THE MANILA TIMES | MAY 15, 2019

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•• 4 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 214 24

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2019

‘WE OFFER NO EXCUSES’

Comelec to probe glitches DEFECTIVE counting machines and other problems that marred the otherwise successful midterm polls will be investigated, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Tuesday. g7E WANTED A PERFECT ELECTION "UT

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This nation is on the verge of take-off, finally

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HE most important consequence of the elections the other day is this: The political landscape has been cleared FOR OUR COUNTRY TO kNALLY TAKE OFF NOT just in terms of its economy and its nationhood. ÂłTiglaoA5

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Trusted since 1898

Duterte ‘magic’ touted as admin bets dominate A

DMINISTRATION-BACKED candidates are poised to run away with the May 13 Senate polls, holding on to nine out of the 12 seats up for grabs, BASED ON AN UNOFkCIAL #OMMISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC COUNT

MalacaĂąang attributed the result to President Rodrigo Duterte’s “magic.â€? Most of the opposition Otso Diretso slate conceded defeat, with the exception of a couple of bets, who still had a slim chance of joining the “Magic 12.â€?

As of 5:53 p.m., reelectionist senator Cynthia Villar extended her lead with 24,509,114 votes,

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RIGOBERTO RIG DD. TIGLAO

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For more election updates and results visit

Thoughts the morning after

REPRE3 % . 4! TIVE democracy serves the common good best when citizens are wise, mature and thoughtful. Recently, Dr. George V. Carmona defended HIS *3$ DISSERTATION AT 3AN "EDA AND developed the concept of “earned sovereignty.â€? While we eagerly and jealously make bold claims in the name of democracy and sovereignty, we must earn it. And the question is whether or not, by the choices we have made, we deserve democracy. ÂłAquinoA5

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Namfrel: Glitches could have compromised polls

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

QUICK COUNT

Volunteers check and encode election returns forwarded to the canvassing and monitoring center of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting at the Pope Pius Center in Manila. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

THE integrity of Monday’s elections could have been compromised by incidents of violence and glitches that have raised cheating concerns, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said on Tuesday. g7HILE MANY OF THE VERIkED REPORTS CONCERN procedural lapses that are administrative in nature, there have been incidents that could affect the integRITY OF THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IN SPECIkC AREAS u

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What’s inside EX-VP BINAY LOSES BID FOR HOUSE SEAT

NewsA2

THE ELECTION RESULTS DATA OUTAGE

Lito AveriaA4 GERALD ANDERSON AND JULIA BARRETTO’S FRESH TAKE ON FLEETING ROMANCES

MOMENT OF TRUTH AS GAME 7 UNFOLDS TONIGHT

SportsC1

THEIR TURN

Newly elected Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto (center), Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso aka ‘Isko Moreno’ and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna (left) and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and her vice mayor, Gian Sotto.

PHOTOS BY ROGER RAĂ‘ADA ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

Political dynasties lose Manila, Pasig, San Juan REACH US AT:

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

POLITICAL clans suffered heavy defeats in Metro Manila, with new leaders set to take OFkCE IN THE CITIES OF -ANILA 3AN *UAN AND Pasig, even as other dynasties continued to hold on to their bailiwicks.

Francisco “Isko Moreno� Domagoso was proclaimed the new mayor of Manila,

SOUNDLY DEFEATING THE INCUMBENT *OSEPH Estrada, by garnering 357,925 votes to the latter’s 210,605. “It is a humbling experience,� said Moreno, who served as Estrada’s vice mayor from 2013 to 2016, as he called for reconciliation.

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˜ The Manila Times WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

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Ex-VP Binay loses bid for House seat F

BY NEIL SERVALLOS

ORMER VICE PRESIDENT *EJOMAR Binay failed in his bid for a poLITICAL COMEBACK WHEN HE LOST THE congressional race for the First District OF -AKATI #ITY TO FORMER -AKATI MAYOR 2OMULO g+IDu 0EĂ„A *R

PeĂąa got 71,035 votes, while "INAY GARNERED VOTES “I expected to win with a higher margin, having been able to cap-

ture the masses and the upper and middle classes in Makati,� Peùa told reporters.

"INAY SERVED AS -AKATI MAYOR

from 1986 to 1998, and again from 2001 to 2010.

He won the second highest position in the country in 2010.

However, he turned his back on politics when he placed fourth in the 2016 presidential elections.

7ITH THE "INAY FAMILY GETTING much of media’s attention because of the bitter rivalry between Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail g!BBYu "INAY AND HER BROTHER *EJOMAR %RWIN g*UNJUNu "INAY *R 0EĂ„A SAID HE CAMPAIGNED “silently and diligently.â€?

“I couldn’t match that kind of publicity,� he said.

PeĂąa was appointed acting MakaTI MAYOR AFTER FORMER MAYOR *UNJUN "INAY WAS UNSEATED BECAUSE OF HIS alleged involvement in the P1.3BILLION -AKATI 3CIENCE (IGH 3CHOOL BUILDING kASCO IN 4HE kRST DISTRICT OF -AKATI IS deemed the “richâ€? part of the city, covering the enclaves of the ultra-rich such as Forbes Park, $ASMARIĂ„AS -AGALLANES "EL !IR

3AN !NTONIO 3AN ,ORENZA AND Urdaneta villages.

POST-POLL RALLY Policemen block members of various groups who held a rally in front of the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros, Manila to denounce the poll body’s use of malfunctioning machines during the elections. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

Q PROBE FROM A1

Comelec it happened, there were a lot of problems,� Comelec Chairman 3HERIFF !BBAS SAID IN A PRESS briefing. “We offer no excuses,� he added, referring to faulty vote counting machines (VCMs) and SECURE DIGITAL 3$ MEMORY cards that extended the voting process and also the delayed transmission of results.

The investigation will focus on suppliers that had won contracts by offering the lowest bids, which led to the provision of low-quality goods that may have passed controlled-environment tests but failed in actual use.

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, reports reaching the Comelec showed that 6#-S AND 3$ CARDS HAD to be replaced, higher compared to the 801 and 201, respectively, recorded during the 2016 presidential elections.

Abbas pointed out that the defective VCMs accounted for just 1.1 percent of the 85,769 used during Monday’s polls, while the DAMAGED 3$ CARDS COMPRISED percent of the 85,769 total.

Procurement law requirements calling for separate purchase contracts were also likely to blame, the Comelec said, with compatibility problems more likely to increase given multiple suppliers.

In 2016, all election parapher-

Q DYNASTIES FROM A1

Political Domagoso’s running mate, reelectionist Vice Mayor Maria 3HEILAH g(ONEYu ,ACUNA 0ANGAN

also secured a second term. %STRADA WHO SERVED AS 3AN *UAN mayor for nearly two decades before parlaying his popularity to the presidency in 1998, also saw his granddaughter lose in his family’s bailiwick.

Ejercitos lose San Juan Francis Zamora ended the 50-

kaya may delay. Pati ba mga bibig at labi ninyo hindi makapagpaliwanag dahil may glitch din?� (Talk has it that there was a glitch in the transparency server.

Are your mouths and lips that are unable to provide explanations also glitched?),� he added.

2EELECTIONIST 3EN Aquilino g+OKOu 0IMENTEL RD WHO RANKED 11th in the “Magic 12� list, said the glitches were enough to prompt a congressional investigation. “Why are we still having all these glitches? Cannot Comelec anticipate them?� said Pimentel, who ran under the administration’s banner.

0IMENTEL A FORMER 3ENATE President and current chairman of the chamber’s electoral reforms committee under the outgoing 17th Congress, said he would initiate a probe — if he wins — once the 18th Congress TAKES OVER IN *ULY 3ENATORS *OEL 6ILLANUEVA AND 3HERWIN 'ATCHALIAN ALSO CRITIcized the Comelec for failing to Explanation prevent the glitches despite havdemanded ing been given billions of pesos to conduct the electoral exercise.

3EN &RANCIS g+IKOu 0ANGILINAN

“This glitch is so weird. We gave campaign manager of the opposi- Comelec [a] P10 billion budget tion Otso Diretso slate, on Tuesday for this year. We have the right to demanded an explanation from know what’s going on,� Villanueva the Comelec. said on Twitter. “May niluluto ba na hindi dapat Gatchalian, in a separate tweet, malaman ng publiko? Are you SAID g 6#-S

3$ CARDS cooking something that the public malfunctioned, transparency servshould not know?),� he said. er malfunctioned. Congress al“Ang usap-usapan ay may located P10 billion for a real time glitch daw sa transparency server and credible elections.� nalia purchases were “bundled� with the VCMs supplied by techNOLOGY PROVIDER 3MARTMATIC Abbas said the Comelec would learn from Monday’s glitches ahead of the 2022 presidential elections. “We are looking at using the VCMs again or rent new machines or bundle anew to synchronize everything. That’s our decision points,� he added.

Comelec Commissioner Mario Cascolan, meanwhile, pointed out THAT LOW QUALITY 3$ CARDS COULD have been supplied and explained that VCM malfunctions could have been due to age, the summer heat, and damaged during transit.

With regard to delays in the transmission of results, he said this was due to an application error that has now been resolved.

The delay had raised concerns of cheating in an exercise that — based ON AN UNOFkCIAL COUNT ‡ WILL LEAD to an overwhelming win for allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

year supremacy of the Ejercitos — Estrada’s real surname — by winning the mayorship with

VOTES COMPARED TO *ANELLA Ejercito’s 24,913. *ANELLA IS THE DAUGHTER OF FORMER SENATOR *OSE g*INGGOYu %Strada, who is also currently out of the “Magic 12� list of potential 3ENATE WINNERS &OR THE VICE MAYORAL RACE IN 3AN *UAN #ITY :AMORA S RUNNING MATE Warren Villa got 28,882 votes WHILE *ANELLA S RUNNING MATE "OY Celles got 24,465. :AMORA A FORMER 3AN *UAN VICE mayor, ran for the top spot in 2016 but was defeated by Guia Gomez, with whom Estrada has a son, REELECTIONIST SENATOR *OSEPH 6ICTOR

Stop using Smartmatic 3ENATE 0RESIDENT 6ICENTE 3OTTO RD

for his part, reiterated a call for the #OMELEC TO STOP USING 3MARTMATIC

THE 6ENEZUELAN OWNED kRM THAT has been tapped to handle Philippine elections since 2008. “We may learn from the way the #ATHOLIC #HURCH IS kNALLY FACING TODAY the truth about sex abuse of children because of painstaking inquiries conducted into churches in the United 3TATES !USTRALIA AND )RELAND u HE SAID “We should similarly adopt this method to establish incontrovertibly that our people have been repeatedly cheated in their national elections through the corrupt adoption of an electronic voting SYSTEM PROVIDED BY 3MARTMATIC #ORPORATION u 3OTTO ADDED 3OTTO AND 3EN 0ANkLO ,ACSON also urged the public to respect the will of the majority. “In every election there will always be a winner and a defeated foe. It is the lessons we take from whatever is handed to us that MAKES A DIFFERENCE u 3OTTO SAID IN a text message.

Lacson, in a statement, said: “What is important is that we respect the voice of the majority but without abandoning our responsibility to continue our vigilance against abuses and wrongdoings of those given the mandate to serve,� he said in a statement.

WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL, JAVIER JOE ISMAEL AND BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

g*6u %JERCITO WHO IS ALSO IN DANGER Eusebio’s supporters are contestOF LOSING IN THE 3ENATE RACE ing the proclamation and as of press time, were gathered in front Eusebio ousted of the Pasig City Hall.

in Pasig

)N 0ASIG #ITY 6ICTOR g6ICOu 3OTTO

the son of television personALITIES 6IC 3OTTO AND #ONEY 2EYES

OUSTED INCUMBENT "OBBY %USEBIO with 206,226 votes to the latter’s 119,726.

For the vice mayoral race, lone CANDIDATE )YO #ARUNCHO "ERNARDO got 266,620 votes.

3OTTO S RUNNING MATE 2OMAN Romulo managed to retake his seat as the representative of Pasig City’s lone district with 221,779 votes.

Belmontes regain QC mayorship In Quezon City, meanwhile, 6ICE -AYOR *OSEFINA g*OYu "ELmonte now holds the top local government post previously held by her father, Rep. Fernando FeliCIANO g3ONNYu "ELMONTE 3HE WON VOTES COMFORTABLY AHEAD OF RIVAL *OSE g"INGbong� Crisologo’s 366,215.

3HE WILL SUCCEED (ERBERT "AUtista, who before serving as mayor was her father’s vice mayor.

Villars, Aguilars keep hold on power THE 24-year reign of the VillarAguilar family in Las PiĂąas City will continue with the landslide victory of reelectionist Mayor Imelda Aguilar.

Aguilar garnered 170,972 votes or 87.80 percent of the total number of ballots, besting six independent candidates.

April Aguilar, the mayor’s daughter, also won the vice mayoral race with 161,789 votes or

86.32 percent of the total ballots. #AMILLE 6ILLAR 3EN #YNTHIA 6ILlar’s daughter, defeated indepenDENT CANDIDATE *ERRY DE LOS 2EYES for the lone district House seat of Las Piùas. The senator is mayor Aguilar’s sister-in-law.

Two other Aguilars — Peewee AND ,ORD ‡ TOPPED THE kRST AND second-district contests for the city council.

NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

Q DOMINATE FROM A1

Duterte ‘magic’ touted followed by fellow reelectionist Mary Grace Poe (21,426,018) and former presidential aide #HRISTOPHER ,AWRENCE g"ONGu 'O (19,874,191).

Completing the top 6, who will get six-year terms were forMER SENATOR 0ILAR *ULIANA g0IAu Cayetano with 19,156,910 votes, former Philippine National Police CHIEF 2ONALD g"ATOu DELA 2OSA WITH

AND REELECTIONIST 3EN *UAN %DGARDO g3ONNYu !NGARA with 17,620,407.

The remaining six slots, which carry three-year terms, were occupied by actor and former senator Manuel Mercado “Litoâ€? Lapid (16,476,675), Ilocos Norte governor -ARĂ€A )MELDA *OSEFA g)MEEu -ARCOS (15,376,842), former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino (14,957,833 votes), former senator Ramon g"ONGu 2EVILLA *R

AND REELECTIONIST 3ENATORS !QUILINO g+OKOu 0IMENTEL RD

AND -ARIA ,OURDES .ANCY "INAY (14,130,611).

Most of those in the top 12, with the exception of Poe, Lapid and "INAY ARE PART OF THE (UGPONG NG Pagbabago slate endorsed by the Duterte administration.

Trailing them were reelectionist 3ENATORS *OSEPH 6ICTOR g*6u %JERCITO

AND 0AOLO "ENIGNO g"AMu !QUINO TH

AND FORMER SENATORS *OSE g*INGGOYu Estrada (11,031,009) and Manuel “Mar� Roxas 2nd (9,582,027).

CAMPAIGN MANAGER 3EN &RANCIS g+IKOu 0ANGILINAN SAID THEY WERE still hoping for a miracle win. “There’s still 7 percent of the remaining votes, equivalent to about 3 million votes that were NOT YET INCLUDED IN THE UNOFkCIAL tally. We will wait for the results and monitor,� he said.

Vice President Maria Leonor g,ENIu 2OBREDO SAID THE kGHT WAS not over. “May laban pa tayong hinaharap. Hindi pa tapos ang bilangan at kailangan pang bantayan‌ Hanggang sa huli, sama-sama tayo sa labang ito (We still have a battle ahead. The canvassing of votes is NOT YET kNISHED AND WE HAVE TO BE watchful ‌ Up to the end, let us face this race as one.)â€?

‘Unstoppable trend’

)N -ALACAĂ„ANG SPOKESMAN 3AVADOR 0ANELO SAID THE UNOFkCIAL count was pointing to “an unstoppable trend towards a resounding victory of the Administration’s FAVORED ;3ENATE= CANDIDATES u “Undoubtedly, the Duterte magic spelled the difference. The overwhelming majority of the electorate have responded to the call of the President to support those whom he said would help pass the laws supportive of his goal to uplift the masses of our people and give them comfortable lives they richly deserve,â€? he told reporters. “The victory of the Administration’s candidates and the shutout Opposition bets of the Otso Diretso candidates concede send a strong message that our people yearn for stability and Otso Diretso candidates Romulo continuity of the genuine reforms g2OMYu -ACALINTAL 3AMIRA 'U- that this Administration started,â€? toc, Florin Hilbay, Lorenzo “Erinâ€? Panelo continued.

TaĂąada, Gary Alejano and Manuel Amid fears of a rubberstamp “Chelâ€? Diokno — who were ranked Congress, the Palace spokesman below 20th as of noon — separately said voters “yearn for a construcconceded on Tuesday and said they TIVE ‡ NOT OBSTRUCTIONIST ‡ 3ENHAD FOUGHT A GOOD kGHT ate which will help in crafting the “Alam naman po naming na pu- President’s legislative agenda.â€? masok kami sa labang ito na walang Panelo gave assurances that the kasiguraduhang mananalo. Lahat President would respect his allies’ kami ay babangga sa isang malaking independence when they assume pader pero maliwanag po na may their posts in the 18th Congress. kailangang tumayo at lumaban (We “[The administration bets’ win] JOINED A kGHT WHERE THERE WAS NO not really [affect the check and assurance of winning. We would be balances in government] because going up against a huge wall but it if you will notice, the history of was clear that we had to stand and THE 3ENATE SHOWS MEMBERS OF THAT kGHT u 4AĂ„ADA TOLD REPORTERS IN A chamber [have been] independent NEWS BRIEkNG EVER SINCE .O 3ENATE HAS EVER Alejano, in a statement, said, “Let been under any president. They us regroup, reassess and plan be- always rise above parties and concause our love for the country does siderations, when issues involve not depend and end in elections.â€? national interest, national security Diokno tweeted: “Muli, sa lahat and the interest of the Filipino ng kapwa ko Pilipino, salamat sa people,â€? he said. inyo (Again, to all my fellow FiliARIC JOHN SY CUA, GLEE pinos, thank you).â€?

JALEA, CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND RALPH No statements were issued by U. VILLANUEVA Aquino and Roxas. Otso Diretso "ELMONTE S RUNNING MATE

COUNCILOR 'IAN 3OTTO WAS ALSO proclaimed new vice mayor after garnering 382,393 votes ahead of the 343,470 votes received by LAWYER *OSEPH 0ETER 3ISON

WITH MOST OF THE "INAY SIBLINGS SUPPORTING *UNJUN Their father, former vice presiDENT *EJOMAR "INAY LOST HIS BID FOR First District representative, losing to former acting Makati mayor 2OMULO g+IDu 0ENA WHILE !BBY S Abby defeats HUSBAND ,UIS *OSE !NGEL #AMPOS Junjun *R WAS REELECTED AS 3ECOND $ISTRICT representative. )N -AKATI THE "INAYS RETAINED THEIR Abby’s running mate, reelechold on the city, but at the cost of tionist Vice Mayor Monique a division within the family.

Lagdameo, also won by bestIncumbent Mayor Mar-Len Abi- ING *UNJUN S PARTNER OUTGOING GAIL g!BBYu "INAY PREVAILED OVER First District Rep. Monsour del HER BROTHER FORMER MAYOR *EJOMAR Rosario. %RWIN g*UNJUNu "INAY *R

BY WINFROM REPORTS BY ning 179,522 votes compared to CATHERINE A. MODESTO, DEMPSEY REYES, GLEE the latter’s 98,653.

The race was particulary bitter, JALEA AND NEIL SERVALLOS

News

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Victorious Bong Go thanks supporters CHRISTOPHER Lawrence “Bong” Go, who made it to the top 5 in the Senate race, thanked his supporters for his strong showing in the elections.

Go, President Rodrigo Duterte’s long-time aide, clinched the third spot in the so-called “Magic 12” based on the partial AND UNOFkCIAL COUNT OF THE 0ARISH Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

“Hindi matutumbasan ng anumang salita ang pasasalamat ko sa inyong tiwala sa isang ordinaryong probinsyanong katulad ko (No words are enough to express my gratitude for your trust),” he said in a statement.

“Tulad ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ako ay isang simpleng tao lamang na nangarap na makapagserbisyo nang tapat at lubos sa inyo (Just like President Rodrigo Duterte, I am a simple man who dreamt to serve you truthfully and fully),” he added.

Go, a Senate candidate of Duterte’s PDP-Laban party, was endorsed by the Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional party formed

by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“This victory can be attributed to the performance of this administration,” he said, adding that the &ILIPINO PEOPLE WERE SATISkED WITH the programs being implemented

by the Duterte administration, thus, they elected the candidates that the President endorsed.

Go also thanked Duterte for his “all-out support.”

“Ipagpapatuloy ko ang n a u m p i s a h a n n a t i n . Tu l oy ang pagbabago. Tuloy ang serbisyong Tatak Duterte para sa kapwa nating Pilipino (I will continue what we started.

Change will continue. The service of the Duterte government for our fellow Filipinos will continue),” he said.

Another administration-backed candidate, Francis Tolentino, also thanked his supporters and the President after he landed on the ninth spot .

“Pagkatapos ng halalan natin kahapon, nagpapasalamat po ako sa ating mga kababayan, sa inyo, mga ‘tol (After the elections yesterday, I thank our fellow citizens and my supporters),” Tolentino said in a short video posted on his Facebook page.

“Nagpapasalamat din po ako kay Pangulong Duterte, Iglesia ni Cristo at sa lahat na tumulong sa kampanya ngayong 2019 (I also thank President Duterte, the Iglesia ni Cristo and everyone who helped in the 2019 campaign),” he added.

Tolentino vowed that he “will always be behind our people.”

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

A3

ACT-CIS leads party-list race

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO

P

ARTY-LIST group Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) continued to lead the party-list race on Tuesday.

0ARTIAL AND UNOFkCIAL POLL REsults showed that ACT-CIS got 2,549,498 votes. It was followed

by Bayan Muna with 1,086,072 votes; Ako Bicol, 1,021,948 votes; Citizens’ Battle Against Corrup-

tion, led by evangelist Eddie Villanueva, 905,129 votes; and Ang Probinsyano, 744, 379 votes.

With 97 percent of the total votes counted as of 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday, completing the top 20 were 1PAC-

MAN with 696,347 votes; Marino, 645,941 votes; Probinsyano Ako, 614,194; Senior Citizens, 497,544; Magsasaka, 480,183; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives, 469,775; Gabriela, 437,440; An Waray, 433,750 votes; Cooperative-National Confederation of Cooperatives, 404,409; Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, 389,690; Ako Bisaya, 386,437 votes; Alliance of Concerned Teachers, 384,552; Tingog Sinirangan, 381,657 votes; Abono, 375,230

votes; and Buhay, 354,279.

A total of 134 party-lists participated in the elections.

AA Kasosyo, a political party linked to a “pork barrel” scam and backed by former communications assistant secretary Mocha Uson, placed 74th.

If a party receives 2 percent of the national vote, it would bag a seat in the House of Representatives. The additional seats would depend on the total number of votes garnered.

Minority senators whittled down to 4 THE minority bloc in the Senate would continue to fiscalize even if the number of minority senators would be whittled down from six to four, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.

0ARTIAL UNOFkCIAL RESULTS OF THE Senate race showed that Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th will not get reelected.

“The people have spoken. I respect it. For the opposition there may be less in numbers now, but we will continue to fiscalize in the Senate,” Drilon said in a text message.

Fellow opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th is set to end his second six-year term in June.

Sen. Leila de Lima, detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center on drug charges, cannot actively participate in the deliberation of measures, including the national budget.

The two other opposition senators are Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros.

“The Senate is the people’s last line of defense within government against continuing attempts to undermine our democracy and attack our human rights. Whatever the outcome of the elections, we are prepared to fight the long game,” Hontiveros said.

Drilon, Pangilinan and de Lima belong to the opposition Liberal Party, while Hontiveros

represents Akbayan party-list.

Senate bets endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte were poised for victory based on unofficial vote results, signaling firm approval of his rule and clearing a path for his most controversial plans.

With 94 percent of ballots counted early Tuesday, Duterte allies were on track to take nine of 12 Senate seats.

Historically, the nation’s 24 senators — who serve six-year terms — have had a reputation for being more independent-minded than members of the House of Representatives.

Duterte has pledged to bring back the death penalty and lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12.

He also promised to rewrite the nation’s constitution to create a federal republic, where regions would be given more power to tackle the nation’s deep-rooted poverty.

H owe ve r, o p p o n e n t s s e e those plans as an effort to extend his hold on power or weaken the nation’s democratic institutions.

“This election just gave Duterte carte blanche to push his brand of governance to its logical conclusion: Complete transformation of the nation’s political system,” analyst Richard Heydarian told the Agence France-Presse.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO AND AFP

POLL TRASH

Children help stack posters that littered streets on Tuesday, the day after the elections. EcoWaste Coalition urged the public to recycle posters and other materials used by political candidates. PHOTO BY ORVEN VERDOTE

ATIENZA DECRIES ‘DYSFUNCTIONAL’ DEMOCRACY THE large number of congressional and local candidates who ran unopposed in Monday’s midterm elections brought to light the country’s “dysfunctional” democracy, the Buhay party-list group said.

“Having a lone candidate for an elective post is bad for voters who are left with no choice,” said Buhay Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza, the House senior deputy minority leader, said.

“It is also bad for [the] government and for our system of checks and balance, and bad for our political parties, as well,” he added.

Records from the Commission on Elections showed that 34 congressional candidates were unchallenged.

They are Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales 2nd (Mandaluyong City); Dale “Along” Malapitan (Caloocan City); Weslie

Gatchalian (Valenzuela City); Abraham Tolentino (Cavite); Strike Revilla (Cavite); Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer 4th (Cavite); Alex Advincula (Cavite); Danilo Fernandez (Laguna); Joaquin “Jun” Chipeco Jr. (Calamba City); Resureccion Acop (Antipolo City); Henry Villarica (Bulacan); Cristina Garcia (Bataan); Carlos “Charlie” Cojuangco (Tarlac); Mario Vittorio “Marvey” Mariño (Batangas); Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez (Palawan); Mark Enverga (Quezon); Angelina Tan (Quezon); Junie Cua (Quirino); Pablo Ortega (La Union); Elias Bulut (Apayao); Ramon Nolasco Jr. (Cagayan); Arnulfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental); Ma. Lourdes “Marilou” Arroyo (Negros Occidental); Leo Rafael Cueva (Negros Occidental); Jose Benitez (Negros Occidental); Vincent Garcia (Davao

The Telecommuting Law Dear PAO, My employer allowed me to render work from home. I have been doing this since last year, and I am very happy with such arrangement. Then I heard that there is a new law that was enacted, which was all about work from home arrangements. I just want to know the effect of this law on our present work from home arrangement.

Peppa Dear Peppa, Section 9 of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Department Order 202, Series

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA of 2019 provides for the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11165, otherwise known as the “Telecommuting Act,” viz: “Section 9. Effect on Existing Agreements and Company Practice or Policy. The terms of any similar voluntary agreement between an employee and an employer, such as existing company

practice or policy allowing work from home or similar arrangements providing substantially SIMILAR OR HIGHER BENEkTS ENtered before the effective date of Republic Act 11165 and this Rule shall not be impaired, provided that the employer shall notify the DoLE of such agreement.”

(Emphasis supplied) Clearly, the existing agreements that allow work from home and other similar arrangements that provide for similar or HIGHER BENEkTS AS THOSE PROVIDED under the Telecommuting Act shall not be impaired by the newly enacted act. In your situation, your present “work from

home” arrangement shall not be affected by the “Telecommuting Act, provided that your employER NOTIkES THE $O,% ABOUT THE said act.

This opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same.

The opinion may vary when the facts are changed or further elaborated. We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net

City); Isidro Ungab (Davao City); Corazon Malanyaon (Davao Oriental); Joel Mayo Almario (Davao Oriental); Lorna Bautista Bandigan (Davao Occidental); Ruwel Gonzaga (Compostella Valley); Jose Tejada (Cotabato); Manuel Zubiri (Bukidnon); and Bai Rihan Sakaluran (Sultan Kudarat).

Dozens of candidates for governor, mayor and other local posts also had no rivals.

“Just like in business, competition is absolutely necessary to provide consumers — in this case voters — greater freedom to choose and to encourage fair play,” Atienza said.

Atienza called for a return to the two-party system.

“As long as we have at least two dominant parties all the time, it is okay to have multiple political parties,” Atienza said.

Palace seeks review of VCM contracts THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) should review the contracts on the acquisition of vote-counting machines (VCMs), following numerous reports of glitches that marred Monday’s poll.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the review would teach Smartmatic, the VCM provider, lessons.

“They should [review the contract] because that should teach them a lesson, there must be something wrong,” he said.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd had proposed that the Comelec should stop tapping Smartmatic in future elections because of the glitches.

Panelo said the government was open to such moves.

“Anything that will be for the betterment of this country, we always support. Maybe, if

there are a lot of people complaining about Smartmatic, then let’s have it probed by the Senate or by the House of Representatives,” he said.

Panelo said that based on the opinion of experts, it was natural for machines to malfunction if these had not been used in years.

“If the explanation about the glitches is because of the very nature of the machine, then, what they should do is to always make a test. They should be doing that to [make sure it is in tip-top shape],” he added.

Hundreds of VCMs malfunctioned on Monday, resulting in long queues.

The unofficial counting of votes was also stuck for hours on Monday night because the Comelec’s transparency server failed to update.

RALPH EDWIN VILLANUEVA

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l CERTIFIED URGENT:

Develop long term energy sources now

I

N a recent editorial, we suggested that the annual recurrence of electricity shortages with the onset of hot weather in Luzon was highly unlikely to be a coincidence, and that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) must take a careful, serious look at allegations that the shortages were intentionally designed to raise electricity rates.

In response to this and similar concerns expressed by others, the ERC in a roundtable discussion last Friday offered further insights into the issue.

The ERC deserves some credit for making the effort to explain the situation from its perspective. The power industry is a complicated, highly technical subject that is difficult to understand for anyone who is not an expert, and yet it has a tangible day-to-day impact on virtually everyone. The ERC in years past has not always met satisfactorily its responsibility to provide timely and comprehensible information to the public, and its willingness to do so under its current leadership is a welcome development.

What the ERC had to say about the recent power shortages, however, was as alarming as it was reassuring that it took the time to say it.

Prior to Friday’s roundtable discussion, ERC Commissioner Catherine Maceda said that the regulatory agency was still waiting for the reports from the generation companies explaining the rash of plant shutdowns that reduced electricity supply between March 5 and April 25. This is hardly acceptable.

Power generation facilities are public utilities, and the public has a very reasonable expectation that they should be operating; if they are not functioning as and when they are expected to, an immediate explanation should be forthcoming. Neither the public nor the regulator, which serves the public interest, should be made to wait for the operators to submit their explanations at their own convenience.

In the absence of those reports that would help the ERC determine what penalties or other corrective actions need to be taken to prevent future unexpected power shortages, the ERC speculated that the advanced age of Luzon’s power plants was a significant contributor to the recent problems.

According to figures provided by the ERC, more than 70 percent of the generation facilities that provide electricity to Luzon are 16 years or older, and about 15 percent have been in operation for 30 years or more. About two-thirds of the plants that experienced unscheduled outages recently were those older than 16 years. The implication is that because facilities naturally require more maintenance as they age, they are more prone to breakdowns.

That is disturbing on two levels. It raises questions about both the soundness of the generation infrastructure and the adequacy of electricity supply.

According to information from the US Energy Information Agency and various academic studies, a typical design life for most types of power plants is 30 years, meaning that it should operate at the expected level of reliability (available 80 to 90 percent of the time) for at least 30 years before falling below that level. The basic figures on plant ages and outages offered by the ERC already suggest that Philippine power plants are not meeting basic benchmarks for reliability.

Likewise, the stark fact that so many of the power plants are of advanced vintage shows that the country is still lagging behind in developing energy sources for future needs. Not only are replacements for plants that will soon age beyond usefulness not being developed, there is little development toward meeting greater electricity demand in the future.

These are not new problems, but each successive period of tight power supply brings them into increasingly sharper focus. The ERC, the Department of Energy and other stakeholders should certainly consider this trend a guide to developing effective policy.

~

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

The Manila Times

The election results data outage

T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been enamored with the automated election system (AES), viewing it as a silver bullet solution against the ills that marred the manual elections.

The machine won’t cheat, can’t cheat, say some quarters. Yes, that is not disputed. But a machine is manmade and the programs used to run it are written by humans. Local source code reviewers, however, swear that they didn’t see a thing that appears to be a cheating mechanism — well, at least in the portions of the source code that they reviewed.

The use of the automated election system gave birth to a host of other problems, mostly technical in nature.

It is the fourth time that the same system was used. But the conduct of elections on May 13, 2019 was marred by vote counting machines breaking down or malfunctioning (two to three times more than similar incidents in 2016 national and local elections); low quality markers and ballot paper causing bleed-through; corrupted SD cards (the data storage module used with the vote counting machines) reminiscent of the 2010 #& CARD kASCO AND THE MALFUNCTIONing voter registration verification machines which caused delay of voting in pilot areas. The most glaring and worrisome problem was the more than seven-hour period during which the public was kept in the dark about the results of the elections due to the failure in transmitting the election returns from the vote counting machines to the transparency server, or distributing the election results

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 214

DANTE A. ANG, Chairman Emeritus RENE Q. BAS, Publisher Emeritus NERILYN A. TENORIO, Publisher-Editor ARNOLD E. BELLEZA, Executive Editor LEENA C. CHUA, News Editor LYNETTE O. LUNA, National Editor TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor PERRY GIL S. MALLARI, Sports Editor DINO RAY V. DIRECTO 3RD, Motoring Editor CONRAD M. CARIĂ‘O, Special Sections Editor LEA MANTO-BELTRAN, Supplements Editor ALVIN I. DACANAY, Assistant Business Editor MARIO F. FETALINO, Assistant Business Editor REMIA B. EUGENIO, Deskman (Regions) MARISHELLE R. MEDINA, Deskman 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.

B

from the transparency server to the various recipients. “This is not a transmission problem,� Comelec spokesman James Jimenez was quoted as saying. Then he said that the problem was in the program that pushes the data from the transparency server to the different media outlets. Isn’t pushing the data from one point to another data transMISSION 7ELL THE TRANSMISSION MAY not be going through the air waves but it is still transmission or conveyance of data from a source to a recipient.

There are so many components in the automated election system THROUGH WHICH THE DATA lOWS &ROM the vote counting machine the electronic record of the election returns are transmitted to three targets: 1) the city/municipal canvassing and consolidation server (to which the vote counting machine is assigned); 2) the Comelec’s central server; and 3) the transparency server. However, all transmissions go through what is referred to as the “transmission router.� In reality, the “transmission router� is not a simple device, but is a network of computer servers and network devices. What program is -R *IMENEZ REFERRING TO 7ASN T THE same program used in the previous AUTOMATED ELECTIONS )SN T THIS THE election results transmission system

(ERTS) or a component program THEREOF 7ASN T THE %243 SOURCE CODE REVIEWED 7ASN T IT TESTED Didn’t it go through the review and certification by the international CERTIkCATION ENTITY 0RO 6 6 The Comelec’s central server continued to receive transmissions from the vote counting machines during the transparency server outage. This may be an indication that the ERTS was working.

But if the problem lies in “pushing� the data from the transparency server to the media server, shouldn’t the transparency server have received data from the vote counting machines just AS THE #OMELEC S CENTRAL SERVER DID The vote counting machine generATES THE ELECTION RETURN IN A SPECIkC format. Prior to transmission, the election return is encrypted and digitally signed. When the encrypted election return is received by the transparency server, it undergoes the process of decryption and conversion into another format. The newly reformatted elecTION RETURNS ARE THEN PACKED INTO A kLE and hash-coded before distribution to the various recipients. Hash coding is A TECHNIQUE OF GENERATING A DATA kLE S kNGERPRINT TO ENSURE INTEGRITY Was it in the process immediately described above where THE PROBLEM OCCURRED 7AS THE program that executes the process REVIEWED TESTED AND CERTIkED The outage spawned fear, uncertainty and doubt among stakeholders.

Fear that someone might have tampered with the results. Uncertainty because election stakeholders didn’t know what was happening. Doubts

raised the question of protecting the integrity of the election results.

After seven long hours, media outLETS kNALLY RECEIVED ELECTION RETURNS from about 90 percent of clustered precincts. But where did the results come from if the vote counting maCHINES HAD CEASED TO OPERATE What was the specific problem IDENTIkED 7HO IDENTIkED THE PROBLEM (OW WAS THE PROBLEM RESOLVED 7HO RESOLVED THE PROBLEM As the Comelec proceeds to the canvassing and consolidation of election results for the senatorial and party-list contests, more questions have been raised by stakeholders. Is there anything else that could be done aside from assurances by the Comelec with regard to the integrity of the election results colLECTED BY THE TRANSPARENCY SERVER What can be done to prevent the SAME FROM HAPPENING AGAIN The problem illustrates the need for the Comelec to be more transparent, especially with the automated election system generated data. This is precisely why the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) came up with the Open Election Data project. A Namfreldeveloped website was offered as a platform that would have hosted all election-related data, and analysis of the data sets could have been crowd-sourced. Analyzing the data could lead to discovering potential problems which could then lead to solutions that would help prevent the problems from occurring.

The Comelec owes the public an explanation, BIG TIME!

The tragic flameout of Sonny Alvarez is part of a bigger story

EFORE social media reordered reality and blurred the lines between reel and real, awe and admiration were the two reactions after the mention of the name Heherson T. Alvarez. One of the youngest delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1971-1972, Alvarez made a name as that body’s youngest dissident. He was one of the less than a dozen delegates who voted “No� to that Constitution, the sham legal vehicle used

by Marcos to stay in power.

With a shoot-to-kill order from Marcos, Sonny Alvarez slipped into a Hong Kong-bound container vessel from the Manila South Harbor and was in that ship’s cargo hold till it docked at the then Crown Colony.

From Hong Kong, he proceeded to the US as a political refugee. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, the famed theater pioneer who was the main driving force behind the group PETA, soon followed. That two of the young Filipinos considered part of the “best and brightest� of their generation would spend their lives in exile — all because of one man’s overweening lust for power — was tough on both Sonny and Cecile. But that just toughened THEIR RESOLVE TO CONTINUE kGHTING FOR the hoped-for democratic restoration.

Because the thugs of martial law

Given his track record and his contributions to the country, I thought that a congressional seat would not be a struggle for the former senator. How WRONG WAS THAT SENSE OF CONkDENCE Several hours before the precincts opened, Sonny Alvarez withdrew could not reach Sonny Alvarez in the from the race, citing the massive voteUS, they instead murdered Marsman buying taking place in his district.

Alvarez, his younger brother.

What pushed a man with a long After the ouster of Marcos, Son- record of confronting despots and ny and Cecile and their kids—whose authoritarianism and tested in the names were drawn from the word “ex- arena of battle to give up and be ile�— returned to the country. Sonny DRAINED OF THE WILL TO kGHT )N A was part of the 24-member body DISTRICT kGHT AGAINST PETTY TYRANTS AT elected as senators of the 8th Congress THAT 7HATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT in 1987 and whose inspired lawmak- SEEMINGLY UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT ing work wrote the foundations of Of course, in his very low moments, post-martial law legislation and policy. you cannot ask Sonny Alvarez those He served for six years, won a material and relevant questions. second Senate term that lasted three The sad turn of events in the political years, then served one term in Con- LIFE OF 3ONNY !LVAREZ THE lAMEOUT OF gress representing a district of his AN AUTHENTIC ANTI DICTATORSHIP kGURE

home province of Isabela. turns into a tragic national narrative, From there, he served as environ- as those who play-acted heroes, those ment secretary and head of the Cli- make-believe Pandays and Leon Guermate Change Commission. reros, are all set to claim their star turn I thought he retired from politics in politics. Actors Lito Lapid and Bong FOR GOOD $URING THE CANDIDACY kLING Revilla, reel heroes, are in the winning season, I received a jumbled, garbled 12 of the recently concluded May 13 SMS from Cecile — who is legally polls. Jinggoy Estrada, another reel blind — with the message that Sonny hero, without a half-brother also conAlvarez would seek the congressional tending, would have been a big winner. seat of Isabela’s 4th district.

Those who were forged in the cru-

MIDWEEK COMMENTS MARLEN V. RONQUILLO

cible of real political struggles, those who really lived perilous lives during those times of living dangerously like Sonny Alvarez, are being written off as history, while those who play-acted heroes are the ones vested by the ballots with authenticity and approval.

To dismiss the blurred lines as stemming from the predisposition of the “bobotanteâ€? to gullibility is too simplistic. Maybe the explanation is the overall political environment, which has been generally hostile to those who fought in the trenches during the martial law regime. The May 13 senatorial votes support this thesis. Look at the legacy names in THE LONG kGHT TO OUST -ARCOS Bam Aquino never left the Magic 15. The problem is there are only 12 winners. A near-win is the equivalent loss Mar Roxas and Serge OsmeĂąa had moments of hope, soon dashed by the avalanche of voters from the Duterte team.

Chel Diokno is not even in the top 15. Erin TaĂąada is too far behind.

Imee Marcos, the late dictator’s daughter, barring a miracle for the opposition, will surely land one of the 12 contested Senate seats. This is probably the greatest historical revanchism of 2019, delivered, ironically, by popular votes.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

program. Duterte has shown his commitment to building a form of welfare state, through such programs as free education and health services. Note how vastly different that focus is from the previous administration’s dole-out program euphemistically called the “conditional cash transfer.�

The Yellows and the US-funded media’s main thrust against Duterte — the alleged extrajudicial killings in the wake of his anti-drug campaign — demonstrates their total isolation from the conditions on the ground.

This is not surprising because their world has been in gated middle-class communities, so detached from the masses.

I don’t think there is any community of the average Filipino that isn’t celebrating the success of Duterte’s anti-drug war.

For instance, my caddy who lives in a municipality outside -ANILA REMARKED THAT SHE WAS happy that her brother was the subject of “tokhang,� dela Rosa’s term for suspected drug pushers warned by the police to reform.

Reading the reports on the casualties of the drug war, her brother had turned a new leaf, she said.

Skill Ironic perhaps, but that’s the realThe past three years have demon- ity on the ground. In my subdivistrated Duterte’s unexpected skill sion, the taho VENDOR WAS kNALLY Duterte’s word in political maneuvering: Note how exposed, and jailed, for being the HE HAS KEPT THE WILY 3EN 0ANkLO EFkCIENT shabu retailer.

Filipinos simply took Duterte’s Lacson largely quiet with regard to With a president having a word that somebody whose life his rule, and how he acquiesced to clear vision for the country, an occupation had been in law enthe removal as House Speaker of his iron will to see it through, and forcement deserves to be in the buddy Pantaleon Alvarez. a political runway cleared of highest legislative chamber of I don’t think any president obstructions, we are poised for a the land. He is basically Duterte’s except the former general Fidel TAKE OFF kNALLY ) HOPE representative for his most im- Senate Ramos has had such support And those Yellow and Red PORTANT AGENDA IN HIS kRST THREE from the military as Duterte. His academics claim they’re losing years in power, which was to stop -IDTERM ELECTIONS FOR THE 3ENATE recruitment of retired generals sleep over the loss of “checks and the country’s slipping into be- in all past administrations before to the bureaucracy both vastly balances� in our Republic? coming a narco-state. The vote for Duterte were messages that the IMPROVED ITS EFkCIENCY AND ENdela Rosa, who took the 5th slot, people had become tired of his deared him to the military.

Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ The economic elite and the is another indication of Filipinos’ or her rule, and couldn’t wait for gmail.com support for that agenda. it to end. The elections the other middle class have applauded his Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Francis Tolentino could have DAY INSTEAD PROVED TO BE AN AFkR- economic initiatives such as the Twitter: @bobitiglao been disliked by voters, as he mation of Filipinos’ satisfaction overhaul of the tax system and his Book orders: www.rigobertoticould not improve the EDSA with Duterte’s presidency, and massive infrastructure-building glao.com/debunked TRAFkC WHILE HE WAS -ETRO -ANILA $EVELOPMENT !UTHORITY --$! head from 2010 to 2015, and his former Yellow comrades alleged that he had sponsored the lewd dancers that provided the entertainment in one Liberal Party rally. People didn’t have an idea what he stood for. His campaign peg was that he was “Tol,� the Filipino translation of “Bro.�

Yet Duterte’s last-minute “requestâ€? (pakiusap TO &ILIPINOS TO vote for him, and the newspaper photos of the President raising his hand, apparently got Tolentino the 9th slot — millions in votes ahead of the sons of the once-popular Erap, and the iconic 9ELLOW LEADERS "AM !QUINO -AR Roxas and Serge OsmeĂąa.

The results of the Senate contest of course validates recent polls that showed 8 out of 10 Filipinos being happy with Duterte’s rule.

There has been no president in THE POST -ARCOS ERA WITH SUCH A high level of nationwide support.

4HE APPARENT EUPHORIA OVER -ARcos’ fall and Cory Aquino’s capture of power in 1986 has proven to be an illusion, expertly created by the US media and controlled

by Aquino’s oligarchs who had returned to power.

The veil of illusion has been RENT ASUNDER )MEE -ARCOS THE strongman’s daughter who had been most active during his rule, is in the 8th slot in the senatorial results, getting 5 million and MORE VOTES THAN THE PERSONIkCAtion of Cory rule — Bam Aquino, -AR 2OXAS AND 3ERGE /SMEÄA

implicitly a wish for his rule to continue past 2022.

The biggest block to the landscape of Duterte’s rule, the Yellow Cult, has been demolished.

Also, the senatorial candidates backed by the Communist Party — Neri Colmentares, Chel Diokno and Erin TaĂąada — were roundly rejected by Filipinos. The communist party-list representatives will also be decreasing as a result of this election. Even a dubious party as “1Pacmanâ€? bankrolled by a billionaire got more votes than communist fronts Gabriela and Kabataan.

The political routing of the communists opens the way for the military destruction of the communist insurgency — one of the biggest reasons why the Philippine economy has not taken off, in contrast to its neighbors that had decades ago decisively defeated their communist rebellions.

There is nobody in the horizon to challenge Duterte, certainly not the Yellow leaders such as the sleeping Drilon and the sleepy Pangilinan, nor the two often hysterical ladies.

Q AQUINO FROM A1

Thoughts the morning after Digong’s endorsement makes a difference — whether we hate admitting it or not. And the continuing appeal of Digong, despite his rudeness, his uncouth manners, his vicious attacks on established religion — particularly the Catholic Church — his shady relations with women, is a matter that social theorists and phenomenologists must study with greater attention. I read it as a rebellion against the established order of things, a snub of pretensions at righteousness, a challenge to traditional centers of power — the bourgeois, the intelligentsia, the Church, even the universities.

Without a doubt, people like 2OMY -ACALINTAL AND #HEL $IOKNO deserved to be in the Senate — but I think that their undoing was their labeling as “the opposition� and worse, their association with the detested Yellow cabal. One thing is clear: The Yellows are so detested

that their support and endorsement constitute fatal contagion.

As a priest, one of my priorities would be the evangelization of government. Thus far, most of those who won were not among the “chosen ones� of many of our bishops and lay leaders. I repeat: the CBCP never endorsed any slate or list of candidates — and for this, it must be admired. But clearly, most of those whom many bishops preferred to be elected were not elected, and rather than turning its back on government, it will serve the Kingdom of God for the Church to endeavor to evangelize government.

4HE gTOWNu AND gGOWNu kSTIcuffs of eras past has taken a new form. Universities have a subculture of their own that seems distant from that of the communities around them. Not that that is bad, but that the universities should have a greater impact on the countryside beyond its exalted

precincts. The average Filipino does not speak the language of the university — and that might not be necessary. It might not even be possible. But when the sentiments of the town are so distant from those who wear the gown, then what we have is the undesirable scenario of islands of enlightenment in the midst of communities that go by idle talk and empty chatter.

Then there is the crucial point that media establishment endeavored strenuously to demolish Imee -ARCOS CREDIBILITY BY REVIVING THE ghosts of martial law and going the extra mile of asking UP and Princeton to clarify her allegedly fraudulent academic credentials.

None of this seemed to matter to her supporters. This says a lot about what media is NOT and what a popular base IS. Finally — but still related to an earlier point — we have overesti-

mated the so-called “youth vote.�

I am not completely surprised by this, because I have long observed that while we idealize the youth as that sector of our blighted community going by the light of undimmed ideals and blazing zeal, many of them in fact are card-bearing, partisan conscripts, and those who are not do not impress the larger population as credible, but are written off as consistently bickering, if not detestable obstructionists.

But all these thoughts the morning after are things we should talk about more and are certainly open to revision in the wake of further phenomena still to emerge and more phenomenological thoughtfulness on my part that must still follow.

rannie_aquino@csu.edu.p rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

Trading blues to continue

T

HE world was mesmerized by the sudden imposition by the Trump administration of HIGHER TARIFFS IMPORT DUTIES ON goods exported from China and imported into the United States.

The new tariffs, which were raised from a previous 10 percent to 25 percent, were slapped on $200 billion worth of China goods.

And this happened during a time that many considered to be the kNAL PHASE OF THE 3INO !MERICAN trade negotiations.

The crux of the most recent round of the Sino-American trade dispute concerns the trade imbalance between the US and China, with the former piling up TRADE DEkCITS AND THE LATTER TRADE surpluses over the years. In other words, China exports more goods to the US than the US to China. As I explained earlier, modern countries prefer importing as little as

EI SUN OH possible from other countries and exporting as much as possible. For the longest time, especially after World War 2, a triumphant US was essentially both the factory and the supermarket to the world.

Once upon a time, the US produced most of the manufactured goods and grew most of the agricultural crops of the world, as its industrial and agricultural scales and technologies overshadowed the rest of the world.

But then at the same time, American society also acquired a more “liberal� mindset. Liberalism here does not necessarily refer to traditional notions of abstract

democratic ideals, but rather to a more socialist or at least social democratic notions. When translated to public policy formulation and implementation, this means, for example, more and more stringent labor-friendly conditions and environmentally protective regulations. The typical American factories gradually came to realize that their regulatory compliance costs became higher. And higher costs would of course translate into higher selling prices, making US manufactured goods no longer as competitive.

Businesses are of course mindFUL OF THEIR REDUCED PROkTS !ND what they considered to be choking regulations occurred at a time when an emerging Southeast Asia and a reforming and opening-up China were thirsty for foreign capital. So at least two rather “natural� things happened. First, more and

more American factories decided to relocate to Southeast Asia and #HINA AT kRST MORE THE FORMER

LATER MORE THE LATTER PRODUCING goods there and importing them back to the US. Second, a string of local manufacturers also gradually sprung up in China, producing goods for export, especially to the US, which were then retailed under major American brand names in a business practice that came to be known as original equipment manufacturing. The US then was bent on promoting free trade around the world, so imposed little to no tariffs on these imported goods.

Undeniably, this caused some economic anxiety on the US’ part.

-ANY FACTORIES ACROSS THE VAUNTED Rust Belt stretching from New York and Pennsylvania to Ohio and Illinois, were downsized

ÂłOhA6

A5

The dying throes of organized labor

This nation is on the verge of take-off, finally The results of the senatorial contest prove without an iota of doubt that there is massive support for President Duterte. He has presided over the funeral of the elite-based Yellow Cult that had ruled the country for 18 years under Cory, Fidel Ramos and Aquino 3rd.

Outside of Davao, practically nobody knew who Duterte’s aide Christopher “Bong� Go was. Yet the senatorial contest shows him in the same league as two personalities — Cynthia Villar and Grace Poe — who are household names not just because they are incumbent senators. Villar’s husband ran for President in 2010, while Poe did so in 2016.

Filipinos simply took Duterte’s word that Go would be a good senator. He is basically Duterte’s trusted political proxy in the Senate.

Former police chief Rodolfo “Bato� dela Rosa was, after Duterte, the face of this administration’s war against illegal drugs. Its alleged “extrajudicial killings� had been the focus of the Yellows’ propaganda, supported by American media and the press outlets the US government and its proxies have been funding. De la Rosa was even fading from public consciousness, since he retired seven months ago — a long time in politics.

Opinion

I

N my youth, circa the mid-1960s, while working with Raul Manglapus in the Christian Social Movement (CSM), the precursor of PDP Laban, CDP and the Centrist Movements, I had the privilege of meeting some of the prominent names of the labor PRYHPHQW WKH SHDVDQWV DQG WKH ¿VKerfolk — Juan (Johnny) Tan of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and Jeremias (Jerry) Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF). These founders were driven by their desire to better the lives of their members — workers and farmers. With Manglapus, they articulated the Centrist (Christian) democratic principles. These were men inspired by the papal encyclicals of Pope Leo 13th (1891), Rerum Novarum, Graves de Communi Re; Pope Pius 11th (1931), Quadragesimo Anno; Pope John 23rd (1961) -ATER ET -AGISTRA; and Pope John Paul 2nd (1991), Centesimus Annus. For a hundred years, these encyclicals promoted concepts of social justice, preferential option for the poor, and the value of human dignity, which is the core of Centrist (Christian) Democracy. (This columnist’s The Fellowship of the 300, a book on Centrist Democracy, came out in 2014.)

These were the guiding principles that propelled labor into the mainstream of the national political conversation and championed the growth of organized labor during those decades.

But previous to this was also the rebirth of the truly leftist militant labor that later transformed the movement differently from that envisioned by the moderate groups of FFW and CSM — the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) founded by the breakaway group of Felixberto ‘Ka Bertâ€? Olalia Sr. from the TUCP. Whereas the moderates deemed capital to be the full partner of labor towards the development of man and society, the militants viewed this relationship as confrontational in the classic dictum of Karl Marx, â€œâ€Śyou have nothing to lose but your chains.â€?

The labor force was divided along ideological lines with the militants suspicious and accusing the moderates of having a more than cushy relationship with capitalists and the government. The state with its axiomatic concern for keeping industrial peace heightened its suppression of labor’s method of organizing — along the lines of the European and American tradition.

This approach did not wash with the state, particularly during the martial law years of the Marcos regime.

The Industrial Peace Act of 1953 (Republic Act 875), which promoted the collective bargaining agreement, was the initial instrument to regulate workers’ resistance against the inevitable onslaught of capitalism and also as a response to the incipient communist labor movement in the 1950s. This was later amended during the Marcos regime through the enactment of the Philippine Labor Code under PD 442 in 1974. It aimed to streamline and guarantee the right of labor to organize unions, on a one-unionone industry system, but enforced mediation and conciliation as methods of dispute settlements.

The intention of the regime was to strengthen the dictator’s hand by entangling the workers’ class actions in a web of legal restrictions; in effect also redefining the workers’ right to strike as a first option, making it an “illegal act.�

The unexpected consequence was the predominance of union bureaucracies and intense rivalries between union federations in organizing CBA rights with private companies, resulting in an ideologically polarized working class. Thus, the more the unions were organized under the lucrative CBA, the more the workers were fragmented.

Rolando "Ka Lando" Olalia, the son of KMU founder "Ka Bert," declared before he was murdered in 1986 that “about 85 percent of today’s supposed leaders of the working class are engaged in racketeering.�

This is the current state of organized labor. The ideologically divided workers through their organized unions are easy prey for the political exigencies of traditional

LITO MONICO C. LORENZANA politics. A lucrative partnership has evolved between the powerful union bosses manipulating and using their members to extend their LQÀXHQFH LQWR WKH SROLWLFDO DUHQD — or at the very least a promise of a seat at the table with the winning senatorial or presidential hopeful.

At the turn of this century, there was still a strong and noisy labor vote that propelled political survivors like "Ka Blas" Ople, who parlayed his 19 years as secretary/minister of labor and employment under Marcos and later Cory, into a Senate seat and the Senate presidency.

The same labor political clout at the polls thrust Ernesto "Boy" Herrera, general secretary of the Trade Unions of the Philippines (TUCP/ KMP) to the Senate despite the accusations of the not-so-hidden strings of American funding of the trade union through the CIA front National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

No more. This past election cycle sadly saw the castration of the once vaunted labor vote. This SIMPLY RElECTED THE OBSERVATION OF COLUMNISTS -ARLEN 2ONQUILLO of the -ANILA 4IMES that during the “Labor Day of 2019, we saw none of the potency and power of the labor protests of the past,� and harkening back to the glory days: “During those dangerous times, one thing stood out. Organized labor, probably because of its PURE UNSELkSH DEDICATION TO THE causes of the working man, was respected. The leaders of the major labor centers and federations were nationally recognized names.�

This columnist’s nostalgic reckoning could be construed as the silencing of the labor voice, exposing the myth of a labor vote (much LIKE THAT OF A #ATHOLIC VOTE AND cruelly by inference, the dying throes of organized labor.

I watched carefully the monochromatic campaign of labor CANDIDATES LAWYER 3ONNY -ATULA

president of the Federation of &REE 7ORKERS &&7 AND THE second senatorial run of his confederate, labor lawyer Allan -ONTAÄO ERSTWHILE &&7 PRESIdent. The dismal election results belie the assumptions of prolabor candidates that their interests are in consonance with the perception of the voters or even this government’s agenda; unless of course these nonentities and wannabees are not exactly the personalities that represent and inspire organized labor.

On another level, one can’t help conclude also that the messaging didn’t resonate with the voters in general and labor votes in particular; or worse, it simply insinuates that labor’s general welfare is subordinate and may not disturb the mutual interests of this tripartite collusion — the union bosses, the oligarchy which owns and controls the means of production, and an irresolute STATE 4HUS EVEN DURING THE kRST half of the reign of the Deegong, his campaign promise to end contractualization and regularization of “endo� never did happen.

The militant labor on the other hand under the united leftist front seems to have held their own through the various permutations brought about by the proliferation of the "party-lists."

These perverted vehicles through which these fringe groups have managed to insert themselves, TOGETHER WITH THE INlUX OF TRADItional and newly minted political dynasts, will continue to pervert the body politic or what is left of the remnants of our democracy.

And a corollary. Will the Deegong, with this recent political cosmetics still pursue his ADVOCACIES THAT IN THE kRST PLACE propelled him to the presidency — real systemic changes through constitutional revisions? Or will he succumb to his inner traditional political demons, protect his skin and insure the perpetuation of his political seed.

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Of credit ratings — how a taxpayer may see them

I

T was good news for the Philippines — and words of commendation are in order for its economic managers — when Standard & Poor’s (S&P) raised the country’s credit rating a notch, from “BBB� to “BBB+� the week before last.

The closest meaning that lay people might construe about the term credit rating is the ability to pay — that is, a higher credit rating means a greater ability to pay. Credit ratings can go as high as Triple A (AAA) or as low as D. (For S&P, a bond is considered investment grade if its credit rating is BBB- or higher. Bonds rated BB+ and below are considered to be speculative grade, sometimes also referred to as “junk� bonds.)

A credit rating is like an educated tsismis — if there is such a thing — about you, and a credit rating agency is like your tsismoso neighbor. When your neighbor talks glowingly about

INGMING ABERIA you, many of your neighbors can become your friends or allies.

Even the itinerant Bombay (call me Tony, not Bombay, says an Indian national), will be happy to lend you money should an emergency need for it arise.

On the other hand, if your neighbor is not impressed, then chances are you will not get any help — especially on money matters — from the rest of your neighbors when you need one.

Tony will likely ignore you.

When this happens, and you are in need of cash, you will entice Tony with a promise to pay a loan at a higher-than-average interest rate, say 25 percent instead of 20

percent for a period of one month.

If this does not work, you will probably offer more, say 30 percent, or look for creditors outside of the immediate neighborhood just to raise the funds you need.

The same thing can happen to a country (or a sovereign) or to a private company that needs extra cash. When a country like ours spends more than it earns (we HAVE BEEN ON DEkCIT SPENDING FOR as long as one can remember), it needs to borrow money. But when it has a good credit rating (like the one we have now), creditors (or INVESTORS ARE EASY TO kND This means we need not pay for interest and/or discounts (cost of borrowed money) at rates higher than what creditors offer in the market just to be able to cope with THE BUDGET DEkCIT #OMPETITION can further bring cost of borrowings down, which is what government achieves when it conducts

public auction (every Monday and Tuesday) for Treasury bills and bonds. Proceeds from these auctions constitute the total amount of national government (NG) debt, recorded at P5.2 trillion as of March 2019. This amount represents 67 percent of total NG debt; the rest, at 33 percent of total, comprises external debt.

Because positive conditions can be established when government pays less for its borrowings, a credit rating upgrade will always be a boon for taxpayers. When funds become readily available, government is able to push its development agenda, boosting its capacity to deliver social services and much-needed infrastructures.

S&P pointed out that the rating upgrade reflected “the Philippines’ strong economic growth trajectory, which we expect to continue to drive constructive development outcomes and under-

pin broader credit metrics over the medium term ‌ The rating is also supported by solid governMENT kSCAL ACCOUNTS LOW PUBLIC indebtedness, and the economy’s sound external settings.�

The taxpaying public may interpret this as 1) the Philippine economy is expected to continue to GROW AT ITS CURRENT kVE YEAR AVERAGE rate (GDP growth rate was recorded AT PERCENT FOR kRST QUARTER OF 2019); 2) government will be able TO CARRY ON WITH ITS kSCAL REFORMS maintain debt-to-GDP ratio (now at 44 percent) at sustainable levels; and 4) diaspora surplus (mainly OFW remittances) maintains a strong impact on local investment and consumption levels.

The country’s economic managERS ARE QUICK TO CLAIM CREDIT FOR THE upgrade. They, along with those who preceded them, deserve it.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said the up-

grade recognized “President Duterte’s strong leadership and his 10-point economic program.�

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Benjamin Diokno said the upgrade showed that the administration’s economic team was “working in the right direction.�

3OME PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONED the infallibility of credit ratings.

In 2011, the US government denounced S&P when the latter downgraded its sovereign rating from Triple A to AA+. In the same year, Portugal described Moody’s “junk� rating as “based more on opinion than evidence.�

Credit rating agencies come in droves, but only two of them — Moody’s and S&P — already controls 80 percent of the credit ratings market. One of the “big three� — Fitch — controls another 15 percent.

Send comments to comments@ ingmingaberia.com

FOCUS

China-US trade war heats Pakistan’s Hazaras fear for their lives in besieged ‘ghettos’ up: 3 reasons it won’t cool down anytime soon

QUETTA,Pakistan: Crowded into “ghettos� surrounded by armed checkpoints, Pakistan’s Shiite Hazara minority say they are being slaughtered by sectarian militants in the southwestern city of Quetta, with authorities seemingly unable to halt the killings.

For years, hundreds of thousands of the Shiite community’s members have been hemmed into two separate enclaves cordoned off by numerous checkpoints and hundreds of armed guards designed to protect the minority from violent militants. “It’s like a prison here,� said Bostan Ali, a Hazara activist, about conditions inside the enclaves. “The Hazaras are experiencing mental torture,� he added, complaining the community has been effectively “cut off from the rest of the CITYu AND gCONkNEDu TO SUCH AREAS The Shiite community’s presence is particularly strong in Quetta — the uneasy capital of impoverished Balochistan province where sectarian violence, suicide bombings and banditry are common.

Hazaras are technically free to roam around Quetta at their will, but few do, fearing attacks.

To further protect the group, day traders and market vendors are also given armed escorts when they leave their neighborhoods, while ongoing military operations are said to be targeting militants in the restive province.

But even these measures have proven inept at stopping major attacks on Hazaras.

Just last month a bombing at a vegetable market left 21 dead and 47 more wounded — with the majority OF THE VICTIMS IDENTIkED AS (AZARA The incident is all the more disturbing considering the group was under the protection of Pakistani paramilitary forces, who failed to stop the suicide bomber from detonating in the crowd.

The attack — claimed by the Islamic State and its local anti3HIITE AFkLIATE ,ASHKAR E *HANGVI — is just the latest in a long series

T

Q Pakistani Shiite Hazara minority Muslims walk along a road in Hazara town, a neighborhood in Quetta. AFP / BANARAS KHAN soldiers as they buy supplies before heading back to their homes in a heavily armed convoy.

Authorities insist the measures are a necessity. )N THE LAST kVE YEARS (AZaras have been killed and another 627 wounded in Quetta alone, according to a Pakistani security source familiar with the situation who asked not to be named. ‘Prison’ “We know that we are passPakistan has long been a cauldron of ing through a killing field� unrest and sectarian violence, with explained Nauroz Ali, about life THE OFkCIALLY )SLAMIC 2EPUBLIC HOME outside the enclaves.

He added: “But we have to earn to myriad sects of Islam and religious minorities that have been targeted by a living for our families.�

Criticized for their inability to violent extremists for decades.

The Hazara have proven to be STOP THE ATTACKS OFkCIALS POINT TO particularly vulnerable with their their own casualties in the fight distinct Central Asian features against sectarian extremists as proof making the members of the com- that they are trying their best.

Over the past six years, in their munity easy targets for Sunni militants who consider them heretics. efforts to protect them “more police At the entrance to Hazara town OFkCERS HAVE DIED THAN (AZARASu SAYS — one of the two enclaves in LOCAL POLICE OFkCER !BDUR 2AZZAK Quetta — a grim scene plays out Cheema, adding that many terrorEVERY DAY AS (AZARA MEN SQUEEZE ists have been arrested and others into the backs of a long line of eliminated due to their efforts.

He explained: “New groups trucks headed in the city to buy emerge. We’re trying to track them food from the markets. /NCE THERE THEY ARE lANKED BY down and eradicate the threat.� of assaults targeting the group, including back-to-back bombings in early 2013 that killed nearly 200 of its members.

The situation across the border in !FGHANISTAN IS EQUALLY IF NOT MORE DANGEROUS WITH (AZARA MOSQUES

schools, and community events regularly attacked by insurgents.

‘No escape’ There are also plans to begin installing surveillance cameras at markets to improve security but Hazara community leaders are sceptical of the plans saying the existing measures have failed to stem the bloodshed. “If three checkpoints in 3 km cannot keep [us] safe, can escorts, barriers and CCTV do any better?� wrote Muhammad Aman, a professor and activist, in a recent editorial in the Pakistani daily newspaper, Dawn. “It seems that the terrorists are winning this war... there is no escape,� he added.

Even the enclaves are not safe, as the bloody bombings in 2013 that struck inside the protected areas demonstrated.

As a result between 75,000 and

(AZARAS HAVE lED VIOLENCE elsewhere in the country or abroad in recent years, according to the Hazara Democratic Party, “We are hopeless,� said Tahir Hazara, describing their neighborhoods as nothing more than “ghettos�.

He asked: “From whom should we expect protection to save our lives?�

AFP

Q OH FROM A5

Trading blues to continue or closed altogether, generating countless job losses. But at the same time, the outsourcing of manufacturing away from the US to China (to a large extent) and Southeast Asia (to a lesser extent) BENEkTED THE AVERAGE !MERICAN consumers, as they could enjoy cheaper household products, electronics and other consumer items. It was in a sense truly a win-win situation for all.

Over time, however, the trade imbalance between the US and China grew, as the US consumer appetite for imported products continued to grow and China was of course also happy to expand its manufacturing base. China with its huge population also imported a lot of agricultural items from the US, from corn and soy to beef and pork. But the net result is still a TRADE DEkCIT FOR THE 53 AND A TRADE surplus for China, and a growing

some dating back to before China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Critically, they are unlikely to be removed regardless of HE truce in the US-China the outcome of negotiations.

Many of these tariffs are known trade war is in tatters.

China said on May 13 that it as “antidumping duties� and are will impose new tariffs on a range imposed when a product is sold in of American goods in retaliation the US at a price legally determined for President Donald Trump’s to be too low. Overall, these tariffs are decision to raise duties on $200 nearly twice as high as the tariffs that the Trump administration has so far billion in Chinese imports.

Although trade talks may contin- imposed during the current trade war.

Ultimately, China does not want to ue, for now the trade war that Trump began in January 2018 is back on, appear to be folding to US pressure which will mean more economic WHEN IT ALREADY FACES SIGNIkCANT AND pain for companies and consumers likely non-negotiable, tariffs.

So unless the US decides to offer in both the US and China.

As an economist who focuses on China some kind of carrot, such as international trade, I believe there reducing these underlying duties, ARE THREE REASONS THE CONlICT COULD trade talks will undoubtedly continue to stall — or will achieve little. continue for a long time.

3. More pain may mean less gain 1. Mastering the fundamentals The costs of the trade war up to All evidence suggests that negotiators have made little headway now have been high, but could get resolving the fundamental disagree- much worse. And that could lower ments between China and the US. the odds of ending it.

So far consumers may not have The most pressing issues involve deep structural features of noticed the tariffs since they are the Chinese economy that China spread across thousands of prodhas little incentive — or in some ucts and, in some cases, have been cases, ability — to change. In short, absorbed by US companies for the US believes that the Chinese competitive reasons. Nevertheless government has been both too in- they have cost each American around volved and not involved enough in $11 per month, according to a recent study by economists from the Federal how its economy functions.

The most important and long- Reserve Bank of New York, Columbia standing issue is that the Chinese University and Princeton University economy owes part of its rapid ‡ WHICH IS NOT INSIGNIkCANT In fact, the Trump administration development in recent decades to heavy subsidization of targeted inadvertently provided an ideal test companies and industries. The US case for the calculation of these costs wants China to be much more when it imposed a tariff on imported transparent about this support and washing machines in January. As it turns out, approximately 1,800 jobs to reduce subsidies overall.

At the same time, the Chinese were created in the US as a result government has not been doing of this policy, which was exactly its enough when it comes to protect- intended effect. However, the rise in ing foreign intellectual property the price of washing machines and, in China. Copyright enforcement incidentally, dryers, cost consumers is still weak, and US companies over $1.5 billion. This means each are forced to transfer technolo- job cost $815,000, which is an exgies to Chinese counterparts as a PENSIVE AND INEFkCIENT WAY TO BOOST condition of doing business in the US employment.

And while consumers may not country. This is estimated to cost American businesses hundreds of have noticed the previous tariffs, they most likely will feel the impact billions of dollars a year.

But China is unlikely to end of the ones Trump raised on May 10. industrial subsidies or increase en- Trump has also said he plans to slap forcement of intellectual property a tariffon every other Chinese export laws in any meaningful way in the in the coming months if a deal isn’t short run. In part this is because the reached. This would likely curb U.S. Chinese economy is growing more economic growth by half a percentage slowly than at any other time in the point in 2020 and cost 300,000 jobs, LAST TWO DECADES AND ANY SIGNIkCANT according to Oxford Economics.

With the accumulation of tariffs, change in policy would be risky.

China might be persuaded to and the passing of time, the need transition away from this eco- for greater concessions from China nomic model in the long run if the to justify these costs becomes more proper incentives are put in place. pressing — and becomes less likely But it remains to be seen whether to be met. This is a key reason that the Trump administration has economists nearly unanimouslythe patience to compromise on agreethat trade wars are not “easy its short-run objectives in order to win,� as Trump claims.

More often than not everyone to create a long-run path toward a loses. ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP) MORE LEVEL PLAYING kELD 2. Carrots and sticks The US negotiating position This article is republished from The has been heavy on “stick� and Conversation under a Creative Commons license. The Conversation is an light on “carrot.�

Even before the trade war, Chi- INDEPENDENT AND NONPROkT SOURCE OF NESE COMPANIES FACED SIGNIkCANT news, analysis and commentary from tariffs when exporting to the US — academic experts.

BY GREG WRIGHT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED

one at that. For President Donald Trump, who won the presidential election at the back of Rust Belt votes, this was simply unacceptable. In fact, almost all sorts of trade imbalances with the US at the suffering end are unacceptable to the Trump administration. One OF THE kRST OFkCIAL ACTS OF 4RUMP after he assumed the presidency was to pull out of the previously much championed (by the Obama administration) Trans0ACIkC 0ARTNERSHIP 400 WHICH was supposed to be a “free trade plus� agreement exuding worldclass business practices. Thereafter, Trump instigated trade wars against European countries over steel and aluminum productions, and Japan over car manufacturing.

But of course, the next big trade-war target for the Trump administration was China, with which the US incurs the largest

TRADE DEkCIT 3TARTING A YEAR AGO

Trump launched one salvo after another, through his beloved 4WITTER MESSAGES AND OFkCIAL PROnouncements alike, trying to push China to the trade negotiating table on an almost monthly basis.

At one point, threats were made to impose the present 25 percent tariffs that were averted after a dinner between Trump and President Xi Jinping of China in Argentina late last year. Then this latest tariff imposition was simply announced and implemented a few days later.

At the heart of the latest trade negotiation disagreements is apparently the US demands from China, among others, for stiffer intellectual-property protection and detestation from forced technology transfer, as well as reduction and removal of other — or what the US side considers to be — unfair trade practices,

such as extensive state subsidies for certain manufacturing sectors.

The Chinese side apparently views these and other demands from the US — to the extent of amending China’s relevant domestic laws — to be unacceptable and tantamount to signing on to an UNEQUAL TREATY OR AT LEAST DOING so would create widespread domestic perception to that extent.

As yet it is unclear what sort of retaliatory actions the Chinese side would roll out, as it said it would, against this latest tariff imposition.

Of course, this trade spat between the world’s two leading superpowers has had a spillover effect on the functioning of the world economy AND kNANCIAL MARKETS ALIKE WITH many stock indices from around the world tumbling one after another.

The trade negotiations are apparently still ongoing, as they could not be left “hanging� otherwise.

˜ The Manila Times

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Regions

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

A7

Pol dynasties lose in regions

BY REGIONS REPORTORIAL TEAM

T

HE outcome of the Monday elections might have spelled the end to many known political dynasties in the provinces.

Early results in the partial UNOFkCIAL COUNT BY THE #OMMISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC GAVE PEOPLE A PEEK AT WHICH OF THE LOOMING POLITICAL DYNASTIES WILL OCCUPY CENTER STAGE OF PARTISAN MEMBER ACTOR 2OMMEL 0ADILLA

RULE IN THE PROVINCES FATHER OF ACTOR $ANIEL 0ADILLA &IRST $ISTRICT AND 3ECOND Josons’ reign ends $ISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES WERE NOT PROCLAIMED ON 4UESDAY BECAUSE 4HE VICTORY OF THE 5MALI BROTH- FOUR 3ECURE $IGITAL 3$ CARDS ERS ‡ !URELIO AS GOVERNOR AND REPORTEDLY MALFUNCTIONED IN THE !NTHONY AS VICE GOVERNOR ‡ AS TOWNS OF #UYAPO !LIAGA 4ALAVERA SHOWN IN THE COMPLETE UNOFkCIAL AND 2IZAL AND WERE SENT TO THE RESULTS CLOSED THE BOOK ON THE REGIONAL #OMELEC OFkCE WHERE DECADES OLD RULE OF THE *OSONS THE 3$ CARDS WERE TO BE RECONIN .UEVA %CIJA kGURED SAID PROVINCIAL ELECTION &ORMER GOVERNOR %DNO *OSON ASSISTANT #HARIZZE "OLISAY WAS DEFEATED BY !URELIO WHILE 2EP -ICAELA g-IKKIu 6IOLAGO HIS NEPHEW WHO RAN FOR VICE WON BY A LANDSLIDE AGAINST HER GOVERNOR INCUMBENT PROVINCIAL CHALLENGER BROTHER IN LAW ,ITO "OARD MEMBER %DWARD 4HOMAS 6IOLAGO IN THE 3ECOND $ISTRICT *OSON OLDER SON OF FORMER GOV)N "ULACAN ACTOR AND INCUMERNOR 4OMAS *OSON RD ALSO LOST BENT 6ICE 'OV $ANIEL &ERNANDO TO %MMANUEL !NTHONY g$OCu IS SET TO REPLACE 'OV 7ILHELMINO 5MALI 3Y !LVARADO WHO ALSO WON LAND4HE 6ERGARAS OF #ABANATUAN SLIDE AS VICE GOVERNOR #ITY WERE ALSO SLUGGING IT OUT &ERNANDO WON HIS kRST TERM WITH THE 5MALIS 4HIRD $ISTRICT AS GOVERNOR AFTER SERVING THREE REELECTIONIST 2EP 2OSANNA g2IAu TERMS AS VICE GOVERNOR OF THE 6ERGARA WON OVER HER OPPONENT VOTE RICH PROVINCE OVER HIS RIVALS INCUMBENT 'OV #ZARINA 5MALI -ALOLOS #ITY -AYOR #HRISTIAN THE ELECTED GOVERNOR S WIFE .ATIVIDAD AND 4HEODORE g4EDDYu )N #ABANATUAN #ITY -ICA .ATIVIDAD %LIZABETH 6ERGARA AND HER FATHER /THER ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE *ULIUS #AESAR g*AYu 6ERGARA WON ALREADY PROCLAIMED ON 4UESDAY

AS MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR RESPEC- INCLUDING FORMER 0ANDI MAYOR TIVELY ALONG WITH COUNCILORS %NRICO 2OQUE WHO WON BY A HUGE #ABANATUAN IS NOT ONLY THE MARGIN OVER INCUMBENT 4INOY CENTER OF COMMERCE IN .UEVA %CI- -ARQUEZ REELECTIONISTS MAYORS JA IT IS ALSO THE CENTER OF POLITICAL *ONI 6ILLANUEVA OF "OCAUE AND ACTIVITIES AND IS A DETERMINING 'OTO 6IOLAGO OF 3AN 2AFAEL TOWN FACTOR IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS WITH 6IOLAGO WAS EARLIER NAMED BY ITS VOTERS THE HIGHEST 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE AS NUMBER IN THE PROVINCE AMONG THE NARCOPOLITICIANS /UTGOING MAYOR *AY kELDED HIS /THER WINNERS FOR MAYOR WERE DAUGHTER -ICA FOR THE MAYORSHIP ,INABELLE 2UTH 6ILLARICA OF -EYWHILE HE RAN FOR VICE MAYOR -ICA CAUAYAN #ITY AND INCUMBENT IS A STEPDAUGHTER OF 2IA -AYOR !RTHUR 2OBES OF THE #ITY )NCUMBENT &OURTH $ISTRICT OF 3AN *OSE DEL -ONTE 2EP -AGNOLIA !NTONINO WAS DEFEATED BY THE NEOPHYTE FORMER Neophytes beat MAYOR OF 'APAN #ITY -ARICEL seasoned rivals .ATIVIDAD .AGAĂ„O 4HE PROVINCIAL BOARD OF CAN- )N "AGUIO #ITY A NEWBIE POLITIVASSERS PROCLAIMED WINNERS 2IA CIAN BESTED HIS SEASONED RIVALS .AGAĂ„O AND SOME OF THE 0RO- AS HE COASTED TO A CONVINCING VINCIAL "OARD MEMBERS NAMELY VICTORY IN THE MAYORAL RACE IN THE %DUARDO g%*u *OSON *OJO -ATIAS 3UMMER #APITAL #LAUDINE *OY 0ASCUAL .APOLEON 4HE #ITY "OARD OF #ANVASSERS )NTERIOR AND -ARITESS 0ATIAG PROCLAIMED RETIRED 0OLICE -AJ 2EP %STRELLA g'INGu 3UANSING 'EN "ENJAMIN -AGALONG SHORTLY WON IN THE &IRST $ISTRICT DEFEAT- BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON -ONDAY AS ING INCUMBENT PROVINCIAL "OARD THE NEXT MAYOR AFTER ESTABLISHING

A MARGIN OF NEARLY VOTES AGAINST HIS CLOSEST RIVAL INCUMBENT 6ICE -AYOR %DISON "ILOG AND THREE OTHER CANDIDATES g ) WA S OVE R WHELMED BY THE OUTCOME OF THE POLITICAL EXERCISE 7E WILL HAVE TO HIT THE GROUND GOING BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS Q Nueva Ecija Governor-elect Aurelio FROM THE PEOPLE u Q Reelected Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Umali -AGALONG WHO Q Cebu City Mayor-elect Edgardo Labella Isabelle Climaco Salazar RETIRED FROM THE 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL 0OLICE IN WAS PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF -AIM- CANDIDATE WAS PROCLAIMED BY THE OF #ALATRAVA -ELECIO 9AP OF %S SAID BUNG TOWN LOCAL #OMELEC ON -ONDAY NIGHT CALANTE #ITY *OHN 0AUL !LVAREZ OF 4HE FORMER CHIEF OF THE #RIMITan is a known philanthropist )N 2IZAL PROVINCE REELECTIONIST )LOG 0EDRO :AYCO OF +ABANKALAN NAL )NVESTIGATION AND $ETECTION AND AN INlUENTIAL -USLIM LEADER 2EP -ICHAEL *OHN g*ACKu $UAVIT #ITY 2ENATO 'USTILO OF 3AN #AR'ROUP WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF SIX WHO SUPPORTED 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO ENJOYED A WIDE LEAD OVER LONE LOS #ITY AND -ARIA 'INA ,IZARES TERM -AYOR -AURICIO $OMOGAN $UTERTE S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OPPONENT .OLI $AZO WHILE 'OV OF 3IPALAY #ITY WHO WOULD END HIS CURRENT TERM IN AFTER BREAKING AWAY FROM 2EBECCA g.INIu 9NARES SECURED A !WAITING PROCLAMATION ARE AS LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE BY NOON THE ADMINISTRATION AND POLITICAL SECOND TERM INCOMING GOVERNOR %UGENIO *OSE OF *UNE *ORIC 'ACULA GOT A SECOND TERM ,ACSON AND VICE GOVERNOR *EFFREY PARTY OF FORMER PRESIDENT "ENIGNO !QUINO RD MONTHS BEFORE AS MAYOR IN 4AYTAY 2IZAL AFTER &ERRER Woman power LEADING AGAINST #ARLITO g"ONOYu ELECTIONS $ESPITE BEING THREATENED 'ONZAGA FATHER OF ACTORS 4ONI Cutain falls on Cebu’s )N :AMBOANGA FEMALE POWER BY THE MILITARY FOR SUPPORTING AND !LEX 'ONZAGA Osmeùa )N !NGONO *ERI -AE #ALDERON

PROVED TRUE FOR -AYOR -ARIA $UTERTE INSTEAD OF FORMER )NTERIOR )SABELLE #LIMACO 3ALAZAR WHO 3ECRETARY -ANUEL g-ARu 2OXAS DAUGHTER OF FORMER !NGONO MAY- !S THE #OMELEC COUNT IN #EBU DEFEATED 2EP #ELSO ,OBREGAT IN ND 4AN RALLIED ALMOST ALL OF OR 'ERRY #ALDERON WAS ELECTED AS APPROACHED THE PERCENT WHAT COULD BE A HISTORICAL VICTORY MUNICIPAL MAYORS IN 3ULU AND THE NEW TOWN MAYOR WHILE HIS MARKS THE NUMBERS SHOWED THAT AGAINST A POWERFUL POLITICAL CLAN OTHER -USLIM PROVINCES TO BACK FATHER WILL SIT AS VICE MAYOR THE CURTAINS HAVE COME DOWN ON )N #AINTA INCUMBENT MAYOR -AYOR 4OMAS /SMEĂ„A S POLITICAL THAT RULED :AMBOANGA FOR MANY $UTERTE WHO EVENTUALLY WON BY A DECADES NOW LANDSLIDE IN THE -USLIM AUTONO- *OHNIELLE g+ITu .IETO GOT A FRESH LIFE IN #EBU MANDATE AFTER WINNING OVER 3ALAZAR WON OVERWHELMINGLY MOUS REGION 0ARTIAL AND UNOFkCIAL RESULTS AS FORMER #AINTA VICE MAYOR 0IA OF P M ON 4UESDAY REVEALED WITH OVER VOTES AGAINST 6ELASCO ,OBREGAT WHO WAS ONCE TOUTED AS Reelectionists win THAT PERCENT OF THE ELECTION THE RICHEST MAYOR IN -INDANAO

RETURNS IN #EBU #ITY HAD BEEN AND ONE OF THE LONGEST AND OLDEST 7ITHOUT OFkCIAL PROCLAMATION Reelection bids lost TRANSMITTED SERVING MEMBERS OF THE (OUSE OF MAJORITY OF REELECTIONISTS IN 1UE !CCORDING TO THE #OME2EPRESENTATIVES ZON PROVINCE HAVE SECURED THEIR 4HREE INCUMBENT MAYORS IN .E- LEC 4RANSPARENCY 3ERVER #EBU 'ARNERING OVER VOTES POSITIONS INCLUDING THE MAYOR OF GROS /CCIDENTAL LOST THEIR REELEC- #ITY 6ICE -AYOR %DGARDO ,A3ALAZAR CAMPAIGNED HARD AND ,UCENA #ITY TION BIDS BASED ON PARTIAL OFkCIAL BELLA LED THE MAYORAL RACE WITH TIRELESSLY WHICH COULD BE A HU VOTES WHILE /SMEĂ„A (OUSE -INORITY &LOOR ,EADER RESULTS ON 4UESDAY MILIATING DEFEAT FOR ,OBREGAT $ANILO 3UAREZ WON OVER OPPO )NCUMBENT )SABELA -AYOR GARNERED VOTES WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT NENT FELLOW 2EP 6ICENTE !LCALA *OSELITO -ALABOR LOST TO )RENE /N HIS OFFICIAL &ACEBOOK OF NEARLY PERCENT OF BARANGAY FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE WHILE #ONSUNJI -ONTILLA WIFE OF THE PAGE /SMEĂ„A SAID g) DO NOT WANT VILLAGE CHAIRMEN AND VARIOUS INCUMBENT 6ICE 'OV 3AM .ANTES LATE -AYOR %NRIQUE -ONTILLA BY A SINGLE PERSON TO FEEL SORRY FOR ME $ON T WORRY ABOUT ME ) LL BE kNE SECTORS IN :AMBOANGA RETAINED HIS POST AGAINST CON- ONLY VOTES (IS YOUNGER BROTHER *OMAR TENDER !RCIE -ALITE &IFTH $ISTRICT 2EP !LEJANDRO ) AM NOT THE PRIORITY 9OU ARE THE ALSO RAN FOR A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT 2ETURNING AS UNOPPOSED &IRST -IRASOL SUCCEEDED IN RECLAIMING PRIORITY %VERYTHING ) VE DONE AS BUT WAS DEFEATED FOR THE SECOND $ISTRICT 2EP -ARK %NVERGA AND THE MAYORSHIP OF "INALABAGAN TOWN MAYOR ) VE DONE FOR #EBU u -EANWHILE ,ABELLA THANKED TIME SINCE &OURTH $ISTRICT 2EP !NGELINA FROM ERSTWHILE POLITICAL ALLY -AYOR 3ALAZAR S GRANDFATHER #ESAR 4AN BOTH SECURED REELECTION WINS -ANUEL !RANDA -IRASOL S WIFE -ARY #EBUANOS ON HIS OFkCIAL &ACE4HIRD $ISTRICT 2EP !LETA 3U- !NN LOST TO !RANDA IN BOOK PAGE g4HANK YOU MY FEL#LIMACO CONSIDERED THE GREATEST -OISES 0ADILLA -AYOR -AG- LOW 3UGBUANONS THANK YOU FOR MAYOR OF :AMBOANGA ALSO DE- AREZ WHO TOOK OVER HER HUSBAND FEATED ,OBREGAT S MOTHER -ARIA $ANILO S POST ALSO WON OVER 2ON- DALENO 0EĂ„A ALSO LOST TO HIS PLACING YOUR TRUST IN ME ) PRAY TO NIE DE ,UNA WHILE INCUMBENT ESTRANGED NIECE 6ICE -AYOR %LLA 'OD FOR WISDOM FOR GOOD HEALTH

#LARA YEARS AGO )N 3ULU RETURNING GOVERNOR GOVERNOR $AVID 3UAREZ WALLOPED 'ARCIA 9ULO FOR STRENGTH AND PATIENCE SO THAT 'ARCIA S RUNNING MATER )AN ) CAN HELP ALL OF YOU BUILD A CITY 3AKUR 4AN AND HIS GROUP WON THE FORMER !GRICULTURE 3ECRETARY ELECTION BY A WIDE MARGIN OVER 0ROCESO !LCALA FOR THE 3ECOND 6ILLAlOR WON AS VICE MAYOR WHERE EVERYONE NOT JUST A FEW

$ISTRICT S SEAT )N (IMAMAYLAN #ITY THE DE- CAN lOURISH AND PROSPER u THEIR OPPONENTS 4HE 4AN PATRIARCH EDGED OVER )NCUMBENT ,UCENA -AYOR 2OD- CADES RULE OF THE "ASCONS ENDED CELSO M. CAJUCOM, RIVAL "EN ,OONG WHO WAS SUP- ERICK !LCALA AND 6ICE -AYOR 0HIL- WITH THE VICTORY OF 2AYMOND 4ONGFREDERICK SILVERIO, SON AS MAYOR AGAINST INCUMBENT PORTED BY $AVAO #ITY -AYOR 3ARA IP #ASTILLO WERE ALSO REELECTED DEXTER A. SEE, AL JACINTO, $UTERTE #ARPIO (IS SONS ALSO -EANWHILE AMONG 1UEZON S 6ICE -AYOR #ARMENCITA "ASCON BELLY M. OTORDOZ, WON SEATS 4OTO AS VICE GOVERNOR TOWNS AND TWO CITIES ONLY -AYORS ELECTED TO THEIR kRST GABRIELA BARON, EUGENE AND 3AMIER AS CONGRESSMAN 'ENERAL ,UNA TOWN S MAYORAL TERMS WERE 3ALVADOR %SCALANTE Y. ADIONG AND -EANWHILE HIS DAUGHTER 3HEILA WINNER -ATT &LORIDO A NEOPHYTE *R OF #ADIZ #ITY !LFONSO "AGUIO RHEA RUTH ROSELL

Gordons’ magic wanes in Olongapo THE Gordon family appears to have lost its appeal to voters, suffering a humiliating third consecutive loss — twice to incumbent Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino in 2013 and 2016, and now to his son, Rolen Paulino Jr.  This despite the active participation of Sen. Richard Gordon during the campaign of his sister-in-law Anne Marie Gordon in an attempt to bring back power to the family that dominated politics in the city since his father, the late James Leonard Tagle Gordon, won as mayor in 1963, followed by his wife Amelia Juico Gordon in 1968.  The senator was first elected as city mayor in 1980 and in 1988. His wife, Kate Gordon was city mayor in the ‘90s and 2000s; his younger brother James Gordon Jr. was representative of the First

Q GLITCHES FROM A1

Namfrel: IT SAID IN A STATEMENT .AMFREL PULLED OUT AS AN ACCREDITED POLL WATCHDOG EARLIER THIS MONTH AFTER THE #OMMISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC DENIED A REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO KEY VOTING DATA 4HE ORGANIZATION IS TRADITIONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING A PARALLEL COUNT WHICH FOR THE -AY ELECTIONS WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE 0ARISH 0ASTORAL #OUNCIL FOR 2ESPONSIBLE 6OTING

District of Zambales for three consecutive terms, and was also city mayor for three terms before losing in 2013.

Paulino, was a former trusted aide of the senator, who ventured into politics and lost in the mayoral race against James Jr. in 2007, but won as vice mayor in 2010 then won again as mayor in 2013.

He trounced the Gordons again in 2016, but backed out from seeking a third term and was substituted by his son, Paulino Jr. His daughter Cristabelle Marie “Tata� Paulino, a neophyte politician, also won as councilor, making them one of the emerging political titans in the city.

The congressional post of the first district of Zambales formerly dominated by the Gordons were also taken over by a member of another emerging political powerhouse in Zambales, the Khonghuns.

Jeffrey Khonghun, former mayor of Subic town ran for the First District post and won in 2013, and again in 2016, clinching a third term on Monday. Â His son, Jay Khonghun, served as town mayor of Subic for three terms and got a new mandate on Monday as vice governor of Zambales.

Another Khonghun, former provincial board member Jon Khonghun, is the new Subic town mayor.

A grandson, Jamiel Khonghun Escalona, also won as city councilor of Olongapo.Â

The Khonghuns dealt the Magsaysay political clan a heavy blow with Jay Khonghun beating incumbent Angel Magsaysay Cheng for the vice gubernatorial post, and Jeffrey Khonghun beating former three-termer Rep. Milagros “Mitos� Habana Magsaysay in the First District of Zambales. Mitos’ son Vic Vic Magsaysay narrowly lost in the race for city councilor in Olongapo placing 11th in the Comelec’s final tally. Incumbent Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso, his son Iba town mayoral aspirant Ad Hebert Deloso and his daughter Izelle Deloso, who ran for Botolan mayor, lost their election bids.

Only reelectionist daughter Cheryl Deloso was reelected as Second District representative. PATRICK ROXAS

.AMFREL SAID ITS VOLUNTEERS HAD REPORTED VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN $ATU 0IANG AND -ATANOG IN -AGUINDANAO

WHICH MARRED THE VOTING PROCESS

AS PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO VOTE AND OBSERVERS WERE PULLED OUT !LTERCATIONS WERE ALSO REPORTED IN 0ANGLIMA %STINO 0ATIKUL 4ALIPAO AND 0ANAMAO AND FROM "ASILAN AND ,ANAO DEL 3UR 6OTER DISENFRANCHISEMENT MEANWHILE WAS RECORDED IN $AVAO /RIENTAL AND $AVAO /CCIDENTAL

WHERE VOTERS FAILED TO FILL OUT BALLOTS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THEIR PRECINCT NUMBERS OR FIND THEIR

NAMES IN THE LISTS )N $AVAO ,ANAO DEL 3UR #AGAYAN DE /RO AND "ASILAN THERE WERE REPORTS OF VOTER REGISTRATION VERIFICATION MACHINES FAILURES THAT PROMPTED %LECTION "OARDS TO REVERT TO THE USE OF COMPUTERIZED VOTERS LISTS CAUSING DELAYS 6OTE COUNTING MACHINE MALFUNCTIONS WERE ALSO WIDELY REPORTED g)N SOME PRECINCTS AUTOMATED BALLOTS ALREADY kLLED OUT WITH VOTES WERE REQUESTED TO BE SET ASIDE TO BE FED TO AND SCANNED BY REPLACEMENT MACHINES )N MANY CASES VOTERS WOULD NOT BE AROUND ANYMORE WHEN

THEIR VOTES ARE kNALLY CAST ALTHOUGH THEY WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO WAIT u .AMFREL SAID .AMFREL VOLUNTEERS ALSO REPORTED THE LACK OF ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA IN SOME AREAS AS WELL AS POOR CROWD MANAGEMENT AND THE LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

SENIOR CITIZENS AND PREGNANT WOMEN !T THE 3ANTOLAN %LEMENTARY 3CHOOL IN 0ASIG #ITY MEANWHILE .AMFREL SAID POLITICAL PARTY WATCHERS TRANSFERRED kLLED OUT BALLOTS WITHOUT THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF INDEPENDENT ELECTION OBSERVERS WILLIAM DEPASUPIL

Emerging political dynasties

READY TO CANVASS

Commission on Elections officials inspect the documents for the canvass of election returns at the Office of the Bangsomoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City on Tuesday, after several glitches that marred the conduct of the midterm elections in the region. PHOTO BY DJ DIONSINA

CURRENCY RATE P52.43 TO $1

PSEi 7,646.66 DOWN 1.23%

WEDNESDAY MAY 15, 2019 ASIAN STOCKS: W S h a n g h a i 0 . 6 9 %

What’s inside PALAY OUTPUT DOWN IN JAN-MARCH – PSA

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PSALM TOLD TO COLLECT P59B IN UNPAID DUES

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JG SUMMIT INCOME RISES TO P7.44B IN JAN-MAR

ÂťCorporate NewsB3

GT CAPITAL PROFIT FALLS TO P3.4B IN Q1

ÂťCorporate NewsB3

EDC EARNINGS UP 158% TO P3.9B

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Business Times

B1

www.manilatimes.net

W S i n g a p o re 0 . 3 3 %

V Seoul 0.14%

W To k yo 0 . 5 9 %

W Jakarta 1.05%

W H o n g Ko n g 1 . 5 0 %

PSEi drops to 2-month low on US-China row

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

T

HE stock market fell to its lowest level in more than two months on Tuesday as the escalating trade war between the United States and China rattled sentiment.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by as much as 2 percent to 7,577.72 at intraday trading BEFORE PARING LOSSES TO kNISH THE DAY down by only 1.23 percent or 95.54 points to 7,646.66.

4HIS LEVEL WAS THE LOWEST SINCE THE market closed at 7,670.62 on March 5.

The wider All Shares, meanwhile, declined by 1.14 percent or 54.72 points

to end at 4,736.54.

2EGINA #APITAL $EVELOPMENT #ORP head of sales Luis Limlingan said the local market succumbed to a selloff following China’s retaliation of tariffs.

"EIJING ANNOUNCED OVER THE WEEKEND that it would slap a 25-percent tariff on some $60 billion worth of US imports EFFECTIVE *UNE 4HIS COVERS PEANUTS

sugar, wheat, chicken and turkey

products.

This was in response to Washington’s imposition last week of higher duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese GOODS AND THREATS TO LEVY TARIFFS ON another $325 billion of imports.

In a Twitter post on Monday, US President Donald Trump said China WOULD BE gHURT VERY BADLYu IF IT DIDN T make a trade deal, noting that comPANIES WOULD BE FORCED TO LEAVE THE country without an agreement.

P2P Trade Online sales associate 'ABRIEL *OSE 0EREZ ECHOED ,IMLINGAN S VIEW SAYING MARKET PLAYERS SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR HOW THE 53 MARKET MOVES in the coming days.

Wall Street’s main indices all fell

OVERNIGHT 4HE $OW *ONES DROPPED BY 2.38 percent; the S&P 500, 2.41 percent; and the Nasdaq, 3.41 percent.

In Asia, Tokyo declined 0.59 percent, Shanghai decreased 0.69 percent, (ONG +ONG DIVED PERCENT *AKARTA dropped 1.02 percent, Singapore lost 0.67 percent and Bangkok slipped 0.52 PERCENT /NLY 3EOUL kNISHED kRM UP 0.14 percent.

In Manila, property and mining and oil sectors were the only gainers, up 0.94 percent and 1.19 percent, RESPECTIVELY More than 919 million issues were TRADED VALUED AT 0 BILLION Losers led winners, 140 to 57, while 37 issues were unchanged.

Car sales flat in April

Biz groups: Prioritize investments, jobs TWO business groups bared on Tuesday a list of priority measures, including amendments to the PubLIC 3ERVICES !CT AND THE 4AX 2EFORM for Attracting Better and Higherquality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill, that the country’s new set of lawmakers should pass to boost ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WHEN THE TH Congress opens in July.

They did so days after the NaTIONAL %CONOMIC AND $EVELOPMENT !UTHORITY .%$! UNVEILED ITS OWN list of such measures, including THOSE ON SUGAR LIBERALIZATION AND THE creation of a department to manage the country’s water resources. )N AN INTERVIEW WITH The Manila Times, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) President 2IZALINA -ANTARING SAID g#ONGRESS SHOULD PRIORITIZE LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY OF THE ECONOMY AND GENERATES INVESTMENTS AND JOBS

AND CONSEQUENTLY UPLIFTS THE LIVES OF our people.�

According to her, one of these is AMENDING THE 0UBLIC 3ERVICES !CT

also known as Commonwealth Act 146, to relax policies on the allowable percentage of foreign ownnership in public utilities. The law CURRENTLY PROHIBITS MAJORITY FOREIGN ownership in the sector.

Such an amendment would gOPENS UP PUBLIC UTILITIES SUCH AS seaports, airports and transport to FOREIGN INVESTORS u -ANTARING SAID !LEGRIA ,IMJOCO 0HILIPPINE Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president, agreed, explaining to The Times that many opportunities await if this happened.

4HESE INCLUDE POSSIBLE VENTURES in railroads and railways, freight SERVICES FERRIES ENERGY WATER AND

ÂłGroups B4

GHOSN WITH THE WIND

Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference at its Global Headquarters in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Tuesday. Japanese automaker Nissan, reeling from the arrest of its former chairman Carlos Ghosn, reported that its annual profit nosedived to less than half of what it earned the previous year, and forecast even dimmer results going forward. AP PHOTO

Melco’s quasi-reorganization BTr: New panda bond offer this week M

ELCO Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp. (MRP) has 5,687,270,800 outstanding common shares. It ALSO CLASSIkED THEM AS ISSUED They are all listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Unfortunately for the public, only 2.06 percent represents THE COMPANY S FREE lOAT LEVEL When computed, 2.06 percent equals 117,157,778 common shares. It placed at 100 percent foreign ownership, which means foreigners could own Melco’s entire outstanding capital stock, which could either be common or preferred.

A public ownership report (POR) identifies MCO (PhilIPPINES )NVESTMENTS ,TD AS direct holder of 5,396,393,164 MRP common shares, or 95.06 percent of 5,687,270,800 outstanding common shares.

But a computation showed a different result. Instead of 95.06 percent, MCO’s ownerSHIP WAS EQUIVALENT TO PERCENT -ELCO HOWEVER WAS correct when it said in the POR that the public stockholders owned 117,031,067 MRP common shares, or 2.06 percent as of April 30, 2019.

With its public stockholders owning less than 10 percent, Melco is not compliant with the rule imposed on listed companies by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Quasi-reorganization Melco’s nine-man board met on April 24, 2019 and ap-

W B a n g ko k 0 . 3 8 %

PROVED THE COMPANY S gEQUITY restructuring� that is intended TO gELIMINATE THE #ORPORATION S ACCUMULATED DEkCIT u In short, Melco is undergoING gQUASI REORGANIZATIONu !S of May 7, 2019, it reported 5.9 BILLION SHARES AS ITS AUTHORIZED capital stock of which 5,687,270 shares are outstanding. Of the CONSOLIDATED DEkCIT OF 0 BILLION 0 MILLION gIS THE DEkCIT OF THE #ORPORATION AT THE COMPANY LEVEL u #ONSOLIDATED DEkCIT REFERS TO -ELCO S OWN DEkCIT AND THAT OF its subsidiaries totaling P16.463 BILLION )N ITS kLING -ELCO SAID its additional paid-in capital of P22,259,788,014 would be apPLIED ONLY TO ITS DEkCIT AMOUNTing to P134,567,233 as of Dec. 31, 2018. The application to -ELCO S DEkCIT WOULD LEAVE THE company with P22,125,220,781 APIC. By the way, APIC refers to a stockholder’s payment of shares, which may either be common or preferred, in excess OF PAR VALUE )N TURN PAR VALUE represents the initial price per SHARE OF A COMPANY S AUTHORIZED and outstanding capital stock.

In most cases, the public stockholders of a listed company bear the burden of paying

ÂłPerez B4

THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said it was ready to launch this WEEK THE GOVERNMENT S SECOND panda bond offering if market conditions permits. g4HE 4REASURER HAS MENTIONED we may go ahead this week if there is an opportunity‌ Its really up to market conditions if we are going to,� Deputy Treasurer Erwin 3TA !NA SAID IN AN INTERVIEW ON Tuesday.

According to him, the bureau is CLOSELY WATCHING THE DEVELOPMENTS of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. g/BVIOUSLY WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE of retaliatory action between the US and China, so we will closely monitor what is happening, as it affects the Chinese interbank

market� he said. g7E WILL SEE HOW THE BENCHMARK MOVES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS OR DAYS u THE OFkCIAL ADDED For the offering, Sta. Ana said the BTr wass looking to issue about 2.5 billion reminbi.

Panda bonds are yuan-denominated debt sold in China by a non-Chinese issuer.

In March last year, the PhilipPINES BECAME THE kRST !SSOCIATION of Southeast Asian Nations member to issue these bonds.

4HE GOVERNMENT S MAIDEN THREE year panda bond issuance was SUCCESSFUL GIVEN STRONG INVESTOR demand.

The 1.46-billion-renminbi ($230-million) offering was more THAN SIX TIMES OVERSUBSCRIBED WITH

the order book reaching 9.22 billion renminbi.

It fetched a coupon rate of 5 percent with a tight 35 basis points SPREAD ABOVE THE BENCHMARK 4HE ISSUE HAS BEEN RATED g!!!u

by China Lianhe Credit Rating Co. Ltd., factoring in the strong economic ties between Manila and "EIJING AND THE $UTERTE ADMINISTRATION S gSTABLE SOURCE OF PAYMENT FROM GROWING GOVERNMENT REVENUES u The Philippines set a record in the panda bond market as almost 90 percent was cornered by OFFSHORE OR OVERSEAS BUYERS WITH OVERWHELMING DEMAND PUSHING the coupon rate to its lowest at 5 percent.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Issue-plagued Holcim calls it quits SMC unit buys out troubled cement giant, ending weeks of speculation A UNIT of listed conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Holcim Philippines Inc. (HPI), the country’s largest cement manufacturer, in a deal worth $2.15 billion.

The sale, announced by HPI and SMC subsidiary First Stronghold Cement Industries Inc. late Friday, CONkRMED RUMORS THAT HAD BEEN swirling for weeks that the former’s 3WITZERLAND BASED PARENT ,AFARGEHolcim was seeking to shed its CONTROVERSY PLAGUED LOCAL UNIT AS PART OF A PLAN TO RATIONALIZE ITS gNON core� businesses.

LafargeHolcim completed in February a similar sale of its Indonesian unit to local company Semen

Indonesia, a deal reportedly worth $1.75 billion.

The acquisition of HPI has been in the works since at least early March, when SMC Chairman Ramon Ang announced that the company’s Eagle Cement subsidiary had made a bid for HPI. But as recently as May 3, HPI denied that a sale was in the works in a carefully worded disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). In it, the company SAID IT HAD NOT gRECEIVED ANY OFkCIAL COMMUNICATION FROM ANY OF ITS MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS REGARDING any offer with respect to the sale of their shares.�

Under the terms of the sale, First Stronghold will purchase 85.73

percent of HPI shares held by Union Cement Holdings Corp., Netherlands-based Holderfin BV and Cemco Holdings Inc. The SMC unit will also be required to conduct a tender offer for the remaining 14.27 percent of HPI shares.

SMC declined to comment on what impact, if any, the acquisition OF (0) WOULD HAVE ON THE CONGLOMerate’s Eagle Cement business. In a disclosure last Friday, Eagle Cement CLARIkED THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO with the buyout.

4HE TRANSACTION IS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE 0HILIPPINE #OMPEtition Commission (PCC) before it CAN BE CONSIDERED kNAL

ÂłQuits B4

AUTOMOBILE sales were flat in April as growth in the commercial vehicle segment was tempered by a double-digit drop in the passenger car segment.

A joint report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed on Tuesday that the number of cars sold increased by only 0.8 percent to 25,799 in April from 25,583 in the same month last year.

The latest figure was weaker than the 32,713 cars sold in March, a 14-percent surge from 28,216 that month in 2018. “Sales [in April] remain erratic on a monthly basis, but we expect that [a] positive growth trend on a yearly basis [would] continue to improve in the coming months,� Campi President Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.

Commercial vehicles sold rose by 15.7 percent to 18,138 last month from 15,673 units a year ago. This growth, however, was slower than March’s 32.8-percent spike in the segment.

The sales plunge in passenger cars continued in April, posting only 7,661 units, a 22.7-percent decrease from 9,919 the previous year.

Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. maintained its leadership in the industry last month with a 44.35-percent market share. The local unit of the Japanese carmaker saw its sales dip by 11.1 percent to 11,443 from 12,867 a year ago.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. came second with a 17.88-percent share. It sold 4,614 units, a 82.7-percent rise from the previous year’s 2,525.

Rounding out the top three was Nissan Philippines Inc., with 8.17-percent market share. Its sales grew by 1.7 percent to 2,109 from the year-earlier 2,073.

Year-to-date, the industry sales dip was trimmed to 0.4 percent from 0.8 percent a month ago, with 111,187 units sold in the first four months, down from the year-earlier 111,620 .

ING Bank senior economist Nicholas Mapa attributed the dip to “buyer’s fatigue and higher borrowing costs.� “Q1 GDP (first-quarter gross domestic product) numbers reflected the anemic performance of car sales in the first few months of the year,� he said.

Last week, the government announced that the country’s economic growth slowed to 5.6 percent for the first three months of the year, lower than the quarter-earlier 6.3 percent and the year-ago’s 6.5 percent a year ago.

Toyota leads the industry in the first four months with a 40.47-percent market share at 44,997 units sold, followed

by Mitsubishi (18.67 percent) with 20,754 units and Nissan (12.01 percent) with 13,348 units.

TYRONE C. PIAD

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Palay output down in Jan-March – PSA

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

T

HE country’s production of the seasonally adjusted palay (unmilled rice) fell by 4.6 percent to 4.69 million metric tons --4 IN THE kRST QUARTER OF AS COMPARED to 4.88 MMT a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. )N ITS @3EASONALLY !DJUSTED 0ALAY Rice Production and Prices’ report, PSA said palay output for the Janu-

ary-March period also dropped by 0.4 percent from 4.711 MMT in the PREVIOUS QUARTER

"UT THE kGURE WAS HIGHER THAN THE GOVERNMENT S FORECAST OF --4 PALAY PRODUCTION FOR THE kRST quarter of 2019. Earlier, it said that WHILE THE RICE HARVEST AREA MAY FALL by 3.5 percent, yields may rise to 3.96 MT per hectare from 3.87 MT a year earlier.

-OREOVER THE REPORT SAID THE DESEASONALIZED FARMGATE PRICE OF PALAY FOR THE kRST QUARTER FELL BY percent to P20.07 per kilogram from THE PRICE IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER (OWEVER IT WAS SLIGHTLY UP FROM P20.04 per kilogram a year ago.

The wholesale price for rice climbed by 11.2 percent to P45.06 per kilogram year-on-year (yoy), PSA SAID #OMPARED TO PREVIOUS QUARTER

it was also up by 2.8 percent. /N THE OTHER HAND ITS EQUIVALENT retail price was P41.35 per kilogram, DOWN PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS quarter and 4.28 percent yoy.

Meanwhile, the PSA said in a

SEPARATE REPORT THAT AVERAGE FARMgate price of palay further fell by 1.12 percent to P18.48 per kilogram in the third week of April from its orice a week ago. It was also down 10.85 percent from P20.73 per kilogram yoy. )T SAID THE AVERAGE WHOLESALE price of well-milled rice during the period went down by 0.25 percent to P39.91 per kilogram a week ago.

It also fell by 2.82 percent from P41.07 yoy. !T RETAIL TRADE THE AVERAGE PRICE of well-milled rice was P43.68 per kilogram, 0.25 percent lower than ITS WEEK AGO LEVEL AND PERCENT lower yoy.

4HE REPORT ADDED THAT THE AVERAGE wholesale price of regular-milled rice stayed at P36.24 per kilogram, down 3.26 percent from P37.46 per kilogram yoy. Retail price was P39.29 per kilogram, down 0.25 percent a week ago and 1.75 percent yoy.

Psalm told to collect P59B in unpaid dues THE Department of Finance (DoF) has ordered the collection of P59.2-billion worth of long overdue obligations of top corporate entities to the state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

(Psalm).

In a statement on Tuesday, the DoF said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd had “instructed Psalm to relentlessly pursue collection efforts against these IPPAs and use all remedies available to protect the rights of the government and the Filipino people.�

IPPAs or Independent Power Producer Administrators along with electric cooperatives were reported to have dominated the list of top corporate entities with long overdue accounts with Psalm totalling to P59.2 billion as of December 2018.

Citing a report from Psalm, the DoF said San Miguel Corp.’s South Premiere Power Corp., which administers the Ilijan gasfired power plant in Batangas City, has the highest unpaid obligation of P19.75 billion. The DoF said Psalm earlier terminated the IPPA, but the termination was enjoined by the courts.

It was followed by VivantSta. Clara Northern Renewables Generation Corp., which owes P3.86 billion to Psalm; Good Friends Hydro Resources Corp., P1.16 billion; FDC Utilities Inc., P1.12 billion; and FDC Misamis Power Corp., P2.56 billion.

Meanwhile, electric cooperatives with the largest unpaid obligation were Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (P9.63 billion), Public Utilities Department of Olongapo City (P6.07 billion), now defunct PICOP Resources Corp. (P2.96 billion), Albay Electric Cooperative Inc. (P2.61 billion), Maguindanao Electric Cooperative Inc. (P1.76 billion), Global Steelworks International

Inc. (P1.68 billion), Pampanga III Electric Cooperative Inc. (P1.27 billion), Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. (P1.24 billion), Magellan Cogeneration Inc. (P750.86 million), and former Bacnotan Steel Corp., now known as Union Galvasteel Corp. (P743.68 million).

On the other hand, firms with the largest pending overdue obligations were: Northern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. (P742.13 million), Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative Inc. (P510.15 million), Samar I Electric Cooperative Inc. (P303.04 million), Zamboanga del Sur II Electric Cooperative Inc. (P275.69 million), and Sorsogon I Electric Cooperative (P206.23 million). “Due to these overdue accounts, the government through Psalm is constrained to resort to borrowings that the national government guarantees, in order for Psalm to timely fulfill its mandate of liquidating the financial obligations of the National Power Corp.,� Psalm President and Chief executive Officer Irene Joy Garcia was quoted as saying in the report.

She added that in 2018, Psalm borrowed about P23 billion to cover its maturing obligations, and is set to borrow $1.1 billion for obligations maturing this end of May this year. As a result, Garcia said Psalm had to pay interest, guarantee fees and other finance charges of about P2.62 billion per year.

Had the IPPAs and electric cooperatives paid, the state-owned firm would not incur this much additional costs, she added. “All these borrowing costs could have otherwise been utilized by the government for the construction of public school classrooms or to build roads and bridges,� Dominguez, who chairs Psalm’s board of directors, said.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Pagcor remittances to govt hits P16.17B THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) on Tuesday said it remitted an all-time HIGH 0 BILLION IN DIVIDEND contributions to the national treasury this year.

The figure almost matched the state-run gaming regulator’s 0 BILLION CUMULATIVE CASH DIVIDENDS FROM TO )N 2018, total remittance of PAGCOR TO THE GOVERNMENT REACHED 0 billion.

0AGCOR S CASH DIVIDENDS REmittance to the national coffers is pursuant to Republic !CT OR THE 'OVERNMENT Owned and -Controlled CorpoRATIONS '/## $IVIDEND ,AW

which requires such firms to remit at least 50 percent of their annual net earnings as cash, STOCK OR PROPERTY DIVIDENDS TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT EVERY year. g3INCE 0AGCOR HAS BEEN REMITTING CASH DIVIDENDS TO THE GOVERNMENT "UT IT WAS IN when we posted the highest amount. Because of this, Pagcor’s TOTAL REMITTED CASH DIVIDENDS from 2011 to the present has reached P33.33 billion, enabling the agency to consistently make it to the GOCC Elite Circle or the Billionaires’ Club. These are the corporations that remit at least 0 BILLION CASH DIVIDENDS TO THE GOVERNMENT u 0AGCOR #HAIRMAN and CEO Andrea Domingo said in a statement.

3HE SAID THIS YEAR S CASH DIVIDENDS OF 0AGCOR IS gJUST A TIP OF THE

iceberg when it comes to Pagcor’s REVENUE REMITTANCES TO THE GOVERNment,� after the gaming agency SURPASSED ITS 0 BILLION REVENUE mark last year. g)N WE RECORDED OUR HIGHEST REVENUE IN HISTORY WHICH amounted to P104.12 billion.

This feat enabled our agency to SIGNIkCANTLY INCREASE OUR CONTRIBUtions to nation-building by 42.52 percent,� Domingo said.

Pagcor remitted P58.95 billion to the national coffers and other MANDATED BENEkCIARIES IN A 42.5 percent increase from P41.36 billion contributions a year earlier. /F 0AGCOR S REVENUES

P67.85 billion came from the agency’s income from gaming operations while P36.27 billion came from other income including the sale of Pagcor’s land in Entertainment City to Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which amounted to P32.71 billion.

The state-run gaming regulator’s 2018 net income surged by 18.34 percent from P57.33 billion reCORDED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR /F THE 0 BILLION REVENUES from gaming operations, P24.78 billion came from winnings from electronic games, while the remaining were sourced from table games (P11.79 billion); and bingo operations (P1.04 billion). Income from licensed casinos (P24.11 billion) and offshore gaming operations (P6.11 billion) likewise contributed SIGNIkCANTLY TO REVENUE GROWTH EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Corporate News

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

GT Capital profit falls to P3.4B in Q1 TY-LED conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc. reported an 8-percent drop in its consolidated net income IN THE kRST QUARTER TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION A YEAR AGO DESPITE POSTING HIGHER REVENUES )N A BRIEkNG IN 4AGUIG #ITY ON 4UESDAY '4 #APITAL 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER -A #ARMELO ,UZ "AUTISTA SAID THE HOLDING kRM S CORE NET INCOME ALSO FELL BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION #ONSOLIDATED REVENUES STOOD AT 0 BILLION

PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE 0 BILLION POSTED IN the same period last year. /N A STANDALONE BASIS BANKING SUBSIDIARY -ETROPOLITAN "ANK 4RUST #O -ETROBANK SAW ITS NET INCOME RISE BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION LAST YEAR ON THE BACK OF A DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH IN OPERATING INCOME SUPPORTED BY CONSISTENT LOAN GROWTH AND MARGIN EXPANSION HIGHER FEE BASED INCOME AND PRUDENT OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES )N CONTRAST 4OYOTA -OTOR 0HILIPPINES #ORP INCURRED A PERCENT DROP IN NET INCOME TO 0 BILLION IN THE QUARTER FROM 0 BILLION IN #ONSOLIDATED REVENUES WERE lAT AT 0 BILLION AGAINST THE 0 BILLION IN *ANUARY TO -ARCH LAST YEAR

BUT "AUTISTA SAID THIS MARKED AN IMPROVEMENT IN ITS AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DECLINES IN THE PAST QUARTERS )TS SALES VOLUME STOOD AT UNITS SLIGHTLT LOWER THAN IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR 0ROPERTY UNITS &EDERAL ,AND #ORP AND 0ROPERTY #OMPANY OF &RIENDS )NC 0RO&RIENDS REPORTED AN AGGREGATE NET INCOME OF 0 MILLION UP PERCENT FROM 0 MILLION YEAR ON YEAR #OMBINED REVENUES INCREASED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION ,AST WEEK '4 #APITAL ANNOUNCED THE DIVESTMENT OF ITS PERCENT STAKE IN 0RO&RIENDS IN EXCHANGE FOR 0 BILLION WORTH OF LAND BANK IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF -ETRO -ANILA g7E ANTICIPATE SOME CHANGES IN THE PROPERTY BUSINESS u "AUTISTA SAID ,IFE INSURANCE BUSINESS !8! 0HILIPPINES #ORP RECORDED A PERCENT INCREASE IN NET INCOME TO 0 MILLION FROM 0 MILLION DESPITE CONSOLIDATED LIFE AND NON LIFE GROSS PREMIUMS DROPPING TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION -ETRO 0ACIkC )NVESTMENTS #ORP SAW A PERCENT GROWTH IN ITS CONSOLIDATED CORE NET PROkT TO 0 BILLION IN THE kRST THREE MONTHS FROM 0 BILLION 4HIS WAS SUSTAINED BY AN PERCENT INCREASE IN OPERATING INCOME

DRIVEN BY SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN -ANILA %LECTRIC #O #ONSOLIDATED REPORTED NET PROkT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE PARENT kRM DECLINED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE THREE MONTHS DUE TO REkNANCING AND SHARE ISSUANCE COSTS COUPLED WITH VARIOUS PROJECT EXPENSES '4 #APITAL SHARES FELL BY 0 OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 EACH ON 4UESDAY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

B3

JG Summit income rises to P7.44B in Jan-March

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

L

ISTED JG Summit Holdings Inc. saw its consolidated NET PROkT FROM SHAREHOLDERS SURGE BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE kRST QUARTER FROM 0 BILLION IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR BUOYED BY ITS STRONG AIRLINE AND PROPERTY BUSINESSES

)N A REGULATORY kLING ON 4UESDAY

THE 'OKONGWEI LED CONGLOMERATE SAID IT MAINLY ATTRIBUTED THE INCREASE TO A DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH IN AIRLINE SUBSIDIARY #EBU !IR )NC AND PROPERTY ARM 2OBINSONS ,AND #ORP COUPLED WITH FOREIGN EXCHANGE GAINS AND MARKET VALUATION GAINS ON THE GROUP S kNANCIAL ASSETS IN THE PERIOD WHICH PARTIALLY OFFSET THE DECLINE IN PETROCHEMICALS BUSINESS Its consolidated core net income AFTER TAXES EXCLUDING NON OPERATING AND NON RECURRING GAINS HOWEVER WAS

lAT AT 0 BILLION #ONSOLIDATED REVENUES MEANWHILE GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION THE BULK OF WHICH WAS CREDITED TO BANKING UNIT 2OBINSONS "ANK #ORP FOLLOWED BY #EBU !IR PERCENT AND THE REST FROM OTHER BUSINESSES #EBU !IR WHICH OPERATES #EBU 0ACIkC SAW ITS NET INCOME SOAR BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN *ANUARY TO -ARCH FROM 0 BILLION IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 'ROSS REVENUES STOOD AT 0 BIL-

LION A PERCENT IMPROVEMENT FROM 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR 2OBINSONS ,AND S NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE PARENT kRM JUMPED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE QUARTER FROM 0 BILlion a year ago. #ONSOLIDATED REVENUES ALSO GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE kRST THREE MONTHS FROM THE YEAR EARLIER S 0 BILLION &OOD AND BEVERAGE SUBSIDIARY 5NIVERSAL 2OBINA #ORP RECORDED 0 BILLION A PERCENT IMPROVEMENT FROM 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR ON THE BACK OF HIGHER OPERATING INCOME .ET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE PARENT ROSE BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION 2OBINSONS "ANK REGISTERED A PERCENT DECREASE IN ITS NET INCOME AT 0 MILLION IN THE PERIOD COMPARED WITH 0 MILLION YEAR ON YEAR

*' 3UMMIT BLAMED THE DECLINE ON A PERCENT INCREASE IN COST AND EXPENSES INCLUDING INTEREST EXPENSE

WHICH OFFSET THE PERCENT REVENUE INCREASE OF 0 BILLION VERSUS 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR /NLY *' 3UMMIT 0ETROCHEMICALS 'ROUP SWUNG TO A NET LOSS OF 0 MILLION COMPARED TO THE 0 MILLION NET PROkT IT POSTED IN THE kRST QUARTER OF 4HE PETROCHEMICALS GROUP CONSISTS OF *' 3UMMIT 0ETROCHEMICALS #ORP AND *' 3UMMIT /LEkNS #ORP WHICH SAW THEIR COMBINED REVENUES FALL BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR 4HE GROUP SAID THE DECLINE WAS DUE TO LOWER AVERAGE SELLING PRICES COUPLED WITH HIGHER COST AND EXPENSES *' 3UMMIT SHARES kNISHED DOWN BY 0 OR PERCENT TO 0 APIECE ON 4UESDAY

Emperador, GERI earnings up; Travellers’ profit plunges 47/ SUBSIDIARIES OF LISTED CONGLOMERATE !LLIANCE 'LOBAL 'ROUP )NC ‡ %MPERADOR )NC AND 'LOBAL %STATE 2ESORTS )NC '%2) ‡ PERFORMED STRONGLY IN THE kRST QUARTER OFFSETTING A SIGNIkCANT PROkT DROP IN 4RAVELLERS )NTERNATIONAL (OTEL 'ROUP )NC )N A REGULATORY kLING ON 4UESDAY %MPERADOR SAID ITS NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE PARENT ROSE BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN *ANUARY TO -ARCH WHILE REVENUES INCREASED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION A YEAR EARLIER %MPERADOR 0RESIDENT 7INSTON #O ATTRIBUTED THE GROWTH TO STRONG SALES FROM ITS WHISKY AND PREMIUM BRANDY BRANDS g&UNDADOR AND 4RES #EPAS ;BRANDS= WERE THE FASTEST GROWING BRANDIES AMONGST THE FOREIGN BRANDIES SOLD IN THE 0HILIPPINES DURING THE kRST

QUARTER OF THIS YEAR 7ITH THE PREMIUM BRANDIES EXHIBITING GROWTH

OUR BRANDY PREMIUMIZATION IS WELL UNDERWAY u HE SAID )N A SEPARATE kLING '%2) SAID ITS kRST QUARTER NET INCOME GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION FROM 0 million in the same period last year.

4HIS EXCLUDED THE 0 MILLION IN NON RECURRING INCOME 3OARING RENTAL INCOME AND HOTEL OPERATIONS BOOSTED ITS BOTTOM LINE

ALONG WITH ITS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS IT ADDED 2ENTAL INCOME MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 0 MILLION FROM 0 MILLION

WHILE HOTEL REVENUES SURGED BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION FROM 0 MILLION '%2) S RESIDENTIAL SALES ROSE

BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION

HOLDING FIRMS

Index

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

7,646.66

-95.54

Ĺş

All Shares

4,736.54

-54.72

Ĺş

Financials

1,685.88

-52.95

Ĺş

Industrial

11,445.83

-82.49

Ĺş

Holding Firms

7,176.38

-169.53

Ĺş

Services

1,595.17

-0.4

Ĺş

Mining and Oil

7,412.09

86.81

Ÿ

Property

4,156.81

38.81

Ÿ

SERVICES

Stock indices as of May 14, 2019

PSEi

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

ALL SHARES

MINING AND OIL

)TS NET PROkT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PARENT SAW A PERCENT GROWTH TO 0 MILLION FROM 0 MILLION #ONSOLIDATED REVENUES EXCLUDING NON RECURRING GAINS INCREASED BY PERCENT YEAR ON YEAR TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION g7E BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MADE THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS TO SECURE OUR RENTAL INCOME EARLY ON AS THIS IS NOW PROVIDING STABILITY IN '%2) S EARNINGS

WHICH IS EVIDENT IN OUR RESULTS THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS u '%2) 0RESIDENT -ONICA 3ALOMON SAID g7E PLAN TO FURTHER SOLIDIFY THIS SIDE OF THE BUSINESS AS WE ADD MORE INVESTMENT PROPERTIES ACROSS OUR LINEUP OF TOURISM TOWNSHIPS AND INTEGRATED LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY u SHE ADDED !LSO ON 4UESDAY 4RAVELLERS AN-

NOUNCED THAT ITS NET INCOME IN THE THREE MONTHS STOOD AT 0 MILLION

A PERCENT DECLINE FROM 0 MILlion in the same period last year.

'ROSS REVENUES AMOUNTED TO 0 BILLION PERCENT HIGHER THAN 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR %ARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST TAX DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION STOOD AT 0 BILLION 4RAVELLERS RECORDED kRST QUARTER GROSS GAMING REVENUES OF 0 BILLION DRIVEN

BY THE SUSTAINED GROWTH OF THE NON 6)0 AND 6)0 SEGMENT WHILE ITS NON GAMING REVENUES AMOUNTED TO 0 BILLION 4HE AVERAGE OCCUPANCY RATE FOR ITS kVE HOTELS ‡ -ARRIOTT (OTEL -ANILA

-AXIMS (OTEL (OLIDAY )NN %XPRESS -ANILA .EWPORT #ITY (ILTON -ANILA AND 3HERATON -ANILA (OTEL ‡ STOOD AT PERCENT WITH A TOTAL ROOM COUNT OF ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

TOP ACTIVE STOCKS No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name BDO Unibank, Inc. San Miguel Corporation Ayala Land, Inc. International Container Terminal Services, Inc. SM Prime Holdings, Inc. SM Investments Corporation PLDT Inc. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company Ayala Corporation GT Capital Holdings, Inc. Jollibee Foods Corporation Globe Telecom, Inc. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Alliance Global Group, Inc. Universal Robina Corporation Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. 0HWUR 3DFLÂżF ,QYHVWPHQWV &RUSRUDWLRQ Bank of the Philippine Islands Holcim Philippines, Inc. Megaworld Corporation

Last Price 134 195.5 46.8 131 38.65 940 1,290.00 72.6 889 845 302 1,999.00 60.7 13.58 160.1 51.2 4.2 82.5 14.42 5.42

Chg -5.9 7.5 -0.2 -4 -0.85 -26 45 -1.5 -12 -10 -1 0 -5.1 -0.82 -4.9 -1.85 -0.03 -2.95 0.88 -0.14

%Chg -4.22% 3.99% -0.43% -2.96% -2.15% -2.69% 3.61% -2.02% -1.33% -1.17% -0.33% 0% -7.75% -5.69% -2.97% -3.49% -0.71% -3.45% 6.50% -2.52%

ź Ÿ ź ź ź ź Ÿ ź ź ź ź ź ź ź ź ź ź Ÿ ź

Volume 7,163,620.00 3,393,670.00 12,875,800.00 4,225,540.00 12,595,100.00 481,450.00 353,170.00 5,878,860.00 399,650.00 390,080.00 745,640.00 101,190.00 3,287,110.00 13,931,200.00 1,156,860.00 3,292,440.00 38,273,000.00 1,805,830.00 9,945,300.00 25,451,800.00

Value(P) 961,374,413.00 660,207,226.00 601,432,870.00 554,257,402.00 488,383,760.00 453,247,840.00 446,385,700.00 428,754,450.50 354,850,980.00 331,844,600.00 225,465,182.00 202,203,610.00 201,805,102.50 192,535,320.00 185,519,114.00 168,505,000.50 161,873,980.00 149,353,608.50 141,326,040.00 141,278,985.00

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date May 9, 2019 May 8, 2019 May 7, 2019 May 6, 2019 May 3, 2019 May 02, 2019 Apr 30, 2019 Apr 29, 2019 Apr 26, 2019 Apr 25, 2019 Apr 24, 2019 Apr 23, 2019 Apr 22, 2019 Apr 17, 2019 Apr 16, 2019 Apr 15, 2019 Apr 12, 2019 Apr 11, 2019 Apr 10, 2019 Apr 8, 2019 Apr 5, 2019 Apr 4, 2019 Apr 3, 2019 Apr 2, 2019 Apr 1, 2019 Mar 29, 2019 Mar 28, 2019 Mar 27, 2019 Mar 26, 2019 Mar 25, 2019

Open 7,858 7,903 7,872 7,973 8,004 7,953 7,892 7,861 7,893 7,848 7,799 7,827 7,840 7,833 7,800 7,888 7,971 7,991 7,976 7,879 7,866 7,893 7,880 7,854 7,923 7,891 7,898 7,916 7,875 7,994

High 7,864 7,927 7,922 7,974 8,078 8,041 7,953 7,897 7,900 7,894 7,847 7,835 7,859 7,861 7,860 7,915 7,980 8,000 8,009 7,955 7,887 7,898 7,895 7,894 7,924 7,921 7,898 7,916 7,911 7,994

Low 7,756 7,755 7,861 7,851 7,968 7,947 7,889 7,846 7,840 7,832 7,799 7,770 7,818 7,824 7,799 7,788 7,881 7,956 7,953 7,879 7,866 7,836 7,861 7,854 7,810 7,887 7,856 7,841 7,869 7,808

Close 7,756 7,927 7,911 7,862 7,968 8,002 7,953 7,897 7,868 7,894 7,847 7,819 7,832 7,835 7,826 7,788 7,881 7,956 8,009 7,916 7,873 7,854 7,895 7,879 7,840 7,921 7,876 7,861 7,907 7,863

CLOSE

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Security Name Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company “B�

Holcim Philippines, Inc. Benguet Corporation “A�

Manila Mining Corporation “A�

PHINMA Energy Corporation Manila Mining Corporation “B�

Abacore Capital Holdings, Inc. First Gen Corporation San Miguel Corporation Sta. Lucia Land, Inc. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation SOCResources, Inc. PLDT Inc. Prime Media Holdings, Inc. Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company “A�

Ionics, Inc. Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. Petron Corporation Perpetual Preferred Shares Series “2� Subseries “2A�

19 I-Remit, Inc. 20 Basic Energy Corporation

Volume 450,000.00 9,945,300.00 14,000.00 1,000,000.00 31,863,000 2,000,000.00 47,795,000.00 4,341,900.00 3,393,670.00 5,060,000.00 101,500.00 545,000.00 353,170.00 522,000.00 1,600,000.00 20,000.00 16,840,000.00 1,040.00

Value 51,780.00 141,326,040.00 18,410.00 8,400.00 55,023,040.00 16,700.00 31,781,650.00 90,262,340.00 660,207,226.00 9,369,830.00 2,710,370.00 449,330.00 446,385,700.00 567,430.00 180,650.00 34,850.00 47,106,440.00 1,023,630.00

Last Price 0.12 14.42 1.33 0.0084 1.77 0.0083 0.65 20.85 195.5 1.85 27 0.85 1,290.00 1.15 0.115 1.76 2.85 999.5

Chg 0.008 0.88 0.08 0.0005 0.1 0.0004 0.03 0.85 7.5 0.07 1 0.03 45 0.04 0.004 0.06 0.09 29.5

%Chg 7.14% 6.50% 6.40% 6.33% 5.99% 5.06% 4.84% 4.25% 3.99% 3.93% 3.85% 3.66% 3.61% 3.60% 3.60% 3.53% 3.26% 3.04%

18,000.00 8,050,000.00

24,780.00 2,039,990.00

1.39 0.255

0.04 0.007

2.96% 2.82%

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP LOSERS

HIGH

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. “B�

JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Vitarich Corporation Lorenzo Shipping Corporation PH Resorts Group Holdings, Inc. Alliance Global Group, Inc. Abra Mining & Industrial Corporation Bloomberry Resorts Corporation Greenergy Holdings Incorporated Boulevard Holdings, Inc. Macroasia Corporation BDO Unibank, Inc. Victorias Milling Company, Inc. 3DFLÂżF 2QOLQH 6\VWHPV &RUSRUDWLRQ Petroenergy Resources Corporation Easycall Communications Phils., Inc. Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. Bank of the Philippine Islands Philweb Corporation Robinsons Land Corporation

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

Volume 5,000.00 3,287,110.00 16,795,000.00 40,000.00 49,000.00 13,931,200.00 34,000,000.00 11,051,800.00 6,423,000.00 22,190,000.00 1,207,000.00 7,163,620.00 345,000.00 126,000.00 105,000.00 86,700.00 3,292,440.00 1,805,830.00 2,414,000.00 1,945,700.00

Value 8,150.00 201,805,102.50 20,941,760.00 29,600.00 205,700.00 192,535,320.00 64,500.00 125,304,806.00 16,059,360.00 1,503,670.00 24,809,210.00 961,374,413.00 940,070.00 416,550.00 468,620.00 923,908.00 168,505,000.50 149,353,608.50 6,932,180.00 45,573,380.00

Last Price 1.63 60.7 1.25 0.74 4.2 13.58 0.0018 11.1 2.45 0.067 20.3 134 2.53 3.24 4.41 10.6 51.2 82.5 2.85 23.05

Chg -0.3 -5.1 -0.09 -0.05 -0.28 -0.82 -0.0001 -0.6 -0.12 -0.003 -0.9 -5.9 -0.11 -0.14 -0.19 -0.4 -1.85 -2.95 -0.1 -0.8

%Chg -15.54% -7.75% -6.72% -6.33% -6.25% -5.69% -5.26% -5.13% -4.67% -4.29% -4.25% -4.22% -4.17% -4.14% -4.13% -3.64% -3.49% -3.45% -3.39% -3.35%

B4

Corporate News

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

EDC earnings up 158% to P3.9B

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

E

NERGY Development Corp. (EDC) booked A NET INCOME OF 0 BILLION FOR THE kRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR UP PERCENT FROM 0 BILLION IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER )N A REGULATORY kLING %$# SAID the first-quarter income surge WAS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY THE 0 BILLION SURGE IN REVENUE 4HE ,OPEZ LED COMPANY SAID NET INCOME IS EQUIVALENT TO PERCENT OF TOTAL REVENUES AS COMpared to the 17.1 percent for the same period in 2018. Net income attributable to equity holders of

the parent company touched P3.6 billion during the quarter from P1.3 billion a year ago.

Recurring net income generated increased by 84.8 percent to P3.7 billion against last year’s P1.9 BILLION WHICH THE kRM ACCOUNTED TO THE INCREASE IN REVENUE AND decrease in cost of sale.

2EVENUE FROM THE SALE OF ELEC-

tricity climbed by 22 percent to P10.4 billion from P8.8 billion mainly due to higher generation while cost of sale of electricity hit P4.4 billion, 6.1 percent lower than P4.6 billion. This was partly offset by the increase in generAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (P107.8 million) and higher interest expense (net of income) and income taxes (P165 million).

A subsidiary of listed First Gen Corp., EDC is engaged in exploring, DEVELOPING OPERATING AND UTILIZING geothermal energy and other indigenous renewable energy sources for electricity generation with an installed capacity of 1,471.8 MW.

)N A PREVIOUS REGULATORY kLING

EDC said it allotted about P7.45 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year, with the huge CHUNK OF THE BUDGET FOR IMPROVing reliability of its geothermal facilities. About 88.11 percent or 0 BILLION WILL kNANCE ACQUISItions to support the operations and maintenance requirements of the geothermal plants in Leyte, Negros Island, Bacon-Manito, and -T !PO g4HIS AMOUNT IS MAINLY for power plant and steamfield RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENT IN SAID sites,� it added.

Last week, EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Richard

Plant shutdown slashes Semirara’s income SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. posted a consolidated net income after tax of P2.33 billion, 49 percent lower than P4.57 billion in the same period a year earlier as some of its POWER PLANTS WENT OFlINE In a disclosure on Tuesday, THE LISTED kRM SAID THE COAL SEGment contributed P2.13 billion WHILE 3OUTHWEST ,UZON 0OWER Generation Corp. (SLPGC) added P226.10 million during the period.

(OWEVER 3%- #ALACA 0OWER #ORP (SCPC) incurred a net loss of P22.37 million.

Coal production dropped by 2 percent to 4.06 million tons from 4.12 million tons last year, with 37 percent higher strip ratio

of 12.53 from 9.12 last year. But coal sales increased by 4 percent to 3.55 million tons compared to 3.42 million tons as export sales picked up.

Decline in global coal prices translated to an 18-percent year-onYEAR YOY DECREASE IN COAL AVERAGE selling price from P2,786 per ton last year to P2,272 per ton this year.

The power segment incurred a total loss of P95 million for purchases of replacement power totaling to 216 gigawatt hours (GWh) IN THE kRST QUARTER Energy sales of SCPC and SLPGC rose by 11 percent to 638 GWh from 575GWh in 2018.

Total generation declined to 508

'7H FROM '7H FOR THE kRST quarter of 2019.

Softer global coal prices also afFECTED POWER AVERAGE SELLING PRICE which decreased by 19 percent yoy to P4.32 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from P5.35 per KWh. SCPC’s Unit 1 is on a six-month Life Extension Program (LEP).

4HE LISTED kRM SAID ,%0 IS A COST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO MAINTAIN AND upgrade operations of existing facilities beyond its traditional lifetime, at the same time to limit ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLICATIONS AND kNANCIAL RISKS Unit 2 will also be on LEP as soon as Unit 1 becomes commerCIALLY AVAILABLE

During the quarter, Unit 1 went on outage because of boiler tube leaks while Unit 2 was running on limited capacity due to repair of condenser. Unit 3 of SLPGC was down for 29 days mainly because of boiler issue, while Unit 4 was placed on maintenance shutdown after experiencing tube leaks in the middle of January.

A unit of DMCI Holdings, Inc., Semirara Mining owns and mines its own fuel source, enabling it to generate affordable baseload power FOR THE ,UZON AND 6ISAYAS GRIDS Semirara Mining shares added CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO END AT P22.35 apiece on Tuesday.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

PSBank gains P680.7M in first three months

Tantoco said the company would be embarking on a 30-megawatt (MW) expansion of its geothermal plants OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS g4HEY RE all small, less than 30 MW... there’s a couple in the pipeline,� Tantoco SAID g7E RE LIKELY TO ISSUE NOTICE TO proceed in one of them within the next six months. This is geothermal, BROWNkELD WITHIN THE EXISTING ASSETS for small expansions.�

EDC owns and operates the 232.5-MW Malitbog, 180-MW Mahanagdong, 125-MW Upper Mahiao, and 112.5-MW Tongonan geothermal plants in Leyte, all under the Tongonan Geothermal 0ROJECT )T RUNS THE -7 0AL-

8990 Holdings’ Q1 net profit rises 17% DRIVEN by its core business, 8990 Holdings Inc’s earnings in the kRST QUARTER JUMPED PERCENT TO P1.18 billion from the P1 billion it booked a year earlier.

In a disclosure on Tuesday, the MASS HOUSING DEVELOPER SAID ITS topline in the period also rose 20 percent year-on-year (yoy) to P3.01 billion against last year’s P2.5 billion, propelled by the 23 percent INCREASE IN HOUSING UNITS DELIVERED in the January-March operation.

The company attributed the HIGHER REVENUES TO ITS PROJECTS LOcated in National Capital Region, which contributed 25 percent; Iloilo, 12 percent ; and South ,UZON PERCENT 5NREALIZED sales reaching P1 billion will be recorded in the next quarters, the company noted. g/UR FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON strengthening our business and growing the company. As a result WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE CAN CONstantly show solid growth,� 8990 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER 7ILLIE * 5Y WAS QUOTED AS SAYING IN THE kLING g4HIS YEAR WILL BE A VERY EXCITING YEAR FOR US AS WE continue to strengthen our core BUSINESS AND ROLL OUT NEW PROJECTS that would secure our place as the country’s top affordable home DEVELOPER u HE ADDED

The firm last year earmarked P8 billion capital expenditures (capex), but for 2019, it hiked its spending to P12 billion to sustain strong momentum of the real esTATE BUSINESS AND HELP ITS REVENUES GROW TO 0 BILLION g)TS GUIDANCE OF 0 BILLION REVENUES WILL BE GENERATED MOSTLY FROM ITS PROJECTS IN ,UZON PARTICULARLY FROM ITS LARGEST PROJECT TO DATE 5RBAN $ECA Homes Manila in Tondo,� it said.

8990 Holdings expects to generate P20 billion in sales from THE SAID DEVELOPMENT IN 4ONDO

Manila, which will offer a total of 13,000 units to homebuyers. /THER ONGOING PROJECTS OF THE group include Deca Clark Resorts Residences in Pampanga; Urban Deca Homes Manila in Tondo, Manila; Urban Deca Homes Marilao in Bulacan, Urban Deca Homes Hampton and Urban Deca (OMES -AHOGANY IN #AVITE $ECA (OMES 0AVIA 2ESORTS 2ESIDENCES 2 and Deca Homes Sta. Barbara in Iloilo; Deca Home Bacolod in Bacolod, Urban Deca Homes Tisa 2 and Urban Deca Homes H. Cortes in Cebu and Deca Homes -ULIG IN $AVAO Shares in 8990 Holdings was UP CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO close at P14.40 apiece on Tuesday.

LISBET K. ESMAEL hit a year high of P7.70.

percent to P159.3 billion from P149.2 billion in the same period last year. This was said as to have been bolstered primarily by the growth in the lender’s auto and mortgage loans portfolios.

Net non-performing loans ratio was kept at 3.1 percent “as delinquency continued to improve.�

On the funding side, PSBank’s total deposits was 0.5 percent lower at P185 billion from P186 billion the previous year “as the bank strategically rebalanced its funding strategy with emphasis on low cost funds, retail clients and alternative sources.�

Low-cost deposits improved by 6.6 percent yoy reaching P55 billion from P51.6 billion.

The lender’s total capital adequacy and common equity tier 1 ratios stood at 18.4 percent and 15.9 percent respectively; and are both well above the minimum required level set by the central bank. To date, PSBank has a distribution network of 250 branches and over 570 automated teller machines strategically located nationwide.

PSBank shares dropped by P1.05 or 1.79 percent to close at P57.45 each on Tuesday.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

added.

If passed, Trabaho would be the SECOND TAX REFORM PACKAGE APPROVED BY #ONGRESS 4HE kRST 2EPUBLIC !CT 10963 or the Tax Reform for Accelcommunications. eration and Inclusion (Train) Act, The 17th Congress has tagged the was implemented in January 2018. bill amending that law as a priority Under Train, higher excise taxes AND IS PENDING APPROVAL AS IS THE were imposed on certain products, Trabaho bill, which seeks to reduce including tobacco, fuel and autocorporate income taxes from 30 per- mobiles, in exchange for reduced cent to 20 percent in 10 years while personal income taxes.

RATIONALIZING TAX INCENTIVES /N 4RABAHO ,IMJOCO SAID IN- Securing water supply COMING LAWMAKERS SHOULD gPUT certainty to the country’s tax incen- -ANTARING AND ,IMJOCO ALSO PUSHED for the creation of an agency to TIVES REGIME u For her part, Mantaring said pass- regulate the country’s water supply, ing Trabaho, along with the other after a water crisis hit 1.2 million TAX REFORM PACKAGES OF THE GOVERN- households in Metro Manila and ment, would make the tax system NEARBY PROVINCES IN EARLY -ARCH The MAP president said the progFAIRER SIMPLER AND MORE EFkCIENT u /NCE THIS MEASURE IS APPROVED posed Department of Water could and implemented, a new tax regime gFACILITATE COORDINATION OF POLICY could help in funding infrastructure and program implementation� to PROGRAMS AND OTHER INITIATIVES SHE IMPROVE REGULATION

)T COULD ALSO gENCOURAGE PRIVATE sector participation in the manageMENT OF WATER SOURCES AND PROVISION OF SERVICES u SHE ADDED PCCI earlier issued a statement URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEment policies to make sure that the water problem Metro Manila residents experienced would not happen again.

Both business groups also called for the passage of the proposed National Land Use bill, which SEEKS TO gPROVIDE FOR A RATIONAL

HOLISTIC AND JUST ALLOCATION UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPment of the country’s land to ensure their optimum use, consistent with the principle of sustainable DEVELOPMENT u The measure gained support folLOWING THE GOVERNMENT S CLOSURE OF "ORACAY ISLAND IN !KLAN PROVINCE for six months last year to undergo ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION Mantaring said the bill’s passage

WOULD ENCOURAGE gINVESTMENTS IN agriculture, while promoting wellplanned and well-regulated urban growth.�

Q PEREZ FROM B1

Ease of doing business

more for the shares issued to them while the existing stockholders usually pay for their HOLDINGS AT PAR VALUE

Q QUITS FROM B1

OFkCIALS ALSO ACCUSED (0) OF DAMAGING corals and other marine life.

In the SNPSI case, the port operator accused HPI of unilaterally canceling an agreement to use a port facility built to HPI’s specikCATIONS BY 3.03) 3.03) SOUGHT relief from the Regional Trial Court in Bataan, which ordered the garnishment of a P1.878-billion Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) account belonging TO (0) IN .OVEMBER (0) subsequently brought the case to arbitration through the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center.

Apart from the implications of the SNPSI dispute, HPI courted additional regulatory penalties for failing to disclose the garnishment to the PSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission, which was kRST REPORTED BY The Manila Times.

PHILIPPINE Savings Bank (PSBank) reported on Tuesday its net profit rose to P680.7 million in the first quarter of 2019.

In a disclosure, the thrift bank arm of the Metrobank Group, said the amount was 10.3 percent higher than the P617 million net income in the same period last year.

The lender attributed the growth to the improvement in revenues from interest income, other operating income, and efficient expense management. Interest income grew by 10.3 percent to P4.3 billion from P3.9 billion.

Other operating income which includes net service fees grew 2.1 percent while

operating expenses, excluding provisions for impairment and credit losses, improved 6.4 percent year-on-year (yoy). “The bank’s commendable double-digit growth puts us on track of our 2019 targets, and is a deliberate result of our firm commitment to reinforce our sales efforts, improve on operating efficiencies, digitize products and channels, and consistently provide exceptional customer experience,�

PSBank President Jose Vicente Alde was quoted in a statement.

The bank’s total resources expanded by 4.9 percent to P236.2 billion from P225.1 billion, and gross loans increased by 6.7

Q GROUPS FROM B1

Biz groups

Issue Environmental, regulatory issues HPI recently came under fire for A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND regulatory missteps, most notably the forced closure of its grinding mill in -ABINI TOWN "ATANGAS PROVINCE AND a P1.9-billion dispute with Bataan PROVINCE BASED 3EASIA .ECTAR 0ORT 3ERVICES )NC 3.03) OVER THE CEMENT maker’s cancellation of an agreement ON THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF A PORT FACILITY HPI’s Batangas plant was ordered CLOSED BY THE $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT AND .ATURAL 2ESOURCES %NVIRONMENTAL -ANAGEMENT "UREAU OFkCE IN

2EGION ! #ALABARZON AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FACTORY HAD NO %NVIRONMENTAL #OMPLIANCE #ERTIkCATE %## 4HE COMPANY DOES HAVE AN ECC for its Batangas site, but that only COVERS A BULK STORAGE AND PORT FACILITY

not the manufacturing operations.

4HE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF Mabini had refused to renew HPI’s business permit in 2017 due to the gNON COMPLIANCE OF ITS %## u BUT the plant continued to operate.

According to municipal adminisTRATOR 'ERVILLE ,UISTRO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REJECTED THE BUSINESS PERMIT RENEWAL AFTER RECEIVING NUMEROUS complaints from residents near the HPI plant about noise and dust.

The complaints, some of which date back to 2013, also allege that exposure to dust from the plant caused allergies and respiratory problems for some residents. Local residents and

They also called for the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient 'OVERNMENT 3ERVICE $ELIVERY ! FULL lEDGED DIRECTOR OF THE !NTI Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is the one tasked to do this, but President Rodrigo Duterte is yet to appoint someone to the post. ,IMJOCO SAID LAWMAKERS SHOULD to focus on the proposed National 1UALITY )NFRASTRUCTURE !CT TO gENSURE OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MEET NAtional and international standards.�

She also called for a stronger implementation of Philippine Apprenticeship Act and Freedom of Information Act. TYRONE C. PIAD

Labor dispute HPI is also facing a complaint by more THAN CONTRACT WORKERS AT ITS $AVAO City plant that they were illegally terminated after the company was ORDERED TO REGULARIZE THEM IN -ARCH They were employees of HPI contractor Fort Steel Cargo Integrators Inc. The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Region 11 ORDERED THE WORKERS REGULARIZED AFTER kNDING THAT THEIR WORK WAS DIRECTLY related to HPI. (OWEVER &ORT 3TEEL #ARGO )NTEGRAtors terminated their employment on March 4. ! REPRESENTATIVE OF THE $AVAO Holcim Employees Workers Union told The Times that DoLE was aware of the terminations, but had not yet acted on the workers’ complaint.

BEN KRITZ

inpinon I, 60-MW Palinpinon II, and 49.4-MW Nasulo geothermal PROJECTS WITHIN THE 3OUTHERN .EGROS 'EOTHERMAL 0ROJECT EDC’s Bacon-Manito GeotherMAL 0ROJECT IN THE "ICOL REGION is composed of the 120-MW Bac-Man I and 20-MW Bac-Man II while the Mt. Apo Geothermal 0ROJECT HAS THE -7 -INDANAO I and 54-MW Mindanao II. The remaining P890 million, or 11.89 percent of the budget, will BE USED AS INVESTMENTS IN &IRST 'EN Hydro, Wind Ilocos Norte Business Unit, Solar Business Unit, Latin America, geothermal, wind and SOLAR EXPANSIONS AND HEAD OFkCE

Melco’s

Amended disclosure

Due Diligencer’s take Regulatory authorities such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should reVIEW THE COMPOSITION OF THE board of directors of listed companies. It is their task to see to IT THAT THE PUBLIC INVESTORS ELECT their own directors who would PROTECT THEIR INTEREST AS INVESTORS 0UBLIC INVESTORS ENABLE FAMILY owned companies to list either their common or preferred shares on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). This being the case, the SEC should see to it that public INVESTORS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE board by encouraging them to elect their own directors.

Due Diligencer’s suggestion is FOR THE 3%# S kVE PERSON COMmission to allow the public to EITHER SEE OR HAVE A GLIMPSE OF THE boardrooms of listed companies. !FTER ALL WHAT S THE USE OF gBEING public� if these outsiders could not elect their own directors?

If Melco persists in remaining listed, it should sell more common shares to the public.

Otherwise, it would be time for it to delist its common shares.

After all, more than 5.687 million MRP common shares are DEEMED LISTED EVEN IF TRADING ON them remains suspended.

The best suggestion, perhaps, is for Melco to either follow the 10-percent minimum public OWNERSHIP RULE OR LEAVE THE EXchange for good.

By the way, shouldn’t the SEC REVIEW THE OWNERSHIP OF LISTED COMpanies through their boards to determine their compliance with the public ownership rule? Just asking.

)N AN AMENDED kLING DATED !PRIL 24, 2019, Melco said its board APPROVED THE INCREASE IN THE PAR VALUE OF ITS COMMON SHARES TO 0 FROM 0 !S gRATIONALE FOR THE CHANGE IN PAR VALUE OF the issuer’s shares,� it said the MOVE IN EFFECT WAS INTENDED TO gDECREASE THE NUMBER OF THE Company’s shareholders.�

A POR as of April 30, 2019 SHOWED gNO LIMITu TO -ELCO S FOReign ownership, which has reached 99.58 percent of 5,687,270,800 outstanding common shares.

When computed, 99.58 percent equals 5,663,384,262 comMON SHARES LEAVING THE PUBLIC with 117,031,067 MRP common shares, or 2.0577 percent.

As a rule, Melco’s public stockholders should own a minimum of 10 percent of outstanding shares. Since they hold only 2.0577 percent of outstanding, they probably don’t care about the 10-percent minimum public ownership rule.

This is why trading on Melco’s common shares remains suspended since Dec. 10, 2018 when the company’s stock opened trading at P7.25, hit a high of P7.28, fell to a low of P7.25 and closed the session at P7.25. Its common shares peaked at a month’s high of P7.29 and dropped to a low of P6.50, which was higher than its 52-week low of P5.02. The stock %MAIL ESDPEREZ GMAIL COM

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A Listed Company at the Philippine Stock Exchange

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

REMINDER IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of OMICO CORPORATION as mandated in the By-Laws of the Corporation shall be held on the last Friday of May of each and every year which IRU WKH FXUUHQW \HDU IDOOV RQ 0D\ 7KH WLPH DQG YHQXH ZLOO EH $ 0 DW WKH 'DVPDULxDV )XQFWLRQ 5RRP 0DNDWL 6SRUWV &OXE ,QF / 3 /HYLVWH FRUQHU *DOODUGR 6WUHHWV 6DOFHGR 9LOODJH 0DNDWL &LW\ ZLWK WKH IROORZLQJ DJHQGD &DOO WR 2UGHU &HUWLÂżFDWLRQ RI 1RWLFH DQG 4XRUXP $SSURYDO RI WKH 0LQXWHV RI WKH $QQXDO 0HHWLQJ RI 6WRFNKROGHUV KHOG RQ 0D\ $QQXDO 5HSRUW RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW 5DWLÂżFDWLRQ RI $FWV DQG 3URFHHGLQJV RI WKH %RDUG RI 'LUHFWRUV DQG 0DQDJHPHQW IURP 0D\ (OHFWLRQ RI 'LUHFWRUV (OHFWLRQ RI ([WHUQDO $XGLWRU 2WKHU %XVLQHVV $GMRXUQPHQW

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Ipinagbibigay alam na ang CITI GLOBAL REALTY AND DEVELOPMENT, INC. (Mayari at Debeloper) ay naghain sa Tanggapang ito ng sinumpaang aplikasyon para sa pagbebenta ng mga “Residential Condominium Units� sa TAGAYTAY CLIFTON RESORT SUITES BLDG. 7 na matatagpuan sa Sitio Amuyong, Brgy. Kaytitinga, Alfonso, Cavite DW VLQDVDNRS QJ /RWH %OJ ' /5&

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CASE NO. MNL-REV-2015-001-FS (Ref. Case No. MNL-05-035; Amendment Nos. 1-5) (Amendment Nos. 1-18) Amendment No. 19

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

ORDER

Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of Incorporation of ANA-MARY INCORPORATED shortening the term of existence up WR 'HFHPEHU E\ GLVVROYLQJ WKH VDLG FRUSRUDWLRQ RQ VDLG GDWH KDYH EHHQ DSSURYHG E\ WKH %RDUG RI 'LUHFWRUV

%HIRUH 8V LV WKH DERYH HQWLWOHG $SSOLFDWLRQ ZKLFK ZDV ¿OHG RQ $SULO WR HIIHFW WKH IROORZLQJ DPHQGPHQW RI routes: FROM Manila – Tacloban – Manila

Manila – Tagbilaran – Manila Manila – Tagbilaran – Dumaguete – Manila

TO 0DQLOD Âą &HEX Âą 7DFOREDQ Âą 0DQLOD 0DQLOD Âą 7DFOREDQ Âą &HEX Âą0DQLOD 0DQLOD Âą 7DJELODUDQ Âą &HEX Âą 0DQLOD 0DQLOD Âą &HEX Âą 7DJELODUDQ Âą 0DQLOD 0DQLOD Âą &HEX Âą 7DJELODUDQ Âą 'XPDJXHWH Âą 0DQLOD

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following are the Applicant’s proposed schedules of trips and rates in the route: I. SCHEDULE OF TRIPS MANILA – CEBU – TACLOBAN – MANILA PORT Manila Cebu Tacloban Manila Cebu Tacloban Manila Cebu Tacloban Manila Cebu Tacloban

DEPARTURE DAY Wednesday Saturday Tuesday Sunday Tuesday Friday Tuesday Friday Monday Saturday Tuesday Friday

PORT Manila Tacloban Cebu Manila Tacloban Cebu Manila Tacloban Cebu Manila Tacloban Cebu

DEPARTURE DAY Wednesday Saturday Tuesday Sunday Tuesday Friday Tuesday Friday Monday Saturday Tuesday Friday

PORT Manila Tagbilaran Cebu Manila Tagbilaran Cebu Manila Tagbilaran Cebu Manila Tagbilaran Cebu

DEPARTURE DAY Wednesday Saturday Sunday Thursday Sunday Monday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday Wednesday Friday

TIME 01 $0 30 01 $0 30 01 $0 30 01 $0 30

PORT Cebu Tacloban Manila Cebu Tacloban Manila Cebu Tacloban Manila Cebu Tacloban Manila

ARRIVAL DAY Friday Monday Thursday Monday Thursday Monday Thursday Sunday Wednesday Monday Thursday Sunday

TIME 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

ARRIVAL DAY Friday Monday Thursday Monday Thursday Monday Thursday Sunday Wednesday Monday Thursday Sunday

TIME 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

ARRIVAL DAY Friday Monday Tuesday Saturday Sunday Wednesday Monday Tuesday Friday Tuesday Thursday Sunday

TIME 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

MANILA – TACLOBAN – CEBU – MANILA TIME 01 $0 30 01 $0 30 01 $0 30 01 $0 30

PORT Tacloban Cebu Manila Tacloban Cebu Manila Tacloban Cebu Manila Tacloban Cebu Manila

PORT Tagbilaran Cebu Manila Tagbilaran Cebu Manila Tagbilaran Cebu Manila Tagbilaran Cebu Manila

MANILA – CEBU – TAGBILARAN – MANILA PORT Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Manila Cebu Tagbilaran

DEPARTURE DAY Wednesday Saturday Sunday Thursday Sunday Monday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday Wednesday Friday

ARRIVAL DAY Friday Monday Tuesday Saturday Sunday Wednesday Monday Tuesday Friday Tuesday Thursday Sunday

TIME 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

PORT Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Dumaguete Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Dumaguete Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Dumaguete Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Dumaguete

MANILA – CEBU – TAGBILARAN – DUMAGUETE – MANILA DEPARTURE ARRIVAL DAY TIME PORT DAY Wednesday 01 Cebu Friday Saturday $0 Tagbilaran Monday Sunday 01 Dumaguete Monday Tuesday 01 Manila Thursday Friday $0 Cebu Sunday Monday $0 Tagbilaran Monday Tuesday 01 Cebu Wednesday Thursday $0 Manila Saturday Sunday 01 Cebu Tuesday Wednesday $0 Tagbilaran Wednesday Thursday 30 Dumaguete Friday Saturday 30 Manila Monday Tuesday 01 Cebu Thursday Friday $0 Tagbilaran Friday Saturday 30 Dumaguete Sunday Monday 30 Manila Wednesday

TIME 30 30 30 30 30 30 01 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

TIME 01 $0 01 01 $0 01 01 $0 30 01 $0 30

PORT Cebu Tagbilaran Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Manila Cebu Tagbilaran Manila

II. SCHEDULE OF RATES MANILA-CEBU-TACLOBAN-MANILA MANILA-CEBU AND VICE-VERSA PER CUBIC METER (CBM)-VAT EX FREIGHT CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CEBU-TACLOBAN AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C

Recovery Adjustment Cost (RAC)

3XUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQ E RI 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R RWKHUZLVH NQRZQ DV WKH Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), this Commission will hold a public KHDULQJ RQ WKH SHWLWLRQV ÂżOHG E\ WKH 3KLOLSSLQH 3ODVWLFV ,QGXVWU\ $VVRFLDWLRQ 33,$

and the Association of Petrochemical Manufacturers of the Philippines (APMP) for the extraction of tariff lines for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) under AHTN 6XEKHDGLQJ 1RV DQG and the reduction of their Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates from 10% to 0% and for the extraction of tariff line for Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) under AHTN 2017 6XEKHDGLQJ 1R ZLWK 0)1 UDWH RI GXW\ RI DQG WKH SURYLVLRQ RI 10% MFN tariff rates for all LLDPE under HS Heading No. 39.01 UHVSHFWLYHO\ 7KH SXEOLF KHDULQJ ZLOO EH KHOG DW WKH 7DULII &RPPLVVLRQ &RQIHUHQFH 5RRP RQ 0D\ DW D P

Bunker Surcharge (BSC)

FREIGHT RAC

MANILA-TACLOBAN-CEBU-MANILA

BSC

FREIGHT RAC

MANILA-TAGBILARAN-CEBU-MANILA

BSC

FREIGHT

RAC

BSC

FREIGHT RAC

MANILA-CEBU-TAGBILARAN-MANILA

BSC

Existing Rate AHTN Code Description of Duty (%) 2017

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- - In the form of liquids or pastes : - - - Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

- - - Other

- - Other : - - - Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

- - - Other

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more - Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers 3 (WK\OHQH DOSKD ROHÂżQ FRSRO\PHUV KDYLQJ D 3 VSHFLÂżF JUDYLW\ RI OHVV WKDQ

- Other : - - In dispersion 3 - - Other 3

MANILA-TAGBILARAN AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C TAGBILARAN-CEBU AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C MANILA-CEBU AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX FREIGHT RAC

MANILA-CEBU-TAGBILARAN-DUMAGUETE-MANILA

CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C

BSC

MANILA-CEBU AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX FREIGHT

RAC

BSC

FREIGHT CLASS A

CLASS B

CLASS C

TAGBILARAN-DUMAGUETE AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX FREIGHT CLASS A

CLASS B

CLASS C

RAC

BSC

RAC

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CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CEBU-TAGBILARAN AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX

Notice is hereby given that the said Application will be heard by this Authority on 20 May 2019 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning, at the 7th )ORRU )UDQFKLVLQJ 6HUYLFH +HDULQJ 5RRP DW WKH DERYH DGGUHVV 7KH $SSOLFDQW VKDOO SXEOLVK WKLV 2UGHU RQFH LQ D QHZVSDSHU RI JHQHUDO FLUFXODWLRQ DW OHDVW ¿YH GD\V EHIRUH WKH VFKHGXOHG GDWH RI KHDULQJ 7KH $SSOLFDQW VKDOO VXEPLW D ZULWWHQ )RUPDO 2IIHU RI (YLGHQFH GXULQJ WKH KHDULQJ RU ¿YH GD\V WKHUHDIWHU WITNESS WKH 2I¿FHU ,Q &KDUJH RI WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH $GPLQLVWUDWRU VADM NARCISO A VINGSON JR, WKLV th GD\ RI 0D\ DW 0DQLOD 3KLOLSSLQHV

BY AUTHORITY OF THE MARINA ADMINISTRATOR: 3XUVXDQW WR $GPLQLVWUDWLYH 2UGHU 1R GDWHG $XJXVW

MA. CONCEPCION C. ARBOLARIO OIC-Director Franchising Service

(SGD.) MARY CO 6HFUHWDU\ 7UHDVXUHU 07 Âą 0D\

ALSONS CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES, INC. Notice to Shareholders

07 0D\

Please be advised that in compliance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company has uploaded to its website at ZZZ DFU FRP SK its Interim Unaudited Financial 6WDWHPHQWV DV RI 0DUFK ZKLFK LQFOXGHV 0DQDJHPHQWœV Discussion and Analysis of the Financial Condition and Results RI 2SHUDWLRQV IRU WKH ¿UVW TXDUWHU RI 8SRQ WKH UHTXHVW E\ any shareholder, the Company will provide a hard copy of such ,QWHULP 8QDXGLWHG )LQDQFLDO 6WDWHPHQWV DV VRRQ DV SRVVLEOH ´ 0D\ 07 0D\

7KH SXEOLF KHDULQJ ZLOO DOVR LQFOXGH WKH UHYLHZ RI WKH WDULII VWUXFWXUH RI +HDGLQJ 1R RI WKH $+71 SXUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQ F RI WKH VDPH ODZ )RU LQTXLULHV 'LUHFWRU (OYLUD & ,JQDFLR 5HVHDUFK ,QYHVWLJDWLRQ DQG ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 7UDGH $QDO\VLV 6HUYLFH 5,,7$6 PD\ EH UHDFKHG DW 7HOHSKRQH 1XPEHU or at LQIR#WDULIIFRPPLVVLRQ JRY SK .

Issued this th GD\ RI 0D\ 4XH]RQ &LW\ 0HWUR 0DQLOD MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson 07 0D\

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS & HIGHWAYS REGIONAL OFFICE - X Engineer’s Hill, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City INVITATION TO BID Sealed BIDS in two (2) copies, subject to the General Terms and Conditions in the sale on “AS IS AND WHERE ISâ€? basis of government properties will be received at the DPWH Regional 2IÂżFH (QJLQHHUVÂś +LOO %XOXD &DJD\DQ GH 2UR &LW\ QRW ODWHU than May 27, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at which place, date and time, the bids will be opened in the presence of participating bidders or their duly authorized representatives: Lot No.

Items

Government Minimum Quantity Selling Price (Php.)

MANILA-TACLOBAN AND VICE-VERSA PER CBM-VAT EX CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C

This announcement will serve as notice to all concerned of the legal GLVVROXWLRQ RI WKH DIRUHVDLG FRUSRUDWLRQ

The product coverage of the public hearing is as follows:

MANILA – TAGBILARAN – CEBU – MANILA TIME 01 $0 01 01 $0 01 01 $0 30 01 $0 30

All persons having claims against said corporation are requested to SUHVHQW WKH VDPH DW 5P ' 5 0DJVD\VD\ &HQWHU 5R[DV %OYG 0DQLOD IRU LPPHGLDWH VHWWOHPHQW

YOUR ADS HERE GET RESULTS

Various Unserviceable Land-based

Equipment (Rebidding)

Location

Remarks

DPWH-X, EMD Compound IRUPHUO\ th 2nd RES and XQLWV Bidding ÂżYH $UHD Equipment Sections (AES)

Various st 2 unserviceable 43 units -doBidding equipment Various DPWH st 3 unserviceable ORWV 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFH Bidding property &RPSRXQG

The above-mentioned properties can be inspected on the said ORFDWLRQV GXULQJ RIÂżFH KRXUV D P WR S P 0RQGD\ WR )ULGD\ $OO ELGGHUV DUH UHTXLUHG WR HQFORVH ELG ERQG VHFXULW\ equivalent to the appraised value (Government Minimum Selling Price) of the items to be bidded in the form of cash, cashiers or PDQDJHUÂśV FKHFN %LG IRUPV FDQ EH VHFXUHG IRU IUHH DW WKH 2IÂżFH RI WKH 'LVSRVDO &RPPLWWHH &KDLUPDQ 2IÂżFH RI WKH $VVLVWDQW 5HJLRQDO 'LUHFWRU

'3:+ 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFH (QJLQHHUÂśV +LOO %XOXD &DJD\DQ de Oro City, thru the Regional Disposal Committee-Technical :RUNLQJ *URXS 7KH 'LVSRVDO &RPPLWWHH RI WKLV 2IÂżFH UHVHUYHV WKH ULJKW WR DFFHSW or reject any or all bids, waive any defect contained hereto and DFFHSW WKH RIIHU WKDW PRVW DGYDQWDJHRXV WR WKH JRYHUQPHQW

EDITORS AND DESKMEN Competencies • Excellent command of written and spoken English • Degree holder preferably in journalism, communications, or related discipline (e.g. political science or economics with journalism experience) • Experience in editing news, analytical reports and columns • Strong news judgment and familiarity with local issues, as well as an understanding of relevant world affairs • $ELOLW\ WR ZULWH DQG HGLW ZLWK ÀDLU DQG VSHHG WR PHHW WLJKW deadlines • )DPLOLDU ZLWK 0LFURVRIW 2I¿FH VRFLDO PHGLD DQG VHDUFK engines • Ability to lead and organize a team well • Good attitude, willingness to adjust to new systems and ability to respect authority within the organization REPORTERS Competencies • Excellent command of written and spoken English • Degree holder preferably in journalism, communications, or related discipline • Ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts in government and the private sector as source of information and analysis • Ability to identify the angle of news from a raft of available information or seek out information to build a solid news story • Familiarity with local issues and an understanding of relevant world affairs • $ VHQVH RI VSHHG DQG DFFXUDF\ LQ ZULWLQJ DQG ¿OOLQJ UHDO time stories to the news desk to meet tight deadlines • Knows Microsoft Office, social media and search engines • A good team player, but is able to work independently within the perimeters of a given assignment • Good attitude, willingness to adjust to new systems and ability to respect authority within the organization Interested applicants, please send a full resume, specifying your subject of expertise, with links to samples of online work or appropriate attachments.

Please email your resumĂŠ at: hrd@manilatimes.net, or you may apply personally at ) 6LWLR *UDQGH %OGJ $ 6RULDQR $YHQXH ,QWUDPXURV 0DQLOD )RUPHUO\ 75% %OGJ RU \RX PD\ FDOO Irish de Guzman at 524-5664 local 122

(SGD.) REY PETER B. GILLE, DM OIC – Assistant Regional Director Chairman, Regional Disposal Committee 07 0D\

B6

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

World

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

NKorea demands from America return of seized cargo ship SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea on Tuesday called the United States seizure of a North Korean cargo ship involved in banned coal exports a “robbery� and demanded that the vessel be returned immediately.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, carried a statement by an un-

named foreign ministry spokesman who accused the US of betraying the spirit of a summit agreement last June between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump.

Kim and Trump agreed then to a vague statement calling for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula

and improved bilateral ties, but a second meeting between the leaders collapsed in February over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament.

The seizure of the cargo ship, which was announced last week, came at a delicate moment in US-North Korean ties, with North

Korea resuming weapons tests that seem meant to force the US to ease sanctions. “The UN (United Nations) Security Council resolutions the United States mentioned as one of the reasons for robbing our trade vessel equate to a violent infringement of the sovereignty

of our country and we have been entirely rejecting them,� the KCNA statement said. “The United States should carefully consider what kind of consequences their daylight robbery could bring to the political situation and should send back our vessel without hesitation.�

Before the US seized the cargo ship, the 177-meter (581-foot) vessel, named the Wise Honest, HAD kRST BEEN DETAINED BY Indonesia in April 2018 while transporting a large amount of coal. It was brought Saturday to American Samoa, where it will undergo inspections.

AP

No major damage to ‘sabotaged’ tankers

IN DANGER

Honduran migrants take part in a caravan heading to the United States on the road linking Ciudad Hidalgo and Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico. The US Homeland Security revealed recently that the goverrnment is set to arrest thousands of undocumented immigrants, mostly from Central America, and immediately deport them to countries of origin. AFP PHOTO

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Four oil tankers anchored in the Mideast WERE DAMAGED BY WHAT 'ULF OFkcials described as sabotage, though satellite images obtained by The Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday showed no major visible damage to the vessels.

Details of the alleged sabotage to two Saudi, one Norwegian and one Emirati oil tanker on Sunday REMAINED UNCLEAR AND 'ULF OFkcials have declined to say who they suspected was responsible. But it demonstrated the raised risks for shippers in a region vital to global energy supplies as tensions are increasing between the US and Iran over its unraveling nuclear deal with world powers.

The US has warned sailors of the potential for attacks on commerCIAL SEA TRAFkC AND REGIONAL ALLIES of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemned the alleged sabotage as the tankers were off the coast of the UAE port city of Fujairah.

A US official in Washington, without offering any evidence, told the AP that an American military team’s initial assessment indicated Iran or Iranian allies used explosives to blow holes in THE SHIPS 4HE OFkCIAL WHO WAS NOT authorized to discuss the investigaTION AGREED TO REVEAL THE kNDINGS

only if not quoted by name. The US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which patrols the Mideast and operates from a base in Fujairah, has repeatedly declined to comment.

The US already had warned ships that “Iran or its proxies�

COULD BE TARGETING MARITIME TRAFkC in the region. America is deploying an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf to counter ALLEGED STILL UNSPECIkED THREATS from Tehran.

Citing heightened tensions in the region, the United Nations (UN) called on “all concerned parties to exercise restraint for the sake of regional peace, including by ensuring maritime security� and freedom of navigation, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

The scale of the alleged sabotage also remained unclear. A statement from Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said two of the kingdom’s oil tankers, including one due to later carry CRUDE TO THE 53 SUSTAINED gSIGNIkcant damage.� However, a report from Sky News Arabia, a satellite channel owned by an Abu Dhabi ruling family member, showed the allegedly targeted Saudi tanker !L -ARZOQAH AlOAT WITHOUT ANY apparent damage.

AP

US to arrest, deport thousands of migrants W Worldinbriefs

ASHINGTON, D.C.:Homeland Security OFkCIALS CONSIDERED ARRESTING THOUSANDS OF MIGRANT FAMILIES WHO HAD kNAL DEPORTATION ORDERS AND REMOVING THEM FROM THE 53 IN A lASHY SHOW OF FORCE BUT THE IDEA WAS TABLED AS THE 4RUMP ADMINISTRATION GRAPPLED WITH STRAINING RESOURCES AND A GROWING NUMBER OF #ENTRAL !MERICANS CROSSING THE BORDER 4WO (OMELAND 3ECURITY OFkCIALS and two other people familiar with the proposal described it to The Associated Press (AP). They were not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

The idea was to arrest parents and children in 10 cities with large populations of immigrants living IN THE 53 ILLEGALLY SPECIkCALLY .EW York, Los Angeles and Chicago, they said, without naming others.

4HE PROPOSAL kRST REPORTED BY The Washington Post, was meant to send a message and possibly deter others from coming across the border, they said.

But then-Immigrations and Customs Enforcement head Ron Vitiello and then-Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen put the proposal aside over concerns about diverting resources from the border, a lack of detention space and the possibility

of renewed public outrage over treatment of families.

The Trump administration separated children from parents at the southern border last summer, a move that prompted mass outrage and criticism that the US was abandoning its humanitarian role and harming children.

Immigration experts say the separations, which were halted last June, did little to stop migrant crossings and, in fact, might have prompted more people to come.

The number of border crossings has risen dramatically in the past few months to more than 100,000 per month. More than half are families who cannot be easily sent back to their home countries.

"ORDER OFkCIALS SAY THEY WERE OUT of resources and manpower and could not keep up.

President Donald Trump has railed against the growing numbers and is furious that he had BEEN UNABLE TO STEM THE lOW OF migrants despite his campaign promise to clamp down on immigration. The White House recently asked Congress for $4.5 billion in supplemental funding, mostly for humanitarian aid and shelter space for migrant children. ICE planes have been used over the PAST FEW DAYS TO lY MIGRANTS TO less-crowded locations along the border for processing.

The tabled plan — it remains under consideration — included fast-tracking immigration cases to allow judges to order deportations for those who didn’t show up for hearings. It also prioritized the newest cases in order to deport people faster.

AP

Probe Online hate spreads like wildfire – UN of TrumpRussia collusion set WASHINGTON, D.C.: Attorney General William Barr has appointed an attorney to examine the origins of the Russia investigation and determine if intelligence collection involving the Trump campaign was “lawful and appropriate,� a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press (AP) on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Barr appointed John Durham, the US attorney in Connecticut, to conduct the inquiry, the person said.

The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Durham’s appointment comes about a month after Barr told members of Congress he believed “spying did occur� on the Trump campaign in 2016. He later said he did not mean anything pejorative and was gathering a team to look into the origins of the special counsel’s investigation.

Barr provided no details about what “spying� may have taken place, but appeared to be alluding to a surveillance warrant the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) obtained on a former Trump associate, Carter Page, and the FBI’s use of an informant while the bureau was investigating former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos. AP

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned hate speech was SPREADING ONLINE gLIKE WILDkREu AT A meeting with victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings Tuesday, vowing the world body would lead efforts to extinguish the problem.

Guterres visited the Al Noor mosque, one of two Muslim centers in the New Zealand city where a self-described white supremacist killed 51 people in a March 15 shooting that the attacker livestreamed on Facebook.

The UN chief is travelling the 3OUTH 0ACIkC TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMpact of climate change, but said he

also wanted to show his support for Christchurch’s Muslim community during Ramadan. “I know there are no words to relieve the hurt and sorrow and pain, but I wanted to come here personally to transmit love, support and total and complete admiration,� he said.

He told victims of the worst mass shooting in modern New Zealand history that there had been “a dangerous upsurge in hatred� as social media was exploited to promote bigotry. “Hate speech is spreading like WILDkRE IN SOCIAL MEDIA 7E MUST extinguish it,� the Portuguese dip-

lomat said. “There is no room for hate speech ‡ ONLINE OR OFlINE u He highlighted a previously announced plan for his special adviser on genocide prevention Adama Dieng to combat online extremism.

He said Dieng’s mission was to “bring together a United Nations team to scale up our response to hate speech and present a global plan of action�.

His remarks come as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who hosted Guterres when he arrived in Auckland on Sunday, embarks on her own quest to tame social media in Paris this week.

AFP

5 KILLED, 1 MISSING IN 2-PLANE COLLISION WASHINGTON, D.C.: Five people died and one person was missing on Monday after two floatplanes collided mid-air in Alaska while carrying passengers from a cruise ship’s sightseeing expedition, officials said. The two aircraft — a Beaver floatplane and an Otter floatplane — had been carrying 16 passengers from the Royal Princess cruise ship when they crashed near Ketchikan around 1 p.m. (1 a.m. in Manila), Princess Cruises said in a statement circulated by US media. The dead included four passengers and a pilot, according to Princess Cruises. Ten people were rescued and were receiving medical care.

AFP

US EVICTS VENEZUELA EMBASSY ACTIVISTS WASHINGTON, D.C.: Authorities served an eviction notice Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to activists who have stayed for more than a month inside the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington and asked them to leave immediately. The activists have been inside the embassy because they consider Nicolas Maduro the legitimate president of Venezuela. The US and 50 other countries say Maduro’s reelection was fraudulent and have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president.

Gustavo Tarre, Venezuela’s representative to the Organization of American States, told The Associated Press that after the eviction notice was served, three activists left the building. Four remained, Tarre said.

AP

TRUMP BOOSTS ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS JERUSALEM: Israel’s government went on a spending binge in its West Bank settlements following the election of President Donald Trump, according to official data obtained by The Associated Press. Both supporters and detractors of the settlement movement have previously referred to a “Trump effect,� claiming the President’s friendlier approach to the settlements is leading to additional West Bank construction. While the new Israeli figures obtained in a freedom of information request do not prove a direct connection, they indicate this process may already be underway, showing a 39-percent increase in 2017 spending on roads, schools and public buildings across the West Bank.

AP

CARDINAL’S MANHOLE ACT ANGERS MINISTER ROME: Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has taken aim at a Vatican cardinal who climbed into a utility manhole to restore electricity to squatters in a stateowned building, pitting far-right Italian politics against Pope Francis’ humanitarian agenda. Salvini was incensed by the take-charge action of Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who is the pope’s official almsgiver. A rising force in Europe’s far-right politics, Salvini is insisting that Krajewski pay 300,000 euros (about $340,000) in back electricity bills for the Rome palazzo, tweeting Monday that Italians who pay for their own power must be “fools.�

AP

BRITAIN, NZ FLUNK ON PROTECTING KIDS’ RIGHTS THE Hague: Britain and New Zealand are failing on children’s rights, scoring lower than war-torn Syria and North Korea relative to their wealth in rankings released Tuesday by a children’s group. “Appalling� discrimination against migrant children and a lack of legal protection for poorer youths in New Zealand and the UK put them near the bottom of the annual survey by Dutch nongovernment organization KidsRights. “It’s a shame that countries like the United Kingdom and New Zealand are really at the lowest ranks of this index,�

Marc Dulleart, founder and chairman of KidsRights, told AFP. AFP

6 SHOT DEAD IN SUDAN PROTESTS

STATE VISIT Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) inspect Chinese honor guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. AFP PHOTO

KHARTOUM: Five Sudanese protesters and an army major were shot dead on Monday in the capital, hours after protest leaders and the ruling generals reached a breakthrough agreement on transitional authorities to run the country. The latest developments came as the prosecutor general’s office said ousted president Omar al-Bashir had been charged over the killings of protesters during anti-regime demonstrations that led to the end of his rule last month. The major and a protester were killed at a sit-in outside the army headquarters in Khartoum where thousands of protesters remain camped for weeks, demanding that the army generals who took power after ousting Bashir step down.

AFP

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Intl congress for PH seafarers, families set 4(% 0HILIPPINES IS THE LARGEST SUPPLIER OF SEAFARERS GLOBALLY OUT OF THE MILLION SEAFARERS ON INTERNATIONALLY TRADING MERCHANT SHIPS 4HE COUNTRY IS ALSO THE SECOND BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR OF MARITIME OFkCERS ACCORDING TO THE )NTERNATIONAL #HAMBER OF 3HIPPING 3EAFARERS ALSO REMAIN TO BE THE LARGEST REMITTERS DESPITE ONLY MAKING PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OVERSEAS &ILIPINO WORKERS !CCORDING TO THE "ANGKO 3ENTRAL NG 0ILIPINAS &ILIPINO SEAFARERS ON FOREIGN VESSELS WIRED A TOTAL OF BILLION IN CASH REMITTANCES VIA BANKS FROM *ANUARY TO &EBRUARY THIS YEAR A PERCENT GROWTH FROM MILLION DURING THE SAME PERIOD IN ! DYNAMIC INDUSTRY SEAFARING THUS BENEFITS FROM UPDATED AND RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS LAWS AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS !LL THESE AND MORE WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE 3EAFARER &AMILY )NTERNATIONAL #ONGRESS 3&)# A ONE OF A KIND EVENT FOR SEAFARER FAMILIES TO BE HELD ON !UG TO AT THE 0HILIPPINE )NTERNATIONAL #ONVENTION #ENTER

##0 #OMPLEX 0ASAY #ITY 7ITH THEME g!LL !BOARD 3EAFARING &AMILIES %NGAGING THE 7ORLD FOR 3USTAINABLE 7ELL "EING u THE CONGRESS AIMS TO CREATE A VENUE FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES MARITIME INDUSTRY LEADERS AND THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH DISCUSSION ON VARIOUS ISSUES RELEVANT TO SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES g7E ARE COMMITTED TO GIVING A PLATFORM FOR MARITIME PROFESSIONALS THEIR FAMILIES AND INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS TO EXCHANGE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIFE OF SEA BASED WORKERS AND

ENSURE THE WELFARE OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY S HEART THE SEAFARER FAMILY u SAID -ARISSA /CA 0RESIDENT 'IG AND THE !MAZING 3AMPAGUITA &OUNDATION )NC '!3&) 3UPPORTED BY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS THE SHOW IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT OVER

DELEGATES FROM SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES THE MARITIME INDUSTRY TRADE AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS OF THE ACADEME LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

AND OTHER INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS %XHIBITORS INCLUDE MANNING AGENCIES MARITIME SCHOOLS AND TRAINING CENTERS OFFSHORE COMPANIES AND AGENCIES 3EAFARER 5NIONS

#HRISTIAN MARITIME ASSOCIATIONS

-IGRANT MINISTRIES AIRLINES AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIPS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS kNANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

FRANCHISING OPERATORS HOSPITALS AND CLINICS HOTELS RESORTS AND RESTAURANTS INSURANCE COMPANIES MALL AND SHOPPING COMPLEX AS WELL AS COMPANIES PROVIDING ANCILLARY SERVICES TO THE MARITIME INDUSTRY !LSO JOINING THE EVENT ARE SHIPPING COMPANIES SHIP BUILDERS AND DRY DOCKING FACILITIES SHIP CHANDLERS PORT OPERATORS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR SEAFARER FAMILIES

ORGANIZATIONS AND COOPERATIVES

TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY DEVELOPERS

SOUVENIRS AND NOVELTY PRODUCTS

FOOD DELICACIES THEME PARKS AND AMUSEMENT CENTERS TOUR AND TRAVEL COMPANIES TRANSPORT OPERATORS

AND WELLNESS AND kTNESS CENTERS 3&)# IS ORGANIZED BY THE '!3&) AND MANAGED BY THE 0HILIPPINE %XHIBITIONS AND 4RADE #ORPORATION )NTERESTED EXHIBITORS MAY CALL OR EMAIL AT MARKETING SkC GMAIL COM

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Maritime

B7

Chelsea’s Q1 profit up by 21% to P139M C

HELSEA Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (Chelsea) reported a 21-percent increase in net income to P139 million, boosted by the strong growth IN ALL BUSINESS SEGMENTS DURING THE kRST quarter of the year.

#HELSEA 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FFICER #HRYSS !LFONSUS $AMUY HAS ATTRIBUTED THE STRONG FINANCIAL RESULT TO THE EXPANSION PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE g7E ARE THRILLED WITH THE REMARKABLE PARTIAL RESULTS OF OUR LOGISTICS EXPANSION PROGRAM IN TERMS OF TOP AND BOTTOM LINE AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING u $AMUY SAID #HELSEA GENERATED REVENUES OF 0 BILLION FOR THE kRST QUARTER OF BRINGING ITS NET INCOME TO 0 MILLION PERCENT HIGHER THAN 0 MILLION REPORTED IN

THE SAME PERIOD IN #HELSEA A MARKET LEADER IN SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY POSTED SHIPPING REVENUES OF 0 BILLION IN THE kRST QUARTER HIGHER BY PERCENT THAN LAST YEAR S SAME PERIOD 3HIPPING COMPRISED PERCENT OF ITS TOTAL REVENUES 2EVENUES FROM PASSAGE BUSINESS WENT UP

BY PERCENT GENERATING 0 MILLION 4ANKERS AND TUGS REVENUES ROSE BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION WHILE FREIGHT REVENUES GREW PERCENT TO 0 MILLION IN THE kRST QUARTER OF

#HELSEA MORE THAN DOUBLED ITS REVENUES FROM LOGIST I C S S E R V I C E S T O 0 M I L LION AGAINST THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR CONTRIBUTING PERCENT TO THE REVENUE PIE )TS VESSEL - 4 #HELSEA 0ROVIDENCE S OPERATIONS LARGELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE PERCENT INCREASE IN THE CHARTERING REVENUES COMPARED TO kRST QUARTER RESULTS DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR g/UR BIGGEST VESSEL - 4 #HELSEA 0ROVIDENCE STARTED TRADING AND SERVICING VARIOUS PORTS IN THE 3OUTHEAST !SIAN REGION BEGINNING .OVEMBER LAST YEAR u $AMUY SAID /THER NEWLY ACQUIRED BRAND NEW *APAN BUILT ROLL ON ROLL OFF PASSENGER 2O0AX VESSELS NAMELY

- 6 3TELLA DEL -AR - 6 3ALVE 2EGINA AND - 6 4RANS !SIA HAVE ALSO COMMENCED OPERATIONS AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMPANY S

kRST QUARTER RESULTS IN /N !PRIL #HELSEA TOOK DELIVERY OF ANOTHER *APAN BUILT 2O0AX FERRY WITH THE SAME SIZE AND DESIGN $RIVEN BY THE ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF VESSELS #HELSEA S COST OF SALES AND SERVICES OPERATING EXPENSES AND OTHER CHARGES SIMILARLY ROSE BY PERCENT PERCENT AND PERCENT RESPECTIVELY g7E ARE CONTINUOUSLY EXPANDING AND OPTIMIZING OUR LOGISTICS ASSETS AND SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND OUR REACH g HE ADDED ,AST YEAR #HELSEA BROKE GROUND ITS HECTARE PROPERTY ALONG # ROAD FOR A WAREHOUSE COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY )T WAS ALSO OPENING ADDITIONAL WORK LINK BRANCHES IN THE 6ISAYAS AND -INDANAO REGIONS TO FURTHER BROADEN ITS NETWORK

GENIVI FACTAO

Q One of the ships handled by International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s port in Ecuador. PHOTO BY ICTSI

Introducing tech-voc courses in maritime A NEW training center recently opened and is set to offer technical-vocational (tech-voc) programs and maritime skills development not just for seafarers but other enrollees as well.

Securing a partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) the Asian Seafarers Institute (ASI) is not just going to focus on maritime related trainings, but is also set to offer tech-voc programs and skills training and development in industrial, community livelihood and other Tesda corporate trainings which has the main goal to have an enrollment to employment program.

ASI was unveiled last May 10 and according to aits Malaysian Training Director, Mohana Das, it was set up primarily to introduce and establish high-level maritime safety and simulator courses based on realism, augmented and virtual reality and Maritime Security like the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

Das pointed out “This aims to institute a program to our community of Filipino seafarers and maritime professionals involving all aspiring Filipinos who wish to get a skills certificate in order to find decent jobs, a better community and a progressive livelihood,” Das said.

ASI offers Simulator Courses like Bridge Familiarization, Bridge Resource

Management Bridge Team Management, Bridge Resource Management Refresher, Bridge Team Management Refresher, Chart Correction, Coastal Navigation, Collision Avoidance, Extreme Weather Course, Passage / Voyage Planning Comprehensive, Radar Simulator Course, Radio Communication and Port Control Reporting, Ship Handling and Maneuvering, and Ship Steering Course.

ASI also offers Steward and Culinary Courses such as Bartending, Basic Food Nutrition and Proper Diet, Catering Management with MLC 2006, Food Handling, Food Hygiene, Galley Hygiene and Food Sanitation, Good Housekeeping, Health and Hygiene Management, Messman Course, Shipboard Cleaning Management, and Victualling On Board Ship.

Meanwhile ASI President Jesser Cordova said ASI had a mission to spread the power of training for a better livelihood for both local and international maritime community under TRIUMPH core values — Teamwork, Reliability, Integrity, Ultra, Management, Perseverance and Humanity.

Gracing the launch ceremony is former Master and Mates Association of the Philippines Inc. National Secretary and Maritime Industry expert Capt.

Rodolfo Aspillaga.

RAFFY AYENG

ICTSI Ecuador handles mega ship ).4%2.!4)/.!, #ONTAINER 4ERMINAL 3ERVICES )NC S )#43) %CUADORIAN SUBSIDIARY #ONTECON 'UAYAQUIL HAS SERVICED #HINESE lAG MEGA VESSEL

#-! #'- #OCHIN THAT OPERATES IN THE %CUADOR !SIA ROUTE *OS¼ !NTONIO #ONTRERAS #ONTECON 'UAYAQUIL 3! #'3! CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER SAID THE 0ORT OF 'UAYAQUIL WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE LARGER VESSELS SERVING THE INTRA 0ACIkC TRADE BECAUSE OF THE RECENT DREDGING OF THE KILOMETER MAIN ACCESS CHANNEL LEADING TO THE COUNTRY S PRIMARY SEAPORT g7E CONGRATULATE AND SUPPORT THE #ITY OF 'UAYAQUIL IN ITS INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE MARITIME ACCESS TO THE PORT 4HE DREDGING OF THE

ACCESS CHANNEL PAVED THE WAY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THESE SHIPS WHICH IS SOMETHING WE LOOK FORWARD TO AS A HUGE BOOST TO THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ECONOMY u #ONTRERAS SAID #'3! SET A NEW OPERATIONAL BENCHMARK AFTER SERVICING THE NEO 0ANAMAX #-! #'- #OCHIN WHICH HAS METERS IN LENGTH METERS IN BEAM

DEADWEIGHT TONS $74 AND HAS A CAPACITY OF TWENTY FACT EQUIVALENT UNITS 4%5S 7ITH DEEPER WATERS THE 0ORT OF 'UAYAQUIL IS THE kRST IN %CUADOR TO ACCOMMODATE SHIPS OF THIS SIZEmELEVATING ITS STATUS AS A WORLD CLASS PORT g4HIS ALSO ALLOWS US TO MAXIMIZE OUR OPERATIONS 7E VE MADE THE

NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE THE EFkCIENT HANDLING OF THESE NEO 0ANAMAX VESSELS u HE ADDED %ARLIER IN -ARCH #'3! ALSO RECEIVED THE 4%5 CAPACITY BOXSHIP #!0 3AN 3OUNIO DESCRIBED AS A STIMULUS FOR MARITIME ACTIVITY AND TRADE )N /CTOBER THE #ITY OF 'UAYAQUIL GRANTED ,UXEMBORG BASED *AN $E .UL 'ROUP A YEAR CONCESSION FOR THE DREDGING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PORT S ACCESS CHANNEL 4HE %CUADORIAN GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO WORKING ON THE 3OUTHERN 6IADUCT 0ROJECT

WHICH WOULD CONNECT THE PORT TO %L /RO PROVINCE AND THE SOUTHERN

PART OF THE COUNTRY VIA A NEW ROAD AND TWO BRIDGES 5PON COMPLETION THESE PROJECTS WOULD FURTHER IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE PORT TO PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE ROBUST TRADE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REGION #URRENTLY #'3! IS %CUADOR S TOP TRADE FACILITATOR FOR BANANA

SHRIMP FISH COCOA AND WOOD AS WELL AS THE IMPORTATION OF RAW MATERIALS GENERAL MERCHANDIZE

GOODS AND kNISHED PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMPTION .EARLY PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY S IMPORTS AND EXPORTS PASS THROUGH 'UAYAQUIL DUE IN PART TO ITS PROXIMITY TO AGRICULTURAL AND EXPORT ZONES GENIVI FACTAO

Garbage at sea First of two parts

T

WO weeks after the issue of lOATING GARBAGE IN THE WEST 0HILIPPINE 3EA WAS EXPOSED THE SAME HAD TO BE PUSHED BACK AS NEWS ON THE MIDTERM ELECTION TOOK CENTER STAGE 2EMEMBER HOW THE 3UPREME #OURT -ANDAMUS RELATING TO THE CLEANUP OF -ANILA "AY 7HY IS ITNECESSARY FOR THE HIGHEST COURT OF THE LAND TO TELL GOVERNMENT TO MIND THE TRASHÜ )N THE 0HILIPPINES RATIkED !NNEX 6 OF THE )NTERNATIONAL #ONVENTION ON THE 0REVENTION OF 0OLLUTION FROM 3HIPS -ARPOL A BIT LATE FOR AN ARCHIPELAGO INDEED "UT JUST THE SAME ITS GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER COMPELLING REASON TO CHECK ON SHIPS NAVIGATING IN THE WATERS OF THIS ARCHIPELAGO AS POSSIBLE SOURCE OF MARINE LITTER !S A PARTY TO -ARPOL THE

0HILIPPINES IS OBLIGED TO PUT UP LEGISLAITON AND OR IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT SHIP GENERATED WASTES DEkNED AS GARBAGE UNDER THE CONVENTION ARE PROPERLY COLLECTED STORED TREATED AND DISPOSED %ACH OF THESE STEPS REQUIRE DETAILED REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SHIPS REGARDLESS OF TYPE

SIZE AND TRADING ROUTES I E IN DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL WATERS 4HIS MEANS -ARPOL PROVISIONS ARE APPLICABLE TO ALL SHIPS INCLUDING SMALL CRAFTS AND kSHING VESSELS

Prohibited discharge at sea -ARPOL !NNEX 6 PROHIBITS THE DISCHARGE OF PLASTICS OF ANY KIND INTO THE SEA 4HIS IS A TALL ORDER FOR A COUNTRY THAT HAS A PENCHANT FOR SINGLE USE PLASTICS THE 0HILIPPINES IS RECORDED AS ONE OF THREE !SIAN COUNTRIES WITH

PLASTICS AT SEA )T IS SAID THAT PLASTICS IS AS DAMAGING AS AN OIL SPILL YET NOT MANY WOULD ASSOCIATE PLASTICS AS THE EFFECT IS NOT AS DRAMATICALLY VISIBLE /NE INTRIGUING QUESTION COMES TO MIND DOES THE 0HILIPPINES NEEDS TO BECOME PARTY TO -ARPOL !NNEX 6 IN ORDER TO REGULATE GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL ONBOARD SHIPS 'OOD HOUSEKEEPING SHOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL FEATURE OF ANY SHIP IT IS AFTER ALL THE WORKPLACE OF THE CREW -UCH MORE IS DEMANDED OF SHIPS WHICH CATER TO PASSENGERS AS THE VOLUME OF WASTE COULD BE EXPECTEDLY HIGH )MPLEMENTING -ARPOL !NNEX 6 IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT APPEARS TO BE 4HE PROVISION OFGARBAGE BINS WHERE PASSENGERS AND CREW CAN THROW TRASH IS EASY BUT GETTING PEOPLE ONBOARD TO USE THESE BINS IS ANOTHER STORY 4HIS BECOMES EVEN MORE DIFkCULT WHEN THE BINS IDENTI-

SEATHROUGH ATTY. BRENDA V. PIMENTEL FY SEGREGATED TRASH 7HAT IS BIODEGRADEABLE AND NONBIODEGRADEBLE GARBAGE )S PAPER PLATE COVERED WITH PLASTIC COVER BIODEGRADEABLE 3OME SAY DISPOSING A PAPER CUP WITH PLASTIC STRAW IN DIFFERENT TRASH CANS WOULD BE TOO CUMBERSOME &OOD WASTES ARE ALLOWED TO BE DISCHARGED AT SEA "54 ONLY IF THESE ARE PASSED THROUGH A COMMINUTER AND WHEN THE SHIP IS EN ROUTE AND IS AT LEAST NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE NEAREST LAND 4HEREFORE REMNANTS OF FOOD CAN NOT JUST BE THROWN AT SEA AND PROHIBITING SUCH WILL HAVE TO BE PART OF THE IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS OF -ARPOL !NNEX 6

! PERTINENT QUESTION IS ASKED WHICH AGENCY IS TO IMPLEMENT -ARPOL !NNEX 6 4HE BILL IMPLEMENTING -ARPOL AND ALL ITS ANNEXES IS STILL PENDING IN #ONGRESS FOR THE LAST kFTEEN YEARS OR SO .ONETHELESS THERE IS NOTHING THAT SHOULD STOP THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION FROM FORMULATING AND ADOPTING REGULATIONS TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS AT SEA AS PART OF THE SERVICE STANDARDS REQUIRED IN THE GRANT OF THE CERTIkCATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE

Port reception facilities 4HEN THERE IS THE ISSUE OF HOW GARBAGE IS TO BE RECEIVED ASHORE "Y WHOM !ND WHAT REGULATIONS GOVERN THE DISPOSAL 0ARTIES TO -ARPOL !NNEX 6 COMMIT TO PROVIDE RECEPTION FACILITIES FOR ACCEPTING GARBAGE FROM SHIPS

!GAIN THIS MAY TURN UP TO BE COMPLICATED NOT AS MUCH AS TO THE RECEIPT BUT MORE ON HOW THESE LANDED GARBAGE ARE TRANSPORTED AND EVENTUALLY DISPOSED )N THIS RESPECT THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAS TO BE CLEARLY DEkNED 4HE 3UPREME #OURT MANDAMUS ISSUED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BORDERING THE -ANILA "AY TO CLEANUP THE COASTAL WATERS SHOULD INCLUDE THE PUTTING UP OF A SYSTEM OF RECEIVING SHIP GENERATED GARBAGE /NE WONDERS IS PART OF THE GARBAGE SAID TO BE COMING FROM ASHORE THE SAME GARBAGE THAT WERE LANDED FROM SHIPS -AYBE THIS QUESTION HAS NO BASIS IF THE SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING TRANSPORTING

TREATING AND kNALLY DISPOSING OF GARBAGE FROM SHIPS IS KNOWN !ND TO THIS THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS HIGHLIGHTED 4HIS IS BEYOND -ARPOL !NNEX 6

B8

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Maritime

BY GENIVI FACTAO

T

HE Marino party-list, an organization of Filipino seafarers, is expected to have two seats in Congress, thanks to the endorsement of President Duterte.

THAT THE VOTES OF !NGKLA WERE DWINDLING )N !NGKLA PARTY LIST GOT VOTES AND WAS RANKED TH )N IT GARNERED VOTES TAKING THE ND SPOT "UT THIS YEAR

IT GATHERED VOTES AND WAS RANKED RD AS OF P M (E SAID THE PROBLEM BESETTING THE 3TANDARDS OF 4RAINING #ERTIkCATION

AND 7ATCHKEEPING 34#7 FOR 3EAFARERS AFFECTED !NGKLA S CANDIDACY 4HE SEAFARERS COMMENT WAS THE PROCESS BECOME MORE DIFkCULT WHEN THE FUNCTIONS OF 0ROFESSIONAL 2EGULATION #OMMISSION 02# WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE -ARITIME )NDUSTRY !UTHORITY -ARINA 4HE SEAFARERS SUPPORT WAS THEN SHIFTED TO -ARINO 0ARTYLIST g!NGKLA HAS GAINED ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE VOTES IT HAD FROM THE PREVIOUS ELECTION -ARINO PARTY LIST ON THE OTHER HAND JUMPED FROM TH PLACE WITH

VOTES IN TO TH SPOT THIS ELECTION )T BENEkTED FROM THE ADVERTISEMENT AND ENDORSEMENT BY THE 0RESIDENT 4HE CHALLENGE NOW IS HOW TO KEEP THEIR WORDS AND MAKE THE VOTES WORTH IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE NOMINEES WERE NOT KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY u HE SAID (E SAID THE CANDIDACY OF -ARINO PARTY LIST WAS ALSO SUPPORT-

Q Marino party-list first nominee Carlo Lisandro Gonzalez.

ED BY WELL KNOWN BUSINESSES IN $AVAO !NGKLA ON THE OTHER HAND WAS BACKED BY BUSINESS SECTOR FROM MANNING AGENCIES

SHIPYARD OPERATORS AMONG OTHERS g)T SHOWED THE STRENGTH OF 0RESIDENT $UTERTE S ENDORSEMENT u COMMENTED !NGKLA SUPPORTER %NGR 4HADDEUS *OVELLANOS 6ICE PRESIDENT OF THE 3OCIETY OF .AVAL !RCHITECTS AND -ARINE %NGINEERS )NC 3ONAME -ARINO PARTY LIST AGENDA WAS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO &ILIPINO SEAFARERS IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 0HILIPPINE -ARITIME INDUSTRY g7E WILL SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF 0RESIDENT $UTERTE TOWARDS A MODERN AND VIBRANT MARITIME INDUSTRY AND A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE &ILIPINO SEAFARER FOR A MORE PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPED AND SECURE 0HILIPPINES u -ARINO SAID -ARINO VOWED TO FORMULATE

AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE .ATIONAL -ARITIME $EVELOPMENT 0OLICY TOWARDS A COHESIVE DETAILED PROGRAM FOR AN INTEGRATED GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE MARITIME INDUSTRY

BY FOCUSING ON MARITIME HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DOMESTIC SHIPPING SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIR AND OVERSEAS SHIPPING )T WOULD ALSO ENSURE ADEQUATE BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION

HEALTH SERVICES JOB CREATION AND LIVELIHOOD PROMOTION -EANWHILE !NGKLA S UNkNISHED TASKS INCLUDE THE PASSAGE OF FOUR MARITIME BILLS INTO LAWS 4HESE WERE (OUSE "ILL (" THAT WILL ESTABLISH A SINGLE CLASSIkCATION SOCIETY TO IMPROVE MARITIME SAFETY (" g4HE /&7 3OVEREIGN &UND u (" AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SCOPE AND PROCEDURE FOR 0HILIPPINE 3HIP 2EGISTRY AND ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOLS OR THE ("

ISWAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROGER HARRIS

Promoting social justice at sea

BY YASHIKA F. TORIB ',/"%42/44).' LIFESTYLE !DVENTURE kLLED JOB ,UCRATIVE CAREER OFFERS 4HESE ARE SOME OF THE COMMON REASONS WHY THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN lOCK TO MARITIME INSTITUTIONS EVERY YEAR WITH HIGH HOPES OF WORKING ONBOARD SHIPS AND MAKING IT BIG IN THE GLOBAL MARITIME INDUSTRY "EHIND THE ROMANTICIZED PERSONA OF SHIP CAPTAINS AND THE PERCEIVED GLAMOUR OF THE PROFESSION HOWEVER

IS THE NOMADIC ISOLATED HECTIC AND PERILOUS LIFE AT SEA 7HILE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD S POPULATION BENEkT FROM THE LABORS OF A SEAFARER BEING THAT PERCENT OF GLOBAL TRADE AND COMMODITIES ARE MOVED BY SEA TRANSPORT ONLY A FEW TRULY SEES AND UNDERSTANDS THE STRUGGLES OF A MERCHANT MARINER 2OGER (ARRIS IS AMONG THEM (ARRIS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE )NTERNATIONAL 3EAFARERS 7ELFARE AND !SSISTANCE .ETWORK )SWAN SEES THROUGH THE SHEER FABRIC OF MISCONCEPTION IN THE SEAFARING PROFESSION AND TOOK ACTION g) BELIEVE THAT THE LIVES OF SEAFARERS ARE LARGELY HIDDEN FROM VIEW 4HE WIDER SOCIETY DOES NOT REALIZE THE ROLE THAT SEAFARERS PLAY IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES 7E OWE THEM A LOT u THE ,ONDON BASED DIRECTOR SAID EXPLAINING THAT HIS PASSION TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE WELL BEING OF THE WORLD S SEAFARERS COME FROM WANTING SOCIETIES ALL AROUND THE GLOBE gTO RECOGNIZE THE HUGE DEBT WE OWE TO SEAFARERS AND THE SACRIkCES OF THEIR FAMILIES u )SWAN IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS THE WELFARE OF SEAFARERS ALL OVER THE WORLD BY PROVIDING FREE SERVICES TO A CONCERNED INDIVIDUAL AND OR HIS FAMILY )TS HOUR MULTILINGUAL HELPLINE 3EAFARER(ELP IS ONE OF THE DIRECT WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO SEAFARERS /THER ASSISTANCE INCLUDES RELIEF FUNDS FOR SEAMEN AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN NEED AND A RANGE OF HEALTH INFORMATION RESOURCES )T ALSO WORKS WITH COMPANIES

UNIONS GOVERNMENTS WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS AND PORTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE )NTERNATIONAL ,ABOR /RGANIZATION S ),/

-ARITIME ,ABOR #ONVENTION &OR MORE THAN YEARS OF PROMOTING SEAFARERS WELFARE (ARRIS OBSERVED THAT THE MOST COMMON CONCERN AMONG MERCHANT MARINERS IS THE UNPAID WAGES g7HILE GOOD COMPANIES PAY ON TIME THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO EITHER DELAY PAYING WAGES OR IN EXTREME CASES DON T PAY THEM AT ALL /F COURSE IF A SEAFARER HAS NOT BEEN PAID FOR MONTHS THIS WILL CAUSE THEM A LOT OF STRESS AS THEY USUALLY HAVE AN EXTENDED FAMILY DEPENDING ON THEM BEING PAID ON TIME u HE SAID ! SURVEY CONDUCTED BY -ARINE )NSIGHT REVEALS THAT WHAT USUALLY TROUBLES A SEAFARER ARE THE INCREASE IN PAPERWORK BROUGHT ABOUT BY NEW LAWS AND GUIDELINES ONBOARD POLITICS

SOCIAL ISOLATION HOMESICKNESS PIRACY

REDUCED SHORE LEAVES AND STRINGENT MARITIME LAWS 4HESE CONCERNS RESULTED TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AMONG THE SEAFARERS A STRAIN THAT HAS SEEN A STEADY INCREASE FOR THE PAST kVE YEARS ACCORDING TO (ARRIS 4HE WORST CONCERN THAT WAS EVER ENDORSED TO )SWAN IS THE CASE OF PIRACY WHERE SEAFARERS WERE HELD FOR LONG PERIODS BY 3OMALI PIRATES g4HE MOST EXTREME CASE HAS BEEN THAT OF THE seafarers of the &6 .AHAM who were HELD FOR FOUR AND HALF YEARS BY PIRATES IN 3OMALIA &IVE OF THE CREW WERE FROM THE 0HILIPPINES AND THREE OF THE ORIGINAL CREW DIED 4HE CREW WERE HELD UNDER VERY POOR CONDITIONS AND THE OWNER DID NOT PAY THE FAMILIES OF THE SEAFARERS WHILE THEY WERE BEING HELD HOSTAGE u (ARRIS RECALLED 4HE /MANI FLAGGED FISHING VESSEL WAS HIJACKED IN -ARCH ROUGHLY NAUTICAL MILES FROM 3EYCHELLES OFF %AST !FRICA 4HE CREW CONSISTED OF MEMBERS FROM #AMBODIA #HINA

)NDONESIA THE 0HILIPPINES 4AIWAN AND 6IETNAM 4HEY WERE THE SECOND LONGEST HELD CAPTIVES BY 3OMALI PIRATES NEXT TO THE CREW OF &6 0RANTALAY WHICH WERE HELD FOR kVE YEARS !S THE MANNING AGENCY THAT DEPLOYED THE SAID &ILIPINO CREW WAS DISCOVERED TO BE ILLEGAL AND WAS EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN )SWAN STEPPED IN TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES AND TRAUMATIZED SEAFARERS 4HE PSYCHOLOGICAL SCARS INCURRED BY THE MEN DURING YEARS OF CAPTIVITY AND THE SUDDEN ADJUSTMENTS OF THEIR FAMILY WERE

w w w.manilatimes.net

EDITOR: Carmela I. Huelar

Marino party-list expected to take 2 seats in Congress !NG -ARINO GARNERED

VOTES AS OF P M ON 4UESDAY

BASED ON THE PARTIAL AND UNOFkCIAL RESULTS REPRESENTING PERCENT OF THE .ATIONWIDE %LECTION 2ETURNS

OF %LECTION 2ETURNS

OF

2EGISTERED 6OTERS GATHERED FROM THE #OMELEC 4RANSPARENCY 3ERVER !NG -ARINO WAS NUMBER SEVEN IN THE PARTY LIST RACE WHILE ITS RIVAL

!NGKLA PARTY LIST LED BY !NGKLA 2EP *ESULITO -ANALO WAS FALLING BEHIND

GARNERING ONLY VOTES AS OF P M ON 4UESDAY !CCORDING TO $ENNIS 'ORECHO

HEAD OF THE SEAFARERS DIVISION OF THE 3APALO 6ELEZ "UNDANG "ULILAN LAW OFkCES ALL THREE NOMINEES OF -ARINO ARE NOT SEAFARERS &IRST NOMINEE #ARLO ,ISANDRO 'ONZALEZ IS THE SON OF #ARLOS g#HARLIEu 'ONZALES OWNER OF 5LTICON "UILDERS )NC 5") A GENERAL CONTRACTOR 4HE SECOND NOMINEE IS *OSE !NTONIO ,OPEZ WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH 5") AND NOW HANDLES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT 5DENNA OWNED BY $AVAO BUSINESSMAN $ENNIS 5Y )TS THIRD NOMINEE IS #ARLO 0IO 0ACANA A FORMER HUMAN RESOURCE BUSINESS PARTNER IN 3UMIFRU 0HIL 'ORECHO SAID IT WAS OBVIOUS

˜ The Manila Times

ATTENDED TO BY REPRESENTATIVES OF )SWAN IN THE 0HILIPPINES THROUGH MEDICAL CHECKS AND COUNSELLING

Working with Filipino seafarers /VER A DECADE OF PROVIDING WELFARE SERVICES TO SEAFARERS ALL OVER THE WORLD (ARRIS OBSERVED THAT MOST NUMBER OF CASES RECEIVED BY )SWAN COMES FROM &ILIPINO AND )NDIAN SEAMEN 4HIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT MAJORITY OF THE WORLD S SEAFARERS HAIL FROM THESE COUNTRIES (ARRIS STATED THAT MOST &ILIPINOS SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM )SWAN ARE COMMONLY CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF SHIPBOARD EMPLOYMENT 4HIS PROVES TRUE ESPECIALLY FOR AGING SEAFARERS WHO ARE TURNED AWAY BY MANNING AGENTS WHO PREFER YOUNGER AND MORE AGILE CREW )T IS ALSO EVIDENT WITH THE EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF NEW GRADUATES WHO REMAIN UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED DUE TO LACK OF SHIPBOARD OPPORTUNITIES g4HIS CONCERN IS CLOSELY FOLLOWED

BY UNPAID WAGES THESE CASES WE OFTEN REFER TO THE )NTERNATIONAL 4RANSPORT 7ORKERS &EDERATION )4& OR THEIR AFkLIATED UNIONS UPON THE PERMISSION OF THE CONCERNED SEAFARER u (ARRIS SAID ADDING THAT SOME OF THE CREW S DILEMMA OCCASIONALLY STEMS FROM UNJUST PRACTICES OF MANNING AGENTS OR SHIPPING AGENCIES g7HERE )SWAN HAS ISSUES WITH CREWING AGENCIES OR SHIPPING COMPANIES WE WILL NORMALLY CONTACT THE &LAG 3TATE OR THE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE )NTERNATIONAL #HAMBER OF 3HIPPING $URING CASES OF ABANDONMENT WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIONS AND SHIP OWNER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS THE REGULATORY BODIES SUCH AS THE )NTERNATIONAL -ARITIME /RGANIZATION OR )NTERNATIONAL ,ABOR /RGANIZATION u HE EXPLAINED 4HE )SWAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHARED THAT HIS PASSION FOR kGHTING SOCIAL INJUSTICES BEGAN IN HIS TEENAGE YEARS WHEN HE WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST APARTHEID OR THE RACIAL SEGREGATION IN 3OUTH !FRICA g) WAS ONLY A STUDENT WHEN ) STARTED CAMPAIGNING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE 7HEN FREEDOM kNALLY CAME TO 3OUTH !FRICA IN

Q Roger Harris.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO THE MID S WITH THE ELECTION OF .ELSON -ANDELA ) THEN BECAME INVOLVED IN FUNDRAISING FOR AN ()6 ORGANIZATION THE 4ERRENCE (IGGINS 4RUST u (ARRIS RECALLED 7HILE THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THE kGHT AGAINST ()6 AND !)$3 HE BELIEVES THAT THERE IS STILL SOME WAY TO GO TO ELIMINATE PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION &ROM BEING THE HEAD OF FUNDRAISING FOR #ONCERN 7ORLDWIDE AN INTERNATIONAL CHARITY kGHTING WORLD POVERTY (ARRIS kNALLY BROUGHT HIS PASSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY SAYING THAT THE SEA HAS ALWAYS INTERESTED HIM g) ALMOST SIGNED UP TO GO TO SEA AS A CADET WHEN ) WAS u HE RECALLED g) ONLY DECIDED AGAINST IT AS ) DID NOT WANT TO BE AWAY FROM MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS u 7HILE (ARRIS ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS NO TRADITION OF SEAFARERS IN HIS FAMILY HE WAS INSPIRED BY HIS GRANDFATHER WHO WORKED ON BARGES ON THE 2IVER 4HAMES AS A LIGHTERMAN A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKER WHO OPERATES THE UNPOWERED lAT BOTTOMED BARGES 4HIS APPRECIATION FOR A SEA BASED JOB AS WELL AS TO THE GENERATIONS OF SEAMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD LED (ARRIS TO CRUSADE FOR THEIR WELFARE g4HERE IS A LOT OF HELP AVAILABLE TO OUR SEAFARERS FROM A RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING WELFARE BODIES UNIONS

SHIPOWNERS AND CREWING AGENCIES )SWAN OFFERS HELP AND SUPPORT TO ANY SEAFARERS FROM ALL NATIONS THROUGH OUR 3EAFARER(ELP TEAM AT WWW SEAFARERHELP ORG /UR TEAM IS AVAILABLE HOURS A DAY AND THEY CAN SPEAK THE NATIVE LANGUAGES OF OUR SEAMEN TO INCLUDE THE &ILIPINOS u HE CONCLUDED

Stakeholders laud Marina effort in ‘White List’ MARITIME stakeholders, particularly manning agencies, lauded the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) for its continuing efforts to maintain the country’s reputation as the leading provider of maritime professionals and securing our spot in the International Maritime Organization’s”(IMO) White List”.

In an interview, RADM Adonis Donato, chairman of OSM Maritime Services Inc., one of the biggest agencies in the country and a leading provider of full service solutions to maritime and offshore enterprises, said that he was seeing “earnest” efforts done by Marina’s OIC-Administrator Narciso Vingzon Jr., to secure that the Philippines position in the current IMO White List.

Donato pointed out, “Since we are an IMO member, it is our duty to attend if we are summoned. We have to show them we are very much involved in asserting our position in the White List. Mabuti ang ginawa nila in going there in full force to tell IMO that the industry is united in addressing this concern”.

For her part, OSM President Mailyn Borillo maintained that Admiral Vingzon should continue seeking good advice from competent persons from the maritime industry in order to redeem the glory of the industry and continue the efforts to ensure the country’s compliance with IMO standards to firmly secure the livelihood of thousands of Filipino seafarers.

Marina, through the Department of Transportation (DOTr), recently released a statement that it has “ asserted” its position in the revised “White List” of Parties to the STCW Convention prepared by the Secretariat of the International

Maritime Organization (IMO), through an intervention during the 6th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW6) held at the IMO Headquarters in London, United Kingdom from April 29 to May 3, 2019.

Subsequently, Marina reiterated that during the sub-committee’s session the Philippine delegation, together with delegations from other parties of the STCW Convention, raised issues and questioned the IMO Secretariat regarding the sudden review and preparation of a draft revised White List, the procedures and the criteria for issuance of a revised list.

Vingson reiterated that no white list has been officially issued by the IMO excluding the Philippines, but added that “ to thresh the out issues and concerns, the creation of a ‘Working Group’ was agreed upon, so as to review the consistency of evaluation, and the competency of those who would review.

For his part, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade welcomed the recent development, and challenged Marina to exert all the necessary efforts to prepare for the independent evaluation, which is part of the Philippines’ compliance as a Party to the STCW Convention.

“This is good news for our maritime industry and the entire country. May this be treated as a challenge so that the MARINA and other concerned agencies perform at their best to prepare accordingly for the Independent Evaluation. We need to make sure that we will exert all the necessary efforts, commitment and support to make this next mission successful,” Secretary Tugade said.

RAFFY AYENG

A forward-looking maritime policy W

(%4(%2 WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF IT OR NOT WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT RELIES ON A SAFE SECURE AND SMOOTH SAILING SHIPPING INDUSTRY TO KEEP FUNCTIONING )T IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT SHIPPING RElECTS THE UNITY OF HUMAN EXISTENCE ON THIS PLANET &OR THIS REASON MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF ANY PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 7ITH THIS IN MIND )-/ DEVELOPED A ROAD MAP AS A GUIDE FOR COUNTRIES IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFkCIENT MARITIME TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION THAT MAKES IT SUSTAINABLE ! .ATIONAL -ARITIME 4RANSPORT 0OLICY IS SUCH A ROAD MAP A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES TO GUIDE DECISIONS IN THE MARITIME TRANSPORT SECTOR SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE MARITIME VISION OF A COUNTRY AND ENSURE THAT THE SECTOR IS CONSISTENTLY GOVERNED IN AN EFkCIENT SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANNER ! POLICY STARTS FROM A VISION OF WHAT THE MARITIME INDUSTRY SHOULD BE )T SHOULD ALSO BE REVIEWABLE AND UPDATEABLE ! POLICY THAT IS WRITTEN IN STONE IS STATIC AND WILL NEED CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR ANY CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE ! CLEAR MARITIME VISION MUST PROVIDE THE GUIDELINES AND PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD HELP OUR COUNTRY ACHIEVE ITS MARITIME GOALS LEADING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BY FOSTERING TRADE 7ITHOUT IT WE CANNOT REACH OUR OBJECTIVES FOR THE LONG TERM gLONG TERMu BEING THE OPERATIVE WORDS 4HE MARITIME VISION OF A COUNTRY SHOULD BE WIDE AND VARIED AND SHOULD ENCOMPASS BOTH SHIPPING INTERESTS AND OCEAN INTERESTS )F WE WERE TO LOOK AT JUST THE SHIPPING INTERESTS THE RANGE OF GOALS CAN INCLUDE SAFETY SECURITY POLLUTION PREVENTION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

PORT MANAGEMENT INVESTMENTS AND INCENTIVES COMPETITION CABOTAGE

ACCESS TO MARKETS AND MARITIME ADMINISTRATION TO NAME A FEW 4HE LIST CAN GO ON AND ON DEPENDING ON WHAT INTERESTS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED

DEVELOPED OR PROTECTED .O ONE PERSON OR AGENCY CAN CREATE THIS VISION AND PREPARE THE POLICY 7E NEED THE CONCERTED EFFORT OF MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS TO ACHIEVE IT 4HE WORD gCONCERTEDu IS IMPORTANT )T IS MORE THAN COMING TOGETHER MORE THAN COMBINING EFFORTS MORE THAN GROUP WORK MORE THAN GATHERING

MORE THAN ASSEMBLING g#ONCERTu IS

FROM THE DESK OF THE IMO AMBASSADOR CARLOS SALINAS FROM THE &RENCH WORD gCONCERTER u OR FROM THE )TALIAN gCONCERTARE u MEANING TO gHARMONIZE u 4HESE STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TOGETHER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR INCLUDING SHIP OWNERS WHICH CAN BE AS VARIED AS LINER OPERATORS AND PASSENGER FERRY OWNERS UNIONS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND TRAINING CENTERS

PORT OPERATORS SHIP DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS CLASS SOCIETIES INSURANCE COMPANIES AND 0 ) CLUBS AND LOGISTICS OPERATORS EACH WITH ITS OWN PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY !LL OF THESE MUST COME TOGETHER AND COORDINATE BLEND

BALANCE AND ACT IN HARMONY EACH GROUP CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROCESS AND STRIKING THE RIGHT NOTES (AVING A NATIONAL MARITIME TRANSPORT POLICY WILL HELP US FOCUS BETTER ON THE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTRY )T WILL HELP US DISCERN WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED

WHAT INVESTMENTS AND INCENTIVES SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE WHAT CONVENTIONS MUST BE RATIkED AND WHAT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT 4HE NATIONAL MARITIME TRANSPORT POLICY WILL HELP US DETERMINE HOW TO STRUCTURE AND DOVETAIL THE TWO SIDES OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY THE REGULATORY SIDE AND THE COMMERCIAL SIDE AND BE ABLE TO kND A FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNANCE WITHOUT HAMPERING BUSINESS !T THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WOULD BE MOST IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE A STRUCTURE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DEVELOP A VIBRANT COMPETITIVE PREDICTABLE AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL ENSURE CONTINUITY BEYOND THE PRESENT GENERATION AND ALLOW THE COUNTRY TO HAVE THE TOOLS IT NEEDS TO BECOME AN EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE GLOBAL MARITIME SECTOR 4HE LONG TERM BENEkTS FOR US AS A COUNTRY WOULD INCLUDE ECONOMIC GROWTH JOB GENERATION POVERTY ALLEVIATION ACCESS TO MARKETS MARITIME CONNECTIVITY AND EFkCIENCY

AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ! TRULY FORWARD LOOKING MARITIME POLICY RElECTS THE INEXTRICABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OCEAN AND WORLD CIVILIZATION

Sports

WEDNESDAY W MAY 15, 2019 M

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Q Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel Beer (No. 13) attempts to shoot against Rafi Reavis and Mark Barroca of Magnolia as June Mar Fajardo (No. 15) looks on during Game 6 of the best-of-seven Finals series of Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Moment of truth as Game 7 unfolds tonight

PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

D

EFENDING champion San Miguel Beer and Magnolia clash in a winner-take-all Game 7 tonight for the crown at 7 p.m. in of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

4HE "EERMEN ARE EYEING THEIR NINTH 0HILIPPINE #UP TITLE AND TH OVERALL SINCE JOINING THE LEAGUE IN AS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS g) HOPE WE CAN MAKE IT BACK TO BACK IN 'AME )T DID NOT HAPPEN BEFORE IN THIS SERIES BECAUSE -AG NOLIA KNEW HOW TO PLAY THIS KIND OF HARD GAME 4HEY ARE TRAINED TO HUSTLE PRESSURE AND EVERYTHING 4HEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT EV ERYTHING TO GAIN u SAID 3AN -IGUEL Beer coach Leo Austria, who is AIMING FOR HIS SEVENTH TITLE IN EIGHT kNALS APPEARANCES 4HE "EERMEN LOST ' A M E

Lakers confirm Vogel is new head coach LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed Monday (Tuesday in Manila) that former Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel had singed a multi-year contract to coach the storied NBA franchise.

The announcement follows multiple media reports at the weekend that Vogel would be the next head coach of a Lakers team led by NBA superstar LeBron James. “We are excited to add Frank Vogel as the next head coach of the Lakers,� Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. “Coach Vogel has a proven track record of success in the NBA playoffs, and he reflects the core qualities we were looking for in a head coach - including, detailed game preparation, extreme hard work, and holding players accountable to the highest basketball standards.�

Vogel said he was “very excited� by the opportunity. “I look forward to coaching such phenomenal talent and bringing my strategic vision to the team,� he said.

Vogel, 45, went 304-291 in eight seasons as an NBA coach, six with Indiana from 2010-2016 and the next two with a rebuilding Orlando Magic squad.

He led the Pacers to five playoff appearances and back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014.

Reports of his hiring came after the Lakers, who have missed the NBA playoffs for six consecutive seasons, reportedly were unable to come to terms with Tyronn Lue, a former coach of James with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James joined the team as a free agent prior to last season after eight consecutive trips to the NBA Finals with Miami and Cleveland.

The Lakers parted ways with coach Luke Walton last month.

Cavaliers name veteran college coach Beilein new head coach The Cleveland Cavaliers, in rebuilding mode after a 19-63 NBA season, have hired veteran collegiate coach John Beilein to fill their head coaching job, the team said Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Beilein replaces Larry Drew, who took over the job when Tyronn Lue was sacked six games into the Cavs’ first season since superstar LeBron James departed via free agency for the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 41 years coaching university teams Beilein has posted 35 winning seasons, and in his past 12 seasons at the University of Michigan he has mentored nine NBA draft choices and built a reputation as a savvy offensive tactician. “We could not be more thrilled to name John Beilein as the new coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers,� Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said in a statement. “First, John is a great human being. He cares deeply about his players and others who work for him and around him. He defines the words class, integrity and character. “He is a tireless worker who obsesses about finding better ways and the inches that will help his team and the organization grow. John is a brilliant basketball mind and last but not least, John Beilein is a winner.�

Beilein said he thought the Cavaliers were “the perfect fit�. “With hard work and dedication by all of us, we will grow this team day by day and reinforce a culture of success that sustains itself with strong core values,� he said. “Cleveland is a great city with amazing fans and I am really looking forward to calling Cleveland home for years to come.�

AFP

Q Head coach Frank Vogel of the Indiana Pacers reacts as he coaches in the first half against the Miami Heat during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2013 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

AFP PHOTO

THEN BOUNCED BACK IN 'AME BUT LOST 'AME 4HEY TIED THE SERIES

AFTER WINNING 'AME THEN LOST AGAIN 'AME 3AN -IGUEL "EER HOW EVER MANAGED TO FORCE A 'AME

BY WINNING 'AME ON 3UNDAY BEHIND *UNE -AR &AJARDO S SUPERB PERFORMANCE 4HE FIVE TIME -OST 6ALUABLE 0LAYER &AJARDO kNISHED WITH POINTS REBOUNDS AND BLOCKED TWO SHOTS IN 'AME g"UT ) M HAPPY MY PLAYERS HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE HOW TO

WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP 4HEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF HAPPINESS THEY WILL BRING TO THE FANS AND TO THEIR FAM ILY .EXT GAME WE ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT LEGACY ) HOPE WE KEEP OUR PRIDE THAT WE GOT IN PREVIOUS YEARS u !USTRIA ADDED 4HE (OTSHOTS ARE READY TO GO FOR BROKE IN 'AME TO DENY THE "EERMEN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP g7E ARE STILL POSITIVE 7E KNOW THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY u SAID -AGNOLIA COACH #HITO 6ICTOLERO g7E HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY "UT YOU KNOW IT S GOING TO BE A different story on Wednesday. We DON T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN BUT WE ALWAYS STAY POSITIVE u *IO *ALALON POSTED POINTS AND EIGHT ASSISTS TO LEAD -AGNOLIA IN 'AME -AGNOLIA IS GUNNING FOR A SEVENTH 0HILIPPINE #UP AND TH OVERALL TITLE SINCE JOINING THE 0"!

IN A Hotshots victory will ALSO GIVE 6ICTOLERO HIS SECOND STRAIGHT TITLE AS A COACH FOLLOW ING HIS WARDS WIN IN THE LAST 'OVERNORS #UP

Curry brother rivalry adds spice to NBA Western Conference finals LOS ANGELES: 'OLDEN 3TATE 7ARRIORS SUPERSTAR GUARD 3TEPHEN #URRY AND 0ORTLAND 4RAIL "LAZERS GUARD 3ETH #URRY WILL MAKE A LITTLE HISTORY when they clash in the NBA’s West ERN #ONFERENCE kNALS STARTING ON Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). !CCORDING TO THE %LIAS 3PORTS "UREAU IT WILL BE THE kRST TIME A PAIR OF BROTHERS HAVE PLAYED EACH OTHER IN A CONFERENCE kNAL ‡ AND THE kRST TIME TWO BROTHERS HAVE CLASHED IN THE PLAYOFFS SINCE 3PAIN S -ARC 'ASOL AND THE 'RIZ ZLIES TOOK ON 0AU 'ASOL S 3PURS IN THE kRST ROUND 4WO TIME ."! -OST 6ALUABLE 0LAYER 3TEPHEN #URRY

WILL BE PLAYING IN A kFTH STRAIGHT CONFER ENCE FINAL WHILE 3ETH WILL BE kGHTING FOR AN ."! &INALS BERTH FOR THE kRST TIME g3O MANY YEARS ) VE WATCHED 3TEPH PLAY IN THE 7ESTERN #ONFERENCE kNAL

THE ."! kNALS BEING IN THE CROWD u YEAR OLD 3ETH SAID AFTER THE 4RAIL "LAZERS EDGED THE $ENVER .UGGETS IN GAME SEVEN OF THEIR SECOND ROUND SERIES ON 3UNDAY g)T S GOING TO BE FUN TO BE OUT THERE ON THE COURT COMPETING TO GET TO THE kNALS )T S A DREAM COME TRUE FOR US TWO u )T MIGHT SEEM LIKE A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR THE BROTHERS PARENTS

FORMER #HARLOTTE (ORNETS STAR $ELL #URRY AND 3ONYA #URRY BUT 3ONYA TOLD 53 SPORTS BROADCASTER %30.

IT WAS A WIN WIN FOR THE FAMILY g&ROM OUR END TO SEE BOTH OF OUR SONS TO COMPETE AT THIS LEVEL AND FOR THE GOAL TO BE A CHAMPION SHIP IS SUCH A BLESSING u SHE SAID g7E NEVER COULD IMAGINE THIS g/NE OF THEM MIGHT GO HOME BUT WE RE GOING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP u 4HE #URRY PARENTS HAVE BEEN TRAVEL LING THE COUNTRY WATCHING THEIR SONS PLAYOFF GAMES $ELL #URRY TOLD %30.

THEIR BIGGEST DILEMMA NOW WILL BE DECIDING gWHO REPRESENTS WHO u "UT HIS WIFE HAD A SOLUTION FOR WHICH PAR ENT WILL WEAR "LAZERS GEAR AND WHICH WILL SPORT 7ARRIORS COLORS g7E ARE lIPPING A COIN EVERY GAME u SHE SAID

Q Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (No. 30) celebrates the team’s win over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series on May 10, 2019, in Houston.

Q Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard celebrates with guard Seth Curry and center Enes Kanter after the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series on May 12, 2019, in Denver.

AP PHOTOS

Injured Durant to miss Warriors’ series opener Golden state star Kevin Durant has been ruled out of Tuesday’s 7EDNESDAY IN -ANILA kRST GAME

of the NBA Western Conference kNALS AND COACH 3TEVE +ERR SAID HE COULD MISS MORE OF THE BEST OF SEVEN SERIES AGAINST THE 0ORTLAND Trail Blazers.

Durant was listed as out for

4UESDAY S GAME IN /AKLAND #ALI fornia, on the Warriors’ injury list, AND +ERR TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHEN $URANT WOULD RETURN FROM A RIGHT CALF STRAIN “Everyone needs to slow down a LITTLE BIT ON THE +EVIN STUFF u +ERR SAID AFTER THE TEAM PRACTICED ON -ONDAY g(E HASN T EVEN STEPPED ON THE lOOR YET 7E VE TRIED TO REMAIN SOMEWHAT VAGUE BECAUSE THE INJURY IS OPEN ENDED IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH TIME HE WILL NEED TO RECOVER u +ERR SAID HE THOUGHT THE UN CERTAINTY SURROUNDING $URANT S RETURN HAD LED SOME TO THINK HE D BE BACK SOONER THAN HE WILL g(E STILL HAS PAIN u +ERR SAID g3O THERE S TIME AHEAD OF HIM ON THE REHAB PROCESS u $URANT WAS AVERAGING A LEAGUE BEST POINTS IN THE PLAYOFFS when he was injured in the third QUARTER OF 'OLDEN 3TATE S VICTORY OVER (OUSTON IN GAME kVE OF THEIR SECOND ROUND SERIES last Wednesday.

The Warriors went on to seal the SERIES WITH A GAME SIX WIN WITHOUT Durant as an MRI showed the in jury was no worse than the strain ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED AFP

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Sports

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Marinero cruises past Perpetual Help MARINERONG Pilipino kept its QUARTERkNAL BID ALIVE AFTER CLOBBERING 5NIVERSITY OF 0ERPETUAL (ELP 3YSTEM $!,4!

IN THE 0HILIPPINE "ASKETBALL !SSOCIATION $EVELOPMENTAL ,EAGUE 0"! $ ,EAGUE ON 4UESDAY AT THE 9NARES 3PORTS !RENA IN 0ASIG #ITY 'AB "ANAL AND 3ANTI 3ANTILLAN LED THE 3KIPPERS TO AN IMPROVED RECORD AND A CHANCE TO SNARE THE REMAINING PLAYOFF BERTH IN THE &OUNDATION 'ROUP 6ETERAN FORWARD "ANAL POSTED A DOUBLE DOUBLE OF POINTS AND REBOUNDS WHILE SLOTMAN 3ANTILLAN kNISHED WITH A MARKER

BOARD DOUBLE DOUBLE -ARINERO WILL SAIL INTO THE NEXT ROUND SHOULD &AR %ASTERN 5NIVERSITY LOSE TO LEADING #ENTRO %SCOLAR 5NIVERSITY #%5 ON -AY -ARINERO HEAD COACH 9ONG 'ARCIA WAS HAPPY TO END THE SEASON ON A TWO WIN STREAK g7E RE HAPPY ESPECIALLY WITH OUR LAST TWO WINS u SAID 'ARCIA

WHOSE WARDS BEAT -ETROPAC 3AN

"EDA 5NIVERSITY

IN OVERTIME LAST 4HURSDAY g,IKE WHAT OUR MANAGEMENT WAS TELLING ME OUR JOB IS TO WIN OUR REMAINING GAMES ) M GLAD THE PLAYERS WORKED HARD THAT S WHY WE GOT THE JOB DONE u HE ADDED !RT !QUINO ADDED POINTS AND FIVE REBOUNDS FOR THE 3KIPPERS

WHO SHRUGGED OFF A SLOW START -ARINERO ERASED AN EARLY DISADVANTAGE THEN NOTCHED A HALFTIME LEAD BEHIND "ANAL AND 3ANTILLAN 4HE 3KIPPERS KEPT THE LEAD THAT BALLOONED TO AS HIGH AS POINTS

ON *ED -ENDOZA S TRIPLE MIDWAY THROUGH THE FOURTH QUARTER %DGAR #HARCOS LED THE ELIMINATED !LTAS WITH POINTS WHILE *IELO 2AZON AND 4ONTON 0ERALTA HAD AND MARKERS

RESPECTIVELY )N THE SECOND GAME AT PRESS TIME #%5 IS EYEING TO CLOSE IN ON THE TOP SEED WITH A WIN OVER OUSTED 7ANGS "ASKETBALL JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

Q UST’s Sisi Rondina (left) and Eya Laure PHOTOS BY ROGER RAÑADA

Tigresses eye end of nine-year title drought

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

U

NIVERSITY of Sto. Tomas (UST) is going all-out to end a nine-year TITLE DROUGHT AS IT TRIES TO kNISH OFF Ateneo De Manila University at 4 p.m. today in Game 2 of Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) WOMEN S VOLLEYBALL kNALS AT THE -ALL OF !SIA Arena in Pasay City.

4HE 'OLDEN 4IGRESSES ROARED TO A

SWEEP OF THE ,ADY %AGLES IN THE BEST OF THREE SERIES OPENER ON 3ATURDAY g7E RE NOT GOING TO STOP UNTIL IT IS OVER 7E RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE WHAT WE STARTED IN THIS PROGRAM

IMPROVE OUR GAME AND LESSEN OUR

MISTAKES SO THAT WE CAN kNISH THIS )F WE CAN END IT THIS 7EDNESDAY WE RE GOING TO DO IT u SAID 534 HEAD COACH +UNGFU 2EYES 0OWERED BY SEASON -OST 6ALUABLE 0LAYER AND GRADUATING CAPTAIN 3ISI 2ONDINA 534 S ATTACK OVERWHELMED !TENEO IN 'AME

SCORING SPIKES AGAINST AND SERVICE ACES AGAINST ONE 4HE 4IGRESSES ALSO LIMITED THE ,ADY %AGLES TO JUST kVE BLOCKS )T WAS A MEMORABLE TRIUMPH THAT SNAPPED 534 S GAME LOSING STREAK TO !TENEO g) LL GIVE MY ALL JUST TO GET THE CROWN BACK TO %SPAĂ„A u SAID 2ONDINA 2ONDINA NOTCHED A GAME HIGH POINTS BUILT ON SPIKES TWO BLOCKS AND AN ACE ON TOP OF EXCELLENT DIGS AND FIVE EXCELLENT RECEPTIONS 2ONDINA WILL ONCE AGAIN LEAD THE 4IGRESSES CHARGE ALONG WITH 2OOKIE OF THE 9EAR %YA ,AURE #AITLIN 6IRAY 9SA *IMENEZ AND SETTER !LINA "ICAR !TENEO FOR ITS PART IS KEEN TO

FORCE A WINNER TAKE ALL MATCH TO KEEP ITS HOPE OF SNAPPING A F O U R YE A R C H A M P I O N S H I P DROUGHT ALIVE !TENEO COACH /LIVER !LMADRO IS EXPECTED TO RELY ON +AT 4OLENTINO TO ANCHOR THE ,ADY %AGLES ATTACK ANEW 6ETERAN HITTER 4OLENTINO WAS THE LONE DOUBLE DIGIT SCORER WITH POINTS ON SPIKES AND TWO BLOCKS FOR !TENEO IN 'AME )N THE MEN S DIVISION AT NOON .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITY GUNS FOR BACK TO BACK TITLES AGAINST &AR %ASTERN 5NIVERSITY 4HE "ULLDOGS MOVED CLOSER TO A SECOND STRAIGHT SILVERWARE AFTER TAMING THE 4AMARAW 3PIKERS

IN THE SERIES OPENER

Q Marinero’s Gab Banal drives on Perpetual Help’s Jeff Egan (No. 16) and Jerome Pasia during the 2019 PBA D-League on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. PHOTO COURTESY OF PBA MEDIA BUREAU

Bulldogs maul Tams in Premier Cup .!4)/.!, 5NIVERSITY .5 SCORED AN BOUNCE BACK VICTORY AT THE EXPENSE OF &AR %ASTERN 5NIVERSITY &%5 IN THE &IL/IL &LYING 6 0RESEASON 0REMIER #UP ON 4UESDAY AT THE &IL/IL &LYING 6 #ENTRE IN 3AN *UAN #ITY 4HE "ULLDOGS PULLED OFF A POINT FINISHING RUN REBOUNDING FROM A SEASON OPENING LOSS TO #OLEGIO DE 3AN *UAN DE ,ETRAN IN 'ROUP " g)T WAS A TOUGH AND HARD EARNED WIN ) M PROUD OF HOW WE NEVER STOPPED BATTLING FOR THE BALL u SAID .5 HEAD COACH *AMIKE *ARIN *ARIN S WARDS ERASED A DEkCIT USING A DEFENSIVE PLOY THAT FORCED THE 4AMARAWS TO COMMIT COSTLY TURNOVERS

3OPHOMORE GUARD $AVE )LDEFONSO AND ROOKIE FORWARD 2OBERT -INERVA DELIVERED CRUCIAL BASKETS THAT SPARKED THE "ULLDOGS BLAST TO CLOSE THE OUT GAME )DEFONSO POSTED A GAME HIGH POINTS PLUS FIVE REBOUNDS WHILE -INERVA CHALKED MARKERS EIGHT BOARDS AND TWO ASSISTS FOR THE 3AMPALOC BASED TEAM *OHN ,LOYD #LEMENTE CHIPPED IN POINTS WHILE SEVEN OTHER "ULLDOGS CONTRIBUTED AT LEAST TWO MARKERS !LEC 3TOCKTON S POINTS AND 7ENDELL #OMBOY S MARKERS WENT TO WASTE AS THE 4AMARAWS REMAINED

WINLESS IN TWO OUTINGS %ARLIER IN THE JUNIORS DIVISION 0ERPETUAL (ELP (IGH 3CHOOL POSTED ITS THIRD STRAIGHT WIN AFTER MAULING &%5 (IGH 3CHOOL

%MMAN 'ALMAN PACED THE UNBEATEN *UNIOR !LTAS WITH POINTS WHILE +YLE #UEVAS TALLIED A DOUBLE DOUBLE OF MARKERS AND REBOUNDS ,YCEUM (IGH 3CHOOL CRUSHED !TENEO (IGH 3CHOOL

BEHIND *OHN "ARBA AND -AC 'UADAĂ„A "ARBA ERUPTED WITH POINTS AND REBOUNDS WHILE 'UADAĂ„A RACKED UP MARKERS TO LEAD THE *UNIOR 0IRATES JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

MUGURUZA BEATS ZHENG IN ROME ROME: Former French Open winner Garbine Muguruza warmed up for this month’s claycourt Grand Slam at Roland Garros by easing into the second round of the Italian Open on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) with a straight sets win over China’s Zheng Saisai.

Muguruza — a former world number one now ranked 19th — came through 6-3, 6-4 for her third win over 46th-ranked Saisai this season.

The 25-year-old Muguruza, who won the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, has twice reached the semi-finals in Rome. “It was a slow start but I’m happy because last week wasn’t a good week for me,�

Muguruza, who exited the Madrid Open in the first round, told the WTA website. “I love Rome and it is very important for me to get as many matches as I can for the Grand Slam at the French Open.�

She next plays either Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the 11th seed, or American Dani-

elle Collins, for a place in the third round.

It was not a good day for Chinese players at the Foro Italico with two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka crushing Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-1, and next meets two-time defending Rome champion Elina Svitolina.

Chinese 15th seed Wang Qiang also fell to Czech Katerina Siniakova 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Former world number one Serena Williams returned from injury to book a rematch with her sister Venus, 21 years after they last met in Rome.

Four-time Rome winner Serena, 37, eased through 6-4, 6-2 against Swedish qualifier Rebecca Petersen after nearly two months out with a knee injury.

But 38-year-old Venus, whose only Rome title came back in 1999, needed more than three hours to battle past Belgian Elise Mertens 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4).

The sisters last played each other in the quarter-finals in Rome in 1998,

with Venus the winner. “I love the clay season and wanted to do everything to be a part of it,� said Serena, who is one title short of Chris Evert’s record of five Rome crowns. “It’s not about today or tomorrow. Obviously the slams, et cetera, just getting ready for those events,� added the 23-time Grand Slam winner.

Former world number four Dominika Cibulkova, won her match 6-2, 6-3 against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and next meets US Open and Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Britain’s Johanna Konta swept aside Alison Riske 6-4, 6-1, and next plays Sloane Stephens.

Italian wildcard Sara Errani fell 6-1, 6-0 to Slovak Victoria Kuzmova.

US 18th seed Madison Keys, a semi-finalist in last year’s French Open, beat Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), and next meets fellow American Sofia Kenin. AFP

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Sports

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Tiger chases 16th major, No. 1 spot as PGA practice begins B ETHPAGE, United States: Tiger Woods launched his quest for a 16th major title, and a possible return to world number one, with a PGA Championship practice round in cold and rainy conditions Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Q US golfer Tiger Woods tees on the 2nd hole during the third round of the PGA World Golf Championship on February 23, 2019 at Chapultepec’s Golf Club in Mexico City. AFP

The 43-year-old American, who snapped an 11-year major win drought by capturing last month’s Masters, toured the front nine at Bethpage Black in just under 2 1/2 hours ahead of Thursday’s start to the year’s second major tournament.

PHOTO

Tiger sued over restaurant staffer’s drink driving death — report BETHPAGE, United States: Tiger Woods faces a lawsuit from the parents of a staffer at his Florida restaurant who died in a drink driving accident after allegedly being overserved alcohol, TMZ reported Monday.

The parents of Nicholas Immesberger, who died last December at age 24, filed the lawsuit saying their son had worked as a bartender at The Woods in Jupiter, Florida, and knew the golf star personally, the celebrity website reported.

The news broke hours after Woods played his opening practice round for the 101st PGA Championship, the year’s second major golf tournament which starts Thursday at Bethpage Black on Long Island in New York.

Woods snapped an 11-year major win drought by winning the Masters last month and seeks his 16th career major title this week. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom last week at a White House ceremony.

The restaurant’s manager is Erica Herman, who is Woods’s girlfriend and, according to TMZ, recruited Immesberger to the restaurant.

According to TMZ, Immesberger finished his shift on

December 10 but stayed at The Woods to drink at the restaurant and was allegedly served to the point of “severe intoxication� before being sent out to his car.

Immesberger lost control of his car that evening while driving home and crashed, dying in the accident, according to the report, which also said Immesberger had a blood alcohol level of .256, more than three times the legal limit.

The family claims Woods and Herman knew Immesberger had a habitual problem with alcohol but allowed him to be served anyway.

The lawsuit alleges Woods and Herman had been drinking with Immesberger just days before the crash and “reasonably should have known� he was a “habitual drunkard,� according to TMZ. Immesberger’s parents sued Woods directly claiming he “was directly responsible for ensuring that his employees and management ... were not over serving its employees/ customers,� according to the report.

The lawsuit was filed in Palm Beach County, Florida. It seeks medical costs and funeral damages plus other “appropriate damages.�

AFP

“I feel good,� Woods told Golfweek. “Got a couple more days of work to get in and I’ll be ready to go.�

Woods hopes to pull within two of the all-time record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus and take a fifth PGA crown, which would match the career record hauls of Nicklaus and Walter Hagen. “To tie Walter Hagen and Jack .ICKLAUS WITH kVE WINS WOULD BE a very special accomplishment,�

Woods said.

With a victory, Woods would also match the all-time career US PGA wins record of 82 by Sam Snead.

Woods, whose career had been jeopardized by years of nagging back pain before 2017 spinal fusion surgery, won the 2002 US Open at Bethpage Black and shared sixth in the 2009 US Open, but those were in warmer midJune conditions.

4HIS MARKS THE kRST 0'! #HAMpionship since 1948 to be played in May after the event was shifted this year from its traditional August spot in golf’s lineup.

Woods practiced four times last week, including an 18-hole

session at the Long Island public layout last Wednesday, two days after accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a White House ceremony.

The in-depth shotmaking session at Bethpage was the first time Woods had seen the facility since the 2012 US PGA Barclays tournament.

Sixth-ranked Woods is among kVE PLAYERS WITH A CHANCE TO TOP next week’s rankings.

Top-ranked Dustin Johnson, defending champion B r o o k s Ko e p k a , E n g l a n d ’s second-ranked Justin Rose, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Woods all have a chance at the top spot.

Johnson, Rose, third-ranked Koepka and fourth-rated McIlroy could take number one with a triumph while Woods would need to win, have neither Rose nor +OEPKA kNISH SECOND ALONE AND HAVE *OHNSON kNISH WORSE THAN solo 11th place.

Tiger oldest No. 1?

Woods, who has not been world number one since March 2013, has spent a record 683 weeks atop the rankings.

Should he return to the top, Woods would become the oldest world number one, overtaking Australian legend Greg Norman for the distinction.

Las Vegas Westgate Superbook oddsmakers have Woods as a

10-1 co-favorite with Johnson and two-time US Open winner Koepka with four-time major champion Rory McIlroy just behind at 12-1.

Woods jumped 13th to sixth after winning the Masters but hasn’t played since his Masters triumph.

This marks only the sixth time in his career Woods has played two majors without at least one event BETWEEN THEM THE kRST TIME SINCE the 2013 British Open.

Woods had fallen to 1,199th in the world rankings in December 2017 after spinal fusion surgery as a last-ditch move to ease nagging back pain that made simple MOVEMENTS DIFkCULT From there, Woods contended at last year’s British Open and 0'!

WON HIS kRST TITLE IN MORE THAN kVE YEARS BY TAKING THE Tour Championship.

That set the stage for Woods to WIN HIS kFTH -ASTERS GREEN JACKET

Thomas withdraws Fifth-ranked Justin Thomas withdrew from the tournament with a right wrist injury, denying this FROM BEING THE kRST MAJOR TOURNAment with all of the world’s 100 TOP PLAYERS IN THE kELD “As a past champion this tournament is extra special to me,�

Thomas said in a statement. “It CONSISTENTLY HAS THE STRONGEST kELD in golf and I’m disappointed not to be among those competing this year but I’m optimistic about a return in the near future.�

AFP

Thais aim for top finish as LPGT Midlands unfolds PGT Asia breaks through with Taiwan PGA event A COMPACT but talent-laden Thai roster, including four who have notched victories on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, goes all-out to re-stamp its class in the ICTSI Tagaytay Midlands which gets going today at the Midlands layout in Tagaytay City.

Thanutra Boonraksasat spearheads the country’s perennial regional rivals’ campaign in the 54-hole championship, seeking not only a follow-up to her victory at Manila Southwoods last March but also make up for her final round meltdown that led to a third place effort to the last LPGT event at Royal Northwoods won in runaway fashion by Pauline del Rosario three weeks ago. “I think we can go low here although it will boil down to putting,� said Del Rosario, priming for a series of tournaments in Florida, USA in her buildup for the LPGA Tour Q-School.

But three other Thais are also tipped to contend for top honors in the P750,000 event serving as the ninth leg of LPGT put up by ICTSI and organized by

Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., including Supakchaya Pattaranak-

rueng, Onkanok Soisuwan and Saruttaya Ngam-usawan.

Pattaranakrueng nipped former three-time LPGT Order of Merit winner C y n a Ro d r i g u e z t o snare the Luisita crown while Soisuwan topped

Q Pauline del Rosario CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

the Mt. Malarayat stop, both last year while Ngam-usawan aims for a second crown after scoring a breakthrough at Northwoods in 2016.

Numa Gulyanamitta, Ajira Nualraksa and Tip Seeumpornroj are the three other Thais seeking to steal the thunder not only from their fancied compatriots but also from the country’s leading campaigners.

They include Del Rosario, who clinched the LPGT OOM title in her rookie year in 2017 and is oozing with confidence coming off a whopping 14shot romp over Daniella Uy at Northwoods, along with multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda, M a r v i M o n s a l v e, A l e x E t ter, Apple Fudolin, Gretchen Villacencio, Lucy Landicho, Sarah Ababa, Sheryl Villasencio and Uy. Completing the cast in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. are Koreans Choi Kim and Da Yun Kang and Valerie Tan of Bahrain.

Ramos, Ganzon top Clark Global City Duathlon 2019 JOSHUA Ramos of DEROSA-CORSA and former national standout Alexandra Ganzon emerged as the FASTEST MALE AND FEMALE kNISHERS

respectively, in the Clark Global City Duathlon 2019 co-presented

by Smart at Clark Global City, Pampanga on Sunday.

Ramos ruled the male 18-24 age-group six-kilometer run — 60km bike — 4km long distance race with a time record of two hours, 27 minutes and 16 seconds. Former national duathlon champion Alexandra Ganzon, competing in the female 30-34 age GROUP CATEGORY CROSSED THE kNISH barely two minutes after Ramos, 2:29:14. Hot on Ganzon’s heels was her male 30-34 counterpart, Oscar Miguel Mapalo of 2Wheel Nation Cycling club in 2:30:00.

Mapalo’s fellow age grouper Luigi

Victor Robles of FIT.PH, rounded out the Top 3 fastest males with a time of 2:31:39.

Joining Ganzon in the roster of overall fastest females in the event supported by Clark Global City, Udenna Group, NLEX-SCTEX -ETRO 0ACIkC 4OLLWAYS 3TANDARD Insurance, Garmin, Pocari Sweat, 3IP 0URIkED 7ATER AND 2OYCE (Otel and Casino were triathletes Bernadette Tan who emerged second FASTEST FEMALE AND kRST PLACER IN THE 45-49 age group with 2:51:15, and female 50-above champion Celma Hitalia with 2:57:25. “We’re happy with the turnout of this race and considering the feedback from the participants, we’d be happy to support another edition next year if one gets planned,� said NLEX Sports coach Allan Gregorio. Gregorio and Wil-

fredo Placino, vice-chairman and president of Global Gateway Development Corporation, handed the prizes to the winners in the post-race ceremony.

Other long-distance champions of the race which kicked off on the grounds of Clark Global City before making its way through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway then back to CGC were Louie Cupino and Kathrina Lagunsad (2529 age group), Bryan Lucas and Patricia Margaret Serios (35-39), Juayn Baugbog and Laarni De Guzman (40-44), Edward Luna (male 45-49), Emmanie Mondero (male 50-54), Jelle Beekma (55-59), and Demosthenes Ydia (60-above).

The Sprint Distance 3km run — 30km bike — 3km run, was ruled by Erika Nicole Burgos and ElizVon Quintella (15-19), Celma

Marie Constantino and Jan Dennis Borbolla (20-29), Ma. Lourdes Cabero and Melchor Ortiguerra (30-39), Grace Zamora and Danny Dexter Beltran (40-49), Trixie Halaguena (50-above), Ruben Ercilla (50-59) and Larry Ronquillo (60-above). Actress Kim Chiu, a duathlon enthusiast, further honed her multisport experience in the sprint distance to place 4th among her fellow competitors in the 20-29 age group.

3D2GO emerged as the allmale relay champion while Team Godspeed Multisports topped the mixed relay. Sydney’s Clan was the lone winner in the all-female relay.

On its second year, the Clark Global City Duathlon 2019 attracted over 400 participants. For details, visit www.bikekingphilippines.com.

THE Philippine Golf Tour Asia goes overseas for the first time on its third season as it holds the Daan Taiwan Open on May 23-26 where some of the country’s leading pros go up against the hosts’ top and rising players at the CCK Golf Club in Taichung.

Top guns from other countries who are regular campaigners on the region’s newest circuit and the leading players in Taiwan PGA (TPGA) are also seeing action in the $100,000 championship that would further highlight PGT Asia’s steady rise as one of the region’s emerging circuits. “Holding tournaments abroad has been part of the PGT Asia program in our continuing commitment not only to help raise the level of play among Filipino pros but also advance the growth of Phl golf,â€? said Colo Ventosa, general manager of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., organizer of the country’s three pro circuits, including the PGT and the Ladies PGT. Sixty-five mainstays of PGT Asia will be mixing it up with 79 of the leading TPGA campaigners in what promises to be a slambang duel with veteran internationalists and multi-titled Tony LascuĂąa and Jay Bayron leading the Filipinos’ campaign in the 72-hole championship.

To underscore PGTI’s commitment to help raise the level of play

Q Tony LascuĂąa CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

of Filipino pros, a second PGT Asia event in Taiwan is also scheduled on Sept. 26-29 for the Nan Pao TPGA Open in Nan Pao Golf Club. “Our goal is to grow the PGT Asia further and we need more of our talents to play abroad and join the likes of Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que, who have been mixing it up with the top players from Asia and Europe the last few years,� said Ventosa, 4HE ,0'4 ACTUALLY kRST BROKE barriers when it staged its first tournament abroad, the Party Golfers Ladies Open, also in Taiwan late last year with the second edition slated on Oct. 2-4, also at the National Golf Country Club in Miaoli County.

By providing the Filipino pros the opportunity to compete on a different setup and environment, Ventosa believes the exposure will BE BENEkCIAL TO THEIR RESPECTIVE games in particular and to Phl golf in general.

The Taiwan PGA Open serves as the second leg of this year’s PGT Asia after the Luisita Championship last month, which Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul ruled in come-from-behind fashion over Finnish Teemu Putkonen.

C4

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Football

˜ The Manila Times

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Politano, Perisic put Inter Milan on brink of Champions League

R

OME: Matteo Politano and Ivan Perisic scored in either half as Inter Milan reclaimed third spot in Serie A on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) with a 2-0 win over already-relegated Chievo to close in on Champions League football next season.

Politano opened after 39 minutes in the San Siro with Perisic adding the second four minutes from time, as Chievo played the LAST kFTEEN MINUTES A MAN DOWN after Nicola Rigoni was sent off for a second yellow card.

Inter move back one point ahead of Atalanta as both teams edge closer to joining champions Juventus and second-placed Napoli in elite European football

with two games left this season.

AC Milan and Roma are three points adrift of fourth place, with further back Torino in seventh, kVE POINTS OUTSIDE THE #HAMPIONS League berths.

Inter could seal their place with a win next Sunday at Napoli or at home against lowly Empoli on the kNAL DAY OF THE SEASON THE FOLLOWing weekend.

Inter’s win ended Lazio’s Cham-

pions League ambitions with the Romans in eighth place with a slim hope of making the Europa League, which they could also reach by winNING 7EDNESDAY S #OPPA )TALIA kNAL against Atalanta.

Bologna m o v e d ahead of Fiorentina i n t o 13th position with a 4-1 win over Parma, which leaves the promoted side just three points clear of a return to Serie B next season.

Parma played the last half an hour a man down after Bruno Alves was sent off, and conceded two own goals.

AFP

Q Inter Milan’s Belgium midfielder Radja Nianggolan vies with Chievo’s Italian midfielder Nicola Rigoni during the Italian Serie A fotball match at the San Siro Stadium. AFP PHOTO

UEFA panel to recommend Man City Champions League ban NEW YORK: European football’s kNANCIAL REGULATORS ARE POISED TO recommend that newly minted Premier League champions Manchester City be barred from the Champions League, the New York Times reported on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

European football’s governing body UEFA and the Premier League launched an investigation this year after allegations made in German magazine Der Spiegel that the club broke Financial Fair Play rules.

Members of the investigatory CHAMBER OF 5%&! S kNANCIAL CONtrol board, set up to analyze the accounts of clubs suspected of breaking cost-control regulations, met two weeks ago in Switzerland TO kNALIZE THEIR CONCLUSIONS THE newspaper said. “The investigatory panel’s leader, the former prime minister of Belgium Yves Leterme, will have THE kNAL SAY ON THE SUBMISSION TO a separate adjudicatory chamber, WHICH COULD BE kLED AS SOON AS this week. The body is expected

to seek at least a one-season ban,� the Times said.

It was unclear if such a ban, if levied, would be enforced next season or in the 2020-21 campaign, the Times said, noting that with qualifying for Europe’s most prestigious and lucrative club championship set to start in *UNE THERE IS LITTLE TIME TO kNALIZE a sanction.

Manchester City would also have the right to appeal such a ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Manchester City vigorously denied any financial irregularities, saying in March they welcomed UEFA’s investigation as an opportunity to clear their name. #ITY WHO WERE kNED MILLION EUROS MILLION AND SUBJECTed to squad, wage and spending caps in a 2014 settlement agreed with UEFA following a previous breach of the rules.

But the club says the claims made in Der Spiegel were an “organized and clear� attempt to damage its reputation.

AFP

Florenzi hits back at Ronaldo’s ‘you’re too small’ jibe MILAN: Roma captain Alessandro Florenzi hit back at a jibe by Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo about his height by going on to score the opener in a 2-0 win over the Serie A champions.

The pair clashed on the hour mark in the Stadio Olimpico in a row after the Portuguese star played the ball while Edin Dzeko was down and needed treatment.

Ronaldo made a gesture with his hand with the former Real Madrid star heard saying: “You’re too small to talk.�

The Portuguese player than seemed to apologize and to hug Florenzi.

Dzeko set up Florenzi for the kRST GOAL AFTER MINUTES WITH

the Bosnian then slotting in the second two minutes into injury time as Juventus fell to just their third defeat this season.

The win keeps Roma’s Champions League hopes alive with Claudio Ranieri’s side sixth, but just one point off Inter Milan who are fourth, before they play Chievo on Monday.

The defeat came on the day that Juventus displayed their new strip, which no longer features the club’s iconic black and white stripes in a breakaway from over a century of tradition.

2ONALDO S HOPES OF kNISHING THE season as the Serie A top scorer are SLIM AS HIS GOALS ARE kVE BEHIND Sampdoria’s Fabio Quagliarella’s WITH TWO GAMES LEFT AFP

Q Alessandro Florenzi (right) AFP PHOTO

WEDNESDAY W E D N E S DAY MAY 15, 2019

Lifestyle

D1

www.manilatimes.net

Things to know about dental implants D

ENTAL implants are rapidly becoming more popular as the conventional replacement for a missing tooth. Also known as dental osseointegration, this procedure provides better longterm value most people consider what with the advances in technology.

While dental implants are an effective, most natural, and longlasting oral care solution, not everyone can undergo the procedure as there are several factors that can determine viability for

one to be good candidate.

Good general health. It is important for patients to be in good overall health before undergoing treatment for dental implants. Those who smoke, drink

alcohol, or have diabetes usually have lower success rates with dental implants since these conditions can negatively affect oral health, which affects the healing process of the implant.

Healthy gums. Healthy gums are necessary to support the new dental implant as it fuses with the jawbone. If one suffers from advanced gum disease, a periodontal (gum) treatment to rectify THIS DEkCIENCY PRIOR TO RECEIVING implants is required.

Adequate jaw bone support. For implants to be success-

ful, ample support and structure in the jaw are a necessity.

Without healthy, strong bones, an implant can Q It is important for patients to be in good overall health before undergoing possibly fail. If treatment for dental implants.

LACKING SUFkCIENT JAW BONE DEN- best such as Straumann, the un- commit to maintaining their oral sity to anchor an implant, the aid disputed leader when it comes to hygiene for a successful implant, of a bone graft can help create a implant, restorative and regenera- and to keep the teeth in good stronger foundation for successful tive dentistry products with best shape. This involves daily brushing pre- and post-operative support for AND lOSSING ALONG WITH PERIODIC integration.

Choose the best system. dentists, osseointegration special- visits to the dentist. These hygiene habits are crucial to preserving the One of the most important deci- ists and patients.

Commitment to good health and strength of the natural sions to make for the success of dental implants is asking for the oral health. Candidates should teeth as well.

Staying fit through the power of cycling Passion Lab continues with spin coach Katz Salao

Q Radio host and fitness coach Katz Salao

MILLENNIALS know that being around MIL like like-minded individuals can help take their passion to the next level. Technolthei ogy ggiant Samsung understands this and launched Passion Lab, a series of workshops launc designed to ignite the passion of individuals desig interested in entrepreneurship, photography, intere videography, gaming, and fitness. videog Members of the online community of the Mem brand’s loyal users inclined to fitness recently got to join jo health enthusiast Katz Salao for a round of indoor cycling.

Besides juggling careers in radio, hosting, Beside and fitne fitness, Salao has always been active — pursuing ggymnastics, ballet, taekwondo, vol-

leyball, and cheerleading since a the age of four.

Today, she is one of the country’s most in-demand pilates and cycling instructors.

Like Salao, today’s generation of go-getters balance multiple things at once, excelling in their careers while pursuing hobbies and side projects. The demands of doing many things at once require stamina, which can be improved through regular exercise.

For this fitness session, the popular technology company partnered with one of the in-demand cycling studios in Manila, Ride Revolution, for a fun and hip session of spinning. Ride Revolution’s cycling workouts are designed to work and strengthen the body’s core, tone muscles, and burn maximum calories. Its appeal lies in the

energy and momentum shared by the coaches and fellow attendees, produced through a themed playlist and the spirit of camaraderie.

Tracking progress using a gadget One’s fitness goals by tracking and monitoring progress can now be achieved through a smartphone manufactured to let users set targets, celebrate milestones, and get frequent reminders to get up and move. It can also help track nutrition such as daily calorie and fat intake with Bixby Vision, allowing users to scan their food to calculate and log the information.

“My gadget gets me motivated by letting me chal-

lenge my friends, join challenges, and earn badges for my achievements,” said Salao. “It’s also easy to use since the Health app automatically detects a workout, which tracks it on my smartphone so I can monitor my progress,” she said of the the model Galaxy S10.

The new model also allows users to share battery life through Wireless Powershare. It can charge smartphones and compatible wearables, such as the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Watch Active, just by placing them against the smartphone.

Whether she’s in the studio inspiring others to be fit and active, sharing stories in the radio booth, or going on an adventure, there’s no doubt the spin coach can stay on top of everything through her device.

D2

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

Funtimes

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7$8586 $35,/ 0$< -- Today is an 8 -- Your luck in love improves immensely, with Venus in your sign for about 25 days. Your wit and FKDUP DUH LQ ¿QH IRUP 3UDFWLFH \RXU PRYHV *(0,1, 0$< -81( -- Today is a 7 -- Venus in Taurus could inspire peaceful introspection over the next three weeks. Enjoy quiet time and sweeter dreams. Make time for soothing rituals. &$1&(5 -81( -8/< -- Today is an 8 -- Recharge and reconnect at home. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re especially popular, with Venus in Taurus. Get out in SXEOLF DQG VWLU XS VRPH DFWLRQ 6RFLDO DFWLYLWLHV EHQH¿W \RXU FDUHHU /(2 -8/< $8* -- Today is an 8 -- Your professional status and LQÃ&#x20AC;XHQFH JURZ ZLWK 9HQXV LQ 7DXUXV IRU DERXW GD\V :DWFK IRU FDUHHU DGYDQFHV 3XW ORYH LQWR \RXU ZRUN DQG LW Ã&#x20AC;RZHUV 9,5*2 $8* 6(37 7RGD\ LV DQ *HW LQWR D SUR¿WDEOH groove. Travel and studies expand, with Venus in Taurus. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier to set goals and venture forth. Class convenes.

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(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

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Public Square

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Ad industry bigwigs come together for CreativeFest 2019

Q 4As Chairman and BBDO Guerrero Chairman and Chief Creative Officer David Guerrero delivers the welcome remarks during CreativeFest 2019 at the Makati Shangri-La Manila on April 25.

MORE than 600 advertisers, cre- (4As) and the Creative Guild of atives from various agencies and the Philippines, brought together students of allied studies came in some of the biggest names in the full force to celebrate the power of kELD OF ADVERTISING TO DISCUSS THE innovation, ideas and creativity at most pressing topics in the indusCreativeFest 2019 on April 25 and try today with the goal to inspire 26 at the Makati Shangri-La Manila. practitioners and prove to the The event, spearheaded by the world that Creativity Rules.

Association of Accredited AdverFor more information, visit www. tising Agencies of the Philippines creativeguildph.com.

Manille Liqueur welcomes us home

Q Brand ambassadors (second from left) Clayton Munar, Larry Guevara and Kalel Demetrio CONSIDERED by many as one of recreated. It also features a signature the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proudly Filipino pre- serve that everyone can follow. mium brands, Manille Liqueur is During the April 2019 edition looking to bring the product closer of Manila Fame, Manille Liqueur to the consumer. The product, co-presented the Fame Bar, a launched by Destileria Limtuaco cocktail bar built into the Manila & Co., Inc. in 2014, has always Fame Exhibition area. Here the championed the Filipino. From brand launched its three home its embroidery inspired design to TESTED lAGSHIP COCKTAILS its exclusive sourcing of calamansi During the duration of the three from Mindoro calamansi farmers, day expo, Manille Liqueur served Manille Liqueur has always looked up their new flagship cocktails to providing the best Filipino ex- created by three of Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top bartenders and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perience in a bottle.

Through its new campaign â&#x20AC;&#x153;This ambassadors: Clayton Munar, is Manille, #WelcomeHome,â&#x20AC;? the Larry Guevara and Kalel Demetrio.

For more information, visit brand focuses on product applications that are home tested and easily www.liquorexpress.ph.

F1 Hotel Manila offers new ala carte menu NESTLED at the heart of Bonifacio Global City, F1 Hotel Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s F All-Day Dining presents its new ala carte menu offerings with classic Filipino cuisines infused with different techniques and traditions from various continents.

The selection was carefully curated by the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Executive Chef Angelo â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chubbyâ&#x20AC;? Timban, who is known for creating classic inimitable dishes. The focus is to produce quality dishes with ingredients delivered fresh everyday from local suppliers to secure the upper-class quality of

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2019

D3

Toyota receives three gold awards for CSR programs S

OCIETY of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) recognized Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) for its outstanding corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs during the 3rd Driven to Serve Awards.

Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CSR programs stood out among the 12 entries from different auto companies. TMP received Gold Awards for the Toyota Automotive Education Program (AEP) under the Education and Training Category, Toyota Medical and Surgical Outreach Program (MSOP) under the Community Development Category, and the Rehabilitation of the Riparian Zone in Quiaoit River under the

Q In photo during the awarding ceremony are (from left) Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., TMPF Assistant Vice President Ronald Gaspar and SPMJ President Pinky Colmenares.

Environment Category.

Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal of enriching lives and its various CSR programs implementThese programs are testament to protecting the environment through ed by the TMP Foundation (TMPF).

Metropolitan Waterworks Sewarage System chief graces Creba meeting METROPOLITAN Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo Velasco was the guest of honor and speaker at the fourth monthly business meeting of the Chamber of Real Estate & Buildersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Associations, Inc. (Creba) held on April 25 in Makati City.

Founded in 1973, Creba is the Philippine umbrella organization of the real estate and housing industry whose vision of â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Home for Every Filipinoâ&#x20AC;? is embodied in its â&#x20AC;&#x153;5-point agenda for Housing,â&#x20AC;? a package of policy and legislative reform proposals designed to intensify housing production to the level of at least 500,000 units per year to address homelessness in a span of 20 years.

Crebaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly meeting serves as a forum for INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS AND GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS to express their views and initiatives on issues affecting the real estate and housing industry.

Q During the meeting are (from left) Pablo Panlilio Jr., Creba executive vice-president; Charlie Gorayeb, Creba national chairman and Reynaldo Velasco, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator.

Latter Day Saints Charities to partner with Muntinlupa government THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Charities is partnering with the local government unit (LGU) of Muntinlupa in the implementation of its programs for the protection of children.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi greets LDS Charities representatives Ray and Carole Roberts, along with other LDS members in a conference of Muntinlupa City Local Council for the Protection of Children on May 4 at Muntinlupa City Hall.

LDS Charities vows to extend its assistance for the sustainability of the local governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects.

Recently, the Department of Interior and Local Government announced that Muntinlupa City is among NCR LGUs which passed the 2018 Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA).

The CFLGA is an audit that measures LGU performance in the delivery of services which promote the welfare of children.

Q Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (right) greets LDS Charities representatives Ray and Carole Roberts.

May The Fourth Be With You Summer Pool Party at Marco Polo Davao taste and texture.

The new ala carte menu offers a wide range of gastronomical selections but also retained longstanding favorites, including the all-time favorite Mexinigang; Philippines famous Sinigang infused with a Mexican twist.

InfiniVAN participates at the 20th International Cable Congress and Exhibit

MARCO Polo Davao, the premier 5-star hotel at the heart of the CITY OFkCIALLY OPENED THE SUMmer season with May The Fourth Be With You Summer Pool Party. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This pool party is one of the many signature events of Marco Polo Davao. We are committed to be the trendsetter in the Davao Region. This is also to strengthen the local experience of our guests,â&#x20AC;? said Marco Polo General Manager Colin Healy.

Colin together with the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heads of department spearheaded the welcome of the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regular and most valued guests and partners with a laser lights pool party theme at the 4th level of the hotel.

Q During the launching are (from left) Marketing Manager Sarah Mama, Marco Polo Davao General Manager Colin Healy with son Charlie and daughter Chloe, Director of Sales and Marketing Pearl Maclang, Director of Finance Tirso Bitacura, Front Office Manager Ian Itao, Director of Rooms Glenda Magallanes, Revenue Manager Elaine Isip and Communications Officer Jeline Gison.

The night was rocked with and DJ Wacky Masbad. Guests company associates and LED summer beats of Sikat Enter- were also entertained with a laser lights dance performance tainmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DJ Travis Monsod surprise flash mob from the from Kite Dance Company.

Rustanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s features â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Talleres de Maximo Vicenteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; exhibit VARIOUS telecommunications companies gathered at the 20th International Cable Congress and Exhibit in promotion of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fast Internet: Key to Progressâ&#x20AC;? organized by Fictap, held on March 7 to 8 at Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila City.

The Federation of the International Cable TV and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines (Fictap) is widely KNOWN AS THE LARGEST NON PROkT organization of cable TV operators from all over the country.

InfiniVAN Inc. as one of the fastest-rising telecommunications in the Philippines and also an

active member of Fictap, participated in the said event. With this, )NkNI6!. WAS ABLE TO SHOWCASE and promote its exceptional offers and services dedicated in corporate businesses as well as with SMEs mostly in the Central Business Districts within Metro Manila. During said event, core representatives of )NkNI6!. ACTIVELY TOOK PART WITH its knowledge booth. )N PHOTO ARE &ICTAP OFkCERS LEAD

by Fictap National Chairman Estrellita â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nengâ&#x20AC;? Juliano-Tamano and Vice Chairman Cecilia Dy, 0H $ WITH )03 )NkNI6!. ACCOUNT OFkCERS AND MANAGERS

RUSTANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S recently presented a special exhibition of the religious imagery collection of the renowned Santero which ran from April 22 to May 6 at the 5th Floor of Rustanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Makati.

The exhibition showcased the extraordinary creations of the Talleres de Maximo Vicente that rival the best artisans of Europe.

Hailed as being the master sculptor of religious imagery, Maximo Vicente Sr. was also the most successful commercial santero of all time. He set up a shop called Talleres de Maximo Vicente at Calle R. Hidalgo in Quiapo, Manila in 1908 but later moved to M. Adriatico Street in Ermita.

To this day, owning a Maximo

Q Rustan Commercial Corp. Member of the Board Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez, Regina â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Reneeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Francisco, third generation family member whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running the Talleres and granddaughter of Maximo Vicente Sr., Danny Dolor, former First Lady and Current Congresswoman of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Rustan Commercial Corp. Chairman and CEO Zenaida Tantoco, Rustanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Patriarch and Chairman Emeritus Amb. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., and Rustanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VP for Home Merchandising Marilen Tantoco.

Vicente image is an honor was known to produce images fine, meticulous, one-of-a-kind.

For more information, visit bequeathed to those of strong that could rival those made by faith and fine taste. The talleres the best artisans of Europe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rustans.com.

WEDNESDAY W E D N ESDAY MAY 15, 2019

Entertainment

D4

www.manilatimes.net

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; B E T W E E N M AY B E S â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Lav Diaz to premiere in Cannes film festâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fortnight

Gerald Anderson and Julia Barrettoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fresh take on fleeting romances I

Futuristic movie â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ang Hupaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201D; headlined by Piolo Pascual â&#x20AC;&#x153;THE HALTâ&#x20AC;? ( â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang Hupaâ&#x20AC;? ), the new feature film by Berlinaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize winner Lav Diaz, joins this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lineup of films for the prestigious Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fortnight, a non-competitive film showcase that runs alongside the Cannes Film Festival.

Co-produced by Spring Films and Sine Olivia Pilipinas, and distributed by ARP Selection of France, The Halt is set in the year 2034 AD and revolves around Southeast Asia which has been â&#x20AC;&#x153;in the dark for the last three years, literally, because the sun

hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shone as a result of massive volcanic eruptions at the Celebes Sea in 2031.â&#x20AC;?

The plot sees madmen controlling countries, communities, enclaves and bubble cities as cataclysmic epidemics raze the continent with millions dying.

Headlining the film is prized actor Piolo Pascual, who is also one of the triumvirate of producers behind Spring Films, with Shaina Magdayao, Joel Lamangan, Pinky Amador and Hazel Orencio.

Ang Hupa marks the first time the multi-awarded filmmaker Diaz will participate in the Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fortnight showcase. His cast and production team will join him to Cannes to take part in the festival.

To further promote the growth of Philippine cinema in an international level, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will provide travel assistance for selected Filipino films which will participate in Cannes through the International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP) under the International Relations Division. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Championing Philippine cinema in the international scene is one of our goals, and the participation of our films in the Cannes Film Festival this year makes the celebration of the One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema even more relevant. We are delighted to provide assistance to our filmmakers and give them the chance to further explore opportunities for international film collaborations through this prestigious film festival,â&#x20AC;? said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza DiĂąo.

On the other hand, Johanna PyykkĂśâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Manila Loverâ&#x20AC;? which is co-produced by Epicmedia (Philippines) and Barbosa Film (Norway) has been selected for the 58th La Semaine de la Critique (The International Criticsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Week), a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival that aims to discover emerging talents. The Manila Loverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead actress Angeli Bayani will also go to Cannes to participate in the Festival.

Finally, MapĂşa graduate Celina Mae Medinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thesis film â&#x20AC;&#x153;Opheliaâ&#x20AC;? will also be presented at the Cannes Short Film Corner as part of the market screenings.

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the three most prestigious film festivals in the world, along with the Venice Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival. Now on its 72nd edition, the festival will run until May 25.

Âťcheers!

Q The coming premiere will be the first time for internationally awarded filmmaker Lav Diaz to participate at Cannesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fortnight.

Q Besides leading the cast of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ang Hupa,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Piolo Pascual is also co-producer of the movie along with his partners in Spring Films.

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T has been the fantasy of many to let go and leave everything behind in search of something new and different. In â&#x20AC;&#x153;Between Maybes,â&#x20AC;? Black Sheep wanted to bring to life Jason Paul Laxamanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story about two people who found peace in the most unlikeliest places â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company.

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Q Julia Barretto plays troubled actress Hazel who randomnly flew to Saga, Japan. There she met another broken soul Louie, played by Gerald Anderson.

'The Dirt:' Kitschy but still fun

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Will Smith calls â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aladdinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; remake highlight of his career AMMAN, JORDAN: Hollywood star Will Smith says Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liveaction remake of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aladdinâ&#x20AC;? was â&#x20AC;&#x153;one of, if not the best experienceâ&#x20AC;? of his accomplished 30-year career.

Speaking to reporters in Amman, Jordan on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) at the regional premiere, Smith, who plays Genie, said the musical movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;called upon every talent I cultivatedâ&#x20AC;? throughout decades as an actor, rapper and media personality.

Smith, who vaulted to fame with the 1990s sitcom â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,â&#x20AC;? suggested that his provocative performance involves singing, comedy bits, action sequences and even Bollywoodstyle dance numbers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;everything short of boxing.â&#x20AC;?

The film pays homage to the Academy Award-winning original 1992 animated film starring the late Robin Williams, who played the memorable voice of Genie. Smith said Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance in the original film â&#x20AC;&#x153;revolutionized what actors thought we could do in these kinds of movies.â&#x20AC;?

When first asked to take on the role of Genie, Smith said he demurred, intimidated by the big shoes to fill.

But he said his son Jaden convinced him not to pass up the opportunity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was the first person that really saw the excitement around the idea of what I might do with it,â&#x20AC;? Smith said.

Inspired by Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance, which Smith said â&#x20AC;&#x153;didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave too much room for improvement,â&#x20AC;? he tried to capture a similar sort of nostalgia, inflecting the human Genie with 1990s â&#x20AC;&#x153;hip hop energy.â&#x20AC;?

The adaption was mostly shot in the vast Jordanian desert of Wadi Rum, famous in the West as the backdrop for 1962â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lawrence of Arabia,â&#x20AC;? with its immense rock formations and rolling sand dunes.

Smith said the film aimed to â&#x20AC;&#x153;be a love letter to the regionâ&#x20AC;? and encourage young viewers to visit the Middle East.

AP

Âťglobalspotlight

Q The actor portrays Genie in Disney's liveaction remake of Aladdin.