Narco-cop’ linked to drug recycling killed in buy-bust denies cop’s claim of ‘heart surgery’ By Francisco Tuyay

By Rio N. Araja THE camp of former President Benigno Aquino III on Monday denied a report he was having a heart operation in Makati City.

Aquino’s spokesman Abigail Valte said the former president went to the Makati

Medical Center for a routine checkup.

“He’s all right and in high spirits, and he thanks everyone for their concern,” she said.

She rejected the claim of Makati City police Chief Rogelio Simon that Aquino would have a heart surgery.

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A NEWLY-RETIRED policeman tagged as a ‘‘ninja cop” and having direct links to at least to more police officers in the recycling of illegal drugs was killed by police operatives in a buy-bust operation in Novaliches, Quezon City, Monday.

The Philippine National Police-Integ-

Joma seeks pre-talks ’goodwill ‘acts

By MJ Blancaflor and Maricel V. Cruz COMMUNIST leader Jose Maria Sison said “goodwill measures” such as reciprocal ceasefire and release of political prisoners will create a “favorable atmosphere” for the resumption of stalled

peace talks, after President Rodrigo Duterte had expressed a desire to go back to the negotiation table with the rebels.

In a statement Monday, Sison welcomed President Duterte’s instruction to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to talk with communist leaders and his Next page

rity Monitoring and Enforcement Group identified the slain former lawman as Cpl. Tirso Agustin Lactaotao, 48, an ex-intelligence operative assigned to the Rizal Provincial Police Office.

He was killed by joint IMEG operatives from the National Capital Region Police Office and lawmen from Rizal province as he drew his gun after sensing that his client was an operative.

“The operation resulted in an armed encounter when the subject Lactaotao, upon sensing that he was dealing with a PNP poseur buyer, suddenly drew his gun and fired toward the operatives, prompting them to defend themselves and fire back, hitting the suspect in the different parts of his body,” an afteroperation report by IMEG read.

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Ex-Standard president, ambassador passes away

Del Rosario

AMBASSADOR Alejandro “Andy” del Rosario, who was Manila Standard’s first Editorin-Chief when the newspaper launched in 1987 before becoming its Publisher and Chief Operating Officer, died Sunday (Dec.

8) at his home in Quezon City.

He was 78.

Mr. Del Rosario’s remains currently lie in state at the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati City. His interment will be announced later.

He is survived by his wife Mary and their children.

A true-blue journalist before he was a diplomat, Mr. del Rosario wrote a thrice-weekly column for the Standard in his later Next page

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News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Massacre ruling: To air live or not?

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HE Supreme Court will decide today, Tuesday, whether or not it will allow live coverage and online streaming of the release of the decision in the Maguindanao massacre murder case set on Thursday, Dec. 19.

“There is already a recommendation from the Office of the Court Administrator and the Public Information Office, but I have to consult the en banc, so you would come to know about the procedure after the en banc tomorrow,” Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta told reporters Monday.

He also said Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes

Ex-Standard...

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years. His “Back Channel” articles were straight to the point and incisive, much like his friendly but no-nonsense persona.

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Sir Andy trained at the Chicago Daily News courtesy of the World Press Institute before joining the defunct Daily Mirror as sportswriter, then the Manila Chronicle as assistant sports editor.

He was managing editor of the Chronicle when then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, forcing his move to the diplomatic corps. “ADR,” as he was respectfully called, would reemerge as a newsman after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, as Rodolfo “Rod” Reyes, publisher of Manila Standard, tapped him to become editor.

Del Rosario was named Ambassador to Hungary in 2002. He was assigned to Poland and Slovakia when the Philippines reopened its embassy in Warsaw in 2009, the peak of his foreign affairs career that started when he served as press counsellor of the Philippine mission to the United Nations from 1978 to 1981, and again from 1992 to 1996.

He took the same role in the Philippine Embassy in London from 1982 to 1986, then moved to Brussels from 1989 to 1992.

At the Department of Affairs Home Office, Mr. Del Rosario served as spokesman and Senior Foreign Affairs adviser to then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto R. Romulo. As Foreign Affairs adviser, Del Rosario worked closely with Romulo and traveled with him on his official trips and on the working and state visits of former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Mr. Del Rosario was the only nonsports editor to become president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, the country’s oldest news organization, founded in 1949. The PSA recognized his career achievements and outstanding performance in journalism and government service during its Annual Awards in 2002.

He was also appointed treasurer of the Philippine Press Institute, the national association of newspapers founded in 1964.

SEAG...

From A1 Cayetano welcomed the looming Ombudsman investigation over the conduct of the Southeast Asian Games.

Cayetano said the investigation will put an end to the criticisms and other snide comments about the games’ organizers made “mostly by administration haters in social media.”

He said the Ombudsman investigation will give the organizers an opportunity to put to rest all questions about the games.

Even before the games started, two senators said they would seek a Senate investigation into the conduct of the games as well as the expenditures that the organizers incurred.

In a statement, Cayetano said: “Two weeks ago, when the SEA Games was under attack by groups out to discredit the government with fake news reports of unpreparedness and corruption, I already announced that we not only welcome, but are ourselves calling for an investigation by the proper agencies at the right time to clear the air about these unfounded allegations.”

In the same statement, Cayetano said he welcomed the Ombudsman investigation “as an opportunity to put to rest all the questions” so that Filipinos could move forward in celebrating the success of their athletes.

He added that he would fully support all investigations as he ordered “full transparency, audits and opening of all books.”

He also said: “When I was asked to help organize the SEA Games, I was told not only how difficult it would be but also that cases would be filed no matter how strict we are in conducting our affairs. In fact, those who organized 2005 SEA Games are still fighting cases filed against them.”

Aquino...

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She said Simon had no business issuing such statement or “medical bulletin” about Aquino, adding he was not even a doctor or Aquino’s attending physician.

Second tranche of SSS pension long overdue, lawmaker says

provide them. But, so far, Judge Reyes has not yet asked for a security detail to protect her,” Peralta said.

He said the recommendation included details on how many reporters would be allowed inside or outside the courtroom in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, but that would ultimately depend on the en banc’s decision.

Various media organizations have written to the Supreme Court requesting live coverage of the promulgation of judgment, stressing the high public interest involved in the case.

Fifty-eight people were killed on Nov. 23, 2009 as they were on their way to

file the certificate of candidacy of thengubernatorial candidate and now-House Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu in Shariff Aguak.

Their convoy was allegedly blocked by over a hundred armed men led by primary accused Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. Witnesses claimed Unsay himself shot some of the victims and ordered that they be buried in a shallow mass grave in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town in Maguindanao while his late father, Andal Ampatuan Sr., allegedly ordered the killing of all the victims.

Rey E. Requejo

weekend, reports suggested Manila Water and Maynilad are seeking approval for yet again another water rate increase to be implemented in the first quarter of 2020.

He said the rate increase pertains to the Foreign Currency Differential Adjustment which allows the concessionaires to recover or compensate for fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

Also alarming, he noted, are the decreasing water levels in Angat Dam, which supplies 98 percent of Metro Manila’s needs.

This had reached the critical level of 160 meters this year.

At the same time, the Department of Justice gave assurances there would be no water service interruption in Metro Manila even if there was a looming legal tussle between the government and the two water concessionaires over what Duterte described as “onerous” and “grossly disadvantageous” provisions in the 1997 water concession agreement.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the government was now preparing legal approaches to challenge a ruling rendered

by Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore ordering the Philippine government to compensate the Manila Water Company P7.4 billion and Maynilad Water Services Inc. P3.6 billion purportedly representing their supposed losses for not having been allowed to raise water rates.

“If they will stop the water supply, the government will have to take over, deal with it. But I don’t think we will get to that point. There will be no stoppage of water supply,” Guevarra said in an interview.

“It does not mean that it can be enforced at any given time. The government is ready to oppose any enforcement of that because it is against public policy,” he added.

The priority is to revise the concession agreements entered into by the state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the concessionaires, not the arbitral rulings, he said.

“This problem can be solved. We just have to weed out provisions disadvantageous to the government,” Guevarra said.

Tolentino said it was a sharp decline from the normal high operating level of 212 meters and the 180 minimum operating level.

The crux of the matter, the senator said, lies in the Concession Agreements and Letters of Undertaking between the MWSS and Maynilad and Manila Water.

As having the force of law between the parties, he said the Concession Agreements governed the relations between the state regulator and the water concessionaires and provides for their rights and obligations as they maintain the country’s water and sewerage system.

Duterte also said he wanted to talk with government lawyers who crafted the 1997 deal with the two utility firms which distribute water in Metro Manila and nearby provinces under agreements signed with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

“I want to talk to them. It cannot be fixed until I talked to the concessionaires. I want to talk with government lawyers who were sons of a bitch in crafting this deal,” he said.

The deal was signed during the Ramos administration and a review by the Department of Justice revealed “onerous” provisions were stipulated in it.

The agreement carried a provision that says the government should “indemnify” the company against any loss that could result from the regulator’s actions that is the MWSS. “The contract itself is a mirror of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Law. They should be really afraid,” he said.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration has directed the government to pay the Ayalaowned Manila Water with P7.4 billion and Pangilinan-led Maynilad with P3.4 billion for their respective losses since the state did not allow the firms to increase prices years ago.

“How will I compromise? That’s classic economic plunder,” he asked.

According to Tolentino, the water concessionaires’ corporate greed was the reason for the current water crisis.

He said the water crisis had affected not only the national economy or the productivity of students, workers and everyone in society but it ultimately puts the health of the people, especially children, at serious risk and threatens the country’s attainment of sustainable development.

He cited the findings of the WHO that the Philippines, around one in 10 people do not have access to improved water resources.

As stated in a study conducted by Water.

Org, out of 105 million Filipinos, nearly seven million rely on unimproved, unsafe and unsustainable water sources and more than 24 million lack access to improved sanitation.

With the current water crisis, people are more vulnerable to water-related diseases, such as diarrhea, dengue fever and intes-

tinal worms, as they search for alternative sources of water, thus increasing the risk of diseases as these may be unsafe and unsanitary.

Meanwhile, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the MWSS to explore the possibility of terminating the extension of the concessionaire agreement.

“The President might also ask that you do this eventually.”

He also expressed his belief to renegotiate and rework these contracts to: (1) eliminate or neutralize those provisions which are unduly disadvantageous to the government; and (2) align both governmental and private interests to one common goal: public interest.

He emphasized at our government and the people are now at the mercy of these big private concessionaires.

“It is apparent that many of the provisions in the concessionaire agreements are unfair and unjust to the Filipino people,” said Go. Furthermore, Go said these water concessionaires should also be charged not only for failing to deliver to the terms of their contract but also for the billions―if not trillions―worth of environmental damage caused by their failure to construct a sewerage and waste water system.

“This is aside from the almost 1 billion pesos worth of fines that they were told to pay by the Supreme Court last August 2019 because of violations in relation to the Philippine Clean Water Act,” he added.

The DOJ chief warned that if the concessionaires rejected the amendments to the 1997 water concession to weed out its onerous and disadvantageous provisions, the government would be forced to take appropriate legal action.

“If the concessionaires do not accept the amendments to be proposed by the government will be compelled to take legal action,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra stressed that the government wanted the water concessionaires to agree to the proposed amendments by the government, otherwise the government will seek for the rescission of the agreement.

The Justice secretary debunked insinuation that the Duterte administration wants new concessionaires to take over the operations of Maynilad and Manila Water.

“It’s only when the courts order the rescission of the water concession agreements that the government may open the field to competition, unless the government itself can take over actual operations, which is rather unlikely,” Guevarra pointed out.

‘Narco-cop’...

Meralco...

From A1 Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said Monday it was monitoring 22 active police officers allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

“For now, we are monitoring 22 of our colleagues but so far, it seems they have stopped from their illegal activity,” PNP spokesman Bernard Banac told reporters in Camp Crame.

“However, we will still continue monitoring them because if we see that they are violating the law again, we will launch law enforcement operations against them. We will not hesitate to catch them and hold them liable for violating the rules and policies of the PNP.” The IMEG said the operation was the initial result of Intelligence drive that is being implemented against the involvement of Lactaotao and other police personnel in the recycling/pushing of illegal drugs.

Recovered from the slain policeman were one cal. .9mm Beretta pistol, assorted Identification cards from the PNP, PDEA, AMSLAI, PSSLAI, three empty shells, two pieces of P1,000 buy-bust money, seven sachets of suspected shabu and two cellphones.

The IMEG said the intelligence buildup showed that Lactaotao had long been involved in illegal drugs in Rizal province and nearby provinces.

PNP-IMEG spokesperson Maj. Robert Reyes said they were now tracking down other police officers linked to the illegal activities and operations of Lactaotao.

With PNA

From A1 The company said generation charges rose to P5.1967 per kWh in December, up

by P0.1650 per kWh from P5.0317 per kWh in November.

“Charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market increased by P1.0799 per kWh driven by tighter supply conditions in the Luzon grid,” Meralco said.

Meralco sourced 10 percent of its power requirements from the WESM during the November supply month. WESM acts as a trading floor for electricity in Luzon.

Meralco said grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines placed the Luzon grid on yellow alert on two occasions.

Meanwhile, the cost of power from Meralco’s independent power producers and power supply agreements also increased by P0.1106 per kWh and P0.0987 per kWh, respectively, because of lower average dispatch and the weakening of the peso against the US dollar.

Meralco got 38 percent and 52 percent of its requirements from its IPPs and PSAs, respectively.

The San Lorenzo natural gas power plant (527 MW) was on scheduled outage from Nov. 1 to 9, while the Masinloc coal plant Unit 2 (344 MW) was on planned maintenance outage for the whole supply month.

Meralco said about 96 percent of IPPs costs were dollar-denominated, while 61 percent of PSA costs were dollardenominated.

The transmission charges on residential customers also increased by P0.0753 per kWh this month as a result of higher NGCP ancillary service charges. Meanwhile, taxes and other charges registered an increase of

P0.0641 per kWh. Meralco’s distribution, supply, and metering charges have remained steady for 53 months. Meralco said it was not earning from the pass-through charges such as the generation and transmission charges.

Power consumers and cause-oriented groups on Monday protested what they said was an onerous setup in the generation and distribution of electricity.

The Power for People Coalition called for the review of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

“By reviewing EPIRA, our government can hold power corporations accountable for abusive practices, and can also instead pass into law policies that would transform the energy industry into a pro-consumer sector,” said Gerry Arances, P4P convener.

Arances said coal continues to dominate the country’s power mix and government should do more to end this coal dependence.

“The government can much more easily walk the President’s SONA 2019 talk of ending coal dependence and fasttracking the development of renewable technologies. We remind them that as public servants, providing Filipinos with clean and affordable electricity is their duty,” Arances said.

Other cause-oriented groups said government should look at the plight of consumers in the wake of high electricity prices.

Flora Santos, coordinating council member of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice said Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) dinner is becoming a luxury for most Filipinos because of high water and electricity bills.

“Costly electricity and other utility bills are taking away an important part of our culture,” she said.

Napolis bowed to Indonesian Jessa Khan, who won by advantages after a 2-2 standoff.

With a 135-101-105 gold-silver-bronze tally (341 medals in all) going into the final two days of the games, the hosts have remained firmly planted at the top, with Thailand a far second (79-90-101).

Indonesia, Indonesia and Singapore round out the top five.

The most medals that the Philippines was able to garner in the games was at 290 during the “Miracle of 2005,” when it won the overall games’ championship for the first time with a haul of 112-8593. Filipinos had 239 medals during their second hosting of the biennial meet in 1991, when they had 91-62-86 – good for second place.

Monday’s assault on the record books were led by world champion Nesthy Petecio, Charly Suarez and Felix Eumir Marcial, who saved the best for last as they electrified the crowd with their exemplary performances that highlighted a bountiful seven-gold harvest for Team Philippines in the boxing competitions at the PICC Tent.

Suarez landed with the more solid hits and counter-punches to post a 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Pidnuch Khunatip of Thailand in the men’s lightweight 60kg final to mark the first of the last three final bouts for the evening.

Petecio also displayed a similar dominant performance by putting away her Myanmarese foe Oo New Ni of Vietnam, 5-0, to add another gold in the women’s featherweight 57kg, before Marcial got the crowd back on its feet by knocking out Nguyen amang Cuong of Vietnam in 1:11 of the first round in the men’s middleweight (75kg) final to cap the hosts’ explosive campaign in the biennial event.

“I wasn’t expecting the bout would end right away,” Marcial said in Filipino.

“I did not expect the fight to be over that quick,” Marcial said in Filipino.

“Knockouts can happen, but when I saw that I can take my opponent, I went for the kill.”

Carlo Paalam started the ball rolling for the boxers by hammering a 5-0 rout of Indonesia’s Langu Kornelis Keanu of Indonesia in the Men’s Light Flyweight Finals.

Joma...

Secretary Bello to visit me and consult with me in Utrecht in this regard,” Sison added.

Duterte on Thursday said he had asked Bello, the government’s chief peace negotiator until last March, to go to the Netherlands to talk to Sison in a bid to craft a peace deal and put an end to the decades-long insurgency, calling it his “last card.”

“I am pleased that President Duterte has also acknowledged that he is running out of time and that he is determined to achieve peace before the end of his term,” Sison said.

He said the next steps that could be taken include reaffirming agreements forged since 1992 and to do away with what he

called repressive measures and for the negotiating panel to return to the interim peace agreement.

Sison said peace negotiations can be resumed in a formal meeting to issue the declaration reaffirming the agreements that have been forged since 1992 and to set the agenda and schedule of talks to fulfill political, legal and security requirements.

He also said the government and NDFP negotiating panels can pursue further negotiations on the Interim Peace Agreement through unilateral ceasefires, general amnesty and release of all political prisoners and the sections of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic

Reforms on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development and National Industrialization and Economic Development.

“All the remaining sections of the CASER can be negotiated, completed and mutually approved by the GRP and NDFP in a relatively short period of time. Thereafter, the Comprehensive agreements on political and constitutional reforms and the end of hostilities and disposition of forces shall be negotiated, completed and mutually approved,” Sison said.

The President had earlier shut down the possibility of a resumption of peace talks through Proclamation No. 360 and told communist groups to just “talk to the next President.” With PNA

had not reported receiving threats on her life in connection with her handling of the Maguindanao massacre case and 10 days before the promulgation of her judgment on Dec. 19.

Peralta said Reyes had not even requested security assistance or security personnel to protect her.

“We are always after the security of a judge. If they need security, then we

Rody hits...

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From A1 recognition of his limited time to achieve peace before his term ends in 2022.

It is timely, Sison said, for the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to “create the favorable atmosphere for peace negotiations by undertaking such goodwill measures as reciprocal unilateral ceasefires and the release of political prisoners who are elderly and sickly on humanitarian grounds, especially those who shall participate in the peace negotiations.”

“I welcome President Duterte’s publicly expressed desire to resume the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations and his instruction to

By Maricel V. Cruz A CONGRESSMAN on Monday called on the Social Security System to release the second tranche of the pension increase ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte when he assumed office in 2016.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate made the call after the SSS reported earnings of more than P400 billion.

“I hope the SSS will release the additional P1,000 because our seniors are in dire need of that money,” Zarate, a deputy minority leader, said.

He asked the SSS to ensure its financial stability to maintain its pension increases without increasing the members’ premium contributions, and to go after delinquent employers who do not remit the contributions of their members and their counterpart contributions.

He said he had received many complaints from many workers that their contributions were not being remitted by their employers.

“It’s time the SSS started filing criminal and civil complaints against erring employers,” Zarate said.

President Duterte ordered the SSS to grant a P2,000 across- the-board increase to all SSS pensioners when he assumed office.

However, the increase was split into two tranches after the state-run pension fund claimed its funds might be threatened if it released the P2,000 increase at the time.

Bayan Muna said that, last October, an Australia-backed study said the Philippines had one of the worst pension systems for retirees compared to the rest of the world.

“Giving the P1,000 pension increase in January 2020 is in fact long overdue because the subhuman level of the basic SSS pension had been aggravated since the implementation of the TRAIN law,” the group said.

Zarate’s group earlier filed House Joint Resolution 1 for the second tranche of the Social Security System pension hike that would add P1,000 to the lowest level of the pension given by the SSS, but it still had to be heard and implemented.

PH team...

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News

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solon: Import ban on vapes enforced in PH Villanueva commends Makati for POGO action

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Joel Villanueva stressed Monday that “no amount of revenues can reverse the effect of rising criminality brought about by the POGO sector.“ Because of this, he commended the decision of the Makati local government to indefinitely stop the issuance of business permits to POGO service providers, citing how the social costs of its operations affect the city.

He said revenues earned from this sector only ended up funding crimeprevention efforts of police, who run after prostitution and human trafficking dens, among others, instead of channeling these scarce resources to social welfare programs and services, such as improving the quality of education, greater subsidy for health needs, and training for skilled workers.

“We hope that other POGO hot spots in Metro Manila and other areas take heed of this significant step of Makati City,” said Villanueva.

He also expressed hope that they implement a similar ban until we clearly see the benefits of this growing sector.

Last Congress, Villanueva said they raised concerns on the ill effects brought about by the influx of illegal foreign workers, especially in POGOs. At the start of the 18th Congress, they filed a resolution calling on various committees in the Senate to investigate, in aid of legislation, whether the benefits brought about by POGOs outweigh its direct and indirect negative effects.

SC launches judiciary desk

By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Diosdado M. Peralta on Monday inaugurated the Judiciary Public Assistance Section, also known as the “Judiciary Help Desk” at the Training Center, Supreme Court Centennial Building in Manila.

Peralta led the ribbon-cutting during the launch of the JPAS or the Judiciary Help Desk, which is the brainchild of the top magistrate. The JPAS will serve as the “official line of communication between the judiciary, its stakeholders and the general public.

Besides Peralta, also present during the launching of the JPAS were Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, Court of Appeals Acting Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando, and CA Associate Justice Fernanda C. Lampas-Peralta, and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa.

“In the exigency of service and in order to address the needs of the general public, it is important to have an official line of communication between the Judiciary, its stakeholders, and the general public to give attention to requests for assistance and information, queries, and concerns,” Peralta said in his speech.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the nomination and ad interim appointments of the following officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines: Ernesto C. Torres, Jr. AFP (nomination) – Major General; Facundo O. Palafox IV, PA (GSC) and Antonio R. Lastimado, PA (GSC) (ad interim appointments) - Brigadier General The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions in thirty - two (32) copies on the above nomination and appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 834-2713, 831-1824, 8310527, 832-9830, 834-2706 and 551-1989.

12 December 2019.

(MS-DEC. 10, 2019)

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

LEADER of the House of Representatives said on Monday that import ban on vaping products was being enforced in the country through various “trade barriers.”

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said vapes did not have permits from the Food and Drug Administration, reason the Ninoy Aquino International Airport disallows the entry of vape imports.

“In short, we have an import ban essentially on vape through what you

can call trade barriers,” he added.

He said the NAIA was able to prevent the entry of some 1,457 vape imports as these have not secured any permit from the FDA. Salceda also noted the National Tobacco Administration had stopped giving permits to vape importers to bring their products in the country.

Duterte ealier called for the ban on the use and importation of vapes.

He called the devices “toxic” and said vaping introduced “chemicals” into the user’s body. At the same time, the President raised concern over the dangers of second-hand vapors.

The President also threatened to arrest anyone vaping publicly in a country that already has some of Asia’s toughest anti-smoking rules.

Nevertheless, Salceda said he believes that imposing a ban on the importation of vaping products would ‘push [importers

to go] underground.”

“The injuries to human health may go up because that is in the nature that all prohibition does not work and leads to more harm,” he said.

The House earlier approved on third and final reading House Bill 1026, that proposes to increase taxes on alcohol, some tobacco and vaping products.

Salceda maintained the government was expected to raise an estimated P1.4 billion in revenues from the taxes on vapes to be used to fund the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte can’t cancel contracts ter business. I wonder how much of this is true. The President should just keep quiet and allow the rule of law to take its course.

Duterte can always declare an emergency situation, but that has to go through Congress. *** In the wake of the declaration of war, the opposition is making a mountain out of a molehill about the Villars. They say Duterte has embraced cronyism in having favored businessmen corner government contracts.

There is no doubt the Villars are close to the President. Instead, the Villars’ son, Mark, is now the secretary of Public Works and Highways.

But I don’t quite see the Villars as Duterte cronies. Despite the fact that Mark is a member of the Cabinet, the Villars acquired their wealth through sheer hard work. I have always admired the Villars for their “sipag at tyaga” they have developed over they years. They are pioneers in low-cost and socialized housing. They are true examples of the Filipino’s pioneering spirit. They got rich certainly not because of any presidential connections! *** I do not find it surprising that the latest Social Weather Stations Survey found that no less than 78 percent of Filipinos see US-PH ties as more important than our ties with China. Another survey says that more than half of Filipinos believe it is possible to have relationships with both China and the US at the same time.

These surveys coincide with earlier surveys that Filipinos continue to distrust China, and that they are worried about the growing number of Chinese coming to the Philippines and working here.

This distrust of the Chinese goes back to Spanish times. In fact, the Spaniards massacred the Chinese at the Intramuros Parian Gate.

As for PH-US ties, this could be attributed to the fact that America colonized us for 30 years.

Thus whoever the Chinese ambassador is, he or she will find it difficult to erase the fact that Filipinos would always prefer a relationship with the US. Distrust of the Chinese is already embedded in our minds and it is almost impossible to erase it. ***

PERHAPS out of his frustration, President Rodrigo Duterte has said many things about the two water concessionaires in Metro Manila—Manila Water and Maynilad. In fact, he said the two were economic saboteurs and plunderers.

He’s a lawyer; he should know this.

Duterte even threatened to cancel their concession agreements. But can he do it unilaterally and arbitrarily? That’s the crux of the problem.

Duterte is a lawyer and as such he must realize that our country is governed by the rule of law and due process. This means that the sanctity and the inviolability of contracts must be preserved. There are always processes to be followed. He cannot cancel contracts, period.

The President and even ordinary water consumers have a right to file in court cases against Manila Water and Maynilad and ask that their concession agreements be declared null and void, or be modified because they are onerous and against public policy.

As suggested by legal experts, if Manila Water goes to court to challenge a Singapore arbitration court’s decision refusing to compel the government to grant increased water rates, that would be a good opportunity to also contest the concession agreements entered into by the Ramos administration in 1996.

My gulay, there is a process provided by the law to contest the concession agreement! The President cannot just “declare war” on the Ayalas and MVP. *** In the wake of the rants and curses against Manila Water and Maynilad, there is now speculation that the Villars might enter the picture after they got into the wa-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

T

Fading advantage HERE was a time we took pride in our English proficiency.

Some people still do, citing it as the basis for a thriving business process outsourcing industry. But any complacency in this regard would be misplaced and ill-advised, given the results of the latest international survey of English proficiency.

In the 2019 edition of the EF English Proficiency Index, the Philippines wasn’t even in the top 10 list of countries, even though we still rank as the world’s fifth largest nation with an English-speaking population (behind the United States, India, Nigeria and Pakistan).

The yearly EF EPI survey gauged the level of English reading and listening skills in 100 countries (excluding the US and the UK) with a standardized online test taken by 2.3 million people.

The Netherlands emerged at the top with an EPI score of 70.27, followed

by Sweden (68.74), Norway (67.93), Denmark (67.87) and the only Asian in the group, Singapore (66.82).

The top 10 was rounded out by South Africa (65.38), Finland (65.34), Austria (64.11), Luxembourg (64.11), and Germany (64.03).

The Philippines, with an EPI of 60.14, was in 20th place, just ahead of Lithuania.

The score was still enough to keep the country in the “High Proficiency” category, but not in the “Very High Proficiency” group, and it represented a decline from the country’s EPI of 61.84 in 2018.

Beyond the obvious implications that lower proficiency will have on the BPO industry, low English scores are a cause of concern for several reasons cited by the EF study.

First, English and innovation go hand in hand. English is the principal language of international collaboration, and there are correlations between English and various measures of investment in R&D. This finding resonates with recent research showing that companies with managers from many countries earn more revenue from innovation than their less diverse competitors. English-speaking teams are able to attract more diverse talent and access ideas from around the world. They are also more likely to collaborate internationally within their own organizations.

Second, competitive industries use English. Every industry surveyed in this year’s report has an English proficiency score clustered within a 10-point range.

Third, countries with high English proficiency tend to more open, given that the language is a medium of international connectivity, and there

is an increasingly clear relationship between a society’s connectedness to the world and the level of social and political equality experienced by its citizens. Closed societies turn inwards and nurture rigid hierarchies.

Open societies look outwards.

There can be no doubt that declining educational standards have something to do with the decline in English proficiency, yet there are underlying cultural influences at work.

One is the view that it is somehow wrong to be fluent in English because it detracts from our own native tongue.

Another view seems to hold that Filipinos are too stupid to understand straight English and need the help of a bastardized “Taglish” to help them along. Along with the usual variety show drivel, some TV networks have taken to serving up dubbed Hollywood movies for those who are “too dumb” to follow. Even our government officials cannot be bothered to speak a straight sentence in English, and ordinary Filipinos laugh deprecatingly at themselves for “running out of English.”

If we as a people decide that it is all right to let go of our long-held edge in the international language of commerce and innovation, we should stop deluding ourselves and pretending that such an advantage still exists.

Turn to A5

Climate summits in Madrid and Santiago THE 25th Conference of the Parties (COP 25) of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change was meant to take place in Santiago, Chile, from Dec. 2-13, 2019.

Unfortunately Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announced at the end of October that, due to the civil unrest taking place in the country, his government would no longer be able to host the conference. Subsequently, Spain came forward to convene the COP 25 in Madrid with Chile to remain COP President and so every agreement here in Madrid will most likely be described with a Santiago appellation as if it was agreed upon in Chile’s capital city.

This change of venue from Santiago to Madrid will likely have not only consequences in how the agreements here are described. But as I have pointed out in a briefing paper prepared with my brilliant colleagues in Parabukas, one of the world’s most strategic thinking consulting firms on climate change, it could affect the substance of the work that is being done here in Madrid.

Last July, Carolina Schmidt, the Chilean Environment Minister and President of COP 25, listed Chile’s COP priorities at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development held in New York.

These include Ambition in Implementation, Market Mechanisms, Climate Finance, Scientific Solutions to the Climate Crisis, Adaptation, Loss and Damage, Forests and Food Security, and Oceans and Climate Change. Indeed, Chile had hoped to highlight the struggles facing developing countries and the most vulnerable sectors of society through this COP. A “Peoples’ Summit 2019” had been set to take place alongside the COP in Chile, led by social, environmental and feminist organizations, and unions, meant to bring attention to unequal and unjust systems that have caused and continue to exacerbate climate change. The Summit’s slogan is Salvemos la Tierra, Cambiemos el Sistema—“Save the Earth, Change the System.” Its objective is to “mobilize and build a global social force, an alternative to the production and consumption model (neoliberal), that overcomes the social and ecological crisis that puts the future of life on the planet at imminent risk.”

Rather than cancel the People’s Summit with the withdrawal of Chile as host,

two summits are now taking place parallel to COP 25—one in Santiago and one in Madrid. This is a testament to the importance and necessity of platforms and venues to tackle critical social, economic, and environmental issues outside the walls of the Conference proper, and emphasize that the UN talks are not enough to solve the climate crisis at the scale and speed needed to avert the worst of its consequences.

On a personal note, this is the 20th time I am attending a climate conference of the parties. I attended COP 1 in Berlin, COP 2 in Geneva, COP 3 in Kyoto, COP 4 in Buenos Aires, COP 5 in Bonn, COP 6 in The Hague, COP 6 (bis) in Bonn (this was a continuation of The Hague meeting which did not succeed in arriving at agreement on joe the Kyoto Protocol rules), COP 7 in Marrakech, COP 8 in New Delhi, and COP 9 in Milan. These were from 1995 to 2003. In both Geneva and Kyoto, I was a lead negotiator of the Philippines.

To stand down now is to be selfish.

I then missed COP 10 in Buenos Aires, COP 11 in Montreal, COP 12 in Nairobi, COP 13 in Bali, and COP 14 in Poznan (Poland). At that time, I was focusing on adaptation and governance work at the local level. These were from 2004-2008.

I resumed attending COPs in 2009 becoming again lead negotiator for the Philippines and chairing or actively participating in REDD-plus negotiations in COP 15 in Copenhagen, COP 16 in Cancun, COP 17 in Durban, COP 18 in Doha, COP 19 in Warsaw, and COP 20 in Lima.

In COP 21 in Paris in 2015, I was a lead negotiator for the Philippines and the official spokesperson of the delegation.

In COP 22 in Marrakech and COP 23 in Bonn, I was still in the Philippine delegation but my work was limited to advising the delegation head.

Last year, in COP 24 in Katowice, Poland, I did not represent the Philippines anymore. That is the case as well in COP 25 now being held in Madrid. I stand ready, however, to help our delegation head, Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda whom I have advised in these issues for many years when she was a senator.

All these years, I always had three hats Turn to A5

Not all is quiet on the water front IS A win-win solution on the horizon in the controversy over the concession agreements of Metro Manila’s two water service providers?

That appears a likely possibility with the willingness of Manila Water Co. (MWC) and Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) to arrive at a mutually acceptable “workable solution” with the national government. This came after a Singapore-based arbitral court favored the two contractors and ordered the Philippine government to indemnify them for breach of contract that took place during the previous administration.

Last week, MWC said it is "more than willing and have started to work with the incumbent administration to come up with a workable solution” to the ruling of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitral tribunal.

The ruling ordered the government to pay the firm P7.39 billion in revenue losses arising from the non-implementation of water rate increases under the previous government in violation of the rate rebasing provision of their original CA signed with the Ramos administration in 1997.

ing was made public.

It is understandable that the Duterte administration does not want to shoulder the financial burden decreed by the arbitral ruling, since the total P10.79 billion asked for by the two water concessionaires was due to the negligence of its predecessor.

Maynilad obtained a similar favorable ruling last year from the Singapore court, which ordered the government to indemnify the company P3.4 billion, also because of the revenue losses it incurred after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System had put its rate adjustments on hold during the past administration in a breach of its original CA with the past Ramos administration.

As far as Maynilad is concerned, it is willing to discuss a workable solution with the Duterte administration that would benefit all the parties concerned.

The two water concessionaires had in fact sought the opinion of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on finding ways to arrive at a “mutually acceptable manner of implementing the arbitral award“ even before the arbitral rul-

How much is reasonable, and therefore acceptable to both the concessionaires and consumers?

The provisions in the CAs that the Department of Justice now says were disadvantageous to the government and consumers were Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Water under the bridge NEWSPAPERS today report that the President has apparently calmed down from his earlier vitriol against the private water concessionaires in Metro Manila. The Palace issued clarifications that the concession contracts won’t be rescinded—yet. However, they should still be amended to remove “onerous provisions.”

I’m always amazed by the amount of bad reasoning that hits social media every time a controversy erupts in this country. This latest brouhaha over water is no exception, on both sides of the issue.

Some examples: Complaints have been flying around about the purportedly shoddy service of the two concessionaires, Manila and Maynilad Water. But just 20 years ago, in 1997, only 3 million people in Metro Manila were enjoying water from MWSS, representing 67-percent coverage. Today over 7 million people are being serviced by 93-percent coverage, including 2 million from marginalized communities.

I wager that these folks still remember having to pay an arm and a leg for water from privately owned trucks. If that was the best government could do at the time, is it reasonable to expect that government could have performed as well as the concessionaires had privatization not happened?

Having said that, was the improvement in service worth whatever had to be paid by consumers? One columnist has bandied about the number P120 billion as the total profits reportedly earned by Manila Water since privatization. Nonetheless, it’s the return that matters, not the absolute number. On that score, another columnist says the company has been limited to an ROE of only a little over 7 percent, which seems appropriate for a utility that enjoys monopoly status.

At the same time, Manila insists that they’ve spent over P166 billion to improve water and wastewater services.

Who’s telling the truth here? The company can validly claim a presumption of regularity since they’ve got their auditors, MWSS, SEC, and PSE all looking over their shoulders.

It was under former President Arroyo that the concession agreement with Ma-

nila Water was extended, in 2009. And it was under former President Aquino III that MWSS committed various actions, starting in 2014, on which the Singapore arbitrators subsequently ruled in favor of the concessionaire.

Bottom line: Duterte has been dealt a bad hand, and not for the first time, thanks to his feckless, reckless predecessor. If the original contracts were badly written against government—even if there may have been no choice at the time because we badly needed private investors to supply an essential commodity like water—it’s his unenviable job to set

It’s on the wholesale supply side that the water problem needs to be fixed. things right.

As we’ve always maintained, it’s on the wholesale supply side that the water problem needs to be fixed. This is government’s job alone. Luckily, DPWH Secretary Villar recently added his powerful voice to the chorus by pushing for the building of the Kaliwa river dam. This is an old plan that dates back all the way to the Marcos years, which gives you an idea of the level of government efficiency.

Villar distanced his agency from the MWSS record, reminding us that his agency does not sit on their board. That may be true, of course, but the last I checked, the “public works” that’s part of his agency’s name also includes projects like dams. *** On the brighter side of things, the Mindanao wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) may finally see the light of day by next January, after being delayed since late 2018. According to DOE, the ERC will also have to play its part by relaxing its requirements that must be met by power distributors before they can join WESM. Hooking up the island of Mindanao to a nationwide power grid is an old dream that’s finally coming true. It will also improve the overall efficiency of the grid, which is now also under attack (as usual, with perfect hindsight) over its minority Chinese presence. And if anyone complains about high electricity prices to-

day, they ought to remember the bad old days of day-long brownouts under PNot’s sainted mother. Not to mention the fact that electricity in this country—unlike in most others—is not subsidized by taxpayers’ money.

Over on the housing side, Pag-IBIG will soon be raising its members’ savings rate, from P100 a month today, to P150 by 2021 and P200 by 2023. Higher savings will fund the dramatic growth of housing loans under the agency’s dynamic young CEO, Acmad Moti, as well as enable lower loan interest rates and higher dividend payouts to members.

Moti is to be commended for consulting in full with all his constituencies in advance of this increase in rates. I’m sure that the process brought him into contact with all the leftists and free-lunchers who think that Pag-IBIG should be able to grant more and more loans out of thin air.

To cap it all, the incidence of poverty has declined from 23.3 percent in 2015 to only 16.6 percent in 2018, according to NEDA. This was due to “improved labor govern market conditions” as well as government social assistance programs like the 4 Ps. The country is now on track to meet its target of 14-percent poverty by 2022, on schedule and the larger sustainable development goal (SDG) of eliminating “extreme poverty” by 2030.

This improvement means over a million Filipino households were lifted from poverty since Duterte took office in early 2016. This is no mean feat. The United Nations and the do-gooders in the West ought to commend him for that, but I won’t be holding my breath waiting for them to do so. *** Appropriate to the second week of Advent, today’s first reading (Is 40: 1-11) proclaims the Lord’s coming: “Prepare the way of the Lord! Here comes with power the Lord God…Like a shepherd he feeds his flock, in his arms he gathers the lambs.”

The picture of the caring shepherd is continued in the Gospel (Mt 18: 12-14) when Jesus asks the crowd, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?”

Divine love is all-embracing and all-inclusive: “It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” This is the comfort offered to us as we draw closer to the events of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

SEAG triumphant versus fake news A TRIUMPHANT Filipino nation holds its head up high, as the 30th Southeast Asian Games draws to a rousing conclusion tomorrow.

Culprits should be unmasked and prosecuted.

We are indeed victorious not only because Team Philippines will have been the runaway overall winner based on the medal standings, and with our Filipino athletes hauling 283 total, including at least gold 113 medals as of this writing.

We have emerged true champions because we have also successfully hosted this year’s SEAG, living up to our renowned Filipino hospitality to our visitors as always. Kudos to all government entities that have made this all possible, particularly the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chaired by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

A word of appreciation is also in order for the services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police units who have secured the athletes and the venues of the competitions.

It has come to light, too, that the agents of doom and purveyors of fake news have thus far failed in their attempt to sabotage the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEAG. They’ve screwed up big-time that the pub-

Not all...

From A4 drawn up during the Ramos administration.

It was the Ramos administration that turned over the water supply delivery and sewerage service from the MWSS to private contractors under the 1997 privatization program. This was in response to the sad state of the water distribution system at the time because of what was believed to be the mismanagement and inefficiency of the MWSS. The huge task of improving the water distribution system and setting up wastewater treatment facilities to ensure the delivery of clean, adequate and 24/7 water to Metro Manila consumers required hundreds of billions of pesos in investments by the would-be concessionaires.

lic rejected the wholesale black propaganda or, more appropriately, the “Yellow journalism” they perpetrated weeks prior to the SEAG opening last Nov. 30.

It turned out that a well-oiled concerted effort had been mounted to undermine the Duterte administration’s capability to play host the 2019 SEAG. Senator Franklin Drilon first raised the issue against the P55-million cost of the SEAG cauldron put up at the New Clark Athletics Stadium, belittling the significance of hosting such a prestigious international sporting event, attended by thousands of athletes and foreign media.

It’s not only a purely sporting event. It is an opportunity to strengthen friendly relations with other Asian countries at a time of growing regional tension.

Drilon said the money used to build the stupid cauldron should have been spent on building more classrooms. Well, I wonder how many classrooms he had built with his millions and millions of pesos in pork barrel.

Then, these culprits, a network of anti-government media outfits and social media sites, fired off a barrage of fake news in an apparent attempt to spoil the whole hosting gig altogether.I agree with Party-list Congressmen Ron Salo (Kabayan) and Mike Defensor (Anakalusugan) that those who spread misinformation against the country’s hosting of the SEAG should be unmasked and held liable under the law, including those spreading hoax in various social media platforms and in mainstream media.

The Singapore National Olympic Committee (SNOC) refuted the report of the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) that their Muslim delegates to the SEA Games were served pork.

The state-run Channel News Asia of Singapore in their Facebook page posted that there’s no truth to SCMP’s report claiming Singaporean chef de mission Juliana Seow talked to the Philippine media about the supposed serving of pork to Singaporean athletes.

“Juliana did not speak with the Philippine

media nor were our Muslim athletes served pork… the mentions in SCMP article related to these two allegations are not true,” SNOC told CNA. The Biñan City officials scored the Philippine Daily Inquirer and demanded an erratum for posting a wrong photo of its football stadium, claiming that the renovations of the facilities remained unfinished despite the start of the football tournament. It turned out that the photo published is that of University of the Philippines, Manila campus.

Another photo showed the Philippine Sports Arena in Pasig City being renovated for SEAG volleyball meets. The picture circulated was actually an old one and that the venue was in fact ready before the SEAG opening.

Also circulated in the social media sites was a photo of a swimming pool under construction, being referred to as an unfinished venue of SEAG swimming competitions. It also turned out to be an old picture of a swimming pool being built in Nepal.

Still, there a picture showing two toilet bowls in supposedly in one bathroom in Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The picture that went viral was actually edited with Photoshop, removing the wall between them.

A former DZMM Radyo Patrol reporter posted on Twitter a photo that showed a Philippine flag being used as a table cover allegedly when a meal was served to SEAG athletes. No athletes were appear in the picture.

“ABS-CBN News did not vet or approve the social media post made by former DZMM reporter Ricky Velasco,” the Kapamilya network said in a statement.

The Philippine Sports Commission had clarified that the photos were not taken during SEA Games 2019. Upon investigating the alleged use of Philippine flag as a mantle for the catering, it was found that to be maliciously set up for the purpose of reporting fake news, said PSC executive-director Guillermo Iroy.

Those culprits behind all the well-funded black propaganda fake news should be unmasked and prosecuted.

Since 1997, for instance, Maynilad says it has spent P46.7 billion on wastewater treatment facilities alone but has collected only P38.07 billion in sewage fees from its West Zone customers over the same period. This means it still has to recover P8.6 billion of its investments in wastewater projects.

As part of its responsibility under the Clean Water Act, Maynilad has also allocated P200 billion to build 26 new sewage treatment facilities (STPs) and install 425 kilometers of new sewer lines from 2019 to 2037.

Maynilad says it will be unable to recover its investments without any adjustments in the rates it charges its West Zone customers, By the same token, MWC will also be unable to recoup its investments without any corresponding adjustment in the rates for its East Zone customers.

The 1997 concession agreements with the two water service providers contained a rate

rebasing process, or a procedure for the periodic adjustment of water rates in accordance with the MWSS Charter. Under this rate rebasing process, the concessionaires and MWSS review their rates once every five years to determine the most suitable water rates in order for MWC and Maynilad to recover their investments. Both MWC and Maynilad ran to the Singapore arbitral court during the Aquino administration because MWSS decided to unilaterally ignore the rate adjustments based on the rate rebasing process.

I imagine that what the two water concessionaires would raise during the forthcoming negotiations with the government would be a reasonable rate increase at this time. The question is: How much is reasonable, and therefore acceptable to both the concessionaires and consumers? We'll have to wait and see. ernhil@yahoo.com

A5

BBB program unrealistic, needs sharp reduction

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is angry with Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon for calling his signature Build, Build, Build (BBB) program a “dismal failure.” It would have been sufficiently unkind of Drilon if he had simply said that the BBB program was a failure; but he had to be very unkind and called it a dismal failure. Not surprisingly, the Chief Executive very upset.

How could the Senate majority leader stop himself from pronouncing the BBB program a “dismal failure” when (1) President Duterte and his economic advisers had declared during the 2016 campaign; that upon Mr. Duterte’s election the Philippines would enter upon a Golden Age of Infrastructure, with no less than 75 “flagship projects” to be undertaken in hit-the-ground-running fashion, and (2) a recent report of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) to the Senate, only nine (9) of the flagship projects have been completed or are nearing completion.

Flagship projects are by definition big projects, and big projects are more complicated and require more experience than ordinary projects. Thus, there is little likelihood that many more of the 75 touted projects will be completed or near-completed during the remaining three and a years of President Duterte’s term. Indeed, post-Senate-hearing statements that they have made the economic managers—especially the Secretary of Finance and the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning (who is concurrently NEDA Director-General)—had said that, the list of flagship projects be reviewed, with a view to its being shortened. The post-review list may consist of around 40 projects, they have said.

Even 40 projects—almost 50 percent of the original number of flagship projects—in an unrealistic number. If only nine projects could be completed or nearly completed in two and half years, how can 40 projects possibly be completed in almost the same span of time? The answer is that they cannot, given the physical and other realities of the situation. The Duterte administration should have hit the ground running when it came into with many projects ready for implementation; but it didn’t.

To be sure, the revelation in the Senate that the Golden Age of Infrastructure has not come and that only around 11 percent of the hyped projects have

Climate...

From A4

in the climate change negotiations - activist, academic, and government. For the time being, I am wearing only the first two hats and I welcome the freedom that comes with that. I am also fairly certain that in the not-so-distant future, I will be called to serve the country again on this issue and I certainly will help if asked so long as my values on human rights, ecosystem integrity, and climate justice will not be compromised.

Four years ago, after the Paris conference, I had hoped to retire from the climate process and focus on training and mentoring new generations of climate scientists, diplomats, government officials, and negotiators. But upon dis-

Duterte...

From A4

In my two recent columns I said that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority deal with Malaysia’s MDT Capital Berhad on the building of the sports facilities in Capas, Tarlac is clearly disadvantageous on the part of government.

The questions I raised also showed that the Malaysian firm was favored and got the better end of the contract. It’s for this reason that I asked: What was in it for the BCDA that MTD Capital Berhad got more than it deserved? Santa Banana, it even used a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines!

The President should have the deal looked into immediately. After all, Mr. Duterte has famously said he is against corruption. *** San Miguel’s P734-billion New Manila International Airport on a 2,500-hectare flatland in Bulacan had been set for groundbreaking at the end of this month when suddenly, the Department of Finance recalled its go signal on the excuse that it would like to like the terms of the unlimited proposal clarified.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the DOF had no object on the building of the Bulacan airport but would just like to see the clarifications. This just

been completed or near-completed was a source of tremendous embarrassment for the Duterte administration. It showed that the set of people currently running the country are incapable of monumental undertakings.

Having been embarrassed once, the Duterte administration surely does not want the embarrassment to take place again. Unfortunately, barring any dramatic improvement in the administrative and managerial capabilities of the government, another embarrassment for the Duterte administration is almost certainly what will come to pass when the BBB program is subjected to Congressional review late next year.

There is every likelihood that the economic managers will report higher a project completion rate not too much than that for that for 2016-to-date.

Senator Drilon was absolutely right when he called the BBB program a dismal failure.

What should the Duterte administration do under the circumstances?

It should do two things. The first, which has already been discussed, is to conduct a searching review of the BBB program’s 75 flagship projects and discard those that are clearly beyond the realm of doability; for starters, the island-linking bridge projects should quickly get the axe. After the review, the BBB program should be left with no more than 20-25 projects; to repeat, a post-review BBB menu of 40 projects is unrealistic. There is just no way that the present government can get 40 projects completed—or even started— during the next 12 months.

The second thing that the Duterte administration should do is to focus on the 20-25 projects that appear doable and provide them with everything that they need by way of financial, technical and managerial support. It should stop being obsessed on the number 75; it should, instead, start being fixated on the numbers 20-25. Twenty to 25 projects completed, out of 75 announced with much fanfare, would be a feat.

Senator Drilon was absolutely right when he called the BBB program a dismal failure. The Duterte administration should work hard to deprive the Senate minority leader of any basis for repeating his damaging assessment in the coming year. cernment, even as I have scaled up my teaching, given what is at stake in what has now become a climate emergency, to stand down now is to be selfish.

There is still a lot of work to do to combat what has now become an existential threat to the country and planet. The climate emergency is also the most serious threat on the human rights of our people and especially the poor. Let’s be reminded of this as we celebrate International Human Rights Day today.

In protecting people and planet, I make mine the famous lines of Robert Frost, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep/ But I have promises to keep/ And miles to go before I sleep/ And miles to go before I sleep.”

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs means that the groundbreaking would be postponed. When it will take place, I have no idea.

Honestly, I don’t know why the DOF is so worried with the San Miguel project. It can potentially employ a million workers.

The airport will have four to six runways.

It will be built with the help of groups responsible for the building of the Changi Airport in Singapore and the Charles de Gaulle Airport in France.

I recall that the DOF had objected to the San Miguel project saying it would have an impact on the Clark International Airport, a government project.

Indeed sometimes it is the government itself putting hurdles on business.

In fact, if I recall right, when Ramon S. Ang was president of Philippine Airlines, he submitted to government his unsolicited proposal to put up the Bulacan project, My gulay, that was six years ago. If the government had listened, we would have been enjoying the international airport now.

There are other “game-changer” projects of San Miguel in the works. There is the MRT-7, and the expressway connecting the North Luzon Expressway to the South Luzon Expressway.

Ang’s unsolicited proposal to build a 10-lane expressway over EDSA is practical and doable. It will solve the traffic nightmare.

Ang also wants to extend the MRT project to Bocaue, Bulacan.

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News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t relaunches free ferry services to ease traffic

IN BRIEF CA sides with SRA move to export sugar to US

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE government has relaunched the Pasig River Ferry service to address the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis and provide alternative mode of transportation to the people.

To further expand the operations and cater more passengers, the Metro Manila Development Authority is planning to construct three more ferry stations in Quinta Market in Manila, Circuit Makati in Makati City, and Kalawaan in Pasig City.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim led the project relaunching on Monday held at the Lawton Station in Manila, which was attended by Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade.

“The Pasig River ferry service has been an alternative mode of transport to Metro Manila commuters who want to avoid traveling the busy streets of Metro Manila. Now, they can enjoy ferry rides between Pasig City and Manila City for free until the end of January,” said Lim. He said the free ferry transportation program hopes to encourage the public to patronize the ferry service over public utility vehicles and avoid the hassles of commuting in congested Metro Manila roads.

The MMDA had temporarily suspended the ferry operation due to a carpet of water lilies and other aquatic plants that clogged the river.

The water lilies that clogs the river during rainy season, came from Laguna lake and it has long been a problem affecting the operation of the ferry river system since the time of then MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino. It entangle the ferry’s propeller, preventing the boats from traveling at normal speed.

DOLE puts inspections on hold

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment said it has suspended the routine labor inspections of all commercial establishments starting this week.

“Like in the past years, we are suspending routine inspections from Dec. 8 to Jan. 7 to avoid suspicions that our inspectors are just asking for holiday gifts,” Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

Bello issued Administrative Order No. 495, Series of 2019, directing all DOLE regional directors to suspend labor inspections in their areas of jurisdiction.

However, exempted from the suspension are complaint inspections; occupational safety and health standards investigations; technical safety inspections, such as inspection of boilers, pressure vessels, and mechanical and electrical installation, etc; and inspection of any establishManila ment or industry as directed by the Standard TODAY Labor secretary.

The conduct of routine inspections shall resume upon issuance of the 2020 General Authority for Labor Inspectors.

During the period of suspension, DOLE regionLEGAL NOTICE al directors Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extra- shall ensure Judicial Settlement has that all results been executed by the heirs of the late Pablo Caig of inspection Cueto, namely, Mercedita B. Cueto, Maria Agnes T. activities are Cueto, and Maria Belinda uploaded in Cueto Buenaventura, all of Managelegal age, over personal and the real properties, per deed ment Informaexecuted on 24 November 2019, before Notary tion System Public Atty. Rosalinda A. Montenegro per Doc. No. before the end 241; Page No. 47; Book No. of December.

FERRY FOR FREE. A ferry boat that will transport people from the Cavite City Port Terminal arrives at the CCP Complex port

before heading to its last terminal at the Philippines Port and Bonifacio Square (Lawton Plaza) in Manila on Monday, Dec. 9. The newly launched Cavite-Manila ferry service will transport people for free until Jan. 1, 2020. Norman Cruz

Commuter group seeks TRO vs. fly-by-night motor taxis

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

COMMUTER group is seeking an injunction against fly-by-night motorcycle taxi operators to protect riding public from grave danger on road.

Lawyer Ariel Inton of the Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection said his group filed a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City against We Move Things Philippines Inc., Habal Rides Corp., I-Sabay, SampaDala Corp., and Trans-Serve Corp.

The petition stated that their operations are unauthorized and may cause grave and substantial damage to the public.

Inton, a former Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board mem-

ber, said that the LCSP’s main thrust is to promote commuter safety and uphold the rights of commuters, road users and pedestrians to a safe mode of transportation.

As such, Inton said, it has an absolute right to prevent respondents from organizing its fleet of motorcycles for hire and avert its operations which prejudice the riding public.

“The respondents are currently sabotaging the government’s pilot program for motorcycle taxis by unilaterally accord-

ing to themselves the privilege to operate motorcycles for hire in the guise of addressing the traffic situation in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and other urban cities,” Inton said.

According to the petition letter that the LCSP submitted to the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City Tuesday, Dec. 3, “Combined, thousands of motorcycles illegally booking and transporting passengers ply the roads, unduly exposing petitioners’ members to road hazards and increased risk of accidents.”

Inton staid that motorcycle taxi operations are being conducted outside of the pilot program of the DoTr, defeating entirely the essence of the ongoing pilot testing and exposing the riding public to grave risks.

THE Court of Appeals has compelled the Makati City Regional Trial Court to allow the Sugar Regulatory Administration to justify its regulation requiring sugar milling companies to allocate 5 percent of their total production for export to the United States which would result in higher prices of sugar in the local market.

In a 10-page decision, the CA’s Eight Division through Associate Justice Ramon Garcia granted the petition filed by the SRA seeking the reversal of the order issued by Makati City RTC Branch 133, which allowed Central Azucarera de Bais and Central Azucarera de San Antonio, Inc., two of the country’s top sugar producers, to present their evidence ex parte for the failure of SRA to appear during the pretrial on the petition they filed seeking to declare as invalid SRA Sugar Order No. 1.

“Accordingly, the Regional Trial Court of Makati City Branch 133 is ordered to conduct further proceedings and trial on the merits with the participation of petitions Sugar Regulatory Administration [SRA] and to allow it to controvert herein private respondents’ motion for production and inspection of documents,” the CA ordered.

SRA issued Sugar Order No.1 issued on August 2018 provides for the allocation of sugar production for the crop year 20182019 and that five percent of it would go to the US market while 95 percent would go to domestic market. Rey E. Requejo

BI to resume e-gates system at NAIA THE Bureau of Immigration will open the electronic gates at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before Christmas to hasten processing and reduce passenger queues in immigration counters at the country’s premiere port during the holiday rush.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he already signed a memorandum of agreement with the service provider for the pilot testing of the e-gates, initially at the NAIA 2 immigration departure area.

The e-gate system was implemented last year in the immigration arrival areas of NAIA’s three terminals and the international airports in Mactan-Cebu, Davao, and Clark.

The noticeable drop in incidence of long queues at the airports has been attributed to successful implementation of the project.

“We are optimistic that the same success will be replicated when the scheme becomes fully operational in our airports’ immigration departure areas,” Morente said.

The BI chief added that as in the case of e-gates installed at the immigration arrival areas, the new lanes shall cater only to departing OFWs in order to ensure smoother and faster processing for these Filipinos in recognition of their contributions to the country’s economic development. Vito Barcelo

PAL to open Mla.-Perth flight service LEGACY carrier Philippine Airlines announced on Monday it will introduce in March 2020 a regular service between Manila and Perth, the first-ever nonstop air link between Western Australia and the Philippines.

By taking the non-stop flight to Perth, travelers will save at least four hours and a half in travel time vs. taking other airlines that require a stopover and flight connections.

Flight PR 223 (Manila-Perth service) will Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday beginning March 30, 2020, at 12:05 a.m., and arrive in Perth Airport at 7:20 a.m. local time.

The returning flight PR 224 (Perth-Manila service) will leave Perth’s Terminal 1 International at 8:40 a.m. local time and CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK touch down in Manila at 3:50 p.m. on the same days.

“We are thrilled to welcome Perth to our network,” said PAL’s chief sales and chief marketing officer Eugene C. Go, “Our pioneer nonstop flights will allow us to vigorously promote the Philippines as a top-notch tourist experience for residents of Western Australia, and we look forward to extending our gracious Filipino hospitality to them from the moment they step on board our brand-new planes CONNECTOR ROAD. Department of Public Works and Highway Secretary Mark Villar pointed at a road map the NLEX-SLEX conflown by our experienced professional nector road which is being constructed at the NLEX Harbor link segment 10 C3-R10 Malabon skyway project during an inspection of crew.” Joel E. Zurbano project. Manny Palmero

Occidental Mindoro bans coal plants

THE provincial government of Occidental Mindoro has passed an ordinance banning the use of coal-fired power plants in 27; Series of 2019 (MS-DEC. 3/10/17, 2019) the province in a bid to protect its resources and protect the welfare of its residents.

In a bold ordinance approved and adopted by the city council led by N OTICE Notice is hereby given that INTEGRATED OFFICE vice governor and presiding officer SOLUTIONS, INC. with office address at Unit 7C, Peter Alfaro on Dec. 5, the governUnioil Center Building, Acacia Street corner Commerce Avenue, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, ment of Occidental Mindoro said Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, is applying for registration it is choosing clean air and growth with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Services Exports Provider under Export Activities - [BPO- instead of "suffering in the near fuRemote Staffing Services (Units 2605-2612 and 2615 ture."

Parkway Corporate Center, Filinvest City, Alabang "World powered by natural gas Site] on a Non-Pioneer status with project site located at Units 2605-2612 and 2615 Parkway Corporate Center, Corporate Avenue cor. Parkway Place, Filinvest City, would be healthier than a world powAlabang,Muntinlupa City. ered by coal, but healthier still would Any person with valid objection/s on the above- be a world powered by renewables. mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, The development of cleaner fuels under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the requires taking serious measures to date of this publication. reduce the severity of its urban air (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA quality issues and considerations on Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service the importance of transitioning to re(MS-DEC.10, 2019)

newable sources of energy," the province said in the ordinance.

Coal is the largest emitter among primary electricity generation sources, accounting for 30 percent of all energy related CO2 emissions, according to the ordinance, citing the October 2018 issue of The Environmental Magazine.

"Of all energy resources, coal is one of the most injurious to the environment and health. Further, coal by-products cause a lot of pollution, which contributes to global warming and climate change," the province said.

By passing the ordinance, Occidental Mindoro adds to the roster of six provinces in the Philippines that have banned coal-powered energy projects.

These are Guimaras, Masbate, Ilocos Norte, Negros Oriental, Bohol and Sorsogon.

In place of coal, the province shall pursue clean and renewable energy projects.

EO seeks assistance program for Brgy. execs during Yuletide season

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has asked barangay councils to enact an ordinance creating the “Yuletide Social Assistance Program” for barangay officials in recognition of their services.

Through Executive Order 99 released Monday, the President enjoined the local councils to have assistance programs for the “economic empowerment” for barangay officials and functionaries.

“The Yuletide season is an opportune time to establish such measures or programs for the economic empowerment of barangay officials and functionaries, in recognition of their valuable and meaningful service that effect genuine and positive change in their respective communities, consistent with the pro-

visions of the local government code,” the order read.

The order, signed on Dec. 6, also recognized barangay officials and workers “at the forefront in the delivery of essential and basic government services” such as healthcare, social welfare, agricultural support, settlement of disputes, peace and order, and the promotion of the general interest of the community.

Moreover, it recognizes their “unconditional and passionate service rendered to the community, despite the inherent limitations in resources, logistics, facilities, and remuneration.”

The Yuletide Social Assistance Program shall be charged to their respective funds subject to Sections 321 and 323 of the Local Government Code, according to the EO.

Sports Far Eastern, Ateneo in cage ‘groups of death’ FAR Eastern University and Ateneo face rough sailing in their title campaigns after being drawn in tough groups in the 8th PSSBC Freego Cup, which starts on Saturday at the SGS gym in Quezon City.

The Baby Tamaraws are bracketed in Group C, along with NCAA runner-up Lyceum and Fil-Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation runner-up Chiang Kai Shek College, while the Eaglets are with inaugural champion Hope Christian High School and San Sebastian College in Group B. “Only the fittest and the toughest teams will survive in those groups, but it’s going to be exciting,” said PSSBC Chairman and Freego big boss Eduard Tio. “But it’s good for all of them, they will learn valuable lessons after the tournament.”

Tio, along with league patrons Dioceldo Sy of Blackwater Sports, Jimi Lim of IronCon Builders, Jimmy dela Cruz of Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Rudy Yu of Macbeth Underwear, Dr. Cecilio Pedro of Hapee Toothpaste, Leoncio Chua and Terry Que of Poly Gloss-Rain or Shine, are staging the ‘Tournament of Champions’ in order to help young ballers gain more experience.

“It’s our own little way in helping these high school players prepare themselves as some of them will enter college two years from now or even next year,” said Que. Reigning titlist National University, on the other hand, landed in Group A, along with La Salle Greenhills and La Consolacion College while NCAA champion San Beda University is drawn with equally strong teams Xavier and Adamson in Group D of the event also backed by Gerry’s Grill, Sumo GI Sheet, Cherrylune, Cho Garden and Molten.

Out to lead SBU to its third title are Justine Sanchez, Rhayyan Amsali, Yukien Andrada and Winston Ynot while the Xavier Golden Stallions will be led by Miguel Tan, Ryan Yu and the sweet-shooting Keith Wongchuking.

Wongchuking recently made heads turn when he buried 14 triples on the way to scoring 44 points in the team’s victory over Rizal in the Breakdown 17-Under Tournament.

Davis scores 50 to carry Lakers past T’Wolves LOS ANGELES—Anthony Davis scored 50 points to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 142-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday that gave the Western Conference leaders the best record in the NBA. Davis unleashed his aggression to notch the fourth 50-point game of his career and his first with the Lakers.

He connecting on 20 of 29 shots from the field -- with 16 baskets in the paint and not a single three-pointer.

“One for the ages,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.

“The first thing that stands out to me was he had four steals, a block and great defense for all 39 minutes he was out there,” Vogel said. “To be able to perform on that end of the floor and anchor us and still go for 50 in what I feel is an old-school, smashmouth way of getting 50.

“No threes, right? Twenty of 29, living at the free throw line, post-ups, offensive rebounds, crashes, all those types of things ... just an old-school performance.”

Davis, a perfect 10 of 10 from the free-throw line, also pulled down seven rebounds and handed out six assists.

“I just came out aggressive, playing hard,” said Davis, who laid in a floater with 4:39 left to play to reach 50 points for the night. “My teammates did a good job of finding me.”

LeBron James added 32 points with 13 assists despite finding himself in foul trouble with four in the first half.

Alex Caruso chipped in 16 points as the Lakers improved to 21-3.

Eight Minnesota players scored in double figures.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins scored 19 apiece and the Timberwolves led by five late in the second quarter. Ultimately, however, they had no answer for Davis. AFP

A7

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PH to host Asian swim tourney T

HE Asian Swimming Federation, the Philippine Swimming, Inc., the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Philippine Sports Commission signed a partnership agreement for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2020 Asian Swimming Championships, a major aquatics event that happens every four years.

In a press conference at the New Clark City Aquatics Center, PSI President Maria Lailani Velasco announced that the AASF awarded PSI the rights to host the 11th Asian Swimming Championships.

Through the partnership, the said event will be held at the Aquatics Center in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.

AASF Secretary General Taha Sulaiman Al-Kishry announced during the press conference that the event will be held from Nov. 7 to 17, 2020.

Al-Kishry is Chief of the Oman Swimming Association and a member

of the Fédération Internationale de Natation Bureau.

The General Congress will be held on Nov. 8 2020. It is expected to bring together the executive board of FINA, as well as other high-ranking officers of all the ASEAN regions.

Velasco describes the Asian Swimming Championships as being “at par with the Asian Games in importance and is expected to dominate the success of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.”

It will bring together top swimmers from 50 AASF member countries.

Among these are Japan, China, Korea,

Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, and Qatar. It will consist of five disciplines: swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming and open water swimming.

She also cited the dynamic partnership PSI has with BCDA in light of the 30th South East Asian Games.

“We at the PSI are very grateful to BCDA and the Philippine Sports Commission for agreeing to partner with us and provide us with the support needed to make this major aquatics event possible. Both these organizations were, in fact, instrumental in making the 30th SEA Games a success and it is our hope that the strong ties built during the SEA Games will translate into an even more successful staging of the Asian Swimming Championships.”

For his part, BCDA President and CEO Vivencio Dizon emphasized the readiness of New Clark City and its facilities to host the event.

Addressing AASF and PSI, Mr. Dizon said: “Thank you for offering us this opportunity to be part of a big project.

We agree that this is a great occasion for us to inspire the next generation of elite athletes as well as project a positive image of the Philippines to the world.”

The PSC represented by Commissioner Fatima Celia Kiram assured everyone that PSC will give full support in holding the event, specially in technical matters.

“We do hope that the greatness of our Filipino athletes shown in the 30th South East Asian Games will be repeated in the coming 11th Asian Swimming Championship.”

According to the PSI chief, in swimming, a total of 15 new SEA Games records have been established in just four days into the 30th SEA Games, aside from the numerous Philippine records set by our local athletes.

ASAPHIL President Jean Henri Lhuillier, a long-time patron of softball in the country, joins the victorious Blu Girls at the awarding ceremonies after they won the women’s division of softball at the 30th SEA Games at the Villages inside Clark Freeport Zone. The Blu Girls blanked Indonesia, 8-0, for its 10th straight SEA Games title.

Blu Girls rip Indonesia, win 10th straight title

Members of Sibol team celebrate their victory

Sibol bags 1st Esports medal at SEA Games SIBOL made history on Sunday as the first esports team to win a gold medal at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang discipline in the San Juan Arena, San Juan City.

The team overcame their final assignment—Indonesia—with a come-frombehind win to secure the gold for the country.

The Filipino squad secured their playoff spot after getting a draw against Thailand despite a tough group. The group included the team that is considered the strongest team in the tournament, Indonesia.

Sibol took the second seed and started the Playoffs in the lower bracket, while Indonesia topped the group and earned a spot in the upper brackets.

Sibol began its playoff journey against Vietnam in the lower bracket semifinals.

Despite the the tight matches, Sibol took it home in two games.

The Filipinos once again showed their strength as they swept Malaysia to contest for the gold medal.

Both teams showed why they deserved the gold medal in an exciting series but in the end, Sibol stood tall and on top of the podium, scoring a 3-2 victory over Indonesia.

THE Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine Blu Girls reasserted anew its dominance in the region and closed out its campaign in the 30th SEA games with an abbreviated 5-inning, 8-0 victory over Indonesia in the finals to cop the gold and extend its streak to 10 straight Southeast Asian Games’ titles.

From a scoreless first inning, the Blu Girls exploded with 8 runs in the second inning to shock their opponents, who could not score even a single run against the tight defense by the Philippines in the game held at The Villages inside the Clark Freeport Zone.

Arianne Vallestero led the onslaught with two runs, while Angelu Gabriel, Mary Joy Maguad, Angelie Ursabia, Cristy Roa, Nichole Padasas and team captain Cheska Altamonte contributed one each in that stretch.

“The international exposure provided by our President Jean Henri Lhuillier was a very big factor for the girls, plus playing before a home

town crowd really pumped them up. Ang sarap ng feeling to play in that situation,” said Blu Girls’ coach Randy Dizer.

“The girls really worked hard to reach this level of playing and I give them credit for the way they played throughout the competition. We are all happy that we were able to bring honor again to the country. Now, we need to sustain this and move to the next level,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, long time president of ASAPHIL and Cebuana Lhuillier, which has been supporting softball in the country for along long time.

The Blu Boys, however, failed to duplicate the achievement of the Blu Girls, losing anew to Singapore in the finals, 2-6, in 7 innings with the lone run coming in the sixth inning and their rivals beyond reach already, They settled for the silver.

The Blu Boys failed to solve the fast ball pitches of Singapore, while the latter’s catchers prevented the Filipinos from scoring when at bat.

Dela Cruz couple ends archery drought CLARK—The husband-and-wife tandem of Paul Marton and Rachelle Anne Dela Cruz finally ended the medal drought of the Philippines in the archery competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

And they ended the drought in style – by winning the gold medal.

The Dela Cruz couple edged the Vietnamese pair of Van Day Nguyen and Kieu Oanh Chau, 148-147, in the mixed team compound category to give the country its first gold in the archery event on Monday at the Parade Grounds here.

Indonesia took the bronze medal after trouncing Malaysia, 152-150.

The Filipino couple displayed nerves of steel to get past the Vietnamese in the finals after breezing past Malaysia, 153148 the the semifinals.

The Filipino archers last won a gold medal in the biennial meet during the 2013 edition in Myanmar courtesy of the

men’s compound team of Earl Benjamin Yap, Ian Patrick Chipeco and Delfin Anthony Adriano.

In the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia, the archers bagged one silver and four bronzes.

Meanwhile, the trio of Rachelle Ann Dela Cruz, Andrea Lucia Robles and Abbigail Tindugan lost to Kieu Oanh Chau, Phuong Le Thao and Vy Tuong Nguyen of Vietnam, 215-217, for the bronze in the women’s team compound.

Thailand took the gold via a 221-217 win over Indonesia.

Earlier, Vietnam collected three of the five gold medals in the recurve competition.

The 26-years old Loc Thi Dao trounced Pyae Sone Hnin, 6-4, of Myanmar in the women’s individual recurve while leading the Vietnamese squad to the golden finish in the women’s team and mixed team divisions.

GOLD IN SKATEBOARDING. Gold medalist Jaime De Lange displaYS his gold medal in skateboard (downhill division) in the 30th Southeast Asian Games At the scenic Maragondon, Nasugbu road in Barangay Patungan, Sunday. De Lange’s teammate Duke Pandeagua, 24, a restaurateur, got the silver, while Lugman Shahrafidz Ahmad of Malaysia settled for bronze. Dennis Abrina

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

Lifesaver named PH flagbearer SUBIC—It pays to be a man for others.

Roger Casugay, virtual unknown to the sporting world outside the surfing community, became man of the hour of the 30th Southeast Asian Games when he threw his chances for the gold to save his Indonesian rival from pending tragedy.

Casugay helped Indon Arip Nurhidayat back to shore after the latter broke his ankle leash and was swept by giant waves at Monaliza Point in San Juan, La Union Friday last week.

With his act, Casugay lost his bid for the gold medal. He, however, hit pay dirt when he won the gold medal in the longboard open event against fellow Filipino Rogelio Esquivel on Sunday.

But his selfless act of helping others seemed more popular than his gold-medal show.

“These Games are not only about medals. It is about character, resilience, love for one another and shoring up the faith of the person next to you, something that Casugay has exemplified,’’ said Philippine Sports Commission chair William ‘‘Butch’’ ‘Ramirez. Ramirez said on Monday that Casugay would be the country’s flag-bearer during the closing ceremonies at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. Casugay will get a financial bonanza and is expected to pay a courtesy call to President Duterte after the SEA Games.

“The SEA Games awakened the Bayanihan spirit and volunteerism among us. The very spirit shown by the heroism of Roger who gave up his chance for a golden finish to save an opponent at risk of losing his life to the very waves they play in,’’ said Ramirez. “Truly a class act, a solid show of the Filipino spirit.’’

Even the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo praised the Filipino surfer.

But while everybody’s lauding him as a hero, the La Union native stressed that he isn’t a hero.

“I’m no hero. He’s (Nurhidayat) a good swimmer, I just calmed him down,” said Casugay.

Filipina fighter Josie Gabuco (left) relies on a left jab to keep her Indonesian opponent Indang at bay during their bout. Gabuco won by unanimous decision. Lino Santos

Gabuco wins 5 SEAG gold th

F

ILIPINA light flyweight boxer Josie Gabuco won her fifth Southeast Asian Games gold when she beat Indonesian bet Endang by unanimous decision during the boxing finals match, Monday, December 9 at the PICC Forum.

Gabuco won gold at the 2009 Vientiane and the 2011 Jakarta Games as a pinweight. She then won gold at the 2013 Napyidaw and the 2015 Singapore Games as a light flyweight.

“This win is so special. First, because this is my first SEA Games here in the Philippines. I also wanted to be the first boxer to win five gold medals. I am very happy. I want to thank everyone who supported me, especially my coaches. The Abap family. My teammates. My sparring partners. If not for them I would not

have been able to do this,” said Gabuco in Filipino as she fought back tears during a brief interview after her victory.

Gabuco had talked of hanging up her gloves in earlier interviews. But retirement seems to be far from her thoughts immediately after the victory.

“I am not thinking about retirement right now. I can feel how my coaches trust me. They told me that I still have what it takes to compete,” said Gabuco in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Rogen Ladon and Car-

lo Paalam also won golds in their respective weight divisions.

Ladon won his first-ever gold medal in the SEA Games by outpointing Yaodam Ammarit of Thailand to win the flyweight title by unanimous decision. The Asian Games silver medalist won a silver four years ago in Singapore.

Paalam beat Kornelis Kwangu Langu of Indonesia by unanimous decision to rule the light flyweight division. The Cagayan De Oro native fought in his first-ever SEA Games.

Paalam exacted sweet revenge in behalf of Ladon. Kornelis won the title in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games when he beat Ladon for the gold.

Irish Magno on the other hand settled for the silver after she lost to Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam via majority decision.

Morrison sets new record en route to shot put victory

By Peter Atencio

SWEET VICTORY. Husband and wife Rachelle Anne and Paul Marton Dela Cruz, who

represented the Philippines in the compound mixed team category, seal their victory with a kiss after grabbing a gold in the archery competition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held at the Clark Parade Grounds. The couple bested Vietnam’s team with a score of 148 - 147. Story on A7

CAPAS, Tarlac—Filipino William Morrison could have gone further.

But, the 21-year-old Morrison still managed to set a new national and meet record in the 30th Southeast Asian Games athletics meet at the New Clark City Stadium here.

Morrison registered 18.38 meters last Sunday in the men’s shot put event, overshadowing the 17.74 meters of Thailand’s Chatchawal Polyiam in the 2011 SEA Games.

“I was off today. But I’m glad that I was able to win,” said Morrison.

Morrison’s showing was in fact below his season’s best, which was a distance of 20.4 meters in a Bloomington, Indiana meet last June.

His effort also allowed him to set a new national mark after Morrison also surpassed 16.74 meter showing of Elizer Sunang in the 2013 Thailand Open.

Morrison said he got tired, and could not go further.

“I got tired. I’m not used to the weather here. It’s snowing in Indiana now,” said Morrison.

Malaysia’s Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, the bronze medallist in 2017 settled for second place with 17.03 meters.

And Zolkefli’s heave was farther in the 2017 SEA Games.

Thailand’s Promrob Juntima secured the bronze with 16.40 meters, and after claiming the gold at 17.42 meters two years ago.

Samboy Lim’s daughter rules women’s +61 kg kumite JAMIE Christine Lim showed she was her truly father’s daughter by winning the gold medal in the women’s +61kg kumite in the 30th Southeast Asian Games karatedo Monday, December 12 at the World Trade Center.

The daughter of PBA legend Samboy Lim scored a decisive hit on Georgia Zefanya Ceyco of Indonesia during the last 20 seconds of the match to snatch the 2-1 victory.

Earlier, Lim beat Aurdrey Japyus of Malaysia,

7-3, in the quarterfinals before posting a dominant 5-1 victory over Thi Thao Bui of Vietnam in the semis.

Junna Tsukii grabbed the first gold for the country’s karatekas when she won the title in women’s -50 kg kumite.

The men salvaged two bronze medals in their weight classes.

Ivan Christopher Agustin blasted Htet Zaw Min of Myanmar, 11-4, to take the bronze in men’s -75

kg kumite.

Agustin scrambled past Virak Sreang of Cambodia, 2-1, in the quarters. But he was outpointed 8-9

by Songvut Muntaen of Thailand in the semis.

Sharief Afif won the bronze medal in men’s +75 kumite after dominating Visol Sreang, 5-0.

Afif seemed headed to a gold medal after an 8-0 shutout of Sim Chung Hiang of Brunei in the quarterfinals. But he was outpointed by the tall and lanky Thanh Nhan Do of Vietnam, 5-3, in the

Jamie Christine Berberabe Lim (left) battles Georgia Zefanya Ceyco of Indonesia during the women’s +61kg kumite in the 30th Southeast Asian Games karatedo competition. Lim prevailed to win the gold. Lino Santos

Knott finds redemption after mixed relay triumph CAPAS, Tarlac—Kristina Knott redeemed herself after bowing to Vietnam’s Tu Chien Le in the women’s 100-meter dash finals.

The 24-year-old Knott passed the baton to Eric Cray, and they helped Team Philippines get the gold medal in the 4x100-meter mixed relay of the 30th Southeast Asian Games athletics meet last Sunday at the New Clark City stadium here.

“I redeemed myself. So, I’m not looking at the past anymore,” said Knott.

Le retained the century dash crown in 11.56 seconds, and frustrated Knott as she relentless chased her from start to finish, and stumbled to the ground after she crossed the finish line.

Knott, who captured the gold medal in the women’s 200-meter dash in record-breaking fashion after getting past Le, settled for the silver in 11.55 seconds.

She will now have an opportunity for a third gold medal in her last event, which is in the 4x100-meter relays.

“I don’t know (what happened),” stated Knott when asked about her stint in the 100-meter dash.

But Knott agreed that the breaks went Le’s way in the end.

Knott came in fast from the left side of the tartan track at 23.07 seconds and upset defending champion Thu Chinh Le of Vietnam, and this earned the women’s 200-meter run gold medal last Saturday.

Peter Atencio

Business

IN BRIEF

NLEX offers to extend toll road to Anda Circle

NLEX Corp. said Monday it submitted a proposal to the Department of Public Works and Highways to build a 5.1-kilometer elevated expressway from Navotas to Anda Circle in Port Area, Manila.

“We just submitted it. It’s going to continue the Harbor Link from C3 corner Navotas Interchange all the way to Anda Circle,” NLEX senior vice president for communications and stakeholder management Romulo Quimbo Jr. said.

Quimbo said the proposed Harbor Link Port Access Mobility Facility would cost between P15 billion and P16 billion.

NLEX is currently building the 2.6-km Harbor Link (R10 Section) which is expected to be completed by March next year. “As for today the project is 65-percent completed and the partial completion is by Jan. 15 next year,” he said.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and NLEX Corp. president and general manager Luigi Bautista on Monday witnessed the foundation works of the first 5-km section of the NLEX Connector Expressway at the new Caloocan Interchange. Darwin G. Amojelar

Congress asked to hike sin taxes

YOUTH groups asked Congress to urgently pass higher taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to help ensure sufficient funding of the Universal Health Care program.

The youth urged lawmakers to pass the “sin” tax version principally authored by Senator Pia Cayetano―Senate Bill 1074―and which the Department of Finance and Department of Health jointly support.

The bill represents a component of Package 2 Plus of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.

The Youth for Sin Tax―a member of the sin tax coalition of civil society groups―described “sin” taxes as “the single most effective way of significantly reducing consumption of ‘sin’ products among the youth who are sensitive to price increases.”

The National Capital Region chapter of the National Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, which has 20,000 members in different colleges in Metro Manila, also expressed support for higher “sin” taxes. They said that “alcohol is the leading cause of death for young people” and that “1 out of 5 e-cigarette users is aged 10 to 19 years old.”

Julito G. Rada

Microinsurance now covers 40m Filipinos

ABOUT 40 million Filipinos were covered by microinsurance as of third quarter, preliminary data based on the quarterly reports submitted to the Insurance Commission show.

Insurance commissioner Dennis Funa said in a statement the mutual benefit associations registered the highest number of individuals covered by microinsurance.

“Taking up 62 percent of the market share in terms of number of individuals covered, the mutual benefit associations sector covered 25 million members and dependents which translates to a total of P3.91 billion in terms of premium production,” Funa said.

CARD MBA Inc. dominated the MBA sector with a total market share of 80 percent and 82 percent in terms of the number of lives insured and premium production, respectively, of the total registered by the MBA sector.

Pag-asa ng Pinoy MBA, Inc. came in second followed by Alalay sa Kaunlaran Benefit Association Inc., Tulay sa Pag-unlad Mutual Benefit Association Inc. and CCT Mutual Benefit Association Inc. Data showed that in terms of contributions made, TSPI Mutual Benefit Association Inc. came in second, followed by Pagasa ng Pinoy MBA Inc., Simbag sa Emerhensiya Asin Dagdag Pasegurohan, MBAI and Alalay sa Kaunlaran Mutual Benefit Association Inc.

Tourist arrivals increased 15% to 6.8m in 10 months

By Othel V. Campos

I

NTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals rose 15 percent in the first 10 months to a record 6.8 million from 5.91 million a year ago on the back of strong tourism traffic from Korea and China.

“The collective efforts and resolve of the whole tourism industry have paid off with the continued increase in our visitor arrivals and tourist receipts as well as recognitions from major international award giving bodies,” said Tourism secretary Bernadette Puyat.

The 10-month figure was just 1.4-million short of the full-year target of 8.2 million international visitor arrivals in 2019.

Data showed Korea was the top source of visitor arrivals with 1.6 million in the 10-month period, up by 21.75 percent from a year ago. This is expected to further improve following the signing of the tourism cooperation between the Philippines and Korea, the DOT said.

China came in second with 1.5 million arrivals, representing a 41-percent growth from the same period last year.

It was followed by the United States with 872,335 (up 2.5 percent), Japan with 569,625 (up 7.43 percent) and Taiwan with 282,220 (up 36.77 percent).

Puyat attributed the encouraging figures to the improved air connectivity, intensified marketing promotions including the refreshed “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign, budding relations with other countries and the growing recognition of the country’s sustainable tourism advocacy.

The DOT said arrivals via air comprised 98.77 percent or 630,666 visitors

in October. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport served as the main gateway for s396,446 tourists.

Cebu, which was recently included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Network of Creative Cities, followed with 131,217 arrivals.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 earned the top prize in the Completed Buildings-Transport Category at the recently-concluded World Architecture Festival.

Air arrivals at Kalibo totaled 59,467 while arrivals at Clark reached 35,236.

Other airports yielded 8,300 arrivals.

On top of the growing tourist arrivals, the Philippines bagged back-to-back diving accolades at the World Travel Awards in Muscat, Oman, besting eight other global dive destinations including Azores Islands, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Galapagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Maldives and Mexico.

Toyota Motor PH investing P4.5b in Laguna logistics hub TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. is investing another P4.5 billion to build a logistics hub near its plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, a top executive said Monday.

TMPC president Satoru Suzuki said the company decided to invest in a logistics hub to efficiently manage production and provide easier logistics support to dealers and clients.

“We want to be ready for a future situation. Construction will start sometime next year [2020],” he said Monday.

The company will use a combination

of loans and equity to finance the project which is expected to start operations in two to three years, he said.

The existing logistics center inside the Toyota Special Economic Zone in Sta. Rosa has a capacity for 5,000 vehicles at any given time, while the new logistics hub will be able to carry more vehicles.

Suzuki said while the company was looking for the most suitable site for the logistics hub, “it shouldn’t be far away from the Toyota ecozone.”

Suzuki, who will end his four-

year stint as Toyota president this year, said his stay was a beautiful challenge, and he enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that went with the territory.

TMPC vice chairman Alfred Ty said 2019 sales could reach the company target.

“We’re actually hoping for a singledigit growth. We’ll see as we end the year,” he said.

Ty said he was optimistic the targets would be achieved not only by Toyota but also by the entire industry.

Othel V. Campos

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

B1

Metro Pacific, KKR and GIC complete deal on hospital unit

By Jenniffer B. Austria GLOBAL investment firm KKR and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC completed the investments in Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc., a unit of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

MPIC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the deal was completed through a series of transactions in common shares in MPHHI and in mandatorily exchangeable bonds issued by MPIC. “We welcome KKR and GIC as investors who not only have established track records of helping healthcare companies to meet their growth ambitions, but also have full confidence in Metro Pacific Hospitals’ potential to provide even more critical healthcare services to patients across the Philippines. Today marks the start of a new and exciting chapter for Metro Pacific Hospitals,” MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

Proceeds from the transaction will be used to support MPHHI’s potential investments in additional hospitals and new healthcare businesses. The additional capital will also be used to grow the company’s existing subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures.

MPHHI is the operator of the largest private hospitals and healthcare network in the Philippines in terms of authorized bed capacity and revenues, with interests in 14 hospitals and 3,200 beds across the country.

The company is focused on delivering high-quality healthcare solutions to patients at a time when more Filipinos are seeking premium medical services, driven by rising per capita incomes and rapid urbanization.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks retreat; Manila Water falls T HE stock market fell Monday, with blue chips leading the retreat as investors preferred to stay on the sidelines amid the US-China trade war and the impeachment proceedings against US President Donald Trump.

The Philippines Stock Exchange Index slipped 21.92 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,779.80 pm a value turnover of nearly P5.6 billion. Losers, beat gainers, 105 to 81, with 48 issues unchanged.

Manila Water Co. Inc., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., slumped 6.1 percent to P15.30 amid the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to review the government’s concession agreement with private water distributors. Metro

Pacific Investments Corp., which controls Maynilad Water Services Inc., also dropped 3.3 percent to P3.54.

Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, declined 2.1 percent to P4.18, while major property Ayala Land Inc. slipped 1.8 percent to P44.70.

Asian markets, meanwhile, mostly rose Monday as investors tracked a rally on Wall Street that was fueled by a forecast-busting US jobs report, while there was little inspiration from tepid Chinese trade data.

While observers widely expect Beijing and Washington to hammer out a partial tariffs agreement, trading floors remain nervous places with less than a week until a deadline when the US is due to impose fresh levies on Chinese goods.

Hopes that the US and global economy could be showing signs of picking up were given a boost Friday when the Labor Department said the US economy

created 266,000 net new jobs in November, while it upgraded its readings for the previous two months.

The figure was well up from the 190,000 expected, while the report also showed unemployment at a 50-year low and wages growth improving.

The data “could support the notion (of) a near-term rebound in the US and the global economy,” said AxiTrader’s Stephen Innes.

“Even if you don’t believe that narrative while thinking we are merely in the calm between two storms, it’s challenging to critique this... report in any other light than to describe it as excellent, if not a total blockbuster.”

Eyes are now on the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting, which ends on Wednesday, with analysts expecting it to hold off cutting interest rates for a fourth time this year.

All three main indexes on Wall Street

ended sharply higher and Asia was able to tag along in early trade.

Hong Kong rose 0.1 percent in the afternoon, Shanghai finished 0.1 percent higher and Tokyo ended up 0.3 percent.

Mumbai, Sydney and Seoul each added 0.3 percent, Taipei climbed 0.4 percent and Jakarta gained 0.1 percent. Wellington, Singapore and Bangkok all fell.

Chinese trade data failed to provide any excitement. Data showed at the weekend that exports fell more than expected as the tariffs spat with the US grinds on, though imports beat forecasts.

Dealers are also keeping abreast of progress in the China-US trade talks, most bets on a deal eventually being struck.

White House economic aide Larry Kudlow told CNBC an agreement “is still close” and that the two sides talk almost daily, while Treasury Secretary also said the discussions were on track.

With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Monday, deceMBer 9, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 89 2,306,620 1.84 9,000 160 2,594,990 24.9 107,200 7.95 200 18.46 200 12.74 238,600 4.03 13,000 0.59 17,000 1.15 15,000 800 620 68.2 2,223,130 0.84 15,000 12.7 2,400 35.55 361,800 178.6 2,280 58.1 830 24.25 32,100 199.6 113,350 1,776 30 58.4 15,760

204,712,361 16,610 413,826,821 2,672,545 1,590 3,692 3,044,008 52,490 10,030 17,310 496,000 151,497,147 12,300 30,600 12,852,125 396,950 48,205 779,185 22,617,234 53,310 918,196

18,699,495 173,763,799 2,500 -921,950 -80,000 80,409,567.50 -101,365.00 -740,025 -4,197,547 -904,192

34.5 2.39 13.6 0.57 1.23 2.85 0.226 2.16 15.34 160.2 4.54 20.5 28.95 71.75 2 5.02 8.35 14.7 10.3 7.18 24.1 73.35 1.3 40 2.02 13.8 7.67 1.33 202.2 3.15 14.9 12 16.5 321.2 0.161 5.12 1.35 3.92 4.2 9.6 10.92 33.15 4.98 5.4 2.06 0.9 10.26 87.15 7.85 0.114 1.01 137 2.5 1.13 0.89

INDUSTRIAL 34.5 605,600 2.39 2,696,000 13.72 252,300 0.57 234,000 1.24 26,000 2.85 3,080,000 0.237 280,000 2.19 535,000 15.4 897,200 160.5 1,430 5 169,600 21.5 120,900 28.95 100 71.75 460 2 1,112,000 5.17 40,700 8.35 2,715,900 14.7 67,400 10.3 701,300 7.19 70,300 24.5 649,800 73.5 210,080 1.3 34,598,000 40.85 11,000 2.07 6,434,000 13.86 4,400 7.8 169,600 1.33 28,000 206.6 314,690 3.15 132,000 15.3 3,114,900 12.1 37,400 16.96 682,200 326 74,890 0.164 1,930,000 5.12 12,600 1.38 4,751,000 3.92 15,000 4.27 965,000 9.6 19,200 11.24 46,500 33.5 92,200 4.98 8,000 5.4 63,200 2.17 33,847,000 0.94 102,000 10.3 26,700 88.7 59,440 7.95 47,700 0.117 1,030,000 1.05 22,000 140.5 2,688,680 2.5 3,000 1.14 1,470,000 0.89 2,642,000

20,905,765 6,494,060 3,461,414 133,770 32,020 9,032,120 64,400 1,164,590 13,817,162 233,134 828,882 2,582,455 2,895 33,005 2,299,160 205,229 23,005,480 999,704 7,223,392 506,212 15,901,525 15,439,791.50 47,208,390 440,085 13,255,560 61,058 1,320,874 37,390 64,482,458 419,580 47,780,144 450,298 11,457,796 24,393,974 322,370 65,195 6,558,790 59,010 4,117,740 184,394 517,460 3,082,665 40,870 341,928 72,695,250 92,780 277,888 5,248,110 375,968 117,510 22,600 373,307,783 7,500 1,676,310 2,381,780

-12,343,610 -544,800 14,946 -95,620 -166,870 3,308,646 45,912 863,200 10,100 -4,214,247 -30,928 262,650 -454,140 279,725 1,087,521 433,780 -36,000 -265,900 18,086 78,488 8,904,206 9,480 -14,009,128 -3,763,198 5,200,626 38,070 -1,151,030 -1,994 -110,805 -341,928 85,460 -7,600 -88,148 -1,462,258 -9,340,654 2,280 1,800

0.77 52.65 11.2 0.72 12.12 0.93 0.95 832 3.44 6.9 6.15 13.3 3.81 900 5.37 79 5.35 0.5 3.85 11.8 0.57 3.77 6.22 1.42 160 1,078 0.83 1.23 526 218.8 0.214

0.75 51.4 11.08 0.71 11.92 0.91 0.95 813 3.32 6.76 5.94 13 3.8 890.5 5.3 77.8 5.2 0.485 3.76 11.4 0.56 3.53 5.62 1.35 159 1,060 0.81 1.22 380 212.6 0.214

HOLDING FIRMS 0.76 1,268,000 51.4 680,190 11.08 4,794,200 0.72 89,000 11.92 17,500 0.93 719,000 0.95 450,000 813 298,670 3.33 795,000 6.8 158,300 5.96 18,796,300 13.3 35,300 3.8 20,000 900 67,700 5.3 148,000 78.6 460,140 5.35 4,500 0.5 2,000 3.76 398,000 11.74 1,640,000 0.57 26,000 3.54 81,741,000 5.68 98,500 1.39 598,000 160 19,520 1,060 463,640 0.81 21,000 1.23 11,030,000 380 6,040 218.8 2,510 0.214 20,000

963,820 35,168,649.50 53,252,510 63,690 210,242 664,830 427,500 244,489,120 2,665,480 1,081,868 112,743,994 468,860 76,030 60,909,680 792,240 36,150,352.50 23,415 985 1,503,880 19,262,180 14,570 292,209,120 592,939 828,840 3,117,245 494,828,445 17,030 13,566,720 2,565,368 549,126 4,280

-9,060 -10,831,391.50 -10,756,780 95,000 -33,930,345 -304,030 142,469 -22,483,948 4,951,650 -115,882 -6,028,894 -1,356,540 -382,346 -122,658,040 306,500 -863,155 -55,586,725 -444,164 -

14.86 0.74 9.1 0.84 45.7 2.03 4.72 6.47 0.56 0.77 0.86 0.19 0.405 10.34 19.28 0.435 1.52 1.2 4.33 0.197 0.42 1.34 0.35

14.84 0.72 9.1 0.83 44.7 1.97 4.68 6.22 0.54 0.77 0.84 0.18 0.405 9.99 18.8 0.43 1.49 1.18 4.17 0.186 0.42 1.31 0.34

PROPERTY 14.84 144,500 0.74 25,000 9.1 200 0.84 38,000 44.7 11,827,800 2.01 1,195,000 4.7 64,000 6.47 300 0.55 2,627,000 0.77 115,000 0.84 112,000 0.19 150,000 0.405 20,000 10.12 45,000 18.8 236,400 0.43 560,000 1.51 4,464,000 1.2 27,000 4.18 22,215,000 0.187 12,790,000 0.42 20,000 1.31 482,000 0.34 200,000

2,144,386 18,200 1,820 31,600 535,284,690 2,393,250 300,560 1,916 1,424,240 88,550 96,080 27,100 8,100 455,711 4,502,894 242,600 6,717,040 32,360 93,367,670 2,434,330 8,400 634,440 69,400

-1,240,630 -79,004,945 41,090 18,800 -1,294 85,470 -121,425 -1,197,400 -33,270 6,000 24,221,400 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

89 1.85 157.9 25 7.95 18.46 12.86 4.04 0.59 1.19 800 67.95 0.81 13 35.8 174 58.05 24.55 202.4 1,780 58.4

89.5 1.85 160 25 7.95 18.46 12.86 4.04 0.59 1.19 800 68.3 0.84 13 36 178.6 58.1 24.55 202.4 1,780 58.4

88.3 1.84 157.8 24.85 7.95 18.46 12.7 4.03 0.59 1.15 800 67.5 0.81 12.7 35.05 174 58.05 24.25 197.1 1,776 57.2

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

34.7 2.41 13.72 0.58 1.23 3.01 0.237 2.17 15.34 164 5.28 21.85 28.95 71.75 2.07 5.04 8.5 15 10.3 7.19 24.75 73.5 1.44 40 2.08 13.9 7.67 1.35 204 3.28 16.26 12.1 16.7 326.4 0.179 5.54 1.36 3.95 4.2 9.6 10.92 33.15 5.18 5.42 2.09 0.95 10.36 88.6 7.9 0.114 1.05 137 2.5 1.13 0.92

34.85 2.43 13.74 0.58 1.24 3.05 0.237 2.24 15.44 164 5.28 22.5 28.95 71.75 2.08 5.32 8.5 15 10.32 7.25 24.75 73.55 1.45 40.85 2.08 13.9 7.95 1.35 206.6 3.28 16.26 12.4 16.96 327 0.179 5.54 1.4 3.95 4.35 9.97 11.24 33.55 5.18 5.42 2.17 0.95 10.48 88.7 7.95 0.117 1.05 142 2.5 1.15 0.92

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

0.75 52.65 11.08 0.71 12.12 0.93 0.95 830 3.32 6.8 6 13.2 3.81 900 5.36 78.9 5.2 0.485 3.85 11.5 0.56 3.68 6.22 1.36 160 1,078 0.83 1.23 510 212.6 0.214

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

14.84 0.73 9.1 0.84 45.5 2.02 4.7 6.22 0.56 0.77 0.84 0.18 0.405 10.32 19.1 0.435 1.51 1.2 4.28 0.197 0.42 1.32 0.35

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

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

2.02 25.9 2.12 41 2.47 1.25 7.55 5.5

2.02 25.9 2.19 41.7 2.47 1.32 7.58 5.56

2.01 25.45 2.11 40.8 2.34 1.22 7.48 5.45

2.01 25.5 2.15 41 2.46 1.23 7.5 5.54

33,000 538,800 48,000 7,602,800 902,000 27,332,000 4,866,200 26,400

66,340 13,779,415 102,810 311,934,845 2,140,020 35,172,290 36,489,965 145,204

-2,376,345 77,370 -9,178,305 672,100 -10,871,649 -

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP 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 17.34 1.5 11.46 0.465 0.039 18 3.76 10.32 92 5.7 5.12 1.96 8.58 1,944 5.28 420 1.22 120.2 7.85 5.1 0.104 4.24 13.5 2.76 0.9 17.2 0.4 3.39 2.12 1 3.01 2.58 7.62 5.08 145 2.65 1,057 0.59 0.435 39 74.5 8.95 2.47 0.66 0.28 0.61 18.42

10.1 17.34 1.5 11.5 0.465 0.039 18.5 4.02 10.62 92.4 5.75 5.68 2.04 8.58 1,944 5.3 427.8 1.26 120.9 8.3 5.3 0.104 4.32 13.5 2.76 0.9 17.2 0.4 3.4 2.16 1 3.08 2.58 7.62 5.08 145 2.68 1,057 0.6 0.445 39.6 75 8.95 2.51 0.66 0.29 0.61 18.44

9.85 16.88 1.5 11.46 0.455 0.039 18 3.76 10.28 91 5.58 5.12 1.96 8.56 1,934 5.2 420 1.22 118.2 7.85 5.1 0.104 4.15 13.5 2.7 0.9 16.92 0.4 3.35 2.12 1 2.92 2.58 7.6 5.08 145 2.65 1,022 0.59 0.435 38.9 73.6 8.83 2.45 0.63 0.28 0.6 17.94

SERVICES 9.9 17.02 1.5 11.5 0.46 0.039 18.5 4.02 10.36 91.4 5.7 5.68 2.04 8.56 1,937 5.26 427.8 1.24 119.5 8.3 5.3 0.104 4.15 13.5 2.7 0.9 17 0.4 3.35 2.14 1 2.92 2.58 7.62 5.08 145 2.66 1,035 0.59 0.435 39.6 75 8.83 2.51 0.64 0.285 0.6 18.1

10,300 100,000 3,000 2,861,300 410,000 2,200,000 100,600 4,561,000 3,306,800 84,970 302,300 300 4,000 39,200 7,135 63,900 160 558,000 983,270 6,400 10,000 10,000 3,418,000 5,200 101,000 41,000 335,800 70,000 26,000 417,000 11,000 7,606,000 29,000 5,500 1,000 10 83,000 120,295 4,466,000 1,390,000 1,355,000 50,850 31,000 691,000 10,943,000 3,080,000 28,000 2,389,200

103,040 1,699,430 4,500 32,902,128 187,700 85,800 1,860,800 17,936,100 34,284,290 7,781,033.50 1,719,504 1,648 7,920 335,844 13,820,735 334,402 67,278 688,330 117,495,143 50,855 52,400 1,040 14,480,820 70,200 272,880 36,900 5,694,568 28,000 88,260 895,700 11,000 22,562,500 74,820 41,864 5,080 1,450 220,820 124,314,280 2,636,390 606,650 52,803,210 3,778,767.50 275,850 1,715,410 6,962,650 874,000 16,850 43,239,412

6,264,286 -4,500 10,800 -173,280 -7,720,610 -1,303,408 4,055 -1,191,570 -42,570,647 20,600 4,200 262,080 -4,289,692 208,700 -449,670 -23,220 -29,210 -64,751,645 -1,893,900 17,350 -4,099,680.00 -38,142.50 749,080 -4,623,640 -15,757,802

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

0.0015 8.2 1.04 2.5 11.06 2.58 0.275 7.44 1.52 0.201 0.096 0.0084 0.94 3 1.05 0.74 0.011 0.01 3.1 9.25 20

0.0015 8.48 1.04 2.5 11.06 2.64 0.275 7.56 1.53 0.21 0.096 0.0084 0.95 3.05 1.05 0.8 0.012 0.011 3.1 9.26 20.6

0.0015 7.95 1.02 2.39 10 2.57 0.275 7.4 1.47 0.201 0.096 0.0084 0.94 2.94 1.01 0.74 0.011 0.01 3.04 9.1 20

MINING & OIL 0.0015 5,000,000 8.25 256,400 1.03 232,000 2.48 320,000 11.04 10,800 2.64 2,156,000 0.275 30,000 7.49 1,000 1.52 2,053,000 0.21 120,000 0.096 400,000 0.0084 5,000,000 0.95 105,000 2.99 9,621,000 1.04 3,000 0.76 203,000 0.012 112,000,000 0.011 26,000,000 3.06 386,000 9.1 354,500 20.2 3,065,400

7,500 2,134,902 238,950 795,910 113,090 5,612,610 8,250 7,459 3,085,870 24,300 38,400 42,000 98,880 28,786,700 3,100 154,550 1,249,500 275,900 1,184,250 3,240,397 61,834,915

-72,809 -9,220 -748,000 329,080 -7,516,970 -113,190 -641,451 -30,962,465.00

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2R ALCO PREF C DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

16.82 504 505 101.1 100.3 500 5.04 991 1,000 1.01 101 1,030 1,025 1,055 1,026 997 78.15 75.35 75.5 76.8

16.82 504 505 101.1 100.3 500 5.04 1,000 1,009 1.03 101 1,030 1,025 1,055 1,026 997.5 78.15 75.35 75.65 76.8

15.82 501 505 101.1 100.3 500 5.03 990 1,000 1.01 101 1,026 1,025 1,055 1,020 997 78.05 75.35 75.5 76.8

PREFERRED 15.82 37,200 501 3,170 505 1,590 101.1 100 100.3 470 500 8,060 5.04 84,600 1,000 1,000 1,009 1,010 1.03 9,000 101 410 1,026 3,440 1,025 2,250 1,055 100 1,020 2,890 997 5,400 78.1 20,370 75.35 500 75.65 24,900 76.8 100

591,570 1,592,925 802,950 10,110 47,141 4,030,000 426,184 996,200 1,017,255 9,110 41,410 3,529,500 2,306,250 105,500 2,954,240 5,383,900 1,590,808.50 37,675 1,882,810 7,680

-586,524 -224,784 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

3.87 10.46 2.49 0.88

3.99 10.6 2.49 0.9

3.87 10 2.46 0.88

SME 3.95 10.22 2.46 0.89

1,603,900 6,220,746 84,000 462,720

7,880 -13,392 46,280

FIRST METRO ETF

117.2

117.2

116.6

256,913

-

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.02 10.3

10.02 10.3

10.02 10.3

2,004 33,063

-

NAME

MS Trading Summary FINANCIAL

SHARES 8,819,619

INDUSTRIAL

111,618,202

HOLDING FIRMS

125,036,226

PROPERTY

107,495,449

SERVICES

54,211,261

MINING & OIL

167,444,972

GRAND TOTAL

576,198,542

409,000 607,000 34,000 520,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.6 2,200 DDS 10.02 10.3

200 3,210

VALUE 1,895.05 (up) 20.44 880,429,594.40 FINANCIAL 9,650.34 (up) 94.91 INDUSTRIAL 1,056,747,187.752 7,648.03 (down) 102.79 HOLDING FIRMS 1,477,314,454.72 PROPERTY 4,071.53 (down) 28.35 1,497.17 (down) 2.18 SERVICES 1,437,734,475.351 7,537.17 (up) 19.66 MINING & OIL 585,163,140.665 7,779.80 (down) 21.92 PSEI 108,950,128.3175 All Shares Index 4,637.88 (down) 8.08 5,554,969,633.41 Gainers:81; Losers: 105; Unchanged: 48; Total: 234

Double Dragon, Robinsons Land to develop Libis property project

By Jenniffer B. Austria DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. and Robinsons Land Corp. have agreed to jointly develop a one-hectare property along E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue in Libis, Quezon City into a mixed-use project.

Robinsons Land and DoubleDragon agreed under the agreement to split the gross floor area of the project evenly.

The one-hectare property project include the construction of Robinsons DoubleDragon Square with office and retail components.

The project will also include a Hotel 101, which will be solely developed by DoubleDragon’s Hotel of Asia Inc. The property will form part of the integrated development of Bridgetowne, a township project of RLC that features residential condominiums, office buildings, shopping centers and a 5-star hotel.

“We are glad to have this joint venture with Robinsons Land as we see the great potential of Bridgetowne to become one of the most relevant business parks in Metro Manila. We believe this partnership between DoubleDragon and Robinsons Land will bring about longterm fruitful gains to both companies,” said DoubleDragon chairman Edgar Sia II. “Being close to achieving our 2020 vision, we are now making preparations for the next stage of DoubleDragon’s growth,” Sia added.

The transaction is subject to the review of the Philippine Competition Commission and other regulatory approvals.

DoubleDragon plans to complete a leasable portfolio of 1.2 million square meters by 2020, comprising of 700,000 sq. m. from 100 CityMalls, 300,000 sq. m. from Metro Manila office projects, 100,000 sq. m. from the 5,000 hotel rooms of Hotel 101 and Jinjiang Inn Philippines, and another 100,000 sq. m .of industrial space from various CentralHub sites across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Cebu Landmasters set to spend P50b on new properties CEBU Landmasters Inc., a leading housing builder in Visayas and Mindanao, plans to spend P50 billion to develop newly-acquired properties.

Cebu Landmasters said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it expanded its landbank in key cities in the region by 36 percent to 1.245 million square meters from the 2018 figure.

The new land acquisitions, which spanned strategic properties in seven key Visayas-Mindanao cities and financed from a combination of internally generated funds and bank financing, will ensure the company’s rapid and sustained growth in the next few years.

Cebu Landmasters said most of the lots were secured for the development of a mixed-use project in Cebu City business district, an office in the same area, a mixed-use development in Mactan anchored by a hotel, and more residential developments in the cities of Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Ormoc, Dumaguete and Bohol.

“Our landbanking activities are driven by the opportunities presented by each local market. We only purchase a property if we are certain we have an appropriate project for the site to meet a community’s needs and if we can develop that project in the next two to three years,” said Cebu Landmasters chairman and chief executive Jose Soberano III. Soberano said most of the land it acquired in 2019 were fully owned by the company, while 21 percent were joint ventures that allowed Cebu Landmasters to gain access to high-value sites without requiring intensive capital outlay.

Cebu Landmasters said it was teaming up with prominent Iloilo businessman Alfonso Tan, chairman of International Builders Corp., on a high-rise multi-tower condominium with retail spaces on a prime corner lot in Iloilo City’s downtown area.

It is also tying up with fellow Cebuano player AboitizLand to develop a mid-market, mixed-use, multi-tower condominium project in Mandaue City.

Cebu Landmasters purchased an adjacent lot of over 48,000 sq. m. to expand its Casa Mira South development in the south of Cebu, bringing the total number of house and lot units to over 3,000. Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Impeachment drive on Trump enters crucial week in Congress

VISIT. Jenna Bush Hager (L), daughter of former US president George W. Bush, and actress Julia Roberts (R) meet Vietnamese students in Can Giuoc district, Long An province, on December 9, 2019, during a visit with former US First Lady Michelle Obama (not pictured). Michelle Obama and Julia Roberts visit to promote girls’ education in Vietnam. AFP

WASHINGTON―The impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump in a sharply divided US Congress enter a new phase Monday when the House Judiciary Committee convenes a hearing expected to result in specific charges against the Republican leader.

Democrats accuse Trump of abusing his power by allegedly linking military aid for Ukraine and a White House meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky to a request that Kiev investigate a potential 2020 rival, Democrat Joe Biden, and his son Hunter.

The real estate mogul president has ridiculed the inquiry as a “hoax” but Democrats believe they have, in the words of Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler, a “rock-solid case” showing that Trump put his personal political interests above those of the country.

“I think the case we have, if presented

to a jury, would be a guilty verdict in about three minutes flat,” Nadler, an attorney by training, told CNN on Sunday.

The congressman, a long-time foe of Trump who hails from New York, did not rule out the possibility of a vote on impeachment in the Democratic-run House of Representatives by the end of the week.

“My goal is to do it as expeditiously, but as fairly as possible,” he said.

That would put the proceedingswhich began in late September with the opening of the House investigation―on a fast track to a trial in early 2020 before the Republican-controlled Senate, where Trump is expected to prevail.

The president has repeatedly blasted the House inquiry as a partisan attack -- he tweeted Sunday that the Judiciary hearings are part of a “hoax” by the “No Due Process, Do Nothing Democrats.” AFP

Protesters await Beijing olive branch IN BRIEF Fined for not looking at the flag

BEIJING―A French former NBA player has been reprimanded and fined $1,400 by sports officials in China for not looking at the Chinese flag during the national anthem before a game.

Players with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) are supposed to stare at the national symbol during the “March of the Volunteers”, but television images showed Guerschon Yabusele, who plays for Nanjing Tongxi Monkey King, had his head down before Friday’s game.

Yabusele was given a “serious warning” and a 10,000-yuan fine for not looking at the flag as required, the CBA said in a statement on Saturday.

Yabusele, who played forward for the Boston Celtics for two seasons before joining the CBA team this year, has not commented on the incident.

China’s government has stepped up the promotion of patriotism under President Xi Jinping, with legislation approved in 2017 to punish anyone who disrespects the national anthem with up to three years in prison.

Opinions on Yabusele’s punishment were divided on Chinese social media.

“He’s happy to take money from China, but he doesn’t respect it,” one person wrote on the popular Weibo social media platform. AFP

H

ONG KONG―Hong Kongers have delivered a clarion call for change over the last fortnight with a landslide local election defeat for the government and more than one in ten hitting the streets peacefully on Sunday―but will Beijing listen?

Monday marks the sixth month anniversary of a movement that has upended the semi-autonomous Chinese hub’s reputation for stability and blanketed its streets with unprecedented scenes of political violence.

But the last two weeks has seen a dramatic drop-off in clashes and vandalism―something the city’s pro-Beijing leadership has insisted must be a precursor to any meaningful dialogue.

The question on many lips now is whether chief executive Carrie Lam―and Beijing―will take the opportunity to reach out before anger explodes once more.

“Ignoring our voices will only make the snowball get bigger and bigger and there will be consequences to that,” Bonnie Leung, a prominent figure

within the pro-democracy movement’s more moderate wing, told AFP. The rare period of calm began in the run up to city-wide local polls in late November -- the only election with universal suffrage.

Millions turned out tipping proestablishment parties out of office and flipping all but one of the city’s 18 local councils to the pro-democracy camp.

The vote shattered government claims that a “silent majority” opposed the protests.

Then on Sunday the city witnessed its largest mass rally in months with organizers estimating some 800,000 people turned out, a vivid illustration of the public frustration that still seethes under the surface.

The rally, which received rare per-

mission, was almost entirely peaceful.

Small fires were lit outside two major courts and police pepper sprayed bystanders during an argument.

But no tear gas was fired -- the first time a mass rally has been smoke free since the middle of August.

Jimmy Sham, from rally organizer the Civil Human Rights Front, said the ball was now firmly in the government’s court.

“We have to remind the SAR government that 800,000 people is still a very, very large number,” he told reporters.

“Carrie Lam should listen to our Hong Kongers’ demand as soon as possible,” he added.

Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has been battered by increasingly violent demonstrations in the starkest challenge the city has presented to Beijing since its 1997 handover from Britain.

Millions have marched in protests fueled by years of growing fears that authoritarian China is stamping out the city’s liberties.

The movement’s demands include an independent inquiry into the police’s

China says it will go on ‘training’ Xinjiang people

Indian firemen hailed as heroes

NEW DELHI―Two fireman who rescued 27 people were hailed as heroes Monday after Delhi’s deadliest fire in decades killed 43, prompting outrage that safety regulations were yet again ignored.

The blaze early Sunday ripped through a four-story building housing small factory units in the congested lanes of the Old Delhi district while the migrant workers inside were asleep.

Fire fighter Rajesh Shukla, who carried out 11 people and was injured in a dangerous and difficult operation in the area’s narrow lanes, said he was shocked so many people were inside.

“No one in the area informed us that so many people were there in the building, some said there were three or four people trapped inside,” Shulka told the Times of India daily.

“I saw at least 30 people in the room (on the third floor) with most of them sleeping. A few others were dead...

We were told that the laborers slept in shifts,” he said.

He added that if the fire brigade had had more information sooner, then “we could have saved more lives”.

Ashish Malik, who managed to carry out 16 people from the blazing building, said firefighters “had to take huge risks” carrying people down the only staircase on a rickety floor. AFP

Samoa measles death toll hits 70

APIA, Samoa―A devastating measles outbreak continued to spread in Samoa, data released Monday showed, as the death toll from the epidemic climbed to 70, mostly young children.

Official figures showed there were 112 new cases in the 24 hours to Monday morning, despite a massive immunization drive last week that saw the entire Pacific nation shut down for two days.

The government said the mobile vaccination teams had succeeded in ensuring 90 percent of the 200,000-strong population was immunized, up from around 30 percent when the epidemic began in mid-October.

However, the vaccine takes 10-14 days to take effect, meaning it is too early to say whether the outbreak has peaked.

The total number of cases was 4,693, with 229 people currently in hospital, including 16 critically ill children.

Infants are the most vulnerable to measles, which typically causes a rash and fever but can also lead to brain damage and death. AFP

handling of the protests, an amnesty for those arrested, and fully free elections.

But there is little sign Lam is willing to budge.

Since the electoral drubbing, her administration has made vague commitments to listen to people’s demands, but no concrete concessions.

Beijing has stuck by her even as she languishes with record low approval ratings and the city police force’s reputation takes a hammering.

The movement’s more radical wing —which has embraced violent tactics —appears to have faded into the background for now.

Hardcore protesters had vowed to restart widespread travel disruptions at dawn on Monday if there was no response from Lam. But the threats did not emerge.

On LIHKG, a Reddit-like web forum that serves as a virtual command centre for frontliners, discussion abounded on whether a resumption of tactics that disrupted ordinary Hong Kongers for much of October and November might backfire. AFP

FUND-RAISING EVENT. Skiers dressed up as Santa Clause participate in the annual Santa Sunday charity fundraiser skiing

event at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine, on December 8, 2019. The money raised goes toward the River Fund Charity, a nonprofit organization that supports youth education and recreation. AFP

Beleaguered DR Congo rain forest attacked on all sides

KISANGANI―Lush rain forest covers millions of hectares of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a central part of Earth’s natural defesce against global warming―but it is under severe threat from a perfect storm of mismanagement and corruption.

An array of global and local NGOs are in a tense fight to save the rain forest, which lost an area twice the size of Luxembourg last year alone, according to Global Forest Watch.

But the problems run right through DR Congo society―from the poor who rely on charcoal for fuel in a country with meager supplies of other power, to the senior officials who profit from illegal logging.

“There are lawmakers and soldiers involved. They don’t pay taxes―it’s unfair competition,” says Felicien Liofo, head of a wood craftsmen’s association.

Local police say soldiers simply rip apart the fences around the forest and threaten to shoot anyone who tries to stop them.

The government faces a daunting challenge to protect the rain forest.

Its 2002 forestry code imposed a mor-

atorium on new concessions and regulated the number of trees that could be chopped down under existing permits, but officials complain of a lack of resources.

Felicien Malu, a provincial environment coordinator, has roughly 1,200 workers to cover a province twice the size of Portugal.

But his staff, he says, are not paid and lack even the basic tools of their trade― boats, motorcycles or pickup trucks.

“We can’t organize control missions because there are many rivers to cross and unpaved roads,” he says.

His predecessor in the job was suspended for embezzlement, underlining how corruption feeds the problem of deforestation.

NGOs have launched a multi-pronged attack against the plunder.

Greenpeace Africa and a coalition of eight NGOs from DRC and neighboring Congo-Brazzaville have demanded a halt to all industrial activities in the millions of hectares of peatland shared by the two countries.

The ancient wetlands store huge amounts of carbon, but companies are

involved in oil exploration, logging and industrial agriculture in the area.

Global Witness investigated the illegal logging trade and earlier this year accused a general in the Congolese army of illegally reselling logging permits.

However, DRC remains impoverished and electricity is a rare luxury, meaning that most Congolese still rely on charcoal as their main fuel supply.

Making charcoal involves chopping down trees and slow-burning the wood in covered ovens―all of which comes at a steep price for the environment.

“I get through a $30 sackful every two months. That’s a fair chunk of what I earn,” says Solange Sekera while shopping at a market in the eastern city of Goma. “We have no other means of preparing meals.”

The trade in charcoal-known locally as makala―is worth millions of dollars and it is attracting armed groups to the Goma area, threatening Virunga natural park, a sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas.

More than 2,000 kilometers to the west, the reliance on charcoal in Kinshasa is also causing severe problems. AFP

BEIJING―China on Monday defended its vast network of re-education camps in Xinjiang and said it would continue “training” residents, following explosive government document leaks detailing surveillance and control of the region’s Uighur population.

Rights groups estimate more than a million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are held in the facilities, which reports describe as indoctrination camps that are run like prisons and aimed at eradicating Uighur culture and religion.

The government has launched a propaganda drive in recent days to justify its security crackdown after the leaks emerged and the US House of Representatives passed a bill calling for sanctions against officials involved in the controversial policy.

In a press conference, Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the far-west region, rejected the estimates by rights groups and foreign experts that over a million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are kept at the camps.

But he did not provide a figure for the number of people housed in what the government describes as “vocational education centres”.

“Students ... with the help of the government have realized stable employment (and) improved their quality of life,” Zakir said.

Currently, those in the centers have “all completed their courses,” he said, adding that “there are people entering and exiting.”

In addition to the centerss, the Xinjiang government’s next step is to “proceed with daily, routine, normal, and open educational training to village cadres, rural party members, farmers, herdsmen, and unemployed graduates of middle school and high school,” he said, without elaborating.

Last month, the New York Times obtained 403 documents on Beijing’s crackdown on mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in the region, including unpublished speeches by Chinese President Xi Jinping who urged officials to show “absolutely no mercy” against extremists. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

HALL OF FAME DISPLAY. SM City Tarlac was named the Grand Champion in the Grand Monumental-Non Municipal Category during recent 12th Belenismo sa Tarlac Awards Night, elevating it to the Hall of Fame for winning the title for three consecutive years. The 42-foot Belen, which showcases indigenous and upcycled materials, signifies God as the source of life, purity and wisdom. It has a 9-foot fountain using recycled water from the mall’s sewage treatment plant with indigenous jute bags and bagasse fibers around it. Its intricate design is given life by one of Tarlac’s main agricultural products—sugarcane.

Smart infotech built to fight cassava virus

By Butch Gunio LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A new project funded by Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research Development is expected to address the problem of EDCOR Development Cooperative on Cassava Phytoplasma Disease or CPD. Also known as Witch Broom’s Disease, CPD is a type of virus that stunts cassava plant growth and development. It becomes a serious threat to the local cassava industry if symptoms appear as early as two to three months, as all plants may die from it.

EDCOR, one of the big producers of cassava in San Guillermo, Isabela, supplies cassava to one of the leading corporations in the country through the plantations of its 237 members, Ofelia F. Domingo of the PCAARRD Media Services said in a conference here.

However, Domingo said that the municipal agriculture office reported that in 2018, total cassava sales dropped from ₱2.1 million in 2017 to only around ₱768,000. Production area likewise dropped from 1,170 hectares in 2017 to only 513 hectares in 2018.

EDCOR General Manager Daniel Medina and Chairman of the Board Honorio Sanchez attribute the poor performance of cassava production to disease infection.

However, EDCOR needs the ability and the mechanism to recognize and monitor the disease in their plantation and the information on disease management protocols.

The project will design, develop, establish, and implement an embedded system for smart detection, recognition, and mapping of CPD using Aerial Unmanned Vehicle and deep learning technology.

The latter is applied to image processing and recognition. This project will be implemented for two years by the Isabela State University in partnership with EDCOR Development Cooperative.

According to project leader Dr. Irma T. Plata of ISU, the project will tap two platforms to monitor CPD-infected plantations: the CPD web-based monitoring system and the CPD-mobile based monitoring app.

Comelec: ComVal now Davao de Oro

D

AVAO CITY—The renaming of the province of Compostela Valley into Davao de Oro was officially declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) late Sunday evening.

With a total number of 410,261 registered voters, about 179,958 voted in the plebiscite last Saturday.

Official tally showed 174,442 “yes” votes while those who thumbed down the province’s renaming accounted to only 5,020.

In a statement Monday, Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy said the “yes” votes affirmed all the efforts poured by the various sectors advocating for the renaming of the province.

“We have nothing but gratitude to all who helped us in the campaign,” Uy said.

“To all local government officials, employees of the provincial govern-

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian (right) chats with Fernando Casares, SEA Games gold medalist, then joins the rest of their kabayan who welcomed the triathlete at the Valenzuela City Hall (inset). Jun David

Valenzuela fetes SEA Games gold winner Casares

By Jun David VALENZUELA City Mayor Rex Gatchalian recently welcomed Fernando Casares, 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalist for triathlon mixed relay, along with his kababayans at the Valenzuela City Hall.

The city government commended Casares for bringing pride and inspira-

NAPC gives P3m to Kayapa farmers

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The National Anti-Poverty Commission recently gave P3 million in assistance for the upland farmers of Kayapa town, about 80km from here.

The check was handed by NAPC Secretary and lead convenor Noel Felongco to Kayapa Mayor Elizabeth Balasya through the signing of a memorandum of agreement.

Pedro Galate, tribal affairs assistant of the National Commission on Indigenous People, said P2 million will be used for the construction of the Organic Trading Center, which will benefit the organic farmers in

ment and everyone who helped us get the message of this renaming across, to the security sector, teachers and election officers who worked hard to give us a seamless plebiscite and most especially, to the people of Davao de Oro to whom this change is inspired, we thank them for going out last Saturday and casting their vote—no matter what that vote is,” the government added.

He noted that for the last 20 years of being named the Compostela Valley province, the residents endured “lessons of resilience, convergence, cooperation and collective responsibility.”

“The making of history does not end

here. This is only the beginning. We will work on making Davao de Oro true to its name, a province where people come, people live, and people prosper,” the governor said.

In a previous interview, Uy said the renaming would cement its identity of the province as part of the “Davao family” since its breakup from Davao del Norte in 1998.

The renaming, he said, would pave the way for the creation of more economic zones in the province. He also pointed out that the province is rich in natural resources and has a stable economic status.

Reps. Maria Carmen “Maricar” Zamora, Ruwel Peter Gonzaga and Pedro Acharon Jr. filed House Bill 7363 on May 15, 2018, which seeks to rename the province as Davao de Oro. PNA

the upland town.

He added that P1 million will be divided equally for the purchase of a vehicle and livelihood capital for the Kayapa Organic Farmers Association.

“This assistance will be a big help for our organic farmers because there is a very good potential of our municipality for organic farming but we still lack resources,” Galate said.

Kayapa is one of the major commercial and organic vegetable-producing towns in Nueva Vizcaya.

Their products are being sold through the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal in Bambang town or directly to other buyers outside the province.

tion, not only to his countrymen, but to his fellow Valenzuelanos.

The triathlete hails from Barangay Wawang Pulo, his mother’s home area, at the northwestern part of the City.

Casares was bestowed with P100,000 incentive and a miniature Arkong Bato, an iconic symbol of the city.

Four other athletes from Valen-

zuela City are currently competing in the SEA Games: Brandhon Kyrielle V. Aquino of Barangay Gen. T. De Leon in sailing, Baby Jessica Canabal of Barangay Gen. T. De Leon in taekwondo, Jeniel “Haze” Bata-anon of Barangay Lawang Bato in e-sports, and Noelito Jose Jr. of Barangay Dalandanan, who already won a bronze medal in fencing men’s epee.

Lawyer Malaya reelected as NABPLO prexy LAWYER Melanie Soriano-Malaya, Parañaque City’s business permit and licensing office chief, was reelected president of the National Association of Business Permit and Licensing Officers during its recent national convention in Palawan.

O r g a n ized in 1998, NABPLO is the partner of the national gover n ment in instituting reforms in governance toward economic growth and c o u n t r y s i d e Melanie Soriano-Malaya development.

With regards to automation, NABPLO assists local government units, specially third- and sixth-class municipalities in the country. The association also help LGUs in revenue generation and business regulation as mandated under the Local Government of Code.

Malaya, wife of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, has been serving as NABLO president since 2016.

Malaya is the brain behind Project: Express Lane Operation 2.0, which aims to simplify the process of applying for business and working permits by computerizing the system, reducing the steps from ten to four.

With Project ELO 2.0, Parañaque has become the country’s first LGU that is “fully compliant” with President Duterte’s order to streamline business permit processes.

Last month, the Paranaque BPLO have won four awards at the Digital Governance Awards (Best Practices in Information and Communications Technology) conferred by the Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Information and Technology.

Aetas benefit from New Clark development

By Jess Malabanan CAPAS, Tarlac—Aetas in surrounding communities of the New Clark City have found new livelihood opportunities after 500 of them, from different tribes, were employed as laborers and landscape maintenance workers during the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The Aetas were also given the chance to watch different SEA Games events hed at the NCC while working.

“We’re happy because a lot of our tribesmen also get to watch,” said Ernesto De Guzman while watching the games at the Aquatics Center.

“Natives like us won’t have to go to other towns to watch games like this,” he added.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority holds regular dialogues with the Capas local government and the communities to assure they are part of the New Clark City development.

Financial assistance packages amounting to P300,000 per hectare (or P30 per sq.m.) were made available to project-affected residents, the highest compensation package provided by government for them.

Further, relocation sites within New Clark City were also provided for those whose residential structures were affected.

Another Aeta worker in New Clark City is Corazon Capiz, a grandmother who watched the games with her two grandchildren.

“We’re all happy,” she said, noting she could not help but compare the difference now that they have jobs and better roads.

PRE-CHRISTMAS WEDDING.

Philippine International Traiding Corp. president and CEO Usec Dave M. Almarinez (center) stands as godfather in the mass wedding of 97 couples in Santa Cruz, Laguna (inset) as he is flanked by Santa Cruz Mayor Edgar San Luis (left) and Vice Mayor Laarni Malibiran. Roy Tomandao

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

@MStandardLIFE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

Jazzing up the drudgery

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LET’S GET PHYSICAL.

Coach Johann Joaquin trying out the high-tech Italian machine Run Personal at Technogym Showroom.

Text and photos by Diana B. Noche

P

HYSICAL activity, or the lack thereof, has an impact on one’s physical and mental well-being.

There are easy activities we can do every day, at home or outdoors, and not consider them strenuous exercises.

Staircase walking, for example, or doing room to room chores in the house. Bicycling, dancing fast (Zumba easily comes to mind), shooting baskets in an improvised basketball court, jumping rope, swimming, walking the dog, or simply pushing a baby’s stroller, can easily alter moods, releasing endorphins that benefit one’s mental and physical health.

Engaging oneself regularly in physical activities helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles, check avoirdupois, produce lean muscles, sustain the right level in the blood pressure, and prevent diabetes, colon cancer, and osteoporosis.

Physical activities also reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. They likewise enhance the capacity of older adults to maintain their quality of life and functional independence.

On young people, regular physical activities for at least 30 minutes help develop healthy bones, efficient heart and lung function, and improve motor skills and cognitive performance. Women who regularly exercise develop flexibility and are rarely prone to hip fractures and some bone injury.

Exercise has been proven to be therapeutic as it addresses some psychological disorders and depressive tendencies.

It helps balance a person’s self-worth and self-perception to achieve a positive and healthy lifestyle.

Particularly apparent are the effects in the prevention of chronic diseases which include, among others, cardiovascular concerns (activities like speed walking, jogging, cycling, and swim-

Technogym sales manager Marvin Navarro

Guests test their limits with the Omnia 8, a group training equipment made for different ability levels.

ming are highly recommended for cardiovascular endurance), hypertension, obesity, and osteoporosis, where mineral contents in the bones are increased.

Engaging in sports activities greatly affects one’s physical nature. Bowling, golf, and tai chi which involve temperate bending or stretching help promote muscular flexibility.

While working out at home is practical, there are other venues where working out with friends and family members will reduce the tendency to sometimes goof off.

A gym workout in this case will bring out the best in you, with a program that works with your schedule, once or several times

a week, and your budget.

A sports gym employs professional trainers who will tailor an effective workout plan that is safe, fun, and fitted to individual fitness needs using scientifically proven methods used by professional athletes and big-league Olympians. Gyms and health clubs have specialized fitness programs to suit a person’s fitness requirement—whether for beginners, youth, and adults—honing up for athletic competitions for a chance to be heroes, weight loss and weight gain, rehabilitation, pre-natal and post-natal workouts, endurance, bodybuilding, or simply toning up.

Anta opens flagship store at Megamall

The E-Sports International has supplied the last six Olympic Games with machines for their gym facilities. In the Philippines for more than 10 years now, with a growing clientele of hotels, hospitals, private resorts, health clubs, and residential homes, the company recently launched its Technogym Showroom in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.

It is equipped with the latest Italianmade fitness machines—the Skillrun, Skillrow, and the Skillbike—along with its equally high-tech equipment, the Run Personal and Cross Personal, Kinesis Personal Vision (a designer gym furniture with mirrors to instantly check

posture while exercising), MyRun, Job Forma, Unica Multigym, the Omnia 8, and various Skilltools.

Some of the aforementioned equipment are installed at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium, helping power up Filipino athletes with the integrated performance training program necessary as they battle it out at the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The fitness industry has reached an ever-increasing new heights in the last few years with more people keen on making themselves feel and function better with the right exercise regimen with the help of the right equipment.

GLOBAL sportswear brand Anta recently opened its flagship store in the Philippines on the second level of Mega Atrium in SM Megamall.

The People’s Champ Senator Manny Pacquiao, graced the grand launch.

The Chinese brand is the official outfitter of Pacquiao.

Officials who attended the opening included AVID Sports SEA president Cedrick Tan, Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez, Mandaluyong City Councilor Benjamin Abalos III, Anta China overseas senior manager Aska Zeng, and SM Supermalls as-

sistant vice president of operations Ian Mathay, who also took part in the store’s ribbon cutting.

Anta is an established sportswear company founded in 1991. Its products are globally patronized because of its ever-evolving developments in sports and fashion.

With “Keep Moving, Keep Winning” as its tagline, Anta has been the home of known sports superstars around the world including Pacquiao, Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Rajon Rondo, and others. The much-awaited Anta Sports store features the signature apparel of these superstars.

Anta Sports flagship store at Mega Atrium in Megamall.

Anta Klay Thompson KT4 x East Bay Times with Anta Klay Thompson KT4 Signal with newspaper clippings of the shooter’s feat. removable patches.

Manny Pacquiao’s Anta boxing shoes in blue and red colors with three stars and MP logo.

Anta brand ambassador Manny Pacquiao (third from left) leads the opening of the flagship store together with (from left) SM Supermalls assistant vice president Ian Mathay, Mandaluyong City Councilor Benjamin Abalos III, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, AVID Sports SEA president Cedrick Tan, and Anta China overseas senior manager Aska Zeng.

Life

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

CIGARETTE SMOKING IS DANGEROUS. Experts reveal that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder can become apparent in smokers 10 to 20 years after the start of the vice. Worse still, even non-smokers are at risk of

developing COPD.

Guidelines to arrest COPD prevalence in PH

R

OLLY M., a 62-year-old retiree, had been coughing, on and off, for more than six months when he increasingly felt short of breath just climbing the stairs to his third floor condo unit.

ed by the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) and the Department of Health.

According to Dr. Lenora Cañizares-Fernandez, immediate pastpresident of PCCP, the “guidelines will become the standard clinical approach in the detection, diagnosis, and management of COPD across all levels of healthcare.”

“This will be incorporated in the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, so implementation will be from the primary care at the local government unit level up to the specialists.”

The initial phase of the draft, which is meant for primary healthcare providers, or the so-called “frontliners,” has already been submitted by the PCCP to the DOH - Essential Non-Communicable Diseases Division (ENCDD).

The next phase of the COPD Guidelines/Pathway is meant for the specialists. “There are only about 800 (COPD) specialists in the country, so we need the help of all the doctors, especially at the primary healthcare level,” noted Dr. Fernandez.

From primary care to the Section 17(c) of the UHC Act, or Republic Act 11223, mandates that specialists A major component of these ini- province-wide and city-wide health tiatives is the crafting, dissemination, systems should have proactive and efand implementation of the “Philippine fective health promotion programs or COPD Guidelines/Pathway” spearhead- campaigns, while Section 30 institutes

He used to be a heavy smoker but quit cigarettes at age 57. Fearing that he could now be paying for his 25-year tobacco habit, Rolly went for a check-up and was found to be manifesting early signs of emphysema.

Pete L., 45 years old and a nonsmoker, fared a tad better. He was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis when he sought professional help after a lingering cough and shortness of breath started to bother him.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis both fall under Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a longterm lung condition that causes patients to suffer from breathlessness and chronic cough, severely affecting their lifestyle and productivity.

COPD is fast becoming the third leading cause of death worldwide and seventh in the Philippines. This has motivated the government, medical professionals, and the private sector into instituting proactive measures to arrest the alarming prevalence of COPD in the country.

health literacy campaigns with focus on in most medical facilities at the primary reducing non-communicable diseases. care level, and even in some private diagnostic centers.

Major risk factor Fernandez said patients who undergo Locally, the prevalence of COPD spirometry pay around P600 to P4,000, among adults was already at 14 percent depending on the hospitals and diagas of 2007. This is projected to increase nostic centers. Hopefully, she said, rapidly because there are still around 16 DOH will provide spirometer million Filipinos who smoke. to all hospitals maintained “COPD can become apparent in by LGUs, using funding smokers 10 to 20 years after the start of from the UHC Act. smoking. With the number of Filipinos At the level of health smoking still high, the prevalence of centers, Fernandez said COPD in the country will continue to the DOH needs to progrow in the next 10 to 20 years, too,” vide a Peak Flow Meter, stated Dr. Fernandez. a much cheaper handheld And so will the estimated economic device—usually costcosts of COPD in the Philippines. Inclu- ing around P800—that sive of healthcare expenses, productiv- measures how fast air ity losses, and premature death, COPD moves out of the lungs. is costing the country P17.6 billion anShe added that nually. consistent with Worse, Dr. Fernandez disclosed that the UHC Act, even non-smokers develop COPD in the they are hoping Philippines. These include members of that PhilHealth households that depend on firewood will extend its and charcoal in cooking their food and coverage for those who are exposed to dusty jobs.

COPD to include outpaMore devices to detect COPD tient care, Experts say detection of the disease diagnosis, has been a major problem in the coun- and medtry, mainly because of the inaccessibil- i c i n e s . ity of devices that detect COPD in most R i g h t areas of the country. now, the The spirometer, an apparatus that m a i n t e measures the movement of air into and nance cost out of the lungs, costs around P200,000 for COPD paper unit. This apparatus is not available tients is high at around

P2,000 per month. PhilHealth only shoulders COPD-related health expenses during confinement.

Section 6(b) RA 11223, however, mandates that within two years from its effectivity, PhilHealth shall implement a comprehensive outpatient benefit, including outpatient drug benefit.

COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, and seventh in the Philippines.

Bowling with best buddies

A celebration of giftedness Children create colorful kites at Burnham Green Park during the National Gifted Week.

THE biggest celebration that aims to nurture the gift of every child happened recently during this year’s National Gifted Week.

Spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc. (PCGE) in partnership with Promil Four and with support from the Kite Association of the Philippines, the event featured a whole-day kite flying event and a two-day

From left: Wyeth Nutrition general manager Bert Demeyere, marketing director for premium milks Jo Lacida, Kara Escay, Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, and Wyeth Nutrition group product manager for premium milks Mea Gabunada.

conference attended by giftedness experts.

“This event celebrates the gift that every child possesses.

It was a great way for parents to encourage the creativity of their children, have fun, and spend some time together. We also gathered the most notable experts to discuss and share their knowledge on how to nurture a child’s gift,” said PCGE president Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho. The celebration kicked off with the biggest kite making and flying event in Manila.

Children and their parents created colorful kites and watched it rise in the air during the activity held at Burnham Green Park across Luneta. Arts director of Masterpiece Movement Kara Escay facilitated the said activity. Attendees were also treated to exciting games, entertainment, a parade, and other surprises.

The PCGE also gathered experts for the two-day conference on revisiting the Multiple Intelligences. Sharing their expertise were Ryan Cayabyab, Shaira Luna, Kara David, Roselle Ambubuyog, Dr. Carlos Arcilla, Ryan Tumbocon, and Kim Atienza.

The speakers discussed how to nurture a child’s gift based on their dominant intelligences which can be among MusicalRhythmic, Visual/Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Logical Mathematical, Science, Interpersonal and Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, or Body-Kinesthetic.

FOR regular shoppers, it may have been just an ordinary afternoon at the mall, but for Vico Cham, 28, it was a special day to spend a few hours enjoying a game of bowling with his friends from Best Buddies Philippines.

The group of friends were at the mall, with other pairs of best friends, for a friendly bowling tournament organized

by Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement for one-to-one friendships and inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

During the event, individuals with IDD like Vico, had a fun afternoon hanging out with their Peer Buddies volunteers who committed to spend time, have fun activities, communicate on a regular basis and enrich their lives through friendships.

Catherine Cham, mother of Vico, said that events like the Best Buddies Bowling Game give her son an avenue to socialize and feel he is a regular part of a group. She is very thankful for Best Buddies which she said has helped her find a best buddy for Vico.

“His peer buddy is Buboy Palomares.

They’ve been friends for four years.

They used to jog regularly twice a month or watch a movie. They also engage in group activities. With Buboy, Vico was able to find a friend whom he would text regularly. It is really important for parents because it’s really not easy to entrust your child to somebody,” shared Cham.

Best Buddies Philippines executive director Michelle Aventajado enthused, “We are very thankful for the support that we have received from our volunteers and sponsors. Events like these strengthen the friendship between volunteers and individuals with IDD. It’s a great opportunity to promote inclusion, have fun, and enrich the lives of everyone involved in the Best Buddies program.”

For SM Cares, the event is another opportunity to support and give back to the community.

“At SM, we believe that establishing good relations can positively affect and inspire those with special needs. We strive to make every SM Mall, a mall for all, and by supporting activities such as this, everyone can enjoy the same fun and leisure in SM, as anyone would do,” said Engr.

Bien Mateo, program director of SM Cares Program on PWDs.

Vico Cham (second from right) with (from left) Akio Kawachi, Ralen Tupaz, Ian Borleo, Ryan Poblete, Sachin Mohnani, Nyssa Uy Kua, Gian Mendoza, April Paligsa, and his mother Cathy Cham at the Best Buddies Bowling Game event at SM Megamall Bowling Center. Photo by Kayla Paligsa

Entertainment Ryan Reynolds spoofs viral video for cheeky holiday ad

Actor Ryan Reynolds is winning social media plaudits for a new gin ad. (Inset) A scene from the viral ad.

HOLLyWOOD actor Ryan Reynolds is winning hearts and praise with a cheeky new holiday ad for his aviation Gin brand.

The commercial opens on a woman staring straight ahead, her eyes blank.

Two concerned friends sit on either side. as her friends assure her that she’s “safe here,” the unnamed woman seems to break free of her stupor. The three toast to “new beginnings” before she begins chugging her drink, a martini made with aviation Gin. “you look great, by the way,” one friend comments as the camera fades

W

e can never have enough of christmas— everyone’s favorite time of the year! But ‘fess up, the season of joy and goodwill also comes with a daunting task: choosing the most meaningful gifts for the special people in our lives.

From the whimsical to the practical, well-thought-out gifts put a smile on their faces.

and when it comes to practical and functional gifts, McJim classic Leather, the most trusted and recognized brand for making authentic leather goods, makes gift-giving easy and pleasurable for you.

This is because McJim classic Leather has the right gift for everybody in your list: the stylish boss, the trendy bestie, the athletic sibling, the fitness buff, the multi-tasking partner or the classics-loving spouse. McJim makes sure your gifts will be as strong and enduring as your love—and as solid.

This christmas season, pick your gifts from among the following: Leather wallets. The men in your lives will appreciate McJim’s wellcrafted wallets made of imported vegetable-tanned leather. available in black and brown, variants include midsize wallet, billfold, trifold and long, with card slots, bill compartments, and photo windows.

Leather bags. Made of high-quality materials such as soft cow leather, McJim bags are must-have accessories

out.

While the ad may seem confusing, the central actress is instantly recognizable to uS viewers as the woman in a spectacularly unsuccessful ad for Peloton stationary bikes.

In that ad, released in mid-november, she plays a young mother whose husband gives her a Peloton for christmas. after documenting her transformation over the course of the commercial, she emotionally thanks her husband for the bike.

Outraged Internet users said the woman looked like a terrified hostage

and called out Peloton for seemingly encouraging body-shaming.

Peloton lost nearly $1 billion of value in a day, Bloomberg reported, as its stock dropped as much as 10 percent.

When reynolds released his gin ad Friday night, it came with a mischievous caption: “exercise bike not included.”

The video instantly went viral.

This is not the first time Reynolds has capitalized on a viral internet moment for his gin marketing.

In June, the actor released an aviation Gin ad spoofing the infamously failed Fyre music festival. AFP

Look like a celeb this Christmas with McJim Classic Leather

Gift your man with a McJim Classic Leather belt that fits all occasions: casual, semi-formal, and formal. This variant comes in brown authentic leather and an elegant buckle.

Your multi-tasking bestie will like McJim’s leather messenger bag that’s made of high-quality soft cow leather. Go neutral with three color options: brown, black and tan.

GMA...

From C4

Multi-awarded comedian and content creator Michael V., on the other hand, was hailed as the Most admired comedian and Queen of creative collaborations Heart Evangelista won as the Most Admired Social Media Influencer of the Year Award. child actor and eat Bulaga mainstay Sebastian “Baste” Granfon, has been elevated to the Hall of Fame for the Most admired child endorser.

Meanwhile, Dantes family—Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera-Dantes, and children Zia and Ziggy—was awarded as the Most admired Family endorser. at the Student choice awards for the Media by Biliran

for the corporate type as these are functional and stylish. choose from an assortment of sling bags, laptop bags, shoulder bags and messenger bags in brown, black, and tan colors.

Leather belts. Belts make for great gifts as these complete a man’s attire. McJim offers real leather belts in tan, brown, and black and comes in a variety of designs such as basic, reversible, and auto-lock, for casual, semi-formal, and formal occasions.

Other leather accessories. aside from belts, wallets, and bags, McJim classic Leather has thoughtfully included handy accessories for the highly mobile set—leather cellphone cases, leather key holders, leather money clips, and leather business card holders.

Best of all, McJim’s leather accessories are not just stylish and classy, these are also affordable—prices start at Php180.

Go ahead and tick off every name in your gift list with leather accessories from McJim. It’s the season for giving the most precious gifts to people we love and care for.

Province State university (BIPSu) last nov. 15, GMa news pillar Mike Enriquez was named as the Media Persona of excellence. Kara David won as the Best Documentary Program Host while Atom Araullo was hailed as the Student Leader’s choice for TV Personality. asia’s Multi-Media Star Alden Richards was named as the Most Popular TV Personality of the year.

Taking home the awards for Best Documentary Program and Best Travel Magazine Show were I-Witness and Biyahe ni Drew, respectively. capping off the Kapuso network’s recognitions was Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’s win at the 1st Mass Media choice awards of the university of Batangas-college of education. KMJS was awarded the Best educational Magazine TV Show last Oct. 26.

tuesday, december 10, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

C3

Marco Gumabao feels uneasy around Lovi Poe But that’s only during the day one on the set for their latest movie.

Marco Gumabao couldn’t forget his first shooting day for the upcoming Viva potboiler In Between Goodbyes in which he shares stellar billing with Lovi Poe and Tony Labrusca.

At first, the actor admitted, he felt uneasy when doing some delicate scenes in the movie directed by Joel Lamangan.

“I guess, it’s just but natural for your first shooting day, right? although Lovi and I know each

Marco Gumabao headlines a sexy film that also features Lovi Poe and Tony Labrusca.

other for a long time already, we’re friends and worked for some fashion engagements in the past. But in terms of acting assignment, it’s our first time to work together,” Marco started.

“Funny because we were both awkward in doing the love scenes.

But everything was set already and Direk Joel was there. We just trusted him in the execution of the scenes.

Imagine, the scenes were shot for two hours! I’m excited to see the final edit,” he continued.

Marco is proud to be under the helm of Lamangan for the very first time. For the 25-year-old actor, it’s a huge honor and privilege.

“I know his reputation for being a very good but strict director. So I vowed not to be a cause of delay in our shooting schedules. I want to report to the set on time. On our first shooting day, I was very nervous but Direk Joel was so kind.

Marco has nothing but praises for the seasoned director.

“I respect Direk Joel that much.

His presence on the set actually helps for you to always give your 100 percent in the scenes and be always on your toes. Sometimes, when your

director is too kind and lenient, the tendency is for the actors not to get serious in their job and not focus on their acting,” he said.

“That’s why for Direk Joel, fear is also important. and of course, respect. you should give each other respect. as an actor, you should respect your director’s time, effort and everything for the project. In my case with Direk Joel, what’s good is that even if you are afraid of him, you wouldn’t feel it,” ended Marco. *** Sure to delight their loyal supporters over the years, concert King and Queen Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez are set to headline the musical event, The Royal Affair: 2020 New Year’s Eve Countdown to be staged at the Solaire. after all this time, Pops reveals that her former husband is in a league of his own.

“I always say that there is only one Martin nievera. I keep saying it all the time. For one, his charisma as a concert performer remains the same. nothing has changed. In fact, he even got better,” Pop said in an interview.

“His voice is unique. When people hear him sing, they know it’s him. It’s distinct. apart from that, he’s very articulate and crazy still.

I guess, that’s the reason why he’s still there at the top,” she added.

What’s good about her and Martin is that even if they lead separate lives now, they remain as friends.

“Oh, yes! I think there will always be that chemistry and always that some sort of magic which just happens when we’re both on stage.

There’s always magic on stage that even if we’re not really okay at times, we manage to become okay because we’re doing something with a purpose---and that is to perform together. I’m also grateful that our fans have become very loyal and supportive after all these years. They still get tickled pink upon seeing us together on stage,” said Pops.

Former flames Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera banner Solaire's New Year's Eve concert

Reel to real experience with ‘Jumanji: Next Level’ eVery ‘90s kid would remember the feeling of amazement brought about by the 1995 Jumanji film starring Robin Williams. When the remake Jumanji: Welcome to the Junglecame out in 2017, it gave every ‘90s kid major flashback feels. now the sequel Jumanji: Next Level is bound to give everyone excitement with yet another jungle adventure-filled film.

In the 2019 remake, the well-loved fantasy adventure film is given comedy angle by its cast including Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan Nick Jonas, Danny De Vito, and Awkwafina.

SM cinema brings Jumanji: Next Level, a perfect holiday movie for friends and family to bond over, to life with a promo where art and adventure intersect. SM cinema’s action & arTventure promo gives moviegoers a reel to real experience of the Jumanji: Next Level over the holidays. until today, a single receipt purchase of Jumanji: Next Level movie tickets of at least P500 gives moviegoers a chance to win two tickets to art in Island museum.

Ten winners from the participating SM cinema branches SM north eDSa, SM Mall of asia, SM Megamall SM Marikina, SM Fairview, SM Sta.

Mesa, SM San Lazaro and SM Manila will be selected on Dec. 16. Deadline of dropping of entries is tonight at 10 o’clock.

This promo is valid for SM cinema regular theaters and IMaX at the selected branches mentioned above. For more details, you may visit SM cinema’s official Facebook page. catch Jumanji: Next Level at SM cinema theaters nationwide. Book your tickets through the website, www. smcinema.com www.smcinema.com or download the SM cinema mobile app.

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

C4

Entertainment

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

SNAPSHOT

Take that, Elvis! Robbie equals UK album chart record ENGLISH singer-songwriter Robbie Williams on Friday equalled Elvis Presley’s record for the most UK number one albums by a solo artist, with his new collection of festive songs.

The Christmas Present was the British pop star’s 13th number one solo album. The Beatles holds the overall record with 15.

Williams also scored four chart-topping albums with his old band Take That, taking his personal haul to 17.

Only Beatles members Paul McCartney (22) and John Lennon (18) have scored more number ones in total across their careers, with Williams drawing level with the band’s lead guitarist George Harrison on 17. AFP

Hardcourt heartthrob

Ricci Rivero

opens up about his battle with depression Dantes family was awarded as the Most Admired Family Endorser at the COMGUILD Academe’s Awards.

GMA Network wins more awards from various institutions LEADING broadcast company GMA Network continues to be recognized by various award-giving bodies this year.

At the 13th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards last November 15, GMA News brought honor to the Network through “Drought in Numbers: Farmers Farming No More”—a story produced by GMA News Reporter Tina Panganiban-Perez and the GMA News Special Assignments Team which won as the Best Agriculture TV Story of the Year.

Earning another award was “A Very Long Summer” by Jessica Bartolome and Dona Magsino, which won the Best Agriculture Online Story award.

The Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards is an annual event of Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc. which celebrates the work of agriculture journalists all over the country.

Meanwhile, during the celebration

of the 9th National Statistics Month last Oct. 1, Brenda Barrientos-Vallarta of GMA News Research won for the Network the Best Statistical Reporting in Online Media award for her story “Where the Votes Are: Taking a Look at the Vote-Rich Regions, Provinces, and Cities Ahead of Eleksyon 2019”.

With the theme “Data Innovation: Key to a Better Nation,” the Philippine Statistics Authority recognizes the significant role and contribution of the media in promoting and popularizing official statistics from the Philippine Statistical System through news and features.

Various learning institutions in the country also gave recognitions to the GMA Network programs and personalities.

At the COMGUILD Academe’s Awards, Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado was awarded as the Advertiser’s Friendly Host (Female Category). Continued on C3

A musical name to reckon with in Ilocos Sur GREATLY associated with music, the name Minervina Dario Singson is a famous one in Ilocos Sur. The fact that she can still play the piano with bent fingers due to arthritis, sends everyone in awe, especially as she is turning a century old on Dec. 14.

One who admires do much this musical giant is National Artist Maestro Ryan

Minervina Dario-Singson is the matriarch behind the successful brood of Singsons from Candon, Ilocos Sur.

Cayabyab who paid her a visit last May during the first Candon Music Festival of which he was the festival director. Mr. C was greatly in awe for her music memory and piano-playing skills remain sharp and on point.

Eversince she was young, Ambin (as she is fondly called) had already shown an aptitude for music. She started singing at age 6, having inherited her talent from her mother who was a very good pianist and who became her first teacher. It helped to encourage her, the fact that her father owned a school for musical instruments She studied at the UP Conservatory of Music Major in Piano. She was mentored among others Prof. Julio Esteban Anquita from Spain and Prof. Pacita Nolasco-Torralbaamong others. Af friend, Abbot Rabang, encouraged her to compose songs.

In 2008, the Minervina Dario Singson Heritage Music Foundation was established. It aims to send and support talented young musicians of Candon to study music at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music in Manila.

So far, the foundation has seven graduates and one about to graduate.

The foundation also gives free violin, wind, percussion and voice lessons.

They have 50 violin beginners, 40 chamber orchestra members, 40 chorale members, 45 in the children’s choir and 30 winds and percussion members Ambin has been acknowledged by the UP Conservatory of Music as the oldest living alumnae of the institution.

ABS-CBN Sports digital head Mico Halili and Dayories director Enzo Marcos flank Ricci Rivero and Ange Kouame

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N IWANT original sports documentary Dayories, UAAP superstar Ricci Rivero shares the challenges he encountered transferring schools from the De La Salle University to the University of the Philippines Diliman.

The move forced him to start all over again in terms of his academics and adjusting his game to fit in a team loaded with talent and alphas in the court.

“Little did many people know, "I was at a very low point in my life. I couldn't go out of the house and I was really feeling down. My family had to bring me to a specialist to seek professional help and to know what's going on with me,,” the highly-touted small forward Ricci told members of the press during the special screening of the sports documentary last week.

The 21-year-old hardcourt heartthrob admitted that he went through a rough patch after parting ways with his former team and school.

“I’ve been through so many struggles. There were so many issues and I was even accused of using drugs. In the episode that features myself, we wanted to impart that people should not be afraid to have problems because they will always be there. Problem is something that we need to overcome for us to be able to pass bigger obstacles in life,” he shared.

“Life is sometimes unfair but we have our fair God who will help us out throughout our journey,” he added.

Ricci’s story is featured as the second episode of Dayories.

The first episode, which is now streaming on iWant, focuses on big man Ange Kouame from the Ateneo De Manila University.

Born and raised in Ivory Coast in Africa, Ange has been living in the Philippines since 2016, to get

his education and pursue his NBA dream.

The 21-year old immediately won the respect of the UAAP community in UAAP Season 81, where he won Rookie of the Year and helped his team defend their title, overcoming the language barrier and the difficulty of being away from his mother.

This season, he has been an unstoppable force inside the paint, and one of the main reasons behind Ateneo’s unblemished record in the recently-concluded UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament.

Viewers will also get to know more about Rhenz, a La Union native whose meteoric rise from being an unknown recruit to one of the league’s most exciting players is one of this season’s best storylines.

The rookie’s rumored transfer mid-season gave him his first taste of the downside of fame, but with the help of his team he was able to regain his focus and made it to his first finals appearance.

Produced by iWant with the ABS-CBN Sports Digital team and director Enzo Marcos, Dayories traces the roots of Ange, Ricci, and Rhenz and the grit and grind it took for them to make an impact in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the country’s premier collegiate league. “ We were naturally excited because iWant and ABS-CBN Sports have a similar objective in giving sports fans stories that inspire. It was also a great next step since iWant already provides the livestream UAAP experience. Fans will now get to know UAAP players through deeper storytelling,” shared ABS-CBN Sports’ digital head Mico Halili.

Watch Dayories on iWant starting with the first episode featuring Ange Kouame available now on ABSCBN’s streaming platform iWant.

For more information, follow @ iWant on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or go to iwant.ph or download the iWant app.

Outside the court, the spotlight continues to focus on the Tourism major, who’s also a product endorser and a budding actor and host.