Manila Standard - 2017 February 4 - Saturday by Manila Standard

MINES CLOSURE VERY COSTLY—CABINET MEN By Julito G. Rada, Othel V. Campos and Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE country’s economic managers expressed concern that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ decision to close down 21 mining companies could cost not only thousands of jobs but also hurt local government ﬁnances and the national economy. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the closure of the mining companies will not only deprive jobs to thousands of people across the country but also affect the ﬁnances of local governments and also the national government. “In Surigao alone, one company employs 10,000 people. That’s my

TRADE SECRETARY RAMON LOPEZ

primary concern—the impact on employment in these rural areas,” Dominguez said. “My next concern is the impact on the local government ﬁnance because they pay a lot of taxes to the local governments. We are still assessing how different municipalities will be affected. We will check with local treasurers to give us a potential impact on the local communities,” Dominguez said. On the national front, Dominguez said, the mining closures could lower the projected growth of gross domestic product. As part of contingency planning, Dominguez said he already asked other members of the Cabinet if they have in place emergency employment programs to cushion the impact of job losses.

He said the Social Welfare and Development and Public Works and Highways are looking at emergency programs to create jobs, as are the Trade and Industry and Labor departments. Duterte’s economic managers, however, have not reached a uniﬁed position on the mining issue, he said. Dominguez said he has not yet spoken to President Duterte regarding the mine closures and said he might seek an audience with the chief executive. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez admitted Friday that the closure of 21 mining companies would hurt exports and the economy. “Despite the small contribution to exports, the industry is still a dollarNext page earner,” he said.

FINANCE SECRETARY CARLOS DOMINGUEZ III

VOL. XXX • NO. 357 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Du30: War with Reds resumes Ends unilateral truce two days after NPA attacks By John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday ended the government’s unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels after they staged a series of attacks on government troops.

Duterte declared an end to the ceasefire in a speech in North Cotabato, two days after the New People’s Army announced that the rebels were lifting their own unilateral ceasefire effective Feb. 10. “I told General [Eduardo] Año and said, I will lift the cease-fire tonight. No more ceasefire,” Duterte said in a speech at M’lang, North Cotabato on Friday. The government’s declaration will take effect immediately. “I lost so many soldiers in 48

hours, to continue the ceasefire, we will not produce anything... Go back to your camps, clean your rifles, and be ready to fight,” the President said. “I don’t want killings, but if my soldiers are dying, let’s resume anytime,” he added. “I tried my best, but I guess it wasn’t good enough,” the President said. “In my view, there will be no peace in this land… with the Communist Party. We will continue the war.”

CUT TO THE QUICK. President Rodrigo Duterte (above) takes down a peg yet once more Thursday on the Catholic Church in the Philippines while showing a book narrating the anomalies involving the Philippines in his speech during the 38th National Convention of the Philippine Association of Water Districts at the SMX Convention Center in his home city of Davao. On another war front, security authorities say the military will smash into communist insurgents (left file photo) after President Duterte calls off the ceasefire, after the New People’s Army admits carrying out at least 20 military actions nationwide in the past five days, with troops (file photo below) champing at bit for any encounter against enemies of the state.

Duterte’s instructions went against the advice of Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza and government chief negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to continue with the government ceaseﬁre. In the same speech, Duterte, a self-confessed leftist, berated communist rebels for their “unreasonable demands,” saying that the release of some of the prisoners needed to go through the proNext page cesses of the courts.

‘ISIS men to move to PH if attacked’ By John Paolo Bencito

Pinoys still welcome in US, says embassy By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan nationals. THE US Embassy in Manila on Friday assured Filipinos they are still welcome in the United States, and that there is no change in American immigration and visa policies toward the Philippines. In a statement, Press Attache Molly Koscina said US President Donald Trump’s executive order does not restrict travel by Filipino

“Filipinos are still very much welcome to the United States,” Koscina said. Under Trump’s executive order on Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals signed on Jan. 27, 2017, visa issuance to nationals of the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen Next page has been suspended.

Dumlao out to destroy NBI—agency director AN NBI ofﬁcial who was sacked after being implicated in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo called police Supt. Rafael Dumlao III a “liar” for implicating him in the crime. Dumlao, who is said to be the mastermind of Jee’s killing, claims that some men of former NBI Director Ricardo Diaz had

been involved in the crime. Diaz, who was ordered to return to the NBI Regional Operations Service, his mother unit has denied the accusation against him. “You can look at our records. He says he is a lawyer but now we know he’s a liar,” Diaz said referring to Dumlao. “He just wants to destroy the Next page

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Cops, agents on indefinite freeze By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Friday ordered the indeﬁnite suspension of the authority of the National Bureau of Investigation to handle cases involving illegal drugs. He gave the order to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s

pronouncement that the NBI, like the Philippine National Police, should also suspend its anti-drug operations. “The DoJ and the NBI will now focus their energy and resources on waging war against corruption and criminality,” Aguirre said. He ordered the PNP and the NBI to stop their operations against il-

legal drugs following the involvement of some of their members in the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo. Superintendent Rafael Dumlao, Senior Police Ofﬁcer 3 Ricky Santa Ana and SPO4 Roy Villegas have been tagged in Jee’s death. Sta. Ana and Villegas have already been charged in court. Next page

A RENEWED American offensive against the Islamic State in the Middle East could lead to a transfer of some of the terrorist organization’s operations to Southern Mindanao, President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday. “If [US President Donald] Trump decides to invade Middle East and if the ISIS loses its land base there, they will start to scatter around the world. Their favorite target would be the southern part of the Philippines,” Duterte said, citing intelligence reports. During the campaign, Trump vowed “to crush and destroy ISIS.” US forces were working in the last three months to liberate Mosul in Iraq, considered as the last stronghold of the terrorist group. Reports, however, claim that the jihadist group are scouting locations in Southeast Next page

Purisima, Napeñas barred from leaving PH By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan on Friday issued a hold-departure order against former police chief Alan Purisima and ex-Special Action

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr. in connection with the clash between Muslim rebels and Special Action Force commandos in January 2015 that resulted in the killing of 44 commandos.

thestandard.com.ph

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division ordered Immigration to stop Purisima and Napeñas from leaving the country without its approval. On Jan. 24, the Ofﬁce of the Ombudsman ﬁled graft and usurpation

charges before the Sandiganbayan against Purisima and Napeñas. Purisima “willfully, unlawfully and criminally” inﬂuenced Napeñas to violate the chain of Next page

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circ@manilastandardtoday.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Rody slays 'pay per kill' yarn By John Paolo Bencito

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday vehemently denied that he has ordered that policemen be given incentives every time a drug suspect is killed.

“Do not fool me. How much did I give? P150 million intelligence funds [in] Crame? ... Now, they’re saying that they were given P5,000 every—P***** i**. Why would I give such amount of money to kill? That’s your job,” Duterte said in a speech at M’laang, North Cotabato on Friday. “Binabayaran? Ako magbayad sa pulis? T*** i** Umalis ka nga diyan,” he added. Duterte made the statement

following a report released by international human rights group Amnesty International (AI) on Friday which claimed that thePNP acted on instructions “from the very top of government” and have killed thousands of suspected drug offenders under the instruction that they would get paid to execute drug offenders. The AI likewise also accused the PNP of “systematically” targeting poor and defenseless peo-

tary officer, 2nd Lt. Miguel Victor Alejo of the Philippine Military Academy “Sinag-lahi” Class of 2015, was killed in an NPA attack at Sitio Paliwason, Barangay Lambog, Manay, Davao Oriental along with three other soldiers in separate NPA attacks. Two soldiers from the 39th Infantry Battalion, meanwhile, were abducted by 10 suspected NPA rebels at Purok 7, Barangay Telafas, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday while in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, three soldiers were killed by suspected NPA guerrillas. Lorenzana said that the NPA attacks provoked the government to end its own ceasefire. “This is provocation. It was wrong for them to do that. We are fully cooperating with them and the effectivity of their ceasefire is Feb. 10 but they started attacking as early as two days, three days ago,” he added. Quoting Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, who met with Lorenzana and other top military officials in a security cluster meeting, said peace talks could continue despite the resumption of fighting.

“The President never said that the peace talks won’t we continued,” he added. “What our negotiators are pushing for is a bilateral ceasefire so that there will be a mechanism to control the actions of both sides.” Año on Friday said the military would go after the NPA now that the ceasefire has been lifted. “We will hit them hard,” Año said. “We will go after the NPA to prevent them from conducting atrocities and criminal activities against the public,” said Año. Año said the series of attacks perpetrated by the NPA clearly indicates insincerity and deception under the mantle of ceasefire to advance their interest--the use of violence. The New People’s Army on Friday claimed at least 20 offensive operations against the military in the provinces of Agusan, Surigao and Davao; as well as in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao, Isabela and Batangas in Luzon and in Panay in the Visayas. “Units and commands of the New People’s Army [NPA] have carried out at least 20 military ac-

tions across the country over the past five days in response to the clamor of the people to defend their rights and welfare against fully-armed occupation troops of the AFP,” Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, NPA spokesperson, said in a statement sent to reporters. As of Friday, Madlos said that at least five soldiers have been captured and are being treated as prisoners of war (POWs) while many were killed and wounded in the armed attacks. In Bukidnon, police investigators said the three soldiers from the 8th Infantry Battalion suffered a total of 76 gunshot wounds. They were killed a day after the NPA announced the termination of their cease-fire effective Feb. 10. The Armed Forces condemned the recent attacks. “These acts are not only violations of their own ceasefire declaration, that is still in effect, it is an utter disregard to international humanitarian law when they used excessive force on the bodies of three soldiers they earlier abducted,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said. Lance Baconguis, PNA

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippine government is ready to assist the estimated 310,000 undocumented Filipinos in the United States who might be deported due to Trump’s immigration crackdown. Jose said the Philippine embassy and consulate in the US will continue to extend consular assistance to Filipino who will be affected by the US President’s immigration policies. The US Department of Homeland Security said out of 3.4-mil-

lion Filipinos residing and working in the United States, 310,000 are illegal or undocumented. President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he will not lift a ﬁnger to help undocumented Filipinos in the US. On Tuesday, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said Trump’s order was not driven by racism but was meant to protect the American citizens. “This is not racism. This is not unfair prejudice,” Kim said, although he admitted that there is confusion about the exact param-

eters of Trump’s executive order. “How do you remain as open as possible, but at the same time, make sure that you do everything possible to make the environment safe for your citizens? And I think this was reﬂected in the executive order,” Kim said. Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Friday that Duterte is correct in being careful not to intervene in the internal affairs of the United States. He also said the President should reconsider his decision not to send an ambassador to the

The department is looking for ways to offset what will be lost if the mining companies are shut down, he said. But Lopez also acknowledged that some companies were not following the government’s mining regulations. “They need to level up, acquire technology that will allow them to do value-adding processes and refrain from exporting ore alone,” Lopez said. He said the companies could be back in operations soon with a few adjustments to their systems and procedures. The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said Friday the government will lose about P 16.7-billion taxes annually once the 21 mining companies will be closed down and five others will be suspended. In a press conference, chamber chairman Artemio Disini said a total of 1.2-million indirect and induced jobs are also at risk. “The mining industry is found to have a multiplier effect of at least four depending on the location of the operations,” Disini said. Some P66.6 billion in gross production value of largescale mining operations will also be lost annually, the group said. National Economic and Development Authority directorgeneral Ernesto Pernia said his agency has not yet reached an official position on the mine closures. “Ideally, it should be responsible mining but it’s easier said than done,” he said. Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said they would continue to monitor the potential impact of the mine closures. “We have a very resilient economy and great potential capacity to grow beyond 7 percent. Infrastructure, both hard and soft, is therefore critical and the tax reform package should make this more manageable to navigate without blowing our fiscal space,” Guinigundo said. Environment Secretary Regina Lopez announced Thursday that out of the 41 metallic mines in the country, 21 will be closed down, six companies will be suspended and only 12 passed a mining audit. She drew support from President Rodrigo Duterte, who said he was elated by the decision to close 21 mining companies that failed the mining audit. Also on Friday, two listed mining companies requested for a halt in the trading of their shares as they seek additional information about the closure and suspension orders. Marcventures Holdings Inc. and Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. both asked that the trading of their shares be suspended from Feb. 3 to Feb 6. Marceventures’s unit Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. was among the 21 mining companies ordered for closure by Environment Department. On the other hand, Global Ferronickel is still trying to get clarification from Environment Department if its unit Platinum Group Metals Corp. is also among the companies ordered for closure. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Friday that mining companies affected by the closure orders could still appeal the decision. “The Duterte administration promotes inclusive prosperity and responsible mining--which means adhering to standards that are sensitive to environmental and social issues,” Abella said. With Jenniffer Austria and John Paolo Bencito

PNP joint team. We welcome the move.” Diaz expressed conﬁdence that “the truth will prevail over the lies of Superintendent Rafael Dumlao. He was disappointed by the turn of events but said he would be vindicated in the end. NBI Director Dante Gierran had earlier denied all accusations against the bureau. The NBI-NCR, along with the

NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs, handled the investigation on Jee’s case. The name of Diaz was dragged into the case after a certain “Lising,” later identiﬁed as Lawyer Darwin Lising, a supervising agent in his division, was accused in the killing along with his reported driver “Jerry.” But Lising denied involvement in Jee’s abduction and killing.

He said he got to know Jerry Omlang only when he was assigned to the NBI’s Anti-Human Trafﬁcking Division. He said Omlang was an errand boy and not his driver. Diaz said Dumlao dragged his name into the case because Lising was one of his agents. Lising is reportedly connected to Omlang, who admitted participation in the crime by conducting

surveillance work prior to the abduction on Oct. 18. Diaz, said Dumlao only wanted to save his skin by putting the blame on others. “It seems Dumlao is drowning in our investigation, so he is looking for someone to drag him down,” Diaz said “Dumlao is a liar and what he said were lies. Total falsehoods.” Sandy Araneta

ple, planting evidence, recruiting paid killers, stealing from their victims and fabricating incident reports. Duterte denied that he knew about the illegal activities of scalawag cops, whom he had vowed to weed out of the PNP ranks. “Hindi ko alam ‘yang raket ng mga pulis, yawa,” he said. In a speech in Davao City on Thursday, Duterte vowed “to kill more” if he has to rid the country of illegal drugs. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, on the other hand, had admitted that some rogue cops may have used Duterte’s statements of support to the PNP as a cover for their wrongdoings. Meanwhile, Senator Panﬁlo Lacson said that scolding police

ofﬁcers was “a good start” in the much-needed internal cleansing but it must go beyond that, Senator Panﬁlo Lacson, as he urged Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to mete out punishment for rogue cops. Lacson, a former PNP chief, said the public expects more positive action other than a strong reprimand. “Magandang mensahe, symbolic ang pushup at ang mura and everything, but it should go beyond that [It is a good message, pushups and cursing is symbolic and everything, but it should go beyond that],” Lacson said. “What people are waiting for is, what else are the positive actions done aside from meting out

the appropriate or commensurate punishment?” He said Dela Rosa should also take proactive measures to discourage police personnel from engaging in wrongdoing. “After this, what will be done so that future incidents will no longer happen? That’s more important,” he said. Dela Rosa on Wednesday lashed out at police personnel tagged in the robbery-extortion of Korean tourists during a visit to Angeles City. “I said there had to be impact. He can’t act slowly because slow does not work on cops,” Lacson said. The PNP chief earlier told Lacson that the setup for an internal cleansing mechanism in the PNP will go full blast soon. With PNA

‘ISIS... From A1 Asia, including the Philippines where they have a considerable number of followers. If this happens, Duterte said, he would launch a war similar to that declared by ousted President Joseph Estrada on the Abu Sayyaf. “It’s gonna be bloody,” Duterte said. Duterte on Tuesday confirmed the presence of Arab jihadists in the country linked with the terrorist Islamic State, teaching extremism in the war-torn Mindanao. Foreign jihadists were reportedly killed by security forces following hot pursuit operations in the recent months. Just recently, security officials said the homegrown terrorist groups had been uniting and evolving into just one group called Dawlatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masrik or DIWM, and had chosen Isnilon Hapilon of the Abu Sayyaf as their sole leader in their aggressive efforts to be recognized by the ISIS. In the UK, a British supermarket worker was convicted Thursday of preparing to fight with Philippine jihadists Abu Sayyaf. Ryan Counsell, 28, was found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism, notably having a bombmaking manual and buying various military-style clothes and equipment. Counsell had booked to fly on July 13 last year to the southern Philippine port of Zamboanga, the closest city to Basilan island, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Abu Sayyaf is listed as a banned terrorist group in Britain, the jury at Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London heard. He had bought military equipment to “engage in combat or support an extremist group,” the court was told. Jurors heard how Counsell had spent almost £900 ($1,130; 1,050 euros) on “heavy-duty, militarystyle boots, combat trousers, camouflage clothing, knee and elbow pads, a monocular scope, rifle magazine pouches and a cheek pad to be attached to the stock of a rifle.” PNA

Purisima,... From A1 command and his suspension order on him, the Ombudsman said. A P10,000 bail was recommended for each case filed against the two former officials, who are accused of planning and executing Oplan Exodus in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano in Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015 in which 44 SAF troopers were killed in the botched operation. The police operation was aimed at neutralizing high-profile Malaysian terrorist Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Bassit Usman. At the time of the police raid, Purisima was serving a sixmonth preventive suspension by the Ombudsman for the alleged anomalous contract the Philippine National Police entered into with a courier service company.

Cops,... From A1 Jerry Omlang, an errand boy at the NBI, admitted his involvement in Jee’s abduction. A certain Darwin Lising has also been tagged in Jee’s abduction. NBI Director Dante Gierran has already relieved several NBI ofﬁcers including Lising, the head agent in the NBI’s NCR Division.

APPRECIATION. Former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (left) receives a plaque of appreciation from Eligio Mallari, president and chairman Vanguards of the Philippines Inc. during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Philippine Constitution. NORMAN CRUZ

Du30:... From A1

“I went out of my way to release their leaders, so they could attend the Oslo talks. Now there is this demand to release 400 of their political prisoners. That’s like granting an amnesty,” he said. Duterte said he was willing to fight the communists for 50 more years. “I guess that peace with the communists cannot be realized during our generation… I don’t want to engage in fighting, but if you continue fighting our men, let’s just resume. Anytime. They said [their ceasefire would stop on] Feb. 10, but they kept on [ambushing our troops],” he said. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the death of three soldiers killed by the NPA in a recent encounter was the “last straw” for Duterte. “The President was upset. His last straw was the attack on soldiers, now the NPA would like to twist the true story that the slain soldiers were operating against them,” Lorenzana said. Last Wednesday, a junior mili-

Pinoys... From A1

Koscina added that the executive order also does not restrict travel of dual nationals as long as they hold the passport of an unrestricted country and possess a valid US visa. Although the Philippines is not on Trump’s executive order banning entry into the United States, he had said during the campaign that he would deport all illegal immigrants.

Dumlao... From A1 image of the bureau through us so that our credibility in the investigation will be affected. But actually it will all boil down to Dumlao. “We were temporarily relieved from our positions to give way to the investigation of the NBI-

Mines... From A1

News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lacson says pushup has symbolic message By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

CURRENT CHALLENGES. Rear Admiral Pat Dequttro of the joint US Task Force Pacific and Deputy Commander of the US Coast Guard Pacific is welcomed Friday by Philippine Coast Guard officer in charge Commodore Joel Garcia and Transportation Undersecretary Felipe Judan, who has direct oversight of the country’s maritime sector. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF Pope Francis names Garcera Lipa archbishop POPE Francis has appointed Bishop Gilbert Garcera as the new archbishop of Lipa in Batangas, succeeding Archbishop Ramon Arguelles who retires at 72, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phiippines said. Garcera, 58, who was born in Camarines Sur in 1959, would now be relocated from the Diocese of Daet. Arguelles, who resigned three years ahead of the bishops’ mandatory retirement age of 75, is one of the most vocal prelates in the advocacy of protecting the sanctity of life and marriage. He also led the ﬁght against mining, coal-ﬁred power plant and other threat to the province’s environment. After attending Catholic elementary at the Naga Parochial School, Garcera completed his seminary training at the Holy Rosary Seminary in Naga City. At 24, he was ordained a priest at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. In 2007, he was appointed bishop of Daet by now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The archbishop-elect hold a masters degree in Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University and a doctorate in Organizational Planning and Development at Saidi in Antipolo City. Vito Barcelo

Don’t fly near Kanlaon, Bulusan airmen told THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Friday issued a notice to airmen advising them to avoid flying near Kanlaon Volcano and Mount Bulusan, which are in abnormal condition and period of unrest. The CAAP noted that Kanlaon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded six volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. “Flights operating in the vicinity of the volcano are advised to avoid flying to [sic] summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft effective 03 Feb. 2017 8:08 a.m. until 04 Feb. 2017, 9 a.m.,” the CAAP said. The aviation authority released the notice around 10:30 am Friday. CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said Notam was a notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations. Joel Zurbano

CA orders Piatco to pay govt for arbitral proceedings costs By Rey Requejo

HE Court of Appeals has compelled the Philippine International Air Terminals Company Inc., builder of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, to immediately pay the government the amount of $6 million or almost P300 million representing costs of the arbitration proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration. In a 23-page decision, the CA’s Seventeen Division through Associate Justice Marlene Gonzales Sison reversed and set aside the ruling issued by the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City, Branch 213, on Aug. 29, 2014 and May 4, 2015, which held the ﬁnal award was not enforceable under the Philippine law for being

contrary to public policy. The RTC ruled the country’s procurement law was violated when the government engaged foreign counsels and legal consultants without conducting a public bidding. In ruling against Piatco, the appellate court granted the petition for review ﬁled by the Department of Transportation and

Communications and the Manila International Airport Authority seeking to nullify the decision issued by the Mandaluyong RTC. The CA ruled no public policy was violated when the government was the one receiving money duly awarded by an Arbitral Tribunal. “Assuming arguendo [for the sake of argument] the government violated all the pertinent laws regarding public bidding, procurement and disbursement, will the recovery of the government of $6,009,351.66 result in any injury to the public or is against the public good? We answer in the negative. Deﬁnitely, any amount that goes to the government coffers is not detrimental, but on the contrary, beneﬁcial to the public,” the appellate court stressed. “There may be public policy against unlawful and unnecessary expenditure, but there is no public policy that prohibits the recovery of that expenditure by the government,” it said. The CA pointed out that Piatco’s opposition against the gov-

Bello recalls attaché in Kuwait By Vito Barcelo LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III recalled the labor attaché in Kuwait for negligence and lack of concern for the welfare of Filipino workers in her jurisdiction, following the death of a Filipina household worker who was beaten up by her employer. The labor chief ordered the recall of Angelita Narvaez, assistant labor attaché assigned in Kuwait, and added he would appoint Narvaez’ replacement next week. Amy Capulong Santiago was reportedly beaten to death by her employer last week. “I issued a recall order to Narvaez for her inaction and lack of concern [for] our overseas Filipino workers,” Bello said. Bello said Narvaez did not inform him of the case of Santiago when he ﬂew to Kuwait after concluding the third round of talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF in

Rome, Italy. “Santiago died on Jan. 25. I was there on January 26 and Narvaez did not inform me about Santiago’s tragic fate. Narvaez, in effect, misled the Secretary of the Department of Labor by concealing that information,” Bello said. He added Narvaez also deliberately prevented him from meeting the OFWs at the Bahay Kalinga. “I was told by an OFW who returned from Kuwait that there were about 100 Filipino workers who were at the second ﬂoor,” Bello said. Bahay Kalinga or the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center, used as a temporary shelter for overseas Filipinos in distress, is within the premises and under the administrative jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in countries where there are large concentrations of Filipino migrant workers.

ROUND-THE-CLOCK JOB. Workers manually bend the steel frames of one of the massive posts for the Skyway Project 3 at the Quirino Highway in Pandacan, Manila. Lino Santos

ernment’s claim was geared towards preventing the government from wasting public money. However, it noted that by the time the government ﬁled a petition with the trial court seeking the enforcement of the Arbitral Tribunal award, cost and expenses were already incurred by it. “The trial court, with its limited jurisdiction, cannot stop a previous action of the government. At least in this case, the past cannot be remade. What has been done cannot be undone. These are the verities the parties cannot debate,” the CA said. The appeals court court also gave weight to the fact that both the government and Piatco agreed that the losing party in the arbitration proceedings should pay the cost incurred by the winning party. “Having [been] adjudged as the losing party, Piatco cannot escape its liability towards the government by invoking a frivolous defense of ‘contrary to public policy’,” the CA said.

BUHAY Rep. Joselito Atienza, a House senior deputy minority leader, backed on Friday President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to revive the two-layer police system—one local and one national. “We welcome and support the President’s pronouncement to go back to the two-layer police system. This would ensure accountability and provide an effective check and balance within the police force. Giving back control over the police to our local government officials would not only make them directly accountable, but would also involve the community,” he said. Atienza’s declared support came as Senator Panfilo Lacson defended PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa from criticisms regarding the “pushup” he ordered for seven Angeles City policemen in Pampanga tagged in the extortion of three Korean tourists. “The message is good. Pushup is symbolic and the cussing and everything, but it should go beyond that,” said Lacson. Lacson, who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001, said the people were waiting for whatever positive action aside from meting out the appropriate or commensurate punishment. He said the PNP chief was off to a good start in implementing a much-needed internal cleansing of the police force but would need to go beyond scolding cops linked to wrongdoing. In the House, Atienza said under the present setup, many police officers from the provinces were being assigned to Metro Manila without even knowing the terrain of their new assignments and the local officials within the areas. He cited the abduction and slay of Korean national Jee Ick Joo, the robbery-extortion of three South Korean tourists and the rape of a woman in Laguna involving policemen. “This shows that there is an urgent need to reform our police and restore the integrity of the institution and the public’s trust,” he added. “We congratulate the President on his move to clean-up our police force. We will do everything in and out of Congress to help him do this. If needed, we should amend the Constitution,” he said.

DoJ, NBI not proper probe bodies—Escudero By Macon Araneta THE Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation are not the proper bodies to investigate the P50million bribery by gambling mogul Jack Lam since they are both under Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II who has also been embroiled in the scandal, a senator said Thursday. In a media forum, Senator Francis Escudero said an independent investigation should be conducted in the alleged corruption of public officials and extortion of P50 million from Lam in exchange for the release of the illegal Chinese working for him. He said the investigation should be done by either the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or the Office of the Ombudsman to make the results acceptable to the public. The fairness and objectivity of a probe by either the DoJ or the NBI would be questioned because the two agencies are both under Aguirre. “Actually I don’t expect him to be fair and objective. And I am relying on the Office of the Ombudsman if not the CIDG complaint filed by [dismissed Bureau of Immigration] Gen. [Charles] Calima to actually come out with something,” said Escudero. But he said the investigation ordered by Aguirre was only part and parcel of their ministerial duty to look into it.

“Because if fhey don’t investigate, they might be accused of cover-up. So it is just alright to announce it, but we cannot really rely on it whatever their findings will be,” stressed Escudero. While he personally doubts Aguirre’s innocence in the bribery for so many reasons and his questionable actuations, which he believes were not in consonance with the natural human reactions in those situations, Escudero commended the Justice secretary for being cooperative in the Senate hearings. The Senate Blue Ribbon committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, has been conducting a probe into the scandal, wherein former Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles were alleged to have received the P50-million bribe money from Lam through his known emissary retired police colonel Wally Sombero in the wee hours of Nov. 27. The bribe was purportedly in exchange for the release of 1,300 illegal Chinese workers arrested at Lam’s online gaming firm at Clark Freeport Zone. But Argosino and Robles insisted in the Senate hearings they took the cash as evidence for an investigation they were pursuing. “Definitely, based on what I saw and heard about the demeanor of the witnesses, they definitely asked, they were definitely given, and they definitely accepted,” said Escudero.

Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Showman

T WAS ludicrous, the sight of cops doing pushups as they were being berated by their boss, Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa. The three policemen from Angeles City reportedly “arrested” three Korean tourists in December to extort cash from them. There is public outrage against the police with the revelation that yet another Korean from the same city, Jee Ick Joo, was

taken from his home and killed in Camp Crame. After his remains were cremated his killers had the gall to demand ransom from his wife. An angry PNP chief cursed the cops repeatedly for their wrongdoing. Dela Rosa had said he

wanted to melt in shame for what happened to Jee. He did not melt, and went on to celebrate his birthday basking in President Rodrigo Duterte’s continued trust and confidence in him. The President’s support also emboldened Dela Rosa to challenge his critics who were demanding his resignation. A few days later, Mr. Duterte said he was suspending Oplan Tokhang, anti-drugs campaign in

favor of cleansing the ranks of the police. By cleansing the ranks we envisioned harsher punishment for cops who give the police force a bad name, and the beginnings of long-term action to ensure that policemen live up to their mandate—certainly not the sight of them bowing their heads as their boss cursed them, or doing pushups as cameras clicked away. While these may be symbolic,

they are also pitifully inadequate. Worse, they attempt to trivialize a grave problem into a show, Then again, Dela Rosa himself appears to be fond of spectacle. We have no problem with a bit of gimmickry so long as he gets the job done. But since he has shown himself woefully incompetent, all his attempts at publicity tell us that he is all about that—and not much else. HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

‘Privatization’ of QC’s North and East Triangles

he wants the sentence to be carried out in the most barbaric of ways, through firing squad and public hanging. His rah-rah boys in both Houses of Congress are at work railroading the passage of this bill. The House of Representatives (HOR) has already started debates and I cringed as I listened to the sponsorship speeches on the bill. Our “honorable” representatives think that killing will solve criminality despite studies concluding that the death penalty does not deter crimes. Even the House leader, Speaker Alvarez remarked that when crime is committed, it is better to just kill criminals. At the Senate, the strongest support for the bill ironically comes from a most religious senator, Emmanuel Pacquiao who said that even Jesus Christ was meted the death penalty, as if it makes it right. No less than President Duterte

BACK in the late 1950s, the North Triangle and the East Triangle—two vast tracts of land in the Diliman district of Quezon City bounded by Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa), Quezon Boulevard (now Quezon Avenue), and North Avenue; and by Edsa, Quezon Boulevard and East Avenue, respectively, were completely owned by the government, and were meant to be used exclusively for public purposes. These parcels of land lay near the national government center around the Quezon Monument. Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon had wanted to house the offices of the national government at this center. World War II in the Pacific and the Japanese Occupation of the Philippine Islands, however, derailed his plans. These two tracts of land had cogon grass virtually everywhere, which meant that many of the government offices established there could be considered “pioneers” of the area. By the 1960s, only a few government agencies had offices along North Avenue and East Avenue. Along North Avenue was the Philippine Sugar Institute Building, the Philippine Veterans Hospital, and veterans golf course, which was open to the public. Golden Acres, an “old folks home” stood near the junction of North Avenue and Edsa. East Avenue hosted the head offices of the Land Transportation Commission (now called the Land Transportation Office) and the Social Security System, as well as the Government Service Insurance System Hospital (now called the East Avenue Medical Center). At the center of the North Triangle was the campus of the Philippine Science High School. At the corner of Edsa and Quezon Boulevard was a quaint seedling nursery, which later became the Manila Seedling Bank. The rest of everything in both triangles were small patches of gardens cultivated by informal settlers, or cogon grass.

Turn to A5

Killing mentality POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO IF ONE goes by the daily news, it would seem that we are a country at war—wars of various kinds, but wars involving Filipinos against Filipinos. Foremost of these is President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against drugs. Because of this, no day passes by without accounts of people being killed on the streets, and even in their homes in front of suspects’ families and children. The only day that no killing was reported was when Duterte announced the suspension of this war following the public outcry generated by the murder of a South Korean businessman by rouge policemen. More than 7,000 lives have been lost without any semblance of due process because of this

aggressive drive against illegal drugs. According to Amnesty International (AI), most of those killed were poor, prompting the human rights body to say that this is a war against the poor. It is worth noting that virtually all of those killed were suspected small-time drug users and pushers. The big drug lords remain free to continue their criminal activities. In implementing Duterte’s war, members of the Philippine National Police have killed about half of the total number of those murdered. In many cases, the police claimed that the suspects resisted arrest despite testimonies of witnesses on the contrary, and at times, the impossibility of resisting as the suspects were already in their custody. It is, therefore, doubly interesting that the AI report claimed that police were getting paid as much as P15,000.00 per suspect killed in this war. If this

is true, then the war on drugs has been turned into a profitable enterprise by some members of the group that is supposed to protect people from lawless elements. This can also explain why most of those killed were poor. Their families would not

It’s not the solution to our problems.

have the resources to pursue their cases and fight for justice, leaving the murderers free. The suspension of Duterte’s war on drugs is because of another “war” he, and PNP Chief General Bato dela Rosa are allegedly waging—the war

against bad eggs in the PNP. So far however, the only thing that people have seen as far as this war goes is Bato punishing rouge cops with push-ups in front of the media. A photo-op some decry. It has been reported that Duterte wants the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be involved in his war against drugs as well. The problem is, the AFP is also fighting wars— against terrorists, Abu Sayyaf, ISIS threats, Maute. As of this writing, the ceasefire with communist rebels, the New People’s Army (NPA) has been lifted and the Philippine Military is ordered to pursue them yet again. Too many wars going on, too many Filipinos are dying. Is this because our leaders think that killing is the only solution to our country’s problems? Let us not forget that this president also wants the death penalty to be reinstated. Worse,

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE MEMBER

PPI

Chairman Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager OIC-Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Adelle Chua Honor Blanco Cabie Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Editor Night Editor Art Director Chief Photographer

Opinion

real estate bubble in Japan. However, Japan had its fallback JAPAN tried to make conces- position which was to relocate sions by promising to establish its production plants to China production plants for Toyota, which US companies have been Honda, Mazda, Nissan, and doing since 1978. Companies such as the world Isuzu in the US. Japanese negotiators argued that US-man- famous brands like Toyota, Nisufactured Japanese cars would san, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshibe sold at competitive price and ba, Komatsu, Sumitomo, Seki, provide employment to many Fujitsu, Cannon, Fiji, Minolta, Americans who were displaced Pioneer, Sony, garments such by the closure of the US car as Uniqlo, etc. no sooner estabmanufacturing plants in Detroit. lished their respective plants in Since high tariff would run China. There were some misgivcounter to the provisions of the ings and even political intrigues then General Agreements on in the decision to shift to China Tariff and Trade (GATT) and because of historical enmity, but it being discriminatory, the US both proved to be pragmatic, shifted to pressuring Japan to re- which is to set aside their difvalue its yen. That was most dev- ferences if that would help them astating because that increased to economically advance. South the value of its products not just Korea, it seems, is following the for purposes of decreasing US same footsteps. China again welcomed this trade deficit, but for the entire Japanese exports. The domestic new development as it would not only help accelerate their ecowage equally increased. Japan suddenly experienced nomic development from an esan unprecedented economic sentially manufacturing economy slump. Exports sharply declined. to one that would give them the Japanese car manufacturers were opportunity to make a “great leap compelled to open themselves to forward” to becoming a technolforeign partnerships. Ford Mo- ogy-oriented economy. Second, tors was able to acquire shares the migration of Japanese corpoof Mazda and Mitsubishi, GM rations to China served as windwas able to acquire Isuzu, and fall to further boost employment. Nissan that was already on the Third, the unexpected influx of verge of bankruptcy had to hire Japanese companies allowed it to a foreigner to take charge of the have an extended unprecedented industry. The revaluation of the GDP growth rate from eight to yen caused a steep increase in 11 percent annually. Fourth, the the value of exports of manufac- US was caught between the devil and the deep tured goods. blue sea, for The advent of while it sternly the Reagan adfought to ward ministration afoff imports, Jafirmed the monChina helped pan was able to etarist doctrine circumvent it by that the econo- the world by exporting more my can be maof its Chinesenipulated with- selling goods at manufactured out having to go much cheaper goods to the through with the US. Fifth, Jacostly process of prices. pan managed industrial revivto relieve itself alism. Money of the burden lending became of trying to justhe order of the tify its restored day. All laws that impede the flow of cash were trade surplus. The revaluation of the currendismantled. The demarcation between banking and investment cy is the single greatest culprit had to be lifted; that the surplus that could destroy the economy. which capital banks were holding John Perkins described it “as as guarantee could now be used the deadly weapon of modernto reinvest, not to spur the revival day economic hitman.” China of industries, but for speculative is aware of this pitiful practice purposes of making more money. that it has consistently declared Since the idea would entail much the revaluation of the renminbi risk, the banks were given a free as non-negotiable, it being indihand to impose usurious interest visible to its sovereignty. As one rate. Our welcoming local bank- Chinese trader observed, when ers called it “universal banking China opened its economy to the system” though they mainly cor- world market with their low-valnered the business of real estate ue currency, the world took advantage of it. Now that they are speculation. In 1993, President Bill Clin- grappling to control their trade ton pushed for the repeal of the deficit, they want the renminbi landmark Glass-Steagall Act of to increase its value to improve 1933, a financial device intro- their sagging economy. Nevertheless, China helped the duced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to contain Wall Street world by selling goods at much from gobbling up businesses. cheaper prices and it cannot now The repeal allowed the banks increase the price of its products to wager on stocks and deriva- on the basis of trade imbalance tives. The scrapping altogether by increasing the value of its of the Usury Law made the busi- currency. It was the monetarists ness of relending their primary that pumped in more money into source of making money. Money their economy to allow the US supply soared while imports of economy to recover. But Chinese manufactured and agricultural exports remained unadulterated products in the US, Japan and by inflation much that it refused in Western Europe steadily de- to revalue their renminbi. clined. Excessive money nibbled Surely, China wants an increase fast the value of the currency be- in the value of its exports but would oppose a decrease in its cause of inflation. It became the golden era for volume upon which millions of China much that it haggled hard Chinese are dependent for their to restore sanity in the world employment. Today, many Americans are economy by selling goods, the value of which is realistic to the losing their jobs, and wages in average income of the people. the US have remained stagnant China and Russia could not do for the last 10 years. Maybe it is much to stop the crazy of trad- true that business has no patrioting money to make more money, ism. But what the US is now exwhich means that money has be- periencing is worst because the issue no longer revolves on wage come perishable. China and Japan looked at the but for want of employment and system of capitalism as akin to this is what President Trump is kung fu or aikido—to every of- talking about. Industries, like fense there is an equal defense. migrating birds, want to nest in Muscling Japan to revalue the areas where it is safe and where yen disastrously resulted in the they could prosper. steep increase in the prices of rpkapunan@gmail.com exports and created the worst Part II

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Good work by Duterte on climate change

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

The greatest currency manipulator

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

THIS has been a good week for climate change in the Philippines. Finally, after months of uncertainty, the Philippine government has decided to move forward on the ratification of the Paris Agreement. This was decided in a meeting of the Climate Change Commission convened by President Rodrigo Duterte last Tuesday, January 31. National Economic and Development Authority director general Ernesto Pernia, who attended the meeting, which was a joint meeting with the Advisory Board (like the CCC, also created by the Climate Change Act of 2009) is quoted as saying that the President asked heads of departments to address the question why it was important for the Philippines to join the Paris agreement. “Nobody objected. We were all in favor of ratification,” Pernia continued. Senator Loren Legarda, the longtime environmental and climate change champion in the legislature, was also at the meeting. In a press statement, Legarda praised President Duterte, “Under the Climate Change Act, there are three commissioners of the CCC and the chairperson is no less than the President of the Philippines. I am glad that for the first time since the law was enacted, the President has finally convened the Commission. This is a good sign that our President sees the importance of addressing climate change impacts as it affects the overall development of the country.” The Climate Change Act actually mandates quarterly meetings for this important body but this was not followed by the Aquino administration which also did not convene, not even once, the Advisory Body. Senator Legarda also shared the information that the Department of Foreign Affairs has

‘Privatization’... From A4

The Elliptical Road surrounding the Quezon Monument hosted the offices of the Philippine Housing and Homesite Commission (today’s National Housing Authority), a small office for GSIS engineers, the Philippine Coconut Administration (the current Philippine Coconut Authority), the Philippine Tobacco Administration, the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (now the Department of Agrarian Reform head office), and the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (now called the Department of Environment and Natural Resources). In February 1975, the Philippine Heart Center for Asia, a pet project of then First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, opened on East Avenue. This was followed by the Metro Manila Transit Corp. (MMTC) depot near the PSHS campus. The 1970s and 1980s saw additional government buildings constructed in the area, including the Central Bank security printing plant, mint and gold refinery, the Kidney Center and the Land Registration Commission, both along East Avenue.

Killing... From A4

himself is the biggest proponent of this “killing mentality.” All his public speeches are peppered with the words kill, die, and those who do not agree with him are threatened to suffer the same fate as those killed in the name of his war on drugs, including human rights advocates. Many times, the president boasted of having killed people during his time as Davao City Mayor. To be fair, this has been his line even during the campaign period but

announced that it has already received all the Certificates of Concurrences needed so that the President can ratify the Paris Agreement. For a few weeks now, the Department of Energy was the remaining holdout. Now, it is on board and ratification can proceed without any more delay. According to Legarda: “It is a welcome development that all concerned agencies of government are now ready to ratify the Paris Agreement. Once the Executive ratifies and transmits the instrument of ratification to the Senate, I would actively shepherd the Senate’s immediate concurrence.” In fact, on Monday, the Committees on Climate Change, Finance, Ways and Means, and Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship will have a joint meeting that will begin the process of ratification. Senator Legarda explains why ratification of the Paris Agreement is urgent: “The issue of climate justice, which is one of the concerns of the administration, is enshrined in the Agreement. If we ratify, we become part of the succeeding meetings about the Paris Agreement. It is to our advantage that we are in the talks so we can converge with our fellow vulnerable nations on how we should move forward and compel big greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters to do their fair share.” Given the changes in the global landscape, with the Trump Administration hostile to the Paris Agreement, it is important for us to be in the loop in the work that needs to be done to prepare for its implementation. This is not a time for despair or for being depressed but a time to do our homework and advance solutions to the climate change challenge. It is a time not to retreat but to actually be audacious on what we can to overcome this challenge. This is a time to enact an energy mix that would set us on a path to a low-emissions economy, reducing and eventually eliminating altogether our reliance on coal and increasing

the share of renewables in our energy mix. It is time, as Senator Legarda has also emphasized, that the CCC must prioritize the completion of the local climate change action plans (LCCAP) of all the 1,634 local government units: “This is crucial because LGUs are the front-liners in our fight against climate change. They are the ones who can determine how their community is affected by climate change. The location of the community, the direct impact of climate change, and the risks posed by extreme weather events are crucial in crafting a climate change action plan.” Related to this, it is time also to institutionalize Project Noah, which will be terminated by the end of the month. Science and Technology Secretary Boy de la Peña’s statement assures us that Project Noah’s work will now be done by Pagasa. The transition must be seamless as it is not an option to have a vacuum, now that our disaster season is all year long. Finally, we must be serious about protecting and enhancing our forests. I am glad that President Duterte gave an order to relevant agencies, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to impose a national total log ban “with no exceptions”. We already have a total log ban on cutting of natural forests, imposed by President Aquino through Executive Order No. 23 issued in 2011. Should the ban now be extended to cutting of trees for infrastructure and real estate development? Should it be extended to cutting off of industrial forests, to trees planted specifically for harvesting? If we did this, let’s make sure we know the environmental benefits retained versus the economic impacts. If there are serious economic impacts, but the benefits are immense, we can still proceed with the ban but make sure we mitigate the economic consequences with targeted strategies.

For sure, a ban on cutting of trees for roads, rail systems, and buildings is doable as these projects can be designed integrating and around existing trees. But stopping harvesting of industrial trees has livelihood and investment consequences. It will also result perversely in incentives for illegal logging as there would be a sharp diminution of wood supply in the country. In any case, I am happy where we are now on climate change. I want to thank President Duterte for exercising great leadership on this even as he asked the right questions that made many of us uncomfortable. The country should of course be very grateful to Senator Loren Legarda for her vision, political will, and endurance. Acting CCC vice chairman Vernice Victorio, and Commissioners Manny de Guzman and Noel Gaerlan did good work here. Secretaries Gina Lopez, Pernia, Piñol, Diokno, Dominguez, Yasay, and Cusi also rose up to the occasion. I know personally that Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, including his colleagues Undersecretary Gloria Mercado and Assistant Secretary Evelyn Cruzada (among others) played crucial roles to get us where we are. And of course, we must appreciate the work of the front-liners in the bureaucracy and Philippine delegation - former and current CCC officials who worked on this like Sandee Recabar, Arnold Belver, Railla Puno and Alex Gamboa, other government officials like Department of Agriculture’s Alice Ilaga and Neda’s Kat Capiroso, our diplomats like Val Roque and Elaine Laruan-Hernandez, and civil society allies who kept on pressing no matter the ups and downs. Our work on climate change has been rightly called a wholeof-nation approach. On this issue, we are one united Team Philippines.

Quezon Boulevard had the Lung Center, the National Children’s Hospital, and the National Power Corp. (now the National Grid Corporation) Building. North Avenue’s additional structure was the Quezon City safety standards office. Agham Road, where the PSHS campus is located, was extended to traverse the East Triangle and connect North and East Avenues. This extension road became the address of the Bureau of Internal Revenue headquarters, Two roads constructed behind the BIR compound hosted the offices of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the APO printing center. A branch of the Philippine National Bank, which was not yet privatized back then, also opened nearby. The greenery where Quezon Boulevard joined North Avenue became the Parks and Wildlife promenade (later renamed the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife compound). In the 2000s, the government buildings that rose in the area were the National Telecommunications Commission head office and the Office of the Ombudsman (both along Agham Road), the National Printing Office, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (all near

the NIA Building), and the Commission on Human Rights compound near the corner of Quezon Avenue (formerly Quezon Boulevard) and Edsa. The side of the North Triangle beside Edsa became a depot of the light rail transit operated by the government. What President Quezon envisioned for both triangles became a pipe dream. The SM City mall complex started the privatization of the area in the late 1980s. It has expanded numerous times, first, northwest near the Quezon City Science High School, and then eastward near the old site of the Philippine Medical Association and the now defunct Peach Blossoms Restaurant. A hamburger fastfood outlet currently stands at the corner of North Avenue and Mindanao Avenue. The portion of the North Triangle along Edsa now hosts the Ayala Trinoma mall complex. A high-rise residential condominium project is currently under construction nearby. The MMTC depot has disappeared. At the corner of Quezon Avenue and Edsa now stands Eton Centris, a commercial mall operated by the SM group. This mall has several restaurants, fastfood joints, and a gasoline

station near it, all of them along Edsa. Completing the privatization of the rest of the East Triangle fronting Edsa is the future site of a private university. There is an office of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. along East Avenue across the PHC, but at least it’s a branch office of a public utility, and not a shopping mall. Gigantic billboards advertising various products ranging from denims to liquor can be seen along the Edsa sides of both triangles, particularly at the corners of Edsa and Quezon Avenue, and Edsa and East Avenue. A couple of years ago, when the Quezon City authorities kicked out the Manila Seedling Bank from its site at the corner of Edsa and Quezon Avenue, they not only deprived the city of one of its “lungs” in the concrete jungle that is Metropolitan Manila; they made this piece of valuable real estate attractive to shopping mall developers. Will this government property get “privatized” as well? Since Quezon City’s coffers are oozing with taxpayer money, selling this area is not only unnecessary; selling it will invite criminal prosecution for causing undue injury to the government and the people.

he still won. For the president, drug users and pushers are not humans. Therefore, they do not have human rights and their lives are unimportant. They must be killed. This is echoed by his JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. In response to the AI report saying that the killing of thousands under the war on drugs may constitute crimes against humanity, Aguirre said that criminals like drug users and pushers are not humans. Therefore, killing them is not a crime against humanity. Given these pronouncements by our “leaders” where will the

families of those killed go to find justice? It is very disturbing that this “killing mentality” is very strong among this administration’s highest officials. Their solution to crimes is simply to kill, and kill without due process. It is scary to think that anyone can be suspected, or framed as a suspect, and get killed. This has happened to not a few who were murdered in the name of the war on drugs. It will do good for our leaders, and the country, to realize that killing is not a solution to our many problems. We need to get to the roots of what ail us

and strike at those roots. Many times, problems, even drugs, insurgency, and rebellion are caused by extreme poverty and social inequities. These are what we should solve. An enabling environment where Filipinos can maximize their potentials will inspire people, not murder. A just, equitable, and economically developed country is what we must aspire for. Killing mentality will not bring us there.

Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

bethangsioco@gmail.com @ bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

C. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” AND WITH DATA UNDER TYPHOON YOLANDA

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

UNITS

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENT IN RATES PURSUANT TO THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH RULES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, ERC CASE NO. 2015-143 RC LEYECO IV ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (LEYECO IV), Applicant. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 29 July 2015, applicant Leyte IV Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO IV) filed an application seeking the Commission’s approval for the adjustment in its rates in accordance with the rules governing the tariff glide path pursuant to Article VII of the Rules for Setting the Rural Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR). LEYECO IV alleged the following in its application: 1.

LEYECO IV is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine laws, with principal offices at Brgy. Lamak, Hilongos, Leyte;

It holds an exclusive franchise issued by the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power distribution service in the City of Baybay and five (5) municipalities in the Province of Leyte, namely, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato and Matalom;

In 2009, the Honorable Commission promulgated the Rules for Setting the Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR);

The RSEC-WR envisioned a regulatory framework whereby an Initial Tariff and a Tariff Glide Path shall be developed for each Electric Cooperative (EC) Group for a Regulatory Period;

Pursuant to the RSEC-WR, in 2009, LEYECO IV filed with the Honorable Commission an application for approval of proposed adjustment in its rates, docketed as ERC Case No. 2009-151 RC;

THE ANTECEDENT FACTS

In the said application, the Honorable Commission granted the cooperative provisional authority to implement the proposed rates in three-year tranches, with the following rate caps or initial tariffs on the Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Charges being implemented starting at the end of the transition period, to wit: CHARGES

UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Low Voltage

0.8449

0.9259

Higher Voltage

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge

PhP/kW

19. From the foregoing, it is shown that LEYECO IV’s resulting rates are lower if the extra-ordinary effects of Typhoon Yolanda is considered in the calculations; 20. However, the effects of Typhoon Yolanda is an extraordinary occurrence and not reflective of the normal operations of LEYECO IV. Consequently, the cooperative respectfully prays for the approval of the calculated DSM rates utilizing data during normal operations. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTS 21. In support of the foregoing computations, the cooperative is submitting herewith the following data and documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit: Annex A A-l A-2 B C D E F G H

Nature of Document Proposed TGP Calculation and supporting documents using the prescribed templates: Index “I” Calculation Efficiency Factor “X” Calculation Performance Incentive “S” Calculation Monthly Financial and Statistical Report (MFSR) -Sections B and E (20102014) Billing Determinants Template (kWh Sales, Number of Customers, kW Demand) (2010-2104) Sample Bills (per customer type) (2010-2014) Regional CPI (2011-2014) RFSC/Reinvestment Fund Utilization (2012-2014) Consumer Complaints (Summary or Tracking Form) (2012-2014) Audited Financial Statements (2010-2014) ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

22. Applicant repleads the foregoing allegations as may be material herein;

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/Mo

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

0.7732

Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo

5.0000

Metering System Charge

PhP/kWh

0.4569

40.1500 40.1500

Metering Charges:

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge PhP/kW 209.37 Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh 0.6603 0.7236 Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Customer/Mo 31.38 31.38 Supply System Charge PhP/kWh 0.6043 Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Meter/Mo. 3.91 22.44 22.44 Metering System Charge PhP/kWh o.3571 D. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE "S" AND WITH DATA UNDER TYPHOON YOLANDA UNITS CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage Distribution Charges: Demand Charge PhP/kW 195.70 Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh 0.6172 0.6764 Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Customer/Mo 29.33 29.33 Supply System Charge PhP/kWh 0.5648 Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Meter/Mo. 3.65 20.98 20.98 Metering System Charge PhP/kWh 0.3338

267.9000

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

28.7200 28.7200

It is provided under Article 7 of the RSEC-WR that during the regulatory period, the rate of the ECs per group shall be adjusted using the following formula, to wit: Tariff x (1+ index “I”-Efficiency Factor “X” + Performance Incentive “S”) The Index “I”, shall be an escalation factor to be used in adjusting the rates to reflect the combined impact of inflation and load factor. There shall be an efficiency factor “X” to account for the operational efficiency of the ECs in setting their rates. There shall be a performance incentive “S” which shall reward or penalize the EC for above or below standard performance, respectively. The TGP is intended as a cap and the EC may move up to the cap, if it is a positive adjustment. If the cap is lower than the current average tariff, a reduction may be implemented. LEGAL BASES FOR THE APPLICATION

On May 2, 2011, the Honorable Commission promulgated the Tariff Glide Path (TGP) Rules pursuant to Article 7 of the RSEC-WR;

10. Under the TGP, the regulatory period is six (6) years for each entry group. For the Third Entrant Group, the first regulatory period is from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018. LEYECO IV belongs to the Third Entrant Group; 11. Further under the TGP Rules, the concerned EC shall use the following formula in determining the TGP for the first to third years of the Regulatory Period, to wit: TGPA= TGPn + TGPn+1 TGPn + 2 where TGPn = In — Xn + Sn N= the first year of their Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods Except that for the first two years of the First Regulatory Period, “X” will be equal to zero and thereafter shall not be less than zero. The TGP calculated for each of the three years will be summed to determine the possible rate adjustment starting on the Fourth Year of the current Regulatory Period.

23. Applicant’s current DSM rates which were granted by the Honorable Commission provisionally, were implemented in three - year tranches starting way back January 2010, with the rate caps or initial tariffs being implemented only starting at the end of the three-year transition period; 24. Over the years, the cost of its operations has significantly increased, not only as a logical effect of inflation as well as certain governmental requirements, but likewise due to the inevitable expansion of its distribution network brought about by the extension of its services to remote areas. More significantly, the cooperative has been implementing the Sitio Energization Program (SEP) of the Aquino government, such that the massive expansion of its distribution lines up to the remotest areas has considerably increased its operational and maintenance costs, not to mention the increased system loss which the cooperative is likely to absorb. All these costs were not duly provided for in its current rates and the general funds being generated from its DSM revenues as granted under the RSEC-WR are no longer sufficient to cover these inevitable costs; 25. Thus, the cooperative urgently needs additional funds to be able to cope with the rising costs of its operations; 26. Further, based on the provisions of the TGP Rules, for cooperatives belonging to the Third Entrant Group, their initial tariff shall be adjusted at the start of the fourth regulatory year of the First Regulatory Period, which is January 1, 2016; 27. Considering the foregoing, applicant respectfully prays that while the instant application is pending, it be granted a provisional authority to implement the proposed rates effective January 1, 2016. COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 28. Finally, in compliance with the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, applicant is likewise submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit: Annex Nature of Document I Affidavit in Support of the Prayer for Provisional Authority J to J-1 Proof of furnishing copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Bayan of Hilongos and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte K and Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation series in LEYECO I V ’ s franchise area or where it principally operates PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that pending evaluation of the instant application or after due notice and hearing, as the case may be, LEYECO IV be allowed to implement effective January 1, 2016 either of the following two (2) alternative proposed new rates for Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Charges, to wit: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” AND UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS

THE PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENT 12. LEYECO IV was among the electric cooperatives whose franchise areas were severely hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda on that fateful day of November 8, 2013; 13. The typhoon brought about massive destruciton to life and property, including LEYECO IV’s distribution facilites; 14. The catastrope destroyed the households and businesses of LEYECO IV’s customers, and during the months that the cooperative was unable to bill and collect payment from its customers, its revenues and number of customers fell; 15. It should be noted that the number of billed customers as well amount of kilowatt hour sales during the period covered by the instant application are determinants in the computation of the TGP; 16. If the reduction in its revenues and number of billed customers brought about by the destruction of Typhoon Yolanda is considered in LEYECO IV’S calculations, the resulting rates would not be reflective of the cooperative’s normal operations; 17. LEYECO IV prepared a comparative analysis utilizing historical data under normal operations as well as actual data when the cooperative’s operations was being prejudiced by the effects of Typhoon Yolanda, and applying the methodology embodied in the TGP Rules, calculated the values of the “I”, “X” and “S”, and came up with the followng results, to wit: Utilizing data under normal operations: “I”

"X"

"S"

TGPA

Year 2013 0.00% 0.00% 1.50% 1.50% Year 2014 0.59% 0.00% 2.30% 2.89% Year 2015 5.47% 6.15% 1.30% 0.62% Net Results 5.01% Including actual data affected by Typhoon Yolanda

TGPA (Excluding "S") 0.00% 0.59% -0.68% -0.09%

TGPA (Excluding "S") Year 2013 0.00% 0.00% 1.50% 1.50% 0.00% Year 2014 6.80% 0.00% 2.30% 9.10% 6.80% Year 2015 2.48% 36.23% 1.30% -32.45% -33-75% Net Results -21.85% -26.95% 18. Applying the above values pursuant to the TGP Rules resulted in adjustments in LEYECO IV’s DSM Rates, as follows: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” AND UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS “I”

"X"

"S"

TGPA

UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge PhP/kW 281.33 Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh 0.8873 0.9723 Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Customer/Mo 42.16 42.16 Supply System Charge PhP/kWh 0.8120 Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Meter/Mo. 5.25 30.16 30.16 Metering System Charge PhP/kWh 0.4798 B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE "S" AND UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS UNITS CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage Distribution Charges: Demand Charge PhP/kW 267.67 Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh 0.8442 0.9251 Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Customer/Mo 40.12 40.12 Supply System Charge PhP/kWh 0.7725 Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Meter/Mo. 5.00 28.70 28.70 Metering System Charge PhP/kWh 0.4565

UNITS

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.8873

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.8120

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.25 0.4798

281.33 0.9723 42.16

42.16

30.16

B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” AND UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS UNITS

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.8442

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.7725

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.00 0.4565

267.67 0.9251 40.12

40.12

28.70

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for. The Commission has set the application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository-presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 22 February 2017 (Wednesday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) at LEYECO IV’s Main Office in Lamak, Hilongos, Leyte. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the application may request from applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 30th day of January 2017 at Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO Standard – Feb. 4 & 11, 2017

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

More tainted blood found By Leilani S. Junio and Sandy Araneta

HE Department of Health discarded more than 500 blood units in 2016 because they were found to be tainted with the human immunodeﬁciency virus, according to ofﬁcial government data. Based on the December 2016 report of the HIV and AIDS Registry of the Philippines, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine confirmed that a total of 550 blood units tested positive for HIV last year. “These were confirmed HIVpositive blood units, not blood donors. It is possible that one donor will donate more than one blood unit,” said the HARP report. The month of August had the highest number of HIV-tainted blood units with 71, while February had the lowest with only 25. In December alone, 53 blood units were confirmed positive for HIV. The 2016 figure is higher than in 2015, when 456 blood units were discarded for being tainted with HIV. In a related development, Human Rights Watch urged the DoH to implement its Comprehensive Sexuality Education program to stem the transmission of HIV among the youth. Human Rights Watch country researcher Carlos Conde said the government needs to address this HIV crisis, but arguments that ignore science will only increase the likelihood of HIV transmissions among young Filipinos. “It’s up to the Department of Health to override these barriers to condom access and for the Department of Education to implement its

long-delayed Comprehensive Sexuality Education program, which includes modules on safer sex education and HIV prevention,” Conde said. “Until that happens, young people will continue to be at needless risk of HIV infection,” said Conde. The Department of Education this week rejected a proposal to distribute condoms in public high schools with Education Secretary Leonor Briones saying children under 18 need parental consent to receive condoms and other contraceptive products. But Conde said this contradicts Briones’ December 2016 announcement that condom distribution would proceed in 2017. “Briones’ flip-flop is consistent with the education department’s inadequate response to the HIV crisis, despite efforts by some teachers to address the dangerous absence of HIV prevention education in schools,” said Conde. Conde said previous education secretaries have mostly ignored the issue, despite official data indicating the Philippines has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the Asia-Pacific region. Conde said data also shows that Filipino adolescents—particularly men who have sex with men—have some of the fastest growth rates in new infections.

400 OFWs sent home over health By Vito Barcelo MORE than 400 overseas Filipino workers were ordered deported by the Jordan health ministry last year due to various health issues, the Department of Labor and Employment said, as it advised Filipino workers to secure proper medical screening before leaving the country. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Jordan health ministry implemented strict compliance on the health certificates of all foreign workers wanting to work in their country following reports of rising number of various communicable diseases which infected the local residents. “It is imperative for our workers to undergo a thorough medical checkup or screening by Department of Health-accredited hospitals and clinics before they leave the country to avoid being deported due to some health restrictions. Some countries abroad are very particular when it comes to health issues,” Bello said in a statement. Data received by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration from the Jordan health ministry indicated that from January to November 2016, there were 185 cases of Hepatitis B, 149 cases of tuberculosis, and 66 cases of HIV/AIDS from foreign workers. The health ministry also recorded a total of 356,045 guest workers at the directorate for medical check-up, and 457 of them were diagnosed with Hepatitis B, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Some 14,633 Filipino workers have also undergone medical examinations, and 35 of them have been found to have tuberculosis while 27 workers are suffering from Hepatitis B, the Labor chief said. A number of OFWs with HIV/AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis were expelled while those with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, but does not affect the pulmonary system, are not expatriated.

NCRPO chief sends 387 cops to retraining By Joel E. Zurbano THE National Capital Region Police Office sent 387 policemen to Camp Crame for retraining in a bid to correct their shortcomings and improve their performance. The reformative training at the Philippine National Police general headquarters in Quezon City, according to NCRPO chief Oscar Albayalde, is in line with the advocacy and thrusts of the PNP leadership on internal cleansing. Albayalde said his office has initialized intensified Internal Cleansing Programs since July 1 last year from values formation seminars, retraining to investigation of cases. He added his men from the Regional Investigation Detection and Management Division, Legal Service, Discipline Law

and Order Section, and counter intelligence units collectively worked to hasten the investigation and verification of reported erring cops and scalawags assigned in Metro Manila. After thorough assessment, Albayalde said the 387 cops composed of 15 Police Commissioned Officers, 371 Police Non-Commissioned Officers and one Non-Uniformed Personnel (NUP) are those who deserve to be sent for training in Camp Crame. From July 1, 2016 to Jan. 30, 2017 the NCRPO have penalized and dismissed 46, suspended 63, and demoted 4 police officers, while 79 others were sent to Mindanao for reassignment. “The reassignment in Mindanao is to remove these police officers from their sphere of influence,” Albayalde explained.

Sports

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

All eyes on Morales as Ronda PH begins

NET WINNERS. A mix of new and

familiar names emerged winners at the recent second leg of the 2017 Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series held in La Paz, IloIlo, a development welcomed by Cebuana Lhuillier President/CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier. The series is a nationwide grassroots development tennis program and already on its 11th year of producing young tennis champions from the provincial areas. Photo shows the winners after the awarding ceremony, led by Marc Nicole Suson, Alexa Miliam, Rupert Tortal, Elizabeth Abarquez, and Giovanni Dimate, who emerged with two titles each.

IGAN, Ilocos Sur—Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance aims to win the title for the second straight year, while Cris Joven of ArmyKinetix Lab and Jaybop Pagnanawon of Bike Extreme will try to foil it as the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 edition unfurls today in the 158-kilometer Stage One that starts and ends in front of the Provincial Capitol here. The 31-year-old Morales topped two of the three-legs last year to emerge the overall champion and should be the rider to watch in this 14-stage race that drew participation from a total of 96 cyclists spread out to 12 different teams. “If I can race intelligently, I know I have a strong chance of winning it this year,” said Morales, a native of Calumpang, Marikina, in Filipino. Morales will be backed up by fellow Navymen team captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante, 2009 Tour champion Joel Calderon, Rudy Roque, Ronald Lomotos, Jay Lampawog, Daniel Ven Carino and Archie Cardana. Pagnanawon, son of 1986 Tour king Rolando, and Joven, a consistent top finisher from Iriga, Camairnes Sur, though are expected to also go all out to win the crown and prevent Morales from reigning supreme for another year. “It’s my dream to win in Ronda because I want to win a race like my father,” said Pagnanawon, who

finished second in the Bacolod qualifying race in December last year. “I will do my best,” said the 31-year-old Joven. Pagnanawon will be backstopped by brother Junvie and cousin Jetley and Mark Julius Bonzo, whose father Romeo and uncle Modesto are former Tour champions themselves. For Joven, he will bring in an equally able team that is also composed of skipper Alfie Catalan, Alvin Benosa, Mark Julius Bordeos, Lord Anthony del Rosario, Ronnilan Quita, Marvin Tapic and Reynaldo Navarro. Stage One will start at the heart of Vigan at 8 a.m., goes to Laoag and will pass by the famous Paoay Church before returning to Vigan. LBC Ronda project director Moe Chulani said Stage will be dedicated to Ronda chief judge Atty. Froilan Dayco’s father Francisco, who passed away recently.

SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTS

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

15. In support of the foregoing computations, the cooperative is submitting herewith the following data and documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENT IN RATES PURSUANT TO THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH (TGP) RULES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

Annex

ERC CASE NO. 2015 -104 RC QUEZON I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (QUEZELCO I), Applicant. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 27 May 2015, Quezon I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO I) filed an Application for approval of the adjustment in rates pursuant to the tariff glide path (TGP) rules, with prayer for provisional authority.

FIFTEEN years after capturing the prestigious World Slasher Cup crown at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum, former gamefowl handler Frank Berin wrested the solo championship anew last Wednesday. Berin’s entry, NEJ Sebastian, tallied 8.5 points to rule the field that had 306 participants in the WSC 2017 editon. James Uy of Manila and Paolo Malvar of Tarlac, who posted eight points each last Sunday, bagged runner–up honors. The World Slasher Cup remains the premier cockfighting derby in the country and has become the most prestigious all over the world. A participant from Oaklahoma said he flew to the country just to compete this year, thrilled that the derby is being held in “one of the big-

gest facilities (for cockfighting) in the world,” he said of the Big Dome. John Seider, who also flew in from the States, noted of WSC, “It’s the toughest place to be in.” A guy known to many repeat participants as Stickman, also from the US, agreed. “Your participants here (in WSC) are only the best of the best. If you don’t have good roosters, don’t come to the Slasher,” he declared. The last two championship fights on Wednesday turned out to be cliffhangers, according to WSC media partner Manny Berbano. Australia’s Joey Melendres (Swerteng Anak) lost the first championsip duel and finished with 7.5 points. Luck smiled on the NEJ Sebastian entry after outlasting ARC March 10 in the next fight amid the jubilation of 5,000 aficionados.

7-Eleven Run lures 20,000 participants SINCE its inception in 2013, the 7-Eleven Run series has attracted serious and recreational runners alike all over the country. On Feb. 5, 7-Eleven Philippines’ hugely popular Run Series will once again take over Skyway and Filinvest City for a day of fitness, family, freebies and all out fun, with over 20 thousand registered runners this year! The 7-Eleven Run Series has been gaining momentum since it started in 2013. With more than 12 thousand participants last year, Run 2017 promises to be the biggest and most exciting of the series yet. Run 2017 will feature eight categories. The 42KM, 21KM, 16KM, 10KM, and 10KM Buddy Run categories will see participants sweeping through Filinvest City and the Skyway, while the 5KM, 3KM and 500M Kids Run will be held along Filinvest City. Three winners in each category will be announced on the race day and will receive cash prizes and medals. In addition to this, the top three Filipino males and females in the 42KM and 21KM categories will be sponsored by 7-Eleven Philippines to compete in an international marathon in Asia, all expenses paid. Finally, the top three organizations with the highest number of registrants will receive a special trophy. The run is held in partnership with Skyway and Filinvest City, as well as event partners, 7-Connect, Mogu Mogu, Crimson Hotel, and exclusive sportswear partner, Asics. The event is also brought to you by Safeguard, Selecta, Pocari Sweat, P0.0 M+ Del Monte, Nature’s Spring, Dole, Powerade and Summit Water, and media partners DIGITS Solar Sports, ETC, CNN Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, DIGITS The Philippine Star, Summit Media, Hinge Inquirer Publishing, and ABS-CBN EZ2 Publishing.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/45 4 3 2

00-00-00-00-00-00 00-00-00-00

00-00-00 00-00

Monthly Financial and Statistical Report (MFSR) - Sections B and E (2010-2014)

Billing Determinants Template (kWh Sales, Number of Customers, kW Demand) (2010-2014)

Sample Bills (per customer type) (2010 -2014)

Regional CPI (2011-2014)

RFSC/Reinvestment Fund Utilization (2012-2014)

Consumer Complaints (Summary or Tracking Form) (2012- 2014)

Audited Financial Statements (2010-2014) ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

16. Applicant repleads the foregoing allegations as may be material herein;

QUEZELCO I is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Brgy. Poctol, Pitogo, Quezon;

It holds an exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission, to operate an electric light and power distribution service in certain municipalities of the province of Quezon, namely: Agdangan, Alabat, Atimonan, Buenavista, Calauag, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Lopez, Macalelon, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, Perez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Quezon, San Andres, San Francisco, San Narciso, Tagkawayan and Unisan, and one municipality of the province of Camarines Sur, namely: Del Gallego;

17. Applicant’s current DSM rates which were granted by the Honorable Commission provisionally, were implemented in three-year tranches starting way back January 2010, with the rate caps or initial tariffs being implemented only starting at the end of the three-year transition period;

In 2009, the Honorable Commission promulgated the Rules for Setting the Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR);

The RSEC-WR envisioned a regulatory framework whereby an Initial Tariff and a Tariff Glide Path shall be developed for each Electric Cooperative (EC) Group for a Regulatory Period;

In the same year, QUEZELCO I filed with the Honorable Commission an application for approval of its proposed adjustment in rates pursuant to the RSEC-WR, docketed as ERC Case No. 2009-117 RC;

NEJ Sebastian tops World Slasher Cup

QUEZELCO I alleged the following in its Application:

THE ANTECEDENT FACTS

2017 World Slasher Cup champion Franks Berin (sixth from left) poses with his trophy and the team of his winning entry, NEJ Sebastian

A A-1 A-2

UNITS

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge 7.

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

219.6800 0.5782

PhP/Customer/ Mo PhP/kWh

0.7595

42.9200

0.6001

PhP/Meter/Mo PhP/kWh

5.0000 0.4326

18. Over the years, the cost of its operations has significantly increased, not only as a logical effect of inflation as well as certain governmental requirements, but likewise due to the inevitable expansion of its distribution network brought about by the extension of its services to remote areas. More significantly, the cooperative has been implementing the Sitio Energization Program (SEP) of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, such that the massive expansion of its distribution lines up to the remotest areas has considerably increased its operational and maintenance costs, not to mention the increased system loss which the cooperative is likely to absorb. All these costs were not duly provided for in its current rates and the general funds being generated from its DSM revenues as granted under the RSEC-WR are no longer sufficient to cover these inevitable costs; 19. Thus, the cooperative urgently needs additional funds to be able to cope with the rising costs of its operations; 20. Further, based on the provisions of the TGP Rules, for cooperatives belonging to the Third Entrant Group, their initial tariff shall be adjusted at the start of the fourth regulatory year of the First Regulatory Period, which is January 1, 2016; 21. Considering the foregoing, applicant respectfully prays that while the instant application is pending, it be granted a provisional authority to implement the proposed rates effective January 1, 2016. COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 22. Finally, in compliance with the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, applicant is likewise submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit: Annex I J to J-1

Proof of furnishing copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Bayan of Pitogo and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Quezon

K and series

Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation in QUEZELCO I’s franchise area or where it principally operates PRAYER

35.9400

On the other hand, Article 7 of the RSEC-WR provides that during the regulatory period, the rate of the ECs per group shall be adjusted using the following formula, to wit:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that pending evaluation of the instant application or after due notice and hearing, as the case may be, QUEZELCO I be allowed to implement either of the following two (2) alternative proposed new rates for its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Charges, effective January 1, 2016, to wit: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” CHARGES

Tariff x (1+ index “I”-Efficiency Factor “X” + Performance Incentive “S”) The Index “I”, shall be an escalation factor to be used in adjusting the rates to reflect the combined impact of inflation and load factor. There shall be an efficiency factor “X” to account for the operational efficiency of the ECs in setting their rates. There shall be a performance incentive “S” which shall reward or penalize the EC for above or below standard performance, respectively. The TGP is intended as a cap and the EC may move up to the cap, if it is a positive adjustment. If the cap is lower than the current average tariff, a reduction may be implemented. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE APPLICATION 8.

On May 2, 2011, the Honorable Commission promulgated the Tariff Glide Path (TGP) Rules pursuant to Article 7 of the RSEC-WR;

—

Xn + Sn

N= the first year of their Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods Except that for the first two years of the First Regulatory Period, “X” will be equal to zero and thereafter shall not be less than zero. The TGP calculated for each of the three years will be summed to determine the possible rate adjustment starting on the Fourth Year of the current Regulatory Period. THE PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENT 12. Applying the methodology embodied in the TGP Rules, QUEZELCO I calculated the values of the “I”, “X” and “S” and came up with the following results, to wit: “I” “X” “S” TGP A TGP A (Excluding “S”) Year 2013 0.00% 0.00% 0.40% 0.40% 0.00% Year 2014 0.00% 0.00% 0.40% 0.40% 0.00% Year 2015 11.30% 0.00% 1.30% 12.60% 11.30% Net Results 13.40% 11.30% 13. Applying the above values resulted in adjustments on QUEZELCO I’s DSM Rates, as follows: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” CHARGES

UNITS

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge PhP/kW Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Customer/ Mo Supply System Charge PhP/kWh Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Meter/Mo Metering System Charge PhP/kWh B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” CHARGES Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage 0.6557 0.6805 5.67 0.4906

0.8613 48.67 40.76

249.11 48.67 40.76

CUSTOMER T kTPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.6435

PhP/Customer/ Mo PhP/kWh

0.6679

PhP/Meter/Mo PhP/kWh

5.56 0.4815

Nature of Document Affidavit in Support of the Prayer for Provisional Authority

0.8453

244.50

47.77

40.00

14. Consequently, applicant respectfully prays for the approval of the foregoing calculated DSM rates.

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.6557

249.11

PhP/Customer/ Mo PhP/kWh

0.6805

PhP/Meter/Mo PhP/kWh

5.67 0.4906

0.8613 48.67

48.67

40.76

B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” CHARGES

UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge

PhP/kW

244.50

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

0.6435

0.8453

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/ Mo

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

47.77

40.00

0.6679

Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo

Metering System Charge

PhP/kWh

5.56 0.4815

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for. The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 22 February 2017 (Wednesday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) at QUEZELCO I’s principal office at Brgy. Poctol, Pitogo, Quezon. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: i.

The petitioner’s name and address;

ii.

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

iii.

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 24th day of January 2017 at Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO Standard – Feb. 4 & 11, 2017

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Sports

Angelo Que watches his drive on No. 1 4. At right, The Country Club president Jose Eduardo Alarilla (fourth from right) and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and TCC general manager Colo Ventosa (ﬁfth from left), pose with last year’s leg winners during the launch of the 2017 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour and the Ladies PGT at the TCC Invitational Wednesday. They are (from left) Jay Bayron, Frankie Miñoza, Miguel Tabuena, LPGT Orchard leg winner Chihiro Ikeda, Order of Merit champion Tony Lascuña, Clyde Mondilla and Elmer Salvador.

Tabuena, Bahadoran to be feted in PSA Awards 2017 M

IGUEL Tabuena, Misagh Bahadoran and Jeordan Dominguez are among the top athletes to be recognized by the Philippine Sportswriters Association during its Annual Awards Night presented by MILO and San Miguel on Feb. 13 at the Le Pavillon in Pasay City. Tabuena will be bestowed the title Mr. Golf, Dominguez as Mr. Taekwondo, while Bahadoran is the latest recipient as Mr. Football in the awarding program also co-presented by CIGNAL/ Hyper HD. The three of them join big man June Mar Fajardo and the

lovely Mika Reyes, who were earlier named by the country’s oldest media organization as Mr. Basketball and Ms. Volleyball, respectively. Rio De Janeiro Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz is the recipient of the coveted Athlete of the Year trophy and leads

the long list of awardees to be honored during the formal rite backed by MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, ICTSI, Foton, Rain or Shine, Mighty Sports, Globalport, PBA, SM Prime Holdings Inc., ACCEL, Gold Toe, and Phoenix Petroleum. The 22-year-old Tabuena was the first Filipino golfer to represent the country in the Olympics after earning a berth in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games as among the Top 60 players in the world. He also represented the country in last year’s World Cup and suited up in his first major when he saw action in the US Open. The young golfer shared the

Athlete of the Year award with pro boxers Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes and Nonito Donaire Jr. during the 2015 edition of the awards night also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Meralco, NLEX, and Federal Land. Dominguez, the 25-year-old jin, who hails from Baguio City, stamped his class in two major international tournaments that feature the world’s top poomsae athletes. He won the gold medal in the male individual event (over-17) of the 10th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Lima, Peru, and did the same in the individual

freestyle vent of the 4th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. Jean Pierre Sabido, a teammate of Dominguez, was a past winner of the Mr. Taekwondo title. The 25-year-old Bahadoran for his part, has risen to make his own impact as one of the most reliable players of the Philippine Azkals in their various international campaigns including the AFF Suzuki Cup which the country hosted last year. Previous Mr. Football named by the PSA presently headed by president Riera Mallari of the Manila Standard were Phil Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong, and Eduard Sacapano.

Actor stars as Blazers close in on volleyball crown By Peter Atencio SPIKER-turned-actor Johnvic de Guzman took charge during a crucial stretch in the second set and his heroics helped lift the College of St. Benilde Blazers to a 25-17, 26-24, 25-17 stopping of the University of Perpetual Help Altas in Game 1 yesterday at the Arena in San Juan. The 6’1” De Guzman, who appeared in a horror movie last December, tallied a game-high 19 points for the Blazers as they moved a win closer to the men’s division title of the 92nd National Collegiate

Athletic Association volleyball tournament. “Ako ang nagse-serve noon. Sabi ko, ako na ang magte-take charge, hindi ako dapat mag-error. Kung magiging tactical ako, ang mga teammates ko ay handang magbuhos ng effort. So, focus lang ako,” said De Guzman, who is the team’s skipper. The Altas, with Manuel Dollente hitting 10 points, were at matchpoint, 24-22, in the second set when De Guzman scored on a long placement shot from the net and an ace to tie the match, 24-all. A drop shot from Mark Anthony Deximo followed by an ace from De Guzman

gave CSB a 2-0 lead after the first two sets Blazers’ coach Arnold Laniog said their situation brought to mind what took place in the semifinals when they beat the Arellano University Chiefs, 27-25, 25-20, 25-14 De Guzman unloaded an ace and a kill as the Blazers moved away, 4-0, in the third set. They never looked back after Francis Basilan’s spike off a block and De Guzman’s ace widened the Blazers’ edge by five, 16-11. The Blazers can clinch their first-ever men’s title if they complete a 2-game sweep of their best-of-three series on Monday. Earlier, Ivan Encila made 19 points

for University of Perpetual Help as it slammed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 25-16, in the junior division stepladder semis. This allowed the Junior Altas to reach the finals with Lyceum, which earlier swept the elims. Regine Arocha dished out 16 points, 12 of it on attacks, to tow the Arellano University Lady Chiefs to a 19-25, 25-23, 1925, 35-13, 15-9 triumph over the defending champion College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers in their semifinal playoff. This put the Lady Chiefs in a showdown with the San Sebastian Lady Stags on Tuesday.

UNTV Cup quarterfinals Sunday

PNP Responders and Malacañang Kamao will see again this Sunday but will face different teams as both of them possess a twice-to-beat advantage.

THE quarterfinal round of the UNTV Cup Season 5 begins Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center, with the Malacañang Kamao taking on the AFP Cavaliers at 5 p.m. and the PNP Responders fighting the BFP Firefighters in the opening schedule at 3 p.m. The Policemen boast of a twice-to-beat advantage over the Firefighters, who are in a win-or-go-home situation. That is why the Firemen are working hard for the allout battle. “Masyadong mataas ang adrenaline ng bawat team, so we will do double our efforts para lalong lumakas ang team,” BFP Regional Director Aloveel Ferrer said. BFP coach Ramon Garcia takes pride in the recent ac-

Games Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 3 p.m. PNP Responders vs BFP Firefighters (3PM) 5 p.m. Malacañang Kamao vs. AFP (Cavaliers) (5PM)

complishments of his team, the biggest one of which is toppling the powerhouse BOC Transformers. “I think habang tumatagal ‘yung league nagkakaroon kami team work kaya medyo lumalakas ‘yung team,” said Garcia. On the other hand, PNP mentor Ernie Sta. Cruz is up for the challenge posed by the BFP. “Babalik kami sa last game namin, at the same time babalik kami sa mga games. Nanalo sila, so mag-aaral ulit kami,

preparation pa rin kami,” said Sta. Cruz. On the other hand, the Malacañang Kamao is confident of making the semifinal round as they conveniently hold a twice-to-beat advantage over the AFP Cavaliers. But the Cavaliers, being the league’s defending champions, trust their championship-caliber offense and defense. “I told the team, ‘Guys, we must not lose. We are the defending champions.’ Hard work during practice, teamwork, nothing must change, continuous practice,” AFP Cavaliers head coach CPL Cornelio “Sonny” Manucat III said. The action-packed doubleheader can be watched live at the venue for free or on UNTV and online via untvweb.com.

SMBeermen heavy favorites in playoffs By Jeric Lopez THE quarterfinals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup are ready to roll with interesting and intriguing pairings. The playoffs officially start tomorrow, but as early as now, a lot are already anticipating an unpredictable war.

Top seed San Miguel Beer, who has only lost once this tournament, is a heavy favorite to go all the way and against whoever lower-ranked team it will face. The Beermen steamrolled in the eliminations, finishing at 10-1 and showing everyone why they are the defending champions. They will have a twice-tobeat advantage against either

Rain or Shine or Blackwater, who are currently disputing the No. 8 seed and the last quarterfinals ticket as of this writing in a playoff. Longtime rivals Alaska and Barangay Ginebra are set to tango again in the quarters for the second conference in a row. This time around, it will be the Aces, who are seeded No. 2, who

will have a twice-to-beat edge over the inconsistent No. 7 Gin Kings. Alaska is seeking revenge as Ginebra eliminated the Aces during last Governors’ Cup in the same stage, wherein the Gin Kings had a twice-to-beat edge. The two best-of-three affairs between the middle teams are equally intriguing.

Scorching No. 3 Star, which is enjoying a renaissance, being one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs with four straight wins, and dangerous No. 6-ranked Phoenix Petroleum are set for a tight encounter. No. 4 Talk ‘N Text and No. 5 GlobalPort is another fresh series to look forward to as both present a lot of offensive firepower.

Que grabs share of lead with a 75 SANTA ROSA, Laguna— Angelo Que barely survived wicked conditions at The Country Club yesterday, grabbing a share of the lead despite a three-over 75 as Japanese Toru Nakajima limped with a 77 halfway through the TCC Invitational-Don Pocholo Razon Memorial Cup here. The long par-72 layout, with the pins placed on strategic spots, continued to bedevil the games of the elite field with Miguel Tabuena’s gutsy 74 proving to be the best when the wind blew from all over, sending the scores soaring for the second straight day in the P5 million championship. “It’s really tough with the wind coupled with difficult pin placements,” said Que, a threetime winner here. “But I’m still happy with the way I played. I missed a few putts but the TCC is really tough and they won’t make it easy for you. You have to fight for it.” This early, however, the TCC, offering a true test of golf, seemed to have taken the fight out of the stellar cast. Nakajima, after a surprise lone under-par opening 70, hobbled with a five-over 77 but was lucky enough to at least held on to a share of lead with Que at three-over 147, easily the highest 36-hole total posted in local golf in years. “Five-over is a normal game. Yesterday (Thursday) was just too good,” said Nakajima, who struggled all day in high wind, bogeying Nos. 4, 6, 9, 11, 12 and 16 against a lone birdie on the par-5 10th. Tabuena, 22, went one-under with a birdie on the 10th but wavered when the wind picked up in the closing holes, dropping a stroke on No. 13 before fumbling with a double-bogey on the tough par-4 16th. Still his 74 stood as the day’s best and the former Philippine Open champion and Olympian stayed in the hunt for his first TCC crown with a 149, just two behind the joint leaders, with two rounds left in the event put up by ICTSI chairman and president Ricky Razon in 2003 to honor the memory of his father, ICTSI founder Don Pocholo. “I got unlucky with a double (bogey) on No. 16. I hit a good drive and the second shot was good. But I misjudged the wind and it came a little bit short and hit the bunker,” rued Tabuena, who blasted poorly and went over the green for that 6. “But I’m happy with round. Exactly where I want to be – to have a chance in the last two days. You can’t win the tournament on the second day but you can certainly lose it (on the second day),” he added. Like Que, Juvic Pagunsan remained on track of a record fourth TCC championship but the Japan PGA Tour regular missed forcing a three-way tie for the lead with bogeys in the last three holes. Pagunsan, who finished tied for eighth in the recent ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Q-School, fought back from an opening 39 with birdies on Nos. 10, 12 and 14 to but bogeyed the last three and settled for a 75 and 150 for joint fourth with Jhonnel Ababa.

Smart tilt moved to Ninoy arena THE venue of the Smart/MVP Sports Foundation/PLDT Home Ultera National CPJ (Carlos Palanca Jr.) taekwondo championships tomorrow, Feb. 5 has been moved to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium from the Cuneta Astrodome. This was announced yesterday by the Philippine Taekwondo Association after being informed by the Cuneta Astrodome management that the venue will not be available. Around 800 jins, including the country’s top performers, will vie for slots on the national team. The athletes will compete in two events for male and female—kyorugi (free sparring) and poomsae (forms). Competition will start at 9 a.m.

PLDT launches emergency system B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

PH firms asked to join Asean programs By Othel V. Campos NEW PDIC CHIEF.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III (left) swears into ofﬁce former National Treasurer Roberto Tan as the new president of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., making way for the appointment of Rosalia de Leon (inset) as the new National Treasurer. Tan, who was the national treasurer since 2015, also served in the same Bureau of Treasury post from 2008 to 2012 before assuming the position of executive director at the World Bank in Washington D.C.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing February 3, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,229.70 0.79

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing FEBRUARY 3, 2017

AirAsia to return to Clark in March By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’s largest budget airline said Friday it will resume operations in Clark International Airport in Pampanga in March this year.

45.00 46.25 47.50 48.75 50.00

HIGH P49.760 LOW P49.850 AVERAGE P49.801 VOLUME 560.900M

P471.00-P690.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.80-P48.90 Unleaded Gasoline P27.90-P33.80 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, February 3, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.7830

Japan

Yen

0.008871

0.4416

Pound

1.253900

62.4229

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128873

6.4157

Switzerland

Franc

1.007963

50.1794

Canada

Dollar

0.768226

38.2446

Singapore

Dollar

0.708918

35.2921

Australia

Dollar

0.765900

38.1288

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

132.0574 13.2787

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266731

Brunei

Dollar

0.706414

35.1674

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028526

1.4201

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.5560

Euro

1.076500

53.5914

Korea

Won

0.000875

0.0436

China

Yuan

0.145334

7.2352

India

Rupee

0.014880

0.7408

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.226142

11.2580

New Zealand

Dollar

0.728400

36.2619

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032255

1.6058 Source: PDS Bridge

Philippines Air Asia will recommence flights from Clark with three weekly flights to Kalibo (Boracay) effective March 27. “AirAsia has constantly dedicated itself to make air travel more affordable, convenient and accessible to all and we are reaffirming this commitment with our newest Clark-Kalibo route,” PAA chief executive Dexter Comendador said. “We are thrilled to provide the

much needed connectivity at affordable fares for travellers from Central and Northern Luzon,” he said. AirAsia launched commercial ﬂights at Clark in 2012 before transferring its hub to Metro Manila following a strategic partnership with a local carrier in 2013. AirAsia has since been operating on a much larger scale from Metro Manila and expanded its domestic and international net-

works with flights from hubs in Cebu and Kalibo. The airline said it would offer promo fares to Boracay from as low P699, all in and available until Febr. 5. The travel period is between March 27 to Nov. 30, 2017. PAA operates a fleet of 14 aircraft with domestic and international flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu and Kalibo. The airline operates several flights to/from Manila, Davao, Cebu, Kalibo (Boracay), Tacloban, Tagbilaran(Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan) and Clark in the Philippines with international flights to/from Shanghai, Taipei, Incheon (Seoul), Hong Kong, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Singapore. The budget airline earlier re-

ported a net loss of P1.2 billion in July to September, down by 12 percent from the P1.4-billion loss it reported in the same period in 2015. Revenues increased 24 percent to P2.57 billion in the third quarter of 2016 from P2.07 billion in the same period in 2015. Passengers carried by AirAsia Philippines increased 8 percent to 976,765 last year from 901,957 in 2015, while load factor went down by 1 percentage point to 83 percent from 84 percent. Malaysia’s Air Asia, through AA International, owns 40 percent of Philippines’ Air Asia Inc., while Filipino businessmen Marriane Hontiveros, Michael Romero, Antonio Cojuangco and Alfredo Yao hold the balance of 60 percent.

LRT operator completes station rehabilitation LIGHT Rail Manila Corp., the operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1, said it completed the rehabilitation of Doroteo Jose Station which will serve a daily average of 27,000 passengers. Doroteo Jose station is the pilot for the company’s P500-million station improvement project, which will include the enhancement of passenger exchange and the advertising environment. “With the increased number of light rail vehicles and additional commercial trips, the station improvement project is another signiﬁcant component to improve the efﬁciency of the LRT-1 sys-

tem for the safety, comfort and convenience of around 450,000 passengers daily across all 20 stations,” LRMC president and chief executive Rogelio Singson said. The station improvement project covers the redesign, structural repair, replacement of lighting ﬁxtures, repainting, restoration of elevators and escalators and general cleaning of LRT-1 stations. Refurbishment of Doroteo Jose began in December 2015. Rehabilitation of other stations followed, including Edsa, Central, Gil Puyat, Pedro Gil, United Nations, R. Papa and Abad San-

tos. Singson said the stations needed to be rehabilitated to handle the increasing passengers. LRMC earlier won the P65billion LRT Line 1 extension project, with a premium bid of P9.35 billion in September 2014. LRMC is responsible for the construction of the 11.7-kilometer extension from the present end point in Baclaran to the Niog area in Bacoor, Cavite. It will consist of elevated guideways throughout most of the alignment, except for the guideway section at Zapote which will be located at grade. It

will consist of the satellite depot and new station. The extended rail line is expected to help increase the capacity of LRT 1 from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily and beneﬁt more than four million residents in the southern part of Metro Manila and of Cavite. Metro Paciﬁc Light Rail Corp. controls 55 percent of the consortium while AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. has 35 percent. Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd. owns 10 percent. Darwin G. Amojelar

ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi announced Friday the creation of a technical working group to determine the suitability of gasoline stations as charging areas for electric vehicles. Cusi said that in preparation for the growth of the electric vehicle industry, he instructed the Oil Industry Management Bureau and Energy Utilization Management Bureau to issue the necessary policies to support the development of infrastructures complementing the e-vehicle industry, such as the availability of charging areas in gasoline stations. “We are currently drafting a policy on the reclassiﬁcation

of gasoline stations according to standards which includes the parking area, comfort rooms, CCTVs and even convenience stores, among others,” Cusi said. “We are also exploring the possibility of the integration of an electric vehicle charging area to the existing facilities of gasoline stations,” he said. Under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, the department is empowered to subject all industry participants to provide suitability of facilities for their proposed operation in accordance with existing national and accepted international standards.

IN BRIEF IC issues new rules on mutual life ﬁrms THE Insurance Commission said it issued a new directive for the demutualization of domestic mutual life insurance companies to protect existing policyholders. IC issued Circular Letter No. 2017-06 on Jan. 23, 2017, outlining three basic types of demutualization. Demutalization is the process of converting a mutual life insurance company, which is owned by policyholders, into a publicly traded stock company owned by the shareholders, who may or may not be policyholders. Insurance commissioner Dennis Funa said the entire process should be transparent, and that policyholders and members should be timely informed and the entire process should be publicly fully disclosed. “It is the policy of the IC to afford full protection to policyholders, ensure fair and equitable treatment of members, and protect the interest of the converting company,” Funa said in a statement. Julito G. Rada

PhilJets sees revenue rising 60% this year

DoE wants to install vehicle charging areas By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday asked companies and entrepreneurs to participate in various programs lined for the Philippine hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit this year coinciding with the trade bloc’s 50th anniversary. PCCI president George Barcelon said the government and private sector collaborated in developing and implementing programs that would be beneficial to businesses within Asean. Barcelon, a member of the Asean Business Advisory Council, the country’s hosting this year would be very significant as Asean would mark its 50th year as a regional bloc. Barcelon said the council adopted the theme ‘Partnering for Change, Prosperity for All’ to promote inclusive business and innovation-led growth in the region. “We therefore encourage our small entrepreneurs to seize and maximize every opportunity available,” he said. One of the council’s deliverables is the Asean Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network which aims to institutionalize mentorship programs, engaging its network of “big brothers” to help and handhold smaller companies to become globally competitive. The Asean Business Advisory Council in its last meeting in Manila agreed to launch the mentorship network in November. The network will see top CEOs mentoring small entrepreneurs in the five priority sectors that Asean BAC initially identified, including agri-food, retail, tourism, logistics and healthcare. “This will be different and we hope that our entrepreneurs, big or small, get to participate in this endeavor,” Barcelon said.

BELGIUM-PH RELATIONS. Belgian Ambassador Roland Van Remoortele (second from left) meets Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (third from left) to manifest Belgium’s objective to strengthen its presence in the Asian region, adding that his government is aware of the growing economic development in the Philippines. With them are Philippine Trade and Investment center commercial counselor Jose Antonio Buencamino (left) and Belgian Embassy deputy head of mission Xavier Leblanc.

BOUTIQUE aviation company PhilJets Aero Services Inc. said it expects a 60-percent increase in revenues to P150 million this year from P94 million in 2016 as it pursues an expansion program. PhilJets chairman and chief executive Thierry Tea said the revenue forecast would be a challenge for the company to effectively sustain operations and be profitable at the same time. “We are in an industry that requires huge resources in a lot of aspects, from human capital to assets and equipment but also in terms of infrastructure, systems and if we do not grow further, it is challenging to be sustainable, because technology evolves very fast and so does the market,” said Tea. He said that in line with the growth and development of the business, PhilJets would add to its fleet a Cessna Citation XLS+ this year. PhilJets also anticipates the delivery within the first semester of 2017 of a brand-new Bombardier Challenger 350, a super-mid size business jet that boasts of industry-leading cabin technology and management systems. Othel V. Campos

Business

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market ends ﬂat; Arthaland up TOCKS closed ﬂat Friday, following a three-day slump, as investors continued to dump mining issues after the government suspended the operations of more than two dozens mines around the country.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, barely moved Friday to settle at 7,226.70. It was still up 5.6 percent since the start of the year. The broader index, representing all shares, picked up 9 points, or 0.2 percent, to ﬁnish at 4,375.03, on a value turnover of P5.7 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 81, while 48 issues were unchanged. Three of the six major indices ended in the red, while

eight of the 20 most active stocks advanced, led by developer Arthaland Corp. which jumped 18.6 percent to P1.15 and casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which climbed 6.2 percent to P7.50. BDO Unibank Inc. gained 2.2 percent to P114.50. Meanwhile, two listed mining companies requested for voluntary trading halt on their shares as they sought additional information about the closure and suspension orders issued by the

Environment Department. Marcventures Holdings Inc. and Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. asked that the trading of their shares be suspended on Feb. 3 to Feb. 6. Meanwhile, Asian stocks were mixed Friday as Chinese markets returned from a ﬁve-day break, while investors awaited Friday’s US jobs report. Japanese stocks climbed for the second time in three days, while shares slipped in Shanghai after a week-long holiday. That came after the S&P 500 Index closed with a gain of less than two points for a second straight day amid corporate results and deal news. The yen extended a weekly gain while the Aussie was steady after a rally that sent it to the highest since

just after the US elections. A gauge of the US dollar traded near its lowest level since November. Japanese 10-year yields jumped after the Bank of Japan’s bond buying. Most Asian markets edged down as dealers moved cautiously Friday following another tepid lead from Wall Street while focus shifts to the release later in the day of US jobs ﬁgures. Markets have endured a volatile week following Donald Trump’s controversial ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries and claims that China and Japan were currency manipulators. The unpredictable start to the tycoon’s presidency and his protectionist rhetoric have sent shockwaves through world capi-

tals and fanned worries of a global trade war. The selling pressure stands in stark contrast to the surge seen in the two months after Trump’s election win, that was stoked by hopes he would press on with promises to ramp up infrastructure spending and cut taxes, firing up the US economy. “With the news out of Washington and the new administration ramping up even further, past Trump reflation enthusiasm has waned further,” David de Garis, a senior analyst at National Australia Bank said in a commentary. Tokyo ended flat having swung in and out of positive territory owing to fluctuations in the yen, while Hong Kong slipped 0.4 percent in late trade. With AFP, Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.45 52,000 48.2 13,000 90.5 1,744,080 4.16 9,000 114.5 1,941,370 1.31 70,000 38.5 174,000 16.18 20,700 20.2 633,900 1.69 170,000 0.83 35,545,000 81.5 1,157,090 0.77 721,000 14.2 20,000 24.2 20,400 54.6 3,020 236 260 90.3 250 36.3 20,700 210.6 281,610 1,770 900 78.9 55,290

181,220 625,305 157,828,151 37,420 218,767,875 91,390 6,703,215 334,928 12,698,776 285,700 29,333,340 93,942,686.50 548,610 284,016 492,910 164,839.50 61,372 22,545 750,895 59,230,614 1,593,000 4,362,586

572,405 21,280,992 66,450,569 408,560 304,182 916,121.00 841,080 25,901,910 11,400 4,360.50 334,125 -7,203,264 633,935

42.35 5 0.87 1.47 17.5 0.189 11.44 16.02 22.05 15.14 56 96 2.04 6.31 12 12.3 8 6.84 5.66 1.72 22.2 71.9 16.7 6.11 1.75 202.6 70 3.81 3.82 30 27 14.68 284 0.25 5.35 3.22 9.3 3.58 11.34 2.25 6.62 1.52 78.1 5.1 264 4.94 3.05 12.64 4.35 0.146 1.56 161.4 4.3 1.81 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 43.05 2,376,700 5.19 3,585,300 0.87 227,000 1.48 1,087,000 18.68 4,400 0.19 440,000 11.44 9,600,100 16.04 2,926,300 23.8 378,900 15.3 91,900 56 60,220 96 370 2.06 133,000 6.31 330,700 12 37,300 12.5 8,116,000 8.07 663,900 7.05 980,300 5.8 25,221,900 1.72 122,000 22.45 1,374,600 72.05 294,050 16.7 70,600 6.11 415,600 1.8 798,000 206 359,090 70 700 3.87 504,000 3.82 3,000 30.35 227,900 27.95 202,800 14.78 978,100 289.6 248,380 0.26 330,000 5.37 39,600 3.33 49,000 9.36 1,674,800 3.58 2,000 11.56 2,100 2.4 8,439,000 6.83 2,631,000 1.52 402,000 78.6 180,010 5.11 106,300 271 105,990 5 5,238,000 3.15 520,000 12.7 3,498,400 4.35 1,000 0.15 7,000,000 1.57 259,000 162 3,095,330 4.33 28,000 1.82 3,208,000 1.06 35,000

102,216,435 18,463,465 197,890 1,613,710 77,836 83,750 110,352,530 46,995,466 8,606,510 1,399,832 3,388,966 35,520 272,650 2,099,287 447,600 101,570,794 5,356,790 6,752,021 145,258,965 211,870 30,769,835 21,192,649.50 1,179,234 2,540,621 1,427,340 73,420,862 49,040 1,970,440 11,460 6,877,865 5,624,630 14,493,402 71,656,800 84,000 211,933 162,680 15,675,508 7,160 24,254 19,864,460 17,908,415 614,810 14,156,160.50 570,080 28,425,372 25,879,360 1,631,320 44,417,642 4,350 1,055,580 408,250 502,144,845 123,320 5,873,180 37,110

28,726,290 443,135 8,800 -40,729,484 -23,876,420 -4,650,200 -3,386,018.50 -638,060 7,602,720 4,034,867 -5,685,901 109,067,839 14,135,810 15,897,965.00 996,990 1,521,390 -119,600 -46,314,200 126,225 501,800 -665,686 39,288,558 49,920 -9,576,820 10,251,600.00 2,037,000 15,300 3,709,809.50 14,621,042 25,734,450 84,050 -2,584,132 -45,600 1,560 -24,776,222 -537,050 -

0.405 74.2 12.8 1.17 6.1 0.37 0.355 814 9.35 13.08 8.15 0.184 1,267 6.07 74.5 1.13 7.95 12.9 6.83 0.043 2.01 2.56 100 2.23 695 0.86 1.44 264 0.335 0.19 0.255

0.39 73.15 12.6 1.17 6.04 0.34 0.345 785.5 9.2 12.82 8 0.184 1,234 5.92 73 1.1 7.87 12.72 6.58 0.039 1.97 2.46 99 2.23 683 0.85 1.37 261.2 0.285 0.186 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.4 7,410,000 73.7 909,110 12.62 2,941,200 1.17 8,000 6.1 4,200 0.34 6,640,000 0.35 830,000 795 184,490 9.24 3,674,900 12.96 3,630,600 8.14 58,000 0.184 50,000 1,245 179,290 6.07 1,900 74.5 2,316,640 1.11 3,681,000 7.92 3,830,000 12.9 3,153,400 6.62 40,614,000 0.043 104,500,000 1.98 206,000 2.56 40,000 99.5 209,850 2.23 5,000 692 312,610 0.85 45,000 1.41 2,525,000 264 7,790 0.335 30,060,000 0.19 200,000 0.245 1,230,000

2,931,450 67,021,703 37,138,916 9,360 25,578 2,316,450 289,500 146,516,435 34,005,966 46,949,652 464,633 9,200 222,481,405 11,263 170,745,579.50 4,065,870 30,442,316 40,511,234 270,955,602 4,289,600 408,450 100,300 20,893,416 11,150 215,981,305 38,350 3,555,220 2,052,736 9,654,050 37,440 302,320

-7,650 -22,352,042.50 -23,823,886 -32,087,145 3,009,707 -10,121,084 -66,298,470 764,506 -1,419,828 16,126,474 -65,098,938 29,100 -931,659.50 47,875,425 -614,810.00 -527,700 286,650 -

7.55 1.35 2.6 1.25 35.4 3.45 5.13 0.53 1.08 1.3 0.188 0.58 54.7 0.73 0.143 1.66 1.02 1.22 3.67 0.177

7.19 1.31 2.55 0.97 34.9 3.29 5.03 0.52 1.08 1.26 0.168 0.56 53.2 0.72 0.143 1.59 1.01 1.19 3.62 0.167

PROPERTY 7.19 198,100 1.34 5,210,000 2.55 146,000 1.15 123,489,000 35.15 5,586,400 3.34 8,033,000 5.13 24,200 0.52 31,443,000 1.08 2,000 1.29 251,000 0.169 218,550,000 0.57 6,339,000 53.75 829,370 0.73 921,000 0.143 500,000 1.66 14,433,000 1.02 1,320,000 1.19 187,000 3.64 27,487,000 0.169 37,800,000

1,460,985 6,959,140 375,620 135,430,180 195,977,970 27,050,380 121,746 16,419,040 2,160 323,210 38,365,730 3,601,500 44,883,740 672,150 71,500 23,202,990 1,333,210 225,530 100,024,060 6,463,630

-455,601 1,340 -1,017,510 14,775,385 1,351,900 -11,876,510 -200 57,000.00 2,580,996.50 -600,060 8,103,810 -30,300 -152,340 -56,566,550 -

HIGH

LOW

AG FINANCE 3.42 ASIA UNITED 48.2 BANK PH ISLANDS 92 BDO LEASING 4.16 BDO UNIBANK 111 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.3 CHINABANK 38.6 COL FINANCIAL 16.2 EAST WEST BANK 19.9 IREMIT 1.63 MEDCO HLDG 0.8 METROBANK 81.1 NTL REINSURANCE 0.76 PB BANK 14.2 PBCOM 24.15 PHIL NATL BANK 55 PHIL STOCK EXCH 236 PSBANK 90 RCBC 36.15 SECURITY BANK 211 SUN LIFE 1,770 UNION BANK 78.85

3.69 48.2 92 4.16 114.5 1.32 38.6 16.2 20.2 1.72 0.85 81.8 0.77 14.26 24.2 55 236.2 90.3 36.35 212 1,770 79.15

3.41 47.75 90.05 4.15 111 1.3 38.45 16.18 19.9 1.62 0.77 80.95 0.76 14.2 24.1 54 236 90 36.15 209.8 1,770 78.75

ABOITIZ POWER 42.4 AGRINURTURE 5 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.89 ALSONS CONS 1.5 ASIABEST GROUP 18.94 BASIC ENERGY 0.192 CEMEX HLDG 11.54 CENTURY FOOD 16.26 CIRTEK HLDG 22.6 CNTRL AZUCARERA15.4 CONCEPCION 58.95 CONCRETE A 96 CROWN ASIA 2.04 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.4 DEL MONTE 12 DNL INDUS 12.3 EEI CORP 8.1 EMPERADOR 6.85 ENERGY DEVT 5.68 EUROMED 1.75 FIRST GEN 22.2 FIRST PHIL HLDG 72.1 HOLCIM 16.7 INTEGRATED MICR 6.11 IONICS 1.85 JOLLIBEE 206.4 LIBERTY FLOUR 72.8 LMG CHEMICALS 4 MABUHAY VINYL 3.82 MANILA WATER 30 MAXS GROUP 27.75 MEGAWIDE 14.8 MERALCO 285 MG HLDG 0.255 PANASONIC 5.35 PEPSI COLA 3.3 PETRON 9.3 PHIL H2O 3.58 PHINMA 11.34 PHINMA ENERGY 2.26 PHX PETROLEUM 6.64 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.56 PILIPINAS SHELL 79 PRYCE CORP 5.4 PUREFOODS 264 RFM CORP 4.94 ROXAS HLDG 3.07 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.84 SPC POWER 4.35 SWIFT FOODS 0.146 TKC METALS 1.59 UNIV ROBINA 162 VICTORIAS 4.3 VITARICH 1.83 VULCAN INDL 1.07

43.2 5.22 0.89 1.5 18.94 0.192 11.66 16.34 23.8 15.4 58.95 96 2.07 6.4 12 12.62 8.1 7.05 5.8 1.75 22.6 72.2 16.8 6.17 1.85 207.2 72.8 4.05 3.82 30.35 28.3 14.96 289.6 0.26 5.37 3.33 9.41 3.58 11.56 2.41 6.84 1.56 79 5.4 271 5 3.19 12.86 4.35 0.153 1.62 165 4.53 1.86 1.07

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

0.395 73.5 12.8 1.17 6.04 0.35 0.355 814 9.27 13 8.15 0.184 1,267 5.92 73.5 1.11 7.92 12.84 6.8 0.039 1.97 2.48 99 2.23 691.5 0.86 1.44 262.8 0.285 0.186 0.255

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

7.2 1.33 2.59 0.97 35.3 3.3 5.03 0.53 1.08 1.26 0.188 0.57 54 0.73 0.143 1.63 1.01 1.2 3.66 0.174

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL ESTATES 0.265 PHIL REALTY 0.49 PRIMEX CORP 5 PTFC REDEV CORP 30.95 ROBINSONS LAND 24.55 ROCKWELL 1.68 SHANG PROP 3.28 SM PRIME HLDG 30.1 STA LUCIA LAND 1.05 SUNTRUST HOME 0.93 VISTA LAND 5.06

0.285 0.66 5.03 30.95 24.75 1.7 3.45 30.1 1.08 0.99 5.06

0.265 0.485 4.81 30.95 24.1 1.66 3.25 29.7 1.05 0.93 4.96

0.265 0.66 4.97 30.95 24.5 1.66 3.4 30 1.08 0.95 5.04

260,000 106,660,000 1,836,000 400 1,895,000 508,000 1,266,000 8,045,300 9,656,000 605,000 6,256,000

71,750 64,518,700 9,046,540 12,380 46,316,630 849,580 4,165,270 240,347,075 10,309,230 583,310 31,308,236

-88,600 -19,140 -25,197,355 -558,150 20,268,000 -31,800 -2,765,089.00

2GO GROUP 7.4 ABS CBN 46.9 ACESITE HOTEL 1.42 APC GROUP 0.52 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.063 BLOOMBERRY 7.06 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.068 CALATA CORP 2.73 CEBU AIR 96 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.65 DFNN INC 9.35 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.02 FAR EASTERN U 960 GLOBE TELECOM 1,693 GMA NETWORK 6.27 GOLDEN HAVEN 16.64 HARBOR STAR 3.4 IMPERIAL A 16.56 IMPERIAL B 110 INTL CONTAINER 77.5 IP EGAME 0.0097 IPM HLDG 9.08 ISLAND INFO 0.206 ISM COMM 1.44 JACKSTONES 3.06 LBC EXPRESS 14.56 LEISURE AND RES 4.1 MACROASIA 2.45 MELCO CROWN 4.62 METRO RETAIL 3.98 MLA BRDCASTING 20 NOW CORP 2.82 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.22 PAL HLDG 5.13 PAXYS 3.2 PHIL SEVEN CORP 140 PHILWEB 9.41 PLDT 1,454 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.39 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.44 PUREGOLD 43.5 ROBINSONS RTL 80.6 SBS PHIL CORP 6.51 SSI GROUP 2.68 STI HLDG 1.08 TRAVELLERS 3.24 WATERFRONT 0.385

7.41 46.9 1.45 0.53 0.064 7.64 0.069 2.73 96.95 9.65 9.45 2.4 960 1,693 6.27 16.86 3.48 16.56 110 78 0.0097 9.08 0.206 1.44 3.14 14.56 4.13 2.54 4.85 3.99 20 2.87 11.28 5.34 3.34 140 9.6 1,483 1.42 0.455 43.8 80.95 6.7 2.68 1.08 3.26 0.425

7.39 46.5 1.42 0.5 0.06 7 0.067 2.56 95 9.6 9.35 2.02 960 1,660 6.25 16.56 3.34 15.78 110 77 0.0095 9.05 0.199 1.38 2.97 14.5 4.1 2.43 4.62 3.88 19.4 2.82 11.2 5.13 3.2 140 9.01 1,454 1.39 0.44 43.4 80.6 6.5 2.63 1.05 3.2 0.385

SERVICES 7.41 29,800 46.7 4,500 1.44 15,000 0.5 284,000 0.062 184,900,000 7.5 16,155,800 0.067 15,660,000 2.57 7,845,000 96 562,940 9.6 2,900 9.35 1,169,500 2.05 53,000 960 160 1,675 71,430 6.26 21,100 16.86 58,500 3.4 5,017,000 15.8 4,100 110 120 77 311,960 0.0095 29,000,000 9.07 477,000 0.199 22,120,000 1.4 668,000 2.98 260,000 14.5 14,100 4.12 259,000 2.5 205,000 4.85 10,759,000 3.99 1,362,000 19.4 700 2.84 939,000 11.2 12,400 5.34 19,500 3.2 123,000 140 110 9.16 950,600 1,480 113,240 1.41 9,972,000 0.45 4,600,000 43.5 1,183,600 80.75 1,019,900 6.5 384,100 2.63 1,108,000 1.06 8,464,000 3.2 1,161,000 0.425 960,000

220,434 210,210 21,640 144,820 11,410,230 119,175,936 1,058,080 20,484,760 53,961,513 27,910 10,950,744 114,230 153,600 119,593,870 132,050 984,634 17,096,580 64,976 13,200 24,064,975.50 278,300 4,325,910 4,451,830 938,300 786,850 204,938 1,065,040 506,310 51,627,340 5,389,440 13,760 2,669,520 139,072 100,857 396,890 15,400 8,791,616 167,349,220 14,053,580 2,055,150 51,593,145 82,404,026.50 2,500,619 2,931,330 8,970,400 3,730,590 397,200

99,340 -11,469,539 124,600 -121,760 2,970,206.50 -6,248,670 -14,337,815 10,380 -5,337,984 198,720 49,400 -13,170,630 -1,067,540 2,820 185,600 -8,400 -712,999 41,692,995 -6,424,440 47,401,150 34,085,694.50 -32,500 -1,553,350 3,962,600 -16,170 -

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

0.0032 2.75 5.69 11.48 1.89 1.95 0.52 0.52 12.16 0.25 0.184 0.182 0.011 0.012 6.78 2.65 0.48 0.96 0.011 0.012 4.18 0.013 9.08 3.65 135 2.92 0.0089

0.0032 2.75 5.71 11.48 1.9 2 0.56 0.52 12.16 0.26 0.188 0.192 0.012 0.012 7.02 2.71 0.48 1.01 0.011 0.012 4.18 0.014 9.22 3.7 135 2.92 0.0089

0.0032 2.65 5.55 11.48 1.78 1.95 0.52 0.495 11 0.248 0.18 0.18 0.011 0.012 6.68 2.64 0.46 0.95 0.011 0.011 4.05 0.013 9.08 3.63 133 2.91 0.0088

MINING & OIL 0.0032 198,000,000 2.65 3,830,000 5.66 625,800 11.48 100 1.8 171,000 1.95 21,000 0.53 19,355,000 0.495 3,488,000 11.02 361,100 0.25 6,180,000 0.187 33,320,000 0.191 17,290,000 0.012 25,700,000 0.012 105,000,000 6.87 9,892,000 2.64 400,000 0.46 550,000 0.95 1,858,000 0.011 2,300,000 0.011 12,700,000 4.05 10,000 0.014 52,200,000 9.2 1,850,100 3.65 1,660,000 133.5 1,773,010 2.91 28,000 0.0088 5,000,000

633,600 10,316,470 3,511,796 1,148 313,450 41,250 10,388,660 1,757,680 4,042,264 1,546,530 6,089,950 3,148,150 283,400 1,260,000 68,112,497 1,059,060 256,050 1,783,870 25,300 140,200 41,060 682,500 16,997,976 6,065,840 236,680,223 81,640 44,300

-1,757,500 -743,898 76,380 -8,560 -17,701,968 -643,076 -541,640 -32,531,600 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2I

46.5 542 535 104.8 533 5.88 1,045 110 1,070 1,020 81 78.4 79.8 78

46.5 542 540 104.8 535 5.9 1,048 110 1,072 1,020 81 78.4 79.8 78

46.5 542 535 104.8 533 5.88 1,045 109.8 1,070 1,020 81 78.4 79.75 78

PREFERRED 46.5 28,500 542 200 540 170 104.8 1,820 535 30 5.89 4,710,700 1,048 60 110 96,800 1,072 2,000 1,020 2,150 81 50,000 78.4 500 79.75 17,500 78 500

1,325,250 108,400 91,000 190,736 16,030 27,746,175 62,730 10,629,040 2,142,000 2,193,000 4,050,000 39,200 1,395,670 39,000

-465,000 -2,096,451 10,480 -

LR WARRANT

2.23

2.19

WARRANTS 2.2 117,000

258,200

ALTERRA CAPITAL 6.58 ITALPINAS 3.9 XURPAS 8.15

6.65 3.95 8.15

6.5 3.84 7.8

SME 6.6 3.85 8

1,080,301 970,290 22,251,672

-66,000 -7,650 -5,028,812

FIRST METRO ETF 119

119

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.3 119 8,730

1,036,835

VALUE

NAME

OPEN

MS TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

42,654,372

INDUSTRIAL

103,984,908

HOLDING FIRMS

219,683,523

PROPERTY

619,883,409

SERVICES

334,276,421

MINING & OIL

503,916,557

GRAND TOTAL

1,827,622,491

163,600 251,000 2,799,700

1,763.10 (up) 11.12 588,363,317.72 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,084.93 (up) 81.88 1,506,449,775.26 HOLDING FIRMS 7,334.81 (down) 38.52 1,340,046,235.855 PROPERTY 3,287.14 (down) 6.32 SERVICES 1,421.62 (up) 12.65 1,010,801,325.412 MINING & OIL 11,915.15 (down) 36.69 826,957,446.414 PSEI 7,226.70 (up) 0.79 375,328,178.082 All Shares Index 4,375.03 (up) 9.32 5,673,287,091.06 Gainers:81; Losers: 103; Unchanged: 48; Total: 232

BDO’s trust assets hit P1t By Julito G. Rada BDO Unibank Inc., the country largest lender controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, said it set a milestone when its consolidated trust assets under management hit the P1-trillion mark last year. BDO said in a statement Friday it became the first Philippine financial institution to cross the threshold, as its AUM grew 12 percent from the 2015 level of P917 billion. The AUM is shared between BDO’s Trust and Investments Group with P755 billion and the Wealth Advisory and Trust Group of subsidiary BDO Private Bank with P273 billion. TIG is known for its retail investments products notably its family of unit investment trust fund and customized portfolios for individuals and corporations. BDOPB, on the other hand, focuses on servicing the investment and estate planning needs of high net worth individuals using an open architecture framework. “2016 was a banner year for BDO both for business growth and new product development in terms of trust assets,” BDO executive vice president and trust officer Ador Abrogena said. BDO launched last year the BDO ESG Equity Fund which is invested in the stocks of local companies with consideration for good environmental, social and governance practices. BDO Trust was awarded by The Asset Magazine the Impact Investor of the Year Award during the 2016 Triple AAsset Servicing, Investor and Fund Management Awards. BDO also introduced the BDO US Equity Feeder Fund for clients who wish to invest in the US equities. This widens the choices of investors who are looking to invest in foreign markets and complements BDO’s current listing of feeder funds.

PLDT launches emergency system By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said unit PLDT Enterprise launched a revolutionary digital emergency response mechanism to ensure effective end-to-end incident management. Smart SOS Dispatch was designed to enable small and large communities such as large-scale corporations, local government units and even university campuses and bolster their public safety answer points and emergency response systems. It is especially designed around the Philippine 911 system. From the built-in CRM, to the mobile applications, as well as the data, voice and SMS allocations, SOS Dispatch aims to answer the need of large corporate communities such as industrial zones and commercial banks and LGUs and other organizations for a more systematic emergency response experience. Smart SOS Dispatch is a comprehensive mobile solutions package that combines Smart’s robust network coverage with the Genaker IPbased PTT (Push To Talk) and NowForce emergency response application, for rapid, long distance and high-speed communication between the command center and ﬁrst responders. SOS Dispatch uses ruggedized, shock and water-resistant (IP68) Android devices that are designed speciﬁcally for emergency situations.

Home / Design

IN SEARCH FOR THE “BEST OF THE BEST”. At the press conference were organizers of the PH Property Awards (Left to right): Jericho P. Go, senior vice president, Megaworld Corporation; Terry Blackburn, founder, managing director, Asia Property Awards; Raymond Ruﬁno, executive vice president, ThTerre Net Group; and Linday J. Orr, COO of Jones Lang LaSalle Philippines.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE PERILS OF SUCCESS. The National Housing Authority (NHA) recently confirmed that it was incorrect in citing James Hardie’s “HardieFlex®” in an episode of a local TV program as the fiber cement board used in the construction of substandard houses built for victims of Yolanda. The episode focused on the various issues surrounding rehabilitation projects being undertaken in Tacloban, Leyte, and in other areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda three years ago. Interviewees cited HardieFlex® fiber cement as a construction material used in a housing project. James Hardie regards the incident as a reaffirmation of the durability of the HardieFlex® fiber cement board. “Because HardieFlex® fiber cement is a high-quality product, it has become a household name,” explained Liza Alde, marketing manager of James Hardie. “Though we are gratified that the brand name has become top-ofmind among homeowners, it is incorrect to refer to fiber cement boards in general as the James Hardie brand.” Shown in photo is a Suntrust Properties’ Verona housing project in Silang, Cavite, which used HardieFlex® construction materials.

Nominations pour in for 2017 PH Property Awards T

he search for the Philippines’ best in real estate continues as nominations pour into the annual Philippines Property Awards.

The country’s biggest annual real estate awards, and an acclaimed international event organized by the PropertyGuru Group, is celebrating its ﬁfth year of ﬁnding the best property developers and developments in Mega Manila, Metro Cebu, and Davao. “We are grateful for the support from developers, sponsors, media partners, and business associations over the years,” said Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the Asia Property Awards, dur-

The Philippines Property Awards ing a press conference held last week in 2017 is the search for the Philippines’ Makati City. best property developers and developMarch deadline ments located in the established and for submissions emerging property markets of Mega Presented by Kohler in 2017, the in- Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, in ternational event is organised by Prop- addition to popular and emerging resort ertyGuru Group, Asia’s leading online destinations and BPO office locations property group. The organisers are calling across the country. on Philippine developers as well as real Last year a total of 17 shortlisted develestate agents, architects, interior design- opers walked away with 26 awards followers, construction companies, suppliers ing a rigorous, six-month nomination and and the general public to continue sending judging process. in their nominations online via AsiaPropMegaworld Corporation collected a ertyAwards.com/nominations/. record-breaking 17 awards and Highly Deadline for submissions is on Friday, Commended honours, including the 3 March. 2016 Best Developer (Philippines) BDO, one of the world’s largest ac- gong, while SM Prime Holdings Inc counting and auditing firms, has been and Vista Land Group received multiple appointed once again as official judging accolades, including one for Vista Land supervisor. chairman Manny Villar for Real Estate

Personality of the Year.

Expanded awards scheme The 2017 edition presents an expanded awards scheme. New categories have been added, including a Special Recognition in Sustainable Development, which will reward the sustainable initiatives of outstanding developers from Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao. There will also be new awards for Best Mixed-Use Development and Best BPO Ofﬁce Development reﬂecting the growth of those sectors. Chairman of the judging panel Lindsay J. Orr, chairman of JLL Philippines, said : “The panel had quite a task last year simply because there were a lot more entries across various categories and regions, up by around 50 percent, and the numbers of categories increased as well.”

The official shortlist of nominees, comprising one Winner and up to four Highly Commended in each category, will be revealed by the independent judging panel led by Orr in early April 2017. The ‘Best of the Best’ winners from the Philippines will compete for regional accolades in grand finals of the Asia Property Awards to be held in Singapore in November, opening up their businesses to new audiences around the region. Philippine developers that have won at the grand finals include Ayala Land Inc, which was named Best Developer (South East Asia) in 2014, and SM Prime Holdings Inc and ArthaLand Corporation, which collected the Best Hotel Architectural Design (South East Asia) and Special Recognition in Sustainable Design (South East Asia) gongs, respectively, in 2016.

MINI-CITY. Eton Properties Philippines, Inc. (EPPI) recently held a ﬁrst pouring ceremony for eWestPod at Eton WestEnd Square, its 1-hectare mixed use project in West Makati. Located at the corner of Malugay and Yakal streets in the city, Eton WestEnd Square will be comprised of eWestPod, a BPO building; eWestMall, a boutique mall; and Blakes Tower, a high-rise residential condominium that will join the already existing Belton Place. At the ceremonies were Eton Properties executives and project partners. From left: DDTKI SVP for operation Francisco Delos Santos; AIDEA arch. Angelito Cunanan, Arknet, Inc. exec. project manager Samuel Santos; Eton Properties AVP for marketing, PR and corporate communications Martha Herrera; Eton Properties VP for technical services Carlos Carlos; Eton Properties FVP for property management Marie Angeli Samala; Eton Properties human resources head Karlu Say; Eton Properties VP for property management Streisand Tuason; and Eton Properties AVP for planning and design Jonas Siy.

LUXURY MEETS HERITAGE. Campanilla Lane, by Mañosa Properties, is approaching completion. The low density residential development in New Manila, Quezon City, offers an uncommon mix of four 4-storey villas and 16 luxury condominiums – one to a floor in Building One, and two to a floor in Building Two. The development is an exclusive enclave of only 21 units, built with the very distinct Mañosa design philosophy: Architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa’s marriage of traditional Filipino elements with contemporary architecture and innovative green design (See photo). The villas are designed to be multigenerational, made for more than one family to live in. The 4-storey luxury villa comes with its own elevator and two master bedrooms. The apartment units measure 260 square meters, and feature three bedrooms plus a den or flex room, and an open plan living and dining area to allow plenty of room for family interaction (Inset).

COOL FOR SCHOOL. More private schools and institutions of higher learning have been putting air-conditioning units in their classrooms in the last decade. A no-brainer given given the hotter temperatures and more congested urban environments. But do you know that classroom temperatures impact greatly on a student’s performance in school? For school and university buildings, the Toshiba super modular multi-system evolution (SMMS-e) seems just what the doctor ordered. The SMMS-e features a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated 2-stage vane, a wide range compressor, slim heat exchanger, a dual split heat exchanger, and four-way heat exchanger, which result in greater energy efﬁciency and performance. “Schools can rely on the SMMS-e as it features an intelligent variable refrigerant ﬂow (VRF) control that automatically adjusts the room temperature,” said Rajan Komarasu, group director of Concepcion Building and Industrial Solutions.

Have soundbar will travel

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

TV marathons will never be the same

TODAY even the smallest audio devices pack a punch in terms of audio quality and functionality. You don’t need a dedicated “viewing room” at home to enjoy a theater-like experience. Having a small living room or bedroom can actually be an advantage, since you don’t need an expensive multiple-speaker conﬁguration to experience surround sound effects. A soundbar can give you superior sound quality without compromising space. In a regular square room, it can give off really loud sound, and even deep, rumbling bass through a wireless subwoofer. Soundbars look a lot sleeker too: you don’t need to have a lot of wires running around your room. Of course, there are some caveats to soundbars, such as lack of expandibility or limited input options. However, these are disadvantages of bigger home theater stereo speakers as well. At the end of the day, the beneﬁts of space-saving, and less fuss are pretty hard to beat.

Creating your own home theater

ore and more people seem to be transforming their ordinary TV rooms into home theaters. This used to include a projector and a screen, which were too expensive for most people to afford. But now, due to advancements in technology, people are given more choices for a home theater set up.

GREAT SOUND QUALITY. A soundbar can dish out superior sound quality without compromising space.

If you’re one who intends to turn your boring TV room—or any other room, for that matter— into a home theater, you’ll have several things to consider ﬁrst. Keep in mind that the general idea of a home theater is to recreate the elements found within a movie theater with home equipment. It is through a good combination of electronic components that a favorable home theater is established, so that when you watch a movie on a home theater system, you are more immersed in the experience than when you watch on an ordinary TV. To understand how home theaters work, take a look at the movie theater as a model. Movie theaters involve elements that offer an amazing experience, which people just don’t get at home. Pictures appear brighter and sharper, and sounds resonate so much louder and clearer. There are three major components that differentiate watching TV from going to the movies. NETFLIX TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT. Advancements in technology have made home theater setups quieter, First is the large size of the movie more convenient than your typical movie house.

SLEEK IS IN. At the end of the day, the beneﬁts of spacesaving and less fuss, which a soundbar can give in spades, are hard to beat.

BIGGER IS NOT BETTER. Having a small living room, or bedroom, can actually be an advantage, since you don’t need an expensive multiple-speaker conﬁguration to experience surround sound effects.

fer the 3D experience in the comfort of your own home, which requires a compatible 3D Blu-ray player and a pair of 3D glasses.

Speakers and a subwoofer

At least ﬁve voice-matched speakers and a subwoofer are needed to faithfully recreate the wraparound excitement of movie theater sound. Some even choose six to seven speakers and a subwoofer so they can hear more channels of surround sound. You can always buy a pre-matched speaker system, but if you opt to put together your own, make sure you buy from the same family of speakers.

A home theater receiver It’s important to have a home theater receiver to enjoy surround sound. A receiver acts as the control center for audio. It’s the one that processes, ampliﬁes, and sends audio signals to the speakers. All home theater receivers can process and amplify multichannel surround sound, as well as stereo audio, because they have built-in surround sound decoding.

Video sources

INVESTMENT APPETITE. In the end, your home theater system will depend on how much you’re willing to spend, and how important certain areas of performance are to you. screen; second is the sound experience; and third is picture quality. When you go see a movie in theaters, the screen takes up most of your ﬁeld of view, and you hear dialogues, sound effects, and music not just from the screen, but all around you. You also enjoy watching because you see everything in great detail. All these elements make it extremely easy to lose yourself in the world of the movie—after all, you’re sitting in the dark with only one thing to look at, in the midst of a surround sound system. In order to build a home theater, you simply need to recreate these elements. At the bare minimum, you need:

A large-screen TV GETTING SET. A Blu-ray player offers the sharpest pictures possible, though other good home theater sources

include HDTV programming, which delivers high-resolution video and digital audio, and video game consoles: all offer crisp images and high-impact surround sound.

A large-screen television that’s at least 27 inches across is ideal. A gorgeous picture is the central focus of home theater systems and almost all of today’s TVs are high-deﬁnition, which offer a stunning 720p or 1080p resolution. Some TVs also of-

If you have a high-def TV, you’ll deﬁnitely want plenty of high-def sources. A Blu-ray player offers the sharpest pictures possible, though other excellent home theater sources include HDTV programming, which delivers high-resolution video and digital audio, and video game consoles, which offer impressively crisp images and highimpact surround sound. There are numerous ways you can do to meet these criteria, but of course, you’ll also need a room where you can arrange all your equipment. In the end, your home theater system will depend on how much you’re willing to invest and how important certain areas of performance are to you. If you just want a better entertainment system in your TV room, then a basic television set and DVD player can be adequate. But if you want your own home theater with a large screen and terriﬁc acoustics, you’ll probably need to bring in a home theater expert and a contractor. Whichever you decide, it’s important to try everything out ahead of time to make sure that your movies will look and sound great.

LGUs

FOR THE HARVEST.

Senator JV Ejercito (second from left) joins farmers in Guimba, Nueva Ecija in opening the irrigation gates to water the rice fields in the area on Friday. Nueva Ecija is one of the country’s top riceproducing provinces.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Betting on ‘E-sabong’ at QC OTB stations hit Q By Rio N. Araja

UEZON CITY District 1 Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. has condemned the illegal operation of betting on online cockfighting or “e-sabong” in various off-track horseracing betting stations or OTBs. He said OTB stations are not allowed to collect bets on electronic cockfighting in the absence of a city ordinance. Only a business permit from the Office of the City Mayor is issued to the OTB stations, he said. Riding the trend of online casinos, “e-sabong” is the live streaming of actual cockfighting

events, with internet-savvy gambling lords collecting the bets. While money changes hands in cockpits and arenas where live cockfighting is staged legally, in “e-sabong” wagers are wired electronically. Bettors collect their winnings through money transfer or “pera padala” outlets, usually through

pawnshops and other financial institutions nationwide. Ferrer said e-cockfighting needs the approval of the city council and the issuance of a franchise to be able to operate lawfully. He invoked the Local Government Code of 1991. “The law is very clear. It specifically lists cockfighting as one of the amusement activities that must be regulated by the Sangguniang Panglunsod, and as such, the taking or receiving of bets for the game and the payment of the winnings within the city, whether conducted live or through whatever means, falls under our jurisdiction,” he told reporters. Quoting Section 458, Article 3 (v) of the Local Government

Code, Ferrer said: “any law to the contrary notwithstanding, (the city council shall) authorize and license the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cockpits, and regulate cockfighting and commercial breeding of gamecocks: Provided, that existing rights should not be prejudiced.” “As it stands, the city council has not passed any ordinance allowing online cockfighting. On my [legal] point of view, such operation is illegal despite the issuance of a business permit to an off-track betting station,” the councilor said. Ferrer said the city is losing significant amounts in amusement taxes and franchise fees from the illegal operation of e-cockfight Turn to C2

MTPB chief turns tables on accuser By Sandy Araneta THE head of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau on Friday said a supposed vendor accusing him of being involved in an alleged extortion racket in Divisoria is a member of a powerful syndicate protecting thousands of illegal vendors in the popular market district. MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said the complainant, a certain Magnolia Balana Geraldino, is “one of the close associates” of the leader of the syndicate collecting protection money from lowly Divisoria vendors. “She is an ‘organizer’, the one who collects money for her ‘boss’. She was probably ordered by her boss to reveal herself. They’re making it appear that she is a vendor, when in fact she is not,” Alcoreza said. Geraldino has filed robbery through extortion charges

FORMER Caloocan City Mayor Macario Asistio Jr., who is now 80 years old, is in a coma. According to his niece, Caloocan City Councilor Aurora “Onet” Henson, Asistio was rushed to Metro Antipolo Hospital for dizziness and vomiting on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Eventually, he was diagnosed with a mild stroke. Doctors tried for 15 minutes to revive “Mayor Boy,” as Asistio is known, but it led to more bleeding in his brain, Henson said. “His right arm was numb, his face was slightly swollen, and he could hardly talk,” the councilor told Manila Standard in a phone interview. She said all the former mayor’s siblings and relatives were

at the hospital. Henson appealed to the public to continue praying for Asistio’s recovery. The family was given 48 hours since he was rushed to the hospital to observe his condition. As of presstime, Asistio’s vital signs “are still stable,” Henson said. Asistio first served as Caloocan mayor during the Marcos administration. He is the third in a brood of seven, followed by his brother Rep. Luis “Baby” Asistio (fourth) and Henson’s mother, Aurora the elder, is fifth. All three served in the Caloocan city government. Asistio has 26 children. Among his partners were Nadia Montenegro, Veronica Jones and Jhoanna Garcia. Last April, Asistio was rushed to the hospital for sleep apnea.

Solano police investigate the site of the ill-fated Florida bus crash along the National Highway in Barangay Bascaran, in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya on Friday.

5-year limit on building tax assessments proposed A COUNCILOR has proposed a five-year limit on tax assessments on buildings and improvements in Quezon City, a measure he termed as “pro-poor.” District 1 Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. said his proposed ordinance would not sacrifice the city government’s revenues, and told taxpayers “this is now your opportunity to avail of the amnesty.” A certified public accountant, Ferrer filed a measure titled “An Ordinance Imposing a Five-Year Limit on Assessment on Buildings and

against Alcoreza and his men before the Manila Police District, saying the MTPB officials have been illegally collecting P100 fees daily from 6,000 night vendors in Divisoria. Alcoreza said they have identified three other personalities aside from Geraldino behind the protection racket. “We have arrested some [suspects] already. We even arrested members of the government, from the DPS [Manila Department of Public Services],” the MTPB chief said. “They are the ones who make so much money from this illegal collection. They are the ones making money.” He clarified that city hall is only charging Divisoria vendors P20 per square meter for the space they occupy at the night market. Alcoreza believes these syndicates have been creating a Turn to C2

Driver dead, 27 hurt in bus crash

Ex-Caloocan mayor in coma after stroke By Jun David

Improvements Declared for the First Time for Real-Property Taxation.” He said it is designed to grant tax relief to owners of buildings and improvements “who shall declare the same for the first time for real-estate taxes by imposing a limitation on the assessment to five years without interest or penalty.” “The city government shall also benefit from the tax relief herein granted by an increase of declarations of real properties, unto which taxes shall be assessed and collected,” Ferrer said.

He said Rodolfo Ordanes of the Office of the City Assessor would then assess the property based on its current valuation. “On the other hand, the city treasurer shall collect back taxes up to five years only, notwithstanding that subject buildings and improvements were built, erected or constructed earlier than said period,” Ferrer added. If the building or construction was completed under that period, the councilor said all taxes for the corresponding years and quarters “shall

become due.” “If taxes are paid within 30 days from receipt of assessment, the interests and penalties shall be waived. Interest and penalty shall commence to run thereafter,” he added. Last year, Ferrer filed “An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. SP2344, Series of 2014, Extending the Deadline for the Delinquent Beneficiaries the Period to Avail the Provisions Thereof, from October 5, 2016 to October 5, 2017” applicable for socialized housing program. Rio N. Araja

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya—A bus driver died while 27 passengers of the bus bound for Maddela town in Quirino province were injured after it rammed an electricity transmission post, fell off the national highway, and landed upside down early Friday morning in Barangay Bascaran here. Supt. Billy Mangali, Solano police chief, identified the fatality as Michael Angelo Santos, a resident of nearby Bayombong town. Santos drove the GV Florida Transport bus, which left its terminal in Sampaloc, Manila Thursday evening, into the transmission post at 4:20 a.m., Mangali said. The injured were rushed to the PLT Memorial Hospital near the accident site. “The spare driver and conductor, whom I was able to speak with, said the driver avoided the collision with another vehicle but lost control, apparently because his is moving very fast.” Mangali explained. The injured passengers were backup driver Danilo Nolledo, 62, of Echague, Isabela; Crystel Mae Pagauisan, 23; Reyma Molabe, 17; Paul Valino, 17; Alyssa Ylanan, 17; Jaylord Badongen, 23; Jeremy Aplasan, 18; Kendale Gaffud, 17; Glechell Gaffud, 28; Rodelyn Bello, 35; Cristopher Diaz, 32; Joenald Agbayani, 46; Rubin Maranion, 62; Crisanto Pagauisan, 26; Prince Carl Pagauisan, 3; Maricel Abad, 25; and Andres Cardo, 16; all of Maddela, Quirino; Also injured were Ernesto Acierto, 56, of Quezon province; Elivira Tablang; Noel Bareng, 43; Wilmar Ngayan, 26; and Marina Macadangdang, 56, all of Aglipay, Quirino; Romulo Uy, 26 and Florante Abadilla 47 of Lallo, Cagayan; Shirlyn Del Carmen, 38 of San Vicente Cruz, Manila; Hilaria Narag, 65, of Tuguegarao, Cagayan; and Justine Danao, 7 of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya. Abe Almirol and Ben Moses Ebreo

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY FEBRUARY 4, 2017 SATURDAY,

LGUs MAYORS UNITE.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman Jose Jorge E. Corpuz (fourth from left), general manager Alexander F. Balutan (beside Corpuz), and PCSO director Marlon Balite (third from right) pose with clenched fists with Mayors Glenson Alanano of Zamboangita, Negros Oriental; Anthony Reyes of Milaor, Camarines Sur; Efren Pascual Jr. of Orani, Bataan; Weny Sabalbero of Cabusao, Camarines Sur; and Joselito Guyguyon of Kiangan, Ifugao. They witnessed the turnover of 17 ambulances under PCSO’s Ambulance Donation Program at the agency’s office in Mandaluyong City.

Tesda vows 20k new entrepreneurs By Jun David

of Trade and Industry and Department of Labor and Employment to implement the program. HE Technical Education and Skills Based on the plan, Tesda said Development Authority on Friday the 20,000 entrepreneurs would each hire up to five employees to said it will produce around 20,000 generate employment and entrenew businessmen with the launch of its preneurship development. “skillspreneurship” concept. “The program is a convergence of Tesda, DTI, DoLE, It aims to provide skills train- other scholars of the agency. DSWD [Department of Social ing in entrepreneurship for the Tesda Director General Guil- Welfare and Development] and graduates of the Training for ing Mamondiong said they have the LGU [Local Government Work Scholarship Program and coordinated with the Department Unit],” Mamondiong said.

The Tesda regional or provincial director will forge a partnership among government agencies and other private entities, and the idea “is to fuse all programs and services in entrepreneurship development,” he added. “The idea is that the skills acquired in TESDA training is utilized to come up with an enterprise idea,” Mamondiong said. The concept will give the government the opportunity to widen the coverage

of providing Filipinos skills through the development of entrepreneurship. “Selected graduates of Tesda [TWSP scholar] will be trained on entrepreneurship development. The selection shall be done using an instrument that shall pre-qualify the graduate. The instrument may be provided by DTI,” Mamondiong said. DTI will be tapped for the entrepreneurship development program, and will nurture the

graduates and their feasibility study preparation, including its marketing aspect, until they can set up their own enterprise, also included in the program’s concept. DoLE and DSWD will also provide capital assistance to Tesda, and create a group to establish family enterprises in the country. The LGU will then monitor and ensure the business created through skillpreneurship will run for the long term.

Cashew R&D center SEARCA releases book on climate change at Bataan university BALANGA CITY, Bataan—The Bataan Peninsula State University will establish a cashew research and development center in its Bagac campus to help cashew producers in the province. Dr. Hermogenes Paguia, BPSU director for Research, said the center will help in the production, processing, and packaging of cashew. The fruit abounds in Bataan, particularly in Bagac and Limay towns. Professor Rudy Flores, BPSU vice president for Research, Extension, and Training Services, and Paguia are coordinating with Extrajudicial Settlement of the Estate of the Deceased Alfredo D. Cruz Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Alfredo D. Cruz was Extra-Judicially Settled by his heirs Marilou C. Webster, Alan A. Cruz & Josephine Jesusa C. Del Rosario as per Doc. No.330, Page No.67; Book No.436, Series of 2017 before Notary Public Atty.Virgilio R. Batalla

the Bagac agriculture office regarding the investment plan and development initiative for the town’s cashew production. “We want to maximize the use of our facilities in Bagac,” said Paguia. “We’d like to empower cashew growers and processors in the province and help them penetrate more local markets and even global ones.” “With the development of cashew nuts enterprises, it will enhance the living standard of cashew producers and contribute to poverty alleviation,” he added. Butch Gunio

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A book titled “Learning and Coping with Change:Case Stories of Climate Change Adaptation in Southeast Asia” is now off the presses. Published by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, the book features 13 case stories “useful to policy- and decision-makers

and other stakeholders.” It may also be downloaded for free via http://bit.ly/2km8cfI. SEARCA director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. said the book is the pioneering work of the First Regional Knowledge Sharing Writeshop on Climate Change Adaptation in Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development. Saguguit said the “writeshop”

brought together scientists and researchers from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as international agencies working on agriculture and climate change. “Although there is no “one size fits all” adaptation, there are similarities in approaches, methodologies, and processes involved in identifying and implementing CCA goals and strat-

Betting... From C1 gambling. Quezon City has 53 off-track betting operators, second only to Manila’s 58 outlets. Metro Manila and its nearby provinces have at least 230 active off-track betting stations devoted to accept horseracing bets only, the councilor said. “Based on reports reaching my office, online cockfighting in various off-track betting stations are generating billions of pesos in revenues in 2016 alone. How much in amusement taxes should we have collected from the operators? How much more can we collect from them through franchise fees?” Ferrer said. “I will certainly ask the city council to look into the details of this e-cockfighting and determine whether the operators have paid the right taxes, if any. We shall also require them to secure authority or franchise from us.”

RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE NOW! email us at advertise@the standard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

(MS-JAN. 21,28 & FEB. 4, 2017)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Sections 1608/1609 of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), the Tariff Commission will conduct a public hearing on the following: a) possible tariff rate to be applied on rice upon expiration of the Waiver Relating to the Special Treatment for Rice (Annex A of Executive Order No. 190, s. 2015); and b) possible extension of the tariff rates applied on non-rice products under Annex B of Executive Order No. 190, s. 2015. Interested parties shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to be present, to produce evidence,and to be heard. The hearing will be held on 16 February 2017 (Thursday), 9:00 A.M., at the Tariff Commission Conference Room, 5th Floor Philippine Heart Center Building, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. For inquiries, please contact the Research, Investigation and International Trade Analysis Service (RIITAS) at telephone numbers 926-8731 or 928-8419. Issued this 3rdday of February 2017, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS- FEB. 4, 2017)

egies as documented in the case stories,” Saguiguit said. SEARCA convened the writeshop in partnership with the Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation Inc. led by Dr. Rodel Lasco, coordinating lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Brenda Jocson

POLICE OUTREACH. Children from Sitio Papatahan, Barangay 9 in Paete, Laguna receive cups of ‘lugaw’ or

porridge from members of the Laguna Provincial Public Safety Company, headed by District Commander Police Chief Insp. Noel Valdez and Chief Insp. Henry Villagonzalo, with support from members of the Philippine Army. The Laguna PPSC’s outreach activities, which started a month ago, also offer free haircuts, medicine, groceries, and lectures on the police anti-illegal drugs campaign. Roy Tomandao

‘PinakBest’ products of Ilocos Norte sell well in Quezon City THE Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte recently joined the “Producer to Consumer” Trade Show at the Quezon City Hall through the “PinakBest Products” booth set up by the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office. Xavier Ruiz, provincial tourism operations officer II, said the province’s produce were fast-moving from the opening of the two-day show. INTO showcased Ilocos tour packages, “inabel” hand-made products, and authentic Ilocano delicacies such as bagnet,

longganisa, miki noodles and Ilocos empanada at the event, boosting both tourism and small and medium-sized enterprises in Ilocos Norte. The trade show was a result of the partnership between Gov. Imee R. Marcos and Quezon City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista. Ruiz assured the “PinakBest Products” would be at the Quezon City Hall every month, after Marcos and Bautista signed an agreement on the trade show. In 2015, Marcos assured in her State of the Province Address Il-

ocos Norte’s continuing support to local producers by selling their goods at various markets across the country. In her SOPA last year, Marcos has mentioned how this support for local producers would drive sustainable development and build stronger relations with other local government units. “We must commit as a province to long-term, integrated master planning. Annual investment plans only result in short term band aid solutions.

MTPB... From C1 ruckus because they are hurting from the intensified road clearing campaign of Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada. “All throughout this time, we’ve been telling the vendors that they only need to pay the P20 per square meter fee to the city treasurer’s office, no more, no less,” he said. Earlier, Estrada called on vendors in Manila, especially in Divisoria, to be wary of syndicates and personalities inciting them to rally against the road-clearing operations. “These extortionists and syndicates who earn money by demanding ‘protection fees’ from illegal vendors are feeling the heat of our street clearing operations. It is not surprising they are attempting to make this desperate move to break our momentum,” Estrada pointed out.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Radiation in Fukushima very high T OKYO―The radiation levels inside a stricken reactor at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant have hit a record high and are capable of shutting down robots, in the latest challenge to the efforts aimed at dismantling the disaster-hit facility. The radiation levels inside the plant’s No. 2 reactor were estimated at 530 sieverts per hour at one spot, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said Thursday after analyzing images taken by a manually operated camera that probed the deepest point yet within the reactor. Even after taking a 30-percent margin of error into account, the radiation level was

still far higher than the previous record of 73 sieverts per hour detected by sensors in 2012 though at a point not as deep, TEPCO said. Radiation exposure at 530 sieverts per hour would effectively shut down TEPCO’s planned robot camera probe in under two hours. But TEPCO said the high reading focused on a single point, with levels estimated

to be much lower at other spots ﬁlmed by the camera. It added that the planned robot probe would not sustain severe damage because it was unlikely to linger for too long at a single point. The three cameras mounted on a caterpillar-type robot are designed to withstand up to 1,000 sieverts in total. TEPCO said the radiation is not leaking outside

the reactor. A massive undersea earthquake on March 11, 2011 sent a huge tsunami barreling into Japan’s northeast coast, leaving more than 18,000 people dead or missing, and sending three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima plant in the worst such accident since Chernobyl in 1986. Japan’s government said in December that it expects the total costs -- including compensation, decommissioning and decontamination -- to reach 21.5 trillion yen ($190 billion) in a process likely to

take decades as high radiation levels have slowed operations. TEPCO has said it plans to eventually use robots to locate the fuel debris as part of the decommissioning process. Images of the wreckage inside the No. 2 reactor captured by the camera show that the metal grating under the pressure vessel which contained nuclear fuel has largely sunken in, causing a hole about one meter wide. Black debris that could be melted fuel is also seen in the images.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

ERC CASE NO. 2014-080 RC II ELECTRIC INC. - AREA 2

Applicant. x------------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge PhP/kW 222.3302 Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh 0.5852 0.7687 Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Customer/ Mo 43.4378 43.4378 Supply System Charge PhP/kWh 0.6073 Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge PhP/Meter /Mo 5.0603 36.3736 36.3736 Metering System Charge PhP/kWh 0.4378 11. Consequently, applicant respectfully prays that it be allowed to implement either of the above two alternative calculated DSM rates, either provisionally during the pendency of the instant application or permanently by virtue of a final decision, effective January 2015, and up to December 31, 2017;

Annex No. Nature of Document Proposed TGP Calculations and supporting documents using prescribed templates: A to A-2 Index “I” Calculation Efficiency Factor “X” Calculation Performance Incentive “S” Calculation B MFSR - Sections B and E (2010-2013) Billing Determinants Template C kWh Sales, No. of Customers, kW Demand (2010-2013) D Sample bills per customer type (2010-2012) E Regional CPI (2010-2013) F RFSC/Reinvestment Fund Utilization (2011-2013) Consumer Complaints (Complaint Tracking Form) (2011G 2013) H Audited Financial Statements (2010- 2013)

Notice is hereby given that on 09 June 2014, Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc.-Area 2 (NEECO II-Area 2) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval of the adjustment in its rates pursuant to the Tariff Glide Path (TGP) Rules, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority. NEECO II-Area 2 alleged the following in its Application: 1.

Applicant is an electric cooperative existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Maharlika Highway, Barangay Diversion, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija;

It is engaged in the distribution of electric light and power in the City of Palayan and certain municipalities in the Province of Nueva Ecija, namely: San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa, Papaya (Gen. Tinio),Penaranda, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, Rizal, Llanera and Gen. M. Natividad;

Sometime in 2009, NEECO II- Area 2 filed with the Honorable Commission an application for approval of its proposed adjustment in rates pursuant to the Rules for Setting the Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR);

13. Finally, in compliance with the pre-filing requirements for the instant application, applicant is likewise submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

The Honorable Commission approved the application, granting the cooperative the following initial tariffs on its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Charges, among others, to wit:

Annex No. Nature of Document I Affidavit in Support of the Prayer for Provisional Authority J to J-1 Proof of furnishing copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Bayan of San Leonardo and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Nueva Ecija K to K-1 Publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation in NEECO II - Area 2’s franchise area or where it principally operates, with Affidavit of Publication

CUSTOMER TYPE

UNITS

Residential

Low Voltage

Higher Voltage

Distribution Charges:

during the Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2017 in Mumbai. AFP

Turtles threatened by oil spill in south India CHENNAI, India―Hundreds of students and ﬁshermen were working Friday to clean up an oil spill on India’s southern coast that campaigners say threatens the turtles that nest there every year. The Indian Coast Guard said around 35 kilometers of coastline off the southern city of Chennai had been affected by the spill that occurred when two ships carrying fuel collided last week. Campaigners and ﬁshermen have accused the government of being slow to contain the damage from the spill, the scale of which has only emerged in recent days. “What ought to have been a localized incident has now become a regional one because of the culture of denial,” said Nityanand Jayaraman, a Chennaibased environmental activist.

Jayaraman told AFP it was the peak nesting season for Olive Ridley turtles, which swim to the beaches of South India to lay eggs after mating at sea. “The key thing is not technology but honesty. You need to reveal the true extent of the damage otherwise it leads to a false sense of complacency. With oil spills long-term effects are certain,” he said. Olive Ridleys are most abundant of all sea turtles around the world, according to WWF India, but their numbers have been declining and the species is recognised as vulnerable by the IUCN Red list. Their unique mass nesting, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs, is a major tourist attraction. AFP

Kim sacks spy chief and executes others SEOUL―North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un has sacked his spy chief for abuse of power and executed several officials of the state security agency, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Friday. Minister of state security Kim Won-Hong was dismissed in mid-January after the agency came under scrutiny for power abuse and corruption, Seoul ministry’s spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee said. “Kim Jong-Un fired Kim WonHong, one of his close aides who supported his reign of terror,” he said, adding he was demoted from four-star general to one-star. A Unification Ministry official, asking not to be named, said that North Korea also executed an unspecified number of the agency’s officials.

The sudden dismissal of a top official may add to instability in the North by increasing anxiety among the elites, he added. Kim Won-Hong had survived repeated purges since Kim JongUn took power in 2011 which have seen four of the North’s five highest-ranking military officers purged. The spy agency chief, in the post since 2012, played a key role in arresting and executing Kim Jong-Un’s uncle Jang Song-Thaek, once known as the number two power holder, in 2013 on charges of treason. The North’s leader has reportedly killed more than 100 military, party and government officials, including Jang and Hyon YongChol, a former defense chief who was put to death in 2015. AFP

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Residential

12. In support of the foregoing computations, the cooperative is submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

FASHION WEEK. Indian Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty poses for a

EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENT IN RATES PURSUANT TO THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH (TGP) RULES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, NUEVA ECIJA COOPERATIVE, (NEECO II - AREA 2),

Fuel may have melted through the vessel and damaged the grating but the exact cause was not determined, TEPCO spokesman Tatsuhiro Yamagishi said Friday. “It may have been caused by nuclear fuel that would have melted and made a hole in the vessel, but it is only a hypothesis at this stage,” he told AFP. “We believe the captured images offer very useful information, but we still need to investigate given that it is very difﬁcult to assume the actual condition inside,” he said. AFP

Demand Charge

PhP/KW

Distribution System Charge

PhP/KWh

219.6800 0.5782

0.7595

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/ Mo

Supply System Charge

PhP/KWh

0.6001

Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo

5.0000

Metering System Charge

PhP/KWh

0.4326

42.9200

35.9400

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that pending evaluation of the instant application or after due notice and hearing, as the case may be, NEECO II - Area 2 be allowed to implement either of the following two (2) alternative proposed new rates for its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Charges, effective January 2015 and up to December 2017, to wit:

Metering Charges:

On May 2, 2011, the Honorable Commission promulgated the Tariff Glide Path (TGP) Rules pursuant to Article 7 of the RSEC-WR whereby during the regulatory period, the rate of the Electric Cooperatives (ECs) per group shall be adjusted using the following formula, to wit: Tariff x (1+ index “I”-Efficiency Factor “X” + Performance Incentive “S”) The Index “I”, shall be an escalation factor to be used in adjusting the rates to reflect the combined impact of inflation and load factor. There shall be an efficiency factor “X” to account for the operational efficiency of the ECs in setting their rates. There shall be a performance incentive “S” which shall reward or penalize the EC for above or below standard performance, respectively. The TGP is intended as a cap and the EC may move up to the cap, if it is a positive adjustment. If the cap is lower than the current average tariff, a reduction may be implemented.

The TGP is a rate adjustment mechanism which provides an opportunity for the ECs to adjust their rates once every three (3) years. The rate adjustments may occur at the start of the fourth year of the first Regulatory Period and every three years thereafter. Under the TGP, the regulatory period is six (6) years for each entry Group. For the Second Entrant Group, the first regulatory period is from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017. NEECO II- Area 2 belongs to the Second Entrant Group. Further under the TGP Rules, the concerned EC shall use the following formula in determining the TGP for the first to third years of the Regulatory Period, to wit: TGPA= TGPn + TGPn+1TGPn+2 where TGPn = In - Xn + Sn N= the first year of the Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods Except that for the first two years of the First Regulatory Period, “X” will be equal to zero and thereafter shall not be less than zero. The TGP calculated for each of the three years will be summed to determine the possible rate adjustment starting on the Fourth Year of the current Regulatory Period.

Applying the methodology embodied in the TGP Rules, NEECO II - Area 2 calculated the values of the “I”, “X” and “S” and came up with the following results, to wit: “I”

“X”

“S”

TGP A

TGP A (Excluding “S”)

Year 2012

2.94%

0.00%

2.30%

5.24%

2.94%

Year 2013

0.00%

2.30%

0.00%

Year 2014

0.00%

1.73%

1.90%

0.17%

-1.73%

7.71%

1.21%

Net Results

10. Application of the above values resulted in adjustments on the cooperative’s DSM Rates, as follows: a)

WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Low Voltage

Higher Voltage

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge

PhP/kW

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

236.6094 0.6228

0.8180

WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Residential Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge b)

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.6228

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.6463

PhP/Meter/ Mo PhP/kWh

5.3853 0.4659

0.8180

236.6094

46.2276

38.7097

EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Residential

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.5852

PhP/Customer /Mo PhP/kWh

0.6073

PhP/Meter/ Mo PhP/kWh

5.0603 0.4378

0.7687

222.3302

43.4378

36.3736

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for. The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 23 February 2017 (Thursday) at one o’clock in the afternoon (1:00 P.M.), at NEECO II-Area 2’s principal office at Maharlika Highway, Barangay Diversion, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: i.

The petitioner’s name and address;

ii.

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

iii.

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) 2) 3)

The name and address of such person; A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and The grounds relied upon.

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/ Customer/ Mo

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

46.2276

0.6463

Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter /Mo

5.3853 38.7097

Metering System Charge

PhP/kWh

0.4659

38.7097

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO

Standard – Feb. 4 & 11, 2017

Trump slams friend and foe

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

World APPEAL. Elderly residents in the ﬂashpoint eastern town of Avdiivka, that sits just north of the pro-Russian rebels’ de facto capital of Donetsk, arrive at heated tents set up for the elderly

who have no heating in their homes. Ukraine’s president appealed for more global pressure against Russia as Moscow-backed rebels and government forces clashed around a frontline town in a surge of ﬁghting that has claimed a reported 23 lives. AFP

WASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump stepped up his war of words against the world on Thursday, ﬁring on friend and foe alike even as his new top diplomat arrived for work. Even Russia, with which Trump hopes to mend ties, was not spared: US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said sanctions will stay until it ends its occupation of Ukraine. Trump also returned to the charge against Iran, his spokesman insisting “nothing is off the table” when asked about options for a military response to Tehran’s latest missile test. The White House is drawing up expanded sanctions against Iran, hours after National Security Adviser Michael Flynn put Tehran “on notice” over the missile and support for Yemeni rebels. Sources familiar with the planning told AFP the sanctions will likely be levied on individuals or entities linked to Iran’s missile program and imposed under existing presidential powers. Trump himself said many countries are “really terribly taking advantage of us” and even accused Australia of trying to foist more than a thousand “illegal immigrants” on the United States. And, not content with bashing one close ally, he repeated his claim that the 23-year-old NAFTA trade agreement with Mexico and Canada had been a “catastrophe” for the US economy. AFP

Trump to dominate EU summit V

ALLETTA, Malta―European Union leaders will try to rally together to revive the beleaguered bloc at a special summit in Malta Friday in the face of “threats” from migration, Brexit and Donald Trump.

It is the latest in a series of crisis meetings since Britain voted to leave the EU last June, but fears about the new US president have strengthened the sense that the bloc is now at a decisive moment

in its history. The ﬁrst part of the meeting, which all 28 leaders will attend, will focus on the migration crisis amid warnings of a new surge in people making the dangerous sea

crossing from Libya. “Our main goal for the Malta summit is to stem the ﬂow of irregular migration from Libya to Europe. This is the only way to stop people dying in the deserts and at sea,” EU President Donald Tusk said in Valletta on Thursday. British premier Theresa May will miss the second part when the other 27 discuss the way ahead after Brexit, including a ﬂagship summit in Rome in March to mark the EU’s 60th anniversary. With doubts growing over the

Trump administration’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance with Europe, the leaders will also discuss “international issues” facing the union. Tusk, who will chair the summit, warned this week that Trump was a “threat” to the EU along with Russian aggression, an increasingly assertive China and domestic populism. In a letter to EU leaders, Tusk said those factors “as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration all make

our future highly unpredictable.” But Tusk also echoed what many EU leaders have said -- that Trump is a chance for a Europe to ﬁnally unify after Brexit and the eurozone crisis, and perhaps even take Washington’s place in global politics and trade. Unity has, however, often eluded the EU on the migration crisis, which has seen more than one million people ﬂee war, poverty and oppression in Syria, the Middle East and North Africa. The route from Libya to Italy has

become the most pressing problem, after the EU cut sea crossings from Turkey to Greece by 98 percent thanks to a deal with Ankara. Most of the 181,000 people who came via Libya in 2016 were illegal economic migrants, unlike the asylum seekers arriving in Greece from Syria, the EU says. The leaders will agree steps to stop migrants taking boats in the ﬁrst place, including help for the Libyan coastguard and border forces, according to a copy of a summit declaration seen by AFP. AFP

Mexico looking for new partners MEXICO CITY―Facing US President Donald Trump’s protectionist threats, Mexico is looking to expand trade ties with Europe and Asia, but reducing its dependence on the massive US market will be tough. Mexico and the European Union agreed on Wednesday to speed up the negotiations to modernize an existing free trade pact in which 53 billion euros ($57 billion) in goods were exchanged in 2015. At the same time, the government said it planned to negotiate a free trade agreement with Britain once the island exits the EU. “It’s good for Mexico to turn toward other places, but I wouldn’t declare NAFTA dead,” said Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at the Mexican ﬁnancial group BASE. On Wednesday, the government launched a 90-day period of consultations with the private sector to prepare its strategy for negotiations with the United States and Canada, which are expected to start in May. The negotiations promise to be rough. While Trump said he was willing to renegotiate rather than scrap NAFTA, he called the deal a “catastrophe” for the United States. For his part, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto promised at a meeting of agricultural industry leaders that he would steadfastly defend the interests of Mexicans during the negotiations. AFP

REASSURANCE. US Defense Secretary James Mattis, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, and Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, right, attend a meeting at the prime minister’s ofﬁce in Tokyo. Any nuclear attack by North Korea would trigger an “effective and overwhelming” response, Mattis said on February 3. AFP

Defense official warns Pyongyang over nuke attack TOKYO―Any nuclear attack by North Korea would trigger an “effective and overwhelming” response, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday as he sought to reassure Asian allies rattled by President Donald Trump’s isolationist rhetoric. Mattis spoke in the South Korean capital of Seoul on the first overseas tour by a senior Trump administration official as concerns rise about the direction of US policy in the region under the protectionist and fiery leader.

He arrived in Tokyo later in the day for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and is set to hold talks with Japanese defense minister Tomomi Inada on Saturday. South Korea has enjoyed US security protection since the 1950-53 Korean War, but on the campaign trail, Trump threatened to withdraw US forces from it and Japan if they do not step up their ﬁnancial support. Some 28,500 US troops are based in South Korea to defend it

against the nuclear-armed North, and 47,000 in Japan. Pyongyang was continuing to “engage in threatening rhetoric and behavior”, said Mattis, who ﬁrst came to the South in 1972 as a 21-year-old lieutenant in the US military. “Any attack on the United States or our allies will be defeated and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming,” Mattis told reporters ahead of a meeting with his South Korean

counterpart Han Min-Koo. He was in Seoul to “underscore America’s priority commitment to our bilateral alliance” and make clear the administration’s “full commitment” to defending South Korea’s democracy,” he said. Han added that the alliance “reafﬁrms its ﬁrm will and strength to remain unwavering against all challenges and adversaries”. North Korea carried out two atomic tests and a series of missile launches last year, and casts a heavy security shadow over the region.

Leader Kim Jong-Un said in his closely-watched New Year speech that Pyongyang was in the “ﬁnal stages” of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile, prompting Trump to tweet: “It won’t happen!” Ahead of his departure for Japan, Mattis laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Seoul National Cemetery, where he met several hundred supporters and Korean War veterans waving American ﬂags and pictures of Trump. AFP

Life

MERCURY RISING BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

N A recent trip to Massachusetts, I saw this tag on car plates everywhere I went, and it made me want to learn more about the state’s history. Although I had an idea of what transpired in America’s early days, having taken up American History in high school, I was curious about what took place in Massachusetts that earned it this tag.

I joined a tour that brought me back to how it all started. I was right there in Plymouth Rock and entered The Mayflower, an actual-sized replica of the original ship, which was a merchant ship that sailed from Plymouth, England across the Atlantic to “The New World,” which we now know as the USA. The Mayflower voyage has become a symbol of early European migration across the seas, as it carried the Pilgrims, who were separatists, fleeing religious persecution from the Church of England and searching for a place to worship and establish their own Anglican and Puritan colonies. The Mayflower started its journey in the second half of 1620, with approximately 130 passengers and crew, with enough supplies to last them the long journey across the Atlantic. They even had ammunition, which could equip a small army, to protect themselves against the possibility of a pirate attack at any point of their trip. However, the harsh weather conditions of the Atlantic, especially during the winter, caused many delays, using up their supplies. Food eventually had to be rationed, to make it last the full length of the voyage. What made matters worse was the epidemic of diseases that prevailed among the passengers and crew. Scurvy, tuberculosis, dysentery and others caused the death of many. Living conditions on the ship were also miserable. Passengers were cramped inside a fifty-feet-by-twenty-five-feet space on the gun deck, with a ceiling only five feet high, meaning, almost everybody had to bend down while inside their living quarters. It was also dangerous because the passengers were sleeping right next to the cannons and barrels of gunpowder. The water they had on board was contaminated, causing even more illnesses, so most passengers had to drink alcohol instead. When they finally landed in “The New World,” only half of the original passengers and crew had survived.

The Spirit Of America The actual-sized Mayflower replica, open to tourists at Plymouth Rock Harbor in Massachusetts. (Inset) What is left of the original Plymouth Rock is now protected and on display near the Mayflower

Left: A lady “Pilgrim” talks about her difficult life on the ship. Right: After taking a photo of this gentleman ‘Pilgrim,’ he wouldn’t let go of me unless I explained to him what was ‘the tool’ I had in my hand

They then established a colony where the ship docked, and called it Plymouth Rock, in deference to their place of origin in England and because there was a big boulder on the colony’s boundary. However, based on the testimony of a certain Elder Faunce, the Mayflower docked beside a boulder about 15 feet long and three feet wide extending towards the sea, which the ship used as a pier. But many expert mariners question this because they know it is very hard to dock a wooden ship beside a Turn to D2

YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE A man was standing at a bar in Wales and this small Chinese guy comes in, stands right next to him, and starts drinking beer. The man asked him, “Do you know any of those martial arts things, like Kung Fu, Karate or Jiujitsu?” The Chinese said, “No, why the fruck you ask me that? Is it because I Chinese?” “No,” the man said, “it’s because you’re drinking my beer, you little prick!”

Fly global, live local

SkyMiles members of Delta Air Lines can truly live local wherever they go and be rewarded for it, as Delta and Airbnb team up to give members benefits whenever they book accommodations through deltaairbnb.com.

DELTA Air Lines and Airbnb are teaming up to offer SkyMiles members an opportunity to earn miles on all Airbnb bookings worldwide when accommodations are reserved via deltaairbnb.com. Airbnb, one of the world’s largest accommodations providers, offers its customers the unique opportunity to “live like a local” in more than 190 countries with over 2.5 million homes around the world. Delta is the largest U.S. global carrier to partner with Airbnb. Now, SkyMiles members can expect more choices and more miles on their next journey when they book with Airbnb, whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month. Together, Airbnb and SkyMiles make the “Fly Global, Live Local” experience more rewarding. “This industry leading partnership enables us to provide a unique benefit to our SkyMiles members, enabling us to reward them for their lifestyle choices through the SkyMiles loyalty program,” said Sandeep Dube, Delta vice president-Customer Engagement and Loyalty. “This partnership brings together two innovative brands focused on delivering superior travel experiences across the globe to customers.” “We are excited to partner with Delta and offer their travelers the opportunity to earn Delta miles when staying and hosting on Airbnb, while creating memorable moments with

friends and family,” said Lex Bayer, head of Business Development, Airbnb. “SkyMiles members can now enjoy the additional benefits of living like a local with authentic travel experiences on Airbnb in all global destinations that Delta services.” All SkyMiles members can earn miles with Airbnb by booking directly through deltaairbnb.com. Customers who are not already enrolled in the SkyMiles program can sign up for free through the partner page or delta.com/ enroll to become eligible. SkyMiles Member benefits offered exclusively at deltaairbnb.com include: one mile per dollar* spent on qualifying stays, up to 1,000 bonus miles and a $25 Airbnb coupon code toward a qualifying first stay for new Airbnb guests, and up to 25,000 bonus miles for new Airbnb hosts. Beyond the partnership, Airbnb has signed Delta as one of its preferred airline suppliers to transport its employees traveling on company business. SkyMiles Members can use their miles, which never expire, to travel to over 1,000 global destinations. Award tickets start at just 10,000 miles, plus taxes and fees, for one-way awards. Members can also use their miles to upgrade seats, gain access to exclusive events with SkyMiles Experiences, buy memberships to Delta Sky Clubs, buy premium drinks at Clubs and more.

Life

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

ONE are the days of luxe traveling. Filipinos previously accustomed to staying at 5-star hotels are now embracing Airbnbs and hostels, swapping their fancy leather shoes for sneakers, and dressing down instead of dressing up. Welcome to the backpacking era marked by independent travel, local immersions, and a YOLO mentality that has inspired today’s travelers to search for adventures they can call “one for the books.” And it doesn’t hurt to earn more social media likes along the way.

STEP UP

your backpacking game with a new travel buddy

With a multitude of airline companies offering seat sales to some of the world’s exciting destinations, more and more Filipinos are inspired to embark on backpacking adventures to satisfy their travel wanderlust this year. Check out these cool backpacking destinations, and start planning a truly unforgettable sojourn.

gage Tracker—powered by Okoban—to guarantee peace of mind while switching planes, trains and buses around Europe. Just register your bag at Okoban.com and feel secured as Okaban’s system is part of the largest network of Lost and Found offices in more than 2200 airports worldwide You won’t need to worry about your belongings while sharing a hostel room Exciting Europe or European train cabin with strangers: Europe’s geography, efficient trans- CabinZero comes with lockable zipport system, and flexible Schengen visa pers, which backpackers can fit with policies make it easy for backpackers to their choice of lock. traverse the continent. You can hop on At only 760 grams, the Classic Cabiand off a train or a bus, and easily reach nZero 44L won’t eat into your carry-on another country in a matter of hours. weight allowance—this means you can Skip the tourist traps of major cities and pack in more without stressing about explore the vibrant countryside: Chase additional baggage fees. the Northern Lights in Tromsø, challenge your feet to an energetic ceilidh Amazing Asia dance in Orkney, or have an authentic If there’s anything that Asia got in farm-to-table experience in Tuscany. spades, it would be diversity. With 54 Europe offers a lot of unique experi- countries, thousands of languages, and ences, and backpackers need to pack a dizzying array of exciting attracsmart to make the most of their stay. tions, backpackers will never get tired After all, you need to make sure that of the bounty of experiences that Asia your bag is light and convenient enough can offer. Immerse in the rich dynastic to be stowed just about anywhere. And cultures found in Japan, China, Taiwan with notorious pickpockets on the loose and South Korea. One can also sunin countries such as Spain, Portugal and bathe at the best beaches in the world Italy, you also need to make sure that found in the Philippines and Indonesia. your belongings are thief-proof. For a wealth of bold flavors, Thailand Enter the Classic CabinZero 44L, an and Vietnam’s unique cuisines are sure ultra-light cabin and travel bag that fea- to leave travelers craving for more, no tures a large 44-liter capacity, side com- matter how spicy tom yum can get. To make the most of the different expression straps, top and side handles, a front-zipped pocket, and mesh pockets periences and locales there are in Asia, with inside zips. This British-designed travelers can opt for the CabinZero Miliminimalist bag delivers cabin-sized func- tary 44L, which is specifically designed tion and features at zero hassle to travel- for a wide variety of travel situations. At the heart of this ruggedly handers. Each CabinZero some backpack is Military Spec Nylon, bag is built with its an extra-tough fabric that can withstand own Global Lug-

Visit as many destinations as you can without worrying about your stuff as you put them in Classic CabinZero 44L cabin and travel bag

walking for hours around Angkor Wat under intense heat to the chilly winter of Hokkaido. The Military 44L boasts of a huge 44-liter capacity, side compression straps, a sturdy top-grab handle, AirMesh padded back and straps, Sternum Straps, and Waist Strap. It also features secure zipped pockets inside and at the front providing a peace of mind from pickpockets in jeepneys to bag slashers on buses. Mountain climbers can also find the Military 44L ideal for their trips as sports extra-tough construction. Plus, its dualpurpose accessory webbing makes up for both functionality and aesthetics.

Sizzling South America

The Military 44L bag is ideal for mountain climbers and hardcore travelers

South America is a destination not many Pinoy backpackers dare to explore, mostly because of its distance: A flight from Manila to Rio de Janeiro in

Brazil can take a daunting 22 hours. But the breathtaking sight of the Machu Picchu makes the long-haul flight definitely worth it. It’s not that hard to fall in love with The Iguazu Waterfalls and the Angel Falls, both of which promises #travelgoals. South America’s vast offerings of historical relics, architectural landmarks, natural wonders, Latin and indigenous cultures, and vibrant cities spread across 12 countries and three dependencies. When embarking on the long journey to magnificent South America, a trusty CabinZero backpack that can be handcarried without a fuss is a must. Travelers need not worry if one can only afford a budget flight to one of the most expensive destinations for Pinoys, since the CabinZero backpack—in Classic or Military—is so durable yet lightweight that one never has to worry about going over his or her baggage allowance.

Each CabinZero bag also comes with a 10-year warranty—it will be a great investment for a backpacker who goes on trips three to four times a year (but these bags look great even when used in between adventures!). Take your backpacking goals to the next level with a trusty CabinZero. CabinZero bags are now available at all Urbanize outlets in U.P. Town Center, Gateway, Shangri-La, Glorietta 3, Uptown BGC, Venice Grand Canal, Kiss & Fly NAIA Terminal 3, Alabang Town Center, The District-Imus, Solenad and Serin – Tagaytay, Sportmart-Duty Free, Fashion Rack Terminal 3, Rustan’s, the SM Store and Flight 001. Like CabinZero on Facebook to automatically upgrade bag warranty to 25 years. For more information on CabinZero, check out www.cabinzero. com and www.urbanize.com.ph, or follow @cabinzeroph on Instagram.

Davao eyes Japanese women tourists DAVAO City has everything going for it in competing as a world-class female tourist destination, targeting particularly Japan’s joshi tabi or female travelers market. Such is the reason the Department of Tourism (DoT) Mindanao Office Order has been created by Secretary Wanda Teo, a former travel agency executive who dedicated a lifetime in promoting

international and domestic tourism in Davao City. In line with this objective, Secretary Teo tasked Assistant Secretary Eden David, head of the DoT Mindanao Office and Tourist Attaché to Tokyo Gwen Batoon to organize joshi tabi tour packages. David said Davao City strongly banks on its lush greenery, rich biodiversity, pristine beaches, exotic gourmet and

Tourists mingle with exotic birds at the nature park

The Spirit... From D1

giant-sized rock in turbulent seas, especially during the winter. Whichever it is, what is left of the original rock is now housed in and protected by a superstructure right on Plymouth Harbor, a few steps away from the Mayflower replica, for tourists to gawk at, and not to chip off

parts of it, as has been happening in the past. The original rock was believed to have weighed approximately 20,000 pounds, but now, only onethird of it is left, and on display at the harbor, as the rest has been chipped off by unscrupulous persons and by some other government groups who revere it as a sign of respect for their country’s early settlers. I found the Mayflower tour quite interesting because, on the ship, are men

amenities for wellness services in offering all-female Japanese tour packages. The success of a familiarization tour held in Davao City participated in by least 12 major Japanese travel executives and bloggers boded well for the DoT joshi tabi program. “Davao City’s soothing tranquility, oneness with nature, isolated beaches, Class-A wellness services, particularly massage and beauty care and the native cuisine may prove to be irresistible attractions to Japanese women,” Batoon said. The famtour group, which included three Tokyo-based women executives, particularly enjoyed the visits at the Malagos Garden where they mingled with exotic birds. At the honeymooners’ paradise Pearl Farm Beach Resort in nearby Samal Island, they pampered themselves with gourmet and massage services. Batoon stressed that women travelers are an important travel segment, citing a 2016 Japan Tourism Marketing Co. research that says 60 percent of women make travel decisions by themselves. The Tourism Attaché said Japanese women travelers are likely to come to

the Philippines for its multi-gateway destination, providing easy access to both urban and natural attractions, and the Filipino’s uniquely warm hospitality. “It seems more reasonable for Japanese travelers in general to fly low-cost carriers to the Philippines and stay here in a luxury hotel with luxury amenities,” Batoon added, saying that the Philippines has largely been undiscovered to date, with its

more than 7,000 islands and the increasing number of high-end shopping malls, resorts and spas in the country. Japan is the Philippines’ fourth biggest source of inbound tourists, with already more than 360,000 arrivals for the second quarter of this year. In 2015, Japanese arrivals to the country counted more than 490,000 generating 9.25 percent of the total market share.

and women who are dressed up and play the role of Pilgrims. There is one assigned to every part of the ship. One lady, acting her part, was in the passengers’ quarters, knitting, while telling her story of how difficult her life has been, how scarce food was, and how she had to protect herself from diseases that were spreading around. On the main deck, while I was taking a picture with my phone camera, a “Pilgrim” approached me and asked

what “the tool” was for. I smiled at him because I thought it would be silly of me to explain to someone who obviously knew what it was. But, he wouldn’t let go of me and explained that “he hasn’t seen anything like that in his lifetime.” That was when I realized that he was also playing his role to the hilt. I had to oblige and while talking to him, I felt like I was teaching a kindergarten kid the functions of a phone and camera.

Understanding the travails of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower has made me admire even more everything that America stands for. Knowing what those Pilgrims had to go through just to flee religious persecution and be free to hold on to their beliefs, I now have a stronger grasp of the real Spirit of America. That’s why I now find it easy to chime in when Americans sing their national anthem and proclaim that theirs is “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Members of the Japanese media and tour operators wish upon a well at Eden Nature Park in Davao City

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

AUGHTER truly is the best medicine and Resorts World Manila (RWM), in cooperation with Ultimate Shows, Inc., presents a healthy dose of it with Extra Judicial KIDDING! at 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT). Witness fresh material from internationally acclaimed stand-up comic Rex Navarrete, brand new characters and stories from comedy genius Jon Santos, and show stopping musical numbers from theater funny girl Kakai Bautista. Navarrete, who has long been a household name among Filipino Americans in the US, currently travels internationally throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada and for the US Armed Forces bringing his brand of “Pinoy” humor to a wider audience. Santos, famous for his “reincarnations” range from the legends to celebrities, is currently taping the third season of The Jon Santos Show for Viva TV after returning to musical theater in 2014, playing the lead in RWM’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical. Bautista, who was once Lea Salonga’s wardrobe assistant in Singapore Repertory Theatre, is no stranger to the public eye and has an extensive background in theater and is now a familiar face in ﬁlm and on TV. This exclusive one-night only show is the perfect opportunity for you and your loved ones to escape all the troubles in the real world and remember how much fun it is to just laugh. Let these three world-class Filipino comedians take you on a “laugh out loud” spectacle as they poke fun at various issues and turn politics, personalities, and other current affairs into punch lines. For tickets, call RWM sales team at 908-8000 loc. 7768 / 8079, TicketWorld at 891-9999, or the Resorts World Manila Box Ofﬁce at 908-8000 local 7700.

Get your dose of the best medicine at RWM #LAUGHWINS. “Extra Judicial Kidding” featuring Jon Santos, Kakai Bautista and Rex Navarrete promises nothing but good laughs and show

stopping numbers

‘LOGAN THE WOLVERINE’ in theaters in March 20TH CENTURY Fox has just released Trailer #2 of the most anticipated movie this year, Logan The Wolverine. The trailer is a thrilling series of action-packed scenes and intense moments introducing a young mutant girl, Laura (played by Dafne Keen), who possesses the same powerful claw and strength like The Wolverine. Laura, as seen in the trailer, is being protected by Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Professor X (Patrick Stewart) from groups of armed men wanting to take her. Directed by James Mangold, Logan The Wolverine will open in Philippine cinemas nationwide on March 1 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=gdsz4XFc1Kk

Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen in the latest installment of the “Wolverine” movie series

AFTER launching the FX Channel last month, CIGNAL hypes up its entertainment menu with exciting offerings for its 1.5 million subscribers nationwide. They now will have access to Hollywood blockbusters and the finest selection of award-winning and critically-acclaimed features of the FX Channel in HD. Among the highlights are Brooklyn, starring Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronna, Emory Cohen, and Domhnall Gleeson. The feature is about a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn and how she deals with the initial shackles of homesickness and a fresh romance. It premieres 10 p.m. on Feb. 12. Viewers of all faiths will definitely be intrigued with every episode of The Young Pope 10 p.m. Mondays. Jude Law, Diane Keaton, and Silvio Orlando lead cast of the series, which showcases the life of Lenny Belardo or Pius XIII, the first American Pope in history whose election is mysteriously engineered by the College of Cardinals under the façade of the papal conclave. As it turns out, among the leaders of the Vatican, the most dangerous and conflicting figure turns out to be Pius XIII himself. He walks the long path of human loneliness to find a God for mankind and for himself. Chance, which stars Hugh Laurie is a provocative, psychological thriller that delves into a violent and dangerous world of mistaken

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, February 4, 2017

ACROSS 1 Sparkling adornment 6 Pen brand 9 — in (begin use) 14 Packing heat 15 Kind of system 16 Weaker, as an excuse 17 Like trash 19 Go — (cooperate) 20 Lennon’s wife 21 Do dock work 22 Firewood quantities 23 Lesage hero Gil — 25 Gentle slopes 26 Houston team 29 Tweety or Sylvester 31 Horses pull it 32 Kitchen herb 36 South America’s Cape — 37 Business suff. 38 Leaf juncture 40 Depot deposit 43 Starting point 45 Was in debt 46 Outlaw pursuers 47 Type of pool 50 Chop fine 51 Jamie Lee’s

mom 52 Long-necked bird 54 Cast a vote 57 Family member 58 Janitor 61 Tequila plant 62 Mi. above sea level 63 Wild time 64 Snouts 65 Geol. formations 66 Polar explorer DOWN 1 Tortilla snack 2 Golf club 3 Bullets 4 Gym iteration 5 Tooth-puller’s org. 6 Early VCRs 7 Cooled down 8 Zip — 9 Putting 10 Moon rings 11 Luigi’s romance 12 Dispatches 13 Work units 18 Don’t match 23 Sell for 24 Record book 25 Shad eggs 26 Baseball bat wood 27 Litterbug

28 Prefix for “trillion” 29 Lugged about 30 California fort 33 Biscotto flavor 34 Eggy drinks 35 Comics canine 37 Not sm. or med. 39 Rank below Lt. 41 Pointed beards 42 Hole-making tool 43 Conjecture 44 Fabled bird 47 Steamy dance 48 Machu Picchu

founders 49 Dig into the files 50 Flits about 51 San — Capistrano 52 Defraud 53 Cartoonist — Kelly 54 Gumbo ingredient 55 Look curiously 56 Playing card 59 Recipe meas. 60 Tarzan’s nanny

FX now on CIGNAL

In “The Young Pope,” Jude Law is Pius XIII, the media-savvy, radical and unpredictable head of the Catholic Church

identity, police corruption and mental illness. The ﬁrst season airs 10 p.m. every Tuesday. New episodes of Homeland will air its sixth season. This is the ultimate edge-of-yourseat sensation starring Claire Danes, Mandy Pantinkin, Ruper Friend and more. This gripping emotional thriller in which nothing short of the fate of the American nation is at stake, airs 9 p.m. every Monday. The second season of Baskets airs 10 p.m. every Friday. Starring Zach Galiﬁanakis,

Martha Kelly, and Louie Anderson, it showcases the interesting Basket family at its most fragile. Action, romance and other exciting elements are sure to keep the viewers hooked and clamoring for more. The ﬁrst season of Son of Zorn airs every 10 p.m. Wednesdays. A hybrid, live-action, animated comedy, it is about an animated warrior from an island in the Paciﬁc Ocean who returns to Orange County, California to win back his live-action, ex-wife and teenage son. It stars Johnny Pemberton, Cheryle Hines,

Tim Meadows, and the voice of Jason Sudeikis. Launched in 2009, CIGNAL TV broadcasts over 100 channels with a variety of content that today’s subscribers truly want. It features channels that are in high deﬁnition--providing their customers an awesome experience. The FX HD Channel is available exclusively on CIGNAL TV at Channel 247 starting at Plan 990 and up. For subscription inquiries, call (02) 888-5555 or email sales@ cignal.tv

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Kapamilya

SITCOM

TURNS

The hilarious cast of “Home Sweetie Home” led by John Lloyd Cruz and Toni Gonzaga

OR three years now, Romeo and Julie of Home Sweetie ISAH V. RED Home have been teaching couples how to cope with the numerous struggles that come with married life.

From managing finances, making raising a child, the couple mirror what other couples go through and how family will always be first in the hearts and minds of Filipinos. Having this opportunity to influence the audience is one of the reasons lead star John Lloyd Cruz enjoys playing Romeo. “Romeo is someone that you watch every week. He stands up for what he believes in. He stands by the principles he believes in. Of course, we want him to set a good example to the audience, especially the young ones. It’s important that we impart something good to them,” the actor explained. He also shared that content is very important to all of them in the show, so they make it a point to work as a team and explore fresh ideas – something they have done in the last three years. “What we tell our viewers is important. It’s not just because of the ratings. It is important to us that what we show our viewers is true to the characters in the show,” he said. Meanwhile, Toni is happy that Home Sweetie Home has enjoyed several extensions and considers her being in the show as the easiest job in the world. “Ever since we started, there has been no pressure on us. We come to the set happy. My character, Julie, also feels very close to home, so there has been no intense preparation for the role,” shared Toni. Toni also admitted that, at first, she had a hard time playing a wife, but is now m o r e

decisions in the household to now comfortable as Julie because she can relate to her. “I really didn’t know what it felt like to have a husband, until I got married. Now I know how it feels and apply it whenever I’m on set,” she said. As the story of Romeo and Julie continues, what challenges await their family life? Also included in the cast are Sandy Andolong, Miles Ocampo, Clarence Delgado, Ogie Diaz, Ellen Adarna, Bearwin Meily, Paul Sy, Jobert Austria, Mitoy Yonting, Nonong Ballinan, and Magda Alovera. Created by the program’s creative team and directed by Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz, under business unit head Raymund Dizon, Home Sweetie Home airs Saturdays, 6:30 p.m., after TV Patrol Weekend. *** In Karelasyon today, Kristoffer Martin and Joyce Ching play individuals that will try to ﬁnd their way to each other in a love story of invented identities. Insecure about her looks, Lea (Ching) believes only attractive men and women ﬁnd true love. This is why when she met through a social networking site a handsome guy named Mike (Martin), she thought she needed to pretend to be someone else for him to agree to meet her. Lea sends Mike not her own photo but that of her pretty friend Abby. Mike agrees to meet her, but asks Abby to pretend to be Lea It turns out that Mike is also not being truthful. He also asks another person to take his place. W h a t happens when Lea discovers that the one she

In the pilot episode of “My Dear Heart,” senior actress Coney Reyes’s character is introduced as one of top personalities in the medical ﬁeld

has been chatting with is in fact Marco and not Mike? What will be Marco’s reaction when he finds out about the switch as well? Joining Ching and Martin in this romantic comedy are Jazz Ocampo, Sam Adjani, and Mosang. Carla Abellana hosts Karelsyon on Saturdays, after #LIKE on GMA 7. *** The touching story of My Dear Heart instantly captivated the audience nationwide. Its pilot episode on Jan. 23 scored high in national TV ratings of 29.2 percent against GMA’s Alyas Robin Hood (20.9 percent), according to data from Kantar Media. The show also made it to the list of trending topics on Twitter, with its official hashtag #MyDearHeartAngSimula earning thousands of tweets. In the series’ pilot episode, the audience were introduced to Dr. Margaret Divinagracia (Coney Reyes), the best heart surgeon in the country. Unexpectedly, her daughter Gia (Ria Atayde) got pregnant by her boyfriend Jude (Zanjoe Marudo). Believing that Jude destroyed her daughter’s future, Margaret ruined his dreams by successfully having him removed from his scholarship program. But just when he thought he lost everything, Jude was blessed with a baby girl, who was given to him by a woman involved in a children trafficking syndicate. My Dear Heart airs weeknights after FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (Skycable ch 167). *** Good news to Xian Lim fans…. he’s back on prime time TV. The good-looking Chi-Fil actor is a guest in ABS-CBN’s A Love To Last. Lim plays Sebastian “Totoy” Cruz, a 28-year-old cruise ship chef and childhood friend of Andeng (Bea Alonzo). Ever since they were young, Totoy had always admired Andeng. They even made a pact to end up together if at 27 or 28, they remained single.. His feelings for her grew even more when they went into college where he knew for sure that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with only one woman--- Andeng Agoncillo. One thing, however, stopped him

from pursuing Andeng and that is when Andeng fell in love with his good friend Jerrold (Victor Silayan). As he returns, Totoy is now willing to take a chance and win Andeng’s heart. Will Andeng open her heart to him? How will this affect her growing closeness with Anton (Ian Veneracion)? A Love to Last airs on a new timeslot after My Dear Heart on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (Sky Cable ch.167). *** As we welcome the month of Love, The World of Gandang Ricky Reyes (TWGRR) host and beauty expert Ricky Reyes shares a sweet and funny love story of social media sweethearts Jon Gutierrez and Jelai Andres. Having a hard time thinking what to give your special someone this Valentine’s Day? TWGRR scours the streets of Metro Manila to ﬁnd things that it can give you as tips on where to buy those sweet and affordable ﬂowers, bouquets and cakes perfect for the occasion. Reyes introduces the ultimate hair treatment, The Cryo Hair Treatment, (Cryo is a greek work that means cold in English), which makes use of a custom-made, very hygienic ‘Ice Care Machine’ and is guaranteed to reconstruct and revitalize hair, thereby making it soft and shiny. There is also Regold for kinky hairs, SoftWave for dull hair and natural wigs for hair loss in all Gandang Ricky Reyes Salons. Discover Ricky Reyes Learning Institute (RRLI) with branches in Manila, Cubao, Anonas and Fairview and be your own boss. Tune in to The World of Gandang Ricky Reyes, 9 to 10 a.m. today with host Ricky Reyes on GMA News TV.

Beauty expert and TV host Ricky Reyes

Noted fashion designer Danilo Franco died on Tuesday

DANILO FRANCO, fashion design guru, 65 DANILO FRANCO, noted Filipino fashion designer and acknowledged “Dean of Fashion Illustrators” in the country, passed away Tuesday afternoon. He was 65. Franco’s untimely demise shocked not only his friends and colleagues in the local fashion industry but also his students and fellow faculty at SoFA Design Institute as outpourings of both grief and reminiscing ﬂooded various social media sites and online editions of news publications until late Tuesday evening. Until the last few days of his life, Franco had shared his talent and creativity with the nation and the world when he joined other Philippine couture stalwarts in providing evening gowns for candidates of the recently concluded Miss Universe contest, dressing up Miss Universe Canada for the dinner fundraiser held at Conrad Hotel. Franco graduated with a degree in Fine Arts major in Advertising at the University of Sto. Tomas. Immediately after art school, he worked as an artist at the Philippine Daily Express under the tutelage of renowned Filipino artist Mauro Malang Santos, design and art consultant of the newspaper. He eventually became art director of the Express. It was during his stint in the Express publications when Franco honed his craft with fellow artists and friends like the late painter-cartoonist Hugo Yonzon and cartoonist-artist Romeo “Boy” Togonon; US-based expat-artist-cartoonist Edgar Soller; prominent painter Manuel Baldemor; and grahic artists Benjo Laygo, Dante Munsayac, and Arnold Adao. In the late ’70s, Franco shifted gears to launch a career in fashion design and running his fashion boutique. In a very short time, Franco’s prodigious talent and craftsmanship gained him the patronage of fashion A-listers, celebrities, and entertainment stars. Franco pioneered in, and was known for unique for, one-of-a-kind hand-painted art on fabrics for his fashion creations for women and hand-painted acrylic designs for men’s barongs. A selﬂess and socially conscientious artist, Franco, despite having established his marque in Philippine fashion circles, literally moved out of his design studio in the latter part of his career and immersed himself in mentoring students of fashion illustration and design at De La Salle Saint Benilde-Manila and later at SoFA Design Institute in Makati. His passion for his craft, gentle demeanor, kindness, and generosity in sharing his exceptional skills in fashion design and illustration endeared him to his innumerable students who now express their gratitude for having “learned from the best mentor” they could ever have. Wake is at The Sanctuarium, G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Interment will be announced later.