The Standard - 2016 April 27 - Wednesday

VOL. XXX NO. 74 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDAY : APRIL 27, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DoJ chief: New ‘bala’ a plot vs admin

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DIGONG, MARCOS HOLD ON TO LEAD Robredo’s ‘jump’ not recorded in survey

By Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte retained his lead in the latest Pulse Asia Research Inc. survey with 35 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him if elections were held today.

Campaigner in chief. Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo and her running mate Mar Roxas listen as President Benigno Aquino III delivers a campaign speech during a meeting with local leaders in Clark, Pampanga on Monday. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Leni sought, got foreign aid in 2013 House run

By Christine F. Herrera LIBERAL Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo illegally solicited and accepted campaign funds from 10 foreign contributors in the 2013 congressional race, an offense that should have disqualified her from running for vice president, her losing rival for the Camarines Sur seat in the House of Representatives said Tuesday.

Two cases were filed against Robredo in 2013 by former Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte and

his wife Nelly, who ran but lost to Robredo that same year.

The case against Robredo, who has campaigned on a platform of transparency in government, remains pending before the Commission on Elections, the Villafuertes said.

Copies of the complaints and the evidence submitted to the Comelec showed Robredo had solicited and received campaign donations from at least seven American nationals, among them Loida Nicolas Lewis, and three Ameri-

can entitites.

Nelly Villafuerte lifted from Robredo’s social media account the list of her contributors who were natural-born Americans or naturalized Americans, such as Edward Seidel, a natural-born American married to a Filipina, Lorna, who has also acquired her US citizenship; lawyer Rodel Rodis, the first Filipino-American to win an elective post in the United States; Robert Federigan; Robert Heiberger; Rainier Asprer; and Richard Sublett.

Villafuerte also found that Robredo named at least three foreign entities which contributed to her campaign: The Unlimited Agency, Inc., which was registered as a corporation on March 17, 1994 with registration no. 57729554 in the state of Illinois, USA; The Bicol USA of the Midwest, which was registered as a corporation in the State of Illinois, USA on Feb. 11, 2011, with registration no.

67779959; and Fundrazr, a website used to raise funds from anonymous donors abroad. Next page

Duterte was followed by Senator Grace Poe at 23 percent; administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II with 17 percent; Vice President Jejomar Binay at 16 percent; and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago at 2 percent.

In the vice presidential race, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. retained his lead with 29 percent, followed by administration bet Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo with 24 percent, Senator Francis Escudero at 18 percent; Senator Alan Peter Cayetano at 16 percent, Senator Gregorio Honasan II at 4 percent, and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV at 3 percent.

The Pulse Asia findings were at odds with a Social Weather Stations survey that earlier showed Robredo ahead in the race, jumping from third to first place in the span of about two weeks.

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from April 16 to 20, using face-to-face interviews with 1,800 registered voters. Nationwide figures have a ± 2.3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.

Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95 percent confidence level: ± 6.5 percent for Metro Manila, ± 3.5 percent for the rest of Luzon, ± 5.2 percent for Visayas and ± 4.7 percent for Mindanao.

Pulse Asia said, in keeping with their academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of Next page these processes.

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Canada PM denounces beheading of hostage

By Francisco Tuyay and Florante S. Solmerin

CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced Monday the beheading of a Canadian hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao and vowed to work with the Philippines and international allies to bring his killers to justice.

“I’m outraged by the news that a Canadian citizen, John Ridsdel, held hostage in the Philippines since Sept. 21, 2015, has been killed at the hands of his captors,” Trudeau said.

“This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests with the terrorist group who took him hostage.”

The US and British embassies on Tuesday issued travel warnings to their citizens, urging them to avoid traveling to Mindanao following the Ridsdel’s beheading.

The UK alerted its citizens of the “high threat” of kidnappings and terrorism throughout the Philippines, saying terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out these attacks at “any time and anywhere in the country.”

Ridsdel, fellow Canadian tourist Robert Hall, Hall’s Filipina girlfriend Marites Flor, and Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkingstad were kidnapped seven months ago from yachts at a marina on Samal Island, more than 500 kilometers from Jolo, where Ridsdel’s head was found.

Six weeks after the abduction, gunmen from the Abu Sayyaf Group released a video on social media of their hostages held in a jungle setting, demanding the equivalent of $21 million each for the safe release of the three foreigners.

The men were forced to beg for their lives on camera, and similar videos posted over

Digong,...

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Pulse Asia Research undertakes pre-election surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort, it said.

Across sub-groupings, Duterte lead in Metro Manila (40 percent), Mindanao (58 percent) and every socio-economic class (32 percent to 43 percent).

In the Visayas, he shared the lead with Roxas (32 percent and 27 percent, respectively).

In the rest of Luzon, three presidential candidates had practically the same voter preferences—Poe (28 percent), Binay (23 percent), and Duterte (22 percent).

If their first choice for president does not continue with his or her candidacy for whatever reason, 32 percent of the respondents said they would vote for Poe instead.

Binay, Duterte, and Roxas were the alternative presidential bet of about the same percentages of registered voters (16 percent, 14 percent, and 13 percent, respectively).

Santiago was the second choice for president of 6 percent of registered voters.

Except in Metro Manila, Poe was the most preferred second choice among voters in the rest of Luzon (32 percent), the Visayas (36 percent), Mindanao (34 percent), and all socioeconomic classes (30 percent to 43 percent).

In the vice presidential race, Marcos was the top pick of registered voters in Metro Manila (39 percent) and Luzon (37 percent).

Robredo enjoyed the lead in the Visayas (33 percent) while Cayetano had the highest voter preference in Mindanao (34 percent).

Across socio-economic classes, Marcos and Robredo shared the lead in Class ABC (36 percent and 32 percent, respectively) and Class D

several months showed the hostages looking increasingly frail.

In the most recent video, Ridsdel, a retiree, said his captors would kill him on April 25 if a ransom of $6.4 million were not paid.

Hours after the deadline passed, police in the Philippines said two people on a motorbike dropped the head near city hall in the town of Jolo, a mostly lawless island around 1,000 kilometers south of Manila that is one of the Abu Sayyaf group’s main strongholds.

“We found a head in a plastic bag,” provincial police chief Wilfredo Cayat said.

He said the head belonged to a white man, but emphasized it was impossible to immediately identify. The local police chief issued a report to journalists with similar details.

Trudeau said Canada was working with the Philippines to pursue and prosecute Ridsdel’s killers, and that efforts were underway to obtain the release of the other hostages.

Canadian opposition parties also expressed outrage over the killing.

Ridsdel was a former journalist, oil executive and sailing enthusiast who moved to the Philippines to manage a gold mine before retiring.

The Abu Sayyaf is also believed to be holding a Dutch bird-watcher kidnapped in 2012, and has been blamed for abducting 18 Indonesian and Malaysian sailors from tugboats near the southern Philippines over the past month.

The Abu Sayyaf is a small group of Islamic militants listed by the United States as a terrorist organization that operates from Jolo and nearby islands.

The group is blamed for the nation’s worst terror attacks, including the bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay in 2004 that killed more than 100 people, as well as the kidnappings of dozens of foreigners in the southern Philippines and across to Malaysian Borneo.

The Abu Sayyaf’s leaders have recently declared allegiance to the Islamic State.

However, analysts say the Abu Sayyaf is mainly focused on lucrative kidnappings for ransom, rather than waging an ideological war or creating a violent Islamic caliphate.

The United States deployed special forces advisers to provide training and intelligence to Filipino troops from 2002 to 2014, which led to the killing or arrest of many Abu Sayyaf leaders.

After the US forces pulled out, however, the Abu Sayyaf launched a series of increasingly bold kidnapping raids, as well as deadly battles with Filipino troops that show it remains a major threat in the south.

The recent kidnapping spree prompted Indonesian Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan to warn the region was in danger of becoming a “new Somalia,” referring to pirates operating from the African country who have bedeviled international shipping in nearby waters.

In Manila, Philippine National Police chief Ricardo Marquez and Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato confirmed that Ridsdel had been beheaded.

The government expressed its sympathy and condolences to the Canadian government and to Ridsdel’s family.

“There will be no let up in the determined efforts of the joint AFP-PNP task groups intensive military and law enforcement operations to neutralize these lawless elements and thwart further threats to peace and security.

The full force of the law will be used to bring these criminals to justice,” the military and police in a joint statement said.

Ridsdel’s body has not yet been located.

The Palace said it was in “constant communication” with the Canadian foreign ministry. “[Foreign Affairs Secretary Rene] Almendras has been in constant touch with the Canadian foreign ministry and its embassy since last week,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said when asked if President Benigno Aquino III had contacted Trudeau.“The President has directed the security forces to apply the full force of the law to bring these criminals to justice,” Coloma said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the beheading as “inhuman.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta, Sandy Araneta, Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, Vito Barcelo and AFP

(30 percent and 25 percent, respectively) while four candidates posted the same support levels in Class E—Cayetano (23 percent), Marcos (22 percent), Robredo (21 percent), and Escudero (18 percent).

A little over a quarter of Filipino registered voters (27 percent) named Escudero as their second choice for vice president if their original candidate for the post does not pursue his or her candidacy.

In the senatorial races, respondents named an average of eight names out of a possible 12.

Some 13 of the 50 senatorial candidates running in May 2016 have a statistical chance of winning, Pulse Asia said.

With less than a month to go before the May 2016 elections, registered voters were identifying a mean of eight and a median of eight candidates.

In the various survey sub-groupings, it was only in Metro Manila where more than half of the voters (58 percent) expressed support for a complete slate of 12 senatorial candidates.

With the exception of former Justice secretary Leila de Lima, the rest of the probable winners in the senatorial race are either current or former members of Congress.

Five of those are running under the banner of the Liberal Party (LP), four are independent candidates, two come from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), one belongs to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and another comes from Akbayan.

In the lead was Senator Vicente Sotto III (53.8 percent), who had a statistical ranking of 1st to 2nd.

Close behind him was Senate President Franklin Drilon (49.2 percent), ranked 1st to 3rd.

They were followed by three former members of the Senate—former senators Francis Pangilinan (46.4 percent, 2nd to 3rd places),

Panfilo M. Lacson (39.1 percent, 4th to 9th places), and Juan Miguel Zubiri (39.0 percent, 4th to 9th places).

Completing the list of probable winners in the May 2016 senatorial elections are: 1) Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao (38.5 percent, 4th to 10th places); 2) Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III (37.9 percent, 4th to 12th places); 3) former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros (36.3 percent, 4th to 13th places); 4) Senator Ralph Recto (34.9 percent, 4th to 13th places); 5) former senator Richard Gordon (34.1 percent, 6th to 13th places); 6) Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin T. Gatchalian (33.8 percent, 7th to 13th places); (7) former Technical Education and Skills Development Administration director general Emmanuel Villanueva (33.7 percent, 7th to 13th places); and 8) Leila de Lima (32.3 percent, 8th to 13th places).

Marcos supporters welcomed the Pulse Asia survey even as they questioned the SWS findings.

Manny Fortes, national chairman of the FPJPM, said he saw no way that the administration candidate could jump six points ahead of Marcos for no apparent reason.

He added that the SWS survey was part of a scheme to condition people into believing that Robredo was a strong candidate so they could justify her victory in the polls through cheating.

The Roxas camp said they remain hopeful that their campaign could turn the tide in their favor.

“These past few days, ordinary Filipinos have come out for Mar and Leni and to stand up for the belief that together we can have a Philippines that is prosperous and inclusive, peaceful and decent, just and kind,” Roxas’ spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.

Leni...

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Fundrazr, is reportedly the flagship product of a company called Connection Point Systems, a privately owned and funded Canadian company, Villafuerte said.

Nelly Villafuerte presented as proof the receipt of the donations from the foreign individuals and entities that was acknowledged by Robredo in her Facebook account.

A second complaint was filed by Luis Villafuerte, who accused Robredo of not reporting to the Comelec the names of those who actually contributed to her campaign fund.

Robredo executed a counter-affidavit disowning Lewis as her agent to solicit campaign funds but admitted Lewis turned over to her Lewis’ personal contributions and that no other contributions came from other foreign donors.

Robredo also denied knowledge of the existence of her own website and that it was only created under her name.

The Villafuertes said Lewis was born a Filipino but was an American citizen when she made her donation to Robredo, who thus violated the Omnibus Election Code.

Robredo claimed Lewis used her name in soliciting funds on her behalf but that the American was not authorized to do so even after the administration candidate acknowledged receipt of the campaign funds.

Nelly said Robredo, a very close ally of President Benigno Aquino III, has violated Section 96 of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits solicitation or receiving funds from foreign donors.

On May 23, 2013 or 10 days after the elections, Nelly said her camp found out that Robredo initiated the solicitation of donations from foreign nationals and entities by issuing an open letter on Feb. 1, 2013 at the behest of Lewis, an American citizen.

In the open letter, Robredo stated the manner by which the foreign solicitations could be made effective.

A part of her letter read: “To support Atty.

Leni Robredo’s campaign, please make/send checks to, Mail check payable to “Loida Lewis ITF Leni Robredo” PO Box 1080, Gracie Station, NY NY 10028. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/attyLeniRobredo.”

Nelly said Robredo acknowledged the receipt of the foreign donations on her website, http://lenirobredo.ph/0630/, listing the names of the foreign individuals and entities who contributed to her campaign fund.

The website also featured an article regarding Lewis’ announcement of support for Robredo’s campaign.

Robredo’s website was deactivated after the cases were filed against her.

According to the Villafuertes, Lewis is a naturalized American citizen, having married Reginald Lewis on Aug. 16, 1969.

She also reportedly passed the New York bar exam and was admitted to practice law in New York, something she could not do if she were not a citizen of the United States, the complainants said.

“Lewis worked as a general attorney in the US government, specifically in the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) from 1970–1990 and actively participated in the 2008 and 2012 campaign of US President Barak Obama by being a financial contributor, among other partisan political activities she engaged in, all things which she could only do if she is an American citizen,” said Nelly Villafuerte, in her complaint.

She said if Lewis claims to be a Filipino citizen, which would enable her to contribute to Robredo’s campaign, then she would have been considered a foreign national in the United States, which would have barred her from contributing to Obama’s campaign.

Villafuerte argued that Lewis could not take refuge under dual citizenship law because she had acquired her American citizenship long before the law was enacted.

In her defense, Robredo, while admitting she received contributions from Lewis, said she also received funds collected from Filipinos living in the United States or overseas Filipinos.

Luis Villafuerte filed the second case against Robredo for untruthful reporting of campaign contributions.

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Marcos urges Comelec: Explain FOLLOWING the continuing silence of the Comelec on the alleged cheating in the conduct of Overseas Absentee Voting, vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on the poll body to separate the vote receipts with discrepancy complaints for reference in case any voter decides to file a case.

Reminder. This poster at the LRT station in Santolan reminds Filipinos to vote wisely. TEDDY PELAEZ

Poe cites infrastructure in Ilocos Norte BURGOS, Ilocos Norte—Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe stopped by the home province of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and cited his accomplishments in building infrastructure, saying a duplication would lead to job creation.

“Give credit where credit is due,” Poe said.

“When it comes to infrastructure, many were done during the time of the late President Marcos. I believe that if we will do that kind of priority, we can give jobs to many people.”

Poe also visited the Burgos Wind Farm that was started by vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he was governor of the province.

Describing it as “iconic,” Poe said the farm could be a good

source of renewable energy.

Senator Francis Escudero, Poe’s running mate, was not with her when she campaigned in Ilocos Norte, a known bailiwick of the Marcoses.

Poe was warmly welcomed

by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, the elder sister of Marcos Jr. Asked on the support she is giving to Poe, who is a rival of her younger brother’s presidential bet Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Imee said “she’s strong here because FPJ [Fernando Poe Jr., Poe’s adoptive father] was well-loved.”

“There are groups who are for Grace and there are groups for other presidentiables, but they are all free to campaign here,’’ Imee said.

When questioned who she would endorse, Imee said she didn’t know and laughed.

Meanwhile, 11 mayors from Ilocos Sur showed up during the mini-rally of Partido Galing at Puso led by Poe held at the Vigan City Convention Center.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson and Rep. Ronald Singson also attended the rally that saw the presence of around 500 local officials and thousands of Ilocanos.

Poe was joined by Escudero when she proceeded to Isabela after the Vigan rally.

With many of the country’s farmers reaching retirement age, Poe is looking to providing seed money to young farmers and new graduates to

encourage the youth to go into modern farming.

The average age of farmers and fishermen in the Philippines is 57, a cause for alarm as the country struggles to achieve food security.

Isabela is the country’s top corn producer hosting Asia’s largest post-harvest corn processing facility. It is also the second biggest rice producer with a rice sufficiency rate of 224 percent.

Poe said the government should raise a new generation not just of farmers but of agripreneurs who would be able to employ modern technology and develop new agriculture models that could boost productivity. Macon RamosAraneta

He described as “alarming” the continuing silence of the Comelec on these issues.

“Why is it that until now we have not heard anything from the chairman or their spokesmen on what they are doing about these allegations?” asked Marcos.

Marcos also expressed alarm over the recent election survey showing his opponent, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, as the leading candidate in the vice presidential race.

“We are quite surprised by the new survey because all other surveys show otherwise.

I hope this is not a pattern for cheating,” Marcos said during a press briefing at the Eastern Samar provincial capitol.

“But we don’t depend on surveys. We will continue to work harder and remain focused on spreading our message and platform to the Filipino people.”

Marcos’ cousin, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who is running for senator, said their camp was asking the help of the people, particularly members of the media, to help them keep an eye on the irregularities that might happen during the general elections on May 9.

Marcos suggested that the Comelec separate the vote receipts with reported discrepancies and if possible let the voters sign the receipts for proper marking.

He said separating the vote receipts with supposed discrepancies would guide the

poll body and the voter in case complaints were pursued on the matter.

He said there should be proper guidelines on this as he had repeatedly been telling the Comelec to address possible complaints or concerns because it could not just say “noted” to all complaints. He said this was unfair to all voters.

“We raised this issue a week ago and this was reported in the news and widely discussed in social media, but until now the Comelec has not issued any definitive statement on this serious allegation that could put a cloud of doubt on the results of the May 9 elections,” Marcos said.

He said the Comelec should now issue guidelines on the vote receipts to address possible issues that could arise as shown in the ongoing Overseas Absentee Voting.

As early as April 20, Marcos had issued a statement asking the poll body to probe the discrepancies in the Overseas Absentee Voting, noting a complaint of a Filipino worker in Hong Kong who claimed to have voted for him but the receipt indicated the vote was credited to Senator Gregorio Honasan.

Marcos said he had also received reports of similar incidents in Kuwait, Dubai and Japan. He said Vice President Jejomar Binay, the standard bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance, also complained of similar incidents.

Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

Duterte promises to protect the business sector if he wins THE Duterte camp on Tuesday assured stock market traders there will be no shake-up in the financial market under the presidency of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“The perception of uncertainty always comes during the last few weeks of the election, but under the Duterte administration the stock and financial market will be protected and it will be business as usual,” said Duterte’s spokesman Peter Laviña said in a statement.

“Fostering fear and uncertainty is part of the scare tactic and black propaganda against presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte.”

Duterte, who is running with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as his vice presidential candidate, has repeatedly said he will provide business the proper atmosphere

to prosper without sacrificing the general welfare of the people.

Laviña then drew attention to Duterte’s “Exhibit A” on how Davao City grew from its lethargy during the 1980s to become one of the most progressive cities in the country and listed as one of the most livable in Asia.

Laviña said Duterte had early on exhibited a very clear business policy. He recalled that Duterte set out to clean up Davao City of crime, urban rebels, street eyesores and traffic to make the city conducive to business when he became city mayor in 1988.

Davao City then was an experimental area of urban guerrillas and the streets were dominated by crime syndicates led mostly by scalawag cops and soldiers enjoying power during Mar-

tial Law. Laviña recalled Duterte as saying: “Let me handle the cleanup and the business sector handle the economy.”

Since then, Duterte has had a clear policy to make investments welcome in his city.

In 1992, after the passage of the Local Government Code, Duterte pioneered the “Invest in Davao” project.

His basic guide was simple: “We welcome investments for as long as they do not abuse our labor, women, children and the environment.”

The project won support from the USAID program Private Investments and Trade Opportunities in the Philippines in crafting the first-ever Investments Incentive Code by a local government. It is now replicated by many LGUs throughout the country.

Visit. Presidential candidate Grace Poe and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos pose before the Burgos Windmills in Burgos town, Ilocos Norte, on Tuesday.

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Japanese destroyer arrives at Subic Bay

By Florante S. Solmerin THE Japanese light aircraft carrier “Ise” docked at Subic Bay on Tuesday for a goodwill visit as part of a strategic partnership deal that was forged in response to Chinese militarization in the South China Sea. It is the second time the Ise, classified as a destroyer, made a port call on the country after it was deployed to help in the international disaster relief activities following the onslaught of Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, said the vessels commander Capt. Masaki Takada.

“This visit is also intended for the crew’s rest and replenishment of the vessel,” Takada said amid demands in Congress that the country pursue joint naval and air patrols in the South China Sea after Beijing announced plans to reclaim land on Panatag [Scarborough] Shoal off Zambales.

The Ise is a Hyūga-class light aircraft carrier that can carry 11 helicopters and is also equipped with surface-to-air missiles, antisubmarine rockets and torpedo system.

The specifications of the Hyūga-class helicopter destroyers are comparable to light aircraft carriers, such as Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi and Spanish Príncipe de Asturias.

Takada said the Ise will stay in the country until April 29.

The increased visits of Japanese vessels are part of the strategic partnership that the country is pursuing with Japan and was formalized with a defense equipment and transfer agreement that was signed last February. The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to sign such an agreement with Japan.

Port call. The Japanese helicopter destroyer ‘Ise’ is towed to dock at the Subic Freeport for a four-day goodwill visit. This is the third time a Japanese naval vessel has visited the country this year. AFP

‘Tanim-bala’ incidents a plot vs gov’t—DoJ

By Rey E. Requejo

THE resurgence of or bullet-planting, or the socalled “tanim-bala,” incidents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport may be part of a plot against the government because of the May 9 elections, Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas said Tuesday.

“Without prejudging [the present case], it seems [this is] another unfortunate event that is being used for media purposes,” Caparas told journalists when asked about the case of spouses Esteban and Salvacion Cortabista who were detained after authorities found one bullet in one of their bags.

They denied owning the bullet

and pointed out that their bags went through the x-ray machine at the first security check area without any hitches.

While they were detained at the airport, the Cortabistas claimed that airport wheelchair attendant Niño Namba demanded that they pay P50,000 so that they would be released and allowed to board their

Korean Airlines flight to the US. Another US-bound passenger witnessed the incident and corroborated the claim of the elderly couple, according to Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta.

But Caparas appeared to be unconvinced and insisted that airport authorities have already implemented measures against such incidents.

“If you are talking about people planting bullets, airport security have stepped up considerately since the events last year. We have protocols already in place to protect the public from instances like this,” Caparas said.

“If I may say this one more time [about] these bullet-planting incidents: So many stories have emerged

about harassment, extortion. I hope we no longer make this issue bigger,” the justice secretary said.

“Let us not suspect other people of wrongdoing if we do not have firm information about that. It is not fair to our authorities. Our airport and police authorities have made many good works,” Caparas said.

He noted that bullet planting issue at the airport is already a “dead issue.”

The airport security has already instituted measures and additional protocols to ensure that similar incidents that mushroomed last year will not happen again.

Besides, he said the public has been given enough warnings not to bring contraband inside the airport.

‘Where’s the justice, De Lima?’

By John Bencito and Rey E. Requejo

Eight-month transit. An employee of the Land Transportation Office inspects some

of the 300,000 car plates from The Netherlands that was finally released by the Bureau of Customs. MANNY PALMERO

MILITANT groups on Tuesday scored former Justice secretary Leila De Lima for failing to fulfill her promise to bring justice to indigenous people in Mindanao, called lumad, who have been killed or driven out of their homes in eastern Mindanao.

“That’s the tagline of her campaign, ‘justice without fear or favor,’ but where is the justice?” asked Kharlo Manano, secretary-general of the rights group Salinlahi.

Manano recalled that in

a meeting with leaders of lumad communities last September, De Lima promised to issue a legal opinion on paramilitary groups claiming to be indigenous selfdefense forces as well as the military presence in schools.

De Lima had promised to file criminal cases against the militiamen who allegedly shot dead school headmaster Emerito Samarca, lumad leader Dionel Campos and his cousin Bello Sinzo in Lianga, Surigao del Sur last September.

“With the justice system in our country, the slowpaced action of the Justice

secretary even contributes to the elusiveness in getting the justice that lumads deserve,” Manano added.

One of the people who met with De Lima last September, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes, said De Lima should make an effort to fulfill her promise to bring justice to the lumad. “[De Lima] knew the people she appointed in her task force. Even if she’s no longer there, even if she’s no longer in her former capacity, she made a commitment to the lumad,” Reyes said.

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Raon blaze. Firefighters train their hoses on several business establishments along Raon street, the so-called electronics center, in Sta Cruz, Manila on Tuesday April 26, 2016. The two-hour blaze destroyed P1.5 million worth of property, fire officials said. No one was hurt. DANNY PATA

Cojuangco scion goes for Binay

By Vito Barcelo

The Nationalist People’s Coalition, the country’s second largest political party, vowed to support the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay, standard bearer of United Nationalist Alliance, during a rally in Sison, Pangasinan.

Pangasinan gubernatorial candidate Mark cojuangco, son of NPc chairman emeritus eduardo “Danding” cojuangco Jr., said Binay’s “vast experience in the field of local governance” sets him apart from the other candidates. he said that the vice president is leading in local surveys conducted in Pangasinan. “i am also echoing the sentiment of Pangasinenses,” he said, adding that the survey, conducted every two months gave them a “feel” of who

Pangasinenses support. “the survey here is rigorous and accurate because it is between local officials. Ang survey sampling size po namin ay seven and 1/2 percent of [the] voting population. Matindi po ‘yan. Meron akong feel ng bawat barangay ng probinsya,” he explained. cojuangco said he is not actively campaigning for any presidential candidate because of the position of his partymates.

“My sentiment remains and it will not change,” he said

during the rally. “he has dealt with barangay captains day in and day out for over 20 years. You don’t get that experience over night. twenty years is twenty years. habang tumatagal ka riyan, marami kang natututunan na mga practical na bagay na hindi mo matututunan sa isang iskwelahan o sa isang mataas na kapulungan,” he added.

Binay thanked cojuangco for his unwavering support for his plans for the future of the country.

Binay made his rounds in Pangasinan accompanied by uNA senatorial candidates special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr., labor lawyer Allan Montaño, sulu Princess Jacel Kiram and broadcaster Rey Langit.

DOJ warns: Use of leaked data illegal

By Rey E. Requejo and Sara D. Fabunan Justice secretary emmanuel caparas on Wednesday said that it is illegal for hackers or any third party to use the stolen data from the commission on elections. caparas’ warning, however, did not ease the fears of the National Movement for Free elections which said the data theft put some 57-million voters at risk of identity theft, harassment and even fraud. “it’s a case of stolen information. everything that does not belong to you must be

returned to the rightful owner.

And if you’re going to use it, send it, transact with it, in the meantime, then that’s illegal,” caparas told reporters.

According to caparas, any transaction committed using the hacked information on individual voters would also be illegal, citing the legal principle of the “fruit of the poisonous tree” that prohibits use of documents of evidence obtained through unlawful means.

Nonetheless, the Justice secretary assured that authorities would eventually be able to trace those liable for passing on the leaked information.

Bangladesh assured of funds’ return

By Rey E. Requejo the Department of Justice on tuesday said the process for the return of the laundered funds from the $81-million stolen by hackers from Bangladesh central bank is underway.

Justice secretary emmanuel caparas made the disclosure after a meeting with Bangladeshi Ambassador to the Philippines John Gomes, who visited the DoJ to personally request the immediate return of the money to Bangladesh.

“We did assure them that it’s being done. We have a process for that [return of recovered money], but we have to make sure it goes through the legal process as quickly as possible,” caparas told reporters. caparas stressed that the amounts surrendered by personalities to whom the laundered money went could not be automatically sent to Bangladesh.

“The money surrendered is now with our authorities. But before that could be turned over to Bangladesh, it has to go through a process,” the Justice secretary said.

earlier, former university of the east law Dean Amado Valdez suggested that the government should initiate forfeiture proceedings.

“This is a short process especially if there is no other parties who would contest ownership of the money. if there is no other claimant it can be in the form of a summary proceeding,” he explained.

Valdez added that such process “would help prevent a problematic precedent in the future in any case, we have jurisdiction over that controversy.”

Poll briefing. Smartmatic executives hold a briefing for senators on

the conduct of the May 9, 2016 elections at the Senate building in Pasay City. EY ACASIO

WEDNESDAY : APRIL 27, 2016

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Romualdez gains more endorsers

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE senatorial bid of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was strongly endorsed by the 2,000-strong Batasan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association with 16 umbrella organizations and four other big organizations of tricycles in the National Capital Region.

Republic of t he Philippines DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Memorandum Circular No. 006 SUBJECT:

Direct Licensing and Spin-off Terms under the Electrical and Energy Industry that would be Considered as “Fair” to the Government Funding Agency (GFA) and/or Research and Development Institute (RDI) for Fast Tracked Issuance of Fairness Opinion Report (FOR) under Republic Act No. 10055, otherwise known as the “Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009” ______________________________________________________________ Per the recommendation of the Industry-based FOB duly constituted for the Electrical and Energy Industry pursuant to DOST Special Order No. 173 s. 2016 dated 21 March 2016, the following requirements and terms shall be considered “FAIR” to the GFA and/or RDI for fast tracked issuance of FOR: Subject to the submission of the following documentary requirements: a. Freedom-to-Operate; b. Mayor’s Permit/Business Permit; and c. Audited Financial Statement/Report for the past three years, A. FOR DIRECT LICENSING (1) Basic Requirements The following requirements must be satisfied before the proposed transaction shall be assessed: Cost of technology (R&D Cost): Not exceeding P10,000,000.00 Types of IP: Patents and Utility Models (UM) Eligibility of Licensee: a. If Sole Proprietor: • Registered at the DTI • Filipino citizen • Total capital investment equivalent to at least P5,000,000.00 • With existing facilities • At least three (3) years of existence, with relevant industry experience • Profitable operation for the last three (3) years based on the Audited Financial Statement

At a news conference Tuesday, Charlie Mangune, association president whose group comprises 16 umbrella organizations in Batasan area, Quezon City and occupying the biggest tricycle terminal in the NCR with over 2,000 member-units, led the endorsement of Romualdez’s senatorial candidacy, vice presidential bid of Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and party-list group Abakada of Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz.

The group members said they have committed their full and unconditional support for Romualdez, Marcos and De la Cruz.

The group includes two tricycle federations in Marikina City, one each in Camarin and Bagong Silang, both in Caloocan City.

“Kami ay naniniwala sa kakayahan nila na tugunan ang aming mga pangangailangan at serbisyong nararapat sa aming sektor ng tatlong gulong. Kami ay naninindigan at nagkakaisa na ide-deliver ang aming mga boto upang amin silang maipanalo sa pambansang halalan,” they said.

“Kami ay kikilos at manghihimok sa lahat ng aming mga pasahero at sa aming komunidad na kinabibilangan upang maparami pa ang aming bilang ng mga boto sa araw ng halalan,” they added.

The signing of manifesto of support was done at the Batasan Central Terminal in Barangay Batasan, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City where Romualdez thanked the officers and members of various associations of tricycle operators and drivers.

Romualdez vowed to look into the concerns of Batoda for permanent terminal by integrating their long standing request to the national government’s plan for a common terminal especially with the construction of Metro Rail Transit 7.

“Salamat po sa inyong pagtitiwala, makakaasa po kayo ng malasakit sa pamamagitan ng patuloy kong pagtataguyod ng inyong interes. Hindi ko po kayo papabayaan,” Romualdez said.

The group also cited Romualez’s “malasakit” (compassionate) platforms for the poor, including his proposal to institutionalize and increase the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the conditional cash transfer (CCT).

They also cited Romualdez’s clear platforms of

government in ensuring peace and order, curbing graft and corruption, giving free college education, improving health services for indigents’ zero billing, CCT expansion where he will push for a substantial increase with a maximum P46,200 and a minimum P24,200 financial support annually to each familybeneficiary, and among others.

The group lauded the genuine “malasakit” of Romualdez to the plight of the poor following the successful passage into law of his measure exempting more than 1.5 million persons with disabilities from the payment of 12-percent value added tax on certain goods and services.

Romualdez authored the House version of the recently enacted Republic Act 10754, exempting PWDs from VAT payment on certain goods and services that President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III signed last March 23, 2016.

Romualdez’s PWD “malasakit” law provides VAT exemption coverage on the following: medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railways, skyways and bus fare; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, and recreation centers.

Earlier, the so-called Big 4 in the transport sector which includes Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) National president Orlando Marquez, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) National president Efren De Luna, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) National president Zenaida Maranan, and Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide (Pasang Masda) National president Robert Martin, declared that the transport sector needs the likes of Romualdez in the Senate to advance their welfare and interests.

The Big 4 with a million members nationwide endorsed Romualdez following his “malasakit” advocacy for them especially in pushing the public utility jeepney modernization program, vowing to deliver significant votes for him in the May 9 polls.

b. If a partnership, corporation or cooperative: • Registered at the SEC/CDA • Domestic • Total capital investment equivalent to at least P5,000,000.00 • With existing facilities • At least three (3) years of existence, with relevant industry experience • Profitable operation for the last three (3) years based on the Audited Financial Statement (2) Ideal terms in the proposed transaction The following terms shall be the basis in the determination whether the proposed transaction is “Fair” to the GFA or to the RDI: Financial terms: a. Royalty rates: At least 3% from the gross sales. b. Licensing fee: At least 3% of the R&D cost.

Exclusivity: a. Field of use: Non-exclusive b. Geographic territory: Non-exclusive Sub-licensing: No sub-licensing Effectivity / Term: a. For patents: Five (5) years renewable b. For UMs: Life of the UM B. FOR SPIN-OFFS (1) Basic Requirements The following requirements must be satisfied before the proposed transaction shall be assessed:

Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez flashes the thumbs-up sign along with members of the Batasan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association led by its president Charlie Mangune (left) during his visit to tricycle drivers at the Batasan Terminal in Quezon City. Batoda is the biggest tricycle group in Metro Manila with at least 2,000 members. VER NOVENO

Cost of technology: Not exceeding P10,000,000.00 Types of IP: Patents and UMs Criteria: a. Who can spin-off • Researcher or any member of the research team • Employee / still in the service b. Type of spin-off: Corporation, without government funding support c. Total capital investment equivalent to at least P5,000,000.00.

(2) Ideal terms in the proposed transaction The following terms shall be the basis in the determination whether the proposed transaction is “Fair” to the GFA or to the RDI: Financial terms: a. Royalty rates: At least 3% from the gross sales. b. Licensing fee: At least 3% of the R&D cost Exclusivity: a. Field of use: Non-exclusive b. Geographic territory: Non-exclusive Effectivity / Term: a. For patents: Five (5) years renewable b. For UMs: Life of the UM This Circular shall take effect immediately after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation and upon filing at the UP Law Center in accordance with law.

( T S - A P R . 2 7, 2 016)

MARIO G. MONTEJO Secretar y

2 bus firms grounded for 30 days

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has issued a 30-day preventive suspension order against A.Prado Transit and Gurim Travel & Tours Corp. after their respective buses figured in two separate road accidents in Batangas and Quezon City on Friday.

“The Board is swiftly issuing the PSOs to the operators of Prado Transit and Gurim Travel & Tours Corp. for recklessness of their bus drivers putting into danger the lives of passengers; we will not tolerate this act of carelessness, hence we are immediately suspending the operations of all the units of these bus companies to prevent the same accident from

happening in the future,” LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.

The Prado Transit bus accident happened at 7:20 a.m. on April 22 along Commonwealth Ave. corner Mindanao Ave. Extension, Quezon City; via Makati-bound Prado Transit bus (UVP-265) hit a UV Express, plowed through bystanders before ramming into an eatery, killing two bystanders, including a pregnant woman, and injuring nine others.

The Gurim Travel & Tours Corp. bus (DWX-480) carrying 59 passengers mostly teachers from Angono, Rizal, crashed into a tree in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas on Friday, April 22, 2016, resulting in the death of six and injuries to 50 others.

Prado’s eight units have also been ordered grounded in their garage lo-

cated at 174 Mayon St., Quezon City or at 4047 Barangay Sta. Monica, Quirino Hi-way, Novaliches, Quezon City.

The operator of the bus company, Alberto Prado, has also been instructed by the Board to surrender the yellow plates of the eight units on April 23, 2016 at 10 a.m.

The operator of Gurim Travel & Tours Corp. has been directed to surrender all the yellow plates of the nine units to the legal division of the Board on April 25 at 9 a.m.

The two bus companies must bring all their units to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Service of the Land Transportation Office for inspection and determination of their roadworthiness before they are again allowed to operate the board said.

wednesdAY : April 27, 2016

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news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Zamboanga addresses spread of norovirus ZaMBOaNGa CITY—The local government has readied contingency measures to address the increasing cases of acute gastroenteritis (aGE) caused by norovirus in this city.

Rodelin agbulos, city health officer, said they have prepared the contingency as the aGE cases admitted in four hospitals namely Zamboanga City Medical Center, Mindanao Central sanitarium, Zamboanga Doctors Hospital and Zamboanga Brent Hospital, have exceeded alert thresholds. agbulos said they have recorded 1,124 cases of aGE from March 18 to april 21 with five documented mortalities—four children and one adult.

The highest cases in a day were 97 that were recorded on april 4. agbulos said 526 of the 1,124 patients were children aged one to five years old followed by under 12 months age bracket with 237 cases.

He disclosed that 14 of the 17 stool samples they sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine were found positive of Norovirus.

He said part of the contingency measures is to activate the health centers as rehydration centers “just in case there will be shortage of beds in the hospitals.”

He noted that outpatient department cases remain high although hospital admissions are gradually decreasing.

He warned that the spread of the Norovirus and aGE causes is now primarily transmitted through person-toperson contact.

The norovirus, also known as winter vomiting bug, is highly contagious and spreads easily within the population, especially in community where houses are built close to each other, according to agbulos. PNA

All set. Newly hired teachers in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur sign their appointment and deployment orders for the May 9 elections. The Comelec has exempted some government agencies like the Department of Education from the ban on hiring during the election season. OMAR MANGORSI

‘Moving seat of govt to Clark not feasible’

By Romeo Dizon

San Fernando City, Pampanga— the national economic and development authority in Central Luzon said Monday that transferring the seat of government from Metro Manila to Clark Freeport is not feasible and will not solve the traffic and decongestion problems in the metro.

Fred Pineda, officer in charge of Neda in Central Luzon, said the proposal is

not practical because it will create more technical and financial problems. such a

plan, he added, would need congressional approval.

Transferring millions of people with permanent jobs in Metro Manila is next to impossible, the OIC said.

“Clark is for multi-national businesses and not for government services.

“Besides, we cannot compete with multi-nationals,” he added. some presidential candidates last sunday raised the possibility of transferring the seat of government

to Clark to solve the traffic crisis in Metro Manila.

If the government really wants to decongest Metro Manila, Pineda added, a feasible and strategic site would be southern Tagalog. “The value of land is still low.”

It would also be closer to Visayas and Mindanao, bringing the seat of government closer to the people, he added.

The full utilization of Clark airport is expected

to happen in 2020 when the construction of the Northrail system continues from Malolos City to Clark Freeport.

Pineda stressed that full utilization of Clark airport and subic Freeport will definitely help decongest Metro Manila in terms of airlines passengers and cargos. according to Pineda, data showed that more than 50 percent of airline passengers come from Central and Northern Luzon.

Ilocos Norte opens program for nurses anew

Task Force Trabago is once again accepting applications for this year’s second batch of ‘saguip Nars’ program set to run from July to December, revealed by the Provincial Public Employment service Office.

PEsO officer in charge Lizette Bitancor said that “the application process for the second batch started on april 25 to May 20 and we will be accepting 100 Ilocano registered nurses.”

Interested applicants are required to submit their resume at PEsO located at Ilocos Norte Centennial arena after which a qualifying examination and interview will follow, added Bitancor.

The saguip Nars program was launched in 2014 to provide assistance to Ilocano nurses, thereby enhancing their professional skills as they search for permanent jobs.

Bitancor also noted that the program is expected to prioritize the hiring of registered nurses with limited clinical experience as it is aimed to contribute to the two-year minimum required experience of nurses before landing permanent jobs in hospitals.

This year’s second batch will also be deployed in the different district hospitals and rural health units across the province in July,

said Bitancor.

Often faced with shortage of staff nurses, government hospitals proved to be benefited with the assistance of the nurses hired under the program.

Over the years, the saguip Nars has employed over 900 Ilocano nurses, including the 100 hired under this year’s first batch who are currently serving in the various district hospitals and RHUs across the province from January to June.

Interested applicants may contact the Provincial Public Employment service Office at 0917 505 9456 or visit them at the iHUB, Laoag Centennial arena.

Fishy. Students in their colorful costumes dance along the streets of Sto. Tomas, La Union.

CHRISTINE JUNIO

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ADELLE CHUA EDITOR W E D N E S D AY, A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 6

OPINION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A POX UPON OUR HOUSE DESPITE renewed efforts by security forces to rescue three foreigners abducted by Abu Sayyaf bandits, police in Jolo reported Monday that they recovered the decapitated head of Canadian John Ridsdel, 68, one of the three hostages.

Ridsdel, fellow Canadian Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and a Filipina, Marites Flor, were taken from an upscale resort on Samal Island in September 2015. The bandits demanded a ransom of P300 million for each of the foreign hostages, and threatened to behead them if they did not receive the payments by April 25.

The expiration of the deadline brought grim news Monday. Two men on a motorcycle left Ridsdel’s head, inside a plastic bag, along a street in the town of Jolo in Sulu

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-

province, police said. The bandits had made good on their threat.

The fate of the other three hostages was as yet unknown.

Just 10 days before, Ridsdel and Hall were shown on a video asking the Canadian government to pay their ransom.

Ridsdel and his companions were believed to be on Jolo Island, where the Abu Sayyaf was said to be holding other hostages, including 14 Indonesian and four Malaysian sailors, who were taken at gunpoint from their tugboats in March.

Halfway across the world, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the execution of Ridsdel and said Canada would work with the Philippines and other allies “to pursue those responsible for this heinous act.”

“This was an act of cold-

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blooded murder and responsibility rests solely with the terrorist group that took him hostage,” the prime minister said.

The prime minister was only partly correct.

Since the Abu Sayyaf was formed in 1991, five successive administrations have failed to eradicate the group, which was responsible for the infamous Dos Palmas kidnappings in 2001, and the worst terrorist attack in the Philippines in 2004, when they bombed the Superferry, killing 116 people.

Since then, the group has hopped from one atrocity to the next, eventually degenerating into a vicious bandit group that became infamous for kidnapping foreigners for money, and beheading them if their ransom went unpaid.

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

The group has no doubt been financed by the huge ransoms it receives, notwithstanding the Philippines’ official policy not to negotiate with terrorists.

It is arguable that the police and military campaign waged against the Abu Sayyaf has done little to impair the bandits’ ability to operate their criminal enterprise with impunity. Over the years, the group has survived the loss of several of its top leaders and struck back with a vengeance.

Perhaps it is a failure of intelligence, or the lack of political will.

Or simply the wrong approach.

Our inability to eradicate this threat over five successive administrations is our national failure and our shame. The Abu Sayyaf is a pox upon our house that must not survive the incoming administration.

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

W E D N E S D AY: A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

POPULARITY VERSUS MONEY MACHINE TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

WITH two weeks to go until Election Day, it’s now or never for the four candidates for pre s i d e nt — a d m i n i s tration candidate Mar Roxas, independent candidate Mrs. Grace Poe Llamanzares, opposition candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay and PDP-Laban candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Du-Dirty. I’m counting out Stage 4 cancer patient Miriam Santiago.

The choice is actually not that difficult.

Despite what poll surveys tell us, it is still a tight race. A lot of things can happen, depending on many imponderables at the local level which spell the difference between winning and losing. That’s why they say that in the Philippines, all elections are local.

The way I see it, it’s a choice between an American—an amateur who thinks that the presidency is an onthe-job training; one who echoes the straight path of the incumbent President, a path of incompetence, insensitivity and vindictiveness; a self-confessed killer and womanizer, loudmouthed, conceited and remorseless without any sense of decency; and somebody who can heal political wounds and unite the country, and with a record of achievements as a public official.

The choice is actually not that difficult to make for anybody who has a conscience.

I’m not predicting anything, but coming right down to it, the presidential race is a battle between popularity and political grassroots machinery. It’s nothing new, as we have seen way back the late 50s when the very popular Grand Alliance candidate Raul Manglapus went against President Carlos P. Garcia, but

lost; in 1992 when President Fidel Ramos defeated the popular Miriam Santiago and businessman Danding Cojuangco; and in 2004 when the popular movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. lost to incumbent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

On May 9, I still believe that it will be a battle between those leading in poll surveys and those who can deliver votes from the vote-rich provinces, like Cebu, Pangasinan and Cavite, and finally get the Iglesia Ni Cristo command votes of no less than 2.5 million.

This was the same vote that led to the defeat of former President Erap Estrada when the Iglesia went for BS Aquino,

The choice is actually not that difficult to make for anybody who has a conscience.

who surveys said was leading because of sympathy for BS Aquino after the death of former President Cory Aquino.

In other words, Santa Banana, history will repeat itself.

It has been said that while there’s a national political grassroots machinery, it will be the local machinery that will deliver the votes. Yes, it’s the local politicians who are known to deliver the votes because they are dependent on the national machinery for money.

After all, it’s the local political leader who gives money—for food, clothing and shelter—to those who need it most.

In other words, the bottom line is money.

Vote buying in any language shatters our belief in democracy, but

A ONE-DIMENSIONAL PRESIDENT AT THE third and final presidential debates on April 24 sanctioned by the Commission on Elections, the candidates tackled seven major questions: 1) Where the Philippines will be in 2022, the end of the sixyear term of the next president; 2) the inability of fishermen to fish into West Philippine Sea waters being usurped by China; 3) traffic; 4) jobs, including the plight of overseas Filipino workers; 5) health; 6) peace in Mindanao; and 7) why each of the five aspirants deserves to be elected president.

Considering the above issues, one issue kept rearing its head: infrastructure—how it could make a success of one’s presidency, provide jobs and assistance to fishermen displaced in the WPS, solve Metro Manila’s horrendous traffic, meet the health needs of nearly everyone, bring peace to Mindanao, and how one’s track record on infra enhances a candidate’s attractiveness as president-to-be.

Sadly, none of the five candidates focused on infra as the underlying problem in solving the major issues raised.

Infrastructure was the huge elephant at the Phinma University auditorium that nobody took notice of seriously.

No infra can be built without construction and construction feeds into 17 other industries— all labor-intensive.

Building farm-to-market roads will triple farmers’ income, compared with double, with irrigation. This may negate the need for Filipino fishermen to wander into West Philippine Sea waters to fish. Infra will boost agricultural production which will make a dent on poverty since food is 55 percent of consumer spending. Sadly, fishermen it’s a fact in our kind of election with 60 percent of our more than 101 million of people living below the poverty line.

In urban areas, voters may go for who they think is best for the country, but vote buying is still prevalent.

In Makati and Taguig where we think there are many intelligent voters, a vote goes for P400 to P500 each. It must be inflation because in 2001, a vote cost only P250 to P300, and then it went up to P350 to P400 in 2013. That’s the reason why some of my politician-friends have decid-

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ and farmers are the poorest of Filipinos.

Infrastructure will modernize the economy. More power plants will reduce the cost of power, now the second most expensive in Asia, and accounting for as much as 20 percent of cost of production of goods, more than the cost of labor, whose contribution is only 10 (percent to 15 percent).

Lower power cost, along with greater efficiency through modern infrastructure, should attract foreign investments which in turn will create jobs. Since foreign investors have global standards they will pay global-standard salaries that should induce many of the 12 million overseas Filipino workers to return home and grab those jobs.

Unknown to many, lack of money is not the cause of lack of infra.

The Aquino administration has plenty of money. It has refused to spend it. Underspending from 2011 to 2014 alone was a mindboggling P529 billion or $11.5 billion—or about seven percent of the $163.3 billion entire infrastructure package of government —$69.8 billion in transportation, $32.20 billion in social (education) this century; $29.85 billion in energy, $2 in ICT, and $6.11 billion others.

In other words, the $11.5 billion would have been more than enough to double the speed of our internet (one of the slowest in the world), build one-third of classrooms needs, or meet 16 percent of the country’s trans-

ed not to run anymore.

With this in mind, the administration candidate has the advantage—except when he is having difficulty catching up with popular and moneyed candidates.

This is when the administration has no choice but to cheat. And that appears likely, especially since President BS Aquino is fighting for his life. He is likely to go to jail with numerous criminal and civil cases to be thrown at him when he steps down from office.

And my gulay, fraud seems likely with

portation modernization.

In fact, the 12 projects awarded by the Aquino administration under its Public-Private Partnership Program (PPP) would cost only $4.37 billion.

Most of that $4.37 billion is borne by the private sector.

The 12 projects are: Daang Hari-SLEX Link Road (Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway) Project, P2.23 billion; PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) Phase I, P16.43 billion; Naia Expressway (Phase II) Project, P17.93 billion; PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) Phase II, P3.86 billion; Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, P5.61 billion; Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), P1.72 billion; Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building, P17.52 billion; LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension and O&M, P64.9 billion; Southwest Integrated Transport System (ITS) Project, P2.50 billion; Cavite-Laguna (CALA) Expressway, P35.43 billion; South Integrated Transport System Project, P5.20 billion; and Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project, P24.41 billion.

One reason why these infra services will cost much to the consuming public is that they are being undertaken by the private sector which paid premium money to grab them. Under the present PPP system, the company that offers the highest premium for a project wins it.

The proponent, of course, will try to cover its cost through higher user fees. This is a complete reversal of the concept that has been in effect since 1935— that is, the company that offers the lowest price to the public for the infra gets to build it.

Smartmatic’s Precinct Count Optical Scan. After all, wasn’t the supposedly secure website of the Commission on Elections hacked, compromising the data of tens of millions of voters?

Even now, there seems to be a concerted effort on the part of the administration to steal over a million overseas votes.

There are reports coming in that some embassy and consulate officials are telling Filipinos overseas to vote for the administration candidate, and that automated voting receipts do not tally

Continued on A11

with the actual voting.

Santa Banana, if this can happen in overseas voting, it can also happen here at home. Remember, the President is desperate. *** Almost all of the presidential candidates have gone to see INC Supremo Ka Eduardo Manalo for his support since in a tight race for Malacañang, the two or more million INC vote would make the difference. The Iglesia Supremo, however, has not committed the Iglesia vote to anybody.

Continued on A11

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO RODRIGO Duterte may be his own worst enemy. The Davao mayor’s loose lips have cursed Pope Francis for causing him to be caught in a traffic gridlock during the papal visit, made a bad joke about an Australian missionary gang raped in Davao and lately, talked about severing diplomatic relations with the United States and Australia, two of the Philippines’ staunchest allies in the South China Sea territorial row.

All these negatives had been factored into the latest Pulse Asia poll survey, but they failed to make a dent in Duterte’s appeal with voters, going into the last three weeks of the presidential campaign for the May 9 national elections. Duterte still managed to top the poll surveys with a 35-percent rating, ahead of erstwhile leader Senator Grace Poe who only took 23 percent.

Even as the clock ticked for voters and candidates and the presidential candidates exchanged barbs in the final debates at the Phinma University in Pangasinan, they did not know that the Canadian hostage taken by the notorious Abu Sayyaf

HIS OWN WORST ENEMY group had already been beheaded by his ruthless captors. The victim, together with another Canadian, a Norwegian and a Filipina were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf on Samal Island, off Duterte’s Davao bailiwick.

Maybe Mar Roxas may have known about the grisly development but he could not lay it on Duterte’s door without making Malacañang just as much liable for the breakdown of law and order nationwide. Mar was after all, the former Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the agency in charge of the Philippine National Police.

For Duterte to escape unscathed, it must really be in his stars to occupy Malacañang after the May 9 elections. This is worrisome for President Benigno Aquino III who’s banking on either Roxas or Poe to win to spare him from a slew of criminal cases when he steps down on June 30.

Some observers who followed the Pangasinan debates found the proceedings tame compared to the earlier rambunctious ones in Cagayan de Oro and Cebu.

We thought Mar Roxas

A one-dimensional... From A10 San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang suggests a return to this old system.

After all, companies like SMC are into infra not because profits are huge, but to help in the country’s development. Still, infra is reckoned to provide a return of 12 percent, double lending rates.

Present at Sunday’s three-hour debate managed by ABS-CBN from start to finish were: Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of PDP-Laban, Senator Grace Poe of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Manuel Araneta Roxas of Daang Matuwid coalition, Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

As of April 20 survey by the Social Weather Stations, Duterte leads the pack with a 33-percent share of the vote—

Popularity... From A10 As I said in an earlier column, the Iglesia deacons in each INC jurisdiction conduct a house-to-house survey a week before election, and they submit the results in a “samba” gathering of ministers and the Supreme Council three days before election day. The results will then be circulated among all its members. I was told that the actual voting power of the Iglesia is no less than 2.5 million.

The Iglesia had its hands burned during the 1992 election when it went all-out for businessman Danding Cojuangco.

fared better in Pangasinan because he kept his cool and refused to be intimidated by Duterte’s and Binay’s barbs.

It was refreshing to see Miriam Defensor Santiago measure up to the crowd’s expectations as the senator exuded confidence belying, her grim battle with stage 4 cancer. Miriam made it known she’s taking a secret anti-cancer pill that’s not yet on the market. We, like many Filipinos, wish her well and hope her numbers in the next Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia surveys move up.

If Duterte is not Washington’s nor Canberra’s candidate, is he the Manchurian candidate Beijing hopes could win?

A lighthouse is supposed to serve as a beacon for ships to steer clear of rocks and other obstacles specially during a storm. But the lighthouse the Chinese have built on Scarborough Shoal ( Panatag Shoal) which is only 117 nautical miles off Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales is an anchor to China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea. The area is well within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone man-

dated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Don’t expect the Chinese to adhere to international laws and convention even if they signed Unclos. The international arbitration court in The Hague will soon hand down a ruling most international law experts expect to be favorable to Manila which challenged Beijing’s claim of nearly the entire South China Sea. How the US and Australia will react to China’s ignoring The Hague tribunal decision is now uncertain given Duterte’s irresponsible threat to cut diplomatic ties with two of the country’s allies. *** The 365 Club, one of the country’s longest existing organizations, is now at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at Glorietta 3. The Club made up of journalists, politicians, businessmen and lawyers, was moved to their new home at the Holiday Inn when the historical and landmark Intercontinental Hotel which it has called home since late 1972 had to be demolished to make way for a higher hotel and shopping complex.

The members may no longer meet every day as it used to which was why the Club was called 365. But Saturdays are always well attended by the group where Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile holds court to give newsmen an inside look at what’s happening in the Senate and other national issues.

Other prominent 365 members are The Standard columnist Emil Jurado, lawyer Alfonso ‘Boy’ Reyno, former Nueva Ecija Congressman Rene Diaz, former governors Aristeo Lecaroz (Marinduque) and Rodolfo Tingzon (Laguna).

Other regulars are Cecil Arillo, Eric San Juan, Maluli Espinosa, Jess Disini, businessman Nordy Diploma, former Manila Economic and Cultural Office manager Gualberto Lumauig, lawyer Dante Garcia, reporter Roy Sinfuego and radio commentator Ruben Ilagan and this columnist.

LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES Mr. Robles’ column will resume tomorrow.

equivalent to 14.351-million votes assuming a voter turnout of 43.49-million voters.

He is nine percentage points (3.91 million votes) ahead of Poe, the distant second, with 24 percent (10.43 million votes). Roxas is third with 19 percent (8.26 million votes).

In the Pulse Asia survey of April 1217, 2016, Duterte again leads with 34 percent or 14.78 million votes. He is 12 percentage points or a seemingly insurmountable 5.22 million votes ahead of Poe, who got only 22 percent or 9.56 million votes; 15 percentage points (6.52 million votes) ahead of Binay’s 19 percent (8.26 million votes), 16 percentage points or 6.958 million votes ahead of Roxas’ 18 percent (7.828 million votes).

Miriam again got only two percent or 869,800 votes.

Unfortunately, Duterte, as possibly, the winner, will be a one-dimensional president. His favorite word is “kill.” The drug menace is growing? Kill the drug lords and the drug pushers. Crime is rising? Kill the criminals.

Why have illegal drugs become such a monster? Why has crime become rampant?

Two answers—poverty and massive unemployment.

In the last 30 years, poverty has hovered at 26 percent -27 percent, equivalent today to 27 million Filipinos earning as little as $1.25 a day, the universal measure of poverty. Unemployment still is 7 percent, equivalent to two million jobless workers. Another 12 million are employed only half of the time.

Yet, if the government had just invested substantially in infrastructure—to build

schools, to build farm-to-market roads to improve food production and farmers’ income, to build power plants; to build major roads, highways and bridges; and to install the necessary information and communication technology to modernize the economy, the Philippines could have jumpstarted its growth and in the process substantially reduced poverty and unemployment.

And the country would have had prosperous and healthy Filipinos. In the process, insurgency—by the communist New People’s Army and the Muslim separatists—would have had less reason for existence. The Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao is the Philippines’ poorest, thanks to severe lack of infrastructure in the region.

President Fidel V. Ramos won. Since then, the Iglesia has relied on its survey.

In 1993, the Iglesia went all-out for Erap Estrada, and in 2004, despite the popularity of movie icon FPJ, the Iglesia voted for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. But, in 2010, the Iglesia went for BS Aquino since its survey showed him winning even against Erap. Note that the difference between the votes of BS Aquino and Erap constituted the Iglesia votes.

That’s why the Iglesia vote is something to watch out for. For sure, the Iglesia will always be for the winner. Smart, huh?

After all, when payback time comes, the

Iglesia will always have their members in sensitive positions, like an Iglesia being the Chief of the Philippine National Police. It never fails. *** Farmers have filed multiple complaints against two Cabinet members, high ranking provincial officials, and more than 90 police and military personnel for the bloody dispersal of a protest in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato.

I am not too sure if the complaints will even reach first base under BS Aquino who had actually blamed the farmers for what had happened.

Would you believe that the police top brass blamed the hungry farmers who were just clamoring for rice and assistance from government in the midst of El Niño?

They had the gall to say that perhaps those who killed the farmers and wounded others came from their own ranks.

My gulay, that’s something for Ripley’s “Believe It or Not,” since the people we all saw on television carrying M16 rifles were policemen . But, then, that’s the BS Aquino administration for you—hypocrites and liars. And then Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento handed medals to the policemen who dispersed the farmers.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

WE DN E S DAY : A P RI L 2 7 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Amateurs in focus as PH Open starts SAM Martirez heads a lean but mean roster of amateurs out to upstage the pros as the ICTSI Beverly Place Classic gets going Wednesday at the Beverly Place Golf Club in Mexico, Pampanga.

Martirez, one of the mainstays of Team The Country Club, exudes confidence as she sets out for the 54-hole championship, the third leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, seeking to achieve what she had failed to do at Manila

Southwoods last month.

The 17-year-old graduate of the Masters Academy Home School showed up the local pros and the ladies of the Taiwan LPGA Tour as she grabbed a share of the opening round lead at Southwoods before settling for a strong third place effort with a nine-under 207 total.

She hopes to dish out the same form in this week’s event along with teammates Mikha Fortuna, Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, Kayla No-

Republic of t he Philippines DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

cum and Sofia Chabon.

The event, sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., also drew Malaysian amateur Kellie Kan along with local amateurs Shery Villacencio and Louise Manalo.

Still, focus will be on the likes of Chihiro Ikeda, Jayvie Agojo, Fil-Am Cristina Corpus and Sarah Ababa, who are tipped to contend for the top P100,000 purse in the event backed by

• • • •

Memorandum Circular No. 005

• •

SUBJECT:

Per the recommendation of the Industry-based FOB duly constituted for the Pharmaceutical Industry pursuant to DOST Special Order No. 174 s. 2016 dated 21 March 2016, the following requirements and terms shall be considered “FAIR” to the GFA and/or RDI for fast tracked issuance of FOR: For this particular industry, we shall be considering pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical devices. Pharmaceuticals include medicaments, botanicals, chemicals, cosmeceuticals, compounds or mixtures primarily for the treatment of human ailments and diseases; Biotechnology refers to any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use; and a medical device refer to any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or other similar or related article, including a component part, or accessory which is intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, in man or other animals, or is intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals, and which does not achieve any of its primary intended purposes through chemical action within or on the body of man or other animals and which is not dependent upon being metabolized for the achievement of any of its primary intended purposes.

plays alongside Anya Tanpinco and Ilas at 7:30 a.m. followed by Ababa, Nocum and Apple Fudolin at 7:40 a.m.

Ikeda and Agojo clash in an early duel of the top bets with Kan at 7:50 a.m. while Corpus is paired with Manalo and Lovelynn Guioguio at 8 a.m.

Low scoring is expected on the relatively flat layout which requires accuracy off the tee and on approach shots on the bunker-laden greens.

must be submitted to the FOB

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Direct Licensing and Spin-off Terms under the Pharmaceutical Industry that would be Considered as “Fair” to the Government Funding Agency (GFA) and/or Research and Development Institute (RDI) for Fast Tracked Issuance of Fairness Opinion Report (FOR) under Republic Act No. 10055, otherwise known as the “Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009” _______________________________________________________________________

Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Sharp, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Champion, TaylorMade and Pacsports.

Martirez hopes to come out strong with an early tee-time at 7 a.m. with Villasencio while Fortuna drew England’s Sarah Henderson at 7:10 a.m. and Chabon will tee off next at 7:20 a.m. with Eva Miñoza and Lina de Guzman.

Heidi Chua, a former Philippine Ladies Open champion,

Original copy of Certification of the cost of technology issued by the secretariat or its authorized valuator; Original or certified copy of the Freedom to Operate (FTO) opinion (to operate the potential IPRs or IPRs) issued by a third-party expert; Marketing Plan; Reasonable efforts to market product (failure will result in termination of agreement or payment of penalty); Provisions for licensee to share IP rights to new IP developed by licensee in using the licensed technology; Post bond equivalent to 25% of valuation of the royalty fees for one year; and Undertaking by the GFA or RDI that: a) the licensee to make reasonable efforts to assist licensor in litigations relating to IP/licensed technology as appropriate; and b) the Licensing Agreement to be made between it and the licensee shall contain all the mandatory clauses and exclude all the prohibited clauses under Articles 88 and 87 of the IP Code.

Addition requirements for corporations • •

Certified copy of: a) Articles of Incorporation (AOI); and b) latest General Information Sheet (GIS); Other additional documents/records that may be required by the FOB.

Addition requirements for partnerships • •

Certified copy of: a) Articles of Partnership (AOI); and b) latest General Information Sheet (GIS); Other additional documents/records that may be required by the FOB.

Additional requirements for cooperatives: • •

Certified copy of: a) Articles of Cooperation (AOC); and latest financial statement of the Cooperative.

Other additional documents/records that may be required by the FOB.

B. FOR SPIN-OFFS (1) Basic Requirements

A. FOR DIRECT LICENSING

The following requirements must be satisfied before the proposed transaction shall be assessed:

(1) Basic Requirements

Cost of technology: Not exceeding P5,000,000. Valuation of the technology shall be based on the comparable market approach or income approach valuation to be made by the secretariat or thru its authorized evaluator.

The following requirements must be satisfied before the proposed transaction shall be assessed: Cost of technology:: Not exceeding P5,000,000. Valuation of the technology shall be based on the comparable market approach or income approach valuation to be made by the Secretariat or through its authorized evaluator.

Types of IP: Patents, UMs, IDs, Trade Secrets and Know How Eligibility of Licensee: Who can spin-off?  

Types of Intellectual Property (IP): Patents, Utility Models (UMs), *Industrial Design (*ID), Trade Secrets and Know Hows

Type of spin-off: Corporation, cooperative with or without government support, provided however that for entity receiving government support, the amount of government support should not be more than 50% of its capitalization limited to office area, facilities and equipment for a period of one year.

*confined to medical and biotech devices only Eligibility of Licensee: a.

b.

Capitalization equity: Twice the amount of technology but not less than P5,000,000.

If Sole Proprietor:     

Registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Filipino citizen; Equity at least equivalent to the cost of the technology but not below P1,250,000.00; With existing facilities; and At least five (5) years in the business; good reputation.

If a corporation, partnership or a cooperative:

(2) Ideal terms in the proposed transaction The following terms shall be the basis in the determination whether the proposed transaction is fair or not fair to the GFA or to the RDI: Financial terms: Acceptable royalty rates for Pharmaceuticals: (Based on the guidelines by Harold A. Meyer III, March 2001)

 Registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA);  Domestic stock corporation;  Must not be a general professional partnership, if applicable;  Capitalization twice the cost of the technology but not below P5,000,000.00;  With existing facilities; and  At least five (5) years of existence; good reputation.

• • • • • • •

(2) Ideal terms in the proposed transaction The following terms shall be the basis in the determination whether the proposed transaction is fair or not fair to the GFA or to the RDI:

•

Acceptable royalty rates based on gross sales for Pharmaceuticals (novel technology) (Based on the guidelines by Harold A. Meyer III, March 2001): A raw idea is worth virtually nothing, due to an astronomical risk factor.

A patent pending with a strong business plan may be worth 1% of gross sales.

An issued patent may be worth 2%.

A patent with a prototype, such as a pharmaceutical with pre-clinical testing may be worth 2-3%.

A pharmaceutical with clinical trials may be worth 3-4%.

A proven drug with FDA approval may be worth 5-7%.

A drug with market share, such as one pharma distributing through another, may be worth 8-10%.

The acceptable royalty rates for novel Pharmaceuticals shall likewise apply to Medical Devices mutatis mutandis.

Acceptable royalty rates for health supplements and herbal medicines unless covered by a patent: •

3-5 % of the gross sales

A raw idea is worth virtually nothing, due to an astronomical risk factor A patent pending with a strong business plan may be worth 1% of gross sales An issued patent may be worth 2% A patent with a prototype, such as a pharmaceutical with pre-clinical testing may be worth 2-3 % A pharmaceutical with clinical trials may be worth 3-4% A proven drug with FDA approval may be worth 5-7% A drug with market share, such as one pharma distributing through another, may be worth 8-10%

Acceptable royalty rates for health supplements and herbal medicines:

Financial terms:

• • • • • • •

Researcher or any member of the research team Employee / still in the service

3-5 % of the gross sales

Acceptable royalty rates for Biotech based on gross sales R oy a l t y R a t e s

• • • • •

R e s e a r c h R e a g e n t s (e . g . e x p r e s s i o n v e c t o r, c e l l c u l t u r e , m e d i a s u p p l e m e n t s)

1 - 5%

D i a g n o s t i c p r o d u c t s (e . g . m o n o c l o n a l a n t i b o d i e s , D N A p r o b e s)

1 - 5%

T h e r a p e u t i c p r o d u c t s (e . g . m o n o c l o n a l a n t i b o d i e s , c l o n e d f a c t o r s)

5 - 10 %

Va c c i n e s

5 - 10 %

A n i m a l h e a l t h p r o d u c t s

•

3 - 6%

P l a n t /a g r i c u l t u r e p r o d u c t s 3 - 5% Royalty rates below the approved rates as above-stated shall be required to undergo full blown FOB. Exclusivity:

Acceptable royalty rates for Biotech (based on gross sales): R oyalt y Rates

a. b.

Field of use: One or two fields of use Geographic territory: Limited

Effectivity / Term:

•

Researc h Reagent s (e.g. expres sion vec tor, c ell c ulture, media supplements)

•

1 - 5%

D iagnostic pro duc t s (e.g. monoc lonal antibodies, D N A probes)

1 - 5%

•

T herapeutic pro duc t s (e.g. monoc lonal antibodies, c loned fac tor s)

5 - 10 %

(3) Other Conditions

•

Vac c ines

5 - 10 %

For Spin-offs, the following documents must be submitted to the FOB:

A nimal health produc t s

3 - 6%

• •

Plant /agr ic ulture produc ts 3 - 5% Royalty rates below the approved rates as above-stated shall be required to undergo full blown FOB. Licensing fee: At least 0.5% of the cost of technology. However, the FOB may also impose different fees per field of use or other considerations.

Exclusivity: a.

Field of use: One or two fields of use b.

Geographic territory: Limited.

Sub - licensing: Wit h consent /upon t he discret ion of t he Lic ensor E f f e c t i v i t y / Te r m: a. b.

For patents and industrial designs: Five (5) years renewable For UMs: Life of the UM

a. b.

For patents and industrial designs: Five (5) years renewable For UMs: Life of the UM

• • • • • •

Original copy of Certification of the cost of technology issued by the secretariat or its authorized valuator; Original or certified copy of the Freedom to Operate (FTO) opinion (to operate the potential IPR(s) or IPR(s)) issued by a third-party expert; Marketing Plan; Reasonable efforts to market product (failure will result in termination of agreement or payment of penalty); Provisions for licensee to share IP rights to new IP developed by licensee in using the licensed technology; Post bond equivalent to 25% of valuation of the royalty fees for one year; and Undertaking by the GIF or RDA that: a) the licensee to make reasonable efforts to assist licensor in litigations relating to IP/licensed technology as appropriate; and b) the Licensing Agreement to be made between it and the spin-off company shall contain all the mandatory clauses and exclude all the prohibited clauses under Articles 88 and 87 of the IP Code.

This Circular shall take effect immediately after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation and upon filing at the UP Law Center in accordance with law.

C. Others For Sole Proprietors, Cooperatives, Cooperatives, Partnerships or Corporations, the following documents

( T S - A P R . 2 7, 2 016)

MARIO G. MONTEJO S e c r e t a r y

PH bets upbeat in Sirikit golf meet TEAM Philippines hopes to measure up with the fancied Korean side and rest of the competing field as it kicks off its title drive in the 38th Queen Sirikit Cup beginning today (Wednesday, April 27) at the Ora Country Club in Jejudo, South Korea.

Princess Superal, Pauline del Rosario and Yuka Saso, who placed second to the powerhouse Koreans the last time out in Hong Kong, are back, ready to do battle again with the hosts who are out to extend their domination of what is also known as Asia-Pacific Ladies Golf Team Championship.

After two practice rounds, the Pinay bets, whose campaign is backed and sanctioned by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines, expressed confidence of finally pulling off a rare feat although they stressed the need for a strong start and stronger finish in anticipation of the Koreans’ all-out charge to keep the crown at home.

“This is the best team that we can bring here,” said national team coach Bong Lopez, also the mentor of Team The Country Club.

“The course is good for us, not too long but hilly with undulating greens. The better players will shine.”

Superal and Del Rosario primed up for event with victories in Malaysia last month with the former taking the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open crown and the latter romping off with the Johor Open title.

Only gold medalist Park Hyun-kyung is retained from last year’s champion squad but the team remained as formidable as ever with Choi Hye-jin and Lee Gayoung all pumped up to flaunt their talent and skills before home fans.

WE DN E S DAY : A P RI L 2 7 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Thunder advance; Paul breaks hand LOS ANGELES—The Oklahoma City Thunder punched their ticket to the second playoff round, but the Los Angeles Clippers’ chances of following suit were dealt a big blow when Chris Paul broke his hand on Monday.

Paul broke his right hand in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 98-84 game four win as the Clippers guard became the second NBA star to suffer a serious injury in as many days.

Earlier Monday, the Golden State Warriors announced that reigning league MVP Stephen Curry would miss at least two weeks of the playoffs with a knee injury.

Paul left the game in the third quarter and did not return. X-rays showed a fractured third metacarpal.

As if the Paul injury wasn’t enough bad news, Blake Griffin also left Monday’s game with a sore knee.

Coach Doc Rivers said both players would be examined by team doctors on Tuesday.

In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 69 points as the Thunder advanced to the second round of the postseason with a 118-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

The Thunder took the series in five games and will next face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Con-

ference matchup. Game one will be Saturday at San Antonio. AFP Durant scored 33 points on 11of-24 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. Steven Adams added 15 points and 10 boards in front of a crowd of 18,200 at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Dallas owner Mark Cuban helped motivate the Thunder by saying before game five that he believed Westbrook was an all-

star but not a superstar.

“He’s an idiot,” Durant said of Cuban. “He’s idiot. That’s what we’ve got to say about that. Next question.”

In Charlotte, Kemba Walker scored 11 straight points in a decisive fourth quarter run as the Charlotte Hornets leveled their Eastern Conference first round series with a 89-85 win over Miami. AFP

Republic of t he Philippines DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Memorandum Circular No. 007 Series of 2016 Subject:

G U I D E L I N E S O N T H E FA S T-T R A C K E D I S S U A N C E O F FA I R N E S S O P I N I O N R E P O R T ( F O R) U N D E R R E P U B L I C A C T ( R . A .) N O. 10 0 5 5 OT H E R W I S E K N O W N A S T H E “ P H I L I P P I N E T E C H N O LO GY T R A N S F E R A C T O F 2 0 0 9 ” ARTICLE I RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE

Section 1. This Guidelines is formulated in order to accelerate the issuance of Fairness Opinion Report (FOR) from the period of at most ninety (90) days from the receipt of the formal request with complete requirements, to at least ten (10) days from the receipt of the formal request with complete requirements.

Section 2. The intention of this Guidelines is to fast track the release of a fairness opinion by the DOST Secretary with regards the proposed direct licensing transaction between a Government Funding Agency (GFA) or a Research and Development Institute (RDI) as the Licensor, and an individual or entity that has an interest to commercialize a technology as the Licensee.

Section 3. This Guidelines shall also be applicable to proposed spin-off in accordance with R.A. No. 10055.

ARTICLE II CONSTITUTION OF FAIRNESS OPINION BOARD (FOB) PER INDUSTRY Section 1. In accordance with Articles III.2d and IV.5 of the DOST Memorandum Circular No. 003 s. 2015 entitled “Guidelines on the Constitution of the Fairness Opinion Board (FOB) and the Issuance of Firness Opinion Report (FOR) under Republic Act No. 10055 otherwise known as the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009” dated September 15, 2015, a specialized FOB may be convened for every industry specifically for the purpose of the fast-tracked issuance of FOR. This specialized FOB shall be termed as “Industry-Based FOB”.

Football clinic. Members of the Loyola Meralco Sparks Football Club teach children from the Southern provinces of the Philippines a couple of football moves during a clinic that was part of Meralco’s Football for Peace program at the University of Makati in Makati City on Tuesday. DANNY PATA

Republic of the Philippines Province of Kalinga City of Tabuk BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Busy year for PH lift team THE Philippine powerlifting team hopes to do good as it competes in two major international meets two months from now.

A nine-man squad begins the Filipinos’ campaign overseas as it sees action in the Asian Powerlifting Championships in Udaipur, India from June 6 to 12.

A week later, a compact four-woman team led by petite Joan Masangkay travels to Texas, USA for the World Classic Powerlifting Championships to be held from June 19-26.

Both tournaments attract a large number of countries and participants, which pose a big challenge to the country’s medal bid.

“We’ll do our best effort,” said coach Eddie Torres, who’s also president of the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines.

Five of the athletes joined Torres in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at Shakey’s Malate, namely Margarette Angulo, Nicole Go, Spencer Co, Betina Bordeos, and Masangkay.

Section 2. The Members of the Industry-Based FOB shall be composed of three experts from the public and private sectors as may be determined by the DOST, with at least one from the private sector. The members of the Industry-Based FOB shall be constituted by the DOST Secretary through Special Order (SO) who will serve for a period depending on his discretion. The DOST Secretary may change any member or the members of the Industry-Based FOB per industry as may be necessary to maintain its independence and impartiality.

Section 3. The Industry-Based FOB shall advise the DOST Secretary on the following: (1) (2) (3)

Section 4. The Industry-Based FOB may also evaluate proposed transactions that fall under its industry, as may be recommended by the Secretariatupon its evaluation in accordance with this Guidelines.

Section 5. The DOST Secretary shall change the members of the Industry-Based FOB in any industry and constitute a new FOB in accordance with DOST Memorandum Circular No. 003 s. 2015 dated September 15, 2015 in the following cases: (1) (2) (3)

Date Posted: April 27, 2016

INVITATION TO BID ITB No. CW-2016-008 The Local Government Unit of Tabuk through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites Contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to bid for the hereunder contract/project: Lot Name of Project

1 Fl ood C ontrol (D agupan WesteC abaruan S ecti on) Location C hi co R i ver, Laya West ABC 10,000,000.00 Amount of Bid Documents 10,000.00 Contract Duration 60 C D Brief Description of the Project D redgi ng w orks P r o s p e c t i ve b i d d e r s s h o u l d p o s s e s s a va l i d P C A B l i c e n s e a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e c o nt r a c t , h ave c o m p l ete d a s i m i l a r c o nt r a c t w i t h a va l u e o f at l e a s t 5 0 % o f t h e A B C. T h e B AC w i l l u s e n o n - d i s c r et i o n a r y p a s s / f a i l c r i te r i a i n t h e e l i g i b i l i t y c h e c k /s c r e e n i n g a s we l l a s t h e p r e l i m i n a r y ex a m i n at i o n o f b i d s . T h e B AC w i l l c o n d u c t p o s t - q u a l i f i c at i o n o f t h e l o we s t c a l c u l a te d b i d.

Section 1. The following shall be required in the fast-tracked issuance of FOR: (1) (2)

Submission of complete documentary requirements as stated in Article VI.1 of DOST Memorandum Circular No. 003 s. 2015 dated September 15, 2015; and Satisfaction of the requirements and terms as determined by the Industry-Based FOB to be fair to the GFA or RDI per Section 3, paragraph (2) above, wherein said terms are in the proposed transaction.

Section 2. The Industry-Based FOB may submit a provisional FOR subject to the fulfillment of the preceding section sans submission of complete documents under any of the following instances: (1)

(2)

In the event that a duly-constituted Industry-Based FOB is convened for a public negotiation activity, such as Technology Transfer Fair where technologies are pitched and directly offered to investors and proposed transactions are sealed by licensing parties even without the submission of the formal documentary requirements; or Any other urgent instances as may be determined by the DOST, through the Secretary and as recommended by the Secretariat.

Section 3. In case a provisional FOR is issued by an Industry-Based FOB, the requesting party shall submit the complete documentary requirements as stated in Article VI.1 of DOST Memorandum Circular No. 003 s. 2015 dated September 15, 2015, within thirty (30) days from the sealing of the proposed transaction, before a formal and final FOR is rendered by the Industry-Based FOB and issued by the DOST Secretary.

ARTICLE IV OPERATING PROCEDURES IN THE FAST-TRACKED ISSUANCE OF FAIRNESS OPINION REPORT (FOR) Section 1. Upon compliance with the requirements for the fast-tracked issuance of FOR, including the terms set by the Industry-Based FOB, the following operating procedures shall be observed: (1) (2) (3)

B i d D o c u m e nt s a r e ava i l a b l e d u r i n g o f f i c e h o u r s s t a r t i n g A p r i l 2 6 , 2 016 a t t h e B AC - S e c r et a r i at , C i t y En g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e a n d u p o n p ay m e nt o f a n o n - r ef u n d a b l e a m o u nt o f b i d d o c u m e nt s a s s t a te d a b ove t o t h e LG U C a s h i e r, O f f i c e o f t h e Tr e a s u r e r.

(5)

T h e B i d s a n d Awa r d s C o m m i t te e ( B AC) r e s e r ve s t h e r i g ht t o r e j e c t a ny a n d /o r a l l b i d s o r p a r t t h e r e o f, o r t o wa i ve f o r m a l i t y t h e r e i n a n d /o r t o a c c e pt t h e b i d s a s m ay b e c o n s i d e r e d m o s t a d va nt a g e o u s t o t h e L o c a l G ove r n m e nt U n i t o f Ta b u k .

Ve r y t r u l y yo u r s ,

where a quorum cannot be established due to conflict of interest of any of the Members; where a quorum cannot be ensured due to prior long-term commitment of any of the Members; or as the DOST Secretary may deem fit in order to maintain the independence and impartiality of the IndustryBased FOB.

Section 6. The Technology Application and Promotion Institute, as the Secretariat, shall advise the DOST Secretary on which industries or kinds of technologies in an industry may be suitable for FOB constitution or for fast-tracked issuance of FOR. ARTICLE III REQUIREMENTS TO FAST-TRACK THE ISSUANCE OF FAIRNESS OPINION REPORT (FOR)

P r e - B i d c o n f e r e n c e w i l l b e o n M ay 4, 2 016 , We d n e s d ay, 9: 0 0 A M a t t h e B AC M e et i n g R o o m , C i t y En g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e, Ta b u k C i t y H a l l, D a g u p a n C e nt r o, Ta b u k C i t y

A l l s e a l e d b i d p r o p o s a l s s h o u l d b e r e c e i ve d by t h e B AC C h a i r m a n / S e c r et a r i a t o n o r b ef o r e M ay 18 , 2 016 , We d n e s d ay @ 9: 0 0 A M a t t h e B AC M e et i n g R o o m , C i t y En g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e, Ta b u k C i t y H a l l, D a g u p a n C e nt r o, Ta b u k C i t y.

Requirements that must be satisfied before a proposed transaction may qualify for possible fast-tracked issuanceof FOR; Terms that shall be considered in the determination as to whether the proposed transaction is fair to the GFA or the RDI; and Other requirements that may be determined by the Industry-Based FOB.

(4)

(6) (7)

Requesting party submits to the DOST Secretary, through the FOB Secretariat, a request for the issuance of a Fairness Opinion Report, together with the necessary documents.

Secretariat receives the request and performs a formality examination to determine the completeness of the documents.

Secretariat examines the relevant terms of the proposed transactions. If the terms fit the minimum terms determined by the Industry-Based FOB to be fair to the GFA or RDI, the Secretariat convenes the IndustryBased FOB. Industry-based FOB decides if it or any of its members has a conflict of interest with the present case. If it can proceed, the Industry-Based FOB assesses the proposed transaction and its supporting documents, as well as the Secretariat’s assessment. In the event of a conflict of interest a new FOB has to be constituted.

If the proposed terms match the terms for fairnessset by the Industry-Based FOB, the Industry-Based FOB renders an FOR for the DOST Secretary’s consideration in issuing a formal fairness opinion.

If the Industry-Based FOB finds that the terms are outside the terms for fairness set by it, it decides if it can accept the present case or recommend a new FOB to be convened.

If the Industry-Based FOB cannot accept the present case, a new FOB specific to the proposed transaction shall be convened for a full review of the said proposed transaction.

Section 2. If, upon examination, the relevant terms of the proposed transaction do not match the terms set by the Industry-Based FOB to be fair to the GFA or RDI, FOB Secretariat shall immediately proceed pursuant to DOST Memorandum Circular No. 003 s. 2015 dated September 15, 2015.

ARTICLE V CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST Section 1. Members of the Industry-Based FOB shall ensure the confidentiality of all information that they will obtain and the absence of conflict of interest during their term.

Section 2. In the event that the Industry-Based FOB shall receive an actual request for FOR and a Member believes that a conflict of interest may arise from the said proposed transaction, said Member shall immediately inform the DOST Secretary through the FOB Secretariat.

ARTICLE VI EFFECTIVITY 2015.

Section 1. This Guidelines does not supersede DOST Memorandum Circular No. 003 s. 2015 dated September 15,

Section 2. This Guidelines shall take effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation. The required copies of this Guidelines shall be submitted to the UP Law Center in accordance with law.

( T S - A P R . 2 7, 2 016)

(S G D.) C O N S TA N T E C. D O C TO R B AC C h a i r m a n

MARIO G. MONTEJO Secretary ( T S - A P R . 2 7, 2 016)

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Aces shoot for 2-0 lead over Bolts

By Jeric Lopez A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF TEN (10) LOTS VARIOUS BEVERAGES UNDER ITB NO. PB16-034 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming Public Bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Ten (10) Lots Various Beverages under ITB No. PB16-034.

Brief Description

Lot 1 : Supply and Delivery of Chocolate Drink Lot 2 : Supply and Delivery of Instant Coffee Lot 3 : Supply and Delivery of Coffee Creamer Lot 4 : Supply and Delivery of Decaf Coffee Lot 5 : Supply and Delivery of Juice Drink Lot 6 : Supply and Delivery of Instant Iced Tea Lot 7 : Supply and Delivery of Brown Sugar Lot 8 : Supply and Delivery of Artificial Sweetener Lot 9 : Supply and Delivery of Plain Tea Lot 10 : Supply and Delivery of Green Tea

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

The total ABC is in the amount of Seventeen Million Three Hundred SixtySeven Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-Eight Pesos (PhP17,367,438.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction.

The ABC for each lot is as follows: Lot 1 (Supply and Delivery of Chocolate Drink) – Two Million Fifty-Six Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty-One Pesos (PhP2,056,731.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

ALASKA coach Alex Compton said the Aces need to grind it out both mentally and physically if they want to build a comfortable 2-0 cushion in their best-of-five semifinal series against Meralco in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

Lot 2 (Supply and Delivery of Instant Coffee) – Four Million Seven Hundred Forty-Seven Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-Five Pesos (PhP4,747,355.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID One (1) Lot Drydocking/Repair of Marine Vessel ITB 2016-04-021 P.R. No. 2016-03-329

Lot 6 (Supply and Delivery of Instant Iced Tea) – One Million Thirty-One Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-One Pesos (PhP1,031,421.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

1.

Lot 8 (Supply and Delivery of Artificial Sweetener) – Thirty Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Five Pesos (Php30,675.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Lot 9 (Supply and Delivery of Plain Tea) – Two Hundred Forty-One Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-Two Pesos (PhP241,842.00), VAT Exclusive, ZeroRated Transaction

Internally Funded

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).

Note: Bidders may bid on any or all lots.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

2.

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

3.

Schedule April 27 to May 18, 2016 May 18, 2016, 2:00 p.m.

May 18, 2016, 2:00 p.m. onwards

500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos)

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

5,000.00

More than 10 Million to 50 Million

25,000.00

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 – Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been postqualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 thru the BASD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: (02) 524-3911, (02) 3366906 and (02) 521-1542 local 223/617.

(SGD.) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1

The MGB will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 4, 2016, Wednesday at 2:00PM, at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

5.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on May 20, 2016, Friday, 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.

500.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from BASD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

1.

2.

4.

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

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. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from April 27 to May 19, 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).

May 5, 2016, 2:00 p.m.

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, upon payment of the non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

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.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2016 intends to apply the sum of Seven Million Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP7,300,000.00) 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).

Lot 10 (Supply and Delivery of Green Tea) – Three Hundred Thirty-Eight Thousand Six Hundred Forty-Eight Pesos (Php338,648.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

Source of Funds

CAROLINE M. EDGINTON President Affiant ( T S - A P R . 13 , 2 0 & 2 7, 2 016)

Tel. No. (+632) 928-8642/928-8937 Fax No. (+632) 920-1635 E-mail: central@mgb.gov.ph

Lot 5 (Supply and Delivery of Juice Drink) – Nine Hundred Fifty-Three Thousand Three Hundred Three Pesos (PhP953,303.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents which will commence starting from the contract effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Notice is hereby given on the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of Mobile Travel Technologies International Inc., shortening the term of its corporate existence and thereby dissolving the said corporation as of February 15, 2013. All persons having claims against the corporation are requested to present the same at its principal office at Unit 1703 Hanston Square, 17 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City for immediate settlement.

This announcement will serve as a notice to all parties concerned of the legal dissolution of the said corporation.

Signed this 29th day of March, Makati City, Philippines.

North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Philippines

Lot 4 (Supply and Delivery of Decaf Coffee) – One Hundred Thirty-Four Thousand One Hundred Sixty Pesos (PhP134,160.00), VAT Exclusive, ZeroRated Transaction

Delivery Schedule

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF MOBILE TRAVEL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL INC.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources MINES AND GEOSCIENCES BUREAU

Lot 3 (Supply and Delivery of Coffee Creamer) – Five Million Seven Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Pesos (PhP5,744,650.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

Lot 7 (Supply and Delivery of Brown Sugar) – Two Million Eighty-Eight Thousand Six Hundred Fifty-Three Pesos (Php2,088,653.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

Armed with a 1-0 edge, Alaska looks to tighten its grip on the series in Game 2 when it anticipates Meralco’s fightback in their 7 p.m. clash today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After his Aces’ 9794 win over the game Bolts in the series opener Monday night,

Bid opening shall be on May 20, 2016, Friday, 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.

6.

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.

7.

For further information, please refer to: Engr. ROBERTO D. CASEROS Head, Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. 667-6700 loc. 153 or 156 E-mail: bac@mgb.gov.ph Website: www.mgb.gov.ph (SGD.) Engr. JUANCHO PABLO S. CALVEZ BAC Chairman

( T S - A P R . 2 7, 2 016)

(TS-APR. 27, 2016)

Game Today (Semis, Game 2 - Smart Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. - Alaska vs. Meralco

Compton believes mental and physical toughness will be the keys to victory.

“I told our guys this is going to be a tough series,” said Compton.

“We’ve got to be tough physically and mentally to win this series.

We’re a step closer, but we expect them to come back.”

A win for the Aces will shove them a game closer to clinching a fourth finals’ appearance in the last five conferences.

Meralco, which is just in its second semifinal stint, showed a lot of potential in Game 1, but also flaunted its flaws, blowing a nine-point lead early the fourth to allow Alaska to close in and snatch the victory.

Pagcor, PCSO charged

By Peter Atencio PAMPANGA congressman Joseller “Yeng” Guiao on Tuesday filed a petition before the Supreme Court, asking the Philippine Gaming Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to honor their obligations to the Philippine Sports Commission.

Guiao, who is the vice chairman on the House Committee on Youth and Sports, said the agencies need to remit close to P4 billion between 2010 and 2015.

He said the PSC Act of 1990 clearly mandates that 5% of PAGCOR’s gross income should automatically be remitted to the PSC. He alleges that the gaming agency has brought down its contribution to 2.135 percent of its gross income since 1993.

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Zaragosa, Torralba top elims, match play on LOTTO RESULTS RUPERT Zaragosa primed up for the knockout round by taking the low medal honors, closing out with a 71 and setting up a duel with No. 32 Eric Gallardo in Wednesday’s start of the 2016 Philippine Amateur Open Match Play Golf Championship at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Kristine Torralba, on the other hand, topped the women’s side despite an 82, nipping erstwhile

co-leader Jona Magcalayo for the honors with a 160 after the 36-hole stroke play elims phase of the sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and hosted by Orchard Golf and Country Club.

Magcalayo shot an 83 for a 161 while Korean Hwang Min-jeong posted a 79 to finish third followed by compatriot Koh Eun A (83-164), Diana Araneta (87-169, Tomi Arejola (92-177) and Eagle

Ace Superal (92-177).

Counting his first round 68, Zaragosa pooled a five-under 139 to top the big men’s field with Korean Tom Kim, winner of the recent Philippine Junior Amateur Open Golf Championship (Strokeplay), also carding a 71 to clinch runnerup honors and the No. 2 seeding in the match play at 144.

Ryan Monsalve finished third at 145 after a 72 while Ace Stehmeier and Luigi Guerrero, who

matched Zaragosa’s opening 68, wound up tied at fourth at 147 after a 76 and 79, respectively, in the event held as PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.

Japanese Yuto Katsuragawa blew a 33 start with a 42 for joint sixth at 148 with Jelbert Gamolo, who limped with a 77 while Lanz Atienza Uy shot a 78 for a 151 and Noel Langamin (77), Jay-R Salahog (75), Joseph Orbito (78) and Rolando Pila (81) all finished at 152.

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

La Salle aims for volley tiara

By Peter Atencio

THE La Salle Lady Spikers will try to nail their first crown in three years when they meet the defending champion Ateneo Lady Eagles in Game 2 of the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball finals at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

And going into today’s clash, La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus said he’s confident that the Lady Spikers will be up to the challenge of toppling the back-to-back champions.

“Bumalik na ang tiwala sa sarili ng mga players. Kakayanin namin ito kahit na alam namin na napakahirap manalo sa back-to-back champions,” said De Jesus.

La Salle played tough team defense against the Lady Eagles in Game 1, even as Mika Reyes, Kim Dy and Majoy Baron combined to steer the Lady Spikers to a resounding straight-sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21 victory.

The Lady Eagles, meanwhile, are expected to bounce back in Game 2.

“I think our mindset, we really have to go back to what we believe in. Our teammates, coaches and system always go back to playing happy, united and heart strong,” said Lady Eagle team skipper Alyssa Valdez.

In Game 1, Jia Morado hurt her right hand, but she is expected to return to fighting form as they try to force a sudden death with the Lady Spikers.

Meanwhile, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will seek to retain the men’s crown when they take on National University in Game 2 of the men’s finals at 12 nn.

Marck Espejo showcased the same brilliant game which gave him the Most Valuable Player award as the Blue Eagles look to follow up their 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18 victory over the Bulldogs in Game last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Valdez was named the UAAP’s Most Valuable Player for the Women’s Division for a third straight season.

Other awardees were best spiker—Jaja Santiago (National University); best blocker—Mary Joy Baron (La Salle), Best Digger—Dawn Macandili (La Salle), Best Receiver—Dawn Macandili (La Salle), Best Server— Kim Fajardo (La Salle) and Rookie of the Year—Isa Molde (University of the Philippines) In the men’s division, Ateneo’s Marck Espejo was named league MVP, while also bagging the Best Spiker and Best Server awards.

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

WBC’s verdict on Petalcorin fight out Wednesday

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Action in the women’s division of the 10th Summer Grand Slam tournament heats up at the Batangas Sports Complex.

Rizal Tech, San Rafael blast foes THE Rizal Technological University men’s team matched its counterpart’s strong start in the 10th Summer Grand Slam tournament as it crushed Lipa City, Batangas, 5-0, at the Batangas Sports Complex, which got under way in Batangas City Tuesday.

San Rafael, Bulacan also came away with an emphatic 12-2 rout of Montalban, Rizal in men’s Division B of the country’s premier softball tournament sanctioned by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.

The Benguet Phantoms joined the assault of the fancied teams

as they fashioned out a 7-0 victory over the Alabang Coaches heading to the crucial stretch of the week-long tournament that features the country’s top teams in the men’s and women’s Open and the men’s and women’s Club.

Teams from Malaysia and Indonesia are also competing in the event along with last year’s champions Adamson University (women’s Open), University of the Philippines (women’s Club), San Antonio (men’s Club) and the Philippine Air Force (men’s Open).

“It’s great that we have already reached the 10th year of the Sum-

mer Grand Slam. It has been a great decade of sportsmanship and excellence. This year, we have a crop of formidable teams and players and I know that the matches will only get even more exciting day by day,” said Asaphil president Jean Henri Lhuillier, also the president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

The RTU ladies earlier ripped Batangas, 5-2, to join Ateneo de Manila, which thumped Sta. Maria Bulacan, 12-2, in the early lead along with UM Davao and BulSU in the event sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier and which drew 46 teams.

WORLD Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman has informed The Standard that the review of the World Boxing Council Silver flyweight title fight between Filipino southpaw Randy “Razor” Petalcorin and Australia-based Tanzanian Omari Kimweri at the Melbourne Pavilion was almost complete and a decision is likely to be announced Wednesday.

Petalcorin’s co-managers Jim Claude Manangquil, the youthful CEO of Sanman Promotions and multi-titled Australian promoter Peter Maniatis filed a protest with the WBC immediately after the fight, citing several discrepancies.

The most bizarre was the performance of referee Malcolm Bulner, a naturalized Australian, who was a Sri Lankan and fought in the Olympics.

He failed to count at least four knockdowns scored by former WBA light flyweight interim champion Petalcorin, raising a howl of protest from the Filipino’s managers and media people.

In a telephone call with The Standard shortly after the fight, Maniatis said the split decision in favor of Kimweri was a travesty .

Highlights of the fight posted on Facebook clearly showed the knockdowns which Bulner unbelievably failed to count.

Philracom cracks down on mobile phone, gadget use THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE

THE Philippine Racing Commission recently updated Philippine racing rule (PR) 60 which forbids the use of communication devices in restricted areas on racedays.

Banned from the stewards’ and judges’ stands, jockeys’ quarters, paddocks, starting gate, and computer room (for the pari-mutuel system) are “cellular or mobile phones, personal digital

assistants, smartphones, and other similar communication devices that use wireless communication network or the internet.”

Any Philracom licensee caught in the “use or possession” of the listed devices shall be given a suspension of six months and fine of P30,000 for the first offense; one year suspension and fine of P60,000 for the second offense; and revocation of license and/ or a fine of P100,000 for the third offense.

The suspension periods were doubled from the previous three months

and six months for the first and second offenses, while from a one-year suspension for the third offense, the penalty is now revocation of license.

The amended PR 60 also instructs racing clubs to promulgate rules and regulations with regard to violation of this rule by nonlicensed personnel, and to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and audio equipment in the restricted areas for monitoring by the management of the racing club and Philracom. *** Philracom’s Labor Day

offering is the 3rd leg of the Import/Local Race Challenge series on May 1 at Metroturf. The list of declared entries was not available as of presstime. *** Pinay Pharoah won the April 22 trial race for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 3YO Open by two lengths at San Lazaro Leisure Park.

The filly owned by businessman and sportsman Herminio S. Esguerra clocked 1:32.4 for 1,400 meters under jockey Fernando Raquel Jr. Catsbarawana placed

second, followed by Batang Annala, Son Also Rise, Polo Queen, and Wish List in that order.

The race proper will be held May 7. *** Next Saturday (May 7) is Derby Day, a date etched into every racing fan’s mental calendar – the first Saturday in May is when we watch the Run for the Roses.

In the 142nd edition of this iconic race, Florida Derby winner Nyquist is the early favorite. Owned by Reddam Racing, the colt named after Red Wings hockey

player Gustav Nyquist is undefeated in 7 starts and has earned over $3 million.

Others being touted to do well are Gun Runner (won the Louisiana Derby, unbeaten in two races this year), Exaggerator (won the Santa Anita Derby), Outwork (won the Wood Memorial), Brody’s Cause (won the Bluegrass Stakes), Creator (won the Arkansas Derby), and Lani (won the UAE Derby). The final list of contenders is not yet out. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember

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W E D N E S DAY : A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 16 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

Shirmar Felongco (right) of Kaya FC and Kitchee’s Christian Kwesi fight for ball control during the AFC Cup 2016 at the Rizal Football Stadium. At left is Kaya’s Antonio Ugarte. LINO SANTOS

Kaya FC falls to visitors

By Peter Atencio SUBSTITUTE Harima Hirokane entered the field on the 83rd minute and scored the winning goal three minutes later, sending Kitchee to a 1-0 triumph over Kaya FC Tuesday in their Asian Football Confederation Cup Group F encounter at the Rizal Memorial football stadium.

Enduring the sweltering 36-degree (Celcius) heat, the 18-year-old Harima Hirokane struck with five minutes to go, when he side-footed home a goal on the 85th minute.

The ball dropped in front of him after Lam Ka-wai’s corner kick was deflected by goalkeeper Matthew Acton and hit the post.

“We know the weather was hot. It was difficult. But our players were able to come back. They were disciplined,” said Kitchee coach Alex Chu. Their third win against a draw and a loss meant that Kitchee has overtaken Kaya FC to top the group F with 10 points, 1 ahead of its victim.

This gives Kitchee a good chance of getting the no. 1 spot in the Round of 16 in their bracket.

“Nadale kami sa experience nila,” said Kaya FC coach Joel Villarino.

Villarino said a shift in their attack from the sides to the middle was something which the team made an effort to adjust to.

Pacquiao unlikely to fight in Rio Olympics

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT-DIVISION world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who told Philippine Olympic Committee vice president Joey Romasanta as early as 2008 that he wanted to represent the Philippines in the Olympic boxing competition and hopefully win the country’s first Olympic gold medal, may not be able to see his dream come true.

This was according to longtime International Olympic Committee member Frank Elizalde during the press conference at the Jade Garden in Glorietta 2 in Makati, announcing TV5 as the official broadcast partnet of the Rio Olympic Games

OKC Thunder advance TURN TO A13

Elizalde indicated it would be near impossible for Pacquiao to fight in Rio, because the International Olympic Committee hasn’t approved the participation of pros in the Games.

He added that even if they ap-

prove the inclusion of pros, which would require a change in the AIBA Constitution, it is likely to come if at all by 2020, when Pacquiao is above the 40year age limit.

With 100 days to go before the historic event, the Philippine broadcaster TV5 head Pacquiao of sports Patricia Bermudez Hizon told The Standard the network and all its various platforms are “ready for the challenge,” since they will also be covering and producing the games for Asia.

She said being the official Olympic broadcast partner “is an affirma-

Zaragosa, Torralba top elims TURN TO A15

tion that TV5 is a true partner of sports.”

“The Olympics is an important event showcasing the value of sports as a part of nation building,” said Bermudez Hizon, echoing the consistent belief of Mediaquest Chairman Manny Pangilinan.

“As a group, we always believe in the value of sports in nation-building and in unifying the country in terms of sporting events and sports heroes,” Pangilinan said. “To be chosen as the official broadcast partner of a major sporting event like the Rio Olympics is a privilege.’

B1

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 27, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

SM open to new rail hub offer

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE SM Group is open to building a common area for light rail passengers between its mall in Quezon City and Trinoma Mall owned by Ayala Land Inc. to resolve the dispute over the location of the project.

“The current status [is] we have certain agreement more or less where it would be [located]. It’s a real common area now … not exactly one station, but much much closer to each other,” SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans Sy told reporters.

Sy did not specify the location of the proposed common area.

The two major shopping malls,

both located along Edsa, are separated by North Ave. “It’s a better solution for everyone. It’s good for them [Ayala], good for us. It’s like compromise.

It goes to show how sincere we are in just one thing good for the country,” he said.

Sy, however, said he wanted to see a concrete plan from the government on the common sta-

tion for Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Light Rail Transit Line 1 and the proposed MRT 7 before signing an agreement.

“We are trying to resolve it. We have more or less a general idea or agreement but I will not sign unless all the plans are done. As I said I want to see the plans done.

If the plan is done, it is easier to sign,” he said.

Sy said the company was hoping to resolve the dispute over the location of the common station

by June.

The Transportation Department earlier said it would pursue two common stations, one near SM North Edsa and the other beside Trinoma Mall. The Transportation Department’s new strategy of building two common stations

aims to resolve a conflict with the SM Group.

SM Prime earlier secured a Supreme Court stay order, barring the department from transferring the location of the common station to Trinoma Mall.

The Transportation Department decided to relocate the common station to Trinoma from SM North, citing P1 billion worth of savings the government would realize from the transfer.

Under an earlier agreement between SM Prime and state-run Light Rail Transit Authority, the common station should be situated beside SM North Edsa. SM Prime already paid the government P200 million for the naming rights for the proposed station.

Metro Pacific Investments

Corp. president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim said his company had proposed to build an interim station between SM City and Trinoma to link MRT 3, LRT 1 and MRT7.

MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan earlier said the best solution to resolve the issue on common station was to build it somewhere between SM North Edsa and Trinoma shopping mall.

Pangilinan said the two common stations for MRT Line 3, LRT Line 1 and the proposed MRT Line 7 would be inefficient.

MPIC and Ayala Corp. lead the Light Rail Manila Consortium, which won the contract for the LRT 1 Cavite extension project, which includes designing the common station near Trinoma.

PSe comPoSite index Closing April 26, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,211.92 38.21

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing April 25, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.760

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.740 LOW P46.940 AVERAGE P46.844 VOLUME 882.500M

P400.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank

Akari head feted. Carlos Lim Tiu (center), chairman of Akari Lighting and Technology Corp., receives an honorary doctorate in technology

degree from the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna in honor of his numerous contributions and his commitment to technology, especially to the Philippine lighting industry. With him (from left) are Pedrito Jose Bermudo, director for graduate wchool; Rosario Tiu and Catherine Tiu-Tan; and Ferdinand Somido, executive school director, UPHS Jonelta System.

Power outages may affect Mindanao elections—NGCP

By Alena Mae S. Flores ELECTIONS in Mindanao may be affected by power supply disruption unless right of way issues are addressed to fix transmission towers, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Tuesday.

“There will be a possible vulnerability in the Mindanao grid,” National Grid spokesman Cynthia Perez-Alabanza told reporters.

She said several land owners in Mindanao remained uncooperative and refused National Grid personnel entry into their properties for the conduct of clearing operations prior to the elections.

“We have cleared about half of the claimants. We have several land owners who remained un-

cooperative. They have refused to soften their stand. We had requested support from the DoE, DILG and Comelec but it is moving more slowly than we expected,” Alabanza said.

Alabanza said 29 claimants in Mindanao were seeking government compensation for the use of their land for the transmission facilities.

“There were 29 identified claimants. Out of that we’ve settled 16.

We resorted to asking the assistance of LGU and national government.

We are hoping that out of the 13, we can settle seven,” she said.

She said some of the land owners were asking for unreasonable compensation for their land.

“NGCP has to be very prudent in

its operation so we cannot just give in to whimsical demands. This affects supply in Mindanao,” she said.

National Grid said several critical transmission lines needed to be secured to ensure reliable flow of electricity in the region.

National Grid wants to enter the property where the transmission lines and towers are located and clear vegetation in the area that could cause line tripping.

“When we go and implement our clearing strategy, we are hoping that there will be understanding from the personalities. NGCP has always been willing and ready to ensure transmission facilities are operating at their optimum...

We are still exhausting all efforts to settle,” Alabanza said.

“The reserve for Mindanao is very low. If you stand to lose 50 to 70 MW from two plants (Agus 1 and 2), it would be a significant loss,” she said.

Alabanza said that with less than two weeks before the elections, National Grid should step up and clear those lines.

“We are always trying to seek less hostile means and we are trying to negotiate. We gave a deadline last week but if they continue to be uncooperative then we will have to seek the help of the AFP and PNP,” she said.

Mindanao is expected to have power reserves of 370 MW during the election period, as power plants including the hydros come back online.

P30.00-P39.32 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P19.25-P22.75 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, April 26, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.7770

Japan

Yen

0.008994

0.4207

UK

Pound

1.448400

67.7518

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128944

6.0316

Switzerland

Franc

1.026062

47.9961

Canada

Dollar

0.788830

36.8991

Singapore

Dollar

0.739919

34.6112

Australia

Dollar

0.771400

36.0838

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652450

124.0737

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.4725

Brunei

Dollar

0.737191

34.4836

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028484

1.3324

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.7368

Euro

Euro

1.126900

52.7130

Korea

Won

0.000869

0.0406

China

Yuan

0.153976

7.2025

India

Rupee

0.014998

0.7016

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.256345

11.9911

New Zealand

Dollar

0.685300

32.0563

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030911

1.4459 Source: PDS Bridge

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 27, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, april 26, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 80 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 52 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 1450 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 801 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3 3.52 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 5.6 1.44

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 2.8 0.79

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.25 2.9 46.3 45.05 101.00 98.50 91.00 88.90 38.6 38.45 2.96 2.96 2.05 1.80 14.2 14 16.4 16.14 7.60 7.13 602.00 601.00 0.630 0.590 83 82.5 1 1 14.46 14.46 24.50 24.50 53.55 53.45 102.9 102.9 510 410 273.8 269.2 32.1 31.65 171 168 1425.00 1400.00 58.00 57.45 1.56 1.55 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

44.6 46.65 44.5 Agrinurture Inc. 4.6 4.62 4.36 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.83 0.83 0.82 Alsons Cons.

1.38 1.41 1.37 Asiabest Group 16.68 17.2 13.72 Bogo Medelin 59.8 57.9 52.25 Century Food 18.88 19 18.84 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 198 197 190 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 18.3 18.3 18.12 Concepcion 48 47 47 Crown Asia 2.34 2.36 2.25 Da Vinci Capital 5.51 5.75 5.31 Del Monte 11 11.06 10.92 DNL Industries Inc. 9.100 9.100 9.030 Emperador 8.03 8.03 7.97 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.89 5.92 5.86 EEI 7.32 7.50 7.18 Euro-Med Lab 1.67 1.66 1.66 First Gen Corp.

20.75 21 20.75 First Holdings ‘A’ 69.65 69.7 69.55 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 14.02 14.02 13.80 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.92 14.00 13.92 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.69 5.72 5.65 Ionics Inc 2.380 2.390 2.320 Jollibee Foods Corp.

226.80 227.80 225.00 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.46 3.4 3.2 Macay Holdings 39.30 49.00 38.00 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.4 27.9 27.2 Maxs Group 20.9 20.9 20.25 Megawide 6.65 6.65 6.6 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 343.00 355.00 342.00 MG Holdings 0.295 0.290 0.290 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.79 3.8 3.78 Petron Corporation 10.70 10.78 10.66 Phinma Corporation 11.62 11.60 11.52 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.70 4.77 4.67 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.58 1.68 1.56 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.72 2.76 2.71 RFM Corporation 4.36 4.36 4.28 Roxas and Co. 2.4 2.3 2.3 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 206 206 200 SPC Power Corp.

4.1 4.01 4 Splash Corporation 2.78 2.72 2.65 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.158 0.160 0.156 TKC Steel Corp.

1.26 1.20 1.20 Trans-Asia Oil 2.60 2.62 2.60 Universal Robina 205 209.6 207 Victorias Milling 4.8 4.8 4.8 Vitarich Corp.

1.01 1.02 0.89 Vivant Corp.

34.00 32.00 30.00 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.31 1.32 1.29 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.365 0.365 0.360 Aboitiz Equity 66.50 66.50 65.50 Alliance Global Inc. 16.00 16.00 15.70 Anglo Holdings A 1.15 1.12 1.11 Anscor `A’ 6.06 6.10 6.05 ATN Holdings A 0.410 0.450 0.370 ATN Holdings B 0.420 0.440 0.370 Ayala Corp `A’ 785 784 772.5 Cosco Capital 8.31 8.45 8.13 DMCI Holdings 12.46 12.48 12.28 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.3 5.3 5.1 F&J Prince ‘B’ 5.11 4.82 4.82 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

5.70 5.70 5.60 Forum Pacific 0.212 0.212 0.212 GT Capital 1376 1378 1355 House of Inv. 6.47 6.42 6.20 JG Summit Holdings 83.65 83.45 82.75 Keppel Holdings `A’ 5.51 5.55 5.3 Keppel Holdings `B’ 5.08 5.21 5.21 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.5 7.55 7.31 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.74 0.76 0.7 LT Group 15.46 15.46 15.38 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.480 0.485 0.485 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.76 5.85 5.72 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.35 3.35 3.34 Pacifica `A’ 0.0330 0.0340 0.0330 Prime Media Hldg 1.360 1.370 1.290 Prime Orion 1.910 1.930 1.900 San Miguel Corp `A’ 71.75 71.75 69.55 Seafront `A’ 2.46 2.20 2.16 SM Investments Inc. 956.00 958.00 951.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.22 1.23 1.20 South China Res. Inc. 0.89 0.85 0.80 Top Frontier 155.000 152.100 148.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3150 0.3500 0.3100 Wellex Industries 0.2030 0.1920 0.1900 Zeus Holdings 0.275 0.280 0.270 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 8.000 8.000 7.800 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.15 7.12 7.12 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.21 1.30 1.12 Araneta Prop `A’ 3.030 3.240 2.420 Arthaland Corp.

0.280 0.280 0.260 Ayala Land `B’ 34.150 34.400 34.050 Belle Corp. `A’ 2.98 3.02 2.96 Cebu Holdings 5.12 5.19 5.12 Cebu Prop. `A’ 5.43 5.5 5.5 Century Property 0.550 0.56 0.550 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 Filipino Fund Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

Close

SHARES 16,973,117 118,088,389 157,758,468 253,559,325 837,841,547 327,017,142 1,877,434,678

3.14 46.3 101.50 91.00 38.7 2.93 1.85 14.2 16.4 7.60 600.50 0.630 83 0.99 14.40 24.50 53.50 102.9 562 273.8 32 170 1415.00 57.50 1.55

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.9 45.75 99.50 89.85 38.5 2.96 1.80 14.1 16.16 7.60 601.50 0.590 83 1 14.46 24.50 53.55 102.9 450 270 31.95 168.7 1405.00 57.65 1.56

-7.64 -1.19 -1.97 -1.26 -0.52 1.02 -2.70 -0.70 -1.46 0.00 0.17 -6.35 0.00 1.01 0.42 0.00 0.09 0.00 -19.93 -1.39 -0.16 -0.76 -0.71 0.26 0.65

180,000 29,400 5,592,210 928,640 140,400 24,000 3,800,000 12,200 235,200 8,200 540 1,638,000 664,680 1,000 7,300 400 1,060 20 100 2,559,340 87,100 650,140 335 62,560 50,000

44.55 4.6 0.82 1.39 14.8 57.9 18.94 197 18.12 47 2.25 5.32 10.92 9.050 8.02 5.92 7.18 1.66 20.9 69.55 13.80 14.00 5.72 2.350 226.00 3.2 40.00 27.75 20.6 6.61 345.00 0.290 3.79 10.70 11.56 4.76 1.60 2.71 4.30 2.3 200 4 2.72 0.156 1.20 2.60 209.6 4.8 0.9 32.00 1.30

-0.11 0.00 -1.20 0.72 -11.27 -3.18 0.32 -0.51 -0.98 -2.08 -3.85 -3.45 -0.73 -0.55 -0.12 0.51 -1.91 -0.60 0.72 -0.14 -1.57 0.57 0.53 -1.26 -0.35 -7.51 1.78 1.28 -1.44 -0.60 0.58 -1.69 0.00 0.00 -0.52 1.28 1.27 -0.37 -1.38 -4.17 -2.91 -2.44 -2.16 -1.27 -4.76 0.00 2.24 0.00 -10.89 -5.88 -0.76

1,272,400 680,000 26,000 1,476,000 50,000 370 700,200 590 111,900 1,300 1,356,000 2,027,700 68,800 3,602,300 2,098,000 6,945,700 185,300 1,000 1,220,100 106,040 5,200 105,100 99,500 3,898,000 2,653,520 34,000 78,000 2,600,500 287,200 58,800 784,440 200,000 3,778,000 1,705,400 16,400 1,018,000 929,000 152,000 360,000 5,000 27,830 4,000 860,000 8,260,000 82,000 4,930,000 2,232,340 25,000 58,915,000 4,900 257,000

0.365 65.90 15.84 1.11 6.06 0.380 0.380 778 8.2 12.38 5.1 4.82 5.70 0.212 1370 6.42 83.30 5.4 5.21 7.5 0.7 15.44 0.485 5.83 3.34 0.0330 1.370 1.930 70.00 2.16 954.50 1.20 0.82 148.000 0.3400 0.1900 0.270

0.00 -0.90 -1.00 -3.48 0.00 -7.32 -9.52 -0.89 -1.32 -0.64 -3.77 -5.68 0.00 0.00 -0.44 -0.77 -0.42 -2.00 2.56 0.00 -5.41 -0.13 1.04 1.22 -0.30 0.00 0.74 1.05 -2.44 -12.20 -0.16 -1.64 -7.87 -4.52 7.94 -6.40 -1.82

100,000 1,153,610 3,969,300 47,000 24,300 44,170,000 8,650,000 394,570 1,239,700 6,577,600 58,800 1,000 673,000 100,000 67,240 8,800 1,882,250 3,800 100 1,536,800 1,257,000 1,024,800 10,000 33,476,600 11,000 9,700,000 7,000 337,000 89,120 22,000 193,550 110,000 406,000 4,950 33,750,000 1,440,000 530,000

7.800 7.12 1.13 2.450 0.260 34.200 3 5.19 5.5 0.550

-2.50 -0.42 -6.61 -19.14 -7.14 0.15 0.67 1.37 1.29 0.00

61,100 2,000 14,018,000 23,183,000 1,560,000 6,463,700 1,404,000 3,800 10,000 981,000

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.020 Crown Equities Inc. 0.135 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.480 Double Dragon 36.4 Empire East Land 0.840 Ever Gotesco 0.150 Global-Estate 1.05 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.89 Interport `A’ 1.30 Keppel Properties 4.98 Megaworld 4.02 MRC Allied Ind. 0.085 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2550 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.640 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 28.00 Primex Corp.

8.5 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.35 Rockwell 1.61 Shang Properties Inc. 3.15 SM Prime Holdings 22.65 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 1.03 Starmalls 6.25 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.180 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.800

-1.96 4.44 -2.08 4.12 -1.19 0.00 -0.95 0.00 -0.77 -9.64 -1.74 -1.18 -1.96 -9.38 23.21 0.47 -1.23 -0.62 -0.32 -0.22 -14.56 4.32 -5.93 -0.21

42,000 79,640,000 5,800,000 1,046,900 381,000 310,000 4,822,000 6,319,000 140,000 12,000 31,134,000 1,600,000 540,000 5,232,000 17,300 20,000 1,282,100 171,000 1,000 10,882,100 45,509,000 15,500 3,348,000 7,571,000

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 4 1700 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5 0.017

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 4.8 2.58 830 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

-4.15 -0.79 0.00 -3.39 -3.37 0.00 0.33 -0.56 3.20 -1.81 0.00 0.00 -0.36 -1.15 0.00 6.19 -2.21 -12.98 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 26.87 -13.22 -3.91 -1.62 0.00 -3.85 -5.98 0.00 0.00 -0.50 0.00 -0.51 -6.16 2.94 0.36 -1.93 0.00 -3.72 -2.22 0.00 0.37 -0.45 0.77 -1.99 -1.59 -6.25 -1.70 -1.45 0.00

217,300 11,590 8,000 1,296,000 1,676,000 38,700,000 1,447,000 675,410 400 95,100 2,000 25,500 78,290 119,600 120,500 3,151,000 629,880 58,600 800 2,400 1,400,000 1,340,000 67,332,000 24,109,000 53,000 10,900 100 394,000 10,000 3,000 46,000 4,000 20,251,000 1,075,000 30,671,000 323,900 1,000 23,770 177,000 146,775 420,000 11,907,000 3,334,900 4,223,300 3,292,400 1,657,000 7,712,000 275,000 1,171,000 250,000 567,000

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum

0.00 -0.50 -0.71 0.00 -4.16 -2.38 -4.00 -1.82 -1.21 -6.25 0.00 -2.65 -0.83 0.00 7.69 -2.33 -1.96 -1.76 -13.04 -2.22 -2.02 0.00 0.52 -1.93 -2.68 -8.33 0.87 -1.32

74,000,000 224,000 87,000 210,000 7,900 7,200 2,194,000 1,931,000 11,100 51,397,000 330,000 21,250,000 3,230,000 28,200,000 8,400,000 885,000 1,796,900 83,000 1,054,000 217,000 59,000,000 4,000,000 1,000 462,900 1,017,000 65,300,000 676,260 843,000

70 525 12.28 111 1047 78.95 84.8

33 500 6.5 101 1011 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

-1.05 0.38 2.80 0.45 0.00 0.65 -0.25 -0.65 2.00 -0.07 0.13

14,600 10 4,000 8,740 4,070 24,070 166,730 28,400 11,800 269,700 73,800

112,800.00 52,070.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-2.20

735,000

-3,109,255.00 1,092,620.00

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

5.00 -12.26 -1.94 -2.08

20,000 125,000 287,000 10,362,800 49,509,536.00

-112,000.00

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-0.34

890

-100,540.00 -199,574,898 -169,839.50 192,500.00 150,750.00 -1,564,996.00 180,500.00 -6,959,225.50 14,460.00 -526.50 -4,100.00 0.00 345,245 -4,288,439.00 27,500.00

13,634,280.00 -490,370.00 -284,580.00 -1,488.00 1,045.00 1,436,834.00 9,110.00 15,820.00 559,494.00 -164,930.00 2,080,395.00 -7,753,284.00 2,776,972.00 -814,939.00 1,954,380.00 -1,691,062.50 -700,000.00 1,960,640.00 -64,683,748.00 12,800.00 15,321,785.00 -5,872.00 34,647,942.00 621,500.00 -303,532.00 -118,500.00 15,600.00 1,307,220.00 -1,651,572.00

3,586,600.00 38,294,504.00 14,400.00 6,601,800.00

23,131,530.50 -28,299,814.00 -236,900.00 -65,055,445.00 -343,343.00 -35,068,202.00 1,002,630.00 7,663,365.00 13,502,708.50 -2,630,750.00 956,720.00 -96,554,827.00 -33,410.00 59,691.00 -33,528,030.00 9,120.00 70,150.00

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

1.020 0.980 1.000 0.147 0.140 0.141 0.485 0.465 0.470 38.6 36.4 37.9 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.151 0.149 0.150 1.05 1.03 1.04 1.89 1.86 1.89 1.29 1.26 1.29 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.02 3.92 3.95 0.085 0.084 0.084 0.2500 0.2350 0.2500 0.650 0.580 0.580 36.90 28.25 34.50 8.65 8.54 8.54 28.35 27.90 28.00 1.62 1.57 1.6 3.14 3.14 3.14 22.65 22.50 22.60 1.04 0.88 0.88 6.52 6.26 6.52 1.200 1.110 1.110 4.800 4.720 4.790 SERVICES 8.2 8.2 7.76 7.86 56.95 57.85 56.55 56.5 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.28 0.590 0.590 0.570 0.570 4.45 4.44 4.30 4.30 0.0570 0.0570 0.0560 0.0570 3 3.06 3 3.01 88.5 88.35 86.1 88 9.38 9.69 9.68 9.68 7.18 7.28 7.05 7.05 2.95 2.95 2.95 2.95 960 960 960 960 2200 2202 2188 2192 6.93 6.93 6.85 6.85 24.05 24.05 24.05 24.05 1.13 1.23 1.13 1.20 67.95 67.95 65.2 66.45 14.02 14.02 12.18 12.20 135 135 80 135 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.6 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 9.70 9.70 9.62 9.70 0.335 0.425 0.335 0.425 2.4200 2.4500 2.1000 2.1000 2.3 2.36 2.2 2.21 11.1 11.08 10.92 10.92 7.99 7.99 7.99 7.99 3.90 3.90 3.75 3.75 1.17 1.17 1.10 1.10 2.80 2.80 2.80 2.80 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.610 1.99 2.02 1.98 1.98 2.15 2.24 2.04 2.15 3.92 3.92 3.85 3.90 3.410 3.490 3.150 3.200 17 17.5 17.5 17.5 2.74 2.75 2.75 2.75 114.00 111.80 106.00 111.80 23.75 23.90 22.60 23.75 1828.00 1830.00 1760.00 1760.00 0.450 0.450 0.435 0.440 0.870 0.870 0.840 0.870 40.40 41.00 40.25 40.55 77.60 78.40 76.80 77.25 6.47 6.80 6.48 6.52 3.52 3.50 3.44 3.45 0.630 0.630 0.620 0.620 2.08 1.95 1.8 1.95 3.53 3.53 3.47 3.47 0.345 0.340 0.335 0.340 5.600 6.130 5.600 5.600 MINING & OIL 0.0041 0.0041 0.0040 0.0041 2.02 2.07 1.96 2.01 4.21 4.21 4.17 4.18 0.250 0.250 0.248 0.250 8.1700 8 7.83 7.8300 8.0000 8.4000 7.8000 7.8100 0.75 0.75 0.72 0.72 0.550 0.550 0.520 0.540 9.08 9.10 8.76 8.97 0.960 0.990 0.900 0.900 0.305 0.310 0.295 0.305 0.226 0.226 0.220 0.220 0.242 0.245 0.240 0.240 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0130 0.0140 0.0120 0.0140 2.15 2.24 2.05 2.1 5.6 5.65 5.45 5.49 2.84 2.83 2.74 2.79 0.6900 0.6900 0.6000 0.6000 1.3500 1.3800 1.3200 1.3200 0.0099 0.0099 0.0093 0.0097 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 3.85 3.87 3.87 3.87 5.70 5.70 5.45 5.59 2.24 2.23 2.18 2.18 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 126.00 127.80 126.10 127.10 3.04 3.17 3 3 PREFERRED 56.9 56.7 56.3 56.3 525 527 527 527 1.07 1.1 1.1 1.1 111 111.5 110.9 111.5 1016 1016 1015 1016 77 77.5 77.5 77.5 80.2 81 80 80 77.5 77.15 76.6 77 75 76.5 76 76.5 75.1 75.2 75.05 75.05 75.1 75.2 75.05 75.2 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.180 3.200 3.110 3.110 SME 4 4.3 4 4.2 4.73 4.31 4.15 4.15 3.1 3.07 3.04 3.04 17.32 17.78 16.52 16.96 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.9 119.2 118.2 118.5

T op g ainerS VALUE 1553543680.942 1,878,730,086.08 1,345,449,316.316 870,210,229.28 1,610,940,738.44 165,534,395.65 10,089,135,894.708

Low

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,595.46 (down) 16.09 INDUSTRIAL 11,829.43 (up) 74.61 HOLDING FIRMS 7,169.82 (down) 34.12 PROPERTY 2,941.62 (down) 4.43 SERVICES 1,494.99 (down) 30.35 MINING & OIL 10,630.14 (down) 89.89 PSEI 7,211.92 (down) 38.21 All Shares Index 4,321.54 (down) 61.94 Gainers: 52; Losers: 151; Unchanged: 40; Total: 243

-93,510.00 142,000.00 6,809,090.00 -6,016,100.00 -44,965,650.00 10,500.00 -20,897,650.00 86,290.00 83,758,060.00 228,400.00 62,600.00 4,209,380.00 -21,318.00 -3,124,510.00 2,749,050.50 -330,791.00 25,804,410.00 -20,324,880.50

8,319,900.00 149,200.00

2,628,840.00 -30,870.00 -1,640,050.00 2,140.00 -259,900.00 -173,567,755.00 63,000.00 760,900.00 -16,736,018.00 -3,153,629.00 4,960.00 1,900.00 -2,436,120.00

-46,120.00 -31,200.00 106,000.00 -897.00 -1,650,050.00 165,600.00 -62,400.00 541,595.00 -70,100.00

-436,675.00 -38,753,138.00 -158,530.00 -670,415.00 -3,048,000.00 -80,100.00 26,180.00

-23,640.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Island Info

0.425

26.87

Philippine trust Co.

450

-19.93

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

34.50

23.21

Araneta Prop `A'

2.450

-19.14

Unioil Res. & Hldgs

0.3400

7.94

Sta. Lucia Land Inc.

0.88

-14.56

Manila Mining `B'

0.0140

7.69

ISM Communications

2.1000

-13.22

Harbor Star

1.20

6.19

Omico

0.6000

-13.04

Alterra Capital

4.2

5.00

Imperial Res. `A'

12.20

-12.98

Crown Equities Inc.

0.141

4.44

Makati Fin. Corp.

4.15

-12.26

Starmalls

6.52

4.32

Seafront `A'

2.16

-12.20

Double Dragon

37.9

4.12

Asiabest Group

14.8

-11.27

Centro Esc. Univ.

9.68

3.20

Vitarich Corp.

0.9

-10.89

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 27, 2016

B3

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

8990 spending P3b in Las Piñas

By Jenniffer B. Austria

OSAKA, Japan—Mass housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. said it plans to spend P3 billion to develop a newly acquired 3.4-hectare property in Las Piñas City.

8990 Holdings president Jesus Januario Atencio said the company was still finalizing the master plan for the property which might include mid-rise buildings and a shopping mall.

“It will be similar to our Ortigas and Vitas, Tondo development, targeting the affordable housing

market,” Atencio said.

The company said depending on market demand, it planned to develop four 13-story condominium towers within the property which it acquired from SBS Philippines Corp.

Atencio said the plan was to launch the Las Piñas project by

2017 or 2018, as the company already lined up several projects this year.

SBS Philippines reported last week its board approved the sale of a 3.4-hectare property along Zapote Road in Barangay Pamplona, Las Piñas to 8990 Housing Development Corp., a unit of 8990 Holdings for P858.965 million.

The property consists of seven contiguous lots with a total lot area of 34,263 square meters. The sale will close next month.

8990 Holdings said it remained on the lookout for acquisitions, given the positive

prospects for the domestic real estate industry.

Atencio said the company was also excited with the launch of its second half-way housing project in Cubao, Quezon City.

Under the plan, 8990 Holdings will build an affordable highrise condominium that will offer 4,500 units priced at P1 million each.

The project is located across Farmers Market and is near other commercial establishments such as Araneta Center, the Gateway Mall, the Farmers Plaza, SM Cubao, Puregold Mall – Cubao and Ali Mall.

The property is situated near the Cubao station of the Metro Rail Transit line 3 and Araneta Center – Cubao station of the Light Rail Transit line 2.

8990 Holdings launched last year Urban Deca Tower project in Mandaluyong City, the company’s first high-rise development to adopt the concept of affordable halfway house concept for Metro Manila workers.

Atencio said the low-priced condo units would provide shelter for those working in the metropolis, allowing them to avoid the horrendous traffic jams when going to work.

Market declines; URC leads advances STOCKS fell on a third day, as investors cut holdings of higheryielding assets before the US and Japanese central banks announce policy decisions this week.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 38 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,211.92 Tuesday.

The bellwether was still up 3.7 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also fell 61 points, or 1.4 percent, to settle at 4,321.54, on a value turnover of P10 billion.

Six of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Island Information & Technology Inc., which jumped 26.9 percent to P0.425. Universal Robina Corp., a food manufacturer, climbed 2.2 percent to P209.60, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp. rose 1.2 percent to P5.83.

Meanwhile, Asian shares edged down Tuesday as dealers waited for the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan’s next policy meetings later in the week, but oil prices rallied more than one percent after the previous day’s sharp losses.

Having piled up healthy gains last week, analysts said traders were moving cautiously as they hope for some forward guidance on the Fed’s policy plans, while the corporate earnings season also kicks off.

“Overall we’re in wait-and-see mode,” Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities Co. in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News.

“It’s easier for investors to lighten their positions so damage will be limited in case something unexpected happens in US and Japanese monetary policy,” he said.

After the turmoil across world markets at the start of the year, the Fed lowered its expectations for rate hikes this year saying it would closely watch overseas developments before moving.

Traders have predicted the next rise will be towards the end of the year but every utterance from the bank will be pored over for clues about its thinking. with Bloomberg, AFP

EDC anniversary. Energy Development Corp., the country’s leading producer of geothermal energy and a major player in the global and

national renewable energy industry, celebrates 40 years of powering communities and industries with clean and renewable energy. Shown during the anniversary celebration are (from left) EDC president and chief operating officer Richard Tantoco, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and EDC chairman and chief executive Federico Lopez.

Belle’s net income climbed 9% to P413m in first quarter

By Alena Mae S. Flores BELLE Corp. said Tuesday consolidated net income grew 9 percent in the first quarter to P413 million from P378 million a year ago, boosted by gaming earnings from City of Dreams Manila.

Belle said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the first-quarter financial performance sustained the company’s record of underlying earnings growth.

It said first-quarter net income comprised more than 30 percent of its full-year 2015 recurring net income of P1.3 billion, which in turn rose 29 percent from P1 billion in 2014.

Belle said operating growth in 2016 was fueled by growth in its share in the gaming income of

City of Dreams Manila, through its 78.7-percent-owned subsidiary Premium Leisure Corp.

City of Dreams Manila includes two hectares of gaming space, more than 900 hotel rooms operated under three hotel brands (namely Crown, Hyatt and Nobu), the DreamPlay indoor family amusement park and two hectares of restaurant and retail space.

Premium Leisure’s gaming income share increased by P153 million or 78 percent in the first quarter to P349 million from P197 million in the same quarter last year.

“This was attributable to the ramp-up in gaming operations of City of Dreams Manila, which held its grand opening in Febru-

ary 2015,” it said.

Prime Leisure has an operating agreement with Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. that accords it a share of gaming revenues or earnings at City of Dreams Manila.

Belle paid a total of P2.9 billion (P0.275 per share) in cash dividends to its shareholders in 2015, comprised of a special dividend of P1.9 billion (P0.18 per share) in March and a regular dividend of P1 billion (P0.095 per share) in August.

Belle again paid a regular dividend of P1 billion (P0.095 per share) on March 29.

Belle’s principal assets include land and buildings at Pagcor Entertainment City in Parañaque City, which are being

leased on a long-term basis to Melco Crown.

This property is the site of the City of Dreams Manila gaming and resort operations, which encompasses 6.2 hectares of land and more than 30 hectares in building gross floor area.

Belle also owns significant real estate assets in and around Tagaytay City, a temperate mountain resort about 90 minutes south of Manila overlooking scenic Taal Lake and Mount Makiling.

These assets consist of premium residential properties for sale and 800 hectares of land held for future development, which are near two exclusive world-class golf clubs and one country club built by the company.

B4 SM plans to build a sports academy

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE SM Group said it plans to build a sports academy in Calamba, Laguna, the first of its kind in the Philippines.

“We are looking into another kind of business in Calamba, which would be the first in the Philippines. It’s already approved by the board. We are planning to put up a sports academy,” SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans Sy said.

Sy said the company planned to spend about P1 billion to construct a four-hectare sports academy in Laguna.

“The whole study is there already. We are starting to get architects to finalize. We have foreign consultants. We want to have it international standards.

In fact if we can invite even an NBA team to come over to have a training program here so we can make sure all the facilities are there,” he added.

Sy said the first sports the proposed academy would cover were the most popular ones such as basketball and volleyball.

“I think tennis is there too. It comes in stages. But it’s just not really going to be sports itself.

That we felt that is something we should go into because of course, we want to have sports development but at the same time, [care] about these athletes. What happens to them after their prime years. We want to be able to give them certain education,” he said.

Sy said the project was a sole undertaking of the National University, which SM Group acquired majority ownership in 2008.

“Once this is done, we can go partnership [with the government]. It would be much easier,” he added.

The company plans to open the sports academy by 2018.

SM Investments Corp. earlier reported a net income of P28.4 billion in 2015, as revenues grew 7 percent to P295.9 billion.

Recurring net income, excluding extraordinary items, jumped 13 percent in 2015 as income from operations increased 8.5 percent to P56.9 billion from P52.5 billion in 2014.

Top rice producers.

Operations and National Coordinator for Rice and Corn Programs Edilberto De Luna (right) award the plaque of appreciation to the province of Pangasinan for being one of the top rice producers for three years. Pangasinan, along with seven other provincial hall of famers, municipalities, outstanding Irrigators Associations and Small Water Impounding System Associations, agricultural extension workers and local farmer technicians shared P55 million in cash prizes and project grants awarded by DA through the National Rice Program.

Security Bank sees higher 2016 income

By Julito G. Rada

SECURITY Bank Corp., the country’s sixth largest lender, plans to surpass this year the P7.7-billion net income posted in 2015, especially after sealing in January a strategic partnership with Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFG Ltd., Japan’s biggest bank.

Bank president and chief executive Alfonso Salcedo Jr. declined to give an income guidance this year but said the bank would eclipse the net profit registered a year ago based on the early performance.

“We are not giving an income target but we look at net income this year higher than last year’s.

The [coming presidential] elec-

tions will not have an impact to the bank’s growth,” Salcedo said in a briefing after the annual stockholders’ meeting held in Makati City Tuesday.

Salcedo said the bank would leverage on the partnership with BTMU, with Japanese clients in the Philippines given an easy access to Security Bank products.

“This alliance will serve our

clients better... Security Bank is now a stronger local bank with access to BTMU services,” Salcedo said.

He said to better corner a large portion of Japanese clients in the Philippines, Security Bank would embark on an aggressive branch expansion program inside economic zones and industrial estates in the Philippines, which is part of the 500 to 600 total branches nationwide planned by 2020.

Salcedo said Security Bank had just opened a branch inside the Carmelray 2 industrial park in Calamba, Laguna, the first to serve Japanese clients in in an economic zone.

Bank chairman Alberto Villarosa said the bank remained bullish regardless of whoever

wins in the coming presidential elections.

“All of the candidates mean business and expected to execute their plans for the country. We are very bullish on the business prospects even after the elections,” Villarosa said.

Salcedo said Japanese companies would continue to be upbeat about the Philippines, taking advantage of the country’s Englishspeaking labor force.

“We also want to grow our personal and salary loans portfolio this year through the Japanese clients,” Salcedo said. “We are also targeting the small business loans,” he said.

Salcedo said of the 500 to 600 total branches planned by 2020, two-thirds would be located in the provinces while one-third

Meralco plans to invest in wind, natural gas, hydro projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores MERALCO PowerGen Corp., the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., plans to invest in natural gas, wind and hydroelectric power projects to boost its power generation capacity to 3,000 megawatts, an executive said Tuesday.

Meralco PowerGen is currently looking at a portfolio of 755 MW of coal projects in joint venture with other companies.

“For attributed capacity, we

have so far only 455 MW of SBPL [San Buenaventura Power Ltd.] and 300 of Redondo [RP Energy], so that’s 755 MW. Even if we include Atimonan, that’s only 1,900 MW and out attributable capacity is only 50 percent of that,” Meralco president Oscar Reyes told reporters.

Meralco PowerGen needs to build another 2,000 MW of power projects to meet its goal of 3,000 MW. Reyes said the additional capacity would require an investment of $2 million to $2.5

million per MW. Reyes said the company was in talks with possible partners for the development of a 100-MW wind power project, 100-MW pump storage hydro project, a run-of-river hydro project and a 1,000-MW natural gas power project.

He said Meralco PowerGen was also studying the power generation mix of the country and the role of additional coal-fired power plants. He confirmed ongoing talks with other developers

for prospective coal projects.

Reyes said while there were indications of an oversupply scenario by 2021 and 2022, the company was looking at the growth in demand that would fuel the need for additional capacity.

“That’s what happened in 1989.

Nobody expected that the Philippine economy will shoot up, so there was pent-up demand that was not seen and became visible especially during the Ramos administration. That’s why there

were brownouts,” he said.

“It’s better to have overcapacity…We’re always looking at strategic partnerships,” Reyes said.

Construction of the San Buenaventura supercritical coal plant in Mauban, Quezon started in December when the notice to proceed was issued.

RP Energy, meanwhile, is developing a 600-MW circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power plant in Subic Bay, Zambales, with an initial component of 300 MW.

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 6

B5

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

Xurpas generates P2.5b from share sale

By Alena Mae S. Flores XURPAS Inc., a leading Philippine technology company, successfully completed an accelerated overnight share placement to Philippine and international institutional investors with total proceeds of P2.5 billion.

Xurpas’ founders and its three largest shareholders each sold 51.8 million common shares representing 9 percent of the company’s outstanding and issued share capital.

The selling shareholders are Nico Jose Nolledo, Raymond Gerard Racaza and Fernando Jude Garcia.

The shares were priced at a 7.6 precent discount to Monday’s closing price of P17.32 per share and at an 11.9 percent discount to the 30-day average price of P18.15 per share. Xurpas dropped 0.4 percent Tuesday to P16.96 “Concurrent with the overnight placement, the selling shareholders subscribed to a total of 77.7 million Xurpas common shares, representing 4.3 percent of its enlarged total and issued share capital,” Xurpas said in a statement.

Each of the selling shareholders subscribed to 1.4 percent of the newly-issued common shares. Including the subscriptions, the selling shareholders own in aggregate 69 percent of Xurpas’ total issued and outstanding share capital.

The overnight placement increased Xurpas’ public float to 28 percent from 20 percent.

“By increasing the public float, this overnight placement increases liquidity in Xurpas’ stock and will allow a larger group of investors to invest in the company,” the company said.

Xurpas will receive total gross proceeds of P1.2 billion from the issuance of new shares to the selling shareholders, bringing in fresh capital to support its growth strategy and fund capital expenditure program and general corporate purposes.

“This fresh capital will give us the opportunity to strengthen our efforts to rapidly expand not only to other markets, but in the new business verticals that will drive our continued growth,” chief executive Nolledo said.

Xurpas’ core business and new acquisitions in 2015 helped fuel a 20-percent growth in core net income and a 135-percent surge in revenues to P921.22 million ($20.01 million), up from P392.22 million ($8.520 million) in 2014.

“The placement was met with strong demand from institutional investors, including Philippine [qualified institutional buyers], across Asia, Europe and the United States. SB Capital Investment Corporation and Decker & Co., LLC acted as Joint Global Coordinators and led the global selling syndicate in placing the Offer Shares with investors,” it said.

PH imports growth slowed in February

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

PHILIPPINE imports grew at a slower pace of 1.2 percent in February to $5.41 billion from $55.35 billion a year ago on lower shipments of oil and petroleum products following the decline in global crude prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Inbound shipments in February were in contrast to the figure in January when imports surged 30.8 percent on year.

National Economic and Development Authority said higher purchases of capital and consumer goods pushed the import bill slightly higher in February.

“This growth indicates that amid a global economic slowdown, domestic demand, es-

pecially investments, remains strong. This will likely continue to drive imports growth within the short term,” said Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra.

Among 11 selected Asian economies, only the Philippines posted positive imports growth in February 2016. Thailand, South Korea and China registered steep declines.

Inward shipments of capital goods rose 58 percent to $2.2 billion in February, the sixth consecutive month of double-digit growth for this commodity group.

“The continued strong imports growth of capital goods shows the country’s attractiveness to both local and foreign investors, particularly in the manufacturing sector. This also indicates a robust economic activity that is primarily supported by the country’s strong macroeconomic performance, Esguerra said.

“The robustness of growth is reflected in the continuous upgrade and affirmation of the country’s investment grade rating since 2013,” he added.

Imports of consumer goods also increased

26 percent to $934.2 million in February, as higher spending was observed for both durable goods (39.4 percent) and non-durable goods (13.9 percent).

Purchases of raw materials and intermediate goods, and mineral fuels and lubricants decreased 34.8 percent to $412.45 million in February.

Esguerra said the national government should further address the bottlenecks in the infrastructure spending program which, according to him, was key to higher imports.

“Government’s spending program needs to gain traction particularly in the infrastructure sector, which will require higher importation. Bottlenecks in Manila’s ports must also be given serious attention to further bring down the cost of imported goods for domestic businesses and consumers,” he said.

China remained as the country痴 top source of imports accounting for 16.7 percent of the total. Japan was in second with a 12.6-percent share, followed by the United States with 9.5 percent.

36th Airbus A320 aircraft. Cebu Pacific receives its 36th brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft Tuesday straight from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France. Equipped with fuel-saving wingtip devices called Sharklets, the Airbus A320 is coated with CEB’s revamped livery which features shades of the country’s land, sea, sky and sun. The delivery brings CEB’s current fleet to 57, comprising of seven Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, 6 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft. CEB’s fleet remains one of the youngest in the world, with an average age of 4.78 years.

3 eye Customs’ auction of fuel-marking scheme THREE technology-providers have expressed interest to participate in the bidding for a fuel marking scheme that aims to curb smuggling, the Bureau of Customs said Tuesday.

“It will undergo bidding. We can not just appoint. There are about two to three interested companies,” Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina told reporters during the sidelines of the Finance Department’s 119th anniversary celebration in Manila.

Lina said he would meet with the interested bidders next week. He de-

clined to name the companies.

He said Customs planned to charge about P0.05 to P0.07 per liter of oil for the marking scheme.

Earlier, Lina said the agency was expecting to generate around $300 million from the proposed markings on oil products.

The agency wants to end the smuggling of fuel products by a putting mark on every oil product.

The agency’s latest version of fuel-marking, which started in the late 2008, will include prod-

ucts exempted from the payment of duties.

Lina said he wanted to curb smuggling of oil products by including tax exempted products and those process locally.

“If they don’t want to load without markings, it means they are smuggled,” said Lina.

He said even local refineries would not be exempted in the proposed fuel-marking system.

Customs estimated that the fuel marking scheme would cost $25 million against revenues of $300 million.

The government, based on the estimates of oil companies, loses around $500 million or P20 billion to P30 billion annually in foregone revenues due to smuggling.

“So if we are given data on the number of number of liters or volume paid against the consumption figures, we will wonder. It is our duty to check on smuggled goods,” he said.

Customs collections in 2015 fell 16 percent short of the target to P366.9 billion following the slump in oil prices. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila IN THE MATTER OF SUPPLEMENTING COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 10074 DECLARING AREAS UNDER COMELEC CONTROL X----------------------------X

Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

J. ANDRES D. BAUTISTA CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM AL A. PARREÑO LUIE TITO F. GUIA ARTHUR D. LIM MA. ROWENA AMELIA V. GUANZON SHERIFF M. ABAS Promulgation: April 26, 2016

Resolution No. 10100 WHEREAS, COMELEC Resolution No. 10074 dated March 10, 2016 promulgated guidelines in placing any political division, subdivision, unit or area under COMELEC CONTROL; WHEREAS, in a workshop held on April 7-8, 2016, field officers from the COMELEC , Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) identified and discussed parameters and scenarios relevant to duties and responsibilities; WHEREAS, pursuant to COMELEC Resolution No. 10077, the Subcommittee on Security Concern was tasked to conduct risk analysis, ascertain conduct of the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections, to be used in identifying Election Watchlist of Areas (EWAs), and submit to the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) its recommendations; WHEREAS, pursuant to COMELEC Resolutions No. 16-0274, upon submission of the Report on Country Risk Analysis and Election Watchlist Areas submitted by agencies under the Sub-Committee on Security Concerns/Closure Report, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, as follows: 1. To REFER and SUBMIT the Report on Country Risk Analysis and Election Watchlist Areas submitted by agencies and under Sub- Committee on Security Concerns/ Closure Report to Field Operations Group and Command Center in view of the denial of the creation of the Synergized Communications Group (SYNCOM); 2. To REFER to Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Steering Committee the implementation of the recommendation of the agencies under the Sub- Committees, and the comments of the Offices of the Commissioners to appropriate action; and 3. To REFER the monitoring of Election Watchlist Areas to the Election and Barangay Affairs Department and the Steering Committee.

WHEREAS, guided by the submitted list of EWAS and the outputs generated during the COMELEC Control Protocol workshop organized with the PNP and the AFP, a guideline for the requests for the declaration of an area to be declared under COMELEC Control and the implementation thereof, have been drawn up.

NOW, THEREFORE, after due deliberation, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to APPROVE as follows; SECTION 1. Request to declare an area under COMELEC Control – The following procedure shall be followed for all requests to declare an area under COMELEC Control, either motu propio or letterrequest, viz; A. HOW FILED: a) Request Made through official reports from COMELEC Field Officers, PNP, and the AFP shall be filed with the Commission En banc, motu propio; or b) Direct Petition/ Letter Requests from any person shall be forwarded or filed to the Clerk of the Commission without cost of docket fees; B. PROCEDURE: a) All requests submitted/ forwarded shall be treated as an Administrative Matter; C. JURISDICTION a) All requests shall be acted upon by the Commission En Banc; SECTION. 2. Implementation – The authority to place certain areas in the country under COMELEC Control shall be exercised by the Commission En Banc as the circumstances so warrant and pursuant to the parameters set in COMELEC Resolution No. 10074 Unless otherwise provided, the highest or designated COMELEC Officer (Regional Election Director/ Provincial Election Supervisor/ Election Officer) in the area shall be responsible in implementing the Resolution declaring an area under COMELEC Control , to be supervised by the Field Operations Group (FOG).

SEC. 3. Designated Implementer- Unless otherwise provided pursuant to COMELEC Resolution No. 16-0274 terminating the expanded mandate of the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP), the declared COMELEC Controlled area shall henceforth the overseen by the Field Operations Group (FOG), exercising the powers and duties laid down in Sec. 3 of COMELEC Resolution No. 10074.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Resolution shall take effect after its publication in two(2) daily newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

SEC. 5. Dissemination. – The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspaper of general circulation and to furnish the PNP, AFP, the Regional Election Directors, the Provincial Election Supervisors, and the Election Officers, with copies of the Resolution for their information and guidance.

Let the Field Operations Group of the Project Management Office implementation this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.

J. ANDRES D. BAUTISTA Chairperson hairperson CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Commissioner

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

MA. ROWENA AMELIA V. GUANZON Commissioner

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner

SHERIFF M. ABAS Commissioner

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila R E V I S E D CONTINGENCY PROCEDURES IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 9, 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS.

BAUTISTA, J. Andres D. LIM, Christian Robert S. PARREÑO, Al A. GUIA, Luie Tito F. LIM, Arthur D. GUANZON, Ma. Rowena Amelia V. ABAS, Sheriff M.

Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

SEC. 4. General Procedures A. Announcement by the BOC/BEI. - To promote transparency and avoid confusion or suspicion of voters and watchers in the canvassing center/polling place, the BOC/BEI Chairman shall first announce the problem to be followed by the contingency procedures to be undertaken, before performing the procedures.

B.

In all cases, all contingency measures and procedures shall be undertaken by the BEIs/BOCs, in the presence of watchers, if any, and shall be noted in the Minutes.

SEC.5. Contingency Procedures Applicable to the Vote Counting Machine (VCM). - The procedures to be observed in the event that problems cropped up during the conduct of the elections on May 9, 2016 in the precinct level involving the VCM, the following contingency measure shall be applied: A.

The VCM box has not been delivered during the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS).

1.

X---------------------------X Promulgated : April 26, 2016

2. The NCC shall contact the Logistics provider to check the status of shipment;

RESOLUTION NO. 10101

3. The Logistics provider shall inform if there is a delay and when the VCM box shall be delivered in place;

WHEREAS, by virtue of Republic Act No. 9369, the Commission on Elections has resolved to adopt a paper-based automated election system (AES) in connection with the May 9, 2016 National, Local and ARMM Regional Elections, by using Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) in the voting, counting and transmission of election results from the precinct level, and the Consolidation Canvassing System (CCS) in the canvassing/ consolidation of the electronically transmitted election results from the precinct/city/municipal/district/provincial board of canvassers; WHEREAS, Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9369, provided that one of the requirements in the certification of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) “that the AES, including its hardware and software components, is operating properly, securely, and accurately, in accordance with the provisions of said Act”, is the “development, provisioning and operationalization of a continuity plan to cover risks to the AES at all points in the process such that a failure of elections, whether at voting, counting or consolidation, may be avoided”

The Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) shall call the Election Officer (EO) who shall likewise call the NCC to verify the shipment of the Vote Counting Machine (VCM) box;

4. The NCC shall inform the BEI of the expected time of arrival of the VCM box; 5. If the VCM box has not arrived, the EO shall re-schedule the FTS to a date not later than election day, with notice to BEI, political parties, candidates and citizens arm.

B.

The VCM box has lacking items during FTS. B.1. Some FTS ballots are lacking.

BEI shall note in the Minutes and proceed with FTS using the available FTS ballots.

B.2. No FTS ballots in the VCM box .

WHEREAS, in connection with the forthcoming elections, the Commission, on March 8, 2016, promulgated Minute Resolution No. 16-0132, entitled “In the Matter of the Continuity Plan for the Conduct of the Automated Election System in Connection with the May 9, 2016 National, Local and ARMM Elections”, to provide the contingency procedures to ensure the continuous operation of the VCMs and the CCS before, during, and after election day, and during the canvassing of election results of the City/Municipal/District/Provincial and the National Board of Canvassers; WHEREAS, on March 15, 2016, the Commission promulgated Resolution No. 10083, entitled “General Instructions for the Boards of Canvassers on the Consolidation/Canvass and Transmission of Votes in connection with the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections”;

1.

BEI shall call the EO.

2.

EO shall inform the NCC.

3.

EO shall move the conduct of FTS to election day.

For this purpose, five (5) Official Ballots shall be used for the FTS. After the FTS, BEI shall retrieve the FTS ballots from the ballot box, mark across the face of the ballots the phrase “FTS ballots” and place them inside the Envelope for Counted Test Ballots, ERs and Other Reports.

B.3. All BEI PINs/Passwords are unavailable or majority of the BEI member PINs/Passwords are unavailable.

WHEREAS, on April 12, 2016 the Commission promulgated Resolution No. 10088 entitled “Amending Certain Provisions of Resolution No. 10057 dated February 11, 2016 or Otherwise Known as General Instructions for the Boards of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), and Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results Instructions for the Boards of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), and Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results in Connection with the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections”

1.

BEI shall inform the VCM Technician (VCMT).

2.

VCMT shall inform the VCM Technical Coordinator (VCM-TC) who shall report the same to the National Technical Support Center (NTSC).

3.

NTSC shall authorize and provide the issuance of the PINs/Passwords to the BEI.

4.

BEI shall use the PINs/Passwords issued by the NTSC.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 9369, and other election laws, the Commission HEREBY RESOLVES to promulgate, the following Revised Contingency Procedures in Connection with the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections”

5.

VCM-TC shall inform NTSC on the acceptance of the PINs/Passwords provided.

SECTION 1. Scope. – This revised contingency procedures shall supplement: 1) Resolution No. 10057 dated February 11, 2016 or Otherwise Known as General Instructions for the Boards of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), and Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results Instructions for the Boards of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), and Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results in Connection with the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections” ; 2) Resolution No. 10083, dated March 15, 2016 entitled “General Instructions for the Boards of Canvassers on the Consolidation/Canvass and Transmission of Votes in connection with the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections”; and 3) Resolution No. 10088 dated April 12, 2016 entitled “Amending Certain Provisions of Resolution No. 10057 dated February 11, 2016 or Otherwise Known as General Instructions for the Boards of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), and Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results Instructions for the Boards of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), and Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results in Connection with the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections”.

1.

BEI shall inform the VCMT.

2.

VCMT shall inform the VCM-TC who shall report the same to the NTSC.

3.

NTSC shall refer the request to the Head of the Technology Group who shall authorize the issuance of the iButtons/SD cards to the BEI and advise NTSC on the action taken.

4.

VCM-TC shall inform NTSC on the acceptance of the iButtons/SD cards provided.

B.4. All iButtons/SD Cards or majority of the iButtons are unavailable.

B.5. Lacking item/s inside the VCM box, i.e., security seal/ sealing sticker, tie wrap, cleaning sheets, thermal paper, marking pens, checklist, headset, battery cable, USB modem, or Sim cards.

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms.1.

BEI – Board of Election Inspectors, the body which conducts the election in the polling place of the precinct usually composed of public school teachers appointed by the Commission.

2. BOC – Board of Canvassers, body constituted under COMELEC Resolution No. 10050 dated February 3, 2016.

3. Continuity Plan –a list of contingency measures, and the policies for activation of such, that are put in place to ensure continuous operation of the AES 4. Commission– refers to the Commission on Elections 5. NTSC – National Technical Support Center, where all AES-related contingencies nationwide are reported, addressed and resolved, manned by the PMO Technology Group from COMELEC, the NTSC officers, technicians and coordinators.

6. NCC - National Command Center.

7. CCS – Consolidation Canvassing System 8. CCSO – CCS Operator 9. VCM – Vote Counting Machine 10. VCMT - VCM Technician 11. VCM-TC- VCM Technical Coordinator SEC.3. Organizational Structure of the National Technical Support Center - For the purpose of implementing this Contingency Plan, the following Organizational Structure is hereby adopted:

1.

BEI shall inform the VCMT about the lacking item/s.

2.

VCMT inform the VCM-TC who shall report the same to the NTSC.

3.

NTSC shall advise VCM-TC what to do.

B.6. Lacking item/s inside the VCM box i.e., VCM, power cord or adaptor

C.

1.

BEI shall inform the VCMT about the lacking item/s.

2.

VCMT shall inform the VCM-TC who shall report the same to the NTSC.

3.

NTSC shall advise VCM-TC what to do.

4.

While looking for the lacking item/s or waiting for its replacement, the BEI shall announce to the voters that voting shall proceed in accordance with item C.9 hereunder.

VCM malfunctions.

1.

BEI shall call the VCMT assigned in the polling center.

2.

VCMT shall look for the root of the failure and solve it.

3.

If VCMT cannot solve the failure, he/she shall report the incident to the VCM-TC.

4.

If the VCM-TC cannot solve the failure, he/she shall contact the NTSC to ask for proper solution.

5.

VCMT shall attempt to repair the machine with the help of NTSC support personnel.

6.

After 60 continuous minutes of failure and non - operation of the VCM, the NTSC shall authorize the deployment of a contingency VCM box for replacement.

7.

VCM-TC must get the contingency VCM box and bring it to the polling center.

8.

VCMT shall conduct the replacement procedure of the VCM.

9.

While waiting for the VCM malfunction to be resolved or replacement of the VCM, the BEI shall announce to the voters that they have the option: i)

To wait for the VCM malfunction to be resolved; or

ii)

To shade their ballots which shall be batch-fed before the close of polls. In this case, the voters shall not be given their voter receipts. For this

purpose, BEI shall temporarily place shaded ballots inside the Envelope for Rejected Ballots, Half of Torn Unused Official Ballots and Other Half of Torn Unused Official Ballots, and Counted Official Ballots.

D.

Any of the two SD cards (main and back-up) failed.

1.

BEI shall call the VCMT assigned in the polling center.

2.

VCMT shall verify which of the SD cards is defective (main or backup) and report to the VCM-TC who shall refer the same to the NTSC. 2.1

The NTSC shall inform the VCM-TC where to get the contingency SD Card and turn over to the BEI the contingency SD card.

2.2

If the Backup SD card is defective. While the VCM is off, the BEI shall remove the Backup SD card from slot B and replace it with the contingency Backup SD card.

2.3

2.4

E.

If the Main SD card is defective. While the VCM is off, the BEI shall remove the Main SD card from slot A and replace it with the Backup SD card taken from slot B.

duration of power interruption and advise the BEI on the matter. If power cannot be restored by 5 o’clock in the afternoon of election day, the EO shall provide lighting facilities.

M.

N.

O.

While waiting for the replacement SD Card, the BEI shall announce to the voters that voting shall proceed in accordance with item C.9. hereof.

During diagnostics, the VCM has incorrect date and/or time.

BEI shall set the correct date and/or time.

F.

There is a ballot jam.

1.

If the ballot is visible, the BEI, in the presence of watchers and the public, shall gently pull out the ballot from the ballot entry slot and insert the ballot again.

2.

If the ballot is not visible, BEI shall remove the VCM from the ballot box and retrieve from the ballot exit slot the ballot causing the jam.

2.1

2.2

3.

If the ballot is returned by the VCM, the BEI shall get the ballot and remove the VCM from the ballot box. The BEI shall then put the ballot inside the ballot box and thereafter install the VCM on top of the ballot box.

In case the ballot jam is caused by the improper stacking of the ballots inside the ballot box, the BEI shall remove the VCM and shake the ballot box to make room for feeding of additional ballots.

H.

K.

In case there is no power in the polling center, BEI shall notify the VCMT who in turn will report the matter to VCMTC. The VCM-TC shall report the problem to NTSC.

P.

Q.

1.

BEI shall inform watchers of the incorrect date and/or time.

2.

BEI shall note in the Minutes that the date and/or time are incorrect and the watchers were duly informed thereof.

If the VCM-TC cannot solve the failure, contact the NTSC to ask for proper solution.

The printer does not work.

1.

BEI shall call the VCMT assigned in the polling center.

2.

VCMT shall look for the cause of the problem and solve it.

3.

If the VCMT cannot solve the problem, report the incident to the VCM-TC.

4.

5.

Record the new status.

1.

BEI shall verify if the date and/or time of the VCM is correct. If not, change to the correct date and/or time.

2.

BEI shall execute the write protect function of the VCM.

3.

If the date and/or time of the VCM is correct, call the VCMT to report the problem who in turn will report it to the VCM TC.

4.

The VCM TC shall call the NSTC and perform the procedure given by NSTC.

2.

The VCMT shall contact the VCM-TC.

2.

The VCM-TC shall contact the NTSC on behalf of the VCMT. The NTSC shall contact the VCMT or any of the BEIs in place.

There is no VCM Technician in place.

Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS) malfunctions.

CCSO shall install the removable memory card into the replacement CCS.

8.

CCSO shall connect the replacement CCS to the main power source and turn it on.

9.

CCSO shall store the defective CCS in its original packaging.

10.

CCSO shall call NTSC and inform about the acceptance of the replacement CCS.

All tokens or majority of the tokens are unavailable.

1.

CCSO shall inform the NTSC of the missing tokens.

2.

NTSC shall refer the request to the Head of the Technology Group who shall authorize the issuance of the token/s to the BOC and advise NTSC on the action taken.

CCSO shall inform NTSC on the acceptance of the tokens provided.

3.

All BOC PINs/Passwords are unavailable or majority of the BOC PINs/Passwords are unavailable.

1.

CCSO shall inform the NTSC of the missing pins and/or passwords.

BEI shall review and check the VCM connection to the battery after the VCM is connected to a power outlet.

The battery is capable to operate for 14 hours straight and the VCM is capable of charging the battery.

2.

NTSC shall authorize and provide the issuance of the pins/ passwords to the BOC.

3.

BOC shall use the pins/passwords issued by the NTSC.

EO shall inquire from the local electric provider on the

4.

CCSO shall inform NTSC on the acceptance of the pins/

Power failure on election day.

1.

1.

7.

C.

G.

The VCM Technician cannot send report (attendance; open polls, etc). to the NTSC, or the NTSC cannot be reached.

CCSO shall place the replacement CCS in the designated location.

If mis-delivery occurs between two municipalities/cities, EOs concerned, the Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) or the Regional Election Director (RED) of affected areas shall report the matter to NCC for proper disposition.

1.

VCM does not shutdown.

6.

5.

There is Network Failure.

VCM does not write protect the data.

CCSO shall remove the removable memory card from the defective CCS.

If there is mis-delivery, EO shall authorize the exchange of official ballots between/among affected clustered precincts. EO shall report the matter to NCC.

F.

Reminder to the BEIs: When transporting the VCM/Ballot Box/SD card to the nearest voting center or canvassing center, the BEI shall invite watchers to escort the same.

5.

4.

Continually check status of the external electricity source.

2.11

If the transmission still fails, the BEI shall transport the VCM to the canvassing center for manual uploading of data from the main SD card to the CCS laptop.

CCSO shall turn off the defective CCS.

B.

2.6

Call the NTSC indicating the new status of the location.

4.

EO will check with other BEI’s within the same city/ councilor district/municipality for reports of mis-delivery.

Record the new status of the location.

2.10

CCSO shall take the replacement CCS.

3.

2.5

Unplug the CCS UPS power cable from the generator set and connect it to the external power source.

3.

EO will check with the Treasurer’s Office for possible mis-delivery of ballots.

Call the NTSC indicating the status of the system.

2.9

If the failure is still consistent, the BEI shall transport the VCM to the nearest voting center to attempt retransmission. For this purpose, the BEI shall complete all printing and post election activities except for printing of audit log and execution of “write protect” function before transporting the VCM.

If the problem persists, the CCSO shall call the NTSC for replacement of the CCS laptop.

2.

2.4

Record the location and give authorization for the change.

2.

BEI shall call the EO who shall likewise call NCC to report the mis-delivery of official ballots.

Unplug the CCS power cables from the external electricity source, and plug the cable in the generator set outlet.

2.8

SEC.6. Contingency Procedures Applicable to the Provincial/ District/City/Municipal Board of Canvassers. - The procedures to be observed in the event that problems cropped up during the canvassing/ consolidation of the PBOC/DBOC/CBOC/MBOC on May 9, 2016, are as follows:

Official Ballots are mis-delivered.

2.3

If the problem is the transmission device, the BEI can request a transmission device from any of the other polling places within the same voting center that has finished transmission and attempt to re- transmit.

VCMT shall attempt to repair the machine with the help of NTSC support personnel.

After the arrival of the new configured SD cards, the BEI shall remove the defective SD cards from slots A and B and insert the new configured SD cards in Slot “A” and back-up SD card in Slot “B”, turn on the VCM, and batch feed the ballots.

Start-up the generator set: check for the activity indicator in the generator set.

6.

If the VCM-TC cannot solve the problem, contact the NTSC to ask for proper solution.

2.

2.2

When the external electricity source comes back, and last for more than one hour, call the NTSC for authorization.

The Board of Canvassers (BOC) shall direct the CCS Operator (CCSO) to repeat the turn-off and turn-on procedure.

After performing the procedure in item B.4. hereof, the BEI shall continue the voting in accordance with item C.9.ii.

Check the status of the generator set: gasoline level and cable connections.

2.7

1.

1.

2.1

The VCMT shall attempt to repair the transmission failure with the help of NTSC support personnel.

BEI shall inform the EO who will also inform the VCM-TC about the absence of the VCMT so a substitute VCMT can be assigned.

Both SD cards became defective after scanning some ballots.

BOC shall call the NCC. NCC shall record the location and ask the BOC to perform the following Recovery Procedure below.

5.

3.

A.

1.

2.

If the VCM-TC cannot solve the problem, contact the NTSC to ask for the proper solution.

BEI shall disconnect the battery from the VCM.

5.

CCSO shall insert the blank SD card in the SD card slot.

There is power supply interruption (Brownout/Blackout)

4.

3.

S.

4.

If the VCMT cannot solve the problem, report the incident to the VCM-TC.

BEI shall remove the power adaptor from the power outlet.

If the VCMT cannot solve the failure, report the incident to the VCM-TC.

NTSC shall authorize replacement of the SD card.

3.

2.

VCMT shall look for the root of the failure and solve it.

3.

BEI shall call the VCMT assigned in the polling center.

Continuous rejection of ballots by VCM after initial acceptance of several ballots.

4.

CCSO shall inform NTSC about the matter.

The VCMT shall look for the cause of the problem, and solve it depending on the transmission media available.

BEI shall hard press the power button.

3.

BOC shall proceed with the canvassing.

2.

2.

1.

Before feeding the next ballot, BEI shall perform scanner cleaning procedure. If after cleaning, the VCM still rejects the ballot even after feeding four times, the BEI shall call the VCMT assigned in the polling center.

1.

1.

BEI shall reload the paper or add new paper roll, if required, once the jam has been removed.

R.

SD card is not available.

Re-transmission failed after three (3) attempts.

2.

If after feeding the ballot in four different orientations, the VCM still rejects the ballot, the BEI shall follow the procedure for rejected ballots per Section 12 of Resolution No. 10088, dated April 12, 2016.

E.

The date and/or time of the elections reflected on the ERs and other reports are incorrect.

BEI shall open printer cover and gently pull the paper.

1.

L.

2.

1.

2.

J.

If there is power in the polling center, BEI shall connect the battery to the VCM to charge it.

9.

If there is a need to open the ballot box in order to make room for additional ballots, the BEI, in the presence of watchers, shall open the ballot box, press the ballots in order to make room for additional ballots, and thereafter, close the ballot box.

There is a thermal paper jam.

1.

I.

1.

8.

3.1.

G.

The battery has been discharged after FTS.

7.

After the VCM has been cleared of the ballot jam, the BEI shall install again the VCM on the ballot box and return the ballot to the voter who shall re-feed the ballot to the VCM.

passwords provided.

D.

H.

CCSO shall report the matter to the NTSC. The CCSO shall perform the following procedure: 1.1

Check the status of the network device.

1.2

Unplug the network device, plug again, and test the connection.

1.3

If the CCS can´t connect, then call the NTSC indicating the status of the system.

2.

The NTSC shall check the network status with the Network Providers and advise the CCSO what to do.

3.

If CCS is able to connect to the network, then no further action is needed. If unable to connect, the network technician shall check the network device and network availability with the Provider.

4.

Once the connection is ready, the CCSO shall call the NTSC indicating the status of the system.

There is a Catastrophe: Fire, Flood, Earthquake and others.

1.

If required to leave the canvassing site, the BOC shall secure all equipment, election forms and supplies, inform all political party representatives and watchers present of the transfer or suspension of canvassing, and then proceed with security personnel to a safer place.

2.

BOC shall report the same to NCC.

There is sabotage, equipment robbery and other similar circumstances.

BOC shall check all the equipment, forms and supplies. If there are missing item/s, report to the local PNP for proper documentation. Thereafter, call the NCC/NTSC to inform about the missing item/s.

SEC.7. Testing and Sealing of the VCM - The contingency measures herein set forth shall also be adopted, as far as applicable, during testing and sealing of the VCM as scheduled before election day.

SEC. 8. Applicability of Previous Contingency Measures in connection with the 2010 and 2013. – Commission Resolution No. 8839 dated April 30, 2010 and Commission Resolution No. 9635 dated February 12, 2013 shall apply in so far as they are not inconsistent herewith.

SEC. 9. Authority of the Commission to Adopt Additional Contingency Procedures. – The Commission may adopt additional contingency procedures in the voting, counting, consolidation, transmission, storage, custody, distribution and retrieval of accountable forms and paraphernalia to fulfil its Constitutional mandate to ensure free, orderly, honest, and peaceful and credible elections.

SEC.10. Effectivity and Dissemination. – This Resolution shall take effect after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

The Education and Information Department (EID) shall cause the publication of this Resolution and shall furnish copies thereof to all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors, Election Officers and Boards of Election Inspectors nationwide.

SO O R D E R E D.

J. ANDRES D. BAUTISTA Chairperson

CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Commissioner

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner

MA. ROWENA AMELIA V. GUANZON Commissioner

SHERIFF M. ABAS Commission

( T S - A P R . 2 7, 2 016)

W E D N E S D AY : A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 6

B8 Park says N. Korea ready for nuke test SEOUL—North Korea has completed preparations for a fifth nuclear test, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said Tuesday, amid reports that Pyongyang has also readied a powerful, new mid-range missile for an imminent flight test.

Concern has been growing for weeks that the North is building up to a fifth nuclear test ahead of a rare, ruling party congress to be held early next month.

“We assess that they have completed preparations for a fifth nuclear test and can conduct it whenever they decide to,” Park said during a meeting with editors of domestic media organizations.

If North Korea does go ahead, it would constitute a dramatic act of defiance in the face of tough UN sanctions imposed after its most recent nuclear test in January.

Some analysts have suggested that, by carrying out a fifth test so soon after the fourth, the North might hope to avoid a heavy package of additional sanctions—but Park insisted that the international community’s response would be swift and severe.

“Although the current sanctions are strong, we can impose even stronger sanctions that fill up any holes,” the president said.

“North Korea’s miscalculation is that by ignoring warnings from the international community and continuing to launch provocations, it will not defend its security but only speed up its own collapse,” she added.

In recent months, the North has claimed a series of major technical breakthroughs in developing what it sees as the ultimate goal of its nuclear weapons program—an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to targets across the continental United States.

These have included success in miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to fit on a missile, developing a warhead that can withstand atmospheric re-entry, and building a solid-fuel missile engine.

Earlier this month, leader Kim Jong-Un monitored the test of an engine specifically designed for an ICBM that he said would “guarantee” an eventual strike on the US mainland. AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Pressure on Bangladesh after gay activists killed DHAKA—Pressure mounted on Bangladesh Tuesday after two leading gay rights activists were hacked to death, the latest in a series of chilling attacks on intellectuals, writers and religious minorities for which only a handful of people have been convicted.

Awards. Indian Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty poses as she attends

the ëDada Saheb Phalke Excellence Awards in Mumbai on April 25. AFP

At least six men carrying machetes and guns entered an apartment building in Dhaka on Monday night and killed Xulhaz Mannan, editor of a magazine for the LGBT community, and fellow activist Mahbub Tonoy Rights groups said the latest killings and the murder on Saturday of a liberal university professor appeared to show the attackers were expanding their range of targets.

They demanded justice and greater protection for minority groups in the conservative Muslim nation.

“The brutal killing today of an editor of an LGBTI publication and his friend, days after a university professor was hacked to death, underscores the appalling lack of protection being afforded to a range of peaceful activists in the country,” said Amnesty International’s South Asia director Champa Patel.

“While the Bangladeshi authorities have failed to bring these violent groups to justice, the attackers have expanded their range of targets to now include a university professor and LGBTI activists.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the killings of Tonoy and Mannan, who worked for the US government aid organiZation USAID. Both had received threats from Islamists over their championing of gay rights.

“Deplore brutal murder of @ USAID local staff member and another Bangladeshi advocate in Dhaka. Those responsible must be brought to justice,” Kerry tweeted.

In the last month alone, four people have been murdered in Bangladesh for their liberal or sec-

ular views, among them a 26-yearold online activist known for his anti-Islamist opinions.

Last year four secular bloggers and a publisher were hacked to death. A number of Christians, Hindus and Sufi, Ahmadi and Shiite Muslims have also been killed since last year in the officially secular but mainly Sunni Muslim country.

No one has yet been convicted over those deaths despite a number of arrests.

Last year a Bangladesh court sentenced two students to death for the 2013 murder of Ahmed Rajib Haider, the first of a string of attacks targeting secular writers.

Another six people were convicted on lesser charges related to Haider’s death.

The Islamic State group has claimed a number of the killings, most recently that of a professor hacked to death in the northwestern city of Rajshahi.

A Bangladesh branch of Al Qaeda has also said it was behind the murders of secular bloggers and writers.

But the Bangladesh government rejects those claims and says homegrown Islamist groups are responsible.

National police chief A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque told reporters Tuesday that the attacks bore the hallmarks of attacks by local Islamists.

“The character of the murders is similar to the previous blogger killings. Therefore, it might have been done by the same group,” Hoque, said, adding the attack was “planned extensively” and that the victims were followed for days. AFP

Theory of Relativity faces satellite test CAYENNE, France—Einstein’s theory of general relativity is to be put to the test by a newly launched satellite in an experiment that could upend our understanding of physics.

The French “Microscope” orbiter will try to poke a hole in one of Einstein’s most famous theories, which provides the basis for our modern understanding of gravity.

Scientists will use the kit to measure how two different pieces of metal—one titanium and the other a platinum-rhodium alloy— behave in orbit.

“In space, it is possible to study the relative motion of two bodies in almost perfect and permanent

free fall aboard an orbiting satellite, shielded from the perturbations encountered on Earth,” said Arianespace, which put the satellite into orbit on Monday.

Einstein’s theory suggests that in perfect free-fall, the two objects should move in exactly the same way. But if they are shown to behave differently “the principle will be violated: an event that would shake the foundations of physics”, Arianespace added.

Also aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket launched from French Guiana was an Earth-observation satellite equipped with radar to monitor the planet’s surface to track climate

and environmental change and help in disaster relief operations.

That satellite, along with another launched two years ago, is part of the 3.8-billion-euro ($4.3-billion) Copernicus project, which will ultimately boast six orbiters in all.

Three previous launches from Arianespace’s Spaceport in French Guiana, an overseas territory that borders Brazil, were delayed by poor weather and technical issues.

A countdown on Sunday was halted after scientists observed an “anomaly”, the agency said in an earlier statement, while adverse weather conditions had thwarted other attempts. AFP

Convocation. The Dalai Lama greets Tibetans-in-exile as he arrives to

preside over a convocation function at The Institute of Higher Studies of Buddhist Dialects on the outskirts of Dharamsala on April 26. AFP

W E D N E S D AY : A p r i l 2 7, 2 0 1 6

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

H oME & l i v iNG

LIFE THE COuSInS TAlk ABOuT gOOD,

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BAD AnD DESPERATE kITCHEnS

Anthony CArrino And John ColAneri visit the PhiliPPines to Promote their new show ‘AmeriCA’s most desPerAte KitChen’

BY BERnADETTE lunAS

“T

he way you use your kitchen is very personal,” designer and builder Anthony Carrino told The Standard Life.

In fact, he says there is no right or wrong way in designing a kitchen – save for a few layout rules – or in choosing what goes in it, as it all depends on the family or the individual using it.

“A kitchen can be a sink and a cook top.

If you go food shopping everyday and you don’t need to store food in a refrigerator [then you can do away with it],” says Carrino.

He asserts that the things many think a kitchen must have in order for it to be considered as complete and functional are not definite because “the way you use your kitchen is very personal, just like the colors that you like and the design that you want.” “[For instance] John has two dishwashers,” says Carrino, referring to his cousin John Colaneri.

“I entertain a lot,” admits Colaneri.

Cousins Carrino and Colaneri are both builders and designers who rescue desperate homeowners in need of a major kitchen overhaul in their show America’s Most Desperate Kitchens on HGTV. Their building experience – Carrino and Colaneri used to work together in the construction company co-founded by the former – and undeniably good looks have earned them the chance to save countless homes across the US through their previous shows Kitchen Cousins, Cousins On Call, and Cousins Undercover.

Being witness to some of the most shocking kitchen situation, The Cousins sure know what makes a kitchen good, bad and desperate.

“The first thing that we need to take note in designing a good kitchen is space planning,” says Colaneri. “It has to work for the family – whether they are a big family, they entertain, they have parties.”

The design, he says, must function depending on how the household uses their kitchen.

But what if a home can only accommodate a small space for a cookery?

Carrino doesn’t think it’s a problem at all.

“Everybody has a space that they have, we just have to design within it.”

“It’s really about space planning and about being able to put certain elements in your kitchen that can be multi-functional,” avers Colaneri.

In their previous shows, The Cousins made kitchen islands that folded out into a

From broken and dysfunctional, Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri transformed this kitchen into a functional and welcoming cooking space

large table and island that had a removable wine cart inside.

“It’s all about thinking outside the box and trying to do things a little different,” explains Colaneri.

The Cousins also encourage everyone not to be deterred by colors that are not considered “kitchen friendly.”

“There’s no best color for a kitchen; in fact, there is no bad color either. But you can use any color in a bad way that would make the design not pleasing to the eye,” shares Carrino.

He adds, “Color for color’s sake is not always a good thing. When color is used properly, it can be fantastic. And whether that color is red, green, blue, yellow, gray, black, or white doesn’t matter.”

“You should never be afraid of color. [If] you definitely want to do something, you just got to navigate through it,” seconds Colaneri While design is subjective to every household, The Cousins identify the “objective things in design,” which mostly are layout rules.

“For example, between an island and the galley run of the kitchen, you need at least

The Cousins work together in all of their projects to make sure their clients are happy

The Cousins recently visited the Philippines as part of their Asian tour to promote the exclusive premiere of America's Most Desperate Kitchens on HGTV. PHOTO BY STAR SABROSO

36 inches of space so that you can create flow where people can move. There’s also the kitchen work triangle which is a specific layout of appliances (cook top, sink and refrigerator) that make them very efficient to move between,” explains Carrino.

Doing America’s Most Desperate Kitchens and their previous shows, the two have definitely seen the worst, most desperate spaces.

“All of the projects we did were all hard!” exclaims Colaneri. “There was not one that stood out because every one of them was bad.”

Some of the bad kitchens had spacing problem, outdated appliances and dysfunctional layout, while the “horrible kitchens” The Cousins had to overhaul had no cabinets, no countertops, no proper lighting and had broken appliances. Some even had walls only built halfway.

“They’re really bad, and the fact that we have three days to finish them really pushes

us to our limits to get it done as fast as possible,” shares Colaneri.

“The name of the show tells you the whole story. The most desperate spaces,” adds Carrino.

But at the end of every episode, the two always come up with kitchen spaces that are perfect for every family they’re helping.

When asked if all their previous clients were happy with the kitchen they renovated, Carrino and Colaneri said “Yes!” in chorus.

“Everyone’s been happy, and been very appreciative. I mean, they don’t know we’re coming and everything is free, so for us to show up at their door, it’s a very good day,” says Colaneri.

In the Philippines, HGTV is available on SkyCable Ch. 88 (SD) and Ch. 246 (HD), Destiny Cable Ch. 88 and Cignal Ch. 101.

For more information on HGTV, visit www.hgtv.asia.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@liFEatStandard

The family-owned eco resort was designed by the Jose family. They describe the design style as a mixture of industrial and modern aesthetics

GrEEN CANYoN ECo Art rESort: A GrEEN GEtAWAY CaleidosCope World by cal tavera

a

few weeks ago, PAGASA (the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) reported the hottest day in Manila this summer. Last weekend, most of us were definitely feeling the heat especially on April 17 when the temperature was at 37.7 degrees. Well, to keep our heads cool from the heat and not to mention, all the additional negativity from the presidential elections, why not take a break and head out of town? A change of scenery may just do the trick.

A couple of hours drive from Manila, guests will discover something special in the form of an ecological refuge called Green Canyon Eco Art Resort. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear that this familyowned business was conceptualized and designed by family members, one of whom is Niccolo Jose, an artist who caught my eye years ago with his organic artworks made out of reclaimed wood.

According to Niccolo, one of the elements that make the resort special is its beginnings.

He shares, “The resort was developed on a terrain that was previously buried under several feet of volcanic ash from Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991. Since then, this property has been rehabilitated to support a thriving and flourishing ecosystem.”

Through thoughtful planning, the family managed to develop seven out of the 29 hectares of haven for both their guests and wildlife such as birds, dragonflies and butterflies. In a span of eight years, they have planted 3,000 trees and 10,000 plant species and allotted land for fruit bearing trees and a plant nursery. It is still a work in progress and they will continue planting trees around the area. The resort itself took more than six years for them to conceptualize and construct before opening the doors to public.

The resort’s progress was initially challenged with no cellular signal, absence of electricity and zero form of communication. Aside from that, the land was not flat enough to do any construction. There were also no trees

Weddings, pre-nups, meetings and functions can be experienced at the resort. The facilities will appeal to families, couples, friends, corporate entities, schools, organizers and photographers

Later this year, the resort will be opening a showroom, the library and Niccolo Jose's new art studio space. The indoor art studio will double as an event venue option and can accommodate up to 300 people

Green Canyon Eco Resort is located in Pampanga

The resort is perfect for anybody who appreciates art, nature, design, relaxation, adventure, photography or bird-watching

in sight due to previous logging and slash and burn practices.

Today, the Green Canyon is a three-floor pavilion that lies at the foot of a mountain that offers around 47 rooms plus four casitas. The resort is equipped with function rooms, a restaurant, a large main function hall and a covered view deck. Guests can also enjoy the resort pool, a family-friendly wave pool and the large garden. For the more adventurous souls, there are 4x4 ATVs and bikes for rent, a hanging bridge and an 800-foot high mountain trail. For guests who want to take it easy under this heat, they are welcome to have a picnic by the garden or under a tree, visit the art and design studio and the organic farm.

Niccolo adds, “They can also gather around their own private campfire for s’mores and conversations, join the street food stands on weekends, lie under the night sky to stargaze or get pampered with a massage.”

What sets this resort apart though is the combination of environmental advocacy

and contemporary art. The owners are dedicated to not just build a wonderful getaway, but one with a conscious focus on art and nature. Seventy percent of the construction and landscaping materials were developed from the existing resources found within the property to limit the ecological footprint. The hollow blocks were composed of volcanic ash while the boulders were utilized to create the retaining walls. For furniture, the family decided to create most of the pieces from trees that fell during Typhoon Ondoy.

The owners’ advocacy extends to the artworks and accent pieces by the hallway and lobby which were upcycled from wood that were rescued from decaying houses. Niccolo shares, “In the course of its development, we have taken great care in preserving the existing environment by reducing the impact of flooding and soil erosion. The six-year development of Green Canyon Eco Art Resort involved both traditional construction methods and state-of-the-art technology.

Aside from utilizing solar energy, energy efficient windows and green fiber insulation, we also paid close attention to the direction of the sun to maximize the natural light entering the window and skylight saving us electricity all throughout the day.”

He adds, “We were inspired to create a place for people who love the environment, art and the country. As a family-owned resort, we value the same principles that Green Canyon Eco Art Resort stands for: kinship, professionalism, authenticity, creativity, conservation, and a keen appreciation for the environment.”

For general inquiries, email to info@greencanyon.com.ph. or call +63 45 499 4800, +63 2 584 4121, +63 998 963 4332 or +63 998 963 4331.

Follow me on Instagram @cal_tavera Photos courtesy of Maria celina santos and carlos creencia

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

The perennially classic Elyse Chair, Santa Fe

@LIFEatStandard

Russo 18”x12” pillow cover

Earthenware bowls designed by ceramic artist Camilla Engdahl

A coLorFuL homE WIth crAtE & BArrEL’S SprINg-SummEr coLLEctIoN

L

ayers of color will warm up homes with leading American home furnishings brand Crate & Barrel’s spring summer collection with vegetal green, chili orange, teal, violet, saffron yellow and sea blue, says VP for Merchandising Raymond Arenson.

The US retailer takes a unique view on the latest trends, with blue in every shade and hue – from aqua to vintage indigo – predominating the color of most everything from ceramics to upholstery.

Metallic accents in décor and furniture will also continue to gain momentum.

“Many of our lamps, pendants, mirrors, lanterns, vases and pillows will have touches of antique bronze, matte brass, hammered copper and brushed nickel. Even sofas and leather chairs will be sporting silver and pewter nail heads,” says Arenson.

Crate & Barrel’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection will certainly inspire customers to “reimagine their homes, to find their summerhouse within their home through the use of color.”

The new collection features slip covered sofas with faded awning striped pillows set on a sisal rug to hand rubbed Italian painted bedroom furniture with Italian made floral bedding. Any home would be livened up with cottage inspired, handwoven all-weather wicker chairs accented

Trevor 81” sofa

with sea mist green cushions and purple floral pillows to Artisanal wood and metal kitchen tables set with colorful ceramics and glass. “Color is the quickest way we know to refresh a room,” avers Arenson.

Also highlighted are two of Crate & Barrel customers’ passions: Entertaining in their homes and decorating. With the trend of entertaining friends over cocktails getting stronger over the past few years, bar cabinets and bar carts take center stage with every style of cocktail glass and shaker conceivable. There are also pieces that can be artfully arranged to fill up bright white space – a fresh trend in decorating the home.

In addition to its color trend for Spring-Summer 2016, the brand will be introducing the next style evolution for Crate &Barrel dubbed as Summerhouse.

“We hope to inspire our customers to think, not necessarily about a summerhouse, but about a vision for their house during the summer. Outdoor furniture and accessories will play a huge part in that vision,” says Arenson.

Handmade Green Hydrangea napkin ring

Del Mar Hurricane candle holder

The Crate & Barrel Spring/Summer Collection is available at SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Aura Premier and SM Makati. For more information, visit www.crateandbarrel.com.

Teton natural solid wood accent table

Beach Dear Print wall décor which is a giclée reproduction on paper of an acrylic painting by Teil Duncan Eden 60”x90” tablecloth

Nippon paint student awardees sent to Bangkok learning program

Nippon Paint Young Designer Award winners Jose Augustine Ricarte (2nd from left) and Martha Joyce Tomas (4th from left) with architect and interior designer Eduardo Calma; Nippon Paint Malaysia Group general manager Gladys Goh; interior designer Hannah Faustino; architect Catherine Carunungan; Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines senior marketing manager Bernice Bobadilla; and architect Carmelo Casas

Nippon Paint Young Designer Award (NPYDA) gold winners Jose Augustine Ricarte and Martha Joyce Tomas were recently sent by Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines to Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok for a once-in-a-lifetime learning program. NPYDA is an annual design competition that inspires young interior designers and architects to push the boundaries for future living by creating breathing, working and leisure spaces benefitting people from all walks of life.

All NPYDA winners from 11 different countries gathered together at the prestigious university to learn from

renowned industry leaders. The learning trip to Bangkok is part of the Philippine gold winners’ prize which included cash awards plus a valuable internship with top interior design firm Lor Calma & Partners for Tomas and renowned architectural firm Casas+Architects for Ricarte.

Ricarte topped the architecture category for his entry “Marikina Link: River + Park + People” while Tomas took top honors in the interior design category for her entry called “Biojet. Both Ricarte and Tomas are students from the University of Santo Tomas.

For more details, visit youngdesigneraward.ph.

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W E D N E S D AY : A p r I L 2 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Lladro's As Pretty As Flower porcelain figurine

Ice Cream backpack from Beatrix

Rustan’s Home & HeaRt – a Family aFFaiR

T

he month of May will be highlighting the special woman in our lives – our mothers. Rustan’s is all set to make moms feel special and make the family become more connected through several events and activities dubbed “Home & Heart” that will continue up to June.

The festivities kicked off at Rustan’s Alabang Town Center with Afternoon Delight: Coffee and Tea with Delonghi last April 16 that also featured weekend coffee workshops. The first of the weekend series workshops started off with resident coffee craftsman Michael Canlas who discussed caffeinated and tea recipes. Breville’s The Art of Coffee – Espresso Appreciation Afternoon with master latte artist Dave Dource followed the next day.

For the special women of May, Rustan’s has already started with mom treats with Travel Essentials for Mom’s Getaway Workshop

by Bespoke and Beyond at Rustan’s Makati which gave tips on My Baby Girl figurine organizing from Nao luggage a n d p a c k i ng perfectly f o r travels.

Those who

were unable to catch the workshop can take part in the Mother’s Day Fair that runs until May 8 at Rustan’s Makati and at Rustan’s Shangri-La. Vegans will also enjoy A Very Vegan Mother’s Day with Jertie’s Kitchen and Breville on May 6. Coffee lovers who missed the April weekend workshops can catch the next one on May 7. Be sure to bring mom for the Delonghi’s Match Made with Coffee workshop at Rustan’s Shangri-La. If you’re already on the lookout for the perfect gift for mommy, Rustan’s has got you covered with special deals from the Home Department. This may be the safest section to scour for the best gift for mom.

Up to 20 percent discounts on artisanal home accent pieces from brands like Farbel, Acrila, Zoffoli, Arti & Mestieri and other home and décor items from Lenox, Rosenthal, Royal Albert, Kate Spade, and Christofle are also on offer.

If your mom is into beauty products, check out items from Murad and La Prairie. Bedroom items are also great ideas for gifting, so beddings from Ralph Lauren Home and engraved leather items and embroidered linens by Bespoke and Beyond may just be what she’s been looking for. And which mommy will say no to items that relaxes the mind and body? Zen-inspired items from BSAB, Millefiori, and Diptyque would be perfect gift items.

For added perks, receive a Lladro Silk Scarf or a Christofle Silver Money Clip Lladro for a single receipt purchase of P45,000 for purchases on both brands.

Meanwhile, a minimum single-receipt purchase of P50,000 from Meissen entitles one to a luxurious Meissen candle. And if you’re a big spender, spend a singlereceipt purchase of P85,000 from Lalique and receive a 100ml bottle of Lalique perfume. Longchamp is also extending its personalized Le Pliage services until May 7 at Rustan’s Shangri-La, so if you didn’t catch the last one, here’s your chance.

If you have a Rustan’s Lifestyle Passport, you may also catch some good deals with some of the finest global brands at Rustan’s. Show your passport and avail of

exclusive offers and special discounts from the Fashion, Children’s, Cosmetics, and Home Departments of Rustan’s until June 2.

To know more about the latest collections available in the stores, you may visit Rustan’s in Makati, ShangriLa, Gateway, Alabang and Cebu or get connected at rustansph on Facebook.

Baby Club's Cupcake onesie

Limited-edition piece from Lalique's Music Is Love collection

White towels from Rustan's Home

Ralph Lauren's Arnett trinket box Visconti's Rembrandt ivory ballpoint

One in a Million business card holder from Kate Spade

Bernardaud's Irazu Collection Espresso gift box set of 6

Van Gogh Sunflowers from Visconti

wEDnES DAy : A pRIl 27, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Sm LITTLE STaRS ShInE bRIghTER aT 10

T

elesa “Essang” Marie de Torres continues to shine after placing third in the SM Little Stars 2013 competition. One of the final four in The Voice Kids Season 2, she now plays Cosette in the Broadway musical Le Miserables.

Other SM Little Stars have made their mark on television. SM Little Stars Grand Winner Andre Navarro is now a Star Magic Talent and plays the son of Coco Martin in Ang Probinsiyano; while Grand Finalist 2009 John Mark Ibanez played Cho in the teleserye Please Be Careful with My Heart. Nhikzy Vheench Calma, the Grand Winner in 2013, is a Star Magic Talent, an ASAP mainstay, and part of the On the Wings of Love teleserye; while Chun Sa Angella Jung, the 2014 Grand Winner, is an audience favorite in Going Bulilit.

The 2012 batch has gone a long way since the competition: Grand Winner Chrisdane Andreu Galero has done a lot of modeling; while finalist Vince Angeles has appeared in several drama series: Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real, Bukas Nalang Kitang Mamahalim, Magpakailanman. Other finalists have also made their mark: Kylie Jimenez is a vocalist of the Kid Rock Band Square; Lance Angelo Lucido is a Star Magic Talent, a Going Bulilit mainstay, and has done modeling and television work; MacKee Dulalia, has done work in modeling and television, and appeared in the indie film Cattleya and international movie and Hope Rising.

After 10 years, and hundreds of cute and talented kids, the SM Little Stars competition has become a stepping -stone for them to get to better things. And with that, it opens its competition for 2016 for kids aged 4 to 7.

While the opportunities are boundless, the prizes are also very attractive. Over P6.5 million worth of great prizes await the Grand Prize winners (one boy and one girl). Each winner will be entitled to a Suzuki Ciaz brand new car; P500,000 worth of cash and shopping money; and a five-day and four-night trip to China for two including round-trip tickets, hotel accommodations and tours. They will also each be entitled to a four-year college scholarship grant from National University and a one-year talent management contract with TV5. SM’s Little Stars winners will also receive P15,000 worth of gift certificates from Toy Kingdom.

The first runner-up will receive P50,000 worth of cash and shopping money and a 4-year college scholarship grant from National University; while the second and third runners-up will get P30,000 and P20,000 worth of cash and shopping money respectively, and tuition discounts from National University. Runners up will also each get a five-day and four-night trip to China for two, P6,000 Toy Kingdom gift certificates, and also a one year talent management contract with TV 5.

Jasmine Curtis Smith, will host this year’s Grand Finals on Aug.7. It will will also have an amazing board of judges who will also act as mentors: movie and TV director Mac Alejandre and celebrity judges Ogie Alcasid, Bianca King, Tuesday Vargas and Alwyn Uytingco. They will be choosing the winners based on the following criteria: 40 percent for Star Quality, 20 percent for Personality and 40 percent for Talent.

How to join? You can submit application forms with Contestant’s Birth Certificate (original and photocopy), two copies of 4R size photo taken with light make up only, a close up shot and whole body shot.

Application forms are available at the Marketing Dept of Administration Office of any SM Mall branches. Or you may download application form at www.smlittlestars.com.ph. Registration now open until May 27.

SM Little Stars is one of the many exciting events of the SM Supermalls.

nhikzy Vheench Calma, 2013 Grand winner, is now a Star Magic talent and was part of “On the wings of love” cast

lance Angelo lucido, 2012 Grand Finalist, Boardwalk Endorser and a TV commercial model

SM little Stars 2016 judges: (from left) actress/model Bianca King, Director Mac Alejandre, Tuesday Vargas, Host Jasmine Curtis, and TV actor Alvin Uytingco

Kyle Jimenez, part of 2012 batch, is into modeling and is the vocalist of “Square One” under Universal MCA Music

Vince Angeles, 2012 Grand Finalist, is a child actor and has done TV commercials for leading food brands

2009 Grand Finalist John Mark Ibañez is active on TV and movies

Essang, 2013 3rd Runner Up, The Voice Kids finalist and is now part of “le Miserables” cast

Chrisdane Andreu Galero, 2012 Grand finalist is into modelling

Mackee Dulalia, 2012 Grand Finalist in 2012, has appeared in an international movie

2013 First Runner Up nicoli lista, has found his niche in modeling

1pacman’s Romero urges stars to engage in sports

1pacman party-list nominee Dr. Mikee Romero

1Pacman party-list nominee Dr. Mikee Romero has encouraged showbiz personalities to engage in sports activities to relieve stress from their hectic schedule.

Romero also said he supports the plan of the Department of Labor and Employment to limit working hours of movie and TV workers to eight to 14 hours a day.

“Showbiz personalities often work long hours due to tapings which can be detrimental to their health. What they need is an outlet and sports activities are the best way to revitalize their tired bodies,” Romero said.

Romero made the suggestion in light of recent showbiz deaths including directors Wenn Deramas and Francis Pasion.

“It is a laudable plan in order to protect the health of our showbiz workers including stars, directors and cameramen,” he said.

He noted the workers in films and TV often work more than 24 hours straight to finish projects.

“The proposal is a win-win solution for everyone,” he added.

1Pacman, No. 25 on the ballot, through Romero, has been endorsed by different

sports personalities such as Gilas Pilipinas’ Jason Castro and Terrence Romero and PBA MVP James Yap. As 1Pacman nominee, Romero vowed to focus on sports, education and employment in Congress.

Romero is known as a successful businessman and sports leader in the country.

He has been supporting sports in the country through his Globalport Batang Pier team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Manila Sharks polo team.

He is involved in different businesses including Air Asia.

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wEDnES DAy : A pRIl 27, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

A pEEk ‘InSIDE HESton’S woRlD’ Blumenthal and his team getting ready for Australia; part two is the actual journey going to Australia and opening the restaurant in Melbourne; part three is “The Fat Duck” operating in Australia and then getting ready to be back for the UK; and part four is their journey back home.

Apart from giving the audience a peek into the world of cooking and restaurant operations, according to Blumenthal, there are a few things that they really want to achieve.

“We’ve got a team of 60/70 people, every single day handmaking things, to serve.

The work that goes behind trying to get something right and the human nature of it and all the work that people try to put into it, that was one big thing. And maybe a bit more of an understanding of where I was coming from in my life, in my career and the direction that I wanted to go,” the British chef concluded.

Inside Heston’s World is a weekly series that premiered yesterday at 10 p.m. on TLC.

wIThOuT wang2 nIckIE wang

I

n the first episode of TLC’s Inside Heston’s World, celebrity chef and proprietor Heston Blumenthal announced his plan to temporally move his restaurant – The Fat Duck – 10,000 miles, from England to Australia.

Known as a pioneer of food pairing and flavor encapsulation, Blumenthal is also famous for giving his guests unique culinary adventures by “inventing” dishes, which simultaneously involve all of the senses, when eaten.

In his effort to modernize The Fat Duck, one of the few establishments that offer his unique culinary style, he is moving his entire restaurant, staff and facilities to Melbourne, Australia.

There, he is opening a new restaurant and will run his whole food operation for six to seven months before returning to the United Kingdom for the opening of the new Fat Duck.

The process is going to be a daring sixmonth culinary journey that involves tedious task of moving around 70 people and seven tons of specialist equipment (including 126 iPods, 106 sauce spoons, 300 champagne glasses, a $20,000 vacuum oven, and a specialist piece of kit called “The Polar Bear,” just to name few) to a casino complex in Melbourne.

The Fat Duck is a restaurant in Berkshire, England and is ran by Blumenthal since 1995. It is known for its uniquely named menu like Snail Porridge, Bacon and Egg Ice Cream, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and a dish called Sound of the Sea, which includes an audio element that’s why they have more than a hundred iPads. It was voted No. 1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2006.

In an exclusive email interview with The Standard, the kitchen heavyweight relayed to us the nitty-gritty of moving an entire restaurant from its original location in London to the other side of the world.

“We had a lot of challenges,” he started, “There were visa issues, because a six-month visa is actually relatively

“Inside Heston’s world” follows the journey of Chef Heston and his mission to move his entire restaurant, staff and facilities 10,000 miles to Melbourne, Australia

easy to get, but because of the setup, the months beforehand of setting up and then packing everything up, it took it seven and a half months. And then it goes from six months to a year-and-ahalf visa. And that was a really big job, to get visas for everybody.”

The process took longer than it was supposed to be because some members of Blumenthal’s staff don’t speak English as their mother language. Hence, they had to take the what-he-calls “a fairly brutal exam.”

And there were a few people that had to take the exam a couple of times.

“Then there was all of the planning and the logistics of it, the packing up of all the kit right down to the crockery and the cutlery and running off the same power source,” Blumenthal said adding that their first week of operation was “brutal” but a sharp learning curve.

Inside Heston’s World goes behind the scene with the celebrity chef and his entire team. From the Master Sommeliers (wine experts/stewards) who introduce viewers to bottles of wine worth tens of thousands of pounds, to the waiting staff

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Kind of dive 5 Dream stealer 10 Applies makeup 14 Oblong tomato 15 Brownish pigment 16 Grand Ole — 17 Bloke’s streetcar 18 Street sign 19 Bridge section 20 Wings

22 Gulf of Mexico pirate 24 Morse click 25 Beauty pack 26 Toulouse-Lautrec 29 Flat-tire sound 32 Einstein won one 36 Bogus butter 37 Novel closer (var.)

39 Wallach or Lilly 40 Popular takeouts

(2 wds.)

43 Spanish queen 44 Dojo practice 45 Shoved off 46 — Lama 48 Opposite of ‘tain’t 49 Coats with gold 50 TV news source 52 A Muppet 53 Plundered 57 Nearly fell 61 Attired 62 Tiff (hyph.)

64 Libretto feature 65 Chevalier’s theme 66 Heavy for its size 67 Crocus “bulb” 68 Family man 69 Warrior’s horse 70 Troublesome joint DOWN 1 Baja Ms. 2 Shabby 3 “— — for All Seasons” 4 Try to impress 5 So far (2 wds.)

6 Oahu wreaths 7 Imitate 8 Lunar valley 9 “—, I’m Adam” 10 Square dance call (hyph.)

11 Dr.’s visit

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

12 13 21 23 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 37 38 41 42 47 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 63

Neighbor’s kid End of a 1/1 song Livy’s dozen Mold and mildew Felt optimistic Ms. Verdugo Hindu kingdom Part of SUV Red Sea peninsula Gill openings Watch rim Spiral-horned antelope Inventories Historical period Unfold, in verse Barely scraping by Crisp toast “Evangeline” setting Lump Bookish types Dazed, with “out” Sgt. Preston’s grp.

Et — (and others) Mae West persona It takes 4 hands Advisable — — Hubbard Ireland Dench title Compass pt.

who must have a faultless knowledge of the thousands of ingredients in every single dish, to the bookings ladies in charge of fielding 36,000 phone calls a day and both kitchen and Development chefs who work tirelessly to produce consistently excellent food and uphold three Michelin star standards.

“And that’s another challenge, when everyone moved to Australia, the development kitchen was still in the UK, there’s the word perfection is the enemy of creativity. A perfectionist, I think, is different because that’s somebody I see that just wants to keep on improving, kind of restless perfectionism,” Blumenthal noted.

And the audience is just seeing the tip of the iceberg because the series will be divided into four parts: first part is

Celebrity chef and the Fat Duck, a famous restaurant in london, proprietor Heston Blumenthal

wEDnES DAy : A pRIl 27, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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ABS-CBn REnEwS pARtnERSHIp wItH REGAl,VIVA

M

ore Filipinos will get to enjoy quality Filipino films and re-experience iconic titles right in their homes as ABS-CBN continues to be the home of the biggest Filipino libraries in the country.

Regal Entertainment and Viva Entertainment recently renewed their partnership and once again entrusted ABS-CBN with the rights to broadcast their movies on its various platforms, which includes free-to-air TV channels, cable TV channels, ABS-CBNmobile, and The Filipino Channel (TFC).

“I am a loyalist and will forever be yours,” said Regal matriarch Lily Monteverde when asked about Regal’s ties with ABS-CBN. “They’ve been like a family to us,” added Regal Vice President Roselle Monteverde.

Regal Entertainment not only entrusted ABS-CBN with its current film archives, but even its future titles as well.

For Viva Entertainment head Vic Del Rosario, on the other hand, Viva’s ties with ABS-CBN has already spanned more than three decades and remains strong until now.

“It started way back in 1981 and from then on we have remained as partners. With ABSCBN, you can watch all the best Filipino movies,” he shared.

From being the home of the biggest movie titles from Regal and Viva, ABS-CBN is now also the home of the country’s biggest historic epic movie to date – Heneral Luna – after it forged a partnership with Artikulo Uno Productions.

“I feel that more people will be able to see Luna and the message it carries. What’s a better conduit than ABS-CBN,” said Artikulo Uno President Vincent Nebrida.

As its broadcast partner, ABSCBN has the right to air the boxoffice film on its various platforms.

“We will make sure that we will promote it, we will take care of it, and Filipinos here and abroad can watch it on all channels and platforms of ABS-CBN,” said ABSCBN Head of Integrated Acquisitions and International Sales and Distribution Evelyn Raymundo.

Aside from the acquisition of Regal and Viva libraries and Heneral Luna, ABS-CBN is also the home of hit titles from Seiko Films; RVQ Productions, which carries the movies of Philippines King of Comedy Dolphy; and FPJ Productions, which stars the King of Philippine Cinema Fernando Poe Jr. ABS-CBN continues to champion and uphold Filipino films through its various platforms by acquiring the best film libraries

Sealing the deal. (From left) Roselle Monteverde, Cory Vidanes, lily Monteverde, Carlo Katigbak and Evelyn Raymundo (From left) Macy Imperial, leng Raymundo, Malou Santos, Vincent nebrida, Fernando Ortigas and Rachel Simon

and remains to be the most trusted network by film production groups.

ABS-CBN also spearheaded the Film Restoration Project, which aims to restore and preserve classic Filipino films for the future generation. To date, it has restored over 100 classic films.

Watch out for your favorite Regal and Viva titles on various ABS-CBN channels and platforms. Meanwhile, Heneral Luna is set to air its free-to-air television premiere soon on ABS-CBN.

Heart and Chiz in Gensan, Koronadal

Heart Evangelista was in Luzon and Mindanao recently to campaign for her husband, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who is running for vice president in the coming elections.

In less than two weeks, the elections will be held that’s why

Heart’s schedule is becoming tight, squeezing days she is free from taping for her new show on GMA 7 to be with her husband in his campaign sorties.

Several Mondays ago, she visited the Pink Sisters Convent in Lipa City and even went on a

Actress Heart Evangelista during a campaign sortie in Koronadal

market tour.

Naturally, everyone in the market was starstruck to see Heart in the market.

Heart was also in South Cotabato, General Santos, and Koronodal where she toured all the public markets there.

(From left) Vincent Del Rosario, Carlo Katigbak, Vic Del Rosario and Evelyn Raymundo

nora Aunor says only Grace poe has plans for the arts

Among the presidential candidates, only Senator Grace Poe has a platform for the advancement of the arts and culture in the country. That’s according to Nora Aunor, the one and only superstar of movies, television, and recording in the country.

That’s why she is not hesitant to throw her full support for the candidate in the coming elections.

“Si Senadora Poe lamang ang may programa para sa sektor ng mga nasa sining at kultura. Sa tingin ko alam ng senadora na kung gusto mo ng isang ‘Gobyernong may Puso,’ kailangan mong makita ang kaluluwa ng bayan mo, at ang sining at kultura po ang nagtataguyod para mabuo ang kaluluwa ng bayang ito,” Nora said.

“Sa kanilang mga tumatakbo, si Senadora Poe lamang ang nagbanggit ng mga programa para sa mga nasa pelikula, mga pintor, manunulat, mandudula, mananayaw dahil siya lamang ang may plataporma ng ‘Gobyernong may Puso,” she added.

Among her plans include cultural heritage conservation, increase the budget for the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA), expansion of the copyright protection for workers in the arts and the resto-

Superstar nora Aunor

ration of films considered important to the history of the country.

“Walang bayan na uunlad kung iaasa lamang natin ang Pilipinas sa kamay ng mga trapong pulitiko, sa mga abusadong abogado at mga sundalo, at sa mga gahamang negosyante,” Nora or more popularly Ate Guy explained.

“Kailangan nating patuloy na itaguyod ang sining at kultura sa bayang ito at alam kong kaming mga nagmula sa hirap at patuloy na pinaghihirapan ang aming mga akda, ang aming mga obra at pelikula ay may puwang din sa puso ng isang Grace Poe,” she concluded.

w ednes day : a pril 27, 2016

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isaH V. red EDITOR niCKie wanG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

sam Milby and Julia Montes, lead stars of the top-rating afternoon soap “doble Kara”

‘DOblE KaRa’ OpEnS nEW chapTER WITh all-TImE hIgh RaTIngS ISAH V. RED

K

apamilya afternoon drama series Doble Kara has consistently won the nationwide ratings game and continues to garner even more viewers, proving its place as the number one afternoon show in the country.

The show has indeed kept viewers hooked as recently, it recorded its all-time high national TV rating of 19.1 percent, beating its rival shows with ease.

The show’s lead star Julia Montes was also recognized in the 14th Gawad Tanglaw Awards and was named the Best Actress for TV for her portrayal as Sara and Kara.

Because of the success of the afternoon series, Julia and her leading man Sam Milby are grateful to the show’s viewers for their intense support and for the love they receive from them.

And now, the show’s avid fans are in for a huge treat as the series opens its newest chapter.

Viewers should watch out for the exciting scenes set to happen in the top-rating teleserye as Kara and Sara will become mothers and have their own families.

However, as Kara (Julia Montes) enjoys her life with her husband Sebastian (Sam Milby) and her daughter Becca, Sara struggles to raise her daughter Hannah after being left alone by Edward (Edgar Allan Guzman), who ran away from his responsibilities as the father of their child.

Now that they have their own children, will the twins finally get along? Or will it just cause another chaos in their family?

Will their daughter become mortal enemies just like them?

Don’t miss the newest chapter of the top-rating afternoon teleserye Doble Kara, weekdays after It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Catch up via iWanTV or skyondemand. com.ph for Sky subscribers.

SKY’s fun family entertainment for great summer together

With summer already in full swing, families are by now looking for ways to spend this much needed break. Good thing they can always check out SKY, the cable network that has become synonymous to fun and entertainment.

From its wide array of premium channels, SKY is pouring out multi-genre offerings that are on every member of the family’s bucket list for summer.

Summer need not be the time for idle minds as viewers also get to uncover new knowledge in National Geographic Channel; The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (April 28, 9 p.m.); and in the new season of Mythbusters (Wednesday, 10 p.m.) on Discovery.

Viewers who need to quench their thirst for sports only have to tune in to NBA Premium TV HD for the live games of the NBA Playoffs; to ABS CBN Sports+Action HD for the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Finals; to FOX Sports for the much awaited Formula 1 on May 1 in Russia; and to ASN for the live games of the NHL Playoffs.

And as every member of the family have been waiting for them, SKYcable unleashes a wave of specials and movies from HBO with Game of Thrones, 9 a.m., Mondays.

Meanwhile, the surprise Marvel hit Ant-Man (May 28, 9 p.m.) and the highly-acclaimed Pixar feature Inside Out (May 1, 8 p.m.) will both premiere on Fox Movies Premium.

Extending the fun beyond home entertainment, SKY is also rewarding subscribers with outdoor experiences that both challenge and excite.

On April 23, SKYathon 2016 gathered active bodies and wellness enthusiasts in the island paradise of Boracay for a dose of fun and a way to help save the island. In

SKY’s partnership with the Boracay Foundation, SKYathon 2016’s proceeds went to helping recover reefs with the purchase of 1,000 square meters of reef nurseries via the Boracay Reef Rehabilitation Project.

The annual run organized by Run Rio challenged runners through 5k and 10k stretches of beach sand before treating them to the Upbeat Victory Party headlined by DJs Ace Ramos, Mars Miranda, and Nina Saputil at the Epic beachfront.

On another piece of Philippine paradise, the “TLC El Nido Getaway 2016: Good Life by the Beach” experience gives a group of three friends or family the rare chance to vacation in the premium beach resort for three fun and comfortfilled days. SKY has also launched SKYdirect, its new direct-to-home product, which is sure to bring to more homes across the country SKYcable’s premium channels.

If you aren’t a SKY subscriber yet, just log on to www.mysky.com.ph for information on how you can enjoy hot summer entertainment only SKY can give.

Morgan Freeman is embarking on a religious exploration into the concept and history of God, and he’s inviting viewers to join him on the fascinating and emotional journey