Manila Standard - 2019 December 27 - Friday

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 316 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ring of fire eclipse: Visual delight SKYWATCHERS from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India and `Singapore were treated to a rare “ring of fire” solar eclipse Thursday. Annular eclipses occur when the Moon is not close enough to the Earth to completely obscure the Sun, leaving

a thin ring of the solar disc visible.

While these types of eclipses occur every year or two, they are only visible from a narrow band of Earth each time and it can be decades before the same pattern is repeated.

Depending on weather conditions, this year’s astronomical phenomenon was set to be visible from the Middle East across southern India and Southeast Asia before ending over the northern Pacific.

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‘RING OF FIRE.’ The moon moves

in front of the sun in a rare ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse as seen from Balut Island in Mindanao’s Sarangani (top left), with watchers in Metro Manila using solar shades (far left) and weather specialist Renato de Leon (left) preparing the 435-cm reflecting telescope at the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory in Diliman, Quezon City. AFP, Manny Palmero

Quirky style eclipsed by high ratings

By MJ Blancaflor HALFWAY through his term, President Rodrigo Duterte continues to hold high trust and satisfaction ratings, and extended his popularity to his allies who swept the midterm elections.

But 2019 also brought home quirks in this President’s management style and threw up challenges to test his mettle.

YEARENDER One of those quirks was his penchant for issuing verbal orders with no documentation.

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‘Ursula’ casualties piling up Typhoon leaves at least 16 dead, wide swathe of devastation

By Ronald O. Reyes and Rio N. Araja

T

YPHOON “Ursula,” which swept across remote villages and popular tourist areas in the Visayas on Christmas Day, claimed at least 16 lives, authorities said Thursday.

With winds of 195 kilometers an hour, Ursula tore roofs off houses and toppled electric posts as it cut across the country on Wednesday.

With the Internet and mobile phone networks still cut off in some badly damaged areas, a full assessment of Ursula’s damage was not immediately possible on Thursday morning.

But at least 16 people had been confirmed killed in villages and towns in the Visayas, the central third of the Philippines, disaster agency officials said.

Ursula also hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday destinations that are famed for their white-sand beaches and popular with foreign tourists.

The airport at Kalibo, which services Boracay, was badly damaged, according to a Korean tourist who was stranded there.

“Roads remain blocked, but some efforts have been made to clear away the

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. At least 16 died as Typhoon “Ursula,” the 21st to slam the country in 2019, revved up on Christmas Day in Central Philippines, uprooting trees and destroying houses in remote villages and cutting off Internet and mobile phone networks. From Facebook page of Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry Sambo Yaokasin

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Palace sets P4-t budget signing Rody dares Joma: Come home for one-on-one talk on Jan. 6; lion’s share to Education

By MJ Blancaflor

By MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will sign the proposed P4.1-trillion budget in the first week of January next year, the Palace said Thursday.

The President has extended the availability of this year’s government funds until the last day of 2020 under Republic Act 11464 since he has yet to ap-

prove the proposed national budget for next year.

Lawmakers moved to extend the validity of the 2019 government funds following the months-long delay in the approval of the 2020 budget that was marred with allegations of pork insertions.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier claimed that around P83.219 billion worth of budget items were included

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte dared self-exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison to return to the Philippines for a one-on-one talk to explain why rebels

violated the holiday ceasefire, the Palace said Thursday.

This came after the New People’s Army launched separate attacks in Iloilo, just hours after President Duterte declared a 15day “unilateral and reciprocal” truce with

the Communist Party of the Philippines.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo condemned the attack, which killed a soldier and wounded eight others.

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INDIGNATION RALLY. Different organizations and volunteers gather at the sprawling University of the Philippines Diliman campus for a simultaneous rally to end the local communist armed conflict. Manny Palmero

DOH: Fewer ‘cracker victims ahead of New Year THE hottest month, the fastest marathon, the wildest auction prices... here is a look back at 10 new records in 2019:

Record temperatures

Temperatures in July 2019 were the hottest ever recorded globally Next page

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

week before the New Year revelry.

That number is also 61 cases or 76 That number, recorded from 6 a.m. of percent lower than the five-year averTHE Health department said Thursday Dec. 21 to 5:59 a.m. of December 26, age, the department said.

Meanwhile, a health expert said the number of recorded fireworks-relat- was 11 cases or 37 percent lower than ed injuries had reached 19 less than a the comparative figure in 2018.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

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MWSS chief vows to comply with Duterte's new water deal

By Rio N. Araja THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System on Thursday assured President Rodrigo Duterte that the government-owned-and-controlled corporation and its two water concessionaires will exert all efforts to comply with his order to execute a new concession agreement after 2022.

MWSS Administrator Emmanuel Salamat said they had given Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. the chance to renegotiate, come up with and agree on the new terms of their own concession agreement.

“In addition, and consistent with the clarificatory pronouncements made by the government, MWSS has been expressly directed to renegotiate the concession agreements with Manila Water and Maynilad in order to remove the illegal and onerous provisions of the same as determined by the Department of Justice as well as to include such other provisions that are beneficial to the consumers and the entire nation,” Salamat said in a statement.

He cited the cooperation of the two water firms not only in expressly declaring that they would no longer collect or enforce the recent arbitral awards but also in their expressed willingness to renegotiate the inequitable provisions of the concession agreement.

“MWSS is fully engaged in continuing to ensure the performance of its mandates under Republic Act No. 6234 as well as to achieve the purpose for, and the intention behind, the directives of the President,” Salamat said.

“It is committed to materially contribute to the satisfactory resolution of the various issues for all the stakeholders.”

Salamat believes that the continuity of the water sector’s public private partnership “depends on strong communication channels and handholding engagement so that the basic access to water and wastewater services will not be jeopardized, which includes fully addressing and accomplishing the urgent call for new water and sewerage infrastructure projects.”

DOH:...

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Thursday firecrackers spew fumes that poison the lungs.

“Lit firecrackers and fireworks generate microscopic pollutants that affect the quality of the air we breathe and thus pose serious health risks, particularly among children, the elderly, and people with cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory conditions," said pulmonologist and Philippine College of Physicians secretary Maricar Limpin.

She said coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath as well as asthma and heart attacks were some of the risks of inhaling these pollutants.

Data from the Health department’s epidemiology bureau also showed that those injured by firecrackers so far came from Region I, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Region V, Region VI, Region VII, Region XI, Region XII and the National Capital Region.

The department said 14 of the victims were male They were injured

by Luces, Boga, 5-star, kwitis and an “unknown firecracker.”

The 19 victims were aged four to 60.

The Health department said it had not recorded any case of injury or death from a stray bullet or firework ingestion. With Joel E. Zurbano

New...

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at an average of 16.75 degrees Celsius (more than 62 Fahrenheit) for the planet, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced.

A heatwave in Europe the same month reset several record highs: 42.6 degrees for Paris; 41.5 degrees for Germany; and 38.7 degrees in Britain.

In December, it was Australia’s turn to set a record for its hottest day ever, with an average national maximum temperature of 41.9 degrees Celsius (107.4 Fahrenheit) on Dec. 19, while a scorching heatwave intensified bushfires.

Facebook fine Facebook was in July slapped with the largest ever fine—$5 billion—imposed on any company for violating consumers’ privacy.

DOJ keeping an eye on Bucor, Bantag

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Justice department said Thursday it continues to monitor any allegations of corrupt practices or abuse of authority at the Bureau of Corrections after the bureau’s personnel and officials exchanged allegations of wrongdoing.

BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag was earlier quoted as saying that “95 percent” of the agency’s 3,100 officials and employees were corrupt.

In an open letter, unidentified BuCor personnel appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to sack Bantag for alleged “graft and corrupt practices in the high-

est order” and abuse of authority.

“The DOJ will continue to monitor very closely both the BuCor’s rank and file [for any corrupt practices] and the management [for any abuse of authority] and take action as may be appropriate,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message.

BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag

‘Ursula‘...

vices suspended.

Among those killed was a police officer who was electrocuted by a toppled electric post while patrolling.

In Eastern Samar, which bore the brunt of Ursula, two were dead, Gov. Ben Evardone said.

He identified the victims as Carlos Beltran, 70, from Barangay 3, Balangkayan, who drowned when his house was swept away by storm surge, and Wilson Ogatio, from Barangay Holywood, Guiuan, who was hit by a galvanized iron during the storm.

Sher Rysiah Saises, of the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas, said Ursula was the strongest typhoon to hit the region this year.

“It was not as strong as Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. But the area covered by Ursula was as the same as Yolanda. It was wide,” she said.

She added they are still consolidating the reports on damage to infrastructures and agriculture as power and communication lines in some parts of the region have remained unstable.

At least 3,234 persons were left stranded and spent their Christmas in various

sea ports in Eastern Visayas during the storm as sea voyages were canceled while thousands were also trapped in various airports, as of Dec. 24.

Flights and sea travel resumed on Dec. 26.

Ursula maintained its strength as it continued to move west northwest on Thursday.

As of 5 p.m., it was located at 300 kilometers northwest of Coron, Palawan or 295 kms west southwest of Subic, Zambales.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, it was moving west northwest at 15 kph.

Ursula is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday.

The Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pacific typhoon belt, and is hit by an average of about 20 major storms a year.

Many of the storms are deadly, and they typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure, keeping millions of people perennially poor.

With Othel V. Campos and AFP

of pertinent countries,” Sison said.

The communist leader had previously turned down the possibility of holding the peace negotiations in the Philippines and insisted a neutral third country should be the venue.

Armed rebels reportedly fired upon a platoon of soldiers from the 92nd Division Reconnaisance Company and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), killing one and wounding six military personnel in Barangay Baay, Labo, Iloilo on Dec. 23.

The platoon was supposed to conduct security operations but was pulled out in compliance with the suspension of offensive military operations. The attack occurred as they were traveling back to base.

Hours after the attack in Barangay Baay, another group of alleged NPA rebels ambushed a police patrol vehicle in Barangay Singon in Tubungan.

The attack injured two other police officers.

The NPA claimed responsibility for the ambush but insisted the attack was in “active defense.”

Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, Philippine Army chief, called the attacks senseless and decried the timing just days before Christmas.

Sison dismissed the attacks as incidents that were not meant to violate the ceasefire.

In a lengthy statement, Sison also said

the administration of President Duterte is “going downhill to hell.”

“The Duterte regime is going downhill to hell and cannot find enough relief from its imperialist masters to overcome the rising revolutionary movement of the Filipino people,” Sison said on Facebook in line with the 51st year of the CPP. Panelo hit back and said: “He must be referring to himself and his movement.”

Meanwhile, Panelo backtracked from his earlier statement that President Duterte was not included in the list of names targeted by the NPA for assassination, as claimed by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. Panelo changed his tune after he discussed the matter with the security adviser.

“I was talking to Esperon, and he said the inclusion of Duterte in hitlist was validated, so it was not wrong info fed to them. Even if Joma Sison has denied it, the fact remains that Duterte is in the hit list,” he told Palace reporters.

Panelo also said the President is open to the possibility of excluding Davao City in the holiday ceasefire effective from Dec. 23 until Jan. 7 next year, as requested by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

In the wake of the recent NPA attacks, Senator Christopher Go said the rebels must show sincerity if peace negotiations are to prosper. With Macon RamosAraneta

P4.1-trillion national budget that was approved by Congress granted an increase of P17.1 billion for the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, and the Commission on Higher Education to fund various programs.

A total of P8.349 billion was added to the budgets of the 114 state universities and colleges, including P2.786 billion for the University of the Philippines System to augment its budget for hospital services program, renovation and construction of various buildings and the improvement of its fiber optic network, among others.

The rest of the funds will be used by the SUCs for research awards and the conduct of activities for sports and development, ICT and campus modernization programs.

CHED was granted an increase of P7.1 billion that will go to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education; the provision of assistance and incentives, scholarships and grants through the Student Financial Assistance Program.

Another P1 billion was provided to support the Private Education Students Financial Assistance Program.

For the DepEd, a net increase of P1.697 billion was granted to finance various programs aimed at addressing the needs of the education sector and improving the overall quality of education in the country.

Among the programs to be funded by the increase in the DepEd’s budget is the national assessment system for basic education.

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damage. It’s pretty bad,” Jung Byung Joon said via Instagram messenger.

“Everything within 100 meters of the airport looks broken. There are a lot of frustrated people at the airport as flights have been canceled.

“Taxis are still running but it’s windy and still raining so no one wants to leave the airport, including me. “ Though much weaker, Ursula tracked a similar path as Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” the country’s deadliest storm on record which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.

“It’s like the younger sibling of Yolanda. It’s less destructive, but it followed a similar path,” said Cindy Ferrer, an information officer at the Western Visayas region’s disaster officer.

Tens of thousands of people had been forced to evacuate their homes on Wednesday, ruining Christmas celebrations.

Many others were not able to return to their families, with ferries and plane ser-

Rody...

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Panelo said President Duterte talked to him on Christmas Eve and renewed his invitation to Sison, who is currently in self-exile in The Netherlands, to return to Manila without fear of arrest.

“The President is daring him to come home to the Philippines and have a oneon-one talk even before this panel—no government panel involved, no panel on the Communist side. He is asking him to come to the Philippines, there will be no enforcement of any warrant, just come to the Philippines and talk with him,” Panelo said.

Sison said a one-on-one meeting would be premature before the two sides approve the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic reforms.

In a statement, he said the negotiating panels should work this out in a neutral venue abroad.

“Nevertheless, I am willing to meet with President Duterte in a country near the Philippines after the formal resumption of the peace negotiations and the mutual approval of the Interim Peace Agreement, provided the Royal Norwegian Government as third party facilitator helps in securing the necessary political, legal and security guarantees from a number

Palace...

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in the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act as “source” of funds for pet projects of some lawmakers.

But Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President will veto any unconstitutional provisions in the budget.

“He will go through that. That’s the attitude of the President. He is careful before signing,” he said.

Senate finance committee chairman Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said on Thursday that education will get the biggest part of the budget next year, as it remains the top priority.

He said the reconciled version of the Announcing the penalty, the Federal Trade Commission said it was also one of the largest ever issued by the US government for any violation.

Monster sale Chinese consumers spent a record $38.3 billion on Alibaba platforms in the annual 24-hour “Singles’ Day” buying spree in November.

It was a jump of 26 percent from the previous record high a year earlier, the e-commerce giant said.

Art auction highs Amid furious Brexit wrangling, Banksy’s “Devolved Parliament” painting depicting lawmakers as chimps was sold at auction in October for 11.1 million euros, a record for the British artist.

A new auction record for a work by a living artist was set in May when Jeff Koons’ stainless steel “Rabbit” fetched $91.1 million. AFP

Ring...

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Hundreds of amateur astronomers, photographers and set up by Singapore’s harbor for what some described as a “once in a lifetime” event.

“The next one will happen in about 40 years I think,” said Jason Teng, 37, who took the day off work to photograph the eclipse.

The amateur astronomer used a special solar filter on his telescope as there is no safe period to observe an annular solar eclipse.

Alexander Alin 45, a geophysicist from Germany, travels around the world following eclipses.

“It’s only two minutes, but it’s so intense that you talk about it with your friends, family for the next month,” Alin said.

Eclipse stops play

In southern India, people gathered on the beaches in Tamil Nadu to watch the event.

The eclipse even affected cricket, with play delayed by two hours in a first-class match between Mumbai and Rajkot.

The eastern state of Odisha declared a public holiday, with all government offices, courts, schools and colleges closed.

But in New Delhi, cloud and pollution blocked the view and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his disappointment, although only a partial eclipse would have been visible that far north.

“Like many Indians I was enthusiastic about solar eclipse2019,” Modi said.

“Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream.” AFP

He said Bantag’s statement on the bureau’s alleged corruption “does not constitute an actionable offense, much less under the anti-graft law.”

Nonetheless, Bantag’s remarks “may have offended the sensibilities of those employees who are honestly performing their jobs.”

Bantag took over BuCor after its former director general, Nicanor Faeldon, was fired by the President in September following a controversy arising from the questionable release of several heinous crime convicts.

Bantag was appointed BuCor chief despite homicide charges against him in connection with a 2016 jail blast that resulted in the death of 10 prisoners in Parañaque.

Quirky...

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In July, in a televised message, he ordered all games run by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office shut down due to massive corruption in the agency.

Despite the absence of any written directive, Duterte’s order was enough for the Philippine National Police to shut down over 30,000 PCSO-operated outlets nationwide, a move that affected at least 120,000 employees. A few days later, he lifted the suspension of lotto operations, saying that it was not involved in any irregularity. The bill for the President’s order: P250 million in revenues lost.

In November, Duterte ordered a ban on the use and importation of vaping devices and ordered the police to arrest those who use e-cigarettes in public.

This was in response to the first confirmed case of vaping-associated lung injury in the country.

But the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said Duterte’s order could be challenged by any citizen who feels aggrieved by the directive, an opinion that angered a prickly President.

As the year draws to an end, there is still no law that bans nicotine products or e-cigarettes. Police have apprehended users of e-cigarettes, not based on any law, but on an executive order providing for “smoke-free environments” in public and enclosed places.

The matrix In the runup to the May midterm elections, the administration ramped up attacks on the opposition, releasing a “matrix” or diagram that purportedly linked members of the Liberal Party, the Magdalo Party, journalists, lawyers and even prelates to a destabilization plot against the President.

Among the names mentioned in the matrix were members of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and Rappler.

Duterte ordered Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo to release the matrix to the public, adding that intelligence reports have been fed to him from “foreign” sources about the supposed coordinated media plot. The allegation, however, was criticized due to inaccuracies and outdated information—and it was never proved.

Water woes A shortage of water this year—and an unfavorable ruling in a Singaporebased arbitration court--saw Duterte unleash his fury at private utility companies led by two of the country’s richest businessmen.

Metro Manila suffered a water crisis in March, leaving families waiting for hours to get their daily ration from tanker trucks. Before the year ended, the President cursed the Pangilinan-led Maynilad and Ayala-led Manila Water and ordered the government to review their contracts over supposed onerous provisions.

When an arbitration court ordered the government to pay the two companies more than P10 billion to compensate for “losses” they incurred because they were not allowed to raise their rates, Duterte threatened to file a case of economic sabotage, graft and plunder against people behind the 1997 concession agreements between the government and the two utilities.

He also floated the idea of a military takeover of water distribution if the problem was not resolved.

The executives of the water firms sent a letter to the Palace expressing their willingness to amend the supposed “onerous” provisions in the 22-year-old agreement., but the President has yet to respond to the offer, saying he would make an announcement on Jan. 6, 2020.

China syndrome Duterte’s Beijing-friendly foreign policy continues to be a major issue, as he struggles to sell his pro-China stance to Filipinos, who were angered by the June 9 incident in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in which a Chinese vesel hit and sank a Filipino fishing boat.

The incident was exacerbated when the Chinese crew left the Filipino fishermen adrift at sea, where they were rescued hours later by Vietnamese fishemen.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

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Duterte not bothered by Trump’s ban on Leila case

By MJ Blancaflor

Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez

SC allows Bohol gov. to travel to California

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has allowed Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap to travel to the United States with his family during the Christmas holiday despite the pending graft case against him involving the alleged P46-million fertilizer scam before the Sandiganbayan.

In a six-page notice dated Dec. 10, the SC’s First Division granted the appeal of Yap be permitted to go on a 14-day travel with his family from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3 next year to Los Angeles, California, USA. “Wherefore, the Motion for Leave to Travel Abroad with Formal Entry of Appearance filed by petitioner Arthur C. Yap is granted,” stated the notice signed

by SC Division Clerk of Court Librada Buena.

But the SC imposes conditions for his travel, requiring Yap to file a manifestation before the Anti-Graft Court’s Executive Clerk of Court informing them of his final departure date from the Philippines and his arrival date to the Philippines, as well as his flight details and travel information.

“His travel itinerary shall be limited to the place stated in his Motion,” the high court stressed.

Within the five days, after his return, he should proceed to the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court and present his passport as well as photocopies of the pages indicating the stamp regarding his exit from and arrival in the Philippines, duly authenticated by the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court, after a comparison with the original.

He should also post a P500,000 cash bond within five days from notice of the SC’s Resolution with the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court to ensure that he will return to the country.

The Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court was instructed to file a report with the SC’s First Division within 15 days from the date Yap appeared before its office, and confirm if the Bohol governor complied with all the conditions set in the Resolution.

In seeking permission to travel, Yap explained “he intends to take advantage of the Christmas holiday to spend quality time with his family and to take a much-needed respite from the demands of his work as governor of Bohol. The planned trip is also a fulfillment of his promise to his children who want to have a family vacation abroad during the school break.”

He explained that his travel arrangements were done by Tripmart Travel Services.

He was scheduled to leave Manila last Dec. 21 on board a Philippine Airlines flight PR 112 at 11:25 a.m.; and his expected time of arrival at the Los Angeles International Airport was at 10 a.m. of Dec. 21, California time.

His accommodation in the US was arranged by All Amazing Travel and Tours. He and his family are staying at The Mayfair Hotel from Dec. 21 until Jan. 2, 2020.

He will depart from the Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 2 via the PAL flight PR 113 at the estimated departure time of 12:55 p.m. and will arrive at the NAIA on Jan. 3, 2020 at the estimated time of 6:25 p.m.

Romualdez: House ratings proof of legislative success

By Rio N. Araja

M

AJORITY Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Thursday said the impressive and new record high trust and approval ratings of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano would show that Congress was successful in pushing the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte to make the life of every Filipino comfortable.

Romualdez, House committee on rules chairperson, maintained the commitment of the House leadership to pass other pending legislative measures that would bolster the country’s economic takeoff.

“I share the belief of majority of our people that the House of Representatives did a marvelous job in its First Regular Session. For the first time ever, a Speaker of the House received an 80-percent trust rating in December and 76 percent approval rating in the latest

survey of Pulse Asia,” he said.

Cayetano got 80-percent approval rating this December from 64 percent last September and 76-percent trust rating compared to his 62 percent in the third quarter Pulse Asia survey.

“Our focus right now is to work hard in legislation and pass all the measures needed to improve the living condition of our people. That is the marching order from the President,” Romualdez said.

For his part, Cavite Rep. Elpidio

Barzaga Jr., president of the National Unity Party, said Cayetano’s consistent high trust and approval ratings was a proof that the people truly appreciated his competence and hard work in steering the House of Representatives towards achieving its lofty goals.

“You can’t put a good man down.

The Speaker’s consistently exceptional ratings is the fruit of his hard work and his determination to do his job well against all odds. It shows his brand of leadership,” he said.

Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte said Cayetano’s rating was the best proof yet that the former senator had started to deliver on his pledge to transform the House of Representatives into a “relevant, responsive and reliable House of the People.”

“This House is now the House of the People—and our people apparently recognize and appreciate that, as reflected in the Speaker’s high public approval and trust ratings in the latest tracking poll,” he said.

Awakening the sleeping giant in PH agriculture sector AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar sees a growing sense of optimism surrounding the country’s agriculture sector, which he described as a “sleeping giant” that needs to wake up from its slumber.

In a year-end press conference on Thursday, Dar expressed hope that the sector would continue on its growth trajectory after a major comeback in the third quarter of 2019 with a 2.87 percent production, reversing the -0.87-percent decline posted in the same period last year.

Dar said he expected the agriculture sector to attain a 2.5 percent to 3 percent production increase for the last quarter of the year.

“We are hopeful that this favorable condition will be sustained into the fourth quarter of the year to allow us to attain a full-year growth,” Dar said.

Dar, however, noted there was still so much to do, stressing that a systematic development strategy must be pursued to awaken the sleeping giant in the Philippine agricultural sector.

SPECIAL AUDIENCE.

Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol Robert Borje is received on Christmas Day by King Hamad Isa al Khalifa of Bahrain during the special audience granted by the King at the Safriya Palace in Manama.

“We really have to think outside the box. We have to invent, innovate, reshape if you want to unlock the sleeping giant of the agriculture sector,” he said.

“With the right policy and right strategies and mechanisms, this sleeping giant can become the force with which more contribution to the gross domestic product can happen,” he added.

With Dar at the helm, the DA has laid the groundwork for modernization and industrialization through the “New Thinking for Agriculture” toward the vision of a food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.

The leadership’s battle cry is “Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita.”

The cornerstone of Dar’s strategy is composed of eight paradigms: modernization, industrialization, promotion of exports, farm consolidation, road map development, infrastructure development, higher budget and investments, and legislative support.

“We reviewed and aligned the entire DA family’s programming towards the

updated framework to ensure that we in the DA family are synergized and coherent as we perform our respective tasks,” Dar said.

“The New Thinking employs agriindustrialization and ‘agripreneurship’ as strategies to modernize the country’s agriculture sector. Through these approaches, we hope to boost the sector’s productivity and competitiveness, creating employment and income opportunities in the Philippine countryside,” he added.

The department is focusing efforts on increasing productivity, lowering production cost, value-adding, and market matching.

To date, the DA has visited a total of 12 regions for consultation and distribution of farm machinery and equipment, seeds, and other interventions worth nearly P3 billion.

For the coming year, the DA will promote inclusive agribusiness that will transform food producers to entrepreneurs and encourage young Filipinos to take interest in farming activities. PNA

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not bothered that US President Trump signed a law banning entry to those involved in the “wrongful detention” of Senator Leila de Lima since he does not want to go there despite the invitation of the American leader, Malacañang has said.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President was not interested in going to the US even if he was invited by Trump to visit the White House in 2017 following what was deemed a “very friendly conversation” over the phone between the two leaders.

‘The President said, ‘I don’t want to go there in the first place.’ If he doesn’t want to go there, why would he be bothered?” Panelo told Palace reporters.

Trump on Friday approved the US government’s 2020 budget which asks Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to prohibit the entry of Philippine officials involved in the detention of De Lima, a vocal critic of the administration’s anti-drug campaign.

De Lima has been detained since February 2017 and repeatedly denied her alleged link in illegal drug trade when she was still justice secretary.

She called the allegations against her as “political persecution.”

The US State Department has yet to release a list of Philippine officials who will be banned from entering the US. De Lima on Wednesday said she wished for freedom as she spends her third Christmas in jail since her arrest.

“I hope that this is my last Christmas in detention so that my normal life as a mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and as a duly-elected senator be now restored,” she said in a statement.

She cannot vote on measures nor conduct hearings as legislator since she is physically unable to go to the Senate.

Bangsamoro earns Seal of Governance DEPUTY Speaker and Basilan Rep. Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has lauded the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for being hailed as the best region in Mindanao as far as good governance is concerned.

At least 28 of BARMM’s local government units earned the 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance Award by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the fifth highest in the whole country and the first in Mindanao.

“I congratulate all the local officials of the 28 LGUs BARMM for earning the distinction of good governance. It would be very hard to rise from the decades-old of poverty and war,” he said.

“The awards are well-deserved. We are glad that all the reforms we initiated and the hard work we put into it have really resulted in great things for our region. This award is for every Moro who dreamed of a better homeland and labored to get there,” he added.

“Not so long ago, Lamitan City entered the national limelight as a stage for war and terrorism. But now, it is the hallmark and prime example of human resilience overcoming great adversity.

In 2016, for the first time in the 29year existence of the now-dismantled ARMM, Lamitan City was the very first recipient of the SGLG in the whole region,” he said.

“And year after year since then, Lamitan City has earned the SGLG distinction. The Basilan provincial government and the municipalities of Maluso and Sumisip followed suit. We hope that more LGUs in BARMM will be recognized next year,” he added.

In 2018, 23 LGUs of the now-defunct ARMM received the award.

BARMM is the fifth overall of the country’s 17 regions, with only three in the Top 10. Region X is 6th with 23 SGLGs and Region XIII (Caraga) is 8th with 19 awards.

“As the people in BARMM celebrate this milestone, we are reminded that the work is far from over. We achieved our dream of a Moro homeland, but it is only the beginning. Now is the time to work even harder and build the best future for the people,” Hataman said. Rio N. Araja

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ramon Ang: Man of the Year FOR 2019, may I nominate Ramon S. Ang as Man of the Year.

RSA is the vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp., the country’s largest corporation with estimated 2019 revenues of P1.1 trillion, up from P1.024 trillion in 2018.

This year, RSA hit all the right buttons and made the right moves to scale up SMC’s operations and projects.

About 60 percent of San Miguel’s business, revenues, and profits is his handiwork.

Ramon keeps starting up and expanding businesses to create employment, attract foreign investments, modernize the economy, alleviate poverty, and make the country better, if not simply great. “I love this country,” he says.

In January, Ang hopes to break ground for San Miguel’s P735.6-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulakan town, Bulacan province. It will have four runways, three terminals, and eight taxiways to service up to 100-million passengers a year.

On Sept. 18 the Department of Transportation gave SMC the notice to proceed—the final step in the regulatory approval process.

Despite its gargantuan cost, the NMIA will not involve a single centavo of taxpayers’ money and carries no sovereign guarantees, unlike past and current private sector projects which are guaranteed to make a

profit and rescue by government in case of debt default.

RSA had to personally appear before President Rodrigo Duterte and his economic managers to assure them San Miguel was given no more incentives than those given other private sector projects.

NMIA is the country’s largest infrastructure project. It will remake the country, to use Bloomberg’s own words. When completed in six years, the Bulacan airport will entice up to 30-million tourists, create 40-million jobs, and contribute, in my estimate at least 1 percent of the country’s output of goods and services or GDP which hits 25 trillion in six years.

The biggest names in world business want to join the airport project, including Japan Bank for International Cooperation president Tadashi Maeda, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chairman John Elkann, Robert Kwok of Malaysia, and global sovereign funds.

Bloomberg has named Ramon Ang in the world’s 50 most influential people, the first Filipino in the coveted list of people who defined 2019. The business magazine cited RSA for winning the bid to acquire (for $2.1 billion) the country’s largest cement maker, which will help SMC build its $14.4-billion airport.

Bloomberg said Ang is remaking his country.

Among those in the Bloomberg 50 are Denmark’s youngest PM, Mette Frederiksen, the Hong Kong protesters; PM Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand; Kevin Mayer, chair of Disney Direct to Consumer and International; Doug McMillon, CEO fo Walmart; Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios; Mortimer Buckley, CEO of Vaguard Group, Inc.; Ann Sarnoff, CEO, Warner Bros.; David Marcus, co-creator, Libra, Facebook, Inc.; Vicki Hollub, CEO, Occidental Petroleum which bought Anadarko Petroleum for $55 billion; Jeff Zucker,

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Avoiding Argentina’s pitfalls

A

RGENTINA’S economy is in a downward spiral, with inflation close to 60 percent, the peso losing its value rapidly and the center-left government declaring the nation in virtual default of its foreign debt payments.

The government in Buenos Aires has kowtowed to the wishes of the restive population in the face of economic difficulties. It froze the prices of basic goods and services in April in an attempt to limit the impact of inflation. The new government in August further announced minimum wage increases, tax cuts and a 90day freeze on petroleum prices in another bid to placate striking workers. The government also pledged a P10,000 ($160) bonus for pensioners and a six-month freeze on public utility prices.

The populist stance of the government, however, has not offered solutions to Argentina’s problems.

Argentina’s gross domestic product

is expected to drop 3.1 percent this year after falling 2.5 percent last year.

The public debt rose to 100 percent of the GDP while the poverty rate now stands at 41 percent.

Argentina’s fiscal house is in disarray, with little revenues to raise to pay for its debt. The nation’s debt has increased to $335 billion, or 93 percent of the GDP. It has a mismanaged economy. The declining value of the peso and surging inflation have drastically reduced the spending power of the currency.

The Philippines, in contrast, has avoided Argentina’s pitfalls. Its macro-economic fundamentals are solid—low inflation and interest rates, stable peso, high foreign exchange

reserves and a very manageable public debt.

The executive department and lawmakers have cooperated in introducing higher taxes to generate enough revenues to fund infrastructure projects and human development. It is quick to respond to inflationary pressures through the Rice Tariffication Law that immediately arrested higher prices.

The liberalized rice import regime is a non-populist policy and may have rattled rice farmers. It did, however, brought down inflation and offered a long-term solution to rice shortage.

The government should realize that populist but anti-market policies, like lower oil prices and utility rates, will not work in lifting the economy and the incomes of the poor. They may provide stop-gap solutions, as in the case of Argentina, but they will not reduce the poverty level in the long run.

Turn to A5

Fewer poor Pinoys AS WE near the end of 2019, the good news that greeted us recently was the decline in poverty incidence in the country last year.

The Philippine Statistics Authority, using the government-set poverty threshold of P10,727 for a family of five, reported that the poverty rate declined from the updated 23.3-percent figure in 2015 (based on 2012 prices) to 16.6 percent in 2018. The numbers translate to 17.6 million poor Filipinos as of 2018, lower than 23.5 million in 2015. This also means that now, 166 out of every 1,000 Filipinos belong to poor families whose incomes are not enough for basic needs.

Given this, the government can lift more people out of poverty by 2022 than previously targeted, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia. He cited a poverty reduction figure of 10 to 12 percent by 2022 versus the original goal of 14 percent.

For the National Economic and Development Authority, with 5.9million Filipinos lifted out of poverty between 2015 and 2018 and a poverty reduction rate of 2.23 percentage points per year, "we are not only on track to meet our PDP [Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022] target. We are also likely to meet the sustainable development goal or SDG target of eradicating extreme poverty, as defined by the international poverty line, and cutting by half the proportion of the population living below the national poverty line by 2030.”

The reduction in poverty incidence is most welcome, considering that headline inflation averaged at a 10year high of 5.2 percent in 2018 due to new or higher excise taxes slapped on consumption under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), skyrocketing global oil prices and domestic food supply bottlenecks, especially of rice. Many

of the programs of spending would not have been affordable in earlier periods.

Another salutary effect of comprehensive tax reform is that it has allowed the government to finance various economic development programs.

The PSA reported that the income of the poorest 30-percent households really increased much faster than the increase in the poverty threshold as this was higher at over 30 percent in the last three years.

The reduction in poverty incidence is most welcome.

Migrant NY food vendors feel the heat

Employment generation has also increased, with the unemployment rate dropping to a 14-year low in October.

The government’s conditional and unconditional cash grants to poor families as well as workers adversely affected by higher excise taxes under the TRAIN Law provided additional income to the poorest of the poor.

Transfers, which include cash transfers from the government received by households from the bottom three deciles, increased by 34.8 percent, 32.8 percent, and 25.0 percent respectively, Neda said.

Economist Gerardo Sicat attributes the gains made in poverty reduction to "the sustained economic growth of the economy from year-to-year for almost 15 years now...The best way out of poverty is a growing economy. The size of the cake increases so that there is something additional to be shared across all groups in society."

Other factors that have contributed to reduced poverty levels are dollar remittances from overseas Filipino workers to their families back home;, a growing tourism sector, and the rise in government spending on infrastructure, particularly the Build, Build, Build program.

Our hope is that the gains made so far in economic development can be sustained and consequent poverty reducTurn to A5

By Laura Bonilla FOR two decades, Guadalupe Galicia has been waking up every day at 4:00 a.m. to make tamales and rice pudding to sell on the streets of New York.

She is one of thousands of vendors, many of whom are undocumented migrants, who hawk yummy treats in the Big Apple, but they are facing a litany of problems, from weather to assaults to arrests to even deportation.

"One of their biggest fears is the police, and that's why they are extra vulnerable," Julie Torres Moskowitz, from the Street Vendors Project support group, told AFP. New York is known for hot dogs, pizza, bagels and pretzels, but the food scene is way more diverse.

From Venezuelan arepas and Ecuadoran baked piglet to Middle Eastern falafel sandwiches and Tibetan momos, the city has it all.

Galicia, an undocumented migrant from Mexico and single mother of six children, sells tamales stuffed with all sorts of fillings for $2.25 each in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn.

"We are only making enough money to support our children," says the 40-year-old, who also sells champurrado—a hot, thick Mexican drink made with chocolate, corn flour and spices.

Icy weather, risk of deportation

Inclement weather is a problem— temperatures regularly drop below freezing during the winter months— but so are assaults, robberies, fines, confiscations and arrests, according to SVP. The women vendors are particularly vulnerable, they say. Arrests can result in deportation if a vendor's papers are not in order, which they often aren't, the group says.

Moskowitz, who sits on SVP's advisory board, says some attacks and thefts go unreported because of fear of dealing with the police.

To sell street food, vendors require a license that costs about $50 and a permit for the cart that costs another $200.

It's very hard to obtain a permit, though: Although there are more than 10,000 vendors, the number of permits has been capped at 2,900 since 1983— meaning many operate at their own risk.

There are some 2,000 additional permits for temporary workers but that isn't enough for everyone.

The result is a black market in permits, with owners subletting theirs for $25,000, often through intermediaries, several vendors told AFP. Fake permit scams happen all the time, they say.

Vulnerable Outside Manhattan, in Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx, street food is

mostly sold by women.

SVP says they endure more harassment from aggressive customers than their male counterparts.

They also are more likely to be fined by police, the group says.

Most of the female food sellers, like Galicia, are the main breadwinners in their families.

The early hours suit them so they can take care of their children after school, Moskowitz says.

In November, a video of a policeman handcuffing an Ecuadoran woman selling churros in the subway, where the sale of food is prohibited, went viral on social media, prompting outrage.

Afterwards, graffiti that read "more churros, less cops!" appeared on the subway.

It was also in protest at Governor Andrew Cuomo's decision to hire 500 more police officers to monitor the subway.

For years, Galicia worked without a license. She estimates that she has paid about $12,000 in fines. Several times, her food was confiscated.

"The city has to give us work permits because we are also paying sales taxes," she complained.

The fines can sometimes be up to $2,500.

"There are only two options: Leave the family without eating or pay the Turn to A5

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Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

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Presidential libraries

The commanding heights of the economy CROSSROADS

J.A. DE LA CRUZ I FIRST heard of the phrase “Commanding Heights of the Economy” from a recognized intellectual and statesman, my boss and mentor, the late Blas F. Ople.

Born of humble beginnings, he rose to become, among others, the longest-serving Secretary of Labor and Employment in our history, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Senate President. It was during his stint as President Marcos’ Labor and Employment Secretary in 1977, that he was elected first and so far the only Filipino President of the International Labor Organization General Assembly at which time this United Nations organ held the World Employment Conference in Geneva. The WEC then validated the proposition that in time globalization will alter the world economy in a big way affecting the flow of goods and services and with these, people, finances and technology. But that will be another story.

I recall that Ka Blas, as we came to reverently address him, advised our small discussion group reviewing the impact of the then newly issued 1974 Labor Code of the Philippines (PD 442) that we should never lose focus on the “commanding heights.” He was referring, at that time, to the critical sectors that dominated economic activity which in the 1970s consisted primarily of—the public utilities, i.e., power, transportation, water, communications, among others; natural resources (mining and wood processing). He noted that these sectors, being the primary drivers of production, employment and consumption in the 1970s, should be harnessed essentially for the public good. As such, these should either be under government control or heavily regulated to ensure that their impact on the country’s economy and the people’s well being is secured and sustainable. He was not, of course, discounting the contribution of agriculture and fisheries which still employed the majority of our people, but these sectors share in the total economy was shrinking considerably.

I am constrained to mention Ka Blas’ admonition now in the light of our own experience with globalization and its twin, privatization, which were the buzzwords and the underpinnings of the push towards greater private sector intrusion into what

Ramon Ang:...

From A4

chairman, Warner Media News & Sports, and president, CNN; Ritesh Agarwal, CEO, Oyo Rooms, the No. 1 hotel operator; Shari Redstone, vice chairman, CBS and Viacom Corp.; and Greta Thunberg, climate activist.

RSA reengineered SMC into what it is today—a nimble, green, colossal, hugely profitable money-spinner with No. 1 position in at least eight industry areas—beer (San Miguel Brewery), food (San Miguel Pure Foods), packaging (San Miguel Packaging Group), power generation (SMC Global Power Holdings), fuel and oil (Petron Corp.), infrastructure (SMC Infrastructure), fun-to-drive premium cars (BMW), and cement (Northern Cement).

About 60 percent of San Miguel’s business, revenues, and profits is the handiwork of RSA. Fifteen years ago, if not less, San Miguel was absent or not even a force to reckon with in five major businesses—fuel and oil, power generation, infrastructure, cement, and luxury cars.

In 2008, SMC had revenues of only P168 billion. By end-2018, revenues had ballooned to a record P1,024 bil-

Fewer...

From A4

tion would be pursued with even greater vigor by succeeding administrations.

Wake-up call While we're glad that government is making significant inroads in fighting poverty, we're really concerned over

we came to understand as the “commanding heights of the economy.” At some point from the early ’80s to just about the beginning of the second Aquino’s term, we were made to believe that these twin initiatives were the best that ever happened to the country. But what a price we had to pay. The cost of our utilities—power, water, transport and communications—grew exponentially almost equal or even higher than those of most developed countries. It is definitely the highest in ASEAN.

Instead of sustained development and well-being, we have had grumblings and disappointment all over the place.

The hyped benefits of private sector takeover of these basic sectors were far from expected. And the worst, as is now apparent, is not yet over. Instead of sustained development and well-being, we have had grumblings and disappointment all over the place.

Which brings us to our point. Now that President Rodrigo Duterte has raged over the onerous provisions of the water concessions in the expanded MWSS service areas, the call for government takeover of that vital sector—water and sewerage services—has grown louder and will definitely not go away. Something has to be done about it. It is not enough for the public and definitely this administration to talk about it. Something concrete, comprehensive and sustainable should ensue with this explosion of rage.

The MWSS administration walked gingerly around this issue apparently shocked at the level of rage which has attended it. But they should have anticipated this a long time ago which grew even stronger last summer when the water lines grew even longer by the day as the two water bearers— Manila Water and Maynilad—battled each other explaining their woeful performance over the last two decades. Their explanations, to say the least, were way too late and unavailing. They now have to bite the bullet, so to speak, or risk losing their concessions altogether. Worse, they may just have to refund all the extra charges, fees and other freebies they have gotten through the years which

they have not repaid in full and responsible service to their millions of customers.

And if President Duterte’s vow to go after the onerous contracts which have been entered into by government for the takeover, as it were, by mostly favored by successive administrations after 1986 private sector (individuals and corporations) not only of our utilities but our natural resources and other public holdings as well (including those sequestered in the first Aquino administration, many of which whimsically and illegally) then, hopefully, we will have a real appreciation of the benefits of the so-called best-governance practices, whether by government or the private sector, as applied to the country’s development and the people’s well-being.

In so doing, we will not unduly burden ourselves with the ideological debate between government control versus the free market not only over the commanding heights of the economy but over all other economic activities. Truth be told, there are sectors which government has to cede as these require nimbleness and innovation. As well, there are those like utilities which cannot simply be entrusted to the tender mercies of the market. Even the most doctrinaire practitioners of central planning or the free market have come to accept this truth: That a mixed economy properly and responsibly worked out remains the better option.

Even the original movers of China’s economic reforms and growth to become the second largest economy in the world—Deng Xiaoping and his deputy, Chen Yun—appreciated the value of a mixed economy. So even as they believed that the state’s need to control the commanding heights of the economy, they decided early on which constituted such sectors and which one could be conceded to the “reformed” private sector. The mixed venture came to being and became acceptable as it ensured pragmatic performance with solid growth and results while lifting millions of Chinese from poverty. In a word, it gained legitimacy as the Chinese people agreed to discipline themselves under the guidance of the Chinese Communist Party in exchange for real, not imagined, economic gains and some higher meaning in life beyond simply materialism.

We will soon see if the same can be said of President Duterte’s latest initiative. If the results of the recent survey is any guide, he is well on the way. And that will really mean a Happy New Year indeed. Sana na nga.

lion (P1.024 trillion), a six-fold or a 509-percent increase in 10 years or a 50.9-percent rise every year.

In 2008, SMC had a net income of only P20.1 billion. By 2018, profits had levelled at P48.6 billion, up 142 percent. If reckoned from 2007’s P8.4-billion net income, the rise in profitability has been more dramatic, to P48.6 billion, a whopping increase of 479 percent, or a dizzying 43.5-percent gain in profits per year.

Ang became SMC vice chairman in January 1999 and president and chief operating officer on March 6, 2002.

Half Chinese and a mechanical engineer by training, Ang is a low-key executive who shuns stiff suits and ties, except when attending board meetings and negotiating with partners and bankers. Often, he reports for work in simple shirt or t-shirts and wearing only slippers. Humble of manners, he disdains antagonizing people and firing subalterns.

Ang learned the rudiments of business at age eight when he began helping his father in his auto parts and machinery surplus businesses.

At 13, RSA built up his business using only a telephone directory.

Clients would walk into their Abad Santos, Tondo shop or call up asking if a particular part was available. Ra-

mon would jot down the part number or description of the item and then rifle through the pages of the phone book to get a quotation from other suppliers. Then he would get back to the customer and quote a price, adding an infinitesimal margin.

Eventually, the teener made his first million importing and reconditioning heavy equipment.

In 2008, RSA decided to remake San Miguel and launched its largest expansion and diversification program.

From 2008 to 2015, San Miguel bought four of Luzon’s biggest power plants; acquired rights to and developed the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway that connects Manila to the far north; bought and five years later sold at a huge profit of $2 billion, a 32.8 percent of electricity monopoly retailer Meralco; became majority owner of Petron Corp. which has the largest network of gas stations in the Philippines; bought Exxon-Mobil’s refinery and 600 service stations in Malaysia; built three expressways to NAIA; acquired and later sold at a small profit control of Philippine Airlines; acquired La Pacita biscuits, and begins the Skyway connector road from Magallanes to Balintawak.

the decline in the quality of our basic education.

Based on the 2018 survey results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Philippines has the lowest score in reading comprehension as it garnered a score of 340—way below the average score in reading comprehension of all partici-

pating countries, which is 487.

The same survey results showed that the Philippines scored 353 in mathematics and 357 in science—both also below the average score of all participating countries.

Following the release of the PISA results, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it “recognizes the urgency of addressing issues and gaps in attaining quality basic education.”

Education Secretary Leonor Briones

biznewsasia@gmail.com

A5

THE establishment of presidential libraries is a recent development in historical terms and it is only happening in the United States. This is in spite of the country’s more than 200 years of presidential history.

As of 2016, only 13 presidential libraries have been established, 14 if we include the presidential library of former President Barack Obama which is under construction in Chicago, Illinois and scheduled for inauguration sometime in 2020-21.

It used to be that presidential papers were kept by the family of a dead president and sometimes sold in auctions like what happened to some letters of Abraham Lincoln.

It was former President Franklin D. Roosevelt who as president realized the value and importance of presidential papers for future academic research.

He, therefore, on his own volition offered in 1939 to sign an agreement with the National Archives and Records Administration that after his death, the agency would get hold of all his papers for preservation thus making sure that his papers were preserved for posterity.

Many of his friends also bonded together to raise money to construct the first presidential library which is now located in Hyde Park, New York.

It also established the tradition that presidential libraries must be constructed without government funds involved.

Soon, President Herbert Hoover, the predecessor of Franklin Roosevelt, followed suit. Eventually in 1955, the Presidential Libraries Act of was passed, saying that the NARA will own and manage the libraries. In 1978, the Presidential Libraries Act was amended; it further streamlined the kind of endowments needed for each library.

In the Philippines, we do not have such a system in place. Including our current President, we have had 16 presidents including Jose Laurel who was president during the Japanese occupation. Aguinaldo has his shrine in Kawit, Cavite to house the memorabilia of the late Chief Executive.

Quezon has his rotunda in the city named after him also housing some of his memorabilia which include the car that he used as President. Cory Aquino has some kind of a museum at the Hacienda Luisita, no doubt constructed by the Cojuangco family. I am not aware if the other four presidents who came after her have a privately run facility housing their papers.

It is really a shame because future generations of historians or researchers will not be able to access important historical documents unless the families agree to provide them. Future generation of Filipinos have the right to know how their past presidents governed, not only from the textbooks they will be reading in school but by going over the unadulterated primary documents.

Nothing is better than going directly to the source when it comes to academic research.

One problem with presidential librar-

Migrant...

From A4

ticket," says Sabina Morales, a 62-yearold undocumented Mexican woman who sells fruit and vegetables in Queens.

Jessica Ramos, a Democratic member of New York's state senate, has introduced a bill that will eliminate the cap.

A less ambitious bill is also going through the city council that would raise the number of permits to 4,000 within a decade.

"These people are trying to make a living in an honest way," said Ramos, who was raised in the Queens neighborhood of Jackson Heights—a street food paradise where more than 100 languages are spoken.

Poverty crime Real estate developers, supermarkets and restaurants are among opponents of increasing the number of permits, says Ramos. They denounce

is on the right track in ordering a review of the country’s basic education curriculum, especially whether English is being taught effectively.

If our information is accurate, DepEd will push “aggressive reforms” in four main areas: updating the K-12 curriculum; improving the physical facilities of schools, including laboratories and computers; training teachers and school heads; getting the involvement of local

ies however, is that there may be presidents who do not want to make available their papers because there are things to hide. But this should not be the case or the attitude. The presidential library of the late Richard Nixon contains all the papers during the Watergate turmoil that includes all good and bad materials. Among our surviving former presidents, it is former President Fidel V. Ramos who has the longest record of public service starting when he graduated from West Point in 1950. If we count his four years of cadetship, that is about almost 74 years of service. He was also either a witness or participant in some tumultuous events in our nation’s history like the two peaceful but extra-legal removal of two presidents.

Future generation of Filipinos have the right to know how their past presidents governed.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may have the shortest public service of all our living former presidents but she had the longest reign as president of nine and a half years. Former President Joseph Estrada of course had the shortest reign of two and a half years.

Taken altogether, the three have a total of 18 years as president and there should be a lot of stories to tell. FVR who is the oldest of the three is approaching 92 years come March of next year. He is known to abhor the naming of a street in his name or other awards and recognition but I hope he will agree to an effort to set up a facility to house his papers and all his memorabilia collected during his years in public service. His current foundation office in Makati does contain a portion of his papers and many souvenirs but there really should be a facility—perhaps located in a military facility owing to his many years in the military—that could house his papers. In addition, a portion of the facility can be made available to many senior military officers who served with the president in the field.

Unfortunately, for us in the Philippines, not too many veteran officers write their stories depriving future academics the important stories they can share with the country. But having a facility that can house and preserve their papers would be a good beginning.

This is a good way to pass valuable historical records to younger generations of leaders either military or civilian.

Being able to do this can only make the country richer in experiences that can be imparted to future generation of leaders. At this time, Congress should take a look at the United States Presidential Libraries Act to see if a similar law can be passed in order to preserve valuable historical documents. *** Baguio’s roads are now choking. It is tough just to go to Camp John Hay or Baguio Country Club but that is Christmas up here in the mountains. Enjoy your stay and Merry Christmas and a more prosperous New Year to all.

what they perceive as unfair competition caused by the vendors' low prices.

But Ramos says there is room for everybody.

"There are times when we want to sit in a restaurant, and there are times when we only have five dollars for dinner tonight and we are running towards the house," she said.

Democratic Brooklyn councilor Rafael Espinal, in whose district the churros vendor was arrested, says police should focus on tackling violent crimes, not "poverty crimes" such as selling street food.

A couple of years ago, Morales bought a permit for $15,000, but it turned out to be fake and she lost all of her savings.

"We must end the black market so that we can all work," said Morales, who raised six children while working outdoors.

"That's why we come to this country—to work, to get ahead, to improve the life of our family." AFP

governments, parents and alumni associations, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector and other partners.

These are steps in the right direction. But the government should pursue these with the requisite political will and ample financial resources if we really want to improve the quality of our basic education. ernhil@yahoo.com

A6

News

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

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Former Social Housing Finance exec acquitted of graft charges

By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan has acquitted an executive of Social Housing Finance Corp. (formerly National Home Mortgage Finance Corp.) of 32 counts of graft charges and 32 counts of falsification of public documents in connection with approving and releasing over P7 million worth of mortgage or lots in Caloocan City to a Makati-based urban poor group Samahan ng Mahihirap sa PNR-Medina despite non-full payment.

In a 101-page decision, the anti-graft court ruled Celso Fernandez III, former manager of the Community Mortgage Group of the SHFC, approved and signed the release of mortgage documents under the community mortgage progam in favor of members of the homeowners on the reasonable presumption that the payments for these mortgages were already received.

“If the accounts were not fully paid at the time the accused signed the deeds of release, the accused should have been notified by other departments of such incident at the earliest possible instance,” it said.

“Fernandez cannot be faulted for knowing or not knowing whether the accounts pertaining to the individual accounts of the Samahan members were fully paid or not at the time he was about to sign the contested releases, because there were subordinates who prepare and review the same. The prosecution [also] presented no eyewitness to the preparation of the document itself, and to the signing thereof,” it added.

The Sandiganbayan also invoked that a careful review of the records showed that NHMFC was receiving payments, albeit not in full, from individuals who were proposed as substitute member-beneficiaries of the Samahan through different channels such as direct payment to NHMFC Treasury Department or bank payments.

“We believe that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence proving the accused was aware of the non-full payment of act individual account involved herein when he signed the Releases of Mortgage,” the anti-graft court said.

“Failing to specify, quantify and prove beyond certainty undue injury to the NHMFC and/or to the Samahan and its members, the presumption of innocence in favor of accused Fernandez III was not overcome,” it noted.

LUCKY FRUITS. A fruit stall owner sort out round-shaped fruits for sale at Divisoria in Manila in time for New Year's Eve. Many Filipinos believe that round-shaped fruits usher in good luck and prosperity for the New Year. Norman Cruz

Maguindanao vice mayor’s aides die in ambush try

S

HARIF Aguak, Maguindanao—The vice mayor here who was ambushed on Dec. 24 is now in stable condition in an undisclosed hospital but his two personal aides were not as lucky, police said.

Major Erwin Tabora, Shariff Aguak town police chief, said the two companions of Shariff Aguak Vice Mayor Akmad Mitra Ampatuan died hours after they were ambushed along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion, Maguindanao at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Tabora said Hadji Akmad Lumenda Ampatuan and Elham Khalid, the

driver of Vice Mayor Ampatuan, both died due to multiple gunshot wounds in various parts of their bodies.

That ill-fated day, the vice mayor and his companions were heading for home from the town hall when gunmen onboard a motorbike and multi-cab vehicle opened fire on them along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion.

Most Filipinos believe Du30 gov’t has more projects—survey

Police investigation showed that Vice Mayor Ampatuan was the one driving the vehicle and that it actually saved his life.

“Most of the bullets were directed toward the front seat passenger side and the seat behind the driver,” Tabora said, adding that then attackers might have thought that the local official was seated in the front or at the back of the red Innova car.

Hours after the ambush, Khalid died at the Maguindanao provincial hospital and was immediately buried while Hadji Akmad passed away on

2020 CALENDAR. A printing shop owner along Quezon Boulevard in Sta. Cruz, Manila displays custom-made 2020 calendars as the New Year draws near. Norman Cruz

By Othel V. Campos MAJORITY of Filipinos believe “more projects” were implemented under the present government, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.

Of the total respondents surveyed from Dec. 3 to 8, 73 percent said more infrastructure projects were implemented, while 25 percent think the present administration implemented the “same number of projects” compared to the previous government.

The rest of the respondents thought there were fewer projects, can’t say, or said there were no projects implemented.

“The Pulse Asia survey shows that with the Build, Build, Build program, the Duterte administration is on the right track in reversing the sorry state of public infrastructure,” said Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects Vince Dizon.

The Duterte administration plans to “build, build, build” thousands of infrastructure projects, spending a total of P8 trillion by 2022, to spur economic growth and make the lives of Filipinos more comfortable.

Of the thousands of projects to be implemented across the country, the economic team identified 100 gamechanging flagship projects.

“We will not stop here. Be assured that we will continue to push substantial implementation of Build, Build, Build projects on the ground to make the lives of our people better and more comfortable,” Dizon said.

The same Pulse Asia survey also found the administration “better” in developing infrastructure.

Sixty-nine percent of the total respondents said the present government is better in “developing infrastructure” in the country, while 29 percent said the infrastructure plans are the “same” with the previous administration. Only one percent said the current administration is “worse” on the same topic. Two percent of those surveyed indicated they “can’t say.”

Christmas Day. “We have persons of interest, in this case, we are digging deeper,” Tabora told reporters.

Ampatuan, who survived an ambush in 2014, stood as a witness against his relatives in the infamous Maguindanao massacre case.

“He was ambushed twice and he survived twice,” Tabora said.

Ampatuan is the father of Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan.

The mayor has strongly condemned the incident and has called for the speedy resolution of the case. PNA

BI agents nab Korean wanted for cyber fraud at the NAIA

By Vito Barcelo

MinDA to hold BARMM peace partners caucus COTABATO—To sustain the gains of the Mindanao peace process, the Mindanao Development Authority will host a Peace Partners’ Caucus in Davao City next month, MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Thursday.

The gathering aims to give opportunities for private individuals, companies, and corporate executives to contribute to sustaining peace and development efforts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Piñol said the caucus would be a venue to present possible areas of involvement by the private sector to sustain the peace gains made by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I thought of holding the Peace Partners’ Caucus two days after President Duterte publicly instructed me to fast-track the development of the Bangsamoro region, especially in the field of agriculture,” he said in a statement.

Piñol noted that the President was right when he emphasized the need to develop the BARMM’s agriculture and fisheries sector because of the region’s vast resources.

“You focus on BARMM agriculture,” Piñol quoted Duterte as telling him in the presence of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim last Dec. 23.

The President was at the BARMM compound here Monday where he distributed certificates of land ownership to 912 farmer-beneficiaries.

Piñol said the Peace Partners’ Caucus would just be a simple matching of BARMM farmers and fisherfolk to potential supporters and buyers from the private sector.

For starters, he said, feed mill companies would be asked what raw materials they need in feed formulation that could be sourced from the BARMM and the volume required.

As previously announced, MinDA will

launch the Sorghum Development Program in Mindanao to produce grains for food and animal feeds.

Piñol said a Thai agricultural firm based in the Philippines, CP Foods Philippines, has pledged to purchase sorghum from Mindanao, especially the BARMM. Farmers from the BARMM could also produce corn, cassava, copra meal, fish meal, and carrageenan as added feed components.

Supermarket chains could also provide BARMM vegetable farmers, especially those from Lanao del Sur who have been trained by groups like “Go Negosyo”, with access to the market.

With BARMM officials led by Ebrahim and regional agriculture and fisheries minister Mohammad Yacob supporting the Halal Meat and Poultry Production Program in the region, MinDA will also link up cattle, goat, and poultry farmers to potential buyers. PNA

IMMIGRATION agents intercepted a Korean fugitive wanted by authorities in Seoul for involvement in cyber fraud at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the passenger as Yun Kyungmin, who was intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 2.

Yun was about to leave for Hong Kong when he was stopped from boarding his flight by the immigration officer who discovered that his name is in the Interpol’s database of wanted foreign fugitives.

Yun is a subject of a red notice that Interpol issued in December last year after Korean authorities reported that he is wanted for prosecution.

The Korean government canceled his passport and a warrant for his arrest was issued by the district court in Daejeon, South Korea.

Rommel Tacorda, BI’s border control and intelligence unit chief, disclosed that Yun was accused of operating an illegal call center in Dalian, China that engaged in voice phising activities to defraud unsuspecting Korean victims.

Cyber criminals resort to the fraudulent schemes by attempting to steal sensitive information through phone calls that seems legitimate, thus victims are duped into believing that the call is from a trusted source.

Korean prosecutors alleged that from 2016 to 2018, Yun and his cohorts managed to defraud some 42 victims whose combined money losses amounted to more than 2.2 billion won or nearly US$2 million.

Usually, the suspects would call their victims and pretend to be police detectives or prosecutors. They would scare the former with threats of arrest and prosecution and instruct them to deposit money into bank accounts owned by the cyber frauders.

Sports

Pogba hailed world’s best midfielder L

ONDON—Paul Pogba has been hailed as the “best midfielder in the world” by Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Frenchman returned from a long injury lay-off.

The World Cup winner was in action for United for the first time since late September as a substitute in their chastening 2-0 defeat at Watford on Sunday.

He could be in the starting team against Newcastle on Thursday as Solskjaer desperately seeks the creativity the team needs to break down stubborn opposition defences.

“Let’s see how he reacts to this, how he feels,” said Solskjaer. “He did really well when he came on.

Big, big plus and it might be that we do get him in from the start.”

Pogba, who had only played twice since the end of August due to an ankle injury, was introduced on Sunday with United already trailing by two goals and went close to scoring during a late attacking flurry from the visitors.

“He can play anywhere, he can play the whole midfield,” said Solskjaer.

“He’s a box-to-box midfielder.

He can drop deep, get it, play long passes. He can get it higher up and combine like he did today.”

“That’s the beauty of having Paul, because he is the best allround midfielder in the world,” added the United boss, who has said the 26-year-old will not be leaving in the January transfer window despite links with Real Madrid.

Reaction Solskjaer said he was looking for a reaction from his players against Newcastle after United again failed to turn dominance of possession into a positive result at Watford.

“One of the good things about the team this year, we have reacted after bad results,” he said.

“We haven’t kept the consistency as we would have liked the other way but we’ve never gone on a big (bad) run like we did towards the end of last season so there will be a reaction, definitely.”

United are struggling in eighth place in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea despite recent moraleboosting wins against Tottenham and Manchester City.

Solskjaer admitted progress had been slower than expected but said he was focused on developing a team that could dominate and break sides down.

“It’s taken Liverpool a few years to get to that stage and we need to keep on building because that’s what we want to get to,” he said.

“Yes, we’re good at counter-attacking. Yes, we’ve got pace and fast players. We should always keep that because that’s in our tradition. Now we need to be better at breaking lower blocks.” AFP

SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTS IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENT IN RATES BASED ON THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH ON THE FOURTH TO SIXTH REGULATORY YEARS OF THE FIRST REGULATORY PERIOD FOR THE FIRST ENTRANT GROUP UNDER THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH (TGP) RULES, WITH MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. 2019-087 RC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

not going to win the LA Championship or anything.

“Both teams have got their eyes on the biggest prize.”

A Christmas win was a welcome boost, however, for the struggling Golden State Warriors, who shocked the Houston Rockets 116104 in San Francisco.

“This game meant a lot to us, and you can see it in the way our players approached it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

While the Warriors have reached the last five NBA Finals, they’ve struggled with injuries that have seen stars Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry sidelined and were underdogs against the Rockets lineup featuring former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

‘Huge stage’ Draymond Green scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, and Damion Lee added 22 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as the Warriors rallied to win their

Leicester...

From A8

“It’s my job as the leader to ensure it doesn’t get the players too down. We’re a humble group, we want to be better and we understand part of that development is you are going to lose games.”

The former Liverpool boss added: “That’ll happen, it’s a case of reflecting on it. We always believe in the process but when there’s a bump in the road we never get too down about it.

“We’re thinking about bringing a performance to the game which can get us three points.

“Our objectives are very much the same, we want to continue

developing as a team and we still have a lot more to do to get to the level we want to be.”

Meanwhile Rodgers played down suggestions Liverpool would be tired as a result of travelling back from Qatar, where they beat Flamengo 1-0 on Saturday to win a first Club World Cup title.

“It is a fantastic achievement, it’s a great status to have so very well done to them,” said the Foxes boss.

“We’re at home, we want to bring our true game—we know it’s going to be difficult but it’ll be a great test for us.

“They will come back on a high and will continue with the work they’ve shown in the last couple of years.” AFP

Annex No. Nature of Document A to A-2 Proposed TGP Calculations and supporting documents using the prescribed templates: Index “I” Calculation Efficiency Factor “X” Calculation Performance Incentive “S” Calculation B MFSR - Sections B and E (2012-2015) C Billing Determinants Template (2012-2015) (kWh Sales, No. of Customers, kW Demand) D Sample Bills per customer type (2012-2015) E Regional CPI (2012-2015) F RFSC Utilization (2013-2015) G Consumer Complaints Summary or Tracking Form (2013-2015) H Audited Financial Statements (2013-2015)

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 11 November 2019, Applicant Camarines Sur I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO I) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval for the adjustment in its rates pursuant to the Tariff Glide Path (TGP) Rules.

The pertinent provisions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows: 1.

CASURECO I is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine laws, with principal office at Libmanan, Camarines Sur;

2.

It holds an exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power distribution service in certain municipalities of the province of Camarines Sur, namely: Cabusao, Camaligan, Gainza, Libmanan, Lupi, Pamplona, Pasacao, Ragay, San Fernando and Sipocot.

3.

The instant Application is being filed for the approval of CASURECO I’s proposed adjustment in its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Rates to be made effective on the First to Third Regulatory Years of the Second Regulatory Period for electric cooperatives belonging to the First Entrant Group under the Tariff Glide Path Rules (TGP Rules), as well as other pertinent laws and rules.

4.

Sometime in year 2013, CASURECO I filed with the Honorable Commission an application for approval of proposed adjustment in its DSM Rates pursuant to the TGP Rules, docketed as ERC Case No. 2013-131 RC.

5.

In the said application, CASURECO I prayed for approval of either of the following two (2) proposed alternative DSM rates, to be implemented effective January 2014, to wit:

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 14. Applicant respectfully repleads herein the foregoing allegations.

15. CASURECO I respectfully prays that it be allowed to implement either of the two (2) proposed alternative DSM Rates even while the instant Application is pending, considering that it is expressly prescribed under the TGP Rules’ provision on Regulatory Period and Process, which provides in part, as follows: “2. Regulatory Period and Process 2.1 On or before each Fourth month of the Third and Sixth regulatory year of their respective Regulatory Periods, the electric cooperative may file before the Commission an application for a rate adjustment reflecting the values for the “I”, “X” and “S” as determined in accordance with these rules. The initial tariff caps of the respective ECs shall be adjusted by the “I”, “X” and “S” effective at the start of the Fourth Regulatory Year of the First Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods and the First Year of the Second Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods. However, the adjustment for the First Year of the Second Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods will be subject to the revised tariff caps calculated in accordance with Section 3 of these Rules.”

NATURE OF THE APPLICATION

STATEMENT OF FACTS

A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.8508

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.7786

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.0352 0.4601

Low Voltage

Higher Voltage 269.7846

0.9324 40.4324

40.4324

28.9220

28.9220

B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

Manchester United’s French midfielder Paul Pogba falls on the ball during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London. AFP

From A8

13. In support of the foregoing computations, Applicant is submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

CAMARINES SUR I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (CASURECO I), Applicant. x---------------------------------------------------x

7.

third straight—just their seventh victory of the season.

Westbrook had 30 points and 12 rebounds for Houston. Harden, averaging 38.6 points per game, had just 24 in the face of the Warriors’ determined, disciplined defense.

“It’s a lot of these guys’ first time playing on Christmas,” Green said. “That’s a huge stage, and to come out and execute like we did and to actually get a win like we did against a very good team, it definitely feels good.”

There was another upset in Denver, where the lowly New Orleans Pelicans toppled the Nuggets 112-100.

Brandon Ingram scored 31 points for the Pelicans—who are second-from last in the West— and New Orleans snapped the second-placed Nuggets’ sevengame winning streak.

The holiday slate tipped off in Toronto, where Jaylen Brown scored 30 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 118-102 win over the reigning champion Raptors in the first Christmas Day game in Canada. AFP

12. Consequently, CASURECO I respectfully prays that it be allowed to implement the calculated DSM rates with Performance Incentive “S”, effective January 1, 2017 and up to December 31, 2019.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

6.

Kawhi...

A7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

8.

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.8508

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.7786

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.0352 0.4601

Low Voltage

Higher Voltage

16. Under the TGP Rules, the regulatory period is six (6) years for each Entrant Group. For the First Entrant Group, the first regulatory period is from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016 and the start of the Second Regulatory Period is January 1, 2017. Appliant belongs to the First Entrant Group, accordingly, its initial DSM Rates under the TGP Rules should be adjusted through the proposed TGP B Rates starting January 1, 2011.

17. Aside from the foregoing, Applicant further prays for provisional authority to implement the proposed rates during the pendency of the instant Application, considering that CASURECO I urgently needs additional funds to be able to cope with the rising costs of its operations. Among the major factors that added to its operating costs is the implementation of the Sitio Energization Program (SEP) of the government consisting of massive extension of its distribution lines up to the remotest and far-flung areas which considerably increased its operations and maintenance costs and likewise resulted to increased system losses which the cooperative is constrained to absorb.

18. Further, the rising cost of materials, tools, equipment, supplies, fuel and other costs incidental to its daily operations has considerably increased in the past several years and the funds being generated from CASURECO I’s DSM revenues granted by the Honorable Commission way back in Year 2010 by virtue of the Rules for Setting the Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR), is no longer sufficient to cover those costs, and if not addressed accordingly with the adjustment of its rates, the cooperative’s service to its consumers will be prejudiced.

19. Considering the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed that herein Applicant be allowed to implement the proposed DSM Rates while the instant Application is pending evaluation of the Honorable Commission.

SUBMISSION OF PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 20. Finally, in compliance with the pre-filing requirements under the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicant is likewise submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

269.7846 0.9324 40.4324

40.4324

28.9220

28.9220

Annex Nature of Document Markings I Judicial Affidavit in Support of the Motion for Provisional Authority Proof of furnishing copies of the Application to the Sangguniang J and Panlungsod of Libmanan and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of series Camarines Sur K and Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of general series circulation CASURECO I’s franchise area or where it principally operates

The aforesaid application is CASURECO I’s initial application for DSM rate adjustment pursuant to the TGP Rules, under which electric cooperatives are given an opportunity to adjust their rates once every three (3) years, which may occur at the start of the fourth year of the First Regulatory Period and every three years thereafter.

CASURECO I belongs to the First Entrant Group under the TGP Rules, whose first regulatory period is from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016.

It filed its initial application for DSM rate adjustment in 2013 which is the third regulatory year of the First Regulatory Period. It is filing the instant Application pursuant to the TGP Rules and based on the data of the fourth to sixth regulatory years of the First Regulatory Period or January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016, for the proposed adjustment of its DSM rates to take effect on the first to third regulatory years of the Second Regulatory Period for the First Entrant Group under the TGP Rules, or January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019.

CASURECO I’s first TGP Application under ERC Case No. 2013-131 RC is still pending evaluation of the Honorable Commission. However, it adopted and utilized the proposed DSM rates in said pending application as bases in computing the proposed adjustment in the instant Application.

THE PROPOSED DSM RATE ADJUSTMENT

9. Under the TGP Rules, the concerned electric cooperative shall use the following formula in determining the TGP for the fourth to sixth years of the Regulatory Period, to wit: TGPB= TGPn + TGPn+1TGPn+2 where

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that after initial evaluation hereof and while the Application is pending, Applicant CASURECO I be allowed to implement either of the alternative proposed new rates for its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Charges, and after due notice and hearing, the said proposed rates be granted accordingly, to cover the period of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019, to wit: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.8933

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.8175

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.2865 0.4831

283.2530 0.9790 42.4509

42.4509

30.3659

30.3659

B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S”

TGPn = In - Xn + Sn n= the fourth year of the Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods The TGP calculated for each of the three years will be summed to determine the possible rate adjustment starting on the First Year of the next Regulatory Period.

10. Applying the methodology embodied in the TGP Rules, CASURECO I calculated the values of the “I”, “X” and “S” and came up with the following results, to wit: “I”

“X”

“S”

TGP B

TGP B (Excluding “S”)

Year 2014

0.00%

0.00%

0.80%

0.80%

Year 2015

10.59%

3-53%

0.00%

7.05%

7.05%

Year 2016

0.00%

4.16%

1.30%

-2.86%

-4.16%

4.99%

2.89%

Total

0.00%

11. Utilizing the above values will result in adjustments on the CASURECO I’s DSM Rates for the first to third years of the Second Regulatory Period for electric cooperatives belonging to the First Entrant Group, as follows: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Low Voltage

Higher Voltage

UNITS Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

Demand Charge

PhP/Kw 0.8935

0.9790

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/Mo

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

0.8175

Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo.

5.2865

Metering System Charge

PhP/kWh

0.4831

42.4509

42.4509

30.3659

30.3659

Metering Charges:

EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Low Voltage

Higher Voltage

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge

PhP/kW

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

277.5875 0.8755

0.9594

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/Mo

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

0.8012

Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo.

5.1808

Metering System Charge

PhP/kWh

0.4734

41.6019

41.6019

29.7585

29.7585

Metering Charges:

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.8755

277.5875

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.8012

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.1808 0.4734

0.9594 41.6019

41.6019

29.7585

29.7585

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 16 January 2020 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at CASURECO I’s Main Office in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

283.2530

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Residential

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises are likewise being prayed for.

Distribution Charges:

B.

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Residential Voltage Voltage

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. 1$o particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; anc

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21st day of November 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

MStandard – Dec. 20 & 27, 2019

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

Vietnam adds 3 traditional sports to SEA Games

By Peter Atencio

Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Pacquiao is 8th richest FILIPINO Senator Manny Pacquiao is the eighth wealthiest athlete in the world throughout the decade (2010 to 2019), according to a list released by Forbes.

Pacquiao’s “25 pay-per-view fights have generated 20 million buys and an estimated $1.3 billion in revenue,” Forbes said.

Pacquiao’s estimated personal earnings in the decade reached $435 million or over P22 billion.

Undefeated retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr topped the list, with an estimated $915 million in earnings, including $500 million combined for his 2015 and 2017 fights versus Pacquiao and Conor McGregor. In a tweet, Mayweather congratulated “every athlete on this list.”

Forbest Highest Paid Athletes of the Decade: 1. Floyd Mayweather: $915 million; 2. Cristiano Ronaldo: $800 million; 3. Lionel Messi: $750 million; 4 LeBron James: $680 million; 5. Roger Federer: $640 million; 6. Tiger Woods: $615 million; 7. Phil Mickelson: $480 million; 8. Manny Pacquiao: $435 million; 9. Kevin Durant: $425 million; 10. Lewis Hamilton: $400 million.

Leicester loss a bump in road LONDON—Brendan Rodgers has insisted Leicester’s recent loss to Premier League champions Manchester City was just a “bump in the road” as they prepare for the visit of leaders Liverpool.

Second-placed Leicester are 10 points adrift of Liverpool following a 3-1 defeat

by City—their first loss since October.

Liverpool, bidding for their first English title in 30 years, have yet to lose in the Premier League this season and will kick-off on the back of victory in the Club World Cup final.

Leicester, however, pushed Liverpool all the way before going 2-1 at Anfield thanks to James Milner’s disputed late penalty and then went on to win their next eight games.

“We have a fantastic resilience and we’ve shown that in a number of months but when you lose a game it’s always difficult,” said Leicester manager Rodgers.

Turn to A7

Kawhi leads Clippers past Lakers; Sixers rout Bucks

L

OS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points as the Clippers rallied to beat the Lakers 111-106 in an all-Los Angeles NBA showdown on Wednesday.

The Western Conference heavyweight clash was part of the NBA’s five-game Christmas extravaganza, which saw the Philadelphia 76ers make a statement with a 121-109 victory over the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks.

Cameroonian big man Joel Embiid scored 31 points as the Sixers ran roughshod over the league’s top-rated defense.

Embiid pulled down 11 rebounds and played a key role in neutralizing Milwaukee’s reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was held to 18 points on eight-of-23 shooting.

“The whole season I’ve been humble, but I want to be defensive player of the year, and I feel like tonight showed it,” Embiid said.

The 76ers led by as many as 29 points as they handed the Bucks just their fifth defeat of the season.

“We had to go through this today,” An-

tetokounmpo said. “We had to have our character tested today because the only way you get better is when you face adversity.”

It was a back-and-forth battle in Los Angeles, where the Clippers and Lakers battled through 15 lead changes.

With superstar LeBron James off to a slow start offensively, the Lakers still managed to take control with a 17-2 scoring run to close the first half and take a 63-51 lead at the break.

The Lakers led by as many as 15 in the third quarter before the Clippers battled back to knot the score at 86-86 going into the fourth.

Three-pointers from James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped push the Lakers to a 101-94 lead, but the Clippers tied it up again and took the lead for good with 3:29 remaining on their way to a second victory this season over the Lakers.

Leonard scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Patrick Beverley produced a key block of James’s potential game-tying three-pointer with 3.6 seconds to play.

“I just tried to make a play on a really great player,” Beverley said after he swatted the ball and it went out of bounds—somehow off the hands of James. “I was fortunate to make a defensive play.”

“We gave that one away,” said Anthony Davis, who scored 24 points for the Lakers but lamented the team’s “mental mistakes on both ends of the floor” late in the game.

Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with 25 points while James finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in his team’s fourth straight defeat.

Despite the breathless buildup to the “Battle of Los Angeles”, Leonard scoffed at the idea that city bragging rights mattered.

“It was one game out of the season,” he said. “Whoever won this game was Turn to A7

ORGANIZERS of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam have added three traditional sports events in their calender of events and will be opening their doors for more.

Sports officials met during the Christmas holidays and included shuttlecock kicking, diving and vovinam to the list of events in the biennial meet.

In the meeting, deputy director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training Tran Duc Phan discussed the list of events that they can add to the 2021 games.

“Vietnam will focus on organizing sports that are in the Olympic system. There will be full disciplines in running and swimming. We will have a level playing ground. There is no question of adding more sports in group 3 to get more medals,” said Phan in a statement released online.

Group 3 events involve traditional sports that are popular in the region, along with new events as well.

Vovinam is a martial arts discipline that is part of the Vietnamese culture.

It is one of the disciplines that are being considered aside from petanque, chess, dancesport, pencak silat, muay thai, bodybuilding and e-sports.

Vietnam is also keen on having shuttlecock kicking, after having won two gold medals at the 2019 world championships when it was held last August in France.

Vietnamese officials earlier sought the inclusion of vovinam as among the sports to be played in the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines when it hosted it early December.

But the Philippines did not add it.

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee have instead included arnis, its national martial art, and obstacle racing and won 14 and six gold medals in them.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is expected to meet with Vietnam Olympic Committee president Prof Nguyen Danh Thai next month when they start meeting for the games in Hanoi.

“They submitted 35 events. And we will appeal,” said Tolentino, who added that he is pushing for the inclusion of arnis, kickboxing and obstacle course racing.

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League heads to Canada THE Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League will show its brand of play to Canada starting Friday, December 27, (December 28 in Manila) when Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines tangles with Imus Bandera at Seven Chiefs Sportsflex in Calgary, Alberta.

Now known as Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season, the 31-team league founded by Senator Manny Pacquiao, will be making its second international foray after a two-game swing in Dubai, UAE, in September.

Apart from the Zamboanga-Imus tussle, Pacquiao will be bringing along a 21-man All-Star team which will be facing local selections from Calgary and Edmonton in the event dubbed MPBL Canada Invasion.

Majority of the Bandera, including actor Gerald Anderson and former PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand, left on Christmas Day in two batches, same with the Zamboanguenos.

MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, Deputy Commissioner Zaldy Realubit and Operations Head Emmer Oreta and some league personnel flew out in separate flights Wednesday.

Duremdes, a PBA all-time great, and Oreta will be playing in the All-Stars which will be

split into two teams to be headed by Pacquiao and Cong. Bobby Pacquiao. Realubit will serve as All-Stars coach.

The All-Stars are MPBL Datu Cup MVP Gab Banal of the Bacoor Strikers, Chris Lalata (Bicol Volcanoes), Spencer Eman (Socsargen Marlins), Mark Yee (Davao Occidental Tigers), Michael Juico (Pampanga Giant Lanterns), Val Acuna (Valenzuela Classic), Paulo Hubalde (Valenzuela Classic), Chris Bitoon (Manila Stars), Aris Dionisio (Manila Stars), Jeff Viernes (Batangas Blades), Jhayman Eguilos (Batangas Blades) and Anderson (Imus Bandera).

Others in the roster are MPBL panelists Christian Luanzon, Martin Antonio, and Rodney Santos, co-operations head Satar Macantal, and marketing officer Seth Jamora.

Pacquiao, wife Jinkee and their children will leave for Calgary on Thursday night.

Tagging along are the rest of the MPBL staff, including three referees who will officiate MPBL’s first game in North America.

The Friday (Dec. 27) games in Calgary will be held at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex while Edmonton Expo Centre will host the games on Saturday (Dec. 28).

Imus’ Jayjay Helterbrand (left) will be a marked man when the Bandera takes on Zamboanga in Canada.

Fiery duel looms as National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship begins PREMIUM will be on accuracy as 20 teams aim to gain the proverbial head start in a tournament with varied formats in the National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship reeling off today (Friday, Dec. 27) at the short but tricky Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club.

Jed Dy and Mikha Fortuna loom as the tandem to beat in the threeday event with the former looking to make it two straight after teaming up with LPGA Tour-bound Bianca Pagdanganan last year. But the rest are all coming into the event all geared up to end 2019 with a victory for the momentum needed for the next

season’s campaign beginning Jan. 7, 2020 at Riviera.

Reigning Indonesian Amateur titlist Luis Castro and fellow SEA Games bronze medal team member Sean Ramos are also tipped to contend for the crown with Andres Lorenzo and Gabby Macalaguim as partners, respectively, along with the pairs of Zachary Castro-Miguel Ilas, Luigi GuerreroDan Cruz, Aldo Barro-Ivan Monsalve, Don Petil-Leandro Bagtas, Josh Jorge-Santino Laurel and Jonar Austria-Marco Olives.

Play will be four-ball (best ball) at the tight par-68 layout with action shifting to aggregate tomorrow

(Saturday) with the two-ball foursomes (alternate shot) to cap the closing event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Four girls’ tandems are also out to spring a surprise, including Rianne Malixi and Precious Zaragosa, and Laureas Duque and Eagle Ace Superal, Tomita Arejola and Nicole Abelar, and Sam Martirez and Diana Araneta, guaranteeing an unpredictable finish to the event held as part of the PLDT National Amateur Golf Tour and backed by Cignal and Metro Pacific Investments.

The tournament also serves as part of the field’s tune-up for the 2020 National Stroke Play Championship set Jan. 7-10. Listup is ongoing. For details, call NGAP at telefax No. (02) 7065926 or at Riviera Golf Club, Inc. at (02) 888-9089 or 0956-8821149 email ngap2009handicap@yahoo.com.

Other tandems in the fold are Rald Sarmiento-Masaichi Otake, Paolo Barro-Jeff Jung, Santino Diokno-Miguel Roque. Manfred Guangko-David Guangko, Aries Mata-Lawrence Celestino, Menard Co-Roy Nodalo, and Liam CullyChristopher Popp.

Aside from the centerpiece Group I for members of national team and for players with handicap index of 4.0 or less, also on tap are the Group 2 (4.1 and above) and Group III (players 30-years-old-and-above regardless of handicap).

Leading the Group II cast are Franco Rivera-Mark Rivera, Gabby RoscaReese Ng, Christian Acero-Joseph Orbito, Sophia Blanco-Alexi Blanco, and Larry Patnongon-Jaime Patnongon while the pairs of Dexter Pelia-Titus Aguilar, Allan Rubrica-Dennis Nicomedes, Jimmy Suelo-Romeo Lopez, and Ricky Velasco-Ramon Capistrano lead the Group III field.

IN BRIEF

Business

DBP, OWWA sign rebate program deal

STATE-RUN Development Bank of the Philippines, the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, signed a partnership agreement with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to implement the agency’s rebate program benefitting 167,000 qualified members.

DBP president and chief executive Emmanuel Herbosa said under the memorandum of agreement, DBP would serve as the disbursing bank where rebates using the PESONet facility would be credited directly to OWWA members’ bank accounts in any of the 53 participating financial institutions with no additional deductions.

“We are pleased to be of service to the overseas Filipino workers as DBP continues to safeguard the benefits of overseas Filipinos whose contributions have helped a lot in the development of our country,” Herbosa said.

DBP is the eighth largest bank in the country with assets totaling P700.9-billion as of end September 2019.

Julito G. Rada

GSIS releases cash dividend worth P174m

STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System began distributing the 2018 cash benefit to its active members amounting to P174 million on Dec. 23.

More popularly known to GSIS members as dividend, the cash benefit will be given to qualified compulsory policy holders of the GSIS life insurance program.

“We will automatically credit the cash benefit of our members to their eCard or Unified Multipurpose Identification card,” GSIS chairman and acting president and general manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet.

Entitled to the 2018 cash benefit are GSIS members whose compulsory life insurance policies have been in force for at least one year as of Dec. 31, 2018.

Members whose compulsory policies matured in 2018 will receive a proportionate amount.

Not eligible to receive the cash benefit are members whose compulsory insurance policies lapsed in 2018.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

B1

Meralco sets rebidding of 1,200 MW in February

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Aboitiz to supply power to Batangas

BATANGAS II Electric Cooperative Inc., the country’s biggest electric cooperative, is now powered by Aboitiz Power Corp.’s geothermal plants.

“We are very pleased to be the partner of choice of BATELEC II for their Cleanergy supply. It’s an honor for us to serve the growing number of customers who are pushing for a more sustainable energy source,” Aboitiz Power first vice president for energy trading and sales Juan Alejandro Aboitiz said in a statement.

BATELEC II, which has a peak demand of 132 megawatts, is the largest of all 119 electric cooperatives in the country. Aboitiz Power will supply three megawatts to BATELEC II, which was formalized through the signing of an agreement on Dec. 18.

“We’ve been in the business for over four decades, and this is the first time we have decided to venture into the open access business and activate our local retail electricity supplier. To make a difference, we have decided to source renewable supply to serve our contestable customers,” said BATALEC II general manager Octavious Mendoza. Alena Mae S. Flores

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

WORKPLACE DIVERSITY. AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, teams up with Project Inclusion Network to promote diversity and inclusion further inside its organization. Project Inclusion Network is a non-government organization that helps persons with disabilities find jobs by partnering with local and multinational companies in the Philippines.

Leading the partnership agreement are (from left) AXA Philippines chief financial officer Ronaldo San Jose, chief human resources officer Jaspreet Kakar, Project Inclusion Network executive director Grant Javier and operations lead Jim Nemeño.

Lack of builders threatens property sector—Colliers

By Jenniffer B. Austria

A

N ACUTE shortage of skilled construction workers threatens the growth of the property sector in 2020, according to consulting firm Colliers International Philippines.

budget which would likely result in delayed construction of vital public projects that provide direction to property developers’ expansion strategies.

“Colliers believes that over the next 12 months, developers should continue to adapt to the evolving preferences of investors and tenants to survive in a fiercely competitive Philippine property market,” CIP said.

It advised property developers to actively discuss with the government and other stakeholders the policies and programs that would likely further redefine the Philippine property landscape.

Property firms were also encouraged to continuously look for opportunities to capture demand from foreign retailers in light of the lower capital requirements for foreign retailers and capitalize on opportunities for transit-oriented development in urban areas outside Metro Manila, following the infrastructure development of the national government.

Colliers Philippines said that in 2019, property firms focused on developing more co-living projects amid worsening traffic in Metro Manila.

CIP said in a report that while the domestic property sector was expected to remain robust next year, it would face several headwinds that could constrict growth.

It said one of the challenges that could temper the growth of the real estate sector was the acute shortage of skilled construction workers. Several construction companies and real estate developers earlier complained about the difficulty of hiring skilled workers despite the offer for higher salaries.

This problem would likely delay the launching and completion of residential projects in Metro Manila, CIP said.

CIP said another lingering concern is the next phase of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program that would Manila be approved by Congress.

Standard TODAY “The delays in the approval of the measure that proposes to reduce corporate income tax rates and rationalize tax incentives granted to foreign investors has been compelling occupants to take a wait-and-see stance,” Colliers Philippines said.

The consulting firm also pointed to the government’s inability to fully spend its infrastructure

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. will bid out again 1,200 megawatts of power requirement on Feb. 17, 2020 in compliance with the competitive selection process of the Department of Energy.

Meralco, in a new invitation to bid, called on interested parties to participate in the competitive bidding for the supply of 1,200 MW of baseload capacity for 20 years starting 2024.

The company held the first bidding for the 20-year 1,200-MW baseload requirement on Sept. 10, but declared a failure after only one company submitted a bid.

Meralco’s third-party bids and awards committee scheduled the submission of expression of interest on Jan. 13. It said it would declare a failure of the bidding process if less than two parties expressed interest in the auction.

“Offered contract capacity per bidder shall only be by discrete 600 MW [net] blocks. An interested bidder shall submit a bid price containing its headline rate [proposed price using 2020 indices and prices] and its levelized cost of electricity,” the company said.

The power distributor said the bidder should make available the full contract capacity by September 2024, with an option by Meralco to take available energy up to 1,200 MW at commissioning energy charge starting September 2023.

Meralco said the bidders, in case they will offer multiple units, should have a minimum of 150 MW per unit and have the same fuel type and guaranteed net plant heat rate.

“Bidder shall offer fuel source from a technology that complies with the prevailing emission standards under pertinent DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] issuances on emission and other environmental standards for power plants,” it said.

Ex-OFW spouses: supporting the livelihood of 800 coconut farmers in Cotabato

NEDA clears Chelsea’s offer on Davao airport

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. said it secured a clearance from the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee to modernize the Davao International Airport.

“We thank NEDA for granting us the clearance before the year ends. Our next step is to negotiate with the Department of Transportation within the parameters set by the NEDA-ICC approved on Dec. 20, 2019,” Chelsea president and chief executive Chryss Alfonsus Damuy said.

“Once we have completed the negotiations, we shall seek a formal approval from the NEDA board chaired by President Duterte and then undergo a Swiss challenge as required under the BOT law,” he said.

The unsolicited proposal will undergo a Swiss Challenge. This means that other groups may submit counter-proposals while the original proponent has the option to match such bids.

This follows the grant of original proponent status in October 2018 and endorsements from the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Davao City Council and Davao City Development Council this year.

The company said it would spend P49 billion for the modernization of DIA. The project is expected to bring the economic growth of Davao Region and Mindanao to a higher level through increased trade and tourism activities.

The scope of this project includes reconfiguration and expansion of the terminal building, construction of parallel taxiway, improvement of airside and landside facilities, installation of modern airport IT systems and all activities needed to improve airport services of DIA, the primary gateway to Mindanao, and the third largest airport in the country Chelsea Logistics also submitted an unsolicited offer to Philippine Ports Authority to develop, operate and maintain the Davao Sasa Port for P16 billion with a proposed concession period of 25 years.

Ceramic tile importers oppose certification plan

By Othel V. Campos A GROUP of importers asked the Trade Department to exclude ceramic tiles from the coverage of mandatory certification.

The Philippines Ceramic Products Importer Association also pushed for a public hearing to determine whether ceramic tiles pose danger to life, health and safety.

It submitted a position paper to the Trade Department’s Consumer Protection Group and would present expert witnesses to attest to the safeness of imported ceramic tiles.

The group argued that the new technical regulations imposed by the CPG contained provisions that were “not practical and not feasible to implement within a reasonable period of time.”

“Foremost of this almost impossible pro-

vision is the requirement for a PS [Philippine Standard] license for tile manufacturers abroad,” said Philippines Ceramic Products Importer Association president Napoleon Co. The proposed technical regulations require importers to apply for PS license for their suppliers within six months.

“From our previous experience in applying for PS license it will be impossible to have all suppliers apply for PS license within 6 months considering the limited number and capacity of the accrediting laboratories from where they came from,” Co said.

Data showed there are more than 200 suppliers of ceramic tiles from different countries to the Philippines. Most ceramic tiles imports are from China, Spain, Italy, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Husband and wife Jerry and Jocelyn Taray (left), founders of TreeLife, showcase their best-selling products. Coconut farmers (top right) harvesting coconuts to be used for processing TreeLife`s organic and healthy products such as virgin coconut oil (lower right).

Filipinos call it, “The Tree of Life.” From its seed, fruit and leaves, to its roots, every part of the coconut tree has a wide variety of uses. This is what husband and wife Jerry and Jocelyn Taray from Carmen, Cotabato Province banked on when they decided to go into agribusiness.

The couple’s business venture started in 2004, when they had to return home from their employment in Canada, unable to endure its cold weather. Using the money they saved from working abroad, they invested in the dealership of a local beer and soda products.

After two years, their initial investment prospered, and later,the couple secured a P1.5-million loan from Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK)to expand their distributorship and dealership business, as well as venture into agribusiness.

That same year, there was a long drought in Mindanao which made it difficult for farmers to plant any crop.

The local Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) office had thousands of dwarf coconut seedlings that were originally intended for distribution to farmers. But because of the drought, farmers refused the seedlings, even if they were at a giveaway price.

The drought turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the couple. The local PCA manager convinced Jerry to buy the seedlings and even gave some away for free.

After four years of reconditioning the soil, the coconut trees started bearing fruit. In 2011, the couple studied the health benefits of coconuts and its potential to help farmers in their community. Thus was born the fruit of their labor: TreeLife.

Through TreeLife, the Tarays were able to develop a sustainable and reliable source of organic products, such as coco sugar, virgin coconut oil, coconut syrup, coconut jam, and coconut aminos.

Employing farmers, IPs, women TreeLife turned out to be the couple’s most meaningful venture as it allowed them to help local farmers. They now employ over 800 farmers who help in harvesting coconuts and in processing their products.

“Our farmers are earning quite well from collecting coconut sap. We also have a lot of indigenous people and women who are involved in the processing of coconut sugar, banana chips, and coconut oil. We prioritize a workforce of women. We always believe that the true essence of the quality of our products comes from our farmers, our workers in the factory, and our sales team. They are all involved, from the farm to the factory,” Jerry said.

Through LANDBANK’s assistance,the Tarays have also expanded their products. They now export their organic virgin coconut oil, coco syrup, and their latest addition: banana chips and coconut wine.

“We’re very happy with LANDBANK,” said Jocelyn, “We’ve been with them for 13 years, and the advantage is that, kahit malayo ka, pupuntahan ka nila.”

Jerry added, “As farmers, we are instrumental in nourishing the land and harnessing its produce. That is our role in this world. But without an institution that encourages farmers to pursue entrepreneurship, it would just be a solo venture, and not a communitybased enterprise that exchanges goods and services.

We are fortunate to have LANDBANK in the countryside to support farmers into becoming agripreneurs, and be responsible stewards of the earth.”

With their hard work and perseverance, along with the diligence of their local farmers, TreeLife has now become a world-class coconut processing company and is well-known in other countries. The company now exports 90% of its products, especially the coco sugar and syrup, to international organic and health food manufacturers.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks slip; Manila Water surges T HE stock market fell Thursday on mild profit-taking after a two-day Christmas break, but water-related issues continued their rally as some investors took advantage of their steep losses in previous sessions.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 30.32 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,842.28 on a thin value turnover of P3.6 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 105 to 81, with 50 issues unchanged.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of the Gokongwei Group declined 3.3 percent to P79, while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group, dropped 2 percent to P1,056.

Manila Water Co. Inc. jumped 17.8 percent to P10.10, while Metro Pacific

Investments Corp., which is into water and electricity distribution, toll roads, hospitals and infrastructure, advanced 4.7 percent to P3.58.

The rest of Asian equities inched up on Thursday in subdued trading, holding the gains recently spurred by the USChina trade thaw.

Following the Christmas lull across world markets, eyes are now on US unemployment data due later in the day, and Japanese industrial and retail data scheduled for release on Friday.

Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei index closed 0.6 percent higher after a flat start. Shanghai was up 0.4 percent and Seoul also climbed 0.4 percent.

“Investor sentiment towards the global economy is improving,” said Rakuten Securities chief strategist Masayuki Kubota.

Hong Kong, Sydney and Wellington were closed for a public holiday.

“With the... tech sector giants leading the way, investors are showing no fear as the market remains underpinned by the thawing in the US-China trade squabble and easy central bank policy,” Stephen Innes, chief Asia market strategist at AxiTrader, said in a report.

Volumes are typically light during the holiday season, and the muted activity in Asia followed sleepy Christmas Eve sessions in many world markets.

“No news being good news, Asia should maintain... gains ahead of a US session likely to be positive,” Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for AsiaPacific at OANDA, wrote in a note.

In oil markets, the main contracts were up as the commodity remained strong thanks to trade optimism as well as the OPEC+ output reduction agreement.

Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate were both up 0.4 percent.

“Oil prices continue to show year-end strength supported by a combination of definitive progress on the US-China trade deal, the... OPEC/OPEC+ agreement, and slowing shale activity,” wrote AxiTrader’s Innes.

“All of which is pointing to a stronger performance for oil prices in Q1 than anyone had thought only two months ago.”

World markets were spooked by the long-running, tit-for-tat trade war between the United States and China, with analysts warning that the bruising rift between the world’s two biggest economies could harm global economic growth.

Washington and Beijing have agreed to an initial trade deal, which they are expected to finalize in January, and the improvement in ties has boosted markets with investors hoping for a smoother ride into the new year. AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review thurSday, deceMBer 26, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

53.1 87.5 2.04 153.3 1.02 24.95 18 12.06 3.91 7.02 0.365 66 12.7 34 172.1 118 58.35 23 186.6 58

53.1 87.5 2.04 157.4 1.1 25.1 18 12.2 4.03 7.02 0.365 67 12.7 35.1 173 118 58.35 23 196 58.2

53.1 86.6 1.84 153.3 1.02 24.95 18 11.96 3.91 7 0.35 66 12.7 34 172 118 58.35 23 185.8 58

FINANCIALS 53.1 30 86.9 287,710 1.87 40,000 157.4 359,260 1.07 16,000 25.1 86,000 18 600 11.96 146,600 4.03 20,000 7 11,900 0.35 370,000 67 419,710 12.7 50,100 34.45 133,600 173 420 118 20 58.35 40 23 21,600 196 302,450 58 1,690

1,593 25,023,324 74,500 55,909,445 17,490 2,151,955 10,800 1,763,120 78,760 83,327 130,800 27,908,758 636,270 4,641,820(3, 72,323 2,360 2,334 496,800 58,338,514 98,046

79,960 -3,958,349 230,460 21,764 -4,030 -83,327 -45,800 -11,888,458 -518,160 738,440.0001) 22,373 23,000 -8,450,583 -

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY 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 JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

33.95 2.28 13.46 0.51 1.22 2.58 0.231 88.25 2.03 15.3 169.9 4.1 16.52 28.95 64.4 72.85 2.14 5.01 9.5 14.14 9.86 7.23 23.75 67 1.2 40 1.91 13.88 7.89 220 41.65 6.25 8.8 12.12 16.48 300 0.153 5.44 1.91 4.1 3.85 10.06 11.5 33.4 4.99 5.3 2.18 1.74 0.85 10 85.2 8.3 0.115 0.97 147.4 1.18 0.88

33.95 2.31 13.5 0.51 1.23 2.75 0.24 88.25 2.1 15.32 169.9 4.1 17.48 28.95 64.4 72.85 2.15 5.05 9.5 14.78 9.86 7.24 24.4 68.2 1.26 40 1.91 13.88 7.91 220 41.65 6.41 10.16 12.12 16.56 310 0.153 5.44 1.92 4.1 3.94 10.06 11.8 33.45 4.99 5.3 2.21 1.79 0.85 10.02 85.2 8.48 0.115 1.02 150.1 1.18 0.89

33.2 2.27 13.46 0.5 1.22 2.58 0.23 88.1 2 15.08 169.9 3.93 16.52 26.35 64.4 72.85 2.13 4.82 9.41 14.14 9.45 7.2 23.25 67 1.18 38.1 1.8 13.64 7.8 214 41.65 6 8.8 11.9 16.36 300 0.153 5.44 1.91 4.1 3.83 10 11.4 32 4.93 5.26 2.16 1.74 0.85 9.91 84.9 8.2 0.115 0.97 147.1 1.15 0.87

INDUSTRIAL 33.85 827,600 2.27 1,978,000 13.46 356,000 0.5 1,169,000 1.23 472,000 2.71 5,463,000 0.239 2,680,000 88.1 650 2.08 2,856,000 15.2 785,500 169.9 290 4 179,000 17.48 2,600 28 1,300 64.4 10 72.85 4,000 2.15 207,000 4.82 7,200 9.43 1,199,800 14.48 395,700 9.76 333,600 7.21 807,200 24.3 507,800 68 34,500 1.24 29,281,000 39 88,000 1.88 7,142,000 13.74 87,600 7.91 63,400 216.2 238,960 41.65 1,200 6.2 177,600 10.1 48,632,100 11.98 26,300 16.42 1,058,200 305 75,490 0.153 80,000 5.44 200 1.91 1,886,000 4.1 1,000 3.85 1,518,000 10 32,300 11.8 32,000 32.95 261,700 4.94 6,300 5.3 6,300 2.2 885,000 1.79 2,000 0.85 59,000 9.94 67,400 85 170,690 8.21 162,800 0.115 310,000 1.02 278,000 148 298,850 1.17 1,839,000 0.88 527,000

27,896,495 4,515,000 4,798,872 585,820 580,540 14,570,760 620,950 57,268 5,877,450(1, 11,931,632 49,271 713,100 45,352 36,320 644 291,400 444,060 35,139 11,344,313 5,731,030 3,253,835 5,818,931 12,248,985 2,326,575.50 36,058,360 3,391,125 13,399,780 1,203,092 498,998 51,641,194 49,980 1,072,560 470,757,120 314,604 17,363,264 23,027,966 12,240 1,088 3,602,310 4,100 5,844,710 323,006 373,162 8,613,725(3, 31,127 33,269 1,936,400 3,530 50,150 671,631 14,509,480.50 1,351,631 35,650 272,550 44,131,803 2,137,710 462,800

-3,008,405 -9,200 2,628,600 12,500 1,307,830 746,829.9999) -169,272 -55,740 -2,800 -4,393 5,469,445 -5,667,684 -1,548,440 -970,786 2,338,020 -11,543.50 -22,220 1,620,295 -4,860,230 -715,962 167,980 -17,419,348 615,315 -106,738,140 -120,982 -3,068,478 -1,124,700 -525,250 -391,050 -20,000 135,360.0003) -6,890 30,800 8,500 -275,527 4,186,624 -41,050 11,500 -45,340 -7,322,665 25,740.00 -

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 FJ PRINCE A FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER

0.87 51 11.52 0.68 6.78 10.8 0.94 0.96 762 2.96 6.7 6.4 13.4 4 0.203 852 5.25 80.1 5.65 0.485 3.75 11.9 0.57 3.46 4.22 1.14 160 1,062 1.25 188 206.2

0.88 52.1 11.64 0.69 6.78 10.8 0.94 0.96 812 3.01 6.73 6.85 13.4 4 0.203 879 5.25 80.9 5.89 0.5 3.8 11.9 0.57 3.63 4.8 1.2 166 1,075 1.25 215 213.8

0.85 51 11.44 0.66 6.69 10.26 0.9 0.96 762 2.96 6.65 6.3 13.38 3.96 0.203 845 5.25 79 5.65 0.48 3.75 11.44 0.57 3.43 4.22 1.14 155 1,055 1.25 188 206.2

HOLDING FIRMS 0.87 11,951,000 51.95 478,420 4,679,700 11.6 0.68 227,000 6.7 30,700 10.48 15,600 0.93 1,688,000 0.96 61,000 800 235,550 3.01 286,000 6.71 37,300 6.68 17,809,400 13.4 212,300 4 9,000 0.203 10,000 879 66,230 5.25 2,000 79 494,170 5.89 19,600 0.5 31,000 3.75 164,000 11.9 612,800 0.57 5,000 3.58 40,252,000 4.38 63,000 1.15 170,000 165.5 63,910 1,056 534,815 1.25 1,000 200 2,760 213.8 110

10,323,840 24,775,388 54,165,578 154,290 205,685 161,676 1,550,040 58,560 186,907,230 856,030 249,780 118,934,579 2,844,620 35,840 2,030 57,397,535 10,500 39,266,567.5 ( 112,634 14,935 615,050 7,115,472 2,850 143,308,960 282,500 194,770 10,366,372 566,854,605 1,250 550,186 22,758

-191,970 -10,868,136 -6,716,150 10,101,525 -264,290 127,248 -17,730,376 -133,800 -17,047,295 14,915,782.5) -11,500 -26,250 -5,780,450 6,998,670 9,200 -943,707 482,077,485 13,160 -

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

14.76 0.71 8.95 1.5 0.81 46.5 1.97 4.75 6.99 0.55 0.77 0.81 0.178 0.385 9.75 19 0.101 1.51 1.18 4.05 0.194 0.43 1.28

14.8 0.71 8.95 1.5 0.81 47 2.01 4.83 7 0.55 0.77 0.85 0.188 0.385 10 19.2 0.106 1.52 1.18 4.15 0.195 0.43 1.29

14.76 0.7 8.95 1.48 0.79 46.2 1.96 4.64 6.9 0.53 0.77 0.8 0.178 0.37 9.75 18.9 0.1 1.5 1.16 4.05 0.19 0.43 1.24

PROPERTY 14.76 259,000 0.71 447,000 8.95 1,000 1.48 39,000 0.8 226,000 46.4 3,843,700 1.98 530,000 4.78 447,000 6.9 43,500 0.55 11,798,000 0.77 1,000 0.85 62,000 0.188 420,000 0.37 310,000 9.98 130,000 19 594,800 0.1 1,440,000 1.5 2,882,000 1.16 1,008,000 4.09 16,667,000 0.192 10,060,000 0.43 10,000 1.26 682,000

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

0.31 2.12 49.95 27.8 2.12 3.13 42 2.46 1.2 7.3 5.5

0.31 2.15 49.95 27.95 2.12 3.13 42 2.46 1.2 7.4 5.6

0.305 2.07 49.95 27.1 2.12 3.06 41.1 2.33 1.17 7.3 5.46

0.305 2.07 49.95 27.2 2.12 3.1 41.5 2.44 1.18 7.35 5.6

280,000 138,000 100 823,600 11,000 26,000 2,556,400 17,000 1,508,000 1,540,400 49,900

86,350 291,140 4,995 22,475,820 23,320 80,770 106,051,150 40,280 1,781,000 11,333,914 278,088

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL 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

9.78 15.68 1.39 11.46 0.395 0.042 4.6 11.1 90 7.09 5.1 5.34 7.76 890.5 2,016 5.28 425 1.03 127.5 6.3 0.095 3.17 2.44 0.85 16.6 0.36 3.35 2.13 2.34 2.48 7.5 5.02 144 2.47 1,020 0.58 0.335 39.85 76.5 8.73 2.77 0.62 0.265 0.61 17.52

9.89 15.84 1.54 11.62 0.395 0.042 4.97 11.3 90 7.09 5.41 5.34 8 890.5 2,016 5.33 436.4 1.06 129.4 6.5 0.104 3.49 2.44 0.85 17 0.36 3.35 2.18 2.39 2.48 7.85 5.09 144 2.58 1,023 0.58 0.355 40.4 77.95 8.73 2.79 0.62 0.28 0.61 17.7

9.4 15.68 1.39 11.44 0.38 0.042 4.5 10.9 89.2 7.09 5.1 4.83 7.76 890 1,986 5.28 425 1.03 125.2 6.3 0.095 3.1 2.4 0.85 16.6 0.345 3.35 2.11 2.3 2.46 7.5 5.02 136.2 2.47 998.5 0.56 0.335 39.8 75.2 8.65 2.74 0.6 0.265 0.61 17.44

SERVICES 9.89 15.8 1.54 11.58 0.38 0.042 4.85 11.3 89.85 7.09 5.38 4.83 8 890 1,997 5.3 436.4 1.06 129.4 6.5 0.102 3.37 2.4 0.85 16.86 0.345 3.35 2.11 2.39 2.46 7.85 5.09 136.2 2.54 999.5 0.57 0.34 40.4 77.95 8.65 2.77 0.6 0.27 0.61 17.7

24,300 174,800 3,000 2,976,800 3,920,000 300,000 2,248,000 1,393,100 186,630 300 1,504,900 13,100 16,600 520 12,270 168,900 520 632,000 523,710 6,600 900,000 5,774,000 383,000 90,000 153,200 60,000 91,000 444,000 2,713,000 41,000 2,400 3,100 20,080 359,000 91,490 1,029,000 7,440,000 1,015,700 256,650 30,000 2,536,000 11,134,000 1,960,000 1,000 1,001,200

235,250 2,765,364 4,410 34,373,312 1,498,250 12,600 10,579,590 15,351,496 16,706,720.5 ( 2,127 8,012,288 63,324 132,172 462,820 24,515,970 896,769 225,408 661,270 66,893,825 41,880 89,340 19,152,130 926,000 76,500 2,578,850 21,150 304,850 939,990 6,333,200 100,880 18,070 15,604 2,885,586 911,370 91,570,192.50 587,770 2,567,800 40,899,345(4, 19,642,020.5 ( 260,646 6,989,530 6,721,150 530,450 610 17,597,960

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

0.0015 7.07 0.92 10.96 1.03 2.68 0.27 6.92 1.8 0.199 0.094 0.0078 0.89 3.26 1 0.425 0.7 0.011 0.012 0.011 2.79 8.4 21.9 0.0052

0.0015 7.69 0.99 10.96 1.03 2.82 0.27 7.31 1.8 0.203 0.094 0.0079 0.92 3.4 1.01 0.47 0.75 0.011 0.012 0.011 2.83 8.64 21.95 0.0052

0.0015 7.06 0.92 10.96 1.02 2.67 0.27 6.9 1.74 0.197 0.092 0.0078 0.87 3.2 0.97 0.425 0.7 0.011 0.011 0.01 2.79 8.36 21.7 0.0052

MINING & OIL 0.0015 24,000,000 7.45 448,000 0.96 629,000 10.96 500 1.02 18,000 2.8 5,584,000 0.27 250,000 6.93 4,200 1.78 2,440,000 0.201 460,000 0.092 490,000 0.0079 2,000,000 0.92 100,000 3.35 7,819,000 1.01 26,000 0.47 90,000 0.75 13,000 0.011 4,000,000 0.011 501,100,000 0.011 34,000,000 2.79 392,000 8.64 435,000 21.95 585,400 0.0052 2,000,000

36,000 3,331,715 605,090 5,480 18,390 15,133,580 67,500 29,048 4,339,670 90,970 45,100 15,700 89,720 26,057,950 25,970 38,700 9,250 44,000 6,012,100 364,500 1,100,280 3,692,748 12,788,785 10,400

-15,000 -46,139 -11,520 -18,390 -27,000 -27,624 17,820 -8,110,580 -33,870 628,703 -3,027,725 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2R DD PREF GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

15 509 101 508 990 1,000 99.75 100.5 1,049 1,048 1,056 106.8 1,031 77.8 75.5 77 76.9 76 76.95 75.25

15 509 101 508 990 1,000 99.75 100.5 1,049 1,051 1,056 106.8 1,040 77.8 75.5 77 76.95 76 76.95 77

15 509 100.5 508 990 1,000 99.7 100.5 1,049 1,048 1,050 106.7 1,031 75.75 75.2 77 76.9 76 75.05 75.2

PREFERRED 15 126,300 509 20 101 930 508 30 990 40 1,000 10 99.7 3,290 100.5 220 1,049 5 1,051 2,080 1,056 15,040 106.7 270 1,040 10,190 77.8 17,930 75.2 4,110 77 900,010 76.95 6,000 76 10 75.05 1,200,010 77 26,420

1,894,500 10,180 93,680 15,240 39,600 10,000 328,160.50 22,110 5,245 2,183,465 15,882,005 28,818 10,523,535 1,380,825 309,075 69,300,770 461,650 760 90,060,769.50 1,987,570

-1,894,500 10,180 -

LR WARRANT

1.21

1.29

1.21

WARRANTS 1.28 15,000

18,720

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

3.6 10.12 0.77

3.9 10.4 0.78

3.5 10.02 0.75

SME 3.75 10.02 0.77

1,802,330 2,068,134 1,722,130

220,620 152,000

FIRST METRO ETF

117.2

117.3

116.4

1,110,535

-

MS 3,823,252 314,720 8,950 57,900 181,440 178,431,465 1,047,860 2,139,070 303,518 6,321,560 770 49,900 75,000 115,500 1,295,553 11,300,782 144,270 4,350,470 1,170,140 68,613,290 1,930,320 4,300 852,170

-227,324 13,500 40,500 -19,626,360 -51,290 -189,310 0 -54,550 67,640 -1,199,558 3,091,466 -140,210 366,590 14,722,200 20,970 -156,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL

SHARES 3,998,188

115,605,133

HOLDING FIRMS

88,553,625

PROPERTY

61,046,281

SERVICES

51,823,832

MINING & OIL

587,472,673

GRAND TOTAL

911,474,253

493,000 202,900 2,262,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.3 9,490

-1,466,285 -49,810 -4,408,665 -9,400 -8,265,070 205,600 -799,500 24,200 -10,096,102 14,240,647.5) 75,891.00 2,400 35,620 -12,240,800 25,500 28,350 -19,230,289 41,250 -21,450 866,530 587,902 294,720.00 -98,420 13,620 -27,570 -39,228,580 -312,920 24,750 497,015.0003) 10,352,634.5) 4,731,470 -4,659,640 732,238.00

-

VALUE 1,860.71 (up) 11.37 339,221,716.73 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 9,623.84 (down) 30.48 845,646,530.86 HOLDING FIRMS 7,653.77 (down) 27.30 1,412,145,573.95 PROPERTY 4,157.52 (down) 50.39 SERVICES 1,527.97 (down) 3.72 517,803,997.29 MINING & OIL 8,027.93 (up) 172.53 407,148,898.50 PSEI 7,842.28 (down) 30.32 73,960,662.522 All Shares Index 4,643.20 (down) 2.13 3,602,654,248.11 Gainers: 105; Losers: 81; Unchanged: 50; Total: 236

3 telecom firms unify on mobile portability

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE country’s major mobile operators Globe Telecom Inc., new player Dito Telecommunity and PLDT Inc. unit Smart Communications Inc. have formed a new company to implement number portability services in the Philippines.

The creation of a new company is an an important first step toward the full implementation of Republic Act 11202 also known as the “Mobile Number Portability Act (MNP Act).

Through the MNP Act, mobile phone users can keep their numbers even when they transfer to another service provider, or when they switch their subscription from postpaid to prepaid, or vice-versa.

Mobile number portability refers to the ability of a mobile postpaid or prepaid subscriber, who has no existing financial obligation to the current service provider, to retain his mobile number despite moving from one mobile service provider to another, or to change the type subscription from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa.

The three mobile operators tapped US-based Syniverse to be the mobile number portability service provider after a rigorous technical and commercial evaluation process.

The company will bring in the technical infrastructure to fulfill its primary function as clearinghouse for the telcos and ensure smooth implementation of number porting services.

“For more than 30 years, Syniverse has been the trusted spine of mobile communications by delivering the industry-leading innovations in software and services that now connect more than seven billion devices globally and process more than $35 billion in mobile transactions each year,” said Paul Hodges, Syniverse senior vice president of sales.

“With recognition by the Philippine mobile operators, we are confident that the Mobile Number Portability project will be another key milestone marked in mobile services in the Philippines,” he added.

The company is expected to bring in the technical infrastructure to fulfill its primary function as clearinghouse for the three mobile operators to ensure the smooth implementation of number porting services.

China Bank tops forex poll of Asiamoney CHINA Banking Corp., the sixth-largest lender in terms of assets, was hailed as the leading foreign exchange provider among domestic banks in the country

by Hong Kong-based financial publication Asiamoney.

The bank was named the Best Asian Counterparty in the Philippines, topping the Asiamoney FX Survey 2019.

Asiamoney’s FX rankings are derived from the votes collected in Euromoney’s Global FX Survey, the most comprehensive quantitative and qualitative annual study available on the foreign exchange markets.

The 2019 survey ran in the first quarter of the year and garnered 1,966 valid responses from consumers of FX liquidity, representing total FX consumption of $121.1 trillion in the calendar year 2018.

Asiamoney ranked the top three Asian counter-parties in the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand as part of its 41st annual survey of liquidity consumption in the global FX markets.

China Bank is celebrating its 100th anniversary next year, the centerpiece of which will be the unveiling of its fully restored original head office in Binondo, built in 1924.

China Bank remains one of the biggest and domestic lenders in the country in terms of assets, loans, deposits and capitalization.

Net income rose 21 percent to P6.7 billion in the first nine months of 2019 from P5.6 billion a year ago, on the back of growth across various business segments. Net earnings hit P2.5 billion in the third quarter, up 25 percent yearon-year.

The bank’s nine-month income translates into a 9.92-percent return on equity and 0.99 percent return on assets.

China Bank’s growth came largely from its P18.7-billion net interest income for the nine-month period, rising 9 percent year-on-year. It accounted for 78 percent of total operating income of P23.8 billion, up 15 percent. Net interest margin also improved to 3.29 percent.

Julito G. Rada

World

B3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A year of anti-establishment rage

PARIS―Angry citizens have swelled the streets of cities across the globe this year, pushing back against a disparate range of policies but often expressing a common grievance—the establishment’s failure to heed their demands for a more equitable future.

While street protests are nothing new, experts say the intense 2019 flare-ups reflect a growing sentiment that the social contract between governments and citizens has broken down, with voters paying the price but unable to affect meaningful change.

“What unites the protests is that all are responding to a sense of exclusion, pessimism about the future, and a feeling of having lost control to unaccountable elites,” said Jake Werner, a historian at the University of Chicago.

BIRTHDAY. People visit a museum of artworks of the late former Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong to mark his 126th birthday in Nantong, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province, on Dec. 26, 2019. AFP

Pistachio shells help Syrians keep out the cold T His three children huddled around the hand-made stove, the 35-year-old adjusted the heat with a dial regulating the number of shells burned per minute.

“Because of a shortage in fuel, we started looking for alternatives,” Abu Walid told AFP. “So we resorted to heaters powered by pistachio shells,” he said, sitting cross-legged on a divan in his home in jihadistdominated Idlib province.

In recent months, Syria has suffered a fuel crisis that has seen a spike in the price of heating oil and long queues for much-demanded cooking gas in government-held parts of the country.

The crisis, which officials blame on Western sanctions targeting the Damascus regime, is even more acute in oppositionheld areas, where tighter supply has caused prices to soar.

Outside Abu Walid’s apartment, dozens of sacks of pistachio shells are stacked high.

“They are cheaper than fuel, which is not currently available,” he said.

“They also don’t emit smoke or odor,” he added, explaining why they are better to burn than

wood.

Syria’s last major opposition bastion is home to some three million people, nearly half of whom have been displaced from other parts of the country.

Despite an August ceasefire agreement and growing calls for de-escalation, regime forces and their Russian backers have heightened bombardment since mid-December, fueling an exodus of tens of thousands of civilians.

The mass displacement could not come at a worse time as winter floods hit over-crowded displacement camps.

The rising cost of heating fuel has made warm homes a luxury in a province where unemployment is high and public services are non-existent.

But business is booming for Sadeeq Alwan.

Earlier this year, the man fled the southern Idlib town of Khan Sheikhun, before government forces recaptured the area.

He moved to the town of Dana, north of Idlib city, where he opened a small workshop specialized in building pistachiopowered heaters. AFP

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS FOR YEARS 2018 TO 2020, WITH MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. 2019-075 RC SORSOGON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (SORECO II), Applicant. x-------------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 14 October 2019, Applicant Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (SORECO II) filed an Application dated 30 August 2019, seeking the Commission’s approval of its Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Projects for years 2018 to 2020, with motion for provisional authority.

The pertinent allegations of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows:

IN BRIEF Chinese man hangs for murder

TOKYO―Japan on Thursday hanged a Chinese man convicted of the murder of a family of four whose bodies were found handcuffed and weighted down with dumbbells in a bay, the justice minister said.

Masako Mori said she ordered the execution of Wei Wei “after careful consideration”, over robbery and multiple murders carried out with two other students in 2003.

“It is an extremely cruel and brutal case in which the happily living family members, including an eight-year-old and 11-year-old, were all murdered because of truly selfish reasons,” she said.

Wei, a 40-year-old former language student in Japan, had pleaded guilty to the four murder counts but had contended he was not a central figure in the case.

The trio, reportedly allured by money, robbed the home of Japanese businessman Shinjiro Matsumoto, 41, in southwestern city of Fukuoka in June 2003 and strangled him with a tie.

His 40-year-old wife Chika was drowned in a bathtub and the children strangled or smothered. AFP

Families homeless after forest fires

VALPARAISO―Dozens of families found themselves homeless over Christmas after a forest fire in the Chilean tourist port city of Valparaiso burned through two hillside neighborhoods.

The blaze broke out Tuesday on Rocuant and San Roque hills and continued to burn on Wednesday, though with less intensity. About 245 homes were “affected” by the fire in a matter of hours.

There were no deaths from the fire that had burned 150 hectares, though 12 volunteer firefighters were injured.

Valparaiso governor Jorge Martinez said that although the fire “cannot yet be considered controlled,” it is “quite confined” and “does not generate a risk for the population.”

The blaze started in grassy and wooded areas and rapidly advanced to populated neighborhoods in Valparaiso, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of Santiago.

“We were preparing for parties when the fire started. It all happened so quickly, we weren’t able to get anything out,” said Fabian Olguin, 28, who lives on Rocuant hill.

“Horrible, terrible to see the homes of my neighbors on fire, my home... Unfortunately we are all homeless,” a tearful Silvia Puga said.

The cause of the fire, and that of a smaller blaze, was under investigation.

“There are indications that this fire could be intentional,” Blumel said. AFP

THE APPLICANT 1.

SORECO II is an electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with principal office at Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City;

2.

It holds an exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power distribution service in the City of Sorsogon and six (6) municipalities of the Province of Sorsogon, namely: Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Gubat, Barcelona and Pieto Diaz.

LEGAL BASES FOR THE APPLICATION

3.

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136 otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or the EPIRA, ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009 and other laws and rules, and in line with its mandate to provide safe, quality, efficient and reliable electric service to its electricity consumers, SORECO II seeks approval, confirmation and authority from this Honorable Commission to implement its Capital Expenditure Projects for Years 2018 to 2020.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

PROJECT TITLE

Installation of 20 MVA 69/13.2 kV Substation at Sorsogon City Customer Service Drops and Metering Capacity Equipment Requirement Distribution Transformer Requirement Capacity per KVA Capacity Secondary Lines Requirement Protective Device Requirements at Safety SORECO II Distribution Line Extension and Conversion of Primary Capacity Distribution Lines Safety/ Rehabilitation/Uprating of Primary Reliability Dist. Lines Underground Distribution Lines Reliability Project System Loss Replacement of Defective KilowattReduction hour Meters Rural Rural Electrification Project Electrification Reliability Supervisory Control and Data Improvement Acquisition Project -Phase 2 Meter Reading, Billing and Collection Non-Network System Project Educational and Skills Enhancement Non-Network Project Management Information System Non-Network Project Materials, tools and equipment Non-Network Projects Non-Network Procurement of Vehicles Building Renovation and Construction Non-Network Projects TOTAL

IMPLEMENTATION YEAR

PROJECT COST (PhP)

2018

22,061,000.00

2018-2020

109,270,649.58

Capacity

2018-2020

9,879,439.03

2018-2020

39,303,094.79

2018-2020

28,539,913.78

2018-2019

53,988,459.55

2019

116,864,890.31

2018-2020

111,768,103.33

2018-2020

14,715,665.80

2018

35,746,213.82

2019

3,505,400.00

2018-2020

23,154,571.48

2018-2020

2,393,068.47

2018-2020

3,624,286.40

2018-2020

32,815,928.02

2018-2020

70,876,862.00

2018-2020

58,484,480.71 736,992,027.07

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PLAN 5.

The proposed projects are discussed in detail in SORECO II’s Capital Expenditure Plan for Years 2018 - 2020 with technical and financial analysis, justifications and supporting data presented in ERC-specified templates.

6.

Financing Plan. The capital projects will be financed partly with the cooperative’s internally-generated Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditure (RFSC) and partly with funds to be acquired through loans from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and other lending institutions; while the electrification projects will be funded from government subsidy. Estimated project costs are based on the NEA Price Index for 2018, specifically on Projects 1 and 2, and 3.1% Inflation Rate.

FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION

The table below shows the CAPEX Plan financiers and desired borrowings, to wit: Source of Funds Subsidy from Government Financing Institutions: REFC, NEA, DBP, Suppliers, etc.

Total

7.

8.

Project Cost to be Financed (PhP)

2018 (PhP)

2019 (PhP)

2020 (PhP)

-

-

35,746,213.82

35,746,213.82

701,245,813.25

178,276,140.21

306,056,408.56 216,913,264.48

736,992,027.07

214,022,354.03

306,056,408.56 216,913,264.48

Cash Flow. SORECO II’s cash flow is basically the ultimate basis for determining whether it is viable to pursue and implement the 3-year CAPEX Plan without necessarily causing a significant increase in the cooperative’s electricity rates. Further, the whole capital expenditure structure also considered previous indebtedness incurred in financing past capital projects outstanding.

Rate Impact. The CAPEX Plan was envisioned to bring the most value to SORECO II’s member-consumers at the most reasonable and justifiable electricity rates, such that implementing the projects will have a reasonable rate impact per kWh, as shown in the Table below, to wit:

Forecasted energy sales, kWh Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess/(shortfall) CASH INFLOWS Current year collection @PhP0.6686/kWh Loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP Government subsidy (if any), PhP 50% of income on leased properties Total Cash Inflows, PhP Available cash for disbursement CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX requirement Old debt (old amortization) New amortization (new CAPEX), PhP ERC Permit Fee, PhP Total Cash Outflows, PhP Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall) Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

2018 117,939,025.22

2019 131,566,097.15

2020 146,904,500.64

TOTAL 396,409,623.01

12,278,312.47

(121,293,431.66)

(240,129,050.97)

(349,144,923.80)

78,854,032.26

87,965,092.55

98,220,349.13

265,039,473.95

35,746,213.82 312,764.50 114,913,010.58

312,764.50 88,277,857.05

312,764.50 98,533,113.62

35,746,213.82 938,293.49 301,723,981.25

214,022,354.03 20,578,920.55

306,056,408.56 20,055,076.40

216,913,264.48 10,207,210.56

736,992,027.07 50,841,207.51

1,605,167.66 236,206,442.24 (121,293,431.66) (1.06)

2,295,432.02 328,406,908.02 (240,129,050.97) (2.72)

1,626,849.48 228,747,324.52 (130,214,210.90) (1.32)

5,527,440.20 793,360,674.78 (491,636,693.53) (1.63)

Further, applicant also considered a long term as well as a short term loan for the instant CAPEX Plan to have least rate impact to the consumers. For Years 2018, 2019 and 2020, there is a minimal indicative additional rate requirement to cover the cost of the proposed projects, new loan annual amortization, and ERC permit fee, as shown in the Tables blow, to wit:

2018 117,939,025.22 12,278,312.47

2019 2020 2024 (Year 5) TOTAL 131,566,097.15 146,904,500.64 227,669,748.00 1,428,948,897.01 37,281,928.53 (10,481,252.70) (7,707,626.04) (67,655,172.83)

78,854,032.26 178,276,140.21 35,746,213.82 312,764.50 293,189,150.79

87,965,092.55 98,220,349.13 152,219,993.51 306,056,408.56 216,913,264.48

955,395,232.54 701,245,813.25 35,746,213.82 312,764.50 312,764.50 312,764.50 2,502,115.96 394,334,265.61 315,446,378.10 152,532,758.01 1,694,889,375.57

214,022,354.03 20,578,920.55 20,929,064.30

306,056,408.56 216,913,264.48 20,055,076.40 10,207,210.56 41,858,128.60 41,858,128.60 35,930,070.32 71,860,140.64 25,464,942.50

376,883.38

376,883.38 538,951.05

376,883.38 538,951.05 381,974.14 255,907,222.26 404,815,518.31 367,601,495.35 37,281,928.53 (10,481,252.70) (52,155,117.25) 0.13 (0.03) (0.17)

35,930,070.32 50,929,885.00

63,904,474.57 209,290,643.00 359,300,703.19 254,649,425.00

381,974.14 87,241,929.46 65,290,828.55 0.43

1,884,416.90 2,694,755.27 1,909,870.69 893,634,288.62 801,255,086.96 0.47

LONG TERM LOAN (10 YEARS) AT 6.5% INTEREST Forecasted energy sales, kWh Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess/(shortfall) CASH INFLOWS current year collection @PhP0.6686/kWh loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP government subsidy (if any), PhP 50% of income on leased properties Total Cash Inflows, PhP Available cash for disbursement CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX requirement old debt (old amortization) new amortization Capex 2018, PhP new amortization Capex 2019, PhP new amortization Capex 2020, PhP ERC Permit Fee, PhP Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2018) Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2019) Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2020) Total Cash Outflows, PhP Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall) Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

2018 117,939,025.22 12,278,312.47

2019 2020 2029 (Year 10) TOTAL 131,566,097.15 146,904,500.64 380,921,178.00 3,167,724,641.01 841,206,743.21 46,223,422.90 22,548,569.83 147,047;411.04

78,854,032.26 178,276,140.21 35,746,213.82 312,764.50 293,189,150.79

87,965,092.55 98,220,349.13 254,683,899.61 2,117,940,694.98 306,056,408.56 216,913,264.48 701,245,813.25 35,746,213.82 312,764.50 312,764.50 312,764.50 4,065,938.44 394,334,265.61 315,446,378.10 254,996,664.11 2,858,998.660.49

214,022,354.03 20,578,920.55 12,145,737.06

306,056,408.56 216,913,264.48 20,055,076.40 10,207,210.56 24,291,474.13 24,291,474.13 20,851,251.66 41,702,503.33 14,778,037.45

218,716.25

246,965,727.90 46,223,422.90 0.16

20,851,251.66 29,556,074.90

736,992,027.07 63,904,474.57 242,914,741.30 417,025,033.28 295,560,748.97

218,716.25 312,768.77

218,716.25 2,187,162.48 312,768.77 3,127,687.75 221,670.56 221,670.56 2,216,705.62 371,785,695.77 308,645,645.53 50,628,997.12 1,763,928,581.04 22,548,569.83 6,800,732.57 204,367,666.98 1,095,070,079.45 0.06 0.02 0.80 0.38

SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTARY AND PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS

SORECO II’s capital expenditure projects subject of the instant application are summarized hereunder, as follows: PROJECT TYPE

NO.

Forecasted energy sales, kWh Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess/(shortfall) CASH INFLOWS current year collection @PhP0.6686/kWh loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP government subsidy (if any), PhP 50% of income on leased properties Total Cash Inflows, PhP Available cash for disbursement CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX requirement old debt (old amortization) new amortization Capex 2018, PhP new amortization Capex 2019, PhP new amortization Capex 2020, PhP ERC Permit Fee, PhP Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2018) Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2019) Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2020) Total Cash Outflows, PhP Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall) Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

9.

THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS 4.

Elsewhere, as in Hong Kong, Algeria and India, calls for greater political freedom have become a potent rallying force.

In Iraq, fury over corruption and unemployment boiled over into fiery clashes which have left hundreds of people dead and forced the prime minister to resign.

“The belief in democracy’s capacity to change people’s lives is undoubtedly eroding,” said Erik Neveu, a sociologist at the Sciences Po political science university in Rennes, western France.

For Olivier Fillieule, a specialist in social movements at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, this year’s protests built on the same dynamics which produced movements as diverse as Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, or the Russian opposition to President Vladimir Putin.AFP

SHORT TERM LOAN (5 YEARS) AT 6.5% INTEREST

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

AL AL-KARAMA―Abu Walid emptied a container of pistachio shells into the top of a heater in his living room in violenceplagued northwest Syria, where millions are bracing for a harsh winter.

The financial crisis of 200708 in particular, he said, exposed systemic failings and induced years of austerity and insecurity for millions of people.

It also produced an acute sense of unfairness, in particular among young people who see their prospects of earning a decent living slipping away with every price hike or benefit cut.

“What was previously experienced as proper or natural is now increasingly experienced as a form of domination and injustice,” Werner told AFP. As a result, it often takes only a small move to spark a protest —in Chile it was a metro ticket increase, in Iran and France it was higher fuel costs, in Lebanon a “WhatsApp tax”—that balloons into a wider revolt demanding better living standards.

In compliance with the documentary requirements under ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009 and pre-filing requirements under the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, SORECO II is submitting herewith the following documents which are being made integral parts hereof as follows, to wit: Markings Description of Document Annex”A” Capital Expenditure Plan for Years 2018 to 2020 Annexes “B” Affidavit of Posting; and “B-1” Notice on the Proposed Projects Affidavit of undertaking that the corresponding application for Annex “C” approval of concerned agencies shall be filed, when required Judicial Affidavit in Support of the Motion for Provisional Annex “D” Authority Proof of furnishing of copies of the Application to the Annex”E” Sangguniang Panlungsod of Sorsogon City and Sangguniang and series Panlalawigan of Sorsogon Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of Annex “F” general circulation in SORECO II’s franchise area or where and series it principally operates.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

10. SORECO II repleads the foregoing allegations as may be material herein; 11. As shown in the Table of Projects, some of the projects required implementation during the planned schedule of implementation, while some would require implementation while the instant application is still pending evaluation of the Honorable Commission; 12. Further, unforeseen situations or occurrences may arise which might necessitate the immediate implementation of any of the proposed projects; 13. In view thereof, SORECO II respectfully moves that projects implemented within their planned implementation years or those implemented as they become necessary or urgent under prevailing circumstances, even while the instant application is pending, be confirmed as valid justified, to enable the cooperative to deliver a safe, more reliable and efficient electric service to electric consumers.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, applicant Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (SORECO II) respectfully prays of this Honorable Commission that: 1.

Upon initial review of the instant Application and pending evaluation hereof, the Honorable Commission confirm and approve the implementation of the projects within their respective implementation years, or as may be deemed necessary and urgent under prevailing circumstances; and

2.

After due notice and hearing, the Capital Expenditure Projects for Years 2018 to 2020 be confirmed and approved accordingly.

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises, are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 16 January 2020 (Thursday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) at SORECO II’s Principal Office at Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA, and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21st day of October 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal Service

M. Standard – Dec. 20 & 27, 2019

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

B4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

SEARCA experts share Rice Tariffication perspective

By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna―Diverse perspectives on the Rice Tariffication Law emerged at the session on regional implication of the Philippine RTL. The session was convened by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture during the recently held Inaugural Rice Research Symposium of the World Rice Conference organized

by The Rice Trader.

Republic Act 11203 or RTL was recently passed with the purpose of lifting existing quantitative import restrictions on rice. It has amassed mixed reactions from various stakeholders of the local rice industry, raising the question as to whether it is indeed beneficial for the Philippine rice industry.

According to SEARCA, this is so because of the current influx of imported rice and the consequent plunge in domestic farmgate prices, nonetheless, the current push for the establishment of an ASEAN common market has steered regional strategies toward promoting and strengthening intraASEAN trade and market integration.

The SEARCA forum sought to assess the policy implications on regional trade, rice reserves, food security, agriculture and rural development, and rice farmers’ income and competitiveness in relation to the implementation of the RTL. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA director, said that the medium by which people are informed about the RTL is also of crucial importance to ensure that stakeholders are given the proper information about the law.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

HEROES ARE HOME. SM Center Angono and SM City Taytay welcome the 30th Southeast Asian Games athletes from Rizal province with a’ Homecoming of the Champions’ graced by Angono Tourism head Bernard Laca, representing Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon, and Ms. Ida Calderon, the wife of Vice Mayor Gerry Calderon. Norman Cruz

‘Beat Makati tax, permit deadline’

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Thursday urged taxpayers to settle obligations and renew their business permits and licenses before the Jan. 20 deadline, saying she has authorized frontline offices to extend operations after office hours and on weekends beginning Jan. 2.

“I have authorized the concerned frontline offices to render overtime services in order to serve our taxpayers and investors. Aside from being spared from long queues as the deadline draws near, they would also avoid penalties and even

enjoy discounts and other perks given to early birds,” Binay said.

The city chief executive said from Jan. 2 to 20, the Business Permits and Licensing Office and other concerned offices will be open to serve beyond office hours

on weekdays and on weekends at the ground floor lobby of Makati City Hall Building II. On Jan. 2 and 3 (Thursday and Friday), the offices will be open until 7:30pm. The rest of the schedule will be as follows: Jan. 4 and 5 (Saturday and Sunday), 8am to 5pm; Jan. 6 to 10 (Monday to Friday), 8am to 10pm; Jan. 11 and 12 (Saturday and Sunday), 8am to 8pm; Jan. 13 to 17 (Monday to Friday), 8am to 10pm; Jan. 18 and 19 (Saturday and Sunday), 8am to 8pm; and Jan. 20 (Monday), 8am to 10pm.

On the other hand, the RPT Division

has announced that satellite payment centers for real property taxes are scheduled to accept payments in 31 barangays, from 9am to 4pm, as follows: Jan. 3 and 6 (BelAir, Urdaneta); Jan. 7 and 8 (San Lorenzo, Magallanes); Jan. 9 and 10 (Dasmariñas, Forbes Park); Jan. 13 (Bangkal, Pio del Pilar, San Isidro, Palanan, San Antonio); Jan. 14 (La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Singkamas, Tejeros, Kasilawan); Jan. 15 (Carmona, Olympia, Valenzuela, Poblacion, Guadalupe Viejo); Jan. 16 (Guadalupe Nuevo, Pinagkaisahan, Pitogo, Cembo, South Cembo); and Jan. 17 (West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo, Rizal).

Aboitiz Group aids provinces hit by ‘Tisoy’ ‘Ma’am CER’: THE Aboitiz Group, led by its social development arm Aboitiz Foundation and its various business units, recently pooled its resources and immediately reached out to more than 7,000 victims of Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name Kammuri).

The group conducted relief operations and re-energization

efforts in Albay and Sorsogon, both badly hit by the onslaught of the typhoon.

While holiday cheers filled every family’s home at the start of December, victims of Tisoy, which barrelled through the Bicol region last Dec. 2 to 3, were left with destroyed houses and livelihood, no electricity, and poor communication lines, three

weeks before Christmas.

“Through the help of various Aboitiz business units, we were able to pool as many resources as we could to provide immediate relief assistance to the communities affected by typhoon Tisoy. We want to bring hope to our fellow Filipinos. After all, this is what Christmas is all about,” said Aboitiz

Volunteers of Aboitiz business units distributed relief goods in seven affected barangays on top of the food packs and water turned over to the provincial governments of Albay and Sorsogon.

Most influential female miner

THE year 2019 has seen many “women movements” on various issues ranging from equal pay and gender respect to anti-teenage brides and climate change, and the #MeToo movement.

So, when Engineer Cynthia E. Rosero of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTN), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), was conferred the title of “the most empowered woman in mining,” she considered the award more as a ‘memo’ directed to various audiences.

“I cannot take the title all to myself because there are many empowered women in the industry, so please consider it as a message to all—that women in mining are rising to positions of influence and responsibility where they can ensure that responsible mining in the country is strictly executed,” says Rosero, who goes by the initials CER. Recently, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the agency in charge of the “administration and disposition” of mineral lands and mineral resources in the country, recognized Cynthia being the first-ever woman Resident Mine Manager in the Philippines, the highest position in an operating mine that, since time immemorial, has been held, as if exclusively, by men.

“There is no shortage of women in the mine sites; we even have a lady driver who won in a Volvo international truck driving competition a few years back and there was a lady skipper. We have many lady engineers, women environment activists, and lady economic and business leaders, holding critical roles in various mining operations at NAC, I just happen to represent all of them in this award,” CER shares.

CER’s life is the stuff of stories a mother tells a daughter. She took up mining engineering because she thought it would be easier to find a job after she graduated with the degree. Never for a moment did she doubt that she would not become one, determined as she was determined to become an engineer.

Engineer Cynthia E. Rosero, Resident Mine Manager of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. in Palawan.

“It was mind conditioning, a mindset” she says.

Rosero, or “Maam CER” as she is now fondly called, is determined to help promote the good face of mining and confessed that she thinks it would be easier to do this because she is a woman. She is taking advantage of the fact that a woman is traditionally the symbol of responsible guardianship and of nurturing, which could be used to help improve further the image of mining in the Philippines.

“People who have doubts about the existence and the viability of responsible mining are usually uninformed or misinformed and we should use the woman’s charm and our dedication and honesty to tell better stories and send out stronger messages about mining in the Philippines,” Rosero promises.

The lady manager shares that her inspiration is mining itself, with its complex challenges that can be solved not only by science but by the workings of the human heart. It is after all an industry with a social purpose.

She says: “Nickel Asia does not only provide me a job, the company reminds me every day that a society where gender equality (or equality in general) is taken seriously, is a just society, a responsible society.”

“Whatever influence I have, I will maximize to help showcase the industry so that young girls out there who love math and the environment may know that there are great opportunities waiting for them at the mine sites.”

Sell firecrackers but follow laws, DTI-CL warns SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—People who want to earn an honest living through the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, specially during Christmas season, may do so provided they follow the law set by government authorities to avoid injuries and fires, the Department of Trade and Industry in Central Luzon said.

So far, DTI-CL noted that police and health authorities reported four injuries as of Dec. 24, including two boys aged ten years old in Western Visayas and Calabarzon, a four-year-old girl from Cagayan Valley, and another in Metro Manila.

All the victims were injured by fireworks made by “unsafe and unlicensed” manufacturers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics, the Department of Health said.

DTI-CL said the pyrotechnics must come from the 15 manufacturers and producers licensed by government.

Earlier, the department announced that 15 out

of the 29 manufacturers in the Central Luzon with their corresponding brand name products are licensed to ply their trade, as they follow the rules and regulation by government authorities.

These are A.G.E. Pyrotechnic Enterprises, Diamond Fireworks, Double L. Fireworks, Dragon Fireworks Inc., Global Lion Fireworks Inc., Golden Leopard King Fireworks Manufacturer, MADS Fireworks, Mary P. L Diaresco Pyrotechnic Manufacturing, Nation Fireworks, Pegasus Fireworks, Phoenix Fireworks, Platinum Fireworks, Inc, Purity Fireworks, Pyro Kreaction Fireworks, R and F Fireworks, Tiger Fireworks, Wow Fireworks Manufacturing and Yangco Fireworks.

Traders and others who want to engage in buyand-sell during the holidays may do so but must display a copy of the license of the authorized manufacturers, Warren Serrano, communication head of the DTI in the region, said. Romeo Dizon

INCOME TURNOVER. The Alsons Power Group’s 210-megawatt Sarangani Energy Corp. baseload

coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province recently turned over a share of the power facility’s earnings to the municipality. In a ceremony at the SEC plant site, Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. Director Nicasio I. Alcantara (7th from right) handed over a ceremonial check for P8.57 million to Maasim Mayor Zyrex Pacquiao (8th from left), representing the host municipality’s share of the power plant’s earnings for the third quarter of 2019. Joining them were Alsons Power Group Vice President for Thermal Operation Jose Luis Angco and former Sarangani Governor and Alsons Aquaculture Corp. Chief Operations Officer Miguel A. Dominguez (6th and 5th from right, respectively), municipal councilors of Maasim, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Sarangani. The SEC plant currently serves over six million power consumers in Sarangani Province, General Santos City, and other key areas of Mindanao.

Life

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

YOUNG LIFE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

C1

LIGHT SIDE OR DARK SIDE? The Force is strong with Toms's second Star Wars collection featuring high-top and low-top sneakers and classic Alpargatas styles featuring subtle nods to the trilogy's most iconic characters.

Walk with the Force Skywalker (which will return to the movie theaters on Jan. 8, 2020), Toms has released its second collection feaHE Force is strong with turing the epic space trilogy’s most these shoes. iconic characters.

But there’s no Rey, Kylo Ren, BB-8, or Finn-inspired design here. Rather, Right in time for the cinema release the latest collection—which is more of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of stylish than the first one—features

By Bernadette Lunas

T

subtle nods to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and Yoda. R2D2 and Chewbacca make an appearance, too.

The first collection, launched in June, drew inspiration from concept art and storyboard.

The second Star Wars x Toms collection consists of styles for men, women,

The second Star Wars x Toms collection is now available in stores nationwide

and kids, including a pair of high-top sneakers inspired by Luke Skywalker’s Rebel pilot helmet, water-resistant Princess Leia high-top sneakers featuring her Echo Base snowsuit, and sleek Darth Vader (in black, obvs) and Stormtrooper (in white with black accents) low-top sneakers.

Also part of the line are leather Alpargatas featuring custom Chewbacca

Darth Vader and Stormtrooper low-top sneakers for men.

and Darth Vader embossing, R2-D2 slip-ons for kids, and Yoda and Princess Leia slip-ons for toddlers—future fans, if you will.

The new collection is available at Toms in Glorietta 4, Powerplant Mall, SM Megamall, SM Baguio, Robinsons Place Manila. Prices range from P2,498 to P7,498.

Technology keeps people 11 years younger

Interior design students painting the walls of PrayGround of the Feast Makati-Taguig District Outreach Ministry.

Interior design students bring color to a classroom A GROUP of graduating interior design students used their skills and lent their time to renovate a learning and worship space that caters to children with special needs.

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde students, for the Paraluman renovation project, teamed up with PrayGround the Feast, an outreach community organization that aims to build 100 rooms, to paint and redesign PrayGround at the Makati Special Education Center.

Under the guidance of their mentor, interior designer Iza Sim, the young artists worked together, from the conceptualization of the overall design and the coordination with the sponsors, contractors, and material suppliers to the actual logistics.

After the renovation, the PrayGround is decked with playful bright pastel color combinations of yellow, blue, orange, and pink. It features space-saver furniture pieces such as a convertible teacher’s desk that can be easily tucked into the entertainment wall cabinet and

Educational play areas integrated into the renovated learning and worship space.

a mini rock climbing wall that allows the youngsters to play and practice their physical and mental abilities like in an outdoor playground.

WANT to feel a decade younger? Use technology.

Those who take advantage of technology feel younger, suggesting a growing relationship between technological innovation and well-being.

The research, which surveyed over 15,000 individuals from around the globe, found that people on average feel 11 years younger thanks to technology.

This rings most true in China, where 70 percent of respondents said technology made them feel more youthful, which could be perhaps due to technology’s ability to build connections between generations, especially those who might have once felt disconnected from tech-savvy youngsters.

The research suggests that this sentiment is felt world-over, across genders and ages. “To know how to operate newer technology makes me feel younger” said one US woman. Another woman, from France, also stated, “Compared to the younger generation who are born with all these technologies, my adaptability makes me feel younger.”

On the other side of the globe, one female respondent in India cited that tech made her feel like she “can do anything with it which any youngster can do,” and one Chinese male respondent said, “It helps me catch up with the times—not only gaining more knowledge, but also feel that I’m on trend; I feel younger.”

The research generally revealed that many older generations think that using technology helps them connect better with younger people as well as feel livelier and more knowledgeable. This is especially evident when it comes to the role smart devices (from PCs and tablets to smart home assistants and more) play in terms of relationships with family and friends.

For instance, 75 percent said technology was improving their ability to stay in touch with family and friends who live far away.

“Keeping up with advancements in technology can feel like a full-time job, but it can have positive impacts on people’s sense of themselves and their age,” posited Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist

A research, which surveyed over 15,000 individuals from across the globe, found that technology makes people feel 11 years younger.

The technology's ability to build connections between older and younger generations makes the former feel more youthful.

and founder of Digital Nutrition.

She continued, “Staying connected to the people we care about is a wonderful feature of technology. And while it is no replacement for face-to-face connection, it is a valuable supplement to communication for those who might be geographically divided.”

The global research also revealed that tech is helping people when it comes to mental health and well-being, offering emotional gains, particularly to parents.

Over three-quarters (78 percent) of working parents stated the ever-connected nature of technology helped them feel more emotionally connected to their children, even when they are away from home.

Meanwhile, over two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents in the survey stated they were optimistic about the future of technology and the role tech can play in our lives and society, especially in wellbeing, with 67 percent believing devices are currently having a positive impact on the ability to improve their overall health.

“I think that the medical breakthroughs we’ve had are a tremendous statement on how we can have a positive relationship with technology,” said a 51-year-old woman from the US, highlighting how science is using technology to do great things for amputees.

The recognition that tech is helping to improve the quality of life could also be a result of the time it tends to save people. Half of respondents across all markets (50 percent) feel their smart devices save them 30 minutes or more a day by helping them do something faster or more efficiently.

“There is a growing relationship between innovation and well-being as smart technologies are not only helping people globally to stay more connected but aiding well-being in the form of compassion and empathy by building better connections between them,” said Dilip Bhatia, vice president of user and customer experience at Lenovo.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

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Entertainment

Tribute to nation’s heroes

OME of the biggest names in the Philippine entertainment industry were able to pay tribute to our soldiers when ABSCBN brought its “Saludo sa Sundalong Pilipino” event to the military camps of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters recently.

Veteran actors Tirso Cruz III, Janice De Belen, Raymart Santiago, and Pokwang headlined the program for the sailors and marines, the cast of upcoming series A Soldier’s Heart led the tribute for our airmen and airwomen, while FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano star Coco Martin, and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez drew the loudest cheers in the last “Saludo” event for 2019.

To honor our country’s heroes and bring cheer to them, ABS-CBN began its “Saludo sa Sundalong Pilipino” event in 2017, where Kapamilya stars, journalists, and officials are able to bring joy to members of the AFP through star-studded programs and tributes.

Apart from the song and dance performances by ABS-CBN artists, the soldiers enjoyed seeing their comrades perform on stage, as each program featured the talents of our soldiers in singing, dancing, and even acting.

By Robbie Pangilinan IT WAS a frightening year for me. But it was also a year when my faith was strengthened as I was put under the refiner’s fire. In all these, I heard and felt God telling me, “Fear not, for I am with you.”

The year started with my daughter Clarence Marie waking up after a three-day coma brought about by diabetic keto acidosis. We thought we would lose her, she was asleep since Dec. 28. But God gave us a miracle and she woke up.

Jan. 14, my wife Marissa and son John Maverick came back home after a six-month mission of taking care of my mother-in-law Sara Fernando in Los Angeles. She succumbed to colon cancer on Dec. 25, 2018.

During the love month, my daughter Elishah moved to her first apartment. What’s a dad got to do?

I could only pray that she remembers everything we taught her and uphold the values she learned at home in this new chapter of her life.

In the same month, I was also in a really bad shape due to stress and over fatigue. I was sent to Las Piñas Doctors Hospital for a gastrointestinal problem.

In March, Brazilian actress Daiana Menezes ended her contract that lasted seven months. We had our differences and difficulties, but D has remained my good friend. As God closed this window, He opened a door the following month in the person of Croatian beauty Marija Debelic who signed up with me as her PR manager.

In May, I found myself again going through the refiner’s fire, but my prayer warriors and family stayed with me all the way. Thank you also to Atty.

Rudy Britanico and associates. God nudged me in June and I started joining weekly Bible study at North Forbes with my good friend and host Cristina Gonzales Romualdez. My soul needed rest as well. I thank former Vancouver Consul General and presently DFA Undersecretary Neil Ferrer for his help in extending my son Maverick’s passport to travel anytime to the United States.

July felt like I was just starting the year as I got busy shooting for the movie Fusion, a culinary cinema masterpiece produced and directed by my good friend Hero Bautista. He also starred in the romantic-comedy film with Marija and DJ Luane De Lima, and a host of other stars. Dr. Jean Marquez treated me for botox at DARE; thank you for your generosity.

On my birthday month, August, for the past decade, I usually celebrated for a week, hosting dinner every night with different sets of friends and colleagues.

This year, we played it simple—I only celebrated with family. But I received an unexpected gift when my cousin Gipee Pangilinan hired me as a consultant for the movie Muelle De Binondo. The producers of Muelle also forged a partnership with Councilor Hero Bautista to be their partner. Well, I thought while we’re at it, why not get Hero as the movie director as well? So, in September, I recommended him to lead the Muelle de Binondo movie and the producer approved it.

This month I also attended the Dutdutan 2019, thanks to my brother, Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild (PhilTAG) founder and president Ricky Sta. Ana, Junbal Tabuyoc, Bernard Mongas, and Philip Pena. Everything was going well – we were wrapping up the shooting for Fusion, starting pre prod for Muelle, and attending to my other commitments. I’ve been braving the traffic from Las Piñas to Quezon City almost every day and lots of things were happening all at the same time.

On Oct. 28, I had a meeting in QC with Neo Blu Media boss Tyrone and my cousin Gipee. After the meeting, I was set to go to Fusion’s last day shoot at Antipolo, but I almost collapsed in the middle of the meeting. Maybe it was due to the heat especially when I was driving. My apologies to those who waited for me in Antipolo to meet Maria Ozawa and the whole cast. Praise God Tyrone’s driver was able to bring me to St. Luke’s on time.

At the ER, the staff and nurses worked quickly—I had MRI and 2D Echo, and it was found out that I have two blockages in the left side of my brain and one in the right side. It was my first time at St. Luke’s and I can say they have the best ER doctors, nurses and staff. I was there for five days and the medical

‘A Soldier’s Heart’ actors (from left) Elmo Magalona, Yves Flores, Gerald Anderson, Jerome Ponce, and Nash Aguas

Tirso, who portrayed a former military man in The General’s Daughter judged a contest where soldiers acted out a scene from his show. According to him, taking part in the event was the least he can do to give back to the people that do so much for civilians like him.

“This is our own small way, kaming mga tagashowbiz, to show them that we are very grateful, na kami ay nagpapasalamat na nandiyan sila,” he said.

Gerald Anderson, the lead star of A Soldier’s Heart, meanwhile, became emotional in his message for the soldiers, as he remembered how it was like to be the son of a military man.

“Ilang beses din nag-landing at nag-take off ang tatay ko rito sa Clark City. Hindi biro ang ginagawa ninyo araw-araw para sa amin,” he said.

Joining him in the event were his co-stars Carlo Aquino, Jerome Ponce, Nash Aguas, Yves

Fear Not The author with former actress and politician Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez

bill rose like a wave. But praise God we were able to overcome this, too, with prayers and support from family and friends. My cousin Gipee was the first to visit me with the staff of Muelle de Binondo, my best friend Councilor Hero Bautista, Peach Mascarinas and sis in Christ Vickie Abraham. After a 10-day rest, it was my recovery period in November.

I started eating more vegetables and less rice, and did cardio workout. I was back at work after 10 days. Also, I “accidentally” played in our community basketball tournament as my team was going to lose by default because there were only four players when I arrived. I scored 13 three-points in that game, breaking my own record last year of 11 three-points.

Another “daddy moment” happened when my daughter Elishah and I attended the Pagdilao and Alvarez wedding of my Kuya Abet’s daughter in Blue Leaf Pasay City. I told Elishah that when she is ready, I will be the one to organize her wedding.

In my mind, I dreaded for that day to come (as all fathers do). Actually, I am still dreaming of my own wedding. This December, my son Louis arrived from a five-month stay in the U.S. He came with my father-in-law Bobby for the first death anniversary of my mother-in-law Sarah Fernando who died of cancer on Christmas day last year.

I received an award in the PMC basketball league for shattering the record for most three-point shots by a PMC player in a game with 13 triples. For the first time, before the New Year, our family will go up to Baguio with my father-in-law. Thank you to Elishah and Louis for the treat.

My heart is grateful to my prayer warriors – Sis Leila Ravelo, Vic Calma, Ps. Ruth Hillary, Christine Tolosa, Chiqui Villanueva, Samuel Yu, Melon Santiago, Bishop Chito Sanchez, Tita Angeli Valenciano, Alabang New Life Pastor Joey and Sister Rosemarie Rafael, for her daily prayers for my health, projects and loan and for being a great testimony to my life. Thank you to the strong women who are God-sent to me: Former Mayor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez, The Skin Specialist (now DARE) owner Jean Marquez, and QC District 3 Coun. Kate Coseteng, Dr. Far, and blogger/TV host Shideh Nikbin who I had the chance to have dinner with together with Maria Ozawa.

My good friends and family–Atty.

Rudy Britanico, Atty. Jenny, Atty. Gab Mangahas, NBI Palmer Mallari, Councilor Hero Bautista, Coach Norman Black, Tito AJ Pangilinan, Atty. Anthony Mandap, SPO1 Art Chan, Director Andy Quizon, PD Kuya Abet and Allan Alvarez , celebrity lawyer Atty. Alex Avisado and wife Christy, Atty.

Eaa Rosales, Atty. Cristina Ramirez, Councilor Julian Coseteng, Mozzaico’s Samman Emamdad, rap artist Slykane, Jkris, Archie Malate, Atty.

Kim Obejas, Ryanand Paul Tolentino, Dr. Arvin

Marbibi, Randy Dayrit, and Dr. Sina Dabbagh.

Celebrity friends Maria Ozawa, Dj Luane De Lima, Yayo Aguila, Herbert Bautista, Brother Chris Aguilar , Tol Kiko Matos, Niño Muhlach, Jethro Ramirez. Little People Miko Penalosa, Marija Debelic, Alma Concepcion, Toby Alejar, Monette Rivera, and Sen. Nikki Coseteng.

My Media family: Dante Klink Ang, MB editor Art Samaniego, Manila Standard editor Nickie Wang, pinsan Riera “TheRockstar” Mallari, my mentor PhilStar’s Ricky Lo, beautiful mareng Gie Trilliana, jet setter Ate Tess Lardizabal, dashing Dinah Ventura, my sister in Christ Pia Macan, Lg Cordero, Alfie Ramirez, Aubrey Ramirez, writers Gigi Moraleda and Cherrie Villahermosa, event organizer Allen Lugo, my bff Mae Balbuena, Nympha Ang, Rene Bisquera, Che Francisco, Ate Beth Repizo, my partner sports bro Enjel Manato, Ed Andaya, bff Alex Vidal, Big Mike Murillo, Edwin Rollon, Kuya Melvin Sarangay, Marlon Bernardino, Jeff Venancio, publisherJoey Venancio, Jimmy Cantor, arnis idol Perry Mallari, my loves Giana Maniego and mother Isabel De Leon, poker genious Noli Cruz, and sports icon Eddie Alinea.

My Philtag family (The Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild, Inc ), Rotary Club of Sta. Mesa : District 3780, PMC Basketball Community group with 101 Members , PPP Press Photographers of the Philippines and Tuesday Troops (celebs, rap artists weekly basketball group), I would like to acknowledge the people who have been a big help to me in my career: my family, my favorite, wife Marissa, Mavy, Elishah, Clarence , Louis, Athalia Ichika, Jazzy Eliz, my website team—Giovani Juntereal, Mic Rivarez, Aldrin Capinan, Patrick Aninang, Franz Defante, Kean Fernandez, and Tom Choy.

Would like to acknowledge my sponsors Patio Victoria Intramuros, Global Elite Dental Clinic, DARE Clinic , Neo Blu Media, Inc, CSalon Robinsons Galleria and Dr. Olga Roque of YSA Festival Mall.

As the year ends, I still have a lot of fears—for my health, my work, my children, my life in general. I try to be strong no matter what.

I hold on to God’s promise to quiet my fears—He said in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” and in Philippians 4:67, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” So whenever I find myself afraid, I put my trust in Him (Psalm 56:3) because I know that He will be with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). #

Flores, and Elmo Magalona, who also hyped the crowd with a song number.

The sacrifices of our soldiers go beyond risking their lives to defend our nation and serve the people.

A huge part of their work entails being away from family, and not being able to do activities a common Filipino would enjoy, like watching a live show or attending a concert. Through the “Saludo” event, however, they get to experience the Kapamilya brand of love.

Other artists that spent time with the soldiers for the “Saludo” events include Ogie Alcasid, Sunshine Cruz, Daryl Ong, Klarisse De Guzman, It’s Showtime’s Jackie, Stephen, and Sanrio, Tart Carlos, GT members Sammie, Krissha, and Joanna, Ritz Azul, Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Otso alumni like JC, Hanie, Tori, Camille, Shawntel, Abi, Franki, Diana, and Lie, Idol Philippines finalists Lucas Garcia, Lance Busa, and champion Zephanie Dimaraanan, Smugglaz, and comics Eric Nicolas and Alora Sasam.

Journalists Chiara Zambrano and Bernadette Sembrano, and network executives led by ABSCBN chairman Mark Lopez, president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, and COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes, were also present to personally thank the brave men and women of the AFP for their service.

Since 2017, ABS-CBN has held ten “Saludo sa Sundalong Pilipino” events in different military camps in the country from Nueva Ecija to as far as Cagayan de Oro. It aims to pay tribute to our soldiers, and provide them love and entertainment while they are away from their families to fulfill their duties to the country.

Ricky Gervais takes the fifth GLOBAL comedy superstar Ricky Gervais, in his unique and legendary fashion, will resume hosting duties for a record fifth time at the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

The three-hour telecast will air live on Blue Ant Entertainment on Jan. 6 at 8:00 a.m. (GMT+8).

The Golden Globes serve as the official kickoff to the 2020 awards season. A total of 25 categories—14 in film and 11 in television—are voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).

“Once again, they’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse. But this is the very last time I’m doing this, which could make for a fun evening,” said Gervais.

“There is always a palpable electricity in the room when Ricky takes the Globes stage. His return as master of ceremonies at the Golden Globes is much anticipated,” said Paul Telegdy, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “It is sure to make for an unexpected evening. We can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve.”

“When Ricky Gervais is at the helm of the Golden Globes Awards, we can always expect the unexpected,” said President of the HFPA Lorenzo Soria.

“We’re excited to see it all unfold on Jan. 5.”

“In a world where many award shows are opting to go the no host route, the Golden Globes are going all in! It’s going to be a great night,” added Mike Mahan, CEO, dick clark productions.

Creator and star of The Office and Extras, Ricky Gervais has won three Golden Globes, two Primetime Emmys and seven BAFTAS. The Office is the most successful British comedy of all time, shown in more than 90 countries with seven remakes. The NBC version is the most successful U.S. remake of a British show in more than 30 years.

Gervais hosted the Golden Globes in 2010-12 and returned for a fourth time in 2016.

Considered the most influential British comedian since Charlie Chaplin, Gervais is an award-winning stand-up comedian, with five international tours to date. His live stand up show “Fame” became the fastest selling UK stand-up show in history.

Gervais can most recently be seen in the dark comedy After Life, which he created, directs, stars in and executive produced. The series premiered March 8 worldwide on Netflix and will return for a second season in 2020.

He is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most downloaded Internet show of all time. He was named in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and awarded the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award from the Banff World Television Festival.

The Golden Globe Awards, often referred to as “Hollywood’s Party of the Year,” is one of the biggest nights on the calendar for live viewing. It’s also one of the few awards shows that combine the honorees of both film and television. The 2019 Golden Globe Awards telecast averaged a 5.2 rating in adults 18 to 49 and 18.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

British presenter and comedian Ricky Gervais

Motoring

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

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Sleek and Stylish: TVS Motor launches new street stunners

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VS Motor, one of the largest manufacturers of motorcycles in Asia, stuns Filipino riders with the release of the new TVS Dazz Prime and XL100 Premium motorcycle units and decals in a recent launch and workshop in Batangas Racing Circuit.

TVS Philippines displayed other available colors for Dazz Prime and XL 100 Premium.

TVS Philippines unveils its newest motorcycle units—Dazz Prime and XL 100 Premium.

Riding enthusiasts test drive the Dazz Prime and XL 100 Premium motor units.

Guests customize their own decal set on the Dazz Prime motorcycle.

Guests were able to try out the new Dazz Prime and XL100 Premium units first-hand and experience TVS’ innovative design of the new motorcycle units.

Ride in this street stunner, TVS Dazz Prime in black and red.

The Dazz Prime units boast a sleeker look with a new embossed-type emblem, sharks fin design, and color variations in stylish white and red, daring

black and red, or attractive gray and red. Dazz was the first to incorporate a mobile charging port in its scooter and has maintained it to allow the rider to charge mobile phone on the road.

The new Dazz Prime also comes in a powerful engine with 8.34 horsepower at its maximum and can store 5.3 liters of fuel, giving the rider a powerful and stylish ride. In addition, tubeless

tires are now in every Dazz Prime. No more worries about flat tires. The new upgrades give it a more expensive look that every smart rider would want.

Dazz comes with best-in-class engine warranty of 3 years / 30,000 kms adding assurance to its customers.

Ride with style on the new TVS XL100 Premium in army green.

XL100 Premium is a single speed automatic that comes with a new mobile charging port, sync brake that allows the rider to stop faster when carrying heavy loads, and now an ES with an i-Touch technology that gives it a noiseless

Ford Ranger Raptor Best P ick-up THE Ford Ranger Raptor has once again proven its leadership in the pickup segment as it won Best Pick-up in the 15th Annual C! Awards organized by C! Magazine.

The Ford Ranger Raptor is Asia Pacific’s first high-speed off-road compact pickup truck that builds on the success of the Ranger’s smart design and engineering with the Ford Performance DNA, setting a new benchmark in off-road capability. The Ranger Raptor has a new powertrain combination of a 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo diesel engine and 10-speed transmission that has proven durability and on-road and offroad capability.

The Ford Everest also won as Best Mid-Sized Ladder Frame SUV, making it one of the front-runners in the country’s fiercely-competitive SUV segment. Ford Philippines launched the new Ford Everest this year packed with features that offer greater power, performance, safety, and efficiency,

which include the new-generation 2.0L Bi-Turbo diesel and 2.0L Turbo diesel engines paired with 10-speed automatic transmission, offering improved fuel efficiency and better acceleration.

With the new powertrain, customers driving the Ranger Raptor and the Ford Everest can enjoy lower service maintenance costs with a once-a-year scheduled service interval instead of twice a year, paving the way for better ownership experience.

“We thank our partners and friends from C! Magazine for these citations that put our vehicles in leadership positions in their various segments,” shares PK Umashankar, managing director, Ford Philippines. “These accolades testify to the world-class quality of our vehicles and we look forward to seeing more customers experience their best-in-class features and ‘Built Ford Tough’ capabilities.”

Receiving one of the trophies for Ford Philippines is PK Umashankar, managing director of Ford Philippines from C! Magazine supplement and senior contributing editor Stephen Yu (leftmost) and C! Magazine president, founding editor and editorial director Kevin Limjoco (right).

starting. XL100 Premium is available in army green, metallic black, and vulcan red colors. XL100 Premium comes with warranty of 1 year / 12000kms.

All TVS customers are always backed up with after sales support through its wide network of over 300 service outlets in the Philippines. With innovative solutions like Lazada Online parts with free shipping and dedicated iCare helpline, customers are assured with trouble free ownership experience.

New decal sets were also introduced in a fun workshop where guests competed by styling Dazz units with TVS

decals within the given time limit, and by personalizing a Dazz motorcycle with the bare decal sets showcasing creativity and style.

TVS Philippines is currently one of the largest manufacturers of two- and three-wheeled vehicles in Asia which entered the Philippine market in 2016.

Aside from excellent customer service, the company also boasts of its innovative designs, easy-to-handle, and environment-friendly products.

To know more about TVS and its products, visit https://www.tvsmotor. com.

Keep your car road-worthy OUR cars, like our bodies at birth, come out in excellent shape and form when they leave the assembly plant. Except for a very few cases, these cars are rolled out of the line ready to take on the busy highways and the tough and tumble of everyday drives.

But just like our bodies, cars also need regular maintenance and check-ups to ensure they remain in tiptop condition and serve us worry free. That is the reason for the regular Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS) schedules our car dealers require us to go through.

Many of these service centers carry equipment that measure minute details about your car like tire and wheel alignment, headlight adjustments and body alignment.

Beissbarth, a German auto service company founded in 1899 in Munich, is one the main local supplier of these vehicle testing equipment.

They have been manufactures precision measuring equipment for OEM car manufacturers and IAM automotive workshops worldwide for over 100-years.

In addition to the core competencies of wheel alignment, brake testing, test lanes and headlight testers Beissbarth also offers tire changers, wheel balancers, A/C service equipment, tire diagnosis and lifts.

Beissbarth is currently the main product being used by Opus, an LTO certified Motor Vehicle Inspection Center in Sta. Rosa Laguna. They are responsible for inspecting and maintaining our cars in top shape and keeping them road worthy.

Early this year, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said he wanted the reactivation of MVIC’s after a series of deadly crashes caused by ill-maintained vehicles, particularly public transports like jeepneys and buses.

Beissbarth manufactures the very products that are needed in motor vehicle safety inspections. They have tire balancing and wheel alignment machines that keep motor vehicles running in an even keel. These machines have tire tread measuring meters to see if your tires still have the needed road grip or are already eroded.

Another of their main products are headlight testers. This test ensures that a car has enough illumination at night to cover a wide area of the road without blinding oncoming vehicles. Beissbarth also has A/C testing equipment to keep temperature in your cars cool and the air clean.

Beissbarth products can be found at MVIS centers like Opus in Sta. Rosa Laguna, Autoreach in BF Las Pinas and BSB Junrose Auto Parts in Sta Cruz Manila.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

Isuzu delivers heavy-duty trucks to Anseca

Isuzu Trooper

LORD OF THE

WHEELS XI And not necessarily vintage men

THE country’s leading manufacturer, assembler, and distributor of brand-new trucks, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC turned over 6 CYH52S trucks to Anseca Development Corporation.

In a formal ceremony held at Holcim Mining, officials of IPC, Isuzu Cebu Inc, and the Isuzu Mandaue dealership turned over the trucks and the symbolic key to representatives of Anseca and Holcim Philippines.

The six brand-new CYH52S with 20 cubic meter dump trucks represents Anseca’s additional fleet of Isuzu trucks and are seen to play key roles in the daily operations in Anseca’s current partnership with Holcim Philippines.

Steve M. Gingco, General Manager of Isuzu Cebu Inc, said, “The CYH52 trucks are durable, heavy-duty trucks equipped with eco-friendly diesel technology, which can take on any load or road challenge. They deliver bigger payload capacity, covering a wide variety of applications, designed to handle all kinds of work under normal or tough conditions. With bigger load capacities, the higher the productivity you can expect from our Isuzu trucks.”

Anseca, an enterprise primarily engaged in earthmoving and allied activities, began its operations in 1983 and has since successfully completed 24 projects with clients such as the Philippine National Oil Corporation, Del Monte Philippines, Sta. Lucia Realty & Development Corp, Vista Land, Atlas Consolidated Mining & Development Corp, and Cemex Corp. It now has a series of ongoing projects with Holcim Philippines, Philex

Mining, and Libjo Mining.

In his message at the formal turnover ceremony, IPC Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda reiterated that, among the many reasons for IPC’s market dominance over the years, the ability to meet customers’ ever-changing needs has always been a priority.

“IPC continues its market dominance in trucks for 20 consecutive years, dating back to 1999; and for decades, Isuzu has been known globally for its durable, dependable, and reliable trucks that can withstand any challenges in transport operations. With our collaboration with local body builders, our trucks have also been crafted to be suitable for whatever purposes our customers demand. Equally important is the aftersales support we provide to our clients along with every purchase—this is the Isuzu Advantage.”

The Isuzu Advantage is the sum of IPC’s different customer support programs bolstering its world-class lineup of vehicles. The first advantage is IPC’s roster of durable, reliable, fuel-efficient commercial vehicles. The second is its nationwide dealer network that now nears 50 outlets complete with servicing facilities. The third is the reliable and prompt nationwide parts availability. Finally, IPC’s team of expert service technicians and field support personnel are on call to provide technical assistance whenever and wherever needed.

“As your responsible partner, IPC guarantees to provide world-class vehicles and outstanding after-sales services to our clients,” Sakoda concluded.

Words and photos by Diana Noche

I

T IS an incredible feeling of solidity when old friends continue to meet up, even for just once a year, and then anticipate the same kind of camaraderie the next.

Lord of the Wheels is now on its eleventh year and never has it failed to draw crowds. It’s a highly anticipated event with members of the United Car Clubs of the Philippines in a competitive, but friendly encounter, to take their cars out of the garage, show off their pride and joy, pump fists and have fun.

Fresh from the energizing triumph of the country’s competitors at the 30th SEA Games, old-school car enthusiasts, equally euphoric over the wins, banded themselves one more time, trying to get that same feeling last a bit longer. The venue for this year’s UCCP event is a favorite, the Ayala Malls Circuit Makati, easily accessible to the public, whose column-free venue is certainly easier to walk around, enabling guests to see the cars up close, touch them, and give them the lingering gaze a fine vehicle deserved.

The Lord of the Wheels XI event was loaded with images of some years gone by which, most often than not, hold powerful emotional attachment to the car owner. Each unit was a visual feast—an on-the-spot eye candy—and a jaw-dropping beauty by itself, never needed a booth girl to add to its enchantment.

Built like a lumberjack, the Ford B1Turbo Wildtrak easily took center stage. It’s a traffic stopper, all right, and sure to generate a ruthless wind turbulence as it barrels by. The tires are very solid and looked like there was a little bit more testosterone built into them for easy drivability in any kind of traffic jungle. It’s a frugal, no-frills conveyor of everything massive or lace-dainty. Any itch to further customize it will be an improvement over perfection.

It is difficult to miss this Isuzu Trooper among the vehicles shown off during the event. The deckedout striking red exterior is there for all to see --- sexy, confident, and everything muscled up for stronger power and acceleration. It’s going to be an awesome sight to watch this stunner forge across knee-deep flooded street or stream lined with pillow-sized boulders. Any journey would be worry-free, like being inside a rock.

To ride this compact Axis is to give the driver a lot of pogi points. Stowed with a hoard of subwoofers and amplifiers, it almost rocked the Circuit Makati venue down to its minutest foundation stone. It’s a seriously booming sound system, installed to pound the eardrums and aurally come at anyone with its pumped-up and base-accelerated tunes. (A Jaguar once had 1200 watts, enough to unroot the earlocks.) All that this cutesy needed was a set of funky disco lights and voila! Who’s to say we can’t turn it into a green Karaoke garden on wheels?

We don’t often see it on the highways but when we do, we are left to wonder how a thing that fascinated much older generations of car enthusiasts could still rev this generation’s pulse. The solar-powered 1303s Super Beetle (nicknamed the Electric Voltswagen), is a full electric car featuring the original analog cluster panel adapted to EV power readout, a PHL made design programmable controller, servo motor system capable of up to 100km to 180km travel range, and other special add-ons. It is the only one electric Beetle in the Philippines. It is the pretty face of the event, a cultural icon of a design.

Each UCCP annual reunion becomes a happy looking up techno showcase to see how each fellow had tweaked his vehicle. How thick a putty has hidden the dents and rusts that came along the way. Check out how today’s old thing can become seemingly new after another facelift the next year they meet up again.

Perhaps someone would install a really humongous steering wheel.

Who knows?

By the way, a new group under the UCCP was introduced during the event—the GUCCP Grand Launch (Girls United Car Clubs of the Philippines). Organized in October this year by a trio of founders/admins—Myrsa Nituda, Karina TanDy, and Georgette Ong—it aims to make waves this early with a line-up of advocacies targeting distressed women. This tropa of women drivers swears to not compete against the old fellows, just to have fun and make friends

Ford B1Turbo Wildtrak

Ride safely, efficiently Volkswagen Bettle electrified

Toyota dressed up

GUCCP co-founder Myrsa Nituda

Axis: Boomer on wheels

IT’S that time of the year again. Besides the Christmas reunions and get-togethers, many Filipinos take advantage of the long holiday to bond with family and friends. A quick getaway or long ride out of town is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and create more memories to last many more Yuletide seasons ahead.

Suzuki Philippines, the country’s pioneer subcompact car distributor, lets you go on that road trip with your dearest ones this Christmas with fuelefficient vehicles that are not only reliable on the road but are also safe and practical on the budget.With SPH’s well-loved Ertiga, Swift and Dzire, you can splurge on the destination, accommodations and food knowing you will save a lot on fuel costs.

These well-loved Suzuki vehicles--Ertiga, Swift and Dzire-- got impressive reviews from the AAP Fuel Economy Run for engine performance and fuel efficiency and consumption.The fuel economy run aims to provide accurate and relevant information on how much fuel vehicles consume in realistic driving conditions.

The Ertiga, Suzuki’s top-selling unit and a family favorite, finished with a 20.51km/L performance, which translates to impressive fuel efficiency and engine performance for a seven-seater car.

If the family plans to spend Christmas in

Baguio or travel down south to the Bicol region, Suzuki Ertiga can definitely make you save gas and drive you safe this to your holiday bonding destination.

Millennials’ top pick among Suzuki vehicles, the Suzuki Swift,completed the fuel economy run with a 31.54km/L performance. This sleek hatchback guarantees smart fuel consumption while on the road, especially when bustling around the city or even while stuck in the traffic. You’re sure to reach your party venue even outside the metro this holiday season in the best style with the Swift.

Another smart choice for a sedan is the Suzuki Dzire, which delivered a 25.81km/L rate during the fuel economy run. There’s nothing to worry if you need to hurry to catch up with relatives or college friends to a grand reunion this Christmas season because Suzuki Dzire can definitely deliver a smooth and fuelefficient ride.

Suzuki Philippines’ top-selling vehicles Ertiga, Swift and Dzire demonstrate fuel economy in line with AAP’s tests, reducing fuel consumption without compromising driving efficiency and optimal driving experience. With such strong engine performance and fuel efficiency, Suzuki Philippines guarantees enjoyable, practical and memorable travel with family and friends this holiday season.