THE MANILA TIMES | FEBRUARY 06, 2019

PPP support okayed for CCP redevelopment »Story on B1 ++

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•• 6 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 117 32

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

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Inflation slows to 4.4% in Jan

4,000 troops to guard 2nd BOL plebiscite

4(% COUNTRY S HEADLINE INlATION EASED TO A MONTH LOW OF PERCENT IN *ANUARY FROM PERCENT IN $ECEMBER THE 0HILIPPINE 3TATISTICS !UTHORITY 03!

REPORTED ON 4UESDAY ,AST MONTH S RESULT FELL WITHIN THE TO PERCENT FORECAST OF THE "ANGKO 3ENTRAL NG 0ILIPINAS "30 AND THE TO PER CENT FORECAST OF ANALYSTS

3 explosions in Mindanao on the eve of vote

³SlowsA8

BY DEMPSEY REYES AND WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

S

OME 4,000 soldiers will be deployed to secure the second plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato today, Wednesday.

WELCOMING THE YEAR OF THE PIG Filipino Chinese watch a dragon dance during Chinese New Year festivities in Binondo, Manila on Tuesday. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

³PlebisciteA2

What if DU30 is sicker than his politics?

P

RESI FIRST $%.4 THINGS 2O D R I G O FIRST $UTERTE S STATE OF HEALTH HAS B E E N A MATTER OF ROUTINE CONCERN FOR &ILIPINOS SINCE HE CAME INTO OFkCE IN *ULY

BUT IT TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST LAST WEEK WHEN RUMORS SPREAD ONLINE THAT HE HAD

IN FACT DIED ³TatadA5

FRANCISCO S. TATAD

‘Foreign terrorists training locals’

Bets to report social media expenses

4(% */,/ TWIN BLASTS CARRIED OUT BY SUICIDE BOMBERS WERE AN EXAMPLE OF FOREIGN TERRORISTS TRAINING LOCALS ON HOW TO SOW CHAOS IN THE COUNTRY )NTERIOR 3ECRETARY %DUARDO !ÄO SAID ON 4UESDAY ³TerroristsA2

What’s inside What’s shaping PH real estate market?

HISTORIC

Build&Design C1 NEW YEAR IS A TIME TO MIX AND MINGLE

Ei Sun OhA6

Pope Francis blesses a child as he arrives to lead Mass for an estimated 170,000 Catholics at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. AFP PHOTO Story on B7

»

LACSON URGES DUTERTE:

Veto ‘pork’ in 2019 budget 3%. 0ANkLO ,ACSON ON 4UESDAY URGED 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE TO USE HIS LINE ITEM VETO POWER AND STRIP THE 0 TRILLION BUDGET BILL OF gPORK u )N A POST ON HIS 4WITTER ACCOUNT ,ACSON SAID

³BudgetA2

PISTONS BOUNCE BACK, HARDEN FUELS ROCKETS WIN

SportsD1

SYLVIA SANCHEZ: ‘I’M ALWAYS LUCKY TO BE SECOND CHOICE’

EntertainmentE1

REACH US AT: E-mail: newsdesk@ manilatimes.net Tel. Nos.: 524-5664 to 67 Address: 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002

&/2 THE kRST TIME IN THE COUN TRY S ELECTORAL HISTORY THE #OM MISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC WILL REGULATE POLITICAL PROPAGAN DA IN SOCIAL MEDIA BY MONITOR ING THE EXPENSES OF CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE COM ING MIDTERM ELECTIONS #OMELEC SPOKESMAN *AMES *IMENEZ SAID ON 4UESDAY THAT MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA WOULD BE A DIFkCULT TASK FOR THE #OMELEC

BUT CANDIDATES MUST TOE THE LINE g7E RE GOING TO BE REQUIRING REPORTS FROM THEM AS TO THE

³ExpensesA2

A2

News

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

Senate OKs alternative work arrangements T

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

HE Senate has approved on second reading a bill that will give employers and employees an option to ADOPT lEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

3EN *OEL 6ILLANUEVA AUTHOR AND SPONSOR OF 3ENATE "ILL OR THE !LTERNATIVE 7ORKING !RRANGEMENT "ILL SAID THE PROPOSED MEASURE WAS AN gANSWER TO THE CHANGES IN THE LABOR MARKET AND IN THE NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT u g7E ARE NOW IN THE AGE OF ROBOT ICS THE SO CALLED &OURTH )NDUSTRIAL 2EVOLUTION OR )NDUSTRY 4ODAY

WORK NEED NOT BE CONkNED IN A CERTAIN PLACE OR OFkCE 7ORK NEED NOT HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME 7ORK CAN BE DONE REMOTELY u SAID 6ILLAN UEVA CHAIRMAN OF THE 3ENATE #OM MITTEE ON ,ABOR %MPLOYMENT AND

(UMAN 2ESOURCES $EVELOPMENT 4HE BILL SEEKS TO AMEND !RTICLE OF THE ,ABOR #ODE BY MAKING AN EXCEPTION TO THE NORMAL EIGHT HOURS OF WORK A DAY WHEN THE EXIGENCY OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS RE QUIRES THE ADOPTION OF A MUTUALLY AGREED VOLUNTARY WORK ARRANGE MENT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE 5NDER THE PROPOSAL ALTERNATIVE WORKING HOURS SHALL NOT EXCEED HOURS A WEEK AND THERE WILL BE NO REDUCTION IN EXISTING BENEkTS 6ILLANUEVA SAID EVERY &ILIPINO WORKER DESERVES TO HAVE THIS STATU

Q PLEBISCITE FROM A1

SCITE LAST *ANUARY WHICH WAS PRI MARILY FOR THE RATIkCATION OF THE "/, g)T S ONLY AN INCLUSION QUESTION WHETHER A CERTAIN AREA WANTED TO JOIN ;THE "!2--= OR NOT u *IMENEZ ADDED g)T IS LESS EMOTIONAL AND MORE PRACTICAL u

4,000 4HE ARMY DOES NOT EXPECT ANY THREAT DURING THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLEBISCITE DURING WHICH SIX TOWNS IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND DOZ ENS OF BARANGAY OR VILLAGES IN .ORTH #OTABATO WILL VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO JOIN THE NEW "ANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION /N 4UESDAY HOWEVER TWO BLASTS WERE RECORDED IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE ‡ ONE EACH IN THE TOWNS OF +AUS WAGAN AND ,ALA !NOTHER EXPLOSION OCCURED IN 4ALAYAN -AGUINDANAO .O CASUALTIES WERE REPORTED IN ALL THREE INCIDENTS #APT #LINT !NTIPALA SPOKESMAN OF THE 0HILIPPINE !RMY S ST )NFAN TRY $IVISION )$ SAID TWO BRIGADES WERE DESIGNATED AS A TASK FORCE AND ASSIGNED TO AREAS OF ,ANAO DEL .ORTE COVERED BY THE "/, ! BRIGADE CON SISTS OF THREE BATTALIONS OR ABOUT

SOLDIERS )N .ORTH #OTABATO THE !RMY S TH )$ HAS DEPLOYED TWO BATTALIONS OR ABOUT SOLDIERS FOR THE PLEBISCITE IN VILLAGES OF THE PROVINCE g%VEN IF THERE ARE NO THREATS BEING RECEIVED FOR NOW WE SHOULD NOT BE COMPLACENT AT ALL AT THIS TIME 7E STILL HAVE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL THOSE WHO WILL CAST THEIR VOTES u -AJ !RVIN %NCINAS TH )$ SPOKESMAN

TOLD REPORTERS 4HE "/, UNDER 2EPUBLIC !CT

IS AN ORGANIC LAW FOR THE "ANGSAMORO !UTONOMOUS 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO "!2-- THAT WILL HAVE WIDER POWERS WHICH WILL REPLACE THE YEAR OLD !U TONOMOUS 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO !2--

Comelec all set 4HE #OMMISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC SAID ON 4UESDAY IT WAS ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR THE SECOND PLEBISCITE #OMELEC SPOKESMAN *AMES *IMENEZ SAID THE SECOND PLEBISCITE WOULD ONLY BE HELD IN AREAS THAT SUBMITTED PETITIONS FOR VOLUNTARY INCLUSION IN THE "!2-- )N .ORTH #OTABATO VOTERS IN VILLAGES WILL BE ASKED IF THEY WISH TO JOIN THE EXPANDED AUTONOMOUS REGION WHILE VOTERS IN THE MOTHER TOWNS WHERE THESE VILLAGES BELONG TO WILL BE ASKED IF THEY WILL ALLOW THESE VILLAGES TO JOIN THE NEW "ANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS ENTITY 4HE VILLAGES ARE IN SEVEN TOWNS !LEOSAN VILLAGES OUT OF #AR MEN OUT OF +ABACAN OF

-IDSAYAP OF 0IGCAWAYAN OF 0IKIT OF AND ONE IN 4ULUNAN 4HE SIX TOWNS OF "ALO I -UNAI

.UNUNGAN 0ANTAR 4AGOLOAN AND 4ANGKAL IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE WILL ALSO BE ASKED IF THEY WISH TO JOIN THE "ANGSAMORO REGION 6OTERS IN OTHER ,ANAO DEL .ORTE TOWNS EXCEPT )LIGAN #ITY WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO ALLOW THE SIX TOWNS TO JOIN THE "ANGSAMORO OR NOT 4HE #OMELEC EXPECTS A PERCENT VOTER TURNOUT 4HE COMMISSION EN BANC SITTING AS THE .ATIONAL 0LEBISCITE "OARD OF #ANVASSERS .0"# HOPES TO kNISH CANVASSING IN FOUR DAYS 4HE SECOND PLEBISCITE *IMENEZ SAID WOULD BE gA LITTLE LESSu CONTEN TIOUS COMPARED WITH THE kRST PLEBI

TORY RIGHT 3OME COMPANIES ARE ALREADY IMPLEMENTING NON TRADITIONAL WORKING ARRANGEMENTS LIKE glEXI TIME u FOUR DAY WORKWEEK COM PRESSED WORKWEEK WORKING FROM HOME AND SHIFT lEXIBILITY AMONG OTHERS TO GIVE THEIR WORKERS MORE INDEPENDENCE AND CONTROL OVER THEIR WORK 'IVEN THE GROWTH OF THE COUN TRY S SERVICES SECTOR WHICH AC COUNTED FOR PERCENT OF THE ECONOMY DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 6ILLANUEVA IS CONkDENT THAT MORE JOBS WILL BE SUITABLE TO ALTERNATIVE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS 6ILLANUEVA SAID WORKERS WHO HAVE MORE INDEPENDENCE AND CONTROL OVER THEIR WORK ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND DELIVER BETTER RE SULTS CITING A "RITISH STUDY ! RESEARCH PROJECT FUNDED BY THE %CONOMIC 3OCIAL 2ESEARCH

#OUNCIL BASED IN THE 5NIVERSITY OF +ENT IN %NGLAND TITLED g7ORK !UTONOMY 7ORK &LEXIBILITY AND 7ORK ,IFE "ALANCE u FOUND THAT WHEN MANAGERS ALLOWED WORK ERS MORE DISCRETION OR CONTROL OVER THEIR WORK THEY DELIVERED BETTER PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES OR BETTER PRODUCTIVITY 4HE RESEARCH PROJECT ALSO FOUND THAT AT LEAST PERCENT OF WORKERS IN THE MEMBER STATES OF THE %U ROPEAN 5NION HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHANGE THE BEGINNING AND ENDING TIMES OF THEIR WORK AND APPROXI MATELY PERCENT OF ALL WORKERS ACROSS %UROPE HAVE COMPLETE IN DEPENDENCE OVER THEIR WORK 4HE BILL HAS BENEFITS TO EM PLOYERS SUCH AS LOWER EXPENSES ON RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING AND HUGE SAVINGS RESULTING FROM THE REDUCTION OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION

6ILLANUEVA SAID

Q TERRORISTS FROM A1

Foreign g"Y SHOWING AND DOING THESE SUICIDE BOMBINGS THEY ARE EX PECTING &ILIPINO -USLIM TERRORISTS WOULD FOLLOW SOON 4HEY UNDER ESTIMATE THE INlUENCE OF &ILIPINO CULTURE ON OUR -USLIM BROTHERS u HE TOLD REPORTERS 4HERE HAS BEEN NO RECORD OF A SUICIDE BOMBING IN THE 0HILIP PINES COMMITTED BY A &ILIPINO TERRORIST AS IT IS DEEMED TOO VIO LENT ACCORDING TO SECURITY OFkCIALS AND EXPERTS )N !UGUST A -OROCCAN WITH TIES TO THE !BU 3AYYAF TERROR IST GROUP LAUNCHED A SUICIDE ATTACK IN ,AMITAN #ITY "ASILAN IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE KILLED !ÄO SAID AUTHORITIES WERE STILL VERIFYING THE IDENTITIES OF THE *OLO #ATHEDRAL SUICIDE BOMBERS BE LIEVED TO BE AN )NDONESIAN COUPLE g)DENTIkCATION IS ON THE PROCESS BUT MAY TAKE TIME 4HE )NDONE SIAN GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO AS SIST )T IS OFkCIALLY CONkRMED THAT IT S A CASE OF SUICIDE BOMBING u HE SAID )T WAS !ÄO WHO kRST TOLD THE PUB LIC THE SUICIDE BOMBERS IN THE TWIN BLASTS AT THE /UR ,ADY OF -OUNT

#ARMEL #ATHEDRAL WERE )NDONE SIANS CITING INTELLIGENCE SOURCES 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL 0OLICE 0.0 CHIEF /SCAR !LBAYALDE LATER CONkRMED !ÄO S CLAIM AND SAID WITNESSES TO THE BOMBINGS NOTICED THAT THE COUPLE COULDN T SPEAK 4AUSUG THE LANGUAGE OF 3ULU NATIVES ! $.! TEST ON TWO UNCLAIMED PAIRS OF FEET WOULD BE CONDUCTED

!ÄO SAID !CCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS THE )NDONESIAN COUPLE CAME TO THE 0HILIPPINES ON *ANUARY THROUGH ,AMPINIGAN )SLAND KILOME TERS AWAY FROM *OLO 4HE TWO WERE BROUGHT TO *OLO ON *ANUARY BY PUMP BOAT 5PON ARRIVAL IN *OLO THE COUPLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE OF 3AWD JAAN -ET 5SMAN THE ALLEGED MAS TERMIND OF THE BLASTS 4HE COUPLE AND OTHER SUSPECTS THEN WENT TO A FORESTED AREA IN 0ATIKUL 3ULU TO PLAN THE ATTACK 4HEY WENT BACK TO *OLO ON *ANUARY WITH BLACK TROLLEY BAGS ALLEGEDLY CARRYING THE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES OR )%$S USED IN THE BLASTS 4HE WOMAN REPORTEDLY WAS THE kRST TO DETONATE A BOMB

FOLLOWED BY THE MAN SECONDS LATER ! TOTAL OF PEOPLE DIED FROM THE BLAST ACCORDING TO THE 0.0 ROY D.R. NARRA

Canvassing ! TOTAL OF EIGHT CERTIFICATES OF CANVASS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE .0"# FOR CANVASSING ‡ ONE FOR THE PROVINCE OF ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND THE REST FROM SEVEN MUNICIPALITIES OF .ORTH #OTABATO )N THE kRST PLEBISCITE HELD ON *ANU ARY VOTERS FROM THE !2-- RATIkED THE "/, BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJOR ITY EVEN AS THE gNOu VOTES WON IN THE PROVINCE OF 3ULU )N THE !2--

VOTERS CAST BALLOTS FOR gYESu VOTES AND

FOR gNO u 4HE .0"# ALSO PROCLAIMED #OTA BATO #ITY TO BE PART OF THE "!2--

WHILE )SABELA #ITY WAS PROCLAIMED NOT PART OF THE NEW REGION AFTER VOTERS THERE REJECTED THE "/, )N #OTABATO #ITY

VOTERS CAST BALLOTS FOR gYESu AND FOR gNO u )N )SABELA #ITY gYESu VOTES REACHED

NOT ENOUGH TO DEFEAT THE

gNOu VOTES

Youth OK expansion -AJORITY OF THE YOUTH WILL VOTE FOR THE INCLUSION OF SIX TOWNS IN ,ANAO DEL 3UR AND VILLAGES IN .ORTH #OTABATO TO THE "!2-- IN THE &EBRUARY PLEBISCITE ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY PEACE ADVOCATE )NTERNATIONAL !LERT )NTERNATIONAL !LERT FOUND THAT PERCENT OF THE YOUTH IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE WERE IN FAVOR OF THE "/, AND WOULD VOTE FOR INCLUSION OF THE TOWNS OF 4ANGKAL 4AGOLOAN -UNAI 0ANTAR

.UNUNGAN AND "ALOI IN THE "!2-- -OREOVER PERCENT OF THE YOUTH IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF 0IKIT +ABA CAN #ARMEN -IDSAYAP 0IGKAWAGAN

AND !LEOSAN IN .ORTH #OTABATO ALSO OPTED FOR INCLUSION )NTERNATIONAL !LERT STATISTICIAN !N GELO #ASALAN SAID THAT YOUTH IN FAVOR OF THE "/, IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND .ORTH #OTABATO INCREASED FROM PERCENT IN TO PERCENT AND PERCENT IN (E ATTRIBUTED THIS TO INCREASED AWARENESS AFTER CAMPAIGNS

FROM PERCENT IN TO PERCENT IN IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND PERCENT IN TO PERCENT IN IN .ORTH #OTABATO 4HE SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT YOUTH OPTING FOR INCLUSION IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE BELIEVED THAT THE "/, NEEDED TO ADDRESS TERRORISM REBELLION COR RUPTION IMPLEMENTATION OF 3HARIA ,AW AND POVERTY )NTERNATIONAL !LERT #OUNTRY -AN AGER .IKKI DE LA 2OSA SAID THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY MIGHT NOT BE CONCLUSIVE BECAUSE THE YOUTH ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR PERCENT OF THE VOTING POPULATION FOR INCLUSION IN THE "!2-- 4HE YOUTH COMPOSED THE MAJORITY

OR PERCENT OF VOTERS IN THE kRST "/, PLEBISCITE IN *ANUARY )NTERNATIONAL !LERT CONDUCTED THE SURVEY AMONG INDIVIDUALS AGED TO IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE FROM *ANUARY TO AND ON RESPONDENTS IN .ORTH #OTABATO FROM *ANUARY TO

WITH DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ

FOR MOTHER President Rodrigo Duterte at the grave of his mother at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Davao City on Tuesday.

MALACAÑANG PHOTO

(OUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHIEF 2EP 2OLANDO !NDAYA *R HEAD OF THE (OUSE CONTINGENT TO THE BICAMERAL DELIBERATIONS SAID #ONGRESS WOULD

STICK TO THE TARGET OF APPROVING THE RECONCILED VERSION OF THE 'ENERAL !PPROPRIATIONS !CT ON 7EDNESDAY BUT INSISTED THAT ALL gTALK OF PORKu WAS USELESS 4HIS WAS UNLESS THE $EPART MENT OF "UDGET AND -ANAGE MENT $"- SUBMITTED ITS SAV INGS REPORT FOR WHICH !NDAYA CLAIMED WAS "UDGET 3ECRETARY "ENJAMIN $IOKNO S OWN PORK gKITTY u g4HE (OUSE CONFEREES HAVE DEMANDED TO SEE THE LUMP SUM SAVINGS OF THE $"- FOR 7E KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING IT WOULD NOT BE GRANTED FOR THAT IS WHERE THE $"- PORK LIES u HE SAID IN A STATEMENT ON 4UESDAY g$OCUMENTS IN OUR POSSESSION SHOW THAT FOR A TOTAL OF 0 BILLION WAS GENERATED IN SAVINGS 4HIS AMOUNT WAS AT THE FULL DISPOSAL OF $IOKNO u !NDAYA ADDED CLAIMING THAT THE AMOUNT FOR THE AGENCY S BUDGETARY SAV INGS IN WAS HIGHER JAVIER JOE ISMAEL AND GLEE JALEA

WHETHER OR NOT DIRECTLY MAINTAINED OR ADMINISTERED BY THE CANDIDATE OR OFkCIAL REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE CON SIDERED ADDITIONAL OFkCIAL BLOGS OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES OF THE CANDIDATE &OR BROADCAST ELECTION PROPA GANDA CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES FOR A NATIONAL ELECTIVE PO SITION ARE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF MINUTES OF TELEVISION ADVERTIS ING PER STATION AND MINUTES OF RADIO ADVERTISING PER RADIO STATION #ANDIDATES FOR A LOCAL ELECTIVE POSITION ARE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF MINUTES OF TELEVISION ADVER TISING PER STATION AND MINUTES OF RADIO ADVERTISING PER STATION &OR PRINTED OR PUBLISHED ADS

NATIONAL AND LOCAL CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES ARE ALLOWED A ONE

FOURTH PAGE IN BROADSHEETS AND ONE HALF PAGE IN TABLOIDS 0RINT ADVERTISEMENT WHETHER PROCURED BY PURCHASE OR GIVEN FREE OF CHARGE SHALL NOT BE PUBLISHED MORE THAN THREE TIMES A WEEK PER NEWSPAPER MAGAZINE OR OTHER PUBLICATIONS DURING THE CAMPAIGN #ANDIDATES WITH POLITICAL PARTY ARE AUTHORIZED TO SPEND 0 FOR EVERY VOTER 4HE CAP IS 0 FOR INDE PENDENT CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES AND PARTY LIST GROUPS 4HE CAMPAIGN PERIOD FOR SENATORS AND PARTY LIST GROUPS WILL BE FROM &EBRUARY TO -AY WHILE CAN DIDATES FOR REPRESENTATIVE REGIONAL

PROVINCIAL CITY AND TOWN OFkCIALS IS FROM -ARCH TO -AY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Q BUDGET FROM A1

Veto ‘pork’ in 2019 budget g-R 0RESIDENT YOU HAVE DISPLAYED YOUR STRONG POLITICAL WILL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 4HIS TIME USE YOUR LINE ITEM VETO POWER OVER THE AP PROPRIATIONS MEASURE BY REMOVING ALL THE gPORKu INSERTED BY LAWMAK ERS WHO ARE INCORRIGIBLY INSATIABLE AND SIMPLY BEYOND REDEMPTION u 5NDER THE #ONSTITUTION

THE 0RESIDENT gSHALL HAVE THE POWER TO VETO ANY PARTICULAR ITEM OR ITEMS IN AN APPROPRIATION REVENUE OR TARIFF BILL BUT THE VETO SHALL NOT AFFECT THE ITEM OR ITEMS TO WHICH HE DOES NOT OBJECT u ,ACSON ISSUED THE CALL AMID REPORTS THAT SENATORS AND CONGRESS MEN SITTING IN A BICAMERAL CONFER ENCE COMMITTEE HAVE AGREED ON A CONSOLIDATED VERSION OF THE BUDGET BILL AND WOULD HAVE IT RATIkED TODAY 7EDNESDAY ,ACSON EARLIER SAID THAT LAWMAK ERS ABUSED THEIR LEGISLATIVE POWERS

BY INSERTING BILLIONS OF PESOS WORTH OF PORK BARREL ALLOCATIONS IN THE BUDGET BILL (E CLAIMED THAT EACH CONGRESS MAN WOULD HAVE AT LEAST 0 MILLION gPORKu ALLOCATION IN THE $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC 7ORKS AND (IGHWAYS $07( BUDGET /NE OR MORE SENATORS MADE 0 BILLION IN BUDGET INSER TIONS FOR ONE PROVINCE ALONE HE CLAIMED 4HE AMOUNT WAS PART OF THE 0 BILLION THAT ,ACSON SAID SOME SENATORS HAD INSERTED IN THE BUDGET OF $07( ALONE g4HE BIGGEST IS 0 BILLION u ,ACSON SAID ADDING THAT SUCH PROJECTS MIGHT INVOLVE MORE THAN ONE SENATOR gBUT ARE LUMPED IN JUST ONE PROVINCE u 0ROJECTS INCLUDE lOOD CONTROL STRUCTURES NATIONAL AND LOCAL ROADS WATER MANAGEMENT MULTI PURPOSE FACILITIES BRIDGES FEASIBIL

Q EXPENSES FROM A1

3OCIAL MEDIA ACCORDING TO #OMELEC RULES REFERS TO THE COL LECTIVE ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS INCLUDING WEBSITES AND APPLICATIONS THAT ENABLE USERS TO CREATE AND SHARE CONTENT COLLABO RATE AND INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER 3ECTION # OF #2 ALSO STATES THAT gEACH REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY AND CANDIDATE SHALL REGISTER WITH THE %DUCATION AND )NFORMA TION $EPARTMENT OF THE #OMELEC

THE WEBSITE NAME AND WEB ADDRESS OF THE OFkCIAL BLOG AND OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE OF SUCH POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE u !NY OTHER BLOG OR SOCIAL ME DIA PAGE WHICH WHEN TAKEN AS A WHOLE HAS FOR ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE THE ENDORSEMENT OF A CANDIDATE

Bets to report MONEY SPENT FOR THESE CONTRAC TORS 2EMEMBER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THEIR 3/#%S 3TATE MENT OF #AMPAIGN %XPENDITURES FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW BUT THEY HAVE NEVER REPORTED ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA EXPENSES !ND THIS WOULD BE THE kRST TIME THEY WOULD BE DOING THAT u *IMENEZ SAID 4HE #OMMISSION EN BANC EARLIER PROMULGATED #OMELEC 2ESOLUTION #2 THE RULES AND REGULA TIONS IMPLEMENTING 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE &AIR %LECTION !CT IN CONNECTION WITH THE -AY

NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

ITY STUDIES AND ROAD RIGHT OF WAY /N -ONDAY THE BICAMERAL PANEL AGREED TO REMOVE ALL FUND INSERTIONS FOR lOOD CONTROL AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN THE BUDGET BILL TO EXPEDITE THE PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL BUDGET ! SMALLER BICAM WAS FORMED TO kNE TUNE BUDGET AMENDMENTS 4HE GOVERNMENT IS OPERATING UNDER A REENACTED BUDGET AFTER THE (OUSE AND 3ENATE FAILED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET LAST YEAR #ONGRESS WILL ADJOURN SES SIONS ANEW &EBRUARY TO -AY TO GIVE WAY FOR THE CAMPAIGN AND ELECTIONS PERIOD

‘Useless talk’

˜ The Manila Times

News House passes measure that punishes ‘political butterflies’ WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

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Bam Aquino seeks ample budget for Bangsamoro SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th on Tuesday appealed to lawmakers to ensure that there would be ample funds in the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget to implement the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

The senator reminded the government of its promise to bring peace and order in Mindanao through BOL, which created the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Senate version of the 2019 budget allotted around P30 billion additional budget for the BOL. “ Dapat tiyakin na sapat at hindi kulang ang suporta para sa BOL (Enough support for BOL must be ensured),� said Aquino, co-author and co-sponsor of the BOL. The senator is hopeful that the bicameral conference committee will finish crafting the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Bill on Wednesday, February 6, so that the Senate and the House of Representatives will be able to ratify the budget measure on the same day.

Republic Act 11054 or BOL mandates that the appropriation for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shall be transferred to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

The ARMM was allotted P31.1 billion for 2019, but this amount will not be enough BECAUSE OFkCIALS SAID THE TRANSITION TO "/, would need around P59 billion. “Ang tagal na nitong pinangarap at inilaban ng mga kapatid nating Moro (Our Moro bothers and sisters dreamed of and fought for this for so long,� Aquino said. “ Dapat hindi mabinbin ang transition dahil sa kakulangan ng budget (The transition process must not be delayed due to lack of budget),� he added.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Senate to vote on Mislatel franchise THE Senate would decide on Wednesday, February 6, if it would transfer the ownership of Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company Inc. (Mislatel) to a consortium chosen by the government as the third telecommunications company in the country, Sen. Grace Poe said on Tuesday.

Poe said the Senate would vote on House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 23, which seeks the transfer of Mislatel’s ownership to the consortium owned by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp., Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp., and state-owned China Telecom.

The senator, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, presented the HCR 23 to the Senate plenary on Monday night for debates. “I sponsored it. It will still go through a vote. The reason why we did this is because this is the mandate of the Senate. I cannot decide on it as chairman [alone].

It has to be the collective wisdom of the body,� said Poe in a television interview.

Poe said her panel removed any reference to Mislatel as the third telco or the new major player since the validity of its franchise could still be questioned in courts. “We took out anything that pertains to calling Mislatel a new major player or third telco. We’re treating it as a regular franchise because later on someone might go to the court and say Congress recognized Mislatel as the third telco,� she added.

Poe said she sponsored the measure because of the public’s “desperation� to have a new player that promises better services and because she feels it would BE gUNFAIRu NOT TO PRESENT IT ON THE lOOR to allow senators to debate on the issue. “We are all anxious to have a fast internet. It’s for national interest that I’m doing this,� she said.

Poe said the resolution did not preclude Congress from altering, modifying, amending or repealing Mislatel’s franchise granted under Republic Act 8627 should it fail to make good its commitments regarding coverage and internet speed.

It also did not mean an automatic renewal of its franchise that was set to expire in 2023, she added.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

P

BY GLEE JALEA

UBLIC OFkCIALS WHO CHANGE THEIR POLITICAL PARTY A YEAR BEFORE OR AFTER ELECTIONS MAY SOON BE BANNED IF A MEASURE APPROVED BY THE (OUSE #OMMITTEE ON 7AYS AND -EANS BECOMES A LAW The House panel on Monday approved the proposed Political Party Development Act to strengthen the political party system and promote party loyalty and discipline.

The unnumbered bill was authored by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Majority Leader Fredenil Castro and 14 other lawmakers, consolidating House Bills

522, 697, 1695 and 7088.

Under the measure, political turncoATISM OR CHANGING POLITICAL AFkLIATION A year before or after the holding of national elections will be punished.

Penalties for “political turncoats� include forfeiture of their elective office; disqualification from running for any

elective position in the next election; prohibition from holding any position in any GOVERNMENT OFkCE FOR THREE YEARS AFTER THE expiration of his or her current term; prohibition from assuming any executive or administrative position in the new political party; and refund of the amount received from the previous political party and a 25 percent surcharge thereon.

Any citizen of voting age or any candiDATE POLITICAL PARTY MAY kLE WITH THE #OMmission on Elections (Comelec) a petition to disqualify a candidate on the ground of political turncoatism.

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni�

Robredo previously cited the case of

A3

the Liberal Party (LP), which had lots of “political butterflies� when the term of former president Benigno “Noynoy�

Aquino 3rd started. “Our party is small. When [Aquino] became president, politicians rushed to LP and we became bigger, but when PNoy stepped down our numbers dwindled again,� she said.

Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) President and Senator Aquilino “Koko� Pimentel 3rd said in August 2018 that since the 2016 elections, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PARTY HAD SIGNIkcantly increased from 40,000 to 93,000 — with 300,000 pending applications.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l

I

Congressmen should disclose more, not less

NTRODUCING a resolution to restrict public access to the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of congressmen was not exactly the best way for Fredenil Castro, representative of the second district of Capiz, to start his new stint as majority leader of the House of Representatives.

But he does not seem to care that public reaction to ONE OF HIS kRST MAJOR ACTS HAS BEEN MOSTLY NEGATIVE Castro claims his proposed resolution is meant to preVENT gkSHING EXPEDITIONSu ON AND HARASSMENT AND EVEN blackmail of, House members and staff.

We wonder how many House members and employees have been subjected to such humiliation and agony, so as to move Castro to come up with such remedy.

So far, the good congressman has yet to Castro’s resolution, produce evidence of however, will the prevalence of these violate the law, wild schemes against his fellow lawmakers. which requires From thin air during all government a television interview, however, he drew a officials to publicly scenario of terrorists disclose, to the best tampering with SALNs of their knowledge, to blackmail lawmakers into influencing the names of all the passage of bills their relatives in involving national security matters. government.

Told that congressmen could simply deny tampered SALNs for being fakes, Castro doubled down on his absurdity and said that by then, his imaginary terrorists had done enough “damage,� and such “damage� needed to be “prevented� rather than wait for it to be “cured.�

This is coming from the House that had no qualms USING 3!,.S FOR kSHING EXPEDITIONS IN THE PAST 2EMEMber the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona?

What restrictions is Castro proposing? On top of the usual disclosures of personal details and intentions (usually journalistic or academic), Castro wants heavy REDACTIONS ON SPECIkC 3!,. ENTRIES NOTABLY THE NAMES OF THE 3!,. kLER S RELATIVES IN GOVERNMENT He also wants the cost of reproducing these SALNs, which consist of only a few pages, really, to be prohibitive, at a whopping P300 each. That means spending more than P80,000 just to get the SALNs of all House members!

Castro’s resolution, however, will violate the law, WHICH REQUIRES ALL GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS TO PUBLICLY DISclose, to the best of their knowledge, the names of all their relatives in government.

In effect, if given the chance, what Castro wants to do is to keep the public in the dark and make congressmen less accountable to voters who have the right, under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of %THICAL 3TANDARDS AND 0RACTICES FOR 0UBLIC /FkCIALS AND %MPLOYEES TO EXAMINE WHETHER THEIR ELECTED OFkCIALS HAVE UNJUSTLY ENRICHED THEMSELVES WHILE IN OFkCE MalacaĂąang is to be commended for frowning upon this suspicious proposal, given the fact that Freedom of Information is the norm in the Executive Branch under ONE OF 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE S kRST EXECUTIVE ORDERS What is Castro so afraid of? If there is nothing to hide, then lawmakers should be disclosing more information to the public, not less.

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WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 117

DANTE A. ANG, Chairman Emeritus RENE Q. BAS, Publisher Emeritus NERILYN A. TENORIO, Publisher-Editor ARNOLD E. BELLEZA, Executive Editor FELIPE F. SALVOSA II, Managing Editor LEENA C. CHUA, News Editor LYNETTE O. LUNA, National Editor TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor PERRY GIL MALLARI, Sports Editor LEA MANTO-BELTRAN, Supplements Editor JOMAR CANLAS, Chief of Reporters RENE H. DILAN, Chief Photographer DANTE F. M. ANG 2ND, President and CEO BLANCA C. MERCADO, #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER RODA A. ZABAT, Advertising Director VICENTE P. CRUZ, JR., Circulation Director DENISE O. CALNEA, Marketing Communications and Services Director Telephone All Departments: 524-5665 to 66; Subscription: 524-5664 Local 222 Advertising: 524-5664 Local 121 Telefax: 310-5895 or e-mail advertising@manilatimes.net XXX NBOJMBUJNFT OFU t F NBJM OFXTEFTL!NBOJMBUJNFT OFU Letters to the Editor THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 The owners, managers, publishers and editors do not necessarily share the opinions expressed and the statements made by individual authors of columns, commentaries and other articles published in The Manila Times.

Time to change the automated election law Part 5

T

HE 2018 draft of the automated election system (AES) law proposes to change the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) to Technical EvaluATION AND #ERTIkCATION #OMMITTEE (TECC). It also proposes to create a CREDIBLE 0ROJECT -ANAGEMENT /FkCE (PMO). Why? In the amended AES law of 2007 (Republic Act 9369), the TEC shall certify, through an established interNATIONAL CERTIkCATION ENTITY )#% TO be chosen by the Comelec from the recommendations of the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC), not later than three months before the date (February) of the electoral exercises, categorically stating that the AES is operating properly, securely and accurately. The AES Watch observed that this provision of the law was complied with in the past three national and local elections, and in this year’s elections. Comelec consistently tapped SLI Global Solutions (formerly SysTest Labs) then. Though SLI was suspended under the US Election Assistance Commission accreditation program, it did its part but somehow the TEC failed to follow its recommendations. For example, in 2010, the TEC neglected to address the

P

LET’S FACE IT!

NELSON CELIS compensating controls resulting in no test certifications to show that all the 82,000 PCOS machines had 99.9995 percent accuracy rating, that the integration testing was successful from the PCOS machines up to the national consolidation and canvassing system (i.e., including the testing of all telecommunications facilities and digital signing), that the source code is kept in escrow at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and that the source code reviewed is one and the same as that used by the equipment, etc. Such TEC failure happened not only in 2010 but was also repeated in the succeeding elections. For this 2019 elections, Comelec selected Pro V&V Inc. Back in 2006, when the technical working group (TWG) from the Philippine Computer Society was drafting the revisions of the 1997 AES law (RA 8436), they brainstormed that the ICE would be a good idea as an independent certifying body to evalu-

ate the integrity of the AES from the precinct count to the national canvass.

There was also a suggestion before to TAP COMPETENT LOCAL AUDITING kRMS

some of which had partnerships with THE "IG INTERNATIONAL AUDITING kRMS

notwithstanding the possibility of being able to get the Commission on Audit. The TWG conceptualized the independent body as patterned after the best practices of the ATM consortia in accepting the usage of the ATM apps OF A PARTICULAR BANK SPECIkCALLY IN USing pre-designed test scripts to instill discipline of accuracy in every assessment. Thus, there’s no question for everyone to conveniently withdraw cash in any ATM whenever, wherever, anytime — that’s because we trust the ATM system! Finally, with ICE, the TWG even presumed that Comelec would come up with the long-awaited Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) that had been delayed for ALMOST YEARS AFTER THE RATIkCATION of RA 9369. Unfortunately, it never happened...until now!

Since the expectations from the ICE didn’t materialize in the last three national elections, the 2018 draft proposes that the TEC be changed to TECC. This time, the three months and the ICE are removed and the AES Board (read Part 4 of this series) inter-

vention is endorsed. The proposed provision states: “The TECC shall certify the AES using the AES Board APPROVED EVALUATION AND CERTIkCATION PROCESS 4HE CERTIkCATION PROCESS SHALL start immediately following the award of the contract to the AES provider and shall be completed not later than six (6) months before the date of the electoral exercise, categorically stating that the AES, including its hardware, software, network, telecommunications, power, and all other system components resources, and facilities which shall include all the minimum system capabilities and/or security features provided for in Section 8 of this Act, is operating properly, securely, and accurately.�

Who are the members of the TECC and what are their primary functions? The 2018 draft proposes that Comelec, in collaboration with the chairman of the ASE board, shall establish an independent ad hoc TECC composed of a representative each from the Comelec, the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), who shall act as chairman of the TECC. The primary task of the TECC is to design, adopt, and develop the evaluation

ÂłCelisA5

All bitterness and sorrow in the sugar areas

IONEERING Basques and the members of the local principalia helped develop Pampanga into a sugar-producing area, one of the sugar pioneers. At the peak of the sugar industry, which were the late 1940s, the 1950s and the 1960s, the province had two sugar mills and the sugar barons controlled the local economy — and its politics. The 10 wealthiest families either owned the sugar plantations or had stakes in the sugar mills.

The province’s top “plantadores,� the exalted title given to the sugar planters, literally dictated the start of the milling season and that season, in turn, dictated the tempo and the pace of the local economy. But even the minor “plantadores“ felt a sense of ENTITLEMENT ! kVE HECTARE SUGAR farm, given the soaring prices of sugar in the global market then and the prized US sugar quota, was enough to send three kids to Manila to study in the universities.

Life was even better in the sugar areas of Negros Occidental. Yield per hectare was almost double the yield of the Pampanga sugar farms. But even the unequal yield did not prevent marriages between the Negrense sugar clans and the Pampanga-based ones, all in the sustenance of the feudal nature of sugar production. That was one of the reasons why familiar surnames can be found in both provinces: Dizon, Lacson, Gamboa and Ganzon.

The spiral of the sugar industry into its economic hell has its Exhibit A in my province. The two sugar mills that used to prodigiously supply brown sugar to THE SOPHISTICATED REkNERIES FOR

cannot have enough of bad news.

Two weeks ago, the “Insertion Czar,� aka Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, announced that the country would not only go into an unlimited rice importation, it will now enter a phase of “unli� the final white sugar product sugar importation. Mr. Diokno, — the Pampanga Sugar Mill (Pa- who has made a mission out of sumil) and the Pampanga Sugar announcing all the bad news for Development Corp. (Pasudeco) agriculture (he is the same cabinet — have been mothballed for member who is at the head of efgood. Pasumil in the town of forts to oppose more support for Floridablanca, is now a residen- agriculture because we are allegtial subdivision, mostly for OFW edly a “service economy�), made families. Once an oasis of luxury that statement two weeks ago.

That announcement from in the western side of Pampanga, with a clubhouse (where the Mr. Diokno on the unlimited PLANTERS WINED AND DINED kTTED sugar importation prompted out with mahogany flooring, the provincial government of with a stable of Arabian horses Negros Occidental, the heart of for the sugar inspectors, Pasumil the sugar industry, to ask Mr. now hosts rows of low-cost and Diokno to “get out of of his airCONDITIONED OFkCESg AND VENTURE middle-income housing.

Pasudeco, located in the heart into the sugar farms. Mr. Diokno, of highly urbanized City of San of course, will not do that. He has Fernando, has been acquired by to respond to serious charges that a Tsinoy developer, a dollar bil- he masterminded a Napoles-like lionaire. It will be developed into PORK BARREL TO BENEkT AN IN LAW The death of the sugar industry, a housing and retail complex, with the fancy name Capital Town- for a backgrounder, is a death of ship. It’s about a kilometer away a thousand cuts, the most lethal from the provincial capitol. The cut of which transpired a long twisted and rusted steel core of the time ago, in 1974. The Laurelold mill has been hauled into one Langley trade agreement expired of the steel melting plants nearby. and with it expired the commitThere is a lone sugar mill in ment of the US to buy tens of the province, a small one ac- thousands of tons of sugar from quired from Hawaii by a scion the Philippines at a preferential of one of the pioneering sugar price yearly. It was the agreefamilies. It sits on a high point ment that propped up the sugar in Planas, Porac and its small- industry then from any domestic scale operation is the surest sign or external challenge. And made everything in the province’s sugar the nabobs of the sugar industry rich beyond expectations. industry has gone downhill.

In 1975, terror and shock was the The sugar industry, it appears,

MIDWEEK COMMENTS MARLEN V. RONQUILLO

reaction of the unprepared sugar industry over the lapse of the agreement.

In the mid-1980s, in accord with the Washington Consensus, governments across the globe agreed to a set of economic reforms that basically cut off government support to agriculture by way of cheap credit. The Central Bank of the Philippines was forced to close its rediscounting window for agricultural loans and the banks that relied on that window had no other choice but to make interest rates for loans agriculture at par, or even higher, than commercial loans.

More than 10 years ago, the sugar industry failed in its bid to exempt sugar from regional trade agreements that lowered the tariffs on imported sugar, and that made the sugar industry vulnerable to sugar from Thailand and other MORE EFkCIENT SUGAR PRODUCERS Today, we have the sad news from the Insertion Czar, aka the budget secretary, whose special loathing toward agriculture is now a very public thing. “Unli“ sugar importation will further expose the vulnerability of the sugar industry to free up trade, to lower tariffs and end all form of protection to agriculture.

The Philippines is following blindly and adhering religiously to these global demands, oblivious of the pain and suffering they INlICT ON BOTH PLANTERS AND FARMers and to agriculture in general.

Agriculture in the country is between a hard rock and hard men like Mr. Diokno, who, indeed, never leaves his ivory perch to look into the death and dying of sugar and the other sub-sectors of agriculture.

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

Opinion

A5

Q TATAD FROM A1

What if DU30 is sicker than his politics?

This gave MalacaĂąang a chance to quote Mark Twain and say “rumors of his death were grossly exaggeratedâ€?: on Monday, one newspaper front page showed him having breakfast and reading a newspaper with his live-in partner Honeylet AvanceĂąa; on Tuesday, his spokesman Salvador Panelo babbled about his “robust health.â€? A slight fever last Friday had prevented him from attending a scheduled peace and order summit in Leyte, said Panelo, otherwise he was in the very pink of health.

We have nothing as reliable as a medical bulletin to tell us about DU30’s actual health condition.

Usually reliable Palace sources said he was not in Malacaùang from Friday to Sunday; on the other hand, our Davao sources, who have access to DU30’s inner circle, said he was not in Davao either. His last public appearance was when he visited Jolo to condole with the families of the VICTIMS OF THE *ANUARY TWIN bombings of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral; reports said he had a dizzy spell after that visit, while clasping his breast with his RIGHT HAND (E kNALLY REAPPEARED on Monday in Davao.

boanga mosque is all shot; you have to suspend all disbelief to believe what DU30 and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are saying about the so-called “suicide bombing.� An UNIDENTIkED )NDONESIAN HUSBAND AND wife were supposed to have been the suicide bombers; this means they carried the bombs that killed 20 others and wounded over a hundred, mostly churchgoers, and were probably blown to bits, beyond recognition.

LIC ABOUT THE g)NDONESIAN SUICIDE bombers.� But Albayalde’s people DU30 was reported to have asked apparently failed to convince the for prayers. He had not done this )NDONESIANS TO SUPPORT THEIR PRObefore; he had on the other hand posed script, so there was no menattacked the Church with profaniTION OF THE )NDONESIANS COMING TO ties and invectives, and ridiculed Camp Crame that afternoon.

Catholics for their hopeless churchThis suspicion may or may not be going. Some of my friends quickly CORRECT )F CORRECT $5 WILL HAVE TO responded with genuine charity exert great effort to make sure Jakarta Indonesians at Crame without suspecting DU30 might does not question his claim, without just be playing with them. They On Monday, PNP Chief Oscar Al- ANY CONCRETE PROOF THAT TWO )NDONEwere happy to learn he had not sucBAYALDE ANNOUNCED THAT kVE !BU sian “suicide bombers� carried out cumbed to any fatal illness.

DU30’s clairvoyance Sayyaf members had surrendered the Jolo bombings.

The most skeptical, however, to the police in connection with the wondered whether it’s not a DU30 How in Heaven’s name were the cathedral bombing. But there has The prospect from Jakarta “clone� or “double� that’s been POLICE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEM AS )N- been no explanation of the delayed photographed for the consumption donesians, after their bodies were crime lab report. Nor has there been More than this, DU30 will have to of the Filipino public, especially pulverized, and without any po- any intelligent follow-up on the al- MAKE SURE )NDONESIA THE BIGGEST after the Philippine Star on Tuesday liceman or witness having spoken LEGED )NDONESIAN SUICIDE BOMBERS Muslim country in the world, does carried on its front page a picture of to them when they were still alive, /N -ONDAY A GROUP OF )NDONESIAN not protest DU30’s deafening sia DU30 look-alike, together with BEFORE THE FATAL EXPLOSIONS !ND government men, obviously intel- lence and inaction on the bombing a Kim Jong Un look-alike, feast- how was DU30 able to identify the ligence personnel, were huddled of the Zamboanga mosque, which ing on fried chicken at a Jollibee “suicide bombers� even before the AT #AMP #RAME WITH 0.0 OFkCERS KILLED TWO )SLAMIC MISSIONARIES AND outlet in Hong Kong. The North PNP began their half-baked investi- They stayed there for hours. Their WOUNDED kVE OTHERS ONE DAY AFTER Korean strongman’s impersonator GATION 4HIS SEEMS TO SUGGEST SOME presence, however, was not men- the Sulu cathedral was bombed. was identified as Howard, while amount of clairvoyance.

TIONED IN !LBAYALDE S PRESS BRIEkNG Frustrated by DU30’s insouciance, $5 S IMPERSONATOR WAS IDENTIkED )N MY PREVIOUS COLUMN ) MEN- that afternoon. in utter contrast to his ballistic reaction as “Cresencio Extreme.� tioned that one full week after the 7HY WERE THEY THERE IN THE kRST to the Jolo bombings, some moderate But while DU30’s physical health bombings, the PNP crime laboratory PLACE (IGHLY INFORMED 0.0 SOURC- Filipino Muslims are asking that the seems to be holding out, not every- had not been able to come out with ES WERE INCLINED TO BELIEVE THE )NDO- /RGANIZATION OF )SLAMIC #OOPERATION thing about his government is well. a crime report, because they could nesians were invited by Albayalde / # THE NATION gCOLLECTIVE VOICE His handling of the twin bombings not decide what explosive material to lend a hand to DU30 and the of the Muslim world,� demand an in Jolo and the bombing of the Zam- was used by the “suicide bombers.� PNP in selling the story to the pub- explanation for DU30’s lukewarm re-

Asking for prayers

4HEY ALSO APPARENTLY HAD DIFkCULTY gathering DNA samples after the “crime scene� was prematurely and ill-advisedly washed of the blood and body parts of the victims. At this writing, the situation reportedly remains unchanged. There is still no crime lab report.

L

AST week’s column stirred a hornet’s nest of stinging comments from my friends from both sides of the aisle — the Yellow horde and the DDS. The former regards this conspiracy as a veritable manifestation of the dying throes of a strongman feigning to be a strong leader of a WEAK STATE /R AS ) GATHER FROM VARIous blogs in social media â€œâ€Śa leader who equates the use of political will with that of a totalitarian wielding political bully power.â€? A culmination of the two years of policy bumbling, merely coping with the challenges of the presidency and outright misgovernance lathered with copious amounts of misogynic statements and attacks against the Catholic Church.

This is a harsh judgment of DU30’s regime, but not entirely unexpected as the PNoy administration’s skeletons in the closet are now being exposed: the irregular Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) controversy, Dengvaxia deaths due to corruption, pork barrel scam (Napoles) and a host of anomalies, making PNoy and his minions vulnerable to possible jail terms — as his predecessors GMA and Erap went through. We Filipinos have the propensity to jail our presidents; or in a more depraved way, the incoming regime, if in opposition, will EXACT ITS POUND OF lESH 4HUS WHAT GMA did to Erap, and what PNoy did to GMA and what DU30 will do TO 0.OY ‡ ARE BY FAR THE TREND )F THE opposition wins after DU30, then he may also see the other side of a jail cell.

But there were positive remarks TOO ON MY CONSPIRACY ARTICLE )N fact, certain permutations to the conspiracy theory were added, suggesting a wide traction that seem to make the scenarios more believable.

For instance, some proffered the idea

LITO MONICO C. LORENZANA that all these were tolerated upon his sufferance and mostly emanated from the mind of the political strategist — the Deegong himself — who may have foreseen and even planned THIS A LONG TIME AGO )N SUMMARY

this is a foreplay to the long-awaited revolutionary government (revgov) that has particularly resonated with his true believers. Accordingly, the Deegong is wise enough to lull the 9ELLOWS INTO A STATE OF CONkDENCE

lethargy even. And he will pounce at the time of his choosing.

To fortify the DU30’s authorship of the conspiracy theory, they volunteered the information that long before his ally GMA was installed as speaker in the House of Representatives, the BUREAUCRACY WAS BEING RECONkGURED with retired military men, seconded into the President’s coterie, occupying key positions â€“â€œâ€Ś59 retired military generals, police directors, admirals and colonels (were to date) appointed to the Cabinet and other agencies, including government-owned corporations. Many of them are either from Mindanao or were assigned to Davao City where Mr. Duterte served AS MAYOR FOR YEARSwu )NQUIRER net, Fe Zamora, Philip Tubeza). But MORE IMPORTANTLY KEY OFkCIALS FROM the AFP chief of staff to area commanders, police generals and regional directors, which matter the most in a junta-led government, were personally hand-picked by DU30. He learned well from his lamented predecessor, President Marcos, whom he professed to admire greatly.

Which brings the conspiracy theory to the part played by the Marcoses. The

family has staged a comeback with the help of DU30 but at the same time their impact has been greatly moderated; thus, they must remain the liege lords of the north in obeisance to the DU30 and the Duterte that may come after the Deegong, Sarah. With the SanDIGANBAYAN S DECISION kNDING THE MATRIARCH )MELDA GUILTY ON SEVEN COUNTS

and the pending P200-billion forfeiture case hanging like Damocles’ sword over them, the Marcoses understand where power lies. For all intents and purposes, only the Marcos name and a whiff of the legend lingers. Bongbong’s move against Leni is going nowhere and even if he wins the protest, it will come too late. And the most capable of the Marcoses after Ferdinand himself, )MEE MAY JUST WITHER IN THE VINE IN the Senate — if she makes it. And the brains, the political centurions and structures that were once formidable adjuncts to the family — Danding Cojuangco, Estelito Mendoza, Lucio Tan, Enrile and their ilk — may now be in an advanced state of dementia.

And their North is no longer solid as there are now more claimants. There is no longer a “king of the north,� to paraphrase “The Game of Thrones.�

Thus, the conspiracy theory with the suspected provenance of the Deegong has more credence. But how will this BLOW IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE .OT much, really.

Our closest ally America, while awaiting the impeachment of a clueless President who is likewise accused of being a stooge or spy of the Russians, is really of no consequence to the realities of the Philippines.

We symbolically cut our umbilical cord with mother America when the Deegong did his song and dance number on his pivot to China, but our direct emotional ties with 2 million Filipinos in America are a permanent unbreakable bond. And our substitu-

tion for China’s embrace is proving to be awkwardly uncomfortable with the Chinese territorial claims and encroachment into our sovereignty unchecked, and with the Deegong postponing confrontation with the inevitable to the next regime.

Shamelessly we have telegraphed to our neighbors in Asia and to the world that despite our moral victory at the UN arbitral court, China can DO WHATEVER IT WANTS )T WILL SPREAD morsels and scraps our way and we will take them — under the guise of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program. And we will be thankful. We are in effect already a province of China. So, the conspiracy theory, either way, does not matter to them.

And where will be the adherents OF REAL REFORM 4HE BELIEVERS IN a federal-parliamentary government and the liberalization of our economy through constitutional REVISIONS 7E VE BEEN HADĂœ And we are again faced with an election where the name brands, the political dynasts and the discredited politicians freed from their jail terms may again win. And they will once more ride herd over this country and continue sucking the marrows of our countrymen – because the stupid voters will put them in power. And we will celebrate this as the triumph of democracy.

Perhaps the conspiracy theory is just a theory. Perhaps it is a product of the minds of desperate Filipinos who have been waiting for the pagbabago to happen. Perhaps it is a longing for freedom-loving, honest and handworking constituents like many of us to repair to a reverie where we are momentarily made safe. Perhaps, this is just a projection of our fears and hopes. Or perhaps, this is in fact true, ongoing and may soon erupt. Perhaps‌!

Q CELIS FROM A4

Time to change the automated election law and certification processes (ECPs) for the AES taking into consideration existing best practices and standards in AES. The ECPs shall be subjected to review and enhancements taking into consideration advancements in AES technologies after each election.

All ECPs developed by the TECC shall be submitted to the AES board for approval. And to ensure that the enTIRETY OF THE !%3 IS CERTIkED MONTHS before the elections, the TECC shall be immediately convened not later than 30 days after the effectivity of the AMENDED 2!

As in the existing six provisions OF 2!

3ECTION VIS 4%# IT IS proposed that the TECC document the evaluation and certification of all components of the AES but with THE FOLLOWING REVISIONS )NSTEAD OF SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF A kELD TESTING process followed by a mock election event in one or more cities/municipalities,‌it is proposed to have

successful conduct of a laboratory acCURACY TESTING AND CERTIkCATION OF EACH VOTING MACHINE BEFORE THEIR kELD DEPLOYMENT AND A kELD TESTING PROCESS followed by a mock election event in one or more cities/municipalities; 2) )NSTEAD OF THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION of audit on the accuracy, functionality and security controls of the AES software,‌it is proposed to have successful completion of audit on the accuracy, functionality and security controls of the AES software, hardware AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS )Nstead of the successful completion of a source code review,.. it is proposed to have successful completion of full source code review and testing of all THE !%3 COMPONENTS )NSTEAD OF A CERTIkCATION THAT THE SOURCE CODE is kept in escrow with the BSP... it is PROPOSED THAT THE CERTIkCATION OR CERTIkCATIONS OF THE FULLY REVIEWED SOURCE codes of all the AES components are KEPT IN ESCROW WITH THE "30 )N-

STEAD OF A CERTIkCATION THAT THE SOURCE code reviewed is one and the same as that used by the equipment,‌it IS PROPOSED THAT THE CERTIkCATIONS OF the source codes reviewed are one and the same as those that are actually used by the equipment during THE ELECTIONS AND )NSTEAD OF THE development, provisioning and operationalization of a continuity plan to cover risks to the AES at all points in the process such that a failure of elections, whether at voting, counting or consolidation, may be avoided,‌ it is proposed that the development, provisioning and operationalization of a continuity plan to cover risks to the AES at all points in the process such that electoral fraud, sabotage and/or a failure of elections, whether at voting, counting or consolidation, may be avoided.

The foregoing proposed revisions are clearer and easy to interpret if ever Comelec has no intention to

fstatad@gmail.com

A N A LY S I S

Conspiracy theory Part 2

sponse. They seem inclined to believe that the Zamboanga attack could have been the work of the old Davao Death Squad, whose crimes were exposed IN THE 3ENATE HEARINGS BY TWO self-confessed DDS members, Edgar Matobato and Arturo LascaĂąas. An /)# INTERVENTION COULD SERIOUSLY DISRUPT $5 S LAST THREE YEARS IN OFkCE This would be regrettable enough.

But what if, despite the Malacaùang quack doctor’s professional diagnosis, DU30’s medical condition proves to BE NO BETTER THAN THAT OF HIS POLITICS DU30’s reported call for a command conference of the military and the police, soon, can only be intended to examine his prospects. *** %VEN BEFORE THE OFkCIAL CAMPAIGN PERIOD FOR THE -AY ELECTIONS could begin, former presidential spokesman and senatorial candidate Harry Roque Jr. withdrew from the race for reasons of health. For those who never considered Harry a worthy pick, this was a signal service to the voters. Many are hoping MOST OF THE REMAINING SENATORIAL candidates could follow Harry’s lead and relieve them of the burden OF REJECTING THE UNkT

PROMULGATE THE PENDING )22 OF THE AES law for the past 22 years...and still counting! )NASMUCH AS OUR NATIONAL AUtomated elections entail complete inter-connectivity and continuity of AES operations and to strengthen the TECC’s function, a new provision is proposed; that is, the successful conduct by the Comelec of an inventory and the quality of telecommunications facilities and power resources NATIONWIDE )N THIS REGARD THE TWG found this inventory very critical as none was reported in the past three elections! What about for this coming ELECTIONS !S DETAILED IN THE DRAFT THE TECC shall closely coordinate with a credible PMO. Let’s further analyze why such PMO is a critical success factor to a genuine AES law compliance.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

(To be continued)

Trump’s State of Union comes amid political peril WASHINGTON, DC: Facing clear political peril, President Donald Trump will deliver his second State of the Union address at a moment when his bully pulpit is uncertain and his negotiating skills in question after a month-long government shutdown that exposed fractures in his party and sent his poll numbers tumbling.

Trump hopes to use his Tuesday speech to reset his agenda and begin to gear up for his 2020 re-election campaign. But even as the president promises a theme of unity, his performance is likely to draw cheers from one side of the deeply divided Congress and stony silence from the other.

The split between Democrats and Republicans, each side dug in over Trump’s long-sought border wall, reinforces questions about his ability to move both Congress and the electorate.

All this while Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, Calif.), sits just behind him on the top tier of the House dais during the address, a looming reminder of his shutdown defeat and his struggles to adapt to a new, divided Washington.

The speech itself, an annual set piece that gives the president a grand stage to speak directly to a national audience of millions, could prove bittersweet for Trump. While the president, ever the showman, will relish the theatrics of the moment, his primetime address to the nation comes a week later than originally planned after Pelosi forced a postponement while the government was closed.

Trump made his deal-making abilities central to his presidency, but he has been unable to move emboldened Democrats, firm in their resistance to paying for a border wall with Mexico.

Without it, Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency or shutter the government again. Both options are opposed by a growing number of Republicans, potentially leaving Trump weakened with his own party as several political dark clouds loom. Among them are the conclusion of the special counsel’s Russia investigation and growing talk from the left about the possibility of impeachment. “Presidents have walked into that chamber in weakened positions before,� said Jon Meacham, a presidential historian and author, invoking Bill Clinton after Republicans swept the 1994 midterm elections. “But Trump does not have the usual base of support.

Legislative Republicans fell in line with Trump because they were afraid of him and his supporters and if that support is eroding, the end will be quick.�

Trump’s allies, some of whom worry that his voice has been diminished, suggest he should use the speech to showcase his administration’s record as well as repeat his call for the wall. “He needs to highlight the successes he’s had with the economy and trade and with conservative justices,� said

former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. “And I think he needs to stare Democrats down and challenge them to defy him on the need for border security.�

As the February 15 deadline that could lead the government to close again nears, the State of the Union provides the president with his best chance yet to sell the public on the need for the wall. Previous efforts at harnessing at the power of the office to make that case have failed.

A trip to the border didn’t move the needle after Trump himself voiced private skepticism that it would work.

An Oval Office address was widely panned, with the president himself being his harshest critic, complaining to aides that he looked “flat� and “lifeless.�

Round after round of polling suggests that Americans do not believe a wall is needed and don’t feel it is a fight worth shutting down the government over.

White House aides have kept details of the speech under wraps, though Trump is expected to paint a picture of a country on the comeback while pushing new trade deals as well as proposals about drug pricing, health care and public works.

But there will be stark reminders throughout the House chamber that Trump’s political reality has changed, now 21 months before he faces voters again.

Pelosi will be visible in nearly every camera shot beamed to a national broadcast audience. Her presence is evidence of the newly empowered House Democrats.

And it makes clear how she can use her political clout and her party can wield the power of the subpoena to thwart Trump’s agenda and open investigations into his government and business. “It’s a dynamic created in the television age but it’s also a demonstration for the country that the executive and legislative branches are separate but equal powers,� said Jennifer Palmieri, former communications director for President Barack Obama and a top aide on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. “And a very powerful woman who has a big hand in controlling his fate could be very distracting to him.�

In the chamber will be several Democrats vying to replace Trump and rising party stars such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Some Democrats will be flanked by invited guests, including people affected by the shutdown, and their presence is meant to highlight Trump’s vulnerability.

As for the president, he ignored the divisions in Washington as he pledged to use his speech to call for Americans to set aside their differences. “I really think it’s unification, I think it’s industry, I think it’s about the people you see here,� Trump said Thursday while hosting a group of manufacturers at the White House. “I really think it’s going to be a speech that is going to cover a lot of territory but part of it is going to be unity.�

AP

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

FOCUS

New Year is a time to mix and mingle C HINESE New Year, perhaps similar to new-year festivals of other cultures, is a time of thanksgiving and celebration. In China, especially in the northern regions, it is often ushered in on its eve by a culinary group effort, namely the wrapping and cooking by all family members OF DUMPLINGS WITH MEAT AND OTHER kLLINGS WHICH are then enjoyed as part of the family reunion.

In Southeast Asia, the ethnic Chinese diaspora similarly stresses on the sumptuous reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year. There WILL ALSO BE THE GIVING OF RED PACKETS kLLED WITH money for the younger, unmarried members of the family. Depending on the legality of such an act in the particular jurisdiction where the ethnic Chinese family lives, this is often followed by the LIGHTING OF kRECRACKERS AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT

signifying that a new year has begun.

There were the olden days in Southeast Asia where ethnic Chinese, much like many other ethnic groups from around the region, tend to live in monolithic enclaves, speaking similar languages or dialects and practicing similar cultural traditions. But nowadays the Chinese are mostly dispersed in the various parts of the countries they settled and intermixed with other ethnic groups. In Malaysia generally, and my home state of Sabah in particular, the Chinese New Year is a public holiday and is often celebrated across ethnic and cultural lines.

On this recent Chinese New Year’s eve, I adjusted my very frequent work-related travels AND lEW BACK HOME TO 3ABAH THE DAY BEFORE The reunion dinner prepared by my mom this year, like years past, consisted not only of typical southern Chinese dishes but also typical Malaysian delights such as chicken curry. After dinner I paid a brief visit to my former high school principal, bringing along some of my mom’s homemade Hokkien-style “alkaline cake,� perfect for soaking up the thick gravy of slow-cooked pork trotters.

Then my wife and I are off to an old friend’s house in anticipation of a lion dance performance. The lion dance, if one were to trace its cultural origins, may date back a millennium or two to ancient Persia, and was introduced into China when the ancient continental Silk Road brought the merchants and artisans of China, Central Asia and the Middle East together to conduct commerce and cultural exchanges. In perhaps a further twist of this cultural tradition considered Chinese in modern times, and I hope I am not stepping on anybody’s toes for saying this, the lion dance is perhaps practiced and performed more prevalently in Southeast Asia then even in China itself. My friends from China, for example, often marveled at the lion dance

show when they visit Malaysia, for many of them have never actually watched such cultural performance which was supposedly Chinese.

Well, this Chinese New Year’s eve not only many “lions� draped in fluorescent and colorful overalls came calling at my friend’s house, there was even a “dragon� which came rolling and twisting in, which required near perfect coordination among the many dragon hoisters’ seemingly effortless moves. The particular lion dance troupe has won more than one world lion dance championship in the past, but what was even more amazing was that most of the “dancers� are not even ethnic Chinese, but are from the various other ethnic groups in Sabah. Among the VIP guests was also a nonChinese deputy chief minister of Sabah, and all of us applauded the exquisite performance of the lion dancers.

Sabah underwent a change of state government in the middle of last year, in tandem with the historic change of ruling coalition at the Malaysian federal level. The new Sabah state government apparently decided to exude the multicultural panorama of Sabah society. On the kRST DAY OF THE #HINESE .EW 9EAR THE CHIEF MINister (state chief executive) of Sabah, who was ALSO A NON #HINESE HOSTED AN OFkCIAL #HINESE New Year “open house,� or public reception. My wife and I attended the reception and we were heartened to see the stage performances from not only the Chinese communities but from across the spectrum of Sabah’s colorful cultural communities.

We all live in a very globalized and integrated world nowadays. Most people would understandably like to retain a major part of their ethnic identities, but it is equally important that we understand and sometimes even partake in our fellow countrymen’s cultural celebration. I am sure this is as true in Malaysia as in the Philippines, which are both multicultural nations.

And for me, even that is sometimes not enough.

We live in a region rich in diverse cultural traditions, but how many of us actually reach out across national boundaries to understand the cultural practices of our neighboring countries beyond perhaps sampling their admittedly delicious culinary delights? I mean, for example, many Malaysians and Filipinos may enjoy our Thai food, but how many of us actually take out some time to study the history and society of Thailand? In fact, how many of us even bother to understand each other’s culture and tradition?

I will continue to write here and hopefully travel to the Philippines in the near future to experience for myself the wonders of the Philippines.

And you are welcome to do the same.

EI SUN OH

French rethink on repatriating jihadists stirs political storm PARIS: France has raised the prospect of repatriating around 50 jihadists detained in Syria, creating a domestic political storm that highlights the difficulties posed by bringing extremists home.

Successive French governments had insisted citizens who left to live or fight under the Islamic State group in Syria or Iraq should face justice locally, apart from children who could be returned without their parents.

But concerns about the possible release of the detainees by Kurdishled forces in northeast Syria have forced a rethink which could see around 50 men and women returned to France, as well as 80 children, according to sources who have spoken to AFP. The United States on Monday called on other nations to repatriate and prosecute their nationals.

Here are five key issues:

The evidence

Like other European countries, France has repeatedly tightened its anti-terror legislation, most recently under current President Emmanuel Macron in 2017.

The problem for prosecutors is kNDING THE NECESSARY EVIDENCE FROM a foreign battleground that can withstand scrutiny in national courts. “Work is being done together [between various French ministries] with the utmost care. We don’t want to risk any procedural problems which would allow any of them to be released once they get back to France,� the French official added.

Some extremists might have appeared in IS propaganda videos or had their communications intercepted, enabling the serious charge of joining or leading a terror organisation, which can lead to a 30-year prison term.

But in other cases, where prosRelocation ecutors lack direct incriminating The first problem is working out evidence — in the case of wives who how the suspects would travel from accompanied their husbands, for the prison camps, which are run example — they might have to fall

by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic back on the catch-all charge of “as&ORCES 3$& THE MAIN kGHTERS ON sociating with terrorists,� experts say. the ground combatting Islamic State.

There is no recognized government The judicial system in the SDF-run areas between Iraq and Turkey, and the area is highly unstable Despite increased resources, spebecause of the threatened withdrawal cialized anti-terror prosecutors and of US troops and a possible offensive the French court system are already struggling to deal with the surge

by Turkish forces.

French special forces are known in terror cases since IS declared its to operate in the area, alongside caliphate in 2014.

Experts say that hundreds of an the Americans, who have helped train and back up the Kurds with estimated 1,700 French nationals who went to Iraq and Syria have air support. “We are looking at all the op- already returned home, often endtions: We could bring them to ing up in court. “The judicial system is going to another country, bring them back directly from Syria, or negotiate have to adapt to cope with this with Turkey,� a French official said very large number of jihadists,�

Jean-Charles Brisard, chairman of on condition of anonymity.

French Interior Minister Chris- the Center for the Analysis of Tertophe Castaner has talked about rorism, told AFP. He added that France’s “Cour the fighters being “expelled,� rather than being brought back, but d’Assises,� where the most serious expulsions can normally be carried crimes are tried, “lacks resources.� “It’s not sufficiently staffed for out only by a sovereign state.

the number, the volume of jihadists,� he warned.

The prison system The new arrivals would also put pressure on the French prison system, WHERE OVERCROWDING AND DIFkCULTIES in dealing with Islamist inmates are long-established problems.

Marc Hecker, a security expert at the IFRI think-tank in Paris, estimates there are around 500 people in jail in France on terror charges who have already been sentenced or are awaiting trial. “It’s very difficult to handle these people in jail. You have to separate them from the rest of the inmates,�

Hecker said. “Or you can let them be with the other inmates and they may radicalize other people.�

The detainees would be assessed by French psychologists for four months when they enter the prison system, and the most dangerous would be PLACED IN SOLITARY CONkNEMENT In January last year, prison guards undertook the biggest strike in a quarter of a century to demand better pay and conditions, and to protest against the dangers of radicalized inmates.

Children Of the 130 people who might be repatriated, most are thought to be minors who are likely to face major psychological problems. “These are children who were born over there or left France very young with their parents,� Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet said on Thursday, adding that some of them are orphans. “We think that around 75 percent of the children are under age seven,� she added.

Once back in France, they would be separated from their mother or father, who would be jailed, adding to their trauma.

A child’s case would then be assessed by a family judge, who must decide whether to place them with relatives, or with a foster family.

AFP

People power will bring change — not Davos home truths to billionaires — that they need to be taxed more, and JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: They said about the reality of work without they cared about climate change, dignity that so many people enBUT THEY lEW IN ON PRIVATE JETS dure around the world. A reality in record numbers. They said check that Davos Man was unwillthey cared about inequality but ing and unable to face up to.

While Davos played itself out laughed off the idea of higher taxes for the rich. They spoke for another year, the leadership about democracy and human required to face up to multiple, rights, but they dined with a far- urgent challenges that we desperright populist. If there was ever ately have to address was coming any doubt about Davos represent- from elsewhere, including from a ing the epitome of duplicity, then 16-year-old climate activist.

Greta Thunberg provided a direct HAS kRMLY LAID THAT TO REST The billionaires and politicians challenge to the elites at Davos that that clinked champagne glasses PUT PROkT BEFORE PEOPLE AND PLANET at the annual World Economic “Some people, some companies, Forum (WEF) charade in Davos some decision-makers in particular, tried, as usual, to project concern have known exactly what priceless about the world and those out- VALUES THEY HAVE BEEN SACRIkCING to continue making unimaginable side of their bubble.

The WEF public relations ma- amounts of money. I think many chinery ensured that the event of you here today belong to that was slick and that there were group of people.�

Thunberg is part of a growing panels on climate change and inequality. But the hypocrisy of global movement of students demanding urgent change from elites was clear for all to see.

Not only that, this year even their governments. Their protests some of their usual supporters in are exciting and vital.

In the face of urgent social the mainstream media said that the global elite is currently out of problems not being addressed, other grassroots movements too enthusiasm and ideas.

Opening the conference, David have emerged during the last few Attenborough urged world leaders years. From students demanding to take serious action on climate "fees must fall" in South Africa, to change, but the attendees broke the global Me Too movement dethe record for the number of pri- manding an end to sexual assault VATE JET lIGHTS THAT FERRIED THEM IN and violence against women.

These are examples and remindto the luxurious Swiss ski resort.

This, despite WEF’s own report on ers of an important historical lesglobal risks for 2019 showing that son: that all social progress, from environmental threats are seen as THE kGHT AGAINST APARTHEID TO SECURthe biggest danger to the world. The ing women’s right to vote, came disconnect is quite staggering, and about by the power of the people further proof that Davos generates challenging the people in power.

And so it is with inequality, ironinothing more than empty rhetoric CALLY ALSO IDENTIkED BY THE $AVOS and bloated media coverage.

Another disconnect moment, elite for several years as one of the now rightly gaining infamy on greatest risks facing the world, and social media, saw our Fight In- a subject that remains on the WEF equality ally Winnie Byanyima of agenda. Unsurprisingly, nothing has Oxfam, alongside historian Rutger been done about it by Davos. The Bregman, tell some badly needed policy prescriptions and solutions BYÂ JENNY RICKS

are thoroughly researched and wellknown but rejected by the plutocrats and politicians in order to maintain the status quo and the economic SYSTEM THAT BENEkTS THEM As leading inequality economist Branko Milanovic says about the elites: “Not surprisingly, nothing has been done since the GLOBAL kNANCIAL CRISIS TO ADDRESS inequality. Rather, the opposite has happened.�

Of course, the idea of elites "solving" inequality is absurd — given that the problem is of their making and its perpetuation in their interests. The statistics on inequality bear testament to this.

Wealth is becoming increasingly concentrated — last year, 26 people owned the same wealth as the 3.8 billion people who make up the poorest half of humanity.

Currently the wealth of the world’s 2,208 dollar billionaires is NOW kVE TIMES THE '$0 OF THE WHOLE of Africa. In the UK, the average FTSE 100 CEO takes home 133 times the salary of the average worker.

We are dealing with a worldwide inequality crisis that is reaching new extremes and undermining global efforts to end poverty and marginalization, advance women’s rights, defend the environment, protect human rights and democracy, prevent CONlICT AND PROMOTE FAIR AND DIGNIkED EMPLOYMENT Even Davos Man knows this.

But what the elites at Davos again made clear, through their rhetoric and inaction, is that only a GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT WILL kX THIS A growing global movement called the Fight Inequality Alliance — comprised of trade unions, social movements and leading international and national nonprofit organizations — is busy organizing while those at Davos eat canapÊs and mouth platitudes.

While the 1 percent gathered in the Swiss Alps, activists and cam-

Q Activists and communities gather in Manila to build people’s power in the fight against inequality.

JILSON TIU/GREENPEACE

Q In India, residents of Delhi put forward their demands to end inequality.

OXFAM INDIA paigners held a week of action higher taxes on wealth, capital calling on governments to curb AND PROkTS OF THE RICHEST COMTHE MURKY INlUENCE OF THE SUPER panies and individuals to enable rich who they blame for the Age quality public services for all, and of Greed, where billionaires are a limit to how many times more buying not just yachts but laws. a boss can earn than a worker.

Community groups’ ideas, From Nairobi to Mawhich elites don’t mention, nila to Guadalajara, to Delinclude minimum living wages, hi to London and many countries an end to corporate tax breaks, beyond, tens of thousands gath-

ered in slums and towns across the world in contrast to the opulence of Davos, putting forward their solutions to inequality and celebrating their resilience through music, theatre and cultural expression.

Ultimately, the solutions to inequality will come from those who are at the frontlines of it, not the 1 percent that caused it and continues to benefit from it. And as anger about shocking levels of inequality continues to grow, so will the moveMENT TO kGHT INEQUALITY $ElATED BY ITS OWN DUPLICITY and by the movements mobilizing people power outside of it, Davos is a gathering in search of a purpose. The real power for the radical and systemic change we need is with ordinary people coming together and organizing to demand it. It’s what has worked in the past and it’s the only thing IPS that will work now.

Jenny Ricks is the global convenor at Fight Inequality Alliance.

Regions

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

More police deployed for 2nd BOL plebiscite COTABATO CITY: The Police Regional Office 12 (PRO 12) based in General Santos City under the command of Regional Director and Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco deployed personnel to safeguard the second Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in North Cotabato on Wednesday.

The team is composed of 582 personnel from PRO 12 Regional Headquarters, Regional Mobile Force Battalion, City/ Provincial Mobile Force Company and Alert Company.

They have been at their respective areas of responsibilities since February 4 and will be recalled on February 8.

Michael Abas, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 12 director, in his message at send-off rites for the police team, thanked PRO 12 for their support particularly in the peaceful BOL plebiscite in Cotabato City last January 21.

Abas said the towns included in the second plebiscite are Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, Pigcawayan and Tulunan, all in North Cotabato province.

g4HE #OMELEC IS CONkDENT THAT the plebiscite that will be held TODAY &EBRUARY WITH ITS AFkLIates from the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), will be safe and successful,� he added.

Daniel Macatlang Jr., director of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation-Western Mindanao, also in another message to the police personnel, shared his personal experiences about his visit to blast sites in Jolo, Sulu, where twin explosions last week left more than 20 dead and dozens injured.

He told the personnel to be careful in responding to any incident that may happen and to be extra vigilant about unusual activities of people during the plebiscite.

Macatlang appealed to those who plan to sow violence on plebiscite day not to carry out their evil intentions.

Meanwhile, Rasco commended the PRO 12 for its role in the January 21 BOL plebiscite in Cotabato City that resulted in secure, peaceful and orderly conduct of the plebiscite.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Raps filed over slay try on Bacolod lawyer BACOLOD CITY: The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Western Visayas regional office has filed murder and frustrated murder charges against 11 suspects for conniving to kill lawyer Erfe del Castillo in an ambush on Dec. 21, 2018.

Del Castillo and her boyfriend Efren Palmares, a former police officer, were on their way to Bacolod City from the Bacolod-Silay Airport on board a Porsche car when armed men in a sports utility vehicle peppered them with bullets around 10:45 p.m. on the access road in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City.

Palmares died, while del Castillo was injured.

Among those accused in the complaints that NBI Region 6 Director Max Salvador filed on Monday before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office were three police officials, two non-commissioned police officers, a businesswoman, a lawyer, two civilians, a media practitioner and two unidentified persons.

In a news conference on Tuesday, del Castillo identified the suspects/ respondents in the case as Catherine Berioso-Cabuga alias Kate Brios, her mother Shirley Berioso and sister Caselyn Berioso with their lawyer Jose Max Ortiz.

Also named respondents were Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, former acting police director of the Bacolod City Police Office, and Supt. Richie Yatar, Senior Insp. James Adrian Albaytar, Senior Police Officer 2 Joshua Barile and PO3 Ronald Ortiz.

Another respondent, named in the charge sheet filed on February 4 and docketed as Case VI-21-INV019B-008-009, is a member of the media, whose name is being withheld

by The Manila Times and several other John Does and Jane Does.

Aside from del Castillo, Palmares’ mother Rosalia Palmares is also a complainant.

The lawyer said all the suspects connived to have her killed, naming Berios-Cabuga as the mastermind. “I am a thorn on her neck,� del Castillo said, adding that the atttempt on her life stems from the conflict over pieces of property of the Cabuga couple, particularly Metro Inn Hotel in Bacolod City.

In October last year, a stand-off between opposing supporters of the couple forced the police to close the road fronting the hotel.

Del Castillo is the legal counsel of Berioso-Cabuga’s estranged husband, Francis. “The motive behind the attempt on my life was self-interest, greed and money,� she said. “My mind was still alert at the time of the incident along the Circumferential Road up to the time of my operation. I saw who shot me, who they reported to after the incident and who were the individuals in the area. That area in Talisay City was well lighted so I remembered all of them,� del Castillo added.

Berios- Cabuga, who manages the hotel and an actress, and the other respondents have not issued a statement as of press time.

Ortiz, in an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, denied any hand in the ambush, saying the case has no basis and that at the time of the incident he was having a drink with a male friend in Bacolod City.

Del Castillo said surviving the ambush was a “miracle because He (God) let me live for a purpose.� “The target was me as all the shots were aimed at the passenger side were I was seated,� she added.

EUGENE Y. ADIONG

Italian govt gives P12M to displaced Marawi folk COTABATO CITY: The government of Italy had allotted $240,000 (more than P12 million) as a contribution to help 6,500 displaced people in Marawi City rebuild their livelihoods and gain access to nutritious food, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday.

Stephen Gluning, WFP representative and country director, said the Italian government’s contribution to the program would support families over three months, providing them with cash assistance in exchange for their participation in livelihood projects focused on kSHERIES AND FARMING “The WFP is grateful to the government of Italy for their continued generous support to our recovery operations to address the food security and nutrition needs of communities affected

by the Marawi crisis,� according to Gluning.

It will work in partnership with the Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to implement the project. “As the rehabilitation of Marawi City continues, Italy stands with the Philippine government in its efforts to assist the people of Marawi,� Italian Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmino said in a statement.

Marawi City, capital of Lanao del Sur province in southern Mindanao, was besieged by the terrorist Maute Group in May 2017, leaving dozens dead and injured.

Philippine security forces put down the siege in October 2018.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

WEDNESDAY February 6

A7

Daraga mayor back in PNP’s Legazpi jail L

BY RHAYDZ B. BARCIA

EGAZPI CITY: Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was brought back to the Legazpi City DETENTION CELL ON -ONDAY NIGHT BY OFkCIALS OF the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group #)$' AFTER ALMOST TWO WEEKS OF CONkNEMENT at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital here for asthma attack and hypertension.

Lawyer Merito Lovenzky Fernandez, head of Baldo’s legal team, said his client opted to leave the hospital despite his medical conDITION AFTER A HIGH RANKING OFkCIAL ordered the transfer of Baldo to the Philippine National Police (PNP) hospital in Camp Crame in Quezon City. “There was no order of discharge from his physician this morning, but the information I’ve got is that the CIDG wants Mayor Baldo to be put behind

bars at Legazpi City jail. Mayor Baldo was told to choose if he wants to go back to Legazpi City jail or to bring him to Camp Crame,� Fernandez said.

He opposed the move for fear of the mayor’s safety and security during the transit to Manila.

Fernandez did not identify the HIGHER OFkCIAL WHO ORDERED THE transfer of Baldo to Manila.

Baldo was discharged from the UST Legazpi Hospital at past 7 p.m. and transported to the PNP’s

Legazpi City headquarters by a hospital ambulance.

He has been confined at the hospital since January 22, a few hours after his arrest for allegedly masterminding the assassination of AKO party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe in December last year.

From the UST Hospital, Baldo’s family and a few supporters accompanied him to the Legazpi jail.

He was locked up at past 9 p.m.

AFTER A BRIEkNG WITH 0.0 PERSONnel and a meeting with his family and legal team inside the police headquarters here.

Prior to Baldo’s discharge, Senior Supt. Arnold Ardiente, CIDG Bicol director, admitted to reporters that he told Baldo early morning that he would be transferred to the PNP’s Camp Crame hospital. “He is under our custody so supposedly he must be in our PNP hospital. But since the attending

physician issued a discharge order, meaning he is safe to [be brought] back to jail,� Ardiente said as he CLARIkED THAT THEY DID NOT COMPEL Baldo’s attending physician to issue the order.

Baldo was arrested by the CIDG on January 22, after police recovered from his residence in Barangay Tagas, Daraga town, two caliber .45 pistols with 8 live ammunition, one live ammunition for M16 and one grenade launcher ammunition, all of which were unlicensed.

The police also confiscated Baldo’s white Isuzu Alterra, which was the subject of the arrest warrant signed by Legazpi City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Elmer Lanuzo.

Baldo would have been the opponent of Batocabe in the May 13 midterm elections with his running mate Acting Mayor Victor Perete.

A8

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

News

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

11 minors arrested in pot session E

BY NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

LEVEN Grade 9 students in their school uniform were arrested by police during a drug session in -AKATI #ITY WHILE 0 MILLION WORTH OF illegal drugs was seized from three drug SUSPECTS IN TWO DIFFERENT STINGS IN -AKATI #ITY POLICE OFkCIALS SAID ON 4UESDAY

4HE STUDENTS AGED TO

ADMITTED SKIPPING CLASSES 4HEY WERE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A POT SESSION AT P M ON -ONDAY #HIEF )NSP 'IDEON )NES *R

-AKATI ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE FOR OPERATIONS SAID POLICE WERE TIPPED BY BARANGAY VILLAGE SECU RITY VOLUNTEERS ABOUT A COMPLAINT FROM A RESIDENT OF #ONSULAR !REA IN "ARANGAY 3OUTHSIDE IN -AKATI 4HE "ANTAY "AYAN VOLUNTEERS

BACKED BY POLICE OFkCERS KNOCKED AT THE MAIN DOOR OF THE HOUSE WHICH WAS OPENED BY ONE OF THE STUDENTS 4HE AUTHORITIES SEIZED A PLASTIC OF MARIJUANA A BONG PIPE FIVE SACHETS OF SUSPECTED SHABU

PIECES OF ALUMINUM FOIL STRIPS AND kVE LIGHTERS /NE OF THE STUDENTS WAS IDENTIkED AS THE SON OF A MAN LISTED IN THE CITY S DRUG WATCH LIST (IS CLASSMATES DENIED USING THE ILLEGAL DRUGS

TONDO’S SHRINE

PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

Q SLOWS FROM A1

Go to partner with groups Inflation slows to serve more Filipinos WITH VARIOUS GROUPS FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING &ILIPINOS IN NEED )N HIS VISITS TO kRE VICTIMS 'O HAS DECLARED HOW HIS FRIENDS AND SUPPORT ERS HAD CONTRIBUTED TO RELIEF EFFORTS 'O HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO CONTACT FORMER COLLEAGUES IN VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ASK THEM TO PROVIDE AS SISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY kRES AND CALAMITIES (IS INITIATIVES LED TO THE CREATION OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS UNDER THE g-ALASAKITu BRAND THAT AIMS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR &ILIPINOS TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM GOVERNMENT /NE OF THESE PROGRAMS IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF -ALASAKIT #ENTERS IN VARIOUS HOSPITALS !N INITIATIVE OF THE $UTERTE ADMINISTRATION THE -ALASAKIT #ENTER IS A ONE STOP SHOP WHERE INDIGENT PATIENTS CAN SEEK HELP FROM VARIPUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE $EPARTMENT OF (EALTH

$EPARTMENT OF 3OCIAL 7ELFARE AND $EVELOPMENT 0HILIPPINE (EALTH )NSURANCE #ORP AND 0HILIPPINE #HARITY 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE 'O HAS SAID THAT IF HE WON A 3EN ATE SEAT HE WOULD PUSH A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE -ALASAKIT #ENTERS

Each village should have a nurse – Ejercito 3%. *OSEPH 6ICTOR g*6u %JERCITO ON 4UESDAY CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO DEPLOY A NURSE IN EVERY BARANGAY VILLAGE TO ADDRESS HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL 4HE SENATOR RAISED THE NEED TO AP POINT A NURSE IN ALL BARANGAY HEALTH CENTERS NATIONWIDE TO HELP ENSURE THE WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE ! REGISTERED NURSE 2. IN -A NILA EARNS AN AVERAGE OF 0

PER YEAR OR 0 A MONTH 3EN #YNTHIA 6ILLAR kLED IN A BILL DE PLOYING ONE NURSE IN EVERY BARANGAY WITH A SALARY OF 0

%JERCITO CHAIRMAN OF THE 3ENATE #OMMITTEE ON (EALTH AND $EMOG RAPHY SAID THIS SCHEME COULD ALSO ADDRESS THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UN DER EMPLOYMENT OF &ILIPINO NURSES 2ECORDS FROM THE 0ROFESSIONAL 2EGULATION #OMMISSION 02# SHOWED THAT THERE ARE ABOUT

UNEMPLOYED &ILIPINO NURSES g4HE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR COMPETENT NURSES IN THE BARANGAY COULD SIGNIkCANT

LY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR OUR PEOPLE 4HEY ARE BADLY NEEDED ESPECIALLY IN THE FAR lUNG PROVINCES IN THE COUNTRY u %JERCITO SAID (E AUTHORED THE 5NIVERSAL (EALTH #ARE PROGRAM THAT SEEKS THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH SERVICES TO ALL &ILIPINOS g7E SEE THIS AS AN EFFECTIVE SUPPORT TO OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ALL THE NEEDED MEDICAL SERVICES TO OUR PEOPLE /UR NURSES COULD PROVIDE THE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS PREVENT ILLNESSES AND VARIOUS AILMENTS u HE SAID .URSES IN VILLAGE HEALTH CENTERS COULD CONDUCT AN EXTENSIVE INFOR MATION DISSEMINATION CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE ON HYGIENE AND SANITATION !QUINO SAID 4HEY MUST ALSO ASSESS THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE RESIDENTS AND RELAY IT TO THE $EPARTMENT OF (EALTH WHICH

IN TURN WILL PROVIDE THE NEEDED VITAMINS AND MEDICINES

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

"ARANGAY 3AN )SIDRO 2EGINO 4OPIA 2OGELIO $I ERRO AND -ARLON DE ,IMA

WERE DETAINED AT THE -AKATI #ENTRAL 0OLICE 3TATION 4HEY WILL BE CHARGED FOR VIOLATING THE #OM PREHENSIVE $ANGEROUS $RUGS !CT OF 3EIZED FROM THEM WERE BAGS OF SHABU WITH A MARKET VALUE OF 0

A WEIGHING SCALE PARA PHERNALIA AND CELLPHONES

PCSO to build new center in Manila

Photo shows the Shrine of the Santo Niño or Child Jesus in Tondo, Manila. The shrine was officially proclaimed an archdiocesan shrine by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle in liturgical ceremonies on Tuesday.

#(2)34/0(%2 ,AWRENCE g"ONGu 'O THE 0RESIDENT S FORMER TOP AIDE

EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER WITH VARIOUS GROUPS IN ORDER TO FURTHER SERVE THE PUBLIC 'O DURING THE THIRD FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE 'UARDIANS -AG ISTRATE !DVOCATORS FOR $EMOCRACY )NTERNATIONAL )NC 'MADII SAID HE WAS WILLING TO BACK ANY GROUP THAT SUPPORTS THE GOVERNMENT S CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUGS CRIME AND CORRUPTION g0ARTNERS NATIN ITONG '-!$))

UNANG UNA SA KAMPANYA NI 0AN GULONG $UTERTE LABAN SA DROGA AT KRIMINALIDAD 7ILLING PO KAMING MAKIPAG PARTNER SA KANILA BASTA PO SA KABUTIHAN ;AT= KAAYUSAN NG 0ILIPINO 'MADII IS OUR PARTNER IN 0RESIDENT $UTERTE S kGHT ON DRUGS AND CRIMINALITY 7E ARE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH THEM FOR THE GOOD OF ALL u 'O SAID 'MADII OR THE 'UARDIANS IS AN AC CREDITED NON PROkT ORGANIZATION THAT IS PART OF THE !SSOCIATION OF #HIEFS OF 0OLICE OF THE 0HILIPPINES )NC 'O MENTIONED THAT 'MADII HAS PROJECTS THAT ARE BENEkCIAL TO &ILIPINOS 4HE FORMER 0ALACE OFFICIAL A LONG TIME ALLY OF 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO WORK

0OLICE SAID THE STUDENTS PARENTS WERE SHOCKED WHEN THEY LEARNED OF THE INCIDENT AND VOWED TO TIGHTLY WATCH THEIR CHILDREN 4HE STUDENTS WHO ARE ALL MINORS WERE TURNED OVER TO THE CITY 3OCIAL 7ELFARE $EPARTMENT FOR PROCESSING -EANWHILE 3ENIOR 3UPT 2OGELIO 3IMON -AKATI CHIEF OF POLICE SAID THEY ARRESTED THREE DRUG SUSPECTS IN A DRUG STING AT 2OCKEFELLER 3TREET IN

POLLED BY 4HE -ANILA 4IMES 4HE *ANUARY INlATION HOWEVER

EXCEEDED THE GOVERNMENT S TO PERCENT TARGET AND THE PER CENT RECORDED IN *ANUARY LAST YEAR #ORE INlATION ON THE OTHER HAND

WAS AT PERCENT ALSO DOWN FROM THE PERCENT IN $ECEMBER BUT HIGHER THAN THE PERCENT IN *ANU ARY g4HE SLOWDOWN OF INlATION IN *ANUARY WAS MAINLY DRIVEN

BY THE DECELERATION IN THE ANNUAL INCREMENTS OF FOOD AND NON ALCO HOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO AND TRANSPORT u ,ISA 'RACE "ERSALES NA TIONAL STATISTICIAN AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL SAID IN A NEWS CONFERENCE 3HE ADDED THAT LOWER PRICES OF RICE MEAT kSH MILK CHEESE AND EGGS AND VEGETABLES PULLED DOWN THE ANNUAL INCREMENT OF FOOD AND NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO PERCENT FROM PERCENT IN $ECEMBER ,OWER ANNUAL INCREASES WERE ALSO NOTED FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO FROM PERCENT

CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR FROM PERCENT HOUSING WATER ELECTRIC ITY GAS AND OTHER FUELS FROM PERCENT HEALTH FROM PERCENT AND TRANSPORT FROM PERCENT "ERSALES SAID MONTH ON MONTH

PRICES OF ALL ITEMS IN THE 0HILIPPINES WENT UP BY PERCENT )N $ECEMBER THE MONTH ON

MONTH GROWTH WAS AT PERCENT "ERSALES SAID THE MAIN CONTRIBU TORS TO THE UPWARD TREND WERE NON FOOD COMMODITIES SUCH AS HOUSING

WATER ELECTRICITY GAS AND OTHER FUELS

FURNISHING HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THE HOUSE AND RESTAURANT AND MISCEL LANEOUS GOODS AND SERVICES g7HILE WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE RESULT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLA CENCY 4HE GOVERNMENT STILL NEEDS TO LOOK AT WHAT S GOING ON u SHE ADDED "ERSALES NOTED THAT THE SECOND ROUND OF EXCISE TAXES ON FUEL DID NOT HAVE MUCH IMPACT ON LAST MONTH S INlATION g4HE EXCISE TAX FROM THE 4RAIN ;LAW= DID NOT HAVE MUCH EFFECT BECAUSE NOT ALL GASOLINE STATIONS IMPOSED THE NEW TAXES )F ALL GASO LINE STATIONS IMPOSE THEN BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE THERE IS AN EFFECT ;ON INlATION= BUT AS TO HOW MUCH AND HOW HEAVY WE CANNOT TELL u SHE SAID g4HE BIGGEST FACTOR TO THE INCREASE WILL ALWAYS BE THE PRICES OF FOOD

SO WE SHOULD WATCH THAT CLOSELY u "ERSALES ADDED 4HE "30 SAID THE PERCENT INlA TION RATE WAS IN LINE WITH ITS PROJEC TION OF SLOWER CONSUMER PRICES THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT 4HE "30 SEES INlATION AVERAGING TO PERCENT THIS YEAR BEFORE SLOW ING FURTHER TO PERCENT IN g$OMESTIC SUPPLY SIDE PRESSURES ARE SEEN TO FURTHER EASE WHILE THE

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is set to build its own corporate center in San Marcelino, Manila to decongest its satellite office at the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), which caters to about 700 patients each day.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the agency hopes to start construction next year and would conduct bidding for it.

“Let’s add five to six more [PCSO] branches.

We will continue to help our indigent patients nationwide. We shall maintain the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP), though the Universal Healthcare (UHC) already exists. PCSO will help the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to look for funds,” Balutan said.

The PCSO Satellite Office at the LCP shall be transferred to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

Meanwhile, Balutan dispelled rumors that the PCSO would stop giving medical assistance once the UHC law

had been fully implemented.

Balutan said the agency was set to give 40 percent from the 30 percent of the Charity Fund, which was about P8 billion for UHC in the third quarter this year.

UHC aims to catalyze reforms for the health care system in the Philippines, particularly strengthening primary care services, through PhilHealth.

It will also ensure adequate funding through the Department of Health annual budget, revenues from sin taxes, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, PCSO, and PhilHealth members’ contribution.

The PCSO Charter provides that 55 percent of its revenues would be allocated for the prize fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund and 15 percent as operating fund.

In 2018, the agency generated P63.55 billion, a 20-percent increase from its revenue in 2017. The agency helped 528,190 patients, spending about P8,682,919,581.50.

FRANCIS EARL CUETO

IMPACT OF "30 MONETARY POLICY ADJUSTMENTS IN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ECONOMY u IT SAID -EANWHILE !.: 2ESEARCH ANA LYSTS SAID THE PERCENT CORE INlA TION SUGGESTS THAT UNDERLYING PRES SURES HAVE EASED PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE CENTRAL BANK S EXPECTATION OF INlATION UNDER PERCENT IN THE kRST QUARTER OF g&ROM THE "30 S PERSPECTIVE THE MODERATION IN CORE INlATION IS VERY ENCOURAGING )T SUGGESTS THAT UNDER LYING PRESSURES ARE EASING CONSISTENT WITH SOME MODERATION IN DOMESTIC DEMAND u ECONOMISTS +HOON 'OH AND -USTAFA !RIF ADDED 4HEY SAID THEY EXPECT INlATION NEAR THE PERCENT UPPER LIMIT OF THE "30 S TARGET IN THE COMING MONTHS g3UPPORTED BY A MORE BALANCED OUTLOOK FOR INlATION WE EXPECT THE "30 TO KEEP RATES UNCHANGED AT ITS MEETING ON 4HURSDAY u THE ECONO MISTS ADDED -ALACAÄANG WELCOMED THE INlA TION DROP )N A STATEMENT 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO SAID THE GOVERN MENT WOULD STAY VIGILANT IN MONI TORING THE PRICES OF GOODS g7ITH INlATION FURTHER TAPER ING DOWN TO A MONTH LOW OF PERCENT THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL OVERSEE AND ENSURE THAT ITS CONSEQUENT EFFECTS AT THE MARKET WOULD BE FELT BY THE ORDINARY CONSUMER u HE SAID g,AST YEAR SOARING PRICES CAUSED

BY UNCONTROLLABLE FACTORS TESTED OUR WILL AS A NATION .OT DISHEARTENED NOR COWED WE ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE

AS A PEOPLE 7ITH THE 0RESIDENT S STRONG AND DECISIVE ACTION WE REMAINED FOCUSED AND STEADFAST AS WE ADDRESSED THE CONDITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED SIGNIkCANTLY TO INlA TION u 0ANELO SAID g7E WILL REMAIN ON GUARD IN MONITORING THE PRICES OF BASIC GOODS AND COMMODITIES AS WE AIM TO MITIGATE POVERTY AND HUNGER DRIVEN BY THE 0RESIDENT S ECONOMIC GOAL TO LAY DOWN AND BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR A COM FORTABLE LIFE FOR THE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS u HE ADDED 4HE LOWER INFLATION RATE AC CORDING TO 4RADE 3ECRETARY 2A MON ,OPEZ SHOWED THAT FOOD PRICES HAVE BEEN BECOMING LESS OF A BURDEN TO CONSUMERS g)T S A GOOD RElECTION THAT PRICES HAVE REALLY NORMALIZED BUT WE EX PECT THIS NUMBER TO GO DOWN FURTHER BELOW PERCENT TO RElECT THE FURTHER ;PRICE= REDUCTION IN SEVERAL FOOD ITEMS PARTICULARLY RICE VEGETABLES AND CHICKEN u HE SAID IN A TEXT MES SAGE SENT TO 4HE -ANILA 4IMES "UT CONSUMER GROUP ,ABAN +ON SYUMER SAID gINFLATION AT PERCENT IN *ANUARY IS STILL HIGH AND ABOVE THE MAXIMUM TARGET AND YET WE ENJOYED LOWER PRICES OF FUEL RICE

TRANSPORTATION AND ELECTRICITY FOR MUCH OF THE MONTH u 4HE CONSUMER GROUP SAID INlA TION COULD HAVE MET GOVERNMENT TARGET IF THE SECOND TRANCHE OF EXCISE TAX HIKE WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES, MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO, CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND TYRONE JASPER PIAD

Liability for product quantity imperfection Dear PAO, ) BOUGHT kVE BOXES OF MILK FOR my baby. The label shows that ONE BOX CONTAINS KILOGRAM OF MILK (OWEVER ) DISCOVERED AS contained in the foil inside that THE WEIGHT OF THE MILK IS ONLY 800 grams. What can I do in this situation?

Sincerely yours, Milet $EAR -ILET

4HE LAW THAT ADDRESSES YOUR SITUA TION IS !RTICLE OF 2EPUBLIC !CT 2! OR g4HE #ONSUMER !CT OF THE 0HILIPPINESu g!RTICLE ,IABILITY FOR 0RODUCT 1UANTITY )MPERFECTION 3UPPLI ERS ARE JOINTLY LIABLE FOR IMPERFEC TIONS IN THE QUANTITY OF THE PRODUCT WHEN IN DUE REGARD FOR VARIATIONS INHERENT THERETO THEIR NET CONTENT

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA IS LESS THAN THAT INDICATED ON THE CONTAINER PACKAGING LABELING OR ADVERTISEMENT THE CONSUMER HAVING POWERS TO DEMAND ALTER NATIVELY AT HIS OWN OPTION A THE PROPORTIONATE PRICE B THE SUPPLEMENTING OF WEIGHT OR MEASURE DIFFERENTIAL C THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PROD UCT BY ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND

MARK OR MODEL WITHOUT SAID IM PERFECTIONS D THE IMMEDIATE REIMBURSE MENT OF THE AMOUNT PAID WITH

MONETARY UPDATING WITHOUT PREJU DICE TO LOSSES AND DAMAGES IF ANY 4HE PROVISIONS OF THE kFTH PARA GRAPH OF !RTICLE SHALL APPLY TO THIS !RTICLE 4HE IMMEDIATE SUPPLIER SHALL BE LIABLE IF THE INSTRUMENT USED FOR WEIGHING OR MEASURING IS NOT GAUGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH OFkCIAL STANDARDS u 2ELATEDLY !RTICLE OF 2!

PROVIDES g!RTICLE )GNORANCE OF 1UAL ITY )MPERFECTION 4HE SUPPLIER S IGNORANCE OF THE QUALITY IMPERFEC TIONS DUE TO INADEQUACY OF THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DOES NOT EXEMPT HIM FROM ANY LIABILITY u )T IS CLEAR FROM THE CITED PROVI SION THAT SUPPLIERS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR PRODUCT QUANTITY IMPERFECTION )N YOUR SITUATION AS THE AGGRIEVED

PARTY YOU ARE GIVEN THE OPTION TO DEMAND PROPORTIONATE PRICE

SUPPLEMENTING THE WEIGHT DIF FERENTIAL REPLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCT OF THE SAME KIND WITHOUT IMPERFECTION OR REIMBURSE MENT OF THE AMOUNT PAID 4HE SUPPLIER S IGNORANCE OF THE QUALITY IMPERFECTION SHALL NOT EXEMPT HIM FROM ANY LIABILITY 7E HOPE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUERIES 4HIS ADVICE IS BASED SOLELY ON THE FACTS YOU HAVE NARRATED AND OUR APPRECIA TION OF THE SAME /UR OPINION MAY VARY WHEN OTHER FACTS ARE CHANGED OR ELABORATED %DITOR S NOTE $EAR 0!/ IS A DAILY COL UMN OF THE 0UBLIC !TTORNEY S /FkCE 1UESTIONS FOR #HIEF !COSTA MAY BE SENT TO DEARPAO MANILATIMES NET

Business Times

LANAO DEL SUR RURAL BANK FIRST TO BE CLOSED THIS YEAR BusinessB2

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SUGAR EXECS BUCK IMPORT LIBERALIZATION

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AC ENERGY GETS $95-M GREEN BOND INVESTMENT

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PH RESORTS EXPECTS PSE APPROVAL FOR P18-B FOO

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PPP support okayed for CCP redevelopment A

PROPOSED public-private partnership (PPP) to turn the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex into a “smart city� has taken a step forward, having secured support from a funding facility set up to develop bankable projects.

The CCP Asset Development Project, along with the unsolicited Davao Sasa Port Modernization

PH factory output declines in December FACTORY output fell in December as demand slowed following the holiday season, the government reported on Tuesday.

The Philippines Statistics Au t h o r i t y ( P S A ) s a i d t h a t contractions in both the volume and value of production indices (VoPI and VaPI) worsened from a year earlier to –10.1 percent and –9.3 percent, respectively, from –6.1 percent and –7.1 percent.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said these still brought 2018 VoPI and VaPI to 7.2 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively.

A year earlier, manufacturing volumes and value fell by 0.5 percent and 1.4 percent. “We have expected this decline because the holiday season is over,� Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said of the December drop. “These figures could

FROM WHERE WE SIT

www.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2019

What’s inside

B1

also indicate a likely tepid growth consistent with the latest Business and Consumer Expectations Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,� he added.

The NEDA said that lower production of food, chemical products, tobacco, basic and fabricated metals, and machinery (except electrical) had weighed on overall manufacturing output.

Chemicals, metals, food, tobacco and machinery declines were also cited by the PSA but it also pointed to a plunge in printing as particularly contributing to December’s output drop.

Demand could pick up this year, the NEDA noted, given lower rice prices and a slight appreciation of the peso. “Moreover, election-related spending is projected to benefit manufacturing subsectors such

ÂłDecember B3

P r o j e c t a n d t h e D e ve l o p m e n t and Maintenance of the General Santos Port Project, have been

approved for Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) support, the PPP Center said in statement on Monday.

All three proposals will receive project development, transaction advisory and competitive challenge management support from PDMF, a revolving fund established during the previous administration as a means

of facilitating infrastructure projects.

The PDMF Committee issued the approvals last Friday, the PPP Center said.

The CCP project calls for the redevelopment of a 57.08-hectare area within the 88-hectare complex, which currently houses the Tanghalang Pambansa or National Theater,

ÂłCCP B3

World Bank leadership search likely to end with US candidate WASHINGTON, D.C.:Â The search for a new leader for one of the most high-profile global organizations begins Thursday and seems likely to end again with selection of the US candidate.

The Washington-based World Bank has been led by an American ever since it was founded in the aftermath of World War II, while its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund, has always been led by a European.

Growing emerging market countries have challenged this unwritten arrangement in recent years, demanding a more open, meritbased selection process, and a greater voice in the institutions themselves.

But it is unlikely they can build

sufficient opposition to the candidate put forward by US President Donald Trump, nor is Trump likely to cede a prominent position on the global stage.

That is unless Trump’s nominee is so objectionable or unqualified as to unify the emerging markets as well as Europe, officials familiar with the process say.

However, if Europe were to oppose the US selection, it would tacitly be giving up

ÂłSearch B3

Q World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. AFP PHOTO

Public investors ICTSI’s Agri sector devt to temper inflation – think tank majority stockholders H

OUSE of Investments Inc. (HI) reported in a general information sheet (GIS) that as of 2018, its authorized capital stock (ACS) consisted of 1.25 billion common shares with par value of P1.50 each, and 2.5 billion preferred shares with par value of P0.40 each. Of its ACS, 375 Filipinos subscribed and paid for their subscriptions to 615,996,114 HI common shares while one British, six Americans, two Chinese and “other aliens� paid for their subscriptions to 43,261,291 HI common shares.

Summarizing its GIS report, House of Investments had total paid-up capital of P1,171,408,325 divided into P923,994,171 for 615,996,114 common shares and P247,414,154 for 618,535,387

AGRICULTURAL development should be prioritized by the Duterte government to keep INlATION LOW A THINK TANK SAID “[L]ow agricultural productivity and anemic agricultural growth will increase the risk of a return of HIGH INlATION AND WILL DRAG DOWN the economy as it has in 2018,�

preferred shares.

In the same GIS, House of Investments said it had 386 common shareholders and 48 preferred shareholders. The estate of Alfonso T. Yuchengco was the top holder of HI preferred shares with 337,961,370, or 54.64 percent, followed by Pan Malayan Management & I n ve s t m e n t C o r p . w i t h 232,024,666 preferred shares, or 37.51 percent.

I n a d d i t i o n , A l f o n s o T.

ÂłPerez B2

the Foundation for Economic Freedom said in a statement.

Agricultural production grew by only 0.56 percent in 2018, below the government’s 4-percent target and 2017’s record 3.95 percent.

The Department of Agriculture has blamed crop damage due to a series of typhoons but the

FEF said that the Philippines’ neighbors had posted healthy growth rates despite similar weather disturbances.

The group added that poverty in rural areas would remain a problem if agriculture sector development was not pursued. “Poor agricultural productivity

will remain also a drag on the Philippine economy�, it said. “High food costs translate into high wages and uncompetitiveness of our manufacturing and export sectors. Agricultural products also serve as inputs into food

ÂłInflation B3

Tobacco sector warns against excise tax hike HIGHER tobacco excise taxes will only worsen the prevalence of bootleg cigarettes, an industryAFkLIATED GROUP WARNED ON 4UESDAY “Illicit remains and is growing. This means that smokers shift to cheaper illicit cigarettes during excise tax driven price increases,� the Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) claimed.

The statement was issued after Monday’s Senate deliberations on various proposals that seek to raise the current tax of P35 per cigarette pack.

The industry, the PTI claimed, contributed

P126 billion in excise tax revenues in 2017.

Fresh tax hikes, it said, would raise the share of bootleg cigarettes to 14.2 percent, from 13.2 percent, from 2019 to 2022 with equivalent revenue losses of P14.2-16.8 billion.

4HE 04) ALSO CITED AN )NTELLECTUAL 0ROPERTY /FkCE of the Philippines report stating that cigarettes accounted for the bulk, or 85.81 percent, of pirated and counterfeit goods seized in 2018.

It also emphasized that the interagency National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights had

seized a total of P23.6 billion worth of fake goods in 2018, way higher than the 2017 level of P8.2 billion.

PTI representative Carmen Herce was quoted as having told the Senate that legal cigarette volumes fell by 43 percent, from 127 billion in 2012 to 73 billion in 2017, mainly due to excise tax hikes.

This led to job losses for 3,000 industry employees, a 22-percent decline in harvest volumes and a 34-percent drop in the number of tobacco farmers, she added.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

Lanao del Sur rural bank first to be closed this year E M

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

ONETARY authorities have ordered a Lanao del Sur-based rural bank (RB) closed and placed under receivership.

“The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas prohibited Bagong Bangko Rural ng Malabang (Lanao del Sur) Inc. from doing business in the Philippines,� the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) said in a statement late on Monday.

)T WAS THE kRST BANK TO BE PLACED under PDIC receivership this year.

The bank’s assets and affairs were placed under control of the PDIC on Jan. 25, 2019. The single-unit lender is headquartered in 593 Bayan Street, Barangay China Town (Poblacion), Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

Depositors of closed banks under PDIC receivership are entitled to be paid up to the maximum insurance coverage of P500,000 through the designated servicing branches of Land Bank of the Philippines.

Latest available records show that as of Sept. 30, 2018, the rural bank had 1,382 deposit accounts with total deposit liabilities of P62.35 million. Total insured deposits amounted to P37.26 million equivalent to 59.76 percent of total deposits.

“A notice of payment shall be sent not later than February 26, 2019 to all depositors with valid claims and complete address received on or before February 18, 2019,�

PDIC said. “All claims received after February 18, 2019 shall be PROCESSED WITHIN kVE WORKING DAYS and letters notifying status of claims and/or payment shall be issued accordingly,� it added.

The Monetary Board closed 12 banks in 2018 and 7 banks in 2017, placing them all under PDIC receivership.

Cement Sugar execs buck import liberalization safeguard impact to be probed THE Tariff Commission (TC) is set to probe the potential impact on the market of the safeguard duties on cement.

An ocular inspection has been scheduled by the TC for February 18 to April 15 in line with concerns over safeguard duties endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to the commission.

The inspection will allow FURTHER VERIkCATION OF INFORMATION submitted by the DTI with regards to the case, TC chairperson Marilou Mendoza said at the sidelines of a preliminary hearing on the matter.

She said they planned to take into account the industry performance and employment, among others.

The TC will complete the investigation and submit the result to DTI within 120 calendar days, but “the probe could be finished in 60 days if the DTI marked the case as “urgent,� she added. &URTHER THE OFkCIAL SAID A PUBLIC hearing would be held on May 6 to 10 to “give all interested parties who submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Commission the opportunity to be heard and to present evidence including the opportunity to respond to the presentations of other parties and to submit their views.�

Should the TC approve the provisional safeguard, it would be implemented for three to four years until another study is conducted to evaluate its impact to local market players, consumers and the industry as a whole, she said. “They can petition for an extension� which can be based on another investigation, she added. )T WAS THE kRST CASE A GOVERNMENT agency imposed safeguard duty on imports, Mendoza said. “It was the first time motu propio safeguard investigation t h a t wa s e n d o r s e d t o o u r Commission. The previous cases that we handled were petitioned by domestic industries,� she said.

Meanwhile, Laban Konsyumer President Victorio Dimagiba sought from the TC a temporary restraining order against the safeguard duty, saying the consumers should not be compelled to pay more for cement. “Since everything is preliminary, based on preliminary findings, why should consumers bear the brunt [the P210 duty per metric ton] on February 9?� Dimagiba, referring to date set by the DTI for the safeguard duty to take effect, said.

But the TC denied Dimagiba’s petition. TC Commissioner Ernesto Albano said the commission “doesn’t have power over [a] fellow government agency.�

Albano also noted that the DT I o r d e r e d c e m e n t f i r m s to maintain prices amid the ongoing investigation.

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

LEADERS of the sugar industry reiterated on Tuesday that they stood united against the proposed liberalization of sugar importation. “We reiterate that we will not stand down and we will continue with our protest, be it in the airwaves, the papers, in the halls of Congress and even in the streets,� said Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board member Emiliano Bernardino Yulo in a statement.

Yulo also said small farmers and leaders of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ (ARBs) groups would soon lead a mobilization to amplify their concerns to the Duterte administration.

Raymond Montinola, Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, Inc. (CONFED) spokesperson, for his part, said: “The sugar industry will stand united against this move. We will not have a repeat of the 80s when there was widespread hunger in Negros due to the collapse of the sugar industry.� “We have barely recovered from the high fructose corn

syrup issue and here we are again being targeted by the economic managers,� he added.

Nicholas Ledesma, president of CONFED Negros-Panay, said “there is no justification for liberalization.�

He said that since late last year, they have been selling sugar direct to consumers at prices close to millgate price to show that it is not the sugar producers who are PROkTING FROM HIGH RETAIL PRICE OF sugar “which is what we have been urging DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] to look into.�

The SRA has renewed call for the Economic Development Cluster, which also includes the DTI, to look at the prices of sugar at the retail TRADE AND kND OUT THE CAUSES OF HIGH prices as farmers and producers do NOT BENEkT FROM IT Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier admitted the proposal to liberalize the sugar industry would negatively affect local farmers, but noted it would BENEkT CONSUMERS AS THE ARRIVAL OF imported sugar will bring down prices of the sweetener in the

Q PEREZ FROM B1

Public investors Yuchengco Inc. and Enrique T. Yuchengco Inc. were listed holders of 15,764,785 HI preferred shares, or 2.55 percent, and 14,888,448 HI preferred shares, or 2.41 percent.

Pan Malayan belongs to the group of companies owned by the Yuchengcos. Together with the other three HI top stockholders, the Yuchengcos controlled 97.11 percent of the company’s preferred shares.

Asia Amalgamated reported in its GIS it had no foreign stockholders despite being allowed ownership of up to 40 percent of outstanding.

ICTSI’s stock incentive plan

In a posting on the website of the Philippine Stock Exchange, the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) disclosed AAA is market symbol the increase to 2,011,573 of its outstanding common shares to Asia Amalgamated Holdings Corp. include the additional 571,512 (AAA) has issued a total of 800 ICTSI common shares. The million common shares of which additional ICTSI common shares 19 were in treasury, according to were taken from the company’s a public ownership report (POR) t r e a s u r y s h a r e s, w h i c h t h e dated Jan. 31, 2019. Minus said company said, were reduced to treasury shares, the company 33,604,228. reported having 799,999,981 A POR listed six of ICTSI’s outstanding AAA common shares seven-man board as direct with par value of P1 per common holders of 75,516,345 common share. shares. At the same time, the Of 799,999,981 outstanding company’s six directors also COMMON SHARES THE kVE PERSON indirectly owned 193,116,744 board of Asia Amalgamated ICTSI common shares. Thus, directly owned 380,484,180 AAA the board’s holdings totaled common shares. The directors 267,633,089 ICTSI common and their individual holdings shares, or 13.31 percent. were as follows: Jimmy N. Gow, The six directors’ individual 380,476,160 AAA common holdings are as follows: Enrique shares; Cherri Gow-Lim and K. Razon Jr., 257,163,325 ICTSI Carolyn Gow-Yap, 4,000 AAA c o m m o n s h a r e s , o r 1 2 . 7 9 common shares each; Cecille percent; Stephen A. Paradies, V. Gow and Lilia C. Go, 10 AAA 4 , 0 8 7 , 5 7 3 I C T S I c o m m o n common shares each. shares, or 0.2 percent; Jose The company listed only two C. Ibazeta, 2,775,710 ICTSI officers, namely, Dr. Jesus L. common shares, or 0.14 percent; Aranza and Judy-Ann C. Bautista, Octavio Victor R. Espiritu, who directly held a nominal AAA 300,000 ICTSI common shares; share each.

Joseph R. Higdon, 156,000 Uniwide Sales Inc., which ICTSI common shares, or 0.01 !SIA !MALGAMATED CLASSIkED AS percent; and Andres Soriano AN AFkLIATE OWNED

3rd, 3,150,481 ICTSI common AAA common shares. shares, or 0.16 percent.

Minus the insiders’ AAA I n t h e s a m e P O R , I CT S I common shares, the company showed the direct ownership of attributed the ownership of 632,213 common shares, or 0.03 80,979,711 AAA common shares, PERCENT OF EIGHT OFkCERS NAMELY or 10.12 percent, to its public Silverio Benny J. Tan, 273,000 stockholders.

ICTSI common shares; Vivien F.

market. A 30 percent to 40 percent tariff rate was also being eyed on sugar importation, to serve as protection for local producers.

The measure is seen to displace about 700,000 laborers, of which are 90,000 farmers from the marginalized sector.

Meanwhile, Yulo lauded the local government units in Negros Occidental and the province of Bukidnon, along with the Bacolod City Council and the legislative councils of the cities of Silay, Talisay, Himamaylan and the municipalities of Binalbagan, Isabela and La Castellana for coming out with their manifesto opposing the proposal to liberalize the sugar industry. “We hope other LGUs will follow suit,� Yulo said.

Prior to this, the SRA board headed by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol signed a resolution reiterating its mandate to “regulate the release of imported sugar in the domestic marketâ€? as provided under Executive Order 18 series of 1986.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Minana, 165,925 ICTSI common shares; Rafael D. Consing Jr., 123,527 ICTSI common shares; Jose Joel M. Sebastian, 51,326 ICTSI common shares; Gigi Iluminada T. Miguel, 9,504 ICTSI common shares; Berlin D. Samonte, 6,269 ICTSI common shares; Benjamin M. Gorospe 3rd, 1,662 ICTSI common shares; and Rafael T. Durian, 1,000 ICTSI common shares.

Ownership profile ICTSI said it had two principal or significant stockholders with combined holdings of 723,941,732 ICTSI common shares, or 36 percent, according to the company’s POR. B r avo I n t e r n a t i o n a l Po r t Holdings Inc. had direct holdings of 279,675,000 ICTSI c o m m o n s h a r e s, o r 2 5 . 03 percent, and indirect ownership of 223,632,699 ICTSI common shares, for total holdings of 503,307,699 ICTSI common shares, or 25.03 percent.

Razon Group Shareholdings directly owned 220,634,033 ICTSI common shares, or 10.97 percent.

I C T S I Wa r e h o u s i n g I n c . directly owned 734,970 ICTSI common shares, or 0.04 percent.

The public stockholders, according to ICTSI’s public ownership filing, owned 1,018,059,927 ICTSI common shares, or 50.62 percent.

Apparently, ICTSI may be more public than others. The composition of the company’s seven-person board does not show anyone representing the public stockholders. Instead of anyone among the public, the company appointed two independent directors.

Will Razon initiate the ball rolling by making ICTSI truly public by allowing the company’s public stockholders to elect at least one director to represent them in the board? Just asking.

esdperez@gmail.com

In the aftermath of a cybercrisis

First of 2 parts VERYTHING was still at the newly renovated penthouse OFkCE OF 0RIX (EALTHCARE )NC The 25 workstations clustered IN THE CENTER OF THE ENTIRE lOOR FOR EVERYONE AT THE OFkCE WAS left empty. Several desk drawers AND kLE CABINETS SAT HALF OPEN Rows of lifeless black monitors jutted out from low glass panels meant as desk dividers to make the space look big. A handful of laptop displays went on screensaver mode showing the Prix logo. This time, the corporate video was not playing on the 98-inch curved 8k TV at the lobby. An uninterrupted beeping sound from a headset left unhooked from its cradle kLLED THE ROOM In his corner office, Mark Reyes, a lanky entrepreneur in his early 40s, married, with an angular jaw and penetrating eyes, has been talking on his spare bendable smartphone for the past 29 minutes. Clutching an energy drink, his gaunt frame is a far cry from his formerly lean and commanding stature.

His backlit silhouette can be seen pacing back and forth behind the smart frosted glass installed a few weeks earlier.

Meanwhile, everyone else was at the pantry, where they stood glued to Channel 10.

Melanie, the 52-year-old veteran primetime news anchor, replayed the events of the past four and a half hours. The news was interrupted now and then by an advertisement for standalone commercial c y b e r i n s u r a n c e, o f f e r i n g specials when you ‘renew your 2021 coverage now!’ “Too late for that nowâ€?, said the IT guy nudging his lunch buddy and cocking his head towards Marks’ direction. Melanie delivered the breaking news in her crisp, clear, and deep voice: “the massive breach in the health sector led operators of declared Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs) to scramble and determine how the virus works and how to stop its spread. Our expert from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) says that information about the attack is shared only between a few members within the sector’s Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT Network.â€? She effortlessly ended her news segment with “while most have relatively contained the spread of the virus within their own network infrastructures, others have struggled to stay afloat. The health industry worries about who is the next target.â€? “Like I was saying‌ Mark, we are understaffed as it is; but, surely, I can loan you, our guys once the dust settles. These intrusion signatures are like nothing we have seen before. We are still grappling to contain it as we speak,â€? his friend on the phone said.

Like the vast majority of companies at that time, Mark fell into the trap and did not perceive a risk, believing his company was safe from cyberthreats. About a year after the national directive—DICT Memorandum Circular No. 005—took effect, prescribing the policies, rules, and regulations for protecting CIIs as stipulated in the National CyberSecurity Plan 2022—which ordered all CII operators to adopt and implement an information security management system— he judged that investing in an information security program to comply was at the bottom of his priority list. He couldn’t be bothered with it, having a lot on his plate just dealing with the Insurance Commission.

Fo r h i m , t h e r e g u l a t e d certification, coupled with a mandatory security evaluation and participation in annual vulnerability assessments, involved considerable costs and

FROM WHERE WE SIT

PAUL GONZALES effort. Even the self-declaration and certification mechanism for compliance seemed like a tedious undertaking. He brushed the thought aside. “When the CERT Network went into full information sharing mode, they were quick to identify the cause of this madness, Mark; although it is still preliminary, the source seems to point‌â€? Mark then heard a deep sigh and a crack in his friend’s voice â€œâ€ŚI think your machines may have served as ground zero for the attack.â€?

An intense unpleasant physical sensation gripped Mark. His vision dimmed as he began to feel light-headed.

Staring blankly at the barelylit Makati skyline, he tried to recount how his morning played out.

It was a typical Monday morning. After a 20-minute jog around his apartment compound, he went for his routine double-shot macchiato and a traditional Greek gyro at the local deli. He saw a stray 53" lASH DRIVE ON ONE OF THE shop’s tables, but he knew enough not to touch it. Those drives can be weaponized and deliver self-replicating malware, he thought.

Nothing seemed to stand out of the ordinary. Although it was strange that one of his staff SENT HIM AN EPUB kLE COPY OF Mitch Albom’s latest book, This isn’t like her, he remembered thinking, then double-clicking on it anyway. He enjoyed the rest of his morning skimming through the highly anticipated prequel, alt-tabbing between several open windows on his Dell laptop: company and personal emails, various social media platforms, a free online epub reader, and a pdf copy of a Japanese visa application form he was waiting for to load, but never did. ** This is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or USED IN A kCTITIOUS MANNER !NY resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

The author wants to show a precautionary tale of the near future, where cyberattacks continue to dominate the news and hackers win the cyberbattle, yet again, in a highly interconnected digital market. While the government f i n d s d i p l o m a t i c ways t o impose its regulatory might, small businesses struggle to cope in a regulated marketplace with steep protection rules, where the overall cost of compliance schemes represent an additional barrier to market entry. And the need to focus on the human element and how it plays a crucial role in security. The biases and the impact of decisions that shape the course of our businesses, its competitiveness and impact on society.

Paul Gonzales is a Director of the Advisory Services Division of P&A Grant Thornton. P&A Grant Thornton is one of the leading Audit, Tax, Advisory, and Outsourcing firms in the Philippines, with 21 Partners and over 900 staff members. We’d like to hear from you! Tweet us at: @PAGrantThornton, like us on Facebook: P&A Grant Thornton, and email your comments to paul.gonzales@ph.gt.com or pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com.

For more information, visit our Website: www.grantthornton. com.ph.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

PH Resorts expects PSE approval for P18-B FOO PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. hopes to secure the approval of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for its planned P18.5billion follow-on offering (FOO).

PH Resorts Vice President for Finance Ignacia Braga 4th told reporters last week that the Dennis Uy-led company hoped the approval would come when the bourse meets for a board meeting on February 13.

Under the FOO, PH Resorts plans to sell up to 1.78 billion common shares with an oversubscription allotment of up to 267.94 million shares for up to P9 each.

The proceeds would be used to construct The Emerald integrated resort and casino on Mactan island in Cebu province’s LapuLapu City, which is expected to be kNISHED IN AND THE #LARK Resort complex in Pampanga province’s Clark Freeport Zone,

which is due for completion in 2022.

The Securities and Exchange Commission gave the offering the go-signal on January 24.

Braga said that once the FOO was complete, her company’s PUBLIC lOAT WOULD LIKELY INCREASE to between 20 and 30 percent.

PH Resorts tapped CLSA Ltd. and UBS as its international underwriters, and China Banking Corp. as its lead domestic underwriter.

Formerly Philippine H2O Ventures Corp., PH Resorts is 5Y S HOLDING kRM FOR HIS TOURISM related investments.

Last year, he acquired a 62-percent stake in Philippine H2O from listed Jolliville Holdings Inc. as his vehicle to list PH Resorts.

Shares of PH Resorts shed 4 centavos or 0.66 percent to end at P6.04 each on Monday.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

ABS-CBN, GMA claim Jan ratings leadership MEDIA giants ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. continued to claim leadership in television ratings in January.

GMA, citing data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement on Monday, said it emerged as the Philippines’ top network with an average audience share of 37.8 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement, slightly higher than the Kapamilya network’s 35.9 percent.

ABS-CBN disputed this, saying on Tuesday that data from Kantar Media showed that it posted a 45-percent average audience share in the month, compared with the

Kapuso network’s 30 percent.

According to GMA, it had a 41.9-percent and 43.7-percent share in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, respectively. It said its rival, in contrast, only got 30.1 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively.

The Lopez-led network said it registered 44 percent in Metro Manila, 37 percent in Mega Manila, 40 percent in Total Luzon, 54 percent in Total Visayas and 55 percent in Mindanao.

The Gozon-led station, it added, only had 23 percent, 28 percent, 32 percent, 25 percent and 26 percent in those areas, respectively.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

Corporate News AC Energy gets $95-M green bond investment T WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

HE Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Finance Corp. (IFC) have invested a total of $95 million in AC Energy’s inaugural green bond issuance.

In a statement on Monday, the Ayala Corp.’s energy subsidiary said the IFC put in $75 million to complete the public placement OF THE COMPANY S kVE YEAR GREEN bonds. The amount helped the company raise $300 million from Philippine and international investors.

These bonds have a coupon rate of 4.75 percent and will be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd. (SGX-ST) ADB, meanwhile, invested $20 million when AC Energy also completed a $110-million private placement of 10-year green bonds, which have a coupon rate of 5.25 percent and will also be listed on the Singaporean bourse.

METRO Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) continues to wait for the government’s guidance on its offer to run the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3). Asked if his company would revise that offer, MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said last week it would not move until there was official word from the Department of Transportation (DOTr). “I think it is best to wait for the government’s

PH factory output declines economic growth, he continued. “However, domestic oil price hikes and the upcoming El NiĂąo could translate to price passthroughs in manufacturing,â€? the NEDA chief said.

The government was urged

to look into concerns raised by exporters and importers, particularly with regard to management of empty containers, the need for alerts on chemical importations, and processes involving x-ray cargo

direction and then let’s take it from [there]. If it’s not viable for us, [then] we just have to tell them we’re giving up our OPS (original proponent status),� Pangilinan said on the sidelines of an event in Bulacan province.

The Transportation department granted that status to MPIC, in partnership with Ayala Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd., for its unsolicited P12.5-

billion proposal to operate and maintain the masstransit line on Edsa in 2017.

The proposal eyes to secure a 30-year concession period. Pangilinan’s remarks came two months after the DoTr signed with Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (SumitomoMHI) a maintenance deal that covers the MRT-3’s entire 16.9-kilometer line, as well as its 13 statons, 72 light rail vehicles and depot in North Avenue, Quezon City.Â

The agreement also involves restoring or upgrading all of MRT-3’s subsystems, including trackworks; signaling, power-supply, overhead catenary and communications systems; and and maintenance and station equipment.

The MRT-3 serves more than 500,000 commuters daily, more than half its original 350,000-passenger capacity.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

inspection that are hampering THE lOW OF GOODS Early resolution of these issues could facilitate trade and benefit the manufacturing sector, Pernia said.

He also called for the immediate passage of the proposed General Appropriations Act for 2019 given the upcoming election spending ban.

Fo r f o o d m a n u f a c t u r i n g ,

Pernia reiterated economic managers’ calls to review sugar import restrictions. “ We s e e t h e n e e d f o r a more liberalized regulatory environment in the sugar industry in order to bring down the domestic price of sugar and in turn, benefit food and beverage manufacturers, as well as ordinary households,� he said.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

Q INFLATION FROM B1

Q CCP FROM B1

PPP support okayed for CCP redevelopment Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, among others, into a “smart city composed of iconic buildings envisioned to serve as venues for various cultural and artistic endeavors.� “The approved PDMF support for this project includes the

development of a feasibility study and project assistance and advisory from procurement to financial close,� the PPP Center said.

The CCP, which owns 66.4 hectares of the complex, states on its website that 57.8 hectares of its property can be developed. Its plan calls for the

development of six clusters that will house buildings such as the Arts Museum of the Philippines, Museum of Philippine Arts, a film complex, artist/cultural resource centers and several theatres.

Prequalification for developers was reported to have been held in 2009. The CCP

Q SEARCH FROM B1

World Bank leadership the leadership of the farmore prominent IMF once Christine Lagarde departs. “I think the developing countries banding together, organizing themselves, is hard to imagine,� Simon Johnson, a former IMF chief economist, told AFP. “Maybe six or eight years ago they seemed like they were becoming more cohesive as a bloc. I don’t think they’re particularly cohesive now.�

‘Time for a change’ The surprise early departure of World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, effective February 1, not even halfway through his

second five-year term, potentially hands Trump a key lever over development lenders.

After reshaping the US presidency, traditional alliances, trade relations and the US Supreme Court, Trump now could have a chance to influence how countries like China access concessional lending.

The bank’s board will accept nominations from February 7 through March 14, and plans to name a new president prior the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings, set for April 12-14 in Washington. Any of the 189 members can propose a candidate.

As the biggest

portfolio by helping fund its aggressive growth in renewable energy,� IFC’s Director for East Asia and the Pacifc Vivek Pathak said.

HSBC and Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) acted as the sole global coordinator and sole green structuring agent, respectively. BAML, CLSA and HSBC were the joint bookrunners and lead managers.

The investment comes after AC Energy raised in January $225 million worth of senior green bonds, which were also listed at the SGX-ST. 4HESE BONDS HAD A TENOR OF kVE years and a coupon rate of 4.75 percent per annum.

AC Energy has over 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of attributable capacity in operation and under construction as of end-2018. Last year, the company generated 2,800 GW hours of attributable energy, of which 48 percent was drawn from renewable sources.

MPIC still awaiting govt guidance on MRT-3 offer

Q DECEMBER FROM B1

as food, beverage, tobacco and printing and paper products,�

Pernia also said.

The likely exemption of key infrastructure projects from the 2019 election spending ban could minimize a slowdown in

The investment by the Manilabased multilateral lender enabled THE kRM TO RAISE MILLION FROM the issuance.

"OTH THE kVE AND YEAR BONDS

!# %NERGY SAID ARE THE kRST CLIMATE BOND CERTIkED PUBLICLY LISTED 53 dollar-denominated green bonds in Southeast Asia. “The certification provides assurance that the proceeds will be used to finance projects and assets that are consistent with delivering a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy,� it added.

In an ADB statement, AC Energy President and Chief Executive /FkCER %RIC &RANCIA SAID HIS kRM believed the issuance “offers

investors a compelling alternative to traditional investments and will help promote financing of clean energy projects by the private sector across the region.�

Proceeds will be used to finance the Ayala unit’s renewable energy (RE) projects in Asia and the Pacific, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, and help it generate more than 5 gigawatts (GW) of RE capacity by 2025. “This climate bond will help the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meet its target of drawing 23 percent of the region’s energy mix from modern, clean and sustainable renewable sources by 2025, Michael Barrow, director general of the ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department, said in the ADB statement. “We are proud to support AC Energy, a key member of our longterm strategic client Ayala Corp., in greening its power generation

B3

shareholder, the United States has sway over the selection of the new World Bank president but it does not have a veto and needs the backing of European nations.

Having uprooted alliances in his two years in office, and strongly criticized the lending policies of the IMF and World Bank, Trump may find it difficult simply to submit a nominee for acclamation.

Mark Sobel, who had a long career with the US Treasury Department and oversaw relations with the IMF, said it was “time for a change� in World Bank leadership.

But he agrees with

also called for the submission o f l e a s e a n d d e ve l o p m e n t proposals for 46.7 hectares and set two 2017 deadlines but no announcements have been made since then.

For the two port projects, meanwhile, the PPP Center said it would provide assistance in managing the

Johnson that emerging market nations are less unified now than they were during the global crisis that started in and mostly affected advanced economies. “I think that is going to depend who the Americans run and whether it’s a person seen as hostile to the institution or it’s someone seen as having a credible resume and will be supportive of the bank,�

Sobel told AFP. “I also think that ultimately institutions are better served by having a credible person running them regardless of their nationality.�

Eroding credibility Potential candidates reportedly under consideration by Trump

Agri sector

competitive challenge process for the unsolicited joint venture proposals.

It said that since 2010, 17 PPP projects worth a total of P328.67 billion had been awarded to private sector partners, with 12 of these receiving PDMF support.

To date, 36 projects have obtained backing for project development, transaction a d v i s o r y, a n d m o n i t o r i n g services, it added.

FROM A REPORT BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

manufacturing. Therefore, high agricultural input costs mean high manufacturing costs and poor competitiveness.�

The FEF called for the proper IMPLEMENTATION OF RICE TARIFkCATION program and the allocation of a P10-billion competitiveness fund to affected farmers.

It also urged the government to “make rural infrastructure a significant component of the country’s Build Build Build Program� and “certify the Public Service Act Amendments as urgent� to increase foreign investments in shipping and ports and lower logistical costs.

Budgets for agricultural research and development should be increased, the FEF continued, especially for research into crops that are resistant to climate change.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

include former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala — who was nominated by African countries to compete against Kim in 2012 — former PIMCO chief Mohamed El-Erian, an Egyptian-American, and former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, an Indian-American.

But David Malpass, US Treasury undersecretary for international affairs who has aggressively criticized the World Bank for continuing to lend to China and other relatively well-off countries, is said to be the leading US candidate.

Tony Fratto, former Treasury assistant secretary in the George W. Bush administration, did not mince words: “David Malpass would be a disastrous, toxic choice for World Bank president,� he tweeted.

Masood Ahmed, who had a long career at the World Bank and IMF, was more diplomatic, saying that a controversial candidate with well-known views would have a harder time getting support of the members.

Ahmed, president of the Center for Global Development in Washington, said “whoever it is, it’s important that it is a person who can forge that consensus and get the confidence of all the shareholders.�

But he warned the continued adherence to the decades-old hold on the leadership of the World Bank and IMF, rather than relying on a “truly meritbased� process, “ends up eroding a little further the legitimacy and credibility of the organization.�

AFP

Maritime Marina offers 19 RoRo missionary routes T

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˜ The Manila Times

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

EDITOR: Carmela I. Huelar

BY GENIVI FACTAO

HE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has opened 19 new Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) missionary routes to optimize THE BENEkTS OF THE NAUTICAL HIGHWAY PROGRAM TO BRING DOWN COSTS OF INTER ISLAND SHIPMENT OF GOODS AND PASSENGERS

Deputy Administrator for Operations (DAO) Engr. Nanette Villamor Dinopol said missionary routes were currently not being serviced by traditional shipping lines. “We give incentives to shipping lines who will service the missionary routes like 50 percent discount on fees and charges and a 5-year protection of investment,� Dinopol said.

The shipping company who will serve a missionary route may enjoy 50 percent discount on the regular fees of all applications and renewal of ship documents, LICENSES CERTIkCATES AND PERMITS Marina has encouraged shipping companies to operate in any of the newly opened RoRo missionary routes including, Basco, Batanes-Currimao, Ilocos Norte; Batangas City-San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; San Juan, Batangas-Abra de Ilog, Occidental

Mindoro; Real, Quezon-Polillo Island, Quezon; Lucena, Quezon -Odiongan, Romblon; Lucena, Quezon-Buyabod, Marinduque; Lucena, Quezon-Romblon, Romblon; Lucena, Quezon-Masbate City; Maasin, Southern LeyteUbay, Bohol and San Narciso, Quezon-San Pascual, Masbate.

Other routes were Pantao, AlbaySan Pascual, Masbate; Calbayog City, Samar-Cataingan, Masbate; Taytay, Palawan-Cuyo, Palawan; Cuyo, Palawan-San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; Oslob, Cebu -Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Punta Engano, Mactan Island, Cebu-Jetafe, Bohol; Poro, Camotes, Cebu-Isabel, Leyte; Lipata, Surigao del Norte-Dapa, Surigao del Norte and Siaton, Negros Oriental-Dipolog City.

These missionary routes will enhance the country’s Road RoRo Terminal System (RRTS), a seamless stretch of roads and ports to

Q The new routes were announced early last week during a press conference by Marina OIC Administrator Narciso Vingson Jr. (second from left) PHOTO FROM FAS MARITIME

improve inter-island transportation, enhance tourism and expand regional markets, among others.

Shipping companies were also encouraged to propose new links with RoRo-capable ports for the further development of the Philippine domestic shipping industry.

In a related development, a technical working group (TWG) was

created in the House Committee on Transportation to assess the status of RoRo Port System missionary routes.

The TWG, to be chaired by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, will oversee Marina as it acts on the committee’s suggestion to sell to the private sector the RoRo routes that were not

Association of Japan (IMMAJ). “I do expect that we can strengthen and promote this shipboard training project. I wish for a safe and sound navigation of MV Capt. Gregorio Oca and I hope for the best for all of you,� he said.

Vice Admiral Eduardo Santos, MAAP president said MV Gregorio Oca will be used as another learning platform for cadets. “Three years ago, IMMAJ, AJSU, Amosup, PJMCC decided to enhance the shipboard competence of cadets by donating a new training ship to MAAP. It is a pleasing gift to future Filipino seafarers for the Japanese fleet,� he said. The ship can accommodate 108 cadets, a crew of 24 personnel plus six onboard instructors. The student-instructor ratio is 18 to 1. But the number of the students will be reduced because all ship officers will be required to teach.  Their qualification is to have a one -year teaching experience so that the training staff will be augmented by the crew of the ship, Santos said.  “They will conduct training, mentoring monitoring of all activities of the cadets.

The ship will serve as a floating laboratory for our students. We hope we will achieve the noble purpose of the ship for which it was donated and to maintain and surpass the standards of development and capability of Filipino seafarers. We bring the experiential learning for our students,� he added.

The learning environment in both MV Felix Oca and MV Gregorio Oca are the best complementary learning platform for students and mentors alike. “We have confidence that by expos-

S

Q Yasumi Morita, president of the All Japan Seamens Union. ing our students to more hours of rigorous and structured ship board training, we upgrade and raise the standards of their seamanship, their navigational and their engineering   skills and competence,� Santos said.

Dr. Conrado F. Oca, Amosup president said they were committed to provide excellent maritime education for the students by

equipping them with knowledge, technical skills and necessary tools and opportunities to better hone their capabilities. “Our goal is to provide another venue for our students to enhance the quality of their shipboard training. MV Gregorio Oca will contribute to our mission of producing globally competitive Filipino seafarers and to remain as the leading provider of highly skilled and hardworking seafarers,� Oca said.

GENIVI FACTAO

Q The newly commissioned MV Kapitan Gregorio Oca will serve as a training ship for cadets of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific and other maritime schools.

Dutch, Japanese shipbuilders keen on investing in PH THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) last week said several foreign companies expressed interests in the maritime development program that will enhance the domestic capability for shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) in the country.

Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS) head of Marina Ramon Hernandez announced this last week. He told reporters, “A Dutch company will be talking to BOI (Board of Investments). We also did investment mission in Japan, two years ago. We were able to encourage Yano Shipbuilding Company in Japan.

They also showed interest in putting their facilities here.�

According to him, these foreign investors have seen the need to construct many vessels such as roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ships, vessel for inland waterWAY SHIPS AND kSHING VESSELS There are 119 registered SBSR facilities in the country. In the past, the shipbuilding industry only produced small SHIPS TANKERS BARGES kSHING VESSELS but with the entry of new players like Tsuneishi Heavy Industries of Japan and Hanjin Shipyard of Korea, the Philippines’ has become the world’s

kFTH LARGEST PLAYER IN SHIPBUILDING The Philippines is a ship repair hub IN THE !SIA 0ACIkC REGION FOR OCEAN GOING MERCHANT AND kSHING VESSELS

because of the country’s strategic location in the region’s shipping routes.

The shipbuilding and ship repair activities are capital- intensive as well as labor-intensive industries. Hernandez said the capitalization ranges from P10 million to P50 million and above.

For a large shipyard, the minimum paidup capital is P50 million and should be at LEAST $74 AND ABOVE IN CAPACITY For a medium-size shipyard, the ap-

effects of shipping costs on the prices of produce from Bukidnon to Manila. “This is for the whole country.

This is very important. This will alleviate a lot of our problems in Mindanao because we are having a hard time, in terms of logistics,“ SAID 2EP -ANUEL :UBIRI OF THE RD District of Bukidnon.

Why predictability matters to shipping

Better future ahead for Filipinos in Japanese ships

FILIPINO seafarers will continue to see brighter future on board Japanese maritime fleet, assured All Japan Seamen’s Union (AJSU) President Yasumi Morita.  In an interview during the commissioning ceremony for M/V Kapitan Gregorio Oca last week, Morita said, “I believe that the Japan market would still be expanding and more Filipinos would be working onboard Japanese vessels. The forecast is still very positive.“ “Filipino seafarers are very competitive than other seafarers from other countries. We have no problem with them. It’s a very bright future for Filipino seafarers,� he added.  MV Gregorio Oca, is the second training ship of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP). It was named after Capt. Gregorio S. Oca, the founder of Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup). MAAP’s first training ship was MV Capt. Felix Oca, named after the father of the late Gregorio Oca. Morita visited the Philippines to personally witness the commissioning of the MV Gregorio Oca and to welcome the ship into the fleet.

Morita said they will continue to promote Filipinos seafarers’ onboard Japan’s maritime fleet.

Out of the 378,000 Filipino seafarers, about 40,300 work in Japan’s vessel fleet.

He said they were enhancing their alliance with Amosup, Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council, Inc. (PJMCC) and the International Mariners Management

being plied.

Arroyo launched the RoRo system during her presidency IN AND WANTED THE 2O2O system to be revitalized and expanded to further spur growth in the regions.

The committee also approved the creation of another TWG that will conduct a case study on the

PLICANT MUST HAVE AT LEAST

DWT in capacity and have a minimum PAID UP CAPITALIZATION OF 0 MILLION For a small shipyard, it should be AT LEAST $74 AND BELOW IN CApacity and have a minimum paid up capitalization of P10 million.

All shipyards must have either a GRAVING DOCK A lOATING DOCK A LIFT dock, slipway or launch way or equivalent facility and a pool of permanent personnel such as technical and skilled workers, including licensed naval architect and marine engineer AND A DULY DESIGNATED SAFETY OFkCER

HIPPING is, perhaps, one of the oldest trades in the world.

It was born the day man realized he could barter his surplus for goods he could not produce.

Since then many practices have evolved that actually have come from shipping practices. The term “A1,� for example, belonged to a CLASSIkCATION SYSTEM WHICH INSURance providers used when insuring a vessel. The letter “A� means that the ship is new or renewed or restored. The stores of the vessel ARE CLASSIkED AS EITHER g u OR g u “1,� meaning that the vessel was WELL AND SUFkCIENTLY FOUND FOR THE voyage. The practice has been in existence since the 18th century.

An older practice that can be traced to the third century is the principle of averages. This was an ancient system of insurance where ALL THOSE WHO BENEkTED FROM THE action of throwing cargo overboard to save the voyage had to share in the compensation to be paid to the owner of such cargo.

Richard Carlson, American author and motivational speaker, wrote in his best-selling book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, and it’s all Small Stuff, that “From a certain perspective (and be assured I’m not arguing against insurance) all insurance is based on fear. You have an asset — your car, home, business, earning capacity, even your health — and you are afraid that, at some point, something is going to happen to that asset: You will die or get sick, your car will be stolen or damaged, or your home or business will burn to the ground. Insurance is provided to protect you against these and other fears.�

On the other hand, American writer and teacher Anne Lamott recently wrote: “But what if, as a radical act, I err on the side of trust? What if I live in the decision to trust life and goodness‌ And not just because I have lifelong proof that no matter what life tosses me, my closest friends will see me through?â€?

But in shipping, we cannot afford to leave things to chance.

Shipping operates in a very harsh environment — vast, unfriendly, often intimidating oceans; ever changing weather patterns; and the possibility of human error, all contribute to the vulnerabilities which ships face on a daily basis.

Maritime safety has been a concern of the international community since the industrial revolution of the 18th century, when ships evolved from sailing ships to iron hulls with steam-powered

FROM THE DESK OF THE IMO AMBASSADOR

CARLOS SALINAS ENGINES 4HE kRST SET OF REGULATIONS affecting safety at sea was the UK Navigation Act. This was the forerunner of the 1910 Collision Regulations.

Another set of rules that had ORIGINS DURING THIS PERIOD WAS kRST proposed in the late 19th century

by Samuel Plimsoll (after whom the Plimsoll Line was named) which later became the basis for the Load Lines Convention.

The third set of safety measures that traces its origins to the early PART OF THE TH CENTURY IS THE Safety of Life at Sea (Solas) Convention 1914. This convention introduced five chapters which still exist in the present version of the Solas Convention.

Since 1959, maritime safety has been regulated by IMO. The organization has put in place a framework of standards that seeks to prevent accidents and mitigate their effects when they do happen.

4HE 0HILIPPINES HAS RATIkED )-/ CONVENTIONS BUT RATIkCATION IS ONLY THE kRST STEP OF THE PROCESS It also needs to translate the international conventions to national laws to bind the actors in the maritime industry. The next step is to establish a system for effective enforcement so that those who inspect the ship actually enforce the rules in accordance with the intention of the convention, thus raising the bar for ensuring safe shipping and the protection of the marine environment.

Why is there a need for all these measures? Predictability!

We love surprises, but not in business. Every businessman wants to make sure that the rules of the game are consistent and uniformly applied. There is a saying that goes, “If you are persistent, you will get it. If you are consistent, you will keep it.�

Shipping is international in nature and scope. The conventions provide the framework on which ships must operate, so that wherever the ship goes, the ship owner knows that it will always be subject to, and inspected on the basis of, the same minimum operating standards. It’s not enough to be just excellent; you also have to be consistently excellent. Take it from Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.�

˜ The Manila Times

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

Maritime

B5

FOCUS

Shipping focuses on seafarer’s mental health T

HE SHIPPING INDUSTRY IS NOW LOOKING AT APPROACHES TO PROTECT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF SEAFARERS AND PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING INTO DEPRESSION WHILE SPENDING DAYS IF NOT WEEKS IN THE SEA Filipino seafarers, in particular, ARE EXPECTED TO FULLY BENEkT FROM such approaches, as the Philippines produces more maritime professionals than any other country. Seamen, DECK OFkCERS MESSMEN SHIP COOKS

engine room workers and captains make the bulk of Filipino seafarers.

Given the profession’s relatively high salary, many college students choose marine engineering and other maritime courses. Aside from the high income, maritime courses also offer graduates an opportunity to visit other parts of the world and meet other nationalities.

The drawback of the seafarer profession is the long-term separation from loved ones, relatives, and families. To address this, the approaches of the maritime industry to seafarers’ mental health include THE IDENTIkCATION OF MENTAL HEALTH issues, exercises, the right nutrition and psychological support.

Identification of mental health issues Mr. Pareja, a marine engineer, recalled his experience during the months of being in the middle of the ocean. “Before I sail, I try to ensure that I have an optimum mental health to be ready when the time comes for our departure.

Being in the midst of the sea is mind- boggling and often results in some depression and loneliness,� he confessed.

A research by Robert Iversen for Intmarhealth , an international journal for maritime health, identified issues that can aggravate mental health problems. Among these are stress, fatigue, lack of short leave, job security, abuse, piracy, criminalization, short shipturnaround times, and separation from families and spouses.

The research also discussed depression and suicide.

T

Shell, a major oil company, developed a health resilience program to promote the welfare of on- and offshore workers. Such voluntary resilience intervention program CONSTITUTES MODULES ON COGNItive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, research on leadership, and neuro-linguistic programming.

The study also found that Filipinos differed in their responses about their well-being and the work environment. The researchers concluded that Filipino crewmembers experienced more negative work environment with a laissezfaire leadership, poor safety and high levels of harassment. On the positive side, Filipinos experienced more team cohesion and good captain leadership.

A study by the International Maritime Charity Sailors’ Society and International Maritime Charity Sailors by Yale University in the United States discovered that more than a quarter of seafarers suffered from negative feelings over a twoweek period. About 4 percent of the global population of seafarers suffered from depression.

A deputy team manager from International Seafarer’s Welfare and Assistance Network or (ISWAN) Seafarer Help said that bullying among the crew exists such as being told to do something against his or her religion, sexual orientation, religion, gender, nationality, and race. She said that seafarers such as Indians and Filipinos were among those reported as troublemakers upon the report of a bullying incident.

looking into mitigating limited spaces, providing exercise equipment, and giving time for exercises.

The UKK institute recommended a weekly physical activity pie that shows aerobic physical activities such as cycling, physical active games, musclestrengthening and balance training, running, racket games, running ball games and daily physical activities as among the seafarers’ exercises.

The institute also recommended AEROBIC kTNESS WHERE SEAFARERS BEcome active for several days a week FOR A TOTAL OF TWO HOURS AND minutes, plus improving muscular strength and improving balance two times a week. The study acknowledged that sick leaves cost shipping companies more than keeping an exercise program or equipment.

Pedz said ships are like closed spaces or buildings that can impede the occupants or crew’s activity. “Being inside the ship for months or years could increase a belly fat similar to someone’s STAYING IN A CHAIR )T S A SEDentary lifestyle that could make us fat. Chips and sodas are tempting when we are bored and those who can’t control themselves had no recourse but to consume unhealthy snacks,� he said.

Nutrition for Filipino seamen A study by the Wallem Ship Man-

agement found that obesity has been growing among Filipino seafarers. Wallem’s data showed that 10 percent of Filipino seamen are either in the borderline or are obese.

The company found that the averAGE CALORIE INTAKE IS NEARER TO

7ALLEM S STUDY CONkRMED THAT &ILIPINOS USE PERCENT OF THEIR time on the web or video games and feed on snacks nine times a day. Such snacking is the result of isolation and boredom.

Pedz spoke about his diet during the voyage. “Here we mostly eat cooked meals with ingredients from canned goods such as asparagus, beans, poultry, beef, and pork.

Most of our food stuff were dried, pickled or lasting to provide us with sustenance during the long voyage.

A balanced diet and food without harmful preservatives would help us eat healthy foods,� he said.

Q Roger Harris, executive director of International Seafarer’s Welfare and Assistance Network, an international NGO that promotes the welfare of seafarers worldwide. PHOTO FROM THE ISWAN WEBSITE they face sadness and stress and give practical tips on coping at sea.

Asked about their psychological readiness, Pareja disclosed his views on psychological support. “We welcome psychological support since this will reduce the number of depressed seamen and prevent suicidal tendencies or get [sic] psychological problems. There should be a manual that is either free of cost or inexpensive and available for all seamen,� he said.

Solutions for mental health The International Maritime Journal Research cited solutions that

Psychological support ISWAN launched a psychological guide for well being at sea.

The guide includes the first book series titled Good Mental Health Guide for Seafarers that is available for aspirants who are undergoing sea safety training in the Philippines.

The guide book constitutes coping strategies, skills, and exercises to aid seamen on how to manage emotions when

can mitigate depression among seafarers. One of them is a project started by the Rotary Club of Melbourne which Filipino seafarers visit. Such projects include Internet browsing, pastoral counselling, and access to a relaxation center.

The International Committee on Seafarers Welfare or ICSW produced booklets titled Guidelines for the Mental Care of Seafarer’s Onboard Merchant Ships. The booklet details fatigue, stress, risks for seafarers, alcohol and drug addiction, disruptive thinking, advice search, and the implementation of a successful mental care campaign.

Acknowledging the importance of seafarer’s mental health, Pedz, stressed the seriousness of keeping seamen mentally sound. “Mentally healthy seamen are a boon to shipping companies. Mental health issues can bring down any company and that can result in more losses than losing a company property,� he said.

SHARP MINDS CONTENT

Exercises A thesis for Godby Shipping Ab focused on the promotion of exercise by the shipping company on seafarers to prevent musculo skeletal disorders. Shipping companies are

Q The drawback of the seafarer profession is the long-term separation from loved ones, relatives and families. PHOTO FROM FAS MARITIME

Enhancing maritime consciousness

ODAY marks another win for the maritime industry as The Manila Times expands its maritime page! Time was when all we had for maritime news came from foreign REPORTS AND ON WHAT WERE SIGNIkCANTLY HAPPENing in world shipping outside of this archipelago.

The only time then when maritime news hit the papers would be those which cover sea mishaps and massive pollution of the country’s waters caused by ship sinking, such as what happened in Guimaras several years back.

Remember when the MT Solar 1 spilled its cargo of crude oil? The incident rouse the whole archipelago to action to contain the seeping black oil into reaching inward into the shore and farther out to sea, which it did anyway.

Human hair were collected from salons and parlors as this was believed to be good absorbent of oil and the black soil on the shore were scooped by members of the local community unmindful of the health hazards that come with direct contact with crude oil.

And yet there was at the time a national oil spill contingency plan which regrettably was known only to a few people. Shouldn’t part of that plan include community awareness and action? Well, it could be, but how to make coastal residents aware of their role in protecting the coastal waters is hardly ever considered. Disseminating maritimerelated information in this archipelago not given much-attention, just as most of the population who rely on the seas for their livelihood take for granted the importance of protecting the waters which surround the country’s islands.

SEATHROUGH

Philippines (MMP) include members of media who shared the advocacy of getting a wider audience recognize the maritime circumstance of the Philippines. The Philippine public gets to read how busy the ports of Hong Kong and Singapore are or how European ports are expanding, yet are not informed OF THE EXPANDING DOMESTIC lEET CONNECTING THE ISLANDS WITH FAST CRAFTS AND ROLL ON ROLL OFF ships. Development in the country’s maritime industry is deemed a low-key concern, discussed only among the government authorities and a few business players — the public hardly gets to know how maritime policies evolve, notwithstanding that these eventually would have impact on their lives.

MMP even tried to get presidentiables of THE ELECTION TO SPEAK OF THEIR MARITIME agenda; except for the one now sitting in MalacaĂąang, no one agreed to lay their plans for the maritime industry (not even the one who for a while was Secretary of Transportation). MMP engaged then erstwhile Mayor of Davao Rodrigo Duterte, now President of this archipelago to a discussion on the maritime character of the Philippines. He readily made a pledge to make maritime one of the platforms of his administration. Now MMP is drawing a scorecard of that pledge.

MMP has never backed down on its advocacy of enhancing the maritime consciousness of the Filipino. The movement is working with stakeholders, both in government and industry, to make known this country is an archipelago with citizens dedicated to protecting the waters around the islands, harnessing the potentials this offers and enjoying the resources harvested below waters.

Through this column therefore, I make this humble commitment of taking part in enhancing maritime consciousness!

ATTY. BRENDA V. PIMENTEL

Movement for Maritime Philippines: advocacy for mainstreaming maritime awareness The conveners of the Movement for Maritime

Hanjin still has pending tanker projects DEBT-STRICKEN global shipbuilder, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil) continues to build ships in its Redondo Peninsula shipyard, while waiting for a white knight to keep its operations.

Hanjin’s client Singapore-based %ASTERN 0ACIkC 3HIPPING %03 WERE expecting two tankers to be delivered IN THE kRST QUARTER OF (ANJIN had a successful delivery of EPS’ two crude oil tanker named as - 6 )BERIAN 3EA AND - 6 ,EVANTINE 3EA, IN .OVEMBER

With the positive business momentum EPS ordered two more tanker vessels that were set to start its construction by the second quarter of this year.

Hanjin said each of the tankers MEASURES METERS IN LENGTH

METERS IN WIDTH AND METERS in depth. “These two vessels were equipped with the cutting-edge SOX scrubber SYSTEM TO SIGNIkCANTLY REDUCE SULFUR EMISSION AND A kXED BALLAST WATER treatment system (BWTS) has been installed in each vessel, in strict compliance with global environment protection standards prescribed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO),� Hanjin said.

These Subic-made tanker vessels can transport either large quantities OF UNREkNED CRUDE OIL FROM ITS POINT of extraction or transport refined PRODUCTS FROM REkNERIES TO POINTS near consuming market.

The construction was successfully carried out under the technical supervision of classification society American Bureau Shipping (ABS) together with the high quality craftsmanship of Filipino workers.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Wilma Eisma said she was informed of the six pending multi-million newbuilding projects of Hanjin, and they were working WITH (ANJIN OFkCIALS TO kND A WAY to keep the shipbuilder. Eisma said these projects might have to be cancelled if a rehabilitation plan does not materialize. “I really hope that Hanjin’s creditors would agree to some rehabilitation plan, or that the company WOULD kND SOME kNANCIAL PARTNER to continue with its shipbuilding operations in Subic,� Eisma said.

3INCE (()# 0HIL )NC HAS ALREADY DELIVERED A TOTAL OF vessels to valued clients across the globe, cementing its foothold in the highly competitive shipbuilding market. Hanjin has helped put the Philippines in the map as the world’s kFTH LARGEST SHIPBUILDER The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) considers the possibility of having prospective operators to take over the shipyard.

Ramon Hernandez, director of the Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS) of the Marina, said Hanjin constructed THE kRST 4%5 CONTAINER VESSEL

which was one the biggest ships built IN THE WORLD IN CRAFTED BY SKILLED Filipino workers. “Marina may also consider the shipyard as a target location for the establishment of the maritime industrial hub, which is one of the eight priority programs under the 10year maritime industry development plan (MIDP),� he said.

(ANJIN WAS ESTABLISHED IN AND OCCUPIES HECTARES OF LAND IN Barangay Cawag Zambales.

Marina Officer in Charge Vice

Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. said instead of government taking over Hanjin, one of the options is for the government to redirect its resources to the development of shipbuilding and ship repair industry.

He said in order to help the local SBSR, they want to provide the same incentives offered by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to non-PEZA local shipyards in order to ACCELERATE THE lEET MODERNIZATION programs such as producing brand NEW 2OLL ON 2OLL OFF OF SHIPS PHASing out of passenger wooden hull ships and modernizing naval ships and maritime security assets. “The local shipyards do not enjoy the same incentives given

by PEZA to foreign investors, so if we give the same incentives, we can promote our own shipyards.

Our vision is to develop our own shipbuilding industry, and not that others would come to use our resources and later on, leave us with debts,� Vingson said.

4HE (ANJIN SHIPYARD CAPACITY IS percent of the total shipyard capacity in the country, making it the largest shipbuilder, to date. The second is +EPPEL WITH PERCENT AND THIRD

Tsuneishi with 11 percent.

Hanjin has $400 million in outstanding loans from Philippine banks on top $900 million in debts with lenders in South Korea.

4HE CASH STRAPPED (ANJIN kLED A petition last January at the Regional Trial Court in Olongapo City to initiate voluntary rehabilitation UNDER 2EPUBLIC !CT OTHERWISE known as “An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation or Liquidation of Financially Distressed Enterprises and GENIVI FACTAO Individuals.�

B6

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

World

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Chinese celebrate lunar new year H ONG KONG: Chinese communities around the world welcomed the Year of the Pig on Tuesday, ushering in the Lunar New Year with prayers, family feasts and shopping sprees.

In mainland China over the past week, hundreds of millions of people have crammed into trains, buses, cars and planes to reach family and friends in the world’s largest annual migration, emptying the country’s megacities of much of the migrant workforce.

Celebrations will take place across the globe, from Southeast Asia’s centuries-old Chinese communities to the more recently established Chinatowns of Sydney, London, Vancouver, Los Angeles and beyond.

The most important holiday of the Chinese calendar marks THE .EW 9EAR WITH A FORTNIGHT OF festivities as reunited families wrap

dumplings together and exchange gifts and red envelopes stuffed with money.

Pigs symbolise good fortune and wealth in Chinese culture and this year’s holiday brings a proliferation of porcine merchandise, greetings and decorations.

During the Spring Festival season — a 40-day period known as “Chunyun� — China’s masses will be on the move, chalking up some three billion journeys, Chinese state media reported.

Streets and busy thoroughfares were uncharacteristically empty in Beijing on Monday, with many shops and restaurants closed until next week.

A growing number of Chinese are also choosing to travel abroad, booking family trips to Thailand, Japan, and other top destinations.

An estimated seven million Chinese tourists will head overseas over the Spring Festival this YEAR ACCORDING TO THE OFkCIAL NEWS agency Xinhua, citing numbers from Chinesetravel agency Ctrip.

Researchers have also traced the origins of the zodiac animal.

Chinese archeologists found that China was one of the earliest places in the world to domesticate pigs about 9,000 years ago —around the time when ancient Turkey began similar domestication practices — based on research on pig bones excavated at Jiahu in Henan province, Xinhua reported. )N (ONG +ONG lOWER MARKETS WERE kLLED WITH RESIDENTS PICKING out orchids, mandarins and peach blossoms to decorate their homes — with stalls also boasting a diz-

zying array of pig-themed pillows, tote bags and stuffed toys.

Thousands of incense-carrying petitioners, some dressed in pig costumes, crammed into the city’s famous Wong Tai Sin temple overnight, a popular location to mark THE kRST PRAYERS OF THE .EW 9EAR In Shanghai on the mainland crowds packed into the Longhua temple to pray for good fortune.

In Malaysia — where 60 percent of the population is Muslim, and a quarter ethnic Chinese — some shopping centres chose not to display pig decorations, while some shops kept them inside.

But shoppers and traders said that was usual in a country where the Muslim majority are sensitive about an animal considered unclean in Islam, and overall there had been little controversy this year.

Next door in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority

country which also has a sizeable ethnic Chinese population, the ,UNAR .EW 9EAR IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY Events such as traditional lion dances are held in decorated public spaces while supermarkets stock up on mooncakes and tangerines.

In Japan, the capital’s famous Tokyo Tower was due to turn red IN CELEBRATION OF THE .EW 9EAR ‡ A kRST FOR THE CITY It is also the most important holiday in Vietnam, where it is celebrated as Tet. Parades and lion dances in 7ESTERN CITIES SUCH AS .EW 9ORK and London were expected to draw large crowds.

"EIJING FRIENDLY kGURES SUCH AS Pakistani President Arif Alvi and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen extended new year greetings to China.

Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen used her social media accounts to deliver a political sideswipe at Bei-

jing with a message highlighting the island’s democratic credentials and linguistic pluralism. “In Taiwan we are able to maintain our cultural traditions,� she said in a video in which she delivered the traditional new year greetING IN kVE #HINESE LANGUAGES Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Teochew and Cantonese.

Mainland authorities have long been accused by critics and minorities of pushing Mandarin at the expense of other languages.

China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

Relations between Taipei and Beijing have had a rocky start to 2019 after Xi Jinping delivered a bellicose speech last month describing the island’s unification with the mainland as “inevitable.�

AFP

Merkel wants more security on Chinese firms TOKYO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Tuesday for safeGUARDS TO ENSURE #HINESE kRMS DO not hand over private data to Beijing amid mounting security concerns over equipment made by telecommunications giant Huawei.

Speaking at Keio University in Tokyo, Merkel said there was a “big debate� in Germany about using Huawei equipment, with growing CALLS TO PREVENT THE kRM BUILDING 5G networks around the world.

Germany has taken a prudent approach so far, with the country’s information technology watchdog saying it had seen no evidence Huawei could use its equipment to spy for Beijing.

But Merkel said it was necessary to talk to Beijing “to make sure that the company does not simply give up all data that is used to the Chinese state, but that there are safeguards.�

Merkel also said safeguards needed to be put in place to ensure that “when you are working in Germany, that the Chinese state cannot access the data on all Chinese products.�

Huawei has quietly become a leading supplier of the backbone equipment for mobile networks,

particularly in developing markets, thanks to cheaper prices.

But a growing number of Western states are turning their backs on Huawei, fearful that its equipment could be a Trojan horse for Beijing’s security apparatus as Chinese laws REQUIRE ITS kRMS TO COOPERATE WITH intelligence services.

Huawei strenuously denies its equipment could be used for espionage. “This will continue to be debated and discussed and it is also part of the discussion with the United States,� said Merkel.

The chancellor also said China’s growing economic clout meant that it had a “growing responsibility for a peaceful world order.�

She said Beijing would have to step up its place in the world order — for example in participating in United Nations missions — as its clout increased.

Merkel is on a two-day visit to Japan. She has already met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito, and is expected to hold talks with Japanese and German business leaders later on Tuesday.

AFP

US sends special envoy to NKorea WASHINGTON, D.C.: The US special envoy for North Korea would head to Pyongyang on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) for talks, ahead of a much-anticipated second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, the State Department said Monday.

In addition to preparations for the summit, Stephen Biegun’s MEETINGS WITH .ORTH +OREAN OFkcial Kim Hyok Chol will “advance further progress on the commitments the president and Chairman Kim made in Singapore: complete denuclearization, transforming US-DPRK (Democractic People’s Republic of Korea)relations and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula,� a statement read.

In an interview with CBS on Sunday, Trump said the date and venue of his upcoming second summit with the North Korean leader had been agreed — and

would likely be announced before or during his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Vietnam is seen as the most likely venue for the meeting, which is expected to take place late this month, and follows their LANDMARK kRST SUMMIT IN 3INGApore last June.

4HAT MEETING ‡ THE kRST EVER between the leaders of the US and North Korea — produced a vaguely-worded document in which Kim pledged to work towards “the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.�

But progress has since stalled with the two sides disagreeing over what that means.

Last week, US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress that “North Koreais unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons and production capabilities.�

AFP

Worldinbrief

US JURY TO DECIDE ON FATE OF EL CHAPO

NEW YORK: After nearly three months of testimony about a vast drug-smuggling conspiracy steeped in violence, a jury began deliberations Monday (Tuesday in Manila) at the US trial of the infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo� Guzman. The day ended without jurors reaching a verdict for Guzman, who faces life in prison if convicted. They were to resume deliberations Tuesday morning. The jury has heard months of testimony about Guzman’s rise to power as the head of the Sinaloa cartel. Prosecutors say he is responsible for smuggling at least 200 tons of cocaine into the United States and for a wave of killings in turf wars with other cartels. Guzman, 61, is notorious for escaping from prison twice in Mexico. In closing arguments, prosecutor Andrea Goldbarg said he was plotting yet another breakout when he was sent in 2017 to the US, where he had been in solitary confinement ever since.

AP

TRUMP TO CALL FOR UNITY, OPTIMISM IN SPEECH

WASHINGTON, D. C.: The White House says President Donald Trump would call for

PETITION People burn incense as they pray for good fortune at the Yonghegong or Lama Temple in Beijing, China on the first day of the Lunar

New Year on Feb. 5, 2019. Chinese communities around the world welcomed the Year of the Pig on Tuesday, ushering in the Lunar New Year with prayers, family feasts and shopping sprees. AFP PHOTO

Angelina Jolie visits Rohingya in Bangladesh COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh: Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie visited a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh on Monday, ahead

of a new United Nations appeal for nearly $1 billion to look after THE REFUGEE INlUX After arriving in the South

GOODWILL American actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie, a

special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, arrives at the airport in Cox’s Bazar in southern Bangladesh on Feb. 4, 2019, ahead of a visit to nearby Rohingya refugee camps. AFP PHOTO

optimism and unity in Tuesday’s (Wednesday in Manila) State of the Union address, using the moment to attempt a reset after two years of bitter partisanship and deeply personal attacks. But will anyone buy it? Skepticism will emanate from both sides of the aisle when Trump enters the House chamber for the primetime address to lawmakers and the nation.

Democrats, emboldened after the midterm elections and the recent shutdown fight, see little evidence of a President willing to compromise. And even the president’s staunchest allies know that bipartisan rhetoric read off a teleprompter is usually undermined by scorching tweets and unpredictable policy maneuvers. Still, the fact that Trump’s advisers feel a need to try a different approach is a tacit acknowledgement that the president’s standing is weakened as he begins his third year in office. The shutdown left some Republicans frustrated over his insistence on a border wall, something they warned him the new Democratic House majority would not bend on.

AP

US GOVT BEGINS BUILDING TEXAS BORDER WALL

HOUSTON: The US government is preparing to begin construction of more border walls and fencing in South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, likely on federally owned land set aside as wildlife refuge property. Heavy construction equipment was expected to arrive starting Monday (Tuesday in Manila), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said. A photo posted by the nonprofit National Butterfly Centershows an excavator

Asian nation, Jolie, a special envoy of the UN Refugee agency, UNHCR, went straight to a camp in Teknaf near the Myanmar border to talk to some of THE -USLIMS WHO lED a military clampdown in the neighboring state in August 2017.

The 43-year-old made no immediate public comment, but Cox’s Bazar district deputy police chief Ikbal Hossain told AFP that Jolie would be visiting more camps on Tuesday.

Jolie is in Bangladesh to assess the humanitarian needs of the one million Rohingya in camps around the town of Cox’s Bazar.

She has previously met with displaced Rohingya while in Myanmar in July 2015 and in India in 2006.

Bangladesh has been reeling since more than 730,000 Rohingya arrived from Myanmar after August 2017. More than 620,000

of the Muslims live in the Kutupalong camp, the world’s largest refugee settlement.

There were already about 300,000 in the camps before the exodus, which has strained Bangladesh’s resources to the limit.

Jolie would conclude her visit by meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, and other seNIOR OFkCIALS IN $HAKA A 5.(#2 statement said.

The talks would focus on how the UNHCR could help Bangladesh’s efforts for the Rohingya and the need for “sustainable solutions� to settle the persecuted minority, the statement added.

The UN is to soon launch a new international appeal for $920 million to meet the needs of Rohingya refugees and the communities hosting them, the refugee agency said.

AFP

parked next to its property. Congress last March approved more than $600 million for 33 miles (53 kilometers) of new barriers in the Rio Grande Valley. While President Donald Trump and top Democrats remain in a standoff over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion in border wall funding, the CBP has pushed ahead with building what’s already funded. That construction was often described as fencing, and the government funding bill that included construction was supported by some Democrats in the House and Senate. CBP refers to what it plans to build as a “border wall system.� AP

7 DEAD, 31 HURT IN PARIS APARTMENT FIRE

PARIS: A fire in a Paris apartment building early Tuesday killed seven people and sent residents fleeing to the roof or climbing out their windows to escape, authorities said. The cause of the blaze that injured 31 people is unclear. Firefighters were still searching for other victims and working to extinguish the blaze, according to spokesman Clement Cognon of the city fire service. He told The Associated Press that the fire broke out early Tuesday in the eight-story apartment building on Rue Erlanger in the 16th arrondissement, or district. “The situation was already dramatic when the firefighters arrived,� Cognon said. Firefighters rescued about two dozen people who had fled to the roof or climbed out windows to escape the flames, and evacuated others from inside.

AP

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

EU member-nations endorse Maduro rival CARACAS, Venezuela: More than a dozen European Union (EU) countries endorsed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president Monday, piling the pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to resign and clear the way for a new presidential election.

-ADURO STOOD DEkANT REJECTing a US offer of humanitarian aid that has shifted attention to Venezuela’s western border with Colombia, where opponents were gearing up to try to bring emergency food and medicine into the country. “We are not beggars,� Maduro said in a speech to troops broadcast on Venezuelan state TV. Spain, Germany, France and Britain delivered diplomatic blows to Maduro’s rule by publicly supporting Guaido after a Sunday deadline for Maduro to call a presidential election passed without action. Sweden, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal also lined up behind Guaido, who last month declared himself interim president with the support of the US and many Latin American nations.

In Canada’s capital, foreign ministers from the Lima Group of 13 Western Hemisphere countries that took the lead in recognizing Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful leader discussed additional steps to pressure Maduro.

Before the closed-door meeting

got under way, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned a “dictatorship willing to use force and fear� to maintain its power. He also announced $53 million in humanitarian aid to support the Venezuelan people. “We know that the people of Venezuela are facing tremendous hardship and they need our help, as do the countries that have TAKEN IN THOSE lEEING VIOLENCE u Trudeau said.

The coalition called upon Venezuela’s military to allow badly needed food and medicine across the border and show their loyalty to Guaido. They also urged the United Nations and the international community to step up with humanitarian assistance.

Maduro showed no signs of caving in and lashed out at the EU, accusing it of taking orders from the Trump administration, who he has repeatedly accused of trying to carry out a coup to get its hands on Venezuela’s oil reserves, the world’s largest.

But he stopped short of breaking off diplomatic relations with the 16 European countries that recognized his rival Monday, unlike his swift move to cut off ties with the US after it threw its support behind Guaido last month.

A growing list of 38 countries has now recognized Guaido, including non-EU European nations Kosovo, Iceland and Albania.

Long-time backers Russia and China are among at least nine nations that have declared their support for Maduro.

AP

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

Pope Francis leads historic Mass in UAE A

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: Pope Francis ministered on Tuesday to the thriving Catholic community in UAE as he concluded his historic visit to the Arabian 0ENINSULA WITH THE kRST EVER PAPAL -ASS HERE and a call for his flock to remain meek in following God. A day after making a broad appeal for Christian and Muslim leaders to work together to promote peace and reject war, Francis celebrated what some considered the largest show of public Christian worship on the peninsula, the birthplace of Islam.

For the Gulf Arab region where public displays of non-Islamic faith are restricted, the hymns of “Halleluja� booming out from speakers marked a milestone and evidence of the Emirates’ muchtouted assertions of its tolerance for other faiths.

Cheers erupted inside and outside the Zayed Sports City Stadium as Francis arrived and looped through the crowd in his opensided popemobile, as chants of “Viva il Papa� and “We love you!� echoed from the crowd, estimated to be around 135,000.

Organizers said faithful from 100 countries would attend, as well as 4,000 Muslims from this Muslim federation — evidence of the enormous diversity among

2 TRUMPS Photo shows Joshua Trump and US President Donald Trump. The US president invited Joshua to his State of the Union Address when he learned that Joshua was bullied at school because of his surname. GULF TIMES PHOTO

Greek PM Tsipras meets Erdogan to ease tensions ANKARA: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visits Turkey on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), where he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks to ease tensions over bilateral disputes and the long-running Cyprus problem.

The two leaders are expected to discuss disputed Cyprus energy exploration, Aegean sea issues, a migrant deal and economic cooperation though analysts see little concrete progress. g7E ARE GOING THROUGH A DIFkCULT PERIOD IN our relations with Turkey, which is why we have to continue to discuss,� Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told KritiTV. “This visit can contribute to de-escalation of tensions.� )N $ECEMBER %RDOGAN BECAME THE kRST Turkish president to visit Greece in 65 years. But he stunned his hosts when he asked for a reviSION OF THE ,AUSANNE 4REATY THAT DEkNES the borders of modern Turkey after the collapse

of Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish leader also denounced “discrimination� of Greece’s Muslim minority in northern towns like Komotini, near the border, citing a chapter in the treaty about minority rights, which he said had not been “respected.� “During my visit, I think we will have the OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE DIFkCULT BUT FRANK dialogue that began in December 2017,� Tsipras said in an interview with the Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu ahead of the visit.

For Ozgur Unluhisarcikli at the German Marshall Fund of the United States think tank, “the positions (of the two countries) are too far away� to bring concrete results and the main objective would be to see “if there is any space for dialogue in the future.�

Tsipras’s visit comes a few days after the 23rd anniversary of a 1996 crisis that brought the two countries to the edge of a war over the sovereignty of rocky islets — called Kardak by Ankara and Imia by Athens.

AFP

More floods seen to hit Australia TOWNSVILLE, Australia: Heavy rain continued to pelt Australia’s flood-ravaged northeast Tuesday, prompting the authorities to warn of further flash flooding in the hours ahead.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison toured the region where “once-in-a-century� floods have inundated thousands of homes and closed airports and schools, leaving cars and houses submerged. “It’s just going to be tough, going to be tough for a while,� Morrison said, expressing sympathy for young families who have lost their homes. “The real work is to make sure that they can get through the clean-up and rebuild their lives.�

In hard-hit Townsville, more than 650 people have been evacuated from their homes and about 11,000 houses remained without power Tuesday. Around 9,000 more have asked for help.

World

Even as stormwaters receded in some areas, there seems little prospect of an immediate respite from what locals call the “Big Wet.� “We expect this active monsoon to remain active for the coming days, potentially easing over the weekend, so there is an end in sight,� said Richard Wardle of Queensland’s Bureau of Meteorology. “But we are expecting further periods of heavy rainfall, some of it very heavy, about the north-east tropics for the next few days... with that there is the real elevated risk of flash flooding.�

Local gym instructor Rebecca Chilmaid described the scale of the devastation, of people left “without clothes, cars, their homes, everything.� “People and businesses have lost everything,� she told AFP. “I sit and struggle to keep tears from falling thinking about it.�

AFP

the 9 million people who live in the UAE. “We have to say it is really a big event for us which we never expected,� said Sumitha Pinto, an Indian native who has lived in the UAE for nearly 20 years. She attended the Mass with her husband and four sons, the youngest of whom held up sign with the pope’s photo that read: “Welcome Pope Francis. Make me a channel of your peace.�

The Emirates’ Catholic community is something an anomaly for the region — large, diverse and thriving at a time when the wider Mideast has seen an exodus OF #HRISTIANS lEEING PERSECUTION at the hands of the Islamic State group and others.

The Catholic Church estimates as many as 1 million of the over 9 million living in the UAE are Catholic, nearly all of them foreigners drawn to the oil-rich federation to work in everything from white-colLAR kNANCE TO CONSTRUCTION -OST are Filipinos and Indians, many

of whom have left behind families back home in order to come here and work. They can face precarious labor conditions, which human rights groups regularly denounce.

In his homily, delivered in Italian and translated into Arabic with English subtitles on giant screens, Francis made a direct reference to the sufferings many endure. “It is most certainly not easy for you to live far from home, missing the affection of your loved ones, and perhaps also feeling uncertainty about the future,� he said. “But the Lord is faithful and does not abandon his people.�

Francis also told his flock — many of them poor, manual laborers — that they need not build great “superhuman� works to be faithful. It was a message extolling meekness in a country that is home to the world’s biggest skyscraper and is known for its opulence and excess.

Jesus, Francis said, “did not ask us to build great works or draw attention to ourselves with extraordinary gestures. He asked us to produce just one work of art, possible for everyone: our own life.�

The crowd was elated and appreciated Francis’ words. “He is almost divine. He has a special charisma, which appeals to each one,� said Raphael Muntenkurian, 64, an Indian-native and former seminarian who has lived

B7

in the UAE for more than 30 years. “Everybody is actually mesmerized by his appeal for peace and tolerance,� he said. “His simplicity and humility is always praise worthy.�

In an indication of the diversity OF THE #ATHOLIC lOCK THE PRAYERS during Mass were being read out in a variety of languages and addressed the variety of hardships many face.

A prayer in the Indian language of Konkani called for public ofkCIALS TO BE gILLUMINATEDu AND promote the dignity of all, while the one in the Filipino language of Tagalog urged prayers for migrants and workers in in the 5!% SO THAT gTHEIR SACRIkCE AND work may blossom and sustain their families.� The one in French called for those who foment violence to change their ways and “stop wars, overcome hatred and help us forge links of justice and peace.�

On Monday, the pope met with Emirati leaders and signed a document promoting “human fraternity� with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the revered 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni Muslim learning. He also urged religious leaders to work together to reject the “miserable crudeness� of war and resist the “logic of armed power . . . the arming of borders, the raising of walls.�

AP

WEDNESDAY W E DNESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 201 2019 19

Public Square

B8 Public Square appears on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

For contributions, email to publicsquare@manilatimes.net

publicsquare@manilatimes.net

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Build&Design

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2019

C1

EDITOR: Mario F. Fetalino Jr.

www.manilatimes.net

mario.fetalino@manilatimes.net

Q The closure and rehabilitation of Boracay Island may have encouraged sustainable and responsible tourism in the country.

Q Once completed, the Bulacan International Airport will have a passenger capacity of 100 million a year, which is thrice the passenger capacity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

PINNACLE MARKET INSIGHT FOR Q1 2019

What’s shaping PH real estate market?

A

REAL estate consulting services company revealed that the government’s tax reform and infrastructure programs have shaped the real estate market in 2018.

They would continue to do so IN THE kRST QUARTER OF AND even beyond, Pinnacle Real Estate Consulting Services Inc. said in its latest study.

Other indicators, the study said, include the adjustment of price ceilings for socialized and low-cost housing, responsible and sustainable tourism. “The Train Law, the government’s “Build, Build, Build’ (BBB) program, adjustment of price ceilings for socialized and lowcost housing are some of the real estate market indicators that DEkNED AND WHAT WILL SHAPE the market in the years to come,�

Pinnacle’s research said.

Train Law and real estate The Train Law refers to Republic !CT OR THE 4AX 2EFORM FOR Acceleration and Inclusion, which TOOK EFFECT ON THE kRST DAY OF Its main purpose is to implement revisions in the Philippine internal revenue tax system, thus providing additional disposable income to working Filipinos.

Aside from this, Pinnacle said there were also allied gains in the

Boracay Closure

taxes involving real estate transactions. Some of these are the rateREDUCTION AND SIMPLIkCATION OF THE estate and donor tax systems and value-added tax base expansion affecting socialized and low cost housing segments, residential condominium dues, residential leasing, and the much-delayed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

It is also said that 70 percent of the revenues from the Train Law shall be used to fund the infrastructure projects of the government.

Infrastructure gains for real estate Pinnacle said the government continues to invest heavily on projects under the BBB program.

As of Nov. 30, 2018, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) apPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE lAGSHIP projects with an estimated cost of P1.537 trillion.

This is in line with the current administration’s policy to undertake a minimum of P1 trillion worth of infrastructure projects per year until 2022.

On top of the list is the P357-

Q Seventy percent of the revenues from the Train Law shall be used to fund the infrastructure projects of the government. billion Metro Manila Subway Project-Phase 1 funded by a loan from the Japanese government.

The 25.3-kilometer underground commuter rail system will be from Quezon City to Taguig City, with an extension going to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Adjustment on price ceilings for socialized housing

Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) issued House Resolutions 1 and 2 to increase the price ceiling for socialized subdivision and socialized condominium housing projects, respectively.

The adjusted price ceiling for horizontal socialized housing

projects now range between P480,000 and P580,000.

Price ceiling for vertical socialized housing or socialized condominium projects is between P700,000 and P750,000 for Metro Manila and selected nearby areas, and between P600,000 and P650,000 for other areas.

There is no existing or separate housing ceiling under this category.

In 2018, the Housing and

In April 2018, the government ordered the closure of Boracay Island for a period of six months to rehabilitate it.

Boracay reopened to the public in October 2018, and the government is now enforcing stricter rules and regulations in the operation and maintenance of the island in order for its tourism industry to be sustainable.

Major changes are the reduction of the daily tourist capacity and accreditation of resorts, hotels, and other lodging facilities to ensure they are environment-friendly before they operate.

Pinnacle said the closure and rehabilitation of Boracay might have encouraged sustainable and responsible tourism as the government closely monitors the situation in El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro and Panglao in Bohol.

New Manila International Airport in Bulacan The 50-year concession agreement for the New Manila International !IRPORT kNALLY GOT THE APPROVAL from Neda. San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), a subsidiary of San

ÂłREAL ESTATE C4

Q The government continues to invest heavily on projects under the “Build, Build, Build� program.

C2 Amaia’s newest building to rise in Alabang

C3

C4 2018’s most popular property type, location

Things to consider in buying the first home

C2

Build&Design

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Amaia’s newest building to rise in Alabang F

OLLOWING the success of Amaia Land Corp.’s first four buildings in Alabang, Muntinlupa — Aria, Blanca, Clara and Delicia — the top-of-mind and affordable property developer is all set for the launch of !MAIA 3TEPS !LABANG %SPERANZA ITS kFTH BUILDING in the cosmopolitan town.

Esperanza will offer prospective homeowners a total of 256 spacious and well-designed studio (24.37 square meters), deluxe (32.50 sqm), and premier (42 sqm) units.

Its special amenities will include a wellequipped kiddie play-

ground and a linear garden where residents can spend leisure moments with their families.

To date, Amaia Land has sold a total of 781 units and turned over 371 of these from its previous buildings in Alabang.

Located on AlabangZapote Road, Esperanza is the most recent addition to Amaia’s affordable and sustainable condominiums south of the metro. Esperan-

za is envisioned to provide bigger breathing and living spaces and a more serene lifestyle far removed from the bustling city life.

Future residents of EsperANZA WILL kND CONVENIENCE AND comfort in perfect harmony as it is strategically located near business parks, schools like San Beda College Alabang, shopping malls, service centers, and other key establishments.

Amaia Land brings the dream of

owning an affordable superiorquality home closer to hardworking Filipinos through easy payment options: cash, deferred cash, AND BANK kNANCING Amaia continues to serve its Filipino residents and homeowners with affordable and sustainable development that aims to elevate living experience and create a positive impact on the environment.

ARIA AND BLANCA Top-of-mind

property Amaia Land is set to launch its newest and fifth building in Alabang, Muntinlupa which will be called Esperanza.

Filinvest City a model CBD FILINVEST City in Alabang is once again making a remarkable stride in transforming the landscape of the Metro South as it actively seeks the prestigious and coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) Plan 6ERSION &OUR #ERTIkCATION FROM the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED-ND was initiated to recognize large-scale townships that successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life.

The LEED-ND rating system clarifies the sustainability of neighborhoods using an integrated set of smart growth, new urbanization and green construction principles.

more nature-friendly features and amenities. With this vision, Filinvest City was also cited for Best Mixed Use Development at THE !SIA 0ACIkC 0ROPERTY !WARDS

Self-contained, sustainable convergence hub Ease of movement with accessibility at its core, allowing for true pedestrianization, is at the heart of Filinvest City.

As a sustainable community, it strives to cater to the diverse needs of existing and future city dwellers. It has established itself as a modern metropolis where a quality range of residential options,

lifestyle centers and community hubs are available for every lifestyle, with schools, public and private hospitals, and government institutions nearby.

Apart from being a thriving business district, Filinvest City stands in a class of its own with its Garden City enhancing of green spaces, parks, pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly streets. “We want Filinvest City to be an experiential CBD, for residents and workers to experience the city at a ground level — that their daily LIVES WON T END AT THEIR OFkCES OR homes, but rather extend to the parks and other play components provided for them,� said Don Ubaldo, Filinvest Alabang Inc. vice

president for townships.

Host to some of the biggest multinational corporations, Filinvest City’s skyline also consists of sleek high-rises and several green buildINGS WITH CERTIkED PROJECTS SUCH as Axis Tower One, Vector Three, Toyota Alabang, Polaris, HSBC New Alabang, and Capella.

Even its premium residential developments like Botanika Nature Residences is Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE)-certified.

The Northgate Cyberzone, the biggest, most innovative IT park in the Metro South that is home to a number of these buildings, takes pride in its District Cooling System (DCS) which helps

lessen the energy consumption of the buildings.

A progressive fusion of nature and modernity A verdant garden and breathable city — where modernity and nature meet — is what sets Filinvest City apart.

Lush landscapes and open spaces are provided as areas of convergence for the whole community — locators and residents, as well as their guests. Thus, Filinvest City is a more conducive working and living environment compared to other CBDs which are saturated and have fewer open spaces.

Other streetscape enhancements

A future-ready, masterplanned urban center In keeping with USGBC’s thrust, Filinvest City is envisioned as a future-ready, masterplanned community that is responsive to the needs of the changing times. “Filinvest City embodies the principles of smart growth with walkable streets and an inviting mix of trees and development to foster a sense of community,� said Dean Barone of Barone International, Filinvest City’s LEED consultant. “It is a place with its own unique character and function where people live, work and play and interact with the community.�

Filinvest City has proudly established itself as the world-class central business district (CBD) of Metro South, harmoniously blending modern, state-of-theart urban lifestyle and innovative masterplanning with green, open spaces and eco-centric features that make it a walkable and bikefriendly community.

Its management believes that achieving economic progress and prosperity can and should be done without sacrificing nature and ecological balance.

The masterplan was reviewed and enhanced further to include

Q Filinvest City embodies the principles of smart growth with walkable streets and an inviting mix of trees and development to foster a sense of community.

are in the pipeline, proof of Filinvest City’s further commitment to green living. Plans include the Central Park along Promenade Avenue and the Creekside Park development from Palms Pointe Village down to Festival Alabang.

All these and more are testaments of Filinvest City’s continuous efforts to make the entire CBD a model township, one that uses only the best practices in urban planning. “Our vision for Filinvest City is one that is forward-looking and grounded on sustainability, where staying abreast with modernity is balanced with the needs of the environment and the people,�

Ubaldo said.

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Build&Design

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

C3

2018’s most popular property type, location W

ANT to know the most popular property types and locations in 2018?

Property24, the country’s fastest growing real estate property portal, and OLX, the WORLD S LEADING CLASSIkEDS PLATFORM GATHERED DATA from January to November 2018 to identify which SPECIkC PROPERTY TYPE AND LOCATION &ILIPINOS WERE looking for. “The vast number of property listings on OLX and Property24 enables us to study what our users are searching for,� said Tina Bautista, head of Real Estate for OLX Philippines and Property24. “Through this data, we get to understand our users better and see their real estate property preference in terms of location, property type, and budget,� she added.

In Metro Manila, where condominiums are the most popular property type, Quezon City was the top choice, with 27 percent of users searching the location for possibilities.

Pasig City was second with 14 percent, followed by Makati City with 12 percent, Mandaluyong #ITY WITH PERCENT AND 0ARAĂ„AQUE City with 8 percent.

The most searched price range

for condominiums in Metro Manila was P1 million to P5 million, which is equivalent to studio to two-bedroom units.

In provincial areas, house and lot was the preferred property TYPE WITH #EBU #ITY LEADING AT percent as the most searched city.

Angeles City came close with 8 percent. Tagaytay and Antipolo were tied at 7 percent.

Santa Rosa made it to the top five most searched provincial cities with 5 percent.

In terms of price range, most users searched for a house and lot worth P1 million to P3 million.

In the province of Cebu, the most popular property type was house and lot, having 55 percent of searches in the area.

Cebuanos recorded P5 million to P10 million as the most popular budget for this property type.

The condominium was the next

Q In provincial areas, house and lot is the preferred property type. most searched residential property type, with 37 percent of the search volume, and townhouse followed with 8 percent.

In terms of location, 62 percent made Cebu as the most searched CITY !LSO IN THE TOP kVE CITIES WERE Lapu-Lapu City with 12 percent; Mandaue City, 7 percent; Talisay

City, 5 percent; and Minglanilla, 3 percent.

For Davao region, house and lot remained the preferred property type, with 88 percent choosing Davao as the top city where they looked for property.

Samal Island Garden City was the choice of 8 percent; Digos, 2

percent; Tagum, 1 percent; and Panabo, 0.4 percent. In terms of price range, most users are searched for a house and lot worth P1 million to P3 million.

Property24 and OLX Philippines are part of the OLX Group, the world’s leading classifieds platform in growth markets.

The platforms’ partnership, dubbed as “The Power of Two,� brings together the country’s top real estate portal and the biggest buy and sell community. Posting on Property24 entitles the real estate seller to cross-sell with the massive audience of OLX.

Horizon Terraces: Ideal mountain resort investment

Q Horizon Terraces is inspired by the radiance of nature that surrounds it. Garden Suite units feature a balcony that leads to panoramic vistas of Mount Makiling, the Midlands Golf Course, and Taal Lake.

Q Horizon Terraces is a 3.2-hectare community of Asiancontemporary garden suites and villas that presents breathtaking vistas of the Taal Lake and Volcano, Mount Makiling, Midlands Golf Course, and the community’s central park.

WITH the increasing demand for comfort and convenience, condominium living has become the preference nowadays. Just some of the many advantages of this lifestyle means living in a space enough for you and your loved ones, worry-free maintenance, and amenities within your reach.

Among Tagaytay Highlands’ extensive portfolio of themed residences, Horizon Terraces promises the most refreshing take on holistic living in this 3.2-hectare community made up of a fine selection of Asian-contemporary living spaces set against lush environs and postcard-pretty vistas.

Among these is the Horizon Terraces Garden Suites, which feature well-planned one– and two–bedroom units, with areas ranging from 43 to 68 square meters. Each unit offers comfort and luxury to individuals or families who long for a relaxing and intimate getaway highlighted by large panel windows that optimize natural lighting and ventilation, as well as a spacious balcony where residents can savor the picturesque and panoramic vistas of Mount Makiling, Midlands Golf Course, Taal Lake and its own lush central park.

Horizon Terraces also offers the Garden Villas, well-appointed threebedroom townhouses that feature

Q The Garden Villas at Horizon Terraces, the first townhouse development in Tagaytay Highlands, are three-bedroom units of 136 –168 square meters ideal for large, close-knit families.

Q Horizon Terraces promises holistic indulgence through its very own central park, where laidback moments and active adventures can be spent within a hectare of lush, verdant setting.

a den on the ground floor — a multifunctional space that may be converted into a separate bedroom or family room, making it ideal for large close-knit families.

Investing in Horizon Terraces also means investing in your own holistic wellness, as over 70 percent of the development is dedicated to open space and lush gardens, while therapeutic walkways, private nooks, and a jogging path weave through the entire area. Two swimming pools and a playground call for invigorating

activities for the family.

A unit purchase at Horizon Terraces comes with membership at the Country Club and access to sports facilities for swimming, bowling, and badminton and outdoor activities, such as the Aerial Walk, Sporting Arrow and Pedal Go Kart Racing.

Tagaytay Highlands is also home to well-known specialty restaurants such as the Highlander Steakhouse and Highlands China Palace on Gourmet Avenue.

With unparalleled luxury and

breathtaking views of nature just A MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE METRO

Horizon Terraces at Tagaytay Highlands is surely the perfect investment that’s waiting for you.

Tagaytay Highlands is the premier mountain resort development of the SM Group in Tagaytay. Nestled among the highest elevations of the city, it is a leisure destination that speaks of exclusivity and luxury, where stunning nature views and a breezy, cool climate come TOGETHER TO REDEkNE RELAXATION

Q Each unit ownership at Horizon Terraces comes with membership rights to the Midlands Golf Club, as well as access to world-class recreational facilities at The Country Club.

C4

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

Build&Design

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Things to consider in buying the

first home

G

ETTING your own home — whether to start a family or as an investment — is an inevitable part of “adulting.� For kRST TIME HOME BUYERS THERE ARE MANY THINGS to consider.

But there is no reason to be scared. If you feel you are ready TO OWN YOUR kRST HOME BELOW ARE some important points to consider.

Type of property The first thing to ask yourself is what kind of property would you like to buy: House and lot?

Condominium? Townhouse? The answer depends on why you are BUYING A PROPERTY IN THE kRST PLACE Those starting a family may want a house and lot with sufkCIENT SPACE WHICH THEY COULD expand as the need arises. For individuals who just want convenience for their fast-paced lifestyle, a condominium unit in the metropolis is perfect.

Since buying your own home is a major decision and a long-term commitment, choosing the type of home is a critical first step.

Consulting your agent can help you make a decision.

Location Once you have decided the kind

of property to buy, the next question is where. The location of your home will have a huge impact on your lifestyle, especially when it is far from where you used to reside.

You need to consider various factors, primarily proximity to your place of work; basic facilities such as hospitals, schools, malls, and anything you might need; and your loved ones. How long would it take you to get to anywhere? How is the commute using a private vehicle or public transportation? If the location is far from where you used to live, are the extra hours of travel worth it? It is also critical to

Q The location of your home will have a huge impact on your lifestyle.

Q For most people, getting your own home is an inevitable part of ‘adulting.’ know if the area is prone to natural CALAMITIES LIKE lOODING Another important consideration is the neighborhood. It will determine how comfortable you will be in your new home, with a completely new set of neighbors.

Thus, if you are already eyeing a

Q Since buying your own home is a major decision and a long-term commitment, choosing the type of home is a critical first step property, be sure to research about the neighborhood.

There are real estate directories online you can browse on for thousands of properties you can choose from.

Price Whether you will live in your dream home or not depends on your budget. You may not necessarily get everything you envisioned your dream home to be, but choosing a house within your budget is an unwritten rule.

You must keep in mind, however, that the purchase price is Q Whether you will live in your dream home or not depends also on your budget. just part of a list of expenses you

will have to consider in getting your new home. You may have to consider the cost of materials and labor if you are buying a bare unit, the homeowners association fees, and the real estate taxes.

Of course, you have to consider the monthly payment for your housing loan, which is the biggest part of the cost.

Long-term plans Make sure that your long-term plans are aligned with all your decisions about buying your own home. Are you planning to stay in the same job? Do you see yourself getting married soon, and eventually having children? If you think the answers to these questions may affect your decisions about your dream home, you may want to re-evaluate.

You might want to consider starting with the most affordable and convenient property for you at this time, then perhaps upgrade to your dream home as your career grows in the future.

Payment terms Finally, when you have made up your mind about all these things, the more meticulous part comes in. It is time to sit down with your agent about the terms of your payment, based on YOUR kNANCIAL CAPABILITY 9OUR AGENT WILL OFFER kNANCING options. Banks usually have housing loans with terms that can be ADJUSTED BASED ON YOUR kNANCIAL capability. BPI Family Savings Bank, for example, offers its BPI Family Housing Loan with endto-end solutions to guide and help you in every step.

It has a self-assessment tool that helps customers to assess their readiness for a housing loan.

There is also a home loan calculator to help customers know how much monthly amortization they can afford.

Getting a home may be daunting for some. However, with the right mindset and correctly identified goals, coming home to a place you can call your own can be a gloriously satisfying “adulting� experience.

Q REAL ESTATE FROM C1

What’s shaping PH real estate market? that in 2017, the airport handled 4,234,667 passengers which was way above its design capacity.

Pinnacle said that with key infrastructures set to be delivered over the next few years, property developers had been very busy changing dramatically the landscape and skyline of Davao City.

A multitude of property giants are bringing their unique and different brands into the real estate market of the city. One of the most anticipated developments is Ayala Land’s Azuela Cove and Megaworld’s Davao Park District.

Miguel Corp., submitted the unsolicited proposal for the construction, operation and maintenance of the airport.

The project will be constructed in a 2,500-hectare land in Bulakan, Bulacan with an estimated project cost of P735.6 billion. Once completed, the airport would have a passenger capacity of 100 million a year, which is thrice the passenger capacity of the NAIA, Pinnacle said.

Updates on REITs The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) have made moves to dismantle two roadblocks that hinder the full implementation of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Law, Pinnacle said.

The SEC, for its part, has agreed to lower the minimum public ownership (MPO) to 33 percent, provided the BIR clarifies that initial transfers of property to REITs are exempt from ValueAdded Tax (VAT) as provided by the Train Law. Statements from BIR Commissioner #AESAR $ULAY AFkRM THE INTERPRETATION of the Train Law, saying that the initial property transfers to REITs are VATexempt as long as they qualify under certain provisions of the law.

Trabaho Bill The Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) Law or the second package of the Train Law was apPROVED ON THIRD AND kNAL READING AT the House of Representatives.

As its title suggests, its objective is to generate better and high-quality employment opportunities by attracting new business and investments through reduction of their corporate income tax (CIT).

The Philippines has the highest CIT among Asean countries at 30 percent. Singapore, which we could say is the most business-friendly state in the region, has a CIT of only 17 percent, Pinnacle said.

Cebu continues winning form in tourism The second most important metropolitan area in the Philippines, Cebu has a prosperous tourism industry.

Q The Department of Tourism has called on Cebu to also focus on its meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE).

Pinnacle said the opening of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal 2 has been a game changer and has only bolstered the province’s position as one of the country’s top tourist destinations, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT).

MCIA data show there were 1.4 million foreign tourist arrivals in Cebu from January to September of 2018, which is 22.76 percent HIGHER THAN THE kGURE RECORDED FOR the same period in 2017.

Another industry that Cebu should focus on is the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) industry, according to DoT chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Two major international events will be held in Cebu this year: 2OUTES !SIA AND #ENTER FOR Aviation’s (CAPA) LCCs in North Asia Summit.

Pinnacle said Cebu was a perfect target for big-ticket and high-prokLE EVENTS BECAUSE OF ITS TOURISTY ambiance and its new airport terminal. The two events are expected to boost Cebu’s hotel occupancy this year.

Bay Area continues uptrend With a condo stock of approximately 20,000 units as of 2018, Pinnacle said the Bay Area has already surpassed Ortigas Center as Metro Manila’s third largest condo submarket. It is expected to overtake the Makati central business district as the capital’s second largest condo submarket.

-EANWHILE THE 0ARAĂ„AQUE SIDE

of the Bay Area will soon have its own anchor retail tenant when the Ayala Mall Bay Area beside the City of Dreams Manila opens IN Touted as one of the biggest !YALA MALLS FOOT TRAFkC WILL SIGNIkCANTLY INCREASE ON THIS SIDE OF Entertainment City. It will have a SIGNIkCANT IMPACT ON THE RESALE price of condos near it. )N ADDITION OFkCE RENTAL RATES in the Bay Area have already breached the P1,000 per square meter (sqm) per month mark, on par with rental rates of Grade A OFkCES IN THE -AKATI CENTRAL BUSIness district (CBD), Pinnacle said.

Central Luzon as new growth area outside Metro Manila Pinnacle said the current administration’s goal of spreading business opportunities outside Metro -ANILA WAS DEkNITELY SPILLING OVER to Central Luzon, most notably the areas within and around the Clark Freeport Zone.

This development is boosted by several planned transport infrastructure projects that will improve the region’s connectivity.

One of these is the ongoing expansion project of the Clark InTERNATIONAL !IRPORT THE kRST PHASE of which is scheduled for completion in June 2020. It involves a new 100,000-sqm terminal being built by Megawide-GMR consortium which is expected to increase Clark’s capacity to 8 million passengers per year.

Second in the government’s list

Q Construction of the 44.6-kilometer Davao City Bypass Road will commence in 2019. is the Subic–Clark Cargo Railway, which will provide freight service between the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone.

Several national real estate playERS ARE SEEN TO BENEkT FROM THESE ongoing developments, most notable of them include the Filinvest group, Dennis Uy’s Global Gateway Development Corp. (GGDC) with its Clark Global City, and SM Prime.

Recently, GGDC has engaged THE 3- GROUP TO BE THE kRST ANchor locator in Clark Global City.

Pinnacle data show a burst of activities in Central Luzon, most notably in Mabalacat, Mexico, San Fernando, and Porac in Pampanga, areas that surround Angeles City.

Davao as the next destination for investment Two of the most exciting places in the Philippines at the moment,

Q The Bay Area has already surpassed Ortigas Center as Metro Manila’s third largest condo submarket.

Davao City and the larger Davao Region would be the places to be this year, Pinnacle said.

One of the region’s major draws is the planned transport infrastructure projects aimed at mitigating congestion in Davao City itself and improving transportation logistics for the whole Davao Region.

Foremost is the construction of the 44.6-kilometer Davao City Bypass Road that will commence IN 4HIS AMBITIOUS PROJECT will include a tunnel section. It will start from the Davao–Digos of the Pan-Philippine Highway in Toril and end by intersecting the Davao–Agusan National Highway in Panabo City.

The city’s airport will also receive a much-needed upgrade soon, thanks to the Davao Airport Operations, Maintenance and Development Project that will START IN Once completed, the airport’s design capacity will be increased

BY PERCENT TO MILLION passengers per year. Data show

The rise of condo submarkets outside traditional CBDs With land prices in the Makati CBD and Bonifacio Global City scarce and prohibitively costly, Pinnacle said developers are venturing out of the traditional business districts for their next Metro Manila projects.

The Chino Roces area over the next few years will be a thriving condo submarket, similar to the north of Ayala area,.

On the other hand, Ayala Land and Lucio Tan’s Eton Properties recently entered into a partnership to develop Parklinks, a 35-hectare master-planned project along C5 Road between Pasig and Quezon City (close to Eastwood City).

Sports

WEDNESDAY D1 FEBRUARY 6, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Q Blake Griffin (No. 23) of the Detroit Pistons tries to get a shot off around Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. AFP PHOTO

Pistons bounce back, Harden fuels Rockets win

L

OS ANGELES: Andre Drummond scored a season-high 27 points as the Detroit Pistons rebounded from a crushing defeat with a 129-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

HEAT TO RETIRE BOSH’S NO. 1 JERSEY NEXT MONTH MIAMI: Two-time NBA champion and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Chris Bosh will have his No. 1 jersey retired next month by the Miami Heat, the team announced on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

The 34-year-old forward who teamed with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to form Miami’s “Big Three� and lead the Heat to four NBA Finals in as many seasons will receive the tribute in a half-time ceremony when Orlando visits Miami on March 26.

Bosh, selected by Toronto with the fourth pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, will become the fourth Heat player to have his number retired following Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway.

In 13Â NBAÂ seasons, seven with Toronto and six more with Miami,

Bosh was an 11-time NBA All-Star and helped Miami claim NBA Finals wins over Oklahoma City in 2012 and San Antonio in 2013.

Bosh, who joined the Heat in a 2010 trade, played in 893 career regular-season games and averaged 19.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.04 blocked shots while shooting 49.4 percent from the field.

But Bosh’s career ended in 2017 due to blood clotting issues. “I’m proud that Chris will have his No. 1 jersey retired and be honored with this recognition for the greatness as a player on the court and his tremendous contributions to the Miami community off the court,� Heat president Pat Riley said. “His name and jersey will hang forever and always.� AFP Q National team member Alyssa Valdez unloads a powerful hit against two Indonesian defenders during the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Valdez will spearhead the national team in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games volleyball competition in November.

FILE PHOTO

PH SEA Games preparations on track (First part)

BY EDDIE ALINEA NO, the Philippines is not taking the hosting of this year’s 30th Southeast Asian Games lightly. “Everything is moving quietly and without fanfare. Not as smoothly as we would have wanted it though,� Tom Carrasco, head of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and executive director of the Philippines SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHILGOC), assured.

We’re scrambling a bit not of our own making, however.� “Rest assure, though, that before we raised the curtains opening the Games on November 30, all, including the most important infrastructure requirements shall have been completed on time,� asserted “We’re not even compromising our people’s world-renowned Filipino hospitality,� he said. “Alam mo na naman tayong Pilipino, in our three times of hosting this event, lagi tayong hirap. But in the end, we met he deadlines alBEIT SCRAMBLING WITH lYING COLORS u Carrasco said reminiscing the coun-

try’s experience in 1981, 1991and

THE kRST TIMES IT PLAYED HOST to the biennial conclave among THE kNEST ATHLETES FROM THE REGIONS 11-member countries.

As Carrasco stressed, the most important aspect of preparations, infrastructure, particularly venues for the 56 sports are currently being addressed.

Games’ sites were distributed in clusters with Clark in Pampanga having 40 percent of the required venues, Subic in Zambales 20 percent, Metro Manila and suburbs 10 percent.

This Philippine 2019 Games is most notable for having the highest number of sports in the history of the games at 56.

Hosting rights of the 2019 edition of the Games were originally awarded to Brunei Darussalam, but the country pulled out days before the 2015 Southeast Asian Games due TO gkNANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL REASONS u The Philippine Olympic Committee, then headed by Jose “Peping�Cojuangco, first volunteered to save the games, but met opposition following the withdrawal of government support on *ULY AS IT PLANNED TO USE THE funds intended for the games on

the rehabilitation of Marawi after being occupied by ISIS supporters.

Thailand was willing to step in, but eventually, the Philippines reversed its support and announced that it accepted the hosting of the 'AMES ON !UGUST 4HE country’s hosting of the SEA Games is considered as a stepping stone for its possible bid to host the 2030 Asian Games.

Clark will serve as the main hub of the Games with medal-rich athletics and aquatics (swimming, diving and water polo) scheduled at the New Clark City.

Other sports to be held at Clark are baseball, softball (The Village), dance sport (Royce Hotel), golf (Luisita), judo, juijitsu, kurash (ASEAN Convention Center), arnis, samba, wrestling (Angeles University Foundation), lawn bowls (Old Club) and wakeboarding DECA Waleboard Park).

3UBIC WILL BE HOSTING SPORTS – canoe kayak, dragon boat, chess, muay, pencat silat, table tennis, weightlifting, triathlon, duathlon, open water swimming, modern pentathlon, sailing, sepak takraw, beach handball and beach volleyball.

The Pistons were coming off a devastating loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in which Detroit surrendered a 23-point third-quarter lead.

There was no sign of a late-game let-down on Monday as the Pistons turned a 14-point lead going into the fourth quarter into a 26--point win.

They never trailed in the second half, leading by as many as 29 points.

Drummond’s sparkling effort included 12 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

Stanley Johnson scored 21 points and "LAKE 'RIFkN ADDED 4HE 0ISTONS RESERVES OUT SCORED IN the loss to the Clippers, came through with 60 points against the Nuggets, Detroit’s bench players expanding the lead to start both the second and fourth quarters.

They helped make the difference on a night WHEN ALL kVE $ENVER STARTERS SCORED IN DOUBLE

figures, led by Monte Morris’s 18 points.

Nevertheless, Denver saw their six-game win streak snapped and dropped out of a tie with THE 'OLDEN 3TATE 7ARRIORS FOR kRST PLACE IN THE Western Conference. “I like the way our guys responded,� Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “Enthusiasm and togetherness.�

Harden streaks on NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden scored 14 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter -- notching his 20th 40-point game of the season in the Houston Rockets’ 118-110 victory over the lowly Phoenix Suns.

Harden, who pulled down eight rebounds and handed out six assists, extended his streak OF GAMES WITH OR MORE POINTS TO The Suns, who dropped their 11th straight, trailed by as many as 20 in the third quarter

BUT CUT THE DEkCIT TO SINGLE DIGITS IN THE FOURTH Harden produced 11 points in a four-minute span -- including a 31-foot three-pointer that pushed the Rockets lead to 15 points with 3:06 remaining -- as Houston sealed the win.

The Milwaukee Bucks pushed their leagueleading record to 39-13 with a 113-94 victory over the Nets in Brooklyn.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and handed out nine assists for Milwaukee, who won their fourth straight.

The crowd at the Barclays Center included former US President Bill Clinton and threetime major golf champion Brooks Koepka.

Clinton and his wife, Hillary, have a home in suburban New York and he said he tries to take on a couple of games in Brooklyn each season.

But he was invited to the game by Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and enjoyed the chance to watch Antetokounmpo.

AFP

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Sports

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

GenSan jin bags 3 golds in Batang Pinoy

Q Terrence Romeo of San Miguel Beer tries to get past Kris Rosales of Rain or Shine during a Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game last week at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

SMB, Dyip upbeat despite injuriesÂ

BY JOSEF T. RAMOSÂ

D

efending champion San Miguel Beer and Columbian Dyip seek to end a two-game slide tonight when they clash against separate rivals in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

After suffering back-to-back losses against TNT KaTropa (93-104) and Rain or Shine (108-98) last week, the Beermen (2-3 win-loss record) dropped to eighth spot behind current seventh placer Columbian Dyip (2-3) with six more games left in the

elimination round.

And coach Leo Austria wants the Beermen to play with a sense of urgency against Blackwater in their 7 p.m. match. Prior to their game, the Columbian Dyip will play against !LASKA IN THE kRST GAME AT P M

“We are coming from back-to-back losses and that kind of situation is so unfamiliar. People are not expecting us to be in this position,� Austria told The Manila Times. “They are expecting us on top.� “Next game [against Blackwater], we have to win or else we’re in trouble. We have to come out with a sense of urgency before it’s too late,� added Austria, noting that the previous injuries on Terrence Romeo and Alex Cabagnot caused their downfall IN THREE OF THEIR LAST kVE GAMES Although Romeo had already recovered from a sprained ankle and was able to play last game, Cabagnot remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. There’s a possibility that Cabagnot will be activated in tonight’s match.

Another bad news for the Beermen

is the non-availability of Christian Standhardinger against the Elite and Magnolia on February 10. The 6’7 Filipino-German was advised by the team doctor to rest for two games. “For him to recover 100 percent, our physical therapist advised him to rest his knees and legs. Christian played for 17 months of continuous basketball. We don’t want to aggravate the situation,� Austria revealed.

Blackwater (1-3) is coming off a 95-114 defeat to Phoenix last Friday and hoping for a grand upset against San Miguel Beer.

Columbian Dyip coach John Cardel also shared the same sentiments, saying that the injury on Jerramy King (posterior cruciate ligament) and the viral infection on Reden Celda last game had affected the team’s perfor-

mance in the last two games.

They lost to Northern Luzon Expressway (97-107) and Barangay Ginebra (85-97) last week. “I had no shooters last game. Those two players are very important,� said Cardel, referring to King and Celda. King was averaging seven points and eight rebounds before the injury, while Celda had an average of 13.2 points in four games.

Against Alaska, Cardel said they needed to win to keep their quarterkNALS BID POSSIBLE Top overall pick CJ Perez is the man on a mission for the Columbian Dyip averaging 17.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and STEALS IN THE kRST kVE GAMES The Aces are coming from a 72-85 setback to Rain or Shine last Sunday IN THEIR kRST GAME THIS SEASON

Army-Bicylogy all set for Ronda Pilipinas sans Joven ARMY-Bicycology will try to recover from losing skipper Cris Joven to injury as it competes in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019 set to start on Friday in Iloilo City.

The 31-year-old Joven injured his left elbow during training in Cavite two weeks back, leaving the Armymen minus their leader and top rider as they compete against some of the best riders not just in the country but in Asia and the world as well.

7ARREN "ORDEOS WILL kLL THE SPOT LEFT BY *OVEN WHILE 3OUTHEAST !SIAN 'AMES GOLD MEDALIST !LkE Catalan takes over as captain for a team composed of Reynaldo Navarro, Marvin Tapic, Mark Julius Bordeos and Robinson Estevez. g#RIS *OVEN WILL BE A BIG SPOT TO kLL BECAUSE HE S OUR best rider and leader of this team,� said Army-Bicycology manager Eric Buhain, who has sponsored the Armymen

for the second straight year. “But we will do our best to be as competitive without him because we will not only represent Army but the country as well,� he added.

Army-Bicycology will have its hands full against not just local competition from Navy-Standard Insurance, Tarlac, Team Franzia, Bike Xtreme and 7-Eleven CliqqAir21 by Roadbike Phls but a strong foreign challenge as well from Terengganu, Matrix, Nex Cycling Team, Korail Team Korea, Custom Cycling Indonesia, Cambodia Cycling, PGN Road Cycling and Sri Lanka Navy Cycling Team.

For the first time after eight editions of this annual race considered as the biggest in the country, Ronda will be sanctioned by the UCI or the world governing cycling body and will stake qualifying points to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The event is presented by LBC, powered by MVP Sports Foundation and supported by Versa 2-Way Radio, Juan Movement Partylist, Joel P Longares Foundation, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, Green Planet, Prolite, Celeste Cycles, Maynilad, 3Q Sports, Boy Kanin, Mega World, Festive Walk, Seda Atria and LBC Foundation and in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Iloilo City and the Province of Guimaras.

The race opens with the 197.6-kilometer Iloilo-Iloilo Stage One on Feb. 8 and will proceed with the 101.8km Guimaras-

Q Cris Joven FILE PHOTO Guimaras Stage Two the next day.

The cavalcade will then go back to Iloilo for the 179.4km Iloilo-Roxas City Stage Three on Feb. 10 followed by the 146.9km Roxas-Roxas Stage Four on Feb. 11.

It will conclude with the 148.9km Roxas-Antique Stage Five on Feb. 12.

The awarding ceremony will be held in the island paradise of Boracay the same day.

Davao Del Norte: General Santos’ Paul Anthony Rodriguez captured three gold medals in the male poomsae tae kwon do competition of the Batang Pinoy Mindanao qualifying leg on Tuesday at the Gaisano Mall activity center here in Tagum City.

Rodriguez scored 7.815 points to win the individual male junior title while Clint Solitana of Malita Davao Occidental settled for silver with 7.335 points and Daniel Kristian Abella of Cagayan De Oro scored 7.13 points for bronze. “My dream is to represent the country in different competitions abroad like in the Olympics,� said the 13-year-old Rodriguez of Holy Trinity High School in Filipino, who has a very strong message against bullying. “That (bullying) is bad. Tae kwon do is for self-defense purposes only. I keep telling all my friends and classmates that not all tae kwon do athletes are bully,� said Rodriguez when asked about the recent bullying incident in Ateneo that involved a tae kwon do athlete.

He also took a gold medal in the male pair event along with partner Aleya Rayzel Labao after posting 8.020 points to beat Ezekiel Limpin and Aliyah Therese Baquial also of General Santos (7.55) who got silver medal. Abella and partner Kyle Canios ended up with 7.485 scores for the bronze.

Rodriguez went home with the team junior gold medal alongside Benedict Opao and Ezekiel Limpin after posting 7.685 points, while the team of Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao (7.40) and Davao del Norte TEAMS kNISHED WITH SILVER and bronze medals, respectively.

Other gold medalists in the poomsae event were Nica Marie Indino of Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao (individual junior female), Kairos William Almonia of Iligan City (individual cadet Male) and Jessica Phoebe Jubelag of General Santos City (individual cadet female).

In other competitions, Tacurong City ruled the noncontact events of arnis (forms)

BY WINNING GOLD MEDALS kVE silvers and one bronze medal.

South Cotabato was in second place so far with four gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals.

In the dancesports, Jianne Carlo Valles and Samantha Manuel of Kidapawan City won the Juvenile D Standard 2 event gold medal, while Keith Lopez Corre and Shiela Mae Salve of South Cotabato captured the gold in the Juvenile D Latin crown.

In archery, South Cotabato’s Grace SignacionandKoronadalCity’sJustin Matthew Basadre won the yeoman girls 20-meter and bowman boys 30-meter event gold medals by topping their respective individual Olympic round division.

Signacion beat Koronadal City’s Samantha Isabel Loreno in the yeoMAN GIRLS kNAL ROUND WHILE "ASAdre blasted South Cotabato’s Quin Myer Loreno in the bowman boys.

JOSEF T. RAMOSÂ

Enriquez, Haro share PPS General Santos MVP honors SYDNEY ENRIQUEZ played true to form and racked up two titles while Kurt Haro grabbed the spotlight in boys’ singles as they shared top honors in the PPS-PEPP Gen San National age group tennis tournament at the GenSan City Tennis Club last Sunday.

The top-seeded Enriquez stopped unranked doubles partner Kyle Rivera twice, scoring a 6-3, 6-1 romp in the girls’ 16-andUNDER kNALS THEN RUNNING AWAY WITH THE 18-U plum via a 6-0, 6-2 victory in the Group 2 tournament which kicked off the six-leg Mindanao swing of the circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.

The fourth-ranked Haro, on the other

hand, survived unseeded EJ Sta. Maria, hacking out a 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-8 decision to snare the 16-U plum. But the rising DavaoeĂąo star failed to match Enriquez’s feat as he retired against top seed Bruce Hurtado from Koronadal and yielded THE 5 CROWN IN THE kVE DAY TOURNAment presented by Dunlop. “We may see more of Enriquez and Haro’s exploits in the next stops of the Mindanao swing but we also expect new faces to emerge as we continue to provide the venue for these young players who could be the country’s next tennis stars,â€? said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Other winners were siblings John and Mae Melendres from Polomolok, South Cotabato; Andre Mateo from Tupi, Cotabato; local bet Rey Napala; and Sarangani’s Sheloh Ripdos.

John Melendres upended third seed Emmanuel Florida, 5-4(3), 4-0, to claim the 10-unisex title; Mae stunned No. 2 Merrycris Cordova, 6-4, 6-4, for the girls’ 12-U plum; Mateo ripped Vanz Abecia, 6-4, 6-0, for the boys’ 12-U title; Napala edged Yassan Al Anazi, 7-6(10), 7-5, for the boys’ 14-U diadem; and Ripdos scored a 6-2(ret.) win over Sandra Mosqueda for the girls’ 14-U title.

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

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Sports

D3

Johnson closes gap on Rose, Fowler returns to top 10 WORLD TOP 20 1. Justin Rose (ENG) 9.93 average pts 2. Brooks Koepka (USA) 8.87 3. Dustin Johnson (USA) 8.78 4. Justin Thomas (USA) 8.11 5. Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 7.80 6. Jon Rahm (ESP) 6.40 7. Xander Schauffele (USA) 6.36 8. Rickie Fowler (USA) 6.20 (+6) 9. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 5.92 (-1) 10. Francesco Molinari (ITA) 5.66 (-1) 11. Tony Finau (USA) 5.28 12. Jason Day (AUS) 5.26 (-2) 13. Tiger Woods (USA) 5.11 (-1) 14. Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 5.01 (-1) 15. Patrick Reed (USA) 4.84 16. Bubba Watson (USA) 4.55 (+2) 17. Marc Leishman (AUS) 4.44 (-1) 18. Patrick Cantlay (USA) 4.33 (-1) 19. Webb Simpson (USA) 4.23 20. Matt Kuchar (USA) 4.18 (+3) Q Dustin Johnson AFP PHOTO

P

ARIS: Dustin Johnson closed the gap on world number one Justin Rose and second-ranked Brooks Koepka on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) after his win in Saudi Arabia, while Rickie Fowler returned to the top 10.

The former US Open champion edged out Li Haotong by two shots to claim the inaugural Saudi International title and boost his hopes of extending his career tally of 81 weeks at the top of the world rankings.

Rose missed the cut in Saudi Arabia, the week after winning at Torrey Pines.

Fowler jumped six places to

eighth after a dramatic victory at the Phoenix Open, the highestattended event in golf, recovering from a triple-bogey on the 11th hole to win by two strokes.

Matt Kuchar’s tied-fourth finish was enough to see him move back into the top 20, dislodging three-time major winner Jordan Spieth in the process. AFP

Q Sergio Garcia AFP PHOTO

Thais seek to reclaim Champion PLO glory REGIONAL powerhouse Thailand sets out to relive its glory years in the Champion Philippine Ladies Amateur Open, pinning its hopes on a troika of young guns eager to showcase its wares when the country’s premier championship is held February 19 to 21 at the Manila Golf and Country Club.

The Thais racked up three straight PLO titles from 2013, courtesy of Supamas Sangchan (twice) and Pimnipa Panthong but were shut out from the title race the last three editions of the annual event with the local aces reasserting their might while cashing in on the proverbial homecourt edge to prevail in Tagaytay (Princess Superal), Wack Wack (Bianca Pagdanganan) and

Orchard (Yuka Saso).

But Yosita Khawnuna and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, both 16-yearolds, and Chanettee Wannasaen, who will turn 15 in April, are all geared up to put Thailand back in the spotlight in the 57th staging of the annual event which incidentally is making its return to its home at the well-kept layout inside the posh Forbes Park.

Meanwhile, registration is ongoing with entry fee pegged at P10,000 for local players and $300 for foreign participants. For reservations and details, email kathy_uy@yahoo.com (WGAP chairperson) or secretariat@wgap-golf. com (WGAP president Anna Haurie).

Koreans Park Eun Suk and Lim

Mi Jin are also in the fold, both aiming to duplicate compatriot Lee Jeong Hwa’s title feat in 2012 while Japanese Airi Mitsuhashi a regular campaigner on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, likewise hopes to contend in the 54-hole championship organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Thirty one Taiwanese, six Singaporeans, one from Hong Kong, three Australians and six Americans are also competing in the event, all going lAT OUT TO END THE HOSTS REIGN IN THE event presented by Champion and sponsored by Hana Shampoo, EVA Air, San Miguel Corp., Diamond Motor Corp., CherrylumE, Elm’s Kapihan

Group, Atty. Gilberto Duavit, G&W Club Shares, Inc., Pascual LaboratoRIES -ETRO 0ACIkC #ORP !YALA ,AND Premiere, Venice Godio, Taishan Insurance Brokers Phils. and the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Still, focus will be on the local top guns with Asian Games gold medalist and world No. 33 Saso bannering the hosts’ title drive.

Saso also won a pro tournament last year, easily making her the player to beat in the tournament which also lured top Filipinas Eagle Ace Superal, Mafy Singson, Samantha Dizon, Arnie Taguines, Laia Barro, Angela Legaspi, Monica Mandario, Junia Gabasa, Kyla Nocum and Nicole Abelar.

Ebuen, Almodiel bag NCAA MVP awards Garcia avoids suspension over Saudi meltdown

ARELLANO University’s Nicole Ebuen emerged as the women’s Most Valuable Player in the NCAA Season 94 volleyball tournament.

Ebuen also copped the Best Opposite Hitter award while Letran’s Christian Wilsan dela Cruz was adjudged juniors MVP. University of Perpetual Help System Dalta produced another MVP as Joebert Almodiel claimed his second straight plum in the men’s class.

Almodiel was named MVP for the second straight season after powering the Altas to a nine-game elimination round sweep and a 23-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12 Game One victory that pushed them on the cusp of claiming their second title in a row and 12th overall.

Almodiel, who also took the First Best Spiker plum, will thus become the second athlete from UPHSD to win the most coveted individual award this season after Altas Prince Eze ran away with the trophy in senior basketball late last year.

Interestingly, Almodiel will be the focal point of UPHSD’s bid to become the third team win the juniors, men’s and women’s crown this season next to former member Ateneo, which did it once, and San Sebastian, which accomplished the feat six times.

Q Arellano University’s Necole Ebuen (12) powers through the blockers of Emilio Aguinaldo College during an NCAA Season 94 women’s volleyball game at The Arena in San Juan City. PHOTO FROM ARELLANO SPORTS/ALEJANDRO JUANCHO

Mighty Sports-PH guns for elims sweep in Dubai DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Mighty Sports goes for a four-game sweep of Group B elims when it collides with AlWahda on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) in the 30 th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Shabab Al Ahli Club here.

Despite an inspiring 98-89 win over

A HEFTY kNE AND SUSPENSION AFTER European Tour boss Keith Pelley declared the matter “over� following THE 3PANIARD S STUNNING DISQUALIkCAtion from the Saudi International.

Garcia was thrown out of the event on Saturday after reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed and a number of other players complained that Garcia had displayed his frustration by damaging six greens.

Garcia apologized for his actions and the Spaniard reportedly spoke with Reed and other fellow competitors express his remorse.

The former Masters winner was accused of scuffing up six of the opening greens and also leaving a large divot-like mark on the sixth green of the Royal Greens course.

And while Garcia has a long history of ‘misconduct’, it seems on this occasion he will escape any further action. “The incident is over,� Pelley told The Scotsman newspaper. “We have dealt with it. Sergio has apologized

to the players and we move on.�

'ARCIA S ACTIONS WERE NOT ON kLM but he was spoken to by tournament director David Williams in the latter stages of his third round. “I went out after the referees had spoken to me,� said Williams. “I managed to catch Sergio around the 12th and 13th and there had been no more damage after nine holes. I told him this was a disqualikABLE OFFENCE (E WAS IN HIS GAME zone, but he listened. We exchanged a few pleasantries and then he nodded and carried on walking. “It was obviously not a good situation to be in. He was obviously very frustrated and it is something very unusual to happen. Some of the marks were similar to what we sometimes see out in South Africa when a buck has run across a green.

Over here it could have been a camel. “The players in the groups immediately behind didn’t know what was going on. They wanted to know what was happening to the greens. To be honest, they were pretty shocked.�

AFP

Brownlee and Chinese league veteran Randolph Morris will have to work doubly hard to help the team gain extra motivation in time for the knockout quarterfinal stage of the tournament on Thursday.

Co-owned by brothers Alex and Caesar Wongchuking and backed by Go For Gold, Oriental Group, Healthcube and SMDC, the sports apparel and accessories club team also hopes to get a little of everything from Fil-Ams Jason Brickman, Jeremiah Gray, and

Roosevent Adams and even from crafty UP star Juan Gomez de Liano.

In their finest games so far, the 6-foot-4 Gray erupted for 24 points with the 6-foot Brickman finishing with 12 points and five assists and de Liano adding 11 points – not to mention providing some highlight plays.  “While we have already surpassed our one-win showing two years, our mission is far from over. So stay focused guys,� said the older Wongchuking in a text message to Tiu.

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia: Sergio Garcia is set to avoid

Lebanese champion club Homenetmen on Sunday, Mighty Sports coach Charles Tiu sees another exciting finish in their 9 p.m. clash (1 p.m. Wednesday, Manila time) with a 7-foot-4 center reinforcing the Syrian club. “Better prepare guys, Al-Wahda also has three imports, one stands at 7-foot-4,� said the younger brother of retired Rain

or Shine star Chris Tiu. “So we can’t afford to relax although we’re now assured of finishing either as No. 1 or No. 2.�

Tiu, however, is hoping to get significant numbers this time from former LA Lakers star Lamar Odom who was practically reduced to a mere spectator after going scoreless in the

team’s last two games.

The 6-foot-10 Odom scored four points in his comeback game against American University in Dubai in the opener after a near-death experience four years ago.

But if he can’t do the things he normally does during his celebrated days with the Lakers, Ginebra resident import Justin

D4

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Football

The Manila Times w w w. m a n i l at i m e s. n e t

Q Qatar’s forward Almoez Ali (center) shoots to score during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final football match between Japan and Qatar at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. AFP PHOTO

Qatar: Unlikely 2019 Asian Cup champion T

BY ROMY P. MARIĂ‘AS

HEY left geopolitics to warring world leaders and look what they brought home for their maturity and dedication to their sport?

For the unheralded national football team of Qatar, it is the championship trophy from the recently concluded 2019 Asian Cup, the continent’s premier football showcase that was held in the United Arab Emirates.

Not quite expected to make it past the group stage, the Qataris overachieved and shocked fancied Japan, 3-1, in the ultimate game last

Friday in a clash that infamously marked the kRST TIME THAT THE *APANESE WERE BEATEN IN THE kNALS OF THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENT To add apparent insult to injury to Japan’s vaunted footballers, a number of whom play in the English and German major leagues, it WAS THE 1ATARIS kRST TRIP TO THE kNALS IN YEARS of participation in the Asian Cup.

The Japanese apparently underestimated Qatari side, which, unlike them has not managed to qualify for a World Cup, allowing the TEAM FROM 7ESTERN !SIA TO DRAW kRST BLOOD with a goal that may have surprised the Qataris themselves on how easy they were able to make it smash the back of the net.

1ATAR S kRST POINT OWED MUCH TO POOR GOALKEEPING BY THE *APANESE A SEMIkNAL VICTOR OVER an under performing Iran, as much as to the Western Asians’ determination to win against a team whose latest Jules Rimet Trophy appearance was last year in Russia where Japan made it to the knockout round. !HEAD OF THE kNALS ON &EBRUARY THE United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was out-

CLASSED IN THE SEMIkNALS BY 1ATAR

TRIED to spoil the party by accusing its conqueror OF kELDING SUPPOSEDLY INELIGIBLE PLAYERS IN Bassam Al-Rawi, 21, and Almoez Ali, 22.

4HE 5!% SAID IT WAS kLING A COMPLAINT

which, if resolved in their favor, would have forfeited Qatar’s win against the Emirates.

Nothing, apparently, has happened to the UAE plan to protest at this writing.

Meanwhile, the new Asian Cup champions have gone home, arriving to a tumultuous welcome from their country that is hosting the 2022 World Cup. Doha had been widely derided for being chosen for the planet’s major football tournament, having no pedigree at all in the sport and

gHAVING lUCTUATED BETWEEN .O AND .O 112 in the last decade� in the FIFA rankings.

It was a bad image that worsened after a number of countries in the Middle East-including the UAE--tagged Qatar last year as a coddler of terrorists, a label that Doha has vehemently disowned.

Well, the 2019 Asian Cup trophy would be a game changer for Qatar (population: 330,000), evidently having enabled the country to strengthen its bragging rights to host the World Cup three years from now.

Besides, “Qatar is the safest place in the Middle East, relegating other Gulf Cooperation Council countries by a wide margin� in the Recent Global Finance Index of safest countries, outranking Singapore, Denmark, New Zealand and Canada.

So, leave geopolitics alone and, like the new Asian Cup champions, you will be rewarded.

Goal!

Benzema on target again as Real closes gap at top SUPER EAGLES SOAR IN 7’S OPENER MADRID: Real Madrid gained ground on both

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in La Liga as Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior each scored in a 3-0 win over Alaves.

Benzema, Vinicius and Gareth Bale started TOGETHER FOR THE kRST TIME AND TWO THIRDS OF the newly-dubbed ‘BBV’ delivered as Madrid capitalized on Barca being held by Valencia and Atletico losing at Real Betis.

Mariano Diaz, on as a substitute, added a third late on. !FTER ROUNDS THIS IS THE kRST IN WHICH Madrid have been the only winners from the established three clubs, which is as much an indication of their own inconsistency as the sturdiness of Atleti and, particularly, Barca.

Madrid could now overtake Atletico if they win the city derby next weekend but the difference behind Barcelona, whom they face in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, is still a considerable eight points.

It may have been the 5-1 loss to Barca in /CTOBER THAT PROVED THE kNAL STRAW FOR *ULEN Lopetegui but Alaves’ 1-0 victory at MendizorROTZA THEIR kRST OVER 2EAL IN YEARS WAS perhaps the team’s rock bottom.

Benzema has been the revival’s ringleader since and his latest goal was his sixth in four games, his best streak since January 2016. The only La Liga player to have scored more in all competitions this season is Lionel Messi.

He did it starting alongside both Bale and Vinicius but it was the latter, not the former, that looks to be Benzema’s most dangerous partner.

It was Vinicius’ clever reverse pass through the legs of Carlos Vigaray that led to Ben-

Q Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema (right) vies with Alaves’ Guillermo Maripan during the Spanish league football match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. AFP PHOTO

zema’s opener as Sergio Reguilon was set free down the left, his cross ensuring the Frenchman could not miss.

Alaves defended so deep at times that Madrid’s defense was playing more as creative

MIDkELDERS BUT THE VISITORS WERE NOT WITHOUT chances on the break. Tomas Pina took too long to shoot and Jony Rodriguez forced a smart save from Thibaut Courtois.

Madrid, though, ended any hopes of a come-

back with 10 minutes left as Asensio picked out Vinicius at the back post. The teenager controlled, picked his spot and put it there.

Mariano’s diving header in injury-time FROM )SCO S CROSS ADDED A kNAL lOURISH AFP

Lackluster Liverpool slips up again at West Ham LONDON: Liverpool wasted another chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League as a sub-par performance from Jurgen Klopp’s men was punished in a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Less than a week after missing the opportunity to go seven points clear of Manchester City with a 1-1 draw against Leicester, Liverpool’s lead is now just three over the champions, who can now go top with victory at Everton on Wednesday.

Sadio Mane put the visitors in front at the London Sta-

dium, but Michail Antonio quickly leveled and West Ham had the better chances to claim all three points when Declan Rice and Mark Noble failed to hit the target.

After posting a perfect record against opposition with the top six in their first 23 league games, Liverpool have now slipped up twice in as many matches to mount the tension in their chase for a first title in 29 years.

Klopp’s side looked like a side playing under pressure in a lackluster display as the absence of the injured Jordan Henderson, Georginio

Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold took its toll.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini claimed it was “impossible to play worse� after his side’s 3-0 capitulation to Wolves last week that followed a deeply disappointing FA Cup exit to League One AFC Wimbledon.

Even without the injured Marko Arnautovic, Pellegrini got the response he wanted in West Ham’s performance if not their end product.

Javier Hernandez had the hosts’ first chance but the Mexican and then Aaron Cresswell both fired inches wide

After World Cup, Russians flock to matches MOSCOW: Many thought the football craze in Russia would not last and the shiny new stadiums built for the World Cup would rapidly become “white elephants� the country could not afford.

But in the six months since the hosting of the month-long football extravaganza some of the stadiums have attracted

big crowds and attendance rates have gone through the roof.

Russia spent over $10 billion on stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup. Each of the 11 host cities either got a brand new arena or had an existing one refurbished.

Of the seven brand new stadiums built for the tournament,

three are located in Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod and Saransk.

The three second-division clubs in these cities had record attendances in the 2018-2019 season.

Volgograd averaged more than 22,000 spectators per home game since the beginning of the season, according

of Alisson Becker’s left-hand post.

James Milner was having a torrid time defending in an unfamiliar right-back role against the pace and trickery of Felipe Anderson.

However, the former England midfielder created the opening goal in controversial circumstances when given the chance to go forward.

Adam Lallana’s neat footwork played in Milner, who was allowed to continue despite being clearly in an offside position, and Mane cleverly spun onto his cross to score his 12th goal of the season.

AFP to statistics. Nizhny Novgorod averaged just under 20,000 spectators, while nearly 15,000 watched games in Saransk in central Russia.

Russian Premier League crowds have also been boosted.

By the start of a winter break in December, average attendance in the top flight has grown by roughly 30 percent to 17,000 spectators per match compared to previous years.

SUPER Eagles kicked off their title defense with a bang after drubbing newcomer Bohemian Sporting Club, 5-2, in the opening match day of Season 3 7’s Football League over the weekend at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City. “We have already expected that the teams would go after is as we are the defending champions for two seasons already. But we treat every game as if it were our final game of the season,� said the Eagles head coach Danny Cross. Last season’s runner-up Ghana FC also went on a searing start to its redemption campaign after demolishing Super Bad FC, 9-1. Ghana buried nine straight goals before conceding Super Bad’s lone strike. “We lost in the championship last season via penalties so we really prepared for this game,� said Ghana mentor Ayi Biyombo. In the other games, the Misagh Bahadoran-backed Delimondo-Laro FC smothered Real Amigos FC, 3-0; the Nico Bolzico-powered Matu Deportivo routed Stallions FC 5-2; Tondo FC stunned Ceres FC, 2-1; and H&J All Stars nipped Futbol Fanatics, 3-2. Along with Bohemian, which is owned by former Philippine Azkals defender Jason De Jong, Matu Deportivo, Ceres and Stallions also played their respective debuts in the league. This season, the league founded by ex-Azkals standout Anton Del Rosario and backed by Philam Life also featured a youth division for the first time. A total of 20 games were played across the Under-9, Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 age categories. The second match day will be played on Sunday, February 10, at the same venue.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA Russian media have taken great delight in writing about the country’s packed modern arenas, a far cry from windswept antiquated Soviet-era stadiums.

In late August, a whopping 31,000 people gathered at Nizhny Novgorod’s 45,000-seat stadium located at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers to watch FC Avangard Kursk beat the city’s local team 1-0 .AFP

WEDNESDAY W E D N ESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Entertainment

E1

Spring Films marks 10th Year with 13 new titles

www.manilatimes.net

Sylvia Sanchez: ‘I’m always lucky to be second choice’

L

ATE last year, Noranians and cineastes alike were excited to learn that Superstar Nora Aunor had agreed to star in a heavy drama penned by journalist-turnedmovie director Ronald Carballo. She would essay a very intriguing role of a woman named Jesusa, a decent woman from the slums whose heartbreaking struggles see her deathly addicted to drugs.

Carballo was even quoted back then he precisely wrote the movie with Ate Guy in mind, going as far as to declare,

“Hindi ko gagawin ang Jesusa kung hindi si Nora Aunor ang gaganap.�

effect at night effect sa kanya so a one-day shoot would automatically mean two days.

THE T-ZONE

“Pumayag ako doon, her

talent fee, etc. but — due reTESSA MAURICIO spect again — I -ARRIOLA sent her a copy But as the of the contract new year rolled via email with in, the buzz in the biz was that ALL THE ELEMENTS SHE SPECIkED AND multi-awarded TV and movie surprisingly, nagbago ang isip niya. actress Sylvia Sanchez had taken “I won’t deny na naiyak ako over the much trumpeted role and but kinagabihan nag-decide ako already thick into shooting with na papalitan nalang namin siya.

Direk Ronald. “The following day, as early as 8 Whatever happened then to his a.m. her handler was calling and pronouncement that it was the Su- pumapayag na daw si Ate Guy but perstar or bust for his dream movie? I had to say I’m sorry, hindi na Finally facing media with Sylvia, puwede because that very day I his producers and the rest of the was meeting yung ipapalit namin cast of Jesusa, Ronald revealed to sa kanya. And that was Sylvia, his former colleagues, “Ang Jesusa and I have to say na napakalaking ay isang pinaka importanteng obra blessing ang nangyari na napunta para sa akin and due respect to the ito sa kanya. Nabura lahat yung one and only Superstar, sasabihin sinabi ko na si Ate Guy lang ang ko talaga kung anong nangyari.� puwedeng gumanap na Jesusa Coming clean, the director con- from how she tackled the role and tinued, “I accepted many conditions how professional she has been FROM ;.ORA= THAT WOULD SACRIkCE since day one.� many parts of the production, esAccording to Ronald, the intenpecially the budget, but I agreed to sity of the sadness he felt when them in order to work with the Su- the Superstar changed her mind perstar. For one, she has a different THE kRST TIME IS THE SAME INTENSITY work schedule — separate ang day of happiness she has now that the

Q Director Ronald Carballo and Sylvia Sanchez movie is almost complete with Sylvia in the lead.

As for the two-time Best Actress awardee for the hit TV series “The Greatest Love� and the star of the equally successful and recently concluded teleserye “Hanggang Saan� (both aired on ABS-CBN), she has no issue being the second choice for the now controversial movie production.

“Hindi ako nasasaktan marinig yon dahil hindi importante sa akin

whether first or second choice

ako,� said the ever-straightforward and well-loved actress. “Sa totoo lang ako yung suwerte kapag second choice ako tulad nung nangyari sa ‘Be Careful with My

Heart’ [one of TV’s longest running daytime series].

“Ang importante sa akin magampanan ko ng buong-buo ang karakter na ibinigay sa akin, at nung kinausap ako ni Direk Ronald at ng kaibigan kong si Daddy Wowee [Roxas, the veteran talent manager] para sa Jesusa nung araw

na iyon, hindi nila alam na bawat salitang bitawan nila tungkol sa kanya pumapasok na sa pagkatao ko. Kaya din nung nag-simula

Cinematic works in full bloom

kami mag-shoot, ako na si Jesusa at masaya ako na gumanap sa isang role na ibang-iba sa lahat ng nagawa ko in my career.�

Asked if she feels she has done the role justice given that it was meant for the Superstar, again Sylvia spoke her mind. “The project is really good and I really don’t know why she turned it down, but of course, she has her reasons and we have to respect that. Tinatanong ng iba, tama ba na ako ang naging kapalit ni Ate Guy? Ang masasabi ko lang doon

ay simple lang: Huwag n’yo po akon ikompara sa kanya, kasi ni katiting sa narating ni Ate Guy, hindi ko narating iyon. Ate Guy

is Ate Guy, no comparison. Let’s respect Ate Guy and what she has achieved. Nothing and no one compares to her — Nora Aunor is Nora Aunor,� said Sylvia.

Slated for a Mother’s Day release, Jesusa is a production of OEPM (Oeuvre Events and Production Management), and also stars Allen Dizon, Ynez Veneracion, Mara Lopez, Malu Barry, Vince Taùada, Fanny Serrano and Uno Santiago in an introductory role.

IN this corner of the planet, we have the itself to competitiveness, Raymundo, dull misfortune of having only two sea- who is also Cornerstone Entertainment’s sons: wet and dry. Much of our culture founder opines, “We work with almost has been built around these polarities everyone. We offer possibilities. We for hundreds of years. At some point want to give opportunities to filmin the timeline, director Joyce Bernal, makers and actors na pinaniniwalaan actor Piolo Pascual and naming tatlo na magagalentertainment businessing at may magagandang man Erickson Raymundo decided that materyal pero hindi siguro bibigyan ng a bit of change was in order, and it only pagkakataon ng iba.� took them a decade. Spring is in the Spring Films to this day is convinced Philippines, and it has been for 10 years the quality of Filipino films are always to watch Philippine cinema grow and in season. The tree in its logo serves as flourish in the sun. the perfect metaphor for its decade of “A decade ago, we met Eugene existence: some films were destined to Domingo who was just doing support blossom into hits, others were meant to roles and tawang-tawa kami sa kanya,� be blown away by winds of change; either Bernal, a box office director to this way, the tree stays firmly rooted in the day, recalls. “Sabi namin, ‘Gawin natin ground, standing sturdier than ever. ‘tong pelikula!’ Then we met with Chris For now, the independent production Martinez, the writer she wanted to work outfit is wasting no time to showcase with, and lumabas yung script na ipothe a 13-film repertoire, to mark this produce namin ni Piolo. Wala kaming milestone — a testament that Philipalam sa business kaya ipinabasa namin pine cinema is truly blooming. kay Erickson, who also loved the first “Kuya Wes.� Caught somewhere draft of the script. So in 2009, ‘Kimmy between transactions and true love, Dora’ became the highest-grossing a hopelessly naive remittance clerk independent film at P80 million, which becomes infatuated with and helps a we produced, and they never even beautiful customer in her time of need predicted it.� as his relationship with his younger Perhaps it was just a fairly abundant brother spirals into disarray. season for the three and Kimmy Dora “Sunshine Family.� A modern Filipino was merely a seed recklessly strewn on family in South Korea tries to mend its what happened to be fertile ground. Af- strained relationships when the father ter all, recent times have been increasmeets a hit-and-run accident and takes ingly conducive for independent content apart the car which wounded him. production. “I’m Ellenya L.� Doing everything for “I believe internet we’re in the clout, a renaisyoung sance of online Philippine influencercinema, wannabe coinciding seeks the help with its of a social centenmedia guru. nial this Sparks fly and year,� things spin out muses of control as Pascual. she is tasked to “We’re create original adaptcontent in a ing to span of a week Q Spring Films founders Erickson the for fear of having Raymundo, Joyce Bernal and Piolo Pascual. times to return to her and anybody can be a producer. humdrum job. “Hayop Ka.� Avid Liongoren’s However you look at this, it can be animated feature follows an attractive lucrative. There’s a big chance of feline saleslady at a department store breaking out internationally because as she figures in a love triangle between the access is already global.� her mongrel janitor boyfriend and a Raymundo, however, wants to make high society businessdog. it clear that their efforts to nurture the “UP Project.� Boy meets girl in colgrowth of local filmmaking do not stem lege, embarking on a wide-eyed explofrom a messianic advocacy, but rather ration of sex, fears, love, and friendship a collaborative one. Although the enin a time fraught with uncertainties. tertainment landscape has already lent

Âťcheers!

‘Alita: Battle Angel,’ manga adaptation done right T

Q Two time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz and Rosa Salazar (under all that CGI) are Dr. Ido and Alita in director Robert Rodriguez and producer James Cameron’s film version of ‘Alita: Battle Angel.’

HIS week I am turning you over to Hank Sparrow, the bartender in the Trese Comics series.

His last piece for this column was on another CYBERPUNK PROPERTY .ETlIX S g!LTERED #ARBON u Based on the cyberpunk manga series created by Yurito Kishiro, fans have had to wait quite a bit to see “Alita: Battle Angel� come to the big screen. Filmmaker James Cameron, WHO HAS THE RIGHTS TO THE kLM ADAPTATION HAD to wait for over a decade for CGI technology to catch up with his vision for this movie.

Cameron’s busy schedule led him to tap fellow manga/anime fan Robert Rodriguez to take the director’s chair for this project while the former stayed on as producer and co-wrote the screenplay with Laeta Kalogridis (“Altered Carbon�).

In the far future the world has been ravaged by war. Majority of the Earth’s population is planet bound in mega cities. Alita: Battle Angel takes place in Iron City. It is an urban metropolis populated by refugees from all around the globe whose dream it is to reach the paradise OF THE LAST lOATING CITY IN THE SKY :ALEM

The story follows the titular character (Rosa Salazar), a military-grade cyborg from the past whose remains (or what is left of her core, the cyborg’s personality) is found dumped in Iron City’s mega trash yards by Dr. Ido (Christoph Waltz).

As Dr. Ido does cybernetic repairs, he takes Alita back to his clinic and sets up her core in a cyborg body. Having no memory of her past, Alita learns how to adjust to her newly acquired body and eventually live in Iron City and navigate its everyone-forthemselves social dynamics.

Admittedly, I was equally worried and excited when I sat down before the movie started.

The Cameron-Rodriguez team up was untried and their film making styles seemed opposite of each other. Also, I cannot remember a good live-action Hollywood version of a manga or anime yet. I wish I could forget “Dragonball Evolution� and

the more recent “Ghost In the Shell.�

By the time I got up from my seat however, I realized the worries were for naught and the excitement was well worth it. Everything seems to have been done right.

The effects and CG, especially the eyes of Alita (her character was entirely CG) have found a place in my heart.

The casting for the film was also quite surprising (in a good way), even with a lot of name actors, all were given their moments to shine, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali and Jackie Earl Haley being the most noteworthy.

It was also fun spotting Jeff Fahey (“The Lawnmower Man�) and Casper Van Dien (“Starship Troopers�). I will give this another viewing or two.

Finally, I’d say the only way to watch this kLM IS IN )-!8 $ ‡ IT IS WELL WORTH THE price of admission.

FAN GIRL KAREN KUNAWICZ

E2

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

Funtimes

˜ The Manila Times

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Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (02/06/19). Your team wins this year. Advance through thoughtful planning and coordination. Home surprises could arise. A summer physical performance boost inspires a restful planning phase. A spiritual breakthrough this winter inspires a shift in your health practices. Pull together with all your heart.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep practicing your arts and talents. Physical action gets results. A dream inspires you to raise the level of your game. Learn new tricks.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

S C O R P I O (O C T. 23-N O V. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Put your energy into a household improvement. Realize a domestic dream with soap, water or paint. Consider color, texture and lighting. Less is more.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Find hidden beauty in silence and tranquility. Dreams bubble to the surface when things cool down. All is not as it appears. Notice subtle undercurrents.

S A G I T TA R I U S (N O V. 22-D E C. 21) -- Today is an 8 -Words come together easily. Craft your message, and get the word out. Write, broadcast and publish. Capture a dream, and share it widely.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Check public opinion. Balance work and social life. The two can get intermingled. Talk about professional dreams with your friends and allies.

Set your goals high.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- You can make money while pursuing a dream. Mix business with pleasure.

Put passion and artistry into your work, and it builds your reputation for excellence.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Work has your attention. Take charge. A dream beckons tantalizingly. Travel could benefit your career; study the options. Let your imagination soar.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- A lucky break is worth chasing. A personal passion could get profitable.

Practice to improve your skills. Dress sharp; you never know who you’ll meet.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Give in to your desire to explore. Keep to your budget, and allow an excursion or trip outdoors. Follow a long-held dream. Discover new horizons.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Focus on growing financial benefits. Collaborate to increase shared assets. Get creative with your partner. Consider circumstances from another view.

Believe you can do it.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Accept a challenge. Strategize with your partner. A shared dream comes into focus. Imagine perfection. A crazy idea might even work. Everything is coming into place.

» SUDOKU

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Make plans to realize a personal dream. Plot your moves, and envision steps in detail. Make reservations. You can have what you’re willing to go for.

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

PAGE FROM THE PAST

Today, we look back at an old front page of The Manila Times, the oldest national daily that was founded on October 11, 1898. (Note: This image was adjusted to fit the page.)

PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE PCSO hits P63.56 billion revenue for 2018 Profit grows 20% with STL gaining exceptional 66% increase

BY SHELLY BUSQUE

A

MID a challenging year for the PhiLIPPINE #HARITY 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE (PCSO), the charity fund-generating arm of the government saw a 20-percent increase in its revenues for 2018 — from P52,982,703,111.04 in 2017 to P63,557,912,238.39 at year-end.

All Lotto/Number games (except Keno, which dropped at 18% from 2017’s revenue of P5,357,611,520 to P4,397,969,030) showed inCREASED VOLUME AND PROkT GROWTH Comprising a big chunk of the revenues are the most patronIZED NUMBER GAMES OF &ILIPINOS — the Lotto and Digit Games with a 14-percent increase at P31,902,529,360 billion, followed

by Small Town Lottery (STL) that made an exceptional 66-percent increase to 26,103,442,348.39 from 2017’s P15,743,604,391.44.

Instant Sweepstakes posted P1,149,000,000 revenue while Traditional Sweepstakes generated P4,867,500.

IMAP and other programs

Q PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

The increase in revenue also meant that more people were extended assistance with PCSO’s unwavering commitment to the pursuit of quality, excellence and improvement in the management of gaming products and charity PROGRAMS BENEkTING MILLIONS OF &ILIPINOS BY EXTENDING A HELPING hand in healthcare nationwide.

Individual Medical Assistance Program, the flagship medical assistance program which extends financial assistance for hospitalization and medical expenses of underprivileged and

SICK &ILIPINOS REGARDLESS OF CLASS or status, provided various health and medical assistance to more patients resulting an increase of 27 percent, catering to a total of 528,190 patients nationwide, with a corresponding total amount of P8,682,919,581.50.

Through the Medical and Dental Mission, there were 9,231 patients catered, spending P626,249.20 rocketing at 233-percent increase from released amount of P188,006.50 catering 3,490 patients (at 164-percent increase) in 2017.

PCSO also allocated P35,475,050 for Institutional Partnership, and P524,341.45 for Employees Consultation and Management Program increasing at 153-percent increase for the latter.

STL sharing scheme STL revenues, under its charity fund sharing scheme, were divided to cities/municipalities (17-percent increase from P472,422,650.12 in 2017 to P552,994,980.70), congressional districts (26-percent increase from P103,718,348.47 to Php131,169,827.06), provinces (35-percent increase from P150,280,559.67 to P203,208,775.20), Philip-

pine National Police (29-percent increase from P314,948,433.41 to P406,417,550.41), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (11-percent increase from P78,737,108.35 to P87,446,551.37). The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) received its share in the amount of P11,326,268.98.

Joint AO with other agencies It is also in 2018 that PCSO signed a joint Administrative Order on Streaming Access to Medical !SSISTANCE &UNDS OF THE 'OVERNment with the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and PhilHealth with the aim to make it more accessible AND CONVENIENT FOR &ILIPINOS TO avail medical assistance funds from the government through the Malasakit Center.

Top contributor to PNG PCSO is recognized as the sixth top paying Government Owned a n d C o n t r o l l e d C o m p a ny (GOCC) for 2018, contributing P2.535 billion to the National Treasury in pursuant to RA7656.

Positive trends have been evident over the years and peaked in 2018. Organic volume growth

in lotto game prizes were noted as it increased in 24 percent in prize shares to P3,482,506,640 from P2,804,020,978 in 2017 as PCSO continues not only to gain market shares, dedicated TO HEALING THE &ILIPINO NATION but to also give hope and new life to many.

2018 was likewise the year that made history when two lucky winners from Luzon and the Visayas won and shared the Ultra Lotto 6/58 jackpot prize of P1.18 billion. The continuous increase in the pot also became the talk of the town and became “Trending� on social media from September until October. “Based on PCSO’s strong core value propositions in serving the &ILIPINO PEOPLE THROUGH MEDICAL care and reduced healthcare costs especially to our underprivileged countrymen, the institution continues to remain prudently optimistic about the future and WILL BE STRONGER FOR THE BENEkT of its stakeholders, employees, beneficiaries and supporters,�

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan noted. “As we celebrate PCSO’s 85th ANNIVERSARY THIS THE &ILIPINO people are the main drivers for this continued positive underlying COMMITMENT TO DELIVER EFkCIENT and timely charitable services,�

GM Balutan concluded.

Q Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) extends financial assistance for hospitalization and medical expenses of sick Filipinos regardless of class or status.

Cavite player wins Superlotto 6/49 P15.8M jackpot prize A LUCKY Player of PCSO’s Superlotto 6/49 game bagged the jackpot prize amounting to P15,840,000 on January 29. Bearing the numbers 11, 34, 30, 10, 07 and 21, the winning ticket was purchased at a lotto outlet in Imus, Cavite Counted among the fortunate players who got PRIZES WERE FOUR WHO GOT kVE WINNING NUMBERS and took home P21,810 each, while 1,019 got four winning combination with P390 each and 14,650 won P20 each.

Superlotto 6/49 is played and drawn live every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on PTV 4 at 9 p.m.

General Manager Alexander Balutan extends

his most heartfelt thanks to the millions of loyal supporters of PCSO products in the country. “Because of your unwavering support, all health-related assistance and charity services will continue for all our countrymen in need. With continued purchase of tickets, the chances of becoming a millionaire increase and you’re also able to help the less fortunate,� GM Balutan said.

Winning numbers and other details of PCSO games, products and services can be viewed at the OFkCIAL 0#3/ WEBSITE WWW PCSO GOV PH AND THE OFkCIAL &" PAGE HTTPS WWW FACEBOOK COM PCSOOFkCIALSOCIALMEDIA AND 0#3/ '/6 ON 9OU4UBE

˜ The Manila Times

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Special Feature

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

A L F O N S O T. Y U C H E N G C O

Tycoon Par Excellence He focused mind, heart, and soul for a legacy that immortalizes his good name

A

BY CYNTHIA U. SANTIAGO

lfonso T. Yuchengco secured a distinct name in the hall of fame of Philippine business, diplomacy, education, sociocivic welfare, and philanthropy through hard work and SELlESS SERVICE FOR HIS COUNTRY AND PEOPLE 9UCHENGCO STARTED notably as a good steward of his father’s business.

Q Alfonso Yuchengco was born on February 6, 1923. He did his growing up in the 1920s and 1930s in the classrooms of the Christian brothers of Colegio de La Salle (along Taft Avenue, Manila) and their playing fields.

Q Yuchengco became known in La Salle as ‘the bright new boy in Grade 5’—so bright that he was accelerated to Grade 7. Up to his senior year in high school, he was always among the top five in his class.

Dr. Leon A. Danco, a leading expert on family businesses, said family businesses die not because of lack of capital and other resources, but most LIKELY FOR LACK OF A QUALIkED successor.

Indeed, a family business usually starts with a bold venture into a business and working to the bones to grow and sustain it.

The Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) started in the latter part of the 19th century. Yu Tiao Qui and his son Yu Cheng migrated from the town of Nan-an in Fukien, China. They settled in Binondo, a district in Manila historically known as the cenTER FOR BUSINESS AND kNANCE for the Chinese. The elder Yu established a lumber trading business, which he passed on to his son.

Enrique Yu Cheng, a very enterprising man, who would later be known by his hispanized name Enrique T. Yuchengco. He engaged in rice trading, lumber, and construction.

With the success of his business ventures, he was able to

provide a comfortable life for his family by the time Alfonso was born on February 6, 1923.

Starting early

In his childhood, Alfonso, standing immaculate in his Sunday’s best, as a family picture shows, manifested he would be at his best especially in his chosen career.

Don Enrique sent his son to La Salle for his early education, and there Alfonso had been tagged as “the bright new boy in Grade 5.� With his talents, La Salle accelerated him to Grade 7. And up to his senior high school days, he was always among the Top 5 in his class.

In 1930, Alfonso then was seven, Don Enrique ventured into the insurance business, founding the China Insurance and Surety Company.

The company would be forced into hibernation during the Japanese occupation of the country. It was during this period that the Yuchengco’s ofkCES WERE RAZED TO THE GROUND After the liberation of Ma-

ÂłEXCELLENCEF2

Q In this 1998 photo, Yuchengco was already the chairman of the Yuchengco Group of Companies.

F1

F2

WEDNESDAY February 6, 2019

Special Feature

˜ The Manila Times

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Q EXCELLENCE FROM F1

Tycoon Par nila, China Insurance adopted the name Malayan Insurance, registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 1949. Don Enrique and his Alfonso was among the incorporators.

In 1953, Don Enrique passed away. Alfonso assumed overall management of the insurance company. Under his leadership, the company would grow into the leading non-life insurance company in the country.

Early on in his career, Alfonso would be recognized in 1955 as “Insurance Man of the Year� by Business Writers’ Association of the Philippines.

Years later, he would be inducted to the Insurance Hall of Fame (1997, International Insurance Seminar), PICPA Hall of Fame (PhiIippine Institute of Public Accountants, 2001), and FAIR Hall of Fame (2011,Federation of Afro-Asian Insurers and Reinsurers).

University of Hawaii, the Fletcher School in Boston, the University of Alabama, Alliant University in San Diego, and the Columbia University.

Becoming a prominent figure in the academic circle, AY was conferred honorary doctorate degrees from renowned institutions, such as De La Sale University (1983) and University of Baguio (1995), and Ritsumeikan University (1998), Waseda University, 1998), and Soka University (1998)—all in Japan. He was bestowed honorary professorships by Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (1986) and University of Alabama (1995). He received Presidential Medal of Merit and Outstanding Alumnus Award, both from Far Eastern University in 1978 and 2003, respectively, and Signum Merite Medal from De La Salle Univeristy in 1999.

The makings of a successor

Socio-civic endeavors and public service

T h e Yu c h e n g c o f o r t u n e h a s we l l flourished because Alfonso endeavored to become the steward of his father’s businesses.

Although already living in luxury— he was said to be chauffeured to La Salle in fancy car— Alfonso pursued various academic degrees he could well use to run the family business.

He worked on a Bachelor of Science degree, major in Accounting, which he earned at the Far Eastern University. Then, he hurdled the licensure exam to become a #ERTIkED 0UBLIC !CCOUNTANT !ND FOR GOOD measure, he beefed up his CPA title with a graduate degree at the Columbia University.

With a well decorated academic journey, Alfonso was ready to help out in the family businesses and eventually took over when his father retired.

Under Alfonso T. Yuchengco’s stewardship, more family businesses mushroomed.

AY was active in socio-civic, cultural, and professional organizations. He chaired AY Foundation, which is YGC’s social development arm. He wa Vice Chairman of the Board of Judges and principal sponsor of the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Awards (now Saint Teresa of Calcutta Awards); Chairman of the Yuchengco Museum; Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, Inc. (Monument to Heroes); Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation, Inc., Chairman of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) –Juris Doctor (JD)of De La Salle University Professional Schools Inc. Graduate School of Business and the Far Eastern University Institute of Law, and Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Constitutional Association (PHILCONSA).

His international affiliations include membreship in the Board of Governors Insuring the Filipino of Pacific Forum; emeritus trusteeship Alfonso expanded the insurance business in Asia Society, New York; membership started by his father. in the Board of Overseers of Columbia In 1954, he was among the incorpora- University, Business School; membership tors of the Great Pacific Life Assurance in the International Insurance Society and Corporation (Grepalife). The company emeritus trusteeship in the University of WOULD BECOME THE kRST INSURANCE COMPANY San Francisco. On top of his various posito offer liberal underwriting of medically- tions in the private sectors, he also had a substandard cases. The service became the distinguished career in government service. company’s selling point.

He served as Ambassador to China (19861988) and Japan (1995-1998), PresidenBanking on the future tial Special Envoy to Greater China, Japan In 1959, AY—as Alfonso would be and Korea (2001), and Philippine Permaknown in Philippine business—and some nent Representative to the United Nations others established an investment bank (2001-2002). called the House of Investments (HI), the He was also a trusted adviser to several Filsuch bank in the Philippines. At the ipino presidents. His other government time, investment banking was in positions include Chairman of the its infant stage. So, HI created Council of Private Sector Advisers its own investment vehicles. on the Spratly Issue (1995-1998), It then evolved into an investPresidential Assistant on APEC ment holding company with a Matters (1998-2000), Member of DIVERSIkED PORTFOLIO the Consultative Commission to To help furnish capital resourcPropose Revision to the 1987 es necessary to the agricultural and Constitution (2005-2006), industrial development of the and Presidential Adviser country, HI organized in 1960 on Foreign Affairs the Rizal Development (2004-2010).

Bank. In three year’s time, the bank would become Philanthropy the Rizal Commercial At the same Banking Corporation time that he (RCBC). shared his mind The banking corporaand lent a hand tion stands tall as a twoto government tower, 46- and 41-stoservice and to rey edifice of RCBC the education Plaza, now a landmark sector, AY selfin Makati City, the lessly gave his country’s financial heart to the less capital. privileged. He Today, RCBC is one established the of the largest uniBayanihan Founversal banks in the dation, which was Philippines with total the forerunner of consolidated resources the AY Foundation. of Php554 billion for (see related sidebar). full year 2017.

Education

AY had always believed in the education of the youth as valuable to nationa l development. Thus, through his companies, he had acquired the Mapua Institute of Technology, long since the country’s leading school in engineering. Under Mapua—now a university— are the Malayan Colleges Laguna (MCL), Malayan High School of Science (MHSS), and the newly-opened Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MCM).

AY a l s o e n d owe d chairs and provided Q Yuchengco as Malayan scholarships for Filipichairman in 1993. nos and Filipino-Americans at the University of San Francisco, the

Awards and Recognitions

And so, it is no surprise either that the world would honor Alphonso Yuchengco with numerous awards, to name a few: as an eminent businessman, AY was recognized as Management Man of the Year (1992, Management Association of the Philippines), Business Icon Gold Award (2008, BizNewsAsia), CEO Excel Award (2009, International Association of Business Com-

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municators in The Philippines), Lifetime Achievement Award (Asia Insurance Industry Award, 2010), and Lifetime Achievement Award (Asian Bankers Association, 2015).

As a statesman, AY was decorated with the following: Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star (1993, the Government of Japan); Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (1998, Emperor of Japan); Order of Sikatuna, with the Rank of Datu (1998, President Fidel V. Ramos); and Order of Lakandula, Grand Cross (2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo).

His other awards include: JPS Medal of Merit (Philippines-Japan Society, 1995); The Outstanding Filipino Award (2000, TOFIL); Insurance Humanitarian Award (University of Alabama, 2008); and Maharlika Award and Leader Award (PHILCONSA, 2010 and 2011, respectively).

YGC lives on

Alfonso T. Yuchengco passed away at the ripe age of 94 on April 15, 2017.

As he had been made so well-equipped to manage the family’s growing businesses, AY made sure that the Yuchengco Group of Companies would live on.

Today, the conglomerate is headed by Helen Y, Dee, the eldest child of Alfonso T. Yuchengco. HYD, as she is popularly known, started working for YGC the day after she graduated from college. She was Executive Assistant to the Malayan Insurance President.

In 2003, HYD took over as the YGC chairperson. She has instrumental in the modern expansion of the conglomerate.

From the great grandfather Yu Tiao Qui to grandfather Enrique to father Alfonso, daughter Helen Y. Dee takes the reign into leading the family business conglomerate into the New Millennium.

A ‘wise’ investment ALFONSO T. YUCHENGCO wisely invested in various businesses that made him one of the richest men in the Philippines.

Wisely also, he invested in corporate social responsibility programs that should make one or more of the youth wise, and, who knows, perhaps also as rich as he had been.

One of Yuchengco’s notable projects is the AY Foundation—first known as the Bayanihan Foundation when it established on June 23, 1970.

The Bayanihan Foundation was organized to administer an educational fund for the children of the Great Pacific Life Assurance Corp. (Grepalife) employees and sales associates.

The Foundation was renamed A Wise Foundation, Inc. in 1983. By this time, the scholarship program of the Foundation had been extended to children of other YGC companies.

In 1986, the Foundation changed its name to AY Foundation, Inc. Ten years after, in 1996, the AY Foundation joined the League of Corporate Foundations.

The AYF programs have benefitted thousands.

Scholarships Since 1970, AYF has awarded more than 10,000 educational grants to street children, indigent students belonging to cultural minority groups, as well as deserving but financially needy dependents of YGC employees.

National Discipline Awards AYF has conferred the Award to high school graduates from more than 2,000 high schools nationwide.

Championing the Youth for Community Leadership (C YCLE) Training Program Launched in 2001, CYCLE is a leadership training and values formation program designed to deepen the sense of social

responsibility and enhance the community leadership qualities of recipients of the National Discipline Award.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta Awards In 1983, the Foundation partnered with the Manila Jaycees to launch the Mother Teresa Awards, now the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Awards.

The program is an annual search and selection dedicated to seek for lay individuals who, like Saint Teresa of Calcutta, have fully and selflessly dedicated at least 25 years of their life to humanitarian work among “the poorest of the poor” and have served, and shall continue to serve, as an inspirational, living example to the world.

Medical and Surgical Missions In 1999, AY Foundation took on a more aggressive role in its conduct of medical and surgical missions by organizing its own network of partners.

The AY Foundation has conducted missions which have performed more than 10,000 major and minor surgical procedures for free, benefiting indigent patients in remote communities.

In addition, over 80,000 poor Filipinos were provided with free medical and dental consultations and medicines.

Endowments AY has set a number of professorial chairs and scholarships— at the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, FEU Institute of Accounts, Business, and Finance, Ateneo Law School, Mapua University, University of San Francisco, the University of Hawaii, the Fletcher School in Boston, the University of Alabama, Alliant University in San Diego.

It is with such remarkable programs that Alfonso Yuchengco had manifested his compassion to those who needed it most, leaving an indelible mark of his good name in their heart.