Manila Standard - 2016 November 29 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

Arrest De Lima—Alvarez By Maricel V. Cruz

VOL. XXX • NO. 290 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

THE House of Representatives will ﬁle a string of cases against Senator Leila de Lima over her alleged illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison and “illicit affair” with her former bodyguard and driver Ronnie Dayan, a House ofﬁcial said on Monday.

Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said they will ﬁle a criminal complaint for contempt before a Regional Trial Court, a disbarment case before the Supreme Court and an ethics case before the Senate Ethics Committee for disorderly behavior. He made his statement even as Next page

Ronnie bolsters disbar bid vs Leila

SIGN OF GRATITUDE. Employees

of the Parks Development Ofﬁce of the Manila City Hall have begun hosing off the 45-foot bronze statue of ‘The Great Plebeian’ Andres Bonifacio near the capital’s government seat in preparation for the 153rd birth anniversary tomorrow of the man some historians consider the ﬁrst Filipino president through the revolutionary government he established. Lino Santos

A GROUP on Monday asked the Supreme Court to disbar Senator Leila de Lima over her previous affair with her former driver Ronnie Dayan. In a supplemental complaint, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption submitted to the high court the recent admissions made by De Lima and Dayan about their seven-year love affair. The VACC said the public admission by De Lima in a recent TV interview and the testimony of Ronnie Dayan before the House of Representatives last week were ample evidence proving De Lima’s immorality and warranting her disbarment. “The admission of Senator De Lima about her illicit and scandalous relationship in public is deﬁnitely not a frailty of a Next page

Du30 allays terror fears Palace rules out suspension of habeas writ By John Paolo Bencito

ALACAÑANG on Monday quelled fears over the possible suspension of the writ of habeas corpus amid continued terror threats. Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella scored opposition lawmakers who claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte was laying down conditions to declare the suspension of the privilege of habeas corpus, following the discovery of a bomb near the US Embassy as well as the ongoing

military operations against the Maute local terrorist group. “The reaction of opposition lawmakers that the discovery of IED near the US Embassy along with movement of the Maute group may be laying a foundation for the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus is reading too

much into the situation,” Abella said. “The suspicious circumstances are already being investigated,” he added. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said there was no compelling reason to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus at this point. “As a strong advocate of the rule of law, he is fully aware of the limits of presidential powers,” Andanar said. “Given this, President Duterte believes any intervention at his level is unnecessary.” Andanar also said that there was no cause for alarm in Metro Ma-

nila after an improvised explosive device was found near the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard. “The PNP is on top of the situation and shall beef up security measures in public places especially where there are big crowds,” Andanar said in a statement. “We assure the public that this incident should not be a cause for alarm. Business and work continue as normal,” he added, A bomb was found by a street sweeper in a trash can along the boulevard at past 7 a.m., with parts of the improvised bomb, including an 81-mm mortar, a 9-volt battery,

US Embassy bomb plot foiled; Davao link eyed By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan POLICE defused a bomb found in a rubbish bin near the US Embassy in Manila Monday, authorities said. (Related story on A2) The police chief of the National Capital Region said an improvised explosive device composed of a cell phone,

blasting cap, 9-volt battery and 81-millimeter mortar was found by a street sweeper about 200 meters from the embassy. “Most probably there was an intention to bomb the area because there’s a detonating device, a cellphone, but this is still under investigation,” Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said in a phone interview. Next page

Terrorists under ﬁre; death toll rises to 19 By Florante S. Solmerin

JOINING FORCES. In the runup to the commemoration of Human Rights Day on December 10, scores of

alleged Martial Law victims from Eastern Visayas join Monday hundreds of surviving victims of the powerful Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in November 2013 in protest against what they call the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses at the expense of rebuilding the communities of the typhoon victims. Lino Santos

Overturn FM ruling, SC urged AN OFFICIAL has asked the Supreme Court to reverse its decision allowing the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery for the sake of the people who disappeared or whose rights were violated during the martial law years. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Marcos’ burial at the Next page

181 cops fail drug test THE Philippine National Police is set to dismiss 181 policemen from the service after they were found guilty of using illegal drugs following a series of drug tests. The dismissal begins once Police Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa signs the recommendation to have them separated from the service. The PNP-Internal Affair Service, the ofﬁce investigating policemen using illegal drugs, has separately recommended to Dela Rosa the outright dismissal twitter.com/ MlaStandard

of nine police ofﬁcers after they were found positive for ingesting illegal drugs. They are PO1 Rahib Mapambocol; PO2 Jesus Plazo Jr.; SPO1 Jay Tizon; PO3 Joel Bolivar; PO1 Archelaus Hunshell DR Olivares; PO1 Edgar Sarmiento; SPO1 Robert Pellarada; PO2 Emmanuel Mari and Ronald Alcasabas. IAS director Chief Supt Leo Angelo Leuterio said they were also ﬁnalizing the proceedings against 40 more policemen who had also been found to have been using illegal drugs. Next page

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THE death toll in the ﬁghting between government troops and the Maute group climbed to 19, all of them terrorists, with at least 13 soldiers wounded in Butig, Lanao del Sur, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said Monday. The hostilitiesheightened as President Rodolfo Duterte conﬁrmed the Maute group is connected to the jihadist Islamic State. “I just wanted to know the dimensions of our war. We are not good today because the intelligence community advised me that the ISIS is connected to the group in the Philippines called the Maute, which is waging war now in Lanao,” Duterte said during the ceremonial launch of a Next page

NOT RUBBISH. PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa

displays during a news conference at police headquarters in Manila an already defused improvised explosive devise alleged to have been found by a street sweeper in a garbage box near the US Embassy Monday, with ofﬁcials blaming Islamic militants for what they called an attempted terrorist act. AFP

Rody in tip-top shape, Palace assures By John Paolo Bencito THE Palace assured the public Monday that President Rodrigo Duterte is in good shape and able to continue fulﬁlling his responsibilities as the country’s chief executive, following reports that

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he had passed out earlier in the day. “We would like to assure our people that the President is in good physical and mental health. He is strong and agile and can stand the responsibilities and demands of the presidency,” Com-

munications Secretary Martin Andanar said. Andanar was reacting to information received by one Palace reporter that Duterte had passed out, a report that Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go denied. Next page

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A long list of Manila bombings P OLICE defused a bomb near the US Embassy in Manila on Monday, with authorities blaming militants who had declared allegiance to the Islamic State group for the attempted terrorist attack.

Muslim groups have waged a decades-long armed independence struggle in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines that is believed to have claimed more than 120,000 lives, including through deadly attacks on the nation’s capital. Here is a list of major attacks by militant groups in Manila since 2000: • May 2000: Bombs hit two major shopping malls, killing one person and injuring 25 others. Government lawyers accused suspected Muslim separatist guerrillas of staging the attack. • December 2000: On a holiday for the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal, near-simultaneous bombings kill 22 people and injure more than 100 in Manila. One explosion rocks a plaza across the US Embassy. Blasts also tear through a train, a passenger bus and a cargo handling facility at the international airport. Various militant groups including members of Southeast Asian network Jemaah Islamiyah are implicated in the attack.

• October 2002: A powerful bomb tears through a packed bus in northern Manila, killing at least two people and wounding 20 others. Military officials say the attack appears to be the work of notorious kidnapping-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf, which was established with help from Al-Qaeda in the early 1990s. • February 2004: Abu Sayyaf is blamed for firebombing a ferry in Manila Bay which kills 116 people in the country’s deadliest terrorist attack. • February 2005: The Abu Sayyaf, with help from a group of radical converts to Islam, launches coordinated attacks on Valentine’s Day that kill at least 12 people in Manila’s financial hub of Makati and in General Santos City, which is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of the capital. • January 2011: A mortar bomb triggered by a mobile phone on a crowded bus in Makati kills five people, with authorities blaming the attack on Muslim militants from the south. AFP

US...

In a dzMM radio report, the security forces said the municipal employee found a carton box on the sidewalk of Roxas Boulevard. “We are thankful that the municipal employee and the PNP took quick and appropriate action to ensure the safety of all,” Koscina said. Albayalde confirmed that the item found in the box was an IED, containing a blasting cap, a detonator, a cellular phone and a 9-volt battery. He said the 81mm mortar was the same as the one used in the deadly Davao City night market bomb attack that killed 15 people. Manila Police District chief Sr. Supt. Joel Coronel said they conducted a sweep of the area to check for similar devices in the area. “There is no threat, no cause for alarm as of now,” Coronel said, after the police sweep. With AFP

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Police sent a team to “disintegrate” the device shortly after it was reported to authorities, Albayalde added. Albayalde said police still had no suspect and were interviewing witnesses while seeking to obtain CCTV footage of the area. The bomb scare closed the road in front of the embassy for about three hours, from 7:36 a.m. In a statement, US embassy press attaché Molly Koscina thanked the Philippine National Police for its quick response to ensure the safety of the people. “This morning, a municipal employee reported the discovery of a device to US Embassy guards, who immediately contacted the police,” Koscina said, who was in a meeting during the time of incident.

Terrorists...

TALE OF 2 PRESIDENTS. President Rodrigo Duterte and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo share a light moment during her courtesy visit at Malacañang on Nov. 28, 2016. King Rodriguez

Du30... From A1

a cellphone, a switch and a blasting cap. Investigators said the mortar was similar to the one used in the night market bombing in Davao City that killed 15 people in September. The attack prompted Duterte to declare a state of lawless violence nationwide. A nd anar said that police have al-

Rody... From A1

Duterte yesterday had a packed schedule consisting of mostly close-door meetings with officials, including courtesy calls from officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; a ceremonial switch on ceremony of a 135-MW Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion Power Plant of the Palm Concepcion

ready heightened secu r it y i n Met ro Man ila. “To ensure public safety in airports, seaports, bus and mass transport terminals, concerned transport agencies are instructed to increase the visibility and presence of uniformed personnel and heighten the screening of persons and luggage as part of our security vigilance,” he added. Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa bristled at speculation that the government had orchestrated

Power Plant in Concepcion, Iloilo; and the turnover of Pagcor checks for the President’s Social Fund. Duterte also had meetings with former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari and some businessmen. In a speech before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines last November, Duterte said that

a bomb threat to pave the way for the declaration of Martial Law. “For God’s sake, the government will not use an incident that will cause panic, fear and undue harm to its own people to declare martial law,” Dela Rosa told the ABS-CBN network. “We wouldn’t do that. What if our children were hurt in the blast?” “Think that there is a God watching over all of us, and stop insinuating that the government is behind this,” he said in Filipino.

people should not ask if he is sick. “At this point in time, I am 72. Don’t ask me if I’m sick. Every 72-year-old in this world is sick,” the President declared, without waiting for anyone to ask him about his health. The President said he had a slipped disc from a motorcycle accident 10 years ago. He also has Barrett’s esophagus, which involves tissue lining the esophagus, and Buerger’s disease,

135-megawatt power plant in Conecpcion, Iloilo. Duterte’s pronouncement was a departure from the government tack of denying links between the international terror group and local jihadists with the military claiming that local jihadists only proclaim this IS connections in order to raise funds for their cause. Last August, Defense Secretary Delfin

Lorenzana admitted that the Maute group is already a threat to national security but denied their alleged links to IS, also known as Daesh. The Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade poured more troops into the battle area as artillery and close air support from helicopter gunships continued to pound the terrorist positions, Padilla said. The fighting started Saturday after terrorists occupied an abandoned municipal hall and uprooted some 16,000 residents in Butig town.

Padilla said some civilians refused to leave the area, saying they were hiding in areas where relatives of the Maute members lived. Those who did not support the terrorists have long abandoned the town, he added. He said internally displaced persons would not be an obstacle to the military operation as most of the civilians have already fled the town, leaving only Maute group relatives. Government forces launched a new wave of attacks Monday morning.

Padilla said some of the terrorists were seen f leeing the battleground but some of them continue to hold their ground. The militar y has been able to drive the Maute group out of Butig twice, but the ter rorists kept coming back. The group is seeking recognition from the Islamic State terrorist group. The recent bombing of a night market in Davao City that killed 15 people was the handiwork of the Maute group. Some of the bombers have been arrested.

Ronnie...

Arrest...

From A1

woman who is a member of the Bar,” the VACC said. “Her public admission warrants her immediate suspension from the legal profession until this disbarment case is resolved.” The VACC was again joined by former National Bureau of Investigation deputy directors Ruel Lasala and Reynaldo Esmeralda in filing the complaint. The group also submitted to the high court Dayan’s admission that he had an affair with De Lima while he was married to his wife. The supplemental complaint also cited De Lima’s message telling Dayan’s daughter, Hannah Mae, that he should snub the subpoena issued by the House panel. “Senator De Lima’s act of blatantly urging Dayan to snub the committee hearings, and instead hide in the meantime suggests her disregard for the rule of law,” group chairman Dante Jimenez said. “What she initiated was obstruction of justice, not to mention that it was a disrespect of a co-equal institution. “She was making a mockery of our justice system which is ironic considering her previous post as Justice secretary.” Rey E. Requejo

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he was ready to sign an arrest warrant against De Lima for failing to attend the congressional hearings on the alleged illegal drug trade at the NBP. He told reporters the House committee on justice, which conducted the probe, had to recommend the issuance of an arrest warrant against De Lima once she was cited for contempt. As soon as the arrest warrant reached his office, Alvarez said, he would sign it. “Most likely I will approve a warrant of

arrest,” Alvarez said. “My theory is that she did not act in her capacity as a senator. The Senate will not allow it.” Fariñas said the series of probes by the House committee on justice proved that De Lima had committed administrative and criminal liabilities. He berated De Lima for being disrespectful when she said the House probes into the Bilibid drug trade was an orchestrated move by President Rodrigo Duterte and Alvarez to destroy her. He said they wanted De Lima penalized for acts of contempt before a regional trial court. He said De Lima also violated the law-

yer’s canon when she instructed Dayan’s daughter, Hannah Mae, to tell his father to snub the committee hearings. “She should not advise a person to be a fugitive of justice or to go on hiding,” Fariñas said. He added the Senate ethics complaint they would file before the Senate is something that senators have to be decided whether she will be suspended or not. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III earlier said De Lima and Dayan could be held liable for contempt and obstruction of justice for ordering Dayan to go into hiding and evade the congressional inquiry where he had been invited to testify on the Bilibid drug trade.

in the venerable memorial for good men,’’ Lagman said. But Malacañang on Monday simply downplayed the last appeals by the critics of Marcos’ burial at the Libingan. “The 9-5 decision of the Supreme Court is a clear margin; however, any party is entitled to available legal remedies including a motion for reconsideration,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said. “We respect their constitutional right to procedural due process but we must all abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court.” Lagman says the speed and stealth by which Marcos’ burial was carried out by the Marcos family shows their incorrigible addiction to deception, underhandedness and abuse that

the Supreme Court must not have condoned. He reiterated his plea to exhume “whatever was interred as Marcos’ mortal remains” at the Libingan on November 8 and to determine what actually was buried there. He says when the totality of Marcos as a man is weighed in the balance, whatever achievements he has done for the country are completely nullified by his sins against the nation, thus making him ineligible to be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery. Lagman aside, former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and several other human rights victims during the Marcos regime also filed a motion for reconsideration before the high court. Rey E. Requejo and John Paolo Bencito

From A1

Overturn... From A1

Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 18 was a “gross distortion, a malevolent revision and a wanton derogation of Philippine history.” He said Marcos’ burial would not lead to closure and national healing contrary to the high court’s ruling and President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim. ‘‘The burial of a condemned dictator, confirmed plunderer and censured violator of human rights in the Cemetery of Heroes will not lead to closure because it sanctifies evil and installs a despot and oppressor

a constriction of the blood vessels caused by accumulation of nicotine. Duterte also complained anew about his getting tired of the rigors of his job as the nation’s Chief Executive, even expressing willingness to pass his post on to anyone who would prove to do the job better. “If this is the kind of job you are giving me, I could only endure so much; I think I deserve a needed rest,” he said.

181... From A1

“Police off icers found positive for the use of illegal dr ugs after the conf irmator y test will be recommended for outright dismissal from the service to the chief PNP,” Leuterio said in a statement. “We continue to support the PNP leadership in its commitment to clean up our own ranks and the campaign against illegal drugs. “The safety of the public and the well-being of our police officers rest on our staunch commitment to ensure that errant and corrupt police personnel have no place in a professionalized police service.” Dela Rosa said the IAS had already submitted to him the recommendation to dismiss the policemen who had tested positive for using illegal drugs and that he would sign it in due time. “The only thing lacking is my signature. Once I see the document I will immediately sign it,” Dela Rosa said. He was referring to the 174 police officers recommended for dismissal aside from the nine who were recommended for outright separation and the additional 40 personnel for parallel action. Francisco Tuyay

News IN BRIEF Oil prices up P1.50 THE country’s oil firms implemented a big-time increase of as much as P1.50 per liter starting Tuesday due to speculations of a production curb and the impact of the peso depreciation. The oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P1.50 per liter, kerosene by P1.40 per liter and diesel by P1.20 per liter effective November 29. Among the companies that issued price advisories are Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, Flying V, Unioil Philippines, Seaoil Philippines and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. while other companies are expected to follow suit. Sources said over the weekend that estimates show an increase in the prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene between P1.20 to P1.50 per liter. The source said prices are set to go up amid speculations of a supply cut ahead of the November 30 meeting among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Traders are optimistic that Opec would reach an agreement to cap production at its meeting in Vienna this week. The source added that the peso depreciation also affected prices. The peso depreciated to nearly P50 to the US dollar last week. The oil companies implemented a P0.10 per liter increase in gasoline last November 22. There were no movements in the prices of diesel and kerosene. Alena Mae S. Flores

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Subic-Manila road eyed By Christine F. Herrera

OUSE Leaders on Monday endorsed the construction of the 65-kilometer coastal highway from Subic Bay to Manila to dramatically unclog the premier international shipping gateway and decongest trafﬁc in the metropolis.

In separate interviews, Quezon City Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo, Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone joined Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Martin Diño in seeking the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize the project. “Any road development to-

wards Metro Manila is welcome due to the magnitude of the traffic problem. However, we should study further the best infrastructure available as the best alternative,” Castelo said. “I am one hundred percent behind this proposal. However, let us start to lessen the centralization of economic activities in Metro Manila and prioritize the

dispersal of industries in the provinces. And we can not start this process if we continue building structures going to Manila,” said Batocabe, president of the Party-List Coalition and chairman of the House special committee on climate change. Dino said he has sought the approval of President Duterte to prioritize the building of a 65km coastal highway from Subic Bay to Manila as this would serve as the new multi-modal highway for rail cargo and vehicular traffic, linking the Subic and Manila ports by the shortest route possible. The highway dovetails with the Freeport’s planned expansion of its container terminals 3 and 4 to increase its handling capacity to 1.2-million TEUs or Twenty-Foot Equiva-

lent Unit, Dino said. He said the SBMA would boost as well the handling capacity of the Naval Supply Depot Compound and Bulk Cargo Port Wharves for loose cargoes, and rehabilitate the Sattler Pier, as modernizing its port facilities and rebuilding its ageing infrastructure shift to high gear. Diño said he has also sought the help of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to provide technical assistance for the proposed widening of the narrow Tipo Road, which links the Freeport facility to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, into a four-lane highway and the construction of a new tunnel and bridge to accommodate the new lanes are also in his priority projects. He stressed that these

MIAA: Airport fee ends March By Joel E. Zurbano

Zambo drug lord slain THE leader of a notorious drug ring and other criminal activities was killed in a combat operation by the Philippine Army over the weekend in Dinas town in Zamboanga del Sur, a military report reaching Camp Aguinaldo on Monday said. Lieutenant Colonel Virgilio Hamos Jr., Commander of the 53rd Infantry Battalion, said they received information last Saturday about the presence of at least 10 armed members of the “Ambol group” in Sitio Balaisan in Barangay Migpulao. This prompted them to conduct operation to arrest the armed men that resulted to 15-minute fierce encounter. The encounter killed Norhan Ambol alias Nho/Bungi, leader of the said criminal gang. After the firefight and the armed men vanished, soldiers found the dead body of Ambol and his M16 rifle with three magazines and 65 ammunition, and two backpacks with personal belongings. Florante Solmerin

NPO probe pushed A TRANSPARENCY watchdog advocating good governance has asked the Commission on Audit to look into the reported work orders worth P66 million entered into by the National Printing Office despite an existing contract with a printing company totalling P74 million. Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment is calling the attention of CoA to scrutinize the existing contracts of NPO in printing payment contribution forms of the Social Security System. “The CoA should employ disinterested process and procedures in conducting the audit and in validating documents to be able to come up with correct and quality results,” said Fate. CoA needs to determine if the NPO has properly and legally undergone the bidding process for the sake of transparency, Fate added. Fate learned that last August, Western Visayas Printing Corp. was issued a work order (08-20163877) by Production Planning and Control Division for the printing of SSS forms. WVPC was surprised the same work order was awarded to three more printers namely: Best Forms Security Printer with envelope no. 08-2016-3877A worth P34 million; Tri-Print Work with work order 08-2016-3877B amounting to P17 million; and Metro Color with work order no. 08-2016-38777C for P15 million. Francisco Tuyay

projects should be undertaken simultaneously in this “golden age of infrastructure” as the Philippines rides the momentum as the best-performing economy in the region. Also considered a vital part of the new road network is the 17.273-km bypass road for cargo trucks that would connect the Freeport terminals directly with the SCTEX in Hermosa, Bataan to provide easy transport for goods and services at the export processing zones in the area and in nearby towns in Pampanga, he said. The bypass road would also relieve traffic buildup at the steep Tipo Road for vehicles and heavy trucks going in and out of the Freeport. “Our goal is to connect Subic to Manila and the economic zones in Luzon,” Diño said.

CHEERS TO THE GREAT PLEBEIAN. Caloocan City employees start work on the stage that will be used during the celebration of the 153rd birth anniversary of revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio, who started the Revolution of 1896, on November 30. Andrew Rabulan

PH, Iran expand bilateral relations THE Philippines and Iran have agreed to further expand their bilateral ties, beginning with establishing banking relations and renewing the strong economic cooperation between the two countries. In a meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Iranian Deputy Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour offered Tehran’s assistance in supplying the Philippines’ energy requirements and expressed the hope that banking relations with Manila could be established soon. Rahimpour also raised the possibility of President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Iran and extended the invitation as well to Dominguez. “We are focused on expanding bilateral relations with the

Philippines. At the same time, we are ready to increase the level of engagement in the Philippines, including in the area of banking relations,” Rahimpour said. Rahimpour also said that Iran can help “secure the [Philippines’] energy needs for the future.” Iranian Ambassador to Manila Mohammad Tanhaei, who was also at the meeting, said Rahimpour’s visit “reflects the special attention of our government to the Philippines.” Dominguez, on his part, said that as part of the country’s Monetary Board, he was ready to assist Iranian officials in establishing a branch of one of its banks here, and said he would explore the possibility of setting up a branch of

the Land Bank of the Philippines in Iran to address the banking and remittance needs of overseas Filipino workers in that country. “We know that you’re open for business now, you have been open for business before, but now, it’s going to be much easier to transact with your [government], and we look at Iran as a good potential partner for the Philippines in the Middle East. It’s a great country, and we admire your history and your people,” Dominguez told Rahimpour. Dominguez said “there are very, very good prospects” of the government procuring a part of its fuel and fertilizer requirements from Iran while, at the same time, reinvigorating the business exports of Philip-

pine bananas to that country. In an earlier meeting with Dominguez, Ambassador Tanhaei said Iran plans to increase its imports of bananas from the Philippines, along with exploring areas of cooperation in the energy sector and investing in infrastructure projects here. Tanhaei has said he has been coordinating with local business groups, like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to explore areas of investments for Iranian companies. “In the [Iranian] private sector…for example regarding bananas, there are some big companies that said we still need more bananas from the Philippines,” Tanhaei has said.

STARTING March 2017, the Manila International Airport Authority will stop collecting the airport terminal fee of P550 from overseas Filipino workers. MIAA general manager Eddie Villanueva Monreal made the announcement on Monday as his agency begins wrapping up talks with international airlines on the airport fee known as International Passenger Service Charge imposed during the previous administration. The IPSC requires OFWs to add the additional fee of P550 for tickets bought online or airline ticket offices but passenger can claim their refund upon departure at the airport terminals. Monreal said his office is now in the process of finishing the technical details with the international airlines to eliminate the obnoxious fee opposed by millions of OFWs all over the world. The airport fee was opposed on both houses of Congress on which passed strong resolutions urging him to stop the collection of the fee, however, former airport manager Jose Angel Honrado disregarded the Congress of the Philippines. Total collections of the airport fee which was imposed on February of 2015 has totaled more than a billion pesos and about half of this amount remains unclaimed by some OFWs which remains in the General Fund of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Monreal said for those who were not able to get their refunds his office is ready to give the refund for those who left without getting their refund for as long as the OFWs possess the E-ticket, boarding pass and passport even for several years ago. Senator Ralph Recto said the government collected P10.4 billion from Naia passengers and airlines in 2015.

Makati to set up Ayala BRT lane

AIR AND LAND TRAFFIC. Transportation ofﬁcials answer questions from newsmen during the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on Monday. Among the ofﬁcials were asssistant secretary Cherie Mercado of the Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philipppines deputy director general Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal and CAAP director general Jim Sydiongco. Lino Santos

A BUS rapid transport lane system has been proposed for Makati City to decongest traffic in the Central Business District and enable residents, workers and visitors to go from one place to another without spending too much time on the road. The proposal for the BRT project, according to Makati Commercial Estate Association governor Manuel Blas II, has been submitted to the Department of Transportation. “Our estimated cost is between P800 million to P1 billion,” said Blas, adding the BRT lane will be situated at the center island of the Central Business District of Makati. “Our center island now where we have the [Christmas] decors, those will be replaced by the BRT lane, physically segregated lane just for

the buses and cars can’t enter it. Stations will be at the center and the way to access that, from sidewalk go down the underground walkway then go to the middle,” said Blas. The master plan for the project, according to Macea, was shown to DOTr Secretary Arturo Tugade. “In our current plan, subject to approval, we put the dedicated BRT lanes, stations and the access to stations. Then we are going to pulse the buses that are going to turn right to Ayala from Edsa [Epifanio de los Santos Avenue] because the concept of BRT, you think trains but use buses,” Blas said. Macea vice president architect William Coscolluela said the BRT project would give convenience to the public, especially to the people working at the Central Business District. Joel Zurbano

Opinion

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

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EDITORIAL

Interpretations

HERE is no disputing the magnitude of the drug menace in the Philippines. It is a wonder most Filipinos did not earlier have an idea of how prevalent it was across all sectors of society. Chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said as many as 10,000 government officials are in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of those involved in the drug trade —a list that has been updated and validated, he qualified. Mr. Duterte, during a gathering of law school alumni over the weekend,

Adelle Chua, Editor

go. A few weeks ago, the Duterte camp tried to float the idea of suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the context of the lawlessness in Mindsaid he is giving copies anao. The proposal was of the list to Congress so met with widespread he can “formulate how to condemnation. prevent disaster for the Not a few experts have next generation.” pointed out that the Con“That means that the stitution’s language is magnitude and depth of precise as it establishes the drug menace is so the two—and only two much, so huge, that pub- —conditions for the suslic safety is now in dan- pension: Rebellion and ger,” Panelo said. invasion. It seems we know But Panelo now says where Panelo intends to critics of the President

are looking at the Constitution too literally and that circumstances similar to rebellion and invasion may be considered in contemplating the suspension. Circumstances such as, we venture to guess, a threat to public safety brought by the prevalence of illegal drugs. This is where Panelo, a lawyer, does a disservice to the law. There are many texts that are open to creative interpretation, but the fundamental law of the land is not one of them.

To have some sense of order, consistency and permanence, there are things that must remain literal even as absolute clarity is not possible. For a measure of comfort, we need to be able to take some things at face value and not wonder whether they mean something else. Alas, Panelo echoes his colleague’s exhortation that the people must use “creative imagination”—a redundancy, really—in deciphering what the President is trying to say.

Well, the President is one thing. We have learned over the past few months not to take his words seriously and literally because he is bound to qualify them. For instance, in the same gathering, he sent out a message to drug suspects to stay inside their houses and lock their doors. “If you go out, you sons of whores, I will kill you.” Fortunately, our Constitution is a lot less colorful and creative than Mr. Duterte’s mouth. It is meant to stay that way. EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA

Next moves on climate change

Exhume all, now! LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE anti-Marcos crowd is in high dudgeon these days, demanding that the dead dictator be disinterred because he should somehow be made to answer for his crimes, even in death, by his exhumation. I’m fine with that, really, as long as the removal of the remains of Ferdinand Marcos leads to the digging up of what really happened—and who enabled him and profited from doing so—during the 14 years of Martial Law. I think even the most rabid of supporters of the Yellow regime and their Communist partners will agree that Marcos, regardless of how powerful he was when he proclaimed military rule, could not have done it all by himself. Marcos needed his

generals and soldiers in the Armed Forces and the Constabulary, his bureaucrats, his politicians, his co-opted media and his businessmen-cronies in order to impose martial law and commit the evils that his victims say he committed. Marcos can’t have possibly personally done all the things he’s been accused of doing, in the same manner that Adolf Hitler could not have physically committed all the atrocities attributed to him. And as far as anyone knows, Hitler never pushed anyone into a gas chamber or flicked a switch to drop a bomb on London from a German aircraft. No, Marcos had a lot of help. And a lot of those who helped him do what he did are still around and enjoying the fruits of aiding and abetting him. I get that Marcos was still responsible, ultimately, for what happened during those dark

years. But I also believe that some people intend to make him the sole person responsible for everything wrong that happened then, in order to ensure that their own participation is

I will not agree that Marcos alone did everything that his regime is being blamed for, because he had a lot of help.

glossed over and forgotten. Here I must mention the defense of former President Fidel V. Ramos, who recently declared that he has already

atoned for whatever sins he committed during the Marcos years by leading the 1986 “people power” revolution. I think Ramos should wait for history to grant him his absolution as Marcos’ chief implementor of martial law as head of the dreaded PC—especially since, by all accounts, he initially joined Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile in revolting because he feared being arrested by the ailing dictator’s chief of staff, Fabian Ver. But to his credit, Ramos did turn against Marcos before it became fashionable to do so, even risking his own life in the process. What about all the others, including the thousands of soldiers now buried in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani with Marcos and who helped him impose his will—did the Edsa revolt absolve them, as well, and cause all of the blame to rest entirely on the late strongman?

Yes, there are many soldiers lying under the Libingan’s hollowed ground who perpetrated some of the most vicious and inhuman crimes committed during Marcos’ reign, with no direct instruction from the dictator, Enrile or Ramos. And there are still many of Marcos’ enablers who are still around, trying to hide their involvement in martial law, or worse, even joining those calling for his exhumation now. Exhume them and their crimes, if they are dead—and especially if they are still alive. Only then, I think, can justice truly be served. *** After World War II, the Nuremberg Trials and the Tokyo War Crimes Trials were conducted for the purpose of finding out precisely who participated in the wartime atrocities committed by Germany and Japan. Because Turn to A5

AS I wrote in my last column, the Marrakech climate change conference ended well with the adoption of the Marrakech Action Proclamation for our Climate and Sustainable Development. The document reflects the strong political will of the international community to move aggressively on climate change, notwithstanding the election of Donald Trump in the United States. We were represented well by a strong delegation headed by Secretary Gina Lopez, Undersecretary Gloria Mercado, Assistant Secretary Evelyn Cruzada, Climate Change Commissioner Vernice Victorio, Undersecretary Jess Posadas, and Urban Poor Commission Chair Terry Ridon, assisted ably by diplomats, lawyers, technical experts, and advisers from government agencies and civil society. For the Philippines, there are several tasks to do after Marrakech. We need to ratify the Paris Agreement. We also need to rethink our international alliances on climate change. And finally, we need to fix our climate governance. We must ratify the Paris Agreement quickly so we can share in the early opportunities for climate finance and other support already available for climate change mitigation and adaptation. We must, however, accompany ratification with a declaration that the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution—a commitment to reduce, subject to availability of support, by 2030 our emissions by 70 percent of business as usual emissions (what it would otherwise have been if we did not take action)— we submitted in Paris is not yet final. We need a bottom up process where government departments will submit their contributions to the mitigation commitment based on their respective capabilities. That should give comfort to the Department of Energy, which is resisting ratification. Its first order of priority is sustainable and affordable energy access for all. To move forward on energy Turn to A5

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ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Ofﬁce, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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Opinion

THE revelation of President Rodrigo Duterte that no less than 10,000 government officials are on the list of those involved in the illegal drug trade shows the magnitude of the drug menace. In that one-foot thick list are government officials: barangay officials, mayors, governors, and even members of the judiciary and prosecutors. This validates my opinion that despite the additional 60 days that the President sought to end the drug menace, he may not even succeed at it during his entire six-year term. The illegal drug trade will never end until the demand for illegal drugs stops. And so long as there’s demand, cartels outside the country will find ways to meet it. There’s Customs where smuggling remains rampant. My gulay, go to Cash and Carry and see how all those imported goods got into the market operated by Chinese. Go to Divisoria and wonder how those Christmas decorations proliferate. Even banned firecrackers are now being sold in anticipation of New Year’s Eve celebrations. If illegal drugs don’t pass through Customs, nothing can stop their entry. We do have porous borders. There is the bigger problem of rehabilitating drug users and addicts. Building rehab centers is not enough. They have to be staffed with psychiatrists, drug rehab experts, doctors and nurses. That takes a lot of money. There are over 75,000 drug addicts who have surrendered and are now packed like sardines in jails. The Department of Health is making a big thing out of the building of a rehab center in Fort Magsaysay, Laur, Nueva Ecija that can accommodate 2,600. And there are existing private and public rehab centers now bursting at the seams. So where will we put the rest? Now this list. That presents a big public safety problem. But the Constitution can allow suspension of the writ of habeas corpus or arrests without warrants in cases of invasion and rebellion when public safety requires it. There is to be no other reason. With the great number of government people involved in the illegal trade, it becomes a problem of So long as national security. The illegal drug trade can fund there is demand, rebellion and terrorism. The President is on the the menace right path by furnishing stays. Congress and the National Security Council copies of his list. With the magnitude of the menace, there must be ways to arrest it short of killing all those involved in it. Then again, as I said, killing every drug lord, financier, dealer, protector and the last pusher will not end the menace so long as there’s demand for illegal drugs. *** So, the Marcos-haters had their day last Friday, which they called Black Friday. What exactly did they achieve? Nothing really, but the propagation of hate. They expressed hatred toward the Marcoses for the burial of the late strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They said it was their attempt to prevent the revision of history. Marcos was not a hero, they said, adding that they would not forget the atrocities of Martial Law and plunder committed against the people. But then, there was never an issue of Marcos being a hero or not. The burial was simply because Marcos was a soldier and president. And there’s no law preventing it. As for Martial Law and plunder, let history be the judge. What saddens me is that there is a lot of hate, coming at a time when we should be preparing for the coming of the Christ. The irony of it all is that most of those who joined the rally were students and members of the militant groups. Most of them were not born yet during Martial Law. What made it worse was that the majority kept its silence. *** I watched last week’s investigation by the House of Representatives of the lover/driver/bodyguard Ronnie Dayan of Senator Leila de Lima. I have never seen lawmakers feasting upon the salacious aspects of a love affair. They engaged in slut-shaming just to satisfy their prurient tastes. And they say call themselves Honorable? They debased themselves and the institution to which they belonged. I would not wish what the House of Representatives is doing to De Lima on my worst enemy. But I still cannot sympathize with her. She should have realized that she had tremendous responsibility. And I cannot buy her “frailties of a woman” excuse. My gulay, we deserve the people we elect into office! *** One of the most corrupt agencies in government, and President Duterte is aware of it, is the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. That’s why I’m rather surprised that the President is not making the PCSO a primary target in the administration’s anti-corruption campaign. The Small Town Lottery project, which is supposed to replace “jueteng,” is now controlled by the very same gambling lords that government wanted to replace. In fact, many STLs in Ilocandia, Central Luzon, Rizal, Batangas, Cavite and Laguna are now in the control of a well-known Chinese who used to be associated with past administrations. And like “jueteng,” corruption goes all the way up to Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo. If President Duterte is alarmed about illegal drugs, he should be concerned how corruption has gone into the operation of STLs. The President may have appointed well-meaning PCSO officials, but they can’t do it alone. If the drug menace is now a threat to national security, so is illegal gambling.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The Orbos racket at MMDA

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Drug war will never end

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA SINCE Thomas “Tim” Orbos took over the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the traffic problem in the metropolis has not improved, despite his press releases to the contrary. Orbos promised to clear sidewalks of obstructions. What happened? Sidewalks of major roadways remain blocked and inaccessible to pedestrians who are, in turn, compelled to compete with vehicles for the already limited road space. That adds to the traffic problem. In Mandaluyong City, at the westbound Edsa access lane of Pioneer Street above the Boni Avenue tunnel, tricyles have converted the entire sidewalk into a parking lot. Consequently, traffic flow in this area is virtually stagnant. Sidewalks along Capitol Drive and United Street in Barangay Kapitolyo in Pasig City are now parking lots. In Quezon City, most of the sidewalks around the compounds of two major broadcast networks have been converted into private parking lots. Evidently, Orbos’ promise to clear the sidewalks was an empty promise from an aspiring politician. Other problems plaguing Edsa have worsened under Orbos and his stooges at the MMDA. Vehicles compelled to line up on the innermost lane of the northbound half of Edsa across Camp Aguinaldo have forced other vehicles (those headed further north) to compete with buses for the remaining lanes in that area. Plastic roadblocks

Next... From A4 access, as I have co-authored in a report published recently by the Ateneo School of Government, an optimal energy mix policy is essential. Considering the Philippines’ growth objectives, the government’s mandate to establish an energy mix that addresses the trilemma (security, equity, and environmental sustainability), and the current energy mix dominated by coal, the government must prioritize diversification. To optimize the coal share in the energy mix, the government must set a cap on coal plant endorsements using a portfolio-based approach. This can be done by limiting the endorsements of new coal plants to the projected baseload demand of each region, taking into account the changing needs of the economy. It is also urgent to create a gold standard for coal plants, which would be in the form of (1) performance guards because as coal plants age they become more inefficient and thus more expensive, and (2) strict implementation of the Clean Air Act. For new plants, the gold standard can be a policy that only ultra-supercritical plants can be built. Eventually as we have agreed in the Climate Vulnerable Forum, we must aim for 100 percent renewable energy. We must move in that direction while ensuring affordable energy for our economic development and societal needs. On the international side, we should rejoin the Like Minded

Exhume... From A4 Hitler had already killed himself and because there was no way that the Japanese Emperor could be held liable by his lonesome, these trials sought to establish the cooperation the leaders of those two nations received from their subordinates—and how to punish them appropriately, depending on the extent of their participation. The people who liken Marcos to Hitler keep forgetting this

recently installed at the intersection of Edsa and the road to White Plains Village further impede the smooth flow of northbound traffic. Orbos still allows motorcycles and slow-moving vehicles to use Edsa in any way they please. As a result, they block the smooth flow of traffic, and create potential road accidents. A mysterious building in the middle island of Edsa right across the Asian Development Bank compound eats into the limited road space of the northbound lane of Edsa and, therefore, adds to the traffic mess. Orbos has not explained why that building is there is the first place. Every working-day afternoon, the westwardly stretch of Ortigas Avenue from Edsa to the Greenhills shopping complex, becomes a parking lot for vehicles fetching students of La Salle Green Hills whose school day is over. Thus, half of this major avenue is reduced to a one-lane affair. Pedicabs are still roadway obstacles in the Quezon Avenue service road beside the old Napocor Building. Despite a “no loading and unloading” sign conspicuously displayed at the site, taxicabs still use this place as a waiting station. Why? There are no MMDA traffic enforcers in the area. Why not? Private motorists who commit an infraction of traffic rules have more grease money to offer corrupt traffic enforcers, compared to pedicab and taxicab drivers. A month ago, Orbos came out with a new rule extending the once-a-week number-coding ban on vehicles, not just along Edsa, but in practically all the major roadways of the metropolis. Instead of getting rid of the causes of traffic conjestion like slow-moving vehicles and indiscriminate, reckless motorcycle

drivers, Orbos took the easiest option—a sweeping ban. As expected, the vehicles of the MMDA and other government agencies are exempted from the ban. Orbos’ ban is anti-poor because rich persons can circumvent the ban by acquiring more than one vehicle (each with different license plate last digit numbers)—a luxury solution middle-class Filipino motorists cannot afford. Undoubtedly, the rapidly increasing volume of vehicles on the roadways is one cause of the metropolitan traffic nightmare. The idiotic number-coding solution espoused by Orbos actually aggravates this problem because it encourages rich individuals and families to buy even more vehicles. The Orbos decree exempts motorcycles from the weekly ban. That is a very bad idea because motorcycle drivers are the worst violators of traffic rules. Just look at most major intersections—motorcycle drivers create their own counterflows, overtake other motorists patiently waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and wait right smack on the pedestrian lane with no consideration for pedestrians. They also ignore traffic lights at night. Motorcycle drivers using Edsa weave through traffic by changing lanes indiscriminately, and with absolutely no regard for other vehicles. Many of the motorcycles belch smoke—in violation of the clean air law. They also make unbearable noise. The Orbos ban allows exemptions for vehicles used by, among others, physicians who are on an emergency call. What nonsense! There are no more physicians who make emergency calls in this day and age. Patients in

need of emergency medical attention (and can afford it) must go to hospitals where they are attended to by physicians and nurses who are already at the emergency room. Physicians, especially the senior ones who do not do emergency room work, show up at the hospital taking their sweet time. Emergency medical calls? Ha! Individuals who believe they have good reason to be exempted from the Orbos vehicle ban must apply for exemption at the MMDA office in Makati. There is a large fee for each application. Since acting on applications of this sort involves an exercise of administrative discretion, the entire application process can easily become a source of corruption. Many rich motorists will not hesitate to offer bribes just to avail of an undeserved exemption. This is another confirmation that the Orbos ban favors only the wealthy, because the poor and those from the middle class usually cannot afford to offer bribes. What a racket! In the end, Orbos’ ban is discriminatory, and even inutile. This Christmas, expect more traffic problems in the metropolis, not because there are more vehicles in the streets, but because MMDA officials and traffic enforcers will be occupied with the 2016 film festival— where part of the money derived from cinema house box office sales is spent by the MMDA. That’s public money spent by a government agency without a prior appropriation from Congress. It’s also a violation of the Constitution. There is no plausible reason for a vehicular traffic agency like the MMDA to manage a film festival. No wonder there is always a traffic nightmare in the metropolis during the Yuletide season.

Developing Countries bloc (we were co-founders but we left in 2014). While keeping our ties with the Climate Vulnerable Forum and with developed country partners like the European Union and the United States (assuming it stays in the Paris Agreement), a pivot back to LMDC offers the best negotiating leverage for the Philippines. Not the least of the reasons for doing this is that China is a member of the LMDC and it looks like it would soon be the sole global leader on climate change. Likewise, India, another LMDC member, is positioned well on this issue. China is widely expected to overtake the US as the world’s biggest economy by 2026 in nominal GDP terms and remain so at least until 2050. India, on the other hand, is projected to be the 3rd largest economy after China and the US by 2050. Clearly, greater economic and political engagement by the Philippines with the Asian powers could trigger downstream economic and political benefits for us. This is reinforced by the fact that we sharing many climate vulnerability and economic development characteristics with these countries. China’s future economic growth model—crafted through its five-year plans—is now centered on pursuing a lower-emissions growth path, premised on an increasing share of renewable energy in its national energy mix and in slowly drawing down on coal, in response to domestic concerns over air pollution from coal plants and industrial factories. This means that domes-

tic investments into energy research and development and infrastructure are prioritizing renewable energy, with the result that by 2030, China’s energy will be majority renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. In 2015 China became the world’s largest producer of photovoltaic power, at 43 GW installed capacity. China also leads the world in the production and use of wind power and smart grid technologies, generating almost as much water, wind, and solar energy as all of France and Germany’s power plants combined. This will corollarily mean that China’s R&D on clean energy technology will most likely see it rapidly outpace and become the leader in such clean energy technology production. For the Philippines, being able to tap into this growing powerhouse of RE technology and developing technology partnership and cooperation initiatives could become beneficial in also triggering a rapid shift by the Philippines away from coal into RE technology for its energy, industrial, and transport grids. Working with China and India in the climate change negotiations is also strategically correct for the Philippines. Both countries have become a strong voice in pushing for substantial climate change action, and a major pillar for developing countries in the climate change negotiations in asserting the convention principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and equity. Rejoining the LMDC is also consistent with President Duterte’s demand on developed

countries to recognize their historical responsibility for climate change. With the LMDC and the Group of 77 and China, we are already insisting that developed countries providing finance and technology transfer to developing countries implementing climate actions. Finally, all our policies and plans to address climate change will be for naught if our climate governance institutions are not working properly. Unfortunately, six years after its creation, the Climate Change Commission continues to struggle in becoming an effective vehicle for climate action. It pains me to say that we have had, since 2009, a dysfunctional commission, caused more by structural problems and not mainly because of the personalities of the six commissioners that have been appointed so far. Whether the President decides to keep the current leadership and set of commissioners or replace them totally or partially with a new, more cohesive group of his own appointees, the CCC must become a collegial body (every decision, from negotiation positions to all staff and contractual appointments, must be approved by all three commissioners) and reach out to collaborate and not compete or clash with other departments. As long as there is disunity within the commission, it will not be able to accomplish much. There is hope for climate change. But we must get our act together.

important aspect of Der Fuhrer’s abominable rule: The pursuit of those who implemented Hitler’s crimes did not end with his suicide in a bunker. Here, those who would exact justice from Marcos’ corpse presumably would be mollified simply be keeping him aboveground or having him buried somewhere else. There has been absolutely no call to go after Marcos’ men, dead or alive (except for some light-fingered members of his household staff), because everything bad that happened during his rule

was apparently his fault alone. But then, why stop at the crimes committed during martial law? Why not go all the way back to the unresolved killing of Andres Bonifacio, for instance, or forward to the looting that was committed by the Yellow forces who ousted Marcos in 1986? If even the wife and son of Ninoy Aquino, when each of them became president, did not express any interest in finding out who ordered his killing, how can we expect people to believe that Marcos was as bad as they paint him to be?

I believe that the people who think Marcos was the best thing that ever happened to this country (and there are many of them) fail to give credit to the good people who also served in his administration and who did good things with or without the dictator’s prodding. In the same manner, I will not accept the argument that Marcos alone did everything that his regime is justly being blamed for, because he certainly had a lot of help in that regard, as well. That’s why I say: Exhume all. Now.

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pacific Center Building San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE FEED-IN TARIFF ALLOWANCE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2017 PURSUANT TO THE GUIDELINES FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE FEEDIN TARIFF ALLOWANCE AND DISBURSEMENT OF THE FEED-IN TARIFF ALLOWANCE FUND, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

is the estimated Total FIT Differential required for Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.1 of the Guidelines.

WCA

is the estimated Working Capital Allowance required for Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.2 of the Guidelines.

is the Administration Allowance to be implemented in Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.3 of the Guidelines.

is the Disbursement Allowance to be implemented in Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.3 of the Guidelines.

FNS

is the Forecast National Sales, in kWh, to be applied for Yeart+1 and as further described in Section 1.4.4.2 of the Guidelines.

is the year the application for setting the FIT-All is filed with the ERC.

t+1

is the year following t

18. Whenever Yeart+1 (implementation year) is used in any formula in the present Application, the same shall refer to the year 2017. Correlatively, the Yeart+2 whenever used in any formula in this Application shall refer to the year 2018. ERC CASE NO.______

NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION, Applicant. x-------------------------------------------x

Applicant, NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TransCo), by undersigned counsel and unto this Honorable Commission, respectfully states: THE APPLICANT 1.TransCo is a government instrumentality created pursuant to Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), with principal office address at TransCo Main Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City, where it may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Commission. NATURE OF THE APPLICATION 2. This Application is being filed by Applicant TransCo in its capacity as FIT-All Fund Administrator tasked with the establishment, management/administration and disbursement/settlement (thru the Trustee Bank) of the FIT-All Fund pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 15, Series of 2012 issued on 19 November 2012 and on the bases of relevant laws, rules and regulations as will be discussed hereafter. 3. On 16 December 2008, R.A. No. 9513 entitled “An Act Promoting the Development, Utilization and Commercialization of Renewable Energy Resources and for other purposes” (RE Law) was enacted to (1) accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources to achieve energy self-reliance by reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and thereby minimize the country’s exposure to price fluctuations in the international markets; (2) increase the utilization of renewable energy by providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives; (3) encourage the development and utilization of renewable energy resources as tools to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions and thereby balance the goals of economic growth and development with the protection of health and the environment; and (4) establish the necessary infrastructure and mechanism to carry out the mandates specified in the Act and other existing laws. 4. To achieve these state policies, Section 7 of the RE Law mandates the establishment of a Feed-in Tariff System (FIT System) for electricity produced from wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river hydropower and biomass. The FIT System is an incentive scheme that, among others, grants priority connections to the grid, priority purchase and transmission of, and payment for, electricity generated, and fixed tariff for a period not less than twelve (12) years to be determined by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)1 for eligible RE generation. 5. On 12 July 2010, the ERC, in consultation with the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) and other stakeholders, issued Resolution No. 16, Series of 2010 entitled Resolution Adopting the Feed-in Tariff Rules (FIT Rules) where it established, among others, the FIT System, the method of establishing and approving the FIT and the Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All). 6. Under the FIT Rules, the FIT System guarantees all eligible renewable energy plants an entitlement to the applicable FITs for a period of twenty (20) years.2 7. Further, Section 2.2 of the FIT Rules provides that the ERC shall approve technology-specific FITs based on such FITs to be recommended by the NREB. Accordingly, on 27 July 2012, the ERC issued its “Decision” in ERC Case No. 2011-006 and “Resolution No. 10, Series of 2012” entitled “Resolution Approving the Feed-in Tariff Rates” where it approved the following initial FIT Rates: TECHNOLOGY WIND BIOMASS SOLAR HYDRO

COMPONENTS OF THE FIT-ALL I. Forecast National Sales

APPLICATION

ERC-APPROVED FIT RATES (PhP/ kWh) 8.53 6.63 9.68 5.90

ERC-APPROVED DEGRESSION RATES 0.5% after year 2 from effectivity of FIT 0.5% after year 2 from effectivity of FIT 6% after year 1 from effectivity of FIT 0.5% after year 2 from effectivity of FIT

19. The Forecast National Sales (FNS) is the denominator in the FIT-All formula. The estimated level for 2017 is presented first since it is best to present the determined value of the other FIT-All components in terms of PhP/kWh, where this FNS is the kilowatt-hours (kWh) denominator. 20. The FNS refers to an estimated total kilowatt-hours of electricity billed to consumers who are supplied with electricity in all On-Grid areas in the Philippines for a given year. 21. The FNS, in kWh, shall be equal to the latest available Electricity Sales as stated in the Philippine Power Statistics, excluding Utilities Own Use and Power Losses, or as otherwise certified by the DOE, and as adjusted by the historical growth rate published for the immediately preceding three (3) years.

23. TransCo computed the projected 2016 level by increasing the historical 2015 level by the computed CAGR (2012-2015). Then, TransCo again computed for the rolling 3-year CAGR and so on.6 TransCo came up with the following Forecast National Electricity Sales for 2016-2017:

II. Total FIT Differential 24. The Total FIT Differential represents the difference between: (1) the forecast applicable FIT Rate for Yeart+1 that each Eligible RE Plant is forecasted to receive for each kWh delivered, and (2) the forecast applicable cost recovery rate as determined under the Guidelines, multiplied by the projected annual energy generation from Eligible RE Plant for yeart+1. In setting the FIT-All for Yeart+1, the FIT Differential is represented by the following formula:

DESCRIPTION Forecast RE Genx,t+1 is the Forecast RE Generation of Eligible RE Plantx (in kWh). Forecast FIT Ratex,t+1 is FIT Rate, as degressed (if applicable) and adjusted for local inflation and foreign exchange (FOREX) as forecasted for yeart+1, in PhP/kWh, that Eligible RE Plantx is forecasted to receive for each kWh delivered. Forecast Cost Recovery is the applicable Forecast Cost Recovery Rate to be implemented in Yeart+1 for Eligible RE Plantx, in PhP kWh. FDt-1 (over)/under

is the variance between the actual FIT Differential for yeart-1 (Actual FDt-1) and the FIT Differential collected for yeart-1 (Collected FDt1). There is over recovery if Collected FDt-1> Actual FDt-1 and under recovery if Collected FDt-1 is < Actual FDt-1.

25. Alternatively, the formula in Paragraph 24 can be viewed or rewritten as:

9.On 06 October 2015, the ERC likewise issued Resolution No. 14, series of 2015 also known as “Resolution Adopting the Wind Feed-in Tariff (Wind-FIT2) Rate” setting a new Wind FIT Rate of P7.40/ kWh (herein referred to as “Wind FIT 2”). The Wind FIT 2 shall only be applied to three (3) wind power projects namely: San Lorenzo, Nabas and Pililia Power Projects which have already commenced commercial operations as certified by the DOE.

II.1. Forecast Annual Renewable Energy Generation

10.The FIT-All, on the other hand, is a uniform charge (in PhP/ kWh) billed to all on-grid electricity consumers who are supplied with electricity through the distribution or transmission network. The FIT-All shall be established and set by the ERC on an annual basis and taking into account the following: the forecasted annual required revenue of the Eligible RE Plants; previous year’s over or under recoveries; administration costs; forecasted annual electricity sales and such other relevant factors to ensure that no stakeholder is allocated with additional risks in the implementation of the FITs.3 11.On 19 November 2012, the ERC issued “Resolution No. 15, Series of 2012” designating TransCo as the FIT-All Fund Administrator tasked with the establishment, management/ administration and disbursement/settlement (thru the Trustee Bank) of the FIT-All Fund. 12.The imposition, collection and disbursement of the FIT-All is further covered by the “Guidelines on the Collection of the Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) and the Disbursement of the FIT-All Fund” (Guidelines) issued and approved by the ERC in its Resolution No. 24 dated 16 December 2013. 13.Under the FIT-All Guidelines, TransCo has to make an annual determination of the FIT-All rate and file its application with the ERC not later than end of July of each year for the FIT-All rate that will be implemented for the following year. 14.On 18 December 2015, TransCo filed the application for the 2016 FIT-All Rate4. Correspondingly, on 16 February 2016, the ERC granted TransCo’s application for Provisional Authority to implement a 2016 FIT-All rate of PhP/kWh 0.1240 which was implemented starting the April 2016 billing period. 15.For the 2017 FIT-All Rate, TransCo was supposed to file its application by the end of July 2016. However, due to change in the national administration by virtue of the national election and in order to give the new members of the TransCo Board ample time to study the present application, TransCo requested the ERC for an extension of time within which to file the 2017 FIT-All Rate Application which the latter favorably granted. 16. Therefore, by and pursuant to the RE Law, Resolution No. 16 Series of 2010 (FIT Rules), as amended by Resolution No. 15 Series of 2012, in connection with the Guidelines and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations, the instant Application is submitted to the Honorable Commission for its due consideration of the herein applied for FIT-All Rate for the year 2017. FEED-IN TARIFF ALLOWANCE FOR 2017 17. TransCo has computed a FIT-All Rate of PhP/kWh 0.2481 for 2017, determined using the formula provided in Section 1.3 of the Guidelines, as follows:

26. TransCo primarily used the most updated list of RE Projects that are projected to be eligible/already eligible under the FIT System in 2014-2018 and forecast data as provided by the DOE.7 TransCo likewise tapped its own database containing historical information and the available submissions of RE Developers on actual/forecast generation.8 27. With the list from DOE providing the best estimate of the timing of entry of Eligible RE Plants, TransCo aims to be able to adequately provide for the corresponding payout requirements. However, the list does not in any way give preemptive right to the identified projects to be counted under the final FIT-eligible projects. Neither does it limit the payment of FITs to these projects. 28. For those Eligible RE Developers already billing the FIT-All Fund, TransCo generally adopted their 2016 to 2018 energy generation forecast submissions. (See Annexes “F” to “F-32”.)

DESCRIPTION is the Feed-in Tariff Allowance to be implemented in Yeart+1 in PhP/kWh, as provided for in the FIT Rules and the Guidelines.

40. It is worthy to note that the implementation of the FIT system for the current year 2016, no adjustment of FIT rates has been applied for eligible RE Plants so far in the absence of any ERC issuance on the matter. Computation of actual payment for actual generation in 2016 has been based on unadjusted FIT rates. II.3. Forecast Cost Recovery Rate 41. Simply put, the Forecast Cost Recovery Rate (FCRR) is the projected generation rate that the Eligible RE Plant would likely receive had it not been under the FIT System. 42. Under Section 1.4.1.2 of the Guidelines, the manner by which the FCRR is forecasted and applied to a particular Eligible RE Plant shall be based on whether or not the Eligible RE Plant operates in a Grid where the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) is operational or not. 43. Where WESM is operational, the FCRR for the Eligible RE Plant shall be equivalent to the average of the monthly system Ex-Ante Load Weighted Average Price (LWAP) of the WESM for the Luzon and the Visayas Grids for the thirty-six (36) months immediately preceding the filing of the application for the setting of the FIT-All. 44. The FCRR to be applied for Eligible RE Plants where WESM is non-operational (Mindanao) shall be the weighted average of the generation cost of the Host Distribution Utility (Host DU) from all its other generation sources, excluding generation from any Eligible RE PlantNon-WESM with a Renewable Energy Supply Agreement (RESA) with the Host DU, for the nearest twelve (12) months preceding the filing of the application for the setting of the FIT-All. 45. TransCo requested the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) for an update on the Load Weighted Average Price (LWAP) for the period May 2013 to May 201613 which the latter provided on 04 July 4 2016. 46. On October 4, 2016 PEMC provided an updated LWAP covering the months from June 2016 to August 2016 upon the request of TransCo.14 47. Consequently, TransCo came up with the following 36 months (until August 2016) averages for Luzon and Visayas: Table 5. Average LWAP, PhP/kWh Luzon

Visayas

4.9331

3.5409

48. For Mindanao, Host DUs were identified from the lineup of projects and as listed by the DOE (Annex D-10):

49. TransCo used the 12 months average of the Actual Weighted Average Generation Cost of DASURECO, calculated at PhP 4.2638/ kWh, covering the period October 2015 to September 2016. Data were lifted from the monthly submission to TransCo of DASURECO as Host DU for Tudaya 2. 50. For the other Host DUs, TransCo requested the ERC for the weighted average generation cost data through a letter dated October 20, 2015. In the meantime that said information has not been received, TransCo used figures from www.kuryente.org (save for DASURECO) as follows15 :

29. For some Biomass projects, TransCo adopted the monthly energy generation forecast provided by DOE (See Annexes “E-3” to “E10”.) 30. For Solar and Hydro plants without forecast submission, TransCo generally followed the annual projection from DOE. The same seasonality indices used as in the 2014-2015 Application were applied9 . 31. The 2018 projects were also considered, but only in the computation of the WCA, which requires the estimated payout for yeart+2, which in this case is 2018. 32. TransCo limited the determination of the FIT-All rate to include only Eligible/projected Eligible RE capacities up to the installation targets set by the DOE as follows: 500 MW for Solar up to March 15, 2016, 400 MW for Wind, 250 MW for Hydropower and 250 MW for Biomass.

51. Multiplying the Forecast Annual Eligible RE Generation summarized in Table 2 by the appropriate Forecast Cost Recovery Rates (done on a per plant basis) gives the following total FCRR in pesos:

33. At the same time, the principle of commercial and technical indivisibility of projects was observed. Hence, the installation target could be exceeded if the last plant to complete the same renders the total to go beyond the target. This happened in the case of Solar. 34. Based on the foregoing, the applicable Forecast Annual Renewable Energy Generation of Eligible RE Plants (kWh) for the years 2012-2015 (lumped)10, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are as follows:

Similarly as for the FIT rates, the 2017 Forecast Cost Recovery Rates were adopted for 2018 since the same are merely intended for the determination of the Working Capital Allowance, a buffer fund, as discussed below. 52. 2016 Under-recoveries. The last term in the formula for FIT Differential is the amount of under-recovery or over-recovery of the FIT Differential. For this Application, TransCo has determined that there will be an under-recovered FIT Differential by the end of 2016.

I.2. Forecast Applicable FIT Rate and Forecast FIT Revenue 35. Forecast Applicable FIT Rate refers to the prevailing ERCapproved and published schedule of rates in PhP/kWh for each emerging renewable energy technology, as degressed by the relevant degression rates, if applicable, and adjusted for Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Foreign Exchange (FOREX), in accordance with Section 2.10 of the FIT Rules.11 36. Currently, the prevailing FIT Rates are based on the ERC Decision dated 27 July 2012 in ERC Case No. 2011-006 RM, ERC Resolution No. 6 series of 2016 for Solar FIT 2 and ERC Resolution No. 14 series of 2015 for Wind FIT 2.

Where:

39. The Total FIT Revenue appearing in the formula in Paragraph 25 was obtained by multiplying the Eligible RE generation per technology summarized in Table 2 by the corresponding appropriate FIT rates in Table 3. This was done on a per plant basis. For 2018, which is required only for the computation of the Working Capital Allowance that will later be discussed, the same Adjusted FIT-rates as for 2017 were used for simplicity of assumption. The resulting levels are given as:

22. From the historical data sourced from the Philippine Power Statistics until 20155 , TransCo computed for the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of Electricity Sales for a 3-year period using the formula:

8.On 27 March 2015, the ERC issued Resolution No. 06, series of 2015 entitled “Resolution Adopting the New Solar Feed-In Tariff Rate” setting a new Solar FIT Rate of PhP8.69/kWh (herein referred to as “Solar FIT 2”). The Solar FIT 2 was issued as a result of the revised installation target for solar energy generation from 50 MW to 500 MW and shall be applied to new Solar Plants that have been commissioned after the effectivity of said Resolution and until 15 March 2016.

FIT-All

38. Basically, TransCo’s approach considered that on the year the eligible RE Plants enters the FIT system, its entitlement is to the original FIT rate, unless already degressed. Adjustment for inflation and foreign exchange movements is then applied on its second year in the FIT system and beyond12 .

37. TransCo has made its interpretation of Section 2.10 of the FIT Rules regarding adjustment of the FIT rates in the absence of precedent approach from the ERC. At the same time, degression as provided in the decision under ERC Case No. 2011-006RM was applied.

53. The under-recovery will arise due to the estimated collection for 2016 being less than the estimated amount of payables that will be billed to TransCo by Eligible RE Developers until the last billing month 0f 2016. TransCo prepared the estimates under the assumption that the provisionally approved FIT-All rate of P0.1240/kWh will prevail until the last billing month of 2016. 54. By the end of the billing and payment cycle for 2016, it is estimated that the FIT-All Fund will have a deficit in terms of collection vis-à-vis payables of Php 3,576,811,119.0816 . 55. FIT Differential for 2015-2016 generation charged to 2017 FIT-All Rate17 . This pertains to energy generation for years 2015-2016 that are expected to be billed to TransCo for 2017. Section 4.5 of the RE Payment Agreement (REPA) provides that the Eligible RE Developer shall only start billingTransCo for FIT Differential upon the REPA’s effectivity. Where months had lapsed from the Commercial Operation Date (COD) until the Effective Date of REPA, the Actual FIT Differential shall be billed to TransCo over the number of months lapsed from COD to REPA Effective Date.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 56. It is estimated that total FIT Differentials for 2015 and 2016 generation, amounting to Php 551,704,914.27 and Php 1,499,355,236.46, respectively, will be due in 2017. 57. FIT Differential. Following the formula for FD in Paragraph 25 (first two terms), the total FCRR in Table 7 is subtracted from the corresponding FIT Revenue in Table 4, on a per plant basis, and yields the following summary for 2014-2018:

69. Pursuant to the Guidelines, the NREB recommended a formula for the Factor Rate in the 2014-2015 FIT-All Application. Using the same formula for this Application but with updated inputs, a factor rate of 7.4309%19 was derived. 70. Further, the Guidelines define the WCA Ending Balance to be the balance of the WCA component account for the immediately preceding month prior to the month of filing. However, TransCo deemed it best to project the level up to year end 2016 for a more realistic determination. Given the deficiency in the fund balance to address even the FD to date, the WCA in fact has no balance. Truth to tell, the amounts TransCo uses to augment the ACRR remittance of PEMC and the Interest Expense billed by Eligible RE Developers, constitute negative fund balance. TransCo has estimated a WCA Ending Balance of –PhP 14,170,578.64, which represents the projected deficiency for ACRR by the end of 2016.

58. The final FIT Differential for 2017 in P/kWh, inclusive of the under-recovery for 2016 and the accrued FIT-Differential for 2015-2016 generation charged to 2017, is as follows: 71. From the given information, the combined buffer required for 2017, which is equivalent to the 2018 requirement multiplied by the Factor Rate less the WCA ending balance, is PhP 1,957,387,200.46, derived as:

a. Pending hearing on the merits of the present Application, provisional authority to collect the FIT-ALL of PhP/kWh 0.2291 effective January 2017 billing period be issued; b. TheCollection Agents – DUs, RES and NGCP be directed to bill, collect and remit the FIT-All to the FIT-All Fund as provided in the FIT-All Guidelines; c. PEMC and the Host DUs be directed to remit the ACRR to the FIT-All Fund as provided in the FIT-All Guidelines;

e. After due notice and hearing, a permanent approval for Applicant TransCo be granted to implement the FIT-All Rate for 2017 of PhP/kWh 0.2291, computed for RE Projects with at least nomination from DOE for eligibility under the FIT system, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, such other amount as may be found by the Commission to be consistent with the FIT-All Guidelines and on the basis of new and updated information not heretofore available to the Applicant at the time of the filing of the present application; if any.

Quezon City for Pasig City, 01December 2017. 72. The table above provides the corresponding PhP/kWh level of the WCA for 2017, which is PhP/kWh 0.0263.

NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION Counsel for the Applicant Office of the General Counsel TRANSCO Main Building, Quezon Avenue cor. BIR Road Diliman, 1101 Quezon City Tel No. 902-1500

73. As provided for in Section 2.5 of the FIT Rules, the FIT- All shall also take into account the Applicant’s administration costs to defray expenses of the Administrator in connection with the performance of its functions as FIT-All Fund Administrator (Administration Allowance).

By:

74. For the year 2017, TransCo proposes an Administration Allowance of Php 5,060,572.35. (Please see Annex T.)

NOEL Z. DE LEON General Counsel IBP No. 925845, 08 January 2014, Quezon City Roll No. 36660 MCLE Compliance No. IV- 0017953 26 April 2013

75. A similar fee may be imposed by the designated Trustee of the FIT All Fund in accordance with the Trust Agreement approved by the ERC, to defray standard administrative costs in establishing and managing the actual collection and disbursements of the FIT-All Fund and all other monetary collections authorized by the FIT Rules (Disbursement Allowance). Working Capital Allowance

60. The WCA is part of the FIT-All and serves as buffer to address any default or delay in the collection and/or remittance of the FIT-All and/ or Actual Cost Recovery Revenue (ACRR) including, but not limited to, the following: i.

Variations between the actual and forecasted (a) RE Generation from Eligible RE Plants resulting from overand under- generation, (b) Annual National Sales and (c) applicable Forecast Cost Recovery Rates and Actual Cost Recovery Revenues;

ii. The timing difference of the collection and billing cycle for the FIT-All and Actual Cost Recovery Revenue; and,

f. TransCo be exempt from payment of permit/supervision fees,

Other reliefs as may be just and equitable under the premises arelikewise most respectfully prayed for.

IV. Administration and Disbursement Allowance

III.

LEON T. TAPEL, JR. Deputy Legal Counsel IBP 960164, 24 January 2014, PPLM Roll No. 34555 MCLE Compliance IV-0012123 30 January 2013

76. From the Trust Agreement entered into by Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)-Trust and TransCo on 03 March 201520 and subsequently approved by the ERC, TransCo shall pay a fixed fee of P720,000 per annum plus some variable components. 77. Based on TransCo’s estimates of fund balances which will be the major basis of the variable component that is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Supervision Fee, the Disbursement Allowance or the service fee of LBP for 2017 is PhP 1,095,368.3621.

NYERSON DEXTER TITO Q. TUALLA Legal Counseling Department IBP 07135, Lifetime - Quezon City Roll No. 52294 MCLE Compliance IV-0005200 22 March 2012 Mobile No. 0917-581-3246 nqtualla@transco.ph

V. FIT-ALL RATE FOR 2017 78. Applying the above components to the formula for FIT-All, we have the following, in PhP/kWh:

iii. Any other collection or payment shortfall.

Copy furnished:

61. The WCA amount for collection is expressed as:

1.DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Energy Center, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines 1632

79. In more detail, the components and result of the FIT-All calculation may be summarized in the following table:

Where: WCAt+1 Forecast Payout t+2

WCA Balancet

Factor Rate

Is the Working Capital Allowance to be funded during Yeart+1 Annual Is the projected amount of payables out of the FITAll Fund for yeart+2 consisting of forecasted Total FIT Revenues, forecasted Administration Allowance and forecasted Disbursement Allowance for Yeart+2. The forecasted Total FIT Revenues for Yeart+2 is the sum of the product of the Forecast RE Generation of Eligible RE Plantx for Yeart+2 multiplied by the appropriate FIT Ratex for Year . The forecasted Administration Allowance for t+2 Yeart+2 is the Administration Allowance for Yeart+1, less any non-recurring expenditures such as those relating to the initial filing of the FIT-All, adjusted for forecast CPI for Yeart+2. The forecasted Disbursement Allowance for Yeart+2 is the projected level of payment to the Trustee Bank in Yeart+2. Ending

2.NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY BOARD Energy Center, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines 1632 Republic of the Philippines) Quezon City) VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING

80. However, TransCo would like to present some additional computations that show the 2017 FIT-All at different categories of FITeligible/-candidate RE Projects:

I, GENEROSO M. SENAL, of legal age, married, with office address at the National Transmission Corporation, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and state, that: 1. I am the Vice President, Concession Contract and Monitoring Group of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO). Pursuant to TransCo Board Resolution TC 2015-011, I was designated as TransCo’s Officer-in-Charge effective 1 September 2015 until a regular President & CEO is formally appointed. Copy of Resolution TC 2015-011 is hereto attached as Annex ____;

Is the ending balance of the Working Capital Allowance account in Yeart including any interest income earned in the WCA account and all other component accounts of the FIT-All Fund; if this is not available at the time of filing, the ending balance for the month immediately preceding the month of filing, subject to updating by the ERC of the actual ending balance of the WCA account in Yeart if it shall become available prior to the issuance of its Decision on the FIT-All application. Is the factor rate approved by the ERC, upon recommendation of the NREB, reflective of funding requirements of the FIT-All Fund, adjusted by (i) a period factor based on the billing and collection cycle of the Collection Agents as described in the Guidelines; and (ii) the collection efficiencies of Collection Agents. Data for the initial year shall be sourced from PSALM for its collection of the Universal Charge. Data for succeeding years shall be based on FIT-All historical collection efficiency rate.

62. From the foregoing, it may be gleaned that an initial Forecast Annual Payout for the year 2018 needs to be determined since it is envisioned that buffer requirements for the following year should be collected and built up during the current year. Hence, aside from the 2017 levels for Forecast Cost Recovery Revenue, FD, AA and DA, the 2018 projected levels were also established. 63. For the purpose of computing the WCA, the Forecast Cost Recovery Rates used by TransCo for 2018 were set at the same level as the 2017. The same holds for the FIT Rates. 64. Summarizing Table7 and Table 8, we have the following inputs in computing the Forecast Annual Payout for 2018:

2. As such Officer-in-Charge I am authorized to file and prosecute all cases for and in behalf of TransCo before the Energy Regulatory Commission pursuant to Item 12, Subject No. 5.01, Section 5.0, of the Manual of Approvals. A copy of the Secretary’s Certificate and pertinent page of the Manual of Approvals are attached as Annexes ___ and ___ to form integral parts hereof; 3. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing 2017 FIT-All Application and the allegations contain therein are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and/or on authentic records; 4. I further attest that TRANSCO has not theretofore commenced any action or filed any claim involving the same issues in any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency and, to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein.

A more detailed table of the FIT-All calculation above and a listing of RE Plants/Projects per category are provided in Annexes “W” and “X”, respectively, and made integral part of this application. 81. TransCo has deemed it reasonable to give more weight to plants that have already been inspected by the DOE to have achieved at least 80% electromechanical completion. Further, under the Honorable Commission’s Decision in ERC Case No. 2014-109 RC22 limiting the forecast RE generation included in the computation of the FIT-All to those RE plants with Certificate of Endorsement (COE) for FIT eligibility from DOE, TransCo has opted to recommend and seek the Honorable Commission’s approval of a FIT-All rate lower than the total computed level of PhP/kWh 0.2481, considering project status. Inasmuch as there is only one additional plant (8MW) that has been issued a nomination for FIT eligibility by the DOE but has not yet been issued a FIT-eligible Certificate of Compliance (COC) by the ERC, TransCo has considered at least the nomination by DOE for FIT eligibility as the criterion for its recommendation. 82. The computed 2017 FIT-All rate covering RE Projects with at least nomination from the DOE as of November 15, 2016 for the FIT system is PhP/kWh 0.2291. These projects, have ongoing construction and have reached at least 80% electromechanical completion, thus, are almost sure to operate within the period under consideration, if not already operating to date. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

65. The projected AA for 2018 is estimated to be Php 8,656,332.001518.

83. TransCo repleads the foregoing allegations insofar as they may be applicable.

66. For simplicity, the estimated trustee fee/ Disbursement Allowancefor 2018 is set at the 2017 level of Php1,095,368.36 as stated in Paragraph 77.

84. It is respectfully submitted that the computation of, as well as the data used by, TransCo are all in accordance with the FIT Rules and the Guidelines issued by the ERC.

5. If I should hereinafter learn that the same or similar action or claim has been filed or is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency, I shall report the said fact within five (5) days from discovery thereof to the Energy Regulatory Commission. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my signature this _____________________2016 in Quezon City, Philippines. GENEROSO M. SENAL Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this _______________of the year 2016, with affiant presenting to me his Driver’s License No. _______________, issued at Quezon City and with expiry date on March 28, 2019__. Doc. No. __510___; Page No.__103___; Book No.__II___; Series of 2016

1 2 3 4

67. Combining the results and assumptions given in Paragraphs 64 to 66, the Forecast Annual Payout for 2018 is as follows:

85. On this basis, TransCo most respectfully moves for the immediate issuance of a “Provisional Authority” pursuant to Rule 14, Section 323 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedures to allow applicant TransCo to timely implement the FIT-All Rate of PhP/kWh 0.2291 effective January 2017without prejudice to the final and actual rate pending the final disposition of its present Application.

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

86. The grant of a Provisional Authority will allow TransCo to perform its duties to make a timely payment of the FIT Rate to RE Developers to which they are entitled thereby allowing their continued operations.

16 17 18 19

68. The Guidelines further provide the use of a Factor Rate that will be multiplied to the Forecast Annual Payout for 2018.

TODAY

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that:

d. The Factor Rate resulting from an updating of inputs in the recommended formula by the NREB under the 2014-2015 FIT-All Application (ERC Case No. 2014-109RC) be approved and applied in the computation of the WCA and the FIT-All Rate for 2017;

The 2018 levels are shown only for the purpose of computing the WCA which is discussed below.

59. It is worthy to note that for the 12-month period October 2015 to September 2016, the average effective Actual Cost Recovery Rate as derived from the FIT-All Fund database is much lower than the Forecast Cost Recovery Rate used in the2016 FIT-All Application following the formula in the FIT-All Guidelines. This, thus, contributed to the projected under-recovery shown earlier.

Manila

Standard

PRAYER

87. In support of the foregoing allegations in this Application, including those for the issuance of the provisional authority, TransCo hereby submits the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Dinna O. Dizon, Manager of Compliance Monitoring Department (CMD).24

20 21 22 23

See Section 5, RE Law IRR. Section 4, FIT Rules. Section 2.5, FIT Rules. Docketed as ERC Case No. 2015-216 RC The DOE Memorandum dated 21 July 2015 providing for the Electricity and Sales Consumption, in MWh for years 2003 to 2014 is attached hereto as Annex “A” to “A-1” and the DOE Memorandum dated 15 June 2016 for the Electricity & Sales Consumption for year 2015 as “Annex B to B-1” to form an integral part hereof. The FNS computation for 2015-2016 is attached hereto as Annex “C” to form an integral part hereof. The DOE letter dated 20 June 2016 and 16 August 2016 providing “Information/Data for filing of the 2017 FIT-All Rate Petition”, including attachments, are attached hereto as Annexes “D” to “D-8” and Annex E to E-13, respectively, to form integral parts hereof. The 2016 to 2018 energy forecast generation per eligible RE Plantare summarized in the “List of FIT Eligible Renewable Energy Developer Generation “ and its attachments marked hereto as Annexes “F” to“F-32” to form an integral part hereof. The Monthly Seasonality table used for the 2014-2015 Application is hereto attached as Annex “G” and forms an integral part hereof. The 2012 to 2016 levels are a mix of actual and forecast values. Section 1.4.1.1, Guidelines. Details of computation of the assumed adjusted FIT rates are hereto attached as Annex “H” to “H-2” and form integral parts hereof. The PEMC letter dated 04 July 2016 on the “Data on Load Weighted Average Price (LWAP) for Luzon and Visayas”, including a computer printout of the data in the CD submitted is attached hereto as Annexes “I” to “I-1” to form an integral part hereof. The PEMC letter dated 04 October 2016 on the “Data on Load Weighted Average Price (LWAP) for Luzon and Visayas”, is attached hereto as Annex “J” to form an integral part hereof. Printouts of DASURECO’s actual Monthly CRR Rate from Oct 2015 to Sept 2016, CLPC Effective Rate for Residential Customer for the period December 2013 to November 2014, SUKELCO Effective Rate for Residential Customer for the period December 2013 to November 2014, FIBECO Effective Rate for Residential Customer for the period September 2014 to August 2015, SOCOTECO I Effective Rate for Residential Customer for the period December 2013 to November 2014, BUSECO Effective Rate for Residential Customer for the period March 2014 to February 2015 from the website www.kuryente.org are attached hereto as Annexes “K”, “L” to L-11”, “M” to “M-11”, “N” to “N-11”, “O” to “O-11”, and “P” to “P-11”,respectively, to form integral parts hereof. Table showing the details of computation of the 2016 FIT Differential deficiency is hereto attached as Annex “Q” and made an integral part hereof. Summary of 2015- 2016 FIT Differential charged to 2017 FIT-All Rate Computation is shown as “Annex R” to form an integral part hereof. Projected Administration Allowance for years 2017 and 2018 is hereto attached as Annex T to form integral part hereof. Factor Rate computation using the formula recommended by NREB in its Resolution No. 3 Series of 2014 is attached hereto as Annex “S” to form an integral part hereof. Copy of the Trust Agreement dated 03 March 2015 is hereto attached as Annex “U” to “U-23” and made an integral part hereof. Details of computation of the proposed DA is hereto attached as Annex “V” and made an integral part hereof. In the Matter of the Application for Approval of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance for Calendar Years 2014 and 2015 Pursuant to the Guidelines for the Collection of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance and Disbursement of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance Fund, with Prayer for Provisional Authority “Section 3. Action on the Motion. - Motions for provisional authority or interim relief may be acted upon with or without hearing. The Commission shall act on the motion on the basis of the allegations of the application or petition and supporting documents and other evidences (sic) that applicant or petitioner has submitted and the comments or opposition filed by any interested person, if there be any.” A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Dinna O. Dizon is attached hereto as Annex “Y” to form an integral part hereof. (MS-NOV. 29, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Lapu-Lapu kid claims 2nd gold TAGUM CITY—Moira Frances Erediano won the girls’ triathlon for her second gold medal in the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy Championships here. Coming off a victory in criterium cycling on Sunday, the 13-year-old from Lapu-Lapu City topped the swim-bikerun event in 24 minutes and 19 seconds to defeat Alison Noble of San Fernando, La Union (25:34) and Jeanna Mariel Canete of Cebu province (27:00). Erediano, the first athlete in the weeklong tournament to secure two gold medals in different sports, will go for another gold in today’s duathlon apart from two more in cycling’s road race and individual time trial. “I’m happy. It’s a nice feeling to win,’’ said the shy Grade 6 student from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu. Karen Manayon pulled off the biggest upset in the Games designed for athletes 17 years old and younger when the triathlete from Talisay, Cebu unseated three-time Batang Pinoy champion Nicole Eijansantos. Trailing in the swim and bike segments, Manayon blazed the trail in the run part and defeated second-placer Jana Macalalad and Eijansantos in the 13-15 age bracket. Manayon, who got a pair of bronze medals in cycling the other day, clocked 40:16, while Macalalad and Eijansantos timed 40:20 and 40:49, respectively. Juan Francisco Baniqued defended his title in the boys’ 13-15 race in 37:08, beating Eduard Moritz Leuenberger of Davao City (37:18) and Baguio’s Joshua Alexander Ramos (37:50). In the boys’ 11-12 group, Zedrick James Borja of San Pedro, Laguna clocked 22:21 to defeat Ian Paul Revadonia of General Santos City (24:50) and Matthew Justine Hermosa of Cebu (25:06) for the gold. Long-distance runner Raymund Lopez of Agusan del Sur won the boys’ 16-17 5000m gold at the start of track and field competitions, while Trixie Dela Torre of Negros Occidental topped the long jump girls’ 13-15 years old.

Red Spikers seize lead

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against T.J. McConnell #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cavaliers defeated the 76ers, 112-108. AFP

Cavs rally to beat Sixers; Kings arrest 7-game slide L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James delivered his third triple-double of the season as the Cleveland Cavaliers are off to one of the best starts in franchise history with a 112-108 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. James and Kevin Love powered the offence through three quarters before Kyrie Irving took over in the fourth for the defending champion Cavaliers who improved to 13-2 on the season. Irving scored 20 of his 39 points in the final quarter, Love had 25 points and 11 rebounds

and Cleveland rallied from an early 14-point deficit to win at 76ers’ Wells Fargo Center. “When you have great players, it can come from any of us at any given moment,” said Irving. “When one of us gets it going, we always continue to go to that person. It can be anybody’s night. We’re always

8:30 a.m.- Perpetual Help vs EAC (jrs) 10 a.m.- Perpetual Help vs EAC (m) 11:30 a.m.- Perpetual Help vs EAC (w) 1 p.m.- Jose Rizal vs St. Benilde (w) 2:30 p.m.- Jose Rizal vs St. Benilde (m)

SAN Beda overcame Lyceum of the Philippines’s fierce opening-set challenge to hammer out a 29-27, 25-13, 25-14 victory yesterday and join defending champion St. Benilde and San Sebastian on top in the women’s division of the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City. Francesca Racraquin paced her team with 11 hits, while twins Nieza and Jiezela Viray combined for 16 points to help power the Red Spikers to their third victory in row that put them alongside the Lady Blazers and the Lady Stags at the helm. Racraquin and the Virays stepped big in the first set when they had to parry every challenge launched by the Lady Pirates to survive the set. It was enough to unnerve LPU, which wasn’t the same after the heartbreaking first set defeat and suffered their first loss against two wins. Arellano University, for its part, barged into the magic four as it turned back Mapua, 25-17, 25-8, 18-25, 25-18, with team captain Rialen Sante and Mary Anne Esquerra spearheading the charge with 14 and 12 points.

BAGUIO CITY—Aian Arcilla once again led with his 25 points as Team Glutamax Men soared to an 87 for a bigger 11-point lead over its closest pursuer in the Am G division of the 67th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament, presented by San Miguel Corporation. Arcilla was ably backed up by the 24 of Paulo Legaspi, the 20 of Robert Nazal and the 18 of Joseph Dominic Samson for Team Glutamax Men, which had a two-day aggregate of 169 for an 11-point lead over Team Anagen Hair Growers.

Seattle Fil-Am ranked third at 158 following an 80 on second day, still 12 points behind the leaders in the biggest and oldest amateur golfing event in the world. Team Savers Mall, Quick Flow Tab Con and LNP rounded out the top six in the event backed by Toyota, Petron, Magnolia, SMC Global Power, Northern Cement, San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, Manor at Camp John Hay, Forest Lodge, Empire, CJH Development Corporation, Baguio Country Club, Le Chef,and the CJH Trade and Cultural Center, and Mizuno.

THE weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum will feature the final leg of the Football for a Better Life in today’s session at Shakey’s Malate. On hand for the 10:30 a.m. public sports program to be aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 are organizer Albert Almendralejo, Pro Life UK CFO Lee Longa, and Kevin Goco of Gawad Kalinga. Joining them in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. are players Misagh Bahadoran, Chieffy Caligdong, and Graham Caygill.

“It’s just that we didn’t play with composure and experience that we think we developed during the course of the season and got away from. We paid the price. So, we’ll make sure this does not happen again,” said Baldwin. In that game, the Blue Eagles were forced to shoot from the outside a lot. Of the 36 three-point attempts, they scored only six. Aaron Black led the Blue Eagles with 11 points, including two jumpers from the perimeter and a triple at the start of the fourth that handed Ateneo a 49-39 lead in the last 8:09. Thirdy Ravena had 10 points and shot only two of his seven three-point attempts, while Anton Asistio made nine and converted only one

of nine three-point attempts. “We ended up trying to make 36 three-point shots. That’s way too many and that’s what they were forcing us to do,” added Baldwin. The Tams went strong underneath with their zone, with Monbert Arong splitting his charity and driving past Chibueze Ikeh in the remaining 7:11, to lead a 10-5 rally. They forced Ateneo to three turnovers and tied the match 49-all off Raymar Jose’s putback. The 5’11” Arong forced another deadlock at 55-all with his free throw in the last 1:53, and then broke it with a tear drop shot off Raffy Verano. Arong, who was 5 of 10 on the free throw line, moved away on three freebies in the last 11.3 seconds, 62-58.

game homestand at 2-3. “I think we’re getting better,” Brown said. “I’m proud of their effort against the NBA champs.” DeMarcus Cousins scored 18 of his 37 points in the third quarter and the Sacramento Kings snapped a seven-game road losing streak to Brooklyn with a 122-105 win. Cousins got off to a slow start by missing his first three shots and going zero of five in the second quarter when the Kings faced a nine-point deficit. But the center helped Sacramento seize command by shooting six of nine in the third. AFP

Olivarez gets big cage boost Games Thursday

(Olivarez Sports Center) 12 noon – TIP vs Olivarez 2 p.m. – CEU vs CDSL

PSA Forum tackles football

Eagles vow to play better THE Ateneo Blue Eagles did not play with the composure and the experience that they have been working on to improve for the whole season last Saturday. But this will not happen again, coach Tab Baldwin vowed after defending champion Far Eastern University Tamaraws unnerved the Ateneo Blue Eagles with their zone defense and prevailed, 62-61. The loss of the secondseeded Blue Eagles allowed the Tams to force a rubber match in their Final Four encounter with the Blue Eagles in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

nine rebounds, and Jahlil Okafor added 14 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia, who lost to Cleveland for the eighth consecutive time. Ersan Ilyasova and Gerald Henderson scored 13 points each, Sergio Rodriguez had 12, Nik Stauskas contributed 11 and Dario Saric added 10. ‘Another level’ “They can go to another level and they did,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “We all felt it and saw it. I feel that’s the lesson we all learned since we’ve been together.” Philadelphia closed a five-

Glutamax Men strengthens hold on lead

Games today (Filoil Flying V Center)

By Peter Atencio

trusting each other. “That fourth quarter was just for me to be aggressive.” James added 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for another triple-double and Tristan Thompson tallied 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Cavaliers have the top record in the Eastern Conference and are off to their best 15game start in team history. “Whoever has the hot hand, we want to continue to get it to him,” James said. “Kyrie understands what needs to be done in order for us to win. He showcased that today.” Joel Embiid had 22 points and

Team Glutamax Men’s (from left) Aian Arcilla , Robert Nazal, Paulo Legaspi and Cong. Mat Defensor are shown prior to the second day of the 67th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament in Baguio City.

Blackwater whipping boys no more in PBA By Jeric Lopez BLACKWATER is no longer the whipping boy of the Philippine Basketball Association. That’s what Elite coach Leo Isaac now claims as his team is surprisingly the early leader of the 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup with its rousing 2-0 start. Blackwater showed what it was capable of when it defeated Phoenix in its debut last week before going on to stun Meralco, 86-84, last Sunday, defeating a title contender. “We were able to get the players and pieces we wanted kaya medyo nagpapakita na ng improvement ‘yung team,” said Isaac. “We have an improved line-up now and we’re off to a great start. We hope we can continue and reach our full potential pa.” Isaac said that Blackwater needs to

establish itself as a dangerous team for the entire league to take notice. “We need to be the team that we want to be for other teams to consider as dangerous,” said Isaad, adding that the Elite is a whipping boy no more. “Dati ‘pag nakita ng ibang team kami sa schedule, medyo relax ‘yan pero ngayon, medyo paghahandaan na tayo.” One significant reason why Blackwater is off to a rousing start is the impressive play of top rookie Mac Belo, who is showing that he is indeed the real deal. Belo met expectations and led Blackwater in its first two victorier, scoring 17 and 25 points, respectively, to claim this early that he is indeed the team’s franchise player. “Mac Belo is really the player we thought he is and we thought he will be,” said Isaac of his star.

OLIVAREZ College got a big boost before its semis showdown with Technological Institute of the Philippines by downing erstwhile unbeaten Centro Escolar University, 65-63, in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League yesterday at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque City. More than getting a muchneed motivation for its Thursday clash with TIP, Olivarez shattered CEU’s myth of invincibility as the Scorpions suffered their first defeat in 12 games. Another good news for Olivarez supporters was that also-ran Diliman College completed a day of reversals with a 73-61 dismantling of the Engineers in the second game. Richmond Sunga and Jayboy Solis combined for 23 points as the Sea Lions avenged their 7661 loss to the Scorpions in the first round. Olivarez finished the elims tied with TIP at 8-4 for second to third places, but the Engineers took the twice-to-beat advantage, having beaten the Sea Lions twice in the two-round elims. Despite the loss, CEU still owns the No. 1 seed and the twice-to-beat edge going to their Final Four duel with fourth seed Colegio de San Lorenzo. The Griffins wound up with a 5-7 card. Although nothing was at stake, the Blue Dragons still played with their hearts out to exit the tournament on a high note. Diliman finished the season at 4-8 alongside Bulacan State University in fifth place. Joseph Brutas had 22 points, five rebounds and five steals while Peter Cecilio added 15 points for the Blue Dragons.

Globe signs P5-b loan deal with Union Bank B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

DA wants to inspect agri imports By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

GRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol is creating a new unit that will inspect all agricultural and ﬁshery products entering the country to stop smuggling. “I will sign a department order creating the Agricultural and Fisheries Trade Facilitation Unit which will effectively be stationed in the different ports of entry of the country to make sure that agricultural and ﬁsher-

ies imports entering the country are ﬁrst examined by our people before Customs,” Piñol said in a news brieﬁng. He said the newly created group would be stationed in different points of entry or Customs zones to

lessen the possibility of smuggling. “The legal basis for that is the Food Safety Act of 2013, Section 12 B which states that imported food shall undergo cargo clearance and inspection procedures by the DA and DOH at the ﬁrst port of entry to determine compliance with national regulations,” Piñol said. He said the trade facilitation group would be headed by a former military man. He said the inspection of all agricultural shipments would be mandatory.

The DA chief said the inspection by DA and DOH should take place prior to the assessment for tariff and other charges by the Bureau of Customs. “The BOC and Association of International Shipping Lines shall provide DA and DOH documents such as the inward foreign manifests of arriving vessels to enable the DA and the DOH to identify shipments requiring food safety inspections. Shipments not complying national regulations shall be disposed according to

policies established by the DA and DOH,” said Piñol. Piñol said at present, the DA’s inspection was taking place after the Customs’ process. “So we will invoke this provision of the law that we should inspect ﬁrst. DA will determine ﬁrst whether the shipment complied with our sanitary regulations,” Piñol said. Piñol said the order aimed to eliminate smuggling in the country. He also ordered a validation of all permits issued for the impor-

IN BRIEF

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing November 28, 2016

SSS eyes P1,000 pension increase

8300 7840

STATE-RUN Social Security System disclosed a plan to increase the monthly pension of qualiﬁed members by P1,000 starting next year. “The Social Security System is attuned to the wishes of legislators for higher pensions in response to the prevailing public sentiment, which we also consider reasonable given the current cost of living. We request legislators to heed our appeal to how to best grant the pension increase without sacriﬁcing the life of the fund,” SSS chairman Amado Valdez said during the Senate deliberation for the pension hike. SSS said it planned to grant a P1,000 across-the-board pension increase in January 2017 before implementing an additional P1,000 in 2022. “Lawmakers appear to be receptive of the proposal considering that it is doable, and will avert passing on the pension burden to taxpayers,” SSS said. “Immediately implementing the full P2,000 pension increase will put in peril the SSS funds. The P1,000 initial pension increase offers a more doable option towards the same goal of an additional P2,000 per month for pensioners,” said Valdez. SSS funds are currently projected to last until 2042 but will deplete in 2025 if the P2,000 ATBP increase is immediately granted in full, he said. Gabrielle H. Binaday

7380 6920 6460 6000

6,825.40 64.38

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing NOVEMBER 28, 2016 43.00 45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.710

49.00

HIGH P49.710 LOW P49.830 AVERAGE P49.777 VOLUME 466.700M

P430.00-P661.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.40-P44.10 Unleaded Gasoline

OPRICES IL TODAY

CHRISTMAS AT CENTURY PARK. Century Park Hotel welcomes the yuletide season with the lighting of a grand and bright 35-foot Christmas tree on Nov. 17, 2016 at the hotel’s Atrium Lounge. Shown during the lighting ceremony are (from left) Ms. Earth Philippines 2016 Loren Mar Artajos, hotel owner Dr. Lucio Tan, his wife Carmen Tan and daughter Irene Tan-Luy.

P25.75-P29.32 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene

PLDT, Globe reducing interconnection charges

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, November 28, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9230

Japan

Yen

0.008853

0.4420

Pound

1.249200

62.3638

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128936

6.4369

Switzerland

Franc

0.988240

49.3359

Canada

Dollar

0.740960

36.9909

Singapore

Dollar

0.700476

34.9699

Australia

Dollar

0.744200

37.1527

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

132.4218

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266624

13.3107

Brunei

Dollar

0.698032

34.8479

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028032

1.3994

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

13.5919

Euro

1.062000

53.0182

Korea

Won

0.000852

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.144571

7.2174

India

Rupee

0.014596

0.7287

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224568

11.2111

New Zealand

Dollar

0.704100

35.1508

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031402

1.5677 Source: PDS Bridge

By Darwin G. Amojelar VOICE call rates will go down by at least P1 a minute by January next year after PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. agreed to cut interconnection charges by 40 percent, the government said Monday. Globe and PLDT signed a memorandum of understanding to reduce the interconnection rate for voice calls to P2.50 a minute from P4. The rates will cover mobile to mobile and landline to mobile voice calls. Access charges for mobile to landline voice calls cost P3 a minute.

Automotive companies warn of increased taxes By Othel V. Campos CAR manufacturers on Monday expressed concern on higher vehicle taxes, saying they will dampen sales and economic growth. “The Finance Department has a very strong position (on this). Deﬁnitely they will push for tax reform including the increase in excise tax for automobiles,” said the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturer of the Philippines. Industry representatives recently met with the Finance Department to present the current state of the local automotive industry and the effect of the excise tax on automotive sales and the incentive program for motor vehicles. Automotive sales in the last few years have been robust due to the growing capability of Filipinos to buy cars and the attractive promotions offered to consumers. “We told them (DoF) the contribution of the industry to the growth of the economy since the recent trend showed sales going very strong and with the increase in excise tax, demand will go down,” the group said.

tation of meat and poultry products in the wake of the proliferation of recycled permits that he said were being used in the technical smuggling of such products. He said a technical working group was created to assess and handle the issuance of new permits effective upon the issuance of an order. Piñol said he made the move based on a United Nations report on the volume of meat and offals imported by the country over the last few months.

The group noted that the pending tax reform bill would also have an effect on downstream industries such as auto parts suppliers. Most parts suppliers are small and medium-scale companies that will suffer from reduced sales. “We also have to take care of our suppliers, not just us (our companies),” Campi said. The group is actually seeking lower tax rates to preserve sales growth and the development of the industry. Campi is ﬁnalizing a study that will support the industry’s fear of slower sales and the detrimental effects to government incentive programs like the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy and the Motor Vehicle Development Program. The study will aim to determine the value of increases of a model or variant and the volume of sales lost if the tax proposal is approved in its original text. Aside from being saddled by tax hurdles, the industry has started to feel the pinch of an unstable foreign exchange rate, especially on the pricing of vehicles.

The reduction should take effect not later than Jan. 1, 2017, the National Telecommunications Commission said. The MOU came after President Rodrigo Duterte called on telco operators to improve and bring down the cost of their services or he would open the industry to foreign players. NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the reduced retail rate would depend on the various plans/promos offered by the telcos. “[But] effectively the retail rates should be dropped by P1 across all plans,” Cabarios said. This means that the existing re-

tail rates for voice calls will drop to P5.50 a minute from the existing prevailing rates of P6.50 a minute. “We are supporting the government’s efforts to bring down the cost of telecom services in the country. This agreement will translate in different ways to more affordable voice call rates for our subscribers,” PLDT head of regulatory affairs and policy ofﬁce Ray Espinosa. Globe technology chief Gil Genio said the company was strongly advocating for the rationalization of interconnection access charge between the two telcos for many years now. “We are conﬁdent that a reduc-

tion in the cost of interconnection for voice calls will eventually redound to a more robust economy, providing our customers with an affordable and easily accessible way of communication,” Genio said. “Even though data is rising, voice trafﬁc continues to grow but revenue is not growing as fast. The lowering of the interconnection could again help us be much more aggressive in voice calling going forward,” he said. Globe’s mobile voice revenues fell 9 percent to P25.40 billion in the ﬁrst nine months from last year’s P28.06 billion.

Inﬂation rate likely eased in November

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Monday inflation rate in November likely eased to as low as 1.6 percent from 2.3 percent in October, on reduced power rates and rice prices. “The BSP forecast suggests that November inflation could settle within the 1.6 to 2.4 percent range,” Tetangco said in a text message Monday. “Lower petroleum prices and the slight decline in rice prices along with the downward adjustments in power rates could be partly offset by higher LPG prices and weaker domestic currency during the month,” Tetangco said. Power distributor Meralco announced that the rate for a typical household would go down in November by P0.0781 per kilowatt-hour to P8.26 per kWh, the lowest since January 2010. The government is set to release the November inflation data next week. Inflation in the first 10 months averaged 1.6 percent, below the government’s official 2016 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. Tetangco said monetary authorities would continue to monitor evolving price trends and output conditions to ensure price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable economic growth. Julito G. Rada

Govt underspent in October as budget deficit decreased By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE government registered a budget deﬁcit of P2.3 billion in October after spending dropped below target after rising in the previous months, the Finance Department said Monday.

The Bureau of Treasury said the P2.3-billion deﬁcit in October was 91 percent lower than the P27-billion gap posted in the same month in 2015. The October deﬁcit was also 95 percent short of the P50.46billion target for the month. It

brought the 10-month budget deﬁcit to P216 billion, or more than four times the gap recorded year-on-year. Netting out interest payments, the government incurred a P13.70billion primary surplus, a reversal of the P10.78-billion primary deﬁ-

NAIA 3 BRIDGE. A pedestrian link bridge directly connecting Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Terminal 3 with Newport City is getting closer to completion. The bridge is for the beneﬁt and free use of the public, particularly tourists, who may want safe alternatives to reach various parts of the metropolis. The link bridge will be enclosed and air-conditioned, with pedestrian-friendly facilities such as walkalators and elevators, making it an iconic tourism development. Once opened, it is seen to help ease the trafﬁc situation in the area.

cit posted in October 2015. Government revenues in October 2016 grew 7 percent to P174.6 billion from P163 billion on year. The ﬁgure brought the 10-month collections to P1.8 trillion, up 3 percent on year. Collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in October rose 5 percent to P121.9 billion on year. Total BIR collections in the 10-month period mounted to P1.3 trillion, up 9 percent on year. “Inclusion of the tax refund of P0.3 billion will drive the collection for the month to P122.2 billion which is a 6 percent increase over the last year while year to date collection growth is the same,” Treasury said. The Bureau of Customs also sustained its monthly year-onyear growth that started in April with a 3 percent increase in actual collections to P33.4 billion in October. Total Customs collection for the month is net of P0.07 billion tax refund. Yearto-date BOoC revenue has increased 7 percent year-on-year to P321.3 billion

Business

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market retreats; DMCI advances PNB set to launch S P20-b fund raising TOCKS retreated Monday to end a threeday gain, on concerns over the weakening peso and expectations the US Federal Reserve will start raising interest rates in December. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, tumbled 64 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 6,825.40 Monday. This widened total losses this year to 1.8 percent. The heavier index, representing all shares, also lost 29 points, or 0.7 percent, to settle at 4,146.92, on a value turnover of P5.8 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 111 to 74, while 37 issues were unchanged. Seven of the 20 most active

stocks ended in the green, led by DMCI Holdings Inc. which climbed 3.3 percent to P13.16 and PLDT Inc. which rose 2.1 percent to P1,352. The peso rose 0.3 percent Monday to ﬁnish at 49.71 against the US dollar, still near an eight-year low as investors continued to hold on to the greenback in anticipation of the Fed rate hike next month. Meanwhile, Hong Kong led a gain in most Asian markets Mon-

day after ofﬁcials announced the start of a long-awaited link-up with Shenzhen, but the dollar retreated against most of its peers after its recent surge. Crude prices also saw fresh losses, after both main contracts slumped around four percent on Friday owing to disagreements over plans to cut output, with Iran and Iraq pressing to be excluded and Russia suggesting it will only freeze output. Ofﬁcials on Friday’s said the tie-up between the Hong Kong and Shenzhen markets would start on Dec. 5. The scheme will give Hong Kong traders access to the mainland’s second stock exchange, the world’s eighth largest with a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion as of September. The tie-up follows a similar “stock

connect” between Shanghai and Hong Kong launched two years ago, which gave foreigners new access to Chinese companies not quoted elsewhere, and enabled mainlanders to trade in Hong Kong. The city’s Hang Seng Index soared more than one percent in the afternoon, though Shenzhen slipped 0.1 percent by the close. Shanghai ended up 0.5 percent. Most other regional stock markets were up, extending last week’s gains on bets Donald Trump’s spending plans will ramp up growth in the US economy. Tokyo’s benchmark stock index closed lower on Monday, snapping a seven-day winning streak with exporters hit by a stronger yen and energy ﬁrms tumbling on lower oil prices. With Bloomberg, AFP

By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE National Bank, the ﬁfth-largest lender in terms of assets, said it will soon start the issuance of up to P20 billion worth of long-term negotiable certiﬁcates of time deposits after getting the approval of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. PNB said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received the approval from the regulator on Monday. “Further to our disclosure dat-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.4 6,000 47.7 3,200 90.5 2,453,850 112 777,240 1.49 481,000 37.8 15,100 9 2,800 16.5 1,400 19.02 96,400 1.78 3,000 720 80 0.68 11,485,000 74 5,662,280 0.78 437,000 55.2 104,010 259 180 133™ 70 97.35 280 35.7 190,000 180.5 1,587,030 1,794 220 75.1 4,680 1.31 2,000

19,800 152,500 222,076,749 86,870,739 718,670 570,800 25,200 23,100 1,839,208 5,340 57,360 7,731,540 418,657,646 340,440 5,745,604.50 46,584 8,845 26,036.50 6,789,465 289,078,468 374,235 348,615.50 2,620

152,500 25,935,431 33,230,035 550,516 -3,207,290 -123,464,249 -2,120,730.50 -36,260 -3,587,625 -182,055,136 145,141.50 -

42.65 4.31 0.89 1.26 21.8 0.187 96.8 11.06 16.82 22.85 22.4 59 89 1.92 7.25 11.9 10.92 6.4 6.98 5.1 21.3 66.5 12.06 15.64 5.96 1.7 210 76.05 2.27 3.67 29.9 25.95 14.8 265 4.79 3.31 9.07 2.07 5.7 1.39 67.25 4.9 215 4.32 2.82 0.141 1.54 170.8 1.81

INDUSTRIAL 42.95 1,029,600 4.59 5,432,000 0.92 277,000 1.26 2,137,000 23 23,800 0.187 1,500,000 96.8 130 11.1 7,643,700 17 1,158,200 22.85 207,200 23.25 1,600 59 1,130 90 900 1.93 1,095,000 7.25 500,700 11.98 82,500 11.02 4,788,600 6.45 121,600 7 157,100 5.18 6,150,700 21.5 1,519,400 67.5 31,580 12.06 900 15.74 369,000 5.96 104,800 1.74 812,000 210 507,180 76.05 70 2.27 1,000 3.9 6,000 29.95 1,723,500 25.95 188,300 14.82 559,000 265 192,280 5.28 570,000 3.42 1,048,000 9.11 1,951,800 2.07 2,421,000 5.7 6,300 1.39 110,000 67.4 931,820 4.95 3,311,000 215.8 780 4.32 155,000 2.82 1,000 0.141 520,000 1.57 362,000 172 1,969,130 1.81 2,616,000

44,188,165 24,644,140 250,670 2,740,880 554,005 282,640 12,608 85,007,216 19,706,456 4,849,315 36,630 66,800 81,917.50 2,124,490 3,721,282 984,302 52,712,054 784,063 1,102,953 31,651,732 32,629,270 2,124,065.50 10,854 5,805,894 624,997 1,396,850 106,937,864 5,323.50 2,270 22,480 51,634,375 4,902,385 8,299,866 51,042,330 2,830,060 3,567,450 17,946,158 5,014,510 35,910 153,800 62,786,074 16,372,210 168,096 676,100 2,820 73,320 564,720 338,492,964 4,793,930

22,964,360 804,610 -1,562,320 12,675,638 -10,247,888.00 -56,688 -13,340 -5,870,706 1,935 56,657 844,372 -7,639,805 967,717.50 -3,209,326 -17,053,020 11,127,840 -3,688,845 -4,602,778 -4,112,750 764,850 5,950,849.00 4,100,720 19,460.00 15,889,212.00 2,244,980 -86,000 -24,950 6,837,983 -

0.42 74.9 13.26 1.15 5.99 0.31 0.32 743 8.44 13.2 8.06 5.2 1,229 6.33 71.5 5.4 1.74 7.8 13.64 6.65 0.038 1.9 2.29 84.25 640 1.19 240 0.29 0.183 0.265

0.375 72.7 12.7 1.15 5.71 0.31 0.32 713 8.26 12.7 8.04 5 1,160 5.95 68.8 5.3 1.61 7.53 13 6.36 0.037 1.86 2.21 82 623 1.17 238.4 0.285 0.181 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.41 10,880,000 74 1,348,170 13.1 4,315,200 1.15 16,000 5.99 70,300 0.31 200,000 0.32 10,000 736 499,560 8.3 841,400 13.16 8,350,300 8.06 103,500 5 3,500 1,160 189,325 5.95 8,100 70.45 1,253,140 5.4 1,100 1.69 15,999,000 7.8 37,067,100 13.1 5,110,400 6.44 18,055,500 0.038 2,000,000 1.88 14,000 2.21 8,000 83.5 275,710 625 633,300 1.19 9,000 239 6,110 0.285 210,000 0.181 20,000 0.265 390,000

4,430,100 99,176,795 56,265,512 18,400 403,717 62,000 3,200 364,830,330 6,976,527 108,451,314 832,149 17,820 222,855,390 48,458 87,264,555.50 5,840 27,080,380 287,157,116 67,591,236 116,360,467 75,000 26,180 17,760 22,970,442 397,866,505 10,650 1,460,224 60,850 3,640 101,950

-74,700 -76,493,184 11,114,032 -15,241,310 2,672,732 5,756,804 22,645,680 -12,471,839.50 20,150 -1,663,156 -5,493,708 -66,652,679 2,006,710.50 -101,759,105 4,780 -

6.95 1.09 2.12 0.33 33.15 3.13 5.14 0.57 1.26 1.37 0.162 0.55 48.8 0.76 1.74 0.96 1.17 3.91 0.143 0.435 3.2

6.94 1.06 2.06 0.315 32 3.05 5 0.55 1.15 1.15 0.156 0.53 45.85 0.76 1.71 0.94 1.17 3.77 0.137 0.415 3.16

24,305 354,130 820,320 677,800 644,478,860 10,484,530 267,125 7,957,270 793,740 4,419,990 590,770 1,097,300 43,216,835 760 21,968,310 363,660 2,340 108,417,380 2,575,330 21,050 107,710

4,860 2,150 -103,500 -16,250 236,119,840 -6,040,340 -2,628,410 -985,780 4,770 -8,744,275 -12,650 38,000 37,144,690 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

3.28 47.7 90.3 112 1.4 38 9 16.5 19 1.78 717 0.68 75 0.78 55.1 253.8 115 97.5 35.7 189.6 1,693 74.4 1.31

3.4 47.7 91.5 112.1 1.6 38 9 16.5 19.22 1.78 720 0.69 75 0.78 56.7 259.8 133 97.5 35.85 190.2 1,815 75.1 1.31

3.28 47.5 90.1 111.4 1.4 37.8 9 16.5 19 1.78 715.5 0.66 72.55 0.77 55.1 253.8 110.8 90.05 35.7 180.5 1,693 74.2 1.31

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY 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 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH

42.9 4.31 0.92 1.31 23 0.19 97 11.2 17.6 23.45 22.7 60.4 89 1.98 7.49 12 11.02 6.48 7.05 5.11 21.7 67.75 12.06 15.64 6 1.75 217 76.05 2.27 3.67 30 26.2 15 268 4.79 3.31 9.22 2.12 5.7 1.39 67.6 4.95 215 4.4 2.82 0.141 1.6 176 1.84

43.25 4.65 0.94 1.32 23.85 0.19 97 11.28 17.6 23.45 23.25 60.4 97 1.98 7.49 12.04 11.1 6.48 7.05 5.19 21.95 68 12.06 16.18 6 1.75 217 76.05 2.27 3.9 30 26.2 15 270 5.28 3.43 9.32 2.12 5.7 1.41 67.6 5 222.8 4.4 2.82 0.141 1.6 176 1.86

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.375 74.5 13.26 1.15 5.77 0.31 0.32 735 8.26 12.74 8.05 5 1,220 6.33 71.5 5.3 1.61 7.53 13.6 6.65 0.038 1.9 2.29 83 640 1.17 238.6 0.29 0.183 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 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP

6.95 1.08 2.08 0.315 32.5 3.13 5.04 0.56 1.15 1.18 0.162 0.54 48.8 0.76 1.72 0.96 1.17 3.88 0.142 0.415 3.17

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

33 26.45 1.55 3.23 26.85 1.03 0.93 5.15

35.5 27.2 1.55 3.23 26.85 1.03 0.93 5.19

33 26.35 1.51 3.21 26 1 0.91 5.08

35.5 26.65 1.54 3.21 26.4 1.02 0.91 5.19

300 765,800 49,000 131,000 7,813,800 1,870,000 180,000 1,183,000

10,150 20,349,480 75,450 420,810 204,870,940 1,893,630 164,400 6,089,940

-3,414,320 1,550 -92,315,485 -525,966

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR DFNN INC EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A IMPERIAL B INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES 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 TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.65 45.2 1.28 0.52 0.042 10.56 5 6.5 0.071 2.96 103.1 6.8 2.86 1,450 6.16 14.46 2.01 19.88 135 73.2 0.0091 9.11 0.19 1.36 13.5 5.33 2.05 4.05 3.8 17.3 2.21 11.3 5.05 148 14.76 1,324 1.15 0.445 39.3 73.95 5.29 2.6 0.92 3.14 0.33

7.65 45.2 1.47 0.54 0.042 10.56 5 6.6 0.071 2.99 103.3 6.9 2.86 1,470 6.16 14.6 2.1 19.88 139 75 0.0099 9.12 0.19 1.36 13.5 5.83 2.05 4.12 3.8 17.3 2.28 11.32 5.05 148 15.3 1,352 1.15 0.46 39.95 73.95 5.4 2.6 0.95 3.17 0.335

7.55 45.1 1.28 0.52 0.041 10.56 5 6.4 0.068 2.85 101.9 6.63 2.86 1,450 6.15 14.1 2.01 17 126 72 0.0091 9.11 0.185 1.33 13.5 5.33 2 4.04 3.51 17.1 2.2 11.3 5 148 14.3 1,321 1.13 0.44 39.1 72.3 5.22 2.5 0.89 3.11 0.33

SERVICES 7.55 45.1 1.47 0.53 0.041 10.56 5 6.6 0.068 2.85 101.9 6.67 2.86 1,460 6.15 14.5 2.07 17.58 139 72.25 0.0097 9.12 0.185 1.35 13.5 5.78 2 4.1 3.54 17.2 2.21 11.32 5 148 14.46 1,352 1.15 0.445 39.95 72.6 5.28 2.5 0.93 3.14 0.335

19,000 30,300 238,000 184,000 8,900,000 500 2,900 3,069,700 43,780,000 2,093,000 162,990 279,400 12,000 78,220 144,900 114,900 1,380,000 134,600 630 968,180 99,000,000 497,000 5,800,000 218,000 5,000 8,572,500 124,000 1,206,000 4,483,000 800 975,000 1,300 5,000 450 3,241,900 119,775 5,867,000 9,150,000 126,900 41,830 34,200 744,000 10,439,000 316,000 260,000

144,130 1,366,745 340,590 96,320 367,300 5,280 14,500 20,168,859 3,017,320 6,073,250 16,644,355 1,885,364 34,320 114,190,615 891,195 1,661,040 2,833,830 2,426,148 81,450 70,286,335 945,500 4,532,190 1,080,280 294,300 67,500 48,467,644 248,050 4,920,310 16,207,000 13,760 2,182,580 14,696 25,065 66,600 47,773,542 159,926,225 6,709,660 4,127,750 5,030,770 3,062,384 181,711 1,869,780 9,622,320 987,980 87,050

48,360 -58,400 6,026,525.00 34,680 168,360 2,671,623 16,093,780 -7,210 38,890 -14,840,284 -93,400 -692,472 -553,040 1,381,380 -100,870 -29,600 -623,670 25,433,350 -1,903,230.00 -18,500 1,673,895 -837,406.50 61,228 155,960 3,406,260 15,730 -

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 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

0.0034 2.87 5.3 2.3 0.55 0.405 13.54 3.87 0.28 0.205 0.203 0.012 1.98 8.6 3.29 1.28 0.011 0.011 3.98 0.012 8.14 3.74 129.5 2.92 0.0089

0.0036 2.92 5.4 2.3 0.55 0.41 13.98 3.94 0.285 0.208 0.203 0.012 2.07 8.8 3.43 1.38 0.011 0.011 3.98 0.012 8.25 3.83 133.4 2.94 0.0089

0.0034 2.83 5.28 2.21 0.54 0.405 12.88 3.8 0.28 0.195 0.202 0.012 1.96 8.59 3.29 1.28 0.011 0.011 3.96 0.012 8.14 3.68 129.4 2.9 0.0088

MINING & OIL 0.0035 388,000,000 2.83 275,000 5.35 1,098,700 2.29 9,000 0.54 117,000 0.41 520,000 12.92 248,100 3.8 7,489,000 0.28 7,900,000 0.197 16,270,000 0.202 2,250,000 0.012 2,600,000 2 2,216,000 8.6 2,284,300 3.31 277,000 1.35 1,904,000 0.011 3,100,000 0.011 9,000,000 3.96 15,000 0.012 14,100,000 8.25 263,400 3.7 1,169,000 130 530,510 2.9 70,000 0.0088 3,000,000

1,348,600 788,720 5,837,142 20,420 64,330 211,900 3,266,564 28,877,050 2,242,600 3,276,060 455,050 31,200 4,457,390 19,718,549 934,260 2,536,260 34,100 99,000 59,470 169,200 2,161,479 4,357,850 68,961,643 203,830 26,500

-2,447,391.00 12,248 3,946,970 -10,350 1,809,950.00 -17,130 6,700 -8,140 -281,890 -8,928,306 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

44.6 544.5 531.5 104 5.86 1,020 1,020 1.07 1,080 1,035 78 77.8 80 77.95 78.2

44.5 544.5 531.5 103.6 5.84 1,020 1,020 1.07 1,080 1,035 78 77.8 79.85 77.6 77.9

PREFERRED 44.5 21,600 544.5 5,040 531.5 920 103.6 7,820 5.86 31,900 1,020 300 1,020 670 1.07 6,000 1,080 85 1,035 3,600 78 150 77.8 8,000 79.85 59,820 77.6 3,520 77.9 33,420

963,200 2,744,280 488,980 810,988 186,906 306,000 683,400 6,420 91,800 3,726,000 11,700 622,400 4,785,300 273,334 2,603,429

-963,200 -47,438 40,534 -

LR WARRANT

2.5

2.79

2.4

WARRANTS 2.72 3,230,000

8,685,990

82,630

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

2.48 3.41 2.81 9.98

2.6 3.52 2.82 9.98

2.48 3.3 2.8 9.51

2.51 3.5 2.81 9.73

11,282,280 638,390 337,100 12,641,062

-75,150 3,490 2,621,511

FIRST METRO ETF

113.6

113

666,654

PROPERTY 6.95 1.07 2.07 0.33 32.6 3.06 5.14 0.56 1.18 1.34 0.156 0.54 47 0.76 1.73 0.95 1.17 3.8 0.137 0.425 3.2

3,500 330,000 395,000 2,090,000 19,758,700 3,419,000 53,200 14,204,000 658,000 3,531,000 3,760,000 2,064,000 921,900 1,000 12,771,000 383,000 2,000 28,472,000 18,650,000 50,000 34,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

23,313,036 54,308,488 110,473,971

PROPERTY

125,146,830

SERVICES

217,397,243

MINING & OIL

464,816,306

GRAND TOTAL

1,001,502,864

SME

4,433,000 187,000 120,000 1,300,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113 5,890

VALUE 1,660.09 (down) 11.99 1,041,521,128.00 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,897,77 (down) 110.35 998,262,847.12 HOLDING FIRMS 6,927.79 (down) 97.97 1,916,865,694.67 PROPERTY 3,050.21 (down) 22.77 SERVICES 1,306.98 (up) 10.86 1,129,414,004.55 MINING & OIL 12,176.48 (down) 54.06 603,190,515.53 PSEI 6,825.40 (down) 64.38 150,173,131.599 All Shares Index 4,146.92 (down) 29.62 5,864,995,765.47 Gainers:74 Losers: 111; Unchanged: 37; Total: 222

ed July 22, 2016, please be advised that we received today, Nov. 28, 2016, a copy of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approval of the bank’s request for authority to issue long-term negotiable certificates of time deposit in the aggregate amount of up to P20 billion,” PNB said. The bank said in July the proceeds of the issuance of the debt papers would be used as a part of its liability management exercise and to finance the bank’s operations. “The proceeds will be used to extend the maturity profile of the bank’s liabilities as part of overall liability management and raise long-term funds for general corporate purposes,” the bank said. LTNCDs refer to a bank product offered to investors looking for a relatively safe investment asset with a higher interest rate compared to a regular savings account or short-term time deposit. As an investment instrument, LTNCDs are very similar to time deposits and bonds but differ with regard to several features. PNB posted a 21-percent increase in net income to P5.7 billion in the first nine months from P4.7 billion a year ago on the strength of its core businesses.

Court awards P310m to DFNN By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision granting P310 million in monetary award to listed technology company DFNN Inc. as compensation for the termination of its equipment lease agreement with stateowned Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office 11 years ago. DFNN said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received a copy of the CA decision dismissing the petition filed by PCSO, which questioned the P310-million monetary award granted by the Makati regional trial court. The appellate court declared “the Makati RTC correctly granted DFNN’s petition for correction, which petition correctly observed the proper procedure for the correction of an evident miscalculation of figures in the arbitral award.” CA said it did not find merit in PCSO’s contentions and affirmed the ruling of Makati RTC granting the P310 million plus interest monetary award to DFNN. DFNN president and chief executive Ramon Garcia Jr. said the company was willing to forge a mutually acceptable settlement with PCSO. “While we are happy with the favorable ruling by the Court of Appeals, we would also like to express our willingness to forge a mutually acceptable settlement agreement with the present PCSO management,” Garcia said. The ELA was executed by DFNN with PCSO in April 9, 2003. Under the agreement, PCSO agreed to exclusively lease from DFNN all the hardware, software and know how to design and develop a system that would allow the company to accept and process bets from personal communication device users nationwide or online betting.

Business Our state of privacy THE seminarw o r k s h o p g a t h e r e d representatives from the Office of the President, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Privacy Commission, human rights and civil society groups, the academe and, perhaps tellingly, someone from the staff of Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief known for his links to the intelligence community. The topic that was of common interest to such a diverse group was surveillance, and the development of a public policy that balances the security needs of the state against individual rights to privacy. Setting the tone for the day-long seminar was Ivy Patdu, the newly appointed deputy commissioner of the National Privacy Commission, who quoted a dissenting opinion from US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis: “Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” The warning seems particularly relevant these days as the government pushes to relax banking secrecy and wiretapping laws in the name of its aggressive war on illegal drugs. A good starting point in the examination of surveillance policies is “The State of Privacy Philippines,” a report prepared by the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) and its partner, Privacy International. The study offers some fairly updated baseline data. With a population of more than 100 million people, the Philippines had a national internet penetration figure of about 40 percent in 2014, the study notes, citing statistics from internetlivestats.com. Overall, 45 million people are active Internet users, with 32 million of these gaining access through mobile devices. Citing a report by Global Web Index, the study notes that the country ranks first in terms of average number of hours--6.3 hours--spent using the internet per day, using a laptop or desktop. When access is through a mobile device, Filipinos spend on average 3.3 hours online per day, which is higher than the global median of 2.7 hours. At the same time, the country’s average internet connection speed of 2.5Mbps is well below the global average of 4.5Mbps. While there is no hard data to support this, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest that one reason we are online longer than anybody else is that with our slow connection speeds, we simply need more time to download the same volume of data that others do. Our privacy of correspondence is protected by a handful of laws and several international human rights agreements to which the Philippines is a signatory. Under the Civil Code of the Philippines (RA 386 (1949), anyone who “obstructs, defeats, violates or in any manner impedes or impairs” the privacy of communication and correspondence is liable for damages. The Revised Penal Code punishes any person who seizes the papers or letters of another ito discover his or her secrets, while the Electronics Engineering Law of 2004 (RA 9292) makes it punishable for any registered electronics engineer or technician to engage in “illegal wire-tapping, cloning, hacking, cracking, piracy or other forms of unauthorized and malicious electronic eavesdropping or the use of any electronic devices in violation of the privacy of another or in disregard of the privilege of private communications.” The Anti-Wiretapping Act of 1965 prohibits and penalizes wire tapping done by any person to secretly overhear, intercept, or record any private communication or spoken word of another person or persons without the authorization of all the parties to the communication or a court order in the case of specific crimes, such as treason, espionage, rebellion, sedition and kidnapping. Those who knowingly possess, replay, or communicate recordings of wiretapped communications, as well as those who aid or permit wiretapping, are likewise held liable. On the other hand, other laws such as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 (RA 9208) and the Human Security Act of 2007 (RA 9372) allow surveillance by the state when certain crimes are involved, such as human trafficking and terrorism. The Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 requires private internet service providers or ISPs to monitor traffic on their servers and to notify law enforcement agencies if any form of child pornography is being committed on these servers. Moreover, the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 and subsequent regulations based on this law require telecommunications providers to retain certain forms of electronic data that pass through their networks. Among government agencies, those with surveillance powers are the National Security Council, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the National Intelligence Committee, the National Intelligence Board, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation. Among the tools they are said to have access to are devices to intercept mobile phone traffic and tracking the movement of mobile phone users (IMSI catchers), intrusion malware tools, and software tools for large-scale social media analysis. The report is understandably nebulous, particularly on these tools, given the lack of transparency in government surveillance initiatives. Still, it’s a good starting point for a national discussion on privacy rights, and what constitutes acceptable state intrusion—if there is such a thing--on these rights for the sake of public safety. Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

TODAY

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Globe signs P5-b loan deal with Union Bank By Darwin G. Amojelar

LOBE Telecom Inc. said on Monday it borrowed anew from a local bank to ﬁnance the acquisition of a 50-percent equity interest in the telecommunications unit of San Miguel Corp.

The telecom unit of Ayala Corp. said it signed a 15-year P5-billion term loan with Union Bank of the Philippines. Globe said it would use proceeds of the the loan to ﬁnance the acquisition of a 50-percent equity interest in Vega Telecom Inc., Bow Arken Holdings Company Inc. and Brightshare Holdings Corp.

The other half of the equity of VTI, BAHC and BHC is to be acquired by PLDT Inc. Globe in September signed a 12-year and 15-year P20-billion term loan facility arranged by First Metro Investment Corp., with Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. as lender, to ﬁnance the acquisition of Vega Telecom. The telco’s mobile internet

customers are expected to benefit from the added capacities and greater geographic coverage that the additional spectrum can provide, particularly that of the 700 megahertz frequency from Vega Telecom. Globe also signed a 10-year P7-billion term loan facility with Union Bank to ﬁnance the company’s capital expenditures. Globe’s capex this year would mostly be invested in data-related projects, including long-term evolution technology for mobile and home, capacity and coverage augmentation of 3G and HSPA+, modernization of ﬁxed-line data infrastructure and requirements for transmission facilities. Globe earlier reported a 50 percent drop in net income in the

third quarter to P2.7 billion from P5.43 billion after acquiring 50 percent of San Miguel’s telecom assets. Its net profit in the first nine months amounted to P11.7 billion, down 17 percent from P14.1 billion in the same period in 2015. Globe’s core profit, which excludes the impact of the nonrecurring items, one-time gains, foreign exchange and mark-tomarket charges, stood at P11.7 billion, down 8 percent year-onyear. The company’s consolidated service revenues rose 7 percent in the first nine months to P89.1 billion from P83.4 billion in the same period last year.

BSP cautions banks on suspicious accounts Bangko Sentral said. Bangko Sentral has been reminding banks to be always vigilant, especially after the $81-million stolen by cyber thieves from the account of

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas urged banks to be extra cautious and observe tighter due diligence after receiving reports that “unusually” higher number of individual accounts were opened in certain banks. Bangko Sentral, in a memorandum signed by Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla and posted on its Web site, did not name the domestic lenders that were experiencing the higher number of such transactions. “The Bangko Sentral received information on the unusually high number of individual accounts being opened in certain banks, which, reportedly, will be used for grants or donations that will be provided by certain organization or foundation,” Bangko Sentral said. “Banks are reminded to exercise caution and conduct appropriate customer due diligence procedures based on the risk posed by the customer,” it said. The central bank said the customer acceptance policy of the bank should consider, among others, the background and source of funds. It said whenever enhanced due diligence is needed, banks must require additional information other than the minimum information or documents required for the conduct of average due diligence, perform validation procedures all the information provided and obtain senior management approval for establishing business

relationship. “In this case, relevant validation procedures include, among others, establishing the legitimacy and/or validity of the source of funds of applicants who are opening accounts under similar circumstances,” it said. In the event that the bank’s validation yielded an unsatisfactory result, Bangko Sentral said banks should deny banking relationship with the applicant. It added that if the accounts already existed, the bank may tag these accounts, closely monitor movements or transactions and verify the sources of funding or deposits. “These are without prejudice to ﬁling a suspicious transaction report to the Anti-Money Laundering Council, if any of the circumstances under Section X803 of the Manual of Regulations for Banks exists,”

headquarters of the car makers of the US, Western Europe and Japan appeared to have come to believe that, after decades of merely importing CKD (completely knocked down) car packs, the Philippines was at last serious about developing an industry for manufacturing cars and car parts. There was intense competition among the world’s leading carmakers for inclusion in PCMP, and their lobbyists in Congress, the media and the Philippine equivalent of Wall Street used all their influence to win a seat at the table for their clients. Being at that time the business editor of another major newspaper, I can still remember how intense the competition―nay, the struggle―was. In its original formulation, PCMP was to be a four-participant affair. To achieve regional balance and to obviate any charge of bias, there were to be two participants from the US, one from Japan and one from Western Europe. The four car makers that appear to have been all but chosen were General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota and Volkswagen. But in the end there would be five participants. Determined to not be left out, Ford Motor Co. made a powerful eleventh-hour proposal to BoI: if included, its contribution to the program would be a stamping plant. That clinched the deal for the world’s then-second-largest car maker, and PCMP ended being a five-participant affair. Being the offspring of incentives-granting legislation, and as a come-on, PCMP offered the world’s car makers a package of

Bank of Bangladesh in Federal Reserve in New York entered the Philippine ﬁnancial system in February through a branch of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in Makati City.

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health National Capital Regional Ofﬁce VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625 Email addressvmc_bac@yahoo.com PROCUREMENT OF MEDICAL OXYGEN GAS AND COMPRESS AIR 1.

Once there was a PCMP THE recent unveiling by the Duterte administration of CARS, a program for raising the local content of cars produced in this country, has brought back memories of PCMP (Progressive Car Manufacturing Program), which was put together in 1970 by the BoI (Board of Investments) to― as its name suggests―make the domestic motor vehicle industry progressively manufacture cars in the Philippines. BoI, created by the Investment Incentives Act of 1967, was intended to be the principal maker and implementor of this country’s investment policies. The original membership of the BoI board of governors included Cesar Virata, who would later become Secretary of Finance and, much later, Prime Minister. Other members were Vicente T. Paterno, who would succeed Virata as chairman upon the latter’s departure, and Edgardo Tordesillas, who is also remembered for having been the man behind the development of Balesin Island on the Paciﬁc side of Northern Luzon. BoI was meant to, and did, function alongside DTI (Department of Trade and Industry). In the post-Marcos era,BoI was placed under DTI’s wing as the Department’s investment arm. PCMP was the centerpiece of the manufacturing program of the government of the day. It was followed, in due course, by progressive manufacturing programs for trucks (PTMP) and motorcycles (PMMP). The world automotive industry quickly took notice of PCMP. The corporate

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FUNDING SOURCE: The Valenzuela Medical Center (VMC) through INCOME/GAA/GOP intends to apply the amount of Four Million Two Hundred Ninety Six Thousand Pesos Only (Php 4,296,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the provision of public bidding for various MEDICAL OXYGEN GAS AND COMPRESS AIR. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid Opening.

ﬁscal and administrative incentives. Chief among the ﬁscal incentives were provisions for accelerated depreciation, loss carryover and various tax-rate reductions. On the administrative side there were provisions for preferential treatment of various kinds. As a result of PCMP, this country obtained capacity for manufacturing engines, transmissions, electrical systems and stampings. With PCMP, the Philippines had taken a major step in the direction of manufacture of cars in this country. The Filipino people were excited and the business community was enthusiastic. The Philippines was at last shedding its import mentality. For reasons that had to do with the progressive deterioration in the quality of national governance and, by extension, of the business climate, PCMP gradually fell apart. But while it was operational, the program served as a beacon for economic transformation in this country. Now there is CARS. Am I excited? From the details that I have seen about the program, CARS is nothing to get excited about. It strikes me as being an attempt―a feeble one―to imply replicate PCMP. Once there was PCMP. It was a very good program. Any program for establishing a car manufacturing industry at this point in the Philippine economy’s development should improve upon, and not merely attempt to replicate, PCMP.

The Valenzuela Medical Center now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for medical oxygen gas and compress air. The description of an eligible Bidder is contained in Section II of the Bidding Documents’ ITB.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations Parts A (IRR-A) of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, and is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws and regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (RA 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 (CA 138). Only Bids from bidders who pass the eligibility check will be opened. The process for the eligibility check is described in Section II of the Bidding Documents, ITB. The Bidder with the lowest calculated bid (LCB) shall advance to the post-qualification stage in order to finally determine his responsiveness of the bid to the technical and financial requirements of the project. The contract shall then be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during the post-qualification procedure.

Interested Bidders may obtain further information from Valenzuela Medical Center and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 – 5:00 P.M. starting November 29, 2016 to December 13, 2016.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos Only (Php 5,000.00) 1M to 5M. The method of payment will be in cash. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective bidder or his authorized representative. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Valenzuela Medical Center will hold a Pre-Bid Conference open to all interested parties on December 05, 2016, 10:00 A.M. at VMC Conference Room, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Eligibility Check and Bid Opening will be on December 13, 2016. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered to the address below on or before December 13, 2016, 10:00am, VMC Conference Room, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the form of Cash, Manager’s Check or Cashier’s Check Bank Draft or Bank Guarantee of two (2%) percent of the total amount to bid. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

The Valenzuela Medical Center reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to the contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders. VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER IMELDA M. MATEO, MD, MBAH, FPCP, FPCCP District Health Ofﬁcer II Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax no. 294-46-25

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com (MS-NOV. 29, 2016)

SGD. DR. JOSEPH T. NOCOM, FPOA BAC Chairman

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

World

Cuban-Americans toast the death of Fidel Castro M IAMI― CubanAmericans who loathed Fidel Castro celebrated tirelessly Sunday to mark his death, dancing, singing and honking car horns for the second full day.

Crowds ﬁrst spilled into the streets of Little Havana Friday night as news of the 90-year-old revolutionary leader’s death in Cuba spread. The revelry has not stopped since. “I’m not tired of celebrating because I can’t believe it. I never thought that this moment would arrive,” said a woman named Delsy who declined to give her last name. She celebrated with a large crowd outside the Cafe Versailles, where exiles met in the Cold War’s heyday to plot the overthrow of the Castro regime. Some two million Cubans live in the United States, nearly 70 percent of them in Florida. The vast majority of those live in Miami and many saw Castro as a brutal tyrant. Streets that had been closed because of the festive crowd reopened Sunday as authorities tried to restore a semblance of normality. But then they had to close them down again. Among the cacophony of car horns, drums, loud music and singing, a chant rang out: “Fidel, you tyrant, take your brother too!” Fidel Castro may be gone, but his younger brother Raul, 85, remains in power as president of the Americas’ only one-party Communist-run state. A rally demanding freedom and democratic reforms in Cuba has been convened for Wednesday in Little Havana. It will coincide with the start of a four-day procession in which Castro’s remains will be taken around the island of 11 million for people to pay their respects. “The tyrant is dead but the tyranny continues,” said activist Orlando Gutierrez of the Cuban Resistance Assembly. Several blocks to the east, the popular Ball & Chain salsa nightclub offered discounts and a new drink: “Adios Fidel”. The place was bursting with people Saturday night. The street outside, full of Cuban restaurants and bars, was packed with late-night pedestrians and customers. AFP

Thousands protest cash ban in India KOLKATA―Tens of thousands of people turned out Monday for nationwide protests against India’s controversial ban on high-value banknotes, which opposition party organizers say has caused a “financial emergency”. India is still reeling from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s shock decision nearly three weeks ago to pull 86 percent of the currency from circulation overnight, triggering a chronic shortage of notes in an economy that operates almost entirely on cash. Around 25,000 people took to the streets of the eastern city of Kolkata, capital of West Bengal state, whose left-wing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has warned of “riots and epidemics” if the ban continues. An estimated 6,000 more turned out to protest in Mumbai, India’s western commercial hub, police said. But many ordinary Indians say they support the scheme if it forces the rich to pay their taxes by making them bank undeclared income. Only a handful of states observed a call for a nationwide protest strike. “We are protesting against the undeclared financial emergency imposed by the government and the hardships people across the country are facing because of this illegal decision,” said Manish Tiwari of the opposition Congress party. “The decision to demonetize high-value currency was done without any authority and legislation and is clearly illegal.” Owners of the banned 500 and 1,000 rupee ($7.30, $14.60) notes have until the end of the year to deposit them in a bank, and can only directly exchange a small number for new currency. But authorities have struggled to print enough new notes to meet demand and economists say the ensuing cash crunch will hit growth. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, a respected economist, said last week it would shave at least two percentage points off growth, which topped seven percent in the first half of the financial year. “I do not disagree with the objectives but it is a monumental case of mismanagement,” the Congress party lawmaker told parliament. “The way demonetization has been implemented, it will hurt agricultural growth and all those people working in the informal sector.” AFP

S. Korea’s Park refuses to be questionned

DEPARTING FOR PARIS. From left, Victoria’s Secret models Martha Hunt, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Taylor Hill depart for Paris for the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on November 27, 2016 in New York City. AFP

SEOUL―South Korean President Park GeunHye will not answer questions from prosecutors over a snowballing influence-peddling scandal rocking her presidency, her lawyer said Monday. Prosecutors describe Park and her secret confidante, Choi Soon-Sil, as co-culprits in the scandal. They are accused of coercing top Seoul firms to donate over $60 million to non-profit foundations that Choi then used for personal gain. Choi was charged last week with coercion and abuse of power. The scandal has sparked nationwide fury, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to call for Park’s ousting. A parliamentary vote to impeach her could take place as early as this week as a growing number of ruling party politicians back the opposition-led campaign to oust the president. Park earlier vowed to cooperate “sincerely” with the legal probe but has rejected a series of requests in recent weeks by prosecutors to make herself available for questioning. “We regret that we can’t cooperate with the request from prosecutors to hold face-to-face questioning on November 29,” Yoo Young-Ha, Park’s lawyer, told reporters. Seoul prosecutors gave Park an ultimatum last week, saying Tuesday is the final deadline for questioning before a powerful independent team of investigators takes over the probe in December. But Park―the first South Korean president to become a criminal suspect while in office―is too busy handling state affairs and preparing a legal defense against the mounting accusations, Yoo said. It is not clear whether Park will cooperate with the new independent investigative team. AFP

Bangladesh turning back Rohingya DHAKA―Multiple boats packed with Rohingya refugees ﬂeeing violence in Myanmar were turned back by Bangladesh border guards Monday, despite appeals by the country’s opposition to provide shelter to the persecuted Muslim minority. Thousands of desperate Rohingya from Myanmar’s western Rakhine state have ﬂooded over the border into Bangladesh in the last week, bringing with them horrifying claims of gang rape, torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar’s security forces. Eight boats attempting to cross the Naf River separating Rakhine from southern Bangladesh were pushed back on Monday after six were refused entry on Sunday, head of the board guards in the Bangladeshi frontier town of Teknaf, Colonel Abuzar Al Zahid, told AFP. “There were 12 to 13 Rohingya

in each of the boats,” Zahid said. Dhaka says thousands more are massed on the border, but has refused urgent international appeals to let them in, instead calling on Myanmar to do more to stop people ﬂeeing. In the past two weeks, Bangladeshi border guards have prevented more than 1,000 Rohingya, including many women and children, from entering the country by boat, ofﬁcials told AFP. Bangladesh’s main opposition leader Khaleda Zia late Sunday joined a growing chorus of political parties and hard-line Islamist groups in the Muslim majority country calling for the Rohingya to be given shelter. At least 30,000 have been internally displaced in Rakhine and many have tried to reach Bangladesh over the last month despite heightened border patrols, and sought refugee amongst the Ro-

hingya refugee population that already live on the Bangladesh side. Samira Akhter told AFP by phone that she reached an unofficial refugee camp in Bangladesh on Monday, after fleeing her village in Rakhine state with her three children and 49 others. “The military killed my husband and torched our home. I fled to a hill along with my three children and neighbors. We hid there for a week,” said Akhter, 27. Dudu Mia, a Rohingya leader in the camp, said at least 1,338 had arrived in the community since mid October. Violence in Rakhine―home to the stateless ethnic group loathed by many of Myanmar’s Buddhist majority―has surged in the last month after security forces poured into the area following a series of attacks on police posts blamed on local militants. AFP

MEETING. UN Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres shakes hands with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi after a joint press brieﬁng in Beijing on November 28, 2016. AFP

CSR-THE BUSINESS OF SHARING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

The difference between CSR, CSV By Carol Moore

major transformation in management thinking. And they assert that shared value models represent nothing less than the next evolution of capitalism. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Carol Moore is the In the three years since the article was published, Director of Global Alliances and Strategic Creating Shared Value (CSV) has gained credibility, Initiatives of Heifer International. The legitimacy and momentum as a new way of doing following text is part of a white paper business. The concept is now embraced by many of the Moore published for Heifer in 2014.) world’s leading corporations like Nestle, Intel, Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company and Western Union, and the Business and Society What is the proper role of business in framework and language of shared value has spread society? The question isn’t new. Debates quickly beyond the private sector to governments, about the private sector’s responsibility for its NGOs, civil society and academia. CSR and CSV: What’s the Difference? economic, social and environmental impacts The distinction between CSR and CSV can be have been raging since the dawn of capitalism. puzzling and there’s a considerable amount of confusion What is new is the emerging global consensus that business is the engine of economic growth and debate about the difference. Organizations like the and international development, and that Shared Value Initiative at FSG Social Impact Advisors business can and must play an indispensable (http://www.sharedvalue.org/), Business for Social role alongside government, civil society Responsibility (www.bsr.org), the World Business and communities to solve complex, global Council on Sustainable Development (http://www. challenges like hunger, poverty, inequality, wbcsd.org/home.aspx), the Clinton Global Initiative unemployment and climate change. At Heifer International, we know the role of business in society is highly contested ground. Our view is that private sector firms—from leading multinational corporations to small and growing businesses to startup social enterprises—have unique and essential assets and capabilities to contribute to our mission of ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. But we also have questions and concerns about how, when, where and why the private sector engages in development, and we believe that power structures, motives, performance measures and clarity of definitions matter. We view Corporate Social Responsibility and Creating Shared Value practices from a particular perspective: do these efforts actually contribute to the sustainable welfare of rural communities and community members in Central and Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia? How do smallholder farmers benefit from CSR and CSV activities? And can we persuade the private sector to relinquish resources, rewards and decision-making to local communities for long-term benefit instead of short-term profits? A Brief History of CSR The modern Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement can be traced to Article 23 in the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which called for the right to employment, favorable work conditions, equal pay for equal work, and the right to join trade unions. During the social upheavals and activist movements of the 1960s and 1970s, the concept of socially responsible corporate behavior gained traction. Economist Milton Friedman ignited a debate about the obligation of business to address societal problems in a 1970 New York Times Magazine article, when he wrote, “There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engage in open and free competition without deception or fraud.”1 Privatization, deregulation, corporate takeovers and leveraged buyouts in the 1980s led to an explosion of CSR awareness and activism in the 1990s, as globalization and communications technology accelerated flows of capital, information and people across borders. Informed and emboldened stakeholders—customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, policy-makers, civil society organizations, international NGOs and media—demanded transparency and accountability from corporations, rewarding companies that contributed positively to social and environmental well-being and punishing firms that ignored or neglected the negative externalities of their business practices. Fast forward through the past two decades, and you can see the influence of the CSR movement by looking at today’s business language: corporate citizenship; sustainability; triple bottom line; ESG (environmental, social and governance); inclusive business; cause related marketing (CRM); pro-poor value chains; bottom of the pyramid business models (BOP); socially responsible investing and impact investing; social enterprise; social purpose; public-private partnerships; green economy; collective impact; license to operate/ license to lead; corporate ethics; and corporate volunteerism and employee engagement. The lexicon is constantly changing, refining, expanding and provoking. So what exactly is CSR? I like the definition used by the CSR Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School, so superbly led by one of my favorite thought leaders on the role of business and society, Jane Nelson2: “Corporate social responsibility encompasses not only what companies do with their profits, but also how they make them. It goes beyond philanthropy and compliance, and addresses how companies manage their economic, social, and environmental impacts, as well as their relationships in all key spheres of influence: the workplace, the marketplace, the supply chain, the community and the public policy realm.”3 The Rise of Creating Shared Value In their seminal 2011 Harvard Business Review article, “Creating Shared Value,”4 Michael Porter and Mark Kramer introduced the concept of shared value: corporate policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing social and economic conditions in the communities in which the company sells and operates. Porter and Kramer argue that all profit is not equal. Profit involving shared value enables society to advance and companies to grow faster. They predict that incorporating societal issues into strategy and operations is the next

(http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/), Business in the Community (http://www.bitc.org.uk/) and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/aspennetworkdevelopment-entrepreneurs) are at the forefront of this conversation, and Heifer International is an active participant in the global discourse with these leading organizations. Here’s my take on the distinctions between CSR and CSV, based on a Michael Porter interview in 2012: • CSR is fundamentally about taking resources from the business, and investing those resources in being a good corporate citizen: recycling, giving money to social causes, reporting on social and environmental impacts, and engaging employees in community works. • Shared Value is aimed at changing how the core business operates—strategy, structure, people, processes and rewards—in order to deliver triple bottom line returns. • The fundamental distinction is that CSR is about doing something separate from the business and CSV is

about integrating social and environmental impact into the business, using that integration to drive economic value. • Forward thinking businesses want to be part of the solution to tackling the complex problems facing our communities, our countries and our world. Companies and employees know that charitable donations are important. However, they want to expand their engagement so that their core business models improve the well-being of people and the planet, reduce or eliminate negative externalities, and earn a proﬁt. • Multinational corporations in Europe and the US are slowly but steadily ramping up their CSR and CSV efforts on complex global problems, but companies in the BRICS and frontier markets are rapidly taking the lead on national and regional issues of hunger, poverty, inequality, unemployment and climate change. These emerging market businesses are embracing Shared Value as a smart, sustainable and proﬁtable business model.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

CSR-THE BUSINESS OF SHARING

Sheltered with new hope: VXI revisits Eastern Samar

“W

ITH our new house, we are in a better state now than we were before,” says Marissa Garrigo, one of the recipients of the houses built by VXI and Gawad Kalinga for Typhoon Yolanda survivors. Marissa and her family was one of the 14 beneﬁciaries of VXI and Gawad Kalinga housing project in Brgy. Poblacion 8, Lawaan, Eastern Samar - an area terribly hit by the typhoon two years back. VXI, a global contact center and business solutions company, and Gawad Kalinga revisited them in October to see how are they recovering from the calamity that changed their lives completely. The residents of VXI Village were all smiles as they welcomed the team who assisted not just in reconstructing their homes, but also in rebuilding their shattered hopes and spirits. “These houses, built through bayanihan, will serve as a proof that this community can withstand whatever calamities that may come from hereafter, and a representation of VXI’s strong and solid commitment in taking care of the community,” shared Jovie Llanes, VP for Human Resources, as he headed VXI and Gawad Kalinga’s team during their visit in the village.

VXI and Gawad Kalinga prepared a simple gathering ﬁlled with gifts and surprises for the community, making everyone feel the spirit of Christmas this early. As for Marissa, she thought help would never come to their place until VXI and Gawad Kalinga commenced the housing project. A year after the houses were turned over to them, they can really say that recovering from Yolanda became easier compared to when they were still living in makeshift houses made of driftwood and broken roofs. It also made them go back easily to their usual dayto-day activities, free from the worries of being homeless. “This project wouldn’t be possible without the support of the whole VXI community, our partners from Gawad Kalinga, and the people residing here in Lawaan, Eastern Samar. This truly shows how passionate everyone is when it comes to helping other people without expecting anything in return,” added Llanes.

The Typhoon Yolanda survivors at Poblacion 8 in Lawaan, Eastern Samar were all smiles as they welcomed representatives from VXI. Inset photo shows VXI Team headed by (from left) Wilkins Tan, VP for Business Excellence and Support Services; Debbie Rose Santos, VP for Talent Acquisition; Jovie Llanes, VP for Human Resources; and Sherwin Sangrador, Director for Real Estate Admin and Facilities. They pose with the VXI Village site marker at Lawaan.

The legacy of a humble immigrant “START by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible,” says St. Francis of Assisi. These are the same words that the Wong Chu King Foundation lives by. A humble immigrant from Amoy, China who sought greener pastures in the Philippines, Wong Chu King built a business empire through hard work, fierce determination, and great sacrifice. Success did not come easy for him—he lived through the fears and uncertainties of World War II. These traits were evident during the war, when King started a small cigarette business. With the help of four assistants, King peddled his produce in the side streets of Divisoria. King survived the war and learned valuable lessons that would serve him well in the coming years. One such lesson stood out: as a sign of his gratitude to God for sparing his life during the war, he pledged to do all he could to improve the lives of other war survivors. Generosity and compassion became his tenets in living a life dedicated to providing opportunities for others. Transformation through charity This is the tenet that drives the Wong Chu King Foundation, Inc. (WCKF). Founded on March 30, 1990 by the heirs of Wong Chu King, WCKF is involved in educational and apostolic charities, primarily in areas in the Philippines where tobacco farming is prevalent. The Foundation provides scholarships to deserving young men and women, especially to dependents and beneficiaries of Filipino tobacco farmers. After the war, he established La Campana Fabrica de Tabacos. The rest, as they say, is history: King nurtured his small business into a thriving empire with the help of his wife Nelia, and his children. Although he was focused on growing his business, King continued to live by the lessons he learned in his earlier years, during the turbulent times when survival was uncertain. His commitment to business leadership and success was also his way of fulfilling his pledge of helping as many people as possible by providing them employment and opportunities for personal growth. Today, the Wong Chu King Foundation lives up to his legacy of humility, charity, and love of God and country. King’s unwavering and enduring faith in God translates into a solid commitment to charity and compassion. The Foundation espouses transformation through charity because this is how Wong Chu King, the humble immigrant, envisioned his legacy to be handed down. The Foundation believes in taking small but necessary steps to help the needy and provide opportunities to the deserving but less fortunate, thereby changing the world– and doing the impossible–one small step at a time with the help of around 5,000 volunteers of the foundation.

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Clark area in danger of water crisis C By Romeo Dizon

LARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—A Manila 4,000-hectare watershed alongStandard the TODAY Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE mountain ranges needs immediate reforestation NO. 004-2015010994 Registry of Deeds of Quezon City to prevent a water crisis around Clark and its surrounding cities and municipalities. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY

PEAKHOLD FINANCE CORPORATION, Mortgagee, -versusFRE NO. 11401 SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and VICTORIA F. DEGACO Mortgagors. x---------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED)

A PARCEL OF LAND (LOT 41, BLK. 4, OF THE CONS-SUBDN. PLAN PCS-007404003783-D, BEING A PORTION OF THE CONS. OF LOTS 1071-L-3, 791-C-2-C (LRC) PSD263819, 535-C-2-B- (LRC) PSD-263717, 535-B9-A, (LRC) PSD-263816, 535-B-6, PSD-36572, AND 974, PIEDAD ESTATE, LRC REC. NO. 5975), SITUATED IN THE BRGYS OF SAUYO, AND BAGBAG, QUEZON CITY, M-MANILA, IS. OF LUZON, BOUNDED ON THE NW., ALONG LINE 1-2 BY LOT 39, BLK. 4; ON THE NE., AND E., ALONG LINE 2-4 BY ROAD LOT 8; AND ON THE SE., ALONG LINE 4-5 BY ROAD LOT 3; AND ON THE SW., ALONG LINE 5-1 BY LOT 40, BLK. 4, ALL OF THE CONS-SUBDN. PLAN. XXX CONTAINING AN AREA OF ONE HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN (147) SQ. METERS, MORE OR LESS.

Renato Tayag Jr., head of of international institutions the Sibul Ni Aeta Foundaand research companies. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK tion, warned that the aquifers The foundation has started around Clark were drying up planting 30 hectares of land in owing to the area’s increasing Sitio Target at Sapangbato, Anpopulation, massive geles City amboos, fruit-bearing UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, business as amended by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the All sealed bids must betrees, submitted to thedifferent unestablishments, climate seasonal vegterms and conditions of the Deed of Realand Estate Mortgage executed on September 7, 2015 by dersigned at the aforesaid office on the above change as shown by findings etables and others for the Aetas’ stated date and time. SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and VICTORIA F. DEGACO, - Blk. 4 Lot 41 Cordon corner Eagle St., Rolling Meadows 2, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City Mortgagors in favor of PEAKHOLD FINANCE CORPORATION, Mortgagee, to satisty the mortgage debt in the amount of Php 1,889,340.03 the total amount due, as of September 29, 2016 excluding attorney’s fees, liquidated damages; expenses for publication; filing fees; sheriff’s fees and commission, and such other cost and expenses arising out of or incidental to the foreclosure, together with all the lawful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on DECEMBER 6, 2016 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Office of the Clerk of Court & ExOfficio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will sell thru public auction to the highest bidder for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit:

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY PEAKHOLD FINANCE CORPORATION, Mortgagee, -versus-Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FRE NO. 11401 Judicial SPS.National RANDY T.Capital DEGACO and Region BRANCH 214 VICTORIA F. DEGACO Mandaluyong City Mortgagors. x---------------------------------------------x IN RE: PETITION FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 DIVORCE DECREE BETWEEN (AS AMENDED) LIWAYWAY ANTILLON AVESTRUZ UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, AND MASAFUMI KIMURA, as amended by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the terms and conditions of theAVESTRUZ Deed of Real Estate LIWAYWAY ANTILLON Mortgage executed on September 7, 2015 by Petitioner,

SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and VICTORIA F. DEGACO, - Blk. 4 Lot 41 Cordon corner Eagle SP. PROC. NO. Bartolome, MC-16-10510 St., Rolling Meadows 2, San NovaliFor: ches, Quezon CityJUDICIAL MortgagorsRECOGNITION in favor of PEAKOF FOREIGN DIVORCE HOLD FINANCE CORPORATION, Mortgagee, -versusto satisty the mortgage debt in the amount of MASAFUMI KIMURA Php 1,889,340.03 the total amount due, as of September 29, 2016 excluding attorney’s fees, Respondent. x-----------------------------------------x liquidated damages; expenses for publication; filing fees; sheriff’sORDER fees and commission, and Before is a verified Petition such otherthis costCourt and expenses arising out offor or judicial recognition of a foreign divorce incidental to the foreclosure, together with allfiled the by Liwayway Avestruz (PETITIONER). lawful fees andAntillon expenses of foreclosure sale, the PETITIONER prays thatRegional after dueTrial notice Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Courtand of hearing, City judgment be duly rendered recognizing Quezon and/or his authorized Deputy PETITIONER’s foreign decree and to Sheriff, hereby announces thatofondivorce DECEMBER direct annotate in thetoLocal 6, 2016and between thesuch hoursjudgment of 9:00 A.M. 4:00 Civil Registry of Mandaluyong National P.M. at the Office of the ClerkCity of and Court & ExStatistics OfficeRegional (NSO). Trial Court, Hall of JusOfficio Sheriff, tice Bldg., Elliptical Road,that Diliman, City, PETITIONER alleges she isQuezon a Filipino, will sell thru public auctiontoto Masafumi the highestKimura bidder of legal age, married for cash, in Philippine Currency,in the following (RESPONDENT) and divorced Japan, and described property/ies withStreet, all theBarangay improvea residentreal of 717 Pantaleon ments existing thereon, Hulo, Mandaluyong City.to wit: RESPONDENT is of legal age, a Japanese national, and a resident of 6-10 Nakano, Kimitsu City, Chiba, Prefecture, Japan.

needs as their contribution to the impending water crisis. Tayag said their excess produce was being sold to public markets in the area. The World Bank, through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded a study on the status of aquifers near Clark and its vicinities sometime in 2008 with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Clark Development Corp. as implementing agencies, but the result has not been made public for unknown reasons, Tayag said. At present, he said that a private company is supplying potable water inside the former US

Air Force base and not a government entity whose aquifers are now drying up because they are “over-pumped.” “We must act together now before water rationing starts on or before 2025,” Tayag said during a media forum here. Non-government organizations, stakeholders and local government must work together to prevent the crisis by planting the watershed with fruit bearing trees, bamboo, coffee trees and other plants, Tayag said. Proper planting in the mountain ranges of all kinds of trees will be the turning point, Tayag said, because it will take five years before

these can effectively absorb water instead of it going down the hills to the rivers and streams. Building dams to serve as water retention and conservation basins is another method of saving water from the mountains, he added. Rebuilding the watershed is also good for agro forestry and ecotourism for provinces, Tayag noted. Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan is appealing for a presidential proclamation for the immediate planting of watershed trees in the three provinces, a move approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the region.

Pamintuan, who is also the president of the City Mayors League of the Philippines, assured Tayag that he would do his best for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the proclamation as soon as possible. Angeles and the other cities near Clark, namely San Fernando, Mabalacat, Porac, Magalang, all in Pampanga, Banban in Tarlac and Cabiao in Nueva Ecija, are booming because of their proximity to Clark. Angeles City alone, Tayag said, has seen its population rise from 500,000 to 1.3 million during daytime, which is also being experienced by San Fernando and Mabalacat.

Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

IN BRIEF

In the event that public auction should not take place on said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on DECEMBER 13, 2016 at the same time and place without further notice.

Albay Astrodome repairs complete

Quezon City, Metro Manila, October 21, 2016. (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VI and Acting Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or Destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law.

Copy Furnished: SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and PEDRO C. SEBALLOS VICTORIA F. DEGACO 105 Mahiyain St., Blk. 4 Lot 41 Cordon corner Sikatuna Village Eagle St., Rolling Meadows 2, Quezon City San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City

LEGAZPI CITY—The provincial government of Albay announced the complete restoration of the 19-year-old Albay Astrodome here. Albay Capitol spokesman Danny Garcia said Gov. Al Francis Bichara ordered the repair of the P100-million sports venue built in 1997 at a total cost of P25 million. Repairs were completed in three months, ending November 16. The repair involved all the air conditioning units, the basketball court, comfort rooms, the stage, bleachers and a paint job. It is once again ready to host events such as an upcoming Philippine Basketball Association game, Garcia said. The stadium can accommodate 5,000 persons. Manny T. Ugalde

Manila

Standard

TODAY

(MS-Nov. 8, 15 & 22, 2016)

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2015010994 Registry of Deeds of Quezon City A PARCEL OF LAND (LOT 41, BLK. 4, OF THE CONS-SUBDN. PLAN PCS-007404003783-D, BEING A PORTION OF THE CONS. OF LOTS 1071-L-3, 791-C-2-C (LRC) PSD263819, 535-C-2-B- (LRC) PSD-263717, 535-B9-A, (LRC) PSD-263816, 535-B-6, PSD-36572, had a child who was born on 20 August AND 974, PIEDAD ESTATE, LRC REC. NO. 1998. their wedding, PETITIONER and 5975),After SITUATED IN THE BRGYS OF SAUYO, RESPONDENT at 6-10 Nakano, KimitsuIS. AND BAGBAG,lived QUEZON CITY, M-MANILA, City, Chiba Prefecture. RESPONDENT filed a OF LUZON, BOUNDED ON THE NW., ALONG 2 divorce andBYwas granted on 4;06ON January 2016. LINE 1-2 LOT 39, BLK. THE NE., AND No nor real properties, both in the E.,personal ALONG LINE 2-4 BY ROAD LOT 8; AND ON Philippines abroad, acquired THE SE., and ALONG LINEwere 4-5 BY ROADduring LOT 3; ANDmarriage. ON THE SW., ALONG LINE 5-1 BY LOT their 40, BLK. 4, ALL OF THE CONS-SUBDN. PLAN. WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be XXX CONTAINING AN AREA OF ONE HUNsufficient in formSEVEN and substance, let the DRED FORTY (147) SQ. METERS, hearing on LESS. the presentation of jurisdictional MORE OR requirements be set on 07 February 2017 at sealed in bids be submitted to the un8:30Allo’clock themust morning at the Regional dersigned the aforesaid above Trial Court,at Branch 214, office Hall on of the Justice stated date and time. Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, at which time, parties date and mentioned, Interested areplace hereby enjoinedallto interested persons who may be investigate for themselves theaffected title tothereby the said are directed toand appear and show cause, if any, if property/ies the encumbrances thereon, asany to why theresaid be. petition should not be granted. Let copyevent of this Order auction be published In the that public should at notthe take petitioner’s expense a newspaper general place on said date indue to fortuitousofevent or if circulation by raffle, ONCE (1) Aholiday, WEEK it the sameselected be declared a non-working forshall THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE be held on DECEMBERWEEKS. 13, 2016 at the same time without notice. Further, letand copyplace of this Orderfurther be served upon theQuezon Office ofCity, the Metro Solicitor General, the Office of Manila, October 21, 2016. the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor, the Local Civil (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Registrar of Mandaluyong City, the Philippine Clerk of Court and Statistics Authority, and VIRESPONDENT Acting Clerk at of Court Ex-Officio Sheriffin Masafumi Kimura his last& known address WARNING: Japan at the expense of PETITIONER. It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or Destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before SO ORDERED. the date of the auction sale under penalty of Mandaluyong City the law.

No. 8 on Imus Wanted list falls

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Copy Furnished: 10 October 2016. SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and PEDRO C. SEBALLOS VICTORIA F. DEGACO 105 Mahiyain St., Blk. 4 Lot 41 Cordon corner Sikatuna Village Eagle St., Rolling Meadows 2, Quezon (Sgd.) City IMELDASan L. Bartolome, PORTES-SAULOG Novaliches, QuezonJudge City Presiding

IMUS, Cavite—Local police have captured the No. 8 person on this province’s Most Wanted list after an operation at Ilas Compound in Barangay Carsadang Bago 1 here. The Imus CPS arrested Christopher Retamal, 39, a salesman wanted for qualified theft, at 10 a.m. on November 23, by virtue of a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Matias M Garcia II of Branch 19 in Bacoor City last June 11, 2010. In a separate incident, Imus police also arrested Freddie “Boy Taipan” Castellano, 40, after he mauled P03 Alfredo Rago Jr. over a traffic altercation. Castellano, a security guard working at De La Salle University-Taft, had sideswiped Rago, who was on his motorcycle at a traffic stop, with his own motorbike. Benjamin Chavez

Performers from Dingras, Ilocos Norte interpret their ‘Ani’ or Harvest Festival en route to winning the Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals and the grand prize of P250,000. (MS-Nov. 8, 15 & 22, 2016)

Dingras tops Ilocos Norte towns in ‘Tan-ok’ fest PETITIONER and RESPONDENT were married under civil rite on 29 August 2011 in Kimitsushi, Chiba Ken, Japan.1 Prior to their marriage, PETITIONER and RESPONDENT

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 214 Mandaluyong City IN RE: PETITION FOR JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DIVORCE DECREE BETWEEN LIWAYWAY ANTILLON AVESTRUZ AND MASAFUMI KIMURA,

Office of the Solicitor General Office of the City Prosecutor, Mandaluyong City Atty. Jose Maronilla Liwayway Antillon Avestruz Masafumi Kimura

1 Report of Marriage is attached to the Petition as Annex “A” 2 Divorce Certificate as Annex “B” of the Petition.

(MS-Nov. 15, 22 & 29, 2016)

had a child who was born on 20 August 1998. After their wedding, PETITIONER and RESPONDENT lived at 6-10 Nakano, Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture. RESPONDENT filed a divorce and was granted on 06 January 2016.2 No personal nor real properties, both in the Philippines and abroad, were acquired during their marriage.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let the hearing on the presentation of jurisdictional requirements be set on 07 February 2017 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning at the Regional LIWAYWAY ANTILLON AVESTRUZ Trial Court, Branch 214, Hall of Justice Petitioner, Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, at which time, date and place mentioned, all SP. PROC. NO. MC-16-10510 interested persons who may be affected thereby For: JUDICIAL RECOGNITION are directed to appear and show cause, if any, OF FOREIGN DIVORCE as to why said petition should not be granted.

-versusMASAFUMI KIMURA Respondent. x-----------------------------------------x

ORDER Before this Court is a verified Petition for judicial recognition of a foreign divorce filed by Liwayway Antillon Avestruz (PETITIONER). PETITIONER prays that after due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered recognizing PETITIONER’s foreign decree of divorce and to direct and annotate such judgment in the Local Civil Registry of Mandaluyong City and National Statistics Office (NSO). PETITIONER alleges that she is a Filipino, of legal age, married to Masafumi Kimura (RESPONDENT) and divorced in Japan, and a resident of 717 Pantaleon Street, Barangay Hulo, Mandaluyong City. RESPONDENT is of legal age, a Japanese national, and a resident of 6-10 Nakano, Kimitsu City, Chiba, Prefecture, Japan. PETITIONER and RESPONDENT were married under civil rite on 29 August 2011 in Kimitsushi, Chiba Ken, Japan.1 Prior to their marriage, PETITIONER and RESPONDENT

Let copy of this Order be published at the petitioner’s expense in a newspaper of general circulation selected by raffle, ONCE (1) A WEEK for THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. Further, let copy of this Order be served upon the Office of the Solicitor General, the Office of the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor, the Local Civil Registrar of Mandaluyong City, the Philippine Statistics Authority, and RESPONDENT Masafumi Kimura at his last known address in Japan at the expense of PETITIONER. SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City 10 October 2016. (Sgd.) IMELDA L. PORTES-SAULOG Presiding Judge Office of the Solicitor General Office of the City Prosecutor, Mandaluyong City Atty. Jose Maronilla Liwayway Antillon Avestruz Masafumi Kimura

UPSTAGING 22 other contingents, the “Para sa mga Ilocano, lalo na sa mga town of Dingras, Ilocos Norte conquered Dingreños, dumaan man ang isang this year’s “Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of ‘Lawin,’ ang buhay sa bukid ay patuFestivals” competition through an inspir- loy pa rin,” explained Roxette Gyle de ing portrayal of how the Ilocano spirit per- Roxas on behalf of her town. She was reseveres through recent disasters. ferring to the Super Typhoon “Lawin,” “Tan-ok’’ is a grand showdown of dif- which had struck Northern Luzon last ferent festivals found among Ilocos Norte’s month, leaving severe damages. 21 towns and two cities. It has grown to As champion, the town of Dingras rebecome the largest event in Northern Lu- ceived a cash prize of P350,000 and the zon that celebrates Ilocano greatness or grand trophy. “tan-ok” through showcasing the intricaAt second place was last year’s champion, cies of each town’s culture and traditions. the coastal town of Currimao who had put In her opening message, Gov. Imee R. on a close fight with a presentation that audiMarcos asked, “Ano nga ba ang pinag- ences described as having taken them undermamalaki at pinagyayabang at pinag- water. This earned the town P250,000. kakadakila ng pagiging Ilocano?” Since 2013, Nueva Era has proved it“It is time that we think back of our his- self as the top-performing contingent tory, our leadership, andCYAN our present impor- YELLOW among theBLACK province’s indigenous comMAGENTA tant developments among the youth and the munities. The town found itself at third future, to decide finally and forge: Pasing- place this year, winning P150,000. kedan ti kinatan-ok ni Ilocano!” The last Dingras, Currimao, and Nueva Era also phrase the governor said roughly translates dominated the top three spots last year. to “making Ilocos Norte great again.” Before then, Dingras had never placed in

the top eight of the competition. Theater director Alexander Cortez, who chaired the nine-man panel of judges, commented that the stories presented in the competition “are very relevant. They chose environment, leaders, agriculture, presentation of cultural heritage, so it’s not limited to one topic… You can definitely learn a lot from it.” Sharing their Ani or Harvest Festival, Dingreños put on a show of the humble and strenuous yet happy lives led by farmers, who earned their town the title of “Rice Granary of the North.” Despite the demand of hard labor, rice farming emphasizes how people pool together efforts to sustain and benefit their entire community. Audiences cheered as the performers brought their prided crop onstage through a recreated rice thresher and rice mill showering grains of rice, symbolizing their bountiful harvest after months of toiling in the fields.

1 Report of Marriage is attached to the Petition as Annex “A” 2 Divorce Certificate as Annex “B” of the Petition.

MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

ts:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

(MS-Nov. 15, 22 & 29, 2016)

Standard Baguio organizers need P35m for Ms. Universe Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK., Mortgageee, -versusFRE NO. 11397 SPS. CRISLYN C. TEBAG AND LARRY TEBAG, REP. BY THEIR ATTY. IN-FACT AIDA BONIOG, Mortgagors. x------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) UPON extra judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed under the date of February 2, 2015, by SPS. CRISLYN C. TEBAG & LARRY E. TEBAG rep. by AIDA L. BONIOG as AIF, Mortgagors with residence and postal address No. 12 Prince Queenies, Love Vill. General Santos City, South Cotabato, 9500/ No. 30 Jasmine St., Modesta Village, San Mateo, Rizal, in favor of PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Mortgagee to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS AND 10/100 (P1,466,513.10) as of October 3, 2016, inclusive of interest, penalties, and other charges including the fees that may due together with all the lawful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, hereby announces that on December 14, 2016 between the hour of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Office of the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff of Quezon City (beside Quezon City Hall) Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, she will sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements. CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2014012207 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City “UNIT NO. 6Q SITUATED IN THE 6TH FLR OF THE MANHATTAN PARKWAY TOWER 3, LOCATED IN AURORA BLVD., AND GEN. MALVAR ST., CUBAO, QUEZON CITY. CONSISTING OF TWENTY EIGHT SQUARE METERS AND FIFTY SQUARE DECIMETERS (28.50) MORE OR LESS. In the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE N-302954-55 which embraces and describes the land located at Aurora Blvd., and Gen. Malvar St., Cubao, Quezon City with an area of (4,919 & 1,154) Square Meter. All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date. REPUBLIC OFenjoined THE PHILIPPINES Interested parties are hereby to investigate for themselves REGIONALand TRIAL COURT the title to the said property/ies the encumbrances thereon, if any NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION there be. OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF In the event that public auction should not take place on said date CITY due to fortuitous event of if QUEZON the aforesaid scheduled date is declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on December 21, 2016 at the same PHILIPPINE BANK., time and place SAVINGS without further notice. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Mortgageee, October 21, 2016.

MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

-versus-

FRE NO. 11397

(Sgd.) CAROL DG. BULACAN (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD SPS. CRISLYN C. TEBAG Sheriff IV Clerk of Court VI AND LARRY TEBAG, REP. BY THEIR Acting Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff ATTY. IN-FACT AIDA BONIOG, WARNING: Mortgagors. It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of x------------------------------------------------x Sheriff’s on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY law.

UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) Copy Furnished: 1)NOLI A. CABRERA CRISLYN C. TEBAGACT 3135, 3)AIDAas . BONIOG UPON extra judicial2)SPS. petition under amended by ACT 4th Flr. and PSBank Center Bldg., E. TEBAG No. 30of Jasmine St., Modesta 4118, pursuant to AND theLARRY terms and conditions the Deed of Village, Real No. 777Mortgage Paseo de Roxas Ave., No. 12under Prince Queenies, Love Vill. San Mateo,2, Rizal Estate executed the date of February 2015, by SPS. Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City General Santos City, South Cotabato 9500 (MS-Nov. 15, 22 & 29, 2016) CRISLYN C. TEBAG & LARRY E. TEBAG rep. by AIDA L. BONIOG as AIF, Mortgagors with residence and postal address No. 12 Prince Queenies, Love Vill. General Santos City, South Cotabato, 9500/ No. 30 Jasmine St., Modesta Village, San Mateo, Rizal, in favor of PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Mortgagee to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS AND 10/100 (P1,466,513.10) as of October 3, 2016, inclusive of interest, penalties, and other charges including the fees that may due together with all the lawful fees and

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

TODAY

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2015010994 Registry of Deeds of Quezon City

BAGUIO CITY—Local organ- Club premises via South Drive. Pinero said HRAB is asking izers of the country’s upcoming hosting of the Miss Universe the Miss Universe organizers to beauty pageant will be shelling allow the contestants to be paout at least P35 million for the raded along the stretch of Sesvarious events lined up for the sion and Harrison Roads, conbeauty pageant’s 24-hour stint sidering that local residents and visitors are “peace-loving individuin the city. UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the als” and would appreciate seeing Appearing before the City All sealed bids must be submitted to the unterms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate at the aforesaid office on the above Mortgage executed on September 7, 2015 by dersigned the beauties through these main Council, Andrew Pinero, media SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and VICTORIA F. stated date and time. DEGACO, - Blk. 4 Lot 41 Cordon corner Eagle Interested parties are to officer ofhereby theenjoined Hotel and Res- roads. St., Rolling Meadows 2, San Bartolome, Novali- investigate for themselves the title to the said HRAB president Anthony de taurant Association of Baguio, ches, Quezon City Mortgagors in favor of PEAK- property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if HOLD FINANCE CORPORATION, Mortgagee, any there be. Leon, BCC general manager said bulk of the expenditures to satisty the mortgage debt in the amount of In the event that public auction should not take Php 1,889,340.03 the total amount due, as of place on said date due to fortuitous event or if and treasurer Ramon Cabrera, the local organizers is the September 29, 2016 excluding attorney’s fees, the of same be declared a non-working holiday, it liquidated damages; expenses for publication; shall be held on DECEMBER 13, 2016 at the US$500,000 (about P25 million) who also manages Camp John filing fees; sheriff’s fees and commission, and same time and place without further notice. such other cost and expenses arising out of or Hay Manor that would house in City, hosting rights Quezon Metro Manila, October 21, 2016. that will be incidental to the foreclosure, together with all the lawful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the the contestants, already paid P7 paid in four tranches to the Miss (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Clerk of Court VI and million to the Miss Universe orUniverse organizers apart from Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Acting Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff Sheriff, hereby announces that on DECEMBER ganizers. the usual taxes. 6, 2016 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Office of the Clerk of Court & ExAnother partial payment will The organizers in the city will Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, be made to the Miss Universe also take charge of the food and will sell thru public auction to the highest bidder Manila for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following organizers in December, while accommodation of the 24 beauty Standard described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit: TODAY remaining two tranches will contestants, the round-trip the (MS-Nov. 8, 15 & 22, 2016) chartered flights from Manila be paid before their scheduled REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE to Baguio, and the cost of four visit to the city on Jan. 18, 2016, NO. 004-2015010994 REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Registry of Deeds of Quezon City NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION flower-decorated floats, which Pinero said. OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF A PARCEL OF LAND (LOT 41, BLK. 4, OF THE CONS-SUBDN. PLAN by PCS-007404QUEZON CITY Even as local organizers were will be used the contestants 003783-D, BEING A PORTION OF THE CONS. LOTSreigning 1071-L-3, 791-C-2-C (LRC) Universe PSDwaiting on potential sponsors, and Miss titlist PEAKHOLD FINANCE CORPORATION, had OF a child who was born on 20 August Republic of the Philippines 263819, 535-C-2-B(LRC) PSD-263717, 535-BPOWER LINE SAFETY. Aurora Gov. Gerry Noveras (second from left) and ErnestREGIONAL Vidal,Mortgagee, 1998. After their wedding, PETITIONER and TRIAL COURT 9-A, (LRC) PSD-263816, 535-B-6, PSD-36572, Pinero said the HRAB still needed Pia Wurtzbach during the mini-versusRESPONDENT lived at 6-10 Nakano, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines Corporate Regional Communications officer, show AND 974, PIEDAD ESTATE, LRCKimitsu REC. NO. National Capital Judicial Region INRESPONDENT THE BRGYSdancing OF Chiba SITUATED Prefecture. filedSAUYO, a FRE NO. 11401City,5975), to partner with the local governfloat and street parade. BRANCH 214 the transmission company’s newest safety poster, following the governor’s suggestion to pass ANDand BAGBAG, QUEZON M-MANILA, divorce was granted on 06CITY, January 2016. IS. SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and a Mandaluyong City OF LUZON, ON THE NW., ALONG No personal norBOUNDED real properties, both in initially the ment to find other means to defray The parade is schedVICTORIA F. DEGACO provincial ordinance regulating activities within NGCP’s right of way. Also in the photo (from left) LINE 1-2and BY abroad, LOT 39, were BLK. 4; ON THEduring NE., AND Philippines acquired IN RE: PETITION FOR JUDICIAL Mortgagors. ALONG LINE ROAD LOT 8; AND ONPanagbenga the expenses for the Miss Universe uled to2-4 BY run from theirE., marriage. are DZJO radio anchor Rod Javar and PIA Aurora manager Jojo S. Libranda, both members of the RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN x---------------------------------------------x THE SE., ALONG LINE 4-5 BY ROAD LOT 3; DIVORCE BETWEEN finding the the petition to BY be LOT AND ON THEup SW., ALONG LINE 5-1 NOTICEDECREE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF WHEREFORE, Nueva Ecija-Aurora Energy Press Corps. Butch Gunio Park tosubstance, Baguio Country stint in the city. Dexter A. See sufficient in 4,form andTHE let the LIWAYWAY ANTILLON AVESTRUZ 40, BLK. ALL OF CONS-SUBDN. PLAN. PEAKHOLD FINANCE CORPORATION, Mortgagee, -versusFRE NO. 11401 SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and VICTORIA F. DEGACO Mortgagors. x---------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED)

WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or Destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law.

REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 hearing the presentation of jurisdictional XXX on CONTAINING AN AREA OF ONE HUNAND MASAFUMI(AS KIMURA, AMENDED) DRED FORTY (147) SQ.2017 METERS, requirements be set SEVEN on 07 February at UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135,

8:30MORE o’clockORinLESS. the morning at the Regional LIWAYWAY ANTILLON AVESTRUZ as amended by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the Trial All Court, 214,beHall of Justice sealedBranch bids must submitted to the unPetitioner, terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate

Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City,above dersigned at the aforesaid office on the Mortgage executed on September 7, 2015 byat which and place mentioned, all statedtime, date date and time. SPS. RANDY T. DEGACO and VICTORIA F.interested SP. PROC. NO. MC-16-10510 persons who may be affected thereby DEGACO,For: - Blk.JUDICIAL 4 Lot 41 Cordon corner Eagle Interested parties are hereby enjoined to RECOGNITION

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Officials of the Makati Commercial Estate Association, the City of Makati and government officials cut the ceremonial ribbon that formally opens the 305-meter extension of the Dela Rosa Elevated Walkway from VA Rufino to Salcedo Street. Shown from left are Antonio G. Puyat, Macea Treasurer, Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, Transportation Usec. Anneli Lontoc, Macea vice president architect William V. Coscolluela, and San Lorenzo Village Brgy. Captain Ernesto A. Moya. Manny Palmero

Longest elevated walkway opens By Joel E. Zurbano A GROUP of investors and businesses in Makati City have shelled out P497 million to construct an elevated pedestrian walkway inside the Ayala central business district to help the local government promote a healthy environment in the city. On Monday, officers and members of the Makati Commercial Estate Association launched the newly built Dela Rosa Elevated Walkway extension, bringing to 1,100 meters long the pedestrian structure from Greenbelt to Makati Medical Center. Macea has been a primary mover in the district’s development, building seven underpasses, on-grade covered sidewalks, and the Elevated Walkway. The latest 305-meter extension from VA Rufino Street to Salcedo Street was built at a cost of P110.6 million over 20 months. This makes the Dela Rosa Elevated Walkway the country’s longest elevated pedestrian structure. Macea, composed of all the property owners within the Makati Central Business District, also expects to invest an additional P150 million for its pedestrianization program in 2017. “We envisioned the program as a network of tri-level pedestrian pathways composed of underground passageways, on-

grade covered sidewalks, and elevated walkways,” said Macea president David Balangue. “Ultimately, it will encourage motorists to leave their cars and join the pedestrians on short trips to the commercial center and back, which is the core objective of the pedestrianization program,” he added. The Elevated Walkway has serviced hundreds of thousands of pedestrians since its first phase was built from the Enterprise Center in Paseo de Roxas to Greenbelt. Today, with the elevated walkway’s connection to Ayala Center, commuters have the option to start from the Ayala Metro Railway Transit station on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and walk comfortably to Makati Medical Center, fully protected from the sun and rain. “The walkway offers workers, residents, and transients safety, comfort, convenience and protective cover on their short trips to the commercial center and back. There are many benefits to walking, and savings on gas and the vehicle’s wear and tear. Reduced vehicular traffic in the district will also have a positive impact on the environment,” Balangue said. The project was inaugurated in a simple ceremony led by Macea vice president architect William V. Coscolluela and Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay.

Erap sacks all 690 traffic enforcers M By Sandy Araneta

ANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Monday ordered the mass resignation of all 690 traffic enforcers of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau after being swamped with complaints from motorists about their alleged extortion activities. This as Estrada formally launched the Manila “traffic super body,” an interagency group composed of city and barangay officials and leaders and representatives of local transport organizations, Parents-Teachers Associations, business groups and other stakeholders that will jointly come up with long-term

solutions to address the city’s traffic problems. “Today, I am issuing an order for all traffic enforcers of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau to step down and turn in their resignation letters. I want all of them out, with no exceptions. Tama na. Sobra na. Palitan na,” Estrada said.

“I have received numerous complaints that many MTPB traffic personnel are involved in extortion and other illegal activities. Investigations are ongoing, but I can assure the public that those found criminally and administratively liable will face the full force of the law,” he pointed out in ordering the unprecedented mass termination. While admitting that his order would affect the livelihood of the MTPB personnel and their families, Estrada said he has to make this difficult decision for “the greatest good” of the majority. “I cannot sacrifice the welfare of the Manila residents just because of a few traffic enforcers who destroy the image of the MTPB, as well as the local government of Manila,” Estrada said. “We will

start with a clean slate.” The mayor admitted he is disappointed and outraged by what MTPB has become over the years, despite his administration’s initiatives to eliminate corruption and introduce reforms in the city government. While MTPB is being reorganized, Estrada has temporarily turned over traffic management operations to the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Manila Police District, with help from the barangay volunteers and other auxiliary units. As to the sacked MTPB personnel, Estrada said they may reapply provided they meet a new set of stricter qualification standards a “special selection committee” he has formed will formulate. This, he said, is “to weed out

misfits and those that have derogatory records.” MPD director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel will train the new MTPB recruits, he added. Estrada has also tasked the traffic super body to oversee the strict implementation of traffic rules in the city, and come up with doable solutions to help decongest the city’s main thoroughfares. “Traffic is everybody’s concern. We should come up with a collective effort to address our perennial traffic problems,” added Dennis Alcoreza, head of the MTPB, who will be retained by the city government. Alcoreza said this composite team will go around the city to look for traffic-prone areas, mount traffic management operations including road clearing,

San Pedro, 11 face P22-m graft case FORMER Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro and 11 others have been arraigned at the Sandiganbayan for graft charges over the anomalous purchase of trolley bags in 2008 amounting to P22 million. Based on information filed by former Muntinlupa Bidding and Awards Committee Secretariat officer Abel Sumabat, who has now spent four years under the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice, the procured 40,000 trolley bags from a private company was done without holding a public bidding. The Ombudsman said the trolley bags, which were supposed to be distributed to elementary schools in the city, were also not included in Muntinlupa’s Annual Investment Plan. San Pedro had filed a motion for reconsideration at the Sandiganbayan, but was denied last April 21. Second Division Senior Member Associate Justice Napoleon Inoturan issued the resolution concurred by Division Chairman Associate Justice Teresita-Diaz- Baldos and Jun-

ior Member Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi. “After a careful evaluation of the accused separate motions, we find the contentions therein are not sufficient to set the findings of probable cause, and we rule that there exists probable cause to justify the issuance of warrant of arrests with respect to all accused,” the Sandiganbayan resolution said. The Ombudsman is also looking into more than 100 graft complaints by Sumabat against San Pedro, which was filed last Feb. 17, 2012. The OMB Lifestyle Check Panel has already started an investigation into the alleged-ill gotten wealth of San Pedro and his family, docketed as OMB-C-12-0504. The Bureau of Internal Revenue has also conducted an audit and assessment of alleged dummy companies used by San Pedro and his relatives to amass millions of pesos from the coffers of the Muntinlupa City Government as the former mayor faces charges for violations of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code, said Sumabat.

and apprehend traffic violators, both motorists and pedestrians. The traffic super body is composed of elements of the MPD-TEU, Department of Public Services, Manila Tricycle Regulatory Office, Office of the City Engineer, Manila Barangay Bureau, City Treasurer’s Office, and the Manila City Hall Action and Support Assignment. Officials and representatives of local transport groups such as the Consolidated Truckers Association, Fejodap, and Pasang Masda; PTAs, city councilors, and barangay officials are also in the group. From the local business sector, port operators International Container Terminal Services and Asian Terminals Inc. are also in the group.

MUNTINLUPA CENTENNIAL.

Former Muntinlupa Mayor Ignacio Bunyi (seated, fifth from left), the first local chief executive of Muntinlupa when it became a city, joins the Centennial Commission for the preparation of the 100th founding anniversary of Muntinlupa on December 2017. Flanking Bunyi are Rep. Ruffy Biazon and current Mayor Jaime Fresnedi.

AFFI asks QC for more tax incentives By Rio N. Araja

ON THE advent of an increase in the fair market values of land in Quezon City, various trade organizations have asked the city government to extend tax incentives to micro, small and medium enterprises. Rafael Canare, executive director of the Association of the Filipino Franchisers Inc., called on Mayor Herbert Bautista to look into the MSMEs’ predicament in the event the bill adjusting the fair market land values and basic

construction cost is passed by the 38-member city council. Canare, however, clarified that AFFI backed the fair market value adjustment. “Yes, we support it,” he said. “It has been a long time since the last increase.” Small businesses may bear the brunt of the expected increase in leasing fees to be imposed by malls and commercial buildings that would be affected by the tax adjustment, Canare said. He said the 200-member

AFFI—an organization of smalland medium-scale business franchisees—are hoping for tax incentives, since 80 percent of the group operate their franchises in Quezon City, mostly as tenants in malls. AFFI, SM Prime Holdings and Megaworld Corp. were among the city-based business establishments that participated during the November 24 public consultation that threshed out the details of the proposed Ordinance No. 20CC141 that would pave the way for the fair market values’ revision.

Fe Wong, tax officer of SM Prime Holdings, the parent company of the SM Group’s shopping malls, said they will submit a position paper to express support for the tax adjustment. “We are definitely very supportive of this measure. We have always been supportive of the endeavors of the city government as long as it is beneficial to us and to the interests of our clientele, tenants, and buyers,” Megaworld corporate advisory and compliance division manager John Joseph Sy said.

‘Abandon BNPP, build nuclear plant in Ecija or elsewhere’ By Ferdie G. Domingo SAN JOSE CITY, Nueva Ecija—The chief operating officer of the local biomass power plant here has suggested that the government abandon the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and build a new nuclear plant in this province or somewhere else. Edgardo Alfonso, COO of the Lucio

Co-controlled San Jose City I Power Corp. here, said given the controversies surrounding the BNPP, the national government should consider to permanently close the facility but open a nuclear plant in other places where it is less risky to operate. “If you ask me, we can still go nuclear but never mind the BNPP. Forget it. It’s ill advised. Instead, let’s look for a

place somewhere, like in Nueva Ecija,” Alfonso said. One of the viable areas to put up a nuclear plant, Alfonso said, is San Jose, where a number of power plants are already in operation, including the SJCIPC, a 12-megawatt biomass power plant which generates electricity using “ipa” or rice husks. The P1-billion project, a joint ven-

ture of Co, the owner of the Puregold chain of supermarkets, and 21 local rice millers, started operation on a sixhectare lot in Barangay Tulat here in 2014. It uses 300 tons of rice husks on every 24-hour cycle. The city government has designated Tulat as an industrialized zone where majority of big rice mills are located. Alfonso said nuclear energy is an ex-

pensive investment but is cheap to operate. “And besides, a nuclear plant does not emit toxic pollutants into the air,” he said. However, he said there are “too many issues” surrounding the $2.3-billion BNPP to merit a second look. The 620-megawatt BNPP, located in a government reservation in Napot Point in Morong, Bataan, was constructed in 1976.

Life

ARTS, CULTURE & MEDIA

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

ARMM Celebrates its 27th year Text and photos by Ayunan G. Gunting

T BOGGLES the mind now that this concept was once deemed unviable and merely a pipe dream for the Muslims of Mindanao. But it’s been a reality for nearly three decades now because this month marks the 27th anniversary of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Maranao dancer interpreting Kasipa sa Manggis

ARMM celebrates its anniversary by showcasing Muslim Mindanao’s heritage

This is a significant milestone for ARMM and it’s celebrating the anniversary with an elaborate series of colorful events throughout the month. The celebrations center on the subject of Peace and Culture and are thus bannered under the title, “Pakaradyaan sa ARMM 2017.” As suggested by the title, the events were designed to highlight the rich heritage of Muslim Mindanao and Peace celebration. Its elective chief executive is reformist Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman, husband of Anak-Mindanao Partylist Congresswoman Sitti Djalia Turabin, who shares her #Pride about her husband’s achievements. Mindanao has been the homeland of Muslims for several centuries now. It was in the 14th century when Arab trader Karim Makhdum set foot on the islands of the Sulu archipelago, which was a good 200 years before Ferdinand Magellan first stepped on Mactan Island in Cebu. Sultans were established and the islanders quickly adopted the Muslim culture. So strong is the Muslim identity, not even the Spaniards could convert or instill its own culture in Mindanao, which remained independent for four centuries of Spanish rule. Likewise, through the American colonial rule and the Philippine republic, the Moros fought to maintain independence. What the Moros had been hoping for was finally attained in 1989 when the ARMM was established by a law that mandated an independent region in Muslim Mindanao. It was inaugurated in Nov. 8, 1990 in Cotabato City, the provisional capital. The month-long festivities are held at the ORG Compound and Shariff Kabungsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) in Cotabato City, ARMM’s seat of government. These events feature dances, sports, beauty pageant and Moro Food Festival. It is customary to kick-off the celebration with rites at the 634-year-old Shiek Karimul Makhdum Mosque in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi.

Shiek Karimul Makhdum was a preacher from Malaysia who established the Muslim religion in the Philippines in the 14th century. As the oldest, religious historical landmark in the Philippines, it is now a museum, which is being preserved as a heritage building. Pagkaradjaan

2 017 also includes summits with government agencies and private sector and a workshop on final literacy. Film festivals by young independent filmmakers tell the stories of the Moros. The different Moro tribes like Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, Teduray and Yakan offer their specialties. The Moro cuisine uses local ingredients cooked with coconut milk and turmeric and paired with such staples as palapa similar to sambal, rendang and sweets such as cassava cupcakes and native rice cakes. The highlight is the ARMM version of Master Chef culinary competition. In December, Muslim music, dance and costumes will be showcased in nightly cultural programs by the different tribes along with a men’s basketball and volleyball tournament. Pagakaradjaan is a

ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman

chance for Hataman to rally for peace efforts. As head of ARMM’s Regional Peace and Order Council, he underscores the importance of law enforcement operations against terrorists and armed groups. Hataman also aims to talk with leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on how to speed up the peace process. President Rodrigo Duterte recently visited Cotabato City and assured Hataman that the ARMM and the national government will continue its support in development aid. For so long ARMM has been saddled with poverty and malnutrition. Duterte promised that the national government would provide resources and funding to help the region reduce poverty and end hunger, provide access to facilities need for agriculture, fisheries, health and social services. Duterte expressed his confidence in Hataman’s peace and development initiatives. The month-long festivities feature dances, sports, beauty pageant and Moro food festival

Theater stalwarts at Badong Bernal show opening HOW do you celebrate a person’s life? You showcase his creative output in an exhibition, especially when he is National Artist for Theater Design who possesses a treasure of masterpieces that spans close to 40 years. His name: Salvador Bernal. The Cultural Center of the Philippines, in cooperation with the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, saw leading lights of the active Philippine theater community troop to the retrospective exhibit entitled Badong: Salvador Bernal Designs the Stage, on view at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus Gallery. Among Bernal’s close friends in attendance were National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes, together with her sister-choreographer Denisa Reyes, and Benilde Board of Trustees

Chairman and former CCP President Nestor Jardin. Curated by Dr. Nicanor Tiongson and Gino Gonzales, it presents scale models, depicted costumes, and digital images for ballets, operas, theater performances and film by the renowned and revered maestro. Inspired by the several characters from Bernal’s works, the creations of the College’s Costume Design students under the AB Production Design program of Eric Pineda—a former protégé of the respected late artist—were shown alongside the show. Badong: Salvador Bernal Designs the Stage will be on view until Saturday, Dec. 17, at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde SDA Campus Gallery. The SDA Gallery is located at the 12th Floor, SDA Campus, 950 Pablo Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Board of Trustees Chairman and former Cultural Center of the Philippines President Nestor Jardin graces the exhibit opening

iPHOTO

Direct and indirect impressions of local culture LOCAL artists Boy Luna and Vikki Fuentes Rivera showcased their studio pieces for exhibition on Nov. 5-15 at Erehwon Art Center, Quezon City. The artworks were direct and indirect impressions of Philippine culture from the immediate past to the present. Art aficionados and students experienced this art event. (Photography by Ramel Castillo)

Salvador Bernal’s model for stage design is showcased at the exhibit

Life

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Home-schooled, Skype-coached

NAMCYA winner

17-year-old violinist Misha Romano is the grand prize winner in the Strings category of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists

By Pablo A. Tariman

HIS year’s old top winner in the strings category (violin) of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) is home-schooled and was only coached before the competition by an American violinist via Skype.

Misha Romano, 17, from Dipolog City emerged the grand prize winner among eight finalists after playing Abelardo’s Cavatina and Mendelssohn’s E Minor violin concerto with his sister, Miracle, on the piano. “I felt relieved and thankful,” he told Manila Standard. “This is my first NAMCYA experience. I did not join any music competitions before.” Five years ago, the young Romano was heard as a pianist playing Chopin’s Waltz in B Flat and Beethoven’s Sonatina in F Major at UP Diliman’s Balay Kalinaw concert series. His last piano piece before turning to violin was Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major. His shift from piano to violin was a personal decision, said his sister-pianist Miracle. “Misha actually started learning violin as a minor instrument at age four but wasn’t too serious about it. It was only three years ago when he realized that the violin responded better to his personality.” Also home-schooled and now in Grade 9, the young Misha was coached via Skype before the competition by American Violinist Noel Martin who is based in Houston, Texas and a member of the Houston Ballet Orchestra including the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, among others. Continued his sister: “Misha is the

kind of student who doesn’t need to be pushed to practice. He is determined, works really hard without being told, and tries to apply what he learns from lessons through Skype from the American violinist. He was actually competing with students who are enrolled in regular schools and who get personal violin lessons from their teachers. His special qualities? I would say his sensitivity, determination and passion.” Singled out as a standout in a jury composed of DJ Salonga, Dino Decena and Gian Carlo Gonzales, among others, Misha said everything about the competition, from the semi-finals to the last elimination was tough. “The first movement of Bach Partita No. 3, BWV 1006 is very difficult but highly challenging. It is quite risky playing it in a competition but I like to take risks. On the whole, I really love challenges.” The young violinist said he practiced some six to seven hours a day before the competition in a violin he purchased from his own savings. It is a Stradivarius copy made in China. Coming from a musically and artistically inclined family, Misha’s mother Marietta and brother, Mario, also play the piano and his father, Didi, paints. Misha’s mother, Marietta said she encouraged all her children to take to music because “even if one has retired from

one’s profession, the music does not stop. “The benefits we get in listening and playing classic music are evident and scientifically proven. Music stimulates the other side of the brain, which academics cannot do. We tried to expose them in every way we could. When the elder siblings were three and four years old, we did not have a piano then but Miracle was already composing short songs. We made a hanging bottle xylophone in two octaves. And that was when they started playing music using piano books but playing on Tanduay bottles. We did not have to force them. They were instinctively drawn to music.” Another big surprise in the Romano family is that all the three siblings are home-schooled, with the elder brother and sister finishing college courses by correspondence. Misha’s mother cites the advantage of homeschooling. “We could be together all the time. They could take their lessons with them when we travel. We are able to monitor their activities. No need to worry about transport and baon allowance, no unnecessary assignments and impractical projects. We could schedule our activities at our own pace.” Outside of classical music, Misha also loves jazz, the Beatles and Jason Mraz. The last book he read was George Orwell’s 1984. “Now I’m stuck with Russka by Edward Rutherford ever since I prepared for NAMCYA.” Misha’s violin models? “I like Joshua Bell because of his clear and delicate tones, Maxim Vengerov because of his thick tones, his high energy, and good showmanship. I also like Janine Jansen because of

her expressive and intense playing and Sophie Mutter because of her profound and powerful style.” Now preparing for an audition with the Asian Youth Orchestra, Misha defines his affinity with music thus. “I see music as a lifelong process. It’s about continual and constant learning and improvement. You can’t stop at any point of your life as musician.”

Misha was coached via Skype by American violinist Noel Martin before the competition

New York’s Met Opera productions at Greenbelt 3

Greenbelt 3 Cinemas will screen 6 New York’s The Met Opera productions

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines, The Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. and Ayala Malls Cinemas once again bring New York’s The Met Opera series at Greenbelt 3 Cinemas from December until May next year. The prestigious New York’s Met Opera series, now on its third year at Ayala Malls Cinemas, will be presented in high-definition format (HD) at Greenbelt 3 featuring six stunning productions that will start on Dec. 6 with Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Bringing world-class productions has always been at the heart of Ayala Malls Cinemas. Movie patrons seeking classical forms of art will be treated to a series of engaging stage plays as if they are really at the MET. The special screenings continue on Jan. 10 with Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci followed by Così Fan Tutte on Feb. 14, Madama Butterfly on March 14, Turandot on April 4 and Tristan and Isolde on May 9. Through digital technology, the stage plays will be presented at Ayala Malls Cinemas’ Greenbelt 3 as it was recorded during their live performance at The Met – complete with backstage scenes, interviews with the actors and production crew. Ayala Malls Cinemas brings to the local scene productions composed by world-renowned and legendary artists Giacomo Puccini, Gioachino Rossini, Pietro Mascagni, Ruggero Leoncav-

allo, Richard Wagner and Wolgang Amadeus Mozart. Sparkling with wit and energy, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) is about a resourceful barber and manabout-town. Count Almaviva arrives in Seville to search for the mysterious woman he met in Madrid. When he learns that she is Rosina, due to be married to her tyrannical guardian Bartolo, he enlists the help of the cunning barber Figaro to win her hand. Almaviva and Rosina fall in love, and Rosina turns her mind to duping Bartolo. The combined conniving of all three is too much for Bartolo, who has to admit defeat when he discovers Almaviva and Rosina have married right under his nose. Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci is two complementary works that tell dark tales of passionate love that sours to violent jealousy. Così Fan Tutte is a romantic comedy that tells the tale of two men testing their fiancées’ faithfulness on the prodding of a cynical old man named Don Alfonso. The men, Ferrando and Guglielmo pretended to go to war leaving Fiordiligi and Dorabella while Don Alfonso continues his scheme of luring the sisters to fall for other men. Madama Butterfly, a beautiful atmospheric production, is about an unfortunate, doomed love. Soprano Kristine Opolais brings all of her passionate commitment to her role of Cio-Cio-San, the teenage geisha who gives up everything for Lt. Pinkerton.

In Turandot, Nina Stemme takes on the title role of the proud princess of ancient China, whose riddles doom every suitor who seeks her hand, opposite Marco Berti as Calàf, the brave prince who sings “Nessun dorma” and wins her love. Anita Hartig and Leah Crocetto share the role of Liù, the faithful slave girl. Franco Zeffirelli’s golden production is conducted by Paolo Carignani. The final presentation of Ayala Malls Cinemas’ Met Opera series, Tristan and Isolde, an audacious new production by Mariusz Treliński (the director responsible for the 2014–15 season’s double bill of Iolanta and Bluebeard’s Castle) sees an Irish Princess, Isolde, on board a ship from Ireland to Cornwall, as she marries King Marke who governs Cornwall. She is escorted by Tristan, the King’s loyalist and his nephew. Isolde has already fallen in love with Tristan. But now he delivers her to the King as though she were a prisoner. She compels him to take poison with her because she detests the idea of marrying King Marke. However, her maid, Brangane, prepares medicine of love instead of poison. When their ship calls at the port, they have already fallen passionately in love with each other. For advanced ticket purchase, log on to Ayala Malls Cinemas’ www.sureseats.com. Tickets for the Met Opera series will be sold at P450. Ayala Malls Cinemas further invites patrons and cineastes to subscribe to all six shows for only P2,400.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

“Y

ou make me feel like I can get lost inside your eyes…” If these lyrics ring a bell, raise your hand! This is a line from “Just a Smile,” the classic song Barbie Almalbis sang in that iconic Closeup commercial years ago - 10 years ago to be exact.

Get closer with

‘JUST A SMILE’

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the iconic song, Closeup reintroduces it through the musical genius of Up Dharma Down (UDD). They have a couple of notable love songs that elicit certain feelings from their listeners with the perfect mix of thought-provoking lyrics and melodies from their soul. With this track record,

In its tradition to create iconic TV commercials, Closeup taps Up Dharma Down to do its own spin to the classic Closeup song “Just A Smile”

Indie pop band Up Dharma Down with lead vocalist Armi Millare (second from right)

IN 2001, Gabby Alipe began his musical journey as the front man of the Cebu-based rock band Urbandub. When the band announced a hiatus in 2015, Gabby welcomed the opportunity to take a breather and focus on other things. For Gabby, the most fulfilling part of playing in a band was being able to tell stories through music. So he went into the studio and began work on the songs that eventually became his new EP under MCA Music, which he called A New Strain. “Sixteen years after I began my journey, here I am embarking on a new challenge as a solo artist. It’s definitely a big adjustment. I’ve always been more comfortable in a band setting, where I can feed off my bandmates in terms of arrangement and songwriting. This time it all has to come from me. I decided to call my EP A New Strain because it’s something new. It’s more organic—I employed a simpler approach on it, compared to all the stuff I did with Urbandub,” he explains. “Back then everything had to be grand, in-your-face and loud.” Gabby was Urbandub’s main songwriter, but he says he still had to write songs that fit each member’s individual taste. When he went into the studio to work on songs for his debut solo EP, he had more creative freedom than he ever had before. “The band’s arrangements and songs were always a group effort. I may have been Urbandub’s main songwriter, but I was only one aspect of the whole. My music is different now because I don’t have any of my band mates to help me. I also made a conscious effort to shy away from the songwriting approach I employed when I was still with Urbandub,” he says. Gabby admits he felt a little uncertain when he began working on A New Strain. Having played in a band for over a decade, he was used to having other people to rely on. He reveled in his newfound freedom as a solo artist, but he still wanted to have someone he could bounce ideas off of. That’s where his producer Eric Perlas came in. “The recording process was a lot scarier this time,” Gabby says. “I did everything alone for the first time. At first, there was a lot of confusion and uncertainty. I wasn’t sure whether I could come up with songs I would be proud of. But my producer,

Armi Millare’s soothing voice and the band’s knack to make music that draws feelings out of you, Up Dharma Down was the perfect choice to give this song a fresh sound. Their rendition of “Just A Smile” shows us how they have mastered how to give us that kilig feeling by adding their own soul into the song, and allowing us to go back to that moment of closeness we share with our special someone. Making the moment of closeness come alive,

GABBY ALIPE,

storyteller Former Urbandub vocalist Gabby Alipe debuts as a solo artist

Eric Perlas, really helped me focus, and after that everything went smoothly. I owe a lot to him. In a lot of ways, he became my ‘bandmate’ for this project. Eric had a big role in the creation of this EP.” Aside from Eric, Gabby also surrounded himself with some A-list collaborators. “I got the chance to do two songs, ‘Demons’ and ‘Paalam’ with Buddy Zabala and Raimund Marasigan, who played bass and drums, respectively. Those two were part of the Eraserheads, and it was such a huge honor and privilege for me to work with my music heroes. I’m a Hip-Hop/Rap fan also, so I enjoyed working with Gloc-9 and Cebuano rapper Pain-in-the-Neck on a remix of my song ‘Ether.’” A New Strain is bannered by the lead single “Visions.” According to Gabby, he wrote it because he wanted to include a song about having a positive

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, November 29, 2016

ACROSS 1 Glowing ember 5 Orange-andwhite rental (hyph.) 10 Killer whale 14 Mme. Gluck of opera 15 — Jean Baker 16 Sonic — 17 Four quarters 18 Deep thought (2 wds.) 20 Bandleader — Miller 22 Spouts rhetoric 23 Chess pieces 25 Jai — 26 Calmed 27 LIII doubled 28 Get closer to 32 No sweat! 33 Tornado warning 35 Fishtail 36 Museum contents 37 Deighton of spy novels 38 Tooth pro’s deg. 39 Stalk 41 Grove 43 Jaunty 44 Poet — Pound 45 “Wheel of Fortune” buy

(2 wds.) 46 Squawks 48 Zola novel 50 Barely enough 51 Contributed (2 wds.) 54 Medal 55 Sticky-tongued critters 57 Thor’s father 61 Emulated Niobe 62 Our, in Lyon 63 Like an owl, proverbially 64 Letter encl. 65 Dry — 66 Moniker DOWN 1 Islet 2 Fiesta cheer 3 GP group 4 Mainly 5 Relaxes 6 Rhino snouts 7 Elvis — Presley 8 Ore diggers’ org. 9 Wool fat 10 Secures 11 Put to flight 12 Body of laws 13 Grant and Irving 19 Tijuana “Mrs.” 21 1865 yielder 23 Hard rock 24 Long overcoat

Closeup introduces a new couple for this campaign, Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona. The former Born for You stars are seen getting closer in the new Closeup commercial with the song rendition of UDD playing in the background. Their natural chemistry and level of comfortability with each other make us feel kilig with every Closeup moment they share on screen. Off screen, Janella and Elmo are beginning to get closer as they get to know each other better. With a number of projects

25 Mountain — (Rockies wildflower) 26 Take an apartment 27 Crinkly paper 29 Heir, often 30 Meadows or Hepburn 31 Sacks out 34 Ms. Massey of old films 40 Edict 41 Preparing for winter

42 Crates up, maybe 43 Force to commit (2 wds.) 47 Boathouse gear 49 Support 50 Excalibur 51 Kitten’s mitts 52 General vicinity 53 Rascals 54 Choir voice 56 London lav 58 Width of a cir. 59 Suffix for hero 60 Born as

mindset on his EP. Gabby made every effort to stretch himself artistically on A New Strain while making sure to come up with material that captures where he is at this point in his life. “As a songwriter, for this particular EP, I wanted to challenge myself musically. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and come up with a collection of songs that would best describe my current mindset, highlight my personal preferences in music, and most importantly, have a good message,” he says. As Urbandub’s frontman, Gabby enjoyed commercial and critical success as a musician. The band put out their ﬁrst album Birth in 2001 and it was considered a success, but only in Cebu. Distribution problems prevented it from ﬁnding an audience beyond the band’s hometown. It was only when Gabby

lined up for them, individually and together, we could be sure that they’ll be sharing more “Closeup moments” as the months go by, constantly bringing the feeling of closeness and freshness with these kilig moments. Closeup is known for iconic “Closeup moments” like this because it gives us the conﬁdence to get closer. Share with us how you #GetCloserWithCloseup by using the hashtag and by tagging @closeupph

and his bandmates released Influence two years later that they finally hit the big time. It sold well and they even won awards for it. Urbandub released four more albums— Embrace, Under Southern Lights, The Apparition and Esoteric and an EP- Sending A Message— before announcing an “indefinite hiatus” last year. Looking back on his time with Urbandub, Gabby describes himself as an “accidental singer,” although he grew into that role over time and is now comfortable enough in it to strike out on his own. “I was never really a singer. I never thought I’d end up fronting a band. I always saw myself as a guitar player and songwriter. My journey as a musician began in high school. I joined different bands as a guitar player. When I was in college, I began playing in bands in Cebu as a bass player. When one of my bands didn’t want to write original material, I decided to form a band with my friend Jed Honrado. Jed and I formed Urbandub, and that led me to start singing—only because nobody knew who we were, so nobody was interested in becoming our vocalist. Now, sixteen years later, after Urbandub’s run, I’m taking on a new challenge as a solo artist.” Gabby hopes everyone who supported him as Urbandub’s frontman will also embrace A New Strain, because he put his heart and soul into this project. “I’m a storyteller. The new EP is basically a collection of stories and thoughts that I’ve accumulated through my experience in music and life. My goal is to share my stories with people who are willing to listen, and hopefully they’ll be able to relate to my songs.” A New Strain is out under MCA Music on digital downloads and streaming via Spinnr, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer and VEVO and on CDs at Astroplus and Astrovision outlets. For bookings and inquiries, contact MCA Music Artist Management at +639209682991 or email mcabooking@umusic.com. For more updates and information on Gabby Alipe, log on to the following pages: Facebook- MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines), Instagram- mca_music, Twitter- @ mcamusic.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Usher in Christmas with

Kapamilya actress Bea Alonzo recommends gift ideas to make family and friends feel special this holiday season

BEA ALONZO’S DIY Christmas gift ideas

NE knows that the Christmas season is upon us when the ISAH V. RED radio starts playing Yuletide songs, malls are decked with holiday decorations, and people start making Christmas gift lists. Christmas is all about making person you’re thinking of giving a memories. With FUJIFILM’s present to is a big Paulo Coelho fan instax cameras, it is now possible like Bea, why not take a photo of a to preserve them and have physical river (one of the Portuguese writer’s copies of moments spent with books is entitled “By the River friends and family. Piedra I Sat Down and Wept”) with Fujifilm brand ambassador Bea your instax and embellish it with the Alonzo knows the importance of print? spreading holiday cheer and sharing Create a wine tasting journal her blessings. On screen, she makes with instax photos. Wines are it a point to always deliver a good never missing at Christmas parties. performance. Away from the Start by choosing well-loved wines. spotlight, she is a great believer that Take photos of bottles, labels, etc. you best learn about the world when with your instax. Attach the photos you travel. Bea comes from a small to pages in a notebook, and write family, with only one sibling but down flavors, aromas, vintage and like most Filipino families, she has regions. uncles and aunts and nephews and Delight with a hanging mobile nieces. She has explored the many with instax photos. Liven up beautiful spots in the country with the room of a gift recipient with them. a hanging mobile decorated But when Bea wants time for with instax photos. Add text and herself, she goes on travel adventures embellishments on the photos as on her own, solo flight. In all these you wish, and then clip or tape the little expeditions, she never forgets photos to strings. Tie the strings to to bring her FUJIFILM mirrorless the sticks and hang the completed cameras with her, particularly the mobile from the ceiling. X-A2 and X-A3. The X-A2 and *** X-A3 are both lightweight and thus Congressman Albee Benitez easy to carry around. “A camera phone is not enough,” says Bea. “Tayong mga tao nakakalimot. Maganda na may isang bagay na nagre-remind sa atin ng mga magagandang alaala.” The X-A2 allows users to capture important moments with superb Bea Alonzo (center) as the face of Fujifilm’s line of mirrorless cameras image quality that FUJIFILM’s X-Series is known for while the and those living in nearby island why he is rushing the completion of X-A3 comes with a retro design provinces as they don’t have to travel Enchanted Kingdom in Silay. that is fashionable and a hit with the to Manila to experience the fun one *** younger set. gets in an amusement park. Gabby Concepcion seems to be Recently, Bea has grown to love The total cost of the Silay branch on a roll these days. After moving the instax cameras. “I am learning of Enchanted Kingdom is more than from the Kapamilya network to to appreciate scrapbooking,” Bea P600 million. rival Kapuso with which he signed shares. “Or I can hang the prints Apart from making his constituents a contract recently, he is now seen on the walls of my room or I can happy, the park also puts Silay in the more often on the small screen. deposit them in a box.” Philippine tourism map as a new After the dramedy Because of You Negros Occidental, 3rd District RepWith the launch of FUJIFILM’s resentative Alfredo “Albee” Benitez destination among Ilonggos and with Carla Abellana, he is back Photo Diary, Bea can look forward to Visayans. as a policeman in Tsuperhero with having her photos gathered together has a surprise Christmas gift to his Also, the Negrenses don’t have Derrick Monasterio. into an album, properly selected constituents. His office confirmed to travel far to either Hong Kong Soon, he will be your afternoon and labeled, and accomplished that the Negros Occidental or Tokyo or China to experience delight as he stars in Ika-6 na Utos in minutes. Developed through representative is putting up the fun in an amusement park, like opposite Sunshine Dizon and Ryza FUJIFILM’s Image Organizing Enchanted Kingdom in Silay City. Disneyland and Ocean Park. Cenon. Technology, it makes possible He said the amusement park will Congressman Benitez has also been Laurice Guillen takes the owning your own coffee table book start operations before the end of invited by park operators in London directing chore for the Afternoon instead of the traditional photo 2017. who want him to put up something Prime series that will premiere soon album. It is not bulky and can be This is good news to all Negrenses similar to their parks in Negros. That’s on the Kapuso network. tagged along everywhere, a constant reminder of moments well spent. With Christmas fast approaching, you can take Bea’s word for it. It is best to give our loved ones gifts that we ourselves thought of and spent time working on. Try the following DIY Christmas gift ideas that Bea highly recommends: Make a calendar. Use your instax to take snaps of whatever catches your fancy or moments that are fleeting. You can also print them using the instax Share SP-2 printer. The Share SP-2 lets you edit your photos first before you print them. The next thing to do is to attach the instax prints to a store-bought calendar. Also try to write on the margins of every page memorable lines from popular Bea Alonzo films like One More Chance and A Second Chance. Mark it with a bookmark. Books don’t grow old. They function not only as a physical copy of stories with characters, lines, and moments that we carry with us as we go through our lives. If the The lead cast of “Ika-6 na Utos” with director Laurice Guillen (second from right)

Jessica Chastain makes her mark in Hollywood

Piaget’s global brand ambassador is immortalized at TCL Chinese Theatre

HOLLYWOOD leading lady and Piaget global brand ambassador, Jessica Chastain, marked a milestone as she was honored with an imprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on the Walk of Fame. Wearing Piaget Limelight earrings in white gold set with diamonds, Jessica dazzled fans and photographers alike as she literally cemented her place in Hollywood history. The tradition, which dates back to the 1920s, has celebrated more than 200 of the industry’s top entertainers, forever immortalizing them on the famed boulevard. “All of us at Piaget are so pleased for Jessica to receive this tribute. As one of the world’s most accomplished actresses, and a truly radiant presence both on-screen and off, this is certainly well deserved,” states Philippe Léopold-Metzger, Piaget CEO. This latest honor for Chastain comes at a ﬁtting time. The Golden Globe winner and twotime Oscar nominee stars in Miss Sloane.. Piaget is exclusively available at The Silver Vault, Rustan’s Makati and City of Dreams Manila.