Ms sect d 20170212 sunday by Manila Standard

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Jimbo Gulle, Editor

Roger Garcia, Issue Editor

LGUs mslocalgov@gmail.com

ISO 9001:2015 FOR ILOCOS NORTE

FIRST LGU TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATION NATIONWIDE

Y OBSERVING the international standards of transparency, predictability, accountability, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte was granted certification by the International Organization for Standardization recently.

The ISO certification (9001:2015) gave the local government the distinction of being the first province nationwide to receive the global standard accreditation. “I’d like to congratulate our provincial employees, led by Treasurer Josephine Calahate… Tayo ang kauna-unahang government agency sa buong Pilipinas na nakakamit nito,” Gov. Imee Marcos mentioned as PGIN started its annual “Open Capitol” held early this week. “And I am certain that the endless pursuit of excellence by Ilocanos everywhere will persist, as we continue to produce heroes, pioneers, and genuine game-changers in all aspects of accomplishment. Marcos added in her speech. In 2013, Ilocos Norte had also been the first province nationwide to receive ISO 9001:2008 certification. The accreditation was granted just in time, as the province celebrated its 199th foundation anniversary last Feb. 2. ISO is a non-governmental organization composed of experts in products, services, and systems who create standards

Local Gov’t Units

of management to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency. Compared to earlier versions of ISO accreditation (2000 and 2008), which focused on managing processes, the 2015 version “is less prescriptive, focusing instead on performance,” overall guiding organizations or units to be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction. Provincial Treasurer and ISO Facilitator Mrs. Josephine Calajate shared, “If not for Governor Imee Marcos’ handson leadership, her vision, and her achievements, we never would have been inspired to do all of these things,” adding that it took collective effort from every Capitol department to undergo and pass the accreditation process even amidst other PGIN activities. A major difference was also the focus on risk-based thinking or risk management, which required each Capitol department to strategize office procedures based on weaknesses and risk of failure in order to identify opportunities for improvement. “

LGU-DRIVEN ‘TYPE NG BAYAN‘ BLOOD TYPING LAUNCHED IT’S a fact that not all Filipinos know their blood types which is very important in addressing medical issues like blood donation and transfusion as it can spell the difference between health and sickness, even life and death. For the past years, an alarming critical shortage of blood has been observed nationwide across blood reserve units due to the rising cases of dengue. The newly formed DU30 Cabinet Spouses Association, in its mission to assist the marginalized sector of the society comes up with its second project called ‘TYPE NG BAYAN (TNB)’. TNB is a free blood typing program for every Filipino which will provide assurance and peace of mind that in any eventuality of health problems, someone outside the family circle will be able to share that much-needed blood. Under the Office of the President, with the support of the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the lead group (Cabinet Spouses Association) will turn over the project to the Metro Manila Mayor’s Spouses Foundation. The LGUs under their respective mayors will deliver the testing kits to their different barangays for implementation.

SEARCA SAYS JAPAN OPENS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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By Brenda Jocson

FLY FREE. ‘Sarangani Pride,’ as this Philippine eagle was named by Senator Manny Pacquiao,

flies into its natural habitat in Mount Busa, Sarangani province. It was found dehydrated and malnourished in the upland village of Batian on Jan. 2. Municipal government staff brought it to the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City to be nourished back to health. (See story below)

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—-The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture announced recently that the scholarship tenable at Tokyo University of Agriculture (NODAI) in Japan is now open. SEARCA, scholarship secretariat, said researchers employed at the University of the Philippines Los Baños can now apply for the Dissertation Doctorate Program for Agriculture and Natural Resources. The scholarship is also open to researchers working fulltime at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Malaysia, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) in Indonesia, and Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand. All four universities including UPLB are founding members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) forging the dissertation doctorate scholarship with Tokyo NODAI.

EAGLE FREED IN SARANGANI’S 'LAST FRONTIER'

LAKE HIGHWAY. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (center), DPWH Assistant Secretary Eugenio Pipo, and Undersecretaries Romeo Momo and Karen Jimeno (from left) inspect plans for the newly opened Laguna Lake Highway Phase 1 (formerly C-6 Dike Road) in Taguig City during its opening on Thursday. The 10.7-kilometer road will link the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, and Cavite and traverses Taguig and Taytay in Rizal. Ey Acasio

A REHABILITATED juvenile Philippine Eagle was recently released to its habitat less than a month after being found in Mt. Busa, a key biodiversity area in Maitum town in Sarangani. The eaglet, named Sarangani Pride by Senator Manny Pacquiao, was found dehydrated and malnourished in the upland village of Batian on Jan. 2 and was brought by the municipal government staff to the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City. The release team is composed of Philippine Eagle Foundation director for conservation Dr. Jayson Ibanez, PEC executive director Dennis Salvador, Maitum OIC–Menro Nanette Nacional, CENRO-Kiamba Jhing Guilao, DENR Region 12 representatives, and

Sarangani Information Office. Salvador said the eagle was released on the basis of its health and physical conditions. During its rehabilitation, an X-Ray result showed an embedded pellet in its left groin and had to be nurtured into prime condition. A team of biologists will be monitoring the bird’s condition for 10 days. “Our staff will be monitoring this eagle post-release via satellite and radio transmitter. We want to make sure that this eaglet will be accepted back by its parents and fed until it fully fledges,” Salvador said. According to Sarangani Environmental Conservation and Protection Center executive director Emma Nebran, the forest

where the eaglet was released is considered the last frontier of the province. “Mt. Busa is the remaining forest we have here in Sarangani, and we must protect, conserve and preserve the biodiversity that we have here,” she revealed. She added that the Provincial Government, headed by Gov. Steve Solon, supports efforts in protecting Mt. Busa and has allotted funds to support conservation initiatives in the area. The 114,000-hectare Mt. Busa, which covers the towns of Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum, is threatened by land conversion (to farmland), kaingin (slash-and-burn), wildlife hunting, illegal logging and mining.

TODAY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

LANAO DEL SUR'S TOURISM FLOURISHES By Lance Baconguis CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Mention the province of Lanao del Sur and all you will hear from people are negative comments from people who actually never even visited the province. True, crime rate and violence exist, but so does in highly urbanized areas. Despite all of these, in 2016 the province was visited by 69,606 tourists who spent P1.2 billion, making the province the most visited province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In a report filed by tourism official from the Department of TourismARMM, Lanao del Sur is the number one tourism destination in ARMM’s five provinces. Aside from Lanao del Sur, ARMM is also composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi. According to ARMM Tourism Secretary Ayesha Mangudadatu-Dilangalen, ARMM had an influx of 212,649 tourists in 2016 with roughly P3.7-billion tourism-related expenditures. “Lanao del Sur had an increase of 14-percent visitors compared to 2015 with 61,058 tourists,” MangudadatuDilangalen said. Nouraldin Ahmad Tamano, provincial tourism officer, said life in the province revolves around Lake Lanao, which is also the source of Mindanao’s 30 percent power supply through the Agus hydroelectric power plants. The people living in Lanao del Sur are called the Maranaos, “people of the lake,” among the most devout of Muslim tribes as well as the most artistic. Lake Lanao is in Lanao del Sur, it is the largest lake in Mindanao, second in the Philippines and one of the 15 ancient lakes of the world. The life of the Maranaos centers on Lake Lanao, the second largest and deepest in the Philippines and one of the most breathtakingly beautiful. The city’s Aga Khan Museum, located within Mindanao State University, is a repository of Maranao and other Moro artifacts. It boasts a huge collection of indigenous art and cultural materials, ethnic music, the native tools and weapons used by the Muslims, and Muslim houses of different artistic designs.

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LEYTE RIDGE-TO-REEF RURAL PROGRAM PUSHED

HE Leyte town Inopacan that’s now being aided in planting of jackfruit, dipterocarps, and ‘tilapia’ raising may become a national model for being small but is “food secure” owing to a “ridge to reef” ecosystem-based rural development.

The socio-economic development at Inopacan, Leyte is being approached in a different light by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. Inopacan is a third class municipality with a mere 20,000 population. Instead of identifying development sites based on political classification, a SEARCA project is developing Inopacan from farm areas to forests and water bodies. “The project will focus more on the agro-ecological systems of a potential project site. It will be delineated based on pre-determined

VIZCAYA ELDERLY SECURE BENEFITS FROM PROV'L GOVT By Ben Moses Ebreo LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The elderly may want to spend their remaining 25 years in this province so that they can be covered with the provincial government’s Centenarian Ordinance’s benefits. Why not? There were already more than 43 super senior citizens who were awarded with benefits under the ordinance. “Even with the implementation of the national government’s Centenarian Act, we will still implement our own. In fact, we are the first to implement it ,” said Gov. Carlos Padilla. It all started in 2014 when Padilla’s wife Ruth sat as the governor pushing her passion for the welfare of the elderlies under the PRAYERS AND FAITH acronym for her development programs. Padilla pioneered the implementation of the Ordinance Number 089 s. 2014 or Centenarian Ordinance Cagayan Valley if not the entire country after it was approved by the provincial board through the sponsorship of then board member Donior Tidang, an elder of the Kalanguya tribe in Sta. Fe town . “We owe this significant ordinance from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan because they truly showed support and compassion to our centenarians,” Padilla said. Since then, the provincial government has awarded P100,000 each to the more than 43 centenarians who passed the validation procedures. The recipients are also entitled to free medical accommodation and medicines from the provincial government–managed hospitals in Nueva Vizcaya. “Our elderlies deserve this assistance for they serve as our inspiration and model for longevity, good healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition” Padilla added. The Office of the Senior Citizens Association Nueva Vizcaya chapter also serves as strong and active partner of the provincial government in the implementation of the Centenarian Ordinance. They provide counselling and other services to address feuds and misunderstanding among the family members of recipient centenarians.

ecosystem using the ridge-to-reef approach or landscape continuum.” This ecosystem-based concept follows SEARCA’s model called “Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development “ or ISARD. ISARD aims that projects in poverty-stricken areas should enable the poorest of the poor get out of poverty, according to SEARCA Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. At the same time, these communities should contribute to conserving the environment. The ISARD project in Leyte is in partnership with the Visayas State University, Visayas Consortium for

Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Program (ViCAARP), and Inopacan’s local government unit. The “ridge to reef” model raises success potential of a poverty alleviation project as communities may be easily tapped for partnerships. Besides, use of all agricultural, rainforest, and fishery resources will be maximized with the proximity with each other of factors of production (labor and raw materials, machines, land, and management). Demonstration farms have just been put up in the last quarter of 2016 at Inopacan. These are a vegetable farm, a tilapia fishpond, and two jackfruit farms. The vegetable plot of 1,000 square meters was planted to okra, alukbati, and eggplant. A technology on low-cost protective cover was applied as developed in an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research-funded project in order to protect the

plants from continuous rain which is prevalent in the areas.

Ridge to reef

Under the ridge to reef concept, LGU-partners are tapped when these are around a “watershed or micro watershed, lake ecosystem including its tributaries.” The concept also determines choice of beneficiaries based on landscape ecologies of upland, lowland, coastal and marine ecosystems including ecotones. SEARCA’s ISARD projects get small grants for technical assistance; institutional development and capacity building; knowledge management; and linkaging and networking support. “Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and Experts Systems developed by ViCAARP will also be deployed to support the project and growers in their decision-making processes.”

PINEAPPLE TOWN. Workers unload newly harvested pineapples at a stall in the public market of Calauan, Laguna, a town famous for its sweet pineapples in the southern Tagalog region. Ed Usapdin

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PDEA EMPLOYEES Bid Ref. No. 2017-26 1. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum of TWENTY SEVEN MILLION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P27,120,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2017 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the PROCUREMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PDEA EMPLOYEES. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 2. The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for the PROCUREMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PDEA EMPLOYEES. Delivery of the goods is 365 calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) 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. Instructions to Bidders. 3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183. 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm). 5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 7, 2017 from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of twentyfive thousand pesos (PhP25,000.00). The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. 6. The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 15, 2017, 3:00 p.m. at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders. 7. Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before February 27, 2017, 1:00 p.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on February 27, 2017, 3:00 p.m. at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. 8. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/oMs. Aroceli E Sonido or Mr. Arvin E Sadullo at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting February 7, 2017 at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids. 9. PDEA reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. 10. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Aroceli E Sonido or Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-FEB. 12, 2017)

INVITATION TO BID

6. 7.

10.

SUPPLY, DELIVERY, AND TESTING OF 337 UNITS SHORT FIREARMS FOR PDEA Bid Ref. No. 2017-09 The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum of SIXTEEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (P16,830,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2017 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to paymentsunder the contractfor the SUPPLY, DELIVERY, AND TESTING OF 337 UNITS SHORT FIREARMS FOR PDEA. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for the SUPPLY, DELIVERY, AND TESTING OF 337 UNITS SHORT FIREARMS FOR PDEA. Delivery of the goods is 180 calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) 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. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Act.” (i) Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm). A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 3, 2017 from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of twentyfive thousand pesos (PhP25,000.00). The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 10, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders. Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before February 22, 2017, 1:00 p.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on February 22, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/oMs. Aroceli E Sonido or Mr Arvin E Sadullo at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting February 3, 2017 at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids. PDEA reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Aroceli E Sonido or Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-FEB. 12, 2017)

Gadgets & Games

A+ MOBILE EXPERIENCE WITH A6600 PLUS

The feature-packed Lenovo A6600 Plus delivers amazing performance and awesome pictures, at an affordable price point.

ENOVO announced recently a new addition to the A series, the Lenovo A6600 Plus. Ideal for consumers looking for an uncompromising A+ mobile experience, this featurepacked smartphone delivers amazing performance and awesome pictures, at an affordable price point. It is a multimedia powerhouse that delivers entertainment and multitasking on-the-go. Take your 4G mobile experience to a whole new level with the Lenovo A6600 Plus. Its 64-bit MediaTek 6735p quad-core 1.0GHz processor and 2GB RAM surely delivers amazing performance in its class. With the latest Android OS

—Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS—right out of the box, you can enjoy fluid switching between apps and save battery power. Experience HD viewing with the phone’s 5-inch display with 800:1 contrast ratio. You can catch the latest movies or YouTube videos in vivid, true-to-life colors. What about taking a snapshot of that wonderful sunset, dinner with friends or picnic with the family? Capture life’s best moments with the A6600 Plus’s 8MP autofocus rear camera, complete with a flash. You’re sure to take awesome photos with the phone’s automatic face detection, automatic scene detection and zero shutter delay. Enjoy all your favorite music, movies and games wherever you go with the A6600 Plus’s expandable memory and 16GB internal storage. The unit’s 2300mAh battery ensures users

can maximize their entertainment archives for much longer! “The Lenovo A6600 Plus delivers excellent performance at a very competitive price point. Its fast processor, fast LTE connectivity, stylish big screen and brilliant camera features offer a flawless A+ user experience,” said Dino Romano, country manager at Lenovo Mobile Business Group Philippines. The A6600 Plus comes in matte black and matte white versions. It retails at Lenovo stores and authorized sellers nationwide for only P5,999. Buyers can also enjoy financing options such as six months zero interest via credit cards or low monthly payments via Flexi Finance through selected dealers. Consumers may also avail of it for free with the Globe MyLifestyle Plan 599.

BOOST FUN, FOCUS WITH MOTO G FAMILY LIFE in the fast lane entails juggling multiple activities at once. Today, millennials need to balance work with a bustling social life full of parties, travel engagements, social media networking and hobbies. Oftentimes, they wear many hats: They are photographers, party planners, gamers and jetsetters. Moto empowers millennials in accomplishing all their myriad goals, plans and activities. The trusty and stylish Moto G family, comprising the camera-phone -made -better Moto G4 Plus, the all-day highperforming Moto G Turbo and the fun-yet-affordable Moto G4 Play, complements the ever-busy life of the young generation. Millennials can finally elevate their work and play experiences to a whole new level with Moto’s unique smart technology, designed to enhance digital experiences while embracing the passions of life.

Moto G4 Plus: A smarter way to take pictures

Those blurry photos from last night’s party will finally be a thing of the past. Packed with an impressive 16MP camera—Moto’s best-in-class offering— and intelligent features for taking stunning photos under any light condition, the Moto G4 Plus allows millennials to dance their photography woes away and capture priceless moments seamlessly. The wide-angle 5MP front camera can deliver stunning groufies and selfies that will surely make Facebook friends green with envy. The phone’s advanced imaging technology adjusts to any light through two additional auto-focus innovations, delivering clear colors and sharp details on a par with professional cameras.

Moto G Turbo: Boost your performance

The Moto G Turbo lasts the whole day without the need to plug it into a wall socket or power bank. Powered by

a 2470mAh battery, this phone is perfect for millennials who want to run the world sans the wires. The Moto G Turbo is also equipped with an impressive TurboPower feature, which delivers up to 6 hours of power after just 15 minutes of charging. The Moto G Turbo delivers breakneck speed and enhanced performance to support demanding apps and mobile games with its ultra-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 1.5GHz octa-core CPU. The 4G phone supports browsing, music and video streaming, and gaming at much faster speeds. From answering emails in the morning to listening to Spotify come evening, the Moto G Turbo can deliver unfaltering power and consistent connectivity.

Moto G4 Play: More fun, more affordable

Users can now play to their heart’s content with the Moto G4 Play, which boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with a quad-core CPU, 2GB

memory and a 2800mAh battery that lasts from morning until night. The Moto G Play makes play functional without taking away the fun. Gone are the days of endless browsing through albums to search for a specific photo. Millennials can finally keep their social and professional lives in check with smart, clutter-free apps such as Google Photos, which allows photo editing and sharing in real-time. Users can enjoy games and apps without having to worry about damaging the phone. The Moto G4 Play’s splash-proof and water-resistant nano coating protects the device from spills, accidental splashes and even a little rain! The Moto G4 Plus retails at P13,999 and is available at selected MemoXpress and Silicon Valley outlets (SM North EDSA, SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia). Users can get the Moto G4 Play exclusively for free when they avail of the Smart GIGA Plan 999. They can also get the Moto G Turbo exclusively for free with the Globe MyLifeStyle Plan 799.

WORLD'S 1ST LITHIUM BATTERY ENHANCED EVEN MORE ENERGIZER is enhancing the consumer device experience with its improved Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA battery. This advancement fuels devices with more power for even longer to meet consumers’ evolving battery needs. “Lithium batteries are known for their long-lasting, high performance—and just one of many uses for these topperforming batteries is the Internet of Things,” said Michelle Atkinson, Chief Consumer Officer at Energizer. “Our lives are increasingly powered by a network of high-tech devices, operating behind the scenes to make everyday tasks easier. These technologies work together to heat our homes with smart thermostats and provide security assurance through monitoring systems. Such conveniences are made possible by lithium batteries—and can now perform even better due to the enhanced Energizer Ultimate Lithium.” With its run-time and performance improvements, Energizer Ultimate Lithium

This means that flashlights shine bright- remotes from farther away through maraer for longer, camera flashes turn over faster thon gaming sessions. Enhancements to the battery defor longer and consumers can use wireless sign will enable the improved Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA to boost run-time performance by 8 to 15 percent, making it the “World’s Highest Energy and Longest Lasting” AA battery. “Today we enhanced our lithium batteries to feature even more power and longer run-time,” Atkinson said. “Our scientists are looking toward the future to continue our innovation journey to develop groundbreaking ways to produce batteries that meet our consumers’ changing needs and deliver long-lasting performance.” Th e i m p rove d E n e rgi ze r U l t i mate Lithium AA batteries are available in all leading stores nationwide. To get more information and news, follow Energizer on their Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/energizerPH/ and visit Enhancements to the battery design will enable the improved Energizer their website at http://www.energizer.com. Ultimate Lithium AA to boost run-time performance by 8 to 15 percent. ph/Energizerv2/.

helps devices operate at peak performance and is the world’s highest energy premium AA battery.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

1ST TECH, GADGETS EXPO SET SUBTERRANEAN Ideas will be holding the First Philippine Tech and Gadgets Expo on May 13 and 14, a first of its kind, interactive trade show featuring the country’s latest tech innovations and devices. Name it, the TGX will have it, from smar tphones and phablets, from dash cameras to pocket projec tors and bluetooth-enabled sunglasses to new games, apps and smart TVs. The convention aims to bring together millennials who are passionate about technological innovations, always on the lookout for sales and products that provide solutions to their everyday living. The TGX also seeks to highlight what makes a certain product click, its features that make it a standout and how it fits the lifestyle of those in need of it. “We want to bring together people that are passionate on the newest technological innovations, highlighting invention and the latest trends in the industry of technology,” said Maritess Raborar, project manager of the TGX. “We also want this event to serve as a platform for new and emerging companies to showcase their own innovative and latest products.” What makes this TGX different from other trade shows is its interactive nature, meaning its a will get to test the product first-hand and react accordingly. Like if a certain smartphone boasts of a good camera, exhibit goers get to take their selfies using the product, with their photos going straight to the social media platforms of the said company. Further boosting the tech aura and ambience of the TGX are various online games, up to 50% off on gadgets and an EDM party to conclude a fullpacked techie day. Prospective sponsors and exhibitors can contact Raborar at tel. nos. 09182392009 and 09773192321.

ePLDT... From D4 Eric Alberto, ePLDT Group President and CEO, added that the Award epitomizes ePLDT’s stronghold as a trusted partner in the country’s IT industry, which was built with its investments in global-quality infrastructure, and more importantly, in world-class expertise. “We have a strong team of pacesetters who are committed to delivering best-of-breed solutions to businesses—a team that is customer-centric which creates solutions that matter,” Alberto said. In 2014, ePLDT won the same Cisco 2-Tier Partner of the Year Award for meeting requirements in personnel, support and specialization. The digital innovator demonstrated that it has the capability to sell, install and manage Cisco products and services in the country. Jovy Hernandez, First Vice President and Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Groups said: “SMEs and Large enterprises in the country need a reliable partner that can help them drive their growth. That’s what ePLDT does, offering the right solutions backed by the right people to enable businesses not only to thrive but to innovate and disrupt.” Cisco designs and sells broad lines of products, provides services and delivers intelligent solutions to develop and connect networks around the world for more than 30 years. Learn more about ePLDT and its broad range of services. Visit the website at www.epldt.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Gadgets & Games ENSURE EARLY DETECTION WITH DINION IN environments with limited vision due to poor lighting, smoke or complete darkness, the Bosch DINION IP thermal 8000 camera offers excellent thermal performance, built-in Intelligent Video Analytics and outstanding corrosion resistance (meeting the EN 50130-5 salt mist test, withstanding up to 1000 hours of salt/mist under test conditions). This makes it ideal for outdoor use in mission-critical applications such as perimeter protections of airports, critical infrastructures, government buildings and bridges.

Early object detection

Manila Standard photographer Sonny Espiritu and his Tamron 50-600mm f/5-6.3 SP Di VC USD lens in action during the Miss Universe beauty pageant. At right, a photo of Philippine bet Maxine Medina using Tamron lens.

TAMRON LENS: ALL-AROUND BEAST

By Peter Paul Duran

ANY will say the 200mm+ range in lenses is exclusive only for wildlife enthusiasts prowling the sahara.

But with Tamron’s without compromising 150-600mm f/5-6.3 SP image quality. Di VC USD lens, long“The equipment is range photography an extension of your need not be reserved skills,” said Espiritu after only for birds and nareviewing the lens for ture, but for any coverthe 65th Miss U pagage calling for the need eant at the Mall of Asia of intimacy in distance. Arena a couple of days Telephoto lenses back. “This a once-in-aare the ‘big guns’ of lifetime event and the photography. These lens helped me capture bad boys can intimithis very rare instance.” date any photogra“In my more than pher, scaring any hobtwo decades as a phoIris Mittenaere byist or professional. tojournalist, never There’s a reason these lenses are kept have I held and utilized such a powfor specific occasions and used by erful lens, this is the first time I’m able the seasoned shooter. to use a lens that is high in quality but But for Manila Standard senior is also affordable at the same time,” staff photographer Sonny Espiritu, he said of the lens lent by Lightroom who was able to use the Tamron 150- Corporation, along with a Benro tri600mm for the Miss Universe Pageant pod for the coverage of the coveted just last week, the lens is an all-around beauty contest. glass fit for capturing far-away subjects He added: “I’m not particular with

any brand, but I’m really impressed with this Tamron lens. I could say that this lens is perfect for newspapers and suitable for people working for print publications.” For Sonny, the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 SP Di VC USD lens is the perfect lens for these kind of coverages, especially when he was stationed at the top of the MoA Arena rafters. “When I took pictures using the Tamron 150-600, I was approximately 200 meters away from the stage. But I was still able to photograph the girls from head to toe, and I wasn’t even on the first row, we were at the General admission!” The lens provides photographers with a tad additional reach to better access wildlife, sports, and other types of photography which require you to capture distant subjects. The lens also provides a Ultra Silent Drive Motor which offers faster auto focus, as well as minimal noise in the AF motor when focusing. It certainly has the 4s of a good lens: speedy, silent, sharp and smooth. But that’s just us talking, here are the specs: ‘Vibration Correction’ optical image stabilization; 150-600mm focal length (225-900mm equivalent on APS-C);‘UltraSonic Drive’ autofocus motor; F5-6.3

maximum aperture; Camera Mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A;Max/Min Aperture: f/5.0-6.3; f/32-40; Minimum Focus Distance: 8.86 ft (2.7m); Aperture Blades: 9; Removable Tripod Collar; Image Stabilzation, Vibration Compensation (Canon, Nikon); Weighs less than 2kgs. “The lens is really easy to handle, I didn’t have any hassles using the lens in my coverage,” added Sonny. “It’s really comfortable, and a very undemanding lens.” Although there were some chromatic aberrations entering the farthest focal length, there was minimal vignetting at the 600mm mark--a common weakness for some of its counterparts at this point. Consumers can really get a remarkable and highperformance lens that shines in its class. A real heavyweight in its division. The Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 SP Di VC USD lens as well as other camera equipment and accessories are available at Lightroom Corporation. You can contact the company with these numbers: Mobile Phone: +63917-553-92-47 Telephone: +632-577-90-60. Also, visit their facebook page at https://business.facebook. com/lightroom.ph/ or website at lightroom.ph

FACEBOOK LITE REACHES 200M+ USERS

FACEBOOK announced today that Facebook Lite, a lightweight version of Facebook, doubled its number of users in less than a year and now serves more than 200 million monthly active users around the world. The app now supports 55 languages and is popular in many countries including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the Philippines. Facebook Lite was developed to provide the op-

timum Facebook experience for users in areas with slow internet connections, or with low end devices or limited internet packages. The software uses less data, installs fast, loads quickly and works on all types of Androids, supporting all networks including 2G. Today it is being launched in four additional countries: Israel, Italy, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, and we hope to roll out in more

ePLDT RECEIVES CISCO AWARD ePLDT, Inc., an industryleading enabler of digital business solutions to enterprises in the Philippines, was awarded as the 2-Tier Partner of the Year by Cisco Philippines during the recently concluded Cisco Partner Conference 2017 at Solaire Resort and Casino, Manila City. The Award is given to organizations that set the standards in revenue growth performance and commitment to innovation.

ePLDT helped Cisco expand its business to new geographies by winning key deals in the BPO sector through its unique service offerings. According to Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer, it was ePLDT’s strategic imperative to drive managed service growth that brought about big wins from enterprise verticals primarily in BPO, Hospitality and Manufacturing.

“We want to thank Cisco for recognizing our efforts in bringing innovative solutions to enterprises that solve their real-life business concerns,” Ramos said. “Our company has been setting the pace for IT innovation in the country. And with our long-standing and still growing partnership with Cisco, we will can enable fresher and more relevant technologies as well as valuecreating IT solutions to the country.” Turn to D3

countries soon. During the past year the Facebook Lite team has improved many things, including the performance for a faster and more reliable experience; the look and feel to make sure people have an simple and good experience; and the onboarding process so people can easily log on and off their account when sharing devices.

What makes the DINION IP thermal 8000 camera so special is the combination of thermal imaging and standard Intelligent Video Analytics at the edge. Combining these features makes the camera suitable for applications that require video content analysis over larger distances up to 762m. The state-of-the-art Intelligent Video Analytics enables the camera to differentiate between genuine security events and known false triggers such as challenging environments or applications that require video content analysis over larger distances. The DINION IP thermal 8000 camera offers a choice in resolutions: QVGA or VGA. Configuring the on-board analytics is easy thanks to the built-in gyro sensor. This sensor provides the most important values needed for automatic set up—simply enter the height of the camera to complete the configuration process.

Data Security

Bosch is driving a four-step approach to maximize data security by considering physical and cyber security. It involves creating trust, securing data, managing user access rights and meeting IT industry standards. Because the camera is often the most remote outpost in a network, it is easily overlooked when implementing data security measures. We have several measures in place to secure our cameras. One measure is that all Bosch IP cameras feature a unique, built-in Trusted Platform Module (TPM). This safely store all certificates a n d keys needed for authentication and encryption. Even in cases DINION IP of unauthorized thermal 8000 access, the TPM ensures that the keys cannot be retrieved. For more information, please visit: www.boschsecurity.asia

Jovy Hernandez, First Vice President and Head of PLDT Enterprise; Eric Alberto, ePLDT Group President and CEO; and Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer proudly show off the Cisco 2-Tier Partner Award trophy.