The Standard - 2016 January 29 - Friday

VOL. XXIX NO. 351 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIday : JaNUaRy 29, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Palace defends drive vs corrupt

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INT’L BODY SLAMS PH RIGHTS RECORD

By Sandy araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramosaraneta

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III’s six-year term in office will end in mid-2016 without achieving his promised goal to significantly improve human rights in the country, Human Rights Watch said Thursday in its World Report 2016.

“Since his election, President Aquino held out the promise of a rights-respecting Philippines for which he has sadly been unable to deliver,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director.

“While the number of serious violations has declined during Aquino’s administration, ongoing killings of prominent activists and the lack of successful prosecutions mean there’s nothing to prevent an upsurge of abuses in the future,” Kine said.

Human Rights Watch said there has been little accountability for the killings of indigenous leaders, activists, and journalists, and other serious abuses during Aquino’s administration.

In the first eight months of 2015, military and paramilitary groups allegedly killed more than a dozen tribal leaders and tribal community members, local rights groups reported.

Military operations in areas in Mindanao, heavily populated by indigenous peoples, contributed to the displacement of 243,000 since January, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Many of those displaced faced inadequate food, shelter, and health care.

Nine journalists were killed in 2015— three of them over 10 days in August. Only one suspect was reported arrested in these attacks. Killings of alleged petty criminals,

drug dealers, and others by “death squads” or contract killers in several cities continued unabated.

In some cases, the killings were publicly encouraged by local officials such as presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Children throughout the Philippines face a wide range of human rights abuses.

As a September 2015 Human Rights Watch report documented, in small-scale gold mining, children are exposed to extremely hazardous work conditions, working deep underground, diving underwater to dig for gold, and processing ore with toxic mercury.

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Show of force. Members of militant groups together with retired Supt. Diosdado Valeroso, center, link arms to show their unity and to urge the senators not to be cowed by Senator Franklin Drilon’s statement challenging the legality of the audio recording in the possession of Valeroso. Lino SantoS

New Roxas commercial draws ire of netizens

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US involvement in massacre questioned

By Sandy araneta and Macon Ramos-araneta WHILE senators scrambled to defend President Benigno Aquino III in the just-concluded Mamasapano hearing, the testimony of the officials involved showed the real and direct involvement of agents of the United States, youth ac-

tivists chargedThursday.

“It has been established that the bloody offensive was a US-backed operation and that US agents, possibly from the notorious Central Intelligence Agency, were directly involved. No less than the puppet President Aquino was tapped to direct the operation, said Anakbayan chairman Vencer Crisostomo

“Clearly, Aquino has committed treason,” Crisostomo said, adding that Aquino “secretly implemented an illegal offensive, tapped a suspended official, broke the chain of command and the ceasefire agreement with the Bangsamoro which led to the death of more than 60 Filipinos, 44 of which his own governNext page ment’s police operatives.”

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Frenchman, kin slain in Palawan A FRENCHMAN, his Filipina wife and their four-year-old son were found dead inside a pickup truck with bullet wounds in different parts of their bodies on the island of Palawan, police said Thursday.

US...

The French Embassy in Manila said it was in contact with the local authorities over the death of Jean Marc Messina, 54, his wife and their son.

The bodies of Messina, his 25-year-old wife Jewelyn Venturillo, and their son Guiliano, were found Wednesday in a pickup truck on a street in Narra, a small town of 65,000 people on Palawan, Filipino police said.

“A local teacher called up the police about the pickup. We sent a team to the area and

said Bañez.

“No one in the government has the power to give permission to the US From A1 military force to operate other than the Philippine President. He allowed this “Blood is on Aquino’s hands. We operation and took part in crafting the should make sure that he be prosecuted plans on how to execute Operation Exodus,” she said. and jailed,” he said.

But the Palace on Thursday denied Crisostomo said the US government and the operatives who implemented allegations by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile the offensive should also be held re- that the President “compartmentalized’’ the ill-fated Mamasapano operation. sponsible.

“It is not true that this was an insu“We demand full disclosure of the role and extent of the US intervention lated incident, [that it was] compartin Mamasapano,” he said. “We cannot mentalized, that the President was the have more bloody offensives and kill- only one who knew the whole story,” ings to happen, and more lives to be sac- Communications Secretary Herminio rificed on the altar of the US terror war.” Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing. “This The League of Filipino Students, on was part of the whole intelligence situthe other hand said, the reopened Sen- ation which was actively monitored by ate reinvestigation of the incident white the whole government.”

Coloma said what the President knew washes Aquino III’s accountability.

“It was like watching a horrible cir- was the concept of Oplan Exodus, which cus act,” said LFS National Chairperson aimed to neutralize two high-value terCharisse Bañez said of Wednesday’s rorist targets, as presented to him by Napeñas. hearing.

Over 60 people, including 44 SAF “It is revolting to watch how several senators allied to the administration are elite troopers from the PNP were killed shamelessly trying to whitewash the ac- in the gun battle with Moro Islamic countability of BS Aquino in the Mama- Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters rebels and private sapano debacle,” she said.

The student group slammed how the armed groups.

Marwan, who was then listed as one reopening of the Senate probe was being used by the majority of the Senate to of the Most Wanted Terrorists by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and had “deodorize” Aquino.

Bañez said that this is an insult to the a $5-million bounty on his head, was victims of the Mamasapano operation also killed in the Jan. 25, 2015 operation.

The Mamasapano incident created a and the Filipino people.

“Asking us to believe that Aquino was political firestorm that sent the Presijust misinformed by the text messages dent’s popularity ratings to their lowest he received or that he had a limited level and has threatened the peace procparticipation and liability in the opera- ess between the government and the tion is like asking us to boil the ocean. MILF. During the reopening of the MamaIt is impossible and unacceptable,” said sapano probe Wednesday, Enrile acBañez.

“He had knowledge of the operation cused Aquino of excluding government, and allowed its execution despite the police, and military officials from the flaws and violations to our sovereignty, operations.

Senator Francis Escudero said one peace process, chain of command, etc.

In the first place, the operation would year after the bloody incident, law ennot have happened if Aquino didn’t give forcers were continuing to point fingers at who should take responsibility for the a go signal,” Bañez said.

She said that while questions about death of the 44 police commandos.

“I believe that command responsibilcoordination between the police and the military are significant, there are princi- ity is important. It seemed that all of them have command responsibility, but pal issues that must be addressed.

“Former chief PNP-Special Action nobody would want to admit liability,” Force [SAF] Getulio Napeñas him- Escudero said.

The joint hearing on Wednesday once self already stated that the US was involved in the operation. He said that the again highlighted the lack of intelligence, American government provided intel, poor planning and coordination, and training, equipment, medical evacua- failure of communications between and tion, and investigation. There are also among government agencies to ensure the accounts of direct involvement of US success of the operation from the beginforces during the firefight. We cannot ning up to the extraction of the last SAF trooper trapped in the area. let this slide,” said Bañez.

Dubbed Oplan Exodus, the operation Bañez said that it is clear that the botched Mamasapano operation heav- successfully took down wanted interily involved United States participation national terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, but left 44 members of the pofrom start to finish.

She said the death of the SAF 44 was lice commando dead as they were makcaused by “the towering servility of the ing their way out.

Escudero said it would have been more Aquio regime to the US.” “Our countrymen were thrown to the acceptable if at least one of these security lions... for the sake of an operation di- officials admitted command responsibilrected and funded by the US. Their lives ity for what had happened in Mamasapawere taken from them just to satisfy the no, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV critiinterest of the American government,”

they discovered the bodies inside,” Palawan provincial police spokesman Inspector Ric Ramos said.

Ramos and the Narra police both said the bodies had been sent to the police laboratory for autopsy.

Ramos said the family lived in Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital about 70 kilometers northeast of Narra.

Locals told police the truck had been parked in the area for several days before the

cized Napeñas for putting the blame on the Armed Forces of the Philippines, when his own men also failed to provide support to the embattled elite police commandos.

Napeñas has repeatedly criticized the AFP for refusing to provide artillery support. He said the other SAF troopers could not help the 55th Special Action Company, which acted as a blocking force, because of the intensity of the fighting in Barangay Tukanalipao.

However, Staff Sgt. Whilmer Jaranilla, team leader of the 61st Division Reconnaissance Company, stood pat on his assertion that the 130-strong 41st, 42nd and 45th SAC were just waiting near the river and resting beside banana trees.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday decried the Department of Justice’s shabby treatment of the family of the 44 commandos of the Special Action Force commandos slain in the Mamasapano massacre.

He noted that in the first e-mail sent to him dated Dec. 8, 2015, the SAF 44 kin, whom he did not name for security reasons, complained about the cancellation of the scheduled preliminary investigation on the Mamasapano case on Nov. 11 and 27.

The complainant cited the Nov, 27 hearing that was cancelled despite the presence of the representatives of 35 SAF commandos from the 55th Seaborne Company as well as the lawyers of some of the respondents.

“Many of the families of the slain SAF 55 are from Visayas and Mindanao. We were travel weary and we spent money for our fare in going to Luzon and hotel accommodation only to be informed later that the hearing is cancelled,” the letter sender said.

In a subsequent e-mail to Marcos, dated Jan. 18, 2016 the SAF 44 kin said they were again told the scheduled Jan. 14, 2016 hearing was cancelled because the case was already submitted for resolution.

“If this is how we treat those that have given their lives in defense of the country, what is the fate of the ordinary citizen?” Marcos said.

Marcos said that upon receiving the first e-mail, he immediately wrote then acting Justice Secretary Alfredo Caguioa on the status of the preliminary investigation but he has yet to receive any response. “More than a month has passed since I wrote the DoJ to endorse that e-mail for appropriate action but until now I have not received even a cursory reply to assure me that they would attend to the matter,” Marcos said.

With the appointment of Caguioa to the Supreme Court, Marcos had also urged his replacement, Undersecretary Emmanuel Caparas to prioritize the resolution of the Mamasapano case, noting that a year after the tragic incident no case has been filed in court against the suspects.

He said no word or gesture can assuage the pain of the families of the slain policemen.

“Only justice will bring that. Only justice will do,” Marcos said.

discovery of the bodies, he added.

Many Westerners live on Palawan, one of the country’s major tourist draws and famed for its wildlife, white-sand beaches, scuba diving sites and archaeological sites.

Camille Conde, press attaché of the French Embassy in Manila, said the local authorities notified its consul over the deaths.

“We’re still figuring out what happened to the family,” Conde said. AFP, Francisco Tuyay

Int’l...

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Armed conflict prevented children in a number of areas from attending school, and paramilitaries raided several schools, killing a school administrator in August.

In Manila in November, authorities detained hundreds of poor and homeless, among them many children, to clear the capital of street dwellers during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a practice previously used during high-profile events.

“While Aquino’s presidency has had a mixed record on rights issues, ultimately he has failed to make the institutional reforms to ensure a lasting positive human rights legacy,” Kine said.

“The Philippines’ next president must be prepared to tackle deep-seated impunity for abuses by state security forces and the corrupt and politicized criminal justice system,” Kine also said.

In the 659-page World Report 2016, its 26th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries.

Opposition lawmakers agreed with the Human Rights Watch findings.

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz said the President has earned the notoriety of being insensitive to the needs of his people.

“What can we expect of him?” Dela Cruz, a member of the independent minority bloc in the House, said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said it was ironic that the President failed to take action on cases pertaining to human rights.

“For a son whose father was a victim of human rights violations under Martial Law, it is really unfortunate, even lamentable, that [Benigno Simeon S.] Aquino [III] is only paying lip service to the issue of widespread human rights violations committed by the state security force and its agents, particularly the paramilitaries,” Zarate said.

“Consistently in the past five years he has shown that he can very well ignore the issue of human rights violations so long as it will serve the interests of his true bosses—the US government, the landlords, the big business and his cronies. in fact, BS Aquino is no different from [his predecessors],” Zarate added.

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, who served as Justice secretary during the administration of the President’s late mother, President Corazon Aquino, also lamented the present government’s inaction on human rights abuses.

“Recognition and protection of human rights was at its lowest during the present dispensation,” Bello said.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said the inability of the police to solve murder cases and the increase in the attacks on media have been pulling the country down.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said all efforts must be exerted to end the killings of media practitioners and the culture of impunity.

Marcos, who is running for vice president, said the root of the problem is that many people in power think they are untouchable.

In his introductory essay for the Human Rights Watch report, Executive Director Kenneth Roth said the spread of terrorist attacks beyond the Middle East and the huge flows of refugees spawned by repression and conflict led many governments to curtail rights in misguided efforts to protect their security.

At the same time, authoritarian governments throughout the world, fearful of peaceful dissent that is often magnified by social media, embarked on the most intense crackdown on independent groups in recent times, Human Rights Watch also said.

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Cayetano: Duterte will restore order, security

Partnership deal. Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista is flanked by Facebook’s director for Global Politics and Govt Outreach Katie Harback and Facebook’s head of Public Policy for Asia-Pacific Elizabeth Hernandez after a meeting on Thursday for a partnership for clean and honest elections this year. DANNY PATA

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will restore order and security in the country once he is elected president in this year’s elections, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday.

“This is the top priority of the next government,” said Cayetano, Duterte’s running mate.

He said there is so much disorder and lack of security in the country today.

“People wake up telling themselves there is so much chaos.

Crime, drugs and corruption. It’s a constant perturbation of the mind,” Cayetano said.

He said this was what he and Duterte would address first once they were elected.

“Mayor Duterte and I believe we need a strong developmental state to promote real inclusive growth through regional development,” Cayetano said.

“But we need to build first the suitable conditions by cracking down on crime, drugs and government corruption.”

Cayetano vowed to cleanse the police and military ranks of the corrupt, provide better salaries and incentives to law enforcers, and modernize their anti-crime and

anti-narcotics infrastructure.

In an interview over dzMM radio on Wednesday, Cayetano promised safer streets in the country by January 2017.

“By Jan. 1, 2017, if the streets are still not safe, we will resign,” Cayetano said.

“If you go to Davao, those working in call centers are like in Singapore. You walk or ride a taxi and you are not scared that you might be robbed,” Cayetano said.

“We can guarantee peace and order within six months or we’re out.”

The senator also pushed for a “one national vision, 18 regional strategies” approach for the country to achieve inclusive growth. He and Mayor Duterte see federalism as the unifying framework to achieve this.

He said the government should respond to the needs of the poor and especially the elderly. He said the old and poor people should no longer line up in the health centers because the government should be delivering the health services to them.

“They do not owe the government. It’s the government who should show gratitude to them so the government goes to them,” Cayetano said. Macon RamosAraneta

Netizens criticize new Roxas ad NETIZENS on Thursday demanded that the social networking site Facebook “take down” presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II’s political ad for being “offensive,” but the ruling Liberal Party played it down. ‘‘What we’re saying in social media, haters gonna hate. The propaganda against Secretary Mar [Roxas] are just the same and aren’t true,” Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, Roxas’ spokesman, said Thursday.

Roxas’ newest political ad had him

stripped down in a “tight shot,” making a simple pitch that he’s “no drama, just work.”

In an apparent reference to rivals Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe, who both have interesting narratives, Roxas talks straight to voters saying while he doesn’t have a compelling storyline, he knows what to do.

“They say I didn’t grow up poor. That I don’t have a dramatic story. But the elections aren’t about me. It’s about you and your family. I won’t give you drama. I’ll focus on creating jobs for you. That’s what I know. That’s what I can do,” Roxas said in his new 30-seconder ad.

“I will continue the Straight Path. If there’s anything lacking, I’ll correct it. If

there’s anything wrong, I’ll make it right.

“Most importantly, I will not steal from you,” said Roxas in another reference to Binay who is facing allegations of corruption during his time as Makati Mayor.

In another version of the ad where he speaks in his native Hiligaynon, Roxas says he’s not up to drama and is not a bully, referring to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“Why Mar? I don’t have drama and not asking for pity. And I’m not a bully and an abuser. Most importantly, I will not steal from you. No drama, just work,” Roxas said in the twenty-seconder ad.

Meanwhile, in a release sent to reporters, Roxas reportedly “frowned” after hearing the negative attitude of the supporters of the

rival camps who apparently felt alluded to by his political ad.

“Roxas insisted that the simple but sincere message was not in bad taste,” the release said.

Gutierrez defended the LP’s standard bearer, saying those who took the ad as “offensive” may have “hit the mark in their case.”

“They cannot throw any substantial issue against Secretary Mar so they resort to making up fantastic stories,” Gutierrez said.

“In the final analysis, Secretary Mar is a person focused on jobs and a person you can trust will not steal from you, will not abuse you and betray the trust of the public.” John Paolo Bencito

Binay alarmed by rising number of obese people VICE President Jejomar Binay on Thursday expressed concern over the growing number of overweight and obese Filipino adults who, he said, should be helped through the implementation of a comprehensive health program.

If elected president, Binay said, he will tap all local government units to implement various health programs fast to ensure the well-being of every Filipino, particularly children and senior citizens.

“A Binay administration will promote preventive health care methods in light of the increasing number of overweight and obese Filipino adults in the country,” Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado said.

The 2013 National Nutrition Survey showed that three out of 10 Filipino adults aged 20 and above were overweight and obese.

That number was slightly up from the two out of 10 overweight and obese Filipinos reported in 1993.

Salgado said a Binay administration will promote nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs and projects.

“We shall stress the preventive rather than the curative aspects of public health,” Binay said previously.

“Preventive here refers to measures to prevent diseases such as mass immunization or vaccination, sanitation, nutrition, healthy lifestyles and alternative and/or generic drugs via information, communication and education campaigns, community-based health programs and traditional medicine.”

Binay also vowed to devote more resources to make health services and facilities accessible and affordable to the sick.

He said that in the six years under his term, the concept of curative health will be carried out in all parts of the country.

The 2013 survey showed that the National Capital Region, the Cordilleras and Caraga posted the highest number of overweight and obese adults.

Western Visayas, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Mimaropa and Bicol registered the lowest number of overweight and obese adults. Vito Barcelo

Drill. Members of the Manila Police District conduct an anti-terrorism drill at a mall in Pandacan, Manila, on Thursday. DANNY PATA

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Palace softens corrupt image

Monkasho scholars. Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko meet with former Japanese government [Monkasho] scholars who gathered at the Baluarte de San Diego garden in Intramuros, Manila to pay their respects. DANNY PATA

Vitangcol eyes public lawyers as defenders

By Rio N. Araja and John Paolo Bencito FORMER Metro Rail Transit 3 general manager Al Vitangcol III asked the Sandiganbayan on Thursday to assign a public attorney to defend him from the corruption charges that the government filed against him over the controversial MRT-3 maintenance contract.

At the same time, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya maintained that he did nothing wrong in negotiating a separate P3.8-billion maintenance contract that was given to a Korean-Filipino consortium after Vitangcol was removed from office.

But the group that sued Abaya asked the Ombudsman to suspend

the officials accused of wrongdoing with the Korean-Filipino group so that they will not be able to use their positions to influence witnesses or manipulate evidence.

Vitangcol had earlier blamed Abaya for the contracts, but he said no competent lawyer wants to defend him from from charges that he was purportedly behind the controversial multimil-

lion-dollar contract to maintain the MRT-3 line in 2012 and 2013 because he could not pay the fees of competent law firms.

“The institution of this instant case, together with the seemingly biased press releases of the Office of the Ombudsman, had effectively ruined [my] reputation and integrity,” Vitangcol, who is himself a lawyer, told the antigraft court in a pleading.

Even the hold-departure orders issued against him “restricted his geographical mobility, effectively stopping the business opportunities he was recently working on,” Vitangcol said.

He claimed he has not been able to get new clients in the exercise of his legal profession and

his earning capacity has been greatly diminished.

He said he had preliminary talks with “prominent” law firms, but the firms asked him to pay P1 million in cash as an acceptance fee plus other legal fees.

During his arraignment last week, Vitangcol appeared in court without a lawyer and refused to enter a plea on charges that he had the contracts awarded to a consortium that included his relatives.

Also charged were Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law Arturo Soriano, the provincial accountant of Pangasinan; Wilson de Vera, a mayoralty bet under the Liberal Party in Calasiao, Pangasinan; Marlo de la Cruz; Manolo Maralit, and Federico Remo.

MALACAÑANG remained undeterred by the country’s drop in the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index of the global watchdog Transparency International.

“What is more important than perception is reality,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement. “Perceptions are based on various things but we are more concerned about sustaining the reality of a well established framework for good governance.”

He said the reality is that in the past five years, the government has instituted reforms that have strengthened public governance structure of our country.

“We have initiated the heightened public accountability of government agencies through the mandatory requirement that all government agencies must maintain websites that are accessible to the public,” said Coloma.

“We are confident that the reform programs that have instituted by the government are strongly taking root and these gains will be sustained,” Coloma said.

Coloma issued the statement after the Philippines dropped 10 places in Transparency International’s index, ranking 95th among 168 countries and putting it behind Indonesia (88th), Malaysia (54th) and Singapore (8th).

The country’s corruption index of 35 was a significant drop from 38 in 2014. Overall, Transparency International said, two-thirds of the 168 countries in the 2015 index scored below 50, including the Philippines, which ranks countries on a scale of 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).

“Corruption can be beaten if we work together. To stamp out the abuse of power, bribery and shed light on secret deals, citizens must together tell their governments they have had enough,” said José Ugaz, chairman of Transparency International.

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Malaysia were seen as becoming more corrupt last year.

Airport ceiling collapses anew

By Joel E. Zurbano and Eric B. Apolonio AN AIRLINE passenger was hurt after the ceiling of a cafe at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 collapsed Thursday morning.

Airport authorities said USbound passenger Day Adam Warner, 30, was having breakfast with his wife and child at the Sweet Ideas Cafe when the 3x7meter ceiling board fell on him, causing cuts in his right upper arm. Warner’s wife and son were unharmed.

Manila International Airport Authority spokesperson David de Castro said Sweet Ideas restaurant was shut down after the incident, pending an investiga-

tion on the matter.

“No one was severely injured.

One passenger was slightly scratched from the incident. The said passenger was given appropriate medical attention,” De Castro said in a statement, adding that the materials used for the construction of that particular ceiling was weak.

“Note that construction of the interiors of commercial spaces at the terminals is shouldered by the concessionaires themselves,” he said. “Penalties will be imposed on the concessionaire should its construction plan be found to be substandard.”

It was not the first time such an incident happened at the Naia Terminal 3 with the last one happening in September

2008 when a large portion of the terminal ceiling collapsed.

No one was hurt.

On March 27, 2006, another 100-square-meter portion of the airport’s ceiling also collapsed, prolonging the terminal’s delayed and much publicized opening.

The 2006 incident led to an extensive inspection by foreign consultants to determine the structural integrity of the $500-million terminal. Terminal 3 began operations July 22, 2006.

The latest incident led Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to lament the state of airports in the country, including the Naia, and said it is holding back the country’s tourism and air travel industry.

Student protest. A student activist helps in tying black ribbons along

España Boulevard in Manila as part of their protest against President Benigno Aquino III’s veto of the P2,000 SSS pension hike bill of Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares. DANNY PATA

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Poll inspectors get extra pay

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan The Commission on elections on Thursday said that it will pay P2,000 in additional honorarium to all public teachers who will render their services as members of the Board of election Inspectors in the May elections.

Plaform. Senatorial candidate Rep. Martin Romualdez (right) discusses his platform during the Plataporma Election 2016 Forum of

Central Luzon TV 36 in San Fernando City,Pampanga. Romualdez says his platform centers on Health, Education, Livelihood, Labor and Disaster Preparedness. Looking on are the other senatorial candidates Allan Montano (left) and Susan ‘Toots’ Ople. VeR NoVeNo

Disaster response body sought SenAtORiAl bet Rep. Martin Romualdez of leyte has called for the creation of the Philippines’ own equivalent of the Federal emergency Management Agency , saying “we need to seriously consider retooling and upgrading the existing national Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council from the ground up to make the country’s disaster preparation and response systems more comprehensive.”

Fema is an agency connected with the US Department of Homeland Security. its main purpose is to coordinate federal government efforts during those times local and state authorities are overwhelmed in times of disasters and natural calamities.

“We need to elevate disaster management to a permanent position in the Cabinet,” Romualdez stressed.

“the country experiences an average of 20 typhoons a year, the effects of which cost billions of pesos to rehabilitate. We are located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire that’s very prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. these factors clearly justify the creation of a full-time, cabinet-rank agency similar to the Fema,” Romualdez urged. the solon, who is also a UP-trained lawyer, cited the limitations of the current nDRRMC. “the reality is, the nDRRMC operates mostly ad-hoc, and ‘as the need arises.’

You don’t hear about it and you don’t feel its presence when there’s no actual disaster or calamity.”

With the creation of a Fema-patterned agency, Romualdez said the government would be able to implement comprehensive nationwide disaster trainings, coordinated

through the appropriate instrumentalities such as the Department of national Defense, Department of education and the Department of the interior and local government.

“What would make a Fema-like entity different from the existing nDRRMC, among others, is the capacity to provide trained personnel and experts to lgUs for more training and preparation on a more regular basis.”

“A department similar to Fema could be entrusted with the authority to provide calamity victims needed loans that cut the red tape. We’ve complained about how inefficiently the DSWD manages delivery of disaster assistance. this can be solved if there’s a permanent government agency dedicated to the sole purpose of addressing issues before, during and after disasters,” Romualdez maintained.

At the signing of the memorandum of agreement among the Comelec, the Department of education and the Department of Science and technolog Chairman Andres Bautista disclosed that the commission en banc has approved the additional honorarium for Bei members.

“While they are undergoing training, we have approved a small amount to give them so they do not have to spend out of their own pockets,” Bautista said.

He said the amount will immediately be given to the Bei members as soon as they attend the training, which will start on March 1 and will last for a month. the P2,000 extra alllowance brings to P6,500 the total honorarium to be received by the Bei members.

Based from the Comelec Resolution no.

10031, the chairperson and members of the Beis shall receive a per diem at the rate of P1,000 a day for three days plus additional P500 each for the verification and sealing of the Book of Voters, for the final testing and sealing of the vote counting machines, and for transportation allowance for a total per diem of P4,500.

Bautista said the Comelec will need an estimated 300,000 public school teachers to man the 95,000 clustered polling precincts nationwide.

He reiterated that the impending passage of the law making it non-mandatory for public school teachers to serve as Beis does not pose a problem for the Comelec.

“As of today, there are 650,000 public school teachers according to Deped. they are looking to hire another 65,000 to 70,000 teachers. We will only need only 300,000 teachers. So less than half of the total,” the poll chief noted.

Under the Omnibus election Code, the Bei should be constituted by a chairman and two members, who must be public school teachers.

On tuesday, Congress passed the measure making election service non-compulsory to public teachers and is just waiting for the signature of President Aquino.

For its part, the DoSt will certify 100,000 public teachers who will serve as Bei as being information technology-capable.

‘Probe Marcelino’s bank deals’

By Francisco Tuyay

Anti-illegAl drugs authorities on thursday asked the Anti-Money laundering Council to look into the bank records of Marine Col. Ferdinand Marcelino after agents recovered P2.2 million worth of bank deposit slips during his arrest in Sta Cruz, Manila thursday.

Senior Supt leonardo Suan, Philippine national Police Anti-illegal Drugs group chief of staff said the PnP group made the request. “the P2.2 million in back deposit slips are all under one bank. He [Marcelino] refused to comment on the bank deposit slips each time we ask about it. the biggest single deposit was P500,000,” Suan said.

Apart from the bank deposit slips, personal belongings, including P86,000 cash were also seized from him. the seized items were turned over to his legal counsel, Dennis Manalo in Camp Crame.

Marcelino’s lawyer said that drug syndicates might have a hand in the “misencounter” between the militaary and the police. “the drug syndicates are definitely celebrating because of this misencounter,” Manalo said. the misencounter had resulted in the misappreciation of facts to the disadvantage of Marcelino, the lawyer said, Marcelino, former chief of PDeA’s Special enforcement Service, along with Yan Yi Shou, alias ka Randy, a former PDeA interpreter in 2005 were arrested during a raid. narcotic agents were surprised upon seeing Marcelino inside the raided townhouse.

Suan said they have also submitted Marcelino’s cellphone for forensic analysis to determine whether Marcelino has links to a clandestine shabu laboratory at a townhouse in Celadon Residence along Felix Huertas corner Batangas Streets in Sta Cruz, Manila. With Rey Requejo

Against dynasts. Youth Leaders marking the passage of the SK Reform Law, call for the

enactment of the country’s anti-political dynasty measure during a protest rally in Manila on Thursday. LINo SANToS

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Faux pas triggers Customs review

By Joel E. Zurbano

Fisheries assets.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Fisheries chief Asis Perez lead the ceremonial laying of keels for two units of 50.5-meter multi-mission vessels which will soon be part of the DA-BFAR’s inventory of floating assets intended to guard Philippine waters against illegal fishing.

DANNY PATA

The Bureau of Customs is formulating new measures to prevent the repeat of an incident involving an examiner assigned to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who opened diplomatic pouches consigned to the Japanese embassy.

The office of Naia-Customs Collector Edgar Macabeo conducted a meeting and orientation to inform all examiners and other Customs personnel following the incident.

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said examiner Pompeo Manalo and his superior Emily Balatbat, chief of the Naia Customs Composite Unit at the Pair Cargo, were already reassigned pending investigation on the incident.

“We are mandating all cargo terminals that accept shipments to install Xray machines,” Lina said.

Balatbat initially reprimanded Manalo for conducting a physical examination on the diplomatic shipment, which reportedly contained wine and other items for the five-state visit of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

The incident also prompted Balatbat to send a letter of apology to the Japanese Embassy.

In her letter, she said, “It was an unfitting action on his part. I myself, when I learned about it, felt we owe you our sincerest apology.”

Balatbat also told the Japanese Embassy that they “demanded a written explanation from Manalo why he opened the diplomatic shipment.”

“Please be assured that this be the

first and the last,” she added.

Macabeo, for his part, said it was the first time the violation occurred and stressed that most examiners are aware that all “diplomatic pouches that arrives at the airport has immunity and cannot be examined by anyone without authorization from the commissioner and from the district collector.” He said the incident happened last Dec. 3 at the Pair Cargo Customs Bonded Warehouse in Pasay City, day after the diplomatic pouch was released. The cargo arrived Nov. 30.

Contrary to Manalo’s claim that the opening of the pouch was an “honest mistake,” diplomatic sources said there was a representative of the Japanese Embassy who was at the Customs office and presented pertinent documents to prove that the cargo was a diplomatic pouch.

The Philippines is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which stated that “a diplomatic pouch is any properly labeled package or container of any size and weight that is used to transport materials for the use of embassies and offices of international organizations, among others.”

In accordance with Article 27.3 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, properly designated diplomatic pouches “shall not be opened or detained.”

‘No ME job losses despite oil price drop’

By Sandy Araneta THE Department of Labor and Employment is monitoring the situation in the Middle East, particularly with respect to the possible retrenchment of overseas Filipino workers due to falling oil prices and other political developments.

“According to [Labor] Secretary [Rosalinda] Baldoz, the DoLE has not monitored any major retrenchment activity that could possibly affect Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and

Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Binmaley, Pangasinan

Location: Approved Budget for the Contract: Source of Fund: ITEM NO. 1

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ITEM 200 MIXED GRAVEL FOR BACKFILLING OF HOUSING SITE IN PAPAGUEYAN Papagueyan, Binmaley, Pangasinan Php 5,500,000.00 Development Fund

ID DESCRIPTION

I T EM 2 0 0 M I X ED G R AV EL

QTY.

12 ,761

UNIT

cu.M.

competitive,” Coloma also said.

As the prices of oil per barrel continue to plummet, groups and advocates for overseas Filipino workers warned about the possible retrenchment of Middle East-based migrant workers in the coming months.

“It is already leading to lay-offs and delayed payments of salaries…. The numbers are not yet alarming, but certainly we all must be prepared for any economic contingency arising from the current oil situation,” oFW advocate Susan “Toots” ople said.

Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Binmaley, Pangasinan INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID The Municipality of Binmaley, through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project.

Name of Project:

neighboring countries in the region,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. Coloma said DoLE is prepared to assist workers that may be affected in securing alternative employment and livelihood opportunities.

“DoLE is confident that oFWs will continue to be employed under existing contracts. Even in light of the previously announced policy on ‘Saudization,’ there was no apparent effect on the level of employment of oFWs as they have proved to be highly qualified and

The Municipality of Binmaley, through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project.

Name of Project: Location: Approved Budget for the Contract:

ID DESCRIPTION

QTY.

UNIT

1

K i n d e r S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g Pa n t s , Pe n c i l , Pa p e r, C r ayo n) G r a d e 1 S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g Pa n t s , Pe n c i l , N o t e b o o k (4), Pa p e r) G r a d e 2 S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g Pa n t s , Pe n c i l , N o t e b o o k (4), Pa p e r) G r a d e 3 S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g Pa n t s , B a l l p e n , N o t e b o o k (4), Pa p e r) G r a d e 4 S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g Pa n t s , B a l l p e n , N o t e b o o k (4), Pa p e r) G r a d e 5 S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g Pa n t s , B a l l p e n , N o t e b o o k (4), Pa p e r) G r a d e 6 S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g , T- s h i r t , J o g g i n g Pa n t s , B a l l p e n , N o t e b o o k (4), Pa p e r) Grade 7 School Supplies (Bag Envelope, T- shir t Jogging Pants , Ballpen , Notebook (4), Paper) Grade 8 School Supplies(Bag Envelope, T- shir t Jogging Pants, Ballpen, Notebook(4) , Paper) Grade 9 School Supplies(Bag Envelope, T- shir t Jogging Pants, Ballpen, Notebook (4), Paper) Grade 10 School Supplies (Bag Envelope, T- shir t Jogging Pants, Ballpen, Notebook(4) , Paper) J u n i o r S c h o o l S u p p l i e s ( B a g Enve l o p e, T- s h i r t J o g g i n g Pa n t s , B a l l p e n , N o t e b o o k (4) , Pa p e r)

1, 6 2 5

Pa c k s

1, 6 2 5

Pa c k s

1, 5 24

Pa c k s

1,7 9 3

Pa c k s

1, 974

Pa c k s

2 , 070

Pa c k s

1, 8 4 6

Pa c k s

1, 076

Pa c k s

1, 076

Pa c k s

1, 0 42

Pa c k s

895

Pa c k s

867

Pa c k s

2

PH P 5 , 5 0 0, 0 0 0. 0 0 D eve l o p m e nt Fu n d

4

3

5 6

Prospective bidders should have experienced in undertaking a similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

The Eligibility Check/ Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of the bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post- Qualification of the Lowest Calculated Bid shall be conducted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security , Pre bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Php 7,000,000.00

ITEM NO.

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT

Contract Duration : 60 days

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND P.E. UNIFORMS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (KINDER, ELEMENTARY, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS) BINMALEY, PANGASINAN

7 8 9 10 11 12

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT

Ph p 7, 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 2 016 G F

Contract Duration : 60 days

The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows: Schedule 1. Pre-Procurement Conference 2. Issuance of Bid Documents 3. Pre-Bid Conference 4. Opening of Bids 5. Bid Evaluation 6. Post Qualification 7. Notice of Award 8. Notice to Proceed

Jan. 18, 2016-10:30am/Conference Rm., Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Jan. 21, 2016-Feb. 11, 2016/BAC Office Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Monday to Friday/8am-5pm Jan. 29, 2016-10am/Conference Rm., Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Feb. 12, 2016 - 10am/ Conference Rm., Deadline for submission of bids is 9:30am Feb. 15, 2016 Feb. 16, 2016-10am/Conference Rm., Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Feb. 18, 2016 Feb. 22, 2016

Prospective bidders should have experienced in undertaking a similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The eligibility check/ screening as well as the preliminary Examination of the bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

Prospective Bidders are also advised to be guided on the following conditions: - Price Quotation for the items shall be by pack - A penalty shall be imposed if delivery of items is not done within the prescribed period - Strict compliance as to specification on items for delivery herein stated. The Procuring Entity has the right to reject items not conforming with the prescribed quality/specifications.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security ,Prebidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows: Schedule 1. Pre-Procurement Conference 2. Issuance of Bid Documents

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount of Php 10,000.00 to the Office of the Treasurer, Binmaley, Pangasinan.

3. Pre-Bid Conference 4. Opening of Bids

The Municipal Government of Binmaley assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bids and reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any formality, informality, and/or defect and to make an award to the bidder whose proposal is most advantageous to the government.

5. Bid Evaluation 6. Post Qualification 7. Notice to Award 8. Notice to Proceed

CONTACT PERSON:

Jan. 19, 2016 - 1PM/Conference Rm., Mun.,Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Jan. 22, 2016 - Feb. 11, 2016/8am to 5pm Monday to Friday at BAC Office Mun. Hall,Bin., Pangasinan Jan. 29, 2016 - 2PM/Conference Rm., Mun.,Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Feb.12, 2016 - 2PM/Conference Rm., Mun., Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Deadline for Submission of Bids is 10Am Feb. 15, 2016 Feb. 16, 2016/2pm -Conference Rm., Mun. Hall,Bin., Pangasinan Feb. 18, 2016 Feb. 22, 2016

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Php 10,000.00 to the Office of the Treasurer, Binmaley, Pangasinan.

The Municipal Government of Binmaley assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bids and reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any formality, informality, and/or defect and to make an award

(SGD.) CATALINA R. FLORES BAC Secretariat Poblacion, Binmaley, Pangasinan Tel. No. 075-632-3881

CONTACT PERSON:

APPROVED BY:

(SGD) CATALINA R. FLORES BAC Secretariat Tel. No. 075-632-3881 APPROVED BY:

( T S - J A N . 2 9 , 2 016)

(SGD.) FERNANDO B. FERRER BAC Chairman

( T S - J A N . 2 9 , 2 016)

(SGD) FERNANDO B. FERRER BAC Chairman

Military shrines bill eyed

By Maricel V. Cruz TWo party-list lawmakers have filed a bill creating the Military History and Shrines Board which is tasked to focus on the maintenance and development of national military shrines and battle fields.

Reps. Gary Alejano and Francisco Ashley Acedillo of Magdalo said the proposed MHSB, as contained in House Bill 6382, seeks to replace the Military Shrine Services that was created by virtue of Presidential Decree 1076.

Alejano said the MSS is placed under the supervision of the Philippine Veterans Affairs office along with the Veterans Memorial Hospital, Veterans Claims Settlement Staff and the Philippine Veterans Administration.

“The MSS is tasked to conserve and develop military shrines of national importance. It plays an instrumental role in preserving the historical significance of our country’s military legacies,” Alejano, vice chair of the House committee on national defense and security, added.

Alejano said the significance of military shrines cannot be overemphasized. Military shrines are the country’s historical touchstones that link the past, present and future generations.

f r i d ay : J a N U a r y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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No joke. Farmers in Kabacan, North Cotabato harvest palay despite El Niño and rat infestation in the province. OMAR MANGORSI

Cancer cases on the rise; health officials alarmed BAGUIO City—health experts are alarmed over the continuous increase in the number of individuals seeking medical attention from the Baguio General hospital and Medical Center primarily due to various types of cancer triggered by either genetics or the food people eat as well as the environment they are exposed.

Physician Jasmin Igama, BGhMC cancer unit head, revealed the types of cancer being sought for medication include breast, lung and liver cancers which are either on their initial or advanced stage.

For the past two years, Igama disclosed there were some 400 to 500 breast cancer patients that sought medical treatment in the tertiary hospital annually while they had been attending to three to four lung cancer patients weekly as well as five to 10 liver cancer cases monthly.

Of the breast cancer patients that sought medical attention, the BGhMC cancer unit head cited 65 percent were already on their advance stages and were inherited while the remaining 35 percent of the cases were fighter on the first and second stages of the cancer.

With the upcoming operation of the BGhMC’s cancer center, Igama predicted a surge in the number of cancer patients coming from the different parts of Northern Luzon who will be seeking treatment in the state-of-theart facility geared towards treating cancer patients.

Igama said most of the cancer cases have been proven to be hereditary but some of them were found to be caused by the food they eat and the environment where they are exposed, thus, the need for everyone not to take for granted what they are feeling and that they must subject their illnesses for treatment.

Zambo towns build 12 new cop stations

By A. Perez Rimando

CAMP Romeo Abendan, Mercedes, Zamboanga City—The Police Region 9 Office here recently started the simultaneous construction of 12 new police stations in various municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.

It also announced the establishment next year of another 20 police stations in as many towns in other parts of Zamboanga peninsula.

Police Regional Office Deputy Director for Administration Chief Superintendent Randolf R. Delfin said seven of the new mu-

nicipal police stations are now being built in Zamboanga del Sur towns of Midsalip, Sominot, San Pablo, Pitogo, Dimataling, Tabina and San Miguel while the other five are being put in the Zamboanga Sibugay municipalities of Malangas, Diplahan, Vincenzo Sagun,

Lapuyan and Dinas.

Delfin expressed optimism that the new police stations, when finally completed, will boost the morale of local law enforcers and ultimately enhance their crime prevention efforts in their respective areas of responsibilities.

Delfin, concurrent chairman of the PRO-9 Regional Bidding Awards Committee, said the initial bidding for the 12 new police stations, was attended by National Police Commission 9 officials here.

The description of the police stations is standard two-story B/C building,

Delfin said, adding that the new police structures will be accompanied later with police protected equipment for law enforcers and motor vehicles for ”Internal Security Operations.”

According to Delfin, the next batch of new police stations will be established in numerous remote municipalities of Zamboanga del Norte as well as in the capital town of Ipil and island, and coastal and mountainous towns such as Olutanga, Mabuhay, Alicia, Lakewood, Ramon Magsaysay, Siayan, Aurora, Ponot, Sergio Osmeña, Naga, Kumalarang, Bayog, and Tigbao.

GSIS sets P16.5m for members, pensioners in Occidental Mindoro

Opening act. Brigadier General Paul Atal and barangay chairman Mary Cor Calizo of

Patag, Cagayan de Oro City, open the Barrio Fiesta sa Kampo to commemorate the 46th founding anniversary of the 4th Infantry Diamond Division.

The Government Service Insurance System has allotted P16.5 million for the emergency loan program for active members and old-age pensioners in Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro, who were affected by Typhoon “Nona.”

Qualified to avail of the loan program which will be open until Feb. 18, 2016 are active members who are residing or working in the calamitydeclared area, not on leave of absence without pay, have no arrears in paying premium contributions, and have no loans that are unpaid for more than six months.

Active members apply-

ing for the first time may avail of a P20,000 loan, while members with existing emergency loan may borrow up to P40,000, from which the outstanding balance will be deducted.

Pensioners may avail of the P20,000 pensioners’ emergency loan. Pensioners who are also active members may apply for the loan only once. emergency loan is payable in 36 equal monthly installments at 6 percent interest rate per annum computed in advance. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of demise of the

borrower, provided that loan repayment is up to date.

Active members may apply through GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosks located in all GSIS branch and extension offices, provincial capitols, city halls, selected municipal offices, large government agencies such as the Department of education, selected Robinsons Malls, and SM Super Malls in Manila, Pampanga, and Cebu.

Pensioners need to apply in person.

The deadline for emergency loan application is Feb. 18, 2016.

F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

UNRAVELING THE TRUTH

[ EDI TORI A L ]

STUNTED GROWTH THE Philippines is one of the few economies in Asia that have registered respectable growth rates in 2015. But government underspending and a weak agricultural sector are stunting the economy’s real potential.

The gross domestic product in the last quarter of 2015 expanded 6.3 percent, bringing the full-year growth to 5.8 percent. The economic growth last year was, indeed, notable despite a challenging environment and the turbulence in the global economy. The pace may have slowed down and missed the government’s ambitious 7 percent to 8 percent goal—the growth is actually the slowest in four years after expanding 6.1 percent in 2014, 7.1 percent in 2013 and 6.8 percent in 2012—and yet, the economy is outperforming neighboring countries.

The government of President Benigno Aquino III could have done more to expand the economy faster, but its policy to rein in spending and failure to address the infrastructure gap have resulted in a controlled growth.

Outgoing Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan conceded the challenges and the missed opportunities that could have driven the growth higher.

“Though this is lower than what we targeted for the year, this growth is respectable given the difficult external environment, the onset of El Niño, and the challenges in government spending in the first semester,” says Balisacan.

The Cabinet official cited room for expansion in the business process outsourcing sector toward higher value-added services that require a more diversified set of skills and services. Balisacan could have also blamed the poor state of the country’s international airports.

More foreign tourists would have visited the Philippines and increased their foreign exchange spending to provide instant jobs, especially in the provinces.

The real barometer of economic growth is increased jobs and livelihood in the rural areas. The poverty incidence in the Philippines is still high and the gap between the rich and the poor remains wide.

Until these are addressed, the GDP figures are meaningless to the ordinary folk.

CORRUPT BUT IN DENIAL LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES REALITY, sniffed one Palace lackey, is always more important than perception. According to this official, who could soon be jailed for corruption, this is the reason why the Philippines’ 10-notch plunge in the group Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index survey, compared to the previous year, is no biggie.

“The reality is,” Communica-

tions Secretary Herminio Coloma said, “for the past five years, the Philippine government has instituted major reforms [to fight corruption]. We have initiated public accountability of government agencies.”

Well, the supposed truths that government propagandists like Coloma love to spout have to be backed up by data occasionally. And Transparency International has the research for its perceptions that Coloma can only dream of when he’s looking to prove his reality.

According to the international organization, in the past four

years, the Philippines has not scored higher than 38 out of a perfect 100 in the annual survey.

And this year’s 35, while only three points lower that 2014’s 38, kicked the Philippines 10 notches down the 168-national survey, or from 85th in the world to 95th.

What this means is, while the rest of the world is improving as far as fighting corruption is concerned, the Straight Path administration of President Noynoy Aquino is actually falling behind. This year, we actually fared worse than supposedly graft-prone Indonesia (36

A9

There is no shortage of corruption cases that lie in wait for this supposedly incorruptible government.

points, 88th in the world) and ended up tied with that violent, virtual narco-state that is Mexico (35, 95th).

“Although corruption is still rife globally, more countries improved their scores in 2015 than declined,” the group said in its website, Transparency. org. And then, in its analysis of the lack of progress against corruption in the Asia-Pacific region, TI explained what needs to be done – especially in countries like the Philippines, where government officials like to talk a lot about stamping out corruption but do little to truly eradicate it: “This year’s poor results demand that leaders revisit the

genuineness of their [anti-corruption] efforts,” the group said. “They must fulfill promises, and ensure efforts aren’t undermined in practice.”

I’d like to remind Coloma that the centerpiece slogan of this administration is eradicating corruption, in order to stop poverty. But “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” sounds so laughable these days, when corruption of the scale that Filipinos are regularly treated to—like, say, in the Department of Transportation and Communications

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), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

—is just shrugged off by the government as survey after survey tells us that more and more people are getting poorer.

If Coloma truly wants to talk about reality, he should discuss how the top officials of this administration, from Aquino on down, are going to defend themselves from the corruption charges that are surely going to beset it once it ends 100 or so days from today. Because despite how many times Coloma claims that corruption has been stopped in its tracks like a poorly but expensively maintained com-

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

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muter train under this administration, he can really show no proof.

Perception, as far as corruption is concerned, is reality in the Philippines.

And from the lowly, enterprising airport employees who plant bullets in the luggage of unsuspecting airline passengers to the people who gave out people’s money to legislators to remove a sitting chief justice, there will be no shortage of corruption cases that lie in wait for this supposedly incorruptible government.

Continued on A10

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

THERE must be a higher god that allowed the massacre of 44 men of the PNP-SAF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. In the end, the President’s men successfully shielded Aquino from any liability in giving a stand-down order not to provide air and artillery support to the besieged police commandos.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile who initiated the reopening of the Mamasapano incident walked the committee through the sequence of events to show that President Aquino was actively involved in the planning and execution of Oplan Exodus from Day One. Enrile’s line of questioning tended to show that Aquino broke the chain of command by putting suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima in charge of the secret mission and then compartmentalizing the operation on a need-to-know basis. Purisima, for his part, was steadfast in shielding the President from any responsibility for the ill-fated mission.

Putting the subject of chain of command in perspective, Senator Gregorio Honasan said it is something that is not abstract or a mere idea that can be cast aside. The exercise of the chain of command in the military particularly by the Chief Executive is enshrined in the Constitution, pointed out Honasan, himself a former army colonel.

Under questioning by Enrile, former PNP-SAF commander General Getulio Napeñas revealed that the US government provided intelligence support and equipment to Oplan Exodus to get international terrorist, the Malaysian Marwan. Napeñas said coordination with the US was in accordance with the global war on terrorism. He also said former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, former PNP OIC General Leonardo Espina and then-AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang were excluded in the planning of Oplan Exodus. Catapang said he was only informed that a high-value target was neutralized at 5:51 a.m. of that fateful day of Jan. 25 when the PNP-SAF commandos were already under heavy fire from MILF-BIFF forces.

Committee chairperson Senator Grace Poe wanted to cut short Enrile’s questioning but Senator Bongbong Marcos moved that Enrile be given more time to continue. The other senators didn’t oppose the motion considering they did not have Enrile’s information of the text messages between the President, Napeñas and suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima. When Enrile ended his questioning of Catapang, Napeñas, and Purisima, no-brainer questions followed with Senator Tito Sotto asking about the reward money on Marwan’s head and how much total benefits have been received by the widow and relatives of the SAF 44.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

UNRAVELING THE TRUTH

[ EDI TORI A L ]

STUNTED GROWTH THE Philippines is one of the few economies in Asia that have registered respectable growth rates in 2015. But government underspending and a weak agricultural sector are stunting the economy’s real potential.

The gross domestic product in the last quarter of 2015 expanded 6.3 percent, bringing the full-year growth to 5.8 percent. The economic growth last year was, indeed, notable despite a challenging environment and the turbulence in the global economy. The pace may have slowed down and missed the government’s ambitious 7 percent to 8 percent goal—the growth is actually the slowest in four years after expanding 6.1 percent in 2014, 7.1 percent in 2013 and 6.8 percent in 2012—and yet, the economy is outperforming neighboring countries.

The government of President Benigno Aquino III could have done more to expand the economy faster, but its policy to rein in spending and failure to address the infrastructure gap have resulted in a controlled growth.

Outgoing Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan conceded the challenges and the missed opportunities that could have driven the growth higher.

“Though this is lower than what we targeted for the year, this growth is respectable given the difficult external environment, the onset of El Niño, and the challenges in government spending in the first semester,” says Balisacan.

The Cabinet official cited room for expansion in the business process outsourcing sector toward higher value-added services that require a more diversified set of skills and services. Balisacan could have also blamed the poor state of the country’s international airports.

More foreign tourists would have visited the Philippines and increased their foreign exchange spending to provide instant jobs, especially in the provinces.

The real barometer of economic growth is increased jobs and livelihood in the rural areas. The poverty incidence in the Philippines is still high and the gap between the rich and the poor remains wide.

Until these are addressed, the GDP figures are meaningless to the ordinary folk.

CORRUPT BUT IN DENIAL LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES REALITY, sniffed one Palace lackey, is always more important than perception. According to this official, who could soon be jailed for corruption, this is the reason why the Philippines’ 10-notch plunge in the group Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index survey, compared to the previous year, is no biggie.

“The reality is,” Communica-

tions Secretary Herminio Coloma said, “for the past five years, the Philippine government has instituted major reforms [to fight corruption]. We have initiated public accountability of government agencies.”

Well, the supposed truths that government propagandists like Coloma love to spout have to be backed up by data occasionally. And Transparency International has the research for its perceptions that Coloma can only dream of when he’s looking to prove his reality.

According to the international organization, in the past four

years, the Philippines has not scored higher than 38 out of a perfect 100 in the annual survey.

And this year’s 35, while only three points lower that 2014’s 38, kicked the Philippines 10 notches down the 168-national survey, or from 85th in the world to 95th.

What this means is, while the rest of the world is improving as far as fighting corruption is concerned, the Straight Path administration of President Noynoy Aquino is actually falling behind. This year, we actually fared worse than supposedly graft-prone Indonesia (36

A9

There is no shortage of corruption cases that lie in wait for this supposedly incorruptible government.

points, 88th in the world) and ended up tied with that violent, virtual narco-state that is Mexico (35, 95th).

“Although corruption is still rife globally, more countries improved their scores in 2015 than declined,” the group said in its website, Transparency. org. And then, in its analysis of the lack of progress against corruption in the Asia-Pacific region, TI explained what needs to be done – especially in countries like the Philippines, where government officials like to talk a lot about stamping out corruption but do little to truly eradicate it: “This year’s poor results demand that leaders revisit the

genuineness of their [anti-corruption] efforts,” the group said. “They must fulfill promises, and ensure efforts aren’t undermined in practice.”

I’d like to remind Coloma that the centerpiece slogan of this administration is eradicating corruption, in order to stop poverty. But “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” sounds so laughable these days, when corruption of the scale that Filipinos are regularly treated to—like, say, in the Department of Transportation and Communications

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—is just shrugged off by the government as survey after survey tells us that more and more people are getting poorer.

If Coloma truly wants to talk about reality, he should discuss how the top officials of this administration, from Aquino on down, are going to defend themselves from the corruption charges that are surely going to beset it once it ends 100 or so days from today. Because despite how many times Coloma claims that corruption has been stopped in its tracks like a poorly but expensively maintained com-

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muter train under this administration, he can really show no proof.

Perception, as far as corruption is concerned, is reality in the Philippines.

And from the lowly, enterprising airport employees who plant bullets in the luggage of unsuspecting airline passengers to the people who gave out people’s money to legislators to remove a sitting chief justice, there will be no shortage of corruption cases that lie in wait for this supposedly incorruptible government.

Continued on A10

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THERE must be a higher god that allowed the massacre of 44 men of the PNP-SAF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. In the end, the President’s men successfully shielded Aquino from any liability in giving a stand-down order not to provide air and artillery support to the besieged police commandos.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile who initiated the reopening of the Mamasapano incident walked the committee through the sequence of events to show that President Aquino was actively involved in the planning and execution of Oplan Exodus from Day One. Enrile’s line of questioning tended to show that Aquino broke the chain of command by putting suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima in charge of the secret mission and then compartmentalizing the operation on a need-to-know basis. Purisima, for his part, was steadfast in shielding the President from any responsibility for the ill-fated mission.

Putting the subject of chain of command in perspective, Senator Gregorio Honasan said it is something that is not abstract or a mere idea that can be cast aside. The exercise of the chain of command in the military particularly by the Chief Executive is enshrined in the Constitution, pointed out Honasan, himself a former army colonel.

Under questioning by Enrile, former PNP-SAF commander General Getulio Napeñas revealed that the US government provided intelligence support and equipment to Oplan Exodus to get international terrorist, the Malaysian Marwan. Napeñas said coordination with the US was in accordance with the global war on terrorism. He also said former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, former PNP OIC General Leonardo Espina and then-AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang were excluded in the planning of Oplan Exodus. Catapang said he was only informed that a high-value target was neutralized at 5:51 a.m. of that fateful day of Jan. 25 when the PNP-SAF commandos were already under heavy fire from MILF-BIFF forces.

Committee chairperson Senator Grace Poe wanted to cut short Enrile’s questioning but Senator Bongbong Marcos moved that Enrile be given more time to continue. The other senators didn’t oppose the motion considering they did not have Enrile’s information of the text messages between the President, Napeñas and suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima. When Enrile ended his questioning of Catapang, Napeñas, and Purisima, no-brainer questions followed with Senator Tito Sotto asking about the reward money on Marwan’s head and how much total benefits have been received by the widow and relatives of the SAF 44.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

UNCONCEALMENT PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO THERE were no new witnesses. Neither was there any document heretofore unseen. So to what did Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, until recently under detention, treat the nation in a “continuation” of the Mamasapano Massacre investigation by the Senate?

I thought that Senator Grace Poe did a very good job at presiding over the session and in delivering a summation of prior proceedings. She was clear. She was succinct. But it was equally clear that there was a deliberate effort on the Senate’s part to extend benignity to the President of the Republic in respect to his role in the deaths of the SAF 44. Unfortunately, goodness is fragile and my admiration of Ms. Poe soon waned when it became clear that she was going to allow fellow senators who are members of the Yellow Choir to lawyer for their beleaguered patron. There was really no need to give other senators an opportunity to question the witnesses. They had ample chance while JPE was in detention. They had more than a respectable chunk of media exposure.

More damning, however, were the conclusions that the elderly statesman drew from the ‘silence’ of the President.

It was Senator Enrile who requested for a continuation of the investigation to give him the chance to make his case —and he should have been given full range, instead of conceding some of the precious time to the impertinent!

Still, the nation’s time was not wasted. Senator Enrile, for all his faults, was his thorough, non-nonsense self. He did his homework.

He read the text messages exchanged between key personages line by line, eliciting from the witnesses present either direct affirmation or denial, making short shrift of Alan Purisima’s pathetic if contemptuous attempts at prevaricating. All that Senator Enrile needed —as Senator Marcos astutely pointed out—was a string of text messages and testimonial affirmation of the entries’ veridicality.

The President did not only know of OPLAN EXODUS. He was provided the details before the operation; he approved; he gave instructions. He wanted the number of personnel for the operation increased. He was told about the “window of opportunity”, and “in consideration of the comments of the President during our meeting re

Corrupt... From A9 *** I have to disagree with Senator Grace Poe and other senators who said that the one-off reopening of the Mamasapano massacre investigation produced nothing new. If only because the hearing called by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile blew the lid on the long-suspected involvement of the

number of per[sons] to be deployed in the ops” (from Purisima’s text message to the President), the operation had to be put off. He agreed that the AFP would be informed “time on target” — only when the assault had actually commenced or, at the very soonest, when the team was on site.

The senators who lawyered for PNoy were intent on embarrassing Getulio Napeñas even further, as if he had not already suffered enough.

Guingona insisted that the President was white as a lily in respect to the tragedy because “he relied only on the information he received.” What counsel for the President conveniently failed to mention was that the President’s prime source of information—by his own choice—was a suspended officer of the Philippine National Police who had no business giving anyone any orders at all.

Purisima’s text message to the President on January 25, 2015 at 5.45 in the morning says it all. “…For your info SAF elements implemented plan against high value targets. As of now sir result (sic) indicate that Marwan was killed and one SAF trooper wounded….”

The national audience heard a lot about “compartmentation.” That was Senator Enrile’s characterization of the presidential decision to keep only Purisima, Napeñas and himself privy to the plans. That should provide the rebuttal to all the sophistry underlying the attacks against Napeñas. Poor coordination is one frequently heard charge. How could there be any when the President had decided to keep even the Acting Director General of the PNP Espina out of the loop? I admired Espina during the earlier sessions of the Senate committee. I admire him still. He testified before JPE that he was taken completely by surprise in respect to the operation against Marwan. He did not know because he was never told. The Police Director General was not consulted by the President who preferred the counsel and the consortium of a suspended officer!

Then there was the issue of President Aquino’s mysterious decision to be in Zamboanga City on the morning of January 25. Ostensibly, it was to see to the restoration of peace and order in a city reeling from a bomb attack. Obviously, PNoy was asking for and receiving plenty of information on the operation. This prompted the PNP Chief, Espina, to ask for more accurate information. Sometime at ten o’clock in the morning he sent a text message that barely concealed annoyance, either his or that of SILG Rosas: “Fm SILG: Yes, Pnoy getting other reports that are conflicting with each other. Example: 160 daw sad 20 daw hostiles, so why did they retreat eh 8:1 ang ratio?” From the looks of it, PNoy and entourage were in Zamboanga to be closer to the scene of operations.

More damning, however, were the conclusions that the elderly statesman drew from the “silence” of the President. During the operations, there are hardly any messages from him to any of the officers in the thick of battle. He rather communicated with Purisima who definitely was more than just a “consultant.” He was, Enrile’s inquiry clearly suggests, the President’s liaiAmericans in the case, revisiting the massacre was worth it.

The hearing disclosed how the Americans, who were the ones who really wanted terrorist bomb-maker Marwan captured or killed, proved that the PNP Special Action Force was the go-to anti-terror arm of the US military, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. The US, the

AN ABANDONED SOCIAL CONTRACT WEAK and shallow is our understanding of social security if PNoy and the Social Security System have made us believe that the proposed P2,000 increase in pensions would benefit its 2.15-million pensioners to the detriment of its 30-million members.

In fact, the chain that binds together any national social security program is the social contract of the young contributing workers to support the old non-contributing pensioners and of the strong to support the weak.

This social contract is akin to our national tradition of “Bayanihan” and a positive response of the international community to the reality that “poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.”

Within the family, it means that as today’s parents support their sons and daughters, so will these children support them someday.

In our Constitution, we have specifically assigned to the family, in tandem with government, this responsibility of caring for our elderly pensioners and nonpensioners.

In Article XV, Section 4: “The family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.”

Most social security schemes are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis, but our SSS has been insisting lately that its scheme is one that requires full funding and zero unfunded liability.

It may have developed its confused view of social security soon after the World Bank published in 1994 Estelle James’ “Averting the Old Age Crisis: Policies to Protect the Old and Promote Growth.”

Warning that we had a looming old age crisis—or pension time bomb, according to WB officials—they made our finance officials believe that we had trillions of pesos of unfunded pension liabilities that government would eventually assume.

These WB officials even paid the Government Service Insurance System president a courtesy call and told him—without beson—and quite a compelling one at that. But to confine Mr. Aquino’s liability to the constitutional fact that he is the Chief Executive as well as the Commander-in-Chief occludes the President’s actual, informed and direct involvement in the operations. He was giving Purisima direct instructions such as: “Review your earlier and latest texts…They differ as to which was engaged first.”

And: “Bassit should not get away.”

Finally, a text message from the President, reeking with dissatisfaction: “If I remember correctly, 160 hearing proved, provided training, equipment and intelligence to the PNP-SAF, which was then given the task of going after those “high-value targets” that the Americans wanted, like Marwan.

This was why the Americans felt obliged to extract the killed and wounded SAF men using its “defense contractors,” the Blackwater-like mercenaries that it hires on a regular ba-

FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO ing asked—about GSIS’s huge unfunded liabilities. Finding this unsolicited advice rude, he lost his cool and threatened to throw them out of the window unless they leave immediately.

But maybe GSIS heeded their warning, because immediately thereafter, it increased its contribution rate from 18 to 21 percent and removed its contribution salary cap. By now, GSIS has grown its assets into a trillion peso reserve fund.

SSS must have also taken to heart WB’s warning. But unlike GSIS, it hesitated to reform its financial system, and simply froze into inaction whenever employers opposed its initiatives to increase contributions. It even developed a phobia for unfunded liabilities and became averse to any pension increase.

For instance, in the past 5 1/2 years of PNoy’s administration, it granted but once a token 5-percent pension adjustment.

But, had it increased pensions

by P500 four times, it would have released by now that P2,000 pension increase.

Worse, SSS has de-facto abandoned its concept of social insurance by de-emphasizing its defined-benefit scheme. Instead, it chose to adopt WB’s definedcontribution or individual account system where one may only draw his pensions from his own contribution savings.

This is the “kanya-kanya” or “to each his own” type of pension funding, which deviates significantly from the pooling of risks that characterizes social security programs.

Employing this funding scheme, SSS has lately launched its pension augmentation solution to its pension inadequacy problem, and calls it the “Personal Equity and Savings Option” or PESO Fund.

How proudly it announced, right before its anniversary last

year, that it “has already drawn over 100 enrollees, with total investments now past the P1million mark since its limited launch in 10 SSS branches in Metro Manila last May 2015.”

SSS justified this by declaring that: “Since regular SSS contributions only cover a maximum income of P16,000, members with the capacity to save more now have an additional option to augment their retirement savings through the SSS PESO Fund program.”

In fact, only 163 members have placed P1.4 million with SSS. Thus, SSS has nothing yet to brag about since each would have a one-time average pension augmentation of only P8,589.

It was modelled after the SSS Flexi-fund for overseas Filipino workers. But how successful has this program been?

Launched in 2001, it was announced also then that program “currently has over 45,000 OFW enrollees and a total members’ equity of around P485 million.”

This program is therefore practically worthless to OFWs. Why? Because the amount that awaits an OFW to augment his retirement pension—after participating for 15 years—is a one-time withdrawable amount of P10,778 only.

How could such an underachievement be justified by the 20 SSS foreign offices that operate in Brunei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macao, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, Al Khobar, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, London, Milan, Muscat, Riyadh, and Rome?

The SSS would have even exhausted this P485-million fund had it taken from it the operating expenses of these offices.

If SSS is indeed protective of the pension interests of its 30-million members—to the point of denying its 2.1-million pensioners their P2,000 pension increase—then it must discontinue now its flexi-fund programs and revert to its abandoned social contract of social insurance funding.

SAF troopers were involved in this operation plus provisions for the other and afp units to assist. The terrain is flat as opposed to upland, forested or jungle terrain. Why did they not contain and/or overwhelm the 15-20 opposing force? Are they still in contact with the two targets?

If not and the opposing force has escaped, are we now back to square one?” That sounds very much like one who was in complete control!

Evidence is new not only when new evidence is found, but also when evidence that was available at an ear-

lier time was either carelessly left out or deliberately suppressed. And that, we definitely got from the Enrile-initiated hearing. Too bad that Senator Poe had made up her mind, probably days earlier, that the Senate report would not be altered. True, indeed, there will be nothing new for one who has decided that there cannot be anything new!

sis to do its dirty work abroad. These were the “white men” who were on the scene on the day of the massacre, who were sent into Mamasapano because the deployment of real US servicemen can be questioned both in their own homeland and by the host country.

In other words, the 44 SAF commandos died doing the US’ bidding, as coursed through the Philippine

President himself. And in the days to come, when the pertinent documents in the US are declassified and revealed, we will get a truer picture of what really went down.

Of course, if Poe was talking about the continuing cover-up that is being implemented by palace allies and the military in defense of Aquino, then there certainly was nothing new there. Absolutely nothing.

rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ JAPAN is the single largest locator of factories in the Philippines’ industrial economic zones.

There are 867 Japanese locator enterprises in economic zones operated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) which is headed by Director General Lilia de Lima.

These companies have invested a total of P595.665 billion since 1995 up to September 2015.

The 20 largest of the Japanese locators and their respective investments include: Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp., P62.72 billion; Toshiba Information Equipment (Philippines), Inc., P56.38 billion; Ibiden Philippines, P31.29 billion; Coral Bay Nickel Corp. P28.29 billion; Canon Business Machines, P20.59 billion; Epson Precision, P17.32 billion; Rohm Electronics, P16.39 billion; Toyota Autoparts Philippines, P12.55 billion; Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, P11.89 billion; TDK Philippines, P8.1 billion; Taiyo Yuden, P7.94 billion; Pilipinas Kao, P7.72 billion; Terumo,

Unraveling... From A9 Then, Aquino’s allies— Senators Edgardo Angara Jr., Teofisto Guingona, Antonio Trillanes and Senate President Franklin Drilon—took turns defending the President with leading questions to the officials summoned to the hearing.

A clueless Senator Angara asked National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia why Marwan was considered a high value target. If Sonny Boy Angara was abreast of the news he should have known Marwan was wanted for the nightclub bombing in the Indonesian resort of Bali that killed 200 Australians and Ameri-

JAPAN IS BIGGEST INVESTOR IN PEZA P7.67 billion; Nidec, P7.62 billion; Philippines Murata Land, P7.4 billion; Green Future Innovations, P6 billion; Brother Industries, P5.98 billion; Funai Electric Cebu, P5.28 billion; First Sumiden Circuits, P5.22 billion; and Nidec Precision, P4.32 billion.

Japanese locators are household names in the Philippines —Toyota, Mitsubishi, Uniqlo, Epson, Honda, Yamaha, Ajinomoto, Yakult. Potato chips tycoon Carlos Chan has named his snacks after a Japanese word for delicious—“Oishi”.

President Benigno Aquino III recalls talking to Nidec Corp. president Shigenobu Nagamori recently. The company is open to putting up an R and D facility in the Philippines “as long as we can develop enough engineers with masters and doctorate degrees.”

There are four reasons why the Japanese want to locate their plants in the Philippines: one, strategic location; two, availability of cheap and skilled labor; three, generous tax perks offered by the government, and four, China has become hostile to Japanese investors, not to mention Chinese labor has

become prohibitive.

There is a fifth one—Peza chief de Lima. She guarantees no red tape and no corruption at Peza’s more than 200 economic zones.

De Lima has singlehandedly brought in more foreign investments into the Philippines than any other Filipino. For her feat, BizNewsAsia cited her for management excellence.

Epson Precision Philippines president Kazuyuki Amano finds the Philippines “simply wonderful”. “The Filipino people are very warm and very kind,” he notes. Epson first came to the Philippines in 1996, to escape the high salaries in Hong Kong. “The salaries in the Philippines are very reasonable,” notes Amano. “The Filipino workers are hardworking, efficient, responsible, and cheerful, definitely strong points,” the Epson chief enthuses. “There is not much of a problem doing business in the Philippines.”

For its part, Murata’s largest factory is in the Philippines.

The capacitor manufacturing giant put a P1-billion facility in October 2012 at the First Philippine Industrial Park, in Tanauan, Batangas. Today, em-

ployment is reaching 1,500.

Murata chose the Philippines for its multi-layer ceramic capacitor plant largely for the availability of a pool of skilled Filipino engineers. “Batangas produces very good engineers,” says Takashi Masuda, president of Murata Electronics Philippines, Inc.. It is also a big help that the engineers speak good English. Nearby Batangas State University is actually a technical school, producing very good professionals like engineers.

Giant Japanese laser printer maker Canon came to the Philippines primarily for three reasons—one, the generous income tax holiday or ITH (no income tax for five years); two, the easy availability of a pool of skilled workers; and three, assistance extended by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Peza registered Canon Business Machines (Philippines), Inc. in January 2012 to manufacture monochrome laser beam printers.

The company acquired a 30-hectare lot at the First Philippine Industrial Park, a special economic zone, in Santo Tomas, Batangas. It invested approx.

P9 billion in the factory which produce millions of laser beam printer per year.

Employment has rapidly ramped up, started from less than 100 in 2012 to more than 2,300 by the end of 2014. “We are still growing for production,” says Kazuhiko Yamada, president of Canon Business Machines Philippines.

Says President Aquino: “The Philippines has a great number of synergies it can forge with Japan. Japan is the largest trading partner with trade of $19.1 billion in 2014 alone.

The Philippines has entered a demographic sweet spot, which means majority of our population is of working age. It only makes sense that we partner with countries who need more young people to work in vital sectors.”

For instance, Japan needs nurses. The Philippines has an abundance of them, notes Aquino. At the same time, Filipino nurses benefit from exposure to the most modern technology available in Japan.

cans. Marwan is also a suspect in several bombings in Mindanao and his presence in the area was to instruct local terrorists like Basit Usman how to make improvised bombs.

Angara, however, elicited from Catapang, Gazmin, Mar Roxas, and even Napeñas that there was no stand-down order from President Aquino.

Since none of these officials stated there was no standdown order, then did the AFP high command act on its own not to provide air and artillery support to rescue the badly outnumbered policemen? Having done his job to shield Aquino, Angara didn’t go further to find out where the stand-down order came

from. This drew outrage from Enrile who said that there was a lot of lying going on before the Senate. Obviously a standdown order was given from higher authority even after the grid coordinates were given to pinpoint the location of the SAF commandos and the enemy. Napeñas said he gave the coordinates as early as 7 a.m. to Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commanding officer of the 6th Infantry Division.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said there was no sense of urgency in the text messages received from the ground. No sense of urgency even when Napeñas already said the police troopers were pinned down and “baka mau-

bos na sila.” At around 1 p.m., 44 SAF commandos were wiped out by the MILF-BIFF rebels.

In sum, the hearing was able to determine there was no coordination because the President compartmentalized the operation and stymied other branches of the military to act with dispatch. It also showed how suspended PNP chief Purisima still had access to the President who put him in charge of the secret police operation. Napeñas said the AFP was not included in the operation because it insists on coordinating any military operation in MILF-controlled territory with the leadership of the rebel group which is

suspected of tipping off the intended target.

Retired PNP Superintendent Diosdado Valeroso was a no-show at Wednesday’s Senate hearing with his tapes allegedly showing a cover-up. He was probably spooked by Drilon’s warning that he would be liable for possession of tapes illegally obtained under the antiwiretapping law.

Current PNP chief Ricardo Marquez said Oplan Exodus, which was executed before he was appointed to the post, was badly planned because there was no prior analysis of the site of operation such as terrain and the exit plan for the withdrawing commandos.

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CHONG ARDIVILLA

OMNIBUS IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR VISITING FORCES

5.22. Port Authorities – refer to the pertinent Philippine airport and seaport authorities.

5.23. Program Design – the description of an MSDVN program that provides a suitable basis for subsequent implementation, including, but not limited to its title, general objective/s, specific objective/s, time frame, evaluation and teaching methodology, venue, and participants.

5.24. Radio Pratique – a clearance granted to a vessel to enter port and to allow people to disembark and board the vessel after certifying to the quarantine medical officer, through radio communication, that the ship is without infectious disease or plague.

5.25. Sea/Air Stores – articles such as food, wine and cigarettes, for use or consumption only of the passengers and crew on board the aircraft or vessel upon its flight or voyage.

5.26. State-Chartered Aircraft or Vessel – a non-state-owned aircraft or vessel leased by a foreign government for the exclusive service of the Visiting Forces for official purpose/use.

5.27. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) – as defined in Executive Order No. 175, dated November 24, 2014, SOFA shall refer to the PH-US VFA, the PH-AUS SOVFA, and future status of forces agreements which may be included in the mandate of the PCVF by order or directive of the President.

5.28. Special Temporary Permit (STP) to Practice a Profession – a document issued by the PRC giving a foreign professional the privilege to practice his/her profession in the Philippines for a limited period of time.

5.29. State-Owned Aircraft or Vessel – an aircraft or vessel owned by a foreign government for its police, custom, military, and other governmental functions.

5.30. Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) – an activity which involves an exchange or sharing of current competencies in various areas with the purpose of upgrading the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of target professionals.

5.31. Supplies – all items necessary for the maintenance and operations of any SOFA activity, including food, clothing, arms, ammunition, fuel, materials, medical paraphernalia, and machinery.

5.32. Uniformed Agency – a Philippine agency concerned with national and local security such as the AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

5.33. Visiting Forces – foreign military and civilian personnel, including state-owned aircraft and vessels participating in any approved SOFA activity.

5.34. Voyage Plan – a detailed description of the vessel’s itinerary.

RULE 1: PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS Section 1.

Title – These rules shall be known and cited as the “Omnibus Implementing Rules and Regulations for Visiting Forces”.

Section 2.

General Purposes – This Omnibus Implementing Rules and Regulations for Visiting Forces (Omnibus IRR) is promulgated pursuant to Section 3 of Executive Order No. 175, series of 2014, and for the following purposes: 2.1. To formulate a harmonized and codified Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for all Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) to ensure that Philippine laws, policies, public morals, and customs and traditions are strictly observed by all Visiting Forces.

2.2. To define the processes and procedures for the Pre-Entry, Entry, Movement, Departure, and Post-Departure phases of Visiting Forces activities.

2.3. To enhance communication, cooperation, collaboration, and coordination among relevant Departments and Agencies with regard to the conduct of Visiting Forces activities.

2.4. For the Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces to facilitate and regulate the activities of Visiting Forces.

Facilitation involves the efficient and effective planning and implementation of activities under any SOFA. Regulation, on the other hand, involves minimizing risk and preventing and mitigating any threat or harm to the health, safety, and welfare of the people and the environment.

Section 3.

Declaration of Principles and Policies – It is the declared policy of the State that: 3.1. Philippine defense and security engagements, that are under the auspices of a SOFA, shall be in accordance with the following State principles and policies contained in Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution: a. Section 2. The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations. b. Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory. c. Section 7. The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to selfdetermination. d. Section 11. The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights. e. Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. f. Section 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

3.2.

3.3.

Scope and Application of the Omnibus Implementing Rules and Regulations (Omnibus IRR) for Visiting Forces 4.1.

This Omnibus IRR shall apply to all approved activities conducted under any SOFA. 4.2. Any Treaty, or International or Executive Agreement to which the Government of the Philippines is a signatory that affects any provisions of this Omnibus IRR shall be observed. In case of conflict between the terms of the Treaty or International or Executive Agreement and this Omnibus IRR, the former shall prevail.

Section 5.

Definition of Terms – As used in this Omnibus IRR, the following terms shall be defined as follows: 5.1 Accredited Professional Organization – a national organization composed of registered and licensed professionals accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

5.2. Approved Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) Activities – are engagements wherein Field Training Exercises (FTX), Table Top Exercises (TTX), Command Post Exercises (CPX), Medical/Surgical/Dental/Veterinary/Nursing (MSDVN) missions, Subject Matter Experts’ Exchanges (SMEEs), and similar activities are conducted. These activities are approved by appropriate treaties or agreements, through established mechanisms or covered by a SOFA such as the PhilippinesUnited States Agreement Regarding the Treatment of US Armed Forces Visiting the Philippines (PH-US VFA), and the Philippines-Australia Status of Forces of Each State in the Territory of the Other State (PH-AUS SOVFA).

5.3. Bona Fide Emergency – refers to medical emergency, humanitarian and disaster assistance, and search and rescue operations.

5.4. Cargo – any article, good, equipment, material, supply, vehicle, and other property brought into or acquired in the Philippines by or on behalf of foreign Armed Forces in connection with activities covered by a SOFA. 5.5. Cargo List/Manifest – a declaration of the pertinent cargoes that will be brought into the Philippines and out of the customs zone by Visiting Forces in relation to SOFA activities.

5.6. Commercial Aircraft or Vessel – a privately owned aircraft or vessel not exclusively used by the Visiting Forces to transport cargoes for any SOFA activity.

5.7. Certificate of Tax Exemption (CTE) – a document exempting imported cargoes from payment of duties/taxes as approved by the Secretary of Finance.

5.8. Civilian Personnel PH-US VFA – refers to individuals who are neither nationals of nor ordinarily resident in the Philippines and who are employed by the United States armed forces or who are accompanying the United States armed forces, such as employees of the American Red Cross and the United Services Organization.

PH-AUS SOVFA – refers to civilian personnel accompanying the Visiting Force who are employed in the service of or contracted by the Ministry/Department of Defence or Forces of the Sending State, and who are non-stateless persons, nor nationals of, nor ordinarily resident in, the Philippines.

5.9. Crew List – a document required by the concerned Philippine authorities detailing the name, age, rank, and nationality of civilian masters and crew members.

5.10. Diplomatic Clearance (DC) – permission from the Philippine government for a foreign state-owned or foreign statechartered aircraft or vessel to enter, land/berth at, overfly, or depart from Philippine territory free from certain charges.

5.11. Flight Plan – a document containing the details of a particular proposed flight.

5.12 General Declaration – a document presented by the pilot of an aircraft stating the flight details, the name of the crew, the number of embarking and disembarking passengers and that no one is suffering from a communicable disease.

5.13 Individual/Collective Document – a document issued by the appropriate foreign government authority authorizing the travel or visit of Visiting Forces personnel containing their name/s, rank/s or designation/s, branch of service, and period of stay in the country.

5.14. Maritime Incidents – any event or occurrence in Philippine Maritime Jurisdiction that violates the Revised Penal Code and other applicable laws, rules, regulations and issuances.

5.15. Maritime Declaration of Health – a document presented by the captain or surgeon of the ship to the Quarantine Medical Officer for quarantine clearance. This contains the name of the vessel and the captain, the last and next port of call, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) number, the place and date of issue of the ship sanitation certificate, the number of crew and passengers, and a health declaration that there is no communicable disease or death on board, no outbreak from the last port of call, no stowaways, and no animals on board.

5.16. Medical Planner – a medical administrative officer designated by the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) or its equivalent in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Major Services and in other uniformed services to work with foreign counterparts in developing a medical plan for the MSDVN Mission.

5.17. Medical/Surgical/Dental/Veterinary/Nursing (MSDVN) Mission – a civic or humanitarian medical, surgical, dental, or veterinary mission under an approved SOFA activity, such as SMEE, patient consultation, and hospital rounds.

5.18. Military Personnel – members of the armed forces of the SOFA partner.

5.19. Official Duty – acts performed, or words spoken or written, by members of the Visiting Force or its Civilian Component in accordance with the duties required or authorized to be done by statute, regulation, order of a superior or military usage, in the conduct of combined training, exercises or other activities mutually approved by the Parties. Official duty is not meant to include every act by a member of the Visiting Force or its Civilian Component during the period while he or she is on duty, but is meant to apply only to acts that are required or authorized to be performed as a function of that duty which the individual is performing.

5.20. Passenger List/Manifest – a list of names of passengers on board an aircraft or vessel.

5.21. Philippine Territory – comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.

Section 11.

Procedures on Entry and Utilization of Medicines, Medical Supplies, and Medical Equipment Accompanying MSDVN Missions 11.1. Foreign MSDVN missions are encouraged to procure medicines, medical supplies, and medical equipment in the Philippines.

11.2. Clearance of medicines, medical supplies, and medical equipment to be brought into the country for any MSDVN mission shall be in accordance with the pertinent rules and regulations of the DOH and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

11.3. Disposition of medicines, medical supplies, and medical equipment are subject to relevant Philippine professional practice guidelines.

Section 12.

Extension of Validity of STPs Should there be an interruption of an ongoing MSDVN mission due to some unforeseen events, such as calamities and/or disasters, the AFP, through the OTSG, shall notify the PRC on such matter as soon as possible and shall request for the extension of the validity of STPs.

Section 13.

Responsibilities of the Concerned Departments and Agencies 13.1.

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) a. Issue the STP for foreign healthcare professionals complying with all the requirements as stated above; and b. Designate the local healthcare professionals preferably from the Accredited Professional Organizations (APOs) who shall ensure continuity in the provision of medical care to the beneficiaries.

13.2. Department of Health (DOH) a. Endorse the foreign MSDVN mission to the pertinent LGUs; b. Facilitate the issuance of the clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other concerned Departments and Agencies for the drugs, medicines, and medical equipment brought in or donated to the Philippines; and c. Monitor the conduct of the MSDVN mission through its relevant Regional Office/s.

13.3. Local Government Health Units a. Issue the Letter of Concurrence for the conduct of the MSDVN mission in coordination with the AFP, through the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, OJ7; and b. Supervise the conduct of the MSDVN mission.

13.4. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 13.4.1. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, OJ7 a. Serve as the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR), and oversee the MSDVN mission from its planning to execution phases in coordination with other concerned AFP units/ offices; b. Provide concerned AFP units/offices with a copy of the plan for the conduct of the MSDVN mission; c. Coordinate with the concerned LGU for the issuance of the Letter of Concurrence to be submitted to the OTSG; d. Submit to the DOH and PRC a list of foreign healthcare professionals and an activity plan before the conduct of the MSDVN mission; and e. Submit a post-mission report pursuant to Section 14.2 of this Omnibus IRR to the PCVF, DND, DOH and PRC within thirty (30) days upon the conclusion of the mission.

13.4.2 Office of the Surgeon General, AFP a. Designate the Medical Planner who will work with the foreign counterparts in developing a medical plan of the activity; b. Assign and issue appropriate orders to the Medical Corps, Veterinary Corps, Dental Service, Nurse Corps, Medical Administrative Corps Officers, and Designated Enlisted Personnel to perform tasks as defined in the medical plan of the activity; c. Ensure and coordinate the deployment, accommodation, and transportation for the return of the participating personnel to their respective units; d. Coordinate with the PRC to facilitate the granting of necessary STPs of foreign healthcare professionals; e. Coordinate with the DOH to facilitate the endorsement of the MSDVN mission; f. Provide direction to and supervision over all medical, surgical, dental, veterinary, and nursing units that participate in foreign MSDVN missions; and g. Designate a Medical, Surgical, Dental, Veterinary, and Nurse Corps Officer as mission coordinator for the MSDVN mission.

RULE 3: PRE-ENTRY PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND INFORMATION SHARING Section 6.

Approved SOFA Activities 6.1. The Department of National Defense (DND) and/or the AFP shall provide all concerned Departments and Agencies with the list of approved SOFA activities that will be conducted for execution, coordination, and monitoring purposes.

6.2. The aforementioned list shall be one of the primary references for the issuance of DC, tax exemption, and STP to practice profession related to the conduct of SOFA activities.

Section 7.

Planning the Execution of Approved SOFA Activities 7.1.

The AFP shall be the lead agency in planning the execution of approved SOFA activities.

7.2. The AFP shall conduct the necessary site surveys, planning conferences/workshops, and other related activities before the conduct of approved SOFA activities, in coordination with concerned Departments, Agencies, local government units (LGUs), and communities.

7.3. The Departments, Agencies, and LGUs which participated in the planning conferences/workshops shall coordinate the relevant details of SOFA activities with their respective offices/units.

7.4. The AFP shall consult the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), through its relevant Regional Office, on any approved SOFA activities to be conducted in areas that are adjacent to ancestral domain as defined in Republic Act (RA) No. 8371, otherwise known as “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997”.

7.5. For the protection, safety, and security of indigenous peoples and their communities, to the extent possible, no FTX shall be conducted inside ancestral domains.

7.6. The AFP shall consult the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the exercise areas, particularly on such details as the type and duration of activity, and possible risks to life, property, and the environment.

7.7.

For the protection and preservation of the environment, no FTX shall be conducted inside protected areas as defined in RA No. 7586, otherwise known as “The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992”.

7.8. The AFP shall hold an inter-agency Facilitation and Regulation Coordination Conference (FRCC) prior to the conduct of SOFA activities, as appropriate.

SOFAs shall be pursued towards the promotion of sociopolitical stability, territorial integrity, economic solidarity, regional peace and harmony, and ecological balance; and The Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces (PCVF) shall be the lead inter-agency mechanism to provide policy coordination and advice, guidance, and assessment to ensure that all SOFAs serve the national interest.

Section 4.

For SMEEs and military-to-military trainings covered by an approved SOFA activity, a Program Design shall be submitted to the PRC. b. Procedures The AFP, through the OTSG, shall submit the Program Design to the PRC at least thirty (30) working days prior to the start of the activity.

RULES 2: DEFINITION OF TERMS

RULE 4: FOREIGN MEDICAL, SURGICAL, DENTAL, VETERINARY, AND NURSING (MSDVN) MISSION Section 8.

Section 9.

Purpose and Applicability These rules and regulations shall apply to MSDVN missions included in the approved SOFA activities, in order to achieve the following objectives, namely: 8.1. To facilitate the issuance of STPs for foreign healthcare professionals involved in MSDVN missions; and 8.2. To ensure proper coordination, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation of MSDVN missions in the country.

Reports 14.1. During the Activity A daily report shall be prepared by the Medical Planner to be submitted to the AFP Exercise Directorate every 1700H for the duration of the mission by electronic mail or other electronic means.

14.2. Post-Activity

An MSDVN post-mission report shall include the following information: a. Basic data on cases seen (e.g. number of cases, age, gender); b. Diagnosis of patients; c. List of medicines distributed; d. Surgical interventions done; e. Dental cases treated; f. Veterinary cases handled/treated; g. Endorsement of cases to the necessary health facilities (follow-up, further evaluation, and management); h. List of donated and unutilized medicines, supplies, and equipment; and i. Morbidities and mortalities, if any, specifying the circumstances, personnel involved, and the procedures taken in response to the complications.

14.3. Violations a. Foreign MSDVN missions conducted without proper permits/licenses must be reported to the PRC for investigation of possible unauthorized practice and for appropriate sanction and disposition. The Department of Justice (DOJ) shall be consulted in any criminal case that may arise from such unauthorized practice or any other act of malpractice. b. Drugs, medicines, and medical equipment brought into the Philippines without the proper permit from the FDA shall be reported to the DOH for appropriate sanction and disposition. c. Claims against any foreign military or civilian health professional shall be in accordance with Rule 12 of this Omnibus IRR and the provisions of existing or future SOFAs. d. The PRC and the DOH shall report of all violations and cases of mortality and morbidity under this Section to the DFA and furnish a copy to the DND.

Section 15.

General Guidelines 15.1 Rules and procedures for the entry, movement, and departure of state-owned and state-chartered aircraft and vessels shall be in accordance with the pertinent SOFA. 15.2. The DFA shall have the sole authority to grant Diplomatic Clearance (DC); provided that, the Departments and Agencies involved in the entry of state-owned and statechartered aircraft and vessels shall give inputs to the request for DC. 15.3 Only state-owned and state-chartered aircraft and vessels involved in the conduct of approved SOFA activities shall be issued DC and allowed entry into Philippine territory in accordance with an approved itinerary.

15.4. The DC shall indicate the period of validity and the conditions to be complied with by the Visiting Forces while in the Philippines.

15.5. All Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) entering the Philippine territory, including those entering as part of cargoes, shall require a DC.

Section 16.

Requirements for Diplomatic Clearance The request for DC must contain the following information: 16.1. State-Owned and State-Chartered Aircraft: a. Nationality, registration number, and radio call sign of aircraft; b. Purpose of flight; c. Names and ranks of aircrew and other passengers of foreign aircraft; d. Nature and volume of cargo, if any; e. Pertinent itinerary upon entry to Philippine territory (Flight Plan), including: e.1. Last airport of call and next airport of call; e.2 Date and estimated time of entry into Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR); and e.3. Date and estimated time of arrival (ETA) at intended port of entry. f. Proposed itinerary while in the Philippines; g. Date and estimated time of departure (ETD) from intended port of exit; and h. Statement that no aerial photography of any portion of the Philippines will be taken.

16.2. State-Owned and State-Chartered Vessels: a. Name, nationality, and bow number; b. Name and rank of commanding officer and senior officer present aboard, if any; c. Names of passengers or troops on board, if any; d. Type of vessel, to include armaments; e. Radio frequency and call sign; f. Purpose of visit; g. Point of origin and ultimate destination of voyage, naming the last port of call and the next port of call; h. Nature and volume of cargo, if any; i. Voyage Plan while in the Philippines, specifying route to be taken to and from port of call in the Philippines; j. ETA at the intended port of entry; and

General Guidelines 9.1.

9.2.

9.3.

9.4.

9.5.

9.6.

Section 10.

Section 14.

MSDVN missions may be categorized into those requiring STPs and those not requiring STPs. a. Foreign military and civilian healthcare professionals who will be practicing their profession in MSDVN missions shall be required to secure STPs from the PRC. Under no circumstances shall such professionals practice their profession in the Philippines without a PRC-issued STP; and b. All foreign healthcare professionals who will participate in SMEEs and military-to-military trainings shall be exempted from securing STPs. The validity of the issued STP shall be limited to the duration of the approved MSDVN mission.

Application fees for STPs of foreign healthcare professionals desiring to conduct MSDVN missions shall be waived.

The MSDVN services undertaken as part of the approved SOFA activities shall be at no cost to the beneficiaries/patients concerned.

In case of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) missions, involvement of foreign military healthcare professionals in any MSDVN mission shall follow relevant existing Philippine guidelines.

Movement of aircraft, vessels, vehicles, personnel, and supplies related to the MSDVN mission shall be in accordance with Rule 10 of this Omnibus IRR.

Application Requirements and Procedures 10.1.

MSDVN Missions Requiring STPs 10.1.1. Application Requirements a. The Medical Planner designated by the AFP, through the OTSG, or other uniformed agencies, shall secure from his or her counterpart foreign Medical Planner a copy of the list of foreign healthcare professionals and such list shall be submitted to the PRC. b. The AFP, through the OTSG, shall submit a request letter to the PRC containing the following information/documents: i. Type of mission (medical, surgical, dental, veterinary, or nursing); ii. Venue of the mission (province, town, barangay, and village); iii. Duration of the mission (inclusive dates); iv. List of foreign healthcare professionals who will participate in the mission and their respective specializations; v. List of Filipino healthcare professionals and their respective specializations to ensure continuity in the provision of medical care to the beneficiaries; vi. Notarized application form duly signed by the foreign professional (Application form may be downloaded from www.prc.gov.ph); vii. One (1) passport size (4.5 cm by 3.5 cm) photo of the applicant that was taken within the last six months; viii. Photocopy of the data page of the passport indicating the citizenship of the foreign professional; ix. Authenticated copy of the current and valid license of the foreign professional obtained in the country of origin, with official English translation thereof when necessary. The license shall be valid during the conduct of the MSDVN mission; and x. Authenticated copy of the certificate of good standing issued by the concerned professional regulatory authority or its equivalent where the professional is registered.

10.1.2. Procedures a. The AFP, through the OTSG, shall consolidate the requirements for the STP and shall submit the application to the International Affairs Division (IAD) of the PRC. b. The submission of complete application requirements shall not compromise the ten (10) working days allotted for the issuance of the STP. c. Complete application shall be endorsed by the PRC to the appropriate Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) for evaluation. Applications with incomplete requirements shall immediately be coordinated with the AFP, through the OTSG, for appropriate action. d. If the application is approved by the appropriate PRB, a Resolution shall be issued endorsing the application to the PRC for approval. Upon approval by the PRC, a copy of the Resolution and the STPs shall be furnished to the AFP, through the OTSG. e. The AFP, through the OTSG, shall also furnish a copy of the Resolution to the Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC), Department of Health (DOH) together with the Letter of Intent for the MSDVN mission, and the Letter of Concurrence from the concerned LGU. f. If the documents are in order, the BIHC shall then endorse the conduct of the MSDVN mission to its relevant regional office for monitoring.

10.2.

MSDVN Missions Not Requiring an STP a. Application Requirements

RULE 5: DIPLOMATIC CLEARANCE

Section 18.

Section 19.

Section 20.

Procedural Guidelines 17.1. Request for DC shall be submitted to the DFA through diplomatic or consular channels at least twenty (20) working days before the intended entry of the aircraft or vessel.

17.2. Only requests for DC with complete and detailed information and/or attachments set forth under Section 16 of this Omnibus IRR shall be processed by the DFA. 17.3. Within five (5) working days upon receipt of request for DC, the DFA shall endorse requests for DC to concerned Departments and Agencies for inputs and recommendations.

17.4. Concerned Departments and Agencies tasked to provide inputs and recommendations on specific requests shall submit the same within ten (10) working days upon receipt of the DFA’s communication.

17.5. The DFA shall approve or disapprove a request for DC within three (3) working days upon receipt of inputs from concerned Departments and Agencies; and, shall immediately transmit its decision to the concerned embassy.

17.6. The DFA shall provide the concerned Departments and Agencies with relevant information of the DC immediately after its approval.

17.7. For recording, monitoring, and coordination purposes, the Diplomatic Clearance Number (DCN) shall be the official reference of all concerned Departments and Agencies.

17.8. All requests for DC for bona fide emergencies shall be processed within twenty-four (24) hours upon the DFA’s receipt of the request.

Conditions to be Complied with 18.1. Air traffic and air navigation rules and other relevant Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR) and aviation safety circulars/issuances shall be complied with, as well as maritime navigation rules and other relevant maritime rules and regulations including those of Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) rules and procedures as to admission, operation, and departure.

18.2. Technical surveys may be conducted upon request and prior approval of the DND and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

18.3. Entry and departure of foreign military aircraft and/or vessels shall be made only at international or designated airports and seaports, where proper CIQ inspection can be conducted.

18.4. Multiple vessels and aircraft on board a vessel that will be involved in any SOFA activity shall be covered by a DC.

Section 25.

Departure of Aircraft and Vessels Departure of aircraft and vessels shall be in accordance with the pertinent rules and regulations of relevant port authorities.

Section 26.

Fees and Charges 26.1. Exemptions from the payment of landing or port fees, navigation or overflight charges, tolls, or other use charges, including light and harbour dues, for aircraft and vessels operated by or for the Visiting Forces shall be in accordance with the pertinent SOFA. However, commercial aircraft or vessels not chartered by Visiting Forces but providing services to Visiting Forces personnel, aircraft, or vessel under any service contract or agreement, which are commercial in nature, shall pay the appropriate fees and charges collected by port authorities and other concerned Departments and Agencies.

26.2. All commercial vessels coming into the Philippines, used to transport military and civilian personnel under any SOFA, shall be subject to allowable inspection and overtime fees, including meals and transportation for immigration officers under Section 7 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. Administrative fines, under rates determined by the Commissioner of Immigration and approved by the Secretary of Justice, may also be imposed.

Section 28.

Section 29.

RULE 6: TAX EXEMPTION Section 21.

Processing and Granting of Tax Exemption 21.1. Subject to the provisions of the pertinent SOFA, cargoes brought into the country on board state-owned and statechartered aircraft or vessels for purposes of SOFA activities shall be exempted from Philippine duties, taxes, and other similar charges after compliance with the following tax exemption procedures: a. The concerned embassy shall submit a letter request for tax exemption to the DOF, through the DFA. The request for tax exemption shall indicate the name and type of aircraft or vessel, and a general description of the cargoes that will be brought into the country for SOFA activities. b. The request for tax exemption shall be made at least ten (10) working days prior to the entry of the cargoes. c. The DOF shall process the request for tax exemption. The DOF shall forward the approved request to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for appropriate implementation. The DOF shall also provide a copy of the approved request to the concerned embassy through the DFA. 21.2. Cargoes on board commercial aircraft or vessels that are brought into the country in relation to SOFA activities shall be subject to the existing procedures that require a Certificate of Tax Exemption (CTE).

RULE 7: PRE-ENTRY, ENTRY, AND DEPARTURE OF AIRCRAFT AND VESSELS Section 22.

General Guidelines 22.1. Prior to the entry of aircraft and vessels, the AFP shall coordinate with the relevant port authorities on the processing of CIQ requirements in all ports of entry.

22.2. Only aircraft and vessels with the DC shall be allowed to land and park in designated airports or dock in designated seaports.

22.3. Except in cases of emergency or force majeure, aircraft or vessels entering Philippine territory prior to the validity period of the DC may be declined entry.

22.4. Port authorities shall determine and assign the exact location within the port where aircraft or vessels should land and park or dock, respectively.

22.5. Port authorities shall take into account the protection of public health, safety and security, and the preservation of the environment in the processing of CIQ requirements.

Section 23.

Procedures on Radio Pratique The radio pratique may be granted by the BOQ to state-owned and state-chartered vessels during SOFA activities in the country under the following conditions: a. There shall be a ship surgeon on board or in the vessels operating as a squadron; b. A request for the radio pratique must be submitted twentyfour (24) to forty-eight (48) hours before the expected arrival of the vessel; c. There shall be no actual or suspected case on board of a disease subject of International Health Regulations (IHR) or Public Health Emergencies of International Concern as promulgated by the World Health Organization (WHO); and d. The ports visited during the voyage shall be stated and if such ports are infected with any disease subject to the IHR, the request for radio pratique shall include a declaration that the necessary preventive safeguards have been instituted for the vessel, crew, passengers, and cargoes.

Such declaration may be expressed in the radiogram by the words, “Maximum Quarantine Precautions Enforced”.

Section 24.

Entry of Aircraft and Vessels 24.1. Entry of aircraft and vessels shall be in accordance with the pertinent rules and regulations of relevant port authorities.

24.2. State-Owned Aircraft and Vessels: a. Upon arrival of the state-owned aircraft or vessel, the Commanding Officer shall present a Declaration of Health to the BOQ certifying that the aircraft or vessel is free from quarantinable disease in accordance with the IHR as promulgated by the WHO; and b. State-owned aircraft or vessels shall be exempted from boarding formalities and primary inspection. However, the Commanding Officer shall submit to the Immigration authorities the Individual/Collective Document upon arrival.

24.3. State-Chartered Aircraft and Vessels: a. Upon arrival of the state-chartered aircraft or vessel, the BOQ shall conduct boarding formalities and shall require its Commanding Officer to present a Declaration of Health certifying that the aircraft or vessel is free from quarantinable disease in accordance with the IHR as promulgated by the WHO; b. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) shall conduct boarding formalities and primary inspection for state-chartered vessels and shall require an Individual/Collective Document from the Commanding Officer; and c. The BOC shall conduct boarding formalities and primary inspection for state-chartered vessels and shall require a Cargo Manifest/List from the Commanding Officer.

24.4. Port authorities shall notify the DND, DFA, and PCVF of the

RULE 11: HANDLING AND REPORTING OFFENSES, CRIMES, AND OTHER INCIDENTS INVOLVING VISITING FORCES Section 35.

Arrest of Visiting Forces Personnel 35.1. The PNP authorities shall arrest any Visiting Forces personnel who is/are attempting to commit, caught in the act of committing, or found to have consummated the commission of a crime or offense, at any place within its jurisdiction pursuant to the PNP Operational Procedures Manual.

35.2. In case the offense, crime or incident occurs within the jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), and other relevant port authorities, the law enforcer or proper authority under the concerned Departments and Agencies may perform the arrest.

35.3. In case the offense, crime or incident occurs inside a military reservation, camp, or facility, the arrest of the suspect shall be done by the proper military authorities.

35.4. Upon determination that the suspect is a Visiting Forces personnel, concerned Departments and Agencies shall follow their respective internal procedures and shall turn over the suspect to the PNP without delay. In such turnover, these Departments and Agencies shall observe Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, DOJ Circular No. 050 series of 2012, and other applicable laws, rules, and jurisprudence to give sufficient time for the PNP to conduct further investigation and documentation.

Section 36.

Visiting Forces Personnel Who are At Large or Under the Custody of Visiting Forces Authorities 36.1. In cases where complaints have been filed before the PNP and the alleged offender has been identified as a Visiting Forces personnel, the PNP authorities shall immediately request the assistance of the DFA to inform the embassy about the complaints received. The PNP shall furnish the PCVF, DND, and the nearest AFP headquarters a copy of the request for assistance.

36.2. The DFA shall immediately communicate the request of the PNP to the concerned embassy providing it with the details of the offense, crime, or incident allegedly committed by Visiting Forces personnel.

Section 37.

Reporting of Offenses, Crimes, or Incidents Involving Visiting Forces Personnel by the PNP 37.1. The PNP, through its National Operations Center (NOC), shall provide a report to the PCVF, DND, and DFA (Action Center) of any offenses, crimes, or incidents where the primary suspect is/are Visiting Forces personnel, within (3) three hours from the time that the incident was reported to the PNP, through Short Messaging Service (SMS).

37.2. Aside from providing reports through SMS, the PNP, through the Directorate for Intelligence (DI), shall also provide an initial written report within twenty-four (24) hours from the time the incident was reported and progress reports as they become available, to the PCVF, DND, and DFA, in accordance with the internal procedures of the PNP.

Section 38.

Reporting and Investigation of Maritime Incidents Involving State-Owned Vessels and Their Personnel, and State-Chartered Vessels and Their Complement 38.1. Any maritime incident involving Visiting Forces shall be reported immediately to the PNP, PCG, and the AFP. 38.2. The PCG, through its Action Center, shall provide a report to the PCVF, DFA, DND, PNP, AFP, and National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) Secretariat, through SMS within three (3) hours from the time the incident was first reported.

38.3. Aside from providing reports through SMS, the PCG, through its Action Center, shall also provide an initial written report within twenty-four (24) hours from the time the incident was first reported and progress reports as they become available to the DFA and PCVF. 38.4. The PCG and PNP, in coordination with other concerned Departments and Agencies, shall without delay, conduct investigation of maritime incident in accordance with pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and other issuances.

Section 39.

Reporting and Investigation of Aviation-Related Incidents Involving State-Owned and State-Chartered Aircraft with Civilian Registry 39.1. Any aviation-related incident involving state-owned and state-chartered aircraft with civilian registry shall be reported immediately to the CAAP and AFP. 39.2. The CAAP and AFP shall immediately provide a report to the PCVF and DFA. 39.3. The CAAP and AFP, in coordination with other concerned Departments and Agencies shall, without delay, conduct investigation on the incident, in accordance with pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and issuances.

Section 40.

Offenses, Crimes, or Incidents Directly Referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or Social Workers of Local Government Units 40.1. An offense, crime, or incident allegedly involving Visiting Forces personnel reported to the DSWD Central Office or any of its Field Offices, or to the Social Workers of LGUs shall immediately be referred to the PNP. 40.2. The reported victim/s and/or relatives of the victim/s in an offense, crime, or incident allegedly involving Visiting Forces personnel shall be provided with proper and appropriate social work or psycho-social intervention, and/or protective custody in cases involving children and other vulnerable sectors.

Section 41.

Handling of Request for the Transfer of Custody of the Accused Visiting Forces Personnel by the Concerned Foreign Embassy 41.1. Subject to the provisions of the pertinent SOFA, the request for the transfer of custody of the arrested Visiting Forces personnel shall be addressed to the DFA. 41.2. The DFA, in consultation and coordination with the PCVF member agencies, shall communicate with the concerned foreign embassy regarding the action taken on the request for transfer of custody.

41.3. The PNP shall transfer custody only upon receiving the order from the appropriate government authorities.

RULE 8: PRE-ENTRY, ENTRY, AND DEPARTURE OF PERSONNEL Section 27.

Validity of Diplomatic Clearance DCs are valid for the following time frames: 19.1. For Aircraft: a. Arrival into the Philippines – Plus or minus three (3) hours; b. Movement within the Philippines – Plus or minus three (3) hours; and c. Departure from the Philippines – Plus or minus three (3) hours.

19.2. For Vessels: a. Arrival into the Philippines – Plus or minus twenty-four (24) hours; b. Movement within the Philippines – Plus or minus three (3) hours; and c. Departure from the Philippines – Plus or minus three (3) hours.

19.3. The concerned embassy shall be required to immediately submit an amendment to the pertinent DC application of any arrival or departure beyond the time frames established therein.

19.4. The maximum validity of a DC shall be three (3) months.

19.5. The maximum duration for extension shall be three (3) days inclusive of weather-related extension.

Amendment of Diplomatic Clearance 20.1. Amendment may be granted only in so far as change in dates and time of the flight or voyage is concerned. Any change in other conditions, such as change in flight or voyage plan and/ or port of destination, shall require another request for DC. 20.2. A request for extension of the validity of DC may be granted under the following conditions/situations: a. When requested by the foreign government under the following circumstances: a.1. Bad weather; or a.2. Breakdown and repair of aircraft or vessels. b. When requested by the foreign government pursuant to mutual agreement with and/or request by Philippine Authorities under the following circumstances: b.1. Medical evacuation; and

b.2. HA/DR and other emergency-related activities.

20.3. Any amendment to the DC prior to the arrival of aircraft or vessels shall be requested by the concerned foreign embassy following the normal procedure for the approval of the DC. 20.4. All requests for amendment of the DC of aircraft or vessels already in the Philippines must be received by the DFA at least seventy-two (72) hours before the expiration of the validity of the DC stating therein the reason for such amendment.

20.5. An amended DC shall be issued by the DFA to the concerned aircraft or vessel indicating the duration of extension.

20.6. Requests for extension may not be entertained if made less than seventy-two (72) hours before the expiration of the DC. 20.7. The validity of DCs may be automatically extended due to force majeure based on the advisory issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) or by other concerned Departments and Agencies.

firearms, ammunition, and other regulated supplies.

34.2. The carrying of firearms and ammunition shall be in accordance with the relevant provisions of RA No. 10591 and other pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and issuances.

actual entry of aircraft and vessels to Philippine territory.

k. ETD from intended port of exit.

Section 17.

Pre-Entry of Personnel 27.1. The AFP shall secure the official list of personnel participating in SOFA activities indicating the names, ranks, positions and/or designations, serial number, and branch of service. A list shall be prepared for each aircraft and vessel, which shall also indicate the ports of entry. Copies of such lists shall be furnished to PCVF, DND, and BI at least twenty-four (24) hours before the ETA of the said aircraft or vessel.

27.2. The above-mentioned list shall indicate the personnel who will stay beyond the duration of the SOFA activities and the purpose of the extension of stay. It shall also identify the personnel who will leave the Philippines through a port different from his/her port of entry.

Entry of Personnel 28.1. Personnel from any state-owned or state-chartered aircraft shall only be allowed to disembark after submission of the General Declaration to CIQ authorities.

28.2. Personnel from any state-owned vessel shall only be allowed to disembark after the submission of the Maritime Declaration of Health and the Individual/Collective Document to the BOQ and BI authorities.

28.3. Personnel from any state-chartered vessel shall only be allowed to disembark after the conduct of boarding formalities and submission of the Maritime Declaration of Health and the Individual/Collective Document to the BOQ and BI authorities.

28.4. Exemptions from passport and visa regulations for foreign military personnel entering the Philippines shall be in accordance with the pertinent SOFA. In case of such exemptions, the BI shall require the presentation of the following documents: a. Personal identity card issued by the appropriate foreign government authority indicating full name, date of birth, rank or grade and service number, branch of service, and photograph; and b. Travel Authority.

28.5. In accordance with the pertinent SOFA, foreign civilian personnel entering the Philippines shall present, upon demand, their valid passports and Travel Authority.

28.6. Civilian masters and crewmembers of a state-chartered aircraft or vessel under contract with the Visiting Forces for transport of military and/or civilian personnel to or from the Philippines under any SOFA shall present the following: a. Three (3) copies of the Crew List duly visa-ed by the Philippine Consular Officer, including the seaman’s continuous discharge book and valid passport; b. Three (3) copies of non-visa-ed Crew List; and c. Three (3) copies of Passenger List/Manifest.

28.7. All stowaways and/or other undocumented persons shall be immediately referred to the BI for proper disposition under the provisions of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.

28.8. Visiting Forces personnel participating in SOFA activities who are not properly documented may be allowed entry upon representation by the Ambassador or Consul-General of the appropriate foreign government in the Philippines; the Commissioner of Immigration may defer exclusion under such reasonable terms and conditions as he/she may impose.

28.9. The entry of Visiting Forces arriving under any SOFA, whose names appear in the Immigration “Refuse Admission/Blacklist”, shall be deferred pending clearance from the Commissioner of Immigration or his duly-authorized representatives. All other persons arriving under any SOFA, whose names appear in the “Refuse Admission/Blacklist”, shall be immediately excluded.

Departure of Personnel 29.1. Except for purposes of medical treatment or criminal prosecution, all Visiting Forces personnel shall leave the country upon conclusion of the SOFA activities or upon expiration of their Travel Authority.

29.2. Departing foreign military personnel shall present the following pre-departure requirements to the BI: a. Personal identity card issued by the appropriate foreign government authority indicating his/her full name, date of birth, rank or grade and service number, branch of service, and photograph; and b. Travel Authority bearing latest BI arrival stamp.

29.3. Departing foreign civilian personnel shall present a valid passport bearing latest BI arrival stamp.

29.4. Departing Visiting Forces personnel who fail to present to the BI any of the preceding pre-departure requirements shall nonetheless be allowed departure upon proper representation to the Commissioner of Immigration by the Ambassador or Consul-General of the foreign government in the Philippines and the transmittal of an authorization by the Commissioner of Immigration to the assigned immigration officer.

29.5. Visiting Forces personnel who will stay beyond the duration of SOFA activities or beyond the validity of the Travel Authority shall be treated as regular tourists in the Philippines and shall be allowed a maximum extended stay of thirty (30) days. Provided that, anyone who will go on an extended stay shall carry with him/ her relevant travel documents such as the Travel Authority, valid passport, and personal identity card. Further, a stay beyond the thirty (30) day extension period shall be subject to the approval of the BI and shall require a visa.

29.6. Notwithstanding the presentation of the pre-departure requirements, a hold departure order issued by competent authorities in connection with a civil, criminal, or administrative inquiry shall prevent the foreign military or civilian personnel concerned from leaving the jurisdiction of the Philippines. For this purpose, all local law enforcement agencies shall at all times inform, advise, and/or effectively coordinate with the DOJ, DFA, DND, PCVF, BI, AFP, and other concerned Departments and Agencies on the outcome of such civil, criminal, or administrative inquiry.

RULE 9: PRE-ENTRY, ENTRY, AND DEPARTURE OF CARGOES VEHICLES, AND OTHER SUPPLIES) Section 30.

Section 31.

Section 32.

(EQUIPMENT,

Pre-Entry of Cargoes 30.1. Exemptions from duties, taxes, and other similar charges for cargoes brought into the country by or on behalf of Visiting Forces in connection with activities covered by a SOFA shall be in accordance with the provisions of the pertinent SOFA. 30.2. In the interest of public safety and security, the Cargo List/ Manifest of state-owned and state-chartered aircraft and vessels shall include firearms, ammunition, and other regulated supplies.

Importation, validation, and reporting of such supplies shall be in accordance with the relevant provisions of RA No. 10591, otherwise known as “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act”, and other pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and issuances.

Entry of Cargoes 31.1. Upon arrival of the state-owned or state-chartered aircraft or vessel, the Visiting Forces shall present the Cargo List/Manifest to the BOC at the designated port of entry.

31.2. Cargoes which are not included in the approved request for tax exemption shall be recorded and reported to the appropriate office of the DOF. The DOF shall provide the DND, DFA, and PCVF a copy of such report for appropriate action.

31.3. Inspection of firearms, ammunition, and other regulated supplies shall be in accordance with the relevant protocols of the BOC, PNP, and other concerned Departments and Agencies.

31.4. Cargoes may be withheld when public safety and security so requires, as may be determined by competent authorities.

31.5. Any articles or goods brought into the country by Visiting Forces personnel in excess of those for personal use or consumption shall be subject to payment of appropriate duties and taxes.

Departure of Cargoes 32.1. The BOC shall process the re-exportation of cargoes brought into the country for SOFA activities using the approved request for tax exemption as reference.

32.2. The BOC shall inform the DOF, DFA, DND, and PCVF of the cargoes which were covered by the approved request for tax exemption but were not re-exported for their appropriate action.

32.3. Donations from Visiting Forces shall be in accordance with the provisions of the General Appropriations Act on Donations, Department of Budget Management/Commission on Audit/ Department of Finance Joint Circular No. 2-97, and other pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and issuances.

RULE 12: CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION, FINES, AND DAMAGES Section 42.

General Procedure The DFA, in coordination with other Departments and Agencies as appropriate, shall be the lead agency in the negotiation with its concerned foreign counterparts of meritorious claims for damages, loss, personal injury, or death, caused by acts or omissions of Visiting Forces personnel, or incidental to the non-combat activities of the said personnel.

RULE 13: REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES Section 43.

General Reporting Requirements All concerned Departments and Agencies shall submit post-activity reports containing relevant data required by the PCVF. The PCVF, in cooperation with these Departments and Agencies, shall submit an Annual Impact Assessment Report on Visiting Forces activities.

RULE 14:FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 44.

Confidentiality Clause All information submitted by Visiting Forces to concerned Departments and Agencies of the Philippine Government shall be treated with utmost confidentiality.

Section 45.

Amendment and Addendum This Omnibus IRR may be amended, in whole or in part, and new provisions may be added to this Omnibus IRR as warranted, by the PCVF En Banc.

Section 46.

Transitory Provision All concerned Departments and Agencies shall issue appropriate department orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, implementing guidelines, and other similar instruments to implement the provisions of this Omnibus IRR. Section 47.

Repealing Clause All existing Implementing Rules and Regulations of concerned Departments and Agencies related to SOFAs inconsistent with this Omnibus IRR are hereby deemed repealed.

Section 48.

Separability Clause In the event that any provision or part of this Omnibus IRR is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in force.

Section 49.

Effectivity Clause This Omnibus IRR shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in the Official Gazette of the Philippines or a newspaper of general circulation.

Done in the City of Manila this 16th day of September, 2015.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. Chairman, PCVP

RULE 10: MOVEMENT OF AIRCRAFT, VESSELS, VEHICLES, CARGOES, AND PERSONNEL Section 33.

Section 34.

General Guidelines 33.1. The AFP, in coordination with other concerned Departments and Agencies, shall monitor all movement of aircraft, vessels, vehicles, cargoes, and personnel during the conduct of any SOFA activities.

33.2. The AFP shall provide information, at least seven (7) days prior to the conduct of any SOFA activity in the Philippine FIR and maritime areas, to the CAAP for the issuance of Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and PCG for the issuance of Notice to Mariners (NOTAM), respectively.

33.3. The AFP shall submit to the PCVF a regular monitoring update on the movement of aircraft, vessels, vehicles, cargoes, and personnel during the conduct of any SOFA activity.

Movement of Firearms, Ammunition, and Other Regulated Supplies 34.1. The AFP shall prepare a movement plan for the transport of bulk

Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario Department of Foreign Affairs Vice-Chairman

Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento Department of Interior and Local Government Member

Secretary Corazon J. Soliman Department of Social Welfare and Development Member

Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin Department of National Defense Vice-Chairman

Secretary Leila M. De Lima Department of Justice Member

Undersecretary Eduardo SL. Oban, Jr. Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Executive Director and Member ( T S - J A N . 2 9 , 2 016)

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Serena nearing Graf’s record, but Kerber stands in her way MELBOURNE—An imperious Serena Williams set up a crack at her seventh Australian Open title Thursday by trampling Agnieszka Radwanska, with only Angelique Kerber now capable of stopping her equalling Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam triumphs.

The dominant top seed was in inspirational form as she pummelled the Pole 6-0, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena, with the stunned fourth seed calling the opening set the best tennis she had ever faced.

It set Williams up for a 26th Grand Slam final as she zeroes in on a seventh Australian Open title and a bid to match’s Graf’s record. Margaret Court holds the all-time record of 24 major wins.

Germany’s Kerber, the seventh seed, earned her right to face Williams by beating unseeded Briton Johanna Konta 7-5, 6-2 to sweep into her maiden Grand Slam final.

It marked the first time a German has reached the final at Melbourne Park since Anke Huber in 1996, but Kerber faces a monumental task with the American powerhouse across the net in Saturday’s decider.

Williams, 34, has a 5-1 win record against Kerber and vastly more big match experience, but she is not underestimating the threat she faces.

“She took out a really tough opponent in Victoria,” she said of Kerber’s quarter-final ousting of two-time champion Victoria Azarenka.

“You can’t underestimate Kerber.

She’s beaten me before, too, and pretty good. I know that she brings a lot, you know, to the game.

“Her being lefty definitely helps out as well. I haven’t played any lefties yet.

But we’ll see. I think... it will be a really good match. It definitely won’t be easy.”

Against Radwanska, the top seed was untouchable and she will go into the decider knowing that of her 25 previous major finals, she has won 21.

The Pole admitted she was left in awe after seeing her 13-match win streak emphatically halted by the Williams juggernaut.

“I think she started unbelievable, with such power and speed. I was just standing there kind of watching her playing,” said Radwanska, calling the first set the best anyone had ever played against her.

“I think so. There was just no mistake. Unbelievable serve. Everything, she was going for it. Yeah, I couldn’t do

Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Binmaley, Pangasinan

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Mines and Geosciences Bureau

North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel. No. (+63 2) 920-9120/ 920-9130 / 928-8937 Fax No. (+63 2) 920-1635 E-mail: central @ mgb.gov.ph

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID One (1) Lot Drydocking/Repair of Marine Vessel ITB 2016-01-011 P.R. No. 2015-12-954 1. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2016 intends to apply the sum of Six Million Pesos (PhP6,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for One (1) Lot Drydocking/Repair of Marine Vessel. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected during opening of bids.

The MGB now invites bids for Procurement of One (1) Lot Drydocking/ Repair of 500GRT Research Vessel (RPS Explorer).

2. Delivery of the Goods is required within sixty (60) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed (NTP). Bidders should have completed, within Five (5) years from 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).

3. 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”.

4. 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 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5. Interested bidders may obtain further information from MGB and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours, from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. 6. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from January 27 to February 2, 2016 at the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Four Thousand Pesos (PhP4,000.00).

Preview of specifications/scope of work can be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on February 3, 2016, Wednesday, on or before 1:30PM. Late bids shall not be accepted. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or any other bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

8. Bid opening shall be on February 3, 2016, Wednesday, on or before 2:00PM, at the Office of the MGB-Bids and Awards Committee. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.

9. The MGB 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, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to: Engr. ROBERTO D. CASERO Head, Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. 667-6700 loc. 153 or 156 E-mail: bacems_minesbureauco@yahoo.com Website: www.mgb.gov.ph (SGD) Engr. JUANCHO PABLO S. CALVEZ BAC Chairman ( T S - J A N . 2 9 , 2 016)

much. Not at all, actually.”

The writing was on the wall -- Williams had never lost a semi-final at Melbourne Park on her way to six titles, and had beaten the Pole in each of their previous eight meetings stretching back to 2008.

She crushed long-time rival Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals and dished out the same treatment to the inform fourth seed, who won the WTA Finals late last season and this month’s Shenzhen Open title.

Kerber, buoyed by a new-found selfbelief inspired by fellow German Graf, who practised with the 28-year-old last year, was too strong for Konta, who was playing her first Australian Open main draw and first Grand Slam semi.

“It’s a really special moment. I reach the final for the first time,” Kerber said.

“I was trying to give everything today on court.” AFP

INVITATION TO BID The Municipality of Binmaley, through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project.

Name of Project: Location: Approved Budget for the Contract: Source of Fund: ITEM NO.

Installation/Acquisition of LED Display Board POBLACION, Binmaley, Pangasinan Php 6,500,000.00 LOAN (DBP) ID DESCRIPTION

QTY.

UNIT

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT

Installation/Acquisition of LED Display Board (P10 DIP OUTDOOR LED) Technical Specification of LED Single Data: 1. LED P10 Display: Color Red, Chip: EPISTAR, Wave: 620-625mm Brightness:600 med, Packing: DIP546 Test Condition: 25C,20mA Color Green, Chip: EPISTAR, Wave: 520+/-2.5mm Brightness: 2000med, Packing: DIP546 Test Condition:25C, 20mA Color: Blue, Chip: EPISTAR, Wave: 470+/-2.5mm Brightness: 420med, Packing: DIP546 Test Condition: 25C, 20mA 2. Panel Parameters: Resolution: 96*96pixels Physical Density: 9216/panel Cabinet Type: Outdoor Cabinet Cabinet Size: 960*960, Weight/Unit: 55kg Material: Iron, Module Qty: 3x6pcs Ave. Consumption:200-250w/m² 3. Screen Parameters: Display Area Size: 5.76mx9.6m= 55,296m2 Cabinet Quantity: 60 pcs, Pixel Resolution: 552960pixels Ave. Consumption: 200-250w/m² Max. Consumption: 488w/m² Brightness: Up to 5500nits, Colors: 280 trillion (HD Resolution) Brightness Control: 255 Degree by software Gray scale: 65536, View Distance: 10-100m View Angle- Horizontal: 160deg; Vertical: 160deg Power Supply: AC220V/110V50Hz or Manual Switch Waterproof Grade: IP67, Drive Mode: Synchronous with PC Lifetime: 100,000hours, Trouble Free Time: 10,000hours Operation Temperature: -20C-+65C Operation Humidity: 10%-95% Required Size : 5.7m (H)*9.6m (W) Area: 55.296sqm.

Whole Screen Reso Quantity : 6pcs*10pcs

Php6,500,000.00 LOAN (DBP)

Actual Screen Cabinet

Contract Duration : 60 days Prospective bidders should have experienced in undertaking a similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The eligibility check/ screening as well as the preliminary Examination of the bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security ,Pre bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows: Schedule of Activities 1. Pre- Procurement Conference 2. Issuance of Bid Documents 3. Pre-Bid Conference 4. Opening of Bids 5. Bid Evaluation 6. Post Qualification 7. Notice of Award 8. Notice to Proceed

Jan. 18, 2016 - 9AM Conference Rm., Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Jan. 25, 2016 - Feb. 15, 2016. Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Monday to Friday/8am-5PM Feb. 4, 2016 - 10am/Conference Rm., Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Feb. 16, 2016-10AM/ Conference Rm., Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Feb.17, 2016 Feb. 18, 2016-10am/Conference Rm., Mun. Hall, Binmaley, Pangasinan Feb. 22, 2016 Feb. 24, 2016

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Php 10, 000.00 pesos to the Office of the Treasurer, Binmaley, Pangasinan.

The Municipal Government of Binmaley assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bids and reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any formality, informality, and/or defect and to make an award to the bidder whose proposal is most advantageous to the government.

CONTACT PERSON: (SGD.) CATALINA R. FLORES BAC Secretariat Poblacion, Binmaley, Pangasinan Tel. No. 075-632-3881 APPROVED BY:

( T S - J A N . 2 9 , 2 016)

(SGD.)FERNANDO B. FERRER BAC Chairman

Dubs avenge defeat to Mavs OA K L A N D —K l ay Thompson outshone teammate Steph Curry as the Golden State Warriors avenged last month’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks with an emphatic 127-107 victory on Wednesday.

Thompson poured on 45 points and five rebounds in a superb display as the Warriors romped home against one of only four teams to defeat them this season.

The Mavericks had beaten a Curry-less Warriors line-up in Dallas last month, winning 114-91 in a rare off night for the reigning NBA Champions.

But with Thompson in blistering form and Curry restored to the line-up on Wednesday, there was never much chance of the Mavericks pulling off a repeat victory.

The Warriors surged into a double-digit lead in the first quarter and kept the Mavs at bay thereafter as they extended their unbeaten home record to 21-0 this season, 42-4 overall. Dallas fell to 26-22.

The Mavericks, with German star Dirk Nowitzki given a night off, flickered briefly in the third quarter when Chandler Parsons drained a threepointer to cut the Warriors lead to 65-54.

But the Mavericks fightback was snuffed out as the Warriors went on a 30-point blitz to build a comfortable 95-77 lead.

Curry finished with a relatively modest 14-point haul, just ahead of Harrison Barnes (13) and Draymond Green (10).

Chasing the Bulls?

Wednesday’s win follows blowout victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs in recent weeks.

Having opened the season with a record unbeaten streak, the Warriors are now on track to eclipse the Chicago Bulls’ 72-win season in the Michael Jordan era set in the 1995-1996 campaign.

The Warriors next big hurdle as they aim to edge closer to the Bulls record mark is likely to come against Western Conference rivals the Oklahoma City Thunder early next month.

The Thunder, who have the third best record in the West, improved to 35-13 with a battling 126-123 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

Kevin Durant led the scoring for Oklahoma City with 27 points, with nine rebounds and five assists.

Durant’s haul included nine points during a nervy final quarter where the momentum swung wildly. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Fuentes offered to fight Nietes in Cebu

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldefuer has made an offer to Zanfer Promotions head Fernando Beltran for mandatory challenger Moises Fuentes to face WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes at the sprawling Cebu Sports Complex on May 21.

Aldeguer told the Standard: “Negotiations are going on and we are waiting for a response from Beltran.”

The venue is the one that drew some 25,000

fans when Z “The Dream” Gorres fought Mexico’s world champion Fernando Montiel for the WBO super flyweight title, but lost by a somewhat controversial

split decision on Feb. 24, 2007.

The WBO declared Fuentes the mandatory challenger for the second time in a trilogy after he figured in a majority draw, with Nietes in their first meeting with two American judges Adalaide Byrd and Pat Russell scoring it an even 114-114, and Filipino judge Danrex Tapdasan having the Filipino ahead, 115-113.

In their rematch, Nietes dropped Fuentes three times in the ninth round to

score a spectacular knockout at the Mall of Asia Arena on May 10, 2014, after referee Robert Byrd deducted a point from Nietes for hitting Fuentes following the first knockdown.

Fuentes earned the mandatory shot at Nietes after he won a 12-round split decision over Francisco Rodriguez Jr. in a title eliminator last Dec. 5 in a fight, where Rodriguez came in overweight.

Nietes earlier scored a lopsided decision over

Rodriguez at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel and Casino on July 11, 2015.

Fuentes, in a conversation with longtime Cebu resident Mike Lopez of Mexico, claimed that the humidity was the cause of his defeat and said he didn’t want to fight in Manila, but was prepared to face Nietes in Cebu.

Aldeguer said there is an exciting dimension to their third fight since legendary Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales, who beat eight-

division world champion Manny Pacquiao in their first fight of a trilogy, but was knocked out in their next two fights, has taken over the training of Fuentes from another legend, countryman Marco Antonio Barrera, whom he beat by a split decision in their first clash but lost the next two in a terrific trilogy.

The 33-year-old Nietes has a record of 37-1-4, with 21 knockouts, while Fuentes, who is 30, has a record of 232-1 with 12 knockouts.

Philracom: Dialogue, consultation keys to growth

Seaoil karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera again captured an international podium fourth runner-up finish, this time at the 2016 Rotax Max Invitational at the Sepang International Circuit. Tayao Cabrera is also shown with his mechanics Ericson Abaja, Alger Besona, Rommuel Salazar and Jon Candado (inset).

Gabe scores another podium finish in Malaysia SEAOIL karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera jumpstarted his race year favorably by bagging an international podium fourth runner-up finish at the 2016 Rotax Max Invitational held at the Sepang International Circuit.

Racing with Energy Corse Asia, Tayao Cabrera pulled off another podium result with the team after winning his first one at the X30 Cup in Singapore late last year. The races marked a milestone since Cabrera is the first Filipino senior driver to bag

podium wins in both events.

“I’m grateful that ECA team principal Josh Hunt has been very supportive and his staff are primarily Filipinos so I felt right at home. A big credit also goes to my chief mechanics Rommuel Salazar, Alger Besona and tuner Josh Smith,” said Tayao Cabrera.

Backed by Gold’s Gym, DC, Media Magic and Point Zero Project, Tayao Cabrera is facing a transition year as the Philippines’ top karter is set to focus

on race training programs here and abroad.

“It has been great karting for 5 years because it prepared me well to climb higher up the motorsports ladder. Thanks to my generous sponsors, I’m excited my racing career is going to level up this year,” said Tayao Cabrera.

Prior to race season formally opening in a few weeks, Tayao Cabrera is slated to be formally presented with the top titles Karter of the Year and Interna-

tional Karter of the Year among other awards he will receive at the upcoming Golden Wheel Awards to formally honor his various achievements last year.

“I’m not getting any younger.

A lot of foreign drivers my age are already in cars so I’m happy to graduate from karting at my peak,” said Cabrera.

Tayao Cabrera is technically the youngest ever Karter of the Year in Philippine karting history, bagging the title at 15 years old.

Cage clinic slated at Playland of FisherMall on Feb. 8 THE Leni Robredo Is My VP volunteer group is staging BasketbalLENI, a cage event among friends and the youth, on Feb. 8 at Playland, 4th Level of FisherMall along Quezon Ave. in Quezon City.

The people-initiated project aims to gather basketball-loving supporters of Rep. Robredo for fun and fitness.

Also on tap is a cage clinic for boys and girls aged 7-13, 5-on-5 games, father and son two-ball, mother and daughter free throw shooting and barkada 3-point shootout with top prizes at stake.

According to Teddy Perena, one of the organizers, the unique basketball affair will start at 10 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.

with veteran coaches and popular sports personalities invited to train the kids and grace the event.

BasketbalLENI is sponsored by long-time basketball patron Burlington socks with Aquabest and Chocovron as backers.

For registration and other details, text or call 0922-800-1247 and 0918-921-7160.

THE Philippine Racing Commission moved immediately to address concerns aired by the three horseowner organizations—Marho, Philtobo, and Klub Don Juan de Manila—after they weighed in with their comments on handicapping rules.

The horseowners made suggestions regarding rules on going down of imports and local-breds, numbering of the class divisions of horses, and guidelines on special races.

Their concerns were promptly taken up by the Commission at their regular Board meeting that same week, and action taken on the issues raised.

“The Commission consults industry stakeholders on major industry issues,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez. “This is in line with the present administration’s policy on transparency and good governance, where we aim for collegial decisions when it is practical and appropriate, in order to boost industry growth.”

The horseowners appreciated the swift response their requests received.

Philracom holds regular sectoral meetings at which various industry stakeholders—horseowners, trainers, jockeys, racing clubs, off-track betting station owners, and other groups—meet to discuss issues, find solutions to problems, and brainstorm strategies to meet challenges facing the sport.

As such, it is one of the government agencies that actively engages stakeholders in dialogue for the benefit of all.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

F R I DAY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 16

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

JuneMar Fajardo, who was doubtful for the series due to a knee injury, surprisingly returned and played in crucial stretches in Game 5. He produced 13 points, on 4-of-5 shooting, as he helped San Miguel Beer fight off elimination once more by posting an 86-73 triumph in extension.

Revitalized Beermen seek series equalizer

By Jeric Lopez

A SURPRISE return by reigning Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo certainly made the championship more intense.

The 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Finals resume with Alaska now under tremendous pressure to finally cop the elusive championship, while San Miguel Beer is totally rejuvenated and looking to make history.

Still ahead, though by only one game now at 3-2 in the best-of-seven finale, the Aces, after blowing their first two chances, will once again shoot for the title. The Beermen for the third straight time, will fight for

survival as the two meet again in the crucial Game 6 today at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After establishing a commanding 3-0 lead at the start of the series, Alaska failed to capitalize. It lost much of its advantage after failing to finish the job in Games 4 and 5.

Alaska coach Alex Compton is hoping that the tide will turn in favor of the Aces as they obviously don’t want to go to a knockout Game 7. Closing out the series and copping the crown is the only

thing in mind of the Aces.

“They’ve been very effective the last two games and we need to counter that. Hopefully, we make some shots that we didn’t make in our last two games,’’ said Compton. “We certainly want to end the series. That’s it.’’

The last two games of the Finals were classic ones. Both went into overtime with San Miguel showing its poise in the clutch to keep its title defense alive.

In Game 5 Wednesday night, Fajardo, who was doubtful for the series due to a knee injury, surprisingly returned and played in crucial stretches. He produced 13 points, on 4-of-5 shooting, as he helped San Miguel Beer fight off elimination once more by posting

an 86-73 triumph in extension.

Now, the Beermen, who are trying to become the first team to come back from a 0-3 deficit in a series in league history, are in much better shape. They aim on continuing to defy the odds in hopes of becoming the first team to accomplish the difficult feat of winning four straight after falling into a 0-3 hole.

San Miguel coach Leo Austria admitted the defending champions are very optimistic now that they’re giving the Aces a run for their money.

“Now it’s 3-2. We need another one here to get to Game 7,’’ said Austria. “Players and fans were inspired by the return of June Mar (Fajardo) and that’s helping us.

The players are showing the heart of a champion now.’’

So scores 9th draw in Holland tourney

By Peter Atencio

So

WITH no clear advantage on both sides, Grandmaster Wesley So settled for a draw in 40 moves of an English Opening with Evgeny Tomashevsky in the 10th round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee in Holland.

They had three pawns each when he captured a pawn at c4 with his white rook at endgame.

It was So’s ninth draw against a win. He has 5.5 points, keeping his share of third to sixth places with Anish Giri, Liren Ding and Pavel Eljanov.

GM Magnus Carlsen, playing black, drew with

Giri in 34 moves of a Nimzoindian Defense.

He could not find a way to attack Giri’s wellprotected king, and with the draw, Carlsen has seven points at the top spot.

GM Fabiano Caruana is now half a point behind Carlsen with 6.5 points.

Caruana used the Spanish variation of the Ruy Lopez to subdue Yi Wei in 35 moves.

Wei quit after Caruana, playing white, put his rook to e6, and threatened to gobble up his remaining kingside pawn.

Ding also drew with Loek Van Wely in 64 moves of a Gruenfeld.

Benilde captures volley tiara THE College of St. Benilde Lady Blazer finally reached the Promised Land after a 17-year journey.

Janine Navarro and Ranya Musa got past the defending champion San Sebastian Lady Stags’ tight floor defense in the fourth set and handed the Lady Blazers their firstever women’s crown in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball tournament.

They scored the winning spikes after Lady Stag main tosser Grethcel Soltones rejoined her team following a long rest in the fourth set, allowing the Lady Blazers to end a title drought which started when CSB first joined the league in 1998.

It was also their first successful title conquest following runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2009.

Navarro led the Lady Blazers with 18 points, her kill sailing past Soltones and pushing the Recoletos spikers ahead, 23-21.

Soltones, who had 19 points, made an effort to keep the Lady Stags in the thick of the fight. Her placement shot past Finals MVP Jeanette Panaga kept the Lady Stags close, 22-23. But a service error by Joy Corpuz denied the Baste Spikers another chance to keep up with CSB, 22-24.

In the next play, a drop shot from Ranya Musa from the middle went past frontliners Joyce Sta. Rita and Vira Guillema, sending the CSB and their supporters into a frenzied celebration.

“Yes, historic moment ito, finally.

Sabi ko sa kanila, marami puwede mangyari ngayong araw. Either umuwi kaming luhaan o gagawa kami ng history para sa CSB at sa NCAA. Sa sobrang tiyaga, lahat binigay nila.

Kaya, happy ako,” said CSB coach Michael Carino. Peter Atencio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY: JANUARY 29, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

B1

2015 GDP growth slowed to 5.8%

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE Philippine economy grew 5.8 percent in 2015, the slowest pace in four years, dragged down by government underspending, sluggish farm production and a sharp drop in merchandise exports.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Thursday that while the gross domestic product grew 6.3 percent yearon-year in the fourth quarter, beating market expectations, fullyear growth was registered at 5.8 percent.

Investors in the stock market cheered the fourth-quarter growth, as the 30-company benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 56 points, 0.9 percent, to close at 6,563.38 Thursday.

The full-year GDP growth was one of the fastest in Southeast Asia, but fell short of the government’s target range of 7 percent to 8 percent. It was also the slowest in four years, after the expansion of 6.1 percent in 2014, 7.1 percent in 2013 and 6.8 percent in 2012.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the country’s economic performance last year was the best among the five largest economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“In a year marked by strong ex-

ternal headwinds, the Philippines has kept its quarterly average growth rate of 6 percent for the duration of the Aquino administration, pushing the six-year moving average of real GDP growth at 6.2 percent as of 2015—the highest since 1978,” Purisima said.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said while the 2015 GDP growth was lower than what the government targeted for the year, “this was respectable given the difficult external environment, the onset of El Niño dry spell and the challenges in government spending in the first semester.”

The gross national income, which includes foreign exchange inflows, expanded 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter and 5.4 percent in the whole of 2015.

Balisacan, who is leaving the National Economic and Devel-

opment Authority to become the first chairman of the anti-monopoly body Philippine Competition Commission, said for 2016, a 7-percent growth rate was achievable.

“With sound fundamentals and ongoing structural changes in the economy that make it more resilient to shocks, we can expect higher growth for 2016 as the global economy also picks up,” he said.

“Nonetheless, there are remaining challenges that the next administration will continue to confront. Given serious threats from climate change and the realities of a global economy, we cannot afford to be complacent,” he said.

Data showed the services sector carried the bulk of growth in 2015. The sector grew 6.7 percent in 2015 while the industry and agriculture sectors expanded 6 per-

PSe comPoSite index

Cebuana Lhuillier advocacy.

Closing January 28, 2016

8000 8340 7880

Cebuana Lhuillier Microinsurance embarks on an advocacy program to promote disaster resilience and preparedness among Filipinos. It joins the ‘2016 Ready: Disaster Resilience Forum’ to cite the role of micro-insurance in mitigating the impact of natural disasters among residents, especially in the most vulnerable communities.

Shown are Cebuana Lhuillier president and chief executive Jean Henri Lhuillier (right) presenting a plaque of appreciation to Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc during the forum co-organized by the Insurance Commission and the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).

7420 6960 6500

6,563.38 156.16

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JANUARY 28, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.730

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P47.730 LOW P47.940AVERAGE P47.823 VOLUME 551.700M

P417.00-P627.00 LPG/11-kg tank P33.30-P40.75 Unleaded Gasoline

cent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

Government spending rose 9.4 percent while public and private investments increased 13.6 percent. Public construction picked up 20.6 percent.

“We attribute these remarkable improvements in spending performance to two main factors. First, we have substantially increased infrastructure spending over the last five years as we seek to address infrastructure challenges and put us in step with other Asean emerging economies which spend a higher percentage of GDP on infrastructure,” said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

Balisacan said the economy would face several risks in 2016, including the El Niño dry spell that could still affect the agriculture sector and the global developments that could reduce demand for Philippine products.

oPriceS il P today

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel

China property assets still expensive—Hans Sy

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

By Ian Sayson

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, January 28, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8880

Japan

Yen

0.008432

0.4038

UK

Pound

1.423500

68.1686

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128315

6.1447

Switzerland

Franc

0.985125

47.1757

Canada

Dollar

0.709824

33.9921

Singapore

Dollar

0.698178

33.4343

Australia

Dollar

0.706115

33.8144

Bahrain

Dinar

2.659787

127.3719

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.7701

Brunei

Dollar

0.695749

33.3180

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027933

1.3377

UAE

Dirham

0.272294

13.0396

Euro

Euro

1.089500

52.1740

Korea

Won

0.000833

0.0399

China

Yuan

0.152017

7.2798

India

Rupee

0.014701

0.7040

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.235128

11.2598

New Zealand

Dollar

0.651296

31.1893

Taiwan

Dollar

0.029804

1.4273 Source: PDS Bridge

BILLIONAIRE Henry Sy’s SM Prime Holdings Inc. said it’s received invitations to bid on Chinese property companies and assets, though the developer is holding off because asking prices are too high.

“The opportunity is not yet quite there,” president Hans Sy, one of the patriarch’s sons, said in an interview in Makati City this week. “Give it a year or two, the right opportunity will come out.

I’d rather eventually look into individual projects. That way I have better chances of knowing what we are getting into.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

With China just seeing its slowest economic growth in a quarter century, Sy is among the tycoons signaling the country has yet to hit bottom. Dalian Wanda Group Co., the conglomerate headed

by China’s richest man, earlier this month forecast its commercial property business will see a 32-percent sales drop this year.

SM Prime has been approached by banks, multinational companies and international brokers to review Chinese property firms and their assets as acquisition targets, said Jeffrey Lim, president at SM Prime’s residential unit. Neither Lim nor Sy specified which companies they reviewed as tar-

gets.

Despite its cautious stance, Manila-based SM Prime will continue to expand in China by adding a shopping mall in the country each year until reaching 10 by 2019 to help the company sustain annual profit growth of 14 percent to 15 percent for the next three years, Sy said.

“As China slows down and property prices come off, expect SM to be opportunistic and on the lookout for acquisitions,” said James Lago, head of research at PCCI Securities Brokers Corp.

“While the Philippines is still probably far from reaching a saturation point for malls, China will

be providing growth to SM when that happens.”

The company, which entered China in 2007, currently operates six malls in the country and will begin building apartments near its mall in Chengdu this year, according to Sy, betting the project’s proximity to a shopping center will make it attractive to buyers.

Beyond China, the largest Philippine builder in terms of market value is planning to add as many as six shopping malls this year at home. Sy, 60, said SM Prime plans to have 75 Philippine malls by the of end 2018, versus 56 now. Bloomberg

FRIDAY: JANUARY 29, 2016

B2

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Thursday, January 28, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 2.17

34.1 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.87 8.45 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 5.9 161 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI First Gen Corp.

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

LBC Express Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.26 0.152 837 5.3

76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. 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. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

10.5 1.99 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.48 0.201

6.74 0.65 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.97 0.083

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc.

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 13,217,901 99,354,124 124,884,618 178,619,788 436,697,098 238,083,521 1,091,981,556

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.9 2.58 44.7 44.6 99.85 98.00 86.80 85.10 35 34.6 2.50 2.50 1.46 1.45 14.5 14 15.92 15.86 1.81 1.68 580.00 580.00 0.500 0.410 73 72.15 0.88 0.88 49.90 48.00 276 275.8 32.7 32.1 143 139 1270.00 1260.00 56.80 56.50 1.47 1.45 INDUSTRIAL 41.1 41.5 40.3 4.29 4.34 4.1 0.6 0.6 0.6 1.22 1.23 1.2 9.57 9.6 9.59 110.00 140.00 140.00 15.7 16 15.5 19.7 19.88 19.6 41 41 41 2.14 2.14 2.05 2.61 2.7 2.48 11.7 11.7 11.36 7.520 7.670 7.500 7.09 7.35 7.10 5.37 5.50 5.37 5.64 5.77 5.30 18.6 18.74 18.28 54.25 55.5 54.25 13.52 14.30 14.30 5.01 5.13 5 2.110 2.400 2.100 206.00 206.00 202.80 6.98 6.5 6.2 25.00 25.00 25.00 1.72 1.74 1.73 3.02 3.02 2.99 40.65 39.50 36.00 24.85 24.85 24.3 13.4 14.1 13.3 5.5 5.5 5.5 307.20 311.00 306.60 2.92 3.05 2.9 5.90 6.55 5.90 3.60 3.50 3.45 1.41 1.41 1.38 2.16 2.38 2.12 3.57 3.64 3.30 2.21 2.7 2.43 4.9 5.99 5.99 127 138 120.6 4.15 4 3.95 2.52 2.6 2.47 0.145 0.152 0.143 0.90 1.10 0.89 2.15 2.16 2.10 186 188.2 184 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.99 1.00 0.97 HOLDING FIRMS 0.280 0.315 0.280 57.3000 57.0000 56.2500 14.00 14.50 13.70 5.98 6.00 6.00 0.180 0.200 0.200 0.175 0.210 0.210 680 680 665 7.26 7.38 7.28 11.20 11.38 11.18 4.50 4.54 4.50 0.194 0.222 0.205 1248 1254 1245 5.60 5.34 5.34 9.41 9.49 9.40 61.20 62.90 61.00 3.35 3.36 3.36 5.1 5.35 5.15 0.5 0.56 0.51 16.1 16.2 15.92 5.41 5.53 5.37 0.0270 0.0280 0.0260 0.910 0.940 0.940 1.940 1.970 1.910 68.00 70.00 66.60 780.50 820.00 770.00 0.98 1.05 0.99 100.000 101.000 97.000 0.2450 0.2600 0.2500 0.1960 0.2100 0.1880 0.260 0.280 0.250 PROPERTY 6.500 6.650 6.500 0.69 0.71 0.67 0.210 0.219 0.219 30.300 30.850 30.050 2.22 2.43 2.22 4.5 4.6 4.41 0.405 0.48 0.41 0.950 1.020 1.020 0.112 0.119 0.115 2.7 44.65 99.15 86.50 34.5 2.50 1.45 14.3 15.9 1.65 580.00 0.410 72.45 0.91 48.00 276 32.6 139.1 1280.00 56.80 1.47

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.75 44.7 99.50 86.70 34.6 2.50 1.45 14.5 15.88 1.81 580.00 0.470 72.95 0.88 49.00 276 32.7 141.6 1260.00 56.50 1.45

1.85 0.11 0.35 0.23 0.29 0.00 0.00 1.40 -0.13 9.70 0.00 14.63 0.69 -3.30 2.08 0.00 0.31 1.80 -1.56 -0.53 -1.36

179,000 13,500 2,755,840 3,409,470 79,100 134,000 9,000 2,900 242,000 11,000 30 3,200,000 1,940,790 116,000 30,800 170 35,600 815,140 240 36,400 202,000

41.35 4.29 0.6 1.22 9.59 140.00 15.54 19.7 41 2.09 2.49 11.7 7.640 7.23 5.48 5.77 18.28 54.8 14.30 5.13 2.400 204.80 6.4 25.00 1.73 2.99 39.35 24.8 13.64 5.5 309.20 2.95 6.30 3.50 1.40 2.24 3.64 2.43 5.99 135.6 3.95 2.49 0.149 0.98 2.15 187 0.58 0.99

0.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.21 27.27 -1.02 0.00 0.00 -2.34 -4.60 0.00 1.60 1.97 2.05 2.30 -1.72 1.01 5.77 2.40 13.74 -0.58 -8.31 0.00 0.58 -0.99 -3.20 -0.20 1.79 0.00 0.65 1.03 6.78 -2.78 -0.71 3.70 1.96 9.95 22.24 6.77 -4.82 -1.19 2.76 8.89 0.00 0.54 0.00 0.00

1,360,600 114,000 524,000 268,000 1,700 100 520,000 653,800 300 332,000 3,932,000 33,300 5,484,900 15,628,300 18,758,800 1,171,000 4,392,700 136,940 25,300 125,300 9,361,000 1,168,710 17,200 200 23,000 2,000 20,100 945,300 2,989,100 19,000 121,340 677,000 14,416,000 17,000 300,000 750,000 34,000 10,000 1,000 14,750 12,000 1,348,000 3,560,000 121,000 4,197,000 4,431,320 1,291,000 38,000

0.285 57.0000 14.50 6.00 0.200 0.210 670 7.35 11.20 4.53 0.222 1250 5.34 9.49 62.70 3.36 5.17 0.53 16 5.45 0.0280 0.940 1.960 70.00 815.00 0.99 99.700 0.2500 0.2100 0.275

1.79 -0.52 3.57 0.33 11.11 20.00 -1.47 1.24 0.00 0.67 14.43 0.16 -4.64 0.85 2.45 0.30 1.37 6.00 -0.62 0.74 3.70 3.30 1.03 2.94 4.42 1.02 -0.30 2.04 7.14 5.77

1,030,000 890,680 15,243,200 21,000 60,000 40,000 249,300 1,047,000 15,971,300 79,000 880,000 202,855 15,000 3,605,200 1,256,070 2,000 942,000 105,000 16,781,800 47,387,900 10,100,000 10,000 1,659,000 1,649,980 434,090 87,000 135,020 590,000 910,000 1,400,000

6.650 0.70 0.219 30.050 2.36 4.41 0.470 1.020 0.118

2.31 1.45 4.29 -0.83 6.31 -2.00 16.05 7.37 5.36

73,600 619,000 10,000 9,509,000 6,844,000 63,000 12,390,000 1,000 4,600,000

562,725.00 70,940,284 -22,612,465.50 -117,735.00

-2,720,564.00 5,300.00 14,962,173.50 534,040.00 1,100,125 -1,263,051.00 240,150.00 -2,053,051.00 40,237,055.00 28,770.00 30,150.00 -724,672.00 -4,563,890.00 4,100 -139,230.00 1,192,263.00 -88,144,652.00 -15,602,897.00 4,594,958.00 -24,964,428.00 176,878.00 -357,500.00 193,887.00 -591,200.00 -66,307,100.00

9,564,160.00 824,754.00 -5,657,600.00 827,320.00 40,074,968.00 -174,230.00 -21,840.00 64,758.00 -4,000.00 -51,200.00 2,931,880.00 79,446,631.00 -499,040.00 84,000.00 5,216,686.00 -124,887,078.00

24,258,845.00 1,071,926.00 -7,741,148.00 261,000.00 -122,920,420.00 -4,138,969.50 -178,480.00 -8,538,598.00 67,758,461.00 28,600.00 -34,099,287.00 148,520,145.00 -2,369,683.00

0.00 35,000.00 -39,102,665.00 3,503,020.00 -188,150.00 132,850.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Cyber Bay Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 18 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 8.8 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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 Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum

70 515 12.28 1047

33 480 6.5 1011

84.8

75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

GLOBE PREF P Leisure and Resort PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

High

VALUE 841,130,666.50 1,742,692,828.08 2,035,462,238.35 1,383,020,468.72 1,233,527,062.84 244,490,838.973 7,496,184,350.26

FINANCIAL 1,498.81 (UP) 8.01 INDUSTRIAL 10,392.38 (UP) 66.51 HOLDING FIRMS 6,168.75 (UP) 91.19 PROPERTY 2,609.03 (UP) 10.39 SERVICES 1,494.73 (UP) 8.69 MINING & OIL 9,099.35 (UP) 12.55 PSEI 6,563.38 (UP) 56.16 All Shares Index 3,751.35 (UP) 28.95 Gainers: 122; Losers: 61; Unchanged: 31; Total: 214

Close

0.400 20.2 0.740 0.137 0.84 1.48 1.19 3.39 0.075 0.2090 0.310 8.4 24.50 1.5 3.05 20.90 0.75 4.8 0.800 3.950

0.400 0.385 0.390 20.9 19.9 20.6 0.750 0.710 0.750 0.139 0.139 0.139 0.91 0.85 0.90 1.48 1.44 1.47 1.17 1.12 1.17 3.53 3.32 3.42 0.076 0.070 0.076 0.2800 0.2250 0.2800 0.31 0.310 0.310 8.4 8.39 8.39 24.20 24.00 24.20 1.5 1.49 1.5 3.05 3.05 3.05 21.10 20.15 21.00 0.77 0.73 0.73 4.6 4.4 4.6 0.860 0.780 0.820 3.880 3.720 3.760 SERVICES 6.24 6.5 6.18 6.44 53.9 56 53.9 55.8 1.13 1.19 1.13 1.14 0.385 0.400 0.395 0.395 10.9 11.5 10.9 11.5 27 20.2 20.2 20.2 3.99 4.18 3.92 3.99 0.0380 0.0410 0.0370 0.0410 3.4 3.42 3.29 3.35 76.5 76.8 76.3 76.7 9.48 9.5 9.5 9.5 1.53 1.5 1.5 1.5 6.02 6.30 5.80 6.00 956 955 955 955 1840 1838 1800 1830 6.50 6.54 6.50 6.54 1.11 1.10 1.10 1.10 59.6 62 59.6 60.75 0.0084 0.0084 0.0071 0.0083 0.130 0.148 0.131 0.140 1.3900 1.3700 1.3500 1.3500 1.95 2.04 2.05 1.95 7.00 7.24 7.02 7.02 4.00 4.04 3.87 3.99 1.05 1.23 1.23 1.23 2.33 2.40 2.20 2.40 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 1.97 1.98 1.88 1.98 1.74 2.12 1.78 2.05 3.03 3.16 3.02 3.05 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.620 0.660 0.620 0.620 17.52 18 17.88 18 9 9 9 9 101.00 99.40 99.20 99.40 20.00 20.00 19.76 20.00 2170.00 2180.00 2100.00 2176.00 0.385 0.410 0.385 0.400 0.670 0.770 0.680 0.750 33.60 33.60 32.80 33.10 58.00 58.00 56.55 57.30 4.70 4.84 4.70 4.82 2.45 2.75 2.45 2.50 0.400 0.415 0.390 0.385 3.65 3.89 3.66 3.71 0.315 0.340 0.320 0.340 3.750 3.770 3.600 3.670 MINING & OIL 0.0042 0.0042 0.0041 0.0041 1.60 1.65 1.65 1.65 4.20 4.05 4.00 4.00 13.40 13.40 11.50 13.40 0.199 0.203 0.203 0.203 0.5 0.52 0.49 0.49 0.335 0.435 0.340 0.420 6.00 6.55 5.90 6.20 0.660 0.720 0.610 0.620 0.245 0.265 0.235 0.250 0.171 0.176 0.169 0.174 0.199 0.198 0.181 0.190 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 1.65 1.8 1.63 1.72 3.94 4.32 3.86 4.16 2.21 2.69 2.25 2.5 1.1400 1.2000 1.1400 1.1600 0.0090 0.0090 0.0090 0.0090 3.18 3.31 3.23 3.31 4.20 4.20 4.12 4.15 1.41 1.46 1.32 1.39 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 118.60 120.80 117.30 118.50 1.81 1.94 1.79 1.88 PREFERRED 53.35 55.55 53.5 55 525 515 514 514 1.1 1.09 1.09 1.09 1028 1028 1028 1028 106 105 105 105 82.15 82.1 82 82 78.4 78.5 78.4 78.5 79 79 78.8 79 WARRANTS & BONDS 1.550 2.820 1.480 2.420 SME 3.14 3.08 3 3 2.53 3.01 3.01 3.01 2.23 2.37 2.19 2.31 11.9 12.4 11.92 12.4 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 106.2 107 105 105.6

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

-2.50 1.98 1.35 1.46 7.14 -0.68 -1.68 0.88 1.33 33.97 0.00 -0.12 -1.22 0.00 0.00 0.48 -2.67 -4.17 2.50 -4.81

800,000 2,066,500 98,000 20,000 7,738,000 21,292,000 85,000 48,879,000 820,000 30,000 50,000 37,000 3,765,900 11,030,000 2,000 31,397,400 1,941,000 4,665,000 335,000 9,414,000

116,550.00 865,098.00

3.21 3.53 0.88 2.60 5.50 -25.19 0.00 7.89 -1.47 0.26 0.21 -1.96 -0.33 -0.10 -0.54 0.62 -0.90 1.93 -1.19 7.69 -2.88 -4.41 0.29 -0.25 17.14 3.00 0.00 0.51 17.82 0.66 0.00 0.00 2.74 0.00 -1.58 0.00 0.28 3.90 11.94 -1.49 -1.21 2.55 2.04 3.90 1.64 7.94 -2.13

94,000 10,330 20,000 70,000 5,500 100 19,162,000 5,189,680.00 62,300,000 41,000.00 253,000 50,100.00 1,041,780 26,457,575.00 3,500 5,000 183,100 73,810.00 140 -133,700.00 71,790 82,148,825.00 77,100 11,000 6,600.00 1,782,790 50,753,432.50 35,000,000 24,970,000 2,360.00 435,000 12,000 640,800 -21,720.00 398,000 168,800.00 2,000 32,000 1,700 106,000 118,545,000 9,926,690.00 5,228,000 -279,460.00 230,000 5,701,000 23,700 1,200 150 14,890.00 11,500 102,144.00 133,425 150,384,130.00 5,370,000 -201,300.00 131,419,000 9,102,610.00 953,600 3,947,995.00 1,579,050 -48,458,541.50 755,000 4,720.00 10,751,000 -13,123,960.00 2,630,000 335,250.00 240,000 -240,100.00 30,000 44,000

-2.38 3.12 -4.76 0.00 2.01 -2.00 25.37 3.33 -6.06 2.04 1.75 -4.52 0.00 0.00 4.24 5.58 13.12 1.75 0.00 4.09 -1.19 -1.42 10.00 -0.08 3.87

70,000,000 2,000 120,000 1,200 510,000 53,000 21,930,000 2,200 62,589,000 230,000 12,200,000 2,010,000 23,100,000 2,800,000 624,000 31,553,000 1,198,000 294,000 2,000,000 317,000 965,000 1,040,000 4,000,000 411,310 99,000

3.09 -2.10 -0.91 0.00 -0.94 -0.18 0.13 0.00

102,920 2,200 423,000 200 500 11,290 23,170 57,010

56.13

4,913,000

5,220.00

-4.46 18.97 3.59 4.20

28,000 2,000 255,000 786,400

2,897,944.00

-0.56

52,900

31,680.00

-131,500.00 -6,195,770.00 34,074,800.00

199,682.00 -9,277,845.00 -138,000.00 603,190,815.00 -33,200.00 -24,773,300.00

-200,000.00

146,650.00 -212,250.00

-107,330.00 -25,490,330.00 11,500.00 16,600.00 76,450.00 -1,000.00 19,930,121.00 -15,040.00 -1,874,551.50

-52,500.00 -820,000.00 -520,080.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

LR Warrant

2.420

56.13

Berjaya Phils. Inc.

20.2

-25.19

Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2800

33.97

LBC Express

6.4

-8.31

C. Azuc De Tarlac

140.00

27.27

Ferronickel

0.620

-6.06

Coal Asia

0.420

25.37

SPC Power Corp.

3.95

-4.82

Roxas Holdings

5.99

22.24

Vista Land & Lifescapes

3.760

-4.81

ATN Holdings B

0.210

20.00

Atlas Cons. `A'

4.00

-4.76

Makati Fin. Corp.

3.01

18.97

House of Inv.

5.34

-4.64

Melco Crown

2.05

17.82

Da Vinci Capital

2.49

-4.60

Lorenzo Shipping

1.23

17.14

Lepanto `B'

0.190

-4.52

Century Property

0.470

16.05

Alterra Capital

3

-4.46

FRIDAY: JANUARY 29, 2016

B3

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Govt readies Cavite rail auction

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Transportation Department said it will award the P64-billion contract to operate and build the LRT Line 1 extension to Dasmariñas from Bacoor, Cavite in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The agency said the bid submission for the project was scheduled

by September and expected to be awarded between October and

Off

December of 2016.

Transportation said the international competitive public bidding for the project should be

SO THIS was me talking to my niece who works in the entertainment industry. What do you call it when bands play music without electricity? Acoustic? No! Acapella? No! Are you sure? Maybe electricity isn’t the word you mean? I’m sure! It begins with un.

Un-something? I don’t know! I am so disappointed in you! Why? Why should I know? Is there a special word? Yes! It begins with un, like unwired but different. Oh! Unplugged!

That was the word I was looking for. Unplugged.

I was looking for the term because that is my word for this week. After multiple false starts on taking a break from a busy schedule, I gave myself the mental experiment of imagining going completely off the grid for a month, just unplugging.

Unplugged Unplugged is not acapella. Acapella is simply singing without accompaniment. Unplugged is not the same as acoustic, even though it is played with acoustic instruments. In the world of music, unplugged means playing a song without electric instruments.

More specifically, unplugged typically means playing a song originally meant to be played with fully amplified instruments in a stripped down version, using acoustic instruments.

In a 2011 piece, KBarber talks about the show MTV Unplugged. The show focused on asking the biggest names in music, usually pop or rock, to play without power in intimate settings. Barber reports the show first aired in November 1989.

Wikipedia reports that the direct catalyst for MTV unplugged was a series of highly publicized “unplugged” performances in the preceding decade, coinciding with the resurgence of acoustic and folk music, and that MTV officially revived the franchise in 2009 and the show in 2010.

In music history, the performance that is credited for the inspiration for “unplugged” music (although the term was not in use at the time) is the June 1979 performance of Pete Townsend at a concert called The Secret Policeman’s Ball. This performance was remarkable precisely because Townsend sang some of his most popular songs in essentially bare bones version. This was followed by acoustic performances by Phil Collins and Sting at a follow-up concert called The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball.

In a piece for imusiciandigital.com, Brandon Miller provides tips for musicians planning an unplugged and explains how difficult it can be. There are, in fact, many reports of challenges before and during unplugged conferences, including the reported difficulty between Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain and drummer Dave Grohl before Nirvana’s now legendary unplugged set for MTV in 1993.

As simple as unplugging seems to those like me us who just listen, it is clearly much more difficult for those who have to do it. That they continue to do so means that there is a very powerful reason for doing it; also, that there is a very real audience for this alternative version of the music.

Wired Way before smartphones became ubiquitous, one of my best friends used to say: “I’m not just wired, I’m wireless.” What it really means is that he is always available.

And that, right there, is the problem with this new world of omni-connectedness. Our phones are with us 24 hours a day. It is one of the last things we look at before we go to sleep and is one of the first things we see when we wake up. Our work day starts even before we have a chance to go to the bathroom to wash the sleep out of our eyes, and is still going even

conducted within the rules and procedures on public bidding set under the build-operate and transfer law.

The project is a 19-kilometer railway from Niyog, Bacoor, which is the terminus of the P64.9-billion LRT 1 Cavite Extension to Dasmariñas City.

The proposed LRT Line 6 would have seven stations, namely Niyog, Tirona, Imus, Daang Hari, Salitran, Congressional Avenue and Governor’s Drive.

after we have dressed down for the night.

The tools that were supposed to make life easier have in fact extended the amount of work that we do. The ubiquity of the mobile phone means there is really no more separation between work hours and nonwork hours. While few people will say it, the expectation of many of those we work with is that we read email even on weekends and even when we are on vacations.

To make it worse, part of this problem is us. Hoping to decrease some of the work we need to face the next time we go to office, we attempt to manage the work that comes in through email or SMS during off-hours. This just creates the expectation that we actually will work even when we are not officially at work.

Essentially, many of us have lost our fully off hours. Our off hours are now on call hours—time that can be called upon.

Of course, much of this is transitioning.

Light Rail Manila Consortium and San Miguel Corp. earlier said they might participate in the bidding of LRT Line 6.

The joint venture of Ayala Corp and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.—LRMC--earlier won the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project.

Under the concession, LRMC will assume the operations and maintenance of the existing 20-kilometer LRT 1, and construct the 11.7-kilometer extension of the

We are all evolving how to live in this newly connected world.

Unwired In management, one of the things we know is that innovations require space; they require down time. Creating the new requires the setting aside of the day-to-day.

This is so clear that many companies going through major change efforts clearly delineate the change task force and make sure that they are not bogged down by operational details. The unlucky few who need be involved in both are cautioned to carve out time for “change the firm” activities, so they do not end up using all of their time on “run the firm” activities.

Musicians play unplugged because it gives them an opportunity to connect in a much more intimate way with their audience. It is a rawer, more emotional experience. That gritty, almost tactile connection is at the heart of musical performance, and

rail line southward from the Baclaran station to Bacoor, Cavite.

The consortium will build eight new stations after Baclaran. These will include Aseana, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niyog.

The project will increase the span of LRT 1 from 20.7 kilometers to 32.4 kms., and provide commuters from Cavite and other parts of Parañaque and Las Piñas access to central Manila.

The project is expected to start

provides an opportunity for renewal.

Fans listen to unplugged performances because it is a way to focus on the essentials, just the music, no tricks, no lights, just the singer, the song, the music.

For the musicians, the unplugged performance is raw. There is no production magic to hide behind. There is no loud, thrumming beat. There is only melody, and the connection that they hope to make.

I think this is part of what I need, what many of us need. We need to be able to take a step back from our busy, ultra-connected lives. We need to give ourselves time to explore, time to just be, time to remember what is essential.

The piece, Rock History 101: MTV Unplugged by KBarber, can be read online at consequenceofsound.net Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com.

FRIDAY: JANUARY 29, 2016

B4

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

Calamba cargo train bucked THE government on Thursday deferred the signing

of over P1-billion deal with a subsidiary of Manila Electric Co. and International Container Terminal Services Inc. to revive the Manila-Calamba cargo train service, after the Philippine Ports Authority raised issues on right-of-way.

Philippine National Railways and MRail Inc. are supposed to sign the non-exclusive track usage agreement Thursday, but the state-owned railway company deferred it to second week of February.

“We are really set to sign, but the signing of the track usage agreement between PNR and MRail was rescheduled to allow PNR to coordinate with PPA regarding right of way inside the Manila International Container Terminal. This will also allow PPA to be part of the signing,” PNR general manager Joseph Allan Dilay said.

MRail, whose primary business focus is to undertake rail investments, operations and maintenance and provide rail technical services, has formed a strategic alliance with ICTSI, a leading international port operator, to revive and run the cargo freight service in the country. Darwin G. Amojelar

Vista Land raises $125m HOMEBUILDER Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. said

wholly-owned offshore unit VLL International Inc. has raised $125 million from the issuance of new debt notes due 2022.

Vista Land said in disclosure to the stock exchange VLL International Inc. re-opened the existing 7.375-percent notes due 2022, which was part of the company’s $1-billion, medium-term note program.

The $125-million senior notes, representing a yield of 6.979 percent per annum, will be consolidated and form a single series with the $300-million notes issued by VLL International in June 2015.

The notes are guaranteed by the Vista Land and its subsidiaries namely Brittany Corp, Crown Asia Properties Inc., Camella Homes Inc., Communities Philippines, Inc., Vista Residences Inc., Starmalls Inc., Manuela Corp. and Masterpiece Asia Properties Inc. The proceeds will be used to finance the company’s capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes. Jenniffer B. Austria

Filinvest awarded Mimosa lease deal

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST Development Corp., the holding company of tycoon Andrew Gotianun, said Thursday it was awarded a 50-year lease of the 201-hectare Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

The new deal with state-owned Clark Development Corp. will consolidate Filinvest group’s real estate development in Central Luzon, after it recently bagged the 288-hectare section of Clark Green City in Tarlac province.

FDC said in a disclosure to the stock ex-

change it received the notice of award on Jan. 27, 2016 from CDC for the lease, development, operation and management of the former Mimosa Leisure Estate through a 50-year lease agreement.

“We are very bullish about the Clark area and the prospects of Clark as an international airport hub given the growth in this tourism corridor and the congestion experienced in Metro Manila airports,” FDC president Josephine Gotianun Yap said in a statement.

Mimosa Leisure Estate will be developed through a joint venture corporation, with Filinvest Group and CDC holding 95-percent and 5-percent stakes, respectively. The 50-year lease can be renewed for another 25 years.

FDC earlier formed a 50-50 joint venture partnership with real estate subsidiary Filinvest Land Inc. to bid for the Mimosa

property. The Filinvest group was the lone bidder for the property and offered P800 million, the minimum acceptable bid.

FDC said it would soon start master planning the estate. “We are excited about this addition to our footprint in Northern Luzon. Our interest in this area is a reflection of our confidence in the growth prospects of the Clark Special Economic Zone,” Gotianun-Yap said.

The former Mimosa Leisure Estate includes an operating hotel with 303 rooms and 34 villas under the Holiday Inn brand as well as a 36-hole golf course.

CDC took over Mimosa Leisure Estate during the Estrada administration after former developer Mondragon Leisure Resorts Corp. of former tourism secretary Jose Antonio Gonzales failed to pay its lease rentals and other financial obligations.

BDO-Nomura agreement BDO Unibank Inc. said Thursday it successfully

closed an agreement with Nomura Asia Investment (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nomura Holdings Inc., for a joint venture in PCIB Securities Inc., a securities dealer and broker with a seat in the Philippine Stock Exchange.

BDO said that following the transaction, it would own 51 percent of the joint venture, with Nomura holding the remaining 49 percent. The firm will be renamed BDO Nomura Securities Inc. and will be headed by Koichi Katakawa as president, subject to regulatory approval.

BDO said the joint venture intended to leverage on the strength of both companies to create a strong platform to serve a fast-growing market.

BDO said its market leadership and wide distribution network would complement Nomura’s strength in asset management, equity research and investment banking. BDO Nomura will initially provide online trading services for local stocks to individual investors and eventually expand its services to a broader client base.

Century building 7 towers PROPERTY developer Century Properties Group

Inc. said it is on track to complete seven residential condominiums over the next two years, as the company remains positive about the outlook for the real estate sector.

Century Properties said on a disclosure to the stock exchange the seven residential buildings, with a total of 3,100 units, were 95-percent sold out, with total sales value estimated at P20.3 billion.

Among these residential towers are the Maldives and Maui towers at Azure, Acqua Livingstone and Dettifoss towers at Acqua, Quezon North and Roxas East towers at Commonwealth, and Trump Tower at Century City, Makati.

Century Properties said it completed construction of six residential condominium projects in 2015, a record pace for the company in terms building completion. Jenniffer B. Austria

Schneider is top company SCHNEIDER Electric, the global specialist in energy

management and automation, has been recognized as one of the 2016 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, coming 12th overall and first in its GICS Industry.

It is the fourth year running the group ranks among the top 15 corporations in the sustainability index by Corporate Knights, the magazine for clean capitalism, released every year at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Companies who make the Global 100 ranking are the top overall sustainability performers in their respective industrial sectors, selected from a starting universe of 4,353 listed companies with a market capitalization greater than $2 billion on Oct. 1, 2015.

Schneider Electric ranks first in its sector and is among the 11 French companies listed. The Global 100 is determined using 12 quantitative sustainability indicators, as the amount of revenue companies generate per unit of energy consumed for example.

Tarlac solar delivers power PETROSOLAR Corp., a joint-venture of PetroGreen

Energy Corp. and EEI Power Corp., successfully synchronized the 50-megawatt Tarlac solar power project to the Luzon grid on Wednesday.

The solar firm started delivering power at 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 27 as part of commissioning tests.

PetroGreen owns 56 percent of the solar power project. It is the renewable energy subsidiary of publicly-listed PetroEnergy Resources Corp. while EEI owns the remaining 44 percent.

The solar facility covers 55 hectares of industrial land within the PEZA-registered Central Technopark in Tarlac City.

PetroSolar president Milagros Reyes described the 50-MW Tarlac solar farm as the largest single solar power facility completed in the country.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Coca-Cola campaign. Coca-Cola unveils a global communications campaign for its most iconic product. Shown during the Philippine launch of Coca-Cola’s ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign are (from left) vice president for public affairs and communications Adel Tamano, vice president for marketing Stephan Czypionka, vice president for finance Eduardo Rearte and vice president for integrated marketing communication Jesus Ferreira.

Tetangco sees no need to adjust BSP interest rates

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Thursday the current overnight borrowing and lending rates remain appropriate, after the gross domestic product grew 6.3 percent year-onyear in the fourth quarter.

“For us, we continue to see no need to adjust policy settings at the moment, given the healthy fourth-quarter GDP figure of 6.3 percent and an inflation outlook of a slow creep to within target over the policy horizon,” Tetangco said in a text message Thursday.

“We will be monitoring

developments, particularly any new policy actions from Chinese authorities, oil price movements and market reactions to these, to see if any need to tweak policy levers,” he said.

The manageable inflation environment prompted the Monetary Board, the policy making body of Bangko Sentral, to keep the benchmark interest rates steady in its last meeting on Dec. 17. Key policy rates were maintained at 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending.

Tetangco said inflation rate likely slowed to as low as 0.8 percent in January from 1.5

percent in December.

“The BSP forecasts January inflation could settle within the 0.8 percent to 1.6 percent range. The decline in power rates, lower domestic oil prices and downward adjustment in the minimum jeepney fare could offset the slight uptick in rice prices as well as the annual sin tax adjustments,” Tetangco said in a text message.

“The BSP will continue to monitor closely evolving price conditions in line with the BSP’s commitment to price stability conducive to balanced and sustained economic growth,” he said.

Inflation in 2015 averaged

1.4 percent, below the government’s official target of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee also kept the inflation target at 2 percent to 4 percent from 2016 to 2018.

Bangko Sentral forecast that inflation would average 2.4 percent in 2016 and 3.2 percent in 2017.

British bank Standard Chartered said in a news briefing in Makati City the average inflation this year would accelerate to 2.2 percent from 1.4 percent in 2015. It will further accelerate to 2.9 percent in 2017, it said.

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F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Sweden to expel 80,000 refugees STOCKHOLM—Sweden intends to expel up to 80,000 failed asylum seekers, the interior minister said Wednesday, the latest move by EU states to tighten their borders in the face of the migrant crisis.

Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said the mass expulsions of people who arrived last year as part of a record influx of migrants would use specially chartered aircraft and be staggered over several years.

“We are talking about 60,000 people but the number could climb to 80,000,” he was quoted saying by Swedish media, adding that police and migrant authorities have been tasked with organizing the scheme.

Sweden, a country of 9.8 million, took in more than 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015, putting it among the European Union states with the highest proportion of refugees per capita.

More than one million people traveled to Europe last year—the majority of them refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan—in the continent’s worst migration crisis since World War II. Most cross by boat from Turkey to Greece and the UN says more than 46,000 people have washed up on the EU member’s beaches so far this year, while 170 people died making the dangerous journey.

But, with the influx showing little sign of abating despite wintry conditions, many countries— including Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, France—have tightened their asylum rules in a bid to discourage new arrivals.

Reflecting the mounting tensions, Brussels on Wednesday blasted Greece’s handling of the crisis and warned it could face border controls with the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone if it does not protect the bloc’s frontiers.

Greece is not the only country under fire—Denmark has faced heavy criticism after its lawmakers passed a bill this week allowing authorities to seize valuables from refugees in a bid to deter new arrivals.

Some have likened the move to the Nazis’ confiscation of gold from Jews during the Holocaust, with Human Rights Watch denouncing the bill as “despicable”. AFP

WORLD ‘North Korea preparing test of ballistic missile’ TOKYO—North Korea may be preparing a long-range ballistic missile launch, Japanese media said Thursday, following a nuclear test this month that raised international alarm and sparked a diplomatic clash between Washington and Beijing.

Arrival. Actress Anne Hathaway arrives at the LA Art Show and Los Angeles Fine Art Show’s

2016 Opening Night Premiere Party Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 27, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Imagery collected over the past several days suggested the launch from the western Dongchang-ri site could come in about a week, Kyodo News said, citing a Japanese government source it did not identify.

Increased movements of people and vehicles were seen around the launch site, which has now apparently been covered over, national broadcaster NHK said, citing a source familiar with JapanSouth Korea relations.

The United States regularly monitors North Korea from space while Japan itself began its own satellite monitoring of the country in 2003.

North Korea is banned under UN Security Council resolutions from carrying out any launch using ballistic missile technology, although repeated small-range missile tests have gone unpunished.

The development parallels events in December 2012, when Pyongyang put a satellite into orbit with its Unha-3 carrier.

Eight days before the 2012 launch, the North also put up a covering over the facility to hide the work from the view of satellites, NHK said.

The international community condemned the 2012 launch as a disguised ballistic missile test, resulting in a tightening of UN sanctions, despite Pyongyang’s claim that it was a scientific mission.

The reported preparation of a missile launch came amid a flurry of diplomatic activity over possible further sanctions against Pyongyang for conducting its fourth nuclear test earlier this month.

Pyongyang said the blast was a miniaturized hydrogen bomb, though experts have largely dismissed the claim.

Washington is pushing for a strong United Nations response, including enhanced sanctions.

But China, North Korea’s chief diplomatic protector and economic benefactor, is reluctant, despite ties becoming strained in recent years as Beijing’s patience wears thin with its neighbor’s ambitions for nuclear weapons.

US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday and said they had agreed to mount an “accelerated effort” to try to resolve their differences on a new resolution. AFP

Aussie teen accused of planning ‘kangaroo bomb’ SYDNEY—An Australian teenager facing terror charges allegedly discussed stuffing a kangaroo with explosives, painting it with the Islamic State group symbol and setting it loose on police, media reported Thursday citing court documents.

Sevdet Besim, 19—who was arrested in counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne in April―pleaded not guilty to four charges related to planning an attack during

Anzac Day commemorations for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops who died in combat.

A fifth charge of conspiring to commit a terrorist act was dropped.

Prosecutors alleged that Besim had online conversations with another teenager based overseas, which involved using the marsupial during an attack.

“Communications resume in

the early hours of Thursday 20 March 2015 with an image being sent by BESIM with a comment of ‘look what I got ahaha’,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing court documents.

“The conversation continues with BESIM detailing what he did that day and they have a general discussion around animals and wildlife in Australia including a suggestion that a kangaroo could

be packed with C4 explosive, painted with the IS symbol and set loose on police officers.”

Besim also allegedly said “I’d love to take out some cops” and “I was gonna meet with them then take some heads ahaha”.

His court appearance came two days after authorities charged an 18-year-old Sydney teen with collecting documents on ways to stage terrorist acts.

Canberra has been increasingly

concerned about home-grown extremism and raised the terror threat alert level to high in September 2014.

Authorities have conducted a series of counter-terrorism raids in various cities, while the government has passed new national security laws.

Besim was remanded in custody and will appear in the Victorian Supreme Court on February 3. AFP

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F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 3 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office

Office Address : Telephone Nos. : Website :

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-3888/766-4142/766-0157/766-3524 niabaneimo_es@yahoo.com/niabaneimo_om@yahoo.com niabaneimoafs@yahoo.com

Telefax No.(044) 766-3888 TIN: 000-578-009-000

NOTICE OF SALE OF 358,108,078 TREASURY SHARES OF ISM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

I N V I TAT I O N TO B I D J a n u a r y 2 5 , 2 016 T h e N a t i o n a l I r r i g a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( N I A) B u l a c a n - A u r o r a - N u ev a E c i j a I r r i g a t i o n M a n a g e m e n t O f f i c e ( B A N E I M O) Ta m b u b o n g , S a n R a f a e l , B u l a c a n , t h r o u g h i t s B i d s a n d A w a r d C o m m i t t e e ( B AC) , i nv i t e s C o n t r a c t o r s to bid for: I T B N o . R 3 - B A N E - R R E N I S - 2 0 16 - B U - 3 2 A N G AT R I S ( A M R I S) - L a t e r a l D -1 a n d Va r i o u s I r r i g a t i o n Fa c i l i t i e s ( B a l i u a g A r e a) B a l i u a g , B u l a c a n . T h e A p p r o v e d B u d g e t f o r t h e C o n t r a c t ( A B C) i s P 9 , 47 3 , 5 7 2 . 21 w i t h c o n t r a c t d u r a t i o n o f 12 0 c a l e n d a r d ay s . B i d D o c u m e n t s c o s t P 10 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 I T B N o . R 3 - B A N E - R R E N I S - 2 0 16 - B U - 3 3 A N G AT R I S ( A M R I S) I m p r o v e m e n t o f L a t e r a l E -1 a n d Va r i o u s I r r i g a t i o n Fa c i l i t i e s P u l i l a n , B u l a c a n . T h e A p p r o v e d B u d g e t f o r t h e C o n t r a c t ( A B C) i s P14 , 2 2 2 , 2 4 3 . 4 6 w i t h c o n t r a c t d u r a t i o n o f 12 0 c a l e n d a r d ay s . B i d D o c u m e n t s c o s t P 14 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 I T B N o . R 3 - B A N E - R R E N I S - 2 0 16 - B U - 3 4 A N G AT R I S ( A M R I S) - L a t e r a l D (S S) a n d Va r i o u s I r r i g a t i o n Fa c i l i t i e s , B o c a u e , B u l a c a n . T h e A p p r o v e d B u d g e t f o r t h e C o n t r a c t ( A B C) i s P 5 , 8 42 , 2 0 3 . 3 5 w i t h c o n t r a c t d u r a t i o n o f 12 0 c a l e n d a r d ay s . B i d D o c u m e n t s c o s t P 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 O n l y t h o s e w i t h D o c u m e n t R e q u e s t L i s t ( D R L) t o g e t h e r w i t h e a c h c o m p a ny p r o f i l e p r o p e r l y s t a m p e d “ c e r t i f i e d t r u e c o py ”, s u b m i t t e d by t h e owner or its authorized liaison of f icer will be accepted.

I n t e r e s t e d b i d d e r s m u s t h a v e ex p e r i e n c e i n u n d e r t a k i n g s i m i l a r p r o j e c t w i t h i n t h e l a s t t h r e e (3) y e a r s w i t h a n a m o u n t o f a t l e a s t 5 0 % o f t h e p r o p o s e d project for bidding.

A ny b i d a b o v e t h e A B C a s s t a t e d a b o v e e a c h I T B s h a l l b e r e j e c t e d outright.

I s s u a n c e o f B i d D o c u m e n t s; (u p o n p ay m e n t o f n o n - r e f u n d a b l e a m o u n t a s s t a t e d a b o v e e a c h I T B)

Protest leader arrested, tells others to go home January 28, 2016 To the stockholders of ISM Communications Corporation: This is to advise you that ISM Communications Corporation (“ISM”) is offfering to sell 358,108,078 of its treasury shares (the “Sale Shares”) at the price of Php1.00 per share to its stockholders of record as of February 5, 2016. The Offer Period for the Sale shall commence on February 9, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. and end on March 1, 2016 at 12:00 noon, unless otherwise extended by ISM. The information package on the terms and conditions of the Sale shall be sent to ISM’s stockholders to their addresses on record. Information on the sale will also be available at the PSE Edge Portal website (http://edge.pse.com.ph) and at the website of ISM (www.ismcorp.com.ph).

For queries, please contact the Transaction Broker or ISM at the details set forth below.

Philippine Equity Partners, Inc. Attention: Ronald Y. Hermogenes 4th Floor 110 Legazpi Street, Makati 1229, Philippines Telephone: (632) -640-6759 Email: ronnie.hermogenes@pep.com.ph

ISM Communications Corporation By: Jovita Larrazabal Corporate Secretary ( T S - J A N . 2 8 & 2 9 , 2 016)

J a n u a r y 2 9 , 2 016 @ 10 : 0 0 A M N I A B A N E , Ta m b u b o n g , S a n R a f a e l , Bulacan

S c h e d u l e o f A c t i v i t i e s; NIA, BANE IMO P r e - B i d d i n g – Feb r uar y 10, 2016 at 3:30 PM I T B N o . R 3 - B A N E - R R E N I S - 2 016 - B U - 3 2 I T B N o . R 3 - B A N E - R R E N I S - 2 016 - B U - 3 3 I T B N o . R 3 - B A N E - R R E N I S - 2 016 - B U - 3 4

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE

Fe b r u a r y 2 4 , 2 016 1: 0 0 P M 2:0 0 PM 3: 0 0 P M

S G D. R O B E R T O J . D E L A C R U Z C h a i r m a n – B AC

( T S - J A N . 2 9 , 2 016)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga

Submis si on /O pening of B ids

T h e N I A - B A N E a s s u m e s n o r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w h a t s o ev e r t o c o m p e n s a t e o r i n d e m n i f y b i d d e r s f o r a ny ex p e n s e s i n c u r r e d i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f b i d s .

A l s o, N I A r e s e r v e s t h e r i g h t t o r e j e c t a ny o r a l l b i d s a t a ny t i m e p r i o r t o a w a r d , w a i v e a ny d e f e c t s t h e r e i n a n d t o d e c l a r e t h e b i d d i n g a f a i l u r e f o r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n s i t m ay d e e m a p p r o p r i a t e .

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2016 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contracts (ABCs) to payments for the following contracts:

ISM Communications Corporation Attention: Atty. Jovita Larrazabal 5F PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. cor.

V.A. Rufino St. Makati City 1126, Philippines Telephone: (632) 830-7061 Email: jdslarrazabal@ismcorp.com.ph

InvItatIon to BId no. Infra -014-2016 The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the General Fund14intends to apply the below listed project w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Name of Project

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

1.

Construction of Multi-Function Building Barangay San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan

=P=14,999,986.70

2.

Rehab/Improvement of Civic Center (Phase II) Barangay Padre Dandan, Dinalupihan, Bataan

3.

Construction of I.T Building (Phase I) Government Center, Barangay Ala-uli, Pilar, Bataan

=P=17,049,989.09 =P=7,999,958.91

Ref. No.

Project

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration (c.d.)

Work Description

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Projects. Completion of works is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

2016 -01157

Supply & Delivery of One (1) Unit Elevator at Housing Technology & Research Exhibit Center Building (HTREX)

2,714,796.00 Corporate Receipts

7 months/210

Supply, Deliver and Installation of One (1) Unit Elevator

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

2016- Supply & Delivery of 01-158 Bulk Purchase of Ink Cartridges (CF283A) for HP Laser Jet Printers

2,000,000.00 Corporate Receipts

30

Supply and Delivery of 716 pieces ink Cartridges for HP CF283A Laser Jet Printers

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited contracts. Delivery of the Goods is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of Notice to Proceed.

Bidders should have completed, within five years from the date of submission of bids, a single contract similar to the Project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. 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 non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (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.

A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific Project and Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P2,700.00 for Ref. No. 2016-01-157 and P2,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-01-158 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City starting on January 29, 2016. For further information, the NHA BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/FAX. No. 9288272.

The NHA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 9, 2016, 9:00 a.m. at the NCR Conference Room, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City on February 18, 2016, not later than 9:00 a.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount as stated in BDS. Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The NHA 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, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

(SGD) VICTOR C. BALBA Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ( T S - J A N . 2 9 , 2 016)

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00 75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 04, 2016 at 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered on or before February 17, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid 2. Eligibility Check 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents 4. Request for Clarification 5. Opening of Bids

Schedule January 28 – February 03, 2016 Refer to date of Opening of Bids January 28 – February 17, 2016 February 05, 2016 February 17, 2016

The Provincial Government of Bataan 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, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph (TS-JAN. 28, 2016)

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC Chairman

BURNS, United States—The leader of an anti-government siege at a US wildlife refuge until his arrest in an operation that left one protester dead urged the remaining armed occupiers to go home Wednesday.

Eight people including Ammon Bundy were arrested and one member of his group shot dead late Tuesday following a three-week standoff in the northwestern US state involving ranchers angry over federal land management policies.

Speaking through his attorney, Bundy on Wednesday appealed to the handful of armed supporters still holed up in the remote area.

“To those remaining at the refuge, I love you.

Let us take this fight from here,” read a statement issued via Bundy’s attorney Michael Arnold.

“Please stand down.

Go home and hug your families. This fight is ours for now in the courts.”

Bundy paid tribute to the dead supporter as his “beloved friend” Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, an Arizona rancher who became de facto spokesman for the motley protest movement.

“LaVoy is one of the greatest men and greatest patriots I have ever seen,” Bundy said. “I mourn for him and his family.

“Right now I am asking the federal government to allow the people at the refuge to go home without being prosecuted.”

Authorities have blocked the access road leading into the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and the occupiers are free to leave, but will be identified as they do so, Greg Bretzing, head of the FBI’s Portland office, said.

“We will continue to look for safe, peaceful procedures on how to bring this to a peaceful conclusion,” he added.

Last week, some 30 people, including women and children, were at the site, but it was unclear how many remain. AFP

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

MOTORING

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

B7

How to spot fake O&M parts “IT IS dangerous and lives are at risk,” says Francis Aguila of Autoperformance PH, the exclusive distributors of Brembo products in the country.

This statement stems from the proliferation of fake Brembo calipers and brake discs manufactured in China and imported from Hong Kong, which is currently being sold as genuine products in social media and in some stores around Metro Manila. “Unfortunately, these counterfeits are also being sold in dealers around the country at 50 to 60 percent below the standard price. Buyers should take into serious consideration the risk involved when purchasing these substandard products. Brake systems are subjected to a lot of stress when the car is in motion and it might fail which could yield deadly consequences,” explains Aguila. “Brembo S.p.A. invested over 78 million Euros on research and development to ensure the products they market to customers are the very best in the business,” he adds.

How does one spot a fake Brembo? Aguila says that you should check the logo or stamp

Do your homework and ask around to pinpoint fake Brembo brake discs and calipers.

and a serial number at the edge of the calipers; the originals also have five lug holes and two screws with a machined rear rotor hat; Brembo brakes are heavi-

FAST FASTLANE

sumers to verify with Autoperformance,” Genuine parts have a serial number that can be traced to check its date of manufacture.”

Brembo like other OEM and

aftermarket suppliers, is working aggressively to address this issue.

Better yet, do your homework and buy from a reputable vendor.

Dino Ray V. Directo III

Peugeot wins 2016 Dakar Rally

Foilacar going global FOILACAR Industries, the company which innovated foil wrap technology in the country is set to expand their network to Abu Dhabi and Indonesia.

After making headway in the automotive, marine, air transport and interior industries, Foilacar is expected to establish a dealer in Abu Dhabi as disclosed by Lester Codog, CEO of Foilacar Industries. “We had a meeting recently with the Deputy Transport Minister of Abu Dhabi and plans are in motion to put up a facility in that desert Kingdom,” says Codog. The deal will make Abu Dhabi the center for Foil Wrap technology in the Middle East. They have also finalized a deal with a prominent business group from Indonesia

er compared to the fake ones and check for surface thickness and vane coverage. If you don’t see these genuine features on your Brembo, Aguila encourages con-

for Foilacar to set up shop in Jakarta. “Abu Dhabi and Jakarta are the two major expansion points for us this year, and at the same time, we are strengthening our operations in the U.S. by the establishment of a special projects team to handle high end foil wrap customers like celebrities and prominent businessmen. Our personnel will be trained by Bain Mendoza, a FilAm based in the United States.

We recently foil-wrapped a La Ferrari in Beverly Hills Ferrari owned by a Hollywood celebrity,” said Codog.

For more information on how to protect and preserve your car, boat or jet, visit Foilacar Industries at 10 Brixton St. Pasig City 1600 or call (02) 656-7200

SOME 26 years after its previous success on the epic event, Peugeot has won the Dakar Rally for the fifth time in the French marque’s history. The two-wheel drive Peugeot 2008 DKR has triumphed with its most illustrious crew on the event: Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret.

• Peugeot has won the Dakar on just its second participation in the South American event.

• The Peugeot 2008 DKRs claimed nine stage wins out of a possible 12, including seven onetwos and two one-two-threes.

• Exactly 25 years since his first victory (on a bike), Stéphane Peterhansel has sealed his 12th Dakar success (six on a bike, and six in a car together with co-driver JeanPaul Cottret.

• Cyril Despres/David Castera and Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena were the big surprises of the Dakar. They finished seventh and ninth respectively.

• Three of the four Peugeot 2008 DKRs entered have reached the finish. Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz were the leaders with just four days to go, but were not able to join their team mates on the finish ramp—having made a key contribution however to the result.

This victory is the latest chapter in a compelling story of motorsport success for Peugeot, which includes four Dakar wins in Africa between 1987 and 1990, as well as success in various other events that include the Le Mans 24 Hours, Pikes Peak and the World Rally Championship.

This win will go down in history for Peugeot, which triumphed

at only its second participation in South America. A total of three PEUGEOT 2008 DKRs reached the finish ramp.

An overall result like this would never have been possible without all the team members helping each other, or without those real heroes in the shadows: the indefatigable mechanics. Cyril Despres, who drove an excellent rally in only his second participation on four wheels and contributed to one of Peugeot’s seven one-twos, also became a guardian angel for his team mates, helping them out of trouble on more than one occasion.

These made for powerful images, which have contributed to the Dakar’s legend of sportsmanship and fraternity.

The duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret in the number 302 Peugeot 2008 DKR called upon all of their experience to seal another win at the

finish ramp in Rosario. This is not only their sixth win together, but the 12th win in total for Peterhansel—a six-time Dakar motorbike winner—25 years after his debut triumph. The Frenchman has further extended his winning record and ensured that his status as ‘Mr Dakar’ is beyond doubt.

A CRACK TEAM With a 9500-kilometre route in two weeks through Argentina and Bolivia, taking in extremes of weather and altitudes that peaked at 4800 metres, Team Peugeot Total took on a fearsome challenge with one of the most accomplished line-ups ever seen in Dakar history. With 17 Dakar victories between them, the crews of Stéphane Peterhansel/JeanPaul Cottret, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz and Cyril Despres/David Castera were joined by nine-time world rally champions Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, making their debut on the event.

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING MMPC officials stand proud beside the newest iteration of their bestselling SUV.

MONTERO SPORT READY TO EXCITE Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

Amid the SUA controversy besetting Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, the local brand managers took the wraps off the new Montero Sport. After a highly successful seven-year run and a tumultuous 2015, Mitsubishi’s best selling mid-size SUV got a redesign and ended up loaded with performance, comfort and safety features.

Held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the launch was part of a weekend extravaganza which highlighted Mitsubishi’s full line up of vehicles under one roof. Adding some sizzle to the event was the presence of Paris-Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka, who dazzled the crowds with his driving skills as he took the wheel of the Montero Sport around a specially designed dirt course beside the WTC. “This is a great way for the public to see and feel the overall performance of the Montero Sport,” said Froilan Dytianquin, MMPC’s First Vice President for Marketing.

At the heart of the new Montero Sport is Mitsubishi’s Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control technology. According to MMPC engineers, this new 2.4 liter 4N15 diesel is Euro 4 compliant and cleaner, more powerful and fuel efficient than the previous model. Compared to traditional diesel engines, the 4N15 engine boasts low compression ratio, thus reducing fuel consumption, smoke and Carbon Dioxide emissions while maximizing the output of the Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT). As a result, the power output of the all-new Clean Diesel engine

with MIVEC is raised to 181 Ps/3500 RPM and 430 Nm/2,500 rpm. Differentiating it from its predecessor, the 4N15 engine uses an aluminum cylinder block, making it significantly lighter.

As an innovation in its class, the automatic variant is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sports Mode which is designed for quick sprints and relaxed highway cruising. The GLS 4WD on the other hand is equipped with a new 6-Speed Manual transmission. These new transmissions bring out more pleasurable drive and better performance on every journey. The all-new Montero Sport uses an improved Super-Select II 4WD system which features a dial type selector. This is complemented by the new offroad Mode (first on a Mitsubishi model), which gives an excellent all-terrain performance and stability.

The all-new Montero Sport debuted in Thailand in August 2015 and the Philippines will be the fourth country to release the all-new Montero Sport. It will be available in four variants: the GT 4 Wheel Drive 8-Speed Automatic Transmission, GLS 4WD 6-Speed Manual Transmission, GLS 2 Wheel Drive Premium 8-Speed AT, and the base model GLS 2WD 8-Speed AT. The all-new Montero Sport which is produced at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, will be introduced in more than ninety countries from around the globe including Asia, ASEAN, Oceania, East Europe, Middle East Africa and Latin America regions among others.

The new Montero Sport starts at P1.5M for the entry level GLS 2WD AT and the top tier GT 4WD, P1.998M.

Montero dash: The cockpit layout features a high center console design

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

ST Y L E & BE AU T Y

LIFE

Crayon at Missoni

Lustre at Ann Demeulemeester

POP-UP BEAUTY

BY JIGS MAYUGA

A

Broken Doll at Marni

SPRING/SUMMER 2016 MAKEUP TRENDS

h, yes! It’s that time of the year again when fashion magazines and websites start rolling out the year’s current trends for spring and summer. Here in Manila, beauty editors, bloggers and columnists like myself eagerly await the biannual M·A·C Cosmetics makeup trends event wherein the local M·A·C team flies in an international senior artist to discuss the forecasted makeup styles for the upcoming seasons.

For Spring and Summer 2016, M·A·C Cosmetics flew in senior artist Louise Zizzo for a makeup demo at the Shooting Gallery studios which M·A·C transformed into a sleek and sophisticated makeup atelier. Louise’s work at M·A·C has taken her everywhere from backstage at shows in New York, Milan and Paris... to working with celebrities and even shooting a Missy Elliott video.

Classically trained as a ballet dancer by the time she was 16, Louise flew to Hong Kong at 19 for her first professional job as a member of a dance group. Yet even as an onstage performer, Louise was always fascinated by the power of makeup when done backstage.

Originally from England, it wasn’t until she met her husband on her dance travels that she was led to San Francisco and into making this passion her profession. She’s been with M·A·C for

23 years now and her job as a senior artist has flown her to countless cities around the world, which now includes Manila, where she absolutely loves the food!

Louise discussed a number of key trends for Spring and Summer. The looks are all about a new punk rebellion, a backlash against social media makeup. It’s very raw, natural, not polished, not finessed. Here are some of the amazing makeup trends to try for the upcoming season.

CRAYON

The Crayola-like spectrum pigments presiding over this season have a brightness that leans towards the use of primary colors with an intense saturation and spontaneity to the way it is applied. At Missoni, pigments in bright, primary colors were applied directly to the lids using just the ring finger to give the look a painterly, almost tribal effect.

AQUATIC

Acid greens, blues and yellows and their close relatives come to fore as the eye color choices of the season. At Issey Miyake, pigments in shades of Hi-Def Cyan and True Chartreuse were mixed with a water-base mixing medium to create a fluid liquid pigment which are then blown into straws onto the corner of each model’s eye to create an organic, free-glowing shape.

Aquatic at Issey Miyake

HOT CHERRY

Reds were the big number backstage this

season. But unlike past seasons, the strong lip was worn with a bare face.

Think red lipstick with a youthful feel. Skin is pared down and natural.

Think an easy red pucker and not a grown-up glam look. At Zac Posen, the look was all about a well-groomed brow, bare eyes and a swipe of retro matte liquid lipstick in Quite The Standout.

BROKEN DOLL

Louise says that it is a very, very playful season as evidenced by the trend of distorted dolls, imperfect placement and haphazard application of makeup. It’s all about having fun! At Marni, it was all about the girl who went too far with lash extensions and serums.

Not precise symmetry but freespirited, pretty and cool.

THE FACE

This trend is all about male grooming, but on a woman.

Not an arched brow but more of a boyish, unfinished look. At Emilio Pucci, it was a Kate Moss, David Sims, ’90s grunge cool. Very androgynous with bare skin and lived in eyeliner.

Louise Zizzo doing her demo at the Shooting Gallery Studios

LUSTRE

This technically isn’t about minimalism per se. It is in fact about layering and massaging very specific light-reflecting products like Strobe Cream and Luna Cream Colour Base plus moisturizers and fine textured foundations into the skin, to create skin with glazed luminosity. It is shine with careful placement but with matte-ness in certain areas as seen on the runways at Ann Demeulemeester.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @jigsmayuga

Hot Cherry at Zac Posen

The Face at Emilio Pucci

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

COACH celebrates Chinese New Year

COACH Lunar New Year Luggage Tag

C

hinese New Year brings forth traditions to usher in good luck for the year.

Part of the belief is to purchase new items, possibly in red, to symbolize welcoming new things and a new beginning in order to sweep away any ill-fortune that the old year has brought.

Coach, New York design house for modern luxury accessories and lifestyle collections, put together items that might just be your perfect purchase for the entering year. Welcome the Year of the Monkey with a special Lunar New Year luggage tag as well as a limited edition red envelope pack for purchases made in Rustan’s Shangri-La. It is of course in bright red, and has a lovely emboss of the silhouette of a monkey, while the limited edition red envelopes are shaped in the brand’s iconic hangtag. These tags are not for sale, but you may get the limited

Coach Corner Zip

edition red envelope pack with a minimum purchase of P5,000 for selected regular items. Now, if customers reach a minimum of P20,000 on purchases made on regular items, they can have both novelty items.

After the Chinese New Year comes Valentine’s Day which is already in the air, and Coach specially curated gift ideas for V-Day. Spring 2016 men’s and women’s collection has items that can brighten up anyones hearts’ day. Look at the options for bags with heart prints, hand bags in red or move away from these colors and theme and just get a classic hand bag that is timeless regardless of what season it is.

COACH Red Envelope

Nolita Wristlet 15 in True Red

New Year novelty gifts are available for purchases made today until stocks last. In the Philippines, COACH is located at Rustan’s Shangri-La. Follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

Coach Swagger in Chalk

Sophia Tota in Plum

TORY BURCH INTRODUCES THE NEW ROBINSON COLLECTION

S Robinson large zip tote in French Riviera

Robinson adjustable shoulder bag in Red Agate

Robinson crosshatch adjustable shoulder bag

ince its creation, the Robinson line from Tory Burch has always been a favorite among other collections. Inspired by Tory’s stylish parents Buddy and Reva Robinson who love to travel, the classic collection is made with world travelers in mind.

For 2016, Tory Burch introduces the next generation in the Robinson family of handbags in modern classic design with an understated logo of the brand. Made from the same leather as its predecessors, the scratch-resistant Italian Saffiano breaks in nicely and can be used for a long time and is versatile. It comes in slim and light Zip Tote, a messenger – a new flap-envelope shape – at the same time has a line of sleek shoulder bags that also has a crosshatch design with a convertible chain strap that can

Robinson large zip tote handbags

be worn doubled or long and cross-body, perfect for a busy woman on the go who shifts from day wear to evening wear. The colors range from the Pantone colors of the year – Serenity and Rose Quartz – to Ivory with its clean offering, as well as a bold Red Agate variant and a brown Luggage color.

This Chinese New Year, or better yet on Valentine’s Day, indulge in any of these bags that can last you for a long time even if you use them on a daily basis.

The new Robinson Collection is available at Tory Burch boutiques around the world and at toryburch.com. In the Philippines, Tory Burch is located at Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s ShangriLa. Follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Black Suede Classic

LET HIM WEAR SUEDE IN BLACK

Black Suede Sport

Black Leather

A

Black Suede Touch

von celebrates its 130th anniversary, continuing to be a favorite brand for fragrances. As the Valentine season approaches, highlight is on long-time customer favorite Avon fragrance – Black Suede.

Black Suede has five variants that complement whatever mood, occasion, or personality your man has. After all, you’re the one who will end up smelling him, so you might as well help him choose a scent or better yet, give the entire collection as a V-Day gift.

Available scents of Black Suede include Black Suede Classic – a warm woody musk eau de cologne that shows off a man’s masculinity in a gentlemanly kind of way. Black Leather cologne spray on the other hand unleashes the inner rebel in him as bursts of leather and woodnotes waft in the air when he wears this cologne. For the man whose classic demeanor can make any woman swoon, his match is the woody oriental scent Black Suede Essential.

And for that sensual alluring man, Black Suede Touch is a perfect smell to make you, her woman, feel scentsual.

But if your man is a bit on the athletic adventurous side, the woody citrus fragrance of Black Suede Sport is a perfect scent to complement his rugged masculinity.

Paulo Avelino is the Black Suede Man

This year, Avon welcomes every woman’s quintessential leading man, Paulo Avelino, as the new face to carry the essence of Black Suede.

His cool and confident demeanor makes him the perfect spokesperson for the fragrance. “Paulo truly is the modern day Black Suede Man, because he possesses the irresistible charm and confidence that the fragrance represents,” shares Avon marketing director Jean Reyes. “As Avon celebrates its 130th anniversary and we continue to be the No. 1 fragrance brand in the country, we

see it’s because of brands like Black Suede. The scent has been a longtime customer favorite because there’s something for every man, whether his style is classic, daring, or sporty.”

So feel like making your man smell like Paulo Avelino? Hmm, who wouldn’t want that? Well, just don’t tell your man you bought it because of Paulo.

Now all you have to do is see an Avon lady to check these fragrances or visit www.avon.com.ph to learn more about Black Suede and other Avon products.

Black Suede Essential

Get the perfect shade with The Body Shop’s Fresh Nude

Foundation and Shade Adjusting Drops

T

here’s nothing like a fresh and radiant glow to make a woman feel confidently beautiful, and achieving this look has never been easier with Body Shop’s Fresh Nude Foundation and Shade Adjusting Drops that work together to give you that luminous look every day.

Fresh Nude Foundation has a lightweight and breathable feel good formula, infused with English rose water and 100 percent organic aloe vera to moisturize the skin. It is non-pore clogging, and suitable for even the most sensitive skin. Its 10 semi-matte globe- trotting shades are inspired by nature and available in a wide color spectrum.

These high purity pigments from The Body Shop provide a natural semi-matte finish that give off a subtle healthy glow. The foundation provides a 24-hour moisturizing effect, and contains SPF 15. It is dermatologically tested to make sure that it is suitable for sensitive skin.

At the heart of the product is the Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera from the rich and bio-diverse area of southeast Mexico, on the Yutacan Peninsula. The Body Shop works with Campeche Farmers, who cultivate aloe plants on organically

certified land. Within six hours of harvest, the aloe leaves are packed and sent to the processing plant, so that the precious aloe gel can be extracted while the leaves are still fresh and succulent.

And here’s some more good news – you can transform an “almost right” shade into a perfect one just for you with a drop of The Body Shop’s Shade Adjusting Drops. With 7,000 different skin tones around the world, it’s no wonder women struggle to find the right shade of foundation. That’s why the new Shade Adjusting Drops are a smart, simple, effective solution so you’ll never have to settle for an “almost right “ shade again.

Simply add one drop to your foundation to create a shade unique to you. This revolution in color customization puts YOU in control of your foundation – making the perfect shade just a drop away.

Fresh Nude Foundation and Shade Adjusting Drops are available at The Body Shop in SM the Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, Rockwell, and Shangri-la. The Body Shop now accepts SM Advantage Card for points earning and redemption, SM and Sodexo premium pass in all The Body Shop stores nationwide.

The Body Shop’s new Face Brush has two different lengths of bristles: short ones to apply the formula and long ones to blend

The Body Shop’s Shade Adjusting Drops help turn liquid foundation from an almost there shade into the perfect one. It has Lightening Shade Adjusting Drops with a concentration of white and pink pigments to lighten; and Darkening Shade Adjusting Drops with a concentration of black and red pigments to darken while keeping the natural depth of dark to deep foundation shades

The Body Shop’s Fresh Nude Foundation line has a lightweight and breathable feel good formula. Infused with English rose water and 100 percent organic aloe vera, it is non-pore clogging and suitable for even the most sensitive skin

The Body Shop’s Fresh Nude Foundation line provides up to 24 hours moisturization, has SPF 15, and is suitable for sensitive skin

Fresh Nude Foundation’s blend of high purity pigments gives a natural semi-matte finish with a subtle healthy glow. With light-to-medium buildable coverage, the color you put on in the morning stays true all day

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F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Zalora's Lunar New Year collection

New Year, New Look with ZALORA’s Easy Online Shopping Experience

I

t’s not too late to start the New Year with a new look. For the upcoming Chinese New Year, ZALORA has launched its latest Lunar New Year collection. The bold Vermilion Red pieces for men and women are inspired by the festive spirit of the season and elements of the upcoming Year of the Monkey.

ZALORA, Asia’s online fashion destination, continues to elevate online shopping in the Philippines with an innovative e-commerce experience that’s not only convenient but also safe. ZALORA keeps its customer in mind with every step of the e-shopping journey, from displaying accurate pictures, providing flexible payment options, and ensuring efficient delivery to allowing fitting on arrival and offering free returns.

“Online shopping should be as convenient as possible. That’s why ZALORA pays close attention to the entire experience so that every little detail in our services can make our customers more comfortable about shopping online. From browsing the catalogue to delivering the items to the customers’ doorsteps, we make sure that our customers are satisfied with every order, especially now that they’re all set to get a fresh new look this 2016,” says Paulo Campos, co-founder and chief executive officer of ZALORA.

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT METHODS, STARTING WITH CASH ON DELIVERY

ZALORA offers safe and secure payment terms to suit your preferences. Cash on delivery or COD is a unique payment option that allows ZALORA customers to pay upon delivery of their order.

“Customers can rest easy when it comes to payment with cash on delivery. This service is designed to give our ZALORA customers the flexibility to check their item before they decide to settle payment upon delivery,” says Campos.

EASY-TO-USE MOBILE APP

Worry-free e-shopping begins with ZALORA’s mobile app, which can be

downloaded from Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS users. The user-friendly app’s slick and simple design interface with highresolution photos of over 100,000 products from more than 1,000 brands makes browsing the latest fashion finds easy and fun. A notifications option gives savvy shoppers quick access to the latest offers and sales as soon as they hit the website.

15 MINUTE TRY-IT-ON AND 30-DAY FREE RETURN

Accidentally ordering the wrong size is one of the hazards of online shopping.

ZALORA offers a 15-minute Try-It-On feature that allows the buyer to try on or test an item while the delivery person waits by the door. If the customer isn’t happy with the fit, he or she can have the item returned or replaced. For those who need more time to decide, ZALORA offers a 30-Day Free Return.

“When it comes to online shopping, we understand that customers have some hesitation, especially since they cannot physically touch or try the products they see in our website. With ZALORA’s 15-minute Try-It-On and 30-Day Free Return services, we are giving the customers the power of choice. We don’t want any customer disappointed with their purchase,” Campos says.

FAST AND FREE SHIPPING

Since most orders are processed within 24 hours, customers in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Metro Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga receive purchases within one to three days, while customers in other locations get theirs in five to seven days. To top off this great service, deliveries are free with orders above P1,000.

All ready to shop at ZALORA? Download the app now or visit www.zalora.com.ph and get your style on for 2016.

F RIDAY : JA NUA RY 2 9, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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Leonardo DiCaprio in the true-story film that follows the journey of legendary explorer Hugh Glass who is brutally attacked by a bear during an expedition through the American wilderness. (Right) Tom Hardy playing a pivotal role.

ExpEriEncE thE immErsivE powEr of ‘thE rEvEnant’

L

eonardo DiCaprio has portrayed a kaleidoscopic array of characters – from Howard Hughes to Jay Gatsby to Wolf of Wall Street’s profligate Jordan Belfort – but the role of the Hugh Glass in The Revenant was an entirely new challenge, taking the actor into borderlands that few in our modern world have experienced.

It is DiCaprio’s most intensely physical role and at the same time, an almost wordlessly raw performance.

Academy Award®-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu brings the legend of Hugh Glass to the screen with The Revenant, an epic adventure set in the unchartered 19th century American Frontier. Immersing audiences in the unparalleled beauty, mystery and dangers of life in 1823 America, the film explores one man’s transformation in a quest for survival. Part thriller, part wilderness journey, The Revenant explores primal drives not only for life itself but for dignity, justice, faith, family and home.

DiCaprio was also enthralled by Iñárritu’s aim to bring Glass’s story to life with a realism that would plunge audiences into life in primordial Western lands long before cowboys and outlaws. “I’ve never really seen this time period in American history put on film, so that interested me,” he says. “This was a unique time and place in the history of the American West because it was far more wild than what we think of as ‘the wild, wild West.’ It was like the Amazon, a completely unknown wilderness, a no man’s land where few laws applied. These trappers who came from Europe and the East Coast had to learn to live a life in the middle of the elements -- surviving like any other animal in the wilderness.”

The director emphasizes that DiCaprio faced tests no actor could fully prepare for in his performance. “Leo was working

in the toughest of conditions, under a challenging wardrobe, in extreme make-up, going to the most emotionally uncomfortable and dark places. But no matter what he is going through, something immediate comes to life when Leo is in front of the camera. There’s an incredible power,” Iñárritu observes.

The bear attack that threatens to end Glass’s life immediately took DiCaprio into a mano-a-mano struggle with one of nature’s most skilled predators. “The bear attack was incredibly difficult and arduous,” DiCaprio recalls, “but it’s profoundly moving. In the film, Alejandro puts you there almost like a fly buzzing around this attack, so that you feel the breath of Glass and the breath of the bear. What he achieved is beyond anything I’ve seen. Glass has to find a way to deal with this full-grown animal on top of him. He’s at the brink of death – and you are fully immersed in this moment with him.”

DiCaprio did many of his own stunts: he was buried in snow, went naked in minus five-degree weather and jumped into a frigid river, each moment bringing him more in touch with Glass’s will.

But as he makes his way, Glass does not just abide – he also changes profoundly, something DiCaprio reveals in a multihued range of subtle details that add up to the film’s stirring climax.

“Throughout, there’s that question of whether some kind of revenge is ultimately the thing that will quench Glass’s thirst at the end of the day.

But the need to continue on becomes something more to him…it becomes a kind of spiritual endeavor,” he concludes.

An immersive experience to be fully experienced only in theaters, get ready when The Revenant opens in cinemas on Feb. 3, from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

The 41-year-old DiCaprio in a scene from the highly immersive and critically acclaimed movie

English actor Tom Hardy as the antagonist John Fitzgerald

F RIDAY : JA NUA RY 2 9, 2016

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

PeOPle

...ARE tALking AbOUt

PiA WURtZbACh Huge crowds greeted her during a parade from Manila to Makati and then to Quezon City.

Time literally stopped in the places where her DIC crown-inspired float passed by particularly along Ayala Avenue where business operations had to pause for a while because employees were on the street cheering and taking photos of the new Miss Universe. To give you a better picture, imagine Manny Pacquiao’s homecoming parade only the person on the float is a confidently beautiful woman.

...ARE nOt tALking AbOUt

JAmES REiD The young matinee idol clarifies that he’s “not dating anyone at the moment.” That statement alone broke the hearts of many who wanted him and Nadine Lustre to end up together. But it is more heartbreaking for the person who’s always been spotted with James in posh bars. This girl should blame the showbiz magazine that recently featured James on the cover. Apparently, James was misquoted in an article. As a result, James had to clarify the issue and slam the magazine and vowed not to entertain any interview from the media outfit.

VALEEn mOntEnEgRO Online community has been busy of late searching for who Valeen Montenegro is, apart of course from being the alleged cause of the Ciara Sotto and Jojo Oconer marital crisis. The FHM cover girl and former Star Magic talent is joining the comedy series Juan Tamad. It seems that the scandal that drags her name perfectly works in her favor – it opened more doors for her.

FPJ’S Ang PRObinSyAnO If Fernando Poe, Jr. were alive today, he might not agree with the latest undercover persona of Coco Martin. Not that we think FPJ’s a homophobic but the plot of Ang Probinsiyano is getting ridiculously implausible. No police agent, no matter how dedicated he is in his duties, and no matter how eager he is to hunt criminals down, would dress up like a tranny and join a beauty contest. That idea is only of a gay writer who wanted to fulfill his fantasies.

AnnE CURtiS After an intriguing Facebook post, which she later deleted, the Kapamilya star now calls the people who reacted on her post malicious. She says that the post she took down was an inside joke between her, her sister, her boyfriend and close friends. So, if that’s indeed an inside joke then why announce it on social media for the whole world to see then blame them later on for their wrong interpretation?

ChARiCE The openly gay singer is trying to reinvent her music yet again. She hit the studio to record a new album, which she wanted not to be defined by any genre. The “former YouTube and international singing sensation” also said that the sound of her new music would be different from the records she had released in the past. But people like the old Charice better – her old version that could easily sell records.

Fill weekends with luCk and love at the shang

F

rom the anticipated Chinese New Year celebrations, to performances that warm the heart, Shangri-La Plaza fills your weekends with festive events and performances to bring you luck and love this 2016.

The vibrant and rich Chinese culture is on full display with a roster of events welcoming the lunar new year. Kicking things off is the 10th edition of the Spring Film Festival from today till Feb. 7 at the Shang Cineplex, which runs simultaneously with a Chinese Painting Exhibit on display at the Grand Atrium.

Catch traditional Chinese song, wushu and dance performances by the Northern Rizal Yorklin School and Tiong Se Academy

on Jan. 30, 2 p.m. and the St. Jude Catholic School Alumni Chorale together with opera star Dondi Ong, the Philippine Tenors and more on Jan. 31 at 4 p.m. at the East Atrium.

Art lovers and enthusiasts will get a thrill from the different arts and crafts activities scheduled at the Grand Atrium.

Take the painting workshop headed by Master Fidel Sarmiento, president of the Art Association of the Philippines, on Jan. 31, 2 p.m. at the Grand Atrium; and join the annual Chinese mask-painting and lantern-making workshop on Feb. 7, 2 p.m. at the Grand Atrium.

The Shang officially welcomes the Chinese New Year with an exciting dragon and lion dance exhibition by the Philippine Ling Nam

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 46 48 49 51 53 55 56 60 64 65 67 68

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Bagpiper’s wear 5 Jalopy 10 Weight rebate 14 Orchid-like flower 15 Tangy taste 16 Magnets attract it 17 Cummerbund 18 — -garde 19 Canyon reply 20 Land mollusks 22 Astronomer who

discovered Uranus 24 Gridiron shouts 26 Arlene of old films 27 Air passage 30 Christie sleuth 34 Emma in “The Avengers” 35 Hang of it 38 “Tosca,” e.g.

39 Dock denizen 40 Lamb sandwiches 42 Roman gods 43 Pile of papers

69 70 71 72 73

Heap Over there Canvas supports Gaudiest Police bust Oversized hairdo Conferred a dukedom What “ipso” means Auto import Quebec school Rink leap Chevalier’s theme song Best-seller, maybe Kind of pool Mo. expense Tire surface Is, in Madrid

DOWN 1 Smooch 2 Persia, nowadays 3 Elvis’ daughter 4 Casual top (hyph.)

5 Playing the cymbals 6 Gun the engine 7 Far East nanny 8 Firmed up 9 Snare 10 Gift for Dad (2 wds.)

11 Curved entrance

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016

12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 31 32 33 36 37 41 44 45 47 50 52 54 56 57 58 59 61 62 63 66

Architect Mies van der — Ascorbic acid, for one Harmless prank Scram!

Dispatches Sip very slowly Old cattle town Fills to the gills Change colors Sandwich cookies Go bad, as meat PC monitor Qantas mascot Jazz-rock guitarist John Kind of exercise “Spare tire” Mr. Vonnegut Hushed Two tablets, say Wallpaper, etc.

Salinger girl Wield a hammer Appoint Went headlong Alimony getters Mardi Gras follower Kitty’s bane Grassy expanse

Athletic Association at the Grand Atrium on Feb. 14, 2 p.m.. This year’s events were organized in partnership with the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University and the Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Spend the prelude to Valentine’s Day at the Shang and catch popular duo Axi Wild (Andre and Adrien Nookadu) from X Factor Australia perform their line-up of hits on Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m. at the East Atrium. The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga takes over the Grand Atrium on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. with a repertoire of romantic pieces.

Finally, let Nicole Asensio and the renowned all-male choir Koro Ilustrado

Chinese New Year celebration at The Shang featuring lion and dragon dances

serenade you with their rendition of classic and popular tunes on Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m. at the East Atrium as you celebrate an unforgettable Valentine’s Day with your loved ones at the Shang.

For inquiries, call 370-2500 loc. 597 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

uP Bike share hoLds green CarPet for ‘LakBay2Love’

A scene from the weekly comedy Juan Tamad starring Sef Cadayona and Max Collins

Valeen MontenegRo in ‘Juan taMad’

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From c8

his Sunday, hot, young actress and FHM cover girl Valeen Montenegro joins the cast of Juan Tamad and takes an unexpected role as the school mascot Mayumi who turns out to have a crush on Juan.

It’s a complicated life for Juan, played

by Kapuso comedy actor Sef Cadayona, as he struggles through his last semester in college. An embarrassment to the basketball team and a laughingstock in class, Juan’s only bright spots in campus life are his encounters with his Political Science teacher Marie (played by Max Collins).

Unknown to Juan, the cunning and terror Professor Panindak has been stalking him and Marie, taking paparazzo photographs

of them for evaluation by the school board. As the teacher-student relationship becomes the center of school gossip, Marie is in danger of losing her lecturer position while Juan dreads being kicked out.

Amid this controversy, Juan finds solace in the company of the cuddly school mascot Mayumi, who apparently is hotter than all the cheerleaders. Will Mayumi distract Juan from Marie?

Watch out for the moment when the mascot finally reveals her identity to Juan. Sparks fly on the set between Valeen and Sef, who is very happy to be working with his new co-star.

Catch Juan Tamad this Sunday at 4:30 p.m., only on GMA.

Max Collins as Marie and Sef Cadayona as Juan

HHHHH Will SuSan RoceS Join caMpaign SoRtieS? Despite her age, nobody can stop the “queen of Philippine movies” from accompanying her daughter Senator Grace Poe in her campaign sorties around the nation.

Grace says, “She would always ask when she would be joining her in her trips to the countrysides, especially Cebu. My mom says she has not been to Cebu for sometime.”

This made the people at the press conference last week in Cebu very happy.

“So, she will come with me to Cebu, and also Bacolod where mommy comes from.”

Susan accompanied her daughter when Grace went to the Supreme Court on Jan. 19 for the hearing on her petition to stop the Comelec from disqualifying her.

Susan doesn’t mind walking the mile for her daughter. In fact, while walking to the Supreme Court, the widow of Fernando Poe, Jr. said Grace, tripped and nearly fell along Padre Faura, “Naawa rin ako sa kanya. Hindi ko nga siya gustong ilagay sa ganoong sitwasyon. Pero gaya nga ng sinabi ko, iba pa rin ‘pag andun yung nanay mo. At siya mismo ang gustong pumunta rin du’n para ipahiwatig sa amin na nandoon naman siya para bigyan kami ng lakas ng loob,” Grace recounted.

Experience a one of a kind bike ride, concert, and green carpet movie premiere as UP Bike Share (a student organization that aims to promote cleaner modes of transportation through its bike-sharing system) brings TRIP, an outdoor premiere of Lakbay2Love – the first bike movie in the Philippines starring Kapuso artists Solenn Heussaff, Dennis Trillo, and Kit Thompson.

Lakbay2Love serves as a coming of age drama, which strongly advocates biking as well as love for the environment as portrayed in its scenic and iconic shots around the Philippines under the direction of Ellen Ongkeko Marfil.

In contrast to traditional movie premieres, TRIP: Lakbay2Love takes the first public screening of Lakbay2Love to the “green carpet”, creating an outdoor movie experience for its audience, with the UP Diliman Quezon Hall Amphitheater as its premiere screening venue.

Promoting biking culture and environmental advocacy, TRIP: Lakbay2Love – supported by DMCI Homes Inc, and in partnership with Erasto Films and Firefly Brigade – encourages its participants to come to the venue in bikes as the event kicks off with a bike ride led by Solenn and Dennis, together with the participants around the UP Diliman Campus.

Special performances from local bands and artists, as well as interaction with some cast members also await the participants in this event. Trek bikes used and signed by Solenn and Dennis are also to be raffled out to the participants in TRIP: Lakbay2Love.

Tickets for the green carpet premiere are sold at P200.00 to UP Diliman Students, and at P220 to the public. Purchasing a ticket entitles the participant to a slot in the group bike ride with the film stars, and a chance to win a trek bike.

For more event details, visit http://tinyurl.com/tripl2l or contact 09178695466.

Breakout year for ronnie Liang

R

onnie Liang’s evolution as an artist is in full swing and 2015 was his big breakout party.

After entering the scene as a balladeer, Ronnie has slowly transformed himself into a complete artist having transitioned effectively from singer to actor.

In the past year, Ronnie made huge strides in his career by stepping out of his comfort zone. He took a daring role in the independent film Esoterika: Manila and did his first theater stint as part of Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical.

While the former added merit to Ronnie’s talent as an actor, with the movie going on to win the

Film Critics Choice Award during the 63rd FAMAS, the latter got him a well-deserved individual distinction by earning the plum for Best Actor in a Featured Role at the 28th Aliw Awards.

Ronnie’s gripping performance in the musical proved to be a significant point in his career as he includes theater in his growing repertoire as an artist. Also, having share the spotlight with other notable stage performers helped with his progression as a performer.

Joining Ronnie in the all-Filipino production are fellow Aliw Award winners Mark Bautista (Best Actor in a Musical), Cris Villonco (Best Actress in a Musical), MenchuLauchengco-Yulo (Best Actress in

a Featured Role), and newcomer Monica Cuenco (Best New Female Artist). All in all, Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical took home six awards out of a possible seven nominations, including the plum for Best Musical Production.

Watch Ronnie take the stage as Garry Diaz in Resorts World Manila’s Bituing Walang Ninging: The Musical. Catch the final performances of this awardwinning production at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT), Thursday to Sunday until Jan. 31.

Tickets are now available at all TicketWorld and TicketNet outlets and at the RWM Box Office. For more information about the cast and show schedules, visit www. rwmanila.com.

Balladeer Ronnie Liang in Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ La Glace Et Le Ciel or known as Ice and the Sky, is a 2015 French documentary film about the work of Claude Lorius, who began studying Antarctic ice in 1957. In 1965, he was the first scientist to be concerned about global warming.

‘ice anD the sky’ at sM MaLL of asia cineMa ISAH V. RED

Jean – Jacques and Ines Deschamps from US Embassy

Martin Macalintal, Audio-visual Attache of the French Embassy

(L-R) Hubert d’Aboville and wife Ara, of d’Aboville Foundation and French Embassy’s Cultural Counselor, Yves Zoberman

(L-R) Laurent Legodec, Deputy Head of Mission and Anais Voron, Scientific Attache both of the Embassy of France in Manila

Gerald Egasse (middle) of Art Magazine and Luisa, Gwen and Eulogio Ayaay

In line with the recent Conference of Parties (COP), also known as the COP21, 2015 Paris Climate Conference, the Embassy of France recently held a special screening of the French documentary film, La glace et le ciel (Ice and the Sky) at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema.

A joint project of the French Embassy in partnership with SM, the event is in support of the COP, which aims to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement to slow down and minimize the effects of global warming and to raise awareness to climate change. France hosted the seminal conference of 2015, which is COP21, one of the largest international conferences ever held in the country.

La glace et le ciel is about the work of Claude Lorius, who in 1965 was the first scientist to be concerned about global warming.

Lorius is a French glaciologist who predicted catastrophic climate change in his first polar expedition in the Antarctic territory. This documentary film was selected to close the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Through this film screening, the French Embassy aims to help youth and others become more are of the importance of caring for our environment.

Students and diplomats as well as the members of the civil society were invited to take part in the screening. French Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, Laurent Legodec said in his welcome remarks that the battle for the global warming is a very longterm fight and every country has their different problems and roles to perform in order to make this advocacy successful.

The special screening of La glace et le ciel (Ice and the Sky) is one of the many cultural events at the SM Mall of Asia.

HHHHH Dress up kiDs with LittLe hugs appareL A new year calls for a new wardrobe –even for kids.

Revamp children’s outfits with stylish and cute clothes from Little Hugs, the apparel house of Marian Fontanilla (Dawn Zulueta) in the Kapamilya teleserye You’re My Home.

ABS-CBN and leading local boys apparel Napoleon teamed up to bring the “Little Hugs” brand to life and to offer great fashion staples that will add a pop of color and charm to any kid’s outfit.

From everyday fashion to special occasions to mark milestones, Little Hugs by Napoleon is the ultimate fashion revamp suited to make dashing little boys become even more adorable.

Little Hugs is available in leading department stores nationwide and in The ABS-CBN Store. For more information, visit www. abs-cbnstore.com and Napoleon Philippines on Facebook. ➜ continued on c7

You're My Home inspired fashion worn by young kid models