Manila Standard - 2017 November 20 - Monday

FEISTY NEWSHEN PASSES AWAY MANILA Standard senior reporter Christine Herrera died on Sunday morning of cardiac arrest while on vacation in Bangkok, Thailand. She was 49.

Herrera, fondly called “Mamu” by her friends in the media, is survived by her husband Lito Herrera, daughters Nikki and Abby, son-in-law JB and grandson Malcolm Mason.

A native of Cebu, Herrera joined the Standard during the stewardship of then editor-inchief Jullie Yap-Daza, after her stint in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. She had been covering the

Senate and the House of Representatives for the Standard.

Details of her wake and interment will be announced later by the Herrera family.

Christine was known for her hard-hitting articles, exposing shenanigans in the corridors of power—be it in Congress or other agencies of government.

News of her demise shocked her friends both in and outside the media, flooding her Facebook with “Rest In Peace” messages and heartfelt condolences to her family. They included former lawmaker and broadcaster

Gilbert Remulla, public relations expert Toteng Tanglao, officemates and co-workers.

Christine’s last FB post was at 5:27 p.m. on Saturday—a picture of her wearing a red silk kimono while staying at Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam. She said: “Kelangan ko na talaga magpapayat [I really need to lose weight]. To do justice to the Thai silk. Haha! Kainis!”

She was in the news in June 2015 when then-Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. pressed her to name her sources for stories on the alleged payoff made to mem-

bers of the House of Representatives for the swift passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Back then, Herrera told the House panel that based on her interviews with her sources, Chinese fugitive Wang Bo gave P100 million to Immigration officials to stop his deportation to China.

She also wrote in her stories that Wang released $10 million to bribe lawmakers into passing the Palace-backed BBL, and that some of her sources were congressmen who actually accepted barya-barya (loose change)— Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 276 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

GOODBYE, MAMU. Standard’s hard-hitting Senior Reporter Christine Herrera is shown in this file photo before her testimony at the public hearing conducted on June 16, 2015 by the House good government committee on the alleged bribery and corrupt practices involving Chinese national Wang Bo. Lino Santos

Reds tagged terrorists Du30 sets crackdown on leftist groups, pals

By Bill Casas and Francisco Tuyay

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will proclaim the New People’s Army a terrorist organization, and crack down on leftist groups such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan for conspiring with communist rebels.

“Beginning now, there will be no more talk about rebellion because rebellion is a [bailable] offense. We will file terrorism, murder and arson charges,” Duterte said in Filipino at a press conference in Davao City Saturday.

Calling the NPA “a bunch of criminals,” the President said he is no longer inclined to continue the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

LAPU-LAPU AWARD. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers on CAA Eduardo Matambonoy Jr. the Order of Lapu-Lapu Kampilan Medal during the President’s visit at Camp Panacan Station Hospital in Davao City on Nov. 18, 2017. Matambonoy was wounded in an skirmish with members of the New People’s Army in Tagum City on Nov. 17, 2017. Also in the photo (right) is Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go. Presidential Photo

“I’m sick and tired of their destroying property and equipment… and their killing of innocent people, including a four-month-old girl,” Duterte said, referring to a Nov. 10 communist ambush in Talakag town in Bukidnon in which a baby was killed.

The NPA local command admitted killing the infant, apologized to civilians and offered to recompense them, but the death angered Duterte, who said the military Next page

Police may resume lead role in drug war despite criticism

By Bill Casas and Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday warned that the police will resume their lead role in his war on drugs if the problem wors-

ens, saying nobody, not even US President Donald Trump, can stop his campaign.

Under heavy criticism for the police killing of minors in anti-drug operations, Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police to with-

draw from the campaign and gave the lead role to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in October.

PDEA chief Aaron Aquino, however, said last month that his agency does not have enough personnel to carry

THE MRT 3 maintenance contractor that was sacked for poor performance earlier this month denied Sunday that it was involved in a plot to sabotage the commuter train system after two cars

By Bill Casas

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man rights [advocates believe] can stop me, I’m sorry,” Duterte said in a speech at a business event in his hometown Davao City.

“The drug problem, if it becomes worse again, the Next page

MRT contractor: Not our fault

Junketing officials warned PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on said Saturday public officials who go on trips without his permission will be fired.

“For those guys who have been using money of the government just easily going in and out or travel upon the invitation of... maski sino na mga seminar,

out the war on drugs with the same intensity.

Duterte’s war on drugs has killed thousands of suspected drug users and peddlers.

“If human rights [advocates] are thinking that Trump or whoever the hu-

decoupled last week.

On Nov. 16, the government terminated the maintenance contract of Busan Univeral Rail Inc. The former maintenance Next page

‘Jeepneys phased out in Jan.’ ALTERNATIVE LEARNING. An unnamed inmate, one of the 877 jailbirds of Manila City Jail Male Dormitory pores over examinations papers during the National Accreditation and Equivalency Examination of the Alternative Learning System under the Department of Education on Nov. 19,2017.

Norman Cruz

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

THE government on Sunday confirmed that rundown jeepneys will be phased out starting January.

“The goal is to carry out what the President said, that

by January, we will start to

manilastandard.net

phase out deteriorated vehicles,” Transport Undersecretary Thomas Orbos said in Filipino. “We will start with public transportation. That is the start of the modernization program.”

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Sereno’s lawyers can’t cross witnesses—solon

By Rio N. Araja and Rey E. Requejo THE chairman of the House committee on justice said Sunday that the rules of impeachment proceedings in Congress do not allow lawyers representing an impeachable official to cross-examine wit-

nesses against the accused.

“The right to counsel happens in the actual trial,” said Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, referring to a bid by Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to have her lawyers question witnesses against her in the House Next page

Who are the poorest in SE Asia?

FILIPINOS and Indonesians make up 90 percent of the 36-million people living below the poverty line in Southeast Asia, but poverty rates are on a “downward but fluctuating trend” in the Philippines, having gone down from 17 percent in 2005 to 12 percent in 2013.

This and other insights were released in a report of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations titled “Fi-

nancing the Sustainable Development Goals in Asean: Strengthening integrated national financing frameworks to deliver the 2030 Agenda.”

Manila hosted the 31st Asean Summit and the country celebrated the regional bloc’s 50th anniversary last week, while drawing leaders and ministers from around the globe.

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Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

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Martial law extension needs Congress OK—solon

“If, before December 31, if they will ask for an extension, they should formally ask for an authority from Congress for the extension,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon told dzBB radio.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces

spokesman Restituto Padilla on Sunday assured the public that government troops continued to exhaust all efforts to foil any potential terror plot by extremist groups and their allies in Mindanao.

He made the statement in the wake of President Ro-

drigo Duterte’s announcement that the decision to extend martial law in Mindanao would come from military and police recommendations.

“We are working to meet the deadline by the end of the year to address the threats posed by terror networks in Mindanao,” Padilla said in a message to the PNA Sunday.

But Senator Leila de Lima warned of a military takeover if President Duterte pushed through with his threat to declare a revolutionary government to quell destabilization plans by some quarters.

De Lima said Duterte could be forcibly removed from office if he insisted on

Reds... will now go after the NPA as mere criminals and no longer view them as rebels fighting for a cause.

The NPA only pretends to fight for the people but they are killing the poor, he said.

Duterte also warned of an impending crackdown on Bayan and other leftist groups for conspiring with the armed communists.

“Now it’s a great conspiracy between Bayan… We will study that and launch a crackdown. I’m getting tired

of their nonsense,” he said.

In protest actions during the 31st Asean Summit in Manila, militant groups headed by Bayan called Duterte a “fascist.”

During the earlier part of Duterte’s administration, the President welcomed members of Bayan and other leftleaning groups in Malacañang, when he was still determined to push peace talks with the communist group.

Duterte ordered the government’s peace panel to halt talks with the communist group after the NPA attack on a convoy of the Presidential Security Group in Cotabato in July.

Duterte’s threats drew angry reactions from Anakbayan, a leftist youth group.

“Progressive groups have been at the forefront of opposing Duterte’s war on drugs, all-out counterinsurgency ops, and martial law in Mindanao that trample on human rights as well as his perpetuation of antipeople neo-liberal policies.

Duterte’s threats will not intimidate us into submission,” said Anakbayan chairman Vencer Crisostomo.

“That Duterte is contemplating a crackdown against activists and progressive groups speaks much of his

antipathy to any criticism and his thirst for absolute power. Repression is the logical consequence of equating all dissent with detabilization,” he added.

A military source on Sunday said the Armed Forces welcomed tagging the NPA as a terrorist group because this would eventually cut off funding from international organizations that support the communist party.

“Such declaration will hasten and pave the way for blocking some financing that they may be getting from sources.

So if that is formalized, then we can do more that what they

are doing now to block their support,” the source, who requested anonymity, said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Major Gen. Restituto Padilla said the government has done its part and negotiated with sincerity with the NPA, but they bungled it.

“We totally agree with the commander-in-chief in calling the NPAs terrorist because it is clearly reflected in the numerous criminal, lawless, terrorist acts that they have been committing against the defenseless and innocent civilians,” Padilla said.

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Sereno’s...

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provider of the MRT 3 on Sunday denied any involvement in an alleged sabotage plot that caused the decoupling of train cars last week.

Hundreds of MRT passengers were forced to walk to the next station after 2 trains detached from each other on Thursday, about a week after the government terminated the maintenance contract of BURI for performing poorly and for failing to put in service the contractually agreed number of trains.

Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez said Saturday that investigators, suspecting sabotage, had identified several persons who could be behind the decoupling of the trains. He also noted that a “messma card” that acted as a black box was missing on the train.

“We are not the persons of interest that Undersecretary Chavez was referring to,” said BURI spokesman Charles Mercado in Filipino. “You know, they are the ones running the trains now.”

Mercado also said Chavez was distracting the public from the real issue, which is the supposed design flaws that caused the decoupling, including the flimsy links between MRT coaches and their incapability to run at high speed.

The Transportation department on Sunday said it would not stop MRT operations despite the recent service disruptions and doubts about the train system’s safety.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Elvira Medina told radio dzMM that they are studying the problems with the MRT and would submit a recommendation to Chavez in a week or two.

Medina said MRT service would continue while they complete their study.

On Thursday, Senator Grace Poe urged the Trade department to determine if they needed to shut down the MRT over safety concerns.

On Thursday, some 140 MRT passengers were asked to get off their train and walk on the tracks to the next station after two coaches decoupled. Two days earlier, a woman’s arm was severed when she fell onto the tracks at the MRT-Ayala Station after she felt dizzy.

hearings. “We are still not yet at the trial [stage]. The right of the accused to counsel has not yet been established.

And unfortunately, under our rules, we do not allow lawyers to speak.”

Speaking to radio dzBB, Umali added that should Sereno seek legal relief from the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment complaint against her, a constitutional crisis could ensue.

An impeachment trial is political in nature, he added.

“I hope the Supreme Court and the judiciary will listen to reason. When we talk of...

impeachment cases, that is the sole jurisdiction of Congress as representatives of the people,” he said.

He urged Sereno not to ignore the committee and instead defend herself against the evidence that would be presented on Nov. 22.

Her absence at the hearing would be considered a waiver of her right to confront the witnesses, he added.

“If she is telling [us] that all the accusations against her are not true, the more she must face [the committee] so she could lay down all her defenses,” he said.

But two members of Congress said they believed the House committee on justice cannot compel Sereno to ap-

pear.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said they believe in the separation of powers of the judiciary system and legislative body.

Both pointed out, however, that Sereno’s failure to face the committee on justice would bea big loss to her defense.

“We can’t compel her to attend. There is separation of powers,” Albano said.

“The investigation on the Chief Justice must be made in an orderly fashion to show the public that we are doing it in accordance with law and not to trample her rights,” he added.

Sereno’s spokesperson

lawyer Josa Deinla said that it was the chief magistrate’s position, even before the House panel’s invitation was issued, not to attend the hearing because she has a lot of official duties to attend to as chief justice.

Nonetheless, Deinla admitted that Sereno’s lawyers are still studying what course of action to take following the issuance of the invitation to the chief justice.

“It’s still under discussion, they are still deliberating on how to handle it and how to respond to it. But at this point, we don’t know yet if the position of the chief justice will change,” she said.

Reacting to Umali’s statement that Sereno’s decision

However, Duterte attacked Canada’s Justin Trudeau at the end of the summit for raising questions about human rights and summary executions under the antinarcotics campaign.

The Justice department, meanwhile, has approved the renewed partnership between the PDEA and the Bureau of Corrections to check the proliferation of illegal drugs inside prisons and penal farms.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it. As a matter of fact, it is good,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said, referring to the signing of a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday for continued cooperation between the two agencies to implement anti-drug laws.

“We all know that before President Rodrigo Duterte took office, around 70 to 75 percent of illegal drugs in the country were cooked at the national penitentiary,” Aguirre added.

The MOA extended the previous agreement between PDEA and BuCor dated March 25, 2015 aimed at effectively addressing the trafficking and other illegal activities relative to dangerous drugs.

The two agencies also agreed to set up the PDEA Liaison and Coordinating Office inside the NBP, which will have a canine unit that can conduct regular drug sweeps.

The PDEA reported that it conducted a total of 1,341 anti-drug operations from Oct. 10 to Nov. 10 this year, resulting in the arrest of 404 drug suspects and the seizure of dangerous drugs worth P53.83 million.

Aquino attributed the achievement to the shift of the agency’s operational thrusts to reduce the number of highvalue targets through the conduct of high-impact and quality counter-drug operations.

“This is 80.5 percent more

than the operations conducted in the previous month.

As a result, a 14.4 percent increase in the number of arrested drug personalities was recorded,” Aquino said.

The total value of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals seized during the period posted a 233.3 percent more than the preceding month.

“Out of the seized drug evidence, 6.16 kilograms are methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, with an estimated street value of P30.8 million, as compared to the shabu seizure of 1.87 kilograms worth P9,350,000, confiscated last month, an increase of 229.4 percent,” Aquino added.

The consolidated figures were the result of the arrest of high-value targets and high-volume seizures during the following operations in the cities of Taguig, Parañaque, Mandaluyong, Naga and Kawit. With PNA

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE Armed Forces should ask authority from Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao to address the remaining threats from the Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other extremists, an official said Sunday.

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Police...

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police have to enter the picture. I want it eradicated if possible,” he said.

Duterte has drawn international criticism for the deaths of 3,900 people in police anti-drug operations in the last 15 months, but police deny allegations that the killings were summary executions.

The PNP said they had to use deadly force in each case because the suspects were armed and had resisted arrest—something they also said when they killed Kian Lloyd delos Santos, 17, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, and Reynaldo de Guzman, 14.

Trump, who was in Manila recently for a summit of Asian and Western nations, did not apply any pressure over the drugs war on Duterte, with whom he said he had a “great relationship.”

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hus angering Barzaga, who moved to cite her for contempt.

In August 2006, Christine was named in a P30million libel suit thenPresident Joseph Estrada filed against beauty queen Joelle Pelaez, along with Pelaez’s mother Blanquita Pelaez, then-Manila Standard publisher Teodoro Loc-

sin Jr., editor-in-chief Jojo Robles, and lawyer Dennis Funa.

In the articles written

by Christine, Pelaez was quoted as accusing Estrada of laundering P2.07 billion worth of securities, bonds and other debt instruments through the government-sequestered UCPB by allegedly using her name and forging her signature shortly before Estrada’s impeachment trial in 2000. Rey E. Requejo

declaring a revolutionary government to crush communists and those he perceived to be “enemies of the state.”

“Those asking for a revolutionary government under Duterte should be careful what they wish for,” she said.

Drilon said the basis for martial law as mandated in the Constitution would still be the same: A rebellion or an invasion.

He said he believed Duterte would not extend martial law in Mindanao based solely on his decision.

“The President knows that based on our Constitution, it is Congress which authorizes the extension of martial law,”

Drilon said.

Padilla cited the need to extend martial law in Mindanao to address the remaining threats there.

Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law in May after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City, an assault that escalated into a five-month armed fighting between the terrorist group and government forces.

Last month, Duterte declared Marawi liberated from the Maute following the death of the two top leaders of the Marawi siege. Martial law, however, was not lifted and would remain in effect until the end of December.

With PNA

‘Jeepneys...

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Motor vehicle inspections by the Land Transporation Office will also begin in January, he said.

In October, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered jeepney drivers and operators to “modernize” or he would tow their vehicles off the roads.

Under the Public Utility Vehicle modernization program, jeepneys aged 15 years and older and nonEuro-4 compliant engines—about

180,000 all told—must be replaced with the new models prescribed by the government.

Other parts of the modernization program include the formation of drivers and operators cooperatives or corporations to provide better service, and route rationalization that would ease traffic on major roads.

“On Edsa , there are now 4,000 buses when in reality it can only accommodate 1,000.

That’s where route rationalization can make it more efficient and could help ease traffic,” he said.

Envoy for abstention vote on Rohingya reso AFTER the Philippines voted against a United Nations draft resolution on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, the Philippine envoy to the UN said he would push instead for the country’s abstention.

In a reply to a tweet on Nov. 18, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he will “push for abstention” when the resolution goes to the plenary of the UN General Assembly.

He also said the Philippines “should have abstained in deference to the Muslim and non-Muslim member states” of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations “like [what] Singapore did.”

The draft resolution of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee called on Myanmar to “end the ongoing military operations that have fueled tensions among the communities and have led to the systematic violation and abuse of human rights of persons belonging to the Rohingya community and other ethnic minorities, and to hold perpetrators accountable.”

It also asked Myanmar to allow access for humanitar-

ian assistance and for factfinding bodies, and to grant full citizenship to Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine State, among other things.

The Philippines was among the 10 countries that opposed the draft UN resolution on Thursday, Nov. 16, along with Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, Russia, Belarus, Syria and Zimbabwe.

A total of 135 countries voted in favor of the UN resolution while 26 countries abstained.

Meanwhile, Malacañang on Saturday explained the country’s opposition to the draft resolution, saying the issue in the Rakhine State “is a complex one.”

“We believe that isolation and censure would only add to the difficulty the people there are now facing,” said Malacañang in a statement.

Nonetheless, the Palace said it had “expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in the Rakhine State. We are fully aware that it has deep historical roots and we acknowledge Myanmar’s efforts towards resolving the issues faced by the Rakhine State.

Rody: Comfy dressing is in PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he dresses to be comfortable and not to please others.

“You know, I dress not to please anybody. I dress myself to be comfortable. That’s why you’ll rarely see me in a coat and tie,” he said in Filipino, adding that business suits were hot.

“I am there presiding not to please any state figure. To please the prime ministers and the presidents. Of course not. I go there and I want to please myself, this is where I’m comfortable,” Duterte said, referring to the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.

During a speech in Davao

City, Duterte addressed comments that he looked sloppy, wearing the native Barong Tagalog with his sleeves rolled up.

Duterte said he folds his sleeves the way former President Fidel V. Ramos did.

“He folds it to a threefourth [length]. Me too, because if the sleeve is too long, it’s difficult to move,” he said.

“Sometimes, it’s too tight.”

Duterte also shared a childhood story about visiting a wake only to find that the Barong he wore had the same embroidered pattern as that of the deceased.

“So these are vignettes of life, I would call [them],” he said. “And [they] really make your persona.” Bill Casas

Who...

to maximize financing for SDGs,” added Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, the Deputy Secretary-General for Asean Socio-Cultural Community.

The document noted that extreme poverty in the region of over 600-million people fell to seven percent as of 2013 from 17 percent in 2005.

“Progress is being made in key areas of health such as maternal mortality and tuberculosis prevalence, which are falling in almost all countries. Access to education has grown and is now above 95 percent at primary level in all countries,” it said.

The scale of the challenges to meet the SDGs, however, is “significant,” the report noted.

“Even in the countries and regions where extreme poverty has fallen significantly, there remain many working poor, vulnerability to falling back into poverty is high and a ‘missing middle’ is experiencing rising incomes, but lacks access to basic services,” it said.

Mobilizing the right scale and mix of finance—and leveraging the synergies between flows—is essential for achieving the SDGs, the report added.

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The development report, however, was launched Friday in Jakarta, Indonesia by the ASEAN, the United Nations Development Program and the People’s Republic of China, which teamed up for the document.

The report focuses on how to streamline development financing in Southeast Asia, stressing China’s “strengthened” role of financing in Asean.

“China is ready to work even more closely with Asean countries to seek greater synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity 2025, enhance infrastructure building and connectivity across the region,” said Xu Bu, the Permanent Representative of the Mission of China to Asean, in the report.

“Asean’s greatest asset is its people and proper financing will enable the people of Asean to reach their potential. This publication provides us with an understanding on the scale and mix of financing in the Asean region and the opportunities that can be explored

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seminar. I have to ask them to resign if at all, kung gusto ko man, kokonti lang ang those important meetings,” Duterte said during a speech in Davao City.

“A number of them are lined up to be fired. Those who went out of the country to waste the money without permission of the authorities, in this case, the President, they have to go. But I don’t make pubic my dismissals para naman... to spare them

the humiliation.”

Duterte said he would order the officials’ dismissal next week but did not mention names because he did not want to humiliate any of them but asked them to resign.

“Pahihiyain kita. I will undress you before the public.

Huhubaran talaga kita. ‘Yan ang sakit ko. Pahiyain kita. So when I say to you, you resign, go out silently. Para walang... less bloody para sa atin.”

Duterte said he should have minimized corruption by the third year of his administration.

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Asean cities join war on terror

By Bill Casas

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OVERNORS and mayors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations capital cities have agreed to work together to combat the rise of radicalization and extremism in the region following the bloody siege of Marawi City staged by IS-inspired militants recently.

During the 5th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of Asean Capital Cities hosted

by Manila Mayor Joseph

“Erap” Estrada”, security was thoroughly discussed by the local chief executives from the 10 member-

states, according to Universidad de Manila president Ernest Maceda.

Acting as representative of Estrada in the one-day summit held at the historic Ayuntamiento De Manila in Intramuros last Friday, Maceda said the governors and mayors shared knowledge and experiences in security and counter-terrorism campaign.

“Security was the first thing in our agenda because as you all know, Mayor Estrada’s top priority is peace and order…so

the mayors and governors discussed how we could improve it among the capital cities,” Maceda said in an interview.

“We discussed best practices and there were suggestions on how we could integrate our security measures,” Maceda added.

The capital cities executives, according to Maceda, raised the issue of the Marawi siege and suggested ways to strengthen the military and police, as well as empower the com-

munities, in eliminating terror threats.

“Although it was a national problem on our part, they suggested we should strengthen police and military visibility, and tap the communities so that they will be empowered to prevent terrorist activities in their neighborhood,” he pointed out.

In Singapore, Maceda said the city state has a program called “COP” or Citizens-On-Patrol where community residents are trained to be active in reporting ac-

tivities they deem illegal or could result to crimes.

In the City of Manila, the city government , in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has a similar initiative called Community Support Program that seeks to empower barangays to deal with all kinds of security threats.

Formerly called the Peace and Development Outreach Program, CSP is a program that seeks to build conflictresilient communities that will be able to indepen-

dently address all kinds of threats, particularly terror threats and natural calamities and disasters.

Overall, Maceda said the city’s hosting of the 5th Meeting of Governors /Mayors of Asean Capital Cities had contributed to a closer relationship between Asean capitals, especially in terms of sharing best practices in various areas.

Aside from security, also discussed were tourism, liveable and sustainable communities, and governance and linkages.

House panel zeroes in on SSS trading scandal

EARly shOPPERs. Santa Claus figurines in various shapes and sizes are sold at the Dapitan Arcade in Manila, where people start to shop for Christmas decors to avoid the rush. Norman Cruz

Health buffs seek tobacco tax increase

By Macon Ramos-Araneta USING the hastags #DearAngara #HealthWarriors, health advocates on Sunday renewed their appeal to the public to help them convince legislators to include tax hike on tobacco in the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion.

Angara in the hastag #DearAngara refers to Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, which has been pushing for TRAIN to generate additional taxes for the government.

New Vois Association of the Philippines president Emer Rojas, a cancer survivor and himself a victim of smoking, warned that the country will see a million more smokers in five years if tobacco tax is not increased.

“We’ve seen how the sin tax dramatically reduced the number of Filipino smokers from 17 million in 2009 to 15.9 million in 2015,” Rojas, one of those who strongly campaigned for the amendment of the sin tax in 2012, he said.

Rojas warned that without increasing tobacco tax the gains achieved through the sin tax law may reverse.

The sin tax was meant to increase funding for health and reduce the number of smokers by imposing higher taxes on tobacco products.

Around 150,000 Filipinos die every year or roughly 400 everyday from smoking, estimates showed.

Health advocates want a unitary tobacco tax in-

crease from P30 to P60 starting next year to continue the gains of the 2012 sin tax reform.

Rojas, who used to be an engineer, businessman, and radio broadcaster, lost his vocal cords when he was diagnosed with stage 4 laryngeal cancer, a condition he developed through smoking.

Health advocates known to have lobbied and fought for stronger tobacco control have taken their fight to social media sharing their personal experience with smoking.

Dr. Antonio Dans, professor of cardiology and clinical epidemiology at the University of the Philippines, and one of the most active anti-smoking advocates in the country, shared how his family lost their father and sister to tobacco.

He shared that his father was a heavy smoker who died of lung cancer at an early age of 69. Two years prior to his death, the older Dans had suffered a stroke.

“Smoking was not his fault,”Dans said arguing that smokers just like his dad was thrown into the habit because it was glamorized and because cigarettes in the Philippines, being one of the cheapest in the world, were highly accessible.

Dans said his sister, Dinky, was also snatched from their family because of smoking. Fourteen years ago Dr. Dans diagnosed his sister to have lung cancer.

She was 53 and months later he saw her slowly breathe her last breath while in the arms of her husband and three children.

THE House good government and public accountability committee may investigate the alleged profiteering by senior executives in a stock trading scandal at the Social Security System.

“If the resolution filed

by Congressman Carlos Zarate is referred to the committee, then we are duty-bound to look into the mess,” said Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, committee chairman.

“We’ve always made it a point to act on every resolution and every privilege speech assigned to the committee,” Pimentel said in a statement on Sunday.

In House Resolution 1434, Zarate, Bayan Muna partylist representative, specifically asked Pimentel’s panel to inquire into accusations that executives took advantage of their positions, personally traded in stocks, and made money for themselves while they were managing the pension fund’s equity investments.

The executives supposedly benefited from person-

al trades based on “material nonpublic information” on Philippine Stock Exchangelisted companies which they obtained from the pension fund’s accredited stockbrokers.

They also purportedly received lucrative initial public offering share allocations from the stockbrokers under their direct supervision.

Now under administrative investigation for “serious dishonesty and grave misconduct” are SSS executive vice president Rizaldy Capulong; senior vice president and chief actuary George Ongkeko Jr.; vice president and equities investment division OIC Reginald Candelaria; and equities product development head Ernesto Francisco Jr. Ongkeko Jr. and Francisco have since resigned, while Capulong and Candelaria have been suspended from their posts and temporarily reassigned to the office of the SSS president pending resolution of the administrative complaint against them.

Maynilad pushes water security, service measures SINCE its remarkable turnaround over the last 10 years following its reprivatization in 2007, Maynilad Water Services has been investing in adaptation controls for resiliency and future proofing for better water quality and service efficiency even as company president Ramoncito S. Fernandez has called for closer collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure adequate water supply.

Maynilad’s la Mesa and Putatan Water Treatment

Plants are currently undergoing upgrades and retrofitting to face the threats of rising turbidity levels in its raw water sources.

“We are investing in additional treatment technologies so that these facilities can handle the now-unpredictable variations in raw water quality,” Fernandez said.

Because of infrastructure limitation, another program that Maynilad implements is the “distributed water sources”

or smaller reservoirs spread out in different locations.

“We adopted this same principle in our wastewater management program by building small Sewage Treatment Plants and spreading it out to cover all sub-catchments,” he says.

“This strategy has enabled Maynilad to meet increasing demand and enhance supply reliability, and expand wastewater coverage despite the lack of real estate and

other constraints. But, we can only do much with these solutions, so we continue to work with lGU’s, government agencies and securing needed real estate and corresponding permits.”

Maynilad is closely coordinating with MWSS in ensuring additional water supply is delivered to the identified growth areas in its concession. “We are looking at advanced treatment technologies that will allow

us to harness other water sources—such as seawater and or re-used water—and make these safe for domestic and industrial use,” Fernandez said. “Until then, we strive to optimize the current supply by tightening our distribution system for better supply distribution and water recovery. We also work closely with all Angat Dam stakeholders to sustain the water requirements of our customers, especially during times of El Niño.”

7-m tourist arrivals to top record, says Tourism exec

MEN AT WORK. Sundays seem to be a perfect choice to do road repairs because of lighter traffic. This exactly is what Department of Public Works and Highways personnel have opted to do and proceeded to pour asphalt overlay along Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City on Nov. 19, 2017. PNA

India wants to sell warships—Defense chief NATIONAl Defense Secretary Delfin lorenzana said India has expressed interest to help in the Philippine military modernization by supplying equipment. lorenzana made the remark when asked if the Philippines and India have agreed to sign any agreement during last week’s 31st Asean Summit.

What seems apparent during the meeting with India is the country’s desire to supply the Philippines with equipment it needs for the military’s modernization program, lorenzana said.

India has expressed interest in selling naval frigates to the Philippines.

This is not India’s first time to participate in the AFP Modernization Program. One of India’s leading shipyards Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers previously joined the bid to secure an P18 billion frigate program but eventually lost to South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries. PNA

THE Department of Tourism is upbeat about tourist arrivals in the country, saying the seven-million mark may be reached by end of the year.

Arrivals already rose 11 percent per month from 2016 level, DoT record showed. As of August 2017, arrivals exceeded 4.5 million.

Much of the increase was traced to the recently Association of Southeast Asian Nations summits and related meetings.

“The Philippines’ hosting of the Asean summit significantly increased the number of tourist arrivals. The 11-percent-increase, constant increase, it’s due to Asean that brought in visitors to the Philippines,” an official said.

Some delegates extended their visit to the country, particularly in Baguio City, Pampanga and Bohol.

Aside from Asean visitors, consistency in South Korean tourists arrivals along with Chinese visitors, which was nearing one million for 2017, boosted tourism.

Tourist arrivals to the Philippines closed at 5.97 million in 2016. PNA

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

No-brainer

I

N WHAT appears to be a case of the tail wagging the dog, Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson this month asked her boss, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, to provide her with documents on the Malacañang Press Corps.

A copy of the letter, posted on her Facebook page last week, showed that Uson asked her boss for the following:

Copies of any department or office orders relating to the status of the Malacañang Press Corps and any and all the rights and privileges exercised by its members Any laws, executive orders or administrative orders, directly or indirectly pertaining to the right or rights of the MPC to cover the president Copies of the Securities and Exchange Commission documents on the

MPC’s registration A caption under the photo of the letter, said in Filipino: “If you are not hiding anything, don’t worry. I am just asking.”

From where we sit, the situation appears odd that a subordinate can ask her boss to deliver to her documents that are outside her jurisdiction, then publish that “request” on her blog—in effect making an internal communica-

tion public. Uson, after all, was appointed to oversee the Palace’s social media efforts, not to handle its relations with the press.

Clearly, Uson’s letter is a continuation of her row with the press, after she suggested the Palace reclassify the news website Rappler as a social media entity, which would make it subject to accreditation by her office.

The move to expel Rappler from the Palace press corps is clearly an attempt to muzzle an independent—and often critical—voice in the media. The MPC itself has declared this as an attempt to curtail press freedom.

It is unclear if Andanar complied with the request from his subordinate, or if he supports her move to oust Rappler

from the MPC. But a more recent statement from the Communications secretary congratulating her for being considered as an administration candidate for the 2019 senatorial race suggests he is in awe of his own subordinate.

Uson, he said, “is a very popular person” with more than five-million followers on Facebook.

“If we talk about ability to win or the possibility of winning, Mocha is a nobrainer,” he added.

Given Uson’s track record of sharing fake news on her own blog, her disregard for facts and her attempts to bully and browbeat legitimate journalists, the term “no-brainer” seems particularly appropriate.

Carrying capacity

Interviews, interviewers and the interviewed UNTIL last week, it has never occurred to me that anyone would take umbrage at not being interviewed and begrudge another who was interviewed instead. Is there such a thing as the right to be interviewed? Last time I checked, that was not among the recognized rights in the most influential legal codes.

And if it is not a right, by what right does someone who was not interviewed accost and harangue an interviewer who made a different choice for an interviewee? The fact that one has many “followers” on Facebook does not necessarily make one a worthwhile interviewee. Followers follow for different reasons: You are funny, you are enlightening, your are awesome, you are ridiculous or you are remarkably stupid! Reporters interview witnesses and

bystanders, as do the police.

Journalists interview in support of a perspective.

Does that mean that journalists have biases? Of course they do. Bias is not a bad word. When hermeneutics took strides forward in the first half of the preceding century, we were already told this. What makes all understanding possible are prejudices by which we anticipate meaning, prejudices that are altered, corrected, critiqued by experience and the encounter with the hard facts of the world. But no one at all writes or speaks from a tabula rasa… a blank slate. It is when biases are unrecognized and uncriticized that thought, writing and speech go awry. So, BBC has its slant on things, as does CNN, as does TV5 as does Al Jazeera as does Fox News—and the extent to which the bias manifests itself

all depends on the kind of program aired. Commentary, panel discussions, chatrooms—these are fora of opinion and opinionmaking. Do not fault the journalist for having an opinion. That is his job.

That is his livelihood. It is not his fault that you have not formed one. It can only be a statement of your own intellectual sloth or, worse, lack of integrity.

In historical research, the workings of bias are apparent. One hypothesizes on the past on the basis of artifacts, documents, monuments, archaeological finds, paleontological remains, etc. But one will have a whole mass of these, and must separate the relevant from the irrelevant.

One must make choices, and choices—all choices—rest on biases, one’s particular “take,” perspective, stand-

Pathetic in the utmost!

point towards things. It is never possible to step out of biases. They are the preconditions of understanding.

Anytime I write a line for this article, I take on the biases of the English language, the Filipino manner of expression, and my own view of things.

To step out of all this is to ask me to stop writing altogether, in fact, to desist from thought.

If one has thoughts that journalists, writers and commentators think worth soliciting, they will interview you.

Otherwise, why demand that the lights be turned on you to give you your two min-

ute share of “fame,” and the chance for you to share your two cents worth(less)—and expression I owe to the late, revered Justice Isagani Cruz who had little patience for pretenders at the writing craft! And to accost a writer, accusing him of being “biased” for not having solicited your rambling, discombobulated thoughts—that is really the stupidest thing one can do: First, because the charge of being biased is tantamount to accusing someone of thinking; second, because one needs the affirmation of being interviewed to be assured that one’s postings, musings, moaning and groaning have sense and value. In everything, pathetic in the utmost!

It is said that Wittgenstein, that genius of a thinker who wrote laconically, once visited Russell—both Cambridge fellows—and paced

wildly up and down Russell’s room, wondering aloud: “Am I really brilliant or just a fool?” And while a Filipino, eager to flatter and to please, would have effortlessly assured Wittgenstein that he had the brilliance of nothing less than a member of the Blessed Trinity, Russell instructed Wittgenstein: “Write down your thoughts and we shall see”—and Wittgenstein produced the revolutionary Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus that my students in the philosophy of language must struggle with each year.

I must give the same unsolicited advise to the petulant—who are offended that they are not interviewed.

“Write your thoughts down—and we shall see.” rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_ aquino@outlook.

A NEWS item about Baguio City’s woes during the long holiday period of the Asean summit provoked this article on the carrying capacity of many Philippine towns and cities, or for that matter, the country as a whole.

It was reported that thousands upon thousands of visitors to the so-called summer capital of the country were stranded in kilometers long traffic, when the city’s winding roads simply came to a standstill due to the sheer volume of visitors.

Baguio’s carrying capacity has been tested, and it is severely wanting.

But then again, on practically all months of the year, going to Baguio to enjoy its natural beauty has become less and less enjoyable. I say this as a Baguio lover, having been an occasional visitor since my early childhood, and having seen how it has lost its charm through the years.

These days, whenever I go to the city of vanishing pines, I confine myself to a very few places and hardly move downtown. I bought a small lot in Dominican Hill way back in the 80s and hoped to build a cabin where I could retire. I have since rued the day I bought the lot.

When my mom was helping in the business of a granduncle, we would go to the beautiful “air-conditioned” city once every month to collect from department stores my grand-uncle supplied dry goods to. I still recall to these days how enthralled I was of the city’s ambiance and its famous chorizos. To these days, I have maintained my loyalty to a purveyor of the same longanizas that supplies the Baguio Country Club.

When I got to high school, I would always take an annual hegira to St. Louis University for a Student Catholic Action leadership seminar from December 26 to 30. We would be billeted at the Patria de Baguio upon the once lovely Session Road, now “killed” by that monstrous SM “City” that stole the beautiful Pines Hotel from Baguio lovers sometime during the Cory administration.

Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: manilastandard.net Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

A5

Sea change in the desert THE world is witnessing a sea change in the desert Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A sea change is hardly something you would expect in a vast and arid land.

But the phrase is used to describe a change of great magnitude. What brought on this draconian shift in the oil-rich desert kingdom?

Portents of things to come were first noticed when Saudi Arabian authorities lifted nearly a century ban on women drivers.

The sudden policy shift was of course welcomed

by Saudi women whose role was mostly confined to house-keeping chores like cooking, cleaning, bearing and raising children.

Then came the reports of the great purge of some 200 princes who were arrested and jailed for corruption. This development in Saudi Arabia could be more than a power struggle within the Royal family. The once unthinkable action of social change and purge of corrupt princes is actually happening in The Kingdom.

Why is this sweeping change happening? Observers of events in Saudi Arabia see this inner upheaval as a need for the

Royals to clean house lest the populace do it for them. An uprising by Saudis would be bloody and could result in the decimation of the Royal family. The local population has seen how members of the Royal family particularly the princes squander oil revenues and leaving nothing much to improve the lot of the locals.

I have personally seen how wealthy Arabs live it up in London where I used to be posted with the Philippine embassy. Away from the Saudi public’s prying eyes , these moneyed Arabs frequent raunchy bars and casinos where they drink and gamble contrary to Islamic rules.

What was I doing in those places myself? I was a young man then and a non-Muslim unconstrained

by Islamic tradition of no alcoholic drinks and intoxicating women. So there.

Change also comes to Zimbabwe From the Zimbabwean capital of Harare also comes the news that long time ruler Robert Mugabe has been taken into custody by the army. The country once known as Rhodesia and ruled by a minority government headed by white Rhodesian Ian Smith was officially granted independence by Great Britain. The document of independence was signed in April 1980 at historic Lancaster House and wit-

nessed by the late Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo who asked me to join him as his press officer. From Salisbury, Rhodesia the capital’s name was changed to Harare and the country renamed Zimbabwe. Only Robert Mugabe who led the army against Smith remained as Zimbabwe’s first black ruler for 37 years until last week’s military putsch.

Mugabe’s downfall, however, was long overdue and the only wonder of it all was why it took so long to happen. The people of Zimbabwe, for years, suffered deterioration of education and the economy under Mugabe, now 93 years old. Seen as the cause of Mugabe’s downfall was the emergence of his wife who is 41 years younger.

Known as “Gucci Grace,” she became the frontrunner to succeed her husband after he fired his wife’s rival Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This did not sit well with the military who didn’t want to see a Mugabe political dynasty perpetuate itself in power.

With Mugabe under house arrest, the army has clearly taken control of the country. Military coups, however, have their cycle.

Those who staged coups d’etat are also consumed by the same powerful force.

Rape as weapon of war Myanmar’s military has been accused of mass sexual violence against

Rohingya women and girls. This is a serious accusation that will long be a stigma against the military in Myanmar. The ethnic cleansing being committed against the minority Muslim Rohingya population came at a time when the international community was sanguine that Myanmar was well on the way to becoming an open democratic society. Even the United States which led worldwide economic sanctions on Myanmar opened its embassy after years of diplomatic absence.

Rohingya women who survived the sexual violence said they came out in the open because silence would perpetuate their suffering and humiliation. There are now an estimated one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh who managed to flee the persecution of minorities in Myanma’s Rakhine state.

These atrocities were reminiscent of the mass rape of Muslim women

by Serbian soldiers during the ethnic cleansing war in the Balkans in the late 90s. Bosnian women of the Islamic faith, while being raped, were told by Serb soldiers to be pregnant and bear Serbian children.

Serbia is the last remaining country of the former Yugoslavia under Marshal Broz Tito. Its leaders after Tito—Slobodan Milose-

vic, Ratko Mladic, el al were captured and tried by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity.

There are other instances when rape was used as a weapon by men in uniform.

In the case of the Rohingyas in Myanmar, there is no war that threatens the Yangon government. This is a blatant case of persecution of ethnic minorities. The Philippines is among several countries that did not sign a United Nations draft resolution condemning the persecution of the Rohingyas. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanamar’s foremost freedom fighter, didn’t speak up against the persecution of the Rohingyas when she was in Manila for the Asean Summit of leaders Tedoro Locsin, Jr., the country’s ambassador to the UN s, who was also in Manila for the Summit, said the Philippines should have abstained in deference “to our Muslim brothers in Indonesia and Malaysia.” Apparently the “no” vote instruction came from Malacanang to the DFA which cabled the Philippine Mission in New York.

It is a tribute to the Cuban revolution that women were held in high esteem

by Fidel Castro who toppled the much hated regime of Fulgencio Batista. Succeeding his brother, Raul Castro is mending relations with their neighbor up north, the US.

Contrasting global approaches to economic development BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN Part I THERE is a sharp contrast in the continuing contest in the economic policy pursued by US President Donald Trump from that of China’s President Xi Jinping.

Both may have nothing to do anymore with ideological competition but definitely the competition serves as a template to global economic development. This is expected to heighten because most economists expect China to overtake the US as the world’s largest economy with many political pundits predicting the end of the mighty Pax Americana.

One can already see the stark difference in the approach being pursued by Xi from that of Trump. It is as one would put it, a contrast between the “bilateralist” policies of the US to the “multilateralist” approach of China. Some observe this as an indication of a shift in policy which the US originally initiated as seen by its support for the various regional economic blocs. Now, in the recently-concluded conferences of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, it was apparent that the gathering only enjoyed the lukewarm support of the Trump administration.

The multilateralist approach to global economic development became the

Carrying...

From A4

From college until the time my kids were in early childhood, we would go to Baguio from December 26 to 30, occasionally even spending New Year’s Eve there to avoid the firecracker pollution of the NCR lowlands.

Until today, I “refuse” to work from the 24th until New Year’s Day, and hie off somewhere to rest and relax. But no longer in my once beloved Baguio. I go there on occasional short visits when the capital is less populated by transients from the lowlands, but these past years, the city’s permanent residents have grown twenty

fashionable mode after the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade was organized in 1947 and replaced by the World Trade Organization in 1994 of which the principal goal was the elimination of tariff barriers. This was later followed by the creation of the various regional economic blocs of which the members gradually changed their tone from one zeroing in on tariff to one of cooperation to complement each other’s economic development.

This approach popularly known as “globalization” earned its ugly connotation, for often the mechanism was solely geared towards promoting their respective trade advantage that residually caused economic retardation. However, the continuing recession and stagnation of the economies of the highly industrialized world led by the US, Japan and Western Europe served as eye-opener to shift their production base to the less-developed countries of Asia to take advantage of the low value of their currency and wage. Some members then began to experiment in manipulating the currency to exact maximum profit. The US was the first to take this option because of recession, inflation, and of high production cost.

It was through this channel why China’s philosophy of “yin and yang” that everything in the universe consists of two opposing forces that complement was recognized and used

to their own advantage. Instead of seeing things negatively, China and the rest of Southeast Asia took the new global economic trend positively against the backdrop of tumultuous opposition of many. This explains why debate continues to rage. If some were trapped deeper into debt, that is now being debunked because the US ended up as the biggest debtor in the world with an astounding debt of $20.1 trillion.

It is fast losing its grip as the leader in the world economy and worse, it is internally hounded by a widening gap between the rich and the poor with poverty slowly creeping into their society. Thus, the shift in the US approach to negotiating on a one-and-one basis is being justified by Trump claiming that the US has been “unfairly treated.”

Even if that was merely used as gambit to capture the presidency, it is hard to accept because US is not only an economic but a global military superpower that commands great respect and influence. In fact, many of those concluded agreements were marred by US pressure, and for such slightest violation, member states are being punished with fines and trade sanctions even before the WTO could impose its verdict.

According to American author, Thomas L. Friedman, the objective of globalization is to level the playing field between industrial and emerging market countries. Free trade is, in fact, a recognition of the old “compara-

tive advantage” theory of Adam Smith that countries should develop certain products to its own advantage while discarding products they can buy from countries that could produce them at cheaper prices.

Looking at it, the Trump administration now comes in with the usual braggadocio of accusing some of its leading trade partners of “unfairly” treating the US. President Trump now directs its rile on Mexico, China, Canada, Japan, South Korea and all these countries that happened to manufacture goods and export them at cheaper prices.

In that, one is tempted to ask just how the US was unfairly treated when it is the one that virtually dictates the rules of the game as often said in Trump’s arrogant slogan of “America first.”

Notably, in the early period when the world was recovering from the ravages of the Second World War, the US was supportive in helping countries to economically develop.

This was seen in their announcement of the Marshall Plan in 1948. The US extended to Western Europe $13 billion that by today would have an equivalent value of $135.4 billion.

That has changed. The trade balance has slowly shifted, and the US is now blaming countries for its huge trade deficit. In 2016, it incurred a $509.2 billion, importing $2.712 trillion while exporting $2.208 trillion.

The US cannot attribute

the problem to its economy on cheap imports much that it promoted that system and was the first to take advantage of it. After the US decoupled its currency from the gold standard in violation of the Bretton-Woods Agreement, it tied to keep the value of its currency to again take advantage of cheap unprocessed goods. The US then has yet to feel the crunch about the long term effect of the high value of their exports, unaware that it was the same trick of the trade that would erode their market.

Underdeveloped countries slowly and gradually produced their own goods as a way to sustain their own economies. Later, countries that originally jacked up the value of their currency soon experienced the same malaise suffered by exporters from developing countries. The proposition that US products manufactured and assembled in China and the rest of Southeast Asia would be much cheaper was not true. US companies that refused to relocate their manufacturing plants outside the country sought to impose the same amount of excise tax arguing that the country already suffered from loss of employment, and they cannot now be accorded preferential treatment on the basis that they are returning US branded products.

In effect, their objective of generating more profit by consigning production outside the US was a myth.

times (perhaps more) than what the American colonials planned when they built Baguio City.

But Baguio is not alone.

Hindi siya nag-iisa.

Let’s skip NCR, with it’s daytime population hovering around 17 million, and a residential base of some eight million. Sasakit lang ang ulo natin, at mabu-bwisit lang ang araw.

Another favorite city is Cebu. Ever since the family moved to Butuan, Cebu was our halfway destination between Manila and Northern Mindanao, at the time quite “primitive” by urbanity standards.

But look at Metro Cebu now, and weep. To travel

from the Marriott upon Ayala or Waterfront in Lahug to the airport in Mactan takes an hour minimum. When an unpredictable traffic situation gets snarled, make that an hour and a half. Just a tad better than the nightmare of NCR. Or Boracay, whose water supply and wastewater treatment facilities I helped build when I was at the helm of the Philippine Tourism Authority in the abbreviated term of President Erap. It has progressively deteriorated due to poor planning, poor local government management, unrestrained commercial greed, and is bursting at the seams, beyond its carrying capacity. That’s another sto-

ry for some future column.

Cagayan de Oro is another example for a city with so little land, compared to Davao and Zamboanga, but whose permanent residents have grown, and the transient population multiplied several times over.

Bacoor and Imus in Cavite as well. I used to drive from Manila to Tagaytay City where I built a house in the late seventies using Quirino Avenue in Paranaque off Roxas Bouevard and could breeze past Aguinaldo Highway to my upland retreat in 40 minutes nighttime and an hour daytime. That allowed me to escape the heat of NCR any time I fancied. Now no longer, even with SLEX and

Sta. Rosa.

Or my native San Pablo in Laguna’s southern boundary. Or Lipa and Batangas City. Malolos and Angeles, even Dagupan and Urdaneta up north.

Beyond poor planning of which our past leaders, probably with the singular exception of Elpidio Quirino whose birth anniversary last November 16 the nation hardly remembered, the real hex comes from unabated population growth.

Due to pressure from the numerous Church to which I profess religious loyalty still, we never managed our population growth. Belatedly during the Marcos martial rule, we created a Population Com-

rpkapunan@gmail.com

Sweet tax and health don’t mix FROM consumer advocates to organizations of stores and carinderia owners, a number of groups have come out in opposition to the proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Their disagreement with the proposed tax measure has been more or less economic in nature. Considering the demographic that consumes most if not all of the affected products, any movement in their prices will have repercussions in the budgeting of low-income families, not to say anything of the debilitating blow to affected retail stores and industries.

The anticipated government revenues to be raised also brings up the issue of whether or not it really is a health measure as proponents paint it to be. Dutifully, the bill’s critics point out that there are many other potential sources of funds for the Duterte administration’s ambitious infrastructure program; just plugging the leaks in the Bureau of Customs as a result of smuggling promises many times the projected collection from the so-called sweet tax. Revisiting the public-private partnership model to fund these projects should also be on the agenda.

But even granting that it is a health measure, does that argument hold? Health maintenance, after all, is a complex problem and the science had long established that it cannot be blamed on a single factor, including sugar. Medical experts have consistently pointed out that things like lifestyle, stress, exercise, overall diet, and even the environment and sanitation all contribute to the state of one’s health.

Thus, the health angle put forth by proponents of the SSB tax is in many ways a way to “sugar coat,” so to speak, what is in reality a revenue generating measure. We remember that the administration had instructed congress to prioritize the passage of its banner tax reform program called TRAIN in time for implementation by January 2018.

This is an issue close to my heart, being diabetic myself.

I have long known that minimizing sugar intake is just part of a holistic change in Even lifestyle that living with this disease demands. Proposed granting that measures such as the “sweet it is a health tax” are by no means limited to the Philippines. For legmeasure, does islators, there is an allure in that argument the imposition of additional taxes on food and drinks, inhold? cluding and especially soda, as a simple and convenient solution to increasing incidences in obesity.

But the experience of many countries and cities all over the world tell us that the demand for beverages tend to be “inelastic” in the first place, so any attempt to control their consumption via taxation would be untenable. Worse, consumers of these products are most likely to just substitute untaxed products by equally caloric food and drink products in their diet. And even if there was a drop in the consumption of these products, the human body’s dynamic metabolic adjustment is likely to resist the effect of such change, lowering the chances of weight loss.

It is no coincidence then that for countries that have imposed food and drink taxes, such as the United States, Mexico, and France, among others, there was little evidence of any discernible decline in obesity rates. The average Body Mass Index for these countries, in fact, either remained stable or increased. In Canada, moreover, per capita soda and overall sugary drink consumptions fell 27 and 12 percent respectively between 2004 and 2015, but obesity rates nevertheless grew, putting to question the traditionally accepted correlation between soda consumption and obesity.

Elsewhere in the world, research from both the scientific community and the taxation policy side conclude “a striking absence of success over the long-term.” Consumers respond to price incentives, no question, but outside of the behavior modification the ultimate effect of a tax measure on diet is often “so small as to be utterly insignificant.”

Thus, the public health angle that SSB tax proponents forward, while seemingly laudable, in reality merely disguises the measure for what it is: A revenue scheme. The Canadian case, for instance, earned for Ottawa some $1.7 billion annually, never mind equity, efficiency, or necessity, necessary policy criteria for new taxes. Clearly, obesity and diabetes are complex lifestyle diseases, requiring a holistic remedy, not a one-size-fits-all approach like the SSB tax.

As the TRAIN bill is being pushed to be passed into law this December, several amendments have been proposed in the Senate to find a “sweeter” balance between the millions of stakeholders that will be affected and the valid need to raise revenues for badly needed infrastructure projects. Like diabetes, a holistic approach that combines real reforms in tax collection, stopping, corruption, stopping gambling and illicit trade would be the healthier option. mission to help curb a demographic growth rate averaging 3 percent per annum.

By the time Edsa “revolted” and ensconced President Cory, along with our homegrown Cardinal Richelieu, Jaime Sin into power, that population management program was thrown to the waste bin. FVR, our first and only Protestant president tried to revive population management, and so did his short-lived successor, Erap, but Church pressure dribbled all significant efforts. Then came GMA, whose legitimacy was always under threat, and who caviled to the pressure of church groups even to the extent of elevating to powerful cabinet rank advisers on “religious affairs”.

To his credit, PNoy pushed for the passage of the Reproductive Health Law, only to be stymied by protracted legal battle all the way to a

Supreme Court which could not decide with finality, and issued a TRO while passing the buck to the Food and Drug Administration.

Only now, under President Duterte, and with FDA Administrator Charade Puno, did the regulatory agency declare that the birth control drugs that the mislabeled “pro-life” lobbyists called “abortifacients” were decidedly not so.

And so the national effort to manage population once more begins.

A bit late in the day, with a population expected to exceed 105 million by yearend, but still welcome news in the long over-strained carrying capacity of a small nation of 30 million hectares split into 7,101 islands.

But, let’s still celebrate the belated news, and hope the action of government and society will be determined this time.

A6

News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Perfect food supply chain by year 3’

By Bill Casas

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte graced the launching of TienDA Farmers and Fisherfolks Outlets, a partnership project between the Department of Agriculture and Ayala Malls, at the Asian Food Market in Abreeza Mall Davao on Saturday.

He also committed to perfect the food supply chain in the country by the third year of his administration.

The President lauded the DA and the Ayala Corp., operator of the Ayala malls, for initiating a partnership that would help farmers and fisherfolk freed from middlemen or cartels and provide market access to sell products at fair price.

This also results in cheaper

food products for consumers, the President said.

“For after all, it’s the Department of Agriculture who’s responsible if we go hungry or we have full stomach,” Duterte said, adding that Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol is responsible for the sustainability of the food supply.

“So the food chain in the Philippines must be at least perfected by [or] on the third year of my administration,”

he said.

“I hope that the TienDA Farmers and Fisherfolk Outlet will open doors of greater opportunities for our kababayans towards a better and brighter future,” Duterte said in his speech.

Duterte said that while the local agriculture industry still thrives amid the entry of similar imported products, he encouraged the Filipinos to patronize local products to help

keep the industry afloat.

“Well, at the expense of the ‘disers’ [merchandisers] the middle men, that’s not how it is because we are trying to come up with our decision to, I said, provide the people affordable and always, their food for all,” Duterte said.

He also said that the imports and exports have to be balanced with the trade all over the world.

“We have to compete, that

is why production is the secret.

So ang production mo, pareho sa kanila then they have to choose,” he said.

“The thing there is to maintain the supply para pareho mura. Then kung ikaw Pilipino, kung pareho ‘yung ano mo, ‘di sa Pilipino ka na bumili. Makatulong ka pa,” he added.

Duterte also thanked the Ayalas for their social and corporate conscience to help the Filipino people.

12 caught illegally ferrying rice sacks DAVAO CITY—A dozen men, including the captain of a motorboat carrying 5,000 sacks of rice, were apprehended by the Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao in a joint counter-action operation conducted off Arena Point, Davao Oriental on Saturday night.

Ensign Aileens Jansor, spokesperson of the Philippine Navy in Eastern Mindanao, said NFEM personnel led by Captain Hadun Hamil apprehended the 12 boat crew aboard M/L Sunlight off the waters of Davao Oriental after they failed to present documents for their goods.

The joint forces of Naval Task Group 71 along with BRP Magat Salamat (Patrol Ship/PS20) and BRP Heracleo Allano (Patrol Craft 376) of Joint Task Force Haribon and two teams of Naval Special Operations Unit 7 confiscated the sacks of rice.

Janson said the crew could not present authentic National Food Authority shipping permits or transport documents. PNA

SEA OF GREEN. Fishermen struggle to cross a sea of water hyacinths at Laguna de Bay as they approach the Cardona Municipal fish port in the province of Rizal on Friday. A state of calamity has been declared in 14 barangays in Cardona town as at least 8,600 fisherfolk are affected by the plants clogging a portion of the lake, according to municipal officials. Manny Palmero

Make-up classes need not be just Saturdays, DepEd clarifies Lack of saltwater in Laguna THE Department of Education recently clarified that make-up classes need not be conducted only on Saturdays.

“Make-up classes could be done by adding one to two hours per day in the class,” explained Joyce Andaya, DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Division director.

She said the DepEd regional directors would find out how many hours are needed in their areas.

The DepEd also clarified that class cancellations are being decided by the

national government (such as a public holiday) and the local government units.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones also cited that there are instances, for example, when there’s no typhoon signal but an LGU would declare class suspensions because of a flood in the area.

With the recent nationwide transport strike, the hosting of the 31st Asean Summit, and with the country being prone to typhoons, many schools have

declared class cancellations.

Some parents think that class cancellations, except during typhoons, are a waste of time. Others think that their kids eventually suffer from makeup classes since these are usually held during weekends.

Lanie, a mom of a Grade 4 boy studying in Manila, thinks the time is wasted whenever there’s class cancellation.

“They [students] should have been in school, and they could have learned

more,” she noted.

She is not in favor of such class cancellation as she thinks this is not good for the kids.

Marie Raquel, another parent in Manila, feels the same way. “There were many days that my daughter experienced class cancellations due to typhoons. For weeks, she had to take make-up classes. Students, instead of being in school during those [days], had to catch up with the lessons,” she lamented. PNA

PCSO cancels Pangasinan agent firm’s permit for remittance shortfall

By Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has cancelled the permit of its biggest Authorized Agent Corporation in Northern Luzon for its shortfall of remittances under its Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipts.

PCSO FORUM.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander F. Balutan (left) express his gratitude to Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda for the construction of the P12-million PCSO provincial office in Barangay Maimpis in San Fernando City, during the charity agency Samasamang Talakayan at Linawan media forum held at the City’s Provincial Capitol Compound, Benigno Aquino Hall on Nov. 17, 2017. Joseph Muego

Remeliza Gabuyo, PCSO assistant manager for branch operations, said the agency’s board terminated last November 15 the permit of Golden Go Rapid Gaming Corp. to stop operating the expanded Small Town Lottery in Pangasinan.

Pangasinan now has the biggest and the most lucrative

STL operation in the country, surpassing even Pampanga’s collections of abour P1 billion a month, the PCSO said.

Gabuyo said Golden Go is the biggest among the agency’s 79 existing AACs with monthly remittances of P200 million.

Under the law, AACs are authorized to remit 25 percent of their earnings to the govern-

ment corporation.

During a media forum here attended by PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan and Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, Gabuyo said Golden Go remitted only P40 million last October, or a shortfall of P160 million.

Because of its failure to meet its monthly financial

obligation to the gaming agency, the AAC’s permit was cancelled by the board last Nov. 15, and was given only a grace period of five days until Nov. 22.

After the Nov. 22 grace period, if its operation continues, it is considered illegal, and their owners are subject to arrest, Gabuyo stressed.

Lake equals hyacinth boom

THE fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas or Pamalakaya on Sunday blamed the excessive proliferation of water hyacinth in Laguna de Bay to the Napindan Hydraulic Control Structure in Taguig City that prevents the entry of saltwater into the 90,000-hectare brackish lake.

Towns of Binangonan and Cardona in the province of Rizal are now heavily surrounded by water hyacinths due to the “amihan” or northeast monsoon, affecting the waterways of thousands of fisherfolk who strive to sail out of the lake to do fishing activities.

Pamalakaya said saltwater that comes from Manila Bay via the Pasig River is essential to Laguna de Bay because it serves as nutrients to maintain the lake’s ecological balance, and brackish water by nature is a combination of fresh and saltwater.

“Since the construction of the Napindan, various pests thrive in the lake, including water hyacinths, snake turtle, knife fish, and janitor fish. All these affect the livelihood of small fisherfolk because predator species such as knife fish and snake turtle prey on small fish preventing them to grow; while the water hyacinths obstruct the movement of fishing boats,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairperson, said in a statement. Bill Casas

‘Barangay health workers need training, right tools’

By Macon RamosAraneta DEPARTMENT of HealthMimaropa Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo wants barangay health workers to be “placed in the mainstream of the health system” to achieve the agency’s goal of providing everyone in the community the health service they deserve.

“We have been speaking of their unselfish acts and providing them recognition, but the BHWs deserve more that words and commemoratives,” said Janairo.

“They need more support in exchange for their noble and selfless regular undertakings in the local community,” he added.

In order for the department to provide more health benefits

and double its delivery of primary health care, Janairo said BHWs must be given full support training on the use of medical tools and diagnostic instruments, including the provision of stethoscopes, ventilator, and blood testing kits, which will help them in the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment and alleviation of diseases in the community.”

DoH defines a BHW as a person who has undergone training under any accredited government and non-government organization. He voluntarily renders primary health care services in the community after having been accredited to function as such by the local health board, in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the department.

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

L

ONDON—Zolani Tete took just 11 seconds to record the fastest knockout in world championship fight history in Belfast on Saturday night.

The South African etched his name into the record books when he flattened countryman Siboniso Gonya with his first punch to retain his World Boxing Organisation bantamweight crown.

FORMER collegiate superstars Chris Tiu and Dylan Ababou lead the UAAP Greats featured in UAAP Magazine’s special digital feature “Greatness Unlocked” on Facebook, where they talk about their heydays in the country’s premier collegiate league.

Adding to the excitement in the on-going UAAP Final Four, the video also features former De La Salle University swingman James Mangahas, former University of the East lead gunner Marcy Arellano, former University of the Philippines Maroon Martin Reyes, former National University point guard Joseph Terso, and former Far Eastern University Tamaraw Paul Sanga apart from former King Eagle Tiu and former MVP Ababou, who played for UST. Catch them as they sit down and reminisce about their playing years and share how they unlocked their greatness within during their time, and also weigh in on the current players and style of play in the UAAP today.

The video can be viewed on the official facebook page of the UAAP Magazine, which recently launched a special issue last October featuring a back-to-back cover featuring basketball and volleyball superstars from all of the league’s eight member schools.

The UAAP Magazine special serves as a good starter before delving into the intense battles UAAP Magazine’s digital features is in line with ABSCBN’s rapid transition into an agile digital company, with a growing list of digital platforms and the biggest online presence among Filipino media companies.

Don’t miss the UAAP Magazine special “Greatness Unlocked” and other special UAAP features on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/ UaapMagazine/) and be inspired to #GoforGreat. For more information and stories, visit ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn.comor the UAAP micrositewww. uaap80.com, and follow @ ABSCBNSports on Facebook and Twitter.

From A8

first time with the MVP Sports Foundation.

Three-up after 36 holes, Legaspi held on to a two-shot lead after a 41 at the turn but Nocum took control with a par-birdie-birdie feat to open the backside as the former bogeyed the first three holes and fell by three.

But Legaspi pounced on Nocum’s bogey on No. 16 then birdied the 17th which Nocum bogeyed to set the stage for the playoff as the duo bogeyed the challenging par-4 closing hole to finish with identical 235s. Legaspi fumbled with an 81 while Nocum carded a 78.

Legaspi, however, regained her form in the first playoff hole and hit a par on No. 1, clinching the victory as Nocum missed the green and made a bogey.

Sharing top honors in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and serving as part of the PLDT Group’s National Amateur Golf Tour were Takuya Kawamura and Eddie Bagtas.

A7

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Tete in fastest KO; PH pug wins

Ex-college standouts featured in UAAP Magazine

Castro...

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Tete floored his opponent with a devastating right hook after just five seconds and the referee stopped the contest officially just six seconds later when it became clear Gonya was out cold.

F2’s Perez is week’s top PSL spiker F2 Logistics continued its dominant run when it posted five consecutive victories to remain as the heaviest contender in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix.

And one player should be credited for this amazing run – import Maria Jose Perez.

The Venezuelan sensation was at the helm of the Cargo Movers’ attack that prompted the PSL Press Corps to name her as its Chooks to Go-Player of the Week from Nov. 11 to 18.

With Perez spewing fire at the attack zone, the Cargo Movers defeated Cocolife, Generika-Ayala and Victoria Sports-UST in straight-sets, putting them in a perfect position to capture the top seed in the suddendeath quarterfinal battle.

She finished with 14 attacks and two aces for 17 points against the Asset Managers before torching the Lifesavers with 12 attacks to finish with 14 points in another dominant straight-set victory.

Perez capped her impressive week with another 12-point effort to lead the Cargo Movers to another impressive win over the Tigresses over the weekend at the La Salle Lipa Sentrum to earn the weekly honor given by reporters and photographers from various newspapers, tabloids and online news outlets covering the league.

She won the award over the other explosive imports like her teammate in Kennedy Bryan, Lindsay Stalzer of Petron and Sara Klisura of Foton.

But more than her attacking prowess and leadership, Perez said it is their mental toughness that is making them successful.

“I think we’re working hard every day in practice,” said Perez, a seasoned international campaigner who donned the colors of Venezuela in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“I (also) think that we come to every match mentally prepared.

You know, it’s very important to keep our mental toughness because the Superliga is a very tough competition. All players here are very good.”

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION

BRANCH 90, QUEZON CITY ROBERT FRAGMAN, represented

By MARILYN MENDEZ Plaintiff, -versusCIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-14-00713-CV VICENTE O. AGUSTIN Defendant. x------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF SALE ON EXECUTION OF REAL PROPERTY WHEREAS, by virtue of the Writ of Execution dated July 29, 2016 issued in the aboveentitled case, wherein ROBERT FRAGMAN, represented by MARILYN MENDEZ, is the plaintiff, and VICENTE O. AGUSTIN is the defendant for Collection of Sum of Money with Damage/s the defendant is ordered to pay the plaintiff the following: (1) Php 2,420,000.00 as actual damages with 6% interest per annum to be computed on the Php 2,420,000.00, computed from the date of demand in August, 2009 until fully paid; (2) Php 500,000.00 as moral damages; (3) Php 200,000.00 as exemplary damages to teach defendant not to deceive foreigners and other persons similarly situated to part with their money; (4) Php 100,000.00 as attorney’s fees; and (5) Php 63,214.00 as costs of suit, together with the lawful fees for the service of this execution and sale, and on August 09, 2017, levy was made upon the rights, interests, titles, and participation of the defendant VICENTE O. AGUSTIN may have in the real property and all existing improvements which are more particularly described as follows, to wit: “TAX DECLARATION REAL PROPERTY

OF

TD/ARP No.: F-041-02984 0000-2017-01-074821 PROPERTY INDEX: 21-041031-075 Owner: AGUSTIN GRACIA M & VICENTE O AGUSTIN (GS Address: LOT 2 BLK 45 FAIRVIEW PARK QC Location of Property: FAIRVIEW CAPITOL Quezon City OCT/TCT 157368 Dated: 08/14/1970 Lot No.: 2 Block NO.: 45 -----------------------------------------

It is the fastest knockout in a world championship bout, eclipsing the record held by WBO superbantamweight champion Daniel Jimenez who stopped Harald Geier in 17 seconds in 1994.

“I’ve been preparing so hard for this fight,” Tete told the BoxNation television channel. “I knew Gonya wasn’t going to last.”

Promoter Frank Warren added: “He was gone before

KIND OF PROPERTY ASSESSED LAND Ra-3 CORNER N Actual Use: RESIDENTIAL Area: 514.000 Market Value (Php): 6,168,000.00 Classification: RESIDENTIAL Assessment Level (%): 6 Assessed Value (Php): 308,400.00 Total Assessed Value: THREE HUNDRED EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED PESOS Taxable/Exempt: TAXABLE Effectivity of Assessment/ Reassessment: 2017 Annual Tax Due: 7,710.00 This declaration cancels TD/ ARP: E-041-03977 Previous AV: 138,780.00 (php) Prev. Owner AGUSTIN GRACIA M & VICENTE O AGUSTIN (GS xxx” NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of said Execution and in accordance with Rule 39 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Case Procedure, the undersigned Sheriff will sell thru Public Auction to the highest bidder, for CASH and in Philippine Currency on December 15, 2017 at 9:00 o’clock in the morning, in front of the Hall of Justice Building, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City, all the rights, interests, titles and/or participation of the defendant VICENTE O. AGUSTIN in the above-described real property together with its improvements in order to satisfy said Writ of Execution together with expenses for this execution and sale.

This NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE will be published in the MANILA STANDARD, newspaper of general circulation, once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks.

Likewise, let copies of this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale be posted in three (3) conspicuous places where the real property is located and where the public auction shall take place.

Prospective bidders or buyers are enjoined to investigate for themselves the title to the said real property and the encumbrances thereon, if there be any.

Quezon City, November 08, 2017.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

he hit the canvas. Tete is something special.”

On the same card, local hero Jamie Conlan failed in his attempt to win a world title when the Northern Irishman was stopped in the sixth round by Filipino International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas in a one-sided contest.

Ancajas came to work early, sending the Belfast hero to the

quiao, whose footsteps Ancajas has said he wants to follow, the 25-year-old Filipino champ appears ripe for a fight in the United States.

It was Ancajas’ 28th win with a loss and draw, while Conlan absorbed his first loss in 20 fights.

Ancajas defended his crown for the third straight time since winning it from McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico in September 2016. AFP

Marikina cagefest a haven for ex-professionals THERE’S hope for PBA players who bounce in and out of the PBA. For players like Ronjay Buenafe, Sunday Salvacion, Chito Jaime, Bonbon Custodio, Mac Andaya and Al Vergara, Hobe Macway, one of the teams competing in the Marikina City Basketball League, is a sanctuary for ex-pros looking for a right opportunity to prove their worth that they can still be an asset.

Team owner Bobby Co wants to give these ex-pros a home where they could shine and perform.

One of the players vying for a spot with the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, Buenafe is using

the MCBL as a way to sharpen up.

“Right now, the important thing is makundisyon ako. Wala pang desisyon kung makakalaro ako sa NLEX sa PBA, pero kailangan nasa kundisyo ako para ready ako kung tatawagin ako ng NLEX,” said Buenafe, who won a championship while playing for Yeng Guiao with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

For Buenafe, playing in the MCBL is a good way to keep him on top of his game as he’s facing ex-PBA players, top amateur players and collegiate standouts, including imports.

“The quality of competition is

high. This is one way of keeping me sharp and on top of my game. We have the top amateur players competing, we also have imports here,” he added. “This is a good league because you’re going to learn a lot.”

Jaime is another old player of Guiao and after his last stint with Kia, he found himself as a free agent again.

“Sana mabigyan pa ng tsansa.

Iba pa rin ang buhay sa PBA,” added Jaime.

For Salvacion, Vergara and Andaya, playing for Hobe Macway in the MCBL is not only a sanctuary for ex-PBA players. It also

Manila

Republic of the Philippines StandardENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

SSC

provides the most important thing – food for the family.

“Kailangan nating maghanapbuhay,” said Salvacion, who last played for Mighty Sports, which won the championship in the William Jones Cup last year. He made his return to the PBA with GlobalPort, but was cut short by an injury. “‘Yung injury ko kasi dati pa.

Hindi na kaya nung katawan ko yung everyday training kaya OK sa akin itong Hobe Macway sa MCBL. Naglalaro-laro pa rin naman ako sa mga invitational tournaments sa mga probinsiya,” added Salvacion.

=

start-up fees applicable to DR, in PhP / kWh, for the current billing period

=

s X [(VHFOX Actual HF cost per liter) + (Vlube, x Actual LO cost per liter)] Total Energy

G

=

Summation of Energy generated or dispatched in a particular interval hour due to Non-Firm Contracted Capacity, in kWh.

n

=

the number of days in the billing month.

Fuel

=

fuel oil, lube oil and related fuel rates, in PhP /kWh.

=

The monthly actual cost per liter of fuel oil, lube oil and related fuel shall be calculated based on the “first in, first out” procedure using the data of actual monthly invoices of deliveries, inventories and consumption.

TODAY

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City Where:

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THERMA MARINE, INC. (FOR MOBILE 2), AND APPROVAL OF THE INCIDENTAL ENERGY SUPPLY AGREEMENT TEMPLATE, WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

ERC CASE NO. 2017-076 RC

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THERMA MARINE, INC., Applicants.

HFR

=

Heavy fuel oil rate in Php/kWh

x---------------- --- --- -- -- -- -- --------x

LOR

=

Lube oil rate in Php/kWh

HFCR

=

Heavy fuel oil consumption rate of 0.23580 liters/kWh or actual, whichever is lower.

LOCR

=

Lube oil consumption rate of 0.00240 liters/kWh or actual, whichever is lower.

PCPIm

=

Philippine CPI of the current billing month

PCPIb

=

Philippine CPI of 126.4 as of June 2011

UCPIm

=

US CPI of the current billing month

UCPIb

=

US CPI of 225.722 as of June 2011

ECPIm

=

EURO CPI of the current billing month

ECPIb

=

EURO CPI of 96.050 as of June 2011 [2015=100]

JCPIm

=

Japan CPI of the current billing month

JCPIb

=

Japan CPI of 96.4 as of June 2011 [2015=100]

PUXm

=

Peso to US Dollar exchange rate at the end of the current billing month

PUXb

=

Peso to US Dollar exchange rate of 44.8210 PHP /USD as of 17 May 2010

PEXm

=

Peso to EURO exchange rate at the end of the current billing month

PEXb

=

Peso to EURO exchange rate of 55.4032 PHP /EURO as of 17 May 2010

PYXm

=

Peso to Yen exchange rate at the end of the current billing month

PYXb

=

Peso to Yen exchange rate of 0.4851PHP/JPY as of 17 May 2010

S

=

total number of start-ups for the current billing month based on customers’ dispatch instructions.

VHFO

=

200 liters per engine per start-up/shutdown cycle.

VLube

=

10 liters per engine per start-up/shutdown cycle.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 18 August 2017, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASP A) and of their Incidental Energy Supply Agreement Template (IESAT), with prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority.

In their Application, NGCP and TMI alleged the following: NATURE OF THE CASE 1.

This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA) between the NGCP and TMI, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC, entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority” and approval of the accompanying “Incidental Energy Supply Agreement” template.

PARTIES

2.

3.

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

Applicant TMI is a generation company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Philippine with office address in Barangay Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. It owns and operates the 100MW Power Barge (Mobile 2) in Brgy. Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, which has been certified and accredited

by NGCP to be capable of providing Contingency Reserve (“CR”) and Dispatchable Reserve (“DR”).

The copies of the Securities and Exchange Commission Certificate of Filing of the Amended Articles of Incorporation, Amended Articles of Incorporation, General Information Sheet, and the Honorable Commission’s issued Certificate of Compliance for Mobile 2, are attached hereto as Annexes “A”, “B”, “C” and “D”, respectively.

ANTECEDENT FACTS

4.

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system2.

5.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Service tariffs to the ERC3.

6.

Ancillary services (AS) as defined in Section 4b of the EPIRA, “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

7.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary ServicesCost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

8.

Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP invited and negotiated with all prospective generation companies capable of providing ancillary services, one of which is TMI.

9.

On 16 November 2016, NGCP issued Accreditation Certificate No. 2016-M012 for TMI-Mobile 2, certifying that the power plant has met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP. The copy of the Accreditation Certificate No. 2016-M012 for TMI-Mobile 2, dated 22 November 2016 is attached as Annex “E”.

Total Energy = total energy delivered to all customers of Supplier for the current Billing Period.

Notes:

b.

If the CPI of current billing month is not published and available within two days from the end of the billing period, the most recent available published index shall be used.

b.

If the source of any of the foregoing indices is no longer available or is not been published or available for a prolonged period, the replacement index shall be selected by Service Provider.

c.

If any of the foregoing indices are re-based during the duration of this Agreement, Service Provider has the option to apply a corresponding adjustment to the inflation formula to conform with the rebasing of the subject indices.

16. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Mindanao Grid.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 17. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2b, EPlRA). With this end in view, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same could be implemented. As the demand for power in the Mindanao increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

10. Consequently, on 31 July 2017, NGCP and TMI entered into an Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) for TMI to provide the Mindanao Grid, on a non-firm basis for: a.

a.

A copy of the IESA template is attached herein as Annex “H”.

Contingency Reserve i.

48 MW, less Pmin for Mobile 2 Unit 1; and ii. 48 MW, less Pmin for Mobile 2 Unit 2.

18. Based on the current levels of available contracted AS in the Mindanao Grid, the CR and DR have not yet met the required levels. The copies of the Mindanao CR Availability and Mindanao DR Availability showing the required and available levels of CR and DR are attached as Annexes “I” and “I-1”, respectively.

Dispatchable Reserve i.

Up to 48 MW for Mobile 2 Unit 1; and ii. Up to 48 MW for Mobile 2 Unit 2.

19. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA and IESA template by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to ensure the reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lisaflor Bacani-Kater which is attached as Annex “J” and TMI submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Mr. Benedick Salvador as Annex “K”.

A copy of the ASPA is attached as Annex “F.” CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATES AND IMPACT SIMULATION

PRAYER

11. Schedule 4 of the ASPA provides for the agreed upon formula for the computation of the ancillary fees as well as the applicable maximum hourly rate for the ancillary services covered by the ASPA:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission to:

Non-Firm:

Ancillary Service

Applicable Rates (Maximum Hourly Rate)

Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve)

Php2.25/kW /Hr

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve)

Php1.25/kW /Hr

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA and immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject IESA template; and

b)

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA and the IESA template.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 05 December 2017 (Tuesday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at Almont Hotel and Inland Resort, JC Aquino Ave., Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte..

12. It is respectfully submitted that the rates represent reasonable recovery of opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

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:

13. The rate under the ASPA were subjected to a simulation with the following results:

Ancillary Service

a)

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

Indicative Rate Impact P/kW-mo

P/kWh

Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve)

18.0618

0.0383

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve)

24.0824

0.0511

1.

3.

14. Until such time when the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), or any similar market, is in commercial operation in Mindanao, TMI’s load customers shall pay for the Incidental Energy Fee. 15. Under the accompanying IESA template, TMI shall supply Incidental Energy to TMI’s customers when it has been dispatched for ancillary services. TMI’s customers shall pay the corresponding Incidental Energy Fee relative to Contingency or Dispatchable Reserves computed as follows: Incidental Energy Fee

=

HFR + LOR + related actual fuel cost, in Php/kWh

HFR

=

HFCR x Actual HF cost per liter, in Php/kWh

LOR

=

LOCR x Actual LO cost per liter, in Php/kWh

VOM

=

0.15245 Php x IFv + SSC kWh

IFv

=

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 Applicants rest their 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:

A copy of the rate impact simulation is attached as Annex “G.”

Fuel

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

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 Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are 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 OIC Chairman and CEO ALFREDO J. NON, and the Honorable Commissioners GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 18th day of October 2017 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

Inflation factor for VOM JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

(Sgd.) EDWIN F. VIRAY Sheriff IV WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or Destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or Before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law.

(MS-Nov. 13 & 20, 2017)

canvass in the first round.

That would be the beginning of the end for Conlan, who suffered a cut above his left eye in the second round, dropped to the floor again in the third and fourth rounds, before referee Steve Gray stopped the action in the sixth when he dropped to his knees for a fourth time with just a little more than 2 minutes left in the sixth round.

Promoted by Manny Pac-

1

2 3

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes.

Section 9 (c) and (d).

Section 6 .3.1.2 of 2007 Philippine Grid Code.

(MS-NOV. 13 & 20, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

Curry leads Dubs’ rally

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

SUN LIFE CYCLE PH. Jake Cuenca and Gerald Anderson (left) tow the field as they tackle the uphill part of the Kalayaan flyover during the inaugural Sun Life Cycle PH at the Bonifacio Global

City in Taguig Saturday.

La Salle makes return trip to finals; Ateneo falls to FEU O

By Peter Atencio

VERCOMING the aggressiveness of the Adamson Falcons were one of the problems that the La Salle Green Archers worked to solve.

Small forward Leonardo Santillan said this after the Green Archers came away \ with a 82-75 stopping of the Adamson Falcons in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament Final

Four on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Iyung aggressiveness nila, na-divert iyung mga plays namin. Pero nu’ng second half, nakabawi kami,” said the 6’5” Santillan after the second-seeded Green Archers

reached the finals for the second straight season.

Santillan scored 15 points and had eight boards behind Ben Mbala, who led with 27 points and 14 rebounds.

It was Santillan’s triple with 2:25 to go which allowed La Salle to finally move away, 74-70, and it came after the Falcons fought to within a point, 70-71.

Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws took control of the boards in the second half and overpowered the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 80-67,

to force a rubber match in their own semifinal battle.

Ron Dennison fired 17 points and hauled in seven rebounds for the fourth- seeded Tams, who will clash again with the Blue Eagles for the last finals seat on Wednesday.

Dennison banged in eight points in the third, including two triples in the opening minutes of the second half.

His first trey broke a 38all deadlock in the remaining 8:26, while the second handed them a 48-40 spread, with 5:47 to go. It was all FEU

from there.

“We prepared well for this game. We were confident that we will finish strong in the fourth quarter. That’s what I told them, that we finish strong,” said Tams’ coach Olsen Racela.

La Salle coach Aldin Ayo said the their outside shooting worked wonders for them throughout the game.

“During the second and third quarters, some of our small guys were hesitant to take those threes. That’s why I told them at halftime that

‘you have to be confident on those shots.’ That’s because we spend one and a half hours on those in practice. Make it count this time,” said Ayo. Aljun Melecio, fighting to shrug off the effects of the dengue fever he suffered two months ago, joined Santillan in scoring crucial baskets at endgame.

Melecio made all of his baskets in the final period, with his perimeter shot with 7:05 left allowing La Salle to take the upperhand for good, 64-63.

LOS ANGELES—Stephen Curry scored 35 points as the Golden State Warriors bounced back from a disastrous first half performance to overpower the Philadelphia 76ers 124-116 on Saturday.

Curry erupted in a onesided third quarter for the Warriors after the Sixers had stunned the reigning NBA champions with an astonishing 47-point first quarter display at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.

The points haul was the most the Warriors have conceded in a single quarter since giving up 48 points in the fourth quarter of a game against Portland in November 1992.

The Sixers led 47-28 after the first period and extended their lead to 7452 at the break, leaving the Warriors staring at a potential blowout loss.

However Steve Kerr’s men came roaring back after half-time, and with Curry and Kevin Durant to the fore, put up their own 47-point quarter in the third.

Curry rattled in 20 points alone in the third quarter as the Warriors erased a 22-point Sixers lead and quickly accelerated clear of their rivals.

By the end of the third, the Warriors had raced into a 99-89 lead, a comfortable buffer they never looked like relinquishing throughout the fourth.

Curry finished with 35 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Durant weighed in with 27 points five rebounds and three assists.

“They played well in the first quarter so you’ve got to credit them,” Curry said afterward.“ AFP

National U, Blatche arrives, gives Gilas PH Sto. Tomas a boost against Japan, Taiwan in HS finals

REIGNING three-time girls’ champion National University and University of Santo Tomas will cross paths for the fifth straight Finals after dismantling their respective Final Four foes in the UAAP Season 80 high school volleyball tournament over the weekend at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Bullpups tripped first-time semifinalist Far Eastern University-Diliman, 25-27, 25-11, 25-15, 25-23, while the Junior Tigresses bested La SalleZobel, 25-21, 24-26, 2518, 25-16.

NU and UST open their best-of-three series on Nov. 27 at the San Juan arena.

The Junior Tigresses won their first championship meeting in Season 76 before the Bullpups ruled the last three tournaments.

The Junior Lady Spikers finished third, while the Baby Tamaraws achieved their best finish ever at fourth.

FEU-Diliman, meanwhile, reached its first-ever boys’ Finals after beating fourth-ranked University of the East, 22-25, 25-23, 28-30, 25-17, 15-12.

WITH Andray Blatche rejoining the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team, coach Chot Reyes is upbeat that he and the coaching staff will be able to come up with a competitive lineup.

“Our hope in the coaching staff is that we will be able to put up a good team and the best game plan possible,” said Reyes.

The 6’11” Blatche is back in the the Philippines, arriving Saturday night to join the Gilas squad’s campaign in the home-and-away games of the FIBA World Cup 2019 Asian qualifiers.

He is expected to join the closed-door practice sessions and lead Gilas Pilipinas when it plays Japan on Nov. 24.

Blatche will also be with Gilas when the Philippines hosts Chinese Taipei on Nov. 27.

His return to Gilas was delayed as he played in the final two Chinese

SAN FERNANDO RACE CHAMP. Standard Insurance Centennial was awarded the line honor

and first in IRC 0 class trophies after the 100-footer Scalawag retired over the weekend. Receiving the trophies from Pixie Thomas, wife of the late chairman of the San Fernando Race, are Judes Echauz, Group Chairman of the Standard Insurance Group and the members of the team, led by Allan Balladares, top Asian match racing skipper and tactician Steve Tan. It was a first-time honor for the TP52 Davidson yacht even if it has won in other ocean races in the past.

6 matches usher in Rebisco Girls Volleyball League at Sta. Rosa gym

NATIONAL University and Hope Christian High School take on Holy Family Academy of Pampanga and University of Mindanao-Tagum, respectively, today (Monday) in two featured matches kicking off the inaugural 18-andunder Rebisco Volleyball League at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Laguna.

The NU spikers, represented

by Nazareth School, are raring to impose their strength early in the

Castro, Legaspi share golf honors LUIS Castro survived a shaky windup and took the men’s crown by two over Tom Kim despite a 76 while Sofia Legaspi foiled Kayla Nocum in sudden death to snare the ladies title in the 2017 Riviera MVPSF Amateur Championship at Riviera Golf Club’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite yesterday.

Castro, who built a fourshot lead after two rounds in the centerpiece division, went 8-up after 11 holes at resumption of the

Basketball Association regular season games of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.

Another player, 7’1” Isaiah Austin, was supposed to join. But he is tied up with the Yulon Luxgen Dinos in the Taiwan Super League.

Gilas has been deep in training over the past week, scoring its second straight win in a tune-up game after beating the NLEX Road Warriors, 95-87, Saturday morning at the Meralco Gym. Going to Japan for their first matchup are Matthew Wright, Roger Pogoy, Kevin Alas, Alain Maliksi, Troy Rosario, Raymund Almazan, Kiefer Ravena, Japeth Aguilar, Junemar Fajardo and Gabe Norwood.

Jason Castro is absent with Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo because of back spasms. Abueva has a fever, while Romeo is recovering from a bruised knee. Peter Atencio

54-hole championship but made five bogeys against one birdie in the last seven holes and barely clinched the victory on a 38-38 card and a 217 total.

Kim ran out of holes in his comeback bid and settled for second at 219 after a pair of 37s while Aidric Chan wound up third with a 225 after a 77 in a day of soaring scores at one of the country’s toughest courses in the event hosted and cosponsored by RGCI for the

Turn to A7

week-long tournament which features 12 of the country’s top high school volley squads, including three each from the NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

NU tangles with HFA at 5 p.m. in a heavy six-game bill ushering in the national finals of the event that also includes Far Eastern U-Diliman (NCR), De La SalleLipa, Holy Rosary College of Sta. Rosa (Luzon), Bacolod Tay Tung HS, University of San Jose

Recoletos and Leyte National HS (Visayas), and Cagayan de Oro’s Angelicum Learning Center and Koronadal National Comprehensive HS (Mindanao).

With new sponsor Rebisco taking over the league long considered as the spawning ground of volley talents, the organizing Metropolitan Sports and Events Group, Inc., headed by Freddie Infante, has expressed confidence the RVL will continue to produce talents in the

mold of Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago.

FEU and Bacolod Tay Tung HS face off at 1 p.m. with Hope Christian and UM-Tagum slugging it out at 2 p.m. to be followed by the 4 p.m. match between Holy Rosary College and USJ-Recoletos after the brief opening rites to be graced

by Rebisco AVP for Marketing Communications Lulu dela Peña.

De La Salle-Lipa faces Angelicum LC at 6 p.m. while Leyte NHS

and Koronadal NCHS collide in the 7 p.m. main dish of the tournament backed by Asics and Mikasa.

The field is divided into two groups with the top two teams from each side after the single round elims advancing to the crossover semifinals with the winners clashing for the crown, according to tournament director Johanz Buenvenida.

Solar TV will telecast the games on a delayed basis.

Mitsui foils Pantino in Phinma netfest; Hammond prevails

Japanese Shunsuke Mitsui and Nicole Hammond of the US hold their trophies as they pose with the other top finishers in Week I of the Phinma-PSC Juniors Tennis Championships at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park yesterday.

TOP seed Shunsuke Mitsui pounded local ace Arthur Pantino with his power game and fashioned out a 6-3, 6-3 victory to claim the boys’ crown while American Nicole Hammond also dominated compatriot Elizabeth Stevens, 6-1, 6-4, for the girls’ plum in the Phinma-PSC Juniors Tennis Championships Week I at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park yesterday.

Mitsui imposed his will early in the opening frame then the Japanese rallied from

1-3 down in the second to complete the straight-set victory and pocket the crown in the Group 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-andunder event sponsored by the Philippine Investment Management Consultants (Phinma) and Technifiber and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Hammond dished out a more impressive game in blasting Stevens in the first set then fended off the latter’s fightback in the second with

a break to likewise complete the straight-set victory in the week-long ITF-sanctioned tournament supported by Technifiber ball as official ball, official hotel Jinjiang Inn, Makati and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The second seeded Pantino somehow made up for the singles setback by teaming up with Michael Eala as they took the doubles diadem with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Japanese Kei Manaka and Taiyo Yamanaka.

Aboitiz ramping up hydro energy plants B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

B

IN BRIEF

Ayala brings solar power to Tawi Tawi AC Energy Holdings Inc., the power unit of Ayala Corp., teamed up with Kennedy Renewable + Technology Corp. to address the energy shortage and provide Mindanao State University in Tawi-tawi with solar panels.

“Our company sees great value in not only providing electricity to far-flung regions of our country, but also to critical institutions of growth like MSU. Partnering with Kennedy Renewable and MSU to stabilize their campus’ power supply directly impacts the quality of education that the school’s students will receive. We are excited about the possibilities energy can provide—especially to the education of our future generation,” AC Energy’s president and chief operating officer Eric Francia said.

The island of Tawi-Tawi sits at the southernmost part of the Philippines, with only 30 percent of the population having access to electricity, which is predominantly sourced from diesel generators.

Seven campus buildings were outfitted with solar panels, hybrid inverters and batteries, providing not only 141-kilowatt capacity to the university, but also energy storage capability. Alena Mae S. Flores

Govt issues safety rules for LPG firms THE Energy Department’s Oil Industry Management Bureau and oil industry stakeholders developed a unified Code of Safety Practices in liquefied petroleum gas refilling plants.

The code will guide officers, personnel and other staff on appropriate and safe processes in an LPG refilling plant.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said safety should be the foremost consideration in dealing with energy use, particularly in addressing LPG-related accidents.

Cusi said the issuance of the code was a part of the department’s aggressive campaign for safer use of LPG. “The Code of Safety supports the DOE’s E-Safety Mo Campaign as we commit to strengthen consumer protection against illegal peddling and use of petroleum products, including LPG,” Cusi said.

The code outlines the safety standard operating procedures for LPG delivery and distribution, cylinder refilling, cylinder maintenance and storage and personnel training.

Alena Mae S. Flores

SSS to implement electronic collection

THE FILIPINO: LINKING LOCAL MARKETS TO THE WORLD The Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT) is the largest container handling facility in Croatia. Located in Rijeka, AGCT not only serves the Croatian economy but also Central European markets.

Through AGCT, ICTSI brings its world class capabilities to Croatia and the economies of Central Europe by delivering their produce to international markets.

STATE-RUN pension fund Social Security System said it will implement an electronic collection system, or e-CS, in the first quarter to enable the real-time posting of contribution payments from SSS branch tellering facilities and other payment channels.

SSS president and chief executive Emmanuel Dooc said the real-time posting of contributions would allow faster processing of claims to help members and their beneficiaries receive their benefits and loan proceeds on time.

“For instance, to avail of a sickness benefit, a member must have at least three posted contributions in the last 12 months immediately before his semester of sickness or injury. If any of his required contributions is not posted, he cannot apply yet for a sickness benefit,” he said.

Dooc said the pilot phase of the project would aim for near real-time processing of contribution payments from SSS branch tellering facilities within this year. This means that contributions will be posted within 24 hours from the time of payment.

The pension fund has 279 branches nationwide, 96 of which accepts payments. It also has 81 accredited partnerbanks and 10 non-bank collection partners.

The SSS collected P106 billion in contributions from its various payment facilities as of August this year. Julito G. Rada

Isabela hosting inventors week

THE Department of Science and Technology Region 2 is hosting the first regional celebration of the Filipino Inventors Society Producer Cooperative’s 2017 National Inventors Week on Nov. 20 to 24 in Cauayan City, Isabela.

Envisioned to become the top cooperative in the country in promoting and recognizing Filipino inventions globally, FISPC has been celebrating the NIW since 1993 through the Presidential Proclamation No. 285.

The weeklong activity aims not just to celebrate and honor the milestones and significant contributions of the Filipino inventor-entrepreneurs, also called inventrepreneurs, but also to promote and mainstream their inventions and innovations in the countryside.

With the theme “Filipino Inventors at Its Best, Celebrating the Bright Minds,” fantastic, remarkable and brilliant inventions and innovations will be showcased during the exhibit at F.L Dy Coliseum in Cauayan City, Isabela.

E-firecrackers, invented by FISPC President Francisco “Popoy” Pagayon, are expected to welcome the public with a big bang in the opening program of the 2017 NIW. A business-matching event will take place where inventors meet the business sectors, private or public, for potential partnerships and transactions.

The Adriatic Gate Container Terminal belongs to International Container Terminal Services, Inc.'s (ICTSI) growing global portfolio of 30 ports in 18 countries.

T

HE government approved the acquisition of Philippine Postal Savings Bank by state-run Land Bank of the Philippines, a vital development for the creation of the Overseas Filipino Bank.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in a statement the acquisition would pave the way for a financial institution catering to the country’s migrant workers and other Filipinos based overseas.

Dominguez said expanding the coverage of the new bank would make it “more inclusive” as it would also cover Filipinos based overseas, including immigrants to other countries.

“The Department of Finance moved quickly to help deliver on the president’s campaign promise to create a financial

CROATIA

www.ictsi.com

Govt approves bank for overseas Filipinos

By Julito G. Rada

AGCT

institution totally dedicated to catering to the needs of all overseas Filipinos―the Overseas Filipino Bank,” Dominguez said.

He said OFB would become a subsidiary of LandBank and a “governmentowned and -controlled bank with the most extensive branch network that will cater to the needs of the families of foreign-based Filipinos.”

LandBank submitted the draft EO on the LandBank acquisition of Postal Bank in the first week of September, ahead of the original October deadline, Dominguez said.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order No. 44 on Sept. 28 ordering Philippine Postal Corp. and the Bureau of the Treasury to transfer their PSPB shares to LandBank at zero value.

The EO further stated that the former PPSB would be converted into the “Overseas Filipino Bank” which is a “policy bank dedicated to provide

financial products and services tailored to the requirement of overseas Filipinos” and will focus on delivering “quality and efficient foreign remittance services.”

Dominguez said in a recent news briefing that one of the key features of the OFB would be remittance service for overseas Filipino workers and loan program for Filipinos planning to return home to start businesses or build their homes.

He said LandBank and the Treasury were also exploring ways to mobilize the savings of overseas-based Filipinos for them to invest in the country’s capital markets.

“Loans for house repair, for educating the beneficiaries here, and direct remittances to schools, so those are the programs we have discussed with [Labor] Secretary Silvestre Bello III and he seems to be very happy about the service we would be providing,” Dominguez said.

Weak peso hikes PSALM’s foreign obligation by P10.4b

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE depreciation of the peso against the US dollar and other major currencies weakened the capability of state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. to settle the financial obligations of National Power Corp., an official said over the weekend.

PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp. as mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

PSALM officer-in-charge Lourdes Alzona said the agency had total financial obligations of P482 billion as of end-September, of which 78 percent were in US and Japanese currencies.

Alzona said these foreign denominated obligations were “severely affected by the continuing devaluation of our Philippine peso.”

“The peso depreciation of P1.26 from a rate of P49.81 to the dollar in end 2016 to P51.07 to the dollar in September 2017 further increased PSALM financial obligation balance by P10.40 billion,” Alzona said.

She said financial obliga-

tions serviced by PSALM for the first nine months amounted to P54.53 billion, substantially higher compared to the P32.31 billion that it serviced in the same period the previous year.

PSALM has so far paid a principal debt of P25.51 billion, interest of P8.24 billion and lease obligations of P20.78 billion.

“Funding sources are the collection of privatization proceeds including payment for the privatized Sucat decommissioned plant and the generated funds from operation of remaining plants,” Alzona said.

PSALM’s P482.1-billion debt consists of outstanding debts amounting to P270.26 billion and independent power producer lease obligations in the amount of P211.83 billion.

PSALM was created to take over the assets of Napocor and assume its liabilities and obligations which reached P830.7 billion in 2001.

The P830.7 billion financial obligations was composed of long-term debts from various creditors of Napocor, and builtoperate-lease obligations to independent power producers who built it in the 1990s to ensure power adequate supply.

e.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

f.

CIRCULAR NO. 982 g.

Series of 2017 Subject:

h.

Enhanced Guidelines on Information Security Management

The Monetary Board, in its Resolution No. 1854 dated 2 November 2017, approved the revisions to the guidelines on information security management of Bangko Sentral Supervised Financial Institutions (BSFIs) in line with rapidly evolving technology and cyber-threat landscape, amending relevant provisions of the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB) and Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORNBFI) as follows:

i. j.

Section 1. Subsections X177.1 and 4177Q.1, 4196S.1, 4177P.1 and 4196N.1 of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, are hereby amended to read as follows: k.

Subsection X177.1/4177Q.1/4196S.1/4177P.1/4196N.1. Declaration of Policy. The rapid pace of digital innovation has significantly reshaped the financial services landscape. BSFIs employ advances in technology to sharpen business insights, enhance operational efficiencies, and deliver innovative financial products and services in line with emerging market trends and evolving client needs. Technological developments also enable greater access to financial services that promote an inclusive and responsive digital financial ecosystem. As technological innovations become more deeply entrenched in business models, infrastructure, and delivery channels, system-related failures and malfunctions can create major operational disruptions in BSFIs. Social media platforms may further complicate matters as news of disruptions as well as customer complaints can spread at unprecedented speeds. Further, cyber-threats and attacks confronting the financial services industry pose added risks that can undermine public trust and confidence in the financial system.

In line with their growing technology usage and dependence at the back of a dynamic operating and cyber-threat environment, BSFIs should establish robust and effective technology risk management processes, governance structures, and cybersecurity controls. This is to ensure that the benefits derived from technological innovations can be fully optimized without compromising financial stability, operational resilience, and consumer protection.

l. m. n.

using the internet and/or other electronic channels, in order to communicate false or fraudulent representations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to illegally obtain proprietary data or information related to the institution, their customers and other stakeholders.

Cyber-threat can be used synonymously with cyber-fraud, cyber-attack or cyber-related incidents.

Cybersecurity shall refer to technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect a BSFI’s information assets and consumers by preventing, detecting, and responding to cyber-attacks.

Defense-in-depth shall refer to a security strategy or design of deploying security controls over multiple or various layers across the network, systems, and applications such that a failure in one control would be compensated by another control in the next layer. This approach effectively delays or disrupts an attacker’s ability to progress within the attack sequence.

Distributed denial of Service (DDoS) shall refer to a type of attack which makes use of the capacity limitation of enterprise networks, systems or ingress with extreme traffic loads.

Information security program (ISP) shall refer to information security policies, standards and procedures, security operations, technologies, organizational structures, and information security awareness and training programs aimed at protecting a BSFI’s information assets and supporting infrastructure from internal and external threats.

Information security strategic plan (ISSP) shall refer to the roadmap to guide a BSFI in transforming the current state of security to the desired state taking into account business goals and strategies.

Information security risk management (ISRM) shall refer to the process of identifying, assessing, mitigating, managing, and monitoring information security risks, including cyber-risk, to ensure these are within acceptable levels. It should be integrated into the BSFI’s ISP and enterprise-wide risk management system.

Malware shall refer to malicious software that compromises the confidentiality, availability or integrity of information systems, networks or data. Examples of malware include ransomware, trojans, adware, botnets, bugs, and spyware, among others.

Phishing shall refer to the use of electronic communications such as e-mail to masquerade with trusted identity to capture sensitive information to gain access to accounts. It involves tricking customers into giving sensitive information through fraudulent emails or websites.

Security operations center (SOC) shall refer a unit or function that provides centralized visibility, continuous monitoring, and rapid response and recovery procedures on security incidents and events.

Threat intelligence shall refer to the process of gathering and analyzing information about the proficiencies, tactics, and motives of malicious actors/attackers that enables a BSFI to institute appropriate countermeasures quickly.

Section 4. Item 3.a. of Subsections X177.7 and 4177Q.7, 4196S.7 4177P.7, and 4196N.7 of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, is hereby amended to read as follows: xxx

Subsection X177.7/4177Q.7/4196S.7/4177P.7/4196N.7. IT Risk Management System (ITRMS).

3. IT Controls Implementation. x x x

Section 2. Subsections X177.3 and 4177Q.3, 4196S.3, 4177P.3 and 4196N.3 of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, are hereby amended to read as follows:

a. Information security. Information is a vital asset of a BSFI that must be adequately protected and managed to preserve its confidentiality, integrity and availability. Considering the crucial role information plays in supporting business goals and objectives, driving core operations and critical decision-making, information security is intrinsically linked to the overall safety and soundness of BSFIs. Thus, the BSFI needs to put in place a robust, resilient and enterprise-wide framework for ISRM supported by effective information security governance and oversight mechanisms.

Information security risk exposures must be managed to within acceptable levels through a dynamic interplay of people, policies and processes, and technologies and must be integrated with the enterprise-wide risk management system.

Subsection X177.3/4177Q.3/4196S.3/4177P.3/4196N.3. IT Profile Classification. To ensure that IT risk management system, governance structure and processes are commensurate with the attendant IT risks, the Bangko Sentral shall determine the IT profile of all BSFIs and classify them as “Complex”, “Moderate” or “Simple”. The IT profile refers to the inherent risk of a BSFI before application of any mitigating controls, and is assessed taking into consideration the following factors: a. IT infrastructure and operations. Inherent IT risks of a BSFI largely depend on the degree of automation of core processes and applications, the size of branch networks, and the characteristics of its IT organization.

BSFIs with larger branch networks and more complex organizational structures usually require a higher degree of reliance on IT systems/infrastructure, which in turn, carry higher levels of inherent IT risks.

Interconnectivity risks also play a factor in determining IT risk levels since added connections to third party networks increase complexity as well as exposure to potential information security/cybersecurity risks. These include participation in electronic payment systems and interconnections with other financial institutions, business partners, customers, and third party service providers, among others.

Management should adopt a holistic, integrated and cyclical approach to managing information security risks. An ISRM framework should be in place encompassing key elements and phases with effective governance mechanisms to oversee the entire process. The framework represents a continuing cycle that should evolve over time taking into account changes in the operating and business environment as well as the overall cyber-threat landscape.

b. Digital/Electronic financial products and services. Digital/electronic financial products and services provided to the BSFI’s corporate and retail clients, by their very nature, can have a direct impact on IT risks, including information security/cybersecurity risks. This is because these products and services are normally provided via the internet or public networks which are inherently risky. Digital/electronic financial products and services include ATM debit, prepaid and credit cards and e-channels such as ATM terminals, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, internet banking and mobile banking facilities, among others.

BSFIs that are more aggressive in providing such services are expected to have greater IT risks. c. IT projects and initiatives. The extent and nature of the BSFI’s IT projects prospectively impact IT risk exposure and complexity. For instance, developing or acquiring a new core banking system is considered a major project, that if not adequately managed and overseen, may heighten inherent IT risks. Also, IT projects and initiatives entail the use of current resources in terms of funding and manpower that might affect existing IT operations and risk profile. d. Outsourced services. While outsourcing in general does not diminish the BSFI’s responsibility over the function/service outsourced, outsourcing poses an added dimension to IT and information security risks.

For this reason, outsourcing arrangements require a higher degree of oversight, due diligence, and risk management controls. Outsourcing core IT services and functions via cloud computing platforms may further intensify IT and information security risks.

Figure 1. Information Security Risk Management Framework The ISRM framework is based upon the following underlying fundamental principles and concepts:

e. Systemic importance. The systemic importance of a BSFI is a critical determinant in assessing inherent IT and information security/cybersecurity risks since BSFIs identified as “Domestic Systemically Important Banks” or DSIBs are essentially larger in size and have more complex operations and product offerings.

Moreover, cyber-attacks against DSIBs can have serious implications to financial and economic stability that may undermine public trust and confidence in the financial system. f.

(1) Strong leadership and effective Information Security (IS) governance and oversight.

The BSFI’s Board and Senior Management set the overall tone and strategic direction for information security by providing strong leadership, effective information security governance and oversight. They should take the lead in establishing an information security culture that regards security as an intrinsic part of the BSFI’s core business and operations. Instilling a strong security culture ensures that security controls, processes, and measures are deeply embedded into the institution’s lines of business, products, services and processes, including its employees and external relationships. The Board and Senior Management should adopt the right mindset and understand the crucial role of information security in supporting/achieving business goals and objectives. Towards this end, they should oversee the development of an information security strategic plan (ISSP) to clearly articulate security strategies and objectives aligned with business plans.

Threats. The volume, type, and severity of cyber-attacks and fraud targeting a specific BSFI affects IT and cybersecurity risk profiles. Some BSFIs may be more prone to attacks compared to others by virtue of their asset size, customer base, systemic importance, and other factors. Thus, BSFIs that are likely targets of these types of threats should have greater degree of cyber-preparedness and resilience.

A general description for each IT profile classification is outlined as follows: IT Profile Classification Complex

General Description/Attributes

The BSFI should maintain a comprehensive, well-designed and effective information security program (ISP) that is commensurate with its operational and IT profile complexity. To ensure its effectiveness and sustainability, the ISP should have strong support from the Board and Senior Management as well as cooperation of all concerned stakeholders. Management should see to it that adequate resources, organizational functions/capabilities, policies, standards, and procedures as well as the supporting infrastructure commensurate with the BSFI’s IT risk complexity and appetite are available and optimized to effectively implement the ISSP and ISP. Lastly, the Board and Senior Management should appoint a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), a senior level executive with sufficient authority within the institution, who will be responsible and accountable for the organization-wide ISP.

A BSFI with complex IT profile uses technology extensively in supporting missioncritical business processes and delivering financial products and services. It has ubiquitous branch network in the country and offers a wide array of digital/ electronic financial products and services to a large number of corporate and retail clients. It is highly interconnected with external third party stakeholders and actively participates in electronic payment systems and networks, usually involving large-value transfers. Business strategies and objectives are largely anchored on IT platforms, digital innovation, and technology-based solutions. It is also aggressively utilizing/exploring emerging technologies such as cloud computing, social media and big data technologies.

Moderate

A BSFI classified as moderate uses technology to some extent, but not as aggressively as those classified as complex. Its branch network, IT organization and structure, and extent of IT projects are also relatively less significant than those of complex BSFIs. IT applications and systems are integrated but primarily support traditional banking products and services. It may offer basic digital/electronic products and services, such as ATM terminals/card-based products, to a limited number of clients.

Simple

A BSFI classified as simple generally has very limited use of technology with minimal interconnectivity to its clients and other institutions. Likewise, branch network or geographic presence is confined to a specific locality. IT applications and systems are stand-alone or are not fully integrated and e-banking products and services are rarely offered. A simple BSFI also has few IT personnel and customer base.

(2) Integrated, holistic and risk-based approach. The ISRM should form an integral part of the BSFI’s ISP and enterprise risk management system. It encompasses the people, policies and processes, and technology elements in the organization that should be harmonized to support information security goals and objectives. Information security is not achieved by merely focusing on technology or one aspect and no one element is superior over the other. Each of these elements must work together to achieve the desired security posture and manage information security risks to acceptable levels. In line with the increasing interconnectivity of BSFIs and other industry players, the ISRM should also consider security controls and requirements over third party service providers, customers, banks, and other third party stakeholders which are linked or have access to the BSFI’s network and systems.

This is because threat actors may launch their attacks on the BSFI through these third party networks.

Likewise, the ISRM including cyber-risk management programs should be commensurate with the inherent risks involved. This means that the BSFI’s information security controls and maturity levels should be commensurate with its operations and complexity of IT profile. In this regard, in determining whether a certain control requirement is applicable to the BSFI, it shall first assess the complexity of its IT profile pursuant to Subsection X177.3/4177Q.3/419 6S.3/4177P.3/4196N.3 of the MORB/ MORNBFI. BSFIs with complex IT profile are expected to implement the more advanced security control measures and be at the higher levels of the information security/cyber-maturity curve. BSFIs may also refer to leading standards and frameworks issued by standard-setting bodies1 on information security and cybersecurity in designing their ISRM.

The IT profile of rural banks, cooperative banks, NBFIs, and non-bank institutions shall be classified as “Simple”, unless notified by the Bangko Sentral of a higher classification. For other BSFIs, the Bangko Sentral shall notify in writing their assigned classification within a reasonable timeline from the effectivity of this Circular. The Bangko Sentral-assigned classification shall remain effective until such time that the Bangko Sentral informs the concerned BSFI of a change in classification.

The Bangko Sentral assessment and classification process should not preclude BSFIs from assessing their own IT profile classification on an ongoing basis. All BSFIs are required to have periodic and rigorous self-assessment exercises using more robust data sets and variables as part of their information security risk management system.

(3) Continuing cycle. The ISRM involves a continuing cycle consisting of the following six (6) major phases: (a) Identify. The starting point of the cycle is the identification of the BSFI’s information security as well as cyber-related risks. Under this phase, management needs to identify its business processes and functions, information assets classified as to sensitivity and criticality, threats and vulnerabilities, interconnections, and security architecture. Identification of these factors facilitates BSFI’s understanding and assessment of its inherent information security and cyber risks which are key inputs in determining, designing, and implementing the appropriate risk treatment options.

Section 3. Subsections X177.5 and 4177Q.5, 4196S.5, 4177P.5 and 4196N.5 of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, are hereby amended to include the following terminologies in the Definition of Terms, as follows: Subsection X177.5/4177Q.5/4196S.5/4177P.5/4196N.5. Definition of Terms. In these guidelines, terms are used with the following meanings: a. b. c. d.

Advanced persistent threat or APT shall refer to a sophisticated form of attack that involves coordinating multiple methods of identifying and exploiting a target’s vulnerabilities over an extended period to do harm.

Card skimming shall refer to the illegal copying of information from the magnetic stripe of a credit or ATM card to gain access to accounts.

Cloud computing shall refer to a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, and on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

Cyber-threat shall refer to a deliberate act of omission or commission by any person carried out

(b) Prevent. After identifying these key factors and assessing the information security and cyber risks, the prevent phase comes into play where adequate protection mechanisms and controls are designed and implemented. These include measures ranging from baseline to advanced tools and approaches such as defense-in-depth, malware prevention, access controls and cybersecurity US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), ISO/IEC, ISACA and Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI), among others.

1

Business Service Learning: The Dream Project During the tour, I reI’M excited because fially felt happy because nally I have attracted MASANORI one of the kids was inenthusiastic individuals TAKAMOTO spired to pursue a track to my cause of complein Engineering because menting my mom’s REEN IGHT fortunately for us we charity work of training young dances. Our group came up were able to catch some students using with something unique; other CSR groups their engineering tools in action. We were have not done something that I think. Our also able to talk to one of the best ECE proproject is called the Dream Project. It was fessors, Ms. Dulay. In every building that pitched by one of our group mates and we we go to, we explain what college/degree were amazed by the idea that everyone in programs are usually found in this area and the group immediately agreed that this is explain what are the jobs or career they can pursue if they decide to enter those prosomething that we want to do as a group.

So, what is the Dream Project? It is very grams.

Going beyond high school straightforward; it aims to help people to We ended our tour in our very nice unidream. We will bring kids/individuals to different places for them to be inspired versity library in which we saw the kids get and have fun. We will expose them to the more excited because of the nice facilities world and help them openly identify what that they and we can use for free. Within it is that they really want to become and the rooms that we have reserved, we asked give them the idea on what are the steps the kids if they now have a better picture of that they will need to take to reach their what they want to become, and if they are dreams. We will immerse them in different now excited to go to college and strive hard work environments and tour them around to be able to study in a school like La Salle. universities to give them idea of work and We got positive responses from all the make them appreciate the education by kids, because before they thought that it seeing how students enjoy being at school. is impossible for them to enter a school like La Salle, but knowing about different Visiting my alma mater It is the final day of our service learning scholarships they got inspiration to strive program and is definitely the most exciting more and achieve more. Since we made part. We prepared a lot of activities for the them excited about studying in college, we kids, shared stories and the best is I got to believe that we have also eliminated their be the campus tour guide in De La Salle attitude of being satisfied by merely graduUniversity’s campus, my dearest alma ma- ating from high school.

The kids were very grateful for the acter, not only for the kids, but also for some of my grad school group mates who are tivities that we allowed them to particialso excited to be toured around DLSU’s pate in and now have clearer picture of the Main campus for the first time. As for the steps that they need to follow to attain their kids, our intentions were for them to appre- dreams. They are now inspired to do better ciate and to know how fun it is to be in a in their current studies as they try to aim for university and how accessible the scholar- scholarships in prestigious schools.

This is truly a mission accomplished for ships are and what are the steps for them to our group. When we first discussed this apply for one.

The first time I set foot in DLSU as program, everyone was in an agreement a froshie was in 2008, and 2012 was the that we want something long term, someyear that I finished my degree in Computer thing that will have great impact to the Engineering. I did visit sometime between community that we want to serve and I be2012 and today, however just for the sole lieve we achieved that with these activities. purpose of using the Razon Sports facilities Not only that they have an idea on what such as the basketball court, or the swim- they want to become, but also they now ming pool. I got excited to conduct the tour have and idea on how they could achieve it because once, when I was still an under- via education. The kids are no doubt good graduate, I wanted to be a Lasallian Am- dancers, but they would also need to unbassador (LAMB), who then were being derstand that they cannot dance forever and treated as the know-it-all Ate’s and Kuya’s they need to have options other than dancof the campus, especially for the froshies. ing and by pursuing higher education, they can achieve their dreams.

Inspiring the dream In previous activities with the kids, I The author is an MBA student at the believe we have already inspired the kids to dream on and think of something that Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. they want to become. Some kids have been This essay is part of a journal he kept in fulsharing a lot of their dreams already. How- fillment of the requirements of the course, ever, we still believe that by showing them Lasallian Business Leadership with Corpoaround campus and making them believe rate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit that college and being in a university is his blog at https://jgfps.blogspot.com/. fun, we will enable them to look forward to The views expressed here are the aucollege, eliminating their communities fear of tertiary education, and giving them op- thor’s and do not necessarily reflect the oftions on how to can pursue education with ficial position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators. a school like La Salle.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Aboitiz ramping up hydro energy plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

BOITIZ Power Corp. is expanding its hydro power generation portfolio around the Philippines, with new projects with a combined capacity of 97 megawatts in various stages of development.

Aboitiz Power president and chief operating officer Antonio Moraza said in a statement the company’s expansion of renewable energy portfolio was in line with a balanced mix growth strategy. “We never stop looking for ways to maximize productions from our RE facilities because we know the role it plays in our overall strategy,” Moraza said.

Aboitiz Power’s subsidiary, SN AboitizPower, has completed commissioning the 8.5-MW Maris Main Canal 1 hydroelectric power plant, with full commercial operation set this month.

The plant re-utilizes the water coming from the 360-MW Magat hydro plant through the re-regulating dam in the downstream river. The water then flows into the Maris Main (South) Irrigation Canal.

Maris hydro is the first greenfield project of SN Aboitiz. It is composed of two units of Kaplan pit type turbines with a capacity of 4.25 MW each. Unit 1 was commissioned on October 24 while Unit 2 started on November 6.

The construction of the $47-million hydro plant, located in Barangay Ambatali in Ramon, Isabela, took about two years.

Aboitiz Power’s run-of-river hydro business unit, Hedcor, meanwhile, signed a civil works contract with UK-based contractor Whessoe for the 19-MW Bineng combined hydro project in Benguet province.

The project, which will increase the combined capacity of the Bineng plants from 5.48 MW to 19 MW, obtained approval from the municipal council of La Trinidad in July this year.

Hedcor’s 69-MW Manolo Fortich project, also a run-of-river hydro, is

currently synchronizing to the grid for commercial operations this year or early 2018. Once completed, it will increase Hedcor’s capacity to 185 MW from 22 hydropower plants nationwide.

Moraza said apart from new RE businesses, the company is exploring innovative ways to maximize clean and renewable energy sources.

“If we can maximize the potential to produce more energy from an existing resource, we will do it, and that is what we did with Maris, as well as the binary plant in Makban, and soon in Bineng. And our teams will continue to look at these opportunities, as well as new greenfield renewable projects wherever they are available and viable,” Moraza said.

Aboitiz Power and its partners currently have a total capacity of 787 MW from hydropower generation facilities.

The company also owns the 448-MW Makban Geothermal Power Plant in Laguna and Batangas, and the 234-MW Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant in Albay.

Aboitiz Power, meanwhile, launched its first venture into solar power on Negros island last year.

MPIC unit borrowing P50b from PH banks

By Darwin G Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. (left) and Monetary Authority of Singapore Managing Director Ravi Menon shake hands after signing a FinTech co-operation agreement November 16, 2017, in Singapore, to promote innovation in financial services in their respective markets. With the CA, authorities will be able to refer promising FinTech firms to each other, share emerging FinTech trends and developments, and facilitate work on FinTech projects together.

Hyundai’s Agudo says car sharing business to make a dent on PH automotive sales

By Othel V. Campos AN automotive executive expressed warned over the weekend that transport network vehicle systems will soon reduce sales as ride sharing is fast becoming a preferred option.

Hyundai Asia Resources

Inc. president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo noted that consumers’ preference had been changing around the world because of the car sharing business.

“In the US, those holding car licenses dropped from 76 percent to 71 percent in the last five years. There are re-

ports that in Northern America and Germany, car sharing increased dramatically by 30 percent,” she said.

The growing number of millennials is crucial for the growth and development of the car industry. The youth is generally driving the shift toward TNVS. The millen-

nial population in the Philippines alone is expected to hit 36 million by 2020. Asian millennials as a whole are expected to reach 285 million.

“This is what they want.

And this is a big market for us. Automotive players will be challenged by this. And this will lead to shifting mar-

ket positions in the evolving market utility, the industries,” Agudo said.

The situation would then call for further consolidation of industry players, she added.

Agudo, however, noted that the Philippines could be late in catching up with tech-

(f) Test. The BSFI needs to continually assess and test controls and security measures implemented under the prevent, detect, respond, and recover phases to ensure that these are effective and working as intended. Likewise, a comprehensive, systematic and layered testing and assurance program covering security processes and technologies should be in place. This is to ensure that the ISRM is on track in providing appropriate level of information security commensurate to the BSFIs’ IT profile complexity. This phase also ensures that both the ISSP and ISP remain effective vis-à-vis the fast-evolving cyber-threat landscape.

awareness programs, among others. These preventive controls are generally categorized into three (3) types, as follows: (i) Administrative controls – refer to the policies, standards, and procedures in place which articulate Management’s intent, expectations, and direction on information security. It also includes security trainings and awareness programs and personnel security practices designed to prevent unwarranted employee behavior. (ii) Physical and environmental controls – pertain to the security controls and measures implemented to protect physical infrastructure such as data centers, computer facilities, and equipment from damage, unauthorized access or environmental hazards. (iii) Technical controls – refer to the logical security controls, security tools, and technologies to ensure that the confidentiality, integrity, and availability objectives for information assets are achieved. (c) Detect. Detection capabilities should also be in place as prevention alone is not sufficient. As demonstrated in recent cyber-attacks, the ability of an institution to quickly detect anomalous activities and evaluate the scope of an attack is an important aspect in significantly reducing negative impacts. Management should design and implement effective detection controls over the BSFI’s networks, critical systems and applications, access points, and confidential information. (d) Respond. The response phase is triggered upon confirmation of an occurrence of a cyber-attack or security incident affecting the BSFI and its customers. With the growing incidence of sophisticated cybercrimes and threats, the BSFI should be prepared to respond quickly considering that cyber-attacks are no longer a remote possibility. Therefore, it should develop comprehensive, updated, and tested incident response plans supported by well-trained incident responders, investigators, and forensic data collectors.

Through adequate response capabilities, the BSFI should be able to minimize and contain the damage and impact arising from security incidents, immediately restore critical sytems and services, and facilitate investigation to determine root causes. (e) Recover. This phase encompasses both the resumption of activities at a level which is considered “good enough for a certain period of time” and full recovery, i.e., an eventual return to full service. Management should be able to establish backup facilities and recovery strategies to ensure the continuity of critical operations.

During the recovery phase, it should ensure that information processed using back-up facilities and alternate sites still meet acceptable levels of security. To achieve cyber resilience, the BSFI should consider information security incidents and cyber-related attack scenarios in its business continuity management and recovery processes.

nology and the trend. She said Hyundai, thus, would try to sustain its current doubledigit sales growth.

Another big game changer that will influence consumer preference and the automotive industry’s performance is the advance driving assistance service.

THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is raising about P50 billion from bank loans next year to finance major toll road projects.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said the company would use proceeds of the loans to partially finance the construction of the Cavite Laguna Expressway, Cebu Cordova Link Expressway project, NLEX-SLEX Connector Road and C5 Link Expressway.

Franco said MPTC was in talks with local banks to secure the loans.

MPCala Holdings Inc. earlier tapped DMCI Consunj Inc. to build the Laguna side of Calax and Leighton Holdings of Australia to construct the Cavite portion.

Construction is expected to start in the third quarter of the year with completion set by 2019. The tollroad is covered by an operations and maintenance contract from 2020 until 2050.

(4) Cyber threat intelligence and collaboration. In response to the growing cyber-threat landscape, BSFIs need to step up their information security posture and resilience beyond their respective networks. Likewise, BSFIs need to enhance situational awareness that would provide a keen sense of the threat landscape as it relates to their IT risk and cyber-risk profiles, operating complexities, and business models. Further, BSFIs need to collaborate with each other, including regulators, law enforcement agencies, and other third party stakeholders for a collective, coordinated, and strategic response through information sharing and collaboration. Information sharing allows BSFIs to enhance threat intelligence that enables quick identification, prevention and response to emerging and persistent threats. (Detailed guidelines/standards on information security are shown in Appendix 75b/Q59b) Section 5. Appendices 75b and Q-59b on the Detailed Information Security Guidelines of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, are hereby amended to read as shown in the attached Annex “A”.

Section 6. The following transitory provision shall be incorporated as footnote to Sections X177 and 4177Q, 4196S, 4177P and 4196N of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively: BSFIs shall comply with the Enhanced Guidelines on Information Security Management within a period of one (1) year from the effectivity date of Circular No. 982, Series of 2017. In this regard, a BSFI should be able to show its plan of actions with specific timelines, as well as the status of initiatives being undertaken to fully comply with the provisions of this circular, upon request of the Bangko Sentral starting December 2017.

Section 7. Effectivity. This circular shall take effect fifteen (15) calendar days after its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

FOR THE MONETARY BOARD: (Sgd) NESTOR A. ESPENILLA, JR. Governor 09 November 2017

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

MPIC plans to sell P30b in bonds

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

Market expected to consolidate

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week, as the market continues to consolidate after the government reported a strong thirdquarter economic growth.

Analysts said while investors could take a pause during the consolidation period, this could provide opportunities for those with long-term outlook on the market.

“Overall it is normal for local equities to go through minor hiccups as some fund managers realign their portfolio either to finance redemption needs or possibly real-

locate cash in favor of productive sectors that could deliver higher returns,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia. com said.

“During these pauses, however, opportunities arise for those who are able to view (a) bigger picture ahead,” it said.

One catalyst that could encourage investors to remain in the market is the fourth-quarter season spending push which could boost earnings of listed companies.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index closed lower by 1.4 percent last week to 8,311.08, while the all-share index also declined 1.2 percent to 4,873.82.

The stronger-than-expected third-quarter gross domestic product growth fueled the market’s rally by 104.64 points on Friday and enabled the bellwether to stay above the 8,300-point level.

Except for the industrial index which climbed 1.4 percent, all other sectoral indices declined last week, led by mining and oil (-2.41 percent), property (-2.25 percent), services (-2.08 percent), holding firms (-1.20 percent) and financial (-1.2 percent).

Foreign investors were net sellers by P2.9 billion last week, while average daily turnover amounted to P7.3 billion.

Top gainers last week were Manila Electric Co. which climbed 9.2 percent to P322, D&L Industries Inc. which advanced 3.7 percent to P10.64 and Jollibee Foods Corp. which rose 3.4 precent to P259.80.

Heavy losers included Integrated Microelectronics Inc. which fell 12.7 percent to P19.46, DMCI Holdings Inc. which dropped 6.4 percent to P14.50 and Puregold Price Club Inc. which dipped 6.1 percent to P47.85.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

NOVEMBER 13-17,2017 Close Volume

Value

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ RCBC B Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.97 59.8 146.20 97.55 3.83 2.10 33.55 15.96 34.2 7.80 0.69 1.67 945.00 0.620 93.8 0.84 12.2 25.00 57.90 89.9 100.1 243 54.9 55.95 250 1870.00 86.90 1.3

1,965,000 492,030 11,602,980 14,131,950 135,000 5,558,000 1,351,500 8,457,500 20,833,900 20,800 7,000 104,000 1,040 6,638,000 6,270,920 6,403,000 37,600 1,600 432,000 3,780 30 2,340 5,659,300 741,080 2,164,650 615 122,040 285,000

FINANCIAL 7,813,170.00 29,135,540.50 1,679,092,295.00 1,393,825,730.00 519,470.00 11,546,540.00 45,168,200.00 131,943,086.00 713,515,740.00 165,875.00 4,830.00 175,590.00 988,960.00 4,041,430.00 584,378,801.50 5,447,790.00 456,316.00 39,780.00 25,048,433.00 335,083.00 3,041.00 568,124.00 305,433,029.50 41,362,112.00 543,913,504.00 1,166,375.00 10,623,607.00 379,750.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

41.2 12.52 0.73 1.36 17 0.226 114.5 17.80 4.23 16.1 160 45 67.9 83 64.95 1.9 5.49 11.54 10.640 14.8 12.40 7.30 5.74 1.63 17.4 61.6 24.55 11.88 19.46 1.890 259.80 63.00 4.19 3.31 22.65 28.9 18.2 18.2 0.198 322.00 8.50 2.48 6.00 9.69 7.5 9.40 1.59 12.54 59.95 6.65 8.00 1.96 4.95 494.6 1.98 12.94 5.07 0.138 1.18 139 3.35 1.97 25.15 0.69

5,018,800 6,218,600 1,483,000 1,648,000 276,300 10,720,000 750 19,800 50,929,000 7,031,800 650 2,526,300 3,140 30 1,890 1,118,000 545,200 52,300 78,303,400 3,970,500 1,902,600 1,644,800 36,989,900 5,000 3,526,000 417,400 5,504,700 358,100 20,316,400 15,816,000 4,583,470 1,730 689,000 1,686,700 1,100 4,082,700 2,091,300 18,507,600 8,260,000 9,174,870 390,400 16,114,000 532,300 11,511,900 275,200 30,200 6,975,000 3,034,500 2,445,930 50,200 9,876,700 13,000 194,400 114,620 3,585,000 1,869,700 1,599,400 4,640,000 239,000 5,442,650 79,000 43,768,000 800 16,640,000

INDUSTRIAL 206,843,930.00 76,581,160.00 1,098,250.00 2,216,860.00 4,648,556.00 2,394,010.00 78,556.00 347,134.00 212,280,250.00 112,181,174.00 106,200.00 111,282,515.00 206,658.50 2,490.00 122,703.50 2,121,060.00 2,922,403.00 590,860.00 840,638,254.00 59,035,236.00 23,152,834.00 11,937,738.00 211,820,478.00 8,270.00 61,405,034.00 25,693,058.00 137,896,955.00 4,264,828.00 424,415,619.00 31,639,360.00 1,182,202,788.00 107,455.00 2,792,250.00 45,950,350.00 24,965.00 120,644,605.00 38,305,054.00 344,500,688.00 1,622,940.00 2,234,868,072.00 3,445,242.00 40,893,900.00 3,181,878.00 113,537,686.00 2,025,392.00 287,422.00 11,240,380.00 37,617,264.00 148,151,697.50 322,081.00 49,908,137.00 25,480.00 957,550.00 55,762,634.00 7,083,070.00 24,081,470.00 8,302,656.00 640,830.00 281,770.00 741,163,526.00 261,950.00 87,104,070.00 20,525.00 11,879,090.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ Seafront `B’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.340 70.00 15.50 1.05 6.94 0.395 0.410 1013 7.7 14.50 7.85 0.185 1169 7.63 74.00 5 5.3 5.35 0.71 5.5 18.3 0.395 6.69 3.15 0.0470 1.210 2.070 2.61 113.00 2.58 2.6 965.50 1.48 290.000 190.10 0.2300 0.1900 0.198

310,000 5,765,950 21,155,600 2,501,000 249,600 61,720,000 11,860,000 1,393,990 5,778,000 33,788,200 1,924,400 1,110,000 357,770 92,200 5,804,180 15,500 4,000 200 1,626,000 6,174,000 7,696,400 20,000 151,796,500 11,000 92,840,000 2,860,000 316,000 1,000 1,149,580 39,000 5,000 1,421,330 12,719,000 14,080 50 3,980,000 670,000 4,990,000

HOLDING FIRMS 101,500.00 410,195,616.00 326,242,148.00 2,463,540.00 1,744,494.00 25,620,550.00 5,004,600.00 1,423,979,132.50 46,058,785.00 501,828,552.00 15,147,215.00 207,390.00 416,989,685.00 706,001.00 429,315,676.00 77,500.00 21,200.00 1,070.00 1,141,830.00 34,893,902.00 139,297,156.00 7,900.00 1,018,466,813.00 34,700.00 4,421,190.00 3,472,510.00 653,450.00 2,610.00 130,596,455.00 100,580.00 13,000.00 1,361,943,675.00 19,577,230.00 4,115,290.00 9,505.00 933,600.00 125,810.00 996,430.00

1,297,200 15,470,000 22,400 2,436,000 7,486,000 54,422,700 3,029,000 5,937,600 111,500 25,300 135,801,000 564,000 895,000 18,746,530 4,322,000 1,767,600 1,800,000 1,190,000 74,005,000 26,514,000 2,083,000

PROPERTY 6,946,272.00 15,096,130.00 195,748.00 6,266,470.00 7,063,760.00 2,307,658,820.00 11,522,930.00 29,116,359.00 606,554.00 137,028.00 66,616,965.00 656,250.00 1,038,880.00 3,657,770.00 2,078,725.00 68,120,255.00 1,204,350.00 164,890.00 138,919,030.00 39,791,920.00 1,702,010.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport `A’

5.420 0.96 8.58 2.500 0.960 42.750 3.8 4.86 5.46 5.46 0.485 1.13 1.150 0.202 0.480 38.75 0.670 0.138 1.84 1.51 0.79

NOVEMBER 6-10, 2017 Close Volume Value 4.49 59.2 147.60 99.00 3.84 2.00 33.5 15.9 32.15 8.10 0.69 1.39 951.00 0.620 95 0.8 12.2 25.00 58.50 87.1 104 244.8 54.15

765,000 126,280 9,695,150 8,042,420 151,000 13,018,000 1,066,600 157,600 5,531,200 13,600 217,000 109,200 870 6,188,000 17,608,020 2,277,000 193,800 15,600 2,086,150 9,520 870 4,130 1,434,260

3,553,210.00 7,504,696.00 1,411,109,826.00 792,921,803.50 583,490.00 26,971,460.00 35,748,730.00 2,504,730.00 184,273,430.00 108,840.00 144,750.00 204,000.00 820,580.00 3,920,990.00 1,652,093,506.00 1,808,720.00 2,396,126.00 390,000.00 122,540,065.50 837,300.50 88,465.00 994,300.00 80,891,999.50

258.8 1930.00 87.00 1.26

1,041,870 20 481,210 520,000

266,200,382.00 38,600.00 41,835,700.00 686,070.00

41.4 12.32 0.72 1.36 18.98 0.217 103 18.70 4.1 15.6 165.3 44 67.8

5,282,800 6,592,300 1,920,000 3,060,000 79,900 9,560,000 540 187,800 103,914,000 7,525,200 220 2,906,900 4,260

220,047,640.00 79,976,436.00 1,403,220.00 4,115,290.00 1,515,330.00 2,094,310.00 55,070.00 3,765,929.00 446,790,120.00 113,283,304.00 36,366.00 129,442,055.00 289,675.00

65 1.9 5.7 11.5 10.260 14.92 12.28 7.27 5.75 1.63 17.82 61.5 26.00 11.90 22.3 2.050 251.20 58.50 4.08 3.1 22.70 30.2 18.68 18.2 0.201 295.00 10.10 2.7 6.28 9.90 7.3 9.50 1.67 11.80 62.2 6.69 5.03 1.96 4.72 500 2.15 13 4.93 0.138 1.20 136.5 3.35 2.12 25.05 0.95

80,940 1,105,000 696,000 34,200 27,196,800 9,205,400 4,434,300 2,221,500 78,121,200 533,000 5,770,700 962,190 34,085,900 7,451,200 25,834,900 20,557,000 3,711,640 1,600 2,592,000 104,000 2,300 9,444,400 1,111,400 21,158,600 5,080,000 6,197,810 276,800 9,392,000 4,085,900 15,869,500 748,200 82,200 8,952,000 2,788,500 1,881,230 494,500 3,262,900 88,000 2,733,500 2,066,490 2,173,000 1,693,700 1,465,500 3,690,000 392,000 8,749,120 427,000 67,950,000 900 1,873,000

5,261,652.00 2,094,970.00 4,008,117.00 386,526.00 277,465,354.00 137,459,080.00 53,920,960.00 16,114,952.00 452,455,443.00 870,380.00 106,187,302.00 60,176,684.00 893,619,059.00 90,140,136.00 539,278,364.00 40,948,320.00 935,151,838.00 96,423.00 10,519,350.00 318,380.00 51,815.00 290,112,670.00 20,933,250.00 379,187,840.00 1,020,080.00 1,845,902,824.00 2,870,454.00 25,467,240.00 27,568,235.00 160,476,635.00 5,660,889.00 776,072.00 14,922,300.00 33,129,150.00 116,826,423.50 3,226,260.00 16,029,300.00 171,750.00 13,832,489.00 992,972,803.00 4,756,290.00 34,878,080.00 7,228,210.00 512,770.00 462,900.00 1,216,930,412.00 1,305,730.00 146,915,750.00 23,735.00 1,717,510.00

0.325 72.60 15.30 1.05 7.02 0.425 0.430 1050 8.06 15.50 7.75 0.189 1194 7.69 75.05 5 5.3 5.37 0.73 5.79 17.4 0.385 6.76 3.17 0.0500 1.200 2.070

5,270,000 4,480,500 28,857,100 357,000 181,400 66,580,000 10,200,000 1,380,300 5,028,200 33,735,900 635,900 770,000 853,250 880,800 5,601,360 12,300 11,500 700 7,811,000 8,864,900 9,129,800 50,000 131,260,100 5,000 186,710,000 6,550,000 500,000

1,737,850.00 329,038,601.00 450,139,180.00 364,400.00 1,266,606.00 29,561,300.00 4,603,300.00 1,475,254,335.00 41,321,040.00 524,731,676.00 4,939,222.00 146,670.00 1,020,588,050.00 6,868,767.00 424,449,701.00 61,535.00 60,950.00 3,759.00 5,893,010.00 50,794,242.00 158,719,764.00 19,250.00 894,181,870.00 15,850.00 9,182,940.00 8,330,450.00 1,038,240.00

115.00 2.58

5,324,950 60,000

603,672,953.00 155,290.00

980.00 1.46 297.000 190.10 0.2450 0.1830 0.202

1,214,610 9,199,000 69,160 10 6,180,000 1,350,000 1,150,000

1,189,787,885.00 13,193,150.00 20,565,198.00 1,901.00 1,535,800.00 249,860.00 233,640.00

5.350 0.96 8.75 2.520 0.960 43.800 3.86 4.84 5.46

3,881,700 38,770,000 55,800 504,000 22,903,000 36,456,500 2,773,000 7,930,400 304,000

20,837,261.00 38,755,210.00 488,232.00 1,245,200.00 9,484,750.00 1,632,985,665.00 10,719,720.00 39,611,013.00 1,647,699.00

0.510 1.20 1.200 0.203 0.500 38 0.670 0.139 1.92 1.52 0.85

36,970,000 859,000 3,237,000 30,630,000 10,090,000 3,618,900 42,036,000 2,620,000 31,939,000 40,104,000 4,950,000

18,915,180.00 1,040,990.00 3,973,480.00 6,171,750.00 4,968,050.00 140,745,045.00 28,246,860.00 367,500.00 61,974,630.00 62,407,510.00 4,110,380.00

STOCKS

NOVEMBER 13-17,2017 Close Volume

NOVEMBER 6-10, 2017 Close Volume Value

Value

Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

4.15 5.42 0.340 0.3950 0.520 6.86 23.95 2.06 3.18 35.75 1.02 7.45 0.840 6.200

80,000 140,557,400 203,350,000 7,960,000 48,405,000 18,936,000 12,157,100 22,933,000 743,000 32,799,700 8,276,000 58,400 187,000 6,256,100

332,050.00 762,734,592.00 68,297,450.00 3,034,000.00 25,960,940.00 130,603,153.00 293,641,060.00 46,081,260.00 2,370,810.00 1,176,867,900.00 8,652,770.00 392,158.00 159,860.00 38,534,296.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

17.3 37.8 1.54 0.470 0.049 11.5 5.23 10.02 0.0710 100.4 8.82 9.27 7.12 3.13 1020 1915 5.81 18.20 3.30 105 2.44 12 8.35 0.150 1.3900 3.28 15.8 3.83 1.25 22.85 16.00 0.520 2.82 6.57 3.96 3.090 11.08 5.09 2.95 8 210.00 8.35 1660.00 0.340 1.330 47.85 92.00 5.88 3.36 1.650 1.9 3.79 1.050 8.180

479,400 152,300 2,582,000 12,020,000 194,240,000 171,000 57,400 32,366,300 315,090,000 2,056,060 35,400 10,268,900 138,600 2,000 1,735 249,960 2,426,300 50,800 58,896,000 3,948,470 118,000 82,600 1,597,200 12,420,000 641,000 461,000 5,300 8,935,000 4,183,000 17,926,200 5,900 690,000 927,000 5,913,200 2,836,000 122,352,000 14,200 36,500 9,000 1,800 84,360 1,405,500 717,940 3,970,000 7,319,000 23,542,090 4,317,920 1,651,900 9,226,000 38,029,000 31,000 4,364,000 44,935,000 12,283,900

SERVICES 8,431,006.00 5,749,915.00 3,770,400.00 5,765,450.00 9,203,780.00 1,972,244.00 290,209.00 337,002,268.00 22,837,630.00 204,536,539.00 311,628.00 94,811,154.00 1,008,817.00 6,260.00 1,767,400.00 491,526,520.00 14,216,852.00 924,760.00 187,320,190.00 403,760,800.00 282,920.00 999,104.00 13,324,909.00 1,820,890.00 873,710.00 1,483,750.00 82,960.00 33,471,030.00 5,294,990.00 422,343,230.00 95,824.00 359,780.00 2,578,810.00 39,957,751.00 11,283,190.00 357,490,720.00 157,506.00 184,226.00 26,300.00 14,400.00 17,797,688.00 11,529,800.00 1,195,506,385.00 201,715,698.50 9,865,330.00 1,151,778,097.50 398,478,848.50 10,065,027.00 31,400,410.00 63,023,980.00 59,260.00 16,543,450.00 43,173,270.00 100,543,264.00

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

United Paragon

0.0025 1.67 4.80 14.90 1.7600 1.7800 1.68 0.365 7.95 2.930 0.255 0.153 0.155 0.010 0.0110 1.89 6.82 1.61 0.4650 0.9700 0.0120 0.0120 7.39 8.98 0.0110 2.3200 36.80 0.0073

MINING & OIL 7,135,000,000 18,271,300.00 20,311,000 33,917,270.00 1,422,300 6,992,218.00 500 7,270.00 101,000 179,050.00 100,000 178,940.00 9,320,000 15,329,290.00 1,366,000 579,900.00 12,400 96,772.00 60,380,000 180,612,180.00 860,000 213,780.00 47,730,000 7,342,990.00 12,300,000 1,911,740.00 72,800,000 754,100.00 100,000 1,100.00 2,666,000 5,136,880.00 9,790,200 67,670,095.00 1,373,000 2,185,580.00 1,990,000 936,600.00 1,236,000 1,223,240.00 9,500,000 114,000.00 1,289,100,000 16,777,300.00 1,765,700 13,203,444.00 37,394,600 331,985,134.00 284,000,000 3,270,400.00 104,000 235,330.00 15,069,400 566,341,330.00 25,000,000 184,700.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

37 108.3 549 535 104.6 108 118.5 517 521 5.47 1020 1020 1.07 106 1049 1141 1010 105.9 114.9 78 82.8 76.3 78.1 81.5 78.5 79.85 1.91

1,286,500 1,870 66,200 3,270 46,290 12,030 210 30 3,500 1,621,100 2,485 5,970 153,000 35,670 2,150 300 3,625 760 3,500 80,520 59,790 177,000 1,280 14,020 16,960 34,740 10,000

LR Warrant

2.360

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,442,000 3,347,340.00

PREFERRED 47,913,330.00 202,521.00 35,072,220.00 1,688,200.00 4,837,904.00 1,298,838.00 24,885.00 15,510.00 1,823,530.00 8,899,464.00 2,553,585.00 6,070,810.00 163,200.00 3,790,740.00 2,255,350.00 342,300.00 3,660,720.00 80,494.00 375,222.00 6,171,954.00 4,939,633.50 13,506,825.50 99,968.00 1,149,847.00 1,338,901.00 2,773,994.00 19,410.00

SME 503,377,034.00 3,118,580.00 76,074,783.00

5.62 0.315 0.3900 0.570 7.2 24.45 1.84 3.17 36.60 1.03 7.22 0.840 6.240

160,071,600 158,160,000 44,570,000 65,551,000 26,913,300 5,643,600 1,574,000 707,000 33,846,200 4,785,000 5,900 317,000 20,958,300

916,017,007.00 51,454,100.00 18,368,100.00 34,911,690.00 190,530,670.00 141,320,265.00 2,861,550.00 2,269,390.00 1,269,022,280.00 4,884,470.00 41,363.00 269,500.00 127,607,032.00

18.4 38 1.5 0.495 0.047 10.98 5.01 10.88 0.0670 103.5 8.8 9.35 7.30 3.12 1020 2008 5.90 18.20 3.08 102 2.45 12 8.34 0.150 1.3800 3.26 15.9 3.79 1.28 22.30 16.80 0.540 2.9 6.99 4.03 2.450 11.18 5.01 2.87 7.71 200.00 8.17 1690.00 0.325 1.360 50.95 95.00 6.00 3.54 1.710

404,200 325,600 3,090,000 24,852,000 402,940,000 12,000 9,800 111,855,300 35,710,000 721,800 153,200 10,342,500 94,000 14,000 1,320 252,320 1,797,400 78,300 136,550,000 3,689,440 149,000 76,300 1,700,000 25,350,000 2,147,000 422,000 18,400 13,567,000 11,901,000 31,609,100 5,300 354,000 677,000 15,300,000 8,285,000 32,464,000 97,300 110,800 81,000 16,300 12,580 3,608,900 314,625 15,630,000 14,975,000 6,471,270 5,048,970 575,800 14,471,000 127,212,000

7,605,924.00 12,505,150.00 4,673,430.00 12,499,460.00 19,253,350.00 131,990.00 49,202.00 1,174,572,099.00 2,366,260.00 75,477,093.00 1,350,045.00 98,366,721.00 758,675.00 45,250.00 1,322,000.00 514,441,450.00 10,683,710.00 1,415,044.00 445,888,530.00 378,378,862.00 390,440.00 917,040.00 14,215,443.00 3,879,340.00 2,911,550.00 1,345,240.00 288,198.00 53,791,230.00 15,611,180.00 706,359,025.00 85,176.00 192,260.00 1,900,420.00 106,763,186.00 32,883,790.00 80,552,490.00 1,076,874.00 561,977.00 238,830.00 127,325.00 2,445,426.00 30,324,195.00 538,159,795.00 5,984,450.00 20,609,570.00 330,879,072.50 477,118,854.50 3,504,888.00 51,272,750.00 226,792,270.00

3.81 0.920 8.480

2,893,000 55,746,000 23,130,300

11,116,080.00 54,858,560.00 191,989,667.00

0.0025 1.68 5.01 15.00 1.8000 1.8200 1.63 0.370 7.90 2.890 0.255 0.154 0.159 0.011 0.0110 2 7.01 1.77 0.4900 1.0200 0.0120 0.0120 7.60 8.38 0.0120 2.2700 38.30 0.0075

1,391,060,000 32,208,000 2,977,900 18,700 83,000 257,000 22,153,000 2,200,000 169,100 162,497,000 2,840,000 86,528,000 20,110,000 657,800,000 10,200,000 4,233,000 38,848,600 1,529,000 201,000 5,425,000 35,600,000 107,100,000 2,780,000 55,628,900 32,500,000 83,000 20,382,200 16,000,000

3,483,400.00 54,881,060.00 14,953,209.00 260,496.00 151,780.00 472,030.00 36,073,470.00 817,200.00 1,316,973.00 481,500,330.00 712,610.00 17,619,250.00 3,367,460.00 6,905,300.00 112,200.00 8,520,790.00 282,406,032.00 2,672,020.00 98,930.00 5,487,240.00 427,300.00 1,303,500.00 21,860,889.00 497,233,348.00 366,800.00 188,340.00 804,633,705.00 120,000.00

37.5 108 532 515.5 105 107 118.5 517 515.5 5.59 1035 1028 1.07 105 1049 1141 1007 105.9 110.5 75.65 81.75 76.45 78.1 81 78.35 79.85 1.96

1,952,500 74,550 16,450 2,420 165,650 1,910 2,680 800 56,780 3,147,100 1,300 5,710 556,000 20,520 12,540 6,620 38,550 9,470 10,800 63,040 360,360 126,600 17,070 218,020 52,760 133,510 7,000

73,848,940.00 8,000,390.00 8,751,400.00 1,251,575.00 17,412,890.00 203,470.00 317,748.00 413,600.00 29,871,330.00 17,651,855.00 1,333,000.00 5,881,190.00 596,850.00 2,165,066.00 13,319,460.00 7,575,075.00 38,756,645.00 1,002,806.00 1,190,400.00 4,760,792.50 29,406,031.50 9,681,090.00 1,332,717.00 17,483,882.00 4,145,891.00 10,584,430.00 13,720.00

2.410

3,743,000

9,353,790.00

16.82 3.48 5

46,601,800 1,124,000 15,613,600

574,240,415.00 3,991,540.00 78,669,064.00 2,316,560.00

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

12.9 3 3.9

35,240,500 970,000 18,111,200

First Metro ETF

126.1

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 240,560 30,106,318.00

127.6

18,020

10

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 39,100 403,674.00

10.3

8,100

USD DMPL A1

84,330.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Oriental Pet. `B’ Boulevard Holdings Philodrill Corp. `A’ MRC Allied Ind. Apollo Global Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Megaworld Century Property NOW Corp.

VOLUME 7,135,000,000 1,289,100,000 315,090,000 284,000,000 203,350,000 194,240,000 151,796,500 140,557,400 135,801,000 122,352,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ Bank of PI SM Investments Inc. PLDT Common Jollibee Foods Corp.

SM Prime Holdings Puregold

VALUE 2,307,658,820.00 2,234,868,072.00 1,679,092,295.00 1,423,979,132.50 1,393,825,730.00 1,361,943,675.00 1,195,506,385.00 1,182,202,788.00 1,176,867,900.00 1,151,778,097.50

INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. plans to tap the bond market by issuing up to P30 billion worth of bonds to partly finance its huge investment spending plan over the next couple of years.

Metro Pacific chief finance officer David Nicol said the company would file for bond shelf registration for up to P30 billion with corporate regulators, with an initial issue of P10 billion in 2018.

This will be company’s maiden bond issue.

“We are looking to do shelf registration of P30 billion to give us flexibility but we are not looking to draw more than P10 billion from that next year,” Nicol said.

Nicol also ruled out the possibility of the company raising funds through the equities market despite the steady increase in the conglomerate’s stock price.

He said instead of doing a share sale at the Metro Pacific level, the company was looking at selling a portion of its stake in various units.

“We discussed intensively how we would go about raising further cash and the board is determined to keep portfolio broadly, as it shaped and just shave down a little bit of each part of the group. But the group is going back to the capital to raise more equity at the Metro Pacific level,” Nicol said. Jenniffer B. Austria

ABS-CBN reviews mobile strategy

By Darwin G. Amojelar BROADCAST company ABS-CBN Corp. is reviewing its mobile business strategy as its mobile network sharing agreement with Globe Telecom is set to expire in June 2018.

ABS-CBN chief financial officer Aldrin Cerrado said the company expected to trim down the losses of ABS-CBN Mobile to P400 million this year, from last year’s P600 million.

Cerrado said ABSCBN Mobile was unlikely to break even next year, and the company was currently reviewing its mobile business strategy.

“The whole business model of mobile is being reviewed because our contract with Globe is up for renewal by June or July next year,” Cerrado said.

He said the review of the mobile business strategy was expected to be completed by January or February next year.

“The direction is to have a mobile strategy in order to maximize the revenue potential of our content in many platform as possible including the mobile platform,” Cerrado said.

“Globe is awaiting for us to decide and we are awaiting the recommendation of the mobile team as to what kind of business would be evolved,” he said.

Under the agreement signed in May 2013, Globe will provide the capacity and coverage on existing cellular mobile telephony network to ABSCBN Convergence Inc. on a nationwide basis.

Salceda: Big infra offers to hasten PPP bill RECENT unsolicited offers from giant conglomerates to fund and undertake big-ticket infrastructure projects will surely spur the country’s economic growth and will likely speed up the passage of House Bill 788 or the PPP Rationalization Act, the enhanced PublicPrivate Partnership bill now pending in Congress.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, who authored HB 788, said the FilinvestRLC-JG Summit Holdings consortium’s offer to build the P839-billion Clark International Airport, and San Miguel Corp.-RSA’s tender to build the proposed P700-billion Bulacan Airport, both under the PPP scheme, will trigger his bill’s passage.

The congressional technical working group that Salceda heads has already drafted a substitute measure for the enhanced PPP bill. It provides clearer parameters on unsolicited proposals, limiting the original proponent status to only one year, and compelling the proponent to work on its execution and giving other players the crack once it expires, he said.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor editor.lgustandard@gmail.com monday, november 20, 2017

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LGUs LocaL government units

ARTDIALOGO OPENS. Mayor Gerardo V. Calderon of Angono, Rizal (in checkered polo) joins foreign guests and other city officials in cutting the ceremonial ribbon to launch Artdialogo 2017 at SM Center Angono. Art Dialogo is an international platform initiated by the group Art Dialogo Asia,which aims to promote culture and tourism through arts. Manny Palmero

More funds for Manila biz

By Bill Casas

M

ANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada has provided P380,000 in capital assistance to another batch of Manileños who have successfully put up their own micro and small businesses.

Estrada said the addition- their financial stability and al capital will help aspiring expand their businesses— entrepreneurs maintain the focus of the Capital

Assistance Program he established after assuming office in 2013.

CAP is also offered to street hawkers in Divisoria and public markets in Manila to help them increase their profit and improve their economic standing.

“These micro and small businesses are the foundations of our nation’s economy. We at the city government are committed to assist and empower the thousands

of underprivileged Manileños to beat poverty,” the mayor said during the ceremonial awarding of financial aid to 38 beneficiaries at the city hall.

“In other loans, you have to pay high interest rates. But here, loans are interest-free,” he told the beneficiaries.

Each business ownerbeneficiary was loaned P10,000 payable from six to 10 weeks with no interests or collateral, which they

could use to run their business ventures.

Awarded were 21 business owners from District I; five from District II, four from District III, four from District VI, and four from Baseco.

Those from Districts IV and V were not yet included because they have not fully paid their earlier loans.

The CAP, Estrada stressed, is intended to support Republic Act 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business

Enterprises Act of 2002, which seeks to strengthen micro-businesses in the country and provide more jobs, livelihood and a better quality of life for Filipinos.

“That’s why we are doing everything we can in order to help out our fellow poor families. Before, we have offered a P5,000 loan. Now it is P10,000. This would help you out in starting your own business,” Estrada pointed out.

Jobs for barkers, parking aides in QC eyed Rio N. Araja ALARMED by the drug problem involving barkers and “illegal” pay-parking attendants in Quezon City, District 2 Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica wants to create a duly registered association with the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide them with a legal livelihood.

In an interview, Ludovica said the involvement of some barkers and parking boys in illegal drugs, often as users, was “alarming.”

“It’s good I was able to operate along Timog Avenue and Tomas Morato Avenue [to drive away the barkers and attendants]. At least 80 percent of the

130 barkers there before were found positive of drug use. Of the 100, only 65 of them were still there, but they were able to recover [from drug use],” he told Manila Standard.

The stretch of Timog and Tomas Morato is popular for its restaurants, bars and other food businesses.

Ludovica cited two city ordinances aimed at ridding the streets of barkers at illegal transport terminals and payparking attendants.

Ordinance No. SP-2611 prohibits parking attendants without authorization from the city government or the barangay from collecting parking fees, and Ordinance No. SP-2612 bans barkers at

illegal bus, jeepney, taxi and tricycle terminals.

“We want to enforce the law.

That’s why I am organizing the creation of an association [for them] and its registration with SEC so their group could secure an accreditation with the city’s Community Relations Office and they could avail of our livelihood program,” the District 2 lawmaker stressed.

“Our Department of Public Order and Safety could train them to become traffic aides and crime watchdogs,” he said.

Ludovica said he has discussed the matter with District 4 Councilor Hero Bautista.

“We will turn them over to Hero since the area is within his legislative jurisdiction,” he said.

In BrIef navoteño teachers learn to fight bullying AROuND 150 elementary and secondary teachers from 21 public schools in Navotas learned how to detect, prevent and manage child abuse and bullying online.

The teachers underwent Capability-Building Seminar on Child Safeguarding and Online Safety that discussed various forms of child abuse, including cyberbullying.

The Navotas City Schools Division Office, in coordination with the Navotas City Council for the Protection of Children, led the training to address cyberbullying incidents among students.

Data from the Philippine National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group showed that a 70.74-percent increase in cases of cyberbullying was recorded in 2016.

In his message, Mayor John Rey Tiangco stressed the need to train educators on online child protection.

“Because of the accessibility of the internet, even children have social media accounts and their innocence makes them vulnerable to abuse. As adults, it is our moral and social responsibility to protect them,” he said. Jun David

CHILD’S PLAY. National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran (center, in white shirt) is surrounded by children who play in the refurbished NBI Development and Growth Child Center at the NBI headquarters in Manila on Friday.

Officials of SM Foundation, which refurbished the center, join Gierran, including Chito Macapagal (standing) and Connie Angeles (kneeling beside Gierran).

Lino Santos

caption

Pangasinan wants P3.75-b 2018 budget Groups coming to aid of Ipo watershed

By Dexter A. See

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The proposed P3.75-billion provincial budget for fiscal year 2018 has been endorsed for approval to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan after it was approved by the provincial board’s Committee on Appropriations, Economic Affairs, and Ways and Means on Nov. 14.

The Appropriations Committee

chair, 3rd District Board Member Angel Baniqued Jr. and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr., led the hearing at the SP session hall, where key officials of provincial government offices and departments, and chiefs of local hospitals, presented and defended their budgets.

The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, will present its budget next week via a special commit-

tee hearing, Baniqued said.

The proposed budget for next year is nine percent more than the 2017 budget of P3.422 billion, Calimlim said.

Over P1.67 billion of next year’s budget, or 44.6 percent, would go to social services, followed by P1.27 billion for general services (33.8 percent) and P809 million for economic services (21.6 percent).

Subic students learn to ‘artcycle’ SUBIC, Zambales―A total of 16 teams participated in the 2nd ArtCycle, an environmental, educational, recycling art competition organized

by Redondo Peninsula Energy at Subic Central School.

The teams were composed of students and teachers from the different elementary and high schools here.

This year’s winning team is Batiawan High School with their recycled gutters turned basketball- recycling facility. Butch Gunio

Valenzuela unveils new Trade Center VALENZuELA City has opened its new Valenzuela Trade Center, which represents the city’s “strong position to uphold its economic vibrancy.”

The new center is a three-storey building which houses the Cong. WES Gatchalian Serbisyo Center on the ground floor; trade and industry offices on the second floor, including the Department of Trade and Industry, Local Economic and Investment Promotions Office, Cooperative Development Office, Job Generation Office, Public Employment Service Office, Livelihood Office, and Worker’s Affairs Office. Jun David

The 38 beneficiaries have previously secured loans of P5,000 from the city government and have been able to pay up, thus were given another loan, according to Nanet Tanyag, chief of the Manila Department of Social Welfare.

“They have good credit record. They have been successfully running their small businesses. These are the ones we want to help, to let their businesses grow,” Tanyag said.

NEW PDEA OFFICE. The City Government of Biñan, Laguna recently inaugurated the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Calabarzon and Laguna extension office in the city. Leading the ribbon cutting are Biñan Rep. Marlyn Alonte Naguiat (fourth from left) City Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr.(fourth from right), Vice Mayor Angelo B. Alonte (third from right), incoming PDEA Deputy Director General for Administration Atty. John Q. Sosito (center), PDEA Regional Director Archie A Grande, and city councilors. Roy Tomandao

THE Ipo Watershed supplies fresh water to millions of residents in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, but decades of illegal environmental activities have destroyed over half of its vegetation.

Samsung Philippines employees, however, recently trooped to the site in Norzagaray, Bulacan to participate in efforts to save it.

The project was an initiative under Love and Care, the annual employee volunteer program for the tech giant’s subsidiaries in the Southeast Asia and Oceania region.

Love and Care began in 2015 with an outreach program for the Pann Pyo Let Monastic School in Myanmar, which was joined by over 50 Samsung employees from across the region.

In 2016, about 60 employees participated in a teaching activity for over 2,000 children in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

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World

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Mugabe, generals thresh out his exit

Netanyahu faces new questioning J ERUSA LEM―Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to be questioned by police on Sunday for the second time this month over two alleged cases of corruption, media reports said.

Netanyahu is suspected of having received luxury gifts from wealthy supporters, including Israeli businessman and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan.

Milchan, a longtime friend of Netanyahu who reportedly sent him boxes of expensive cigars and other items worth tens of thousands of dollars, was himself questioned in September.

Sunday’s questioning would be the sixth time Netanyahu has faced police investigators in recent months.

Investigators have also questioned the premier on suspicions he sought a secret deal for favorable coverage with the publisher of the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper. AFP

On alert over riots in Sri Lanka COLOMBO―Sri Lankan troops patrolled a coastal town Sunday where nearly 90 homes were damaged and cars set alight in violence between the island’s Sinhalese and Muslim communities.

A brawl over a traffic accident on Gintota, about 110 kilometers south of the capital Colombo, on Thursday descended into clashes between mobs from the majority Sinhalese and minority Muslim minorities.

The army and navy were deployed to reinforce local police as the situation spiraled over the weekend with at least five people hospitalized and close to 90 buildings damaged in the rioting.

The town remained tense and under lockdown throughout Saturday evening, but at dawn a curfew imposed on previous days was lifted.

“We have called for a complete report about damages and all the victims will be compensated by the state,” Home Minister Vajira Abeywardena told reporters.

Security forces and police would remain in place until law and order had been restored, he added. AFP

Signals offer hope for missing sub BUENOS AIRES―Hopes of finding survivors from a missing Argentine submarine with 44 crew members aboard have been revived after the navy said it had detected what could be distress calls.

There has been no contact with the ARA San Juan since early Wednesday, prompting Buenos Aires to launch an air and sea search with help from countries including Brazil, Britain, Chile, Uruguay and the United States.

The search has, however, been complicated by stormy conditions, Argentine navy spokesman Enrique Balbi said on Saturday.

However, the defense ministry said it had detected seven satellite-transmitted signals that may be an attempt by the submarine to resume contact. AFP

GALA. Kaitlin Olson attends the 2017 GO Campaign Gala at NeueHouse Los Angeles on November 18 in Hollywood. AFP

HARARE―Zimbabwean army generals will pile further pressure on President Robert Mugabe to resign Sunday after tens of thousands of overjoyed protesters celebrated the apparent end of his 37-year regime.

Mugabe’s hold on power was broken this week when the military took over in a dispute over who would succeed the 93-year-old president, the world’s oldest head of state.

Mugabe remains in office but now faces overwhelming opposition from the generals, much of the Zimbabwean public and from within ZANU-PF, the once loyal party now calling for his exit.

“President Robert Mugabe will meet the command element of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces tomorrow,” state television announced on Saturday.

The two sides first met for talks on Thursday, smiling in

photographs that attempted to present a dignified image of the tense process of negotiating Mugabe’s departure.

In scenes of public euphoria not seen since independence in 1980, huge crowds marched and sang their way through Harare and other cities on Saturday, demanding the end of Mugabe’s authoritarian rule.

The marches came after a historic week in which the military seized power and put Mugabe under house arrest in response to his sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, a perceived rival of Mugabe’s powerful 52-yearold wife Grace who had increasingly voiced her ambition to succeed her spouse.

Saturday’s gatherings were peaceful, despite a stand-off when armed soldiers barred protesters from reaching Mugabe’s official residence, the State House. AFP

Mladic awaits fate in UN cell T HE HAGUE―For the past six years, home for the man who once commanded fear across a swathe of Bosnia has been a small, spartan cell in a UN prison, close to the dunes and the stormy North Sea.

In the imposing jail, part of a Dutch prison complex in the seaside resort of Scheveningen, Ratko Mladic, accused of genocide as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes, has been free to walk his corridor during daylight hours.

But for two hours in the afternoon and every night, the man once dubbed “The Butcher of Bosnia” must return to his 15-square-meter cell to be locked in until the next morning.

Lawyers say failing health has now forced the 74-year-old to take to his single bed, spending hours tucked under blue sheets, as he awaits Wednesday’s verdict by UN war crimes

judges on 11 charges for his role in the 1990s Balkans war.

The former Bosnian Serb military commander, who has denied all the charges, has had some notable company in the prison since he was captured in 2011 after 16 years on the run and handed over to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague.

Long an avid fan of chess, he would often play against his former Bosnian Serbian political alter-ego Radovan Karadzic, also in the jail awaiting the start of his appeal against his 40-year jail term imposed in 2016.

There are eight other

ICTY defendants still housed in the prison either awaiting an appeal or to be transferred to other countries to serve out their sentences, including former Bosnian Croat leader Jadranko Prlic.

Mladic can also peruse the newspapers from the former Yugoslav republic which are provided, and used to like to cook simple meals in a common area.

Initially his health had improved after years on the run. But he has suffered three strokes, which have caused rapid mood swings, occasionally even leading to courtroom outbursts.

His ill-health has left him with “part paralysis of the entire right side of his body,” lawyer Dragan Ivetic told AFP. While there are strict confidentiality rules, Ivetic revealed he has heard that in recent months Mladic “spends much of his time in bed fatigued and trying to sleep”. AFP

Islamic State loses its grip over Iraqis RAWA, Iraq―”Islamic State-Euphrates Province” reads an abandoned sign covered by dust and sand in the Iraqi town of Rawa.

A day after government forces ousted the Islamic State group from the last town it held in the country, the banner is now just a reminder of the vast “caliphate” the jihadists once ruled.

Hamza Mahmud, 13, has seen the past three years of his young life dominated by the harsh demands and tight control of IS in this desert

region on the border with Syria.

Since the group seized his home town on a bend in the Euphrates River in 2014, he has not spent one day in school.

“Men had to have long beards and wear traditional robes to their ankles or they would get twenty lashes,” he told AFP, sporting a bright yellow pullover bearing the crest of the Italian national football team.

Under the jihadists’ rule the roughly 20,000 inhabitants of Rawa and the sur-

rounding hamlets had to gather at a prefabricated building at the entrance to the town.

At this “information point” the population was told about the latest bloody attacks by the group, the ground it had captured, its feats of arms.

They were also reminded of the rules.

“For three years they denied us electricity, telephones and television,” sighed a bearded Aref Aid, 67, wearing a white robe.

AFP

CAMPAIGN. Kaitlin Olson attends the 2017 GO Campaign Gala at NeueHouse Los Angeles on November 18, 2017 in Hollywood, California. AFP

Death of AC/DC’s co-founder mourned SY DN EY―Aust ralia ns paid tribute to AC/DC cofounder and fellow countryman Malcolm Young on Sunday, a day after the legendary guitarist passed away aged 64.

Young, who founded the rock group with his brother Angus in 1973, died Saturday after suffering from dementia for several years, according to his family and the band.

Best known for their hit song Highway to Hell, AC/ DC formed produced 17 studio albums, selling more than 200 million records.

“AC/DC were incredibly

special,” Australian rock historian Glen A. Baker told national broadcaster ABC Sunday.

“They became a part of Australian music at a time when we needed heroes and people who were totally reliable, who wouldn’t deviate for one second, who had a clear vision of where they wanted to go.

“The architect of that sound was Malcolm Young, the rhythm guitarist who wrote every song, every original song they did.”

Young emigrated to Australia with his family as a child, and was in his early

20s when the band released their debut album “High Voltage”.

While Angus was the public face of the band, Malcolm was renowned for being behind the famous riffs that left fans thunderstruck.

“Devastated to hear of Malcolm Young’s passing... For me personally, the GREATEST rhythm guitarist of ALL TIME,” Australian country star Keith Urban tweeted.

Cold Chisel front man Jimmy Barnes said Young’s death was a “sad day for music”. AFP

Haitians protest government corruption

SUPPORTER. A supporter watches the Rugby League World Cup quarter-final match between England and Papua New Guinea in Melbourne on November 19, 2017. AFP

PORT-AU-PRINCE―Hundreds of Haitian opposition activists took to the streets of Port-au-Prince on Saturday to protest the army’s remobilization and government corruption.

While there were no immediate reports of injuries, protesters burned tires, blocked roads and set fire to a truck carrying refrigerators. Some banged on percussion instruments.

“We don’t want this army of thieves. We need an army that brings us security...

They want to kill all of us

poor people,” said Robert Nossant, who lives in one of the capital’s impoverished neighborhoods.

As with many other protesters, Nossant was demonstrating against a police operation that took place Monday in the Grand Ravine neighborhood.

Police acknowledged that at least seven civilians died during the anti-gang operation. Two police officers were also shot dead.

Responding to growing anger from residents following the operation, a justice

of the peace was dispatched to the scene Thursday and reported finding the corpses of nine civilians. “(President) Jovenel Moise is establishing a partisan army, an army of torturers. But remobilizing the army should be part of a national debate,” said Andre Michel, a lawyer who leads an opposition movement.

“This army should not have been established in a unilateral way like this.

That’s why we are against it.” AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

TODAY

JOEY DE LEON passes ‘Barbi, Wonder Beki’ character to PAOLO BALLESTEROS

Paolo Ballesteros wears Joey de Leon's shoes as Barbi in the latest installment of the comedy flick, "Barbi: D' Wonder Beki"

T

HE original “Barbi,” Joey de Leon, has handed down ‘her’ crown to the rightful predecessor in the new installment Barbi: D’ Wonder Beki to the star who “died beautifully” but is now “resurrected and more beautiful than ever” – Paolo Ballesteros.

Both the original Barbi and the new Wonder Beki believe what studies reveal: gay people are creative enough to overcome sadness and win over whatever bad situation there is.

True or fake?

Most gay people can make light any sad situation.

Reuters’ published Huffington Post--based scientific study says: “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have better self-esteem and less depression as young adults if they were open about their sexual orientations as adolescents, a new study suggests.

“Attempts to hide sexual orientation are generally unsuccessful, and,the result is more abuse and more depression,” the authors say in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.

“What’s needed,” said Stephen Russell, the study’s lead author, “are supporting environments so

that all kids can figure out and be as true to themselves as they can be.”

Tony Y. Reyes directed the new installment of Barbi: D’ Wonder Beki for Orly Ilacad’s OctoArts Films, MZet Films and T-Rex Entertainment.

In the movie, handsome Billy is imprisoned in a “macho’ environment with policemen siblings. He is forced to take on a security guard job against his “inner-self and reality.”

Billy is in-charge of the estate of international businessman Jack Bates.

Outwardly, he is a refined handsome macho man who is always the object of desire of many women in the neighborhood. But his real self has known all along that he is Wonder B, the character he has envisioned and created in his escapist mindset or dreams.

He has patterned it after his favorite superheroine character

Wonder Woman.

As a form of entertainment for himself and an escape for his repressed milieu, Billy-- before reporting for work duty has frequented Sirkus de Ole’, a drag show theater.

Often times, or coincidence of all coincidences, he and his neighbor-crush, Larry The Bird (who works as the porter of the theater), arrive at the Sirkus de Ole’ at the same time.

But there’s always an antagonist in even the most mundane situation: Mr. B, the proprietormanager of the theater and also the owner of the salon beside it, the Barbitolome Beauty Salon.

Disastrously, Billy is able to witness a heinous crime—the murder of his boss in the hands of his business partner Bao Kuh Teh. In a string of unfortunate events, Billy is accused of the murder.

The “guilty verdict” by netizens

in the social media becomes viral in so short a time. He is now a wanted man. He is forced to hide in a place where he feels safer, in Barbitolome Beauty Salon.

First off, Billy gets to live his dream of being free and beautiful. He learns to love his other self.

He even gets closer to his crush Larry. He has to clear his name of the charges but first, he has to defeat the terrorist group who implicated and made him “guilty” in the social media.

A thrilling and truly climactic fight scene ensues.

Ultimately, Barbi Girl as Wonder B and friends defeat the

terrorists. He and his friends are hailed as heroes/ heroines?

Fast-forward: Larry is promoted to become the operations manager after finishing his computer science course.

But will his family accept him for what he is?

Barbi: The Wonder Beki hits the cinemas on Nov. 29.

Gloc-9’s poetry now in book form RAPPER Gloc-9, or Aristotle “Aries” Pollisco, proves he is a master of words as he transforms his lyrics into inspiring poetry verses in his first book (ABS-CBN Publishing) Akin Lang Naman.

Well known for his songs such as “Upuan,” “Hari ng Tondo,” “Magda,” and “Sirena” that contain statements on struggle, discrimination, or patriotism, Gloc-9 is one of the most lookedup-to songwriters in the country. As the artist rarely writes the lyrics we hear in final songs formally, this is the first time that his works as a writer and more specifically, as a poet, will be seen through this new poem collective.

National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera praised the poetic side of Gloc-9, stating in the book’s foreword that the works were of city-life consciousness, reflecting the rapper’s mass activist advocacy.

Theater director Tuxqs Rutaquio also identified with the songwriter’s work as he indicated

InvItatIon to BId for the Supply, delIvery, InStallatIon and CommISSIonIng of Ip pBX SyStem for pagCor houSe (Imet/federal land) and pagCor houSe anneX (Carmen BuIldIng) under ITB No. PB18-00-005COR

in his review. He said, “Gloc-9’s poetry speaks within a community that struggles against atrocities whether it be poverty, corruption, prostitution, or gender discrimination. He understands these inequities and speaks of these with passion and sarcasm, wit and humor, shooting words like bullets from a gun.”

The book comes in two artistic covers—one by artist Mervin Malonzo and the other by the book’s editor, concert photographer Katrina Stuart Santiago.

The newly published writer first shared his print project during the 2017 Philippine Readers and Writers Festival recently held in Raffles Makati.

Gloc-9’s book, Akin Lang Naman, is now available in leading newsstands and bookstores nationwide for only P195.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Commissioning of IP PBX System for PAGCOR House (iMET/Federal Land) and PAGCOR House Annex (Carmen Building) under ITB No. PB18-00-005COR. Brief Description

Supply, Delivery, Installation and Commissioning of IP PBX System for PAGCOR House (iMET/Federal Land) and PAGCOR House Annex (Carmen Building) Delivery Schedule/ Within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt by the Completion Period winning supplier/contractor of the Notice to Proceed.

Approved Budget for The ABC for the project is in the amount of Twenty-Three Million Eight the Contract (ABC) Hundred Thirty Thousand Six Hundred Twenty-Three Pesos and 69/100 (PhP23,830,623.69), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Source of Funds Corporate Budget for CY 2018

Bidders should have completed, within the last five (5) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

PAGCOR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

ABS-CBNs Christmas station ID celebrates Filipinos’ loving nature FILIPINOS are known for being a loving people. We solve conflicts with compassion, respect our differences, heal pain with kindness, comfort each other during difficult times, and possess a strong grip on our faith.

This Christmas, ABS-CBN celebrates these admirable Filipino traits by showing real acts of love and kindness by Filipinos in the Christmas Station ID. More than a hundred Kapamilya stars unite hoping to inspire our nation to just love this holiday season.

The new station ID premiered on Tuesday last week after TV Patrol simultaneously airing on all ABSCBN TV channels.

The station ID shows snippets of real people sharing what they have with strangers, helping one another in times of distress, or showing hope and resilience in videos or photos that went viral online and touched the hearts of many people. Stars and artists from ABS-CBN’s news and entertainment programs and subsidiaries are seen writing notes to cheer up and console people in Marawi and doing their own acts of charity.

They include Coco Martin and the cast of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, love teams Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, James Reid and Nadine Lustre, Kapamilya hunks Jericho Rosales, Paulo Avelino, Gerald Anderson, and leading ladies Kim Chiu and Iza Calzado.

The stars of various Kapamilya shows were also present as well as the anchors of the station’s news and public affairs shows.

Also seen in the station ID are artists from Star Music, Tarsier Records, ABS-CBN TVplus shows, and sports stars that can be seen on

ABS-CBN S+A. Combining the inspiring stories of individuals and organizations with the entire ABS-CBN family singing about the importance of love in our lives, the #JustLove theme, is the hymn of our collective voices, stories and dreams for our family and our country.

The id’s song is a creation of Jimmy Antiporda with lyric by Robert Labayen, Lloyd Oliver Corpuz, and Christian Faustino.

Leading the powerful lineup of singers behind the song are Sarah Geronimo, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Piolo Pascual, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Billy Crawford, Yeng Constantino, ASAP regulars, and winners from the Kapamilya network’s talent reality programs.

The video of Just Love Ngayong Christmas posted over three million views in less than a week after its launch.

Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez join other Kapamilya stars in the network's festive yet meaningful station ID

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

InvItatIon to BId for the proCurement of JanItorIal ServICeS (three yearS) under ItB no. pB17-023ang-11 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming rebidding for the Procurement of Janitorial Services (Three Years) under ITB No. PB17-023ANG-11.

Brief Description Delivery Schedule Approved Budget Contract (ABC): Source of Funds:

for

THREE (3)-YEAR JANITORIAL SERVICES Three (3) Years Seventeen Million Two Hundred Fourteen Thousand Sixty-Nine Pesos & 60/100 (P the 17,214,069.60), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction / Annual Budget Fifty-One Million Six Hundred Forty-Two Thousand Two Hundred Eight Pesos & 80/100 (P 51,642,208.80), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction for Three Years Corporate Budget for CY 2017

For several lots, please add “NOTE: Bidders may bid on one or both/all lots.” Otherwise delete Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

PAGCOR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Activities Issuance of the Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Date, Time and Venue November 20, 2017 to December 11, 2017 November 27, 2017 (Monday), 2:00 p.m.

December 11, 2017 (Monday), 2:00 p.m.

December 11, 2017 (Monday), 2:00 p.m., onwards

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Section (PS), acting as the BBAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City during office hours of PAGCOR from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (P 25,000.00).

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to Finance Section located at the Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City either the Fee Slip which may be secured from PS or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

Bidders should note that PAGCOR will accept bids only from those that have paid the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the venue of the bid opening. Late bids shall not be accepted.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC) shall use a non-discretionary and nondiscriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper. b) The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru PS, Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City, Tel No.: 892-5073 local 401.

GLECY B. DANGA (SGD) Chairperson BranCh Bids and awards Committee (BBaC) (MS-NOV. 20, 2017)

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, PostQualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Date, Time and Venue November 20, 2017 (Mon) to December 11, 2017 (Mon) November 28, 2017 (Tue), 2:00 p.m., Corporate Lounge, Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, 1588 M.H. del Pilar corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila December 11, 2017 (Mon), 2:30 p.m., Corporate Lounge, Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, 1588 M.H. del Pilar corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila December 11, 2017 (Mon), 2:30 p.m. onwards, Corporate Lounge, Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, 1588 M.H. del Pilar corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Department (PD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at PD Office, Eight (8th) Floor, PAGCOR House Annex, Carmen Building, 1105 United Nations Avenue corner Ma. Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila, during office hours of PAGCOR from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

Bidders should note that PAGCOR will accept bids only from those that have paid the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the venue of the bid opening. Late bids shall not be accepted.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 062005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) shall use a nondiscretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) b)

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the BAC thru PD, Eight (8th) Floor, PAGCOR House Annex, Carmen Building, 1105 United Nations Avenue corner Ma. Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 708-0307 or 623-0496.

SGD RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and awards Committee (BaC) 2 (MS-NOV..20, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor

Bernadette Lunas, Writer

isahred@gmail.com

FOOD

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

Max’s turns 72 Homegrown restaurant Max’s attempts to appeal to the younger market with new dishes and store design Pastry products sold at Max’s Bakery

F

OR OVER seven decades, Max’s Restaurant has become synonymous with genuine home-style Filipino food, and has become a favorite venue for countless Filipino celebrations.

Known as “The House That Fried Chicken Built,” the brand’s Sarap-To-The-Bones Fried Chicken has been enjoyed by millions since it was first introduced in the Philippines in 1945.

“We owe a lot of our success to many Filipinos and their families here and abroad who keep on coming back for our genuine food and thoughtful service.

Max’s Restaurant started as a home café that served hearty and delightful meals, and we are proud that it resounded well to millions all over the world. We have reached this milestone and many others because we are inspired to serve only the best Filipino food with love and for love,” shares Ariel Fermin, Max’s Restaurant COO. Max’s drive to continuously innovate has been felt with its numerous initiatives in the past year. It is a brand that strives to put out new ideas, products, and campaigns to respond to its customers’ needs, particularly those from the younger segment who might not be familiar yet with the brand.

“The House That Fried Chicken Built” commercial launched recently is a testament to how the brand is con-

stantly thinking of new ways to express itself to make it more alive and relevant to its customers. It is a completely fresh approach, but still grounded in the brand’s Pinoy values as evidenced by the inclusion of classic OPM tunes like “Rock Baby Rock,” “Bongga Ka ‘Day,” and “Sumayaw Sumunod” as the ad’s soundtrack.

The introduction of its new Crispy Pata and Kare-Kare Rice Bowls earlier in the year was received well by its customers, prompting the release of new additional flavors such as Fish Fillet in Black Bean Sauce, Chicken Sisig, Adobo, Pork Barbecue, and Pata Tim. This solo version of Max’s signature dishes has made the brand go beyond the historically associated formal events and gatherings, to one that is more relaxed and friendly for more casual visits.

“Tapping the younger market has been crucial for us and we knew that

most of the things we were doing in the past might not appeal so much to the younger generation. That’s why we wanted to shake things up a bit and do things differently. Of course, we were still conscious of the values strongly associated with the brand so this is just a different side of who Max’s has always been,” adds Fermin.

To have a tangible showcase of how Max’s has been evolving, it recently

opened its new concept store in Shell NLEX Mexico, which features a new Instagrammable plant wall, new murals, and quirky lighting. The uniforms of the store’s team members also echo this easy vibe with a new jeans and sneakers outfit.

As Max’s celebrated its 72nd birthday last month, the brand invited customers to experience for themselves the many things they have prepared

‘Harana Para Kay Mama Sita’ THIS year marks the 100th birth anniversary of Philippine culinary icon Teresita “Mama Sita” Reyes. On Sept. 29, guests gathered at the UP Film Center to witness Harana Para Kay Mama Sita, a musical event honoring the joyous life of the country’s favorite Ina. As often told, Mama Sita’s life has always been an inspiration to ordinary Filipinos: a normal young woman who was drawn to cooking like her mother, Engracia “Asiang” Reyes, and later learned how to combine ingredients, making her own spice mixes and flavors not only for her family but also for her fellowmen abroad longing for native delicacies.

“For Mama Sita, life is to be enjoyed to the fullest. Nothing is to be wasted.

She loved going to the market to buy the best in season, sang love songs while cooking, and united people through food,” shares Clara Reyes-Lapus, president of Mama Sita Foundation and fourth of Mama Sita’s 11 children.

Harana Para Kay Mama Sita had the Andres Bonifacio Concert Choir (ABCC) with Maestro Jerry Dadap as musical director, assisted by the RTU Tunog Rizalia Rondalla with conductor Prof. Lino Mangandi. The songfest, directed by Victor Sevilla, collected music of different genres to show the life and values of Mama Sita, illustrating her commitment to the Filipinos through the slogan “Pasasalamat at Paggunita sa Isang Ina, Kababayan at Kusinera.”

The choir and rondalla aptly heaved up the concert mood with their first performance of Philippine Folk songs “Sitsiritsit,” “Inday Pamutos Na,” “Atin Cu Pung Singsing,” and more. Harana songs, such as “Ang Dalagang Pilipina”

by Jose Santos and “Paraluman ng Aking Bayan” by J. Massaguer were performed as well. Consequently, on the third suite were the patriotic music, performing “Kayumangging Malaya” by Lucio San Pedro, “Sa Dalampasigan,”

to show that there is still more to love with the brand.

“We are thankful to the Filipino people for the many years of great food and delightful experiences they have shared with us. This is our way of sharing in the joy of their personal milestones, and we hope to have several decades more with them to show how there will always be more to love with their favorite Max’s Restaurant,” ends Fermin.

Goodies and gifts in Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Christmas hampers

Jerry Dadap’s signature compositions “Lulay,” “Awit ng Pagkakaisa,” and “Alay sa Inang Bayan,” and the iconic songs “Bayan Ko” by Constancio de Guzman and “Pilipinas Kong Mahal”

by Francisco Santiago.

The concert ended on a high note with “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” with Tagalog lyrics by Rosario Medina, and Dadap’s original composition inspired by Mama Sita, “Awiting Pagkain – Mama Sita March.”

A classical Filipino-themed musical, which is considered a rare concept today, Harana Para Kay Mama Sita fulfilled the audiences’ yearning for the traditional Philippines.

Virginia Moreno, founding director of the UP Film Center, who also cohosted the musical event, delivered heartwarming remarks that paid tribute to the family of Teresita “Mama Sita” Reyes and to all the performers, including the young orators from Malolos’ VSE Productions.

Sweet Christmas celebrations

Front row, from left: Maestro Jerry Dadap with 3-year-old Eumi Maurin, Leonarda Tulao, Mama Sita Foundation President Clara Kalayaan Reyes-Lapus, Adolfo Reyes, Rosie Lardizabal, and Aida Rejano at ‘Harana Para Kay Mama Sita’ event at the UP Film Center

COME to a confectionery and delightful journey as Marco Polo Ortigas Manila brings Chocolate Tinsel Town: Sweet Christmas Celebrations. Experience the unforgettable combination of overflowing indulgent goodies, and sweet memories, made with love from the hotel’s chocolate factory for the coming holidays.

The sweet factory with the chocolate tree, at the hotel’s sky lobby is now open. Listen to the sweet symphony of Christmas carols as you gaze around the halls of the tinsel town. Choirs from different groups serenade the guests, and make you feel the holiday light, in all weekends of December.

Rudolph’s bell rings for the Sundays of December as Santa Claus comes in his sleigh to get the Christmas wishes, and take snapshots with the nice kids.

The little tots are also up to join the fun, as Piccolo Kids Club holds a workshop with Santa’s elves on Dec. 9.

The spirit of Christmas is not complete without the long-standing

tradition of celebrating the anticipated holy mass. Rejoice in holiday tidings for this festive season on Dec. 24 and 31.

As the jingle bell rings and Santa comes, plan your celebrations with the special ones in premium accommodations that will be your home away from home. Book your stay from Dec.15 to Jan. 14, except on the 24th and 31st of December, and enjoy exclusive benefits to enjoy this season, such as a breakfast buffet for two adults and two kids under six years old, complimentary high speed Internet access, and use of indoor infinity pool and fitness center.

Share best-loved goodies as thoughtful little gifts to family and friends.

These treats are prepared in gift hampers with love and care. Express how special they are with make-your-own.

Choose from a wide selection of chocolate characters, chocolate bars, soft and moist cakes, freshly baked cookies, nuts and biscuits, or Scottish fruit preserves, to name a few.