Ms sect d 20170101 sunday

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017

Jimbo Gulle, Editor

Roger Garcia, Issue Editor

LGUs

mslocalgov@gmail.com

YEARENDER: SOLAR CITY KEY TO MANILA’S FUTURE

By Sandy Araneta

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(FIRST OF TWO PARTS)

HE multibillion-peso Solar City project, a new commercial and business district to rise in Manila Bay, is among the three major infrastructure projects Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada would complete under his administration.

The state-of-the-art green urban center in Manila Bay will provide Manileños with thousands of jobs, and generate additional revenues for the city government through taxes to be collected.

“You can only imagine the benefits it will bring to the city—at least P17 billion a year additional revenue for the city government, plus P10 billion in annual taxes, and about 500,000 jobs to Manileños,” Estrada said in an exclusive interview with Manila Standard.

A former president, Estrada said this will also be a big boost to the country’s tourism industry, “cementing our city’s place in the world map of most favored tourist destinations.”

He also assured that the reclamation project, which entails the creation of three islands with total land area of 148 hectares, will not hide or cover the famous sunset of Manila Bay. Designed to be green, selfsustaining and innovative, Solar City will be the first of its kind in using renewable energy from solar, wind, and biomass sources.

Estrada said he would also build more roads and other facilities during the remaining years of his second term as mayor of the country’s capital.

“Build, build, build. I want to put up more infrastructures—more roads, health centers, modern city hospitals, school buildings, housing for the poor, facilities for the poor, elderly, and youth,” he said.

Estrada spelled out the gains of his administration during his first term as mayor after winning reelection last May.

“We have achieved great gains in our 10-point agenda, especially in infrastructure, peace and order, traffic, and cleanliness,” he said.

“We have intensified our road clearing operations in the past months and as a result, we have ‘liberated’ our major roads from all kinds of obstructions, resulting in reduced traffic congestion. We have removed anarchy in our city streets.

“Take for example, Divisoria.

While it hurts me that some illegal vendors have been temporarily displaced, we’ve been able to bring back order there,” he added.

In support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against drugs, Estrada said Manila has successfully campaigned against illegal drugs.

He said Manila Police District operatives have arrested thousands of drug suspects this 2016. Ten thousand Manila residents into drugs have also voluntarily yielded to authorities this year.

“To complement our law enforcement operations, we have revived DARE [Drug Abuse Resistance Education] in our elementary schools as a means to prevent the youth from getting involved in drugs,” the mayor said.

“In helping drug dependents who want to change their ways, we have instituted ‘Oplan Sagip Buhay, Sagip Pangarap,’ a communitybased drug treatment program. We also have plans to put up a drug rehabilitation center at the Manila Boys Town complex in Marikina,” he added.

Estrada noted that Manila’s anti-criminality campaign has

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada shakes hands with Ziyi Deng, CEO of the West Zishoujinzhang (Beijing) Pictures Co. Ltd., one of the largest private movie and television production companies in China, who paid a courtesy call on the mayor on Thursday.

resulted in a 32-percent reduction in crime rate. He said: “I am sure we will rise even further, as the Manila Police District continues to address criminality in our streets.”

The mayor also cited the city government’s financial gains, which he said have surpassed the previous administration.

“We’ve been successful in reviving

Manila’s financial stability after my first term,” Estrada stressed. “We’ve paid the P5.5 billion in debt left by the previous administration.

We’ve brought back social services to the poor—free hospitalization, medicines, education. We have addressed our illegal drug problem and reduced crime.”

(To be continued tomorrow)

ONE-STOP SERVICE CENTERS FOR OFWS OPENED

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CALL OF THE WILD. Malabon Zoo and Botanical Garden owner Manny Tangco, sisters and priests of the Holy Face, and Malabon City policemen hold up a horn to a tiger named ‘Duterte’ and a Burmese python on Thursday to ask the public to refrain from using firecrackers to welcome the New Year. Andrew Rabulan

OVERSEAS Filipino workers may now avail of the services of the OneStop Service Center for OFWs in 15 provinces outside Metro Manila.

Launched on Aug. 15, 2016 at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration POEA headquarters in Mandaluyong City, the OSSCO aims to provide efficient service to OFW’s and help reduce their expenses particulalry in the processing of various government related requirements for overseas employment, among others.

Government frontline services are made accessible in all these locations for Filipinos who are currently working or planning to work overseas. It operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Offices, together with POEA, established OFW one-stop centers at the following locations: Manna Mall, San Fernando City, La Union; City Tourism Office, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Baguio Convention Center, Baguio City; Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga; OWWA Regional Office 4A in Calamba City; Robinson’s Place, Puerto Princesa

Local Gov’t Units

City, Pacific Mall, Legaspi City; SM City, Cebu City; Robinson’s Place, Iloilo City; Robinson’s Place, Bacolod City; DOLE Regional Office No. 8, Tacloban City; Goodwill Center, Zamboanga City; OWWA Regional Office No. 10, Cagayan de Oro City; Butuan City Hall Complex, Butuan City and New City Hall, Koronadal City.

The government agencies at the OSSCO are Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Maritime lndustry Authority (MARINA), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), Philippine Health lnsurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Immigration (BI), National Bureau lnvestigation(NBI), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Tourism lnfrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of lnternal Revenue (BIR).

US NAVY HONORS BATAAN NATIVE A NATIVE of Bataan has been selected the 2016 Sailor of the Year for Navy Medicine East—one of two regional commands that manage the United States Navy Medicine’s global health care network—in a recent ceremony in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Petty Officer First Class Bernard A. Morales has served 14 years in the US Navy. In accepting the award, he said he is “learning about being a more responsible leader, sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.”

“The Navy provided me with the motivation, direction, and focus to excel not only in my career, but in my everyday life,” said Morales, whose father Reynaldo Langres and mother Raquel Navarro Managuio both reside in Managuio, Virginia.

Morales is a 2002 Salem High School graduate from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

He is currently attending Ashford University with a projected graduation date of 2018, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration.

Navy Medicine East oversees the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of medical, dental, and other health care services to approximately one million patients across almost 100 facilities—including the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-Service Market, which brings together US Air Force Hospital Langley and McDonald Army Hospitals.

As a hospital corpsman serving with NME, Morales is directly responsible for being the Directorate for Administration Leading Petty Officer within the command.

He provides direct administrative oversight in the completion of correspondence onboard to include instructions, policies, awards, regional taskers, and support agreements in support for 20 Echelon III commands.

“Being recognized as Navy Medicine East Headquarters Sailor of the Year signifies the accomplishments of my sailors not just within the past year, but throughout my naval career,” said Morales. “It’s because of them, along with the tremendous leadership and mentorship I have received over the years, that I was selected.”

VIZCAYA CORN FARMERS GET FUNDS FOR SEEDS

By Brenda Jocson BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— At least P3 million worth of corn seeds and fertilizers were allotted for farmers producing below four metric tons of corn crops per hectare, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist here.

Alexander Domingo, OPA chief, said that among the 15 municipalities of the province, at least nine were identified as corn producing areas, which will receive corn seeds to boost corn production in the province.

The recipient towns are Villaverde and Bagabag -- both awarded as “Hall of Famers” for Outstanding Corn Achievers in 2014 and 2016 respectively -along with Diadi, Quezon, Solano, Bayombong, Bambang, Kasibu and Dupax Del Norte.

To recognize top performing local governments in corn production, the Department of Agriculture came up with the National Quality Corn Achievers Award.

It aims to improve the welfare of farmers and corn producing provinces in pursuit of the national government’s effort to support and strengthen the Philippine corn industry.

The OPA is developing a provincial nursery and farm school as an informal learning site for new farming technologies and techniques.

LGUs

D2

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FIBERGLASS BOATS FOR FISHERMEN VIA MAGAT SN ABOITIZ Power-Magat Inc. has turned over 15 fiberglass boats to fisherfolk organizations in Isabela, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya to promote sustainable livelihood.

The turnover was held recently at Magat Dam’s View Deck in Ramon, Isabela, the boats were the result of a fiberglass boat making training held in August by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region Region II. Materials for the boats were provided

by SNAP-Magat under its corporate social responsibility program.

The project aimed to train fisherfolk on the design, construction and maintenance of fiberglass fishing boats. This would enable them to develop boat-building as a skill and potential source of alternative income.

The project also promotes eco-friendly practices as use of fiberglass boats will reduce dependence on wood from trees for boat materials.

Boats made of fiberglass have the advantage of withstanding the elements under heat and cold, and have corrosion-resistant properties that allow them to last for around 30 years.

The project was granted through the Magat Task Force, a multipartite advisory council responsible for sustainable aquaculture in the Magat reservoir, among others.

SNAP-Magat and BFAR Region II are members of the MTF along with BFAR-Cordillera Administrative Region and National Irrigation Administration-Dams and Reservoir Division, which also provided support to the project; National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center; the provincial governments of Isabela and Ifugao; Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-San Isidro, provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Nueva Vizcaya and the Fisherfolk Sector Council.

SNAP-Magat owns and operates the 360-megawatt Magat Hydroeletric Power Plant at the border of Ifugao and Isabela. It is a joint venture of SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power.

BEAST OF BURDEN. Native furniture craft vendors continue to use cows to pull their cart of wares as they trudge along the highway in Rosario, Cavite.

Norman Cruz

P10M NEEDED FOR STUDY ON BENGUET MONORAIL

By Dexter A. See

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A TRINIDAD, Benguet—The Cordillera office of the Department of Science and Technology on Thursday said it needed about P10 million for a full-blown feasibility study of the proposed multibillion monorail project between this capital town and Baguio City.

Victor Mariano, DoST-CAR regional director, said it needs the endorsement of the Cordillera Regional Development Council to do the feasibility study for the ambitious environment-friendly project aimed at addressing the traffic between these areas.

Based on its pre-feasibility study, the 5.2-kilometer line of the Automated Guideway Transit from the

Provincial Capital to the Slaughterhouse Compound in Baguio City requires P3.8 billion, while the 2.1-kilometer AGT line from the Bonifacio Rotunda up to SM City Baguio passing through the central business district will cost approximately P2.9 billion.

Mariano explained the AGT system is one of the locally developed alternative modes of transport us-

ing electricity instead of fossil fuel to reduce air pollutants around the heavily populated areas of Baguio and La Trinidad.

Nancy Bantog, DoST-CAR assistant regional director, said the P10 million for the feasibility study was recommended for inclusion in the agency’s budget for 2017, but regional officials are not yet aware if this fund was approved.

The results of the study will ascertain if the government is capable of completing this project geared toward a sustainable mass transport system that would also reduce the monstrous traffic congestion in Baguio and La Trinidad.

“It will now be up to the RDCCAR to determine whether or not to pursue the implementation of the project. We will have to wait for the next RDC en banc meeting what action they will take on the

project,” Mariano stressed.

The La Trinidad and Baguio local governments earlier endorsed the pre-feasibility and full feasibility studies, as they see this project will contribute to reducing traffic congestion in the heavily populated areas of the two localities.

The AGT that will be installed will be similar to the one that was pilot tested by the agency at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus that turned out to be successful and worthy of being replicated.

The coaches of the AGT will be installed on an elevated platform over the Balili River and right at the central business district area to serve as a mass transport system for commuters to use instead of using their own motor vehicles in going around the urban centers.

PHILEX HANDS ITOGON P30M IN PROPERTY TAXES

TUITION-FOR-WORK PROGRAM RELAUNCHED. As part of its continuing support to families affected by Super Typhoon ‘Lawin,’ the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte opened applications anew for the Asikaso ni Manang Imee Tuition-for-Work Program to students of state universities and colleges in the province. Filing of applications for the program started last Dec. 22 and will end on Jan. 14.

CASH GIFTS FOR BUKIDNON REBEL RETURNEES CAMP OSITO D BAHIAN, Malaybalay City—A new batch of former rebels recently received cash remuneration from the government.

Eight former rebels received P65,000 each from the Government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program through the Bukidnon Provincial-DILG office with the assistance of the Provincial Governor’s Office and the Philippine Army, particularly the 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade under Col.

Eric C. Vinoya.

The former rebels decided to go back to the fold due to the hardships they endured when they were in the armed movement. Also, they like to join the mainstream society and enjoy their new life together with their loved ones.

“We thank the DILG, the Province of Bukidnon and the Philippine Army for helping us in receiving this money that can help us in starting and getting our

lost lives back. It took a little long but finally have it,” said one of the former rebels, who was not identified for security reasons.

“The cash assistance given was just part of what awaits the former rebels of their new found lives, the true essence of their remuneration is getting their lost lives back as they reunite with their families and communities, free from violence,” said Vinoya, Commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade.

TUBA, Benguet—Fulfilling yet again its duty as a responsible miner, Philex Mining Corp. has paid P29.8 million in real-property tax to the municipality of Itogon covering a five-year period for a proposed tailings pond in Barangay Ampucao, an amount that could build 10 big classrooms and pay the salaries of 200 public employees for about four months.

“This marks another point in our harmonious relationship with Itogon, one of our host towns, the other being Tuba,” Eulalio Austin Jr., CEO and president of Philex Mining, said. “We are happy that we have consistently helped build communities and contributed to nation-building through the taxes we paid.”

During Wednesday’s turnover of the check worth P29,812,407 at the Baguio Country Club in Baguio City, Manuel Agcaoili, SVP at Philex Mining and resident manager of its Padcal operations in Benguet, said the amount represents two percent of the assessed land value representing 180 hectares for the would-be Tailings Storage Facility No. 4.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said 50 percent or about P15 million of the total RPT, which covers from 2012 to 2016 and with back taxes to 2013 as required under a new tax declaration, is intended for the “basic fund”—40 percent or about P6 million for the municipality, 25 percent or P3.7 million for Barangay Ampucao, and 35 percent or P5.2 million for the province of Benguet.

“The basic fund for my town falls under the annual general fund, which will go toward the improvement of the municipal gym,” stressed Palangdan, who has thanked and praised Philex Mining on various occasions for having paid its taxes religiously, not to mention the various social and environmental projects it has implemented for beneficiaries in the town.

The other 50 percent of the P29.8-

million RPT is mandated for allocation for the Special Education Fund, to be equally divided between Itogon and the provincial government. Intended to fund the needs of public schools, SEF goes toward teachers’ salaries, the building of classrooms and other facilities, and the purchase of necessary materials.

Roselyn Dahilan, finance group manager at Padcal, said the P15-million SEF alone could build 10 classrooms for big classes of 30 to 50 pupils each.

The basic fund, on the other hand, could pay for the salaries of 200 employees in a first-class municipality for 3.7 months. The average monthly salary between SG 1 and SG 18, according to the Department of Budget and Management on its website, is P20,100.

Agcaoili reiterated that Philex Mining would continue to fulfiull its tax obligations to both local and national governments, as part of its commitment to responsible mining—which the company, in fact, has brought a notch higher by putting a human face to it.

It may be noted that in the 12 years to 2015, Philex Mining had spent P86.5 million for its education program in Padcal’s host and neighboring communities, P40 million for its livelihood program, and P306 million for public infrastructure.

The gold-and-copper producer had likewise spent P65 million for its programs on environmental protection since the 1980s, when the companyimplemented reforestation projects took over from its community-based counterpart.

Agcaoili has said that Itogon and Tuba are two of the four first-class municipalities in Benguet, owing mainly to the significant economic impact of Padcal operations. The nine other Benguet towns listed under the third, fourth, and fifth economic classes are all into agriculture while three of the four first-class towns are predominantly mining communities. Dexter See

Gadgets & Games

D3

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

XOOM, MONEY TRANSFER A CLICK AWAY

By Peter Paul Duran

Radio personality Sam YG tests the JBL Reflect Aware during its launching.

JBL REFLECT AWARE MIXES QUALITY, STYLE

By Peter Paul Duran

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TILL looking for that awesome and unique gift even after the holiday season? The receiver won’t mind the delay as this product definitely is the perfect gadget for any sports enthusiast.

Power Mac Center may just have the answer for you as it introduces the world’s first sports earphone with noise cancellation and adaptive noise control—the new JBL Reflect Aware.

Designed to help the wearer stay aware while staying active, the JBL Reflect Aware has best-in-class noise cancellation properties for a more focused workout, while still being able to mix in environmental sound for greater awareness of surroundings. And because it’s JBL, expect its signature engineering of the precise, naturally articulated sound found in high-end cinemas, arenas, and recording studios around the world.

“Quality and style are foremost in our criteria of choosing a retail partner. JBL surpassed that and with the continuous innovations that it provides, Power Mac Center couldn’t be happier to carry JBL products in our stores,” said Power Mac Center

Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

The JBL Reflect Aware has a unique reflective design, with eyecatching and tangle-free cables, best for athletes, who prefer exercising at night. The ergonomic fit keeps the earpieces in place no matter how intense the workout gets. Sweat-proof, water resistant, and easy to clean, the JBL Reflect Aware doesn’t have any batteries because it draws power and digital audio directly from the lightning connector on Apple devices. That’s right, you can use it on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

“Consumers these days expect no compromise in value and design under varying activity and lifestyle conditions. We’re extremely pleased to expand our range of models to be one of the industry’s most comprehensive families of sport and lifestyle headphones, specifically designed to amplify everyday expe-

The JBL Reflect Aware has a unique reflective design, with eye-catching and tangle-free cables, best for athletes, who prefer exercising at night.

riences,” said Larry Secreto, Country connector) (SRP P8,490) Head at JBL by HARMAN. • JBL Reflect Mini (SRP 2,490) The JBL Reflect Aware earphones are now available in Power Mac Wireless In-ear Headphones Center stores.

• JBL Reflect Contour (SRP P4,599) • JBL Reflect Response (SRP JBL Sport Headphones P7,490) Product Range • JBL Reflect Mini BT (SRP P4,990) JBL Reflect Series Sport In-ear Under Armour® Headphones— Headphones: Engineered by JBL®: Wired In-ear Headphones • Under Armour® Sport Wireless • JBL Reflect Aware (with Lightning –Engineered by JBL®

LAZADA PH RECORDS NEARLY 3 MILLION APP INSTALLS AT ONLINE REVOLUTION LAZADA Philippines’ Online Revolution closed its Online Revolution campaign with record-breaking milestones, as the country’s biggest shopping event of the year with almost 3 million app installs.

The sale which brought together over 8,000 merchants and 13,000 brands, proved that Lazada is definitely the one-stop shopping destination for the best deals this Christmas.

Anchored on the theme Brands for All, brands such as SanDisk, Geneva, Casio, Nivea and Maybelline are this year’s most loved brands. VR Boxes, flash drives, LED TVs, waterproof mascaras and SD cards filled most shopping carts as the perfect gift items this season of giving.

Online Christmas shopping spells convenience. One customer was recorded to have ordered 113 items during the sale. Moms and techies also had their own share of online Christmas shopping frenzy with over 57,000 diapers and 120,000 smartphones sold during the month long sale.

The sale brought together over 8,000 merchants and 13,000 brands.

“We have worked hard to provide an effortless Christmas shopping for our customers. From reaching out to our merchants and brands, forging corporate partnerships, and delivering items from the city down to the far flung areas in the country. We hope

that online shopping becomes a part of every Filipino’s life not only during the Christmas season.”

Lazada’s gift giving treat is not yet over!

A wide assortment and huge discounts are still available this Christåmas season. Visit www.lazada.com.

ph or download the mobile app for free to shop anytime, anywhere.

Lazada Group operates Lazada, Southeast Asia’s number one online shopping and selling destination, with presence in Indonesia (www.lazada. co.id), Malaysia (www.lazada.com.my), the Philippines (www.lazada.com.ph), Singapore (www.lazada.sg), Thailand (www.lazada.co.th) and Vietnam (www. lazada.vn).

Launched in March 2012, Lazada is pioneering eCommerce in the region by providing customers with an effortless shopping experience with multiple payment methods including cash-on-delivery, extensive customer care and easy returns. Lazada features a wide product offering in categories ranging from consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion and sports equipment.

Lazada offers brands and sellers a marketplace solution and an ecosystem of partners providing direct access to about 560 million consumers in six countries online.

DO you have a relative in the United States? Are you short on your holiday spree and left with the arduous task of asking for some extra?

Well, worry no more, as a new PayPal service has been made available in the country to solve just that.

Xoom, a leading digital money transfer provider, launched a new feature for remittance beneficiaries in 29 countries, including the Philippines marking the first time users outside the US can ‘request’for money transfer, bill payment or mobile reload.

Launched in countries across Latin America, Europe and Asia, including the Philippines, Xoom’s new ‘request’ feature offers Filipino beneficiaries a single digital tool to control the frequency and form in which they receive funds that are often used for necessities like food, utilities or healthcare expenses.

This new service was made available beginning in the busy Yuletide season, which traditionally sees the highest number of remittances made by overseas Filipinos to their families.

It has been reported by the Central Bank of the Philippines that personal remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers have reached US$7.2 billion in the first quarter of this year, which is higher by 4.3% as compared to the same period in 2015. The steady demand for overseas workers remained a key driver to the growth of remittance inflows. It is estimated that over 2.4 million overseas workers are deployed all over the world who send cash remittances to their families.

Aside from requesting money, Filipino Xoom users can also easily request for reloads for Globe, Smart and Sun prepaid mobile phones and bills payment for PLDT ans Smart postpaid mobile phones.

It offers Request Money, Request Mobile Reload and Request Bill Pay. The website also features an easy-to-access interface, and plans for an app is also under works as bared by Pia Guter, Xoom’s Director of Marketing for the Philippines among many other improvement during video conference call at the Makati Diamond Residences Hotel.

Officially launched on Oct. 24 and went live mid-November, Xoom is getting hundreds of request per day and expects the trend to continue well beyond Christmas season, execs say. Hundreds of sign-ups were made from the Philippines alone.

Although the feature is only essentially a one-way process which only lets US residents to send money, proponents say they are looking into further improvements to beef-up the service.

Filipinos also need not worry as Xoom’s cash pickup network is the most extensive in the Philippines and partners include trusted names like Cebuana Lhuillier, M. Lhuillier, BDO, Metrobank, and all major banks, LBC and Globe G-cash.

Senders can safely and securely send money to their loved ones, and beneficiaries can go to any of the partner branches for cash pickup at their convenience.

BRAIN...

From D4

The new test involves placing three small sensors on the skull, having a person listen to a sound, then measuring brain activity.

For this study, two groups of children— some diagnosed with concussion and the rest healthy—were exposed to the same sound.

“What differed is the amount of brain activity that their brains generated in response to that sound,” Krause explained.

The concussed children—previously diagnosed by a different physician—showed less brain activity, the researchers found.

The team was confident the technique would work in adults too.

The new tool represents “a single, fast test that does not require advanced training to administer,” said Kraus.

It can also be used to track recovery in a patient, allowing doctors to better determine when the patient can resume normal activities after a period of rest and recovery —the main course of treatment.

Previous research had shown that the risk of suicide among adults who suffer a concussion triples, while survivors of traumatic brain injury are three times as likely to die younger.

The study was published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.

A video explaining the method can be watched here: http://brainvolts.northwestern. edu/demonstration.php. AFP

D4

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Gadgets & Games

A ROBOT BUILT TO GO WHERE HUMANS CAN'T

Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul. AFP

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UNPO, South Korea— A giant South Korean-built manned robot that walks like a human but makes the ground shake under its weight has taken its first baby steps.

Designed by a veteran of science fiction blockbusters, the four-metretall (13-foot), 1.5 ton Method-2 towers over a room on the outskirts of Seoul.

The hulking human-like creation bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie “Avatar”.

It is claimed as a world first by its creators at Hankook Mirae

Technology, a South Korean robotics company, where about 30 engineers were hard at work conduc ting initial tests Tuesday afternoon.

“Our robot is the world’s first manned bipedal robot and is built to work in extreme hazardous areas where humans cannot go (unprotected),” said company chairman Yang Jin-Ho. A pilot sitting inside the robot’s torso makes limb movements which are mimicked by Method-2, whose metal arms each weigh 130 kilograms (286 pounds).

The robot, more than twice the size of a tall man, is so heavy that it shakes the ground when it takes a step with a loud whirring of motors.

Yang, who dreamed as a child of building his own robot, said he has invested 242 billion won ($200 million) in the project since 2014 to

“bring to life what only seemed possible in movies and cartoons”.

Building the giant robot was a challenge for the engineers—most of them in their mid and late 30s—as its unprecedented scale meant they had nothing to refer to, said one who declined to be named.

So far, it remains unclear how the robot will be used. Method-2 is seen more as a test-bed for various technologies that will allow the creators to build any type and size of robot in future.

While its enormous size has grabbed media attention, the creators of Method-2 say the project’s core achievement is the technology they developed and enhanced along the way.

“Everything we have been learning so far on this robot can be applied to solve real-world problems,” said designer Vitaly Bulgarov on his Facebook page.

He has previously worked on film series such as Transformers, Robocop and Terminator.

Yang said they have already received inquiries from industries ranging from manufacturing and construction to entertainment.

There have even been questions about its possible deployment along the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone with North Korea.

But the robot, tethered by a power cable and still a bit wobbly on its feet, is far from finished. More work is needed on its balance and power systems, according to its creators.

“The robot is one year old so it is taking baby steps,” Yang said.

“Just like humans, it will be able to move more freely in the next couple of years.”

He said the robot will be ready for sale by the end of 2017 at a price of around 10 billion won ($8.3 million). AFP

BIGSKY: INNOVATIVE LEARNING SPACE

THE Philippines is currently on its way to fully integrate technology in local education, specially since the Internet

has quickly progressed into In this era where classroom a learning playground for walls are slowly becoming a students for wide access to thing of the past, Globe Teleknowledge. com and De La Salle-College

Students from the College of Saint Benilde enjoy a video game which makes use of a banana for a controller at the BigSky fair.

of Saint Benilde have collaborated together to provide more accessible education through virtual learning.

Globe initiated Brightspace™, a Learning Management System that enables a personalized approach to education. Brightspace was created by D2L—a partner of Globe—to transform the classroom interactions via a digital platform which connects and improves the learning experience for both teachers and students. This gave birth to BigSky —a creative, innovative, and inclusive virtual learning space.

“BigSky’s launch marked the beginning of local education taking on a global perspective with technological tools. It’s about time the PH education sector took a step further to keep up with the flood of information coming from digital gateways. It’s our company’s purpose to contribute to a greater nation with quality education solutions,” said Globe Chief

Commercial Officer Albert de Larrazabal.

BigSky Benilde is De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s forward-thinking cloudbased integrated learning platform, which provides Benildeans reach to quality education anytime, anywhere.

Globe wishes to provide a bridge between technology and education, to inspire creativity, collaboration, and a sense of community in learning institutions. BigSky Benilde grants efficient means for teachers to manage class curriculum, as well as enables them to evaluate student performance via real-time analytics. In addition, students will likewise gain access to digital lessons and lectures using their mobile devices, and may even integrate them to their calendars, email, and social media.

To learn more about Globe Education Solutions, visit www.globe.com.ph/education or send an email to educationsolutions@globe.com.ph.

TWITTER UNVEILS 360-DEGREE LIVE VIDEO WASHINGTON—Twitter on Wednesday began streaming 360-degree video, allowing users to interact and get behind the scenes of live broadcasts.

“Starting today, you can check out live, interactive 360 videos from interesting broadcasters and explore what’s happening with them,” Twitter’s Alessandro Sabatelli said in a blog post.

“You’ll be able to get an inside look with well-known personalities and go behind the scenes at exclusive events.”

The first such video was delivered over Twitter’s live Periscope application from broadcaster Alex Pettitt, showing a Florida sunset, while allowing users to see it from different angles by clicking on the stream.

“With 360 video on Periscope, you can experience moments with the broadcaster and take a look around —it’s one step closer to actually being there,” the Periscope team said in a blog post.

“Starting today, you’ll be able to join live 360 videos on Periscope and Twitter from some incredible broadcasters —getting front-row access at exclusive events, traveling to places across the globe, and getting up close with wellknown personalities.”

Earlier this year Facebook began streaming 360-degree videos, which require a special set of cameras to capture surroundings.

Twitter said it was testing 360 broadcasts “with a small group of partners,” and will be rolling out the feature “more broadly during the coming weeks.”

“Live 360 video isn’t just about taking you to places you’ve never been; it’s about connecting you with people and letting you experience something new with them,” the Periscope team said.

“With these videos, the broadcaster anchors the experience so you can be present with them from whatever environment they ’re sharing from.” AFP

BRAIN WAVE: USING SOUND TO DIAGNOSE CONCUSSION PARIS—From blows to the head on the sports field, to car crashes and playground falls, concussion is a common brain injury notoriously difficult to diagnose—until now, researchers said Thursday.

A US-based team unveiled a fast, portable and reliable test measuring differences in brain activity in response to sound.

“Our measure... can take the guesswork out of concussion diagnosis,”study co-author Nina Kraus of Northwestern University in the United States, told AFP. “We have found that concussions disrupt how the brain processes sound and this disruption, which can be noninvasively measured, can potentially diagnose and manage concussions.”

Concussion occurs when a hard blow causes the brain—a soft organ cushioned by a layer of fluid inside our protective skull—to jolt violently.

In severe cases it can lead to bruising, as well as injury to the nerves and blood vessels.

A concussion can be mild to severe, with symptoms ranging from loss of consciousness or amnesia to headache and confusion.

Severe cases may require surgery to relieve brain swelling or a buildup of blood in the skull.

For diagnosis, doctors need to know what happened to the patient, and consider a vast basket of symptoms—some of them obvious, others not.

X-rays and other scans often fail to pinpoint the damage, and telltale signs such as disorientation, slurred speech or memory loss may be absent or hard to spot.

Same sound, different waves

Diagnosis “requires judgment and balancing many potential factors,” said Kraus. “Our discovery makes it more like a thermometer—yes or no, is there a concussion here.”

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