Manila Standard - 2017 January 18 - Wednesday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX • NO. 340 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

STRANDED THOUSANDS. Rising ﬂoodwaters in Cagayan de Oro halt vehicles while stranding thousands of people including women and children, the streets instantly submerged by violent waters from all directions following heavy rains Monday. Lance Baconguis

Drug list includes 2 solons —Speaker By Maricel V. Cruz TWO congressmen are among the public ofﬁcials included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s “narco-list,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Tuesday. In a news conference, Alvarez said he is convinced that one of them, an unnamed lawmaker from Mindanao, was acting as a protector of the illegal drug trade. “The list given to me was validated; which means it passed through several government agencies for validation. But on my part, I am still double checking it,” Alvarez said. Alvarez declined to name the two lawmakers, however, and said he would speak to them Next page ﬁrst.

No House protection for Romero By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez said Tuesday the House of Representatives could not provide protective custody to Rep. Michael Romero who is facing charges for allegedly stealing money from his family-owned Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. He said the House would follow the orders of the Manila court that issued an arrest warrant against the congressman. Next page

Severe flood hits Mindanao; 7 dead Reds dampen peace hopes COMMUNIST rebels waging one of Asia’s longest insurgencies said Tuesday a peace pact was likely not achievable before 2019, in a blow to the government’s hopes of securing a deal this year. Ahead of fresh peace talks starting in Italy on Thursday, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines also warned that forces on the ground were urging an end to a ceaseﬁre as they became frustrated with the government’s “broken promises.” “The NDFP goes into the third round of formal talks in Rome determined as always to persevere with the peace talks

but increasingly troubled by the other party’s sincerity,” the communists’ chief negotiator, Fidel Agcaoili, said in a statement. The communists have been waging their “national democratic revolution” since 1968 to overthrow a capitalist system that has led to one of Asia’s biggest rich-poor divides. At least 30,000 people have died in the conﬂict, according to the military. President Rodrigo Duterte, who describes himself as a socialist, has made ending the rebellion one of his top priorities. He launched the peace process soon after he took ofﬁce in

June last year and installed three communists in his Cabinet. Both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire during the first round of talks in Norway last August. The government said then it was aiming for a final peace deal within 12 months. But Agcaoili said the communists would need at least two more years after negotiators agreed on a series of economic and political reforms before even beginning “serious discussions” on a final peace pact. Those economic and political reforms have yet to be agreed, and are meant to be discussed in Next page Rome.

VAT exemption for elderly holds By Maricel V. Cruz PHILIPPINE Constitution Association president Martin Romualdez on Tuesday praised President Rodrigo Duterte for excluding senior citizens and people with disability from government’s plan to remove the value-added tax exemptions on certain goods and services. “I thank the President for his compassionate heart by showing compassion to our senior citizens

and PWDs,” Romualdez said. He made the statement in response to Senator Juan Edgardo Angara’s disclosure that senior citizens and people with disability would keep their VAT exemptions. Romualdez, a former representative of Leyte, is the principal author of the newly implemented Republic Act 10754―an Act Expanding the Beneﬁts and Privileges of People With Disability and that extends their VAT exemptions. “This is another proof that

President Rody Duterte is really serious about leveling the playing ﬁeld to help and provide assistance to the underprivileged people,” Romualdez said. He said he worked hard for the enactment of the PWD bill as it would directly help the people with disability. Angara said the Finance Department would be coming up with a revised tax reform proposal, which, among other things, Next page

P10-b take from STL in offing By Rey E. Requejo

SWIMWEAR SHOW. From the Sinulog festival, the excitement continues to rise in Cebu as candidates in the 65th Miss Universe pageant show at the Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark what it is to be a model during the swimwear presentation Tuesday, less than two weeks before coronation night in the metropolis. AFP twitter.com/ MlaStandard

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THE government expects to collect P10 billion in additional revenue from the small town lottery when it implements next month the expansion and new collection scheme for the STL of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofﬁce, an ofﬁcial said Tuesday. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the new policy imposing higher remittances on accredited STL operators would be implemented starting Feb. 1.

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By Florante S. Solmerin

T LEAST seven people are believed to have been killed while one was still missing following the flooding in northern Mindanao caused by a low-pressure area affecting Mindanao, the Office of Civil Defense said Tuesday. Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Emano said Gingoog City is the hardest-hit area in the province in terms of flooding and Manticao town in terms of landslides. “There was a preemptive evacuation in Gingoog City and Lugait town declared a state of calamity for massive damage it sustained due to the heavy rain,” Emano said, noting that 421 families were evacuated in Gingoog. Office of Civil Defense director Ricardo Jalad, concurrent executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the flooding was due to continued heavy rains compounded by drainage problems. Jalad said there were also floods in Iligan City, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte. The NDRRMC chief said a report from the weather bureau

saying the low-pressure area and the tail end of cold front were bringing moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms over Northern Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan and the Visayas. “Continuous rain will be experienced in Regions 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Negros,” Jalad said. He said 1,116 families or 4,879 people were affected by the ﬂooding in Cagayan de Oro City, which was placed under state of calamity. He said of those affected by the ﬂooding, 810 families or 3,911 people were evacuated to government evacuation centers. Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao, Maguindanao and Cotabato were also hit by heavy rain, as well as the Dinagat area and the eastern part of Southern Leyte in the Visayas. Next page

China hits out at Abe for ‘sowing discord’ By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan CHINA on Tuesday hit Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for “sowing discord” by allegedly offering missiles to President Rodrigo Duterte, an offer that he rejected. The Department of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on the report, saying it is Japan which should answer China’s allegations. While China lauded Duterte’s rejection of Abe’s offer of missiles, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying slammed Japan’s action. “The Japanese leader is still going to extremes to sow discord and play up regional tension. Such practice harbors ulterior

motives and such mentality is extremely unhealthy,” Hua said. DFA spokesman Charles Jose declined to comment on Hua’s statement. “Hua’s statement is in reference to Japan. Japan should be the one to respond to it,” Jose said. Hua said China appreciated Duterte’s commitment to an independent foreign policy. She also said there was no tension in the South China Sea and that the situation was improving with all concerned parties going back to bilateral negotiations to settle their territorial disputes. The Philippines, along with Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia has a territorial dispute with China. Under the Aquino administration, the Philippines brought the Next page

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PH issues note verbale to China By Sandy Araneta and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

HE Philippines has voiced its concern to China over its activities in the South China Sea, the Palace said Tuesday.

“We have issued a note verbale to China regarding the buildup of weapon systems in manmade islands in the South China Sea,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement. A note verbale is a diplomatic communication prepared in the third person and unsigned. It is less formal than a note or letter of protest. “Aggressive and provocative diplomacy will bring us nowhere so we dealt with the issue formally,” Abella said. “The Philippines will continue to assert its sovereignty over disputed territory in the South China Sea while remaining consistent with the efforts of President [Rodrigo] Duterte to revitalize longstanding ties with China,” he added. “As always, we shall staunchly

support all efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.” On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said the government is not sleeping on its job to protect national interests in the disputed territories even as it tries to improve relations with China. In a television interview, Yasay revealed that he had issued several note verbales to China over concerns in the disputed territories, including in Scarborough Shoal. He said he has issued three to four note verbales since taking office in 2016, the latest of which was about last month’s report that China appeared to have installed anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems on artificial islands it built in the South China Sea.

Reds...

and disposition of forces are on the table for discussions. These issues, although difficult, are surmountable with both sides sharing common aspirations for peace, he said. “The preparatory work and engagements by both sides, respectively headed by Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Fidel Agcaoili, even before the third round of talks auger well for possible significant progress with the hosting and facilitation of the Norwegian team headed by Ambassador Elisabeth Slattum,” said Dureza. Duterte has instructed the government panel to work for an early settlement of the issues as he calls on the nation to provide support to the efforts to ultimately bring peace in the land. The government estimates the NPA has about 4,000 fighters, down from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s. But they remain particularly active in rural areas of the archipelago, where they are well known for extorting money from local businesses. Their regular deadly attacks on police and military forces also occasionally reach into urban areas. Sandy Araneta, AFP

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Meanwhile, familiar grievances that derailed peace efforts under previous presidents appear to have returned to haunt the current negotiations. The communists have long demanded that hundreds of jailed communist leaders be released before it will consider making major concessions in peace talks. Duterte released 18 top leaders to kickstart the peace process but the communists are demanding another 434 rebels be freed immediately. Duterte said last month he did not want to release the rebels straight away, describing the negotiations as a “poker game.” “My aces are in prison,” he said, referring to the jailed communists. “If I released them all my cards would lost. There would be nothing else to talk about.” On the eve of the third round of talks, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said he was optimistic “with managed expectations.” Dureza said the crucial agenda items on socio-economic reforms; constitutional and political reforms; and end of hostilities

Drug... From A1

Others on the list are governors, mayors, judges and prosecutors, he said. Earlier, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, urged President Duterte to name the mayors who are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. Barbers advised guilty mayors not to take lightly the warning of President Duterte for them to resign or die. Earlier, the President said he would kill mayors who protect syndicates selling or making shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride). Also on Tuesday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency filed a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against two Pampanga mayors over the illegal sale of 4,038 pigs confiscated during a raid of an underground shabu laboratory on Sept. 7, 2016. The agency was represented by Wilkins Villanueva, PDEANational Capital Region director, in the filing of the complaint against Mayors Ma. Lourdes Lacson of Magalang and Jose Ma. Hizon of Bacolor, both in Pampanga. Also tagged in the complaint were the town’s treasurer Raissa Bayani, assessor Adela Tanhueco, engineer Jesus Nataniel Pili, business permits and licensing officer Ryan Miranda and agriculturist Milagros Suing. “The sale of the entire hogs is without any legal basis. The PDEA and the proper court were not even informed of such disposition,” the complaint read. The agency invoked a provision in the Dangerous Drugs Act citing “no property, or income derived therefrom, which may be confiscated and forfeited, shall be disposed, alienated or transferred.” PDEA slammed Lacson for selling the pigs to a lone bidder, the Pampanga’s Best Food Corp.

belonging to the latter’s family for only P7 million. “The pigs were sold at a very cheap price as if these were just give-aways. We can smell conspiracy among those involved. The notice of auction was posted on a Sunday, but the actual bidding immediately took place the following day participated by early Monday by the lone bidder, who was not even from Magalang [town],” Villanueva said. Based on the complaint, Lacson was informed that the confiscated pigs were already dying, prompting her to issue an executive order to bid out the 4,038 pigs. The auction notice was posted on Sept. 11, 2016, and the next day, Hizon, representing his family-owned Pampanga’s Best Food Corp., took part in the bidding. The Bacolor municipal government issued Magalang town a P7-million check the following day. Each pig was sold for only P1,733 without PDEA’s consent, Villanueva said. He said the agency learned about the sale of the hogs through the news. The P7 million was turned over to the court when PDEA filed charges against the respondents. PDEA agents raided an underground shabu laboratory within an isolated four-hectare pig farm in Sitio Kabayong Sarul, Barangay San Ildefonso, Magalang in Pampanga on Sept. 7, 2016. Seven Chinese were arrested during the raid. The facility, Jay Wong Hog Farm, was a research-and-development laboratory for shabu operated by an international drug syndicate, Villanueva said. Those arrested were identified as Alvin Wang, 41; Philip Chang, 31; Wang Shi You, 42; Lieu Wang, 28; Susan Wang; Xia Po Chang, and Sonny At, 48. All were from Xiamen, China. The pigs were turned over to the local police, who then turned them over to the Magalang local government. With Rio N. Araja

Yasay said the note verbale was issued “as a matter of course,” adding that a protest “would not be appropriate under the circumstances.” “When we got the report about this installation, we had our people, especially from the intelligence community, verify this. And when the verification came in, we as a matter of course sent a note verbale to China,” Yasay said. Yasay did not say what China’s response was to the note verbales. In the interview, Yasay said the administration is committed to ensuring the country’s claim on the disputed territory, even though the President has said he is willing to set aside a UN tribunal’s ruling favoring the Philippines to appease Beijing. Yasay said the government’s manner of communicating with China was “the right tack” to take and would allow the two countries to “strengthen other aspects of the relationship.” “You see, in Scarborough Shoal, our fishermen are having free access. Because of the goodwill that has been promoted by

engagement in this manner, they [China] have not made any indication of trying to reclaim that area for the purpose of converting it into artificial islands,” he said. He described this as a “breakthrough” and said the government would continue on its nonconfrontational tack. “When you want to renew ties with another country, it does not mean you are compromising or eroding your rights on certain matters .... Even as we are renewing these ties, when something happens that can pose as some threat to the sovereign rights, as a matter of course we issue this note verbale and make sure we can discuss and talk about it and resolve it,” he said. Yasay said that they “have always made clear” that they would “move forward with the arbitral tribunal’s ruling” when it is time to engage China about the dispute. He said the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision “laid the firm legal foundations of our claim.”

“This is what we’ve made clear to China. In the meantime that they’re not ready—because they have also insisted that they are not willing to talk to us unless it’s outside of the framework of the arbitral tribunal’s decision—we have in a manner of speaking set it aside, but made it clear to each other that we are not compromising or eroding the rights that we have asserted,” he said. On Tuesday, China Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin was scheduled to meet Duterte and his counterparts from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Abella said Liu was in the Philippines for “political consultations” and said he would not discuss the South China Sea with Duterte. “His request for an audience with the President is simply a courtesy call and exchange of pleasantries. It cannot involve discussions of substantive issues that will undermine the purpose and process of our political consultations,” Abella said.

Severe...

ble roads and bridges,” Dy added. “The casualties are not yet in our records because we have to validate first,” Jalad said, adding that severe flooding has affected 4,879 persons and caused the evacuation of 3,911 others in Cagayan de Oro as heavy rains battered the city and other areas of Northern Mindanao. Malacañang, on the other hand, said all concerned government agencies have been assisting the victims of the massive flooding in northern Mindanao. “Government is doing everything to ensure that things go back to normal especially now that the weather is improving and roads are again passable,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press statement on Tuesday. Abella said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has started providing

assistance to the families affected by flooding particularly in Cagayan de Oro City which has been declared under state of calamity. He said the DSWD Field Office 10 has 3,200 bags of rice prepositioned in Misamis Occidental, Camiguin Islands, Iligan and Bukidnon. “DSWD also has 9,000 family food packs, 2,000 dignity kits and a stand-by fund of P7 million. The dignity kits and family food packs will be sent today to affected families. The DSWD is likewise ready to augment relief supplies as needed,” Abella said. Jalad said Cagayan de Oro, heavily-battered by Typhoon “Sendong” in 2011, was forced to declare a state-of-calamity Tuesday as result of the severe rain and flooding it experienced again Monday.

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Fernando Dy, officer-incharge of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said three of the four fatalities were children. He identified the fatalities as three-year-old Jaime Chan of Gingoog City, seven-year-old CJ Lapuz of Magsaysay town, 10-year-old Kian Montecino of Opol town and Nilo Quiloman, 54, of Gingoog City. Dy said one person—Abel Uano of Medina town—was reported missing. The Misamis Oriental PDRRMO said 1,654 families or 6,827 persons had been displaced by the flood. “Of the province’s 23 towns and 2 cities, 14 were affected by swelled waterways with unpassa-

China... From A1

dispute before the Arbitral Tribunal, asking it to declare China’s nine-dash line policy is excessive and illegal. The tribunal ruled in the Philippines’ favor last year, but China has rejected the court’s jurisdiction. In Davao City, the local government is expecting an influx of Japanese investments after the visit of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week. “We are confident as Davao City has successfully gained more interest from the Japanese businessmen,” said Davao City Investment and Promotions Center head Lemuel Ortonio. He said Japanese businessmen should “invest, live, and play” in the city and take advantage of the city’s robust economy and ease of doing business. In a video presentation, Ortonio showed the top 10 preferred investment areas in Davao, the diverse tourism activities, and priority government programs of the local government during the investment forum that Abe attended. The 10 investment areas are agriculture business sector; tourism and recreational facilities; light manufacturing and assembly; property development; health and wellness, educational, and sports facilities; environmental protection and green projects; information and communication technology; generation of new sources of energy; transportation and infrastructure; and public-private partnership projects. Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, speaking for Mayor Sara Duterte during the PhilippinesJapan Investment Forum held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel on Jan. 13, said one reason for them to be confident and invest in the city is the stronger peace and security programs laid down by the administration of the mayor. The forum, held during Abe’s visit, was attended by at least 20 Japanese businessmen and representatives from such companies as Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Itochu, Sumitomo, Toyota, and Mizuho. Executives from Chodai Company Limited, Sumifru (Philippines) Corporation, and Concentrix, which have all established base in the city, also shared their business success stories with the Japanese delegation.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. President Rodrigo Duterte salutes comrades of slain Army Captain Clinton Capio during his wake visit at the mortuary of the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio on January 16, 2017. Capio, a Philippine Military Academy Class 2006, was killed in a clash with the Abu Sayaff members last Thursday. Malacañang Photo

P10-b... From A1

He said the government will increase the presumptive monthly retail receipts or quotas of collections imposed on the STL operators, which were set to only 10 to 15 percent of the total revenues during the previous administration. Aguirre, a member of the special task force created by President Duterte to look into STL operations in the country, said the measure was expected to boost government revenues from the popular numbers game. “When PMRR was imposed last year, the government was able to collect P4.7 billion. This year we are projecting that figure to more than double. That’s why it’s a big revenue,” Aguirre said. “The President intends to use

VAT... From A1

will keep the VAT-exemption benefits of senior citizens and people with disability. The department had recently presented to Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, the latest draft of the

this revenue for his social fund to support health services.” He said the bulk of the billions of pesos in revenue from STL operations under the previous administrations went to the “operators, politicians, law enforcers and graft and corruption.” Under the new scheme, accredited STL operators would be given minimum target collections per month to be remitted to the PCSO. Aguirre said the 18 existing operators and at least 56 additional operators to be accredited by the PCSO would also be required to post a bond equivalent to the monthly quota for their respective areas. He said if the STL operator in Laguna was expected to earn P20 million to P30 million in revenues daily, it would be given a PMRR of P10 million daily or

an estimated monthly quota of P300 million, which would also be the amount of the bond the operator would need to post with the PCSO. “If the operator only remitted P250 million for the month, the remaining P50 million will be deducted from the bond,” Aguirre said. He said the operators would likewise be required to pay to the PCSO a non-refundable fee of P15 million and an application fee of P50,000. He said the PMRR would depend on the public’s patronage of the the STL in the provinces, adding the numbers game was most popular in Bulacan, Laguna and Quezon. The STL was introduced by then President Gloria MacapagalArroyo in 2006 as an alternative to the illegal numbers game jueteng.

revised version of the first of six packages of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program. Package 1 seeks to lower the personal income tax rates, broaden the VAT base, and adjust the excise taxes of petroleum products and automobiles. Romualdez thanked the officials and stakeholders from the

PWD sector for drafting the IRR in consultation with the Health and Finance Departments and the National Council on Disability Affairs for the implementation of the provisions of the act. The Philippine Statistics Authority has estimated the PWD population in the country at 1.5 million.

“Protective custody will be unlikely,” Alvarez told reporters. “We will be violating the law if we grant him protective custody despite the warrant of arrest issued against him.” Asked to comment on the request of Jerome Canlas, lawyer of Romero’s father businessman Reghis Romero, that they would ask his help to arrest the congressman, Alvarez said it was up to the authorities to arrest him. “I totally have no idea how we will be able to help. We do not know his whereabouts in the first place,” Alvarez said. “Let the arresting officers tasked to serve the [arrest] warrant to do their job.” Alvarez said the House could seek help from the Philippine National Police to locate Romero. He said he had also advised the young Romero to just make up with his father. Like Alvarez, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the House leadership could not guarantee immunity from arrest to Romero. He made the remark after Manila RTC Branch 11 Judge Cicero Jurado Jr. ordered the arrest and recommended no bail for Romero and his coaccused Edwin Jeremillo and Felicia Aquino on Jan. 6.

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SC to JBC: Comment on House request

House to pass death penalty bill at all costs

By Rey Requejo

HE House of Representatives will pass the Palace-backed death penalty bill at all cost, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Tuesday.

THE Supreme Court directed on Tuesday the Judicial and Bar Council to comment on the petition seeking the restoration of the full voting right of the House of Representatives in the council. During its en banc session, SC gave the JBC, the constitutionally mandated office that accepts, screens, and nominates appointments in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman, 10 days to answer the petition filed by House Justice Committee Chair and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali who pleaded that instead of the Senate and the House of Representatives sharing their one vote on a six-month rotation basis, each chamber of Congress should be given the right to vote separately during JBC deliberations. In 2012, the high court reduced the voting representation of the Senate and the House in the JBC from two to one vote shared by whoever is designated by the two chambers of Congress. This ruling reduced the number of JBC members from eight to seven members, which is now being challenged by the petition filed by Umali. Aside from the JBC, also ordered to file their comment on the petition were the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Office of the Solicitor General. “Under the present composition of the JBC, Congress is denied full representation. When it is the turn of the Senate to sit in the Council, the House of Representatives is denied representation. Conversely, when it is the turn of the House of Representatives to sit therein, the Senate is the one denied of its right to represent Congress,” Umali stressed. Citing an example, Umali said his vote was not counted during the deliberations of the JBC last Dec. 2 and 9 for the two vacancies with the retirement of Justices Jose Portugal Perez and Arturo D. Brion. During the two deliberations, the petitioner noted that only the vote of Senator Richard Gordon was counted because of the current six-month rotation in Congress’ membership in the JBC.

SC orders DoE, ERC to comment on petition By Rey Requejo THE Supreme Court has directed the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission to comment on the petition seeking to stop the regulations that compel big electricity consumers with at least one megawatt monthly demand to abandon their current contracts and deal only with any of the power suppliers chosen by the ERC. In an en banc resolution, the SC also directed the DoE and the ERC to comment on the plea for a temporary restraining order . “The Court directed respondents to comment on the Petition for Certiorari as well as the application for Temporary Restraining Order within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice. The order came as the high court took note of the the Feb. 26, 2017 deadline imposed by the ERC on end-users to enter into retail supply contracts with accredited retail electricity suppliers. The SC acted on the petition ﬁled by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ateneo De Manila University, San Beda College (Alabang), and mall owner Riverbanks Development Corporation. The petitioners stressed the new regulations would not promote free competition among power suppliers and would lead to higher prices of electricity that would impact negatively on the economy. In particular, the petitioners assailed the following regulations, which they claimed would violate their right to due process and equal protection, and for being an unreasonable exercise of police power: 1. DoE Circular No. DC2015-06-0010 – Providing Policies to Facilitate the Full Implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) in the Philippine Electric Power Industry. 2. ERC Resolution No. 05, Series of 2016 – A Resolution Adopting the 2016 Rules Governing the Issuance of Licenses to Retail Electricity Suppliers (RES) and Prescribing the Requirements and Conditions Therefor. 3. ERC Resolution No. 10, Series of 2016 – Adopting the Revised Rules for Contestability. 4. ERC Resolution No. 11, Series of 2016 – Imposing Restrictions on the Operations of Distribution Utilities and Retail Electricity Suppliers in the Competitive Retail Electricity Market.

By Maricel V. Cruz and Sandy Araneta

Alvarez said the Lower House would pass the measure either through a “party vote” or a “conscience vote.” “We will allow debate to hear all sides of the issue.

Hopefully, we will pass it in less than 30 days,” Alvarez told a news conference. Alvarez is conﬁdent he has the “supermajority” vote to pass the measure.

More than 200 lawmakers belonging to President Rodrigo Duterte’s PDP-Laban comprise the supermajority. This, despite the fact that some lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman are poised to oppose the bill’s passage. “I am very conﬁdent this bill will pass. We have a strong coalition—a supermajority coalition,” Alvarez said, noting only “ﬁve or 10” Duterte allies might oppose the measure. This developed as Alvarez

said the supermajority would not impose party sanctions to House members who would not toe the line and support the death penalty bill. “There will be no sanctions, they will still be congressmen [even if they will not support the death penalty bill],” Alvarez said. Lagman said about 50 House members are listed to interpellate during the deliberations on the bill. The death penalty bill

proposes to impose death penalty on more than than 20 heinous offenses, such as rape with homicide, kidnapping for ransom, and arson with death. Alvarez earlier stressed the need for Congress “to reinvigorate the war against criminality by reviving a proven deterrent coupled by its consistent, persistent and determined implementation, and this need is as compelling and critical as any.”

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Lazy and dishonest

HE latest kerfuffle over President Rodrigo Duterte’s comments about martial law exposed once again the weakness of his communications team. After the President told the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industries Saturday night that if he were to declare martial law, nobody could stop him— not even the Supreme Court—Communications Secretary Martin Andanar immediately sprang into action, blasting the media for “misreporting” Mr. Duterte’s remarks. “The President has categorically said no to martial law. He even made a pronouncement saying that martial law did not improve the lives of Filipinos. We

therefore decry the latest misreporting that the President will declare martial law simply ‘if he wants to’ or that ‘no one can stop the President from declaring martial law,’” Andanar said in a statement. “Such headlines sow panic and confusion to many. We consider this kind of reportage as the height of journalistic irresponsibility,” he added. Andanar said Duterte was clear in saying he would only declare martial law “under the premise that the country has deteriorated into an utter state of rebellion and lawlessness”—even though video recordings of his speech said neither invasion nor rebellion would be his reason for putting the country under military rule. Instead of providing clarity, Andanar’s knee-jerk reaction was to attack the

media. This attempt to deflect criticism of his boss was all the more foolish, because video evidence clearly showed there was no misreporting. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines called Andanar out in an open letter, commiserating with him over having to spin the President’s words “every time he utters something inappropriate.” The group also took the Communications secretary to task for the “utterly dishonest tack” of blaming the media for accurately reporting the President’s remarks. The NUJP pointed out that contrary to Andanar’s claim that the President would only declare martial law if “an utter state of rebellion and lawlessness” existed, Duterte specifically said Satur-

day night it would not be about invasion or rebellion, but about saving the country from the drug peril. Ranged against the facts and the video evidence of Mr. Duterte’s remarks, Andanar’s attack on the media was just lazy and dishonest. It is not media that sow panic and confusion when they accurately quote Mr. Duterte, it is Mr. Duterte himself who does so. When Andanar and his colleagues in the Duterte Cabinet suggest that we not take the President’s words literally, but apply “creative imagination” to his statements, they have left the realm of journalism and accurate reporting and entered the world of propaganda and spin. But Andanar and company ought to remember—that’s their job, not ours. VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

The alleged San Miguel pollution

Stopped in their tracks LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES WHEN Senators Antonio Trillanes, Franklin Drilon and Leila de Lima get together, they don’t only reminisce about the good old days. You can expect them to be plotting some new skulduggery—like gifting Trillanes with another of his muckraking investigations in aid of little else but the furtherance of his particular brand of toxic partisan politics. The three remnants of the old, discredit Yellow regime have banded together to denounce two of their colleagues, Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri, whom they said denied Trillanes his chance to look into the anomalies in the Bureau of Immigration. De Lima had earlier said she wanted a probe of the reported extortion perpetrated

by two BI officials appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte, who have since been fired; Drilon subsequently filed a resolution asking an obscure committee led by Trillanes to do the probing. During the resumption of the session last Monday, the Senate voted 14-7 to stop the alltoo-obvious Yellow tag-team play, after Zubiri protested the “prudence” of letting Trillanes probe anything. Gordon, who has had run-ins with Trillanes over the former’s refusal to allow De Lima to run away with the investigation of alleged extra-judicial killings, said it was he who should conduct the grilling, as head of the committee on justice. The Senate apparently took to heart Gordon’s advice “to decide for ourselves where this is headed” and voted to strike down the plan. Drilon and Trillanes protested loudly after losing the vote, but there was nothing they could do.

As for the public at large, I think we were just spared yet another of those Drilon-TrillanesDe Lima probes that amount to nothing by way of legislation or any other output other than pro-

The Senate should cast aside the old methods of conducting purely partisan investigations. moting these senators’ personal agenda. At a time when all of Congress is being challenged to do more than just investigate and to pass laws that are more meaningful to the rest of us than mere senatorial bloviating, the

Senate did well to nip this illconcealed plot in the bud. *** What was the intention of the three Yellow senators and their four colleagues who voted in their favor, if not to try yet again to embarrass the Duterte administration using the non-issue of the Jack Lam extortion case? Everyone who isn’t still Yellow seems to think so. For instance, have the authorities in charge of the case been remiss in punishing those involved? Did the money that exchanged hands get lost or has it all been accounted for? Has Lam himself been let off the hook? The answer to all these questions is a resounding “no.” Which means that there is really nothing for the Senate to investigate—especially not Trillanes’ Senate committee on civil service, government reorganization and professional conduct, which is as unlikely a venue to do the BI probe as De Lima’s

justice committee was, when she sprang Edgar Matobato on an unsuspecting populace. And we all know what happened back then. The whole Senate, by another vote, had to physically grab the justice committee from De Lima after she and Trillanes (with Drilon smirking his usual conspiratorial smirk on the sidelines) violated almost every rule in conducting probes just to foist their preconceived conclusions on the chamber and the rest of the population. Now, if the Senate really wanted to probe Lam, they could try to find out who protected him in the previous administration, allowing him to pay a fraction of the fees he owed the government, if he did not have a godfather (or godmother) in a high post, like that, say, of secretary of justice. Or it could investigate the work of our so-called back-channel negotiator with China during the Aquino years Turn to A5

ON FRIDAY, Jan. 13, I joined San Miguel Corp. president and vice chairman Ramon S. Ang on a whirlwind helicopter tour of Petron Refinery’s 400-hectare industrial complex in Limay, Bataan. He was furious. Petron or more specifically, a brand-new SMC coal power plant was accused, in an ABSCBN prime time newscast, of spewing dangerous ash fall onto a barrio, Sitio Pexsite, some five kilometers away from the refinery complex. The Channel 2 newscast even interviewed a man who had galis aso (scabies) and another person, a certain Mang Danny, who apparently was going blind because of alleged pollution. Danny said he was holding a tree trunk and suddenly a gust of strong wind and dust penetrated his eyes. In the first place, scabies is caused not by pollution but by tiny mites that reside on the outer layer of the skin. They are living things, not an inanimate matter like ash or industrial dust. In the second place, if it is true the SMC coal plant emits pollution, the first to be adversely affected should be Petron’s some 1,400 employees and residents in Limay. I talked to Petron’s resident doctor of the past three years, Homer Paras. He said there had been no single case of scabies or eye infection at the Petron premises. So if Ground Zero has no pollution, why would a barrio five kilometers away have it? In the third place, the source of the alleged pollution, SMC’s coal plant, could not have caused the ash fall because it is not yet operational. It will be operational only in May 2017, four months from today. And even when it becomes operational, the coal plant has what RSA calls an electrostatic resuscitator that will spray or capture any ash and convert it into liquid, not flying dust travelling in the air several kms away. The coal plant will produce two kinds of ash as a by-product—the top ash the one captured by the resuscitator Turn to A5

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ManilaStandard

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Eroded credibility IT’S widely believed in poli- hungry. We actually have 50 tics: The less you talk, the less million living below the povyou make mistakes. erty line. Not so for President Rodrigo There is nothing to be proud Duterte, who is fond of exple- of when a country like the tives and hyperbole to express Philippines has about one half his sentiments. of its population considering Early on, I cautioned the themselves poor. This is not President against talking a lot. the change we are hoping for. I said he should be careful with Add this to the problem of his words because those who joblessness; some 11 to 12 milare not used to him would not lion Filipinos are unemployed know what he really means. or underemployed. Palace officials told us that Mr. Duterte should not forwe must use our creative im- get that poverty and joblessagination in deciphering what ness remain the biggest probthe President is really saying. lems of the nation. He must But we in media are not in make these a priority. the business of imagining! *** So when the President says The Philippines’ chairmanhe would kill the narco-politi- ship of the Asean not only puts cians, media report his state- the Philippines on the world ments as he said them. How map. It becomes an acid test then can we misquote or mis- for the President and his adreport? visers on how well they will Now we have the President handle the South China Sea talking about imposing mar- dispute with leaders from othtial law in his war against er countries. drugs. The President and his adHe did backtrack once, say- visers on politics and foreign ing that martial law cannot affairs will face global attensolve anytion on how thing, anywell they way. But now can carry he talks about themselves it again, and in foreign We do not we wonder, policy disperhaps the want a leader putes. China idea is really who says things has taken embedded on over most of he does not his mind. the reefs and T h e islets in the mean. thought sends South China chills down Sea. It will our spine — also be an we know full opp or t u n it y well what that means. for the Philippines to attract But Duterte is a lawyer. He foreign investments. must know that the Cory ConInternational media will stitution is toothless. He must cover the summit and focus on know that there is no basis for President Duterte as the Asean him to declare martial law. chairman. Given this, we must So why is he still talking watch out for what Digong with about it? Is it to emphasize his his foul mouth will do or say. commitment to combat drugs? *** Or is he just intent on showing With the Philippine Charity the people that he is strong? Sweepstakes Office’s expanWe now have a President sion of its Small Town Lottery who doesn’t mean what he comes the problem of corrupsays. I believe this is not tion that goes with it. healthy. A president should When President Duterte asnot play with his credibility. It sumed the presidency, he was is something that makes him vocal about the corruption at maintain his power. PCSO. Why he has not purAt the rate he is talking too sued his anti-corruption promuch saying things he just takes gram in the agency remains a back, sooner or later his cred- mystery. ibility may be eroded. It will If and when the President be a waste, because I believe decides to go after illegal gamDuterte is the strong leader we bling, he should also dig deeper have been praying for. into the operations of STLs. It is *** known that drug lords operate Malacañang was quick them. Corruption money is supto jump on the latest Social posed to go as high up as PCSO Weather Stations survey that officials and board members. says change has really come A well-known Chinese is also under President Duterte. But said to be in control of the many what change is Malacañang STLs nationwide. talking about when the num*** ber of Filipinos who considThis made me laugh. ered themselves poor went Somebody quipped that he up to 44 percent in the fourth found Vice President Leni Roquarter of 2016? This means bredo beautiful, and for that that 10 million families still reason, she should be called consider themselves poor and “Vice Ganda.”

Stopped... From A4

and how it seemed that only his own personal situation improved after more than a dozen meetings with the Chinese, instead of the strained diplomatic relationship between Beijing and Manila. Or the Senate can investigate both the pork barrel scandal and the Disbursement Acceleration Program controversy, with a view to finding out who benefited the most out of those scams and didn’t even spend a day in jail. Let’s find out for certain if it was just Mont Blanc pens that were given out, why don’t we? If change is really to come to the Senate, it should be seen in the form of casting aside the old methods of conducting partisan investigations. Remember how Trillanes was very much involved, with the blessing

of Drilon as benign and approving Senate president, in that long-running, catch-ascatch-can probe of then Vice President Jejomar Binay—an investigation intended only to destroy the chances of Binay of winning the last elections? The Yellow gang in the Senate was obviously planning to follow the same playbook again in the aborted Trillanes probe. The members of the chamber were wise enough to see through it and just shut it down. Drilon, De Lima and Trillanes can pine for their lost power in the past administration, when they could do anything they wanted and get away with it. The times have changed, though, and if these senators are as smart as they think they are, they’d stop acting like they were still in the saddle—or at least they can dream up new ways of performing the old job of pulling the wool over our heads.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Threat of martial law BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO SPEAKING before the Davao City Chamber of Commerce last Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to impose martial law if the “integrity of the nation depended on it.” To make matters worse, he ranted that “not even the Supreme Court or Congress can stop me.” Many of us who saw and heard him say this on live TV coverage were of course alarmed at the outlandish statement. The integrity of the nation? The nation’s integrity actually started going downhill when he assumed the presidency as he went on a ranting rampage with his expletive-laced tirades against Pope Francis and US President Barack Obama. Not even the Supreme Court or Congress can stop him? This remark can only cast serious doubt about the president’s understanding of the Constitution even if he finished law in San Beda College and successfully passed the bar. We are reprinting his exact statements in quotes so no one can accuse us of irresponsible journalism as Miscommunications Secretary Martin Andanar

has already described reporters covering the President’s speech. Andanar said the coverage meant to sow panic and confusion. Remember this is someone whose experience in journalism, as we know, was limited to being a TV news reader on Channel 5. Yet it’s the press—the messenger of bad news—that Andanar blames for his boss’ disconcerting statements. For his canine loyalty to his boss, Andanar was taken to task by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines for spinning the words of the President to what Duterte actually said and was factually reported. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, the official Senator Leila de Lima called as the purveyor of falsehood starting from his wig, stepped in to give Andanar a hand in explaining President Duterte’s martial law remark. He said the press, when reporting on what the President says, should be more understanding. He added that Digong mentioned martial law out of anger and frustration over the flak he had been getting from his war on drugs. But why should the President be angry and exasperated? We thought he had things under control to the point of unleashing a mouthful of expletives against

those criticizing him for the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug pushers and users. Except for the US, the UN and the EU and other human rights groups, the majority of Filipinos so far support his relentless campaign against the narcotics trade. This, from the surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia. Again, so why threaten to impose martial law if you are in full control and you have the police and the military at the forefront of the war against drugs? Is this a long-range plan to stay in power, beyond a six-year term of the president? The declaration of martial law under the 1987 Constitution must not last longer than 60 days with the concurrence of Congress. And if Congress approves, any citizen can raise the issue and question its legality before the Supreme Court. The legal basis for the Chief Executive to declare martial law, according to the Constitution, are any of the following: Invasion, rebellion, lawlessness and the breakdown of public order. Former President Ferdinand Marcos laid down these legal foundations which existed when he declared martial law in September 1972. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman was joined by Senators Ralph

Recto and Franklin Drilon in denouncing Duterte’s threat to declare martial law as without basis and subject to legal challenge by an ordinary citizen. Only in cases of invasion, rebellion or breakdown of public order can the president declare martial law, they pointed out. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV warned the people to prepare to fight another dictator. A recent Pulse Asia survey showed 74 percent of Filipinos opposed the imposition of martial law. Is Duterte prepared to sweep aside this overwhelming sentiment of the people? Compare Duterte’s bellicose threat to impose martial law to his government’s limp-wristed response to China’s continuing military buildup in the South China Sea. After a report from a US think tank, the Chinese are installing anti-aircraft and missile platform on the artificial islands they built in the disputed waters, the Department of Foreign Affairs filed a weak diplomatic protest with the Chinese embassy in Manila. There is no invasion yet by the Chinese but their continued military buildup near the West Philippine Sea is practically fencing in and preventing our fishermen from sailing into what were once considered part of our territorial waters.

5-6 SO I SEE LITO BANAYO AFTER the first cabinet meeting of the year held last Monday, Jan. 9, both the Justice and Agriculture secretaries spoke about the president’s expressed directive to do away with what was labeled the “Bumbay” practice of “5-6”. Secretary Emmanuel Piñol mentioned the word “Bumbay” to describe the informal lending practice which used to be dominated by Indian nationals for a long time. Actually, both the President and Secretary Piñol do not use the word “Bumbay.” Rather, in our part of the country, and in the Visayas as well, Indian nationals are called “Turco,” which is even geographically remote. Turkey where the Turks (turco) come from is quite a distance from India, which in Tagalog patois, is labeled Bumbay, after Bombay, now Mumbai. But Turko or Bumbay, and pejorative meanings aside, informal money lending, “un-registered” as Secretary Vit Aguirre charged, has been with us since pre-independence days, as old as when the hacienderos of old would oppress their debt-ridden tenants with a “tercio” of their harvest to repay lifelines extended by the “patron,” who was a feared taskmaster. In our farmlands, as haciendas dissipated due to reform legislation such as several tenancy and agrarian reform acts, middlemen stepped into the picture. Since farmers had to eke out survival for their families out of the small patch of land awarded to them through certificates of land ownership, and they could not access the banking system for loans, they

The alleged... From A4 and the bottom ash which is also captured by another device because it is a very good raw material when mixed with cement. The bottom ash is called calcine, a 90-percent calcine limestone powder with sulfur. It is cooked at 900 degrees centigrade and then fed into a kiln at 1600 degrees. It then becomes chemical gypsum. Since it is a very good material for making quality cement (it makes the cement adhere properly or cure itself well), San Miguel obviously has no reason to let such kind of ash go to waste as an ash fall. RSA calls their power plant clean coal because of its technology called CFB – circulating fluidized bed. CFB converts solids into liquid thru high combustion, resulting in a greatly minimized emission of pollutants. Any pollutants produced are recycled back into the system for further processing. The ABS-CBN report, however,

pawned their would-be harvests to buyers who in turn are part of a network of ex-farm buyer, to middleman, to consolidator to the so-called “cartel.” Give or take one or two layers, this goes true for the rice and corn farmer and the coconut and vegetable planters as well. The so-called cartels soon went into milling cane, or controlling the coconut oil mills, and for the most part, they were controlled by mono-syllabic names. Not the “bumbay.” Unlike the cartelists who have access to huge loans from big banks, the informal lending sector once dominated by Indian nationals (at least in the big cities), started out small, riding a bicycle, thence a motorbike, lending small amounts to market vendors, sari-sari store owners, even marginally employed poor Filipinos. But as poverty entrenched itself in our society, the informal lending also grew by leaps and bounds. Market vendors would borrow a thousand pesos, and pay two hundred pesos more as interest in the 5-6 formula. The informal lenders were always ready to provide, and were always considerate when it came to rolling over unpaid debts. No paperwork, no tedious qualifications, just face. In the days when an AntiUsury Law was in force, the whole informal lending system was underground though not so sub-rosa because everyone knew it existed. But as lifeline is lifeline no matter what, it thrived. It expanded into consumer lending, first through pawnshops or “agencia de empenos,” where jewelry, later appliances were pawned at 3.5 percent, maybe more, discounted monthly interest. But the pawnshops were registered and somehow, though loosely, regulated by government. There were lending facilities for teachers and employees

through payroll deductions as well. Some of the biggest are so filthy rich they now “own” congressional seats and have graduated into politics. Interest earnings could buy votes come election time. Meanwhile, what did government do? First, it promoted cooperatives, both agricultural and consumer coops. There are coops for almost all forms of small and medium economic scale activity. But for every 10 coops registered, perhaps no more than three survived a democratically fashioned economic activity in a “capitalist” dog-eat-dog world. The saga of cooperativism in the Philippines is an entire book of few successes and a myriad of failures. Government also put up the Land Bank for farmers. And Marcos decreed the Agri-Agra Law, which required that the banking system reserved a quarter of its loanable funds for agriculture, particularly agrarian reform beneficiaries. Good on paper, noble in intent, but a failure in implementation, with the banks opting to buy treasury certificates for compliance, the easy way out, more cost-efficient, as well as risk-insulated. There were small- and medium-scale lending institutions funded by big government banks, but they hardly made a dent in the capital-hungry poor and middle-class sectors. Even before Agri-Agra and Land Bank, there were rural banks, mostly controlled by local politicians or former hacienderos themselves. But because of mismanagement and second-generation scoundrels in the largely family-owned banks, again, there were monumental failures. After the fall of Marcos, NGOs or non-governmental organizations came into the micro-financing picture. Some truly dedicated and well-

managed ones, such as Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip’s CARD stand out as being truly successful, to the point that the Bangko Sentral has accredited them to operate as a rural bank. But the networking, the training, the motivational aspects of the CARD expansion has taken an entire generation to fulfill. Dr. Alip’s CARD can be the model upon which the Duterte crusade against abusive informal lending practices can be patterned. But it cannot be achieved overnight. DTI Secretary Mon Lopez has discussed viable alternatives with Dr. Alip in a meeting initiated by Senator Alan Cayetano months ago, and we hope this would lead to a workable, functional and widespread micro-finance system that helps upward mobility and inclusiveness in the economy. Another possible model, for market vendors, are the defunct “moneyshops” that the closed PCI Bank once established in key cities. One could learn from its successes as well as its mistakes. It’s all too good to rant and rail against the abusive practices of unregistered informal lending operators, be they Bumbay or Chinese or Filipino, but the more important thing is to have a viable alternative. Otherwise, no matter what government does, and no matter how government threatens, informal lending will persist. After all, there is no longer an anti-usury law, and even if there still were, it would be honored more in the breach by the natural workings of the law of supply and demand. Just as power abhors a vacuum, demand creates its own supply. CARD takes inspiration from the Grameen model, which started in Bangladesh. Ironically, to many a Filipino perception, Bangladeshis are wrongly described as “Bumbay” as well.

triggered a cease and desist order against the San Miguel coal plant. “We’re issuing a cease and desist order to the plant… They have to stop operations. I’m gonna insist that they take care of all the medical bills,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez was quoted by ABS-CBN as barking. “Heads will roll. I’m not going to take this sitting down we’re gonna clean up the organization,” Lopez added. Lopez’s CDO had the effect of putting in peril a refinery and power plant complex where San Miguel has invested at least $10 billion. It is the largest such oil refinery in the Philippines and the most modern in Asia, gloats RSA. As it turns out thus, Secretary Lopez (no relation) was barking up the wrong tree. RSA traced the source of the pollution to be an old government-owned power plant that is in the process of being decommissioned or phased out. As for scabies, well, the residents were in a squatter area where people live cheek-by-jowl with all kinds of ani-

mals, including dogs, a principal source of mites for scabies (that is why the disease is called galis aso). Although it is not the culprit, San Miguel sent doctors to the area and took care of the alleged victims. But why is Gina Lopez going hammer and tongs against San Miguel in Limay? Well, it is what I call the Goliath effect. The San Miguel Petron complex is the largest of its kind in the Philippines. SMC has poured $10 billion into it for the ultramodern refinery and two adjacent new coal power plants. SMC has recently invested $3 billion to make the Petron refinery super-efficient (it won’t have waste that will be wasted; the byproducts from refining crude will be converted into plastic through a petrochemical complex; into asphalt for construction, and into energy that will save the plant plenty of electricity bill). “We are 100-percent efficient,” says RSA. It is easy for an eager-beaver dogooder like Gina Lopez to literally hold such a $10-billion facility to

ransom. Gina, as you probably know, is undergoing vetting by the powerful Commission on Appointments. Not all its 24 members (including 12 from the House of Representatives) are warm to her. In the first round, the CA refused to confirm her as DENR chief. She has singlehandedly frozen mining in the Philippines thru the power of the permit system. Whenever a bureaucrat has the power to issue permits, he or she wields tremendous power whose use or misuse could mean life or death for a huge company like San Miguel (which generates P700 billion in revenues and P50 billion in profits annually, the largest in the Philippines). It so happens that the chairmanCEO of SMC an industrialist named Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., the titular head of the political party Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). With more than 33 NPC congressmen, it is the second largest political party in the House. biznewsasia@gmail.com

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Standard WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 A6 TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senate fisticuff averted T

IN BRIEF Wesmincom has new chief

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

WO senators almost came to blows on Tuesday after trading insults stemming from a Liberal Party plan to initiate a reorganization in the Bureau of Immigration, but cooler heads averted what appeared to be an imminent Senate ﬁsticuff.

DEEPER MATTER. Senators try to distance Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Antonio Trillanes IV who almost came to blows over a proposed reorganization in the Bureau of Immigration. Ey Acasio

DoJ on lookout for fugitive cop By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice will issue an immigration lookout bulletin order against the police ofﬁcer allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a Korean businessman in Angeles City last year, despite his decision to surrender himself to the National Bureau of Investigation. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the LBO will be issued against SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel as well as the seven other suspects in the kidnapping of Jee Ick Joo last Oct. 18.

Aguirre stressed that the ILBO directs immigration authorities to monitor Sta. Isabel, despite he voluntarily surrendered to the NBI since he is not yet the subject of a warrant of arrest at this time. “There is chance to escape because there is no hold departure order [against Sta. Isabel and other suspects], but I will call them that I will issue lookout bulletin order,” the Justice Secretary said. ILBO mandates the Bureau of Immigration to be on the lookout for the subject and to verify the status of a case against the subject person and not to

restrict an individual from leaving the country. The DoJ used to have the power to issue HDOs but this was covered by a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court in 2011 after former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo questioned it at the time. At that time, Arroyo was the subject of a watchlist order in connection with her electoral sabotage charges ﬁled by the DoJ before the Pasay City regional trial court due to alleged fraud in the 2007 mid-term polls.

Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Antonio Trillanes IV taunted each other on the Senate floor after the ruling coalition rejected a proposal that Trillanes committee investigate the alleged bribery of two sacked immigration commissioner over the case of casino mogul Jack Lam. Zubiri slammed Trillanes for saying the ruling coalition wanted to whitewash the investigation which, administration senators said, was only aimed at opening another circus similar to the probe of confessed hitman Edgar Matobato. “I’m a kind person and people know me. I’m one of the amiable senators of this chamber but if you pick a fight, I didn’t become world champion arnis for nothing. Come out here. Don’t say it in the media,” Zubiri challenged Trillanes. Aside from being accused of whitewashing, Zubiri noted that he also took offense at Trillanes for calling him a “cheater” and a “defender of the faith,” alluding to Duterte. “Mr. President, I take offense that one of our colleagues claims whitewashing. Never in my nine years as House member, and four years as a member of this august chamber have I been accused of stalling or stopping investigation,” Zubiri also said in his privilege speech. Senate President Koko Pimentel butted in and reminded the senators to refrain from using offensive words, considered “unparliamentary language” as he would allow the clashes of ideas. Taking the Senate floor, Trillanes admitted it was indeed his intention to offend Zubiri. “I’m glad that the gentleman took offense because in fact, the statement was meant to be offensive. So at least he feels something,” he said. Senators Manny Pacquiao and Cynthia Villar succeeded in pacifying the two senators but the matter spurred speculations on why LP senators wanted a reorganization of the BI with observers saying former Senate president Franklin Drilon, who made the original proposal, only wanted his nominees named to the two BI vacancies. Others claimed the BI probe was meant to pit Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morante against his boss Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, with whom he has had disagreements, and pave the way for the return of Lam, who has several business interests in the country.

Belmonte unveils bid

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE INVITATION TO BID NO. GOODS-007-2017 07

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Special Educational Fund intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening. Name of Project Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC) 1. Supply, Delivery, Installation and Support of Complete IT Equipment =P=60,000,000.00 Packages including Speech lab Software for 16 Senior High Schools’ iHub Laboratory in the Schools Division of Bataan

QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte conﬁrmed on Tuesday her plan to run for mayor in the local elections of 2019. In an interview, Belmonte said she expects to be running against Rep. Winston Castelo, who is on his last term in Congress, and former councilor Jesus Manuel Suntay, the current president of

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan Municipality of Hermosa Tel.No. (047-633-1531 to 34) Telefax No. (047) 633-1531 to 34

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement. Delivery of goods is requiredon or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who lives in the city’s New Manila district, wanted to run for mayor in Quezon City, too but withdrew his plan and will instead run for Congress, she told the Manila Standard. Rio Araja

E-mail address:hermosa_bataan@yahoo.com

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID (IAEB)

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

The MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF HERMOSA, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply for eligibility and, if found eligible, to bid for the following contract:

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committeeand inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Contract ID Name of Project

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below. Approved Budget for the Contract

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso)

500,000 and below

500.00

More than 500,000 up to 1 Million

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

More than 50 Million up to 500 Million

50,000.00

More than 500 Million

75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataanwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 24, 2017 at 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered on or before February 6, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Declaration in standard form. The winning bidder has the option to deliver the items requested by the end-user with higher technical specification & better technology provided it will be beneficial to the government & will not incur additional expenses on the part of the procuring entity. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted. In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days. Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities Schedule 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid January 17 - 23, 2017 2. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents January 17 – February 6, 2017 4. Request for Clarification January 26, 2017 5. Opening of Bids February 6, 2017 The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

(MS-JAN. 18, 2017)

: 17CRN001 : Supply of Materials, Labor and Equipment for the Asphalt Overlay of Various Barangay Road Municipal Wide Location : Hermosa, Bataan Brief Description : Asphalting of Road ABC : P 50,000,000.00 Funding Source : Trust Fund Contract Duration : 60 Calendar Days The BAC will conduct this public bidding in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations Part A. To be eligible to bid for this contract, a contractor must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF HERMOSA, (b) Filipino Citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership/ corporation with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (c) completion of similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC, and (d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment/cash deposit certificate for at least 10% of ABC or. The MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF HERMOSA will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check, preliminary examination of bids, post qualification, and award. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: Activities Schedule January 18 to February 1, 2017 1. Issuance of Bid Documents (Regular Office Hours) 2. Pre-Bid conference January 20, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Venue Mayor’s Conference Rm. 2nd floor 3. Submission and Receipts February 1, 2017 – of Bids 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Venue Mayor’s Conference Rm. 2nd floor 4. Eligibility Screening/ February 1, 2017 @ 10:00 a.m. Opening of Bids Venue Mayor’s Conference Rm. 2nd floor The BAC will issue copies of Bid documents at the same address to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P 25,000.00) to the Municipal Treasurer of Hermosa. The MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF HERMOSA reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid to annul the Bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. Approved by:

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN

(SGD) ATTY. JOSEPH MARIO S. SABADO BAC Chairman (MS-JAN. 18, 2017)

188 cops positive for drugs THE Philippine National Police has completed the mandatory random drug testing of the entire 165,000 personnel with 195 policemen found positive for illegal drugs. Supt. Irene Rigonan, ofﬁcerin-charge of the Operations Management Division of the Crime Laboratory, said seven of the 195 cops who tested positive were non-uniformed personnel while 188 were active policemen. Statistics from the OMD showed that 29 policemen conﬁrmed positive for shabu use, followed by Calabarzon with 21, PRO-ARMM (19), Central Visayas, (18), PRO-3 with 17. The completion of the drug test among PNP personnel dating back on July 1, 2016, represents 90 percent of the entire laboratory process aimed to determine the involvement of policemen in illegal drugs used during their tour of duty, Rigonan said. Francisco Tuyay

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the promotion of Major General Carlito Galvez Jr. as commander of the Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City. Major Felimon Tan Jr., Wesmincom spokesman, said the turnover of command on Wednesday will be presided by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año. Galvez, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandiwa” Class 1985, is the outgoing commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao. He will replace Lieutenant General Mayoralgo dela Cruz (PMA “Matikas” Class ’83), who will be transferred to the Ofﬁce of the Inspector General based in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Galvez hails from Bulacan but has extensive experience in handling armed conflict especially Muslim issues in Mindanao. He was the former deputy commander for Peace Process of the WesMinCom from July 2, 2014 to Oct. 1, 2015. Florante S. Solmerin

Liver experts hold fundraiser THE Hepatology Society of the Philippines, the only recognized professional liver society in the country, will launch its anti-Hepatitis B campaign for this year with a benefit gala event on Jan. 19 at The Atrium and Courtyard of Enderun Colleges. Billed as “The B Aware” program, this year’s edition of the campaign against Hepatitis B is a fundraising and awareness initiative of the organization against the dreaded killer which continues to be a major public health problem affecting millions of Filipinos. According to HSP president Dr. Ian Cua, the organization is at the forefront in the advocacy and formulation of national health policies on liver health and disease treatment and control. Cua said “there is a very urgent need to heighten awareness among our people on the serious threats and dangers posed by Hepatitis B because most of those who had been afflicted by this killer disease were unaware of their illness until they sought medical treatment.” In addition, Cua said people afflicted with Hepatitis B suffer discrimination. Through the “B Aware” program, Cua said the HSP aims to educate the general public by bringing into light the risk factors, health consequences, treatment, and prevention of Hepatitis B through various communications initiatives using online, print and broadcast media, outdoor advertising and special events.

PAL readies Clark ﬂights

PHILIPPINE Airlines is gearing up for its non-stop operation in Clark International Airports before the end of this month. Maria Cielo Villaluna, Corporate Communications Department-External Communications chief, said beginning Jan. 30, PAL will operate non-stop ﬂights between Clark and Cebu four times weekly (Monday/ Wednesday/Friday/Sunday). Its PR-837 departs Clark at 7 a.m. and arrives in Cebu at 8:15 a.m. while PR-838 leaves Cebu at 8:55 a.m. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT and touches down in NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION Clark at 10:10 a.m. MAKATI CITY BRANCH 136 On the same day, PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF the ﬂag carrier will MINOR SAMANTHA RUSSEL also start non-stop AKUT AND CHANGE OF NAME SP. PROC. CASE NO. FROM SAMANTHA RUSSEL TO service between Clark R-MKT-16-03292-SP ELISA ROSE and Davao thrice SPS. MARK ROBERT SMITH weekly (Wednesday/ and KEUTSAVANH SMITH, Petitioners. Friday/Sunday). Dex-------------------------------------x parture from Clark ORDER on PR-831 will be at A verified Petition for Adoption of minor Samantha Russel Akut 10:50 a.m. and arrival (with application for change of name to “Elisa Rose Smith”) was filed in Court on December 8, 2016 by petitioner Spouses Mark Robert Smith in Davao will be at and Keutsavanh Smith, British and French citizens, respectively, both 12:45 p.m. while PRof legal age and residents of Makati City. Petitioner have no child of their own. They wish to adopt Samantha who was born on November 832 departs Davao at 17, 2015. The child was declared legally available for adoption by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on July 18, 1:25 p.m. and arrives 2016 and was placed under petitioners’ care since November 3, 2016. in Clark at 3:15 p.m. Petitioners aver to be qualified to adopt under the law and that they possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to adopt. Villaluna said on They desire to change the name of the child from Samantha Russel Akut to Elisa Rose Smith, should the petition be granted. March 26, the PAL Clark hub begins The Court finds the Petition to be sufficient in form and substance. its thrice weekly WHEREFORE, notice is hereby given that this case is set for hearing on February 10 and March 3, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at this Family (Tuesday/Thursday/ Court located at the 12 Floor, Makati City Hall, at which date, time and Saturday) operations place, all interested persons may appear and be heard. to and from Puerto The petitioners are required to cause the publication of this Order in a newspaper of general circulation to be determined through Princesa. PR-877 raffle, once a week for three (3) successive weeks before the aboveleaves Clark at 10:50 scheduled hearing. a.m. and arrives in The Court Social Worker is DIRECTED to manifest in Court whether he/she is adopting the previous Child and Home Study Reports Puerto Princesa at regarding this matter. 12:20 pm while PRSO ORDERED. 878 leaves Puerto Makati City, December 9, 2016. Princesa at 1 p.m. and lands in Clark at 2:30 (SGD) RICO SEBASTIAN D. LIWANAG Presiding Judge p.m. Joel E. Zurbano MS-JAN. 11,18 & 25, 2017) th

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Phoenix, Mahindra try to climb standings By Jeric Lopez TWO important games featuring four of the teams in the bottom half of the standings take place in the homestretch of the elimination round of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Teams with contrasting streaks open hostilities as slumping TNT KaTropa (4-4) and streaking Mahindra (2-5) test each other at 4:15 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City today. That will be followed by a battle between Phoenix (4-4) and NLEX (2-6) at 7 p.m. in the nightcap. All four teams are facing mustwin situations as they are all currently in dangerous positions in the race for the top eight. After starting out 0-5, the Floodbuster suddenly came alive, winning their last two assignments to stay alive. Its last victim was Meralco as it surprisingly dominated the Bolts, 105-92, last week through Philip Paniamogan’s career-high

of 25 points. “It’s good to be back in contention for a spot in the top eight but we’re still far off. We need to continue winning games,” said Mahindra coach Chris Gavina. On the contrary, after a solid 4-2 start to their campaign, the Tropang Texters suddenly found themselves in disarray, losing their past two games this year with the last one being dealt by Star, 88-77, just last Sunday. It’s been an up-and-down journey for Phoenix this conference as it mostly alternated wins and losses leading up to its even slate. The Fuel Masters came completely ﬂat in their last outing, falling down hard against Rain or Shine, 97-82, more than a week ago. The Road Warriors are also not having a good run as they have yet to adjust to the ways of new coach Yeng Guiao with wins hard to come by. GlobalPort tripped them, 110-96, the last time out as disappointment continues for the squad.

PSA Forum guests, from left: coach Francis Vicente, coach Sammy Acaylar, Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc VP Peter Cayco and LVPI President Joey Romasanta discuss the status of preparations for the men’s and women’s volleyball teams for the Malaysia 29th Southeast Asian Games in August. Ey Acasio

No special treatment for Alyssa By Peter Paul Duran

VEN credentials as storied and impressive as Alyssa Valdez’s won’t be enough to assure you a spot when tryouts for the national volleyball teams start in two weeks.

Newly appointed women’s vol- workouts, however phenomenal leyball national head coach Fran- they may be. cis Vicente is bent on shutting the Valdez for instance, isn’t a shoo-in. door on players who will not show “We know Alyssa Valdez is up in the January 28, 29 and 31 above everyone else, famous,”

said Vicente of the Ateneo standout during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum inside PSC’s Media Center. “But I don’t want to be unfair to anybody. I don’t want anyone saying I give preferential treatment. They all have to undergo the process (of trying out),” said the University of the East coach who coached Valdez during her high school days at UST. But Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas (LVPI), isn’t worried with

Valdez’s desire to play for the national team, as the 23-year-old has already expressed her willingness to join the squad when they wage battle in the regional and Asian level this year. “Actually she met with me last Saturday,” said LVPI acting president Peter Cayco. “I told her that the instructions of coaches is that there will be no special treatment. But we would love for you to join the national team.” “She said there will be breaks of

two, three days. She will come home to try out for coach Francis,” said Cayco who is confident Alyssa will oblige even with her current stint overseas with Thai squad 3B Nakornnont. Cayco says he is delighted with the show of intent from the former UAAP MVP, adding that it just goes to show the commitment and passion Valdez has for ﬂag and country. The Philippine volleyball teams will to compete in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Under-23 Championship, and the Asian Se-

Sports ofﬁcials to visit Korea

So wins following Rapport blunder By Peter Atencio

By Peter Atencio OFFICIALS of the Philippine Sports Institute will visit South Korea next month to learn more about their high performance training program. National training director Marc Velasco said he and deputy director, Dr. Henry Daut will lead a delegation that will take a look at the facilities that the Korean Institute of Sports Science has to offer. “We will see what programs can be applied in the Philippines,” said Velasco following the launch of Philippine Sports Institute last Monday at the Multi-Purpose Arena, Philsports Complex in Pasig City. A modern high performance training center and a new sports science building is set to rise inside the Philsports Complex in the coming months. Because of this athletes preparing for international meets will be able to focus on their goals of winning medals, according Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

ELABORATE OPENING CEREMONIES. Cage powerhouse Saint Francis of Assisi College leads a 16-school cast during the launch of the NCR-UCLAA basketball tournament yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome. The Doves, fresh from another conquest of NCAA South where they are unbeaten in two years, hope to rule this tournament which is a merger of the NCRAA and UCLAA leagues. The Doves make their debut on January 23 against Colegio De San Lorenzo. Norman Cruz

Equine EHV-1 outbreak: a risk for PHL horses? THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE IT always alarms me to read news about equine disease outbreaks, having lived through a couple of epidemics here that almost decimated the Philippine Thoroughbred industry. The disease was equine infectious anemia (EIA), more commonly, and erroneously, known as equine AIDs. The lessons learned from these incidents led to tighter biosecurity protocols at the racetrack, specifically the requirement for first-time horses entering the tracks and racehorses returning from extended spells to pass a Coggins test, which screens for the malady. Obviously, horses who flunk

nior championships. Also in the forum were the top LVPI ofﬁcials and Sammy Acaylar, who was designated as head coach of the men’s team. LVPI President Joey Romasanta said Valdez’ expressing her desire to be part of the national team is good news for everybody. “The expression of intent itself is very commendable of Alyssa being a true athlete. We’re very hopeful that she can join the tryouts,” said Romasanta.

their Cogginses aren’t allowed to enter the tracks, much less stay in their owners’ racing stables. These epidemics happened years ago, but the loss of hundreds of horses in total is still an awful memory for those who were around that time. Races stopped for a couple of weeks or so, investors saw their money go down the pipes, but most heartbroken were the true animal lovers who could not bear to witness the demise of many fine horses – myself among them. So I was alarmed when I saw a couple of headlines online, both dated Jan. 13 this year (Friday the 13th, in fact), blaring the news that some horses in the US – less than a hundred - tested positive for a mild strain of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) last week. The Philippine Racing Commission and the Department of Agriculture are strict on the movement of

horses to and from the country, but one will never know how a virus might enter the country through some means unknown and unforeseen. They are, after all, microscopic, and may piggyback on tack, wipe rags or other grooming equipment, people’s hands and clothing, and feed and water buckets, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Other means of spreading the virus are through direct horse-to-infected horse contact, and airborne if an infected horse is shedding the virus. The horses that tested positive were located at High Pointe Training Center in Kentucky and Fair Grounds Race Course in Louisiana. All but three were diagnosed with the mild (wild) strain, and the three with the deadlier neurological strain, equine herpesvirus myeloencelopathy (EHM), associated with EHV infections.

Again, the USDA: “EHV-1 can cause four manifestations of disease in horses, including a neurological form, respiratory disease, abortion, and neonatal death.” The last two are most disturbing considering that it’s breeding season. In truth, the virus is common. So common, the USDA says, that “by two years of age, almost all horses have been infected with EHV-1. The initial exposure generally occurs in foals from contact with their dams. The virus can then become latent, or inactive, in the horse’s body, setting up a carrier state that is life-long. Horses of any age that are carriers of EHV-1 do not show any external signs of disease when the virus is in latent form. “The virus can be reactivated during times of stress, such as strenuous exercise, long-distance transport, or at weaning.” Racehorses undergo these

stressors - the latter once in their life, the first two all the remainder of their lives. I hope this isn’t another bullet to dodge. Then again, I’m conﬁdent that Philracom and the DA will do all they can to prevent animal disease outbreaks of any kind in this country. There isn’t any harm in taking precautions, though. It’s just that I remember quite vividly the past couple of serious outbreaks, the consequent decline in horse population, and how long it took the racing and breeding community to bounce back. That’s something we never want to go through again. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember

GRANDMASTER Wesley So’s black king was trapped. But a blunder on the 35th move allowed him to outplay Hungarian rival Richard Rapport in 48 moves of a Reti Opening on Sunday in the third round of the 2017 Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands. Rapport wielded the advantage after he trapped So’s white king on the back rank with his rook, and was keeping his rival at bay with a series of checks. But he lost his advantage when So gobbled up the black queen in the 42nd move. With Rapport’s blunder, So went on the counterattack to pin the black king on the eighth rank. As Rapport conceded, the world no. 4 So move up to second place with two points. He shares second to sixth places with Pental Harikrishna, GM Magnus Carlsen, Wei Yi and Sergey Karjakin. Ukranian GM Pavel Eljanov is in the solo lead with 2.5 points. He stayed ahead after Eljanov drew with Harikrishna in 42 moves of a Reti Opening. Carlsen played to a draw in 27 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Game with Dmitry Andreikin while Karjakin prevailed over Loek Van Wely in 49 moves of a Pirc Defense. According to analysts, Rapport played beautifully to reach a totally winning position, until a couple of blunders reversed this to a lost situation.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Sports

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

Caption NBA: Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) faces off against Cleveland Cavaliers defender LeBron James (23) during their game on January 16 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Dubs humble Cavs, 126-91

OS ANGELES—The Golden State Warriors crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-91 on Monday, snapping a fourgame losing streak against the reigning NBA champions.

Meanwhile, New Orleans star Anthony Davis took another frightening fall on Monday and the Pelicans succumbed 98-95 to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. The Pacers, humbled 140-112 by the Denver Nuggets in London on Thursday, got 19 points from Paul George and held on for the bounce-back victory that still had coach Nate McMillan wanting to see better. “We had lots of lazy possessions and missed free throws down the stretch,” McMillan said. “We’ve got to be better. Our execution at the end, you won’t win many games like that.” The Pelicans had three scoring chances in the last 20 seconds that could have sent the game to overtime. They ﬁnished the game without Davis, who hurt his right hip and left thumb after landing hard on his back after a foul by Pacers center Myles Turner in the third

quarter. The Pelicans said X-rays came back negative, and Davis still ﬁnished the game as the team’s top scorer with 16 points. A week earlier, Davis suffered a bruised hip when he was pushed in the back by New York Knicks center Kyle O’Quinn as he rose toward the basket. Davis ﬂew into a row of seats and missed Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. The Los Angeles Clippers shook off the early exit of point guard Chris Paul to rout the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-98 on Monday and claim a seventh straight NBA victory. DeAndre Jordan scored 19 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and blocked four shots for the Clippers. Marreese Speights led Los Angeles with 23 points to go with 10 rebounds and J.J. Redick scored 20 points for the Clippers, who

In the season’s second meeting between the teams that dueled in the past two NBA championship series, the Warriors started fast and never let up. Before adoring fans at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Draymond Green notched his third triple-double of the season with 11 points, 11 assists and 13 rebounds for the Warriors, who led wire-to-wire to improve their league-leading record to 35-6. The Warriors hadn’t beaten the Cavaliers since game four of last June’s ﬁnals. Cleveland rallied from 3-1 down in the championship series to deny

the Warriors a second straight title, and in the ﬁrst renewal of the rivalry this season the Cavaliers rallied for a 109-108 victory in Cleveland on Christmas Day. That run of success may have prompted Cavs superstar LeBron James’s comment on Sunday that he didn’t really count the Warriors as rivals. “Regardless of if LeBron thinks it’s a rivalry, I know he wants to beat us,” Green said. “And we want to beat them. “We’ve been the top two teams in the league. A team that you beat, that beat you... I see it as a rivalry, and a fun game to play in.”

Arellano targets Final 4

Team SEA completes wire-to-wire victory

Games today (Jan. 18) 8:30 a.m.- AU vs LPU (jrs) 10 a.m.- AU vs LPU (m) 11:30 a.m.- AU vs LPU (w) 1 p.m.- JRU vs CSJL (w) 2:30 p.m.- JRU vs CSJL (m)

ARELLANO University shoots for a Final Four berth while Lyceum of the Phl U at least a playoff for a spot in it as the two clash today in the women’s division of the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City. The Lady Chiefs pulled the rug from under the St. Benilde Lady Blazers, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21, Wednesday to nail their sixth straight win in seven outings and at least a playoff for a Final Four spot. A victory in their 11:30 a.m. showdown with Lady Pirates, who are precariously clinging to a spot in the magic four, will send the Lady Chiefs to the next round alongside Grethcel Soltones and the San Sebastian Lady Stags, the lone unbeaten squad with seven victories. “We need to play as a team again to win,” said Arellano University coach Obet Javier in Filipino. LPU currently owns a 5-2 (win-loss) record and would be in dire need of a win that will secure it of at least a playoff for a berth in the semis.

LUBAO, Pampanga—Team Southeast Asia closed out the way it started its Pradera Ladies Challenge campaign – in dominant fashion, beating Team Pradera, 6 1/2-3 1/2, in singles to complete a wireto-wire triumph at the Pradera Golf and Country Club course here yesterday. Six points up after the fourball and foursomes in the first two days, the visiting squad cut short the hosts’ early charge in the final round, coming back from 1-3 down in head-to-head matches by taking five of the last six while halving the other to complete a whopping 19 1/2-10 1/2 rout. “We learned a lot in this event. Some of my Thai players were actually first timers to play in a Ryder Cup format. But all the girls were excited to gain new friends,” said Team SEA co-captain Phunumpa Pornperapan. Her squad, composed of national players from Thailand, Malaysia

and Indonesia, dominated their Filipina counterparts in all three days. They took control, 7-3, in the ﬁrst day then hiked their lead to 13-7 in the second round and needed just 2 1/2 points in the singles to clinch the duel. “I’m happy it was a successful tournament. Both teams gave their best,” said Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, who put up the event with Archen Cayabyab and coach Norman Sto. Domingo. “Expect a bigger challenge next year.” The young Filipinas actually put up a strong ﬁght in the early going, with Mikha Fortuna, Pauline del Rosario and Bernice Ilas hacking out a 2&1, 3&1 and 2&1 decisions over Thais Kan Bunnabodee, Atthaya Thitikul and Tunrada Piddon, respectively, after Malaysian Qistina Azhar toppled Mika Arroyoa, 3&2, in the opening match.

didn’t miss a beat even after Paul left in the second quarter with a sprained left thumb. Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook failed to post a tripledouble for the first time in four games. Westbrook had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Joffrey Lauvergne added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Enes Kanter chipped in 12 points for Oklahoma City. But the Thunder missed center Steven Adams of New Zealand, who sat out after suffering a concussion on Sunday in a victory over the Sacramento Kings. It turned out to be even more fun than Green could have imagined. The Warriors scored 78 points in the first half, building their lead to as many as 39 points in the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson scored a gamehigh 26 points, including five three-pointers. AFP

PEPP launches tennis circuit

JUNIOR netters brace for another busy season as the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis tour, the country’s longest-running and most comprehensive age-group circuit, ﬁres off tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 19 in Mindanao with 58 events lined up for the year. The Visayas leg of the nationwide tour, backed by new presenting partner Asiatraders Corp., will have 20 age-groupers and three Open championships while the Mindanao and Luzon swings will hold 20 and 18 juniors tournaments, respectively with two Open tournaments each. “It has been our longtime commitment to help develop and promote the sport from the grassroots level and after another banner season, we are inspired to put up more tournaments this year, both in junior and Open ranks,” said Palawan Pawnshop CEO/president Bobby Castro. “With Asiatraders Corp. as our new partner, we have come up with a year-long circuit that will keep our youth busy all year, especially from the countryside,” said Castro, referring to the country’s authorized sole distributor of Dunlop and Slazenger sporting goods. Slazenger is the circuit’s ofﬁcial ball. “We are honored to be the presenting partner of this prestigious age-group tennis circuit that has continued to produce talents for future national pool and teams,” said Asiatraders Corp. vice president John Christopher Tan. The 2017 circuit will kick off in Dangcagan, Bukidnon with the four-day tournament while Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Butuan City and Cagayan De Oro, will host the next three stops on Jan. 26-29, Feb. 2-6 and Feb 9-13, respectively, according to tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay, also the PPS-PEPP sports program development director. For details, call 0915-4046464. For complete schedule, visit www.palawanpawnshoptennis.com. Mangunay added that aside from the regular Philta rankings, the PPS-PEPP will have its own ranking system.

Members of Team Southeast Asia take a selﬁe after completing their 9-point romp over Team Pradera in the ﬁrst Pradera Ladies Challenge.

Healthy Nadal advances at Aussie Open

Spain’s Rafael Nadal hits a return against Germany’s Florian Mayer during their men’s singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 17. AFP

MELBOURNE, Australia – Rafael Nadal powered into the second round of the Australian Open with a commanding straight-sets win over Germany’s Florian Mayer on Tuesday. The 14-time Grand Slam champion looked back to his healthy best after an injury-riddled 2016 as he beat the 49th-ranked Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena. He will next play Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the second round. Last year Nadal was dumped out of the Open in the ﬁrst round by compatriot Fernando Verdasco in a ﬁve-set boil over but there was

no likelihood of a repeat ambush by Mayer. “He doesn’t have the typical game so he’s going to the net. He changes a lot with different points,” Nadal said of his German opponent. “You need to be careful doing every single shot that he is hitting, so for me it is a great victory and I’m very happy to keep having chances to play here in Melbourne. “Today was a good ﬁrst round for me. Florian is a tough ﬁrst player to play against.” Nadal is bidding to win his second Australian Open after beating

Roger Federer for the 2009 crown. But a left wrist injury plagued the Spanish left-hander after the French Open last year and he missed Wimbledon. “I was healthy enough to practice the way I wanted to practice, so that’s important for me and I was able to work a lot of things in Majorca and happy to be back,” Nadal said. “I’ve had a longer period of time here in Australia, it was great experience and I was able to play in Brisbane.” Nadal took the opening set on his ﬁfth set point with an ace and fought off Mayer to grab the second set. AFP

Business

Insurance ﬁrms given leeway to meet capital

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

PPA’s net income rises 17% to P7.16b STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority said net income jumped 17 percent in the first 11 months of 2016 from a year ago, on the back of higher government fees. Latest data from PPA showed that net profit reached P7.16 billion in January to November, up from P6.12 billion posted in the same period in 2015 on higher roll-on, roll-off fees, berthing fees and vessel lay-up fees. Compared to the target, the 11-month profit surged 70 percent from the programmed margin of P4.227 billion. PPA said revenues increased 8 percent to P12.901 billion from P11.942 billion in the same period in 2015. It was also up by 10.1 percent, compared to the programmed revenue of P11.714 billion. Fund management income, however, declined by almost 7 percent to P74.84 million from last year’s P80.35 million because of the slump in interest rates for special and/or high-yield savings deposits resulting from the volatile market behavior in view of the global economic and political uncertainties. “This performance exhibits an overall healthy financial condition with indications of strong ability to service obligations and long-term financial security,” PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said. Darwin G. Amojelar

IN BRIEF BSP extends period for old bill exchange

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas said it is extending the period for the exchange or replacement of New Design Series banknotes for the benefit of overseas Filipino workers. “The Monetary Board approved the extension of the period for the exchange or replacement of NDS banknotes in the custody of authorized agent banks, office of provincial, city and municipal treasurers and overseas filipino, filipino immigrants and non-residents,” Bangko Sentral said in a statement. Bangko Sentral said OFWs could register up to P50,000 of their banknotes on the website http://orbs. bsp.gov.ph until Mar 31. All NDS banknotes registered from Oct. 1, 2016 until end-2016 shall be submitted for exchange with the new generation currency banknotes with a year of registration at any BSP office. “Please note that the additional documentary requirements are needed for Filipino immigrants and nonresidents for exchange for their NDS banknote holdings,” Bangko Sentral said. The banks also noted that aside from the proof of identity of immigrants, they must also submit their birth certificate to support Filipino lineage, while non-residents must show proof of previous employment in the Philippines. Gabrielle H. Binaday

NIA tells contractors to speed up projects

THE National Irrigation Administration issued a cautionary letter among the contractors who were behind project completion. “Among my mandate is to give higher priority to the increase of irrigation area through rehabilitation of existing irrigation facilities” NIA administrator Peter Tiu Laviña said. The concerned contractors which attained very low or poor physical accomplishments as of December 2016 received a warning from the administrator. They were also directed to come up with their respective catch-up plans to address the delays. “We are giving you [contractors] 30 calendar days to submit your ﬁrm’s commitment to complete the obligated works as speciﬁed in the contract,” Laviña said. Lavina also warned that he would not hesitate to suspend all the contractors who failed to meet their obligations and would use sub-standard materials for the projects. “We will impose necessary actions in accordance with the provisions in the contract documents once they failed to adhere to their obligations,” he said. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

SCHOOL BUILDING LOAN. The Development Bank of the Philippines grants a P140-million term loan facility to St. Dominic College of Asia Inc. to partly ﬁnance the construction of the latter’s 10-story school building expansion project in Bacoor City, Cavite. Shown during the signing ceremony are (seated, from left) DBP Bacoor branch head Brian Niño Juniller, SDCA chairman Marita Andaman-Rillo; SDCA president Gregorio Andaman Jr., DBP ﬁrst vice president Abelardo Monarquia, SDCA board member Monte Andaman and SDCA corporate secretary Emeteria Andaman-Sagala.

Ayala, Austrian company begin motorcycle venture

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing JANAUARY 17, 2017

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,123.33 115.12

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing JANUARY 17, 2017 43.00

By Othel V. Campos

COMPANY led by Ayala Corp. and an Austrian group is set to start motorcycle production in the Philippines this month, after securing incentives from the government.

The Board of Investments said it approved the application of KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing Inc. as a new participant under Classiﬁcation III (motorcycle) of the new Motor Vehicle Development Program. KTM Asia, a partnership between Ayala Corp. and Austriabased KTM AG, picked the Philippines as its Southeast Asian hub. “With the Philippines posi-

tioned as the Southeast Asian hub for KTM, it is poised to boost its export capacity to address the rising demand among motorcycle enthusiasts in the region and nearby countries like China,” said Trade undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo. Rodolfo said global brand KTM’s decision to venture into and target the domestic market would further intensify healthy

competition with the already established brands from Japan and China, thus providing more brand options for local consumers. KTM is the biggest European motorcycle manufacturer with a 9.6-percent market share across Europe. It is owned Cross Industries AG and India-based Bajaj Auto Limited. In 2015, it sold over 180,000 units with revenues exceeding 1 billion euros. The Philippine unit will invest P290.6 million in assembly operations and another P114.17 million in parts manufacturing. “Commercial operations will begin this month of January 2017 from its assembly plant inside Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., another Ayala Corp. subsidiary in North Science Avenue in Bi-

nan, Laguna,” BoI said in a statement. KTM Asia aims to assemble four motorcycle models with an initial capacity of 10,000 units annually that will double to 20,000 units when fully operational. It plans to sell 3,000 to 5,000 units yearly for the domestic market while the rest is for export to China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Rodolfo said the local motorcycle segment was one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the automotive industry in the region, beating the downward trend experienced in other countries. “And the good news is, there’s still room for growth in the coming years,” he said.

Davao-Bitung shipping route set to start in April By Darwin G. Amojelar A NEW and shorter sea route from the Philippines to Indonesia will start in April to enhance connectivity and boost international trade between the two countries, the Transportation Department said Tuesday. The department said with the new Davao City–General Santos– Bitung, Indonesia shipping route, ferrying goods would only take three days compared with the current three to ﬁve weeks shipping time via the Manila–Bitung route. Apart from being more time-

efﬁcient, the new route is also cheaper with savings estimated to about $1,500 (P75,000) per twenty-foot equivalent unit, creating revenue for local businessmen and the government. “Having a shipping route such as this is crucial for any maritime region. Sea linkage will strengthen our economies and our partnerships in other areas of development. And it will also improve the quality of life of our people because local businessmen and traders will directly beneﬁt from this,” said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

The maiden voyage will be held in Davao on April 28 to be led by President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Asian Marine Transport Corp. will initially provide a weekly shipping schedule with a vessel capacity of 100 TEUs. Moving forward and in order to sustain the expected growth in demand in this route, other vessel operators are foreseen to show interest in plying the route. Mindanao products such as fresh fruits, poultry, meat, coffee blends, ﬁshing supplies and syn-

thetics were identiﬁed for export to Indonesia. Bitung, a city on the northern coast of Sulawesi known for rich marine life, will import coconut, copra, corn, high value crops, soya products, coffee beans, sugar, cement and charcoal. The opening of a shorter sea linkage is expected to strengthen trade relations between the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as stimulate other areas of developments such as foreign investments and tourism. It is also seen to contribute greatly to the development of the Mindanao region.

45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.830

49.00

HIGH P49.825 LOW P49.985 AVERAGE P49.931 VOLUME 732.300M

P425.00-P650.00 LPG/11-kg tank P36.90-P47.90 Unleaded Gasoline P28.25-P30.10 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, January 17, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.8490

Japan

Yen

0.008763

0.4368

Pound

1.204700

60.0531

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128954

6.4282

Switzerland

Franc

0.988826

49.2920

Canada

Dollar

0.758380

37.8045

Singapore

Dollar

0.699496

34.8692

Australia

Dollar

0.747200

37.2472

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

132.2255

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266716

13.2955

Brunei

Dollar

0.697058

34.7476

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028228

1.4071

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.5721

Euro

1.060200

52.8499

Korea

Won

0.000845

0.0421

China

Yuan

0.144917

7.2240

India

Rupee

0.014686

0.7321

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224014

11.1669

New Zealand

Dollar

0.709400

35.3629

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031585

1.5745 Source: PDS Bridge

Govt expedites permits for housing construction THE Board of Investments signed a memorandum of agreement with Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board to speed up the processing of applications of various housing permits, licenses and clearances. The BoI said these include locational clearance, development permit, certificate of registration and license to sell subdivision and condominium projects. The agreement, signed in late 2016 by BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo and HLURB chief executive and commissioner Antonio Bernardo, further simplifies business processes and requirements for housing and real estate projects, thereby promoting ease of doing business in the country and making transactions more investor-friendly. “It is important that we offer a conducive business environment to investors, a place where they could quickly set up and process their business requirements. An important first step is to make

it easy for them to comply with government requirements,” Rodolfo said. “By simplifying business processes and requirements, we make a good signal to the business community and this would entice them to invest more housing projects in the country,” he said. Under the agreement, HLURB shall regularly provide BoI with copies of all relevant rules and guidelines and standards on housing and real estates. It will also provide BoI with a checklist of all requirements related to LCs, DPs CRLS of subdivision and condominium projects. The agreement also allows duly authorized BoI representatives to assist in the submission and follow up of housing-related applications of projects or transact on behalf of the BOI-registered enterprises including projects that are of economic and environment signiﬁcance.

M&A CHALLENGE. Ateneo de Manila University’s Blitzkrieg team emerges as the grand prize winner of the ﬁrst PwC Philippines Mergers & Acquisitions Challenge conducted by Isla Lipana & Co., a Philippine member ﬁrm of PwC. The challenge involved preparing studies on selected industries and M&A cases. Shown receiving the P100,000 prize, plus P50,000 for the faculty, from PwC are members of the ADMU team, composed of (from fourth left) Raynard Rafael Lao, John Benedict Capucao and Mikael Alafriz.

Business

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market extends losses; STI rises Alterra to raise P4.7b S from share sale, loans TOCKS fell for a ﬁfth day, as caution dominated the market amid uncertainties surrounding the so-called ‘hard Brexit’ and Donald Trump’s policies.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 115 points, or 1.6 percent, to close at 7,123.33 Tuesday. This reduced total gains this year to 4.1 percent. The heavier index, representing all shares, also tumbled 60 points, or 1.4 percent, to settle at 4,304.65, on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 130 to 67, while 41 issues were unchanged. All six sectoral indices declined, while only four of the 20 most active stocks ended in

the green, led by STI Education Holdings Inc. which climbed 1.9 percent to P1.08 and Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which gained 1.7 percent to P6.59. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. rose 0.8 percent to P793.50, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty added 0.5 percent to close at P1,325. Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest loser among the most active issues, plunged 7.2 percent to P6.59. Meanwhile, Asian investors

moved warily Tuesday as they looked ahead to a crucial week for two of the world’s top economies as Britain outlines its plans for leaving the EU and Donald Trump is sworn in as US president. The UK is likely to pull out of the European Union’s single market for goods and services and seek a new trading relationship with the bloc, according to a person familiar with the matter. Separately, the International Monetary Fund is taking a cautious stance on the effects of a Trump administration. “Trump’s policies and Brexit remain two key overhangs in Asia markets,” said Ronald Wan, chief executive ofﬁcer at Partners Capital International in Hong Kong, “Investors may become more

risk-averse and choose assets that could hedge these risks -- commodities like crude oil, gold may be preferred in the short term.” Britain’s pound edged up but remains stuck near three-decade lows against the dollar. Prime Minister Theresa May was due to set out her stall later Tuesday and analysts said forex traders will be poring over her remarks, with any surprises threatening to send the pound tumbling further. Sterling was sitting around $1.2100 Tuesday, having plunged to $1.1986 Monday, its lowest since October’s “ﬂash crash” that sent it to $1.1841—a level not seen since the start of 1985. Friday sees Trump’s inauguration, which many are eyeing with uncertainty. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Jenniffer B. Austria ALTERRA Capital Partners Inc., which will soon be renamed Philab Holdings Corp., plans to raise P4.7 billion in fresh capital through loans and share sale. Alterra said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors authorized the company to enter into loan agreements with various lenders to borrow P437.1 million at an interest rate of 5 percent per annum. Its board also approved the conduct of a follow-on offering con-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.7 36,000 47.95 3,800 89 2,505,150 4.1 1,000 111.5 1,754,060 1.34 902,000 38.5 31,200 16.2 400 19.02 85,800 6.74 3,500 1.66 2,000 843 100 0.65 6,478,000 75 3,235,340 0.8 8,434,000 14.2 78,700 22.1 15,000 53.4 127,930 238 3,680 151 100 90 480 35.8 2,800 210.6 475,850 1,725 640 76.55 69,730 1.26 6,000

133,360 182,175 224,045,847 4,100 195,833,712 1,225,180 1,198,310 6,480 1,636,364 23,113 3,320 85,220 4,259,030 244,021,773 6,833,340 1,117,940 333,500 6,900,133.50 856,310 15,100 43,200 100,375 100,246,740 1,106,220 5,330,438 7,560

143,800 100,507,208 103,095,643 16,200 -1,620 -127,758 3,370 -33,147,452.50 157,530 -6,784,291 13,800 25,105 -23,729,630 4,591.50 -

43.7 4.37 0.86 1.39 17.28 0.205 90 11.52 15.86 22.4 20.1 93.15 102 1.93 6.45 11.98 12.12 6.6 7 5.26 22.1 68.9 12.24 16.04 6.1 1.71 205.8 73.5 2.65 25.05 29.55 26.8 14.16 269.6 3.22 9.65 11.5 2.25 5.62 1.59 74.3 5 245 4.85 2.81 12.14 4.22 0.145 1.54 168.6 4.29 1.75 32 1.08

INDUSTRIAL 43.75 1,104,400 4.44 462,000 0.88 494,000 1.42 3,121,000 17.3 14,600 0.209 680,000 92 1,040 11.52 3,358,000 15.88 1,623,500 23 169,900 20.1 16,100 96.1 60 102 10 1.97 311,000 6.45 119,900 12 36,400 12.3 4,066,100 6.82 1,027,500 7 264,700 5.27 22,895,300 22.6 1,390,300 69 217,400 12.24 500 16.06 3,100 6.1 344,700 1.73 665,000 205.8 494,420 73.5 100 2.65 136,000 28.55 600 30 854,200 27 123,000 14.3 265,800 272 582,140 3.22 7,705,000 9.65 2,156,400 11.5 21,500 2.27 1,073,000 5.65 361,100 1.59 80,000 74.5 1,088,480 5.03 106,200 245 31,230 4.9 1,121,800 2.81 35,000 12.4 6,026,200 4.22 52,000 0.145 550,000 1.55 241,000 169 909,890 4.29 12,000 1.77 4,393,000 32 1,200 1.1 220,000

48,344,605 2,037,790 431,180 4,338,890 257,704 142,220 95,120 39,298,716 25,801,246 3,880,430 324,410 5,618.50 1,020 605,480 773,355 436,664 49,785,728 6,972,259 1,858,025 120,708,876 31,401,945 14,983,494.50 6,120 49,784 2,102,942 1,162,690 102,713,770 7,350 361,770 16,080 25,585,870 3,320,580 3,794,518 158,082,954 24,810,780 20,879,393 247,250 2,435,900 2,040,182 127,930 81,333,037.50 533,653 7,681,170 5,526,412 98,350 74,623,944 220,420 80,250 378,520 154,771,359 51,590 7,817,120 38,430 240,500

3,557,680 440,000 -13,560,190 -4,511,906 12,480 -27,580 -645,000 -8,781,256 1,327,442 -1,126,293 9,482,013 14,022,820 5,304,310 1,743,380 176,770 -55,302,142 -14,532,330 -2,040,920 296,226 87,970,102 -52,120 25,363.00 -57,500 793,950 -339,000 22,498,138.50 -5,030 -484,690 -701,669 64,630 -1,530,816 -59,926,354 798,270 3,205.00 -

0.405 74.2 12.6 1.1 5.9 0.305 780 8.73 12.78 7.91 0.18 1,319 73 3.85 1.11 7.97 12.08 0.455 6.7 3.01 0.042 1.25 1.99 97 675.5 1.3 187 262.2 0.295 0.185 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.43 19,540,000 74.3 1,266,710 12.74 3,659,100 1.2 27,000 6 271,400 0.315 410,000 790 226,420 8.73 1,005,800 12.9 6,191,200 8.15 122,700 0.18 70,000 1,329 109,690 73 1,153,040 3.85 1,000 1.15 4,018,000 8.03 330,500 12.08 4,250,400 0.455 50,000 6.7 23,396,300 3.01 2,000 0.044 291,300,000 1.25 7,000 2 4,030,000 97 85,880 683 113,360 1.32 715,000 187 140 263 1,850 0.295 260,000 0.187 260,000 0.275 2,190,000

8,235,300 94,453,321.50 46,783,496 30,320 1,626,983 125,150 179,108,365 8,792,575 80,005,804 994,087 12,720 145,628,510 86,164,691 3,850 4,589,990 2,649,154 51,899,122 22,900 158,017,294 6,020 13,094,200 8,760 8,212,620 8,350,583 77,511,950 944,520 26,185 486,494 76,700 49,770 550,140

-7,375,715 -19,519,870 -792,115 64,224,785 5,026,253 663,356 575,910 48,008,525 47,838,125 -1,200 617,284 5,636,058 -18,396,423 -112,500 -5,010,360 654,004.50 38,288,390 19,800 1,870 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

3.8 48 91.5 4.1 111.5 1.4 38.5 16.2 19.14 6.59 1.66 855 0.68 78.45 0.78 14.2 22.5 54.55 230 151 90 35.95 211 1,729 76.5 1.26

3.8 48 91.5 4.1 112.1 1.4 38.5 16.2 19.2 6.74 1.66 855 0.69 78.45 0.85 14.22 22.5 54.6 239 151 90 35.95 211.4 1,730 76.65 1.26

3.7 47.9 89 4.1 111.4 1.33 38.4 16.2 19.02 6.58 1.66 843 0.64 75 0.78 14.2 22.1 53.4 230 151 90 35.8 210.4 1,725 76.4 1.26

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCRETE A CONCRETE B 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 MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

43.75 4.47 0.88 1.44 18.7 0.21 95 11.78 15.94 22.5 20.9 93.15 102 1.97 6.45 11.98 12.4 6.62 7.15 5.3 22.8 68.95 12.24 16.04 6.1 1.76 212 73.5 2.69 25.05 29.9 27.3 14.2 277 3.3 9.74 11.5 2.29 5.65 1.6 75.3 5.18 246 5.02 2.81 12.28 4.26 0.147 1.58 173.4 4.3 1.82 32.1 1.08

44 4.47 0.9 1.44 18.7 0.212 95 11.78 16.1 23 20.9 96.1 102 1.97 6.45 12 12.4 6.95 7.15 5.31 22.8 69 12.24 16.06 6.15 1.8 212.2 73.5 2.69 28.55 30.1 27.3 14.32 277.8 3.3 9.74 11.5 2.3 5.65 1.6 75.5 5.18 246 5.02 2.81 12.6 4.26 0.147 1.6 173.4 4.39 1.82 32.1 1.1

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV MJC INVESTMENTS PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.41 74.5 13 1.13 5.9 0.305 785 8.8 13.08 8 0.182 1,319 75.3 3.85 1.12 8.04 12.24 0.46 6.82 3.01 0.043 1.26 2.11 98 686.5 1.33 187.1 263 0.295 0.185 0.26

0.43 74.85 13 1.2 6 0.315 797 8.8 13.2 8.15 0.182 1,338 75.65 3.85 1.17 8.04 12.4 0.46 6.97 3.01 0.047 1.26 2.16 98 686.5 1.35 187.1 263 0.295 0.195 0.275

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

7.54 1.22 6.3 2.45 0.81 34.4 3.2 0.57 1.38 0.185 0.62 53 0.71 0.155 1.66 1 1.2 3.78 0.165 0.42 4.18

7.58 1.25 6.3 2.49 0.86 34.5 3.27 0.58 1.4 0.187 0.65 53 0.71 0.155 1.66 1.02 1.2 3.8 0.171 0.42 4.18

7.54 1.2 6.3 2.4 0.72 33.7 3.16 0.56 1.31 0.18 0.62 51.3 0.71 0.155 1.64 1 1.2 3.53 0.162 0.415 4

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

30.05 25.6 1.58 3.28 30.6 1.02 0.9 5.02

30.05 25.6 1.65 3.28 30.8 1.05 0.91 5.02

30 24.75 1.58 3.28 29.6 1.02 0.88 4.93

30 24.75 1.6 3.28 29.6 1.04 0.9 4.94

2,000 2,974,600 253,000 40,000 5,250,500 4,136,000 131,000 3,773,300

60,015 74,271,700 405,680 131,200 157,319,585 4,293,340 117,450 18,676,881

-25,372,750 -62,320.00 -24,671,185 -9,013,092.00

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

7.5 48.1 1.36 0.54 0.053 10.6 5.69 6.4 0.074 2.79 96.1 9.9 8.35 2.11 1,703 6.32 15.5 17.98 3.15 16.2 110 73 0.0095 12.22 9 0.235 1.39 3.25 15 4.23 2.36 4.21 4.25 20 2.73 11.28 5.4 3.02 135 10 1,485 1.43 0.495 40.1 73.5 6.16 2.6 1.06 3.28 0.37

7.5 48.1 1.36 0.55 0.053 10.6 5.69 6.63 0.075 2.8 96.1 9.9 8.35 2.14 1,704 6.42 16 17.98 3.24 16.2 115.1 73.75 0.011 12.22 9.08 0.235 1.39 3.54 15 4.33 2.48 4.3 4.3 21 2.78 11.28 5.4 3.17 135 10.02 1,500 1.43 0.495 40.15 74 6.16 2.63 1.12 3.28 0.375

7.45 47.8 1.35 0.52 0.051 10.6 5.33 6.36 0.074 2.61 93 9.9 8.3 2.11 1,659 6.28 15.24 17.98 3.05 15.5 110 71 0.0094 12.1 9 0.224 1.36 3.25 15 4.15 2.35 4.01 4.1 20 2.65 11.26 5.2 3.02 132 9.8 1,435 1.41 0.48 39 73.5 6.13 2.57 1.05 3.25 0.355

SERVICES 7.45 47.95 1.35 0.54 0.052 10.6 5.33 6.57 0.074 2.63 93 9.9 8.3 2.11 1,670 6.38 15.98 17.98 3.06 15.5 115 71 0.01 12.1 9.08 0.23 1.36 3.3 15 4.18 2.48 4.17 4.25 20.9 2.66 11.26 5.3 3.17 133 9.94 1,440 1.42 0.48 39 73.5 6.16 2.57 1.07 3.25 0.355

111,500 18,800 9,000 950,000 35,420,000 11,400 4,500 21,549,000 20,330,000 6,026,000 476,900 1,000 103,000 67,000 68,590 382,800 129,200 52,800 10,397,000 20,700 710 3,322,050 514,000,000 7,000 525,000 29,750,000 529,000 89,000 700 591,000 12,000 13,444,000 2,775,000 500 1,962,000 5,500 29,600 11,000 36,520 476,800 141,980 5,019,000 12,790,000 3,299,200 73,780 23,000 1,155,000 60,452,000 612,000 340,000

832,942 899,865 12,170 512,020 1,824,240 120,840 25,220 140,877,846 1,504,830 16,225,600 44,754,274 9,900 857,460 142,340 114,550,980 2,423,292 2,030,642 949,344 32,633,520 325,632 81,170 237,025,178 5,112,600 85,264 4,763,000 6,771,820 724,220 295,960 10,500 2,484,120 28,380 55,940,050 11,663,890 10,190 5,313,720 61,970 156,045 33,370 4,837,110 4,715,099 205,709,125 7,116,730 6,185,100 128,805,935 5,423,459 141,221 3,002,150 65,748,940 1,992,670 127,000

62,600 -42,400 12,713,974 714,480 -28,683,438.50 -67,127,035 -13,702 -97,120 -214,342 -45,000 115,100 118,720 -24,184,090 -1,194,800 169,500 -102,080 645,727 -107,603,200 -988,070 218,000 -31,534,995 -1,422,600 49,084 -535,010 -13,304,190 -289,890 11,100

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A 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 2.9 5.25 9.63 2.25 2.16 0.52 0.465 11.98 3.06 0.26 0.216 0.226 0.012 2.33 7.1 2.75 1.04 0.011 0.012 4.17 0.013 9.04 3.68 133.8 2.94 0.0092

0.0034 2.95 5.39 9.63 2.25 2.25 0.53 0.465 12.16 3.06 0.26 0.218 0.226 0.012 2.35 7.14 2.78 1.05 0.012 0.012 4.17 0.013 9.15 3.68 134.8 2.95 0.0092

0.0033 2.89 5.23 9.63 2.25 2.16 0.52 0.445 11.58 2.9 0.255 0.212 0.221 0.012 2.14 6.58 2.67 1.03 0.011 0.012 4.05 0.013 9 3.59 133 2.94 0.0092

MINING & OIL 0.0034 447,000,000 2.93 506,000 5.23 172,500 9.63 1,000 2.25 9,000 2.25 7,000 0.53 116,000 0.46 690,000 12 23,100 2.94 5,061,000 0.26 420,000 0.218 2,000,000 0.226 1,410,000 0.012 2,700,000 2.21 5,558,000 6.61 23,103,800 2.73 198,000 1.05 486,000 0.011 13,200,000 0.012 100,000 4.05 16,000 0.013 5,100,000 9.01 606,400 3.61 1,026,000 133.7 890,870 2.95 36,000 0.0092 22,000,000

1,518,900 1,472,120 910,065 9,630 20,250 15,210 60,380 308,750 271,362 14,865,690 107,800 429,770 316,860 32,400 12,368,020 155,567,552 535,190 504,520 150,600 1,200 65,020 66,300 5,468,023 3,705,850 119,122,578 106,150 202,400

170,000 -37,060 -4,320 1,797,810 110,340 -3,099,264 240,157 -366,600 583,251 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

47.95 525 102.9 104.1 113.5 5.9 1,040 107 1,046 1,150 107.9 81 77 79.6 78.65 78.1

48.2 525 104 104.1 113.5 5.91 1,040 107 1,046 1,150 107.9 81 77 79.7 78.65 78.1

47.75 525 102.9 104 113.5 5.89 1,040 107 1,045 1,150 107.9 81 77 79.6 77.2 78.1

PREFERRED 48.2 171,800 525 19,320 104 29,100 104.1 100,880 113.5 700 5.9 592,600 1,040 12,300 107 50 1,045 60 1,150 150 107.9 2,000 81 150 77 1,660 79.7 12,600 77.5 22,390 78.1 116,730

8,252,960 10,143,000 3,013,216 10,501,558 79,450 3,496,365 12,792,000 5,350 62,710 172,500 215,800 12,150 127,820 1,004,218 1,737,253 9,116,613

6,842,010 -3,376,598 11,804,000 127,820 1,426,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.34

2.26

WARRANTS 2.26 49,000

111,400

5,437,085 70,670 11,557,107

-3,250,750

730,652

49,980

PROPERTY 7.54 1.22 6.3 2.45 0.75 33.8 3.2 0.57 1.4 0.182 0.65 51.9 0.71 0.155 1.64 1 1.2 3.55 0.165 0.415 4.06

106,700 4,303,000 3,100 292,000 145,152,000 7,713,200 2,178,000 12,731,000 183,000 57,650,000 18,962,000 439,370 77,000 250,000 6,106,000 1,544,000 155,000 124,754,000 52,780,000 90,000 2,503,000

805,385 5,279,610 19,530 706,780 115,046,120 261,366,890 7,002,570 7,254,590 248,680 10,507,600 12,120,580 22,846,355.50 54,670 38,750 10,073,750 1,558,990 186,000 450,080,190 8,770,230 37,600 10,288,460

-576,850 18,900 -122,500 124,260 -26,502,950 -736,080 -4,298,110 -204,370 -256,000 -2,673,502.50 -8,329,890 -245,324,960 134,850 -

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS XURPAS

8.9 4.16 8.35

8.9 4.16 8.4

8.5 4.15 8.08

FIRST METRO ETF

119

117.6

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

24,253,668 71,042,026 365,800,022

PROPERTY

454,542,704

SERVICES

749,542,903

MINING & OIL

532,665,905

GRAND TOTAL

2,200,033,467

8.5 4.16 8.37

SME

630,800 17,000 1,398,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118 6,190

VALUE 1,713.52 (down) 23.54 795,571,650.40 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,004.25 (down) 124.13 1,034,192,070.074 HOLDING FIRMS 7,307.96 (down) 74.69 1,013,457,732.108 PROPERTY 3,213.59 (down) 79.74 SERVICES 1,355.15 (down) 26.34 1,193,133,659.68 MINING & OIL 12,045.88 (down) 164.14 1,193,133,659.79 PSEI 7,123.33 (down) 115.12 318,237,904.931 All Shares Index 4,304.65 (down) 60.22 5,510,185,080.17 Gainers:67; Losers:130; Unchanged: 41; Total: 238

sisting of 500 million shares which will raise P4.25 billion based on the stock’s current price of P8.55 per share. The company assigned Philippine Commercial Capital Inc. as the lead underwriter for the share sale. Alterra said its board authorized the company to ﬁle a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company earlier increased its authorized capital stock to P2 billion from P20 million in preparation for the fund raising activity. Alterra approved the acquisition of a 93.48-percent stake in Philab Industries Inc. for P860 million in December 2016, paving the way for the latter’s backdoor listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange. Under PSE rules, a backdoor listing occurs “when a listed company acquires or merges or combines with an unlisted company, or when a listed company is acquired by, merged or combined with an unlisted company.” Alterra acquired 351,750 shares in Philab Industries at P2,445 per share. Alterra’s acquisition came less than two months after Philab acquired a 67-percent stake in Alterra in October 2016. Philab supplies math and science equipment to the Education Department, Health Department, Science and Technology Department and the National Institute of Health in UP Manila.

Primex prepays P1.8b in bank debt PROPERTY developer Primex Corp. said it prepaid all its bank obligations worth P1.8 billion, ahead of the expected rise in interest rates. Primex said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it was able to prepay all obligations with Metrobank and BDO Unibank Inc. as of Jan. 3, 2017. The early settlement of the bank loans is expected to bolster the company’s financial standing in the domestic lending market, it said. This could also result in banks’ higher trust and confidence in the group, resulting in lower lending rates and increased allocation of funding. Primex had an approved loan with Metrobank amounting to P300 million which was due to mature in April 2020 while subsidiary Primex Realty Corp., the owner and developer of a 31-story residential tower in Salcedo Village Makati, also prepaid both its term loan with Metrobank amounting to P700 Million and another P500 million loan with BDO. The Metrobank loan that matured on July 6, 2016 was fully paid three months ahead of schedule, while the BDO loan that would mature in 2020 was fully settled before the year 2016 ended. Primex said affiliate Primex Land Inc. was also able to wipe out all its bank obligations of P300 million, five months ahead of maturity. “Eliminating our already low debt levels help make Primex a fundamentally stronger company especially at a time when the market is expecting a rise in interest rates. Additionally, our debt-to-equity levels should now be among the healthiest and lowest among the most valuable 20 listed property developers in the country,” Primex chairman Ernesto Ang said.

Business APO CEMENT AWARDS.

Apo Cement Corp., a subsidiary of Cemex Philippines, is again the recipient of Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association awards this year for having the safest mineral processing operation and for its environmental conservation program. Leading ofﬁcials of Apo Cement accept the award during the ceremony. Apon Cement won three awards from the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association are the 2016 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental AwardPlatinum Achievement Award, Safest Mineral Processing Award and Best Mining Forest Award.

Insurance firms given leeway to meet capital By Gabrielle H. Binaday

NSURANCE companies that fall short of the minimum P550-million capitalization requirement imposed by the amended Insurance Code have until April this year to reach the threshold, the Insurance Commission said Tuesday.

Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa said insurance companies technically had over four months to comply with the minimum paid-up capital pending the submission of their 2016 annual audited ﬁnancial report on April. “From there, it will be determined accurately how much was their net worth. (There’s always a) tail-end, and (it) is much later,” Funa told Manila Standard. Earlier, Funa disclosed four

pairs of non-life insurance companies were planning merger to meet the higher capital requirement. Funa said companies that had submitted plans for merger but were unable to meet the April 30 deadline would still be given ample time by the regulator because of the due diligence process in pursuing the transaction. Life and and non-life insurers should have a net worth of P250 million at the end of 2013 and P550 million by the end of 2016.

The net worth should increase to P900 million in 2019 and P1.3 billion by the end of 2022. Meanwhile, the IC said it expects the insurance industry to grow this year on the back of the higher capitalization requirement. “Due to the increase in conﬁdence in the current Duterte administration, purchasing power and the middle class, the Philippine economy is expected to continue its expansion. This would beneﬁt the different industries, translate into a considerable amount of potential to the insurance industry and would address the challenges brought about by the Asean integration,” said Funa. IC data from 2011-2015 show that the insurance density— which represents the average amount spent on insurance by each individual in the country— grew expanded 84 percent to

P2,286 in 2015 from P1,241.5 in 2011. Within the same period, the insurance penetration, or the ratio of insurance premium to gross domestic product or the contribution of the insurance sector to the economy—also improved by 45.8 percent from 1.02 percent in 2011 to 1.75 percent in 2015. The market penetration rate (ratio of individuals with life insurance coverage to population) increased by 125.64 percent from 18.29 percent of the population of 94.2 million (or 17.2 million) in 2011 to 41.27 percent of the population of 101.6 million (or 41.9 million) in 2015. Despite the steady increase in density, the insurance penetration and penetration rates in the Philippines, is still considered low compared to with other countries in Southeast Asia, ASEAN countries, the IC said.

DTI eyes revision in testing of products By Othel V. Campos THE Trade Department wants to amend rules that will make product testing more relevant and a reliable tool to assure that imported products conform to the specific quality requirement set by the Philippine government. The proposal came in the wake of the 20,000 metric tons of steel shipment brought into the Philippines that allegedly lacked proper testing, prompting the Trade Department to withdraw the import clearance certificate issued to a Chinese company. A government official said the shipment of Mannage Resources Trading Corp. lacked metal tags that prevented the Philippine government from tracing its origin from China. “At first they told us that only 200 rebars were missing the tags but they eventually admitted that they have re-attached more than 10,000 tags to the shipment but most of the products still lack the required tags,” he said. He said the Chinese company refused to have the shipment undergo a second sampling procedure using the Philippine National Standards. The procedure under PNS 49:2002 calls for one sample per 2,000 pieces (20 metric tons) of the shipment. The company is still relying on the result of the testing that followed Trade’s rules that require the use of only three samples to represent the entire shipment. The Bureau of Product Standards when processing an ICC application is guided by the provisions of the the Standards Law, Department Administrative Order 05: 2008 and the relevant Philippine National Standards and their implementing guidelines.

LOWER ELECTRICITY RATES. Manila Electric Co. public information ofﬁce Head Joe Zaldarriaga (in photo) attributes the overall rate decrease in electricity rates to the downward movement in the generation charge. Electricity rates for a typical household in Manila Electric Co. dropped in January by P0.2703 per kilowatt-hour. Households consuming 200 kWh will experience a reduction of around P54 in their electricity bill. Meralco also informed customers to continue observing energy efﬁciency measures to help manage their electricity consumption.

LandBank, Jica sign Mindanao loan STATE-OWNED Land Bank of the Philippines signed a ¥4.9-billion loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to fund agribusiness investments in conflict areas in Mindanao, the Finance Department said Tuesday. The loan will finance a fiveyear project that aims to jumpstart agribusiness investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other conflict-affected areas in the South. LandBank president and chief executive Alex Buenaventura and Jica chief representative to the Philippines Susumu Ito signed the agreement on the loan equivalent to about P1.76 billion. President Rodrigo Duterte

and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe witnessed Thursday the signing of the loan agreement in Malacañang. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III signed the guarantee letter for the deal. “The HARVEST project is seen to help create an enabling investment environment in the ARMM and other conﬂictaffected areas in Southern Philippines to help rev up the economy and raise incomes in these communities,” Dominguez said. HARVEST is the acronym for Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation Project. The loan deal was among the agreements signed between

Manila and Tokyo during Abe’s two-day state visit to the Philippines. The Philippines was Abe’s first stop in a four-nation trip that included Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam. He is the first head of government to officially visit the Philippines under the Duterte administration. The Y4.93-billion loan from Jica will mature in 25 years, inclusive of a seven-year grace period with an interest rate of 1.4 percent, Finance said. Jica also plans to provide a technical grant of $6 million (P290 million) to support the capacity building of eligible HARVEST beneficiaries and LandBank’s project management. Gabrielle H. Binaday

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Solon backs higher levy on other vices A VETERAN lawmaker urged the House of Representatives to explore a higher levy on other ‘sin’ products following the approval of House Bill No. 4144 that further raised taxes on cigarettes. Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali lauded the proposal of colleague Rep. Jericho Nograles to further increase the value-added tax on alcohol, instead of imposing higher excise taxes on diesel and other fuel products. Lawmakers opposed the imposition of excise tax on petroleum, removal of VAT exemptions for senior citizens and person with disabilities, and ad valorem tax on automobiles being strongly pushed by the Department of Finance. Umali said lawmakers were doing their best to address foregone government revenues in line with the current administration’s bid to lower the personal income tax to ease the overburdened Filipino working class, adding the best way to do so was taxing vices.

He said the approval of House Bill No. 4144 was a step in the right direction. The bill seeks to amend Section 145 (c) of Republic Act No. 10351 by imposing a two-tier tax system that further increases the levy on tobacco products than in the original version of the law. The measure proposes a twotier tax system that levies P32.00 tax per pack on tobacco products priced lower than P11.50 (nonpremium), and a higher P36 tax per pack for products exceeding P11.50 (premium). “Increasing taxes on necessities like petroleum will have massive inflationary effects that will negate the [Duterte] administration’s social-reform agenda of easing the ordinary Filipino’s financial burdens,” said lawyereconomist Umali President Rodrigo Duterte in his first State of the Nation Address in July strongly asserted his administration’s plan to pursue tax reforms towards a simpler and more equitable tax system.

Trust PULSE Asia recently released results from its December 6 to 11 2016 survey on trust and satisfaction ratings of public officials and institutions. The results echo the SWS survey on satisfaction held from December 3 to 6. As I went over the results of the surveys, I thought about how the surveys reflect the critical importance of having a clear and credible message. I suppose I thought about this in marketing terms because it is the time in the Master in Entrepreneurship program when we begin to seriously talk about marketing. Trust In the SWS survey, Duterte continued to be highest ranked in net public satisfaction with what SWS calls a “very good” net rating (satisfied minus dissatisfied) of +63. The national administration received a net satisfaction rating of +61. In the Pulse Asia survey, Duterte ranked highest of national officers snagging 83 percent approval in trust and performance, 4 percent low trust and 5 percent dissatisfaction. However, the real news of both surveys was the decline in the vice presidential ratings. The SWS survey showed a double digit drop in Robredo’s net satisfaction rating to +37 from +49 in September. Pulse Asia reports that “only significant movement” in the national leadership performance ratings from September was the increase in disapproval percentage of Robredo by 7 percentage points to 16 percent. In terms of performance, 62 percent found Robredo satisfactory. Trust in Robredo dropped from 66 percent to 58 percent, also a significant drop. To be entirely clear, Robredo’s numbers, while lower, are still high and the 58 percent trust rating is not far from her July rating of 62 percent. By contrast, Duterte’s July trust rating was 91 percent, with a miniscule 0.2 percent in low or no trust. However, it is important to understand that 83 percent is still exceedingly high. By contrast, Noynoy Aquino, began his administration with an 85 percent trust rating. Also, as those who follow these surveys must know, presidential trust ratings always start out very high. Attitude, Behavior Well, so what? Unless you are one of those conspiracy theorists who believe that these trust and performance numbers can be used to gauge the feasibility of forcing a change in government, what good use can be made of these numbers? In marketing, one of the most fundamental of principles is that your attitude towards a brand drives your behavior concerning it. That critical goal of brand loyalty typically relies on a foundation of brand trust. In politics, as in marketing, the problem with broad strokes numbers such as trust is that it does not provide enough insight concerning how to hold on to that trust. Understanding which features of the brand create customer preference and loyalty is a critical part of brand management. Marketing managers know that brand loyalty relies on a clear identity, and that identity should define a brand set of promises that is differentiated, valuable, and credible. In the job of government, much of what needs to be done requires multi-party cooperation. For much of this work, a certain level of political legitimacy is required. A government that enjoys a high level of citizen trust has at least one of the most important ingredients in legitimacy. For those in the Duterte administration, the more important numbers can be found in citizen satisfaction. The SWS report on net satisfaction with government performance as of December 2016 should be good news. The current +61 general satisfaction rating is rivaled only by the first half of the previous administration. In the area of helping the poor, based on available numbers, this administration currently beats all previous administrations. Net satisfaction in the area of providing jobs is significantly up from the previous administration. In what should be the most painful result for Duterte critics of the yellow variety, this administration’s net satisfaction rating on both eradicating graft and corruption, and promoting human rights is second highest since the Cory Aquino administration, and even that, only by the earliest months of that administration. There are other numbers but here are the cautions concerning these numbers. First, these factors are not equal. Some factors are more important than others. Public officials need to pay attention to the factors that citizens and other stakeholders care about. Brand managers need to pay attention to the factors that customers and influencers care about. You need to know what drives the customer. Second, even if you are doing well in something, you will always be compared. Customer expectations are typically lifted by what is currently available in the market. You must pay attention to competition and substitutes. Third, even if you are doing well versus competition, the customer has an internal benchmark. This is especially important for products that are not basic goods. Simply think about at what point a product is suddenly adopted on a wide scale—that is the point at which the product’s value to price ratio becomes acceptable to the wider market. Also, even if you believe customers cannot afford not to have your service (think telephones), if your service is bad, your customers will jump very quickly to the first new entrant who meets his needs. Understanding the customer’s situation is critical. As to those who seek to understand why Robredo is losing ground and Duterte is keeping support in spite of all of the negative media Duterte inspires, the results concerning the administration’s performance should be educational. It is not enough to criticize your competition. You must, yourself, have a clear and credible platform and message. In politics, as well as in business, credibility is a function of actual track record. Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com. For academic publications, Maya uses her full name, Maria Elena Baltazar Herrera.

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

Cernan, last man to walk on moon, 82

World

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE. Colorado political leaders, US Senator Michael Bennet D- CO (L), Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (LC), Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (C), and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb (RC), lead marchers down Colfax Avenue during Denver’s Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on January, 16, 2017. Denver’s Martin Luther King Jr. Parade is the largest celebration held in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States. AFP

Undersea hunt for MH370 stopped SYDNEY―The deep-ocean hunt for missing passenger jet MH370 has been suspended after nearly three years without result, the Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments said Tuesday. The Malaysia Airlines aircraft disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people in what has become one of aviation’s great mysteries. The plane “has not been located” in the 120,000 square kilometer search area of the southern Indian Ocean, a statement from the three nations said. “Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting edge technology, as well as modeling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft,” the statement added. “Accordingly, the underwater search for MH370 has been suspended.” The governments said the suspension, which was flagged by Malaysia earlier this month, was not “taken lightly nor without sadness” but that “to date no new information has been discovered to determine the specific location of the aircraft”. “We remain hopeful that new information will come to light and that at some point in the future the aircraft will be located.” Investigators have so far confirmed that three pieces of debris washed up and recovered on western Indian Ocean shorelines came from MH370. Other items recovered mostly on western Indian Ocean shorelines have been identified as likely, though not definitely, from MH370. New analysis by Australian and international experts released in December concluded MH370 was not in the search zone -- a long stretch of water within the so-called seventh arc where the plane was calculated to have emitted a final satellite “handshake” -- and might be further north. They identified an area of approximately 25,000 square kilometers with the highest probability of containing wreckage, but Australia and Malaysia said the report did not constitute a strong enough lead to extend the search. AFP

WASHINGTON―US astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to set foot on the moon, died Monday at age 82, NASA and his family announced. Cernan was the spacecraft commander of Apollo 17 -- his third space flight and the last scheduled US manned mission to the moon -- in December 1972. “We are saddened by the loss of retired NASA astronaut Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon,” the US space agency said on Twitter. According to a family statement released by NASA, Cernan, a retired naval officer, died following ongoing health issues. “It is with very deep sadness that we share the loss of our beloved husband and father,” the family said. “Our family is heartbroken, of course, and we truly appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers. Gene, as he was known by so many, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend,” the statement added. “Even at the age of 82, Gene was passionate about sharing his desire to see the continued human exploration of space and encouraged our nation’s leaders and young people to not let him remain the last man to walk on the moon.” The space community quickly took to Twitter to pay tribute to Cernan and honor his legacy. “Saddened by the loss of pioneer, fellow naval aviator, astronaut and friend Gene Cernan #RIP #lastmanonthemoon,” said retired American astronaut Scott Kelly. “Ad Astra, Gene,” tweeted NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, using a Latin phrase meaning “to the stars.” “We mourn the loss of our friend Gene Cernan, the Last Man on the Moon and a hero for the ages,” said the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. “Godspeed the Commander of Apollo 17.” On what would be the last manned mission to the lunar surface, Cernan’s second to the moon, the crew captured the iconic image of a full view of the planet Earth dubbed “Blue Marble.” “Everything’s three dimension when you look back at the Earth in all its splendor, in all its glory, multicolors of the blues of the oceans and whites of the snow and the clouds,” the astronaut said of his final mission, in a 2007 interview with NASA. AFP

Nightclub gunman arrested I STANBUL―A 34-year-old Uzbek man suspected of mowing down 39 people at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year’s Eve confessed on Tuesday to the massacre, Turkish authorities said.

In a dramatic assault in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Turkish police raided an Istanbul apartment and detained Abdulgadir Masharipov after a massive weeks-long manhunt. “The terrorist confessed his crime,” Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin told reporters at a news conference, saying the suspect’s fingerprints matched those of the attacker. “He was trained in Afghanistan and can speak four languages. He’s a well-trained terrorist,” added the governor. Police also confiscated 197,000 US dollars (185,000 euros), two firearms and clips during the raid. The arrest will come as a relief to Istanbul residents, already on edge after a string of attacks, who had feared for more than a fortnight that a trained killer was on the loose in the city. Local media published a picture of the detained man with blood on his face and T-shirt, his neck gripped by a policeman. Television images showed him being roughly led away, his head bent low. The operation to capture the suspected jihadist involved some 2,000 police officers, the Istanbul governor said. The suspect had been on the run for 17 days, after apparently slipping into the night following the attack on the glamorous Reina nightclub on the Bosphorus. But he was eventually discovered in an apartment in the residential Esenyurt district of Istanbul. Initial reports suggested his

four-year-old son was with him in the apartment but the governor denied this. However, one Iraqi man and three women from Egypt and Africa were also captured and detained in the raid. The Islamic State (IS) group took responsibility for the bloodbath, the ﬁrst time it has ever openly claimed a major attack in Turkey. It had previously been blamed for several strikes in Turkey, including the triple suicide bombings at Istanbul airport in June. “It is clear that the attack was carried out on behalf of Daesh,” Sahin said, using an Arabic acronym for the IS group, adding that the other four suspects were likely linked to the jihadists. Capturing the suspect alive will be seen as a major victory for the Turkish security forces and he may be able to shed light on the existence of other IS cells in the city. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter that “in the name of the nation” he thanked the police and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu for the capture. And Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters: “What matters is the capture of the perpetrator of this vile attack and exposing the powers behind him. To us, it is an important development.” There had been confusion over the attacker’s identity in the wake of the massacre, with reports initially suggesting a Kyrgyz national and then a Uighur from China was responsible. AFP

PHOTO CALL. French singer Armande Alta poses during a photo call for the opening of a photography exhibition by French-Greek TV host Nikos Aliagas on January 16, 2017, in Paris. AFP

Irrawaddy dolphin on the brink of extinction SIN KYUN, Myanmar―Tears fill Maung Lay’s eyes as he describes losing the dolphin he knew since his childhood, the latest casualty of a battle against pollution and electrofishing that may see the species disappear in Myanmar. Loved for generations for corralling the catch into fishermen’s nets, the ‘smiling’ Irrawaddy dolphins are being killed in record numbers by rogue gangs who use car batteries to stun aquatic life.

The illegal technique now threatens to wipe out the dolphins and the tourist bonanza they promise. Maung Lay’s dolphin, known as Thar Gyi Ma, was found washed up on the banks of the river in November. When locals cut her body open, they found she was pregnant. “She is irreplaceable because she’s like my own parents. I’m heartbroken,” the 55-year-old

told AFP inside his bamboo hut, in a small village a few hours by boat from Mandalay. “I laid wreaths and ﬂowers for her by the river.” Irrawaddy dolphins can be found in rivers, lakes and seas across southern Asia, from the northwest Bay of Bengal, in India, to the south of Indonesia. On this stretch of river in Myanmar the animals have developed a deep bond with local ﬁshermen,

who they work with in a generations-old partnership that has become the stuff of local folklore. With careful choreography, locals call the animals using a throaty purr, splashing their oars and tapping on the side of the boat. The dolphins signal they are ready to begin with a flick of a fin, before driving the fish towards the fishermen’s boats where they are scooped up by waiting nets. Maung Lay said he had spent

more than 30 years ﬁshing with one group of seven dolphins, led by Thar Gyi Ma. “I’m sorry for the great loss because she’s the leader of her group,” he said sorrowfully. “The others are not skilled like her.” In neighboring Laos, the Irrawaddy dolphin was declared “functionally extinct” by the World Wildlife Fund in October 2016 after just three individuals were counted during their latest survey. AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

City of SANTA ROSA begins 2017 with a gift

Turn to C2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

LGUs

Mayor Dan, together with Rep. Arlene B. Arcillas, receiving the Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU) of the Year 2015 award from the Philippine National Police Police Regional Office 4A (CALABARZON) held Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City on August 24, 2016.

City of SANTA ROSA begins 2017 with a gift T

HE City of Santa Rosa opened the year by giving the gift of opportunity to its people… opportunity for all and not just a few. “Ito ang nais kong maging tatak ng aking pamamahala – ang pagbibigay ng dangal sa lahat ng mamamayan lalo’t higit sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong na maibalik ang kanilang dangal bilang tao at mamamayan ng lungsod na ito,” said Santa Rosa Mayor Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez. These gifts of opportunity are seen in the programs offered by the city, as well as the recognitions it received. These demonstrate that the administration is truly working for an inclusive style of governance. “Sa pamamagitan ng mga ito, binibigyan natin ng dangal ng bawat mamamayan, sapagkat ang mamamayan din ang magsisikhay upang mas umarangkada pa ang Lungsod ng Santa Rosa,” the mayor said, referring to his slogan ARANGKADA DANGAL NG SANTA ROSA.

Dangal ng Pagbabago

On January 14, the City formally opened its drug rehabilitation center, the first ever local government unit-operated rehab center in the country. Aptly called the Dangal ng Pagbabago Rehabilitation Center, Mayor Dan implemented this program as an immediate response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to address the need for a facility to help rehabilitate the drug dependents who voluntarily surrendered to the Police during the conduct of Operation Tokhang. This, along with many other efforts of the city, was lauded by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa. The PNP chief said he is impressed with Mayor Dan’s commitment, and added that the city’s Community-Based Rehabilitation Program is one of the most comprehensive and extensive in the country.

He stressed that if only all mayors in the country will be pro-active like Mayor Dan, then the war on drugs would end sooner just like how he and President Duterte dreamed of. According to Gen. Dela Rosa, the war on drugs is a “whole-nation” approach, so he called on all other stakeholders to remain aware about and get involved in their respective communities. He also urged drug surrenderees take advantage of this rehabilitation program by the local government of Santa Rosa and reminded them to not slide back to their addiction. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary John Castriciones, PNP Regional Director PC Supt Valfrie Gacias Tabian, Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) Director and concurrent DILG CALABARZON Regional Director Manuel Gotis graced the event. Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and First District Representative Arlene B. Arcillas were also present. Gen. Dela Rosa first visited the city on August 24, 2016 during the groundbreaking of the Dangal ng Pagbabago Rehabilitation Center. The center is located in Tiongco Subd., Brgy. Tagapo. As of last year, 1,355 illegal drug personalities in the city voluntarily surrendered during the Operation Tokhang. Other measures implemented by the city in response to President Duterte’s call to action include Executive Order No. 10 establishing the Special Projects Group (SPG) on AntiCriminality on July 28, 2016; Office Memorandum regarding Mandatory Drug Testing for all City Government Employees dated August 2, 2016; Executive Order No. 23 constitut-

ing the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) on November 29, 2016.

Mayor Dan on the streets during the clearing operations to ease traffic congestions.

Blue Certification from the Ombudsman

Efficient and effective services to its people are also on top of the list of the present administration. The Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) can also be considered another gift of the city to its taxpayers. In the BOSS, the offices involved in business renewal are assembled in one venue to facilitate the process, thus making it more convenient to clients. In fact, the BOSS is one of the positive features of the city which enabled it to obtain the Blue Certification Level I from the Office of the Ombudsman on December 13, 2016. The recognition stated that the BPLO of the City of Santa Rosa “has implemented and maintains a system that conforms to the ease of doing business standards for Blue Certification.” The scope of the certification is registration of new businesses and renewal of business permits. “We were informed that the City of Santa Rosa is the only city in CALABARZON to receive this award so this is very overwhelming,” said Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) head Olivia Laurel. “Usually when public officials go to the Ombudsman, it is something negative. But now we went there because we have done something positive,” she said. One of the top requirements for the certification is that the City Mayor must not have any case in the Ombudsman. According to the BPLO head, the good news came after the city hit the Php1 billion target for business taxes, “So nakaka-proud talaga. Saka this recognition strengthens our position as a businessfriendly city, something that we always aimed for.” Turn to C3

Rep. Arlene B. Arcillas receives the Blue Certification Level I from Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera (2nd from left). Also in the photo are (from left) Atty. Raquel Rosario M. Cunanan-Marayag, Acting Director of the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau, Santa Rosa City Mayor Danilo Ramon Fernandez, Santa Rosa Vice Mayor Arnold Arcillas and BPLO Head Olivia Laurel.

Gen. Bato team up with fellow officials from national government and the local government of Santa Rosa for the war on drugs during the Opening of the Dangal ng Pagbabago Rehabilitation Center.

LGUs

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

The First Year CROWN Maintenance was received by Laguna First District Rep. Arlene B. Arcillas, Santa Rosa City Mayor Danilo Ramon Fernandez, Santa Rosa City Vice Mayor Arnold Arcillas and City Nutrition Action Officer Carmencita Catindig on Dec. 13, 2016.

City of... From C2

Further, Laurel said that the award recognizes the city’s effective implementation of its services with regards to business registration and renewal. “It means that we have complied with the requirements of AntiRed Tape Act and that we have streamlined our processes,” Laurel said. “This award is not exclusive to the BPLO, but this is a product of the concerted efforts of all offices and agencies that are part of the business registration and renewal,” she explained. The next audit will be done after three years, as indicated in the certificate that the date of certification is December 13, 2016 and will expire on December 12, 2019. “The challenge now is to maintain the standard and of course to intensify our efforts to further improve and streamline our services so we can get the Level 2 Certification after three years,” said the BPLO head. As of September 30, 2016, the city has registered a total of 948 new businesses while 4,762 businesses filed for renewal.

ISO 9001:2008 Certified

During the term of then-Mayor now Laguna First District Representative Arlene B. Arcillas, she pushed for participatory governance and took on the challenge to make the quality of the city’s services comparable with international standards. When Mayor Dan assumed office as mayor of Santa Rosa, he continued the mission to bring the City towards further progress. To do this, he identified areas that his administration will concentrate on to ensure that the ride to a more progressive City of Santa Rosa will be smooth for its people as captured in his call to action Arangkada, Dangal ng Santa Rosa! One identified area is the maintenance and improvement of the quality of services, and the seen measure to realize this is to get certified through ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System. The first step was already taken by the three pioneer offices during the time of Congresswoman Arlene. The Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator (CPDO), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and Office of the City Civil Registrar (CCRO) were certified in 2015, and have passed the Surveillance Audit in 2016. The second batch of offices include the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), City Health Office I (CHO I), City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, City Veterinary Office, City Information Office (CIO) and the Office of the City Mayor. Pre-certification activities included awareness seminars, planning sessions, documentation activities per office and as

gram in SRCH. During the ceremony, Mayor Dan said that it was implemented to upgrade the hospital’s services and to ensure that indigents will receive the medical service that they need, provided that it is within the capacity of the hospital. “The Point of Care program is a health care mechanism wherein an indigent person, that needs urgent medical attention could be admitted in our Community Hospital anytime,” explained Mayor Dan. This applies to all patients whether from the City or from adjacent cities like Biñan, Cabuyao and Cavite, for example. Excellent health and Under the POC enrolment program, the Santa Rosa Comnutrition programs The city closed the year 2016 munity Hospital could immeDr. Soledad Rosanna Cunanan, City Health Officer II, presents to Mayor Dan the Best in TB HIV Implementation with numerous awards mostly diately enrol a non-Philhealth among all Category A & B sites of CALABARZON for the year 2015 received from DOH IV-A. gained by the health and nutri- member classified as Class C3 tion sector. These are considered as proof that the city gives Erlinda Creencia, Santa Rosa was the gift of being healthy and chosen from among several cities happy to all its residents. in the country and in the world to The City Health Office I and compete in the Earth Hour City CHO II were both recognized as Challenge of WWF. “We competthe Best in TB HIV Implementaed along with Makati City in Metro tion among all Category A & B Manila and San Carlos City in Nesites of CALABARZON for the gros Occidental,” she said. year 2015 by DOH IV-A. This “We won the title ‘National is for the two offices’ “commitEarth Hour Capital’ of the Philment in the implementation of ippines while Paris bagged the National Tuberculosis Control ‘Global Earth Hour Capital,” Program in CALABARZON.” the environment officer said. The City Nutrition Office was The National Earth Hour also awarded the First Year ConCapital is the first of its kind sistent Regional Outstanding award ever given in our country. Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) The City also placed fifth in maintenance by the National WWF’s We Love Cities CamNutrition Council for its “effipaign, a related social media concient and effective implementatest for the 41 Earth Hour City tion and management of its City Challenge finalists. It was won Nutrition Program which reby the City of Bogor in Indonesia. sulted to the improvement of the “This recognition links the many nutrition situation in the city esefforts and initiatives of the City in pecially among young children.” our commitment to mitigate the efWhile the Santa Rosa Comfects of climate change by reducing munity Hospital (SRCH) was its greenhouse gas emissions and awarded the Best Performing not to mention, positioning the City LGU-Hospital Level 1 based on in the global arena in terms of suc2015 LGU-Scorecard (Second Gen. Bato first visited the city for the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Dangal ng Pagbabago Rehabilitation cessful environmental and sustainPlace) by the Provincial Health Center last August 24, 2016. able development programs,” said Ms. Creencia. In addition, Ms. Creencia emPeople’s Day phasized that the City could not When Mayor Dan assumed have done it without the particioffice, he delegated all Monpation of the people. “We cannot days as the Araw ng Dangal. do it single-handedly, we received This is an opportunity given to help from stakeholders, partner walk-in clients to inquire and national and local government ask on their concerns regarding agencies, international funding the services and program being institutions, non-government oroffered by the city government. ganizations, environmental adThe releasing of cash assistance vocates and individual program for medical and burial, and dissupporters,” she said. tribution of PWD restorative Hence the awarding ceremoaid also takes place on this day. nies for environmental partners For Mayor Dan’s first 100 days held annually dubbed as the alone, 856 beneficiaries received Financial or Medical Assistance, Santa Rosa Environment Day. Furthermore, the City Environ248 beneficiaries for Burial Asment and Natural Resources Ofsistance, and 82 beneficiaries for fice also received another award Physical Restoration Aid. - the Silver Award for Provincial Environmental Compliance Philippines’ Earth Hour Audit 2016 from DILG IV-A on Capital December 14, 2016. The recogniOn August 18, 2016, the City of Santa Rosa was named the tion was given for the city’s “outstanding performance and highly Philippine Earth Hour National commendable practices in Solid Capital by the World Wildlife Six more offices of the City Government are now ISO 9001:2008 Certified. These are City Social Welfare and Waste Management in terms of Fund or WWF for its pioneering Development Office (CSWDO), City Health Office I (CHO I), City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, adhering to the Supreme Court initiatives on climate mitigation City Veterinary Office, City Information Office (CIO) and the Office of the City Mayor. Mandamus to clean and rehabiliand adaptation, particularly its Office and the Department of or D category at the time of ad- one year. From the day of enroltate the Manila Bay and its waterinitiatives like putting up solar mission. The city government, ment, the POC enrolee will be Health Region IV-A. shed especially on the principles street lights and construction of On October 10, 2016, the City through the SRCH, will be able to avail of the health care of R.A. 9003 or the Ecological a composting facility. of Santa Rosa formally launched shouldering the premium contri- benefits up to the last day of the Solid Waste Management Act of According to City Environment the Point of Care (POC) Pro- bution amounting to P2,400 for same year. 2000.” CIO Santa Rosa and Natural Resources Officer a whole, and the Internal Quality Auditors’ Training which included an examination and a practice audit. The second batch underwent audit on December 14 and December 21, 2016. They received the thumbs up from the auditors and were confirmed as ISO 9001:2008 Certified Offices also on December 21, 2016. The ISO champions believe that the certification further raised the bar in public service and ultimately led to achieving the current administration’s call for inclusive governance.

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

FASHION & BEAUTY

CLEAN KHAKI

Perfect for special moments

ENUINE good guys want to look their best for the momentous times in their lives—their first kiss on their first date, the handshake after a successful job interview, those animated chats with friends during chill nights, the laugh fest and camaraderie at family reunions, and that very special moment when their sweethearts say ‘yes’ to the marriage proposal.

Be ready for life’s greatest moments wearing a comfortable and stylish pair of Clean Khaki

With such “Instagrammable” moments in mind, Dockers believes that grabbing the first pair of pants you see in the closet just won’t do. If Dockers, the trusted men’s clothing brand, introduced khaki to men’s fashion at a time the genuine good guys needed it most, it now brings men the Clean Khaki, its signature khaki made specially for looking good during life’s unexpected great moments. Depicting the very concept of smart casual, these chinos are made with clean lines and classic khaki styling. Available in a full spectrum of colors, the Clean Khaki offers a hip vibe, adding a contemporary tweak to the traditional khaki. The comfortable and stylish Clean Khaki can go from easy Monday-toFriday slacks to the chinos to wear for your special moments. Clean Khaki is in the list of Dockers’ Four Pillars, a classification sys-

SPRING

awakening

tem designed to help genuine good guys decide what pants to wear for various occasions. For everyday wear, Dockers says the Jean Cut is a good choice with its rugged and easygoing style, authentic fivepocket design, sturdy rivets, and a hint of stretch. The Jean Cut also comes in a range of fabrics, finishes and colors, making it versatile as well. For workdays and some dress-up events, genuine good guys can try the Broken-In, which has a vintage, livedin vibe, strong double-needle seams, and a touch of stretch. And for the most formal occasions, of course, Dockers offers its top-shelf pants, the timeless and confident Best Pressed, designed with refined details, a sharp center crease, and various fits. Men should always be ready for life’s greatest moments—and Dockers has just the right pairs of pants to go with these.

Dockers’ chinos features clean lines and classic khaki styling

Wear a versatile pair of pants for a day out with friends

KEEPING your wardrobe up to date this season, Original Penguin by Munsingwear presents trendy and lively pieces for men. From plains to patterns in key separates, comfort has never been refreshingly in style. Spring runs, jumps, and swings into a gingham blush safari scene. Vintage active wear references the ironic and playful heritage of the 70s, 80s and 90s with unapologetic branding and clean color blocking. Looking out to the safari there’s a bold moment of Serengeti style among the rugged textural fabrics and utilitarian details. Geometric patterns and animal prints roar with a vibe that’s active and rooted in a casual lifestyle at the same time. A bouquet of new florals ushers in a brightly focused palette that hurdles to the point. Sporty colors of Samba Red and Diva Blue mix seamlessly with tones of coral and teal. This forms a collection that is original by even the most wild of standards.

Up-and-coming star Teejay Marquez swears by the service of YSA Skin and Body Experts

New beauty clinics

By Robbie Pangilinan

Jump, run and enjoy life to the fullest in casual pieces that take cue from the playful heritage of 70s, 80s and 90s

Plain tops for men

Original Penguin by Munsingwear launches its Spring/Summer 2017 collection composed of trendy pieces—plains and patterns—for men

2011 PMPC Star Awards for Television’s Best Male New TV Personality and YSA endorser Teejay Marquez welcomed fans to the 22nd branch of trusted brand YSA Skin and Body Experts on the upper ground floor of SM Cherry Shaw. YSA opened more clinics in November and December last year to cater to the growing demand for expert skin and body care of Filipino clients. Clinics at Southpark Alabang, Sta. Rosa Vistamall and Robinsons General Trias, Cavite opened before the year ended. “I trust YSA because they have the best doctors, and the staff and nurses are very nice and friendly. The services they give are 100 percent. After every visit I feel good about myself,” shares Teejay, who takes pride in being a Gawad Kabataan Youth Ambassador. Teejay’s favorite branches are YSA SM Fairview, Robinsons Galleria and Festival Mall. YSA Operations Manager Belle Cazin says that more branches and franchises will open this year. “People trust YSA but sometimes the clinics are far or not accessible. So we are trying to bring YSA closer to them by opening more clinics and stores,” says Cazin. Meanwhile, YSA stores in Dasmariñas, Cavite; Imus, Cavite; and Iloilo City were given a “make-over” and relaunched with even better services. “We keep on introducing innovations, new technology, and updated services so we can keep our excellence in giving world-class skin and body treatments and products to our loyal clients,” says YSA Operations Director Sheila Nazal.

Life

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

NYONE who’s been to Daiso Japan certainly knows that an hour is not enough to comb through the minefield of cute and quirky merchandise available in the store. Tarry a little longer and you’ll be surprised to discover a lot of great bargains and practical items you can use everyday, which you didn’t even know they had. And while these come ridiculously cheap, the quality is good and work decently well so there’s no reason to fork out extra cash for something you can buy at just P88 a pop.

Top 10 Things that will surprise you

at DAISO

Here are the top 10 best finds worth checking out at Daiso Japan to get you inspired on your shopping quest

Matte Finish Topcoat

Similar brand name products sell for P300 upwards which makes a bottle of this matte finish topcoat a great bargain. Apply it over your favorite shade to even out brush strokes, prolong your mani and achieve a matte effect on painted nails.

Tea filter

This teeny-tiny tea filter will make you look forward to afternoon teas! Have friends over, bake some scones, and fill each filter with your favorite artisanal leaves.

Decorating tape

In this age of electronic mails and instant messaging, anything handcrafted is quite the novelty. These charming decorating tapes are a DIYer’s best friend in turning ordinary objects into adorable customized projects. So get crafting!

Phone cases

Phone cases are like bags; you can’t have too many of them! These trendy cases come in unique kawaii designs that perfectly reflect your style and personality.

Fun glasses

Parties are the perfect excuse to look silly, be a kid again and have fun. These oversized party glasses are just the props you need to get the laughter going. Wear them with friends and take silly pictures.

Clear shoe boxes

If you don’t have the budget for a shoe cabinet, the next best thing is to store your footwear in clear plastic shoe boxes and stack them up in one corner of the house or inside the bedroom. It also saves you the trouble of guessing what pair is inside the box.

Disposable diapers for pets

Car interior wipes

Tube squeezer

These come in handy for wiping ketchup splatters, liquid spills and even tobacco stains. Remember that a spanking clean car is extra points for you.

Did we mention that Daiso Japan has the quirkiest merchandise? Hiding somewhere in the home section is this small but powerful tube squeezer. Seriously, this simple-looking contraption squeezes the life out of an empty toothpaste tube for a few squirts more.

Wooden toys

Love pets but hate cleaning after their mess? Put these comfy diapers on your beloved canine and you’ll never have to tidy up. The diapers are easy to use, provides good absorption and are available in different sizes.

Learning and having fun at the same time is what you call value for money when buying toys for your kids. These 3D wooden toys are an engaging way to improve your child’s motor skills.

But don’t rely on just this list. There are more hiding behind the shelves plus new stocks coming in on a regular basis. Follow them on Facebook at @DaisoJapanPH on Twitter and @daisophilippines on Instagram.

Fashion forward in Zalora Fashion Night Out ZALORA recently teamed up with four of the country’s brightest designers for the Zalora Fashion Night Out event that showcased the work of Martin Bautista, Stacy Rodriguez, Sassa Jimenez and Ziggy Savella. Also featured were the collections from Ed Hardy and Mossimo X. “Zalora is all about fashion and we constantly strive to support and promote local designers together with brands we have onsite. Through the designers’ diffused collections, we hope to be able to reach those who would like Amateur makeup artists have a chance to win big by creating a tutorial video on how to do a complete makeup look

Win P50,000 with Ever Bilena’s BIG Beauty Challenge UNLEASH your inner artist and win big cash prizes as Ever Bilena dares you to experiment with different looks through The BIG Beauty Challenge: a weekly make-up tutorial video contest following different themes. Open to video bloggers, aspiring and professional make-up artists residing in the Philippines, the contest requires participants to create a tutorial video on how to do a complete make-up look, following a specific theme, using only Ever Bilena products. Ever Bilena, the leading local cosmetics brand, carries Ever Bilena Advance, a full range of make-up essentials for young professionals; Ever Bilena Naturals for skin care; Careline cosmetics for teens; Blackwater for fragrance and other personal care products. The contest, which began on the first week of December last year and will end on the last week of February, will test the creativity of the participants as they create their versions of Ever Bilena’s weekly theme which will be

announced every Monday on Ever Bilena’s Facebook page (www.facebook. com/everbilenacosmetics). One winner will be announced every week and will take home P10,000 cash. Weekly winners will qualify for the grand finals where the grand prize winner will take home P50,000 along with three winners who will win P10,000 for Special Award; P30,000 for the 1st runner-up; and P15,000 for 2nd runner-up. Entries must be public and uploaded on Facebook with hashtags #EBBigBeautyChallenge and #EverBilena and tag Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. Participants will be judged based on the following criteria: 40 percent most number of Ever Bilena products used in the video; 30 percent creativity; 20 percent make-up executions and skills; and 10 percent most number of views and shares. To know more about Ever Bilena and The BIG Beauty Challenge, visit www. everbilena.com.ph and Ever Bilena’s Facebook page.

Mossimo X apparel

A creation by Sassa Jimenez

to buy designer without the price tag,” says Zalora cofounder and CEO Paulo Campos III. Top-tier partners such as Globe made for a memorable and glamorous setting, while Mazda presented the all-new Mazda CX-3, and the 2017 Mazda3Speed, both equally stylish cars for the fashion fiend. Models that walked down the runway looked amazing with makeup sponsored by MaxFactor and hair by Aveda. All designer creations are available at www. zalora.com.ph. Pieces from Ed Hardy

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

MAXINE MEDINA’S

chances at Miss Universe

HEN the then 25-year-old Maxine Medina won the Miss Universe Philippines title at the Binibining Pilipinas in April last year, she had to endure the unforgiving comments of people who felt that she lacks something between her ears to be called a perfect candidate to represent the country on the international pageant stage.

MAXIMUM.

Maxine Medina, according to her coaches, has been pushing herself to the limit as she guns for the country's backto-back victory at Miss Universe

3 nods for ‘Ang Babaeng Humayo’

Ten months later, after her rigorous training on catwalk, makeup, and on improving her communication skills, Medina still receives flak from people who don’t think she’d deliver the goods on pageant night. A few weeks leading to the official start of the Miss Universe competition, Medina had appeared on several TV shows where she was asked about her preparations for the biggest beauty contest in the world. After every appearance, people had something nasty to say and most recent of which was during the send-off party organized by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.. Netizens started criticizing the model and interior designer saying she lacks fluency in the English language. They praised Medina for her stunning and classy look but predicted that she would stumble in the Q&A portion due to her poor communication skills. Some even suggested that she badly needs an interpreter so she can express herself well. During the send-off party Medina said, “My advocacy is about the youth who has HIV, specifically the youth. I would like to feel them the help, the hope to give them access to education, living the life they should, you know. There’s something in me that I really wanted to do also is to ensure that there’s out there a little child, a girl, who’s just like me — a simple girl who don’t know that she can be a beauty queen.” It is a cryptic answer by all standards and definitely a downgrade if we are to compare her with Pia Wurtzbach’s eloquence. But

Charo Santos Concio with acclaimed director Lav Diaz

INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed Filipino director Lav Diaz and ABS-CBN Chief Content Ofﬁcer Charo Santos both received nominations at this year’s Asian Film Festival for Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left). Diaz is nominated in the Best Director category competing with Na Hong-jin (South Korea), Koji Fukada (Japan), Derek Tsang (China), and Feng Xiaogang (China), while Santos is nominated for Best Actress and pitted against Son Ye-Jin (South Korea), Fan Bingbing (China), Haru Kuroki (Japan), and Kara Wai (China).The film is also nominated for best screenplay. The Asian Film Awards is presented annually by the Hong Kong International Film Festival

Society to recognize the excellence of the film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinemas. Last year was a remarkable year for Philippines Cinema especially after the Cinema One Originals and Sine Olivia Pilipinas-produced film won the Golden Lion award at the 73rd Venice Film Festival. It made history as the first Filipino film to win the prestigious award at the world’s oldest film festival. Ang Babaeng Humayo tells the story of Horacia (Charo Santos), a woman seeking revenge after being imprisoned for decades for a crime she didn’t commit. The 11th Asian Film Awards will be held on March 21 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, January 18, 2017

ACROSS 1 Hard-rock band 5 Dandelion, to many 9 Shish — 14 No dice! (hyph.) 15 Livy’s route 16 Powerful adhesive 17 Saki grain 18 You, once 19 Challenger’s quest 20 Type of case 22 Cookie units 24 Donahue and Silvers 26 Kind of vaccine 27 Warning 30 Food business 35 Maintains 36 Horse-donkey cross 37 Gaelic pop star 38 Tractor-trailer 39 Padded envelopes 42 — Baba 43 Viking name 45 Ten-percenters 46 North Dakota city 48 Storm cellar, often 50 White Sale buys 51 Director

— Howard 52 Tarot readers 54 Draw 58 Empty the runway 62 Mukluk wearer 63 Disagreeable duty 65 10-4 buddy 66 Physicist Nikola — 67 Lay at anchor 68 Sizable purse 69 Late bloomer 70 Always 71 Kind of belt DOWN 1 Mystique 2 IOU 3 Heating pipe 4 Flimsier 5 Hip (2 wds.) 6 Barrymore or Merman 7 Want-ad abbr. 8 Beat soundly 9 It lets off steam 10 Gourmet 11 Two together 12 Wheel connector 13 Parting words 21 Deep fissure 23 In the wake of 25 Works with clay 27 Fake chocolate

28 St. Theresa of — 29 “Viva Las —” 31 Porter and stout 32 Ludicrous 33 Astroturf component 34 Pony’s paces 36 Outward appearance 40 Basketball venue 41 Conceited smile 44 Rich and loamy 47 Hexapods

49 Bricklayer’s supply 50 Rental agent 53 Chopin opus 54 Gyro pocket 55 Small bills 56 Auto-body problem 57 Olden times 59 Plaintive reed 60 Greek-salad cheese 61 Fume 64 30-day mo.

Miss Universe is not all that, interview and Q&A are just two of the many aspects of this pageant that determine the winner. We’ve seen a lot of finalists at Miss Universe giving the best answer but ended up as runners up, much worse not placing in the semis. Let’s use something close to our home as an example. In 2012, in response to Nigel Barker’s question in the final Q&A portion at Miss Universe, Philippine representative Janine Tugonon articulated, “For me Miss Universe is not about being able to speak a particular language, it’s about being able to influence and inspire other people. No matter what language you have as long as you have the heart you can inspire other people, then you can be Miss Universe.” That answer earned a rousing applause from the crowd but didn’t win Tugonon the title. The crown went to Miss USA Olivia Culpo whose answer was not impressive enough for someone who speaks English as her first language. As far as beauty contest is concerned, the pageant community is not looking for a Miriam Defensor Santiago or a rocket scientist. It is, from its very definition, a beauty contest. The Miss Universe Organization has been choosing a winner who can represent the meaning of beauty ambassador – someone who is beautiful, confident, and charismatic. Looking at the list of winners in the past years, proficiency in the English language didn’t play a big part in winning the crown. And English proficiency

ABS-CBN’s biggest and much awaited family drama on primetime, A Love to Last, instantly captivated viewers nationwide and scored high in national TV ratings on its debut telecast. Based on data from Kantar Media on Jan. 9, the Ian Veneracion and Bea Alonzostarrer hit a national TV rating of 25 percent. Produced by Star Creatives, oit also conquered social media sites such as Twitter, where the show’s ofﬁcial hashtag #ALovetoLastWorldPriemere became a top trending topic worldwide. Ian’s character, Anton, meanwhile, also created a buzz among netizens and trended on Twitter nationwide. As the love story of Anton (Ian) and Andeng (Bea) begins, viewers are given a glimpse of their lives and the matters of the heart they have to deal with. Andeng caught her ﬁancé cheating on her, while Anton is trying to save his marriage after his wife asked for an annulment. A Love to Last airs after FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (Sky Cable ch.167).

does not determine someone’s capacity to perform her duties well once crowned. In an interview with Manila Standard, Jonas Gaffud, one of Medina’s mentors, said that she has already improved. They know her waterloo and it’s one of the things his group worked on to make sure the country’s bet would be ready. “We told her to just answer from her heart. She is already 100 percent ready. We cannot say she’s got the best chance but just like any other candidates, we can just hope to win. That’s what we are hoping for, for her to win,” Gaffud said. Her language coach commented, on the other hand, that he is proud of Medina’s progress and defended the 5-foot-8 beauty from her bashers. “We are second language speakers of English. Errors are normal. At the end of the day, it’s just a beauty contest. Maxine will still be beautiful. She’ll still be designing interiors. She has a beautiful life ahead. I am very lucky to have trained one of the most beautiful persons that I’ve known in this lifetime. In this world full of critics, can we just be supporters instead?” Meanwhile, Medina is determined to win the elusive back-to-back victory for the country in the 65th edition of Miss Universe. She’s dealing with a great amount of pressure. Whether or not she’d give a comprehensible answer during Q&A, people should already be proud on how she represents the country by being this year’s gracious host. That alone is already admirable, win or lose.

Strong debut for

‘Love To Last’

"A Love To Last" lead stars Ian Veneracion and Bea Alonzo

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

Premier vocal groups The New Minstrels (top photo) and The CompanY (bottom) join forces to offer an epic Valentine concert

The New Minstrels and The CompanY, ‘Happy Together’ at PICC Singer Bryan Termulo reaches newer heights as a singer and product endorser

Child star Awra Briguela impersonates Mommy D during "Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids" premiere telecast

HEY are back. Viva Live is bringing back the singers of The New Minstrels, with ISAH V. RED an all-new repertoire for another evening of song, romance, dance and fun happenings in Happy Together.. And this outing is very special because joining The New Minstrels is the country’s premiere vocal group The CompanY. This hit-ﬁlled ﬁrst time event will be held on Feb. 13 at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Roxas Blvd. in Pasay City. The leading show band in the 70s, The New Minstrels is famous for its pop rendition of Filipino standards like “Buhat” and “Balut” with members that have gone on successful solo careers. Returning for this extraordinary concert are some of those artists who these past few years starred in blockbuster Valentine shows that delighted fans to no end. These are Joey Albert, (“Tell Me,” “Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin”), Ding Mercado (“See You There”), Chad Borja (“Ikaw Lang”), Louie Reyes, and Eugene Villaluz (“Nothing I Want More”). The CompanY celebrated its 30th year in the music business last year. Initially inspired by groups like Manhattan Transfer, Swingle Singers and The New Minstrels, The CompanY has developed its own distinct, very unmistakable sound over the years. Among their hit singles are “Now That I Have You,” “Muntik Na Kitang Minahal,” “Pakisabi Na Lang,” “Special Memory,” “Nawawala Ang Puso Ko,” “Just A Love Song,” “What Would They Say,” “Afraid For Love To Fade,” “You Changed My Life In A Moment,” and “Manila.” The CompanY today is made up of Moy Ortiz, bass and tenor; Sweet Plantado, soprano; Annie Quintos, soprano; Cecile Bautista, alto; and returning for this special show after years spent performing abroad is original member Reuben Llorente, tenor. Tickets are priced at P4500 Flat Center; P3500 Flat Left/Right; P3500 Level 2 Center, Left/Right; P3000 Level 3 Center, Left/Right; P2000 Level 3 Left/Right; P1000 Balcony; and P400 Gallery. Call SM Tickets at 470-2222; TicketWorld 891-9999; TicketNet 911-5555; and Viva Live 687-7236. ***

Bryan Termulo becomes the newest brand ambassador of Megasoft Hygienic Products Inc. Once dubbed as the prince of teleserye theme songs, he is set to reach newer heights now that he is comanaged by BWB Records and Music Production Inc.. And the Asian Artist Agency Inc. of Boy Abunda. M e g a s o f t Hygienic Products Inc., makers of Cherub Baby Care Products, Sisters Sanitary Napkins and Pantyliners, Super Twins Premium Baby Diapers, Twins Lampein Comfort Baby Diapers, Grand Adult Diapers, Fasclean Extra Power Detergent Powder, and Megasoft Tissue, has been touring schools nationwide to entertain and further instill the value of education among the ﬁlipino youth through its “School Is Cool” advocacy. Last year’s “School Is Cool” was a success with Megasoft visiting 19 schools in cities, municipalities, and provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao- giving recognition to outstanding students and teachers and assistance to their respective schools. This year, Megasoft is doubling its efforts to reach more students with Bryan ofﬁcially leading the “School Is Cool” tour kick-off in Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School in San Pablo City, Laguna on Jan. 9.. Keep posted with the “School Is Cool” tour schedule by following megasoft_ph on Instagram. “Bryan is an excellent performer and has shown commitment to Megasoft’s “School Is Cool” advocacy. Not to

mention his passion for education,” says Aileen ChoiGo, marketing VP of Megasoft Hygienic Products Inc. Bryan, a dean’s lister in his last two years of college, is a graduate of communication arts at Trinity University of Asia. He recently completed his supplementary education and is a board exam away from becoming a high school teacher. He relaxes by exploring interesting places, which he features in “LakBryan,” found in his social media accounts. “I am very thankful to my Megasoft family for giving me the opportunity to experience all my passions in one event – education, singing and travelling. More importantly, I can interact with the youth, know their aspirations and challenges and inspire them to reach for their dreams through education,” Bryan shares. Expect more fun-filled educational events this 2017 as Megasoft continues innovating hygienic solutions for every Filipino. *** Many viewers nationwide tuned in to the premiere of Your Face Sounds Familiar: Kids, as the program’s cute performers impersonated local and international music icons. Based on data from Kantar Media, the program led the list of the most watched programs in the country on Jan. 7 and 8. Its first episode recorded a national TV rating of 31.4 percent, beating GMA’s Magpakailanman, which only got 18.8 percent. Your Face Kids also drew more viewers on Sunday with 33.2 percent, a solid 17-point lead over Tsuperhero’s 16.2 percent. (Editor’s note: Figures cited are from Kantar Media and differs from data of Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.) Breakout Child Star Awra Briguela was named the edition’s first weekly winner, winning 24 points, for his spoton impersonation of Dionesia Pacquaio. He not only impressed jurors Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, and Ogie Alcasid, but also the online world, where the video of his performance trended and was widely shared. Awra won P50,000 and an additional P50,000 to be given to his chosen charity, Harvesters’ Foundation, Inc. Following him in the ranking were Dance Sweetheart AC Bonifacio as Britney Spears (19 points), Big Shot Belter Elha Nympha as Beyonce (18 points), and Talented Cutie Sam Shoaf as Bruno Mars (17 points). Getting 12 points each were Bibong Child Wonder Alonzo Muhlach as Harry Styles of One Direction (12 points), Musikerong Charmer Justin Alva as Michael Jackson, Young Diva ng Masa Lyca Gairanod as Katy Perry, and Daytime Princess Xia Vigor as Selena Gomez. Others have a chance to improve their rankings because in the show, no one will be eliminated, as their scores are tallied up each week. Your Face Sounds Familiar: Kids airs Saturday and Sunday night on ABSCBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). *** Carla Abellana continues to capture the hearts of the Vietnamese viewers. She was named “Most Favorite Foreign Actress” at Today TV’s Face of the Year Awards 2016 held on Jan. 7. In her acceptance speech, the Kapuso actress thanked the award-giving body for the recognition and dedicated the award to her Filipino and Vietnamese fans and supporters. A member of Vietnam’s Joint Media Corporation (IMC), Today TV is one of the first Vietnamese TV stations to air Filipino drama series. Three of Carla’s Kapuso shows— Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit, My Husband’s Lover, and My Destiny— were hits among Vietnamese viewers, which made her a household name in the country. Meanwhile, Carla will continue to charm her Vietnamese fans as her show, Because of You, will soon be aired on Today TV.