Manila Standard - 2016 October 27 - Thursday by Manila Standard

ENHANCED TIES.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) attend a joint news conference at the latter’s ofﬁce in Tokyo Wednesday where the Filipino leader made a pitch for enhanced economic ties with Japan, a day after hurling for the nth time fresh insults at countries that have criticized his unrelenting illegal drugs crackdown which have killed almost 4,000 since July 1. AFP

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Tokyo pitch: Manila open for business By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday sought to persuade Japanese businessmen that the country is “open for business,” offering warm words about their country in sharp contrast to the angry rhetoric he had for the United States, which he told to “pack up and leave.” In a speech to an investment forum in Tokyo on Wednesday, Mr. Duterte said stronger economic ties with Japan—“a longstanding friend and ally”—are a priority. “We look to Japan as a steady fulcrum in our regional engagement as the Philippines’ ﬁrst and only bilateral free-trade partner to date,” Duterte said during the Philippine Economic Forum in Tokyo. “We would like to see more investors and more businesses setting up shop in the Philippines,” he said, page adding that he sought Next Japanese Next page

Metro cop chief rapped for ‘violent dispersal’ TEN policemen are facing charges over the violent dispersal of demonstrators in front of the United States Embassy in Manila on Oct. 17. They are National Capital Region Police Office Chief Oscar Albayalde, Manila Police District deputy director for operations Marcelino Pedrozo, PO3 Franklin Kho and seven other policemen. The protesters and indigenous people belonging to the Sandugo group have charged them with multiple attempted murder, serious physical injuries and unlawful arrest before the Office of the Ombudsman. They have also been charged with obstruction of justice, grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of public officers. Jerome Succor Aba, a Moro leader and Sandugo co-convener, said they wanted to “set a precedent for the promise of justice under the new administration by filing a case against these police criminals.” Next page

US troops out in 2 yrs—Rody By John Paolo Bencito

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he wanted US troops out of the country in the next two years and was willing to scrap defense pacts with longtime ally Washington if necessary. But the US State Department also on Wednesday played down Duterte’s continued anti-American tirades, declining to respond to his latest attack from Japan, where he is on an ofﬁcial visit. The comments follow a series of anti-American rhetoric by Duterte, who has repeatedly attacked the US while cozying up to Beijing, upending his nation’s foreign policy in comments that have sometimes been quickly retracted. “I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops,” Duterte told an economic forum in Tokyo, in a clear reference to US forces. “I want them out and if I have to revise or

abrogate… executive agreements, I will,” he added. At a press brieﬁng, the US State Department brushed off the President’s comments after being asked if Washington will continue doing nothing despite getting insulted by its closest ally in Southeast Asia. “I’ve said for several days now, that despite the rhetoric, we haven’t seen any policy traction behind it; in other words, there hasn’t been any change, tangible changes, to the policies and to the programs that both our nations are implementing and executing on a daily basis,” US

By John Paolo Bencito THE country’s chief diplomat on Tuesday urged the media to avoid asking provocative questions just to incite President Rodrigo Duterte to anger. Speaking at a radio interview before leaving the country for Tokyo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. on Tuesday blamed members of the press for pushing the President to respond to his critics. “I think the press should also understand that they should not do that. This is the weakness of the President and the President is not a perfect man. But let us not try to provoke him. We know that… he will not take half of these [criticisms] sitting down,” he said.

The President’s statements often attract world headlines due to his repetitive curses against international community--like US President Barack Obama, the United Nations and the European Union and critics such as Senator Leila de Lima. Despite his negative image, Yasay insisted that Duterte is a “very respectful” man who deals with other world leaders “that are respectful to him.” “I have seen it in his language that he is very deliberate He’s kind and he’s very very collaborative,” Yasay said. “But don’t provoke him into anger because your reason for provoking him is to go for negative statements from him,” he said. Next page

Aquino slams DAP charges as baseless FRESH FLOWERS. An unidentified flower attendant at the Dangwa flower center in Manila’s Sampaloc District gets her hands full arranging different petals, only days away to All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, a regular non-working holiday in predominantly Christian Philippines. Hawkers say the prices of fresh flowers are expected to go up because majority of the flower farms were damaged by two recent typhoons. Norman Cruz

Davao ﬁscal shot dead in front of justice hall DAVAO CITY—The prosecutor of Mati City was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle in front of the Hall of Justice at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning, an ofﬁcial said. Fiscal Rolando Acido was brought to hospital by an aide on a motorcycle but was pronounced dead on arrival, Chief Inspector Andrea dela Cerna said. She said Acido was about to enter the Hall of Justice when he was gunned down. She said he had been in charge of several drug- related cases in the city.

Don’t get Du30 fired up—Yasay

FORMER President Benigno Aquino III has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss the graft and other charges filed against him by various groups over the implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program, parts of which had been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. He filed a 28-page counteraffidavit citing the alleged failure of the complainants to present evidence that would warrant his

prosecution and indictment. The complainants are Bayan Muna, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Juana Change Movement, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Gabriela party-list and Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap. Aquino said these groups could not just anchor their complaint Next page

Mamasapano probe reopening backed By Vito Barcelo and Macon R. Araneta

FREAKISH FISHING. A man tries to catch ﬁsh inside a ﬂooded

public cemetery in Macabebe, a ﬁrst class town in Pampanga, the other day after typhoons ‘Lawin’ and ‘Karen’ ﬂooded many towns and villages in Central and Northern Luzon. Manny Palmero

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THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippine expressed support for the Duterte administration’s plan to reopen the investigation into the Mamasapano massacre that killed 44 members of the elite Philippine National Police-Special Action Force

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(PNP-SAF). Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa and Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel said it was clear that issues remained unresolved as to who were responsible for the debacle. Arguelles, a former bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, said the public, especially the families of the victims,

deserve to know the truth. “There were lies and inconsistencies in the whole tragic affair. Even the role of the USA needs to be clarriﬁed,” he said. President Rodrigo Duterte said he may order a new probe to be carried out into the bloody January 2015 incident that claimed over 60 lives, including 44 police Next page commandos.

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Rody urged to sack Tugade A

MULTISECTORAL group on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade whom they described as “unfit” for the job. Wake Up Pinoy Movement chairman Ruperto Cruz said Tugade was fixated on securing emergency powers that would allow him to forgo biddings for priority projects instead of solving the

worsening traffic problem in Metro Manila. Cruz said Tugade had a poor record when he was head of Clark Development Corp. “He has done irreversible damage to Clark. He made

several questionable deals that were disadvantageous to the government,” Cruz said. “He was also fond of putting confidentiality clauses in the lease-agreement contracts entered into by Clark locators and the CDC, barring the public from scrutinizing these agreements.” Cruz warned that the same thing might happen to the Transport Department’s proposed projects that would be covered by special powers.

“If that happens, President Duterte will be long gone from public service after his six-year term, and Tugade will still be benefiting from the contracts that will be part of the emergency powers package,” he said. “It will be a disservice to the public if the President reappoints him. We will continue to oppose his appointment because it is the right thing to do.” Some lawmakers have also urged Duterte not to reappoint Tugade because he does not

deserve a second chance after his dismal performance, and in particular his failure to at least ease the traffic congestion in Metro Manila within 100 days of assuming office. “The fact that Tugade failed to at least ease the worsening traffic crisis in Manila as promised, it is but proper that he should not be confirmed,” said Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, a member of the House minority bloc. Navotas City Rep. Tobias

Tiangco said he was also opposed to Tugade’s reappointment. House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said Duterte should fire Tugade if he fails to address the worsening traffic condition by the end of the year. “Let us give him another month. If people still experience the traffic nightmare during the Christmas season, then the President should fire him already,” Suarez said. Joel E. Zurbano

Don’t...

Mamasapano...

Yasay also urged the press “not to focus on the words that he says and miss out on the core message that he would like to convey them.” Yasay also guaranteed that the President, who is working hard to refine his language, is always courteous to fellow world leaders who give him due respect. Malacañang declined Wednesday to interpret President Duterte’s pronouncement that American businesses worried with his anti-crime war can always “pack up and leave” the Philippines. Communications Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag told radio dzMM that they did not want to rush to interpret Duterte’s lates statement. Before leaving for Japan, Duterte on Tuesday said that the Philippines will recover and survive even if American investors who are worried about his statements “pull out of the country.” “These Americans are really crazy. Their style is to walk here. They think they are somebodies,” Duterte said, responding to criticisms from US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel that his fiery rhetoric and crime war, which has claimed about 3,700 lives in four months, was bad for business. “Russel says my comments are causing worries in business communities. Then you pack up and leave. We will recover, I assure you,” he said. Banaag said the official clarification on Duterte’s statement will probably come from the President himself or from Cabinet officials who directly deal with foreign investors, when their entourage returns from Japan.

Eighteen rebels and five civilians were also killed in the encounter between government forces and armed rebel groups, including members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Duterte said he wanted to know who got the $5-million reward for terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as Manwar, who was killed by the SAF troopers. The CBCP previously said that peace in the south can only be attained if justice to the SAF commandos will be served. For Gutierrez, a reinvestigation is necessary “for the truth to come out.” Senator Grace Poe, who conducted a Senate investigation into the incident, opposed the plan to reopen the case. In an interview over radio dzMM, Poe said the President may easily get the information he wants from intelligence units without reopening the investigation. If the President really likes to know what happened to the reward money and the finger of Marwan, Poe said, he can easily know the answers through his own intelligence. “No need for a report because being the President, he has direct access to the intelligence of the national police and military,” he said. Poe also added that police officials have already revealed that the bounty on Marwan went to a police asset. “We did not ask for the identity of this person because they were protecting their sources,” Poe said. Marwan was killed in the January 2015 operation, but at the expense of 44 SAF troopers who clashed with private armed groups, including fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, with which the government was in peace negotiations. Poe’s committee ruled in its draft report that President Benigno Aquino III was ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano bloodbath.

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Aquino... From A1

on the Supreme Court’s affirma tion that the DAP was unconstitutional. He said the complainants also failed to meet the elements of technical malversation, usurpation and graft and corruption. He said the high court only made clarifications on the “constitutional boundaries” on budgetary powers, and that it was meant as a reference for future budgetary actions. There was no element of punishment on those who implemented the DAP, he said, adding the resolution “was a pronouncement that clarified in general terms constitutional rules and principles involving the budget. It cannot be construed as amounting to a specific finding of criminal liability. “The Supreme Court merely set out—for future reference—the metes and bounds of the President’s exercise of power to augment, nothing more.” The high tribunal’s decision did not cite the culpability of the authors, proponents and implementing DAP, Aquino said. “Complainants’ allegation... that I ‘diverted appropriations’ is based on a complete lack of understanding of the difference between ‘appropriations’ and ‘savings.’” Aquino said he was not the “accountable officer” in the actual control of the DAP funds. He said he never bypassed the powers of Congress for using the savings of all government agencies to augment some deficient items in the budget, and that the president could exercise budgetary flexibility. He maintained his innocence, saying he was not culpable for technical malversation under Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code, and that the savings from different government agencies were no longer technically funds “appropriated by law or ordinance” once these had been declared to be savings. Rio N. Araja

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FISTS FOR UNITY. President Rodrigo Duterte and members of his delegation raise their ﬁsts before the overseas Filipinos in Japan at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo on October 25. Malacañang Photo

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State Department spokesperson John Kirby said in Washington. “So—and this is a pattern we’ve seen, so we’re not going to react and respond to every bit of rhetoric,” he added. Kirby, who noted that Duterte’s rhetoric was “at odds” with the relationship between the two countries, also laughed off Duterte’s volatile attitude to that of his alteregos and people speaking for him, which has been notably inconsistent. “And you’ve already seen cases where the President himself and even some of his Cabinet officials have walked back some of these statements,” Kirby said. “In fact, just today I’d point you to comments made by the President’s spokesman himself about the issue of businesses, where the President’s spokesman himself walked that back just today, that there’s no intention to harm the US-Philippines economic relationship or the presence of American businesses there. So even just in the wake of him saying it, his own spokesman walked that back,” he added. On Tuesday, the President resumed his anti-US rhetoric as he scored US State Department As-

Tokyo... From A1

cooperation on key infrastructure projects. The country is celebrating its 60th year of relations with Japan, which has been the Philippines’ top trading partner, top source of approved investments, and second biggest source of official development assistance. Duterte, who described Japan as a “true friend,” said that greater political, economic and defense cooperation will be on the top of his list. “We count on Japan to further extend its valuable support in our pursuits for promoting rural development, increasing agriculture productivity, accelerating infrastructure spending and investing in human capital development,” Duterte said. “These economic development thrusts are necessary ingredients in making the growth [have an] impact on the lives of our people,” he added. On Tuesday, before a cheering audience of resident Filipinos, Duterte called Americans “stupid”—

sistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel by telling him that the US should not treat the Philippines “like a dog on a leash.” Duterte’s belligerent stance against the United States has unnerved another close ally, Japan, which is worried about China’s expansion of control over the South China Sea. In his visit to Beijing last week, Duterte promised the Chinese of his “separation” from Washington in the military and economic aspect, only to take back his statements upon arriving at Davao City, saying that he’s not severing our ties with the West. Shortly after making remarks to “separate” with the United States, his economic managers sought damage control, with Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia saying that the President “isn’t an English major” and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez insisting that Duterte’s statements were “not realistic.” On Tuesday, Duterte likewise urged foreign businesses in the Philippines who are worried about his deadly war on drugs to “pack up and leave” the country, but Malacañang declined to make any comment to expound on the President’s statements. Washington and Tokyo are trying to counter Beijing’s encroachment in surrounding waters by

forming partnerships with other territorial claimants in the region, such as the Philippines. Not toning down on his antiAmerican slur, Duterte instead gave a deadline of “two years” to free the country from foreign troops and abrogate executive agreements, if necessary, to make them happen. “I have declared that I will pursue an independent foreign policy. I want maybe in the next two years my country freed of the presence of foreign military troops,” the President said in Tokyo, as he detailed his ranting against the United States for criticizing him over his war on illegal drugs. “I want them out and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, existing agreements, this will be the last maneuver war games between the United States and the Philippines military,” he said. Reiterating that the Americans had started the war by threatening to cut off US assistance as a result of human rights violations committed under his administration, Duterte said that America should not treat him “like a dog on a leash.” “The Americans are really a bully,” Duterte said. “You know, it’s like saying I am a dog on a leash and I said, if you do not stop biting the criminals, we will not throw the bread under your mouth.

We will throw it further so that you’ll have to struggle to get it. That is what America wants me to be. A dog barking for the crumbs of their favor and so I said it’s a great country, it has helped us in so many ways in the past but you know and you must know that we are also under a colony of America for 50 years and they lived off the fat of my land,” he added. US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg had earlier said that the US wanted to remain involved in Mindanao to campaign to quell Islamic militancy in Mindanao, citing that security threats in the conflict-plagued region were “very serious.” Duterte told Japanese businessmen if they want to come to the Philippines, “you’ll just have to contend with the new dynamics of my country.” He admitted that without the assistance of America, it will be a “lesser quality of life” for Filipinos, but maintain that the country will survive even without them. “We will survive without the assistance of America. Maybe a lesser quality of life but I said, we will survive and if there is one thing I would like to prove to America and to everybody, there is such a thing as the dignity of the Filipino people,” Duterte said. With AFP

but went out of his way to praise his hosts. “Japan has really been our biggest helper,” he said, pointing to help with an airport and roadbuilding projects. “The fact is they are really so very kind.” Duterte told reporters before he left that he was keen to boost bilateral trade and was looking forward to meeting top Japanese executives. “I will tell them clearly that the Philippines is open for business,” he said, adding he wanted Japanese cooperation on key infrastructure projects. “In particular, we can tap the experience and expertise of Japan in developing high quality and modern public transportation,” he said. Duterte had earlier told Japanese media that he will be asking Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for greater assistance in building more railways for the country, particularly in Mindanao and would be working hard to achieve regional stability. “In this light, we appreciate Japan’s role in the peace-building efforts in Mindanao that is geared

towards attainment of a more peaceful life for our country and the ending the vicious cycle of poverty and conflict.” “Complimentarily, we also need to decentralize growth through agriculture development, particularly in rural areas, which are more dependent on agriculture like Mindanao, that produce the country’s top agricultural exports such as bananas, pineapples, coconut and tuna. “We must likewise pursue improved connectivity to the infrastructure development projects. Japan has the corresponding capacity to be our reliable partner in all its resources, expertise and technical know-how.” In the same forum, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said that the government was working to ease limits to foreign ownership of Philippine businesses and that the Philippine economy could sustain economic growth of seven percent or higher. “We intend to sustain GDP [gross domestic product] growth of seven percent or better and bring down poverty rate from 26.5 percent to 17 percent in 2022,” Dominguez said.

“With growth momentum, low inflation rate, stable currency, and strong political leadership, the Philippines earnestly opens our doors to business with our neighbors. The new government has taken decisive steps to improve the ease of doing business in the country [and] we will respond helpfully to assist the inflow of investments,” Domimguez said. The Philippines recently improved its ranking in the latest World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report as it moved up four notches this year to No. 99 out of 190 economies and ranked 7th among 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-countries. Its performance improved in four of the 10 doing business indicators, slipped in four others, and remained the same in the remaining two criteria, according the World Bank report. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the government was eyeing 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent growth in 2017 and seven percent to eight percent growth in 2018. With Gabrielle H. Binaday, AFP

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“Police officers such as Pedrozo, Kho and 200 other police officers do not have a place in the government,” he said. Several protesters were wounded on Oct. 17 when a police van rammed the protesters. Argee Macliing Malayao and Nicole Soria, through Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, filed the complaint before the Ombudsman. They urged the Ombudsman to hold Kho liable for attempted murder. Albayalde was implicated for command responsibility, while Pedrozo and the rest allegedly connived in an attempt to kill them, they said. Rio N. Araja

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Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Prosecutor General Claro Arellano urged the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the case. “The timing and circumstances of the ambush on City Prosecutor Acido raise serious question about whether it was related to his work as a prosecutor,” Arellano said in a statement. F. Pearl A. Gajunera and Rey E. Requejo

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Cabinet officials debate fuel tax

FATHER-SON TEAM. A cemetery caretaker and his son help each other clean up grave markers in preparation for the All Souls’ Day when the nation remembers their departed loved ones. Andrew Rabulan

By John Paolo Bencito A CABINET official expressed relief after proposed tax measures to increase taxes on petroleum products were allegedly not included in the President’s legislative agenda to be submitted to Congress. Members of the President’s economic team, however, played down these pronouncements, which were “highly unlikely.” In a statement, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chair Terry Ridon said the proposed tax measures on raising the excise tax on petroleum products were not among the legislative measures presented by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, which sought to consolidate bills to be submitted to the President as priority measures in Congress. “We have reason to believe that new tax measures will not be included in the President’s legislative agenda, and for that we are thankful,” Ridon said. “The PCUP stated its objections in the meeting, as we believed that higher taxes on petroleum products would severely affect our transport and informal sectors, and revoking tax privileges for our seniors would further disadvantage an already marginalized sector,” he added. Aside from increased taxes on petroleum products, Ridon said the inter-agency meeting also junked proposals on the revocation of senior citizen tax privileges, turned down by the Finance department as early as August when it reviewed the lifting of VAT exemptions, adjusting for inflation of the tax on fuel, and rationalization of fiscal incentives. The economic cluster maintained that excise tax on petroleum products should be raised amid “anti-poor” criticisms, claiming it would escalate food prices and other prime commodities. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, however, pointed out that “contrary to the common perception that fuel excise tax increases would affect the poor the most, DoF studies show 60 percent of petroleum products are consumed by the top 10 percent of the country’s top income earners.” “In fact, the top 200,000 households [in terms of salaries and income] consumed 20 percent of the fuel products,” he said.

Surigao lawmakers press ethics plaints By Maricel V Cruz

URIGAO del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay has filed an ethics complaint against Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers for “unparliamentary conduct.” In an eight-page verified complaint filed at the House committee on ethics last Oct. 25, Pichay said Barbers violated Section 138 (a), Rule XIX of the House of Representatives or the provision on Code of Conduct when Barbers allegedly hurled invectives against Pichay during the initial deliberations on Charter Change conducted by the House committee on constitutional amendments last Oct. 12. But Barbers said he is ready to answer the complaint Pichay has filed against him and vowed to file a counter charge. “I am also preparing a complaint against him [Pichay] be-

Agency buys palay damaged by storms By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE National Food Authority has started buying storm damaged palay (SDP) in Regions 1, 2 and 3 that were severely affected by Typhoons ‘‘Karen’’ and ‘‘Lawin.’’ NFA officer-in-charge Tomas Escarez has authorized its field offices in the three regions to procure storm damaged palay from individual and farmers’ groups affected by the recent typhoons. Concerned NFA field offices are allowed to procure SDP for a period of one month. NFA said the base price for the procurement of SDP is P11

per kilogram. The prices, however, will vary depending on the quality specifications such as moisture content, purity, discolored and damaged grains. SDP with more than 80 percent damaged and discolored kernels shall no longer be bought. Escarez said: “NFA’s procurement of SDP is in addition to our intensified buying operations in the 35 surplus areas across the country identified by the Philippine Statistics Authority such as Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Eastern and Western Pangasinan, and La Union in Region 1.

fore the House committee on ethics,” Barbers said. “The basis [of the complaint]: surprise.” Barbers and Pichay exchanged unprintables during the commitee deliberations on Charter Change. The committee, chaired by Rep. Roger Mercado, was about to vote on a motion to adopt the proposal for Congress to convene into as a Constituent Assembly as the mode in rewriting the Constitution. Pichay, among other lawmakers, proposed that senators be invited to sit with congressmen in discussing amendments to the 1987 Constitution. He said Article XVII, Sec-

tion of the Constution provides that any amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by Congress upon a vote of threefourths by all of its members. But Barbers dismissed Pichay’s remark as “senseless” and “stupid.” This prompted Mercado to suspend the hearing. After a few minutes, Barbers approached the seated Pichay to ask what Pichay’s motion was about. But Pichay reacted negatively to Barbers’ which prompted them to exchange cuss words until Barbers had to leave the room. In his complaint, Pichay said Barbers’ actions “constitute a disorderly behavior and therefore can be considered a dishonorable act not only against me but the entire institution which is the House of Representatives,” Pichay said in his complaint. Pichay said he was saddened by the fact that Barbers said “sorry to the people” and not to him after the incident. Pichay, in his complaint, also

cited a Supreme Court jurispridence, as in the case of “Osmeña vs. Pendatum” where the high court said “the House Special Committee’s decision to impose disciplinary penalty on Rep. Sergio Osmeña for disorderly behavior amounting to unparliamentary conduct an affront against the House of Representatives.” “Rep. Barbers’ act is the complete opposite of being creditable as he did not conduct himself in a manner that is befitting to his stature as a member of the House,” Pichay said in his complaint, also referring to the House’s Rules on Code of Conduct which states that “a member shall act at all times in a manner that shall reflect ‘creditably’ on the House. “The word creditable [creditably] is defined as “worthy of belief or sufficiently good to bring esteem praise. Thus, a House member is expected to bring credit, honor, reputation, or esteem to his institution, the House of Representatives,” the Pichay complaint read.

Tugade denies trip to China By John Paolo Bencito TRANSPORTATION Secretary Arturo Tugade scored the failure of Washington’s intelligence after he dismissed as “gossip” claims by outgoing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg that he went with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on an “unpublicized” visit to China in June. “If it is true that Ambassador Goldberg said that, then the fabled American ‘intelligence network’ has miserably failed again. Tsismis yan [That’s gossip]! Was never in Beijing in June! You can always examine my passport anytime,” Tugade claimed.

The President, however, last June, claimed he asked Tugade to go to China to discuss agreements on the railway project that has been promised by China . “Art Tugade has to go to China, not to talk about war, not to talk about irritations there, but to talk about peace,” Duterte said in his speech at the Sulong Pilipinas business forum at SMX Davao. But Cayetano conﬁrmed he went to China in June. When asked if Duterte instructed him to do this, Cayetano told online news site Rappler: “I cannot say.”

A LAWMAKER has filed a bill seeking to restore the Philippine Constabulary, with the elite Special Action Force as the first batch of officers, concentrate on suppressing domestic security threats, particularly terrorism and insurgency. In filing House Bill 3768, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel asked President Rodrigo Duterte to certify the bill which proposes to bring back the PC by

revising the 1990 law that created the Philippine National Police and the 1998 statute that gave the Armed Forces of the Philippines primary jurisdiction over internal security. “Considering it was the President himself who ﬁrst broached the renewal of the PC, we’re asking him to certify our bill as urgent. But that is really up to the President, whether or not he certiﬁes the measure,” said Pimentel, a member of the House committee on national defense and security.

Biñan city official slain BIÑAN CITY—A city hall official was killed following an ambush in this city on Monday afternoon. Binan City Chief of Police Supt Serafin Petalio identified the victim as Gerardo Santos, head of the General Services Office of Biñan City Hall, who was on board a car driven by Rizalito Faraon when the suspects blocked their way at Cardama Circle in Barangay Loma. Two suspects alighted from a car and fired at the victim hitting him in the head and other parts of the body. The suspects fled after the shooting. His driver escaped unhurt. Roy Tomandao

Bello: ‘Endo’ ends in 2016 THE Department of Labor and Employment will formulate a policy on employment contractualization based on the proposals of the employers and labor groups before the end of 2016. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the department will come up with a policy or guideline that will be enforced by the year ends. “We will decide whether we will end contractualization, allow contractualization, or come up with a balance of the two positions,” Bello said after the high level dialogue between representatives from employers and labor groups. Bello said the department is also studying the proposed “Win-Win Structure” which was submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry and supported by various employers’ groups. Among the employers’ group which support the DTI’s proposal are the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines; Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry; and Philippine Association of Local Service Contractors.

Autism meet set Nov. 7-8

Solon seeks revival of PC vs terrorism By Maricel V. Cruz

IN BRIEF

CHRISTMAS ENTERPRISE. A Manila resident assembles a Christmas tree made of dried twigs and flower strands which eventually find their way to flower shops on Dimasalang Street in the months of November and December. Ey Acasio

AUTISM Partnership, a worldrenowned service provider of Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism Spectrum Disorder will hold a two-day conference entitled, “3rd Annual Conference on Maximizing Progress and Dealing with Bullying” on Nov. 7 to 8, 2016 Crimson Hotel, Filinvest City. Speaker will be Dr. Ronald Leaf, Director of AP and a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience in the ﬁeld of autism. For more details, you may contact Autism Partnership Philippines at (02) 412-7806, (0917) 6552552, or www.facebook.com/ AP. Philippines.

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Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Face before the world

EFORE President Rodrigo Duterte left the country for Japan he went into another diatribe against our (erstwhile) ally, the United States, saying it should never treat the Philippines like a dog on a leash. When he arrived in Japan he said he wants foreign military troops—the Americans, pointedly—out of the country. Last week, during his state visit to China, he announced the Philippines’ separation from the US. He was extra gracious to the Chinese then, even playing down his plans—assuming there were any to begin

with—on how to enforce the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that rejected Chinese’s nine-dash claim on most of the South China Sea. It’s a curious situation since his current hosts now are themselves

locked in a territorial dispute with last week’s hosts. Mr. Duterte, though, was quick to assure the Japanese that no military alliances were forged with China —just economic ones. It entails great effort to keep up with the President’s pronouncements when he is overseas, or when he speaks up about foreign governments. Sometimes he follows up and reinforces his hostile words, like he has against the US. In these cases, his

subalterns are left with the sorry task of making sense of his words and twisting their meaning until it becomes nearpalatable to the public. What has gained Mr. Duterte the notoriety he now enjoys is his brash pronouncements about an “independent” foreign policy which in itself is a contradiction in terms. Having a foreign policy means acknowledging that one cannot live isolated, and being independent does not mean alienating all others. The

phrase is a simplistic way to see the world and one’s place in it. Perhaps the President is intoxicated with the novelty of his maverick reputation overseas. But at what price? In this context, the Presidential Communication Office seems woefully incapable of transmitting to the public what the President truly means. It’s great entertainment, but it leaves us all fretting about where our leader is taking us.

Whether we like it or not, Mr. Duterte’s face is our face before the global community. Governments and organizations may equate the future of the Philippines with what our leader says. If they see, as they may already do, that we are brash, arrogant, simplistic—and often have to qualify what we say —then they may conveniently forget that this leader was elected by a mere plurality and that his term will not last forever. DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

The visits

Put Leni in charge LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES I’D LIKE to start my own online petition. I want Leni to head up the government while the President is away on a foreign visit sometime soon. No, I’ve not turned into a Robredo fan—far from it. I just want to find out if the vice president is telling the truth when she says she’s not plotting the overthrow of the President and if she’s capable of leading the country, even if it’s just in a caretaker capacity. Allow me to explain: Since President Rodrigo Duterte started going abroad two months ago, he’s designated Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as caretaker of the government while he’s away. This week, during Duterte’s trip to Japan, he took Medialdea with him, leading some people to ask

who’s been left to mind the store. The answer to that question is easy: Still not Vice President Leni Robredo. Duterte left the government in the hands of a committee headed by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. The committee’s members also include Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maynard Guevarra and former Davao City administrator and now Undersecretary Melchor Quitain. Why not Robredo, who’s also a member of the Duterte Cabinet as housing czarina and next in line to the President in order of succession? It’s really not that simple, one Duterte administration official explained to me. “The President still doesn’t really trust Robredo,” he said. “If you were him, would you?” Robredo was last in the news when her office dismissed reports that she had met with outgoing United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki Moon in Quito, Ecuador, supposedly to seek the latter’s “blessing” for a plan to oust Duterte. A photograph of

the Robredo-Ban encounter had earlier been released by the vice president’s office, which Robredo said was merely a chance meeting at the sidelines of a UN conference on housing and sustainable development that both

The UN, of course, has been in the Duterte doghouse for some time, mainly because the president has objected to the criticisms lobbed by the organization’s human rights rapporteurs against his administration’s war on drugs. To some in Duterte’s inner circle (and to many of his fans outside it), Robredo was consorting with a known enemy when she had her picture taken To some in with the UN’s Ban. Duterte’s inner Robredo has routinely been linked to such plots. Sometimes, circle (and to it’s really her fault that she’s been suspected of involvement, many of his like when she posed with Ban fans outside or when she issues statements that seem at odds with Duterte’s it), Robredo is own stated policies; other times, it’s just because she was not Duconsorting with terte’s running mate and stands the enemy. to benefit the most if Digong somehow fails to finish his term. And then there are times when Robredo just does one of those things that make you scratch of them attended. “They had small talk,” said a your head, like her latest photospokesman for Robredo. “It was graph which showed her on the a very informal meeting.” street, smiling, with a “dirty”

ice cream cone in her hand. And right behind her was the expensive white Land Cruiser SUV that she apparently tools around in, when she’s not stopping to buy cheap local refreshments in a bid to make her look like she’s one of us. It’s just the latest version of her now-famous picture showing her waiting for a ride on the side of a street where no bus ever stops. No sane person—or no one who doesn’t plan to deceive, anyway —would do the things Leni does. *** But my proposal to put Robredo in charge while Duterte is away is made in all seriousness. First of all, I want to know if Leni can be trusted not to overthrow Digong and take over the government while the duly-elected president is not in the country. Think about it: What better way is there to test Robredo’s repeated disavowals of participation in any oust-Duterte plot than to temporarily hand over the reins to her? Turn to A5

WHY does he do it? More precisely, why does he keep on doing it? Just before leaving for Japan, President Rodrigo Duterte was his usual self again. He said that he was not a lapdog of any country, probably referring to the United States, his whipping boy. He also touched on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that it should be reviewed because his wish is that at a certain point in time in the future, he would only want to see Filipino soldiers in the country. And in a meeting with the Filipino community in Japan, he called the American bullies. Surely the President must realize that at the very least, these outbursts if we can call them that are not helpful at all. Fostering a climate of uncertainly is bad, not only for the financial markets but also for the overall economy in the long run. Does he really feel that he has to say something insulting to the Americans at every opportunity? The country is now fast gaining a reputation in the international community because of the President. It’s not an enviable reputation. There is now a cottage industry engaged in deciphering the President’s words. For instance, when is separation not really a separation? During the China visit, Mr. Duterte was accorded unprecedented honors including an honorary doctoral degree honoris causa from the prestigious University of Beijing. When he was there, he said that the Philippines will be separating from the United States because as he put it, the US has lost it. It is perhaps unfair to attribute this to the euphoria of the honors accorded him by his Chinese hosts. As a Filipino, it is hard not to speculate that he was only responding to the hospitality of the Chinese. Immediately upon his return home, there was another clarification that the word separation does not really mean a divorce but that the country, in navigating its own foreign policy options, will not always align itself with those of the US. Assistant Secretary for East Asia Affairs Daniel Russel of the US State Department issued a statement to the press which elicited a response from the President because of a newspaper headline. He was quoted as saying that those foreign businessmen who are worried about his war on drugs can pack up and go. But while in Japan, he declared that the country is open for business. These are contradictory statements. Is it only the Americans and the Europeans that are the subject of the President’s Turn to A5

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Opinion

MANY have expressed their opinion about President Duterte’s habit of saying things that should not be said in public. He does not seem to realize that words coming out of his mouth are policies. They articulate the position of the Philippines before the community of nations. Some say this is because President Duterte is a self-confessed socialist, just one step away from being a communist. Others say he is too much of a nationalist. Yet others say he simply hates the Americans because of incidents in the past. But if we take these as truth, it would appear as though the President is retaliating against the US for personal reasons. Isn’t that being petty and vindictive? I would tend to disagree. I think he is intelligent enough to realize that everything he says has an effect on the country. The President may be a socialist, but he also believes in democracy. He believes in assent and dissent. I believe President Duterte has good intentions in saying the things he does. I am hopeful that at the end of the day the change he promised us is coming. My gulay, note that while he wanted a “separation” economically and militarily with the US, he also said that “separation” did not mean severance of ties. The President himself believe they are distinct. So, we just have to leave it at that. Santa Banana, what bothers me though is his latest rant that “wary traders should pack up and leave.” Again, this should be decoded and further explained. When the President rants about something, we should take it within the context of what he has been saying about economic ties with the United States. It’s simply a matter of distinguishing what he is saying and his real intentions. In due time, we will know what the President really wants to say. We just have to live with that. *** What bothers me more than the rants is the report of the World Economic Forum that corruption, and lack of infrastructure in the Philippines, have made the Philippines less competitive among 144 countries. The WEF Report places the country ranking in its overall competitiveness in 2016-2017 down by 10 notches to 57th down from 47th. The WEF’s Global Competitiveness Report says corruption, inefficient government bureaucracy and inadequate supply of infrastructure have become constant problematic issues doing business in the Philippines. The WEF Report defines competitiveness as “the set of institutions, policies and factors that determine a country’s productivity which, in turn, sets the level of prosperity that the country can achieve.” This report could not have come at the worst of times. Foreign investors are affected by what the WEF says on competitiveness. Santa Banana, my heart bled when the WEF Report compared the Philippines to its neighboring Asean member-states ranking the Philippines lower than

Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. There is even speculation that soon, even Cambodia will overtake us. The President should be concerned. *** President Duterte has sought another six months to continue his war against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality. He earlier vowed to end the drug menace within three to six months. The questions now are: Can the President really eradicate the drug menace by the middle of next year? Statistics show that more than 3,000 illegal drug dealers, financiers, protectors and drug pushers have already been killed, and there are more than 3.7 million drug dependents and addicts nationwide, and many more in the President’s list. If only to show the enormity of the illegal drug problem, President Duterte now wants to consult both houses of Congress on how to deal with the problem. Government cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, charge all those involved in the drug trade in court. The President’s estimate of drug addicts may even exceed 4 million. Can all the planned drug rehabilitation centers accommodate them all? That’s another big problem. Considering how porous our coastal lines are, the entry of illegal drugs into the country is a multi-billion dollar industry. The fact that drug cartels from abroad have made the Philippines a transshipment point attests to this. Santa Banana, Duterte cannot have his police chief Ronald dela Rosa kill all those involved in the illegal drug trade even if he wanted to. In the process, my gulay, there will be more killings. No doubt, Duterte’s war on the drug menace has the support of people. According to PNP records, there are no less than 10,000 drug networks nationwide because of the lack of political will and resolve by the past administration. In fact because of incompetence, the illegal drug problem flourished under the six-year term of BS Aquino. Some say, that many of BS Aquino’s friends and supporters even coddled drug lords. In a press forum of the Manila Overseas Press Club, Dela Rosa said that soon enough the police will also go after illegal gambling or jueteng. My gulay, that’s another problem. Corruption in jueteng is almost as pervasive as in illegal drugs because corruption in illegal gambling extends all the way to Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo. Duterte and Dela Rosa also know that gambling lords are also drug lords since illegal drugs and jueteng are symbiotic. Of all government agencies, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is the most corrupt to the extent of allowing gambling lords to head and manage PCSO’s Small Town Lotteries. For the record, Columbia has been at war with drug cartels for the past 30 years, and so is Mexico. In the United States the US Drug Enforcement Agency is still fighting the $6-wbillion cocaine trade coming from Columbia and Mexico.

Put... From A4

or man-made, happens while she is in charge? I can’t really say if Robredo is part of any plot to destabilize or remove Duterte. All I know is that recent history tells us that people who assume the vice presidency always start believing that they are, as the political axiom says, one heartbeat away from the Big Adobo. If it’s true, as Duterte keeps saying, that he’s willing to risk his life, his honor and the presidency itself to do the job he set out to do, maybe he can try this experiment. Let Leni run things while he’s away next time and take the presidency for a test drive. At the very least, she’ll be able to justify the tax money she spends. She’ll be so busy, she won’t have time for those staged, pathetically fake photographs that she’s known for.

The demand will always be there.

It will be like that test of resolve and emotional intelligence given to kids who are asked to sit in front of a jar full of cookies and told not to touch any. If Leni fails that test and makes a grab for power, she will have failed. I don’t think there’s any real danger. If Duterte’s supporters are convinced that the people will not allow any attempt by Robredo to bring down the President and supplant him, they will not be afraid to try this test on her. Second, and equally important, I want to find out if Robredo can actually run the government, especially if a crisis develops while she is its caretaker. What would Leni do if some calamity, natural

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Separation anxiety

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Drug war won’t end

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ IN THE recent state visit of President Duterte to China, he announced the “separation” of the Philippines from the US, particularly in the military and economics. This statement gained negative reactions from Filipinos here and abroad. While the President has been criticized many times for his troubling rhetoric that somehow tarnishes the good relationship between the Philippines and the US, the announcement of separation prompted the US to seek clarification of the President’s statement. President Duterte clarified what he meant when he announced the “separation” of the Philippines from the US. The

President explained that this didn’t mean severance of ties or cutting of diplomatic relations. We all wait to see exactly how this will play out. I agree that the President should maintain ties with the US, primarily because many Filipinos live in the US. In fact, almost every Filipino family has relatives who work or live in the US. Prior to the elections, surveys showed that President Duterte’s voters comprises 37 percent of the Class ABC, which is around 4-10 percent of the population. This phenomenon was said to be “elite-driven,” a product of the protests of the new middle class: BPO workers, OFWs, and even Uber drivers. The IT-BPO industry currently employs more than a million Filipinos and contributes to almost 10 percent of the GDP, next to the OFW remittances. Furthermore, 77 percent of the Philippines’ BPO export

is for US-based companies. We can assume the adverse effects should the Philippines cut diplomatic ties with one of its strongest alliances, the United States of America. I understand that the President’s move with China means pursuing bilateral consultations and mutual beneficial cooperation. However, he must not neglect the American-Philippine relations that spanned for more than 70 years. As the US promised to honor its alliance commitments and treaty obligations with the Philippines, we should do the same. While the President wants to break away from our dependency on the US, it is necessary to strengthen our ties with them, especially after a few conflicts that resulted from the bold remarks by the President towards the US since he assumed position. The Philippine Economic Team reiterated that, “we will

maintain relations with the West, but we desire stronger integration with our neighbors.” I believe that the desire to strengthen our ties with China, Russia, and other Asean countries, should also be of the same level of desire to strengthen our ties with the US, EU, and other countries of the world. The Philippines is one of the most progressive nations in the world. While we seek independence, our nation requires healthy relations with the biggest nations. Our ties must remain intact. The President’s statement, “the three [Philippines, China, and Russia] of us against the world,” polarized opinions and sentiments against the President, both domestically and globally. I certainly hope we see a President whose future statements in the area of foreign relations will communicate his strength and firmness, in a tactful way.

Common sense to solve transport woes POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE AFTER two months of living in California, what holds my attention is how everything works and functions according to plan and schedule. I can’t help contrasting how things are here with how things are back in Manila. Let’s look at three examples. First, the traffic. Manila traffic has been rightly described by author Dan Brown in his novel Inferno as “the gates of hell.” The gridlock consumes so much time that people would rather stay put where they are than venture out to another city that should be 30 minutes away instead of the two to three hours it now takes to get there. It’s infuriating. In the California suburbs, traffic is almost nonexistent, while even freeway traffic and rush hour traffic in busy cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles are bearable in comparison. Second, public transportation. The Bay Area’s bus lines are AC

Transit and Union City transit. They work in tandem with the BART light rail, bringing workers from the bedroom towns to their work in San Francisco. To make it easy for commuters to pay their fares, BART sells the Clipper prepaid card, which can also be used for AC transit buses. UC buses allow free “transfers” from one bus to another within a certain time period. The BART and buses are mostly on time if not early. Bus stop signs are clearly marked, schedules are posted on many bus stop signs or available as flyers and online. Los Angeles has a similar system, the Metro, that runs buses, bus rapid transit, light rail, and subway. All these forms of transportation have spaces for wheelchairs and bike racks, and designated areas for seniors. Our buses, on the other hand, run to no schedule and stop practically anywhere. And the MRT and LRT are sardine cans of doom. Neither of these systems provide for the needs of the disabled or bike riders. It’s aggravating. Taxis pick and choose their passengers, which is annoying for someone’s who’s stood in line

for an hour only to be refused by cabbie. No wonder Grab and Uber are thriving, despite efforts to take them down—they provide a service that would not be necessary if other forms of public transport were more reliable and comfortable. Third, social services. A newly arrived immigrant who has not yet found a job may apply for health insurance under Medi-Cal and “nutrition assistance” (what used to be called food stamps) under CalFresh. ID cards and driver’s licenses may be obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Social Security cards are automatically mailed within two weeks of the immigrant’s arrival, green cards in less than two months. Applications for government services are processed quickly and easily, most of it online. If you have to go to an office, it usually takes just one visit to process your request. Benefit cards, IDs and licenses, green cards and “socials” are mailed to the recipient using regular US Post within a week to six weeks—no need to go back and forth to the offices as we do in the Philippines. Why the glaring difference be-

tween the US system and ours? It is a matter of good administration and management. Processes and procedures in the US were developed to be efficient and effective, based on common sense and laws and regulations that accommodate everyone. What I cannot understand is why, with the resources at our command, we are still unable to solve ordinary issues of public transportation and services when the US, Europe, Japan, and many other countries are able to make theirs serve their people better. Consultants from around the world have offered their services to design workable programs. The best practices are there for our country to study and adapt; there is no need to reinvent the wheel, just tweak it. Is it then a question of having good managers? Then why don’t we have them? Why are we suffering the same public service horrors administration after administration? It’s sickening and frustrating. It looks like the much-vaunted change, in this area at least, hasn’t come. The question is will it arrive eventually, or we are again waiting on nothing?

A Philippine alliance with China is unthinkable for majority of the Filipinos By Roilo Golez I HOPE the President is just joking when he mentions a possible alliance with China and he talks of terminating the alliance with the US. In the first place, an alliance with China is very unpopular among Filipinos. Only people like Herman Tiu Laurel favor an alliance with China. I ran a simple survey on Facebook and out of 752, 16 are for (China-Russia), 3 are neutral and 733 are for (US, EU and Japan) or 97.47 percent for US-EU-Japan, in spite of the bashing that US and EU have been receiving lately. I dare say it will be at least 80 percent in favor of the US if we do a nationwide survey. The government should run a survey. or look at the latest SWS survey to see how Filipinos favor the US over China. Why? The answer is simple. It is cultural, social and ideological. There are 3.4 million FilipinoAmericans in the US. Almost every Filipino has a close relative in the US. At least a second cousin. Many have siblings there. And most of the Filipinos in the

The... From A4 scorn? If we go over the statements of Russel, there was really nothing out of the ordinary and there was nothing harmful at all. It is the standard statements given by any senior diplomat visiting any country. Again, the President felt that he had to respond aggressively. Any other chief executive would have responded differently —but not Duterte. Maybe he feels very secure in his position. When he first assumed office, the first thing that he did was to visit military and police camps, mingling and eating with the men in uniform where he feels most comfortable. The number of ex-military and police in his

EVERYMAN US have a good life there. America has been good to them. And that is why many Filipinos dream the American Dream. That’s the reason many are applying to immigrate to America. You cannot say the same for China. Brown Filipinos have few relatives there. We have OFWs there who live there as a necessity but I doubt whether they want to become permanent residents there. An alliance means a military alliance. A military alliance is for the contingency of a shooting war. That’s why allies conduct joint military exercises. If we become allies of China, that means the Philippines would be with China in case of a shooting war. To side with China against the US is unthinkable for Filipinos. First, all the ships of the US Navy have several FilipinoAmericans on board. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of them in the US Navy Carrier Battle Groups, the front liners of the US Navy in peace and war.

How can we side with China and wish our Filipino brothers and sisters harm in a conflict with China, or worse to receive fire from the Philippine military allied with China? That is unthinkable. US Marines and Filipino Marines consider themselves brothers in arms, after years of training together and learning from each other during Balikatan Exercise. Ask the Filipino Marines how they feel about US marines. It is unthinkable to ask them to harm each other. For example the Commander of the Joint Region Marianas is a Tagalog-speaking Fil-Am, a lady Rear Admiral Bette Bolivar, a graduate of the US Naval Academy. She is the commander of Joint Region Marianas and also serves as commander of US Naval Forces Marianas and as US Defense Representative to Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, and Federated States of Micronesia. A lot of US naval forces will come from her bases should there be a war in the Western Pacific. And her area can be a target of Chinese missiles. As an ally of China, we Filipinos would cheer

as missiles rain on Guam, killing a lot of Filipinos there, perhaps including Admiral Bolivar. That is unthinkable. The Commanding Officer of US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is a Filipino-American, Captain Ronald Ravelo. His brother in law, married to his Fil-Am sister, is the commanding officer of the famous aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Both carriers could get deployed in the Pacific in case of war here. If we are the ally of China, we would all be praying for a Chinese victory and the destruction of US aircraft carriers commanded by a Fil-Am with hundreds of Filipino crew members. That would be unthinkable for us Filipinos. But if the Philippines remains allies of America, in case of a conflict in the Pacific, Filipino sailors, marines and soldiers would fight side by side with thousands of Filipino Americans assigned in US military units in the Pacific. That is not only thinkable. It goes with our bloodline, culture and democratic ideology. So I hope the President was not serious about a Philippine military alliance with China.

government will attest to this. He talks with them in street lingo used by the ordinary soldier and policeman. He also takes every opportunity to tell them that he will always be behind them and that he will double their pay before the year is over. This is of course in marked contrast to the ways of his predecessor who instead of meeting the remains of the policemen who died in the Mamasapano battle, went instead to open a car assembly plant and was seen frolicking with other guests while a solemn occasion was unfolding at the nearby Villamor airbase. He also refused to sign the salary increase for soldiers and policemen. The President must be feeling so secure in his place. It is not only the soldiers and police who are

squarely behind him. The whole citizenry continues to give him positive ratings. But it seems that everything in the military service may not all be that well. That is if the information I got last weekend is to be believed. The information purports that there are some grumblings from junior and middle level officers because of what they say is the very erratic behavior of their president. It seems that these group of officers who are young and the most idealistic of the lot want a Commander-inChief who behaves with the outmost decorum. Translation—no cuss words, no flip flops and a behavior worthy of the exulted position of a president. According to this information, it raised enough concern that a retired Army general allied with

the administration has been going around talking to these officers trying to explain the position of the government on various issues. One of the issues causing some resentment is the obvious turn to the left of this government with the presence of known communists in government. Whether all these information are accurate and true, I cannot say at this time. But it was a surprise for me to learn about it. This is because if there is any segment of society where the President is strongest, it should be the uniformed services. But the source of the information would not have told me if he did not have personal knowledge. Well, maybe my source is exaggerating or just pulling my leg and there is nothing to it.

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Coding suspended Oct. 31 and Nov. 1

By Joel E. Zurbano

HERE will be no number coding for vehicles on Oct. 31, a special non-working holiday; and Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, the Metro Manila Development Authority announced on Wednesday.

MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said the Uniﬁed Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), or the number coding scheme, will be suspended in time for the holiday. He added the agency has decided to lift the number coding scheme for both public and private vehicles to allow people in Metro Manila more mobility as they start an exodus to the provinces. AUCTION SALE ACME PAWNSHOP 1st Level Glorietta 3 Ayala, Makati and its branches in Majalco Bldg., Buenavidez St., Legaspi Village, Makati and L & R Bldg., Pasay Road, Makati auction sale on November 05, 2016, 3:00 pm Alabang Town Center, Alabang Zapote Road, MJ Holding Bldg., Almanza Las Piñas, Circle C G14, #17 Congressional Ave., Bahay Toro D1, Quezon City at 9:30 am. All items pawned June 30, 2016. Notary Public.

Orbos said the implementation of the scheme will resume on Nov. 2, a regular working day. But he added provincial buses would be exempted from the coding scheme on Nov. 2 and 3 in anticipation of the large number of people returning to Metro Manila. Records showed that 15,000 buses are plying along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. Of this

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number, 22 percent are provincial buses. The MMDA will also sending about 3,000 men tasked to manage traffic in the metropolis and assist passengers inside bus terminals in Pasay City and Quezon City. It will also dispatched men from several operating units including Traffic Discipline Office, Road Emergency Group, Task Force Illegal Terminal, Parking Discipline Group, Towing and Impounding Group to clear all forms of obstructions and ensure smooth flow of traffic on major thoroughfares. In Makati, key offices of the city government, together with the Makati Police Department, are all set to implement measures to ensure the orderly and peaceful observance of ‘Undas’ or All Saints’ Day on November 1 and 2. As is customary during holidays, the number coding scheme will be suspended in Makati on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Four public assistance stations set up in strategic areas in the vicinity of Manila South Cem-

etery will be manned by personnel of the Makati Action Center, Makati Health Department, and Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Ofﬁce. The stations will provide wheelchairs for senior citizens and free blood pressure monitoring, and medical emergency teams will also be on hand to provide assistance if needed. These will be positioned in the following areas: between Makati Catholic Cemetery and Manila South Cemetery; South Avenue corner Kalayaan Avenue; Vito Cruz corner South Avenue, in front of South Cemetery; and Metropolitan Avenue corner South Avenue. For security and order, the Makati police will screen visitors for prohibited items and implement measures to regulate vendors and parking inside or within the vicinity of Manila South Cemetery. Visitors are also advised to take care of small children and secure their belongings while inside the cemetery. The police will conﬁscate

Comelec resumes listup By Vito Barcelo

prohibited items inside the cemetery, which include firearms, bladed weapons, liquors, loudspeakers and amplifiers. Meanwhile, designated areas for selling food and drinks are only allowed outside the cemetery. Cars and motorcycle parking will be available along Ayala Avenue Extension and Metropolitan Avenue. Cleanliness in the area will be maintained by personnel from the city Department of Environmental Services through continuous cleanup operations. Starting midnight on Oct. 31, the city government will also implement a traffic rerouting plan to ease the flow of traffic within the vicinity of Manila South Cemetery, which will remain in effect until midnight of Nov. 2. The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic: Kalayaan Avenue—from Zapote Street to N. Garcia St.; South Avenue—from Metropolitan to JP Rizal; Vito Cruz—from South Avenue to Zapote St.; and Pililia St.—from JP Rizal to Kalayaan Avenue.

THE Commission on Elections will resume the voters’ registration period on Nov. 7, 2016 due to the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls to 2017. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the resumption of voters registration is based on Section 8 of the Voters Registration Act of 1996 that provides for the system of continuing registration of voters. “According to the law, the personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily in the office of the Election Officer during regular office hours. No registration shall, however, be conducted during the period starting 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election,” Jimenez said. The Comelec will conduct the registration period for the 2017 barangay and SK elections from Nov. 7, 2016 to April 29, 2017 including Saturdays and holidays except on December 24 and 25, 2016 and April 13 and 14, 2017, the poll official said.

(MS-OCT. 27, 2016)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE IMPOSITION OF SAFEGUARD MEASURE AGAINST THE IMPORTATIONS OF NEWSPRINT FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES UNDER 2012 AHTN SUBHEADINGS 4801.00.10 AND 4801.00.90 FOR: SAFEGUARD MEASURE (R.A. No. 8800) S.G. Investigation No. 02-2014 Philippine Newsprint Industry, Petitioner. ----------------------------------------------

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Paragraph 2 of Section 16 (Monitoring) of R.A. 8800 (Safeguard Measures Act), the Tariff Commission will conduct a public hearing to determine the compliance by the domestic newsprint industry represented by Trust International Paper Corporation with its adjustment plan as well as the progress and specific efforts it undertook to make a positive adjustment to import competition. The Commission shall afford all identified parties and consumers an opportunity to be present, to produce evidence, to respond to the presentations of other parties, or otherwise to be heard. The hearing will be held on 9 November 2016 (Wednesday), 9:00 a.m. at the Tariff Commission Conference Room, 5/F Medical Arts Building, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, For particulars, please inquire from the Members of the Task Force on the Mid-Term Monitoring Review on Newsprint at Telephone Nos. (632) 9288419 and 926-8731 or email at info@tariffcommission.gov.ph. Issued this 25th day of October 2016 at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Officer-In-Charge (MS-OCT. 27, 2016)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 106, QUEZON CITY ELEANOR R. DIONISIO, Petitioner, -versusDONALD J. KENNEDY, Respondent, x--------------------------------x

CIVIL CASE NO. Q-09-64610 For: Petition for Recognition of Foreign Judgment

JUDGMENT In this petition, Eleanor R. Dionisio prays the the Judgment of divorce dated February 23, 2009 issued by Honorable Joseph C. Teresi, J.S.C. of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Greene, New York, U.S.A. be judicially recognized as valid in the Philippines, and as a consequence of said judgment, thereby declare the petitioner capacitated to remarry pursuant to Article 26, paragraph 2 of the Family Code of the Philippines. IN VIEW WHEREOF, the petition is GRANTED and the Judgment of Divorce issued by Honorable Joseph C. Teresi, J.S.C. of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Greene County, New York, U.S.A. is hereby recognized as valid in the Philippines, and the petitioner is declared capacitated to remarry. The National Statistics Office is enjoined to recognize this judgment and enter the same in the parties` Certificate of Marriage and other pertinent documents in the custody of said office. SO ORDERED Quezon City, 28 June 2013.

ANGELINE MARY W. QUIMPO SALE Presiding Judge (MS-OCT. 27, 2016)

CULTURAL CUSTOM. A vendor in Tondo, Manila arranges bunches of candles she sells for P140 ahead of the annual commemoration of All Souls’ Day next week. Norman Cruz

ICTSI kicks off Basra port By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Philippine Embassy in Iraq expressed hope that more Filipino companies would explore investment opportunities in the country following the recent inauguration of $130-million International Container Terminal Services Inc. port development project in Basra. In a statement, the Embassy welcomed the inauguration of ICTSI’s Basra Gateway Terminal Project in Umm Qasr—Iraq’s largest and only deep-water port and the main gateway to the Iraqi market. “We are glad that ICTSI, a leading Filipino company, is helping spur economic growth in Iraq,”

Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato said. “We hope that more Filipino companies would take a second look at Iraq and consider investing in the country,” Cato said, citing possible opportunities in construction and the oil and gas sectors, particularly in Basra, the country’s commercial capital, and other southern provinces as well as in the Kurdistan Region. In his remarks during the inauguration, ICTSI chairman and president Enrique K. Razon said with the new berth and equipment, Umm Qasr port can now handle larger ships and ensure a more efﬁcient trade gateway for the economic future of the region.

ICTSI poured $130 million to expand the capacity of the port, which handles 80 percent of the country’s imports, by constructing a new berth and container yard, building a multipurpose terminal complex and installing the first Post Panamax STS cranes in Iraq. In addition, the company provided employment and training to 240 Iraqis. “We look forward to seeing Basra Gateway Terminal efficiently support the needs of international shipping lines using standards comparable with the region’s best,” Razon said as he expressed hope that the new terminal, which is the first public-private partnership project in Iraq’s port sector, will jump-start economic activities in the country.

DSWD: ‘Lawin’ relief continues GOVERNMENT operations to deliver relief to families affected by Super Typhoon ‘Lawin’ in Northern and Central Luzon is ongoing, according to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo. “We continue with our relief programs since there are still isolated areas that need to be reached, particularly in the Kalinga and Apayao areas. Our ﬁeld ofﬁce in Central Luzon is also on alert because water is now coming down from Northern Luzon to Central Luzon which is a

catch basin,” she said. Aside from ongoing relief efforts, the Department is conducting intensive assessment and validation on partially and totally damaged houses so that the emergency shelter assistance (ESA) program can be implemented immediately. “Tomorrow, our teams will be coming back from the affected areas to hold a meeting and debriefing to come up with plans for our interventions and assistance, and if necessary, personnel support from other regions,” she added.

Taguiwalo explained that the ESA will prioritize the qualified poorest of the poor families and they will be given initial assistance of P5,000 to buy shelter reconstruction materials. Additional financial assistance will be provided once the DSWD team has finalized the assessment on the damaged houses. In terms of improving the handling of relief goods, Taguiwalo assured the public that the DSWD will closely monitor the expiration dates of relief goods.

Authority suspends pilot school THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced on Wednesday it has suspended the operations of all Cessna-172 aircraft of a La Union-based aviation school after one of its planes crashed in the province of Ilocos Sur last week killing two people. In a memorandum sent to the management of Leading Edge International Aviation Academy Inc. dated Oct. 25, CAAP deputy director general for administration Manuel Antonio Tamayo said the suspension was made in connection with the incident involving “one of your C-172M trainer aircraft with registration number RP-C7838 that crashed on Oct. 21 near Vitales Resort near Vigan, Ilocos Sur.” “The lifting of the hold order will depend on the outcome of the investigation to be conducted by inspectors of the Training Organization Certiﬁcation and Inspection Division [TOCID],” said Tamayo. On Saturday, government rescue teams retrieved the bodies of the two plane crash victims Capt. John Kaizan Estabillo and co-pilot Paola Vianca Robles— on the coastline of Santiago, Ilocos Sur. Joel E. Zurbano

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Indians blank Cubs in opener of World Series CLEVELAND (AFP)--While the Chicago Cubs returned to the World Series on Tuesday after a 71-year wait, the Cleveland Indians made sure they would wait even longer for a Series victory. Cleveland’s Roberto Perez smashed two home runs and pitcher Corey Kluber struck out nine batters over six shutout innings to spark the Indians over Chicago 6-0 in the opening game of the 112th World Series. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a night like that. It was huge,” Perez said. “For me it means a lot. I’ve come a long ways. I’m playing with confidence right now.” The Cubs own America’s longest sports championship drought, having not won the Major League Baseball crown since 1908, while the Indians have the second-longest futility streak in the major leagues, having last taken the title in 1948. The best-of-seven showdown that will end one team’s misery continues Wednesday at Cleveland before the scene shifts to Chicago’s iconic 102-year-old Wrigley Field. Major League Baseball advanced Wednesday’s start by one hour to 7 p.m. (2300 GMT) due to forecasts of heavy rain by late evening. The Indians managed the first shutout in a World Series opener since 1990. Game-one winners have gone on to capture the World Series in 17 of the past 19 years. “You have that extra level of intensity and focus,” Kluber said. “I’m really just trying to treat it like any other start. Obviously there’s more riding on each game.” The Cubs, who led the major leagues with 103 regular-seasson victories, lost in their first World Series appearance since 1945, a 25,948-day gap, before 38,091 spectators. “I’m not disappointed by any means except for the fact we did not win,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “We actually did better than that all looked. “The quality of at-bats were not that bad. I have no concerns. We were ready to play. Our guys looked really good. We’re fine.” Perez, making his World Series debut, blasted a three-run homer off Cubs reliever Hector Rondon in the eighth inning after a solo round-tripper off the metal railing atop the left-field wall in the fourth inning. The 27-year-old Puerto Rican

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Thai bet surges ahead; PH’s Rodriguez falters S

Palakawongnaay uttaya fumbled with two bogeys in another tough day at the challenging layout but gunned down two birdies, the last on No. 17 anchoring her 37-35 card for a second straight even par card that shoved her to the top of the heap at 144. Ikeda also birdied the par-4 17th to cap a fivebirdie feat that negated four bogeys as the Order of Merit frontrunner turned in a one-under 71 to take the challenger’s role at 145 and stay in the hunt for a second leg win in the circuit sponsored by ICTSI. “I really need to

AN RAFAEL, Bulacan – Thai Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttaya pounced on Cyna Rodriguez’s backside meltdown on the greens to storm ahead, seizing a one-stroke lead over Chihiro Ikeda with a gutsy 72 in the second round of the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Ladies Challenge at the Royal Northwoods Golf Club here yesterday.

shoot under tomorrow (today) to get a chance to win again,” said Ikeda, seeking a follow-up to her breakthrough in the rain-hit Orchard leg of the event last June. Another Thai, Saruttaya Ngamusawan, fired one of the tournament-best 69s to move up to solo third at 146, joining Palakawongnaay ut taya and Ikeda

Thai Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttaya reacts after missing a birdie putt on No. 18

in the championship flight chasing the top P250,000 purse in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Rodriguez, fancied to rule this P1 million championship serving as the penultimate leg of this year’s ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour owing to her talent and experience, turned in a decent 36 start but struggled with her putting at the back, ending up with two three-putt miscues and a 41 for a 77. She fell to joint fourth at 147 after showing up the field with a 70 Tuesday. “I lost my momentum after making two threeputts,” rued Rodriguez, the reigning OOM winner who had a so-so debut on the LPGA Tour this year. Despite falling by three, the many-time LPGT leg champion remained confident of her chances but said: “I need to shoot less than 70 to contend again.” Ranged against two titlehungry Thais, Ikeda said she won’t pressure herself to score low but will just play her game. “I’ll treat it as a practice round and hope to give myself birdie chances,” said Ikeda, a former SEA Games gold medalist.

CARLYN Bless Guarde and Minette April Bentillo from host city Isulan in Sultan Kudarat led the local charge at the recent Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Championship Series, now on its 10th year, by winning two titles each in the girls’ division. Many-time champion Guarde played the same opponent Dianna Mariella Abad from Davao City for 16-under and 18-under titles and posted contrasting victories.

She was pushed to three legs by Abad, before winning the 16-under finals, 2-6, 6-4, 10-7, but had an easy time over Abad with a 6-2, 6-1 victory for the 18-under crown in the tournament supported by official ball Dunlop and the provincial government, headed by Gov. Datu Mangudadatu. Bentillo faced different opponents in her two finals matches and swept both, fashioning out an easy 6-4, 6-1 win over North Cotabato’s Tenni-

elle Madis. Shen then followed it up with an even easier 6-3, 6-2 beating of local bet Cza Joyce Sapitanan in the 14-under championship match. “Guarde has already made it to our WTA tournament earlier in Manila because of her consistent performance in this series and she is showing again what she is capable of doing by winning anew here in Isulan. For Bentillo, it is a matter of time only before she competes in Manila too,” said Jean Hen-

ri Lhuillier, President/CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier and current PHILTA Chairman. Lhuillier was the one who initiated this nationwide tennis developmental program focused on provincial players. Another double winner was Koronadal City’s Janus Al-Najeeb Ringia, who added both the 16-under and 18-under boys’ titles to his collection. He swept local player Vince EJ Tugade, 6-4, 6-2, in the 16- under finals, setting the

Millionaires Cup. This is the first time that Nuqui, a Grade 10 student from La Salle Green Hills, joined SM Bowling’s Millionaires Cup, after being influenced by his dad who has a love for the sport. “It was a great experience to be against other bowlers,” said the young champion. “Ang message ko lang sa other young bowlers: keep on practicing, at hardwork lang talaga.” Bien Lozada emerged as the ultimate winner by becoming the Open Masters Champion and the Classified Masters 1st runner up in the third edition of Millionaires Cup, collecting

a total of 1.35 million pesos in cash winnings. Bien reached the finals of both the Open and Classified Masters Divisions after overcoming 6 rigorous monthly finals and a recent mild stroke. At the end of the Open Masters Grand Finals, Lozada won with knockout scores of 209237 against 1st runner up Letty Pineda’s 207-195 and succeeded in getting the coveted 1 million-peso grand prize. To add to his momentous success, Bien Lozada also made history for being the first ever senior champion of the SM Bowling Millionaires Cup.

Patrick Neil Nuqui (left), an up-and-coming bowling prodigy is joined by SM Bowling Sports Development Head CJ Suarez during an appearance at the PSA Forum. Nuqui and colleague Bien Lozada recently ruled the SM Bowling Millionaires Cup Year 3 Grand Finals. Ey Acasio

14th HCL International Bridge tourney in New Delhi THE 14th HCL International Bridge Championships are underway in New Delhi (India). The team sponsored by Maria Teresa Lavazza (Zia Mahmood-Giorgino Duboin, Norbeto Bocchi-Dennis Bilde) is playing the Team of Four Gold tournament. -oOoI feature an interesting deal from the report of Ron Klinger “Showdown in Sanya, !!! After the first session of the semifinals of the 2014 Rosenblum World Open Teams, Mazurkiewicz led Ventin 47-12, and Monaco led Diamond 35-23.

West ♠A976 ♥K ♦Q943 ♣J1082

North ♠Q10532 ♥J95 ♦AJ ♣KQ9

and knocked out the spade ace for a plus 420. At the other table of that match: East ♠4 ♥Q3 ♦K865 ♣A76543

South ♠KJ8 ♥A1087642 ♦1072 ♣-

At one table, Welland, South, opened four hearts, all pass. Jassem led the club jack: king, At favorable vulnerability, each player chose ace, heart deuce. To guard against king-queenthree of hearts, declarer played a low heart. (One a different action as dealer on could not afford this safety play on a diamond Board 17: lead.) West won and switched to a diamond. DeSouth dealer clarer took dummy’s ace, pulled the last trump, East-West vulnerable Session 2

Games Today

(Olivarez Sports Center, Paranaque City) 12 noon – TIP vs Diliman 2 p.m. – CEU vs Bulacan State

AFTER a good practice round, Centro Escolar University hopes to correct some flaws in its game as its goes for its fifth win today against the dangerous Bulacan State University in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranaque City. The Scorpions posted their fourth win with a 75-59 drubbing of the Diliman College last Saturday but their performance failed to please coach Yong Garcia. “We’re a slow starter and we allowed to be threatened again in the fourth frame,” said Garcia, who is hopeful that their practice the past two days will yield positive results. That will be known in their 2 p.m. encounter with the BSU Gold Gears, who are looking to notch their first back-toback wins. The Gold Gears snapped a two-game skid with 104-93 win over the University of Batangas Brahmans. Aside from the 6’6” Rod Ebondo, Garcia is confident he can draw another big games from Orlan Wamar and Samboy de Leon. Clashing at 12 noon are the TIP Engineers and Diliman College. The Engineers are looking to follow up their 76-72 win over the Diliman Griffins last Monday. They are currently tied for second to third places with idle Olivarez College at 3-1.

Local netters lead Isulan double winners Balik SuBIT

Bowling prodigy leads winners in Year 3 of SM Millionaires Cup PATRICK Neil Nuqui, an upand-coming bowling prodigy and Bien Lozada, the unstoppable bowler from Quezon City conquered the Classified and Open Masters Divisions of the SM Bowling Millionaires Cup Year 3 Grand Finals held recently at the SM Megamall Mega Fashion Hall. In the Classified Masters Division, 15 year-old Nuqui took the P600,000 top prize with scores of 202-248 in the knockout games, garnering a series total of 450, against 1st runner up Bien Lozada’s 414 (199-215)—making him the youngest bowler to win in the

Centro Escolar shoots for 5th UCBL triumph

South West Klukowski Upmark Pass Pass 2♣* Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥ Pass 4♠

North East Gawrys Wrang 1♠ Pass 2♦+ Pass 2♠ Pass (All Pass)

With a strong spade holding, Klukowski was not prepared to preempt in first seat. As it went, North might well have passed four hearts. Against four spades, Wrang (East) led the club ace, ruffed. The spade king was ducked, as was the spade jack. After the diamond deuce to the ace, declarer (North) played the spade queen. West won and led the diamond four to the king. East returned a diamond. Declarer ruffed and drew West’s last trump with his own last trump, but when he ran the heart jack to the king. West

cashed a diamond for one down: minus 50; 10 imps to Ventin, which moved closer at 28-50. Crossing to the diamond ace led to declarer’s downfall. Once the four-one spade break was revealed, the indicated continuation was the heart ace and a second heart, after which the only losers would have been one spade, one heart, and one diamond. Also, note that if East had discarded his last diamond, in the actual ending, if declarer had played the heart ace and a second heart, East would have had no diamond to cash. In the other match, Nunes opened two hearts and Fantoni responded four hearts, all pass. Greco led the club jack: king, ace, heart deuce. Nunes laid down the heart ace, taking 10 tricks for plus 420. If hearts had been three-zero, he would have needed to find three spades. In contrast, Brink opened three hearts. With a seven-loser hand and six playing tricks, this looks to be the value bid. Drijver raised to four, passed out, and Hegemo led the club jack: king, ace, ruff. Brink made the safety play of a low heart, also scoring 420, for no swing.

expected to renew rivalries

By Peter Paul Duran REMINISCE might be the arbitrary term word used to describe next year’s Subic Bay International Triathlon event, but the 24th edition of the race isn’t a jolly trip down memory lane, but a rekindling of rivalries and recent friendly competitions. The Triathlon Association of the Philippines launched its Balik SuBIT campaign aimed at getting back triathletes, both elite and age groupers, to relive the event they raced in Subic slated April 2930, 2017. “Balik SuBIT would like to entice triathletes who have raced SuBIT before to comeback and reminisce the past races (they ran) and see familiar faces,” said Marketing Head Sarita Zafra during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate. “Napakagandang balikan. Medyo matagal na ‘yung event, marami nang tumanda, including me,” joked incoming TRAP President Ramon Marchan, adding that they “would like to invite back yung mga dating sumali, at i-promote ‘yung Subic.” According to Marchan, who will replace long time TRAP president Tom Carrasco Jr., SuBIT saw a dramatic increase in both local and foreign participants, including world-class and champion athletes. He bared that an estimated mix of 800 to 1,000 foreign and local athletes will join the event, a perfect venue for homegrown talent to thrive. “We at TRAP believe that SuBIT has indeed played a major role in the development of the sport in the country,” said Marchan In the same forum was national coach Rick Reyes, who shared the NSAs focus on training the triathlon team for coming international and regional events.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Sports

Warriors vow to bounce back

Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball up court against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in an NBA basketball game at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Vargas disqualified to run for POC chief By Ronnie Nathanielsz

ICKY Vargas, the president of the Amateur Boxing Alliance of the Philippines, is saddened by his disqualification from running for president of the Philippine Olympic Committee against Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term. The POC-Comelec Committee disqualified Vargas and PhilCyling’s Bambol Tolentino, who was seeking the Chairmanship, on the claim that they had not attended various POC general assembly meetings, which they alleged was a rule of the POC covering any officer seeking either the POC presidency or he chairmanship.

The POC-Comelec Committee is headed by Frank Elizalde and composed of Bro. Bernie Oca of De La Salle University and congressman Conrado Estrella Jr., Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth and Sports. However, incumbent POC vice president Joey Romasanta, a close confidant of Cojuangco, told the

Manila Standard on Tuesday he did not wish to comment on the eligibility of Vargas, which had been previously questioned by officials identified with the POC chief because it would incur the ire of chairman Elizalde. “I didn’t think that there is a rule requiring a candidate to attend the various general assembly meetings in order to be eligible to run for the position of POC president,” said Romasanta, He clarified he “really couldn’t comment much because the Comelec has taken over jurisdiction.” “In my opinion, it’s the propriety of having been indifferent all of these times and not even offering any advice or criticism (that was being questioned),” said Romasanta. However, Vargas said he had

sent a representative to all the meetings. In an overseas telephone conversation with the Manila Standard, Vargas, who is among the businessmen in Tokyo on the state visit of President Rody Duterte along with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny Pangilinan, regretted that Elizalde “who has such a prominent name can’t comprehend the soundness of our position,” which is basically to help Philippine sports with the “silent majority telling us, it’s about time we do something” to correct the present disastrous situation in Philippine sports as highlighted by the disastrous showing in the Southeast Asian Games. “I am still hoping for some sense of reason,” said Vargas,

who revealed that Mr. Pangilinan was “upset” with the developments and had given him the courage to continue the fight. “But I don’t want to go to court because I don’t want the country to suffer because the IOC may say it’s a sign of government interference,” said Vargas. Romasanta believes that the fight for the POC presidency may evolve into a corporate battle. “They have the resources and can hire high-priced lawyers,” Romasanta said. Pangilinan, who supports eight different sports, is backing the candidacy of Vargas. Former PBA Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud, the spokesman of Vargas, said he would “definitely question his (Vargas’) disqualification.

Customs nails 3rd berth in semifinals STALLED the last time out, Customs freely made it to the Final Four this time, beating a hapless Coast Guard side, 25-18, 25-12, 2518, to join UST and Pocari Sweat in the next round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig yesterday. The Transformers hardly worked out a sweat in disposing of the Lady Dolphins, knocking down kills on both sides, scoring on aces and foiling their rivals’ attacks with solid net defense to log the 66-minute victory four days after suffering a surprise threeset setback to the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors last weekend. With a 4-2 slate, Customs formalized its stint in the semis of the season-ending conference of the league where it all started with UST (5-1) and Pocari (4-1) with BaliPure (3-1) seeking to complete the cast with a victory against Laoag in a game being played at presstime. Coast Guard actually scored three straight points to close in at 18-24 in the third set but the Transformers finished off the Lady Dolphins after a brief rally, dealing the Dolphins their sixth straight loss in the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter. “We’re really happy to win, this is a confidence-booster as we head to the semis,” said Customs skipper Alyssa Valdez, the league’s leading scorer who

OAKLAND —Shellshocked Golden State Warriors players and coaches vowed to bounce back after launching their season with a crushing 129-100 defeat at home to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. A disjointed Warriors team was pummeled relentlessly by San Antonio, who piled up the points through Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge to silence the Oracle Arena crowd. Warriors reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry described the mauling as a “slap in the face” but vowed to produce a response in Friday’s road game against the New Orleans Pelicans. “It’s a nice little slap in the face,” Curry said. “First game you want to come out and protect your own court and have that energy of a home opener. I just felt we didn’t have that energy,” added Curry, who finished with 26 points. “I’m not going to over-exaggerate the vibe but you’ve got to kind of bounce back. We have a lot of work to do, but I think we’re still in a pretty good spot.” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he was embarrassed by the scale of the loss. “I’m sure we’ll be motivated for our next game. I think our guys were embarrassed tonight. I know I was,” Kerr told reporters. “I didn’t see losing by 29 points coming. We had a pretty good camp, a pretty good exhibition season but that doesn’t really mean a whole lot. “You can still see we’re still searching for our rotations and patterns. I told the team it’s a long season, we’ve got a long way to go, we’ll come in tomorrow and get a little bit better.” Golden State’s blockbuster summer signing Kevin Durant, top scorer with 27 points, also attempted to keep the shellacking in perspective. “We can’t over-react. But we can’t let these games pile up either,” Durant said. “It’s a slap in the face and woke us up a little bit and we’re looking forward to getting better.” Klay Thompson said the humbling nature of the loss may benefit the team by puncturing the hype ballooning around Kerr’s all-star roster. AFP “It sucks right now but I really believe in the long run this loss will help us,” Thompson said. AFP

Busy 2017 for Gilas 5 coach Chot By Peter Atencio

Games Saturday 10:30 a.m. – IEM vs Army (S Turf) 12:30 p.m. – 100 Plus vs Cignal (S Turf) 4 p.m. – Pocari vs BaliPure (V-League) 6 p.m. – Air Force vs Customs (V-League

slowed down with a 14-hit game. “We still have to learn from our mistakes, the little things inside the court which make the difference at the end of the game.” Pitted against a winless team, Customs coach Sherwin Meneses used a variety of combinations while giving the rest of the squad the needed exposure as they head to the Final Four grind next week. Thai reinforcement Kanjana Kuthaisong scored seven points in a two-set stint, so did Michiko Castaneda and Lilet Mabbayad, Thai Kanjana Kuthaisong ﬁres away a kill against Coast Guard’s Sheila Marie Cecilio during their Shakey’s who added five hits a piece, while V-League Reinforced Conference duel at the Philsports Arena. eight others chipped in one point or more for the Transformers. Sam Dawson fired 11 hits for Coast Guard, which also drew six markers from skipper Hazel Mea next season is just a month away and theless, he couldn’t be more proud By Jeric Lopez and five points from Michaella he wants his wards to keep the devel- of what the Bolts just accomplished, Caraan but the Lady Dolphins opment and momentum going and making the finals for the first time in JUST a week removed from its heartsimply couldn’t match their rivals carry them to their next journey. team history. breaking defeat in the 2016 Philippine power and depth. “We lost, but I reminded the team “It’s always tough to lose, but I’m Basketball Association Governors’ Customs unloaded 36 spikes, that the next conference starts in a still proud of my Meralco guys,” the Cup finals, Meralco still sees its last 15 more than Coast Guard and campaign as a big gain and not a set- couple of weeks so we need to keep former Most Valuable Player said. had seven blocks and nine aces our head high and look forward to Bolts import Allen Durham, the back. against its rivals 2 and seven, rethat as well,” added Black. Best Import of the Conference, likeBolts’ coach Norman Black acspectively. The veteran multi-titled coach is wise expressed his agony over the knowledged the work and effort his Earlier, Air Force pounded out team put in to be able to establish it- convinced that the future is bright for defeat, but is thankful for the fruita 22-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 vicself a legitimate contender for a cham- Meralco, especially after realizing its ful run he had with his squad. He tory over Instituto Estetico Maalso looks forward to another stint pionship in the league after years of potential this past conference. nila to move within a win from “The team has shown a lot of with Meralco. disappointing results. sweeping the single round elims “Losing the finals is a tough pill to “I’m proud of the players and what promise and improvement. We’re not of the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 swallow, but I thank God for the opwe have done overall for the season,” finished yet,” he said. Third Conference, also at the Meralco skipper Jimmy Alapag portunity and the unforgettable mosaid Black. Philsports Arena. Looking ahead, Black knows the still feels the sting of defeat but none- ments. We’ll be back,” he said.

Black: Future is bright for Bolts

FOR Chot Reyes, it’s going to be a busy 2017 as he juggles his responsibilities as coach of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team and president and CEO of TV5. As for Gilas, it will be his job to map out plans that will bring the national squad to qualify for the Asian championships. To do so, Gilas will first have to do well in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association cagefest. Then, the national squad will have to win the gold in the Southeast Asian Games to make it to FIBA Asia. This journey would most likely bring them the World Cup, and probably the Olympics in 2020. “Bugbog ang Gilas next year. Ang daming tournaments,” said Reyes during Wednesday’s media luncheon at Shangrila, The Fort. The 55-year-old Reyes said he has a lot of ideas on how to form the national team. This includes, getting a sevenfooter who can shoot triples and play side by side with Junemar Fajardo. But he said he has yet to finalize his plans for Gilas. A meeting with the PBA board on Thursday will help him get new ideas. After that, the formation of a 25-man pool is next line. Two years ago, Reyes left the national team following a disappointing finish in Gilas’ campaign during the 2014 Asian Games. He was replaced by American-Kiwi Tab Baldwin, who later went on to become the coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

TV5 set to lay off 200 until December

Business

PH pledges rational policy despite rants F

INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez brushed off concerns about a sliding currency and weakening investor sentiment, pledging the government will take rational action on the economy. The peso’s 2.4-percent decline against the dollar this year—the worst performance among Asian currencies after the yuan— doesn’t worry authorities as much as an “abrupt drop” in the exchange rate, he said in an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday. “What would concern me is an abrupt drop,” Dominguez

said. “The rate of change is the most important. If it is orderly, if it is rational, it is OK.” Dominguez, who is accompanying President Rodrigo Duterte on a state visit, acknowledged that some investors, including those in the outsourcing industry, were nervous with the new administration and its approach

to diplomacy. “Yes, we understand that and we will hold their hands through the process,” he said. “We will do rational things that are to their benefit. To the benefit of everybody.” Philippine officials are stepping up the defense of the administration’s economic and foreign policies, seeking to assure investors rattled by Duterte’s fiery rhetoric that includes “separation” from the US. The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Wednesday said it has received a large volume

Aboitiz Group’s net profit jumps 44% By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc., the listed holding company of the Abotiz Group, said consolidated net income jumped 44 percent in the first nine months to P17.1 billion from P11.9 billion a year ago, led by the power business. Aboitiz Equity said in a statement power accounted for 63 percent of its income, followed by the banking and financial services with 22 percent; food with 7 percent; infrastructure with 7 percent; and land strate-

gic business with 1 percent. Core net income also went up by 37 percent to P17.1 billion in January to September from a year ago. “Our efforts to pursue organic growth, invest in new assets and strengthen operational capabilities have resulted in strong profit contributions from our power, banking and ﬁnancial services and infrastructure business units. As we ride on the tailwind that a growing economy brings, we will continue to build a sustainable, responsible and industry-leading enterprise,” Aboitiz

Equity president and chief executive Erramon Aboitiz said. Aboitiz Power Corp., the company’s power unit, recorded a 24 percent year-on-year increase in nine-month profit to P15.1 billion from P12.2 billion. Core net income also improved 17 percent in the first nine months to P15.2 billion. Aboitiz Power’s profit increase was fueled by a higher income contribution from the company’s power generation business, led by the Therma South thermal power plant in Davao City.

of messages from investors asking for explanations and whether their investment and visits to the country are still welcome. Japan ﬁts in the center of the administration’s foreign policy rebalancing as a valued trade partner, Dominguez said. Japan’s aid to the Philippines, the nation’s largest donor, does not come with political strings attached, he said. “Other countries do that, and we think that’s offensive to our culture,” he said. Meanwhile,14 ambassadors representing the member-countries of the European Union expressed their continued support for the Duterte administration’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda and bared plans to invest more in the Philippines, particularly in infrastructure, energy and civil security. The ambassadors in a recent meeting with Dominguez cited their cooperation with the Philippines in implementing the peace agreement in Mindanao. Led by Ambassador Franz Jessen, the head of the EU delegation to the Philippines, the 14 ambassadors who met with Dominguez were from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Austria, the Netherlands, Romania, Denmark, Hungary and Sweden. Bloomberg, with Gabrielle H. Binaday

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

IN BRIEF Pryce’s net income rises 57% to P712m

PRYCE Corp., a listed distributor of liquefied petroleum gas, said Wednesday net income surged 57 percent in the first nine months to P712.48 million from P453.17 million a year ago, led by higher revenues. The company said consolidated revenues increased 14.9 percent in January to September to P4.74 billion from P4.12 billion recorded in the same period last year. “This is underpinned by strong sales volume growth of liquefied petroleum gas, the group’s main product line, which grew 31 percent to 135,939 metric tons from 103,769 MT for the same period of last year,” Pryce said. It said the strong sales volume growth countered the effects of an almost 15-percent drop in average selling price, enabling the group to register growth in revenues. Sales of LPG, the group’s main product line, accounted for 90 percent of revenues of the company. “Perhaps indicative of future growth in volume and revenue is the volume of sales of cylinders to new users, which shot up 73 percent to 143,000 units from the 83,000 units sold during the same period of last year,” Pryce said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Global Business eyes biomass plants

GLOBAL Business Power Corp., a power producer now controlled by First Pacific Co. Ltd., will build a 40-megawatt biomass facility in the Visayas, a top executive said Wednesday. “We are looking for new opportunities in the Visayas mainly on the renewables part [with] respect to our sugar mills,” First Pacific managing director Manuel Pangilinan told reporters. First Pacific’s associate, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings Inc., through wholly-owned subsidiary Beacon PowerGen Holdings Inc., acquired 56 percent of Global Business Power for P22.6 billion in May. JG Summit Holdings Inc. of the Gokongwei Group agreed to take a 30-percent stake in Global Business Power through GT Capital Holdings Inc. and Meralco PowerGen for P11.8 billion. Meralco PowerGen, the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., reduced its stake to 14 percent in Global Business Power. Pangilinan, who also sits as Meralco chairman, said the plan was to build a 40-MW biomass facility in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental and three smaller power plants in Bacolod City and Batangas. Alena Mae S. Flores

SN Aboitiz reaches settlement on tax case

HYDRO-ELECTRIC power producer SN Aboitiz Power Corp. and host province Benguet reached a compromise agreement on a real property tax dispute that reached P157.7 million. SN Aboitiz, the joint venture of SN Power of Norway, said the agreement represented three years of tax benefits to the municipalities of Bokod and Itogon and the province of Benguet. SN Aboitiz chief operating office Joseph Yu welcomed the agreement and recognition of the company’s position in the dispute. “But what is more important is our relationship with our partners. That is why SNAP has come to a decision not to demand the refund of the excess of the taxes we have paid, so our host communities can utilize the full amount of P157.7 million for their community development projects” he said. The parties signed the agreement in a ceremony on Oct. 25, 2016 in Baguio City. Governor Crescencio Pacalso represented the provincial government of Benguet while Yu represented the company. Benguet issued an ordinance in 2010, lowering the tax rate of structures to 40 percent from 80 percent. However, at the start of the implementation of the ordinance in 2014, Bokod and Itogon applied the higher tax rate of 80 percent to some SN Aboitiz properties after assessing them as machinery. The company filed its opposition with the provincial treasurer’s office and eventually to the Local Board of Assessment Appeals. Alena Mae S. Flores

BSP amends rules on dormant deposits THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said Wednesday it enhanced the rules governing dormant deposit accounts and fees charged by banks. Under the reform initiative, the imposition by banks and non-stock and loan associations of dormancy fee would be subject to more stringent conditions. Bangko Sentral said a monthly dormancy fee, not exceeding P30, could only be imposed if there was no deposit or withdrawal from the account for five years; if the deposit was below the minimum monthly average daily balance; and if the depository bank or NSSLA had complied with the notification requirements. The new rules also require banks to give three notices pertaining to dormant accounts. It said depositors should be notified through postal mail, courier delivery, email, telephone or other means at least 60 days before the deposit becomes dormant. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Ayala Land earns Asian CSR Award for native landscapes and urban biodiversity program By Jimbo Gulle FOR creating sustainable urban landscapes and using indigenous flora that promotes the Philippines’ natural heritage, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) was recognized once again with a prestigious Asian CSR Award for Environmental Excellence. ALI was cited for its Native Landscapes for Site Resilience and Urban Biodiversity program last September 21 during the 14th Asian CSR Awards, organized by the Asian Institute of Management – Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (AIM-RVR CSR). The 14th Asian CSR Awards was a featured event at the annual Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) held in Yangon, Myanmar. ALI received its first Asian CSR Environment and Value Chain Management Award in 2012 for establishing the first eco-city in the Philippines—Nuvali in Santa Rosa, Laguna—and integrating conservation and biodiversity protection initiatives into its developments. Over the years, Ayala Land has deepened its understanding of native plants and recognizes the importance of landscaping with the right plant or tree species in its developments. Employing a scientific approach to

Nuvali, ALI’s sustainable estate in Laguna.

sustainability, Ayala Land uses indigenous plants for its developments and continuously works with experts in Philippine native plants, such as the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society (PNPCSI). About 60 to 80 percent of the trees planted in new large-scale Ayala Land

developments are native. To date, the company has planted more than 60,000 native trees in Nuvali alone. Thousands more are planted in other developments, and to ensure a sustainable supply, ALI has established native plant nurseries in its communities. Art Corpuz, Group Head of ALI’s

(L-R): Dr. Jikyeong Kang, Asian Institute of Management’s President and Dean; Dr. Anjan Ghosh, Intel Corporation’s Corporate Affairs Director for the Greater Asia Region; Mr. Art Corpuz, Ayala Land’s Urban and Regional Planning Division Group Head; Dato Timothy Ong, Chairman of AIM RVR Center and the 15th AFCSR; and Mr. Oscar J. Hilado Vice-Chairman of the AIM RVR Center.

Urban and Regional Planning Division, received the Asian CSR Award on behalf of the company in Yangon. “We thank the organizers of the Asian CSR Awards for once again recognizing one of our major programs for the environment, which is part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy. We

Dita Trees at Serendra in Bonifacio Global City

consider this as a significant opportunity to share with a larger audience the importance of carefully planning landscapes and conserving urban biodiversity through the increased use of native plants and trees,” said Art Corpuz. The awards program which is presented by AIM-RVR CSR is one of the longest running and most prestigious CSR awards programs in the region. It recognizes organizations that have demonstrated corporate social responsibility in their business philosophy and operations. “The recipients of the Asian CSR Awards embody the kind of integration between business and society that we aspire to see across Asia — that businesses, through responsible and innovative leadership, are applying their core strengths to solve some of the greatest challenges of our time. This is aligned with AIM’s thrust of developing leaders who drive meaningful growth for the region’s businesses and societies,” said Dr. Jikyeong Kang, AIM President and Dean. ALI, the Philippines’ leading developer of sustainable estates, is committed to create the most positive impact on people and the environment by building communities that are well-integrated, resilient to climate change, and supportive of local economic development.

Business

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market tumbles; URC rises S TOCKS tumbled for a ﬁfth day, amid the decline of Asian and European markets, as oil prices slumped following reports Russia will not take part in a planned output cut.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 85 points, or 1.1 percent, to close at 7,494.41 Wednesday. This reduced total gains this year to 7.8 percent. The heavier index, representing all shares, also fell 49 points, or 1.1 percent, to settle at 4,441.89, on a value turnover of P6.3 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 137 to 56, while 38 issues were unchanged. All six sectors registered losses, while only three of the 20 most active stocks ended in the

Crude has been in the ascendancy since last month when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and later Moscow, agreed to output cuts in a bid to support prices. But they tumbled more than one percent Tuesday as the Russia-based Interfax news agency said the country’s envoy at OPEC, Vladimir Voronkov, had said output cuts are not “an option for us”. The report came days after key OPEC member Iraq said it should be exempted from the ﬁnal deal as it was ﬁghting a war against the Islamic State group. “They say talk is cheap and OPEC appears to be approaching the limits of its ability to jawbone oil higher without something

green, led by food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. which rose 1.2 percent to P184.90. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. went up 0.6 percent to P855, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. added 0.1 percent to close at P87.20. Meanwhile, Asian markets retreated Wednesday, with energy ﬁrms dragged down by tumbling oil prices as fresh fears about a planned output cut by major producers was fanned by a report Russia will not take part.

concrete to put on the table,” Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at Oanda, said in a note. Both contracts extended their losses Wednesday in Asia, putting pressure on regional energy firms, while eyes are on the release later in the day of US stockpiles figures. Sydney-listed Oil Search sank more than three percent while CNOOC lost 2.8 percent in Hong Kong and Tokyo’s Inpex shed more than one percent. Broader markets were also well into negative territory, with Tokyo down 0.2 percent by the break, Hong Kong losing 0.7 percent and Shanghai 0.3 percent off. Sydney tumbled 1.5 percent as a surge in inflation tempered expectations that Australia’s central

bank will cut interest rates any time soon. Seoul and Wellington each fell more than one percent, while Singapore was also sharply lower. Apple suppliers were mixed despite the US titan announcing a fall in revenue and proﬁts, then issuing a below-par sales outlook for the crucial holiday period. “Apple’s forward expectations aren’t great and it’s susceptible to more of a pullback,” James Audiss, Sydney-based senior wealth manager at Shaw and Partners, told Bloomberg News. However, Seoul-based SK Hynix rallied three percent, Japan Display was up more than one percent in Tokyo but Taipei’s Hon Hai Precision and TSMC both turned lower. With AFP, Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.58 6,000 47.75 9,100 102.7 1,286,310 3.89 40,000 111.9 2,224,790 1.39 4,000 37.6 15,100 8.62 500 16.16 23,600 19 485,600 6.63 900 0.73 60,000 1.81 12,000 0.84 6,310,000 87.2 4,140,370 0.87 26,000 14.2 10,900 58.8 33,670 260 430 150 110 95 1,870 36.45 18,400 214 1,429,590 74.5 147,310 1.4 123,000

20,600 432,605 132,033,506 152,560 250,490,387 5,440 572,960 4,310 382,614 9,317,632 5,970 43,210 21,720 5,385,970 359,945,365.50 22,810 154,782 1,968,718.50 111,850 15,921 180,680.50 672,060 311,998,128 11,073,804 172,200

342,445 -24,754,707 -43,652,486 -1,156,900 -26,100 73,400,751 1,083,974.50 -250,995 -85,013,858 490,740 -

45.05 3.82 0.98 1.46 15.08 111 11.1 16.5 22.7 32.15 63 99 2.08 6.95 12.76 11 7.35 7.28 5.88 1.77 22.65 69.9 12.02 16.1 6.05 2.04 244.2 80.8 1.99 4.1 30.25 27.55 15.7 284.6 0.255 4.6 3.06 10.2 11.36 2.19 5.86 1.47 3.68 220 4.28 4.09 0.145 1.73 180.5 4.4 2.15 1.15

INDUSTRIAL 45.4 1,293,900 3.89 465,000 0.99 2,093,000 1.47 366,000 17.02 181,900 129 14,520 11.2 9,794,000 17 1,524,900 23.45 273,000 37.5 383,100 63 156,530 102 540 2.1 110,000 7.06 497,700 12.9 193,700 11 8,758,800 7.4 150,000 7.29 1,874,500 5.94 6,941,800 1.77 4,000 22.85 7,549,300 70 224,480 12.02 100 16.5 2,064,900 6.1 475,800 2.05 158,000 247 479,650 88.8 1,990 1.99 8,000 4.16 18,000 30.6 1,648,000 28.45 150,200 15.7 2,127,700 285 111,750 0.255 100,000 4.6 1,000 3.11 421,000 10.2 1,645,700 11.36 100 2.19 94,000 5.95 1,157,600 1.5 63,000 3.73 1,127,000 220 390 4.3 910,000 4.09 57,000 0.145 3,030,000 1.73 198,000 184.9 789,300 4.4 24,000 2.17 6,095,000 1.16 58,000

58,963,850 1,796,250 2,094,260 538,470 3,172,518 1,853,560 109,528,028 25,838,630 6,388,975 15,197,105 9,971,695 54,625 229,860 3,545,809 2,510,946 97,127,690 1,113,166 13,691,491 41,023,550 7,080 173,017,070 15,715,363.50 1,202 34,355,652 2,899,102 323,470 118,046,448 171,523 15,920 74,630 50,530,805 4,231,575 33,771,474 31,934,126 25,500 4,600 1,304,440 16,967,174 1,136 206,610 6,890,675 94,590 4,266,320 87,280 3,911,270 241,270 441,500 342,760 144,001,877 105,600 13,333,350 67,180

-40,742,375 335,790 -11,220 -17,760 768,993 -42,500,258 9,643,526.00 10,100 790,402 -28,760 37,426 38,848,024 -161,001 3,123,498 -9,201,439 -10,967,250 -13,080,679.50 1,610 1,559,249 -48,690,598 41,500 7,830,170 -844,495 -10,345,986.00 -4,280,390 -123,090 -3,797,436 -864,777 18,060 955,920 -3,272,300 27,550 4,272,545 78,050 -

0.38 76 14.52 1.2 5.98 0.3 0.34 849 1,003 8.35 12.64 8.09 0.2 1,329 6.27 75.1 0.86 7.92 14.52 7.13 1.94 80 675 0.89 1.19 234.2 0.3 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.38 30,000 76.4 2,233,160 14.6 8,602,700 1.2 60,000 5.98 200 0.33 810,000 0.34 40,000 855 245,770 1,003 20 8.5 545,900 12.76 14,529,800 8.1 157,800 0.208 670,000 1,337 184,080 6.27 1,900 75.55 2,896,630 0.89 17,493,000 8 550,400 14.52 2,408,200 7.2 21,584,300 1.94 117,000 80.4 86,300 682 275,740 0.89 30,000 1.19 185,000 235 4,720 0.3 430,000 0.26 210,000

11,400 170,653,839 125,981,262 72,500 1,196 255,600 13,650 209,257,655 20,060 4,620,673 185,681,702 1,277,440 134,220 246,531,340 11,913 219,286,830 15,603,280 4,392,391 35,389,994 155,315,349 226,980 6,915,894.50 187,934,605 26,700 223,670 1,108,552 129,000 54,600

-67,234,890.50 -88,706,962 142,773,275 1,967,447 3,163,930 526,350 36,000 -161,771,995 -73,573,764 -1,579,416 -6,990,318 41,410,075 312,072.50 18,865,095 -4,880 -

402,447 622,830 374,360 4,276,900 647,298,375 2,223,780 56,672 3,826,780 105,890 90,330 423,290 41,396,910 15,208,847.50 104,230 19,600 4,071,200 981,980 159,500 140,178,890 5,668,440 29,400 4,700,100

282,855 828,000 -12,685,945 -1,485,550 -68,800 761,840 -3,857,494.50 -3,750 -1,657,280 -17,615,960.00 1,830 346,540

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FILIPINO FUND FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK VANTAGE

3.36 47.5 102.6 3.8 112.5 1.32 38 8.62 16.58 19.7 6.63 0.72 1.81 0.87 86.9 0.88 14.2 57.7 260 142 97 36.45 220 75 1.4

3.58 47.75 103.5 3.89 113.9 1.39 38 8.62 16.58 19.72 6.65 0.73 1.81 0.87 87.5 0.88 14.22 58.8 265 152 97 37 221.4 76.2 1.4

3.36 46.8 102 3.72 110.1 1.32 37.6 8.62 16.16 19 6.63 0.72 1.81 0.84 86.4 0.87 14.2 57.7 260 142 95 36.35 214 74 1.4

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

45.1 3.88 1.02 1.49 15.3 123 11.38 17.06 22.7 32.15 63 102 2.08 7.03 12.94 11.12 7.5 7.32 5.89 1.77 23.45 70.5 12.02 16.1 6.09 2.04 246.2 81 1.99 4.15 30.25 28 16.3 288 0.255 4.6 3.1 10.5 11.36 2.2 5.98 1.47 3.7 224 4.28 4.44 0.147 1.73 184 4.4 2.26 1.16

46.3 3.94 1.03 1.49 18.32 134 11.38 17.06 23.5 46 67.45 102 2.1 7.2 13.18 11.28 7.6 7.33 5.96 1.77 23.75 70.5 12.02 16.64 6.14 2.06 247 88.8 1.99 4.16 30.8 28.45 16.3 289.8 0.255 4.6 3.14 10.54 11.36 2.22 5.98 1.53 3.88 224 4.3 4.44 0.148 1.74 184.9 4.4 2.26 1.21

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP BHI HLDG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG ZEUS HLDG

0.38 77.25 15.2 1.21 5.98 0.325 0.345 850.5 1,003 8.43 13 8.09 0.202 1,353 6.27 76 0.87 7.98 15.18 7.2 1.94 80 680 0.89 1.22 235 0.3 0.26

0.38 78 15.2 1.21 5.98 0.33 0.345 860 1,003 8.5 13 8.1 0.208 1,353 6.27 77 0.94 8.02 15.18 7.23 1.94 80.4 692 0.89 1.22 235.8 0.3 0.26

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP

7.45 1.14 2.31 0.29 37.6 2.93 5.06 0.6 1.07 1.05 0.157 0.66 57.5 0.74 0.14 1.8 0.98 1.1 4.22 0.182 0.42 3.5

7.45 1.14 2.38 0.305 37.6 2.94 5.06 0.6 1.1 1.08 0.157 0.71 57.7 0.75 0.14 1.8 0.99 1.1 4.22 0.182 0.42 3.57

7.25 1.12 2.31 0.285 36.8 2.88 5.06 0.59 1.07 1.05 0.155 0.65 56.05 0.74 0.14 1.76 0.98 1.1 4.06 0.17 0.42 3.39

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

35.95 30.2 1.6 3.3 27.85 1.02 0.98 5.36

35.95 30.3 1.62 3.3 28.2 1.02 0.98 5.36

35.95 30 1.6 3.29 27.45 1 0.97 5.23

35.95 30.2 1.6 3.29 27.6 1.01 0.97 5.24

1,800 1,840,400 182,000 86,000 11,081,700 2,358,000 115,000 3,788,300

64,710 55,624,470 293,510 283,750 307,735,890 2,368,530 112,340 19,882,219

-35,933,965 -24,427,460 100,000 9,800 5,396,717

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A IMPERIAL B INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LIBERTY TELECOM LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS

7.7 47.9 1.41 0.53 0.06 10.54 5.21 6.03 0.086 3.13 107.5 10 6.79 2.55 957 1,880 6.29 13.8 17.44 2.25 16.64 135 75.85 0.0096 11.18 9.17 0.214 1.46 3.5 13 5.2 1.96 1.02 2.23 2 4.42 4.97 24 3.05 11.52 5.2 149 8.78 1,595 1.13 0.4 43 79.9 5.72 2.87 0.83 1.75 3.4

7.7 47.9 1.41 0.54 0.062 11.48 5.21 6.05 0.086 3.13 107.6 10 6.79 2.79 988 1,880 6.3 13.8 17.44 2.25 16.82 135 75.95 0.0098 11.78 9.2 0.214 1.46 3.6 13 5.24 1.96 1.02 2.23 2 4.42 4.97 26.75 3.06 11.54 5.3 149 8.87 1,600 1.14 0.4 43 79.9 5.9 2.89 0.83 1.93 3.42

7.65 47.3 1.29 0.53 0.058 10.54 5.21 5.84 0.084 3.09 106.7 9.73 6.6 2.55 957 1,812 6.25 13.52 17.44 2.15 16.6 135 74.9 0.0095 11.18 9.17 0.211 1.42 3.5 12.8 5.15 1.78 1.02 2.12 1.99 4.29 4.9 24 3.03 11.52 5.1 137.7 8.7 1,580 1.1 0.4 42.05 77 5.65 2.8 0.8 1.75 3.38

SERVICES 7.66 47.3 1.4 0.54 0.059 11.48 5.21 5.84 0.084 3.09 107 9.73 6.6 2.55 988 1,820 6.29 13.78 17.44 2.16 16.62 135 75.15 0.0096 11.78 9.2 0.211 1.44 3.6 12.8 5.15 1.84 1.02 2.13 1.99 4.35 4.91 24 3.05 11.54 5.3 137.7 8.7 1,580 1.13 0.4 42.05 77.1 5.84 2.85 0.81 1.93 3.39

44,700 16,800 390,000 1,140,000 248,960,000 500 4,000 9,351,500 26,510,000 318,000 108,240 300 45,000 29,000 310 82,325 362,400 9,400 500 2,003,000 22,000 1,030 1,666,180 51,000,000 300 501,000 2,020,000 486,000 4,000 1,700 896,100 566,000 2,000 69,000 25,000 4,411,000 575,000 26,800 463,000 26,000 58,300 30 504,800 138,430 13,023,000 240,000 199,500 621,690 40,900 542,000 13,111,000 2,000 371,000

342,081 798,330 525,540 604,610 14,930,560 5,646 20,840 54,960,733 2,253,320 986,970 11,572,582 2,946 298,735 74,470 301,555 150,534,025 2,278,537 128,018 8,720 4,368,780 366,278 139,050 125,346,707.50 492,400 3,474 4,608,730 427,890 697,960 14,100 21,860 4,633,008 1,038,660 2,040 147,570 49,850 19,113,510 2,839,250 672,815 1,408,270 299,940 297,800 4,247 4,405,619 219,379,405 14,608,850 96,000 8,495,225 48,098,223 234,216 1,545,820 10,702,350 3,680 1,260,800

53,000 238,800 -7,861,797 -40,550 -3,994,147 -62,119,060 -31,882,638.00 21,200 -1,939,920 -115,750 -6,080 -45,211 -30,232,200 -984,480.00 -88,430 -23,174,044 -63,460 2,384,620.00 -84,990

MINING & OIL ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PETROENERGY PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0036 3 4.11 2.07 0.58 0.39 8.06 1.27 0.275 0.198 0.198 0.011 0.012 1.72 6.87 2.84 1 0.011 0.011 4.04 0.012 8.26 4.3 126 3.2 0.0091

0.0036 3.04 4.12 2.1 0.6 0.4 8.39 1.29 0.29 0.202 0.204 0.011 0.012 1.72 7.05 2.84 1 0.011 0.011 4.23 0.013 8.28 4.34 126.4 3.2 0.0091

0.0035 2.96 4.11 2.04 0.58 0.39 8.01 1.2 0.27 0.197 0.198 0.011 0.011 1.66 6.8 2.76 0.96 0.011 0.011 3.8 0.012 8.2 4.04 125.8 3.17 0.0091

0.0036 3 4.12 2.05 0.6 0.4 8.1 1.23 0.27 0.201 0.204 0.011 0.011 1.66 6.9 2.8 0.97 0.011 0.011 4.23 0.012 8.28 4.04 126 3.17 0.0091

59,000,000 221,000 4,000 103,000 2,000 310,000 7,000 69,147,000 1,680,000 11,170,000 70,000 3,400,000 4,200,000 288,000 8,496,200 19,000 456,000 11,700,000 3,700,000 15,000 17,500,000 172,500 6,225,000 578,980 17,000 2,000,000

207,900 662,370 16,460 210,930 1,180 123,500 57,486 85,586,490 473,500 2,223,140 14,160 37,400 47,000 484,790 58,932,461 52,880 451,280 128,700 40,700 59,440 219,000 1,426,925 25,698,540 72,954,419 54,090 18,200

3,000 7,027,940 -11,200 8,400 4,451,079 27,800 105,728 -1,054,100 41,655,381 -

ABS HLDG PDR DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H

47 103.9 539 6.2 1.05 109.7 1,020 107.5 2 80.05 79.05 77

47.1 104 539 6.2 1.05 109.7 1,020 107.5 2.2 80.05 79.05 77.5

46.8 103.8 539 6.04 1.05 109.7 1,020 107.5 2 80 79.05 77

PREFERRED 46.9 595,500 104 108,440 539 10 6.05 146,000 1.05 206,000 109.7 70 1,020 3,500 107.5 1,280 2.2 3,000 80.05 18,000 79.05 16,200 77.5 10,100

27,958,975 11,273,818 5,390 898,200 216,300 7,679 3,570,000 137,600 6,200 1,440,250 1,280,610 782,700

-23,054,050 975,542 -799,000 782,700

LR WARRANT

2.36

2.42

2.36

WARRANTS 2.4 149,000

353,580

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

4.05 2.95 12.2

4.07 2.95 12.38

4 2.95 12.12

SME 4 2.95 12.12

308,750 2,950 10,592,492

20,050 -2,519,274

FIRST METRO ETF

124.7

123.5

2,244,283

PROPERTY 7.25 1.12 2.33 0.285 37 2.94 5.06 0.6 1.08 1.05 0.155 0.67 56.4 0.75 0.14 1.78 0.99 1.1 4.16 0.17 0.42 3.39

54,900 554,000 161,000 14,340,000 17,463,300 762,000 11,200 6,467,000 98,000 86,000 2,710,000 60,181,000 269,290 139,000 140,000 2,291,000 1,001,000 145,000 33,936,000 32,760,000 70,000 1,355,000

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

16,840,261

INDUSTRIAL

75,815,686

HOLDING FIRMS

74,607,447

PROPERTY

194,570,730

SERVICES

382,199,897

MINING & OIL

201,210,028

GRAND TOTAL

946,212,881

77,000 1,000 871,200

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.7 18,100

VALUE 1,811.70 (down) 27.15 1,134,360,767.99 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,764.55 (down) 6.95 1,114,423,303.546 HOLDING FIRMS 7,530.81 (down) 94.80 1,725,892,141.76 PROPERTY 3,327.50 (down) 43.71 1,435.51 (down) 25.85 1,269,905,314.88 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,492.25 (down) 30.20 745,915,910.10 PSEI 7,494.41 (down) 85.81 250,210,506.0584 All Shares Index 4,441.89 (down) 49.20 6,253,861,249.33 Gainers: 56 Losers:137; Unchanged: 38; Total: 231

Holcim’s income rises 18% to P5.4b By Jenniffer B. Austria CEMENT manufacturer Holcim Philippines Inc. said Wednesday net income jumped 18 percent in the first nine months to P5.4 billion from P4.55 billion a year ago, on strong infrastructure spending by both public and private sectors. Holcim Philippines said in a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange ninemonth revenues increased 10 percent to P30.8 billion from P28 billion a year earlier, boosted by strong demand and higher selling price. Nine-month cost of sales climbed 8.5 percent to P20.63 billion. “Cost of goods grew at the same pace with volume growth supported by higher local production, implemented operational deficiencies and margin optimization initiatives,” Holcim said. The company achieved total operating earnings before depreciation and amortization of P8.5 billion, up 17 percent from the same period last year. Holcim Philippines chalked up a net income of P1.7 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 15 percent from P1.53 billion posted a year earlier, even as thirdquarter sales were flat at P10 billion. Holcim Philippines said its financial position remained healthy, with a very liquid cash position and strong asset utilization ratio as it continued to generate high revenues.

GT Cap raises P12b from sale of shares GT CAPITAL Holdings Inc., the investment company of tycoon George Ty, successfully raised P12 billion from the issuance of preferred shares on strong demand from investors. GT Capital said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the offering was nearly seven times oversubscribed by institutional investors and trading participants, with total orders amounting to P55.1 billion. It involved the issuance of 8 million cumulative, non-voting, non-participating, non-convertible, peso-denominated perpetual preferred shares with an oversubscription option for another 4 million shares priced at P1,000 apiece. “GT Capital’s initial perpetual preferred share issue received very warm reception from various investors, as indicated by its oversubscription and tight pricing. We extend our appreciation to all our stakeholders for their continued trust in and support for GT Capital,” GT Capital president Carmelo Maria Luza Bautista said. The preferred shares will be listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange today. First Metro Investment Corp. president Rabboni Francis Arjonillo said the success of the offering was a very strong indication of the market’s confidence in GT Capital and the depth and maturity of the domestic capital markets. “Despite the volatility, which we expect to continue until year-end, investors banked on GT Capital’s solid financial profile and sustained earnings growth,”Arjonillo said. First Metro is the sole issue manager and the lead underwriter for the transaction, while BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and BPI Capital Corp. are the other joint lead underwriters. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

TV5 set to lay off 200 until December By Darwin G. Amojelar

V5 Network Inc. said Wednesday it will lay off about 200 employees until the end of December as the third-ranked broadcast network ends production of entertainment programs. TV5 president and chief executive Vincent Reyes told reporters most employees who would be laid off were involved in entertainment production. “Unfortunately quite a lot because we are no longer producing all these huge entertainment productions. We don’t need that amount of people,” Reyes said in a news brieﬁng.

Reyes, a former basketball coach, said TV5 would instead focus on sports, news programs and American TV series. “The difﬁcult part here is we have to let go of a lot of people. It’s a reality now. Gone are the days where you can be proﬁtable with very heavy overhead. It’s an economic reality,” he said. Reyes earlier said the net-

work had terminated its partnership with Viva Communications, which handled the network’s entertainment programs. “The current operational overhead that we had when I took over was just too heavy. It’s too heavy that didn’t make business sense. We have to make tough decision,” said Reyes, who was appointed president of the network on Oct. 1. The network currently has about 1,000 employees. “I think we are going to cut that by about 20 percent, but it’s not in one shoot. We have had several efforts already to get to that number,” Reyes said, Reyes said a number of managers, executives and regular

rank-and-ﬁle employees would be affected by the manpower reduction program. He said the layoff would be implemented “as soon as possible.” Reyes said the company was expecting huge savings from the manpower reduction program. “As a percentage, maybe our combined productions and operational expenses, I think we are going to cut it by 50 percent and we are gonna grow our revenues by 37 percent by next year,” he said. Reyes said these strategies would help the network achieve its goal to break even by 2019. “We are losing a lot of money, but we are going to slash it by 67 percent next year,” he said.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

October inflation likely exceeded 2% By Gabrielle H. Binaday INFLATION rate in October likely accelerated to as high as 2.7 percent from 2.3 percent in September, on higher food prices brought about by the uptick in oil prices and the devastation left by typhoons Lawin and Karen in Northern Luzon, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday. “The BSP forecast suggests that October inﬂation could settle within the 1.9 to 2.7 percent range,” Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message. Tetangco said the October inﬂation was driven by the effects of higher domestic oil prices during the month and the transitory uptick in food prices in areas affected by the typhoons. Typhoons Karen and Lawin devastated Northern Luzon in the mid of October, leaving at least P10 billion worth of damage on agriculture and infrastructure, leading to the increase in food prices especially vegetables from the damages areas. Tetangco said the higher food prices could be partly offset by the decline in electricity rates

and domestic oil prices. Power distributor Manila Electric Co. earlier said the residential rate for a typical household consuming 200 kilowatthours went down in October by P0.08 per kWh, bringing the rate to P8.34 per kWh, the third straight month of reduction in overall residential rate. The reduction was due to the downward movement in the generation charge, which more than offset a higher transmission charge. “Moving forward, the BSP will remain watchful of economic and financial developments that could affect inflation, in line with its commitment to the inflation target and in support of the Government’s growth objectives,” Tetangco said. Inflation averaged 1.6 percent in the January to September, slower than Bangko Sentral’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year. The manageable inflation environment coupled with robust domestic growth prompted the policy-setting Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to keep the benchmark interest rates steady in its latest meeting.

Bangladesh reluctant to crack bank heist

INTELENET’S NEW CENTER. Business process service provider Intelenet Global Services opens a new facility in Mckinley West, Taguig City as a part of its expansion in the Philippines that will double its number of employees to 4,000. Shown during the launching of the new facility are (from left) Intelenet Global Services chief strategy ofﬁcer Prabhu Srinivasan, executive chairman Susir Kumar and Philippines country head Bireswar Singh Laishram. Lino Santos

ERC welcome’s Meralco’s bid to form new unit By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission said Wednesday it welcomes the initiative of Manila Electric Co. to register an afﬁliated company as a retail electricity supplier under the retail competition and open access scheme. ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar said in a statement Meralco’s move “underscores the power ﬁrm’s unwavering commitment to its customers and to the transformation of the electricity market in line with the spirit of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.” ERC said the registration of an

afﬁliate distribution utility was contained under the implementing rules on open access. According to the rules, no entity may supply power to the socalled contestable market without a retail electricity supplier license issued by ERC. Existing local distribution utilities such as Meralco may no longer supply electricity to endusers in this market unless this is done in their capacity as “suppliers of last resort” or by creating an afﬁliate with a duly-issued RES license. Contestable market consists of customers within a certain level of electricity consumption and

which are allowed to select their own power supplier. ERC mandated that contestable customers with average monthly peak demand of one megawatt source their own suppliers by Dec. 26. ERC said customers with monthly peak demand of 750 kilowatts would be included in this category by June 16, 2017. Salazar said ERC was now reviewing the timeline to give existing power distributors enough window to conform to the requirement. The Supreme Court earlier backed ERC’s open access guidelines and slapped a tem-

porary restraining order on Oct, 10 against an earlier injunction issued by the Pasig regional trial court. The Pasig RTC order halted the implementation of the RCOA guidelines by ERC. Salazar said Meralco “once again displayed its tradition as a trailblazer in the country’s power industry when it took the step to back the implementation of this particular feature of RCOA.” He expressed conﬁdence the power distribution sector would give its full support to the SC resolution backing the open access rules.

It’s the poverty, stupid There appears to be a clear disconnect between the current focus—obsession might be the more accurate word—of government policy and the most recent SWS (Social Weather Stations) report on the state of poverty and food-poorness in this country. The disconnect reminds one of the taunt directed by challenger Bill Clinton at incumbent US President George Bush during their 1990 electoral contest: “It’s the economy, stupid.” With the SWS ﬁndings as basis, insightful observers of the present administration’s preoccupation with illegal drugs would be correct in changing the 1990 Clinton taunt to read “It’s the poverty, stupid.” The policymakers and spokesmen of the present administration are acting and speaking as though the war against the illegal drug trade were the proper object of government attention and resources. But a reading of the SWS report quickly shows that the war on illegal drugs represents a case of misidentiﬁcation of this country’s most serious problem. The Duterte administration is holding—to borrow a phrase

from the Philippine National Police chief’s lexicon—the wrong suspect. The report of the SWS identifies poverty as the right suspect. The following are the findings of its most recent survey, conducted from Sept. 24 to 27, 2016 with 1,200 adult respondents, as reported in the media last week: “The survey found that four out of every 10 Filipino families (equivalent to 9.6 million households) consider themselves poor. “It was also found that 6.7 million families (30 percent of the total) consider themselves food-poor. “The median self-rated poverty threshold is the monthly budget that would satisfy the basic needs of the poorer half of poor households. “Self-rated food poverty is defined as having to forego at least one meal in the three months immediately preceding the survey.” At the accepted five-members definition of an average Filipino, 9.4 million households translates into 47 million Filipinos who consider themselves poor today. And 6.7 million

self-rated food-poor Filipino families translates into 33.5 million Filipinos who missed at least one meal during the last quarter. These Filipinos also refer to the Philippines as “my country.” Indeed, it is their country too, and they have a right to a government that will provide the kind of governance that will lift them out of poverty and put food on the table at every meal, every day. If Bill Clinton—he who appears to be about to become America’s First Gentleman—were a candidate for the Philippine Presidency today, he would not say that the key national issue was drugs or relations with a particularly disliked country or labor contractualization. He would say, as he very successfully said in 1990, “It’s the poverty, stupid.” E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

EIGHT months after the heist, Bangladesh Bank remains disinclined to get to the bottom of the $81-million cyber robbery that rocked Bangladesh and the Philippine banking system. The central bank of the southwest Asian nation at first stopped an internal investigation into the brazen bank heist and, instead, ordered its top diplomat in the Philippines to pester local authorities over the return of the money that used to form part of Bangladesh Bank’s foreign reserves. The central bank of Bangladesh had been the biggest stumbling block to the recovery of the stolen funds. Recent developments suggest an inferior internal system led to a breakdown in the security of the funds held and managed by Bangladesh Bank. An article from news magazine The Economist on Oct. 15, 2016 suggested that Bangladesh Bank had finished its investigation on the robbery, but withheld the publication of the report twice “on the ground that making it public would jeopardize efforts to retrieve from the Philippines $81 (million) that is still missing.” The article surmised that the report would never be made public by Bangladesh Bank based on the writer’s interviews with officials and others in Dhaka. “The word in Dhaka is that the report is being buried because it exposed lapses at the central bank and implicated its officials or consultants. The government has consistently blamed outsiders: hackers, the New York Fed and SWIFT, the messaging network for cross-border payments on which the transactions took place,” the article notes. A very reliable source earlier told this writer that the brother of a high Bangladesh Bank official was the one in custody of the code to the bank computers when it was hacked. The revealing information partly led to the resignation of the bank governor. “Then BB aborted its internal investigation. So it has no report to share with the world, its people and to the Philippine government that has been more than generous in helping BB. The least BB can do is give us a report. We washed our dirty linen in the global public. They owe us that report,” one banker said. Negligence The theft succeeded clearly because BB was negligent. Had the bank installed enough firewalls and used quality instead of $5 switches, the heist would not have occurred. The inside job accusation of Bangladesh’s own finance minister by far is the most credible explanation to the cyber robbery. “How can the theft happen if six different BB officials had to place their palm prints on a plate in proper sequence before any order to move funds could happen? We are talking here of people, not computer codes,” the source said. Bank of Bangladesh may think itself as the victim of the grand theft but surprisingly, it did not sue the New York Federal Reserve where the money was transferred from. “The answer is because they (NY Fed) had nothing do with the theft. In the same way, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. had nothing to do with the theft. Its issue was with a rogue employee who allegedly was a participant in the laundering of the BB funds. It was all BB’s fault and negligence,” said the source. RCBC external legal counsel Thea Daep agrees. “They stopped their investigation and then their ambassador here, John Gomes, started claiming it was an outside job. But their finance minister said it was an inside job,” she said. A Bangladeshi expert earlier pointed out the weaknesses of BB after the heist. The expert suddenly disappeared and was found days later in a daze and apparently mentally challenged. “Around March, the finance minister of Bangladesh told media he was sure it was an inside job, and the Bank of Bangladesh Governor and two deputies resigned shortly thereafter. To us, these are clear indications of guilt and negligence,” Daep adds. The Philippine banking heist was not the first for Bangladesh. A Dhaka-based journalist wrote in the New York Times on April 11, 2016 that the cyber scam at the Federal Reserve “pales in comparison with the routine plunder of Bangladesh’s financial system, including by some of its purported guardians.” E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@thestandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Business

S&P not ready to upgrade Jakarta S&P Global Ratings may not be ready to upgrade Indonesia’s credit rating from junk yet, concerned by rising bad debts and risks to the growth outlook. While S&P is “broadly optimistic” about Indonesia’s economy, there are worries that are still holding back a higher rating, Kyran Curry, a director of sovereign ratings and S&P’s primary analyst for the country, said by phone from Singapore on Tuesday. “It’s very hard for me to recommend to a rating committee a higher rating on a country like Indonesia when there are material headwinds that are presenting at the moment,” he said. “And one is in the corporate sector and the second one is in the banking sector.” Indonesia failed in June to win an upgrade from S&P, which rates the nation’s debt at BB+ with a positive outlook. S&P said at the time that while the country’s ﬁscal framework had improved, it still faced challenges on its budget performance. The ratings company will meet with Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati within the next few weeks before it makes its next assessment due in December. The banking sector is “still a fairly proﬁtable system, it’s self-funded, it’s not reliant on external savings to fund its loan book growth and lending standards are adequate,” Curry said. “But at the same time non-performing loans are rising because of the stresses in the corporate sector.” He added that capital adequacy ratios are sound, liquidity is “still ok” and that there are reasonable buffers in place. The non-performing loan ratio climbed to 3.2 percent at the end of July from 2.7 percent a year earlier, according to data from the Indonesia Financial Services Authority. Bloomberg

MEGA-MERGER. AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson (left) and Time Warner chief executive Jeffrey Bewkes defend the proposed

mega-merger of the companies at a WSJD Live technology conference in Laguna Beach, California, on October 25, 2016. The proposed megamerger of AT&T and Time Warner comes as media companies maneuver to remain relevant to audiences increasingly turning to the internet for entertainment. AFP

Japan opens door to foreign workers

end us your construction workers, your care givers, your store clerks―but for a limited time only.

That’s the message from Japan, where the number of foreign workers, though still relatively small, has nearly doubled over the past eight years, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party is considering policies to speed up arrivals. Just don’t call it immigration. Japan will allow more unskilled workers to enter temporarily, as companies struggle to ﬁll positions in a country with the lowest unemployment rate among Group of Seven nations. Abe has made it clear that opening the country to permanent immigration by unskilled labor isn’t an option, reﬂecting an historic fear among the Japanese people that foreigners would cause social unrest and erode national

identity. “In Japan, the word ‘immigrant’ is not used in policy making,” former economy minister Heizo Takenaka said in an interview Tuesday. “The prime minister often says it’s not immigration, it’s guest workers.” Masahiko Shibayama, a lawmaker and adviser to Abe, is among those testing the boundaries as policy makers seek to meet the needs of a country with a shrinking population. He has called for a guest-worker program that would give ﬁve-year visas for sectors suffering from labor shortages. Yet he noted that even a recent tourism boom has raised questions among Japanese about how many foreigners should be here.

“For ordinary people, they see the rapid increase in foreign tourists and they see more foreigners downtown, so it’s not strange that some think, ‘Is it good that it’s increasing this much?’” Shibayama said in an interview. “I think it’s important to establish a culture that accepts foreign workers. However, in the case of Japan, it’ll be totally different from the large number of refugees that went to Europe, so I don’t think public opinion will be split on the issue.” The cross-border ﬂow of workers has animated politics across the world, including the US presidential election campaign and the UK’s vote to leave the European Union. In Japan, immigration is widely touted as one of the few obvious solutions to its demographic and economic challenges. Economists point to it as a source of growth as well as labor. The government proj-

ects Japan’s population of 127 million will shrink by 19 million people by 2040. Central bank Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said in a speech last week in Tokyo that more foreign labor is essential for Japan to achieve sustainable long-term growth. Japan needs the help now. A 2015 Manpower Survey found that 83 percent of Japanese hiring managers had difﬁculty ﬁlling jobs, compared with a global average of 38 percent. The government has taken a more welcoming approach to highly skilled foreign workers who are the objects of a global war for talent. Abe this year vowed to provide them with the world’s fastest path to permanent residency. Currently, a person generally becomes eligible for permanent residency after living in Japan for 10 consecutive years. Bloomberg

Korean shipyards see more job cuts SOUTH Korea’s shipbuilding industry―home to the world’s top three manufacturers―has eliminated more than 20,000 jobs this year. They may not even be halfway through. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and Samsung Heavy Industries Co. are among builders that have sent workers home and the industry could lose as many as 40,000 more positions by the end of this year, the Korea Labor Institute estimated. The sector employed 163,000 people at the end of June, down from 183,000 at the end of December, according to the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association. The “Big Three” yards have lost a combined 6.6 trillion won ($5.8 billion) in the last six quarters amid delivery delays and a plunge in demand for new vessels and shipping platforms used for drilling oil in deep sea. Once South Korea’s biggest export, shipbuilding has now slipped down the ranks of the top 10, prompting a state-led support package. “If things don’t start to turn around next year, we could be on a long and painful path,” said Hong Sung-in, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade in Sejong, South Korea. Hyundai Heavy reported on Wednesday a net income of 295.5 billion won for the three months through September, its third consecutive quarterly proﬁt on the back of cost cuts. Samsung Heavy, the third-largest, is due to report Thursday, while Daewoo hasn’t set a date yet. Shipbuilders and oil-rig makers like Singapore-based Keppel Corp. and Sembcorp Marine Ltd. have eliminated thousands of workers in the past two years amid weak demand for equipment to explore and transport oil. Keppel said last week that it slashed 8,000 jobs at its offshore and marine business in the nine months through September, while Sembcorp said it scrapped as many as well, without elaborating. Bloomberg

Big Uruguay sturgeon farm invades world caviar market By Valeria Pacheco BAYGORRIA, Uruguay―Under the gray waters of a lake in deepest Uruguay lurks a slimy treasure. While many farmers here labor to produce the country’s famed beef and soya, one small company has turned its hand to a seemingly most un-Uruguayan product: caviar. Cutting tiny eggs from sturgeon fish bellies to sell for thousands of dollars a kilogram (two pounds), workers at Black River Caviar are putting this small South American nation on the world’s gourmet map. The family firm’s chief Roman Alcalde says he’s proud of the foresight that led his father to set up the farm in the 1990s, when overfishing on the Caspian Sea was causing the traditional caviar industry to dry up. “He said, ‘Right, we are going to do the unthinkable. We are going to make caviar in Uruguay.’” Since then, the remote fish farm and its 40 staff have singlehandedly led Uruguay’s production of more tons of caviar, or sturgeon roe, per head of population than any other country on Earth. Caviar from where? Alcalde’s father previously ran a shipping company in the capital Montevideo that supplied Russian fishing boats. The Russians told him green, wet Uruguay had an ideal climate for raising sturgeon, like the famed wild Caspian fish of their homeland. “They mentioned it so often that we ended up doing a feasibility study,” Alcalde says. His family started breeding the fish in the mid-1990s and began exporting caviar in 2000, just when plummeting Caspian production was prompting prices to soar.

Still, the first seven years were full of uncertainty, Alcalde says. “Would the product would be of good quality? Would the market acknowledge Uruguay as a source of caviar?” Since then, Black River Caviar has become the biggest sturgeon farm in the Southern hemisphere, accounting for all Uruguay’s caviar exports. Caviar heavyweight Uruguay was the world’s eighthbiggest caviar producer last year, selling seven tons, according to the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers. That paled in comparison to the 70 tons churned out by number-one producer China. But it’s not bad for a country with a population of just 3.4 million: about two grams of caviar for every man, woman and child in the country. It’s not they who are gobbling most of the salty, fishy delight, however. It is rich foreigners. Why Uruguay? Daniel Conijeski, the manager in charge of the firm’s production process, says Uruguay’s moderate climate has an optimal average temperature for breeding sturgeon. “But Uruguay is not a caviar market,” he says. “Our company exports to the world, to some very demanding markets: Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, Asia.” “That is a challenge... to position our caviar and our brand in the best markets.” The company also ships smaller quantities to the Middle East, Australia and Uruguay’s neighboring South American countries, in pots labeled “Proudly produced in Uruguay.” Gold A kilo of prime gold-colored caviar fetches $4,000, Alcalde says. The tons of

Selecting sturgeons at the sturgeon farm in Baygorria, 270km north of Montevideo, on August 31, 2016. A Uruguayan ﬁrm, “Esturiones del Rio Negro,” produces and exports since 2000 caviar under the brand “Black River Caviar,” an atypical product from a country traditionally known as a beef exporter. AFP

roe bring the company around $5 million a year. The company’s success is no accident. Black River caviar is “very well regarded” in blind tests, says Philippe Chauvin, the firm’s representative in Europe and founder of the Comptoir du Caviar, a specialist shop in Paris. “It is the closest you can get to the taste of wild caviar,” the eggs of free-roaming sturgeon, whose fishing is banned for conservation purposes. He attributes the product’s exceptional quality to the steady flow of water through breeding tanks in the sleepy village of Baygorria. It comes from the Black River’s calm waters, which run through the farm in Baygorria, in and out of the reservoir some 270 kilometers (170 miles) from the capital Montevideo. “They don’t have to pay for a filter system,” Chauvin says. “Where they are, three hours’ drive from Montevideo, there is no industry and no pollution.” ‘Caviar master’ Swimming around in six-meter iron cages, the sturgeon quietly get fatter. Caviar-bearing female sturgeon spend seven to 10 years growing to full size. When the time is right, they are fished out and dispatched with a knock to the head. Workers cut the fish bellies open and pull out their egg sacs. Alcalde, a trained “caviar master,” tastes the goods. He rinses them and adds salt to drain out the water and harden the tiny eggs. Raising production The firm started out using Siberian osetra sturgeon and is now also breeding beluga, the species that yields the world’s most coveted caviar. The fish farmers are patiently waiting for their beluga to mature and start producing eggs. Black River aims to raise production to 10 tons in 2018. Although consumers still find the idea of Uruguayan caviar surprising, Chauvin says, the prospects are good. Unlike caviar from China, which “makes people think it’s dodgy,” he says, “Uruguay is easier to sell.” AFP

LGUs

Farmers to become agri-biz backers

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Dexter See LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— The provincial government wants to transform Pangasinan into a major Agro-Industrial Hub in Northern Luzon. For its initial step, a multisectoral technical orientation and consultative meeting with major stakeholders on the proposed People-Oriented Governance Initiative (Pogi) for Agri-Industrial Development (AgriDev) of Pangasinan was conducted on Oct. 19 at the Capitol Resort Hotel here. In that meeting, stakeholders were briefed on the framework/ concept of the Pogi AgriDev Pangasinan program where responsibilities were discussed and which sectors, as a commitment of support, would handle these responsibilities. Earlier, Gov. Amado Espino III, in his First 100 Days Report, hinted on his plan to launch his flagship program on agriculture, noting with organized effort, the correct package of technologies, financing schemes, post-harvest and manufacturing facilities, as well as proper marketing strategies, Pangasinense farmers could possibly graduate from being mere tenants and traditional farmers into agri-business entrepreneurs. Aside from this, Espino disclosed farmer groups could be transformed from mere cooperatives into cooperative enterprises which would then help the entire province become a more vibrant and progressive agro-industrial economy. With this concept, he urged the participation and commitment of every sector to make his administration’s flagship program succeed. The proposed Pogi AgriDev Pangasinan program has three major components: production, processing, and marketing. Matters taken up during the initial meeting included institutional development, capacity building, extension/support services, research and development, financing/networking, and marketing. Meanwhile, former Agriculture secretary William Dar, who now serves as the president of Inanglupa Movement, presented during the consultative meeting a report titled “Institutionalizing Partnerships in Agriculture, Rural Industrialization and Social Enterprise Context on Asean Economic Cooperation.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Gomez credits teamwork By Honor Blanco Cabie

AN JUAN Mayor Guia G. Gomez, chief executive of her city since 2010, receives today the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) or Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Local. Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno invited Gomez to the SGLG National Conferment Ceremony at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City and expressed hope the San Juan LGU would “sustain its remarkable performance and commitment” as the DILG and the local government “carry on our journey” towards honest

and excellent local governance. In her statement, Gomez credited “team effort” from among employes of the local government which helped the San Juan City LGU win the SGLG award, which originated from the Seal of Good Housekeeping program in 2010. Gomez said: “The seal of good local governance shows how dedi-

cated the San Juan City government is in serving our constituents. It is through team effort that we have garnered such recognition from the Department of the Interior and Local Government. “The recognition is just the start of an even better public service and a reminder that we should continuously strive for excellence.” At the same time, Gomez thanked San Juaneños from the city’s 21 barangays for the opportunity to be of service to all of them. With the award, Sueno said the San Juan LGU would be entitled to accesss the

Performance Challenge Fund, facilitation of loan approval through the issuance of Good Financial Housekeeping Certification, and other program windows subject to specific program guidelines. The San Juan City LGU passed all the minimum parameters of the core components: financial administration, social protection, and disaster preparedness. Sueno said the San Juan City LGU also met the measures for business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order and environmental management. The DILG introduced the SGLG, a derivative and improved version of the Seal of Good Housekeeping, to further

ALL Saints’ Day in this predominantly Christian Southeast Asian country is, much like many of the other holidays in this nation of 100-million people, a celebratory affair. It is a day of remembrance and honor for saints—and the names of these saints in the Gregorian calendar crowd each of the 365, if common, or 366, if leap year, boxes for days. The Catholic and Protestant

officials and employees work as a team to sustain San Juan as the ‘Rising City of Excellence.’

churches, including the Aglipayan sect—which has its roots in Ilocos Norte, where the first Aglipayan Mass was celebrated in the hill town of Pinili in the early part of the 20th century— celebrate the day on Nov. 1. But All Souls’ Day is also marked by the Filipino Catholics and the Aglipayans. The Eastern Orthodox Church observes All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Both All Saints’ Day and All Hallows Eve, celebrated the day

before, have roots in ancient Celtic beliefs and practices. On Nov. 1, Filipinos, whatever their religious affiliations, do not just remember and honor the saints they have sought out previously to intercede for them in seeking God’s blessings. They also go to the graveyards—the manicured greens of private memorial parks in the metropolis or the now urbanized population centers or the often heavily crowded public town cemeteries often outside the

populated municipal blocks. One graveyard arc north of the capital has an eerie message: “Dakami ita, dakayonto no bigat.” (It’s us today, your turn tomorrow.) Another makes a humorist smile, as the legend, at the bayside Santa town cemetery in Ilocos Sur, suggests in bold letters, in English yet: This way to heaven. Days before the celebration of All Saints’ Day, kin of the departed troop to the graveyards and clean up the tombs or uproot

wayward grasses including the “cadena de amor,” the Antigonon leptopus Hook & Arn. coral vine which is abundant in Philippine cemeteries. On the day itself, relatives —at least in some parts of northern Philippines—go to the graveyards to remember their departed kin 12 years and below, with those 13 years old and above to be remembered, with candles, food and masses the day after, or the better known All Souls’ Day.

Lawmaker wants more ‘safety net’ for farmers By Maricel V. Cruz A LADY lawmaker is urging the administration’s economic managers to prepare for various scenarios to aid Filipino farmers with the lifting of the quantitative restriction on rice in 2017. Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine a Ramirez-Sato issued the call while expressing reservation over the lifting of the non-tariff barrier on rice, saying imported rice flooding the market would “kill” local farmers producing the staple food. Sato, former governor of Occidental Mindoro, said the government should put in place necessary measures as “safety net” for farmers, particularly those with small landholdings, either in the form of more seed and fertilizer subsidies; or training to improve production, packaging of rice products, and access to emerging market chains.

strengthen accountability at the LGU level. The SGLG has six basic elements: good financial keeping, disaster preparedness, social rpotection, business friendliness and competitiveness, environment management, and peace and order. Retaining the SGH module, the first element of the SGLG looks into LGU’s adherence to the procurement porocess. An LGU needs to comply to all three core elements of the FGLG: good financial keeping, disaster preparedness and social rpotection, and at least one from the other assessment areas to be able to become an SGLG recipient.

FRIENDLY CITY. Facade of the City of San Juan Government Center, where Mayor Guia G. Gomez, Vice Mayor Janella Estrada and the City Council as well as other local government

All Saints’ Day nationwide a generally festive affair By Honor Blanco Cabie

“These programs would boost local rice production and allow farmers to compete against cheaper, imported rice, which consumers would surely prefer to buy compared to locally produced rice,” Sato said. She noted the lifting of the rice QR would allow rice importers to bring in more high quality rice that would reduce the price of the staple food in the local market. “While consumers would generally benefit from this scenario, rice farmers would not be able to compete against imported rice because of the high cost of production,” Sato stressed. Destruction caused by flood and typhoons, she added, aggravates the situation of small farmers with limited capital. Sato is worried the lifting of the QR on rice would force farmers to shift to planting other crops, or worse, give up farming.

BAYANIHAN SPIRIT. Rice farmers in Aritao town in Nueva Vizcaya demonstrate the age-old traditional

practice called bayanihan—tagnawa among the Ilocanos—where they help out in farm work, setting aside their cultural and political differences and show unity, cooperation and compassion. David Chan

New office to induce Mindanao tourism By Sandy Araneta TOURISM Secretary Wanda Teo has given the green light to the creation of a Mindanao office that will implement the sustainable and inclusive tourism agenda for the region. Teo noted that exotic Mindanao has for decades lagged behind Luzon and the Visayas in terms of international and domestic tourist arrivals. “Despite its abundant natural resources, rich culture, breathtaking views and pristine beaches, Mindanao has not received due attention and, consequently, its fair share of visitor arrivals. With the creation of a DoT Mindanao office, the region where President Rodrigo Duterte hails from will get the promotion it deserves,” said Teo. Teo has named freshly minted assistant secretary Eden David, a Mindanaoan, to take the helm at the new Davao City-based office. David has been engaged in tourism business for 18 years, during which she rose from the ranks until being tapped as Tourism Marketing and Promotions office of the Davao region. “I welcome the challenge of putting Mindanao in a better position in terms of tourism administration, infrastructure development and promotions” said David. David said the region has the potential to be a world-class tourist destination although it requires substantial development work.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

LGUs

TODAY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

12 die in mysterious ‘outbreak’ By Robert A. Evora

ALAPAN CITY—Twelve Mangyan natives have died from an unknown respiratory disease that swept across two highland villages in nearby Baco municipality over the weekend, a tribal leader said. “Our brother Mangyans have already abandoned their homes and moved to safer grounds for fear that they may also be afflicted by the mysterious disease,” said Alejandro Pablo, 67, an Alangan Mangyan tribal leader. Pablo said 12 natives, including three children, have died from the outbreak that started Friday. He also expressed fears that more Mangyans in those mountain villages would die as “six more sick mountain dwellers were showing same symptoms.” “I cannot give exact number of those sick and dying, but when I left Balangkawit and Kalamansian to seek immediate medical assistance from authorities, 12 had already died, including three Mangyan children,” Pablo said. The two affected mountain sitios are located at the foothills of Mount Halcon that could be reached only by a whole-day hike. Marlon Roldan, chairman of a religious nongovernment organization called Hands of Love Philippines, said the sickness may be bronchopneumonia or diphtheria which is a serious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. “Coupled with diarrhea, these diseases can be fatal to both children and older people,” he said. Roldan said a massive landslide in Baco in December last year caused by Typhoon “Nona” could have affected the source of fresh drinking water of the natives. “Almost the entire mountain villages of barangays Bayanan and Mayabig in Baco were submerged in rocks, sands and debris. These landslides and siltations may have compromised the source of drinking water for the Mangyan population,” Roldan said.

DAY OF THE DEAD. A man applies paint on a tomb at the Barangka Cemetery in Marikina on Oct. 26, 2016, days ahead of the traditional All Souls’ Day. AFP

Manila cemeteries go high-tech—Erap By Sandy Araneta MANILA’S North and South cemeteries are now offering live streaming services and “grave locator” technology to make it more convenient for those who pay their respects to the dead. Mayor Joseph Estrada said cemetery-goers can visit the official websites of the two city-run public cemeteries to avoid the perennial hassles

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O. Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855, http://www.ppa.com.ph

nilasouthcemetery.com.ph and http:// manilanorthcemetery.com. He said the grave locator will allow people to use a search box to accurately look for the location of the tomb of their loved ones. The websites also have maps of both cemeteries, complete with street names and plot numbers of the graves. “You’ll just type in the name of the deceased and it will point you to the exact location of the tomb,” Tan said.

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O. Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855, http://www.ppa.com.ph

Tan said they will also offer live streaming from October 29 to November 2 that will show real-time footages in the main gates of the two cemeteries, enabling cemetery-goers to see the situation in both areas. “To maintain peace and order, about 900 policemen will guard the North and South cemeteries, backed up by civilian security and barangay personnel. They will be at the sites until November 2,” Tan added.

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O. Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855, http://www.ppa.com.ph

INVITATION TO BID

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

PROPOSED TIMACO PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (PHASE I A)

FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE CONDUCT OF FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND FORMULATION OF MASTER PLANS AT SELECTED PORTS IN SOUTHERN LUZON

FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SOIL INVESTIGATION AT SELECTED PORTS (PACKAGE 7)

The Philippine Ports Authority, through its Corporate Budget for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of P22,272,392.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Consultancy Services for the Conduct of Feasibility Studies and Formulation of Master Plans at Selected Ports in Southern Luzon (HO-BAC-EP-CON 001-2016), as follows:

The Philippine Ports Authority, through its Corporate Budget for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of P20,979,211.38 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Technical Services for the Conduct of Soil Investigation at Selected Ports (Package 7) (HO-BACEP-CON 002-2016), as follows:

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of P 83,498,191.46 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Timaco Port Development Project (Phase I A), Port of Timaco, Brgy. Kalanganan, Cotabato City, Maguindanao (LFP CBO No. 017-2016). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1. Legazpi City, Albay 2. Tabaco, Albay 3. Castilla, Sorsogon 4. Balud, Masbate 5. Romblon, Romblon 6. Nasugbu, Batangas 7. Calatagan, Batangas 8. Lobo, Batangas 9. Balayan, Batangas 10. Lemery, Batangas

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Access Trestle (Area=513.00 sq. m.) B. Construction of Rock Causeway (Area=1,377.00 sq. m.). Completion of the Works is required in 360 calendar days. Bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the PSA consumer price indices must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 27 October 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 07 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all interested bidders. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 23 November 2016 at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the following acceptable forms and amount: Form of Bid Security

Amount of Bid Security (Equal to Percentage of the ABC)

a) Bid Securing Declaration b) Surety Bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security

No percentage required

Five percent (5%)

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below on 23 November 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Late bids shall not be accepted. •

they encounter during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. “Every year, we encounter various problems and inconveniences, given the millions of people that visit the cemeteries. We are assuring the Manileños that we will continue to improve our services,” Estrada said. Daniel Tan, director of the Manila North and South cemeteries, said cemetery-goers can log on to the cemeteries’ websites: http://www.ma-

Required PCAB Registration: Medium A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor Port Area, Manila

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals. The Philippine Ports Authority now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the following Scope of Services: A. Previous Studies and Investigations B. Existing Conditions and Demand C. Proposed Development and Operation D. Economic Evaluation E. Financial Evaluation F. Initial Environmental Examination G. Terms of Reference for Detailed Engineering. Eligibility documents are available starting on 27 October 2016. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before 10 November 2016 at 9:00 a.m., at the BAC Office, 5th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Opening of eligibility documents is on 10 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184) otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of not more than FIVE (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: “Eligibility of prospective bidders shall be checked using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Shortlisting of eligible consultants will be done based on the following criteria: Quality of personnel to be assigned, Experience and capability of the consultant, Plan of approach and methodology. Bids whose technical proposals pass the minimum technical rating of 70% shall have its financial proposals opened and evaluated. The technical proposal shall carry 80% weight in the bid evaluation. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statements and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).” Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of R.A. 9184. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. The Philippine Ports Authority shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The weight to be allocated for the Technical Proposal is 80% while for the Financial Proposal, the weight is 20%. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals. The Philippine Ports Authority now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the drilling of and testing of soil samples from fifty six (56) boreholes, of which fifty three (53) shall be drilled offshore each to a depth of 50 meters below seabed and three (3) shall be drilled inland to a depth of 30 meters below existing ground line maximum for each borehole, respectively and/or there is 5 consecutive SPT N values of at least 50 blows but with less than 1 foot (30 cm.) of soil penetration recorded during two (2) successive 15 cm. penetrations of the Split-Spoon Sampler of 4.5 meters coring into bedrock, whichever comes first. Eligibility documents are available starting on 27 October 2016. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before 10 November 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the BAC Office, 5th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Opening of eligibility documents is on 10 November 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184) otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of not more than FIVE (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: “Eligibility of prospective bidders shall be checked using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Shortlisting of eligible consultants will be done based on the following criteria: Quality of personnel to be assigned, Experience and capability of the consultant, Plan of approach and methodology. Bids whose technical proposals pass the minimum technical rating of 70% shall have its financial proposals opened and evaluated. The technical proposal shall carry 80% weight in the bid evaluation. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statements and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).” Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of R.A. 9184. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. The Philippine Ports Authority shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The weight to be allocated for the Technical Proposal is 80% while for the Financial Proposal, the weight is 20%. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders. The contract shall be completed within EIGHT (8) MONTHS. The Philippine Ports Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

For further information, please refer to:

Cost of Eligibility Documents : P 1,000.00

BAC Secretariat: 5th Floor, BAC Office PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone Nos. 527-47-35; 527-83-56 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph • Cost of Eligibility Documents :

P 1,000.00

REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering

REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering Standard – Oct. 27, 2016

MINDANAO Masao, Agusan del Norte Malalag, Davao del Sur Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte Lamao, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte Isabela, Basilan

The Philippine Ports Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

• REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

VISAYAS 1. Iloilo City (ICPC), Iloilo 2. Tagbilaran City, Bohol 3. Ormoc City, Leyte

The contract shall be completed within NINE (9) MONTHS.

BAC Secretariat: 5th Floor, BAC Office PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone Nos. 527-47-35; 527-83-56 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

Telephone Nos. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539

LUZON 1. Salomague, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur 2. Pasacao, Camarines Sur 3. Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro 4. Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro 5. Coron, Palawan

Standard – Oct. 27, 2016

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Gambia withdraws from ICC D

AKAR, Senegal―Gambia has announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, accusing the Hague-based tribunal of the “persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans”.

VISIT. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key sprinkles rose petals as he pays tribute at Rajghat, the memorial for Mahatama Gandhi, in New Delhi on October 26, 2016. Key is on a three-day state visit to India. AFP

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O. Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855, http://www.ppa.com.ph

The ICC, set up in 2002, is often accused of bias against Africa and has also struggled with a lack of cooperation, including from the United States, which has signed the court’s treaty but never ratiﬁed it. Gambia has been trying without success to use the court to punish the European Union for deaths of thousands of African migrants trying to reach its shores. The decision will also come as a personal blow to the court’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, a former Gambian justice minister. The court at the weekend asked South Africa and Burundi to reconsider their decisions to leave, which came as a major blow to the institution. “I urge them to work together with other States in the ﬁght against impunity, which often causes massive violations of human rights,” Sidiki Kaba, president of the assembly of state parties to the ICC founding treaty, said in a statement. South Africa’s decision followed a dispute last year when Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited the country

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O. Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855, http://www.ppa.com.ph

INVITATION TO BID

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

PROPOSED TIMACO PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (PHASE I A)

FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE CONDUCT OF FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND FORMULATION OF MASTER PLANS AT SELECTED PORTS IN SOUTHERN LUZON

FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SOIL INVESTIGATION AT SELECTED PORTS (PACKAGE 7)

Amount of Bid Security (Equal to Percentage of the ABC)

a) Bid Securing Declaration b) Surety Bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security

No percentage required

Five percent (5%)

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below on 23 November 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Late bids shall not be accepted. •

The announcement late Tuesday comes after similar decisions this month by South Africa and Burundi to abandon the troubled institution, set up to try the world’s worst crimes. Information Minister Sheriff Bojang said in an announcement on state television that the court had been used “for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders” while ignoring crimes committed by the West. He singled out the case of former British prime minister Tony Blair, who the ICC decided not to indict over the Iraq war. “There are many Western countries, at least 30, that have committed heinous war crimes against independent sovereign states and their citizens since the creation of the ICC and not a single Western war criminal has been indicted.” The withdrawal, he said, “is warranted by the fact that the ICC, despite being called International Criminal Court, is in fact an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans”.

despite being the subject of an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes. Earlier this month, Burundi said it would leave the court, while Namibia and Kenya have also raised the possibility. Kaba said he was concerned that South Africa and Burundi’s decisions would pave the way for other African states to leave the court. The tribunal is tasked with “prosecuting the most serious crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression”. The court’s former prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo criticized Burundi and South Africa, accusing them of giving leaders on the continent a free hand “to commit genocide”. “Burundi is leaving the ICC to keep committing crimes against humanity and possible genocide in its territory. Burundi’s president wants free hands to attack civilians.” He added that former South African president Nelson Mandela had “promoted the establishment of the Court to avoid new massive crimes in Africa. Now under the Zuma leadership South Africa decided to cover up the crimes and abandoned African victims. The world is going backward”. “The chaos is coming. Genocide in Burundi and a new African war are in motion,” he said. AFP

Required PCAB Registration: Medium A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals. The Philippine Ports Authority now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the drilling of and testing of soil samples from fifty six (56) boreholes, of which fifty three (53) shall be drilled offshore each to a depth of 50 meters below seabed and three (3) shall be drilled inland to a depth of 30 meters below existing ground line maximum for each borehole, respectively and/or there is 5 consecutive SPT N values of at least 50 blows but with less than 1 foot (30 cm.) of soil penetration recorded during two (2) successive 15 cm. penetrations of the Split-Spoon Sampler of 4.5 meters coring into bedrock, whichever comes first. Eligibility documents are available starting on 27 October 2016. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before 10 November 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the BAC Office, 5th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Opening of eligibility documents is on 10 November 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184) otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of not more than FIVE (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: “Eligibility of prospective bidders shall be checked using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Shortlisting of eligible consultants will be done based on the following criteria: Quality of personnel to be assigned, Experience and capability of the consultant, Plan of approach and methodology. Bids whose technical proposals pass the minimum technical rating of 70% shall have its financial proposals opened and evaluated. The technical proposal shall carry 80% weight in the bid evaluation. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statements and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).” Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of R.A. 9184. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. The Philippine Ports Authority shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The weight to be allocated for the Technical Proposal is 80% while for the Financial Proposal, the weight is 20%. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders. The contract shall be completed within EIGHT (8) MONTHS. The Philippine Ports Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

For further information, please refer to:

Cost of Eligibility Documents : P 1,000.00

P 1,000.00

REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering

REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering Standard – Oct. 27, 2016

MINDANAO Masao, Agusan del Norte Malalag, Davao del Sur Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte Lamao, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte Isabela, Basilan

• REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

VISAYAS 1. Iloilo City (ICPC), Iloilo 2. Tagbilaran City, Bohol 3. Ormoc City, Leyte

The contract shall be completed within NINE (9) MONTHS.

BAC Secretariat: 5th Floor, BAC Office PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone Nos. 527-47-35; 527-83-56 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

Telephone Nos. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539

LUZON 1. Salomague, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur 2. Pasacao, Camarines Sur 3. Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro 4. Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro 5. Coron, Palawan

Standard – Oct. 27, 2016

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

World

World leaders’ chefs meet in New Delhi NEW DELHI―The chefs who cook for the world’s leaders usually keep a low profile, leaving the limelight to their bosses. But once a year it is their turn to be wined and dined and treated as honored guests in a foreign country. Billed as the world’s most exclusive gastronomic society, the Club des Chefs des Chefs brings together the men and women who cook for heads of state to exchange ideas and―presumably―insider information on their bosses’ tastes. They have met annually since the club was first established in Paris in 1977 and this year for the first time they are doing so in India, hosted by the president’s personal chef, Montu Saini. “The presidents all met each other. I thought it was a good idea to make a sort of G20 of the chefs,” the club’s founder Gilles Bragard told journalists in Delhi. “If politics divides men, a good table will unite them.”

Naturally, the tradition involves trying out local delicacies. But Saini has left little to chance when it comes to the Indian capital’s most notorious complaint. Rather than subjecting the chefs to Delhi street food, he has had the kitchen of their ﬁvestar hotel recreate golgappas and aloo tikkis―popular fried snacks made of wheat ﬂour and potato and served with sweet and spicy chutneys. “I can’t take them to the street because they are foreigners. Their tummies are too sensitive,” said Saini. “So I am creating a replica in the hotels.” India excels in the extravagant welcome, and the visiting chefs are treated like the royalty many of them work for. Arriving in their immaculate chef’s whites at Old Delhi’s chaotic spice market, even more crowded than usual ahead of the

Diwali festival, they were showered with pink rose petals and garlanded with jasmine. “This is fantastic,” said Bernard Vaussion, who cooked for six French presidents before he retired, as he pushed his way through the market’s packed alleyways. “I mean it’s dirty and noisy, but who cares. It’s such an experience.” India takes its toll though. By day three one of the visiting chefs has fallen ill, while another is feeling the effects of Indian cuisine. “After four days of eating spicy [food], you feel it,” said Fabrizio Boca, chef to the Italian president. “I think it’s only because you have to get used to it.” Like most of the visiting chefs―16 men and one woman, America’s Cristeta Comerford― Boca is eager to learn more about India’s vast range of spices. Comerford, a Filipino-Ameri-

can, said she saw parallels with the cuisine of the Philippines. “It’s not a recipe-driven food, it’s more of a philosophy,” she told AFP. “I would use the analogy of the Philippines, because each household has their own way of doing a certain dish.” For the chefs, the annual gatherings are a chance to exchange ideas and get to know each other. They also have a hot line known as the “blue telephone” that allows them to consult each other on their bosses’ preferences before a state visit. None of the chefs gave away much about their bosses’ tastes, although all agreed on the growing importance of seasonality in food, and of making state dinners a lighter, healthier affair. “Looking for more sustainable more local produce has become more prominent,” said Mark Flanagan, chef to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. AFP

ONSTAGE. A model parades a creation from the POLY BRIGHT Collection designed by Fei Wang at China Fashion Week in Beijing. AFP

‘No stopping Pyongyang’ W

ASHINGTON―Convincing North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons is a “lost cause,” America’s top intelligence official said Tuesday, causing concern in the State Department and ally South Korea over an issue of long-standing US policy. The United States has always maintained it cannot accept North Korea as a nuclear state and, under President Barack Obama, has made any talks with the North conditional on Pyongyang first making some tangible commitment towards denuclearization. But in remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank, US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper suggested such a policy was based on wishful thinking. “The notion of getting the North Koreans to denuclearize is probably a lost cause. They are not going to do that. That is their ticket to survival,” Clapper said. “They are under siege, and they are very paranoid. So the notion of giving up their nuclear capability, whatever it is, is a nonstarter with them,” he added. His comments reflected an opinion widely-held among North Korea experts but one only expressed in private by senior US administration officials who feel a policy change on North Korea is overdue. While Clapper may have been seeking to shore up arguments to support the imminent deploy-

ANNUAL EVENT. Hillary Scott and The Scott Family (from left) : Lang Scott, Rylee Scott, Hillary Scott and Linda Davis attend Jason Aldean’s 11th

Annual Event Beneﬁtting Susan G. Komen As Part of “Opry Goes Pink” Jason Aldeans “CONCERT FOR THE CURE”, which marks over $3.3 Million raised in support of the ﬁght against Breast Cancer at The Grand Ole Opry on October 25, 2016 , in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

Murder accused in HK addicted to cocaine HONG KONG―British banker Rurik Jutting who is accused of murdering two Indonesian women in his upscale Hong Kong apartment was a cocaine addict who had developed drug-induced fantasies, a court heard Wednesday. The 31-year-old Cambridge graduate and former securities trader for Bank of AmericaMerrill Lynch has pleaded “not guilty” to two murder charges, on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which was rejected by the prosecution. Since the trial started Monday, jurors have viewed harrowing iPhone footage of Jutting torturing his ﬁrst victim, Sumarti Ningsih, 23, for three days before he killed

her by cutting her neck with a serrated knife at his apartment two years ago. Days later, he killed Seneng Mujiasih, 26, cutting her throat. Mujiasih’s body was found in a pool of blood in Jutting’s living room on November 1, 2014, while Ningsih’s decaying body was discovered stuffed into a suitcase on his balcony. In court Wednesday, prosecutor John Reading said Jutting had become increasingly withdrawn and “deeply addicted to cocaine”. Footage from police interviews showed Jutting saying he had started to take more cocaine at weekends for six weeks before the killings. “I’ve had cocaine previously, but not in such a large amount,” he told police.

“When I started taking it, it started bringing out long and extended fantasies,” he said. Speaking calmly, he told police that he had killed the two women. “These are the only two people who have been killed by me,” he told the two interviewing ofﬁcers. Jutting told police that he had met Ningsih on the website Craigslist under the “casual encounters” section, storing her name in his phone as “Indo”. He also said that he had begun to spend time at a hotel near his apartment for three weeks before the killings, and had paid for sex workers to go to his room during those stays. The jury was shown 20 photos recovered from Jutting’s phone, including pictures of Ningsih bound and gagged, and of her

body in the shower. Forensic pathologist Poon Waiming told the court Ningsih had been found in a suitcase in the foetal position, her neck severed. Ambulance officer To Shingfai described Jutting as talking to himself and crying in the hallway outside his apartment on the night the bodies were discovered. Jutting faces a life sentence if convicted of the murders. The killings shone a spotlight on the seedy underbelly of the finance hub. Jutting’s flat lay streets away from one of the city’s red light districts. Indonesian migrant organizations in Hong Kong have called for justice for the women, and compensation for their families. AFP

ment of the US THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, his remarks add a high-profile voice to the growing debate over how the next US president should handle North Korea. State Department spokesman John Kirby rebuffed Clapper’s position, stressing that “nothing has changed” with the Obama administration’s policy of pushing the North―through a toughened sanction regime―to give up its nuclear weapons. “We want to continue to see a verifiable denuclearization of the [Korean] peninsula,” Kirby said. Critics of the policy say sanctions and non-engagement have done nothing to prevent the North’s accelerated drive towards a credible nuclear deterrent that could directly threaten the US mainland. South Korea, which has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the US hard line on Pyongyang, also stressed there would be no change of course. “The determination of not only South Korea and the US but of the international community to end North Korea’s nuclear program is stronger than ever,” a foreign ministry official told AFP. AFP

IS militants abduct, kill 30 in Afghanistan KABUL―Militants linked to Islamic State jihadists abducted and killed around 30 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, raising concerns about the group’s expanding presence beyond its eastern stronghold. The killings occurred late Tuesday north of Firoz Koh, the capital of Ghor province, with the local government calling it a revenge attack after a local IS commander was killed. IS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq and is making steady inroads in Afghanistan, has so far not officially claimed responsibility for the attack. “Our security forces with the help of locals conducted an operation and killed a Daesh (IS) commander yesterday. Daesh fighters in return abducted around 30 villagers, mostly shepherds,” Ghor Governor Nasir Khazeh told AFP.

“Their dead bodies were found by local people this morning.” Abdul Hameed Nateqi, a Ghor provincial council member, gave a similar account to AFP, adding that the assailants were self-proclaimed supporters of IS. The killings underscore unraveling security in Afghanistan as the resurgent Taliban continue a push into urban centers 15 years after they were toppled from power. IS ﬁghters have been trying to expand their presence in Afghanistan, winning over sympathizers, recruiting followers and challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country’s east. In March Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced that the Islamists had been defeated after local security forces claimed victory in a months-long operation against the group. But IS militants have continued to launch deadly strikes in the country. AFP

Life

Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines President Bambi Borneo, Love Anover, and entomologist Dr. Arlene Bertuso support the Kilusang Kontra Kuto.

WELLNESS & ENVIRONMENT

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

8 million schoolchildren infected with lice;

Kilusang Kontra Kuto launched “A

STUDY by the Department of Education in 2009 estimated that eight million public school children aged 7 to 12 years old were infested with head lice,” Dr. Arlene Bertuso, an entomologist and professor at the UP Manila College of Public Health said.

Bertuso also shared that head lice can live for up to 30 days on a human head and that female lice can lay up to 100 eggs in their lifetime. This cycle produces more and more lice that can cause severe itchiness and infection on the scalp. But itchiness could be the least of these children’s worries. The social stigma associated with having lice, locally known as kuto, can leave lasting psychological damage, as it has been found that kuto-infested children are bullied and teased, leading them to miss school for days. Since kuto can be easily transmitted through direct contact with an infested person or object, the solution is not just to treat the heads affected but through a joint effort by homes, schools and communities. “Nurses all over the Philippines, especially those assigned in schools, commonly encounter children with kuto,” Balbina Borneo, president of Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines, Inc. (NCNA) said. “Because this problem easily affects a huge number of people, I can say that kuto really is a social concern that needs to be addressed by the whole community.” To help prevent the spread of head lice, experts like Bertuso recommend that parents regularly inspect their children’s hair, as well as the hair of everyone in the household. “Communities can start a regular program wherein school nurses or barangay health workers can diagnose people with head lice and advise them on proper head lice treatment and prevention. Head lice might not be deadly, but the social stigma associated with having them makes kuto infestation a public health problem worthy of concern,” Bertuso said. Borneo advised, “We have to take action in keeping our households kuto free through simple activities like avoiding sharing of combs, towels and other materials that touch the hair, as lice spreads through physical contact with infested objects. We should regu-

Lice shampoo label Licealiz provides coloring books to educate children about lice

Shampooing programs for public school students

larly replace our beddings and pillow- shared her experience dealing with cases to avoid the transfer of lice.” head lice and another effective soCelebrity mom Love Añover also lution she discovered to fight it –

Licealiz head lice treatment shampoo. “We were very careful with my daughter’s hygiene and surroundings, so I couldn’t believe it when she started scratching her head. Sure enough, we found head lice! We didn’t think it was possible for my daughter to get head lice given how young she was at the time, but eventually we found out that she got them from our household help. When I was a child, we only used suyod, which was quite inefficient in getting all the lice out. For my daughter, we wanted to try something clinically tested and proven in removing lice. We tried Licealiz head lice treatment shampoo and after two weeks of use, my child was lice-free!” she shared Licealiz will continue arranging shampooing programs and activities for public school students all over the country and will also post educational materials on head lice and how to fight them on its Facebook page. Activations ambassador Dr. Maria Michelle Vita, who travels with the Licealiz team and gives lectures to

parents of public school students on head lice prevention and treatment, has this to say about the program. “We formed the Kilusang Kontra Kuto to help stop the spread of misinformation about kuto and to remove the stigma associated with being infested. Kuto is a public health problem that can be solved with the help of everyone from the community.” explained Vita. Lamoiyan Corporation has created a health education campaign designed to help communities all over the country address the problem of kuto. Led by Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz head lice treatment shampoo, in partnership with the MCNAP and supported by the UP Manila College of Public Health, Kilusang Kontra Kuto was formed as an educational movement seeking to spread awareness about lice infestation issues and prevent and treat head lice. For more information on lice prevention, visit Licealiz’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/licealiz.

New career at MakatiMed’s Nursing and Patient Care Services Division IN line with the celebration of the 59th National Nurses Week, Makati Medical Center’s Nursing and Patient Care Services Division will be accepting nurse applicants at its Open House from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the 8th Floor Tower 2 Auditorium. “This is to recognize the importance of our nursing workforce in patient care and our dedication to educate them to provide the best healthcare environment possible,” says Nursing and Patient Care Services Division Head Christine A. Donnelly. Interested applicants are requested to bring their updated Curriculum Vitae, Transcript of Records, and Board Rating Certificate. MakatiMed nurses are chosen from the best candidates of schools with outstanding and proven track records, and are trained further to provide patients with the best and most compassionate treatment possible. In 2015, the division received accreditation as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provider from the CPD Council of Nursing under the Professional Regulatory MakatiMed celebrates the 59th National Nurses Week by accepting nurse applicants today Commission (PRC), a recognition of For more information, contact Development through (02) 8888-999 MakatiMed as provider of the highNursing Education Research and locals 2168 and 2177. est level of education for nurses.

From left: Pat Leelarasame and Methas Leelarasame of Golden Cup Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.; Henry Chua, Charmaine Lee, Charleen Chua, Monina Chua and Byron Chua of Most High Intertrade Inc.

Golden Cup Balm now in town

THE world-famous topical pain relieving ointment Golden Cup Balm is now available in the Philippines. It was launched recently in Manila to coincide with the Top Thai Products Expo at SMX. In Thailand, where it is produced, Golden Cup Balm is the no. 1 product in its category. Proven effective for more than 60 years and used by millions of people worldwide, it is FDA approved and Halal certified, making it safe for use by everyone. At the launch, Methas Leelarasame and Pat Leelarasame, from Golden Cup Pharmaceuticals, Co., Ltd., turned over the symbolic golden cup to Henry

Chua, president of Most High Intertrade Inc. (MHII), exclusive distributor of Golden Cup Balm and Oil in the Philippines. MHII received the golden cup, with a promise to make it no. 1 in the Philippines as well. Golden Cup Balm comes in 4g and 8g tin cups and 12g, 22g, and 50g bottles, while Golden Cup Oil comes in a 3ml bottle, all at affordable prices; available at Mercury Drugstore, Watsons Drugstore, 360 Pharmacy, Alturas Supermarkets, Fisher Mall Supermarket, Prince Warehouse and Unimart. Visit goldencup.com.ph for more information.

Life

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

TEADFAST in its commitment to provide world-class and exclusive services to the Filipino people, Smart Infinity goes beyond being a premium service provider by enabling its members to “Lead The Change.” Recently, the premium postpaid brand of Smart Communications Inc. hosted a private lunch honoring several subscribers at The Peninsula Manila. Smart Infinity took the opportunity not only to thank its loyal members, but also shared its advocacy to create positive opportunities for change for the Filipino community. During the event, Smart Infinity extended its support to the Kalipay Negrense Foundation and Feed The Children Inc., on behalf of its members. “As a Smart Infinity subscriber, I am honored to be with a brand that supports the things I believe in. I am happy that the brand leads the change by showing that it’s not only about connectivity but also about people,” shared one of the Infinity subscribers present at the event. Sharing this commitment to lead the change by empowering and uplifting Filipinos are Infinity brand ambassadors Raul and Joanna Francisco, and Donnie and Crickette Tantoco. Both couples have been avid advocates for positive change in the lives of others. Donnie, president of Rustan’s Supercenters Inc., believes every Filipino has the right to a better quality of life. Through the Rustan’s Group, he and his wife Crickette want to bring superior customer service to all. Fashion and art entrepreneurs and retailers Raul and Joanna are strong supporters of Filipino artisans and artists. Through their businesses, they ensure that they are able to give back to the community, through Kalipay Negrense Foundation, a non-profit organization close to their hearts. The Kalipay Negrense Foundation Inc. was founded to help the growing number of disadvantaged children in Negros Occidental. The non-profit foundation working for the causes of disadvantaged children—the homeless, physically and sexually abused, malnourished, out of school and youngsters with special needs—started as an effort of a group of people who wanted to make a difference in the lives of these kids. “Kalipay Negrense’s story is one that’s filled with miracles. We give disadvantaged children hope and a home. At Kalipay, these children are rehabilitated and educated to have a second chance in life and grow up to become productive citizens. We have rescued toddlers who have been so abused they could hardly walk. But there is always hope. We are very thankful to Smart Infinity and Raul and Joanna Francisco,” said Jay Abello, who represented the Negros Occidental-based organization.

Smart Infinity Creates

Positive Opportunities for Change

Smart Infinity brand ambassadors Raul and Joanna Francisco with Kalipay Negrense Foundation, Inc.’s Jay Abello.

The premium postpaid brand of Smart Communications supports Kalipay Negrense Foundation as part of its ‘Lead the Change’ campaign. Photos from Kalipay Negrense Foundation’s Facebook page

“Our family, even our children, is involved with Kalipay Negrense. I am very proud to represent Smart Infinity, which leads the change and believes in things that matter,” said Joanna.

Donnie and Crickette, on the other hand, support Feed the Children, a nongovernment organization whose mission is to end hunger among children worldwide. The Tantocos are also Smart Infinity brand ambassadors.

Since 1984, Feed the Children has worked with kids in the Philippines, expanding their work beyond meals to developing community independence. Smart Infinity also enjoined its subscribers present at the event to help the

two non-profit organizations in any way they can. “We are proud that Smart Infinity’s brand ambassadors are leading the change not only in their personal and professional lives, but with others as well. They are truly individuals who embody the core values of the brand,” said Julie Carceller, head of Smart Infinity and Smart’s Multi-Segment Marketing. “Beyond that, they have become an icon of success and inspiration to others, a trait that is part of the brand’s DNA. We want to inspire others to follow suit by providing our members with excellent technology and services—tools they need to start leading the change,” added Carceller. Smart Infinity curates plans and services according to the needs of members, whether they’re a frequent traveler who needs to be connected all the time, a family that needs the connection of a reliable and consistent network, or a young professional who is always on the go. Learn more about Smart Infinity through www.smart.com.ph/infinity or get updates from the brand on Instagram @smartinfinity.

51Talk supports Gabay Guro’s digital livelihood program LEADING online English education platform in the world 51Talk is partnering with Gabay Guro, the education arm and flagship project of the PLDT-SMART Foundation, to offer digital livelihood to qualified Filipino teachers. The partnership was signed and launched on Sept. 22 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City. Since it was established in China in 2011 by its co-founder and Philippine Country Manager, Sue Ting, 51Talk has been recognized as the best and largest professional online English school in China and the leading online English education company in the Philippines. Gabay Guro, on the other hand, was founded in 2009 with the aim to equip and sharpen teachers’ skills to help them thrive as educators. It later became the corporate social responsibility arm of the PLDT-Smart Foundation. Jennifer Que, vice president for Philippine Operations of 51Talk, considers the partnership a milestone for various reasons. First, this is a partnership between two very credible organizations: Gabay Guro, the flagship project of PLDT-Smart Foundation, and 51Talk, a NYSE listed online English education company. 51Talk went public on June 10, 2016 under the stock symbol COE (China Online Education Group), making it the first Chinese high-tech company listed in the US and the first Chinese online English education company ever to be listed in the US stock market. Secondly, Que sees this partnership as the fulfillment of a shared vision. “Gabay Guro is always looking for ways to empower Filipino teachers. We at 51Talk want to provide the platform

51Talk is the largest professional online English school in China and the leading online English education company in the Philippines. Photo from 51Talk Facebook page

51Talk Philippine Operations Vice President Jennifer Que

for teachers to give more of themselves. We share the same vision of changing the lives of teachers,” she said. In this partnership, qualified teachers can bring their English teaching skills online to help augment their family income. “After teaching in the classroom, they can teach for 51Talk, and earn more while still attending to their family without leaving the comfort of their homes,” enthused Que. Gabay Guro will endorse qualified teacher members who will immediately undergo 51Talk’s stringent kids’ teacher selection process. Successful teacher candidates will join the more than 7,000 home-based teachers with 51Talk, and will be given

free trainings on English proficiency, online teaching, the use of the 51Talk platform and educational material, among many others. The trainings will help improve the teachers’ technical skills and provide other skills that they can use not just in online teaching, but in the traditional classroom setting as well. “We provide continuous trainings to our teachers. We give them specialized trainings on how to teach kids and adults alike, as well as special lessons and modules that we in 51Talk conceptualize that the students may want. We pride ourselves on providing teachers upskill trainings,” shared Que. “Bringing teachers online doesn’t just improve their techni-

cal skills, but also gives them cultural exposure through exchanges between them and their Asian learners,” she added. The partnership, Que believes, is for the long haul since Gabay Guro has been committed to the teaching profession since its inception, and 51Talk will always be providing opportunities to teach, learn and earn for qualified kids’ teachers. “With this partnership, the only winners are the teachers. We don’t want them to leave the classroom, we want them to stay in the classroom, but at the same time have a supplementary source of income during their free time, in the comfort of their homes. Teaching English online is an innovative livelihood option for the teachers,” concluded Que.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Catriona Gray, a strong contender at Miss World 2016

IL-SCOTTISH commercial model Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray earned the right to represent the country at the Miss World 2016 pageant after besting 24 candidates at the ﬁnals of Miss World Philippines 2016 held at the historic Manila Hotel.

Acapellago (top) and Pinopella (bottom)

Akapela

The 22-year-old Gray, born in Princess Ivanna Kamil Pacis, Quirino and Tourism Secretary Cairns, Queensland to a Scottish Third Princess Marah Muñoz Wanda Teo, who sat as chairman of father and Bicolana mother, nailed and Fourth Princess Sandra the board of judges. Actor Richard the final question-and-answer Raymundo Lemonon who won Gutierrez and former Miss World “Why should you be the next the Miss Photogenic special award. Philippines titlists Gwendoline Miss World Philippines?” “To Gray finished high school Ruais and Queenie Rehman cobe a Miss World is to be passed a studies in Australia and moved hosted the finals coronation night torch that burns with passion and to Manila in 2012 starting her telecast on GMA 7. purpose. If I am to become Miss modeling career. She has helped With the presence of Teo, who World Philippines, I will dedicate the children of Smokey Mountain was instrumental in bringing the my voice and essence to carry as a spokesperson through her Miss Universe 2017 in Manila, that torch and to set charitable personal advocacy, the PARAISO could the 2017 Miss World causes alight, such as my personal Bright Beginnings Project. pageant be far behind ? advocacy, the Paraiso Bright Hilarie Parungao, who was in Many are saying that Gray’s Beginnings Project. And I would the Top 10 of Miss World 2015 chances at Miss World 2016 in focus on passing on this torch to pageant in China, relinquished Washington D.C., USA on Dec. 18 empower others because I believe her crown to Gray assisted by is big. Eton B. Concepcion together there is no darkness in this CQ Global Quest directress Cory Photos: Teddy Pelaez world that our light cannot overcome,” the stunning face of Ponds beauty answered. Gray, who completed a Master Certificate online at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and aspires to be a singercomposer, almost swept all the special awards of the night, including Miss Manila Hotel, Miss Hannah, Best in Swimsuit, Best in Evening Gown and Best in Fashion Runway. She was also named Miss Talent, Miss Organique, Miss Figlia and Miss Folded & Hung at the preliminary events. In Gray’s court of honor STATUESQUE. Newly-crowned Miss World Philippines Catriona Gray (center) were First Princess Arienne and her court. Gray is flying to Washington D.C. in December to represent the Louise Calingo, Second country at the oldest and one of the most publicized beauty contests in the world.

Open 2016 finals on Nov. 5

Latest Japanese innovations in CNN’s ‘On Japan’ JAPAN is a country proud of its past with a reputation for looking to the future. It is a country known for its innovation and impeccable quality. Despite decades of battling deﬂation, a shrinking population, and more global competition than ever, how are Japanese innovators are stepping up to the plate? CNN’s Will Ripley uncovers what is driving the country’s ambition -discovering how today’s technology can alter tomorrow’s reality. Highlights of the show include: Gaming Characters are so well accepted in the Japanese culture and its perhaps what makes the gaming industry so successful there. Will Ripley visits Sony Global Headquarters in Tokyo as the company is rolling out their newest add on to Playstation 4 – PlaystationVR. He speaks to the President of Sony’s Worldwide Studios for Sony Interactive Entertainment, Shuhei Yoshida on the challenges of bringing virtual reality to the mass market and discusses the future of gaming with

CNN gets rare access to SCMaglev, a magnetic levitation railway system billed to be the world’s fastest train

Sony Interactive Entertainment’s CEO Andrew House. But virtual reality can be much more than just a game – the implications of this technology can be widespread. CNN speaks to some Japanese researchers at the University of Tokyo that are experimenting with

how that world would look like. Transportation Japan has always been on the forefront of transportation technology. Will Ripley visits the ﬁrst Shinkansen bullet train from 1964, which at the time revolutionized train travel. Now

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, October 27, 2016

ACROSS 1 Sort of wave 6 Mop, as decks 10 Caviar source 14 Licorice flavoring 15 — colada 16 Johnnycake 17 Pigeonhole 18 Sets a price 19 He wrote “Picnic” 20 Has the conn 22 Get rid of (2 wds.) 24 Doctrine 26 Bonfire residue 27 Restless 31 Windy City trains 32 Not as common 33 Au pair 36 Ottoman title 39 Malaria symptom 40 Usual practice 41 Overflow point 42 Back-fence yowler 43 James or Ventura 44 Hot and humid 45 Telephone trio 46 Soft leather 48 Days in June 51 Suffix with chariot

52 Harder to get right 54 Pharaoh’s amulet 59 Skein of yarn 60 Plenty, to a poet 62 “Laughing” animal 63 Slight advantage 64 Command to a pooch 65 Ms. Verdugo 66 — -do-well 67 Poi base 68 Broad valleys DOWN 1 Catches some rays 2 Put one’s foot —— 3 Mince 4 Tennis standout Arthur — 5 More wary 6 Luxury resort 7 Minn. neighbor 8 It may turn on you 9 Place for a bargain? 10 Cacti defense 11 Esteem 12 Hornless cattle 13 Bug repellent 21 Mach 2

exceeder Like a pro Caged talkers Keg-party site Othello’s betrayer 29 Tap one’s fingers 30 Haw opposite 34 Washboard — 35 Close relative 36 Jason’s vessel 37 Caron musical role 38 Grant and Irving 40 Beefiest 41 Cadge 23 25 27 28

43 Quick pull 44 Took part in a protest 45 Haggle 47 “— So Shy” 48 Gridiron deal 49 Be contingent on 50 Busybody 52 After which 53 Jungle warning 55 Auel character 56 Rod’s companion 57 Klein of fashion 58 Meadow plaints 61 Cheyenne’s st.

Japan is hoping to step up the ante once again with the SC Maglev. Clocking in at speeds over 600km/h, CNN gets rare access to what is billed to be the world’s fastest train. From public transport, to personal mobility, CNN also visits a Toyota theme park to see what one of the largest Japanese automakers envision for the future of transportation. Sport Technology In 1964 Tokyo hosted the Olympic games, it was the ﬁrst time the world’s most prestigious sporting event came to the East, and Japan seized the global spotlight. Now, gears are in motion to once again impress the world in 2020. CNN visits the head ofﬁce of one of Japan’s oldest and most successful sporting brands, ASICS, in Kobe. Will Ripley has a rare conversation with ASICS President Motoi Oyama and goes behind the scenes of their research and development institute as we get a preview of how the sporting company is already preparing for the games. On Japan airs on CNN International on 11: 30 p.m. on Oct. 28 and 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29.

FOUR years ago, a nationwide competition for contemporary a cappella group was launched. Entitled Akapela Open, PLDT-Smart Foundation embraced the competition along with The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab. As the Philippines is well known for its choirs, because they win in almost all international competitions, to come up with a genre not too common locally was an answer to those singing ensembles that would like to deviate from the tradition; and come up in the open and be recognized as a legitimate singing ensemble. Akapela Open’s objectives of giving opportunities to contemporary group singers to showcase their performance; to come up with original arrangements of local and international songs; and to create a community of contemporary a cappella singers have gone a long way since the contest started in 2013. Akapela Open has produced two of the best contemporary groups in the country – Acapellago and Pinopela. The past three years saw them battle against each other on the contest stage. Both these groups have won in international competitions after winning Akapela Open’s Grand Prize in separate years. Acapellago won as overall champion in the International A Cappella Championships in Singapore in July of 2015. This was followed by Pinopela’s winning Gold in International Category, Judges’ Choice and Overall Champion in the same competition on July 2, this year. Two members snagged additional recognition: Gold in Looping category for Zsaris Mendioro and Most Impressive Vocalist for Anthony Castillo. Acapellago, a Viva group artist, continued their winning streak when they bagged first runner up in the 2016 Vocal Asia, Asian Acappella Cup in Taitung, Taiwan on Aug. 17. And again, they went on to compete on Sept. 24 at the A Cappella Asia Pacific championship league in Singapore. This time they brought honor to the Philippines after they were declared overall champion, prevailing over the best a cappella groups from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore. Moreover, members Ron Laderas won best bass performer and Michelle Corpus won best lead vocalist. The group also bagged the audience award. This is truly a noteworthy accomplishment and a crowning glory for the contemporary a cappella movement in our country. These two groups are the country’s leaders in contemporary a cappella; helping in the nurturing and growth of this community. Excitement brews as the Finals Night draws near. On Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. at the Meralco Theater, a new Akapela Open champion will emerge. Witness the ten finalists battle it out on stage: Astrafellas, Calafellas, Conchords, Doo-Wop Sounds (Korea), Fratoneity, GVabs, MVibe, PhiSix, Street Voice, Ten Thousand. Tickets to the Akapela Open Finals Night are available at The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab. For details, please call 637-9840 or 914-5055; or come to TMSRC at the lower level of Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas, Quezon City.

Showbiz

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Mr. Pure Energy Gary V stages a wellreceived production number singing his greatest hits before thousands of cheering crowd

topbills 8990 concert L

ISTED mass housing developer, 8990 Holdings, Inc. hosted a concert for its homeowners and prospective buyers on Oct. 7 at Mall of Asia Arena. The show called Future Perfect highlighted that owning a house is possible these days through ownership of a DECA Home.

JJ Atencio President and CEO of 8990 Holdings Inc.

JJ Atencio, president and CEO of 8990 Holdings Inc., delivered a message to the audience, numbering 7,000 strong, at the start of the concert, “This is our way of showing our appreciation to our homeowners, industry partners, employees and executives for their continued support and hard work for the past 13 years.” He added that, “This show is also our way of attracting the millennial crowd in realizing their dreams of owning a home.” The concert also highlighted the entry of 8990 and DECA Homes in the Metro Manila market through the 13,000 high-density condominium complex in Tondo Manila known as Urban DECA Homes Manila. Part of the condominium complex is the DECA Mall, the anchor amenity of the condominium complexes in Metro Manila. Atencio added that, “The only way we can say thank you to our homeowners is to invite, in my opinion, the greatest singer of all time,

Mr. Gary Valenciano.” Artists who performed with Gary V are Sam Concepcion, Kiana Valenciano and Tom Taus. The CEO also announced at the concert the benefits of the recently signed partnership with SUNLIFE of Canada that enables 8990/DECA Homes to be the first developer to provide shelter, life insurance and mutual fund for the same monthly amortization. The fun-filled night also featured a game show that gave its winner a two night stay at Azalea Residences in Baguio. It also showed testimonials from homeowners sharing their stories on how owning a DECA Home changed their life from being a renter to an asset owner. The concert was made possible in partnership with Ad Spin agency and was produced by Manila Genesis Entertainment, directed by Paolo Valenciano.

Event hosts Justin Quirino and Nicole Asencio

Renowned Cebuano native Chef Tatung

Philippine cuisine history in

Chef Tatung’s

show

FILIPINO food lovers will have the exciting chance to become part of a gastronomic exploration of Filipino cuisine in The Food That We Are, a Lifestyle TV four-part special hosted by renowned Cebuano native, Chef Tatung. The Food That We Are is based on Chef Tatung’s book produced by ABS-CBN Publishing titled From Heart to Platter that takes viewers on a journey to understand and appreciate the essence of the Filipino culinary landscape. Chef Tatung leads the introspective exploration by tracing the ancestral roots of the Filipino people to uncover how Philippine dishes like tinuktok (coconut meat wrapped in taro leaves) came to be. In the four-part special, viewers see how the wide cultural inﬂuences helped shape Filipino cuisine, how ancient cooking practices transcended time, and the signiﬁcance of traditional ingredients in the modern Filipino kitchen. “This show is close to my heart because I am passionate about Philippine cuisine. I want Filipinos to appreciate the vibrant culture and history of how our delectable dishes came to be through this in-depth exploration,” Chef Tatung said. The Food That We Are airs Tuesdays (11 a.m.), Wednesdays (12:30 a.m., 2 p.m.), Fridays (9 a.m.), and Sundays (6 a.m.). Lifestyle is available on SKYcable channel 52. For updates, follow Lifestyle on Facebook (facebook.com/lifestyletvph), Instagram, and Twitter (@lifestyletvph).

Kapuso wins US Intl. Film and Video Festival top award THE team of GMA Public Affairs’ animated anthology series Alamat received from U.S. International Film & Video Festival (USIFVF) Chairman Lee W. Gluckman, Jr. trophies for winning the “Best of Festival” and “Gold Camera” awards at the prestigious 2016 USIFVF. Joining Gluckman in presenting the awards on Oct. 10, was GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. Alamat gave the Philippines its first-ever “Best of Festival Award,” considered the Grand Prix of the USIFVF and is given to an outstanding entry among the Gold Camera winners. It first won the Gold Camera Award in the Entertainment: Children category for its “Alamat ng Bayabas (The Legend of the Guava)” episode. The winning episode was produced by a team led by Public Affairs Program Manager (now Asst. Vice President) Jaileen F. Jimeno. The series began airing in 2015, featuring Philippine myths and legends Kapuso executives led by Atty. Felipe Gozon (fourth from right) receive the network’s top awards from US that mirror Filipino culture. It also marked the International Film & Video Festival

first time that GMA’s Post Production Team embarked on a full-length animation. Receiving a “Gold Camera” award as well was GMA News TV’s Reel Time for its episode “Isang Paa sa Hukay (The Price of Gold)”. I-Witness and Reporter’s Notebook were both conferred the “Silver Screen” awards for the episodes “Kawayang Pangarap (Bamboo Dreams)” and “Hikbi sa Ibayong Dagat (Far From Home)”, respectively. Brigada (“Para sa Pangarap”), Front Row (“Maestra Salbabida”), and Investigative Documentaries (“Gutom”) each earned a “Certificate for Creative Excellence” in the Social Issues category, while Karelasyon’s “Tres Rosas” and Wagas’ “Gabriela and Diego Silang Love Story” were given “Certificates for Creative Excellence” in the Docudrama category. Earning accolades as well were GMA ETV programs Pepito Manaloto and Idol sa Kusina, which received “Certificates for Creative Excellence” in the Cooking and Comedy categories, respectively.