The Standard - 2016 April 7 - Thursday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 54 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSDAY : APRIL 7, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Charges poised vs Noy over massacre

PLUNDER RAPS VS BONGBONG FILED By Christine F. Herrera

THE opposition on Monday assailed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for reviving 10-year-old graft cases against their supporters in vote-rich provinces, and for filing plunder raps against independent vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. so close to Election Day.

Crame rally. Militant students and workers hold a rally at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame Quezon City on Wednesday to demand justice for the farmers of Kidapawan, North Cotabato. MANNY PALMERO

UNA bets greeted by 80,000 at rally

“Of course they are using this as a weapon against me,” said Marcos, one of two frontrunners in the vice presidential race. “If they can’t win in the campaign, then they will give their opponent a problem.” “It’s sad that the entire force and machinery of the government is being used to go after the opponents of the administration,” he added. United Nationalist Alliance spokesman Mon Ilagan said the filing of charges against allies of opposition candidate for president Vice President Jejomar Binay showed the Ombudsman was overzealous in trying to damage the reputation of close Binay allies and supporters. This was part of an orchestrated effort to derail Binay’s bid, he added. The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against UNA reelectionist Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia over the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center in 2006. It also affirmed the graft case against former Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito for an insurance agreement the municipality of Pagsanjan entered into in 2008. Next page

Blockade lifted; Cotabato protesters given rice organizations intervened. “For now, there’s an agreement to pull out the police from the church,” KIDAPAWAN lifted their blockade said Manuel de Leon, president of Notre Wednesday on a Methodist Church where Dame of Kidapawan. “There will just be protesting farmers had sought refuge after a police presence to patrol the traffic on their protest was broken up violently on the highway. The KMP [The Kilusang April 1, and some of the protesters began Magbubukid ng Pilipinas] assured us returning to their homes with sacks of do- they will not go back to the streets.” nated rice after religious groups and other “Many [of the] policemen were my

By John Paolo Bencito and Christine F. Herrera

students. We said let’s talk, the problem is hunger because of the drought. That’s why we need reconciliation. Let’s not go back to the streets, let’s not waste more lives,” he added. Antonio Flores, secretary-general of the KMP, confirmed that the farmers were being allowed to return to their homes with rice donations from various groups. Next page

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China turns on lighthouse atop reef Plunder... From A1

On Tuesday, the Ombudsman announced the indictment of former Special Action Force commander and retired police General Getulio Napeñas in connection with the Mamasapano incident in January 2015. Napeñas is a senatorial candidate for UNA. Ilagan said the agenda was to derail the campaigns of Garcia and Ejercito, both active Binay supporters, in their respective vote-rich bailiwicks. Cebu has 2.7 million registered voters, while Laguna has about 1.7 million. Also on Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court, ordered the arrest of opposition Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito over the alleged anomalous procurement of high-powered guns worth P2.1 million in 2008, when he was still mayor of San Juan City. Ejercito and 14 others were accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. “That’s the problem. Everything is all about politics. Even justice is being politicized. That’s what they do. If you are not an ally, they will file charges against you. But if you are an administration ally who’s involved in an irregularity, they won’t do a thing. So it looks like we’re now a victim of this, too,” Marcos said in Filipino. Marcos said the filing of charges one month before the elections and at the

Blockade... From A1

Last week, the farmers blocked the Davao-Cotabato highway for four days to dramatize their plight after five months of drought, and to prod the government into helping them. Police broke up the protest violently on Friday, leaving two farmers (not three as originally reported) dead by gunshot wound. Kidapawan Mayor Joseph Evangelista, who had ordered the dispersal, was against the idea of letting the farmers in the Methodist Church go home, saying they needed to identify and arrest the leaders of the protest. He also said not all of the protesters were farmers. “They committed a crime, we should prosecute them. They cannot just go out of the Methodist center and walk scot-free. They have a responsibility to account for [what happened,]” Evangelista said in an earlier interview. On Wednesday, the National Anti-Poverty Commission slammed various agencies for playing the blame game in the aftermath of the Kidapawan deaths, and said the government failed to protect North Cotabato residents from El Niño and climate change. “Blood is already on the hands of the government agencies who failed to deliver immediate relief to the people of North Cotabato. If they do not act now, and justice is not served, more blood will be spilled from a nation they failed to protect against El Niño and climate change,” NAPC Vice Chairperson for the Basic Sectors Ruperto Aleroza, said in a statement. “The Kidapawan demonstration reflects the magnitude of the El Niño crisis. Urgent adaptation efforts at both national and local levels are necessary to cushion the adverse impacts affecting thousands of hectares of farmlands in Mindanao and other parts of the country. “Officials continue to defend their use of lethal force to break up the violent protests, blaming the carnage that killed three people on communist insurgents.” Aleroza said that irregardless of political color, the local government should not have gone overboard in quelling the farmer’s blockade at a major highway.

height of the campaign season was another way to derail his bid for the vice presidency. Ilagan questioned the Ombudsman’s timing. “These cases are about 10 years old, and suddenly they will revive them? It’s quite sad that the Office of the Ombdusman allows itself to be used as a tool by the administration to harass the political opposition,” Ilagan said. “It has also become a willing accomplice to the administration party’s propaganda machine.” Ilagan said UNA expected the Ombudsman to move, not only against Binay but at other members of the opposition, particularly those who have a strong influence on local politics. “What Ombudsman Morales-Carpio is doing is to file charges left and right against our allies, but staying away from any allies of the Liberal Party,” Ilagan said. Up to this day, he said, the Ombudsman has not filed a single case against LP stalwarts who were involved in the illegal Disbursement Acceleration Program like Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and allies of the administration involved in the Napoles pork barrel scam and the P32-billion Malampaya Fund scam. “We know we can never expect any fairness or impartiality from this administration. Despite the harassment on the ground and in the courts, we remain committed and dedicated in getting our message on poverty through. Our focus is to help the poor and address the issue of poverty deci-

sively,” Ilagan said. Marcos said the case against him was old. He said alleged PDAF scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles even cleared Marcos in a judicial affidavit submitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Marcos said the Ombudsman’s action show the kind of system he wants to change by bringing back meritocracy in government. “We have to remember that it is important that government is based on merit, not on politics,” he said. The Palace denied any involvement in the Ombudsman’s actions. “The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body, and its findings from the investigation that it conducted form part of the legal and public accountability processes... In all these processes, it is our people’s expectation that truth and justice will prevail,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. Earlier, a group calling itself iBalik ang Bilyones ng Mamamayan (iBBM), accused Marcos of channeling P205 million of his pork barrel fund to fake Napoles-linked foundations in 2011 to 2013. They stormed the Ombudsman’s central office in Quezon City and staged a protest before they filed their complaint. The protesters wore red bow ties, alluding to Marcos’ attire during yacht parties in the Martial Law years. With Vito Barcelo, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

“The violent dispersal of hungry farmers seeking the release of 15,000 sacks of rice and food subsidies was a violation of the protesters’ right to food and peaceful assembly. Provoked or not, the demonstration was a legitimate form of action. Regardless of the rallyists’ affiliations, the use of fire arms by the local police is unnecessary. Regardless of the political motivations of the protestors, the use of bullets is intolerable,” he added. The NAPC executive added that the demonstrations only reflect the “magnitude of the El Niño crisis” and the government’s lack of commitment to agriculture. An independent investigation organized by the human rights group Karapatan and the KMP said the economic problems of the farmers in the region were realities the local and national government neglected to address. “There is no denying... the extent of the damage caused by the drought, and the untold suffering and hunger brought to the affected farmers. These expose the lies being peddled by the government belittling the effect of the drought in the farmlands to this date,” the national fact-finding mission said. At a press briefing in Kidapawan City, the mission said farmers Arnel Takyawan and Loreto Lizardo, who were part of the highway protest, had seen a police sniper allegedly positioned on top of the fire truck firing towards the direction of the protesters. The fact-finding mission added that there were two farmers who died from the bloody dispersal, contrary to earlier reports that there were three who were killed. Flores told The Standard that they were questioning the death certificate of one of the fatalities, which said the farmer died from injuries. The groups said they have talked with witnesses who said that the farmer was shot. The probe added that 10 individuals that were wounded from the police shooting spree remain confined in hospitals in Kidapawan, while at least 70 individuals were illegally arrested and are currently detained at the Kidapawan City Gym and Kidapawan Convention Center for charges of direct assault, including some bystanders. Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan and head of the mission, said that President Benigno

Aquino III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala were also responsible for the bloody outcome of the protest. “The truth of the matter is clear: the government, after a year of first recognizing the drought threat, failed to provide aid, and killed those who dare decry it,” Palabay said. “By sheer ineptitude, Alcala has failed to remedy the problems brought by the drought, thus pushing the people to extralegal measures,” she added. Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Public Safety Peter Irving Corvera in Manila vowed a thorough investigation of the violent dispersal of the farmers’ protest last week. But the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan dismissed the DILG probe, saying it was “devoid of any credibility” after the department handed out medals to the police involved on day after the bloody dispersal. “How in the world do we expect the PNP to investigate itself?” said Renato Reyes, Bayan secretary-general. “The PNP officials involved were not even relieved immediately after the incident. They were allowed to continue harassing the farmers several days later. They are suspected of planting evidence on a dead protester. This early on, there are already clear signs of a cover-up,” he added. Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of People’s Lawyers agreed that “no credible probe can come from the government” as the police “have already destroyed the crime scene using a bulldozer.” He also accused the police of burning evidence recovered at the crime scene to evade liability. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate justice and human rights committee, said they want to know how the protests turned bloody on Friday as the Senate investiation into the Kidapawan incident begins in Davao City. “Farmers in Kidapawan and North Cotabato are hungry because their lands are not productive. They’re not even asking for ‘ulam,’ just rice,” Pimentel said in a television interview over ANC. “We want to find out why it turned bloody when farmers were only asking for rice,” he added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, Sandy Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

BEIJING—China has expanded its presence in the contested South China Sea by switching on a lighthouse atop a reconstructed reef also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines, state media said. The 55-meter-high (180-foot) facility on Subi Reef in the Spratly chain contains technology to monitor passing ships, the official Xinhua news agency reported late Tuesday. China claims virtually all the South China Sea despite conflicting claims by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines. It has constructed artificial islands in the area in recent months as it asserts its claims. China has turned Subi Reef—known as Kagitingan Reef in the Philippines—into an artificial island in the past year, satellite photos have shown, reclaiming nearly 400 hectares of land. The island-building has been condemned by neighbors and the United States, but Beijing insists it is aimed at helping with maritime search and rescue. Chinese transport officials held a ceremony on Subi on Tuesday, Xinhua said. Pictures showed men in white shirts beside the towering structure next to a sign reading “Lights-on ceremony.” Washington regularly accuses Beijing—which says it has built runways and deployed unspecified weapons to the islands—of militarizing the area. Beijing denies the accusations and says US patrols have ramped up tensions. Citing an obligation to uphold freedom of navigation, Washington last year sent the USS Lassen to sail past Subi Reef, a move which angered Beijing. Xinhua reported last year that China would build two 50-meter-tall lighthouses on the Cuarteron and Johnson South reefs in the Spratly islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines. The state-run China Daily newspaper reported in 2014 that Beijing would build five new lighthouses in the South China Sea’s Paracels chain. On Monday, US and Philippine troops began major exercises on Monday as China’s state media warned “outsiders” against interfering in tense South China Sea territorial disputes. The official Xinhua news agency gave the warning as Manila and Washington launched the 11-day Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) exercises with a low-key opening ceremony in Manila. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter is to fly to the Philippines next week to observe live-firing of artillery and visit US Navy ships taking part. Some 5,000 US troops are taking part along with nearly 4,000 Philippine soldiers and 80 from Australia. “The... exercises caps Manila’s recent attempts to involve outsiders in [a] regional row,” China’s official news agency Xinhua said in a commentary. It cited Japan, which sent a submarine on a visit to the Philippines last weekend, and Australia. “However, a provocation so fear-mongering and untimely as such is likely to boomerang on the initiators,” Xinhua added. “A big country with vital interests in Asia, the United States should first clarify the targets of its Pivot to Asia strategy, which so far has featured no more than unscrupulous inconsistency between fear-mongering deeds and peace-loving words.” The US does not take sides in the territorial disputes but has asserted the importance of keeping sea and air routes open. It has sent US bombers and warships on patrol close to the Chinese construction activity in recent months, infuriating Beijing. Lieutenant-General John Toolan, commander of US Marine Corps forces in the Pacific, told reporters in Manila the exercises would help the allies improve maritime security and maintain regional stability. “Our alliance is strong. The United States is committed to this relationship and these are not empty words.... peace in Southeast Asia depends on our cooperation,” Toolan added. The exercises come ahead of a decision this year by a United Nations-backed tribunal on a legal challenge by Manila to China’s territorial claims. The Philippines is also preparing to host US troops at five bases under a defense pact born out of US President Barack Obama’s plan to reassert American influence in the Pacific. AFP

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Poe camp says her support is growing THE results of the Laylo survey where independent presidential candidate Grace Poe is leading is an indication of the growing consolidation of support behind her candidacy, Poe’s camp said Wednesday. Her spokesman Rex Gatchalian said that, coming into the last leg of the campaign period, Poe continued to stay in front of the race. “As more and more individuals and organized groups endorse her candidacy, her platform of governance continues to gain,” Gatchalian said. “We are confident the momentum will be sustained as the election draws nearer.” Poe said she will prove that regardless of who supports her in the presidential elections, she will dispense justice to both friends and foes. The survey frontrunner said the only way to make people trust the government again was to ensure that corrupt officials, regardless of their political leanings, had no place in government. “The treatment should be equal to friends or foes, rich or poor,” Poe said. Poe is the primary sponsor of the Freedom of Information bill in the Senate, which passed in a record time of eight months but remains pending in the House of Representatives. The FOI is a vital tool in eliminating corruption and institutionalizing the citizen’s participation in keeping the government honest. Under her administration, Poe said, government officials accused of corruption in court would be immediately removed from office. She said corruption was the main reason people distrusted the government. “Kung mismong mga kaibigan mo na nasa puwesto ay hindi mo ipapakulong dahil kaibigan mo, e ‘di walang maniniwala sa ‘yo,” Poe said. The Philippines ranked 95th out of 168 countries in the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index, down 10 notches from the 2014 rankings. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Rally. Around 80,000 supporters in Maguindanao rallied Tuesday afternoon behind United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Jejomar Binay during the proclamation rally for the party’s local candidates. Binay said Mindanao will be given the attention it needs under his administration.

80,000 in Maguindanao rally behind UNA’s bets AROUND 80,000 supporters in Maguindanao rallied behind United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Jejomar Binay on Tuesday afternoon during the proclamation rally for the party’s local candidates. Binay said Mindanao will be given the attention it needs under his administration, noting the problem of poverty that, he said, has fueled unrest and uncertainty in the South. “Nararamdaman ko ang kagustuhan ninyong pagbabago na ang Mindanao naman ay kilalaning kasama ng Pilipinas,” Binay said. “Dapat bigyan ng atensyon, dapat mabigyan ng lahat ng tulong sapagka’t pare-pareho po tayong

Pilipino.” Binay was joined by UNA senatorial candidates broadcaster Rey Langit, former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas, Parañaque councilor Alma Moreno, Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram and labor lawyer Allan Montaño, as well as local candidates and allies. Binay shared the stage with several Ampatuan clan members during the party’s huge proclama-

tion rally on Tuesday afternoon. Foremost among the members of the influential political family who joined Binay on stage was former provincial vice governor Sajid Ampatuan, the youngest son of the late exgovernor and clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. Before the program was over, Sajid raised Binay’s hand in endorsing his presidential bid before some 80,000 supporters. Sajid is running for mayor in the nearby town of Shariff Aguak, which nearly seven years ago bore witness to the electionrelated killings. Like his late father Andal Sr. and brother, former Shariff

Aguak mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., Sajid was charged with 58 counts of murder in connection with the “Maguindanao Massacre.” The mayoralty candidate was allegedly among the plotters of the incident. However, Sajid was able to post a bail bond of P11.6 million or P200,000 per murder case in March 2015, thus facilitating his temporary freedom. He is the only one among the accused to do so in the six-year long trial. Andal Jr. remains incarcerated along with a hundred other defendants in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, while his father and namesake, Andal Sr., succumbed to liver cancer on July 17, 2015.

Comelec defends transfer plan

Supporter. Brian Poe, 23-year-old son of presidential candidate Grace Poe, joins his mother in the campaign trail in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu with a dance number.

THE Commission on Elections on Wednesday defended its plan to hold the National Canvassing center at The Manila Hotel, saying it would be cheaper than renting the government-owned Philippine International Convention Center. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez made the statement after critics said moving the national canvassing center from the PICC to the Manila Hotel would be expensive. “From what I know, the cost of getting the Manila Hotel Tent might actually be lower than renting the PICC,” Jimenez said. He made his statement even as Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista appealed to the public to help enfranchise more voters in this year’s elections by supporting voter education-information activities and platforms. “We are currently putting up posters that discuss steps in voting and some reminders in preparation for Election Day,” Bautista said. “We want voters to come to the Voting Centers informed because we are really intent on making the voting process convenient for everyone, especially for those

with limited mobility.” Jimenez had advised the Comelec’s critics to research first before making unfair statements against the agency. He said the Comelec plans to establish the national canvassing center not at the main hotel but at the tent outside where the media center covering the visit of Pope Francis in January 2015 was held. “It’s just that The Manila Hotel owns the tent. It’s not actually going to be done in the hotel itself. Again, this is just a proposal and there is nothing final up to this moment,” Jimenez said. Over the weekend, reports came out that Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista was looking at the possibility of transferring the national canvassing center from the PICC, where it had been held in previous elections, to the Manila Hotel. The proposal was again criticized. But Jimenez said the possibility of moving the national canvassing center was not entirely new as it had also been considered in the 2013 elections, when the SMX Convention Center was proposed as a possible venue. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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Dengue inoculation. President Benigno Aquino III, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane witness the ceremonial anti-dengue inoculation of a schoolgirl from Zambales. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

We’ll sue Aquino, youth group vows By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Kabataan party-list group on Wednesday vowed to file charges against President Benigno Aquino III “the minute he steps down from office” on June 30 to hold him accountable for the bloody Mamasapano massacre of 2015. Kabataan party-list Terry Ridon made the statement a day after the Ombudsman announced there is probable cause to charge former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and PNP Special Action Forces commander Getulio Napeñas of usurpation of authority or official functions and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. But the complaints against the other PNP officials—Fernando Mendez Jr., Noli Taliño, Richard Dela Rosa, Edgar Monsalve, Abraham Abayari, Raymund Agustin Train, Michael John Mangahis, Rey Ariño and Recaredo Marasigan— were dismissed. “We welcome the Ombudsman’s announcement, and be-

lieve that it is a step towards achieving justice for all victims of the Mamasapano debacle. However, this move is also a step too short. The president, as mastermind and overall head of the whole affair, must also be charged,” Ridon, member of the Makabayan Bloc, said. “If the Ombudsman won’t charge Aquino, the youth will take the challenge and ensure that criminal charges are ready the minute Aquino steps down from office this June,” he added. Kabataan party-list first nominee, Sarah Elago, shared Ridon’s position that the President cannot escape accountability over the botched operation that resulted in the death of 44 police commandos.

“The president has relied on his subordinates to answer questions concerning his actual role in the whole operation and shield him from accountability. However, he must not evade prosecution. The extent of his role in the botched operation should once and for all be investigated, and actual charges be filed against him,” Elago said. “Aquino and his cohorts should be held accountable for the deaths in Mamasapano. The youth is ready to hold the president accountable in all possible means, whether in court, in Congress, or the parliament of the streets. Mr. President, magsimula na po kayong magbilang ng araw dahil handa po kaming kasuhan kayo,” Elago stressed. The Ombudsman said Purisima was charged for usurping official functions and for violating the chain of command when he actively participated in the mission planning and execution of the so-called Oplan Exodus although he had already been suspended by the Ombudsman.

Account for El Niño funds, solon demands By Maricel V. Cruz AN OPPOSITION lawmaker on Wednesday demanded the Aquino administration account for the billions of pesos in calamity funds that was allocated for Cotabato province to aid farmers and help them cope with the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said the province of Cotabato has been allocated at least P321 million in calamity funds for 2016 and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (LDRRMF), which consists of not less than five percent of its Internal Revenue Allotment, and can only be used upon declaration of state of calamity by the local legislative body. “Also North Cotabato has an allocation of P6.4 billion for 2016 from the National Budget and a State of Calamity was declared in the province in January this year mandating the Provincial Government to allot P321 million as Calamity Fund. Now where is all

these money?” Colmenares asked. Colmenares demanded both national and local government concerned to account for the billions of peso fund that should have been enjoyed by the farmers in helping them cope with the effects of the drought and prevented the violence inflicted on prosteting farmers last April 1. “The farmers’ demand in the Kidapawan barricade is only 15,000 sacks of rice which would amount to only P27 million if multiplied by an estimated price of P1,600 for a 50-kg sack of rice,” Colmenares stressed. He said it was totally deplorable that the farmers were deprived of their rights when billions of peso fund have been allocated by the government for them being the affected sector of the El Niño. “Aside from the LDRRMF, there are other sources of funds that can quickly respond to the needs caused by calamities. There is the Quick Response Fund allocated to certain agencies and of course the lump sum Calamity Fund under the care of the NDRRMC,” Colmenares said.

CHED okays Recto deadline plea By Macon Araneta

THE Commission on Higher Education has approved the appeal of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto to give more time to teachers displaced by the K-to-12 basic education program to apply for the government-funded scholarship program for higher education degrees. The CHED announced that the deadline for teachers’ application to the scholarship program will be moved

from April 1 to April 8 this year. “I commend the CHED for heeding the demand of the times. The extension provides a breather for private college teachers who would otherwise face low or loss of income during the K to 12 transition period,” Recto said. College enrolment will go down this June as Grade 10 students are retained in schools for two more years of senior high school, prompting government to package a multi-billion-peso bridge financing program for affected personnel.

Recto has sought the extension of the deadline to give more time to teachers and schools that were busy with final tests to collate the required supporting documents. The scholarships and other K to 12 transition programs in Higher Education Institutions are funded by a P5.27-billion allocation authorized in the 2016 national budget. A CHED infographic, however, pegged at P8.28 billion the total budget for K to 12 related programs and projects it will implement this year.

Prior conclusion. Interior Undersecretary Peter Corvera and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala shows to journalists a video footage that was used by the government as a basis to make a conclusion on the deadly dispersal of farmers in Kidapawan City even before the end of an ongoing investigation. DANNY PATA

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Syndicated estafa filed vs Alliance executives The dispute between Alliance Select Foods International Inc. management and a group of minority shareholders has escalated with the Singaporean investors in the company filing a case for syndicated estafa and falsification of public documents against present and former corporate executives. This was the charge filed before the City of Manila Prosecutor’s Office that held a hearing on March 22, 2016 on the complaint of Alliance minority shareholders Victory Fund Limited, harvest All Investment Limited, Bondeast Private Limited and hedy S. C. Yap Chua. Named respondents to the complaint are Jonathan Y. Dee, who was president of Alliance from its incorporation and also served as chairman of Alliance’s Board of Directors from end-2014 to February 2016 and president from 2008 to 2015; Alvin Y. Dee, vice chairman from 2004 to 2014; Joanna Y. Dee-Laurel, who was treasurer until 2014; and Raymond K.h. See, Alliance president and CeO. Also charged were former Alliance management officials, including: George e. Sycip, Teresita S. Ladanga, Grace S. Dogillo, Arak Ratborihan, Marie Grace T. Vera Cruz, and Antonio C. Pacis. The complaint alleges that Alliance officials “performed their individual acts in unison and cooperation with each other to complete all the elements of the crimes charges, thus constituting a whole collective effort to achieve their criminal objective.” The complaining shareholders have accused Alliance officials of concealing the true nature of the company and its purposes at the time they invested. The shareholders said that the concealed purpose of the formation and operation of Alliance was to serve as little more than a payment vehicle for the benefit of the Dee companies and their associates. The complainants also allege that none of this was ever disclosed to them or the public or regulators.

Endorsed. Vice Presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (left) endorses his cousin senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez to more than 5,000 supporters during a campaign rally at Barangay BF International CAA in Las Piñas City. VEr NoVENo

E-passport printing halted amid sea row By Vito Barcelo The Department of Foreign Affairs has stopped the production of the newly designed electronic passport (e-passport) with the illustration of the Philippine map due to political sensitivity of the issues with China on the disputed West Philippine Sea. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said that the interagency meeting that evaluated and approved the passport design decided to remove the map because it did not accurately reflect the extent of the Philippine territory as defined in the Constitution. Jose said the DFA has not yet issued the new passport under the new e-passport system.

In a text message, Jose said that those existing Philippine passports will remain valid until their date of expiry. The newly designed Philippine passports were supposed to be issued next month but were canceled after the interagency decided to remove the Philippine map inserted on the right face of the Philippine eagle.

The new e-passport features the lyrics of the national anthem and illustrations of tourist spots like the Banaue rice terraces, Jose Rizal statue, and the Philippine eagle on its pages. The DFA has earlier said that they had to remove the map because it is politically sensitive. The new security features such as the Intaglio secure printing technology are in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Technology of the United Nations. The Philippines filed a legal challenge to China’s claim before an arbitration court in The hague, Netherlands to try to declare Beijing’s assertion as illegal. A final ruling is expected to be release May this year. China stakes a claim on practi-

cally the entire South China Sea, citing ancient maps and historical records to back its claim, an assertion which Philippine officials say does not hold water under modern-day international laws. The DFA said that China has rapidly transformed formerly submerged rock features in the waters into artificial islands, a move that has triggered serious concerns among nations, including the United States and Japan. The resource-rich waters is home to a chain of more than 100 islands, shoals, reefs and coral outcrops and straddles one of the world’s most vital sea lanes. Apart from the Philippines and China, other countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims over the vast WPSea.

5,000 loses bid for Uber permit By rio N. araja

Green thumb. Members of the Green Thumb Coalition representing environmental

organizations led by Gina Lopez (2nd from left) and Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles hold the ‘Green Thumb Score Card,’ a set of questionnaires about the different environmental issues that will be distributed to national candidates for the 2016 election during a press conference held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. MaNNy PalMEro

OVeR 5,000 applications for Uber Systems Inc. have been dismissed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for their failure to submit a formal offer of evidence. Ariel enrile Inton Jr., one of the two LTFRB board members, said out of the 11,727 applications as of April 4, at least 5,048 applications have been rejected. “We have given them ample time to comply with all the necessary documents, we have duly informed Uber as early as October of last year but they seem to be very much occupied that most applications failed to submit formal offer of evidence,” he said. “hence, we have no choice but to issue the order of dismissal. As of to-

day, there are 5,048 applications which we dismissed.” Don Mark Calimon, Uber’s legal counsel, said they will abide by the order and will immediately inform the “unfortunate” applicants about LTFRB’s order of dismissal. he said the affected Uber operators will be removed from the app-based Uber system. “Previously, LTFRB was being accused to have been favoring the transport network companies [TNCs] for being lenient and extra kind, I believe the dismissal of more than 5,000 applications will give those detractors the thought that our agency is indeed fair,” enrile Inton said. The agency is currently hearing a fare reduction petition against the transport network companies—Uber, GrabCar and Uhop.

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editorial@thestandard.com.ph

High court steps into Pampanga villagers’ complaints

The Good Neighbors’ Initiative of Ermita-Malate spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Manila holds an election forum for the City of Manila’s mayoral candidates dubbed as ‘Thrilla in UP Manila, Round 2.’ The forum will serve as a venue for Rep. Amado Bagatsing (left) and former mayor Alfredo Lim to present their platforms on perennial issues affecting the city. Mayor Joseph Estrada did not attend the forum. EY ACASIO

By Rey E. Requejo

Bagatsing’s ‘LAB’ potion antidote to hate politics MANILA’S mayoral candidate Rep. Amado Bagatsing’s “LAB potion” is on a collision course with the “hate politics” being perpetrated by his rivals incumbent Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada and former city mayor Alfredo Lim. “LAB potion” refers to the Lopez cousins Rep. Carlo and sportsman Manny, Councilor Ali Atienza, and the politically well-entrenched Bagatsing family made up of Amado himself, daughter Cristal, and nephew Councilor Don Juan. “Our united and solid LAB-Kabaka Team will put an end to the kind of hate politics that our political opponents are dishing out on our decent and educated city electorates. We will discuss relevant issues and not indulge in petty personal assassination charges during the campaign. Manileños deserve competent leaders and not thrashtalking politicians,” Bagatsing told

the The Standard on Wednesday. Estrada has been calling Lim a blatant liar and a non-achiever during the lattter’s 12-year reign as city mayor (1992-98 and 2007-13). Though Lim insisted that he left some P1.5 billion in the city coffers when he vacated his post and Estrada took over on July 2013, the latter claimed such was not the case and declared that the local government was bankrupt. On the city-owned and operated public hospitals, Estrada added that not one such medical center was constructed during the incumbency of Lim. To name three of these, Ospital

ng Maynila in Malate district was built by then Mayor Arsenio H. Lacson, the Jose Abad Santos Hospital on Numancia St. in Binondo district was a project of former Mayor Lito Atienza and the Sta. Ana Hospital in Sta. Ana district was built by tycoon Lucio Tan. Lim has been accusing Estrada of being a convicted plunderer and top enemy of the poor and marginalized sectors of Manilans, especially when the latter hiked exorbitantly medical fees and medicine costs in cityowned hospitals. Lim also charges Estrada of increasing business and real property taxes by almost 300 percent, to the chargin and protestations of traders and businessmen. Meanwhile, the LAB-Kabaka group spearheaded by sons of three former Manila mayors (Ramon Bagatsing, 1971-86; Mel Lopez, 1986-92, and Lito Atienza,

1998-2007) vowed to “overhaul and restructure the city government and the city proper” in order to regain the glory and grandeur of Manila. Ali Atienza is Bagatsing’s running mate seeking the vice mayoral post, Manny Lopez wants to be the next congressman of First District of Tondo, Carlos Lopez is unopposed in the Second District also in Tondo, Don Ramon Bagatsing likes to be a congressional representative in the Fourth District of Sampaloc, and Cristal Bagatsing is happy to replace her dad (Rep. Amado) to represent the Fifth District in Congress. Rounding up the formidable LAB-Kabaka team is another illustrious sibling of the late statesman Pablo Ocampo Sr., who is now a fifth-term congresswoman Sandy Ocampo who is seeking reelection. Tony Macapagal

THE Supreme Court will look into the grievances aired by thousands of homeowners of subdivisions of Globe Asiatique Realty Holding Corp. in Pampanga who were caught up in a dispute between the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) and developer Delfin Lee. In a one-page resolution, the SC ordered its Clerk of Court to address the relief sought in the four-page letter last December 2015 of the homeowners’ associations of GA’s Xevera projects in Mabalacat and Bacolor. “The Court resolved to note the letter of Xevera Mabalacat Homeowners’ Association and Xevera Bacolor Homeowners’ Association, inquiring on the status of these cases. The Court further resolved to refer the aforesaid letter to the clerk of court for appropriate action,” the resolution dated March 15, 2016 stated. In a four-page letter to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the two homeowners associations said Pag-IBIG has already admitted to them that they “got caught in the middle of the lengthy court proceedings,” prompting them to bring the matter to the SC. Through Rolando Santos, president of the Xevera Mabalacat Homeowners Association, the homeowners lamented that they have suffered collateral injuries because of the cases against the GA and its owner Delfin Lee. The homeowners lamented that they “continue to live in uncertainty and suffer the risk of being dispossessed of homes that we have bought with hard-earned money.” “As buyers of homes, we simply relied on a government housing program that we believed was working to serve the interest of the poor. But it seems we were proved wrong. And now we suffer for having placed our trust in the system,” they said. Santos said they elevated their appeal to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno as suggested by Pag-IBIG Fund president and CEO Darlene Berberabe, who earlier rejected their plea to continue payment of their monthly dues for their housing loans with the state-run agency.

House okays perks for barangay execs By Maricel V. Cruz

Gulp generation. A convenience store cashes in on the presidential candidates by selling plastic cups with their names and pictures on them under its promo called ‘The Voice of the Gulp Generation.’ JOSEPH MUEGO

A PANEL in the House of Representatives has approved the proposed incentives and benefits for barangay officials and volunteer workers. The House committee on local government, chaired by South Cotabato Rep. Pedro Acharon, approved House Bill 6443, seeking to strengthen the country’s barangays through support for their officials and volunteer workers by way of financial, medical, training and legal means. One of the bill’s authors, Abakada Party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz said the thrust of the proposed “Barangay Officials and Volunteer Workers Incentives and Benefits Act of 2016” to undertake a much-needed reform in barangay governance so that its critical role in

providing government service and facilitating participatory process can be fully unlocked. “Barangay leaders are the foundation of governance at the community level, especially in parts of the country that are remote and hard-to-reach. Officials and volunteers in the country’s 42,036 barangays are not only the frontliners in delivering various government services that attend to the basic needs of our people. They are also the primary facilitators of citizen empowerment and engagements so that the government is responsible to the true needs of the citizens it serves. Strengthening thus, barangay governance is at the heart of making government more effective, accountable, and inclusive in its public service,” read the bill that was authored by several lawmakers, including De la Cruz.

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

El Niño damage hits P10 billion

Figure still lower than expected, farm exec says By Gabrielle Binaday

THE Department of Agriculture this week said damage to crop brought by the El Niño phenomenon has reached nearly P10 billion but remains lower than expected because of the government’s timely mitigation, particularly in rice. Agriculture Undersecretary Emerson Palad said crop losses from February to December 2015 amounted to P3.4 billion while P6.5 billion in losses was recorded in the first quarter of 2016. Palad said Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) had the biggest loss at P2.462 billion, followed by Region VI (Western Visayas) with P1.9 billion and Region 12 (Soccskargen) with P748 million. Mitigation, however, prevented a bigger damage. “Because of this, the projected loss of the rice program was at 900,000 metric tons but we ended up losing more than 200,000 MT,” Palad said. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration administrator Vicente Malano said there are 23 provinces that have experienced 60 percent rainfall reduction, among them Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Zambonga and part of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Of the 23 affected areas, seven provinces have declared a state of calamity according to the

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. These are Isabela, Quirino, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, Maguindanao and Basilan. Meanwhile, Socioeconomic Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra who chairs the inter-agency task force implementing the Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Niño, said while the government is continuing its job to address the dry spell, there are still gaps. Esguerra cited a Social Weather Stations survey, conducted between Dec. 5 and 8, 2015, the 2015 average hunger rate of 13.4 percent is the lowest annual average hunger rate since 2004. Moreover, hunger in Mindanao fell by 8.7 points from 21.7 percent to 13.0 percent. This brought the 2015 average Mindanao hunger rate to 15.8 percent, the lowest since the 13.3 percent annual average in 2005. “We recognize that there could be areas that are feeling the brunt of El Niño and for this,

the role of LGUs is very crucial. We are certainly bothered by the fact that there are people who still go hungry. There could be areas that are not yet being reached by government interventions,” he said. Esguerra said while the supply of food and production and other types of support such as distribution of food packs seems enough, the challenge is in making the distribution system much more efficient so that these actually reach the affected families in a timely fashion. “We need to consider that some of the services are devolved to LGUs and so we need to strengthen coordination with LGUs,” he said. “We need to increase support for farmers to augment their incomes. For this, we need to accelerate programs like cashfor-work and emergency employment,” he added. He also added that the government must improve its coordination from the national to the local level, as well as its communication with affected families. RAIN is aimed at mitigating the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on four areas: Food security, energy security, health, and safety. The action plan focuses on 67 El Niño-affected provinces throughout the country, including Metro Manila.

Yolanda survivors show support for Kidapawan victims, farmers By Mel Caspe CATARMAN, Northern Samar— Yolanda survivors in Leyte and Northern Samar staged a barricade in Tacloban City to condemn

what is becoming known as the Kidapawan Massacre, showing solidarity with the farmers equally hit by disaster and neglected by the government. Hundreds of students and

Praying over. Around 25,000 residents of North Cotabato pray over their policemen during a peace rally convened by provincial executives. OMAR MANGORSI

teachers in Samar and Leyte islands staged simultaneous protest actions in Catarman’s University of Eastern Philippines and Tacloban’s University of the Philippines campus. In their black protest shirts, they walked out of school campuses and echoed the call “bigas, hindi bala (rice, not bullets).” The protesters slammed the continuing human rights violations initiated by the local government of Kidapawan, Cotabato Gov. Lala Mendoza, the Philippine National Police and national government under Aquino. The violence that erupted on April 1 resulted in the death of more than three farmers after police fired on farmers who had only been asking for immediate food aid. Kabataan Party-list-Eastern Visayas said that the protest is a prelude to a bigger global protest on Friday, April 8. Youth organizations under Kabataan Party-list, Pulso Han Mag-aaram, College Editors Guild of the Philippines Samar Island and Greater Leyte Formations, League of Filipino Students, Gabriela Youth, local Alpha Phi Omega and Tau Gamma Phi chapters and LGBT groups vow to make the government accountable for these human rights violations. The youth-led protest also demanded that the Aquino administration to stop killings and heed the call of calamity victims nationwide.

Dancing on the streets. Tribe members in colorful costumes perform during the 14th Kalindugan (coconut) Festival street dance competition at Odiongan Football Field in Romblon. VER NOVENO

T h u R S D AY : A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

‘Militics’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

General mismanaGer

‘Service is our priority.’ Unbelievable, but these words were uttered by Jose Angel Honrado, general manager of the Manila Airport Authority, in response to renewed calls for his resignation after the five-hour blackout over the weekend at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino international Airport. More than 80 flights were canceled as a result of the power outage, and thousands of passengers were stranded. imagine, too, the conditions suffered by the people inside a dark terminal on a sweltering night. Amid demands that he step down, Honrado said: “if every time there is a problem, you ask the official to resign, then you are looking for a problem every month.” Honrado has been airport manager for nearly six years, during which Naia has been adjudged worst airport in the world by travelers polled online, become notorious for delays due to runway traffic, and yet again for a bulletplanting scheme used by personnel as a way to extort money from clueless, terrified passengers. And now this. “if you feel that a five-hour brownout is too long, we’re just so sorry. We did not want that to happen. We didn’t realize that there would be a problem,” he said at a briefing Tuesday. remember, too, how he prattled on about soap and toilet paper in reaction to criticism that the airport facilities were below par. Honrado’s words betray his misappreciation of his job and of the basic idea of management accountability. Yes, a five-hour outage is too long. in fact, a five-minute blackout would also be too long. Airports are not supposed to experience these things at all. it is inconvenient—oppressive—for the passengers and embarrassing to the country, which is trying to convince the rest of the world that we should be taken seriously as a tourism and investment destination. During a Senate hearing on the bullet-planting scheme, Honrado was asked if he knew what his job was as GM. He said he coordinates but does not control the people at the airport. certainly he’s getting much more in salary and a fancy title than the pittance he deserves. Then again, none of this surprises us. The President’s got Honrado’s back just as he’s got the backs of Transportation Secretary Joseph emilio Abaya and all other officials who consistently bungle their jobs but are just so indispensable. What is amazing is how Mr. Aquino can refuse to fire them and yet expect the people to believe the yarn that we are still treading the straight path. These shameless officials and the President who condones them have priorities, indeed. Genuine public service just is not one of them.

The VP race is oVer IT woRkeD for Davao City Mayor Digong Duterte, who shot up to the top of the survey rankings after being targeted for demolition and incessant innuendo by no less than President Noynoy Aquino. It should work for Senator Bongbong Marcos. It’s not as if Marcos hasn’t been singled out by Aquino

for political destruction by Malacañang prior to the filing yesterday of plunder charges against the senator by a newly formed youth group. After all, Aquino converted his last people power revolution anniversary as president last month into an anti-Marcos hatefest—thus paving the way for Bongbong’s rise. But Marcos is still currently engaged in a three-way dogfight with Senator Chiz escudero and Rep. Leni Robredo in the vice presidential contest.

The Aquino-backed filing of plunder charges against Marcos by the group iBBM, I think, is only going to give Marcos the separation he needs to handily win the battle for the secondhighest post in the land. (The people who filed charges did so independently of the administration, Malacanang quickly announced. of course, if you believe that, you probably also believe that ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who received the charges, is head of an independent constitutional

The filing of plunder charges means that Marcos is going to clean up in the May 9 elections.

body, just like it says in the Constitution. The leader of iBBM is a certain Rafaela David, also known in political circles as the chairman of Akabayan Youth and nominee of Akbayan party-list. Akbayan is the party of chief presidential political adviser Ronald “DVD” Llamas and his closest associate, Liberal Party senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros.) The truth of the matter is, everything Aquino touches these days turns into mud, like he has a reverse Midas touch. If I were Bongbong, I’d dash off a thank-you note to Aquino—

and advise the President to attack Mar Roxas, too, just so the Palace’s declared candidate can move up a little in the ratings game. The charge against Marcos is telling: the senator was accused of the nonbailable offense of plunder in connection with, of all things, his alleged abuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund from 2011 to 2013, based allegedly on the claims of jailed pork-barrel scam mastermind Janet “Lim” Napoles.

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

And Napoles has already denied in the Senate and in her affidavits that Marcos was involved in the scandal—to which dozens of LP stalwarts have been linked, uncharged to this date. So iBBM wants Marcos jailed for a non-bailable offense on trumped-up charges one month before the elections. This only means that Marcos is going to clean up in the May 9 elections. eat your hearts out, Chiz and Leni. Might as well concede to Bongbong

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right now. *** while Malacañang plays politics, nobody seems to be minding the store anymore. It was true in kidapawan, and it’s true in what is now in the practically non-existent campaign against cigarette smuggling. The authorities aren’t only gunning down farmers in Mindanao. They’re also allowing record-breaking amounts Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

LAST Saturday, the 2nd of April, four active senior Philippine National Police officers were spotted by reporters in a hotel at the Araneta Center area having a meeting with a retired senior PNP officer identified with the camp of Mar Roxas. A senior military officer was also spotted in the same hotel. The retired officer is Marcelo Garbo Jr. who up to this time has been reported to be still influencing the assignment of personnel in the PNP which is causing much demoralization among officers. In the recent reshuffle of senior officers for provincial and regional positions, for instance, Garbo had a big hand. It is well known in the PNP that Garbo is Roxas’ kind of man as Purisima was to President Aquino. expect him to be a major player in the PNP in a Roxas presidency which is not a good prospect for the PNP. This also gives us a glimpse into the management style of Mar Roxas when comes to police management. one of those who attended that meeting was Generoso R. Cerbo Jr. who is currently the Director of Intelligence in the PNP. It is a sensitive position considering that Cerbo’s office is the repository of all vital information gathered by the PNP including political intelligence. what was he thinking, meeting with a retired senior officer with known links to a presidential candidate in a public place? For starters, maybe we should send these officers back to basic intelligence school. It was idiotic for them to have met in public. with people like that working for Mar Roxas, no wonder, he cannot seem to gain ground in spite of all the resources under his control. It is one stumble after another. Although the spokesman of the PNP, Chief Supt. wilben Mayor, was reported to be in the process of asking for an explanation from the officers concerned, old goats from the service know why they were there. It is what is called in the service as “militics.” This refers to uniformed personnel getting involved in partisan politics for the purpose of advancing one’s career, an activity expressly prohibited by law and regulations but routinely violated by politicians and uniformed personnel alike. The involvement of military and police personnel in politics is nothing new. Politicians have the belief that recruiting uniformed personnel 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

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 : A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

‘Militics’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

General mismanaGer

The filing of plunder charges means that Marcos is going to clean up in the May 9 elections.

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

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MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

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 : A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Machinery versus popularity IN ThE wake of so many poll surveys showing Mrs. Mary Grace Natividad Kelly Poe Llamanzares and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte leading, 33 days before election day, people are now asking: What happened to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was the leader early on in the race? And what about Mar Roxas —does he still have a chance? I have been a journalist for the past 66 years. I know for a fact that popularity is not all there is to it in winning elections. We have had very popular presidential candidates who still did not make the cut. Remember Raul Manglapus was popular, and so were Miriam Santiago in 1992 and Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004. Still, they did not win. Of the five candidates in this year’s contest, only Binay and Roxas have the grassroots political machinery. Binay has been building his since he became mayor of Makati City. he has been material aid to Makati’s sister cities and municipalities. his many years as chairman of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines also gives him national exposure. No other candidate has covered so many cities and towns as he had. As the administration candidate, meanwhile, Roxas has a built-in advantage. he has all local government units at his command. he does not have to worry about funding because he enjoys the support of the incumbent President. BS Aquino can flood the country with cash at a moment’s notice. Above all, the administration also has the distinct advantage if it does decide to cheat. But all surveys are just snapshots of the situation at the time the poll was taken. It’s the last two weeks of the campaign that matter. While popularity may show the winning chances of Du-Dirty and Mrs. Llamanzares, I know for

a fact that funding and a well-oiled political machinery will decide the elections. I know this because during the 2004 elections, the late Ka Imon Cuevas, an Iglesia stalwart, told me the result of the “samba” going for Gloria. I had wanted The Standard to headline it, but Gloria pleaded with me not to come out with the story because she did not want to pre-empt the Iglesia Ni Cristo. The other survey that matters is the one the many chapters of the Philippine-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry make two weeks before election day. The results of the survey are submitted to the head

A good showing in the surveys does not guarantee victory.

of the PCCCI, which directs all its chapters to contribute to the projected winners. The point I am getting into is that despite poll surveys showing a Duterte or Poe victory because of their popularity, the machinery enjoyed by Roxas and Binay should not be discounted. I have seen it happen, and it could well happen again. Survey results do not guarantee victory, so Duterte and Mrs. Llamanzares should not be too sure. *** The Kidapawan massacre of starving Cotabato farmers seems to be the trademark of the Aquino administration. We have had the Mendiola massacre and the hacienda Luisita massacre, and now we have this incident in Kidapawan. Why didn’t Aquino just instruct the National Food

low-skilled iMMigrants good for the working class By noah smith USUALLy, when I talk about immigration, it’s the highskilled variety I’m referring to —people with college degrees or professional skills. When most Americans think about immigrants, however, they focus on the manual laborers—many of them without documentation —who come to the US from Latin America to build houses, landscape lawns or pick vegetables instead of starting the next Google. This kind of immigration is somewhat out of favor, since these folks compete with lowskilled locals for manual labor jobs. Even though the effect of the competition is small, it isn’t zero, and in the current political climate everyone wants to do everything they can to protect the working class. But this opposition is probably misplaced. New research shows that low-skilled immigrants may do a lot more for the native-born working class than we thought. The new evidence comes via new research by economists Mette Foged and Giovanni Peri. Their paper studies the impact of refugees in Denmark in the 1990s and 2000s. During that time, Denmark had a program of scattering refugees throughout the country, called the spatial dispersal policy. The refugees, many of them fleeing the yugoslavian wars, were mostly uneducated and spoke little Danish. By comparing the areas where the government decided to send refugees with other areas, Foged and Peri were able to see what happened to natives when a large number of low-skilled immigrants got plunked down next door. Instead of a small negative

Administration to open its warehouse? It was an insult when the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government handed out medals the following day to the members of the police force that assaulted the innocent farmers with M-16 rifles. And then the Philippine National Police sent a so-called factfinding team to investigate the killings. What happened was clearly a violation of human rights. It is an example of the Aquino administration’s insensitivity and lack of compassion for the poor. The government and the

effect on the local native-born— as most studies in the US tend to find—Foged and Peri found a positive effect. That’s right—lowskilled immigrants actually raised the wages of their less-educated native-born counterparts in the surrounding area. The data followed the native-born workers for a long time, letting the authors confirm that the change was durable. how does that happen? One reason is that immigrants are not perfect substitutes for the native-born—their skills are, to some degree, complementary. The authors found that this was responsible for part of the positive effect. But Foged and Peri also found that less-educated natives responded to the economic competition by changing jobs. They shifted from manual labor to office jobs, which usually paid higher wages. The unemployed also got a slight boost—lowskilled natives actually tended to enter the workforce when immigrants showed up nearby. The authors’ result depends on the assumption that the dispersal of the refugees was essentially random—in other words, the government didn’t send the new immigrants to areas where it knew that local labor markets were poised to improve. The authors claim that the resettlement locations were chosen without regard to economic factors, and they show that the refugee destinations were uncorrelated with labor-market strength at the time. That’s not a perfect slamdunk, but it’s pretty good. So what does this tell us about low-skilled immigration? First, it confirms the assertion, often repeated by US leaders, that lowskilled immigrants “take the jobs Americans don’t want to do.” But it

police were clearly at fault for the massacre. Granting, without assuming, that there were communists in the blockade, this did not give them license to shoot the farmers. *** I don’t know whom to believe: the administration mouthpiece—the Philippine Daily Inquirer that bannered the news that it’s final Mrs. Llamanzares can run— or other newspapers like The Standard, which are saying that the Supreme Court will hand down its final ruling this Saturday, April 9. I know though that whatever the Supreme

also shows that immigrants often give the native-born a helpful push, motivating them to increase their skills and get better jobs. To the extent that Americans are like Danes, and that Latin American immigrants with little education are similar to poorly educated yugoslavian refugees, this means that there’s little reason to worry much that these immigrants put economic pressure on the American working class. That does leave one question, though—why do native-born workers need that push in the first place? If desk jobs are less onerous and pay more, why don’t low-skilled natives just go get those jobs even without the threat of immigrant competition? An obvious explanation is that people aren’t really the rational optimizing machines of economic models, and sometimes fail to act in their own interest unless some outside force pushes them to do so. But the story may be more complicated than that. Changing occupations is a big risk—there is no guarantee that that higherpaying job will materialize. If it doesn’t, you’ll be out in the cold. So the yugoslavian immigrants might have simply forced the Danish laborers to take a risk they didn’t want to take. That risk paid off. But it might not always. That implies that governments might want to offer more services to help low-paid native workers try to get higher-paying jobs, especially by providing them some kind of insurance should the move be unsuccessful. A stronger social safety net—like Denmark’s— might be just the thing needed to help low-skilled immigration be a better deal for America’s working class. Bloomberg

Court would say would define the kind of court that we have. Will it turn the Constitution into a mere scrap of paper? As a lawyer, I am saddened to see the gods of Mount Olympus on Padre Faura trivializing the fundamental law to suit their own whims. Everything I learned in my constitutional law classes has been trampled on, my gulay! *** Space constraints prevented me from writing about the things former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did during her presidency in my series on how I

witnessed history being made. With her many economic reforms, Gloria was responsible for the rise in gross domestic product to a high of 7.9 percent—something no other president achieved. BS Aquino inherited the strong economic fundamentals instituted during her term. Another achievement was her support for the Business Process Outsourcing industry that now employs over a million. Gloria can well be the “mother of Philippine BPOs.” These are facts that BS Aquino forgets so conveniently.

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A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

It’s our bad luck, not just yours The April 2 Naia Terminal 3 blackout: 14,000 people affected, 82 domestic flights canceled, at least four international flights delayed, uncounted items stolen from luggage, money and time lost and wasted, countless tears shed. This is only a small part of the fallout from that fiasco, caused by the failure of Generator Set No. 2 to kick in after the loss of power resulting from the tripping of a Meralco substation. According to Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel honrado, while nine out of 10 standby generators kicked in, this particular generator, which happened to be the most important one, failed to do so because its batteries did not function properly. he admitted that they’d known since August 2015 that the batteries of that genset needed to be replaced. however, the purchase was made on April 4 this year— two days after the blackout. honrado blamed ill luck—

‘militics’... From A9 especially those in authority could provide them advantages over their opponents during political campaigns that civilians cannot provide. Intelligence, for instance, is one area where uniformed men excel. They are better trained to collect and process intelligence reports for the candidates that they support. In the old days when counting was done manually, uniformed personnel can come in handy especially during the prevalence of private armies. Uniformed personnel for their part sometimes readily lend their expertise to politicians as a way of improving their careers by way of faster promotions and better assignments. In the police service, where one is assigned is key to faster promotions and secure retirement, one good assignment could take care of an officer when he retires. There is, however, a slight difference in the military. Field assignments, more or less, are the same wherever one is assigned. A Battalion Commander or a Brigade Commander operating in Kalinga is not disadvantaged compared to a Battalion Commander or Brigade Commander operating in say

“Sorry, minalas kami,” he said at a press conference. It’s not just their bad luck; it’s ours, to be saddled with someone who is clearly out of his depth. The sad part is that honrado seems a likeable person, his face bearing a look of perpetual worry about problems that are never resolved. But whatever may have been his strengths and achievements in his previous career, they are out of place, irrelevant, or not brought to bear here. Could the President have given honrado this job as a sinecure, something that would run it itself without too much of a problem? The thing with operations is that it abides by the provision of Murphy’s Law—“if anything can go wrong, it will.” Yet honrado reports to a higher authority—to Secretary Joseph Abaya of the Department of Transportation. There’s that name again—it’s connected with another host of blunders such as the MRT breakdowns, abandoned license plates

and stolen metal sheets to make license plates, and more concerns related to transport and communication infrastructure. Abaya, despite all the bungling that’s happened on his watch, is untouchable. Why is this so? Regular government employees have to fill out performance evaluation tools called the Office Performance Commitment and Review and similar ones for the department and individual levels, the DPCR and IPCR, respectively. A low grade will affect the employee’s chance of promotion and entitlement to certain perks such as the Performance-Based Bonus, given only if the agency meets its set targets. My question is, aren’t Abaya and honrado subject to these requirements? Who monitors their performance? It’s like they flunked most of the subjects in school but

Batangas or Laguna. In the PNP, there is a big difference between a provincial director in Kalinga and a provincial director of Laguna or Batangas. Police and military involvement in politics does not also only involve enterprising individuals wanting to advance their careers. Sometimes, a whole Philippine Military Academy Class could decide to back a particular presidential candidate. In the case of the four senior PNP officers, they all belong to the PMA class of 1984, the class that adopted the Liberal Party and administration standard bearer Mar Roxas. In this case, the class of 1984 are forced to good, so to speak. They have no choice but support Mar Roxas because they know pretty well that if Roxas loses, they all will be consigned to the dog house. The next logical question to ask is this: Are there other officers also backing other presidential candidates? The obvious answer is yes. There are indeed many officers who also have hinged their careers to other candidates but they keep their activities sub rosa for fear of being identified and relieved of their assignments. Usually, these are officers who are disgruntled by not being

were still passed on to the next grade. Obviously they are being shielded from the consequences of their blunders. It’s unfair, because for ordinary employees, the boo-boos count against them. Those who show incompetence in their jobs are provided with extra training or, in worst-case scenarios, given less work to do, to minimize the effects of their inadequacy. But this is not just a case of someone who lacks skills or who won’t do the work. These are people whose actions and inactions have led to failures that cause trouble for thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people. In the private sector, they would have been sacked long ago. how can we continue to push tourism as a growth sector when we can’t even guarantee the safety of our visitors when they arrive? We can’t even assure them that bullets won’t be planted in their luggage or that their belongings won’t be pilfered.

given preferential assignments or those who are considered outsiders by the ruling class. They too can provide valuable intelligence of what the administration is doing. All those pronouncements about the non-involvement of the police and military in politics except to vote therefore, is all hog wash. In fact, the months before any national elections is a time of great anxiety to individuals, classes and other groups because those who back the winning horse always end up running the show in their organizations. Those who back the losing horse will have to lower their expectations and be satisfied with crumbs. That is simply the way it goes. It is altogether an unfortunate state of affairs that this symbiotic relationship that currently exists between the politicians and uniformed personnel from the police, and to a certain extent, the military, will continue into the future unless a national leader comes along and reforms the system which is doing great harm to the reputations of both the police and the military. Unless there is reform the police and the military can never achieve their potential to be truly professional organizations that could rightly propel them to be among the best.

We can’t even promise that they’ll be greeted by functioning lights and airconditioning! Worse, our vulnerabilities are displayed to the world. What’s to stop a terrorist organization or rebel group now from targeting our airports, piers, malls, cellsites, and so on, knowing how inadequate our defenses and responses are, and how easy they can get away with it? Do Abaya and honrado realize that this is not just a matter of inconvenience to some passengers, but an actual risk to national security? At this point our anger earns us nothing save high blood pressure. We’re banging our heads against a brick wall. Because they don’t have the delicadeza to resign, it’s now a waiting game—just three months to go, konting tiis na lang. Let’s vote wisely so that our luck will change for the better. Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @ jensdecember

the vp... From A9 and open selling of smuggled cigarettes in many parts of the island. According to industry sources, contraband cigarettes that are detrimental to consumers, government revenuegenerating efforts and the national economy itself are now openly being sold in thousands of stores in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Iligan, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga Peninsula and the Cotabato region. Smuggled cigarettes, which are subject to outright confiscation and should be destroyed outright, are sold cheap in sari-sari stores and public markets in Mindanao, at around P18 to P20 pesos per pack, since these are untaxed by the government. The cheapest price per tax-paid pack is currently P25 pesos. The rampant smuggling of cigarettes should alarm the authorities, since this means that the government campaign to raise “sin” taxes that are earmarked for subsidies for state health campaigns are lost. But you never hear police, revenue and customs agents and officials working in cahoots with the smugglers in Mindanao confiscating any shipment of contraband tobacco products. The smuggled and fake cigarette brands have been identified as Marlboro, Winston, Mighty, Marvels, Far Star, Fort, American Legend, Union, Navy and Gudang Garam. They are manufactured in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia and shipped directly Mr. Suarez’s column will resume to ports in next week. Mindanao.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

20 golds at stake at Open kickoff TWENTY gold medals will be at stake in the opening events of the the 2016 Ayala-Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships when it fires off today at the Philsports oval in Pasig City.

Subic triathlon lures top bets SEVERAL world-ranked triathletes, led by former World Junior Champion and former ITU number one Felicity Abram and Melinda Vernon of Australia will test their mettle in the elite competition (second day) of the two-day NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon 2016 at the ACEA Subic Bay inside the Subic Bay Freeport at 6 a.m. on April 16. The elite competition (Standard Distance 1.5 Km swim -40 Km bike -10 Km run) on April 17 has ITU qualifying points for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic triathlon event and has already, attracted the participation of Mohamad Alsabbagh (Syria), James Chronis (Greece), Chris George (Australia), Shen-Yen Hsieh (Chinese Taipei), RikigoroShinozuka (Malaysia), JiayuTan (Singapore), James Thorp (Australia), Joel Tobin White (Australia), Chun Yin Tse (Hong Kong), Yuki Umeda (Japan) and national triathletes John Chicano, Mark Hosana, Jonard Saim and Deo Timbol. On the distaff side, 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Claire Adorna and teammate Kim Kilgroe will lead the Philippines in facing off with Chi Wen Chang (Chinese Taipei), Shuwen Chang (Singapore), Ting-Ting Chang (Chinese Taipei), Irene See Win Chiong (Malaysia) and Kate Rutherford (Hong Kong). On the April 16 junior elite competition (750 Meter swim - 20 Km bike - 5 Km run) of the event supported by Century Tuna, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Asian Center for Insulation, Subic Holiday Villas, ACEA Subic Bay, Biker’s Cafe, Blackbeard’s Seafood Island, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Enervon Active, AH Cabgel, AH Enervon HP, Athena, Pure & Feminine Wash, RaceDay, SBR.ph, Multisport, Kikay Runner, Solar Sports, Philippine Star and PinoyFitness.com, Malaysian entries Zoe Bowden, Dayanee Kunaseelan, Lee Wen Jun and Ng Wyjoon will be striving for qualifying points for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games which will be held at Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Chairman Cup Golf. Nick Tan, representing Tanduay Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio C. Tan, Sr., hits

the ceremonial drive to start the 3rd Chairman Kap Golf Invitational at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. In the guest division, Mario Badillo won the lowest gross, while Bong Dickson topped the lowest net. In the LTG division, Johnny Subaldo was lowest gross winner, while Cesar Santos was lowest net winner. Mika Arroyo won the Ladies’ Division.

Panama Papers firm hacked by servers abroad PANAMA CITY—One of the founders of the law firm at the center of the explosive “Panama Papers” revelations on off-shore holdings told AFP on Tuesday his company was hacked by servers abroad. Ramon Fonseca said the firm Mossack Fonseca had lodged a criminal complaint with Panamanian prosecutors on Monday over the breach. He added that in all the reporting so far “nobody is talking of the hack, and that is the only crime that has been committed.”

In a telephone message responding to AFP questions, Fonseca said: “We have lodged a complaint. We have a technical report that we were hacked by servers abroad.” He did not specify from which country the hack was carried out. Fonseca also rued the fact that reporting on the 11.5 million documents taken from Mossack Fonseca’s computer system focused on the high-profile clients who had used the law firm to set up offshore companies to hold

their wealth. “We don’t understand. The world is already accepting that privacy is not a human right,” he said. The hack has badly shaken Panama’s financial services sector, which relied on discretion to do its business. With high-profile politicians, sports stars, celebrities and a few criminals revealed to have used Mossack Fonseca to set up offshore entities, scrutiny on the small Central American nation has suddenly ramped up.

But the law firm and the government have stressed that offshore companies are not, in themselves, illegal, and that Mossack Fonseca was not responsible for what its clients used them for. The government, which has recently seen through reforms to get the country taken off an international list of states seen as money-laundering hubs, is mounting a fierce defense of the financial sector, which contributes seven percent of gross domestic product. AFP

ABS-CBN inks pact with mixed martial arts group THIS year marks a historical event in Philippine mixed martial arts history, as Southeast Asia’s first and largest MMA promotion URCC (Universal Reality Combat Championship) officially announces its partnership with ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment company. URCC founder Alvin Aguilar, alongside Skycable COO and ABS-CBN Narrowcast head March Ventosa, and ABSCBN head for Integrated Sports Dino Laurena formalized the partnership on April 1 in the presence of MMA heroes, including Red Romero, CJ De Tomas, Hideo Morikawa, Carlo Laurel, Alvin Ramirez, Chris Hofmann, Caloy Baduria and more, in a press conference at Wingman Acacia Estates, Taguig City. As the official broadcast partner, ABS-CBN Sports + Action and ABS-CBN Sports + Action HD Ch166 will broadcast URCC events, starting with the URCC 27: Rebellion fight card on April 23.

Friendly match. Amateur commercial multi-titled basketball teams Wang’s Ballclub of Alexander Wang and Macway Travel of Erick Kirong are shown after their friendly match billed as ‘3ST Digong Cup Sama-Summer Sports’ in Comillas, La Paz Tarlac, organized by Sama-Sama Sports sa Tarlac Founding Chairman Danny Simon and supported by La Paz ABC president Nesty Manuel, Bgy. Comillas OIC Chairman Rudy Adsuara and Council. With them are Wang’s coach Pablo Lucas and deputy Ed Clores, Rey Alao, Pol Santiago and Anthony Cuevas of Macway and Comillas officials Nestor Bolanio, Eric Mendoza and Ben Minoncia.

Veteran athletes from neighboring countries and those who have won medals in the recent Southeast Asian Games will be among the challengers national and local athletes will battle in the three-day meet that lured over 1,000 participants. “We have closed the registration at over a thousand athletes already, making this the biggest National Open in terms of attendance,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Renato Unso. Rio Olympics-bound Eric Cray, winner of the SEA Games century dash gold, and Fil-American Brandon Thomas will try to find their spots in the men’s 100-meter heats, alongside Malaysian sprinters Maulani Diman and Eddie Edward Jr., and Singaporean Khairyl Amri Bin Tumadi. The Malaysians will be led by Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian, who earned a silver medal in the men’s 110-meter hurdles of the 2015 SEA Games. He will try to hold his ground against Filipino bets Patrick Unso and Francis Medina. Fil-American Caleb Stuart, who won the SEA Games hammer throw gold in record fashion, will face off with Jackie Wong Siew Cheer,a who settled for the bronze in their last showdown in Singapore. Singapore’s Veronica Ferreira, bronze medallist in the 100-meter run, will try to assert herself in the absence of Fil-American Kayla Richardson, who begged off at the last-minute because of her studies back in the United States. Ferreira’s clocking of 11.88 seconds in the last SEA Games could be the time to beat in the heats of the Open, which is presented by Ayala Corp., and also backed by Milo Nutriup, Philippine Sports Commission, Foton Philippines, PCSO, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Appeton, Asics Watch, L TimeStudio and media partners Business Mirror, Business Mirror Health and Fitness Magazine and radio station Mellow 94.7. Peter Atencio

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Nicklaus still a Tiger believer AUGUSTA—Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National on Tuesday, but only for the Masters Champions Dinner, while Jack Nicklaus warned Woods would someday mount a late-career comeback to rival his own. The golf legends gathered with fellow Masters winners for their annual meal with Woods relegated to a visitor role, unable to play six months after the second of two back operations. “I’m doing better and making progress, but unfortunately, still not physically ready to play. I look forward to being out there again as soon as I can,” Woods said in a Tuesday posting on his website. “Despite not playing in the tournament, I really wanted to attend this year’s Champions Dinner. There are a lot of close, long-time friends in that room.” Among those is Nicklaus, the 18-time major champion whose record total has been a target for Woods, a 14-time major winner, since boyhood. Nicklaus spoke before the dinner and said Woods, who turned 40 last December, will not only return but be a champion again. “I don’t think he’s done,” Nicklaus said. “I think Tiger’s going to win more tournaments.” While Woods has sounded more optimistic lately, he cast doubt on his own potential to return last December, saying, “Pretty much everything beyond this will be gravy. For my 20 years out here I think I’ve achieved a lot, and if that’s all it entails, then I’ve had a pretty good run. But I’m hoping that’s not it.” AFP

Jamili, Parcon top dancesport VISAYAS’ Gerald Jamili and Cherry Clarice Parcon beat Cebu’s Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Cañeda to win the Latin A division of 2016 Dancesports Council of the Philippines Inc. 1st quarter ranking competition recently at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. German Enriquez and Ma. Danella Renee Publico of Manila defeated Tristan John and Willanne Rose Ducay also of Manila to cop the Standard A title of the dancing sport competition organized by DSCPI president Becky Garcia. This DanceSport event was sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Calata Corporation, Flawless, Manila Pianos, Inc, Muebles Italiano, Vitug Beach Resort, Retro DCG-FM 105.9 and The Greenery Bulacan. The next DanceSport competition is scheduled July 23 for the 2016 DSCPI Midyear Ranking and Competition at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena. For inquiries, contact the DSCPI Secretariat at 637-2314.

US golfer Jordan Spieth (right) and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel walk down the 2nd fairway during a practice round prior to the start of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. AFP

Day, Spieth, Rory spark new level of excitement

AUGUSTA—Top-ranked Jason Day, defending champion Jordan Spieth, career Grand Slam seeker Rory McIlroy and a host of elite rivals have sparked an exceptional level of excitement for the 80th Masters. A field of 89 will tee off Thursday morning at Augusta National in quest of the green jacket awarded a Masters champion, but only one will slide their arms inside the sleeves come Sunday. Australia’s Day comes off triumphs at Bay Hill and the WGC Match Play. Northern Ireland’s McIlroy has found his form at just the right moment and American Spieth’s record-tying wire-to-wire win from last year still resonates in the Georgia pines. Add Aussie Adam Scott, twice a winner last month, plus fourth-ranked Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion, 2015 Players

winner Rickie Fowler and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson and the stage is set for a showdown on golf’s most acclaimed course. “I would enjoy a Spieth McIlroy Fowler Scott Watson Mickelson Sunday,” Day said. “That would be a lot of fun.” Day has won six of his past 13 events, including his first major title at last year’s PGA Championship, to overtake Spieth as world number one. “I feel comfortable with where I’m at, walking around the grounds, number one in the world, it’s a good feeling,” Day said. “But I know I can’t take it

for granted, because things can change pretty quickly.” Day is trying to become only the fifth player to win the PGA one year and the Masters the next to join Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead. “It’s really tough with how everyone is playing,” Day said. “Jordan and Rory are young guys, so we’re all kind of motivating each other, and Rickie as well. “Adam Scott and Bubba Watson are doing a fantastic job. It’s just really fun to see how the health of the game is right now and how competitive it is. “I want the best playing against the best and fighting it out,” Day said. “If I end up not wearing the green jacket at the end of Sunday but have a fantastic competitive match against the best players in the world, that’s what I’m there for.” McIlroy is on hand to cap-

ture a fifth major title and complete a career Grand Slam at age 26, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen in having won all four majors at least once. “It’s definitely a motivation to be able to put your name alongside those five guys,” McIlroy said. “I haven’t been in a situation where I’ve felt the pressure of it, really, because I didn’t have a real chance to win last year.” McIlroy dismisses the notion of added tension impacting his game, saying, “Pressure is for tires.” But he knows it will increase every year he does not add a green jacket to his trophy list. “I feel like I’ve got everything I need to become a Masters champion,” McIlroy said. “But I think each and every year that passes that I don’t, it will become increasingly more difficult, so there’s no time like the present to get it done.”

Go, Constantino stay on collision course

Despite her loss, 8-year-old Grace Pauline Quintanilla could be the next big thing for Phl golf.

CEBU—Top seed Lois Kaye Go and No. 2 Harmie Constantino disposed of their respective rivals in similar emphatic fashions to roll into the ladies quarterfinal round of the first MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championship at the Cebu Country Club here yesterday. Go, who topped the 36hole stroke play elims with a 151, whipped Renafe Arnado, 8&6, at the start of the knockout phase to arrange a Last 8 faceoff with No. 8 Ryoko Nagai, who trounced Grace Sosas. Constantino, the reigning

national stroke play champion, posted a more impressive 9&7 triumph over Mercy Garcia to seal a quarters showdown with Riko Nagai, who also clobbered Mariestila Borres, 4&3, in the lower half of the draw of the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT, Metro Pacific Invesments Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour. No. 4 Junia Gabasa clipped Ma. Mirasol Panong, 7&6, and will next play Kristine

Torralba, who also posted a 7&6 rompo over Jahnna Abella, while Jona Magcalayo advanced with a walkover win over Lalay Lava. Third seed Angela Mangana and eight-year-old Grace Pauline Quintanilla provided the thrill in a day of lopsided results with the former battling back from four holes in the last four and winning on the 19th to advance against Magcalayo. Quintanilla, who finished at No. 14 in the elims, appeared headed for a big upset when she drilled in a 30-foot putt on No. 14 to go 4-up with four holes to

go. But she three-putted the next and Mangana, 14, took the next three holes to extend their match to the 19th hole, No. 10, which she also won with a par. Three reversals were posted in the men’s side of the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines with No. 20 Jovi Neri upending No. 13 Ariel Mangana, 1-up; No. 23 Gabriel Manotoc edging No. 10 Tyler Po, 2&1; and No. 19 Scott Reyes booting out No. 14 Ferdinand Chua, 5&4, to advance to the second round of the match play.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

How far can Abueva take Alaska Aces? By Jeric Lopez

THE Alaska Aces are gunning for their 15th Philippine Basketball Association conference title, but how far can the Aces go this conference? It seems that superstar Calvin Abueva’s efforts and leadership will have a big impact on the answer to that as the Aces are clearly relying on their go-to guy to

bring them to the promised land in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Alaska is wishing that there won’t be additions to three successive heartbreaks in the

finals these past two seasons. They are itching to go all the way this time around. For that to happen, Abueva will have to elevate his game as Alaska is banking on him now more than ever. The do-it-all 6-foot-2 forward has been nothing short of spectacular. He’s been averaging 22 points per game over Alaska’s last four games as he has clearly taken his game to another level to

elevate his Aces. He won the Player of the Week award just recently for his efforts. Not only did Abueva lead the Aces to a scrambling victory over the Star Hotshots last weekend he also gained the most Player of the Week awards with three this conference. The Aces got a huge lift from Abueva’s heroics to post a come-from-behind 100-92 victory over the Star Hotshots in Davao.

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION : April 6, 2016

Project Title

: LEASE OF SPACE FOR A CASINO GAMING FACILITY IN CEBU CITY (LAHUG) FOR A PERIOD OF FIFTEEN (15) YEARS

ITB No.

: NPLRP16-004CEB

Approved Budget

: The ABC for the project for the first (1st) year is One Hundred Twenty-Three Million Six Hundred Eighty-Two Thousand Two Hundred Twenty-Seven Pesos and 88/100 (PhP123,682,227.88), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction or TWO BILLION FIVE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE PESOS AND 66/100 (PhP2,547,684,695.66), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction, for a period of fifteen (15) years. : April 19, 2016 (Tuesday) 2:00 p.m. Venue: 2nd Floor Conference Room 1 , Casino Filipino – Malate, No. 1588 New World Manila Bay Hotel, Mabini corner Pedro Gil Street., Malate, Manila

Pre-Screening of Documents

: April 25, 2016 (Monday), 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Deadline of Submission of Quotation

: May 2, 2016 (Monday), 2:00 p.m. (Sealed Quotation)

Venue: Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), Second (2nd) Floor, Room 203, PAGCOR House, #1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila

Date

April 06, 2016

Project Title

LEASE OF SPACE FOR A CASINO GAMING FACILITY IN MACTAN, CEBU FOR A PERIOD OF FIFTEEN (15) YEARS

ITB No.

NPLRP16-005CEB

Approved Budget for the Contract

The ABC for the project for the first (1st) year is Forty-Nine Million Eight Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Two Pesos and 32/100 (PhP 49,833,992.32), VAT Exclusive, ZeroRated Transaction, OR ONE BILLION TWENTY-SIX MILLION FIVE HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIXTY-EIGHT PESOS AND 23/100 (PhP 1,026,512,068.23), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction, for a period of fifteen (15) years.

Pre-Bid Conference

Pre-Screening of Documents

Deadline of Submission of Quotation

Opening of Quotation

: May 2, 2016 (Monday), 2:00 p.m. onwards (Sealed Quotation) Venue: 2nd Floor Conference Room 1 , Casino Filipino – Malate, No. 1588 New World Manila Bay Hotel, Mabini corner Pedro Gil Sts., Malate, Manila

VALIDITY OF OFFER:

Within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from the date of opening of quotations

TERM OF LEASE:

The delivery/required turn-over of the fit-out casino gaming facility (leased premises) should be turned over within One year from the effectivity date specified in the notice to proceed. The lease contract shall be for a period of fifteen (15) years but shall commence only upon PAGCOR’s acceptance.

NOTES:

Lessor shall submit their offer/quotation through their duly authorized representatives using this form only. This form must be completed without any alterations to their format and no substitute form shall be accepted. All blank spaces shall be filled in with the correct and accurate information as required.

Offers/quotations submitted exceeding the Approved Budget for the Contract shall be rejected.

The prices quoted are to be paid in Philippine Currency VATExclusive, Zero-Rated transaction.

All prices quoted are subject to all Philippine Tax Statutes, but should be VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

For the purpose of standardization of offers/quotations, this RFQ Form will prevail over all kinds and forms of quotation. In case of price discrepancy over the amounts in words and in figures, the amount in words will prevail.

Award of contract shall be made to the lowest calculated offer which complies with the minimum technical specifications and other terms and conditions stated in the contract of lease.

8. Tie-Breaking Methods

Venue: Second (2nd) Floor Conference Room 1, Casino Filipino – Malate, No. 1588 New World Manila Bay Hotel, Mabini corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila

1. 2. Opening of Quotation

In alphabetical order, the Lessors shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky Lessor who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final Lessor having the LCRQ and recommended for award of the contract.

Sir/Madam: In accordance with the Technical Specifications, Scope of Work and General Conditions for the aforementioned project stated herewith, kindly fill up and submit your lowest proposal on the requirements stated in the parameters stated in this Request for Quotation (RFQ). For any inquiries or clarifications, please contact the BASD at telephone numbers: 5211542 local 223 / 617 / 571 or 404-1338 and look for Ms. Darlene Nina P. Cornelio. Thank you. (SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1

(TS APR. 7, 2016)

Title and reference number for the project, and Name, address and contact details (telephone/cellphone number and/or email address).

May 02, 2016 (Monday), 10:00 a.m. onwards (Sealed Quotation) Venue: Second (2nd) Floor Conference Room 1, Casino Filipino – Malate, No. 1588 New World Manila Bay Hotel, Mabini corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila

VALIDITY OF OFFER:

Within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from the date of opening of quotations

TERM OF LEASE:

The delivery/required turn-over of the fit-out casino gaming facility (leased premises) should be turned over within One (1) Year from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed. The lease contract shall be for a period of fifteen (15) years but shall commence only upon PAGCOR’s acceptance.

NOTES:

Offers/quotations submitted exceeding the Approved Budget for the Contract shall be rejected.

The prices quoted are to be paid in Philippine Currency VATExclusive, Zero-Rated transaction.

All prices quoted are subject to all Philippine Tax Statutes, but should be VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Award of contract shall be made to the lowest calculated offer which complies with the minimum technical specifications and other terms and conditions stated in the contract of lease. Any interlineations, erasures or overwriting shall be valid only if they are signed or initiated by you or any of your duly authorized representative/s.

8. Tie-Breaking Methods

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more Lessors have been post-qualified and determined as the Lessor having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Quotation (LCRQ) to determine the final LCRB, based on the following procedures: a.

May 02, 2016 (Monday) , 10:00 a.m. (Sealed Quotation)

Please address the envelope containing the accomplished RFQ form and required documents to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1. The envelope shall bear the following information in capital letters:

Any interlineations, erasures or overwriting shall be valid only if they are signed or initialed by you or any of your duly authorized representative/s. PAGCOR shall have the right to inspect and/or to test the real property to confirm their conformity to the technical specifications.

April 25, 2016 (Monday) , 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Venue: Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), Room 203, 2nd Floor PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila

Please address the envelope containing the accomplished RFQ form and required documents to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1. The envelope shall bear the following information in capital letters: Title and reference number for the project, and Name, address and contact details (telephone/cellphone number and/or email address).

April 19, 2016 (Tuesday) , 4:00 p.m. Venue: Second (2nd) Floor Conference Room 1, Casino Filipino – Malate, No. 1588 New World Manila Bay Hotel, Mabini corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila

Venue: 2nd Floor Conference Room 1 , Casino Filipino – Malate, No. 1588 New World Manila Bay Hotel, Mabini corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila

1. 2.

good position to possibly finish in the top two which gives them a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Abueva had a lot to do with that. Should he continue his effective exploits, Alaska will have every reason to be positive heading to the quarterfinals. From the looks of it, the Aces will go as far as Abueva takes them. And they are hoping that it is the destination that they prefer.

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

Date

Pre-Bid Conference

Abueva scored nine of his team-high 21 points in the final six minutes as the Aces arrested a two-game skid with their victory. Alaska (6 wins, 3 losses) are in a tie at second place with the San Miguel Beermen (6-3) behind the Meralco Bolts (7-2) and already assured of a berth in the quarterfinals. So far, so good then for Abueva and his Aces. They are on course for a deep run in the upcoming playoffs and are in

PAGCOR shall have the right to inspect and/or to test the real property to confirm their conformity to the technical specifications.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final LCRB, based on the following procedures: a.

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

Sir/Madame: In accordance with the Technical Specifications, Scope of Work and General Conditions for the aforementioned project stated herewith, kindly fill up and submit your lowest proposal on the requirements stated in the parameters stated in this Request for Quotation (RFQ). For any inquiries or clarifications, please contact the Bids & Awards Services Department (BASD) at telephone numbers (02) 336-6906, (02) 524-3911 or (02) 521-1542 local 617 and 223 and look for Ms. Mary Ann J. Chavez. Thank you. (sgd.) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1

(TS APR. 7, 2016)

Doroy preserves perfect record By Arman Armero LAOAG City—Woman Fide Master Allaney Doroy outwitted Alexis Anne Osena in a difficult endgame to collect her eighth straight victory in the girls’ Under-16, even as WIM Janella Mae Fronda remained at the helm in the tough Open-20 (Boys) division in the 2016 National Age Group Chess Championship at the Mariano Marcos State University campus here. With the win, Doroy, a freshman at the National University, needs only to win the last three rounds in her category for a perfect 11-of-11 mark and earn a spot in the national team which will see action in the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship set in Pattaya, Thailand next month. The only other player in the week-long tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and hosted by the provincial government of Ilocos Norte who remained unscathed is Marjerie Janapin of Taguig with seven points in the girls’ Under-10, after Mark Bacojo settled for a draw in the eighth round of the boys’ Under-10. Meanwhile, the 19-yearold Frayna made short work of Kyz Llantada to improve her total to five points with only four rounds left to play in her group. In the girls’ Under-20, WIM Bernadette Galas settled for a draw against Rowelyn Joy Acedo to remain on top with 5.5, a half point ahead of WNM Jean Karen Enriquez who downed Mira Mirano to stay within striking distance at 5.0. In the boys’ Under-18, FEU student John Merill Jacutina won by walkover against Fernando Mendoza to retain his lead with 7.5 points, half a point ahead of Renzi Kyle Sevillano, who is a close second with seven points.

T H U R S DAY : A P R I L 7, 2 0 16

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Morales first to Antipolo in LBC-MVPSF Ronda ANTIPOLO CITY—Jan Paul Morales of NavyStandard Insurance promised a victory. He delivered one.

Showing the same form that won him the first two stages, Morales repelled serious challenges put up by his closest LBC-MVP Sports Foundation rivals and claimed Stage Three victory as promised to close in on the title in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016’s Luzon Leg at the Hinulugang Taktak here yesterday. The 30-year-old Morales clocked an hour, eight minutes and 25.81 seconds, completing a race hat-trick after he also topped the opening stage in Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna Sunday and the Talisay-Tagaytay Stage Three individual time trial Monday.

“I was confident going to Stage Three because I’m really in my best form this year,” said Morales, who hails from Calumpang, Marikina. LBC-MVPSF’s George Oconer put up another strong challenge and gave it all to snatch Stage Three out of Morales’ grasp. But he faded in the final stretch and settled for second in the stage with a clocking of 1:08:32.95. Another Navy bet, John Mark Camingao, edged LBC-MVPSF’s Rustom Lim for third place after the former timed in 1:08:37.99 against the latter’s 1:08:38.04. The stage triumph gave Morales another 15 points, hiking his total

to 45 general classification points or a massive 14-point lead over Oconer, who climbed from No. 3 to No. 2 with 31 points. Lim slid to No. 3 from No. 2 with 29. Morales added that only a series of unfortunate events could stop him from claiming his second leg championship. “All I need is to finish the race. I would be unlucky If I don’t,” said Morales. Several new unfamiliar faced barged into the stage top 10 usually clogged by Navy and LBC-MVPSF riders—LBC-MVPSF’s Arnold Marco and Ronnilan Quita, Team ASG’s Richard Nebres, and Ronnel Hualda of Team Light Science-AV. Marco finished fifth in 1:08:51.23 while Quita, the second placer in Stage Four of the

Visayas Leg last month, checked in at No. 6 in 1:08:51.35 even though he was with the the threeman lead pack in the final three laps before fading back. Hualda cracked the top 10 in the stage for the first time and wound up at No. 9 in 1:11:07.97. Other notable cyclists who made it the stage top 10 were Navy’s Joel Calderon at No. 8 in 1:08:56.08 and LBC-MVPSF’s Julius Mark Bonzo at No. 10 in 1:11:09.23. But the day belonged to Morales, who will need to just stick to his closest foes to secure his second leg victory since topping the Mindanao Leg two months ago. The race resumes tomorrow with the 94.41-kilometer Stage Four starting in Dagupan, Pangasinan and ending in Baguio City—a back-breaking route that

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 will see all participants pass through the dreaded Kennon Road. Quita, a native of San, Jose Tarlac—who made his mark by finishing second behind the veteran Calderon in Stage Four of the Visayas Leg in Roxas City last month—continued to impress and moved from No. 10 to No. 8 overall with 12 points. At Nos. 4 to 7 were Navy’s John Mark Camingao (25 points), LBC-MVPSF’s Ronald Lomotos (16), Calderon (15) and Navy’s Rudy Roque (13). Rounding up the top 10 were Navy’s El Joshua Carino (10) and LBC-MVPSF’s Arnold Marco (9).

Invitation to Bid for the Supply and Delivery of Four (4) Lots Various Beverages for the Satellite Operations Groups (SOGs) under ITB No. PB16-018 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Four (4) Lots Various Beverages for Satellite Operations Groups (SOGs) under ITB No. PB16-018. Lot No.

Brief Description

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) (VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction)

Delivery Schedule

Source of Funds

Supply and Delivery of 350mL Purified Bottled Water

Three Million Five Hundred Nineteen Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty-Five Pesos (Php3,519,755.00)

Internally Funded

Supply and Delivery of Softdrinks

Three Million Ninety Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Five Pesos and 53/100 (Php3,090,165.53)

Supply and Delivery of Juices in Can

One Million Eight Hundred FiftySeven Thousand Four Hundred Seventeen Pesos and 39/100 (Php1,857,417.39)

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents

Supply and Delivery of Beers in Can

Three Million Two Hundred FiftySix Thousand Two Hundred Twenty-Six Pesos and 40/100 (Php3,256,226.40)

TOTAL ABC

World class volleyball action. Team captains of PSL teams, from left: Jovelyn Gonzaga RCC Army, Abby Marano of F2 Logistics and Aiza Pontillas of Petron join the team captain and coach of Thailand team Est Cola, as well as other coaches during the launch of the final round of the 2016 PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Conference women’s volleyball tournament.

Lavazza wins 2016 Vanderbilt in Reno FOR the second time in SYLVIA LOPEZ a row, ALEJANDRO Lavazza wins the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams in Reno: Norberto Bocchi, Diego Brenner, Zia Mahmood, Giorgio Duboin, Alejandro Bianchedi, Agustin Madala. In the final match Lavazza defeated Cayne (James Cayne, Michael Seamon, Alfredo Versace, Lorenzo Lauria, Antonio Sementa, Mustafa Cem Tokay) by 164-111. -oOoA TOURNAMENT REPORT Bourbon Street Vanderbilt, IV Bart Bramley West dealer Both sides vulnerable North ♠1093 ♥K985 ♦A98 ♣874 West East ♠QJ7 ♠862 ♥762 ♥QJ10 ♦J7642 ♦Q105 ♣K6 ♣Q952 South ♠AK54 ♥A43 ♦K3 ♣AJ103

OPEN ROOM South West North East Zia Wold Duboin Jacobus Pass Pass Pass 2NT Pass 3NT (All Pass) CLOSED ROOM South West North East Greco Madala Hampson Bocchi Pass Pass Pass 1♣* Pass 1♦+ Pass 1NT§ Pass 3NT Pass *16-plus HCP + 0-7 HCP §18-19HCP In the Open Room, Zia was not tested after Wold guessed to lead the spade queen. Declarer eventually set up a third spade trick and used two dummy entries to take club finesses, ending with three spades and two of each: plus 600. In the Closed Room, Madala chose to lead the diamond six (attitude) from his moth-eaten five-card minor. Note that both leaders knew that partner had failed to open in third seat, which he might have done with a five-card major. Madala had the additional (thin) inference that Bocchi had passed up a second chance to bid at the one-level. Greco judged that the best hope was to find four-four diamonds, at least one club honor onside, and a three-three split in either hearts or clubs. Thus, he won the first trick

with his king and ducked a heart to East. Declarer took the next diamond with dummy’s ace and lost a club finesse to West, who had enough diamond winners to set the contractdown one, minus 100; 12 imps to Lavazza, which had crept within 13. Declarer might have judged that West was unlikely to lead from a mediocre four-card minor, some other lead would look more attractive, even a three-card major. (Note that in the Open Room Wold reject a five-card minor to lead a three-card major). If declarer had assumed five-three diamonds, the simplest route to success would have been to find three-three clubs with at least one honor onside. As the cards lie, that approach fails. There are winning lines, but they are all somewhat double-dummy. One way is to start with a middle club (which may require a later guess to drop LHO’s remaining honor); then, after winning the third round of diamonds, to duck a heart to RHO. Another way is to lose a spade, trick before ducking a heart to RHO; with both majors splitting, one club trick is enough. Of course, the heart layout is quite fortuitious: if LHO has any heart honor, he can play it on the first round, to destroy declarers entry to the long heart. Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@ yahoo.com

Eleven Million Seven Hundred Twenty-Three Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Four Pesos and 32/100 (Php11,723,564.32), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

Bidder should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidder. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

Schedule April 7, 2016 (Thursday) to April 27, 2016 (Wednesday)

2. Pre-Bid Conference

April 15, 2016 (Friday) at 10:00 a.m.

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

April 27, 2016 (Wednesday) at 10:00 a.m.

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

April 27, 2016 (Wednesday) at 10:00 a.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), upon payment of the non-refundable bidding fee based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos)

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

Prospective bidder may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidder shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidder. Prospective bidder should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from BASD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidder for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidder have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. In alphabetical order, the bidder shall pick one rolled paper. 2. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract. PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidder. Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru BASD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223 or 671. (SGD)RODERICK R. CONSOLACION (SGD) Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1

(TS-APR. 7, 2016)

A16

T H U R S DAY : A P R I L 7, 2 0 16 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

Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors shoots the basketball against Ricky Rubio (9) of the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 5, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The Warriors, chasing the legendary 1995-1996 Bulls team’s mark of 72 victories, slumped to a 124-117 loss to the Timberwolves, who have the third worst record in the Western Conference. AFP

Warriors’ bid falters after loss to Wolves OAKLAND—The Golden State Warriors’ bid to surpass the Chicago’s Bulls regular season record suffered a setback Tuesday as they crashed to a shock overtime defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors, chasing the legendary 1995-1996 Bulls team’s mark of 72 victories, slumped to a 124-117 loss to the Timberwolves, who have the third worst record in the Western Conference. The Warriors’ defeat means they must now win all four of their remaining games—which include two meetings with the secondranked San Antonio Spurs —to get to 73 victories. The Warriors (69-9) had looked to be cruising to a straightforward win after

How far can Abueva take Alaska? TURN TO A14

accelerating into a 17-point lead in the second half. But Minnesota rallied superbly and a 35-point haul from Shabazz Muhammad—the best of his career—and 32 points from Andrew Wiggins inspired a fightback which left the Golden State home crowd in stunned silence. Warriors main man Stephen Curry struggled to find his range all night, finishing with 21 points but making only four of 14 three point attempts as Golden State

tumbled to their second home defeat in the space of three games after last Friday’s loss to Boston. A disappointed Curry rejected suggestions the drive for the record was weighing on the reigning NBA champions. “I don’t think so,” Curry said. “We’ve put ourselves in a position that it’s a realistic goal and we’ve got to embrace the challenge. “It’s obviously not easy to get it done – we’re proving that right now. But I don’t think it’s anything that’s weighing us down on the floor or anything like that. “We just haven’t played well in two of the last three home games. It’s amplified now because we’re so

close to the goal.” Meanwhile, LeBron James scored 17 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged closer to locking up home advantage for the playoffs with a 109-80 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks. James had a relatively quiet night, with his points haul matched by Kevin Love and surpassed by J.R. Smith, who finished with 21. It was Cleveland’s fourth straight victory and left them with a record of 56-22 at the top of the Eastern Conference with four games left. The only team capable of catching them at the top of the standings are the Toronto Raptors, who are 51-25 with five left to play.

Day, Spieth and Rory trigger excitement TURN TO A13

In Denver, Russell Westbrook banked his 17th triple double of the season as the Oklahoma City Thunder thumped the Nuggets 124-102. Westbrook weighed in with 13 points, 12 assists and 14 rebounds as he became the first player since Magic Johnson in 1988-89 to make 17 triple doubles in a season. “It’s a great honor,” Westbrook said. “Whenever you’re mentioned in the same sentence as Magic, it’s always great. That’s something you never take for granted.” Westbrook bagged his latest triple-double after assisting Andre Roberson’s dunk during the third quarter. AFP

Local squads ready for Est Cola

THREE local squads promise to give Est Cola of Thailand a good fight in the final round of the Philippine Super Liga Invitational Volleyball 2016. RC Cola-Army coach Kung Fu Reyes, F2 Logistics’ Mayee Prochina and Petron Tri-Activ’s George Pascua vowed to do this when they play a round-robin encounter beginning today at the Arena in San Jia. The Thai squad will first meet F2 Logistics at 4 p.m. “We had good training just for this. This will be a tough competition, the final round,” said Prochina during a gathering yesterday at the Viking’ Restaurant at the SM By The Bay in Pasay City. Est Cola, coached by Chaman Dokmai, will play with four spikers who saw action in the Asian U-23 Championship held in Manila last year. The team includes 23-year-old middle blocker Jarasporn Bundasak and 20-year-old setter Parinya Pankaew, who both saw action in the Asian Championship in Tianjin, China, Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia and the Asian U23 Championship in Manila. Last week, the La Salle Lady Spikers beat the younger Thai squad, 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11, in a tuneup match. “This will be good exposure for my players. Most of them are young, and the Philippines has strong teams,” said Dokmai. Dokmai, who once coached the Thai team in the ASEAN University Games with Ateneo de Manila mentor Tai Bundit as his assistant. Peter Atencio

THURSDAY: APRIL 7, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Madrid Fusion sponsor. San Miguel Pure Foods Company Inc., through food service arm Great Food Solutions, is once again supporting the Madrid Fusion Manila international congress and trade expo, which is set to open on April 7 to 9 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Madrid Fusion Manila is a project of the Tourism Department and Tourism Board of the Philippines that aims to promote the country as the center of culinary excellence in Asia. Shown are (from left) Tourism Department officer-in-charge for market development group Verna Buensuceso, Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers Inc. president Jing Lagandaon, San Miguel Pure Foods Company Inc. president Francisco Alejo III and Great Food Solutions vice president and general manager Helene Pontejos.

Megawide-GMR eyes partners for Cebu lot By Darwin G. Amojelar

MEGAWIDE-GMR Consortium said Wednesday it is in talks with the SM Group and other local and foreign companies to develop a six-hectare property adjacent to the Mactan Cebu International Airport into a mixed-use real estate development.

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. president Louie Ferrer told reporters his company was negotiating with eight local and foreign firms, including SM Prime Holdings Inc., to develop a six-hectare property beside the airport into commercial development with hotels, malls and parking areas. “We will lease out the property. [But] we are still finalizing the bidding terms. We will start the bidding in two months from now,” Ferrer said. Megawide is partly owned by the Philippines’ richest man, Henry Sy, the owner of SM Group. Ferrer said GMCAC expected the mixed-use real estate project to be completed by 2018, in time for the first phase of the modernization of the Mactan Cebu International Airport. Ferrer said GMCAC was targeting to complete the first phase of the airport in October 2018, bringing the total annual passenger capacity to 13 million from the terminal’s original capacity of 4.5 million passengers per annum. GMCAC the number of airport passengers reached 8 million in 2015, up from 7.2 million in 2014. “For this year, we expect to grow by double-digits,” Ferrer said. Passenger traffic is expected to reach 28 million by the end of the concession period. GMCAC spent $15 million or about P700 million in Terminal 1 renovations so far. GMR-Megawide Consortium won a 25-year concession agreement in December 2013 that involved the renovation of the Terminal 1 of Mactan Cebu airport as well as the design, financing, construction and operation of a second terminal. It submitted the highest bid of P14.4 billion. The P14.4-billion premium paid by GMR-Megawide was on top of the P17.5 billion to be spent on a new passenger terminal. Project funding for MCIA was completed in 2014 through a consortium of the country’s leading banks led by BDO Capital and Investment Corp. and the Asian Development Bank. The GMR Group said it also won an arbitration case against the government of Maldives over the cancellation of the Male airport contract in 2012. The GMR Group signed a 25-year concession agreement with Maldives and the Maldives Airport Company Limited for the modernization and

operation of Male’s Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in 2010, a project worth $500 million. After a change of government, Maldives terminated the contract two years later.

Electricity rates set to rise in April —Meralco By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER rates will go up by P0.22 per kilowatt-hour this month, on higher generation charges and implementation of the feed-in tariff allowance, Manila Electric Co. said Wednesday. “Main drivers for this increase in the rate are the higher generation charge and the imposition of an additional P0.08 per kWh on the feed-in tariff allowance,” Meralco said in a statement. The power retailer said for a typical household consuming 200 kWh, this month’s adjustment would translate into an increase of P44 in their electricity bill. Meralco said the higher demand due to the hot weather resulted in higher charges from the wholesale electricity spot market, the country’s trading floor of electricity . “The increase in the rates was primarily due to the generation charge, which increased by P0.10 per kWh from last month. At P4.10 per kWh, it is P1.31 per kWh lower compared to April 2015’s P5.41 per kWh,” Meralco said. The company attributed the increase in the generation charge to the higher charges from WESM, which went up by P2.23 per kWh. Peak demand in the Luzon grid increased by more than 500 MW from the February to the March supply months, with the onset of the dry period. Meralco said costs of energy sourced from power supply agreements and independent power producers registered slight reductions of P0.02 and P0.01 per kWh, respectively.

THURSDAY: APRIL 7, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, april 6, 2016

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

79 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 1450 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

34.1 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 801 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 837 5.3

76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 9.66 0.0670 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 3 0.030 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 26.95 1.99 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201

6.74 12 0.65 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.55 3.1 46.3 46.1 101.70 100.20 90.20 88.80 39.2 39 2.88 2.82 1.37 1.37 14.5 14.1 16 15.6 7.75 7.59 630.00 630.00 0.620 0.590 84.5 82.9 0.96 0.96 14.88 14.82 53.00 52.50 280 280 31.8 30.7 177.1 174.8 1350.00 1320.00 58.00 57.45 1.62 1.57 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp. 43.05 43.4 42.75 Agrinurture Inc. 4.8 5.02 4.78 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.75 0.74 0.7 Alsons Cons. 1.41 1.45 1.39 Asiabest Group 11 11 10.8 Bogo Medelin 55.05 58.7 56 Century Food 18.8 18.8 18.62 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 360 437 355 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 19.7 19.92 19.1 Concepcion 45.3 48.95 45 Crown Asia 2.5 2.53 2.45 Da Vinci Capital 5.6 5.92 5.5 Del Monte 11.16 11.26 11.16 DNL Industries Inc. 9.200 9.190 8.980 Emperador 7.69 7.81 7.56 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.84 5.89 5.84 EEI 7.70 7.90 7.60 Euro-Med Lab 1.75 1.61 1.61 First Gen Corp. 21.75 22 21.25 First Holdings ‘A’ 68 69.8 68.05 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 13.60 13.80 13.60 13.76 13.94 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.96 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.92 5.95 5.91 Ionics Inc 2.600 2.880 2.600 Jollibee Foods Corp. 230.00 230.00 227.00 LBC Express 11 11 10.9 Liberty Flour 35.00 34.90 34.90 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.53 4.5 3.5 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.25 26.2 25.8 Maxs Group 22.2 22.1 21 Megawide 6.3 6.32 6.2 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 323.00 329.00 232.00 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.77 3.77 3.74 Petron Corporation 9.90 10.26 9.90 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.54 11.50 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.39 4.35 4.22 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.69 1.70 1.67 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.68 2.7 2.66 RFM Corporation 4.23 4.28 4.20 Roxas and Co. 2.79 3.6 2.6 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ 178 180 178 SPC Power Corp. 4.56 4.62 4.56 Splash Corporation 2.5 2.5 2.48 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.158 0.159 0.157 TKC Steel Corp. 1.32 1.31 1.23 Trans-Asia Oil 2.65 2.70 2.61 Universal Robina 218 218 214.6 Victorias Milling 4.6 4.6 4.6 Vitarich Corp. 0.81 0.85 0.77 Vivant Corp. 28.00 39.00 27.95 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.24 1.32 1.16 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. À’ 0.360 0.365 0.350 Aboitiz Equity 64.00 64.20 63.40 Alliance Global Inc. 16.60 16.70 16.42 Anglo Holdings A 1.10 1.40 1.11 Anscor À’ 6.10 6.10 6.06 ATN Holdings A 0.285 0.295 0.285 ATN Holdings B 0.290 0.290 0.290 Ayala Corp À’ 743 747 740 Cosco Capital 7.43 7.43 7.35 DMCI Holdings 12.78 12.82 12.52 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.25 5.18 5.05 F&J Prince ‘B’ 5.13 5.11 5.11 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.95 5.07 4.96 GT Capital 1369 1398 1313 House of Inv. 6.35 6.40 6.33 IPM Holdings 9.77 9.78 9.70 JG Summit Holdings 78.50 79.55 77.65 Keppel Holdings À’ 5.35 5.4 5.35 Lopez Holdings Corp. 6.96 6.93 6.81 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.68 0.7 0.68 LT Group 15.76 15.78 15.64 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.7 5.82 5.72 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.43 3.43 3.4 Pacifica À’ 0.0340 0.0340 0.0330 Prime Orion 1.970 1.960 1.930 San Miguel Corp À’ 76.60 76.60 76.05 SM Investments Inc. 960.00 960.50 940.50 Solid Group Inc. 1.17 1.20 1.15 Top Frontier 185.000 187.000 179.800 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3100 0.3100 0.3050 Wellex Industries 0.2000 0.2030 0.1940 Zeus Holdings 0.290 0.290 0.290 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.770 7.800 7.650 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.75 7.74 7.74 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.14 1.22 1.10 Ayala Land `B’ 35.000 35.150 34.800 Belle Corp. À’ 2.98 2.98 2.95 Cebu Holdings 5.17 5.2 5.15 Century Property 0.550 0.57 0.540 City & Land Dev. 1.00 1.00 1.00 Cityland Dev. À’ 0.980 1.000 1.000 Crown Equities Inc. 0.126 0.126 0.125 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC À’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

SHARES 11,614,588 111,213,238 56,137,437 131,299,367 200,457,461 315,839,245 830,208,857

3.1 46.4 101.50 90.90 39 2.85 1.32 14.46 15.98 7.40 640.00 0.620 83 0.96 14.80 52.60 287.5 31.9 176.9 1375.00 57.60 1.56

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.27 46.3 101.10 89.70 39.2 2.88 1.37 14.42 15.6 7.60 630.00 0.590 84.5 0.96 14.88 52.70 280 31 175.6 1321.00 57.45 1.58

5.48 -0.22 -0.39 -1.32 0.51 1.05 3.79 -0.28 -2.38 2.70 -1.56 -4.84 1.81 0.00 0.54 0.19 -2.61 -2.82 -0.73 -3.93 -0.26 1.28

1,140,000 19,300 1,696,620 922,690 198,500 19,000 1,000 16,500 77,200 8,700 10 4,707,000 1,256,750 100,000 87,500 4,950 1,330 270,000 1,004,790 180 70,620 11,000

-152,680.00 633,370.00 -67,510,992 3,995,985.50 2,692,480.00

42.8 5 0.74 1.39 11 58.7 18.68 372 19.38 47 2.45 5.62 11.22 9.050 7.69 5.86 7.80 1.61 21.6 69.55 13.80 13.76 5.91 2.670 228.00 10.9 34.90 4.3 26 22.1 6.32 329.00 3.74 10.20 11.54 4.34 1.68 2.7 4.25 2.9 180 4.62 2.5 0.158 1.23 2.64 215 4.6 0.78 33.00 1.31

-0.58 4.17 -1.33 -1.42 0.00 6.63 -0.64 3.33 -1.62 3.75 -2.00 0.36 0.54 -1.63 0.00 0.34 1.30 -8.00 -0.69 2.28 1.47 -1.43 -0.17 2.69 -0.87 -0.91 -0.29 21.81 -0.95 -0.45 0.32 1.86 -0.80 3.03 0.35 -1.14 -0.59 0.75 0.47 3.94 1.12 1.32 0.00 0.00 -6.82 -0.38 -1.38 0.00 -3.70 17.86 5.65

1,208,000 1,828,000 431,000 2,462,000 400 30 1,082,800 11,980 193,500 665,500 796,000 1,934,200 73,200 4,861,500 2,650,400 9,108,100 789,800 4,000 3,048,700 144,000 2,100 20,600 148,100 30,338,000 487,650 2,700 200 547,000 1,434,000 736,300 35,100 199,220 1,304,000 11,064,000 16,500 134,000 143,000 186,000 324,000 215,000 116,460 96,000 12,000 1,840,000 229,000 5,526,000 2,462,590 29,000 12,084,000 18,700 9,942,000

-4,655,875.00 -1,044,660.00

0.350 64.00 16.64 1.16 6.06 0.285 0.290 743.5 7.36 12.60 5.18 5.11 4.96 1352 6.33 9.78 78.00 5.4 6.93 0.68 15.64 5.79 3.4 0.0330 1.930 76.60 944.50 1.18 187.000 0.3100 0.1960 0.290

-2.78 0.00 0.24 5.45 -0.66 0.00 0.00 0.07 -0.94 -1.41 -1.33 -0.39 0.20 -1.24 -0.31 0.10 -0.64 0.93 -0.43 0.00 -0.76 1.58 -0.87 -2.94 -2.03 0.00 -1.61 0.85 1.08 0.00 -2.00 0.00

220,000 1,348,020 5,155,300 749,000 7,200 270,000 170,000 60,920 543,400 3,542,600 39,700 1,000 872,000 176,685 157,400 1,829,300 529,420 800 2,276,100 117,000 3,326,500 18,333,800 22,000 10,500,000 2,007,000 101,520 231,670 268,000 43,180 480,000 1,080,000 60,000

7.800 7.74 1.20 35.000 2.95 5.15 0.570 1.00 1.000 0.126

0.39 -0.13 5.26 0.00 -1.01 -0.39 3.64 0.00 2.04 0.00

149,000 1,900 7,284,000 8,516,200 631,000 8,000 3,386,000 5,000 2,000 3,130,000

-267,716.00 230,500.00 16,602,974.50 -22,230.00 -95,465.50 336,000.00 -80,405 1,392,249.00

-119,454.00 62,144.00 2,110,650 -31,870.00 4,189,679.00 -513,310.00 -16,016,552.00 -1,487,306.00 -6,195,097.00 1,519,574.00 -3,451,675.00 -1,505,352.50 -145,772.00 -59,500.00 -18,380,930.00 7,867,010.00

-5,474,600.00 -3,082,430.00 166,943.00 12,953,854.00 425,060.00 9,194,429.00 582,080.00 -15,030.00 2,670.00 258,600.00 -17,304,950.00 -18,400.00

3,222,550.00 10,708,238.00 115,000.00 129,980.00 -2,200.00

14,219,083.50 -4,894,574.00

14,618,040.00 2,123,685.00 -16,740,012.00

-48,390,830.00 84,189.00 -11,460,947.00 -2,778,576.00 -5,784,378.00 4,098,641.00

-481,572.50 -72,140,270.00

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 2.6 7.67 4 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 1.6 4.8 2.58 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ 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 Pet. À’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 525 12.28 111

33 500 6.5 101

84.8

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

-17,980.00

-117,000.00 -14,706.00 59,000.00 13,917,555.00 485,820.00 26,000.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

High

VALUE 567,402,603.40 1,412,241,991.424 1,028,706,933.01 954,158,244.50 886,792,557.25 212,808,722.714 5,125,124,092.294

FINANCIAL 1,616.96 (down) 4.20 INDUSTRIAL 11,770.31 (down) 39.51 HOLDING FIRMS 7,022.17 (down) 42.99 PROPERTY 2,923.12 (down) 14.04 SERVICES 1,510.87 (down) 12.79 MINING & OIL 10,569.88 (down) 108.36 PSEI 7,180.55 (down) 38.68 All Shares Index 4,170.74 (down) 13.54 Gainers: 82; Losers: 99; Unchanged: 46; Total: 227

0.510 38 0.850 0.155 1.05 1.80 1.39 4.20 3.96 0.091 0.2490 0.520 8.68 28.00 1.52 3.08 21.90 0.93 6.35 1.170 4.760

0.520 0.500 0.510 37.5 36.7 37.1 0.880 0.850 0.880 0.154 0.154 0.154 1.07 1.04 1.04 1.80 1.77 1.80 1.39 1.39 1.39 4.20 4.20 4.20 4.03 3.94 3.99 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.2440 0.2380 0.2440 0.520 0.510 0.520 8.7 8.7 8.7 28.25 27.00 27.75 1.53 1.52 1.52 3.1 3.08 3.1 21.95 21.45 21.65 0.94 0.88 0.89 6.62 6.35 6.62 1.170 1.110 1.150 4.780 4.700 4.720 SERVICES 7.47 7.45 7.3 7.3 57.15 57.5 55.5 55.6 1.26 1.26 1.26 1.26 0.580 0.590 0.580 0.580 10.64 11 10.96 11 28.5 28.5 28.5 28.5 4.75 4.81 4.63 4.72 0.0610 0.0630 0.0600 0.0630 3.22 3.26 3.19 3.24 89.1 89.95 88.9 89.95 1.61 1.78 1.61 1.7 6.96 6.93 6.65 6.85 4.20 3.50 3.05 3.34 2060 2050 2008 2050 6.98 7.00 6.92 6.98 25.00 24.05 24.05 24.05 1.22 1.27 1.26 1.26 66 66.15 64.35 64.5 18.32 20.90 17.00 19.00 200 240 220 220 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.295 0.310 0.290 0.300 1.4700 1.5800 1.4300 1.4300 2.2 2.3 2.22 2.22 7.63 7.99 7.60 7.78 3.96 4.00 3.80 3.97 24.85 24.35 24.35 24.35 0.560 0.560 0.550 0.550 1.96 2 1.96 1.96 2.31 2.31 2.22 2.26 3.80 3.89 3.78 3.86 0.275 0.300 0.270 0.300 1.660 1.780 1.540 1.710 17.8 18 17.5 17.5 5.00 5.10 5.09 5.10 118.00 118.00 110.00 117.00 21.90 21.90 21.55 21.90 1930.00 1940.00 1910.00 1910.00 0.890 0.880 0.860 0.880 37.00 37.10 36.80 37.00 73.70 75.05 72.10 74.50 6.33 6.38 6.20 6.33 3.49 3.48 3.38 3.48 0.600 0.590 0.630 0.630 2.06 2.2 1.82 2.09 3.62 3.65 3.6 3.61 5.230 5.490 5.130 5.130 MINING & OIL 0.0045 0.0045 0.0044 0.0044 2.05 2.05 2.05 2.05 4.30 4.40 4.22 4.35 0.240 0.250 0.250 0.250 7.4800 8.1 7.09 7.7500 7.6800 7.9700 6.9100 7.9700 0.63 0.63 0.62 0.63 0.480 0.490 0.490 0.490 8.25 8.25 7.99 8.25 0.810 0.820 0.800 0.810 0.285 0.290 0.285 0.285 0.255 0.270 0.255 0.255 0.280 0.290 0.270 0.270 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 2.02 2 1.94 1.96 4.98 4.97 4.72 4.74 2.61 2.61 2.6 2.61 0.0098 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 3.77 3.80 3.80 3.80 5.32 5.49 5.34 5.40 2.07 2.24 2.07 2.22 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 129.40 129.50 128.00 128.00 2.36 2.5 2.36 2.5 0.0081 0.0100 0.0091 0.0096 PREFERRED 56.5 56.5 54 55 528 528 520 520 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 109.9 109.9 109.9 109.9 103.6 103.7 103.7 103.7 81 80.95 80.5 80.95 75.6 75.6 75.5 75.6 75.5 76 75.5 75.5 76.8 76.8 76.6 76.75 76.1 76.3 76.3 76.3 75.1 75.1 75.05 75.05 75 75 74.9 75 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.010 3.250 3.000 3.220 SME 4.28 4.28 4.26 4.26 3.54 3.68 3.55 3.68 3.1 3.11 3.09 3.1 18.82 19.18 17.92 18.54 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.5 118.5 117.4 118

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.00 -2.37 3.53 -0.65 -0.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.76 -1.10 -2.01 0.00 0.23 -0.89 0.00 0.65 -1.14 -4.30 4.25 -1.71 -0.84

3,449,000 869,500 55,000 90,000 3,871,000 10,784,000 60,000 7,000 60,107,000 220,000 390,000 37,000 3,000 2,744,800 183,000 5,000 11,153,500 6,887,000 2,500 3,115,000 4,140,000

-2.28 -2.71 0.00 0.00 3.38 0.00 -0.63 3.28 0.62 0.95 5.59 -1.58 -20.48 -0.49 0.00 -3.80 3.28 -2.27 3.71 10.00 0.00 1.69 -2.72 0.91 1.97 0.25 -2.01 -1.79 0.00 -2.16 1.58 9.09 3.01 -1.69 2.00 -0.85 0.00 -1.04 -1.12 0.00 1.09 0.00 -0.29 -4.76 1.46 -0.28 -1.91

47,100 126,540 18,000 359,000 12,100 500 2,468,000 36,770,000 419,000 287,020 56,000 252,600 26,000 81,810 55,200 500 9,000 726,190 348,200 370 5,500,000 47,450,000 26,235,000 73,000 50,500 507,000 100 13,000 89,000 8,355,000 1,373,000 1,870,000 41,502,000 56,400 32,000 76,690 122,500 39,465 3,773,000 4,530,900 2,191,340 308,100 1,420,000 11,103,000 34,000 673,000 147,100

-2.22 0.00 1.16 4.17 3.61 3.78 0.00 2.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.57 0.00 -7.69 -2.97 -4.82 0.00 -1.02 0.80 1.50 7.25 0.00 -1.08 5.93 18.52

126,000,000 3,000 191,000 -51,920.00 30,000 673,300 75,000 358,000 630.00 70,000 800 4,901,000 1,620.00 20,000 58,970,000 1,240,000 13,300,000 3,000,000 2,400.00 581,000 3,721,000 -5,795,570.00 3,000 30,000,000 2,000 1,028,800 -985,891.00 2,219,000 -102,370.00 1,000,000 1,203,730 -89,674,959.00 136,000 67,000,000

-2.65 -1.52 0.00 0.00 0.10 -0.06 0.00 0.00 -0.07 0.26 -0.07 0.00

443,490 2,970 100,000 20 1,000 10,020 33,600 6,000 44,800 2,500 142,620 59,650

6.98

312,000

-0.47 3.95 0.00 -1.49

3,000 18,000 247,000 3,374,500

-0.42

5,020

7,631,395.00 -159,000.00 -1,914,760.00 -83,400.00 -51,179,810.00

-13,730,010.00 -129,962,150.00 -119,300.00 2,594,800.00 42,210.00

133,016.00 -5,876,960.00 3,211,212.00 -48,300.00 -28,486,210.00

-31,338,569.00

-58,150.00 -45,300.00 38,352.00 2,470.00

-5,913,160.00 1,309,770.00 -3,000.00 5,659,240.00 17,850.00 -159,840.00 -13,829,635.00 469,430.00 -52,684,184.99 21,923,857.00 126,240.00 283,770.00 -798,400.00 -213,210.00

-13,274,223.50

103,700.00 37,800.00 134,050.00

1,240,058.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Mabuhay Vinyl

4.3

21.81

Easy Call "Common"

3.34

United Paragon

0.0096

18.52

Euro-Med Lab

1.61

-20.48 -8.00

Vivant Corp.

33.00

17.86

Manila Mining `B'

0.0120

-7.69

Imperial Res. `B'

220

10.00

TKC Steel Corp.

1.23

-6.82

MG Holdings

0.300

9.09

MEDCO Holdings

0.590

-4.84

PhilexPetroleum

2.22

7.25

Nickelasia

4.74

-4.82

LR Warrant

3.220

6.98

STI Holdings

0.600

-4.76

Bogo Medelin

58.7

6.63

Sta. Lucia Land Inc.

0.89

-4.30

TA Petroleum

2.5

5.93

Sun Life Financial

1321.00

-3.93

Vulcan Ind'l.

1.31

5.65

Grand Plaza Hotel

24.05

-3.80

THURSDAY: APRIL 7, 2016

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

Stocks decline; Petron climbs

GSIS award. Government Service Insurance System receives the coveted seal of Island of Good Governance during the Public Governance

Forum held on March 29,at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City. GSIS chairman Renato de Guzman (seated, fifth from left) and president and general manager Robert Vergara (seventh from left) displaythe medallion and certificate after the conferment of the seal by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia. They are joined by ISA chairman Francisco Duque III (fourth from left) and ISA chairman Emeritus Jesus Estanislao (sixth from left).

Filinvest’s net profit increases 13% to P7b By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST Development Corp., the listed holding company of the Gotianun family, said net income in 2015 climbed 13 percent to P7 billion from P6.2 billion in 2014 on the strong performance of core businesses. FDC said in a regulatory filing consolidated revenues jumped 28 percent to P49.27 billion from P38.55 billion in 2014. While the group’s real estate and banking units continue to account for the bulk of its sales, FDC started recognizing revenues from its power generation business due to fullyear operations of the Unified Leyte and Mt. Apo 1 and two geothermal power plants in

2015. Sales from real estate operations rose 12 percent to P21.08 billion, boosted by residential and rental revenues, while sales of the financial and banking services unit increased 13 percent to P18.14 billion. Revenues from power generation operations surged by more than 5,800 percent to P6.21 billion from just P104.4 million in 2014.

The group’s sugar sales increased to P2.51 billionillion in 2015, up 6 percent from a year ago level, mainly due to higher selling prices. Hotel revenues climbed 16 percent to P1.28 billion in 2015, driven by higher occupancy rate. The Gotianun group in 2011 ventured into power generation in a bid to form the third leg of the FDC conglomerate The company aims to put up multiple power generation projects in the next five years across the Philippines. The group is presently prioritizing the biggest power project in Mindanao, the 405MW FDC Misamis power plant. Three 105-MW units will be commissioned one by one until full completion in 2016. Meanwhile, real estate unit

Filivest Land Inc. remains positive about the property market as it plans to launch P14.4 billion worth of residential projects in 2016 Filinvest Land said it was preparing 12 horizontal developments with a total sales value of P7.2 billion and two high-rise buildings with estimated revenues of P4.9 billion. It also lined up three new medium-rise buildings and two additional MRB buildings within existing developments with a total sales value of P2.3 billion. FDC’s total consolidated assets stood at P419 billion at the end of December 31, 2015, while total liabilities and total equity amounted to P322 billion and P97 billion, respectively.

THE stock market fell Wednesday on profit taking and worries about the global economy. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 38.68 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,180.55 on a value turnover of P5.1 billion. Losers beat gainers, 99 to 82, with 46 issues unchanged. SM Investments Corp., the holding company of retail tycoon Henry Sy, dropped 1.6 percent to P944.50, while Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, declined 1.4 percent to P215. Petron Corp., the bigger of the two oil refineries, rose 3 percent to P10.20, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll road, water and electricity distribution and hospitals, gained 1.6 perdent to P5.79. Most Asian markets, meanwhile, edged up Wednesday but early gains from an oil rally tapered off, with worries about the global economy and the upcoming earnings season keeping traders on edge. Broader stock markets were mostly up but off their earlier highs. Tokyo ended down 0.1 percent, retreating for a seventh straight day as a strong yen overshadowed a surge in utilities after a court ruled the country’s two operating nuclear reactors can remain online. The Nikkei has lost more than eight percent since its close on Monday last week. Hong Kong ended up 0.2 percent, while Shanghai broke a four-day rally to close 0.1 percent lower. Taipei shed 1.7 percent as dealers there returned from a two-day holiday. Sydney and Seoul each added 0.4 percent while Singapore was up 0.3 percent. In early European trade London and Frankfurt each climbed 0.2 percent and Paris added 0.3 percent. The return of nervousness to global markets put further pressure on the dollar, which was sitting at 17-month lows against the yen. AFP

2 major RCBC stockholders purchase shares, raise stakes TWO of the biggest shareholders of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. have purchased an additional $9.48 million worth of stocks after the bank’s share price dropped significantly due to the ongoing money laundering investigation of the Senate. RCBC said in a regulatory filing top shareholder Pan Malayan Management and Investment Corp last week bought 8.8 million shares at P30 apiece, raising its stake to 42.31 percent from 41.68 percent. Taiwan’s Cathay Life Insurance, a unit of Cathay Financial Holding

Co. Ltd., bought 5.8 million shares also at P30 apiece, upping its stake to 22.71 percent from 22.3 percent. RCBC said their combined stakes totalled 65.02 percent RCBC is at the center of a Senate investigation into a cyber heist, in which $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh Bank’s account at the US Federal Reserve Bank of New York was allegedly deposited with RCBC. The price of RCBC shares fell to 52-week low of P28.75 per share on March 22 after the bank was placed under investigation.

Share price of RCBC dropped 2.8 percent to P31 in Wednesday trading. Meanwhile, three more big business groups—Ayala Corp., JG Summit Group and Phinma Group of companies—are the latest business groups that vouched for the integrity of the management of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. “RCBC has been a reliable and consistent supporter of Ayala›s energy and infrastructure projects. We hope to continue this partnership as we pursue more initiatives that contribute to na-

tional development,” said Ayala, AC Energy Holdings Inc. and AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. president and chief executive Eric Francia. JG Summit president and chief operating officer Lance Gokongwei expressed his group›s solidarity and confidence in RCBC. “RCBC has for many decades been a strong supporter of the JG Summit Group, and has been a vital partner in our continuing growth; with a team of RCBC professionals providing us a full suite of banking products includ-

ing cash management, deposits, loans and transaction services,” Gokongwei said. “In the many years of our partnership, the JG Summit Group and RCBC have operated under a relationship of deep trust and confidence. We expect this relationship to remain unwavering, and fully expect it to further deepen and strengthen in the coming years. Rest assured of our continuing trust and partnership in your leadership and RCBC in the decades to come,” he added.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Insular building management. Insular Life signs an agreement with Colliers International and KMC Mag Group for the co-landlord

representation of the new Insular Life Building in Makati City. As co-landlord representatives, the two companies will be responsible for the pre-selection of tenants for the new Insular Life Makati Building, which is undergoing renovation and will be completed by February 2017. Insular Life is also building a 5-story car park building. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) Colliers International associate director Bryan David and managing director David Young, Insular Life vice president and real property division head Hector Caunan, KMC managing director Michael McCullough and vice president for business development Yves Luehti.

BSP warns banks against laundering By Julito G. Rada

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Wednesday asked banks to practice extra caution when dealing with foreign exchange dealers, money changers and remittance agents to prevent money laundering. Bangko Sentral issued a memorandum urging banks to be vigilant and to perform enhanced due diligence upon onboarding and during transaction monitoring, consistent with regulations and bank’s procedures as provided under the money laundering and terrorist financing preventionprogram. “The bank’s MLPP should contain appropriate risk management practices to ensure that money laundering and terrorist financing risks arising from dealings with FXDs, MCs and RAs are effectively identified, assessed, monitored, mitigated and controlled,” Bangko Sentral said.

“To this end, banks should ensure the soundness and adequacy of their risk management policies and practices in dealing with FXDs, MCs and RAs…,” it said. Bangko Sentral said banks should only deal with foreign exchange dealers, money changers and remittance agents registered with the regulator. It said when dealing with remittance agents as remittance partners, banks had the ultimate responsibility for conducting appropriate due diligence to ensure they were not used as channel for money laundering and terrorist financing. “Bank’s tie-up relationship with such customers shall not be used to circumvent existing regulations,” it said. Bangko Sentral issued the memorandum, amid reports a Philippine bank and a remittance company were used as conduits for the laundering of $81 million funds stolen by computer hackers from the account of Bangladesh’s central bank in the New York Federal Reserve. Bangko Sentral said banks should conduct risk assessment of the foreign exchange

dealers, money changers and remittance agents, considering relevant factors such as business operations, types of customers, product/service availed, distribution channel, jurisdictions they are exposed to and expected account activity. “By the nature of their business, they may inherently pose higher money laundering/terrorist financing risk which should be appropriately identified, monitored and mitigated,” it said. Bangko Sentral said part of the banks’ due diligence process included requiring these foreign exchange traders to show proof of registration with Bangko Sentral; evaluating the business operations and customer profile of the foreign exchange dealers, money changers and remittance agents; requiring them to submit a proof of registration with the AntiMoney Laundering Council; and obtaining senior management approval for establishing business relationship in accordance with the bank’s risk management policy. “Unsatisfactory result of the due diligence process shall be a ground for denying the business relationship,” Bangko Sentral said.

Japanese company acquires 5% of Harbor Star Shipping By Jenniffer B. Austria DAITO Corp. of Japan has acquired a minority interest in Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., a leading provider of harbor assistance, lighterage, salvage and towing services in the country. Daito acquired a 5-percent interest in Harbor Star by buying shares from the market on Feb. 2 to March 23 at P1.16 to P1.32 per share. Daito also acquired some shares in Great Eastern Tug, a non-listed company that also owns a stake in Harbor Star.

Daito is also in the business of providing tugboat services in Yokohama and Chiba, Japan. The Japanese firm said it would like to “strengthen its business partnership with Harbor Star and contribute to the expansion of the tugboat business in the Philippines where economic growth remains to be promising.” Harbor Star signed an agreement with Guam Industrial Services Inc. last month to establish a joint venture company that will operate several floating dry dock facilities in the Philippines.

The joint venture company intends to cater to the growing demand for additional dry dock facilities in the Philippines. The target clients include foreign and domestic vessels in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. It plans to service vessels as long as 190 meters and as wide as 30 meters. Guam Industrial has been in the business of ship repair and related industrial services over the past 19 years. The company operates Guam Shipyard in Guam and its main clients are the US Navy

and the US Coast Guard. Harbor Star has been in the marine services industry for 18 years and provides services such as harbor assistance, towage, salvage, diving and marine maintenance, and pier repair and construction. It currently maintains a fleet of 45 watercraft comprising of tugboats, barges and specialized vessels. It currently services more than 70 ports and terminals throughout the Philippines. Share price of Harbor Star on Wednesday rose 3.3 percent to P1.26.

Spain eyes 20% exports growth By Othel V.Campos Spain expects exports to the Philippines to grow by 15 percent to 20 percent in 2016, as more Spanish companies are expected to establish presence in the country. Spanish embassy economic and commercial counselor Enrique Feas said major Spanish construction companies were watching the developments of the public-private partnership projects in the Philippines, with a goal of participating in future projects. “Of the top ten construction companies in the world, five Spanish firms are on the list. Our companies are experts in the building of railroads, highways and airports. We are expecting more construction firms to come over and [have] more concessions,” Feas said Wednesday on the eve of Madrid Fusion Manila at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Two top Spanish engineering and construction firms— Obrascón Huarte Lain and Acciona Infraestructuras—are already in the Philippines with ongoing PPP projects. Services comprise about a fourth of the total exports of Spain to the Philippines out of 400 million euros worth of exports. Feas also said that outside Spain, the Philippines was the biggest importer of brandy. “The Philippines imports large amount of wines, brandy and sherry. In fact, in 2015, the Philippines brought in from Spain about 150 million euros worth of alcoholic beverages,” he said. The embassy said with the European Union trade preferential scheme in place, Spain expanded its exports to the Philippines with the recent addition of good quality ham.

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

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

2016 inflation seen below 2% By Julito G. Rada

A FOREIGN bank expects the average inflation rate in the Philippines to remain below 2 percent this year, despite the impact of the El Niño dry spell on food production. ING Bank Manila reduced its average inflation forecast in 2016 to 1.8 percent from its previous estimate of 2 percent on expected manageable increases in consumer prices in the coming months. ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report any price increases in food items due to El Niño would be offset by declining oil prices and lower utility rates. “The impact of El Niño especially in the south would likely

keep inflation on a steady but modest increase in the coming months. These would be offset by lower oil product prices and modest increase in utility rates,” Cuyegkeng said. “We have revised lower our average 2016 inflation rate to 1.8 percent from the previous 2 percent,” Cuyegkeng said. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported Tuesday that March inflation slightly picked up to 1.1 percent from 0.9 percent in February. This brought

average inflation in the first three months to 1.1 percent, below the government’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. “The first-quarter average inflation rate is 1.1 percent. We are with the market in expecting a moderate increase in inflation for the rest of the year,” Cuyegkeng said. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Tuesday the monetary policy stance remained appropriate even with the slight acceleration in March inflation to 1.1 percent. The March inflation was slower than 2.4 percent a year ago. It was also within Tetangco’s earlier forecast range of 0.6 percent to 1.4 percent for the month.

The last time the Monetary Board changed the policy setting was in September 2014, when overnight borrowing rate was increased to 4 percent and overnight lending rate was adjusted to 6 percent. Tetangco said that latest assessment showed the manageable inflation outlook and robust growth conditions continued to support keeping monetary policy settings unchanged. Bangko Sentral also reduced the inflation average forecast this year to 2.1 percent from an earlier estimate of 2.2 percent. Inflation rate was expected to pick up to 3.1 percent in 2017. Inflation rate averaged 1.4 percent in 2015, lower than the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for that year.

Hospital investment. Mount Grace Hospitals Inc. has invested in the Nueva Ecija Good Samaritan Health System Inc., which has facilities in

Cabanatuan City and Gapan. Shown signing the agreement are (seated, from left) Mount Grace Hospitals executive vice president and chief operating ofﬁcer Rhais Gamboa, president and chief executive Carlos Ejercito, NEGSHSI treasurer and board member Maria Elnora Deus, vice chairman and board member Peregrin de Guzman Jr. and former president and chief executive Magdalena Cuaresma.

NLEx-SCTEx integration eases Holy Week trafﬁc THE integration of North Luzon Expressway and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway helped manage the surge in traffic volume at the two toll roads during the Holy Week. Manila North Tollways Corp. said motorists experienced lightto-moderate traffic flow through the whole stretch of NLEx-SCTEx, except at the peak of the Lenten Season, on March 24 and 27 when traffic hit 275,000 and 260,000, respectively. MNTC traffic data showed vehicle entries rose to 275,000 on March 24, up from 263,000 in 2015. “Without integration, this kind of vehicle volume could have created a worse traffic situation on the country’s two premier expressways,” said MNTC president Rodrigo Franco.

“Travel to the North Luzon was a breeze this year with the integration of NLEx and SCTEx into one seamless road network. The decreased number of toll plaza stops to two made travel to the north faster and more convenient for motorists,” Franco said. The NLEx-SCTEx integration unified the NLEx and SCTEx toll collection systems into a single system, reducing toll collection stops to two instead of five from Balintawak to Subic and back. It also reduced stops to two instead of four from Balintawak to Tarlac and back. The integration also introduced other payment options at SCTEx as it now features electronic toll collection through Easytrip.

“This was the first Holy Week that we had the NLEx and SCTEx integrated. More system improvements are on the way to further provide comfort and convenience to motorists,” said Franco. Aside from the integration of the two expressways, MNTC also attributed the manageable traffic flow to the efficient traffic schemes. “On Maundy Thursday, we implemented counter flow in San Simon to address the traffic build-up caused by high volume of vehicles going to the provinces,” said Franco. He said “additional toll collection points at Bocaue Toll Plaza were in place on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday to accommodate motorists returning to

Manila.” The MNTC president also said the increased visibility and prompt response of NLExSCTEx patrol crews were significant in easing the traffic flow during this period, as distressed motorists were immediately attended and minor vehicular accidents were swiftly cleared. MNTC also sent out extensive traffic advisories to print, broadcast and online media to guide motorists in planning their trips. The “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” motorist assistance program has helped deliver quality customer service with the free services offered such as free drinking water, free calls and Wi-Fi, free towing and mechanic services and free first-aid treatments.

Economy likely rose by over 5% in Q1 By Gabrielle Binaday THE Philippine economy likely grew by more than 5 percent in the first quarter, on the back of robust infrastructure and electionrelated spending, according to the National Economic and Development Authority. Economic Planning Secretary and Neda director-general Emmanuel Esguerra said the economy received a boost from election-related activities ahead of the May 2016 national elections. “Certainly [faster the 2015’s first quarter growth]. You can easily exceed the 5-percent growth [in first quarter of 2015],” Esguerra told reporters. “It is a given. 2016 is an election year. Whether you like it or not, there is an additional boost on spending,” Esguerra said. A study showed there was an additional 0.3 to 1 percentage point in gross domestic product growth during election years. Esguerra said the growth of sectors affected by election-related activities such as media and advertising would trigger multiple effects on the broader level. “It has multiplier effects and there will be people who will get some income. There will be spending that adds to the consumption,” Esguerra said. The economy grew 5.8 percent in 2015, boosted by robust domestic demand, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Last year’s growth, however, was the slowest in four years, data showed. The economy expanded 5 percent in the first quarter, 5.8 percent in the second quarter and 6.1 percent in the third quarter, before picking up 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter. This brought full-year growth to 5.8 percent in 2015, slower than 6.1 percent in 2014 and 7.1 percent in 2013.

THURSDAY: APRIL 7, 2016

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

DMCI boosts power capacity By Alena Mae S. Flores

Off-grid supplier DMCI Power Corp., owned by the Consunji Group, deployed two satellite diesel power plants to Masbate province to boost the island’s electdricity supply. The facilities, located in the municipalities of Cawayan and Balud, have a combined capacity of 1.75 megawatts. The company said the Masbate areas were experiencing frequent brownouts due to trippings of the transmission lines and voltage problems prior to the installation of the two satellite plants, Masbate Electric Cooperative

requested DMCI Power to address the problem by deploying generating units in Cawayan and Balud following the appeals made by the concerned local government units. “Quality of life in Masbate has significantly improved because of our partnership with the Maselco. There’s more economic activity and higher productivity because

people have access to reliable electricity,” DMCI Power president Nestor Dadivas said. DMCI Power, a unit of DMCI Holdings Inc., meanwhile, has been expanding its power generation portfolio recently. DMCI Power, through an agreement with Palawan Electric Cooperative and as agreed upon by the local government through a resolution, is scheduled to construct a new 5.7-MW diesel power plant in Brooke’s Point. DMCI Power is also expanding its energy portfolio to include renewable energy such as hydro and biomass. “We are closely studying hy-

Fish landing center. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala inaugurates the Community Fish Landing

Center in Barangay Antipuluhan, Narra, Palawan, established under the Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation in the Fishery Sector Program of the Agriculture Department and the Bureau of fisheries. DA-BFAR. The center will serve as a hub for landing and trading of fish and other seafoods, as well as training center for fish processing, value adding, and conservation and protection of the fishery sector.

Alliance Select expanding

the solar feed-in tariff availment. PSPA legal counsel Beverly Noriega said in a statement “solar companies merely wants an opportunity to raise their respective concerns” with NREB. Alena Mae S. Flores

LISTED international food company Alliance Select has outlined its expansion plans to boost its market presence and foothold in the East Asian market. Alliance Select ratcheted up initiatives to broaden its market share in neighboring Japan, one of the largest fresh and canned seafood importers, by increasing marketing activities while establishing wider distribution channels. The company said it planned to cement its position in the region which would further support global sales and develop and manage product portfolios in the region to target the Japanese market and respond to emerging trends. Alliance Select is targeting younger consumers in Japan who are reported to have the lack of skills to prepare and cook fish and seafood, which threatens the long-term future of the fishing industry in the country. “While the aging and declining population have taken its toll on fish volume sales in Japan, the younger generation prefers ready-to-eat meals and consumer food service,”Alliance Select said. Data from Euromonitor showed Alliance Select the Japanese were well known for their high per capita consumption of fish and seafood, which was reported at just under 32 kg in 2014.

Concepcion, Ionics tie up

More solar projects coming

Hedcor earmarks P9.1m

THE Energy Department may come out with the list of solar projects with a combined capacity of 450 megawatts that qualified for the second wave of feed-in tariff this week. National Renewable Energy Board chairman Pete Maniego said that based on his talks with the department, the Renewable Energy Management Bureau was set to issue its report this week. Maniego said the NREB, the implementing arm of the Renewable Energy Law, was preparing recommendations to the department on the possibility of another round of installation targets for renewable energy projects. “We are working on it already, but we are waiting for latest status update from DoE as to the solar projects that qualified to the 450-MW installation target and the P8.69 per kWh FIT rate,” he said. The Philippine Solar Power Alliance last week scored NREB for its alleged refusal to grant audience to solar companies and discuss issues surrounding the implementation of the round of

THE provinces of Benguet, Mt. Province and Ilocos Sur expect to benefit from over P9 million worth of corporate social responsibility projects this year for hosting Hedcor’s run-of-river hydropower plants. Hedcor said 40 projects were up for implementation this year. Twenty two of the projects are for education amounting to P4.7-million, six for health worth P1.6 million, nine corporate donations worth P2.4 million and one each for environment and enterprise development costing P108,000 and P300,000 respectively. Chris Faelnar, Hedcor senior vice president, thanked everyone for the partnership molded through the years of value-sharing during his address to over 50 delegates from the three provinces, “We are grateful for the support you are giving and most importantly the enthusiasm and genuine care for community development. Let us work together to bring these projects into reality,” he said.

APPLIANCE maker Concepcion Industrial Corp. on Tuesday signed a strategic alliance with Ionics Inc. to develop the next generation of smart products using Internet of Things technology. CIC chief executive Raul Joseph Concepcion said in an interview following the signing of the agreement the partnership would allow the company to provide new range of smart solutions for their consumers, like air-conditioning units and chillers. “The [agreement] is in line with CIC’s vision to build better lives by using smart solutions in our products which will provide comfort and convenience to our consumers. To be able to realize this vision, we are forming a strategic alliance with Ionics to help us develop and apply the technology to our locally manufactured appliances,” Concepcion said. Concepcion said the company initially planned to introduce these new products to commercial users by 2017. The launching is in line with the CIC thrust to enable users and buildings to be more efficient and their heating, ventilation and air-conditioning usage. With IoT, these air-conditioning units can be controlled by smartphones. Jenniffer B. Austria

dropower and biomass because we think they have the strongest potential in terms of output reliability and commercial viability among the available RE technolo-

gies,” Dadivas said earlier. DMCI Power currently operates diesel and bunker power plants in Masbate, Palawan and Oriental Mindoro.

$81-m heist: Entire system failed A PHRASE that professionals like to borrow from the accounting profession is ‘bottom line.’ It is attractive and useful because of its suggestion of the completion or finality of the examination of an issue. After three Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings—the last one was two days ago—and countless media stories on the matter, many things remain confusing and unanswered about the heist in this country, using the Philippine banking system’s facilities, of US$81 million hacked from the Bangladesh Bank’s deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (NY Fed). Who knew what when, who delivered what to whom, who was in on the whole exercise and whether there was a conspiracy involving people at the very top of one of this country’s largest commercial banks—these are some of the questions that are frustratingly looking for believable answers. With the officials and personnel of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the two frontline regulatory agencies (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Anti-Money Laundering Council), PAGCOR, remittance company Philrem and three so-called casino junket operators, with three lawyers at their sides declaring their guiltlessness to high heaven and invoking the protection of the Deposit Secrecy Act and the Constitutional right against self-incrimination, getting at the truth will almost certainly be a long and torturous process. But one can already speak of a bottom line. Out of all the charges and countercharges one truth has already emerged. The simple, ineluctable bottom line is that in the recent RCBC episode the entire Philippine anti-bank-fraud system—and this, as I have already indicated, includes the BSP and the AMLC—failed. More to the point, it failed miserably. The greatest of the ironies in the RCBC affair is that whereas it took only a matter of hours in the latter part of February 5, 2016 for the heist to be accomplished, it took days for the regulators to act effectively. Heists like that which took place at RCBC are pulled off very quickly, and in this electronic age the regulators’ window of preventive opportunity is forever narrowing. By the time February 5, 2016 ended, the heist was a done thing. This, despite of the fact that there was a desperate request from the by-now-alerted NY Fed for payment to be stopped. Filipinos can understand that the whole caper was pulled off with too much ease for there to not have been a conspiracy—who the conspirators were is what the Senate is trying to establis—and they expect the regulators to try to prevent capers of the RCBC kind, but they are at a loss to comprehend why the regulators were not all over the place right away. The folks at the New York Fed and the Bangladesh Bank must have been gnashing their teeth over the fact that the New York Fed stop-payment order produced no immediate results. Certainly, there was no shortage of law and regulations. The General Banking Act, the AMLA Act, BSP regulations and the banks’ own internal operational protocols were all in play, yet the disposition of the stolen Bangladesh funds was undertaken with such apparent ease—from RCBC branch to the casino junket operators to Philrem to Goodbyeland—that there might as well have been no laws and regulations at all. To be sure, bank heists can and, as the RCBC episode has shown, sometimes will, happen. But Filipinos expect that the Philippine banking system’s regulators will at least put up a credible fight. Truth to tell, their impression is that the regulators did not put up a credible fight in the RCBC affair. The Governor of the BSP has issued a statement proclaiming grandly that the Philippine banking system can withstand the RCBC loss and that all is well with the system. The first part of the statement is true: the Philippine banking system indeed can withstand the hijacking of $81 million. But the second part of the BSP chief ’s statement is not true. All is not well with the system’s security mechanisms. Not well at all. Governor Tetangco should begin with the mechanisms of BSP and of AMLA, of whose governing body he is a member. There is a lot of tightening and staying alert—and, yes, keeping awake at the post—to be done, Governor. Unless this comes to pass, another RCBC-type heist is bound to happen. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Another cyclone nearing Fiji coast

Pope set to visit refugees as their deportation stalls

SUVA—Authorities in Fiji ordered people to stay inside as a tropical cyclone bore down on the Pacific tourist destination Wednesday, taking no chances after a recent monster storm killed 44 people. Tropical Cyclone Zena rapidly developed from a low pressure trough to an intense category three storm that was approaching the main island Vita Levu, the Fiji Meteorological Service said. It was preceded by heavy rain that left one man confirmed dead and a teenage girl missing in flash flooding that also blocked major highways. The latest emergency comes with the nation of 900,000 still reeling from super cyclone Winston in February, which left 44 dead, 60,000 homeless and crippled infrastructure. “To preserve safety and public order prior to the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Zena, all members of the public are to remain indoors and secure their properties until further notice,” the government said, adding police would enforce the curfew. Fiji Airways canceled most international flights and schools were closed. The cyclone, packing gusts of 170 kilometers per hour, is expected to brush the south coast of Vita Levu early on Thursday. The path and intensity of such storms are hard to predict— Winston appeared to be weakening offshore at one point before roaring back as a category five cyclone with 325 kilometers an hour winds. While Zena is not expected to match that ferocity, the UN children’s organization UNICEF said it “could not come at a worse time for children and families in Fiji”. “These are the same families that were directly affected by Cyclone Winston just over a month ago,” Suva-based spokeswoman Alice Clements said. “Far too many are sheltering under tarpaulins, pieces of salvaged corrugated iron, in tents or again in evacuation centers.” AFP

ATHENS—Pope Francis will travel to the Greek island of Lesbos on the front-line of Europe’s refugee crisis next week, Athens announced Tuesday, as a controversial EU accord to send migrants back to Turkey stalled. The trip by the pope, who will be accompanied by the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, is likely to pile pressure on EU leaders already facing criticism over the controversial deal struck last month. “The Greek government will welcome Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as valuable defenders of support to refugees,” a government source in Athens said, adding the trip would happen on April 14 or 15. “Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will go with [them] to the island of Lesbos,” a tourist hub that has been transformed into a major gateway for new arrivals seeking a better

life in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people have landed on the island’s shores over the past year after crossing over from Turkey in flimsy boats, part of Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War II. Brussels sought to tackle the problem by signing an agreement with Ankara last month to send new arrivals back to Turkey, in exchange for resettling some of the millions of Syrians living in refugee camps on its soil. The deal has already contributed to a slowing of new arrivals, and Germany’s interior minister said Tuesday that his country could lift temporary border con-

trols brought in last year by mid-May if the arrivals continue to dwindle. But the deal has been slammed by rights groups, the UN and even the pope, who used his Easter address to criticize the “rejection” of refugees, and has been slowed by a last-minute rush of asylum applications. The Greek Orthodox Church said it had approved the papal visit to Lesbos after Francis expressed a desire to “shed light on the major humanitarian problem” of the migrant influx. Tensions were running high on the Greek islands after the first tranche of 200 migrants were deported on Monday.

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Request for Expression of Interest for CONSULTING SERVICES for an INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PHILIPPINE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE (PH-EITI) for 2016 1. The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP3,500,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payments under the contract for Consulting Services for an Independent Administrator for the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) for 2016. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals. 2. The DOF now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the procurement of consulting services of a consulting firm/company affiliated with an internationally recognized audit firm with extensive experience in large scale auditing and accounting projects in extractive and financial sectors. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before April 14, 2016, 09:45 a.m. at the SBAC Secretariat, c/o General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion. 3. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA No. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: I. Applicable Experience II. Quality of Personnel to be Assigned III. Capacity to Execute the Project Total

- 30% - 50% - 20% 100%

A Turkish official said the next transfer “has been postponed to Friday” at Greece’s request. The process has been slowed “by an increase in asylum requests” in the last few days on Lesbos and another Aegean island, Chios, said Greek migration spokesman Yiorgos Kyritsis. On Samos, less than two kilometers by sea from Turkey, Ali, a Pakistani, told AFP that LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Isidro Clar Dorilag of Dumangas, Iloilo, who died intestate on October 26, 2007 was extra-judicially settled among his heirs by means of a public instrument executed on March 31, 2016 and ratified before Atty. Rex C. Muzones, Notary Public in and for Iloilo City as per Doc. No. 79, Page No. 16, Book No. IV, Series of 2016 of his Notarial Register. ( T S - A P R . 7,14 , 21, 2 016)

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

100 migrants had gone on a hunger strike. “We risk our lives to come here, we don’t want to go back to Turkey because they are going to send us back to Pakistan,” he said. “We don’t want to apply for asylum in Greece, we want to go to Germany.” All “irregular migrants” arriving in Greece since March 20 now face being sent back, although the EU deal calls for each case

to be examined individually. For every Syrian refugee returned, another Syrian refugee will be resettled from Turkey to the European Union, with numbers capped at 72,000. EU border agency Frontex described the first deportation operation as “orderly”, but on Tuesday the UN’s refugee agency said some of those sent back may not have had access to proper asylum procedures. AFP

HOUSING AND L AND USE REGUL ATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region Field Of f ice 2 n d F l o o r, H LU R B B u i l d i n g , K a l ay a a n Av e n u e , Diliman, Quezon City

N O T I C E Notice is hereby given that HITESH RAVI DEVELOPMENT CORP. (Owner)/ALPINA HEIGHTS PROPERTIES CORP. (Developer) has filed with this Board a sworn registration statement for the sale of Condominium Unit/s at ALPINA HEIGHTS located at Champaca St., UPS 4 West, Barangay Marcelo Green, Parañaque City specifically described as Lot 2-C of the Subd. Plan Psd-00-044229, (TCT No. 010-2014000862), having an area of 1,490 square meters. All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon. Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate in evidence thereof shall forthwith be issued after five (5) days from the last day of publication. Quezon City, Metro Manila, (SGD) ALFREDO GIL M. TAN II Regional Director

(T S-A P R . 7, 14 , 2016)

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.: Email Address:

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 No. 000-578-009-000

INVITATION TO BID April 4, 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-RRECIS-2016-NE-55R CALAAN CIS, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P9,089,205.88 with contract duration of 90 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 9,000.00 ITB No.R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-56R ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) Improvement of Lat. G and Various Irrigation Facilities, Pulilan, Bulacan. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P18,922,302.79 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 9,000.00 ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) Improvement ITB No.R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-57 of NMC IV and Various Irrigation Facilities, Pulilan, Bulacan. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P18,968,795.36 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 19,000.00

4. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA No. 9184.

Only those, Letter of Intent together with the company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer will be accepted.

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.

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.

5. The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable amount as stated above each ITB)

April 6, 2016 @ 10:00 AM NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan

6. The contract shall be completed within a period of seven (7) months from issuance of Notice to Proceed.

Schedule of Activities; NIA, BANE IMO

Pre-Bidding

7. The DOF reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. 8. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Mary Ann Rodolfo PH-EITI Tel. No. 400-6882

(TS-APR. 7, 2016)

(SGD) MA. TERESA S. HABITAN Assistant Secretary and SBAC Chairman

Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.

April 13, 2016 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-49 9:00 AM ITB No.R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-56R 10:00 AM ITB No.R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-57 11:00 AM

Submission Opening of Bids April 16, 2016 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 1:00 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.

( TS- A P R . 7, 2 0 1 6)

SGD.ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ Chairman – BAC

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Hearing. Francesca Chaouqui, an Italian PR consultant accused of leaking classified documents to journalists, arrives on April 6, 2016, at the Vatican for a hearing of the “Vatileaks” trial. Chaouqui, a former member of an economic reform commission established by Pope Francis, is accused of conspiring with Spanish Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda and his assistant to leak documents that revealed serious irregularities in Vatican spending. AFP

‘HSBC blocking new accounts’ HONG KONG—Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong accused HSBC of “political censorship” Wednesday after the bank rejected his application for a joint account for his new party as well as a personal account for himself. Wong, 19, announced the formation of the party, called Demosistō, last month to contest parliamentary elections later this year, saying it would push for “self-determination” over the semi-autonomous city’s future. Fears over Beijing’s influence have sparked increasing calls, particularly among young activists, for more autonomy from the mainland, with some advocating outright independence for Hong Kong. Both the Hong Kong authorities and Beijing have slammed independence campaigners. One new pro-independence party has said it has been blocked from registering in the city. Wong, who became the face of the city’s pro-democracy movement

during mass rallies in 2014, said his application for two accounts with HSBC had been refused with no detailed reason given. “They may think I’m quite politically sensitive and they need to adopt political censorship,” Wong told AFP. Wong said he applied for a joint personal account with a fellow campaigner to receive donations for his political party, and a personal account for himself—an upgrade from a children’s account that he already had with the bank. “HSBC phoned us and told us that because of administrative arrangements and business reasons, we are not allowed to open the joint account,” said Wong. “They just continued to repeat to

us that it’s a business arrangement, sorry about it.” Wong said a second application for his own personal account was also rejected, adding that one branch manager told him he would not be able to open any new accounts at HSBC. The manager, who Wong said refused to provide a written reason, again told him the decision was due to a “business arrangement,” he said. HSBC told AFP it could not comment on individual cases, but denied there were political reasons at play. “While we are not commenting on political matters, the bank will not refuse to open an account because of customers’ political views,” it said. Hong Kong’s freedoms are protected by a 50-year agreement signed when Britain handed the city back to China in 1997, but there are concerns Beijing is weighing in more heavily in a range of areas, from politics to media and education. AFP

Heart-eating Syria rebel shot dead, says monitor BEIRUT—A Syrian fighter who appeared in a gruesome video cutting out the heart of a regime soldier and eating it has been shot dead by rival rebels, a monitoring group said. Known by his nom de guerre Abu Sakkar, the rebel reportedly joined the Al-Qaeda-affiliated AlNusra Front about a year ago, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Rival rebels “assassinated Khaled al-Hamad, who was known as Abu Sakkar and who was a military commander in AlNusra, by gunning him down” in the northwestern province of Idlib, the Observatory said late on Tuesday. In May 2013, Abu Sakkar appeared in a video showing him

eating the heart of a dead regime soldier, sparking an international outcry and condemnation from the mainstream Syrian opposition. At the time, he was fighting in a rebel brigade in central Homs province. “He was likely killed in a settling of accounts” between Al-Nusra, which dominates much of Idlib province, and other Islamist rebels in the area, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The Syrian conflict began as a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011 but swiftly escalated into an armed rebellion after his regime unleashed a brutal crackdown. AFP

Bangladeshis drinking poisoned water

Contaminated water. In this photograph taken on March 19, 2015, a Bangladeshi woman collects contaminated water to be used on produce at a vegetable market from the polluted Buriganga in Dhaka. Twenty million poor Bangladeshis are still drinking water contaminated with arsenic, two decades after the potentially deadly toxin was discovered in the supply, Human Rights Watch said April 6. AFP

DHAKA—Twenty-million poor Bangladeshis are still drinking water contaminated with arsenic, two decades after the potentially deadly toxin was discovered in the supply, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday. A new report from the rights group said Bangladesh had failed to take the basic steps needed to tackle the problem, which kills an estimated 43,000 Bangladeshis every year, mostly in the poor rural areas. The contaminated supply dates back to the 1970s, when the Bangladesh government drilled millions of shallow tube wells to provide villagers with clean water, not real-

izing that the soil was heavily laced with naturally occurring arsenic. “Bangladesh isn’t taking basic, obvious steps to get arsenic out of the drinking water of millions of its rural poor,” HRW researcher Richard Pearshouse told AFP. “The reasons why this huge tragedy has remained so pervasive are due to poor governance.” Bangladesh has been building deep tube wells to source water from beneath the arsenic-tainted soil. But HRW said there was no proper government oversight of the scheme, with politicians earmarking the new wells for their own support-

ers rather than putting them in the worst-affected areas. “It means the situation is almost as bad as 15 years ago,” said Pearshouse. There was no immediate response from the government, but an official who asked not to be named told AFP that individual lawmakers decided where 50 percent of the state-funded tube wells should be built. “It’s a government-approved policy. The lawmakers have every opportunity to misuse their power and divert the tube wells to their supporters rather than distributing them to the people who are affected by arsenic contamination,” he said. AFP

T H U R S D AY : A p R i l 7, 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

The Philippines is home to 22,484-sq. km of coral reef area or nine percent of the global total, making it the country with the third largest coral reef area in the world

BE A RESpOnSIBlE TRAvElER

Human Nature, Route +63, and Save Philippine Seas launch SafeProtect Marine Conservation Tours

ummer season calls for so many water adventures and most of us are gearing for that outdoor fun on the open beach to take a dip in the water, snorkel, do some water sports, and take a deep dive to see marine life. With all these outdoor activities, we usually pack bottles and bottles of SPFs to shield our skin from the harmful rays of the sun. And that should be all right; with the current condition of our ozone layer, we need to arm ourselves with as much protection as we can to avoid skin damage. Problem is, if you are heading towards the open sea, you have to be responsible for the living creatures inhabiting the waters. Annually, 5,000 metric tons of sunscreen particles wash off from our bodies to the open sea. Studies prove that chemicals in bottled sunscreens are highly toxic to corals, and nanoparticles from SPF bottles cause harm to phytoplanktons, and this in turn affects everything that feeds on them – from shrimps, small fishes, and even whales. Humans have been applying sunblock since it was invented and released to the public in the ‘30s. Over the years, the chemicals used have been advanced and upgraded, making them more potent as a protector but also potent killers of marine life. Chemicals in each bottle of sunscreen, like parabens, oxybenzone, and benzophenone, can bleach corals within just 96 hours of exposure. In the Philippines, tourism is booming because of our marine life. With the influx of visitors, it is imperative that our waters be conserved and protected while enjoyed. Ecotourism is becoming more and more supported by brands and environmental organizations. Even the government is moving towards a sustainable ecotourism program for the country. However, people are still misguided on what ecotourism really means as continuous promotion of sites are branded as ecotourism, yet the principles that must be observed for the

phOTOS By STAR SABROSO

More than 60 percent of coral reefs are at risk with the chemicals in bottled sunscreens used by travelers and water enthusiasts when they undertake water activities in the open sea

Bacala Sandbar in Masinloc, Zambales is one of the places you can visit under the SafeProtect Marine Conservation Tours

community as well as the visitors do not constitute ecotourism at all. “When you say you will save the Philippine seas, that’s such a tall order for

any individual which is just you and me, a weekend warrior or a travel enthusiast,” explains Human Nature's group category manager Zinia Avellaneda. “How can I do

Human Nature SafeProtect sunscreen is reef friendly and 100 percent natural

that, I just really like going out to the sea but when you think about it, one of the major concerns, which is coral bleaching, can be traced back to tourists’ habits. So, just making those small inspiring changes makes a big difference,” she shares during the open water adventure launch of SafeProtect Marine Conservation Tours, a project spearheaded by Human Nature, known as a social entrepreneurial company that is pro-Philippines and pro-environment; Route +63, a social enterprise that promotes the Philippines through tourism; and Save Philippine Seas, an independent organization created to protect our country’s coastal and marine life through information, education, and communication activities and communitybased projects. The conservation tours aim to inspire travelers to be responsible in protecting Continued on C3

T H U R S D AY : A p R i l 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@liFEatStandard

The ‘beTTer green Tea supplemenT’ by bernadeTTe lunas

t is said that green tea is one of the secrets of the Japanese for long life. An 11-year study published in 2006 by researchers at Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Sendai, Japan revealed that adults in Japan who consumed at least five cups of green tea per day had lower mortality rate. While green tea is not the be-all and end-all, especially on its protective effect against death due to all causes, the many health benefits of this mighty green beverage cannot be denied. Several researches found that green tea improves blood flow, lowers bad cholesterol, and helps prevent cardiovascular, neurological and degenerative diseases, among a couple more other perks for wellbeing. Among these health benefits, one of the most-talked about – aside from as of yet premature claims on green tea’s ability to prevent or help treat cancer – is its potential to aid in weight loss. Green tea’s health properties are attributed to its catechins (antioxidants). In the case of green tea’s link with weight management, the fortunate do-gooder is its most significant active component, epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG.

Nutrilite GreenTrim contains a special technology called Green Select Phytosome which improves the absorption rate of epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG

EGCG, or green tea for that matter, does not claim to help melt away excess fat. Recent studies suggest that EGCG helps boost metabolism and curb appetite, resulting in weight loss when combined with regular exercise and a balanced diet. However, for an individual to reap the effects of EGCG, he has to obtain the right quantity. According to Dr. Tod Cooperman in an article on womenshealthmag.com, EGCG content in a brewable tea bag ranges from 25 mg to 86 mg. Average EGCG content in green tea supplement, on the other hand, is about 70 percent. Unfortunately, this catechin has poor bioavailability, which means the body has a hard time absorbing it even at high amounts of daily intake. “We can drink a lot of green tea and think that’s how we can get as much EGCG, but unfortunately our bodies only absorb as little as seven percent of the total amount of catechins and compounds that are in green tea [beverage] and green tea supplement,” reveals Amway senior research scientist Kristin Morris, Ph.D. Because EGCG is a water soluble polyphenol and is highly unstable, Morris says it can break down before it gets to the part of the gut that absorbs it. “After it crosses our gut, we have to be able to transport it to our tissues, but that’s another area that our body struggles with, because when it comes to these compounds, we have a problem transporting them to the places of our body where they can be used,” she explains. Recognizing this problem, Amway introduced its newest health supplement under the Nutrilite brand that was created to help individuals realize the full benefits of EGCG. Nutrilite GreenTrim features a special technology called Green Select Phytosome. The technology produces a small, natural complex that binds EGCG together to help it cross lipid-rich intestinal membranes, thus more is absorbed than eliminated by the body. “In two tablets of GreenTrim, you get 300 mg of Green Select Phytosome green tea extract. This phytosome sort of packages EGCG and the other catechins in a form that our body is likely to absorb and use,” explains Morris.

Green tea boasts of numerous health benefits, most notable of which is its ability to aid in weight management

Amway Philippines country manager Leni Olmedo and Amway Corporation senior research scientist Kristin Morris, Ph.D

Each capsule of GreenTrim contains 40 mg of EGCG, which Morris posits is a lot less than other green tea supplement but its greater absorption helps a person realize the value of this catechin a lot more. “Instead of having to take a supplement with a huge amount of green tea extract, we’ve taken green tea and packaged it in this phytosome technology so you don’t need to consume [green tea] as much,” says the senior research scientist. “This phytosome technology is a what makes this a better green tea supplement.” According to Amway’s research, when GreenTrim is used as a part of a low-

calorie diet and regular physical activity, “it may help a person lose body fat and lose more weight.” Because of numerous evidence showing that green tea helps stimulate thermogenesis (heat production) and fat oxidation, Morris notes that “GreenTrim is for fat-sensitive people, but we can all benefit from it because it works to reduce the amount of fat that is in our body.” One tablet of Nutrilite GreenTrim must be taken twice daily to reap its benefits. “You can take it at any point of the day when you remember it,” suggests Morris.

T H U R S D AY : A p R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HEALTH SHoULD comE FIRST

Ensure long, productive years ahead with Makati Medical Center’s comprehensive health packages

re you familiar with your BMI, your blood pressure, your blood sugar and cholesterol levels? Chances are, you would know multiple ATM card PINS, social security and tax identification numbers and numerous mobile phone numbers, but not the numbers that have to do with the condition of your body and your health. And more importantly, when was the last time you had a comprehensive physical or medical exam? For many people, a medical exam is either a daunting task or an unnecessary expense. But then again, if they are willing to shell out thousands for gadgets, jewelry, designer bags and accessories, why should they hesitate on putting time and resources into finding out the state of their health? After all, health is wealth, and there’s no better investment than on one’s health. As the Philippines’ premier health institution, Makati Medical Center offers the most comprehensive medical and diagnostic services through its MMC HealthHub. Formerly known as the Corporate Health & Wellness and Executive Check Up Centers, MMC HealthHub addresses the needs of most everyone, from career-driven professionals to people who travel for work and individuals who just want to be on top of their health, offering packages that are tailor-fit to a patient’s age, gender, lifestyle and health issues. Dedicated to this service are 14 new inpatient (MMC HealthHub Premier) rooms that assure patients the utmost in comfort and privacy. “We revamped the branding and image of the Corporate Health & Wellness and Executive Check Up Centers in order to create the MMC HealthHub,” said Rosalie R. Montenegro, president & CEO of Makati Medical Center. “Times have changed and so have patient needs and expectations. The image revamp came with several process improvements, staff re-training and thoughtful benchmarking, making the MMC HealthHub services and facilities at par with those provided by hospitals in Asia, US and Europe,” the MMC executive added.

A basic package is the Health Investment Essentials that includes a physical examination, complete blood count, urinalysis, fecalysis, and chest X-ray. Specific health packages or riders can also be added to the basic package for a complete and clearer picture of a patient’s health profile. Postmenopausal women, for instance, can choose from a roster of Female Rider procedures, while diabetics can include tests from the Diabetes Rider. There are also riders specific for males and teenagers, a total healthscreening package for those who want to have everything checked, and health screenings focused on the heart and abdomen. For those who are unsure but would like a basic screening package, the MMC HealthHub also offers standard packages. The hospital’s board-certified doctors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals and support staff work together to give a hassle-free experience from admission to discharge, whether a patient is in for a simple outpatient procedure or admitted in the new MMC HealthHub Premier room for tests of up to two days. A HealthHub Concierge does the scheduling for patients’ preferred date and time to undergo the procedures. An Executive Liaison Officer is also assigned for every patient to ensure a seamless experience, with every step pre-planned in the screening itinerary. While relaxing in between procedures, patients can spend time at the HealthHub Lounge that offers free Wi-Fi access as well as healthy food and beverages. “At the MMC HealthHub, we will take care of the patient’s every need in order to help safeguard his or her well-being,” Montenegro stated. The MMC HealthHub entertains inquiries and reservations made through phone, email, or in person. Call the Makati Medical Center at 8888-999 locals 2189 or 2832, email to mmchealthhub@makatimed.net.ph, or visit Makati Medical Center 1st Floor Tower 1 (outpatient packages) and Tower 2 (inpatient packages).

MMC HealthHub patients can spend time at the Lounge that offers free Wi-Fi access as well as healthy food and beverages

BE A RESponSIBLE...

your best partner in enjoying any activity out in the open seas. “We are not just selling just another tube of sunscreen, it really goes a long way into helping out the environment and the Philippines,” she stresses. According to her, the conservation tours project is one of the best ways to communicate what Human Nature stands for and what Route +63 and Save Philippine Seas aim to protect –ecotourism at its core, enjoying the underwater treasures of our country and at the same time protecting and conserving them for future generations. The tour package includes accommodations, transfers, travel insurance, select meals,

interactive marine conservation-themed tours, and one free Human Nature 100% Natural SafeProtect Sunscreen (50g). For the Masinloc tour in northern Zambales, the itinerary includes San Salvador Island, Yaha Mangrove Forest, and Bacala Sandbar. Puerto Princesa offers firefly watching and exploration of the Subterranean River National Park and the Sabang Mangrove Forest including a trip to see the sights of Honda Bay. Bohol on the other hand highlights a visit to the Abatan Community Life, SAVIMA Mangrove Adventure, Pamilacan Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling,

From C1

marine life by taking into consideration what they bring into the open sea. The program allows travelers to choose from three of the most inhabited and majestic reef-protected areas: Masinloc in Zambales, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, and Bohol. “Human Nature SafeProtect sunscreens are really reef friendly and 100 percent natural,” shares Avellaneda. Touted as the first genuinely Philippine made reef friendly sunscreen, SafeProtect could be

and a visit to the Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella. “By minimizing the carbon footprint you bring in the water, you have already made a huge difference especially for someone that frequently goes to the beach,” says Avellaneda. “So the target market really is people who really love going out and love the outdoors but also like to protect their playground.” The SafeProtect Marine Conservation Tours will run until May 2016. For more information, visit route63travels.com/hn-safeprotect.

Australia’s aging population calls for more elderly care workers About 77,976 aged care workers will be needed in Australia in the next 10 years in the wake of the country’s growing elderly population and the impending retirement of employees in this sector, according to International Education Specialists. Inter-Ed founder Helen Bartholomew said the new generation of geriatric nurses, physiotherapists and aged care workers is not adequately meeting the demand for new health workers who are needed to attend to Australian seniors. Citing figures from the ACSA (Aged and Community Services Australia) Federation s report, Bartholomew said the over 65 years old sector constitutes

15 percent, or one in five, of the current Australian population. But because a significant number of Aussies is now leading a healthier lifestyle, it is seen that those over 85 years old, who need greater aged care services, are growing at a faster rate compared to elderlies over 65. For this reason, it is estimated that by 2044, 1.2 million people aged over 85 will be added to the population as the average Australian is expected to live five years longer than current life expectancies today. To fill the deficit that is expected to occur once the current aged care workers retire, Bartholomew posits that Australia should be hiring 650 new workers

monthly in order to replace 668 retiring workers every month. Since it organized and hosted the i.Nars Summit in 2009 to address the glut of unemployed nursing graduates in the Philippines, Inter-Ed, the country’s pioneer in international education, training and internship, has been at the forefront of a campaign to help nurses go to Australia by bridging courses that will enable them to gain an Australian registration. Registered nurses are then allowed to stay and work in hospitals and become eligible to apply for Australian permanent residency. Considering that many graduates can’t afford the full cost of the program and

most applicants do not have the work experience to qualify for it, Inter-Ed s paid internship programs for nurses and aged care graduates open the doors for the realization of their ambitions. InterEd aims to place 2,000 student interns in various Australian hospitals this year. Inter-Ed is currently screening graduates of aged care, physiotherapy and nursing courses from 2014 onwards who wish to apply for paid internships in Australia. Interested students can set up appointments by contacting Inter-Ed s admission office at (02) 819-1001 or 0917-5151162 or intl_edu_specialists@pldtdsl.net or by visiting www.inter-ed.com.

T H U R S D AY : A p R I L 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

There’s no more excuse for you to just sit and watch the summer pass by and live it vicariously on your friend’s social media feed. Get that bikini body you’ve been wishing for

No more excuse gettiNg that summer hot bod Have a flatter tummy, slimmer thighs, and firmer arms with Marie France’s new TriPollar Legend

ocial media newsfeeds have been saturated lately by bikini bodies, and if you are one of those who are still on the other side of the monitor clicking, liking, and eating away their frustration at failing to get a hot suntan while clad in a trendy bikini, then you had better do something about it. Fad diets, exercise, and keeping a healthy lifestyle will eventually get you there, so wiggle that butt and start making some lifestyle changes starting this minute because sculpting your body is no longer just a wish you keep ticking on your list every year – you can actually achieve it. “But…” Yes, that three-letter word excuse that doesn’t get you anywhere is no longer applicable in this day and age. If you don’t like to sweat in the gym, or be out in the sun running off those calories away, then go for scientifically advanced technology that can help you curb away the extra inches you’ve been nurturing since Christmas. Marie France, known for its non-invasive slimming solutions in the country, recently unveiled its TriPollar Legend, the latest version of its highly successful TriPollar treatment. This treatment gives you another option to achieve that sexy bikini body for your next beach vacay, especially if your only problem is concentrated on areas that don’t seem to go away even when you’ve tried all the exercises in the gym, like that that excess tummy bulge, the annoying muffin top and loose arms. The TriPollar Legend allows triple powered skin tightening and body shaping with its selective radio frequency energy to heat the subcutaneous fat tissue layer. The process stimulates the release of liquid fat, which

then exits the body through natural processes without having to go under the knife. The best part of the treatments is it understands how busy you are, so each session takes only 30 minutes. Yes, the time you spent looking at your friend’s sexy beachcapade FB album in Palawan a few weeks ago took more time than actually undergoing this treatment. Made for the women on the go, you can even do it during your break and no one would even notice you’re gone. That age-old adage that says, “No pain, no gain,” doesn’t really apply here, as there’s not much sensation. If anything, the heat application feels relaxing, and some patients can actually sleep while undergoing the session. This latest machine also promotes collagen production through its deep heating treatment that tightens and firms up the skin, especially for loosened skin caused by fat reduction. So, your body doesn’t just excrete out the fat, it also projects younger looking skin worthy of that next Instagram post by the beach. The treatment gets you results after just a few sessions and the difference can be visible even after the first treatment. Marie France provides free consultation to get all the needed information to assess the treatment suited to specific body types and problem areas. There’s no more excuse for you to sit and just watch the summer pass by and live it vicariously on your friend’s social media feed – you can get that body you’ve been wishing for. For more information on TriPollar Legend or to book your free consultation, call 894-2639 today.

'No pain, no gain' doesn’t really apply in TriPollar Legend treatment, as there’s not much sensation. If anything, the heat application feels relaxing. Some patients can actually sleep while getting the session

The TriPollar Legend allows triple powered skin tightening and body shaping with its selective radio frequency energy to heat the subcutaneous fat tissue layer

t HuR S DAy : A pRIl 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Albay’s Gov. Joey Salceda and Vice Gov. Harold Imperial joined by former senator Migz Zubiri and the members of Albay pageant Academy

Street perfromers at tabak Festival of tabaco City

CElEbRITIEs aT albay DaRagang MagayOn FEsT

lbay’s Daragang Magayon Festival opened recently with a bang with the hottest showbiz celebrities. The month-long festivity based on the legend of Mayon Volcano, Bicol region’s main tourist icon, is held annually in April. Pinoy Big Brother All-In Edition Housemates Loisa Andalio and Joshua Garcia led the charge of TV personalities charming the young crowd at the opening rites at the Albay Astrodome in Legazpi City. Stand-up comedian Wacky Kiray of Gandang Gabi Vice and teen heartthrob Ronnie Alonte of Hashtags, an all-made dance group in It’s Showtime, also joined the fray with their trademark humor and dance moves. The longest celebration in the Bicol region, Daragang Magayon Festival features a wide array of cultural, musical, sporting and entertainments events to promote the province as an adventure, natural and cultural destination. According to Albay Governor Joey Salceda, this year’s festival

Stand-up comedian Wacky Kiray

Former pBB All-In housemate Joshua entertains the crowd

is special because of recent milestones—the declaration of the Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga as a National Cultural Treasure National Museum, and the proclamation of Albay as a Unesco Man and the Biosphere Reserve. He added that the province is also hosting Palarong Pambansa 2016, the biggest national athletic meet with a very festive atmosphere. Recording artist and cosplayer Myrtle Sarrosa, Big Winner of PBB Teen Edition 4, will take

center stage in the Search for Ginoo ni Daragang Magayon pageant on April 8. Moreover, Marco Masa of ABSCBN’s Nathaniel teleserye will be a special guest in the Munting Princesa pageant, and award-winning actor John Arcilla will lead the Halea 2016 cultural event. GMA stars will descend at the Peñaranda Park on April 16 in the Kapuso Night, while ABS-CBN bannered by Erich Gonzalez and Daniel Matsunaga will lead the Kapamilya Caravan on April 23.

pBB All-In’s loisa charms the audience at the opening rites at the Albay Astrodome in legazpi

Meanwhile, beauty queens and TV personalities, led by JC De Vera who will serenade the contestants, grace the Search for Daragang Magayon, one of Bicol’s top pageants, set on April 29. Celebrities are mainstays in the board of judges of the pageant where candidates from Albay to national beauty pageants come from. Other entertainment events in the Festival include Color Pride Parade, firedance competition, dance sport tournament, retro

music festival, Summer Dance Workshop with Jasmyxx, zumba party, LGBT tournament, battle of the bands, bikini summit, rap contests, and nightly shows at the Peñaranda Park. Salceda said that apart from Mayon volcano, visitors can go around Albay’s attractions such as heritage houses, Spanish-era churches, spring resorts, powdery white and black sand beaches, idyllic islands, majestic mountains, cascading falls, and breathtaking viewpoints.

Jon Santos extends comedy campaign at Resorts World Manila

In character. Jon Santos as Majonna

It’s true, Wala Talagang Forever sa Malacañang, but for Jon Santos’s hit political comedy, an extension is certainly in order. After the first run of shows, four more performances of Jon’s HuGot Your Vote: WTF! Wala Talagang Forever (sa Malacañang) will be held at the Ceremonial Hall of the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Resorts World Manila due to popular demand. From P-Nyoy’s lament on bidding Malacañang Palace farewell, to Senator Miriam the Defensive Defender addressing Miss Universe Pia Horseback’s comments regarding the US bases in the country, to Grace Foe’s retaliation against her bashers FPJ style, Jon once again tickles and triggers the mind of his audience as to what is really happening around us. “It’s been a blessing since I don’t work alone. Every script, every

character, from choice of character to treatment is a product of a meeting and a discussion,” said Jon about the show. “It’s nice to see that Philippine comedy is alive and vibrant, and people are coming to see the shows to find this relief from a long hard day,” he added. Fans can also expect Jon to showcase his new spoofs and personas as Madonna and her take on how elections are more fun in the Philippines, Erap’s plea for ‘A Second Chance’, Mommy Dioning’s role as cupid to Manny and Jinky, and the hilarious side of the latest current events in the country from A to Z through the witty mind of the funnyman himself. With Jon’s freshest quips on Philippine presidential candidates and laugh-out-loud points of view on trending current events, the show continues to offer humor-

Comedian Jon Santos as Grace Foe (left) and as Sherap (right)

ous insights that are as fresh as the day’s news. “We rewrite every day. You can sit through the script writing process and sometimes you have technology which allows you to email or text the latest issues in the last minute prior to a performance,” shared Jon. Catch Jon Santos in HuGot Your Vote: WTF! Wala Talagang Forever (sa Malacañang) on April 16 and

17, both dates with shows at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Ceremonial Hall of the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Resorts World Manila and be in the loop with the latest and funniest issues in the country today. Tickets are now available at the RWM Box Office and all TicketWorld outlets. Visit www.rwmanila.com or call 908-8000 loc. 7700 and 891-9999 for more information on show schedules.

C6 T

t HuR S DAy : A pRIl 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

MoRE SuMMER joyRIDES on ‘WHEElS’

he Philippine Star’s premier motoring show, Wheels, continues to showcase must-try cars this summer. Join hosts Angel Rivero, Kap Maceda-Aguila and Ulysses Ang as they go on different joyrides around the country to test premium autos that are ideal for hitting the road this season. Getting the joyride with the longest mileage in this episode is Angel, who went the extra mile to experience the driving power of two of the hottest cars in the market this year. She went up to the Surfing Capital of the North – La Union – aboard the new Nissan Juke. Driving along the twist and turns of La Union’s highlands and beaches, she’ll feel for herself the agility and power of this crossover with a purposely built core as well as four-wheel and front-wheel variants. And as if she can’t get enough of the road, Angel also went the other way to the Queen City of the South –

Host Angel Rivero experiences the power of the hottest cars in the market

Cebu – for the launch of the all-new Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Find out what surprises and upgrades are in store for this well-loved and muchanticipated SUV. Not to be outdone, Kap flew to Taiwan to get behind the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracán, the newest sports car from the re-

nowned Italian automaker, replacing hugely popular Gallardo. With an engine that can go from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 323 km/h, the Huracán lives up to its name, which means “hurricane” in Spanish. And how about Uly? He went on a staycation for this episode but he’ll

“Wheels” host ulysses Ang

do share tips on how to pick the right roof rack for your car using the world’s most useful rack, Rhino Rack. Whether you’re stashing tents, backpacks and other luggage on top or carrying large items like kayaks, paddles or surfboards, Uly will teach you how to keep your cargo safe and secure. It’s all these and more on the

third season of Wheels, your guide to life on the fast lane. Catch it every Thursdays, 10:30 p.m., on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel. For firsthand info on the latest happenings in motoring, like and follow Wheels on facebook.com/ PhilStarWheels.

Anne Curtis is Globe myBusiness primes SMEs protected beautifully for the digital future When our skin is not properly protected, the sun may just be its greatest threat. Sun exposure damage is both cumulative and cunning. It is like a computer virus that enters your body whenever an opportunity presents itself. Little by little it destroys your DNA and when the effects on your skin start to be obvious, it may already be too late. Actress and host Anne Curtis reveals that it was never her habit to apply sunscreen on a daily basis. “Before, the only time I think of putting on sunscreen is when I go to the beach. But Dr. Vicki Belo helped me realize that I need to use sunscreen everyday.” True enough, Dr. Belo believes that sunscreen is the best anti-aging product there is. She even iterates, “sunscreen everyday keeps the wrinkles away”. As part of its continuous innovation in creating expertly formulated sun care products, the Belo Authority proudly introduces one of the first tinted sunscreens in the country, the new Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen. It offers the superior sun protection you need with the perfect skin coverage you desire. Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen is rated SPF50 and PA++++ for broad spectrum protection against harmful UV rays. Its light tint benefits from Tone Adapt Technology that evens out your skin tone and conceals fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. And it has Cell Protect defends against premature skin aging. Expressing her delight on this new beauty discovery, Anne shares that the Belo Sun Expert Tinted Sunscreen has now become her daily sun protection and quick makeup fix in one. “Now I can have both sun protection and that perfect no makeup look in just 15 seconds! And I love how my skin instantly achieves a natural flawless finish.” Be protected everyday beautifully with Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen. Available at department stores, supermarkets, and drugstores nationwide.

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answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Please, in Vienna 6 Unruly crowds 10 Tow 14 Social mores 15 Height prefix 16 Bard’s villain 17 Veins of ore 18 Flabbergast 19 Two-piece cookie 20 Very short time 21 Imitated Merlin

23 Bonfire remains 25 “Little Engine” verb 26 A Muppet 29 Bryce Canyon state 32 Most arias 37 Centurian’s hello 38 Talk big 39 Float locale 40 Stay cool! (4 wds.)

Naval rank Mild rejoinder Coll. credits Pool member of yore 47 Nozzles 48 — -majeste 49 Ms. Peeples of TV 51 Nice water 53 Packers’ home (2 wds.) 58 Hill 62 Face 63 Mete out 64 Domed residence 65 Capricorn symbol 66 “— do for now” 67 Sock hoppers 68 Mme.’s daughter 69 Pronto 70 Height, to a cager DOWN 1 Outdo 2 Route for Ben-Hur 3 Siamese, now 4 Male feline 5 Slalom runs 6 Not fem. 7 Eight, in combos 8 Late breakfast 9 Brigitte Nielsen film “Red —” 10 Name in fashion 11 One in a million

Globe Telecom, through its small and medium enterprise (SME) arm Globe myBusiness, is empowering Filipino SMEs to embrace the digital shift with its latest portfolio of postpaid plans and innovative business solutions, giving them the competitive advantage to improve efficiency and productivity, reduce cost, and further grow their business. Giving SMEs the capability to customize their postpaid plan to fit their budget and needs, Globe myBusiness recently launched the new myBusiness Unli Plus Postpaid Plan, a new mobile postpaid plan that gives them more value for their business with built-i n unlimited calls and texts to Globe/TM numbers, allowing them to focus on choosing the right business solutions that they need with their plan. The myBusiness Unli Plus Postpaid Plan also comes with a choice of freebie such as mobile data services or discounts to business solutions. SMEs can add more surf packs, call and text packs, or business app packs to get more premium gadgets, as well as boost their plans with business solutions to help digitize their business. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

12 13 22 24 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 38 39 41 42 47 48 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 59 60 61 62

Mellowed Viscous stuff Tacit A Great Lake Swelters Happening Ms. Witherspoon Letter after sigma Come to terms Hockey great Woodworking tool Bloodhound clues Have vibes about Past Moon position Brooch Mil. noncom Blouse ruffles Pounces Taj Mahal site Japanese canine Earth sci. Not bogus Diminutive suffix “— en el Rancho Grande” Pound sound Cheers for Manolete Type of wolf Off-course Movie studio

“Connectivity is very important for SMEs. The new myBusiness Unli Plus Postpaid Plan gives our customers the best value in terms of their connectivity requirements as a fully customizable plan which they can build based on what they need and what they can spend. It offers convenience because it already gives customers access to unlimited calls and texts, allowing them to boost their plan with digital solutions which can further grow their business,” says Barbie Dapul, vice president at Globe myBusiness. With the myBusiness Unli Plus Postpaid Plan which starts with a base plan of P599, SMEs can stay in touch with their employees and clients without worries, save more with freebies such as P100 discount from any Globe myBusiness solutions, 200 MB of mobile internet or Duo Landline, get access to a fully-customizable postpaid plan with packs and boosters that best fit business needs and budgets, as well as access to a portfolio of business solutions to help increase sales and improve operations. One of the featured solutions is the myBusiness Tracker, a do-it-yourself

portable GPS tracking solution that enables users to monitor the real-time location of their vehicles and assets. Perfect for SMEs in the Retail, Hotel, Restaurant and Café, and Logistics industries, the Globe myBusiness tracker can help SMEs improve delivery planning, realtime monitoring, improve driving habits and save and avoid unnecessary costs. It boasts of features such as live tracking, trip summaries, snail trail, SMS commands, status info, vehicle statistics, historical data of up to 2 years, geo-fencing, notification for alerts and warnings, and Excel export. The Globe myBusiness Tracker is available for only P699 a month for a 24-month lock-up period. “The Globe myBusiness Tracker is a fresh addition to our growing number of digital solutions that further boost the businesses of our customers, allowing business owners to conveniently monitor their assets and staff on their devices,” adds Dapul. Know more about the myBusiness Unli Postpaid Plan or myBusiness Tracker, visit http://mybusiness.globe. com.ph/mobile/mybusiness-postpaid or https://mybusiness.globe.com.ph/ mybusiness-tracker.

t HuR S DAy : A pRIl 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

MAnzAno wAntS IntEnSIfIED VotER’S EDucAtIon DRIVE on pARtylISt SyStEM

enatorial candidate Edu Manzano today called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to intensify its voter’s information drive specifically focused on educating the electorate to choose a partylist to represent them in Congress this May 9 elections. Manzano, who is vying a Senate seat under the umbrella coalition Partido Galing at Puso this coming elections, noted the lack, if not at all absence, of a complete voter’s education campaign focused on partylist system locally and abroad. “For more than two decades since the partylist law was enacted into law, majority of our people are still not fully aware of the need to vote for partylist that would best represent them in Congress as a member of a particular sector of our society,” he said. “Our Constitution, the basic law of the land, was very specific to give pro-

portionate representation in Congress politics that is anchored on principles so that marginalized groups can take ac- or programs to address the flaws of a tive part in crafting meaningful policies multi-party system. We should exert that impact on them,” he added. efforts to advance participation under To date, there are about 115 partylist partylist representation,” he added. organizations vying for a seat in ConManzano also noted that the voter’s gress among national, regional and sec- education package sent by the Comelec toral parties or groups accredited by the to the more than 1.4 million qualified Comelec this coming elections under overseas absentee voters does not conthe 21-year-old partylist system law. tain any information about partylist Manzano, who has been going around organizations and their respective prothe country listening to the myriad con- grams. cerns of the people he talked to, noted “The Comelec should exert all considthat very few among the Filipino elec- erable efforts in addressing not only the torate actually know that they need to low voter’s turn-out even during presivote for a partylist to represent them in dential elections among overseas absenCongress. tee voting but also, most importantly, “Many people I talked with in the the low voter’s turn-out in partylist votprovinces were more concerns about ing system,” he said. whom to vote for local candidates or Under Overseas Absentee Voting Law, even national candidates but hardly for qualified or registered overseas Filipino partylist representatives,” he said. voters are allowed to vote for president, “The partylist system law was en- vice president, senatorial candidates and Actor and senatorial candidate Edu Manzano visioned to encourage a new type of partylist representatives.

Heart and lovi destined to be Escudero and poe

Gaist crusher

Best friends Heart Evangelista and Lovi Poe think that it was destiny that they are an Escudero (now) and Poe. Well, their family names (in the case of Heart her married name) have even brought them closer. They have been the best of friends even before Heart got married and now they are campaigning for Senator Grace Poe, Lovi’s half sister, and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. Both didn’t expect that they’d

go together as far as campaigning for the coming elections. “Hindi po naman in-expect na mangyayari ito. Unang-una, magiging best friend ko si Heart tapos napangasawa niya pa si Senator Chiz, so naging Poe-Escudero bigla yung tandem naming dalawa kaya nagkataon, parang destiny,” Lovi said.“Lagi kami magkasama ni Heart sa maraming bagay pero hindi ko po akalain na pati dito.” Heart is happy because it does not only give her the opportunity

to see the country but to be with her best friend. “Enjoy din kami na parang lumilibot kami, marami kaming nakikilala tapos magkasama kami, at the same time, Poe-Escudero pa. O hindi ba?” Heart. Said. Recently, the two were in Palawan. It was their first time in the province. They were interviewed on raido and went on a market tour and had a meet and greet session with the youth supporters of Chiz.

‘Gaist crusher’ is finally here! Blockbuster anime series airs on the same day as Japan

Get your gears ready as Gaist Crusher, one of Japan’s highestrated shows, comes to Toonami. Part of the Anime Siege, this top-rating and high-octane show set in 2075 will really get your blood pumping as it follows the epic Gaist Crusher’s quest to defend humankind against Gaists metallic life forms who have gone rogue years ago. Gaists came from the mysterious Gaimetal, a metallic mineral discovered 50,000 meters beneath the earth’s surface in 2047. The only thing on a Gaist’s mind is to attack and destroy. Join the Gaist Crushers Rekka, Hayato, Kurama and Siren on weekends at 11 a.m. with encore telecast at 9:00pm as they equip their Gaist Gear armor and duke it out against these metallic monstrosities.. Toonami’s Anime Siege, the dedicated destination for Anime enthusiasts known as Otakus, features only the best in Japanese anime like Dragon Ball Z, Yokai Watch, Beast Saga, BeyWarriors Cyborg and Inazuma Eleven Go Galaxy. Toonami is available on SKYcable Channel 42, Destiny Cable (Digital) Channel 42, Cignal Channel 36 and Cable Link Channel.

Anime fans in Asia are in for a double dose of action and adventure as Asia’s top Japanese anime channel, Animax, is set to air two of this season’s biggest series – My Hero Academia and Twin Stars Exorcists, on the same day as Japan. First to premiere on Animax on April 3 is My Hero Academia, the first-ever television anime adaptation of the wildly popular Weekly Shonen Jump manga with 13 episodes of superhero action and comedy. Set in a world where a majority of the population possess superpowers, the anime tells the tale of 15-year-old Izuku Midoriya, born without any powers but defies his birth rights and joins the herotraining high school in Japan. Will he be able to match up with his elite peers and emerge as the ultimate hero? My Hero Academia airs 8 p.m. every Sunday. Also premiering on the same day as Japan is the action-packed Twin Star Exorcists. From the acclaimed studio that produced major hits such as Naruto and

Japan’s popular anime “My Hero Academia”

Bleach, this supernatural anime adventure is highly anticipated by both the fans and media. Like the manga of the same name, the series follows the jour-

Heart Evangelista and lovi poe

Action anime “twin Star Exorcists”

ney of rival exorcists Rokuro and Benio, as they discover their true destinies and pair up to exorcise all the evil in the world. Twin Star Exorcists is pre-

miered last night and airs 10 p.m. every Wednesday. Animax is seen on SKYCable Channel 46, Cignal Digital TV Channel 34 and Dream Channel 07.

t HuR S DAy : A pRIl 7, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ WhO WIll bE 2016 AlIWAn FIEsTA QuEEn? ISAH V. RED

erhaps no other country in the world holds as many beauty contests as the Philippines. Indeed, beauty pageants have become a significant part of Filipino culture. A fiesta will not be complete without one. It is a stepping stone for ambitious young women from different social backgrounds to fame, modeling opportunities, and even a showbiz career. Anywhere she goes, a beauty queen will be treated like royalty. The communities that will take part in the Aliwan Fiesta, scheduled on April 14-16 have presented a bevy of beauties as their festival muses. Who among them will de declared fairest of all? Angelica Gabriel of Pasay City will represent the Dayang-Dayang festival, while Andrea Fe Gomez of Baguio is this year’s Panagbenga fest iva l

North Cotabato’s Jeanebeth Sadavia

Catbalogan’s lou piczon

Airish yamamoto

muse. Coralin Resurreccion of Sariaya carries the colors of Quezon Province’s Niyugyugan festival. Rechelyn Dionco represents the Boling-Boling festival of Catanauan, while Airish Mae Yamamoto, the Laguna’s Anilag festival. From the Queen City of the South is Cynthia Thomalla of Cebu, this year’s Sinulog festival queen. Likewise turning on the Visayan charm is Dumaguete’s Renelyn Deguit for the Buglasan festival of Negros Oriental. Lou Dominique Piczon,

Jhoanne tañada representing Iloilo

Christel Marie layson representing paraw Regatta

Cynthia thomalla of Cebu

in turn, is the Manaragat festival muse from Catbalogan, Jhoanne Tañada of Iloilo represents the Dinagyang Festival, with fellow Ilongga Christel Marie Layson representing the Paraw Regatta. Mindanao’s delegates were the early-bird entries to this year’s Aliwan Fiesta roster. They are Reasel Ann Halagna for the Zamboanga Hermosa festival and Jeanebeth Sedavia of Midsayap, North Cotabato for the Kalivungan festival. The pageant night will be held at the outdoor stage in front of the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex on April 15. All the candidates for festival queen, together with last

year’s winner Stephanie Abellanida of North Cotabato, will ride fabulous floats during the grand culminating parade on April 16, which will kick off at the Quirno Grandstand, and move toward an outdoor stage in front of the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex, where the awarding ceremonies will be held. This year’s Festival Queen winner will receive P100,000 cash and a trophy, plus the chance to be a goodwill ambassador for domestic tourism. Previous winners have gone on to participate in nationwide beauty contests and have likewise tracked careers in professional modelling.

‘the Odd Couple Season 2’ on Rtl CBS Entertainment HD The Odd Couple stars Matthew Perry as endearing slob Oscar Madison and Thomas Lennon as uptight neat freak Felix Unger, two former college buddies who become unlikely roommates after the demise of their marriages. It’s not long after Oscar lets Felix move in that Oscar fears he’s made a monumental mistake. Oscar’s jack-of-all-trades assistant, Dani, and his long-time agent, Teddy, have their hands full trying to keep

Oscar’s career as a sports radio host on track as he deals with his new living situation. Fortunately, their quirky next door neighbour Emily helps Felix adapt to his new life as a bachelor and rein in his copious eccentricities. Despite how exasperated Oscar and Felix make each other, in the end, these mismatched friends agree they can help each other move on from their divorces and somehow make this crazy living arrange-

ment work. Actress Teri Hatcher guest stars in a multiple-episode arc in season 2. She will play Charlotte, a smart, successful single mother who lives in Oscar Madison’s (Matthew Perry) building. They meet when Oscar starts dating her nanny, but he soon realizes he’s really interested in Charlotte. The Odd Couple Season 2 premieres on RTL CBS Entertainment HD 9:55 p.m. on April 15.

Zamboanga’s Reasel Ann Halagna

the cast of “the Odd Couple” Season 2

Aliwan Fiesta is presented by Manila Broadcasting Company, Star City, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Cities of Manila and Pasay, with support from Globe Telecom, Tanduay, Alaska, Coca Cola, Pride Detergent, Unique Toothpaste, Shield Bath Soap, Columbia Candies, Cherry Mobile, Fukuda, AICS, GES Led Lights, Bayview Park Hotel, Robinsons Place Ermita, and Hotel Jen. For details about this year’s Aliwan Fiesta line-up of activities, call 832.6125 / 555.3477 or check out Aliwan Fiesta’s official Facebook page and website www. aliwanfiesta.com.ph