The Standard - 2016 June 08 - Wednesday

VOL. XXX NO. 116 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDAY : JUNE 8, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Marcos reveals ‘secret’ server

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‘3 PACTS WILL BE SIGNED IN OSLO’

CPP’s Sison expects immediate truce, prisoners freed

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

COMMUNIST Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison said he expects to conclude three agreements—including one paving the way for an immediate ceasefire— during the two-day exploratory talks in Oslo on June 15 and 16 with incoming peace adviser Jesus Dureza and incoming government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III.

Fearless forecasts. Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison holds a long-distance dialog using Skype about peace talks with the incoming Duterte administration at the offices of the Ibon Foundation in Quezon City recently. LINO SANTOS

Lacson: Koko is majority’s SP choice

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“There will be agreements on the release of the political prisoners, an interim ceasefire and a plan to accelerate the peace negotiations,” Sison told The Standard in an interview from Utrecht.

“The interim ceasefire will take effect with the release of all political prisoners through a general amnesty until the successful conclusion of the peace negotiations. The formal peace talks will include a comprehensive and detailed agreement on the permanent end of hostilities,” he added.

Sison will be joined by National Democratic Front chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni and Fidel Agcaoili, while Dureza and Bello will bring with them incoming government peace panel member Hernani Braganza.

“We will discuss confidencebuilding measures during the exploratory meeting,” Bello said. “The ceasefire proposal from the CPPNDF is already a major step forward.”

Bello said he will retain current government peace panel member Efren Moncupa for the negotiations with the communists.

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Ex-PDEA agent links Ochoa to drug rings

By Florante S. Solmerin A FORMER agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency who was removed because of alleged irregularities has accused Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr. of protecting drug syndicates.

Cacdac immediately denied the former agent’s accusation.

“He issued an affidavit saying he was asked to plant evidence, to produce evidence of the alleged shabu laboratory.

Now during the hearing of the Chinese who was arrested in San Fernando, Pampanga, when I wasn’t around, he said that was the evidence that was

planted, but in the affidavit of arrest, he said it was a buy-bust operation,” Cacdac said in Filipino in an interview on GMA News TV. He said Jonathan Morales was removed from the agency in 2013 because of “grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

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Taking it easy. President Benigno S. Aquino III fields questions from Rappler’s Maria Ressa during an interview at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday. MALACAÑANG

PHOTO BUREAU

‘Secret’ fourth server revealed by Marcos

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

A FOURTH server that the Commission on Elections and Smartmatic kept secret from the public was revealed Tuesday by the camp of losing vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who will file an election protest before the June 29 deadline.

Marcos’ political adviser Abakada Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz said the fourth server was never divulged to the public and was never subjected to a source code review.

Jose Amor Amorado, head of Marcos’ legal team, added that no watchers were allowed near the fourth server.

He said results from the municipal board of canvassing servers, the Comelec server and the transparency server were coursed through the fourth server, also called the queue server.

Amorado said they have already asked the Comelec to preserve and secure any and all servers, as well as other related IT equipment used in the elections.

“Definitely we will file an election protest. The truth has to come out—one way or another,” Amorado said after the preliminary investigation of a complaint filed against Comelec and Smartmatic personnel before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office Tuesday.

Amorado said they would seek a recount of votes in some areas, and the setting aside of election results in areas where there were clear indications of fraud and manipulation.

Dela Cruz said they are filing the election protest because they owe it to those who voted for Marcos and to the entire Filipino people to find out what really happened in the May 2016 elections.

“We believe that we have enough evidence to show that there was massive rigging and manipulation of votes,” he said.

Amorado and Dela Cruz cited that the results of their initial findings indicated that between 9 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. on May 9, the transmitted election results showed that Marcos lost in 1,689 precincts, many of which are considered bailiwicks of the senator, mostly in the provinces of Leyte, Samar, Pangasinan and other areas in Region II.

During the preliminary investigation, Smartmatic asked for 10 more days to file their answer to the complaint filed.

Amorado said the respondents are being charged for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Named respondents were Smartmatic personnel Marlon Garcia, a Venezuelan national and head of the Technical Support Team; Elie Moreno, an Israeli national and project director; Neil Banigued and Mauricio Herrera both members of the Technical Support Team and Comelec IT experts led by Rouie Peñalba, Nelson Herrera and Frances Mae Gonzalez who are all assigned at the Information Technology Department.

“Our main allegation is that in the night of May 9, 2016 during the time when the transmission was already in progress, they opened the system and introduced the new script without permission from the owner of the system, which is Comelec,” said Amorado.

If found guilty, the accused will be sentenced for six to 12 years in prison.

Earlier, the camp of Marcos said that shortly after the suspicious introduction of the new script the Senator’s lead over his closest rival in the vice presidential race began dropping until he was eventually overtaken.

Dela Cruz on Tuesday also took election lawyer

Romulo Macalintal to task for suggesting that Marcos not pursue an election complaint against his client, Vice President-elect Leni Robredo because it would be a “waste of time and money.”

Macalintal added that a protest would take up to three years to settle, by which time Marcos could run again for the Senate.

“This is not about Senator Marcos seeking for another term,” said Dela Cruz. “This is for the Filipino people seeking the truth on what really transpired during the elections, and for the people who voted for him.”

Also on Tuesday, the chief of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting urged the Comelec to look into the evidence of alleged cheating to erase doubts on the credibility of the election process.

PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa said the Comelec must investigate further those protests that have hard and strong evidence to support their claim of cheating.

“For the credibility of the elections, all protest and claims accompanied by evidence should be looked into seriously,” De Villa said in a report posted at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website.

She said they were furnished copies of formal complaints and supposed evidence on the alleged poll cheating.

‘3 pacts...

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Formal peace talks between the Aquino administration and the CPPNDF-NPA bogged down in February 2011.

Talks could not resume because the communist group has been demanding the reactivation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig), which will give safe conduct passes to communist negotiators and political consultants.

The government earlier rejected the NDF’s proposal to draft a new Jasig list after the original one, stored in a very old floppy disk, got corrupted and could no longer be retrieved.

Bello said things will change under a Duterte administration, starting with the reconstitution of the Jasig.

“We will recommend to him [President-elect Rodrigo Duterte] that we honor

Ex-PDEA...

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Morales, on the other hand, said the PDEA has a list of so many political personalities who were protecting the drug syndicates.

These included senators, Cabinet secretaries, governors, mayors, police, and NBI and PDEA officials, he said.

He recalled that in July 2013, Ochoa invited him to Malacañang where he made a presentation about Chinese drug syndicates

the Jasig and other previously signed agreements,” Bello said.

Duterte has expressed his desire to end the nearly five-decade-long insurgency through a comprehensive peace agreement with the CPP-NDF-New People’s Army.

Known to be close to the left, Duterte even announced his choice of progressives to join his Cabinet, including Judy Taguiwalo to head the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Rafael Mariano to head the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Earlier, Sison said he will return to the Philippines as soon as a final peace pact is signed even as he acknowledged rumors that he will be assassinated once he arrives in the country.

“Assassination? I will not return to the Philippines without any guarantee on my personal security. And in case I am killed, Duterte will be responsible for that,” he added. on the PDEA’s list.

These groups, he said, operated under the guise of garment businesses and casinos.

Morales said he became suspicious when Cacdac did not order any operation against the identified syndicates.

The Palace declined to comment on the allegations made against Ochoa and Cacdac.

“It is difficult to make a comment since I have not read the background,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. With Sandy Araneta

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Lacson says Pimentel has edge PDP-LABAN President Aquilino Pimentel III enjoys the support of a “Super Majority” of 20 senators in his bid for the Senate presidency, Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday.

On his Twitter account, Lacson said preparations were under way for the 17th Congress, with current Senate President Franklin Drilon sliding down to the post of Senate President Pro-Tempore post and Senator Vicente Sotto III becoming the Majority Leader.

Drilon, however, said he had no knowledge of the circumstances behind Lacson’s statement. But he said being Senate President Pro-Tempore and Minority Leader were among his options.

“No knowledge of circumstances behind Ping’s statement,” Drilon said in a text message.

“When, and only when, the SP candidate has 13 votes, then the pro temp post becomes one of the options. Being the Minority Leader is another option. Without anyone with 13 votes, I remain SP.” But Pimentel III will likely find it difficult to hurdle the race for the Senate presidency as he is all by himself.

“How can he be the Senate president when is just one?” asked a source who refused to be identified.

The source also said with the way things were going, it was impossible for Pimentel to muster the 13 votes needed to clinch the post from Drilon.

Drilon, who was Senate president for four terms, says he will yield the leadership of the Senate to anybody who can present to him the needed 13 votes.

Pressed if Cayetano would give way to Pimentel, being a top official of the PDP-Laban that is led by incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, the source said this was another impossibility.

The source said Cayetano, who claims 15 senators are supporting his bid for the Senate presidency, would not buckle down before assuming a Cabinet position. He said Cayetano, Duterte’s defeated running mate, was hell bent on becoming the next Senate president.

“Senator Alan will not give way to Senator Koko. That’s impossible,” the source said.

As president of the party, Pimentel said, he will aspire to be Senate President so that the agenda of the party and the President can be shepherded through the Senate.

“Senator Alan Cayetano and I belong to one group, and this is the group which supported the candidacy of President Duterte.

Hence we will possibly engage in a friendly competition for the commitments of our colleagues and in the end, we will have to work together,” he said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Briefing. Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz, left, and vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s lawyer Amor Amorado brief newsmen shortly after

Tuesday’s preliminary investigation of the Cybercrime case they filed against Smartmatic at the Manila Deputy City Prosecutor’s Office. EY ACASIO

Abad says he’s not withholding retirees’ benefits THE Budget Department said Tuesday it is not withholding the benefits of the retirees from the Public Attorneys’ Office.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad rejected the retirees’ claim that his department is blocking the release of P139 million that is due them.

“We referred this case to the [Justice Department] for their legal opinion because of conflicting interpretations of the provi-

sion of the National Prosecution Service Law pertaining to [the] coverage of their retirement benefits,” Abad said.

“Let us wait for the [department’s] opinion on the matter.”

Abad made his statement in response to the claim of 16 retired lawyers of the Public Attorneys’ Office who had filed a damage suit against him for allegedly withholding their retirement benefits.

“We acknowledge the invaluable contribution of PAO lawyers in ensuring the rule of law, truth and social justice as public defenders,” Abad said.

“PAO lawyers are our fellow public servants and we act with no malice or ill motive towards their right to receive in full the retirement benefits due them.”

Abad said his department will release the retirement benefits

due the retirees once the Justice Department rules that they are entitled to the same retirement package as the prosecutors and judges under the National Prosecution Service Law. “I would like to reiterate that the [Budget Department] elevated the matter to the [Justice Department] without any intention to withhold the benefits of the PAO retirees,” Abad said. Sandy Araneta

Aquino ordered to comment on judges’ petition

‘Super Majority.’ Incoming Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte discuss the coming ‘Super Majority’ in the House of Representatives under an eventual Duterte administration. JOHN PAOLO BENCITO

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered President Benigno Aquino III to comment on a petition questioning the appointments of two new magistrates of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

The Court also ordered Malacañang to submit its comment to the petition within 10 days of receiving its notice, spokesman Theodore Te said.

The petitioners are judges who were shortlisted for a vacant position in the Sandiganbayan, and they claim Aquino violated the Constitution when he appointed former Undersecretary Michael Frederick Musngi and lawyer Maria Geraldine Faith Econg as the 16th and 18th Associate Justices of the Sandiganbayan.

They claim that Musngi and Econg were in a different shortlist and so should not have been named to the Sandiganbayan.

The petitioners are Regional Trial Court Judges Philip Aguinaldo, Reynaldo Alhambra, Danilo Cruz, Benjamin Pozon and Salvador Timbang Jr. and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. PNA

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‘2 concert fatalities caused by drugs’

By Joel E. Zurbano

Cradle of revolutionaries. Philippine flags adorn the middle island of Aguinaldo Highway in Dasmariñas City in Cavite from where many heroes of the Philippine Revolution of 1898 came from. PNA

Bilaterals with China hit

By Florante S. Solmerin

CHINA is setting a trap against the Philippines in pushing for bilateral talks over the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea even as the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague is set to issue a ruling on China’s controversial “9-dash line” claim, according to an American expert.

Speaking in a forum at the National Defense College of the Philippines on Tuesday, Center for Strategic and International Studies senior adviser Ernest Bower said agreeing to bilateral talks with Beijing will ruin the Philippines’ international reputation.

“I think the Philippines would lose respect to its partners in Asia and certainly the United States would be,

I would say, extremely disappointed,” he said.

“On the question of the South China Sea, I think the Philippines has made a commitment to its people and to the region to follow a principled approach.

“If the Philippines pursued a bilateral negotiation with China on the South China Sea that ignored

its commitment, all the blood and the courage that has been put into the arbitral case, it would undercut that commitment to the [Association of Southeast Nations] and then the commitment to the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” Bower said.

When this happens, Bower opines it could open up some change of the status quo and the prevailing geopolitical set up in the region and possibly a realignment of alliances.

China has violated the 1992 Code of Conduct of Parties that it signed with other claimants such as the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei not to militarize the disputed sea.

Bower also encouraged the incoming Duterte administration to convince China to respect the 1992 Code of Conduct of Parties and drop its “nine-dash line” claim.

“If the Philippines find a way forward with China that includes conditions on China’s commitment to forego the nine-dash line commitment, to assert and commit to a binding, legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea, then if you have those conditions I think you should go ahead, sort things out and make things worth,” he said.

“But without those conditions, in my view, to make a bilateral agreement work cannot be effective,” Bower added.

Ernest Bower, chairman of the CSIS Southeast Asia Program, was among the reactors at a forum entitled “AsiaPacific Perspectives in Implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement: Insights on the Bilateral Security Dialogue” organized by the Albert del Rosario Institute.

TWO of the five fatalities in the Close Up concert party in Pasay City last month died due to drug and alcohol overdose, the Philippine National Police said Tuesday.

Based on the histopathology and toxicology test results, the party drug Ecstasy is among the substances found in the bodies of two fatalities—American national Eric Miller and Ken Migawa.

PNP Crime Laboratory chief deputy director Emmanuel Aranas said Miller and Migawa died of multiple organ failure caused by drug and alcohol intake.

He added the two tested positive for Ecstasy.

Ecstasy is among the illegal substances seized by the agents of the National Bureau of Investigation during separate operations in Pasay City and Parañaque City where they arrested six suspected drug peddlers.

The other two fatalities—Lance Garcia, 32, and Bianca Fontejon, 18— were earlier found to have died due to massive cardiac arrest.

The NBI said the general toxicology test on the bodies of Garcia and Fontejon involved the extraction of representative tissue sections of their internal organs, as well as body fluid, mainly blood, to determine the presence of toxic or any poisonous materials in their bodies.

The hearts of Garcia and Fontejon were found to be cooked, showing brown red and black colors. The family of another victim Ariel Leal, 22, has refused to have his body undergo autopsy.

SC junks Napoles appeal

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has dismissed another appeal of suspected pork barrel scam architect Janet Lim Napoles to annul a resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman indicting her for two counts of graft and two counts of malversation before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.

During its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC denied the petition of Napoles accusing Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales of committing grave abuse of discretion in approving the filing of another set of criminal case against her.

The high court ruled that Napoles failed to show any grave abuse of discretion committed by the antigraft body.

“The Court deferred to the

Ombudsman’s findings of probable cause in the absence of any grave abuse of discretion shown by petitioner [Napoles],” the SC through Public Information Office Chief Atty. Theodore Te said, in a media briefing.

Napoles’s appeal arose when she was indicted as one of the co-accused of Davao Del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV. In its resolution, the Ombudsman found probable cause to file graft charges against Napoles and Cagas, in connection with the alleged anomaly in the lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistance Fund from 2007 to 2009 amounting to P11 million, which was alleged channeled to National Agri-Business Corporation and Technology Resource Center.

More than an enforcer. Traffic constables of the Metro Manila Development Authority practice a jig that they want to perform during the opening of classes next week. DANNY PATA

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‘UN rapporteurs got it all wrong’

By John Paolo Bencito DAVAO CITY—Incoming Press Secretary Salvador Panelo on Tuesday assured the media that President-elect Rodrigo Duterte won’t condone any killings of journalists in the country as he lambasted the UN special rapporteurs for “standing on the wrong premise” with their claim that the president-elect was instigating violence.

“The president-elect won’t tolerate nor allow the killing of journalists.

Whether the journalist is engaged in corruption or not—he/she remains a citizen of the republic and the law will have to be applied to those who violate the law. [Duterte] will not condone any injury or killing of any journalist. he will prosecute them to the fullest under the law,” Panelo told The Standard in a phone interview on Tuesday.

“What the UN rapporteur was saying is that he [Duterte] was inciting deadly violence, but the rapporteur was making the statements based on the wrong premise. That statement’ s not only a dare, it was misplayed. It’s baseless,” Panelo said.

On Monday, two UN human rights advocates condemned Duterte for his rather “irresponsible” statements.

“A message of this nature amounts to incitement to violence and killing, in a nation already ranked as the second-deadliest country for journalists,” UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Cristof heyns said in a statement sent to The Standard.

“These comments are irresponsible in the extreme, and unbecoming of any leader, let alone someone who is

to assume the position of the leader of a country that calls itself democratic.”

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom opinion and expression, David Kaye, said, “Justifying the killings of journalists on the basis of how they conduct their professional activities can be understood as a permissive signal to potential killers that the murder of journalists is acceptable in certain circumstances and would not be punished.”

“This position is even more disturbing when one considers that Philippines is still struggling to ensure accountability to notorious cases of violence against journalists, such as the Maguindanao massacre,” the human rights expert added.

Duterte had a falling out with media during a news conference Thursday night, after the France-based Reporters Without Borders called on the local press to boycott him for saying that it was all right to kill corrupt journalists.

Although no local news organization heeded the call, Duterte angrily challenged journalists covering him to abandon their coverage and leave Davao City, saying he would course his messages through the government station PTV 4.

In demand. Buyers choose umbrellas of various sizes and designs at the Commonwealth Market.

Manny PalMero

OFW kin want body returned to sender

By Vito Barcelo The family of a deceased overseas Filipino worker received a cadaver that was repatriated from Israel, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed, but said the body was not their relative’s, and blamed the Israeli funeral service company for the mix-up.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said that Fernando Peralta was an OFW from Israel who died of heart attack last May 25.

The family of Peralta found out that the cadaver sent to them was actually not Fernando’s. his younger brother was the one who found out about the mishandling of the cadaver, saying his brother had mole in the forehead and didn’t have teeth.

In a press briefing , Jose said the embassy cannot be faulted for the mix- up because its main responsibility is to provide the necessary documents to the funeral company, which assigns it to the corresponding casket and remains.

“The embassy can only view the remains at the morgue or hospital before it is transferred to the refrigerated room of the funeral parlor where the remains are sealed in a casket,” Jose told reporters.

“The embassy does not have access to this area because the funeral parlor has the responsibility to seal it for transit to the Philippines,” he added.

Jose said the embassy learned that the Israeli funeral and repatriation service company that handled the shipping of Peralta’s

remains made a mistake in handling the documents of the deceased by inadvertently sticking them to a different casket.

“This resulted in the shipment of the body of a foreign national to the Philippines instead of that of the Filipino worker,” Jose said.

Peralta’s body is currently stored at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv pending the processing of its release in the shipment to the family in the Philippines.

“The embassy is closely coordinating the family of the deceased Filipino national to ensure the immediate repatriation of their kin’s remains,” Jose said.

The wrong cadaver, which looks like a Chinese, is set to be brought back to Israel.

Sin tax? The incoming Finance secretary Carlos Dominguez says a tax on ‘junk

food’ may prevent obesity as it discourages people from consuming these items.

Manny PalMero

PNoy veto reversal pushed

By Maricel V. Cruz The principal author of the proposed P2,000 hike for Social Security System pensioners on Tuesday expressed hope that incoming President Rodrigo Duterte will issue an executive order that will practically reverse the veto outgoing President Aquino III imposed on the proposal.

Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said he was dismayed over the failure of the house leadership to override the veto of the President to reconsider his house Bill 5842. Congress adjourned sine die on Monday.

Colmenares, who ran for Senate but lost in the May 9 elections, said his

group will also refile the bill in the next Congress with the hope that it will pass into law in a short time. he said President Duterte’s support to the measure “will hasten its congressional approval.”

Last Monday, Colmenares said that the house “could have made history last night through a legislative action that will long be remembered by the Filipino people, but we chose the darkness of oblivion instead.”

But Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said the house could not allow a vote on his motion to override President Aquino’s veto on the ground that the Senate has adjourned.

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A6 Maritime officer rapped for extortion

By Rio N. Araja A RANKING policeman is facing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged extortion.

In a 10-page complaint, Danilo Ong, a fishing boat operator in Navotas City, through lawyers Rene Saguisag and Archimedes Marquez, filed charges against Sr. Supt.

Randy Peralta of the Philippine National Police’s Regional Maritime Unit in Region 4, along with SPO2s Lauro Aala and Agapito Esguerra, and (ret.) PO3 Danilo de Belen.

Peralta was accused of grave coercion, grave threats, attempted extortion, grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees, and conduct grossly prejudicial to the interest of public service.

Fish traders have been forced to comply with the extortion demands, otherwise they would face apprehension for violation of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ Fisheries Administrative Order 246, or the nationwide ban on the use of “hulbot-hulbot,” Ong said.

At a media briefing in Quezon City, Ong said his charges would stand in court, citing he is in possession of deposit slips and remittance’s receipts of money transfer as protection money for Aala over the past 10 years or so, and several text messages from the police officers.

Last January, Peralta sent De Belen as his emissary to demand P20,000 per boat each month, or a total of P460,000 a month, from Ong to allow 23 of his fishing boat units to go out of bay within Calabarzon and fish “freely” using the “hulbot-hulbot,” or the fishing device Danish Seine, Ong claimed.

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Metro traffic changes coming—DPWH chief

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE incoming chief of the Public Works Department said “major changes” in Metro Manila’s traffic situation will happen over the next two to three years as the agency is set to ramp up infrastructure spending.

“The directive is to hit the ground running. There would be major changes over the next two to three years. You will feel it, we will have some major infrastructure over the next three years,” Mark Villar, the incoming secretary of the Public Works Department, told reporters.

Villar said the agency is prioritizing the construction of the P3.03-billion Edsa-Taft flyover, which was put on hold in 2013. The planned flyover is a 1.2 kilometers, two lanes in both directions on Edsa spanning Malibay Bridge from Makati City to F.B. Harrison Street in Pasay City.

The Public Works Department is also pursuing the construction of a bridge that would cross Pasig River to connect Bonifacio Global City in the TaguigMakati area and Ortigas Center in Pasig. The phase one will connect Sta. Monica Street in Kapitolyo, Pasig City, to Lawton Avenue, Makati, while the second phase will run from Lawton to the Bonifacio Global City viaduct, then from Shaw Boulevard to the Sta. Monica viaduct.

Other projects include the C5 Road to Julia Vargas Flyover in Pasig City; Katipunan to C5 Road Fly-

over and Miriam to Gate 3 of Ateneo de Manila University flyover.

“These are major flyovers, so that the traffic problems will be resolved,” Villar said.

Villar said he was coordinating with incoming Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade to address the traffic problem in Metro Manila.

When asked if the Duterte administration can solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila, Villar said, “It’s hard to quantify right now. We can take big steps towards solving it. I think we are planning to increase

our infrastructure spending, with that somehow we can catch up.”

Villar said the traffic problem in the country was a “function of underspending on infrastructure.”

“So, now that infrastructure spending would go up, I have a feeling that we will be able to start minimizing traffic problems,” he added.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency estimated that the daily cost of traffic in Metro Manila was P2.4 billion.

DPWH has a total budget of P363.54 billion this year, higher by 33 percent from last year’s P273.91 billion.

Self-help. Caloocan City’s local government unit and Mayor Oscar Malapitan join hands to repair desks and refurbish classrooms before classes open on Monday, June 13. ANDREW RABULAN

QC sets 5-year plan to stop HIV infection THE Quezon City government has set a target of a zero-infection on human immunodeficiency virus in the next five years.

Mayor Herbert Bautista is now in New York, the United States of America to take part in the United Nations’ High-level Meeting on Ending AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), along with other 30 city leaders worldwide.

“The program is part of a global movement to hasten the response to HIV by front-loading investments over the next five years to reach critical prevention and treatment targets,” he said.

From a meager budget of less than P5 million since 2012, the city government has increased local investments in anti-HIV programs to P24 million in 2015.

According to Bautista, the city is now a model for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ getting-to-zero cities initiative.

He said the city initiated the Metro Manila Mayors Compact to encourage the other mayors

in the metro to adopt a fast-track approach.

In February, the League of Cities of the Philippines, chaired by Bautista, adopted a resolution supporting the strategies to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 in all its member cities nationwide.

“We know political engagement, science, community involvement and wise investments can change the course of the disease. We ask other city leaders to seize the small window of opportunity and implement program which will end the AIDS epidemic. By investing wisely now, we will save lives and create healthier cities. We cannot wait and let the epidemic spiral out of control. We have a moral obligation to stop history from repeating itself,” the Quezon City mayor said.

Showing that they can walk the talk, both Bautista and UNAIDS regional support team for Asia and the Pacific director Steve Kraus have not only advocated for everyone to get tested, but have had HIV tests themselves.

Quezon City’s HIV program

is shaped by the latest epidemiological mapping identifying the communities most affected by the HIV-AIDS epidemic.

Majority of the new infections are among key populations, such as men who have sex with men, transgender women, people who inject themselves with drugs and

sex workers.

HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men increased from under 1 percent in 2007 annually to nearly 7 percent in 2013.

“The first step to stopping HIV is making sure people know their status,” Bautista said.

Rio N. Araja

Booming. Workers fasten themselves with the use of

harness on steel scaffolding at a construction site in Pasay City on Tuesday, June 7. The construction sector is booming fueled by the recent election spending. DANNY PATA

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Zambo enforces minors’ curfew

By A. Perez Rimando

Boot camp. Members of the local media in Eastern Visayas undergo training with 801st Brigade Philippine Army in Barangay Fatima, Hinabangan, Samar. MEL CASPE

Authorities rescue 4 of 6 abducted MSU students

By Lance Baconguis

ILIGAN CITY—A composite team of police from Iligan City, Lanao del Norte and army soldiers have rescued four of the six Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology on Monday near the boundaries of Bacolod and Munai towns in Lanao del Norte.

The students were abducted Saturday night in Linamon town, Lanao del Norte.

Rescued were Juhari Gubat, Kevin Limpin, Hannah Yurong and Eloisa Lacson. Meanwhile, Berzon Rey Paeste from Zambo-

anga del Sur and Cid Rick Jamias from Tacurong City remain with their captors.

Iligan City Police Director Senior Supt. Edgar Daniel said the students were on board their vehicle on their way to Pagadian

City, some five hours away, when they were blocked by armed men along the national highway.

The students were on their way to bring two of their schoolmates home to Maranding, in Lala town, and to Pagadian City. “They were flagged down by the suspects,” Daniel said.

The students were taken forcibly by the armed men, blindfolded and brought to an unknown, uphill and muddy area where they were separately interviewed about their parents’ jobs.

MSU-IIT-OPI, upon learning of the alleged disappearance and pos-

sible abduction of the group, the MSU-IIT-OPI alerted the MSU-IIT Security Chief Eduardito “Ditto” Maruhom and Atty. Alex Cabornay, head agent of the National Bureau of Investigation in Iligan City.

“In turn, Maruhom alerted the AFP 2nd Mechanized Brigade Intelligence Group, the PNP and the NBI Iligan office about the alleged disappearance of the students,” MSU-IITOPI said.

Authorities said as of this writing that military intelligence indicated that the abducted students were brought to Munai, Lanao del Norte.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga Sibugay— The City Council has approved an ordinance imposing a curfew for local minors from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. as well as disallowing them from patronizing internet cafes during the same period.

Authored by Councilor Jerry Perez, chair of the committee on peace and order, the ordinance seeks to protect youngsters most of who “just gallivant at night on major street corners.”

Perez’s move was endorsed by Councilor Jimmy Villaflores, incumbent Sta. Catalina village chief, who suggested that the curfew should expand to all the city’s 98 barangays, claiming that many rural youngsters are now engaged in nefarious activities, including use of prohibited drugs, “as their parents can hardly discipline them.”

Perez, president of the city’s Association of Barangay Councils, said he included in his resolution the operations of local internet cafes where many elementary, secondary and tertiary school students and outof-school youth stay after school or even during class hours.

He stressed that with the curfew hours for minors and entertainment outfits, the latter’s owners will have no more reason to open their establishments.

E. Visayas officials face charges before environmental ombudsman TACLOBAN CITY—Local government unit officials in Eastern Visayas are facing criminal and administrative charges at the Office of the Environmental Ombudsman for operating open dumps.

Those involved are mayors, vice mayors, town councilors and environment officers of Catarman, Northern Samar; Bato, Leyte; and Hindang, Leyte.

Environmental Management Bureau Regional Director Letecia Maceda said the towns were among those areas found to have been insistently operating open dumps and failed to comply with the solid waste management standards under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or Republic Act No. 9003.

Maceda stressed that these were not yet full-blown administrative and criminal cases, but rather complaints for fact-finding investigations and the Ombudsman will gather evidence to determine if conduct of full investigation is needed.

“We need to take action against these open landfills that cause environmental disasters,” Maceda said.

Erring local government officials said it is hard to comply with the law due to lack of funds, high cost of land acquisitions and the huge of volume of garbage.

Maceda clarified that filing of cases against local officials is not a “scare tactic.”

“We want to instill in

them the need for action,” she added.

Officials will be given the opportunity to remedy the situation by submitting the corrective action plans within six months and to implement the plans afterward.

“If there’s no action yet and no implementation of corrective action plan or there’s only partial compliance, a full-blown administrative case or even criminal case will be filed against them,” Maceda said.

The EMB has earlier endorsed six other LGUs in the region to the National Solid Waste Management Commission for evaluation and filing complaints at the Environment Ombudsman for violation of the waste management law. PNA

Traditional way. Workers toil along the banks of Chico river in Alab, Mt. Province extracting gold through the ‘barkis’ sluicing method. DAVID CHAN

w E D n E s D AY: j u n E 8 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

duterte and press oppression

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Helping farmers for a cHange THE first step in solving a problem is to realize there is one.

This is why it is refreshing to hear that the incoming Agriculture secretary, former North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Piñol, is traveling across the country, and consulting with farmers and fishermen, about what is holding them back.

This is in sharp contrast to what has gone on in the last six years, where top Agriculture officials of the Aquino administration led by Secretary Proceso Alcala ignored reality and talked a good game—promising rice self-sufficiency, no less—then failing miserably to deliver on their promises.

Is it any wonder that while the economy as a whole—buoyed by election year spending—grew 6.9 percent in the first quarter of 2016, agriculture production actually fell by 4.4 percent? This same pattern was seen in whole of 2015, when gross domestic product (GDP) rose 5.8 percent, but agriculture rose by only 0.2 percent.

The significance of this was not lost on outgoing Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who said the agricultural sector, which accounts for three out of every 10 jobs, continues to be the biggest road block to the goal of attaining a higher and more inclusive growth.

“There is an urgent need to rethink the development strategy for this sector, especially with the impact of El Niño and natural disasters that hound the country yearly,” Balisacan said—an indictment as good as any of the Aquino administration’s utter failure in six years to help farmers and fishermen make a decent living.

One “strategy” from the Aquino administration we trust that the incoming government will abandon is paying no heed to the farmers themselves. This practice was to have tragic results in the Kidapawan massacre in April, where police opened fire on hungry farmers who were protesting the lack of government aid in the midst of a six-month drought brought on by the El Niño. Two of the farmers were killed.

Already, we understand, the incoming Agriculture secretary is getting an earful—including reports of rampant corruption within the Agriculture Department, where officials were getting a $20 rebate on every metric ton of rice imported from countries such as Vietnam.

This $20 “incentive” for importing rice would certainly explain why Agriculture Department officials were in no hurry to help local farmers improve their production—when they could earn so much on the side by encouraging imports.

Piñol, who is also a farmer, notes that farmers and fishermen are being cheated by traders and are suffering from government neglect.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte won on the promise that change is coming. We can think of no better place for this to start than in the Agriculture Department.

WHo’s afraid of BongBong?

LOwDOwN jOjO A. RObLEs

EvEn if nothing comes of it, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has an obligation to pursue his electoral protest against vice President-elect Leni Robredo.

And Marcos’ obligation is to all of the millions who voted for him and who cannot accept the official result of one of the most hotly contested elections

this country has ever seen.

After all, Robredo and her followers have always demanded that Marcos prove his allegations of electoral fraud allegedly perpetrated by the Commission on Elections and its venezuela-based election systems provider, Smartmatic. Filing a postproclamation protest, which Marcos promised to do by the end of this month, is the first step towards doing exactly that.

And so I must disagree with election lawyer Romulo

“Mac” Macalintal, Robredo’s counsel, when he said that Marcos should reconsider his plan to file a protest simply because it is too expensive and may be nullified if Marcos runs for some office or another in the 2019 midterm election.

The more prudent statement from Robredo and her camp, if they are truly convinced of her victory, is to make the proper—and properly hypocritical—noises about letting Marcos exercise his right to a protest.

It makes no sense for

A9

If the protest will lead to a rethinking of how the past three automated elections were run, that will already be a victory.

Macalintal to advise Marcos on what to do, just as it has always bothered Robredo’s critics that she had herself photographed while supposedly waiting for a bus in Makati where no bus ever stops. As Marcos lawyer George Garcia said, with no small amount of sarcasm: “Why is he so concerned about us, when he’s not doing the filing?”

For me, regardless of how Marcos’ protest is decided by the appropriate bodies in the proper forums, if it will lead to a rethinking of how the past three automated elections have been run by

the Comelec-Smartmatic combine, that would already be a victory. And if Robredo’s win is overturned, that would just be a bonus.

For Robredo, an exoneration of Comelec-Smartmatic will remove the huge cloud of doubt that remains over her head to this day, the one that put an asterisk beside her still-unexplained victory, achieved simply because she was the candidate of the only group well-funded enough to pull off

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-

cheating at such a massive scale: the Aquino administration.

Let Bongbong pursue his protest.

If Leni really won, she will have nothing to fear. *** Change may really be coming.

And according to PLDT head honcho Manny Pangilinan, it’s already arrived in the Ecoland area of Davao City, where subscribers of Smart are now experiencing unheard-of 101 mbps mobile

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

internet download speeds.

That’s not a misprint. In my news feed yesterday, I saw the tweet from MvP announcing the deployment of the 700 mhz broadband spectrum, the “golden band” that was the subject of much corporate hand-wringing in the telco industry before diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. decided to sell it in equal portions to established players PLDT/Smart and Globe Telecom.

Continued on A11

Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Ron Ryan S. Buguis

OF ALL of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet appointments, none has been as controversial as that of lawyer Salvador S. Panelo.

The objections to the nattily dressed and dapper presidential spokesman are anchored on three grounds. One, he has been a lawyer of the Ampatuan family, which is accused for the massacre of 58 victims, 34 of them journalists. Two, he can often be abrasive to people who do not share his views. He has the habit of cutting them off in the middle of a conversation. Three, and this can really be petty, his fashion taste straddles the extravagant and the flamboyant.

You should neither be envious of nor angry at Panelo. Commiserate with him.

In recent weeks, Duterte has displayed incredible lack of manners (he said he learned Good Manners and Right Conduct as early as Grade 4) and open hostility towards what he calls “corrupt” journalists and those on the take. Sal’s could be the most difficult job in the cabinet.

Duterte has shown sensitivity to criticism and media bashing, remarkable for a man who has been in politics for more than 22 years and who was a prosecutor for almost 10 years.

On May 31, he wolf-whistled at a comely lady journalist (who is pregnant). It was obviously sexual harassment but Duterte justified it as freedom of speech even though a Davao City ordinance penalizes it as a sexual offense. In the same press conference, the incoming president appeared to justify the killing of journalists if they are “rotten sons of bitches.” In succeeding press conferences, Duterte challenged the press to boycott his press conferences. He also promised not to grant media interviews during his six years in office.

The most powerful executive of the land thus has declared war on media. now, wars by the powerful are good fodder for an adversarial press. Media will enjoy it to the hilt.

Caught in the crossfire is Sal Panelo. I don’t know how long he can survive.

Meanwhile, the Ampatuan massacre of nov. 23, 2009 is considered the single biggest and deadliest attack on journalists in the world.

The issue about Panelo is not at all about competence. He is literate, articulate, versatile, a part-time columnist and broadcaster, and a prominent lawyer. He is such a good lawyer he is in demand by those

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Finance Officer

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

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: j u n E 8 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

duterte and press oppression

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Helping farmers for a cHange THE first step in solving a problem is to realize there is one.

This is why it is refreshing to hear that the incoming Agriculture secretary, former North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Piñol, is traveling across the country, and consulting with farmers and fishermen, about what is holding them back.

This is in sharp contrast to what has gone on in the last six years, where top Agriculture officials of the Aquino administration led by Secretary Proceso Alcala ignored reality and talked a good game—promising rice self-sufficiency, no less—then failing miserably to deliver on their promises.

Is it any wonder that while the economy as a whole—buoyed by election year spending—grew 6.9 percent in the first quarter of 2016, agriculture production actually fell by 4.4 percent? This same pattern was seen in whole of 2015, when gross domestic product (GDP) rose 5.8 percent, but agriculture rose by only 0.2 percent.

The significance of this was not lost on outgoing Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who said the agricultural sector, which accounts for three out of every 10 jobs, continues to be the biggest road block to the goal of attaining a higher and more inclusive growth.

“There is an urgent need to rethink the development strategy for this sector, especially with the impact of El Niño and natural disasters that hound the country yearly,” Balisacan said—an indictment as good as any of the Aquino administration’s utter failure in six years to help farmers and fishermen make a decent living.

One “strategy” from the Aquino administration we trust that the incoming government will abandon is paying no heed to the farmers themselves. This practice was to have tragic results in the Kidapawan massacre in April, where police opened fire on hungry farmers who were protesting the lack of government aid in the midst of a six-month drought brought on by the El Niño. Two of the farmers were killed.

Already, we understand, the incoming Agriculture secretary is getting an earful—including reports of rampant corruption within the Agriculture Department, where officials were getting a $20 rebate on every metric ton of rice imported from countries such as Vietnam.

This $20 “incentive” for importing rice would certainly explain why Agriculture Department officials were in no hurry to help local farmers improve their production—when they could earn so much on the side by encouraging imports.

Piñol, who is also a farmer, notes that farmers and fishermen are being cheated by traders and are suffering from government neglect.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte won on the promise that change is coming. We can think of no better place for this to start than in the Agriculture Department.

WHo’s afraid of BongBong?

LOwDOwN jOjO A. RObLEs

EvEn if nothing comes of it, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has an obligation to pursue his electoral protest against vice President-elect Leni Robredo.

And Marcos’ obligation is to all of the millions who voted for him and who cannot accept the official result of one of the most hotly contested elections

this country has ever seen.

After all, Robredo and her followers have always demanded that Marcos prove his allegations of electoral fraud allegedly perpetrated by the Commission on Elections and its venezuela-based election systems provider, Smartmatic. Filing a postproclamation protest, which Marcos promised to do by the end of this month, is the first step towards doing exactly that.

And so I must disagree with election lawyer Romulo

“Mac” Macalintal, Robredo’s counsel, when he said that Marcos should reconsider his plan to file a protest simply because it is too expensive and may be nullified if Marcos runs for some office or another in the 2019 midterm election.

The more prudent statement from Robredo and her camp, if they are truly convinced of her victory, is to make the proper—and properly hypocritical—noises about letting Marcos exercise his right to a protest.

It makes no sense for

A9

If the protest will lead to a rethinking of how the past three automated elections were run, that will already be a victory.

Macalintal to advise Marcos on what to do, just as it has always bothered Robredo’s critics that she had herself photographed while supposedly waiting for a bus in Makati where no bus ever stops. As Marcos lawyer George Garcia said, with no small amount of sarcasm: “Why is he so concerned about us, when he’s not doing the filing?”

For me, regardless of how Marcos’ protest is decided by the appropriate bodies in the proper forums, if it will lead to a rethinking of how the past three automated elections have been run by

the Comelec-Smartmatic combine, that would already be a victory. And if Robredo’s win is overturned, that would just be a bonus.

For Robredo, an exoneration of Comelec-Smartmatic will remove the huge cloud of doubt that remains over her head to this day, the one that put an asterisk beside her still-unexplained victory, achieved simply because she was the candidate of the only group well-funded enough to pull off

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-

cheating at such a massive scale: the Aquino administration.

Let Bongbong pursue his protest.

If Leni really won, she will have nothing to fear. *** Change may really be coming.

And according to PLDT head honcho Manny Pangilinan, it’s already arrived in the Ecoland area of Davao City, where subscribers of Smart are now experiencing unheard-of 101 mbps mobile

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

internet download speeds.

That’s not a misprint. In my news feed yesterday, I saw the tweet from MvP announcing the deployment of the 700 mhz broadband spectrum, the “golden band” that was the subject of much corporate hand-wringing in the telco industry before diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. decided to sell it in equal portions to established players PLDT/Smart and Globe Telecom.

Continued on A11

Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Ron Ryan S. Buguis

OF ALL of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet appointments, none has been as controversial as that of lawyer Salvador S. Panelo.

The objections to the nattily dressed and dapper presidential spokesman are anchored on three grounds. One, he has been a lawyer of the Ampatuan family, which is accused for the massacre of 58 victims, 34 of them journalists. Two, he can often be abrasive to people who do not share his views. He has the habit of cutting them off in the middle of a conversation. Three, and this can really be petty, his fashion taste straddles the extravagant and the flamboyant.

You should neither be envious of nor angry at Panelo. Commiserate with him.

In recent weeks, Duterte has displayed incredible lack of manners (he said he learned Good Manners and Right Conduct as early as Grade 4) and open hostility towards what he calls “corrupt” journalists and those on the take. Sal’s could be the most difficult job in the cabinet.

Duterte has shown sensitivity to criticism and media bashing, remarkable for a man who has been in politics for more than 22 years and who was a prosecutor for almost 10 years.

On May 31, he wolf-whistled at a comely lady journalist (who is pregnant). It was obviously sexual harassment but Duterte justified it as freedom of speech even though a Davao City ordinance penalizes it as a sexual offense. In the same press conference, the incoming president appeared to justify the killing of journalists if they are “rotten sons of bitches.” In succeeding press conferences, Duterte challenged the press to boycott his press conferences. He also promised not to grant media interviews during his six years in office.

The most powerful executive of the land thus has declared war on media. now, wars by the powerful are good fodder for an adversarial press. Media will enjoy it to the hilt.

Caught in the crossfire is Sal Panelo. I don’t know how long he can survive.

Meanwhile, the Ampatuan massacre of nov. 23, 2009 is considered the single biggest and deadliest attack on journalists in the world.

The issue about Panelo is not at all about competence. He is literate, articulate, versatile, a part-time columnist and broadcaster, and a prominent lawyer. He is such a good lawyer he is in demand by those

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Finance Officer

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

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: j u n e 8 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

IsolatIng hImself from the people I stIll cannot understand what President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte intends to do, and in what direction he is heading.

“No more media interviews until the end of my term,” he said. santa Banana, that would mean that the nation would just rely on Malacañang’s press releases and statements. they will come from the Communications Group headed by former broadcaster Martin Andanar, the new member of the Palace communications group.

Andanar says that statements coming from the incoming President will just be relayed to the people through PtV, the government channel, and by radio through the Palace radio network. Andanar also said that Malacañang will use its own tabloid newspaper to issue the messages of Du30 to the people.

I don’t know if Du30 realizes it, but using the government and other media outlets owned

by Malacañang is the worst thing any president can do. the coverage of PtV, the government television network, is limited unlike the two national television networks with nationwide coverage-GMA 7 and ABs-CBN. there are also tV5 and CNN Philippines.

My gulay, by boycotting media, Du30 can only isolate himself from the very people who voted for him. these are the people who want real change.

Media, which include print, radio and television, will be left speculating on what Du30 is saying and doing.

His incessant bashing of the Catholic Church and the war he has declared with media indicate—and I hope I am wrong —the road Du30 is headed for.

It’s the road to an authoritarian state where the Chief Executive can do whatever he wants to do.

Du30 may not realize it, but the Catholic Church and media can be his friends.

Along with the change Du30 vowed he would bring to the nation, he himself should change for the better.

We live in a democracy where assent and dissent are essential. Without these, there can only be tyranny. *** there are two controversies which Du30 promised to resolve during his term. People want to see how he would act.

there is the burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Edralin Marcos at the libingan ng mga Bayani. there’s no doubt that Marcos was president, commander-in-chief, secretary of national defense and a war veteran in Bataan and a guerilla in the North. the law is clear that a soldier merits burial at the libingan. the only objection to the burial at libingan comes from the victims of Martial law. But should Du30 listen to them if he is really determined to heal and unite the country?

As Du30 himself had stated, his late father, a former Davao governor, was a follower of Marcos. And that’s why he preferred Bongbong Marcos to be his running mate until senator Alan Peter Cayetano started clinging to him like a shadow. In fact, the politically influential Iglesia Ni Cristo had a Duterte-Bongbong tandem to be voted on by its members.

Duterte does not realize that the Church and the media can help him communicate his message to the millions who voted for him.

It’s for this reason that Du30 should not hesitate to have the remains of the late strongman buried at the libingan. the fact is that Marcos was a soldier. santa Banana, if a dog, which served soldiers, could be buried at the libingan, why can’t Marcos? *** Another controversial case that has defied logic is the continued detention of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. she is on hospital arrest for the P336-million transfer of Philippine Charity sweepstakes Office intelligence funds. the reason for this tragedy of the former president is Bs Aquino himself, who was so eager to make Mrs. Arroyo the poster child of his supposed Daang Matuwid. Up to this day, I’m still at a loss as to why Bs Aquino is so vindictive to Gloria when she did not do him any wrong.

It was just to show the world

to mIne or not to mIne tO MINE or not to mine, that is the question. some noisy “environmentalists” are pushing the envelope, so to speak, with the incoming president’s statements against how some miners have despoiled the soil of Mindanao. they now push for a total stop to all mining activities. legitimate investors in the mining industry are expectedly worried about the situation. Is the new president going to decree finis to their multi-billion dollar investments? It isn’t easy, after all, to go into the mining business. You spend a lot trying to figure out whether your mine has the right amount of mineral deposits, whether it would be cost-efficient to even mine the area at all. Not that you did not spend much to get the concession from the DENR to begin with. that’s what economists call “sunk costs,” to make a play of words.

“Wala ka pang nahuhukay, nakalubog ka na,” as the tagalogs would say. smart DENR and mining officials of course have staked their claims on several mine sites which they have themselves identified as “viable,” and either got some “small miners” with foreign financiers to “buy” these claims outright (which is probably why President-elect Rodrigo Duterte should add the natural resources department to his potential “to-the-laundry-list” of the most corrupt agencies he will have to clean up), or worse, claimed the sites themselves, using dummy companies and groups. legitimate mining companies with legitimate foreign financial partners who invest “long-term” money on long ges-

tating projects and that comply with environmental standards that Duterte himself once described as “Australian standard” are thus hemmed in from both sides: One, the threat of misplaced environmental purists who want All mining stopped, and two, the destructive mining practices of “small” miners who invest “short-term” in cahoots with corrupt government agencies, both national and local (courtesy of the small Mining Act) who because of their “dig and leave” (in forest malpractice, these are akin to slash and burn “subsistence” loggers, a.k.a kaingineros) have given the mining industry a bad name. And shallow media practitioners grist for their “crusading” environmental posturing.

Okay, let’s enter the realm of theological divination: Why did the supreme Being create minerals to begin with, and why did He emplace these beneath the earth’s crust? Why did the Old testament talk of gold, and silver, of how both the “faithful” and the heathen adorn their altars with precious metals, all “mined” from the bowels of the earth that God created for man? surely, not because the Divinity disliked mining per se? there really are times when some priests can drive government people nuts. they preach against artificially controlling the growth of people, but in the same breath, they preach against almost anything that will create jobs for the miserable people brought to existence by the mul-

that Bs Aquino could send his former professor to jail.

And, my gulay, how could Gloria be guilty of plunder when she did not profit from what she did?

Worse, the First Division denied her bail when all the rest of her coaccused had been allowed it. This is clearly persecution.

Du30 had earlier wanted to pardon GMA. He is a lawyer and a former prosecutor. He believes that the case against Mrs. Arroyo is weak. But she has refused to be pardoned because that would mean acknowledging her guilt.

In fact, the supreme Court has already set an agenda for oral arguments next tuesday for Gloria’s petition for bail and demurer of evidence or dismissal of her plunder case. the dismissal of the plunder case against Gloria can be done

even before Du30 take his oath of office. the burial of the remains of Marcos may take a little longer, but it will come. *** the 365 Club which now meets at the Holiday Inn suites every saturday had special guests —outgoing Vice President Jojo Binay, senator Nancy Binay, and incoming Makati Mayor Abigail Binay—last saturday.

On that occasion, the Binays became full-fledged members of the 365 Club. since the 365 Club is Makati-based, every Makati mayor automatically becomes an honorary member. the 365 Club is unique, without a charter, roster of officers, list of members and set of rules. the only rule is that anybody who joins the Club should pay for what he orders, unless some benefactor offers to pay. Any-

So I See LIto banayo

tiplication of miserable genes. straddling the boundary of the two surigaos, there is what they call “Red Mountain.” It is practically a bald mountain because the soil is lateritic, which leaves it rust-red in color, where very few plants and trees survive. When it rains heavily, you see the adjacent sea which is part of the mighty Pacific turn red. Beneath these mountains and the areas surrounding it are nickel, chromite, and low-grade iron deposits. Nobody “farms” these areas, because plants do not grow well, if at all. so what economic activity will bring livelihood and jobs to the inhabitants other than mining? tourism? Who would swim in reddish sea?

Now, admittedly, mining has its impact on the environment, even of surrounding areas. so which miners should government allow—the responsibly big and few who protect the surrounding sea from leach and tailings, or the irresponsible many who claim to be “small,” who just dig and leave? the forests of Mindanao were once lush and verdant, until the colonialists began to cut for timber that they used for their construction needs. With “independence” came the local loggers, very few of whom were responsible enough to replant, but many of whom, especially the local politicians favored by the national politicians, just cut and cut, sold and sold to Japanese and other foreign buyers, and left the lumad inhabiting these mountains poor and destitute, fodder for their vote-buying spree every election season.

While they parlay their ill-forested gains into construction Continued on A11

body who wants to partake of economic and political discussions is welcomed. We used to meet everyday, including sundays. that’s why it was called 365 Club until lately—when members started taking advantage of saturday breakfast. *** the incoming President vowed he will metamorphosed like a butterfly once he takes his oath of office as the Chief Executive. Will he really?

It must be recalled that Du30 has been what he is as Davao mayor for decades. He has gotten away with his rudeness, vulgarity, foul language and jokes about the opposite sex.

But he’s an old man. At 71, it won’t be easy for him to change. still, I like him because he is giving me so much to write about.

w e d n e s d AY: j u n e 8 , 2 0 1 6

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Duterte... From A9 who run afoul of the law and those who are victims of injustice, oppression and violation of human rights. It is in serving the first group of litigants–the transgressors of the law–that has raised alarums about him as the president’s spokesman, alter ego and troubleshooter.

Panelo’s coterie of clients include the murderous Ampatuan family, the rapist Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez, the actress Nida Blanca murderer Philip Madel, murder suspect Masbate Mayor Moises Espinosa, the fabulous Imelda Marcos, the equally fabulous broadcaster Korina Sanchez, the rebellious Nur Misuari, the “moderate your greed” Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos, among lascivious and drug-using actors, and politicians who either have won or lost an election.

The activist National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is dismayed with Panelo as presidential spokesperson. “This is not right,” NUJP said in a statement, citing Sal’s engagement with the Ampatuans.

For its part, the National Press Club of the Philippines through its president, Paul Gutierrez, asked Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider Panelo’s appointment.

“Definitely, members of the press would find it hard to interact, and work with, a press secretary whose main cli-

ent are the suspects in the wholesale murder of the members of the press that has outraged the entire world,” Gutierrez said. The NPC has launched a signature campaign to stop Panelo’s appointment.

To his credit, Panelo resigned from being the counsel of Andal Ampatuan Jr., the principal accused, in late November 2015 when Duterte’s presidential ambitions were still a matter of conjecture. Panelo was hired, he said for a minimal fee, in December 2013, after the previous lawyers, after collecting a handsome fee, resigned from the case.

Duterte has strongly defended his appointees. His appointees, he said, are “valedictorians,” “experts in their fields,” and “are not corrupt.”

Panelo has been a long-time friend of Duterte’s. “I met him when he was a prosecutor in Davao and I was representing Unilab,” Sal explains. The two easily hit it off. They are, after all, brothers in the profession and as lawyers, live by the dictum—decide cases on the basis of evidence.

Also, ideologically, Panelo and Duterte are certifiable leftists. Duterte went to Manila’s Lyceum of the Philippines to imbibe the leftist and socialist doctrine. As a young man, Duterte was an activist. In fact, he joined the Kabataang Makabayan, the youth arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines. But the president-elect clarifies

To mine... From A10

Who’s... From A9

companies that earn big profits from (again) crooked government deals.

Rent-seeking then; rent-seeking activities still, all at the expense of the republic and the helpless citizens these political overlords call their constituents. These are the “scum” Rodrigo Duterte must seek out and obliterate.

So should it be in mining. How do we create jobs in places where huge mineral deposits lie beneath the earth if we totally disallow mining, refusing to make use of God’s natural gifts for the benefit of His beloved creatures, using capital and risk-taking to optimum economic benefit? Did not the Roman Catholic priests tell the poor to follow the Biblical exhortation to “go forth and multiply” even beyond their capabilities to feed and clothe their multiplied progeny? So what do we want the children of the destitute to do, just burden the government who must perforce spend for their education, only to leave the country to their parents in search of survival in foreign lands? How very irresponsible, n’est-ce pas?

To mine or not to mine?

The logical answer should be to mine, but responsibly. Apply strict standards, ensure best practices. And jail the irresponsible, along with those who gave out those “small” mining permits among local dynasts and their “national” patrons.

On a systemic front, maybe the new government would do well to carve out the mandate of environmental protection from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Why should the agency in charge of “responsible” natural resource development and exploration be the same agency to “protect” Mother Nature?

Create an Environmental Protection Authority (or whatever Agency) and place it under iron-fisted Rodrigo Duterte’s direct charge in the Office of the President.

Meanwhile, let’s not go overboard and say Duterte should stop all mining activities. The new president knows what he will do, even if sometimes he has to say “stop” to instill fear of authority in the hearts of those who have despoiled our environment.

It’s no accident that the band was first used in Davao City, whose most prominent resident has just been elected president.

According to incoming Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez, this was just what Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte wanted from the telcos— faster internet speed for the long-suffering Filipino customer.

Dominguez told media recently that the National Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission has acted quickly on the campaign promise of Duterte for better telecommunications services. “This is [Duterte’s] idea, better service, less dropped calls, faster internet,” Dominguez said.

Duterte, according to Dominguez, met with representatives of Smart and Globe soon after the May 9 elections to tell them to improve their service or suffer the consequences.

#failocracy

that he is not a communist. He is a leftist and a socialist.

For his part, Panelo was also an activist. He learned his activism at the state University of the Philippines. For a number of years, he spent his youth in the mountains, as a New People’s Army guerrilla in Bicol, his home region.

Both men are self-made. Duterte is the son of a Davao lawyer and a school teacher. He forced himself to finish college and law despite repeatedly being ousted from schools. Both his parents were lower middle class professionals.

As activists, rebels and as lawyers, there is one thing Duterte and Panelo hate most—oppression. “We don’t want to be oppressed,” says Panelo.

“Oppression is when the rights of people are violated or assaulted. Every human being has rights. When you assault that right, you are being oppressive,” explains the lawyer in Sal. That does mean the two will stop oppressing the press sometime soon?

Says Panelo: “The President’s style is that he has one-liners. So my job is to expound on his one-liners, explain the context by which it is said or delivered. Since I have known him for several decades, I know how his mind works. He has told me, ‘you can read my mind.’” biznewsasia@gmail.com

This included his public doesn’t necessarily come threat to open up the higher cost—or so the industry to new, foreign telcos promise. Because players if the telco giants the telcos only need to do not shape up. purchase radio equipment “They explained to us and install these on the difficulties that they existing cell sites to use were having, but also the 700 mhz frequency, they explained to us the there will only be minimal plans for their expansion,” capital expense on the Dominguez said. “We part of Smart and Globe; committed to support their that means consumers improvement in service as will start enjoying faster best we can.” speeds not only in a Then San Miguel shorter time but also at a decided to give up the lower cost.

700 mhz frequency for This is the sort of P70 billion, in a “joint- change that we need, use” deal that included really. And now that we provisions, stipulated by know it can be done, the NTC, to immediately let’s see if the telcos improve mobile internet will deliver completely speed within the year and on their part of the to provide faster service to bargain.

90 percent of the country within three years. The stage was set, finally, to BACK bring this country of CHANNEL avid internet users into ALEJANDRO the 21st century, speedDEL ROSARIO wise.

The neat thing, Ambassador Del Rosario’s according to reports, column will resume on Friday. is that with great speed

chong ardivilla

WE DN E S DAY : J UN E 8 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Basketball body focuses on 3-on-3 THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas highlights its focus on the grassroots this week when it holds the National Pambansang Tatluhan finals on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

A total of 32 teams, 16 in the boys’ division and another 16 in the distaff side, are seeing action in the whole-day event featuring players aged 16-and-under coming from all over the country.

Naturalized player Andray

Blatche will be making a special appearance in the short opening ceremony at 11 a.m., although games are to be played as early as 7 a.m.

“Andray (Blatche) will make a special appearance. He contacted me to have an emersion program with the Filipino youth,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate on Tuesday.

A large number of 584 teams

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 226, QUEZON CITY

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.

IN THE MATTER OF CANCELLATION OF LEGITIMATION IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF JAMINA ROJOTTE as REPRESENTED BY HER FATHER JULIUS R. VELUZ Petitioner, -versusNo. R- Q ZN-15 - 07289 - SP RODELIA S. ROJOTTE, THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, and all interested persons, Respondents. x-------------------------------------------------------x IN THE MATTER OF CANCELLATION OF LEGITIMATION IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF JANELA ROJOTTE as REPRESENTED BY HER FATHER, JULIUS R. VELUZ Petitioner, -versusNo. R- Q ZN-15 - 07290 - SP

saw action in the qualifiers, according to Barrios, who himself was surprised the competition was able to draw 16 squads in the girls’ division.

“It’s a pleasant surprise na naka-16 na finalists kami sa girls’ (division). Maraming sumali.

Akala namin walo lang ang papasok,” he said in the same forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

championships.

The SBP executive said the country had to pass the hosting chore of the world meet this year owing to the Olympic qualifier, while it gave way to Qatar to stage the tournament in 2017.

“It’s a prestigious hosting and it was given to us,” said Barrios, the former PBA commissioner. “Sixteen teams will be participating, and these are all national teams not club teams.”

of Live Birth. However, records at the National Statistics Office revealed that Rodelia S. Rojotte, mother of the petitioners has a previous valid marriage to a certain Narlito Berroya thus making the marriage of Rodelia S. Rojette and Julius Veluz void ab initio. To rectify the error concerning the status of as legitimated child, petitioners filed these petitions in order to cancel the annotation of legitimation and to correct their birth records.

Petitioners pray that after due notice, publication and hearing judgment be rendered ordering the Office of the Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the Civil Registrar General, the National Statistics Office to Cancel the Legitimation of petitioners Jamina Rojotte with Legitimation No. 2004-173 under Registry Number 2003-20474 and Janela Rojotte with Legitimation No. 2004-245 under Registry Number 2003-20474 annotated respectively in their Certificates of Live Birth.

Furthermore, petitioners pray for such other reliefs as my be just and equitable under the premises.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance the same is given due course and is hereby set for hearing for the presentation of the jurisdictional requirements on June 24, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. sharp, at the Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon City, at which date, time and place, any interested person may appear and show cause if any, why the petition should not be granted.

RODELIA S. ROJOTTE, THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, and all interested persons, Respondents. x------------------------------------------------------x

Let a copy of this Order be published at petitioner’s expense in The Standard, a newspaper of general circulation in Metro Manila and Quezon City selected by raffle pursuant to PD No. 1079, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

ORDER

Notify the Solicitor General, the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Civil Registrar General, NSO and the City Prosecutor, Quezon City, who may, if they so desire, file within fifteen (15) days from the receipt hereof from the last date of publication their opposition thereto. Likewise, notify petitioner’s biological mother, Rodelia S. Rojotte.

These are consolidated verified petitions for the cancellation of legitimation annotated in the Certificates of Live Birth of Jamina Rojotte and Janela Rojotte both minor, filed by their father, Julius R. Veluz, thru counsel. The petitions alleges that the minors Jamina Rojotte was born on January 19, 1999 while Janela Rojotte was born on May 30, 2003 both at Our Lady of Biglang-Awa Medical Maternity and Children’s Clinic in Novaliches, Quezon City to Julius Ricaplaza Veluz and Rodelia Salita Rojotte who were not yet married at that time. On July 12, 2003, petitioner’s parents got married and they caused the legitimation of both petitioner and this was annotated in their Certificate

The event comes almost a month before the country hosts the Manila leg of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Barrios said the 3x3 tournament is one of the programs the SBP is trying to focus its attention to, along with grassroots development and women’s basketball.

The tournament is likewise a prelude to the country’s hosting of the 2018 FIBA 3x3 world

SO ORDERED. April 18, 2016, Quezon City, Philipines.

(Sgd.) MANUEL B. STA. CRUZ, JR. Presiding Judge (TS - June 1, 8 & 15, 2016)

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 2 c o l s . x 10 c m s .

Philippine muay thai team members, who won in the recent 17th Muay Thai World Championship in Joukoping, Sweden, namely (from right) Jessa Rivera, Rudzma Abubakar, Ghen-Yhan Berdon and their coach Jay Harold Gregorio display their medals during Tuesday’s PSA Forum. EY ACASIO

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2016 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contracts: Ref. No.

Projects

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration (c.d.)

2016 -06175

Land Development of Alicia Resettlement Project Phase 2, Brgy. Paddad, Alicia Isabela

8,479,843.08 NG Subsidy

180

1,299,997.82 Corporate Receipts

120

2016 Renovation of NHA -06-176 Region 2 Staff House, Sunshine Valley Homes, Pengue Ruyu, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Required PCAB License

Work Description

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Roads

Land Development Works and Roadworks

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Building Construction

Construction/ Renovation of Staff House/ Office

Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625 Email addressvmc_bac@yahoo.com INVITATION TO BID FOR THE NEGOTIATED PROCUREMENT UNDER TWOFAILED BIDDING FOR THE PROPOSED FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 1.

In view of the two (2) failed public biddings, the Valenzuela Medical Center (VMC) Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites interested bidders to participate in the negotiation for the Medical Equipment with an Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) of Nine Million Two Hundred Fifty Six Thousand Pesos Only (P9,256,000.00) in accordance with Section 53.1 of Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited projects. Completion of the works is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed a single contract similar to the project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

For more details on this project please refer to attached Schedule of Requirements and Technical Specifications.

Item No.

Unit

ITEM DESCRIPTION

1

UNIT

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

2

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific project, Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P8,500.00 for Ref. No. 2016-06-175 and P1,300.00 for Ref. No. 2016-06-176 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting on June 8, 2016. Deadline of submission of LOI is on June 20, 2016. The BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/Fax No. 928-8272.

3

(SGD) VICTOR C. BALBA Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

9,000.000.00

9,000,000.00

90CD

UNIT

1

220,000.00

220,000.00

90CD

UNIT

EXAMINATION TABLE & STIRRUP (STAINLESS) WITH FOAM

2

18,000.00

36,000.00

90CD

TOTAL

9,256,000.00

4.

For further information, you may call the VMC-BAC Secretariat at 294-4625 from 9:00am to 4:00 pm.

5.

( T S - J U N E 8 , 2 016)

1

ANESTHESIA MACHINE PORTABLE

Opening of the Eligibility, Technical Documents and Financial Proposal will be on June 20, 2016, 10:00am.

Ref. Nos. 2016-06-175 and 176

The NHA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.

LAPAROSCOPY TOWER

3.

Schedule of Opening of Bids -

Unit Cost

The Following eligibility and technical documents as well as the Financial Proposal Form shall be submitted on or before June 20, 2016, 10:00am at the 4th Floor Conference Room, Valenzuela Medical Center, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City: (a) SEC or DTI (b) Mayor’s/ Business Permit (c) Taxpayer’s Identification Number (d) Tax Clearance (e) Cy 2014-2015 Audited Financial Statement w/ ITR (f) Certificate of Philgeps Registration (g) License to Operate (LTO) (h) Bid Security (In the Form of Cash, Managers Check, Surety Bond or Bid Securing Declaration (i) Compliance with schedule of Requirements and Technical Specification (j) Omnibus sworn Statement (k) Authority of the signatory or Secretary Certificate (l) The statement of all ongoing and completed government and private contracts shall include all such contracts with similar contracts for Cy 2014-2015 (m) Documents Request List (form Philgeps) (n) Delivery Schedule (o) Brochure (p) Certificate of Good performance from three (3) government hospital (q) NFCC Computation

Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City not later than 9:00 a.m. on the date specified below.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and amount as stated in Bid Data Sheet (BDS). Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Total Cost

Delivered Weeks/ Months

QTY

2.

The NHA will hold a Pre-bid Conference on June 21, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN ONLY to bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

July 5, 2016

PH muay thai bets join world tourney

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health National Capital Regional Office VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE

The Valenzuela Medical Center reserves the right to accept or reject any offer, to annul the negotiation process and to reject all offers at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected firms. (sgd) DONA D. SALMOS, RN, MAN BAC Chairperson (TS-JUNE 8, 2016)

THE Philippine muay thai team hopes to pick up from where it left off last week.

Buoyed by its two golds and a silver in the 17th Muaythai World Championships in Joukoping, Sweden, the national squad is eyeing to equal—or even surpass—the feat when it competes in the World Juniors Muay Thai Championships in Bangkok, Thailand this August.

Jessa Rivera, Rudzma Abubakar, and GhenYhan Berdon are again expected to carry the country’s color in the August 24 to Sept. 1 meet.

The three just arrived from Sweden where they spearheaded the seven-man Philippine team’s bid in the world meet, which attracted a total of 72 participating countries.

Rivera and Abubakar won the golds in the 42 kg. (junior female) and 45 kg (junior female) divisions, respectively, while Berdon settled for the silver in the 45 kg. junior male event.

WE DN E S DAY : J UN E 8 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Fancied bets rule aquathlon

Participants of the Alaska IronKids Philippines Aquathlon take turns jumping into the pool during the swim leg of the event.

Blackwater nears title PENANG, Malaysia—Blackwater moved within a win of clinching the 2016 Penang Chief Minister Cup championship after blowing past past Karnataka State-India, 113-70, on Monday at the Han Chiang Indoor Stadium here.

The Elite were relentless from the get-go, relying on their full-court pressure defense that forced the Indians to fall into a series of turnovers.

The Dioceldo Sy-owned Philippine Basketball Association squad held Karnataka State to just two field goals in a six-minute stretch in the second quarter to turn a slim twopoint lead to a 50-30 bubble late in the first half.

Blackwater collected 31 points off India’s 24 turnovers, while overwhelming its opponent with its 66 bench points to improve to a tournament-best 4-0 card.

The Elite only need to beat host Malaysia Dragons on Tuesday afternoon to capture the championship in Malaysia’s top tourist destination.

The Dragons (3-0), who ruled the 2016 ASEAN Basket-

ball League last March, were playing Zhejiang Chouzhou Commercial Bank-China (2-1) at presstime.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila kanina, wala akong pakialam kung ano ang mangyari sa game between Malaysia and China.

I want them to win the game tomorrow so we can complete our goal of sweeping the tournament and prepare well for the next conference sa PBA,” Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said after the game.

Big man JP Erram led 21 points and 7 rebounds, Carlo Lastimosa added 19 points, while Jason Melano came off the bench and chipped in 15.

The Elite are coming off a huge 77-75 win over tournament-favorite Zhejiang Chouzhou Com-

mercial Bank-China on Sunday in a virtual championship match behind rookie Roi Sumang’s game-clinching triple with less than a second left.

Blackwater is using the Penang trip as part of its buildup for the PBA’s season-ending Governors Cup. The scores: Blackwater 113– Erram 21, Lastimosa 19, Melano 15, Vosotros 10, Gamalinda 8, Sena 8, Tiongosn 7, Sumang 7, Cervantes 6, Bulawan 6, Golla 4, Reyes 2.

Karnataka State-India 70 – Annadorai 24, Abhishek 10, Aravind 8, Rajesh 8, Akhilan 7, Shivrahkumar 6, Chethan 3, Mofeez 2, Roby 2, Prajinal 0.

Quarters: 26-22, 54-37, 8851, 113-70.

NU Bullpups back in Fr. Martin Cup finals THE defending champion National University Bullpups are back in the finals of the 22nd Fr. Martin Cup Summer Basketball Tournament.

The Bullpups drew doubledigit outputs from Rhayyan Amsali, Joshua Callejo and Winderlich Coyoca to tame the Chiang Kai Shek College Blue Dragons, 78-71, Monday in the junior division semifinals at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San

Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.

Amsali and Callejo drilled in 15 points, while Coyoca added 13 for the Bullpups, who will meet the Adamson Baby Falcons in a winner-take-all title showdown.

Jason Celis tallied 16 points and Joem Sabandal had 14 points for the Baby Falcons in their 90-70 swamping of La Salle Greenhills-A.

In the women’s quarterfinal action, Mabel Ballecer shot 14 points for the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, who subdued the Enderun College Lady Titans, 71-57.

They Lady Tamaraws advanced to the women’s semifinals against the University of the East on Wednesday.

Adamson, which won its quarterfinal clash with College of St. Benilde by default, meets

the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons.

In the senior division semifinals, Mapua battles Adamson on Wednesday at 8 a.m., while Arellano University meets Jose Rizal University at 9:30 a.m.

The Bullpups relied on their outside shooting to move out of range in the third period.

The Blue Dragons, led by John Galinato with 18 points, stayed close, 56-59, until the end of the third.

SUBIC — Fancied Juan Francisco Baniqued and Tara Borlain played true to form and led the march of winners in the Alaska IronKids Philippines Aquathlon race which drew a record field of 281 here over the weekend.

Baniqued, who swept the titles in the series last year as a campaigner in the boys’ 11-12 age bracket, extended his dominance in the 13-14 class as he submitted a winning 19:22 time in the race that started at the Wow Pool and ended at Remy Field.

Joshua Alexander Ramos checked in nine seconds behind for second followed by Luigi Miguel Crisostomo (19:33) at third.

Borlain, another 11-12 standout now competing in the 13-14 category, held off elder sister Samantha for the crown. Tara, 13, clocked in 19:45 while Samantha, 14, reached the finish line seven seconds later for the silver. Everly Janarie Macalalad took the bronze in 20:50.

The siblings’ younger sister Franchezka took runner-up honors in the girls’ 6-8, completing a podium finish for the family.

Franchezka, 8, clocked 7:44, finishing behind eventual champion Liloan, Cebu’s Eurielle Kenzie Galo, who clocked 7:40.

Olongapo’s Clifford Pusing and Malaybalay’s Gene Heart Quiambao captured the top plums in the 11-12 sections.

BaliPure, Iriga dispute 3rd Games today 4 p.m. – BaliPure vs Iriga 6:30 p.m. – UP vs Baguio ALYSSA Valdez arrived yesterday in time for BaliPure’s match against an equally resurgent Team Iriga but the former ace Ateneo hitter will stay in the sidelines when the Water Defenders shoot for another win and solo third in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan Wednesday.

Valdez is coming off a European stint where she, together with team Gretchel Soltones, played exhibition games and held a training camp but the two-time UAAP MVP will not suit up for their 4 p.m. match with the Lady O ragons to take the much-needed rest.

But she will be there rooting and providing the support for her teammates coming off an inspiring five-setter over the National U Lady Bulldogs late Monday that evened their card at 1-1 in the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Soltones starred in that come-from-behind win with the former San Sebastian star ratting off a 23-hit performance, her last two spikes clinching the victory for the Water Defenders.

Dutch duo spices up FDG Cup badminton WORLD women’s doubles champion No. 8 Selena Piek and Eejfe Muskens bring their class act here as they grace the 13th FDG Cup Badminton Championships, which unfolds Thursday at Power Smash Badminton Center in Makati.

The Dutch aces, coming off a silver medal feat in the recent European Badminton Championships, are raring to showcase their skills and talent before local fans as they go up against Kennevic Asuncion, the first Filipino to qualify for the World Badminton Championships, and Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick G. Go in exhi-

bition matches at Robinsons Place Manila on Sunday.

The 2014-15 winners of the Dutch National Badminton Championships also turned in a pair of runner-up finishes in the 2015 Canada Open and the recent Syed Modi International Grand Prix in India.

The Dutch duo’s presence is expected to generate interest not only from the competing players but also from badminton fans and enthusiasts expecting no less than a world-class act from the two aces.

The event has lured some of the world’s top players the past 12 years, including

Malaysian Lee Chong Wei, Peter Gade of Denmark, former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, Japanese ace Mizuki Fujii, Chinese aces Wang Lin and Wang Xin and Malaysian top doubles players Kien Keat Koo and Boon Heong Tan. Meanwhile, women’s and men’s singles matches kick off hostilities at 9 a.m. at Powersmash tomorrow with Aldreen Concepcion clashing with Marinel Diansay, Sam Ramos colliding with Jochelle Alvarez, Ghiselle Bautista battling Meghan Cruz, Maxine delos Santos facing off with Shane Salvador, Princess De Silva squar-

ing off with Marina Caculitan, Therese Tumbali mixing it up with Susmita Ramos and former No. 1 Malvinne Ann Alcala testing the mettle of Jeline Masongsong and former national champion Bianca Carlos trading shots with Luisa Baldos.

Defending men’s singles Open champion Mark Alcala likewise opens his title retention drive against Lawrence Palomer at 10:10 a.m. with No. 2 Kevin Cudiamat tangling with Lanz Zafra at 12:05 p.m.

Also on tap in the busy day-long schedule are the men’s and women’s Open doubles

Eejfe Muskens is bringing her world-class badminton talent to the Philippines.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Gilas faces Iran in front of PH fans

By Jeric Lopez

SECOND INVITATION TO BID Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), located at Barangay 6, Coron, Palawan is inviting all prospective Bidder to pre-qualify and to Bid for the supply of all supervision, materials, labor, tools, equipment and transportation necessary to trim or remove trees and bush on Power Line Right-of-Way on the island of Busuanga and Culion. All Contractors wishing to submit a bid for this service MUST ATTEND this prebid conference. Failure to do so shall constitute grounds for automatic bid rejection.

Specifications and Bidding Instructions may be requested to BISELCO BAC Secretariat thru E-mail at biselco79@yahoo.com or contact Mobile No. 09159551913.

Contact Term Contract Amount Scope

: : :

1 -year 1,779,378.00 PhP 4-months massive cutting and trimming 8 months ROW clearance maintenance

Bidding Schedule is as follows: No.

Activities

Schedule

1

Issuance of Bid Documents

June 6, 2016

2

Pre-Bid Conference & Due Diligence

June 13, 2016, 10:00 AM, BISELCO Main Office

3

Submission and Opening of Bids (10:00 AM)

June 27, 2016, 10:00 AM, BISELCO Main Office Noted by:

(Sgd.) ENGR. SELWIN Y. ALILI BAC Chairman

(Sgd.) RUTH L. GALANG General Manager ( T S - J U N E 8 , 2 016)

SMART Gilas Pilipinas wants to retain its bragging rights, while revenge is on the mind of Iran as the two Asian powerhouses face off again in the second of two tune-up games at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

A sizeable crowd “It’s a core part of Game Today is expected to come (Smart Araneta Coliseum) our preparation.” as the anticipation 7 p.m. - Philippines vs. Iran Bauermann builds up for the even commended FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tour- Smart Gilas and Baldwin himnament Manila leg, where the self for a job well done these two powerhouse teams will again past couple of years in terms of show their wares. The tourna- Asian play. ment will be held on July 5 to 10.

“Playing here in the PhilipFor Smart Gilas coach Tab pines against such a good and Baldwin, this will serve as a well-coached team will be huge gauge to see where exactly are for our young players. We want the Nationals now in terms of them to get as much experience their cohesion and level of play. from this,” added Bauermann.

“We will have the chance to “We have the highest respect for see, more or less, where the team Gilas and Coach Tab.” is at right now,” said Baldwin.

Both countries are in the “By competing against a strong middle of their preparations team like Iran, we can see where for the respective OQ Tournawe’re already good at and what ments wherein the Philippines areas we need to improve on. will play host here while Iran This will be very helpful for us.” will play in the Italy leg.

Iran coach Dirk Bauermann As of this report the two echoed Baldwin’s sentiments National teams are already facregarding these set-up of tune- ing each other in a closed door up games that their respective scrimmage at the Meralco teams are engaging.

Gym where in both try to iron “This will be extremely out their respective systems beneficial,” said Bauermann. and schemes.

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE INVITATION TO BID No. Goods-034-2016

SECOND INVITATION TO PRE-QUALIFY AND TO BID Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), through its Bids and Award Committee is inviting all prospective Bidder to pre-qualify and to Bid for the supply and delivery of the following equipment: I. 1 UNITBOOM TRUCK WITH DIGGER with the following specifications: LIFTING

Maximum Load : 3.0ton (6,600lbs) Capacity : 3.0ton x 4.5m (6,600lbs x 15.1ft) Maximum lifting height : 14.15m (46.4ft)

AUGER

Max drilling depth Wok Range

: 5.2m (17.1ft)Drilling Diameter: 0.45m (1.47ft) : 190° from rear (95 degrees to left and right)

OUTRIGGER

Extended Width Outrigger Stroke Jack Stroke

: Front: 1,980-3,950 (78-155 in) Rear: 1,980-3,780 (78-149 in) : Front: 980mm (38.6in) Rear: 900mm (35.4in) : 440mm (17.3in)

ROTATION DEVICE

Rotation Angle

: 360 degrees

BOOM

Length

: 4.875 - 12.275m (16 - 40.3ft)

WINCH

Up: 55m/min (180ft/min) Down: 40m/min (130ft/min) (pump at 2000rpm)

SAFETY DEVICE: Hydraulic Circuit (Hydraulic relief valve, Holding valves on elevation and extension cylinders, Auger over winding prevention device, Winch over winding prevention device), Parallel hook movement device, Alarm horn, Hook stopper, Load meter, Boom angle meter, Auger holding device.

OTHER DEVICE: Engine start and stop device, Jack check valve guard, Variable pole support horns, Water tank with electric pump, Hydraulic power outlet, Toolsbox, Work light.

ACCESSORIES : Jack base, Tire chocks, Grounding wire wheel, Sling.

ABC : 8,200,000.00 pesos

II. BRAND NEW LINEMAN’S UTILITY VEHICLE with the following Specifications: ENGINE AND 4-cylinder, water-cooled, in-line OHV w/ automatic Engine Stop Device, turboTRANSMISSION charged w/ intercooler, direct injection; S-Speed w/ Over Drive; Synchromesh on all Forward Gears, short lever & remote control type; Bore&Stroke: 83x102 (mm); 50A Alternator Displacement (cc): 2,800Fuel Tank Capacity

(Lit)

: 75

SUSPENSION

Semi Elliptical Steel Leaf Spring and Hydraulic Double Acting Telescopic Shock Absorber

BRAKES

Service: Parking:

Drum type, hydraulic dual circuit w/ vacuum assist; Front: Two Leading, Rear: Dual Leading Mechanical, lnternal Expanding at Rear of Transmission, Lever Type

CLUTCH

Dry, Single-Plate Diaphragm Springs, Hydraulic Control

CAB TYPE

Tilt Cabin and Monocoque Construction customize designed for lineman use.

ABC : 1,202,000.00 pesos

Delivery Period: 70 Days (MANILA PICK-UP) Both vehicles shall be with LTO Registration.

Prospective bidders must have completed within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract to the similar to the Project. The criteria to be used by BAC in the eligibility of the prospective bidders shall be a non-discretionary “pass/fail” basis. As such, non-submission of any of the eligibility requirements will result in the disqualification of the prospective bidder.

The complete schedule of activities are as follows: No.

Activities

Schedule

1

Issuance of Bid Documents

June 6, 2016

2

Pre-Bid Conference (only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate the pre-bid conference)

June 13, 2016, 2:00 PM at BISELCO Main Office Board Room

3

Submission and Opening of Bids

June 24, 2016, 2:00 PM at BISELCO Main Office Board Room

Complete set of bidding documents may be obtained at BISELCO BAC Secretariat through e-mail address biselco79@yahoo.com or mobile number 09159551913; upon payment of non-refundable fee of 10,000.00 pesos. Bids shall be submitted at BAC Secretariat, Busunga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc., Bgy. 6, Coron, Palawan.

BISELCO BAC reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to annul the bidding process, declare a failure at any time prior to the contract award, or not to award the contract, without thereby incurring any liability, and makes no assurance that a contract shall be entered into as a result of the bidding. Likewise, the BISELCO BAC assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

Noted by: (Sgd.) ENGR. SELWIN Y. ALILI BAC Chairman/TSD Manager

(Sgd.)RUTH L. GALANG General Manager ( T S - J U N E 8 , 2 016)

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the General Fund34intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening.

Name of Project

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

1. Supply & Delivery of Various Essential Hospital Equipment & Supplies for Bagac Community & Medicare Hospital

=P=4,415,500.00

The Provincial Government of Bataannow invites bids for the above listedProcurement.

Delivery of goods is requiredon or before the maturity date stipulated on contract.Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committeeand inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00 75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 15, 2016 at 10:00 A.M atProvincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall beopen only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered on or before June 28, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

The winning bidder has the option to deliver the items requested by the end-user with higher technical specification & better technology provided it will be beneficial to the government & will not incur additional expenses on the part of the procuring entity.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Eligibility Check Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents Request for Clarification Opening of Bids

Schedule June 08 – 14, 2016 Refer to date of Opening of Bids June 08 – 28, 2016 June 17, 2016 June 28, 2016

The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, BalangaCity, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

(TS-JUNE 8, 2016)

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN

Tabal sends letter to Patafa WITH her letter seeking reinstatement to the national team finished and on its way to the proper authorities, marathon queen Mary Joy Tabal said she will just focus on working out and preparing for what’s ahead.

But for now, fixing broken relationships with officials and coaches of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association is one of her priorities.

“I acknowledge the need to be part of the national team in order to represent our country.

This is why I am sending my letter and other documents to Patafa for their approval,” said Tabal, following Monday night’s press conference in Cebu City.

The 26-year-old Tabal arrived in Cebu Sunday night from the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, where she placed eighth and breached the qualifying time for the Olympics.

But Tabal did not clinch a berth in the Rio Olympics outright as she was not a part of the national team.

Tabal may have meet the qualifying standard, but the PATAFA still needs to confirm her status with the International Association of Athletics Federations.

“Her request has to be discussed in a meeting by the executive board and the coach,” said Juico, “so the PATAFA can act accordingly.”

Her backers, led by Motor Ace Philippines through its president Jonel Borromeo, are upbeat that Tabal’s issues with the PATAFA will be resolved.

Peter Atencio

expiry date; If license is renewed within the ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FIRST(121st) day to ONE HUNDRED EIGHTIETH (180 th) day after the expiry date; If license is renewed after the ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY FIRST(181st) dayfrom the expiry date and onwards.

40% 70%

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR No. 2016-001 TO

:

ALL CONCERNED

RE

:

REGULATION OF HARD DISK DRIVES and OPTICAL MEDIA WRITERS/DRIVES

WHEREAS, there have been various complaints from the film and music industries regarding the proliferation of unauthorized products in the market, many of which involve downloaded materials from the internet into Hard Disk Drives and eventually transferred to optical discs through optical disc writers/drives; WHEREAS, Hard Disks Drives are nonvolatile storage devices attached to computers made up of metallic discs with magnetic coating;

A 100% surcharge shall be imposed on all optical/magnetic media establishmentswho have been operating for more than THIRTY (30) days without first being registered with and licensed by the Board, without prejudice to the imposition of other appropriate sanctions under existing laws.

Similarly, a 100% surcharge shall also be imposed onall optical/magnetic media establishments who failto renew their licenses and were inspected by the Board, without prejudice to the imposition of appropriate sanctions under existing laws.

Finally, if the license is not renewed within THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE (365) days after its expiry date, the registration shall be deemed automatically cancelledand the respective business name and address shall be blacklisted,without prejudice to the imposition of other appropriate sanctions under existing laws.

Atty. ANSELMO B. ADRIANO Chair and Chief Executive Officer

WHEREAS, Internal and External Optical Disc Writers/Drives are devices capable of transferring data from Hard Disk Drives to various Optical Media;

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2016-004 TO

:

ALL CONCERNED

RE

:

PROCEDURES CONCERNING THE CLOSURE OF ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGED IN THE IMPORTATION, ACQUISITION, SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF OPTICAL AND MAGNETIC MEDIA IN ALL FORMS AS WELL AS MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT

REGULATION OF HARD DISK DRIVES and OPTICAL DISK WRITERS/DRIVES

2. Entities using Internal and External Hard Disk Drives and Optical Disc Writers/Drives for commercial purposes are hereby required to register and acquire the necessary permits and licenses with the Registration and Licensing Division (RLD) of the OMB; 3. For purposes of this Circular, “commercial purposes” shall refer to all activities involving importation, exportation, acquisition, sale or distribution of optical and magnetic media as well as manufacturing equipment, with intent to profit in reference to Sec. 3(f) of RA 9239; 4. The RLD shall charge a registration fee of ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS ONLY (Php1,500.00) per Internal and External Optical Disc Writer/Drive and ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS ONLY (Php1,500.00) for Internal and External Hard Disk Drive; 5. Penalty – Failure to comply with this Memorandum Circular shall be considered as a violation of Title IV Sec. 1(c)of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9239, punishable by a penalty of not less than THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS ONLY (Php300,000) but not more than ONE MILLION AND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS ONLY (Php 1,500,000).

6. Transitory Provisions –This Memorandum Circular shall apply prospectively without prejudice to pending applications in the RLD from the date of effectivity of this Memorandum Circular.

7. Effectivity - This circular shall take effect within FIFTEEN (15) days from publication hereof.

Atty. ANSELMO B. ADRIANO Chair & Chief Executive Officer

WHEREAS, the Optical Media Board (hereinafter referred to as “OMB”) seeks to monitor and regulate the closure and winding up of establishments engaged in the manufacture, importation, acquisition, sale or distribution of Optical and Magnetic Media in all forms as well as manufacturing equipment (hereafter referred to as “Optical Media”); WHEREAS, to declog the numerous records and documents of the OMB and to facilitate efficient record-keeping, there is a need to reorganize the database by properly identifying the establishments and entities who have undergone or is currently undergoing foreclosure or those who have ceased to conduct business which are covered by the OMB ; WHEREAS,there is a need to monitor the destination of the remaining Optical and Magnetic Media and Manufacturing Equipment by closing entities since the said items are regulated under the Inspection and Regulatory powers of the OMB; WHEREAS, as part of its regulatory functions, the OMB requires proper compliance with the reportorial requirements provided under the Implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic Act 9239, otherwise known as the “Optical Media Act of 2003”; NOW, therefore, pursuant to Board Resolution No. 16-05-01 and the powers and functions of the OMB under Section 10 (a) and (c) of RA 9239 relative to the formulation and granting and/or renewal of licenses, the following are hereby promulgated:

A statement providing for the reason for the closure of business, An inventory of the remaining Optical and Magnetic Media, Manufacturing Equipment, and related products, A document stating the manner of disposal of the abovementioned items which includes but is not limited to sale, destruction, donation, or assignment of the same, and A true and complete record of all activities related to the conduct of its business for a period of at least FIVE (5) years, pursuant to Section (7) (b) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9239.

d.

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR No. 2016-002 ALL CONCERNED

RE

:

PAYMENT OF CLEARANCE FEES WITH LEGAL SERVICES DIVISION FOR PERMIT APPLICATIONS

WHEREAS, the Optical Media Board (OMB) is the national government agency mandated to regulate the importation, exportation, acquisition, sale or distribution of optical and magnetic media in the Philippines; WHEREAS, one of the requirements for the issuance of licenses is clearance from the Legal Services Division (LSD) that the former is not subject of a pending administrative, criminal, or civil case, as the case may be; WHEREAS, the regulatory powers of the OMB covers all activities pertaining to optical and magnetic media, especially in registration and licensing; WHEREAS, applications for various permits are currently not included among the stages/activities being applied for by a registrant/entity for clearance with the LSD; NOW, therefore, pursuant to Board Resolution No. 16-04-08, and the powers and functions of the OMB under Sec. 10, subsections (a) and (c) of Republic Act No. 9239, relative to the formulation of policies and granting and/or licenses, the following are hereby promulgated: LSD CLEARANCE FOR PERMIT APPLICATIONS 1.

All persons/entities applying for permit with the OMB shall be required to secure a clearance from the LSD;

2.

An LSD Clearance shall be issued upon the filing of a request for verification from the RLD;

3.

A request for LSD Clearance shall be assessed an amount of FIFTY PESOS ONLY (Php 50.00), which shall be paid to the OMB Cashier.

4.

ffectivity – This circular shall take effect within FIFTEEN (15) days Effectivity from publication hereof.

Section 2. Coverage – This Title shall cover closures by entities with regard to business covered under RA 9239 as well as those engaged in the manufacture, importation, acquisition, sale or distribution of manufacturing equipment, accessories and appurtenances of Optical and Magnetic Media.

Such closure includes those entities which continue to exist as juridical entities but have ceased to conduct the business contemplated in RA 9239.

Section 3. Closure – For the purpose of this Circular, “Closure” shall refer to acts undertaken when it is no longer necessary or possible for a business to continue its operations.

The Closure referred to in this Circular does not refer to the termination of the Corporate Life of an entity and only covers businesses contemplated under RA 9239.

Section 4. Transitory Provisions – This Memorandum Circular shall apply prospectively without prejudice to pending actions for closure in the RLD from the date of effectivity of this Memorandum Circular.

Section 5. Repeal – All orders, issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Circular, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Severability – If any of the provisions of this Circular are declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 7. Effectivity – This Circular shall take effect within FIFTEEN (15) days from publication hereof

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2016-003

Atty. ANSELMO B. ADRIANO Chair & Chief Executive Officer

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2016-005 TO

:

ALL CONCERNED

RE

:

REGULATION OF PRINTING WITH RESPECT TO OPTICAL AND MAGNETIC MEDIA INCLUDING ITS ACCESSORIES, ADD-ONS, AND SUPPLEMENTS

WHEREAS, the Optical Media Board (hereinafter referred to as “OMB”) seeks to monitor and regulate the production of labels or materials attached to Optical and Magnetic Media which provide information or augment the same;

TO

:

ALL CONCERNED

RE

:

SURCHARGE IMPOSED ON APPLICANTS WHO RENEW THEIR LICENSES BEYOND THE EXPIRY DATES

WHEREAS, the unregulated printing on Optical and Magnetic Media and theiraccessories, add-ons, and supplements thereto is detrimental to national economy and public interest;

Pursuant to Board Resolution No. 16-04-10, surcharges shall be imposed on the applicants who renew their licenses beyond the expiry dates in accordance with the following rates:

WHEREAS,the End Product of Optical and Magnetic Media in all forms for their importation, acquisition, sale or distribution usually include labels and similar materials to indicate the contents and purpose of the said Optical and Magnetic Media;

20% 30%

If license is renewed within the FIRST (1st) day up to SIXTIETH (60 th) day from the expiry date; If license is renewed within the SIXTY FIRST(61st) day up to theONE HUNDRED TWENTIETH (120 th) day after the

Optical Discs of any kind Labels on Optical Discs, cases, or any other packaging material Labels on Accessories of Optical and Magnetic Media Labels on any part of the End Product of Optical and Magnetic Media All other accessories as maybe attached to the Optical and Magnetic Media

Section 3. Covered Materials - This Circular covers any kind of material used as a label on Optical and Magnetic Media as well as its accessories, add-ons, packaging and supplements thereto as long as the said label is made through a printer or a printing press.

Section 5. End Product - For the purposes of this Circular, “End Product” shall refer to a subordinate of supplementary item that contributes to the effect, result, or purpose of Optical and Magnetic Media in all forms.

Section 6. Fees –All applicants shall pay a one-time registration fee of FIVE-HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00).In addition, a licensefee of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) per printer shall likewise be imposed.

The license shall be valid for a period of ONE (1) year from the date of the issuance of the same.

Section 7. Printing - For the purposes of this Circular, “Printing” shall refer to an act of making letters, numbers, images, and indications by means of ink, chemical action, and similar types that is included as part of the End Product of Optical and Magnetic Media in all forms in reference to the provisions of RA 9239 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Section 8. Penalty – Failure to comply with this Memorandum Circular shall be considered as a violation of Title IV Sec. 1 (c) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9239, punishable by a penalty of not less than THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00) but not more than ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P1,500,000.00).

Section 9. Transitory Provisions – This Memorandum Circular shall apply prospectively without prejudice to pending applications in the RLD from the date of effectivity of this Memorandum Circular.

Section 10. Repeal – All orders, issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Circular, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Severability – If any provisions of this Circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 12. Effectivity – This Circular shall take effect within FIFTEEN (15) days from publication hereof.

Atty. ANSELMO B. ADRIANO Chair & Chief Executive Officer

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2016-006 TO

:

ALL CONCERNED

RE

:

PROHIBITION AGAINST BROKERS/MIDDLEMEN IN FILING APPLICATIONS WITH THE OPTICAL MEDIA BOARD

WHEREAS, the Optical Media Board has been receiving applications and/or requests with respect to matters covered by Republic Act 9239 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and that said applications were made by brokers for and in behalf of license holders; WHEREAS, there is a need for the Optical Media Board to institute the means to regulate the applications and/or requests made to it; WHEREAS, the facilitation of applications and/or requests by brokers can be used as a loop hole to conduct fixing which is punishable by Republic Act 9485 otherwise known as the “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007”; NOW, therefore, pursuant to Board Resolution No. 16-05-03and the powers and functions of the Optical Media Board under Section 10 (a) and (c) of Republic Act 9239 relative to the formulation and granting and/or renewal of licenses, clearances, and permits, the following are hereby promulgated: APPLICATIONS AND REQUESTS Section 1. Applications and/or Requests – The Optical Media Board shall accept applications and/or requestsonly from the end-users themselves or the person/s that shall directly benefit from the aforementioned application or request.

Section 2. Prohibition against Brokers/Middlemen – The Optical Media Board, pursuant to Section 1 of this Circular, shall not accept any application and/or request from Brokers, Middlemen, and similar parties.

Section 3. Coverage – The provisions of this circular applies to all kinds of application and/or requests made to the Optical Media Board, whether formal or informal and without distinction as to its use, whether commercial or private.

Section 4. Representatives – Applications and/or requestsmade by a representative shall only be accepted by the Optical Media Board upon presentation of a Special Power of Attorney specifically granting the said representative the power to make the said applications and/or requests.

Said applications shall disclose the end user with the requisite liability that is joint and several for both end-user and representative.

Section 5. End-user – For the purpose of this Circular, “End-user” shall refer to a person or persons who shall benefit from or ultimately use a product after it has been developed and/or marketed.

Atty. ANSELMO B. ADRIANO Chair & Chief Executive Officer

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Section 1. Closure Requirement – Entities engaged in the manufacture, importation, acquisition, sale or distribution of Optical and Magnetic Media who intend to cease the said acts and close their business are required, at least THIRTY (30) days before actual closure, to notify the Registration and Licensing Divisions (hereinafter referred to as “RLD”) of the OMB of such closure and submit the following requirements:

c.

:

Section 2. Covered Acts -This Circular covers and includes, but is not necessarily limited to, Printing on Optical and Magnetic Media in all forms, such as:

CLOSURE OF BUSINESS

a. b.

TO

I. PRINTING Section 1. Registration Requirement; Printing - Entities engaged in Printing with regard to Optical and Magnetic Media as well astheir accessories, add-ons, and supplements thereto are required to register and acquire the necessary license and permit with the Registration and Licensing Division (hereinafter referred to as “RLD”) of the Optical Media Board;

Section 4. Accessories - For the purposes of this Circular, “Accessories” shall refer to a subordinate of supplementary item that contributes to the effect, result, or purpose of Optical and Magnetic Media in all forms in reference to the provisions of RA 9239.

WHEREAS, as part of its regulatory functions, the Optical Media Board (OMB) considers these Optical Disk Writers/Drives to be manufacturing equipment, which are covered by the provisions of Republic Act No. 9239, otherwise known as “the Optical Media Act of 2003”

1. All entities with transactions involving importation, exportation, acquisition, sale or distribution of optical and magnetic media, as well as manufacturing equipment, are hereby required to comply with all requirements of registration and licensing under the Optical Media Act of 2003;

NOW, therefore, pursuant to Board Resolution No. 16-05-02 and the powers and functions of the OMB under Section 10 (a) and (c) of RA 9239 relative to the formulation and granting and/or renewal of licenses, the following are hereby promulgated:

This Circular shall take effect within FIFTEEN (15) days from publication hereof.

WHEREAS, as part of its regulatory functions, the Optical Media Board (OMB) considers these Hard Disk Drives to be magnetic media, which is covered by the provisions of Republic Act No. 9239, otherwise known as “the Optical Media Act of 2003”;

NOW, therefore, pursuant to Board Resolution No. 16-04-07 and the powers and functions of the OMB under Section 10, subsections (a) and (c) of R.A. 9239 relative to the formulation of policies and granting and/or renewal of licenses, the following are hereby promulgated:

of Republic Act 9239, otherwise known as the “Optical Media Act of 2003”;

Section 6. Brokers/Middlemen –For the purpose of this Circular, “Brokers/Middlemen” shall refer to an intermediary or agent between two parties, the purpose of which is to assist a party by acting as a representative without the requisite legal capacity.

Section 7. Application – For the purpose of this Circular, “Application” shall refer to any request by a personrequiring an act on the part of the Optical Media Board in furtherance of the latter’s duties as provided for in Republic Act 9239.

Section 8. Transitory Provisions – This Memorandum Circular shall apply prospectively without prejudice to pending applications and requests in the Optical Media Board from the date of effectivity of this Memorandum Circular.

Section 9. Repeal – All orders, issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Circular, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 10. Severability – If any of the provisions of this Circular are declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 11. Effectivity – This Circular shall take effect within FIFTEEN (15) days from publication hereof.

WHEREAS, as part of its regulatory functions, the Optical Media Board (OMB) requires the Registration and Licensing of Existing Establishments and entities engaged in acts provided under the Implementing Rules and Regulation (TS-JUNE 8, 2016)

Atty. tty. ANSELMO B. ADRIANO Chair & Chief Executive Officer

A16

W E D N E S DAY : J U N E 8 , 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 Rising PH star

Tabuena

qualifies for US Open

Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines is shown during an official practice round ahead of the True Thailand Classic presented by Chang at Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand.

FILIPINO rising star Miguel Tabuena will make a dream debut at the US Open next week after topping the sectional qualifying in California on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Tabuena, currently third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, won by two shots after carding a fine 64 at Lake Merced Golf Club and a 68 at The Olympic Club, Ocean course, for

an 11-under-par 132 aggregate.

“I told myself that Lake Merced would be the easier course and I needed to go low there, which I did,” said Tabuena, who had two eagles, 10 birdies and three bo-

geys in his two rounds.

“I am just really happy with my rounds. I am still in shock. This will be my first major and I just can’t wait to have fun next week. I am really happy with the way I am playing now,” added the talented Filipino.

Tabuena’s career has been on the upswing over the last seven months after he won his first Asian Tour title at the Philippine

Open presented by ICTSI in December.

Earlier this season, he finished tied fourth at the SMBC Singapore Open and second at the Maybank Championship Malaysia. He is also in the running to represent his country in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.

Sunghoon Kang of Korea, winner of the 2013 CJ Invitational, will join Tabuena at the U.S. Open

at the Oakmont Country Club from June 16 to 19 after claiming the 10th and final ticket at sectional qualifying in Tennessee.

Tabuena will fly the Asian Tour flag at the year’s second Major alongside reigning Order of Merit winner Anirban Lahiri of India, K.T. Kim of Korea and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who all qualified via the Official World Golf Ranking.

Cavs try to get tough vs Dubs CLEVELAND—While the Golden State Warriors fight to avoid complacency after two lopsided wins to start the NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers hope playing at home will help them find toughness they have so far lacked.

The defending champion Warriors would reach the brink of a repeat crown with a victory Wednesday in the best-of-seven series.

“We’re feeling confident but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Warriors star guard Stephen Curry said.

“It’s a trap to think we’ve figured things out and that we have the perfect formula to beat Cleveland and they have no chance in the series.”

Only three teams have overcome 2-0 deficits to win the finals—the 1969 Boston Celtics, 1977 Portland Trail Blazers

and 2006 Miami Heat— and no team trailing 3-0 has ever rallied to win an NBA playoff series.

“The guys are not discouraged. More (angry) than anything,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said.

“We’ve got to be tougher.

That’s the main thing. Got to play more physical and live with the results.”

The Warriors beat Cleveland 110-77 in game two, the fewest points allowed by the Warriors in a playoff game since 1975.

They have beaten the Cavaliers seven consecutive times—three in last year’s finals, two this season and twice more in the finals.

“I don’t think there’s a hurdle for them at all,” Golden State’s Draymond Green said. “We don’t go in thinking, ‘We’ve beat these guys seven times. We’ve got them.’ That’s not our

mindset at all. Once that becomes you’re mindset you will lose. Our mindset is we took care of home court. Now let’s get one on the road.

“At this point, everything you get is really hard and it’s about to get even harder.

They will probably play with a little more energy.

They will be playing with a sense of desperation.”

Golden State won the first two games by a combined 48 points, the most lopsided start in 70 NBA Finals.

“We understand the situation we’re in. We know we’ve got to play a lot better in order to get this series turned around,” Cavaliers star LeBron James said.

“We’re still here. We have a chance to turn this series around. We have to figure out how we can be better.

We’ve got to bear down.”

Turnovers deadly for Cavs The Cavaliers have to avoid giving the ball away.

In two games, they have committed a combined 35 turnovers leading to 51 Golden State points. James has 11 total turnovers.

“Can’t turn the ball over against a great team and expect to win,” James said.

“I had a lot of uncharacteristic unforced turnovers.

It resulted in them getting some easy baskets.

“We can’t have as many mental lapses. These guys put you in so many mental positions where you have to figure it out and they make you pay for it when you don’t.”

Cleveland’s defenders have had success at times, but lapses in long stretches have led to Warrior runs the Cavs have never been able to match. AFP

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James of the Cavaliers ride the bench in Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Warriors. AFP

Serena is highest paid sportswoman LOS ANGELES—Two days after her stunning loss to Garbine Muguruza in the French Open final, Serena Williams scored a different win on Monday, when Forbes Magazine reported she has overtaken Maria Sharapova as the world’s highest-paid sportswoman.

Williams earned $28.9 million over the past 12 months, the financial magazine reported in an article posted on its website.

Russian tennis star Sharapova had

held the title for the past 11 years.

Williams, 34, has dominated her sport for more than a decade. She won her second Grand Slam in 2002 before going on to win 19 more since then.

After falling at Roland Garros on Saturday, she vowed to keep trying to equal Steffi Graf ’s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles.

Williams’s career prize money of $77.6 million amounts to more than twice as much as any other sportswoman’s. AFP

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 8, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

B1

Inflation climbed to 1.6% in May

Pacquiao’s investment. GToken, the world’s first crowdsourced mobile games publisher and advertising platform, announces eight-

division boxing champion and incoming Filipino senator Manny Pacquiao has acquired a meaningful stake in the company. With over a million users to date across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and China, GToken has rapidly grown throughout Asia and is currently valued at $60 million. Shown with Pacquiao (fourth from left) are (from left) GToken executives Archie Teo, Eldee Tang, Kenneth Mark Yong, Ivan Lee and Arnold Vegafria. See related story on B4.

Dominguez wants say on Customs law

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

INCOMING Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez asked outgoing Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina not to tie the hands of the Duterte administration in implementing Customs reforms.

Dominguez told reporters he called up Lina after learning that the agency was already preparing the implementing rules and regulations of the recently enacted Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. “I called Bert Lina [and] I told him, Bert, I heard you’re putting out the IRR for that new law. I said don’t tie my hands. I said you know, obviously I cannot tell you what to do, or what not to do, but I’ll tell you, I’ll look at it very badly if you tie my hands,” Dominguez said.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte named Dominguez, a former agriculture secretary, as the new secretary of the Finance Department, in place of Cesar Purisima. Dominguez will oversee a powerful Cabinet position that will supervise both the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Customs Bureau.

“I told him [Lina] not to tie my hands. He can put it [IRR] out, but if he ties my hands, our hands, or Faeldon’s hands, that he [Faeldon] cannot do certain things, there’s going to be hell to pay,” Dominguez said.

Duterte recently named Nicanor Faeldon, a former Philippine Marines captain joined the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003, as the new commissioner of BOC, tagged as one of the most corrupt agencies in government.

Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III last week signed into law the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. The newly-signed law or Republic Act 10863 will update the Tariff and Customs Code which was last amended in 1978 and will update the operations of the Bureau of Customs.

Next to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, BOC is the largest revenue-collecting agency of the government.

Among the reforms mandated by the new law are electronic processing of shipment of documents, streamlining of export and import procedures, simplified processes for seizure and disposition of illegal goods and steeper penalties for violations.

CMTA also includes exemption of employees of the BOC from the Salary Standardization Law to grant them relatively higher pay than most other government workers.

Another key provision is the increase in the de minimis value to P10,000 from P10 for articles brought into the country duty-free through the postal office, by courier companies, or by hand.

The measure provides for an automatic indexation of the amounts every three years to account for inflation.

INFLATION rate climbed to 1.6 percent in May, the fastest in 12 months, from 1.1 percent in April, amid higher demand for food and other products during the election period, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

“The increase in inflation can be attributed to higher demand due to election spending and partly to supply constraints in agriculture because of the residual effects of the weakening El Niño,” said Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra.

Data showed the May 2016 inflation was above the market expectation of 1.4 percent, but within Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast of 1.1 percent to 1.9 percent for the month.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile prices of energy and food, also increased to 1.6 percent in May from 1.5 percent in April.

“The outturn was within our forecast 1.1 to 1.9 percent and is consistent with our assessment that inflation will slowly rise to within our assessment that inflation will slowly rise to within the NG target range of 2 to 4 percent over the policy horizon,” Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message to reporters. Gabrielle Binaday

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 8, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, June 7, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 125 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 79 3.95 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 15.32 62.5 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 34.1 2.3 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 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 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 170 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 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 2.8 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 4.16 3.9 45.95 45 109.00 106.00 98.00 96.25 37.7 37.1 3.11 3.05 1.41 1.38 14.2 14 17.6 17.14 7.30 7.29 1.87 1.86 630.00 605.00 0.570 0.540 88 86.9 0.94 0.94 15.00 14.90 53.50 50.55 101.8 100 264 260 31.7 31.5 200.4 197.7 65.00 64.15 1.55 1.53 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

45.6 48.9 46.25 Agrinurture Inc. 3.6 3.58 3.44 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.88 0.88 0.86 Alsons Cons.

1.91 1.98 1.9 Asiabest Group 11.88 12.1 11.1 Century Food 22 22.2 21.8 Chemphil 115 172.5 140 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 206 200 193 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 18.3 18.4 17.8 Concepcion 47 47.95 47 Crown Asia 2.09 2.13 2.08 Da Vinci Capital 5.4 5.7 5.42 Del Monte 11.46 11.56 11.48 DNL Industries Inc. 9.930 10.360 9.960 Emperador 7.20 7.40 7.22 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.61 5.80 5.65 EEI 7.41 7.70 7.38 Euro-Med Lab 1.8 1.68 1.66 First Gen Corp.

22.8 23.5 22.9 First Holdings ‘A’ 67 68 67.15 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.20 12.48 12.48 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.10 15.42 15.10 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.75 5.75 5.7 Ionics Inc 2.240 2.290 2.230 Jollibee Foods Corp.

233.00 239.60 233.20 Liberty Flour 34.95 34.95 34.90 LMG Chemicals 1.9 2.15 1.9 Macay Holdings 39.80 39.85 38.00 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.75 27.85 27.05 Maxs Group 28.8 29.6 28.8 Megawide 6.55 6.6 6.52 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 312.00 317.20 313.00 MG Holdings 0.275 0.270 0.270 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.5 3.67 3.52 Petron Corporation 11.70 11.92 11.70 Phil H2O 3.06 3.1 3 Phinma Corporation 11.54 11.58 11.52 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 5.20 5.25 5.17 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.80 1.85 1.76 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.85 2.88 2.84 RFM Corporation 4.24 4.24 4.20 Roxas and Co. 2.31 2.31 2.31 Roxas Holdings 4.28 4.1 4.1 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 215.2 218.6 215.2 Splash Corporation 2.5 2.55 2.5 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.152 0.153 0.150 TKC Steel Corp.

1.71 1.74 1.69 Trans-Asia Oil 2.62 2.64 2.59 Universal Robina 201 203 200.8 Victorias Milling 4.6 4.7 4.61 Vitarich Corp.

0.9 0.93 0.89 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.24 1.33 1.24 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.400 0.405 0.385 Aboitiz Equity 78.00 78.20 77.90 Alliance Global Inc. 15.42 15.92 15.52 Anglo Holdings A 1.15 1.16 1.14 Anscor `A’ 5.97 6.00 5.96 ATN Holdings A 0.380 0.380 0.365 ATN Holdings B 0.375 0.380 0.365 Ayala Corp `A’ 855 866 854 Cosco Capital 7.98 8.1 8.01 DMCI Holdings 12.64 13.34 12.80 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.1 5.1 5.1 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

6.38 6.40 6.35 Forum Pacific 0.246 0.246 0.220 GT Capital 1424 1472 1436 House of Inv. 6.30 6.46 6.46 JG Summit Holdings 83.90 85.15 84.15 Keppel Holdings `A’ 5.4 5.4 5.4 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.85 7.95 7.82 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.69 0.7 0.69 LT Group 15.9 16.22 15.52 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 6.13 6.48 6.14 Pacifica `A’ 0.0320 0.0300 0.0320 Prime Orion 1.810 1.840 1.810 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.65 2.68 2.68 San Miguel Corp `A’ 78.40 78.90 78.05 Seafront `A’ 2.22 2.22 2.13 SM Investments Inc. 982.00 999.50 980.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.16 1.17 1.16 South China Res. Inc. 0.85 0.85 0.80 Transgrid 190.00 185.00 185.00 Top Frontier 182.000 184.000 178.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3100 0.3100 0.3050 Wellex Industries 0.2000 0.2040 0.1960 Zeus Holdings 0.340 0.340 0.330 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.900 7.980 7.800 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.00 7.50 6.75 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.35 1.36 1.30 Araneta Prop `A’ 2.460 2.480 2.310 Arthaland Corp.

0.280 0.280 0.260 Ayala Land `B’ 37.900 39.300 37.900 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.27 3.4 3.27 Cebu Holdings 5.16 5.2 5.15 Cebu Prop. `A’ 5.73 5.98 5.98 Century Property 0.510 0.52 0.510 City & Land Dev. 0.95 1.00 1.00 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.050 1.050 1.040 Crown Equities Inc. 0.136 0.138 0.131 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.570 0.580 0.550 Double Dragon 57 60 57.7 Empire East Land 0.800 0.800 0.790 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. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

Close

SHARES 16,315,530 118,578,568 193,183,571 200,921,609 264,881,232 468,254,150 1,265,539,616

3.99 45.9 105.70 96.00 37.7 3.04 1.40 14.2 17.12 7.29 1.81 610.00 0.570 87.05 0.94 15.00 50.50 101.6 262 31.5 199 64.25 1.54

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.05 45.1 108.00 97.70 37.5 3.11 1.41 14.1 17.5 7.30 1.87 610.00 0.550 87.9 0.94 14.96 52.40 100 260 31.65 198.2 64.45 1.53

1.50 -1.74 2.18 1.77 -0.53 2.30 0.71 -0.70 2.22 0.14 3.31 0.00 -3.51 0.98 0.00 -0.27 3.76 -1.57 -0.76 0.48 -0.40 0.31 -0.65

200,000 53,900 5,101,780 1,561,490 66,200 62,000 167,000 24,200 1,337,400 2,100 6,000 1,130 544,000 5,177,420 60,000 68,800 258,810 2,210 5,550 433,900 828,840 263,870 86,000

48.9 3.57 0.88 1.96 12.04 21.95 172.5 194 18.34 47.5 2.1 5.42 11.5 10.300 7.33 5.75 7.45 1.68 23 67.8 12.48 15.20 5.72 2.290 239.00 34.90 2.14 39.85 27.05 29.4 6.55 315.00 0.270 3.62 11.82 3.01 11.54 5.25 1.78 2.84 4.20 2.31 4.1 217 2.5 0.150 1.69 2.63 202 4.68 0.93 1.33

7.24 -0.83 0.00 2.62 1.35 -0.23 50.00 -5.83 0.22 1.06 0.48 0.37 0.35 3.73 1.81 2.50 0.54 -6.67 0.88 1.19 2.30 0.66 -0.52 2.23 2.58 -0.14 12.63 0.13 -2.52 2.08 0.00 0.96 -1.82 3.43 1.03 -1.63 0.00 0.96 -1.11 -0.35 -0.94 0.00 -4.21 0.84 0.00 -1.32 -1.17 0.38 0.50 1.74 3.33 7.26

5,266,000 893,000 60,000 6,533,000 6,800 314,500 1,330 1,670 555,000 421,200 1,818,000 666,900 72,300 13,338,200 1,926,400 31,243,400 2,050,900 6,000 4,919,000 218,780 1,200 459,900 518,300 1,937,000 781,950 13,300 43,000 1,600 2,284,400 1,446,200 355,300 348,420 450,000 531,000 10,131,800 35,000 3,300 1,797,000 957,000 118,000 1,314,000 35,000 5,000 250 90,000 11,800,000 1,083,000 4,640,000 1,856,880 51,000 4,179,000 627,000

0.390 78.05 15.56 1.16 6.00 0.365 0.370 855 8.03 13.14 5.1 6.40 0.243 1462 6.46 85.00 5.4 7.95 0.69 15.9 6.4 0.0330 1.820 2.68 78.60 2.13 980.00 1.16 0.81 185.00 184.000 0.3050 0.2010 0.330

-2.50 0.06 0.91 0.87 0.50 -3.95 -1.33 0.00 0.63 3.96 0.00 0.31 -1.22 2.67 2.54 1.31 0.00 1.27 0.00 0.00 4.40 3.13 0.55 1.13 0.26 -4.05 -0.20 0.00 -4.71 -2.63 1.10 -1.61 0.50 -2.94

1,070,000 2,982,490 5,323,900 74,000 43,200 6,520,000 2,950,000 365,270 4,025,800 10,064,800 100 946,800 280,000 287,430 91,300 6,356,850 100 3,724,900 781,000 8,594,500 70,581,000 49,000,000 2,575,000 3,000 292,090 69,000 289,550 142,000 71,000 30 31,370 2,990,000 930,000 8,130,000

7.900 7.50 1.34 2.480 0.265 38.950 3.4 5.2 5.98 0.520 1.00 1.040 0.132 0.550 59.9 0.800

0.00 7.14 -0.74 0.81 -5.36 2.77 3.98 0.78 4.36 1.96 5.26 -0.95 -2.94 -3.51 5.09 0.00

275,000 9,100 5,150,000 1,943,000 610,000 16,991,400 3,444,000 4,400 100 1,668,000 8,000 46,000 6,850,000 7,367,000 4,082,230 244,000

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Global-Estate 0.97 Filinvest Land,Inc. 2.04 Interport `A’ 1.25 Megaworld 4.55 MRC Allied Ind. 0.093 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2950 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.495 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 43.35 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.20 Rockwell 1.6 Shang Properties Inc. 3.12 SM Prime Holdings 25.10 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.91 Starmalls 6.4 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.030 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.300

3.09 -2.45 4.00 1.32 -1.08 -1.69 -4.04 1.27 1.37 1.87 -0.96 1.39 0.00 -0.16 0.97 1.13

9,424,000 31,708,000 34,000 58,729,000 3,780,000 110,000 310,000 10,700 2,580,800 39,000 127,000 20,590,600 2,757,000 6,700 405,000 21,092,700

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 4 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5

1.97 35.2 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 2.58 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 18 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 8.8 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 APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

-0.14 1.78 0.00 -3.78 4.69 3.39 -1.36 1.69 3.56 7.57 3.17 0.00 -0.33 -1.56 2.61 3.45 4.81 -1.55 -2.57 0.00 -1.35 0.00 1.85 1.70 -2.50 3.19 -1.93 -2.46 0.00 0.50 0.00 -0.25 -0.36 -0.11 -0.40 -3.78 0.81 0.21 2.00 2.30 -3.64 0.35 -0.06 2.57 2.26 1.69 -6.15 1.80 0.00 -2.64

138,700 109,650 1,187,000 3,500 38,033,000 57,200,000 1,618,000 2,173,520 100 355,000 295,400 1,000 79,480 779,800 300 161,000 1,491,810 174,400 50 6,800 1,379,000 14,430,000 1,541,000 8,000 7,600 875,100 1,306,000 1,500 1,000 121,000 32,256,000 6,638,000 7,377,000 1,579,800 3,600 10,500 3,460 165,000 321,290 25,000,000 36,389,000 3,982,700 697,990 382,200 16,603,000 3,026,000 8,000 2,331,000 540,000 899,052

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 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 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 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 0.0100

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `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 United Paragon

0.00 -3.04 2.82 -0.16 -1.70 0.00 -0.40 -1.54 0.00 -0.23 2.27 1.72 2.00 -1.85 0.00 0.00 3.33 9.29 2.31 5.26 1.59 10.00 0.00 -0.74 -1.21 0.00 0.00 0.70 0.00 0.00

144,000,000 -107,500.00 491,000 211,000 -68,680.00 5,300 2,930,000 6,100 9,600 -41,075.00 704,000 350,000 12,300 44,460.00 28,245,000 3,647,350.00 1,460,000 13,310,000 1,260,000 56,700,000 500,000 545,000 9,513,000 -9,719,850.00 656,000 55,260.00 3,000 218,000 15,120.00 15,200,000 1,000,000 31,000 1,912,500 766,987.00 7,453,000 2,960,510.00 154,100,000 26,000.00 688,740 4,882,224.00 842,000 -450.00 25,800,000

33 490 500 480 5.88 6.5 101 997

-100,000.00 6,200.00

1047

1011

149,250.00

78.95 84.8

74.5 75

1.34

1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

1.80 1.51 -0.93 0.00 4.84 -0.89 0.99 -0.58 0.00 -0.10 0.27 1.08 0.49 0.07 0.13 0.00 0.20 0.00 -1.96

278,450 700 14,870 8,800 46,000 1,172,000 167,000 14,000 190 3,295 4,420 180 66,640 250 16,840 1,440 92,320 18,400 7,000

887,196.00

-5,174,565.00 -17,540.00 141,210,080.00

70 553 525 515 8.21 12.28 111 1060

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

2.28

1,419,000

-31,900.00

15

3.5 5.95

1,358,000 12,000 267,000 1,699,000

-52,000.00

12.88

-1.48 0.00 2.66 0.00

-11,349,984.00

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

1.04

65,240

-20,340.00

1,947,385.00 262,373,571 102,879,531.00 -11,145.00 -9,338,392.00

-70,720,032.50 -2,637,148.00 -26,640.00 9,150,505 -7,347,632.00 -3,048,567.00 155,344,850.00 -10,500.00 4,857,510.00 617,495.00 18,340.00 -817,190 20,900.00 -163,752.00 515,585,682.00 1,595,915.00 -33,020,807.00 10,906,870.00 37,619,400.00 2,581,419.50 -193,110.00 -1,576,055.00 11,299.99 136,072,772.00 20,325,120.00 5,208,685.00 -632,913.00 12,330,582.00 1,744,140.00 -11,298,076.00 -37,200.00 -7,831,455.00 1,456,610.00

-51,800.00 18,797,094.00 187,600.00 -22,140.00

95,201,834.50 25,135,876.00 6,000.00 205,500.00 90,024,410.00 10,837,217.00 76,715,524.00 3,903,810.00 21,913,365.00 -43,282.00 22,652,835.00 5,854,709.00 57,389,026.00 168,122,448.00 755,200.00 -274,000.00

611,638.00 750.00 -135,000.00 282,854,935.00 9,458,470.00 8,120.00 81,200.00 23,911,462.50

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

1.03 0.97 1.00 2.08 1.99 1.99 1.31 1.25 1.30 4.65 4.48 4.61 0.095 0.089 0.092 0.2900 0.2750 0.2900 0.490 0.470 0.475 44.50 41.70 43.90 30.00 29.50 29.60 1.63 1.59 1.63 3.13 3.05 3.09 26.00 25.30 25.45 0.92 0.89 0.91 6.39 5.91 6.39 1.050 1.030 1.040 5.440 5.320 5.360 SERVICES 7.25 7.29 7.24 7.24 50.5 52.1 50.7 51.4 0.590 0.590 0.570 0.590 11.1 11.1 10.12 10.68 4.69 5.14 4.69 4.91 0.0590 0.0620 0.0600 0.0610 2.94 2.97 2.9 2.9 97.35 99.2 97.45 99 9.55 9.89 9.89 9.89 1.85 1.99 1.95 1.99 6.62 6.86 6.50 6.83 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 2408 2444 2390 2400 6.41 6.44 6.21 6.31 21.05 21.60 21.60 21.60 1.16 1.22 1.16 1.20 58.2 61.1 58.25 61 14.20 14.50 13.30 13.98 194.8 189.8 189.8 189.8 11.54 11.54 11.52 11.54 9.63 9.63 9.50 9.50 0.325 0.330 0.320 0.325 1.6200 1.6600 1.6200 1.6500 2.35 2.39 2.28 2.39 12 12.1 11.7 11.7 7.52 7.88 7.60 7.76 3.11 3.17 3.03 3.05 19.48 19.10 15.00 19.00 0.560 0.560 0.560 0.560 1.99 2 1.99 2 2.48 2.65 2.47 2.48 4.01 4.09 4.00 4.00 2.800 2.830 2.720 2.790 18 18.5 17.5 17.98 5.03 5.03 4.87 5.01 8.99 8.66 8.65 8.65 123.00 124.00 123.00 124.00 24.35 24.40 24.00 24.40 2000.00 2044.00 2002.00 2040.00 0.435 0.465 0.430 0.445 1.100 1.130 1.030 1.060 42.55 42.90 42.10 42.70 82.00 82.20 80.10 81.95 6.22 6.40 6.20 6.38 2.65 2.76 2.67 2.71 0.590 0.620 0.590 0.600 1.95 1.85 1.83 1.83 3.33 3.47 3.32 3.39 0.340 0.340 0.340 0.340 6.830 6.820 6.540 6.650 MINING & OIL 0.0044 0.0044 0.0043 0.0044 2.30 2.28 2.22 2.23 4.26 4.38 4.26 4.38 12.68 12.96 12.02 12.66 0.235 0.234 0.231 0.231 7.7800 7.78 7.72 7.7800 7.4900 8.4000 7.4600 7.4600 0.65 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.475 0.485 0.470 0.475 8.60 8.70 8.42 8.58 0.880 0.910 0.890 0.900 0.290 0.300 0.290 0.295 0.250 0.255 0.250 0.255 0.270 0.270 0.265 0.265 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 1.8 1.87 1.81 1.86 4.2 4.59 4.23 4.59 2.6 2.66 2.59 2.66 0.5700 0.6000 0.5900 0.6000 1.2600 1.2800 1.2600 1.2800 0.0100 0.0110 0.0099 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 4.08 4.06 3.92 4.05 7.44 7.50 7.31 7.35 4.40 4.59 4.40 4.40 0.0130 0.0140 0.0120 0.0130 128.50 131.00 128.20 129.40 4.09 4.25 4.09 4.09 0.0120 0.0120 0.0100 0.0120 PREFERRED 50 52.95 50 50.9 530 538 538 538 535 530 530 530 532 538 532 532 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.5 1.12 1.12 1.11 1.11 110.9 112 108 112 1032 1050 1026 1026 1090 1090 1090 1090 1028 1033 1027 1027 113 113.3 113.3 113.3 79 79.85 79.85 79.85 81 81.4 81.4 81.4 76.55 76.65 76.6 76.6 78 78.1 78 78.1 78 78 78 78 76.9 77.05 76.9 77.05 77 77 76.9 77 2.55 2.5 2.49 2.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.070 3.210 2.980 3.140 SME 4.05 4.08 3.99 3.99 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.01 3.14 3 3.09 16.8 17.12 16.8 16.8 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 124.5 126.3 124.8 125.8

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,397,830,785.83 1,832,176,760.024 2,751,865,661.93 2,030,597,616.923 1,962,041,325.04 223,151,993.319 10,241,050,471.064

Low

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,731.60 (up) 19.89 INDUSTRIAL 11,945.51 (up) 190.03 HOLDING FIRMS 7,629.69 (up) 63.41 PROPERTY 3,350.93 (up) 66.22 SERVICES 1,604.35 (up) 25.43 MINING & OIL 11,215.01 (up) 112.32 PSEI 7,710.54 (up) 112.32 All Shares Index 4,584.63 (up) 55.17 Gainers: 126; Losers: 81; Unchanged: 39; Total: 246

-239,640.00 -14,547,650.00 24,500.00 -14,289,430.00 9,170.00 38,051,560.00 4,800.00 262,317,980.00 305,270.00 -20,800.00 -21,307,626.00 -515,577.00 -11,800.00 74,848,820.00 -55,510.00 -234,310.00 46,362,329.50

-34,725,080.00 32,721,507.00 11,647,480.00 133,300.00 -36,480.00 -737,600.00 22,000.00 -2,664,890.00 -92,980.00 569,360.00 -5,030.00 372,000.00 -82,480.00 364,384,740.00 -32,550.00 1,029,210.00 44,611,955.00 -13,140,517.50 42,860.00 -7,987,940.00 -4,142,640.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Chemphil

172.5

50.00

Euro-Med Lab

1.68

LMG Chemicals

2.14

12.63

Transpacific Broadcast

1.83

-6.67 -6.15

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0110

10.00

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

194

-5.83

Nickelasia

4.59

9.29

Arthaland Corp.

0.265

-5.36

Discovery World

1.99

7.57

South China Res. Inc.

0.81

-4.71

Vulcan Ind'l.

1.33

7.26

Roxas Holdings

4.1

-4.21

Aboitiz Power Corp.

48.9

7.24

Seafront `A'

2.13

-4.05

Anchor Land Holdings Inc.

7.50

7.14

Phil. Realty `A'

0.475

-4.04

City & Land Dev.

1.00

5.26

ATN Holdings A

0.365

-3.95

Omico

0.6000

5.26

Asian Terminals Inc.

10.68

-3.78

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 8, 2016

B3

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

Bloomberry upbeat on gaming

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp., the developer of Solaire Resort and Casino, said it remains upbeat about the domestic gaming industry despite the planned opening of the Okadaowned casino and entertainment complex within government-sponsored Pagcor Entertainment City in Parañaque City.

“We are upbeat that despite the growing supply and capacity in the Philippine gaming sector, demand will eventually catch up through an improving domestic market, growing international tourist arrivals and our ramp up in the global marketing for So-

laire,” Bloomberry chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. said during the annual shareholders’ meeting of the company.

Razon is also unperturbed about the opening of a third player in the Entertainment City.

Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. of Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada is set to open its $2.7-billion integrated entertainment and gaining facility by the end of 2016.

“Our experience with City of Dreams Manila is that we still had higher revenues when they opened. Hopefully the same thing will also happen,” Razon said.

Razon said the Entertainment City would be ready to compete head on and in a larger scale in terms of world-class services and first rate, total leisure and entertainment experience once the road infrastructure around the area is completed.

He referred to the access infrastructure to and from Entertainment City from SLEx Skyway and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as well as the arrival of new players in the next few years Meanwhile, Razon said the company implemented an extensive cost containment program to ensure the continued growth of the company.

The company is also focusing in developing a mixed-use development with a casino facility within its 1.5-hectare property in Vertis North, Quezon City.

Razon said the company planned to start developing the property, which it acquired

from National Housing Authority in 2015, by the middle of next year.

Razon also expects its casino venture in South Korea to break even this year. Blooomberry last year purchased Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino in Jeju Island in Korea.

Aside from the Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino, Bloomberry acquired two islands in South Korea, the 20.96-hectare Silmi Island and the 12.2-hectare Muui Island.

“We are very excited about the potential of these properties and have recently decided to focus on expansion plans in Korea solely on these two islands,” Razon said.

Market advances as index tops 7,700

DoST satellite office. Department of Science and Technology National Capital Regional director Teresita Fortuna (third from left) and Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (left) lead the inauguration of the DoST-NCR Muntinlupa-Taguig-Parañaque-Pateros-Las Piñas cluster office at MCTI Building, San Guillermo St., Putatan on June 6. The shift of the department to place a satellite office in Muntinlupa is part of the Fresnedi administration’s plan to bring the services of the national agencies to Muntinlupeños. With them are (from left) DOST-NCR cluster manager Kim Atienza and MCTI director Francis Santella.

Ayala, MetroPac expand rail payment network

By Darwin G. Amojelar AF PAYMENTS Inc., a consortium of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., has expanded its loading network through a partnership with Bayad Center.

Under the partnership between the two companies, beep cardholders may load at select Bayad Center outlets, including Tambunting, Villarica and SM Business Centers, all of which are part of Bayad Center’s payment collection network.

The beep card is the new contactless payment solution developed to make the payment process more convenient across

all three rail lines—LRT Line 1, LRT 2 and MRT3—as it allows seamless transfers from one rail to another.

“After the full implementation in all three rail lines, our second order of business is expanding our loading network. We are committed to helping commuters save time, and an important part of this is to find convenient loading points outside of the stations,” AF Payments Inc. chief executive and president Peter Maher said.

“Bayad Center is the perfect starting point because of their huge network, covering virtually all of Metro Manila,” he said.

Bayad Center president and

chief executive Manuel Lorenzo Tuason said the 1.5 million daily train riders were the same people who trusted the company for their bills.

“With more than 1,000 payment collection sites within Metro Manila alone, we are confident that Bayad Center can help our commuters in their daily grind,” Tuason said Maher added AF Payments would be increasing to more branches and other partner establishments throughout the year.

“We are also very close to expanding usage of the beep card to buses, toll roads, and retail,” he said.

AF Payments earlier teamed up with Froehlich Tours, HM Transport and Citylink Coach Services for its first venture into buses serving commuters within Metro Manila.

The partnership covers the Trinoma to Makati and SM North EDSA to SM Megamall for Froehlich Tours; Airport Loop for HM Transport; and Eastwood City, Uptown Bonifacio, San Lorenzo Place, McKinley Hill and Newport City for Citylink Coach Services.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. earlier said the beep card would be rolled out in the second quarter at the North Luzon Expressway and Manila-Cavie Expressway.

THE stock market surged Tuesday after Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen said the US economy was still in good shape and any increase in borrowing costs would be slow and low.

The Philippine Stock exchange Index rose 112.32 points, or 1.5 percent, to a near 13-month high of 7,710.54 on a value turnover of P10.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 126 to 81, with 39 issues unchanged.

Aboitiz Power Corp. advanced 6.3 percent to P48.90, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp. climbed 4.4 percent to P6.40.

Ayala land Inc. gained 2.8 percent to P38.95, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fastfood chain, increased 2.6 percent to P239.

The rest of Asian stocks advanced. After Friday’s wellbelow-forecast US jobs report raised worries about the country’s growth—and sent the dollar and Wall Street tumbling—Yellen said that while the figures were “concerning” she was still upbeat about the outlook.

Japan’s Nikkei ended up 0.6 percent, while Sydney added 0.2 percent and Seoul was 1.3 percent higher. Hong Kong surged 1.4 percent.

Singapore put on 0.8 percent.

In the first few minutes of European trade London climbed 0.4 percent, Frankfurt added 0.7 percent and Paris gained 0.5 percent.

In her closely watched speech, Yellen she urged markets not to “attach too much significance to any single monthly report,” adding that the overall jobs market was “quite positive”.

She gave no indication when the central bank would again raise interest rates but said any move would be gradual.

Friday’s news that the US economy in May created less than a quarter of the jobs expected eroded expectations for a rate rise in June or July—as had been strongly hinted by the Fed—and caught traders off guard. With AFP

B4 Pacquiao buys into Singapore IT firm

Pru Life’s awards.

British life insurer Pru Life UK wins two awards of excellence at the Philippine Quill Awards 2015 at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. Shown receiving the awards are (from left) Pru Life UK assistant manager for creative services RJ Estayola, brand and communications specialist Janica Monick Riego, assistant vice president for brand and communications Anna Gizelle Camua, senior vice president and chief marketing officer Belle Tiongco, digital media specialist Aly Agagon and senior brand activation and community relations specialist AJ Tapia.

By Darwin G Amojelar EIGHT-division boxing champion and incoming senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquaio has acquired a “meaningful” stake in a Singapore-based mobile gaming and advertising business.

“We are especially honored to have Senator Manny Pacquiao believing and investing in our vision to build the fastest growing crowdsourcing community for gamers, developers and publishers alike,” GToken chief executive Kenneth Mark Yong said in a statement.

GToken, which was launched in December 2014 in Singapore, garnered strong partnerships and support from the booming mobile gaming community across the region.

The company, with over a million users across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and China, has rapidly grown throughout Asia and is currently valued at $60 million.

“As a world champion in professional sports and a fighter all my life, I know what it takes to succeed on the global scale,” Pacquiao, a world champion professional boxer, said.

“I’m confident that GToken has that special fighting spirit to be one of the strongest global players in the mobile gaming and advertising space and I’m proud to be part of the team,” he said.

Pacquiao has investments in hotel, water refilling station, gasoline station, merchandise store, among others.

Pacquiao declared a net worth of P1.6 billion in 2014, making him the only billionaire member of the 16th Congress. Pacquiao earned at least $100 million from his recent fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas.

GToken’s founding investors include Ivan Lee, a serial entrepreneur whose previous company was acquired for about SG$100 million.

Ivan is also the founder of Raging Bull, a private investment fund focused on technology. Another early investor, Eldee Tang, played a key role in the success of this deal.

Power rates to drop in June, says Meralco

By Alena Mae S. Flores

RESIDENTIAL customers of Manila Electric Co. will see their monthly power bills decline by an average of P0.13 per kilowatt-hour this month on lower generation charges.

Meralco said in a statement the residential rate for a typical household consuming 200 kWh would go down by P0.13 per kWh to P8.32 per kWh in June.

“This translates into a reduction of around P25 in their electricity bill. The reduction is due to the downward movement in the generation charge, which more than offset a higher transmission charge,” the power distributor said.

Meralco said generation charges went down by P0.16 per kWh in June, compared to the previous month. The generation cost was

also the lowest since October 2004.

Charges from the wholesale electricity spot market, the country’s trading floor of electricity, went down by P0.98 per kWh following fewer generator outages during the May supply month.

WESM’s final effective settlement spot prices for the May billing period declined to P2.94 per kWh from P4.34 per kWh in April, despite the high temperature.

“It must be stressed that only those utilities that bought from the spot market will realize an impact from the dip of spot pries. The increase in generation offers is seen as a factor in the decline of market prices. The rise in generation offers during the critical summer period and election season can be attributed to increase in registered capacities in the registered capacities with influx of solar power plants and less scheduled outages,” Philippine Electricity Market Corp. president Melinda Ocampo said.

Ocampo said that barring any major plant outages, the high reserves and the impact of renewable energy would “really pull down

prices” in the next few months.

Meralco sourced 12.8 percent of its power requirements from WESM in May, up from 11.7 percent in April.

Cost of power from Meralco’s independent power producers also decreased by P0.22 per kWh following an improvement in the dispatch of Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. Meralco sourced bulk if its power requirements from PSAs at 46.1 percent and the remaining 41.1 percent from IPPs in tMay. The lower generation charge more than offset an increase in the transmission charge of P0.066 per kWh due to higher ancillary service charges.

The transmission charge will include the collection of an ancillary service differential that will go to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. beginning June and up to November.

Taxes and other charges also decreased by a combined amount of P0.033 per kWh. Meralco’s distribution, supply, and metering charges remained unchanged for 11 months, after they registered a reduction in July 2015.

Alorica acquires EGS to include 26,300 jobs in Philippines

By Othel V. Campos CALIFORNIA-based business process outsourcing company Alorica Inc. said Tuesday it will acquire Expert Global Solutions to create a new global organization with 91,000 employees, including 26,300 Filipinos.

Alorica said in a statement it entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire EGS to form a new group with combined revenues of $2.3 billion.

It said the new Alorica would be staffed by 52,000 industry experts in North America and more than 38,000 across the globe, with 26,300 based in the

Philippines and 11,800 in Latin America.

These professionals will be engaging customers in more than 30 languages in all channels.

It said in the Philippines, the new Alorica would be comprised of 17 contact centers with 26,000 employees and would be led by Bong Borja, the former chairman of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

The combined company will integrate strengths from both companies with an emphasis on transforming the customer experience through data-driven

insights.

Alorica founder Andy Lee would be the chairman and chief executive of the new organization which is based in Irvine, California.

“This blend of talent allows us to better serve customers because of our substantial global footprint, broad and deep vertical expertise and industry-leading solutions. More importantly, we share the same commitment to our people, passion for our clients and integrity in our business,” said Lee. EGS president and chief executive Bob Segert said “the combination of our companies creates

innovative capabilities to deliver world-class customer experiences, with an even broader suite of solutions.”

The new Alorica will serve more than 600 clients, supporting customers through every channel, including voice, mobile, chat, social media and video.

Lee said the timing of the acquisition was critical especially for future contracts as “more companies are looking for industry-specific customer experience solutions.”

“With our domain expertise in nine major verticals, particularly in healthcare, communications, retail and financial services,

we’ll be well positioned to tailor the right mix of talent, capacity, analytics and technology to deliver solutions for every client,” he said.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory requirements. The companies expect to complete the transaction with regulators’ approval by early third quarter of 2016.

EGS is a portfolio company managed by One Equity Partners, a leading middle-market private equity firm with offices in New York and Chicago, and advisory offices in Frankfurt and São Paulo.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 6

B5

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

Sucat plant up for rebidding

By Alena Mae S. Flores

High turnover rates cost more A SURVEY conducted by an international consultancy firm showed that millennial employees are among the most restless and most unattached to their jobs, with some leaving even before they reach 12 months as new hires (25 percent) while more than a third leave in less than five years.

While millennials may be very creative and smart, this kind of “disloyalty” can end up costing companies more. Imagine, you train them and show them the ropes and then they leave you in the lurch?

Prople Inc. – a leading global business solutions provider known for excellent services in the areas of finance and accounting, human resource, tax services and data management – may just be able to help Filipino businessmen who are losing out due to increasing turnover rates. Citing a study, Prople says a lot of companies focus on improving workplace policies in a bid to reduce the cost that goes with high turnover and yet about a fifth of workers voluntarily leave their job each year due to both personal and business reasons.

According to Prople chairman Alfonso Yuchengco III, employee retention is becoming quite an issue because it entails losses that could reach tens of thousands of dollars (that’s right!) because new hires would need to be trained again, not to mention lost productivity (among them downtime as companies look for a replacement), lost engagements and work-related errors.

“First, job vacancies cause slower productivity. Second, the company has to prepare for its budget plan for the cost of hiring and training new employees. This could be very tedious, time-consuming and costly for the company,” Yuchengco says.

“Startups that are planning to hire new people for critical job functions have to rethink their business strategies. If they are looking forward to long-term success, outsourcing professionals for specific positions will go a long way,” he adds.

Pointing to Prople’s strong team of professionals with expertise and rich experience in finance and accounting, tax services, human resources and payroll as well as data management, Yuchengco says businesses can have more access to highly skilled workers because Prople’s experts are CPAs, auditors, project managers, business analysts and IT professionals who can do the right job on time.

“This allows business owners to focus on growing their company while we do specific outsourced work functions for them,” Yuchengo shares.

Business owners can also benefit from Prople’s data management services that include data capture, conversion, clean-up, organization, standardization, data mining and analysis and healthcare management. Aside from reduced operating costs, a study published by oracle.com shows that excellent data management could actually benefit companies pertinent to back-office improvements, faster and more accurate billing, improved customer service, front-office improvements, improved regulatory and compliance efforts.

“As a globally competitive organization, Prople strives for more growth to become the best business partners to clients. Being focused with that goal, we keep practicing the following culture at Prople: total quality management, continuous improvement, strategic customer service, manpower efficiency, and innovation,” Yuchengco states, adding that they will continue to support companies in achieving business goals “because their growth is always our top priority.”

ACTS-OFW party list calls for full implementation of OFW help desks in LGUs A new party list congressman is calling on local government units to implement their mandated role to set up help desks or kiosks to address issues that migrant workers and their families face, among them basic services assistance, employment and verification, as well as legal cases like illegal recruitment, individual or mass repatriation, human-trafficking, among many others.

ACTS-OFW Party list Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III is setting his sight on the LGUs’ role of protecting and promoting the welfare of Filipino contract workers, as embodied in RA 10022, which amended the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act, proposing the establishment of fully computerized OFW help desks or kiosks in their specific localities with help from other concerned agencies and NGOs. Bertiz envisions these help desks to ensure our modern day heroes’ well-being by providing free assistance in all aspects relative to overseas workers’ welfare, employment, legal and livelihood which will be a local replication of the POEA’s Assist WELL Center.

LGUs are required to report any illegal activities, provide legal assistance to victims, coordinate with proper authorities/agencies for the arrest and prosecution of those involved, provide a suitable venue for the conduct of pre-employment orientation seminars and establish help desks with a database linked to the database of concerned agencies, which contains updated lists of overseas job orders, licensed agencies and locally-residing OFWs in their areas.

Cognizant of the additional funding and tasks this help desk will entail, Bertiz proposes the formulation of fund-generating programs and schemes that would help engender a self-sustaining office which could be manned by a POEA-trained LGU personnel and assisted by local OFW organizations volunteers. He also bared plans to spearhead the organization of local and national OFW advocacy groups and their families into an empowered sector which will deal with overseas workers’ concerns and craft programs and projects aimed at nation-building.

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STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Tuesday it is set to rebid the structures, plant equipment, auxiliaries and accessories of the decommissioned 850-megawatt Sucat thermal power plant in September.

“The PSALM board has just approved the privatization of decommissioned Sucat plant with September 2016 as target date of bidding,” PSALM officer-incharge Lourdes Alzona said.

PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp.

PSALM in April declared the second round of bidding for the Sucat thermal power plant after the three qualified bidders

did not meet the reserve price.

PSALM sets the reserve price but does not disclose it.

“This will be another round of regular bidding, but may proceed to a negotiated sale in case this bidding has been declared a failure,” Alzona said.

PSALM said that initially, four bidders submitted offers for the second round of bidding for the Sucat decommissioned plant sale.

However, one bidder was dis-

qualified after it was found noncompliant with the legal requirements of the bidding process.

The three qualified bidders were Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corp., VPD Trading and Sta. Clara International.

PSALM plans to use proceeds from the Sucat privatization to liquidate the financial obligations it assumed from the National Power Corp. PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of Napocor as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

The first round of bidding failed in 2015 amid allegations of dubious documents submitted by the winning bidder.

PSALM said it would selling all plant equipment, structures, auxiliaries and accessories of the Sucat plant on an “as is, where is” basis.

OFW medical assistance.

Overseas Workers Welfare administrator Rebecca Calzado (third from left) and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. president and chief executive Alexander Padilla (second from left) present the signed memorandum of agreement on the Owwa supplemental medical assistance for overseas Filipino workers at Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City. With them are Owwa deputy administrator Josefino Torres (right) and Philhealth senior manager for overseas Filipino program Chona Yap.

Philex backs Duterte’s policy on mining

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales PHILEX Mining Corp. said Tuesday it supports President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s call to stop illegal and irresponsible mining.

Philex said in a statement the company would work with Duterte and his administration in addressing the problem that had tainted the image of the industry for so long.

Duterte said during a thanksgiving party in Davao City that big mining companies destroying the environment should stop operations.

The President-elect also said the mining industry must “shape up.”

“Surely, we do not want that kind of image or reputation to be tainted by the ’scalawags in the industry’ that operate illegally and irresponsibly,”said Philex senior vice-president for public and regulatory affairs and head of MVP Group media bureau Michael Toledo.

Toledo said Philex was one with the vision and plan of incoming President Duterte to ensure protection of the environment and a fair share of revenues from the country’s natural resources.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines also said it would support Duterte’s bid to stop illegal and irresponsible mining which posed threat to the community and environment.

“This has always been the COMP’s position as we continue to find ways to strengthen our programs in social development and management to include Indigenous Peoples and environmental enhancement,” COMP said.

BEST

GADGETS

JUNE 18, 2016 RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE NOW! CONTACT US AT 832-5547/56/58 OR 832-5550

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

B6

BUSINESS

Invitation to Bid for the UPGRADING OF AUDIO AND VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEM FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 1.

The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for FY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Four Million Five Hundred Two Thousand Pesos (PhP 4,502,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Upgrading of Audio and Video Conferencing System for the Office of the Secretary (the “Project”). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the Upgrading of Audio and Video Conferencing System for the Office of the Secretary (DOF). Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project which is equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC for the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (R-IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications.

4.

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

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the th Bidding Documents at 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. St. Roxas Boulevard, Manila starting June 8, 2016 during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on June 8, 2016 th at the General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila upon payment of a non-refundable fee Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00).

6.

The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

Posting of Invitation to Bid

June 8, 2016

Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents

Starting June 8, 2016

Pre-Bid Conference

June 15, 2016, 10:00 am

Request for Clarification

June 17, 2016 (by email)

Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin

June 20, 2016

Deadline for Submission of Bids

June 27, 2016, 9:45 am

Opening of Bids

June 27, 2016, 10:00 am

7.

Bids must be delivered at the 7thth Floor, EDPC Building cor. P. Ocampo Sr. St., Manila on or before June 27, 2016, 9:45 am. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. All the Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Instructions to Bid (ITB) Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4thth Floor DOF Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.

“LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.” The DOF reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to:

(SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and DOF-BAC Chairman

(TS-JUNE (TS-JUNE 8, 8, 2016) 2016)

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Request for Expression of Interest for CONSULTING SERVICES for an INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PHILIPPINE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE (PH-EITI) for 2016 1. The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP3,500,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payments under the contract for Consulting Services for an Independent Administrator for the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) for 2016. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

2. The DOF now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the procurement of consulting services of a consulting firm/company affiliated with an internationally recognized audit firm with extensive experience in large scale auditing and accounting projects in extractive and financial sectors.

Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before June 15, 2016, 09:45 a.m. at the SBAC Secretariat, c/o General Services Division, 7thth Floor EDPC Building, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

3. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA No. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: - 30% - 50% - 20% 100%

The minimum passing score is 70%.

4. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA No. 9184.

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.

5. The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

6. The contract shall be completed within a period of seven (7) months from issuance of Notice to Proceed.

7. The DOF reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Mary Ann Rodolfo PH-EITI Tel. No. 400-6882 (TS-JUNE 8, 8, 2016) 2016) (TS-JUNE

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

Trade moves to ease doing business in PH

By Othel V. Campos

THE Trade Department vowed to reduce steps in business procedures in a bid to improve the global competitiveness ranking of the Philippines.

The department, the lead agency in the ease of doing business initiative, is supporting Gameplan 4.0, designed and prepared by the National Competitiveness Council and the EODB Task Force based on the doing business report of International Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank.

“We’ll continue with the initiative to reduce business processing procedures. We still target the upper third bracket, although it will be a bit of a stretch this year. This will be challenging,” Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said Tuesday during a conference at the Philippine Interna-

tional Convention Center.

The Philippines has posted significant gains in the Doing Business Report since its implementation, moving up 45 notches in the past five years.

The Philippines currently ranks no. 103 out of 189 economies in the report. The country aims to rank 63rd in world rankings by 2016.

Cristobal noted that the country’s micro, small and medium entreprises, and not the large corporations, would bring inclusive growth.

“We do not do this because of the annual report, neither because of business. We do this

to uplift the small players that comprise about 64 percent of the business community. They will lead us to growth,” he said.

The EODB Task Force has committed to deliver several improvements make an impact on the processes measured in the report.

On starting a business, business applicants can now obtain all the relevant reference numbers, like Securities and Exchange Commission registration number, Bureau of Internal Revenue Tax identification number and employers registration number at the SEC head office and selected satellite offices in malls.

On paying taxes and payrollrelated payments, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth have made it easier for companies employing 10 or more workers to pay monthly contributions through an online payment system in Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Insular Life launches Guardian Fund

Lilia R. Tan, Head - BAC Secretariat Department of Finance BAC Secretariat, General Services Division th 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo, Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telephone No.: 526-8475 Telefax No.: 525-4227 Email Address: ltan@dof.gov.ph

I. Applicable Experience II. Quality of Personnel to be Assigned III. Capacity to Execute the Project Total

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 8, 2016

(SGD(GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and SBAC Chairman

INSULAR Life, the largest Filipino-owned insurance company, expands its roster of peso-denominated variable

in the long-term by initially investing in 10 listed companies deemed to be the next set of the most liquid and well-capitalized dividend-paying stocks Republic of the Philippines in the Philippine Stock DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Exchange.

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street The companies makManila 1004 ing up the fund are well Request for Expression of Interest for CONSULTING respected in their indusSERVICES OF A CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION WRITER FOR tries and are poised for THE PHILIPPINE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY growth and performance INITIATIVE (PH-EITI) 2016 COUNTRY REPORT in the long-term.

“We are at the verge of 1. The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000.00), installing a new adminbeing the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payments under the istration and changes in contract for Consulting Services of a Contextual Information Writer for the the operating environPhilippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) 2016 Country Report. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at ment are to be expected,” the opening of the financial proposals. said first vice president 2. The DOF now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the and business developprocurement of consulting services of a consulting firm/company affiliated ment unit head Alijeffty with an internationally recognized audit firm with extensive experience in large scale auditing and accounting projects in extractive and financial sectors.

Gonzales.

Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before “Companies currently June 15, 2016, 09:45 a.m. at the SBAC Secretariat, c/o General Services recognized as market Division, 7thth Floor EDPC Building, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion. leaders may see their position challenged by 3. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in more nimble operataccordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA No. 9184), ing entities. The Guardotherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its ian Fund is designed to Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria identify the next best and rating system for short listing are: listed companies foreseen to evolve as the I. Applicable Experience - 20% II. Quality of Personnel to be Assigned - 40% market leaders of the fuIII. Capacity to Execute the Project - 40% ture,” he said.

Total 100% This makes the GuardThe passing score is at least seventy percent (70%). ian Fund an ideal asset for life insurance 4. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA No. 9184. products as individuals Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or avail of it to finance the organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital family’s future financial stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. goals, such as education 5. The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Cost Based Evaluation planning, retirement (QCBE) procedure. The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated funding, estate planning for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the and risk protection. evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

The Guardian Fund is 6. The contract shall be completed within a period of four (5) months from available for all singleissuance of Notice to Proceed. pay and multiple-pay 7. The DOF reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding VUL products of Insular process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without Life. It is available for a thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. limited period only and 8. For further information, please refer to: starts at a discounted Ms. Mary Ann Rodolfo unit price of P0.80.

PH-EITI Tel. No. 400-6882 Investing in VUL provides opportunities for (SGD( GIL S. BELTRAN higher earnings than Undersecretary and SBAC Chairman traditional savings.

(TS-JUNE 8, 8, 2016) 2016) (TS-JUNE

unit-linked funds with Guardian Fund.

The fund seeks to deliver growth and capital appreciation

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Judge acquits student leader HONG KONG—Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong was acquitted Tuesday over an anti-China protest in the first of a series of cases against him to reach a verdict.

Wong, 19, was the teenage face of the prodemocracy Umbrella Movement, which brought parts of Hong Kong to a standstill for more than two months in late 2014 with street rallies calling on Beijing to allow fully free leadership elections.

Tensions remain high in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, with fears growing that Beijing is tightening its grip.

Around 20 supporters gathered outside court chanting and carrying yellow umbrellas, the symbol of the democracy movement. “The result of this trial proves that it was a political prosecution,� Wong said after the verdict. “I think it proves that the core values of Hong Kong are eroding.�

The teenager was in court over a small protest in June 2014— before the mass rallies—which saw dozens gather outside Beijing’s representative office in the city.

They were opposing a “white paper� from China that asserted its control over Hong Kong, and burned a reproduction of the document.

Wong, student leader Nathan Law, and activists Raphael Wong and Albert Chan were all charged with obstructing police, which carries a possible two-year jail term.

They pleaded not guilty and all were acquitted.

Magistrate Lee Siu-ho said Wong could not be held accountable for the fact that police were unable to control the crowd.

One officer said Wong had obstructed him from carrying out his duty by knocking an empty water bottle from his hand—thereby preventing him from recycling it.

In his judgment Lee dismissed that argument, saying that was a mere “inconvenience�.

Student leader Law criticized the justice department for allowing the case to go ahead on weak evidence. AFP

B7

Handouts prompt row in crisis-hit Venezuela CARACAS—Venezuelans facing severe food shortages might have been expected to welcome heavily subsidized bags of rice, milk and other staples—but the controversy didn’t take long to set in.

At play. Tigers Heike (bottom) and Diego play on May 27, 2016, at the Felidae center for wildcats in Sydower Fliess, near Brandenburg, Germany. AFP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PROVINCE OF BATANGAS MUNICIPALITY OF BAUAN Bids and Awards Committee

The bags, distributed to poor families every three weeks, represent President Nicolas Maduro’s latest plan to combat the increasingly desperate economic crisis that has taken hold of oil giant Venezuela as crude prices have collapsed over the past two years.

But the program has already drawn a hail of criticism.

The bags are too skimpy, too infrequent and reserved mainly for the leftist president’s supporters, critics say.

Maduro launched the program to combat the black-market resale of subsidized food and crippling shortages, which he says are being artificially created by a business elite bent on destroying Venezuela’s socialist economic model and forcing

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

Invitation to Bid for the Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Endpoint Management System under ITB No. PB16-056COR-05

Municipal Government of Bauan Bauan, Batangas

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidder in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Endpoint Management System under ITB No. PB16-056COR-05.

Standard Form Number: SF-GOOD-05 Revised on: July 29, 2004

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID

Brief Description

Supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of perpetual license for Endpoint Management System with two (2) years of warranty, updates and support

Contract Duration

The supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning shall commence within thirty (30) calendar days from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed and the two (2) year contract shall commence on the 30 th day upon completion and acceptance of the requirements.

The Municipal Government of Bauan, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder contracts: PROJECT TITLE/ LOCATION

PROJECT DESCRIPTION REF. NO.

Purchase of (3 units) diesel-fed 2.5L displacement ambulance with BG-2016accessories to 22 be used in the disaster medical response at Bauan Batangas

Supply & Delivery

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT

SOURCE MODE OF OF FUND PURCHASE

=P 4,890,000.00 General Fund

Bidding

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years, with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed items for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the preliminary examination of bids shall use nondiscretionary “pass/fail� criteria. Post – qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

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

The complete schedule of BAC activities is listed, as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

ACTIVITIES Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post-Qualification Notice of Award

SCHEDULE June 14 - 28, 2016 June 27, 2016 June 28, 2016 June 29, 2016 June 30, 2016 July 04, 2016

The BAC will issue bidding documents only to bidders declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of non-refundable amount to the Municipal Government Cashier.

The Municipal Government of Bauan assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of Bauan reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to declare the bidding a failure, not to award the contract, to annul the bidding process, to waive any defects or informalities therein, without incurring any liabilities to the affected bidder(s) and to accept the proposal considered most advantageous to the Government.

Approved by:

(TS-JUNE 8 & 15, 2016)

him from power.

Under the new distribution plan, the government hands out food through the so-called Supply and Production Committees headed by community leaders.

The acronym in Spanish is CLAP. But there hasn’t been much applause.

The bags being distributed at a recent handout in Caracas held three kilos of rice, one of milk, another of sugar, a package of black beans and a liter of cooking oil.

Similar bags are handed out once every three weeks. “It helps, but it’s not enough to cover all our needs,� said expectant mother Yosmary Ramos, 19, in the impoverished neighbor-

hood of Petare. “I’m going to need diapers, and milk for the baby costs 7,000 bolivars,� about $13 at the highest official rate in Venezuela’s complex, tightly controlled and dollar-starved foreign exchange system.

Maduro insists the bags are the answer. “They are the great instrument of the revolution to win the economic war,� he said last week. “All power to the CLAPs.�

Herminia Rangel, who is in charge of verifying a list of 254 recipients for the local government, explained the system to AFP. There are two types of bags, she said: a basic version called Mercal with “products made by the government,� and a “prepaid� bag that must be reserved in advance.

The Mercal bag, for which recipients pay at pick-up, currently costs 910 bolivars ($1.70).

The prepaid bag costs more than four times that 3,700 bolivars. AFP

(Sgd) Dr. NOEL C. BAUTISTA BAC Chairman

Approved Budget for Six Million Seven Hundred Ninety-One Thousand Three Hundred Pesos (PhP the Contract (ABC) 6,791,300.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction Source of Funds

Internally Funded

Bidder 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 Bidder. 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.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

Schedule June 8 to 28, 2016

2. Pre-Bid Conference

June 16, 2016, 2:00 p.m.

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

June 28, 2016, 2:00 p.m.

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

June 28, 2016, 2:00 p.m onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidder at the Procurement Department (PD), [formerly known as Bids and Awards

Services Department (BASD)], acting as the BAC Secretariat, upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the sale of bidding documents in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (PhP 10,000.00).

Prospective bidder 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 bidder shall pay the non-refundable fee for the sale of bidding documents not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidder. Prospective bidder should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip for the Sale of Bidding Documents which may be secured from PD 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.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidder 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) 2 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 bidder have been postqualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. In alphabetical order, the bidder shall pick one rolled paper.

2. 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 bidder.Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru PD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel Nos.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223 or 617.

(SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 2

(TS-JUNE 8, 2016)

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 6

B8

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Ceremony. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on June 7, 2016. AFP

France fearful of ‘soft targets’ Albinos in Malawi called objects of ‘killing wave’ LILONGWE, Malawi—Albinos in Malawi are being targeted in an “unprecedented wave of brutal attacks”, Amnesty International said Tuesday in a report that blames police for failing to tackle a scourge fueled by ritual practices.

At least 18 people with albinism—a hereditary condition that causes an absence of pigmentation in the skin—have been killed across Malawi since November 2014.

Five are still missing after being abducted, the London-based rights group said.

The actual number of people killed may be much higher, Amnesty noted, as many cases go unreported due to the secretive nature of ritual practices in the rural areas.

The report, titled “We are not animals to be hunted or sold”, painted a chilling picture of killings and fear, with the body parts of victims, including children, routinely hacked for use in witchcraft.

“Malawian authorities have dismally failed them, leaving this population group at the mercy of criminal gangs who hunt them down for their body parts,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Southern Africa.

The report said their body parts were used as “charms and magical potions in the belief that they bring wealth and good luck.”

“The macabre trade is also fueled by a belief that bones of people with albinism contain gold.”

AFP

PARIS—Despite putting unprecedented security measures in place for Euro 2016, France remains deeply concerned over the jihadists’ ability to strike a soft target.

Millions of foreign visitors and the world’s press are set to descend on the country for a month of sporting action from Friday—creating endless nightmares for its overstretched security services.

“From the point of view of preparation, we have done as much as possible. Everyone has been mobilized: police, paramilitaries, many soldiers,” a senior counter-terrorism official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

But, he said, “to be totally honest, I’m worried.”

President Francois Hollande acknowledged the threat on Sunday, though he tried to put a brave face on it.

“This threat will last for a long time, unfortunately, so we must do everything to ensure that the Euro 2016 is a success,” he told France Inter radio.

Hollande’s government introduced a state of emergency in the wake of last year’s jihadist attacks in Paris, allowing police to raid homes and place people under house arrest with minimal oversight.

But the challenge of monitoring those who have returned from Syria and Iraq, or who have sneaked into Europe using false passports or with the influx of refugees, has overwhelmed the continent’s security services.

“What really worries us above all is the guys who are already here in Europe—guys that are already in Germany for example, that we haven’t seen arrive, that the Germans haven’t found, who have stayed quiet and waited,” said the official.

“We have re-established some borders, but we shouldn’t dream -borders cannot be controlled.”

A recent incident thousands of

kilometers away has further darkened the mood.

On May 13, in a town north of Baghdad, militants attacked a cafe where Real Madrid supporters regularly meet, killing 16 people with automatic weapons and grenades.

“It’s like a postcard sent to Euro 2016—a direct message,” said the counter-terrorism official. “It was maybe to scare us, in which case it was successful.”

And tensions were raised further on Monday, when Ukraine’s security services said they had arrested a suspected far-right extremist Frenchman with an arsenal of weapons and explosives who was allegedly planning “15 terrorist strikes” before and during the tournament.

“We know that Daesh is planning new attacks and France is clearly targeted,” said the head of France’s DGSI domestic intelligence agency, Patrick Calvar, during a recent parliamentary session, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group (IS). AFP

Drug lords burn forests to land planes PETEN, Guatemala—Drug traffickers burning down Guatemalan forest to make clandestine landing strips for planes carrying USbound cocaine have razed an area twice the size of Manhattan this year, officials say.

The Central American country has declared a state of emergency over the fires ravaging its forests, which have hit hardest along its northern border with Mexico and Belize—prime territory for the drug gangs.

The region, known as Peten, is known for the riches lying in its forests, including the Maya

Biosphere Reserve and archaeological treasures such as the ancient city of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But those dense forests are also strategically placed hideouts for the cartels trafficking cocaine from South America to the United States, officials say.

“There is a strong presence of drug traffickers, who, in their daily drive to claim new territory, don’t think twice about setting fire to the forest or paying poor people to do it,” said Alma Polanco, director in Peten of the National Council for Protected Areas.

Of the 12,000 hectares Guatemala has lost to forest fires since January, Peten accounts for more than three-quarters.

Drug gangs burn the forest to make new landing strips for the small planes they use to transport cocaine, as well as to grow crops such as opium and marijuana, officials say.

Powerful Mexican drug cartels have made major inroads in Guatemala in recent years, partnering with local gangs to turn the country into a major hub for transport and money laundering.

AFP

Premiere. Actress Paula Patton attends the premiere of Universal Pictures’ ‘Warcraft’ in Hollywood, California. AFP

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TATuM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LuNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

H oME & L I v ING

LIFE

Clifford Espinosa

photos by star sabroso

the Nova—a furniture created by Espinosa for his wife

Furniture Masterpieces inspired by life CaleidosCope World

by CAl TAvERA arrived at the interview with a sore back.

I haven’t been sleeping well the past few days and I suspect it has something to do with this new consultancy job I took on which entails more desk work than I’m used to. I showed up at the Espinosa Arts and Design (EADE) showroom in Quezon City tired, but with a smile plastered on my face for the event. I was going to meet Clifford Espinosa, a Filipino designer who developed original furniture pieces by up-cycling aged wood from demolished homes.

When I researched about his collection, I came across a Baki chair which he also refers to as the “yoga chair.” As a new follower of the practice, I was intrigued.

Those are the two things I can or want to relate to so I was looking forward to this introduction. Clifford did not disappoint.

The meeting was about showcasing his collection but during with interview, he provided nuggets of wisdom of just about everything in life and how they relate to art… politics, family, health – and even injected humorous anecdotes about relationships.

He shares, “I went through several experiences in life; many sufferings.

Because of these experiences, I became an instrument in expressing men through art.”

He mentions being a vessel in articulating the human condition and emphasizes that art is not about him. It is about all of us. It is not self-expression.

As I mentioned before, I was experiencing some back pain. Upon seeing the furniture pieces created from solid wood, you get the impression that they might be slightly uncomfortable. He invited me to sit on the “Trono” chair, a piece that means “throne” and made from hardwood like Yakal, Narra and Ipil. This masterpiece also made an appearance at the “100 chairs around the world” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Here, he strategically placed holes at the base to suspend the ischium bones while supporting the buttocks. Clifford describes the experience of the user as “sitting on clouds.”

With my condition, I suppose I was the ideal candidate to really test the product’s comfort. I hesitantly sat down, not wanting

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peace table—a poignant representation of the Filipinos' decadeslong desire to achieve peace in the southern regions

trono

baki Chair

Clifford Espinosa at the Espinosa family's home in Marikina that is filled with old wood that he upcycles

LuzViMin table – derived from the three island groups that make up the philippines: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. the table resembles three small fishing boats with outriggers and can function as three separate executive tables

to entertain more pain but surprisingly, as I settled onto the chair, it provided some relief to my body. I can honestly conduct the rest of the interview sitting on that “throne.”

With his pieces, there are no drawings, only trial and error. I asked if that would take longer but he is someone who works better and faster with his hands. He shares, “Thinking and working must be done simultaneously. You can’t just teach through theories or drawings.“ He confides that instead of learning how to draw during his time as an architecture student in UP, he felt he would have benefitted more from doing more handson projects. He admitted that when he enrolled himself in university, he thought they were going to start building houses.

So why the furniture collection? He answers, “The house is the ‘kanlungan,’ which is the space that protects people

from the elements. The furniture pieces are the ‘kandungan’ which make people feel comfortable, akin to being cradled by your own mother. The environment is the ‘pahingahan’ which nurtures people with its balanced habitat.” He has to produce these furniture pieces to complete the formula.

In creating the “kandungan,” he enjoys working with 100-year-old wood and is an advocate of green architecture. He laments that waste is an invention by man and that the concept of “pamana,” which is to inherit something, is a dying tradition.

One of the purposes of art is to make things that last.

More wastage is built when we constantly purchase things and throw them away. He says, “In nature, everything is recycled and is a form of energy. We need to be creative enough to transform this waste into something beautiful and of value.”

He adds, “We are the citizens of this country. Art should be responsible and responsive.” We parted ways after that one-hour meeting but his art and lessons created an impression that will stay with me much longer than that. It was such an enlightening session that I even forgot about my aching back in the end.

Clifford Espinosa’s masterpieces can be viewed at the EADE Showroom located at 47 Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. For more inquiries, please contact +63917-822-4428 / +63920-1326061 / +63927-721-1478 / +632-477-5156 or email info@eade.ph and visit www.eade.ph For comments and topic suggestions, please email me at caltavera@gmail.com.

For my personal adventures, follow my Instagram @cal_tavera.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

FIrSt tourISm ENtErprISE ZoNE to rISE IN SAN VIcENtE, pALAWAN

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he San Vicente paradise is about to rise in Palawan with a white beach whose length is three times longer than that of the shoreline of Boracay Island – and probably the longest in the world.

For families that love vacationing in exotic getaways, or are thinking of building their vacation home, they can tick this off the list and head to the place first before it gets swarmed by numerous tourists as it will surely become popular worlwide.

Because of its coveted shoreline and pristine natural attractions of forests, islands and coves, San Vicente, Palawan has been identified by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA as its first flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone under the country’s National Tourism Development Plan.

The Department of Tourism and TIEZA have taken the first steps towards the implementation of the TEZ with a groundbreaking ceremony for a TIEZA Field Office in San Vicente.

According to TIEZA chief operating officer Guiller Asido, the TEZ benefits from its location at the convergence of transport networks.

“The completion of Itabiak Road, which leads to the Long Beach area, makes it easier to reach the Tourism Enterprise Zone by land from other towns in Palawan,” he shares. “The pier at Barangay Poblacion is being upgraded, but another docking

The 14-km long beach in San Vicente, Palawan

San Vicente groundbreaking ceremony

Who would have imagined that discarded foil packs and old cardboard tubes can be used to make furniture? This small-scale enterprise did, as it turns garbage into colorful, handcrafted furniture.

No junk is left behind with Junknot!, an SME based in Laguna which collects regular and everyday trash and creatively transforms them into usable items while providing livelihood to a community.

According to founder Wilhelmina Garcia, Junknot!’s employees come from the small communities in Biñan, Laguna.

The artisans collect plastic waste such as bags, wrappers and sachets, clean and twist them into ropes, which are then handwoven to form the backrest and the seat of chairs and stools. Old cardboard tubes, on the other hand, are made into stool legs, while water hyacinth plants are treated to create elegant headboards for beds.

Aside from furniture, Junknot! also produces bags and jewelry made of newspaper, fans made of agri-waste paper, and slippers and shoes made of water hyacinth, among a few more others.

“Junknot! teaches the community not only crafting techniques but also about solid waste management and proper waste segregation. The company buys the raw materials (plastic waste) from the community, then we give back five percent of the sales to them,” says Garcia.

As a result, the SME helps – in its small-scale way – solve the country’s problems with plastic waste and lack of jobs.

“We just want to see a cleaner and greener Philippines, and a happy and healthier earth,” Garcia enthuses.

At the recent Manila FAME trade exhibition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the small backyard enterprise presented eco-conscious creations to thousands of local and foreign trade

area will be constructed at the TEZ. The San Vicente Airport, once operational, will be the main entry point for most tourists and will make San Vicente a good weekend destination for Manila residents, since the flight is only one and a half hour from Manila,” he adds.

The TEZ is a flagship program that aims to develop the viable tourism potentials of a place, provide a master plan and turn the place into a sustainable tourism destination that can improve the marketing competitiveness of Philippine tourism products.

The TIEZA field office in San Vicente is expected for completion within the year – in time for the projected operationalization of the San Vicente airport by December 2016. According to Palawan governor Jose Chavez Alvarez, the TEZ will definitely help create employment and economic activities for the local communities of the province.

An Integrated Tourism Master Plan for San Vicente was formulated to study the variety of tourism products available in the area, taking into consideration property ownership and zonal values.

“The ITMP is now complete, and we are in the process of crafting an Investment Promotions Program that will make the public-private partnership in San Vicente attractive to private investors,” shares DOT Undersecretary Maria Victoria Jasmin.

From trash to furniture

Plastic waste twisted into ropes are handwoven to form the chair's backrest and seat

Junknot! artisans create chairs and stools using recycled plastics

Used cardboard tubes are upcycled to become stool legs

buyers, visitors and media through the Partner Province Program of Department of Trade and Industry-CITEM. CITEM is the export arm of the DTI and the organizer of Manila FAME.

Junknot!’s products were showcased in a special setting that highlighted traditional crafts and techniques called The Artisans Village alongside other products from Cagayan, Albay and Davao.

Log on to www.manilafame.com for more information on the upcoming 64th edition of Manila FAME on October 20 to 22.

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Prepare ingredients in advance

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@LIFEatStandard

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Colorful food attract and interest kids

EASY tIpS to prEpArE SchooL LuNchES

he opening of the new school year is just a few days away, and with it, frenzied activities to cover and label books and notebooks, not to mention the endless preparation of snacks and lunches that are not only healthy but appetizing so that the kids will eat them.

Solane, the ever helpful and leading cooking gas, shares a few tips on how to make it easier for moms to prepare packed lunches that are not only nutritious but also enjoyable for school children.

Make food yummy and healthy. As growing kids, preschoolers and gradeschoolers need all the nutrition to stay healthy, grow their muscles, strengthen bones and keep their brain sharp. Make sure that meals not only taste great but also cover the “recommended dietary

allowance” for the nutrients kids need: Carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. Check your food pyramid to see if what you have prepared conforms to the idea of a balanced diet, meaning there should be portions of grains (typically rice and noodles), meat, and fruits and veggies – even oils.

One of the hardest things to introduce to a child’s diet is vegetables. Studies show that they can learn best by example. But since parents cannot sit all day waiting in school and see to it that their kids eat the greens they included in the boxed lunch, the key is to cook the veggies in a child-friendly way.

For instance, they can be cleverly paired with a siding or sauce that kids already love. Examples would be boiled beans dipped in mayonnaise, tofu cubes rolled

alongside ground beef in a tortilla wrap, or mushrooms slathered in cheese.

Food should be colorful and interesting.

Kids are attracted to colorful things, and so they will be more inclined to finish what’s on their plate if the food looks enticing because of the colors – pretty much the same way kids prefer their clothes and toys to have attractive colors.

Remember, too, that plating plays an important role because it can capture their attention and stimulate their imagination.

Some of the garnishing items that also bring nutrients to the dish are carrots, cucumber, red or green bell peppers, celery, and pineapples. Make sure your pantry is well stocked with these fruits and veggies to instantly bring color to your kid’s lunch!

Prepare a meal plan. Being a mom is a 24/7 occupation that requires one to put on so many hats, which is why planning is essential. To save time without sacrificing the flavor and nutritional value of the food, prepare a meal plan. Make sure there are food staples like chicken and vegetables on hand, as these can be used for multiple tasty meals. Prepare a weekly menu of packed lunches and prepare the ingredients and other cooking necessities well in advance.

Kids’ school lunches are best cooked using a reliable source of fuel. For safe and efficient cooking, use Solane LPG, a brand known for its mark of safety and quality. Order your Solane LPG tank today by calling Solane’s Hatid Bahay hotline number 887-5555 or visiting www.solane.com.ph.

Better and more convenient lifestyle with panasonic refrigerator It is the dream of every homemaker for her family to live in style, and have appliances that make life comfortable and convenient. For instance, a state-of-the-art refrigerator that can turn the kitchen environment into one that the family truly deserves – like the Panasonic NR-F681GT. Powered by advanced Japanese technology, this latest appliance innovation provides optimized lifestyle conveniences for a luxurious and privileged modern home living. The Panasonic NR-F681GT is the answer to homeowners’ longtime yearning for a refrigerator that not only offers standard cooling features but also has dependability, exceptional quality, high style and multifunctional value.

The NR-F681GT’s innovative product platform keeps abreast of changing consumer needs in design, usability and efficiency, placing great emphasis on “perfect” product design matched by more than 60 years of superior Japanese technology. Aside from a sleek and sophisticated body design, this new refrigerator has a lot of standout features.

The Prime Fresh freezing system makes defrosting easy. At approximately negative three degrees Celsius, this temperature-controlling storage method only lightly freezes the surface of items, so raw meat never hardens, The Panasonic NR-F681GT Refrigerator’s sleek design adds a refined touch to the home and one can easily cut through the fish to make favorite sushi or any special family meal without thawing. This as door pocket and meat box with lids also prevent strong practical feature of the NR-F681GT are the multiple storage compartments that provide generous interior spaces for light freezing method also keeps the long-lasting freshness, odors from spreading inside the refrigerator.

Electricity consumption is also managed with the grocery items. The large capacity, the fully extending the umami flavor, texture and nutritious state of perishable items so frequent, time-consuming grocery shopping refrigerator’s high-tech ECONAVI intelligent eco sensors drawers and height-adjustable shelves meanwhile allow with three settings – Storage Eco1, Night Eco2 and better visibility plus more efficient and versatile storage becomes a thing of the past.

The no-frost feature also reduces the hassle of having Smart Eco – which automatically read and adjust home options for food supplies.

Homemakers will find the Panasonic NR-F681GT a to clean the unit often. Plus, compromised food safety environment conditions, optimizing the operation day and spoilage are prevented because of removable and and night for energy efficiency savings of up to 17 percent. smart investment. With gross capacity of 711L, it also has washable parts plus humidity control settings, like the In addition, the Inverter technology continuously adjusts highly durable compressors that carry a 12-year warranty, Moisture Control Filter, ensure that vegetables stay crisp the power level as necessary, allowing high-precision ensuring long-lasting reliability and peace of mind. control of temperature, timing, power use and other

and fresh longer.

Exclusively distributed by Panasonic Philippines, the The flashing green and blue LEDs in the Vitaminsafe parameters to save energy and money. The U-Vacua or vegetable case activate the natural defenses of fruits and High Performance Vacuum Insulation Panel on the other Panasonic NR-F681GT Refrigerator is available in leading home appliance centers nationwide. vegetables so their vitamin and nutritional value are hand keeps the cool air in while shutting out heat for preserved. Meantime, the nanoe or electrostatic atomized further energy savings.

The family will also appreciate Automatic Icemaker that For more information, log on to www.panasonic.com/ph water particles that result from Panasonic’s unique or contact Refrigerator Business Division: technology effectively suppress the growth of invisible can provide a steady supply of ice cubes for lemonades Trunkline (02) 635-2260 local 3373. bacteria that cause unpleasant odors. Separate cases such and other ice-cold drinks to quench the thirst. Another

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Bear cutlery and plate

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Different-shaped egg molders

Back to school baon items for your kids from daiso Japan

ids are very picky with food and often they would rather eat fast food or what is available in their school canteen than the one mommy made for them. The key to making sure that they choose their baon over other junk food available in school is making sure that it catches their fancy and they find it not only delicious but something that they’re proud of every time they open their snack pack.

Plan for your kid’s daily lunch and snack items and make sure you pack it up with nutritious food items that they love to eat.

We’ve seen those cute Pinterest pins for Japanese baon packs and it might be best to get some of these creative ideas when preparing your kid’s baon.

Aside from cute shapes and colorful preparations of food, cutleries, lunch boxes and food containers play a huge role in making kids excited to open their baon bag. For back-to-school baon items, Daiso Japan might be your best place to visit for those kawaii items that will make your kid’s baon stand out in school. Here are some of the colorful items that children might just love to bring as lunch boxes, or things that might be used to creatively prepare your kid’s baon: 1. Toast Deco Stamp - Kids love sandwiches but the last thing they’d want to open in school are sad looking slices of bread with a bland filling. You can brighten things up by creating cute sandwiches with different

shape stamps on bread slices before putting the bread in the oven. Kids would love it if you assign a different stamp shape each day with different filling for the bread, be it ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly or chicken spread.

2. Colorful food containers – A colorful lunch box is as enticing as its creative content and can stimulate any kid’s appetite.

Daiso Japan offers a variety of colorful containers with different prints and cut in different shapes. Good thing with Daiso is it’s not costly, so you can choose as many as you want so you can assign colors in different days. Your kid can even choose the container so it is fun for him. There are also available three-piece cutleries in different prints and colors that can go with the containers.

Colorful food containers Toast Deco Stamp

3. Different-shaped egg molders – Sometimes, even adults are tempted with food shaped in cute animal forms.

Instagrammable right? These animalshaped boiled egg molders will definitely make even your kid’s classmate look over their baon box. You can make it an element of surprise every time they open their baon. It can be a bunny today, a bear tomorrow, or a car the next day.

4. Bento box – A bento box offers a full range meal for kids. Rice can be mixed with fish, chicken, beef or vegetables; it also comes in handy especially for food items with sauces. Partitions can have other food items like dessert and fruits. Daiso Japan has a range of bento boxes that you can choose from; again you can have your kids choose the design.

5. Sauce bottles – It can be messy trying to add sauce or dressing to your kids’ favorite meal. Sometimes they’d rather not open it as it might cause such a mess in school. Get these saucy items in nicely sealed containers that kids would love to bring to school. The store provides animal-capped sauce containers; they even have a cute fish-shaped soy sauce container. We’re sure even adults would love to put this in their office lunch box.

6. Insulated lunch totes and thermal bags – Food that is cold is sometimes worse than food that is bland. To keep the food fresh and still hot by recess or lunchtime, make sure you put their baon in a good insulated or thermal bag to maintain the food temperature. You can also add in a refrigerant pad for added freshness for longer periods.

Bento box

Insulated lunch totes Sauce bottles

Cooling tumblers with cooling stick Three-piece cutleries

7. Cooling tumblers with cooling stick – Instead of buying preservative-filled bottles and tetra packs of juices, make freshly squeezed fruit blends for them and keep these in colorful tumblers that can keep the beverage cold. Daiso Japan has Cooling Tumblers with cooling stick that keeps drinks ice-cold without watering them down.

Daiso Japan can be a mommy’s haven, and kids and kids-at-heart will definitely want to buy cute items to use for their lunch boxes.

The choices are endless in the store. For other great ideas for the kitchen and at home, visit Daiso Japan stores which has 53 locations nationwide through Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. Daiso Japan, the only authorized and exclusive retailer of Daiso Industries Ltd. Japan that sells clever, useful and cute items priced from P88. To know more about Daiso Japan Philippines, follow them on Facebook at @DaisoJapanPH on Twitter and @daisophilippines on Instagram.

wEDnES DAy : j unE 8, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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Mcjim believes that a gentleman’s style is defined by subtle details

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Mcjim takes pride that its products are made from genuine leather, which are all classy and durable both at the same time

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Mcjim’s advice to young men who are preparing for the real world is to make an extra effort to look their best in order to gain confidence

BE ahEaD Of yOuR class

s another school year starts, another door full of opportunities opens to help you get closer to your dreams. However, it also means that a year full of cramming and sleepless nights is ahead of you.

If you look at the bright side, it’s also the time to see your old buddies and meet new ones. What’s even better is it’s another full year of preparation for your future career in the real world.

But if you’re still feeling nervous for the year ahead, what better way to crank up more enthusiasm for the serious business of studying than the prospect of wearing your best first-day-in-school look?

Whether you want to keep your signature style or pop up in class as a new you, making an extra effort to look great will surely give you the confidence boost you need to do better in school.

Because fashion styles can be tricky, you want to stand out without being too flashy.

McJim is well aware of this and reminds you that a gentleman’s style is defined by subtle details.

In fact, you don’t need a wardrobe makeover to update your look. McJim suggests

investing in quality apparel, footwear, and accessories that reflect your fine values as a young man.

Even when you’re simply clad in the basics— jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers—you can use classic and classy accessories such as belts, wallets, and bags made from authentic leather.

“We take pride that our products are made from genuine leather, which are all classic and durable. McJim has been in the market for decades and we continue to offer products that different generations would love— from businessmen to students preparing for their careers in the real world,” McJim Classic Leather said in an official statement. “Wear something basic and pair it with McJim then you’ll definitely stand out.”

For instance, pair your chino pants or basic school uniform with a good leather belt and stand out in the crowd. McJim, with its wide selection of dress belts and casual belts, will always have one that will suit your agenda—a school fair, a college conference, or any random day in your student life.

“McJim belts are simply stylish and you know it is made from genuine leather. It’s a Filipino brand but it is not cheap looking unlike poor imitations,” said Joshua Lu-

Mcjim offers bags and briefcases in assorted colors, designs, and sizes

Mcjim aims to inspire young men to dress for success

cas, an incoming senior majoring in Communication. “My dad has been using it for

years and they always look new and attractive even after many years.”

‘Food Hero’ season 3 raises bar

Asian Food Channel and Food Network’s hunt for the next food host is expected to draw fierce competition across Asia-Pacific.

The digitally enabled competition expects to surpass past seasons’ participation numbers and increase engagement among food lovers in the region On May 23, the search for the region’s best home cook and host kicked off in Asia as Food Hero returned for its third season. Building on the momentum and success of previous seasons, the digitallyenabled competition will look to crown one winner who will go on to host his or her own Asian Food Channel and/or Food Network program.

“As the leader in lifestyle programming with two dedicated regional channels focused on food, we are always looking to grow our pool of on-air and digital talent. Continuing the Food Hero competition is not only a great platform to uncover fresh talent, it is also a great

way for our viewers to connect through the common passion point: the love for food,” said Carl Zuzarte, senior vice president of Programming and Production at Scripps Networks Interactive, Asia-Pacific.

Food Hero 2016 – How to participate Interested participants can download the Food Hero mobile app from either Google Play (Android users), or App Store (Apple users).

After downloading, participants will be prompted to register in order to sign in.

The mobile app provides instructional videos and tips on how to shoot and submit a winning entry. Participants can also draw inspiration from various recipes from past contestants and watch previous Food Hero winners share their food stories.

Participants can record entries that best demonstrate their cooking and hosting skills.

They can then upload their video

entries and also view submissions of other participants.

Submission of entries ends on Aug. 21 (three months from the beginning of the entry submission period), at which point a panel comprised of production and creative experts will evaluate the entries based on each participant’s personality, on-screen appeal and creativity in producing original and engaging content.

Top entries will be shortlisted for participation in a series of culinary and travelrelated challenges to better evaluate them in ‘live’ scenarios.

Winners all Last year, Ili Sulaiman from Malaysia and Debbie Wong from Hong Kong overcame fierce competition and were crowned Food Hero 2015 champions, joining the likes of TV hosts Sarah Benjamin (Singapore) and Michele Lean (Malaysia) who won the first edition of the competition.

“The moment I realized I wanted to make a career out of food was probably when I saw Martin Yan on TV and I remember thinking that’s exactly what I want to be. Someone who’s passionate about food and sharing their food story with the world,” said Wong, who has since hosted a number of Food Network productions like Food Wars Asia Season 2 and Kitchen Quickies.

“I took part the first time around and I didn’t get through but being the winner for Food Hero last year has opened many doors for me and given me the confidence to host my own shows and better run my own establishment,” said Sulaiman who owns ‘DISH by Ili’, a food delivery service providing wholesome and nutritious meals in Malaysia.

Interested participants can visit www. foodhero.asia and sign up for the Food Hero mailing list to receive the latest updates and exclusive content leading up to the competition.

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wEDnES DAy : j unE 8, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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will Piolo and Gerald be in ‘On the job’ reboot? wITHOuT wang2 nIckIE wang

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ulti-awarded crime thriller On the Job (OTJ) is getting a serialized treatment. This was announced in a press conference last week with Erik Matti together with Reality Entertainment’s Dondon Monteverde and HOOQ CEO Peter Bithos.

The film, which premise revolves around contract-killers, corrupt government officials and their victims, was screened and had a world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival in France where it received a two-minute standing ovation. Then, it was screened at Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea where it won the Jury Prize with Joel Torre as Best Actor.

The six-episode adaptation of the film, which starred Piolo Pascual, Joel Torre and Gerald Anderson, is set to begin production this month. It will be shown later this year exclusively on HOOQ and will be released internationally to its other markets such as Thailand, India and Indonesia.

As interest builds up on the remake of OTJ, it’s logical to ask whether or not the original cast members Pascual and Anderson (specifically) who gave intense and memorable performances will be back in the mini-series version of the film. Without giving away too much, Matti told The Standard what the audience could expect from OTJ, the series.

“We are already completing the story line for each episode and we are thinking of bringing back some familiar faces in the film but of course we are going to tell you that in a separate announcement.”

HOOQ’s Peter Bithos concured the filmmaker’s answer saying,

Seasoned thespian joel Torre (left) and actor Gerald Anderson (right) in a scene from the 2013 film “On the job”

“We’re giving Erik and Reality [Entertainment] full creative control.

They could bring back the characters that they want and they could tell the stories that they want [to tell]. That’s what we are here to do, and as Erik finalizes everything, we look forward to be coming back in July to tell which characters Erik decides to bring back. I’m eagerly awaiting as well.”

Matti added that they would endeavor to stay faithful to the original version but since they are given ample time to explore the story’s characters, they are planning to highlight more conflicts and give subplots a detailed treatment.

“HOOQ allows as to expand the world, expand the characters, tell their stories a little more in-depth than what a two-hour film can afford,” the filmmaker explained.

Though other people might think that doing a six-episode series would pose a difficult challenge to expand a certain kind of story, the filmmaker assured that for something like On the Job that follows so many characters and tries to put together so many complicated layers of the society, a six to eightepisode series is nothing but exciting to explore.

“Most of the films we make, Dondon [Monteverde] gets to see them from the first cut. They always go beyond the two-hour running time because there’s just so much to say in a film,” he explained.

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Hinder 6 10-4 buddy 10 Breathe hard 14 Split to join 15 Plus 16 Squashed circle 17 L.A. Laker — Baylor 18 Lo-cal 19 Turner of “Private Dancer”

20 Ceremonial smoke (2 wds.)

22 Hunt or Reddy 23 Q-tip 24 Kind of pie 26 Filch 29 Did a takeoff 31 “I” trouble 32 Unseal, poetically 33 Zhivago’s love 34 Calculating 38 Feels awful

40 Herr in Madras 42 Pitbull sound 43 Relaxed 46 Boundary line 49 201, to Claudius 50 — got it!

51 Thin stratum 52 Underhand throw 53 Compass needles 57 Short snorts 59 Adjust the tires 60 Eager (3 wds.)

65 Strauss of jeans 66 DeGaulle’s topper 67 Forgo 68 Two fives for — — 69 Patron saint of Norway 70 11th. century hero (2 wds.)

71 Yin complement 72 Band together 73 Looks at the headlines DOWN 1 Far down 2 She, to Marie 3 Cicero’s garb 4 These have many extras 5 Magazine option 6 Shotguns have them 7 Brief upturn 8 Organic compound 9 Unhatched fish

Piolo Pascual as Atty. Francis Coronel, jr., an nBI agent in the Erik Matti-helmed film

Matti was also ecstatic when they made the announcement that OTJ will be turned into a videoin-demand series not only because the film will be made available to HOOQ’s 180,000 paying subscribers in the Philippines alone, but also because this landmark co-production will pave the way to other local talents to be given a spotlight in this media platform.

Barbarians and Romans clash on History

Last night, an eight-part documentary drama premiered on History Channel. The show is called Barbarians Rising and goes with a tagline “Rome didn’t fall in a day.”

The docu-drama revolves around the rise and fall of the Roman Empire from the perspective of the barbarian rebel leaders. It is a visceral journey that chronicles a wave of rebellions against one of the strongest empires the world has ever known.

The true story of the 700-year battle for supremacy begins as the ancient world were claimed by either the Romans or Barbarians. As revealed in the first episode, Hannibal of Carthage (Nicholas Pinnock) builds the first great barbarian alliance to defeat Rome before it becomes unstoppable.

With stunning and elaborate production, it’s hard to ignore the effort the cast and crew put into

WEDNESDAY, jUNE 8, 2016

10 Port in Sweden (var.)

11 Teresa’s town 12 More feasible 13 Fallback strategy (2 wds.)

21 Storybook bear 22 Mr. Hefner 25 “— a Rebel” 26 Drift about 27 Mayberry moppet 28 Kind of pepper 30 Is bold enough 35 SASE, e.g.

36 Texas city 37 Tiny amount 39 Serving hash?

41 Name 44 Pizzeria need 45 Soggy 47 Amble or gallop 48 Grant authority 53 Singapore’s language 54 Comic-strip queen 55 Assumed as fact 56 Egg part 58 Musty 61 Libra’s stone 62 Costa — 63 Exiled Roman poet 64 Kennedy and Cruz 66 RV haven

staging such grand docu-drama.

According to History Channel Executive Producer Kristen Burns, the team had done a lot of research to ensure Barbarians Rising lives up to expectations.

“We made sure we were able to accurately spend 700 years of history. Things change across 700 years, representing different barbarian villages, style in which they live, costumes, making sure each of the barbarian tribes had a distinct characteristic,” Burns told The Standard in a phone interview.

To execute an accurate and detailed description of the barbarian tribes that revolted against the Roman Empire was a bit of a challenge. Given their timetable, they had to shoot during the summer and the actors were clad in wildly flapping fragments of fur.

“The weather was very hot the

same time they were shooting Hannibal crossing the Alps which was supposed to be the dead of winter,” Burns revealed.

The television executive met with the actors during one of the location shoots. She shared how these actors were eager to talk about how they were interested in meeting their deadline training for specific fights and filming them days after learning the stunts.

“They only had a matter of days [to prepare] and that actually helped them make it feel a little bit more raw and a little more energetic because it was not so choreographed,” Burns concluded.

Barbarians Rising airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. and is available on SKYCable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125.

“Barbarians Rising” chronicles a 700-year-old battle between barbarian rebels and the Roman Empire

wEDnES DAy : j unE 8, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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C7

MIG AnD TAnyA In RESORTS wORlD MAnIlA’S

‘CuRTAInS uP’

H

e is a Filipino-Australian singer who made waves as a finalist in the CBS television series Rock Star: INXS and has a promising career on Broadway.

She is one of the rising female stars in international theater having played the role of alternate “Kim” in Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon in London’s West End the last two years.

Together, MiG Ayesa and Tanya Manalang will bring the house down as the country’s premier entertainment and tourism destination Resorts World Manila (RWM) in cooperation with Ultimate Shows, Inc. presents Curtains Up! on July 14 8 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Both MiG and Tanya have their share of theater credits with Mig starring in such productions as Burn The Floor, Rock of

Ages, Thriller Live, Annie and We Will Rock You, among others. Tanya’s stage credits include roles in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, In The Heights, KAOS, The Sound of Music, and The King And I prior to landing the coveted role of Kim in Miss Saigon.

Curtains Up! teams up these two theater stars for a night of favorite Broadway and West End hits of past and present accompanied by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Rodel Colmenar with concept script and direction by concert master Freddie Santos.

Adding more star power to the show will be the special participation of L ea Salonga.

Featuring phenomenal solo performances and captivating duets, Curtains Up! combines the gritty vocal prowess of Ayesa and the sweet haunting voice of Manalang that

Theater stars MiG Ayesa and Tanya Manalang teams up for a concert at the newport Performing Arts Theater

will leave audiences breathless.

Tickets for Curtains Up! are available at the RWM Box Office at the ground floor of Newport Mall and TicketWorld outlets with prices at PHP1,500 for Bronze; PHP2,800 for Silver; PHP3,800 for Gold;

Darren wants you to be with him Darren Espanto, the guy with amazing pipes and billed the “Total Performer,” seems to have everything going for him at such a young age.

Though he was a runner up in The Voice Kids, there was no stopping Darren from reaching the top after the competition.

A Platinum award for his debut album Darren, three no. 1 singles, countless awards from award giving bodies in the Philippines and concerts and gigs left and right are just some of Darren’s achievements.

Add to that, international artists Nicki Minaj noticed him and so did Ashton Kutcher and Fantasia Barrino for his videos of him singing in a radio station bus showcasing his powerful vocals. The videos have gone viral. Flying from his hometown Calgary, Canada to Manila for a dream paid off.

He knows he wouldn’t be there without the support of his fans- the Darrenatics. That is why for his sophomore album, released just in time he celebrates his 15th birthday, he wants them to still be with him with the album title Be With Me. “I want to take you guys along my journey as an artist, as a musician and I just wanna express myself through music. Since music is my passion, I just wanna share what talent God gave me,” Darren said.

With top-notch producers Kiko Guevarra, Jungee Marcelo, Jay-R, Kiko Salazar and a line-up of international and top Filipino songwriters, the standards of this sets this album from his previous one.

“It’s a bit different from my debut album that it’s more mature. The recording process for this album was actually a lot of fun. I got to work with a lot of very talented songwriters and each song has a different message and a different sound to it,” Darren said.

The first track from the album 7 Minutes by songwriters Cimo Frankel, Jochem Fluitsma, Mark van Tijn, Ramon Marco debuted at no.1 on iTunes Philippines on its first day of release and in Darren’s words, “about having just little time to show how much you care for that person who is about to leave.”

“Starlight”, by Singaporean songwriter Amir Masoh (Jacky Cheung, Ziana Zain), likewise topped iTunes Philippines Singles Chart on its first day of release.

“It’s about living in the moment and having just one life to live. It’s kind of like a “YOLO” you-only-liveonce anthem, so it’s pretty fun, you could dance to it, it’s EDM. It’s a great song to listen to as well,” Darren said.

Another single “Parachute” penned by Berlinbased Jeffrey Abrego and Xavier Schmid, according to Darren, “Talks about just letting go and living in the moment. Just being free and doing what you wanna do and doing what you love.”

This also signals his growth as an artist having penned two songs in the album: “Hanggang Hi Hello” and “Home”.

“The Voice Kids” alumnus and platinum-selling recording artist Darren Espanto

“I actually wrote two of the songs on this which is really, really different for me because I’ve always been so hesitant with sharing the songs I write, but now, I guess I was confident enough to share it and now it’s in my upcoming album. I wrote “Hanggang Hi Hello” originally when I was eleven but then I changed some of the lyrics to fit my age now. And then ‘Home’ talks about just wanting to be home… and it’s a ballad. It’s actually one of my favorite compositions, I’d say,” Darren said.

Other tracks to watch out are “Alam” by Jungee Marcelo, “Be With Me” (Kiko Salazar), “Surrender” (Jay R, Flavamatikz of Q-York), “My Baby & Me” (Allan Eshuijs, Marco Rakascan, Maruja Retana Fransen) and “Talking Bout Love” (Kris Coutinho, Ricardo Burgrust).

Darren considers doing the album Be With Me a learning experience.

“I got to learn more techniques in Be With Me and I got tips actually from each of the song writers that I worked with. And I guess I developed a new sound as well. So that’s how I developed in this album,” Darren said.

Join Darren as he continues his musical journey which with his talent will span for years.

Be With Me is now out through digital downloads and streaming via Spinnr, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and VEVO and in CDs at Astroplus and Astrovision outlets.

Catch Darren at his major concert entitled D Total Experience on June 25, 8 p.m, at Kia Theater with special guests Jed Madela, Maja Salvador and GForce.

Call Ticketnet at 911-5555 for tickets.

PHP4,800 for VIP; and PHP5,500 for SVIP. For inquiries call (632) 908-8833; (632) 836-6338; (632) 908-8000 loc.

7700; and 891-9999.

Visit www.rwmanila.com for more details.

Kim Chiu keeps firm and slim with FatOut Keeping our pounds on track is a constant battle we have to win.

Sometimes, it’s tiring to follow healthy meal plans and workout that we can’t help but slip out.

Good thing research has made weight maintenance a little easier with the help of natural slimming pills. The latest and most promising as of today is the weight loss benefits of Psyllium Husk.

Psyllium Husk comes from a plant native to India and Pakistan and known as a great source of fiber. To experience the effectiveness of Psyllium Husk in weight loss, try FatOut. FatOut contains Psyllium Husk which sweeps and cleanses toxins in your colon, while Green Tea Extract shreds and burns your fat.

This combination is also called the Sweep and Shred Formula.

Other ingredients include: pu’er tea extract which eliminates hardto-digest fat, aloe vera powder which detoxifies the colon, alfalfa which nourishes the digestive system and oat fiber which suppresses the appetite.

The combination of these inin gredients can help you lose the

pounds without putting your health at risk. Note that, FatOut is not a medicinal drug and should not be used to treat the symptoms of any disease.

Endorsed by actress Kim Chiu, FatOut should be taken daily, before every meal, preferably with a warm glass of water. FatOut offers a special buy one-take one promo at P125 per piece, available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide.

Actress Kim Chiu trusts FatOut’s “Sweep and Shed” formula to keep her desired weight

w ednes day : j une 8, 2016

C8

IsaH V. Red EDITOR nICKIe wanG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

alex Medina hangs out at the Levi’s pop-up store at the Globe Tower, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig

spongecola vocalist yael yuzon gave some fashion talk and advice to everyone who shopped at the pop-up shop

YaEl YuzOn, alEx MEDIna headline levi’s big sale ISAH V. RED

M

aking a corporate sale event a fun affair, Levi’s brought in Spongecola vocalist Yael Yuzon and award-winning indie actor Alex Medina for a meet-and-greet during Levi’s two-day big sale at one of the biggest telecommunications offices in the country.

The two influencers shared their “We Are Original” stories with Levi’s and gave some fashion talk and advice to Globe employees.

“These two understand how to excel in their chosen fields. Today, they shared their stories with Levi’s and gave fashion advices to Globe employees so we all just had fun overall,” said Kaths Laudit, Levi’s Marketing head.

During the sale, Levi’s Philippine is pushing its agenda to encourage office workers to be productive by wearing clothes that they are comfortable in.

Back in the day, dressing for success meant donning predictable and boring office attire that usually meant blazers-and-slacks ensembles for the ladies and dress-shirt-and-tie combos for the gentlemen.

So, this move from Levi’s is a support to millennials and how they are redefining fashion as they do with everything else in their environment—from trends and styles to their choices of fastfashion brands.

Brandishing the tools of the digital age and touting innovation, the Gen Y—who work mostly in design studios, BPOs, booming start-ups, or any other technology-driven profession—insist on making fashion work for them and not the other way around.

“Comfort equals productiv-

The Levi’s Tailor shop for the customization of your Levi’s apparel

award-winning actor alex Medina (right) in a photo op with a fan after sharing his Levi’s story with Globe employees

ity,” Laudit affirmed. “This event showed that Levi’s likes to evolve with the times and keep up with innovations while promoting comfort as key. In the past, professionals wore their Levi’s and colorful kicks on their off hours, but they now

Levi’s holds a two-day big sale at the Globe Tower to encourage office workers to be productive by wearing clothes that they are comfortable in

Levi’s holds a two-day big sale at the Globe Tower for the employees of one of the biggest telecommunications offices in the country

don their Levi’s in the workplace.”

Indeed, the enthusiastic response to the recent event means office fashion is changing and Levi’s is on top of it.

Recently held at the Globe Tower, Bonifacio Global City in Tagu-

ig, Levi’s jump-started the event by offering up to 50 percent off on selected Levi’s apparels.

At the pop-up shop, the first 100 buyers were given different prizes such as De Orro tickets, Zouk Out, Trail Mix, tickets to Palace

Pool Club’s 1st Year Anniversary with DJ Deorro, denim bags, and other Levi’s merchandise.

Inspired by the success of the event, Levi’s is set to visit more offices and roll out bigger surprises this year.