Manila Standard - 2019 December 13 - Friday

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 302 • 2 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte to skim ‘pork’from P4-t budget—Palace

By MJ Blancaflor

COLD MOON FOR COLD WEATHER. A perfect full moon—the last full moon of the decade (inset)—is seen early Thursday morning over Luzon. Called the Cold Moon or Long Nights Moon, it is distinctive for its high trajectory across the sky, causing it to sit above the horizon for a longer period of time, experts say. It matches the cold weather over Burnham Lake in Baguio City, which posted a low of 11.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, a condition the state weather bureau says will last until early March next year. Dave Leprozo

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will veto any unconstitutional items in the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020, Malacañang said Thursday.

“The provisions in the budget that run counter to the Constitution will be vetoed by the President. There is no change in that policy,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told Palace reporters.

This came after Senator Panfilo Lacson alleged that at least 1,253 budget items worth P83.219 billion were inserted in the bicameral conference committee report signed by the Senate and the House of Representatives Wednesday.

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House revs up Cha-Cha reso • Revision of economic provisions • Congress, LGU term extension • President, VP tandem election • Increased number of senators

By Maricel V. Cruz

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RESOLUTION relaxing economic restrictions in the 1987 Constitution and extending the term of local government officials, congressmen and senators to five years subject to three consecutive terms was passed by the House committee on constitutional amendments.

GLORIOUS GAMES. United in victory (from left) Abraham Bambol Tolentino, POC president; Butch Ramirez, PSC chairman; Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; and Alan Peter Cayetano, PHISGOC chairman, hold the Overall Trophy Award for the Philippines as number one in the just concluded 12-day 30th Southeast Asian Games.

SEAG medal avalanche triggers rain of incentives

By MJ Blancaflor, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Francisco Tuyay MALACAÑANG on Thursday congratulated Filipino athletes for bagging the most number of medals with 149 golds in the just concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo also congratulated all the SEA Games

participants.

“All of you did a wonderful job giving pride and honor to your respective countries. Your very presence here alone means you are all winners,” Panelo said in a statement.

With 117 silvers and 121 bronzes, the Philippines bested other Southeast Asian countries in the biennial sports event from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

Filipino athletes are expected to meet President Rodrigo Duterte as they will receive cash incentives for their victories.

Gold medalists will receive P300,000, as stated in Republic Act 10699. Those who bagged silver and bronze will receive P150,000 and P60,000, respectively.

Vietnam, which finished second in the medal tally, will host the next edition of the Next page

AFP rules out Xmas Drug war leads to arrest of 200,000 ceasefire with Reds THE military is not inclined to recommend any Christmas truce with the remaining communist rebels, an official said Thursday, adding the rebels were using the truce as an opportunity to regroup. “[A Christmas truce] is something that the AFP is not going to recommend because, in the past, every time ceasefires were being declared, they took advantage of the ceasefires to recruit, refurbish, regroup and research, so we do not want them to be able to do that,” Armed Forces spokesman Marine Edgard Arevalo told CNN Philippines.

Meanwhile, the matter of serving or not serving the pending arrest warrants against some leaders of the National Democratic Front was “outside” the jurisdiction of the Justice department, Justice Next page

THE number of people arrested in the government’s war on illegal drugs has breached the 200,000 mark, authorities said Thursday as they sought the arrest of more high-value targets.

A total of 220,728 people were arrested in 151,601 anti-illegal drug operations from July 1, 2016, up to Nov. 30 this year, according to a “Real Numbers”

update by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Meanwhile, PDEA director general Aaron Aquino on Thursday said he was in a better position without Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chairman of the Inter-agency Committee Against Drugs.

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The militant Makabayan bloc denounced what it called a “discreet railroading” of the resolution by the panel led by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

“In effect this is Charter change by legislation that is not provided for by the Constitution. This is a very dangerous action,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate

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Water companies face Senate wringer

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo THE Senate has been asked to investigate the concession contracts of two private water utilities that the government says contains onerous provisions.

Senate Resolution 259, filed by Senator Imee Marcos, seeks to examine the provisions of the concession agreements and why the water companies failed to meet their public service obligations.

The water companies drew the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte after they sued the government and were awarded P10 billion by a Singapore-based arbitration court for losses they claimed to suffer because they were not allowed to raise their rates.

Marcos said Manila Water and Maynilad have failed to live up to their commitments to ensure an uninterrupted supply of drinking-quality water “not later than June 30, 2000,” or three years after the Next page

Pag-IBIG opens online services

A NEW generation of women is launching podcasts, websites and apps featuring erotic content that prioritizes the female perspective—all in the name of improving sexual wellbeing.

At the outset, these women were

OFFICIALS of the Pag-IBIG Fund on Thursday launched the Virtual PagIBIG, an online portal of the agency’s services to make those services available to members anytime, anywhere.

“The Virtual Pag-IBIG has been a long-term project of the Fund. Before launching, we made sure that support systems were prepared and that the security of our database had been put in place,” said Eduardo del Rosario who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the

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Sex and sounds: Women’s take

said as he vowed that the Makabayan bloc would oppose the measure during plenary discussions.

Zarate said proponents of the consolidated resolution included the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to cover the major changes in the economic and political provisions of the Charter.

VIRTUAL PAG-IBIG. Acmad Rizaldy Moti (left), chief executive officer of Pag-IBIG Fund, and Eduardo del Rosario, chairman of Pag-IBIG Fund, lead the launching Thursday of the Virtual Pag-IBIG—an online portal of the agency—at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. Lino Santos

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US senators want De Lima freed A US Senate committee has passed a resolution calling for the release of Senator Leila de Lima and the dropping of the charges against Rappler boss Maria Ressa, its proponents said Tuesday.

De Lima, who was arrested on drug charges in February 2017, is “a prisoner of conscience, detained solely on account of her political views and the legitimate exercise of her freedom of expression,” according to US Senate Resolution 142.

Quoting rights observers, the resolution also dubbed the arrest of Ressa for libel and tax-related charges as “part of a pattern of ‘weaponizing the rule of law’ to repress independent media.”

The resolution called on the Philip-

pine government to “drop all charges” against Ressa and De Lima, and allow the senator to “fully discharge her legislative mandate, especially as Chair of the [Philippine Senate] Committee on Social Justice.”

It also called on US President Donald Trump to “impose sanctions” against security forces and officials responsible for De Lima’s arrest.

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the resolution, said two of its five proponents, US Senators Edward Mar-

key and Richard Durbin, on Twitter.

The move “demonstrates broad support for accountability” in De Lima’s case, whose crime is “standing for human rights and good governance in the Philippines,” said Markey.

The resolution was also submitted by US Senators Marco Rubio, Marsha Blackburn and Chris Coons.

Philippine Senate President Vicente Sotto III had reminded American lawmakers that the country was no longer a colony of the United States.

“We are a sovereign nation. We have our own judicial processes, Sotto said in a statement.

“Sovereign states have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide the violation of their own laws. We are not a colony anymore, he said.

Malacañang earlier told the US lawmakers to “mind their own business― their country has enough problems and they should focus on them.”

“The Republic of the Philippines is not under the dominion of the United States of America or any of its high-ranking officials,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in April.

“The US senators’ resort to a reckless and unstudied political exercise only highlights their unfamiliarity with the domestic matters of our country as well as their disrespect to the clamor of the Filipino people for law and order.”

The cases against De Lima and Ressa “passed through administrative and judicial processes before their respective warrants of arrest have been issued by courts,” Panelo said.

House...

The still unnumbered resolution of both Houses specifically seeks to amend Articles VI, X, XII, XIV, and XVI of the 1987 Constitution. The proposals will have to be approved by three-fourths of the House and Senate members, voting separately.

The resolution provides the election of the President and Vice President in tandem, as well as increases the number of senators from 12 to 27, or three per region. The nine regions were identified as the National Capital Region, Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The 1987 Constitution provides that a senator can serve for six years and run for reelection once, while congressmen and local elected officials are elected for an initial term of three years and can run for reelection twice for a total of three terms.

The resolution also seeks to ease Constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of land, natural resources, public utilities, media, and advertising.

“With the current growing global interest in Asia, it now becomes an imperative response to further enhance our economic policies in order for us to compete for more investments which is a vital element in maximizing our potential as one of the growing economies in Asia,” read the six-page resolution.

Zarate said the approval came during an executive meeting on Wednesday afternoon, with four committee members voting against but were outvoted by 10 other members of the panel.

“The meeting was not opened to the public and media for more discussion,” he added.

“The committee passed proposed changes to the major economic provisions of the Constitution by simply having the phrase ‘unless otherwise provided by law’ added to the original provision,” he said.

Zarate said the committee will take up the shift to a federal form of government next year. He said the terms of local officials were included in the revision of the economic provisions to “make it palatable to them.”

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Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.

"The DOJ is ready to assist and cooperate with the peace panel, but the matter of enforcing or not enforcing arrest warrants ultimately lies with the courts, where the criminal cases against certain NDF leaders are pending," Guevarra said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Arevalo said while the AFP supports the calls for lasting and inclusive peace, a Christmas truce was not among its options as this was only for a short period of time that the communist rebels could use to their advantage.

Earlier, Arevalo said the military respects the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to give the communist rebels another chance to attend peace negotiations.

“The AFP respects and supports the wisdom of the Commander-in-Chief in issuing such pronouncements,” he said.

Earlier, President Duterte said he will send Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III

Sex...

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looking for a middle ground between erotic literature, which falls short on fulfilling all of the senses, and porn films, which don’t leave much to the imagination.

“I would rather listen to erotica than see it because just as I do with books, I like to visualize myself instead of seeing someone else,” says Yves, who only gave her first name.

Yves uses Dipsea, one of the three major female-focused sex-positive platforms launched within the last 18 months, along with Ferly and Quinn.

For Billie Quinlan, the co-founder of the Britain-based Ferly, it was time for erotica to explore new formats.

“Sexual stimulus has been a very maledominated industry, which hasn’t prioritized female pleasure, and as a consequence, it’s created damaging and unhelpful narratives,” she told AFP. Quinlan specifically mentioned porn with overwrought cries of ecstasy or logistically difficult sexual positions that women supposedly “love” as counterproductive.

Ferly’s mission is to “rewrite these narratives by being thoughtful, honest and diverse in out stories,” Quinlan said in an e-mail.

While Ferly is for women only, Quinn and Dipsea say they are also open to male users.

Nearly all of the podcasts last from five to 35 minutes. Some of the plots are so-

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The 2020 budget bill is now up for Duterte’s signature.

Lacson said he received information that many of the insertions were the items vetoed by the President in the 2019 budget.

The senator also said he will inform President Duterte of the “questionable insertions” in the budget proposal for 2020.

In April, President Duterte signed the P3.7-trillion 2019 budget with vetoed provisions following alleged insertions in the spending plan.

The President said then that the items, which came as a result of post-ratification budget realignments made by lawmakers, were not within the “programmed priorities” of the government.

The government was forced to run on a reenacted budget this year for four months following wrangling among lawmakers over alleged pork insertions in the national spending plan.

Duterte has previously certified the 2020 national budget as urgent to ensure its swift passage to avoid delays in government programs and services.

Water...

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AFP...

Duterte...

to The Netherlands to discuss with Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison his administration’s plans to give them another chance for a dialogue that would pave the way for the peace talks.

“We understand that those instructions to Secretary Bello are in the nature of exploratory discussion with Mr. Sison and are meant toward the attainment of sustainable peace, which is the President’s and also the AFP’s ultimate desire,” Arevalo said.

Despite this, he said the AFP would continue with its military operations in support of the National Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict, which is now reaping the gains tremendously in terms of New People’s Army neutralization and enormous support of the local government and the people.

“If we are to negotiate, we so do from aposition of strength,” Arevalo said.

He also said the AFP leadership was wholly supportive of the peace process along with the rest of the Filipino nation which is yearning for lasting and legitimate peace. PNA

phisticated, with changes in venue and multiple characters.

The level of graphic description is often made clear, as well as the relationship featured. At Ferly, “She and Him” is one such category, with subcategories such as “in public” and “fantasy” or “voyeurism.”

Sexual wellness Ferly and Dipsea have dedicated significant resources to the writing and the sound quality, setting themselves apart from more amateurish content such as GoneWild Audio, available on Reddit.

“Creating compelling audio in general is difficult,” says Gina Gutierrez, the 29-yearold co-founder of Dipsea, which says it has had more than 325,000 downloads.

“It’s a very fragile feeling that you create when you create something erotic,” she says.

“That’s something that can be shattered if someone says the wrong thing or the voice doesn’t sound right.”

Caroline Spiegel, the founder of Quinn, says that with her site’s content, “you feel like you are really in the room with someone having sex with them. It’s very different from watching something.” Gutierrez rejects the term “audio porn,” which for her implies something “cold and transactional when erotica is bigger,” with “human chemistry, connection.”

One Dipsea user who asked not to be named said it was “hard to find erotic content that empowers women or that at least respects the female figure.”

“I feel respected and empowered as a woman when I listen to Dipsea,” she added. AFP

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pine Sports Commission to PHISGOC, a private foundation.

Lacson said this is a contentious because government funds cannot be transferred to a private organization. He cited the graft conviction of former Isabela governor Grace Padaca who moved the provincial government funds to a private foundation.

He said this is similar to the transfer of government funds of some Congress members to private foundations established by pork barrel scam mastermind Janet LimNapoles.

Senator Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, said the successful hosting of the SEA Games was an opportunity to showcase the skill and ability of Filipino athletes to win as one.

The senator was among the thousands of spectators who flocked to the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, on Wednesday night to witness the grand closing ceremony.

“I cannot be any prouder. If I was an athlete, I could ask for nothing more,” she said.

“I think they did an amazing job.”

Cayetano said the Philippines’ claiming of the overall championship was made possible by the government’s readiness to invest in sports development, particularly in building new world-class facilities in New Clark City; refurbishing old ones such as the 84-year-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the Philsports Arena in Pasig City; and showcasing other areas for sports tourism, including Subic and Clark in Central Luzon, La Union in Northern Luzon, and Biñan City and Tagaytay City in Southern Tagalog.

government privatized water services.

On the contrary, daily water interruptions since October have become the rule rather than the exception, Marcos said.

Marcos also called out the apparent “social inequality” in water rationing schedules imposed by Manila Water and Maynilad.

Many exclusive residential villages in Metro Manila have only four-hour interruptions starting late at night, while lowerincome areas in Quezon City, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Manila, and the neighboring cities of Bacoor and Imus in Cavite have 19-hour to 21-hour interruptions that run through the day, Marcos said.

By their own admission, Manila Water and Maynilad have also failed to install adequate sewage treatment systems, causing 86 percent of wastewater to continue spilling untreated into rivers and bays, Marcos said.

Senate Resolution 259’s inquiry in aid of legislation also seeks to better craft concession agreements in the future, Marcos said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, called for the renegotiating of the concession agreements between the two companies and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, saying the two private contractors violated the public trust.

During the Senate public services committee hearing on the creation of a Water Regulatory Commission, Gatchalian hit officials of Manila Water and Maynilad for passing on to consumers company expenses that are not related to water distribution, such as charitable contributions, expenses for basketball games, sports clinics and other forms of donations.

Gatchalian also slammed the water companies for overestimating the cost of their projects which he said will be the burden of every Filipino.

He also questioned a provision in their concession agreements that enable the two companies to skirt their tax obligations.

MWSS has just revoked the extension of concession agreements with both water concessionaires until 2037 which the water regulator itself approved in a board resolution in 2009. The revocation in effect ends the water firms’ concession in 2022.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said the government is looking at the possibility of renegotiating the concession agreements before end of 2019.

be accessed through the agency’s website and has been in beta version since October.

“Pag-IBIG Fund is celebrating its 39th anniversary this month with the theme ‘Sthe Nation with Excellence and Innovation’.” Moti said.

“And what better way to mark our 39th year than with the unveiling of one of the most innovative services in our history, the Virtual Pag-IBIG. With this new service, it’s like having your own personal Pag-IBIG Fund branch at your fingertips.

With just a smartphone and an Internet connection, our members can now do their transactions with the Pag-IBIG Fund online anytime, and wherever they are.”

By logging into the Virtual Pag-IBIG, Moti said, one can immediately enjoy the agency’s services such as securing a Pag-IBIG Fund Membership ID number,

taking the initial step to enroll for an MP2 Savings account, and monitoring their loan application status.

Members may access even more services by creating their own Virtual Pag-IBIG accounts. With an account, members can have access to their savings records, view their loan balances and get the latest news and updates about the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Members can also monitor and view the last 10 transactions made with their PagIBIG Fund Loyalty Card Plus.

The Virtual Pag-IBIG also features an online payment facility that allows members to pay for their loans and remit their monthly savings through PayMaya or with their Visa, Mastercard or JCB credit cards. It also has a real-time chat facility that allows members to talk to a Pag-IBIG Fund service personnel to address any concern.

MUSIC LOVERS. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (second left) with Alona Party-List Rep. Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez (left), Iloilo Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda (second right) and 2nd District Cebu Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa flash the sign of 'we win as one' during the live concert of U2 The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue Bulacan. Philippine Arena is the largest indoor arena in the world with a capacity of 55,000 seats.Ver Noveno

SEAG...

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games. It bagged 98 gold, 85 silver, and 105 bronze medals.

Thailand came close with 92-103-123 medals, followed by Indonesia (72-84-111), Malaysia (55-58-71), Singapore (53-4668), and Myanmar (4-18-51).

Trailing were Cambodia (4-6-36), Brunei (2-5-6), Laos (1-5-28), and Timor Leste (01-5).

“As we officially hand over the hosting chores of the 2021 SEA Games to Vietnam, we look back at the high emotions, the broken records, the blood, sweat and tears of our athletes and their coaches,” Panelo said.

Despite the successful showing in the SEA Games, allegations of corruption in the preparation for the event should not be set aside, Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

He said the successes of the athletes is separate from the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, which has been dogged by controversy.

“We shouldn’t mix up the triumph of the athletes with the PHISGOC issue,” Lacson said in Filipino.

He said Congress had a mandate to provide oversight into the problems experienced during the Games.

Lacson added that Senate could conduct its own investigation despite the ongoing probe by the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said the Senate should look into the transfer of government funds by the Philip-

Pag-IBIG...

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11-member Pag-IBIG Fund board.

“We are happy that our long-term plans to provide our members with a more efficient and accessible service have aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to make government service responsive to the needs of the public by harnessing technology.

“We were able to respond to the President’s directive immediately because efficient and quality public service is at the heart of the Pag-IBIG Fund.”

Del Rosario and Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Acmad Rizaldy Moti led the launch of the Virtual Pag-IBIG at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The Virtual Pag-IBIG can

Drug war...

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He said Robredo was “okay,” but he was uncomfortable sharing responsibilities with her given that she was Vice President while he was only an undersecretary.

"It was hard for me to dictate because she is VP and I am only a Usec. Secondly, I cannot dictate to her what to do and what not to do," Aquino said.

The death toll in the drug war inched higher but stayed at the 5,000-mark or 5,582.

A total of 8,185 high-value targets were arrested, 2,290 of whom were in the President’s list.

"We need more arrests of high-value targets," Aquino said.

He said the authorities were also on the lookout for about 186 drug rings in the country.

He said those groups were included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of more than 12,000 high-value drug targets covering government officials ranging from congressmen to village chiefs.

Authorities also said 42,025 villages were cleared of illicit drugs while 17,175 had yet to be cleared.

Law enforcers had also dismantled 433 drug dens and laboratories since the war on drugs started three years ago.

The amount of illegal drugs and drug-related materials seized by the authorities had reached P40.39 billion of which P31.25 billion were from “shabu.

The Duterte administration has pursued a fierce campaign against illegal drugs, mostly netting traders and users of shabu.

Last year, Duterte expressed frustration at the difficulty of realizing his 2016 campaign promise of ridding the country of the drug scourge. Rio N. Araja and MJ Blancaflor

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ORDER OF SIKATUNA. President Rodrigo Duterte confers the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu on outgoing Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Caccia (left) during his farewell

call to the President at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, and the same order (right) on outgoing Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines Ly Quoc Tuan during his farewell call, also on Wednesday.

Presidential Photo

DENR heads Pasig River clearing operation THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources is set to spearhead a high-level inter-agency meeting today to discuss the implementation of an “honestto-goodness” clearing operation along Pasig River.

Secretary Roy Cimatu said the Manila Bay Task Force invited to the meeting heads of 12 other government agencies tasked in the 2008 writ of continuing mandamus issued by the Supreme Court to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay. The agencies involved are the departments of Agriculture, Public Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Health and Budget and Management; Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System; Local Water Utilities Administration; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority; Philippine Coast Guard; Philippine National PoliceMaritime Group, and Philippine Ports Authority.

Mayors Francisco Domagoso of Manila, Vico Sotto of Pasig City and Abby Binay of Makati City have also been invited to attend the meeting.

The DENR chief said the meeting would serve as an opportunity for the agency to touch base with other agencies covered by the continuing mandamus.

He earlier came out with a directive to clear the 24-kilometer Pasig River of “all obstructions and blockage” for the recently relaunched ferry service and in line with the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay. About one-fifth of the organic pollution load to Manila Bay came from the Pasig River basin.

Acosta asks Duterte: Veto PAO’s 2020 budget slash

By Rio N. Araja

UBLIC Attorney’s Office chief Persida RuedaAcosta is asking President Rodrigo Duterte to veto a special provision in the 2020 General Appropriations Bill removing the P19.5-million budget allocation for its forensic laboratory division.

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In a Dec. 11 formal communication, Acosta insisted PAO’s forensic laboratory division was created by “authority of law.”

She took a swipe at lawmakers who backed the P19.5-million slash for PAO’s 2020 budget that would stop the operation of its forensic laboratory to the detriment of victims of injustice.

“The deletion of the budget for the PAO Forensic Laboratory Division’s equipment and the prohibition for the use of PAO’s maintenance and other operating expenses [MOOE] for the operations—effectively intended to stop the PAO Forensic Laboratory Division’s operations, are unconstitutional,” Acosta’s letter read.

In a dzMM radio interview, Acosta

said the budget slash was designed to “kill” PAO’s investigation into the deaths of children who got the Dengvaxia vaccines under the Department of Health’s school-based mass vaccination from 2016 until 2017.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin and Senator Franklin Drilon “succeeded” in slashing P19.5 million from PAO forensic laboratory from the capital outlay, and inserting the special provision in the limitation and prohibition on PAO’s use of MOOE for the forensic laboratory division’s plantilla personnel created by the Department of Budget and Management, and President Duterte.

“I am appealing to the President to please veto the provision because that

fund is not mine, but to (sic) the Filipino people,” she told the interview.

PAO represented the parents of children whose deaths were linked to Dengvaxia vaccine in the filing of charges of multiple counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide before the Department of Justice against Garin, a former health chief; Health Secretary Francisco Duque III; Philippine Children’s Medical Center executive director Julius Lecciones; other former and active health officials, and executives of the giant manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and distributor Zuellig Pharma Inc. In November 2017, Sanofi Pasteur released an advisory warning that the anti-dengue vaccine posed severe health risks to any person who had not yet been afflicted with the dengue disease.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos sought VAT exemption for prescriptive medicine, as the Senate continues to tackle taxation policies to fund universal health care.

Medicine for hypertension, diabetes and other maintenance drugs were earlier exempted from the indirect tax so why not do the same for prescriptive medicine, Marcos told reporters.

LRT 1 extends service by 1 hour THE Light Rail Transit Line 1’s schedule has been extended by an hour to accommodate more passengers during the holiday season.

In a message to reporters on Wednesday, Jacqueline Gorospe, Light Rail Manila Corp.

(LRMC) head of communications, said the new schedule stemmed from the multiple feedback from passengers to extend the train service due to the 11 p.m. mall closing hour this holiday season and other Christmas events that usually end late at night.

“We are receiving much feedback and requests asking us to extend the schedule more to accommodate the surge of pax, especially this time around,” Gorospe said.

Some 30,000 more passengers are expected to be accommodated with the extension of the train schedule, which took effect on Wednesday and will end on Dec. 31.

Under the new train schedule, the LRT 1 would send out its first trains from both Baclaran and Roosevelt Stations at 4:30 a.m. while its last trains would leave at 11 p.m. from

the Baclaran Station and 11:15 p.m. from the Roosevelt Station.

However, the LRT 1 would retain its original Sunday schedule of 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. northbound (from Baclaran) and 9:45 p.m. southbound (from Roosevelt).

The extended train service would also not be applicable during holidays: Dec. 24-8 p.m. last train from Baclaran and Roosevelt; Dec. 25 -9:30 p.m. last train from Baclaran, 9:45 p.m. from Roosevelt; Dec. 30-9:30 p.m. last train from Baclaran, 9:45 p.m. from Roosevelt; and Dec. 31-7 p.m. last train from Baclaran and Roosevelt.

In October, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and representatives of Metro Manila malls agreed to open their shopping establishments not earlier than 11 a.m. to help reduce traffic congestion during the holiday season.

Malls are also not allowed to close between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. while mall schedules during weekends remain at the management’s discretion PNA

Du30 inaugurates tent at C5 Extension

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte led the inauguration Thursday of the newest tent at C5 Extension Road in the City of Las Piñas.

President Duterte was the Guest of Honor during the inauguration of the Tent at Vista Global South. Members of the Villar Family: former Senate President Manny Villar, Senator Cynthia Villar, Vista Land CEO Paolo Villar, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar were also present.

The occasion coincided with the celebration

of the birthday of Manny Villar, also former Speaker of the House and Senate president and founding chairman of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance.

“We now have the biggest tent venue in the south of Metro Manila, which will be the new site of our yearly OFW and Family Summit and the most-awaited Parol Festival,” Senator Villar, director of Villar SIPAG, said.

Away from traffic-congested areas in Metro Manila, the Tent with a capacity of up to 5,000, is the newest venue for personal or corporate events.

The 3,800 sqm space is fully air-conditioned and features a well-appointed guest lounge and back-of-house for event suppliers.

The Tent at Vista Global South offers spacious parking space and proximity to notable landmarks such as Vista Mall Global South, Mella Hotel, and Sanctuario de San Ezekiel Moreno.

The Tent at Vista Global South is 10 minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and is accessible via the NAIAX and Cavitex from the north as well as Alabang Zapote Road and Bacoor Boulevard from the south.

Lawmaker cries foul over ambush incidents

By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER from Mindanao on Thursday appealed to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and to local authorities to investigate the recent twin ambush incidents that left one killed and two others critically wounded in Cotabato.

Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao’s Second District made the call after former Barangay Chairman Basit Taguigaya of Saidon Municipality was killed while municipal treasurer of Ampatuan, Maguindanao Roshel Kuit and her husband Jeric were critically injured in two separate ambush incidents that transpired on Wednesday in Cotabato, Maguindanao.

“I am imploring Sec. Año and the local Maguindanao authorities to please investigate the cases. The victims, Basit and the Kuit couple are my friends and are close to my family. In fact, Basit was supposed to join me on the promulgation of the Maguindanao Massacre on the 19th,” said Mangudadatu, vice chairman of the House committees on local government, and on Mindanao Affairs.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE December 02, 2019

REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 10-2019

SUBJECT : Amending Pertinent Provision of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 4-2000, as Amended by RR No. 7-2005, By Providing a New Format for the Notice to the Public to be Exhibited at Place of Business TO

: All Revenue Officials, Employees, and Others Concerned

SECTION 1 - SCOPE Pursuant to the provisions of Section 244 in relation to Sections 237, 238, 264 and 265 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (Tax Code), as amended, these Regulations are hereby promulgated to provide a new BIR Notice to the Public to be exhibited at place of business.

SECTION 2 - EXHIBITION OF NOTICE AT PLACE OF BUSINESS For the purpose of improving revenue collection through enforcement of the legal provision on the issuance of official receipt (OR)/sales invoice (SI) and to inform the public/buyers to require the seller to issue OR/SI, persons required by law to issue such receipts/invoices are hereby directed to post in their places of business, including branches and mobile stores, in such area conspicuous to the public, the below Notice to Issue Receipts/Invoices (NIRI):

SECTION 3 - REPEALING CLAUSE. All existing regulations and other issuances or portions thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of these Regulations are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4 - EFFECTIVITY. These Regulations shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

M.Standard – Dec. 13, 2019

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Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

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Water problem

EDITORIAL

bodies), a charge of economic sabotage (a non-bailable offense), and rescission of their water concession contracts. Duterte also vowed that if he sees the owners, he would slap them in public.

The President asked Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Solicitor General Jose Calida to cure defects in Manila and Maynilad Water’s water concession contracts. These defects include the state’s powerlessness to intervene and to stop hefty rate increases and to stop the water companies from being allowed to pass on every conceivable cost, including income tax, to their consumers.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, MWSS announced the revocation of the extension by 15 years of the two companies’ water concession contracts, from 2022 to 2037. The extension was granted in 2008 by President Arroyo. The original water contracts were awarded in 1997 by President Ramos in an open, transparent public bidding.

Geny Lopez of Benpres and ABSCBN won both contracts in 1997 but was told to give up one. He chose the West Zone, which had more people, more houses. It was a mistake.

Stretching from Caloocan to Cavite, the West Zone indeed had more people—more people who could not afford the water and so just stole it.

It also had more old pipes—which needed immediate replacement. It had more debts, which needed immediate payment. The West Zone has 9,700 kms of pipes—which if put end to end would reach Qatar—a flying distance by jet of nine hours.

The West Zone bankrupted Geny who piled up $240 million in debts.

In 2007, Metro Pacific of Manuel V. Pangilinan and DMCI of Sid Consunji took over. They made the West

USING bluff, bluster, expletives, and the whole might of the presidency, Rodrigo Roa Duterte has bludgeoned to submission the two concessionaires of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Manila Water Co. of the Ayala Group for the East Zone, and Maynilad Water of the Hong Kongbased First Pacific group of Manuel V. Pangilinan and Marubeni of Japan for the West Zone.

It is a possibility nobody wants to drink to.

Manila and Maynilad will no longer pursue collection of the P7.39 billion and P3.4. billion, respectively, in unpaid rate increases from the years 2014 to 2018. The amounts were awarded them by the Singapore-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. The state-owned MWSS had previously disapproved the rate increases. Without the rate hikes, Manila and Maynilad naturally claimed “losses”—totalling P10.8 billion. After the Singapore award, Manila and Maynilad sent the bill to the Philippine government. Duterte learned about it and blew his top. He went into a paroxysm of anger and fury.

Duterte threatened the owners of Manila and Maynilad Water with jail time (he said he would suspend the writ of habeas corpus, which means to me, indefinite detention without the state being made to produce the

Adelle Chua, Editor

F

Tourism: The next major industry

OREIGN tourist arrivals in the Philippines are steadily rising each year, but not enough or even close to match those of our Asian neighbors.

The Philippines remains outside the top 10 tourist destinations in Asia, with China emerging as the most favored tourism site with 62.9 million visitors in 2018. Thailand follows with 38.3 million foreign tourists in the same year, while Japan ranks third with 31.2 million. Vietnam is in eighth place with 15.5 million foreign visitors, while Singapore rounds the top 10 Asian destinations with 14.7 million.

The Philippines clearly has a lot of catching up to do with its foreign visi-

tor arrivals of 7.1 million in 2018. It is poised to breach the 8-millionth mark this year after international 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 10-month figure was just 1.4 million short of the full-year target of 8.2 million international visitor arrivals in 2019.

The Philippines could soon be among the top 10 destinations in Asia amid government's efforts to modernize major airports and seaports, and build more roads that will make major tourist spots more accessible to foreign visitors. The government has little choice but to promote local tourism sites and improve the infrastructure network.

Tourism is one industry that directly creates jobs and makes a major impact in the countryside.

The Department of Tourism noted that tourism in 2018 was responsible for 5.4 million jobs, contributing 12.7 percent or P2.2 trillion to the country’s gross domestic product. Foreign tourism receipts in 2017, according to latest available data, reached $6.6 billion from $5.57 billion in the previous year.

A sharp increase in the number of foreign visitor arrivals will mean the construction of more hotels and resorts, especially those in rural areas, to accommodate the guests.

More foreign tourists will force the government to upgrade the country's airports and seaports, and the higher number will eventually trickle down to the local community.

With the right promotion and a supportive infrastructure network, tourism is one sustainable industry that can contribute to the reduction of poverty incidence in the Philippines.

Turn to A5

Have ID, will gain entry WHEN President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11055 creating a national ID system, we thought we would soon join the ranks of countries that have long required their citizens to have their own distinct identification.

The Philippine Identification System or PhilID seeks to harmonize, integrate and interconnect government IDs by establishing a single national ID system. It is considered a governance tool that would cut red tape, deter corruption in public transactions and increase government efficiency by using more accurate demographics in providing social services.

Every Filipino and resident alien of the country would be identified via the use of a PhilID number which would be a randomly generated, unique and permanent ID number assigned to each individual to be incorporated in all ID systems of government agencies.

Those who would apply for the PhilID will have their personal details collected, such as full name, gender, blood type, date and place of birth, marital status and photo. Other personal data, such as mobile number and e-mail address (which are optional), and biometrics data that include a full set of fingerprints, facial image and iris scan, will be stored in the Philippine ID System, or PhilSys, a centralized database established by the law to house all vital information generated by the system. PhilSys will be managed and safeguarded by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

It's a worthwhile project that deserves to be implemented soonest as it would facilitate transactions with both the public and private sectors.

But what's this we hear that unseen hands are bent on preventing the PSA from awarding the P1.7-billion sec-

ond phase of its PhilSys project to the winning bidder: The joint venture between Idemia Identity and Security France (or Idemia Morpho) and FMC Solutions Inc.?

Last Nov. 19, in a transparent public auction, the Idemia Morpho-led JV offered the lowest bid of P684 million, as against the P877.999 million offer of Dermalog with Microgenesis and Airspeed, P879,988 million offer of Gemalto and Netix, and the P1.016 billion offer of NEC and LDLA.

What’s this we hear that unseen hands are at work?

The second PhilSys package being auctioned off by the PSA covers the supply and delivery of the Automated Biometric Identification System for the National ID project, which is the part where the biometric and other information of every citizen is encoded into the system as well as in the national ID card.

If the PSA were to officially award the second phase of the PhilSys project to Idemia Morpho, Filipino taxpayers would no doubt benefit as its P684-million offer is P194 million lower than that of the next lowest bidder, and would actually save the government more than P1 billion as P1.7 billion had actually been earmarked for this priority project.

But Idemia Morpho has been the subject of what appears to be a demolition job to smear its reputation, including its alleged blacklisting by the World Bank and supposed hitches in previous projects in three countries.

Then there's the claim that the supplier is offering an inferior system simply because it has made the cheapest offer among all four bidders. The joint venture stoutly denies all these as fake news.

Turn to A5

Concession and arbitration

By Jose A. Oliveros NOW that no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has expressed his disgust, dismay and righteous anger over the two concession agreements between the Philippine Government and Manila Water and Maynilad and has threatened to file economic sabotage and other cases against those who negotiated and approved the concession agreements, Malacañang should make public the names and positions of Philippine Government officials in the Ramos, Arroyo and Aquino administrations who negotiated and approved the original, amended or supplemental concession agreements.

And since Justice Secretary Meynardo Guavarra has publicly stated that a review by the DOJ disclosed several provisions that are onerous, criminal cases for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act should be filed against those officials for entering into contracts grossly disadvantageous to the Philippine

Government.

Determination of probable cause by the Ombudsman and trial before the Sandiganbayan will not involve complicated factual and legal issues.

All that is needed is to examine the onerous provisions and determine whether they are really disadvantageous to the Philippine Government.

Of course, those indicted will avail of, and invoke all technicalities—like prescription—to delay early resolution of the cases against them, hoping against hope for a political environment favorable to them in 2022.

On the arbitral awards issued by a three-man Singapore-based arbitral panel, Malacañang should also make public: (a) who the nominee of the Philippine Government in the arbitral panel was, his qualifications and who chose and nominated him and why; (b) who the counsel for the Philippine Government in the arbitral proceedings was, his qualifications and who choose and nominated him and why. Also, what defenses did he invoke against the claims of

Maynilad and Manila Water?

These are necessary because the Philippine Government has to shoulder part of the arbitration fee in accordance with the schedule of fees under the arbitration rules used in the proceedings. The Philippine Government has also to pay the professional fee of its counsel in the arbitral proceedings in accordance with their professional fee agreement, or if none, the schedule of professional fee under the arbitral rules used.

In the RP-PROC arbitration case the Philippines paid the gargantuan fee of its American lawyers and the whole amount of the arbitration fee because PROC did not participate. But, at least the Philippines won even if the award cannot be enforced.

Although the Philippines lost in the Singapore arbitral proceedings, Maynilad and Manila Water cannot automatically enforce the awards in the Philippines. They still have to file with the proper regional trial court a petition for recognition and enforceTurn to A5

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Opinion Celebrating 2019’s climate justice wins AS THE climate negotiations in Madrid stall this week with vague decisions on important points such as loss and damage and market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement—with protesters even being temporarily kicked out of the negotiating halls—it is easy to get disheartened by the political processes which govern international cooperation on climate action. And so we look instead to the grassroots climate movement which celebrated landmark wins these last few months for guidance and inspiration.

First, now more than ever, we are seeing the movement growing by leaps and bounds because of young people all over the world.

With climate strikes reaching historic attendance figures this year—the Madrid COP 25 march having an attendance of 500,000 alone—we are seeing a groundswell of support and increasing pressure for genuine climate action. In the Philippines, youth groups like Youth Strike for Climate and the Young Advocates for Climate Action in the Philippines have emerged to put their own spin on striking for climate, whether it is through artivism or involving multiple sectors for more meaningful gatherings.

We also see young women taking leadership in these spaces, ushering in a more inclusive movement. From Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, Thailand’s Lynn Ocharoenchai, Malaysia’s Nadiah Zulfakar to the Philippines’ roster of lead strike organizers like Sophia Caralde, Kisha Muana, Jochelle Magracia and Mitzi Tan, we are seeing a dramatic shift from usual male-dominated climate coalitions.

Second, we also celebrate the landmark findings of the Commission on Human Rights on its inquiry on whether Carbon Majors or 47 investor-owned corporations, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Repsol, Sasol, and Total, could be found responsible for human rights harms to Filipinos resulting from climate change. The inquiry concluded that they can be held morally and legally liable due to their history of fraud and obfuscation about the real impacts of their businesses.

This is the first decision by a human rights institution cementing the connection between climate impacts and human rights violations, and presents a whole new framework of understanding how the fossil fuel industry must be phased out if we want a sustainable future.

Third, there are multiple re-

ports that came out just this quarter identifying the actors who are furthering climate change. From UNEP’s Production Gap report which found that most governments are planning to produce about 50 percent more fossil fuels by 2030 than would be consistent with a 2°C pathway and 120 percent more than would be consistent with a 1.5°C pathway to Urgewald and BankTrack’s study on the top coal financiers around the world, we are now left with a list of names that we can go after and campaign against to prevent climate breakdown. While the conclusions of these reports might be sobering, they are infinitely valuable for pointing fingers at the culprits, making climate change a tangible, actionable issue backed with data and research.

Lastly, the divestment movement also celebrated quite a few highs this year. More and more institutions are finding that investing in fossil fuels like coal and gas are not only unbankable but morally irresponsible in the climate change era. For example, insurance giant AXA has announced that it will stop insuring or investing in companies that will build over 300 MW of new coal capacity or develop mines.

Closer to home, three Korean institutions—DB Insurance, Korean Teachers’ Credit Union and Public Officials Benefit Association—have announced they will stop coal project financing to join efforts in combating climate change. We can only hope that Philippine banks and other institutions will follow suit.

Obviously, these wins have to keep happening on all fronts if we are to totally overhaul and uproot the neoliberal capitalist system that allowed for climate destruction to exist in the first place. But the first step to organizing is always to recognize our strengths and to build on these as we move forward. As activists, we must accept responsibility for absorbing new interest into the movement to the best of our abilities and launch a new era of climate campaigning that includes everyone, putting equity and justice at the center of our work.

We need to usher in a culture where fossil fuels and fossil fuel finance become irrelevant, where genuine climate solutions that respect human rights and environmental integrity are in place, and where a just transition to a renewable energy-powered world is within an arm’s reach.

Beatrice Tulagan is field organizer for 350 East Asia and founder of Climate Stories.

Concession...

From A4

ment of said rulings. Under the 1985 UNCITRAL Model Law which was incorporated by reference in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004 and the 1957 New York Convention to which the Philippines is a signatory, there are available grounds for the Philippine Government to oppose any petition for recognition and enforcement of the arbitral awards.

In view of the strong and adamant stand of President Duterte and in the context of present-day political realities, I doubt whether Manila Water and Maynilad will try to have the arbitral rulings in their favor recognized and enforced against the Philippine Government. Already, Manila Water has publicly issued a statement that can only be described as reconciliatory.

Jose Oliveros is a member of the Philippine Bar.

Have ID,...

From A4

It's simply not true, Idemia Morpho insists, that it is a provider of low-quality or inferior solutions, as it can boast of an outstanding track record for several decades now in implementing cutting-edge projects in a number of countries.

In fact, the company has been selected by Changi Airport in Sin-

gapore to deliver identification and authentication services as passengers pass through the airport’s Terminal 4.

The UK Home Office Biometrics Programme has awarded a five-year contract to Idemia to deliver a new Fingerprint Matcher service to guarantee increased accuracy fingerprint services at what is considered one of the world leaders in government biometric programs.

In Australia, Idemia has secured a

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Reform contracts

EvEryman

By Beatrice Tulagan

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

CROSSROADS JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ MANILA Water CEO Jose Rene Almendras should not just apologize for "angering President Duterte" over the water company's demand for government to pay the P7.8 billion awarded to it by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore as "compensation for losses the company allegedly incurred when it was not allowed by the MWSS to raise tariffs from June 2015 to November 2019."

That award was not only undeserved but unconscionable. The former Ayala official-turned-Aquino Cabinet member-back as Ayala official and his board should, in fact, move with all deliberate speed to submit to a reformation of their contract (together with its twin, Maynilad) before the government proceeds to take over their operations and perhaps even file criminal charges against them for a host of violations of law and actions detrimental to the public interest.

And, let me remind Almendras and his ilk, before the President invites them to that well awaited "one-on-one" meeting, possibly in Malacañang. Or maybe even the AFP or Army headquarters to "make it easier for these denizens of the water sector residing in the upscale villages in Makati and Mandaluyong to attend" as was the buzz over social media lately. But that is another story.

For now, let's focus on two of the more onerous contract provisions mentioned by Justice Secretary Meynard Guevarra whose department actually saw 12 such egregious ones in the agreements signed by the Ramos administration in 1997.

One such provision is the "prohibition on government interference in rate setting" which virtually gives carte blanche power to the concessionaires to impose whatever rates suits them every "rate rebasing" period, which in the original contract was five years but by some secret resolution passed by previous MWSS boards was tweaked to every three years.

In fact, MWSS sources told us that there were times when new charges were incorporated even as the previous rates were still subsisting. No

wonder we have all kinds of fees and charges tucked into the water bills of millions of consumers in the ever-expanding franchise area. We have the basic charge which, by the way, has increased so many times since 1997 it should not be called a basic charge anymore. Consumers have been asking why this continues to be increasing at all as it is supposed to be the base amount which every household or establishment within the franchise area, whether using any water or not, be charged with.

Don’t just apologize.

And this is just one of the ever-es ever-escalating costs from an environmental charge to a sewage fee to FCDA (foreign currency adjustment) to maintenance and service fee and the all "encompassing-if-all-else-fails other charges." What these "other charges" consist of, only the likes of Almendras know and, of course the MWSS regulator, Patrick Ty, if he even cares.

For all intents and purpose, the MWSS Board is out of the loop except if members decide to take a step further and do something for the public. Sad to say that has never happened at all except during the time of Gerry Esquivel who tried to put some sense into the whole affair. That is why we have cases such as the ones brought by the concessionaires before the international tribunal which, if one merely gloss over the contract provisions and not get deeper into the entire enchilada, we will always stand to lose.

Given all these, it is really time for this provision to go. But will the concessionaires even relent? If we go by Almendras' and Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez' statements yesterday, it looks like they will not.

Coupled with that onerous item is the injunction that "government will indemnify the concessionaires for possible losses incurred in the event of any government interference."

This is the double whammy people have been talking about. After banning government from even participating in any form of "rate rebasing," the concessionaires have now doubled up and further insulated themselves from any kind of losses, real or

otherwise. Grabe.

Meanwhile, Almendras had the gall to insist in open session before the Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Senator Grace Poe that they were only getting a 7-percent return on their investments. Talaga naman.

What the other onerous provisions are, we will soon see as the secret contracts are being released on the President's order.

Indeed, there is a host of provisions as well as policy interpretations made by previous administrations which need reformation.

But even before that proceeds, the administration has to make certain assertions to clear the path for decidedly better contract terms. pub First, are the concessionaires public utilities as provided for under the law? This is critical since under existing laws the rate of return for public utilities is pegged at 12 percent only.

If they are not—as they claim they are merely "agents and/or contractors"— then what law applies to their contracts? Just the concession agreement?

Then, if it is the concession agreement, there should be a definitive statement about their income tax.

This is critical since in their rebasing computations the concessionaires almost always claim exemption from any income tax payments. Or, recovery from income tax expenses, as has been the case before we questioned this practice before the courts. We note that from 2008 to 2012 alone they passed on to consumers some P15.3 billion in corporate income tax payments.

Finally, there is also the questioned formula and payments through consumer fees of "capital expenditures" and "operational expenditures."

These twin planned expenditures are submitted to the MWSS and pre-approved for implementation without the benefit of counter checking and actual verification of claimed expenses before they are transformed and passed on into additional charges to the suffering consumers of these companies' expanding franchise areas. These are just for starters. If only for all of these highly disadvantageous provisions inimical to the public interest the contract should really be reformed to the core.

Otherwise, the administration should be ready to take over water service operations.

Zone handsomely profitable.

In 1977, when MWSS was in charge of Asia’s oldest water and sewerage system, I had no Nawasa water in my BF Homes Parañaque house in Las Piñas, today a Maynilad Water territory.

So I installed two water pumps, each of which was seven pipes deep.

If one pipe was ten feet, then seven pipes were 70 feet. The water was free but I had to pay Meralco for running the pumps 12 hours a day, and the deep well contractor to clean the pumps and the pipes every three to six months, about P2,000 per work.

In effect, my water was expensive, very expensive.

But having no water is more expensive than expensive water. At that time, Nawasa water was only P30 a month—if you could have it. Two years ago, I asked Maynilad to install three water meters in two BF Homes houses. Installation fee was P40,000.

Today, the water charge is about P1,800 a month for the three meters, in two houses where the main occupants are three dogs and a stray cat.

This makes Maynilad Water far more

expensive than deep well water. You see, water is the new gold.

In 1989, I bought a small townhouse in Pasadena, San Juan. It had Nawasa water, 24/7. Pressure was good because San Juan is very close to the La Mesa water reservoir. The water cost me only P30 a month—until 1997.

Today, that P30 is more than P660 a month—22x more or a 2,100 percent increase in less than ten years. It’s like a 210 percent rate increase per year, without a significant improvement in service, except that Manila Water changed the water meter from solid brass to plastic blue. The needle of the new meter also moves faster, which implies higher water consumption in a house where there is not a single occupant. My turntable needle moves far, far more slowly and it produces beautiful music.

My November bill is P660.08 for 29 cubic meters of water for my Pasadena St., San Juan townhouse where NOBODY stays. Aside from the basic charge of P478.26, there are other “strange” charges—P11.62 “FCDA” or the peso-dollar rate differential, P97.98 “environmental” charge (I guess not staying in my unit harms the environment), a P1.50 maintenance service charge (I don’t see any water technician visiting the unit), and

a P70.72 VAT (the government share).

In the 30 years I owned the unit, I never saw any government man visit me, except for a not-so friendly BIR personnel who routinely sends me an “explain this” letter every year. So I get “taxed” for government trying to collect more taxes.

By the way, both Manila and Maynilad Water have not paid a single centavo of corporate income tax to the government. That tax is paid by us, water users.

Water is not just for drinking, bathing, cooking, and sanitation. According to statistics, 60 percent of diseases of Filipinos have to do with water—dirty water or lack of water.

Think of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, polio and stunted growth. These are debilitating or deadly diseases.

I am sure water consumers are clapping loudly or silently in their hearts for what Duterte has done to the two water concessionaires.

Problem is this: What happens if there is a water crisis and the private water concessionaires are gone and nobody is there to pipe in the water?

It is a possibility nobody wants to drink to.

US$24.4-million contract to support the national fingerprint database of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to include face and palm biometrics.

In New Zealand, the airports of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch have, for 10 years now, been using Morpho Australasia’s Smartgate to give travelers the option of self-processing through passport control in these terminals.

Since January this year, about

1.3-million ID cards have been used in Estonia or almost 98 percent of its population, and about 300,000 of them have been using their cards electronically on a weekly basis.

Idemia Morpho vouches for its superior technology, considering that these are in top ranks in many biometric algorithm testing by the US government.

But perhaps the best proof that the joint venture can very well satisfy specific Philippine requirements is

that it has been contracted to put up the Aadhar National ID of India. This is regarded as the world’s most ambitious biometrics project as it seeks to capture India's 1.25-billion people.

There are only 104-million Filipinos targeted for coverage under PhilSys, so the joint venture is confident that they can do a good job here once given the go-signal to undertake the project.

Water...

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‘Iwas Paputoxic’ campaign launched E

By Joel E. Zurbano

NVIRONMENTALIST group Ecowaste Coalition on Thursday launched a New Year public safety and environmental health campaign as the country gets ready to bid 2019 goodbye and usher in 2020.

The campaign dubbed as “Iwas Paputoxic” was launched in support to the government’s firecracker injury prevention program.

It seeks to encourage families and the communities they belong to turn away from the dangerous and polluting tradition of detonating firecrackers and fireworks to welcome the NewYear.

At a festive event held at the SanAntonio Elementary School in Quezon City with hundreds of pupils in attendance, Ecowaste, together with government officials, Miss Philippines Earth 2019 Janelle Lazo Tee and Miss Philippines Earth Eco-Tourism Karen Nicole Piccio, informed the young

audience about the negative effects of firecrackers and fireworks to human health and ecosystems, as well as promoted the use of alternative ways of merrymaking.

The misuse of firecrackers and fireworks can cause blast injuries or burns that may require amputation, eye damage that may lead to blindness, tetanus, poisoning and even death with children as the most affected,” said Ecowaste chemical campaigner Thony Dizon.

He said that while the number of injuries has been declining through the years, “we still need to work harder to protect all children from being harmed by firecrackers and fireworks.”

Health officials said firecracker-related in-

cidents declined by 34 percent with 340 cases in 2018 compared to 550 cases monitored in 2017, with the National Capital Region having the highest number of recorded incidents.

Most of the victims were youth aged five to 14 years with most of the injuries caused by piccolo, boga, lusis, kwitis and triangulo.

The war-like bursting of firecrackers and fireworks also pollute our environment with toxic smog that can trigger or worsen respiratory and other health disorders, while generating equally toxic litter that only adds to our garbage woes, Dizon added.

Antonio Miranda, Principal of SAES, enjoined the students assembled at the school’s covered court not to even touch firecrackers and fireworks for their own safety.

“It is better to be safe than get harmed by piccolo, rockets, sparklers and other pyrotechnic devices, legal or not. Tandaan ninyo, nasa huli lagi ang pagsisisi.”

As explained by Dr. Germinin Louis C.Apostol, Environmental Health Specialist of the Center for Research and Innovation,

Ateneo de Manila University: “The inhalation of the toxic air pollutants released from the detonation of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices can cause chronic or allergic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia, rhinitis, and sinusitis, especially among children and others suffering from colds and allergies.”

Among these toxic air emissions are suspended particulate matters and other gaseous pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide.

Instead of wasting money for a few minutes of toxic fun, the Ecowaste Coalition urged children, as well as adults, to save it for school projects or to buy nutritious foods.

To show that fun is not in any way reduced by the absence of firecrackers and fireworks, the students staged a lively countdown to the New Year using emission-free alternative noisemakers, including pots and pans, improvised maracas and tambourines, paper and plastic horns, and other creative noisemakers.

PhilHealth goes high-tech to fight health insurance fraud THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. is now adopting stateof-the-art technology to bring its existing measures to detect and prevent health insurance fraud to the next level.

The agency is currently working on a “proof of concept” together with technology providers for “liveness check” and “identity authentication” solutions that will be rolled out in all its offices and participating health facilities in the year 2020.

“Liveness check will help us validate if the member or a dependent is still alive or has expired during confinement, while identity authentication should help us verify if they are who they claim to be,” explained PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Ricardo C. Morales during a recent simulation exercise with participating technology provider Galeleo and Element Artificial Intelligence Groups. “These technologies help ensure that only those claims of living members or patients are paid by PhilHealth,” he added.

PhilHealth saw the need to institute biometric checks at the level of health facilities to ensure the integrity of hospital claims. The biometric check will include fingerprint scanning and facial recognition to capture different facial structures and landmarks such as eyes and facial contours to ensure the integrity of claims.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. Students of San Antonio Elementary School in Quezon City and Miss Philippines Earth 2019 Janelle Lazo Tee join the EcoWaste Coalition’s ‘Iwas Paputoxic’ campaign against firecrackers and fireworks that could endanger life and limb as well as cause health-damaging toxic pollution. Manny Palmero

BI agents nab 11 Chinese ‘illegals’ in Tacloban

By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST 11 illegal Chinese nationals were caught by immigration agents working in the country without the necessary work permits and visa.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the aliens were apprehended at their workplace along Zamora Street, Tacloban City during an operation conducted by agents from the BI Intelligence Division.

Morente said the foreigners were nabbed after informants tipped the bureau about the aliens’ engagement in gainful activities that violate the condi-

tions of their stay as tourists.

Those arrested were allegedly caught in the act of selling various goods when the arresting team raided their establishments.

The BI chief lauded the support and cooperation of the public’s role in the conduct of the bureau’s campaign against illegal aliens.

He again exhorted the public to “report to us any illegal alien in your locality and we shall go after them and send them back to their homelands.”

According to BI acting intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., the Chinese nationals were caught “in flagrante”

working without the required visa and failed to present their passport or any other immigration document.

“Our Region 8 team caught them engaged in businesses, selling various goods like auto parts, cellular phones, accessories, and other general merchandise. Upon verification, it was confirmed that they did not possess the appropriate visas and permits,” he said.

The aliens were later flown to Manila and brought to the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City where they shall remain while undergoing deportation proceedings.

4 Manila Bay reclamation projects greenlighted THE Philippine Reclamation Authority said that it has given the greenlight to four reclamtation projects in Manila Bay, despite objections from environmentalists who claimed that these projects would cause flooding.

PRA general manager Joselito Gonzales identified projects as the Navotas City Coastal Bay Reclamation Project, the Pasay 360-hectare Reclamation Project, Pasay 265-hectare Reclamation Project and the Horizon Manila 418 Reclamation Project.

Gonzales said that although the projects have been given notices to proceed, they would still undergo value engineering approval.

“Pagka natapos 'yung value engineering, as soon as ma-approve ng PRA board then we issue a 2nd stage NDP document for the signal na pwede na silang mag-mobilize for their reclamation works,” he said. (Once value engineering is done and it is approved by the PRA board, then we issue a 2nd stage NDP document to signal they can start their reclamation works.)

Environmentalists had warned the government that dumping soil into the Manila Bay would displace thousands of residents, cause flooding, and harm its biodiversity.

But Gonzales dispelled claims that water would flow to Manila if reclamation projects proceed in the bay.

“Meron po tayong tinatawag na displacement theory. Unlike Laguna de Bay

na medyo enclosed, pag nilagyan mo ng malaking bagay ang swimming pool, aapaw talaga,” he said. (We have what we call the displacement theory. Unlike Laguna de Bay which is somewhat enclosed, if you put something large in a swimming pool it will overflow.)

“In the case of Manila Bay, kahit 'yan po tambakan, ang tendency ng water flow because of displacement theory, ay umagos po palabas ng West Philippine Sea.” (In the case of Manila Bay, even if you dump things there, the water would flow to the West Philippine Sea because of the displacement theory.)

Gonzales also claimed that the reclamation has no correlation with land subsidence or the gradual settling or sudden sinking of the ground.

He cited a study by Kelvin Rodolfo and Fernando Siringan, which he said found that the main cause of land subsidence in Manila's side is overpumping or overextraction of groundwater.

“Hindi po namin macorrelate, because di rin naman po binanggit sa study nila. Habang wala pang reclamation, may subsidence na. Ano ’yung correlation ng reclamation para lumubog 'yung kabilang side ng dry land?” he said. (We cannot correlate the two because it was not mentioned in the study. Even if there wasn't reclamation yet, there was already subsidence. What is the correlation of reclamation to the sinking of the other side of the dry land?

TURNOVER. Connie Angeles, SM’s Foundation executive director for Health and Wellness (left), presented a gift symbolizing the turnover of Novaliches District hospital to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, together with Dr. Eduardo F. Aldana, hospital director of NDH. Angelica Villanueva

SMART to give out free SIM cards to PAL passengers LEGACY carrier Philippine Airlines has forged a partnership with wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. to provide exclusive, co-branded tourist SIMs to air travelers arriving at major airports in the country.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said Smart will provide PAL Travel SIMs to international passengers of select flights arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, Cebu International Airport, Caticlan Airport, and Davao International Airport.

She said the all-in-one Smart PAL Travel SIM is pre-loaded with 1 GB of open-access data, unlimited texts, and unlimited calls to Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers, valid for one day.

In-flight vouchers for the Smart PAL Travel SIM will be distributed to travelers, who can then claim them for free at the Smart booths located at the airport arrival area.

Under the partnership, Smart, Sun and TNT subscribers can also look forward to exclusive seat sales and other promos, as well as free access to PAL’s hotline, website and app.

The program partnership was launched Dec. 12 at the arrival lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, with PAL, Smart, MIAA officials and program partners in attendance.

“We are happy to work with the country’s flag carrier in ensuring that our international visitors have access to the Philippines’ fastest network while they are traveling around the country,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT chairman and chief executive officer.

"Philippine Airlines is delighted to forge a program partnership with Smart Communications Inc. [Smart] as it enables our travelers to experience the benefits of a local SIM card—convenient connectivity and saving on hefty roaming charges. We look forward to sustaining this worthwhile collaboration," said PAL president and COO Gilbert Santa Maria.

Joel Zurbano

Pinili residents get ready for town’s centennial PINILI, Ilocos Norte—Pinili Mayor Rommel Labasan and the whole local government unit have started psyching up for the town’s centennial celebration on Jan. 1, meeting up with Piniliños at home and abroad and seeking out their full support.

Labasan and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan have met up with Piniliños in Hawaii and California, two places where there are large concentrations of men and women who have their roots in Pinili, before they went to Singapore for a come-together meeting.

Recently, Labasan, Vice Mayor Maynard Francis, and SB members including Amor Bagarino, Rey Gabur and Louie Joy Pagdilao attended the Christmas Party of the Pinili-Metro Manila Residents Association in Antipolo City at the residence of Architect Roland Polendey.

At the party, Labasan invited his townmates, now residing in the metropolis, for the special celebration on Jan. 1 and during the 10-day centennial town fiesta in April, in the month of the feast of the town’s patron saint San Isidro Labrador.

Admitting the springtime of their age, compared to the elderly in his audience, Labasan sought out their support to guide them and help them push the programs intended for the town and help them realize their vision for progress.

Labasan and Bumanglag, in their separate remarks, acknowledged the support extended by Piniliños in the country and those overseas, as well as the essay writing competition launched by the Cabie family, in collaboration with the local government unit, to make the celebration memorable.

The 17th municipality of Ilocos Norte became a town on Jan 1, 1920, more than a decade after the Philippine-American War when warriors walked the forested areas of the barangays—belonging then to the towns of Paoay, Badoc and Batac.

MOH-BARMM leads free cleft lip and palate surgery ops BARMM Health Minister Safrullah M. Dipatuan led a series of cleft lip and palate surgery operations dubbed as “Alay namin Ngiti para sa Kinabukasan” from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, 2019.

The surgical operations were offered free to Bangsamoro patients and even extended to those in Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. The Ministry of Health lauded the

invaluable contribution of Dr. Serapio B. Montañer Jr., Al-Haj Memorial Hospital, Smile Train Philippines, and Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital to the said operations.

According to the World Health Organization, cleft lip, cleft palate or both are birth defects which affect approximately 1 per 500-700 newborns. Such condition causes problem with eating, speaking and

even with hearing.

One of the recipients of the free surgery was a man with cleft palate from Tubok, Malabang, Lanao del Sur who endured 30 years of having speech difficulties and dental problems.

“We are happy that the babies and children can finally eat properly while the older ones can now confidently smile and speak,” said Dipatuan.

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PH volley team to train longer R

IDING the crest of a silver medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine men’s volleyball team hopes to sustain the gains of its historic run in the biennial meet.

The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. and the coaching staff are set to plot the squad’s schedule of training and international competitions for 2020.

“Magmi-meet kami siguro third week ng January. I-plot natin ang buong taon,” said LVPI board member and national team program head Peter Cayco.

The Philippines on Tuesday achieved its first silver medal since 1977 and ended a 28-year wait for a podium finish in the biennial meet.

Right after losing to Indonesia in the gold medal match, the LVPI assured the squad that their hard work will be rewarded with sufficient sup-

port from the federation.

“Kanina kinausap ako ni sir Peter, ang sabi niya magtuluy-tuloy ang training namin,” said Dante Alinsunurin, who has been the men’s head coach since March.

As part of their SEA Games’ preparation, the Filipinos competed and won the bronze in the Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Volleyball Championship and went on a 16-day training camp in Japan. “’Yun ang hinihiling din namin na magtuluy-tuloy ang team na magtraining kasi importante talaga sa amin ‘yun lalo na nasisimula pa lang kami,” said Alinsunurin.

“Siyempre kung gusto talaga naming

Members of the PH men’s volleyball team at the awards ceremony

i-angat ang laro namin kailangan namin na January mag-start na kami (with the training),” he added.

The volleyball-loving Filipino

Angelica Villanueva

adored the men’s volleyball team for dethroning Thailand in a dramatic come-from-behind five-set victory in the semifinals.

Fitness...

From A8

Anytime Fitness Asia’s Chairman, Maurice Levine, who was also present during the event mentioned how important it is for the brand to cultivate this kind of culture.

“Truly, teamwork makes the dream work. Our customers are our top priority, and same goes for our staff and members. I hope that the annual Battle of the Purple Warriors continue to inspire our club members and coaches. You are our backbone!

Let’s continue to make Anytime Fitness a fun and friendly environment for everyone,” said Maurice.

The Battle of the Purple Warriors and Search for the Purple Champion was presented by My Daily Collagen, in cooperation with Huawei, Hoka One One, The Finix Corporation, Lightwater, and Red Planet Hotels.

For more details, visit www.anytimefitness.ph and Anytime Fitness Philippines on Facebook.

Leonard...

From A8

and Clippers battle in the regular season, but it isn’t farfetched to say they could meet again in June, with a title on the line.

Elsewhere, James Harden scored 20 of his 55 points in the fourth quarter as the visiting Houston Rockets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-110.

Russell Westbrook added 23 points as the Rockets withstood an unexpected scare from struggling Cleveland, who have lost eight straight and 14 of 15.

Harden finished 20 of 34 from the floor and drilled 10 of 18 three-pointers to help Houston overcome a 24-0 Cleveland run that bridged the third and fourth quarters.

“He’s incredible,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “If it was the first time he’s done this, I’d be like, ‘Wow. Look at that,’ but he’s done it at this level for years.”

Rookie Kevin Porter scored a careerhigh 24 points to pace the Cavaliers, while Collin Sexton chipped in 18.

In Florida, LeBron James recorded his sixth triple double of the season to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past Orlando 96-87, a game in which former Magic player Dwight Howard was greeted with boos.

James delivered 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Anthony Davis added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won 15 of 16 overall and 12 in a row on the road. AFP

DANCESPORTS VICTORY PARTY. Dancesport Council of the Philippines President Rebecca Garcia (fifth from left) and Philippine Amusement Games Corporation CEO Andrea Domingo (fifth from right) are shown with the gold and silver medalists from the Philippine Dancesport team from the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games during their victory party held at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila. Norman Cruz

Naga bets stamp class in PPS meet

UNRANKED but talented stars from Naga City, Cebu took four of the nine boys’ singles titles disputed as they dominated the PPS-PEPP Mayor Junard Chan national age-group tennis tournament at the Lapu Laput City and Consolacion courts in Cebu recently.

Vincent Canete bucked the odds to claim the boys’ 12-and-under crown, capping his remarkable romp with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over No. 4 Gio Manito before Mitch Largo, Eric Longakit and Venz Alforque trampled their respective rivals to share the spotlight in the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop.

Largo actually foiled fellow unseeded Canete’s two-title bid, hacking out a 6-4, 6-4 decision for the 14-U diadem; Longakit also frustrated No. 3 Largo, 6-4, 4-6, 10-4, for the 16-U title; while Alforque overwhelmed top seed Cedrix Bravo, 6-1, 6-2, to rule the premier 18-U side of the event which served as part of the country’s biggest talent search put up

by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala.

No. 2 David Sepulveda from Pardo, Cebu trounced third seed Christian Laguna, 4-2, 4-2, to pocket the 10-unisex plum while second ranked Faith Banico from Siquijor outplayed No. 1 Shaira Paliwag, 6-4, 6-2, to snare the girls’ 12-U crown and share MVP honors with Canete.

The Naga City bets’ victories likewise lined them up for a big campaign when the circuit moves to their turf on Dec. 14-21 for the PPS-PEPP Dagitab Festival, which features the men’s Open singles and doubles along with the Group I junior play. Also on tap are the Legends singles for 40-and-above, and doubles for 30s, 40s and 50s. For details, contact PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Local bet Claire Nocos, on the other hand, drew inspiration from the crowd as she thwarted Banico, 6-3, 6-0, while Butuan City’s Joshea Malazarte, also an unranked campaigner, held off Nichole dela Rita, 6-0, 7-5, and Cabatuan, Isabela’s Paula Uy scored a 4-1(ret.) win over Malazarte to capture the girls’ 18-U trophy in the tournament sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg,

Returning champion dominates Manila Cockers Club derby CARMONA—The Manila Cockers Club, Inc., the country’s cockfighting industry game changer, awarded three more MCC derby champions, including a returning winner, before holding its final and biggest event of the year.

Jhon de Leon Trueblood of Randy Hebron and Barangay Pangil of Jeffrey Gatica grabbed the championship title with their 7-point win during the 24th 7-Stag Breeders Festival finals.

Runners-up, who claimed 6 points during the finals include: Blue Aquarius of Francis Gabudao; Blue Raptor Maya of Monet Lao; ES Survivor and Batang Aratan of Fredirick Sarino; Mt. Victoria Diamond GF of R. Villanueva; Puting Bato of Virgilio Martin and BG; Red Master of Ray-An Nanad/Rodolfo Jacela; RGB Josef of Robert Bandarlipe; Robert Kyle of Renato Villar /Mark Robert Escoto; and SPF RAS DH of Hector San Pedro/Danny Halili.

It was a solo champion who emerged victorious during the 23rd 7-Stag Breeders Festival finals last November 29.

Princess Oprah Gamefarm of Mo-

Shown here are MCC Pitmaster Rolly Ramos; SLBN Head and Game Management Paolo Guevara; MCC President Jose Ramon Magboo, MCC Host Lea Forbes, Randy Hebron and Jeffrey Gatica (8th and 9th from left) receiving their championship trophies.

moy Adam secured 7-points, besting out the 6.5 points of Virgilio Martin and BG’s Whiterock.

It was the second championship of Adam, who won his last title during a 5-Stag Breeders Festival in 2016.

To cap off the year, MCC will be hosting a 10-Stag Breeders Festival

Mega Derby at the Cockers Arena, Carmona, Cavite.

With over P10.5 Million to be awarded, cockfighting fans are invited to visit San Lazaro Leisure Park to watch the action or through MCC’s Off-Cockpit Betting network.

For more information, call the

MCC hotline at (02) 696 1120 or (63)917 582 2615 or visit website, manilacockers.com for more details.

Interested parties may also visit the Cockers Arena at the G/F Turf Building of the San Lazaro Leisure Park, Barangay Lantic, Governor’s Drive, Carmona, Cavite.

Mayor Isko is special guest in PSSBC opener

CYCLE PH. Participants in the Sun Life Cycle PH tackle the uphill portion of Kalayaan flyover during the annual event put up to promote wellness activity and family bonding through cycling graced by former three-time Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen and a number of celebrities.

MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno will Aside from Tio, other Governors of be the special guest when the Philipthe Board are Dioceldo Sy of Blackwapine Secondary Schools Basketball ter Sports, Jimi Lim of IronCon BuildChampionship Freego Cup launches ers, Jimmy dela Cruz of Jumbo Plastic its eighth edition on Saturday at the Linoleum, Rudy Yu of Macbeth UnderSGS gym in Quezon City. wear, Dr. Cecilio Pedro of Hapee ToothThe charismatic mayor is expected to paste, Leoncio Chua and Terry Que of provide the inspiration and motivation Poly Gloss-Rain or Shine. to the country’s young dribblers – all of A heavy four-game schedule is on tap them dreaming to make it big like their on opening day with reigning NCAA idols in the PBA. champion San Beda University taking on “I am sure the youthful exuberance Xavier School in Group D action. of Mayor Moreno will give our young Led by Miguel Tan, Ryan Yu and ballers another reason to dream big Keith Wongchuking, the Xavier Golden and work as hard as they can,” said Mayor Isko Moreno Stallions are hoping to perform much PSSBC Chairman and Freego big better this time. boss Eduard Tio. “And we are greatly honored that the Also taking part in the event which has also the backwell-loved mayor has accepted our invitation despite ing of Gerry’s Grill, Sumo GI Sheet, Cherrylume, Choi his hectic schedule.”

Garden and Molten are FCAAF back-to-back champion All 12 teams, led by defending champion National Hope Christian High School, Chiang Kai Shek College, University, will take part in the parade of players along Far Eastern University, Ateneo, Adamson, La Consolawith their beautiful muses in the event offering P50,000 cion College, La Salle Greenhills, Lyceum and former to the champion team. champion San Sebastian College.

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

DENR five tries to nail UNTV Cup semis seat Games Sunday (San Juan City gym) 2 p.m. – NHA vs PhilHealth 3:30 p.m. – Judiciary vs Agriculture 5 p.m. – PITC vs DENR

NEWCOMER Department of Environment and Natural Resources tries to secure the other outright semis berth when it goes for its seventh straight win against Philippine International Trading Corporation in the 8th UNTV Cup on Sunday at the San Juan City gym.

Game time is at 5 p.m., with the DENR Warriors out to protect their unblemished record in the annual tournament for public servants with the chosen charity of the champion team getting top prize of P4 million.

A victory would enable the still undefeated DENR to join defending champion Armed Forces of the Philippines in the Final Four of the event organized by UNTV President and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon.

The AFP Cavaliers grabbed the first automatic semis berth after drubbing the Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission Kamao, 77-65, a win that gave them a second-best 7-1 record.

With the Kamao slipping into a share of third to fourth places with the National Housing Authority Builders at 5-3, the Warriors have three chances to make it to the semis but they want to achieve their initial goal right away.

Clashing in other games are Judiciary and the slumping Department of Agriculture at 3:30 p.m. while the Builders collide with the also-ran PhilHealth Plus at 2 p.m.

The Magis are hoping to extend their win run to three games and improve their 4-3 record. They are currently locked in a three-way tie for fifth to seventh places with the Food Masters and Global Traders.

The bottom two teams after the second round will be eliminated while the third to sixth placers play another round in the quarters with the top two teams advancing to the semis.

John Bergonio hopes to lead Judiciary to its third straight win when the Magis collide with the Department of Agriculture Food Masters on Sunday in the 8th UNTV Cup.

PH athletes to receive P126.5m in incentives

By Peter Atencio

M

EMBERS of Team Philippines could get an estimated total of as much as P126.5 million in incentives for their achievements in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, in celebration of their success in taking the meet’s overall championship, something that has not been achieved in 14 years.

The cash bonanza will be handed to athletes on Dec. 18 when they meet President Rodrigo Duterte during the awarding of incentives to all the winners in Malacanang.

“Our athletes gave their all and they deserve all the respect and care that we can give them as kababayans and as a nation. You all made us proud. Salamat sa inyong sakripisyo, tiyaga at pagpupursigi,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.

A total 149 golds medals, 118 silvers

and 120 bronzes were collected during the 12-day meet.

For now, gold medallists could get as much as P81.950 million in bonuses.

Republic Act 10699 provides for cash incentives for winners of the SEA Games to receive P300,000, P150,000 and P60,000 respectively for gold, silver and bronze finishes.

The President is expected to give out additional incentives of P250,000 for gold, P150,000 for silver and P100,000 for bronze medalists.

Athletics delivered the most medals with 27--11 golds, 8 silvers and 8 bronzes.

Taekwondo was the second most productive discipline in the games at 21 with an 8-9-4 tally.

Arnis proved to be the third most prolific event in the games with 14 from a gold-silver-bronze haul of 8-4-2.

For athletics, Kristina Knott emerged as the most bemedalled member of the Philippine national athletics team after Team Philippines finished with a silver medal in the women’s 4x100 meter relays.

Knotts’s four medals came from two golds in the women’s 200-meter dash and the 4X100 meter mixed relays.

Her silvers were from women’s 100-meter dash, and 4x400-meter relays.

Arnis, which had 14 golds, got some of it from Dexter Bolambao (bantamweight), Jezebel Morillo (women’s bantamweight), Nino Talledo (men’s featherweight) and Mike Banares (65 kg).

Vietnam to spend Anytime Fitness holds Battle of Purple Warriors P1.6 trillion for SEA Games TO end an almost three-month campaign, the world’s largest and fastest growing gym franchise, Anytime Fitness, held its biggest Battle of the Purple Warriors event to date.

VIETNAM will be spending $330 million to host the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.

The budget, which amounts to P16.740 trillion in Philippine currency, has been readied by the Vietnam government since 2017.

Vietnamese officials discussed their readiness to host the Games in 2021 after they officially accepted the Southeast Asian Games Federation flag on Wednesday.

This was after the Philippines formally handed over the hosting of the 31st biennial meet for the year 2021 through executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“We have hosted the SEA Games, one that is most memorable. And now, we will come together again as one in 2021 in Vietnam,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino during Wednesday’s closing ceremonies at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

Vietnamese officials informed organizers from the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Comittee that they have earmarked $290 million of the total budget to upgrade their sports facilities.

The Philippine government earmarked around P6 billion in hosting the 30th SEA Games.

The events of the 2021 Games will be hosted in the capital city of Hanoi and adjacent localities.

House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano and Tolentino, the SEA Games Federation president, passed the SEA Games flag to Vietnam Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Vietnam Olympic Committee president Prof Nguyen Danh Thai and Hanoi vice mayor Nguyen Van Suu. After the turnover, Vietnam’s flag was raised to officially declare it as the next host. Peter Atencio

Battle of the Purple Warriors is a one-day event dedicated for Anytime Fitness toughest members and coaches vying for the top honor.

Held last Dec. 07, at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia, the annual Battle of the Purple Warriors gathered six contending teams from different Anytime Fitness branches across the country.

Battle of the Purple Warriors An inter-club competition facilitated by Anytime Fitness, Battle of the Purple Warriors is a one-day event dedicated for the toughest members and coaches vying for the top honor.

This year, six qualifying teams from AF Ecoland, AF Santa Rosa, AF Bacoor, AF Shaw Boulevard, AF Maginhawa, AF Cubao, battled it out in an exciting series of challenges and obstacles ending in a bittersweet final round.

Search for the Purple Champion As the “fastest-growing fitness franchise of all time” on a global scale, Anytime Fitness always stays true to its brand values—to provide a safe space where everyone can be themselves without any judgments, intimidation, or discrimination. With over 4,000 gyms spanning six continents and well-maintained facilities which feature top-quality exercise equipment, the fitness behemoth has recently launched ‘The Search for the Purple Champion,’ a movement that aims to spark inspiration through fitness stories from Anytime Fitness’ club members.

During the event, Anytime Fitness revealed their ultimate Purple Champion alongside the winning team for this year’s Battle of the Purple Warriors.

Turn to A7

Leonard rings victory bell in return to Toronto LOS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard finished with a team-high 23 points in an emotional return to Toronto as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the reigning NBA champion Raptors 11292 on Wednesday.

Leonard was welcomed back with cheers despite a sudden exit from Toronto after leading the Raptors to their first NBA title in just one season playing in Canada.

All smiles, Leonard received his diamond championship ring following a video tribute of his season during the pregame ceremony. Former teammate Kyle Lowry handed him the ring with more than 600 diamonds.

“He told me before the game he was going to present me with the ring,” Leonard said.

The Scotiabank Arena crowd greeted Leonard with a prolonged ovation, but they watched their Raptors fall behind 64-46 at the half.

Lou Williams finished with 18 points and had eight assists off the bench for the Clippers, who have won five of their past six games.

“It was great,” Leonard said of the reception. “We had an unbelievable season last year. It was a historic run in the playoffs and a great feeling.”

After winning the NBA title, Leonard took his show to California signing a three-year, $103 million deal with the Clippers. Leonard played high school basketball in the town of Riverside east of Los Angeles.

Both teams were coming off road victories on Monday with the Clippers defeating the Indiana Pacers 11099 and the Raptors squeezing past the Chicago Bulls 93-92.

The Raptors on Wednesday were missing Fred VanVleet who was out with an injury.

Maurice Harkless added 14 points, Paul George had 13, Patrick Beverley and Patrick Patterson each scored 11, and Montrezl Harrell contributed 10.

Pascal Siakam scored 24 points for the Raptors, who have lost four of their past five games.

This marks the last time the Raptors Turn to A7

Filinvest City proud host of obstacle course events FILINVEST City is proud to be the venue for the first ever obstacle course racing of the 30th South East Asian Games.

Held at the garden city’s Spectrum Midway Avenue, the obstacle racing course is the newest sports added to the 30th SEA Games with Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia competing in six events.

The obstacle course had a total number of three courses for the six events: two for the Men’s team, two for the Women’s team, and two for the Mixed teams, with a field of play reaching 5km race with 20 obstacles along the route.

“We are very proud and truly honored to be one of the official

venues of the 30th SEA Games.” said Don Ubaldo, Filinvest Alabang Inc. vice president for townships.

“As a full-blown city, we ensure that we have enough green and open spaces for outdoor activities that can cater to international sporting events such as this to give back to the community.”

With wide, green open spaces, fresh air, smooth routes and optimum safety, there is no doubt that Filinvest City is prepared to offer competing countries a perfect venue for the obstacle course competition.

As the center of convergence in the Metro South, it is also very accessible for SEA Games participants, VIPs, and spectators. Surrounding

it are major road networks promising ease of travel, such as the Metro Manila Skyway, South Luzon Expressway, Alabang-Zapote Road, Daanghari Road, Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway, and Old National Highway.

Without a doubt, Filinvest City’s partnership with Philippine South East Asian Games Organizing Committee signifies the township as the perfect destination to stage big sporting events such as marathons, fun runs, biking competitions, and now, international sports under SEA Games.

To know more about Filinvest City, visit https://www.facebook. com/FilinvestCityOFFICIAL/.

Filinvest City is prepared to offer competing countries a perfect venue for the obstacle course competition.

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TODAY

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

B1

DBP LENDS P4B TO BATANGAS. State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines and the provincial government of Batangas sign a P4-billion term loan agreement that will accelerate the province’s overall economic growth through the implementation of various development projects under the province’s capability building program.

Attending the loan signing ceremony are (from left) Batangas provincial administrator Librado Dimaunahan; general services officer Paulita Maneja; DBP senior vice president Abelardo Monarquia; Batangas development officer Celia Atienza; DBP president and CEO Emmanuel Herbosa; DBP assistant vice president Violeta Dela Torre; Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas; DBP chairman Alberto Romulo; Batangas vice governor Antonio Leviste II; DBP account officer assistant Lady Bernadette Zarsaga; Batangas provincial legal officer Cesar Castor Sr.; DBP account officer assistant Melissa Joy Papina; and Batangas community development officer Fredesvinda Mendoza.

BSP keeps borrowing rate at 4%

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, kept the benchmark borrowing rate at 4 percent on Thursday, its last meeting for the year, amid the benign inflation environment.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, who is also the board chairman, said in a news briefing the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also kept unchanged at 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.

“The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment of a benign inflation environment. Latest baseline forecasts indicate that the future inflation path remains within the target range of 3.0 ± 1.0 percentage point [2 to 4 percent] in 2020-2021, with well-anchored inflation expectations,” Diokno said.

He said the balance of risks to the inflation outlook continued to lean slightly toward the upside in 2020 and toward the downside in 2021.

“Upside risks to inflation over the near term emanate mainly from potential volatility in international oil prices

amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as well as from the potential impact of the African Swine Fever outbreak and recent weather disturbances on domestic food prices,” Diokno said.

“However, uncertainty over trade policies in major economies continue to weigh down on global economic activity and demand and could thus mitigate upward pressures on commodity prices,” he said.

He said notwithstanding the weak global growth outlook, prospects for the Philippine economy continued to be robust on the back of firm domestic demand.

“Sustained policy support from increased fiscal spending, as well as improved domestic liquidity conditions owing to recent monetary adjustments, is also expected to support growth in the coming months,” he said.

Diokno said given these considerations, the Monetary Board believed that the within-target inflation outlook and solid prospects for domestic growth supported its decision to keep monetary policy settings steady.

IN BRIEF Big bus firm slams SEC-Bacolod officials

THE management of Vallacar Transit Inc., the country’s largest bus transport company, slammed the Securities and Exchange Commission Bacolod Extension Office for allegedly attending what it described as irregular meeting of the “bogus” stockholders of the company on Dec. 7, 2019.

Madrid Danao & Associates, representing VTI’s legitimate stockholders, sent a letter dated Dec. 9 to SEC-Bacolod officer-in-charge Annabelle Corral-Respall, asking her office to cease and desist from interference, aiding and abetting the “impostor stockholders, directors and officers of VTI, namely Roy Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Lopez, Ricardo Yanson Jr. and Emily Yanson” who are collectively known as the Yanson 4.

Madrid Danao & Associates represents VTI and its controlling stockholders, directors and officers led by co-founder and Yanson matriarch Olivia Yanson, Leo Rey Yanson, Ginnette Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Anita Chua, Arvin John Villaruel and Daniel Nicolas P. Golez who were elected at the company’s principal office in Bacolod City on Dec. 7 which was a Saturday.

Under the company’s by-laws, the annual stockholders’ meeting should be held every first Saturday of December at its principal office in Bacolod City.

BDO promotes money saving among kids

BDO Unibank has offered its Junior Savers Account for children 12 years and below in support of the Kiddie Account Program jointly promoted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines.

The BDO Junior Savers Account requires only an initial deposit of P100 in which kids below 12 years old will get a passbook to monitor their savings and start earning interest upon reaching a P2,000 deposit balance. Children between 7 and 12 years old may request for a personalized BDO EMV debit card upon reaching a deposit balance of P2,000.

Junior Savers also gives option to help the child save like the use of Easy Saver or the online banking account where parents can transfer money from existing BDO accounts to the child’s Junior Savers Account.

To open a BDO Junior Savers account under the child’s name, parents just need to go the nearest BDO branch and present copies (including the original copy for verification) of passport, school ID signed by the principal or school head, or birth certificate issued by the local civil registry or the Philippine Statistics Authority.

PSALM reduces debt by P33b

STATE-RUN Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management Corp. said it reduced the outstanding financial obligation of National Power Corp. by P33.2 billion to P416 billion as of end-October from P449 billion in 2018.

“Note that the obligation transferred to PSALM was at a high of P1.24 trillion, plus the P16 billion loans of electric cooperatives with NEA [National Electrification Administration] assumed by PSALM,” PSALM president Irene Garcia said.

PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of NAPOCOR as mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 which restructured the power sector.

“PSALM allowed flexible payment schemes to encourage entities and electric cooperative with non-current/delinquent accounts to viably settle their outstanding obligations,” Garcia said.

She said that with the restructuring agreements and special payment agreement schemes, PSALM put less pressure on their cashflows while allowing them to improve their operations.

She said that as a result, PSALM was able to collect P2.617 billion in non-current arrears from various entities. Alena Mae S. Flores

“Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor developments affecting the inflation outlook and demand conditions to ensure that the monetary policy stance remains consistent with its price and financial stability objectives,” he said.

Inflation in November 2019 accelerated to a three-month high of 1.3 percent from 0.8 percent in October, driven by higher prices of electricity, fuel and selected food items.

The November print was still significantly slower than 6 percent a year ago. This brought the average inflation in the first 11 months to 2.5 percent, within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said food inflation for the month was flat on the back of improved supply conditions and ample rice supply following the passage of a law that removed quotas on rice imports.

DOF pushing more reforms to improve PH competitiveness FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said more reforms are needed for the Philippines to join the top ranks of countries identified by the World Bank as the best places to do business.

Dominguez said these reforms would be crucial to attracting more investments, creating jobs and attaining financial inclusion for the Filipino people.

He said the Securities and Exchange Commission played a key role in dramatically improving the Philippines’ ranking by 29 notches to 95th in the latest Ease of Doing Business global report released by the World Bank.

Dominguez commended the SEC for carrying out reforms to enhance the local business climate and bust investment scams, but added “there is much more to be done” for the government to achieve inclusive growth and suit up Filipinos for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

FIRE refers to the emerging era of disruptive trends and technologies that have been changing the way people live and work today.

He said that aside from helping improve the EODB environment in the country, the SEC also became a member of the prestigious International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators which would give it and Filipino professionals the opportunity to work with and learn from their international counterparts.

The SEC was also awarded the International Standards of Accounting and Reporting Honors by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development which recognized the regulator’s exemplary work in the promotion of good corporate governance and sustainable business practices. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines; Pepsi advances T HE stock market fell Thursday, dragged down by waterrelated issues after regulator Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System told a Congressional hearing it revoked the extension of the concession agreements with Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. from 2022 to 2037.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 45.34 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,741.07 on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 113 to 76, with 50 issues unchanged.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which controls Maynilad, slumped 15.7

percent to P2.69, while Manila Water of conglomerate Ayala Corp. tumbled 11.5 percent to P11.04.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 2.9 percent to P66.20, but Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines jumped 34.3 percent to 1.88.

South Korea’s Lotte Chilsung Beverage offered to acquire shares that it does not own in Pepsi-Cola, a deal valued up to P4.2 billion. Lotte Chilsung wants to buy 2.134 billion common shares at a tender offer price of P1.95 apiece, a 39.3-percent premium over the stock’s closing price of P1.40 on Tuesday.

The rest of Asian equities mostly rose and the dollar was subdued Thursday after the Federal Reserve indicated it was unlikely to change interest rates throughout next year, while the pound was in focus as the UK votes in a general

election.

Investors are also tracking developments in the China-US trade talks, with nervousness setting in as a deadline for fresh US tariffs on Chinese goods approaches and no sign yet that they will be delayed.

While negotiations between the economic superpowers is the main focus on trading floors, the Fed’s latest policy announcement took the attention Wednesday.

The central bank, which has cut borrowing costs three times this year, said after a two-day meeting it would hold them for now and set its sights on low inflation and the global economy.

The comments suggest it will stand pat throughout 2020, while Kerry Craig, at JP Morgan Asset Management, said “a sizeable turn in the economic and inflation outlook in either direction will be required for markets to contemplate

any sort of move in interest rates”.

The prospect of rates remaining low for some time lifted Wall Street, and most of Asia followed suit.

Hong Kong, Seoul and Taipei each piled on more than one percent, Tokyo ended up 0.1 percent and Singapore jumped 0.9 percent. Mumbai, Bangkok and Wellington were all higher.

But Shanghai dipped 0.3 percent, while Sydney fell 0.7 percent.

There was little fresh news on the trade talks. The general consensus is for Washington and Beijing to eventually reach an agreement as part of a wider deal to end their long-running spat.

However, while both sides have played up the good work so far, there are growing worries that the US will not cancel or delay fresh levies due on December 15, which observers fear could block any further progress in the negotiations. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review thurSday, deceMBer 12, 2019

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ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK

54 89 157.9 25.1 18.46 13 3.92 0.6 1.15 0.4 68.15 0.84 12.7 36.3 174 112.1 58 23.9 199.5 57.3

54 90.85 159.9 25.1 18.46 13.04 4.08 0.6 1.15 0.4 68.15 0.84 12.7 37.5 174 112.1 58.5 24.8 200 58

54 89 156.5 24.9 18.2 12.8 3.88 0.6 1.15 0.4 66.2 0.78 12.7 36.3 174 112.1 57.7 23.9 194.4 57.3

FINANCIALS 54 10 90.5 1,989,050 158.8 1,727,420 25 197,400 18.2 1,600 13.04 459,300 4.08 76,000 0.6 2,000 1.15 1,000 0.4 10,000 66.2 2,717,470 0.83 108,000 12.7 5,800 36.9 111,600 174 940 112.1 400 58.5 11,880 24.05 13,100 200 786,030 57.8 2,440

540 179,610,077.50 273,674,864 4,932,415 29,146 5,944,176 297,320 1,200 1,150 4,000 182,090,157 85,190 73,660 4,121,350 163,560 44,840 694,617.50 316,585 156,050,353 140,784

66,763,116 -8,564,598 -602,740 1,199,290 7,800 -3,208,918.50 -1,457,235.00 15,660 -16,875 10,521,646 -

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT AXELUM BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A 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 MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

33.9 2.26 13.58 0.56 2.77 88.15 2.16 15.2 165.2 4.31 19.9 26.3 64.7 66.55 2.06 5.03 8.5 14.56 10.26 7.24 24.3 72.75 1.1 40.75 1.92 13.9 7.6 1.28 207 3.25 7.7 12 11.9 16.56 324 0.153 1.92 4.3 9.89 11 33.5 5 5.4 2.13 1.88 0.9 9.98 87.9 7.85 0.115 1 141.5 2.55 1.15 0.9

34.4 2.32 13.6 0.56 2.92 88.15 2.16 15.4 169.5 4.5 19.9 28.25 83.5 86 2.06 5.18 8.62 14.6 10.26 7.25 24.5 72.75 1.15 40.75 1.95 13.9 7.7 1.39 216 3.25 7.95 12 12.36 16.9 324 0.153 1.92 4.37 10 11.3 33.55 5 5.4 2.15 1.88 0.94 9.98 88.5 7.85 0.12 1.05 143.8 2.55 1.15 0.9

33.55 2.21 13.3 0.54 2.77 88.15 2.09 15.02 165.2 3.99 19 26.3 64.7 66.55 2.01 5.03 8.5 14.52 10.1 7.17 24.05 70.6 1.07 39.2 1.91 13.52 7.57 1.28 205.8 3.25 7.7 11.02 11.3 16.56 310 0.153 1.87 4.27 9.89 11 33.3 5 5.34 2.12 1.88 0.86 9.9 86.5 7.83 0.115 1 141.2 2.55 1.11 0.85

INDUSTRIAL 33.55 915,100 2.25 1,418,000 13.5 351,000 0.54 225,000 2.91 4,412,000 88.15 90 2.1 672,000 15.32 5,340,000 169.5 1,020 4.17 372,000 19 33,400 28.1 65,200 78 17,510 81.9 30,490 2.01 245,000 5.16 244,300 8.6 547,100 14.52 37,000 10.1 429,400 7.2 202,300 24.5 1,809,900 70.6 187,630 1.08 20,786,000 40.5 1,500 1.95 4,559,000 13.9 81,200 7.7 355,300 1.39 6,000 216 806,660 3.25 4,000 7.8 7,100 11.04 7,509,000 11.3 373,300 16.78 408,900 310 234,100 0.153 10,000 1.88 57,076,000 4.34 643,000 10 109,500 11.3 135,100 33.5 1,189,900 5 31,100 5.35 23,400 2.15 2,065,000 1.88 20,000 0.86 237,000 9.9 213,500 88.5 33,940 7.85 17,500 0.116 1,410,000 1.05 16,000 143.5 718,210 2.55 4,000 1.11 1,159,000 0.88 741,000

30,852,355 3,201,700 4,739,934 122,990 12,639,660 7,933.50 1,414,250 81,375,280 171,618 1,526,080 648,310 1,803,135 1,324,922 2,423,056 496,900 1,263,876 4,694,779 537,430 4,351,354 1,454,413 44,180,780 13,307,465 22,916,360 60,170 8,814,590 1,127,040 2,734,596 7,790 171,970,776 13,000 54,795 86,088,522 4,300,710 6,877,734 73,368,420 1,530 107,955,440 2,766,670 1,094,862 1,523,024 39,824,005 155,500 125,240 4,433,610 37,600 211,100 2,123,297 2,983,093.50 137,365 163,240 16,050 102,674,242 10,200 1,305,530 650,410

-17,364,575 491,990 247,314.00 3,942,800 40,020 378,604 61,920 -764,170 404,200 -79,882 -32,334.00 -77,859 -9,970,925 -5,961,252.50 336,410 -3,920 -27,160 -572,240 129,292 80,661,356 -5,353,894 1,184 -2,085,760.00 -12,603,086 -14,971,740 -727,010 -14,434 19,630,250 -109,120 10,750 -1,165,541 -562,406.50 -25,587,962 -

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

0.75 51.8 11.12 0.72 6.36 11.8 0.92 0.95 784.5 3.05 6.8 5.19 13.22 874 5.3 79.2 5 5.2 0.5 3.76 11.84 3.19 4.6 1.37 2.95 156 1,055 0.83 1.25 200 214 0.213 0.2

0.76 51.8 11.16 0.72 6.36 11.98 0.94 0.95 788.5 3.11 6.99 5.44 13.26 895 5.3 82.05 5 5.78 0.5 3.8 12 3.29 4.62 1.37 2.99 158 1,078 0.83 1.25 208 214 0.213 0.216

0.74 50.5 11.1 0.69 6.35 11.28 0.91 0.95 777.5 3.05 6.7 5.05 13 872 5.3 79.2 5 5.2 0.485 3.76 11.84 2.69 4.22 1.37 2.95 152 1,055 0.73 1.22 190.2 205 0.213 0.2

HOLDING FIRMS 0.75 1,223,000 51.1 2,466,810 11.1 7,520,700 0.71 78,000 6.35 5,700 11.6 42,100 0.94 436,000 0.95 54,000 778 529,700 3.07 444,000 6.91 799,100 5.05 31,347,200 13.26 61,500 891 99,120 5.3 14,800 81.65 3,835,460 5 400 5.69 3,100 0.5 3,000 3.78 75,000 12 1,337,300 2.69 226,937,000 4.28 107,000 1.37 20,000 2.99 151,000 152 165,960 1,059 261,830 0.81 359,000 1.22 201,000 200 7,110 210.8 380 0.213 10,000 0.215 50,000

911,590 126,114,916 83,553,614 54,170 36,225 489,042 405,610 51,300 413,075,665 1,360,270 5,463,969 164,766,023 809,542 87,545,060 78,440 310,525,190 2,000 16,459 1,485 283,220 15,989,782 681,978,590 481,140 27,400 446,010 25,419,462 278,626,885 268,610 245,250 1,430,088 80,010 2,130 10,310

-1,500 -14,603,632.50 -27,234,792 -11,800 -51,300 -91,272,780 -12,440 -221,180 8,867,039 11,790,805 7,066,840 -15,150 -9,678,202 -239,935,350 -92,000 -8,270,753 -72,323,490 7,600 10,934 -

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

14.84 0.71 1.43 0.84 45 2.01 4.74 6.43 0.56 0.73 0.84 0.39 10 19.28 0.42 1.51 1.18 4.12 4.34 0.196 0.42 1.25 0.335 2.01

14.84 0.72 1.45 0.86 45.5 2.02 4.77 6.47 0.57 0.73 0.86 0.39 10.2 19.28 0.42 1.52 1.18 4.12 4.34 0.202 0.46 1.29 0.335 2.02

14.78 0.7 1.43 0.84 44.55 2 4.7 6.33 0.54 0.73 0.84 0.39 10 19 0.42 1.5 1.17 4.12 4.21 0.196 0.42 1.25 0.33 2.01

PROPERTY 14.78 611,700 0.72 481,000 1.45 30,000 0.84 544,000 45 5,887,500 2 124,000 4.74 522,000 6.45 69,200 0.55 4,942,000 0.73 2,000 0.86 13,000 0.39 20,000 10.2 97,000 19.16 136,600 0.42 90,000 1.5 5,655,000 1.18 251,000 4.12 32,000 4.25 15,460,000 0.201 11,510,000 0.46 3,340,000 1.26 864,000 0.33 50,000 2.02 195,000

9,063,454 336,970 43,150 458,100 265,207,005 249,000 2,469,180 446,498 2,673,500 1,460 10,940 7,800 985,280 2,617,644 37,800 8,509,190 295,960 131,840 66,205,700 2,302,150 1,479,750 1,082,530 16,650 392,010

-1,410,530 -8,580 -37,115,305 -106,250 -4,700 140,141 -9,000 300,716 -80,620 10,556,660 401,050 685,650 206,630 -

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

26 2.1 3.25 41 2.46 1.1 7.48 5.5

26.6 2.15 3.25 41.9 2.46 1.15 7.48 5.5

26 2.1 3.25 40.6 2.36 1.08 7.45 5.49

26.5 2.11 3.25 40.6 2.45 1.13 7.47 5.49

1,961,000 224,000 21,000 6,356,800 91,000 2,648,000 4,800,400 400

51,969,155 474,690 68,250 259,965,200 218,440 2,984,420 35,842,313 2,199

33,331,335 139,980 11,103,725 -14,219,183 -

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES 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

9.7 16.32 11.46 0.425 0.043 18 4.12 10.86 90 7.08 5.21 5.1 8.2 1,940 5.24 425 1.16 1.66 120 7.78 5.3 0.1 3.35 13.5 2.69 17.2 0.39 3.39 2.11 0.98 2.48 2.5 7.5 4.46 149.9 2.64 1,003 0.59 0.425 39.5 74.9 8.78 2.5 0.66 0.29 0.6 17.96

9.7 16.8 11.5 0.44 0.043 18 4.18 10.94 90.45 7.08 5.25 5.76 8.45 1,965 5.25 425 1.2 1.66 121.4 8.19 5.35 0.102 3.4 13.5 2.69 17.2 0.39 3.39 2.13 1 2.56 2.5 7.5 5 149.9 2.64 1,013 0.6 0.43 39.5 75 9.14 2.52 0.66 0.295 0.6 18.06

9.62 16.3 11.44 0.42 0.041 18 4.1 10.56 89 7.08 4.73 5.09 8.2 1,934 5.2 425 1.16 1.66 117.5 7.78 5.3 0.099 3.19 13.5 2.65 16.68 0.39 3.39 2.09 0.98 2.36 2.5 7.3 4.45 149.9 2.55 998 0.56 0.425 39 74.3 8.74 2.49 0.64 0.28 0.6 17.94

SERVICES 9.7 16.4 11.5 0.44 0.042 18 4.12 10.9 89 7.08 5 5.13 8.2 1,934 5.25 425 1.16 1.66 121.4 8.19 5.35 0.099 3.4 13.5 2.66 16.9 0.39 3.39 2.1 1 2.54 2.5 7.3 5 149.9 2.6 998 0.57 0.43 39.45 75 9.09 2.5 0.65 0.29 0.6 18

2,400 186,400 2,305,700 1,280,000 11,800,000 10,000 2,386,000 4,283,000 107,940 300 4,306,800 474,000 8,600 60,305 96,300 190 652,000 1,000 4,270,550 2,200 1,100 4,110,000 4,352,000 400 358,000 400,800 40,000 20,000 431,000 7,000 2,407,000 10,000 5,900 17,000 50 360,000 64,820 1,493,000 510,000 926,900 31,920 1,025,100 1,838,000 207,000 2,100,000 1,366,000 802,900

23,256 3,083,168 26,504,066 546,750 500,300 180,000 9,879,930 46,163,316 9,693,584 2,124 21,143,401 2,687,936 71,375 117,564,015 504,787 80,750 766,380 1,660 512,152,423 17,198 5,835 408,560 14,413,300 5,400 953,350 6,785,402 15,600 67,800 905,750 6,900 5,930,790 25,000 43,240 81,210 7,495 923,890 64,883,215 859,600 218,300 36,206,045 2,393,486.50 9,255,510 4,589,690 133,620 588,550 819,600 14,452,336

-2,336 -38,100 180,000 -123,000.00 1,267,296 -6,414,893 176,587 34,197,685 274,440 -44,829,996 5,835 109,450 -362,100 -3,629,606 -275,100 37,340 -25,000 -23,260 -25,382,445 -208,000 -17,200 -2,298,330 -863,293 3,428,540 -32,250 5,600 1,785,622

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

7.17 0.98 2.4 11 2.76 0.275 7.11 1.5 0.199 0.097 0.92 2.92 1 0.445 0.77 0.011 0.011 0.01 2.91 9.08 20.45 0.0058

7.35 0.98 2.41 11 2.76 0.275 7.32 1.55 0.206 0.097 0.94 3 1.03 0.445 0.77 0.012 0.011 0.011 2.92 9.08 20.6 0.0058

6.73 0.96 2.4 10 2.66 0.275 7.11 1.5 0.199 0.097 0.92 2.89 1 0.44 0.76 0.011 0.011 0.01 2.9 8.8 19.9 0.0058

MINING & OIL 6.85 535,300 0.96 1,476,000 2.41 59,000 10.96 10,200 2.69 27,000 0.275 30,000 7.12 1,900 1.54 3,645,000 0.206 290,000 0.097 80,000 0.93 1,153,000 2.9 3,198,000 1.03 2,000 0.44 130,000 0.77 76,000 0.011 10,200,000 0.011 600,000 0.011 16,200,000 2.9 132,000 8.95 1,072,500 20.15 2,332,000 0.0058 2,000,000

3,711,524 1,431,410 142,140 102,438 72,450 8,250 13,542 5,580,770 57,850 7,760 1,080,620 9,349,680 2,030 57,300 58,150 117,300 6,600 177,000 383,220 9,625,797 47,082,379 11,600

150,133 -474,080 -9,640 1,201,780 -2,072,900 -1,030 2,000 8,700 -91,153.00 -22,705,402 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2R ALCO PREF B ALCO PREF C DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

15.7 500 501 101.3 100.7 100.6 108.1 5.18 1,000 99.6 1.01 100 1,026 1,025 1,059 100.6 105.1 1,020 997 78.4 75.25 75.95 77 75.5 76.1

15.8 500 501 101.3 100.7 100.9 108.1 5.2 1,000 99.7 1.01 100 1,026 1,025 1,060 100.6 105.1 1,028 997 78.4 75.25 75.95 77 75.5 76.1

15.5 500 501 101.3 100.7 100.6 108.1 5.17 963 99.6 1 98 1,026 1,025 1,055 100.6 105.1 1,020 997 78.4 75.25 75.95 77 75.5 76

PREFERRED 15.8 183,800 500 360 501 6,000 101.3 73,100 100.7 40,100 100.7 70,300 108.1 40,000 5.19 58,200 963 14,000 99.7 10,000 1 630,000 98.05 86,250 1,026 10 1,025 1,040 1,055 7,770 100.6 10,300 105.1 49,670 1,025 285 997 1,120 78.4 4,020 75.25 24,700 75.95 5,490 77 241,900 75.5 10 76 264,630

2,885,440 180,000 3,006,000 7,405,030 4,038,070 7,082,670 4,324,000 301,949 13,685,500 996,453 630,330 8,461,465 10,260 1,066,000 8,200,930 1,036,180 5,220,317 291,870 1,116,640 315,168 1,858,675 416,965.50 18,626,300 755 20,113,010

286,516 262,949 20,400 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

4.4 10.16 0.87

4.4 10.18 0.87

4 9.62 0.86

4.19 9.79 0.87

3,506,720 2,310,481 989,290

2,398,820 -44,720

FIRST METRO ETF

116.2

116.8

116

USD DMPL A1

10.28

10.28

10.28

MS Trading Summary FINANCIAL

SHARES 9,305,052

INDUSTRIAL

118,751,344

HOLDING FIRMS

288,030,754

PROPERTY

68,254,422

SERVICES

61,274,925

MINING & OIL

43,257,151

GRAND TOTAL

591,085,139

SME

821,000 237,400 1,147,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.2 4,770 DDS 10.28

2,500

555,221

23,240

25,700

-

VALUE 1,888.52 (up) 2.64 931,065,940.10 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 9,589.92 (up) 29.43 890,152,896.035 HOLDING FIRMS 7,545.13 (down) 42.90 2,390,585,522.16 PROPERTY 4,077.69 (down) 74.76 SERVICES 1,497.50 (down) 4.45 780,894,237.60 MINING & OIL 7,418.48 (down) 53.19 1,179,124,264.77 PSEI 7,741.07 (down) 45.34 79,089,561.22 All Shares Index 4,598.75 (down) 24.91 6,258,279,410.45 Gainers: 76; Losers: 113; Unchanged: 50; Total: 239

PSE okays share sale of Century worth P3b

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the P3-billion preferred shares offering of Century Properties Group Inc., the listed property company of the Antonio family.

CPG is offering 20 million preferred A shares with an over-allotment of 10 million shares at price of P100 apiece.

The preferred shares will carry an interest rate of 6.7177 percent yearly, with the offering period to start from from December 16, 2019 to January 3, 2020.

The preferred shares will be listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange on January 10, 2020. China Bank Capital is the sole issue manager and underwriter of the offering.

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to finance the development of leasing projects within Century City in Makati.

CPG early this year issued P3 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds due in 2022 with a interest rate of 7.8203 percent yearly.

CPG registered a net profit of P1.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, up 81 percent from P661 million year-on-year. Consolidated revenues rose 36 percent to P9.8 billion from P7.2 billion on year.

The company completed Roxas West Tower with 500 units at the Residences at Commonwealth in Quezon City in the first nine months of 2019. It also completed the Iguazu YOO inspired by Starck tower with 492 units at Acqua Private Residences; the Bahamas tower with 846 units at Azure Urban Resort Residences in Parañaque City, fully completing the nine-tower, man-made beach development; and PHirst Park Homes Tanza, Cavite with 517 housing units.

CPG is expected to substantially complete Quirino West and East towers at Commonwealth with 1,015 units before the end of the year; the 41-story Century Diamond Tower office building at Century City Makati with 63,110 square meters of gross floor area; and 325 more housing units at PHirst Park Homes Tanza and Lipa.

CPG’s affordable housing segment in October launched the first 900 homes in PHirst Park Homes Pandi, Bulacan, its first project in Central Luzon after Tanza in Cavite Lipa in Batangas and San Pablo in Laguna.

ABS-CBN files piracy case vs Texas resident

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp. filed a complaint in US Federal Court in the Southern District of Texas against Anthony Brown and 1700 Cuts Technology, seeking damages in excess of $4 million for allegedly pirating its content and trademark infringement.

The lawsuit claimed that Texas local resident Brown promoted and sold modified illegal set-top boxes through several Facebook.com pages operated

by Brown and 1700 Cuts Technology that enabled buyers to gain access to ABS-CBN’s live programming without paying the appropriate fees for such services.

The Facebook pages that were used to promote the illegal set-top boxes included two personal profile pages and a business page for “Lifeforgreatness.”

“Beware of these operations that are not licensed or affiliated in any way with ABS-CBN,” Elisha Lawrence, ABS-CBN assistant vice president and head of Global Anti-Piracy, said.

“We will continue to protect customers by shutting these operations down. The only genuine ABS-CBN internet subscription services are TFC on cable and satellite, IPTV and TFC.tv,” she added.

Jun Del Rosario, ABS-CBN managing director for North and Latin America, said the network remained steadfast in protecting the content from ABSCBN’s team of hardworking creative and technical people who needed to be rightfully acknowledged and compensated for their work.

Del Rosario did not mince words about the pirates.

“What these pirates do is literally rob from this ecosystem of content creators, pretend to own the content, and scam customers by making money off that content,” he said.

World

B3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Taiwan probes massive visa scams T AIPEI―Taiwanese prosecutors have launched an investigation into travel agencies and civil groups that reportedly forged documents to help Chinese officials visit Taiwan, sparking concerns over potential national security breaches.

The Taipei district prosecutors office said ten suspects were questioned and five locations raided on Wednesday on suspicion of falsifying identities for Chinese citizens to visit the island on “professional exchange” permits.

Prosecutors declined to disclose de-

tails of an ongoing probe.

But local media cited investigation sources as saying that around 5,000 mainlanders are believed to have come to Taiwan via the scams since 2017, including many officials.

The Liberty Times reported that one man set up a dozen civil associations that only operated on paper and then collaborated with travel agencies to help mainland government employees enter Taiwan.

The paper said one of the travel agencies was run by the son of a former gangster who set up a small political party pushing for Taiwan’s unification with China.

The Apple Daily also cited unnamed sources as saying that at least two of the visitors were from United Front departments on the mainland, the party-controlled organizations that produce propaganda encouraging Taiwan to become

part of China.

Beijing sees self-ruling, democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to one day take it, by force if necessary.

The two sides have spied on each other since 1949, when nationalist troops fled to the island and set up a separate government after losing a civil war on the mainland to communist forces.

Beijing loathes President Tsai Ingwen’s Democratic Progressive Party and has cut off official communication with Taipei since her 2016 election because her party has refused to accept that Taiwan is part of “one China”.

Taiwan is gearing up for new elections in January, with Tsai seeking a second term against a challenger who favors warmer ties with China.

Under Taiwanese regulations, visits

by Chinese government or military officials require prior government approval.

The National Immigration Agency said Chinese visitors violating the rules may have their entry permits revoked and be barred from future travel. Local travel agencies face fines or business license suspensions.

The case comes as allegations swirl over Chinese spying and influence operations ahead of the elections.

Last month a Chinese man in Australia made explosive claims to the media that he was a spy who had defected.

Wang Liqiang said he knew the identities of China’s senior military intelligence officers in Hong Kong and took part in covert influence operations there, as well as in Taiwan and Australia.

After his claims, two directors of the Hong Kong-based company Wang claimed to work for were stopped from leaving Taiwan last month on suspicion of violating national security laws. AFP

IN BRIEF World’s oldest artwork uncovered

JAKARTA―An Indonesian cave painting that depicts a prehistoric hunting scene could be the world’s oldest figurative artwork dating back nearly 44,000 years, pointing to an advanced artistic culture, according to new research.

Discovered two years ago on the island of Sulawesi, the 13-foot- wide painting features wild animals being chased by half-human hunters wielding what appear to be spears and ropes, said the study published in Nature on Wednesday.

Using dating technology, the team at Australia’s Griffith University said it had confirmed that the limestone cave painting dated back at least 43,900 years during the Upper Paleolithic period.

“This hunting scene is―to our knowledge―currently the oldest pictorial record of storytelling and the earliest figurative artwork in the world,” researchers said.

The discovery comes after a painting of an animal in a cave on the Indonesian island of Borneo was earlier determined to have been at least 40,000 years old.

For many years, cave art was thought to have emerged from Europe, but Indonesian paintings have challenged that theory.

There are at least 242 caves or shelters with ancient imagery on Sulawesi alone, and new sites are being discovered annually, the team said. AFP

Indian police fire blanks

GUWAHATI, India―Indian police fired blanks on Thursday as thousands of protesters ignored a curfew in the northeast of the country, in a fresh day of demonstrations against contentious new citizenship legislation.

Officials said 20-30 people have been hurt in the protests in recent days, with vehicles torched and police firing tear gas.

Several thousand additional troops have been deployed in the region Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to calm the situations in a series of tweets that many in the region could however not read because mobile internet was snapped in numerous areas.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, passed by the upper house on Wednesday, allows for the fast-tracking of citizenship applications from religious minorities from three neighboring countries, but not Muslims.

For Islamic groups, the opposition, rights groups and others, this is part of Modi’s Hindu-nationalist agenda to marginalize India’s 200 million Muslims, something he denies.

Many in India’s far-flung north-east object because they fear that the legislation, which prompted angry exchanges in parliament this week, will give citizenship to Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh.

“I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill),” Modi tweeted, referring to the biggest state in the northeast. AFP

Weinstein agrees to $25-m settlement

NEW YORK―Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has reached a $25-million settlement with dozens of women who accused him of sexual misconduct, one of the women’s lawyers told AFP on Wednesday.

The once-powerful producer of “Pulp Fiction” and “Sin City”, whose case sparked the #MeToo movement against sex crimes, faces a criminal trial next month that could see him jailed for life.

The payout from a separate civil case will be shared among more than 30 actresses and former employees who have sued the 67-year-old for offenses ranging from sexual harassment to rape.

Weinstein will not have to admit wrongdoing or pay from his own pocket, celebrity news portal TMZ said, with the bill instead being met by insurers for his bankrupt former movie studio, The Weinstein Company.

The deal will have to be signed by all parties and get court approval to resolve almost every misconduct lawsuit brought against him since 2017 and insulate company directors from future liability.

Weinstein’s accusers include some of the world’s most famous actresses -- including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek -- although none is part of the proceedings.

“Boardwalk Empire” actress Paz de la Huerta, who accused the producer of raping her in 2010, is expected to be part of the settlement, her lawyer Aaron Filler told AFP. AFP

PROCESSION. Nurses from Siriraj Hospital sit on the banks of the Chao Praya River before the start of the Royal Barge procession in Bangkok on December 12, 2019. The procession is the final event of the coronation of Thailandís King Maha Vajiralongkorn. AFP

Chinese roe reigns around the world QIANDAOHU, China―The caviar on the menu of Michelin-starred restaurants may come from an unexpected place: China.

The country has endured embarrassing food scandals in recent years, but its sturgeon eggs have gained the respect of caviar connoisseurs around the world.

It has also become pricier for US buyers as Chinese caviar is among the slew of products hit with 25 percent tariffs in the US-China trade war.

The bulk of China’s production comes from a picturesque lake ringed by mountains in eastern Zhejiang province where industry leader Kaluga Queen breeds the giant fish.

The brand was created in 2005 by experts who worked for the ministry of agriculture and it now produces more than a third of the world’s caviar, making China the global leader.

The company’s sturgeon farm is a 20-minute boat ride away from the shore in Qiandaohu, or Thousands Islands Lake.

Qiao Yuwen, a breeder, stood at the edge of the pools where the animals live until they are between the ages of seven and 15.

The biggest sturgeons can grow to be 13 feet long and weigh 300 kilos.

“They’re like our babies. We see them from when they’re very young, so it’s hard when they are sent to be slaughtered,” Qiao said.

“But there’s also, of course, the satisfaction of having contributed to making an exceptional product,” he said before throwing pellets con-

taining shrimp, peas and vitamins to the fish.

For a long time, Iran and Russia fished sturgeon in the wild in the Caspian Sea. But the fish population was nearly decimated by overfishing and poaching after the Soviet Union, which had regulated fishing, fell in 1991.

Sturgeon fishing in the Caspian Sea was banned in 2008 while sturgeon farms have sprung up everywhere, with Italy, France and China among the world leaders in the industry.

Kaluga Queen has 300 employees looking after some 200,000 sturgeons.

Once they reach sexual maturity, females are fished out and taken to a laboratory where they are stunned before their bellies are sliced open to extract the black eggs.

The roe is then washed, sorted, salted and placed in boxes.

Kaluga Queen produced 86 tonnes of caviar last year, most of it destined for exports, with half going to the European Union, 20 percent to the United States and 10 percent to Russia.

Depending on the species, the price per kilo varies between 10,000 and 180,000 yuan ($1,420 to $25,600).

Sturgeons producing the most expensive caviar can carry as much as two million yuan worth of eggs.

“It’s the price of a Ferrari,” said Xia Yongtao, the company’s vice president.

Kaluga Queen has walked a “long road” to win the trust of customers since the company produced its first jar in 2006, Xia said. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Frustration grows for families of volcano victims WHAKATANE, New Zealand—The brother of a tour guide who died in the White Island volcano disaster said Thursday stalled efforts to recover victims’ bodies showed “leadership had failed”.

New Zealand man Hayden Marshall-Inman was among the first confirmed victims of Monday’s eruption, with emotional accounts of his final moments on the island recalled by helicopter pilots who helped survivors.

Holding back tears, his brother Mark Inman told TVNZ that authorities were taking too long to recover bodies that he said could be picked up safely and securely by helicopter pilots like himself, who “know the island inside and out”.

“It’s not frustration that they can’t get to the island, it is more frustration that they haven’t gone to the island,” he said early Thursday.

“There has been two perfect opportunities to get out there and they haven’t gone.

“Red tape, bureaucracy―leadership has failed.”

Inman wrote to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier this week asking for permission to enter the no-fly zone to collect his brother’s body, a request he said was rejected.

Ardern admitted authorities need to do a better job of communicating retrieval efforts.

“I did meet Mark Inman very briefly and his family on Tuesday and my heart goes out to them,” she told reporters in Christchurch Thursday.

“I can’t experience what that experience, that waiting, will feel like for them.”

The death toll from Monday’s tragedy now stands at 16 people, including eight people still missing on the island and presumed dead.

Acknowledging the “frustrations” of relatives waiting for answers about their loved ones, authorities announced late Thursday that police were planning to carry out a retrieval operation Friday morning -- despite volcanologists’ warnings that the chances of another significant eruption in the next 24 hours had risen to 50-60 percent. AFP

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Second Judicial Region Branch 33 Ballesteros, Cagayan

RONALYN A. ARELLANO, Petitioner, -versus -

CIVIL CASE NO. 33-634-2019

FOR: “DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF BIGAMOUS MARRIAGE”

SEMIE Q. AGUILO Respondent, x-------------------------------------------x

ORDER Before this Court is a Motion for Leave to Serve Summons by Publication filed by the petitioner, through counsel, to the effect that as per Officer`s Return dated October 2, 2019, the Process server tried to personally serve Summons upon the person of the respondent at his given address, however, it was discovered that the respondent is not known and cannot be located therein, hence, the petitioner respectfully prayed that the summons be served by publication.

Finding the Motion to be impressed with merit, the motion is hereby GRANTED. Let, therefore, Summons be issued to be served together with this Order Upon the respondent through publication once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

SO ORDERED. Ballesteros, Cagayan, November 14, 2019.

FRANCISCO S. DONATO Executive Judge

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Second Judicial Region Branch 33 Ballesteros, Cagayan RONALYN A. ARELLANO, Petitioner, -versus -

CIVIL CASE NO. 33-634-2019

FOR: “DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF BIGAMOUS MARRIAGE”

SEMIE Q. AGUILO Respondent, x-------------------------------------------x SUMMONS A VERIFIED “Petition for “Declaration of Nullity of Bigamous Marriage” having been filed by the petitioner, RONALYN A. ARELLANO, on the ground of Bigamous Marriage pursuant to Article 35, par. 4 of the Family Code, as amended, praying that your marriage to her celebrated on February 26, 2002, be declared NULL and VOID ab initio, (copy of the Petition may be obtained from this Court) YOU, SEMIE Q. AGUILO, is hereby directed to file your Answer and/or responsive, pleading within a period of THIRTY (30) days from the last date of publication hereof, otherwise, the petitioner will take judgment against you and may be granted by this Court the reliefs prayed for in her petition.

WITNESS THE HON. FRANCISCO S. DONATO, Executive judge of this Court this 14th day of November, 2019 in Ballesteros, Cagayan.

SIDE EVENT. Former US president Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama attend a side event for

the Obama Foundation in Kuala Lumpur on December 12, 2019. AFP

ATTY. LEMWELL L. ALAPIT Clerk of Court VI (MS-DEC. 6 & 13, 2019)

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

B4

T

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

LEAF-y X’mas tree sparkles

HE best-selling electric vehicle on the roads Nissan LEAF transforms itself into a Nissan TREE today

The Christmas car features a spectacular festive light display, powered entirely by its own regenerative braking energy system through e-Pedal and B mode Innovative Nissan e-Pedal and B mode regenerate energy under braking and decelerating, extending drivers’ range during commute Energy regenerated through driving the Nissan LEAF for 18,000 km represents 20% of the overall domestic electricity consumption of an average European household for one year.

Nissan will be dashing through the snow this Christmas with a bright festive Nissan LEAF powered by its own regenerated energy.

To bring Christmas cheer while celebrating the power of regenerative energy creation, the special one-off vehicle sees the Nissan LEAF transformed into

a Nissan (Christmas) TREE. Decked out in a spectacular light display, the Nissan TREE showcases the way the electric car regenerates power when braking or decelerating.

Two driving functions provide energy regeneration in the Nissan LEAF. The Nissan LEAF e-Pedal allows the driver to start, accelerate, decelerate and stop using only the accelerator pedal. The ePedal also helps the car to harvest energy via regenerative braking. This works by recycling the energy from the movement of the car during braking or deceleration, which then goes straight back to the batteries, where it is used to recharge them.

Meanwhile, B mode is a driving function that regenerates energy under braking, with drivers using the traditional brake pedal as normal.

Let it glow, let it glow, let it glow Fitted with thousands of LEDs, shimmery baubles and a reindeer, the car is brighter than Rudolph’s nose. The sparkling display reminds sustainably minded drivers about the energy generation made possible through owning an electric vehicle. In fact, the average Nissan LEAF driver regenerates 744kWh* of clean en-

ergy if they drive 18,000 km. This energy saving is equivalent to 20% of the overall domestic electricity consumption of an average European household.

Nissan LEAF drivers would generate enough energy to power up**: 266 Christmas trees with 700 incandescent lights for a full hour of joy 297 ovens for one hour to cook your Christmas dinner 744 televisions for five hours to watch your favourite Christmas movies 10,783 houses with 1,000 LED lights for five hours “Santa shouldn’t be the only one with a festive mode of transport. We wanted to make the Nissan LEAF more fun at this time of year whilst driving home a very important message,” said Helen Perry, Head of Electric Vehicles for Nissan Europe.

“We hope this custom-made vehicle inspires people about the endless benefits of regenerative energy. After nearly ten years since LEAF was first introduced in Europe, Nissan continues to be fully focused on providing consumers a more sustainable lifestyle through electric mobility.” Helen Perry added.

Isuzu adds life to Coke fleet COCA-COLA Beverage Philippines, Inc., the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the country, has partnered with Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC)— the country’s leading manufacturer of brand-new trucks— to further enhance safety and sustainability within its logistics operations.

At least 95 top-of-the-line vehicles have been turned over to Coca-Cola’s already expansive delivery fleet.

Coca-Cola operates one of the biggest truck fleets in the Philippines, with almost 3,000 trucks and over 2,000 sales service vehicles. Approximately 2,500 shipments per day are undertaken, transporting to 20,000 doors across the country. For operations this massive in scale, the Company implements a road safety framework built on three pillars: organization and culture, vehicles and technologies, and the drivers. Each pillar, in turn, has different programs and initiatives that address capability development, technical standards and monitoring, and driving performance and engagement.

“For every bottle of Coca-Cola that you purchase, there’s an implicit promise that it was delivered with the ut-

ises to deliver dependable transportation solutions to support Coca-Cola’s extensive and intensive distribution requirements. Isuzu trucks are equipped with Euro IV- to V-compliant engines that produce cleaner emissions; and with blue power technology, which helps make the trucks more powerful, yet economical and environmentally friendly.

These new acquisitions are in keeping with Coca-Cola’s long-standing commitment to reduce carbon emissions and to achieve sustainable operations in fleet management—through the use of low-emission engines in its trucks and through the adoption of new technologies to further improve our logistics and distribution capabilities.

Genota adds, “At Coca-Cola, we make sure that our sustainability practice is a holistic process: our whole value chain, from manufacturing to distribution, has systems in place to reduce our environmental impact.

This is a continuous process of improvement, as we work toward further strengthening our environment-conscious policies, across all facets of our

most quality, in accordance with strict safety guidelines, and adhered to high sustainability standards,” says CCBPI Logistics and Distribution Director Ruth Genota.

Isuzu FVR trucks with installed Allison Automatic Transmission—the first of its kind in the Philippines—were among the partnership turnover highlights. These trucks’ transmission were specially crafted by leading automotive expert Gendiesel Philippines, Inc. All the turned over trucks delivers Isuzu’s 8-Point Advantage: 1) nationwide dealer network; 2) nationwide parts availability; 3) expert Japanese engineers; 4) expert service technicians; 5) mobile medic; 6) drivers and mechanics training; 7) safety driving training; 8) fuel eco-driving training.

The installed palletized bottle carriers were made by IPC partner body builders, Almazora and Centro.

The partnership with Isuzu, whose commercial vehicles are known for their reliability and efficiency, prom-

operations.”

Coca-Cola in the Philippines has delivered strongly on its environmental stewardship across the business and the value chain through its other sustainability pillars: water, energy, and waste. It has achieved 100% water replenishment in the Philippines, via its water-saving programs and waste water treatment in its operations, in addition to providing far-flung communities access to potable water through the AGOS Program. The company sources over 60% of its total energy requirements in the country from renewable energy; and in 2018, Coca-Cola announced its World Without Waste global goal of collecting and recycling every bottle and can sold, by 2030. In the Philippines, Coca-Cola’s packaging footprint is 50% returnable glass bottles, while its PET bottles and aluminum cans are 100% recyclable. In June 2019, it launched the Viva! Eco-bottle, the first beverage bottle in the country made from 100% recycled plastic.

Hino unveils new dealership in Butuan HINO Motors Philippines (HMP), the exclusive distributor of Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines, stays true to its commitment to deliver Total Support to Filipinos all over the country with a new dealership in Butuan City.

Right in the heart of Agusan del Norte, Hino Butuan is strategically located along the AH26 National Highway, which connects Butuan City to other major cities of Northern Mindanao such as Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Surigao. Hino Butuan will serve the region’s thriving industries by supplying its truck and bus needs.

Agusan del Norte is the commercial, industrial and administrative center of the Caraga Region. It is home to mining and agricultural industries, yielding rice, coconut, corn, soybeans, timber and abaca.

“We are glad to unveil this new dealership in one of the most promising cities in Mindanao. Hino Motors Philippines has always been passionate in connecting people and businesses no matter where they are in the country, and it fills us with immense pride to be able to contribute to the economic growth of the region,” shares HMP Chairman Vicente T. Mills Jr. “What better way to end the year than to add to our growing network of dealerships. Through our efforts to share the unmatched quality of Hino products with more Filipinos, we hope to realize our vision of a more connected and sustainable community,” says HMP President Mitsuharu Tabata.

The Hino PUV, Hino 300 Series, Hino 500 Series, Hino 700 Series and Hino Buses are only a few of the models available in

HMP President Mitsuharu Tabata awarding the symbolic plaque to Butuan Dealership

Hino’s 19th dealership. Hino Butuan is the 4th dealership that Hino opened this year alone.

Hino Butuan is part of HMP’s ongoing dealership network expansion and operates under Toyota Cagayan de Oro Group of Companies. Managed by Toyota Cagayan de Oro Inc. President-Chairman Ms. Betty Lu and Executive Vice President/General Manager Mr. Peter Lim Lo Suy, it is ready to provide world-class Hino vehicles, parts and after-sales services in Northern Mindanao.

HMP has been engaged in the assembly and exclusive distribution of quality Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines for more than 40 years. It addresses the transport needs of businesses ranging from small and medium enterprises to big corporations by providing safe, durable and reliable trucks.