The Standard - 2016 January 28 - Thursday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 350 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSday : JaNUaRy 28, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Duterte sounds warning on drugs

jpe: pnoy hiDing behinD his men By Macon Ramos-araneta

SENATOR Juan Ponce Ernile on Wednesday attacked President Benigno Aquino III for hiding behind others to shield himself from responsibility for the deaths of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano last year, but the Palace and its allies said he failed to produce new evidence as he promised. In Wednesday’s resumption of the Senate investigation into the Mamasapano massacre, Enrile spelled out Aquino’s eight sins in the ill-fated Operation Exodus in which the Special Action Force commandos were killed by Muslim rebels. Although the record showed that the President “actively and directly” participated in the planning and preparation for the operation, he evaded any responsibility and accountability and used his friend, former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima to shield him from blame. By questioning those involved in the operation before the Senate committee on public order, Enrile concluded that the President had authorized and “compartmented” the operation, keeping knowledge of it only to himself and Purisima; and that he had full knowledge of what was going on during its Next page execution.

PH falls 10 places in survey on transparency By Gabrielle Marie Consuelo H. Binaday

The hearing continues. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile fields questions during the continuation of the hearing on the Mamasapano debacle at the Senate on Wednesday. Lino SanToS

DESPITE the Aquino administration’s “straight path” policy, the Philippines dropped 10 places in Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 95th among 168 countries and putting it behind Indonesia (88th), Malaysia (54th) and Singapore (8th). The country’s corruption index of 35 was a significant drop from 38 in 2014. Overall, Transparency International said, two-thirds of the 168 countries in the 2015 index scored below 50, including the Philippines, Next page

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Apology not on Akihito’s agenda JPE: ... From A1

Enrile said he also “wantonly” disregarded the command systems of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines by dealing with Purisima, who at the time was not an active part of the command system because he was suspended on corruption charges. Finally, he said, President Aquino failed to issue any order or take any effective action as President of the republic “to prevent the barbaric slaying and slaughter of the PNP-SAF troopers.” As proof of the President’s direct hand in Oplan Exodus, Enrile cited a briefing that Purisima and then SAF commander Getulio Napeñas gave Aquino in Bahay Pangarap on Jan. 9, 2015. At one point in the hearing, Enrile read back text messages that the President had sent to Purisima, noting that he was more interested in the body of the terrorist Marwan and the fate of the other targets of the operation than in the safety of the police commandos. In fact, he said, none of the text messages Aquino sent asked about the men, Enrile said. Enrile also expressed doubts over Purisima’s claim that the briefing was held merely to keep the President informed, and noted that it was Aquino who had suggested the SAF devote more commandos to the operation. “If he was not involved, he had no role except to just listen and say nothing,” Enrile told Purisima as the former police chief was being questioned by Senator Nancy Binay. When Purisima insisted that they were just keeping the President informed about an operation with high-value targets, Enrile blurted out: “Someone is lying here in front of us in the Senate! This is an insult to the institution.” As the seven-hour session was drawing to a close, Enrile threw a question at the police and military generals in the Session Hall. “Woud you act if there is no order and your President is the one commanding? My question to all of you is if a project was compartmented by the President, will you interfere if he has no order?” the 91-year-old senator asked.

PH... From A1

which ranks countries on a scale of 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean). “Corruption can be beaten if we work together. To stamp out the abuse of power, bribery and shed light on secret deals, citizens must together tell their governments they have had enough,” said José Ugaz, chairman of Transparency International. “The 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index clearly shows that corruption remains a blight around the world. But 2015 was also a year when people again took to the streets to protest corruption. People across the globe sent a strong signal to those in power: it is time to tackle grand corruption,” Ugaz added. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Malaysia were seen as becoming more corrupt last year. If there was one common challenge to unite the Asia- Pacific region, it would be corruption,” Srirak Plipat, Transparency International’s

Senate President Franklin Drilon, a close ally of the President, stood up and insisted that Aquino was never involved in planning Oplan Exodus. “There is nothing in the testimony that the President [got involved] in the manner that is being presented,” Drilon said in the President’s defense. He emphasized that from the very start, Napeñas had said that it was his plan and he executed it. Asked if he thought the Senate committee on public order might change its report, Enrile said no, and that he merely focused the discussion on the President’s responsibility and accountability. He said the “new matters” he wanted to bring up were the text messages between the President and Purisima. Enrile rejected the President’s claim that he was misinformed. “They have huge intelligence funds. Why did they not foresee that this could happen to their men in the field?” Enrile said he was satisfied with the hearing because it focused attention on the President’s responsibility, something that was not done in the previous hearings. Now it was up to the law enforcement officials to do their job, he added. Committee chairman Senator Grace Poe said most of the points in the hearing were already included in her committee report and can be found in the transcripts of previous hearings and executive sessions. She said she stood by her report, which found the President ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano massacre, and said those findings were bolstered by the additional testimony Wednesday. She said the hearing focused on a chronological and clinical timeline of the incident and offered some new information on the US assistance that was given to the police. Earlier, Enrile asked former police officials why the US military or the Central Intelligence Agency were involved in a purely police matter. Napeñas said this was because the mission was to get Marwan, who was also wanted for the Bali bombings in which Americans were killed. But Enrile said the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement does not cover the enforcement of criminal laws in the Philippines.

“This is something that the government must explain,” he said. Administration Senator Teofisto Guingona III said Enrile’s “bombshell” was a dud, since no new matters or evidence were presented. Guingona also considered a “waste of time” the seven-hour hearing where 24 resource persons were summoned. Poe had already conducted five public hearings, spanning 23 hours and 39 minutes. The transcripts of these hearings alone total 1,098 pages. There were also five executive sessions, spending 15 hours and nine minutes, grilling witnesses behind closed doors. During the previous hearings, a total of 37 persons testified. Echoing the administration line, Guingona said the President’s actions were based only on the information given him by Purisima. Asked why the President allowed the suspended police chief run the operation, Guingona said this was beside the point. “The point here was that the President was provided the wrong information from morning until afternoon,” he said. During the hearing, Guingona said there was no concern or alarm on the part of the President as he was told that only one trooper was wounded and that Marwan was already dead. The President was also informed that the government had 160 troopers against the 15-20 armed elements. “The reality that happened on the ground was different from what the President knew,” Guingona told Poe’s committee. “There was no reason for the President to be alarmed because we had 160 troopers as against the 15-20 armed elements. This is on top of the tanks and cannon,” said Guingona. Also like Drilon, Guingona blamed Napeñas for misleading and confusing the President with wrong information. Napeñas objected: “I did not mislead the President.” During the hearing, the military official who flew the plane carrying the President to Zambonga City to monitor the operation testified he was directed by Aquino to alert all assets on the ground to support SAF troops. With John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

regional director, said in a statement. “From campaign pledges to media coverage to civil society forums, corruption dominates discussion. Yet despite all this talk, there’s little sign of action.” The top 10 countries and their index scores were Denmark (91) Finland (90), Sweden (89) New Zealand (88), The Netherlands (87), Norway (87), Switzerland (86), Singapore (85), Canada (83), and Germany (81). Top performers shared key characteristics: high levels of press freedom; access to budget information so the public knows where money comes from and how it is spent; high levels of integrity among people in power; and judiciaries that don’t differentiate between rich and poor, and that are truly independent from other parts of government. The top bottom countries, on the other, were: Haiti (17) Venezuela (17), Iraq (16), Libya (16), Angola (15) South Sudan (15), Sudan (12), Afghanistan (11), North Korea and Somalia (both with 8). Five of the 10 most corrupt countries also rank among the 10 least peaceful places in the world.

In Afghanistan, millions of dollars that should have gone to reconstruction have been reportedly wasted or stolen, seriously undermining efforts to sustain peace. The big decliners in the past four years were Libya, Australia, Brazil, Spain and Turkey. The big improvers were Greece, Senegal and the UK. The Corruption Perceptions Index is based on expert opinions of public sector corruption. Countries’ scores can be helped by open government where the public can hold leaders to account, while a poor score is a sign of prevalent bribery, lack of punishment for corruption and public institutions that don’t respond to citizens’ needs. Reacting to the poor showing, the Palace said the government is continuing to strengthen institutions to fight corruption. “The government continues to strengthen the public institutions so that civil servants will imbibe the ethos of transparency and public accountability,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. With Sandy Araneta

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

AN Apology and compensation for Filipino comfort women are not part of the agenda of the five-day state visit of Japanese Emperor Akihito in the philippines, his press secretary, Hatsuhisa Takashima, said Wednesday. Takashima, however, said Japan may “respond positively” on the issue if it becomes a political one through legislation or a court order. “There was no discussion on that between the Japanese government and the Emperor before he left Tokyo for the Philippines. I understand there are no ongoing negotiations [between the Philippine and Japanese governments], and this is a government issue and the Emperor is not involved,” he said. “If the situation in the Philippines requires more that what has already been done, if it becomes a political issue through parliament or court, then Japan would respond positively,” Takashima said. The few remaining comfort women, members of Lila Pilipina, trooped to Mendiola Wednesday to make a public appeal for Akihito to “right the historical wrong” committed by his father, who was chief of Japan’s military during World War II. “Emperor Akihito inherited the throne and together with it the responsibility and accountability. His father, Hirohito did wrong during World War II, and now he must do his part to right the wrong,” said Rechilda Extremadura, executive director of Lila Pilipina. Extremadura said that while Akihito’s visit to a Japanese memorial garden in Caliraya was noble, he can do more by pushing for proper compensation for Filipino comfort women. “The comfort women are living proof of Japanese wartime abuse. While it is noble to visit and honor the dead, it is nobler to honor the living by giving them the justice which eluded them for more than 70 years,” she said. “He can urge the Diet and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to enter into an agreement with the Philippine government just as he did with Korea on the plight of comfort women,” Extremadura added. Takashima said the 82-year-old Akihito brings with him the message of “eternal peace—reminding young Japanese people to never forget the “suffering of the Filipino people” under the Imperial army during the war. “The Japanese people must always remember what we have done, the heavy damage we have inflicted. The atrocities committed by the Japanese people during the war is a thing which should not be repeated again. He has a very strong feeling toward war,” Takashima said. The leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said Filipino comfort women must be given true and complete justice. “Beyond the Aquino government’s adulation for the imperial couple is the sad reality that the Filipino comfort women are dying without realizing justice. This is an outstanding issue from the Japanese occupation that has yet to be satisfactorily addressed by the Japanese government,” Renato Reyes, Bayan secretary-general said. “More than Emperor Akihito’s

vague pronouncements of remorse, the victims of Japanese imperialism demand full recognition of and complete apology for the atrocities committed, just compensation for the victims, as well as the inclusion of this dark chapter of our history in school textbooks so that the people will never forget,” he added. Up to 200,000 women in Asia, many of them South Koreans but also from China, the Philippines and what is now Indonesia, are estimated to have been forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers during World War II. Only 70 known Filipina victims are still alive, according to women’s group Lila Pilipina. Japanese leaders and senior officials have over the decades offered apologies and compensation money to the Filipina victims, albeit deliberately sourced from the private sector rather than the government. Akihito was scheduled to visit a cemetery for tens of thousands of Filipino World War II dead, as he uses a historic visit to the Philippines to promote his pacifist agenda. The soft-smiling Akihito, 82, and his wife, Empress Michiko, are on a five-day trip to the Philippines to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties, but also to honor those who died during Japan’s brutal occupation of the Philippines. “In the Philippines, many lives of Filipinos, Americans and Japanese were lost during the war,” Akihito said before arriving on Tuesday. Akihito specifically noted the battle for the liberation of Manila in 1945, where an estimated 100,000 people were killed. “We’d like to conduct our visit by always keeping this in mind,” said Akihito, who offered a slight bow as soon as he alighted from his plane at Manila airport. Akihito’s visit is the first by a Japanese emperor to the Philippines and comes as the two countries fortify economic and defense ties, partly in an effort to counter China’s increasingly assertive actions in disputed regional waters. He officially launched his visit on Wednesday morning with a redcarpet welcome ceremony at the presidential palace hosted by President Benigno Aquino III. In the afternoon, he was due to visit the sprawling Libingan ng mga Bayani in Manila, which was built in 1947 to honor Filipino soldiers who died during World War II. An estimated 100,000 people died during the month-long campaign to liberate Manila in 1945, which saw aerial bombings and gunfire flatten the city. Tens of thousands also died in an excruciating 100-kilometer Death March from Bataan province to Japanese concentration camps. The other key symbolic event on Akihito’s agenda will be a visit on Friday to a shrine for Japanese casualties of the war in Caliraya, a lake resort village about three hours’ drive south of Manila. With John Paolo Bencito, Sandy Araneta, and AFP

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Duterte: PH now almost a drug den PRESIDENTIAL candidate Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday warned that the country will become a narco state if the disorder brought by illegal drugs does not end. Davao City Mayor Duterte said the country was already showing alarming signs of becoming a narco state. “In the national capital region where the country’s capital is situated, the government had admitted that 92 percent of the barangays are already infiltrated by illegal drugs,” Duterte said. “If Manila, the country’s seat of power, is helpless to address this, what more the other parts of the country where government presence is weak?” Duterte also cited the presence of international drug syndicates in the country such as the Sinaloa drug cartel, a Mexico-based group that he said was the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the west. “This is a clear national security threat. This is an invasion of a new kind,” Duterte said. “Drug lords domestic and foreign have declared a war against our families and children and the government is helpless about it.” Cayetano said that if he and Duterte were elected, they would implement national, regional and international strategies to combat drug trafficking. “We will also strengthen the five pillars of our criminal justice system. Drug trafficking thrives best in countries where there is grave insecurity and injustice,” Cayetano said. He said they will push to develop the regions to provide the people with alternative livelihood. He and Duterte will enforce stricter immigration laws to prevent international drug syndicates from entering the country. “We will not allow the disorder to continue and our country to become a narco state,” Cayetano said. “We will build a strong state to provide bold solutions and swift action to bring about real change. Under the Duterte-Cayetano watch, everyone will be afraid of the law but everyone will be protected by the law.” macon Ramos-araneta

Poe welcomes Sereno’s comment on foundlings INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace Poe said Wednesday the assertion of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno that the country’s adoption laws recognize foundlings as Filipino citizens shows compassion to foundlings like her.

Charity event. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach takes a selfie with six-year-old Sebastian Balinghasa during a charity event at the AFP Medical Center on Wednesday. Jansen RomeRo

“It conveys the message that there are laws and jurisprudence that foundlings can rely on in pursuing their case,” Poe said. She said Sereno’s legal emphasis on foundlings bolsters her assertion that she is a natural-born citizen and qualified to run for president in this year’s elections. “This certainly buoys up the argument raised by my lawyer during the oral argument,” said Poe whose disqualification on the questions over her citizenship brought on by her detractors remains pending before the Supreme Court. The Commission on Elections canceled Poe’s Certificate of Candidacy for president after it decided she is not a natural-born citizen. During the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on Poe’s disqualification cases, Sereno said the country’s adoption laws recognize foundlings or children with no known parents as Filipino citizens. Reacting to the Comelec’s moving of the printing of the ballots to Feb. 8 from Feb. 1, Poe said the poll body was working within a realistic time line. “We should let them do their job,” said Poe whose name was included by the Comelec in its initial draft of the list of candidate to the elections. “What stands right now is the Supreme Court’s TRO on the cancellation of my Certificate of Candidacy, and this means that I remain a candidate,” Poe said. “Without the lifting of the TRO, my name remains in the ballot.” macon Ramos-araneta

Binay camp slams Senate hearing

Preliminary hearing. Lt. Ferdinand Marcelino subscribes to his affidavit during the

preliminary hearing on his case at the Justice Department on Wednesday. Marcelino was arrested while authorities were raiding a shabu laboratory in Santa Cruz, Manila. Danny Pata

THE Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee will not end its investigation of the alleged anomalies involving Vice President Jejomar Binay until the committee submits the final report to the plenary, Binay’s camp said Wednesday. “The Senate hearing only ends after they submit the committee report to the 24 senators so it can be defended,” United Nationalist Alliance interim president and Navotas Rep. Toby Tianco said in a radio interview. “How can one defend a complaint when there was no final committee report

and what was the decision of the plenary with regard to the committee report?” Tianco said. He said the hearing was timed to spoil Binay’s surge in the latest presidential survey released by Social Weather Stations on Jan. 15. In the nationwide survey that SWS conducted from Jan. 8 to 10, Binay received 31 percent of the respondents’ votes while Poe at second place received 24 percent. Binay and Poe were tied in the last SWS survey conducted from Dec. 12 to 14 last year, with both of them

receiving 26 percent of the votes. Tianco said it was very obvious that the Senate hearing was politically motivated and calculated to get the senators running for higher posts to gain media mileage. He said Binay was a victim of “demolition by perception” because it is customary in Filipino culture to smear another person’s reputation. He described the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing as “the longest political inquisition by a political institution.” Vito Barcelo

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Envoy lauds Edca benefits By Vito Barcelo EVEN if the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is only an extension of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States, it provides benefits that benefit both countries, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said Wednesday.

In escrow. Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista hands over in escrow the source code for the automation system of the 2016 national elections to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Vicente Aquino. DANNY PATA

Poll code placed in escrow By Sara Susanne Fabunan THE Commission on Elections on Wednesday placed the source code for the country’s automated election system in escrow with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as required by the poll election law. In a simple ceremony held at the BSP compound in Manila, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista surrendered the source code of the Election Management System component of the automated election system to the central bank. “We need to deposit the source code to the BSP since it is required by the Republic Act No. 9369,” Bautista said. Section 9 of the Poll Automation Law provides that the source code must be kept in escrow with the Bangko Sentral

ng Pilipinas. Placed inside a safety deposit box is the thumb drive containing the source code, binary codes, and hash codes of the EMS; as well as the certifications of the technical evaluation committee, the Comelec and the international certification firm, SLI Global Solutions. The escrow agreement was concluded just hours after the Comelec, SLI, and AES service provider, Smartmatic International, completed the “trusted build” process of the EMS on Tuesday. “It is provided by law that we need to have it escrowed as soon as the trusted build is completed,” Bautista said. “The BSP is the most secured place in the Philippines,” said BSP Deputy Governor Vicente Aquino.

“We ensure that this source code, the safety deposit box containing the source code will be safely kept. We will ensure that it will be safe. We will not touch it. We will not look into it. We will not look at it. We will just ensure that it is there untouched by anyone,” Aquino said. Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim, meanwhile, said the separate source codes for the Consolidation and Canvassing System as well as the Vote Counting Machines will also be placed in escrow by Feb. 9. “The source code review and trusted build of the CCS and VCMs are not yet finished so we decided to go ahead with the EMS [escrow],” said Lim, who is the Comelec—Steering Committee for the 2016 polls chairman.

Goldberg said in a radio interview that the agreement was only made “controversial” because of the objections of Filipino activists, but the pact itself offers advantages to both nations. “What we are doing is mutually beneficial,” Goldberg said. “For the Philippines, it means a closer relationship. It builds a minimum credible defense as it works to ensure maritime security and humanitarian assistance.” “The Edca [also] allows the US to be more present in the region, helps carry out the ‘rebalance’ goal of the Obama administration. So it’s mutually beneficial,” he added. The ambassador agreed with the decision of the Supreme Court affirming the constitutionality of the agreement because it was only an executive agreement carrying out the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement. “These are the documents on which Edca is based. It will help us to help the Philippines do more in trying to carry out its goal of building a defense that allows it to have some assurance in its maritime space,” Goldberg said. Goldberg granted the rare radio interview as US Secretary of State John Kerry traded barbs with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over the nuclear activities of North Korea and the regional dispute over parts of the South China Sea. China, which claims almost all of the South China Sea, was infuriated by US warnings that its activities threaten the freedom of navigation in the busy commercial shipping lanes. The US has said it takes no position on the claims, but maritime disputes should be settled peacefully and a binding code of conduct be forged with other claimant countries. “We talked about the possibility of a diplomatic way forward and Foreign Minister Wang Yi accepted the idea that it would be worth exploring whether or not there was a way to reduce the tensions and solve some of the challenges through diplomacy,” Kerry said after his meeting with Wang. But the US also said Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s planned trip to the Taiwaneseheld island of Itu Aba is “extremely unhelpful” a US official said on Wednesday.

Marcos backs treaty THE historic maritime boundary treaty between the Philippines and Indonesia that was reached peaceably after more than 20 years of talks got a boost Wednesday after Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. agreed to endorse the treaty’s ratification. “This is a very important agreement with our neighbor, Indonesia. We will sponsor this for concurrence of the Senate as soon as possible,” said Marcos who chairs the sub-committee on the treaty which requires the concurrence of at least two-thirds of the Senate. Signed on May 23, 2014 after 20 years of negotiations, the treaty draws the boundary between the overlapping EEZ of the two countries, specifically in Mindanao Sea and Celebes Sea. An EEZ is a sea zone defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea over which a state has special rights on exploration and use of marine resources. It stretches from the baseline out to 200 nautical miles. It was Marcos who authored the Unclos-

compliant Philippine Baselines Law, or Republic Act 9522, during his term as Ilocos Norte congressman. Marcos noted that a clear demarcation of the EEZ boundaries between the two countries would not only prevent conflict between Filipino and Indonesian fishermen, but also pave the way for closer cooperation in protection of the environment, increased trade and maritime security. “The valuable experience we had in conducting years of negotiation with Indonesia provides us with a roadmap on how to resolve our maritime territorial dispute with other countries, particularly the one with China in the West Philippine Sea” Marcos added. Marcos has been urging the government to exhaust all diplomatic efforts to resolve the row with Beijing, including bilateral and multi-lateral talks, back-door channels, as well as cultural and educational exchanges to ease the relations between the two countries strained by the maritime territorial row.

Tough fight. Lottie Manalo, sister of Iglesia ni Cristo executive minister Eduardo Manalo, appears at the Quezon City prosecutor’s office on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing of the land title dispute case filed against her by her former church. JANSEN ROMERO

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Romualdez: Use phones, technology as tools to save lives

Price cut. Motorists benefit from lower fuel prices as oil companies reduce pump prices for the third straight week in January due to a steady drop in world oil prices. Jansen RoMeRo

House musters quorum, okays anti-poverty bills By Maricel V. Cruz The house of Representatives on Tuesday night approved on second reading several measures that coincide with anti-poverty programs of the Aquino administration. Taking advantage of the quorum since monday, the House in plenary session approved measures strengthening the publicprivate partnership, institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and removing investment restrictions in the Foreign Investment negative List. speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said these bills are included in the priority bills of the 16th Congress,

even as he vowed approval of these measures on third and final reading during the last session days of Congress next week. The House was able to muster a quorum since monday. Belmonte stressed the measure institutionalizing and strengthening the PPP seeks “to recognize the indispensable role of the private sector as the main engine for national growth and

development, create an enabling environment for PPP.” It was principally authored by Belmonte, majority Leader and mandaluyong rep. neptali gonzales II, marikina rep. miro Quimbo, chair of the House committee on ways and means, and Benguet rep. ronald Cosalan. The measure also seeks to provide the most appropriate incentives to mobilize private resources for the purpose of financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects and services normally financed and undertaken by the government. The PPP refers to a contractual arrangement between the implementing agency and the project

proponent for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance or any combination thereof, of an infrastructure facility, in which the project proponent bears significant risk, management responsibility or both. Under the bill, PPP projects may be undertaken through any of the following: Build and Transfer; Build-Lease-and-Transfer; Build-own-and-operate; Build-operate-and-Transfer; Build-Transfer-and-operate; Contract-add-and-operate; Develop-operate-and Transfer; Joint Venture; operations and maintenance Contract; rehabilitate-operate-and-Transfer; and supplyand-operate.

Congressman martin romualdez stressed on Wednesday the need for leveraging the latest tools in mapping and information and communication technology to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness during natural calamities such as typhoons, floods and earthquakes. “response readiness is key because the Philippines is located in one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world,” said romualdez, a 2016 senatorial candidate. The UP-trained lawyer cited a United nations economic and social Commission for the asia and the Pacific report that stated people from the asia Pacific region are four times more likely to be affected by natural disasters than those living in africa, and 25 times more likely than those living in europe or north america. The Un study added that the region generated a quarter of the world’s gDP but it accounted for a staggering 85 percent of deaths and 38 percent of global economic losses from 1980 to 2009. “High-tech satellite mapping is of course very useful, but the experience of other countries such as Japan and India during calamities shows that even simple technologies such as smartphone apps, coupled with active community participation, goes a long way,” the solon observed. “The phone is not just a tool for texting and making calls anymore. In other countries, these devices are being used for community mapping and creating a sturdy geospatial database.” “our Department of science and Technology [DosT], for instance, can encourage IT students in our high schools and universities, through a nationwide competition, to develop an app that could be useful during calamities,” offered romualdez. “gaming and social networking features can even be integrated to make the system attractive to everyone. The point is, we need to start thinking out of the box. Investing in technological solutions doesn’t necessarily entail high expense allocation from the government,” romualdez added.

‘Power market can’t collect fines’ THe Court of appeals has rejected the bid of wholesale electricity spot market operator Philippine electricity market Corp. to collect P234 million from a power generation firm allegedly involved in the collusion among industry players to manipulate electricity prices in the spot market during the 2013 malampaya shutdown. In a 22-page decision, the Ca’s special Fifth Division through associate Justice stephen Cruz sustained the april 1, 2015 ruling issued by the regional Trial Court of Pasig City granting Thermal mobile Inc.’s petition for the issuance of an injunction stopping the PemC from demanding payment of P234.9

million, representing financial penalties for violation of the must offer rule. The mor requires generation companies to offer all their registered capacity to the wholesale electricity spot market in order to avoid market manipulation through the artificial withholding of capacity or offering at an insanely high price such that it will not be dispatched. PemC, which acts as the market operator that governs Wesm, found several violations of the mor, and Tmo was found to be one of the biggest violators, liable for 3,578 counts of breach of the mor and was fined P243.9 million. Because of this, Tmo sought refuge from the

Pasig City rTC, which in turn stopped PemC from demanding payment of the penalties. The appellate court agreed with the assertions of Tmo that the payment of the huge amount would jeopardize its operations. “In the instant case, Tmo sufficiently established the importance of the issuance of the writ of preliminary injunction. Tmo, in its comment to PemC’s petition for review, mentioned that it is not financially capable to settle the financial penalty. as such payment of the enormous penalty amounting to P234,900,000 would be a threat to its very existence,” the Ca stressed. Rey Requejo

Bomb drill. A parking ticket attendant watches while scene-of-crime operatives

conduct a bomb explosion simulation drill at a mall in Divisoria Market in Manila on Wednesday Jan. 27, 2016. DannY PaTa

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SC ruling invites piracy—groups By Rey E. Requejo INTELLECTUAL property owners and advocates on Tuesday criticized the Supreme Court for rendering a decision that allows the registration of a trademark against a similarly and legally existing one that has long been protected by intellectual property rights laws and regulations, including the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. IPR owners, advocates and even lawyers questioned the ruling of the Court’s Third Division, which they warned would open the country’s floodgates to pirates and IPR violators that would transform the Philippines into a world-wide piracy haven. One of the intellectual property firms in the country, Federis & Associates, was even baffled with the ruling of the high tribunal, which allowed the registration of the identical trademark of Taiwan Kolin Corporation Ltd. against the existing trade-

mark of local firm Kolin Electronics Co. Inc., both firms of which are engaged in the sale and manufacture of electronic products. Federis & Associates and other IPR law practitioners have raised the prospects that the questionable decision of the SC would invite and encourage pirates and other IPR owner-violators in the country to move for legal recognition and protection from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines by using the precedent ruling. The same would apply to pirating

and infringing international firms which could not seek IPR protection in countries where there are strict adherence, enforcement and observance of IPR laws, by coming into the Philippines and registering for an identical or similar protection. “In a recent decision, the Supreme Court allowed the registration owned by two competing companies, for an identical trademark, used in connection with goods in the same Class, thereby effectively throwing the doors wide open to trademark copying and creating a climate for potential consumer confusion,” Federis & Associates said, in a statement. In 2002, Taiwan Kolin applied for trademark registration for “KOLIN” before the IPO for its electronic products under Class 9 of the Nice Classification (Application), but KECI opposed the registration, saying it was similar to its “KOLIN” trademark that has already been legally existing, pro-

tected and used, having been registered also under Class 9 with the IPO. KECI also said the being sought trademark registration was not only identical but also confusing, officially supporting its claims with documents of e-mail letters from consumers complaining about Taiwan Kolin products. Not only consumers, but even companies like shipping lines and utility companies were also confused as to the businesses of the two companies. KECI’s trademark case against the Taiwanese company was held by the Bureau of Legal Affairs of the IPO and even by the Court of Appeals where TKC appealed. Having lost its case before the appellate court, the Taiwan Kolin appealed to the SC where it earned the favors of the court, which ruled among others that the marks of KECI and Taiwan Kolin have distinct visual and aural differences.

No hope in SSL. Members of the Advocates of Science & Technology for the People picket outside the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration office in Quezon City to oppose the Salary Standardization Law IV which they say will scrap their combat /hazard pay and related benefits. JANSEN ROMERO

Motorbikes for hire halted over safety woes THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Wednesday blocked the operation of app-based motorbikes for hire as another alternative transportation in Metro Manila Chairman Winston Ginez said the LTFRB is left with no option but to stop the MyTaxi.ph from operating GrabBike. He said the Department of Transportation and Communications has not yet issued any guidelines that would authorize the operation of such mode of transportation. Under a department order, the operation of GrabBike using the Internet-based technology platform is not authorized. “As part our mission to ensure the riding public’s safety and convenience, we will not tolerate transportation network companies to provide transport service using motorcycles or bikes until we have set the proper guidelines and regulations,” Ginez maintained. LTRFB issued a ceaseand-desist order, advising MyTaxi.ph to stop the use of bikes and motorcycles due to safety and authorization issues. It also ordered MyTaxi. ph to explain in writing its operation without the authority of any concerned government agency. With PNA

Bicameral team agrees to keep hazard pay, perks intact—Recto By Macon Araneta DESPITE the deadlock in the congressional negotiation on the proposed government pay hike, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said there was a “tripartite agreement” on a provision guaranteeing that the magna carta benefits of state workers will not be taken away. Recto said that the House and the Senate panels hammering out the proposed Salary Standardization Law have agreed to insert “a non-diminution of benefits” clause in the measure. The provision, which will form part of Section 8 of SSL IV, states: “Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to reduce, diminish, or alter benefits pro-

vided for in existing laws on Magna Carta benefits.” This provision, Recto said, has the support of the Department of Budget and Management. “This was sent to them and they concurred.” Recto said this clause “effectively inoculates Magna Carta benefits from being erased or eroded. It removes all ambiguities in the measure that can be interpreted as a pay cut, rather than a pay hike.” “The SSL bill has been rectified to do just that: raise their pay and do so without cutting any of the benefits they receive under present laws,” Recto said. He commended members of the Bicameral Committee Conference

“for heeding the calls of affected civil servants and accepting my proposed amendment.” Recto had earlier written to the House and Senate conferees to propose an amendment that “nothing in the SSL IV shall be interpreted to reduce, diminish or, in any way, alter the benefits provided for in existing laws on Magna Carta benefits for specific officials and employees in government, regardless of whether said benefits have been already received or have yet to be implemented.” He said the above merely reiterated the existing provision in the Salary Standardization Law III, which is the one in effect today.

Crop loss. Jahalidin Amilil, 17, works in a corn field in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Rat infestation has reduced corn harvest to only 80 percent of the crop. MARK NAVALES

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

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Authorities nab American for shabu GENERAL SANTOS CITY— Anti-drug operatives arrested an American citizen after allegedly being found in possession of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in a hotel here early Wednesday.

Kath Abad, public information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12, said suspect Hyun Seong Hong was nabbed following a search in his room at the Microtel hotel in Barangay Dadiangas Heights at 1:10 a.m. She said the operation, which was directly supervised by PDEA-12 director Lyndon Aspacio, was based on a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court here. According to Abad, agents recovered from Hong’s “possession and control” around 10 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P75,000, three pieces aluminum foil strips, an improvised tooter, an improvised needle and a roll of aluminum foil during a raid. “The suspect is currently undergoing investigation and will be subjected to a drug test,” she said in a statement. Abad said they staged

the operation based on a tip from an informant about the presence of shabu at Hong’s hotel room. She said they immediately applied for a search warrant after getting initial confirmation on the matter. PDEA-12 records showed that the 53-yearold Hong, who is reportedly a businessman, is a resident of 2710 Park Way, Irvine, California in the United States and just on vacation in the city. The suspect, who is a US immigrant from South Korea, was listed by the agency as a “high value target.” Abad said Hong, who is currently detained at the PDEA-12 lockup, will be charged for violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) and Section 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Farm tricks. A farmer uses a plastic container as he conserves precious water to manage the drought’s effects on the vegetable farms of La Trinidad, Benguet. DAVID CHAN

Ombudsman dismisses Bohol mayor By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday dismissed a Bohol mayor from government service over fake travel reimbursements. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the dismissal of former Cortes, Bohol Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy, who was also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

Balistoy was also barred from taking the Civil Service Commission’s eligibility examinations. She was found guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and falsification of official document for defrauding the government. The Ombudsman said Balistoy used falsified and dubious official receipts and certificates of attendance for four training modules to secure reimbursement of expenses for the trainings from May to October 2010. In case of separation from the service,

the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s one year salary. “These certificates were used to obtain reimbursements for travel and training expenses totaling P155,789. However, the Field Investigation Office as complainant, presented documents that Balistoy attended meetings in the provinces, instead of the trainings in Metro Manila,” the resolution read. “It would have been physically impossible for respondent to have been at three different and geographically distant places all on the same day.”

DoLE’s employment program benefits 455 N. Samar workers

LABOR and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz on Wednesday said the department’s P3.5-million Emergency Employment Program in Region VIII has benefited 455 workers in Allen, Northern Samar. Citing the report of regional director Elias Cayanong, Baldoz said the beneficiaries of the fund assistance are emergency employment workers from 20 barangays of Allen, who were victims of the Typhoon “Nona.” The typhoon struck on Dec.

14, 2015. “They received P7,800.00 each for the services they rendered during their 30-day emergency employment,” she said. Cayanong said: “We saw the damage brought by the Typhoon Nona and we consider it pure joy to help, and somehow bring relief to our fellows in the region.” The pay-out was held on Jan. 6 in Allen with town Mayor Rodrean Suan in attendance. The 20 barangays which benefited from the emergency employ-

ment program were Cabacungan, Zone 2, Londres, Imelda, Lipata, Bonifacio, Sta. Rita, Jubasan, Victorio, Alejandro, Lagundi, Calarayan, Tas Villa, Looc, Kinaguityan, Kinababwon Zone 1, Kinababwon Zone 2, Guinarawayan, Frederick and Sabang Zone 1. “The P7,800 I received from DoLE today means a lot to me and my family. I am determined to use it to help us recover from the damage of the recent typhoon,” Christine Galino from Brgy. Cabacungan said.

Kitchen savvy. A local chef displays his skills during a cookfest at the founding anniversary of Carigara, Leyte. MEL CASPE

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

THE EMPEROR’S VISIT

[ EDI TORI A L ]

WHAT’S OUR BRAND?

A RECENT American movie portrays a presidential election as nothing but a public relations game, where candidates are managed as products and are prompted to do and say things that would improve their image, hence, their performance in the polls. The protagonist, commissioned to help a candidate get elected to the top position in his country, decides to create, instead, a brand for the people’s situation—a brand that eventually shows the candidate as the ultimate solution. The brand that is chosen is crisis. People are poor, the streets are not safe, local industries are not protected against external threats, and the IMF is set to come in and intervene with the economy. With the emphasis that the nation will continue on its downward spiral if the crisis is not averted, the candidate is presented as the savior. He is trained to dress a certain way, speak a certain way, own up to his human failings, and utter certain promises that soon assuage the fears of his staunchest critics. He wins. As soon as he gets the outcome that he wants, however, he reneges on his promises. The PR work is considered successful. If it weren’t Hollywood, it might as well be the circus that is politics in the Philippines. Indeed, the candidates are packaged as brands, polished and reinvented every so often, designed to appeal to the voters. Thus we have the fierce senator who is not afraid to speak her mind, the foundling who is now being bullied for her citizenship and residency, the scion of a prominent clan who attended the best schools and who is trying hard to connect with the masses despite his background, the poor, dark, self-made man who is being pilloried his apparent appeal to the masses, and the maverick mayor from the south who seems best able to govern with brawn. Sadly, however, the Filipino voters have a brand, as well—the poor, unthinking lot who would sell their votes, literally or otherwise, to the highest bidder. Our brand is desperation. People who cannot find jobs vote with their feet, by going out to foreign shores despite the social costs to their families and despite the risks in their destinations. The overtaxed middle class—the workhorses of the economy—have to deal with debilitating traffic and a deteriorated public transport system. Our brand is hypocrisy. Despite claims that this administration treads the straight and narrow path, we see double standards of justice, we see evasion of responsibility and we see tolerance—nay, encouragement—of mediocrity. Everything that goes wrong is blamed on some other person, never the leader, never the leader’s friends. Our brand is missed opportunities. The tragedy is that this is not some public relations stunt.

RECKONING POSTPONED LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES CHOOSE your poison: Either President Noynoy Aquino is not in charge or he is. Either way, disaster strikes. And we are no closer to getting to the bottom of the butchering of 44 members of the Special Action Force last year than we were before yesterday’s Senate hearing.

I can accept that the sevenhour hearing conducted by Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile failed to live up to its earlier promise of uncovering “new, explosive evidence” about the President’s involvement in the massacre. But anyone who has eyes and ears will also be forced to conclude that the only reason the government, military and police officers who were invited went to the hearing was to prove that Aquino was not in command, as he

should have been. It defies all logic, reason and whatever evidence is at hand to claim that former SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas, as witness after witness claimed, was acting alone in Mamasapano. The high-value target that was Marwan, after all, was the object of at least 10 policemilitary “oplans” and a sustained, well-funded manhunt by the anti-terrorist advisers of the United States in the Philippines. Then there was former

It defies all logic, reason and whatever evidence is at hand to claim that Napeñas acted alone.

(and, at the time, suspended) PNP chief Alan Purisima, by far the most trusted police official of Aquino, who was calling the shots, from soup to nuts, as they say. The heavyhanded presence of Purisima only proved that Aquino was on top of the situation, even if every civilian and uniformed witness worked hard and long in the Senate to convince us that this was not so. Once again, the spectacle at the Senate highlighted the propensity of this administration to claim credit only when good things happen. When the smelly

stuff hits the ventilating appliance, Aquino is suddenly not involved or even in charge. I’m willing to bet anything that, had Oplan Exodus ended only with the safe delivery of Marwan’s severed finger, Aquino—from his nearby field office in Zamboanga —would have crowed loud and long about how his government had neutralized the Bali bomber and his chief Filipino accomplice. But when the 55th SAF Company got involved

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in an encounter with Moro rebels, Aquino was suddenly no longer in command. This can’t be possible, of course. As yesterday’s refresher course on the massacre showed once again, Aquino focused only on the operation to get Marwan—but basically (and oh so callously) left the police commandos caught in a day-long battle with the rebels to fend for themselves. Sometimes, fate intervenes

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and makes minced meat out of even the best-laid plans. And I believe that, while Aquino and his henchmen may claim yesterday to be a victory of their massive and continuing cover-up operation postMamasapano, this is not the last time that the killing of 44 policemen will come back to haunt this feckless and insensitive President. There will be a reckoning. Yesterday was not it, but it is sure Continued on A11 to come.

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SEVENTY years after the end of the Second World War, the geopolitical landscape in our part of the world has completely changed. Japan, our bitter enemy in that war, is now a strategic friend, our biggest trading partner and aid provider. China, our friend and ally in that war, on the other hand is no longer one of our best friends. Although we continue to trade and be as civil as possible with each other, the relationship is strained. This is because of our conflicting interests relative to the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea as we call it. China has claimed almost all of it and is enforcing that claim with its might. China has become the Japan of the 1930s—expansionist and daring in projecting its new found power. As a result, many countries in the region are reassessing their strategic priorities and alliances. Prior to the increased tensions in the South and East China Sea. Japan has always concentrated its affairs towards the west. It is after all one of the G7 countries and proud of it. It is the only Asian country in that exclusive club. But times have changed. China now dwarfs Japan in both economic and military power. Unquestionably, China has become a serious threat to Japan. Now, Japan is drifting back to Asia where it belongs. It is undergoing tremendous selfexamination to find ways to confront Chinese designs. Although the United States remains the anchor of its defense alliance, Japan is trying to find ways to strengthen its relationships with other countries like us that are very concerned with Chinese intentions. With the reinterpretation of the Japanese pacifist constitution, we now see Japan more willing to engage in areas that were once taboo to the Japanese government. We will now receive about 10 new coast guard ships from Japan; there is also that possibility that they would transfer defense equipment. We are beginning to conduct joint maritime exercises and see more Japanese navy ships calling on our ports. Just recently, Japan agreed to provide $2 billion in concessional loans to finish our stalled railway project to Bulacan. It is the largest single concessional loan given by Japan. It is in this atmosphere that we welcome Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to our country for a five-day state visit. That the Philippines was chosen for this very rare state visit is significant because Japan suffered more than 500,000 combat casualties here. This is not however, their first trip to this country. I remember their Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

THE EMPEROR’S VISIT

[ EDI TORI A L ]

WHAT’S OUR BRAND?

It defies all logic, reason and whatever evidence is at hand to claim that Napeñas acted alone.

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Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE PRESIDENT’S LIABILITY TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

DURING the reopening of the investigation into the deaths of the SAF 44 in Mamasapano, the revelations were clear that: • BS Aquino III as President, chief executive, and top cop of the Philippine National Police, was in charge of “Oplan Exodus” from beginning to end.

Mr. Aquino will answer for all this at the right time.

• That BS Aquino III made then-suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima, his best friend, in charge of “Oplan Exodus,” that resulted in the slaughter of 44 police commandos. • That BS Aquino III hid behind Purisima to deflect his ultimate accountability, responsibility and liability for the slaughter of the 44 police commandos. • That there was no coordination at all between the President (and Purisima) on one hand, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the other, despite the promise of Purisima that he would coordinate with the AFP. • That the Americans were involved in “Oplan Exodus” furnishing SAF the intelligence reports on the terrorist, especially Marwan with a $5-million bounty on his head. (Why were the Americans involved in the police operations?) • That the AFP command, particularly

then-Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang, was completely unaware of what was going on in Mamasapano, and that the Defense Secretary was kept out of the loop. • That the chain of command in both the PNP and the AFP were in complete paralysis that day, which raises the question: Was it not the duty of President Aquino to know what was happening with “Oplan Exodus?” There were attempts on the part of administration senators like Senate Yellow-Ribbon Committee chairman TG Guingona, a reelectionist running under the administration ticket, to steer the conversation away from BS Aquino III’s role and accountability in Mamasapano. They claimed that BS Aquino III was not aware that the police were being surrounded by a combined force of the Moro rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other groups. Purisima supposedly informed the President that there were only 20 or so of the rebels engaged in the armed conflict. Santa Banana, was Purisima misinforming BS Aquino III so that his interest would seem to be in the arrest of Marwan with the $5-million bounty on his head? Since I had to meet my afternoon deadline, I was unable to listen to the afternoon hearing. Enrile had many more questions to ask. Definitely, BS Aquino III was directly, truly liable for the death of the 44 police commandos. This is something he has to answer for when he steps down on June 30. *** As a political observer of political events of presidential election,

LET’S TALK ABOUT SLEX LAST week, the House of Representatives’ special committee on Southern Tagalog Development passed what could be a landmark committee report which aims to give legal basis for the extension of the South Luzon Expressway from where it is physically present now up to the Bicol Region. As of present, P.D. 1894, which is already 30 years old stands as the legal framework and it merely states that the extension of the SLEX shall be from Nichols to Lucena city. This legislative proposal has been long overdue, even before inclusive growth became a buzzword of the Aquino administration. It has been more than 30 years since Presidential Decree No. 1894 provided for the construction of the SLEX from Nichols to Lucena City, and three decades is a long-enough time for such a law to become myopic given the rate of change in the country’s economy. And it is precisely this speed of changes in the country’s socioeconomic status that is the reason why infrastructure has to catch up. The Imperial Manila perspective notwithstanding, Metro Manila traffic woes become national news by virtue of the concentration of industrial hubs in the NCR, which is a basically a compounded problem stemming from poor infrastructure planning over the years. The SLEX is no stranger to these gridlocks, and it is not unheard of that a virtual parking lot would once in a while extend from the metro to SLEX and vice versa. Solving traffic problems is but a fraction of how extending the reach of the SLEX can contribute

I cannot say without any contradiction that the fascination of some sectors with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “DuDirty”—a self-confessed killer and a womanizer with two wives and two girlfriends—is waning. “Du-Dirty” became a flash in the pan with his promise to kill all criminals by hanging them within six months of assuming office. Some people and sectors, dismayed at the lack of political will on the part of BS Aquino III, think it is all right to go after illegal drug manufacturers and traffickers. They find in Duterte somebody to solve our problems. There were statements, in the beginning, that Duterte is the President they would like to have. Now they have realized that the man who they thought would be their answer to crime

MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ to the problem of overcrowding in Metro Manila. The need of Filipinos for more interconnectedness not only refers to the information superhighway, but also the physical highways—this most integral infrastructure literally paves way for other infrastructure. Our provinces deserve more infrastructure development, as this attracts economic activity away from the congested metropolis. The infrastructure needs to be there when businesses and investors, seduced by the upbeat Philippine economy, looks outside Manila for a place on which they can dig their heels. The provinces provide an alternative to the Metro Manila traffic, air pollution, the high costs of living, and more. Commerce should come to the countryside. This shift is not only good for business and the economy, but also for Filipinos who need not to leave the beauty of their hometowns just to find livelihood in Metro Manila. Where the arteries of an extended SLEX can reach, the flow of goods and services becomes more efficient and cost effective. An improved linkage between the SLEX and the Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QuBex) benefits not only the areas directly connected by the roads, but also the economies of Metro Manila and down to the Leyte and Samar via the RoRo. The roads precede the further interconnectedness of

and corruption is the representation of corruption. Womanizing and killing are forms of corruption. This disenchantment shows in the latest Social Weather Stations ratings showing him as only No. 4 among the roll of presidential candidates led by Vice President Jojo Binay who is again No. 1 in the survey poll ratings. There’s likewise the disqualification case hanging over his head. Remember, he is only substituting. The only advocacy I believe in is the conversion of the form of government from a republican system with two chambers of Congress into a federal form of government. But even “Du-Dirty” may find this difficult to implement because it would entail an amendment of the Constitution. Personally, when

our national grids for electricity and telecommunications. Note that these expressways are maintained by the service operators while our National Roads are maintained by the government. By extending the reach of the SLEX, we decrease the expenses of the government in maintaining and repairing the national roads that currently link the expressway to QuBex and other roads. These government funds therefore can be reallocated to other crucial infrastructure projects, allowing prudence and efficiency in delivering public service to our taxpayers. In my years as legislator, this is a welcome change from the familiar tenor of the chambers when passing numerous bills that designate provincial roads to national jurisdiction. Developing the country’s infrastructure is a perennial campaign platform, and yet always an unfinished job for any administration, that in turn hinders other promises of progress. A predominantly agricultural country should always have in mind ways of how country roads would be turned into fast lanes. The economic gains from the last few years should be reflected in public works as the physical manifestation of how inclusive growth reaches the provinces. The next administration should therefore step up infrastructure initiatives better than President Aquino has, including possibly increasing infrastructure spending from three percent to five. Doing so could enable our policy makers to expand to other areas in the Philippines what the SLEX extension aims to achieve.

“Du-Dirty” claims that he could make the country crimefree and corruptionfree, I have serious doubts. Davao City is not the Philippines. His advocacy for hanging criminals within six months of his term is easier said than done. My gulay, that would do away with the rule of law and due process! *** Mrs. Mary Grace Natividad Kelly Poe Llamanzares does not lack people defending her as the Supreme Court hears her disqualification case. The Commission on Elections has found her ineligible to run for president because she is not naturalborn and she lacks the 10-year residency. No less than Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said that foundlings are presumed to be Filipino citizens. And Associate Justice

Marvic Leonen shares Sereno’s sentiment, saying that the high court should ensure that no one should be marginalized when the Supreme Court rendered its judgment. Sereno presented two laws on the adoption of Filipino children, indicating that Congress accorded foundlings the constitutional presumption of being Filipino citizens. The laws on adoption are Republic Act 8552, or an Act Establishing the Rules and Policies in the Domestic Adoption of Filipino Children and for other Purposes. the law provides that in the case of foundlings, the child placement agency should exert all efforts to find his or her biological parents. And if efforts fail, the child will be registered as a foundling and considered abandoned. Continued on A11

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A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

POP GOES THE WORLD

TAX-EXEMPT ONE, EXEMPT ALL

JENNY ORTUOSTE THE House speedily approved a bill on Tuesday exempting Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach from having to pay taxes on her Miss Universe prizes, considering her accomplishment of winning the 2015 Miss Universe Crown. Wurtzbach’s feat is indeed laudable, considering that it comes after a four-decade drought and much dedication, determination, and sacrifice on her part to succeed. Having brought a major honor to the country, she was recently honored with a street parade and parties, and the tax exemption. It is only right that her achievement be recognized; these accolades provides comfort—consuelo—for all her troubles, and incentive for her to do more in the future. We her countrymen are proud of her and are happy to provide her with the rewards that she deserves. Here’s a point to ponder —if she gets an exemption, shouldn’t all achieving Filipinos also be rewarded with tax exemptions? Boxer-congressman Man-

ny Pacquiao’s verbal sparring with Bureau of Internal Revenue head Kim Henares is now the stuff of legend. The tough BIR commissioner vowed to collect the last penny of taxes on Pacquiao’s boxing earnings due the government. Certainly Pacquiao’s achievements over the years and stature in the sweet science certainly stack up compared to Wurtzbach’s one crown. Last 27 Aug. 2015, Filipina boxer and mixed martial arts fighter Jujeath Nagaowa expressed her hurt over P5,819 in taxes imposed by the Bureau of Customs on her championship belt, earned for winning the international light flyweight of the Women’s International Boxing Association. The belt was said to have a dutiable value of P20,147.77; customs duty on that amount was P3,027.13 and value added tax was P2,782. Nagaowa said that computation was arrived at by a BoC employee who compared the belt with another championship belt. In other words, the tax was not based on the actual cost

The emperor’s... From A9 first trip because they visited our school in Baguio and we students had to line up to welcome them. President Aquino did the right thing in breaking protocol to meet the Emperor and the Empress at the airport. Although there are outstanding unresolved issues that remain between our countries like the matter of comfort women, the Philippines is the one Asian country that has the most favorable view of the Japanese and has shown willingness to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past. Let us welcome their majesties and hope that their visit will be fruitful for both countries. *** As I write this piece, the Mamasapano hearing is going on in the Senate. Senator Enrile is throwing incisive questions to the invited resource persons trying to extract from them what they know about what President Aquino did from the beginning to the end of Oplan Exodus. The alleged recording in the possession of retired Police General

The President’s... From A10 The question now is, granted that foundlings are presumed Filipino citizens are they natural born? The burden of proof is on Mrs. Llamanzares.

or value of the belt, but on the guesstimate of an employee. Nagaowa’s friends helped pony up the amount so that she could get the belt, “the only evidence I have that once in my existence” of the honor she earned after 10 rounds of battle in the ring. Is it that athletes are treated differently? Granted that Wurtzbach’s achievement was extraordinary, all achievements in whatever field may also be said to be extraordinary and special. Surely all Filipino achievers, whatever their field, deserve the same treatment, courtesy, and respect from their government, considering that they did their best and gave their all for the honor of flag and country. *** Speaking of Filipinos bringing honor to the country, it’s January, the dead of winter in Memphis, TN, and once again time for the sizzling hot 32nd International Blues Challenge which pits some 200 global bands against each other in an epic, massive, sing-off. Under the auspices of the

Philippine Blues Society, the country has been fielding a delegate band to the event for the past several years. In 2014, Brat Pack placed among the top nine bands, the first band from Asia to do so. They repeated their feat last year, another historic achievement. This year, pioneering blues band Lampano Alley is the chosen group, backed by Tom Colvin’s Blues Asia Network. Lampano Alley’s veteran members are vocalist and songwriter Binky Lampano, guitarist Edwin “Kwachi” Vergara, bassist Simon Tan, and drummer Rey Vinoya. Joining them for the first time is blues harp player Ian Lofamia. PBS director Roy Allan Magturo says the band “is in high spirits” and had a smooth rehearsal session in Los Angeles before flying to Memphis. Their onehour set in the International Showcase yesterday (Tuesday night in Memphis) at the Jerry Lee Lewis theater was a hit. Magturo: “People loved it! It was an awesome per-

Diosdado Valeroso should also be played for whatever it’s worth. The threat issued by Senator Drilon about violating the Anti-Wiretapping Law should be dismissed. Senator Enrile is right. The Senate hearing is not a court of law but a legislative hearing in aid of legislation. Besides, why should the Anti-Wiretapping Law be used to protect people who might be culpable of crime? In fact, the Anti-Wiretapping Law has been the sanctuary of criminals planning and committing high crimes. The anti-wiretapping law, as I have written in the past, should be amended to protect only innocent communications and not to protect criminals who use current communication technologies to commit crime. Case in point is our automated election system. Time and again, cause-oriented groups have pointed to the danger of electronic during elections but these have always fallen on deaf ears. No lawmaker has really looked into the pitfalls of our automated election system to find better safeguards so that the electorate will be electing the public officials they want. Maybe this is

because of the cheating culture that has become ingrained in our electoral culture. No candidate wants to lose and will always find a way to win or put one over his or her opponent. If that is by cheating, so be it. The forthcoming elections in May will undoubtedly produce many enterprising schemes claiming to ensure the victory of certain candidates. Since there are a lot of gullible candidates, many of them will fall victims to this racket. But make no mistake—electronic manipulation can be done. It would depend on whether a candidate who wants to cheat can connect with the right and capable outfit that can do the manipulation. I know that there are still many who are skeptical that electronic manipulation can be done with all the safeguards being put back by the Comelec into Automated Election System but even with the safeguards, computer experts will insist that manipulation is still possible. Judging by what happened in the 2010 elections which was manipulated albeit crudely, the technology that will be employed in May must now be a lot more advanced.

Sereno also showed Republic Act 8043, the law governing the inter-country adoption of Filipino children and indicated that foundlings fall within the coverage of the inter-country adoption act of Filipino children.

She claims all these laws favor a foundling like Mrs. Llamanzares. Granted that Mrs. Llamanzares is deemed natural-born, how about her residency which doesn’t meet the requirements under the Constitution?

formance with Binky and Ian giving a one-two punch and Simon, Kwachi, and Rey laying the artillery fire. The crowd did not know what hit them. They were pleasantly surprised with the band’s performance. “During the performance of the first two bands, there were hardly any people in the bar but when Lampano Alley performed, the place was packed full. Proud to be Pinoy!” Lampano said with characteristic understatement, “We had a great set according to the audience. A bit rough at the start but well enough to garner some new followers and a bit of an ovation.” Their 14-song setlist for the showcase included Alley originals “Losing You” and “Mess It Up,” and Lofamia’s original instrumental “Rook’s Blues.” The actual competition will take place on Thursday and Friday (Memphis time). *** Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

Reckoning... From A9 *** Still in the Senate, the Blue Ribbon sub-committee that conducted 25 hearings dating back to August 2014 on allegations of corruption involving Vice President Jejomar Binay has finally closed shop this week. But not without some self-serving parting words from the prime mover of the long-running probe, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. According to the senator, the 25-hearing saga accomplished a couple of important goals: to bring down the ratings of Binay and to prepare for his impeachment, if he ever is elected President in the elections in May. But Trillanes’ dubious victory speech just sounds like the consuelo de bobo of child who lost in a trivial game. Never mind, he seems to be saying, if I didn’t make any of my charges stick; at least there are other things I succeeded at, apart from my stated goal. I doubt very much if Trillanes has succeeded at anything in the Binay investigation other than proving that he can be relied upon to keep pretending to be on to something even when he’s got nothing. In the end, even the third senator in the three-ring circus that Trillanes ran, Alan Peter Cayetano, abandoned the probe—perhaps aware of the possible effect of continuing the farce on his own plans for the vice presidency. But I wonder if future congressional investigations in aid of political persecution will still be allowed. After all, to get back to the Mamasapano hearings, the Senate “only” conducted 10 hearings on that sensational massacre—Trillanes’ extended-play witchhunt held 15 more hearings than that, and ended up with even less than Senator Grace’s Poe’s committee on public order. Whatever. The wonder of it all is that voters still elect people like Trillanes, who never work for their interest but only look out for their own, to further their selfish agendas.

T HURS DAY : JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Clippers shrug off Griffin injury, turn back Pacers THE Los Angeles Clippers shrugged off the furor surrounding Blake Griffin’s punch-induced hand injury on Tuesday to beat the Indiana Pacers 91-89. Guard Chris Paul scored 26 points including a crucial jumper with just 33.7 seconds left on the clock as the Clippers held on in a frantic finale. The road victory saw the Clippers improve to 29-16 for the season while Indiana fell to 23-22 after the game at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Clippers had been plunged into controversy earlier Tuesday after confirming that Griffin had suffered a broken bone in his hand after throwing a punch at an unidentified person. Clippers coach Doc Rivers paid tribute to the way his side had reacted to the controversy with victory over Indiana. “I think all the stuff in the last 48 hours, you always say it’s the game that brings your team back,” Rivers said. “You could kind of feel that tonight. That was a good win for our team.” The Los Angeles Times reported that Griffin had attacked a member of the Clippers equipment staff during an altercation in Toronto over the weekend. The incident left Griffin needing surgery to repair a spiral fracture in a metacarpal in his right hand, meaning he faces four to six weeks out.

Paul George (no.13) of the Indiana Pacers defends Wesley Johnson (no. 33) of the Los Angeles Clippers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 26, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP

The 6ft 10in (2.08 meter) power forward now faces an internal investigation after the Clippers announced a sternly worded statement about the incident on Tuesday. - Griffin apology -”This conduct has no place in our organization and this incident does not represent who we are as a team,” the Clipper said. “We are conducting a full investigation with assistance from the NBA. At the conclusion of the investigation, appropriate action will be taken.” Griffin, 26, has not played since

suffering a torn quadriceps tendon in late December.† USA Today identified the target of Griffin’s assault as the Clippers’ assistant equipment manager Matias Testi. Griffin later issued an apology on Twitter. “A situation among friends escalated and I regret the way I handled myself towards someone I care about,” he wrote.† “I want to apologize to the Clippers organization, my teammates and the fans for creating a distraction.” It is not the first time Griffin has

Japan, Sokor footballers earn Olympic berths ASIAN footballing giants Japan and South Korea qualified for the Rio Olympics and progressed to the final of the U-23 AFC championships with semifinal victories in Doha on Tuesday. Both needed late goals with Japan scoring with virtually the last kick of the game to beat Iraq 2-1 and South Korea scoring twice in the last five minutes to shatter hosts Qatar’s dream of appearing in the final and qualifying for the Olympics for the first time since 1992. It is the 10th time Japan have qualified for the Olympics and the seventh for South Korea. Japan scraped through in the first semi-final thanks to Riki Harakawa’s fine leftfoot finish in the 93rd minute. Yuya Kobo had given Japan the lead in the first half but that was wiped out at the end of 45 minutes by

Iraq’s Saad Nitaq. There was more late drama in the second semifinal, when a dull game sparked to life after halftime. South Korea took the lead early in the secondhalf thanks to an error from Qatar’s goalkeeper Muhammad Naim. He rushed from his area to try to halt an attack but was left stranded some 30 yards from goal after being beaten to the ball by Ryo Seungwoo. That sparked a frenetic final period with Qatar’s Ahmed Alla prompting wild scenes in Al Sadd stadium as his volley made it 1-1 with barely 10 minutes left. Qatar poured forward for a winner and at that point looked the team most likely to get through to the final but a counter attack in the 89th minute saw Kwon Changhoon convert a cross and then with the last kick

of the match victory was secured by Moon Changhin. The final will take place on January 30. Qatar and Iraq will meet in the third place play-off on January 29, with the winner claiming the last AFC berth in Rio. Among the 11,000-plus crowd in Doha on Tuesday was former Chelsea club doctor, Eva Carneiro. Earlier this month she began a constructive dismissal case in London against the English league champions after leaving Stamford Bridge last year. She had been criticised by Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho after treating Eden Hazard on the pitch in the opening game of the season against Swansea, which led to her being relieved of first-team duties. Mourinho has also subsequently left Chelsea. Asked why she was in Qatar, Carneiro replied: “No comment.” AFP

found himself in hot water over a physical altercation. In 2014 he was accused of slapping a man at a Las Vegas nightclub who had taken a picture of him with a cellphone. He was accused of misdemeanor battery, but the charges were eventually dropped by Nevada prosecutors. - Playing the right way -Elsewhere Tuesday, Kevin Durant poured on 44 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder outgunned the New York Knicks in an overtime thriller at Madison Square Garden. AFP

Australia warns athletes vs mosquito bites in Rio AUSTRALIA’S Olympic athletes were Wednesday told to take precautions against Zika-carrying mosquitoes at the Games in Brazil, with officials advising them to consider whether to travel to Rio de Janeiro if pregnant. A surge in babies suffering from microcephaly, in which children have abnormally small heads, born to women infected with Zika has prompted warnings from Australia and other governments about travelling to affected countries. In Brazil, Zika virus infections in pregnant women have been linked to 3,893 births of babies with microcephaly compared to an average of about 160 a year, the World Health Organisation has said. The Australian Olympic Committee†(AOC) said the health of its team was “paramount”. It warned that females of childbearing age “need to be aware of the specific risks of microcephaly in newborns, should the mother become infected during pregnancy”. “Any team members who are pregnant at the time of the Games need to consider the risks very carefully before deciding whether to proceed with travel to Brazil,” it said in a statement. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs has advised pregnant women to consider postponing travel to Brazil. The Olympic Games begin on August 5. The AOC said athletes and officials would be given mosquito repellent, and told to wear long sleeves when they were at risk of bites from the insects such as in areas with stagnant water. AFP

Winner US Lindsey Vonn competes in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Women’s SuperG in Cortina d’Ampezzo, northern Italy. American Lindsey Vonn continued her seemingly unstoppable pursuit of Ingemar Stenmark’s World Cup victory record by winning the women’s super-G at Cortina d’Ampezzo to take the overall lead of the competition today. AFP

F1 rider Vettel tops tire tests in France FERRARI’S Sebastian Vettel topped the times at Tuesday’s Formula One tyre tests on the Paul Ricard circuit in France. At the wheel of last season’s car the four-time former champion completed 134 laps on an artificially-watered track to put the Pirelli tyres in use for 2016 through their

paces in wet conditions. Vettel was joined on the second and final day of testing by McLaren test driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Daniil Kvyat in a Red Bull. Two full pre-season testing sessions take place in Barcelona on Feb 22-25 and March 1-4 ahead of the opening race in Melbourne on March 20. AFP

T HURS DAY : JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Chiefs, Mariners whip cage foes

College basketball awardees. Coaches of the Year Nash Racela of Far Eastern University and Aldin Ayo, formerly of Letran,

flank the awardees in the Collegiate Basketball Awards on Tuesday night at Saisaki-Kamayan EDSA. Also in photo are (seated, from left) University of Santo Tomas’ Ed Daquioag (Impact Player), FEU’s Mike Tolomia and San Beda’s Baser Amer (Super Seniors), FEU’s Roger Pogoy (Pivotal Player); (standing, from second from left) Lester del Rosario for coach Aric del Rosario (Lifetime Achievement), Arellano’s Jio Jalalon (Accel Court General), Perpetual’s Scottie Thompson, UST’s Kevin Ferrer, Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena (Collegiate Mythical Team members), FEU’s Mac Belo (Smart Player of the Year), Letran’s Mark Cruz (Super Senior), Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme (Collegiate Mythical Team member) and Letran’s Kevin Racal (Pivotal Player).

THE Arellano University Chiefs scored back-toback wins, while the Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners stayed unbeaten over the weekend in the 12th Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open basketball tournament. Donald Gumaru sank the winning basket in the endgame to carry the Chiefs past the Adamson University Falcons, 77-76, in a thrilling encounter last Sunday at the Far Eastern University gym in Morayta. It was the Chiefs’ third straight triumph, and it came a day after they trounced Philippine College of Criminology, 124-51, at the Arellano University-Legarda gymnasium. The Chiefs are now in the lead of Group B with their third straight win, with Letran-A trailing after they won over University of the East, 58-53, for their second consecutive triumph. Elvin Chan shot 14 points, while Jake Yagonia added 13 for the Mariners, who subdued the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 65-56. Vince Tolentino led with 11 points for the Blue Eagles, who now have a 4-1 slate in Group A. In other games, Manuel L. Quezon University prevailed over the College of St. Benilde, 66-50, to hike their slate to 2-1 in Group A, while Mapua (1-1) turned back Letran-B, 96-52.

Manning hints at retirement LOS ANGELES—Peyton Manning has stoked speculation about his retirement after being caught on film telling New England Patriots boss Bill Belichick that Sunday’s AFC Championship game could be his “last rodeo”, reports said Tuesday. The 39-year-old Denver Broncos quarterback made the remark in an embrace with the Patriots coach after last weekend’s epic 2018 victory at Mile High Stadium.

“Hey, listen, this might be my last rodeo. So, it sure has been a pleasure,” Manning was reported to have told Belichick. The comment was reportedly

picked up by microphones belonging to cameras shooting for NFL Films. Belichick had made a point of seeking out Manning in the post-match melee and drew the quarterback in close to exchange words. Asked on Monday to divulge what he had shared with Manning, the famously gruff Patriots chief remained tight-lipped.

“Don’t have anything to share. I shared it with Peyton,” Belichick said. Manning will become the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history when the Broncos collide with the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco on February 7. He will be chasing a second Super Bowl ring to crown one of the most successful careers in NFL history.

Manning’s future has been the subject of intense speculation after a difficult season which saw him battling injury and struggling to produce his best form. He lost his position as Broncos starting quarterback but returned during the postseason to guide Denver into their second Super Bowl appearance in two years after their defeat in 2014 to Seattle. AFP

Velez seeks repeat Young achievers still clean in WVL in Kidapawan netfest PATRICIA Velez gears up for a tough outing as she defends her crown in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis circuit presented by Slazenger unfolding today at the Kidapawan City Tennis Club in Cotabato Province. Velez will be hard-pressed to match her straight set upset win over top seed Nicole Bautista last year with the likes of Carlyn Guarde, Jazzelle Madis, Harlyn Getalla, Angelica Novis and Febe Lagarde all primed up for a crack at the premier girls’ 18-and-under crown in the Group 2 tournament hosted by Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista. The Davao ace will also be trying to atone for her failed bid in the 16-U section as she joins Guarde, Madis, Minette Bentillo of Sultan Kudarat, Novis, Getalla and Lagarde in what promises to be a spirited chase for the crown in the five-day Group 2 tournament serving as the fourth leg of the PPS-PEPP circuit backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball of the circuit. “We expect a fierce battle, not only in the 16- and 18-U classes, but in all divi-

sions with the region’s top and upcoming players seeking not only the titles but also ranking points,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “I invite all tennis fans and aficionados to watch and support our annual tournament and we thank Palawan Pawnshop for its continued support to uplift the level of the sport here and at the same time help in discovering future talents,” said Evangelista. Gen. Santos City’s Klyde Lagarde, meanwhile, moves up to the boys’ 16-U class, hoping to bring his winning form after dominating top seed Wilfred Bentillo in last year’s 14-U finals. Bentillo is also entered in the 16-U section, along with Janus Ringia, Marco Barrios, Kyle Singh, Steve Aton, Nicole Gorospe, local bet Eric Comendador and Merwin Estrellado, guaranteeing a highly-charged battle for supremacy. Bentillo and Ringia will also be vying in the 18-U category topbilled by Jefferson Alqueza and Lordrene Pacheco while John Velez, Eric Comendador, JV Comendador, Benjamin Ringia, Kurt Haro, Cedric Pamplona, Brent Magno and Aton head the 32-player 14-U field.

YOUNG Achievers’ School of Caloocan booked its second straight triumph in the 20th Women’s Volleyball League over the weekend, a 25-2, 25-9 rout of Paref-Rosehill at the Xavier School gym that easily made it as one of the favorites to advance in this tournament organized by the Best Center and backed by Milo. The win placed Young Achievers on top of Group B in the 13-Under Developmental Division, followed by School of the Holy Spirit-QC, which clipped St. Scholastica’s Col-

lege-Manila, 25-20-25-17, for its second win in three games, the same standing of St. Paul College-Makati, which scuttled St. Dominic Savio College, 25-8, 25-7. Other teams logging wins in 13-U Developmental Division were: (Group A) Balara Elementary School and Jubilee Christian Academy; and (Group C) Colegio de San AgustinMakati, Escuela de Sophia and Holy Family School. Victorious teams in the 17-Under Developmental Division were: (Group A) CSA-Makati, San Anto-

nio de Padua College and Sisters of Mt. Carmel Catholic School; (Group C) St. Bridget School and St. Raphaela Mary School; and (Group D) School of the Holy Spirit and Young Achievers. Weekend winners in the 17-Under Competitive Division were: (Group A) De la Salle-Zobel and St. Dominic Savio College; (Group B) San Antonio de Padua College and St. Scholastica’s College-Manila: (Group C) Colegio de San Lorenzo; and (Group D) Escuela de Sophia and Holy Family School of Quezon City.

Net champs. ATP Challenger doubles champions’ Johan Brunstrom and Frederik Nielsen; and runners-up

Christopher Rungkat and Filipino partner Francis Casey Alcantara display their awards. They are shown here with Philippine Tennis Vice President Randy Villanueva; Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier; and former Philta President Julito Villanueva.

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

17. Although the instant FM Pass-Through Amounts is not included in NGCP’s Third (3rd) Regulatory Reset Application, the same can be recovered during the 3rd RP pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR where NGCP is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of the FME. A copy of the FM Pass-Through Amount Computation is attached to the application as Annex “D”;

IN THE MATTER OF THEAPPLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE (EM) EVENT REGULATED FM PASS THROUGH FOR TYPHOON GLENDA IN VISAYAS AND LUZON IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

18. Further, the FM Pass-Through Amounts under this application did not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhPo.0336/kWh in accordance with the RTWR. A copy of the FMTA Computation is attached to the application as Annex “E”; 19. Also, NGCP considered the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Glenda given that NGCP would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by the FME Typhoon Glenda; ERC CASE NO. 2015-136 RC

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Applicant.

20. NGCP moves for the issuance of a provisional approval for the immediate recovery of the FM Pass-Through Amounts pursuant to Section 3, Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

x----------------------------------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

21. NGCP needs to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities. It must be emphasized that the occurrence of the aforementioned FME Typhoon Glenda required massive capital infusion, thus, the recovery of which should be allowed immediately in order to avoid any financial strain in the operation of NGCP and to allow the continuous provision of transmission service to the grid customers;

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on July 15, 2015, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed with the Commission an application for the approval of Force Majeure (FM) event regulated FM pass through for Typhoon Glenda in Visayas and Luzon in accordance with the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), with prayer for provisional authority.

22. In addition, the timely implementation of the FM Pass- Through Amount will allow the equal or even spread of the increases or decreases in tariffs from the initial implementation of the recovery of the cost;

In the said application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following: 1.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA);1

23. A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Head, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the application, is attached to the thereto as Annex “F”; PRAYER 24. It most prays of the Commission to:

Under Republic Act No. 9511,2 NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines;

a. b.

On January 15, 2009, it assumed transmission functions of TRANSCO including the operation, management and maintenance of the nationwide electrical grid; Luzon

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND OF THE CASE 4.

P/kWh Visayas

In the early morning of July 16, 2014, Typhoon Glenda was over Nagcarlan, Laguna. In the late morning of the same day, Typhoon Glenda slightly weakened at 140 kph and was over Bataan after crossing Manila Bay and Calabarzon provinces. In the morning of July 17, 2014, Typhoon Glenda was outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). A copy of the Certification dated September 1, 2014 issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is attached to the application as Annex “A”; Due to the strong winds and heavy rainfall of Typhoon Glenda, NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in the Visayas and Luzon areas were severely damaged causing massive and widespread power interruption over the area;

Immediately after the devastation of Typhoon Glenda, NGCP started the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related facilities to restore the transmission of electricity in the Visayas and Luzon areas. As a result, NGCP incurred additional cost for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the said transmission assets damaged by Typhoon Glenda;

10. In relation to the occurrence of the FME Typhoon Glenda and pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the same RTWR, NGCP is allowed to recover the cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Glenda through an FM Pass-Through Amount; 11. Within three (3) months after the occurrence of the FME Typhoon Glenda, NGCP filed before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) an FME Notice Regarding Typhoon Glenda dated August 27, 2014, pursuant to Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR. A copy of the FME Notice Regarding Typhoon Glenda dated August 27, 2014 is attached to the application as Annex “B”;

FM PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT COMPUTATION 13. It must be noted that NGCP has not recovered any amount from its Industrial All-Risk (IAR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2014 as compensation for the damage and cost it incurred in the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Glenda. Thus, it is but proper for NGCP to file the instant Application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Glenda; 14. The cost NGCP incurred as additional FME Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Glenda, including the recoverable values of the assets destroyed (Net Fixed Asset Value) is Two Hundred Eight Million, Three Hundred Sixty Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred Ninety Seven Pesos and 56/100 (PhP208,369,997.56). 3The breakdown of the FME CAPEX incurred by NGCP and the Net Fixed Asset Value is as follows: FME CAPEX Amount 18 9 , 9 6 9 , 4 6 7. 0 3

Luzon

S u b -To t a l

19 4 , 8 4 4 , 6 6 2 . 2 8

N E t F i X E d A s s E t VA l u E S u b -To t a l

13 , 5 2 5 , 3 3 5 . 2 8

to t A l

2 0 8 , 3 6 9 , 9 9 7. 5 6

15. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amount, in P/kW- month, as additional network charges in the Luzon and Visayas starting the billing period of October 2015 to December 2020, or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered, computed as shown in the table below:

Luzon

2 015

2 016

2 017

2 018

P/kWmo.

2.75

0.28

0.26

0.25

0.23

0.22

P/kWh

0.0056

0.0005

0.0004

P/kWmo. P/kWh

2 0 15

2 0 16

2 0 17

0.86

0.04

0.0020

0.0001

0.0005

2016

2017

0.23

0.22

0.0004

2018

2019

0.04

0.03

P/kWh

0.0020

0.0001

2020 0.03 0.0001

Approve the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) amounting to PhP194,844,662.28 incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to the FME Typhoon Glenda as FME;

Approve, after due notice and hearing, the proposed EM Pass Through Amount to be collected from the Luzon and Visayas customers starting October 2015 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered, as follows: 2015

2016

2017

2018

2.75

0.28

0.26

0.0056

0.0005

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

0.25

2019

2020

0.23

0.22

0.0004

P/kWmo.

0.86

0.04

0.03

P/kWh

0.0020

0.0001

2020 0.03 0.0001

Approve and allow the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Glenda amounting to PhP13,525,335.28, given that it would have been fully recovered by NGCP if these transmission assets and other related facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by Typhoon Glenda as FME;

Exclude the proposed Pass-Through Amount from the side constraint calculation.

D AT E

TIME

VENUE

PA R T I C U L A R S

Febr uar y 23, 2 016 ( Tu e s d a y)

N i n e o ’c l o c k in the morning ( 9 : 0 0 A . M .)

ERC Hearing Room, 15 t h F l o o r, P a c i f i c C e n t e r Building, San Miguel Av e n u e , P a s i g C i t y

Jurisdictional Hearing and Expositor y Presentation

M a r c h 3 , 2 016 ( T h u r s d a y)

N i n e o ’c l o c k in the morning ( 9 : 0 0 A . M .)

ERC Visayas Field O f f ic e, S t . M a r y ’s D r i v e , Cebu City

Expositor y Presentation for V i s a y a s S t a ke h o l d e r s

M a r c h 9 , 2 016 ( W e d n e s d a y)

N i n e o ’c l o c k in the morning ( 9 : 0 0 A . M .)

ERC Hearing Room, 15 t h F l o o r, P a c i f i c C e n t e r Building, San Miguel Av e n u e , P a s i g C i t y

P r e -Tr i a l C o n f e r e n c e a n d Ev i d e n t i a r y Hearing

M a r c h 10 , 2 016 ( T h u r s d a y)

N i n e o ’c l o c k in the morning ( 9 : 0 0 A . M .)

Continuation of Ev i d e n t i a r y H e a r i n g

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner's name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner's interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

2 019

2020

All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records filed-with the Commission during the usual office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman, JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 7th day of January, 2016 at Pasig City.

Visayas

0.0056 2015

0.25

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

4 , 8 75 ,19 5 . 2 5

Visayas

0.26

2020

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on the following dates and venues:

12. Within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of the FME Typhoon Glenda, NGCP hereby files the instant FME Claim Application, in accordance with Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR;

Grid

0.28

2019

0.04

Visayas

Glenda was categorized by PAGASA as “Typhoon” in its Certification dated September 1, 2014. Therefore, Typhoon Glenda falls within the definition of a FME in accordance with Section 1.3 of the RTWR;

2018

0.86

P/kWh

“Force Majeure Event “(a) Atyphoon, storm, tropical depression, flood, drought, volcanic eruption, earthquake, tidal wave or landslide; x xx”

2017

2.75

P/kWmo.

Under Section 1.3 of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), a Force Majeure Event (FME) is defined as follows:

2016

P/kWmo.

Luzon

FORCE MAJEURE EVENT CLAIM

2015

P/kWmo.

On or about July 15, 2014, Typhoon Glenda made landfall over Rapurapu Island in Albay and crossed Sorsogon and Albay provinces in the evening with intensity of 150 kph and gust of 180 kph. Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 3 was raised over central and southern Luzon including Metro Manila;

Declare the Typhoon Glenda as Force Majeure Event (FME); Grant Provisional Approval to implement and bill the FM Pass-Through Amounts to Visayas and Luzon customers starting October 2015 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered;

2 0 18

2 0 19

2020

0.04

0.03

0.0001

16. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts for the years 2016 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the CAPEX incurred relative to the FME Typhoon Glenda should there be a delay in the reset process for the Transmission Services for the Fourth (4th) Regulatory Period (RP);

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

LVB/APV/FME/2015-136 RC NGCP NPH.doc.

____________________________________________________ 1 2

Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaining Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for Other Purposes” Republic Act No. 9511 entitled “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for Other Purposes” Excluding Permit Fees. Please see Annex “C” for the Summary of Costs

(TS-JAN. 28/ FEB. 4, 2016)

A14 T H U R S D AY JANUARY 28, 2016

SPORTS

Roach: Pacman will KO Bradley in 9th round By Ronnie Nathanielsz TRAINER Freddie Roach predicted that the presence of coach Teddy Atlas won’t make any difference to World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley’s chances when he faces eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 9. That’s because Pacquiao will knock Bradley out in nine rounds. Boxing Scene.com reported that the hype for their third fight centers around Bradley being a better fighter since the veteran Atlas took over and helped him demolish Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in nine rounds. Roach conceded there is a possibility that Bradley is “a better fighter,” since he lost a lopsided rematch against Pacquiao in 2014 after winning the first in a bitterly criticized split decision. But Roach pointed out that Rios was not in the same shape he was when he faced Pacquiao and lost a 12-round unanimous decision. Roach said he won’t give Atlas credit until Bradley beats Pacquiao on April 9, insisting he has “the better fighter, so I’m not worried about it. Manny isn’t a hard guy to to get up for fights. He knows he has to be at his best to win this fight. Once he’s in the gym, he gives me 100 percent.” He said his rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder has healed and his doctor gave him the green light to fight again. Roach said he will go to the Philippines on Feb. 2 to begin training camp, with Pacquiao in the fighter’s hometown of General Santos City. Roach indicated that since it will be Pacquiao’s farewell fight before he hangs up his gloves, he wants him to “go out with a bang and Manny wants to knock Tim (Bradley), out so I predict a knockout in nine.”

T H U R S DAY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 16

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Lady Stags near crown By Peter Atencio

Britain’s Andy Murray plays a forehand return during his men’s singles match against Spain’s David Ferrer on day ten of the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Murray outlasts Ferrer, makes Open semiﬁnals MELBOURNE—World number two Andy Murray weathered a storm from Spain’s David Ferrer over four tough sets to advance to his sixth semi-final in seven years at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Four-time runner-up Murray finished the stronger, beating the eighth-seed 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-3 in three hours 20 minutes and will play Milos Raonic or Gael Monfils in Friday’s semifinal. Ferrer proved a difficult proposition for Murray, relentlessly slugging it out from the baseline and keeping the Scot working hard in a physically demanding match on Rod Laver Arena. The Scot, distracted by his father-in-law’s collapse earlier in the tournament, reached his 18th Grand Slam semi as he attempts to go one better

after losing four of the last six Melbourne finals. Murray appeared to benefit in the change to the slower court conditions when the roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena in the third set because of an approaching thunderstorm. “I found it a bit easier to return. It was quite windy when the roof was open, so returning was tricky and against David’s extremely accurate forehand that helped me a little bit,” Murray said. “It was actually good for us to have a little break because we played some brutal rallies at the beginning of the third set and also at the end of the second so I came back a bit more refreshed.” Murray, who has noticeably quickened his previously weaker second serve, extended his record over Ferrer to 13-6. The tenacious Spaniard made 17 errors on the way to dropping the opening set in 45 minutes, following a service break in the fourth game.

It was titanic second-set struggle with Murray double-faulting on break point to go 0-2 down, before breaking back in the seventh game when Ferrer’s forehand was well out. Ferrer had the better of the tiebreak, winning one memorable rally that stretched to 31 shots, and clinched it on his first set point when Murray’s forehand was wide. Murray got a crucial early break in the third set before play was temporarily delayed by the closure of the stadium roof. The world number two pressed and looked better suited by the slower court speed in the indoor conditions as he broke Ferrer again in the eighth game to take a two sets to one lead. Murray grabbed another break early in the fourth set when Ferrer’s running backhand crosscourt was just wide. He handed back the break in the next game but then broke Ferrer in the sixth and went on to take it on his first match point, with a wide serve forcing Ferrer’s return out.

Loyzaga, the PH’s greatest basketball player, dies By Lito Cinco THE Philippines has just lost its greatest basketball player. Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga died from a cardiac arrest on Wednesday at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan, where he was brought following the seizure. He was 85. Loyzaga, who dominated Philippine basketball in the 1950s and 1960s, playing for San Beda College in the NCAA and the YCO Painters in the MICAA, powered the Philippines to its best-ever finish in the international basketball scene with a third-place feat in the 1954 World Basketball Championships, where he also made it to the Mythical Five. In the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Loyzaga powered the Phil-

ippine squad to a seventh-place finish, the highest-ever reached by the country in the quadrennial games. Four years earlier in Helsinki, the Loyzaga-led team finished ninth. In four consecutive Asian Games (1951, 1954, 1958, and 1962), Loyzaga led the team to gold-medal finishes. He turned to coaching and was at the helm of U-Tex and Tanduay in the early years of the Philippine Basketball Association. His two sons, Chito and Joey, followed in their father’s footsteps and also played basketball, both making it to the national team and in the PBA. Upon his retirement from work, Caloy and wife Vicky migrated to Australia and settled down in the Gold Coast, until a stroke at a golf course forced the couple to eventually go back to

Caloy Loyzaga (left) with wife Vicky and the writer

the Philippines for good a few years ago. A book on Loyzaga, who was known as The Big Difference, was published two -years ago, with son Chito spearheading the effort with the San Beda

community as a tribute to his father’s accomplishments on and off the court. The family has yet to finalize the wake arrangements as of this writing, according to Chito.

GRETHCEL Soltones played with inspiration and with intensity to power the defending champion San Sebastian Lady Staglets to a 25-22, 25-19, 26-28, 25-23 triumph over the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers in Game 3 of the NCAA women’s volleyball finals Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan. She delivered the winning spike in the fourth set to help send the finals’ showdown into a deciding encounter at 3:30 p.m. today. Soltones, who had a surprise before the game when she had reunion with her mother whom she had not seen for 13 years, came into the picture after teammate Dangie Encarnacion hit a tie-breaking kill. Her placement shot went sailing past libero Melanie Torres, giving the thrice-to-beat Lady Staglets another chance to go for the crown. “Nu’ng nag-usap kami ng team, parang susuko na ako kasi siyempre kahit ano pang sabihin ng tao, ang pangit namang tingnan na one-woman show lang ‘di ba? Team effort ‘yan dapat,” said Soltones. She led the Lady Staglets with 31 points, making 27 of them on attacks, while Katherin Villegas had nine.

Gilas... From A16

NO. 26-ranked Canada is expected to field a team led by Cleveland Cavaliers’ center forward Tristan Thompson, who is averaging 7.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in the on-going NBA season and Minnesota Timberwolves’ 6’8” shooting guard Andrew Wiggins, who is averaging 20.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Turkey, which is ranked No. 8 in the world, is also considered a formidable side led by 6’10” power forward Ersan Ilyasova of the Detroit Pistons, who is averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds a game and 7’0” center Omer Asik of the New Orleans Pelicans, who has put together 3.4 points and 5.4 boards so far this NBA season. While Gilas overcame Senegal in overtime in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the African side has a deep pool of tall and athletic players, led by NBA veteran 6’11” center Gorgui Dieng of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who has turned in an average of 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds this season. If the Philippines got a break at all, it is that it was bracketed with New Zealand in Group B of the qualifiers, alongside France to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the French expected to sweep the preliminary round games. Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin steered New Zealand to the semifinals of the 2002 World Championships but has since failed to duplicate that success, with Gilas needing to beat the Kiwis to qualify for the crossover semifinals where it will face the No.1 team in the group of Canada, Turkey and Senegal.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

T hrs day : Ja n ua ry 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 rIEra u. MaLL arI EDITOR

rEuEL vIdaL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

Gilas Pilipinas and Andray Blatche, shown here against China in the FIBA Asia Championships, will have their hands full against the likes of France, Canada and New Zealand in the coming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Mall of Asian Arena in July.

Gilas 5’s biggest stumbling blocks are France, Canada by ronnie nathanielsz

GILAS Pilipinas got the toughest draw in the 2016 FIBA Qualifying Tournament for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games later this year. In the draw held on Wednesday morning in Mies, Switzerland, the Philippines was drawn with powerhouse teams such as France, Canada and Turkey, along with New Zealand and Senegal. The draw was attended by SBP executive director and former Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Sonny Barrios and journalist Quinito Henson of the Philippine Star. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipi-

nas president Manny Pangilinan, in a texted message to The Standard shortly after the draw wrote: “We got strong teams in our group. We’ll have our hands full. Tab (Baldwincoach) better start thinking of the best players we can get our hands on against these five formidable teams. This is gonna be one hell of a ride for Gilas and the country.” However, Barrios in an overseas telephone conversation with The Standard after the draw said: “The

clippers turn bAck pAcers

way we see it, it could have been worse. It was either France or Greece and coach Baldwin told us jokingly if they draw Greece can you plead with them to put it back and re-draw. From that point of view, it’s not bad.” He added: “We could have drawn Angola, which is No.1 in Africa instead of Senegal. The truth is it’s tough whatever (group) it may be. We did not get the worst. We could have gotten Croatia instead of Canada, while New Zealand is doable. If we win one and hope New Zealand loses to France, we will enter the crossover semifinals probably against Canada or Turkey.” Barrios also pointed out there was “a common validation that it’s not a simple process” in signing up NBA players for the qualifiers.

The Manila group is regarded as the toughest of the three qualifiers compared to the cast in Turin, Italy and Belgrade in Serbia, where hosts Serbia will be joined by the Czech Republic, Japan, Angola, Latvia and Puerto Rico in the qualifier, which will take place from from July 5 to 10, while drawn with Italy in the other competitively strong Turin qualifier are Greece, Tunisia, Iran, Croatia and Mexico. With rosters that include several NBA standouts, France is the biggest stumbling block to the Philippines as it is ranked No. 5 in the world, anchored by NBA stars point guard Tony Parker (12.5points, 5.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds) and center forward Boris Diaw (7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists). Turn to A15

murrAy reAches open semis

turn to A12 turn to A15

So remains tied from 3rd to 6th GRANDMASTER Wesley So settled for a draw with GM Loek Van Wely after 26 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined in the 9th round to remain tied for third to sixth places in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee in Holland. Handling the disadvantageous black pieces, So kept his pieces well-defended with a queen e7 move that forced Wely to agree to a draw. So, who has so far won a game and has drawn 8 matches, is currently tied with five points apiece with Chinese GM Liren Ding, GM Anish Giri and Yi Wei. Ding drew with GM Shakhryar Mamedyarov after 30 moves of another Queen’s Gambit Declined match, Giri halved the point against Pavel Eljanov in 48 moves, while Yi crushed David Navara in 28 moves of a Ruy Lopez. GM Magnus Carlsen, meanwhile, stayed in front with six points following a 66-move win of a Guioco Piano match against GM Michael Adams. The black-playing Adams resigned when Carlsen advanced a passed pawn to the seventh rank. Half a point behind Carlsen is Fabiano Caruana, who improved his total to 5.5 points after drawing with GM Sergey Karjakin in 60 moves of a Ruy Lopez. peter Atencio

THURSDAY: JANUARY 28, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

PSe comPoSite

index

Closing January 27, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,507.22 195.62

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JANUARY 27, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.815

44.00

43.00

HIGH P47.810 LOW P47.960AVERAGE P47.888 VOLUME 578.600M

P417.00-P627.00 LPG/11-kg tank P33.30-P40.75 Unleaded Gasoline

il P PriceS today

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, January 27, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.9870

Japan

Yen

0.008442

0.4051

Pound

1.435600

68.8901

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128297

6.1566

Switzerland

Franc

0.982994

47.1709

Canada

Dollar

0.710328

34.0865

Singapore

Dollar

0.701361

33.6562

Australia

Dollar

0.697301

33.4614

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657595

127.5300

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266617

12.7941

Brunei

AIA visitor. Mark Tucker (right), the president and chief executive of AIA Group, the world’s second largest life insurer, visits Manila and meets

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima (center) and Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc (left), in recognition of the Philippines as an important market of AIA. Philam Life is a subsidiary of the AIA Group, the largest independent publicly-listed pan-Asian life insurance group with presence in 18 markets in Asia-Paciﬁc.

Dollar

0.698910

33.5386

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.027878

1.3378

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.0662

Euro

1.085900

52.1091

Korea

Won

0.000833

0.0400

China

Yuan

0.151934

7.2909

India

Rupee

0.014745

0.7076

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233182

11.1897

New Zealand

Dollar

0.646998

Taiwan

Dollar

0.029909

31.0475 1.4352 Source: PDS Bridge

NFA defers more rice imports By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

State-run National Food Authority said Wednesday it may not import more rice in the first quarter, given an ample stock despite the lingering impact of the El Niño dry spell.

NFA said in a statement figures from the Food Security Committee showed the country had sufficient rice supply that could last until the end of June. “The National Food Authority Council unanimously decided in its 106th regular meeting... that the country may not need to import [more] rice for the first quarter of this year,” NFA said. The government said earlier it might import an additional 400,000 MT of rice, on top of the 500,000 MT of rice shipments that were scheduled to arrive in the country from Thailand and Vietnam in the first quarter. The NFA council is composed of representatives from NFA, National Economic Development Authority, Land Bank of the

Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Development Bank of the Philippines, Finance Department and Trade Department. It is chaired by the secretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization. “The decision took into consideration the projected effects of El Niño,” NFA said.

NFA said the country’s rice stock was good to last for 110 days, with inventory at its warehouses alone amounting to 944,500 metric tons, or good for 29 days. NFA is mandated to maintain rice stock inventory that is good for 30 days at the start of the lean season, particularly in the month of July. Daily national rice con-

sumption is around 31,000 metric tons. Some 500,000 MT of rice were expected to arrive this year, after the government signed procurement contracts with Vietnam and Thailand last year. The first shipment of 175,000 MT was supposed to arrive by the end of January, 175,000 MT by the end of February and 150,000

MT by the end of March. Rice production fell 4.3 percent in 2015 to 18.15 million MT of palay (unmilled rice) from a record 18.97 million MT in 2014. Rice harvest in the fourth quarter alone dropped 3.8 percent to 7.28 million MT from 7.56 million MT, as rice and corn farms suffered the most from the long dry spell and typhoon Lando.

Salim Group bullish on PH, cautious on PLDT By Darwin G Amojelar THE Salim Group in the Philippines sees a brighter profit outlook for its infrastructure unit in 2016, but remains cautious about its telecommunication business. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman Manuel Pangilinan said “the prospects are bright [for MPIC]. I think the economy is going strong.” The government expects the economy to grow by 7 percent to 8 percent this year. MPIC posted a 30-percent increase in net income in first nine months of 2015 to P7.8 billion from P6 billion year-on-year. MPIC, the local unit of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., has investments in toll roads, water utility, power generation and hospitals. Pangilinan said the electricity volume of Manila Electric Co. in January rose 9 percent on year. He added the tollway business continued to post a modest growth in terms of vehicle

traffic volume due to lower fuel prices. Manila North Tollways Corp. chief operating officer Raul Ignacio expects vehicle traffic at North Luzon Expressway and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway to grow by 5 percent to 7 percent this year. The daily average vehicle traffic at NLEx was 200,000 and 35,000 for SCTEx. Ignacio said the P650-million integration of NLEx and SCTEx would be completed before the Holy Week, reducing the travel time to by 35 to 45 minutes from Balintawak to Tarlac. He added the company likely posted P8 billion in revenues last year. Pangilinan, however, sees a tough year for Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. in 2016. “There’s has been some progress in some fronts, but it’s a tough year. Maybe because of the nature of the business, it’s really transforming fast and radically. So, we are still trying to understand fully [what] the transformation really needs,” Pangilinan,

who also the chairman of PLDT, said. The country’s largest telecom company allotted P43 billion this year for its mobile and broadband networks expansion. PLDT’s total capital spending in the last six years including 2015 was about $4.6 billion. “We believe these expenditures are vital in order to provide the level of service required by the market and for PLDT to be robustly competitive for the future. These investments, as well as our growing portfolio of partnerships with the best in the global digital space, will serve to fortify our position as the country’s leading digital services provider and enable us in the emerging digital landscape,” he said. PLDT reported a net income of P25.3 billion in the January-to-September period, down from P28 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated revenue was flat at P127.87 billion in the first nine months of 2015 from P127.32 billion in 2014.

THURSDAY: JANUARY 28, 2016

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, January 27, 2016

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 9.4 0.98 241 79 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 26.95 1.99 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.48

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.9 2.53 44.65 44.3 99.30 95.50 86.50 84.10 34.9 34.5 1.45 1.21 14.7 14 15.9 15.82 1.65 1.64 580.00 580.00 0.435 0.405 72.45 70.95 0.91 0.91 15.58 14.46 48.00 46.50 97 97 278.6 270 32.6 32.5 140.1 138.8 1300.00 1280.00 57.00 56.00 1.5 1.47 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 39.85 41.1 39.95 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 4.25 4.34 4.1 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.6 0.6 0.59 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.19 1.22 1.17 7.92 Asiabest Group 9.58 9.58 9.28 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 109.00 110.00 109.00 15.32 Century Food 16.22 16.48 15.7 20.2 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 36 33.1 33.1 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 19.3 19.9 19.4 29.15 Concepcion 41.9 42 40.95 1.5 Crown Asia 2.15 2.15 2.07 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 2.5 2.65 2.35 10.72 Del Monte 11.4 11.7 11.36 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 7.500 7.590 7.460 9.04 Emperador 6.98 7.19 7.01 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.48 5.56 5.37 8.86 EEI 5.75 5.75 5.60 20.2 First Gen Corp. 18.12 18.6 18.28 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 54.2 54.8 54.2 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.03 5.14 5 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.120 2.140 2.100 207.00 201.00 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 200.40 LBC Express 6.98 6.99 6.5 34.1 Liberty Flour 23.60 25.00 25.00 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3 3.08 3.02 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.25 25 24.2 17.3 Maxs Group 13.4 13.5 12.96 5.88 Megawide 5.5 5.5 5.5 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 306.00 310.00 307.00 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 2.9 2.98 2.91 8.45 Petron Corporation 5.69 5.93 5.70 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.50 11.00 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.51 3.60 3.60 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.38 1.45 1.37 1 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.24 2.22 2.13 4.02 RFM Corporation 3.60 3.80 3.55 1.65 Roxas and Co. 2.64 2.21 2.21 5.9 Roxas Holdings 4.84 4.9 4.84 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 127 129.4 127 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.5 2.59 2.47 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.138 0.146 0.137 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.11 2.16 2.09 152 Universal Robina 185 186.6 184 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.28 Victorias Milling 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.58 0.6 0.58 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 0.99 0.99 0.95 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. À’ 0.300 0.305 0.280 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 54.5000 57.3000 54.5000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 13.70 14.20 13.70 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.08 1.08 1.08 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.200 0.180 0.180 634.5 Ayala Corp À’ 638 680 646.5 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.17 7.26 7.2 12.8 DMCI Holdings 10.90 11.30 11.00 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.50 4.50 4.49 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.181 0.205 0.194 837 GT Capital 1236 1250 1236 IPM Holdings 9.32 9.49 9.30 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 60.85 62.00 60.90 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 5.07 5.23 5.1 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.5 0.52 0.5 12 LT Group 15.24 16.1 15.24 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.34 5.48 5.35 0.030 Pacifica À’ 0.0260 0.0280 0.0260 0.550 Prime Orion 1.950 1.990 1.910 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.52 2.70 2.50 59.3 San Miguel Corp À’ 63.95 68.00 63.80 781.50 750.00 751 SM Investments Inc. 753.50 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.68 0.71 0.70 80 Top Frontier 83.950 100.000 80.050 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2400 0.2650 0.2400 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1950 0.1960 0.1870 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.240 0.290 0.241 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.590 6.600 6.460 12 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.18 7.00 7.00 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.67 0.73 0.67 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 30.200 30.700 30.250 3.36 Belle Corp. À’ 2.13 2.3 2.12 4.96 Cebu Holdings 4.6 4.6 4.5 0.79 Century Property 0.400 0.42 0.41 0.97 Cityland Dev. À’ 1.030 0.950 0.950 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 9,938,634 70,592,303 140,733,869 175,138,496 243,313,232 506,714,440 1,146,955,225

2.85 44.6 95.50 84.80 34.6 1.24 14.1 15.9 1.63 580.00 0.420 70.45 0.89 15.80 45.90 95 270 32.5 138.6 1280.00 56.00 1.59

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.7 44.65 99.15 86.50 34.5 1.45 14.3 15.9 1.65 580.00 0.410 72.45 0.91 15.58 48.00 97 276 32.6 139.1 1280.00 56.80 1.47

-5.26 0.11 3.82 2.00 -0.29 16.94 1.42 0.00 1.23 0.00 -2.38 2.84 2.25 -1.39 4.58 2.11 2.22 0.31 0.36 0.00 1.43 -7.55

276,000 32,000 1,874,470 1,209,580 23,800 349,000 318,300 72,700 10,000 58,000 1,360,000 2,379,490 49,000 6,900 14,000 10 2,400 289,400 1,628,870 55 55,900 41,000

41.1 4.29 0.6 1.22 9.57 110.00 15.7 33.1 19.7 41 2.14 2.61 11.7 7.520 7.09 5.37 5.64 18.6 54.25 5.01 2.110 206.00 6.98 25.00 3.02 24.85 13.4 5.5 307.20 2.92 5.90 11.50 3.60 1.41 2.16 3.57 2.21 4.9 127 2.52 0.145 2.15 186 4.68 0.58 0.99

3.14 0.94 0.00 2.52 -0.10 0.92 -3.21 -8.06 2.07 -2.15 -0.47 4.40 2.63 0.27 1.58 -2.01 -1.91 2.65 0.09 -0.40 -0.47 2.79 0.00 5.93 0.67 2.47 0.00 0.00 0.39 0.69 3.69 0.00 2.56 2.17 -3.57 -0.83 -16.29 1.24 0.00 0.80 5.07 1.90 0.54 0.00 0.00 0.00

1,300,100 244,000 688,000 696,000 4,100 400 477,600 100 1,306,300 692,100 170,000 7,179,000 35,300 7,297,900 10,819,600 11,080,500 985,900 2,795,500 745,030 249,900 2,374,000 1,704,750 31,100 200 5,000 340,200 1,195,200 506,300 130,750 281,000 1,825,600 1,100 1,001,000 603,000 98,000 17,000 1,000 6,000 4,910 903,000 7,460,000 2,001,000 3,103,990 14,000 152,000 34,000

0.280 57.3000 14.00 1.08 0.180 680 7.26 11.20 4.50 0.194 1248 9.41 61.20 5.1 0.5 16.1 5.41 0.0270 1.940 2.7 68.00 780.50 0.71 100.000 0.2450 0.1960 0.260

-6.67 5.14 2.19 0.00 -10.00 6.58 1.26 2.75 0.00 7.18 0.97 0.97 0.58 0.59 0.00 5.64 1.31 3.85 -0.51 7.14 6.33 3.58 4.41 19.12 2.08 0.51 8.33

90,000 1,447,450 9,218,700 2,000 40,000 280,710 1,110,000 8,068,300 102,000 1,420,000 185,320 2,675,000 1,287,360 1,205,100 2,964,000 12,905,000 60,748,900 27,000,000 2,212,000 60,000 1,569,590 244,880 50,000 186,480 3,570,000 200,000 1,810,000

6.500 7.00 0.69 30.300 2.22 4.5 0.405 0.950

-1.37 -2.51 2.99 0.33 4.23 -2.17 1.25 -7.77

308,700 100 3,236,000 13,603,900 17,010,000 13,000 3,710,000 40,000,000

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 5.94 0.180 0.470 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 4.13 0.090 0.290 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 18 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 3 8.8 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

-3,600,000.00 193,010.00

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Racing Club Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

76,835.00

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Basic Energy Corp. Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum

70 553 111

33 490 101

1047 78.95 84.8

1011 74.5 75

1.34

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-2,600.00 1,211,555.00 -7,318,945 31,591,334.00 -17,290.00 4,350,000.00 -491,434.00 12,750.00 -21,176,656.00

8,129,455 41,992,760.00 -6,500.00 -1,475,435.00 13,805,040.00

-2,858,850.00 -531,740.00 24,036,575 -27,400.00 135,432.00 -3,250,440.00 -73,460,477.00 2,019,185.00 1,140,150.00 -6,377,866.00 -1,430,248.50 294,687.00 -380,670.00 -14,693,774.00

-1,561,090.00 920,696.00 -4,093,196.00 -2,762,148.00

-55,487,244.00 -3,000.00

22,198,490.00 21,386,134.00 103,847,220.00 -33,985.00 15,137,832.00 99,570.00 99,570.00 -130,813,060.00 26,771,938.50 -1,338,585.00 -510,500.00 18,615,438.00 -65,659,754.00 -26,000.00 78,980.00 -39,785,512.00 4,660,820.00 -2,544,540.50 -36,000.00

308,020.00 -147,183,095.00 -11,828,510.00 -27,300.00 -589,900.00

Alterra Capital Italpinas Xurpas

High

VALUE 710,838,720.58 1,451,099,123.85 1,719,543,377.975 1,225,173,958.60 1,372,152,279.33 193,105,102.59 6,687,828,945.325

FINANCIAL 1,490.80 (UP) 33.13 INDUSTRIAL 10,325.87 (UP) 111.98 HOLDING FIRMS 6,077.56 (UP) 200.83 PROPERTY 2,598.64 (UP) 69.77 SERVICES 1,486.04 (UP) 68.06 MINING & OIL 9,086.80 (UP) 514.36 PSEI 6,507.22 (UP) 195.62 All Shares Index 3,722.40 (UP) 98.39 Gainers: 130; Losers: 44; Unchanged: 30; Total: 204

0.103 0.390 20.3 0.700 0.83 1.47 3.24 0.070 0.2090 8.4 23.20 1.46 3.16 19.98 0.74 0.800 3.650

0.119 0.104 0.112 0.420 0.385 0.400 20.3 19.96 20.2 0.740 0.720 0.740 0.85 0.82 0.84 1.49 1.44 1.48 3.41 3.31 3.39 0.075 0.070 0.075 0.2090 0.2090 0.2090 8.4 8.4 8.4 24.50 23.50 24.50 1.5 1.46 1.5 3.08 3 3.05 21.10 20.05 20.90 0.77 0.74 0.75 0.800 0.770 0.800 3.950 3.660 3.950 SERVICES 6.29 6.31 6.15 6.24 53.9 55 53.4 53.9 1.13 1.13 1.13 1.13 0.360 0.395 0.380 0.385 10.5 10.9 10.9 10.9 3.59 4.03 3.65 3.99 0.0380 0.0380 0.0370 0.0380 3.41 3.48 3.36 3.4 76.05 77.85 76.5 76.5 9.5 9.5 9.48 9.48 1.5 1.53 1.48 1.53 6.06 6.10 6.02 6.02 1735 1840 1704 1840 6.43 6.50 6.43 6.50 1.10 1.11 1.10 1.11 58.4 60 58.4 59.6 0.0079 0.0084 0.0084 0.0084 0.128 0.130 0.126 0.130 1.4300 1.5100 1.3800 1.3900 1.88 2.04 2.04 2.04 6.99 7.05 6.99 7.00 4.00 4.01 4.10 3.95 2.20 2.33 2.20 2.33 19.00 19.00 18.00 18.00 1.53 1.81 1.58 1.74 3.00 3.09 3.00 3.03 0.260 0.255 0.250 0.255 0.600 0.650 0.600 0.620 17.42 18.9 17.52 17.52 4.28 4.30 4.30 4.30 8.85 9 9 9 20.00 20.00 19.75 20.00 2032.00 2170.00 2052.00 2170.00 0.410 0.415 0.380 0.385 0.600 0.690 0.620 0.670 33.05 33.70 33.20 33.60 57.00 59.70 56.80 58.00 4.50 4.71 4.57 4.70 2.43 2.52 2.44 2.45 0.390 0.395 0.380 0.385 3.55 3.9 3.65 3.65 0.345 0.315 0.315 0.315 3.630 3.750 3.640 3.750 MINING & OIL 0.0041 0.0042 0.0041 0.0042 1.50 1.60 1.60 1.60 3.92 4.20 3.95 4.20 13.50 13.40 11.50 13.40 0.203 0.199 0.199 0.199 0.48 0.5 0.47 0.5 0.310 0.355 0.310 0.335 5.68 6.40 5.68 6.00 0.500 0.660 0.510 0.660 0.235 0.245 0.225 0.245 0.150 0.175 0.150 0.171 0.186 0.199 0.171 0.199 0.0095 0.0100 0.0097 0.0100 0.012 0.012 0.010 0.012 1.38 1.8 1.37 1.65 3.4 3.94 3.51 3.94 2.04 2.33 2.04 2.21 0.9700 1.1700 1.0200 1.1400 0.0092 0.0090 0.0090 0.0090 3.17 3.18 3.18 3.18 3.91 4.20 3.97 4.20 1.20 1.42 1.20 1.41 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 117.90 121.00 117.90 118.60 1.71 1.9 1.72 1.81 PREFERRED 53 53.5 53 53.35 529.5 522 521 521 111 112 111 111 1065 1075 1065 1065 1028 1028 1028 1028 80.5 80.5 80.5 80.5 82.45 82.5 82.1 82.15 79 79 79 79 78.4 78.5 78.4 78.4 78.8 79 78.8 79 2.4 2.3 1.9 2.3 WARRANTS & BONDS 1.290 1.590 1.370 1.550 SME 3.15 3.14 3.02 3.14 2.21 2.23 2.21 2.23 11.78 12.04 11.78 11.9 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 103.1 106.2 102 106.2

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

8.74 2.56 -0.49 5.71 1.20 0.68 4.63 7.14 0.00 0.00 5.60 2.74 -3.48 4.60 1.35 0.00 8.22

2,350,000 200,000 2,235,600 33,000 2,267,000 7,274,000 48,611,000 2,190,000 10,000 120,200 952,000 1,136,000 126,000 21,938,200 1,091,000 106,000 6,603,000

-0.79 0.00 0.00 6.94 3.81 11.14 0.00 -0.29 0.59 -0.21 2.00 -0.66 6.05 1.09 0.91 2.05 6.33 1.56 -2.80 8.51 0.14 -0.25 5.91 -5.26 13.73 1.00 -1.92 3.33 0.57 0.47 1.69 0.00 6.79 -6.10 11.67 1.66 1.75 4.44 0.82 -1.28 2.82 -8.70 3.31

103,400 27,620 21,000 170,000 1,000 31,745,000 5,100,000 290,000 380,860 5,000 9,000 157,800 93,560 39,500 186,000 835,510 1,000,000 2,590,000 3,742,000 5,000 524,800 226,000 6,000 7,200 92,881,000 3,899,000 120,000 5,678,000 351,300 1,000 150,000 248,846 275,700 1,250,000 81,918,000 963,000 1,545,380 658,000 3,028,000 740,000 946,000 10,000 65,000

2.44 6.67 7.14 -0.74 -1.97 4.17 8.06 5.63 32.00 4.26 14.00 6.99 5.26 0.00 19.57 15.88 8.33 17.53 -2.17 0.32 7.42 17.50 0.00 0.59 5.85

110,000,000 69,700.00 7,000 204,000 -372,970.00 10,100 50,000 70,000 -9,400.00 5,110,000 105,600.00 76,600 -59,900.00 57,284,000 69,350.00 2,390,000 13,800,000 3,990,000 91,000,000 187,100,000 1,447,000 20,543,000 -32,512,660.00 1,382,000 471,000 5,000,000 1,000 939,000 -581,300.00 1,812,000 -314,190.00 3,300,000 491,950 -30,526,148.00 223,000 -17,900.00

0.66 -1.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.36 0.00 0.00 0.25 -4.17

406,760 1,080 23,210 60 260 4,290 30,000 4,370 7,640 13,310 5,000

20.16

630,000

-0.32 0.90 1.02

4,000 52,000 288,100

3.01

120,140

4,202,396.00 -144,000.00 54,540.00 -3,361,270.00

11,070,555.00 29,790.00 159,090,200.00 367,090.00

-19,250.00 37,326,040.00 10,380.00 -15,309,931.00

38,290,990.00 55,000.00 10,194,476.00 74,200.00 702.00

-22,794,730.00 627,760.00 46,740.00 4,300.00 245,269,740.00 -148,550.00 -537,000.00 -8,800,090.00 13,784.00 -5,531,950.00 77,000.00 -185,500.00

-14,740,440.00

345,230.00 157,000.00

-169,370.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Ferronickel

0.660

32.00

Roxas and Co.

2.21

-16.29

LR Warrant

1.550

20.16

ATN Holdings A

0.180

-10.00

Marcventures Hldgs., Inc.

1.65

19.57

Waterfront Phils.

0.315

-8.70

Top Frontier

100.000

19.12

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

33.1

-8.06

Oriental Peninsula Res.

1.1400

17.53

Cityland Dev. `A'

0.950

-7.77

PhilexPetroleum

1.41

17.50

Vantage Equities

1.47

-7.55

Bright Kindle Resources

1.45

16.94

Abacus Cons. `A'

0.280

-6.67

Nickelasia

3.94

15.88

PremiereHorizon

0.385

-6.10

Lepanto `A'

0.171

14.00

Manila Broadcasting

18.00

-5.26

Melco Crown

1.74

13.73

AG Finance

2.7

-5.26

THURSDAY: JANUARY 28, 2016

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks jump; PLDT surges THE stock market rallied Wednesday while oil prices tumbled again, as the wild swings that have marked the start of the year showed no signs of abating. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 195.62 points, or 3.1 percent, to 6,507.22 on a value turnover of P6.7 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 130 to 44, with 30 issues unchanged. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, surged 6.8 percent to P2,170, while SM Prime Holdings Inc., the largest integrated property company, advanced 4.6 percent to P20.90. LT Group Inc. of tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan climbed 5.6 percent to P16.10, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. rose 6.6 percent to P680. Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications company, gained 6 percent to P1,840, while Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which operates a casino on a reclaimed part of Manila Bay, jumped 11.1 percent to P3.99. Meanwhile, the rest of Asian stock markets mostly swung back into positive territory Wednesday. Japanese shares led the advances Wednesday, with the Nikkei up 2.7 percent by the close. The gain was helped by car giant Toyota, which announced it sold more than 10 million cars last year and kept the title of world’s biggest automaker. Hong Kong put on one percent in the afternoon and Seoul ended 1.4 percent higher. There were also healthy gains in Singapore and Jakarta. However, Shanghai fell 0.5 percent, extending the more than six percent dive Tuesday, as data showed profits at China’s industrial giants had fallen 4.7 percent last month, extending November’s fall and highlighting the ongoing weakness in the economy. With AFP

Investment partner. Trade

Undersecretary Nora Terrado (right) accepts the compilation of 2013-2015 performance and 2016 proposed plans of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Industry Promotion Group from outgoing Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. (left) during a turnover ceremony in Pasay City. With a smooth transition in its industry promotion leadership, the DTI is geared to strengthening its position as a preferred investment destination and desired trading partner for the global business community.

BPI lends $525m to Zambales plant By Julito G. Rada

BANK of the Philippine Islands, the country’s third-biggest lender, led a consortium of local banks that raised up to $525 million to partially finance the new 330-megawatt power plant of AES Philippines in Masinloc, Zambales. The plant aims to supply power to at least seven electric cooperatives in northern Luzon for 20 years, which could pave the way for lower rates in the area. “This facility follows a $500-million refinancing in 2013, also provided entirely by local banks, in support of the rehabilitation and modernization of the original 600MW facility in Masinloc, Zambales,” the bank said in a statement

Wednesday. BPI said the transaction underscored its commitment to finance and pursue projects that create a strong impact on sectors vital to the country’s economic growth. “The facility is denominated in US dollars and has a tenor of 15 years, inclusive of an up to four-year grace period during construction and will be made available in fixed and floating interest rate tranches. The fixed-

interest rate tranche shall be subject to a re-pricing on the eighth year anniversary to set the interest rate for the remaining seven years,” the bank said. BPI’s investment banking subsidiary, BPI Capital Corp., acted as sole issue coordinator and one of the joint lead arrangers of the transaction. The other joint lead arrangers are SB Capital Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and PNB Capital Corp. AES is 50.55-percent owned by AES Corp., a leading American global power developer and operator, 41.35 percent by independent power producer Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. Group of Thailand and 8.10 percent by International Finance Corp. It is also the owner and operator of the existing 600-MW power plant in Masinloc, Zambales, one

of the largest base-load coal power plants in the Philippines. AES and its partners plan to use the combined Masinloc output as their vehicle for growth in the Philippines. BPI Capital was recently cited by Finance Asia, a leading Hong Kong-based finance publication, as the Best Investment Bank and Best Equity Capital Market House in the Philippines for 2015. Bank of the Philippine Islands posted an 8-percent increase in net income in the first nine months of 2015 to P13.84 billion from P12.80 billion year-on-year on the strength of its core businesses. Total revenues increased P3.67 billion or 9.1 percent to P44.10 billion year-on-year as both net interest income and non-interest income rose P2.98 billion and P0.68 billion, respectively.

A former Benigno Aquino and a former Emperor

EMPEROR Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan are currently enjoying the traditional hospitality of the Filipino people on their first State visit to this country. Japan has been a valued friend and partner of the Philippines for the last sixty years, a fact that their Imperial Highnesses help celebrate. We welcome the Emperor and Empress. They deserve the Filipino people’s warm welcome in full measure. History sometimes gives rise to very interesting coincidences, when situations and personages from the past connect with and relate to situations and personages of the present. The current visit of Japan’s head of State and his lady presents one such coincidence.

The coincidence presented by Emperor Akihito’s visit has to do with his and President Aquino’s recent forebears. I refer to President Aquino’s paternal grandfather and the Emperor’s father, Hirohito. Hirohito reigned as Japan’s emperor through the 1930s, a time when an increasingly powerful Japan was parlaying its economic and military might into a position of influence in world affairs and of dominance in the Asia Pacific area. Hirohito was the leader of the Land of the Rising Sun during the days when Japan’s top military officers, with the cooperation and support of that country’s industrial establishment, were planning to unleash Japan’s impressive military might on its Asian neighbors, starting with China. There is a continuing debate on the part, if any, played by Emperor Hirohito in the decision-making that led to the disastrous decision to embark on the campaign of

conquering Japan’s Asian neighbors and the US. That campaign reached the shores of the Philippines, then American colony, when Japanese aircraft bombed the US Navy’s Pearl Harbor base. The Philippines, which was being prepared for independence, was now at war with the Japanese empire. This is where the Aquino-Akihito coincidence arises. Being an extension of the US, and having been the object of fierce Japanese attacks on its territory—including the Bataan Peninsula in Corregidor—the Philippines was hostile terrain. Japan had to restore peace and order and it had to put in place a civilian government and a political infrastructure to replace those that were in existence before Pearl Harbor. The Japanese military government decided that the centerpiece of that infrastructure would be an organization called KALIBAPI (Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa

Bagong Pilipinas). The Japanese Occupation authorities selected Benigno Aquino, a leading pre-war political figure, to be the head of the Kalibapi. I can only surmise that Benigno Aquino was a reviled figure— given the temper of the times—and that he was a prime target of Filipinos who were actively anti-Japanese, especially the guerillas. It appears that Benigno Aquino was very friendly with the Japanese occupying forces and that they got along very well. Thus, it is but fitting that Emperor Hirohito’s son should be welcomed and be extended warm Filipino hospitality by Benigno Aquino’s grandson and namesake. Again, welcome to the Philippines, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, and enjoy your stay. Long live Philippines-Japan friendship. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

B4 BenLife’s license. Insur-

ance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc (third from left) releases to Jaime Fernandez, executive vice president and chief operating officer of BenLife Insurance, a license to sell life insurance products for three years from 2016 to 2018. With them are Insurance Commission officials, including (from left) lawyer Joanne Frances Castro, chief of staff Kristine Mari ReyesNolasco and chief of licensing division Jose Mari Tolentino.

DoT eyes $6.5-b revenues in 2016 By Othel V. Campos

THE Tourism Department said Wednesday it expects tourism revenues to reach $6.5 billion from the arrivals of 6 million foreign visitors in 2016.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said to achieve the goal, the government would focus on building the necessary infrastructure for tourism development, especially in emerging island destinations. “We have been closely coordinating with the relevant agencies to make sure that we are moving forward with the construction of access roads, bridges, lightings, drainage systems and even signages,” he told reporters in an interview during the opening of the two-day Hospitality Investment Conference at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. He said the Tourism Department would receive a P24-billion budget this year to support tourism infrastructure development. “We are entirely dependent on air traffic to bring in

visitors. We hope we’ll have more and better accommodation inventory to house a projected traffic of 6 million tourists,” he said. The Board of Investments said hotel investments reached P8.25 billion in 2015, down by 46 percent from P14.9 billion in 2014, despite the increase in the number of projects. BoI approved 11 hotel projects last year, up from only 6 projects in 2015. Among the largest investors last year were Century Peak Property Development Inc. with P3.3 billion and Philippine Hoteliers International Center for Hospitality with P1 billion. Other projects were Aira Bianca Lao Vicente with P40.778 million; Belian Inns and Hotels Inc., P40 million; Data land Inc., P865 million; Enrison Land Inc., P900 million; Eskaya Beach Resort Corp., P200.2 million; Gohotels Davao Inc., P338.76 million; Premier Central Inc. P527 million; Sentera Hotel Ventures Inc., P494.5 million; and Serenity View Resort Property Inc., P235.22 million. Meanwhile, Melia Hotels International S. A., a Spanish hotel company, said it planned to bring three of its famous brands to the Philippines, including the Melia, Innside Melia and Sol Melia.

Melia Hotels vice president for Asia Pacific Gonzalo Maceda said the company expected to finalize management agreements with local partners for several projects in Metro Manila and several provinces this year. “After expanding in the Asian market especially in China, Japan and Indonesia, we have entered the Myanmar and Thai market. We think the next big step for us is to have presence in the Philippines,” Maceda said in an interview during the Hospitality Investment Conference. He said the company already had several projects lined up for the year, including in Makati City and Palawan. Movenpick Hotels and Resorts and Plateno Hotels said they were also on an expansion mode in the Philippines. Movenpick senior vice president for Asia Andrew Langdon said the Philippines was now a priority market for the company after a record performance in 2015, with plans to triple the hotels it manages by 2020. “We are looking at a very strong year this 2016. We have our eyes set on Davao, Palawan and Dumaguete, as well. We still have potential rebranding and/or renovation agreements,” he said.

Two solar firms seek ERC permit on power lines By Alena Mae S. Flores TWO solar energy products with a combined capacity of nearly 100 megawatts have asked approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission to construct power lines connecting their solar farms to the transmission grid. Solar Philippines Calatagan Corp. and Enfinity Renewable Resources Fourth Inc. filed separate petitions with ERC for their respective point-to-point dedicated facilities connecting to the transmission system of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

Solar Philippines is building a 50-megawatt to 63.3-MW solar power plant in Calatagan, Batangas, while Enfnity Philippines Renewable Resources Fourth Inc. is putting up a 25-MW to 33.6MW solar plant in Digos City, Davao del Sur. Both plants are nearing completion in line with the March 2016 deadline set by the Energy Department in order to qualify for the feed-in-tariff system. Solar Philippines plans to connect the dedicated facility from the power plant to the grid through the National Grid Calaca switchyard while Enfin-

ity Renewable plans to connect to the Matanao substation of the grid operator. The power plants are applying for the inclusion of their power plants in the feed-in tariff system under second round of solar installation targets at a rate of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour. “Enfinity’s need for a provisional authority for its EnfinityDigos solar power plant is highly critical and urgent because of the DoE’s first-come, first-served policy on the allocation of the revised 500-MW solar installation target,” Enfinity said. Only projects which connected

to the grid or a distribution utility and could export power are qualified for the first-come-first served policy, it said. Enfinity said it should qualify for the feed-in tariff because there was still no spot market in Mindanao. “Enfinity’s successful connection to the Mindanao grid by 2016 will further help in addressing the issue of sufficiency of power in Mindanao,” it said. Meanwhile, Solar Philippines said the completion of its solar facility would ensure additional capacity for Luzon during the dry months.

January inflation expected at 1.2% By Gabrielle H. Binaday INFLATION rate likely eased to 1.2 percent in January from 1.5 percent in December, following the slump in global oil prices, an official of the Finance Department said Wednesday. Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said in an economic bulletin inflation this month would likely register at 1.2 percent, “as food prices normalize, fuel prices continue to fall and electricity rate reaches fiveyear low.” Power rate at the franchise area of Manila Electric Co. fell 13 percent to P8.72 per kilowatt-hour in January from a year ago. It was also 2 percent lower than that of December. Electricity rate has declined in the past months, pulled down by lower generation charges. Beltran, however, said upward price pressures might come from housing rentals and cost of education. Beltran said the slower inflation period might continue in the coming months, amid the slump in oil prices in the international market. Oil prices last week plummeted to less than $30 per barrel as the expected increase in Iranian crude exports added to the oversupply concerns. “The period of benign inflation is extended due to low fuel prices,” Beltran said. He said this would enable the country to grow faster and investments to continue rising as companies might take advantage of the similarly benign interest rate environment despite the US Federal Reserve liftoff and volatile financial markets.

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Third-quarter economic growth revised to 6.1% FRANCO

MPTC names Franco president METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. appointed Rodrigo Franco as the new president and chief executive effective Jan. 1, 2016. Franco replaced Ramoncito Fernandez who was appointed president and chief executive of Maynilad Water Services Inc. The tollways group of Metro Pacific includes Manila North Tollways Corp., Tollways Management Corp., Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. and MP Cala Holdings Inc. As Metro Pacific’s tollways group head, Franco also presides over the strategic directions and operations of the group’s growing investments in toll road companies in Vietnam and Thailand. He will also continue to hold, in a concurrent capacity, the position of president and chief executive of MNTC. Franco has been in the tollways business since 2003, starting off with MNTC as chief finance officer, before moving up to become MNTC’s chief executive in 2009. Before MNTC, Franco worked for two decades with JP Morgan Chase as vice president for investment banking. He holds an MBA from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, on top a B.S. in Management Engineering degree also from Ateneo.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

GOVERNMENT statisticians on Wednesday revised upward the gross domestic product growth in the third quarter of 2015 to 6.1 percent from the previous estimate of 6 percent. The Philippine Statistics Authority said it revised the thirdquarter GDP figures, after incorporating more data into the national accounts. It said the additional 0.1 percentage point was caused by the higher growth in trade and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, personal and household goods; transportation, storage and communication; and construction. The economy expanded 5 per-

cent in the first quarter and 5.8 percent in the second quarter, before growing 6.1 percent in the third quarter, bringing the threequarter average to 5.6 percent. The expansion in the third quarter was also faster than the 5.5-percent growth posted in the same period in 2014. The 5.6-percent average growth for the three quarters was also below the government’s growth target of 7 percent to 8

percent. The government is set to release the fourth-quarter and full-year GDP data today. Economists see the GDP growing 5.9 percent to 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015, bringing full-year growth in the range of 5.7 percent to 5.9 percent. Standard Chartered economist Jeff Ng said he expected a 5.7-percent growth in 2015, on the back of a 5.9-percent expansion in the fourth quarter despite the weak external demand for the country’s products. “External demand likely remained a drag as merchandise export growth continued to fall in October and November,” Ng said in an e-mail. ING Bank economist Joey Cuyegkeng said he saw the econ-

omy growing 6 percent in the fourth quarter, bringing full-year growth to 5.6 percent to 5.7 percent. Accord Capital Equities Corp analyst Justino Calaycay Jr. predicted a full-year growth of 5.9 percent for 2015 while Diana del Rosario of Deutsche Bank saw it at 5.8 percent. “GDP growth increased in fourth quarter largely because government spending rose substantially from a relatively low base,” Del Rosario said in an email. London-based think-tank Capital Economics said the Philippine economy likely grew 5.7 percent in 2015 and was expected to rebound with a 6.5-percent growth this year.

Seal of excellence.

The Government Service Insurance System Cotabato branch is conferred the prestigious Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence for exemplary frontline service under the Civil Service Commission’s Anti-Red Tape Act survey. GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara (second from left) receives the wall-mountable Seal of Excellence glass plaque and P100,000 cash. With Vergara are (from left) CSC chairman Alicia dela Rosa-Bala, former GSIS Cotabato branch manager Rosalinda Mendoza and senior vice president for VisMin operations group Dionisio Ebdane Jr.

Executive opposes electricity rate hike amid oil price drop By Alena Mae S. Flores AN oil industry executive said Wednesday National Power Corp.’s bid to increase the universal charge should not be allowed, given the drastic drop in fuel cost. Eastern Petroleum chairman and chief executive Fernando Martinez said he was referring to the application of Napocor to recover almost P6 billion from consumers, which would translate into a power rate hike of P0.0788 per kilowatt-hour under the universal charge for missionary electrification. He questioned Napocor’s motive to increase the rate, in the wake of low domestic and inter-

national fuel prices that fell by as much as 60 percent over the last 18 months. “Given the substantial decrease in fuel costs, we strongly believe that their operational costs should have decreased and their existing universal charge for missionary electrification of P0.0454 per kWh should suffice to eventually recoup their under-recoveries in the last two years,” Martinez said in a statement. He said Napocor should instead maintain its current charges and reduce the subsidies it allocated for missionary electrification. Martinez said as a consumer, he was willing to attend hearings on Napocor’s petition filed with

the Energy Regulatory Commission and question how Napocor derived the figures. “Napocor should review its operational costs and the subsidies it allots to its small power utilities group given that domestic and international fuel prices have been on a 12-year low. Thus, why should consumers be burdened by these alleged under-recoveries borne out of their incompetence?” Martinez asked. Napocor earlier filed a petition with ERC to hike the universal charge on consumers to recover nearly P6-billion shortfall in the missionary electrification subsidy in 2014. Napocor proposed to recover P5.895 billion, representing the funding shortfall in 2014.

Napocor president Ma. Gladys Sta. Rita said in a statement the petition was based on the actual expenses, as against the actual approved revenue and sales from missionary areas and the universal charge for missionary electrification. Sta. Rita said the application would “still pass through the process of public hearing and the commission’s evaluation and approval before implementation.” Napocor said the huge shortfall in 2014 was due to the very low basic universal charge for missionary electrification at P0.0454 kWh, which translated into only P2.7 billion per year. The state firm said the filing was one of two sources of the corporation’s funds as allowed

under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. These include the universal charge for missionary electrification which is to be collected from all electricity consumers and energy sales collected from electric cooperatives. Napocor said the petition was consistent with ERC Resolution 21, series of 2011, which amended the guidelines for the setting and approval of electricity generation rates and subsidies for missionary areas. This provided that if the reconciliation resulted in Napocor’s small power utilities group having a deficiency, as confirmed by the ERC, it should be entitled to an increase in the UC-ME to cover the shortfall.

THURSDAY: JANUARY 28, 2016

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

EastWest loses Victorias bid year sided with EastWest Bank and directed the sugar company to convert 13 percent of the outstanding unconverted notes held by the bank into common shares. The sugar milling company, however, filed an appeal with the SEC en banc, resulting in the reversal of the decision. Victorias Milling said in a dis- that Victorias Milling paid or reVictorias Milling has been reclosure to the stock exchange the deemed the convertible note is- ducing its debts as part of the reappellate court upheld the deci- sued in favor of EastWest Bank habilitation plan. sion of the Securities and Ex- following the terms and condiEastWest Bank is the only machange Commission denying the tions of the alternative rehabili- jor creditor-bank that refused to appeal of EastWest Bank to exer- tation plan and the debt restruc- accept Victoria Milling’s proposal cise its option on the conversion turing agreement signed with to prepay its debt. of the debt note into shares. creditors on April 29, 2002. Victorias Milling is primarThe Court of Appeals ruled SEC’s hearing panel in March last ily engaged in integrated raw and refined sugar manufacturing with plant facilities in VictoNOTICE OF SALE OF 358,108,078 TREASURY rias City, Negros Occidental SHARES OF ISM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION province. The company, through its January 28, 2016 operating subsidiaries, is also To the stockholders of ISM Communications Corporation: engaged in several businessThis is to advise you that ISM Communications Corporation (“ISM”) is offfering to es, such as fish canning, real

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Court of Appeals turned down the petition of EastWest Banking Corp. of the Gotianun Group to convert its debt notes in Victorias Milling Co. into equity.

sell 358,108,078 of its treasury shares (the “Sale Shares”) at the price of Php1.00 per share to its stockholders of record as of February 5, 2016. The Offer Period for the Sale shall commence on February 9, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. and end on March 1, 2016 at 12:00 noon, unless otherwise extended by ISM. The information package on the terms and conditions of the Sale shall be sent to ISM’s stockholders to their addresses on record. Information on the sale will also be available at the PSE Edge Portal website (http://edge.pse.com.ph) and at the website of ISM (www.ismcorp.com.ph). For queries, please contact the Transaction Broker or ISM at the details set forth below. Philippine Equity Partners, Inc. Attention: Ronald Y. Hermogenes 4th Floor 110 Legazpi Street, Makati 1229, Philippines Telephone: (632) -640-6759 Email: ronnie.hermogenes@pep.com.ph

ISM Communications Corporation Attention: Atty. Jovita Larrazabal 5F PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. cor. V.A. Rufino St. Makati City 1126, Philippines Telephone: (632) 830-7061 Email: jdslarrazabal@ismcorp.com.ph

ISM Communications Corporation By: Jovita Larrazabal Corporate Secretary ( T S - J A N . 2 8 & 2 9 , 2 016)

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 3 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office

Office Address : Telephone Nos. : Website :

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-3888/766-4142/766-0157/766-3524 niabaneimo_es@yahoo.com/niabaneimo_om@yahoo.com niabaneimoafs@yahoo.com

Telefax No.(044) 766-3888 TIN: 000-578-009-000

INVITATION TO BID January 25, 2016

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for: ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2016–BU-30 ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) Improvement of Lateral J and Various Irrigation Facilities,Pulilan,Bulacan. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P9,514,815.62 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2016–BU-31 ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) – Lat. D-6, Lat. C-4, Lat. C-8 and Various Irrigation Facilities, San Luis & Candaba, Pampanga. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P9,478,330.63 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 Only those with Document Request List (DRL) together with each company profile properly stamped “certified true copy”, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer will be accepted. Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright. Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable amount as stated above each ITB)

January 28, 2016 @ 10:00 AM NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan

Schedule of Activities; Submission/Opening of Bids NIA, BANE IMO Pre-Bidding– February 9, 2016 at 3:30 PM ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-30 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-31

February 22, 2016 1:00 PM 2:00 PM

The NIA-BANE assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

( T S - J A N . 2 8 , 2 016)

(S G D) RO B E R TO J. D E L A C R U Z C h a i r m a n - B AC

estate, sugar sacks manufacturing and packaging, and golf course and restaurant operations. It is primarily owned by LT Group Inc. and Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd. Aside from banking and real estate, the Gotianun Group is engaged in the sugar milling business under unit Pacific Sugar Holdings Corp. Pacific Sugar owns three Mindanao-based sugar companies, namely Davao Sugar Central Co., Cotabato Sugar Central Co. and High Yield Sugar Farms Corp. Victorias Milling earlier allotted P500 million to implement a share buyback program in a bid to improve shareholders’ value. First Pacific initially acquired a 5.78-percent interest in Victorias Milling. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate as of end-December 2014 held 16.8 percent of Victorias Milling, entitling it to one board seat.

Meralco proposes savings program By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co. plans to enjoin 2,000 small and medium businesses to participate in an initiative that will manage their electricity consumption and avail of special rates under a peak/off peak program to save up to 37 percent of cost. Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, is offering its Meralco Biz Partners initiative to SMEs to maximize their business potential through the more efficient use of energy. Meralco assistant vice president and head of Meralco Biz Partners Ma. Cecilia Domingo told reporters the comRepublic of the Philippines pany was offering SMEs with a monthly conProvince of Bataan sumption of 5 kilowatts City of Balanga to 499 kilowatts ways to BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE make their business operations more efficient INVITATION TO BID and profitable. NO. INFRA -012-2016 “We believe that Meralco’s business will 12 The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Special Educational Fund intends to grow if our customers’ apply the below listed project w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. business will grow as well. If they grow, their Name of Project Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC) consumption will also 1. Construction of Two (2) Storey Four (4) go up,” Domingo said. Classroom School Building, Facundo =P=5,549,969.73 Angeles Memorial Elementary School, She said Meralco was Barangay Sabang, Morong, Bataan helping businesses cope The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Projects. Completion with the high cost of of works is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have electricity that had afcompleted, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions fected their competito Bidders. tiveness. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “The usual complain pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act is the [high] price of 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. electricity but.... only Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for 10 or 15 percent of the eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, price of electricity goes otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. to Meralco. This is our Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards way of helping businessCommittee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office. es become efficient and Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable profitable so they can amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below. expand,” Domingo said. Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents Under the Meralco Approved Budget for the Contract (in Philippine Peso) Biz Partners offering, 500,000 and below 500.00 businesses will learn More than 500,000 up to 1 Million 1,000.00 more about using inMore than 1 Million up to 5 Million 5,000.00 novative technology More than 5 Million up to 10 Million 10,000.00 to reduce power cost. More than 10 Million up to 50 Million 25,000.00 The use of BBZ freezMore than 50 Million up to 500 Million 50,000.00 ers for restaurants, for More than 500 Million 75,000.00 instance, could increase The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 03, 2016 at sales by as much as 30 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. percent, while spending only P33 per day on Bids must be delivered on or before February 16, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security electricity. in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Meralco said using Declaration in standard form. induction heat cookers Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend would also result in savopening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted. ings as it cost P18.42 per In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically hour to operate comreset on the next working days. pared with P47.05 per Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan hour using LPG. Activities Schedule By enrolling in Meralco’s peak/off peak 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid January 27 – February 02, 2016 2. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids program and shifting 3. Issuance and availability of operating hours to offBidding Documents January 27 – February 16, 2016 4. Request for Clarification February 05, 2016 peak hours from 9 p.m. 5. Opening of Bids February 16, 2016 to 8 a.m., companies can save up to 37 percent. The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby Domingo said around incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. 80,000 customers withFor further information, please refer to: in Meralco’s franchise area, like restaurants, Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan boutique hotels, farms, Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, manufacturing plants Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 and commercial buildbac@bataan.gov.ph ings, could avail of (SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON Meralco’s energy manBAC Chairman agement offerings. (TS-JAN. 28, 2016)

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

In Kabul, residents warm to fast food KABULâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;When the first Lazeez food truck arrived in Kabul many mistook it for a rickshaw and wanted to hail a rideâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the yellow chassis and three wheels so reminiscent of the taxis popular in South Asia. But it took little time for the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emerging middle class to embrace the novelty of canteens-on-wheels serving Western fast foods around town. Parked on one of the capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest roads, Obaidullahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truckâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; emblazoned with a giant hot dog, and the Lazeez logoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is unmissable. He serves a handful of customers, who are seemingly undeterred by the roadside pollution and bullish about the sourcing and sanitation of the meat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Us Afghans are immune to all sorts of illnesses,â&#x20AC;? jokes Mohammed, an oral hygiene student buying a quick burger. Food hygiene is terrible in Afghanistan, with 60 children out of 1,000 dying from diarrhoea before the age of five, according to the French NGO Acted. So for Naveed Noori, who founded Lazeez with his cousin Abdullah Karim, finding meat without breaking the cold chainâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the series of transportation and storage options that maintain a given temperatureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is a challenge. Naveed buys his hot dogs frozen from Karachi, the Pakistani port megacity located 1,400 kilometers from Kabul. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to pay attention to the conditions of the journey to be sure everything is going well, otherwise our cargo rots,â&#x20AC;? says the 26year old entrepreneur. For now, Naveed has found a successful route: Mohammed says his burger tastes just fine, as does the hot dog he also purchased, even if the fare is a long way from the tempting morsels available from food trucks in Paris or New York. It has been a year and a half since the six food trucks emblazoned with the Lazeez logoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;meaning â&#x20AC;&#x153;deliciousâ&#x20AC;? in Dari, one of Afghanistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two national languagesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;began crisscrossing the streets of Kabul. AFP

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N. Korea a threat to worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BEIJINGâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Nuclear-armed North Korea poses an â&#x20AC;&#x153;overt threat, a declared threat to the worldâ&#x20AC;?, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Beijing Wednesday after the talks with his Chinese counterpart following Pyongyangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth nuclear test earlier this month.

Present. Adult ďŹ lm actress Aria Alexander attends the 2016 Adult Video News Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on January 23, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The United States will do what is necessary to protect our country and our friends and allies in the world,â&#x20AC;? Kerry added at a joint press conference with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. A US official said earlier the issue would be at the top of Kerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agenda in his talks with Wang, adding: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Secretary has made no secret... of his conviction that there is much more that China can do by way of applying leverage [on Pyongyang].â&#x20AC;? China is North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief diplomatic protector and economic benefactor, but those ties have become strained in recent years as Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patience wears thin with Pyongyangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unwillingness to rein in its nuclear weapons ambitions. After the latest test on January 6â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which Pyongyang said was a miniaturized hydrogen bomb, a claim largely dismissed by expertsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;China said it â&#x20AC;&#x153;firmly opposesâ&#x20AC;? the Northâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions and summoned its

diplomats for â&#x20AC;&#x153;solemn representationsâ&#x20AC;?. Nevertheless, the Asian power has proven reluctant to follow Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead on the issue and no substantive actions towards the North have been announced. Kerry said the two powers both of them permanent members of the UN Security Council had agreed to mount an â&#x20AC;&#x153;accelerated effortâ&#x20AC;? to reach an agreement on a new United Nations resolution on the issue. But Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ties with Pyongyang were forged in the blood of the Korean War and analysts say its leverage is mitigated by its overriding fear of a North Korean collapse and the prospect of a reunified, US-allied Korea directly on its border. Earlier, as the two diplomats met, Wang welcomed the fact that Kerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trip had taken in a number of Asian countries, saying visiting them could help him understand the continent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It can help you listen to voices more objectively,â&#x20AC;? he added. As Kerry arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, the state-run China Daily ran an article headlined: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Experts have low hopes for Kerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s China trip.â&#x20AC;? Before Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting, the official news agency Xinhua issued a commentary blaming the USâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;uncompromising hostilityâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cold War mentalityâ&#x20AC;? for the situation on the Korean peninsula. Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions, such as flying a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber close to the inter-Korean border, were heightening the Northâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;sense of insecurity and thus pushing it towards reckless nuclear brinkmanshipâ&#x20AC;?, it added. AFP

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE-HEAD OFFICE INVITATION TO BID 1.

INVITATION TO BID FOR ONE (1) YEAR LEASE OF FIFTY (50) UNITS PRINTERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF) 1.

The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for FY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 3,500,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for One (1) Year Lease of Fifty (50) Units Printers in the Department of Finance (DOF) (the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Projectâ&#x20AC;?). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for One (1) Year Lease of Fifty (50) Units Printers in the Department of Finance (DOF). Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project which is equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC for 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 non-discretionary â&#x20AC;&#x153;pass/failâ&#x20AC;? criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (R-IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Government Procurement Reform Actâ&#x20AC;?. However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. 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 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder requirement: Name of Requirement/Brief Description

Approved Budget for the Contract (VAT inclusive)

One (1) lot Supply and Delivery of 7,308 pcs. BSP Registration Metal Plates, as per BSP Specifications

Php2,850,120.00

Delivery Period: As stated under Clause 34.2 of the Bid Data Sheet 2.

Bidders should have completed from Y2011 to present a contract similar to the requirement. The Eligibility Check/Screening and Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary â&#x20AC;&#x153;pass/failâ&#x20AC;? criteria.

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.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on January 28, 2016 from the BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo Sr., Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000.00).

All particulars and activities relative to Eligibility of Bidders, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-bid Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Postqualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by Republic Act No. 9184 and its revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Activities

Schedule

Venue Procurement Office, Room 212, 2/F, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila Tel. / Fax Nos. 708-7118/3062567; 708-7115

Issuance of Bid Documents

Starting 28 January 2016 (from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. only)

Pre-bid Conference Opening of Bids

05 February 2016; 2:00 P.M. 17 February 2016; 2:00 P.M.

The bidding documents are posted at the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the BSP Website (www.bsp.gov. ph). Prospective bidders may download the bidding documents from any of these websites; provided that bidders shall pay a non-refundable fee of Php5,000.00 at the address above prior to, or upon submission of their bids.

The Pre-bid Conference shall be open to interested parties. However, only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the Pre-bid Conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. To ensure completeness and compliance of bids, bidders are advised to send not more than two (2) technical and/or administrative representatives who will prepare the bidding documents.

The BSP assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses incurred in the preparation of bid.

The BSP reserves the right to reject any bid, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract, annul the bidding process and reject all bids at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidders.

( T S - J A N . 2 8 , 2 016)

(SGD) SILVINA Q. MAMARIL-ROXAS Chairperson

The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids

MR2A Conference Room, 2/F, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. St. Roxas Boulevard, Manila starting January 28, 2016 during office hours.

8. 9.

SCHEDULE January 28, 2016 Starting January 28, 2016 February 4, 2016, 10:00 am February 6, 2016 (by email) February 9, 2016 February 16, 2016, 9:45 am February 16, 2016, 11:00 am

Bids must be delivered at the 7th Floor, EDPC Building cor. P. Ocampo Sr. St., Manila on or before February 16, 2016, 9:45 am. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. All the Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Instructions to Bid (ITB) Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Biddersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; representatives who choose to attend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.â&#x20AC;? The DOF reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Lilia R. Tan, Head - BAC Secretariat Department of Finance BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo, Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telephone No.: 526-8475 Telefax No.: 525-4227 Email Address: ltan@dof.gov.ph (SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and DOF-BAC Chairman

(TS-JAN. 28, 2016)

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Iran’s Rouhani heads to France ROME—Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wraps up his visit to Italy Wednesday before heading to France on the second leg of a trip, signaling the dramatic rapprochement between Tehran and the European powers since the lifting of the sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Rouhani’s visit to Paris is expected to result in the signing of important business contracts after sealing multi-billion dollar deals in Italy. A major order for 114 Airbus planes to modernize Iran Air’s aging fleet is expected to be confirmed in France, along with tie-ups with car makers Peugeot and Renault. Before heading to Paris, Rouhani will conclude his two-day trip to Rome with a visit to the Colosseum with Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini. The president is accompanied by a delegation of more than 100 ministers, officials and businessmen marking the return of Iran on the international economic stage with the lifting of sanctions after a historic deal over Tehran’s nuclear program. Rouhani, a 67-year-old former academic and diplomat who is seen as a pragmatist, was elected in 2013 on a pledge to end sanctions and improve relations with the West. The Iranian leader on Monday met with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, with whom he attended the signing of several economic agreements in the prestigious setting of the Capitole. Italian officials said contracts signed in Rome would be worth up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion), underlining the huge economic stakes involved in Iran’s reopening, particularly for Europe’s manufacturing and engineering sectors. AFP

Welcoming ceremony. French President Francois Hollande reviews a guard of honor during his official welcoming ceremony in New Delhi on January 25, 2016. After beginning a three-day visit to India in the northern city of Chandigarh on January 24, Hollande headed to the capital New Delhi to make common cause with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on issues such as combating Islamist extremists and climate change. AFP

Najib’s clearance stirs outrage KUALA LUMPUR— Malaysia’s official explanation of the $681 million that ended up in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal bank account— it was an entirely proper gift from friends—has triggered derision and fresh questions in a country already used to allegations of graft. On Tuesday, Malaysia’s Najibappointed attorney-general cleared the premier of wrongdoing in a scandal that has gripped the nation, declaring that the money was

a “personal donation” from the Saudi royal family. The announcement capped months of evasion by Najib on the source of the money and apparently laid to rest any threat of prosecution by Malaysian authorities. But Malaysia’s opposition, antigraft activists and social media users pounced on the perceived implausibility of the unexplained Saudi largesse and alleged a government whitewash. The Saudis themselves have not helped the situation, with The Wall Street Journal quoting a Saudi official saying the kingdom’s government had no knowledge of the donation, adding such a royal gift would be “unprecedented”. Senior opposition figure Lim Kit Siang called the episode a “high-

water mark” in Malaysia’s welldocumented history of government corruption and impunity. “I cannot think of another case in the nation’s history where the attorney-general’s decision... has been greeted with more skepticism, outrage and scorn,” he said. Najib, 62, has struggled to explain the mysterious payment since it was revealed last July. He at first hotly denied it, but his government later acknowledged the payment came from a thenunspecified Middle Eastern donor. The revelation was particularly explosive because Najib already faced allegations that similar amounts were missing from a state-owned company he founded, and reports of lavish spending and

possible corruption by his family, all of which are denied. The government has since detained or threatened whistle blowers, and Najib has purged his leadership of critics, including sacking a previous attorney-general who was investigating the funds. Malaysian social media roiled with derision on Wednesday. Najib’s Facebook page and other sites filled with derogatory comments as parody images circulated, including one of Najib holding up the middle finger of one hand while holding a wad of cash in the other. The paucity of detail in the explanation offered by AttorneyGeneral Mohamed Apandi Ali— who owes his job to Najib—fueled the sense of outrage.

Apandi said the $681 million came with no strings attached and that $620 million of it was later returned to the Saudis. He did not reveal the money’s purpose or say what had happened to the remaining $61 million. Transparency International’s Southeast Asia coordinator Samantha Grant said the government must address unanswered questions including, “Where did it go and why was this personal donation made?” Former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who has repeatedly demanded Najib’s resignation over the affair, poked holes in the story in a blog posting, saying that merely receiving the money “is already wrong even though it may not be criminal”. AFP

Jakarta accused of persecution

Before the meeting. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier are seen before the weekly meeting of the German cabinet at the Chancellery in Berlin on January 27, 2016. AFP

JAKARTA—Indonesia has relocated more than 1,500 members of a controversial sect from their village “for their own safety”, an official said Wednesday, but rights groups described their treatment as religious persecution. Members of the mysterious Light of Nusantara Movement— or Gafatar—have been moved from a remote communal farm in Indonesia’s half of Borneo island after a mob attack. They are now in the country’s main island of Java undergoing “rehabilitation” instruction sessions on Islam and civic duties. Meanwhile, followers of a separate minority group face ejec-

tion from their community unless they convert to mainstream Islam, according to Human Rights Watch. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, is seen as largely tolerant and pluralist. But a number of high-profile attacks against minority groups in recent years has marred this image. The controversy surrounding Gafatar, a group accused of luring followers from across Indonesia to practise a deviant blend of the Muslim faith, has captivated national attention despite its tiny following in a country of 250 million.

Last week a mob torched their village base in Kalimantan, displacing roughly 500 families— more than 1,500 people. They were evacuated by government authorities first to temporary shelters then back to Indonesia’s main island of Java, some by warship. A spokesman for President Joko Widodo said the decision was made “for their own safety” and several government departments had been instructed to handle the crisis. “We must protect our citizens regardless of their identity. They are also Indonesian citizens,” spokesman Johan Budi told AFP. AFP

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

W EL L BEING

LIFE

Yoga, AntiGravity fitness and plyometric exercises are some of the workouts you can do with the participating fitness studios

GUAVAPASS IN MANILA Perhaps most encourages people to try out different things, of you know step out of their comfort zones, and find out by now how what best works for them. much of a GuavaPass works with a team of young workout nut I men and women who all walk the talk when am. Not that I it comes to fitness. In Manila, NTC trainer am extremely Sambie Rodriguez and Mariel Bitanga head addicted to GuavaPass. They would choose the studios FINE FETTLE being inside to partner with in Metro Manila by popping BY BUBBLES PARAISO the gym 24/7, up unannounced, paying the drop in rate but I just like and trying out the workouts, checking being active. And just like some athletes I the amenities such as locker rooms, etc., know, I like trying out different workouts to see if the gym or studio is at par with just so I can “shock” my muscles every now the international standards of GuavaPass, and then and never hit a plateau. Most gyms and then invite the gym to join. For gym and yoga studios have drop in rates for people buffs who love travelling, GuavaPass also who can’t commit to a full month (or more) has partner studios in Singapore, Bangkok, of membership just yet, although sometimes Hong Kong, Dubai, Shanghai, Melbourne this option may be quite pricey. and Sydney. If you want to pre-book your This is the reason why I classes even before you got extremely excited when travel, all you need to do is I heard that GuavaPass was change the location setting launching in Manila. For of your app. just P2,999 a month, you The nice thing about can try out countless fitness GuavaPass, aside from the classes from its elite lineup fact that it is very easy to of partner studios in the use, is that if you think you’ve Metro and around Asia. found a workout or a gym Young entrepreneurs that you’re in love with and Rob Patchter and Jeff Liu want to just stick to it, you founded GuavaPass when may cancel your membership they realized that there so that you can fully commit was a market in Asia for fit to that said place already. but workout commitmentWin-win, right? phobes and travel bugs like them. They also realized that There are about 24 studios, fitness junkies can’t do just gyms, and sports facilities one workout for a whole included in the app. Here are month lest they get burnt out. the partner fitness studios Numerous people are also of GuavaPass that I frequent GuavaPass is downloadable on your scared to try out different mobile phones so you can schedules and some that I would want workouts, but GuavaPass and class availability to try soon:

Participating gyms allow to test your limits and see which workout best suits you and your lifestyle

Yoga session during the launch of GuavaPass. I taught yoga representing Beyond Yoga Serendra, one of the partner fitness studios

Beyond Yoga (Rockwell, QC, Serendra) – I teach here regularly; catch our traditional mat yoga classes to signature ones like Power Yoga, Beyond Sculpt, AntiGravity suspension fitness, Aerial Yoga and Zumba, to name a few. Our studio offers a wide variety of fitness exercises that go beyond yoga. Primal Ape CrossFit – This is the largest and best-equipped CrossFit box in the Philippines. Its primary commitment is to work with you as an individual, and to train you with the ultimate goal of making you the best athlete you can be.

specific and fitness) and physiotherapy (postsurgery rehab and strengthening) facility geared to bring anyone, whether amateur or professional, to new performance levels. Flying Trapeze Philippines – This one is exciting; it is the first and only full-size flying trapeze rig in the Philippines and one of only a few in all of Asia! Ninja Academy – This I’ve been wanting to try; it’s the first indoor parkour facility in Manila established by members of Philippine Parkour Freerunning Association or PPFA.

Saddle Row – This one is just beside our yoga studio, and is the first specialized studio that houses both group indoor cycling and indoor rowing.

For more information on GuavaPass and the complete list of facilities partnered with the app, visit www.guavapass.com. For news and updates, follow GuavaPass PH on Facebook.

Focus Athletics – Southeast Asia’s first complete performance training (sports

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bubblesparaiso.

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HOW TO DEAL WITH PREGNANCY

ne of the most exciting moments in a woman’s life is pregnancy, which can be a life-changing experience. While there is much joy and anticipation during this stage, there can also be a lot of difficult or uncomfortable moments as a woman’s body goes through a lot of changes. Women may also experience pain and strange sensations as a new life grows in their womb. Sometimes, a delicate pregnancy may also put women at risk of health issues and accidents. “Aside from having to share their nutrients with their unborn child, pregnant women are also vulnerable to many health problems as they undergo physical and physiological changes. While the health risks are unavoidable, women can make lifestyle changes to keep themselves and their babies healthy,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines. Here are a few tips to help expectant mothers not only enjoy the experience but ensure a healthy and safe pregnancy as well.

EAT A WELL-BALANCED DIET.

A lot of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and lean meat are advised, because these foods are rich in calories and essential nutrients that keep expectant moms and their babies well-nourished. Avoid foodborne diseases by preparing food properly. Also avoid commercialized food with lots of preservatives, undercooked meat and unpasteurized dairy products.

and support as expectant mothers gain weight and their bellies grow. High heels and platform shoes should be temporarily shelved to make way for comfy flats or loafers that can ease pregnancy-related foot discomfort and keep momsto-be safe from falling and hurting themselves. Wearing support stockings can also minimize foot and ankle swelling.

STOP SMOKING AND DRINKING CAFFEINATED AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

Nicotine has harmful effects on the developing fetus, which is why pregnant women are strongly advised to quit smoking. Exposure to the chemicals in coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages can also slow down their baby’s development and could sometimes result in miscarriage and preterm birth.

GET REGULAR PRENATAL CARE VISITS.

MANAGE FOOD CRAVINGS.

Some pregnant women experience cravings for certain foods as a result of the changes in their nutritional needs. Fulfilling these cravings may help them get the necessary nourishment and ensure the normal development of their baby. However, some also begin to crave for nonfood items like clay and laundry detergent for example – which could be harmful. Women who experience unusual cravings

are advised to seek help from medical experts.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

Expectant mothers should stay hydrated to support the growing life inside their womb, so drinking eight to 10 glasses of water every day is important. Water also helps prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, urinary tract and bladder infections, contractions, and premature or early labor.

STAY ACTIVE.

Exercise prevents pain, discomfort and depression. It also prepares a woman’s body for labor and delivery. However, pregnant women should consult a doctor first before engaging in any exercise, and should be watchful for any pain or discomfort.

WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES.

Maternity clothes are especially made to provide adequate comfort

It is recommended that expectant mothers get at least four prenatal care consultations throughout their pregnancy. During these visits, their health and that of their babies are closely monitored. They are also provided with essential vitamins and supplements for a healthy pregnancy. The MediCard Lifestyle Center and MediCard clinics offer consultations on obstetrics and gynecology. All medical services are also open to nonmembers. For more information, visit http://medicardphils.com.

Are you experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome? MakatiMed talks about the medical condition and how to avoid it

ave you ever experienced sitting at your desk, typing on your keyboard and then suddenly stopping as you feel your fingers going numb, with pain shooting up from your wrist? If this goes on for weeks, you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a group of symptoms that result from the

compression of a major nerve in the wrist area, says Dr. Ida S. Tacata of the Makati Medical Center’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery. This major nerve is called the median nerve, which provides feeling and movement to parts of the hand. The area in the wrist where the nerve enters is called the carpal tunnel. “We say ‘group of symptoms’ because it’s not found

consistently in all patients, but the most common and prominent is numbness of the thumb and the index and middle fingers,” the doctor explains. Different people with CTS will have different ways of expressing the sensation they are feeling. “Some patients say they’re feeling pins and needles, or that the hand feels heavy,” she says. “I had a patient who said he could feel his fingertips being burned, and one who said his fingers felt covered in soap suds.” All of these refer to the sensory function of the hand, which is affected because of the compression of the median nerve, says Dr. Tacata. People who perform repetitive and forceful motions of the hand and wrist are at risk of CTS. Another contributory factor is age and gender, with the condition more common among women and people aged 40 to 60. “It has something to do with hormonal imbalance. Pregnant women and menopausal women have the tendency to retain water,” says the doctor, adding that fluid retention can increase the pressure on the carpal tunnel and lead to CTS. People with existing medical conditions, such as diabetes and thyroid problems, should also watch out for CTS symptoms. “If you are diabetic, your tendons have the tendency to swell up. If you have a thyroid problem, you also retain fluids, and one of the areas where fluid can build up is in the wrist area,” Dr. Tacata says.

CTS can be diagnosed through a clinical diagnosis, with the doctor getting the patient’s medical history and symptoms. In some cases, the doctor can require additional tests, such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV, or simply CV). Electromyography checks the health of the hand’s muscles and nerves, while the NCV tests how fast electrical signals travel through the nerves. If CTS is diagnosed early, the patient will have time to try conservative or non-surgical treatment which is aimed at reducing pressure around the nerve. This involves splinting and ergonomic aids like a special mouse pads or activity restriction and lifestyle change to avoid force that can worsen the condition. When the nerve compression is severe, a patient may need to undergo surgery. A standard surgery lasts 30 minutes, but a patient has to wait up to four weeks before resuming simple tasks like typing, and it will take up to eight weeks before one is allowed to do more labor-intensive activities. When left untreated, CTS can lead to nerve damage. “For office workers, it is very important that you have proper positioning of the body in your workstation when you type,” she says. “Keep your wrists level – not bent upwards or downwards – to avoid injury.” Dr. Tacata says the simplest rule is: if you feel pain or numbness, stop and rest. If these sensations remain, see a doctor. “Early diagnosis is key,” she says.

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

2016 NikeWomen Victory Tour N ike continues to push for its successful NikeWomen campaign following the successful 2015 Nike Women’s Event Series that saw more than 200,000 women worldwide conquering 10k runs with some experiencing their first half marathon and the Nike+ Training Club (NTC) challenge. This year, Nike invites athletes and enthusiasts to once again be part of the said historic events. NikeWomen Week events will be taking place in select cities worldwide where Nike+ members can join the live NTC and NRC sessions with Nike Master Trainers and NRC Coaches. Last year, Manila participated in the series with The Nike Women’s 10K Run. The 2016 tour will commence in September and will happen in key cities around the world including Manila. While we wait for more details on the Nike+ Run Club Race in Manila, the tour will kick off by March in Nagoya Japan with the 10k to marathon Nike+ Run Club (NRC) Races, five-hourlong NTC Tour training experiences and NRC and NTC events. The NikeWomen Victory Tour is the largest women’s event series in the world inspired by the winged goddess of victory inspiring amateurs and athletes to push themselves and be Better For It. Each NRC Race will feature new courses and runner services such as access to NRC Coaches, bra fitting and product trialing. NTC Tour stops

NikeWomen in London, 2015

NikeWomen in Los Angeles, 2015

will feature high-energy training sessions led by Nike Master Trainers with workouts ranging from Nike+ Training Club and yoga to spinning and boxing. Other tour cities include Rio de Janeiro, Athens, Atlanta, Barcelona, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Mexico, Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, London, Taipei, Tokyo, Guangzhou, Jakarta, and Los Angeles. Registration opens January 29 for most cities. Keep up to date by visiting www.nike.com. To start your journey towards NikeWomen Week and NikeWomen Victory Tour, access the Nike+ Running App, sign up for a Nike+ Run Club and employ the NTC App.

NikeWomen in Seoul, 2015

RUNNERS GO THE EXTRA MILE ON SPOTIFY

New survey shows that over 60 percent of runners report that music helps them run faster and longer

lot of people have made it their New Year’s resolution to get into shape, and music may just be the key to help them stick to their goals. Results of a new study commissioned by Spotify reveals that over 60 percent of runners are helped by music to run faster and longer – seemingly better than a workout buddy, trainer, good weather, or the latest workout gear. The study, which was conducted among 1,500 respondents from the US and UK, reported that over 75 percent of runners rely on music for their workouts, with 88 percent of those runners reporting that music is important or vital to their run. Other key findings in the study include:

Music helps runners stay distracted (47 percent) and keep a steady pace (39 percent) Almost half (45 percent) of runners report that a great soundtrack is the best way to get through the troublesome “runner’s low” Music is cited as the top training tool for races of all lengths – from a 5K run to a marathon

•

Apparently, music does a lot in helping people pound the pavement, with high intensity exercises such as running going well with music that have faster beats and tempo. Significantly, Spotify Running’s app has a sensor that calculates the runner’s pace, which then serves up a non-stop mix of tracks that match one’s tempo and musical taste. Since its launch in May last year, Spotify Running users have listened to over five million hours of music and covered over 34.5 million miles, which is like running around the world 1,386 times. According to Spotify, the world’s most-streamed running songs of 2015 are “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce leading the pack, followed closely by “Chandelier” by Sia and “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson. In fact, seven of the 10 top tracks come from female artists, ranging from current chart toppers to Missy Elliott and TLC. Runners may also want to check out Spotify Running Originals from Tiêsto, Ellie Goulding and Oliver Heldens as these exclusive tracks are designed specifically for running and can be adjusted to match a runner’s tempo and speed. For more on Spotify, check out www.spotify.com.

T H U R S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

A product that promises a kilo off your weight

here are so many products now out in the market that promise slimming and weight loss that more often than not cause harmful effects to your body. Now comes another product that promises a kilo (or more) off your weight – sans harmful side effects. Manufactured by Laboratories Vitarmonyl and exclusively distributed in Watsons, the product is now available in the Philippines. “The good thing about this product is that we are a pharmaceutical company, we really look for quality products, the ingredients are natural and the products are formulated at physiological dose so we respect the body metabolism as well,” explains Chadie Karbaschian, area sales manager of Kilo Off. “The way we are promoting Kilo Off is to show consumers that you can slim in the healthy way and safe way because there are no side effects.” Kilo Off is a line of all-natural weight loss drinks made in France that promises consumers safe weight loss, curbed food cravings, burning of fats, loss of excess water and toxins, support in healthy weight

For better weight loss, it's always a must to have a regular exercise and eat a healthier diet

Kilo Off Powder Drink and Kilo Off 24 Capsule

Stand-up comedienne, actress and TV host Giselle Sanchez, executive director of Pavo Allure International Zerline Chan Ortiz-Luis, Kilo Off area sales manager Chadie Karbaschian, and CEO of Pavo Allure International Ramon Ortiz-Luis during the launch of Kilo Off

maintenance, and what most would aspire to have – a flatter stomach. All it takes is a 20-day program with the supplement and consumers can lose an average of 1.8 kilos, while some can lose up to five kilos. “Healthy diet and exercise should be part of a full weight loss program but if you have no time for exercise Kilo Off is the answer for that,” says Karbaschian. The product has been in circulation worldwide and the Philippines is not the first in Asia as it is already being embraced in Singapore and Hong Kong where the product actually won in the Watsons Health Beauty and Wellness Awards. “I have used the products myself, and I’m quite happy with them; the flavors are really nice and I was impressed with the results that I actually asked my husband to go through one of the programs,” shares Karbaschian. “He was happy, he tried the 4-in-1 because it reduces cravings and that worked on him.”

Kilo Off Liquid Drink for burning fat and water retention

There are four variants that target the specific needs of a consumer. “It depends on what your goal will be. If your goal is to get an overall slimming program, you can have the Kilo Off 4-in1. It helps with your digestion and helps keep a flat stomach, and drains water retention,” explains Karbaschian.“Now if you are just looking for a flat stomach, Kilo Off Liquid Drink is the answer for that. If you want a 24hour effect then there’s Kilo Off 24 Capsule.” The variants also come in different presentations – sachets, capsules, and beverage, so it also depends on how the consumer wants to take the slimming product. This year as you prep up for your sexy bikini body for the summer, get all the help you can get by trying this new product. But like anything, you need to keep a balanced diet to achieve your fitness goals. Don’t go binging on alcohol and junk food and then take this product and complain that it doesn’t work, because honey, the problem might

Kilo Off Liquid Drink for aiding in digestion

just be your diet. And if you’re currently undergoing a certain diet, the brand recommends having a close follow up with your dietician before you take Kilo Off. Follow Kilo Off Philippines on Facebook at Kilo Off.Ph and follow them @kilo_off on Instagram, for updates and to see real life people enjoying the product check the hashtag #KiloOff.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR PH TO BAN THOSE BEADS! Human Nature’s 100%Natural Vanilla Exfoliating Bar with Loofah Exfoliants (P84.75, 120g)

Human Nature’s 100% Natural Purifying Facial Scrub (P99.75, 50g)

y now we hope you’ve seen videos, or read articles on social media regarding plastic microbeads polluting our lakes and oceans. If you have, then we sure hope you’ve restocked your toiletries with products that do not contain these harmful plastics. If you’re one of the many who is still unaware about microbeads and how it affects our waters, then let’s give you a little 101. What exactly are microbeads? These are tiny plastic beads smaller than one millimeter that go to so many of your beauty products – scrubs, soaps, body wash, and toothpaste. Companies put these in their products with the promise of exfoliation and cleaning. These microbeads are designed to actually pass through the drains and the problem lies when water sanitation facilities can’t even gather these waste because they are so tiny, they pass through anything, eventually ending up in rivers and other bodies of water. You’ve probably used products that have microbeads in your daily regimen, not knowing that these beads are made from plastic. So why should you be alarmed? If they’re good for your beauty regimen, then who cares, right? Ever wonder what happens to those microbeads that go through the waters? They are so tiny that fish actually get to eat them as they are the same size as the food of

fish and other sea creatures. Now what happens to the fish? Did you have one for dinner last night? Get the picture? Studies show that in the US alone, more than eight trillion microbeads seep into aquatic habitats everyday. This has prompted President Barack Obama to recently sign a bill to ban the tiny particles from personal care products, and thankfully by 2017, they will already be banned in the US. Last year, a new report on plastic pollution by international group Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment named our country as the third world’s biggest contributor of plastic pollution. And that’s just the leakage of plastic waste collected by our regular basureros that ended up in leaking dump sites. This percentage doesn’t even include the microbeads we regularly dump in our waterways. The thing is, there are so many products available over the counter that have natural exfoliants and are actually biodegradable. From high-end luxury brands to local brands, there are already a lot of choices. The change just has to start from you, the consumer. One of the largest brands of genuinely natural, affordable personal care, cosmetics and home care products is Human Nature,

100 percent made in the Philippines and 100 percent free Scrub without the guilt by from harmful switching to scrubs that use c h e m i c a l s . nature’s best exfoliants The company produces products that are pro-poor and best of all, pro-environment. Recently, it launched products that have the same qualities as mircobeads but don’t cause harm to our waters. The best part is that the products are so affordable and work better than the plastic counterpart. On your grocery, opt to choose 50g Human Nature’s 100% Natural Purifying Facial Scrub, which only costs P99.75; Human Nature’s 100% Natural Detoxifying Mask + Scrub for only P249.75 (100g), and Human Nature’s 100% Natural Vanilla Exfoliating Bar with Loofah Exfoliants that only costs P84.75. These products all contain natural acting beads made with seeds and fine bamboo granules. They smell good, act well for your skin, don’t burn a hole in your wallet and do not harm the environment. To learn more about Human Nature and its advocacies, log on to www.humanheartnature.com.

T HUR S DAY : JA NUA RY 2 8, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

‘DeaDpool’ sCreens in Cinemas

Asia's Nightingale stages a two-night concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resort’s World

CatCh the love with lani MisaluCha e xpect a memorable Valentine’s Day with Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha. She is featured in two special nights in Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resort’s World. Love Catcher is how the show is called and it highlights the musical direction of Mel Villena, while Frank Lloyd Mamaril is the concert director. Lani will perform classy, timeless and soothing love songs that can make everyone in the audience fall in love. “I’m very excited with this concert because the songs that I’ll be singing are very well thought of. They will also see the versatility in me,” Lani says. Joining Lani are the living gems of the music industry, the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Other performers include songwriter and singer Edward Benosa and the proudly Cebuano Baihana Trio -- Krina Cayabyab, Mel Torre and Anna Achacoso. “I also have talented guests that will allow the people to appreciate the nuances of all the songs. Love will be in the air talaga during these two nights,” the Asia’s Nightingale adds. Love Catcher is for the benefit of the Cancer Alleviation Network on Care, Education & Rehabilitation. For tickets and other information, call Ticketworld at 891-99-99 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Krina Cayabyab, Mel Torre and Anna Achacoso collectively known as Cebuano Baihana Trio

The Philippine Madrigal Singers

Balladeer Edward Benosa

20TH Century Fox’s recent reveal of Deadpool’s redband trailer was eventually followed by a special advanced screening in New York and Los Angeles, though the studio showed an unfinished version of the movie, the fans’ reactions as reported in Screenrant were overwhelmingly positive. The ones who got to screen it first are vouching that the studio, Tim Miller and Ryan Reynolds did right about it this time, even saying that this is the best comic movie ever in the Marvel universe! Tweets had gone viral describing the movie (rough cut) as being “phenomenal, great job, my favorite Marvel movies of all time, outstanding and the best Deadpool tells the story of Wade Wilson (Reynolds), whose terminal cancer is ‘cured’ by the same Weapon X program that created Wolverine, leaving him permanently disfigured, but impervious to pain and able to regenerate from his wounds. Directed by Tim Miller, Deadpool, adapted from the Marvel Comics character created in 1991 by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld. The cure leaves him permanently disfigured, but impervious to pain and able to regenerate from his wounds. Dubbed “The Merc with a Mouth”, Deadpool is a pop culture-literate antihero unique amongst comic book characters in that he can break the fourth wall and flip superhero conventions on their head. On the movie’s action, Lucas Siegel from Comicbook. com shares, “The violence is definitely crazy, definitely over-the-top, and definitely gory. But it’s also well choreographed, and some of these action sequences are so quick and stunning, you can’t blink for minutes at a time, for fear of missing the next unbelievable stunt. It’s a blast to watch, and impressive – it ramps up nicely, as well, from a familiar opening sequence to the explosive finale.” Siegel further injects, “This is a fun movie, and it just feels oh so Deadpool. Rarely have I seen a comic book movie not just capture a character so well, but add to it, as well. Deadpool simply what fans have been dying for, and it’s clear in every moment that it was made by hardcore fans, too. Deadpool arrives Feb.10 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Check out Deadpool’s redband trailer here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=bKOOehQecp8

T HUR S DAY : JA NUA RY 2 8, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

CNN ‘ON ChiNa’ disCusses TaiwaN-BeijiNg relaTiONship

GOInG CRaZy OvER MaDOnna In ManILa?

ess than a month from now, Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour in Manila will take the Philippine music scene by storm as the SM Mall of Asia Arena is expected to house a two-day concert that will go down in music history. Madonna fans all over the country are beyond excited and feeling ecstatic as the Queen of Pop is expected to bring her mighty all in terms of singing prowess and overall stage performance. Got your tickets to the show already? Don’t fret if you are still on the lookout for those precious tickets. Globe Telecom, the exclusive presenter of the tour’s Manila leg, is bringing back the second installment of its Rebel Heart Tour Raffle Promo. which will give you the chance to win free passes to the concert. After the success of the first Rebel Heart Tour Raffle Promo, which brought two lucky Globe customers to Los Angeles, California for an all-expense paid trip to catch Madonna on stage, Globe recently announced the second round of the raffle which gives any Globe Prepaid, TM,

Postpaid, Platinum, and Tattoo customers a chance to win tickets to Madonna’s concert in Manila. To earn raffle entries, simply register to GoSURF30 and up, apply for a Tattoo Home Broadband

Here’s your last chance to see the Queen of Pop in Manila for free when you subscribe to GoSURF, Tattoo Home Broadband Plan or Madonna ringback tones with the Globe RebelHeart Tour Raffle Promo Plan 999 and up, or download a Madonna ringback tone from January 1 to 31, 2016. To register to the raffle, text MADONNA REG <Name>/<Address>/<Email>/<Age>/<Gender> to 2662.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 45 47 50 51 52 53 56 57 59 61 62 63 64 65 66

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Whodunit terrier 5 Kind of jockey 9 Thug, slangily 13 Jingle 15 Great Lakes state 16 Woody’s son 17 Ocean, in Mongolian 18 Crocus “bulb” 19 Quartet member 20 Pfc.’s superior 21 Object on radar 23 Crocheted item (var.)

25 Farm newborn 26 Poor, as soil 27 Dead end 30 Cannes summer 31 Snare 32 Jam ‘em up? 37 Was, to Ovid 38 Spiral-horned antelope 40 Banshees do it 41 Beer glass 43 George of “Blume in Love” 44 MTV hosts

Rest on one’s — Movie walk-ons Chows down Zodiac sign Island near Kauai Trim a doily TV genie portrayer Year-end libations Itinerary Pull to pieces Blunted sword Put in a log Whirlpool Moose or elk Fish for salads

DOWN 1 “Back in Black” rockers 2 Give a high-five 3 Box for cash 4 Literary compilation 5 Submissive 6 Flapjack chain 7 Polite word 8 Fought against 9 Eva or Zsa Zsa 10 Hold the floor 11 Folger’s Mrs. 12 Muzzle 14 Put the — on 22 “Deck the Halls” refrains

Platinum and Tattoo Home Broadband customers are automatically registered to the raffle. Draw date is on Feb. 5. Twenty four lucky winners will get the chance to see the Queen of Pop perform live in Manila. “In a few weeks, the RebelHeart Tour lands on Philippine shores and Globe is here to give lucky Globe and Tattoo customers a once in a lifetime concert experience with the second installment of our Rebel Heart Tour Raffle Promo. Music is an integral part of the Filipino digital lifestyle and we wish to make the experience wonderful each time,” shares Globe Telecom Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Marketing Issa Cabreira. For more details on how you can earn raffle entries, visit www. globe.com.ph/BeOneWithMadonnaRaffle. Tickets for Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour on Feb. 24 and 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena are on sale now in all SM Ticket Outlets, smtickets.com or call 470-2222. Exclusive ticket deals also await Globe customers. Visit www. globe.com.ph/BeOnewithMadonna to learn more.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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Galena et al Ipso — Swiss capital Readies champagne Cleopatra’s wooer Pharaoh’s creator god Golfer’s benchmark Big pitchers Fury Perfume bottle Building wings Commanded Not so much Pizzeria’s need Fix a gash Auto dealer, at times Contented sigh Yielded territory Improve upon Mork’s mate “Breathless” star Curved molding “Nutcracker” costume — — foot pole Trillion, in combos Unlatch, to a bard Ottawa’s prov.

t’s a new era for Taiwan after a landslide victory for Tsai Ing-wen, its first female president. And now, the hard work begins. Tsai faces a stagnating economy, a complicated relationship with Beijing, and a generation of young political activists empowered by the “Sunflower Movement”. Tsai’s Party has traditionally leaned in favor of independence, a highly contentious issue. Plus, China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that could be taken back, by force, if necessary. So what does the

election mean for Taiwan, its people and its relations with Beijing? In this month’s On China, CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout travels to Taipei to explore these issues with “Sunflower Movement” student activist Lin Fei-Fan, Taiwan-based journalist and author J.Michael Cole and former Taipei City Government Spokesperson Yu Tzu-hsiang. CNN On China airs on Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with replays until Feb 22. Check CNN International schedule for dates and time.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout reporting from Taipei

Kristie Lu Stout, J.Michael Cole, Lin Fei-Fan and Yu Tzu-hsiang

T HUR S DAY : JA NUA RY 2 8, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

REtroSPECT members Ogie, Em-J, J. Martin, Goldie, and Teejay

RetRosPeCt Comes home foR Reunion ConCeRt from C8

emember those vintage clothing, shoes, hair, fashion, and music from the 70s, 80s, 90s up to 2000? Then you must remember as well the only retro pop music authority in the country – REtroSPECT. The guys are back and will hit your new year with a grand musical reunion billed as RetroWorld REtroSPECT Reunion Concert Tour 2016. The grand concert tour will be tomorrow at the Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan with the grand party starting The hip band is composed of J. Martin, a resident of Guam USA, Em-J who now livesin Naples Italy, Ogie and Teejay, still living in Manila and Goldie who has chosen Vancouver Canada as her residence. The group was hailed in 23rd ALIW Awards as Best Group Performer (Hall of Fame Awardee) and Certified by American Federation of Musicians (AFM) of USA and Canada as Internationally-Renowned Retro Pop Group. But the reunion concert in the Philippines doesn’t stop there. REtroSPECT will also be having their world tour. They will also be invading USA, Canada, Europe, UK and UAE in the next coming months.

90s band REtroSPECT members reunite for a concert tour

Cinema One Originals extends deadline

“We decided to have a reunion concert tour to celebrate our 18th year in the music industry and as our little way of thanksgiving,” said J. Martin, the bandleader. They are donating part of the concert tour’s proceeds to ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Bata International to help abused children, and those badly hit by calamities and life adversities. Retrospect is also into medical missions, community outreach programs and aims to give these less privileged children scholarships and livelihood programs. During the concert, Retrospect will pay tribute to the music icons- Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Bonnie Tyler, Boy George and the band’s signature retro covers including their original hits in the past like “Shake Your Booty”, “Bakit Nga Ba?,” “It’s Party Time,” “Chika Doo,” “Getaway,” and “Who Will” among others. They will also keep the crowd partying with their revival hits like “Hot Stuff,” “Play That Funky Music”, “Reunited” along with OPM hits like “ ‘Pag Tumatagal Lalong Tumitibay” and “Hagkan.” For tickets of the show, grab them Ticketworld. For more inquiries, please kindly e-mail retrospectedm@gmail.com or jaroproductions@yahoo.com The event is presented by Jaro Productions and Music Museum in cooperation with Godspeed Music, Rhythm Nation International, ABS-CBN Foundation International and Bantay Bata, Shakey’s Pizza Restaurant, National Office Supply Guam, Gold’s Gym, 357 Boracay and Megamixx 101.9 Guam, USA.

inema One Originals is extending its call for entries until Feb. 26 and is now offering a staggering P3 million budget each to deserving finalists. The P3 million stake is the highest budget to be ever given in the Philippines by any film festival organization to encourage

Paolo, James and Nadine in a scene from OTWOL

HHHHH James and Paulo showdown Continues The battle for Leah’s (Nadine Lustre) attention gets more intense. Clark (James Reid) and Simon (Paulo Avelino) continue to compete and outshine each other during Leah’s surprise birthday in the top-rating teleserye On the Wings of Love. Instead of having the spotlight on Leah during her special day, Clark and Simon attract everyone’s attention as they try to beat each other in a karaoke showdown. Clark and Simon’s rivalry even goes beyond the karaoke session when Clark sees Simon giving Leah a kiss on the cheek during the party. Thinking Simon went out of the line, Clark confronts Leah about the kiss and tells her about his gut feel that Simon fancies her. Will Simon’s birthday kiss on the cheek cause a big fight between the engaged couple? Will it lead to a series of events that will eventually tear them apart as seen on the latest On the Wings of Love teaser? The latest teaser unveiled the heart breaking future of Clark and Leah’s love story and showed tell-tale signs that the couple are living separate lives. It showcased Clark and Leah bumping into each other in the very same spot where they first met in San Francisco and their separate visits to their most cherished spots in the city where their love story all began. Where will Clark and Leah’s love story

filmmakers to submit their best stories. Seven finalists of the feature film category will receive P3 million to produce their film plus revenue share, while three finalists of the full-length documentary category will get P1.5 million to produce their film in time for the festival. To submit an entry, interested

Nadine Lustre in one of the episodes of the top-rating primetime drama

head to? Find out in On the Wings of Love, Mondays to Fridays after Pangako Sa’Yo in ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida. HHHHH toP bands at hRC Hard Rock Café (HRC) closes the month with a series of special shows featuring a sampling of the country’s hottest and most talented show bands. Dance the night away with Red Picasso tonight. Party with the unique grooves and sounds of Part 3 on Friday and Sunday, and power your Saturday evening with energypacked repertoire of Streetbeat. Certified Hard Rock-ers can come and see the show and look forward to a series of evenings jam-packed with beautiful music with these amazing show bands as they dish our live today’s hottest chart-toppers, homegrown favorites, standard classics, and the most popular party anthems from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. All shows start at 9:00 p.m. promptly.

Red Picasso performs at the Hard Rock Café

filmmakers need to download and fill out the entry form for the full length documentary film category or feature film category, which is available in Cinema One Originals’ official Facebook page. Join the growing community of movers and shakers in the film industry by becoming part of Cinema One Originals 2016. Cinema

One Originals, which is now on its 12th year, has produced a number of internationally and locally acclaimed films. Cinema One Originals is produced by Cinema One, the country’s number one cable channel. For more information, visit Cinema One Originals (facebook.com/ CinemaOneOriginals).

T HUR S DAY : JA NUA RY 2 8, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Barbie Forteza and Andre Paras topbill GMA Network's newest primetime drama That’s My Amboy

BArBie FortezA, Andre PArAs in A new roMcoM on tV ISAH V. RED After the success of the Barbie Forteza and Andre Paras tandem in the recently concluded toprating Afternoon Prime series The Half Sisters, they are back as they relive their onscreen love team as Maria Rosario “Maru” Carreon and Bryan Ford in That’s My Amboy on GMA Telebabad. The show premiered on Monday after Little Nanay on GMA Network. That’s My Amboy is a light, romantic-comedy series that will surely pull the heartstrings of the viewers and will make them feel good and ‘kilig’ every night. It is about Maru (Barbie), a simple

The “happy lang”cast of Little Nanay

yet determined girl who seeks to do her best in life, inspired by her mother’s love for her. It is also about Bryan (Andre), a young actor; TV and film’s hottest leading man, who seeks to be truly appreciated by his girl and his family. And it is about how their unusual work relationship blossomed to become a beautiful friendship and to a one great love story. In the series, Bryan is the reason why Maru’s stepfather meets an accident. To pay for the damages, Bryan’s manager hires Maru to be Bryan’s personal assistant. But the two always get on each other’s nerves. They become friends though when something happens to Bryan, and Maru is there for him. This brings them closer and eventually the two fall for each other. Can their love surpass the pressures, intrigues and challenges of show business?

Included in the cast are Tonton Gutierrez as Albert Romero, former matinee idol and a ladies’ man; John Arcilla as Joselito ‘Lito’ Tapang, the stepfather of Maru, a stunt director and a responsible and loving husband and father; Donita Rose as Cecille Carreon Tapang, a former actress and Maru’s kind and understanding mother; Kiko Estrada as Patrick Almeda, a rising star who will be Bryan’s rival in showbiz; Jazz Ocampo as Trina Dominguez, a young actress and Bryan’s secret girlfriend; Matet de Leon as Yaya Yolly, Bryan’s caring yaya and number one supporter; Meryll Soriano as Divine, Bryan’s strict yet fair and loyal manager; Maritoni Fernandez as Alice Ford, Bryan’s mother who looks down on his chosen field; and Jerald Napoles as Tope, Bryan’s driver and number two supporter.

Gabby, Carla and Rafael of Because of You

Tonton Gutierrez

Kiko Estrada

Bigger, stronger gMA teleBABAd Last Monday, GMA Telebabad unveiled a bigger and bolder primetime line up for all Kapuso viewers. After catching the latest news here and abroad on 24 Oras, Little Nanay follows with its climactic plot twists. Meanwhile, fall in love

with the newest romantic comedy series of the Kapuso network, That’s My Amboy, after and is followed by the light and heart-warming series full of good vibes on Because of You. Concluding the primetime block is the compelling story of Temptation, a Koreanovela top billed by Choi Ji Woo and Kwon Sang Woo. ➜ continued on c7

Korean drama Temptation joins GMA telebabad