The Standard - 2016 June 23 - Thursday

VOL. XXX NO. 131 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSDAY : JUNE 23, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PPA junks Lina deal

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CUSTOMS LOSES P300M EACH DAY Duterte: Smuggling in all 17 ports rampant

By Christine F. Herrera and John Paolo Bencito

PRESIDENT-ELECT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said rampant smuggling from all 17 ports nationwide is costing the country P300 million daily in foregone revenues, prompting him to order “zero tolerance” on corruption at the graft-ridden Bureau of Customs.

“In the Bureau of Customs, we are losing an estimated P300 million daily [due to smuggling] in all ports all over the country,” Duterte told the business forum in Davao City.

Duterte did not say where he obtained his figures, which are actually lower than the official government estimate of P200 billion a

year or P547 million a day lost to smuggling.

“The corruption must stop. It makes me sick. I have zero tolerance on graft and criminality. I will kill all of you, smugglers and corrupt officials,” Duterte warned.

“That’s why [incoming Customs chief] Capt. Nicanor Faeldon is here. Smuggling and corruption

have to stop. If only we could collect the P300 million daily that is lost [from smuggling], we wouldn’t have a problem,” Duterte said.

Official government figures and statistics from the United Nations Commission on Trade or UN ComTrade culled by the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Next page

Photo taken on June 21, 2016 and released by the Davao City Mayor’s Office on June 22 shows President-elect Rodrigo Duterte addressing businessmen during a summit in Davao City in the presence of members of his Cabinet. Duterte will begin his six-year term on June 30. AFP

Finance chief richest in Cabinet

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Comelec dared: Release ruling on SOCE

By Maricel V. Cruz INCOMING Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday urged the Commission on Elections to make public a copy of its resolution extending the deadline for candidates and political parties to file their campaign expenditure reports, insisting that the move was illegal.

Alvarez, a lawyer, said the failure of the Comelec to release a copy of the resolution would damage the image of the institution.

“Right or wrong, there seems to be a public perception that the release of the resolution is being held in abeyance until after the sought-for 14-day extension lapses so it may no longer be questioned before the Supreme Court,”

Alvarez said.

“If this is true, the Comelec may end up as a damaged institution as it will be a party to two very serious violations— extending the non-extendible deadline in the filing of SOCEs [statement of contributions and expenditures] and depriving the people of the right to question that extension before the Supreme Court,” he said.

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Alvarez’s PDP-Laban, among other parties concerned, vowed to question the legality of the Comelec’s extension before the Supreme Court.

The Comelec en banc had earlier voted 4-3 to extend the filing period for SOCEs until June 30 upon the request of Liberal Party and other political parties that failed to comply with the deadline.

The extension came despite a recommendation from the poll body’s Campaign Finance Office to deny the LP’s request because it gave the LP an unfair advantage.

In the CFO memo, Commissioner Christian Robert Lim cited Republic Act 7166 which provides that the submission of SOCE must be done within 30 days after the elections.

Alvarez said the copy of the Comelec resolution “is of utmost importance” when the case challenging its legality is brought to the Supreme Court.

Alvarez criticized the Comelec for violating the law as well as its own rules embodied in Comelec Resolution 9991, which ruled out late filings and affirmed that the June 8 deadline was “final and non-extendible.”

“We are supposed to be a government of laws and not of men. Having said that, what’s the point of enacting laws if they will not be implemented or, worse, as in the case of the Comelec and RA 7166, the poll body becomes the primary violator of the law it is supposed to uphold and enforce?” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the law is clear that the late filing of SOCEs simply means non-filing at all.

The law also provides that the non-filing of SOCE would prevent winning candidates from assuming their posts, Alvarez added.

The LP and its standard bearer, Manuel Roxas II, filed their SOCEs on June 14. Observers had observed that Roxas’ failure to meet the original June 8 deadline put in peril the positions of their elected members, including Vice President-elect Leni Robredo.

To dramatize his reason for the late filing, Roxas on Wednesday went to the Comelec with a small yellow dump truck containing his proof of expenses from the elections.

The camp of Roxas went to the Comelec office on Wednesday carrying at least 50 black boxes of receipts and other documents in support of his SOCE, 14 days after the June 8 deadline of submission.

“It is really quite a voluminous number of receipts sorted out. As you can see, those are 50 boxes. We waited for all receipts to be completed and sorted them according to categories as required by Comelec rules. That is also our explanation,” Roxas’ campaign spokesman Rep. Barry Gutierrez told the reporters in an interview.

Gutierrez said Roxas may be late from filing his SOCE but he complied with the requirements for the purposes of transparency. ““We are providing the Comelec and the public the full record of what was spent during the campaign, where the contributions came from and with full compliance of the transparency requirement under the law,” Gutierrez noted.

Roxas is the only presidential candidate who failed to meet the June 8 deadline of filing of SOCE, citing the voluminous amount of receipts.

With Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Ports agency overturns controversial Lina deal

PPA officer-in-charge and assistant general manager for operations Raul Santos called the attention of Lina, who also sits on the board of the PPA, that the Customs chief ’s series of memoranda and administrative issuances place MNHPI in direct violation of its terminal contract with the PPA should MNHPI handle foreign cargo.

Santos issued a memorandum order on June 21 in response to Lina’s June 2 memo enjoining the PPA to allow foreign vessels to dock at the Manila North Harbor.

Lina later admitted he granted the NMHPI the status as an

Authorized Customs Facility or ACF to engage in international trade because its owner, businessman Ramon Ang, was a friend.

Lina also insisted that his memo in favor of Ang was not a “midnight deal” but that he would have granted the AFC to his company even if it were his “last day in office or last minute in office on June 30.”

But Santos reminded Lina that the Manila North Harbor has always been treated as a domestic port as mandated by Presidential Decree No. 857 or the Revised PPA Charter.

“MNHPI’s contract was the result of a competitive pub-

lic bidding in 2009 where the terms of the bid parameters limit the cargo handling operations to domestic cargo only,” Santos said.

“If the PPA doesn’t want to do it, then don’t,” Lina said in reaction to Santos’ memo, but did nothing to rescind his memos in favor of MNHPI. Santos’ order, PPA Memorandum Order 08–2016 dated 21 June, was issued to the Manila North port manager, harbor pilots, and all shipping lines and shipping agents.

“Section 4.02, Article IV of the Contract for Development, Management, Operation and Maintenance of the Manila North Harbor between the PPA and MNHPI expressly provides that MNHPI shall provide to undertake DOMESTIC terminal services only at the Manila North Harbor,” the PPA memo said.

“In view of this contractual limitation, MNHPI is prohibited from providing terminal services to foreign vessels at Manila North Harbor. Accordingly, foreign vessels cannot

Customs...

menced under the Aquino administration beginning in 2010 with 36,784 metric tons dumped into the country and steadily increased to 255,393 metric tons by 2014.

“The smuggling of garlic has cost the government some P25.54 billion in lost revenues,” So said.

“In 2014 alone, some 39.94 million kilos of garlic was smuggled in and flooded the markets and sold for P100 a kilo, depriving the farmers of some P3.99 billion in income,” So said.

In 2014, the BOC reported only 1.07 million metric tons of rice entered into the country but the UN ComTrade, which monitored imports from the country point of origin showed some 1.71 million metric tons of rice was imported.

“The UN ComTrade figures vis-a-vis Philippine government data simply show that some 630,659 metric tons of rice was smuggled into the country in 2014 with a market value of P18.9 billion,” So said.

As of June 2015 under Lina’s watch, a total of P36.34 billion worth of rice, pork, chicken, sugar, onion, garlic, carrots and buffalo meat was smuggled into the country, So said.

In the first half of 2015, some P10.9 billion worth of these agricultural products had been dumped into the country’s ports, he added.

“In 2014, the UN ComTrade report shows 107.66 million

kilos of pork meat was imported. The Bureau of Animal Industry data show only 64.22 million kilos of pork imports, which means some 43.4 million kilos were smuggled in,” So said.

Based on the BOC report, So said some 158.46 million kilos of pork was recorded but some 57.8 million kilos were misdeclared as pork offal, which has lower duties.

Faeldon on Wednesday said he would shore up collections and improve basic services.

He said he would speed up the computerization of Customs processes and remove the compulsory use of brokerages.

To curb smuggling, Faeldon said, he would limit the “physical transaction” between Customs officers and importers.

“There are at least four reforms that we are envisioning.

One is we have to fast-track the computerization,” Faeldon said.

“Another thing is that we want to remove the compulsory utilization of brokerage, because some unscrupulous brokers are using their services to smuggle commodities into the country. We will see what the CMTA [Customs Modernization and Tariff Act] can do to aid us in the transition from compulsory to optional usage of brokerage,” he said, referring to the recently enacted Customs Moderniza-

By Christine F. Herrera

THE Philippine Ports Authority on Wednesday rebuffed Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina and directed its port management office in Manila North Harbor to disallow the Manila North Harbor Port Inc. (MNHPI) to operate as an international port operator, citing the company’s exclusive domestic port contract with the PPA.

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or Sinag show the annual losses continued to soar under the stint of Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina in agricultural products alone.

“Our data showed that Customs Commissioner Lina has not made a dent on smuggling. Rampant smuggling in five staple commodities— rice, pork meat, poultry, onions, garlic—has continued to this day,” said Sinag president Rosendo So. So said Sinag will come up with the data on smuggling under Lina’s watch.

“We are still trying to verify the raw data that we have obtained from government and UN ComTrade but on its face, the data show rampant smuggling went unabated under Lina’s stint,” he said.

Citing official government records, So said smuggling of agricultural products from the last five years of the Arroyo government from 2005 to 2009 amounted to P94.87 billion.

The revenue losses incurred from smuggling of the same products in the last five years of the Aquino administration from 2010 to 2014 has more than doubled and totaled P198.05 billion, So said.

So noted that no smuggling of garlic was reported under the Arroyo administration but smuggling com-

proceed to Manila North Harbor for purposes of anchorage and/or docking at its berth and unloading of their cargoes, among others,” it added.

Under its charter, PPA is the sole regulator over the ports.

“North Harbor has very low fixed fees and no variable royalties to the government. This was granted in an effort to encourage them to truly modernize North Harbor as a gateway for domestic trade,” the PPA said.

On June 8, MNHPI submitted a letter to the PPA expressing its readiness to provide services to foreign vessels and to handle foreign cargo.

San Miguel Corp. earlier acquired a 43.33 percent interest in MNHPI. A San Miguelowned company Petron Corp., holds another 35 percent, giving the conglomerate a 78.33 percent interest in the port terminal company.

MNHPI has a 25-year contract to manage, develop and operate the 52-hectare seaport terminal. With Darwin G. Amojelar

tion and Tariff Act. To clamp down on corruption, Faeldon also plans to create a task force among employees who will be “embedded in the different sensitive posts in the BOC. He said the task force would be formed on the his first day on the job.

Faeldon said they were also looking at possibly extending the conduct of pre-shipment inspections.

“We are doing that already on bulk and break-bulk but we want the containerized goods to be subjected to the shipment inspection. We want to pre-determine the quantity and quality of these commodities before they leave the ports of origin,” he said.

Customs counters, he added, would be set up like tellers at banks, so importers will not be able to choose the agent with which they will transact.

Surveillance cameras in all offices will stream video on the internet to discourage corruption in the agency that accounts for almost one-fifth of total government revenue.

To decongest the sea ports in Manila, Faeldon will push for greater utilization of the ports of Batangas and Subic for southbound and northbound commodities, respectively.

“I consider this a low-lying fruit that can be easily done as long as the traders will agree because they are the ones who will be affected,” he said.

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Ledac will have regular meetings, says Alvarez

Statements. Dogs sniff boxes containing Statements of Contributions and Expenditures from Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, which were delivered by a truck to the Commission on Elections head office in Intramuros, Manila, on Wednesday. DANNY PATA

‘Capital punishment a form of retribution’ PRESIDENT-ELECT Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday the reimposition of capital punishment was not aimed at deterring crime but at having the criminal elements pay for their past mistakes.

He made the statement even as he slammed the media for allegedly twisting his statements, and broadcast giants ABS-CBN and TV5 for being the “mouthpiece of the oligarchs.”

Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights Chairman Jose Luis Martin Gascon said he and Duterte would not have any problems if Duterte followed the Constitution.

Duterte, speaking at the oath-taking of Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao in Sarangani, acknowledged the claims of human rights groups that the death penalty would not deter crime, but he insisted it would be a form of retribution for the sins committed by criminals.

“The death penalty to me is retribution—you pay for the mistakes you have

done in this life,” Duterte told local officials.

Various groups, including Amnesty International and the Commission on Human Rights, say Duterte’s aim to reinstate the death penalty as part of his hard-line stance against crime will not be successful.

They say the mere restoration of the death penalty is the “ultimate violation of the right to life.”

In a television interview, Gascon said they had already formed a national task force to probe extra-judicial killings in anticipation of its rise in Duterte’s presidency.

“The president-elect should follow the Constitution and we won’t have a problem,” Gascon said.

“I hope that this relationship will

blossom into a relationship based on rules.”

Duterte said his stance against journalists was only aimed at the third type: the vultures.

He then slammed ABSCBN, which is owned by the Lopezes, and TV5, which is owned by Manny V. Pangilinan. He said the two broadcast giants were the “mouthpiece of vested interests.”

“Itong pangalawa, itong mga announcer, itong mga broadcaster na mouthpiece ng kumpanya niya. Yan, ABSCBN, Pangilinan—Action 5?

May mga newspaper... they are there to protect their vested interest. Kapag inatake sila eto na yung mga magprotekta sa kanila just to influence the thinking of the person,” Duterte said.

During the campaign trail,

ABS-CBN became the sole network to air a controversial television advertisement commissioned by Senator Antonio Trillanes attacking Duterte and showing children condemning his supposed ill manners foul speeches.

Some of Duterte’s cabinet members have links to both broadcast giants, with incoming Communications Secretary Martin Andanar being a former broadcaster and anchor of TV5, while incoming Environment Secretary Regina Lopez is a scion of the Lopez group, the owners of ABS-CBN. Duterte said the “vultures” in media were twisting his statements. His spokesmen had previously said he was being “misquoted” by the news organizations throughout the campaign. John Paolo Bencito

INCOMING Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Wednesday the LegislativeExecutive Advisory Council will meet regularly in the coming 17th Congress.

Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III convened the Ledac only twice since he assumed office in 2010: on Feb. 28, 2011, and on Aug. 16, 2011.

The council was conceived during the Ramos administration.

“We will push for a regular Ledac to ensure the successful passage of priority measures for our people,” said Alvarez, the representative of Davao del Norte and secretary-general of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

Alvarez recalled having attended regular Ledac meetings during the Ramos administration.

“The Ledac during the Ramos administration was at its most active, and that is important because it guides both the executive and the legislative for a clearer direction of the government’s socio-economic development goals,” Alvarez said.

He said he was pushing for regular Ledac meetings to preserve the intent and spirit of Republic Act 7640, which provides that the council meet at least once every quarter.

Outgoing Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was himself disappointed over the Aquino administration’s failure to convene the Ledac regularly as prescribed by law.

“I think he should have convened it more often, so that we could be more in tune with his thinking,” Belmonte said.

“There are bills that are very good but which we have passed but it turns out they were not in his thinking, not in the liking of his economic managers. More Ledac meetings would have probably solved that.”

Belmonte said Aquino’s penchant for vetoing several bills of national importance could have been prevented if the leaders of Congress and Malacañang had met regularly under Ledac.

But because there were no Ledac meetings, the House and the Senate took the initiative of passing several pieces of important legislation that ended up being vetoed by Aquino.

Maricel V. Cruz

Former Globe legal counsel to head new department PRESIDENT-ELECT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Rodolfo Salalima, formerly the chief legal counsel of Globe Telecom, to head the newly formed Department of Information and Communications Technology.

In a statement released Wednesday, Globe said Salalima will be the department’s first secretary under the incoming Duterte administration.

Salalima is a magna cum laude graduate of philosophy and a cum laude graduate of bachelor of laws from San Beda College.

In May, President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act 10844 creating the new department.

That law requires that the department heads have “at least seven years of competence and expertise in any of the following: information and communications technology, information technology service management, information security management; cyber security, data privacy, e-commerce, or human capital development in the ICT sector.”

Globe said Salalima has more than 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. It said he is a member of the executive committee of the National ICT Advisory Council, president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators Inc. and a director of the Telecoms Infrastructure Corporation of the Philippines.

Duterte earlier warned the telecommunications companies to improve their internet services or face competition from foreign players.

The Philippines’ internet speed is the second slowest in Asia after Afghanistan.

The internet services in the Philippines are also among the most expensive.

A 2015 Ookla Speedtest showed that consumer download speeds in the Philippines ranked 176th out of 202 countries. The cost per megabit per second in the Philippines is also one of the most expensive, with an average value of $18.18 against the global average of $5.21. John Paolo Bencito

Advocacy. Senior citizens join an advocacy event against the use of medicines, which can cause serious health problems, as the country marks National Poison Prevention Week in Quezon City. LINO SANTOS

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Postpone Sulu meet, MNLF asks Duterte

By Francisco Tuyay THE Moro National Liberation Front has asked President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to postpone a scheduled trip to Jolo, Sulu to meet with MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari because peace spoilers may take advantage of the visit and endanger the life of the incoming leader.

MNLF spokesman Reverend Absalom Cerveza made the remark as three more members of the Abu Sayyaf group were killed while scores of others wounded when the military overran two bandit camps in Sulu.

Cerveza said the MNLF poses no threat to the president-elect because Misuari and Duterte are long-time friends, but the separatist group only wants to ensure Duterte’s safety his visit to Sulu.

“I asked him not to go yet because he has not even taken his oath. Although no one will do anything wrong to him, one never really knows,” Cerveza said, referring to a meeting with Duterte in Davao City two weeks ago.

Cerveza said they are are not discounting the possibility that some disgruntled security personnel may try to hurt Duterte because of internal and external security policy pronouncements.

“I said, I’m not afraid that you will be betrayed by the MNLF because nobody will betray you.

But you cannot be sure of the soldiers, the police. If he is shot there, they may try to blame Misuari,” Cerveza said.

Training for the Big One. Firemen train their hose on a car that was set aflame on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Makati City to simulate a scenario during the Metro Manila-wide earthquake drill on Wednesday. LINO SANTOS

No posts for LP, new speaker says

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera and Maricel V. Cruz

DAVAO CITY—Amid reports that some Liberal Party members are balking at the need to join the supermajority in the House of Representatives, incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez maintained no committee chairmanship will be given to the minority.

Alvarez, the just-elected congressman of Davao del Norte, said even former committee chairmen will not be given any chairmanship if they are in the minority.

“If they will be in the minority, yes [no chairmanship for them], but if they will join the majority there is a possibility that some of them will get chairmanship,” Alvarez told

journalists after the Consultative Workshop with the Business Community here.

He said several members of the Liberal Party expressed intention to join the Partidong Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) but incumbent Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. indicated that not all LP members are keen on joining the coalition Alva-

rez forged in the House.

Belmonte said that while LP members may “eventually” join the coalition, there is no problem with Alvarez stand since restricting committee chairmanships to members of the majority “is the norm.”

Belmonte said it has been a tradition in the House that no committee chairmanships be allocated for the opposition, except for the House committee on ethics.

The House ethics committee is the panel that hears complaints or attends to matters pertaining to the conduct of House members.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, the designated Labor secretary of the Duterte administration, and Isa-

bela Rep. Rodito Albano III echoed Belmonte’s statement.

“Based on my experience, I think that is the practice, “ Bello said, while Tiangco, president of the United Nationalist Alliance, (UNA) said he hopes the House leadership will preserve the tradition of assigning the ethics committee to a minority member.

“Yes, we hope so, to ensure that it will not be based purely on ‘numbers’ just in case a complaint is filed against any of the members of the House of Representatives,” Tiangco said.

Albano said it is nececssary for the committee of ethics to be headed by a minority member “to level the playing field” and “ensure checks and balances.”

29 Pinays rescued in Malaysia

By Vito Barcelo

Learning what to do. Students in Caloocan City join the Metro Manila-wide

earthquake drill meant to teach people what to do in the event of a devastating earthquake caused by the movement of the Marikina Valley fault. ANDREW RABULAN

AT LEAST 29 Filipino women were rescued after being forced to work in two bars in Sarawak, Malaysia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The women were victims of a human trafficking syndicate and were brought to the town of Bintulu in the Malaysian state of Sarawak to work as bar girls, the department said.

The DFA said three Filipinos who served as agents and caretakers of the women were arrested by the Malaysian police who conducted the raid at the Republic and Kiss Kiss Bars.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency warned against Filipinos wanting to work in Malaysia by entering as tourists, and promised to convert them to employment visas in exchange for payment.

“We remind Filipinos to be vigilant and not to deal with unlicensed individuals or purported placement agencies, especially online, as they could end up being trafficked,” it said.

“We thank the Bintulu branch of the Royal Malaysian Police [RMP] for their swift action to provide assistance and rescue of the trafficked Filipinas,” Philippine Ambassador Eduardo Ma-

laya said.

The rescue was made possible through the coordination of Embassy Police Attache Pablo Labra II and Assistance to Nationals officer Ariel Esparto with Sarawak authorities.

The rescued Filipinas will be transferred to the Women’s Shelter Home in Kota Kinabalu after the court’s approval of its application for temporary protection.

Overseas Filipino workers should verify the job offer and the agency offering the said job with the POEA in Manila or the Embassy’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) before making travel plans, it said.

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Aquino shuns quake drill

By Sandy Araneta, Joel E. Zurbano, Rey E. Requejo and PNA

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday participated in the second nationwide earthquake drill, but neither President Benigno Aquino III nor his four spokesmen took part.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., one of the four official spokesmen of the President, said Aquino only monitored the exercise.

“As in the previous exercise, the President monitored the exercise and was given updates,” said Coloma, who was in Baguio City for a conference with the Philippine Information Agency.

On the other hand, Undersecretary Jess Yu of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, who was at the event said, his office, the Office of the President, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office and the Presidential Management Staff participated in the shake drill led by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

For his part, outgoing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Alexander Pama on Wednesday adjudged the 2nd Metro Manila Shake Realistic acting. A child cries thinking that her mother has actually been injured during the ‘ShakeDrill’ held at EdsaDrill and National Simultaneous Guadalupe in Makati City. Government and private sectors took part in the drill to test national preparedness in case a Earthquake Drill a success. major earthquake hits the country. LINO SANTOS Pama, who is also the concurrent Office of Civil Defense administrator, while the Philippines has obtained experience in the conduct of nationwide emergency drills, Pama said, it is still Patricia Licuanan—P40,443,888.31 (P39,403,341); FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima is the richest that time. early for the country to proceed with among the Cabinet members of President Benigno The “poorest” of the Cabinet officials is still 9. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad— the so-called unannounced earthAquino III, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro with only P34,808,911.39 (P33,817,591.06); quake drills that could also prove disPurisima’s statement of assets, liabilities and net P586,107.11. Luistro was also cited as the “poorest” 10. Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel ruptive to the economy as the exercise worth (SALN) showed his assets amounting to in the Cabinet of Aquino in 2014.

Senen Sarmiento—P33,692,420.60 (not indicated); could delay business operations if P301,328,806.

The other Cabinet members who filed their 11. Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje— done too realistically.

His assets went up from P298,940,320 in 20124 SALN were: P33.28 million (P31.98 million); Meanwhile, at least two people and P278, 947,249 in 2013.

4. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala— 12. National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary were “killed” and 18 others were “inTourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez was second P92,985,163. 41 (from P91,170,935.37 in 2014); Jose Eliseo Rocamora—P27,442,756.69 jured” in a simulated earthquake scerichest in Aquino’s Cabinet with P289,066,800.

5. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson— (P15,649,722.15); nario at the Supreme Court where an Jimenez’s assets also went up from P283,425,800 P88,521,628. 38 (P82,551,073.80); 13. Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary estimated 2,100 employees have been in 2014 and P282,466,800 in 2013.

6. Science and Technology Secretary Mario Julia Abad—P26,310,000 (P23,944,394); successfully “evacuated” from the SC Third was Health Secretary Janette Garin with Montejo—P63,138,153.24 (P61,108,106); 14. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin— compound in Padre Faura and guided P141,571,768.95. Her SALN of 2014 was not indi- 7. Commission on Filipino Overseas head Imelda P25,143,378.00 (P24,729,137); to Paco Park in a little over 18 mincated by Malacañang as she was not yet appointed Nicholas—P44,675,258.87 (not indicated); 15. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.— utes during the metrowide quake drill as secretary of the Department of Health during 8. Commission on Higher Education Chairperson P18,532,886.23 (P18,123,206.61). spearheaded by Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday.

Finance chief richest in PNoy Cabinet

JV posts bail on malverse raps case every week so my name will be immediately cleared,” he said.

In a resolution promulgated last MonSENATOR Joseph Victor Ejercito on Tuesday expressed optimism that the San- day, the anti-graft court Sixth Division diganbayan will acquit him of the technical found probable cause against Ejercito malversation charge in connection with the and outgoing San Juan Vice Mayor Franallegedly anomalous use of P2.1 million ca- cis Zamora to try them for technical mallamity funds when he was San Juan mayor versation.

Ejercito, Zamora and the other city in 2008.

Speaking to Senate reporters in a media councilors were charged with technical briefing before he posted P6,000 bail fol- malversation for allowing the use of the lowing the issuance of a warrant of arrest calamity funds for the purchase of highagainst him, Ejercito said he trusts the justice powered firearms from February to August system—that the Sandiganbayan will be fair. 2008. Zamora was then a councilor.

Zamora before noon posted a P6,000 “I am very optimistic and very positive and very confident in my case. I know I bail for technical malversation.

Ejercito is also facing graft charges in the did. not make any mistake, I did not comSB Fifth Division over the alleged anomamit any crime.”

Ejercito also stressed he will not destroy lous purchase of high-powered rifles worth his name for a P2 million transaction or P2.1 million using calamity funds when he was San Juan mayor in 2008. He had any amount for that matter.

“If it’s possible, I want the hearing of my posted his P30,000 bail for the graft charge.

By Macon Araneta and Rio Araja

Women’s rights. Women’s rights advocates and abuse victims take up issues and

proposed reforms under the Duterte administration during the Pandesal Forum. From left: Gabriela party-list leaders Emmi De Jesus, Liza Maza, Joms Salvador, Sharon Cabusao and representatives from various sectors. LINO SANTOS

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China asserts control of Spratlys BEIJING—Chinese cruise ships will regularly bring tourists to the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea by 2020, reports said Wednesday, as tensions mount in the region.

Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital South China Sea, despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbors, and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

Chinese companies already operate cruises —for Chinese nationals only—to the Paracel Islands.

A new proposal seeks to develop routes

to the Spratlys, much further south, said the China Daily, which is published by the government.

It cited a document released by authorities in the southern island province of Hainan, from where the ships will depart.

“The Nansha Islands are virgin territory for China’s tourism industry,” provincial tourism official Sun Xiangtao told the pa-

per, using the Spratlys’ Chinese name.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and the Philippines all have rival claims over portions of the Spratlys.

Chinese tourists have been allowed to travel to non-militarized areas of the South China Sea since 2013, but foreign passport-holders are not allowed to join the trips.

A previous China Daily report said the mayor of Sansha city, on Woody Island in the Paracels, estimated that some 30,000 people have already visited, and “many people with a patriotic spirit want to try it.” AFP

6F Exchange Corner Building 107 V. A. Rufino Street corner Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 (02) 893-7159 | www.creditinfo.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ASIAN UTILITY VEHICLE PUBLIC BIDDING No. PB16-004 Funding Source: CIC CORPORATE BUDGET FOR F.Y. 2016 1.

The CREDIT INFORMATION CORPORATION (CIC) invites PhilGEPS registered suppliers to bid for the following item: Quantity

Description

1 Lot

Supply and Delivery of Asian Utility Vehicle

Approved Budget for the Contract

Bidding Document Price

Schedule of Requirements

PHP 1,200,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

Within Thirty (30) Calendar Days

Bidders should have completed, within Three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

2.

The summary of the bidding activities is as follows: Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Pre-Bid Conference Issuance of Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission and Opening of Bids

3.

June 23, 2016 June 30, 2016 / 02:00 PM

Expedition. This photo taken on June 16, 2016 shows workers and crew loading supplies and ice onto a fishing vessel anchored at the mouth of the South China Sea off the town of Infanta in Pangasinan province as they prepare for a fishing expedition to Scarborough Shoal. A recent incident at the nearby Scarborough Shoal is part of a long-running territorial row that sits at the heart of a UN backed tribunal expected to rule in the coming weeks. AFP

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published.

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Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Santos Garcia Estacio and Ma. Pilar Yatco Estacio has been extrajudicially settled with Deed of Extra-Judicial Settlement of the Estate among their heirs as per Doc. No. 188, Page No. 39; Book No. 1; Series of 2016 before Atty. Jerome L. Flojo.

Notary Public PTR No: 1420818/01-08-16/ Pasig City ( T S - J U N E 9 ,16 & 2 3 , 2 016)

July 05, 2016 July 12, 2016 / 02:00 PM

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”.

4.

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.

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A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the BAC Secretariat (see address below) and upon payment of a nonrefundable feefor the Bidding Documents, in amounts pursuant to the Schedule.

The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS provided that Bidders shall pay the non-refundable price not later than the submission of their bids.

Interested bidders may inspect the Bidding Documents and obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat at the address given below.

6.

The CIC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 30, 2016 / 2:00PM which is open to all interested parties. Only those who have purchased the bidding documents may attend and participate.

7.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be conducted on July 12, 2016 / 02:00PM at the CIC Office, 6F Exchange Corner Building, V.A. Rufino St. cor. Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend the opening. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING E ASYCALL COMMUNICATIONS PHILS,INC., NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting of EASYCALL COMMUNICATIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. scheduled on 14 July 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Infinity Room 1 & 2 F1 Hotel Manila, 32th Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig with the following agenda: I. II. III.

Call to Order.

Determination and Certification of a Quorum.

Approval of the previous Minutes of the Annual Stockholders' Meeting and Organizational Meeting held on 30 July 2015.

IV. Report of the President • 2015 Highlights • 2015 Performance V. Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the calendar year ended 31 December 2015.

VI. Certification and Ratification of Corporate Acts for the year 2015.

VII. Election of the members of the Board of Directors.

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IX. Other Matters Only stockholders of record date at the close of business hour of 01 June 2016 the record date and time fixed by the Board of Directors are entitled to notice and to vote at said meeting.

Registration for the stockholders' meeting shall start at 9:30 am. If you cannot personally attend the meeting and would like to be represented by a proxy, you may accomplish and sign the attached proxy form (Annex "A"), which must be received by the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the office of the Corporation The Penthouse, Net Quad Building, 4th Ave. cor. 30th St., E-Square Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig not later than forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled meeting.

The Corporation or any of its directors or officers is not soliciting any proxy.

BAC Secretariat Credit Information Corporation 6F Exchange Corner Building V.A. Rufino Streetcor. Esteban St. Legaspi Village, Makati City Email: bac-sec@creditinfo.gov.ph Telefax: (02) 893-7159

Taguig, FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR (SGD) MELITHA F. GASAPOS Corporate Secretary

(SGD) AILEEN L. AMOR – BAUTISTA Chairperson, BAC (TS-JUNE 23, 2016)

EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

( T S - J U N E 2 3 , 2 016)

Fake doctor charged with sexual assault ALTHOUGH it will be just over a week before Rodrigo Duterte formally takes over the Philippine presidency, the impact of his nononsense approach to criminality is already being felt as another alleged sexual predator fell this week to law enforcement authorities in Caloocan.

Charged with sexual assault was Jose Norlito Fruto, who was arrested in Caloocan on June 16, 2016 after a young male lodged a complaint against Fruto, police said.

Fruto was charged with Sexual Assault under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, which incoporates expanded provisions on rape and similar offenses under Republic Act 8535, or commonly known as the expanded rape law. An additional charge of resisting arrest was filed against Fruto in relation to the sexual assault complaint.

A warrant of arrest was likewise served on Fruto for resisting arrest during his temporary incarceration.

Fruto had been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for pretending to be a doctor, together with his assistant.

T H U R S D AY : J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Do not corrupt public officials’

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Incoming Department of Transportation and Commu nicat ions Secretary, lawyer Arthur Tugade called on the business sector not to corrupt the public officials at a recent consultation with the business community.

“If you do not wish us to be corrupt, you, yourself, must bear the battle of not seeking to corrupt us,” Tugade said.

He added that the businessmen should avoid inviting public officials from dinners and giving gifts to avoid misinterpretation.

“Avoid inviting us for dinner, we both know what happens during dinner.

Once upon a time I was a businessman, the name of the game is simple, that’s a treat,” Tugade said.

He added that a businessman can only get needed permits if they deserve it and not because of the dinners or gifts given to them.

Mindoro governor stops hydro plant construction

By Robert A. Evora

CALAPAN CITY—Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. suspended on Wednesday the ongoing construction of a P1.2-billion hydro-electric power project for lack of required permits to conduct blasting and tunneling operations.

Residents, including the Mangyan communities in the towns of Naujan, Victoria and Baco, hemming in the more than 3,000-hectare project site of the Sta. Clara Power Corp., have earlier complained of a series of loud explo-

sions caused by dynamite blasting in the area.

Mangyan leader Segundo Salimbayan decried the loud explosions are often heard regularly from the project side. While Lilia Tan, 42, of Barangay Arangin, said the blasts

terrified the people and that during the onslaught of Typhoon “Nona,” plants and animals died because of the silt.

The blasting, excavation and other earthmoving operations will make way for a 3.2-kilometer tunnel for SCPC’s eight-megawatt Lower Catuiran Mini-Hydro Power Project in Barangay Malvar, in Naujan municipality.

In its own report, cited by provincial officials, SCPC geologists claimed “only 42,000 cubic meters of gravel, rocks, sand, muds and other forms of silts (banlik) flowed out from the tunnel at the height of

supertyphoon Nona while a total amount of 13 million cubic meters of silts came down from the adjoining mountains and hills.”

The SCPC is a subsidiary of the Sta. Clara International Corp., which is undertaking the construction of the power project that started three years ago in 2013.

Remegia de Chavez, of Barangay Masagana, Naujan, said she lost eight cows when the cattles drowned in floodwaters mixed with sand, gravel, muds and rocks.

“This is the first time that the flood contained stones, sands and mud,” she said.

Teaching him a lesson. A resident of Barangay Dominican Hill in Baguio piles garbage on this cab after its driver had been repeatedly requested not to park in the designated trash collection area. DAVID CHAN

Zamboanga fire injures 5, displaces thousands

Walk of shame. Suspected drug pushers are paraded on the streets of Tanauan City, Batangas. AFP

ZAMBOANGA C I T Y— H u n d r e d s of families were displaced while five people were injured by a four-hour fire that hit a slum area late Tuesday in this city.

Chief Insp. Clint Cha, local fire marshal, said the fire that broke out around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Sta. Catalina razed about 600 houses mostly made up of light materials and closely built from each other.

Cha said a general alarm has been raised on the blaze that has hit houses in

Marietta Drive and spreading through other areas.

“We can’t sustain suppression because the tankers cannot go inside due to narrow roads,” Cha said.

Water tankers from the city government, Zamboanga City Water District and business establishments have provided water to the fire fighters at the height of the conflagration.

Cha placed the worth of damaged properties at P4.5 million.

He said they have yet to ascertain the

cause of the fire although “there are allegations but we have to validate it.”

The fire fighters have managed to contain the fire and declared fire out at 10:45 p.m.

Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, said the injured victims were taken to the hospital.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office and the Housing and Land Management Division have yet to determine the exact number of displaced families. PNA

T h u R S D AY : J u N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

Can it be done?

[ EDI TORI A L ]

From one promise to the next WheN Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is sworn in as the new chief executive next Thursday, the country will not only gain a new leader. It will also lose the existing one. While there is much uncertainty as to what the next six years will bring, there is a measure of comfort that the six-year Aquino administration is drawing to an end.

To be sure, the administration of President Benigno Aquino III began on high moral ground. elected into office on a wave of sympathy for his just-deceased mother, Mr. Aquino presented himself as the savior of a miserable land. he would bring the light of transparency into the nation, he said, and eradicate corruption and poverty. he would correct the ill practices of the past, bring plunderers to justice and occasion a golden age of good governance and economic growth.

What actually happened between mid-2010 and today is a poor approximation of the scenario he painted. The past six years instead saw arrogance and self-congratulation amid incompetence. When things went wrong, the administration blamed its predecessor or some other party.

When things went well, it took shameless credit for milestones including those not entirely of its own doing.

The emphasis on superficial claims—achieving nominal GDP growth, rushing a law said to bring “final peace” to Mindanao, or jailing officials involved in irregularities provided they are not administration allies—took its toll on the people who had expected much and now feel short-changed.

Indeed, the decrepit state of public transportation, the crippling traffic situation in Metro Manila, the inability to attain food security and the failure to protect farmers, the gaping income inequality and the pervasive culture of impunity have become the defining characteristics of this administration that is thankfully coming to an end.

As we make the transition, it would be good to wisen up. We should refuse to be made to feel high with larger-than-life personalities who make sweeping promises of change. look at the fine print and see if there is substance to back the pronouncements. Ask questions and do not allow the officials to determine what will and will not be discussed. Be alert for potential vested interests and develop an intolerance for doublespeak.

We don’t want to be in this same sorry state six years from now.

AyAlA on A roll lOwDOwn jOjO A. ROblEs A CouPle of years back, I recall meeting with several executives of a big conglomerate that had a minority stake—or so I thought, at the time—in a huge but controversial infrastructure project.

In a restaurant at the chi-chi Manila Polo Club, they told me about how they had invested a lot of time, money and effort in the project, which was now in dire danger of being awarded to

a competing business group.

“Wait a minute,” I said, interrupting their narration. “Isn’t that an Ayala project and aren’t you guys just saling pusa?”

Apparently not, I was told.

While everyone was calling the proposal an Ayala bid that was majority Ayala-funded, my hosts explained that they had just asked the Makati-based group for the use of its name in order to gain an extra advantage in dealing with the government, which was led then (as it is now and for a week more) by the famous Ayala-loving President Noynoy Aquino.

The Ayalas had no other investment in the project, they said, which is why that company was not at all bothered by losing the contract that my hosts had worked so long and so hard to secure. It was a “naming rights” deal, nothing more, nothing less.

I’m reminded of that meeting now that it’s becoming clear that the Ayalas, famous for backing not only Noynoy but also his mother Cory (to the business family’s coincidental benefit, quite naturally), have also had a lot of success in infiltrating the incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte. And that’s judg-

The Ayalas are making their presence felt as the spoils are being handed out.

A9

ing from the most recent appointments to high government office alone, mind you.

The latest Cabinet appointment is that of Rodolfo Salalima, picked by Duterte to head up the new Department of Information and Communication Technology, whose creation was approved in the dying days of the current Aquino government. Salalima, who is also a member of the now-famous class of 1971 of the San Beda law school to which Duterte belongs, is also known as the longtime legal counsel of Globe Telecom, the profitable Ayala subsidiary that is one half of the Philippine telco duopoly.

Prior to Salalima’s appointment, Noel Kintanar, the head of

a little-known Ayala unit, AC Infrastructure, was named undersecretary in charge of railways of the Department of Transportation and Communications, which is headed by another San Beda ‘71 alum and Duterte pal, Arthur Tugade. And I’ve been told that the father of all influence, as far as the Ayala group is concerned, is Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez, the finance secretary-designate and childhood classmate and friend of the new president— who also used to be former president of BPI Agricultural Bank.

Friends in the banking industry

said Dominguez, arguably the most powerful Cabinet official of the new government as economic policy czar of Duterte, was “discovered” by Cory Aquino during his stint as president of the Ayala banking subsidiary. Because the Ayalas (or the Jaime Zobel de Ayala branch of the family, anyway) was a big-time supporter of Cory, Dominguez secured the post of minister of agriculture under Cory’s term.

In all likelihood, because Dominguez’s job in the Duterte campaign was chief fund-raiser for the Davao City mayor

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), 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

when he sought the presidency, the Ayalas were high on the list of contributors.

And because they backed the right horse —while also making contributions to “traditional” Yellow candidates like Mar Roxas, for example—the Ayalas are now making their presence felt as the spoils that our high government positions have always been are being handed out.

Kintanar’s appointment as de facto chief regulator of an industry where Ayala has a major investment (the newly-privatized lRT line 1), I’ve already Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

JuDGING from the way the media is treating the looming turnover of government from the outgoing Aquino administration to the incoming Duterte administration, it would seem that President Aquino is turning over a government in crisis.

Peace and order, illegal drugs, traffic gridlock and graft and corruption seem to have all gotten worse under President Aquino. There is serious talk about granting President-elect Duterte emergency powers to be able to tackle these huge problems. Currently, detained former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is leading the way by filing a bill that will do precisely that—grant President-elect Duterte sweeping powers to be able to solve the Metro Manila traffic gridlock. even the business community is endorsing such a move. The influential and powerful Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. is wholeheartedly behind the idea.

But not everyone is on board. There are some lawmakers who have doubts as to the wisdom of such a move—and for good reason. It is difficult to find immediate solutions to a problem that has been building up for decades. As I wrote last week, it is necessary that before granting such emergency powers to solve the traffic gridlock, there must be specific plans so that when such powers are granted, the government will hit the road, running so to speak.

So far, what we have read and heard are the same old rhetoric of solutions that we have been hearing in the past. These have been tried half-heartedly but they did not work because of lack of political will on the part of the government. A case in point is the Balintawak area along edsa.

It shows the inability of the government to clear the road for motorists. Right now, the vendors are moving back. Tricycles and vehicles are now also back, parking along the road and thereby blocking the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

If the government cannot even find a way to implement a doable solution to this traffic problem, how can we proceed to solve other more difficult traffic and transportation problems? Whom we need at this point are competent people to draw up a plan with new ideas that incoming President-elect Duterte can implement immediately when he assumes office.

It is also important that whoever President-elect Duterte appoints to help him must understand traffic and transportation. We have to bear in mind that traffic schemes like motorcycle lanes, rerouting or bike lanes will not ease traffic conditions. Some traffic and transportation-related facts might help the reader understand the severity of the problem at hand.

Continued on A11 Publisher Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

T h u R S D AY : J u N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

Can it be done?

[ EDI TORI A L ]

From one promise to the next WheN Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is sworn in as the new chief executive next Thursday, the country will not only gain a new leader. It will also lose the existing one. While there is much uncertainty as to what the next six years will bring, there is a measure of comfort that the six-year Aquino administration is drawing to an end.

To be sure, the administration of President Benigno Aquino III began on high moral ground. elected into office on a wave of sympathy for his just-deceased mother, Mr. Aquino presented himself as the savior of a miserable land. he would bring the light of transparency into the nation, he said, and eradicate corruption and poverty. he would correct the ill practices of the past, bring plunderers to justice and occasion a golden age of good governance and economic growth.

What actually happened between mid-2010 and today is a poor approximation of the scenario he painted. The past six years instead saw arrogance and self-congratulation amid incompetence. When things went wrong, the administration blamed its predecessor or some other party.

When things went well, it took shameless credit for milestones including those not entirely of its own doing.

The emphasis on superficial claims—achieving nominal GDP growth, rushing a law said to bring “final peace” to Mindanao, or jailing officials involved in irregularities provided they are not administration allies—took its toll on the people who had expected much and now feel short-changed.

Indeed, the decrepit state of public transportation, the crippling traffic situation in Metro Manila, the inability to attain food security and the failure to protect farmers, the gaping income inequality and the pervasive culture of impunity have become the defining characteristics of this administration that is thankfully coming to an end.

As we make the transition, it would be good to wisen up. We should refuse to be made to feel high with larger-than-life personalities who make sweeping promises of change. look at the fine print and see if there is substance to back the pronouncements. Ask questions and do not allow the officials to determine what will and will not be discussed. Be alert for potential vested interests and develop an intolerance for doublespeak.

We don’t want to be in this same sorry state six years from now.

AyAlA on A roll lOwDOwn jOjO A. ROblEs A CouPle of years back, I recall meeting with several executives of a big conglomerate that had a minority stake—or so I thought, at the time—in a huge but controversial infrastructure project.

In a restaurant at the chi-chi Manila Polo Club, they told me about how they had invested a lot of time, money and effort in the project, which was now in dire danger of being awarded to

a competing business group.

“Wait a minute,” I said, interrupting their narration. “Isn’t that an Ayala project and aren’t you guys just saling pusa?”

Apparently not, I was told.

While everyone was calling the proposal an Ayala bid that was majority Ayala-funded, my hosts explained that they had just asked the Makati-based group for the use of its name in order to gain an extra advantage in dealing with the government, which was led then (as it is now and for a week more) by the famous Ayala-loving President Noynoy Aquino.

The Ayalas had no other investment in the project, they said, which is why that company was not at all bothered by losing the contract that my hosts had worked so long and so hard to secure. It was a “naming rights” deal, nothing more, nothing less.

I’m reminded of that meeting now that it’s becoming clear that the Ayalas, famous for backing not only Noynoy but also his mother Cory (to the business family’s coincidental benefit, quite naturally), have also had a lot of success in infiltrating the incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte. And that’s judg-

The Ayalas are making their presence felt as the spoils are being handed out.

A9

ing from the most recent appointments to high government office alone, mind you.

The latest Cabinet appointment is that of Rodolfo Salalima, picked by Duterte to head up the new Department of Information and Communication Technology, whose creation was approved in the dying days of the current Aquino government. Salalima, who is also a member of the now-famous class of 1971 of the San Beda law school to which Duterte belongs, is also known as the longtime legal counsel of Globe Telecom, the profitable Ayala subsidiary that is one half of the Philippine telco duopoly.

Prior to Salalima’s appointment, Noel Kintanar, the head of

a little-known Ayala unit, AC Infrastructure, was named undersecretary in charge of railways of the Department of Transportation and Communications, which is headed by another San Beda ‘71 alum and Duterte pal, Arthur Tugade. And I’ve been told that the father of all influence, as far as the Ayala group is concerned, is Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez, the finance secretary-designate and childhood classmate and friend of the new president— who also used to be former president of BPI Agricultural Bank.

Friends in the banking industry

said Dominguez, arguably the most powerful Cabinet official of the new government as economic policy czar of Duterte, was “discovered” by Cory Aquino during his stint as president of the Ayala banking subsidiary. Because the Ayalas (or the Jaime Zobel de Ayala branch of the family, anyway) was a big-time supporter of Cory, Dominguez secured the post of minister of agriculture under Cory’s term.

In all likelihood, because Dominguez’s job in the Duterte campaign was chief fund-raiser for the Davao City mayor

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), 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

when he sought the presidency, the Ayalas were high on the list of contributors.

And because they backed the right horse —while also making contributions to “traditional” Yellow candidates like Mar Roxas, for example—the Ayalas are now making their presence felt as the spoils that our high government positions have always been are being handed out.

Kintanar’s appointment as de facto chief regulator of an industry where Ayala has a major investment (the newly-privatized lRT line 1), I’ve already Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

JuDGING from the way the media is treating the looming turnover of government from the outgoing Aquino administration to the incoming Duterte administration, it would seem that President Aquino is turning over a government in crisis.

Peace and order, illegal drugs, traffic gridlock and graft and corruption seem to have all gotten worse under President Aquino. There is serious talk about granting President-elect Duterte emergency powers to be able to tackle these huge problems. Currently, detained former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is leading the way by filing a bill that will do precisely that—grant President-elect Duterte sweeping powers to be able to solve the Metro Manila traffic gridlock. even the business community is endorsing such a move. The influential and powerful Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. is wholeheartedly behind the idea.

But not everyone is on board. There are some lawmakers who have doubts as to the wisdom of such a move—and for good reason. It is difficult to find immediate solutions to a problem that has been building up for decades. As I wrote last week, it is necessary that before granting such emergency powers to solve the traffic gridlock, there must be specific plans so that when such powers are granted, the government will hit the road, running so to speak.

So far, what we have read and heard are the same old rhetoric of solutions that we have been hearing in the past. These have been tried half-heartedly but they did not work because of lack of political will on the part of the government. A case in point is the Balintawak area along edsa.

It shows the inability of the government to clear the road for motorists. Right now, the vendors are moving back. Tricycles and vehicles are now also back, parking along the road and thereby blocking the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

If the government cannot even find a way to implement a doable solution to this traffic problem, how can we proceed to solve other more difficult traffic and transportation problems? Whom we need at this point are competent people to draw up a plan with new ideas that incoming President-elect Duterte can implement immediately when he assumes office.

It is also important that whoever President-elect Duterte appoints to help him must understand traffic and transportation. We have to bear in mind that traffic schemes like motorcycle lanes, rerouting or bike lanes will not ease traffic conditions. Some traffic and transportation-related facts might help the reader understand the severity of the problem at hand.

Continued on A11 Publisher Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

T H U R S D AY : J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Drug-relateD killings to the point emil p. jurado

IN THE past two weeks, two events saddened me—the death of a good family friend, Ernie Maceda, and the retirement of another good friend, Johnny Ponce Enrile, from politics and public service.

Both Ernie and Johnny were exemplary.

Both were former Senate presidents. They were not only legislators; they were also Cabinet members. Ernie was also in the foreign service as ambassador to Washington when Joseph Estrada was president.

I remember Ernie visiting my wife when she was confined in a hospital in Honolulu.

I was unable to attend the wake of Ernie since my wife and I are still out of town. But I offer my deepest condolences to Marichu Perez Maceda, his widow, and to his whole family.

Johnny is one of the true heroes of Edsa 1.

He, together with former President Fidel Ramos and Senator Gringo Honasan, broke away from the late President and strongman Ferdinand Marcos that led to the so-called People Power Revolution and the exile of the late dictator in 1986.

The life of JPE, as he is fondly called by friends and admirers, is one for the books.

He was a love child of the late well-known lawyer, Alfonso Ponce Enrile, who later on acknowledged him as his son. JPE was then sent to the old Ateneo de Manila-Padre Faura ruins in the late 40s to take up his prelaw. He later on finished law at the University of the Philippines, and after graduation went to Harvard Law School to take up his masters in law, specializing in taxation. He later on joined the Ponce Enrile

Law Offices as a partner where he made his mark as a litigator.

I recall that when the late President Marcos wanted a good lawyer to back him up, he sought the advice of Rafael Salas who thought of nobody else but JPE, his former UP classmate. That led to the long friendship of Marcos and Enrile.

I have known Johnny since his pre-law days at the Ateneo since I was then taking up my Bachelor of Arts degree at the old Padre Faura ruins. I became pretty close to him since he was partly an Ilocano, and is another Furugganan (the people of Cagayan could not pronounce the P, and instead use F) from

We still live in a democracy, where the rule of law is supposed to prevail.

Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, where the Jurado roots also came from. I admired him as a lawyer, member of the Marcos cabinet and a legislator.

Johnny told me that upon retirement, he will spend his days in Sta. Ana, Cagayan province, where he has several hectares of fruit trees and where he could go fishing.

Johnny is now 92 years old. He has turned over his business interests to his daughter, Katrina.

I will miss both Ernie and Johnny. I will pray for Ernie and I still hope to see Johnny in our 365 Club meetings. He is our honorary chairman.

Metro Manila traffic, a crisis ONE of the most eagerly anticipated programs of Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte once he sits in Malacañang is solving the conundrum that is Metro Manila traffic. Incoming transportation secretary Arthur Tugade will be at the helm of this seemingly Sisyphean task, and the Duterte administration has been keen on getting emergency powers for a maximum of two years to do the job.

This talk of emergency powers should warrant traffic as a crisis—but a crisis, strictly speaking, is an extraordinary and short-term event with widespread and severe consequences.

So how can the Duterte administration give merit to Metro Manila traffic as a crisis? We’ve had it for years now, and it is definitely getting worse. It has become an issue rather than a crisis, terrifyingly ordinary and long term, with consequences spreading wider and getting more severe.

What is extraordinary and short-term though is the transition period between the two administrations. The crisis is in how the BS Aquino administration’s faltering efforts to undo the traffic problem it brought to itself is coming to a head.

We are expecting to see a crisis right when the new administration steps into the shoes of *** Suddenly, Santa Banana, there’s a resurgence of killings of illegal drug traffickers and pushers by the police, especially in Metro Manila and Calabarzon area. Sixty-eight people have been killed so far, and 1,300 arrests have been made.

Why only now?

Is it because President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte had threatened to kill all members of the police force also in cahoots in the illegal drug business? In fact, according to Du30, upon assumption of office on June 30, he will name three Philippine National Police generals who are also in the illegal drugs business.

It would seem that corrupt members of the PNP and those in cahoots with drug lords and traffickers know what’s coming to them.

minority report danilo suarez PNoy’s DOTC men, and realize the shoes were more cramped and decrepit than expected, and could fall apart anytime. There is a crisis, and DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has been denying it for a long time.

And it is as if we have not seen limited emergency powers at play before to solve a problem that is immediate and pervasive.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos used emergency powers to deliver swift solutions for the power crisis in the 90s, and the energy situation ever since has seen improvement. Although our countrymen could definitely benefit from lower electricity rates, who is to say that we are better off without FVR’s decisive action? Of course we cannot, but he did what had to be done, and we can only imagine how long the country would have suffered the prolonged darkness without the emergency powers and the Epira.

If one could fault FVR for his actions, then let Digong learn from them. As both administrations coming off from two separate Aquino regimes, there’s bound to be similarities. He

It seems some members of the police knew whom to go after all along.

In fact, if you read all these reports of police encounters with drug leaders, they allegedly engaged the police in shootouts. This can only mean the police are now getting rid of their assets and friends in the drug business.

This also raises the responsibility of the Commission on Human Rights. This is still a democratic country, and we still live under a rule of law and due process.

Some may say, good riddance. But, Santa Banana, it seems to me that there are just too many shootouts and police encounters leaving alleged drug lords and pushers dead. Truth to tell, I have a sneaking suspicion that some police members are now on a rampage to cut off

could learn how to be better in solving a problem of relatively smaller scale and making the solution more sustainable, as the repercussions of such solutions are far-reaching in terms of trade and commerce. Solving the Metro Manila traffic quandary should set an example for the rest of Philippine metropolises.

Let the Duterte administration make its project from Metro Manila mass transportation and public works a model for the development of Baguio City, Cebu City, and even Digong’s hometown of Davao City.

As far as Congress is concerned, we are ready to back the Duterte administration’s plans and ensure that the steps to be taken are legally sound and have the imprimatur of both individual and collective voices. Members of both chambers have filed numerous legislative measures to solve the transportation situation, and these proposals can certainly come into play once the proposal to grant Digong emergency powers is deliberated by the legislative branch. The House of Representatives, whose membership protect the interests of Filipinos from every corner of the country, should seriously consider the potential of such an undertaking for nationwide development of transportation systems and public works.

all their ties with the drug business. *** Businessman Manny Pangilinan expressed his frustration at the way things are going and said government must not meddle too much; it must leave business alone.

The PLDT top honcho was reacting to PLDT’s linking up with Globe Telecom to buy Vega Telecom Inc. and the telco business of San Miguel Corp. for P69.1 billion to improve their internet service.

On Friday, last week, the anti-trust body— the Philippine Competition Commission —said that the PLDTGlobe deal would not be approved until after a comprehensive review of the state agency.

The review would include a determination of the relevant market, of whether there would

be a substantial change in the market structure, and what the potential impact of the transaction on public welfare would be.

But PLDT and Globe already consider the deal closed and approved under the PCC’s own guidelines.

The PLDT-Globe deal was sealed on May 30, four days before the publication of the competition law’s implementing rules.The fact is that PLDT and Globe filed the required transaction notices under the PCC guidelines so the regulator could no longer challenge the deal.

But, my gulay, that’s precisely what PCC is doing—meddling too much!

This deal will not cost government a single centavo. The facts are clear that the government agency can no longer review the deal.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Traffic plans before Traffic powers An Ancient Filipino proverb goes: “traffic in Metro Manila is hell.” the problem has been around for what seems like ages, and the statement has become a truism. instead of improving the past six years, given the much vaunted “straight path” and advances in traffic management and technology, not to mention advice given gratis by experts from around the world, traffic in the city has gone from bad to worse.

As a much-cited Japan international cooperation Agency finding has said, we lose P2.4 billion to traffic daily. We also suffer quality-of-life issues because of the torturous commute and constant breaking down of the public rail transit system. thus the proposed bill by Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to grant special powers for two years to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to solve the traffic situation. to be filed at the opening of the 17th congress, Arroyo’s bill, among other provisions, allows the entering into of negotiated traffic- and transport-related contracts without bidding, subject to certain conditions.

the proposed law has gained supporters among lawmakers and businessmen, with caveats as to accountability and transparency in all dealings.

Granting the president-elect these special powers shows that we are at our wit’s end on how to deal with a situation that has gotten out of hand, hoping that this extreme measure will somehow help.

But how? Are there concrete plans already drawn up and technology available that will ease the problem? Shouldn’t they come before the granting of special powers, so that the proposed bill can be specifically focused on particular matters and not leave it open with loopholes that can be abused? in any case, what we are is desperate. We’re so desperate we’ll try anything, including this. Godspeed to incoming President Duterte—he’s got a lot of problems to fix, and traffic is just one of them. *** Here’s another puzzle for the president-elect and his team.

A news item popped up yesterday about P67 million worth of missing security scanners.

they were said to have been procured by the Office of transportation Security (OtS) for airports around the country, but they seem to have…vanished.

According to the news item, in 2015, the OtS purchased eight full-body scanners and eight electromagnetic analyzers for bottled liquids from Singapore, but none of them were installed; according to an anonymous source, because they were “lemons,” perhaps meaning they were somehow inadequate or inappropriate for their purpose, if not downright defective.

What happened to those new scanners, and the older, “hardly-used” full-body scanners bought from Germany and presently said to be at the ninoy Aquino international Airport?

With this administration winding up next week, i hope this mystery doesn’t get swept under the rug. it had better be investigated. *** the University of Santo tomas center for creative Writing and Literary Studies (USt ccWLS) will hold its annual national Writers’ Workshop on July 24-30, 2016 at Ridgewood

The sTandard columnisT To receive up disTinguished alumni award for public service LAWYeR Rita Linda Ventura Jimeno, a member of the Board of Directors and Legal counsel of the UP Sigma Alpha Sorority Alumnae Association inc., has been selected by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service. The award will Jimeno be presented during the UP Grand Alumni Homecoming to be held this June 25, 2016 at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman.

Jimeno has distinguished herself in advocacies for environmental protection, consumer rights, and the amendments in the rules of court which she proposed for speedy court proceeding.

Her column at The Standard, “Out of the Box,” appears at the op-ed section every Monday.

Jimeno is also being cited for the free legal aid that she gave to indigent clients for 12 years, during which she had a tV and radio program titled “Saklolo Abogado” in Radio Veritas, DZXL and iBc channel 13.

Jimeno is a practicing lawyer and managing partner of the law offices of Jimeno, cope and David. She is the associate dean of the centro escolar School of Law where she also teaches and a profes-

Ayala... From A9 written about. Salalima’s more recent designation, as head of a new agency that will basically regulate yet another industry where the Ayalas are also very much a major player, seems to confirm my fear that this influential—in every sense of the word—conglomerate is once again up to its old tricks.

How these appointments

sorial lecturer of the Philippine Judicial Academy.

She is the first Filipino director of the international criminal Bar, an association of international lawyers based in The Hague. She is the second woman to head the Philippine Bar Association. She is an arbitrator for the international chamber of commerce of the international court of Arbitration and was a member of the technical Panel for education of the commission on Higher education.

Atty. Jimeno has degrees in Bachelor in Mass communication, major in Broadcasting and minor in Journalism in 1973 and Bachelor of Laws in 1985 from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

She also took up MBA at the De La Salle University while teaching Journalism.

She received the Outstanding UP Sigma Alpha Award during the 2014 Golden Anniversary of the UP Sigma Alpha Sorority. She also received a Presidential Medal of Merit from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005 for her work in the consultative commission for constitutional Reforms which recommended the shift of the form of government from the centralized unitary form to the federal-parliamentary system.

can be interpreted as harbingers of the coming change, i fail to understand. i only hope that Duterte realizes that if change is really in the offing, allowing the old oligarchic companies that have ruled our lives back in isn’t really convincing a lot of people, especially in business. to me, it just looks like the happy days of the oligarchs will continue without missing a beat.

Residence Hotel in Baguio city. the workshop aims to develop the talents of young writers in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry in english and Filipino. this year’s fellows are: Maria tanya P. cruz, Paolo Francis M. Quina, Maria nikka P. Policarpio, eric John B. Villena, Paul M. Jerusalem, timothy F. Ong, emmanuel Y. Arcalas, Anne Joice t. Haro, John Patrick i. Allanegui, Jennie Arado, Giselle R. dela cruz, and Rhea B. Gulin. the senior guest panelists of this year’s workshop are UP University professor emeritus Gémino H. Abad and Philippine High School for the Arts director V.e. carmelo nadera Jr. the Workshop director is USt ccWLS assistant director Ralph Semino Galán, and the Workshop coordinator is chuckberry J. Pascual, a resident fellow of the USt ccWLS. the rest of the teaching panel is composed of USt ccWLS director cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, and USt ccWLS resident fellows Augusto Antonio A. Aguila, Joyce Arriola, Ma. Ailil B. Alvarez, Mar Anthony Simon dela cruz, Joselito D.

Can... From A9 The total land area of Metro Manila is about 619.5 square kilometers with a population of roughly about 12,879,788. if we include the adjoining provinces of Bulacan, cavite, Rizal, Laguna and Batangas, it becomes the third most populated urban area in the world. it is difficult to get the exact number of vehicles currently registered in the national capital Region but in 2014, there were some 2,222,370 vehicles registered in the ncR using some 5,000 kilometers of public roads which translate to about 444.5 vehicles per kilometer of road.

This kind of vehicle density is intolerable. in order to cut this by half, another 5,000 kilometers of roads will have to be built. We all know this is wishful thinking.

The road figure itself is not 100-percent accurate; it is but an estimate, considering that figures are hard to find. There are some sources that indicate a road figure of some 1,032 kilometers of public roads in Metro Manila but this is way too low. The total number of vehicles registered in the ncR is 27 percent of the total number registered throughout the country.

Some transport studies point out that when it comes to public ridership, 46 percent use jeepneys, 32 percent use private cars, 14 percent use buses and only 8 percent use the rail. There is no figure for tricycles. it would appear that 58 percent of commuters use public transport, 32 percent use private vehicles and the 10 percent ei-

i hope, for the sake of the millions of ordinary Filipinos who voted Duterte into office, that i am very much mistaken. *** Speaking of appointments, anti-mining advocate Regina “Gina” Lopez has accepted her designation as secretary of the Department of environment and natural Resources. And on the day she accepted, the

delos Reyes, Dawn Marie nicole Marfil, ned Parfan, John Jack G. Wigley, and Joselito B. Zulueta. *** congratulations to lawyer Patricia Angela O. Bunye, who was recently named president of the Licensing executives Society international (LeSi), a global association of professionals involved in the licensing, transfer, and management of intellectual property rights.

Bunye, a senior partner at cruz Marcelo and tenefrancia law firm, is the first Filipina and first Southeast Asian president of LeSi, and only the third woman to hold that office.

She has been involved with LeSi activities for 22 years, and has served as LeS Philippines president (2006-2009), chair of the Asia-Pacific committee, and international vice president (2011-2013).

LeSi comprises 33 national and regional societies with more than 10,000 individual members in over 90 countries.

Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

ther walk or use other means of transport like tricycles. These numbers tend to show that there is an increasing trend in private vehicle ownership. The bulk of ridership is still the jeepney which is an inefficient public transport mode because it occupies a lot of road space but carry very few passengers. Rail capacity will therefore have to be increased 30 percent to 40 percent in the medium term in order to have more road space for vehicles, but we are talking of five to seven years which is no comfort to the suffering public.

These statistics by themselves are daunting to a transport planner. Whomever President-elect Duterte appoints to help him do this Herculean job will certainly be working extremely hard in order to deliver. it is not an enviable position. The Japanese international cooperation Agency has estimated that more than P2 billion is lost daily to traffic congestion in Metro Manila. This is only bound to increase.

This figure must have been arrived at by calculating gasoline consumption, the wear and tear of the vehicles plus health costs due to pollution caused by traffic. eighty-five percent of pollution in the ncR is also caused by vehicles. This says a lot about the effect of traffic gridlock to our health. So the question that has to be asked is: can it be done? Hopefully, but not in the way we all want.

The timetable of the incoming administration is too optimistic. Still, miracles do happen and this is one we would all love to see succeed.

Anc news channel twitter account quoted her as declaring: “i am absolutely anti-mining as it causes suffering for the poor.” i don’t really know how many poor people have gotten out of their poverty as a direct result of the efforts of the Lopez family’s businesses in broadcasting, real estate and power generation. But i’m willing to bet that even if you include all the employees of the

Lopez conglomerate, the mining industry will still beat that number with a lot to spare. i hope that Lopez’s quoted remark is not a policy statement and that she would adhere to her earlier position, made soon after her appointment, that she is open to sitting down with the industry in a bid to flesh out Duterte’s call for responsible mining. i guess we won’t have long to wait, will we?

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Coaches agree: Chiefs team to beat

By Peter Atencio

THE Arellano University Chiefs are strong, championship contenders in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament, when it blasts off this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Most of the coaches agree on this, including new Letran Knights’ coach Jeff Napa, San Beda Red Lions’ mentor Jamike Jarin, and Mapua’s Atoy Co, who is considered the most senior coach in the league.

“Lahat ng team malakas, especially ang Arellano. Bago ako sa college, but we will be competitive as well,” said Napa Wednesday at a press conference launching the 92nd season of the NCAA. Many coaches believe the

Chiefs’ pre-season campaign was tough and has given the players the killer instinct needed to help them make it through the coming season.

“They have the best defensive players around,” said Jarin, noting how good their point guards Jiovani Jalalon and Kent Salado are turning out to be.

“They have good defensive players, but there’s also something about their guards. The team to beat is Arellano,” Jarin added.

Co, on the other hand, agreed, saying that the Chiefs made matters difficult for Mapua when they clashed at pre-season competitions during the summer.

The Chiefs underwent a massive buildup by joining two pre-season cagefests, the Fr. Martin Summer tournament and another cagefest.

“Mahirap manalo, pero Games Saturday (MOA Arena, Pasay City) 12:30 p.m.Opening Ceremonies 2 p.m.- San Beda vs Letran (srs) 4 p.m.- Mapua vs Jose Rizal (srs)

nakabuti iyung buildup nu’ng off-season,” Chiefs coach Jerry Codinera.

Meanwhile, the Knights open their title-retention bid with a new coach, dueling

with the Red Lions at 4 p.m.

The Knights will also play without two leading players who have graduated, Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal.

Later at 4 p.m., the Mapua Cardinals will meet the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers.

NCAA president and San Beda rector-president Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB, yesterday said the season will be formally ushered in with an opening number to remember that will be directed by Douglas Nierras at 12:30 p.m. with emphasis on the theme “Sports Builds Character: Achieving Breakthrough @ Season 92.”

“We’re expecting a very exciting NCAA season not just in basketball but in all our sports as well,” said Maranan, in a gathering which

was also attended by presidents, owners and rectors of all 10 participating schools and top officials of television partner ABS-CBN and ABSCBN Sports and Action.

The league will also retire the No. 14 jersey number the late great Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga wore during his San Beda days in the 50s.

NCAA Management Committee chair Jose Mari Lacson said the family of Loyzaga, known as the “The Big Difference” and considered the best basketball player this country has produced, including son Chito will be present to witness the historic event.

“Caloy Loyzaga has made not just San Beda and NCAA but also the whole Philippines proud so it’s about time we return what he had done by honoring him with this,” said Lacson.

NCAA coaches (from left) Gabby Velasco of St. Benilde, Ariel Sison of EAC, George Ella, assistant coach of JRU, Atoy Co of Mapua, Jeff Perlas of Lyceum, Jamike Jarin of San Beda, Egay Macaraya of San Sebastian, Jimwell Gigan of UPHD, Jerry Codinera of Arellano University and Jeff Napa of Letran link hands during the conference launching the league’s 92nd season. EY ACASIO

Generika, F2 eye share of PSL lead Games Today 4 p.m. – Generika vs Foton 6 p.m. – Amy’s Kitchen vs F2 Logistics

F2 LOGISTICS and Generika gun for their share of the early lead when they tackle separate foes in the 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament today at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Cargo Movers square off with Amy’s at 6 p.m., while the Lifesavers battle Foton in the 4 p.m. curtainraiser of this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by KLab Cyscorpions, Asics, Grand Sports, Mikasa, Mueller and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcaster.

Featuring former La Salle superstars like Aby Marano, Cha Cruz, Kim Fajardo, Mika Reyes, Ara Galang and Paneng Mercado, the Cargo Movers are billed as among the teams to beat for having a deadly brew of youthful firepower and championship experience.

In its debut game, F2 Logistics displayed a glimpse of its deadly form as it dominated another powerhouse in Cignal, 25-12, 23-25, 25-20, 25-11, much to the celebration of thousands of supporters who trooped to the venue to witness the Lady Spikers’ first game since winning the UAAP women’s volleyball crown.

Taconing a dangerous Unstoppable Djokovic seeks 4th Wimby title opponent for Lopez

By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE Philippines’ Jonathan Taconing is regarded as “a dangerous opponent” for reigning World Boxing Council junior flyweight champion Ganigan Lopez in Lopez’s title defense at the Arena Coliseo in Mexico City on July 2.

Boxing Scene’s Jake Donovan noted that Lopez earned the title by traveling to Japan, home of the defending champion from whom he won the crown.

Donovan said that while Lopez’s first defense taking place at home should be considered a luxury, only it can be argued that that his upcoming challenge is an even tougher task.

Four months after out-

pointing Yu Kimura on the road in Japan, Lopez, who has a record of 27-6 with 17 knockouts, faces a dangerous mandatory challenger in southpaw Taconing.

Lopez told oxing Scene: “I know he’s coming with all of his might to take my title and bring it home to the Philippines.”

The fight will mark the second title bid of Taconing, who has a record of 22-21with 18 knockouts, which includes a hugely controversial technical decision loss to Thailand’s Kompayak Porpramook in Thailand after which then WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman suspended the South Korean referee for one year for his poor performance, which favored the Thai champion.

LONDON—Having finally rid himself of his French Open curse, Novak Djokovic is chasing a third successive Wimbledon title to move one step closer to the first calendar Grand Slam in 47 years.

The 29-year-old world number one, champion at Wimbledon in 2011, 2014 and 2015, has become the unstoppable Slam machine.

His victory over Andy Murray in Paris gave him a 12th major, taking him to within two of Rafael Nadal’s mark and five behind the record 17 of Roger Federer.

But Nadal is missing from this year’s Wimbledon, nursing a wrist injury, while seven-time All England Club champion Federer is without a major in four years and a shadow of the player he once was.

World number two Murray, the Wimbledon champion in 2013, remains Djokovic’s only serious rival but the British star has a 10-24 career record against the Serb.

Djokovic has won 13 of their last 15 meetings and hasn’t been defeated by

Murray at a Slam since the Wimbledon final three years ago.

Djokovic currently holds all four majors and is targeting becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam, a feat only achieved three times in the sport’s history.

“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I really think everything is achievable in life,” said Djokovic, who appears to be under little pressure heading into Wimbledon which starts on Monday.

In between practice and this week’s rain, he posed for ‘selfies’ on the London underground, happily opting for public transport despite becoming the first man to pass the $100 million prize money mark at Roland Garros.

“I’m trying to cherish these moments. Whether or not I can reach a calendar slam, that’s still a possibility.”

Djokovic has reached at least the quarter-finals of every Slam since a fourth round exit at the 2009 French Open.

He is the first man since Jim Courier in 1992 to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back.

Even Federer and Nadal failed to achieve that sequence just as the two greats were also unsuccessful in attempts at a calendar sweep.

Federer was undone by the French Open in 2004, 2006 and 2007 while Nadal’s failure to win the 2010 Australian Open was a blip in a year when he romped to victory in Paris, London and New York. AFP Murray, just a week older than Djokovic, will be looking for his third major after the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon trophies. AFP

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

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Messi carries team to final

Lionel Messi of Argentina interacts with a fan who ran onto the field prior to the start of the second half during a 2016 Copa America Centenario Semifinal match between Argentina and the United States at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. AFP

Dirk, Dwight are now free agents NEW YORK—Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard will become NBA free agents on July 1 after opting out of contracts Tuesday.

German star Nowitzki, who turned 38 on Sunday, had a $8.7 million offer for next season to stay with the Mavericks, with whom he won the NBA title in 2011.

Howard informed the Rockets he will decline a $23.2 million player option. The 30-year-old has been nagged with back problems in recent years.

Nowitzki has spent his entire 18-year career with the Mavericks and might yet re-sign with Dallas, although NBA Finals runner-up Golden State is among those who might be interested in the 13-time All-Star.

Nowitzki, a former NBA and NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, ranks sixth on the

league’s all-time scoring list with 29,491 career points and could pass Wilt Chamberlain for fifth next season.

The Rockets have hired Mike D’Antoni as their new coach and Howard was not a fan of D’Antoni’s system when he played under the coach for one season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Howard averaged 13.7 points last season, his lowest total since his rookie campaign with Orlando in 2004-05, and 11.8 rebounds a game. He has career averages of 17.8 points and 12.7 rebounds in 12 seasons with Orlando, Los Angeles and Houston.

The New York Knicks will have the money to be a player in free agency deals after forwards Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams said they would opt out of their contracts, giving New York more than $30 million in cap space. AFP

Ringia, Velez banner Kudarat net cast JANUS Ringia and Patricia Velez set out as the top picks but brace for a tough challenge from a slew of talented rivals in the premier division of the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala Sultan Kudarat regional agegroup tennis tournament which starts Thursday at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club.

Ringia, one of Koronadal City’s top junior players, is actually gunning for a twin-kill as he also leads the 32-player field in the boys’ 16-andunder division of the Group 2 tournament serving as the 25th leg of the country’s longest, biggest age-group circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop with Slazenger as presentor.

Velez is also entered in the girls’ 16-U section although the Davao ace yields the top ranking to Carlyn Guarde

with Danna Abad and Nicole Bautista taking the next two seedings in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball.

“We expect a bumper crop of young Mindanao players to emerge from this two-week tournament,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro, referring to the next leg in Malaybalay, Bukidnon from June 30-July 4.

Guarde and Abad are also seeing action in the girls’ 18-U division along with Jazzelle Madis while Vince EJ Tugade, John Sonsona, Ramon Bentillo, AJ Alejandre and Lordrens Pacheco will be out to foil Ringia’s bid in the boys’ centerpiece category.

Tugade, Bentillo and Sonsona, along with Nicole Gorospe and Eric Comendador are also tipped to contend in the 16-U side of the event also serving as part of Gov. Pax Mangudadatu’s birthday celebrations spiced up by the staging of the Open men’s singles and doubles and various agegroup divisions – from 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and mega veterans all doubles with cash prizes to be awarded by Gov. Mangudadatu.

The event also kicks off the circuit’s annual Rainy Season Festival where listup is free with souvenir T-shirts and freebies to be given to all participants, according to Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP regional age group tennis event organizer and Sports Program Development director. For details, call 0915-4046464.

HOUSTON—Lionel Messi became Argentina’s all-time record goalscorer as the two-time world champions outclassed the United States 4-0 to reach the Copa America Centenario final here Tuesday.

Messi curled in a magnificent 32nd-minute free-kick to take his total to 55 goals as the United States’ campaign ended with an emphatic defeat in front of a 70,858 crowd at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The five-time world player of the year now has five goals in this Copa America as he aims to lead Argentina to their first major title in 23 years.

The Barcelona superstar also created Argentina’s opening goal for Ezequiel Lavezzi and was involved in the build-up

for their third, scored

by Gonzalo Higuain in the 50th minute. Messi then laid on the pass for Higuain’s second four minutes from time.

“We’ve been playing well from day one and we deserve to be in the final,” said a delighted Messi, dedicating his goals tally to the work of his teammates.

“I’m happy to have the record, and I’m happy to play with the teammates that have made it possible. I owe it to them,” said Messi, who is now one clear of Gabriel Batistuta’s mark of 54 goals.

US coach Jurgen Klinsmann, meanwhile, said his team had showed Argentina “too much respect” after a display which saw them finish with zero shots on or off target. AFP

Lascuña storms past Mondilla, 3 others ANTIPOLO—Tony Lascuña bucked a bogey start and the spirited charge of the elite field, shooting a six-under 65 to wrest a twostroke lead over Clyde Mondilla and three others at the start of the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Lascuña, hardly showing the effects of a grueling stint in Thailand last week, recovered from his early mishap with solid driving and superb iron shots, setting up birdie chances inside seven feet which he made, including on Nos. 3, 6, 9, 12, 13, 16 and 18.

“My irons clicked and so was my putting,” said Lascuña, chasing a third leg win on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour after scoring a runaway victory at Luisita last April and posting a one-shot triumph over Japanese Ryoma Miki at Eagle Ridge early this month.

The 46-year-old former threetime PGT Order of Merit added he actually flubbed two make-

Tony Lascuña and flightmate Joenard Rates complare the lines of their putt on No. 12

able birdie putts but took those misses in stride as he likewise drilled in two putts from two-pin length distance and went on to turn in one of his strongest starts in the circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “I had a good rest after coming back and just happy to sustain my form and shoot this well today (yesterday),” said Lascuña, who ended up joint 11th in the Queen’s Cup last Sunday and went straight to the practice green to further hone up his stroke.

But Mondilla, whose threestraight title bid was snapped

by Lascuña at Eagle Ridge, was also quite satisfied with his 67 churned out in one of the early morning flights at the par-71 rolling layout which yielded 12 under-par scores. Like Lascuña, the Del Monte star also fumbled with a bogey on No. 1 and had two more miscues against three birdies after 10 holes.

ECs. In addition, prospective bidders (Generation Companies, IPP Administrators and Wholesale Aggregators whose names are listed on the Department of Energy (DOE) website) were invited; 12.3. The capacity offered by the winning bidder/s was allocated among the eleven (11) Region 8 ECs in proportion to their declared demand. A bidder was allowed to offer to supply capacity that is less than or equal to the aggregated baseload requirement in any or all of the contract years in increments of 1MW. In the event that some winning bidders offered less than 11 MW, the loads were optimally allocated in such a way that the blended price of generation resulting from the R8 JCPSP transaction is almost the same for all ECs. In the event multiple bidders who collectively satisfy the total baseload demand of R8 ECs are declared winners for any contract year, all winning bidders entered into individual PSAs with each of the 11 ECs; 12.4. Bidders who signified their intention to join by buying the bid documents, attended pre-bid conferences where they gave their comments and sought clarification on the bidding requirements and process. The BAC issued bid bulletins and the Final Instruction to Bidders; 12.5. The process followed the 2-envelope system – the legal requirements and proof of financial and technical capability in the first, and the commercial offer in the second. Bids were evaluated based on an Evaluation Framework and Evaluation Methodology released to the Bidders; 12.6 After evaluating the bids of each supplier, on 14 November 2014, the BAC declared Applicant GNPOWER as a winning bidder of a total of 43 MW for Contract Year 2016, with a Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid with a Base Price offer of PhP5.0481/kWh and an evaluated Effective Price of PhP6.6658/kWh;

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA), BETWEEN LEYTE V ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. WITH PRAYER FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT ERC CASE NO. 2016-022RC OF INFORMATION AND THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY LEYTE V ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC (LEYECO V) AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. (GNPOWER), Applicants. x--------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: On 15 March 2016, Leyte V Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO V) and GNPower Ltd. Co. (GNPower) filed their joint Application for approval of theirPower Supply Agreement (PSA), with prayer for confidential treatment of information and the issuance of provisional authority.

In support of said Application, LEYECO V and GNPower alleged, among others, the following: 1. Applicant LEYECO V is a non-stock, non-profitelectric cooperative existing under the laws of thePhilippines, with principal office address at Brgy.San Pablo, Ormoc City, Leyte.

It is authorized todistribute and provide electricity services to itsmember-consumers in the Municipalities ofAlbuera, Merida, Isabel, Palompon, Villaba,Tabango, San Isidro, Calubian, Leyte-Leyte,Kananga, Matag-ob, and the City of Ormoc, all in theProvince of Leyte (collectively, the “FranchiseArea”); 2. Copies of LEYECO V’s Articles of Incorporation, ByLaws, Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Franchise are attached as follows: Annex “A” “B” “C” “D”

Document LEYECO V’s Articles of Incorporation LEYECO V’s By-laws Certificate of Registration with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) Certificate of Franchise

12.7

Attached to the Application are copies of the relevant documents issued relative to the Joint Competitive Selection Process undertaken by the Region 8 ECs for the supply of their aggregated base load demand: Annex “H” “H-1” “H-1-a”

3. ApplicantGNPOWER is a duly registered limited partnership organized and existing under Philippine laws, engaged in the business of developing, constructing, operating and owning power generation facilities and in the sale and trade of electric power. Its principal office is at 28th Floor, Orient Square Building, Don FranciscoOrtigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City; 4. GNPOWER’s pertinent documents evidencing its due registration as a limited partnership are appended hereto, as follows: Annex “E” “F”

Document Certificate of Registration issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) GNPOWER’s Amended Articles of Partnership

5. Applicants may be served with orders, notices and other legal processes of the Commission through its counsel of record; 6. The instant Application is filed pursuant to Sections 23, 25, 43 (u), and 45 (b) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA Law), itsImplementing Rules and Regulations, and other pertinent rules and regulations. A copy of the PSA signed by Applicants on 18 September 2015, as amended by a letter of agreement dated 16 December 2015 (Amendment Letter),areattached as Annex “G” and “G1”, respectively, and forms an integral part of the Application;

Contract Duration Dec. 26, 2014 – Dec. 25, 2015 Dec. 26, 2015 – Dec. 25, 2016 Dec. 26, 2016 – Dec. 25, 2017 Dec. 26, 2017 – Dec. 25, 2018

12.1. The Region 8 ECs initially prepared their respective least-cost power supply plans and subsequently their aggregated baseload demand for competitive bidding; 12.2. The competitive tender was published and announced in the coverage areas of the Region 8

Copy of the page of the newspaper where the Invitation was published Affidavit of Publication of the Invitation to Bid Memorandum of Agreement among Region 8 ECs

“H-3”

Emails confirmingparticipation of interested suppliers in the bidding

“H-4”

Final Instruction to Bidders

“H-5”

Bid Forms

“H-6”

Bid Evaluation Slips

“H-7”

Comparison of Bids

“H-8”

Notice of Award

13. On 18 September 2015, LEYECO V and GNPOWER executed the subject PSA, providing the terms and conditions for the supply of eight (8)MW baseload power to LEYECO V, to assure the adequate and reliable supply of power to LEYECO V’s franchise area; 14. Subsequently, through the Amendment Letter, LEYECO V requested for a six (6) MW increase in Contracted Capacity, which GNPOWER accepted and conformed to on January 14, 2016;

CFCUF

= the CapacityFee in PhP/kWh for a given CUF in a Billing month.

LCRCUF

= the local component of the Capital Recovery Fee in PhP/kWh at the given CUF.

LFOMCUF = the local component of the Fixed O&M fee in PhP/kWh at the given CUF. PHCPIn-1

= Philippine Consumer Price Index of the calendar month prior to the month corresponding to the Billing Period, for All Income Households – All Items (2006=100), as published by the Philippine National Statistics Coordination Board (or its substitute or replacement agency, as the case may be).

PHCPI0

= the base Philippine Consumer Price Index for the month of December 2014. PHCPI0 = 140.5.

CUF

= the Capacity Utilization Factor between 70% and 100%, provided that if the actual CUF is below 70% (the “Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor”), the Capacity Price shall be calculated based on the Capacity Fee and quantity associated with the Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor.

The corresponding Capacity Fee price component for a given Capacity Utilization Factor is set forth in Table 1 below: Table 1 - Capacity Fees for Specific Capacity Utilization Factors CAPACITY FEE LOCAL PRICE COMPONENTS (PHP/kWh) C.U.F.

Capital Recovery (LCRCUF)

Fixed O&M (LFOMCUF)

100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70%

2.2944 2.3176 2.3412 2.3654 2.3900 2.4152 2.4409 2.4671 2.4939 2.5213 2.5493 2.5780 2.6073 2.6372 2.6679 2.6993 2.7314 2.7643 2.7980 2.8326 2.8680 2.9043 2.9415 2.9797 3.0189 3.0592 3.1005 3.1430 3.1867 3.2315 3.2777

0.6204 0.6267 0.6331 0.6396 0.6463 0.6531 0.6600 0.6671 0.6743 0.6818 0.6893 0.6971 0.7050 0.7131 0.7214 0.7299 0.7386 0.7475 0.7566 0.7659 0.7755 0.7853 0.7954 0.8057 0.8163 0.8272 0.8384 0.8499 0.8617 0.8738 0.8863

For the resulting CUF which is not a whole number, the corresponding Capacity Fee Price Component shall be computed using the formula as set forth below:

ABSTRACT OF THE PSA, AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION

LCRCUF =

The following are the salient features of the PSA,: A.

Term The Agreement shall be effective from 18 September 2015, the date of the execution of the PSA. For the delivery of the contracted capacity, it shall have a term of one (1) year, starting on 26 December 2015 (12:00 A.M.) to 25 December 2016 (12:00 M.N.)

B.

Aggregated Baseload 65 MW 78 MW 83 MW 93 MW

8. The contracts of most of the Electric Cooperatives (ECs) in Region 8 with the National Power Corporation – Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (NPCPSALM) expired on 25 December 2014; 9. On 07 November 2013, the eleven (11) electric cooperatives of Region 8 participated in the bidding for PSALM’s 200 strips of energy from the Unified LeyteGeothermal Power Plant, but lost; 10. Typhoon Yolanda hit the region on 08 November 2013 stalling any efforts to contract additional power supply and shifting the focus instead on the massive restoration efforts in the area; 11. Thus, the Region 8 ECs decided to bid out their power supply requirements for the period 2015-2018. In the middle of 2014, the Region 8 ECs conducted a Joint Power Supply Planning. Later, the Region 8 ECs decided, through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to conduct a joint procurement of their short-term aggregated baseload requirement, specifically, their power supply needs beginning 26 December 2015 until 25 December 2016.From September to December 2014, the competitive bidding for the region’s power requirements was held; 12. For such purpose, a Bids and Awards Committee was created to conduct the Region 8 Joint Competitive Power Supply Procurement (“R8 JCPSP”) as follows:

Document Invitation to Bid

“H-2”

STATEMENT OF FACTS 7.

The aggregated uncontracted baseload demand of Region 8 for the years 2015 to 2018is continually increasing as shown in the table below: Contract Year 2015 2016 2017 2018

On 14 September 2015, GNPOWER and the Region 8 ECs commenced the final negotiations for the other commercial and technical terms and conditions of the PSA and negotiated the further reduction of the Contract Price from PhP5.0481/kWh to PhP4.9653/ kWh and for the increase in capacity to 52MW;

such Billing Period

Contracted Capacity GNPOWER shall sell and deliver, or cause to deliver to LEYECO V a contracted capacity of fourteen (14) MW at the delivery point of the facility.

Unutilized Capacity. The unutilized capacity of the Buyer may be made available for utilization of other Region 8 ECs or sold to the WESM. Exchange of Contracted Capacities. In order to maximize capacity utilization, Region 8 ECs may exchange quantities of their Contracted Capacities. (Exchange in MW Capacity Protocol annexed to the PSA)

C.

Contract Price

LFOM CUF =

Where: LCRCUF

LCR@100%

LFOM CUF LFOM @100% CUF

– is the local component of the Capital Recovery fee in PHP/kWh at the given CUF.

LCR@100% – is the local component of the Capital Recovery fee in PHP/kWh at 100% CUF. LFOMCUF – is the local component of the Fixed O&M fee in PHP/kWh at the given CUF. LFOM@100% – is the local component of the Fixed O&M fee in PHP/kWh at 100% CUF. CUF

– is the Capacity Utilization Factor between 70% and 100%, provided that if the actual CUF is below 70% (the “Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor”), the Capacity Price shall be calculated based on the Capacity Fee and quantity associated with the Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor.

The Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) shall be computed as follows:

Under Schedule 1 of the PSA, the Total Monthly Charge, before taxes, for a Billing Period shall be computed according to the following:

Where:

Total Monthly Charge = Capacity Charge + EnergyCharge

Q ACTUAL

= the actual quantity of energy, in kWh, delivered to LEYECO V at the Delivery Point in the Billing Period

CC

= the Contracted Capacity, in kWh, as set forth in Schedule 1

HT

= the total number of hours in such Billing Period

EHTO

= the sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of Scheduled Outages and Unscheduled Outages in such Billing Period

C. 1.

CUF = max

Capacity Fee and Capacity Charge

The Capacity Fee is the component of the Contract Price allocated to pay for the cost, as well as, the operations and maintenance of the Facility and is designated as the Capacity Fee in Schedule 1 of the PSA, as amended, as such may be adjusted from time to time based on LEYECO V’s Capacity Utilization Factor.

C. 2. Energy Fee and Energy Charge Where: Q ACTUAL

= the actual energy delivered, in kWh, to the Buyer at the Delivery Point for the Billing Period.

CC

= is the Contracted Capacity in kW.

HT

= is the total number of hours in the Billing Period.

EHTO

= the sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of Scheduled Outages and Unscheduled Outages in

The Energy Fee is the component of the Contract Price allocated to pay for the coal, including Government Charges, designated as the Energy Fee in Schedule 1 of the PSAas adjusted from time to time due to changes in the delivered price of coal and Governmental Charges. The Energy Fee shall be computed in accordance with the following formula: Energy Charge = Q ACTUAL x EF EF = 0.2874 x

+ 1.5256 x

+ 0.2375

Where: Q ACTUAL

= Actual energy delivered by GNPOWER to LEYECO V, in kWh, for the Billing Period

EF

= Energy Fee in PhP/kWh

PHCPIn-1

= Philippine Consumer Price Index of the calendar month prior to the month corresponding to the Billing Period, for All Income Households – All Items (2006 = 100), as published by the Philippine National Statistics Coordination Board (or as substitute or replacement agency, as the case may be)

PHCPI0

= base Philippine Consumer Price Index for the month of December 2014 for All Income Households – All Items (2006 = 100), as published by the Philippine National Statistics Coordination Board (or its substitute or replacement agency, as the case may be)

ICIn-1

= Indonesian Coal Price Index of the calendar month prior to the month corresponding to the Billing Period, in US$/Mton

ICI0

= Base Indonesian Coal Price Index for the month of December 2014 = US$67.28/Mton D.

Currency of Payment The Contract Price shall be paid by LEYECO Vin Philippine Peso only.

E. Scheduled and Unscheduled Outages Under the PSA,GNPOWER shall be allowed Scheduled and Unscheduled Outages not to exceed forty-five (45) days per Contract Year, during which time reduced or no delivery will be available to LEYECO V. Unutilized Equivalent Hours for Scheduled Outages and Unscheduled Outages in the Contract Year cannot be carried forward to subsequent Contract Year.

F. Replacement Power During any Scheduled or Unscheduled Outages, GNPOWER and LEYECO V shall cooperate to arrange for Replacement Power from, including but not limited to, other facilities of GNPOWER, third parties and the WESM. GNPOWER, at its own cost and in consultation with LEYECO V, shall negotiate on behalf of LEYECO Vfor the supply and delivery of capacity and energy from third parties for a price as close as possible to the Contract Price.

G. Prompt Payment Discount Provided LEYECO V has no arrears from previous billings, including the Security Deposit or any unpaid charges or penalties, if LEYECO V pays the invoice amount in full within 10 days from its receipt of the invoice, LEYECO V shall be credited on the next subsequent bill a PPD equivalent to eight centavos per kilowatt-hour (PhP0.08/kWh).

H. Security Deposit In the event of LEYECO V’s failure to pay on Due Date, GNPOWER shall draw, at its option, from the Security Deposit on the working day immediately following the Due Date. Within thirty (30) Business Days from the Start of Delivery Date, LEYECO V shall establish the Security Deposit and submit to GNPOWER documentary proof sufficient to allow GNPOWER to draw therefrom. The Security Deposit shall be in the form of cash and or irrevocable letter of credit and shall be equivalent to LEYECO V’s projected maximum electricity bill, to be determined not later than sixty (60) calendar days prior to Start of Delivery.

COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGE OF THE GENERATION RATE AND IMPACT ON LEYECO V’S RETAIL RATES 16. LEYECO V, together with the other Region 8 ECs, needs to address the insufficiency of its power supply due to the increasing demand within its franchise area and the expiration of its contract with NPC-PSALM; 17. Currently, LEYECO V receives a total of 23MW from its existing suppliers, out of its peak requirement of 30.5MW. With an annual average growth rate of 3%, LEYECO V forecasts that its peak demand from 26 December 2015 to 25 December 2016 will be 31.2MW; 18. The additional supply from GNPOWER will significantly augment the supply deficiency of LEYECO V and will decrease the adverse effects thereof by providing a stable and adequate source of electricity; 19. Among alternative suppliers capable of providing additional energy to LEYECO V and the rest of the Region 8 ECs, GNPOWER’s rates proved to be more reasonable and competitive. While GNPOWER’s offer is primarily intended for its base load requirements, the Capacity Factor Pricing under the PSA, provides flexibility in the DUs’ utilization of the Contracted Capacity; 20. LEYECO V simulated a rate impact analysis which resulted in a Php0.7754decrease with the execution of the PSAwith GNPOWER, to wit:1 A. RATE IMPACT WITHOUT GNPOWER PSA

168,968,431.49 245,766,180.00 104,273,784.00 0.00 598,315,110.91 1,117,323,506.40

Percent Share (%) 19.27% 24.29% 9.71% 0.00% 46.73% 100%

Resulting Capacity Factor (%) 79% 100% 100% 0%

2015 Average Rate (P/kWh) 4.86 5.61 5.95

Forecasted 2015 Average Quantity (kWh)

Amount (Php.)

Percent Share (%)

34,757,869.60 43,800,000.00 17,520,000.00 108,172,591.36 (23,907,165.97) 180,343,294.99

168,968,431.49 245,766,180.00 104,273,784.00 580,940,901.90 (122,465,114.95) 977,484,182.44

19.27% 24.29% 9.71% 59.98% -13.26% 100%

Resulting Capacity Factor (%) 79% 100% 100% 88%

2015 Average Rate (P/kWh) 4.86 5.61 5.95 5.37 5.09

Forecasted 2015 Average Quantity (kWh) GMCP 34,757,869.60 TRANS-ASIA 43,800,000.00 FDCUI 17,520,000.00 GNPOWER 0.00 WESM 84,265,425.39 TOTAL 180,343,294.99 B. RATE IMPACT WITH GNPOWER PSA

GMCP TRANS-ASIA FDCUI GNPOWER WESM TOTAL

Amount (Php.)

C. RATE REDUCTION WITH GNPOWER PSA A. RATE IMPACT WITHOUT GNPOWER PSA B. RATE IMPACT WITH GNPOWER PSA C. RATE REDUCTION WITH GNPOWER PSA

Weighted Average Rate (kWh) 6.1955

7.00

6.1955 5.4201 -0.7754

Weighted Average Rate (kWh) 5.4201

21. In addition to the lower generation cost of the power supply from GNPOWER, LEYECO V is also entitled to a Prompt Payment Discount (PPD), if conditions are met, equivalent to PhP0.08/kWh; 22. In compliance with Rule 20 of ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure relative to the submission of supporting documents and information for the approval of the PSA, as amended, and the rate structure embodied therein, Applicants attached to the Application following documents to form integral parts thereof: ANNEX “I”

DOCUMENT Executive Summary of the PSA, as amended

“J” “K” “K-1” “L” “M” “N” “O” “P” “Q” “R”

“S”

”T”

Rate Impact Simulation Sources of Funds/Financial Plans with Cost Assumptions Compact Disc containing a soft copy of Annex “K” Breakdown of the Contract Price Sample Computation of Power Rates GNPOWER’s Audited Financial Statement for 2014 GNPOWER’s Certificate of Registration No. WA-13-01001 valid until January 2018 LEYECO V’s Distribution Development Plan (DDP) LEYECO V’s Actual and Forecasted Energy and Demand LEYECO V’s Average Daily Load Curve LEYECO V’s Board Resolution with Secretary’s Certificate attesting to the resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the filing of an application with the ERC for the approval of the PSA, as amended, designating its General Manager, Engr. Juanito E. Jorda, Jr., to file said application.

GNPOWER’s General Partner’s Certificate attesting to the resolution of the Board to execute the subject PSA with LEYECO V, as amended, designating signatories thereto

23. Applicants reserved their right to submit other documents, either in the course of the hearing or as may be required by the Commission.

COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS

supporting documents and other evidences that applicant or petitioner has submitted and the comments or opposition filed by any interested person, if there be any.”

34. Considering that a substantial amount of time is needed to evaluate the documents submitted to support the approval of herein Application, Applicants seek consideration of the Commission to approve the instant Application, immediately, albeit, provisionally; 35. Owing to the short term of the contract, which is only for a period of one (1) year, a PA is all the more imperative to allow the timely delivery of energy by GNPOWER to LEYECO V, which is set to start on 26 December 2015 at 12:00 A.M.; 36. The Region 8 ECs, including LEYECO V, after careful evaluation if they will defer the commencement of the delivery due to delayed filing, decided and required GNPower to commence its delivery immediately after its previous power supply agreement expired last 25 December 2015, this being the reasonable plan to mitigate the risks of WESM exposure,specially with the assumption that the 2015 occurrence of El Nino has an adverse impact on the supply of the electricity and the WESM price, particularly during the summer season.

LEYECO V, Moreover, it was projected, as shown in the table below5, that the exposure to volatile market prices will cause significant increases in prudential guarantee payments which will constrain Region 8 ECs to avail of high interest-bearing loans in order to comply with PEMC requirement;

24. Applicants manifest compliance with the pre-filing requirements mandated under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the EPIRA and Rule 6 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, to be established by the following: 24.1

Certifications acknowledging receipt of the Application with annexes to be issued by the Legislative Bodies of Pasig City, Municipality of Hilongos [sic], and the Province of Leyte, to be appended as Annexes “V”, “W” and “X”, respectively;

24.2

Notarized Affidavit of Publication stating that the Application was published in a newspaper of general circulation within LEYECO V’s Franchise Area, to be appended to the Application as Annex “Y”; and

24.3

Complete newspaper issue where the Application was published, to be appended to the Application as Annex “Y-1”, and the relevant page thereof where the Application appears, as Annex “Y-2”;

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF ANNEXES“H-2” to “H-8”,“K”, and “K-1” 25. Under Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practiceand Procedure, a party to any proceeding before the Commission may request that certain information not be disclosed and be treated as confidential, by describing with particularity the information to be treated as confidential, specifying the ground for the claim of confidential treatment of the information and, if applicable, specifying the period during which the information must not be disclosed; 26. LEYECO V requests for the confidential treatment of Annexes “H-2” to “H-8”of the Application, consisting of the MOA among Region 8 ECs, e-mails confirming participation of interested suppliers in the bidding, Final Instructions to Bidders, Bid Forms, Bid Evaluation Slips, Comparison of Bids, and Notice of Award, respectively. These annexes show the individual offers of the bidders which participated in the R8 JCPSP. The Region 8 ECs, LEYECO Vincluded, are bound by their undertaking to secure and keep in confidence the offers and the proposed terms of supply, so as not to prejudiceor pre-empt any future CSPsin which these bidders will participate.Otherwise, LEYECO V and the rest of the Region 8 ECs may be held liable for damages for breach of confidentiality, and eventually, risk their good relations with the suppliers concerned; 27. Similarly, GNPOWER respectfully moves for the confidential treatment of Annexes “K” and “K-1” hereof, consisting of GNPOWER’s Sources of Funds and Financial Plans with Cost Assumptions.These annexes, exclusively owned by GNPOWER, contain information which are considered part of its business and trade secrets. As such, GNPOWER has the sole proprietary interest and will be unduly prejudiced should they be disclosed to the public; 28. These annexes contain numbers, data, formula, methodology, and calculations involving valuable and sensitive commercial, financial information reflecting GNPOWER’s business operations and financial trade secrets. Therefore, GNPOWER’s confidential, proprietary, and private information included in the aforesaid annexes should be protected from public dissemination.

Otherwise, such information can be illegally and unfairly utilized by business competitors who may use the same for their own private gain and to the irreparable prejudice of GNPOWER.Negotiations with prospective customers may also be affected.

29. The information contained in Annexes “K” and “K1”, constitute “trade secrets”, for which GNPOWER has actual and valuable proprietary interest. As explained by the Supreme Court, a trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that is used in one’s business and gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information2. It is indubitable that trade secrets3 constitute proprietary rights and jurisprudence has consistently acknowledged the private character of trade secrets. Further, as ruled in Garcia vs. Board of Investments4, trade secrets and confidential, commercial and financial information are exempt from public scrutiny; 30. Accordingly, Annexes “H-2” to “H-8”, “K” and “K1” be accorded confidential treatment. As such, they are to be used exclusively by the Commission and for the sole purpose of evaluating this Application, thereby protecting these data from unnecessary public disclosure; 31. In accordance with Section 1(b), Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicants submit one (1) copy each of Annexes “H-2” to “H-8”, “K” and “K-1”in a sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the documents stamped with the word “Confidential”.

PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 32. All the foregoing allegations are re-pleaded by reference in support of theirprayer for the issuance of Provisional Authority (PA) to implement the subject PSA;

37. The additional power from GNPOWER is needed to curtail any power interruptions that may be experienced by LEYECO V’s member-consumers due to inadequate power supply in the region; 38. To further support the Prayer for PA, anaffidavit emphasizing the necessity thereof is attached to the Application as ANNEX “Z”, an form an integral part thereof; PRAYER 39. Applicants LEYECO V and GNPowerpray before the Commission that: i. ii.

iii. iv.

The Commission has set the Application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 21 July 2016 (Thursday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) at LEYECO V’s Main Office, Brgy. San Pablo, Ormoc City, Leyte.

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

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

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from the Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of theApplication and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman, JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 18th day of May 2016 in Pasig City.

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

1

33. LEYECO V and GNPOWER pray for the issuance of a PA or interim relief prior to final decision pursuant to Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, to wit: “Section 3. Action on the Motion. – Motions for provisional authority or interim relief may be acted upon with or without hearing. The Commission shall act on the motion on the basis of the allegations of the application or petition and

All information attached as Annexes “H-2” to “H8”, “K” and “K-1” to the Application be treated as confidential; Pending hearing on the merits, a PA be issued authorizing the immediate implementation of the subject PSA including the rate structure therein, as applied; After due notice and hearing, the instant Application, the PSAand the rate structure contained therein be duly approved; and In the event that a Final Authority shall be issued after GNPOWER starts actual delivery of power to LEYECO V under the terms of the subject PSA, said Final Authority be retroactively applied to the date of such actual delivery.

2 3 4 5

ASSUMPTIONS: Analysis and simulations is based on LEYECO V’s forecasted 2016 hourly load profile TRANS-ASIA’s contract to LEYECO V, 100% Load Factor FDCUI’s contract to LEYECO V, 100% Load Factor GNPOWER’s proposal to LEYECO V, with 100%-70% CUF GMCP rate is based on (i) Capacity Fee at Resulting Capacity Factor; (ii) November 14 coal and shipping prices; (iii) AVERAGE FOREX from Jan 2014 - Dec. 2014; (iv) PPD not included WESM Prices is based on 2012 Average prices of Nodal Points of LEYECO V plus 3% Inflation Factor for 2016 Simulation Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell Inc., G.R. No. 172835, December 13, 2007.

Ibid., 177 SCRA 374 (1989).

Additional equivalent rate due to additional Prudential Guarantee required by PEMC (for the undelivered contracted capacity from GNP0wer) with a conservative loan investment of 6% per annum and based load factor of 81%.

(TS-JUNE 23, 2016)

T H U R S DAY : J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 16

A16

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

Marcial still has a chance to make Rio

By Ronnie Nathanielsz WELTERWEIGHT Eumir Felix Marcial still has a very slim chance of making it to the Rio Olympic Games in August.

Boxing executive director Ed Picson told The Standard that should any one of the welterweight boxers who qualified in the last AIBA qualifying tournament in China pull out because of injury or some other reason, then Marcial who was seeded No. 1in Azerbaijan, would be able to make it to the Rio Olympics.

However, Picson said “the chances are very slim.”

While Marcial and flyweight Ian Clark Bautista were disappointed at losing in their first bouts, which Picson said were “very close,” he refused to complain about the decision of the judges.

“We lost,” said Picson, cautioning the coaching staff of Nonito “Boy” Velasco and Romeo Brin not to claim that our boxers lost because of poor decisions by the judges.

Picson, who has covered boxing and basketball for many years, knows the sport even though he may not be a trainer and can fairly assess the outcome of a fight without being prejudiced.

He said Marcial and Bautista are keeping themselves busy in Baku and since there is nothing to do, they will continue training by sparring with boxers from Morocco.

Coach Tab Baldwin, shown here giving instructions to the team during the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship, will need to whip Gilas PH into fighting form in the next two weeks. FIBA.COM

Long way to go for Gilas 5 before reaching peak form

By Jeric Lopez

WITH less than two weeks before the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Smart Gilas Pilipinas is now in the midst of finding its groove heading into the slated tiff in Manila.

Following a solid nine-day camp in Greece and a tune-up game in Istanbul against Turkey, the national team still needs to iron things out in terms of its play.

Gilas Pilipinas suffered a 10368 setback as Turkey, a country it might play here in Manila in the July 5 to 10 tournament, drubbed

the nationals last Friday in the first of two tune-up games and gave it a taste of the competition it is about to face.

Completely outplayed, Smart Gilas was never really in the match against the Turkish team and this will be something that it needs to address as it continues its training.

Andray Blatche led the way for the Philippines with 21 points, while Jayson Castro scored 15.

National coach Tab Baldwin hopes that the setback, along with the experience and chemistry that the team has gained in its grueling European training camp, will help Gilas Pilipinas to achieve tip-top form when the OQT kicks off.

Gilas Pilipinas can plot its revenge as it once again plays Turkey next week, this time in Manila on July 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, in their second exhibition match.

Before that, the Nationals will

Chiefs are team to beat

Lascuña storms past Mondilla

TURN TO A12

TURN TO A13

first participate in a pockettournament in Bologna, Italy this weekend where they take on the host country as well as Canada, another team competing in the OQT Manila leg, and China, which is also setting its sights on the Rio Olympics.

That stretch will be a good barometer for Gilas Pilipinas and for Baldwin to see exactly where they are in terms of level of play as they continue to face the toughest basketball competition in the run-up to the Manila tournament.

Gilas returns to the country week on June 27.

THURSDAY: JUNE 23, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Final day. British Prime Minister David Cameron (right) addresses pro-EU ‘Vote Remain’ supporters during a rally in Bristol, south-west England, on June 22, 2016, while campaigning to avoid a Brexit, ahead of the June 23 EU referendum. Rival sides threw their efforts into the final day of campaigning Wednesday, on the eve of Britain’s vote on EU membership that will shape the future of Europe. AFP

Mining companies cautious

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Anna Leah E. Gonzales

MINING companies conceded Wednesday that the choice for the new environment secretary presents difficulties for the sector, but vowed to work with anti-mining advocate Gina Lopez.

Philex Mining Corp. Manuel Pangilinan said it was “business as usual” for the country’s biggest mining company and that “we will just work what we have been dealt with.”

Philex Mining, which owns the Padcal mines in Benguet, is the country’s biggest producer of copper and gold.

“The elephant in the room is Gina Lopez, I apologize for the

comparison. But first of all, let me say this, it’s entirely the prerogative of the president to name whoever he wants to name and I respect that he has nominated Gina Lopez to be DENR secretary. We respect that and so be it,” he said.

Lopez on Tuesday accepted the offer of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to head the Environment and Natural Resources Department.

The mining and oil index of the Philippine Stock Exchange fell 7.3 percent on Wednesday, the steepest drop in 10 months, after closing 4.1 percent lower in the previous session.

Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. tumbled 6.8 percent and Philex Mining lost 11 percent, while Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. was down 6.5 percent and Semirara Mining and Power Corp. slid 7.9 percent at the session’s close.

Nickel Asia Corp., the nation’s largest producer in which Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. holds a 26 percent stake, dropped 4.6 percent.

“In two days, we’re down 12 percent. Nobody wants to see the value of the company going down,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan, however, said Lopez should be given the chance to articulate her policy as “it reflects the policy of the president as well.”

He added the company may also have to wait first before pursuing any expansion plans.

He said mining could be another growth driver for the Philippines if given the chance to grow.

“The Philippines is a very mineralized country so we should explore that,” he said.

The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, meanwhile, is confident Lopez will be fair in her decisions on

PLDT, Globe seek dialog with anti-trust body

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE country’s two largest telecommunications companies on Wednesday asked the government’s newly created anti-trust body to open channels for dialog to resolve the impasse over the joint acquisition of San Miguel Corp.’s telecom assets after their share prices fell.

Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc., in a letter dated June 14, requested the Philippine Competition Commission for a meeting to address certain issues the agency might have regarding the P70-billion transaction.

“Consistent with our earlier declaration, we express our willingness to cooperate with the honorable commission to settle the issues surrounding the transaction having in mind the tremendous benefit that the public will gain from the immediate unlocking of the advantages of the underutilized frequencies underpinning the transaction,” Globe and PLDT said in a joint letter.

Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo said the impasse had created an atmosphere of uncertainty hanging over the industry,

which in turn, caused investors to take a cautious position.

“We are willing to cooperate and work with PCC for the approval of the transaction,” Castelo said.

Investors initially cheered the buyout, with Globe’s share rising to P2,310 at the end of trading day on May 30, when the deal was announced, from P2,188 from the previous trading session.

After PCC’s announcement to review the deal, Globe share prices slid to P2,280 at the end of trading day on June 20.

PLDT’s share price also went up to P1,901 on May 30 from the previous trading session of P1,742.

As of June 21, PLDT’s share price stood at P2,120.

PCC earlier said it would pursue a comprehensive review of the P70-billion transaction and “shall approve or disapprove the subject transaction after the conduct of such full review.”

“A comprehensive review includes a determination of the relevant market, whether there will be substantial changes to the market structure, and the potential impact of the transaction on public welfare,” PCC said, adding that the review was intended to

ensure that the transaction would not restrict competition.

Castelo said that in acquiring San Miguel’s telco assets, there was no market share gain or loss for any of the parties involved because majority of the companies that belonged to SMC were not operating.

He also said that the return of a complete set of 2G, 3G, 4G and potential 5G, including 20 megahertz of the 700 Mhz spectrum to the government fully supported open market competition, enabling the entry of another industry player in future.

“Amid the clamor for faster and better mobile internet in the country, Globe has remained committed in expanding our capabilities through investments in our network. Considering the challenges in building a superior telecommunications network across the archipelago, particularly in terms of site acquisitions, co-use of the 700 MHz spectrum among existing players will fast track the improvement of mobile internet services in the country through additional capacity and greater coverage,” Castelo said.

the country’s mining industry.

Sarmiento said in a text message while the sector was worried about the appointment of Lopez, it was “positive that she will look at it with a balance view before making any drastic view detrimental not only to the industry but to the direct and indirect beneficiaries and workers in and around the industry.”

With Bloomberg

THURSDAY: JUNE 23, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, June 22, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 91.5 137 80 361.2 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 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 62 88.35 52 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 26 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 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 34.1 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 10.02 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.78 3.3 46 45.05 110.00 109.00 97.50 97.25 38.1 37.9 3.50 3.28 1.44 1.36 14.2 13.98 18.2 17.88 7.20 6.86 1.79 1.77 595.00 595.00 0.570 0.540 89.2 87.9 15.02 15.00 59.00 56.40 106.9 100 445 400 262 260.2 32.45 32.2 204 201.8 1380.00 1361.00 65.40 65.20 1.52 1.52 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

46.9 47 46.7 Agrinurture Inc. 3.79 3.82 3.69 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.83 0.82 0.8 Alsons Cons.

2.1 2.15 1.99 Asiabest Group 12.32 12.36 12.32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 190.00 190.00 170.00 Century Food 21.45 21.6 21.35 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 184.2 190 180 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 17.38 17 16.02 Concepcion 46.1 46.15 46 Crown Asia 2.1 2.12 2.02 Da Vinci Capital 5.2 5.2 5.18 Del Monte 11.32 11.4 11.18 DNL Industries Inc. 9.900 9.990 9.720 Emperador 7.33 7.34 7.10 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.37 5.80 5.52 EEI 7.75 7.85 7.75 Euro-Med Lab 1.72 1.95 1.71 First Gen Corp.

22.9 24.9 23.45 First Holdings ‘A’ 64.65 69.45 64.9 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.00 12.40 11.80 15.18 14.84 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.00 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.5 5.52 5.4 Ionics Inc 2.320 2.340 2.300 Jollibee Foods Corp.

230.00 237.00 233.80 Liberty Flour 32.55 33.00 32.55 LMG Chemicals 1.84 1.85 1.82 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.35 3.3 3.15 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.1 27.2 26.6 Maxs Group 28.2 28.45 27.25 Megawide 6.54 6.6 6.52 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 322.80 322.60 315.60 MG Holdings 0.265 0.275 0.265 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.20 4.18 4.17 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.44 3.5 3.4 Petron Corporation 11.52 11.52 11.38 Phinma Corporation 11.00 11.64 11.60 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.22 6.22 6.12 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.72 1.70 1.68 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.74 2.79 2.73 RFM Corporation 4.20 4.22 4.20 Roxas Holdings 4.15 4.12 4.12 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 216 216 212 Splash Corporation 2.53 2.66 2.52 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.147 0.149 0.147 TKC Steel Corp.

1.61 1.65 1.60 Trans-Asia Oil 2.48 2.48 2.46 Universal Robina 205.6 206.6 201.8 Vitarich Corp.

0.88 0.91 0.88 Vivant Corp.

30.50 35.00 34.00 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.26 1.29 1.22 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.380 0.385 0.360 Aboitiz Equity 75.10 76.00 74.35 Alliance Global Inc. 15.80 15.90 15.76 Anscor `A’ 6.27 6.10 5.97 ATN Holdings A 0.360 0.375 0.355 Ayala Corp `A’ 850 870 853 Cosco Capital 7.95 7.98 7.84 DMCI Holdings 12.90 13.00 12.40 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.07 5.39 5.37 F&J Prince ‘B’ 5.02 6.59 6.1 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

6.40 6.45 6.35 Forum Pacific 0.225 0.224 0.215 GT Capital 1500 1520 1500 House of Inv. 6.46 6.46 6.32 JG Summit Holdings 85.80 85.95 84.75 Keppel Holdings `A’ 5.23 5.8 5.24 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.59 7.9 7.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.7 0.71 0.7 LT Group 15.62 15.9 15.64 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 6.91 6.8 6.56 Pacifica `A’ 0.0320 0.0320 0.0320 1.830 1.810 Prime Orion 1.820 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.51 2.63 2.63 San Miguel Corp `A’ 78.85 78.85 78.00 Seafront `A’ 2.13 2.13 2.13 SM Investments Inc. 996.00 996.50 980.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.18 1.17 1.15 South China Res. Inc. 0.80 0.79 0.79 Top Frontier 190.000 190.000 186.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3100 0.3150 0.3100 Wellex Industries 0.2010 0.2020 0.1970 Zeus Holdings 0.305 0.305 0.295 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.460 7.600 7.460 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.30 7.30 7.30 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.28 1.28 1.21 Araneta Prop `A’ 2.180 2.200 2.160 Arthaland Corp.

0.270 0.270 0.265 Ayala Land `B’ 39.600 39.700 39.350 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.35 3.38 3.33 Cebu Holdings 5.15 5.16 5.15 Century Property 0.500 0.51 0.500 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.030 1.080 1.050 Crown Equities Inc. 0.138 0.137 0.134 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.660 0.680 0.630 Double Dragon 57.5 57.9 55.5 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. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

Close

SHARES 15,260,735 135,304,894 122,133,350 130,227,802 323,783,648 3,063,914,372 3,797,064,315

3.82 46 110.00 97.20 38.1 3.28 1.38 13.98 18.16 6.93 1.8 595.00 0.550 89 15.04 56.35 106.5 410 261.8 32.2 203 1374.00 65.20 1.52

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.53 46 109.50 97.25 38 3.46 1.38 14 18 6.86 1.77 595.00 0.540 88.5 15.00 58.95 104.9 445 262 32.25 202.8 1361.00 65.35 1.52

-7.59 0.00 -0.45 0.05 -0.26 5.49 0.00 0.14 -0.88 -1.01 -1.67 0.00 -1.82 -0.56 -0.27 4.61 -1.50 8.54 0.08 0.16 -0.10 -0.95 0.23 0.00

883,000 41,500 1,664,670 1,342,330 110,500 90,000 127,000 12,800 851,300 6,100 134,000 770 1,010,000 6,488,630 1,099,500 622,830 9,530 70 13,460 231,000 406,090 335 71,610 43,000

46.8 3.76 0.81 1.99 12.32 190.00 21.55 183 16.5 46.15 2.08 5.18 11.4 9.730 7.10 5.72 7.85 1.85 24.9 67.7 12.40 15.14 5.47 2.300 234.60 33.00 1.83 3.3 27 28.45 6.6 318.00 0.275 4.18 3.42 11.38 11.64 6.20 1.69 2.75 4.20 4.12 212.2 2.61 0.149 1.62 2.48 206.6 0.88 35.00 1.28

-0.21 -0.79 -2.41 -5.24 0.00 0.00 0.47 -0.65 -5.06 0.11 -0.95 -0.38 0.71 -1.72 -3.14 6.52 1.29 7.56 8.73 4.72 3.33 0.93 -0.55 -0.86 2.00 1.38 -0.54 -1.49 -0.37 0.89 0.92 -1.49 3.77 -0.48 -0.58 -1.22 5.82 -0.32 -1.74 0.36 0.00 -0.72 -1.76 3.16 1.36 0.62 0.00 0.49 0.00 14.75 1.59

953,900 558,000 171,000 14,077,000 300 52 1,631,500 3,390 5,159,100 9,900 2,147,000 115,200 23,500 1,589,900 1,220,100 49,502,200 295,500 29,000 17,832,300 616,040 21,400 86,400 213,200 1,540,000 705,190 50,100 28,000 17,000 881,400 242,600 15,700 188,660 145,200 7,000 22,455,000 1,988,600 2,200 282,300 229,000 75,000 450,000 4,000 540 701,000 520,000 251,000 1,194,000 1,134,020 4,605,000 1,100 541,000

0.370 75.60 15.80 6.05 0.370 870 7.85 12.90 5.37 6.1 6.40 0.215 1520 6.46 85.30 5.3 7.75 0.7 15.78 6.6 0.0320 1.820 2.63 78.00 2.13 980.00 1.17 0.79 190.000 0.3100 0.2010 0.295

-2.63 0.67 0.00 -3.51 2.78 2.35 -1.26 0.00 5.92 21.51 0.00 -4.44 1.33 0.00 -0.58 1.34 2.11 0.00 1.02 -4.49 0.00 0.00 4.78 -1.08 0.00 -1.61 -0.85 -1.25 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.28

3,850,000 1,008,290 9,239,200 50,200 5,750,000 376,740 2,375,500 10,308,800 14,200 10,700 242,300 40,000 231,515 979,500 2,236,290 600 6,861,100 194,000 1,241,200 50,422,300 15,200,000 477,000 4,000 116,120 800 163,200 236,000 1,000 3,130 520,000 330,000 4,400,000

7.460 7.30 1.23 2.170 0.265 39.600 3.37 5.15 0.510 1.080 0.135 0.670 57.9

0.00 0.00 -3.91 -0.46 -1.85 0.00 0.60 0.00 2.00 4.85 -2.17 1.52 0.70

333,000 1,000 4,377,000 241,000 150,000 9,549,500 1,464,000 75,200 4,598,000 31,000 2,170,000 31,833,000 1,297,180

-52,800.00 792,945.00 144,106,028 -6,907,557.50 969,000.00

-2,561,272.00

207,900.00 12,043,887.50 5,901,613.00

-551,005 18,334,092.00 3,336,702.50 11,545,775.00 32,900.00 53,187.00 -6,175,210.00 16,980,254.00 -1,670.00 5,438,247.00 2,507,291.00 -1,377,621.00 -12,488.00 -1,940.00 -33,106,750.00 3,721,353.00 460,228.00 63,800.00 -575,000.00 66,565,232.00

-9,721,935.00 54,790.00 3,930.00 1,438,512.00 415,110.00 16,598,264.00 -6,200.00 868,920.00 -145,600.00 124,000.00 137,030,206.00

39,260,772.50 -88,483,404.00 -142,740.00 233,710,015.00 3,360,736.00 70,973,458.00 -111,585.00 172,837,835.00 945,040.00 100,953,881.50 -2,822,698.00 4,400,850.00 14,477,213.00 323,200.00 -986,595.00 49,694,460.00

52 Weeks

Close

High

0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Empire East Land 0.800 Global-Estate 0.99 Filinvest Land,Inc. 2.03 Interport `A’ 1.26 Megaworld 4.51 MRC Allied Ind. 0.091 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2500 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.465 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 40.60 Primex Corp.

9.7 Robinson’s Land `B’ 30.45 Rockwell 1.74 Shang Properties Inc. 3.12 SM Prime Holdings 25.80 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.89 Starmalls 6.77 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.020 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.340

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 0.017

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 3.01 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 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 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 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 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey MINING & OIL Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 525 120 8.21 12.28 1047

-203,700.00 1,395,824.00 1.34

105,215,565.00 3,325,940.00

6.98

-861,500.00

15

-796,160.00 -10,587,669.50

STOCKS

0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

78.95 84.8

-366,760.00 -151,540.00

Previous

High Low

12.88 130.7

7.22 49.25 1.26 0.630 11.3 9.05 6.02 0.0610 2.88 97.7 9.88 2.05 6.20 960 2340 6.30 1.16 61 13.34 0.0110 9.60 0.325 1.5800 2.23 12 7.61 3.49 0.580 1.96 3.15 4.03 2.810 12.5 4.85 124.50 24.40 2120.00 0.430 1.140 42.75 82.50 6.54 3.29 0.580 3.47 0.350 6.580

0.820 0.800 1.00 0.98 2.04 1.99 1.27 1.22 4.6 4.5 0.091 0.086 0.2550 0.2550 0.465 0.450 47.00 40.30 9.7 9.31 30.80 29.50 1.82 1.72 3.1 3.07 26.05 25.55 0.9 0.88 6.7 6.7 1.040 1.000 5.450 5.240 SERVICES 7.49 7.29 49.4 48.5 1.28 1.28 0.630 0.610 11.3 11.3 9.05 7 6.02 5.76 0.0620 0.0600 3.09 2.95 98 97.4 9.88 9.88 2.05 2.05 6.47 6.25 960 960 2430 2332 6.34 6.25 1.15 1.14 62 61.1 13.30 12.72 0.0110 0.0100 9.61 9.50 0.365 0.320 1.5900 1.5700 2.35 2.23 12.28 12 7.80 7.58 3.35 3.20 0.590 0.590 1.96 1.96 3.3 3.04 4.04 4.00 2.850 2.780 12.5 12.5 4.80 4.80 121.00 121.00 24.40 24.00 2118.00 2082.00 0.440 0.425 1.170 1.100 43.00 41.75 83.55 82.60 6.49 6.25 3.35 3.11 0.580 0.580 3.47 3.38 0.355 0.335 6.580 6.100

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.800 0.98 1.99 1.27 4.57 0.089 0.2550 0.450 42.70 9.62 30.10 1.79 3.09 25.55 0.88 6.7 1.020 5.350

0.00 -1.01 -1.97 0.79 1.33 -2.20 2.00 -3.23 5.17 -0.82 -1.15 2.87 -0.96 -0.97 -1.12 -1.03 0.00 0.19

1,104,000 2,010,000 25,402,000 40,000 20,532,000 400,000 450,000 560,000 28,700 102,200 2,324,200 1,800,000 16,000 7,748,200 3,318,000 200 287,000 7,436,500

7.4 48.65 1.28 0.610 11.3 7.6 5.96 0.0620 2.97 97.75 9.88 2.05 6.40 960 2384 6.32 1.14 61.8 13.00 0.0110 9.61 0.365 1.5800 2.35 12.02 7.80 3.23 0.590 1.96 3.18 4.01 2.800 12.5 4.80 121.00 24.40 2090.00 0.430 1.160 43.00 83.20 6.36 3.20 0.580 3.4 0.335 6.200

2.49 -1.22 1.59 -3.17 0.00 -16.02 -1.00 1.64 3.13 0.05 0.00 0.00 3.23 0.00 1.88 0.32 -1.72 1.31 -2.55 0.00 0.10 12.31 0.00 5.38 0.17 2.50 -7.45 1.72 0.00 0.95 -0.50 -0.36 0.00 -1.03 -2.81 0.00 -1.42 0.00 1.75 0.58 0.85 -2.75 -2.74 0.00 -2.02 -4.29 -5.78

43,900 186,400 2,000 259,000 26,700 161,100 6,295,200 41,160,000 5,355,000 638,780 100 1,000 82,500 700 59,680 64,500 30,000 748,300 7,500 9,800,000 701,100 18,893,000 533,000 87,000 112,000 356,500 1,595,000 71,000 4,000 13,172,000 1,453,000 2,595,000 1,000 7,000 1,000 97,300 173,205 3,570,000 19,438,000 3,000,300 1,851,450 822,900 17,326,000 465,000 1,543,000 90,000 169,800

-2.38 -6.09 1.60 0.34 2.19 1.37 0.69 -3.23 -2.04 0.23 -6.52 -1.69 -6.83 -8.68 -14.29 -6.67 -5.32 -4.57 -3.70 -1.75 -1.59 -9.09 -9.09 -4.39 -10.86 1.72 -7.69 -7.94 -1.28 -16.67

437,000,000 504,300.00 1,875,000 480,000 -120,380.00 1,600 180,000 26,700 25,900 1,448,000 -1,180.00 3,790,000 38,200.00 208,200 77,007,000 5,438,920.00 7,540,000 166,660,000 44,250,000 301,200.00 1,914,800,000 152,400,000 110,500.00 1,588,000 10,254,500 -2,506,014.00 486,000 145,000 1,064,000 192,000.00 124,600,000 1,000,000 11,000 23,253,300 -15,645,101.00 8,979,000 -168,150.00 25,100,000 1,714,570 -28,423,352.00 362,000 11,670.00 57,400,000 -55,000.00

-0.84 0.19 1.79 0.00 0.93 0.36 -0.67 0.17 -0.62 -3.05 0.00 -1.32 -0.64 0.00 0.00 -0.52 0.00

394,200 8,000 8,010 13,000 50,000 1,875 5,000 2,000 6,000 149,670 32,100 35,300 21,000 25,500 30,690 6,900 1,000

0.98

167,000

0.00 9.06 10.92 -0.12

1,178,000 7,000 4,655,000 576,100

0.00

22,300

0.0042 0.0041 0.0041 2.27 2.16 2.16 4.47 4.25 4.45 11.64 10.64 11.64 0.233 0.228 0.233 7.4 6.87 7.4000 7.3000 6.9500 7.3000 0.62 0.59 0.6 0.485 0.450 0.480 8.96 8.53 8.90 0.880 0.820 0.860 0.295 0.280 0.290 0.244 0.223 0.232 0.255 0.233 0.242 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0140 0.0120 0.0140 1.82 1.7 1.78 4.85 4.5 4.8 2.69 2.51 2.6 0.5700 0.5600 0.5600 1.2500 1.2000 1.2400 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 3.93 3.92 3.92 7.65 6.91 7.14 4.20 3.80 4.14 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 127.80 119.50 119.50 4 3.86 3.86 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 PREFERRED 33 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 47.9 49.1 47.5 47.5 500 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 540 541 541 541 101.5 First Gen G 122.7 124.9 124.9 124.9 5.88 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.1 6.12 6.1 6.1 6.5 Leisure and Resort 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08 PCOR-Preferred B 1115 1119 1115 1119 1011 PF Pref 2 1038 1035 1031 1031 PNX PREF 3B 114.6 114.8 114.8 114.8 74.5 SMC Preferred B 80.5 80 80 80 75 SMC Preferred C 81.9 80 79 79.4 SMC Preferred D 76 76 76 76 SMC Preferred E 76 78 75 75 SMC Preferred F 78 77.5 77.5 77.5 SMC Preferred G 76.65 76.65 76.65 76.65 SMC Preferred H 76.6 76.6 76.5 76.6 SMC Preferred I 76.9 76.5 76.5 76.5 1 Swift Pref 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 0.8900 LR Warrant 3.070 3.100 3.040 3.100 SME Alterra Capital 3.99 4.01 3.9 3.99 3.5 Makati Fin. Corp.

3.2 3.49 3.49 3.49 Italpinas 4.67 5.42 4.72 5.18 5.95 Xurpas 16.02 16.26 16 16 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 105.6 First Metro ETF 127.7 127.7 126.5 127.7

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,751.43 (down) 2.57 INDUSTRIAL 11,908.54 (up) 110.43 HOLDING FIRMS 7,653.92 (down) 17.84 PROPERTY 3,371.96 (down) 9.90 SERVICES 1,638.01 (down) 1.82 MINING & OIL 10,614.70 (down) 837.14 PSEI 7,756.37 (down) 10.86 All Shares Index 4,603.14 (up)2.31 Gainers: 86; Losers: 108; Unchanged: 44; Total: 238

Close

0.0042 2.30 4.38 11.60 0.228 7.3000 7.2500 0.62 0.490 8.88 0.920 0.295 0.249 0.265 0.0140 0.0150 1.88 5.03 2.7 0.5700 1.2600 0.0110 0.0110 4.10 8.01 4.07 0.0130 129.80 3.91 0.0120

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,064,940,198.31 1,683,929,711.28 1,938,478,973.65 986,269,749.992 1,325,480,185.6576 625,020,949.656 7,664,633,113.9296

Low

2,603,500.00 2,540.00 29,882,870.00

-9,030.00 11,244,235.00 -5,400.00 12,360.00 74,679,350.00 -20,600.00 6,120,985.00 8,760.00

-282,500.00 -5,703.00 -1,045,866.00 -216,640.00 -107,152.50 -31,600.00 -141,560.00 10,684,817.00 6,726,500.00 342,250.00

1,753,730 70,640.00 -1,552,340.00 1,119,950.00 -140,000.00

-24,195.00 -44,182,310.00 3,727,600.00 -12,496,745.00 22,743,223.50 6,300.00 -360,390.00 -1,461,120.00

-5,599,660.00

-406,975.00

-9,974,948.00 -2,439,600.00 -1,631,000.00

3,864,400.00 -1,211,130.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

F&J Prince 'B'

6.1

21.51

United Paragon

0.0100

Vivant Corp.

35.00

14.75

Berjaya Phils. Inc.

7.6

-16.67 -16.02

Island Info

0.365

12.31

Manila Mining `A'

0.0120

-14.29

Italpinas

5.18

10.92

Philex `A'

7.14

-10.86

Makati Fin. Corp.

3.49

9.06

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0100

-9.09

First Gen Corp.

24.9

8.73

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0100

-9.09

Philippine trust Co.

445

8.54

Lepanto `B'

0.242

-8.68

Euro-Med Lab

1.85

7.56

Semirara Corp.

119.50

-7.94

Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC)

5.72

6.52

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.0120

-7.69

F&J Prince 'A'

5.37

5.92

AG Finance

3.53

-7.59

THURSDAY: JUNE 23, 2016

B3

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

SMC’s P15-b bond issue OK’d

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the P15-billion fixed rate bond offering of SMC Global Power Holdings Inc., a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

Informed sources said Tuesday SMC Global planned to push through with the fund raising activity in July.

The bond issue will be the first for SMC Global Power, which earlier planned to conduct an initial public offering.

Data from the SEC showed that SMC Global would issue 5-year bonds worth P5 billion, 7-year bonds worth P5 billion and 10year bonds worth another P5 billion.

The power company plans to use proceeds from the bond offering to refinance the company’s short term loan extended by BDO Unibank. SMC Global Power

borrowed the amount to fully redeem $300 million in notes due 2016 and finance general corporate activities.

The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The company hired nine banks to handle the transaction, namely BDO Capital and Investments Corp., Maybank ATR Kim Eng, SB Capital, BPI Capital Corp., PNB Capital Corp., Standard Chartered, China Bank Capital RCBC Capital Corp., and United Coconut Planters Bank.

SMC Global Power is a holding company that owns subsidiaries engaged primarily in generation,

supply and sale of power in the country.

Along with its subsidiaries, SMC Global Power is one of the largest power companies in the Philippines with a combined output of 2,903 megawatts as of December 2015.

It uses diversified fuel sources, including natural gas, coal and hydroelectric.

SMC Global Power had a 17-percent market share of the power supply in the national grid and 22 percent of the Luzon grid as of end December 2015.

Parent San Miguel in May said it planned to put up more power projects with a combined capacity of 2,100 megawatts and costing $4.2 billion to solidify its hold in the energy sector.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the company planned to build three power plants with a capacity of 300 megawatts in industrial estate projects in Mindanao.

International award. British life insurer Pru Life UK bags a Gold Quill Award of Merit for its

flagship corporate social responsibility program Cha-Ching through its entry ‘The First Cha-Ching Educators’ Congress on Financial Literacy.’ Pru Life UK assistant vice president for brand and communications Anna Gizelle Camua (center) receives the award from 2016 Gold Quill chair Monika Lancucki (left) and IABC chair Michael Ambjorn in New Orleans, USA.

Stocks dip; mining issues fall further THE stock market fell Wednesday on profit-taking to snap a fiveday rally, with mining issues taking another hit after an antimining crusader accepted the job of running the environment department.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 10.86 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,756.37 on a value turnover of P7.7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 108 to 86, with 44 issues unchanged.

Shares of mining companies plunged a second day. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. dropped 4.5 percent to P6.60, while unit Philex Mining Corp., the biggest miner, tumbled 10.9 percent to P7.14.

Regina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc., said Tuesday

she accepted the offer to head the environment and natural resources department.

The mining and oil index fell 7.3 percent on Wednesday, the steepest drop in 10 months, after closing 4.1 percent lower in the previous session. Duterte offered the post to Lopez on Monday.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp., the largest coal miner, skidded 7.9 percent to P119.50, while Nickel Asia Corp., the largest producer in which Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. holds a 26-percent stake, slumped 4.6 percent to P4.80.

The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday as Britain heads into a high-stakes referendum on its future in the European Union, after the head of the Federal

Reserve warned a vote to leave could hammer world markets.

Following a three-day rally fuelled by hopes the country will stay in the economic bloc, analysts said traders were taking a step back to see what happens in Thursday’s poll.

While bookmakers say there is an 80-percent chance the country will stick with the status quo, opinion polls predict a dead heat, with about 10 percent of voters yet to decide which way to go.

“It would be logical for markets to begin losing momentum and volume while they wait on the outcome of the Brexit vote,” Ric Spooner, chief market analyst in Sydney at CMC Markets, said in an e-mail to clients. With Bloomberg

Leni can use her economic skills UNDER this country’s election laws voters can elect Presidents and Vice Presidents who do not belong to the same political party. As a result of this electoral quirk, five Vice Presidents have been elected to the second highest office in the land alongside a President belonging to another party. The first of the five was elected at a time when there were only two parties—the Nacionalista Party of Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña and the Liberal Party of Manuel Roxas—that vied for political power in this country.

In the 1957 election the voters cast their ballot for a Nacionalista President (Ramon Magsaysay) and a Liberal Vice President (Diosdado Macapagal). In the 1992 election they elected a President and a Vice President belonging to two of the new parties formed under the 1986 Constitution: Fidel V. Ramos of the Lakas-NUCD Party and Joseph Ejercito Estrada of the PDP-Laban Party. In the 1998 election—the President was now limited to one six-year term—the voters did it again: they elected Joseph Estrada as President and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the LDP (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino) as Vice President. For another encore, they elected Benign Aquino III of the Liberal Party as President and Jejomar Binay of UNA as Vice President in the 2010 election. Most recently they elected the pair of Rodrigo Duterte of PDP-Laban and Leni Robredo of the Liberal Party.

I could discuss here the merit or demerit of a system where the President and the Vice President belong to different parties, but I will not do so. Suffice it to say that such a situation is allowed by the 1986 Constitution. Nor does the present Basic Law contain a provision, with regard to a Vice President from a different party, other than that which provides for a Vice President’s succession to the Presidency.

But there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents the President from giving a position—whether of Cabinet rank or not—to his or her nonpartymate understudy. President Ramos made Joseph Estrada head of a Presidential Task Force against organized crime. President Estrada made Gloria Arroyo his Secretary of Social Welfare and Development and PNoy Aquino gave Jejomar Binay duties relating to housing, chairmanship of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (and Overseas Filipino Workers).

Sooner or later when the dust of a Presidential election begins to clear, thoughts turn to the role, if any, of a different-party Vice President in an incoming administration. The situation has been the same in the aftermath of the 2016 election. “What shall I do with Leni Robredo” was one of the first major questions that President-elect Duterte had to ask himself as soon as it became clear that he had won the election.

The incoming President has since answered the question. Leni Robredo will not be given any responsibilities in the new administration. Duterte has said that he saw “no compelling reason” to give Robredo any official assignments. And he offered another reason for not giving the new Vice President any responsibilities. Without batting an eyelash, the Presidentelect said that he did not want to hurt the feelings of Bongbong Marcos, whom Leni Robredo beat in a close contest.

Robredo had no choice but to acquiesce gracefully to Duterte’s “I’m not offering you anything” position in the matter of a role for her in his administration. This was a departure from historical practice, but what else could she say or do?

Rodrigo Duterte and Leni Robredo are both lawyers, and they therefore know that where there is an offeror, there is an acceptor. She has not been offered a position in the incoming administration, but if an offer had been made, should Leni Robredo have indicated acceptance? My answer is No, for two basic reasons.

The first reason is that, whether she likes it or not, Leni Robredo, as the Liberal Party member holding the highest office, is now the Party’s real head.

This state of affairs assumes greater importance in the face of the massive ship-jumping that has been taking place in the Liberal Party under the guise of wanting to be part of the latest post-election coalition. As I stated in a recent column about British parliamentary practice, Leni Robredo is now the Philippine equivalent of Leader of the Opposition. Loyal Liberal Party members in and outside Congress need a leader. Leni is that person. She should, nay must, perform a leadership role.

The second basic reason is that where she to allow herself to be co-opted by the Duterte administration, Leni Robredo will necessarily be held partly responsible for its failures and errors and become unable to cite those failures and errors should she decide to run for President—as many will doubtless urge her to do—in 2022. Having been a part of PNoy Aquino’s administration, Jejomar Binay found himself unable to credibly criticize that administration during the recent electoral campaign.

Those who oppose the idea of a position-less Vice President love to cite the example of Diosdado Macapagal, who, having been totally ignored by President Garcia, used the years 1958 to 1961 to prepare for his eventual run against the re-electionist President.

But, professional that she is, Leni Robredo will not want to remain idle, and waste the people’s money during the next six years.

The Vice President can resume her work with marginalized Filipinos— yung mga nasa laylayan—as an NGO leader.

And let us not forget that Leni Robredo is an economist as well as a lawyer.

In her capacity as the leader of the Opposition, she can monitor and provide useful inputs to, the economic program of the Duterte administration.

Email: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

B4

UnionBank donation. Union Bank of the Philippines makes a donation to the University of Santo Tomas’ Simbahayan Community Development Office, the second time the bank donated to the university. UST Simbahayan supports 400 projects that benefit Filipinos across the Philippines, from livelihood programs for Aetas to distance learning education project for the underprivileged. Shown signing the deed of donation are (from left) UST director of Simbahayan Community and Development Office Mark Anthony Abenir, UnionBank chairman and chief executive Justo Ortiz, UST officer-in-charge and vice rector Rev. Fr. Richard Ang and UnionBank assistant vice president for corporate social responsibility Paula Joson.

Duterte to expedite PPP deals

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

DAVAO CITY—The Duterte administration will expedite the implementation of infrastructure projects under the public-privatepartnership scheme, incoming Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said Tuesday.

Dominguez told reporters at the sidelines of the Sulong Pilipinas business consultation forum that infrastructure projects under the PPP program would be implemented within 18 months to 20 months.

He said this would be faster than the average 29 months that it took the outgoing Aquino administration to implement PPP projects.

“I think we can cut that down to maybe 18 to 20 months

through speedier and more proactive processing of these projects,” he said.

The PPP program, launched in 2010, aims to get the private sector as a reliable partner in infrastructure development to promote economic growth.

The government has awarded 12 projects worth over P200 billion since the program was implemented in 2010.

Among the projects launched and awarded by the Aquino ad-

ministration were Daang HariSLEX Link Road (MuntinlupaCavite Expressway) Project; PPP for School Infrastructure Project Phase I; Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway Project (Phase II); PPP for School Infrastructure Project – Phase II; Modernization of Philippine Orthopedic Center; and Automatic Fare Collection System.

The Aquino administration also launched Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building; LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension and Operation and Maintenance; Southwest Integrated Transport System (Project; Cavite-Laguna Expressway; South Integrated Transport System Project; and Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project.

Dominguez said the administration of President-elect Rodri-

go Duterte would pursue more PPP projects outside the National Capital Region.

“We’ve already said several times that we will not follow the last administration’s policies where basically they stopped the PPP projects for two years,” Dominguez said.

“That’s why the growth rate really dropped in the second year of the previous administration because they didn’t proceed to make the projects,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte would prioritize projects outside Metro Manila to generate employment in the countryside and decongest the nation’s capital to attain inclusive growth.

“I just went through a brief-

ing with the PPP Center which is under Neda [National Economic and Development Authority] and I was really amazed that around 80 percent of the proposed projects are in or around Mega Manila composed of Calabarzon [Cavite-LagunaBatangas-Rizal-Quezon], Central Luzon and Metro Manila,” Dominguez said.

“So if you’re not a pro-active government in pushing the projects into the regions, they will all congregate around Mega Manila where two-thirds of our GDP [gross domestic product] is produced,” he said.

Dominguez said he wanted more school buildings to be built outside Mega Manila especially in outlying areas. “After all, our President-elect was an outlier, wasn’t he?” Dominguez said.

Fort Bonifacio buses to use beep cards Dutch firm opens Manila

By Darwin G. Amojelar AF PAYMENTS Inc., a consortium led by Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., teamed up with a bus operator in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig to accept payments through reloadable contactless smart cards.

“We are pleased to partner with BGC Bus as this will move us closer to our goal of making the beep card an all-in-one card for commuters in Metro Manila.

BGC buses serve thousands of commuters daily and our goal is to be able to provide them with a reliable and efficient payment system, especially those who hop from the MRT or the LRT to the bus,” AF Payments president and

chief executive Peter Maher said.

Maher said BGC commuters could conveniently purchase and load their beep cards at the Ayala and Market Market Terminal.

This is in addition to selected Bayad Center, Tambunting, Villarica and SM Bills Payment Counter locations, which also offer re-loading services for beep cards.

“There are also plans to add more loading locations in the coming months, including leading convenience stores,” Maher said., “We are excited to announce this integration because this gives our BGCitizen commuters more convenience in their daily commute,” said Bonifacio

Transport Corp. general manager Jun Galvez.

BGC Bus line connects BGC to Edsa and Ayala Center. It has a Euro-5 compliant fleet and operates 24 hours a day to serve thousands of commuters, mostly employees who work in BGC and Makati.

BGC Bus also takes pride in its information systems, whereby waiting time for the next bus can be accessed using the BGC app, and are also shown in most bus stops within BGC. AF Payments earlier teamed up with Froehlich Tours, HM Transport and Citylink Coach Services for its first venture into buses serving commuters within Metro Manila.

office to create 1,700 jobs

By Roderick T. dela Cruz A DUTCH company that specializes in mass customization of physical products said Wednesday it opened a new office in Manila with a goal of creating up to 1,700 jobs over the next five years.

Cimpress N.V. said in a statement the office in Manila would primarily house customer service and design support teams dedicated to the growing customer base of one of Cimpress’ largest brands, Vistaprint, a leading online provider of professional marketing products and services to micro business owners.

“As Cimpress continues to expand, we look forward to establishing a presence in the Philippines,”

said Cimpress president and chief executive Robert Keane.

“Our expansion into Manila will help us provide excellent support to our customers thanks to the caliber of local talent,” he said.

Cimpress began operations in its new office in May with 60 team members and said it expected the number to grow significantly.

“The Philippines has a lot to offer: sound infrastructure, a stable business environment, and a strong, growing economy,” said Keane.

“Importantly, I would like to extend my thanks to the Philippines Economic Zone Authority and other local organizations for their ongoing support and encouragement,” he said.

T H U R S D AY : J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

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

B5

Growth seen at over 7% in Q2

By Julito G. Rada

AN ECONOMIST of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. said Wednesday the country’s gross domestic product will likely grow by more than 7 percent in the second quarter, driven by election-related spending and robust domestic demand.

Michael Ricafort, head of the bank’s economics and industry research division and corporate planning group, said in a news briefing in Makati City the second-

quarter growth would be slightly better than the 6.9-percent expansion in the first quarter.

“We see the second-quarter GDP to grow at least 7 percent

due mainly to robust spending in the run-up to the national elections in May,” he said.

He said the expansion could be achieved despite the slowdown in the Chinese economy, which had affected other markets in the region.

“This is very, very possible to achieve also because of the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals,” Ricafort said.

Ricafort said for the full-year 2016, the economy could grow between 6.5 percent and 7 percent, faster than the revised 5.9-percent expansion in 2015.

He said the economic agenda unveiled by incoming President Rodrigo Duterte had put certainty on the government’s economic policies. He said this could be positive because investors, both local and foreign, always wanted both consistency and continuity in reforms.

Ricafort said the next administration should also focus on how to improve the agriculture sector because a lot of Filipinos depended on it. He said around 10 percent of the country’s workforce were in the agricultural sector.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in an

earlier report the second-quarter GDP growth could accelerate further from 6.9-percent in the first quarter, while the secondhalf growth could moderate to an average of 6 percent.

This would bring full-year growth to 6.5 percent in 2016 and 6.2 percent in 2017, he said.

“We anticipate that higher consumers’ incomes and purchasing power and higher government spending would keep growth at above 6 percent in 2017. Improvement in agriculture output in 2017 would present some upside possibilities,” Cuyegkeng said.

PH needs $30b worth of energy projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Philippines needs an additional 10,000 megawatts of power capacity in the next 15 years, which will require investments of up to $30 billion to support the growing economy, a top executive said Wednesday.

Manila Electric Co. chairman Manuel Pangilinan told reporters the current available capacity might not meet the growth in demand.

Pangilinan said total demand was currently at 12,000 megawatts, while installed capacity was estimated at 16,000 MW. “On paper, it looks like we do have sufficient reserves,” he said.

Pangilinan, however, said the actual capacity from the existing power plants was lower as evidenced by the second day of ‘yellow alert’ for the Luzon grid, which reflected the thin reserves.

System operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines on Wednesday declared Luzon under ‘yellow alert’ from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. due to low level of contingency reserves brought about by insufficient supply.

Available capacity for Luzon was placed at 10,208 MW as of 8 a.m. Wednesday while peak demand was at 9,370 MW. Meralco said Calaca 1 and Malaya 2 power plants were on limited output while Pagbilao 2 and Kalayaan 3 were on scheduled maintenance.

Other plants such as GN Power 1, South Luzon Power Generation Corp. 1, Angat Main 2 and Malaya 1 were still offline.

“The actual nameplate capacity in relation to the actual capacity to produce power versus the capacity is much lower especially if some plants are on planned or unplanned shutdowns,” Pangilinan said.

He said there was a consensus that demand could rise to as much as 24,000 MW by 2030.

“Clearly the country needs more capacities to be built in the next 15 years or so. The question to this country is, you know you have to build power plants, because the economy will grow at 6, 7 to 8 percent. Whatever it is, and some of these plants especially some of the oil fired plants are too old, too expensive to operate,” he said.

SM Prime’s excellence awards. SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading integrated property companies in Southeast Asia, garners

three awards in the 6th Asian Excellence Awards 2016 organized by Corporate Governance Asia, a Hong Kong-based publication. SM Prime president Hans Sy and executive vice president Jeffrey Lim are recognized Asia’s best chief executive officer (investor relations) and Asia’s best chief finance officer (investor relations), respectively. SM Prime is also cited the best investor relations company in the country. Shown is Lim (left) accepting the award from Corporate Governance Asia publisher and managing director Aldrin Monsod.

BSP increases weekly term deposit offer to P50b

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday it will increase the volume of term deposits offered in the weekly auction starting July 6 to P50 billion from P30 billion.

Bangko Sentral said the increase in the offering was designed to make the term deposit facility more effective in siphoning off excess liquidity in the financial system.

Bangko Sentral said in a notice posted on its website that of the P50 billion weekly volume, the seven-day tenor deposits would still account for P10 billion. It increased the offer for the 28-day tenor deposits to P40 billion from the previous P20 billion.

Bangko Sentral began offering to banks and trust entities P10 billion worth of term deposits for the seven-day tenor and P20 billion for the 28-day tenor, or for

a total of P30 billion weekly, on June 8 this year.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the higher offering was a part of the refinement of the auction as the market was becoming more familiar with the system.

“The auction sizes are announced [as we had earlier said] two weeks in advance. So today’s announcement is consistent with that. This is also part of the discipline of the process. We will make further changes to the volume as necessary to help make the TDF more reflective of market conditions,” Tetangco said in a text message.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the increase was also consistent with the regulator’s earlier pronouncement that the volume would be scaled up gradually to ensure a smooth transition to the interest rate corridor regime.

“We continue to see ample liquidity in the system that indeed warrants an increase in the TDF volume to ensure monetary stability and sustained economic growth,” Guinigundo said in a text message.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in an earlier report Bangko Sentral might start increasing the TDF volume starting next month.

He said the weekly auctions were oversubscribed by more than five times the offered amount of P30 billion per week, which was an “indication of system’s liquidity.”

The first TDF auction on June 8 attracted much interest from banks and trust entities. The P10 billion offered under the sevenday tenor generated total bids of P82.438 billion, while the P20 billion auctioned under the 28day tenor attracted total tenders of P117.271 billion. Both tenors

fetched a 2.5-percent weighted average yield.

The second auction on June 15 was also highly oversubscribed. Total bids for the P10 billion offered for the week-long tenor reached P63.937 billion, or more than six times oversubscribed. Total tenders for the P20 billion offered for the month-long tenor hit P92.847 billion, or more than four times oversubscribed. Both tenors fetched a weighted average accepted yield of 2.5 percent that matched the floor rate in the overnight deposit facility.

The third auction on June 22 was also oversubscribed. The P10 billion offered for the seven-day tenor attracted total bids of P69.6 billion. Meanwhile, the P20 billion auctioned for the monthlong tenor generated total tenders of P117.27 billion. Both tenors had a weighted average accepted yield of 2.5 percent.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT (PPSA), AS AMENDED, BETWEENPENINSULA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND GNPOWER LTD. CO., WITH MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

ERC Case No.:2016-036 RC

PENINSULA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (PENELCO) AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. (GNPOWER) Applicants. x----------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 04 April 2016, the Peninsula Electric Cooperative Inc. (PENELCO) and GNPower Ltd. Co. (GNPower) filed an Application for approval of the power purchase and sale agreement (PPSA), as amended, with motion for confidential treatment of information and the issuance of provisional authority.

In the said Application, PENELCO and GNPOWER alleged the following: 1.

Applicant PENELCOis anon-stock, non-profit electric cooperative duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with principal office at Roman Super Highway,Tuyo,Balanga City, Bataan. It is duly authorized to distribute electricity in Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles, Bagac, andMorong, all in the province of Bataan (collectively, the “Franchise Area”). A copy of its Certificate of Franchise is herein attached and forms an integral part hereof as Annex “A”; 2.

Meanwhile, Applicant GNPOWER is a duly registered limited partnership organized and existing under Philippinelaws, and is engaged in the business of developing, constructing, operating and owning power generation facilities.

Its principal office is at the 28th Floor, The Orient Square Building, Don FranciscoOrtigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Copies of its Certificate of Registration issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Amended Articles of Partnership are herewith attached and madeintegral parts hereof as Annexes “B” and “B-1”, respectively; 3.

Applicants may be served with orders, notices and other legal processes of this Honorable Commission through the respective addresses of the undersigned counsels; 4.

By and pursuant toSections 25, 43 (u) and 45 (b) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA),and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, this Application is submitted to this Honorable Commission for its due consideration and approval of the Power Purchase and Sale Agreement (PPSA), as amended, executed by and between Applicants PENELCO and GNPOWER; I. STATEMENT OF FACTS 5.

Based on its supply-demand forecast, PENELCO’s peak demand in 2015 is 77 MW, with an annual average growth rate of 5%. Therefore, its peak demand is expected to increase to 103 MW in 2020, and 122MW by the year 2024; 6.

In view of the increasing demand in its franchise area, PENELCO solicited proposals from potential suppliers for its future power requirements; 7.

Two (2) potential suppliers were considered in the selection process to be evaluated under a least cost approach and on terms most advantageous to PENELCO; 8.

After careful evaluation of the offer and proposal of GNPOWER which was also anchored on the results of the bidding that was conducted by the Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association First Luzon Aggregation (CLECAFLAG) where GNPower was awarded as the winning proponent , the contract for a portion of the supply of PENELCO’s power requirements was given to GNPOWER, as approved by PENELCO’s board of directors; 9.

Consequently, on 04 May 2015,PENELCO executed with GNPOWER the subject PPSA, a copy of which is herewith attached and forms an integral part hereof as Annex “C”. The PPSA was later amended to enhance its beneficial terms and conditions, particularly, towards providing competitively-priced power to PENELCO’s consumers. A copy of the amendatory agreement to the PPSA is herewith attached and made integral part hereof as Annex “C-1”. The PPSA, whenever referred to hereunder, shall mean the PPSA as amended; 10. The PPSA, as amended, provides for GNPOWER’s supply of PENELCO’s future power requirements equivalent to 25MW commencing in2020, with the option to start delivery earlier than the target commercial operations,on an interim basis; 11. GNPOWER will deliver environmentally clean electric power from two (2) by 660MW-net clean pulverized coal-fired electric power generation facility (hereinafter, the “Generation Facility”),which it will build, own and operate in BarangayAlasasin, Municipality of Mariveles, Province of Bataan (the “Project”).

II. ABSTRACT OF THE PPSA, AS AMENDED, AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION 12. The following are the salient features of the PPSA, 1 as amended: a. TERM. The PPSA, as amended, shall be in force for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) months from the date to be specified in the Commencement Date Notice; b. SOURCE OF SUPPLY. GNPOWER shall make available, sell, and deliver or cause to be delivered to PENELCO the Product at the Delivery Point, whether sourced from GNPOWER’s facility or from other electricity generators, including the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

GNPOWER’s facility shall be constructed and operated in Mariveles, Bataan. c. CONTRACTED CAPACITY. 2 PENELCO is contractually entitled to receive from GNPOWER, at any hour, subject to GNPOWER’s Available Capacity for such hour, the Contracted Capacity, as follows: Contracted Year Capacity (kW) 1 25,000

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000 55,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 75,000 80,000 85,000 90,000 95,000

The Minimum Quantity is a function of the Contracted Capacity and the Minimum Capacity Factor, taking into account GNPOWER’s availability for a year multiplied by 8760 hours (which is the number of hours in a year). c.1. Option to Increase Contracted Capacity.

Section 2.7 of the PPSA, as amended, provides that upon written notice to GNPOWER, PENELCO may, upon approval by GNPOWER, increase its Contracted Capacity which increase shall be subjected to the same terms and conditions contained in the PPSA, as amended. In considering whether or not to approve the request for increase in Contracted Capacity, GNPOWER may take into consideration the capacity available for such increase from its facility in its sole opinion, and/or the willingness of any other buyer to assign its Contracted Capacity. Such increase in Contracted Capacity shall be effective on the date GNPOWER gives its written approval. d. CONTRACT PRICE.The Contracted Capacity shall be paid the Contract Price, which is comprised of the Capacity Fee and Energy Fee, denominated in US Dollars, but may be paid in Philippine Peso (PhP). The calculation of the Contract Price for a particular Billing Period will be: Contract Price = Capacity Fee + Energy Fee d.1 The Capacity Fee is the component of the Contract Price allocated to pay for the cost, as well as, the operations and maintenance of the power plant and is designated as the Capacity Fee in Schedule 1(as amended), as such may be adjusted from time to time based on GNPOWER’s Capacity Factor.

The corresponding Capacity Fee for a given Capacity Utilization Factor is set forth in the table below: Capacity Utilization Factor (%) Capacity Fee ($/kWh) 100% 0.0466 99% 0.0470 98% 0.0474 97% 0.0477 96% 0.0481 95% 0.0485 94% 0.0489 93% 0.0493 92% 0.0497 91% 0.0502 90% 0.0506 89% 0.0510 88% 0.0515 87% 0.0519 86% 0.0524 85% 0.0529 84% 0.0534 83% 0.0539 82% 0.0544 81% 0.0549 80% 0.0555 79% 0.0561 78% 0.0567 77% 0.0573 76% 0.0579 75% 0.0585 74% 0.0592 73% 0.0599 72% 0.0606 71% 0.0613 70% 0.0621 69% 0.0629 68% 0.0637 67% 0.0645 66% 0.0653 65% 0.0662 In case the Capacity Utilization Factor is not a whole number, the Capacity Fee shall be computed using the formula below.

Capacity Fee = -0.10773 X (CUF)3 + 0.33975 X (CUF)2 -0.3932 x (CUF) + 0.2078 Where: Capacity Fee = is the Capacity Fee in $/kWh CUF = is the Capacity Utilization Factor between 65% and 100%, provided that if the actual CUF is below 65% (the “Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor”), the Capacity Price shall be calculated based on the Capacity Fee and quantity associated with the Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor.

The Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) shall be computed as follows: Capacity Utilization= Q Factor (CUF) CCx(HT-EHTO) Where: Q

=

Quantity of kWh

CC

=

HT

=

Contracted Capacity, in kW, as set forth in Schedule 1 Total number of hours in such Billing Period

EHTO

= the sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of Scheduled Outages and Unscheduled Outages in such Billing Period

d.2 The Energy Fee is the component of the Contract Price allocated to pay for the coal, including Government Charges, designated as the Energy Fee in Schedule 1 of the PPSA, as amended, as adjusted from time to time due to changes in the delivered price of the coal. The Energy Fee shall be computed in accordance with the following formula: Energy Fee = Initial Energy Fee x CIF Cost of Fuel for Billing Period Base CIF Cost of Fuel Where: Initial Energy Fee = $0.0370/kWh Base CIF Cost of Fuel = $11.5573/million kcal e.

PROMPT PAYMENT DISCOUNT (PPD). Section 4.3 (c) of the PPSA, as amended, provides that if PENELCO pays the invoice amount in full within ten (10) days of receipt from GNPOWER, PENELCO shall receive a credit on the next subsequent bill equal to $0.0012/kWh multiplied by the actual quantity of the Product actually delivered set forth in such invoice for

the Billing Period for which the credit was earned; CAPACITY UTILIZATION DISCOUNT. Section 4.3 (d) of the PPSA, as amended, provides that if PENELCO pays the invoice amount in full in accordance with GNPOWER’s invoice instructions on or before the twenty-fifth (25th) day of the succeeding calendar month from the relevant Billing Period and PENELCO’s CUF is greater than or equal to 65%, aside from the PPD, PENELCO shall receive a credit on the next subsequent bill equal to 2.8% of the Energy Fee multiplied by the actual quantity of the Product actually delivered set forth in such invoice for the Billing Period for which the credit was earned; g. SCHEDULED OUTAGES AND UNSCHEDULED OUTAGES3. Pursuant to Section 2.2, GNPOWER is allowed Scheduled Outage not to exceed five hundred forty (540) Equivalent Hours for each Contract Year, during which times reduced or no deliveries will be available to PENELCO. Likewise, GNPOWER is allowed Unscheduled Outage of five hundred forty (540) Equivalent Hours for each Contract Year during which times reduced or no deliveries will be available to the Buyer; III. ADVANTAGES OF GNPOWER’S SUPPLY OF POWER AND IMPACT ON PENELCO’S OVERALL RATES 13. Currently, PENELCO receivesa total of 68 MW from its existing suppliers, out of its peak requirement of 77MW. With an annual average growth of 5%, PENELCO forecasts that by 2020, its peak demand has increased to 103 MW. Copies of PENELCO’s Demand-Supply Scenario from 2015 to 2024 and Historical and Forecasted Data for years 2010 to 2024 are herewith attached and form integral parts hereof as Annex “D”; 14. The additional supply from GNPOWER will, therefore, help alleviate and sustain the future power supply needs ofthe Luzon and Visayas Grids including the franchise area of PENELCO to prevent anylikelihood of brownouts and power shortages; 15. Among alternative suppliers capable of providing additional energy to PENELCO, GNPOWER’s rates proved to be more reasonable and competitive. While GNPOWER’s offer to PENELCO is primarily intended for its baseload requirements, the Capacity Factor Pricing under the PPSA, as amended,provides flexibility to PENELCO in its utilization of the Contracted Capacity; f.

16. PENELCO simulated a rate impact analysis which ultimately resulted in a reduction of PhP0.2101per kWh with the execution of the PPSA with GNPOWER, as amended, to wit: Simulation of Generation Mix Rate with GNPower (Dinginin) for the Year 2019 Power Supplier

Contracted Capacity, MW

Forecasted Quantity (kWh)

Amount (Php)

Percent Share

Resulting Capacity Factor

GRNet Php/ kWh

GMCP

58

32,364,000.00

153,211,176.00

44.36%

75%

4.2279

SCPC GNPower (Dinginin)

20

14,880,000.00

69,979,875.63

20.39%

100%

4.1990

25

18,600,000.00

68,254,131.89

25.49%

100%

3.2775

WESM

7,120,080.00

52,054,904.88

9.76%

TOTAL

72,964,080.00

343,500,088.40

100.00%

Weighted Average Rate, Php/kWh (VATex)

4.2397

6.8915

Simulation of Generation Mix Rate without GNPower (Dinginin) for the Year 2019 Contracted Capacity, MW

Forecasted Quantity (kWh)

Amount (Php)

Percent Share

Resulting Capacity Factor

NET

GMCP

58

43,152,000.00

178,353,321.35

59.14%

100%

3.6913

SCPC GNPower (Dinginin)

20

14,880,000.00

69,979,664.87

20.39%

100%

4.1991

25

-

-

0.00%

0%

0.0000

WESM

14,932,080.00

109,168,266.28

20.46%

TOTAL

72,964,080.00

357,501,252.50

100.00%

Power Supplier

GENERATION RATE IMPACT Notes and Assumptions:

Weighted Average Rate, Php/kWh (VATex)

4.4498

6.8915 -0.2101

1. June 2015 data are used as reference in this simulation with load factor = 76% & Max D = 77MW 2. 2019 as the test year with (conservative) projected demand at 98MW 3. The figures are blended rates, net of Discounts 17. A copy of PENELCOs’ Rate Impact Analysisis attached herewith as Annex “E”and formsan integral part hereof; 18. Additionally, to support thisApplication, particularly the proposed rate structure, Applicants attach the following documents to form integral parts hereof, to wit: ANNEX “F” “F-1” “G” “H” “I” “J” “J-1” “K” “L” “M” “N” “N-1” “O” “O-1” “P”

DOCUMENT Details of the PPSA, as amended Discussion of Rate Calculation and Sample Computation GNPOWER’s Financial Assumptions including Project Cost, Sources of Financing, Debt-Equity Ratio, WACC computation, and Projected Equity IRR Breakdown of Costs including Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Costs, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Costs, and Projected Fuel Costs Projected Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Revenue and Cash Flow Details of Fuel Procurement Sworn Statement – Coal Procurement Process GNPOWER’s 2014 Audited Financial Statement GNPOWER’s Power Project Description GNPOWER’s Transmission Plan for the Dinginin Project Certificate of Endorsement from DOE that the Project is included in the DOE’s Power Development Plan Environmental Compliance Certificate from DENR PENELCO’s Average and Maximum Demand Charts for 2014 and 2015 PENELCO’s Distribution Development Plan GNPOWER’s General Partners’ Certificate on, among others, the authority to execute, ratify, accede, perform and deliver the PPSA with PENELCO, and the designation of duly authorized representatives for said purpose

T H U R S D AY : J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

HK activists want independence HONG KONG—A group of Hong Kong activists are demanding a return to British rule as a stepping stone towards independence, as fears grow that Beijing is tightening its grip on the southern Chinese city.

Pro-independence advocates have launched The Alliance to Resume British Sovereignty over Hong Kong and Independence party, the second political group

The ‘dark side’ of Michael Jackson LOS ANGELES—A newly surfaced police report related to a 2003 raid on Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch shows the late pop star’s penchant for pornography and attraction to children.

Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of child molestation following a 14-week trial, and the report published on Tuesday by the celebrity and gossip website Radar Online was related to evidence submitted in that case.

The report contains details about various books, magazines and documents seized at Jackson’s secluded California home in November 2003.

The police report states that though the documents were not considered illegal, “this type of material can be used as part of a ‘grooming’ process by which people [those seeking to molest children] are able to lower the inhibitions of their intended victims and facilitate the molestation of said victims.”

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff ’s Department said it had not publicly released the documents, which had been submitted to the prosecution and the defense during the 2005 trial.

“Some of the documents appear to be copies of reports that were authored by sheriff ’s office personnel as well as evidentiary photographs taken by sheriff ’s office personnel, interspersed with content that appears to be obtained off the Internet or through unknown sources,” it said in a statement.

“The sheriff ’s office did not release any of the documents and/or photographs to the media.” AFP

in recent months to advocate a breakaway from China “Independence is the ultimate goal, to return to British rule is just a transitional ANNEX

“Q”

phase,” Billy Chiu, the Alliance’s leader, told AFP Wednesday.

The activists said they believed it would be easier to gain independence from Britain than China.

“An independent nation is Hong Kong’s only way out,” Chiu said, adding that the new party, which consists of around 30 members, will be formally announced on Sunday.

Chiu in 2013 broke into a People’s Liberation Army facility in central Hong Kong holding up a colonial

DOCUMENT PENELCO’s Secretary’s Certificate/Board Resolution authorizing the approval and signing of the PPSA, including supplements and annexes, with GNPOWER; the designation of its President and/or General Manager to sign and execute these documents; and the submission of the PPSA for ERC’s approval

19. Applicants PENELCO and GNPOWER reserve their right to submit other documents, either in the course of the hearing or as may be required by this Honorable Commission; COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 20. Applicants manifest compliance with the pre-filing requirements mandated under Rule 3, Section 4(e) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the EPIRA and Rule 6 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, to be established by the following: a.

Certifications acknowledging receipt of thisApplication with annexes to be issued by the Legislative Bodies of theProvince of Bataan, and the Cities of Balanga and Pasig where Applicants principally operate, to be appended as Annexes “R”, “S” and “T”, respectively; b.

Notarized Affidavit of Publication stating that thisApplication was published in a newspaper of general circulation within Applicants’ Franchise Areasand/or area of principal operation, to be appended herein as Annex “U”; and c.

Complete newspaper issue where thisApplication was published, to be appended as Annex “U-1”, and the relevant page thereof where the Application appears, as Annex “U-2”.

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF ANNEXES “G”, “H”, “I”, and “J” 21. Under Rule 4 of theERC Rules of Practiceand Procedure, a party to any proceeding before the Honorable Commission may request that certain information not be disclosed and be treated as confidential, by describing with particularity the information to be treated as confidential, specifying the ground for the claim of confidential treatment of the information and, if applicable, specifying the period during which the information must not be disclosed; 22. Applicant GNPOWER most respectfully moves for the confidential treatment of Annexes “G”4, “H”5, “I”6, and “J”7 hereof.These annexes, exclusively owned by Applicant GNPOWER, contain documents which are considered part of its business and trade secrets. As such, GNPOWER has the sole proprietary interest and will be unduly prejudiced should they be disclosed to the public; 23. These annexes contain numbers, data, formula, methodology, and calculations involving valuable and sensitive commercial, financial and technological information reflecting GNPOWER’s business operations and financial trade secrets. Therefore, the disclosure of GNPOWER’s confidential, proprietary, and private information included in the aforesaid annexes should be protected from public dissemination. Otherwise, such information can be illegally and unfairly utilized by business competitors who may use the same for their own private gain and to the irreparable prejudice of GNPOWER.Negotiations with prospective customers may also be affected; 24. The information contained in Annexes “G”, “H”, “I”, and “J”, constitute “trade secrets”, for which GNPOWER has actual and valuable proprietary interest.

As explained by the Supreme Court, a trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that is used in one’s business and gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information8. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights and jurisprudence has consistently acknowledged the private character of trade secrets9. Further, as ruled in Garcia vs. Board of Investments10, trade secrets and confidential, commercial and financial information are exempt from public scrutiny; 25. It is respectfully submitted that the aforementioned Annexes must be accorded confidential treatment. As such, they are to be used exclusivelyby the Honorable Commission and for the sole purpose of evaluating this Application,thereby protecting these data from unnecessary public disclosure; 26. In accordance with Section 1(b), Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicant GNPOWER hereby submits one (1) copy each of Annexes “G”, “H”, “I”, and “J”, in a sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the documents stamped with the word “Confidential”.

MOTION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 27. All the foregoing allegations are re-pleaded by reference in support of thisPrayer for provisional authority.

28. The basis by which Applicants PENELCO and GNPOWER pray for the issuance of a Provisional Authority or interim relief prior to final decision is Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure: “Section 3. Action on the Motion. – Motions for provisional authority or interim relief may be acted upon with or without hearing. The Commission shall act on the motion on the basis of the allegations of the application or petition and supporting documents and other evidences that applicant or petitioner has submitted and the comments or opposition filed by any interested person, if there be any.” [Emphasis Supplied] 24. Worthy of note is that based on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) 20152030 Luzon and Visayas Grids Supply-Demand Outlook, Luzon’s peak demand in 2015 is 8,974MW with an Annual Average Growth Rate (AAGR) of 4.25% while Visayas’ Peak Demand is 1,847MW with AAGR of 3.4%. Therefore, Luzon’s peak demand is expected to increase to 10,884MW in 2020, and to 16,165MW by the year 2030 and for Visayas, 2,042MW in 2020 and 3,025MW in 2030. This electricity demand growth has led to DOE’s call for planning and investments in the power sector;

flag and asking the PLA to “get out” of the city.

Hong Kong was handed back to Beijing in 1997, with the SinoBritish Joint Declaration preserving its liberties for 50 years.

But there are growing fears its freedoms and semi-autonomous status are under threat as Beijing increases its influence

31. Contributing to the Luzon’s Grid’s demand growth is PENELCO’speak load demand increases at a rate of 22.21% per year. By 2020, it is projected that PENELCO’s existing power suppliers will not be able to meet the power needs of

as the only solution and have said they are not afraid to use violence to achieve their goal.

The negative sentiment has been exacerbated by incidents such as the recent disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers, employed by a firm that published gossipy books about leading Chinese politicians. AFP

its member-consumers, which is expected toincrease to103 MW; 32. Thus, the PPSA with GNPOWER, as amended, is crucial for PENELCO to guarantee that its forward power needs are satisfied, without compromising the reasonableness of the generation rate to be passed on to its member-consumers; 33. While actual delivery of power under the terms and conditions of the PPSA, as amended, is expected to commence only in 2020, Applicantsshall nonetheless begin its compliance with all financial and regulatory requirements and processes leading up to the timely installation of the Generation Facility; 34. It is worthy to note that part of the funds needed to construct GNPOWER’s facility will be sourced from loans coming from banks/financial institutions. The Honorable Commission’s provisional approval of the instant Application is a vital requirement for the release of the loan proceeds. Hence, a timely financial close ensures stable source of funds and timely construction of the generation facility, and the implementation of the PPSA, as amended, as contemplated by the Applicants; 35. With continuous financing, the timely implementation of the project shall be assured, to the full benefit of PENELCO. Otherwise, any delay in the implementation of the project shall expose PENELCO to supply risk and unstable market prices in the future; 36. To emphasize the necessity of the provisional approval of this Application, a Judicial Affidavit to support the prayer for provisional authority will be attached herewith to form an integral part hereof as Annex “V”; 37. In view thereof and in recognition of the fact that a substantial amount of time is customarily needed to evaluate the documents submitted to support the approval of thisApplication, Applicants PENELCO and GNPOWER respectfully seek the kind consideration of the Honorable Commission to approve the instant Application immediately, albeit, provisionally; PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that (i) all information set forth in Annexes “G”, “H”, “I”, and “J” to the instant Application be treated as confidential; (ii) pending hearing on the merits, a Provisional Authority be DULY ISSUED authorizing the immediate implementation of the subject Power Purchase and Sale Agreement (PPSA), as amended, including the rate structure therein, as applied; (iii) that after due notice and hearing, the instant Application, the PPSA, as amended, and the rate structure contained therein be DULY APPROVED. Further, in the event that the Final Authority shall be issued after GNPOWER starts the actual delivery of power to PENELCO under the terms of the subject PPSA, as amended, said Final Authority shall beretroactivelyapplied to the date of such actual delivery.

Other reliefs as may be just and equitable under the premises are, likewise, most respectfully prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, Expository Presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 13 July 2016 (Wednesday) at ten o’clock in the morning(10:00 A.M.) at the PENELCO’s Principal Office, RomanSuperhighway, Tuyo, Balanga City, Bataan.

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

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the Application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular formof opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon. · All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from the applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. The applicant is herebydirected to furnish all those making such requestwithcopies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during standard office hours. · WITNESS, the HonorableChairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAPTARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA,, EnergyRegulatory Commission, this18th day of May 2016 at Pasig City.

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

1

30. The continuous addition of supply shall help keep stable power supply for the increasing demand and low and stable cost of available power at the WESM and for the end-user;

across a range of areas, from politics to the media.

Another group, the Hong Kong National Party, was launched in March, saying it was tapping into the city’s increasing desire to break away from the mainland.

Although not all activists are campaigning for self-rule, some see it

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning as defined in the PPSA. See Annex “C-1”.

See Annex “C-1”.

GNPOWER’s Financial Assumptions including Project Cost, Sources of Financing, Debt-Equity Ratio, WACC computation, and Projected Equity IRR Breakdown of Costs including Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Costs, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Costs, and Projected Fuel Costs Projected Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Revenue and Cash Flow Details of Fuel Procurement Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell Inc., G.R. No. 172835, December 13, 2007.

Ibid., 177 SCRA 374 (1989). ( T S - J U N E 16 / 2 3 , 2 016)

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

How Plant composed ‘Stairway to Heaven’ LOS ANGELES—Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant denied on Tuesday having stolen the opening of the rock group’s iconic song “Stairway to Heaven,” telling a jury he had written the anthem decades ago in the English countryside.

The 67-year-old musician told a Los Angeles federal court that the song at the center of a copyright case was clearly his work as well as that of Zeppelin guitarist-songwriter Jimmy Page.

The song was played to jurors as arguments wrapped up on Tuesday.

Plant testified that he wrote the lyrics more than 45 years ago while sitting by a fire at a recording and rehearsal venue in Britain.

He said he was inspired to write the lines after he heard Page play the opening notes of what would become one of the most famous rock songs of all time.

“That particular evening, I sat with Jimmy by the fire, and I had this first couplet that fit with what he was playing,” he testified.

“I was really trying to bring the remote, pastoral Britain... the old, almost unspoken Celtic references into the piece,” he added.

Asked by his attorney to remember what the couplet was, he sighed before reciting the famous lines.

“There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold and she’s buying a stairway to heaven,” Plant said.

“When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed with a word she can get what she came for.”

The genesis of the song is a key element in the case as Page and Plant fight off accusations they stole the anthem’s melancholy opening guitar arpeggio from “Taurus,” the first album of longdefunct LA psychedelic rock band Spirit.

Page, 72, who testified when the trial opened last week, took the stand again on Tuesday, listening to 46-year-old recordings made at Headley Grange, the retreat used by the band in Britain, and explaining in detail to the jury the song’s creation.

His attorney then played the entire near eight-minute finished version of the song to the jury before advising the judge that the defense had no more witnesses. AFP

Party. Natalie Zfat and model Alyssa Campanella attend Natalie Zfat’s Los Angeles Summer Dinner Party on June 21, 2016 in Los Angeles. AFP

North Korea test fires two powerful missiles SEOUL—Nuclear-armed North Korea conducted two back-to-back tests of a powerful new medium-range missile on Wednesday, with both achieving a significant increase in flight distance over previous failed launches, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said.

Both tests were believed to be of a much-hyped, intermediate-range Musudan missile, which is theoretically capable of reaching US bases as far away as Guam.

International condemnation was swift, with the United States and Japan labeling the launches a clear violation of UN resolutions, and South Korea vowing to push for tighter sanctions on Pyongyang.

Existing UN Security Council measures ban North Korea from

any use of ballistic missile technology.

The first test shortly before 6:00 am (2100 GMT Tuesday) was deemed to have failed after reportedly flying around 150 kilometers over the East Sea (Sea of Japan).

According to Japanese military monitors, the second missile attained a height of 1,000 kilometers and a range of 400 kilometers—a trajectory some experts suggested was calculated to avoid any violation of Japanese air space.

Four failed Musudan tests earlier this year all either exploded on the mobile launch pad or shortly after take-off.

A successful test would mark a major step forward for a weapons program that ultimately aspires to develop a proven nuclear strike capability against the US mainland.

Melissa Hanham, an expert on North Korea’s WMD program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California, said Wednesday’s launches represented a worrying step forward.

“The second was likely a success. Testing is iterative and they are learning from each flight,” Hanham told AFP. “Policymakers need to focus on a testing ban to prevent this from becoming a working missile,” she

added.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said the latest launches would only increase global efforts to counter North Korea’s illicit weapons program.

“We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding (North Korea) accountable for these provocative actions,” Kirby said in a statement.

Japanese broadcaster NHK quoted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying such tests “cannot be tolerated”.

South Korea’s foreign ministry warned that North Korea would face even stronger sanctions and said the tests underlined “the hypocrisy and deceptiveness” of Pyongyang’s recent offers of military talks with Seoul. AFP

Hong Kong world’s costliest city PARIS—Hong Kong has overtaken Angola’s capital to become the costliest city in the world for expatriates, Mercer’s annual survey said Wednesday.

After topping the Cost of Living report for three consecutive years, Luanda was pipped by the Asian city in 2016, owing to a stronger Hong Kong dollar.

The survey by the Mercer consulting group compares the cost of over 200 items in over 200 cities, including housing, food, transport and entertainment.

It takes New York as its base

for comparison and measures currency movements against the dollar, which has appreciated significantly over the past year. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the greenback.

“Generally speaking, prices remained stable across the world,” Bruno Rocquemont of Mercer France told AFP, attributing the steep rises or falls in cities’ rankings chiefly to exchange rate fluctuations.

A strong yen propelled Tokyo six places higher to become the world’s fifth-most expensive ex-

pat destination, behind Zurich and Singapore in third and fourth place respectively.

The cost of living in several US cities also rose on the back of the strong dollar.

Conversely, cities in countries whose currencies have slumped became more affordable, with Moscow recording one of the most spectacular price slides, falling from 17th costliest city for expats to 67th.

At the bottom of the table of 209 cities was Namibia’s capital Windhoek. AFP

New arrival. This handout photo taken on June 20, 2016, and released by

the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on June 22, 2016, shows a keeper feeding one of two newborn giant panda twins at the research base’s facility in Chengdu, southwestern China’s Sichuan Province. AFP

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

isahred @ gmail.com

WRITER

W EL L NES S & EN V IRONMEN T

LIFE

caption

VOLUNTEERS LEAD COASTAL CLEANUP, MANGROVE PLANTING ACTIVITY Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation volunteers plant more than 1,100 mangrove seedlings in a bid to revive the country’s coastlines.

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SEPCO officers and employees volunteer in mangrove planting and cleaning up the coast of Barangay Papaya in Nasugbu, Batangas.

n keeping with its commitment to be a good corporate citizen, employees and officers of Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) took part in cleaning up the coast of Barangay Papaya in Nasugbu Batangas.

The coastal cleanup activity was a company-wide volunteer activity led by SEPCO president Kevin Lee, who joined 80 volunteers in collecting garbage from the coastline and planting mangrove seedlings.

To ensure that these efforts are sustained by the community members, SEPCO volunteers conducted an

environment education session with more than 50 children from the barangay in attendance.

The activity is part of Samsung’s three-year partnership with World Wildlife Fund for Nature - Philippines on Coastal Rehabilitation. Conducted in celebration of Earth Day, it aims to revive the country’s coastlines, which is a key step in preserving and protecting the environment. More than 1,110 mangrove seedlings were planted during the activity, and more than 1,000 pieces of garbage collected from the coastlines.

Hope bursts among drug users

BY BERNADETTE ANDREA CATALAN Hopeburst Foundation, Inc., an organization aimed at “developing community-based programs promoting wellness free of drugs,” focuses its attention on community level in a bid to alleviate cases of drug addiction. It uses the model of building a recovery hub, educating barangay leaders and promoting active engagement among all stakeholders.

“Transformation of family and community is what makes the difference,” emphasizes Hopeburst Foundation chairman Estaquio Abay.

To materialize the plan, the foundation intends to start a recovery hub in Barangay Amaya, Tanza, Cavite that can house 60 patients with a 1-to-1 patient to staff ratio.

Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla supports the program saying, “Drug problem in Cavite is alarming [as it becomes] a place for users and sellers. Many families (sic) have been affected by this menace.”

Active participation among family members and barangay leaders is also an important factor to make the model work.

Hopeburst aims to change the community’s perspective that drug use is not tolerable, as well as involve the families rather than focusing only on the individual. According to the foundation, the challenge in including the family in the program is what previous rehab centers lacked due to financial limitations.

In involving the family and community in the program, Hopeburst partnered with Gawad Kalinga to provide a more conducive environment for the patients to return to.

Hopeburst Foundation board of directors Carmelino Alvendia Jr. and Ed Rocha share a light moment during the foundation’s press launch.

“We’re applying the fishbowl analogy, assuming the inflicted is the fish, we take him out, clean the fishbowl and bring him back. So when he goes back, it’s a better environment,” explains Edwin Roman, a proactive member of the society helping Fr. Vic Apacible in rehab recovery.

As the rehab center in Tanza, Cavite needs more finishing, HopeBurst Foundation initiated a fundraising on June 21 via a special screening of Heneral Luna, a film which Ed Rocha, Hopeburst Foundation board director, co-wrote and produced.

To effectively curb drug addiction in the Philippines, the non-profit organization considers building a recovery hub and involving the family and community in a holistic program.

PHOTOS BY AC BRIZUELA

Hopeburst board of director Amiel Buenaventura (right) discusses the model Hopeburst Foundation uses in alleviating cases of drug addiction

Hopeburst officials and board of directors announce the building of a drug recovery hub in Tanza, Cavite. (Seated, from left): Willy Tan, Cass Syyap, Federico Agcaoili, Amiel Buenaventura, Edwin Roman, Fr. Vic Apacible, Emeline Abay and Ruby Roa; (Standing, from left): Carmelino Alvendia Jr., Estaquio Abay and Ed Rocha

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LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

Cebuana Lhuillier president and chief executive Jean Henri Lhuillier (second from right) presents a certificate of free insurance to Department of Social Welfare and Development Disaster Response and Assistance Management Bureau assistant director Felino Castro V (center). Also in photo are (from left) Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions general manager Jonathan Batangan, Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation president Atty. Betty Medialdea and Cebuana Lhuillier Integrated Marketing Communications Group head Michael Sena.

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Lhuillier (third from left) presents 40 life jackets and 20 life buoys that are donated to National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Philippine Red Cross, and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation representatives. Also in photo are (from left) Batangan and Sena.

FREE MICROINSURANCE TO 1 MILLION FILIPINOS

n strengthening its campaign to protect Filipinos from the onslaught of calamities and other unforeseen events, Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s largest microfinancial institution, launched National Pilipino Protektado Day, an initiative that promises to provide more security to different communities in the Philippines.

During the unveiling of the project on June 1 at Fairmont Hotel in Makati, the company, in partnership with Pioneer Insurance, announced that it would be giving away free microinsurance covers to one million Filipinos up to July 21, the date hailed as the National Pilipino Protektado Day. Cebuana Lhuillier president and chief executive, Jean Henri Lhuillier, said the project is perfectly in line with the company’s mission of financial inclusion. “Through this campaign, Cebuana Lhuillier aims to make microinsurance part of disaster preparation for Filipinos since the Philippines is struck by multiple disasters every year. It is about time that we all come together to help those in need, especially during times of crisis.

We at Cebuana Lhuillier have been pushing for financial inclusion and this is just one of the many ways that we believe would get us closer to that goal. Disasters wreak havoc to different communities in the country, resulting to loss of life and livelihood, so it is imperative that everyone is properly protected. More than having the usual emergency kits, obtaining microinsurance is another practical way to be prepared.”

In his speech, Lhuillier acknowledged the value of relief operations by government agencies and volunteer groups. He also announced the first batch of microinsurance covers would be given to the said organizations’ constituents. The groups were also awarded with emergency relief kits, life vests and lifebuoys to be used in rescue and relief endeavors.

Meanwhile, the rest of the free microinsurance covers will be given out to various individuals, groups, and communities across the country.

Apart from its campaign to insure one million Filipinos, Cebuana Lhuillier also

announced the launch of several other groundbreaking initiatives during the event; Cebuana Alerto, an Android app that harnesses the digital mobile platform to provide vital information in disaster preparedness; OurHelp, a website dedicated to donating microinsurance; and the institutionalization of Microinsurance Agents Association of the Philippines, Inc. (MIAAPI), an organization founded to promote the interests and welfare of microinsurance agents nationwide.

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS) general manager Jonathan Batangan re-affirmed the company’s commitment to disaster resilience and enjoined Filipinos to be part of the cause.

“National Pilipino Protektado Day and the rest of our initiatives are geared towards heightening microinsurance awareness especially for the low-income sector.

Considering the severity and frequency of calamities in recent years, we believe that we are now facing the New Normal.

Cebuana Lhuillier deems it necessary to

emphasize disaster preparedness through microinsurance given the country’s vulnerability. To mitigate the impact of these disasters, we now have quality and affordable microinsurance products to protect the lives and livelihood of Filipinos. We are proud to have covered more than 6 million Filipinos to date through microinsurance”, he said.

Cebuana Lhuillier has been actively campaigning for disaster preparedness since the beginning of the year. In January, the company mounted a disaster resilience forum with the support of the Insurance Commission and GIZ (The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). Dubbed “2016 Ready: Disaster Resilience Forum - The Role of Microinsurance in Building DisasterResilient Communities”, the event kickstarted the promotion of microinsurance as an effective disaster risk reduction tool. Since then, Cebuana Lhuillier has been cascading the key takeaways from the forum through road shows in major cities like Baguio, Cebu and Davao.

Henkel helped revitalize Navotas Habitat Community Henkel Asia Pacific Service Centre (HAPSC) organized its biggest companywide activity with Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) in Tanza, Navotas on June 4, as part of its corporate social responsibility commitment towards forming sustainable communities and enriching the lives of Filipinos.

More than 500 Henkel employee volunteers attended the occasion. They contributed to various community development initiatives, such as waste management seminar, community cleanup drive, house painting, and values formation activity among Navotas children.

“We would like the community to continue with the efforts we have started in order to further their own developments, whether in educating their children so they may have a better future or (become) responsible citizens in their community,” says Elaine Kunkle, country manager for Henkel Philippines.

Prior to the community engagement activity, HAPSC donated laptops to the local learning center.

Henkel also donated a flat screen TV and library books to help the children study better.

“We are planning other livelihood initiatives to further empower this new community, by

helping them build skills that open doors to other means of financial support. We also plan to conduct dental missions, tree-planting activity, and solar lighting project” she adds.

HAPSC has also committed school kits in preparation for the upcoming school year.

“Habitat’s Navotas site is one of its largest communities in the National Capital Region, which houses families affected by flooding.

We are thankful for Henkel’s confidence and support to our housing programs,” says Charlie Ayco, managing director and chief executive officer of HFHP. “Henkel’s commitment towards enabling a sustainable community is able to help bridge

Henkel Asia Pacific Service Centre country manager Elaine Kunkle speaks to the home partners of Navotas Habitat community. PHOTO COURTESY OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PHILIPPINES

and transform the lives of our home partners and we look forward to partnering with its employees in more development projects” The event is also Habitat’s biggest corporate volunteer event to date.

MediCard offers food intolerance testing Not all people can tolerate all kinds of food items. In fact, for some, eating certain foods may lead to bloating, migraine and lethargy.

Food intolerance is the delayed reaction of the body to a particular food it cannot tolerate. According to MediCard Philippines President Dr. Nicky Montoya, unlike food allergy, food intolerance “manifests symptoms gradually, usually 72 hours or a few days after eating the offending food” thus making the trace difficult.

“It may cause different inflammatory symptoms which may affect different organs of the body and manifest as weight gain, bloating, migraine, body ache, joint pains, PMS, depression, etc.,” explains Dr. Montoya.

Food intolerance testing helps an individual determine the particular food item that his body cannot tolerate.

He also warns, “These can also become worse over time and may lead to more

serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and the likes, if ignored.”

MediCard, a health management organization, has recently introduced FoodPrint, the most advanced and comprehensive food intolerance testing, to its members. This food intolerance test from the United Kingdom helps identify the food groups that trigger health problems. It involves exposing the body to 220 food items then taking a pin-prick sample of the blood for analysis.

The test is a preventive measure and lifestyle modification tool. Knowing what food the body cannot tolerate can help get rid of the symptoms and prevents the development of other diseases, like cancer and diabetes.

MediCard offers a discounted rate for the Food Intolerance Test—P11,400 for MediCard members and P12,000 for nonmembers until July 31. After the test, the patient will be given a personalized food report and dietary guidebook.

This service is offered at MediCard Lifestyle Center in Makati and at MediCard clinics at Centris and in Alabang. To avail of the service, call MediCard Lifestyle Center at (02) 894-5720 or 878-5101, MediCard Centris at (02) 920-5164 or 7754629, and MediCard Alabang at (02) 8503209 or 807-9219.

For more information about food intolerance testing, visit www.medicardphils.com and MediCard Philippines on Facebook.

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LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

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ECOHOUSES FOR CALAMITY-PRONE COMMUNITIES

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ention climate change and people would immediately think of erratic weather changes and phenomenon like La Niña or El Niño, with record-high temperatures recorded across the globe and natural disasters occuring in many places all over the world. Climate change has never been more real – it’s happening here and now, and dealing with this new reality starts right in our own homes.

Filipino architect James Jao is one of a growing number of professionals advocating sustainable projects in pursuit of their profession, cognizant of the impact of climate change.

In 2005, after obtaining a post-graduate degree at City Design and Social Science at UK’s London School of Economics and Political Science, and witnessing the wonders of an “ecohouse” at Antwerp in Belgium, architect Jao became impassioned in bringing the same concept to the Philippines.

In 2008, he introduced the concept in the country by showcasing his design at the Manila Construction Show. Jao built an “ecohouse” and called it LuzViMinda to represent the three main island groups of the country. Since then, Jao’s body of work has become anchored on the concept of the “ecohouse,” applying it in his projects like schools, cafés and commercial buildings up to this very day.

When super typhoon Yolanda struck, he visited Tacloban City a month after the devastation. Jao was even more convinced that “ecohouse” could address the issue so he created the “eco-ecohouse,” an “ecologically sustainable and economically affordable” climate-resilient housing model.

The architect considers his “ecohouse” advocacy as his career highlight, and

Architect James Jao advocates sustainable projects that could help mitigate the effects of climate change.

rightly so, taking the time to explain the notable features which he deems as very relevant in these times.

‘Ecohouse’ defined

An “ecohouse” is an environmentally friendly home designed and built using materials and technology that significantly reduces its carbon footprint and lowers its energy requirements.

Jao explains an “ecohouse” possesses several features, like the heat insulated building envelope, low-e (low emissivity) glass on uPVC window frames, LED lighting, eco-friendly roofing, and low carbon footprint finishing materials.

Some ecohouses have solar panels on the roof to supply the basic power requirements, and can be coupled with a wind turbine, which can produce power even at nighttime.

“The building envelope refers to the thermal wall with exterior panel that keeps the heat from penetrating the interior walls

An ecohouse is designed and built using materials and technology that have lower energy requirements.

of a home. Usually in an ordinary concrete hollow blocks wall when it’s cold outside or when night time approaches, the stored heat inside the wall is pushed toward the interiors. With thermal wall, the heat is being managed, making the house cooler,” the architect explained.

“The thermal wall panels need to be waterproof and the joints need to be sealed. There were instances, when I was starting the technology, that the risk of hairline cracks is high because of the changing temperatures.”

Jao, who is also the president of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), visualizes a nation of “ecohouses,” saying he also wishes to create an eco town.

“After I’ve built ‘ecohouses, I want to build an eco town. The whole thing is all about master planned sustainable communities. After all, an ‘ecohouse’ is not

site specific and the products to build one can be sourced almost everywhere,” he said.

Just like Architect Jao, RCI and Pioneer also share in the vision of developing an eco town by producing innovative yet environment-friendly products. Aside from the Pioneer Pro variants that help contribute to the building and construction industry’s quest for a greener future, RCI is also active in spearheading green initiatives, among them an environmental campaign titled “Our earth. Our responsibility.” through its CSR arm Pioneer Adhesives Foundation.

In partnership with Boracay Foundation, RCI conducted the “Coral REEFurbishment” project to help fix damaged coral fragments (with over 3,600 tubes of Pioneer EpoxyClay Aqua donated) and to conduct a coastal cleanup and underwater coral transplantation.

FedEx's Cold Chain Center

The $13-million Amway Botanical Research Centre will be Amway’s facility that will focus on studying traditional Chinese medicine.

Strengthening research on traditional Chinese medicine

Recognizing the potential of traditional Chinese medicine, direct-selling company Amway has recently announced the opening of its $13-million Amway Botanical Research Center in Wuxi, China.

The company will study plants at the site for potential future use in its health and beauty products. The ABRC is Amway’s latest milestone as it expands its global investment in wellness.

The investment on the research center is seen to yield significant benefits for the Nutrilite and Artistry brands. The results from the studies are expected to help identify the most targeted and highest quality plant ingredients to meet wellness needs.

Built on 48 hectares of farmland, the ABRC includes an advanced laboratory and large greenhouse. Space is devoted to research of soil nutrients, plant physiology,

extract quality standards and processes.

“Our Nutrilite brand of vitamins and dietary supplements were first formulated after the brand’s founder, Carl Rehnborg, observed how the use of plants in China promoted optimal health and natural balance,” said Amway’s chief officer of Global R&D and Supply Chain George Calvert.

“The new ABRC is our effort to study and understand Chinese plants to a greater extent– using the most advanced technology and scientific practices – and integrate the findings into our products,” adds Calvert The opening of the ABRC completes a five-year process to locate and develop the site. For three years, Amway examined numerous locations in an effort to find optimal growing conditions that matched high standards at the company’s certified

organic farms in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.

When the Wuxi location was selected, Amway invested more than two years in preparing the land and building facilities to support the examination and research of crops harvested from the area’s soil.

“As the heart of the farmland, we pay special attention to the soil. Only the best soil can grow the best plants, which result in optimal phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are nutrients naturally present in plants that offer a range of health benefits.

Monitoring the process starting with the soil allows us to control quality from seed to supplement,” explained Amway vice president of greater China R&D and technical regulatory Jia Chen.

Visit globalnews.amway.com to learn more about Amway and its investments.

FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, announced the opening of the FedEx Cold Chain Center, l at the FedEx Express World Hub in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Designed to protect the integrity of temperature-sensitive healthcare and perishable shipments, the 83,000-squarefoot facility forms an integral part of the FedEx global cold chain network and a wider portfolio of the FedEx® Healthcare Solutions.

Customers will now benefit from the greater possibilities for shipping critical and sensitive products between Asia Pacific and the U.S. plus other parts of the world. Each year, $130 billion worth of healthcare sales rely on cold chain to ensure that life-saving products remain intact and readily available around the world. This number is set to increase as healthcare cold chain logistics in Asia Pacific is forecasted to see double-digit growth through 2020.

“Cold chain logistics is a game-changer for the healthcare sector,” said Richard W. Smith, vice president of Global Trade Services, FedEx Express. “It enables the movement of even the most sensitive products such as biopharmaceuticals across continents, which would not have been possible just a few years ago. With the FedEx Cold Chain Center Memphis, we have again raised the bar for solutions that support the shipping needs of healthcare customers around the globe.”

For more information on FedEx temperature control solutions, visit www.fedex.com/ph/healthcare/

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LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

The purveyors of Switch and Save. From left: Jared De Guzman, Ines Bernardo, Karen Fabres, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Krisel Macatangay, Christian Bautista, Janelle De Leon and Helen Capunong

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WATSONS CHALLENGES CONSUMERS TO TAKE SWITCH TEST

ilipinos have always been loyal especially when it comes to the products that make it to shopping carts. According to a recent study, Filipino consumers said they would rather buy new products from familiar brands than switch to a new brand.

But more than just loyalty, practicality also plays an important factor particularly for those from the low-income groups with limited disposable income. They’d rather pay a bit more on a brand they trust than try something new, such as a privatelabel product.

More popularly known as “store brands,” the perception of private labels is very favorable in the US and Europe, but still a bit low in Asian countries, like the Philippines.

“It’s a bit ironic that the sales of private labels are as high as 40 percent in Europe unlike in developing countries in Asia, it just five percent,” Karen Fabres Watsons Group marketing manager, told The Standard in an interview.

That mentality, however, is slowly changing as Filipinos are becoming more aware of the advantages of choosing private label products such as those from Watsons.

“The Asian market is just starting to be discerning about their product choices.

That’s why we are working hard to develop new products, and encouraging more shoppers to make the ‘Switch and Save’,” Fabres added.

Since the ‘Switch and Save’ campaign began in 2012, Watsons has been trying to convince customers to make the switch from the leading brand to private label and get excellent quality personal care products at up to 80 percent less.

“To ensure quality standards of Watsons products, our quality assurance director makes sure that the standards we are committing to customers are unquestionable. The products undergo a stringent manufacturing process that is at par with market leaders,” says Fabres,

Blogger Valerie Tan (left) tests which product works better than the other—and a Watsons label wins the battle.

adding that products go through the FiveStep Quality Assurance Process, from manufacturing to distribution. Product development and testing take at least 18 months to ensure that the product is of the best quality.”

Now shoppers don’t have to worry themselves with the age-old question of having to choose between quality and savings.

The effort has met with massive success, convincing tons of people from everyday shoppers to high-profile endorsers (Iya Villania, Christian Bautista, Tessa Prieto Valdez, and Patty Laurel) to make the change.

But, with such unbelievably great savings, some skeptics remained unconvinced that Watsons products could be as good as the leading brands.

So this year, Watsons puts its brand to the test—the ultimate Switch Test.

Watsons set up unbranded booths in major cities around the country and placed its products side by side with the category leaders.

Without showing or telling them what brands were involved, the Switch Test mediator had each customer try out two products – Watsons and the leader. They were asked to hold, examine, test and compare them, and eventually to choose the one they would buy.

On June 14, 2016, it was the media’s turn to take the test as Watsons held a special edition at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel, with celebrity guests Tessa Prieto Valdes and singer Christian Bautista acting as

More popularly known as “store brands,” the perception of private labels is very favorable in the US and Europe, but still a bit low in Asian countries, like the Philippines.

the mediators.

Prieto-Valdes picked one blogger from the audience to try out two kinds of lotion.

“Brand A lotion smells good, and is softer on the skin, compared to Brand B,” said one guest who was surprised to learn that Brand A was actually Watsons. She was even more surprised when she found out Watsons costs 80 percent less.

Bautista, on the other hand, invited a female guest to compare two kinds of toothbrushes. Holding a toothbrush in each hand, she observed, “The bristles are softer and I feel it would clean my teeth better.” She chose the Watsons brand and was thrilled to learn of the additional savings.

The guests were also able to try out and compare Watsons facial tissue and hair iron from the leading brand, and, in the end, less than 20 percent of shoppers chose the leading brand over Watsons quality. But when informed of the sizeable savings afterward, even they were easily swayed to switch.

Indeed, with the Switch Test done, the results are clear: eight out of 10 shoppers prefer Watsons quality, not to mention the Watsons price. And as for that ageold question about quality or savings – it finally has an answer it looks like everyone can agree on. Take both. Switch to Watsons and save.

Watsons is Asia’s leading health and beauty retailer, currently operating over 4,800 stores and more than 1,400 pharmacies in 11 Asian and European markets, including China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau), Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey and Ukraine.

In 2002, A.S. Watson Group joined hands with SM Prime Holdings Inc., the Philippines’ leading shopping mall developer. Watsons caters to a variety of lifestyles with an unrivalled diversity of products, with a mission to help people around the world to look good, feel great.

T H U R S D AY : J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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Fifth installment. The long-running 3D animation family adventure film series returns to the big screen with another epic “chilly” adventure

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Scratastrophic chillogy continues in ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’

n the latest epic family movie adventure Ice Age: Collision Course from the highly successful Ice Age franchise, audiences worldwide will be propelled to new environments like the cosmos and a crystallized world known as Geotopia, with many of the characters beginning their own new journeys.

Scrat is, of course, one character that never changes. In “Ice Age: Collision Course, he continues his pursuit of the cursed acorn. But this time Scrat’s quest is taking him where no Ice Age character has gone before—the cosmos—where the consequences of his antics are nothing short of “Scrat-tastrophic.”

Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him to the universe, where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age world. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, as they travel to exotic new lands and encounter a host of new characters.

In this film, Scrat drives the story, instead of merely providing comic relief to the main story of the herd. And it’s about time.

Scrat is literally at every major moment in the history of the natural world. He ushered in the Ice Age, started the Meltdown,

Our well-loved characters travel to exotic lands and encounter a hoist of new characters

unleashed the Lost World of the Dinosaurs into the Ice Age, started the separation of the continents—and now, he’s triggered a series of cosmic disasters that threaten the Ice Age world. “In this film, Scrat is pretty much responsible for the expansion of the universe as we know it,” notes Forte. “It’s his version of the Big Bang.”

Director Michael Thurmeier embraced the opportunity to find a unique environment—and catastrophes—for the cherished acorn-chaser. “I see so much potential with what you can do with Scrat,” he notes. “He’s become a true classic animated character. Scrat never stops persevering,

no matter what happens to him.”

The filmmakers’ new path for Scrat also presents fresh obstacles to overcome. This time, he must deal with gravitational forces, otherworldly technology, and the infinite mysteries of the cosmos.

The new film’s story is deeply rooted in the mythology of the original Ice Age. Producer Lori Forte, who has been with the franchise since its inception, and whose ideas have sparked several of the films’ stories, explains, “In the first film, there was a scene where the herd passes through a kind of ice ‘museum,’ where we see a prehistoric fish, a dinosaur, the evolution of Sid, and

then a spacecraft or flying saucer. “We always recognized that the spaceship was intriguing and knew there was some kind of mythology attached to it that we’d someday explore, but at that time we didn’t know exactly what it was,” she continues. “So we decided the time was right to come back around to that piece of Ice Age, and sowed the seeds for Collision Course.”

Another connection to the original film—and to its subsequent chapters—is the herd’s relatable family dynamics, which provide heart and emotion, and complement the comedy and adventure. But like most families, the herd must adapt to a world that’s always in flux. “We take our family of characters further than we’ve seen them before,” says Forte.

Ice Age: Collision Course brings an all-star voice cast with returning and new herd members led by Ray Romano as the voice of Manny the Mammoth John Leguizamo as Sid, Dennis Leary as Diego, Queen Latifah as Ellie, Jennifer Lopez as Shira, Adam Devine as Julian, Jessie J as Brooke, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Shangri-llama, Josh Peck as Eddie, Simon Pegg as Buck, Sean William Scott as Crash and Wanda Sykes as Granny.

Ice Age: Collision Course opens in cinemas (2D and 3D) on July 6 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Jamie Rivera, Shanne Dandan in Sacred Heart Parish musicfest Celebrating its 75th Founding Anniversary, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is holding a music festival on June 25, 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Church on Scout Fuentebella, Brgy. Sacred Heart in Kamuning, Quezon City.

“Twelve original songs composed by Sacred Heart devotees will be featured in the Festival. The 12 songs are offered as gifts to the Sacred Heart and to the parish by the composers,” explains Sacred Heart’s parish priest, Rev. Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD. Special guest performers are Jamie Rivera and Born To Be A Star Grand Finale Champion

Shanne Dandan.

Caris Miraballes with the AVE and Vox Coeli Choir, Fr. Raul Caga, SVD, Ilsa Reyes, The Fifth Gospel Choir are among the other invited guest artists that will perform the original songs for the Sacred Heart.

Everyone is invited to watch the Music Festival. Admission is free.

The 75th Founding Anniversary of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish coincides with the dedication of the newly renovated church as a diocesan shrine for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Enshrinement will be on the first of October.

“Inspirational Diva” Jamie Rivera is one of the guest performers in the music fest

“Born To Be A Star” grand champion Shanne Dandan

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T H U R S D AY : J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 6

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

YouTube star Wil Dasovich (center) gets cozy with Vice Ganda in the interactive segment of “TFC Connect”

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Wil Dasovich and Dimples Romana bid farewell

TFC CONNECT, TAKES ON A NEW VIBE

his month, The Filipino Channel (TFC) celebrates nine years of its longestrunning program exclusively made for Overseas Filipinos (OFs), TFC Connect, as it continues to keep them close to homeland and their loved ones.

TFC Connect will also take on a new vibe, starting in July.

The program that started in 2007 as a program guide hosted by Bianca Gonzalez updating viewers on what to expect in the coming week on the premier network has evolved to become a program that provides a link between OF and their families in the Philippines through segments such as “MissMo” and “Kapamilya Treats.”

The program, hosted by Dimples Romana starting in 2013, also became the platform for the Filipino talent to shine, through segments such as “Kids of the Week,” and “Bida Guest.”

According to Herbs Samonte, ABS-CBN Global Content Production and Development Group head, through the years, TFC Connect has transcended its role from an exclusive program to a conduit not only between the OFs and those they hold dear, but also between them and their country.

He says, “For close to a decade, ‘TFC Connect’ has become the hub of everything Filipino and

on the reasons why they should be the next families to be featured.

TFC Connect airs Monday to Friday worldwide. The show’s anniversary celebration starts this

Benilde hip-hop crew sets send-off show

“TFC Connect” host Wil Disovich (second from left) tries to learn technological livelihood

has become the champion of values and traditions that make us who we are, wherever we may be.”

“As we celebrate our anniversary this June and unveil a new season this quarter, we want to be more inclusive, reaching out even to the younger members of the family and of our audience,” he adds.

Starting on the first week of July, TFC Connect takes on a new look and feel to reach out to the second generation OFs who may have been born overseas or were born here but have migrated overseas.

TFC Connect will take on a new format with more interactive segments and will welcome new host and youtube star, Wil Dasovich.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Upper limit 4 Plays bumper-cars 8 Confederates 12 Cupola 13 Go radioactive 14 Open-air lobbies 16 Ignore 17 Vaudeville prop 18 Oater shoot-outs 19 Band booking 20 Lama’s art work (2

wds.)

Shoulder blade Chive relative Aunt or bro.

German coal region 28 Monastery dweller 31 “Star Trek” physician 34 “— — old cowhand ...”

35 Cell aggregate 22 24 25 26

June while its new look and segments will be launched on July 4.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/TFCConnectOfficial/.

36 Aladdin, e.g.

37 Makes light of 38 City near Lillehammer 39 Ascend 40 Strains, as an engine 41 Writer’s concern 42 Its logo is an eye 43 Get fresh 44 Place for laundry 45 — spumante 47 Rain gear fabric 51 Kinda drift 55 Beluga product 56 Singer Paula — 57 Moppets 58 Watches the kids 59 Fogg’s creator 60 Subarctic tribe 61 Thin board 62 Shaggy beasts 63 Unyielding 64 Raised railways DOWN 1 Stand-up performer 2 Pablo’s girl 3 Boxer, maybe 4 Dredge up 5 Freezer name 6 Take care of 7 Banana stalk 8 Gilda of “SNL” 9 Chopin opus

Dasovich is a 24-year-old Filipino-American who personifies the second generations of overseas Filipinos, has been shuttling between the Philippines and the U.S. for almost three years and the TFC Connect stint may just make him stay.

The new host will bring swarms of Kapamilya to ABS-CBN shows to see how they work behind the cameras. He will travel to chosen OF families’ hometown and immerse in the local culture and reminisce some of the things the OF families may have missed as they led their lives overseas. It will also be Dasovich’s own immersion as well.

To join the segments, OF families are encouraged to submit a video

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

10 11 12 15 20 21 23 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 37 41 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 58

Motel freebie Window ledge Musher’s team Sharp — — tack Chop — Astronaut Shepard et al.

Deep-space mission Hazy conditions Pleased sighs Small brook Lotion additive Painter — Chagall Cattle stall Doubted doomsayer Debtor’s letters Splices Unvarnished Money drawer Pasture entrances Not fair Reeked to high heaven Web-toed mammal Whale’s diet Smidgens Tree house?

Cleveland NBAer Knuckle under Draw on glass Ibsen woman Compass pt.

Fresh off their victory at the recently concluded 2016 Philippine Hip-Hop Dance National Championship, The Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company (SBRDC) will stage a send-off concert entitled Heirloom.

The event will serve as a fundraising activity for the group’s journey to represent the Philippines in the 2016 World Hip-Hop Dance Championship to be held in Las Vegas in August.

SBRDC, the official dance company of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), earned a spot after it trounced other participating teams in the Adult Category at the national contest. Held at the Globe Circuit Events Ground, Makati City, the competition saw dance crews from around the country in various brackets.

Heirloom will be held at the SDA Theater, 7 p.m. on July 9. The

venue is located on the fifth floor of DLS-CSB School of Design and Arts campus, 950 Ocampo St. (Vito Cruz), Malate, Manila. Tickets are priced at P1,000.

For reservations and inquiries, call 0925-879-8905 or email culture.arts@benilde.edu.ph.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Rhian Ramos is Solenn Heussaff’s new co-host in ‘Taste Buddies’

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eginning this Saturday, Rhian Ramos joins Solenn Heusaff as the new co-host of GMA News TV lifestyle show, Taste Buddies.

Together, the two Kapuso ladies will bring fresh, fab, and fun to another level as they take viewers to the different facets of Filipino modern living: from trying mouth-watering food to embarking on various exciting adventures.

Being good friends in real life, Rhian expressed her excitement to join Solenn in the show. “I’m just lucky enough to be made part of it,” she said.

Solenn, on the other hand, is looking forward to spend time with Rhian.

“She eats almost anything like me.

She’s sporty and kalog. It’s gonna be fun,” she shared.

In her first episode as the newest Taste Buddies girl, Rhian takes Solenn to Rue Bourbon—a chic dining and wine place on Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Solenn, of course, won’t be left behind. She brings with her hunks Vince Velasco and Rafa Siguion-Reyna.

Rhian and Solenn discover how Rue Bourbon’s bestsellers Gambas with Chorizo and Corned Pork Scarface are prepared. Vince and Rafa, meanwhile, spend time together with the baristas and learn the ropes of making some of the restaurant’s signature flaming shots.

Later in the show, Solenn and Rhian undergo the quickie quiz, “Kaibigan Ba Talaga Kita?” where Rafa and Vince test the girls’ friendship. Both have to make sure they have the same answers as every incompatible reply has a consequence. The guys are not spared though. If the ladies get the answers right, Rafa and Vince would have to face the consequence as well.

Expect Solenn and Rhian to treat viewers to a wide array of taste and cravings for food, fashion, trends, events, places, and any buzz-worthy subjects.

Catch Taste Buddies every Saturday from 8:45 to 9:15 p.m. only on GMA News TV.

Rhian Ramos (left) joins Solenn Heussaf to bring fresh, fun and fab astronomical adventures in “Taste Buddies”

Leroy Sanchez, other YouTube favorites at Smart Araneta Some of YouTube’s hottest artists and performers led by Leroy Sanchez will hit Manila next month (July) to perform at a major concert on July 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It is presented

by Smart.

Max Schneider, Sam Tsui with Kurt Hugo Schneider, and the Australian band At Sunset are also in the line-up of the one-night event dubbed Smart Own It! Kick Off Concert are.

The gig will kick off a series of concerts and shows to be presented by Smart.

To be mounted by Ovation Productions, Smart Own It! Kick Off Concert is expected to be one of the biggest and hottest concert events in this year’s musical calendar, featuring artists who command a huge following on YouTube and with a dedicated fan base counting by the millions worldwide.

Since uploading his first cover song on YouTube at age 15, Leroy Sanchez has posted over 70 videos amassing almost 50 million YouTube views. Among the artists he

has covered are Sam Smith, Justin Bieber, Adele, Rihanna, and many others.

His passion for music, inherent talent and undeniable charm have earned him a devoted following of loyal fans from all over the world who have avidly tracked him in his musical journey.

Max Schneider is a New York-based pop-soul singer and actor who began perform-

ing at the age of 14 years. He was part of the Broadway musical “13” as a swing understudy covering four roles in 2008 and 2009. He also modeled with Madonna for an international Dolce Gabbana ad campaign.

Throughout 2015, he toured with Fall Out Boy, Wiz Kalifa and Hoodie Allen in the Boys of Summer Tour.

He was named the 2010 Young

Arts Theater winner.

Sam Tsui has been hailed as an Internet sensation who, with his friend and partner Kurt Hugo Schneider, was among the first musicians to establish a hugely popular music-focused channel on YouTube.

To-date, his videos, including covers, medleys and mashups, have amassed over 500 million hits on YouTube alone, including his 2013 debut original album, Make It Up, contributing to his ever-expanding worldwide fan base. Sam has also appeared in programs such as The Ellen Degeneres Show and Oprah and was featured in magazines such as Entertainment Weekly and In Style magazine.

He was in Manila during a two-night show with Kurt Hugo Schneider at the SMX Convention Center in 2014.

Kurt Hugo Schneider is a songwriter, music producer and director born in Baltimore and grew up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Most of his work may be found in his YouTube

channel http://youtube.com/ KurtHugoSchneider, created in October 2007 and now with over three million subscribers and more than 600 million views.

The Australian band At Sunset is composed of brothers Harrison and Andrew Kantarias and their good friend Tom Jay Williams, who came together with two things in common: their love for music and their enthusiasm for the fun things in life.

In just two years since making an online presence, At Sunset has shown great potential of amassing millions of views on YouTube and an ever-growing army of fans globally.

The group returns to Manila five months after its debut local performance on Feb. 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as special guest in Boyce Avenue 2016 Philippine Tour.

Tickets at P4,224, P3,696, P3,168, P2,640, P1,584 and P792 are available at all Ticketnet outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph or call Ticketnet at 911-5555.)

AXN extends application deadline for ‘The Amazing Race Asia’

Chinese-American actor and “The Amazing Race Asia” host Allan Wu

If you haven’t grabbed your partner and created an awesome audition video for The Amazing Race Asia, don’t worry. AXN has extended the deadline to June 30.

You now have more time to create the ultimate application by telling AXN why you should become a season five racer, and possibly the ultimate winner of USD$100,000 in cash.

“We’ve had a fantastic response to our casting call for The Amazing Race Asia which is a real testament to the popularity of the show in this region.

What’s most encouraging is the team spirit conveyed in the videos as well as the unique range of talents, professions and interpersonal relationships on display. We’ve received applications from DJs, doctors, bloggers, synchronized swimmers, pilots and dragon boat racers just to name a few, as well as teammates who live in different countries. So this season’s team line-up promises to be our most interesting yet,” said Virginia Lim, vice president and head of Content

and Marketing, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

In this latest season, 10 teams of socially savvy, fearless racers from all over Asia will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, traversing the globe and proving their mettle on a quest to be crowned the all-out champion. Chinese American actor Allan Wu hosts the highly anticipated series. He was the face of the race for AXN’s The Amazing Race Asia in the previous four seasons.

Travelling to multiple countries in the shortest amount of time, each team will arrive at a new destination where they must compete in a series of physical, mental and often emotional challenges.

Only when the tasks are completed will the teams learn of their next exotic location. Teams who fall the farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning The Amazing Race Asia and the $100,000 cash prize.

Applications for The Amazing Race Asia closes on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. so there’s now more time to submit your three-minute audition videos to www.

AXN-Asia.com/TARA. For interested participants in Manila, a drop off and video submission booth is available for those who cannot submit their application and their audition video online. It is located at Corte De Las Palmas, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa on June 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. only.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

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SHOWBITZ DADDY WARBUCKS COMES ALIVE IN MICHAEL DE MESA ISAH V. RED

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f you’ve seen Annie either on stage or film, you must be familiar with Daddy Warbucks, the man who took the orphan girl under his wings.

In the re-staging of the classic Broadway musical at the Resorts World Manila, actor Michael de Mesa is playing the iconic Daddy Warbucks role.

The country’s premier entertainment and tourism destination Resorts World Manila (RWM) recently revealed the cast for its upcoming musical Annie, apart form De Mesa. And they are young talents Krystal Brimner and Isabeli Araneta Elizalde who will both play the title role.

De Mesa will play the role of billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks after coming out of a six-year respite from show business. De Mesa returns to the stage after his Gawad Buhay-nominated role of Georges in La Cage aux Folles.

The film and theater actor shared his excitement with the project, expressing his willingness to once again perform onstage.

“The theater industry is very much alive. I really believe it’s a good thing because you have the proper training ground for actors to really delve in the craft,” he shared.

De Mesa, who recently celebrated his 56th birthday, also articulated how comfortable he is with his role as Annie’s foster father. He said his gauge as a strict yet lovable character is determined by how his own grandchildren see him. “I had them in mind when I said yes to the project as this will be the first time they will watch me onstage,” he shared. “I have to find that balance where you are stern but still loved by the kids”.

The seasoned actor also recalled how the first staging of Annie in the country was a hit among audiences. “Annie is a classic. I mean Annie is known worldwide. I guess all the children know Annie especially when Lea Salonga really popularized the musical here in the Philippines,” he stated.

Annie was first staged in the Philippines in 1980 and after 36 years, RWM brings back the family classic in the country featuring an all-Filipino cast and crew.

Directing Annie is actor Michael Stuart Williams who was also at the helm in RWM”s production of Cinderella in 2013.

“It’s exciting. Everything has finally come together, the costume, the cast, the produc-

Seasoned thespian Michael de Mesa breathes life to Lieutenant General Sir Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in the local re-staging of the classic Broadway musical “Annie”

tion people with all the administrative stuff, the entire company-- the direction were taking this production from the lights to the sound— it’s surreal and we’re getting everybody in line with that idea,” Williams said.

Annie is the seventh musical production from RWM opening this September. The musical is presented through Full House Theater Company and Ultimate Shows, Inc. in cooperation with MTI New York.

Visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (632) 908-8833 for more news on Annie.

HBO releases ‘Westworld’ trailer worldwide HBO released a trailer for Westworld (#Westworld), in global anticipation for the premiere of the network’s new drama series, slated to debut this October in Asia the same

Welsh film and stage actor Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Robert Ford, the brilliant creative director of Westworld

James Marsden (left) as Teddy Flood, a gunslinger, and Evan Rachel Wood (right) as Dolores Abernathy, a Western girl who discovers her entire life is an elaborately constructed lie

time as the US, exclusively on HBO late this year (fall of 2016). The series will also be available on HBO GO / HBO On Demand (in territories where applicable).

This 10-episode hour-long HBO Original drama series is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.

Westworld’s all-star cast includes Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth and Clifton Collins, Jr. Inspired by the motion picture Westworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton,it is produced by Bad Robot Productions, Jerry Weintraub Productions and Kilter Films in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Jonathan Nolan is executive producer/ writer/director, along with Lisa Joy who is also executive producer/writer, and J.J. Abrams, Jerry Weintraub, and Bryan Burk.

Ed Harris as the Man in Black, a mysterious villain in the TV series