Manila Standard - 2019 October 11 - Friday

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Three senators: Top cop liable for ‘ninja cops’

By Macon R. Araneta, Francisco Tuyay and MJ Blancaflor AT LEAST three senators believe there is sufficient evidence to file graft charges against Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, for his alleged role in protecting “ninja cops” who resold illegal drugs confiscated during a police raid Next page in 2013.

MACHINE GUN. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade checks the Remote Controlled Weapons system machine gun at the deck of the BRP Tubbataha during the 118th Philippine Coast Guard Anniversary on Thursday.

Norman Cruz VOL. XXXIII • NO. 239 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

780% water rate hike looms Manila Water sees consumers bearing brunt of SC penalty

Panelo accepts dare to ride on PUV, take LRT

By Othel V. Campos, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Salvador Panelo has accepted the dare to take public transportation on his way to work without bodyguards and media coverage, after he had denied the existence of a “mass transportation crisis.”

Panelo told reporters Thursday that he will take the jeep and then the LRT to Malacañang on Friday, Oct. 11, but declined to give further details or to have media coverage.

“I don’t like media coverage because it might become a spectacle. I’m sure, someone will recognize me. If they will see me, maybe they will take a photo,” he said in a news conference.

Pressed by reporters if he will commute during rush hour, Panelo said: “Secret. You’ll hear about it. And maybe you’ll see something about it.” Next page

H

OUSEHOLDS in Metro Manila face a possible 780 percent increase in their water rates, Manila Water warned, while a fifth of all areas in Mindanao remain without electricity.

IMPLEMENTING RULES.

On Thursday, at the Prince Hotel in San Marcelino, Manila, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, along with Rep. Angelina Tan, Senator Risa Hontiveros and PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales, sign the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Universal Health Care Law or the Republic Act No. 11223 enacted last Feb. 20 by President Rodrigo Duterte. (Inset) Health advocates, meanwhile, stage a protest at the signing venue. Norman Cruz

Pork price rise seen amid ASF AN INCREASE in the prices of pork products is likely to happen following the presence of the African swine fever in the country, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday.

He said the producers of some brands had been requesting an increase in the prices of their pork products.

“There are requests to increase prices, and an increase is possible,” Lopez told GMA News Online.

Meanwhile, the government in Iloilo City has imposed a 90-day ban on the entry of live pigs, hog carcasses, pork, pork products, and by-products coming from any country found positive for African swine fever.

Executive Order 99, signed by Mayor Jerry Treñas on Oct. 9, 2019, totally bans the entry of similar products coming from countries that are positive for ASF. Turn to A3

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DOH budget cut to cost 10K jobs—Recto

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Thursday warned that 10,921 personnel of the Department of Health, including 7,107 public health nurses, will be thrown out of work next year if the proposed P9.39 billion cut in the department’s budget is not reversed.

He likened the budget cut to a plague

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia as member of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council of the 18th Congress. As a member, Leonardia will represent all the local government units to the board, making him the lone local official appointed to LEDAC, which includes the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker and seven Cabinet secretaries.

Mass arrest: 542 BPO workers nabbed

By Vito Barcelo

BUSINESS B1

POLISH writer Olga Tokarczuk on Thursday won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature, which was delayed over a sexual harassment scandal, while Austrian novelist and playwright Peter Handke took the 2019 award, the Next page Swedish Academy said.

LEONARDIA APPOINTED.

with a 40-percent casualty rate, noting that the 2020 proposal of P88.26 billion is lower than this year’s budget of P97.65 billion.

“If not reversed, it will turn us into an archipelago of dismissed nurses. It is a kind of hospital discharge that is the most unkind,” Recto said.

One of the major programs to be severely affected by the budget cut is the Human Resource for Health Deployment Program or HRHDP. Next page

WORLD BANK CUTS PH GROWTH GOAL Polish writer wins Nobel

Manila Water cautioned the Supreme Court that water rates could shoot up 780 percent if the justices fine it P921 million for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The Court had fined Manila Water for failing to complete its sewerage projects by 2009, or five years after the Clean Water Act took effect, and slapped on an additional running daily fine of P322,102 until the projects are completed.

In a motion for reconsideration filed last week, the water concessionaire said

THE BELL RINGS. Villar Group Chairman Manny Villar rings the bell Thursday during AllHome Corporation’s Initial Public Offering Listing Ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Taguig. Also in photo are PSE Chairman Jose Pardo, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Emilio Aquino, Senator Cynthia Villar, AllHome Director Manuel Paolo Villar, AllHome Vice Chairman Camille Villar, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, PSE President and CEO Ramon Monzon, PSE Directors Emmanuel Bautista, Ma. Vivian Yuchengco and Wilson Sy; SEC Commissioner Kevin Lester Lee; AllHome Chief Financial Officer Frances Rosalie T. Coloma; AllHome President and CEO Benjamarie Therese N. Serrano; and AllHome Independent Directors Jessie D. Cabaluna, and Laura Suarez Acuzar.

AT LEAST 542 foreigners, mostly Chinese, were arrested by immigration and police officials in a raid of an illegal business process outsourcing company in Pasay City.

Immigration Commissioner Jamie Morente said the aliens were arrested for working without a working permit.

The company that the foreigners were supposedly working for is also allegedly involved in an investment scam. The mayor’s permit issued to the company was supposedly for “support services.”

The 542 foreigners were mostly male

and made up of 442 Chinese, 45 Burmese, 25 Malaysians, 23 Vietnamese, four Taiwanese and three Indonesians, Morente said.

Immigration Intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said “the foreigners were involved in some sort of telecommunications fraud, adding “their victims are mostly from mainland China.”

Morente said the aaliens will face deportation.

“If the alien committed a criminal act, it is under the jurisdiction of the local authorities. But if we see that there is an immigration violation, we may charge for deportation separately,’’ Morente Next page said.

A2

News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

New CJ wanted: High IQ, EQ a must

By Rey E. Requejo

C

HIEF Justice Lucas Bersamin said Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte should appoint a successor with a high intelligence and emotional quotients.

Bersamin, who will retire when he reaches the age of 70 on Oct. 18, said if President Duterte asked him whom to choose among the four aspirants to replace him, he would pick someone who had more emotional intelligence.

The four candidates for the most coveted post in the judiciary are Asso-

ciate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Jose Reyes Jr., Andres Reyes Jr. and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is no longer applying for the position since he is due to retire on Oct. 26—or eight days after Bersamin steps down.

Polish writer...

expressions for them, the Academy said.

Tokarczuk and Handke each take home a cheque worth nine million kronor ($912,000).

Tokarczuk becomes just the 15th woman to have won the prestigious distinction, out of 116 literature laureates honored since 1901.

From A1

Tokarczuk, considered the most talented Polish novelist of her generation, was honored “for a narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life.”

Her books portray a polychromatic world perpetually in motion, with characters’ traits intermingled and language that is both precise and poetic.

Handke, meanwhile, won “for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience,” the Academy said.

Handke “has established himself as one of the most influential writers in Europe after the Second World War.” His works are filled with a strong desire to discover and to make his discoveries come to life by finding new literary

Today, Friday, the Judicial and Bar Council will choose at least three candidates will be included in the shortlist for the position of Chief Justice to be submitted to Duterte.

Bersamin served Chief Justice for 11 months and was the 25th Chief Justice.

He served as a judge of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City from 1986 until he was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2003. He joined the high court as an associate justice in 2009, and was appointed Chief Justice by Duterte on Nov. 28, 2018.

Academy rocked by scandal

Dating back to 1786, the Swedish Academy is at pains to repair its reputation after a devastating scandal that saw Frenchman Jean-Claude Arnault, who has close ties to the Academy, jailed for rape in 2018.

The Academy was torn apart by a deep rift between members over how to manage their ties to him.

The dispute exposed scheming, conflicts of interest, harassment and a cul- Tokarczuk Handke ture of silence among its 18 members, long esteemed as the country’s guardThe revelations shook Sweden, a Lu- parency and consensual democracy and ians of culture. theran nation that prides itself on trans- is intolerant of inequality. AFP

Panelo...

780%...

The Palace official said he is not keen on proving anything by accepting the challenge.

“I’m not trying to prove anything.

I’m just accepting their challenge. If I did not accept it, they will say so many things,” he said.

He will not be accompanied by bodyguards, he added.

The challenge was issued by several groups after Panelo said there is no mass transportation crisis in Metro Manila since the public can “still get rides” and arrive at their destinations, despite the loss of service on two major urban train systems.

His remarks drew flak from the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Bayan, both leftist groups.

“Let’s make it worthwhile. No hawi boys. No bodyguards. No special treatment. No waiting cars. During rush hour, like the rest of the suffering commuters. This is our response to Sal Panelo, taking on the commute challenge,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of Bayan, in a Twitter post.

Reyes said the long commute hours can be used to discuss with Panelo the problems of the mass transport system.

Youth group Anakbayan echoed Reyes’ call, but said Panelo should ride public transport for a week to make sure that it will not be a “mere performance.”

Actress Agot Isidro said Panelo should lessen the fanfare and security as he takes on the challenge since it will only be a “one-time experiment” for him.

Senator Leila de Lima also hit Panelo.

“Tell me, Mr. Panelo, is there anything humane with leaving the house at 3:00 in the morning just to arrive on time at work? Is there anything dignifying with commuters cramming themselves inside trains with barely enough room to breathe just so they won’t receive salary deductions for tardiness?” she asked.

Panelo will not be the first of President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesmen to commute to work.

Harry Roque also took the MRT to work in 2017 after a string of glitches hit the major train line along EDSA. Roque then took the LRT to arrive in Malacañang.

Also on Thursday, the Toll Regulatory Board said it is studying a proposal to suspend tolls on the South Luzon Expressway, where motorists spend three to five hours a day due to congestion as a result of the Skyway extension project.

In an interview on radio dzMM, Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones said a motorist could spend half his life in a day because of the traffic on SLEX. Aragones said she will file a resolution urging lawmakers to compel the TRB to temporarily suspend the collection of SLEX toll.

In a separate interview on dzMM, a spokesman for Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who chairs the TRB, said they are studying the proposals.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta

the decision had no basis and urged the Court to reverse its ruling, saying its rates could go up by as much as P26.70 per cubic meter.

The company argued that Section 8 of the CWA did not require the completion of the projects, but merely the interconnection of existing water lines to available sewer lines.

The law, it added, also penalizes only the polluters or their positive acts of commission. An act of omission such as a failure to interconnect is not punishable.

If the concessionaires were to compress into five years as the Court ruling wants, what was planned as a 40-year project, the hundreds of billions of pesos required would lead to an increase in the water bill of subscribers, leaving them less money for other necessities and triggering higher inflation.

Worse, traffic is also expected to worsen, since hundreds of kilometers of roads, including EDSA, which are part of the Manila Water’s East Zone, would have to be dug up all at the same time.

The daily loss of P3.5 billion caused by existing traffic congestion could balloon significantly, it said.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, for his part, challenged Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and other department officials to join him in parts of Mindanao that have no electricity yet. To know how difficult life without electricity can be, he suggested they stay for a week in unenergized places, without a refrigerator where they can store their food.

In a budget hearing, Zubiri said the low electrification rate in Mindanao

From A1

“I have been very consistent in saying that when you consider the qualifications for Chief Justice, there should be more EQ,” Bersamin said.

He said it was already a given that the four aspirants to his position and the other magistrates had a high IQ, otherwise they would not have earned the respect of their colleagues.

“I presume all of these four have a high IQ, but if I were asked by the President whom to choose, I would choose the one who had more EQ than the others,” Bersamin said.

From A1

Three senators:...

From A1

Blue Ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon, who is leading the Senate inquiry, and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon both said the evidence against Albayalde is strong.

Drilon said the testimony given against Albayalde during the Senate hearings could be used by the Department of Justice as additional evidence, and could possibly cause the conviction of the embattled PNP chief.

“People have different statements, they say I am not involved, I was not there when the incident happened. All of these can be negated,” Drilon said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the additional testimonies and documents presented, particularly the surprise revelations by former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group deputy chief and retired Brig. Gen. Rudy Lacadin, have reinforced the other circumstantial evidence gathered in previous hearings of the joint Senate committee.

“Slowly but surely, the dots are being connected for the committee members

was disturbing, given that the region had the highest incidence of insurgency.

“When the barangays and sitios are unenergized, they’re living in abject poverty and darkness,” Zubiri said.

Based on the Energy Department presentation, 78.2 percent in Mindanao has electricity—which means more than 20 percent has no electricity. In the Visayas, 94.1 percent have electricity; in Luzon, 100 percent have power.

Administrator Edgardo Masongsong of the National Electrification Administration acknowledged that many places in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, SOCCKSARGEN and Davao have no electricity.

Meanwhile, the Court also ruled that the approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission of Manila Electric Co.’s unbundled rates, its appraisal of its properties and its rate hike of P0.168/kwh in 2014 were in violation of its mandate to protect the interest of consumers.

In an en banc decision authored by Senior Justice Antonio T. Carpio, the Court partially granted the petition filed by National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore) seeking to nullify ERC’s order issued on June 21, 2011 upholding its decision issued on May 30, 2003, which granted Meralco’s application for unbundled rates.

The ERC sided with Meralco’s arguments that the rate increase was intended to cover its growing operation and maintenance expenses, which include leased properties on customer premises, construction work in progress, and building plants for future use.

But the Court nullified the adoption by the ERC of the current or replace-

ment cost in the valuation of Meralco’s asset base, and remanded the case back to the agency for a proper determination of the power company’s assets.

In particular, the Court ordered the ERC to determine whether expenses directly and entirely related to the operation of a distribution utility should be passed on wholly or partially to the consumers, in order that electricity would be provided to consumers in the least costly manner.

The tribunal ruled that ERC’s approval of Meralco’s unbundled rates was in violation of its statutory mandate to approve rates that will provide electricity to consumers “in the least cost manner.”

Consumer advocate Romeo Junia lauded the ruling, calling it “a tectonic shift in rate regulation that will benefit consumers and captive consumers.”

“The Court practically overturning the ERC determination of the opening regulatory asset base favors consumers.

The asset base of Meralco increased to P134 billion from about P66 billion because of a novel valuation system that ignored historical cost of the assets.

The rate of return also increased to 14.9 percent from the 12 percent cap, raising Meralco return on capital from P3.2 billion under RORB to over P20 billion today,” Junia said.

“The SC order for ERC to go back to the asset base valuation could reduce the rates by a significant amount. The directive for ERC to consider the parameters whether expenses that are not directly and entirely related to the operation practically overturns the Performance Based rate setting adopted by ERC to replace RORB (Return on Rate Base), and restores the 12 percent cap on return set under RORB,” he added.

to form a conclusion, at the very least on the cover-up of the erring policemen led

by Maj. Rodney Baloyo,” said Lacson.

“It may also have opened the possibility of General Albayalde of being an accessory after the fact,” said Lacson who also served as PNP chief.

Gordon said Lacadin’s testimony, if corroborated with other statements, constitute strong evidence that may be used to file a complaint of graft against Albayalde.

“This is a sworn [statement]. He [Lacadin] is a general, officer of good repute. And when you take it together with the other evidence— the approaches to (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron) Aquino and the failure to follow the rules, failure to supervise it correctly, that is at the very least neglect of duty and at the most, graft and corruption,” Gordon said.

At Wednesday’s Senate hearing, Lacadin dropped a bombshell, saying Albayalde had admitted to getting “a small share” of the loot from the 2013 raid.

Gordon described Lacadin’s exposé as “so damaging.”

The senator also said Albayalde’s mistake is that he keeps calling people.

Gordon said he believes there is now clear evidence that Albayalde interfered to save the 13 policemen involved in the 2013 raid from dismissal.

Albayalde was chief of the Pampanga police office when the 13 policemen raided the house of a suspected drug lord, seizing about 200 kilos of shabu but turning in only 38 kilos while keeping the rest to resell.

Told about President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier statement that there must be clear evidence first against the PNP chief, Gordon said: “I think we have it.”

“I would advise Oscar Albayalde to get a very, very, very good lawyer,” Gordon said. He also disclosed that the NBI is conducting a lifestyle check on Albayalde, who is set to retire on Nov. 8.

Albayalde, then Pampanga police chief, was relieved in 2014 over the case following the ninja cop controversy.

Former CIDG chief Benjamin Magalong, now Baguio City mayor, had earlier linked Albayalde to the ninja cop issue in one of the hearings.

Magalong said Albayalde attempted to inf luence Aquino into not carrying out the dismissal of the 13 police officers.

DOH...

From A1

From P12.37 billion this year, its budget will be slashed to only P2.45 billion, which will only cover the continued employment of 3,854 nurses, out of the 17,293 deployed this year. Add the 6,322 nurses to be funded by Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund and the total comes up to 10,186 hired and rehired in 2020.

Under this best-case scenario, he said 7,107 nurses will still be given pink slips next year.

“Not only nurses. Dentists will also be wiped out, from the current 202 to zero next year. Many rural health units will also be toothless,” he said.

There will also be no more medical technologists in 2020, from the current 597.

To retain 26,389 health workers, there should be a P16-billion increase in the funds of HRHDP for 2020, Recto said.

This will require adding P6.55 billion to the program’s P9.45-billion indicative budget.

“We have to do this because the health professional deployment and dispersal program is one of the lynchpins of the Universal Health Care program,” he said.

Because of this, he said the UHC should be launched with a great leap forward in the number of doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives, medical technologists and other health workers to unserved and underserved, poor and far-flung areas. The budget cut, however, points to a great retreat, he said.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, meanwhile, hailed the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the Universal Health Care Law to pave the way for its implementation.

Under the UHC law, all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled into the National Health Insurance Program as direct contributors, for those who have the capacity to pay premiums, and indirect contributors sponsored by the government such as indigents and senior citizens.

Duque said the UHC will ensure holistic health care for every Filipino by reorienting health care towards health promotion and preventive care, from a curative care focused system.

“The health system must actively improve the health literacy, the built environment, and the social determinants of health of every Filipino,” said Duque.

Mass arrest:...

From A1

“It is within our policy not to implement deportation unless local cases are cleared already. If the alien needs to serve time in our local jails, then so be it. This is to ensure the full effect of justice.

“We welcome foreigners to visit the Philippines―work here, live here, study here, retire here. We welcome aliens as long as they comply with our laws. Follow our laws or face deportation.”

The aliens are now detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

Albayalde has maintained his innocence and has rejected calls for his resignation or early retirement.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac on Thursday denied rumors circulating on social media that the PNP chief had resigned.

Albayalde said he is considering filing a case against Lacadin but did not elaborate.

“Lacadin has a lot of explaining to do and he will have his day in court,” he said.

Albayalde decried what he called as conspiracy of former police officials to pin him down.

“All those police officials ganging up on me have ill motives against me and obviously all worked with the previous administration,” Albayalde said.

The Palace on Thursday remained silent on the revelations made by Lacadin.

Asked if the President had said anything about whether Albayalde should or should not resign, Panelo said in Filipino: “None. I haven’t heard anything.”

He reminded reporters that they would let the Senate and the DILG to complete their investigation before the President acts.

News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A3

‘PET to be impartial in Marcos poll protest’

By Rey Requejo

C

HIEF Justice Lucas Bersamin on Thursday assured the public there would be no manipulation in the ruling of the Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, on the election protest filed by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against the proclamation of Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016 elections.

Bersamin, who concurrently chairs the PET, stressed that no amount of pressure could influence the decision of each and every member of the electoral tribunal in resolving the election protest against Robredo.

The top magistrate said PET might come up with a ruling next week.

“This is something I can tell you: We are expected to have a result by next week, it may not be what you expect.

We are still discussing many other things so that is all I can tell you. Don’t worry di ko niluluto, di pwede lutuin yan,” Bersamin said, when interviewed by reporters at the sidelines of the launching of the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall featuring the retiring Chief Justice.

When asked if the PET would come out with a ruling on Tuesday during the SC en Banc, Bersamin said: “Probably… We cannot tell. There may be a decision, there may not be a decision. But the reality is we are still considering whether there are already enough before us.”

Bersamin explained that he could not give categorical answer because “I am bound by confidentiality.”

“I cannot bring you into the Banc otherwise we would make our deliberations public. We have certain rules to follow on non-disclosure and I am very careful not to infringe those rules because I am the leader of the Court and would not be loquacious or talkative about what they are doing [at the PET],” he said.

The top magistrate made the statement after the PET twice deferred taking action on the report of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa on the revision of votes involving the three pilot provinces chosen by Marcos last Oct. 1 and Oct. 8.

Caguioa, the member-in-charge of the case, submitted the report on the recount and revision on the three pilot provinces last Sept. 9.

During the previous Tuesdays when the SC would hold its en banc session, supporters of Vice President Robredo gathered outside of the SC along Padre Faura Street, Manila City to appeal to the justices to dismiss the Marcos poll protest.

Bersamin admitted they were aware about the presence of demonstrators outside their gate but despite the clamor of the parties, they try not to be affected.

“We do not feel the pressure. We know there is pressure there but we are very mature members of the Supreme Court so if anyone of us feels pressured we would just help the pressured member.

I tell you, all of us are pressured to some degree but the pressure we experience is bearable because if not, we should all just resign,” he pointed out.

According to the poll body, Robredo got 14,418,817 votes, which is 263,473 votes more than the 14,155,344 votes received by Marcos during the May 2016 polls.

On June 29, 2016, Marcos filed an election protest against Robredo.

He asked the PET to declare Robredo’s victory as null and void; to conduct a recount of ballots in all of the 36,465 protested clustered precincts in 27 cities and provinces; and to declare the election results in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Basilan as null on the grounds of terrorism, intimidation, and harassment of voters.

With his electoral protest, Marcos was allowed to designate three pilot provinces namely Iloilo, Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental that would best exemplify election fraud for the manual recount, that would be used by the Tribunal as basis on whether they would proceed with the recount on all protested areas.

The PET brought in revisors and three commissioners to go through the clustered ballot boxes from the 2016 elections.

Pork price...

SALTWATER CROCODILE.

This undated handout photo received on Oct. 10, from the Mimaropa regional police shows police inspecting a 4.9-meter saltwater crocodile after it was killed on the remote island of Balabac.

The crocodile killed a fisherman after snatching him from his boat, local authorities said, the latest in a series of attacks terrorizing a remote southern island. AFP/ MIMAROPA Police

SC dismisses suit by Fil-Am activist vs. AFP, PNP THE Supreme Court has dismissed the petition for amparo and habeas data filed by Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas against government security officials whom she accused of accountability for her alleged abduction and torture by military agents in 2009.

In an eight-page resolution dated Sept.

10, the SC dismissed the case for failure of Roxas to prosecute her case, citing the lack of interest by the petitioner in pursuing her case.

“The Court resolves to dismiss the case for failure to prosecute” the resolution ruled.

The SC noted that Roxas attributed her alleged kidnapping and torture to members of the military and some identified government officials by reason of command responsibility.

“However, she failed to provide competent evidence that could

have supported her allegations that the respondents failed to exercise extraordinary diligence over their subordinates,” the high court said, adding that “the petitioner showed unwillingness to cooperate with the investigative authority, making the report on her alleged abduction as inconclusive to impute any liability upon the respondents.”

“On another note, the petitioner appeared to have been disinterested in pursuing her case . . . Unfortunately, the petitioner failed to submit any compliance or report manifesting her intention to continue with the case,” the SC stressed.

In 2009, Roxas filed a petition for the issuance of a writ of amparo and habeas data against several government officials including former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, among others.

A writ of amparo is a legal remedy

seeking a protection order while a writ of habeas data is a legal remedy available to any person whose right to privacy in life, liberty or security has been violated or under threat by the unlawful gathering of information about the person, his or her family, and home.

The SC ordered the dismissal of the case after it adopted the 2017 recommendation of the Court of Appeals for the petition to be dismissed “for failure of the petitioner to show that the respondents should be accountable for her abduction and torture.”

The CA informed the SC that Roxas had failed to prove that the threat against her security remains, thus raising questions over the need for the issuance of a writ of amparo and habeas data.

“The Court adopts the recommendation of the CA and orders the dismissal of the petition,” the resolution stated.

Rey Requejo

CHR vows to stay firm in upholding right to life

By Rio N. Araja AT THURSDAY’S observance of 17th World Day Against Death Penalty, the Commission on Human Rights vowed to stay firm in upholding the right to life and resist any move to reimpose the death penalty.

“We reiterate government’s commitment and obligation to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the Philippines expressly accepted in the free exercise of its sovereignty,” Commissioner Karen Gomez Dumpit said.

“The very nature of the treaty does not allow for withdrawal or denunciation. To reintroduce the death penalty once again will be a serious breach of international law,” she added.

At the National Congress Against the Death Penalty held in Pasig City, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston said the poor would suffer the brunt of death penalty, sought to be revived in the Philippines.

“Death penalty, even when it is officially applied, is a punishment that

affects much more severely those who are not well-off financially,” Alston said in a video message presented.

“They are the ones who are least able to defend themselves, they are the ones who are unlikely to be able to get a decent lawyer, who are not going to be able to challenge the judicial system,” he added.

Arguing against the idea that the reimposition of death penalty would deter crimes and give more teeth to the law, Alston said it might actually lead to “a dramatic weakening of the rule of law,” especially when the power to take lives is vested upon the “unrestricted hands” of few people.

Dumpit said all forms of criminality must be punished through an efficient and incorrupt justice system, and not through capital punishment.

“Death penalty can breed more problems and do more harm without resolving what it purports to stop in the first place. Death penalty is wrong and futile,” she said.

A country that makes killing a form of punishment loses the moral ground to stop killings, she added.

“The obligation to deliver justice must not breed further injustice. This year’s theme focuses on the unseen victims of capital punishment—children whose parents have been sentenced to death. The psychological and emotional suffering of these children can amount to a violation of their rights,” CHR said, referring to those who died in the government’s war on drugs.

On the other hand, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the commission, on the World Mental Health Day, encouraged the public “to take 40 seconds, out of 86,400 seconds, in a day to offer each words of encouragement and consolation.”

“Together we can unite for a change, it only takes 40 seconds to save a life,” she said.

According to the De Guia, almost 800,000 people die per year due to suicide or amounting to one person for every 40 seconds.

Mental health problems do not only affect adults, they also manifest even with younger individuals, she said, citing a 2015 World Health Organization Globalschool based survey.

Farmers’ fury: Mexican mayor dragged, tied to truck ANGRY farmers stormed a city hall in southern Mexico, seized the mayor and dragged him through town from the back of a pickup truck in protest, officials said Wednesday.

The incident occurred Tuesday when dozens of members of the Tojolabal indigenous community armed with clubs broke into the mayor’s office in the town of Las Margaritas in the state of Chiapas.

Witnesses told investigators they tied up the mayor, Jorge Luis Escandon, pushed him outside and tied him to the back of a pickup.

They then dragged him several dozen meters (yards) down the street, before police and public employees intervened

and freed Escandon, who survived without major injury.

The mayor accused his attackers of trying to extort him.

“Around 50 or 60 people came in three pickup trucks, armed with clubs and looking to kidnap city officials to extort us and get what they’ve always wanted: to be given money,” he told AFP. “They started struggling, carrying me, tied up one foot and dragged me out of my office to the street,” he said.

State prosecutor Jorge Luis Llaven said the attackers were demanding more public resources, including direct cash transfers, for their rural community, Santa Rita El Invernadero.

consumers were avoiding buying pork products, he said.

Baka magbawas ng supply kasi nga kaunti naman From A1 yung demand ngayon na ine-expect. Alam mo naman ang mga tao ngayon, umiiwas sa pork,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the real problem was the possible decline in Ina-assure naman namin sila na hindi sila magthe supply of pork products in the country because some alangan o umiwas” because ASF was not harmful to producers were reducing their output. humans.

Producers were expecting a drop in pork demand as A vendor in Barangay Toro in Quezon City was

Leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has introduced a policy of providing public assistance in the form of cash payments to beneficiaries, in order to stem corruption by cutting out bureaucratic middlemen.

Eleven people were arrested and a dozen injured in the melee. Chiapas state police were also sent to help restore order in Las Margaritas, a town of 20,000 people near Mexico’s border with Guatemala.

This is not the first time farmers from Santa Rita El Invernadero have staged a violent protest. Four months ago, they vandalized the town hall, demanding that Escandon fulfill promises he had made during the 2018 campaign. AFP

arrested for selling pork meat purchased from the ASFinfected Barangay Payatas.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the ASF situation in her area had “reached a bit of a crisis.”

In a bulletin on Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture said 12,000 pigs had so far tested positive of the ASF virus in Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga and Quezon City. With PNA

Villar ensures DA budget will go to projects

By Macon Ramos-Araneta IN SCRUTINIZING the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture, Senator Cynthia Villar made sure funding will go to projects, research and application that will help Filipino farmers and fisherfolks.

During the second hearing of the finance subcommittee on the P71.8-billion proposed budget of DA for year 2020, Villar reminded DA officials headed by Secretary William Dar to spend more than 50 percent of their budget for overhead or operating expenses.

“We want that bigger budget goes to the projects because that can help our people,” said Villar.

Villar said it was not right that a bigger bulk of the budget should go to the salaries, maintenance and operating expenses but the help for farmers was deficient.

Villar, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, also scrutinized the proposed budgets of DA’s flagship programs for rice, corn, livestock, organic agriculture, high-value crops, fisheries and halal to make sure they were allocating more money for items that would really help farmers and fisherfolks improve their productivity and increase their income.

She went over the budget of each of the 26 bureaus and government corporations under DA and asked heads of offices to explain how they intend to spend their budgets.

She called out the P150-million budget of the department for research under the National Corn Program, saying research without application will not benefit the farmers.

USec. Ariel Cayanan later in the hearing reported that the program’s budget was recast to reflect the suggestion of Villar for more spending on projects.

Villar also told the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority to allocate funds that would help develop the local fiber. She said PhilFIDA should put the budget increase it got last year not on the salary increase of its personnel but on programs that would help the industry.

“I am supporting the development of our local fiber.

It will be better if we could source the material we use in our blanket-weaving livelihood project locally,” Villar said.

She advised the Philippine Rubber Research Institute, which allocated 75 percent of its budget for overhead, to come up with programs like the distribution of seedlings to farmers to help farmers have additional sources of income.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

No transport crisis?

OUR officials in charge of public transport claim that there is no transport crisis. Yeah right, That is like being in a state of denial that there is no dengue epidemic, polio is not back and the African Swine Fever is not real.

Panelo is taking public transportation today.

Fantastic.

Adding to the unreality of the situation is Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo’s announcement he will take public transport today, Friday.

The questions being asked of Panelo is whether he will join the long line of commuters waiting outside to get in to buy a ticket or will his security men muscle their way in to get their boss and their tickets ahead of the ordinary commuter? Your guess is as good mine.

Then with Panelo’s coterie of at least six security detail, they can only add to the congestion of riders on the Metro Rail Transit or the Light Rail Transit depending on which one he takes. Will he be given a reserved seat or will he stand up and hold on the straps like the other commuters?

Panelo’s plan to take public transport seems more like a publicity stunt more than anything else. If at all, Panelo can only validate the transport crisis or claim against the reality of the situation that there is no transport crisis. That is like the old fable of saying the naked emperor is wearing clothes.

The government has announced constructing a skyway over Edsa to

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

ease traffic below. But that will fasttrack the volume of vehicles at the exit point at the Ayala Avenue and Buendia exits to clog the already massive traffic in the Makati Business District area.

It took me an hour by taxi to go from Arnaiz to Jupiter Street in Makati during the 6 p.m. peak hour last Friday. Can you imagine what a skyway on top of EDSA will do when it unleashes all that traffic above and below in Makati?

A diffusion of traffic is what seems more the solution. The plan for Chinese loan to build three more bridges across the Pasig might work in creating alternative outlets to the Makati business district. This, plus adding more train carriages to both the MRT and LRT. Progressive countries know that an efficient rail system and people mover help decongest road traffic and discourage motorists from using their cars.

Adding more carriages to the MRT and LRT systems would require money. Perhaps Malacanang should reconsider its plan to purchase a private plane for the President’s foreign trips and instead use the funds for buying more carriages to accommodate more commuters.

The people’s welfare should take precedence over the President’s convenience, right?

The reality of the transport problem is that government officials are in a state of denial. The first step is for the government to accept the reality of the problem and come up with solutions to address it.

The cost of the monstrous traffic problem is enormous in terms of lost manpower and productivity which comes up to millions of pesos daily.

In the overall picture, foreign investors balk at coming into the country because of workers not being able to come in on time.

The latest poll survey showed President Rodrigo Duterte’s popularity

M

Poor rail service

ETRO Manila commuters are more than disgruntled over the way the government is operating the country's three-railway system.

Each of the three railways running across Metro Manila have suffered stoppages and glitches that include faulty air-conditioners and leaking ceilings. Long queues of stranded passengers have become commonplace. Rail commuters are exasperated over the way the rail network is being managed by the state, and they are resigned to the government's ineptitude.

Repair works on the system are also slow, with the lack of replacement train cars compounding the misery of commuters. Worse, some train stations are being shut down as in the case of LRT2. The Light

Rail Transit Authority early this month said three stations of LRT 2 along Aurora Boulevard were being shuttered for nine months after a fire hit the line.

The Commission on Audit, meanwhile, called the attention of Metro Rail Transit 3 following a decrease in the number of its passengers and income by 26 percent since the Department of Transportation took over the transit’s operation and management in the past four years.

The COA in a 2018 audit report noted that MRT 3’s passenger ridership and ticket sales dropped to their worst levels last year, when 13 out of the 24 train set were only operational on a daily basis.

In a four-year analysis of the train’s operations, COA noted a 26-percent decline in annual passenger ridership from 140.1 million in 2018 to 104.3 million in 2017. Income collections from ticket sales plunged 26 percent

from P2.77 billion in 2017 to P2 billion in the same period.

COA attributed the “regressions” to the reduced number of train sets plying on the rail tracks “caused by the termination on Nov. 3, 2017 of the maintenance service contract of Busan Joint Venture and implemented by 183 Busan Universal Rail Inc.” “It bears emphasis that the maintenance services of the MRT 3 system were taken over by the DoTr-MRT3 maintenance transition team thereafter,” COA added.

The state, or the LRTA, clearly is not competent to operate a complex rail network in Metro Manila.

It should cede the operation and management of the three railway systems to private companies, which then will be accountable to the government. As things stand, the LRT and the Department of Transportation are not being rebuked for their inefficiency.

Turn to A5

Conversation with our man in Beijing A MEDIA delegation organized by the Chinese Embassy in Manila in coordination with China expert Herman Tiu Laurel, or "Ka Mentong," flew to Beijing on Sept. 21 to begin a 10-day visit to the capital city, Changsha in Hunan province, and Xiamen in Fujian province.

On the second day of our visit, we had a meeting with Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago "Chito" Sta. Romana to give us insights on what's going on in China at present. He agreed to meet us at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing on Sept. 22, a Sunday, or a week before the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1 this year.

Here's what he told us during our informal discussion with him: “When our group of Filipino youth and students arrived in China in 1971, it was still a Third World country and in the throes of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. We asked our hosts, where are our peers, the youth.

They told us: They are in the countryside, working among the peasants.

We were also brought at some point to the countryside where we did some farm work, but not full-time, just for half a day. China was then undergoing a period of scarcity. A system of rationing was put in place to feed the whole population, with ordinary Chinese given ration cards so they could buy grain, meat and bread, aside from clothing. Today, China has consumer goods in abundance, and they export steel, cement, glass and other indus-

trial products. It is now considered a middle-income economy.

I left China for home in 2010 and when I came back as ambassador in 2016, I was surprised to find the country had already developed into a cashless society. People use smartphones to pay taxi fare, or purchase goods from convenience stores, and so on. I don't carry cash anymore.

Here’s Ambassador Sta. Romana in his own words.

Another thing, when I came back here, the railway system had vastly improved and covered more areas.

All the provinces now have new airports. The Chinese have given much importance to building infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. They have more expressways here than in other countries. They have built another huge international airport here in Beijing that will connect the capital to other areas in the country. Hunan province in central China even has a magnetic levitation train system aside from bullet trains that travel at average speeds of 300 kilometers per hour. The bullet train system was started in the past decade and now covers various points in China.

China's sustained economic growth in the past 20 years has been fueled by exports, allowing them to overcome the global financial crisis in 2008 and to become an economic powerhouse at present. This is what will shield them from the trade war with the US. China is on track in achieving its Turn to A5

Notre-Dame’s rebirth still years away

By Jean-Louis de la Vaissiere the spire to be rebuilt exactly like the the structure will take several months.

"This is not scare-mongering. It original, and Macron arguing for an and Stuart Williams ONE day after the blaze that scarred Notre-Dame, President Emmanuel Macron addressed a nation in shock at the damage to one of its great cultural landmarks, with a promise that rang as clearly as the peal of the cathedral's bells.

"We will rebuild the cathedral even more beautifully and I want it to be finished within five years," Macron said on national television on the evening of April 16.

"And we can do it," he added.

But six months after the April 15 fire that tore through the roof of the 13th-century Paris cathedral and toppled its spire, the reconstruction process is shaping up to be much more complex than many anticipated.

Workers have had to clean up significant quantities of lead that melted from the roof and contaminated areas around the cathedral, with critics saying the authorities were slow to warn the public of the risks.

There remains no consensus on how the cathedral should look after reconstruction, with many experts wanting

innovative solution.

Above all, the process of securing an edifice still at risk of collapse after the fire damage has taken precedence over any reconstruction.

It is only at the end of 2020 that a complete check will allow architects to work out how to restore the cathedral.

No reconstruction is expected to start before 2021.

Not scaremongering It is impossible at this stage to say "how much this is going to cost, how long this is going to last," said Michel Aupetit, the archbishop of Paris.

Macron's five-year goal would see the cathedral's reconstruction completed in the spring of 2024, before Paris hosts the Olympic Games that year.

The top priority is to eliminate any risk to the vaulted ceiling, with the main danger coming from 500 tonnes of scaffolding that was erected around the fire for renovation work before the blaze.

The damage caused by just a single bar of scaffolding falling could prove irreparable, and the work to remove

is a physical reality," said Christophe-Charles Rousselot, director general of the Fondation Notre-Dame, the charity that is overseeing the gathering of donations to the cathedral.

With regards to the spire, a late addition to the medieval cathedral designed by the 19th-century French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, many see it as an integral part of the building.

"It needs to be rebuilt as it was before," said Philippe Villeneuve, the architect in charge of restoring the cathedral, arguing that the sheer power of the spire integrated it with the medieval church.

His is backed by Viollet-le-Duc's descendants and, according to opinion polls, the French public.

But the government has left open the possibility of an international competition for architects to design something new.

I feel orphaned Experts are also intensively researching the precise original architecture of the cathedral, so that when Turn to A5

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Opinion

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

Ocean warming IF YOU want to slow the rise in ocean temperature and sea levels, you should probably stop using plastics immediately and cut down on eating meat and agricultural products that consume plenty of water to produce, like rice. And you might have to reduce your travels too.

The use of plastics, meat consumption, and travel contribute to the production of greenhouse gases—the main reason why the world’s temperature is rising.

The burning of fossil fuels for energy and animal agriculture are two of the biggest contributors to global warming, along with deforestation.

Globally, fossil fuel-based energy is responsible for about 64 percent of human greenhouse gas emissions, with deforestation at about 18 percent, and animal agriculture between 13 percent and 18 percent (estimates from the World Resources Institute, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and Pitesky et al. 2009).

According to CarbonBrief, tourism accounts for 8 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

The ocean is warming more rapidly, becoming more acidic, and losing oxygen. These trends harm living things under the sea and will impact adversely on food, water, and other benefits from the ocean. Global warming is to blame.

The seas now absorb much of human-generated carbon dioxide, which then affects temperature change. The oceans store 93 percent of that energy which helps keep the planet livable by moderating temperatures.

A higher amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to higher global temperatures, which then results in thermal expansion of seawater and melting of glaciers and ice sheets, says Wikipedia.

The rise in sea levels will affect more than two billion people who live on shorelines, about 800 million of whom live on land that is less than ten meters above sea level. That includes majority of 100-million Filipinos.

Showing a rapid rise in sea level during the past two decades are the western tropical Pacific and the United States northeastern seaboard. The Philippines is in the Pacific Ocean.

With a sea level rise within the next

Conversation...

From A4

goal of eliminating absolute poverty by 2021. The target year is significant as this would be 100 years after the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921. Most of the very poor are in the mountainous areas, and they represent 5 or 6 percent of the total population. In the urban areas, there are no more shanties.

Migrant workers who had settled in Beijing were sent back to their home provinces.

The issue of sending Filipino domestics to China is still under discussion, but there is some resistance on the part of the Chinese government as they also have surplus labor.

They would rather have skilled workers. Now that the Chinese middle class has become more prosperous, they want to hire domestic workers who can take care of their children and do housework. They envy the

Notre-Dame’s...

From A4

reconstruction begins it is as accurate as possible.

"Before 2010, we only have oldstyle surveys, plans that have been redrawn on numerous occasions which are very partial and very imprecise," said Remi Fromont, one of the architects responsible for the site who is working on drawing up accurate plans.

Andrew Tallon, a Belgium-born scholar who died aged 49 in November 2018, carried out hugely valuable laser scans of the interior in 2010 that have proved an even more valuable legacy than he could have imagined.

century of 50 cm (20 inches), the US would lose 38 percent to 61 percent of its existing coastal wetlands.

A rise in sea level will have a negative impact not only on coastal property and economy but on mankind’s supply of fresh water.

According to the US EPA, “rising sea level increases the salinity of both surface water and ground water through salt water intrusion.”

Here’s what it looks like.

An increase in salinity would threaten aquatic animals and plants that cannot tolerate high levels of salinity.

The New York Times report of Sept. 25 points out that “for decades, the oceans have served as a crucial buffer against global warming, soaking up roughly a quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans emit from power plants, factories and cars, and absorbing more than 90 percent of the excess heat trapped on Earth by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Without that protection, the land would be heating much more rapidly.”

“Climate change is heating the oceans and altering their chemistry so dramatically that it is threatening seafood supplies, fueling cyclones and floods and posing profound risks to the hundreds of millions of people living along the coasts,” reports the Times.

NYT quoted the UN report as concluding: “The world’s oceans and ice sheets are under such severe stress that the fallout could prove difficult for humans to contain without steep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Fish populations are already declining in many regions as warming waters throw marine ecosystems into disarray.”

The September 2019 UN report on warming ocean was prepared by a panel of 100 experts under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report estimates that the upper ocean (surface to 750 m deep) has warmed by 0.09 to 0.13 degrees Celsius per decade over the past 40 years.

Other processes important in influencing global sea level include

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Greta and the girls changes to groundwater storage including dams and reservoirs.

Global warming also has an enormous impact with respect to melting glaciers and ice sheets. Higher global temperatures melt glaciers such as the one in Greenland, which flow into the oceans, adding to the amount of seawater.

Meanwhile, billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences that make up about 40 percent of the world's ocean surfaces.

At current rates, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050, warns the Center for Biological Diversity.

“In the first decade of this century, we made more plastic than all the plastic in history up to the year 2000.

And every year, billions of pounds of more plastic end up in the world's oceans. There are now 15 to 51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans. Not one square mile of surface ocean anywhere on earth is free of plastic pollution,” says the Center for Biological Diversity. Thousands of animals, from small finches to blue whales, die grisly deaths from eating and getting caught in plastic.

When exposed to sunlight, common plastics produce greenhouse gases methane and ethylene.

Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals and human seafood eaters.

A recent study found that a quarter of fish at markets in California contained plastic in their guts, mostly in the form of plastic microfibers.

Temperature analysis by scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies shows that the average global temperature on Earth has increased by about 0.8° Celsius (1.4° Fahrenheit) since 1880. Two-thirds of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15-0.20°C per decade.

“A one-degree global change is significant because it takes a vast amount of heat to warm all the oceans, atmosphere, and land by that much. In the past, a one- to two-degree drop was all it took to plunge the Earth into the Little Ice Age. A five-degree drop was enough to bury a large part of North America under a towering mass of ice 20,000 years ago,” according to NASA. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Hong Kong people who have Filipino domestic workers who can do the housework, teach their children English, and take care of the elderly.

Because of the one-child policy in the past, the number of elderly in China has risen. The Chinese want to hire English-speaking caregivers.

The goal of the Chinese leadership is to reach by 2035 the status of a high-income economy and by 2049, become the top economy in the world. The goal of the US in its ongoing trade war with China is to stop or at least delay the pace of China's economic development. Basically the US does not want to be the Number 2 economy. That's why the US has been trying to stop other countries from dealing with Huawei, a leading IT giant. The US advantage is high technology, but the Chinese are catching up. I expect an interim agreement on the trade war, particularly as we approach the US election. The Chinese would be very interested in the result of the coming election. The anti-Chi-

na mood in the US is very strong, so Xi Jinping would have to face this challenge head on.

With regard to the ongoing political crisis in Hong Kong, it is quite clear that the Chinese approach to the protests is not to do another Tiananmen and send in the tanks but rather to allow them to hold more demonstrations despite occasional violent episodes so that public opinion would turn against them. China's approach seems to be to isolate the hardliners and win back the population, especially the young people. Basically, it is to give them enough rope to hang themselves. This is a challenge to the policy of "one country, two systems," and this also applies to the case of Taiwan, which China considers a province. Elections are also scheduled in Taiwan next year and the last thing that China wants is for another pro-independence candidate to win as president.”

"We know that we will have shortcomings. Not all the chapels were systematically scanned. There are still areas of doubt," Fromont said.

In the aftermath of the fire, private individuals and above all rich French cooperations rushed to pledge hundreds of millions for the rebuilding of the cathedral.

There were concerns whether this funding would ever be realized.

But France's richest man Bernard Arnault in September signed a formal accord over his pledge of 200 million euros ($220 million), as did the Pinault family for their promised 100 million euros.

A signing on another 100 million promised by the oil giant Total is

awaited in October.

The consortium of fundraising groups behind the drive believes that 800 million euros ($890,000) can be raised in total, with over 616 million euros now either transferred or pledged.

But lovers of the historic masterpiece, be they tourists, architecture buffs or worshippers, may have to wait some time before Notre-Dame becomes theirs again.

"I have felt myself orphaned, it is like being in mourning," said Michele Chevalier, 70, a regular at Notre-Dame who was at the service when the first evacuation took place.

"I still manage to pray, but it's not the same." AFP

ernhil@yahoo.com

remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than 8 1/2 years.”

"You are failing us,” she said toward the end. “But the young people are starting to understand your FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Greta Thun- betrayal. The eyes of all future genberg, in blue sneakers and a purple erations are upon you. And if you backpack, sat on Sweden’s parlia- choose to fail us, I say: We will nevment grounds on August 28, 2018. er forgive you.” *** It was a Friday, and she had skipped Despite her popularity and her school for this exercise. Beside her was a sign that translated to “School passion, not every one appreciates what Thunberg is trying to do. A Strike for Climate.”

She continued to do this every British minister dismissed ThunFriday since then. Sometimes, a few berg as “the Justin Bieber of ecology.” Online, she is mocked for being friends sat with her.

One year and one month later, on the autism spectrum.

This was on Sept. 20, the her response: largest global “When haters youth action ‘You have stolen go after your took place in looks and difnumerous loca- my dreams and my ferences, it tions around the childhood with your means they world. Young have nowhere people took empty words.’ left to go. And to the streets then you know and demanded you’re winfrom their elders—especially government and ning! I have Aspergers and that business leaders, to do something means I’m sometimes a bit difabout the climate crisis. They ferent from the norm. And—givwanted to declare a climate emer- en the right circumstances- being gency, saying that if the world different is a superpower. #aspdoes not do anything drastic to iepower. I'm not public about my curb greenhouse emissions, global diagnosis to 'hide' behind it, but temperatures will rise rapidly and because I know many ignorant irreversibly, having catastrophic people still see it as an 'illness', or something negative. And believe consequences on the planet.

Thunberg is indeed a remarka- me, my diagnosis has limited me ble young woman. Coming to the before.”

Thunberg is in the running for a United States to attend the United Nations Climate Summit last Nobel Peace Prize, this year’s winmonth, she refused to travel by ner of which will be announced air because of the carbon footprint today. She is up against the Ethiothat such a trip would entail. In- pian prime minister and a Brazilian stead she took a boat and sailed indigenous leader, but she remains the Atlantic. In the US, she made a a favorite. (United States president mark by leading strikes, guesting Donald Trump is also coveting the in talk shows, and most especially distinction, but of course nobody is speaking at the United Nations. In taking him seriously.)

Whether or not Thunberg bags an impassioned speech, she told the prize, she has made her mark world leaders: How dare you!

She is just a child, indeed. She by speaking truth to power, by was not wearing a high-powered warning us all of the danger that suit—just a bright pink shirt, with awaits us if we do nothing, in her long braided hair and voice that making the science accessible and sounded as though she were running understandable by ordinary peoout of breath. Looks are deceiving, ple, and by empowering those who indeed: Her message was simple, are “different” whatever bullies and critics may say. evidence-based—and powerful. *** “For more than 30 years, the Then again, Thunberg is the first science has been crystal clear,” she said on Sept. 24. “How dare to admit she is fortunate.

And she is! She lives in a highly you continue to look away and come here saying that you're do- developed country, known for being ing enough, when the politics and able to provide good social services solutions needed are still nowhere to its citizens. She was raised in a secure home, with a good educain sight?”

She used numbers to bolster tion—her mother is a famous opera her point, but in a way people can singer—which is probably why she comprehend. "The popular idea of is aware of this profound issue and cutting our emissions in half in 10 developed a passion for it at such years only gives us a 50-percent a young age. We hardly hear about chance of staying below 1.5 degrees her native Sweden being visited by [Celsius], and the risk of setting off natural disasters, much less her peoirreversible chain reactions beyond ple and her government scrambling to cope with the effects of such cahuman control,” she added.

"Fifty percent may be accept- tastrophes.

Elsewhere in the world, there able to you. But those numbers do not include tipping points, most are countless girls like her, who do feedback loops, additional warm- not have the luxury of espousing ing hidden by toxic air pollution a cause and chastising world leador the aspects of equity and cli- ers for their hypocrisy. While they mate justice. They also rely on my would want to do that, or could generation sucking hundreds of be capable to do that, they are too billions of tons of your CO2 out bogged down surviving conflict, of the air with technologies that making a living, being limited by mindsets and stereotypes, and trybarely exist.

"So a 50-percent risk is simply ing to live a “normal” life despite not acceptable to us—we who have displacement, discrimination, disease and violence. to live with the consequences.

Today is the International Day of "To have a 67-percent chance of staying below a 1.5 degrees global the Girl. Greta Thunberg is a great, temperature rise—the best odds giv- inspiring young woman, and she will en by the [Intergovernmental Panel do more for the world. But today and on Climate Change]—the world had every day, we should also remem420 gigatons of CO2 left to emit ber the millions of girls around the back on Jan. 1st, 2018. Today that world who need empowering, and figure is already down to less than who could be equally great, equally inspiring leaders—in their families, 350 gigatons.

"How dare you pretend that this communities, countries—if they can be solved with just 'business as would only be given the chance. usual' and some technical solutions?

With today's emissions levels, that adellechua@gmail.com

No transport...

From A4

rating dropped two digits. While the Palace does not seem too concerned about it, this rating fall can be traced to the government being unable to deal with the transport crisis.

The President is on his last three years in office. A few more points’ drop in his acceptance rating could

lead to his political party’s downfall and the resurgence of the discredited Liberal Party.

The year 2022 is not too far from now. Will Duterte allow the demise of his PDP-Laban party and the split of the supermajority in Congress?

The supermajority in Congress is not a solid bloc and is only held together by presidential funds which congressmen need for their district projects so they can stay in power.

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News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

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Isko urged: Look after Isetann employees

By Vito Barcelo THE workers group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Thursday appealed to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso to look after the welfare of daily-paid Isetann employees who were displaced following the City Hall order to shut down the operations of the mall.

Domagoso ordered the closure of Isetann Mall along Recto Avenue after finding that its management, the TriUnion Properties Inc. was operating as a lessor allegedly without the necessary business permit.

“We respect the executive judgment prerogative of Yorme Isko to shut down the entire operations of Isetann department store over the management’s noncompliance with city ordinances. We support his bold resolve to address the city’s deeply-seated problems but we hope there’s a way forward to restore the jobs of Isetann employees or some kind of assistance for them while they have no income,” TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said in a statement.

The TUCP said the employees are the ones who suffer the most with the mall owners’ non-compliance with city ordinances. In order to lift the closure ban and for workers to return to work, the labor group urges the Isetann management to immediately comply with requirements of the city ordinance.

Among those economically affected by the closure order, Mendoza said, are employees such as salesladies and rankand-file who are covered by the ‘nowork, no-pay’ policy.

“Because Isetann management did not abide with the law, the employees lose their salaries and wages. In this case, employees suffer the consequences of the management’s violation. We urge the Isetann management to immediately comply with the licenses and permits required by the city government needed for the resumption of mall operations so that all the employees can return to work,” Mendoza said.

The Manila mayor had said that Isetann mall may reopen once its management is able to comply with the requirements of the local government.

ACT slams ‘anomalous’ teacher benefits AMID claims of both the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Education that public school teachers receive additional special benefits, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines revealed that it’s actually “gravely wanting especially with respect to RA 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers—with some being questionable at best, anomalous at worst.”

The two agencies’ statement came in the light of the pay hike guarantee following the completion of DBM’s study on government salaries.

“In a bid to present the government’s paltry 21 percent pay hike as passable, DBM and DepEd has resorted yet again to misrepresenting teachers’ compensation and benefits, further exposing their lack of understanding of our grim economic and working conditions,” hit ACT national chairperson Joselyn Martinez.

Among the ‘special benefits’ received by teachers according to DepEd are their overload pay, chalk or teaching supplies allowance, special hardship allowance, and their proportional vacation pay. ACT argued, however, the severe shortages and problems with these.

“The ‘overload pay’ referred to here is actually only overtime pay, while our actual overload in terms of oversized classes and the non-teaching tasks we are forced to take on due to the severe lack in non-teaching staff remain uncompensated. The P3,500 teaching supplies allowance, meanwhile, only amounts to P17/day for SY 2019–2020 which consists of 203 school days; that hardly suffices for all the resources we must produce for the hundreds of students we handle which are meant to fill in the gaps and shortages in materials and supplies in our schools,” explained Martinez.

ACT added that these benefits essentially serve the purpose of covering for the lacking state resource allocation to education. The group additionally raised questions on the SHA and PVP of teachers.

“DBM has set the ceiling for the SHA at 25 percent of eligible teachers’ salary, when it should be the minimum according to Article 3 Sec. 19 of RA 4670. Not to mention how inaccessible this remains to be for most teachers. That alone is a grave injustice to teachers who go above and beyond just to provide education to youth in otherwise unreachable areas,” exposed Martinez.

No travel restriction on PH—DOH D

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ESPITE the declaration of a polio epidemic, the Department of Health on Thursday said that there are no travel restrictions to the Philippines.

“Filipinos are not restricted from traveling to other countries at this time,” said DOH Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo.

Domingo, however, strongly advised Filipinos, especially the OFWs to check if the country that they will

be traveling to requires a vaccination certificate.

Nonetheless, the DOH reiterated the advisory of the International Health Regulations for travelers entering or leaving the Philippines.

Travelers who are leaving for coun-

tries that require immunization, can receive a dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) before departure and secure an International Certificate of Vaccination from the DOH Bureau of Quarantine that will serve as proof of vaccination.

As for those entering the country, travelers including foreign nationals and returning Filipinos of all ages, who are intending to stay in the Philippines for four weeks and more and have not received any polio vaccination in the last 12 months, are encouraged to have

themselves immunized with a single dose of IPV not later than four weeks before their scheduled travel to the Philippines.

Those with urgent travel within four weeks are recommended to receive a single dose of IPV at least by the time of departure as this will still provide added protection, particularly for frequent travelers.

This October, the DOH will be conducting a Synchronized Polio Vaccination in the country to arrest the spread of the disease.

PROSTITUTION DEN. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora escorts rescued sex workers after leading a raid to an alleged prostitution den along Santolan Road in San Juan City, Oct. 10, 2019.

The massage parlor identified as Michiko Spa, operates as a prostitution den according to the San Juan Police.

The rescued women were taken to the Department of Social Welfare and Development office.

Manny Palmero

INC gives humanitarian aid to storm-hit Bahamas AS PART of its ever-expanding global effort to provide assistance in various areas of the world, the Iglesia Ni Cristo flexed its extensive network of volunteers, logistics, and resources to give crucial aid to those affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

INC conducted an Aid to Humanity event in the Carribean island last Sept. 29, 2019.

Dorian, a Category 5 storm, made landfall on Sept. 1 and left death and destruction in its wake, which local and international aid organizations both described as “similar to a war zone.”

An estimated 600 people are still listed as missing. Damage to property is calculated to run in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Through the leadership and initiative of INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, we were able to provide aid and assistance to approximately 3,000 persons

affected by the hurricane,” INC auditor general Glicerio B. Santos Jr. said.

Santos Jr. added they were able to distribute relief goods and care packages that included rice, noodles and various canned products such as sardines, tuna, corned beef, sausage, and pasta. Threethousand ready-to-eat packed meals were also given away.

The Aid To Humanity drive, led by the INC’s Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, gave additional financial assistance to several individuals and institutions, including Dr. Conville Samuel Brown, Westminster College, Coastline Community Care Nursing Home, Ranfruly Home for Children, Good Samaritan Home, Home for Homeless, Filipino Community Organization, the Public Hospitals Authority, and the Persis Rogers Home for the Aged.

The INC had previously provided crucial assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy in the US east cost in 2012 by do-

nating $150,000 to the New York City Police Foundation, the FDNY Foundation, the Bellevue Hospital Center, and the Coney Island Hospital.

In 2017, the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation set up an extensive Aid To Humanity effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas by providing groceries, cleaning supplies, and toiletries to affected residents.

The INC auditor general explained that “As soon as we were informed that there was an urgent need to provide aid and assistance to the Bahamas, we immediately mobilized. We needed to alleviate the suffering of the hurricane victims.”

“Our aim is to help where it is needed, wherever in the world, at the soonest possible time. Aid to Humanity is available to everyone, INC members and non-members alike. It’s INC’s way of addressing the need for emergency assistance in the face of natural disasters and calamities,” Santos Jr. noted.

RIBBON-CUTTING.

Pack Print Plas Philippines, along with Manufacturing Technology World and Engineering Technology World, gather at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City during the opening ceremony program. Photo shows (from left) Philip Lao, president, Philippine Center for Print Excellence Foundation Inc., Technical Education and Skills Development Authority executive director Sonia Lipio, Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III; Gernot Ringling, managing director, Messe Dusseldorf Asia, together with other officials during the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon.

Manny Palmero

DENR reduces land dispute cases by half —Cimatu

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Thursday said it has cut over half of the backlog of cases, mostly land disputes, in just a year.

Secretary Roy Cimatu said the agency was able to reduce its case backlog at least by 62 percent over the course of one year.

In an inventory report of DENR’s Legal Affairs Service, its director Norlito Eneran said the backlog went down to 559 in January 2019 from a high of 1,482 in January 2018.

He credited the gains to Cimatu's program to eliminate the backlog and adopt alternative dispute resolution.

The DENR chief said such development has only demonstrated how serious they are in addressing their case backlog.

“The days of long, drawn-out cases are finally numbered,” he said.

“The process in eliminating undue delays in the resolution of cases are now being felt as gaps and flaws in the process that have allowed delays to thrive in the past are now being addressed,” he said.

The cases, mostly land disputes, are farmed out to the four offices under the Legal Affairs Service, along with the zero-backlog task force created in January 2018 aimed to identify cases that could easily be removed from the dockets “moto proprio” or without the need to hear the parties.

“Almost 90 percent of our cases in the DENR are land cases and the parties involved in many of these are either relatives or neighbors,” Eneran said, adding the approach proved to be effective.

PMA seeks court martial proceedings vs. suspects in Dormitorio’s death IF THE Philippine Military Academy will have its way, the suspects in the death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio should undergo a court martial.

According to commandant of cadets Brigadier General Romeo Brawner Jr., the military school has proposed that the hazing suspects be placed under court martial proceedings so they can be formally discharged from the academy.

“Para ma-discharge sila, nagpropose kami na magkaroon ng general court martial sila sa military so we still have custody,” he said.

Brawner said the PMA could not turn over the suspects to the police as there are no warrants of arrest issued against them.

Meanwhile, PMA spokesperson Captain Cheryl Tindog said the academy is still evaluating whether the suspects would undergo court martial proceedings.

“Ongoing kasi ’yung ano natin ’di ba may mga investigation pa’yan eh... factfinding mga ganoon..." Tindog said.

She added that the suspects—the two tactical officers and three PMA doctors who have also been charged, were all

placed under the holding area.

“Meron tayong unit sa Armed Forces of the Philippines na naghohold sa kanila para ano po... wala muna silang hinohold na positions right now... nandoon lang sila sa holding unit ng Armed Forces para ifacilitate ’yung participation nila doon sa kaso,” Tindog explained.

On Tuesday, Dormitorio’s family filed a complaint against the suspects involved in the death of the 20-year-old cadet.

They were identified as Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanopao, Cadet Second Class Christian Zacarias, Cadet Third

Class Shalimar Imperial, Cadet Third Class Felix Lumbag, Cadet Third Class Julius Carlo Tadena, Cadet Third Class Rey David John Volante and Cadet Third Class John Vincent Manalo, who were charged with murder raps as well as cases for violating the Anti-Hazing and AntiTorture laws.

The tactical officers identified as Major Rex Bolo and Captain Jeffrey Batistiana were also charged as “accomplices” in violating the Anti-Hazing Law and “principals” in violating the Anti-Torture Law, as weel as for dereliction of duty.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Cignal grabs PSL’s 1st seat in semifinals Games Tomorrow

(Caloocan Sports Complex) 2 p.m. – Cignal vs Petron 4 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Generika-Ayala 6 p.m. – Marinerang Pilipina vs PLDT

MALOLOS CITY – Cignal hacked out a 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 win over PLDT Home Fibr to snatch the first semifinal berth of the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference Thursday at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center.

With national team stalwart Mylene Paat at the helm, the HD Spikers made short work of the Power Hitters, winning in just one hour and 29 minutes to seize their fifth straight win and become the first team to advance to the next round of this prestigious women’s club tourney.

Paat delivered 18 points built on 14 kills, three blocks and an ace laced with eight digs while Rachel Anne Daquis and Janine Navarro delivered 13 markers apiece for the HD Spikers, who also ruled this short—but very competitive—conference two years ago.

Filipino-American playmaker Alohi Robins-Hardy was also impressive, finishing with 19 excellent sets with five points while libero Jheck Dionela was accounted for 13 digs and six excellent receptions.

Cignal will shoot for an elimination round sweep when it battles Petron tomorrow at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

“We can’t afford to relax, knowing that we are still unbeaten,” said Paat, who will play a crucial role when the Nationals compete in the 30th Southeast Asian Games this December.

“We need to learn how to avoid being complacent in the last stretch of this conference. We also have to be consistent every time.”

Far Eastern University standout Jerili Malabanan nailed 15 points while Shola Alvarez had 12 markers, 10 digs and nine receptions for the Power Hitters, who played without head coach Roger Gorayeb.

The legendary mentor remains at the hospital, leaving the coaching chores to Clint Malazo.

PLDT is now teetering on the brink of eliminations with a 1-3 record.

A7

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Eagle-spiked 69 gives Alido lead

D

AVAO—Young Ira Alido surged past a fading Ramil Bisera and Lexus Keoninh with an eagle-aided 69 and grabbed a one-stroke lead over an equally charging Michael Bibat with a slew of fancied bets bouncing back into contention halfway through the ICTSI South Pacific Classic here yesterday.

Alido, who has posted five Top 10 finishes since missing the cut in the kickoff leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour in Cebu last June, sustained his bogey-less 69 Wednesday with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 12th then added two more birdies against a bogey to complete a 36-33 card at the newly-opened South Pacific Golf & Leisure Estates.

With a 138 aggregate, the 18-year-old sophomore pro moved up by one over Bibat, who likewise pressed his title

drive with his own version of a three-under card (33-36) for a 139 while another shot farther back at 140 is a pair of obscure bets Rico Depilo and Enrico Gallardo who sneaked into the title picture with superb rounds.

Depilo set a new course record of bogey-free 66, spiked by a second straight eagle on Alido the par-5 No. 2, while Gallardo, who has more missed cut stints than made in his last five PGT tournaments, actually blew a six-under card with three straight bogeys from No. 4 but birdied No. 7 to save a 68 marked by five long putts, including a 30-footer on No. 1.

But Alido took command again of a stellar field with his near-impeccable touch on the layout’s unpredictable surface with the rising star hoping to buck the pressure in the last two days and go all the way to the finish.

“My putting worked well – hit a couple

of clutch putts and made a number of two-putts from long range. But I need to stay focused and keep it up in the next two days,” said Alido, wh has had a number of cracks at a maiden crown, including at PGT Asia at Wack Wack which he led in the third round only to fumble and stumble to fifth place at Aboitiz Invitational.

Bibat likewise leaned on his putting touch to be in contention again, eager to erase the stigma of his playoff setback to Juvic Pagunsan in Iloilo last June that foiled his bid for a first PGT crown since winning at Palos Verdes in 2013.

But two aces got back into the mix after a pair of so-so starts as reigning PGT Order of Merit champion Jobim Carlos rebounding strong with a 67 to tie Philippine Open titlist Clyde Mondilla, who shot a 70, at 141, the same output pooled by Richard Sinfuego, who also carded a 70.

Janine Navarro of Cignal scores against two PLDT Home Fibr defenders.

Red Lions a win shy of historic 18-game sweep CALVIN Oftana drilled in 29 points for San Beda University as the Red Lions put away the struggling College of St. Benilde Blazers, 95-73, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.

Oftana connected with 13 points for the Red Lions, who turned a 41-42 deficit into a 58-41 lead midway in the third, en route to their 17th straight triumph in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

James Canlas made 21 points in helping move the Red Lions one win closer of completing an 18-game sweep of the eliminations, and earning an outright finals slot.

The Red Lions, with Donald Tankoua adding 13 points, are now a victory shy of matching their season 86, when they won 18 straight games to win the title.

“Simple lang naman sinabi ko sa players nung halftime, mahiya naman sila sa sarili nila,” head coach Boyet Fer-

2 World Cup games axed as super storm nears Japan TOKYO—Rugby World Cup organizers took the unprecedented step Thursday of cancelling two games—England v France and New Zealand v Italy—as Japan braces for Super Typhoon Hagibis, likely the biggest storm to hit the country this year.

Both games were in the projected path of the large and powerful typhoon, which currently has a “violent” rating—the highest category by Japan’s weather bureau—and is due to hit the Tokyo area on Saturday.

Sunday’s four games, including the Pool A shoot-out between hosts Japan and Scotland in Yokohama, near Tokyo, remain under review, said tournament director Alan Gilpin.

“We’ve taken the very difficult decision to cancel certain matches in the affected areas,” Gilpin said.

“While it’s regrettable, we’ve made, we believe, the right decision with everyone’s safety as the priority,” he added. AFP

nandez, after the Red Lions fell behind, 41-42, at halftime.

With Justin Gutang shooting 23 points, the Blazers are almost out of contention with their 7-9 win-loss record.

Earlier, Justine Sanchez’s big game helped the San Beda Red Cubs to a 94-87 stopping of the La Salle Greenhills Greenies.

This allowed the Red Cubs to avenge their first round loss to the Greenies in the junior division.

: : CENTURY PROPERTIES GROUP, INC. : (Registrant) : : x-----------------------------------------------------x

REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES (Preferred A shares)

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING Formal Investigation on the Imposition of Safeguard Measure Against Importations of Reflective, Tinted and Clear Float Glass from Various Countries (Investigation No. SG-2019-OC-Float Glass) Notice is hereby given that the public hearing scheduled from 21 to 25 October 2019 on the Formal Investigation on the Imposition of Safeguard Measure Against Importations of Reflective, Tinted and Clear Float Glass from Various Countries, as indicated in the Commission Order issued on 16 August 2019, is moved to a later date to allow the submission of required information by interested parties and give this Commission additional time to complete its data verification.

The new schedule of the public hearing will be announced at a later date.

For inquiries, Ms. Elvira C. Ignacio, Acting Director III, Head of the Task Force on Float Glass, may be reached at Telephone Number 8936-3319 or at email address TC.Assist@tariffcommission.qov.ph.

Issued this 9th day of October 2019, at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS-OCT.11, 2019)

SUBIC BAY—Team Philippines did it again as student-athletes from Ormoc City scooped up three more gold medals on the second and last day of the 30th Southeast Asian Games modern pentathlon test event at the Boardwalk here.

This time, it was Michael Comaling’s turn to shine, after Princess Arbilon got disqualified in her bid to come up with an impressive finish in the beach triathle events.

The 19-year-old Comaling crossed the finish line of the four-target laser pistol shooting/50 meter swim/800-meter run of the men’s division in 18 minutes, 56.22 seconds.

Dexter Ardemer took the silver after finishing almost a minute behind (19:43.25), followed in third by Thai bet Benjamin Benjadheerapong (19:49.62).

The test events are held in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee and the Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association.

Hardly bothered by the hot morning weather, the lanky Comaling, who gave up his studies to concentrate on his training, then joined Ivy Claire Dinoy in taking the team relay gold in 19:48.50.

Arbilon, who made up for her disqualification in the women’s individual competition, settled for the silver with Samuel German (20:59.55), with the team of Shira Aranzado and Alne Tonada taking the bronze in 21:27.13.

“Mabilis ako sa huli sa running. Pero relaxed ako sa swim. Mabilis kasi kamay ko,” said Comaling, who felt at time doing the swim because it’s something he loves to do back home.

Comaling followed instructions from coach Rex dela Cruz to take care of his endurance, in their effort to have a consistent pace.

OFFICE OF THE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR ONE (1) LOT BRAND NEW HEAVY DUTY PRIME MOVER TRUCK WITH BRAND NEW LOW BED TRAILER The Municipality of Opol, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) intends to invite suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder project: Name of Project

:

Location ABC Delivery Period

: : :

PROCUREMENT OF ONE (1) LOT BRAND NEW HEAVY DUTY PRIME MOVER TRUCK WITH BRAND NEW LOW BED TRAILER Municipality of Opol, Province of Misamis Oriental Php. 18,000,000.00 120 calendar days upon opening of an operative Acceptable Letter of Credit

Quantity

Description

1 Unit

Brand New 10-Wheeler (6x4) Left Hand Drive Heavy Duty Prime Mover Cab : HW76 Cab, Single Sleeper with Aircon Engine : 380HP, EURO IV Emission Standard Transmission : 10 Forward and 2 Reverse Dimension : 6800x2496x3218 Steering : German ZF8118

1 Unit

Brand New Low Bed Trailer Payload Capacity : 60 Tons Kerb Weight : 9,450 kgs.

No. of Axle : 3 Axles

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Delivery of the Goods is required within 120 days upon Opening of Letter of Credit. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on October 4, 2019, a sworn statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for and on behalf of CENTURY PROPERTIES GROUP, INC. for the registration of 20,000,0001 Preferred A Shares with a Par value of P0.53 per shares at an Offer Price of P100.00 per Preferred Share, details of which are as follows:

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “’pass/fail’ criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Primary Offer

20,000,000

Preferred A Shares

Oversubscription Option

10,000,000

Preferred A Shares

Bidding is restricted to Filipino dtizens/sole proprietorship, partnership, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to the citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulation of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 518, and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Total

30,000,000

Preferred A Shares

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years, with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

According to the papers presented on October 4, 2019, the following persons are the directors and officers of the corporation:

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION

By Peter Atencio

Republic of the Philippines Province of Misamis Oriental MUNICIPALITY OF OPOL

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF

Ormoc athlete wins pentathlon SEAG test event

Name Amb. Jose E.B. Antonio John Victor R. Antonio Jose Marco R. Antonio Jose Roberto R. Antonio Jose Carlo R. Antonio Hilda R. Antonio Ricardo Cuerva Rafael G. Yaptinchay Amb. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. Stephen T. CuUnjienq Carlos E. Ejercito Atty. Danny E. Bunyi

Position Executive Chairman Vice Chairman President and CEO Director Director Director Director Director Independent Director Independent Director Independent Director Corporate Secretary Chief Financial Officer / Corporate Treasurer / Ponciano S. Carreon Investor Relations Head Domie S. Eduvane Head for Leqal and Corporate Affairs Corporate Secretary / Corporate Carlos Benedict K. Rivilla, IV Assistant Affairs Maria Theresa Fucanan-Yu Head for Coroorate Communications Chief Information Officer and Chief Compliance Atty. Isabelita Ching Sales Officer Ritchelle T. Cordero Head for Human Resources and Administration Said registration statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively referred to as (“RS”) and the subsequent updates are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to every party upon request at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. Said RS may also be downloaded from the company’s website: http://www.century-properties.com.

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director 1 The application of the corporatIon to amend Articles Fifth and Sixth of its Amended Articles of incorporation which pertains to the increased in the number of directors from Ten (10) to Eleven (11) and the reclassification of its 3,000,000,000 Common Shares to 3,000,000,000 Preferred Shares with a par value of P0.53 per shares was approved by the Commission on September 30, 2019 The new director is Ms. Hilda R. Antonio.

(MS-OCT. 11,14 & 21, 2019)

We also require that the prospective supplier I bidder should be: (1) MORE THAN TWENTY (20) YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SELLING BRAND NEW HEAVY EQUIPMENTS AND TRUCKS as certified by the company where the firm started from the SEC registration date with track record; must have a (2) CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION from the BUREAU OF CUSTOMS and a (3) PLATINUM MEMBER OF PHILGEPS; must have a (4) CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION from LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (5) AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year 2016 to 2018 with Income Tax Return filed thru EFPS (6) BIR IMPORTER CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE Interested bidder may obtain further information from BAC SECRETARIAT, Mr. Jose F. Escuzar, Jr. and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during Mondays to Fridays at 8 AM to 5 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by Interested Bidders on October 11, 2019 to November 4, 2019 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos Only ( Php25,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charges from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity provided that the Bidders shall pay the Non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The MUNICIPALITY OF OPOL, MISAMIS ORIENTAL will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 21, 2019 at 9:30 AM at the BAC OFFICE, which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before November 4, 2019 @ 8: 30 AM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITS Clause 18.

Bid Opening shall be on November 4, 2019 @ 9:30 AM at the BAC Office. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representative who chooses to attend the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The MUNICIPALITY OF OPOL, MISAMIS ORIENTAL reserves the right to accept or reject any bid to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the bidder or bidders.

For further information/inquiry please refer to: JOSE F. ESCUZAR, JR. BAC Secretariat Municipality of Opol Misamis Oriental LGU-Opol e-mail Address; lgu.opol2013@gmail.com 555-1950 0906-792-2864 (SGD) EDGAR C. OLACO,MPA,REA Chairman, BAC Municipality of Opal, Mlsamis Oriental 0926-114-8337 (MS-OCT. 11, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@manilastandard.net; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

SMBeermen, Hotshots in titanic clash

By Jeric Lopez A TIRANIC clash looms as two of the league leaders collide, with San Miguel Beer and Magnolia banging heads in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Both armed with three-game winning runs, the Beermen (3-0) and the Hotshots (3-1) test each other in a highly-anticipated tiff at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City as they chase a fourth straight win.

In the appetizer, Columbian (2-2) and BlackWater (1-2) figure in a critical match-up at 4:30 p.m. to start the show.

The Beermen are looking to keep in-step with league-leader and fellow unbeaten team TNT KaTropa (5-0).

San Miguel Beer’s bid for a grandslam is obviously off to a rousing start.

With import Dez Wells playing good as advertised, the Beermen are all business, downing NLEX, 98-94, in Dubai last week for their third win in a row.

“When I tell him (Wells) to take charge, he takes the challenge and is leading us so far,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “His impact reflects our record right now.”

After dropping its initial assignment, defending champion Magnolia has scored three straight victories as it is slowly but surely gaining its championship form.

“The hunger of our guys are showing and we need all of that against San Miguel,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, whose squad took down Alaska, 95-90, just a couple of days ago.

John Mark Tokong passes his tube riding in the 25th Siargao International Surfing Cup with flying colors.

PH jins vow to capture at least 5 SEAG golds T

HE Philippine Taekwondo team is plotting a major rally when the country hosts the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Taekwondo Association Executive officer Sung-Chon Hong disclosed yesterday that his wards are looking at winning at least five gold medals in the prestigious biennial meet set from November 30 to December 11 at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Hong said that his athletes are prepared and in high morale following the all-out support by the federation and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

In line with this, they are set to embark on a 10-day training in South Korea by

the end of October.

“This training by the taekwondo jins, supported by the PSC, is our push towards our aim to winning the medals in the SEA Games,” PSC Chairman William Ramirez said.

“Although the SEA Games are not about edging out our friend countries, the nation is also looking at how and on how competitive our athletes have become. It is imperative for the PSC to support our athletes as much as it can,” he added.

Hong, whose wards settled for only two gold, three silver and four bronze medals in the previous SEA Games assured a better performance for this upcoming biennial meet.

“I think we can win around five gold medals,” Hong stated.

The PTA executive refused to identify

the sure gold-medal winners, but mentioned the names of Pauline Lopez, Elaine Alora and Butch Morrison, as well as the decorated men’s poomsae squad of JR Reyes and Dustin and Raphael Mella and women’s team of Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, Rinna Babanto and Janna Oliva A perennial SEA Games medalist, Lopez made heads turn when she clinched a bronze medal in the 18th Asian Games last year while Alora is a silver medalist in the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament that served as her golden ticket to the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Morrison has been ruling the men’s -74kg division of the SEA Games for four years while the poomsae squads are credited a pair of bronze medals in the previous Asian Games.

Tokong is crowned surfing king SIARGAO ISLAND, Surigao del Norte—Philippine surfing idol John Mark Tokong stayed calm in the face of grinding pressure to rule the 25th Siargao International Surfing Cup finals for the second time Wednesday at the iconic Cloud 9 here.

Cool and composed, Tokong, who will spearhead the country’s gold-medal bid in the Southeast Asian Games, edged Hawaiian standout Noah Beschen in a final to remember, 16.80-16.75, to erase the bitter memories of his finals’ loss last year to Skip McCullough of the United States. ‘’I dedicate this win to my townmates and my family. I just dont want to disappoint them,’’ said Tokong, 23.

He also thanked Siargao Rep. Bingo Matugas and Governor Francisco ‘’ Lalo’’ Matugas for their wholehearted support.

Rep. Matugas and guest of honor and Secretary Martin Andanar led an array of government and LGU officials in the awarding ceremony Wednesday night at the Boulevard. There were songs and dances and video presentations featuring the past champions of the event.

On top of the $5,000 champion’s purse, Tokong, a well-loved figure here, also went home with former General Luna Mayor Jaime Rusillon trophy.

Rusillon is credited for opening Siargao to the surfing world.

Will Hayden Smith of the governing World Surf League and tournament director described the final confrontation between Tokong and Beschen as the best ever. He also described the organization of the event as fantastic.

To the delight of the crowd, Tokong dispatched Indonesian rival Oney Anwar in ther semifinals, before treating the near-delirious crowd to masterful surfing with a 19.05-15-30 triumph over Costa Rican’s standout Tomas King in the semifinals. Tokong’s rounds included a 9.50, which he further improved to a near-perfect 9.55 to stay in the hunt for the $5,000 champion’s purse.

Tokong, a native of the municipality of General Luna, finished second to deposed champion Skip McCullough of the United States last year. He won the World Surf League-sanctioned event in 2015.

IN BRIEF

TBA Studios allots P500m for new films

THE local film outfit of businessmen Fernando Ortigas and Eduardo Rocha is spending more than half a billion pesos over the next three to five years to produce quality and regional content for local and global viewers.

TBA Studios chief executive Eduardo Rocha said in a media briefing the film outfit would spend more than P500 million in the next three to five years to produce and market original content. The studio also opened its doors for both foreign and local collaborations.

He said the company would also tap OTT and digital platforms to generate more revenues.

“Now is definitely the opportune moment to make better films given that there are now more ways to generate revenues beyond traditional ticket sales. There is also the viability of selling the format and licensing content,” Rocha said.

Its biggest box office record holder to date, Heneral Luna, grossed more than P300 million for TBA. TBA Studios’ president Vincent Nebrida also said he was optimistic about the outlook of the Philippine movie industry.

“There is so much more opportunity for filmmakers today, even if many think the local film industry is struggling,” Nebrida told business reporters.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

MRC inaugurates solar rooftop project

MRC Allied Inc. said wholly-owned subsidiary Menlo Renewable Energy Corp. inaugurated its pilot 550-kilowatt solar rooftop project in Northern Luzon.

MRC Allied president Augusto Cosio said in a statement that with the project, the company was not only marking a milestone but was also helping rebuild the agriculture sector.

“Today we are not only making history in MREN but for MRC as well.

We have finally kicked off our RE portfolio through this pilot project, and we are working hard to produce more through our RE subsidiary, MREN,” Cosio said.

The solar rooftop project is installed on a rice mill and is seen helping the agricultural sector by reducing power costs.

“It’s been a great first year for me with MRC and working with one of our subsidiaries MREN because we were able to realize this pilot project in less than a year,” Cosio said.

The project is seen as MREN and MRC’s way of making renewable energy technology accessible to other industries such as the agricultural sector.

Alena Mae S. Flores

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

B1

By Julito G. Rada

AYALA LAND’S ISSUANCE. Ayala Land Inc. lists its P3-billion fixed-rate bonds due 2024 on Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp., with China Bank Capital Corp.’s support as the sole lead underwriter and bookrunner. The deal was priced at 35 basis points, the lowest spread since PDEx started in 2008 for a domestic five year corporate bond. Joining the bell-ringing ceremony at PDEx are (from left) Paula Tajanan of BDO Capital Corp.; Benedict Chan treasury officer, China Banking Corp.; Ryan Martin Tapia, president of China Bank Capital Corp.; Rhoda Huang, president of BPI Capital Corp.; Augusto Bengzon, CFO and treasurer of Ayala Land; Anna Ma. Margarita Dy, senior vice president of Ayala Land; Ma. Theresa Ravalo, president of Philippine Depository and Trust Corp.; Antonino Nakpil, president and COO of PDEx and Jose Emilio Jamir, senior division manager of Ayala Land.

World Bank reduces PH growth forecast to 5.8% T HE World Bank on Thursday reduced the 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.8 percent from the previous estimate of 6.4 percent amid the rising global uncertainties.

It also revised downward the 2020 growth forecast to 6.1 percent from 6.5 percent. The bank said in its Philippine Economic Update that growth would slightly pick up to 6.2 percent in 2021.

“Weakening global economy, rising protectionism, the United States-China trade spat and the slowdown in public investments in the Philippines in the first half of the year have tempered the country’s growth prospects,” the bank said.

It said, however, that strong private consumption linked to lower inflation, higher employment rates, robust remit-

tances and rising wages and a recovery in public investment spending would keep the economy buoyant. The services sector is seen to drive growth fueled by the continuing expansion of financial services and tourism.

“Given the global environment, resuming the fast pace of expansion in infrastructure and human capital spending will be key for the Philippines to regain higher growth momentum while continuing to lay the foundation for greater inclusion,” said Mara Warwick, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

“Timely passage of the 2020 budget and decisive action on the country’s tax reform program will remove uncertainties and help the private sector make timely decisions, boosting job creation,” Warwick said.

The report said the Philippines would sustain progress in reducing poverty despite the temporary slowdown in economic growth in the first half of

2019. More workers are finding gainful employment outside agriculture, real wages are rising, and inflation rates are stabilizing. It said the continuing implementation of social programs like the Pantawid Pamilya, or 4Ps, contributed significantly to poverty reduction.

Using the World Bank’s $3.2-a-day poverty rate, the poverty incidence is estimated to have declined from 26 percent in 2015 to 20.8 percent in 2019, a result of growth of incomes among poor households. The poverty rate is expected to dip further to 19.7 percent in 2020 and 18.7 percent in 2021.

“In the medium term, accelerating implementation of high-impact infrastructure projects and the recently approved critical reforms like the Ease of Doing Business Law and liberalization of the rice trade will help the country sustain inclusive growth that generates high-paying jobs and reduces poverty,” said World Bank senior economist Rong Qian.

Chelsea Logistics acquires SuperCat from 2GO Group

THE trade deficit narrowed by a third to $2.4 billion in August from a shortfall of $3.6 billion a year ago as exports rose 0.6 percent and imports dropped 12 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday.

This brought the trade deficit in the first eight months to $24.7 billion, down 8 percent from $26.8 billion a year ago.

Data showed that merchandise exports increased to $6.25 billion in August from $6.22 billion a year earlier while imports shrank to $8.66 billion from $9.81 billion.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the government should redouble efforts to support export products where the country has comparative advantage so that the trade sector can recover and pick up more steam.

“We must continue to initiate programs that provide comprehensive packages of support for products with comparative advantages, including related industries, to facilitate expansion in the international market,” Pernia said.

“As subdued investments in emerging markets, coupled with the persisting trade tensions, continue to hamper global expansion, implementation of timely reforms will vastly improve the country’s resilience to external shocks,” he said.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the trade gap pulled back as imports fell more than expected with almost all sectors in the red.

“Capital goods, raw materials, fuel and consumer imports all contracted as elevated borrowing costs and the budget delay knocked down capital formation. In particular, all types of capital imports contracted while raw materials related to construction fell as the impact of the BSP’s aggressive 2018 rate hike and the budget delay continued to surface,” Mapa said in a comment.

Villar bares plan to list four more firms in 3 years

By Jenniffer B. Austria

By Darwin G. Amojelar CHELSEA Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. owned by Davaobased businessman Dennis Uy said it acquired the shipping unit of 2GO Group Inc. Chelsea Logistics said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that it acquired 100 percent of SuperCat Fast Ferry Corp. from 2GO. The company did not provide other details.

SuperCat operates in Batangas, Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Ormoc, Calapan and Tagbilaran.

Chelsea Logistics earlier said it was expecting the delivery of new roll-on roll-off passenger ferry from Japan in October this year.

The 98-meter M/V Trans-Asia 20 passenger ferry, launched at Kegoya Dock Co. Ltd.’s Japan shipyard on July 5, can carry 740 passengers, 22 buses and six trucks, providing better service to Filipinos. This is the Chelsea Group’s 10th brand-new RoPax made in Japan.

The newest passenger ferry ship brings Chelsea’s fleet to 89 vessels, including 30 roll-on/roll-off passenger vessels, 11 fast craft, 15 cargo ships, 12 tankers, 15 tugboats, 4 barges and 2 floating docks through subsidiaries Chelsea Shipping Corp., Starlite Ferries Inc., Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. and Fortis Tugs Corp.

Chelsea Logistics in June signed a shipbuilding agreement with Fukuoka Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for the construction of a 123-meter Ro-Ro vessel. The passenger ferry ship which can carry 1,085 passengers, 24 buses and 11 trucks, is scheduled to be delivered in June 2021.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

August trade deficit narrowed in August after imports fell 12%

DENR lifts ban on DMCI mine

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources lifted the suspension on mining operations of Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., a mining asset of DMCI Holdings Inc. DMCI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange ZDMC received the resolution dated Sept. 30, 2019 issued by the DENR, which ordered the lifting of the suspension of ZDMC’s mine operations.

ZDMC, whose mine is located in Sta. Cruz, was among the nine companies whose operations were suspended following a mining audit conducted by DENR. DMCI Mining president Cesar Simbulan Jr. said in August that ZDMC already complied with the conditions set by the DENR for the lifting of its November 2018 suspension order.

ZMDC is one of the two mining assets of DMCI Mining. The other one is Berong Nickel Corp. which has operations in Palawan.

DMCI Mining earlier reported that it shipped 343,000 wet metric tons of nickel ore in the second quarter of the year raising its total shipment in the first semester to 681,000 WMT, a 41 percent increase from the 483,000 WMT it shipped a year ago. Jenniffer B. Austria

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

MOBILE SUMMIT. Carousell Philippines, the country’s leading classifieds platform marketplace, joins the biggest mobile summit and expo in the country spearheaded by Go Negosyo, entitled ‘Sign Up Summit 2019’. The digital summit gathered mobile app platforms that help micro-entrepreneurs become self-earning in the digital economy. Attending the summit are (from left) Carousell Philippines commercial strategy manager Hazel Marie Ojeda, sales manager Paolo Garcia, account officer Jervey Mateo, iPrint advertising services and Carousell power user Michael Miranda, account officer Alex Arriola and country trade marketing manager Ralph Garcia.

Cavite seeks joint venture partner on Sangley airport project

By Othel V. Campos THE provincial government of Cavite asked qualified companies to submit proposals for a joint venture partnership to undertake the development of the Sangley Point International Airport.

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla urged interested parties to submit the proposals until Nov. 25, 2019.

“Modernizing air transport in the country with a world-class airport project is a huge undertaking. It requires innovative capacities and reliable resources that could be more efficiently expedited with joint public and private sector expertise,” he said.

The provincial government of Cavite is the lead proponent and implementing agency of the project which supports the Transportation Department’s multi-air-

port strategy to decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s main international gateway, whose passenger volume is already 40 percent above its design capacity of 31 million passengers yearly.

The 1,500-hectare master-planned international airport hub will be fitted with four runways, airside and landside facilities, with an annual capacity of much as 130 million passengers.

The airport is expected to be at par with Singapore’s Changi International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, as it is positioned to be the next biggest development in air transport innovation in the country.

Remulla said the project would be pursued under the provincial government’s Public-Private Partnership scheme. He

said that as such, it would no longer require the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority for implementation.

“PPP has proven vital in improving the quality of infrastructure projects for the benefit of Filipinos, and we expect nothing less for Sangley Point International Airport here in Cavite. We look forward to the Joint Venture because it will open new avenues not only in terms of stimulating efficiency for national economic growth, but also for the urbanization of Cavite,” he said.

The selected JV partner will provide the necessary equity investment and credit enhancements and subject to a further competitive process or price test, perform engineering, procurement and construction services for the land and airport development components of the project.

REAL estate mogul Manuel Villar plans to list four other companies with the Philippine Stock Exchange over the next three years.

Villar said in an interview at the sidelines of listing ceremony of his home improvement retailing company AllHome Corp. that the group was scaling up other retail concepts in preparation for possible listing.

“We have other companies that are ready to list, but we are still studying the market environment if is it okay to list. This one [AllHome] is ripe already so it went public. But the others are not yet that ripe, and we just have to continue scaling them up,” said Villar, a former senate president and presidential contender.

“There are about three or four possible candidates for listing,” Villar said when asked how many more companies he was planning to list with the PSE. AllHome is one of the subsidiaries of AllValue, the Villar group’s holding company for retail investments. Other retail concepts under AllValue are AllDay supermarket, AllDay convenience store and Coffee Project.

Villar who is listed as the richest Filipino billionaire this year currently owns several listed firms, including Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., Vistamalls Inc. and Golden Bria Holdings Inc. Meanwhile, shares of AllHomeclosed higher by 0.52 percent to P11.56 on its maiden listing from its initial public offering price of P11.50.

AllHome vice chairman Camille Villar said in an interview the company was poised to sustain its double-digit growth over the next two years.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks advance; AllHome gains T HE stock market rose Thursday on bargain hunting but some investors moved cautiously on conflicting reports about the outlook for upcoming China-US trade talks.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 83.78 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,765.03 on a value turnover of P14.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 93 to 78, with 53 issues unchanged.

Security Bank Corp., the sixth-biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 4.2 percent to P199, while First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group gained 3.9 percent to P25.05.

Robinsons Land Corp., the property unit of industrialist John Gokongwei, rose 3.9 percent to P25.50, while All-

Home Corp. of the Villar Group edged higher at P11.56 from its initial public offering price of P11.50.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Thursday. Global investors have been broadly upbeat in recent weeks that the meeting in Washington between toplevel representatives would see at least some progress.

But with the much-anticipated gathering due to start within hours, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reported pre-meeting discussions had not made any progress on key areas such as forced technology transfers, and that the meet would be cut in half to just one day.

That came after Wall Street’s three main indexes ended with healthy gains on reports that a pared-down deal was still possible, with Beijing boosting agricultural purchases and Washington delaying the imposition of new tariffs

next week.

Tensions were already showing this week after the US unveiled restrictions on 28 Chinese entities over human rights violations in Xinjiang and imposed visa restrictions on some officials, while a report said the White House was considering curtailing American investment in the country.

For its part, sources were reported to have said China had narrowed the issues it was willing to discuss as it felt in a stronger position owing to Donald Trump facing an impeachment inquiry at home and a weakening economy.

The SCMP report “reverses the trade optimism that was dominating overnight flow as investors were hoping that at minimum, some type of a deal could be forged,” said Stephen Innes, Asia-Pacific market strategist at AxiTrader.

“So instead of debating how encom-

passing the deal might be, investors are now back to plucking petals from a flower guessing if there will be a deal at all.”

On regional markets, Hong Kong edged up 0.1 percent while Tokyo finished 0.5 percent higher and Shanghai put on 0.8 percent.

But Seoul shed 0.8 percent, Singapore eased 0.4 percent, Mumbai dropped 0.8 percent and Bangkok fell 0.5 percent.

Sydney and Jakarta were flat.

In foreign exchange markets, the dollar was lower against most other currencies after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting showed it was growing concerned about the impact of Trump’s trade war.

The central bank is expected to cut interest rates for a third time when the board meets again later this month.

With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review thurSday, octoBer 10, 2019

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ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FILIPINO FUND MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK

57 91.5 143.4 24.95 18.2 11.64 4.6 7.71 770 0.4 66.1 0.92 12.8 42.95 178.7 111.1 58 26 191.1 59.1

57 93.25 145 25 18.3 11.84 4.68 7.71 770 0.4 67.8 0.92 12.8 43.5 178.7 111.1 58 26.25 199 59.1

57 91.45 143.4 24.8 18.2 11.64 4.58 7.71 770 0.4 66.1 0.89 12.8 42.95 175.5 111.1 57.85 26 190.2 59

FINANCIALS 57 10 93.05 3,025,070 145 593,880 24.8 110,300 18.2 2,500 11.78 150,900 4.62 199,000 7.71 1,800 770 20 0.4 40,000 67.8 2,084,500 0.89 247,000 12.8 29,700 43.5 85,400 175.5 1,870 111.1 390 57.85 870 26.15 681,600 199 349,820 59 14,650

570 281,400,796 85,778,131 2,743,170 45,520 1,771,360 919,400 13,878 15,400 16,000 140,209,311.50 221,180 380,160 3,709,125 329,363 43,329 50,417 17,824,695 68,286,118 864,359.50

46,395,977 33,074,850 707,930 461,322 133,980 -32,117,171 82,010 -911,475 -17,600 -523,875 9,393,206 -824,238.50

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

37.2 15.84 0.66 1.29 4.51 0.255 2.43 14.9 112.1 8.2 18 31 70 75 2.03 6.13 5.51 8.4 15.4 10.2 7.02 24.15 81 45.1 2.36 14.46 7.85 1.46 228.2 5.18 3.35 20.2 13 18.06 366 0.188 5.45 1.69 5.09 9.5 10.98 34.1 5.31 5.05 1.92 2.38 1.04 11.32 89.7 7.37 1.05 157 2.54 1.19 16.86 1.07

37.3 15.9 0.68 1.29 4.52 0.255 2.45 15.12 112.1 8.5 18.56 32 70 77.9 2.03 6.13 5.93 8.41 15.4 10.2 7.05 25.05 81 46.9 2.4 14.48 7.98 1.55 229.8 5.29 3.52 20.25 13.04 18.38 366 0.188 5.45 1.69 5.09 9.5 11 34.25 5.32 5.1 2.02 2.38 1.04 11.4 90 7.4 1.05 158 2.56 1.19 16.86 1.09

36.45 15.82 0.66 1.29 4.34 0.245 2.4 14.9 112 8.2 18 30.8 70 75 2.03 6.13 5.48 8.3 15.38 10.08 6.95 24.1 79.3 45.1 2.34 14.34 7.85 1.46 228 5.18 3.23 20 13 18.02 359.6 0.188 5.03 1.65 5.01 9.5 10.72 33.7 5.3 5.05 1.9 2.38 1.04 11.26 89.4 7.32 1.02 156.6 2.54 1.17 16.86 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 37.2 402,700 15.84 67,900 0.68 96,000 1.29 21,000 4.51 19,949,000 0.25 440,000 2.42 1,162,000 15.12 516,300 112 390 8.49 209,200 18.54 10,600 32 116,200 70 80 77.9 100 2.03 120,000 6.13 10,000 5.65 71,600 8.35 1,702,800 15.38 200 10.2 85,400 7 4,124,500 25.05 2,137,000 79.35 34,680 46.5 302,400 2.38 5,869,000 14.46 1,007,900 7.97 53,000 1.54 120,000 229 906,250 5.29 1,400 3.52 11,000 20.25 60,600 13.04 45,500 18.02 1,804,900 365 124,930 0.188 20,000 5.03 1,100 1.68 937,000 5.05 747,100 9.5 200 11 33,000 34 1,479,700 5.32 322,300 5.1 8,400 2 4,962,000 2.38 4,000 1.04 1,000 11.3 60,700 90 268,100 7.32 69,200 1.04 23,000 157.5 189,620 2.56 4,000 1.19 1,168,000 16.86 500 1.09 856,000

14,921,420 1,078,648 64,200 27,090 88,959,350 110,900 2,808,550 7,760,542 43,699 1,751,548 191,116 3,702,020 5,600 7,645 243,600 61,300 396,271 14,223,725 3,078 866,914 28,850,751 53,451,380 2,753,966.50 14,054,895 13,946,390 14,570,034 419,294 179,990 207,509,794 7,263 36,290 1,224,795 591,542 32,528,654 45,228,476 3,760 5,953 1,563,830 3,764,480 1,900 360,250 50,227,305 1,709,317 42,440 9,748,660 9,520 1,040 687,186 24,067,521.50 511,105 23,790 29,835,086 10,180 1,373,820 8,430 920,640

-6,415,735 0 -12,178,340 2,550 -650,510 6,304,292 -265,855 -3,212,905 -322,168 -3,328,089 0 -409,874 -16,502,592 33,177,810 -2,608,542.00 13,769,955 371,320 -10,219,112 109,666 2,528,928 118,925 -20 -31,068,426 -4,416,508 217,510 344,411 5,656,480 94,532 -79,200 -601,732 15,429,613.50 1,828,568 373,910 -21,700

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP AYALA LAND LOG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER ZEUS HLDG

0.87 54 10.9 0.71 6.89 12.86 1.12 1.15 870 3.4 6.6 8.76 13.4 834 5.63 70.9 5.03 4.34 13.4 0.58 4.83 0.038 1.37 161.8 988 0.84 221.6 0.225

0.87 54 11.04 0.71 6.89 12.88 1.14 1.15 870 3.44 6.7 8.78 13.4 847 5.63 71 5.58 4.34 13.5 0.6 4.9 0.038 1.43 165 1,000 0.87 230 0.225

0.85 51.9 10.66 0.69 6.65 12.32 1.11 1.14 853 3.37 6.58 8.58 13 833 5.63 69.05 5.02 4.34 13.28 0.58 4.83 0.038 1.37 161.1 988 0.84 221 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.87 4,539,000 51.9 340,860 10.66 25,137,000 408,000 0.7 6.65 6,100 12.78 20,100 1.11 1,681,000 1.14 170,000 861 263,210 3.43 14,359,000 6.7 1,085,100 8.66 8,358,800 13 52,400 840 23,640 5.63 100 70.9 510,520 5.58 5,800 4.34 494,000 13.3 384,200 0.59 399,000 4.88 7,290,000 0.038 13,000,000 1.42 372,000 163 78,070 1,000 147,550 0.87 55,000 230 2,190 0.221 2,170,000

3,891,150 17,762,623 269,331,510 283,060 40,715 255,082 1,875,490 194,300 226,601,430 48,953,180 7,221,969 72,124,557 689,000 19,852,155 563 35,899,447 29,192 2,143,960 5,117,144 234,820 35,556,000 494,000 520,160 12,718,358 146,693,430 46,240 491,866 479,300

-464,860 -11,542,966.50 -103,127,036 -114,500 -26,575,225 10,395,700 1,936,989 -43,827,962 -27,480 -3,493,135 -11,858,885.50 -1,809,780 -26,330 138,060 817,500 -81,120 -4,129,103 -119,178,265 -363,486 -

15.04 0.8 1.8 0.83 46.55 2.01 4.64 6.31 0.53 0.87 0.204 0.395 9.44 20.2 0.435 1.51 1.16 4.53 0.295 0.42

PROPERTY 15.04 191,900 0.82 3,720,000 1.88 26,000 0.85 505,000 46.8 3,506,700 2.01 686,000 4.7 782,000 6.31 900 0.55 5,338,000 0.87 1,000 0.215 80,000 0.395 10,000 9.8 89,500 20.3 156,500 0.445 760,000 1.52 9,002,000 1.19 115,000 4.53 19,265,000 0.3 3,920,000 0.42 140,000

2,886,324 2,993,020 46,880 424,100 164,135,015 1,389,130 3,672,920 5,679 2,899,530 870 16,430 3,950 874,973 3,206,095 330,900 13,677,250 135,490 87,512,290 1,180,600 58,800

537,038 23,773,535 -692,110 -248,660 209,859 -712,930 4,917,310 -19,015,710 -50,400

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES

15.04 0.83 1.8 0.84 46.95 2.07 4.66 6.31 0.54 0.87 0.204 0.395 9.45 20.9 0.44 1.52 1.18 4.56 0.305 0.42

15.06 0.83 1.88 0.85 47.2 2.07 4.71 6.31 0.55 0.87 0.215 0.395 9.82 21 0.445 1.52 1.19 4.6 0.305 0.42

VOLUME

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NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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NAME

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

1.36 2.02 53 24.55 2.3 3.25 38 2.78 0.89 7.74 6.38

1.38 2.04 53 25.5 2.31 3.25 38.5 2.8 0.95 7.76 6.38

1.33 2.01 50 24.55 2.28 3.25 37.8 2.65 0.89 7.68 5.65

1.34 2.04 50 25.5 2.28 3.25 38.5 2.78 0.93 7.7 5.67

695,000 15,000 300 5,659,500 72,000 114,000 6,534,700 4,696,000 332,000 5,312,700 36,800

934,520 30,230 15,300 142,410,190 165,490 370,500 249,968,535 12,920,830 303,890 40,950,483 210,843

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

10.2 18.1 1.67 11.62 0.6 0.044 18.06 2.28 10.72 0.05 91.75 6.91 6.7 5.71 8.9 1,806 5.19 444 1.55 1.76 115.6 3.5 0.11 4.94 13.5 2.98 18.8 0.41 2.49 1.15 2.98 2.8 8.2 4.79 135.2 3.13 1,096 0.7 0.52 40.35 76.85 9.27 2.51 0.68 0.315 0.68 16.7

10.3 18.3 1.67 11.62 0.61 0.044 18.06 2.32 10.98 0.05 92.3 6.91 6.9 5.71 9 1,816 5.21 444 1.6 1.76 120.8 3.5 0.11 4.98 13.5 2.99 18.8 0.44 2.5 1.15 3.07 2.89 8.2 4.98 135.2 3.16 1,118 0.71 0.54 41 77.7 9.27 2.56 0.68 0.32 0.68 16.8

10.1 18.08 1.66 11.42 0.59 0.043 17.22 2.28 10.72 0.048 91.7 6.91 6.69 5.71 8.84 1,806 5.18 435 1.55 1.76 115.6 3.5 0.11 4.87 13.5 2.93 18.6 0.41 2.41 1.15 2.82 2.8 8.01 4.79 135.2 3.09 1,096 0.69 0.52 40.3 76.05 9.2 2.5 0.66 0.31 0.67 16.58

SERVICES 10.3 18.12 1.66 11.56 0.6 0.043 17.22 2.32 10.9 0.049 92 6.91 6.75 5.71 9 1,813 5.2 440 1.59 1.76 118 3.5 0.11 4.96 13.5 2.95 18.7 0.44 2.46 1.15 2.92 2.82 8.2 4.98 135.2 3.15 1,107 0.69 0.52 40.7 77.7 9.2 2.51 0.68 0.315 0.68 16.8

3,700 13,800 7,000 246,826,200 4,251,000 3,100,000 4,000 50,000 5,645,000 35,740,000 88,870 1,500 701,900 2,200 59,400 28,860 240,900 120 115,000 5,000 2,712,970 11,000 190,000 1,622,000 100 859,000 141,200 70,000 230,000 2,000 4,597,000 78,000 7,500 17,000 60 459,000 41,140 1,351,000 3,004,000 566,100 146,850 5,300 1,777,000 282,000 11,590,000 64,000 567,300

37,800 250,498 11,650 2,844,636,664 2,531,920 133,400 71,686 115,610 61,750,254 1,726,270 8,169,645.50 10,365 4,757,351 12,562 526,828 52,334,955 1,252,425 52,490 180,830 8,800 322,329,329 38,500 20,900 7,992,120 1,350 2,551,910 2,639,034 29,000 560,890 2,300 13,490,470 219,980 61,481 82,380 8,112 1,432,460 45,586,045 933,220 1,578,230 23,034,955 11,307,781 48,969 4,474,170 189,780 3,613,300 42,970 9,463,402

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.0017 1.13 2.5 12.7 1.13 2.64 0.275 7.55 1.66 0.216 0.105 0.0094 0.0099 1.11 4.06 1.1 0.475 0.011 9.08 3.59 12 23

0.0018 1.17 2.51 12.7 1.13 2.65 0.28 7.89 1.71 0.216 0.11 0.0096 0.011 1.14 4.2 1.1 0.475 0.011 10.06 3.65 12.6 23

0.0017 1.12 2.5 12.12 1.12 2.6 0.275 7.55 1.65 0.204 0.105 0.0094 0.0099 1.1 4 1.02 0.475 0.01 9.06 3.55 11.9 22.85

MINING & OIL 0.0017 188,000,000 1.15 2,055,000 2.51 18,000 12.64 12,000 1.12 28,000 2.6 232,000 0.28 80,000 7.89 400 1.67 12,529,000 0.213 2,730,000 0.11 300,000 0.0096 3,000,000 0.011 17,500,000 1.11 70,000 4.07 4,343,000 1.08 336,000 0.475 100,000 0.011 23,200,000 9.79 1,812,200 3.65 587,000 12.44 1,471,600 22.9 748,300

320,100 2,356,060 45,130 147,222 31,370 613,450 22,350 3,087 21,204,430 562,650 31,570 28,500 182,490 78,190 17,770,200 346,610 47,500 248,400 17,629,634 2,121,440 18,240,136 17,150,455

-786,050.00 7,530.00 162,680 -24,130 1,100 -1,651,000.00 9,360 -489,748 1,242,120 -2,217,285

AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 3A PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

500 101 5.17 101.4 1,035 101 108 996 77.95 75.5 76.5 76 75.7

500 101 5.17 101.4 1,040 101 108 996 78 75.5 76.5 76.8 75.75

500 100.5 5.17 101.4 1,035 101 108 995 77.95 75.5 76 76 75.7

PREFERRED 500 2,000 100.5 450 5.17 100 101.4 10,000 1,040 5,000 101 150 108 580 995 600 78 18,490 75.5 5,000 76.5 31,700 76.8 33,500 75.7 31,050

1,000,000 45,370 517 1,014,000 5,192,500 15,150 62,640 597,200 1,442,120 377,500 2,413,765 2,559,300 2,350,490

-517 5,089,000 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

6.58 8.93 0.89

6.58 10.3 0.91

6.31 8.93 0.88

SME 6.4 10.24 0.89

1,332,031 13,135,440 1,309,240

95,070 -10,120 44,500

FIRST METRO ETF

116.1

116.8

115.5

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.36 10.1 0.96

10.36 10.1 0.96

10.36 10.1 0.95

MS Trading Summary

SHARES

FINANCIAL

7,876,886

INDUSTRIAL

52,836,009

HOLDING FIRMS

81,669,833

PROPERTY

71,785,770

SERVICES

886,881,378

MINING & OIL

259,382,383

GRAND TOTAL

1,363,456,724

209,600 1,339,300 1,471,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.8 4,080 DDS 10.36 10.1 0.95

5,110 2,940 25,000

268,000 55,010,140 134,954,460 24,940 -20,017,540 -882,190,016.00 -600,000 52,354 19,514,318 28,900 4,215,302 -106,539 29,700,485 -139,390,924 335,140 208,600 -482,088 -58,140 -580,800 -128,020 -7,152,035 -90,390.00 530 15,501,135 462,829.50 -998,850 -61,200 99,200 3,262,528.00

474,730

-

52,939.60 29,694 23,963

-

VALUE 1,812.05 (UP) 31.22 653,641,626.13 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,586.56 (UP) 63.23 690,056,009.164 HOLDING FIRMS 7,576.45 (UP) 37.31 1,057,281,536.30 PROPERTY 4,073.45 (UP) 54.03 SERVICES 1,512.1 (UP) 13.15 733,832,644.59 MINING & OIL 9,109.74 (UP) 36.72 11,208,064,792.93 PSEI 7,765.03 (UP) 83.78 99,200,097.568 All Shares Index 4,691.90 (UP) 35.91 14,458,329,205.88 Gainers: 93; Losers: 78; Unchanged: 53; Total: 224

Vista Land readies sale of additional P30-b bonds

By Jenniffer B. Austria HOMEBUILDER Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. plans to raise up to P30 billion from the issuance of fixed rate bonds.

Vista Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an application to issue P30 billion worth of bonds in tranches over a period three years under a new shelf registration program.

Vista Land plans to offer P10 billion worth of 5.5 year-bonds for the initial tranche.

It said it would sell P5 billion as the last tranche of the current P20-billion shelf program and another P5 billion under the new bond issue.

Vista Land chief finance officer Brian Edang said the company would use net proceeds from the bond offering to pre-fund the company’s capital expenditures in 2020.

The company tapped China Bank Capital, PNB Capital and SB Capital as underwriters of the bond offering. The house and lot developer plans to issue the bonds in December.

Vista Land in July secured P14.5 billion in five-year corporate notes to partially finance the company’s programmed spending this year. The corporate notes carried a fixed interest rate of 7.125 percent a year.

Vista Land registered an 11-percent growth in net income to P5.8 billion in the first half of the year from P5.2 billion year-on-year.

Consolidated revenues increased 11 percent to P23.4 billion from P21.1 billion a year ago.

Leasing revenues during the period rose 17 percent to P3.9 billion from P3.3 billion a year ago, driven by the increase in leasable spaces from malls.

The company also focused on increasing residential launches as demand remains strong from local as well as overseas Filipino workers.

Vista Land has aimed to launch at least P50 billion worth of residential projects this year.

Vista Land has presence in 147 cities and municipalities across 49 provinces as of end March 2019. It plans to focus on the development of integrated urban developments combining lifestyle retail, prime office space, university town, healthcare, themed residential developments and leisure components.

Phinma Energy approves rights offering, swap

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE board of Phinma Energy Corp., to be renamed AC Energy Philippines, has approved a stock rights offering of up to 2.27 billion shares at a price range of between P2.25 and P2.37 per share.

The board also approved the share swap between the company and AC Energy Inc. of the Ayala Group and the issuance of 6,185,182,288 shares of stock in the company in favor of AC Energy at P2.37 per share in exchange for AC Energy’s shares of stock in several subsidiaries and affiliates.

Phinma Energy said the price was within the range determined in the fairness opinion issued of FTI Consulting Philippines Inc., an accredited independent financial valuation company.

AC Energy’s board approved the management’s proposal not to exercise its pre-emptive rights in the first round of Phinma Energy’s stock offering to enable minority shareholders of Phinma Energy to recover from partial dilution following the share swap.

It said “in the event there are any unsubscribed shares after the first round, AC Energy will subscribe to its pro-rata share in these unsubscribed shares.”

Phinma Energy voluntary suspended the trading of its shares from Oct. 9 to Oct. 10 as the board discussed the share swap and stock rights offerings.

AC Energy, the energy platform of Ayala Corp., in June completed the acquisition of a combined 51.48-percent stake in Phinma Energy by Phinma Inc. and Phinma Corp.

AC Energy acquired the Phinma group’s stake through a purchase of secondary shares for P3.669 billion.

AC Energy also subscribed to 2.632 billion Phinma Energy primary shares at par value. Meanwhile, the mandatory tender offer for Phinma Energy shares ended on June 19 involving 156,476 shares.

World IN BRIEF Iran releases Russian journalist MOSCOW―Iran has released a Russian journalist detained for suspected links to Israeli intelligence, and she was on her way to Moscow, Russia’s embassy in Tehran said on Thursday.

Yulia Yuzik, 38, was arrested in Tehran last week.

An Iranian government spokesman said she was being held over alleged visa violations but the Russian embassy said she had been accused of working for Israeli security services.

“As a result of joint efforts of the Russian foreign ministry and the Russian embassy in Tehran, Iran decided to release Russian citizen Yulia Yuzik,” the embassy said on Twitter.

It said she was flying back to Moscow.

Journalist Boris Voitsekhovskiy, identified by Russian media as Yuzik’s ex-husband, said on Facebook that she had landed in the Russian capital.

Russia summoned the Iranian ambassador last week to clarify the circumstances of the arrest.

Yuzik has worked for a number of publications including the Russian version of Newsweek.

She has written two books including “Beslan Dictionary”, based on testimony from survivors of the 2004 school massacre that claimed at least 330 lives, more than half of them children. AFP

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US military veterans slam Trump Jews demand W ASHINGTON―President Donald Trump has come under angry criticism from US military veterans for abandoning Kurdish battlefield allies after greenlighting Turkey’s assault on the Kurds in northeastern Syria.

Turkish troops and aircraft launched their long-awaited assault into Syria Wednesday after Trump ordered US troops in the area pulled back, leaving the Kurds―whom Ankara calls a terror threat―fully exposed.

Former Middle East commander Joseph Votel has accused Trump of giving up longstanding allies who, as the core of the Syrian Democratic Forces, were crucial in the half-decade campaign to crush the Islamic State group.

“This policy abandonment threatens to undo five years’ worth of fighting against ISIS and will severely damage American credibility and reliability in any future fights where we need strong allies,” Votel, who retired earlier this year, wrote in The Atlantic.

“The SDF freed tens of thousands of square miles and millions of people from the grip of ISIS. Throughout the fight, it sustained nearly 11,000 casualties,” he said.

By comparison, he noted, only six US troops and two American civilians were

killed in that campaign.

Trump has said he wants to end the US involvement in Syria and also explained that the US cannot do anything about a centuries-old hate between the Turks and Kurds.

He suggested that the United States has aided the Kurds enough.

“They are fighting for their land,” he told reporters.

“They didn’t help us with the Second World War. They didn’t help us with Normandy, as an example.... We have spent tremendous amounts of money on helping the Kurds in terms of ammunition, in terms of weapons, in terms of money.”

“With all of that being said, we like the Kurds,” he added.

Mark Hertling, the former commanding general of the US Army’s European operations, said Trump’s decision “presages an upcoming disaster for the US.” “Kurds of the SDF―our former reliable partners in the fight against ISIS― are being attacked by a NATO ally,

Turkey. The repercussions for the US and NATO will be long-lasting and detrimental to security for Europe and the world,” he said on Twitter.

The SDF took the lead in the major campaigns to dislodge Islamic State fighters from key cities in brutal sieges that they led.

Pentagon officials said they were better trained and focused to do the job compared to Turkish and Iraqi troops and other possible proxies in the war.

“When the Iraq army collapsed, the Kurds were the ones who took the full brunt of ISIS’ attack on civilization, not us, not the Turks,” said Ruben Gallego, an Iraq war veteran and Democratic congressman.

Some are drawing a parallel to previous episodes in US wars abroad when an ally was left to fend for itself, including the governments of Laos and South Vietnam in the 1970s.

Some are worried as well that after fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan for 18 years, US negotiations with the Islamist insurgents could lead to a deal that leaves the government in Kabul vulnerable to them.

Republican Senator Martha McSally, a former Air Force pilot who deployed to the Middle East six times, said that Trump’s decision to give way to Turkey “is just wrong.” AFP

Emergency talks on Turkey offensive CAIRO―The Arab League is convening an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss Turkey’s offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria, the body said Wednesday.

Following a request by Egypt, the region’s foreign ministers will gather in Cairo on October 12 “to discuss Turkish aggression on Syrian territory”, Hossam Zaki, the League’s assistant secretary-general, said in a statement late Wednesday.

The announcement came after Turkey launched air strikes and artillery fire along the border with war-torn Syria earlier in the day, drawing international condemnation.

Backed by Syrian militants, it pushed on with a ground offensive in Tal Abyad, an area under the control of the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).

Ankara’s attack follows an abrupt US policy shift which saw America withdraw its troops from positions in northern Syria, effectively approving Turkey’s military operation.

Zaki deemed the offensive “an unacceptable assault on the sovereignty of an Arab member state exploiting its situation... and violating international law”.

In another statement earlier Wednesday, the League warned that the burgeoning attack “could help Daesh [the Islamic State group] regain some of its force”. AFP

ONE OF THE TARGETS. This view taken on October 10, 2019, shows the doner kebab restaurant in Halle an der Saale, eastern Germany, one of the sites of a shooting during which a heavily-armed man shot two people dead. Two people were shot dead in the German city of Halle in an anti-Semitic attack as Jews marked the holy day of Yom Kippur, with the gunman filming the assault and posting a video online. The victims, a man and a woman, were apparently chosen at random when the assailant failed to gain access to the temple he besieged with gunfire and homemade explosives, as the frightened congregation barricaded itself inside. AFP

Tourists surge at Ayers Rock before Australia bans climbing on the site SYDNEY―Large numbers of tourists are rushing to scale Uluru―also known as Ayers Rock―ahead of a looming ban on climbing a site sacred to indigenous Australians.

Photographs of hundreds of people clambering up the giant red monolith have provoked a social media backlash, with critics lashing as “ignorant” those going against the wishes of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, the Anangu.

“A mass of morally and ethically bankrupt people,” indigenous woman Laura McBride tweeted alongside an image showing a queue of people snaking up the side of Uluru.

“One even hiking a toddler up, teaching the next generation how to be ignorant.”

“Imagine rushing to climb Uluru before it closes just so you could brag about disrespecting the oldest living culture in the world,” tweeted National Indigenous Television journalist Madeline Hayman-Reber, who called the scenes “embarrassing”.

PREPARATION.

In this picture taken on October 9, 2019, actors prepare in the backstage to perform in ‘Ramlila,’ a 10-day enactment of the life of the Hindu deity Rama that culminates in the festival of Dussehra in New Delhi. AFP

Officials say the ban, which comes into effect on October 26, is intended to show respect for cultural practices, protect the site from further environmental damage and to ensure visitors’ safety.

More than 395,000 people visited the Uluru-Kata National Park in the 12 months to June 2019, according to Parks Australia, about 20 percent more than the previous year.

Around 13 percent of those who visited during that period made the climb, park authorities said.

More recent figures are not available but Tourism Central Australia CEO Stephen Schwer said there had been a “significant jump” in the number of people visiting in recent weeks, with the period leading up to the ban coinciding in part with school holidays.

“Its been very busy, particularly down in the national park precinct itself,” he told AFP. AFP

action after anti-Semitic attack kills 2

HALLE, Germany―Jewish leaders demanded action from Germany Thursday to protect the community and face down resurgent right-wing extremism, as a deadly anti-Semitic gun attack on the holy day of Yom Kippur underscored the rising threat of neo-Nazi violence.

At least two people were shot dead in the eastern German city of Halle on Wednesday, with a synagogue among the targets. The suspect, identified by German media as 27-yearold German Stephan Balliet, filmed the assault and posted the video online.

The rampage was streamed live for 35 minutes on Twitch, and eventually seen by some 2,200 people, the online platform said, in a chilling reminder of the mosque attack in Christchurch, New Zealand last March which was also online in realtime.

Police subsequently captured the Halle suspect after a gun battle that left him injured.

Chancellor Angela Merkel joined a solidarity vigil at Berlin’s main synagogue on Wednesday, and firmly condemned the anti-Semitic rampage.

But Jewish leaders said that words were not enough, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joining calls for German authorities to “act resolutely against the phenomenon of anti-Semitism”.

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany ripped into the authorities for failing to provide adequate security on such a key day.

“It is scandalous that the synagogue in Halle is not protected by police on a holiday like Yom Kippur,” said Josef Schuster.

“This negligence has now been bitterly repaid.”

Ronald Lauder, who heads the World Jewish Congress, also stressed: “We need action not words” as he called for round the clock security for Jewish sites.

“We also need immediately to launch a unified front against neoNazi and other extremist groups, which threaten our well-being. AFP

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Circular No. 1053 Series of 2019 Subject:

Amendments to Section 289 and the Related Appendix 36 of the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB) and Replacement in the MORB of all References to “Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council” with “Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development”

The Monetary Board, in its Resolution No. 1422 dated 19 September 2019, approved the following amendments to the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB): Section 1. All references to Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) in the MORB shall be changed to Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Section 2. Section 2.b.(1) of Appendix 36, to make reference to the existing guidelines of the DHSUD amending the price ceiling for socialized and economic housing, is hereby amended as follows: Sec. 2. Criteria for Eligibility xxx b.

Eligible Housing Loan Paper

xxx (1) Loan purpose and amount. The loan shall be used for the construction of a house/acquisition of a house and lot. The amount of the loan shall not exceed the amount for socialized and economic housing as prescribed under existing guidelines of the DHSUD for the implementation of various government housing programs. xxx Section 3. The provisions of Section 289 on Rediscounting Window Available to All Universal and Commercial Banks for the Purpose of Providing Liquidity and Assistance to Investment Houses are hereby deleted.

Section 4. This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) calendar days following its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

FOR THE MONETARY BOARD:

(Sgd) BENJAMIN E. DIOKNO Governor 7 October 2019

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

B4

Solon proposes P25b for PUV modernization from road tax

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

20 LGUs earn education ‘Seal’ I

N FAR-FLUNG towns like Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, the challenge of the daily commute is not traffic jams but crossing rivers in unpredictable weather. Teachers and students in the capital of the country’s southernmost province are proving that geographical circumstances need not be a hindrance to getting an education.

“Seven out of 10 children can read,” Mayor Jimuel Que proudly says, as a result of a community reading program launched three years ago. Multicabs have also been deployed to the different districts to ease the daily travel to school.

For these and other initiatives, Bongao was awarded, for the third consecutive year, the Seal of Good Education Governance by Synergeia Foundation (Synergeia), a coalition of organizations promoting quality education, and the United States Agency for International Development.

Up north, Bacnotan in La Union was awarded for a program that teams up teachers with barangay officials in improving child literacy. The on-ground learning series proves that one doesn’t necessarily have to be a teacher to champion quality education.

Eighteen other cities and municipalities were recognized for promoting and sustaining good education for their citizens—Agoo, La Union; Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental; Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; Diffun, Quirino; Kayapa, Nueva Viscaya; Lambunao, Iloilo; Mambusao, Capiz; Mina, Iloilo; Navotas, NCR; Padre Garcia, Batangas; San Gabriel, La Union; Simunul, Tawi Tawi; Solano, Nueva Viscaya; Taraka,

Representatives of winning local government units hold their seal markers for the Seal of Good Education Governance awards by Synergeia Foundation and PLDTSmart. Vice President Leni Robredo personally awarded the markers to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Mayor Jimuel Que and Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco (inset photos).

Lanao del Sur; Tuba, Benguet; Upi, Maguindanao; Valenzuela, NCR; and Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. They all received a seal marker and P100,000 worth of call, text, and data services from digital services provider PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart Communications.

The package is intended to provide communications support to LGUs in the conduct of their education initiatives, said PLDT-Smart Public Affairs Group head Ramon R. Isberto.

“PLDT-Smart’s partnership with

178 Navotas families get new homes in Tanza

By Jun David THE Navotas City Government has secured new homes for 178 Navoteño families who have been living in danger zones.

From July to September this year, 95 informal settler families have transferred to NavotaAs Homes 2-Tanza and 83 have relocated to Caloocan and Bulacan.

“Living along coastlines and waterways exposed these families to constant danger. We deemed it urgent to find them safe shelter where they could start and build a better life,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said in a statement.

“While Navotas faces the challenge of having limited space, we shall continue our efforts to provide quality housing to Navoteño families,” he added.

The city government recently acquired an unproductive 5-hectare fishpond for another housing site. The project is expected to accommodate 1,800 families.

To date, Navotas has five in-city socialized housing that shelter more than 2,000 families who previously lived in danger zones or have been affected by calamities.

The projects included NavotaAs Homes 1-Tanza with 1,380 units, NavotaAs Homes 2-Tanza with 403 units, NavotaAs Residences-San Roque with 218 units, NavoHomes Kaunlaran with 120 units, and NavoHomes Dagat-dagatan with 60 units.

NavotaAs Homes 1-Tanza is complete with a multi-purpose center, commercial center, children’s playground, day care center, library, covered court and public market. The city is also in the process of building a health center within the site.

NavotaAs Homes 2-Tanza, on the other hand, features a multi-purpose center. Other facilities will be constructed soon, the mayor said.

Synergeia is in line with our commitment to help bridge the technological digital divide,” Isberto said.

“With all the major stakeholders working together, more innovative solutions will be made to have every child enjoy his right to good quality education,” he said.

Mayor Toby Tiangco, another Seal awardee from Navotas, said technology enables people to accomplish more, and the Seal initiative provides local government units with the opportunity to exchange ideas.

“You get to hear about best practices that you can adopt in your community,” he said.

Navotas sustains educational programs that address lack of teachers and training, child literacy, insufficient school facilities. The city’s programs include scholarships for both students and educators.

“If people are willing to cooperate with one another in promoting education, the result will be a stronger community,” said Bacnotan Mayor Francis Fontanilla.

A BILL that aims to optimize the value of the road users’ tax revenue and use some P25 billion of it to fund the Public Utility Vehicle modernization program, help reduce pollution, and improve fuel efficiency and road safety is now pending in Congress.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda recently filed the measure, HB 4695, titled “Motor Vehicle Road User’s Tax Act.” It proposes to amend Republic Act 11239 and seeks a 300-percent increase in the road user’s tax, officially called Motor Vehicle User’s Charge, which is collected by the Land Transportation Office from the annual registration of all motor vehicles nationwide and earmarked for infrastructure development.

More than 11 million motor vehicles are registered in the Philippines presently, according to Salceda, chairman of the House ways and means committee.

He said the proposed 300 percent hike in the vehicle road user’s tax on all types of vehicles amounts to a “just reasonable and optimal increase” considering the MVUC has not been adjusted since 2004.

RA 8794 grants the President the authority to adjust the MVUC rates annually, a prerogative that was never exercised since the law’s enactment in 2004, as a result of which, the MVUC proceeds that was supposed to finance infrastructure projects, was not maximized, he noted.

To cushion the impact of the hike, Salceda said it would be implemented in phases from 2020 to 2022. RA 8794 will also be retained during the period of implementation, but by Jan. 1, 2023, a unitary rate at P1.40 per kilogram of gross vehicle weight for all types will be in place.

Under his HB 4695, Salceda explained, incremental revenues from the MVRUT increase will help finance PUV modernization and the Universal Health Care Act. The modernized PUV is a trustworthy mode of transport, with efficient fuel consumption and therefore, reduced pollution, he said/ HB 4695 seeks to promote efficient movement of people by providing PUV drivers and operators opportunities to modernize their fleets through substantial equity subsidies.

Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program graduates in Rosario, Cavite proudly show off their produce, while graduates in Tayabas, Quezon (inset) flash their certificates of completion.

Tayabas, Rosario batches add to ranks of KSK graduates TAYABAS, Quezon—The number of SM Foundation Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program graduates continues to increase, as batch 204 ended their 12-week training program here and the graduates look forward to forming an association to sustain what they learned in crop cultivation.

Members of batch 204 are optimistic they too can become entrepreneurs, like previous graduates of this livelihood training program

institutionalized by the late SM founder Henry Sy Sr. Their objective of forming an association is supported by project partners namely: Tayabas Parish of St. Michael the Archangel Basilica Minor Social Action Center and the City Government of Tayabas.

Other partners for this batch included the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Harbest Agribusiness Corp., SM City Lu-

cena, SM Markets, and SM City Lucena Cinema, which served as venue for the graduation ceremony.

In Rosario, Cavite, Batch 207 of 88 KSK trainees harvested their crops in a harvest festival preceding the graduation ceremony.

The harvest festival was attended by representatives of SM Foundation, SM group of companies, project partners and Hon. Nestor Llanosa, Barangay Chairman of Sitio Silangan Bonita, who delivered the welcome remarks.

Biñan inks pact as SEA Games host

Biñan City Mayor Arman Dimaguila (center) and Vice Mayor Angel Alonte (2nd from left) head the MOA signing on Monday at the Alonte Sports Arena with SEA Games committee members Tomas Carrasco (2nd from right) and Michael Verano (right) for the games at the Binan Football Stadium (inset). Roy Tomandao

BIÑAN CITY, Laguna—The city government has signed an agreement to host the football competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Binan Football Stadium here.

Signing the memorandum on Monday were Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte, and members of the City Council with SEA Games organizing committee member Tom Carrasco and Michael Verano, 30th SEAG cluster head.

The games will start on Nov. 30 and end Dec. 11, Carrasco said.

Department Heads, students and various media partners also attended the press conference organized by the Mayor’s Office, City Information Office and Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office.

“This is another great opportunity to make our City of Biñan more recognizable

and proud. We are lucky we will be given the chance to host the 30th SEA Games 2019 with this MOA submitted to me from the Vice Mayor’s Office,” Dimaguila said.

“You can be sure the event is in good hands, as we are particular in our peace and order preparations for this historic event in the city. Here in Binan City, ‘Ang Mamamayan ay Maasahan’ (citizens can be counted on),” the Mayor added.

The stadium has a 3,000 seating capacity, and will be protected by securty forces with the help of the Philippine National Police City Marshal, Dimaguila said.

Police visibility will be enhanced for the safety of the participants, and the city government will provide free rides using more than 40 electric vehicles, he added.

Although the games will have a P50 entrance fee, the city government will shoulder the cost for all Binanenses, the mayor added. Roy Tomandao

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

YOUNG LIFE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

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What empowers Gabbi Garcia

By Angelica Villanueva

S

CHOLARS define women empowerment as the process in which women have power over their lives and communities. It’s about allowing the female population to make decisions.

For a millennial like actress and model Gabbi Garcia, women empowerment means being supportive of each other.

“It’s about pulling each other up instead of pulling each other down. [It's about] women supporting each other, women supporting the beliefs of each other, women uplifting each other,” asserts the 20-year-old celebrity.

An empowered woman is a confident woman. Gabbi says her confidence is boosted further when she feels fresh and comfortable despite a busy schedule.

The new face of pantyliner brand Carefree introduces the new Flexi Comfort Aloe Vera, whose added aloe vera extract helps soften skin, in addition, of course, to the comfort the pantyliner brings.

“I’m a very busy girl and it helps me be comfortable. It is very hard to work if you’re not comfortable, if you’re feeling icky; you’re feeling dirty,” shares Gabbi.

She says Carefree Flexi Comfort Aloe Vera helps keep her hygienic and fresh, which she says is important as she believes that being comfortable comes with confidence.

“I feel like once your comfortable then confidence will follow,” says Gabbi. And when a woman is confident, Gabbi believes she can “flex her way” in everything she does.

In her Instagram post, she said, “I’ve always been a goal-getter. You have to take life head on and be ready to give it your all.”

“FlexYourWay is actually just being comfortable in your very own way; being beautiful in your own CONFIDENTLY COMFORTABLE. Gabbi Garcia says she gets a confidence boost whenever she feels fresh and comfortable. The 20-year-old actress is the face of the new Carefree Flexi Comfort Aloe Vera. Photo by Angelica Villanueva; additional photos from @gabbi/Instagram way,” ends Gabbi.

LIVE

Ben&Ben, Parokya ni Edgar and more in Telus Town Hall MUSIC and neon lights filled the Globe Circuit Grounds in Makati during the recent Telus International Philippines Town Hall 2019, the company’s annual treat to its employees.

Over 7,500 team members—the largest crowd in TIP’s history—took a break from work to sing along with Morisette, Kamikazee, Parokya ni Edgar, Ben&Ben, Ultra Combo, Mark Thompson, Patty Tiu, and A-Team.

“Telus International Philippines has always valued work-life balance as an important aspect of building a healthy work environment. Town Hall is one of the biggest venues where our team members, long-time partners, and leaders get together and enjoy the com- Indie folk band Ben&Ben serenade the audience with their hit songs 'Maybe the Night' and pany’s fun culture,” said Telus Interna- 'Kathang Isip,' among others. tional director for brand, marketing, and culture Carlos Giammattei.

The event was hosted by Luis Manzano and Alex Diaz.

Team members expressed their individuality and creativity, arriving in outfits that ref lected their own sense of fashion, style, and pride, in line with the event’s theme, “Neon Island.” There were also dozens of side activities prepared by the organization’s special interest groups.

Attendees enjoyed free treats from different booths that served food, drinks, and games.

TIP is one of the leading BPO and digital solutions companies in the country with more than 16,000 team members across Metro Manila. The company’s sites are in Quezon City (Vertis North and Araneta-Cubao), Pasig (Ortigas Center), Makati (McKinley Exchange), and Taguig (McKinley West and Market! Market!).

TIP Town Hall 2019 features Morisette, Ben&Ben, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, and more.

Photos by Samuelle Tubiera

Channel Disney's Maleficent (left) or spread your black angel wings.

Spooks and magic ARE you a hero or a villain? A spooky ticipating Toy Kingdom or Toy Kingcreature or a magical fairy? dom Express outlets the whole month Children trick or treating may choose of October get two free tickets to Nickfrom the spookiest and cutest costumes elodeon’s “Takotown” on Oct. 31 at the for Halloween at Toy Kingdom. The SMX Convention Center Manila toy store offers rainbow unicorn enToy Kingdom also invites its shoppers sembles, parrot-inspired dresses, fancy to turn scaring into caring this Hallowangel and butterfly wings, Marvel-in- een with Trick or Treat for UNICEF. spired superhero outfits, and ninja and jester costumes.

Toy Kingdom’s latest Halloween colThose who want it spooky may lection is now available at all Toy choose from witches, warlocks, vam- Kingdom stores in most SM Supermalls pires, zombies, and all things scary. and Toy Kingdom Express OutTo complete the Hallowe e n lets in The SM Stores. haunting, Toy Kingdom also has creepy face masks and colorful pumpkin pails to fill with candies a n d Cute parrot o t h e r costume for girls treats. (left) and Iron Man As an added suit for boys. treat, shoppers spending at least P1,000 (inclusive of any Halloween items) at par-

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

Stars grace first-ever ‘GAWAD AGUINALDO’ STARS from the Kapamilya and Kapuso networks graced the first-ever Gawad Aguinaldo celebration in Kawit, Cavite in recognition of the province’s modernday heroes - the outstanding teachers who have shown exemplary dedication to their profession and love for their students.

Kawit Mayor Angelo Emilio Aguinaldo, together with celebrities Rayver Cruz, Cacai Bautista, and Kris Bernal, led the joyful night of praise and awards for the Gurong Kawiteno in line with the celebration of World Teachers Day of the Municipality of Kawit.

The six outstanding teacher-awardees were: Marvin Jay Ignacio Maming of Emilliano Tria Tirona Memorial National High School; Ederlyn Pel-Algonajota of Binakayan National High School; Cindy Mae Suarez of Binakayan Elementary School; Willie Claudio O. Endaya of

Viva goes to Netflix

Judy Ann’s comeback brightens viewers’ nights SCREEN queen Judy Ann Santos’ much-awaited return to television via ABS-CBN’s new primetime series Starla captured the hearts of viewers during its premiere last Monday (Oct. 7), debuting strongly with a national TV rating of 29.2 percent according to data from Kantar Media.

On Twitter, #StarlaStarryNight shot to the number one spot of the country’s trending topics.

In Starla, Judy Ann is the ruthless Teresa, a successful lawyer who is

Judy Ann Santos as the ruthless Teresa in the lastest family fantasy drama, ‘Starla.’

dedicated to seeking revenge on her despised hometown Baryo Maulap, which she claims is a symbol of her defeat.

The pilot episode introduced viewers to the sweet Buboy (Enzo Pelojero), who escaped from his orphanage and passed by Baryo Maulap.

There, he witnessed a dance of fireflies and captured Starla (Jana Agoncillo), a wishing star on a field trip but whom Buboy thinks is a mere firefly.

With nowhere to stay for the night, Buboy snuck into Mang Greggy’s (Joel Torre) garage.

Finding a soft spot in his heart for the sweet boy, Mang Greggy offered Buboy food and a place to stay.

Later, the two attended a town meeting where a large company started its campaign to buy the lands of Baryo Maulap, while Mang Greggy convinced the townspeople to decline the offer.

Teresa’s associate Dexter (Joem Bascon) reported to her the disastrous encounter, which only bolsters her hatred for her own father, as well as her plans of revenge.

Viewers, meanwhile, expressed their marvel over the new Dreamscape offering online and said the series already gives them Christmas vibes.

Starla also airs globally via The Filipino Channel (TFC) and TFC.tv.

H

ERE is great news. The streaming giant Netflix is showing Viva Films. There is no need anymore for movie fans to feel disappointed about missing their favorite films from Viva during the regular theater run or the TV screenings.

Viva has come to Netflix and brought along stars like Anne Curtis, James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Dingdong Dantes, Bela Padilla, and Yassi Pressman, among others. Drama, comedy,hugot love stories and other memorable titles featuring these big names are now among the streaming delights available on Netflix.

Check them out these titles: The lyrical romance This Time stars James Reid and Nadine Lustre as childhood summer sweethearts now coping with strange new feelings and changes in their relationship; Camp Sawi has beauties Arci Munoz, Bela Padilla, Yassi Pressman, Andi Eigenmann, and Kim Molina have all been jilted by men. They meet in a boot camp for the broken-hearted ran by Sam Milby; Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story stars Dingdong Dantes whose success as a stockbroker in Japan has turned him into an insomniac. He hires Anne Curtis, a waitress to have someone to talk to and keep him company during his sleepless nights; Relive the early days of the Jadine phenomenon with the film version of the

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

‘South Park’ creators issue mock apology over China censorship THE creators of South Park have issued a mock apology to China after censors scrubbed their popular animation from the Chinese web.

The tongue-in-cheek statement, skewering Beijing’s demands that western brands conform to its world view, came with officials apparently annoyed about an episode that crossed several of the Communist Party’s red lines.

The episode—called “Band in China”—depicted forced labor at a Chinese prison, and parodied companies that cave-in to censorship for commercial gain.

“I can’t sell my soul like this,” says one character, who was under pressure from Chinese censors to rewrite his music.

“It’s not worth living in a world where China controls my country’s art,” he added.

The incident comes as the NBA and its Houston Rockets franchise are facing fierce criticism and financial punishment in China over a tweet supporting Hong Kong’s democracy protesters. Both the league and the team have scrambled to apologize over the tweet by Rockets’ general manager Daryl Morey, as calls for a boycott gather steam in one of the

‘South Park’ creators Matt Parker and Trey Stone frequently skewer authority figures.

NBA’s most lucrative markets.

But the apologies have sparked derision in the United States, where critics said the league was sacrificing morals for money.

Writing on Twitter, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone offered spoof contrition over any offense they had caused in China with their satirical show.

“Like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts,” they wrote. “We too love money more than freedom and democracy. Xi doesn’t look just like Winnie the Pooh at all,” the statement added, a reference to banned memes comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping with AA Milne’s portly bear.

“Long live the Great Communist Party of China! May this autumn’s sorghum harvest be bountiful! We good now China?” the statement read.

On Tuesday, searches for South Park on China’s Twitter-like social media platform Weibo and popular film review site Douban did not return any results.

And while information on South Park was still available on a few video streaming sites, episodes could not be played. AFP

Gahak Elementary School; Judilyn Tiva of Aguinaldo Elementary School; and Sheilaver C. Mangune of Potol Sta. Isabel Elementary School.

Mayor Aguinaldo and his Sangguniang Bayan wanted to give importance to the Gurong Kawiteno and take pride in them.

“Our municipality is not just beaming with history and culture. Our great heritage stems not just from our heroic ancestors who hailed from Kawit but also from the modern-day educators who share the same love for the country and its people,” he said.

The celebration was graced by Mayor Aguinaldo, together with other local officials and all teachers in Kawit.

The program was hosted by local talents Ganiel Krishnan and Nico Loccoand made even more special with performances from invited celebrities.

Watt Pad sensation, Diary ng Panget, the blockbuster first team-up of James Reid as the rich brat Cross and Nadine Lustre, as the ugly girl who becomes his beleaguered assistant; 100 Tula Para Kay Stella has JC Santos as Fidel, a shy, lisping young man who has written 100 poems for his beautiful, rebellious best friend Stella, played by Bela Padilla. He plans to give her the poems on their graduation and hopes she will finally reciprocate his feelings after she reads them; Luck at First Sight stars Jericho Rosales as a gambler whose losses have put his family in danger of losing their home. Advised by a fortune teller to find a lucky charm, he sets his sight on Diane, played by Bella Padilla, who is also in dire need of funds for her sick father; Watch out too for other upcoming Viva releases on Netflix like Mr. & Mrs. Cruz starring Ryza Cenon and JC Santos; Meet Me in St. Gallen starring Carlo Aquino and Bella Padilla; Bakit Lahat ng Guwapo May Boyfriend with Anne Curtis and Dennis Trillo; and The Day After Valentines with Bella Padilla and JC Santos.

Binibinis vie for Miss Globe, Miss Grand International titles PAGEANT CONCEPT ETON CONCEPCION IT’S off for battle for two Bb. Pilipinas 2019 queens as Samantha Ashley Lo and Leren Mae Bautista are set to compete at the Miss Grand International 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela and Miss Globe 1019 in Montenegro, respectively.

Of the two, Lo, a 26-year-old ESL instructor, is more pressured to win as no Filipina has ever won in Miss Grand International the last seven years it was held. The best finish for a Binibini was

by Nicole Cordoves when she won first runner-up in 2016.

“I’m excited to meet my fellow candidates in Venezuela. I can’t wait to show what I have been training for the past three months, and it’s gonna be a big surprise for all of you,” Lo, wearing a green gown, exclaimed during the sendoff tendered for them at Novotel Manila, in Araneta City last week.

“I did not know how to walk, put on my makeup and could not fit in with these beautiful girls who seem to know

Binibining Pilipinas queens Samantha Lo (left) and Leren Mae Bautista are representing the country at Miss Grand International and Miss Globe pageants, respectively.

it all,” Lo confessed. “We are lucky with Leren to have each other’s back, with my Bb. Pilipinas sisters, we can’t fail to get through this,” added the Cebuana beauty.

“I’m just so lucky to represent the Philippines one more time. I’m more motivated to compete as a Bb. Pilipinas this time and to bring my second international crown,” said Bautista, a 26-year-old native of Laguna who won Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International in 2015.

She aims to become the second Filipina to win Miss Globe after Ann Lorraine

Colis’s feat in 2015.

Giving moral support to the two were Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados, Bb. Pilipinas International Patch Magtanong, Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational Resham Saeed, and Bb. PilipinasIntercontinental Emma Mary Tiglao, with Bb. runners up Andrea Abesamis, and Samantha Bernardo.

Follow Leren Mae and Samantha’s journey in Miss Globe 2019 (Oct. 21) and Miss Grand International 2019 (Oct. 25) until the Finals Night.

Motoring

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

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TOYOTA ACHIEVES NEW FEAT

TMP’s Start Your Impossible campaign draws inspiration from Filipino para athlete Ernie Gawilan, who joined over 1,900 volunteers in a mangrove-planting activity in Batangas.

E

MBARKING on a its own “mission impossible” of sorts, Toyota Motor Philippines shepherded 1,900 volunteers spread out across 35 locations nationwide.

Objective: “Start Your Impossible” National Coastal Clean-up and Mangrove Planting weekend.

Held in partnership with TMP’s dealership network, NGO and LGU partners plus various coastal communities all over the Philippines, the volunteers were able to plant 40,000 mangrove propagules and collect 1,200 sacks of waste by the end of the activity.

“With each and every volunteer cleaning up the coasts and planting mangrove seedlings, all spread out across 35 locations nationwide, we are indeed starting our impossible, one place at a time. If we continue doing these small acts for our environment, soon our big vision of building sustainable communities will become possible,” says TMP President Satoru Suzuki during the opening program at Lian Mangrove Park, in Batangas.

Ever-Better World The coastal cleanup and mangrove planting activity is part of “Start Your Impossible” initiative which is Toyota’s global movement that enables and empowers people to move past challenges

and defy limits in order to reach their goals and make a difference in society.

In the Philippines, Toyota’s Start Your Impossible movement is inspired by Filipino champion para athlete Ernie Gawilan who, as someone who grew up and honed his swimming skills in a coastal community in Davao, has been advocating for cleaner oceans. Gawilan, together with fellow para athlete Edwin Villanueva and his team from the Philippine Paralympic Committee joined the coastal clean-up and mangrove planting activity in Batangas.

Spreading the Advocacy all over the Country With this event, TMP is helping Gawilan bring his advocacy all over the county. TMP mobilized its employees and dealership network to conduct cleanups and mangrove planting in coastal areas of Metro Manila and the following provinces: Batangas, Bulacan, Rizal, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Ilocos Norte, Cama-

rines Sur, Albay, Mindoro, Negros Oriental, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Bukidnon, Davao, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Lanao Del Norte, South Cotabato.

“Wag po tayong magsawang tulungan yung mundo natin,” says Ernie Gawilan, “maraming salamat kasi may mga tao pang nagpapahalaga sa kalikasan.”

Start Your Impossible This is just one of TMP’s Start Your Impossible initiatives. Locally launched last November 2018 during the Toyota Classics, TMP has accomplished numerous projects under Start Your Impossible.

To support the country’s Paralympic athletes, the proceeds of the aforementioned classical benefit concert was donated to Filipino Para-Athletes through the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) for their training requirements such as sports wheelchairs. TMP also donated a 29-seater coaster which was turned over last January 2019 to help the PPC and para-athletes’ mobility and transportation requirements.

Last May 2019, TMP started a 10-day Swim Clinic that aims to encourage aspiring swimmers aged 6 to 14 to take the first step in their athletic journey, and pursue their interest in swimming.

TMP is looking forward to more programs and projects—be it in the area of environmental protection, sports and youth development, and overall sustainable mobility—to encourage more Filipinos to start their own impossible.

F1: Hamilton can land KO blow at typhoon-threatened Japanese GP LEWIS Hamilton may not be able to clinch a sixth world championship at the typhoon-threatened Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, but knows he can knock all but teammate Valtteri Bottas out of the title race.

There are only 104 points to be won after Japan and a victory for Hamilton to follow his triumph in Russia will leave only Finland’s Bottas able to pass the Englishman.

However, a wild weekend of weather is promised at Suzuka which could mean disrupted practice, chaotic qualifying and a wet race punctuated by safety cars.

Japan’s weather bureau said Wednesday that Super Typhoon Hagibis was projected to hit Tokyo, some 300 kilometres (185 miles) east of Suzuka, on Saturday.

“The Honshu main islands will see heavy rains from as early as Friday, and the peak of the bad weather will be on Saturday and Sunday,” Japan Meteorological Agency official Yoshinori Muira told AFP. French driver Jules Bianchi crashed in the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix after a typhoon brought wet conditions and reduced visibility to the Suzuka circuit.

He died of his injuries the following year, becoming the first and only driver killed as a result of a Formula One racing accident since 1994.

Ferrari resurgent Ferrari’s resurgence since the summer break rattled Mercedes and Hamilton as the Italian marque sped to a hat-trick of grands prix wins.

But the Maranello outfit’s failure to turn Charles Leclerc’s pole position into another win at Sochi gave Mercedes a surprise one-two.

It also handed Hamilton a 107-point advantage over the Monegasque with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a further three adrift.

Sebastian Vettel is all but out of the hunt, 128 points behind the Englishman.

Hamilton knows a solid result will put him in pole position to wrap up the title in Mexico on October 27, but he insists he is not yet dreaming of his sixth title -- a total matched only by Michael Schumacher.

“I just don’t try to think about it,” Hamilton said after winning in Russia, aware of Ferrari’s performance edge. “It’s getting harder and harder as the season goes on.

“Of course the races are counting down but we are just trying to take things one race at a time, put one foot in front of the other and not stumble.”

‘Suzuka is incredible’ Rain or shine, Suzuka has the ingredients to be a classic—a rejuvenated Red Bull team pressing the top two, plus a circuit renowned for exciting racing with sweeping bends and dramatic elevation changes.

“It’s going to be awesome,” said Hamilton of the race which will draw fans in huge number despite being staged during a Rugby World Cup which has captivated Japan.

“Suzuka is incredible, it’s one of the most exciting parts of the year and now so more than ever before because you’ve got three solid, incredibly fast teams pushing each other.”

Leclerc was denied a potential third win of his rookie season in Russia because of the team’s botched tactics but sees Japan as another great chance.

“We’ve been quick in Singapore, we’ve been quick in Monza and both of them are the complete opposites so there are no reasons for us to be slow in Japan.

But it doesn’t mean that we will have an easy life,” said Leclerc.

“I’ve only been to Suzuka once but it’s a track I loved. It was just a really great experience, so I’m really looking forward to going back.” AFP

‘Fuel Your Fortune’

US labor strike displaces 6000 GM workers GENERAL Motors has laid off 6,000 workers in Mexico temporarily due to a US labor strike, which has disrupted production at two plants south of the border manufacturing pickup trucks, the company said Tuesday.

The layoffs affect the Silao assembly and transmission plants in central Mexico, where work has been “disrupted as a result of a parts shortage related to the UAW strike,” a GM spokesman said.

The Silao workers are expected to return to their jobs after the strike, the spokesman said.

GM’s Mexican arm notified workers at the Silao assembly plant that they had been placed on indefinite, mandatory vacation and would receive 55 percent

of their pay, according to an internal document obtained by AFP. However, the company emphasized that no one was permanently laid off.

“There are no layoffs for the moment.... We are evaluating the situation day to day and hope to restore normal operations soon, in a matter of days,” spokeswoman Teresa Cid told AFP. The two plants in Silao, Guanajuato state, produce GMC and Chevrolet pickup trucks.

The moves come on top of the furlough of more than 3,000 workers in Canada and at an Ohio plant where GM operates a joint venture with Isuzu to make diesel engines.

Nearly 50,000 US workers are on

strike at GM due to a United Auto Workers conflict over the labor contract, now in its third week.

Workers launched the strike on September 16 after contract talks failed to yield an agreement on wages, health benefits, temporary workers and job security.

The strike also comes against the backdrop of GM’s decision last November to effectively shutter five plants in North America.

A report Tuesday from JPMorgan Chase estimated that the strike has so far cost GM $1 billion, adding that the company has the potential to recover some of the lost profits in the fourth quarter if the strike ends soon. AFP

CALTEX, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) announced their ‘Fuel Your Fortune’ raffle promo. Beginning October 7 until December 31, 2019, every P500 worth of fuel up at Caltex stations earns customers the chance to win exciting prizes.

“Providing drivers a powerful fuel such as Caltex with Techron that our customers can experience in their everyday drive is one way we live up to our philosophy at Caltex of “Enjoy the Journey,” CPI Country Chairman, Louie Zhang said. “Coming up with exciting promos like ‘Fuel Your Fortune’ is another way we do so.”

“I am thrilled to announce the newest raffle promo of Caltex. It’s one that’s not to be missed!” says Caltex’s brand ambas-

sador, Dingdong Dantes. “Gas up at Caltex and experience the record-breaking fuel of Caltex with Techron. Who knows?

You might also be one of the lucky ones taking home a brand new SUV!” Three winners will take home a Toyota Fortuner and 150 winners will get P5, 000 worth of Caltex StarCash. Three winners of the grand prize will be chosen from the three clusters - one from Greater Manila area, one from Luzon, and one from Visayas or Mindanao. Fifty entries will also be drawn from each cluster to win P5,000 worth of Caltex StarCash card. Winners will be drawn on January 7, 2020.

To join, motorists simply need to register the promo code found on their receipt at www.caltex.com/ph/FuelYourFortune.

Caltex’s ‘Fuel your fortune’ promo expresses the company philosophy of Enjoy the Journey.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

Compact convertible • Ferrari F8 Spider zooms out of Maranello

By Lester Dizon

T

HE NEW generation drop-top sports car, Ferrari F8 Spider, is powered by the most successful mid-rear-mounted V8 engine in history.

Unveiled on Sept.9, 2019 in Maranello, the F8 Spider was designed in parallel with the F8 Tributo Berlinetta and features the company’s compact and efficient Retractable Hard Top. The new Ferrari convertible is the latest addition to an exclusive and prestigious bloodline of open-top V8 cars begun with the 308 GTS in 1977. It is less extreme than the 488 Pista Spider but sportier than the 488 Spider that it replaces in the model range.

Consequently,the F8 Spider sets a new benchmark for its sports car segment in terms of usable performance and exceptional handling, providing an incredibly rewarding driving experience. In fact, it excels in merging handling dynamics with surprising incar comfort. This Ferrari spider combines the characteristics of the most lauded 8-cylinder engine in history with unparalleled driving pleasure.

The V8 has raised the performance bar to unprecedented new heights, not only for turbo engines but for power units of all types. The engine is a development of the V8 that won the International Engine of the Year Award for four consecutive years (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019) and that was also selected as the best engine of the last two decades. An incredible feat unmatched in the history of the awards.

Ferrari 488 Spider Replacement The F8 Spider unleashes its power instantaneously with zero turbo lag while retaining the unique and very special V8 soundtrack. This astonishing performance and the car’s disarmingly effortless handling were made

possible by integrating a series of innovative, track-derived aerodynamic solutions into its design. The F8 Spider replaces the 488 Spider and improves on all aspects of its specifications. The engine delivers around 50 horsepower more yet this new Ferrari is 20 kilograms lighter than its predecessor. The F8 Spider weighs just 20 kg more than the more extreme 488 Pista Spider but it is also significantly more aerodynamically efficient, too and features the new 6.1 version of the Side Slip Angle Control system.

The Ferrari F8 Spider’s V8 engine is mid-rear-mounted, which is an architecture that Ferrari has been honing for over four decades to optimally balance weight to achieve nearperfect handling dynamics. The 3902 cc V8 produces 710 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 770 Newton-meters of torque at 3,250 rpm with an impressive specific power output of around 182 hp per liter. This power unit in particular further enhances the typical traits of all Maranello engines with smoothly progressive, limitless acceleration and zero turbo lag, combined with a unique soundtrack courtesy of a new exhaust system. Instantaneously accessible power is matched by exceptional handling thanks to advanced vehicle dynamics solutions. These include a new version of the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE+) which can now be activated in the manettino’s RACE position, a move designed to make performance on the limit easier to reach and control.

More Power But Lighter Weight

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation officially launches the new Montero Sport 2020. From left: Taichi Nakajima EVP Marketing ; Koichi Namiki Product Director ; Yoshiki Masuda ,Chief Product Specialist; President and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri. Lino Santos

MONTERO SPORT 2020 UNVEILED ON October 4, 2019, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation officially launched the new Montero Sport 2020, a model designed with a more robust appearance providing the vehicle a tougher look while complemented with a refreshed interior that

delivers a luxurious and comfortable feel. The new Mitsubishi Montero Sport is equipped with advance features both for convenience and safety; making each driving experience fun and worry-free. With the combined enhancements, the new Mitsubishi

To achieve the increased power, the F8 Spider’s intake line is derived directly from the 488 Challenge. The air intakes have been moved from the flanks to the rear where they are located on either side of the blown spoiler and are directly connected to the intake plenums. This drastically reduces losses and ensures greater air flow to the engine, thereby increasing the power. The air flow also benefits from increased dynamic pressure created by the shape of the rear spoiler. Adaptive Performance Launch analyses grip as the car accelerates and then uses electronic controls to optimize the torque delivered to suit the road’s grip level, reducing wheel slip to a minimum which, in turn, maximizes acceleration.

The rev limiter’s “Wall Effect” strategy is another leap forward in terms of extreme engine performance. Rather than gradually limiting the revs towards the limit, it cuts off right at the 8,000 rpm red-line, maximizing the amount of power available in power-on dynamic driving situations and consequently improving lap times. Adopted once again on this model is the hugely successful Ferrari Variable Torque Management strategy for all gears. To adapt it to the car’s ex-

treme sporty spirit, all of the torque curves were redesigned to deliver a feeling of consistently smooth, powerful acceleration all the way to the red line. Maximum torque is 10 Nm higher than on the 488 Spider and is available even at lower engine speeds.

A Tribute to the Engine Designed by the Ferrari Styling Center, the F8 Spider continues the direction embarked upon with the F8 Tributo which acted as a bridge to a new design language that will continue to emphasize Ferrari’s key characteristics of high performance and extreme aerodynamic efficiency. When designing a spider, the choice of the top will always play a fundamental role in the car’s overall look. For some years now, Ferrari has been adopting a hard top because of the comfort it provides. As a result, the design of the F8 Spider’s lines was crafted around its Retractable Hard Top. The

key to the whole design was the shifting of the separation line between the car’s body and the roof from its conventional position at the belt-line (occupant shoulder level) to above the B-pillar. The top itself is thus more compact and two-dimensional, with the result that it can be divided into two parts and stowed on top of the engine. The RHT takes just 14 seconds to deploy or retract and can be closed or opened while the car is on the move up to 45 km/h.

The Ferrari Styling Center set a goal to design the F8 Spider as a stylistic tribute to the Ferrari V8 engine by evolving the contents of the F8 Tributo and taking inspiration from the most iconic mid-rear-engine V8 sports cars in Ferrari history. The result is a car with a strong personality of its own through an even sportier design clearly inspired by the car’s advanced aerodynamics.

The front view of the car is characterized by the S-Duct around which the entire front end has been redesigned to highlight the extensive aerodynamic modifications made to this area of the car. The clearest example is new, more compact, horizontal LED headlights.

Montero Sport is designed to elevate one’s journey to new heights.

Tougher and bolder look Mitsubishis’ signature Dynamic Shield front view design concept has been further evolved on the new Montero Sport, emphasizing the sense of wideness with the headlights continuing from the front grille and the combination lamps at the bumper corners. The higher bonnet of the vehicle exhibits a deeper front face, while a more solid, powerful chrome part design projects a more refined, sophisticated appearance.

Dependable power and performance • The 2.4L MIVEC turbo diesel and an 8-speed automatic transmission delivers excellent environmental and smooth performance.

• The new Montero Sport retains the Super-Select 4WD-II system that delivers optimal traction for all surfaces and confidence-inspiring handling characteristics.

The off-road mode with a newly designed switch on 4WD models elevates all- terrain performance and self-extraction capability through the integrated control of engine output, transmission settings and brake power.

Comfort and luxury from within • Refreshed floor console and soft padded interior door handles enhance the overall

• AC Outlet 220V 150W feature on all automatic variants. Upgraded driving comfort and convenience • Easy-to-read 8 inch color LCD meter, and 8 inch Smartphone-Link Display Audio (SDA) which is compatible for Apple Carplay and Android.0 • Power Tailgate with hands-free feature.

• The MITSUBISHI Remote Control smart phone application offers a number of functions that facilitate ease of access and added security.* • The MITSUBISHI Remote control app will send notification to the driver’s smartphone to lock the doors via the app when the driver leaves the vehicle with the doors unlocked.

The Power Tailgate can be opened or closed by smartphone. In addition, the tailgate reservation system can be preset by smartphone anywhere, which enables the driver to open or close the tailgate automatically when he/she approaches or leaves the vehicle. The keyless operation system is effective between the vehicle and within Bluetooth** operating range.

Furnished with an 8-way power adjustable driver seat to provide convenient adjustment of seating configuration *Available only for the 4x4 GT variant

** Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG Inc. of America and is used

by MMC under license Safety is always a priority • The new Mitsubishi Montero Sport is equipped with several safety features to provide its driver and its passengers peace-ofmind in every travel.

Lane Change Assist (LCA) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) functions.

Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control Multi-view camera system that limits blind spots when parking the vehicle 7 number of airbags for GT 4WD, 6 airbags for GT 2WD, and 2 airbags for the GLS and GLX variants.

The new Mitsubishi Montero Sport will be available in 4 variants and 7 color options: Variants: Montero Sport GT 2WD AT: SRP Php 1,998,000.00 Montero Sport GLS 2WD AT: SRP Php 1,769,000.00 Color options: White Diamond Sterling Silver Metalic Titanium Gray Medium Red Jet Black