THE MANILA TIMES | MARCH 13, 2019

Trade gap widens, hits $3.76B in Jan

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019

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Trusted since 1898

260,000 people reel from water shortage

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

T

HE water service interruption imposed by Manila Water has affected 250,000 to 260,000 people, the agency said on Tuesday.

Manila Water Co. Inc. Chief Operating /FkCER 'EODINO #ARPIO SAID THE NUMBER would translate to 52,000 households or service connections in its concession area.

The East Zone concessionaire said the water shortage would persist throughout the dry summer months.

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Lacson’s obsession with GMA bad for his and Congress’ prestige

S

E N .

Panfilo Lacson just can’t stop his unhealthy obsession with former PresiDENT NOW (OUSE 3PEAKER 'LORIA Macapagal Arroyo.

He is damaging not only his prestige and credibility as the senator whose admirable crusade against the pork-barrel system started during the Cory Aquino administration.

RIG RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO

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Prices of bottled water, pails increase WHILE thousands despair for lack of water, some enterprising vendors are making a killing, jacking up the price of bottled water and pails.

As people scramble to store

water, vendors raised the prices of water drums and pails. Those sold for P80 before the water shortage hit are now being sold for P100.

The cost of bottled water had also gone up. A big bottle that

THE Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

(RCBC) has filed before a defamation case against the Bank of Bangladesh for its supposed “baseless allegations� that RCBC

TULFO BROTHERS CLASH OVER OFW REMARKS

OFkCIALS WERE INVOLVED IN THE MILLION cyberheist in 2016.

The complaint was filed on March

NewsA2

DYNASTIC KLEPTOCRACY

Lito LorenzanaA5

up their prices by P1 to P2 as they now use disposable plates and utensils or wrapped their plates with plastic to avoid washing them.

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RATIONING Residents of Hill Top, Bagong Ilog, Pasig City, queue for water from a tanker.

PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Palace disturbed by report Mindanao is new IS base

RCBC files complaint vs Bank of Bangladesh

What’s inside

Tech deal inked for 1,800 homes Build&Design B8

used to cost P95 is now being sold for P100 to P105.

The sale of bottled water had picked up even in sari-sari stores.

Meanwhile, canteens and carinderias have also jacked

ÂłComplaintA2

Palace grants Balutan’s request for graft probe

-!,!#!ÂŤ!.' on Tuesday expressed concern over a report that the Philippines is turning into a base of Islamic 3TATE )3 kGHTERS g$EkNITELY THEN WE SHOULD UNDERtake measures to prevent that from happening,â€? Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a news conference. “I will have to ask the Department of National Defense because they are the ones monitoring the movements of these people,â€? he added.

The New York Times reported that after losing their territories they conTROLLED IN )RAQ AND 3YRIA )3 kGHTERS WERE eyeing Mindanao as their new base, calling the region its “East Asia province.� “But far from defeated, the movement has sprouted elsewhere. And here in the Mindanao island group of southern Philippines, long a haven for insurgents because of dense wilderness and weak policing, the Islamic State

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-!,!#!.!.' ON 4UESDAY committed to heed the request of Alexander Balutan, the former general manager of the PhilipPINE #HARITY 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE (PCSO), to investigate accusations of corruption against him.

Balutan last week said he WOULD RESIGN FROM OFkCE BECAUSE of “personal reasons.�

MalacaĂąang, however, said he

ÂłProbeA8 REACH US AT:

CAVS ROUT RAPTORS, WILLIAMS MAKES SportsC1 HISTORY

YES IT’S TRUE! KATHRYN-ALDEN MOVIE IS IN THE MAKING

EntertainmentD1

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

FACE-OFF

Village chief AJ Lizarondo Cecilio of Tondo, Manila, Aglipayan Priest Fr. Antonio Tayco, radio anchor Chi-Chi Fajardo Robles, and XVD President Pocholo Morillo share their stand on whether priests should be allowed to marry during the initial telecast of ‘Face-Off,’ a program on The Manila Times TV on Tuesday.

PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

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˜ The Manila Times WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

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Duterte satisfaction rating soars by 16% T

BY RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

HE net satisfaction rating of the Duterte administration zoomed

BY POINTS IN THE kNAL QUARTER OF 2018, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found.

The SWS survey, conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018 among 1,440 adults nationwide, found that 76 percent of Filipinos said THEY WERE SATISkED WITH THE PERformance of the administration, while 9 percent said otherwise.

Fifteen percent, however, said THEY WERE NEITHER SATISkED NOR DISSATISkED This resulted in a net satisfaction rating of +66, which was ranked as “very good.�

This is a 16-point increase in its net satisfaction rating from the kGURE IN 3EPTEMBER The administration received an excellent mark in Mindanao

at +75, up by 8 points from the +67 in September 2018.

It also found that the government had “very good� marks in the Visayas (+63 in December, from +42 in the prior quarter), Metro Manila (+60 in December, from +40 in September) and Balance Luzon (+65, from the +48 in September).

It found that the administration had its highest marks on promoting women’s rights (+71) a building and maintenance of public works (+70), helping the poor (+68), protecting human rights (+62) and reconstructing Marawi City (+60).

The government had a +55 mark

ON kGHTING TERRORISM IN TRANSparency in government activities, +50 in quick decision-making, +44 IN kGHTING CRIMES IN RECONCILing with Muslim rebels, +42 in eradicating graft and corruption, +42 in defending the Philippine sovereignty in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), +39 in reconciling with communist rebels and fulfilling commitments in international treaties and +38 in foreign relations.

The administration then had “moderateâ€? marks on addressing hunger with +28 and fighting INlATION WITH The survey had sampling error margins of Âą2.6 percent for national percentages, and Âą5 percent each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila the Visayas and Mindanao.

MalacaĂąang on Tuesday said the survey result was a “vote of public CONkDENCE AND A DEMONSTRATION of the people’s unshakeable trust [in] the present administration.â€?

In a statement, Palace spokes-

man Salvador Panelo said the figure proved the critics wrong about them describing Duterte as “misogynistic, anti-poor and anti-human rights, and who have taken turns in questioning the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program and lambasting the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi.� “While the administration never impelled the vocal minority from expressing their dissent, it is time THEY kNALLY REALIZE THAT A SIZEABLE but silent majority have paid no attention to their endless tirades against Duterte and the administration, as well as its policies, particularly with respect to the aforesaid matters,� Panelo said.

He said Duterte would not be complacent with three years remaining in his term.

The spokesman added that the government would continue to roll out programs and services to bring comfortable lives to Filipinos.

Tulfo brothers clash over OFW remarks RADIO and television broadcaster Raffy Tulfo has directly contradicted his eldest brother, special envoy to China Ramon “Mon�

Tulfo Jr., on his negative remarks against Filipino workers.

Raffy said he did not approve of the baseless statement of Ramon, who recently compared Chinese workers with Filipino laborer and said they (Filipinos) “always smoke and keep talking.� “You know why developers prefer Chinese workers? They’re hardworking. When Filipino workers go to a job site, that’s only when they will start preparing their tools, whereas Chinese workers are already prepared. Filipino workers always smoke and keep talking,�

Ramon said in a recent interview.

His remarks drew flak from netizens and the labor sector, who asked him to apologize, but Ramon refused to do so and instead tweeted, “To the Filipino construction workers: Why should I apologize to you for telling the truth that you’re basically lazy and a slowpoke? Does the truth hurt?�

But he was contradicted by none other than his own brother Raffy, who expressed belief that Filipinos are not lazy.

He even asked his eldest brother to apologize to the Filipino workers. “Kuya (Big Brother) Mon if I were you, nakakatandang kapatid ko (my older brother), if I were you, please apologize. I think that’s the right thing for you to do,� Raffy said. “I really disagree with you. As a matter of fact, [the] construction workers [whom you degrade, they are the ones who made the surname Tulfo a byword] from the very start. Sila ang kakampi natin dahil (They are on our side) from the very start [and they are our] followers.�

Employers, according to Raffy, “prefer to hire Filipino workers because they are known in the world for being industrious, patient, competent and obedient.�

He is known for helping workers with labor problems through his radio and TV programs.

Earlier, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd also came to the defense of Filipino workers and said they are the best workers in the world. “Filipino workers are the best in the world in terms of competence, trustworthiness and diligence. It’s on record that our Filipino workers are the most sought after workers in the world,� Bello added.

WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Q SHORTAGE FROM A1

Q COMPLAINT FROM A1

260,000

RCBC files complaint

Manila Water was forced to lower water pressure or totally cut water supply in some areas to ensure that there would be enough water for all its customers.

Manila Water services the cities of Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Makati and parts of Quezon City and Manila. It also serves Antipolo City and the Rizal towns of Angono, Baras, Binagonan, Cainta, Cardona, JalaJala, Morong, Pililla, Rodriquez, Tanay, Taytay and San Mateo.

The water shortage might ease in the next few weeks because Maynilad has agreed to help Manila Water by providing the latter its excess water, Carpio said.

Maynilad services the cities of Manila, Pasay, ParaĂąaque, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Las PiĂąas, Valenzuela and parts of Makati and Quezon City.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) had also asked the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to increase its water allocation from Angat dam.

The NWRB provides 46 cubic meters per second (CMS) of water from Angat dam to the MWSS. This is shared by Maynilad Water Service Inc. (60 percent) and Manila Water (40 percent).

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco wants the allocation increased from 46 cubic meters to 48 cubic meters.

But even if the allocation from Angat was increased, Carpio said Manila Water would still have a hard time accessing the water.

He explained that the agency was constrained by the size of

WATERLESS A janitress distributes water to patients at The Rizal Medical Center, one of the hospitals hit by the water shortage.

PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

tunnels and aqueducts from Angat, making it harder for them to request for additional raw water.

While Manila Water still gets its allocation of 1,600 million liters per day (MLD) from Angat Dam, the demand averaged to 1,740 MLD in February this year. “Even if NWRB would give us more water out of Angat [Dam], it cannot go through the aqueduct. It would entail widening or putting up more aqueducts and tunnels,�

Carpio said.

The situation, he added, was aggravated by the El NiĂąo phenomenon and the fact that customers whose water supply remains nor-

mal had started storing water. “What we’re trying to do now is to make the reservoir recover so we will have some normalcy,� he added. “We will have to continue making technical adjustments on distribution throughout summer. We will see conditions getting a little bit better after summer when the rain has come,� Carpio told reporters. “But in order to minimize impact of severely-hit areas today, we will try to manage the pressure reduction across the entire area to spread available water supply,� he added.

Carpio said Maynilad had ex-

pressed its willingness to share its excess water with Manila Water. “Maynilad has constructed a plant in Putatan that draws water from the Laguna Lake and that is a 300-MLD plant. We’re talking to them puwede bang dalhin niyo sa amin ‘yung surplus ninyo (Can you give us your surplus water)? The last discussion was at 32 MLD,� Carpio said.

Maynilad corporate communications head Jennifer Rufo conkRMED #ARPIO S STATEMENT “Maynilad can provide 50 MLD to Manila Water through crossBORDER lOW 7E ARE CURRENTLY LOOKing at a few tapping points in QC

and in ParaĂąaque where we can connect our network with Manila Water’s,â€? Rufo said. “Our new treatment facility in Muntinlupa should give us additional supply, and this is mostly where we will get the supply that we will share with Manila Water,â€? she added.

-AYNILAD HAS ALSO LENT kVE OF its tankers to Manila Water to be used in the distribution of water in some areas. Some local government units, including Pasig City, Mandaluyong City and Quezon City, also lent their tankers for distribution in areas with limited water supply.

Q BASE FROM A1

Palace disturbed by report Mindanao is new IS base has attracted a range of militant jihadists,� the report said. “An illustration circulated days later on Islamic State chat groups, showing President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines kneeling on a pile of skulls and a militant standing over him with a dagger. The caption on the picture sounded a warning:

‘The fighting has just begun,’� it added.

Mindanao has been under martial rule since May last year in response to IS-inspired Maute rebels that laid siege to Marawi City and allegedly attempted to establish a caliphate for the terror group.

Duterte, in his speech in February, warned of more terrorist at-

tacks by the IS, which he described as “insane� and “made in hell.� “We have this insane IS that they would kill. And I expect that they would do some bombings here and bombings there ‘cause that’s what they get in the Middle East,� the President had said.

Duterte earlier ordered government troops to annihilate ter-

rorists and enemies of the state after the twin explosions at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, that killed at least 20 people and injured almost 100.

The IS had claimed credit for the attack, saying two suicide bombers detonated a belt of explosives.

The Philippine military was not

discounting this claim but said the Ajang-Ajang, a sub-group of the BANDIT !BU 3AYYAF 'ROUP MIGHT be behind the blasts.

The Philippine National Police had declared the Jolo cathedral bombing “case closed� after the alleged bombers surrendered separately to authorities in Sulu.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE

6,2019 before a Makati City court. “It is public knowledge that Bangladesh Bank has embarked on a massive ploy and scheme to extort money from plaintiff RCBC by resorting to public defamation, harassment and threats geared toward destroying RCBC’s good name, reputation and image, all with the intention of getting RCBC to pay Bangladesh Bank money that RCBC does not have in its custody or possession and which it does not owe to Bangladesh Bank,� RCBC said in its complaint.

It added that the suit was served to Abu Hena Mohammad Razee Hasan, the deputy governor and head of Bangladesh Bank Financial Intelligence Unit.

Other members of the Bangladesh Bank delegation that arrived in the Philippines this week for meetings were also served with the suit.

(ACKERS STOLE MILLION IN February 2016 from the Bangladesh central bank’s account with the US Federal Reserve in New York. The money was transferred to the RCBC Jupiter Branch, quickly withdrawn and laundered through local casinos.

Last month, the Central Bank of "ANGLADESH kLED A LAWSUIT AGAINST RCBC in a New York court, seeking DAMAGES AND THE RETURN OF THE million stolen from its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In 2016, the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas "30 SLAPPED A 0 BILLION kNE against RCBC in connection with the stolen funds.

Tai-Heng Cheng, RCBC’s lead counsel, said the Bank of Bangladesh’s claims were baseless. He maintained that the local bank had no hand in the crime. “Bangladesh’s suit is nothing more than a political stunt to try to shift blame from themselves to RCBC,� Cheng said.

In January, a Makati court convicted former RCBC Jupiter branch bank manager Maia Deguito of eight counts of embezzlement.

She appealed her conviction.

NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

News

˜ The Manila Times

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Debates enlighten voters – Bam

SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th on Tuesday called on poll bets to hold debates, saying it is the best way to inform voters about the accomplishments and platform of candidates.

Aquino said debates would also give candidates like him to address issues or black propaganda thrown against them. “Maganda itong paraan upang masagot natin ang lahat ng mga ibinabatong fake news at mga paninira sa atin sa social media� (It is the best way for us to answer the fake news and black propaganda against me in social media), said Aquino, who is running for reelection under the opposition’s Otso Diretso slate.

Otso Diretso bets had asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to arrange a debate with the administration bets, but the poll body turned down their request. “Sana payagan na lang na ang mga kandidato na magdebate, iyong kandidato ang magpalitan ng talakayan para makita ng taumbayan, ma-compare ano ba ang mga plataporma namin (I hope they will allow candidates to debate so that voters can compare our platforms),� Aquino said.

He shrugged off President Rodrigo Duterte’s criticisms against him and other Otso Diretso bets, saying it was part of the political process. “That’s normal in any electoral process. May mga manok siya, may mga oposisyon . Pero sa kadulu-duluhan ng lahat, ang taumbayan naman ang pipili (He has his bets, there is the opposition. But in the end, the people will decide),� said Aquino.

The senator called on voters to ELECT CANDIDATES WHO WILL kGHT for their welfare and protect their rights. “Dapat piliin ng taumbayan ang mga kandidato na kampi sa kanila, na magtatrabaho para sa kanila at walang ibang boss kundi sila (The people should choose candidates who wil side with them, work for them and will have no other boss but them),� Aquino said.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

T

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

HE government is poised to begin cloud seeding in areas hit by El NiĂąo to help ease the impact of the drought on agriculture, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol said his agency allotted P18 million for cloud seeding. “Everybody is now ready to implement cloud seeding the moment they determine that there is enough cloud cover to warrant cloud seeding,â€? he added. “The CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) has already been informed. We have funds transferred to the Philippine Air Force as early as last year. In every region affected by El NiĂąo, we have readied our funds,â€? PiĂąol said.

The DA chief gave assurances that since the El NiĂąo episode is “weak,â€? damage to agriculture would be minimal. He said the

dry spell started when the harvest season was about to end. “El NiĂąo hit the country just as WE WERE ABOUT TO kNISH HARVESTING and the crops have matured. There is a reduction in productivity because of the heat but the damage is minimal,â€? PiĂąol said.

He added that the effects of El NiĂąo in Southern Mindanao and Northern Luzon would wane by the end of April. But, the dry spell will continue until the second week of December in Palawan, Mindoro and the eastern part of Panay island including Negros Occidental.

Data from the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center showed

that agricultural damage has reached P463.3 million since March 8 this year. This is equivalent to 1 percent of all agricultural areas.

In Negros Occidental, P6.1 million worth of crops were damaged as 143 hectares of farmlands had been affected by drought. A report FROM THE /FkCE OF THE 0ROVINCIAL Agriculturist said the dry spell affected 253 farmers in seven barangay (villages).

Japhet Masculino, provincial agriculturist, said the affected farmers whose crops were insured would be given assistance by the provincial government.

The DA said 16,000 farmers lost their income because of the drought.

The affected regions include Davao, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City), Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Re-

gion in Muslim Mindanao.

Farmers affected by the dry spell can apply for loan assistance being offered by the DA, PiĂąol said.

Radical steps As more provinces reel from the El NiĂąo phenomenon, Senate hopeful Rodrigo “Jiggyâ€? Manicad Jr. urged the government to take “radical stepsâ€? to mitigate the impact of the dry spell. “The farming sector would lose billions of pesos if immediate measures are not taken to mitigate the effects of the dry spell,â€? said Manicad, who is seeking public OFkCE FOR THE kRST TIME “We are an agricultural nation.

We depend on agriculture for food but the looming water crisis is taking its toll on our farms and livestock,� he added.

Citing records from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Manicad noted that only about 57 percent of irrigable land or 1.73 million

hectares were irrigated. “This means that the rest of the country’s farmlands depend on rain,â€? the former broadcast journalist said. “Where our irrigation system gets water — the dams — are getting dry. This could mean a crisis if we don’t mitigate the effects of the El NiĂąo,â€? he added.

Manicad urged the government to create an agency that would manage the country’s water resources. “Managed and run by scientists, this agency should come up with programs and projects that could harness all available water sources that could be used by farms, livestock and people,� he said.

Manicad urged the public, particularly those living in Metro Manila, to conserve water amid the water supply problem in the region. “Unnecessary use of water, for sports and other recreational activities, should now be stopped,� he said.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND EUGENE Y. ADIONG

NATIONAL ID TO BE ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER – PSA THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is ready to implement the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) and is expected to issue THE kRST IDENTIkCATION CARDS )$S in September.

03! OFkCIALS INFORMED THE (OUSE Oversight Committee on Population

and Family Relations that PhilSys registration will start in September.

Filipinos and resident aliens aged kVE AND OLDER CAN REGISTER “I am happy that it’s all systems go for the National ID system based on the timeline they have presented to us this morning,� Speaker Gloria

Macapagal Arroyo said on Tuesday.

Lourdines de la Cruz, deputy national statistician of the PSA, said during the House hearing that indigents, persons with disability, and government workers would be THE kRST TO BE REGISTERED The registration is free of charge.

HAPPY DAY

President Rodrigo Duterte congratulates Major Nancy Dacanay of the Philippine Air Force’s 15th Strike Wing, one of the Outstanding Women in Law Enforcement and National Security awardees. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Enrile, who is seeking a fifth six-year term at the Senate in the midterm elections in May, said he learned in his decades of experience handling cases including libel that mediamen were “ready to go to court� to defend their actions. “I have handled many libel cases.

I used to handle Manila Bulletin, Manila Times and Mirror, Philippine Herald , all the Roces publications.

Many of the newspapermen at that

time were my clients. We used to defend them in libel cases,� he said. “There was never any instance where people will say, ‘I am persecuted because I am a member of the press.’ Reporters and editors and publishers at that time were ready to go to court,� Enrile said.

Asked on the libel case filed against Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa, Enrile said she was entitled to

go to court to defend her case.  “If she committed libel against anybody, why should she be immune from charge? If you commit libel several times, those are several behavioral acts subject to sanctions,� he said. “If there is evidence, she is entitled to present the counter-evidence,� the veteran lawmaker added.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Building and planting on a vacant lot Dear PAO, My uncle who lives in the province decided to plant some crops and build an animal hut in a vacant lot next to his own land. He knew the owner of the vacant lot but hadn’t seen him for several months, that is why he decided to use it.

After almost a year, the owner of the vacant lot returned and was SURPRISED TO kND THE CROPS AND hut of my uncle in his land. The landowner is now demanding that my uncle remove his crops and hut. While my uncle admits that he did not obtain the consent of the landowner in using the vacant lot, he is arguing that the land is vacant anyway so he might as well use it to make it productive. My uncle is also asking that his crops be allowed to grow, so he can harvest before removing them. He also wants the owner of the land to pay for the hut he built, but the land owner refuses. We want to know now if my uncle can demand this from the owner of the vacant lot since the land was just lying idle there anyway. We are thankful for ANY ADVICE YOUR OFkCE CAN GIVE Martelyn

A3

DA to start cloud seeding

Libel should remain a crime – Enrile FORMER Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile on Tuesday said libel should remain a crime to deter people with malicious motives from maligning others. “I would rather maintain [libel as a crime] because there are people whose reputations will be destroyed by some other motives, not really for public service, but for selfish interests,� he said in a recent round-table discussion with political bloggers.

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA Dear Martelyn, The fact that a land is vacant and unattended does not give your uncle the legal right to use it without the knowledge of the owner, especially considering that he knew the owner, but he still failed to obtain the latter’s permission for its use. Considering your uncle’s unauthorized use of another person’s land, he can be considered as a builder and planter in bad faith. On the other hand, the owner of the vacant lot is considered as a landowner in good faith, since he was not aware of the building and planting done in his land. Establishing this preliminary facts, we can now discuss the rights of your uncle and the land owner of the vacant lot in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The Civil Code of the Philippines PROVIDES THE SPECIkC RIGHTS AND OBligations in favor of the landowner

in good faith, against those builders and planters in bad faith, to wit: “Article 450. The owner of the land on which anything has been built, planted or sown in bad faith may demand the demolition of the work, or that the planting or sowing be removed, in order to replace things in their former condition at the expense of the person who built, planted or sowed; or he may compel the builder or planter to pay the price of the land, and the sower the proper rent.�

Considering this cited law, the owner of the vacant lot can rightfully and legally demand either the demolition and removal of the hut and crops at your uncle’s expense as a builder and planter in bad faith, or require him to pay the price or rent for his unauthorized use of the vacant lot.

With regard to your uncle’s demand that he should be paid for the hut he built, it is important to note that builders and planters in bad faith cannot require landowners in good faith to pay for what was built or planted in their land. This is because aside from the fact that the law entitles landowners in good

faith to claim for damages against builders and planters in bad faith, THE LAW ALSO SPECIkCALLY STATES THAT the latter shall lose what they built or planted without indemnity since they did it in bad faith. (Articles 451, 449, Ibid.)

The owner of the vacant lot has the right to demand and require your uncle to remove what he built and planted on his land. Your uncle cannot demand compensation from the landowner for the structures built and crops planted. Your uncle also cannot demand that he be allowed to continue to grow or harvest the crops he planted. The landowner can file an action to claim damages against your uncle for his unauthorized use of his land.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s /FkCE 1UESTIONS FOR #HIEF !COSTA may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net

Information to be gathered for the national ID include biometrics (thumbprint, iris and face scanning), full name, sex, date and place of birth, blood type, address, and if one is a Filipino or a resident alien. Information on marital status, mobile number and e-mail address are optional.

The registrant will be given a permanent PhilSys number. The ID card would be issued a few days after the authentication of the information.

De la Cruz said they aim to issue 100 million cards to Filipinos and resident aliens by 2022.

REINA C. TOLENTINO

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l Metro Manila’s water shortage

“N

%6%2 in my six decades on this planet have I ever had to queue for a miserable pail of water,� says one resident of Mandaluyong, among the tens of thousands affected by the ongoing water supply crisis in parts of Metro Manila and neighboring Rizal province.

The water shortage came with very little warning, not enough for residents in the East Zone concession, which is handled by the Ayala-led Manila Water Co., to make adequate preparations.

But one household can only conserve or prepare so much for a water shortage. The weather bureau warned of an El NiĂąo dry spell late last year, which made it incumbent upon water regulators and Manila Water to ensure contingencies.

Instead, the East Zone households are told to wait for the rains to refill the reservoirs of Angat Dam in Bulacan, the primary water source for Metro Manila, and La Mesa Dam, a secondary source. In the meantime, they must grin and bear with it.

Manila Water was supposed to be the better one of the two concessionaires that won the bidding for the historic privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in 1997.

Unlike the West Zone, handled by Maynilad Water Services Inc., which suffered a significant amount of nonrevenue water (read: water leaks everywhere), Manila Water got the good deal.

In fact, debt-saddled Maynilad had to switch owners, after the Lopezes gave up on their franchise and sold it to a consortium between Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and the Consunji family’s DMCI construction business.

The expertise and profitability gained by Manila Water allowed it to become a publicly listed company and even obtain concessions from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. It is, thus, hard to understand that Manila Water was unable to plan for a big contingency in its home country.

It is also shocking that more than two decades after privatization, the two utilities, Manila Water and -AYNILAD ALONG WITH THE -733 2EGULATORY /FkCE (RO), have not established additional water resources that could serve Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

In the intervening years, Metro Manila must have added millions more to its daytime population.

The MWSS-RO has among the highest-paid board members and executives; they should have their performance bonuses cut at least for their complacency and lack of adequate long-term planning.

The National Water Resources Board also has some explaining to do. This little-known government agency, in charge of water allocations from Angat, should be more transparent with its decisions, which affect millions of people. It should also disseminate its decisions more effectively. Its website for instance is unbelievably outdated — its El Niùo action plan is for the years 2015 to 2016.

We wonder why, at this point, the usually noisy legislators have not raised hell and called for inquiries in aid of legislation against the water utilities and their regulators. Metro Manilans cannot be offered silly excuses and finger-pointing, much less finger-wagging. Someone has to answer for this water crisis misery reported to affect up to 52,000 households in the metropolis. ~

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 151

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.

O

Open election data project

RGANIZED in 1983, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) is the first election-monitoring body in the world and, at the outset, espoused the transparency of election results. It has since expanded its monitoring and observation activities to cover pre-election, election day and post-election periods.

The monitoring and observation activities include procurement, voter registration, voter education, kLING OF CERTIkCATES OF CANDIDACY

preparation for elections, election day operations, among others. .AMFREL S kNDINGS AND OBSERVAtions are published and made available to anyone interested.

Namfrel may have unwittingly set a building block for what is referred to today as “open data� or, more SPECIkCALLY gOPEN ELECTION DATA u Internet resources provide the FOLLOWING DEkNITION OR SIMILAR TO it: “Open data is data that can be freely used, reused and redistributed by anyone — subject only, at most, to the requirement to attribute and share alike.�

Some of the attributes of “open data� are: — Available and accessible – data must be available as a whole, in a

tion projects, including the automation of voter registration and, as provided for in Republic Act 8436 as amended by Republic Act 9369, or the Automated Election Law, has automated our elections on a nationwide scale since 2010.

Automated elections generate large amounts of data beyond election CONVENIENT AND MODIkABLE FORM — Reuse and redistribution — results and election statistics. The interested parties may reuse the data generated includes election data for their own analysis and transmission-related data as the redistribution, including mixing election returns are transmitted from the clustered precincts to it with other datasets. — Universal participation — any the designated targets, including interested party is allowed to access, the city or municipal canvassing use, reuse, and redistribute the data and consolidation system (CCS), Given the varying technolo- the transparency server, and the gies used to access the internet, Comelec’s central server. The coninteroperability is a key attribute solidated results are then transmitted to the designated provincial of “open data.�

The Philippine government has CCS, then to the national CCS, its own open data initiative which and also the Comelec’s central can be found in https://data.gov.ph server. The machines used — the AND ADOPTS THE SAME DEkNITION OF vote counting machines, transmis“open data.� Open Data Philippines sion servers, and canvassing and (ODPH) acts as the intermediary consolidation servers — record between the government of the machine activities in what is rePhilippines and the public when it ferred to as the “system log� which comes to government data. It makes would indicate to a knowledgeable government data more accessible, user how the machines performed.

The generated data recording the searchable and understandable.

The Commission on Elections movement of results and machine (Comelec) has engaged in automa- performance would certainly be of

interest to the public.

The data captured (votes) and generated (election returns, certificates of canvass and statement of votes at various levels, transmission-related data, system logs) by the automated election system, Comelec-generated data (project of precincts, list of voters, list of election workers both the board of election inspectors and board of canvassers, and others), Comelec-collected data (list of candidates per contests per jurisdiction, statement of contribution and expenditures, among others) are various data sets that are of interest to the public and should be made available, accessible, and open in machine-readable format.

Thus, the concept of “open election data� as may be applied in Philippine elections. The Comelec may seize the opportunity to be more transparent by making the various election datasets publicly available and accessible.

The data should be: — Timely — Data provided in a timely manner will prove to be informative and instructive.

Timely data may aid in the voters’ decision-making.

ÂłAveriaA5

The epic fail of inclusive prosperity

W

HICH of these two yearend reports should a Philippine PRESIDENT DELIVER ON THE kRST WEEK of the new year?

First report. A GDP growth of 6.5 percent. Roughly 60 percent of the income gains went to the Top 1 percent of the population, who happened to be the prime benEkCIARIES OF AN ENVIRONMENT THAT nurtured capitalism gone berserk.

Without the constraints of preredistribution regulations, the moneyed class wheeled and dealt.

The concessions and laxity toward the capitalist class were made on the simplistic assumption that THE MONEYED BENEkCIARIES WOULD use their gains and proceeds to validate the tired dogma that a “rising tide lifts all boats.� But, as Pope Francis said, the trickle-down principle is “bunk.�

Second report. GDP growth was a decent 3 percent to 4 percent.

But income gains were broadly spread, with share of the Top 10 percent of the population at 40 percent, and 60 percent delivered to the 90 percent below. While the share of gains was still skewed in favor of the Top 10 percent, there was nonetheless a dynamism in the wage market, with workers leveraging their newfound trade union power into decent collective bargaining agreements. Where workers are unionized and have bargaining power, life is generally fairer for everybody.

A n i m p r e s s i ve g r ow t h i n which gains had been sucked up by a few? Or, a moderate growth but with the gains broadly shared? Which is which? The first one is a case of growth for

MIDWEEK COMMENTS MARLEN V. RONQUILLO growth’s sake. The second one is growth with a social conscience.

4HE kRST ONE SADLY HAS BEEN THE state of growth over the past three years. While the administration of Mr. Duterte is not a slacker in the critical area of generating growth, the gainers from three years of sustained growth have been the same gainers during the six years of Mr. Aquino. And Mr. Duterte campaigned precisely on the theme of lifting into the economic mainstream the marginal sectors rendered invisible by Mr. Aquino.

He rose to power on the promise that he will be the exact opposite of Aquino, the unapologetic social darwinist. Yet, nothing has changed under Mr. Duterte.

The failure to put in place the foundations for a broadly shared prosperity, to put in place inclusive prosperity, is the biggest failure of the Duterte administration, not the failure to rein in the -ETRO -ANILA TRAFkC GRIDLOCKS !

MERE FULkLMENT OF HIS CAMPAIGN promise, which was to figuratively “burn those cars� would ease the traffic gridlocks overnight as cars and other private vehicles make up 75 percent of ALL %$3! TRAFkC WITH 056S m THE EFkCIENT MASS CARRIERS m HAVING a negligible share of 25 percent.

Mr. Duterte just failed to muster the political will to rein in the use of cars and other private vehicles.

The next three years of the Duterte administration, unless he orders an overhaul of the policy priorities, will be more of the same. Or worse.

The second phase of the tax reform package being pushed by the Duterte administration will be another gift to powerful corporate interests. The reduction of the corporate income tax to a low 20 percent will just be a reprise of what happened in the US recently, which cut taxes on the rich with the hope that the proceeds from the tax cuts would be reinvested.

And that wages will rise as a result of the tax cuts. The two did not happen. Wages of workers remained stagnant. The proceeds from the tax cuts were used by the American corporate interests for massive rounds of share buybacks, and not on inspired investments.

Some of the beneficiaries acquired, at record-breaking prices, pricey Manhattan penthouses.

The P8 trillion or so “Build, Build, Build� program of the Duterte administration, which implementation would be fast-tracked in the next three years, has been called the “Golden Age of Infrastructure.� That may be partly true.

But what is truer is the fact that the public-private partnership (PPP) model being used to carry out the infrastructure program is another giveaway to the Top 1 percent.

Public records will show that only the top conglomerates that have a stranglehold on very important segments of the Philippine economy, from power to banking to utilities to real estate and retail, are the same infrastructure giants

involved in the PPP. Toll roads will go to them. Franchises to operate water and power and grids for 25 years renewable for another 25 years will go to them. Count them and they do not even exceed 25 big players, often with interlocking ownerships.

The reason why the PPP model is shunned by many OCED countries is that PPPs are mostly offerings to plutocrats, with guarantees from government in case of failure.

Throughout history, the most ambitious — and most successful — infrastructure programs have BEEN THE ONES WHOSE kNANCING AND construction have been overseen by the state. The mode of development found more costly and with the least social advantage are those pursued via the PPP model.

The Duterte administration’s sheer faith in orthodox neoliberalism is rooted in the tired orthodoxy of his economic team.

Deregulate, privatize, liberalize.

Small farmers, I am one of them, are now into our inexorable march to extinction due to a rice import liberalization policy done without legitimate safety nets for the 3 million small rice farmers.

Importation is now the anchor of the country’s food security policy.

The economic team chooses the winners and losers. And woe to the voiceless and the faceless, the economic team has not read the Sermon on the Mount.

And the super-rich Mr. Duterte may not be interested in data but the truth is their incomes might even be growing faster than our own economy. And he seems not to be bothered by that distortion.

˜ The Manila Times

Opinion

A5

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Dynastic kleptocracy M

Lacson’s obsession with GMA bad for his and Congress’ prestige Just to have a last pinch — the Pilipino word kurot is more precise — before Arroyo retires from Congress, Lacson is portraying the Senate and the House of Representatives as cheating gangs trying to hoodwink each other by changing the provisions of the budget bill they had already agreed on.

He claimed the other day, as the fanatic Arroyo-basher paper 0HILIPPINE $AILY )NQUIRER reported it, that the Speaker “unlawfully funneled nearly P95 billion in infrastructure funds to the districts of her allies in the House after Congress had RATIkED THE kNAL VERSION OF THE 0 TRILLION BUDGET FOR u !S THAT PAPER FURTHER QUOTED him, “Lacson said Arroyo’s acts CLEARLY VIOLATED THE 3UPREME Court ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the pork barrel system and the lump-sum appropriations for lawmakers.�

submitted to President Duterte for signing into law.

What the House simply did, which Lacson misinterpreted — deliberately or not — was to ITEMIZE THE ALLOCATION FOR the Health department’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HEEP). This in fact ensures THAT THE DISTRICTS REQUIRING SUCH facilities get the budget for their program. Such itemization in fact is a practice, after the bigger budget allocations are agreed upon, and the Senate itself recently gave the House such itemization for certain budgets.

Why is Lacson confusing the country on this crucial budget bill? )S HE STILL BLAMING !RROYO FOR Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Myra Garcia-Fernandez’s order to arrest him nine years ago for THE .OVEMBER KILLINGS OF publicist Salvador “Bubby� Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, which made him live the hard life OF A FUGITIVE FOR MONTHS

layed, government would have TO USE THE ONE WHICH OF course doesn’t authorize the use of funds for such laws passed recently as those directing universal healthcare, subsidies to farmers UNDER THE 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION ,AW

and increasing the capital of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. )N HIS ALLEGATIONS THAT THE ALLOcations for the HEEP were bigger for Arroyo’s allies, did he make a list of such “allies�? No. He just made a blanket assertion.

Allies

He probably saw a budget for several known Arroyo allies and jumped to the conclusion that all Arroyo allies got bigger budgets.

Did he include as “GMA allies� such representatives as those from Mindanao, who are allies not just of Arroyo but Duterte?

Lacson also made last December a similar leap to a false conclusion, without providing Straw-man data, just to blacken Arroyo’s Vendetta reputation. He announced, also That’s a classic straw-man arthrough his favorite newspaper gument, and the reality in the )NDEED ,ACSON AS $EPUTY -I- the 0$), that the infrastructure BUDGET IS IN FACT THE OPPO- nority Leader and Coop-Natco ALLOCATIONS FOR THE BUDGET site. The old pork-barrel system party-list Rep. Anthony Bravo for Arroyo’s Pampanga congresstruck down by the Supreme claimed on Monday, is “holding sional district are among the Court referred to the practice HOSTAGEu THE PROPOSED NA- LARGEST FOR of congressmen directing where tional budget because of his “perThat was of course patently government funds allocated by sonal vendetta� against Arroyo. false, and the data to show that it THE BUDGET ARE TO BE USED )N THE Or does Lacson simply want is a canard was available to anybudget prepared by the Arroyo- to discredit Arroyo in the eyes of BODY WANTING TO SEE IT )N TERMS led House, where and how these President Duterte who has made of ranking by size of allocations funds are to be used are listed her his key ally? for a congressman’s district, Arin some detail.

For whatever reason, the real- ROYO S IS IN THE TH SLOT IN A LIST Lacson’s claim is as patently ity is that accusations such as OF REPRESENTATIVES absurd, as a claim, for instance, that of Lacson’s could delay the ) DEBUNKED ,ACSON S CLAIMS AND that the President signed a Con- APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET even presented data to show how gress bill that was changed with- which normally should have relatively small the allocations were out the House and the Senate’s been signed into law in Novem- FOR !RROYO S DISTRICT 0 BILLION express permission. The House ber, for implementation last compared to those for the districts and the Senate, after the bicam- January. The Senate is a gang, of 99 other congressman, among eral committee on the budget which gives full play to a mem- them Joey Salceda (P5.7 billion) signed off on it, approved on ber’s concerns, even if false. and even anti-Duterte congressman &EBRUARY THE BUDGET BILL TO BE !ND IF THE BUDGET IS DE- %DCEL ,AGMAN 0 BILLION

Man enough Was Lacson man enough to admit he got his facts wrong, perhaps fed with wrong information by an overeager researcher, and which he was too busy to fact-check?

No. Lacson even had the gall to send a letter to this paper, signed

BY HIS INCOMPETENT MEDIA OFkCER (since he must have felt that replying himself to a columnist was below his stature), published with the title “Senator Lacson seeks to set the RECORD STRAIGHTu $EC

Did he present a list of allocations for each district to prove his ALLEGATION THAT !RROYO S ND DIStrict of Pampanga had the biggest ALLOCATIONS IN THE BUDGET No. He didn’t even touch on his allegations against Arroyo, and merely made the prose EQUIVALENT OF MUMBLING GENeralities incomprehensible to readers, for example, that he MERELY gQUESTIONED NOT ONLY THE ballooning of allocations for infrastructure in some legislative districts, but also the Tulong Dunong program.. (blah-blah).� )N HIS LETTER ,ACSON CLAIMED that “he already made clear he has made peace with Mrs. Arroyo, and that he has forgiven those who wronged him.�

That’s a bit hard to believe now, with his second false accusation against Arroyo in just a few months’ time.

Move on Senator Lacson. For the country’s sake. $ISCLOSURE ) WAS !RROYO S 0RESIdential Spokesman and Chief of Staff FROM IN THE kRST HALF OF HER PRESIDENCY

and then Ambassador to Greece and #YPRUS FROM TO

Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ gmail.com Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Twitter: @bobitiglao Archives at: www.rigobertotiglao.com

Taiwan and China: Then and now, and in the future like my family and my brothers.

However, they have fundamental and major differences ... As China has an impressive hisPart 2 tory and hardworking people, it needs to have the wisdom to Taiwan and China: Fundamental differences listen to what the Taiwanese really want, if its trying to win ) LOVE China and Taiwan. They their hearts and minds.

To show goodwill, China can at are rooted in their historical values and cultures that impress and least respect Taiwan by renouncing the use of force against the tiny INlUENCE ME ALL THE TIME During my four years of study island. After all, as China calls in Taiwan under a scholarship, the people of Taiwan as “brothers through my personal observation and sisters,� should the mainland and numerous encounters to ex- big brother threaten to kill his kid change views with the Taiwanese, SIBLINGS u )F #HINA LAUNCHES A MILI) HAVE COME TO DEEPLY REALIZE AND tary attack to invade Taiwan, it will respect Taiwan’s process of democ- inadvertently cause severe negative RATIZATION ) ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT CONSEQUENCES TO THE PEACE AND the people of Taiwan are proud of STABILITY OF THE !SIA 0ACIkC REGION !S A &ILIPINO ) KNOW THAT THE their hard-fought democracy, freedom and human rights — things Philippines wants to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity across the that we, Filipinos, also value.

Taiwan has exercised its freedom Taiwan Strait for the sake of peace to elect its own leader and legisla- and stability in the region.

When it comes to communicature. Like the Philippines, Taiwan also has a rich and diverse press tion, we learn not only to talk, BUT ALSO TO LISTEN ) HOPE THAT that enjoys full freedom....

The sad fact is, Taiwan does not China can start to talk with Taiwan accept the “one country, two sys- soon to sort out their differences tems� that is unilaterally proposed BY kRSTLY REMOVING THE OBSTACLE and imposed by China.... The “one of the preconditions such as a country, two systems� has no mar- “one-China principle� and “one country, two systems.� ket value at all in Taiwan. ) BELIEVE THAT 4AIWAN AND Taiwan and China for me are CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

BY GERICK CHUA

#HINA MAY kND SOME COMMON ground, based not on coercion and threat, but on mutual respect AND BENEkT EVENTUALLY

Internet era and future generation The next generations are brought together by the internet. People around the world can easily share something in common and agree or disagree on many issues with the help of and via the internet. The internet can offer alternative voices. .... )F THINGS ARE AGREEABLE IN OUR GENERATION ) BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE generations will have the wisdom to open up to new ideas... and be able to evaluate what is best for them and their nation. Time, the internet and the youth will pave the way for change.

For now, it would be great to see China taking a friendly stance toward its democratic sibling, Taiwan, without making any threat of an attack if its “one country, two systems� precondition is not immediately accepted, but instead, extending a conciliatory hand as they move toward a shared future of peace and prosperity even in diversity. ***

Gerick Chua, born and raised in Chinatown in Binondo, studied in a local Filipino-Chinese school and received his degree at De La 3ALLE 5NIVERSITY -ANILA (E kNished his Master’s degree at Ateneo Graduate School of Business. He went to the National University OF 3INGAPORE IN UNTIL to take up business courses, during which time he also visited China ON A DAY TRIP Gerrick received a two-year Taiwan scholarship for a Doctor of Philosophy program at the Tamkang UNIVERSITY IN 4AIPEI (E kNISHED THE REQUIRED COURSES THOUGH HE has not submitted a dissertation.

By profession Gerick has worked IN SEVERAL )4 "USINESS SERVICES IN various regions, including Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea. His work experience spans knowledge management, automation, continuous improvement, security and electronic money.

You may view his photos of Nomadic Taro and the Man on the Move adventure at https://nomadictaro.wordpress.com/ You may send feedback at gerick. cain.chua@gmail.com

Q AVERIA FROM A4

Open election data project — Granular — Data provided should as detailed as possible to remove ambiguities. — Available for free on the internet — Data may be hosted in a platform that is freely available and accessible. — Complete — Data that is complete and made available as a whole is open data. Releasing a complete dataset is a clear act of transparency. — Analyzable – The data must be in a format that is machine-readable and may be processed in a manner that allows it to be analyzed. — Non-proprietary – The data may

be used and re-used freely, without restrictions, monetary or otherwise. — Non-discriminatory – The data must be made available to any individual or organization without need of registration in order to access or use/re-use the data. — License-free – The data must be made available for use, re-use, or redistribution without barriers. — Permanently available – The data shall be made available in a “stable online location� in perpetuity.

Namfrel has identified “Open Election Data� as a project of impor-

TANCE AND SIGNIkCANCE )T IS OFFERING to the Comelec a platform that meets the principles “open data.� *** Meantime, Comelec disclosed at a hearing conducted by the joint congressional oversight committee on the automated election system last February the use of a fourth automated election system component — the election results transmission system (ERTS). The source code of the ERTS programs have also been presented to the local source code reviewers.

The ERTS is an infrastructure where

all election results transmissions converge, receiving transmissions from the various machines and routing the election results to target MACHINES )T CONSISTS OF SEVERAL SERVERS and network components.

To be pilot-tested in the coming elections is the voter registration VERIkCATION SYSTEM 3OME

voter registration verification machines will be deployed and used in about a third of the total number of clustered precincts.

More on these two items in later articles.

Y previous column discussed a "negatives list" of candidates who “must not be elected� to a Senate seat in May ) MENTIONED THREE WHO are making a mockery of what is left of our fragile democracy AND OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS ) am expanding my list to include members of political dynasties POLDYNS ) IMPLORE THE VOTERS

at least the readers of this column to a dispassionate scrutiny of the names and cull from the rest of THE REMAINING UNKNOWN CANdidates and dig deep into their QUALIkCATIONS AND TRACK RECORDS

perchance to excavate nuggets of gems of future senators outside of the discredited and tired branded names. Perhaps this is what the country needs badly, AN INJECTION OF FRESH QUALIkED unknowns into the body politic whom we the voters will endow the honor to serve us. Polls are nothing more than a snapshot of an instant and subject to the dynamics of individual and collective choices. We can still alter the statistical regime.

President Duterte ran on three distinct campaign promises: the elimination of illegal drugs, reduction of graft and corruption and political restructuring THROUGH THE REVISION OF THE Constitution. The first item is ongoing, but the collateral damAGE IS INCALCULABLE 4HE OFkCIALLY accepted death toll from his draconian methods is more than

AND COUNTING 4HE kGURES on the streets and those counted by his political opponents and those by multilateral and international agencies have run up to almost twice the number, rendering his and the country’s reputation abroad in tatters. He is being threatened with his day of reckoning when he steps down from OFFICE BEFORE THE )NTERNATIONAL Criminal Court at The Hague for human rights violations.

This possibility could be one of the reasons why he needs to be protected after he leaves office by anointing as his successor his daughter, Sara. The two previous Philippine presidents before him, Estrada and Macapagal- Arroyo have seen the insides of local jails; AND 0.OY MAY BE NEXT "UT $5 may also be a reluctant guest of AN )## PENITENTIARY ALBEIT AN international one. God forbid he ends up this way!

His fight against corruption is barely making a dent. And by the standards of his doctrine — a mere whiff of corruption — he has dismissed several of his people even those ostensibly close to him, SOME UNDER QUESTIONABLE AND unfair circumstances. But none of THE BIG kSH HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED ‡ EXCEPT PERHAPS ONE HIGH PROkLE critic, a woman-senator, pending trial but currently languishing in jail. Dubiously, one plunderersenator is now running under his PDP-Laban party, and the other under his daughter’s HnP. But his third mantra, that of political-structural "pagbabago" through constitutional revisions, may have been derailed and out of the mainstream as some of the PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE Constitution have practically been SCUTTLED IN PRINCIPLE ) REFER TO THE constitutional provision prohibitING POLITICAL DYNASTIES &ULLY OUT OF THE OR SO LEADING SENATORIAL candidates and those running for other elective positions are part of a “poldyn,� not to mention the President’s own — his daughter Sarah and two sons are all seeking ELECTIVE PUBLIC OFkCE But looking beyond Philippine politics, the creation of dynasties, business or criminal are simply the primordial urge to spread one’s seed and migration OF POWER INlUENCE AND PELF TO the next generation beyond the progenitor’s grave. From ancient to medieval periods, we have the pharaohs, emperors and kings expanding their progeny. After the age of kings, we allowed elected autocracy to reign supreme with absolute power and in some cases, vesting a plutocracy the license to reign and rule over all.

Even in criminal enterprises we have the same desires. An

LITO MONICO C. LORENZANA EXAMPLE IS THE -AkA FAMILIES OR THE #OSA .OSTRA OF )TALY AND THE United States. Common to these families are the propensity for the capo di tutti capi (the family head) to train their children and close relatives at an early age on the art of crime. Nothing is more indispensable to protection from the law, the encroachment of rivals and the continued concentration of power and wealth than that of guaranteeing bloodline; though there are monumental failures as the breakdown of the sacred “omerta,� depicted by Mario Puzo in his Godfather novels.

Poldyns in the Philippine setting are much worse. Although constitutionally proscribed these PAST YEARS NO LAWS HAVE BEEN enacted to make the constitutional provision operative – not from the legislative body, majority of whom are themselves pillars of poldyns. And these dynasties now extend their tentacles to all facets of political and economic undertakings, attempting to expand their web of power to perpetuate themselves for generations. They are the rot and cancer to the body politic.

4HEY MUST THEREFORE ACQUIRE THE same guarantee mechanisms originally exclusive only to crime families through the legitimacy of the ballot. Their expected results are to keep corruption going AND MONEY lOWING TO THE FAMILY coffers; consolidate their power AND ASSUME IMMENSE INlUENCE to protect family members from getting caught; or use its web to override prosecution. Thus, this crime network/political dynasty whose primary loyalty is to family has hidden this family business behind the cloak of public service, and psyched itself into believing in this solemn duty.

True, there are decent individual members of dynasties, but our beef is with the collective malevolence of the concept, the structure and system itself. The biggest myth is the singular proposition that there are good and moral Philippine political dynasties. There are none!

These dynasts have almost succeeded in injecting themselves into the national conversation as sure winners. Let us reverse this dialogue and be more discerning.

4HERE ARE DYNASTS IN A STAtistical striking position to make IT TO THE SEATS LISTED BY THE SWS & Pulse Asia in alphabetical order: Angara (Baler, Aurora); !QUINO 4ARLAC "INAY -AKATI clan); Cayetano (MuntinlupaPateros-Taguig); Ejercito and Estrada (Manila, San Juan, Laguna); Mangudadatu (Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao); Marcos )LOCOS .ORTE /SMEÄA #EBU Revilla (Bacoor, Cavite); and 6ILLAR ,AS 0IÄAS -UNTINLUPA 4HE REMAINING NINE OUT OF statistical probables therefore are nondynastic independents or guest candidates of the PDPLaban, Hugpong, LP and assorted wannabees, again in alphabetical order: Colmenares, Go, dela Rosa, Lapid, Pimentel, Poe, Roxas, TaÄADA AND 4OLENTINO !MONG THESE too are subalterns of dynasties.

But there are names worth considering among those statistically outside of the winner’s circle. Take out the dynasties AND UNEARTH THE REMAINING TO replace them. Among others in alphabetical order: Aguilar, Alunan, Alejano, Chong, Diokno, Gadon, Gutoc, Manicad, Matula, Montano, Ong, etc.

We love to blame government for the ills of society, corruption, stark poverty and suffocating despair. And every three years, we, the people are given the privilege to set our course — a path to change.

Yet we waste it and indulge in selflAGELLATION OVER AND OVER !ND IN our choices, we rely blindly on our leaders who are themselves members of political dynasties whose intentions and agenda are suspect.

This cycle let us take a risk on ourselves! Or once more, be damned!

A6

Opinion

A

S some readers will have noticed, I have been writing for this esteemed paper for a number of years, but I had yet to set foot in THE 0HILIPPINES 7ELL kNALLY ) DID have a chance to come to the Philippines last week, mainly to attend The Manila Times Business Forum.

My emotions were already QUITE PENT UP ON THE lIGHT FROM Kota Kinabalu to Manila. When THE lIGHT ATTENDANT ANNOUNCED that the plane had landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and at the same moment I saw a large neon sign with the airport’s name, my eyes could not help but well up in tears. A lot of childhood memories came rushing back. In the 1970s and 1980s, I was a rather precocious child curious about world affairs. I grew up with the impression that the Philippines was a dictatorship. And from all the accounts that I read, it was. But the worldshattering assassination of Ninoy Aquino, a prominent opposition leader, right there at the same airport tarmac in 1983, ushered in the later democratization of the country, and many of us from

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

My welcome to the Philippines!

EI SUN OH surrounding countries were also quietly hoping for the best for the Filipinos. It was one of the pivotal events which shaped my world view.

I was somewhat taken aback seeing many of the casino resorts by the airport, and also in many other parts of Manila. For I had always thought the gaming industry was vibrant primarily in Macao and Cambodia, with a few other casinos in Singapore and Malaysia; but apparently it is alive and well, indeed booming, here in Manila.

My Filipino friends told me that spankingly colorful new casinos have sprung up. And that in recent years, the Philippines also saw the proliferation of what has come to be known as “pogos,� or Philippine online gaming operators, offering, well, online gaming services primarily to overseas “players.�

Well, gaming, be it online or oflINE HAS INDEED BROUGHT ABOUT A degree of much-needed prosperity to quite a few regional economies, especially amid a continuing worldwide economic slowdown which has also seen the increasingly jarring disparity between the rich (and therefore potential gaming customers) and poor (those seeking gainful employment). The most important concerns in this regard are perhaps that more jobs are indeed created for the locals, AND THAT THE RESULTING PROkTS CAN be more evenly spread out among the various strata of the local society, which hopefully would also not be too affected by some of the LESS THAN POSITIVE INlUENCES TYPIcally brought about by the gaming industry. Sometimes when the economy needs growth, we cannot be too choosy. There is simply no straightforward answer as to how to bring about growth, especially in developing countries.

And growth was perhaps the main theme throughout the business forum held in Makati. The economic picture painted at the forum was perhaps as rosy as the

The rising trend of zero waste lifestyles

BY LEYLA ACAROGLU MELBOURNE (IPS): Not too long ago, the term “zero waste� was just one of those boring policy directives or catchphrases thrown around by governments.

But in the last few years, "going zero waste" has taken on a new direction as a lifestyle trend of the insta-famous, who are helping to make zero waste a movement that anyone can get involved in.

A “zero-waste lifestyler� is someone who actively reduces their waste consumption, designing their life to avoid acquiring things that will end up as trash — especially disposable and nonrecyclable products and packaging.

They usually plan meals in advance to avoid convenience packaging and ensure they always have a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, straw and carry bags on hand to actively refuse disposable items.

Actually, a life without waste is nothing new: pre-planning meals and taking your own containers, composting organic waste, proactively purchasing reusable products, and even making essentials like soap and toothpaste at home were a normal part of life before the onset of hyper-convenience encouraged the kind of runaway disposability we have now.

Many of the heroes of the zero waste lifestyle movement have incredible stories to tell of only producing one small jar of actual ‘trash’ a year, all through active lifestyle design and adopting everyday lifestyle changes.

In addition to individuals who take measures at home against waste, larger organizations are getting on board with the lifestyle: dedicated zero waste stores and even entire shopping centers have sprung up in major cities around the globe to accommodate the growing trend of plastic-free, package-free and zero waste consumption.

Major multinational companies have started to embrace the global trend towards sustainability as well. We are seeing leaders in circular economy emerge in some sectors, such as apparel, consumer goods and furniture.

Loop, a circular delivery service which is set to launch this year with major brand partners, caters to the growing demand for products and services with a zero-waste philosophy.

Ikea recently announced that they would be 100 percent circular by 2030, and Lego is working on a plastic-free brick.

But walk down the aisles in any supermarket around the world, and it’s obvious that the vast majority of product providers have yet to catch on to this massive cultural shift.

The last 18 months have proven particularly important for awareness and action: China stopped taking the world’s plastic trash, which sent ripple effects around the world and effectively broke the recycling industry.

Along with the waves of plastic trash washing up on tourist beaches around the world, China’s bold move has helped bring the destructive nature of hyperconsumption to the forefront of people’s minds, and shown that we can’t recycle our way out of our global trash problems.

One of the big issues that the zero waste movement highlights is THAT RECYCLING IS A lAWED SOLUTION

one which only works effectively WHEN THE lOW OF USED MATERIALS is captured and reused in similar or higher value products.

This is often not the case, though, and despite two solid decades of zero waste policies, we are still seeing a global increase in trash generation. The World Bank estimates that at the current rate of increase, we will see 70 percent increase in waste generation by 2050. This is all by design. Waste, whether it be in TRASH OR RECYCLING IS A DESIGN lAW At the Fourth UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya on March 11 to15, the world will gather to discuss the future of global consumption. From government leaders to industry leaders and from activists to innovators — all will be discussing the next phase of sustainable consumption and production.

At the same time, UN Environment is urging people to take a closer look at their own consumption patterns and “think beyond,

live within�, through their #solvedifferent campaign. It is a testimony to the momentum of the zero-waste movement and the positive change on the horizon.

In an initiative together with UN Environment, I have been working to develop an “Anatomy of Actions�, showcasing the lifestyle swaps that anyone, anywhere can take to support a more sustainable life.

From the food we eat to what we spend our money on, and from the way we move around to the dreams and aspirations we all have for a better future — there is a suite of actions you can take to support the cultural shifts needed to achieve the sustainable development goals.

Change takes time and is often hard to see while we are in the middle of it. But after years of people pushing in all sorts of directions, we are seeing a global tidal wave of action emerge.

The momentum is contagious, and it’s never too late to join the MOVEMENT )N FACT THERE ARE kVE simple actions you can start with today: Swap out meat for plantbased proteins; ditch everyday disposables such as cups, plates, bags, and take-out containers; Invest in repairable and longlasting stuff (and make sure to rePAIR IT WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE kXEDĂœ opt for low-carbon mobility options like biking, mass transit, or ridesharing; and move money from high-impact industries to renewables through swapping energy providers, banks, and investment portfolios.

There are many challenges ahead of us when it comes to sustainability, and major corporations are still far behind in the trend of adopting the changes needed to adapt to a circular economy.

But the progress is real, underway and transformative. The question is not if, but when we will see the tipping point where we, as a collective species, start to design goods and services to BE A POSITIVE INlUENCE ON THE PLANET

Leyla Acaroglu is an Australian designer, sustainability innovator, and educator. She is the founder of two design agencies, Disrupt Design and Eco Innovators.

relatively neat streets and impressive malls of Makati. Philippine SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS WHO attended the forum were very friendly, even stopping to pose with me for photos. I was curious about the need for foreign direct investments in the Philippines, but I was told by my learned Filipino friends that while FDI continues to be much needed, the business process outsourcing industry (such as call centers) and the remittances sent back by overseas Filipino workers ALSO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIkCANTLY TO THE economy. The good command of English exhibited by many of my Filipino friends certainly makes it a niche for the Philippines to be a favored destination for outsourcing. For me, there is nothing to be embarrassed about a developing country becoming an outsourcing DESTINATION OR HAVING A SIGNIkCANT portion of its population working overseas in modern times, for such is the reality of the world that almost all developing countries would have to go through this stage of their economic development.

The important thing, once again, is that local jobs are created, and

that more skills are acquired in the process to move up the value chain.

I was also invited by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry to give a talk on the opportunities and challenges faced by China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia. I was of the opinion that trade and investments must come kRST AND FOREMOST IF "2) IS TO BEAR fruit in Southeast Asia, as this is the part of the world which straddles the crossroads of East and West. The 10 Asean member states came together to form the Asean Economic Community back in 2015, eliminating most of the tariffs and nontariff barriers between them, which allows for FREER lOW OF GOODS AND SERVICES among themselves. In addition, Asean also has a standing free trade agreement with China. It is time that Asean and China come together to upgrade their economic integration as a precursor to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement currently under negotiation. In addition, I think BRI should be a bidirectional venture, whereby those

of us from Southeast Asia seek not only Chinese investments in the region, but should also make good use of the BRI framework to expand our business into the primarily Central Asian Silk Road economic belt, and even the shores of the new Arctic Route which is also increasingly being explored as a potential shipping route.

Of course I had some time to go around Manila. While I am very impressed with the skyscrapers in Makati as well as the heritage buildings in Intramuros, I hope I am not too blunt in pointing out that Manila, just like many other Southeast Asian metropolises, could really HAVE BETTER TRAFkC MANAGEMENT

and not least a more advanced and well-run public transport infrastructure. The jeepneys are nice and colorful, but they are still an indispensable part of the already choking surface roads.

If the transportation challenges could be better tackled, I am sure Manila would expand its economic potential even more.

But overall, it’s indeed mostly fun in the Philippines.

More areas in China open to wholly foreign-owned enterprises C HINA will roll out more opening measures in the agriculture, mining, manufacturing and service sectors, and allow wholly foreign-funded enterprises TO OPERATE IN MORE SECTORS A SENIOR OFkCIAL OF THE country's top economic planner said.

The country has begun revising the negative list for foreign investment access and will continue to carry out test programs for further opening-up in free trade zones, Ning Jizhe, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual legislative session on March 6.

It will further shorten the negative list which outLINES kELDS OFF LIMITS TO FOREIGN INVESTORS BASED ON last year's measures to substantially expand market access for foreign investors, Ning said.

4HE .$2# OFkCIAL INTRODUCED THAT A NEW CATALOG of encouraged foreign-invested industries will be released this year. The list aims to encourage foreign INVESTMENT IN MORE kELDS AND GIVE FULL PLAY TO THE ROLE of foreign capital in the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the development of emerging industries and coordinated regional development.

Foreign capital in China will be entitled to pre- and post-establishment national treatment, Ning said,

adding that China is taking measures to remove access restrictions for foreign investment in areas outside the negative list to ensure that foreign investors are treated the same as domestic ones.

The country will also offer fair treatment for foreign-invested companies in terms of government procurement, setting of standards, industrial policies, technological policies, qualification licensing, registration, going public and access to financing, said Ning.

Ning disclosed that the country’s top economic planner is working with other departments and local governments to simplify management procedures such as filing, and facilitate and serve major foreign-invested projects.

The commission has so far granted approval to two batches of foreign-invested projects, and the third batch, including projects in new energy, advanced manufacturing, petrochemicals and electronic information, will be introduced this year.

The NDRC will support these projects not only in the use of land, ocean and energy resources, but also in project planning. It will also accelerate environmental impact assessment so as to further enhance investment facilitation.

PEOPLE’S DAILY

Q Head of the National Development and Reform Commission He Lifeng (center) and deputy heads of the commission Ning Jizhe (2nd right) and Lian Weiliang (2nd left) take questions from domestic and foreign journalists on promoting high-quality economic development during a press conference held at the media center of the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress March 6,2019. PHOTO BY WENG QIYU, PEOPLE’S DAILY ONLINE

Q Visitors watch a Tesla’s Model 3 exhibited at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Phase I project of Tesla’s supper factory in Shanghai. The largest foreigninvested manufacturing project in Shanghai started construction in Lingang Area on Jan. 7, 2019. PHOTO FROM XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

Q Photo shows the lounge on the first floor of MUJI Hotel Beijing, Japanese retailer MUJI’s second hotel around the globe. The hotel was opened in Beijingfun at Dashilan, a shopping street within Qianmen area on June 30, 2018. PHOTO FROM CFP

Q A staff works on a production line of Siemens Healthineers in Shenzhen, Guangdong province on May 25, 2018. PHOTO FROM CFP

Q A staff of a Chinese exhibitor introduces a robot to foreigners at the 2018 China Yiwu International Intelligence Manufacturing Equipment Expo. The expo was held in Yiwu, eastern China’s Zhejiang province on Nov. 29, 2018, attracting a large number of enterprises from China, the US, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and Italy. PHOTO BY GONG XIANMING FROM PEOPLE’S DAILY ONLINE

Regions More troops deployed vs pro-IS group

˜ The Manila Times

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

Z

BY AL JACINTO

AMBOANGA CITY: The Philippine Army said it deployed more troops to run after a group of pro-Islamic State (IS) terrorists who killed two soldiers and wounded another in fierce fighting in restive Lanao del Sur on Monday.

It said two bandits were also killed, but soldiers only recovered one body in the remote village of Calaludan in Pagayawan town.

Monday’s clashes were the result of a tipoff from villagers on the

presence of Dawlah Islamiya (DI) members, according to Capt.

Clint Antipala, spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division.

Quoting a report from Col. Romeo Brawner, commander of the

103rd Infantry Brigade, Antipala said, “Additional troops were sent [to the province] in order to pursue THE lEEING TERRORISTS AS WELL AS TO ensure the safety and security of the local populace in the area.�

He said soldiers from the 55th Infantry Battalion were pursuing the terrorists, whose leaders pledged allegiance to IS and vowed TO kGHT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A caliphate in the troubled south. “We are sustaining our focused military operation in order to destroy the remnants of this group DI-Lanao and make free the province from terrorists,� Brawner said in his report.

Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, divi-

sion commander, condoled with the families of the slain soldiers gWHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIkCE IN protecting our people against the terrorist group.�

Security was also tightened in the province and more checkpoints were established to ensure the safety of the residents.

Singaporean terrorists The military believed that two most wanted Singaporean terrorists were among the fatalities in a series of air artillery and ground operations in several towns of Maguindanao since Monday.

Lumad leaders pray for Go’s success A GROUP of lumad leaders prayed for the success of former special assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong�

Go, as he pursues his political endeavors.

In appreciation of the indigenous peoples’ (IPs) support, Go assured them that he would push for more livelihood assistance to all the tribal groups. He said he would build more Malasakit Centers, especially in far and remote areas, to give the IPs access to health and other social services.

The former SAP added that he WOULD PUSH FOR THE SAME BENEkTS of the IP Mandatory Representatives in the barangay (villages) for the entire country.

Go was guest during a conference of leaders of the IPs held in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte recently.

Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go embraces a lumad woman who requested to have a photo with him during a conference of Indigenous Peoples in Butuan City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Number of Bataan freeport workers up three-fold BALANGA CITY, BATAAN: The number of workers in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles has more than tripled compared to about 10 years ago, the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) announced on Tuesday.

Emmanuel Pineda, AFAB chairman, said that as of February 28, there were 41,888 workers emPLOYED IN MULTINATIONAL kRMS

in the Mariveles Freeport.

FAB was formerly the Bataan %XPORT 0ROCESSING :ONE THE kRST processing zone in the country that was later turned into the Bataan Economic Zone.

The number was a record high from 12,777 workers in 33 locators in 2010 before AFAB was formed, Pineda said.

He added that more jobs would be

created as 26 hectares were still up for lease, with seven additional factory buildings under construction.

‘Soft heart’ “The success of FAB lies in its ‘soft heart,’� Pineda said.

He said plans to develop the thriving freeport were anchored on his formulated acronym Soft heart.

Soft stands for the project values with S for socially relevant, O for operationally viable, F for financially feasible and T for technologically advanced. Heart represents the freeport’s main projects: H is for housing and hotels, E for expansion areas, A for accessibility, R for renewable energy and T for transportation.

ERNIE B. ESCONDE

Nationinbriefs 70 RIZAL VILLAGES AFFECTED BY WATER SHORTAGE A TOTAL of 70 barangay (villages) in Rizal province experienced no water or weak water supply as the La Mesa Dam dips to its critical level. The water elevation of the dam dropped to 68.85 meters as of Tuesday morning. This was lower than the recorded 68.93 meter level on Monday. To deal with the rapid decline, Manila Water had been implementing water interruptions in 9 towns of Rizal, 21 barangay in Binangonan, 13 in San Mateo, 12 in Antipolo, 8 in Angono, 5 in Taytay, 5 in Jalajala, 4 in Cainta, 1 in Teresa and 1 in Rodriguez. The water interruption started on March 8, and to last until further notice.

GABRIELA G. BARON

P953M DEVT PROJECT UP IN BUSUANGA AIRPORTÂ Â

JAIL SEARCH

Elements of Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency search every corner of cells at the Tarlac provincial jail as they stage a surprise ‘Oplan Galugad’ that yielded dangerous contraband. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Contraband found in Tarlac provincial jail TARLAC CITY: Elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency found dangerous contraband in the Tarlac provincial jail when they conducted “Oplan Galugad.�

Senior Supt. Jesus Rebua, Tarlac police provincial director said the operation was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to eradicate illegal drugs in the country, including jail facilities.

Items confiscated included 10 cutters, 14 scissors, 12 disposable lighters, four screw drivers, a 4-meter nylon rope, two pliers, an insecticide

and eight packs of blade. “Oplan Galugad is conducted regularly, not only to prevent the proliferation of illegal drugs, but ALSO TO CONkSCATE CONTRABAND SUCH as bladed weapons and other illegal items inside the jail facilities, which may cause harm to the inmates and jail personnel,� Rebua said. “The surprise operation ended with fruitful results but prior to this, we had a brief discussion and coordination with the concerned agencies to continuously implement and strengthen this program,� he added.  JERRY M. HERNANDEZ

A PROJECT worth about P953.4 million is underway in Busuanga Airport for runway reorientation and construction of an embankment. “It was put into place to improve the airport’s facilities and make way for its use by bigger aircraft,� the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said in a statement. A runway orientation was necessary as both the approaches of the airport’s existing runway are facing the mountains. CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco and Palawan Gov. Jose Chavez Alvarez led the groundbreaking with other local government officials. CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said that in 2017, Busuanga Airport also known as Francisco B. Reyes Airport, catered to 525,044 passengers, a 63.26-percent increase from 321,595 passengers in 2016. The airport is a principal class 2 airport located in the Municipality of Coron, Busuanga Island in the northern part of Palawan. Busuanga airport handles at least 16 commercial domestic flights daily, among them are Cebgo, PAL Express, Skyjet and Air Juan.

BENJIE L. VERGARA

GUN-FOR-HIRE KILLED IN ENCOUNTER WITH POLICE CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna: A gun-for-hire and a high-value target drug suspect in Laguna was killed in an armed encounter with police on Tuesday morning. Laguna Provincial Director Senior Supt. Rleazar Matta, in his report to Calabarzon Regional Director Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, said suspect, Ali Basher Adiong, alias Boss Tan of Happy Valley in Canlubang, Calamba City, died after a firefight with the police. Matta said the drug enforcement unit of Calamba City Police Station in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, raided Adiong’s residence. During the drug transaction, Adiong drew his firearm and shot the police poseur-buyer, Police Officer 1 Mark Anthony Burgos, triggering a firefight. Burgos was not injured, but Adiong was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Recovered from the crime scene was a caliber .45 pistol with live bullets and five sachets of shabu.

ROSELLE R. AQUINO

DENR, MILITARY JOIN FORCES VS ILLEGAL LOGGING IN CAGAYAN VALLEY TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: To improve environmental law enforcement from deterrence, investigation, arrest and searches to the prosecution, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has partnered with law enforcement agencies against illegal logging in Cagayan Valley (Region 2). A memorandum of agreement was signed for institutional cooperation between the DENR in Region 2

Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, claimed there were about 20 reported dead after they launched operations in the towns of Datu Salibo, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak, or known as the socalled “SPMS box.�

Among the 20 fatalities, Sobejana said, were Singaporean terrorists Salahudin Hassan, Mauwiyah and one known as “Commander Bastardo.�

But, they were only reported killed as Sobejana noted that such information was subject for validation by their units on the ground. “We strongly suspect [that Mau-

A7

wiyah was among killed] because he was in the target when the bomb WAS DROPPED 7E COULD NOT kND a complete body as the fatalities’ bodies are dismembered,� he said.

Initially, two terrorists were killed in the air and ground operations, while a soldier was shot in the head. “We are validating the figure and trying to identify them,�

Sobejana added.

The terrorist group being traced by the military was under the supervision of Abu Toraype, who was believed present in one area of the encounter.

WITH A REPORT FROM DEMPSEY REYES

Police urged to solve Cebu student’s murder LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza, ordered police to immediately solve the killing of a Grade 9 student who was found with multiple stab wounds on the body and her face peeled off at past 6 a.m. on Monday. Senior Supt. Colonel Limuel Obon, City Police Office director, said the killing of Christine Lee Silawan, 16, in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City was a crime of passion. Obon said the victim’s parents agreed to reveal their daughter’s name to the public. “Her whole face was peeled off. Her skull was exposed, with her eyes,�

Obon said in Visayan. He added that apparently a sharp object was used to peel off Silawan’s face, however, investigators found no bladed weapon in the vacant lot where her body was found lying on its side. Obon told The Manila Times that the autopsy results showed that there were no recent lacerations on her genitals but there were old deep wounds that had healed.

He added that based on the autopsy results, Silawan was

murdered less than 24 hours before her body was found. Â Silawan, a Grade 9 student of the Maribago National High School, was the eldest of three siblings, but her mother had a child with another man.

Her mother reported her missing after she failed to come home from church on Sunday. Obon said they already have a lead. “We have persons of interest. The murder was perpetrated by more than two persons.�   Meanwhile, Radaza told reporters the perpetrators of the crime were not sane. “Hopefully, they have a conscience and will be awakened that what they did was not good.� She urged parents and school administrators to be watchful of their children and asked the public to stop showing photos of Silawan’s body on social media.  Radaza said the LapuLapu city government was taking care of Silawan’s funeral expenses and was providing financial assistance to her family. RHEA RUTH ROSELL

and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide a quick response to verified reports of environmental violations within the region. Antonio Abawag, DENR Region 2 executive director, had asked the assistance of law enforcement agencies in the apprehension of illegal transport of mineral products during the Regional Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force meeting held at the DENR regional office here. Abawag also ordered the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers to closely coordinate with the battalion and unit commanders of the Army and the PNP in conducting anti-illegal logging operations.

LEANDER C. DOMINGO

COURT ALLOWS ‘MORONG 43’ ACCUSED TO FILE DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE THE Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division has granted several former officials of the military and police to file demurrers to evidence in the cases filed against them over alleged failure to allow eight people, who were among 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal in 2010, to get a lawyer of their choice. A demurrer to evidence is a motion to dismiss challenging the sufficiency of the evidence presented by the prosecution during trial. If a court denies a demurrer, which the defendant filed with its permission, he may present evidence in his defense. The defense had said that the prosecution failed to prove the existence and identities of the complainants’ lawyer of choice when the alleged offense supposedly occurred in February 2010. The petitioners were retired Lt. Gen. Jorge Segovia, retired Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, then-2nd Infantry Division (ID) chief of staff Joselito Reyes, then-2nd ID Intelligence officer Cristobal Zaragoza, then-police superintendents Marion Balonglong and Allan Nobleza, and then-2nd ID spokesman Jovily Cabading. The court gave them a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of the resolution within which to file their respective demurrers to evidence. Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses penned the resolution, concurred in by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez Estoesta, who leads the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division, and Associate Justice Georgina Hidalgo.

REINA C. TOLENTINO

ZAMBO CUSTOMS TARGETS TO COLLECT P1B TAXES IN 2019 ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Bureau of Customs (BoC) in this city is targeting to collect at least P1 billion in tariff duties and taxes this year, or almost 150 percent more than the P.5 million collection in 2018, a local Customs official said. BoC District Collector Segundo Barte was optimistic that the district can achieve its goal by “collecting from traders operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZP) and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and TawI-Tawi. He stressed that the P1 billion “self-imposed� revenue target may be collected from giant traders in Zamboanga del Norte, considered Region 9’s most progressive area, “who have been paying their duties and taxes in adjacent Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental’s commercial center which geographically belongs to Northern Mindanao (Region 10).� Among these giant traders are the Sea Oil Depot based in Manuel Roxas town and the Flying V Depot in Sindangan municipality. Barte lamented that Sea Oil depot “is paying at least P600 million in duties and taxes yearly to the BoC in Ozamiz City and not in Zamboanga City.� He said that if his office could get back these giant traders, “Zamboanga City BoC would become a billionaire port, hence, it would be easy for Basilan, Sulu,Tawi-Tawi and other Zamboanga Peninsula provinces to benefit from it.�

ANTONIO P. RIMANDO

A8

News

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Priest rejects police security F

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO AND RALPH VILLANUEVA

R. Robert Reyes, one of the priests who claimed to have received death threats, rejected the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) offer to protect him, saying it is “ironic� to accept security from the same institution he expressed reservations about.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio $AVID WHO CONkRMED THAT HE HAD been getting death threats, was the kRST TO TURN DOWN THE SECURITY OFfer from the law enforcers, citing similar reasons.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, former Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, reportedly received threats as well.

2EYES CLARIkED THAT HE WAS NOT accusing the police of sending

sters� and anti-Duterte “trolls� might be behind them.

However, Reyes slammed Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo’s remark as “very cheap, shallow and lacking in sincerity.� “He insulted us by cheapening the lives of the three priests who have already been killed [last year in a span of six month],� he said. “Panelo and this government should not take death threats as a joke because as I said, whatever Mr. Duterte says becomes a policy,� he added.

Panelo, however, said the President’s rhetoric should not be seen as policy.

4HE 0ALACE OFkCIAL SAID $UTERTE S “outbursts� against priests was normal because he is angry with them. “His outburst is, he is a victim. You cannot remove that from him, he was a victim, it is normal for him [to be angry],� Panelo said on Tuesday. “It is really his style, but people know that it is not what he meant.

The critics are merely trying to put him at the bad light,� he added.

Q PROBE FROM A1

CA affirms Ombudsman verdict vs Abad THE Court of Appeals (CA) has afkRMED THE GUILTY VERDICT IMPOSED

BY THE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN against former Budget secretary Florencio “Butch� Abad in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which was declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

In a 15-page decision penned BY #! *USTICE :ENAIDA 'ALAPATE Laguilles dated February 27, 2019 but was released just recently and obtained by The Manila Times, the CA Special 14th Division ruled that Abad is guilty of simple misconduct.

The ruling was concurred by CA *USTICES -ARIO ,OPEZ AND 'ABRIEL Robeniol. “Wherefore, premises considered, the petition for Review is Denied. The March 3, 2017 Decision OF THE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN kNDING &LORENCIO " !BAD LIABLE for Simple Misconduct is hereby !FkRMED u THE COURT SAID In the Ombudsman ruling in 2017, Abad was meted a threemonth suspension without pay.

DAP funds were allegedly used by the Aquino administration to mobilize the ouster of then Chief Justice Renato Corona. These were distributed to several senators and congressmen.

Under National Budget Circular 541, Abad requested and was granted the authority to consolidate savings or unutilized balances and withdraw unobligated balances of agencies with low levels of obligations.

NBC 541 provided the principal bases for the withdrawal of unobligated allotments, which were declared as savings and used to fund programs, activities and projects (PAP’s) under the DAP. The appeals court gave credence to the findings of the /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN THAT Abad cannot escape liability by invoking good faith. “To be sure, Abad may not successfully evade liability by invoking good faith. While Abad’s desire to fast track public spending and push economic growth is laudable and the implementation of the DAP, in fact, undeniably yielded positive results that enhanced the economic welfare of the country, his defenses cannot override the clear mandate of the law,� the court said. “It is of no consequence, then, that no malice or corrupt motive impelled Abad into adopting the lAWED PROCEDURES !S RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC OFkCER !BAD OUGHT TO HAVE been well aware that he has no authority to overrule the requirements established rules and the fundamental law of the land,� it added.

JOMAR CANLAS

them threatening messages. “We just don’t trust them. Trusting and accusing are two different things,� he said.

Reyes also urged other priests receiving death threats to come forward.

On Monday, Reyes, together with priests Flavie Villanueva and Albert Alejo, said they had been receiving death threats.

MalacaĂąang has denied that government had a hand in the death threats to clergy, saying “prank-

CAPTURED The seven Chinese accused of kidnapping a fellow Chinese are presented by the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

Air pollution deaths higher than thought – study PARIS: A i r p o l l u t i o n c a u s e s 790,000 premature deaths every year in Europe and 8.8 million worldwide, more than doubling recent assessments, according to a study released Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Between 40 and 80 percent of those excess deaths are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease underestimated up to now as a driver of smog-related mortality, researchers reported.

On average, a toxic cocktail of pollutants from vehicles, industry and agriculture shortens the lives of those who die prematurely by 2.2 years, they calculated. “This means that air pollution causes more extra deaths a year than tobacco smoking, which the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates was responsible for an extra 7.2 million deaths in 2015,� said senior author Thomas Munzel, a professor at the University Medical #ENTRE -AINZ IN 'ERMANY “Smoking is avoidable, but air pollution is not.�

Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have likewise been linked to drops in cognitive performance, la-

bour productivity and educational outcomes.

The new study, published in the European Heart Journal, focused on Europe, but the updated statistical methods were also applied to the rest of the world. “The revised number for China is 2.8 million deaths per year,� more than two-and-a-half times current estimates, lead author Jos Lelieveld, a researcher at the MaxPlank Institute for Chemistry in 'ERMANY TOLD !&0 BY EMAIL Findings for non-European countries will be published separately, he said.

The scientists applied the new 'LOBAL %XPOSURE -ORTALITY -ODEL to a much-expanded epidemiological database — with updated kGURES FOR POPULATION DENSITY AGE

disease risk factors, causes of death — to simulate the way in which natural and man-made chemicals interacts with the atmosphere, itself composed of gases.

By far, most deaths were attributed to microscopic particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter, known as PM2.5.

By comparison, the average human hair is 60-to-90 microns thick. “New data has become available

Q INCREASE FROM A1

Prices of bottled Manila Water said it deployed 27 tankers for round-the-clock water delivery in areas hit by the service interruption.

Corporate communications

head Jeric Sevilla said hospitals were given priority.

The water service interruptions is expected to last the entire summer as the water levels of dams

The WHO has recommended that the density in the air of these dangerous microscopic particles should not exceed, on average, 10 micrograms per cubic meter (35 mcg/m3) per year.

European Union standards are far more lax: 25 mcg/m3. But even at this level, several European countries regularly exceed this limit. “The WHO standards over the last decades have become stricter,� said European Environment Agency executive director Hans Bruyninckx, who was not involved in the study. “We used to speak primarily about carcinogenic effects, or immediate impacts on the respiratory system,� he told AFP. “But now we understand the link with cardio issues, brain related issues and some reproductive issues.�

Worldwide, the study found that air pollution causes an extra 120 deaths per year per

100,000 people.

In Europe, despite more stringent pollution controls than in most other regions, the figure is higher — 133 deaths per 100,000 people. “This is explained by the combination of poor air quality and dense population, which leads to exposure that is among the highest in the world,� said lead author Jos Lelieveld, a researcher at the MaxPlank Institute for Chemistry, also in Mainz.

4HE g 'LOBAL "URDEN OF Diseases� study found that PM2.2.5 and ozone pollution caused some 4.5 million deaths in 2015, while European Environment Agency estimates, also based on 2015 data, calculated 422,000 premature deaths — due to all forms of air pollution — in the European Union.

The new study “suggests earlier models underestimated the cardiovascular risk associated with air pollution, and we tend to agree,� said Holly Shiels, a researcher in the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Manchester. “The call for reassessment of current UK and EU air quality regulations seem highly warranted.�

AFP

continue to drop.

On Tuesday, the Philippine AtmoSPHERIC 'EOPHYSICAL !STRONOMICAL Services Administration (Pagasa) recorded water level at 68.85 meters, a 0.08 drop from the previous day.

Pagasa hydrologist Elmer Caringal said based on trends, La Mesa dam might surpass the lowest level

recorded in 21 years. “Within this week baka mabreak n’ya yung lowest recorded na 68.75 [meters] na nangyari noong 1998 (La Mesa D am may break the lowest recorded of 68.75 in 1998),� Caringal said.

FRANCIS EARL CUETO AND DIVINA NOVA JOY DE LA CRUZ

FOR kNE PARTICULATE MATTER INDIcating that the hazardous health impact of PM2.5 are much larger than assumed previously,� said Lelieveld.

Burning fossil fuels

Palace grants resigned because of serious allegations of corruption against him.

In a news briefing on Tuesday, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said he met with Balutan on Monday afternoon, where he CONkRMED THAT HE WOULD BE PASSing to the President the former PCSO general manager’s request for a probe. “I’m writing a memo precisely for that, that is our agreement. But ) THINK 'ENERAL "ALUTAN IS ALREADY kNE WITH THE CLARIkCATION THAT HE WAS NOT kRED u 0ANELO SAID “I will write a memo to the President. Since there is a request, I will suggest that the request be granted, that there be an investigation,� he added.

Panelo said Balutan resigned out of delicadeza (sense of propriety) because of the many allegations of corruption against him.

These include the Commission ON !UDIT kNDING THAT 3MALL 4OWN Lottery has not been able to reach its collection goal, a charge that Balutan denied. “He told me, he wants everyone to know that it is not him. But since they are charging him with corruption, out of delicadeza, he resigned,� Panelo said.

Last Friday, Panelo said Balutan was “fired� because of corruption allegations that were not expounded.

However, he backtracked on Monday, saying the former Marine general resigned from his post, CONkRMING THE EARLIER STATEMENT of Balutan.

Panelo said there was no need to apologize over the blunder. g7HETHER HE WAS kRED ON THAT basis or he resigned on that basis, the basis is only one, there [were] serious allegation[s] of corruption. He wants to have an investigation on that and he would not want to be viewed as clinging to a position when there are serious allegations of corruption [against] him,� he said. “The President, he does not want even a whiff of corruption and there were already a lot of complaints,� he added.

Over the weekend, Balutan’s spokesman Florante Solmerin asked those accusing the former PCSO general manager of corruption to present evidence. “These are merely serious allegations, allegations of serious corruption. Mr. Balutan said he is open to a full investigation to ferret out the truth so the truth will come out,� Solmerin told The Manila Times.

Last week, Balutan said he WOULD ONLY STEP DOWN FROM OFkCE IF SOMEBODY FROM /FkCE OF THE President or Congress asked him or ordered him to do something which “he cannot stomach.�

RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

PSEi

7,747.54 UP 0.50%

P52.70 TO $1

WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 2019 ASIAN STOCKS: V S h a n g h a i 1 . 1 0 %

What’s inside TAX REFORMS TO MAKE PH UNATTRACTIVE TO INVESTORS BusinessB2

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CATTLE IMPORTS TO BOOST DAIRY INDUSTRY BusinessB2

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PETRON 2018 EARNINGS DROP 50% ON LOWER CRUDE PRICES Corporate NewsB3

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PCC FURTHER PROBES PROPOSED JOINT VENTURE Corporate NewsB3

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RENAULT, NISSAN, MITSUBISHI UNVEIL POST-GHOSN BOARD Foreign BusinessB3

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US RETAIL SALES REBOUND IN JANUARY

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Business Times www.manilatimes.net

V S i n g a p o re 0 . 6 5 %

V Seoul 0.89%

V To k yo 1 . 7 9 %

W Jakarta 0.20%

FROM WHERE WE SIT

V H o n g Ko n g 1 . 4 6 %

B2

W

CURRENCY RATE

B1

V B a n g ko k 0 . 0 1 %

Trade gap widens, hits $3.76B in Jan

BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

T

HE 0HILIPPINES POSTED A TRADE DEkCIT OF BILLION IN *ANUARY AS IMPORTS CONTINUED TO OUTPACE EXPORTS THE 0HILIPPINE 3TATISTICS !UTHORITY 03!

REPORTED ON 4UESDAY The gap was wider compared to the $3.16 billion notched a year earlier and the $3.75 billion in December 2018.

Inbound shipments, at $9.03 billion in January, were up 5.8 percent from the same month last year while exports contracted by 1.7 percent to $5.28 billion.

Electronic products, the country’s main export with a 52.9-percent share

of the total, grew by 1.7 percent to $2.79 billion, but this was offset by declines for 5 of the top 10, particularly second-ranked machinery and transport equipment (down 24.2 percent to $317.66 million and third-placed other manufactured goods (down 15.3 percent to $312.85 million).

Import growth, on the other hand, was attributed to gains for eight of the

top 10 products although the overall expansion was tempered by a 9.9-percent drop in purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials to $820.54 million.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa, in a commentary, described the January results as the “same (trade) story, different month� in reference to how Philippine merchandise trade performed over the past year.

The trade gap, he also said, was “worse than expected.�

While capital goods and raw materials imports remained positive, Mapa noted that a slowdown to single-digit growth “could show that capital formation may have reached its peak.�

In particular, he pointed out that imports of construction-related materials such as iron and steel contracted during the month.

The peso’s continued weakness did little to help exports, but Mapa said the contraction could have cushioned the impact of the US-China trade war “given that it buys exports some time and helps preserve local currency earnings.� “With raw materials used for electronics growing by 5.1 percent, this could mean that exporters are building up on work in process and raw material inventory for a possible rebound in 2019, despite the US-China trade spat.�

The ING economist expects imports

ÂłHits B2

US, China negotiators talk but no date for summit BEIJING: 4OP 53 AND #HINESE OFkcials held phone talks on Tuesday to discuss the next steps in trade negotiations, Chinese state media said, as the White House said no date has been set for a summit.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer spoke with "EIJING S TOP ECONOMIC OFkCIAL ,IU He over the phone to discuss “key ISSUESu ON TRADE THE OFkCIAL NEWS agency Xinhua reported.

The top negotiators also discussed the “next steps� in their talks, the brief report said, without providing details.

China and the United States have been locked in a trade war since last year, imposing tit-for-tat tariffs on more than $360 billion worth of mutual trade, spooking global markets.

A

Top-level negotiators are trying to hammer out an agreement before a truce expires, potentially triggering additional US tariffs on Chinese goods.

A possible summit between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping remains up in the air, the White House said Monday.

Trump has previously expressed optimism that he will meet with Xi, probably at his Florida golf club Mar-a-Lago this month, to kNALISE AN EVENTUAL TRADE DEAL But Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said it was too early to announce a meeting. “In terms of whether or not we have a date set, not yet. We’re continuing negotiations with China,� she said at the White House.

ÂłSummit B2

RFM’s buy-back plan

S of Dec. 31, 2018, Eagle Cement Corp. (ECC) had – and still has - authorized capital stock (ACS) of 8.5 billion shares divided into 5.5 billion common shares and 3 billion preferred shares, according to the company’s general information sheet ')3 IT kLED RECENTLY FOR Both classes of ECC’s capital stock have par value of P1 each.

Of Eagle Cement’s 8.5 billion ACS, 8,000,000,005 were both subscribed and fully paid, according to the GIS. As listed, 26 Filipino owned 4,908,572,412 common shares while only three Filipinos held 3 billion preferred shares.

On the other hand, only one foreigner owned 91,427,593 ECC common shares.

The Filipino-owned 4,908,572,412 common shares were equivalent to 98.171 percent of 5,000,000,005 common shares and 61.357 percent of 8,000,000,005 fully paid capital stock.

Eagle Cement’s stockholders included Far East Cement Corp. (FECC), which topped the list with 3.011 billion ECC common shares and 2.057 billion ECC preferred shares, Its total ownership of 5.068 billion ECC shares was equivalent to 63.35 percent, according to the GIS. Ramon S. Ang, who owns FECC, was at No. 2 as holder of 1.318 billion ECC common shares and 878.571 million preferred shares, or a total of 2.196 billion shares, which were equivalent to 27.45 percent. His son,

John Paul Ang, owned 96.429 million ECC common shares and 64.286 million ECC preferred shares.

A public ownership report (POR) listed the public as owners of 574.817 million ECC common shares, or 11.5 percent of 5 million outstanding ECC common shares and 7.185 percent of 8 billion outstanding ECC common shares.

ECC common shares peaked at 30-day high of P16.48 on Feb. 6, 2019 and fell to a month’s low of P15.50 on Jan. 31, 2019. On March 8, 2019, the stock opened trading at P15.92, its day’s high, dropped to a low of P15.76 and closed the session at P15.80.

PHINMA unit’s POR Philippine Investment Management (PHINMA) Inc. reduced its ownership in Phinma Petroleum and Geothermal Inc. (PPG) after selling 235,000 common shares in 17 trades.

A public ownership report (POR) dated Jan. 14, 2019 showed Philippine Investment as holder of 30.985 million PPG common shares, or 12.39 percent.

Aside from Philippine Investment, two other PHINMA companies were also listed as

ÂłPerez B2

SUMMER FARE A vendor sells "palamig" (iced drinks) along the street of Pedro Gil. in Paco, Manila on 12 March 2019. PHOTO BY

DJ DIOSINA

Simplify mining taxation, DoF urges Brexit deal tagged as PSEi rises THE Finance department wants the Senate to approve a 5-percent royalty rate for all mining operations, saying this would increase government revenues and make the tax system simpler and fairies for all taxpayers. Based on department’s proposal, incremental revenues from the royalty for all mining operations, whether located inside or outside a mineral reservation, would bring in an estimated P7.2 billion, about double the projected P3.7 billion the government will collect from a mining revenue reform bill approved by the House of Representatives last November. The House version lowers the current 5 percent

royalty on large-scale mining inside mineral reservations to 3 percent and imposes a royalty equivalent to 1 to 5 percent of profit margins for large-scale mining outside mineral reservations and 0.1 percent of gross output for small-scale mining outside or inside mineral reservations.  A royalty is currently only imposed on mine sites in mineral reservations and Finance Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresa Habitan said most mines in the country operate these “ Minahang Bayan�. “In the House, there was a considerable discussion about how the royalty was going to be calculated and with different methodologies on

that. What finally was approved by the House can be considered a compromise position. The DoF (Department of Finance) always wanted a simpler manner of computing the royalty,� Habitan was quoted as saying during a recent Senate hearing.  Under the department’s proposal, all existing taxes and fees levied on the mining industry, along with a royalty of 5 percent on gross output paid to the government, will be retained whether the mining operation is large-scale or small, involves metallic or nonmetallic mineral extraction, or is located inside or outside mineral reservations. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Loan demand seen rising this year CONTINUED economic growth and a likely drop in interest rates are expected to boost the banking industry’s loan portfolios this year, a thrift bank said on Tuesday.

RCBC Savings Bank President Rommel S. Latinazo, in a statement, said bankers were optimistic that 2019 would bring steady business growth following last year’s consumer pessimism. “Philippine GDP is still forecast to grow over 6 per-

cent in 2019 to be driven by continued OFW (overseas Filipino worker) remittances and public spending,� he said. “While the slowdown in the last quarter of 2018 was due to the rising interest rates, we expect easing of the interest rates which will drive buyers to acquire new motor vehicles.�

Consumers held back from big-ticket purchases last year, citing higher prices, spending priority changes and the lack of funds.

“As the economy grows, we expect the middle-income sector expanding which is the target for CONSUMER kNANCING u ,ATINAZO continued, pointing to real estate as another bright spot. “Our partner developers have expressed optimism in the growth of the housing industry, particularly on horizontal developments. We also see a continuing demand for housing from the OFW sector,� he said.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

THE stock market snapped a two-day losing streak on Tuesday, joining a regional rally as investors were said to be heartened by news of Brexit deal changes.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.50 percent or 38.82 points to finish at 7,747.54 while the broader All Shares closed up by 0.33 percent or 15.62 points to 4,795.80.

Eagle Equities Inc. research head Christopher Mangun said markets had rallied after the European Commission on Monday agreed to changes in a Brexit deal ahead of a British parliament vote.

The updated deal was said to include assurances that the United Kingdom would not be trapped in a customs union with the European Union.

In a separate comment, P2P Trade Online sales associate Gabriel Jose Perez said the local market mimicked overnight gains on Wall Street.

In the region, only Jakarta finished in the red, slipping by 0.20 percent.

Tokyo increased by 1.79 percent, Shanghai grew 1.10 percent, Hong Kong climbed by 1.46 percent, Seoul rose 0.89 percent, Singapore added 0.74 percent, and Bangkok inched up by 0.19 percent.

In Manila, most sectoral results were in the green except for mining and oil and property that fell by 0.66 percent and 1.52 percent, respectively.

Volume turnover stood at 1.68 billion shares valued at P5.7 billion.

Decliners led advancers, 108 to 83, while 56 issues remained unchanged.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

Tax reforms to make PH unattractive to investors T

BY TYRONE C. PIAD

HE LOCAL AEROSPACE INDUSTRY MIGHT FIND IT HARD TO ENTICE FOREIGN COMPANIES TO INVEST IN THE 0HILIPPINES BECAUSE OF TAX REFORMS BEING PUSHED BY THE GOVERNMENT

THE !EROSPACE )NDUSTRY !SSOCIATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES !)!0 SAID

of tax perks to attract investors. Offering better incentives will make them stay or even grow their businesses in the country, he added.

Chan feared investors in PEZA might transfer to countries with more attractive incentives such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand which currently lead the aerospace market worldwide.

Despite this, the AIAP chief was upbeat on the local aerospace business which he said grew close to a $2-billion industry. It’s still growing, Chan added. Last year, the industry targeted to earn revenues of $2.57 billion by 2022.

Awaiting approval, the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill aims to cut corporate income tax rate from 30 percent to 20 percent.

(OWEVER IT WILL ALSO RATIONALIZE kS-

cal incentives of companies, including PEZA locators.

5NDER THE 4RABAHO BILL A kScal incentives regulatory board will be created to pursue the measure’s mandate, which PEZA earlier claimed to be “redundant�.

It might discourage investors due to different government agencies’ interference, PEZA added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Suppliers and Manufacturers Exhibition 2019 will be held to promote industries such as aerospace, automotive, motorcycle and electronics on March 27-30 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

The AIAP, which is comprised of AEROSPACE kRMS INCLUDING &AMOUS Secret Precision Machining, Inc., Moog Inc., Jamco Aerospace Inc. and Collins Aerospace, is set to join the event.

With the Philippines turning out as an emerging preferred location for a number of maintenance, repair, operation (MRO) companies including foreign investors, the country is eyeing to become a lucrative market.

But this might be affected by changes in the local tax system, AIAP President Dennis Chan said DURING A MEDIA BRIEkNG ON 4UESSAY in Makati. “The biggest issue right now is

that they want to take away PEZA ;BENEkTS= u HE SAID Chan said removing incentives offered by the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) to locators also means eliminating the reason for investors to do business or expand their trade in the country.

With all the incentives gone, gWHY SHOULD ;THE INVESTORS= EXpand in the Philippines?� Chan said as he stressed the importance

Q HITS FROM B1

Cattle imports to boost dairy industry

Trade to continue growing but at a slower pace, with the fuel import bill to contract and both capital goods and raw materials accounts “likely at or past peak�. “Elevated borrowing costs may have been hampering some of the capital expansion although given the prospects for the economy, corporates and the government remain bullish with capital outlay plans announced,� he added.

With regard to exports, Mapa noted that the Philippines remained heavily dependent on electronics but reiterated the possibility of a 2019 turnaround given the increase in raw materials imports. “However, given the ongoing trade war, the Philippine export sector will need to continue to build on sector changing reforms to help boost productivity by enhancing supply chains and increasing standards,� he added. “With the government’s ‘Build Build Build’ initiative seen to help boost efficiencies, perhaps the export sector can take advantage of this push and we can see the export renaissance that we’ve all been waiting for.�

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) acknowledged the need to expand the export base and said the government should step up efforts to strengthen trade relations to increase market access amid easing global demand.

The possible conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement this year could help, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

He warned, however, that a delay in the approval of the 2019 national government budget and an ongoing election spending ban would limit imports growth. “The importation of raw materials is likely to be affected by the holdback in the implementation of numerous projects under government’s ‘Build Build Build’ program,� Pernia said.

Economic managers have asked to Commission on Elections to exempt 145 priority infrastructure projects from the spending ban.

THE Philippines is set to import at least 1,500 cattle as part of the government’s program to strengthen the local dairy industry.

National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Marilyn Mabale said the agency had allocated up to P300 million for the importation of additional Girolando dairy cattle.

The 1,500 additional cattle, Mabale said, follows a failed bidding last year. “We are going to rebid the purchase hopefully by April after consulting the farmers and complying the technical requirements of the board of directors.

We hope the animals (dairy cattle) will be distributed by October this year,� Mabale said at the sidelines of the NDA’s celebration of its 24th anniversary on Tuesday. “Usually the sources are either !USTRALIA OR .EW :EALAND ;VIA= private procurement process.

These countries have representatives from their country who join the bidding,� she added.

Mabale said the country would also pursue the infusion of 2,500 dairy goats annually for the next three years. The animals are

intended for small farmers with limited landholdings and Mabale said the program would be kNANCIALLY ASSISTED BY THE 5NITED States Department of Agriculture (USDA). “Hopefully that will provide SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE ;OF= ABOUT 6-percent growth [in the dairy SECTOR= u SHE NOTED Mabale said the steady growth in the dairy sector in terms of volume and value in 2016 to 2018 would continue to drive improvements in the sector in succeeding years.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed dairy production last year reached 23,690 metric tons (MT) valued at P901.30 million, which was way higher than the volume and value of production in 2016 and 2017 at 21,160 MT valued P715.28 million and 22,760 MT valued P809.33 million, respectively.

For this year, however, the NDA has a total budget of P251 million, which is way lower than the P530 million it had in 2018, bulk of which or P330 million was provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA) for animal purchase.

The NDA expects the biggest contribution on the dairy sector’s growth will come from Bukidnon in Mindanao as well as in Batangas and other areas in Southern Luzon, Mabale said.

Small farmers remain to be the major contributors to the sector’s growth, with backyard farming accounting to 60 percent of the total dairy output, she said.

Just last week, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piùol said the DA will provide 6,000 heads of Holstein cattle to Ubay, Bohol, which was eyed as the country’s dairy capital.

Only two percent of the total national dairy requirement is produced in the country, while 98.2 percent are imports.

But Mabale said the dairy sector was optimistic in achieving the 10-percent milk and dairy SUFkCIENCY TARGET BY SET BY the government. “In a very rough and conservative estimate, we saw that there is already a 7-percent increase in the next two years. So the 10-perCENT IS ACHIEVABLE ;THROUGH= increasing the productivity of existing animals. That’s our focus in the coming years,� Mabale said.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

DA says no to imported palay THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it would not allow any company to import palay (unmilled rice) under the new rice regime due to risks of pests and diseases which could pose serious threats to the local rice industry.

In a press conference, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol said the DA received inquiries from several firms since last year on whether they could be allowed by the government to import palay upon the implementation of Republic Act 11203 OR 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION AND ,IBERALization Law. Under the law, all importers are no longer required to secure licenses but only sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) permits from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), an attached agency of the

DA, which would serve as proof that the goods being imported are safe for consumption.

PiĂąol pointed out that imported palay may carry pests and diseases which could harm the country’s rice industry, unlike imported rice seeds which are “regulated and disinfected.â€? “Even before the rice liberalization, this has already been the mindset of the DA because there were already queries on whether they could import rice in its unmilled form and we already told them that we will not allow it because of the risks of pests and diseases,â€? PiĂąol explained. “We’re not preventing them to import rice in its milled form, why insist on bringing in palay? I can see the logic that it has longer shelf life and they could use the brand for feeds but its a risky

proposition,� he added.

In September last year, conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

(SMC) announced its plans to import unmilled rice in an effort to help ensure food security and to assist local farmers. To do this, the company said it it will “quicklyâ€? import palay and build extra silos or grain storage facilities in its existing grain terminals. “But you know it was not only San Miguel actually who expressed this interest. In the past, there were other groups who inquired whether they could bring in rice in its unmilled form and we have said no,â€? PiĂąol said. “Nobody can assure us that THE ;UNMILLED= RICE THAT WILL come in the country [will not BRING= DISEASES u THE AGRICULTURE chief added.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Corp., 991,041 PG common shares, or 0.4 percent; and Asian Plaza Inc., 91,108 PPG common shares, or 0.04 percent.

Thus, in total, PPG’s principal SIGNIkCANT STOCKHOLDERS 4HESE ARE stockholders, who are also clasPHINMA Energy Corp., with direct SIkED AS SIGNIkCANT STOCKHOLDERS

ownership of 126.839 million PPG along with the company’s insidcommon shares, or 50.74 per- ers, held a total of 194,802,415 cent, and PHINMA Corp., with common shares, or 77.921 per32.481 million PPG common cent of 250 million outstanding shares, or 12.98 percent.

PPG common shares.

4HREE 00' AFkLIATES ALSO OWNED Including the public ownerPPG common shares. These, ac- ship of 55,197,585 PPG comcording to the POR, are Emar mon shares, or 22.08 percent, Corp., 2.723 million PPG com- the company had 250 million mon shares, or 1.09 percent; outstanding common shares.

PHINMA Power Generation Note: When added, the sum

of the percent equivalents equals 100.001 due to rounding of numbers.

On March 7, 2019, PPG common shares traded at P3.30 each throughout the day’s session. The stock hit a 30-day high of P3.93 on Feb. 4, 2019 and dropped to a month’s low of P3.08 on March 4, 2019.

RFM common shares.

The same POR showed 11 members of the board as holders of 827,133,509 RFM common shares divided into their direct ownership of 14,786,313 RFM common shares and indirect ownership of 812,347,196 RFM common shares.

RFM reported two principal or substantial stockholders.

Horizon Realty Inc. and BJS Development Corp. directly owned 650,139,738 RFM common shares, or 18.59 percent, and 311,210,184 RFM common shares, or 8.9 percent, respectively.

Q PEREZ FROM B1

RFM’s

RFM’s stockholders A POR dated Jan. 9, 2019 listed RFM’s public stockholders as owners of 1,693,424,313 RFM common shares, or 48.63 percent of 3,482,057,866 outstanding

Hold your plans loosely O FROM WHERE VER a decade ago, my wife and I agreed on how we wanted to pursue our respective career paths. We laid out where we currently were and where we wanted to go, what were the opportunities, and how we are going to pursue them. The plan we hatched involved being away from each other for most of the year. At that point in our lives, we FELT THIS WAS OUR kNAL CHANCE TO run as fast as we can with regard to our careers, that we needed to pursue exponential career growth while it is still just the two of us in OUR FAMILY !S SOON AS WE kNALIZED our plans, God blessed us with an unexpected news--we were having a baby. I could not remember exactly what words were said when we learned about my wife’s pregnancy, but I can still recall how non-jubilant we were with the news. The mood was somber at best. It was not in our plans. We had other plans.

Each of us have our own way of planning. We have different timelines for our plans. Some are already planning for the next 10 years, while others are content with looking forward to weekend activities. Some plans are full of details, while others are as hazy as Metro Manila smog. Organizations make plans, too. They create short-, medium- and long-term plans they aim to achieve. All of us, in whatever form or substance, have plans. Some formalize them in a document, while others simply keep them in their head. If you have lived long enough, you will know, however, that things do not go exactly as planned. As Mike Tyson famously pointed out in the late ‘80s, “Everybody has plans until they get punched in the mouth.�

No matter how well conceived your plans are, regardless of whether you followed your plan to a T, there is so much variability and uncertainty that achieving the desired results can sometimes be elusive.

It is not necessarily because your plans are faulty or your execution is erroneous, but because things just did not turn out how you planned them to be. In an earlier article of mine, I wrote that pouring out your entire energy, time, and skills in a particular endeavor will not guarantee the achievement of your goals; even if we put in our best effort, there are other factors that keep us from achieving success. The non-achievement of our desired results is because we are dealing with people. People, including you and me, make mistakes. Your mistake can derail your plans, and so does the mistake committed by your colleagues.

People are also driven by their own MOTIVATIONS SELkSH OR OTHERWISE People’s actions, whether individually or aggregately, in one way or another impact how things will turn out for you.

Q SUMMIT FROM B1

US, China “When we have an announcement for the two leaders to sit down, we’ll let you know.�

The press secretary also said she was unaware of any plan for Xi and Trump to speak by phone.

Sanders said Trump will not agree to anything short of a deal BENEkCIAL TO THE 5NITED 3TATES She denied that the breakdown

Triple Holdings Inc. was at the top of a three-principal stockholders’ list. However, RFM left the space for ownership blank.

Horizon and BJS, along with Triple Eight, belong to the group of companies owned by Jose Concepcion and his family. )N AN OWNERSHIP kLING 4RIPLE Eight said it did not have transactions on RFM shares in February 2019. It owned 663.584 million RFM common shares.

A d e f i n i t i ve i n f o r m a t i o n statement (DIS) as of June 30, 2018 listed Horizon Realty as holder of 646,078,738 RFM common shares, or 24.71 per-

WE SIT

ANTON NG Hold on to your plans loosely.

Pursue them as vigorously as you can. Bring out your best as you run your own race. In an organization, encourage one another to put in the work to pursue organizational objectives. Hold each other accountable. At the end of the day, however, hold those plans loosely in your hands. Hold on them just enough so as to remind you of your hopes, but loose enough that your lives would not bleed from the shattered pieces of your broken dreams.

Knowing that not all our endeavors will be fruitful—thus, holding our plans loosely—reminds us that we are a part of a much bigger world; in this world, we are and we will never be at the center of it. It also reminds us that our actions will have an impact on someone else’s plans and that their actions will affect ours. Holding on to our plans loosely also insulates us from soul-crushing disappointments. The pain of failure will not hurt as much if we know that things could turn out not as how we envisioned it.

Lastly, holding on to our plans loosely will help us get back on our feet faster and help us move on to the next great plan. There is no more lingering self-doubt. As the pop singer Ariana Grande would say, “Thank you, next.�

Looking back on how we reacted upon learning that we are HAVING OUR kRST CHILD MAKES ME shake my head in shame. How could have I not welcomed such news with jubilation? Frustration got the best of us. Earlier this year, my eldest daughter was diagnosed with a rare and permanent muscle disorder. At the onset of her condition, when we were not sure how the illness could affect her future, I was saddened at the thought of how my plans for my daughter would be affected. This time, however, we have already learned our lesson: that plans are all good until they crumble. When they do, learn from the experience, let go quickly, and craft the next plan.

Anton Ng is a Partner of the Audit & Assurance Division of P&A Grant Thornton. P&A Grant Thornton is one of the leading Audit, Tax, Advisory, and Outsourcing kRMS IN THE 0HILIPPINES WITH 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 anton.ng@ph.gt.com or pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com. For more information, visit our Website: www.grantthornton.com.ph. of Trump’s attempts to negotiate with North Korea over the country’s nuclear weapons had weakened his standing in Beijing. “I would say that’s absurd. He’s going to make a deal if it’s a good deal, if it’s in the best interest of America, and if he doesn’t feel like it’s a good deal, it’s not worth just signing a piece of paper,� Sanders said. “The president’s gonna make sure whatever deal we get is in our best interest, that it’s fair and reciprocal trade, that it protects our intellectual property and has safeguards.� AFP

cent of 865,038,617outstanding RFM common shares; Triple Eight, 639,266,218 RFM common shares; and BJS Development, 311,210,184 RFM common shares, or 8.89 percent.

RFM common shares opened the trading session at P4.79, its session’s high and dropped to P4.79, which was also its closing price. The stock hit a 30-day high of P4.89 and dropped to a month’s low of P4.65.

Doen’t it really pay to be very rich and own any of these three listed companies? Just asking.

esdperez@gmail.com

Corporate News

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

PCC further probes proposed joint venture THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said on Tuesday that it had begun the second phase of its review of the proposed joint venture between the DasmariĂąas Local Water District (Dasma Water) and Villar-led PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.

In a statement, the anti-competition watchdog said it was investigating how the venture would affect the competition of water supply and septage management services in DasmariĂąas City, Cavite province.

It has 60 days to perform the review, which started on February 7. “The Phase 2 review of the transaction does not mean that PCC MAO (Mergers and Acquisitions Offce) has made a conclusive finding of a substantial lessening of competition on the review, but rather a required process to get a more detailed analysis of the transaction,� the state-run agency said. “In [a] Phase 2 review, MAO seeks to investigate whether the transaction would enhance PrimeWater’s ability and incentive to engage in foreclosure of down-

stream market competitors of the entities affiliated with PrimeWater,� it added.

The pending deal aims to create a contractual or unincorporated joint venture to operate and maintain waterworks, water supply and septage management in the district.

If approved, PrimeWater will operate and manage Dasma Water, which will retain the power to exercise strategic control in cooperation with the former.

Dasma Water is the local water provider of Dasmariùas. It service area covers 3,000 hectares, or 67.78 percent of the city’s land area, as of 2017.

PrimeWater is a subsidiary of Prime Asset Ventures Inc., which is 99.98-percent owned by Manuel Paolo Villar, a son of former Senate President Manuel Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar.

The PCC, a quasijudicial body established in 2016 under the Philippine Competition Act of 2015, is tasked with reviewing M&A for possible adverse effects on competition and also initiating investigations into anti-competitive practices.

TYRONE C. PIAD

BMW Philippines hopes for better sales this year BMW Philippines is hopeful that sales wo0uld improve this year as it banks on its new models to drive revenues.

On the sidelines of the reintroduction of the BMW X5 under xDrive30d xLine variant in Makati City on Monday night, BMW Philippines President Spencer Yu said 2019 was “looking better� for the company.

He declined, however, to disclose a sales target for the year, saying “it is very tough to tell� and noting that “it is still very early in the year.� “We were expecting the market TO GROW FASTER ;AND= RECOVER "UT THE RECOVERY IS NOT THERE ;YET=u 9U SAID

adding that this year’s sales would be gDEkNITELY MUCH MOREu THAN S !CCORDING TO A JOINT REPORT BY THE Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and the Truck Manufacturers Association, the local unit of the German automaker failed to sell a single car in January, com-

pared to 28 the year before.

The market is still having a “hangover� from the previous year’s sales drop, Yu said, referring to the 404 units BMW Philippiens only sold in 2018, a 70.2-percent drop from 1,354 the year before.

Four more models would be unveilved later this year, according to him.

The company has been trying “to price our products more aggressively,� he added, noting that DOING SO AFTER 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE 4AX 2EFORM FOR !CCELERATION and Inclusion Act (Train) took effect made this “extremely complicated.�

Implemented at the start of 2018, Train — the first package of the government’s comprehensive tax reform program — raised the excise taxes on certain items, including automobiles, in exchange for reduced personal income taxes.

TYRONE C. PIAD

P

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

ETRON Corp. reported on Tuesday that its net income fell to P7.1 billion last year because of the continuous decline in global crude prices.

In a disclosure, the listed petroleum company said the amount was a 50-percent drop from P14.1 billion in 2017. The decrease in global oil prices, it added, resulted in inventory losses amounting to P10 billion for the last two months of 2018.

Operating income declined by 32 percent to P18.9 billion last year from P27.6 billion in 2017.

0ROkTS WOULD HAVE CLIMBED BY percent to P17 billion if the onetime item was excluded, Petron said without identifying the item.

Consolidated sales rose by 28 percent to P557.4 billion in 2018 from P434.6 billion the year before.

Petron posted a combined sales volume of 108.5 million barrels last year — slightly higher than the 107.8 million barrels sold in 2017 — which it credited to the strong local sales of gasoline, Jet-A1 and LIQUEkED PETROLEUM GAS AS WELL AS IMPROVED OPERATING EFkCIENCY Its refinery in Limay town, Bataan province — capable of producing 180,000 barrels a day — reached a record-high

Businessinbriefs DM CONSUNJI 2018 ORDER BOOK JUMPS 12% TO P28B DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI) reported on Tuesday that it posted a higher order book worth P28 billion last year, with buildings and infrastructure projects accounting for the bulk. In a disclosure, the Consunji-led construction company said the amount booked was a 12-percent increase from P24.8 billion in 2017. Buildings and infrastructures contributed P11.2 billion and P11.1 billion, respectively, while energy projects reached P2.7 billion, and plant and utilies hit P2.9 billion.

During a recent news briefing in Makati City, DMCI Senior Vice President for Business Strategy and Development Rebecca Civil said among the projects it bagged last year were the construction of the country’s first Ikea story and the luxury residential tower The Estate. DMCI will bag the frame and wet works for Ikea, which has a construction cost of P1.6 billion and is due for completion in 2021, and for The Estate, whose construction costs P1.3 billion. The company expects to recognize revenues from 2018’s order books for this year and in 2020.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

DOUBLEDRAGON, ALSONS INK DEAL FOR INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN DAVAO DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. Has partnered with a Davao City-based company to establish its fourth industrial warehousing facility there. In a disclosure on Tuesday, the listed property developer said its subsidiary CentralHub Industrial Centers Inc. Had signed a joint venture agreement with Alsons Development and

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

7,747.54

38.82

Ÿ

All Shares

4,795.80

15.62

Ÿ

Financials

1,749.41

13.94

Ÿ

Industrial

11,521.41

116.43

Ÿ

Holding Firms

7,750.16

69.44

Ÿ

Services

1,568.60

22.9

Ÿ

Mining and Oil

7,950.47

-52.46

Ĺş

Property

3,882.57

-60

Ĺş

SERVICES

Stock indices as of Matrch 12, 2019

PSEi

ALL SHARES

MINING AND OIL

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Mar 12, 2019 Mar 11, 2019 Mar 8, 2019 Mar 7, 2019 Mar 6, 2019 Mar 05, 2019 Mar 04, 2019 Mar 01, 2019 Feb 28, 2019 Feb 27, 2019 Feb 26, 2019 Feb 22, 2019 Feb 21, 2019 Feb 20, 2019 Feb 19, 2019 Feb 18, 2019 Feb 15, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019 Feb 8, 2019 Feb 7, 2019 Feb 6, 2019 Feb 4, 2019 Feb 1, 2019 Jan 31, 2019 Jan 30, 2019 Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019

Open 7,728 7,815 7,869 7,807 7,675 7,700 7,632 7,712 7,920 7,962 7,996 7,940 7,947 7,849 7,923 7,925 7,965 7,960 8,040 8,077 8,088 8,092 8,093 8,091 8,132 8,039 7,999 8,039 8,087 8,071

High 7,774 7,824 7,884 7,882 7,821 7,735 7,698 7,754 7,920 7,973 7,996 7,962 7,947 7,945 7,939 7,964 8,000 7,996 8,040 8,084 8,106 8,096 8,127 8,214 8,149 8,166 8,099 8,047 8,087 8,144

Low 7,728 7,709 7,797 7,795 7,675 7,667 7,596 7,588 7,705 7,878 7,945 7,895 7,893 7,848 7,831 7,911 7,909 7,921 7,889 7,984 8,062 8,036 8,088 8,058 8,069 8,039 7,999 7,912 8,015 8,042

Close 7,748 7,709 7,797 7,882 7,821 7,671 7,675 7,642 7,705 7,889 7,988 7,962 7,931 7,939 7,834 7,911 7,909 7,991 7,920 8,010 8,062 8,071 8,100 8,058 8,069 8,144 8,007 7,980 8,051 8,054

B3

Petron 2018 earnings drop 50% on lower crude prices

CLOSE

annual utilization rate of 95 percent as it further bolstered production of high-value fuels and petrochemicals.

Petrochemical and polypropylene sales grew by 3 percent and 28 percent, respectively, which fueled the more-than-7-percent increase in export volume.

Petron Malaysia’s domestic sales, the company said, continued to deliver good results last year.

Despite describing last year as “challenging,� Petron President AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER 2AMON Ang noted in the statement that HIS kRM gCAPTURED ;THE= MAJORITY of the market and remained the largest and fastest-growing oil company in the country.� “While our long-term fundamentals remain attractive, we will continue to be prepared

and responsive to market conditions,� he said.

Established on Dec. 22, 1966 as Esso Philippines Inc. — later known as Petrophil Corp. until ‡ 0ETRON IS INTO REkNING crude oil, and marketing and DISTRIBUTING REkNED PETROLEUM products. These include gasoline, naphtha, liquid petroleum gas, DIESEL JET FUEL KEROSENE AND petrochemicals. It also manufactures lubricants and greases at its blending plant in Manila’s Pandacan district.

The company provides nearly 40 percent of the country’s fuel requireMENTS THROUGH ITS "ATAAN REkNERY

30 terminals and more than 2,400 service stations nationwide.

Petron’s shares added 1 centavo or 0.15 percent to settle at P6.75 apiece on Tuesday.

Investments Corp. to construct the 8.2-hectare CentralHub-Davao along the Daang Maharlika Highway. It will have a total leasable area of 40,392 square meters (sqm). The joint venture will be 70-percent owned by CentralHub and 30 percent by Alsons. CentralHub-Davao will rise 8 kilometers away from the Davao International Container Terminal and 17 km from Francisco Bangoy International Airport. It will be DoubleDragon’s first industrial complex in Mindanao and fourth overall, after CentralHub-Danao in Cebu, CentralHub-Iloilo and CentralHub-Tarlac.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

UNIVERSAL ROBINA HIKES SUGAR PRODUCTION UNIVERSAL Robina Corp. (URC) is set to raise its sugar-milling capacity after completing the construction of its new mill in Negros Occidental province. In a statement on Tuesday, the Gokongwei-led URC said it inaugurated the new sugar mill of its subsidiary Southern Negros Development Corp. (Sonedco) in the province’s Kabankalan City. It added that the facility would start commercial operations during crop year 2019 to 2020, and would have a crushing capacity of 6,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar cane per day. The new volume would bring Sonedco’s total milling capacity to 14,000 tons daily and URC’s to 40,000 every day. The food and beverage firm said it decided to expand its unit’s capacity to cover the growing volume of sugar canes that needed to be milled in Kabankalan and elsewhere in Negros Occidental. Sonedco produces refined sugar used by URC’s branded consumer foods division for its Great Taste coffee, C2, biscuits, candies and other sweetened products. It also supplies bottler’s grade refined sugar to other beverage companies.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Foreign Business

HOLDING FIRMS

Index

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi unveil post-Ghosn board

Y

OKOHAMA, Japan: Carmakers Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors announced the creation of a joint board Tuesday, as they seek to plot a future for their alliance after the downfall of former boss Carlos Ghosn.

The new board structure will be HEADED BY 2ENAULT #HAIRMAN *EAN Dominique Senard and replaces two previous bodies based in the .ETHERLANDS ‡ ONE JOINING 2ENAULT and Nissan, the other combining Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. g7E HAVE DECIDED TO JOIN OUR forces again, to enhance the strength of our collaboration,�

Senard told reporters.

This is a “new start� for the alliance, added the Frenchman.

Senard also announced he would “not be seeking� to replace Ghosn as head of Nissan but would be a “clear candidate� to be vice-president of the company.

Current Nissan boss Hiroto Saikawa said the new board represented “a true partnership on equal footing.�

Ghosn, recently released on bail in Japan ahead of a trial over ALLEGED kNANCIAL MISCONDUCT IS

widely credited with creating the three-way alliance, which now outsells all other rival groups. !S BOSS OF 2ENAULT HE TOOK WHAT many observers at the time thought was a gamble by saving Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy and tying it TO THE &RENCH kRM In a complicated management STRUCTURE 2ENAULT ‡ ITSELF PERcent held by the French state — owns a 43-percent stake in Nissan.

(OWEVER THE *APANESE kRM HAS OUTPERFORMED 2ENAULT RECENTLY and it is thought that many Nissan executives were unhappy with the French company’s dominance within the alliance.

In an interview with AFP in January from inside his Tokyo detention centre, Ghosn himself said his arrest it was a “story of betrayal� based on resentment in the Japanese automaker.

His downfall was plotted due to

“opposition and anxiety� over the PLAN TO BRING .ISSAN AND 2ENAULT closer together, Ghosn alleged.

The 65-year-old tycoon wanted to attend Tuesday’s board meeting in Tokyo but was barred by the court.

Although he was almost imMEDIATELY kRED AS THE HEAD OF THE company when the allegations surfaced, he is still a board member until April 8, when an extraordinary meeting of shareholders is likely to remove him.

But his bail conditions prevent him from contact with anyone else involved in his case — including Saikawa, who also attended Tuesday’s meeting.

Ghosn, who strenuously denies all charges against him, was said to be “disappointed� not to be able to attend the meeting.

He believes that the accusations against him, which he has frequently described as “meritless and unsubstantiated,� should not prevent him from giving his input into a company he saved from the brink.

Ghosn faces three charges of kNANCIAL MISCONDUCT AFP

US retail sales rebound in January HIGH

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The US economy saw retail sales rebound slightly in January but December’s sales were even worse than originally reported, according to government data released Monday.

The bleak December figures were yet another sign of the economic angst in the latter part of 2018, amid a Wall Street rout and as the US-China trade war inflamed fears of a global slowdown.

Retail sales gained 0.2 percent in January, in line with economists’ forecasts.

But December sales fell 1.6 percent from the prior month, revised from the 1.2 percent decline originally reported — the worst drop in 10 years, the Commerce Department said.

The data collection and release were delayed due to the five-week government shutdown as President Donald Trump demanded funding for a border wall, which also sapped consumer and business confidence.

The first quarter of 2019 is not expected to help the White House fulfill its

pledge for 3 percent growth this year, as most economists, including the Federal Reserve and International Monetary Fund project a slowdown.

The slight rebound in retail sales was “not enough to rescue Q1 consumption,�

Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics said.

He cautioned that the data was subject to repeated revisions but would not return to the pace of a year ago, “given the fading boost from the tax cuts and the drop in gas prices in Q4.�

AFP

B4

Special Feature

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

ARAW NG DAVAO 2019

Makings of a new haven Celebrating C l b ti a unified ifi d diversity di it

Q During the opening of the 82nd Araw ng Davao on March 1, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte noted that the celebration centers on the hardwork, sacrifices, discipline, and success of every Dabawenyo.

R

BY MAYLENE M AY AYLE LENE NE S STEPHANIE TEPH TE PHAN ANIE IE S. S . VIRAY VIRA VI RAY Y

EMEMBERING the city’s establishment is reason enough for a celebration, but Davao City also celebrates its people, who have come to know the city as their home.

Known as the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City celebrates its 82nd founding anniversary on March 16, focusing on the theme “A celebration of unity and diversity.�

The city has been dubbed as one of the “safest cities in the world� owing to the local government’s track

record of trailblazing ordinances and successful implementations for a harmonious way of living.

Davaoeùos, as the residents are commonly referred to, come from different races and walks of life. Near or far, Filipinos and foreigners alike lOCK TO THE CITY THE $AVAO LIFE AND in return, add to the city’s growing

diversity.

With this in mind, the local government under the able leadership of Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio is tasked with maintaining peace among its diverse population.

Keeping peace and order Even after the leadership of thenmayor Rodrigo Duterte, crime and violence in Davao City remains among the lowest in the country as the local government continuously implements programs that ensure the safety and security of its people.

According to the local govern-

Q This year, the city government presents the Araw ng Davao 3D mapping light show at the city hall for Dabawenyos to enjoy every night of March starting 6 p.m. onwards. ment’s latest figures, Davao City has responded to about 20,127 emergency calls from January to June 2018.

In particular, 69 percent of the kGURE IS MEDICAL RELATED WHILE percent were law enforcement and TWO PERCENT TO SEARCH AND RESCUE kRE auxiliary and K9 services.

The government has also made improvements in its services and HAS MADE SIGNIkCANT ADDITIONS TO its equipment.

In 2018, Davao City has expanded its Central 911 Main Headquarters to accommodate response vehicles and equipment. Likewise, it has purchased about seven units of

ambulance and two units of light rescue vehicle under the Strategically Advanced Resource Management (SARA).

The city has also launched the Davao 911 mobile application to provide DavaoeĂąos information regarding city advisories, forecasts, emergencies and disasters.

Meanwhile, the city has been making wise use of CCTV cameras placed around the city as it has monitored 707 incidents through the CCTV Integrated Operation 5NIT BOTH IN ITS INTEGRATED AND TRAFkC operation centers.

Various operation plans have also been launched for the safety of

its residents such as Oplan Sagop Kabataan, which was launched on Nov. 27, 2018 to address issues of children in conflict with the law (CICL), child at risk (CAR) and outOF SCHOOL YOUTH !S OF THE LATEST kGures, 602 operations were conducted and 1,717 children were rescued.

On the other hand, Oplan Integrated and Revitalized Operation of Neighborhood (IRON) was successful in increasing police auxiliary personnel to 1,310, equivalent to 44 percent increase.

Oplan Rats (Robbery, AkyatBahay, Theft and Snatching), mean-

ÂłHavenB5

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Special Feature

Q Ginoong Davao 2019 winner Kyle Emmanuel Gaite (center) 1st Runner-up Cyriel Laurence Rosil and 2nd Runner-up Abraham Yahya, together with top 15 finalists of the first ever search for Ginoong Davao 2019 on March 3, 2019.

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

Q Reyna Davaoeùa, Davao’s first pageant for transwomen was held on March 8 at the Davao City Recreation Center. Reyna Davaoeùa 2019 Rojean Buhian (center), waves with pride and joy with her court Jeysen Ramos (left) and Anne Fernandez (right).

Q HAVENFROM B4 while, has arrested 39 persons since its launch on June 11, 2018.

For background check and profiling of residents, Oplan Kalinaw has recorded about 530 operations from May 2018 to July 2018 where it was revealed that 50,921 persons were VERIkED AND CLEARED WERE ARRESTED DURing manhunt operations for hiding fugitives and 10,107 persons served through medical outreach, medical check-up and provision of medicines and health education.

Moreover, Davao City campaigns against illegal drugs through education.

For instance is the enhancement of the Department of Education Curricula initiated by the city’s Anti-Drug Council. Through this, all schools both public and private are directed to use the CADAC Drug Education Modules for the school year 2018-2019 as a preventive education program.

Another is TARA NA (Tabangan Atong Reformist Aron Naay Asenso) where a Community-based Rehabilitation aftercare program (CBRAP) manual was distributed BEGINNING !UGUST TO DIFFERENT OFkCES AND stakeholders. The program has accumulated 4,377 enrollees as of June 2018 and has a 377 percent increase in reformists.

Infrastructure development In line with her father’s big infrastructure programs, Mayor Sara Duterte has also made her own improvements in the city.

Dubbed as the “Infrastructure Modernization for Davao (IM4 Davao) the urban infrastructure development plan covers seven sectors in the city, namely: roads and ROAD TRAFkC MANAGEMENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT

gateways, water supply, wastewater management, solid waste and industrial development support.

Each sector has its proposed project for completion in short (until 2022), medium (2023 to 2030) and long (2031 to 2045) terms.

Apart from above-ground work, Davao City has also been making improvements underground with its Standardized Underground Cabling and Piping System.

The program provides spaces for cables and pipes and enough room for troubleshooting to become part of the scope of work of every road construction project under study. If approved, the project will stop the wastage of resources as this will solve the recurring problem of newly-paved roads being obliterated for pipes overlaying.

Meanwhile, Davao’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan is under revision to include emerging initiatives, provide parameters and guidelines for land use, transportation, parking, economic development, infrastructure, transit and to guide future public and private improvements in the current zoning ordinance.

Aside from land vehicles, the city is also FUNDING PROJECTS THAT WILL BENEkT THE DAILY commuters with the construction of pedestrian underpasses and overpasses.

The said projects will include waiting sheds AND TRAFkC BARRIERS IN STREETS WITH HEAVY FOOT TRAFkC 4HESE INCLUDE THE AREAS OF !TENEO MTS, Panacan, Redemptorist Church, Maa Elementary School, Cabatian-Milan, Ulas Junction, Bankerohan, Davao Doctors and Almendras Gym.

Month-long celebration After 82 years since its establishment as a lone city in the Davao region, Davao City takes PRIDE IN ITS PEOPLE AS THE PRIMARY BENEkCIARIES of all the projects and ordinances made by the local government.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, Davao City is set to hold a month-long set of ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHICH OFkCIALLY kicked off on March 1.

Activities featured during the celebration include the Mutya ng Davao pageant, Ginoong Davao male pageant, Reyna Dabawenya, Kanta Bidabawenyo and Alveo Ironman, among others. “These events are created for the enjoyment of Dabawenyos and visiting tourists,� City 4OURISM /FkCE (EAD 'ENE 2OSE 4ECSON SAID in a statement. “We encourage Dabawenyos to go out of their houses and join us in celebrating the 82nd Araw ng Davao.�

These various activities will be held every weekend of March, with special events held during weekdays, before ending with an Agribusiness Expo on March 25 and 26.

Happy anniversary, Davao City!

Q On March 2, three ladies have been chosen to become ambassadresses of Davao City: Mutya ng Davao 2019 Clydel June Tabacolde (center), Diwa ng Davao Jeriza Uy (right) and Sinag ng Davao Eula Cristine Napuli (left).

B5

Q DSquared Cru group from Davao performed their winning dance at the opening of Araw ng Davao.

The group emerged rank 11 at the Wonju Dynamic Dancing Carnival in Wonju, Korea.

Maritime Gender gap in maritime sector ‘serious’ B6

˜ The Manila Times

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

EDITOR: Carmela I. Huelar

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY GENIVI FACTAO

T

HERE is a need to push policy makers and stakeholders to double their efforts in accelerating gender equality in the seafaring industry to develop more prospects and economic gains.

0ROF ,UCIA 0ALPAL LATOC 4ANGI OF THE $EPARTMENT OF *OURNALISM 5NIVERSITY OF THE 0HILIPPINES #OLLEGE OF -ASS #OMMUNICATION SAID THE GENDER GAP IN MARITIME SECTOR WAS SERIOUS AND THAT STAKEHOLDERS MUST ENSURE THAT THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES WERE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED TO MEN AND WOMEN 3HE ASKED STAKEHOLDERS IN THE INDUSTRY INCLUDING CREWING AGENCIES SHIPOWNERS TO BE COMMITTED TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ON GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT g3TAKEHOLDERS MUST REVIEW EXISTING INDUSTRY POLICIES THAT PROMOTE OR PERPETUATE GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION SUCH AS RACE AND AGE 4HEY MUST HAVE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM AND IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON MEMBERS WHO

DISCRIMINATE WOMEN u SHE SAID DURING THE 7OMEN S $AY FORUM AT !SSOCIATED -ARINE /FkCERS AND 3EAMEN S 5NION !MOSUP IN )NTRAMUROS -ANILA 3HE SAID GOVERNMENT MUST HAVE LEGISLATIONS ON EMPOWERMENT OF SEAFARERS INCLUDING SANCTIONS ON THOSE WHO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WOMEN SEAFARERS 3HE FURTHER SAID THAT STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD MIND THE GAP AND CREATE AN ACTION PLAN TO UP WOMEN PARTICIPATION &OR INSTANCE DEPLOYMENT OF WOMEN SEAFARERS MUST INCREASE TO PERCENT OR PERCENT IN kVE YEARS

FROM THE CURRENT PERCENT SHARE )N THERE WERE

WOMEN SEAFARERS AND

MALE SEAFARERS 4HE WOMEN SEAFARERS COMPRISED PERCENT OF THE

TOTAL SEAFARERS /UT OF THE

WOMEN SEAFARERS WERE OFkCERS 2ATINGS AND

Q Members of the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union (Amosup) Women with guests and participants of the event, Port Call at Amosup: Women’s Day Edition held at the Amosup Convention Center in Intramuros last March 8. PHOTO BY FAS MARITIME

Q Dr. Lucia Palpac-Latoc Tangi.

NON MARINE PERSONNEL 4HE NUMBER OF WOMEN SEAFARERS IN SLIGHTLY INCREASED FROM IN

WHICH REPRESENT PERCENT OF THE TOTAL SEAFARERS 0ALPAL LATOCm4ANGI SAID THE GENDER GAP IN MARITIME SCHOOLS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DELAY IN THE OPENING UP OF SCHOOLS TO FEMALE STUDENTS g,IMITING ENROLLEES TO MALES FOR DECADES AND EVEN ALMOST

THE WOMEN MARITIME WORKERS WHO EMBODY !MOSUP 7OMEN S CORE VALUES OF 2ESPECT #OURAGE 7ISDOM

(UMILITY AND 3ERVICE g7E ACKNOWLEDGE WOMEN SEAFARERS WHO EXHIBIT EXCELLENCE AND INSPIRE OTHER WOMEN IN THEIR WORKPLACE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES u SHE SAID ADDING THAT THESE WOMEN WERE CREATING AN IMPACT IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY

TWO CENTURIES IN THE CASE OF ONE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL REINFORCED THE BELIEF THAT MARITIME COURSES ARE ONLY FOR MALE STUDENTS u SHE SAID !LMOST STAKEHOLDERS WERE INTERVIEWED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE DISCUSSION 4HEY NOTED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ISSUES 3HE URGED &ILIPINA SEAFARERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS ON ISSUES ON

PH should focus on clearer maritime vision SHIPPING heiress Doris Magsaysay-Ho of the Magsaysay Group said Philippines must have the vision of becoming the maritime hub in Asia and to the world, realizing the maritime industry’s great contribution not only in the country but also in the international community.

Ho said, “ we should have the vision to become the maritime center for Asia and then we offer our services to the world.�

Learning from the wisdom of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad,  Ho said every country should have an expertise that can be  offered to the 600 million people in Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean). “Why are we not yet a maritime center?  We have ship repair, shipbuilding, we have manpower.

We’re the number one seafarers. We should promote more services here.

We should have a vision to be the maritime center for Asia,� she said. Whether it’s maritime, healthcare or construction, Ho pointed out that what was lacking was where we want to be with our own domestic market, vis-a vis the 600 million Asean population.

Ho said Malaysia has always been strategic and Mahathir’s 2020 vision was 20 years done. They do things with confidence because they know what their goal is. “The lesson we’ve learned is that it must be strategic. There is an opportunity for us to develop what we called Maritime Philippines.  We put all these industries together and make one total contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). It’s not just $20 billion remittance. Together we say this is the vital industry the country must go. They (Malaysia) do things with confidence

Q Doris Magsaysay-Ho. PHOTO BY EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TRADE OFFICE (MATRADE)

because they know what their goal is,�

Ho said.

Ho said they were working on the Maritime Philippines blueprint to accelerate the development of the maritime industry.

She said“ there is a need to develop the whole industry that makes us competitive. Seafarers can work abroad.

Come home, work in a ship management, and work in a yard. Let’s make sure our seafarers are great. Let’s make sure the schools were the best. Let’s make sure that we really want to show the world that we’re good.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) audit should be really good. We have to be the best. We should be the best in every aspect. The thought should be — we are number one. The best!. What does it takes to do it? Whatever it takes to be the best, we should do,� she told the Manila Times.

In order to become a logistic hub,  she said there must be trade. You cannot be a logistic hub if you don’t have something to sell. Logistics is playing a role.

The most important thing is to produce.

To this, she asked, “What are we producing? All our overseas workers were producing somewhere else. Why are we not producing something here? Because we’re not giving them the inspiration for it. Why are people trying to be a farmer in Japan?�

Ho added that even Clark and Subic could not be logistic hubs unless there was a developed trade. “Where’s the great logistics hub?   Panama.  Singapore is a logistic hub, Kaohsiung is a logistic hub because they are major manufacturing hubs.

Unless you are a manufacturing hub or unless you are in the route. Unless people are passing you by, you can be a logistic hub,� she said. “Sorry, were not in the pathway of the world. People think were the center, we’re not. We’re a diversion. No one is thinking about how we increase our production like agriculture, manufacturing, and services,� she stressed.

This, she said was the lesson learned from Prime Minister Mahathir during the Malaysia-Philippines

business forum.

Mahathir said the Asean need to think about rebuilding a concept of making use of the 600 million population in Southeast Asia to be able to grow much faster and to become a powerful trading entity for the rest of the world. “Asean must be a sought after market for Western countries. You see that Western countries were coming to Southeast Asia because they see in Southeast Asia, a market but we don’t see it. It’s very strange. We come too close to anything,  but we cannot see it,�

Mahathir told members of the Makati Business Club (MBC). “Despite having 600 million people living in Southeast Asia, we are still looking at ourselves as different countries, with different markets, and with different domestic markets. In the beginning, there was this idea that we should divide the industries and develop the industries within ourselves so that each industry can be cited in one country but will have the market of all the five [Asean] countries.

That idea did not take off but that is a good idea,� Mahathir said.

The good idea can be revisited so that it can exploit the huge population of Southeast Asia. But such idea can be muted if there were those who were not willing to bring it back and restudy the whole concept. “That’s why Malaysia is cultivating close relationship with Indonesia and with Philippines. All counties can work together. We can make use of the population that we have, and the domestic market that we have.  I hope we can awaken our ideas and identify areas where we are good at and where we can be good together for prosperity,�

Mahathir said. GENIVI FACTAO

WOMEN BY JOINING ORGANIZATIONS

NETWORKS AND TRADE UNIONS AND CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO OTHER WOMEN SEAFARERS g&ILIPINO WOMEN SEAFARERS UNITE

FOR YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR CHAINSĂœu SHE SAID #AMILLE 3IMBULAN !MOSUP SPECIAL PROJECTS AND COMMUNICATIONS HEAD SAID IN TIME FOR THE 7OMEN S DAY CELEBRATION THEY RECOGNIZED

First Coast Guard female captain receives award #/--!.$%2 0ERLITA #INCO THE kRST FEMALE SKIPPER IN THE 0HILIPPINE #OAST 'UARD 0#' WAS AMONG THE WOMEN AWARDEES OF THE /UTSTANDING 7OMEN IN THE &IELD OF ,AW %NFORCEMENT /WLENS IN CELEBRATION OF 7OMEN S MONTH THIS -ARCH #OMMANDER #INCO WHO RECEIVED THE AWARD FROM 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE IN -ALACAĂ„ANG 0ALACE ON -ARCH IS ALSO THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE #OAST 'UARD STATION IN !NTIQUE #OMMANDER #INCO WAS BORN ON !UGUST IN !NTIQUE AND BECAME A LICENSED #IVIL %NGINEER IN 3HE JOINED THE 0#' IN AND PERFORMED VARIOUS TASKS AS INSTRUCTOR OF THE #OAST 'UARD %DUCATION AND 4RAINING #OMMAND #'%4# TO HANDLE THE TRAINING OF FIRST FEMALE NON OFFICERS RECRUITS

AND EVENTUALLY WORKED HER WAY TO THE JUNIOR BILLET ABOARD SHIP HER EXECUTIVE OFkCERS BILLET AND AS COMMANDING OFkCER SHIP S CAPTAIN OF CATEGORY ) VESSEL 3HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF "ARKO 2EPUBLIKA NG 0ILIPINAS .UEVA 6IZCAYA "20 #ORREGIDOR BEFORE BECOMING ACTING #/ OF "20 .UEVA 6IZCAYA FROM $URING THOSE YEARS OF SEA DUTIES SHE TOOK PART IN PATROLLING THE 7EST 0HILIPPINE 3EAS AREAS OF 2EGION 2EGION

2EGION 6ISAYAN 3EA AND .#2 TO PREVENT ILLEGAL kSHING ACTIVITIES 3HE ALSO CONDUCTED VARIOUS SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS AND HAS SAVED LIVES OF MANY &ILIPINOS AND FOREIGNERS DISTRESSED IN THE SEA #INCO WAS AWARDED A MEDAL FOR THE RESCUE OF CREW OF A CAPSIZED -ALAYSIAN SHIP OFF .EGROS )SLAND /THER /WLENS WINNERS WERE 0OLICE 3UPT /LIVIA 3AGAYSAY OF THE

Q Commander Perlita Cinco.

-ANILA 0OLICE $ISTRICT #AP *OVITA "UCLAT OF THE !RMY -ECHANIZED "RIGADE #AP *ENNY ,YN 4AMACAY OF THE !RMY &IELD !RTILLERY "ATTALION -AJ .ANCY $ACANAY OF THE TH 3TRIKE 7ING 0HILIPPINE !IR FORCE -AJ 'EMILYN -ENDOZA OF THE TH 3TRIKE 7ING 0HILIPPINE !IR FORCE -AJ -ARIA 'HIRLY 3OLIS OF THE TH 0RESIDENTIAL !IRLIFT 7ING 0HILIPPINE !IR &ORCE 3ENIOR 0OLICE /FkCER 3ONIA #ORPUZ OF THE 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL 0OLICE -ARITIME 'ROUP 4RAFkC !IDE 2OWENA #APISTRANO OF THE -ETROPOLITAN -ANILA $EVELOPMENT !UTHORITY AND !TTY .OREEN "ERNADETTE 3AN ,UIS ,UTEY OF THE ,AND 4RANSPORTATION /FkCE 4HE AWARDEES WERE CHOSEN THROUGH SEVERAL SCREENING AND SELECTION STAGES FROM NOMINEES SUBMITTED BY THE AGENCIES TASKED TO ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THE LAND AND SOLDIERS IN DEFENSE OF THE MOTHERLAND 0ROJECT /WLENS 0HILIPPINES IS ALL ABOUT WOMEN AND AIMS TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE WOMEN LAW ENFORCERS AND SOLDIERS TO EXCEL IN THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSION RAFFY AYENG

Strengthening inter-agency cooperation – a must for Maritime Philippines T

HE Philippines was one of six BENEkCIARY !SEAN COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT OF THE )NTERNATIONAL -ARITIME /RGANIZATION )-/ AND THE .ORWEGIAN !GENCY FOR $EVELOPMENT #OOPERATION .ORAD 4HE PROJECT HAD THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF ASSISTING PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES IN PROTECTING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT IN THE REGION THROUGH ACCELERATING THE RATIkCATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF )-/ CONVENTIONS RELATING TO MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION 4HE OTHER PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES WERE #AMBODIA )NDONESIA -ALAYSIA

4HAILAND AND 6IETNAM 4HE )-/ CONVENTIONS COVERED BY THE PROJECT WERE THE )NTERNATIONAL #ONVENTION FOR THE 0REVENTION OF 0OLLUTION FROM 3HIPS -ARPOL "ALLAST 7ATER -ANAGEMENT #ONVENTION "7-

!NTI &OULING 3YSTEM #ONVENTION !&3 AND THE ,ONDON #ONVENTION 0ROTOCOL !NTI $UMPING OF 7ASTE

4HE 0HILIPPINES HAS BEEN LAGGING BEHIND IN THE RATIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF )-/ CONVENTIONS RELATING TO THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS )T TOOK THE 0HILIPPINES YEARS TO ACCEDE TO -ARPO ONE OF THE MAIN REGULATORY PILLARS FOR SHIPPING AND EIGHTEEN YEARS AFTER ACCEDING TO THE CONVENTION #ONGRESS HAS YET TO PASS THE LEGISLATION THAT WILL IMPLEMENT THE CONVENTION /NE STICKY ISSUE CONFRONTING THE RATIkCATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MARITIME CONVENTIONS PERTAINS TO THE QUESTION OF WHICH AGENCY HAS THE MANDATE TO IMPLEMENT MARITIME REGULATORY FUNCTIONS 4HE BILL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF -ARPOL FOR EXAMPLE REMAINS IN LIMBO AS QUESTIONS OF WHICH AGENCY SHOULD HAVE THE MANDATE TO PERFORM THE PROVISIONS OF SAID CONVENTION IS HOTLY CONTESTED 4HE FOUR YEAR PROJECT TERM FROM TO LAUNCHED A REVIEW

SEATHROUGH ATTY. BRENDA V. PIMENTEL AND ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THE COUNTRIES IN RATIFYING THE CONVENTIONS AND IN GIVING FULL EFFECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE RATIkED CONVENTIONS WITH A VIEW TO MAKING THE NECESSARY POLICY LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN EACH OF THE COUNTRIES 4HE 0HILIPPINES IDENTIkED THE "7- AND THE !&3 CONVENTIONS AS THE PRIORITY CONVENTIONS TARGETED TO BE RATIkED 4HROUGH THE )-/ .ORAD PROJECT OF TO THERE WAS SUSTAINED ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ACCELERATE THE PROCESS OF RATIkCATION OF THE TWO IDENTIkED PRIORITY CONVENTIONS I E "7- AND !&3 4HE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE -ARITIME

)NDUSTRY !UTHORITY -ARINA AS LEAD AGENCY FOR THE PROJECT EXPRESSED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE PURPOSES OF THE PROJECT AND WHICH LAUNCHED A SERIES OF INITIATIVES AND UNDERTAKING THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE OTHER PERTINENT AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS TOWARDS THE COUNTRIES RATIFYING BOTH PRIORITY CONVENTIONS 3EVERAL TOOLS AND MECHANISMS WERE ADOPTED BY THE PROJECT AND WHICH THE 0HILIPPINES HAD PUT INTO ACTION /NE OF THIS IS THE CREATION OF A .ATIONAL 4ASK &ORCE .4& AIMED AT FORGING STRONG COOPERATION THROUGH SUSTAINED DIALOGUES

BETWEEN AND AMONG THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS 4HE 0HILIPPINES THUS CREATED THROUGH A $EPARTMENT /RDER THE )NTER AGENCY #OORDINATING #OMMITTEE FOR THE 2ATIkCATION AND )MPLEMENTATION OF -ARITIME #ONVENTIONS )##2)-# WHICH SERVED AS THE VENUE FOR DIALOGUES AMONG THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS IN RESPECT

OF THE BENEkTS AND DISADVANTAGES OF RATIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING THE "7- AND THE !&3 CONVENTIONS 4HE )##2)-# CHANGED THE POSTURE OF DISCUSSIONS AMONG THE VARIOUS INTERESTS WITH THE CLEAR OBJECTIVE OF SEEKING THE BEST OPTIONS FOR THE COUNTRY WHEN RATIFYING A CONVENTION #ONSULTATIVE MEETINGS HELD UNDER THE )##2)-# AGENDA ALLOWED OPEN AND TRANSPARENT DELIBERATION OF ISSUES 4HE )##2)-# WAS DEEMED AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN CONkDENCE BUILDING AND SECURING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTING A CONVENTION 5PON THE TERMINATION OF THE PROJECT IN THE 0HILIPPINES WAS NOT ABLE TO RATIFY THE "7- AND !&3 CONVENTIONS AS TARGETED .ONETHELESS

THE STEPS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE RATIkCATION OF THE TWO CONVENTIONS WERE ABBREVIATED THROUGH THE WORKS OF THE )##2)-# SUCH THAT BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE INSTRUMENTS OF RATIkCATION COVERING THE SUBJECT

CONVENTIONS WERE TRANSMITTED TO THE )-/ SECRETARY GENERAL !S THE LEAD CONSULTANT OF THE PROJECT THIS WRITER ATTESTS TO THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE .4& NOT ONLY IN THE 0HILIPPINES BUT ALSO IN ALL THE OTHER PROJECT COUNTRIES 3TAKEHOLDERS BUY IN OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT AND THE RECOGNITION OF THE BENEkTS THAT ACCRUE TO THE COUNTRY FOR RATIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING CONVENTIONS RELATING TO MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION WAS ATTAINED THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE .4& )N SOME COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE 0HILIPPINES

THE .4& OR )##2)-# HAS BEEN RETAINED BEYOND THE PROJECT DURATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINED AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUES AMONG THE STAKEHOLDERS 4HERE IS HIGH EXPECTATION THE LEGISLATION AND THE INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS TO IMPLEMENT THE "7- AND THE !&3 CONVENTIONS WILL BE FORTHCOMING

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Tesda kicks off PH techvoc skills competition THE 4ECHNICAL %DUCATION AND 3KILLS $EVELOPMENT !UTHORITY 4ESDA GEARS UP FOR THE 7ORLD 3KILLS #OMPETITION WHICH WILL BE HELD IN 2USSIA THIS !UGUST THROUGH A SERIES OF SELECTION PROCESSES VIA COMPETITIONS TO DETERMINE THE 0HILIPPINE REPRESENTATIVES 4HEMED g46%4 3KILLS ! #HALLENGE TO 4HE 7ORLD u THE -ANILA CHAPTER LED EVENT WAS LAUNCHED LAST WEEK AT THE -AGSAYSAY )NSTITUTE OF (OSPITALITY #ULINARY AND !RTS -)(#! AND SERVED AS THE LAUNCHING VEHICLE OF THE 4ESDA SKILLS COMPETITION WHERE TEN WINNERS WERE SELECTED TO COMPETE IN THE REGIONAL LEVEL #ONRADO "ANARES 4ESDA 2EGIONAL DIRECTOR AND #ECILIA !MARO

-ANILA DIRECTOR OF 4ESDA ATTENDED THE KICK OFF EVENT 2EGIONAL WINNERS WILL THEN COMPETE IN THE !SSOCIATION OF THE 3OUTH %AST !SIAN .ATIONS !SEAN 3KILLS COMPETITION TO BE HELD IN 3INGAPORE AND THEN THE 7ORLD 3KILLS EVENT IN 2USSIA 4HIS WILL BE THE kRST TIME THAT THE 0HILIPPINES IS SENDING SELECTED PARTICIPANTS TO THE COMPETITION 4HE WINNERS DURING THE -ANILA LEG WERE *EMUEL ,UMBERA

*ELWIN "LASI 0OALA *AVIER ,ALAINE !PEROCHO %RICKSON "UENAFLOR

*OHN #YDREX 6ITUG AND 2ALPH !NDREI .ARVAEZ 4HEY WERE ALSO ENDORSED BY THE !SSOCIATION OF 4ECHNICAL 3CHOOLS OF -ANILA )NC !TSMI WHOSE MEMBERS ARE THE PARTICIPANTS SPONSORING SCHOOLS 4%3$! ORGANIZES THE ANNUAL COMPETITION AS A PLATFORM FOR SHOWCASING THE SKILLS OF TECH VOC GRADUATES AND TRAINEES UNDER 4ESDA S 4ECHNICAL AND 6OCATIONAL %DUCATION AND 4RAINING

46%4 PROGRAM IN THE FOLLOWING TRADE AREAS !UTOMOBILE 4ECHNOLOGY "EAUTY 4HERAPY #OOKING %LECTRICAL )NSTALLATION %LECTRONICS &ASHION 4ECHNOLOGY 'RAPHIC $ESIGN 4ECHNOLOGY (AIRDRESSING )4 .ETWORK 3YSTEMS !DMINISTRATION )4 3OFTWARE 3OLUTION FOR "USINESS -ECHANICAL %NGINEERING $ESIGN #!$ -ECHATRONICS 2EFRIGERATION AND !IR CONDITIONING 2ESTAURANT 3ERVICING 7EB $ESIGN AND 7ELDING !CCORDING TO !TSMI PRESIDENT 'LENN -ARK "LASQUEZ WHO IS ALSO THE MARITIME REPRESENTATIVE TO 4ESDA THIS YEAR WOULD ALSO BE THE kRST TIME THAT THE 0HILIPPINES IS SENDING REPRESENTATIVES TO THE PRESTIGIOUS SKILLS COMPETITION IN 2USSIA (E SAID g)T IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE AND HARNESS OUR COUNTRY S DEVELOPMENT IN THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT OUR TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAININGS HAS GONE A LONG WAYu "LASQUEZ FURTHERED THAT SKILLS COMPETITIONS WERE A WAY OF SHOWCASING THE BEST AMONG THE COUNTRY S SKILLED WORKFORCE AND AT THE SAME TIME PROMOTING TECH VOC TRAININGu (E ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE COMPETITION WOULD PUT THE 0HILIPPINES 46%4 PROGRAMS UNDER SCRUTINY OF A GLOBAL AUDIENCE AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT AND CAN BE A CAREER PATH FOR 4ESDA TRAINEES AND GRADUATES (E SAID g)T IS PERTINENT TO OBSERVE THAT ABILITY TO ACCESS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES OF EXCHANGE DEPENDS ON HOW WELL EQUIPPED EDUCATIONALLY PROFESSIONALLY AND SKILL WISE THE WORKERS ARE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIESu

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

Maritime

B7

Q Filipino seamen serve on bulk carriers, container ships, general cargo ships, pure car carriers, tugboats and product tankers around the world. PHOTO BY DUNCAN TORRES FOR FAS MARITIME

Pinoy seamen sent home a record $6.1B in 2018 F

ILIPINO seamen onboard foreign ocean-going vessels sent home a record $6.14 billion through the banking system in 2018, up 4.6 percent or $270 million from the $5.87 billion in 2017, the party-list group ACTS-OFW said. g4HE AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE MONEY REMITTED VIA NON BANK CHANNELS AS WELL AS CASH PHYSICALLY BROUGHT HOME BY SAILORS ON VACATIONS u SAID !#43 /&7 2EP !NICETO "ERTIZ RD "Y COUNTRY OF ORIGIN "ERTIZ SAID THE TOP SOURCES OF CASH TRANSFERS FROM &ILIPINO SAILORS LAST YEAR WERE THE 53

BILLION 3INGAPORE

MILLION 'ERMANY MILLION *APAN MILLION THE 5NITED +INGDOM MILLION (ONG

+ONG MILLION THE .ETHERLANDS MILLION 'REECE

MILLION 0ANAMA

MILLION #YPRUS MILLION AND .ORWAY MILLION g7E SEE THE DEMAND FOR &ILIPINO SAILORS RISING STEADILY IN TANDEM WITH INTERNATIONAL MERCHANT SHIP TRAFkC

AS ECONOMIES AROUND THE WORLD CONTINUE TO EXPAND u "ERTIZ SAID 4HE )NTERNATIONAL -ONETARY &UND EARLIER SAID IT EXPECTS THE GLOBAL ECONOMY TO GROW AT PERCENT IN

AND PERCENT IN &ILIPINO SEAMEN SERVE ON BULK CARRIERS CONTAINER SHIPS GENERAL CARGO SHIPS PURE CAR CARRIERS TUGBOATS AND PRODUCT TANKERS AROUND THE WORLD -ANY &ILIPINOS ALSO PROVIDE HOUSEKEEPING GUEST RELATIONS

CULINARY FRONT OFFICE AND OTHER MAINTENANCE SERVICES ON CRUISE SHIPS AND lOATING CASINOS -EANWHILE !#43 /&7 WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO INVEST MORE FUNDS IN PROVIDING FREE MARITIME EDUCATION THROUGH STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES 35#S g-ARITIME EDUCATION FOR THE YOUTH OFFERS AS A WAY FOR POOR FAMILIES TO MOVE INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS u "ERTIZ SAID g4HUS WE INTEND TO PUSH A SPECIAL HIGHER EDUCATION FUND THAT

WILL ENCOURAGE 35#S ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE PROVINCES TO EITHER PUT UP NEW MARITIME INSTITUTES OR EXPAND THEIR EXISTING MARINE PROGRAMS u "ERTIZ SAID 'RADUATES OF "ACHELOR OF 3CIENCE IN -ARINE 4RANSPORTATION AND THE "ACHELOR OF 3CIENCE IN -ARINE %NGINEERING ONCE LICENSED AND CERTIkED BECOME OFkCERS ON FOREIGN SHIPS ‡ MASTERS CHIEF MATES

OFkCERS IN CHARGE OF A NAVIGATIONAL WATCH CHIEF ENGINEERS SECOND ENGINEERS AND OFkCERS IN CHARGE OF ENGINEERING WATCH "ERTIZ ALSO CITED THE NEED FOR 35#S TO HELP PRODUCE A GREATER NUMBER OF MASTER DEGREE HOLDERS IN MARINE EDUCATION TO ENSURE THAT MARITIME SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE HIGHLY QUALIkED INSTRUCTORS IN THE YEARS AHEAD

C A P T. J A S M I N E L A B A R D A TVET SKILLS A CHALLENGE TO THE WORLD Conrado Bares, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) National Capital Region director, and Cecilia Zagala Amaro, district director of Tesda Manila, led the symbolic ribbon-cutting of the Tesda Skills 2019 opening ceremony together with the officers of the Association of Technical Schools of Manila Inc. led by it’s President Dr. Glenn Mark Blasquez held at the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality Culinary and Arts. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Marina opens 8 more missionary routes THE -ARITIME )NDUSTRY !UTHORITY -ARINA WILL OPEN ANOTHER MISSIONARY ROUTES INITIATED BY SHIPPING OPERATORS IN SUPPORT OF THE 2OLL ON 2OLL OFF 2O2O 4ERMINAL 3YSTEM 2243 AND THE PRIORITY PROGRAM RELATING TO THE UPGRADING OF THE DOMESTIC SHIPPING WITH THE NAUTICAL HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE YEAR MARITIME INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT PLAN -)$0 4HIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OF THE PROPOSED 2O2O MISSIONARY ROUTES WHICH WAS kRST LAUNCHED LAST &EBRUARY WHICH WERE ALREADY APPLIED FOR BY SHIPPING OPERATORS

SIGNIFYING THEIR INTEREST TO TACKLE THE UNSERVED ROUTES WITHIN THE 0HILIPPINE NAUTICAL HIGHWAY )N A STATEMENT RELEASED BY -ARINA AFTER ATTENDING THE LATEST /VERSIGHT -EETING OF THE (OUSE #OMMITTEE ON 4RANSPORTATION CHAIRED BY (OUSE 3PEAKER 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO /FFICER IN #HARGE 6ICE !DMIRAL .ARCISO 6INGSON *R PRESENTED THE EIGHT INDUSTRY PROPOSED 2O2O MISSIONARY ROUTES 4HE EIGHT INDUSTRY PROPOSED 2O2O MISSIONARY ROUTES ARE m $AANBANTAYAN #EBU TO #ALBAYOG #ITY 3AMAR m 4ABUELAN #EBU TO !JUY )LOILO m ,AOAY "OHOL TO #AGAYAN DE /RO m 3AN *UAN "ATANGAS TO #ALAPAN

/RIENTAL -INDORO m )LOILO #ITY TO #UYO 0ALAWAN m 3AN 0ASCUAL "URIAS )SLAND

-ASBATE TO 0ASACAO #AMARINES 3UR m 3AN !NDRES 1UEZON TO 0ASACAO #AMARINES 3UR m ,UCENA 1UEZON TO 3AN &ERNANDO -ASBATE

-ARINA WILL THEN ISSUE A LETTER APPROVAL THAT WILL GIVE A PROPONENT SHIPPING OPERATOR FOUR MONTHS TO START VESSEL OPERATION ON ITS PROPOSED ROUTE WHILE PROCESSING THE ACQUISITION OF ITS #ERTIkCATES OF 0UBLIC #ONVENIENCE #0#S 7ITH THE APPROVED #0# THE PROPONENT SHIPPING OPERATOR SHALL ENJOY A kVE YEAR ROUTE PROTECTION OR PROTECTION OF INVESTMENT AS WELL AS A PERCENT DISCOUNT ON THE PROCESSING ON THE REGULAR FEES OF ALL APPLICATIONS AND RENEWAL OF SHIP DOCUMENTS LICENSES

CERTIkCATES AND PERMITS -ARINA FURTHERED THAT SHIPPING COMPANIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROPOSE NEW MISSIONARY ROUTES IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING LIST -EANWHILE !RROYO LAUDED THE MOVE OF -ARINA TO ESTABLISH NEW MISSIONARY ROUTES THAT WOULD ENTAIL GROWTH IN THE TOURISM AND DOMESTIC SHIPPING g) AM GLAD THAT -ARINA IS WORKING TOWARDS SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF TRADE AND GREATER CONNECTIVITY IN THE COUNTRY 4HESE NEW MISSIONARY ROUTES WILL INCREASE THE EFkCIENCY OF TRANSPORTATION AND SHIPPING WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY SPUR GROWTH IN THE REGIONS u !RROYO SAID IN A STATEMENT )N !RROYO ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROMOTE 2O2O A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO CARRY ROLLING STOCK CARGO THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE CRANES FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING 4HE KILOMETER 3TRONG 2EPUBLIC .AUTICAL (IGHWAY WAS ONE OF !RROYO S PRIORITY PROGRAMS TO ENSURE FAST AND ECONOMICAL MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND PEOPLE AND TO BOOST DOMESTIC TOURISM AND TRADE WITHIN THE MAJOR ISLANDS RAFFY AYENG

Empowering modern ‘She’ farers

BY YASHIKA F. TORIB 02%()34/2)# SAILORS HELD A NOTION THAT HAVING WOMEN ONBOARD VESSELS BRING BAD LUCK TO THE SHIP AND ITS JOURNEY !T THE TURN OF THE CENTURY HOWEVER THE TRADITIONALLY MALE DOMINATED SHIPPING INDUSTRY HAS FINALLY OPENED ITS DOORS TO WOMEN

PRESENTING LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE MARITIME CORPORATE LADDER AS WELL AS SEAFARING JOBS ONBOARD MERCHANT AND PASSENGER VESSELS $ESPITE THE MICROSCOPIC NUMBER OF WOMEN SEAFARERS DEPLOYED EVERY YEAR A MERE PERCENT OF MORE THAN &ILIPINO SEAFARERS SOME HAVE ALREADY SUCCEEDED IN OCCUPYING LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ONBOARD AND CREATING THEIR OWN NAMES AT SHORE *ASMINE ,ABARDA IS AMONG THAT SELECT FEW OF SUCCESSFUL AND STRONG g3(%uFARERS ,ABARDA IS A GRADUATE OF THE -ARITIME !CADEMY OF !SIA AND THE 0ACIkC -!!0 IN -ARIVELES

"ATAAN AND IS THE kRST AND ONLY &ILIPINA TO HAVE A -ASTER -ARINER AND $YNAMIC 0OSITIONING $0 LICENSES IN !SIA 3HE IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE VERY FIRST FEMALE CAPTAIN PRODUCED BY -!!0 WHEN SHE GRADUATED IN &OR MORE THAN A DECADE ,ABARDA SAILS THE HIGH SEAS AND COME SHORE LEAVE SHE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OTHERS BY TEACHING $0 SUBJECTS ‡ COURSES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR SEAFARERS WORKING ON OFFSHORE VESSELS (ER JOURNEY HOWEVER WAS kLLED WITH PITCH AND SWELLS ,ABARDA SHARED TO The Manila 4IMES HOW SHE HAD TO FOREGO HER DREAM OF BECOMING AN ENGINEER DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS 7HEN -!!0 OPENED ITS DOORS TO kNANCIALLY CHALLENGED YOUTH LIKE HER

THE YOUNG LADY IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE SCHOLARSHIP AND EMBRACED HER SEA BOUND FATE WITH HARD WORK )T WAS THEN THAT YOUNG *ASMINE REALIZED THAT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL COMPETENCIES ARE NOT ENOUGH TO SURVIVE IN THIS INDUSTRY g) WAS AT THE TOP OF OUR CLASS AND ) FOUND

OUT THAT THIS OFFEND THE MALE CADETS ) ENDED UP BLAMING MYSELF FOR STRIVING SO HARD AND KEEPING IT ALL DOWN BECAUSE ) HAD NO ONE TO REPORT TO u ,ABARDA SHARED $ISMAY AND DEPRESSION TOOK OVER THE YOUNG CADET AS SHE REACHED A DEAD END g) VE ONLY BEEN TRYING TO ACHIEVE THINGS BUT PEOPLE WERE PUTTING ME DOWN ) DIDN T KNOW WHO TO TURN TO AND NOT EVEN MY FAMILY COULD UNDERSTAND SO ) TRIED SOLVING IT MYSELF )T DIDN T GET ME ANYWHERE BEING SILENT ) FELT ALONE u 4HIS EXACT FEELING OF REJECTION AND HELPLESSNESS AMONGST AND FROM HER MALE COUNTERPARTS WAS WHAT LED ,ABARDA TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN !MOSUP 7OMEN A GROUP UNDER THE !SSOCIATED -ARINE /FkCERS AND 3EAFARERS 5NION OF THE 0HILIPPINES THAT PROMOTES WOMEN EMPOWERMENT g!MOSUP 7OMEN HAS TAKEN THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP OF BUILDING THE VOICE AND CONFIDENCE OF WOMEN IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY 4HEY USED TO BE SHY AND SCARED OF SPEAKING UP BECAUSE EVEN THE COMMUNITY IS NOT HELPING 4HEY WERE VERY HARD TO CHANGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY STOPPED TRUSTING PEOPLE u ,ABARDA SAID TAKING NOTE OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT WOMEN SEAFARERS FACE ONBOARD SHIPS SUCH AS SEXUAL HARASSMENT

ABUSE AND BULLYING g7E ARE HEALING THEM AND WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GAIN THEIR CONFIDENCE BACK !MOSUP HAS RECOGNIZED THIS NEED AND THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVEu STATED ,ABARDA WHO IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE 7OMEN S #OMMITTEE OF THE )NTERNATIONAL 4RANSPORT &EDERATION )4& AND THE CHAIRMAN OF !MOSUP 7OMEN AND WAS THEREBY AWARDED AS THE YOUNG WORKER REPRESENTATIVE OF !MOSUP ,OOKING BACK AT HER YEARS OF SAILING THE INTERNATIONAL SEAS

,ABARDA UNDERSTOOD AND APPRECIATED THE KIND OF TRAINING -!!0 HAS GIVEN THEM g/NE GOOD THING ABOUT OUR TRAINING IN -!!0 WAS

Q Capt. Jasmine Labarda. PHOTO BY FAS MARITIME THAT WE HAVE LEARNED DIPLOMACY AND COMPOSURE THAT LATER IN OUR CAREERS LEADING PEOPLE EVEN MEN

HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM 7E WERE TAUGHT TO BE CALM AND COLLECTED EVEN UNDER THE TOUGHEST OF SITUATIONS ‡ STABILITY UNDER PRESSURE g7E WERE ALSO MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SEAFARERS ARE ALSO HUMAN BEINGS YOU CANNOT CONTROL THEM 9OU CAN ONLY APPROACH THEM IN THE RIGHT MANNER AND SHOW HOW THINGS CAN BE DONE IN A BETTER WAY !FTER ALL WE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO CHOOSE OUR BATTLES AND WHICH ONES ARE WORTH WINNING IF A CREW MEMBER REFUSES TO FOLLOW YOU IT S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD u ,ABARDA QUIPPED 4HE SHIP CAPTAIN HAS ALSO OBSERVED HOW LEADERSHIP ONBOARD VESSELS HAVE ALREADY TRANSFORMED g)T S NOT ANYMORE TRADITIONAL u SHE SAID REFERRING TO CREW MEMBERS WHO ARE NOW SPEAKING UP AND QUESTIONING THINGS THAT ARE NEW TO THEM g3OME WOULD EVEN END UP kGHTING SIMPLY BECAUSE ONE ANSWERED BRASHLY !S A LEADER YOU WILL HAVE TO MEDIATE AND REMIND THEM OF THEIR CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL BELIEFS THAT MAYBE FROM WHERE THESE PEOPLE CAME FROM

ELDERS DO NOT TOLERATE BEING ANSWERED BACK

g4HAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REGIMENTAL TRAINING FROM MOST OF THE MARITIME SCHOOLS HERE IN THE 0HILIPPINES ‡ WE ARE TRAINED WITH MILITARY DISCIPLINE !ND WHILE LEADERSHIP ONBOARD VESSELS NO LONGER CONFORM TO RIGIDITY WE ARE ABLE TO APPLY OUR DISCIPLINE AND TOLERANCE )T IS SIMPLY UP TO THE PERSONAL VALUES OF THE SEAFARER TO STAND UP FOR HIS CONVICTIONS u 3UCH LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL VALUES REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF ,ABARDA AS SHE TALKED OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT TO OTHER g3(%uFARERS IN TIME WITH THE )NTERNATIONAL 7OMEN S $AY CELEBRATION OF !MOSUP AND )4& 7OMEN LAST -ARCH g3EAFARING IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL CAREER BECAUSE YOU CAN ENJOY THE VACATIONS AFTER YOUR CONTRACT THE PAY IS GOOD AND YOU GET TO HELP OTHERS $ON T LET FEAR ANGER OR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OR WORDS FROM OTHERS STOP YOU -ANY POSITIONS IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY ARE NOW OPEN FOR WOMEN YOU JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF NO MATTER HOW HARD ITS PART OF OUR TRAINING AND CHARACTER BUILDING u 3HE SAID g7E ARE TO BE RESPECTED WE ARE TO HAVE DECENT WORK 4HE ENTITLEMENT IS THE SAME FOR EVERYONE 9OU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HERE THIS IS YOUR WORLD TOO u SHE CONCLUDED

Build&Design

WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 2019 EDITOR: Mario F. Fetalino Jr.

www.manilatimes.net

mario.fetalino@manilatimes.net

B8

City living at Bamboo Lane BAMBOO LANE, the latest mixed-use and residential project of Pueblo de Oro, provides families with the convenience of city living and the enjoyment of nature in one development.

With the vision to provide residents with quality and distinct homes, Pueblo de Oro has continued to deliver elegant three-story townhouses in its Cagayan de Oro project since its launch in the middle of 2018.

The 1.6-hectare Bamboo Lane is in close proximity to various schools, malls and lifestyle centers — making it ideal for those looking forward to the convenience and QUALITY OF THEIR kRST HOME Fitted with amenities such as parks, playgrounds, community jogging paths and ample parking space, Bamboo Lane is also located within the lush trees and foliage of the valley portion of the Pueblo de Oro Township along San Agustin Avenue, adding to the peace and serenity of the area and providing a welcome diversion from city life.

Each townhouse has two bedrooms and two toilets and bath.

Bamboo Lane also offers units with expandable layouts for easy renovation. Buyers can choose from a bare structure or a complete structure created

by Manila-based progressive design f i r m LPPA

Q Bamboo Lane cluster

Design Group Inc. To ensure the safety of the location, A YEAR lOOD STUDY WAS CONDUCTED before Bamboo Lane was developed to predict the depth of rainfall from storms over a given duration. In adDITION AN OUTlOW AND SQUARE meter detention pond was built to contain up to 23,000 cubic meters of water runoff from the plateau to the valley before dispersal into the creek to help protect the properties FROM lOODING For more than 20 years now, Pueblo de Oro has successfully built quality residential developments across the country — from Cagayan de Oro to Mactan and Lapu-Lapu in Cebu; San Fernando in Pampanga; in Calamba, Laguna; and Batangas.

Created with the understanding that a home is one of the biggest investments a family can have, Pueblo de Oro offers residences that are affordable yet built with a strong foundation and with the safety and security of the family in mind.

The Pueblo de Oro Township is a 400-hectare master-planned development in Cagayan de Oro. SM City Cagayan de Oro, Pueblo Business Park, Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club, schools like Xavier University and Corpus Christi, a 40-hectare urban rainforest, and gated subdivisions are situated within the township, making it a one-stop shop for all the family’s needs.

Q Present at the signing were (from left) Kerwin Amar, PHirst Park Homes vice president for technical operations; Kiyoto Asari, Mitsubishi Corp. senior manager; Ricky Celis, PHirst Park Homes president; Jose Carlo Antonio, PHirst Park Homes chairman; Edgar Saavedra, Megawide chairman; Markus Hennig, Megawide executive vice president–Strategic Business Units; Einstein Chiu, Megawide assistant vice president; and Jeralbine Nuguid, Megawide sales manager.

Tech deal inked for 1,800 homes

P

HIRST Park Homes Inc., the joint-venture kRM OF LISTED REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER #ENTURY 0ROPERTIES 'ROUP )NC #0' AND -ITSUBISHI #ORP FOR kRST TIME HOMEBUYERS HAS SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH -EGAWIDE #ONSTRUCTION #ORP FOR THE USE OF ITS PRECAST TECHNOLOGY IN BUILDING MORE THAN HOMES IN 0(IRST 0ARK (OMES ,IPA "ATANGAS

This is the second agreement between PHirst and Megawide, which also signed an agreement in 2017 for 2,830 units in the PHirst 0ARK (OMES 4ANZA #AVITE PROJECT “PHirst Park Homes is pleased to continue its partnership with Megawide because of its experience and leadership in modern precast technology. As with our ongoing PROJECT IN 0(IRST 0ARK (OMES 4ANZA where Megawide has demonstrated an exemplary performance, we are confident that it will deliver the same level of professionalism and quality to PHirst Park Homes Lipa,�

said Ricky Celis, president of PHirst Park Homes Inc. Megawide takes pride in its precast construction system, which enables faster completion, easy STANDARDIZATION COST EFFECTIVENESS

HIGH QUALITY kNISH AND ENHANCED facade design. “We are proud to once again be a partner of PHirst Park Homes and Century Properties IN DELIVERING kRST WORLD STRUCTURES for the affordable housing market,� said Edgar Saavedra, Megawide CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER “Through our precast unit, we are able to custom-build to

THE SPECIkCATIONS OF 0(IRST 0ARK Homes and ensure higher stanDARDIZATION FOR ALL UNITS FROM PROduction to installation,� he added.

PHirst Park Homes Lipa is a HECTARE HORIZONTAL COMMUNITY in Barangay San Lucas, Lipa City close to the Lima Technology Center and Light Industry and Science Park 3. SM City Lipa is an 18-minute drive from the property.

Launched in June 2018, the deVELOPMENT SOLD OUT ITS kRST PHASE AS early as September and has pre-sold 900 units to date with sales value of P1.16 billion. Land development has commenced on site. ConstrucTION OF THE kRST BATCH OF HOMES WILL begin in September 2019.

The PHirst Park Homes brand is known for its 4Cs: Complete and well-provisioned homes with a perimeter fence and gate; Conceptive amenities; Connected living THROUGH 7I &I ZONES AND A #ONVENIENT AND SIMPLIkED EXPERIENCE for home buyers. For Lipa, the

development highlights conceptive amenities that invite families to rediscover the joy of outdoor play.

Century Properties Group has IDENTIkED THE kRST HOMEBUYER MARKET as one of the four allied real estate segments for its ongoing business expansion, with the others being in-city residential developments, for-lease properties, and leisure and tourism. The company’s foray into quality affordable homes seeks to address the strong housing demand in the segment of the expanding middle class in the Philippines.

7ITHIN THE NEXT kVE YEARS 0(IRST Park Homes will launch 15 masterPLANNED COMMUNITIES IN #ALABARZON #AVITE ,AGUNA "ATANGAS 2IZAL AND 1UEZON AND #ENTRAL ,UZON WITH approximately 33,000 homes. Nearterm launches will be concentrated in the booming provinces of Laguna, Bulacan and Cavite, where several major infrastructure projects of the government are in various stages of construction and development.

B R I S T O L AT PA R K WAY P L A C E

World of grandeur

EXCEPTIONAL, modern and luxurious, Bristol at Parkway Place stands out among upscale property projects in Metro South.

It has proven to be a superior investment proposition, whose value has been continuously rising, providing early investors with excellent returns of up to 30 percent.

A excellent development project, it is located at the prestigious corner of Corporate and Parkway Avenues (dubbed as Millionaires’ Row) at the upmarket section of the masterplanned green urban center Filinvest City in Alabang.

What was once just the bold vision of exceptional minds at Filigree had been turned by world-class consultants into a reality of 40 carefully built stories of concrete and glass.

Since 2018, Bristol’s astute investors and discriminating homeowners have started taking possession of their dream spaces. “As residents steadily make their home at Bristol at Parkway Place, they can start enjoying a handsome return on investment. With its strategic location, luxurious features and exceptional amenities, Bristol possesses all the high value attributes of a remarkable property asset,� said Filigree head Kate Ilagan.

Bristol offers an unrivalled world of grandeur with its privately gated circular driveway leading to the imposing, hotellike reception lobby. At the GROUND lOOR A VIBRANT PLAZA environment with carefully curated boutiques and specialty restaurants will be available for private retail therapy and relaxed, sumptuous dining.

Other amenities — all befitting a life of leisure

Q The 40-story Bristol at Parkway Place stands as the tallest residential tower in Filinvest City, Alabang.

and utmost sophistication — include a soothing swimming pool and kiddie pool, relaxing landscaped pool deck, verdant tree courtyard, function room for private events, fully-equipped kTNESS CENTER CHILDREN S PLAY AREA YOGA DECK

and a well-stocked library and media center for watching movies, among others. A sky lounge offers stunning views of the Alabang skyline and Laguna de Bay. The units are spacious and exceptionally crafted: One-bedroom pied-Ă -terre for singles, two-bedroom unit for young couples and three-bedroom suite for growing families. %ACH UNIT HAS A BALCONY AND UNMATCHED kNISH and shows unparalleled attention to detail.

Indeed, Bristol at Parkway Place by luxury real estate brand Filigree sets the bar for luxurious condominium living and intelligent real-estate investment.

World

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

B9

US eyes full denuclearization of NKorea

W

ASHINGTON, D.C.: A top US envoy said Monday (Tuesday in Manila) Washington’s goal is the complete denuclearization of North Korea by the end of 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP S kRST TERM INSISTING IT will not settle for incremental disarmament. “We are not going to do denuclearization incrementally,� said Stephen Biegun, the special 53 ENVOY FOR .ORTH +OREA While stressing he was not BOUND BY AN ARTIkCIAL CALENDAR

Biegun said the administration

wanted to accomplish the comPLETE AND VERIkED DENUCLEARIZAtion of North Korea by the end OF 4RUMP S TERM IN *ANUARY g7E STAND BY THE EXPECTATION THAT IF WE FULLY MOBILIZE OUR RESOURCES we could align ourselves in a manner

SUFkCIENT TO ACHIEVE THIS IN SOMETHING APPROACHING A YEAR u HE SAID “We do have to have a complete DECLARATION u FROM 0YONGYANG HE WENT ON g7E WILL NOT LIFT THESE SANCTIONS until NK (North Korea) completes the PROCESS OF DENUCLEARIZATION u The US side has included North +OREA S CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL weapons in the negotiations with 0YONGYANG The envoy said there could be no comprehensive agreement with the North without agreement on each point, adding that there was

“complete unity� in the adminisTRATION ON THAT APPROACH 3PEAKING AT A CONFERENCE ORGAnized by the Carnegie Endowment FOR )NTERNATIONAL 0EACE "IEGUN SAID progress had been made despite the FAILURE OF 4RUMP S SECOND SUMMIT with North Korean leader Kim Jong 5N HELD IN (ANOI LAST MONTH “The door remains open� for further negotiations, he said, adding, however, that “the North +OREANS HAVE TO BE FULLY INVESTED u “Nothing can be agreed until EVERYTHING S AGREED u HE STRESSED

while adding that confidencebuilding measures between the COUNTRIES COULD STILL TAKE PLACE The outcome in Hanoi last month fell far short of hopes that the meeting would build on THE LEADERS SUMMIT IN 3INGAPORE IN *UNE WHICH MARKED A HISTORIC kRST BUT RESULTED ONLY IN A VAGUE COMMITMENT TO gWORK toward complete denuclearization OF THE +OREAN PENINSULA u !FTER WEEKS OF BUILDING EXPECTAtions and with a signing ceremony ready to go, Trump abruptly ended

the summit, saying: “Sometimes YOU HAVE TO WALK AND THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE TIMES u North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho later said his side had offered to “permanently and completely dismantle all the nuclear production FACILITIESu AT ITS MAIN COMPLEX IN 9ONGbyon if the US dropped sanctions “that hamper the civilian economy AND THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR PEOPLE u Biegun repeated the US position that sanctions would not be lifted “until North Korea completes the PROCESS OF DENUCLEARIZATION u AFP

ICC: Rohingya abusers will be held to account DHAKA: The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims TO lEE FROM -YANMAR S 2AKHINE state would be held to account, an International Criminal Court )## OFkCIAL SAID ON -ONDAY Following a visit to Bangladesh REFUGEE CAMPS THE )## S 0HAKISO -OCHOCHOKO SAID THE FACT THAT Myanmar was not a signatory to the Hague-based international court “will not in any way be a HINDRANCEu TO AN INVESTIGATION “It may present a little bit of challenge for us in terms of investigation, but we have faced A SITUATION LIKE THIS IN THE PAST AND WE VE BEEN ABLE TO DEAL WITH THEM u THE COURT S DIRECTOR OF jurisdiction told reporters in the CAPITAL $HAKA -OCHOCHOKO MADE THE COMments after leading a delegation TO "ANGLADESH S SOUTHEASTERN #OX S Bazar district, home to around one MILLION 2OHINGYA REFUGEES The delegation, however, clarikED THAT ITS VISIT TO THE CAMPS WAS not a part of any investigation but to collect insights for an ongoing ASSESSMENT OF THE OFkCE OF PROSecutor Fatou Bensouda whether to WARRANT A FULL INVESTIGATION g! PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION IS not an investigation, but an assessment of the Rome Statute criteria to decide whether an investigation into the situation at hand is war-

RANTED u HE SAID “Therefore during this mission, as is standard practice of the OfkCE THE DELEGATION DID NOT COLLECT evidence or perform any other investigative activities,� MochoCHOKO SAID About 740,000 Rohingya have lED 2AKHINE STATE TO "ANGLADESH since August 2017, following A BRUTAL MILITARY CRACKDOWN that United Nations officials DESCRIBED AS gETHNIC CLEANSING u Thousands more arrived in previous years following earlier bouts OF ANTI 2OHINGYA VIOLENCE -OCHOCHOKO SAID THE PRELIMInary probe would be “all about INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY u “The people who are responsible, the people who gave instruction, the people who commanded, the people who did all the other things and facilitated the commisSION OF THIS CRIME u HE SAID “The prosecutor is bound or intended to ensure that accountability for the suffering of the Rohingya people is met and those who are responsible for the atrocity that happened there are brought TO ACCOUNT u HE ADDED The visit came after judges last year ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because BanGLADESH IS A MEMBER AFP

Worldinbriefs SINGAPORE BANS 737 MAX PLANES FROM AIRSPACE SINGAPORE: Singapore’s aviation regulator on Tuesday banned the use of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the country’s airspace following a deadly Ethiopia plane crash at the weekend. The Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi Sunday, killing all 157 people on board, months after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia killing 189. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said in a statement it was “temporarily suspending operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore in light of two fatal accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in less than five months.� It comes as airlines around the world remove the model from their schedules, while US regulators have ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to the jet. Singapore’s suspension will take effect from 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) Tuesday, the authority said.

AFP

FACEBOOK PULLS, THEN RESTORES WARREN ADS SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook (FB) on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) pulled and then later restored ads by Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren, calling for tech giants to be broken up. “We removed the ads because they violated our policies against use of our corporate logo,� Facebook told AFP. “In the interest of allowing robust debate, we are restoring the ads,� it said, putting the number of affected ads at four. Other ads calling for the breakup of Facebook and other US tech giants ran as intended, according to the California-based social network. “Curious why I think FB has too much power?� Warren said in a message fired off on Twitter. “Let’s start with their ability to shut down a debate over whether FB has too much power.� Warren went on to thank Facebook for restoring her ads and called for a “social media marketplace that isn’t dominated by a single censor.�

AFP

JEWISH MUSEUM KILLER SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT BRUSSELS: The French jihadist who shot dead four people in a terrorist attack at a Jewish museum was on Tuesday sentenced to life in prison by a Brussels court, after prosecutors branded him a “coward� and a “psychopath.� Mehdi Nemmouche was convicted last week of “terrorist murder� for the anti-Semitic gun rampage in the Belgian capital in May 2014, a crime committed following his return from Syria’s battlefields. He was found to have killed the four victims in less than 90 seconds, shooting them with a handgun and a Kalashnikov rifle with what one paramedic, who attended the scene, called “surgical� precision. Before jurors retired to consider the sentence on Monday, the 33-year-old had smirked and told the Brussels criminal court “life goes on.� The court, which handed down the sentence in the early hours of Tuesday morning, said the 33-year-old had shown no regret for the killings. AFP

WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO ISLAMIC ART CITED DOHA: World-renowned artists delivered a series of talks at Qatar National Library ( QNL), tracing women’s contributions to enriching Islamic art throughout the past centuries. The lectures shed light on various topics, including the role of women in developing a tradition of librarianship during the Ottoman Era, and how female artists during the time of the Mughal Empire advanced calligraphy and manuscript development. The day-long event, entitled “The Arts of the Book in the Islamic World and the Role of Women,� was one of the events organised by QNL in celebration of International Women’s Day. Visitors at the full day event learned about the creative role that women have played in the evolution of Islamic book art, the most fundamental element of Islamic art, including calligraphy, illumination and miniature painting.

GULF TIMES

PLAYTIME A giant panda plays on a sunny day at an ecological park in Xiuning County, East China’s Anhui Province on Sunday. PEOPLE’S

DAILY ONLINE

Nobel winner slams Indian media Tsai to PARIS: .OBEL 0EACE 0RIZE WINNER Kailash Satyarthi warned Monday (Tuesday in Manila) about “ wa r m o n g e r i n g � by I n d i a n journalists during the latest CONFRONTATION WITH 0AKISTAN The Indian activist, who won THE .OBEL IN WITH 0AKISTAN S Malala Yousafzai, has organized a joint statement signed by 71 other laureates calling for nuclear-armed )NDIA AND 0AKISTAN TO DEFUSE TENSIONS AFTER SKIRMISHES AT THEIR BORDER Discussing the crisis, Satyarthi EXPRESSED RELIEF THAT THE WORST confrontation between the countries since they went to war in 1999 had “calmed down,� but he warned about the dangers of ultraNATIONALISM “Many people, not only ordinary people who are patriots and

nationalists, but also the media suddenly crossed that line and STARTED DEMANDING FULLY lEDGED WAR u 3ATYARTHI TOLD !&0 IN AN INTERVIEW IN 0ARIS “Sometimes they enjoy these KIND OF SITUATIONS )T IS VERY UNFORTUNATE u HE ADDED g,UCKILY THERE ARE WELL MEANING people in journalism and politics WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO DE escalate it, but there are a large number of people who crossed the line from patriotism to warMONGERING u Satyarthi on Monday urged European governments to protect the children of their citizens who went to live under the Islamic State group, days after the death of a baby born to a British teenager in A 3YRIAN REFUGEE CAMP

!N ATTACK PLANNED BY A 0AKISTAN based militant group on a convoy of Indian paramilitaries on February PROVOKED AIR STRIKES FROM .EW $ELHI ON 0AKISTANI TERRITORY 0AKISTAN WHICH DENIES SUPporting the JeM militant group, responded by shooting down an Indian warplane and capturing the pilot, whose return two days later pulled the nuclear-armed rivals BACK FROM THE BRINK “It has calmed down, and the tensions de-escalated, but a real problem OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND TERRORISM STILL EXISTS ;IN 0AKISTAN= AND SOMEtimes I feel that this is beyond the CONTROL OF THE 0AKISTANI GOVERNMENT as well because there are such powERFUL OUTkTS NO 0AKISTANI GOVERNment can easily function without THEM u 3ATYARTHI SAID AFP

NKorea polls hit 99.99% turnout PYONGYANG: Turnout in nuclearARMED .ORTH +OREA S SINGLE CANDIDATE ELECTIONS HIT percent this year, state media said Tuesday — up from a seemingly UNIMPROVABLE PERCENT THE LAST TIME THEY WERE HELD 7ITH PARTICIPATION kGURES THAT Western democracies would never achieve, millions of North Koreans head to nationwide POLLS EVERY kVE YEARS TO ELECT THE RUBBER STAMP LEGISLATURE KNOWN AS THE 3UPREME 0EOPLE S !SSEMBLY 30!

But with only one approved name on each voting slip in the isolated country, which is ruled with an iron grip by Kim Jong 5N S 7ORKERS 0ARTY THE RESULT IS NEVER IN DOUBT 4HIS YEAR S TURNOUT FELL A TINY fraction short of 100 percent AS THOSE gABROAD OR WORKING IN OCEANSu WERE UNABLE TO TAKE PART

THE .ORTH S OFkCIAL +#.! NEWS AGENCY REPORTED “Single minded unity� is one OF 0YONGYANG S MOST ENDURING slogans and as in 2014, the votes WERE IN THE WEEKEND ELECTIONS were 100 percent in favour of the NAMED CANDIDATES “All the electors participated as one in the election to cement our PEOPLE S POWER AS kRM AS A ROCK u

KCNA said, citing a report released

BY THE #ENTRAL %LECTION #OMMITTEE “One hundred percent of them cast their ballots for the candidates for deputies to the 30! REGISTERED IN RELEVANT CONSTITUENCIES u IT ADDED ! DETAILED LIST OF THE CANdidates was not immediately AVAILABLE BUT THE .ORTH S OFkCIAL Korean Central Television on Tuesday read out the names of ELECTED MEMBERS 3URPRISINGLY +IM *ONG 5N S name was not among the called, AN OFkCIAL OF 3EOUL S UNIkCATION ministry in charge of inter-KoreAN RELATIONS TOLD !&0 In 2014, Kim received a 100 perCENT TURNOUT IN HIS -OUNT 0AEKTU constituency, with 100 percent in FAVOUR ACCORDING TO +#.! +IM S APPARENT EXCLUSION WAS “unprecedented� and “puzzling,� said Lim Eul-chul, professor of North Korean studies at +YUNGNAM 5NIVERSITY g7HILE IT S HARD TO SAY CONCLUsively, Kim could have calculated IT WOULD MAKE THE COUNTRY LOOK MORE LIKE A NORMAL STATE IF HE DIDN T CARRY AN EXTRA TITLE OF deputy to the legislature when HE ALREADY HOLDS THE COUNTRY S HIGHEST RANK u HE CONTINUED +IM IS OFkCIALLY CHAIRMAN OF THE

7ORKERS 0ARTY AND CHAIRMAN OF the State Affairs Commission, the top government body, although his late grandfather Kim Il Sung REMAINS THE COUNTRY S %TERNAL 0RESIDENT DESPITE DYING IN 4HE CURRENT LEADER S YOUNGER sister and close aide Kim Yo Jong WAS AMONG THE NEWLY ELECTED 30!

MEMBERS THE 3OUTH S 9ONHAP news agency reported, citing 0YONGYANG STATE MEDIA #RITICS SAY THE .ORTH S ELECTION — with its total absence of electoral competition — is largely a political ritual to enable the authorities to claim a mandate from the people, while reinforcING LOYALTY TO THE GOVERNMENT After casting his ballot on votING DAY 0YONGYANG RESIDENT 2I )N 9ONG

TOLD !&0 THE ELECTION was and “occasion to demonstrate to the world the single-minded unity around the Supreme Leader COMRADE +IM *ONG 5N u Ordinary North Koreans alWAYS EXPRESS UNRESERVED SUPPORT FOR THE AUTHORITIES WHEN SPEAKING TO FOREIGN MEDIA “In other countries they select and vote for candidates from different parties with different POLITICAL VIEWS u 2I SAID g)N OUR socialist system the people vote FOR THE CANDIDATE u AFP

firm up ties with 3 allies TAIPEI: 4AIWAN S LEADER 4SAI )NG WEN WILL VISIT THREE 0ACIkC NATIONS THIS month to shore up ties, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, as Beijing SEEKS TO LURE AWAY 4AIPEI S DWINDLING NUMBER OF ALLIES 4SAI WILL VISIT 0ALAU .AURU AND Marshall Islands between March 21 and March 28 — her second OFkCIAL VISIT TO THE 0ACIkC AMID growing concerns about China TARGETING COUNTRIES IN THE REGION Beijing has stepped up diplomatic pressure on Taiwan since 4SAI TOOK OFkCE IN AS SHE HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS gONE #HINAu POLICY The two sides split after a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still sees the selfruling island as part of its territory to BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE FOLD Five countries have switched ofkCIAL RECOGNITION TO "EIJING SINCE 4SAI BECAME 0RESIDENT LEAVING Taipei with only 17 diplomatic ALLIES INCLUDING SIX IN THE 0ACIkC Beijing has also made progress WITH THE 6ATICAN 4AIWAN S MOST powerful official ally and its only ONE IN %UROPE

BY SIGNING A LANDMARK agreement with the Holy See on the APPOINTMENT OF BISHOPS LAST YEAR A growing list of international companies have been pressured to list Taiwan as part of China on their websites, while Taipei has ALSO BEEN BLOCKED FROM ATTENDING A STRING OF INTERNATIONAL EVENTS g/UR ALLIES IN THE 0ACIkC HAVE fully supported our participation in the international community,� deputy foreign minister Hsu SzuCHIEN TOLD REPORTERS “We believe that this visit will increase the understanding of Taiwan among the people in these COUNTRIES AND FOR 4AIWANESE people to get familiar with our GOOD FRIENDS u 4SAI 4AIWAN S kRST FEMALE LEADer, would also meet with Marshall )SLANDS 0RESIDENT (ILDA (EINE THE kRST FEMALE HEAD OF STATE IN THE 0ACIkC )SLANDS AND JOIN A WOMEN LEADERS CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE COUNTRY (SU ADDED AFP

B10

World

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

UK, EU agree on three-part deal on Brexit divorce

L

ONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) secured a three-part package of changes from the European Union (EU) to the terms of its withdrawal deal, hoping to win over sceptical Members of Parliament (MPs).

As May sealed the deal in Strasbourg with EU leaders, her de facto deputy, David Lidington, updated PARLIAMENT IN ,ONDON ON THE PLANS “This evening in Strasbourg the PRIME MINISTER HAS SECURED LEGALLY binding changes that strengthen and improve the withdrawal agreement AND THE POLITICAL DECLARATION u HE SAID He said this should be enough to PERSUADE -0S TO VOTE FOR THE AGREEment on Tuesday, just 17 days before "RITAIN IS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE THE %5 “Tomorrow there will be a funda-

mental choice — to vote for the improved deal or to plunge this country INTO A POLITICAL CRISIS u HE SAID Three new documents have been agreed to run alongside the withdrawal agreement, which governs "RITAIN S EXIT TERMS AND THE POLITICAL DECLARATION ON FUTURE TRADE TERMS First is a “joint legally binding instrument� on the withdrawal TEXT WHICH ADDRESSES THE DEAL S CONTROVERSIAL gBACKSTOPu PLAN TO KEEP OPEN THE BORDER BETWEEN %5 member Ireland and the British

PROVINCE OF .ORTHERN )RELAND This “provides confirmation that the EU cannot try to trap the 5+ IN THE BACKSTOP INDEkNITELY

and that doing so would be an EXPLICIT BREACHu OF COMMITMENTS ON BOTH SIDES ,IDINGTON SAID 4HE BACKSTOP WOULD KEEP "RITAIN in a customs union with the EU if and until another way — such as a new trade deal — could be found TO AVOID CHECKS ON THE )RISH BORDER )F THE %5 FAILED TO TRY TO kND AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BACKSTOP ,IDINGton said Britain could use this joint instrument “as the basis for a formal dispute through independent arbitration�, and ultimately get the BACKSTOP SUSPENDED The document also emphasizes that both Britain and the EU want TO kND AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BACK-

STOP BY $ECEMBER Finally, the document would put assurances EU leaders about THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE BACKstop “onto a legally binding footING u ,IDINGTON SAID A second document would supplement the political declaration, and outline commitments from both sides on moving swiftly TO THIS NEW RELATIONSHIP Thirdly, Britain has put forward a “unilateral declaration� with legal status in international law, emphasizing the temporary nature OF THE BACKSTOP ,IDINGTON SAID This would clarify that Britain believes there is nothing in the "REXIT DEAL TO STOP IT SEEKING TO EXIT THE BACKSTOP IF THE %5 FAILS TO LIVE UP TO ITS COMMITMENTS TO kND A REPLACEMENT AFP

Trump impeachment will divide US – Pelosi WASHINGTON, D.C.: (OUSE 3PEAKER .ANCY 0ELOSI IS SETTING A HIGH BAR FOR IMPEACHMENT OF 0RESIDENT $ONALD Trump, saying he is “just not worth ITu EVEN AS SOME ON HER LEFT lANK CLAMOR TO START PROCEEDINGS 0ELOSI SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH 4HE 7ASHINGTON 0OST THAT g) M NOT FOR IMPEACHMENTu OF 4RUMP g5NLESS THERE S SOMETHING SO compelling and overwhelming AND BIPARTISAN ) DON T THINK WE should go down that path, because IT DIVIDES THE COUNTRY u SHE SAID While she has made similar COMMENTS BEFORE 0ELOSI IS MAKING clear to her caucus and to voters that Democrats would not move FORWARD QUICKLY WITH TRYING TO REMOVE 4RUMP FROM OFkCE !ND IT S A DEPARTURE FROM HER PREVIOUS comments that Democrats are waiting on special counsel Robert -UELLER TO LAY OUT kNDINGS FROM his Russia investigation before CONSIDERING IMPEACHMENT 4HAT THINKING AMONG $EMOcrats has shifted slightly, in part because of the possibility that -UELLER S REPORT WILL NOT BE DEcisive and because his investigaTION IS MORE NARROWLY FOCUSED Instead, House Democrats are pursuing their own broad, highPROkLE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WILL KEEP THE FOCUS ON 4RUMP S BUSIness dealings and relationship WITH 2USSIA EXERTING CONGRES-

sional oversight without having TO BROACH THE g) WORD u Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, ONE OF THE LAWMAKERS LEADING THOSE investigations, said he agrees with 0ELOSI AND #ONGRESS NEEDS gTO DO OUR HOMEWORK u (E SAID IMPEACHment “has to be a bipartisan effort, AND RIGHT NOW IT S NOT THERE u “I get the impression this matter will only be resolved at the polls,� #UMMINGS SAID 3TILL 0ELOSI S COMMENTS ARE CERTAIN TO STOKE A STUBBORN TENSION with those who believe impeachment proceedings should have begun on day one of the new #ONGRESS 3OME NEW FRESHMAN Democrats who hail from solidly LIBERAL DISTRICTS HAVEN T SHIED AWAY FROM THE SUBJECT ‡ -ICHIGAN 2EP Rashida Tlaib used a vulgarity in CALLING FOR 4RUMP S IMPEACHMENT THE DAY SHE WAS SWORN IN Billionaire activist Tom Steyer, WHO IS BANKROLLING A CAMPAIGN PUSHING FOR 4RUMP S IMPEACHMENT SHOT BACK AT 0ELOSI ON -ONDAY g3PEAKER 0ELOSI THINKS @HE S JUST NOT WORTH IT 7ELL IS DEFENDING OUR LEGAL SYSTEM @WORTH IT )S holding the president accountable FOR HIS CRIMES AND COVER UPS @WORTH IT )S DOING WHAT S RIGHT @WORTH IT /R SHALL !MERICA JUST STOP kGHTING FOR OUR PRINCIPLES AND DO WHAT S POLITICALLY CONVENIENT u AP

US, Canada rule out grounding MAX 8 fleet

THIRST

People collect water falling from a leaking pipeline along the banks of the Guaire River during rolling blackouts, which affects access to running water in people’s homes, offices and stores in Caracas, Venezuela on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). AP PHOTO

US to pull out embassy staff from Caracas WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States will withdraw its remaining diplomatic staff from the embassy in Caracas as the crisis in Venezuela WORSENS 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE -IKE 0OMPEO SAID LATE -ONDAY 4UESDAY IN -ANILA g4HIS DECISION RElECTS THE DETEriorating situation in #Venezuela as well as the conclusion that the presence of US diplomatic staff at the embassy has become a conSTRAINT ON 53 POLICY u 0OMPEO WROTE ON 4WITTER Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Monday called for a new mass demonstration as A DEVASTATING BLACKOUT THAT HAS LEFT millions without power entered ITS kFTH DAY AND THE 53 SAID IT WAS withdrawing its remaining dipLOMATIC PERSONNEL FROM #ARACAS 0RESIDENT .ICOLAS -ADURO

meanwhile, called for grassroots GROUPS TO HIT BACK AGAINST WHAT HE CALLED ATTACKS ENCOURAGED

BY THE 53 AGAINST THE COUNTRY S

ELECTRICAL GRID “The time has come for active RESISTANCE u HE SAID IN A SPEECH Guaido, in a speech to the National Assembly, which he leads, SAID gTOMORROW AT THREE O CLOCK in the afternoon, all of Venezuela will be on the streets� to protest AGAINST -ADURO 0ARLIAMENT ACCEPTED THE YEAR OLD S REQUEST TO DECLARE A gSTATE of alarm� to pave the way for the DELIVERY OF INTERNATIONAL AID

TONS OF WHICH HAS BEEN STUCK FOR A MONTH AT 6ENEZUELA S BORDERS WITH #OLOMBIA AND "RAZIL Guaido and the oppositioncontrolled legislature have no means to enforce it, though, as Maduro controls the military and security services, which are currently preventing aid from entering THE COUNTRY Guaido, recognized as VenezuELA S INTERIM PRESIDENT BY MORE THAN COUNTRIES CALLED ON THE military and security services to

“refrain from preventing or hinderINGu 4UESDAY S PROTESTS Describing the situation as a gCATASTROPHE u HE SAID THE BLACKout — the worst in the Latin !MERICAN COUNTRY S HISTORY ‡ had claimed dozens of lives since IT BEGAN ON 4HURSDAY 0OWER WAS RESTORED TO SOME areas of the country over the WEEKEND BUT ‡ WITH RESIDENTS and businesses fearing that refrigerated food would spoil — service was patchy and power often lasted just a few hours before DROPPING OUT AGAIN As the situation worsened, US 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE -IKE 0OMPEO announced Washington was withdrawing all its remaining personnel from the US embassy IN #ARACAS !LL NON EMERGENCY staff were ordered to leave on *ANUARY Even the National AssemBLY S EMERGENCY SESSION FELL VICTIM TO THE BLACKOUT AS THE

electricity supply failed an HOUR INTO THE MEETING “We cannot turn away from this tragedy our country is going through,� said Guaido, who declared himself acting president in January, triggering a power struggle with Maduro in the oilrich South American country of MILLION Businesses and schools remain SHUTTERED ON -ADURO S ORDERS AS THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE THE BLACKOUT BEGAN )N ANY EVENT THE LACK OF public transport made travel difkCULT EVEN IN #ARACAS -ADURO EXTENDED THE CLOSURE FOR another 24 hours on Monday due TO THE BLACKOUT THE SECOND TIME HE HAS DONE SO In his speech Monday night -ADURO ASKED FOR RESISTANCE FROM GROUPS KNOWN AS “colectivos� — GRASSROOTS SOCIAL WORK GROUPS THAT the opposition argues have also been armed by the government AND ACT AS MILITIA AFP

WASHINGTON, D.C.: US regulators on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) ORDERED "OEING TO MAKE URGENT improvements to the best-selling jet involved in a deadly Ethiopia plane crash — but ruled out GROUNDING THE lEET AS INVESTIGATORS WORKED TO PIECE TOGETHER THE AIRCRAFT S kNAL MOMENTS The Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed minutes into a lIGHT TO .AIROBI +ENYA ON 3UNDAY

KILLING ALL PEOPLE ON BOARD and prompting airlines across the world to begin withdrawing the MODEL FROM SCHEDULES -EANWHILE #ANADA S TRANSPORT minister said Monday he would not ground dozens of Boeing 737 MAX 8 jetliners operated by three Canadian carriers, unless an investigation into a deadly Ethiopia CRASH GAVE HIM REASONS 3AFETY DOUBTS OVER "OEING S BEST selling model drove several carriers to ground the aircraft after a new JET CRASHED IN %THIOPIA KILLING ALL PEOPLE ON BOARD INCLUDING #ANADIANS Air Canada, Westjet and Sunwing operate 41 of the jetliners in THIS COUNTRY g) THINK IT WOULD BE PREMATURE ;TO GROUND THEM= u 4RANSPORT -INister Marc Garneau said, noting THAT THE AIRCRAFT MODEL HAS lOW gMILLIONS OF HOURS u The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was WORKING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES and the National Transportation Safety Board and may soon share safety information concerning THE AIRCRAFT “If we identify an issue that af-

FECTS SAFETY THE &!! WILL TAKE IMmediate and appropriate action,�

IT SAID IN A STATEMENT The FAA said it was ordering "OEING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS to anti-stalling software and the maneuvering system, giving the company until the end of April to MAKE THE UPDATES Investigators have recovered the BLACK BOX lIGHT RECORDERS FROM THE airliner, which went down near !DDIS !BABA JUST SIX MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AS THE PILOT ALERTED CONTROLLERS OF gDIFkCULTIES u There were passengers and CREW FROM COUNTRIES ON board, including some two DOZEN 5NITED .ATIONS STAFF Ethiopia decreed Monday a day OF NATIONAL MOURNING The aircraft was the same type of jet as the Indonesian Lion Air plane that crashed in October, KILLING PASSENGERS AND CREW Not since the 1970s — when the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 had successive fatal incidents — has a new model been involved in two deadly accidents in such A SHORT PERIOD 4HE &!! ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CRASHES WERE BEING LINKED IN media reports, but said the investigation had “just begun� and so far no data had been provided TO gDRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS OR TAKE ANY ACTIONS u Airlines in Brazil, China, EthioPIA )NDONESIA 3OUTH !FRICA -EXICO and other countries said they were suspending operations of their 737 -!8 lEETS 0ILOTS FROM !RGENTINA S Aerolinas Argentinas have refused to lY THE AIRCRAFT AFP

Cardinal Pell sentence to be broadcast live MELBOURNE: The sentencing of AusTRALIAN #ARDINAL 'EORGE 0ELL FOR CHILD SEX CRIMES WILL BE BROADCAST live on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) in a rare move by the local JUDICIARY WHICH HAD KEPT HIS TRIAL under wraps for months with a DRACONIAN GAG ORDER 0ELL THE MOST SENIOR #ATHOLIC clergyman ever found guilty of CHILD SEX ABUSE FACES A MAXIMUM YEARS IN PRISON FOR ASSAULTING two choirboys in a Melbourne CATHEDRAL IN TO The 77-year-old Australian was found guilty by a jury in December, but a suppression order from COUNTY COURT #HIEF *UDGE 0ETER

Kidd prevented media from reporting the case until late February, when prosecutors withdrew plans TO HOLD A SECOND TRIAL The controversial suppression order had banned any reporting on 0ELL S CASE SINCE *UNE In support of the principles of “open justice,� the Melbourne court said Tuesday it would allow video showing Justice Kidd reading OUT HIS SENTENCING REMARKS No one else in the courtroom, INCLUDING 0ELL WHO IS CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY WILL BE kLMED “The county court is committed TO THE PRINCIPLES OF OPEN JUSTICE #HIEF *UDGE 0ETER +IDD S SENTENCING

REMARKS IN THIS MATTER WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE u A COUNTY COURT SPOKESMAN SAID IN A BRIEF STATEMENT Australian courtrooms rarely allow live broadcasts of court proceedings, and this is believed to be the first time the county court in Melbourne is allowing SUCH A MOVE 0ELL HAS ALREADY LODGED HIS leave to appeal the guilty verdict, with the hearings in the Court of Appeal scheduled to be heard on *UNE TO The verdict ignited a storm of PUBLIC DEBATE ABOUT THE #HURCH S HANDLING OF CHILD SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS GIVEN 0ELL S LEAD ROLE IN SET-

ting up the process in Melbourne IN 4HE CASE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO ENCOURAGE VICTIMS OF ALLEGED SEX ABUSE

BY OTHER CLERGY TO COME FORWARD Advocates said the sentencing would be an important symbol for OTHER SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE “Hopefully, this sentencing can herald fundamental change in the Church and other institutions,�

Cathy Kezelman, the president of child abuse victims support group Blue Knot Foundation, said in a STATEMENT 4UESDAY “It needs to be a time for zero tolerance to abuse, and survivor RESPECT SUPPORT AND JUSTICE u AFP

BABY SHOWER

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (second from right) and Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (right), react as they are presented with baby gifts by Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Janice Charette (second from left) at Canada House, the office of the High Commision of Canada in the United Kingdom, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day in central London on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). AFP PHOTO

advertising@manilatimes.net 524-5664 local 121, 3105895 and 3105582

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PANAWAGAN

PANAWAGAN

RACHELLE SUMALIBUA [larawan kuha noong Nobyembre 13, 2018]

ROSE ANN MALACAO [Larawan kuha noong August 29, 2016]

“Tinatawagan ng pansin si Liezel Martinez Sumalibua, nanay at kamaganakan ng batang pinangalanang si “RACHELLE SUMALIBUA�, apat na buwang gulang na inabandona noong October 14, 2018, Linggo, sa Tondo Medical Center, Tondo, Manila. Ayon kay Binibining Jovelyn C. Montesines, Medical Social Worker, iniwan ng kanyang inang si Liezel Sumalibua ang sanggol habang nagpapagamot sa nasabing ospital at di na muling binalikan.

Ipinablotter ang nasabing insidente sa Barangay Hall ng NBBS, Barangay NBBN at Barangay 126 ng Balut, Tondo, Manila noong October 31, 2018.

Noong Nobyembre 13, 2018, dinala ang nasabing bata sa Hospicio de San Jose upang maisaayos ang kanyang kapakanan.

Mangyari po lamang na makipag-ugnayan kay Bb. Sweetzel T. De Los Reyes, Social Worker ng Hospicio de San Jose, Ayala Bridge, Manila o tumawag sa telepono bilang 734-2366 at cellphone # 09175953262 para sa kapakanan ng bata.

Tinatawagan ng pansin si FATIMA DABUCAL MALACAO, nanay pati na kamag-anakan ng batang nasa larawan na si ROSE ANN MALACAO. Si Rose Ann ay napunta sa pangangalaga ng Hospicio de San Jose, Ayala Bridge, Quiapo, Manila noong ika 29 ng Agosto 29 na limang (5) araw pa lamang mula ng kapanganakan sa pamamagitan ng PNP Sta. Cruz at RAC-Manila. Si Rose Ann ay ipinanganak noong ika 25 ng Agosto 2016 sa Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Manila at kasalukuyang dalawang (2) taon at anim (6) na buwan gulang.

Mangyari po lamang na makipag-ugnayan kay Regine B. Monreal, Social Worker ng Hospicio de San Jose, Ayala Bridge, Manila o tumawag sa telepono bilang 734-2366 at 09175953262 para sa kapakanan ng bata.

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

B11

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS ON REGISTERED LAND

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Guillermo S. Villadores has been extrajudicially settled among his heirs namely: Cesar A. Villadores (deceased son) represented by his only heirs: wife Rosalinda G. Villadores, daughter Clarinda V. Espiritu and son Cesar G. Villadores, Jr.; Iluminada V. Acupan (daughter); and Inocencio A. Villadores (son) and all said legal heirs agreed to waive their rights, interest, participation and claims on the property in favor of heir Cesar G. Villadores, Jr., his heirs, assigns and successorsin-interest. Heir Cesar G. Villadores, Jr. accepts from said legal heirs all the rights and interests on the said property waived by the other co-heirs made in his favor. As per Doc. No.181; Page VIII; Book No. 34, series of 2018 in the notarial books of Atty.

Ruben M. Azanes, Jr., Notary Public until December 31, 2018 with PTR No. 5611098, 1/9/2018 Q.C., IBP No. AR001205, Q.C.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ANTONIA Q. SINGZON has been extra-judicially settled pursuant to the extrajudicial settlement of estate, acknowledged before Atty.

Sherry Mae E. Arcales, notary public for Catbalogan City, Samar, on November 21, 2018, and entered into her notarial register as Doc. No. 380; Page No. 76; Book No. 10; Series of 2018

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Amado Pio de Roda was the subject of an affidavit of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Deed of Absolute Sale executed by and among his heirs and 3H Enterprises Limited Inc. represented by Selvy Sinjaya on March 4, 2019 and acknowledged as Doc. No. 133 on Page No. 28 of Book No. LXIX Series of 2019 before Atty. Enrique G. Bautista Jr., a notary public for and in the Province of Cavite.

MT - Mar. 6, 13 & 20, 2019

MT – March 6, 13 & 20, 2019

MT - Mar. 13, 20 & 27, 2019

Republic of the Philippines 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD SOUTHERN TAGALOG REGION – (STR)

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE SALE

Republic of the Philippines 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD SOUTHERN TAGALOG REGION – (STR)

NOTICE

PAUNAWA

Notice is hereby given that CABUYAO LAND VENTURES AND DEVELOPMENT INC. 2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV 2IÂżFH D VZRUQ UHJLVWUDWLRQ statement for the sale of memorial lots in ETERNAL GARDEN - CABUYAO located at Brgy.

Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna and more particularly described as Lot 1 & 2, Psu-150313; Lot 5286; Psu-67056; Lot 5285; Lot 6669 and Lot 5229, Cad-455-D and covered

by TCT’s No. T-060-2011020234 & T-060-2011020235; T-0602015027174 to T-060-2015027177 and T-060-2014005185.

The project is under EO 648.

Ipinagbibigay alam na ang CABUYAO LAND VENTURES AND DEVELOPMENT INC. (May-ari at Taga-debelop) ay naghain sa Tanggapang ito ng sinumpaang aplikasyon para sa pagbebenta ng “memorial lots� sa ETERNAL GARDEN - CABUYAO na matatagpuan sa Brgy. Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna at sinasakop ng mga Lote Blg. 1 at 2, Psu-150313; Lote Blg. 5286; Psu-67056; Lote Blg. 5285; Lote Blg. 6669 at Lote Blg. 5229, Cad-455-D na sumasailalim sa mga Titulo Blg. T-060-2011020234 at T-060-2011020235; T-0602015027174 hanggang T-0602015027177 at Titulo Blg. T-0602014005185. Ang nasabing proyekto ay sumasailalim sa EO 648.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

Absent legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH last day of publication.

Calamba City, Laguna, 01st day of March 2019.

Recommending Approval: (SGD.) ENGR. EMMANUEL G. GLIPO Head - Permits, Registration and Licensing Unit Approved by:

Ang mga kasulatang kaugnay nito ay maaring suriin ng sinumang tao na nagtataglay ng ligal na interes doon pagkatapos ng wastong aplikasyon at kaukulang bayad.

Pagkaraan ng limang (5) araw mula sa huling araw ng pagkalathala ang proyektong nabanggit ay ituturing na rehistrado na at maaring bigyan ng sertipiko bilang katibayan nito kapag wala nang sagabal na ligal.

Lungsod ng Calamba, Laguna, ika-1 ng Marso 2019.

Recommending Approval: (SGD.) ENGR. EMMANUEL G. GLIPO Head - Permits, Registration and Licensing Unit Approved by:

(SGD.) Engr. FRANCIS D. ORDENIZA 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFHU MT - Mar. 6 & 13, 2019

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region )LHOG 2IÂżFH th 6 Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City

(SGD.) Engr. FRANCIS D. ORDENIZA 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFHU MT - Mar. 6 & 13, 2019

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region )LHOG 2IÂżFH th 6 Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that DOUBLE EIGHT PRIMEVIEW DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, 2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK this Board for the sale of units in PARKVIEW TOWNHOMES II located at #2613 P. Villanueva St., Brgy. San Rafael, Pasay City, described as Lot Nos.1 to 4, RS291-D, TCT Nos. 003-2017000932 and 003-2017000605, with an area of 1,501.20 square meters.

Notice is hereby given that PARKVIEW TOWNHOMES CORP., 2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDYH ÂżOHG ZLWK this Board a sworn registration statement for the sale of lots and units at PARKVIEW TOWNHOMES located at Figueroa Street, Brgy.

6DQ 5DIDHO 3DVD\ &LW\ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ described as Lot 29 of the Cad Survey of Pasay, Case No. 2 GLRO Cad No. 1357 covered by TCT No. 003-2016000293, with a total area of 1,279 square meters.

The foregoing project is utilizing the Participation Through Investment/ Incentivized Compliance, by depositing the amount of Six Hundred Three Thousand Thirty Six Pesos and Eighteen Centavos (Php603,036.18) in a Trust Account No. 001-03-005615-1 under Escrow Agreement executed on 11 February 2019 between the HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD, DOUBLE EIGHT PRIMEVIEW DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, and ASIA UNITED BANK as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended

by Republic Act No.10884.

The foregoing project is utilizing the Participation Through Investment/ Incentivized Compliance, by depositing the amount of Five Hundred Ninety Three Thousand Fifty Eight Pesos and 97/100 (Php593,058.97) in a Trust Account under Escrow Agreement executed on 11 February 2019 between the HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD, PARKVIEW TOWNHOMES CORP. and ASIA UNITED BANK as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.10884.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH last day of publication.

Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH last day of publication.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, FEB. 19, 2019

Quezon City, Metro Manila, FEB. 22, 2019

(SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH

(SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH

M.T.-March 6 & 13, 2019

M.T.-March 6 & 13, 2019

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WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019 Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS NEGROS ORIENTAL 1st DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE REGIONAL OFFICE VII Tinaogan, Bindoy, Negros Oriental INVITATION TO BID

A. 1.

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD Region IV-A 2I¿FH RI WKH 3URYLQFLDO $JUDULDQ 5HIRUP $GMXGLFDWRU Alvarez St., Nasugbu, Batangas

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City Email: ntc@ntc.gov.ph; website: http://www.ntc.gov.ph 06 February 2019 MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Group Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. 26th Flr., Galleria Corporate Center, EDSA cor. Ortigas Ave., Quezon City

The DPWH, Negros Oriental 1 'LVWULFW (QJLQHHULQJ 2I¿FH 7LQDRJDQ %LQGR\ Negros Oriental now invites contractors to apply to bid for the contract(s);

Dear Mr. Fernandez:

Contract ID # Contract Name

Changes shall be made particularly for Smart Prepaid only where the 30-day variants shall be enhanced by changing the pricing and inclusions effective not later than 25 February 2019. All offers shall still run until 30 June 2019.

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19HJ0064 Construction of One Unit Two Storey Six Classroom School Building at Binobohan Elementary School (9.5mx32.00m) Location Binobohan, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental 6FRSH RI :RUNV 3URYLVLRQ RI )LHOG 2I¿FH IRU WKH (QJLQHHU 5HQWDO Basis); Permits and Clearances; Project Billboard/ Signboard; Occupational Safety and Health Program; Mobilization/Demobilization; Structure Excavation; Embankment from Borrow; Gravel Fill; Structural Concrete (Class A, 28 days); Structural Concrete (Footings and Slab on Fill, Class A, 28 days); Reinforcing Steel (Deformed, Grade 40); Reinforcing Steel (Deformed, Grade 60); Forms and Falseworks; Soil Poisoning; CHB Non Load Bearing Wall (including Reinforcing Steel, 100mm); CHB Non Load Bearing Wall (including Reinforcing Steel 150mm); Wooden Doors and Windows; Jalousie Window (Glass); Residential Casement (Steel); Steel Window; Finishing Hardware; Carpentry and Joinery Works; Cement Floor Finish (with Floor Hardener); Moulding (Precast); Cement Plaster Finish; Railing; Metal Railing; Ceiling PP 0HWDO )UDPH )LEHU &HPHQW 5HÀHFWLYH Insulation; Glazed Tiles and Trims; Unglazed Tiles; :DWHUSURR¿QJ &HPHQW ± %DVHG 3DLQWLQJ :RUNV (Masonry/Concrete); Painting Works (Wood); Painting Works (Steel); Prepainted Metal Sheets (above 0.427mm Corrugated Type Long Span Square Meter); )DEULFDWHG 0HWDO 5RR¿QJ $FFHVVRU\ JDXJH 5LGJH +LS 5ROOV )DEULFDWHG 0HWDO 5RR¿QJ $FFHVVRU\ JDXJH 5LGJH +LS 5ROOV )DEULFDWHG 0HWDO 5RR¿QJ Accessory (gauge 26, Flashings); Fabricated Metal 5RR¿QJ $FFHVVRU\ JDXJH *XWWHUV 6WUXFWXUDO Steel, Trusses; Structural Steel, Purlins; Fascia Board (19mm Fiber Cement Board); Metal Structure Accessories, Steel Plates; Metal Structure Accessories, Sag Rods; Metal Structure Accessories, Cross Bracing; Metal Structure Accessories, Turn Buckle; Metal Structure Accessories; Ventilation; Fire Department connections 100x65x65mm for Dry Type System); Water Plumbing System; Sewer Line Works; Cold Water Line; Storm Drainage and Downspout; Plumbing Fixtures; Septic Vault (Concrete/CHB); Cistem Tank; Catch Basin (Concrete); Conduits, Boxes & Fittings (Conduit Works/Conduit Rough-in); Wires and Wiring Devices; Panelboard with Main & Branch Breakers; Lighting Fixtures and Lamps; Fire Alarm System Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) P 16,178,700.00 Duration 140 CD Cost of Bidding Documents P 25,000.00

The BAC is conducting the public bidding for this Contract in accordance with RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

The schedule of key procurement activities for this Contract is shown below: Activity 1. Issuance/ Downloading of Bidding Documents

Time March 7, 2019 (March 26, 2019 until 1:00 p.m.)

2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Receipt by the BAC of Bids 4. Opening of Bids

March 14, 2019 @ 10:00 a.m.

March 26, 2019@ 1:29 p.m.

March 26, 2019@ 1:30 p.m.

Place Hard copies at BAC Secretariat, DPWH, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or. Downloading from DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph PhilGEPs www.philgeps.gov.ph DPWH Bidding Hall, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or. DPWH Bidding Hall, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or. DPWH Bidding Hall, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or.

Bidders shall pay the BAC for the Bidding Documents, upon securing hard copies of the Documents. Bidders who downloaded the Documents from the DPWH website shall pay the fee upon submission of their bids.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, Negros Oriental 1st District Engineering 2I¿FH UHVHUYHV WKH ULJKW WR DFFHSW RU UHMHFW DQ\ ELG DQG WR DQQXO WKH ELGGLQJ SURFHVV DQ\ time before the Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders in accordance with the provisions of Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR. ,I DW WKH WLPH RI WKH SRVW TXDOL¿FDWLRQ SURFHGXUH WKH %$& YHUL¿HV WKDW DQ\ RI WKH GH¿FLHQFLHV LV GXH WR WKH FRQWUDFWRU¶V IDXOW RU QHJOLJHQFH SXUVXDQW WR E LL F RI WKH 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184 (2016 RIRR of RA 9184), the procuring shall disqualify the contractor from the award without any right to reimburse fees and incidental cost for the procurement of infrastructure contract subject of the Bid.

This refers to your letter dated 06 February 2019 regarding the Sun Prepaid Giga Vice – Amendment to Giga Surf Family Promo.

The Giga Video previously called Giga Surf Family, are existing offers of Sun offering open access data and daily data allocation offer for video access.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM AND LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioners, - versus ESTRELLITA DE LUNAS Respondent. x--------------------------------x

SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF HEARING

CURRENT GIGASURF FAMILY Promo

SRP

Validity

Open Access Data

SMS

GIGA 50

50

3

Unli to All Networks

1GB

GIGA 99

99

7

N.A.

2 GB

GIGA 299

299

30

N.A.

2 GB

GIGA 599

599

30

N.A.

5 GB

GIGA 899

899

30

N.A.

8 GB

Other Data 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV

Availment via USSD

Availment via SMS

USSD (*121#)

Text GIGA50 or GIGA 50 to 247

USSD (*121#)

Text GIGA99 or GIGA 99 to 247 Text GIGA299 or GIGA 299 to 247 Text GIGA599 or GIGA 599 to 247 Text GIGA899 or GIGA 899 to 247

USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#)

NEW GIGA VIDEO Promo

SRP

Validity

SMS

Open Access Data

GIGA VIDEO 50

50

3

Unli to All Networks

1 GB

GIGA VIDEO 99

99

7

N.A.

2 GB

299

30

N.A.

4 GB

399

30

N.A.

6 GB

499

30

N.A.

8 GB

GIGA VIDEO 299 (enhance existing 299) GIGA VIDEO 399 (enhance existing 599) GIGA VIDEO 499 (enhance existing 899)

Other Data 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV

Availment via USSD USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#)

Availment via SMS Text GIGA50 or GIGA 50 to 247 Text GIGA99 or GIGA 99 to 247 Text GIGA299 or GIGA 299 to 247 Text GIGA399 or GIGA 399 to 247 Text GIGA499 or GIGA 499 to 247

The maximum speed is up to 42Mbps for broadband and non-broadband connections. Minimum speed for broadband connection is 256 kbps and 48 kbps for non-broadband connection. Network reliability is 80%. The actual VSHHG H[SHULHQFH ZLOO GHSHQG RQ WKH GHYLFH XVHG QHWZRUN VLJQDO GHWHFWHG FXUUHQW VXEVFULEHU WUDI¿F SUHYDLOLQJ environmental conditions and the geography of the area where the subscriber is located.

DCN LV-0401-0031-2017

TO:

Estrellita de Lunas Langgangan, Balayan, Batangas

GREETINGS: <RX DUH KHUHE\ VXPPRQHG DQG UHTXLUHG WR ¿OH DQG VHUYH \RXU VZRUQ DQVZHU DI¿GDYLWV and documentary evidence/s, not a motion to dismiss, to the complaint or petition, copy of ZKLFK LV KHUHZLWK VHUYHG XSRQ \RX ZLWKLQ D QRQ H[WHQGLEOH SHULRG RI ¿IWHHQ GD\V DIWHU service hereof, exclusive of the day of service, furnishing a copy thereof to the complainant or petitioner. Failure to do so as herein directed will be interpreted by the Adjudicator as a waiver to present evidence and the hearing of this case shall commence and continue until the termination of the reception of the evidence/s for the complainant or petitioner.

Complainant/Petitioner and the defendant/respondent are hereby directed to attend the hearing of the case on April 23, 2019 at 1:00 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock in the afternoon DW WKH 2I¿FH of the Provincial Adjudicator, Alvarez St., Nasugbu, Batangas for the purpose of asking questions to clarify the points of law at issue or facts involved in the case.

Issued this 5th March 2019 at DARAB, Nasugbu, Batangas.

FOR THE ADJUDICATOR: (SGD.) MARICAR B. SALAZAR Clerk of the Adjudicator Copy furnished: Department of Agrarian Reform WKUX 3URYLQFLDO $JUDULDQ 5HIRUP 3URJUDP 2I¿FHU '$5 3URYLQFLDO 2I¿FH 0DUDXR\ /LSD &LW\ Land Bank of the Philippines LBP Legal Services Group Field Legal Area II 2/F Land Bank Bldg., President Laurel Highway, Marauoy, Lipa City

The mechanics of the promo are as follows:

MT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 6, 9 & 13, 2019

Availment 1.

GIGA VIDEO is open to all Sun Prepaid Subscribers nationwide.

2.

The enhanced GIGA VIDEO offers will be available no later than February 25, 2019 and shall still run until June 30, 2019.

3.

To avail, the subscriber must dial the USSD Code *121# and look for GIGA VIDEO. GIGA VIDEO offers are also available via Sun Load Retailers and via SMS Registration.

4.

The subscriber must have the corresponding airtime load balance in order to avail: P50 for GIGA VIDEO 50, P99 for GIGA VIDEO 99, P299 for GIGA VIDEO 299, P399 for GIGA VIDEO 399, P499 for GIGA VIDEO 499.

8SRQ VXFFHVVIXO DYDLOPHQW WKH VXEVFULEHU VKDOO UHFHLYH D FRQ¿UPDWLRQ 606 DQG VKDOO EH FUHGLWHG WKH corresponding inclusions.

Usage 6.

The Open Access Data allocation may be used to access any site and app. The Video Access Data allocation may be used to access Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV and will refresh every 8:00 am as long as the offer availed is not expired or fully consumed.

7.

Concurrent availment of GIGA VIDEO offers is allowed. The Open Access Data allocation shall be accumulate following the longest validity of the availed offers. The Daily Video Access Data allocation will remain at 1.0GB per day, extended to the combined (sum) of the validities of the availed packages.

8.

Once the Open Access Data allocation is fully consumed, the subscriber must re-load his/her Sun Prepaid account with any Data offer to continue using mobile data.

9.

SMS may be sent to any local mobile network.

Others 10. P1.00 maintaining balance is not required to avail and use the offers. $OO LQYDOLG VFHQDULRV LH ,QVXI¿FLHQW EDODQFH LQYDOLG QXPEHUV HWF ZLOO WULJJHU DQ 606 QRWL¿FDWLRQ WR WKH subscriber and shall be charged prevailing rates.

12. Offer is not available to roaming and international subscribers 13. All complaints or questions that may arise from these offers shall be attended to by hotline number: (02) 395-8000 or 200 (toll-free Sun mobile number).

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City Email: ntc@ntc.gov.ph; website: http://www.ntc.gov.ph 06 February 2019 MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Group Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. 26th Flr., Galleria Corporate Center, EDSA cor. Ortigas Ave., Quezon City Dear Mr. Fernandez: This refers to your letter dated 06 February 2019 regarding the Sun Prepaid Giga Trinet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Amendment to Giga Surf Plus Promo.

Changes on the name, pricing and inclusions shall be shall be made particularly for the 30-day variants effective not later than 25 February 2019. All offers shall still run until 31 March 2019.

The Giga Trinet, previously called Giga Surf Plus, are existing offers of Sun Prepaid offering open access data and daily data allocation offer for video access.

CURRENT GIGA+WITH VIDEO EVERYDAY Promo

SRP Validity Voice

SMS

Data1

The promo is intended for peer-to-peer and non-commercial use only.

Please be informed that the request for approval of Sun Prepaid Giga Video â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Amendment to Giga Surf Family Promo effective not later than 25 February 2019 is hereby granted. The approval is subject to the condition that DMPI shall publish the amendment in a newspaper of general circulation three (3) days prior to the implementation.

Subject further, to the condition that DMPI shall comply with the NTC Memorandum Circulars and Order, as follows: â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢

Memorandum Order No. 07-07-2011, Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections.

Memorandum Circular No. 07-08-2015, Rules on the Measurement of Fixed Broadband/Internet Access Service Memorandum Circular No. 10-12-2016, Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service

Very truly yours, (SGD.) EDGARDO V. CABARIOS Deputy Commissioner

GIGA+75

75

3

Unli Unli Trinet Allnet

1 GB

GIGA+149

149

7

Unli Unli Trinet Allnet

2 GB

GIGA+449

449

30

Unli Unli Trinet Allnet

2 GB

5 GB

8 GB

Giga+749

749

30

Unli Unli Trinet Allnet

GIGA+999

999

30

Unli Unli Trinet Allnet

Other Data 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV

Availment Availment via via USSD SMS Text USSD GIGAPLUS75 (*121#) to 247 Text USSD GIGAPLUS149 (*121#) to 247 Text USSD GIGAPLUS449 (*121#) to 247 Text USSD GIGAPLUS749 (*121#) to 247 Text USSD GIGAPLUS999 (*121#) to 247

NEW GIGA TRINET WITH VIDEO EVERYDAY

MT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mar. 13, 2019 Promo

,I WKH JURXQG IRU SRVW GLVTXDOL¿FDWLRQ LV EDVHG RQ DERYH UHTXLUHPHQWV WKH FRQFHUQ %$& VKDOO LVVXH D QRWLFH RI SRVW GLVTXDOL¿FDWLRQ WR WKH ELGGHU ZLWK D VWDWHPHQW WKDW ³WKH '3:+ shall not qualify your bid for any of each project until and/or unless the reason for your SRVW GLVTXDOL¿FDWLRQ ZDV DOUHDG\ FOHDUHG E\ WKH FRQFHUQ ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 2I¿FH´ 8SRQ SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI UHTXLUHG GRFXPHQWDU\ HYLGHQFH WKH FRQFHUQ ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 2I¿FH VKDOO LVVXH D FHUWL¿FDWLRQ LI WKH FRQWUDFWRU KDV DOUHDG\ HOLPLQDWHG WKH QHJDWLYH VOLSSDJHV DQG RWKHU GH¿FLHQFLHV +RZHYHU QRWKLQJ KHUHLQ VKDOO GHOD\ WKH SURFXUHPHQW SURFHVV RI WKH FRQFHUQ ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 2I¿FH LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK SHULRGV SURYLGHG XQGHU 5,55 RI RA 9184.

SRP

Validity

Voice

SMS

Data1

GIGA TRINET 75

75

3

Unli Trinet

Unli Allnet

1 GB

GIGA TRINET 149

149

7

Unli Trinet

Unli Allnet

2 GB

449

30

Unli Trinet

Unli Allnet

4 GB

549

30

Unli Trinet

Unli Allnet

6 GB

649

30

Unli Trinet

Unli Allnet

8 GB

GIGA TRINET 449 (enhance existing 449) GIGA TRINET 549 (enhance existing 749) GIGA TRINET 649 (enhance existing 999)

Data2 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 1.0GB/Day for Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV

Availment via USSD USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#) USSD (*121#)

Availment via SMS Text GIGAPLUS75 to 247 Text GIGAPLUS149 to 247 Text GIGAPLUS449 to 247 Text GIGAPLUS549 to 247 Text GIGAPLUS649 to 247

Any request for additional information concerning this bidding shall be directed to the following:

The maximum speed is up to 42Mbps for broadband and non-broadband connections. Minimum speed for broadband connection is 256 kbps and 48 kbps for non-broadband connection. Network reliability is 80%. The actual VSHHG H[SHULHQFH ZLOO GHSHQG RQ WKH GHYLFH XVHG QHWZRUN VLJQDO GHWHFWHG FXUUHQW VXEVFULEHU WUDI¿F SUHYDLOLQJ environmental conditions and the geography of the area where the subscriber is located.

BAC Chairman: BENILDA V. BANQUE Address: DPWH, Negros Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or.

The mechanics of the promo are as follows: Availment 1.

GIGA TRINET is open to all Sun Prepaid Subscribers nationwide.

2.

The enhanced GIGA TRINET offers will be available no later than February 25, 2019 and shall still run until March 31, 2019.

3.

To avail, the subscriber must dial the USSD Code *121# and look for GIGA TRINET. GIGA TRINET offers are also available via Sun Load Retailers and via SMS Registration.

4.

The subscriber must have the corresponding airtime load balance in order to avail: P75 for GIGA TRINET 75, P149 for GIGA TRINET 149, P449 for GIGA TRINET 499, P549 for GIGA TRINET 549, P649 for GIGA TRINET 649.

8SRQ VXFFHVVIXO DYDLOPHQW WKH VXEVFULEHU VKDOO UHFHLYH D FRQ¿UPDWLRQ 606 DQG VKDOO EH FUHGLWHG WKH corresponding inclusions.

BAC Secretariat Head: NILO E. MATUOG Address: DPWH, Negros Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or, Approved by: (SGD.) BENILDA V. BANQUE BAC Chairman Noted by: (SGD.) JOEL MELCHOR R. BOCO OIC-District Engineer

MT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mar. 13, 2019

Usage 6.

The Open Access Data allocation may be used to access any site and app. The Video Access Data allocation may be used to access Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV and will refresh every 8:00 am as long as the offer availed is not expired or fully consumed.

7.

Concurrent availment of GIGA TRINET offers is allowed. The Open Access Data allocation shall be accumulate following the longest validity of the availed offers. The Daily Video Access Data allocation will remain at 1.0GB per day, extended to the combined (sum) of the validities of the availed packages.

8.

Once the Open Access Data allocation is fully consumed, the subscriber must re-load his/her Sun Prepaid account with any Data offer to continue using mobile data.

9.

Unlimited calls may be used to call any TNT, Smart and Sun mobile number.

10. SMS may be sent to any local mobile network.

Others 11. P1.00 maintaining balance is not required to avail and use the offers. $OO LQYDOLG VFHQDULRV LH LQVXI¿FLHQW EDODQFH LQYDOLG QXPEHUV HWF ZLOO WULJJHU DQ 606 QRWL¿FDWLRQ WR WKH subscriber and shall be charged prevailing rates.

13. Offer is not available to roaming and international subscribers 14. All complaints or questions that may arise from these offers shall be attended to by hotline number: (02) 395-8000 or 200 (toll-free Sun mobile number).

The promo is intended for peer-to-peer and non-commercial use only.

Please be informed that the request for approval of Sun Prepaid Giga Trinet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Amendment to Giga Surf Plus Promo effective not later than 25 February 2019 is hereby granted. The approval is subject to the condition that DMPI shall publish the amendment in a newspaper of general circulation three (3) days prior to the implementation.

Subject further, to the condition that DMPI shall comply with the NTC Memorandum Circulars and Order, as follows: â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢

Memorandum Order No. 07-07-2011, Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections.

Memorandum Circular No. 07-08-2015, Rules on the Measurement of Fixed Broadband/Internet Access Service Memorandum Circular No. 10-12-2016, Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service

Very truly yours, (SGD.) EDGARDO V. CABARIOS Deputy Commissioner MT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mar. 13, 2019

ERRORS & OMISSIONS Any incorrect advertisement published in The Manila Times Classified Ads must be brought to our attention on the same day the advertisement came out. We will not be held liable for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Magnolia eyes vital win vs determined Columbian Dyip MAGNOLIA coach Chito Victolero wants to sustain the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;sense of urgencyâ&#x20AC;? when it clashes against Columbian Dyip today in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

At 2-4 win-loss record with still five more games left at the elimination round, the Governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cup defending champion Hotshots are gunning for another win in their 4:30 p.m. encounter with the Columbian Dyip, who are also determined to get into the playoff round. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another playoff game for us,â&#x20AC;? Victolero told The Manila Times through a text message. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a playoff mindset as we considered every game a do-or-die because of our situation. I know my players have already embraced the challenge.â&#x20AC;?

Ian Sangalang was a force to reckon with in the paint, scoring 24 points in addition to his 14 rebounds and three blocks in Magnoliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent 103-86 win over Alaska last Saturday. Paul Lee and Mark Barroca added 20 and 19 points, respectively, in that game too. But Victolero and the Hotshots arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t thinking anymore of that last game win. They are now more focus on the game against Columbian. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The game tomorrow is all about the will to survive and make our playoff chances bigger,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Columbian Dyip, at 4-5, needs to sweep its two remaining games to formally enter into the quarterfinal stage. The Columbian Dyip are coming from an 85-82 upsetting of erstwhile top leader Rain or Shine behind Rashawn McCarthyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 22 points.

In the second game at 7 p.m., Alaska (3-3) seeks to bounce back from Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terrible defeat to Magnolia when it faces a skidding Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) squad.

The Aces, crippled by injuries on Vic Manuel (back), Jayvee Casio (ankle), Kevin Racal (back) and G-Boy Babilonia (foot), are hoping to get back on track to qualify for a quarterfinal playoff slot.

The Road Warriors (2-5) are hoping to arrest a two-game slide and keep their playoff chances too. JOSEF T. RAMOS

Ateneo guns for win No. 5 vs Adamson C3

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Sports

C1

Cavs rout Raptors, Williams makes history L

OS ANGELES: Collin Sexton scored 28 points and Kevin Love tallied 16 points and 18 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers used a balanced attack to upset the Toronto Raptors 126-101 on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Cedi Osman scored 19 points and Ante Zizic had 17 for CleveLAND WHO HAD A HALF DOZEN PLAYERS IN DOUBLE kGURE SCORING g4HAT WAS A GREAT WIN FOR US u ,OVE SAID g%SPECIALLY AGAINST A REAL GOOD TEAM AT HOME )T WAS FUN u 4ORONTO S +AWHI ,EONARD RETURNED FROM A ONE GAME ABSENCE TO SCORE POINTS ON OF SHOOTING FROM THE kELD FOR 4ORONTO WHO HAVE THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN THE ."! +YLE ,OWRY SCORED POINTS FOR THE 2APTORS WHO DROPPED TO ON THE SEASON AND TRAIL -ILWAUKEE BY GAMES FOR THE BEST RECORD g4HEY DID A GREAT JOB THEY PLAYED WELL AND THEY MADE OPEN SHOTS u ,EONARD SAID g4HAT S PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THE GAME PLAYED OUT u 4HE 2APTORS SAID THEY WANTED TO REST ,EONARD IN THE LAST GAME BECAUSE OF THE LONG SEASON BUT THEY LOOKED LIKE A TIRED TEAM AGAINST THE #AVALIERS AND LED ONLY BRIElY IN THE kRST HALF ,EONARD HASN T APPEARED IN more than two consecuTIVE GAMES

Q Cleveland Cavaliersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Collin Sexton (No. 2) drives past Toronto Raptorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kyle Lowry in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. AP PHOTO

SINCE kNISHING UP kVE STRAIGHT IN EARLY &EBRUARY Cleveland led by as much as 27 points LATE IN THE GAME AFTER SEIZING COMMAND EARLY IN THE FOURTH

Two ejected 4ORONTO S 3ERGE )BAKA AND #LEVELAND S -ARQUESE #HRISS WERE EJECTED FOR A HEATED SCUFlE IN THE THIRD QUARTER )BAKA FELL DOWN AND GOT UP AND IMMEDIATELY WENT AFTER #HRISS )BAKA SHOVED #HRISS FROM BEHIND AND GRABBED HIS THROAT ! SHOVING MATCH ENSUED AND AT ONE STAGE )BAKA TRIED TO THROW A PUNCH BUT MISSED WILDLY !T THAT POINT #HRISS WAS TRYING TO BREAK FREE AND EVENTUALLY DID /NE OR BOTH PLAYERS COULD FACE A SUSPENSION ,OVE SAID THE kGHT DIDN T LAST LONG g) SAW IT OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE u ,OVE SAID g)T HAPPENED SO FAST %VERYBODY ALMOST WANTS TO RUN OUT THERE AND CHECK WHAT S GOING ON )T WAS BROKEN UP QUICK 4HAT S USUALLY HOW IT GOES u )N ,OS !NGELES ,OU 7ILLIAMS MADE HISTORY

BY BECOMING THE MOST PROLIkC SCORING SUBSTITUTE IN ."! HISTORY BY PASSING $ELL #URRY IN THE ,OS !NGELES #LIPPERS WIN OVER THE "OSTON #ELTICS 7ILLIAMS FINISHED WITH points as the Clippers continued THEIR PUSH TOWARDS THE PLAYOFFS 7 I L L I A M S N O W L E A D S the NBA in points for a playER COMING OFF THE BENCH WITH

IN HIS CAREER #URRY HAD

POINTS AS A RESERVE )T WAS 7ILLIAMS EIGHTH GAME OF THE SEASON WITH AT LEAST POINTS !LSO *AMES (ARDEN SCORED POINTS AND %RIC 'ORDON HAD AS THE (OUSTON 2OCKETS OVERCAME +EMBA 7ALKERS S POINT PERFORMANCE WITH A WIN AFP

C2

Sports

The Manila Times

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q Philippine Swimming League standout Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh displays her prowess in the 200m freestyle event of the 2019 Japan Age-Group Champs Swim Meet held in Tokyo, Japan.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

N

PSLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mojdeh breaks six records in Japan swim meet

O one can stop Philippine Swimming League (PSL) standout Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh from collecting gold medals, breaking records in international scene.

The 12-year-old swimming sensation once again displayed her prowess as she delivered six gold medals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all in record-breaking fashions -- in the 2019 Japan Age-Group Champs Swim Meet held at the St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International School swimming pool in Tokyo, Japan.

Mojdeh, an Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Paranaque, opened her campaign

with record-breaking showing in the 100m breaststroke (1:18.34), 100m butterfly (1:04.72) and 200m Individual Medley (2:30.77) in the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 11-12 division. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are so proud of her. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an amazing swimmer, very talented and very humble kid. We know that sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go a long way in swimming. We would also like to

thank the Filipino community in Japan especially Myles Beltran for always helping the team. We are so grateful to her,â&#x20AC;? said PSL president Susan Papa.

The reigning Palarong Pambansa most bemedalled athlete, was unstoppable as she nailed three more new marks in the 100m )NDIVIDUAL -EDLEY M BUTTERlY (39.70) and 200m freestyle (2:13.01) to become the most decorated tanker in the tournament that saw more than 1,000 tankers from different countries. g)T S HER kFTH TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR 0ERO TALAgang marami siyang ginulat sa 200m freestyle.

Hindi naman niya ito madalas languyin kaya nung matalo niya yung mga lehitimong freestyler, nasabi na lang nila na very good strategy daw,â&#x20AC;? stressed PSL NCR Regional Director and delegation head Joan Mojdeh â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the supportive mother of Micaela Jasmine.

Mojdeh is fresh from successful campaign in the 2019 Beijing All-Star Swimming Championship held at the state-of-the-art Water Cube National Aquatics Pool in Beijing, China.

She broke records in the the 200meter BUTTERlY M )NDIVIDUAL -EDLEY (2:25.68), 200m breaststroke (2:43.51), 100m BUTTERlY M )NDIVIDUAL -EDLEY

Q Jefner Egan fires a three-point shot in Perpetual Helpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breakthrough win over Diliman-Gerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grill in the 2019 PBA D-League on Tuesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

PBA MEDIA BUREAUÂ PHOTO

PSC looks forward to approval of 2019 national budget PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William â&#x20AC;&#x153;Butchâ&#x20AC;? Ramirez expressed optimism that the 2019 national budget will be ratified this month as the preparations for the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games continue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just cross my fingers because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beyond our control as to the directions of Congress and the President,â&#x20AC;? Ramirez told reporters on Tuesday at the PSC Administration Building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But of my age, I am fatalistic, it will come this month,â&#x20AC;? he added. The proposed P3.7-trillion national budget, which contains the P5-billion fund for the countr yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth hosting of the SEA Games, under went a mess following the lawmakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; failure to approve it prior to the Christmas break last year due to alleged illegal insertions.Â

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that he will not sign a financial plan which is not aligned with the provisions of the Constitution and can cause economic problems. At present, the Congress and the Senate are still in dispute over the alleged illegal insertions in the budget, causing a major delay in its enactment. The government is currently running on a re-enacted budget. The PSC, which handles the allocation for the biennial meet, only has eight months of preparations left or until the SEA Games fire off in November. Still, Ramirez remains optimistic that the budget will be approved before the Congress goes on a recess for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national elections in May.   â&#x20AC;&#x153;As I know my President, when he said he will sign on May, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a statement of contradiction for the Congress to work it fast,â&#x20AC;? said Ramirez.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

M BUTTERlY AND M breaststroke (36:13), and won another gold in the 100m breaststroke (1:17.77). g7E KEEP OUR kNGER CROSS NA SANA PO MATUloy yung nabalitaan namin na magpapatawag ang POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) ng national tryouts para sa lahat ng swimmers REGARDLESS OF AFkLIATION u ADDED *OAN Mojdeh wil be seeing action next in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Luzon Qualifying to be held next week in Isabela before leading the NCR swimming team in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa in Davao City in April.

EMIL C. NOGUERA

ALTAS TAME DRAGONS FOR BREAKTHROUGH WIN UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System DALTA barged into the win column after squeaking past Diliman College-Gerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grill, 71-65, in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League) on Tuesday at the Paco Arena in Manila. Jefner Egan took charge in the endgame for the Altas, who posted their breakthrough victory following a two-game losing start in the Foundation Group. Egan, a former Adamson High School standout, fired five of his game-high 25 points in the last two minutes of the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very good and he has a nice attitude. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the hardest working guys in the team. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m all praises to him,â&#x20AC;?

said veteran coach Frankie Lim of his prized recruit from Cagayan De Oro. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking at him as a PBA material at least for now,â&#x20AC;? added Lim. Second-year forward Rey Peralta finished with 13 points and four rebounds while sophomore guard Jielo Razon and captain Edgar Charcos contributed 12 and eight markers, respectively, for the Las PiĂąasbased squad. Perpetual Help enjoyed a comfortable 38-24 cushion heading into halftime after Egan and Charcos triggered a six-point run to close the second quarter. Diliman-Gerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grill snatched the advantage, 50-47, on John Mahariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s layup before

Razon knocked down a triple to put the game on 50-50 deadlock entering the payoff period. With the Altas only holding a precarious 64-62 lead, Egan hustled to pick a loose ball that resulted in a three-point play for 67-62 buffer with 2:01 remaining. Egan then iced the game with two free throws, securing Perpetual Helpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first win this season. Beninese big man Kevin Gandjeto led the Blue Dragons with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds even as ex-San Beda University guard Jeramer Cabanag had 17 markers in the loss. The Rensy Bajar-coached Diliman dropped to its second setback against a lone win.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

The hyphenated Filipino athlete B

EING born and raised in the United States has its advantages for Filipino!MERICAN TRACK AND kELD ATHLETES A PARENT of whom is Filipino.

Arguably, America offers one of the most competitive stages where an aspiring sprinter or hurdlerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;man or womanâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;could show the stuff that he or she is made of.

Evidently, it also provides the best training facilities and the best mentors to would-be Olympians.

4O TOP IT ALL TRACK AND kELD OR ATHLETICS is a big deal in the United States since the rebirth of the modern Olympic Games more than 100 years ago.

There, the likes of the former Bruce Jenner and, elsewhere, the great Alberto Juantorena, are treated as red-carpet royalty akin to the deserved attention given to Hollywood A-listers.

Admittedly, emerging Filipino-AmerICAN TRACK AND kELD STARS HAVE BENEkTED from the gene poolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;whether guy or gal, they are taller, bigger and stronger than their homegrown brothers and sisters who were born and raised in Cebu or Bacolod.

Proof is that in the recenly concluded Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships in Ilagan City, Isabela, the more promising performances were delivered

FREE KICK ROMY P. MARIĂ&#x2018;AS by the hyphenated competitors--Eric Cray, Natalie Uy, Carter Lilly, Robyn Brown and Kristina Knott, to name a few.

Not that the Filipino-Filipinos were completely outshone by the their Stateside kababayan (compatriot), with quite a number of them making it to the national training pool of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that the Philippines will be hosting in November in Manila and Clark, among other venues.

The downside is that while their presence and eventual inclusion in the training pool is perhaps generally welcomed

BY TRACK AND kELD FANS IN THE COUNTRY IT

on the other hand, calls attention to an APPARENT QUICK kX TO THE DEVELOPMENT of Philippine athletics in the long term.

7HILE #RAY AND COMPANY ARE kGHTING TO make it to the national team just like any other Filipino-Filipino or Filipino-American and banner the country in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SEA Games, the rest of equally promising

but undiscovered possible steeplechasers or decathletes in some isolated village in the Philippine countryside are forgotten.

And we are now only talking about Filipino-Americans.

Remember that Filipinos are found in many parts of the world, and it would not be surprising to hear of a Filipino-Czech javelin thrower or a Filipino-Serbian high jumper.

Of course, one of the best arguments for the apparently successful strategy of Filipino sports honchos would be the the resurgence of interest in Philippine football, thanks to the Filipino-British Younghusband brothers, the Filipino-German Stephan Schrock and the Filipino-Iranian Misagh Bahadoran, to name a few of the foreign-born football players who make up the national team Philippine Azkals.

Welcome to the global village, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all fine for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports development as long as such strategy and tactics will only complement, not SUPERSEDE LOCAL EFFORTS TO kELD A HIGHLY competitive athletics team to the SEA Games a little over eight months from now or to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, where making the cut would be a more formidable challenge to the Filipino athlete, hyphenated or not.

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Sports

C3

Ateneo guns for win No. 5 vs Adamson A

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

TENEO de Manila University seeks to stretch its lead when it takes on Adamson University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball tournament today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Lady Eagles and the Lady Falcons battle at 2 p.m. before University of the Philippines (UP) and National University (NU) tangle at 4 p.m.

Ateneo seized a fourth straight win against a lone loss for the solo lead after sweeping UP, 25-21, 25-15, 28-26, in the first â&#x20AC;&#x153;BattleofKatipunanâ&#x20AC;?thisseasonlastSunday.

First-year womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach Oliver Almadro wants his streaking Lady Eagles not to rest on their laurels.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every game is learning for us.

I guess we still have something to show. We will be better than our best. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we always remind ourselves,â&#x20AC;? said Almadro, a multititled mentor in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division.

Co-captain Maddie Madayag, veteran hitter Kat Tolentino and heady setter Deanna Wong are tabbed to dictate the Lady Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attack anew while Ponggay Gaston and Jules Samonte are

Super Princess putts way to 64, leads by 3 Q Ateneo de Manila Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maddie Madayag and Deanna Wong block University of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Marian Buitre during the UAAP Season 81 womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball tournament. PHOTO BY ROGER RANADA

Lady Falcons vent ire on Lady Eagles markers in one second followed by a four-hit, four run DEFENDING titlist Adamson University vented its incursion in the third ended the merciless pounding wrath on hapless Ateneo in a revengeful, threesending the Lady Eagles hugging the cellar of the inning abbreviated 16-0 victory that put decency seven-team field with their 1-8 win-loss card. back to the Lady Falconsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; title-retention campaign for Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runner-up University of Santo Tomas the UAAP Season 81 womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softball championship on bunched together all 15 of their runs at the bottom Monday at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark. of the seventh and last frame in coming from a Learning their lessons from the 0-3 shutout loss the 7-11 deficit to dump UP, 15-11.

University of the Philippines handed them over the The Tigresses, thus, inched closer to the weekend, the Lady Falcons turned merciless from the leaders with their sixth triumph in nine games time winning hurler Baby Jane Raro threw her first in a tie with idle La Salle in second place, while pitch opening the one-sided match up until reliever dropping the Lady Maroons to 4-5.

Princess Mae Jurado delivered her last in the third.

University of the East clobbered National UniverOnly nine Lady Eagles took the plate and Raro, sity, 6-3, in the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other offering for its only second who stayed on the hill for two frames, and Jurado, win, sending the Lady Bulldogs to 5-4 in fourth. never allowed any of them to step on the bases in their Glimpse who the Lady Falconsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; potential opponent short but flawless job. for the ninth crown theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeking is expected In contrast, all four coach Ana Santiago disto shape up on Thursday when the tournament patched in her offensive rotation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; second resumes, also at the Vito Cruz diamonds. base-girl Mary Joy Maguad, leftSecond-running La Salle and UST try to fielder Krisha Cantor, shortstop fortify their respective bid for seats in the Mary Nichole Pasadas and four-team semifinal round when they Janette Russia â&#x20AC;&#x201D;boarded face separate opponents highlighting right on in the first inning the three-game bill. The Taft Avenue and accounted for the only runs Adamson needed Softbelles battle the UE Lady Warriors to secure its eighth win in nine times up. in the 9 a.m. opener.

Maguad keyed off the attack with a single to left, took second on another The Tigresses, for their part, take base-hit by Cantor, crossing the on a lighter Lady Eagle side at 11 plate on a double Padasas. oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock. Adamson try to inch close Padasas and Russia followed to the top of the standing going Maguad home on a single by first into the Final Four against the Q Adamson Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zrianne base-girl Remilie Herrero.

Lady Bulldogs a 1 p.m. Vallesteros bats in the second inning Eight more EDDIE G. of the UAAP Season 81 softball connections ALINEA tournament at the Rizal Memorial that produced Ballpark. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO eight more

San Beda basketball camp set in April REGISTRATION is still open for the San Beda basketball camp, which is now on its 14th season.

Classes will commence this April at the Mendiola and Taytay campuses, and interested parties, may contact Oliver Quiambao at

LOCAL OR AT

AND THROUGH CAMP organizer Edmundo Badolato, at

T h e c a m p i s h a n d l e d by

coaches from San Beda, and is open for boys and girls.

Classes in the Mendiola campus will be from April 4 to May,

AND WILL BE HELD EVERY Monday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sessions in the Taytay, Rizal campus will from April 5 to May

EVERY 4UESDAY AND &RIDAY from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Fees for the sessions of the

camp is set at P4000, while package deal of P7000 is offered for those who will enroll in both the April and May sessions.

Enrollees will get a San Beda jersey at the start of the camp, and a Molten at the end of the sessions.

There will be a 3x3 tournament on the last day of the camp, which is supported by Molten balls and Gatorade.

DSCPI holds ranking, selection for SEA Games THE DanceSport Council of the Philippines, Inc. (DSCPI) will host the 2019 DSCPI 1st quarter competition and selection for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games dance athletes at the Ballroom Hall of Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig City on Saturday.

DSCPI President Becky Garcia said there are 400 participants all over the Philippines will

compete in the ranking and selection competition.

The World DanceSport Federation licensed adjudicators are Foo Yoong Chen â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vivianâ&#x20AC;? of Malaysia, Valeriy Gulay of Russia, Yoshikazu Inazawa of Japan, Marcel Keijzer of Netherlands, Jae Ho Kim of South Korea, Hong Thi Nguyen â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kathyâ&#x20AC;? of Vietnam, Lubos Novotny of

Czech Republic, Galina Gulay of Russia, Jun-De Jiang, Sheng-Wei Lin â&#x20AC;&#x153;Borisâ&#x20AC;? of Taiwan and Karl Olivier Alba of Canada.  Tickets are available at the D anceS por t Training Center, Philspor ts Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig C ity or at the entrance of the Ballroom of Valle Verde Country Club on March 16.Â

PRINCESS P RINCESS SUPERAL lASHED IMPEClASHED IMPECcable touch on the greens and came away with a stirring bogey-free eightunder 64 to open a three-stroke lead over three Thais in the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Ladies Championship in Carmona, Cavite on Tuesday.

Superal actually bucked a shaky stint on the mound with superb iron shots and awesome putting, drilling in eight birdies inside six feet, including six in a brilliant backside stint for a personal best 34-30 card for a big cushion over Chakansim Khamborn, Punpaka Phuntumabamrung and fancied Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, WHO kRED IDENTICAL S IN HOT BUT near-ideal conditions.

Amateur Sofia Chabon missed catching the Thais at second with a BOGEY ON HER kNISHING HOLE AT .O

which she overshot on a wrong club selection, settling for a 68 in a tie with Thanutra Boonraksasat and Chonlada Chayanun, also of Thailand.

Daniella Uy birdied two of the last four holes at the front while Thai Tiranan Yoopan strung up three straight birdies from No. 13 as they CARDED SIMILAR S TO TRAIL 3UPERAL BY kVE AFTER HOLES OF THE 0 MILLION event serving as the sixth leg of the ,ADIES 0HILIPPINE 'OLF 4OUR circuit put up by ICTSI. Former ICTSI Champion Tour champion and Philippine Ladies Amateur titlist Lee Jeong Hwa blew a solid 32 start with a double bogey on No. 12 and a bogey on the next but birdied No. 14 to save a 70 for a share of 10th

with Taiwanese Yu Ning Huang and multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda, who rallied with three birdies in the last six holes.

Former three-time LPGT Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez broke a run of pars with a birdie on No. 13 but dropped a stroke on No. 15 before holing out with a birdie to salvage a 71, the same output put in by Taiwanese Hsuan-Ping Chang, Thai Narisara Kerdrit, Lisa Kang of the US and Pauline del Rosario.

Del Rosario, the 2017 OOM winner, put herself in early contention with a 33 but bogeyed Nos. 10, 12 and 14, needing to birdie the par-5 17th to join 16 others who tamed the bunkerladen layout and sleek putting surface with under-par scores.

None proved astounding than Superal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so happy with my putting. Although I struggled with my driving, I read it quite well on the greens,â&#x20AC;? said the reigning OOM winner, who missed two fairways, hit all but two greens

expected to provide support.

On the other hand, Adamson will aim for a bounce-back win after falling short against Far Eastern University (FEU), 18-25, 25-17, 14-25, 25-22, 8-15, last Saturday.

The Lady Falcons (1-4) will also try to break free from a tie at No. 6 with NU. In the second game, the Lady Maroons (3-2) will look to get back on the winning track and forge a four-way DEADLOCK AT THE SECOND TO kFTH SPOTS versus the skidding Lady Bulldogs (1-4).

Should UP emerge victorious, it will join De La Salle University, University of Sto. Tomas and FEU with identical 4-2 slates.

NU, however, is eager to snap a three-game slide and avoid joining University of the East at the bottom.

The Lady Maroons will bank on Isa Molde, skipper Tots Carlos and Justine Dorog while the Lady Bulldogs will rely on rookie spikers Princess Robles and Ivy Lacsina.

Q Princess Superal CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

AND kNISHED WITH THE DAY S BEST PUTTS COMING OFF A FOURTH PLACE kNish in last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Country Club Ladies Invitational.

Osaka keeps Indian Wells title defense on track INDIAN WELLS: World number one and defending champion Naomi Osaka powered past American Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-2 on Monday to book a fourth-round meeting with resurgent Swiss Belinda Bencic at Indian Wells.

Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Osaka, whose second straight Grand Slam title at the Australian Open propelled her to the top of the rankings, traded breaks with Collins early in the first set.

But she got the decisive break in the ninth game, giving herself a break point with a backhand winner before pouncing on a short ball and belting a forehand winner to give herself a chance to serve for the set.

An increasingly confident Osaka broke Collins at love for a 2-1 lead in the second. She finished out the next game for a 3-1 lead and led 5-1 before Collins saved a match point to hold and make Osaka serve out the match.

Collins, trying to build on a breakout run to the Australian Open semi-finals, failed in her bid to avenge her 6-1, 6-0 loss to Osaka in their only prior meeting in Beijing last year.

And Osaka, whose first career title came at this prestigious WTA premier mandatory event last year, advanced to a meeting with Bencic, the 23rd seed who defeated Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2.

Bencic, 21, stunned two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the final at Dubai last month to capture her first WTA title in four years.

She won the WTA title in Toronto in 2015 before a series of back and wrist injuries saw her slide down the rankings.

AFP

QNaomi Osaka AFPPHOTO

C4

Football

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

The Manila Times w w w. m a n i l a t i m e s. n e t

v

Ranieri off to winning start with Roma R

OME: Claudio Ranieri got off to a winning start as Roma coach with Stephan El Shaarawy and 0ATRIK 3CHICK S kRST HALF GOALS ENOUGH TO SQUEEZE PAST LOWLY %MPOLI ON -ONDAY 4UESDAY IN -ANILA to keep in touch with the Champions League places.

Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked after the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elimination in the Champions League last-16 last week with Ranieri returning to the club he coached for 18 months until February 2011.

The 67-year-old former Roma player was welcomed back to the Stadio Olimpico with a banner reading â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good luck Mister Ranieriâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thank the fans, as they gave us a big hand this evening,â&#x20AC;? said Ranieri. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect us to play better, because this was a tense team that was anxious and still dealing with recent events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Putting a team together when we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have many players, and without the bigger

players, the leaders that give a sense of direction to the side, wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy,â&#x20AC;? added the former Leicester and Chelsea coach. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I knew it was going to be tough.â&#x20AC;?

Captain Daniele De Rossi, Kostas Manolas, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Cengiz Under were all out injured with Edin Dzeko, Federico Fazio and Aleksandar Kolarov suspended.

It was nervy debut against a side who are just one point above the relegation zone.

El Shaarawy turned in off a corner after nine minutes for his ninth league goal this season only for Empoli to level when Roma defender Juan Jesus headed into his own net.

The Romans nearly conceded another when Giovanni Di Lorenzo sent just wide before Schick put the hosts back on front after 33 minutes, jumping highest to nod in his third league goal this season.

-IDkELDER .ICOLO :ANIOLO HOBBLED OFF WITH a calf injury with Schick also coming off injured while captain Alessandro Florenzi was sent off for a second yellow card with ten minutes to go.

El Shaarawy was then handed the captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ARMBAND FOR THE kRST TIME Empoli looked to have scored a late equalizer WHEN 2ADE +RUNIC kRED INTO THE GOAL ON MINutes but a VAR review disallowed it for a Dmitri

Oberlin handball in the build-up.

3LOVENIAN FORWARD :AN #ELAR

GOT HIS kRST START AFTER 3CHICK came off as Ranieriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side held on in a nervy six minutes of injury time to get back winning after their 3-0 defeat to Lazio last time out.

2OMA REMAIN kFTH THREE POINTS BEHIND )NTER -ILAN WHO OCCUPY THE kNAL Champions League berth, and four adrift of third-placed AC Milan, with the city rivals going head-to-head on Sunday.

Roma will be without Florenzi when they play SPAL next weekend.

AFP

JUVENTUSÂ NOT JUST RONALDO, SAYS ATLETICO COACH SIMEONE

Q Atletico Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Antoine Griezmann

FILE PHOTO

TURIN: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone warned on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) that there was more to Juventus than striker Cristiano Ronaldo as the Spanish side look to â&#x20AC;&#x153;seize their opportunityâ&#x20AC;? in Turin and maintain their PUSH FOR A kRST #HAMPIONS ,EAGUE TITLE Simeoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their last 16 clash with Juve at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday, and are clear favorITES TO MAKE THE QUARTER kNALS AT THE EXPENSE OF a team who signed Ronaldo from Real Madrid last summer with the goal of winning the #HAMPIONS ,EAGUE FOR THE kRST TIME SINCE â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just talk about Ronaldo, Juventus are

Q Neymar FILE PHOTO

a great team with top players who are used to kGHTING IMPORTANT BATTLES AND ARE VERY STRONG IN defense,â&#x20AC;? said Simeone, who insisted there were no favorites despite his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear advantage. g4HESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MATCHES THE kRST leg and second leg. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to seize all the opportunities and do our best, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have less SPACE THAN IN THE kRST LEG â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are two strong teams, one will go through and the other wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to talk about there being favorites.â&#x20AC;?

Atletico have injury worries but Simeone said CENTRAL DEFENDER $IEGO 'ODIN WAS kT TO PLAY g'ODIN IS kNE HE LL TRAIN TODAY AND ) EXPECT

him to play tomorrow. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make do with what I have at my disposal,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Reigning European champions Real Madrid have already crashed out of the competiTION WITH :INEDINE :IDANE RETURNING AS COACH of the stumbling Spanish giants.

But Simeone refused to comment on the Frenchmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return to the Santiago Bernabeu just over nine months after he resigned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With all the respect I have for him I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t THINK ITS RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT :IDANE BEFORE A match between Atletico and Juventus,â&#x20AC;? said THE FORMER !RGENTINA MIDkELDER WHO PLAYED for Juveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hated rivals Inter Milan during his

six-year spell as a player in Italy.

-IDkELDER +OKE WARNED THEY WERE READY for a â&#x20AC;&#x153;battleâ&#x20AC;? with Juventus, who are dominant in Italy but have struggled to turn domestic success into European glory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anything could happen in the Champions League, a lot will depend on how we start the game,â&#x20AC;? the Spain international said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They will certainly attack in every possible way, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to do battle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know that we are facing a great team. We played very well at the Wanda Metropolitano and come here convinced we can put in a similar performance, but have to give our all.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Zidane set to rekindle Real Madrid love affair MADRID: Zinedine Zidane said he never had any doubts about returning to Real Madrid after he replaced the sacked Santiago Solari as coach on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the president called me the first thing I thought was: go,â&#x20AC;? Zidane said at a press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could not say no, I never had any doubts about going back.â&#x20AC;?

Zidane has been given a contract until June 2022, just nine months after he resigned at the end of last season, having led Madrid to an historic third consecutive Champions League triumph.

Solariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dismissal was expected after three consecutive home defeats - to Barcelona, twice, and Ajax - deemed Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s season all-but over before the middle of March.

But Zidane coming back, with only 11 games left in La Liga and almost nothing to play for, is a surprise, particularly after he left on the incredible high of yet another European triumph. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I left because a change was needed at the end of last season, for the good of everyone, after winning so much,â&#x20AC;? Zidane said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I returned because the president called me. I love him and I love this club, so here I am.â&#x20AC;?

Zidane inherits a squad that has evolved even in the short time he has been away, with Cristiano Ronaldo gone and the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior and Sergio Reguilon all enjoying greater prominence this season.

The challenge will be for Zidane to oversee a period of change in the summer, when older players could be replaced and younger talents brought through. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not want to forget what we won but I also do not forget all the things we did badly last year,â&#x20AC;? Zidane said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We lost in the league and cup, we won the Champions League, fine, but I know where I am. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will change things, for sure, for the years to come. But now is not about that - the important thing is I am back. We will have time to talk with the president, with the club, about what we can do.â&#x20AC;?

AFP

Spanish tax authorities investigating Neymar MADRID: Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tax authorities are investigating the bonus Neymar earned when he extended his contract with Barcelona as well as his world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, daily newspaper El Mundo reported Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

The authorities are looking into whether the Brazilian paid tax in Spain related to the two deals, the newspaper said.

Contacted by AFP, the tax office refused to comment on the report.

Neymar was a tax resident in Spain in 2017, the year he transferred from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal for a world record 222 million euros ($249 million).

The 27-year-old Brazilian international and Barcelona are already battling in court over a bonus the player was paid when in 2016 he signed a new five-year deal with the Catalan giants just nine months before joining PSG. A hearing over that case is scheduled for March 21 at a Barcelona labor court.

The tax authorities have asked the labor court for all the information it has regarding this case, El Mundo said. The court declined to comment.

After Neymar agreed to move to the French side, Barcelona refused to pay the player 26 million euros which were part of a bonus it promised him when he extended his contract with them.

Barcelona are suing Neymar for 8.5 million euros for breach of contract and to demand he return the amount of the bonus money which it did pay him.

Neymar, in turn, is suing Barcelona to demand his former club pay his entire renewal bonus.

His is just one of several famous footballers who have fallen foul of Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tax authorities in recent years.

A Spanish court in January handed Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo a suspended two-year prison sentence for committing tax fraud when he was at Real Madrid.

The player, who joined Italian side Juventus last year, also agreed to pay 18.8 million euros in fines and back taxes to settle the case, according to judicial sources.

Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lionel Messi, once Ronaldoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big La Liga rival, paid a two-millioneuro fine in 2016 in his own tax wrangle and received a 21-month jail term.

The prison sentence was later reduced to a further fine of 252,000 euros, equivalent to 400 euros per day of the original term.

AFP

FIFAÂ urged to consider human rights for 2022 World Cup expansion DOHA:Â FIFA must put human rights at the heart of any decision to increase the number of Middle East countries hosting the 2022 World Cup, leading global pressure groups urged on Tuesday.

In an open letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the groups say he should state publicly that human rights would be a consideration if the sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governing body

Q AS Roma Italian forward Stephan El Shaarawy scores a goal during the Italian Serie A football match AS Roma vs Empoli at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. AFP PHOTO

increases the number of teams from 32 to 48. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the possibility that an enlarged 2022 World Cup could potentially require additional countries to host the tournament, we remind FIFA of the commitment it has made to enshrine human rights, transparency and sustainability... in its bidding process,â&#x20AC;? reads the letter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As such we call on you (Infantino) to

publicly confirm that any assessments of potential co-hosts for 2022 would follow a process that includes these criteria.â&#x20AC;?

The letter is signed by Amnesty International, Football Supporters Europe, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, ITUC, 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONAL THE 5.) 'LOBAL Union and the World Playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association.

It has been sent ahead of this

weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FIFA council meeting in Miami.

On the agenda is the proposal to expand team numbers in 2022 which, in all likelihood, would mean tiny Qatar, which has championed the compact nature of its event, having to share matches with neighboring nations.

However, this is complicated by the fact that the super-wealthy gas-rich state is locked in a diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia and

the United Arab Emirates.

With those two countries seemingly out of the picture, it was reported last week that FIFA was considering using Kuwait and Oman to host matches in 2022 in the event of a 48-team World Cup. Despite this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting, FIFA is not expected to make a decision until later this year.

Amnestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steve Cockburn said there were â&#x20AC;&#x153;clear human rights risksâ&#x20AC;? associated with any expansion of the 2022 tournament, the kRST TO BE PLAYED IN THE -IDDLE %AST AFP

WEDNESDAY W E D N ESDAY MARCH 13, 2019

Entertainment www.manilatimes.net

D1 FAN GIRL KAREN KUNAWICZ Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: This column is available today on www.manilatimes.net

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kuya Wesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is Ogieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Forrest Gumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

J

UST when you think singer-songwriter and comedian Ogie Alcasid has done it all, he takes on an indie like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kuya Wes,â&#x20AC;?

BOTH AS ACTOR AND kRST TIME PRODUCER COMPETES AT THE #INEMALAYA &ILM &ESTIVAL AND TAKES IT AS FAR AS THE &ANSTASPORTO &ILM &ESTIVAL IN 0ORTUGAL WHERE THE MOVIE EARNED RAVE REVIEWS AND A BEST ACTRESS WIN FOR LEADING lady Ina Raymundo early this month.

4RULY ONE OF THE MOST PROLIkC artists in Philippine showbiz, what with his endless well of muSICALITY AND EFFORTLESS COMEDIC ability, it turns out that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ogie da 0OGIu CAN ALSO TRIGGER THE WATERworks when he extends himself TO DRAMATIC ROLES 4HOUGH STILL WITH A TOUCH OF HUmor, Kuya Wes sees the gag show star [Ogie pioneered â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tropang 4RUMPOu ON 46 AND OF COURSE â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bubble Gangâ&#x20AC;? along with MiCHAEL 6 ON '-! .ETWORK BEFORE kNALLY TRANSFERRING TO !"3 #".= IN THE TITULAR CHARACTER Â&#x2021; A LONELY AND TIMID REMITTANCE CLERK WHOSE LIFE IS PRACTICALLY MEANINGLESS UNTIL he falls in love with Erika (Ina), A CUSTOMER WHO COMES IN ONCE A MONTH TO COLLECT MONEY SENT BY HER OVERSEAS HUSBAND One day, Erika is devastated to learn her husband has stopped

THE T-ZONE TESSA MAURICIO -ARRIOLA REMITTING MONEY AS 7ES DISCO vers he has left her for someONE ELSE %AGER TO COME TO HIS LADY LOVE S RESCUE 7ES DECIDES to help Erika from his own POCKET WHICH BESIDES CHANGING THE ONCE LOVELORN NOBODY ALSO CAUSES TENSION WITH HIS FAMILY â&#x20AC;&#x153;The truth is that Kuya Wes is something Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to do for a LONG TIME NOW ) MEAN ) VE BEEN quietly on the lookout for my @&ORREST 'UMP IF YOU LIKE WHICH for me, transformed one of my biggest idols Tom Hanks into an ACTOR u /GIE RELATED IN AN INTERVIEW

Âťjustin!

YES ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TRUE! A KATHRYN-ALDEN MOVIE IS IN THE MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE has just happened as Star Cinema announced on Facebook Tuesday that ABS-CBN princess Kathryn Bernardo and GMA Network hearthrob Alden Richards will star in a Cathy Garcia-Molina movie this year. Proof is in the photo above, straight from the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story conference. According to Molina, the still untitled movie will be shot in Hong Kong with the life of millennial OFWs in focus. Bernardo, meanwhile, promised they will do their best to make a beautiful movie for Kapamilya and Kapuso fans alike: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hawak-kamay kami ni Alden dito,

for the movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COMMERCIAL RUN

N

WHICH BEGINS TOODAY g"EFORE THEN N ) D WATCH HIM IN N magtutulungan kami para maganda ang mabigay naming STRAIGHT COMEDIES S pelikula. â&#x20AC;? PHOTO FROM STAR CINEMA all the time, and d then that wonderful and inspirCO PRODUCER

DIREC- REINFORCED HIS LONGTIME ALBEIT CO ING MOVIE CAME quiet desire to do more inspiring TOR= *OYCE "ERNAL WHO TOR= ALONG IN HIS CAsaid theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do it but I AND MORE MEANINGFUL MOVIES REER ) KNEW RIGHT HAD HAD TO CO PRODUCE AS .OT A SINGLE BAD REVIEW WHEN IT after reading the well,â&#x20AC;? well Ogie gave the COMPETED AT #INEMALAYA AND IN SCRIPT THAT +UYA 0ORTUGAL S &ANSTASPORTO PUNCHLINE PUN Wes was that â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really prayed about doing g!FTER THAT ) TALKED g!

MOVIE FOR ME u Kuya Wes and I remember askTO MY BOSS OF COURSE u TO M Ogie, howQ Blown away by the story of the kind-hearted and timid HE OBVI- ing Regine one time, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Why do HE CHUCKLED

C e ve r, d i d n â&#x20AC;&#x2122; t â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kuya Wes,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ogie Alcasid hopes local audiences will be too ously referring to his YOU THINK 'OD CHOSE ME FOR THIS get to go with his first serious indie movie opening in cinemas today. wife, singing superstar movie?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; !NG TAGAL KO NANG HINDI FROM ACCEPTRegine Regin Velasquez, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and GUMAGAWA NG PELIKULA ing Kuya â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess He has a purpose for she told to me, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kailan mo 7ES WRITER AND DIRECTOR *AMES DIRECTOR *AMES pa gagawin yan #IN- ME u THE ACTOR HUMBLY SHRUGGED 0IOLO OF COURSE IS ONE THIRD Robin Mayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offer ff to shoot his OF 3PRING &ILMS WHICH IS THE emalaya na yanĂ&#x153; 3O ) kNALLY WENT his shoulders, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and I would love to long-awaited â&#x20AC;&#x153;se-riousâ&#x20AC;? role do something like Kuya Wes again RIGHT AWAY -AYO TOLD THE /0- MAVERICK PRODUCTION COMPANY FOR IT AND HERE WE ARE TODAY u Where Ogie is as an artist right Â&#x2021; A SMALL MOVIE WITH A BIG HEART u ICON AND 46 STAR HE NEEDED A THAT STRUCK GOLD WITH THE QUIRKY !ND SO AS HIS RETURN TO THE indie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kita Kitaâ&#x20AC;? (2017), so Ogie now, with Kuya Wes in his body PRODUCER TO FUND THE PROJECT of work and trove of professional SILVER SCREEN S BIGGEST CHALLENGE MADE A GO OF IT g)F ) M NOT MISTAKEN #INEMALAâ&#x20AC;&#x153;I told him, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Piolo, may pelikula EXPERIENCES IS A RENAISSANCE OF BEGINS TODAY WITH ITS COMMERya only gives P500,000 or so per ENTRY WHICH IS REALLY NOT ENOUGH AKONG GUSTO SANA GAWIN "ASAHIN SORTS 7HILE HE KNEW FROM THE CIAL RUN /GIE HOPES WITH EVERY mo naman yung SCRIPT wag mo very start he was taking a huge TALENTED kBER IN HIS BODY THAT even for a small movie like Kuya 7ES 3O ) WENT AROUND TRYING TO na ako bayaran pag nagustohan RISK BY GETTING OUT OF HIS COMFORT moviegoers will be blown away, mo (E SAID @3IGE +UYA /GIE AND ZONE IN ACTING Â&#x2021; IN A SERIOUS JUST LIKE HIM

BY THE ROLLER COASTER find funding but I was turned DOWN ALL THE TIME Â&#x2021; UNTIL @!3!0 then I emailed Kuya Wes to him movie different from what his of emotions and inspiring tale of AND WAITED !NG TAGAL NI Piolo AUDIENCE IS USED TO SEE HIM A SIMPLE KIND HEARTED CHARACTER went to Toronto and I got to talk but one day I heard from [his DO Â&#x2021; THE RESPONSE TO +UYA 7ES NAMED +UYA 7ES TO 0IOLO 0ASCUAL u

D2

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

Funtimes

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (03/13/19). Your career flourishes and grows this year. Practice for team perfection and ease.

Summer passions harmonize to influence your crew past an obstacle. Come together for amazing results next winter, leading to shifting perspectives on a matter of the heart. Find the common love thread.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Reach out to make a long-distance connection. Try new flavors and cultural views. Explore culinary, visual and musical arts. Learn from an unexpected source.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Together, you can advance a shared financial plan. Align on priorities and determine who will do what. Resolve how to meet upcoming expenses. Replenish your reserves.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- You can sense the long-term potential. Avoid emotional spending.

Avoid risk or conflict. Something that looks good in theory may not work in practice.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Collaboration allows you to see each other’s blind spots. That wider view strengthens your project. Teach each other tricks you’ve learned. Contribute and encourage contribution.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Pay a kindness forward. Another makes sure you have what you need.

Share your inspiration, and provide excellence. Make your family proud.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- The workload increases and so does the tempo. Put your heart into your movement and action. Focus on the present moment for an excellent performance.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Your energy may surge from power and confidence to self-doubt. Ask for what you want. Take extra care of yourself. Private time recharges you.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Relax, and indulge your inner child. Prioritize fun with people you love. Discover hidden beauty. Persistent, steady actions get farther than luck. Express your passion.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Slow to consider the options. Close out one project and put things away before beginning the next one. Review budgets, schedules and plans. Savor private rituals.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Sink into domestic comforts. Focus on home and family, before looking farther out. Make renovations, and organize the space. Give away stuff you no longer need.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Community action gets results. Connect with your team and pull together. Show up to be counted. Write your representatives to share your view.

(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.)

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Anticipate professional changes or challenges. One opportunity may prove especially lucrative. Get support from your team where needed.

» SUDOKU

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.

Public Square

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Eriguel: Persons with disability now covered by PhilHealth PERSONS with disability (PWDs) are now automatically covered

BY THE .ATIONAL (EALTH )NSURANCE 0ROGRAM OF THE 0HILIPPINE (EALTH )NSURANCE #ORP 0HIL(EALTH ACcording to La Union Second District Representative Sandra Eriguel.

This became possible after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on February 22, Republic Act No. 11228 WHICH PROVIDES MANDATORY 0HIL(EALTH coverage for all PWDs. The new law amended R.A. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This new law will guarantee that PWDs have equitable access to medical and healthcare services,â&#x20AC;? said Eriguel, the chairperson of the (OUSE #OMMITTEE ON 3OCIAL 3ERvices who led the deliberations by THE COMMITTEE OF THE ORIGINAL (OUSE bill and sponsored the committeeapproved version in the plenary.

Together with the other principal authors of the bill, Rep. Micaela Violago and Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., %RIGUEL ALSO REPRESENTED THE (OUSE in the discussion with their Senate counterpart to come up with the kNAL BICAMERAL VERSION OF THIS SIG-

NIkCANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION R.A. 11228 is a consolidation OF (OUSE "ILL .O AND 3ENate Bill No. 1391.

Eriguel said that under the new law, THE 0HIL(EALTH PREMIUM CONTRIBUtions for all PWDs would be paid for by the national government.

0HIL(EALTH WILL DEVELOP EXCLUSIVE packages for PWDs to address their specific health and development needs, while the Department of (EALTH $O( WILL MAINTAIN AN UPdated database on PWDs and their health and development needs.

The agencies will craft the implementing rules and regulations within three months upon the effectivity of the law.

channel of ABS-CBN. Frontrow, This Filipino-owned company enjoys a unique status as the bold, new face of multi-level marketing. Through its line of health and wellness products, it has carved a niche for itself in the highly competitive beauty industry. Frontrow co-founders just recently received an award as Entrepreneurs of the Year under American Association of the Philippines with US Ambassador Sung Kim as one of the honorees.

Cartoon Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s We Bare Bears coming to Asia CARTOON Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s We Bare Bears IS EMBARKING ON IT S kRST EVER TOUR OF Asia, and they are excited to meet all of their friends in the Philippines.

Be ready to form your own bear squad and hang out with Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear as they visit iconic PLACES SNAP SOME SELkES AND SPREAD paw-sitivity with plenty of bear hugs.

All you need to do is to vote for the Philippines on www.webarebears. cartoonnetworkasia.com/hugstour if you want the bear bros to come and see you and your friends.

And to help you get well-acquainted with the lovable bears, here are some quick facts weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve rounded up just for you: Keep the votes coming on www. webarebears.cartoonnetworkasia. com/hugstour and be sure to catch the adorable bear-bros when they make a stop in your city! Follow the bearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Be Thereâ&#x20AC;? journey via THE #ARTOON .ETWORK !SIA OFkCIAL

Facebook page, www.facebook. com/CartoonNetworkAsia. Or if you want to hang out with some real We Bare Bearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fans, join Cartoon Network Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Page at http://bit.ly/WBBFBGroup and get updates on your favorite bear-bros all year round.

Stay tuned in to We Bare Bears on Cartoon Network available on Cignal $IGITAL 46 #HANNEL ($ 3KY $IRECT #HANNEL ($ 3KY#ABLE #HANNEL ($ AND $ESTINY #ABLE #HANNEL ($ $IGITAL

Global Finance Magazine gives BPI two awards for banking excellence GLOBAL Finance Magazine, one of the leading publishers for the interNATIONAL kNANCIAL MARKETS RECENTLY recognized Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) for its excellent servicing CAPABILITIES AS A TRADE kNANCE AND CASH management solutions provider.

The US-based magazine acknowledged BPI as the Best Trade Finance Bank in the Philippines and Best Cash Management Bank in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This recognition is a validation of our continuous efforts to improve OUR SERVICES TO MEET AND EFkCIENTLY ADdress our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs,â&#x20AC;? said Simon Paterno, head of Financial Products

D3

Toyota Motor Philippines helps PARA athletes bring honor to the country I

A beautiful & award-winning architect for Frontrow FRONTROW International, the award-winning beauty and health company, is being used by Arch.

Kaydee Velasco, UAP, CBP. Out of so many companies, she believes in Frontrow because of the many testimonials and proofs she encountered.

Arch. Kaydee is the president, CEO and principal architect of KMVAsia Development Corporation, a fast growing pocket developer in Southeast Asia.

Arch. Velasco is also the 2018 Youngest CEO of the Year awardee by the prestigious award giving body - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Asia Leaders Awardsâ&#x20AC;? Under Tag Media Group which was held at Makati ShanGRILA (OTEL IN )N ADDITION SHE WAS also recently elected as the vice president of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Alumni Association, is a member of the Board of Advisory of Southwestern University and the international publicly listed real estate holdings group, Lighthouse Group LLC ,'() AS WELL AS THE SEGMENT host of Design Scape with regular airings on Graceful Living hosted

by Cory Quirino on ANC, the news

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

and Alternative Channels. !S A TRUSTED TRADE kNANCE PROVIDER "0) HANDLED kNANCING STRUCTURE and supply chain transactions of the top corporate clients in the country in 2018. To ensure 100 percent FULkLLMENT OF TRADE TRANSACTIONS OF its corporate clients, the bank established Trade Service Desks as part of its key initiatives last year.

BPI also underwent a major reorganization in the segmentation of its client coverage team and established its Business Banking 3EGMENT TO CATER SPECIkCALLY TO THE small and medium (SME) markets.

N the 2000 Paralympic Games held in Sydney, Filipina powerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta made history when she brought home a BRONZE MEDALÂ&#x2021;A kRST FOR THE 0HILIPpines. But before she brought pride to the country, Dumapong-Ancheta who contracted polio at an early age, used to push her wheelchair to the gym just to attend her trainings, rain or shine. Regular public transportation was a challenge.

Today, Dumapong-Ancheta is one of the board members of the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC), the national association tasked to develop Parasports in the PhilipPINES 4OGETHER WITH OTHER OFkCIALS and coaches of PPC she helps hone Filipino athletes with disabilities so they, too, may have a shot at winning in international competitions.

Unlike Dumapong-Ancheta, PPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current roster of athletes

Q PPC officials, athletes and coaching staff together with TMP officials during the turnover of the Toyota Coaster donated by TMP to support the Paralympic movement in the Philippines. can now go to their trainings and aims to promote inclusivity and turnover ceremony held at the PPC sustainability by opening oppor- grounds in Pasig City. competitions a lot easier.

Aligned with PPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) tunities to Para athletes and helprecently turned over a 29-seater ing them seek avenues that can Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Start Your Impossible initiative also aspires to raise the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toyota Coaster to the PPC as part help them realize their dreams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are proud to be a part of this awareness and appreciation of the of its commitment to support Filipino Para athletes and help uplift advocacy because it allows us to help potential of people with disability, change peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives by enabling a cause being championed by PPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parasports in the country.

The donation was made under them to overcome challenges and president Michael Barredo.

For more information, visit https:// Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global corporate initia- reach their aspirations,â&#x20AC;? said TMP tive - Start Your Impossible, which President Satoru Suzuki during the startyourimpossible.asia.

NMPC practices â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;AIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the core of its services FOR pharmaceutical companies, technology is important in making business transactions faster and more EFkCIENT (OWEVER FOR .EW -ARKETlink Pharmaceutical Corporation (NMPC), nothing can ever replace the power of human connection.

Celebrating its 12th year in the industry, NMPC recently held its Annual National Sales Conference with the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;Agility In spiritâ&#x20AC;? that focused on enabling and empowering their employees to cope with the challenges in the industry by being agile. Attended by more than 200 employees, the conference is one of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s employee engagement programs where they discuss the performance of the company throughout the previous year and set goals for 2019 as well as recognize their employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stellar performance.

The pharma business landscape is changing because of new technology. We see the many changes that the digital age brings and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undeniable that it has brought in-

novation. But in an industry where nurturing a relationship is key in selling, technology canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just simply replace the face-to-face interaction that we have with the doctors and our partners,â&#x20AC;? shares Joselito Aguas, .-0# (UMAN 2ESOURCE AND /RGAnizational Development director.

While the company acknowl-

edges the importance of technology in accelerating the industry, they also continuously look for ways on how they can strengthen their company sales force to cope with the fastchanging world. Aguas furthered that in order to face the challenging times, employees must learn a valuable lesson through Appreciative

Inquiry or what they call as AI. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Appreciative Inquiry or AI is all about seeing things in a different perspective that brings positive change in every organization.

This approach is being taught to our employees so that they would learn to look at the brighter side of every situation,â&#x20AC;? he added.

SAP Leonardo IoT helps shape the Intelligent Enterprise SAP unveiled SAPÂŽ Leonardo Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, the all-encompassing technology that generates and drives digital transformation for Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0.

In addition, SAP announced the cloud-to-cloud interoperability of SAP Leonardo IoT with Microsoft !ZURE )O4 (UB PROVIDING CUStomers a choice of connectivity and device management. SAP is committed to a strong ecosystem for IoT and understands the value its partners can bring to joint customers. This announcement was made at MWC being held February 25 to 28 in Barcelona.

SAP is uniquely positioned to bring IoT data together with business processes. SAP Leonardo IoT will help customers increase proDUCTIVITY REDEkNE THEIR CUSTOMER experience and grow their revenue streams. It will enable customers to embed IoT into line-of-business (LoB) solutions, enhance business applications with IoT technology and develop new business models based on the new data the IoT solutions generate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SAP delivers valuable insight and drives business results by embedding IoT data into business processes,â&#x20AC;? said Elvira Wallis, senior vice president and global head of

IoT at SAP. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the launch of SAP ,EONARDO )O4 3!0 SOLIDIkES ITS COMmitment to the IoT, and in particular Industrial IoT. The combination of IoT and our depth and breadth of high-value industry and application expertise helps customers gain greater business value and a stronger competitive advantage.â&#x20AC;?

SAP Leonardo IoT will allow customers to innovate and enhance business processes using data-driven intelligence and operational context from machines, products, supply chains, consumers and partners. SAP Leonardo IoT will offer three paths to innovation for customers based ON THEIR SPECIkC BUSINESS NEEDS

Kiwanis District leadership changing of guards FOR this coming 2019-2020, Kiwanis Leadership will be under the administration of Raymund Gerard Arcinas Yap, the newly elected district governor to handle the clubs around the Philippines for Philippine Luzon District with his slogan: Red, Non Verba (Action Not only Words).

The turnover will be this September in Baguio. Among his mandates and focus are the following: to activate and strengthen clubs; to strengthen the Kiwanis Brand as part of the awareness program; to provide quality education and relevant information to all Kiwanians all

over Philippine Luzon District; and partners with other organizations.

Kiwanis International was established in 1915 at Detroit, Michigan. Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time.

Today, it stands with more than 600,000 members from K-Kids to Key Club to Kiwanis and many ages in between in more than 80 countries. Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children,

Q Governor Raymund Gerard Arcinas Yap (center) with his team: Arnold Blanker Gardon (Art & Design), Mark Siaga (District Secretary) Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas (Business Manager) and Randy Oliva (District Admin).

SUCH AS kGHTING HUNGER IMPROVING Kiwanis clubs host nearly 150,000 literacy and offering guidance. service projects each year.

Las Casas offers â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Food Marvelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; this March WELCOME the month of March by spoiling yourselves with delectable meals made more remarkable by the scenic views of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Located at the heart of Bagac, Bataan, let this heritage resort be your next gastronomic adventure.

Exclusive for CafĂŠ Marivent at Casa New Manila, start a FUN kLLED DAY BY INDULGING ON Chicken Roulade Stuffed with Garlic longganisa.

For fish-lovers, Cusina ni

Nanay Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pan Fried Red Snapper Fillet with Sweet Tamarind Tomato is a no-miss.

Meanwhile, cup off a tiring night a la Italiano with Pizza Gamberini in La Bella Teodora at Casa Binan.

Starting March 16, savor the diverse taste of Filipino culture with the heritage resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s featured delicacies through an activity titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flavors of Las Casas.â&#x20AC;?

For more information, visit WWW LASCASASkLIPINAS COM

Q Casa Luna, originally built in Luna, La Union, is a great representation of Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; braveand artistic heritage as it beautifully withstood the arduous challenges of time.

PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE PCSO extends help to religious, medical organizations

BY NORIE ESTIGOY AND ROBERTO BUADO JR.

T

HE Medical Services Department (MSD) of the Philippine Charity 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE 0#3/ RECENTLY handed boxes of medicines to three religious organizations and one medical center in support of the annual medical and dental mission in their respective communities.

Representatives of the Word of Hope Christian Family-Rob-

insons Novaliches and Parents Association with the Social

Q MSD personnel Joanne Alonzo with Fidel Pascua Jr.of the Caloocan City Medical Center. PHOTOS BY KOBI JANAIRO

Action Office of Saint Pedro Poveda College and Association de Alumnas de Poveda received the medicines from MSD personnel at the Lung Center of the Philippines satellite office on February 28.

Earlier on February 20, the Parish Renewal Experience, Holy Family Parish Diocese of Imus, General Mariano Alvarez Cavite received medicines worth P10,000 and and the Caloocan City Medical received

medicines valued at P70,000.

Loren Christopher Dean Gilbas and Denise Marie MaĂąo led the turnover ceremonies.

PCSO stretches its legacy for its 85th year of continuous service by donating much-needed medicines to qualified public and private institutions engaged in health programs, projects and health care services as response to President Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call for Universal Health Care Programs.

Q PCSO MSD personnel Denise Marie Manio hands a box of medicines to Aylene Sevilla of Word of Hope Christian Family Church; and (below photo) Sandy Ang-Pascual of Poveda College PPA Social Action. PHOTOS BY ARNOLD RAMOS

Q Loren Christopher Dean Gilbas (second from right) and Denise Marie MaĂąo (second from left) with Holy Family Parish Diocese of Imus representatives led by Ramon Maglaque.

186 Payatas residents given medical attention SPEARHEADED by the local Senior Citizens Society, a total of 186 residents of Payatas, Quezon City were served in what appeared to be a post-Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical mission of the PCSO Medical Team on February 15.

Headed by medical doctor Mabel Vinteres, the mission was held at the Parkwood Hills Subdivision, bringing joy to the RESIDENTS WHO BENIkTED FROM THE PROGRAM

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Napakalaki ng impact nitong medical mission na isinagawa ng PCSO sa

aming lugar, lalong-lalo na sa mga kasamahan kong kapwa senior pati na rin ang mga residente dito na tunay na nangangailangan ng atensyong pangmedical, muli po akoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa Management ng PCSO at sana maulit po itong mission sa amin lugar,â&#x20AC;? said Leticia Cagalawan,

president of the Senior Citizens Society.

The medical mission program provides outreach health care activities in depressed communities within and outside Metro Manila and nearby provinces including provision of free medicines for those who have less or no access to health services offered by local government units.

JUSTIN SANTOS

Q The medical mission was held at Parkwood Hills Subdivision. PHOTO BY ARNOLD RAMOS

ANNOUNCEMENT PCSO hereby announces the resumption of the processing of Small Town Lottery (STL) application in PUERTO PRINCESA CITY. Submission of application with complete documents together with the Required Refundable Deposit in the amount of Php 1,127,017.80 or 20% of PMRR for Puerto Princesa in the form of Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Check is until March 14, 2019, 3:00 P.M. to the Advisory Committee for STL located at the 4th Floor of Sun Plaza Bldg., 605 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.

For more information you may visit our website www.pcso.gov.ph or email us at

acspcso@gmail.com