The Standard - 2016 July 7 - Thursday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 145 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSDAY : JULY 7, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Metro traffic choke points

‘STRONG EVIDENCE VERSUS GENERALS’ Palace widens crackdown on drug-linked officials By John Paolo Bencito, Francisco Tuyay and Florante S. Solmerin

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday said it has the necessary evidence to implicate five police generals that President Rodrigo Duterte said were protecting drug lords. “The evidence [documentary or testimonial] against the named generals should not be released yet as it may prejudice the administrative and criminal investigations and cases against them,” Communications Secretary Martin

Andanar told reporters in a text message. “A premature release of evidence through the media may also violate the constitutional right to due process of those involved,” Andanar added.

The Interior Department, which has supervision all over the police and local governments, said it is ready to validate the evidence collated by President Duterte against the police officials, who all denied the accusations against them. “We have to back him [Duterte] up. We really have to support him. He won’t say anything like that if there is no strong evidence to link them,” Interior Secretary Mike Sueno said. He added that the public should expect a wider crackdown on government officials and politicians

involved in the illegal drug trade. On Tuesday, Duterte named the five police generals that he said were protecting drug lords, relieved three of them and ordered them to report to Philippine National Police chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa. The two other officials named were retired. Sueno said two teams have already been formed to look into the allegations against the police generals. “We have to give them due process,” Sueno said. The Interior Department held

an emergency meeting with the National Police Commission on Wednesday to establish the results of the ongoing probe against the five officials involved and “other possible names linked to the illegal drug trade, particularly politicians and other government officials.” The President said the police officials supposedly involved in illegal drugs or protection of drug syndicates committed “treason” because they destroy people’s lives, citing the government funded their education through taxpayers’ money. Next page

PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa (2nd from left) confronts three of five police generals whom President Duterte has accused of protecting drug lords during a meeting at Camp Crame. The three —Joel Pagdilao, Bernardo Diaz and Edgardo Tinio promised to cooperate in a full-dress investigation being conducted by two teams of probers.

How healthy is the typical Filipino diet

Foreign Affairs clams up on China threat By Vito Barcelo THE Foreign Affairs Department declined to comment Wednesday on China’s threat to make the United States pay the price if it crosses Beijing’s limits in the disputed South China Sea. “We have yet to confirm the report,” the department said in a message. The Philippines has repeatedly said

it will not go to war with China and will pursue only peaceful solutions to the territorial dispute with Beijing. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. has earlier said that a special envoy might be appointed for backchannel talks with China to resolve the issue. A UN tribunal is set to release a decision on the complaint filed by Manila

against Beijing on July 12, with many observers expecting a ruling in favor of the Philippines. China, which has rejected the jurisdiction of the court, has said it will reject any of its decisions. In an editorial of the state-owned People’s Daily, China warned the United States that there would be a price Next page

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A2 Foreign... From A1

to pay if it crosses China’s bottom line and meddles in disputes over the South China Sea. The paper said that bilateral ties and regional stability were at stake and that the US should recognize that “there is a bottom line with every issue, and a price will be paid if that line is crossed.” “If the United States, regardless of the cost, chooses the path of ‘brinkmanship’ that pressures and intimidates others, there will be only one result, that is, that the US bears all the responsibility for possibly further heightening tensions in the South China Sea,” the editorial said. “China has a solid-rock position over safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It will not want anything that does not belong to it, but it will ensure that every inch of land it owns is safe and sound,” the editorial said. The newspaper has previously accused Washington of seeking to turn the South China Sea “into a powder keg” and warned it not to underestimate China’s determination to defend its territorial claims. China also started holding seven days of military drills around disputed islands in the sea. Beijing on Wednesday said the Philippines arbitration case against it has soured relations between the two countries and undermined the international rule of law and regional stability. It said arbitration was detrimental to the interests of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which groups 10 member states, including the Philippines. Arbitration compromises existing rules of conduct in the Asean, which emphasizes a spirit of equality, consensus and cooperation, China said.

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Duterte shuns Palace, opts for Bahay Pangarap PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is set to be the second president to choose Bahay Pangarap inside the Malacañang grounds as his official residence, Secretary Christopher Go, special assistant to the president, said Wednesday.

With prayers, Muslim women mark the end of Ramadan and celebrate the feast of Eid’l Fitr at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila. LINO SANTOS

“I want to cry with them,” he said. The three police officials denied the accusations and say they would From A1 cooperate with an investigation. “I am ready to face any investiThe Napolcom said it will investigate the cases of the three police gation. Right now, my focus is to generals still in active service— clear my name before I retire from Joel Pagdilao, Bernardo Diaz and the service,” Tinio said. Tinio, a member of the PMA Edgardo Tinio. A regular court will handle the case of retired gen- Class 1985, has still a year and six eral Marcelo Garbo while the In- months before his mandatory reterior Department will handle the tirement. He was not given any ascase of Vicente Loon, now a mayor signment during Friday’s massive revamp. of Daanbantayan, Cebu. “Once I clear my name, I will go “Only administrative cases will be filed there. Ultimate penalty on early retirement,” Tinio said. Tinio said Duterte may have they can give is dismissal from been fed wrong information, and service,” Andanar added. Pagdilao, Diaz and Tinio met said his performance in the serwith PNP chief Dela Rosa at his of- vice, especially against illegal fice in Camp Crame Wednesday drugs, will speak for itself. Pagdilao said it was prepostermorning. Dela Rosa said he told them ous to drag his name into drugs. “There’s no truth that I am inthey would have to face the music if they were guilty of wrongdoing, volved in drugs. In fact, I’ve been but declined to offer other details fighting the illegal drugs menace. In my 32 years in the police serabout their meeting. “What was discussed inside was vice never have I been involved in purely intimate and personal, I drugs,’’ Pagdilao said. Pagdilao said he does not uncannot discuss it in public,” Dela Rosa told the media after emerg- derstand why his name was ining from nearly an hour-long cluded in the list read by Duterte during a speech at the Air Force’s meeting. Dela Rosa was obviously moved. 69th anniversary.

Diaz also denied links to the illegal drug trade and cited his track record. He said he had three good reasons to be intolerant of drugs: his cousin died because of drug abuse, his niece was killed by a suspected drug user, and his younger brother became addicted to drugs in the 1980s. Dela Rosa on Wednesday hinted that a second wave of revelations would be forthcoming. The PNP chief said he no longer had jurisdiction over Garbo or Loot, who are both retired, but said he was willing to meet them, too. Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said he has formed an investigating body led by him and Napolcom commissioners. He said he has given the body seven days to gather evidence against Diaz, Pagdilao, and Tinio. “The result of their investigation will be given to the ad hoc committee for evaluation of the pieces of evidence they have evaluated which will be then submitted to the Commission en banc for final decision,” Casurao said. He added the decision will be

During his first night in Manila, Duterte stayed inside Bahay Pangarap, as he said he would not want to live inside the Palace, since it was haunted. Former President Benigno Aquino III, Duterte’s predecessor, also lived in Bahay Pangarap. Go said Duterte would move into Bahay Pangarap next week. The house is located in Malacañang Park within the Presidential Security Group compound in Manila. It is on the other side of the Pasig River facing Malacañang Palace, making it only five minutes away from Duterte’s office. The house initially served as venue for informal activities and social functions of the President and First Family. In the early 1960s, the rest house was renovated through the efforts of then First Lady Evangeline Macapagal and was renamed as Bahay Pangarap, or “house of dreams.” President Aquino moved into the house in 2010, which by then had three more bedrooms in addition to the master’s bedroom, a swimming pool and a Balinesestyle garden. Duterte took a break from his busy work schedule to watch the much-awaited game between Gilas Pilipinas and France in the ongoing 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the MOA Arena in Pasay City late Tuesday night. Accompanied by Go and other members of the sports community, Duterte made the ceremonial toss of the ball to signal the start of the game at 9 p.m. where cheering fans chanted “Duterte, Duterte, go go Gilas Pilipinas!” The President stayed for the entire match between the Philippine team and France, which is ranked fifth in the world according to FIBA statistics. Despite a close fight, France won 94-83. The national squad was leading in the first quarter and most of the second quarter. But the French team led by NBA stars Tony Parker and Boris Diaw caught up and eventually won. The Philippines’ men’s basketball team’s best finish was the bronze medal in the 1954 FIBA World Championship in Brazil.

out within a month. He said the commission was ordered directly by the President to investigate the case, which it would do without violating due process. Also on Wednesday, Dela Rosa ordered the transfer of 32 policemen, including seven officials, to three areas in Mindanao, keeping his promise that those implicated in wrongdoing would be sent to the south to battle the Abu Sayyaf bandits. The first batch of 32 police personnel to be transferred will go to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, the Zamboanga peninsula and the Caraga region. Most come from Metro Manila and the Quezon City Police Department. Dela Rosa vowed to send more errant policemen to Mindanao. Former Interior secretary and losing presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday denied any links to the generals implicated by Duterte. “It has come to my attention that some online sites and traditional media outlets have branded certain individuals as ‘Roxas Generals.’ Despite lacking any clear

basis, the insinuation is that these individuals campaigned for me in the last election,” Roxas said in a statement to reporters. “To be clear: there are no Roxas Generals. The persons named were not part of my campaign,” he added. Two of those named by the President—Diaz and Garbo—were part of the so-called Novotel Generals spotted by journalists in a closeddoor meeting with supporters of President Benigno Aquino III at the height of the campaign. “My professional working relationship with some of these individuals started when I took over the helm of DILG, and ended when I tendered my resignation in 2015,” he said. “Let me emphasize that I have never supported nor encouraged illegal drugs. It is a plague that afflicts families, rich or poor, and destroys the fabric of family life. During my tenure in the DILG, one of my priorities for the PNP was to escalate the fight against illegal drugs. Billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs were confiscated, and hundreds arrested and charged, in fulfillment of my directives.’’ With Joel E. Zurbano

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Tiangco files bill against absences

Revamp. Newly appointed Manila Police District chief Joel Coronel on Wednesday announced a revamp in all precincts by next week. DANNY PATA

Fast implementation of infra projects eyed BUDGET Secretary Benjamin Diokno plans to implement infrastructure projects fast to spur growth as a result of the delays in the Aquino administration. “We are considering 24/7 construction for all Metro Manila projects and even in Cebu and Davao,” Diokno told dzMM radio. “So don’t be surprised if you will encounter construction going on in the middle of the night.” The government plans

to bid out about 17 infrastructure projects worth around P580 billion before the end of 2017. It also plans to reduce the time for bidding them out so those could be awarded within 29 months. In a briefing Tuesday, National Economic and Development Authority

Director-General Ernesto Pernia said the projects were in various stages of bidding. ”[We expect these] to be rolled out by 2017 unless there are problems, but I think all of them can go,” he said. Diokno said speeding up the infrastructure project would also result in many employment opportunities as a result of three daily shifts. “Given the extent and the size of the projects

that we are planning to do, things will get worse before they get better,” Diokno said. “So let me not assure you that things will get better right away, but we are going to fix all the major roads.” Diokno said there would be no problem if congressmen would want to identify the projects needed in their jurisdictions. “There’s no problem with that. I think the

elected officials have much knowledge about what their constituents need,” Diokno said. A source told The Standard Monday that more than P80 million in discretionary funds would be allocated to each congressman under next year’s budget. Incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez vowed Tuesday to make the 2017 budget “pork-free.” John Paolo Bencito

NAVOTAS Rep. Toby Tiangco has filed a bill seeking a “no work, no pay” policy in the 17th Congress following the absences in the past Congresses that delayed the passage of bills because of the lack of a quorum. His House Bill 412 would impose salary deductions on members who will fail to attend regular and special sessions for unjustifiable reasons. “Previous Congresses required four session days, which was later shortened to three days from Monday to Wednesday to enable members to attend to the needs of their constituents,” Tiangco said. “Despite this change in session days, the attendance of House members has not improved. Their presence is required to represent the people and give their constituents a vote in Congress.” The deductions would be computed by dividing the monthly salary by the number of sessions equals salary per session day, and then multiplying the salary per session day to the number of absences that equal the total deductions on the representative’s pay. The Civil Service Commission, the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management would provide the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed law in coordination with Congress’ accounting department. PNA

Maza plans audit to look into hiring of consultants LIZA Maza, the newly appointed head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, said Wednesday she plans an audit of the agency to look into the alleged questionable hiring of consultants during the time of her predecessor. “It can’t be possible that your agency contributes to the increase of poverty in this country, right?” Maza, a former representative of the Makabayan bloc, said in a television interview. “So there is a need for audit. I want a fresh start.” Leftist groups had previously questioned the commission’s hiring of more than 81 personnel under contract of service and 19

consultants, which transpired during the tenure of Aquino ally Joel Rocamora, a member of Akbayan. The first executive order from President Rodrigo Duterte placed 12 line agencies under the Office of the President to develop programs and projects to reduce poverty, improve the lives of vulnerable sectors, promote social education and listen to people for feedback. Maza said she will look into the commission’s programs first before determining the number of consultants she should hire, though it’s unlikely she will hire as many as her predecessor did. John Paolo Bencito

Raid. An estimated 300 kilograms of shabu worth P1.5 billion were confiscated by officials in Las Piñas and Parañaque City, where three Taiwanese nationals were arrested. DANNY PATA

t hurs day : j uly 7 , 2 0 1 6

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MM traffic hot spots named By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz THE Metro Manila Development Authority has identified areas in the National Capital Region where emergency powers may be needed to resolve the monstrous traffic experienced by the public.

Eid Mubarak. An infant reaches for a balloon held by another child who also joined the communal salat, or prayer, at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park on Wednesday, which marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan. DANNY PATA

Immigration reshuffle unfolds next week By Vito Barcelo A TOP-to-bottom reshuffle will take place at the Bureau of Immigration next week as part of the new administration’s efforts to reduce corruption in the graft-prone agency, which is expected to affect at least 200 personnel assigned in the country’s premier ports. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he will also create a counter-intelligence group in a bid to stop human

trafficking. Morente said he will see to it that the directives of President Duterte such as cutting red tape to hasten the release of documents, be implemented. Duterte, in his inaugural speech last June 30, ordered Cabinet secretaries and heads of agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all applications, from submission to release. “We have to do away with redundant requirements,” Morente said, as he stressed that

eliminating corruption is foremost on his agenda as the bureau’s top official. Morente said although the BI was not included in the President’s list of most corrupt government agencies, the bureau must work hard, as he promised to recognize officials and employees who will perform their job satisfactorily. “You will reap rewards but not monetary,” Morente said, pledging to crack the whip of unscrupulous immigration officers

who will facilitate the departure of undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers. He also plans to institute an “Immigration Transformation Roadmap” that aims to turn the bureau into a more efficient, more professional and more responsive service-agency. “The ITR expresses our earnest commitment to pursue a genuine transformation program founded on good governance and performance excellence,” Morente said.

Stronger Amla sought THE Department of Finance has endorsed to Congress the passage of a measure seeking to amend laws, including the Bank Deposit Secrecy Law, to bolster the government’s campaign against tax evasion. The proposal was jointly prepared by the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to strengthen the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Act. The amendments sought to the Amla as part of the government’s response to the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, a global standard setting body for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, to treat tax evasion as a predicate offense in money-laundering cases. The FATF called on governments to treat tax evasion as a predicate offense in money-laundering cases so that it will fall under the category of an international crime that may be investigated by the International Criminal Police Organization, also known as Interpol. The need to amend the Amla has been made more urgent by recent financial controversies that have exploited the perceived weakness in the country’s tax and financial systems, including the Bangladesh Bank heist involving casinos in the Philippines. The DoF seeks to replicate the prevailing policy in Singapore where tax evasion is considered a predicate crime to money-laundering cases. In a related development, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Interpol has begun to investigate Singaporean businesswoman Kwek Siang Ling, alias Wendy Kwek, owner of the Singaporean firm Real Centre Consultants Pte. Ltd. for money laundering and tax evasion.

Surprise drug test. Quezon City Police policemen submit

themselves to a surprise drug test at the Kamuning police station in Quezon City. The drug test was part of the new PNP leadership’s efforts to cleanse police ranks of drug users. MANNY PALMERO

The MMDA released the list of areas as Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza warned congressmen against authorizing gemergency h shortcuts in public transportation projects because this may lead to gemergency corruption. Among these areas are the seven choke points along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue—Balintawak Market Road, Aurora Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe, Ayala Avenue and Taft Avenue. Also included in the list are roads leading to and from Manila North Harbor Area, especially Circumferential Road - 3 (C-3 Road), A. Mabini Street, Dagat-Dagatan Avenue, North Bay Boulevard and Radial Road 10 (R-10). In Southern Metro Manila: major roads leading to Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals, particularly Airport Road, Domestic Road, Andrews Avenue, Tramo Avenue, Sucat Avenue and Sales Road; and Alabang-Zapote Road and Circulo del Mundo Avenue. In the northern part: Rizal Avenue, Samson Road, Gen. Malvar Street, MacArthur Highway, Karuhatan Road, Gen. De Leon, Pio Valenzuela and Gen. De Jesus. In the eastern part: Santolan, Gil Fernando Bridge, Marcos Highway, San Juan Intersection, Pasig Intersection and Meralco Avenue. In Quezon City: Boni Serrano Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Timog Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, C.P. Garcia Avenue, Magsaysay Avenue, Capitol Intersection, Luzon flyover, J.P. Rizal, Ayala Heights Rotunda, Miriam Gate and Ateneo Gate. In Manila: Bonifacio Drive, Roxas Boulevard, España Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Claro M. Recto Avenue, Sen. Osmeña Highway and Rizal Avenue (Carriedo). Lawyer Crisanto Saruca, head of the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office, attributed the traffic problem from the lack of modern mass transport system, the increasing number of vehicles and road obstructions, among others. “The traffic in the metropolis also caused by undisciplined motorists, illegally parked vehicles, and illegal structures of bus and jeepney terminals,” he said.

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Health is wealth: Garin got P2.5m in ’15 By Rio N. Araja MEMBERS of the former Aquino

PCSO contribution. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II ( second from left) hands over five checks for a total of P254.7 million to Purita Belgica, collecting officer of the Cash and Custodial Division of the Bureau of Treasury, for the use of the Commission on Higher Education and National Shelter Program during a ceremony held at the charity agency head office in Mandaluyong City on July 5. With them are PCSO’s Gerry Rojas (left), executive assistant to the GM, and Leticia Mamuyac, Division Chief of the Treasury Department. The funding is a mandatory contribution provided for by law. JOSEPH MUEGO

Death penalty bill gets House priority By Maricel V. Cruz

INCOMING Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has said that the proposal to restore death penalty in the country will be a priority of the 17th Congress. Alvarez has filed his House Bill No. 1 which seeks to re-impose death penalty on “heinous crimes”, such as human trafficking, illegal recruitment, plunder, treason, parricide, infanticide, rape, qualified piracy and bribery, kidnapping and illegal detention, robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, car theft, destructive arson, terrorism and drug-related cases. “There is evidently a need to reinvigorate the war against criminality by reviving a proven deterrent coupled by its consistent, persistent and determined implementation, and this need is as compelling and critical as any,” Alvarez said in his HB No. 1. “The imposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes and the mode of its implementation, both subjects of repealed laws, are crucial components of an effective dispensation of both reformative and re-

tributive justice,” the bill stated. Republic Act 7659 or the Death Penalty Law was abolished in 1986 during the term of Former President Corazon Aquino. It was restored by former President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993, and was suspended again in 2006 by then president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would want the capital punishment by hanging reimposed. Duterte also vowed to carry out at least 50 executions a month to serve as a strong deterrent against criminality. Alvarez lamented that the rise of criminality in the country has reached at an “alarming proportion” and so the government must do an “all-out offensive against all forms of felonious acts.” Alvarez’s bill was co-authored by Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro which proposes death penalty by lethal injection. “Our criminal justice system has been emasculated in no small measure by the non-deterrent nature of impossible penalties on the most depraved violations of human life, honor and dignity,” Alvarez pointed out. “The basic tenets of equity and justice demand that our penal system be one not only of reformation but corresponding retribution,” Castro, for his part, said.

Cabinet received millions in salaries and allowances in 2015, with former Health secretary Janette Garin obtaining the biggest paycheck with P2.521 million, according to the Commission on Audit. Garin received P1.08 million as basic salary, P408,037.31 allowances, P235,000 bonuses/incentives, P348,000 discretionary funds, and P24,000 additional compensation/ honorarium. She also received P425,750.91 as chairperson of the board of directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. but she never received any pay for sitting in concurrent capacity as chairperson of the governing boards of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines and Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, and as a trustee of the Development Academy of the Philippines. Former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad received P2,234,648 in salaries and allowances last year. He received P1.092 million in basic salary, P173,000 in allowances, P213,980 in bonuses/incentives, P308,000 discretionary fund, and P24,000 additional compensation/honorarium. Abad also received additional pay of P423,788 as head of the DBMprocurement service, but didn’t get anypay for sitting in the governing board of the National Development Co., National Home Mortgage and Finance Corp., National Power Corp., Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., Development Academy of the Philippines and Philippine Center for Economic Development.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications TOLL REGULATORY BOARD

2/F Integrated Bar of the Phils. Bldg., Dona Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City

NOTICE OF TOLL RATE IMPLEMENTATION (TARLAC-PANGASINAN-LA UNION EXPRESSWAY) In accordance with the Toll Concession Agreement by and among the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Toll Regulatory Board and Private Infra Dev Corporation, the following pre-accepted rates for Segment 7, Section 3A-1 (Urdaneta to Binalonan), inclusive of VAT, are hereby approved for implementation starting on July 15, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. La Paz - Binalonan Toll Rates (VAT Inclusive) CLASS 1 (Cars & jeepneys including taxis, vans, pick-ups, etc or vehicles with 2 axles and an overall height of up to 7 feet) ENTRY/EXIT La Paz Victoria Gerona Paniqui Moncada Carmen Urdaneta La Paz Victoria 30.00 Gerona 58.00 28.00 Paniqui 79.00 49.00 21.00 Moncada 99.00 69.00 41.00 20.00 Carmen 164.00 134.00 106.00 85.00 65.00 Urdaneta 216.00 186.00 158.00 137.00 117.00 52.00 Binalonan 235.00 205.00 177.00 156.00 136.00 71.00 19.00 CLASS 2 (Buses & trucks with 2 axles & a height of more than 7 ft.; Light Vehicles with more than 2 axles & a height of up to 7 ft. (vehicles with trailers) ENTRY/EXIT La Paz Victoria Gerona Paniqui Moncada Carmen Urdaneta La Paz Victoria 76.00 Gerona 145.00 70.00 Paniqui 197.00 122.00 52.00 Moncada 247.00 171.00 102.00 50.00 Carmen 410.00 334.00 264.00 213.00 163.00 Urdaneta 540.00 464.00 394.00 343.00 293.00 130.00 Binalonan 587.00 511.00 441.00 390.00 340.00 177.00 47.00 CLASS 3 (Trucks with 3 or more axles and a height greater than 7 feet) ENTRY/EXIT La Paz Victoria Gerona Paniqui La Paz Victoria 91.00 Gerona 175.00 84.00 Paniqui 237.00 146.00 62.00 Moncada 296.00 206.00 122.00 60.00 Carmen 492.00 401.00 317.00 255.00 Urdaneta 648.00 557.00 473.00 411.00 Binalonan 704.00 614.00 530.00 468.00

Moncada

Carmen

Urdaneta

195.00 351.00 408.00

156.00 213.00

57.00

Any interested expressway user shall have the right to file, within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of the first publication of this notice, a petition for review of the applicable toll rates for Segment 7, Section 3A-1 (Urdaneta to Binalonan) with the TRB at the 2nd Floor. Integrated Bar of the Philippines Building, Dona Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. By Authority of the Board:

(TS-JUNE 30/JULY 7/14, 2016)

(Sgd.) ATTY. EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR. Executive Director

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Anti-graft measures backed By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Araneta

THE Department of Justice has supported the enactment into law of a measure extending the period covered by the anti-graft law, a move that fits into the proposal of Senator Panfilo Lacson to exclude suspected ill-gotten wealth of public officials from the coverage of the bank secrecy law. In a legal opinion sent to Malacañang, DoJ’s former undersecretary Zabedin Azis did not object to the consolidated House Bill No. 4146 and Senate Bill No. 2422 that both sought to increase the prescriptive period for violations of Republic Act 3019 (AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act) from 15 years to 20 years. The measures specifically seek

to amend section 11 of the law and expand the prescriptive period or the period within which a complaint for violation of R.A. 3019 can be filed counting from the date of commission of the alleged act. “This department finds no legal objection to the passage of the consolidated enrolled bill since after a careful review and evaluation of the text of the same shows

Lacson

that there is nothing in the said bill that is inconsistent with the Constitution or other pertinent laws,” the DoJ opinion stated. The Justice department said it has also actively participated in the earlier deliberations and passage of the two bills in Congress. Proponents of the measure led

by former House Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao earlier explained that extending the prescriptive period would ensure that those who commit graft and corruption in government would not be able to escape liability by mere technicality of the current 15-year prescription period. If enacted, it would be the second extension of the prescriptive period of R.A. 3019. When the anti-graft law was enacted in August 1960, the original prescriptive period was 10 years. It was amended in 1982 by virtue of Batas Pambansa Bilang 195 that extended the prescriptive period to 15 years. For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson’s Senate Bill 47 effectively removes from all public servants the “protection” afforded by Re-

public Act 1405, which prohibits disclosure or inquiry into bank deposits. Also covered by the Lacson bill are members of the uniformed services, as well as of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Lacson said the avowed purpose of the law (Bank Secrecy Act) is meritorious in preserving the confidentiality of bank transactions this provision of the law had been exploited time and again to hamper and stall investigations of government officials and employees suspected of enriching themselves while in public office. The present law, which was passed as early as 1955, covers “all deposits of whatever nature with banks or banking institutions in the Philippines.”

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

Plaridel’s death anniversary.

Invitation to Bid for the Supply and Delivery of Six (6) Lots Various Plastic Bags under ITB No. PB16-067COR-06 (REBIDDING)

The 120th death anniversary of Filipino patriot Marcelo H. del Pilar, a.k.a Plaridel, was commemorated on Monday, July 4 by Samahang Plaridel, the association of veteran journalists and communicators with a wreath-laying ceremony at the hero’s monument (where he is now transferred) at M.H. del Pilar St. corner Pres. Quirino Avenue, Malate, Manila. Photo shows (from right) Samahang Plaridel chairman Crispulo ‘Jun’ Icban, vice chairman Jullie Yap Daza and president Rolando Estabillo.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming Rebidding for the Supply and Delivery of Six (6) Lots Various Plastic Bags under ITB No. PB16-067COR-06. Brief Description

Lot 1 : Supply and Delivery of Cling Wrap Lot 2 : Supply and Delivery of 40” X 40”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag Lot 3 : Supply and Delivery of 20” X 30”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag Lot 4 : Supply and Delivery of 18” X 14”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag Lot 5 : Supply and Delivery of 4” X 8”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag Lot 6 : Supply and Delivery of 8” X 14”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

The total ABC is in the amount of Two Million One Thousand One Hundred Thirty-Five Pesos (PhP2,001,135.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction. The ABC for each lot is as follows: Lot 1 (Supply and Delivery of Cling Wrap) – Seventeen Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty Pesos (PhP17,760.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Lot 2 (Supply and Delivery of 40” X 40”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag) – One Million Nine Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand Four Hundred Pesos (PhP1,926,400.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Lot 3 (Supply and Delivery of 20” X 30”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag) – Five Thousand Six Hundred Twenty-Five Pesos (PhP5,625.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Lot 4 (Supply and Delivery of 18” X 14”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag) – Forty-Seven Thousand One Hundred Fifty Pesos (PhP47,150.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Lot 5 (Supply and Delivery of 4” X 8”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag) – Two Thousand One Hundred Pesos (PhP2,100.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Lot 6 (Supply and Delivery of 8” X 14”, (±5mm) Polyethylene Bag) – Two Thousand One Hundred Pesos (PhP2,100.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

Delivery Schedule

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents which will commence starting from the contract effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Source of Funds

Internally Funded

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

Schedule

1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

July 7, 2016 to July 27, 2016

2. Pre-Bid Conference

July 15, 2016, 4:00 p.m.

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

July 27, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

July 27, 2016, 10:00 a.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Procurement Department (PD), upon payment of the non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below More than 1 Million to 5 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00 5,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 – Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been postqualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. 2.

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 thru the PD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223 or 671. (SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1

(TS-JULY 7, 2016)

‘Penalize misuse of PNP, AFP uniforms’ By Maricel V. Cruz A VISAYAN lawmaker has sought the passage of a measure that would penalize any civilian caught wearing a uniform of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or Philippine National Police. Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar, in filing his proposal, sought to amend Republic Act 493 to provide a strong and effective deterrent to crimes associated with the illegal use of AFP or PNP uniforms. The bill widens the coverage of the law to include the ban on the use and wearing of military and police or imitations and the manufacture and sale of military/ police uniforms or imitations and the textile for these uniforms. “Violators face a jail term of 10 years and a fine of P20,000 for the use and wearing of military and police or imitations, while a fiveyear imprisonment and a fine of P10,000 shall be imposed for the unauthorized sale of military and

police uniforms to civilian and the production of textile, which is being used for the production of the uniforms,” Del Mar said. Del Mar said oftentimes, criminals facilitate the commission of their crimes by wearing AFP and PNP uniforms. This misrepresentation has also caused damage to the reputation of the military and the police. Del Mar noted that RA 493 regulates the wearing, using, manufacturing and selling of insignias, decorations and medals, badges, patches and identification cards prescribed for the AFP and Philippine Constabulary, now the Philippine National Police, by persons not in the service. However, he said the prohibition under RA 493 does not cover the use and wearing of military/police uniforms as well as the manufacture and sale of military/police uniforms and the textile for these uniforms. Del Mar also said the use of military and/or police uniforms and

accessories has been prohibited under special law and the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines. Article 177 prohibits any person to falsely represent himself as officer, agent or representative of any department or agency of the Philippine government, he said. Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code provides that any person who publicly and improperly makes use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to class of persons of which he is not a member shall be penalized by arresto mayor. Del Mar said Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines is universal to all departments of agencies of the Philippine government. Moreover, the penalties provided by these laws are perceived to be light. “Despite these legal prohibitions, criminal syndicates and individuals have not been deterred in using military or police uniforms in their unlawful and illegal activities,” Del Mar said.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

CDO mayor to contest suspension, dismissal

Teachers refuse to act as poll tellers, cite pay delay

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—City Mayor Oscar Moreno of Cagayan de Oro City said he would contest the three-month suspension and dismissal order of the Ombudsman regarding the lease of a building without the approval of the City Council. He said that the suspension order has already expired last June 30 because it was supposed to be implemented before his term expired on June 30, 2013. The Ombudsman posted the suspension order against Moreno in its website last July 1, 2016, which instructed the Department of Interior and Local Government to transmit and execute the order within 10 days upon receipt. The DILG regional office said that it had yet to receive the transmittal order, which did not come as of Wednesday. Moreno is facing several criminal cases with the anti-graft court for alleged illegal disbursement and implementation of various projects without an approved budget and approval of the City Council. Last March 16, 2016, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved and sustained the antigraft court’s dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification of Moreno to hold public office. The case stemmed from a complaint about the agreement forged by Moreno and the acting City Treasurer Glenn Banez with the Ajinomoto Phil Inc. where Moreno and Banez lowered the amount of tax due the city government to P300,000 from the original tax assessment of P2.9 million. The Ombudsman said that the agreement with the Ajinomoto Phil. Inc. was illegal because it was done without the approval of the City Council and found Moreno and Banez guilty of grave misconduct and abuse of authority. Moreno has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City to reverse the Ombudsman’s decision and has continued to exercise his duties and responsibilities as city mayor pending resolution of the appeal. PNA

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

THE Teachers Dignity Coalition national chairman Benjo Basas said that half of public teachers decided not to serve as board of election tellers in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in October, citing the delay of the release of the honorarium among 476,000 teachers who have served as BEIs during the May 9 national and local polls. “If they had the choice, most of the teachers would opt not to do the duty,” Basas said Wednesday. Citing the law signed by former President Benigno Aquino III in

April, Basas said that public teachers have now options whether or not to participate as BEIs or BETs in the elections. The Comelec has recently

failed to pay at least 76,000 teachers 15 days after the presidential elections. For the May 2016 polls, the chairperson and members of the BEIs as well as support staff members were entitled to receive a per diem at the rate of P1,000 a day for three days; P500 each for the verification and sealing of the Book of Voters, for the final testing and sealing of the vote counting machines, and for transportation allowance; and P2,000 for undergoing training for a total per diem of P6,500. As of Wednesday, Comelec

Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that the Comelec has yet to pay 194 teachers who served as BEIs in the recent polls. “As of today, the director of finance reported that 194 have not yet been paid,” Guanzon said in a text message. Even with just small numbers left unpaid, Guanzon already said in a recent interview that a delay more than 15 days is considered as “criminal offense.” “Delay more than 15 days in paying the BEI teachers is a criminal offense,” Guanzon recently said.

All ears. Boys do not mind the rain as they listen to the khutbah (sermon) of the Imam (preacher). The Muslim community marked Eid’l Fitr, ending the fasting month of Ramadan. OMAR MANGORSI

Fire razes Zamboanga town public market By A. Perez Rimando

Costume and cheer. Dancers join the celebration of the Pintados Parade-Kasadyaan Festival 2016.

MEL CASPE

SINDANGAN, Zamboanga del Norte—The public market of this first-class coastal municipality was razed by fire Monday evening, with damage amounting to some P30 million worth of properties and assorted goods and materials. Municipal Bureau of Fire Protection Chief Officer 3 Jesus F. Am-is said the fire, allegedly caused by faulty electric wiring, razed more than 100 stalls and stores of dry and wet goods such as rice, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables as well as bakeries, tailoring shops, house-

hold appliances, dress shops, pharmacies, and the like. Am-is said Sindangan’s three available fire trucks were later assisted one hour later by fire trucks from the neighboring towns of Salug, Liloy, Manukan, Siayan and Roxas, and private companies and civilian volunteers. He claimed the local fire station was alerted by public market security guards Paterno Cenas and Rodulfo Pagulayan when the market fire started. Am-is declared fire out after four hours, adding nobody was hurt in the incident.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

HE’S STILL GOT THE JUICE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

LOUD AND CLEAR

AT THE 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte named five police generals as protectors of the illegal drug trade. Three of the five are in active service; two have retired. The following morning, Generals Joel Pagdilao, Bernardo Diaz and Edgardo Tinio met with Philippine National Police Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa who in turn advised them to “face the music.” The National Police Commission will investigate the cases of the three active police officials, who were just relieved of their posts this week. A regular court will try the case of retired General Marcelo Garbo while the Department of the Interior and Local Government will handle the case of retired General Vicente Loon, who is now mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu. Dela Rosa refused to disclose what transpired during the meeting with Pagdilao, Diaz and Tinio, saying it was “purely intimate and personal.” The generals had earlier protested their inclusion in the list and denied involvement in the drug trade. It would be tragic if there were a mistake of some sort in identifying the police officials supposedly protecting drug lords. Imagine the effects of the President’s announcement on the generals’ families and on the officials themselves, assuming they lived out the past few decades in honest and painstaking service to the country. Imagine the tragedy, were the long years of service to end in a downfall precipitated by charges that are not even true. Finally, imagine the effect of the accusations on the morale of the younger police officials who had looked up to these men as their leaders, mentors, even their friends. We hope the generals get to clear their name—if in fact they are innocent. Palace officials, however, have said there has been no wrong information fed to the President. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the Palace had sufficient documentary and testimonial evidence to support the administrative and criminal cases against the cops. “He won’t say anything like that if there is no strong evidence to link them [to it],” said Interior Secretary Mike Sueno. That the generals were named just a few days after the start of the new administration and during a public address at the anniversary of the Philippine Air Force bolsters Duterte’s promise that the fight against illegal drugs will be resolute. Most importantly, it sends a message loud and clear to other politicians and law enforcers who vow to protect public interest and yet protect the drug trade, as well. The bold announcement will not likely be the last, and they better be afraid. The drug problem has not been cited as the most urgent concern—at least not along the ranks of poverty, inequality and corruption—until now. Then again, it is linked to all the other ills: it wastes individual and family resources, corrupts public servants, undermines institutions and disrupts what could otherwise be a productive life for the user. Let the charges be pressed if there is sufficient basis for them. Let the investigations begin and let justice be swift. Acquit the innocent but punish the guilty, however high up in the organization they may be. Let this cycle continue until we hear the next batch of names, and the other batches after that.

DUTERTE’S BALLS LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES JUST when you’d thought you’d seen it all, “The Punisher” comes up with another one from way off left field. I know President Rodrigo Duterte cares little about what people (journalists, especially) think of his methods, but he certainly has my respect and undivided attention now. This is a president who is going to try anything in order to get the job done. And he has balls the size of those new double-decker buses on Edsa.

If I sound like a Duterte fanboy, forgive me. But I am still in awe of Digong’s decision last Tuesday to “out” five police generals whom he believes are involved in the illegal drug trade. I can’t think of any of the other candidates for president last May who would even seriously consider doing what Duterte did this week. Heck, I can’t even conceive of any previous—or future—president of this longsuffering republic trying it. General Antonio Luna may have done it. But Luna never became president—his timid, backstabbing enemies made sure of that. I have thought long and hard about what Digong did, groping for words to describe the act.

Then a friend steeped in classical thought and literature found the metaphor I was searching for. “If you know the legend of the Gordian Knot, you will realize how eerily it resembles the linkages between the generals and drug lords,” my friend wrote in a Facebook post. “The problem of illegal drugs is near impossible to untangle; Duterte, like Alexander the Great, just cut the proverbial knot in one speech.” The mythical Gordian Knot, of course, was presented to anyone who wanted to rule the ancient satrapy (or province) of Phrygia. Every would-be ruler failed to untangle the knot, until the Macedonian Alexander arrived, looked at the puzzle and cut it with

I join the citizenry in heaving a collective sigh of relief that, at last, someone has decided to take on the drug syndicates.

a stroke of his sword; problem solved. Once again, Duterte has drawn flak from the human-rights crybabies for his precipitate action. And all five generals protested that the president had been fed false information that they were perfectly willing and able to refute in the proper court. I sympathize with the generals and their families, actually. It is not easy to rebuild a reputation, built over many decades, that has been besmirched in one fell swoop—especially if the president himself is doing the besmirching. But I am not going to accuse Duterte of wantonly and irresponsibly smearing a bunch of generals’ reputations if he is not standing on solid ground, evidence-wise. Remember, this is a president who is a lawyer and

a former prosecutor—he would be the last person to make baseless allegations against career cops with generals’ stars on their shoulders. I will also join the call for Duterte to back up his serious allegations in due time. And I know that if the President fails to substantiate his charges, there will be political hell to pay. *** But right now, I join the citizenry in unabashedly cheering Digong’s disclosures. I join them in heaving a collective sigh of relief that, at last,

someone has decided to take on the drug syndicates that have penetrated 90 percent of all the nation’s barangays, like most official estimates say. As for the generals, I can only commiserate with them up to a point. If Duterte really has the goods on them, they should have heeded his warning to retire early and fess up. And yes, I understand that we have to stand our ground on the protection of human rights for all, because if we don’t, a point will be reached when there will be no one to defend us because everyone else’s human rights have already been violated.

The Standard 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, 8325556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard.com.ph; E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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Honestly, I think that’s a truckload of manure. Somebody has to do something about the problem of illegal drugs, a terrible scourge that was never acknowledged during the six years of Noynoy Aquino. As the pundit Bobi Tiglao wrote recently: “Did Aquino coddle and protect drug lords? Most definitely yes, either out of his sheer incompetence or outright complicity.” Tiglao explained: “I’ve reviewed all of Aquino’s six State of the Nation Addresses and it is shocking that in all of these, he 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

IT IS A story that obviously could not have been kept a secret for long. As it happened, it was President Duterte himself who broke it during his inaugural speech when he said “President Ramos sir, thank you very much for your help in making me President.” He repeated this the following day during the turnover ceremonies in Cramp Crame. In the two events, it was hard not to notice that FVR was visibly elated in the public display of appreciation by President Duterte. Although the general public was not aware of the role played by FVR in the May 9 elections, many in the political community knew about it. Many of those who worked in the Duterte campaign, after all, were FVR people. In a visit to his office before the elections, I sensed that this was the direction of his efforts. One factor for his support to then-candidate Digong Duterte was his belief that if anybody can solve the long-festering law and order problem in Mindanao, it would be Digong Duterte. One consequence of FVR’s active involvement in the elections is that he will be busier than ever. Not that he is lacking in anything to do, but since the public has been informed that he was a big factor in Digong Duterte’s win, his office is now probably a veritable market place for job seekers. For the last 18 years, FVR has been kept at a distance by three successive administrations. The three previous presidents did not seem to care to make use of his vast experience in government. Even in retirement, he is still in demand as a speaker, not only here but abroad. Every time he comes back from an overseas trip, he never fails to provide a report to the government. FVR’s standing among current and past government bureaucrats is very high. President Duterte knows this and unlike his three predecessors, he is comfortable in tapping FVR’s immense experience for the good of the country. This is something that the three previous presidents should have done, but did not. President Duterte, on the other hand, has the confidence as a leader to steer the country to the direction he wants. He welcomes all the

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 LY 7, 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

HE’S STILL GOT THE JUICE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

LOUD AND CLEAR

I join the citizenry in heaving a collective sigh of relief that, at last, someone has decided to take on the drug syndicates.

ONLINE

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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 LY 7, 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THEY ARE NOT DRUG LORDS TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

AFTER reading newspaper reports and watching television clips on the allout campaign against illegal drugs, which President Rodrigo Duterte vowed would be eradicated within six months, I now have a few questions. Are those being killed in alleged shootouts with the police real drug lords, or just plain pushers or drug addicts turned pushers? It is impossible

Can drug lords be found in squatter areas?

that drug lords live in shanties. Why are law enforcement agencies packing already-congested jails with drug dependents when these are supposed to be victims of the drug menace? Or, are they actually pushers pretending to be addicts? With what we are seeing now, does it not seem that the BS Aquino administration simply tolerated the proliferation of illegal drugs, not doing anything to stop it? And with the alleged involvement of at least five police generals already named, and with at least 35 heads of local government units also involved, but not yet named, could it be possible that people around BS Aquino himself are the true drug lords? I have no ready answers to these questions, but it does seem the real drug lords are in the higher echelons of society. I advise the President and his Chief of Police to also go after movie and TV celebrities instead of targeting the poor. It is an open secret in the entertainment industry that users can easily buy drugs.

*** The police generals, two of them already retired, and the other three already deactivated, are luckier than the dealers and pushers who are being targeted by the police and other law enforcement agencies. The latter are simply killed. The five police generals still have to be investigated by the National Police Commission if they are still members of the PNP. If not, they have to go through the normal process required by law. First of all, there must be positive proof and evidence of their involvement considering the fact that a person is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. Their names made public by the President is not proof. Then they must be tried. For those still in active service, they must be tried by the Sandiganbayan. And for those already retired, by regional trial courts. My gulay, that can take months or even years! And if they have good lawyers, that can even exceed the six years of the Duterte administration. Look at the Ampatuan massacre case. It has been years since the alleged culprits were indicted. To this end, Duterte himself may be realizing that his vow to end criminality, illegal drugs and corruption could not be achieved in six months. Being a lawyer himself, he knows what is legal and not legal. *** Vice President Leni Robredo says that with or without a cabinet position, she’ll continue to support President Duterte. Does she has any other choice? After all, members of BS Aquino’s Yellow Army are now gravitating to the Duterte camp. This brings up the question of whether Robredo as vice president is still relevant. I believe she has become irrelevant for two reasons. First, because her vice presidency is under question. We all know how she won it. We also know that Sena-

BIGGER FISH TO FRY JUST this Tuesday at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force in Clark Freeport, President Rodrigo Duterte named five police generals allegedly involved in illegal drug operations. They have since been relieved of their positions. President Rody even said that he had been hearing the names of those generals and their alleged involvement in illegal drugs even when he was still mayor of Davao City, which only means that the previous administration had these supposed scoundrels under their noses all this time— whether knowingly or unwittingly, we may never know, but there is blame to be placed either way. The President was in fighting form, as always, and was particularly feisty in front of PAF officers. What he said after winning the presidential race was right: this is going to be a dirty fight, and this is going to be a bloody fight. An astute student of the law, he said he would not apologize for his fight against illegal drugs, and that he is taking full legal responsibility for it. It’s a refreshing thing to hear a president who knows what he is doing, one that has a sense of righ-

MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ teous but responsible indignation. It is refreshing because the stark difference was made apparent immediately after he assumed office. On the same day, 35 members of the Quezon City Police District were relieved from their respective duties. They have been assigned to regions in Mindanao. Five of them were from the Anti-Illegal Drugs Division, while the others were from the Special Operations Unit. We have seen in the past few days President Rody’s promise to eradicate illegal drugs in the country slowly coming to fruition. We have heard of foreign crime lords turning tail right after the presidential election results came out, and we have read about seizures, arrests, and defeats of drug suspects from Metro Manila and beyond. Of course these small fry have led critics to cast doubt on the new administration’s sincerity and ability to

fulfill its promises, but now that officials are clearly on their way to reel in the big fish, the critics can take their yellowing feet and shove it down their own mouths. Let us remember that the drug menace would not have become the pandemic it is today where it not for the coddling of the past administration’s narco-politicians and narco-generals. We await with bated breath for lady justice to catch these big fishes. For generals down to the PO1s living beyond their means, sporting SUVs and residing in multimillion-peso houses and condos, without a care in the world because of the impunity afforded by Daang Matuwid, their time has thankfully come to an end. After the first few days of the new administration, pessimists of the yellow kind have been critical of the status quo in various issues, particularly on the crusade against illegal drugs. My answer to them is this: If President Rody is able to solve the problem of drug syndicates, then this will be a lasting legacy for future generations, to remember him with honor and respect.

BREXIT DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF THE OLD By Narayana Kocherlakota BRITAIN’S decision to leave the European Union should serve as an important reminder for the leaders of all democracies with aging populations: Pay more attention to what older folks think, and learn how to communicate with them. Of all age groups, people 65 and over voted most overwhelmingly in favor of Brexit. This demonstrates that seniors have a unique set of interests and understanding of economic tradeoffs—all of which policy makers ignore at their peril. Consider, for example, how governments respond to economic shocks, such as the potential fallout from Brexit. Economists typically advise them to rely heavily on central banks, which seek to support growth and keep inflation near target primarily by taking actions detor Bongbong Marcos should be the vice president, not Leni, who is trying hard to stick like a leech. If only to get into the news, Robredo makes herself look humble and pro-poor, like taking the bus to go to Camarines Sur. She attempts to identify herself with Duterte, coming from the ranks of the poor.

signed to lower interest rates. Older folks, however, have ample reason to oppose such monetary stimulus. They have more net worth, and hence more to lose when investment returns decline along with interest rates. They hold a lot of annuities and bonds that benefit when inflation is unusually low. And they tend to be retired, meaning that they’re less interested in boosting employment and wages. (In all those areas, the US Federal Reserve’s policies over the past few years have actually benefitedseniors at the expense of the broader economy.) Economists have also argued that, with interest rates low, the government should borrow money to invest in infrastructure projects such as road repair, which would create jobs while increasing the economy’s longer-term potential. But older folks have less incentive to support such fiscal measures, which are designed to pay off in

It has become “overacting” on the part of Robredo, making her “plastic” in more ways than one. Somebody identified with the Duterte camp told me that the President is just humoring her when she wants to see him. *** The yearlong lifestyle checks of all government workers by the Duterte

large part when they’re long gone. All this suggests that the people charged with managing the economy should rethink how they do their jobs in older societies. There may, for example, be ways to offset the political pressures that work against effective monetary policy. In the UK, social security payments are partially indexed to wage growth, giving seniors more reason to support the goals of full employment and higher pay. Even with such adjustments, though, I suspect that many seniors will still push back against easy money. This will require more reliance on fiscal policy, with tools tailored to garner the support of older citizens. Measure such as public investment in medical facilities and training, or increased subsidies for long-term care and pharmaceuticals, might be more palatable than spending on roads and bridges while being no less useful economically. Bloomberg

administration is supposed to flush out corrupt government workers. This should have been done a long time ago considering since many in government have lifestyles beyond their means, or what get from their government post as salaries and other perks. The problem with this move of the President is that he will still have to

depend on chiefs of government, like at Customs, BIR and LTO. My gulay, even security guards at Customs have flashy cars as Nick Faeldon, newly appointed Customs chief will soon find out. Duterte must realize soon enough that it takes more than honesty to stop corruption. The lifestyle check is long overdue.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

CHINA’S NEW WEAPON? VIDEO GAMES By Adam Minter WHEN Chinese internet giant Tencent acquired the Finnish video game developer Supercell last month for $8.6 billion, it became the world’s dominant publisher and distributor in the $100 billion gaming market. It was a blockbuster deal: No other Chinese entertainment company in any field— television, film, books—has ever come close to such a dominating position. Yet the most lasting consequence of the acquisition might not have much to do with economics. It might instead be cultural. The Chinese government has spent billions in recent years to subsidize artistic enterprises, with an eye toward wielding “soft power” beyond its borders. It hasn’t been notably successful. But China’s video game industry—as of last year, the world’s biggest -- is on the verge of becoming one of its most valuable cultural exports. It just might succeed where so much Chinese entertainment has failed in the past.

Although the most popular PC games in China have generally been imports that publishers like Tencent have adapted for local audiences, games based on traditional Chinese themes and epics, such as “Journey to the West,” remain popular and continue to evolve in interesting ways. Unlike film and television producers, moreover, Chinese game studios have largely avoided censorship fights (there’s not much to censor in a battle between orcs and humans). This has given them a degree of creative freedom that other art forms don’t always enjoy. A multiplayer battle game called “300 Heroes,” for example, is stocked with copyrighted characters like Shrek (whose weapon of choice is a projectile donkey) along with figures from classical Chinese epics. The result is a hilarious gaming analog to copyright-testing musical mashups—as well as a subtle bit of subversion in a country where censors frown on lampooning traditional culture. Thus far, Chinese game makers have mostly fo-

cused on the rapidly growing domestic market and ignored overseas audiences. But with that superfast growth coming to an end, they’ll need to look abroad if they want to expand their market share. And that’s where things get interesting. With the acquisition of Supercell, the world’s most popular developer of mobile games, Tencent will control about 13 percent of the global gaming industry. The plan is for Supercell—which already has 100 million daily players—to put its titles in front of the 300 million gamers who use Tencent’s products. Tencent’s expansive social media platforms, in turn, should offer new opportunities for interactive play in Supercell games. But that’s not all. Bloomberg News recently speculated that Tencent might try pushing some of Supercell’s globally popular game characters into movie theaters, creating a vertically integrated, video-game-based Disney for the 21st century. It could do the same with its own creations, such as the sexed-up anime char-

acters who battle robots for control of the planet in Tencent’s forthcoming “Name of the Nature” game. There’s already a good model for this: A few weeks ago, “Warcraft,” the cinematic spinoff of a PC game, enjoyed a $157 million opening weekend —the biggest opener in Chinese box office history, and the biggest video game movie ever. Of course, the general failure of Chinese films, television and musical acts to catch on overseas doesn’t offer much reason for optimism. But video games, unlike TV shows, are easily adapted for foreign audiences. And Tencent—which has been collaborating with the world’s top game developers for years—knows how to do it as well as anyone. WeFire, the company’s new firstperson shooter game, is already a hit in South Korea and Taiwan, and is now being tailored for a big push in the Americas. Meanwhile, just as Disney profits from sports via its ownership of ESPN, Tencent is prospering from the soaring popular-

ity of online gaming competitions. Some 36 million people streamed the Tencent-owned League of Legends World Championships between two South Korean teams last year. It’s too early to say just how Chinese video games will affect global culture. That would be like trying to predict the impact of Disney in the 1920s, or Marvel Comics in the 1940s. It’s possible that Chinese epics might yet become globally popular. But it’s more likely that game makers will export contemporary Chinese values and concerns— including ambivalence about the advance of technology (a key concern of “Name of the Nature”), fear for the ecological future and a Kardashianlike embrace of materialism in its gaudiest forms. China’s e-sports competitors, already famous in East Asia, could become icons for frustrated desk jockeys worldwide. In other words, the reset button is being pressed on global culture. And it’s China’s turn to play. Bloomberg

Duterte’s... From A9

He’s still... From A9 help that he can get from all sectors. Every administration builds on the accomplishments of the previous one and also learns from their mistakes. If we are now growing economically, part of the reason was what FVR started. FVR is now 88 years old but still going strong. In a game of golf we played last Sunday, he was still able to out drive some of us who are much younger than he is. He still got a lot of juice left in him—and this is a man who has lived all his adult life with one kidney. **** Last July 5 in Clark, President Duterte finally named the five active and retired senior PNP officers allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. All five denied the accusations. The President, being a lawyer, knows and realizes the implications of his pronouncement. This can only show how seriously he views the illegal drug problem of the country. Because we adhere to the doctrine of presumption of innocence, the actions of the President was therefore quite unprecedented. This is saying it mildly. Was the action right? Going

in favor for the president is that he is the final repositor y of all intelligence reports in the countr y and therefore, more than anybody else, he knows what is going on. The severity of the illegal drug problem probably also requires unprecedented actions, with the end hopefully justifying the means. There is also the need to fast-track the campaign. As it is however, these officers will have to prove themselves not guilty instead of the state proving them guilty. One of those named, Marcelo Garbo, was a three-star police general who worked in the Roxas campaign. He was the officer seen by the media meeting with two senior PNP officers in one of the restaurants in Cubao. The other is Joel Pagdilao, a two star general who probably would have gone to become the PNP chief had Mar Roxas won. As it is, these officers will spend a lot of time trying to prove that the accusation has no basis in fact. As already mentioned in the media, a couple of these officers have already been mentioned. The others are new revelations. The immediate

effect of this bombshell is bad for the image of the PNP, but at least it shows to the public that the PNP as an organization is willing to reform and rid itself of bad apples. PNP Chief “Bato” Dela Rosa, to his credit, has promised a fair and impartial investigation. Will there be other names to follow? We are very fond of the sample method to jump start a campaign. In the case of the previous administration, the sample personalities were former President Arroyo and former Chief Justice Corona but as it turned out, this was only to mask the corruption of those allied with former President Aquino. The Duterte administration, however, appears to be different. It has none of the reckless moves of the previous administration when in it took over the reigns of government. President Duterte’s team, however, appears more discerning. We hope they make the right moves. If the naming of these active and retired officers is not just a sampling process but the start of a deep rooted reform agenda to stamp out corruption, then the journey to the promise land is attainable.

had not even mentioned that we have a serious illegal drug problem, as if he were deliberately concealing its existence.” In all the years that I’ve watched Aquino’s presidency, I don’t remember him declaring war on illegal drugs syndicates, either. Like Tiglao, I am forced to concede that Aquino fought “corruption,” which was really synonymous with what his political enemies did, since he never pursued corruption charges against his own people. This leads me to suspect that while Duterte is already engaged in catching the proverbial big fish by going after the generals, I think there are even larger marine life that he has to land. While accusing a bunch of generals of being in league with drug lords sounds good, I think there are even higher officials behind the proliferation of narcotics. And I think Duterte has the cojones to go even higher than a brace of star-rank policemen. At this point, I’m not putting anything past him, really.

THURSDAY: J ULY 7, 2016

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pagara warned: Mexican Juarez a tough nut to crack By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FIVE-DIVISION world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash’ Donaire and his trainer/father Dodong Donaire have warned unbeaten Prince Albert Pagara that his rugged opponent Cesar Juarez of Mexico “is really tough,” telling him to be in great shape to fend off the aggressive Mexican. “If Juarez is 100 percent in shape, it’s going to be pretty tough for Pagara,” Dodong Donaire told The Standard, recalling that his son

himself had a hard time in the second half of their title fight, described as “brutal.” However, the two knockdowns scored by Donaire

in the fourth round and his counter-punching off the ropes in the championship rounds made all the difference in an eventually lopsided win in December 2015 to win the vacant WBO super bantamweight title. ABS-CBN’s Bev Llorente quoted Donaire, who said Juarez “is very tough but isn’t such a skilled fighter. But he is courageous and strong and charges forward. All he knows is to take the fight to you.” The younger Donaire

added: “I was very surprised because whenever I hit him, he just takes it. I’ve never faced anyone so courageous.” Donare added that Pagara should watch out for Juarez’s volume punches, noting that “if you get tired, that’s when you feel the power of his punches but they are not that powerful.” Donaire, who has sparred with Pagara in the past, said the Filipino needs to work on his defense since Juarez is a strong fighter. But he believes Pagara

can drop Juarez. “Pagara is very promising. Pagara has a lot of future looking at him. He is a very capable fighter. His advantage is that he is taller and strong. He just has to keep his distance. Let Juarez come in because I know Pagara is strong and his style is tailor-made for Pagara,” Donaire said. “I feel he will knock out Juarez. He is one of the few fighters from the ALA Gym, who trains hard so I know he is ready to face Juarez.”

Bernardo, 2 others bag Shell chess titles TOP seed Dale Bernardo rebounded from a fifthround setback with a sweep of his last four games, including a final-round victory over No. 2 Stephen Rome Pangilinan to capture the juniors’ crown in the 24th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Southern Luzon leg at SM Batangas Event Center last Sunday. No. 16 Emanuel Van Paler actually tied Bernardo after the nine-round Swiss system tournament with a victory over erstwhile leader Eric Labog Jr. in the last round for eight points, but the top Far Eastern University bet took the title with a superior tiebreak score. Bernardo, who lost to Labog in the fifth round, downed Daniel Lopez in the sixth then toppled Jesca Docena and Melito Ocsan before outwitting Pangilinan to complete his comefrom-behind victory. Labog, who scored 2.5 points in the last four rounds, took solo third with 7.5 points and the last berth in the grand finals of the country’s longest, biggest talent search slated in October. Kylen Joy Mordido, 14, of Dasmarinas National High School finished in a tie with Docena with six points in the juniors’ division to clinch the lone female slot in the national finals of the event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell, a global leader in power, energy and technology. Second seed Michael Concio Jr. of St. Anthony School and Nelson Busa Jr. shared the spotlight by ruling the kiddies’ and seniors’ divisions, respectively, with Jerlyn Mae San Diego (kiddies) and Ruth Aubrey De Guzman (seniors) snaring the top female honors in their respective divisions.

PH team backers. San Miguel Corporation President and COO Ramon Ang (center) watches Tuesday night’s Gilas-France FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament game at the Mall of Asia Arena, with SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua (left) and SMB team governor Robert Non.

Manila Bay Clean-Up Run lures 3,000 participants NEARLY 3,000 runners have signed up to help clean the country’s waterways and coastal resources by taking part in this year’s Manila Bay Clean-Up Run, which fires off on Sunday in front of the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex in Pasay City. Runners of the 21 km will track their course at 4:30 a.m. sharp, followed by those competing in the 10-km category, 5 km and 3 km. The event is a prelude to the 77th anniversary of DZRH, the flagship station of Manila Broadcasting Company, which is organizing the race as a member of the “Sunset” partnership among establishments helping Land Bank’s project to restore Manila Bay. Prizes in cash and kind are in store for all finishers, who will get free ride-all-you-can tickets

to Star City among other items in their loot bags. MBC will also present a mini concert featuring the Mocha Babes and popular DJ Tanya Chinita of 1010.1 YesFM following the races. Archer and sprinter Cynthia Thomalla, who was crowned Aliwan Fiesta queen in April will see action in the 5K race, while triathlete and Ironman veteran Alexandra Faith Garcia, 2015 Reyna ng Aliwan first runner-up, signed up to run 21K. Also seeing action is actor Cesar Montano. Likewise expected to join are the Miss PhilippinesEarth beauties, led by Imelda Schweighart and her court. The 2016 Manila Bay CleanUp Run is brought to you by Enervon, Petron, M. Lhuillier, Silka Papaya, Tapa King, Shakey’s, 555 Tuna, Kenny Rogers, Maynilad Water, and Lice Alis.

Ironman veteran Alexandra Faith Garcia will run in the 21K category of the Manila Bay Clean-Up Run, which fires off on Sunday in front of the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex in Pasay City.

Durant gives self a solid chance to win title SAN FRANCISCO— Kevin Durant’s announcement that he will leave Oklahoma City to join the Golden State Warriors, a blockbuster move that could shape the NBA’s future, reverberated around the league on Tuesday. Durant averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists a game last season for the Thunder, who alongside star guard Russell Westbrook came within a game of reaching the NBA Finals before losing to Golden State in the Western Conference finals. Now Durant, the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player and a four-time league scoring champion, will unite with Stephen Curry, the 2015 and 2016 NBA MVP and this year’s top scorer with 30.1 points a game. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they score 200 pts next year,” tweeted Cameroon center Joel Embiid of Philadelphia of the Warriors’ single-game scoring potential. As well as Curry and Durant comes the core of a team that won a record 73 regular-season games last season and came within a game of repeating as NBA champions before losing the final to Cleveland. “This is definitely one of the biggest moves in NBA history,” Golden State forward Draymond Green told Sports Illustrated. “(Kevin) is one of the best players in NBA history. I’m excited and I’m excited for KD.” A hike in the salary cap was enough for the Warriors to add Durant without having to destroy the heart of their lineup. They dropped free agents Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli to make room for Durant, sacrificing depth for star power. Durant met with the Thunder, Warriors, San Antonio, Boston, Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers before announcing his decision Monday. Durant agreed on a twoyear deal worth $53 million that has a player option so he can opt out next year and make even more money when new NBA television contract revenue will send the league salary cap skyrocketing. And Durant, who has yet to capture an NBA championship, gives himself a solid opportunity to claim a crown on a club that ousted Oklahoma City and offers 3-point sharpshooters Curry and Klay Thompson, Green and Andre Iguodala with him on the frontline and Shaun Livingston off the bench. AFP

THURSDAY: J ULY 7, 2016

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Shakey’s volley semis on NATIONAL University got back at De La SalleLipa, 25-20, 25-21, while University of Santo Tomas held off Kings’ Montessori School’s gallant stand, 25-19, 25-23, to clinch the top seedings in their respective groups at the close of the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League of Champions Season 14 at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig late Tuesday. The Lady Bullpups, led by Faith Nisperos, Thea Gagate, Nicole Magsarile and setter Joyme Cagande, imposed their power this time over the defending champions and completed the straight-set win to sweep the Pool A elims and gain the top spot in the semis. UST, on the other hand, frustrated KMS’ fightback in the second set to likewise dominate Pool B for the No. 1 seeding in the Final Four of the two-division tournament featuring the regional winners of the league backed by MyPhone, Asics and Mikasa. DLS-Lipa, which edged NU in a thrilling threesetter to snare last year’s crown, settled for No. 2 and was playing UST at presstime for a berth in the finals. The Lady Bullpups, meanwhile, were clashing with the Central Philippine University side in the other side of the crossover semis. Winners will dispute the crown today (Thursday) starting at 4 p.m. with the semis losers colliding for third place honors at 3 p.m. Philippine Sports Commission chair William Ramirez and PVF secgen Karl Chan will grace the finals of the country’s longest-running talent search, organized by Metro Sports, that has produced the current volley stars. Meanwhile, in other final elims result, Holy Rosary Coolege turned back Iligan City National HS, 25-22, 26-24. For details, visit www.facebook.com/ shakeysgirlsvleague.

Fiery finish nets Shin 2-shot lead BACOLOD—Reed-thin Micah Shin shouldered himself past a slew of local aces with an explosive windup at the front in the rain, turning in a fiveunder par 65 and grabbing a two-stroke lead over veteran Jay Bayron at the start of the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin here yesterday.

Little Azkals’ Team Manager Albert Almendralejo (left) briefs sportswriters about the coming Football for a Better Life during an appearance at the PSA Forum. He is joined by (starting second from left) Azkal Amani Aguinaldo; Lee Longa, Chief Finance Ofﬁcer of Pru Life UK; Chieffy Caligdong, Project Director of Football for a Better Life; and Azkals Simone Rota Azkals and Misagh Bahadoran. LINO SANTOS

Football for a Better Life expanding By Maxine Lagman FORMER Azkals’ skipper Chieffy Caligdong on Tuesday said that Football for a Better Life is expanding its community programs, in collaboration with Pru Life UK. Football for a Better Life, now on its second year, kicks off in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental on Aug. 6 to 7. The FFABL hopes to discover football talents as early as seven years old from the different provinces, with the chosen ones making

it to the Little Azkals, who will join the 2019 U-17 World Cup. “We give them a program that teaches both players and coaches, focusing on their skills. At the same time, we want to educate the players to be good players someday,” said Caligdong, Tuesday at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate. Little Azkals’ team manager Albert Almendralejo announced that the team will also join the 2016 Borneo Football Cup in Malaysia.

The football program aims to inspire children develop their skills and continue the legacy of the Philippine Football team. “With the help of other companies, LGUs and local football groups, we hope to make dreams of talented players and of our nation come true,” said Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer Antonio Manuel De Rosas. Azkals Simone Rota, Amani Aguinaldo and Misagh Bahadoran will help facilitate the football tournaments and clinics.

The young American appeared headed for another mediocre stint after blowing a two-under card after seven holes at the back with back-to-back bogeys from No. 17. But after heeding the advice of his caddie, he settled down and birdied No. 1 then closed out with stirring four-birdie binge in the last five holes to find himself the bewildered leader in the early going of the P1.5 million ninth leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour. Not bad for a 19-year-old Davao-based player who missed the cut and placed way down at 40th in his last two tournaments at Eagle Ridge and Forest Hills. “I got mad at myself after I bogeyed the last two holes at the back. But my caddie told me to just relax and just play my game since there were still nine holes left,” said Shin, referring to Davao pro Elmer Saban, who opted to take the bag for his young ward. For a while, Bayron took the spotlight with a 67, also anchoring his bid on a sizzling windup at the back with four birdies against a bogey, only to yield the upperhand to a charging Shin in one of the last flights in the opener of the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Orlan Sumcad failed to cash in on his local knowledge of the tight par-70 layout, hitting three birdies but fumbling with two bogeys for a 35-34 card, dropping to joint third with Johvanie Abaño, Zanieboy Gialon, Mars Pucay, Joenard Rates and Dutch Guido Van der Valk. Fancied Tony Lascuña put himself in early contention with birdies on Nos. 13 and 16 but the back-to-back winner at Eagle Ridge and Forest Hills flubbed a couple of birdie putts at the front then hit an errant shot on the par-3 eighth and needed five shots to hole out. He settled for an even 70 to drop to joint ninth with Reymon Jaraula, Keanu Jahns, Jet Mathay, Marvin Dumandan and Cassius Casas.

LOTTO RESULTS

Net winners. Siblings John David (center) and Patricia Velez hold their trophies as they pose with Malaybalay’s

Bebot Callao after scoring a pair of victories in the Malaybalay leg of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Bukidnon regional age-group tennis tournament at the DPWH and Malaybalay Tennis Club last Monday.

2016 Bea Zobel Cup IT WAS nearly a decade when Doῆa Beatriz SYLVIA LOPEZ Miranda de ALEJANDRO Zobel decided to hold her special tournament of all bridge players from the membership of the Philippine Tournament Bridge League. The ﬁrst Bea Zobel Cup was held in 2008 at the Manila Golf Club, a very memorable occasion for me as I was the ﬁrst recipient, together with Joseph Maliwat, of the silver miniature galleon trophy crafted from Madrid with inscription: Premio Bridge Zobel Cup. The next three Bea Cup meets were held at the Manila Intercontinental Hotel. The next three Bea Zobel Cup tilts were held at the Manila Polo Club. Madame Beatriz Miranda de Zobel welcomed all of us-the invited bridge

players to the 2016 Bea Zobel Cup. The much-waited event was held at Turf Room of the Manila Polo Club last June 8, 2016. This event is usually held in February to coincide with Bea’s birthday on Feb. 29. As Viksi Egan explained Bea had a very tight schedule this year as she had to attend the wedding of her grand daughter in Colombia. Bea, nevertheless, found the time to host this year’s event. The ever gracious host Bea feted us with a sumptuous lunch and she had also expanded the recipient not only to ﬁrst three winners, but up to to eighth placers, as well. Imagine the traditional silver trophies from Madrid for the first three and miniature size ones from fourth to the eighth place. On behalf all, Viksi thanked Bea for her kindness and generosity of persevering in hosting this annual event.

This year, the format was reverted to the previous years’ format. The pairings could be both senior players paired together with unlimited masterpoints. You can see that from the list of players, it constituted bridge players from a varied ﬁeld: from national players to immediate and to novices. The list of the players is as follows: 1. Ito Velhagen & Viksi Egan 2. Isabel Wilson & George Soo 3 . Gemma Tan & Romy Virola 4. Sylvia Alejandro & Albert Quigue 5. George Francisco & Ann de Guzman 6. Lyn Gavino & Hector Tarrazona 7. Salma Lall & Satomi Suzuki 8. Tootsie Quiogue & Winnie Monsod 9. Justo Manlongat & Alice Briones 10. Ditas Jalbuena & Pocholo Lozano 11. Marilen Espiritu & Harriet Velayo 12. Mila Camus & Ellen Esteban 13. Lani Tayas & Dina Velasco 14. Cora Rodriguez & Titang Montinola 15. Toti Fernandez & Nena Ramirez 16. Bambi Harper & Fr. Ting

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

17. Dolly Montinegro & Ann Aspinall 18. Isabel Maloles & Fusako Breckner 19. Aiko Taylor & Cynthia de Guzman 20. Bea Zobel & Elena Colome The Tournament Director was again Joseph Maliwat, who not only kept the players moving in time and also kept us updated on the progress of the tournament. Kudos Joseph! The ﬁrst update: 1.Cora Rodriguez and Titang Montinola 2.Sylvia Alejandro and Albert Quiogue Later updates had always named Cora Rodriguez and Titang Montinola as being in the lead. Finally, at the awarding the tandem emerged as winners. Winners of 2016 Bea Zobel Cup 1. Cora Rodriguez-Titang Montinola 2. Justo Manlongat-Alice Briones 3. Dina Velasco-Lani Tayas Another feast awaited us as merienda was served with yummy halo-halo and goodies during the award. Thank you Bea for the lovely and the pleasurable time we had in your

hosting the Bea Zobel Cup, as the Hostess with Mostest. Thanks be to God for allowing me to be strong and healthy to play all these years. My fervent and special thanks to Beatriz de Zobel for having given me at an early time and date carte blanche to choose and select my partner. The parting words from Bea: See you next year! Hopefully—in January when playing with Margaret Kwok she said she hoped to practice with partner to play at the Bea Zobel Cup. The Lord taketh her. When I receive my call I also do not tarry. So, meanwhile Let’s Celebrate and Let’s Continue to play with passion our favorite game: BRIDGE THANK YOU, THANK YOU BEATRIZ LOVE - SYLVIA Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@ yahoo

SOCIAL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION Enhancing People’s Lives and Empowering Communities through FAIR Shelter Solutions RULES OF PROCEDURE ON ADMINISTRATIVE CASES IN SOCIAL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION RULE 1 APPLICABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION Section 1.

Title. – This Rules shall be known and cited as the “Rules of Procedure on Administrative Cases in Social Housing Finance Corporation” (Rules).

Section 2.

Construction. – This Rules shall be liberally construed in order to promote their objective in obtaining just, speedy, and inexpensive disposition of administrative cases. Administrative investigations shall be conducted without strict recourse to the technical rules of procedure and evidence applicable to judicial proceedings.

Section 3.

Definition of Terms. – The terms hereunder shall be construedas follows: a.

AKPF refers to the Abot Kaya Pabahay Program Fund of SHFC.

CMP refers to the Community Mortgage Program of SHFC.

CMP-M/ HDH parter refers to a partner Local Government Unit (LGU) or Non-governmental Organization (NGO) duly accredited by SHFC.

COMPLAINANT refers to any person or juridical entity that files a complaint either through a letter or formal complaint to SHFC involving an employee or officer of SHFC.

DEPARTMENT refers to any of the departments of SHFC.

EMPLOYEE refers to regular and probationary rank and file employees of SHFC.

FORUM-SHOPPING refers to the filing of several administrative actions or complaint either simultaneously or successively before another agency or any tribunal having jurisdiction over the case against the same party involving the same essential facts, circumstances, acts, causes of action or relief, and all raising substantially the same issues either pending in, or already resolved adversely by, some other tribunal or agency.

a) If the grievance or request is relatively simple and/or requires immediate action, the same may be acted upon by telegram, telephone, or other means of communication or given personal attention by going to the office or department or employee concerned. b) Whenever deemed necessary or advisable, a copy of the grievance or request for assistance, together with pertinent documents shall be sent to the office or department or employee concerned, copy furnished its head, if any, for the taking of immediate remedial action; or, if the relief requested may not be complied with, to submit a written explanation therefore. c) If such explanation is found satisfactory, and/or appropriate action had already been taken on the grievance or request, the same shall be dismissed and the parties informed accordingly. d) The hearing officer may arrange a conference between the complainant/requesting party, and the office department or employee concerned with a view to a satisfactory and expeditious resolution of the grievance/request. e) Upon consideration of the facts or information gathered, a resolution on the grievance or request shall be made within fifteen (15) days of which the parties shall be notified and appropriate steps taken to ensure compliance herewith. Section 11. Mediation proceedings.a) Application and Interpretation. – The provisions of this Rule shall apply in case mediation is proper as may deem necessary and appropriate by the hearing officer. In applying and construing the provisions of this Rule, consideration must be given to the need to promote candor between the parties and the mediators through confidentiality of the mediation process, the policy of fostering prompt, economical, and amicable resolution of disputes in accordance with the principles of integrity of determination by the parties, and the policy that the decision-making authority in the mediation process rests with the parties. The term “mediation” shall include conciliation. b) Mediation conference.- In case the hearing officer determines that a mediation is necessary as warranted by the circumstances, the lawyer acting as mediator shall invite the parties to a mediation conference to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement. In case the parties are not personally present, their representative or counsel shall be clothed with the proper special power of attorney or board resolution, as the case may be, to enter into a settlement. Said mediation conference shall be terminated within thirty (30) days from the date of initial conference.

HDH refers to the High Density Housing Program of SHFC.

OFFICER refers to regular or probationary officer of SHFC which includes the Chief of Division, Managers and Vice President.

c) Effect of non-appearance in mediation conference.- Where a party fails or refuses to appear during the scheduled mediation, the party present may move for termination of mediation and continuation of the proceedings.

RESPONDENT refers to the person who is issued a formal charge by the Legal Department.

d) Confidentiality of Information.- Information obtained through mediation shall be subject to the following principles and guidelines:

SHFC refers to the Social Housing Finance Corporation.

RULE 2 JURISDICTION, COMPOSITION AND POWERS Section 4. Jurisdiction. - The Legal Departmentshall exercise jurisdiction over the following:

i.)

Information obtained through mediation shall be privileged and confidential.

ii.)

A party, a mediator, or a non-party participant may refuse to disclose and prevent any other person from disclosing a mediation communication.

iii.)

a. complaints in the nature of Grievance/Request for Assistance seeking redress or relief concerning an act or omission of SHFC officers and employees which do not amount to administrative offenses; b. administrative complaints filed by any person or juridical entity involving the employees and officers of SHFC;and

iv.)

In such adversarial proceeding, the following persons involved or previously involved in a mediation may not be compelled to disclose confidential information obtained during mediation: (1) the parties to the dispute; (2) the mediator or mediators; (3) the counsel of the parties; (4) the non-party participants; (5) any persons appointed as staff in connection with the mediation as secretary, stenographer, clerk or assistant; and (6) any other person who obtained or possesses confidential information by reason of his/her profession.

v.)

A mediator may not be called to testify to provide information gathered in mediation. A mediator who is wrongfully subpoenaed shall be reimbursed the full cost of his attorney’s fees and related expenses.

c. violations and offenses committed by the CMP-M/HDH Partner as embodied in the Corporate Circular No. 12-021 or the “Guidelines for the Accreditation of Community Mortgage Program-Mobilizer (CMP-M)” approved on 22 June 2012 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs) under Corporate Circular No.13-025 or approved on 9 July 2013. Section 5.

Powers. – The Legal Department is empowered to: a.

Section 6.

Adopt its own rules and procedures incorporating thepertinent provisions of the Ombudsman Rules of Procedure Administrative Order No.07 as amended by Administrative Order no. 17and such other laws and procedures that Legal Department deems necessary. To issue subpoena duces tecum and ad testificandum to both SHFC and non-SHFC employees and officers who are parties to the case; or to issue letters-of-invitations to third persons as resource person/s for the hearings;

to make findings-or-fact and recommend administrative level solutions or sanctions or both;

to conduct on-site ocular inspections relevant to the case involved; and

to propose policy and operational remedial measures to the SHFC management;

Subpoena, Letters of Invitation and Internal Request for Assistance – The Legal Department may issue the following: a. Subpoena duces tecum or ad testificandumto both SHFC and non-SHFC employees and officers who are parties to the case;

e) Waiver of Confidentiality.- A privilege arising from the confidentiality of information may be waived in a record, or orally during a proceeding by the mediator/s and the mediation parties. A privilege arising from the confidentiality of information may likewise be waived by a non-party participant if the information is provided by such non-party participant. A person who discloses confidential information shall be precluded from asserting the privilege under Section 12 of this Rule to bar disclosure of the rest of the information necessary to a complete understanding of the previously disclosed information. A person who discloses or makes representation about a mediation is precluded from asserting the privilege under Section 12, to the extent that the communication prejudices another person in the proceeding and it is necessary for the person prejudiced to respond to the representation disclosure. f)

Exceptions to the Privilege.i.)

b. Letters-of-invitations to third persons as resource person/s for the hearings;

2.) 3.) 4.)

The Department or persons concerned shall prioritize the subpoena or request by the Legal Department. Failure to comply within the reglementary period is a ground for disciplinary action.

5.)

RULE 3 PROCEDURE IN GRIEVANCE/REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

Section 8.

Section 9.

Grievance or request for assistance; nature of. - A grievance or request for assistance may consist of a complaint or request seeking redress or relief concerning an act or omission of an officer or employee, alleged to be unreasonable, unfair, oppressive, discriminatory, improper or inefficient, and which does not necessarily amount to an administrative, civil or criminal offense. By whom handled. – Grievance or request for assistance shall be assigned to a lawyer of the Legal Department who shall issue the summons, order and shall issue the appropriate recommendation with respect to the grievance matter. Action thereon – A grievance or request for assistance shall be acted upon by the hearing officer within reasonable time upon receipt. a) Where the grievance or request for assistance appears to be manifestly frivolous, vexatious, or made in bad faith, or where it involves a matter purely between private parties, the same may be dismissed outright and the complainant/ requesting party informed of the reasons for such dismissal; b) Where the redress, relief or assistance sought may be acted upon by another government agency, the same may be referred to the office concerned.

c) In all other cases which the Legal Department may take cognizance of, the procedure in the following section shall be observed. Section 10. Procedure –

There is no privilege against disclosure under Section 12, if mediation communication is: 1.)

c. any order or request for assistance, comment or clarification on any issue or matter related to the pending administrative case directed to the Departments or a particular officer or employee.

Section 7.

Confidential information shall not be subject to discovery and shall be inadmissible in any adversarial proceeding whether judicial or quasi-judicial. However, evidence or information that is otherwise admissible or subject to discovery does not become inadmissible or protected from discovery solely by reason of its use in a mediation.

ii.)

in an agreement evidenced by a record authenticated by all the parties to the agreement. available to the public or that is made during a session of a mediation which is open, or is required by law to be open to the public; a threat or statement of a plan to inflict bodily injury or commit a crime of violence; sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of professional misconduct or malpractice filed against mediator in a proceeding; or sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of professional misconduct or malpractice filed against a party, non-party participant or representative of a party based on conduct occurring during mediation.

A mediator may not be compelled to provide evidence of a mediation communication or testify in such proceeding.

g) Compromise Agreement.- If an amicable settlement is reached, a judgment shall be rendered based on the compromise agreement duly signed by the parties, or their duly authorized representatives. RULE 4 PROCEDURE IN ADMINISTRATIVE CASES Section 12. Administrative case, nature thereof-refers to case arising from a complaint filed by any person or juridical entity against any employee or officer of SHFC involving offenses in the immediately succeeding paragraph. Section 13. Classification of Offenses and penalties. –An administrative complaint may be filed against employees and officers for the following offenses with corresponding penalties classified intograve, less grave or light, depending on the gravity or depravity and effects on the government service: I. Grave Offenses A. The following shall be punishable by dismissal from the service: 1. Serious Dishonesty; 2. Gross Neglect of Duty; 3. Grave Misconduct;

4. 5. 6. 7.

Being Notoriously Undesirable; Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude; Falsification of official document; Physical or mental incapacity or disability due to immoral or vicious habits; 8. Receiving for personal use of a fee, gift or other valuable thing in the course of official duties or in connection therewith when such fee, gift or other valuable thing is given by any person in the hope or expectation of receiving a favor or better treatment than that accorded to other persons, or committing acts punishable under the anti-graft laws; 9. Contracting loans of money or other property from persons with whom the office of the employee has business relations; 10. Soliciting or accepting directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value which in the course of his/her official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of his/her office. The propriety or impropriety of the foregoing shall be determined by its value, kinship, or relationship between giver and receiver and the motivation. A thing of monetary value is one which is evidently or manifestly excessive by its very nature; 11. Nepotism; and 12. Disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines and to the Filipino people. B. The following grave offenses shall be punishable by suspension of six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) year for the first offense and dismissal from the service for the second offense: 1. Less serious dishonesty; 2. Oppression; 3. Disgraceful and immoral conduct; 4. Inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties; 5. Frequent unauthorized absences, or tardiness in reporting for duty, loafing from duty during regular office hours; 6. Refusal to perform official duty; 7. Gross Insubordination; 8. Conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service; 9. Directly or indirectly having financial and material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of his/her office. Financial and material interest is defined as pecuniary or proprietary interest by which a person will gain or lose something; 10. Owning, controlling, managing or accepting employment as officer, employee, consultant, counsel, broker, agent, trustee, or nominee in any private enterprise regulated, supervised or licensed by his/her office, unless expressly allowed by law; 11. Disclosing or misusing confidential or classified information officially known to him/her by reason of his/her office and not made available to the public, to further his/her private interests or give undue advantage to anyone, or to prejudice the public interest; 12. Obtaining or using any statement filed under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for any purpose contrary to morals or public policy or any commercial purpose other than by news and communications media for dissemination to the general public; and 13. Recommending any person to any position in a private enterprise which has a regular or pending official transaction with his/her office, unless such recommendation or referralis mandated by (1) law, or (2) international agreements, commitment and obligation, or as part of the function of his/her office. C. The grave offense of Inefficiency and Incompetence in the performance of official duties is punishable by Demotion. In this case, the guilty person shall be appointed to the next lower position to which he/she is qualified in the plantilla of the SHFC. In case there is no such next lower position available, he/she shall suffer diminution in salary corresponding to the next lower salary grade. II. Less Grave Offenses D. The following less grave offenses are punishable by suspension of one (1) month and one (1) day suspension to six (6) months for the first offense; and dismissal from the service for the second offense: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Simple Neglect of Duty; Simple Misconduct; Discourtesy in the course of official duties; Unfair discrimination in rendering public service due to party affiliation or preference; Failure to resign from his/her position in the private business enterprise within thirty (30) days from assumption of public office when conflict of interest arises, and/or failure to divest himself/ herself of his/her shareholdings or interest in private business enterprise within sixty (60) days from assumption of public office when conflict of interest arises; Provided, however, that for those who are already in the service and conflict of interest arises, the official or employee must either resign or divest himself/herself of said interest within the periods hereinabove provided, reckoned from the date when the conflict of interest had arisen; and Engaging directly or indirectly in partisan political activities by one holding non-political office.

E. The less grave offense of Simple Dishonesty is punishable by suspension of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months for the first offense; six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) year for the second offense; and dismissal for the third offense. III. Light Offenses F. The following light offenses are punishable by reprimand for the first offense; suspension of one (1) to thirty (30) days for the second offense; and dismissal from the service for the third offense: 1. Simple discourtesy in the course of official duties; 2. Disgraceful, immoral or dishonest conduct prior to entering the service; 3. Willful failure to pay just debts or willful failure to pay taxes due to the government; the term “just debts” shall apply only to: a. Claims adjudicated by a court of law, or b. Claims the existence and justness of which are admitted by the debtor. 4. Lobbying for personal interest or gain in legislative halls and offices without authority; 5. Promoting the sale of tickets in behalf of private enterprises that are not intended for charitable or public welfare purposes and even in the latter cases, if there is no prior authority; 6. Failure to act promptly on letters and request within fifteen (15) working days from receipt, except as otherwise provided in the rules implementing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees except upon justifiable reasons; 7.

Failure to process documents and complete action on documents and papers within a reasonable time from preparation thereof, except as otherwise provided in the rules implementing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees;

Failure to attend to anyone who wants to avail himself/herself of the services of the office, or act promptly and expeditiously on public transactions;

Engaging in private practice of his/her profession unless authorized by the Constitution, law or regulation, provided that such practice will not conflict with his/her official functions; and

10. Pursuit of private business, vocation or profession without the permission from SHFC and/or that is in conflict with his/her duties and responsibilities with SHFC; or in conflict with the interest of SHFC. However, for specific offenses punishable under an existing office order, the penalty provided therein shall prevail. IV. Other offenses G. Other offenses not cited in the foregoing but are grounds for administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman which are: 1. contrary to law or regulations; 2. unreasonable, unfair, oppressive or discriminatory; 3. inconsistent with the general course of SHFC’s functions through in accordance with law;otherwise irregular, immoral or devoid of justification; and 4. such other grounds analogous to the foregoing. The Legal Department shall either prescribe the penalty or refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman for formal investigation. Section 14. Who May Initiate. – Administrative proceedings may be initiated upon filing of a complaint filed bynon-SHFC personnel or juridical entity against SHFC officers and employees. Section 15. Requisites of a Valid Complaint. – No complaint against an employee or officer shall be given due course unless the same is in writing, subscribed and sworn to by the complainant. No anonymous complaint shall be entertained unless there is

obvious truth or merit to the allegations therein or supported by documentary or direct evidence, in which case the person complained of may be required to comment. The complaint in triplicate copies shall be written in a clear, simple and concise language and in a systematic manner as to apprise the person complained of, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him/her and to enable him/ her to intelligently prepare his/her defense or answer/comment. However, should there be more than one (1) person complained of, the complainant is required to submit additional copies corresponding to the number of persons complained of. Section 16. The complaint shall contain the following: a. b.

the respondent or complainant, stating his/her full name, Roll Number, IBP receipt and complete address which should not be a P.O. box address where he/she can be served with notices and other pleadings. If the lawyer is a government employee, he/she shall be required to present an authority to practice profession which should come from the agency head or the agencyhead’s authorized representative. Section 32. Order of Hearing. – Unless the hearing officer directs otherwise, the order of hearing may be as follows: a. The complainant shall present its evidence; b. The respondent shall present evidence in support of his/her defense;

full name and address of the complainant; full name and address of the person/s complained of as well as his/ her/their position/s and office/s; c. a narration of the relevant and material facts which shows the acts or omissions allegedly committed; d. copies of documentary evidence and affidavits of his/ her witnesses, if any; and The absence of any of the aforementioned requirements may cause the dismissal of the complaint without prejudice to its refiling upon compliance with the above requirements.

When the presentation of the witnesses has been concluded, the parties shall formally offer their evidence either orally or in writing subject to objections orally made during the hearing. After which, both parties may be given time to submit their respective memorandum which in no case shall be beyond fifteen (15) days after the termination of the investigation. Failure to submit the same within the given period shall be considered a waiver thereof.

Section 17. When and Where to File a Complaint. – An administrative complaint may be filed at any time with the Legal Department.

Section 33. Objections. – All objections raised during the hearing shall be resolved by the hearing officer.

Section 18. Evaluation – Upon receipt of the complaint by the assigned hearing officer, the same shall be evaluated to determine whether the same may be dismissed outright for any of the grounds stated hereunder namely the:

The hearing officer shall admit all evidence formally offered subject to the objection/s interposed against its admission.

a. b. c. d. e.

complainant has an adequate remedy in another judicial or quasi-judicial body; Complaint pertains to a matter outside the jurisdiction of the Legal Department; Complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith; Complainant has no sufficient personal interest in the subject matter of the grievance; or The complaint was filed one (1) year from the occurrence of the act or omission complained of.

Section 19. Withdrawal of the Complaint. – The withdrawal of the complaint does not result in its outright dismissal nor discharge the person complained of from any administrative liability. Where there is obvious truth or merit to the allegation in the complaint or where there is documentary evidence that would tend to prove the guilt of the person/s complained of, the same should be given due course. Section 20. Action on the Complaint. – Upon receipt of a complaint which is sufficient in form and substance, the hearing officer shall issue a Formal Chargecontaining a specification of charge/s, a brief statement of material or relevant facts, accompanied by true copies of the documentary evidence, if any, sworn statements covering the testimony of witnesses with proof of service. It shall also contain a directive to answer the charge/ requiring the person/s complained of to submit a CounterAffidavit/Comment under oath within ten (10) days from receipt of order requiring him/her/their comment/s. Section 21. Reply – The complainant may file Reply-Affidavits within ten(10) days from receipt of the counter-affidavits of the respondent. Section 22. Dismissal on the basis of affidavits - If, on the basis of the affidavits and other evidence submitted by the parties, the hearing officer finds no sufficient cause to warrant further proceedings, the complaint may be dismissed. Section 23. Preliminary Conference- In case the hearing officer decides to continue with the proceedings on the basis of the affidavits of the parties, it shall summon the parties to a preliminary conference to consider whether: a. the parties desire a formal investigation; or b. the parties are willing to submit the case for resolution on the basis of the evidence on record and such other evidence they present at such conference; In the event that the parties chose (a) above, the parties shall consider and agree on any of the following: a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

Stipulation of facts; Simplification of issues; Identification and marking of evidence of the parties; Waiver of objections to admissibility of evidence; Limiting the number of witnesses, and their names; Dates of subsequent hearings; and Such other matters as may aid in the prompt and just resolution ofthe case. The agreement entered into during the pre-hearing conference is binding on both parties unless in the interest of justice, the hearing officer may allow a deviation from the same. The conduct of a pre-hearing conference is mandatory. The failure of the respondent to attend the pre-hearing conference constitutes a waiver to participate in the pre-hearing conference but may still participate in the formal investigation upon appropriate motion. Section 24. Prohibited Pleadings. - The hearing officer shall not entertain requests for clarification, bills of particulars, motions to dismiss or motions to quash or motions for reconsideration. If any of these pleadings are interposed by the respondent, the same shall be considered a responsive pleading and shall be evaluated as such. RULE 5 FORMAL INVESTIGATION Section 25. Conduct of Formal Investigation; When Held. – A formal investigation shall be conducted by the hearing officer where the merits of the case cannot be decided judiciously without conducting such investigation or when the respondent elects to have one pursuant to Section 26(a).

c. There may be rebuttal or sur-rebuttal;

a. The minimum of the penalty shall be imposed where only mitigating and no aggravating circumstances are present.

Section 35. Issuance of Subpoena. – The hearing officer may issue subpoena ad testificandum to compel the attendance of witnesses and subpoena duces tecum for the production of documents or things.

c. The maximum of the penalty shall be imposed where only aggravating and no mitigating circumstances are present.

Section 36. Record of Proceedings. – Records of the proceedings during the formal investigation may be taken by any other means of recording. Section 37. Filing of Pleadings. – All pleadings filed by the parties with the Legal Department shall be copy furnished the other party with proof of service. Any pleadings sent by registered mail shall be deemed filed on the date shown by the postmark on the envelope which shall be attached to the records of the case and in case of personal delivery, the date stamped thereon by the disciplining office.

Section 40. Complaint against CMP-M/ HDH Partner. – The procedure and penalties contained in existing circulars and its implementing rules and regulations shall strictly be observed. In the absence thereof, this Rule shall apply suppletorily.

b. The penalty of demotion shall entail appointment to the next lower position to which respondent is qualified or diminution of salary to next lower grade if there is no such position available. c. The penalty of suspension shall result in the temporary cessation of work for a period not exceeding one (1) year. Suspension of one day or more shall be considered a gap in the continuity of service. During the period of suspension, respondent shall not be entitled to all monetary benefits including leave credits. d. The penalty of reprimand shall not carry with it any accessory penalty nor result in the temporary cessation of work. In the event the penalty of reprimand was imposed on appeal as a result of modification of the penalty of suspension or dismissal from service, the respondent shall be entitled to the payment of back salaries and other benefits which would have accrued during the period of his/her suspension or dismissal. Section 49. Effects of Exoneration on Certain Penalties. – a. In case there is demotion, he/she shall be restored to his/ her former position, without loss of seniority rights. Respondent shall also be entitled to the payment of salary differentials during the period the demotion was imposed.

RULE 7 PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION

b. In case the penalty imposed is suspension, he/she shall immediately be reinstated to his/her former post without loss of seniority rights and with payment of back salaries and all benefits which would have accrued as if he/she has not been illegally suspended.

Section 41. Preventive Suspension, nature. –Preventive suspension is not a penalty. It is designed merely as a measure of precaution so that the official or employee charged may be removed from the scene of his/her alleged misfeasance/malfeasance/nonfeasance while the same is being investigated.

c. In case the penalty imposed is dismissal, he/she shall immediately be reinstated without loss of seniority rights with payment of back salaries and all benefits which would have accrued as if he/she has not been illegally dismissed.

Section 42. When Issued; Grounds. – Upon petition of the complainant or motu proprio, the Legal Department may issue an order of preventive suspension upon service of the charge or notice of charge/s, to the respondent pending an investigation, if A) The charge involves: 1. Dishonesty; 2. Oppression; 3. Grave Misconduct; 4. Neglect in the Performance of Duty; 5. Administrative offenses which are punishable by dismissal from the service on its second or third offense; or 6. If there are reasons to believe that the respondent is guilty of charges which would warrant his/her removal from the service. B) An order of preventive suspension may be issued to temporarily remove the respondent from the scene of his/her misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance to preclude the possibility of:

The maximum period of the preventive suspension including the extension thereof shall be sixty (60) days. There shall be no further extension of the preventive suspension.

Section 30. Preliminary Matters. – At the start of the hearing, the hearing officer shall note the appearances of the parties and shall proceed with the reception of evidence for the complainant.

Section 44. Payment of Back Salaries During Preventive Suspension. – The employee or officer shall be entitled to the payment of back salaries during the period of suspension in the following circumstances:

If after being apprised of the right to counsel, respondent appears without the aid of a counsel, he/she shall be deemed to have waived his/her right thereto.

a. During the extension of the preventive suspension for another thirty (30) days as provided in Section 43;

Section 31. Appearance of Counsel. – Any counsel who is a member of the Bar appearing before the hearing or investigation shall manifest orally or in writing, his/her appearance for either

a. The penalty of dismissal shall result in the permanent separation of the respondent from the service, without prejudice to criminal or civil liability.

RULE 6 COMPLAINT AGAINST CMP-M/ HDH PARTNER

Section 43. Duration of Preventive Suspension. –the Legal Department may place the respondent under preventive suspension for a period not exceedingthirty (30) days.When the administrative case against is not finally decided within the thirty (30) days, the Legal Department may extend the preventive suspension for another thirty (30) days. However, the respondentshall be automatically reinstated in the payrollduring the extended period unless the delay in the disposition of the case is due to the fault, negligence or petition of the respondent, in which case,the period of delay shall not be included in the counting of the period of preventive suspension. Any period of delay caused by motions filed by the respondent shall be added to the period of preventive suspension.

Clarificatory questions may also be asked.

Section 48. Duration and effect of administrative penalties. – The following rules shall govern the imposition of administrative penalties:

Section 39. Formal Investigation Report. – Within fifteen (15) days after the conclusion of the formal investigation, a report containing a narration of the material facts established during the investigation, the findings and the evidence supporting said findings, as well as the recommendations, shall be submitted by the hearing officerapproved by the Department Manager and duly concurred by the Vice President for Legal to the Office of the President. The complete records of the case shall be attached to the report of investigation.

Section 28. Submission of Position Paper/Memorandum. – At any stage of the proceedings, the parties may, based on their mutual consent, submit position paper/memorandum and submit the case for resolution without any need for further hearings.

A sworn statement of the witness/es properly identified and affirmed shall constitute direct testimony, copy furnished the other party.

Section 47. Penalty for the Most Serious Offense. – If the respondent is found guilty of two (2) or more charges or counts, the penalty to be imposed should be that corresponding to the most serious charge and the rest shall be considered as aggravating circumstances.

For this purpose, a pending administrative case shall be construed as such when the Legal Department has issued a charge or a notice of charge/s to the respondent.

C) In lieu of preventive suspension, for the same purpose, the Legal Department or Office of the President, may reassign respondent to other unit of the agency during the formal hearings.

Before taking the testimony of a witness, the hearing officer shall place him/ her under oath and then take his/her name, address, civil status, age, and complete name and address of employment.

d. Where aggravating and mitigating circumstances are present, paragraph [a] shall be applied where there are more mitigating circumstances present; paragraph [b] shall be applied when the circumstances equally offset each other; and paragraph [c] shall be applied when there are more aggravating circumstances.

Section 38. Effects of the Pendency of an Administrative Case. – Pendency of an administrative case shall not disqualify respondent from promotion and other personnel actions or from claiming maternity/paternity benefits.

Section 27. Completion of formal investigation- the formal investigation shall be finished within thirty (30) days from the issuance of the formal charge unless the period is extended by the Legal Department in meritorious cases

If respondent fails or refuses to appear or is not represented by counsel during the scheduled hearings despite due notice, the investigation shall proceed and the respondent shall be deemed to have waived his/her right to present evidence in his/ her favor during the said hearing.

b. The medium of the penalty shall be imposed where no mitigating and aggravating circumstances are present.

If a party desires the attendance of a witness and/or the production of documents, he/she shall make a request for the issuance of the necessary subpoena ad testificandum and/or subpoena duces tecum, at least seven (7) days before the scheduled hearing.

1. exerting undue influence or pressure on the witnesses against him/her, or 2. tampering with evidence that may be used against him/her.

Each party may be granted one (1) postponement upon oral or written request.

Section 46. Manner of Imposition. – When applicable, the imposition of the penalty may be made in accordance with the manner provided herein below:

Section 34. Markings. – All documentary evidence or exhibits shall be properly marked by letters (A,B,C, etc.) if presented by the complainant and by numbers (1,2,3, etc.) if presented by the respondent. These shall form part of the complete records of the case.

Section 26. Hearing - The parties shall be notified at least five (5) days from the date of hearing.

Section 29. Continuous Hearing Until Terminated; Postponement. – Hearings shall be conducted on the hearing dates set by the Hearing Officer or as agreed upon during the pre-hearing conference.

offense shall be considered. The following circumstances shall be appreciated: a. Physical illness; b. Good faith; c. Malice; d. Time and place of offense; e. Taking undue advantage of official position; f. Taking undue advantage of subordinate; g. Undue disclosure of confidential information; h. Use of government property in the commission of the offense; i. Habituality; j. Offense is committed during office hours and within the premises of the office or building; k. Employment of fraudulent means to commit or conceal the offense; l. First offense; m. Education; n. Length of service; or o. Other analogous circumstances. In the appreciation thereof, the same must be invoked or pleaded by the proper party, otherwise, said circumstances will not be considered in the imposition of the proper penalty. The Legal Department, however, in the interest of substantial justice may take and consider these circumstances motu proprio.

d. The respondent who is exonerated by final judgment shall be entitled to the leave credits for the period he/she had been out of the service. RULE9 DECISION Section 50. When Case is Decided. – The Office President shall decide the case within thirty (30) days from receipt of the Formal Investigation Report. Section 51. Finality of Decisions. – A decision rendered by the Office of the President shall be final, executory and not appealable unless a motion for reconsideration is filed. RULE 10 MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION Section 52. Filing. – The party adversely affected by the decision may file a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Presidentwithin fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof. A motion for extension of time to file a motion for reconsideration is not allowed. Section 53. When deemed filed. – A motion for reconsideration sent by registered mail shall be deemed filed on the date shown by the postmark on the envelope which shall be attached to the records of the case. In case of personal delivery, it is deemed filed on the date stamped thereon by the proper office. Section 54. Grounds. – The motion for reconsideration shall be based on any of the following: a. New evidence has been discovered which materially affects the decision rendered; or b. The decision is not supported by the evidence on record; or c. Errors of law or irregularities have been committed prejudicial to the interest of the movant. Section 55. Limitation. – Only one motion for reconsideration shall be entertained. If a second motion for reconsideration is filed notwithstanding its proscription under this Rules, the finality of action shall be reckoned from the denial of the first motion for reconsideration. Section 56. Effect of Filing. – The filing of a motion for reconsideration within the reglementary period of fifteen (15) days shall stay the execution of the decision sought to be reconsidered. Upon denial of the motion for reconsideration by the Office of the President, its decision shall become final and executory. RULE 11 OTHER MATTERS

b. After the final outcome of the case and the official or employee is fully exonerated of the charge/s or when the penalty imposed in the principal case is reprimand, he or she shall be paid such back salaries. Otherwise, no back salaries shall be awarded.

Section 56. Repealing Clause–These Rules repeal the previous Oversight Committee Rules of Procedure. Any provision inconsistent with the foregoing provisions shall be deemed revoked or repealed.

The phrase “full exoneration” contemplates a finding of not guilty for the offense/s charged. Downgrading of the charge to a lesser offense shall not be construed as “full exoneration” within the contemplation of these guidelines.

Section 56. Effectivity. – These Rules shall be effective fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper and filing with the UP Law Center.

RULE 8 GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF THE PENALTIES Section 45. Mitigating and Aggravating Circumstances. – In the determination of the penalties to be imposed, mitigating and/ or aggravating circumstances attendant to the commission of the

(TS-JULY 6, 2016)

MA. ANA R. OLIVEROS President Approved:

T H U R S DAY : J U LY 7, 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

French face NZ Tall Blacks

France’s Tony Parker, shown here being guarded by Gilas Pilipinas’ Terrence Romeo, will again be a marked man when the French team takes on New Zealand today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

By Jeric Lopez EVEN if it is a day off for Smart Gilas Pilipinas, action in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament continues as a pair of highly pivotal games take place. Powerhouse France and New Zealand tango in an important Group B clash at 9 p.m. in the main event at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today. Prior to this, Turkey and Senagal square off at 6:30 p.m. in Group A play in the initial offering. The French National team showed why it is the tournament favorite when it trounced Smart Gilas Pilipinas, 93-84, Tuesday night after strong performances from Nando De Colo and Tony Parker. The deadly French one-two punch is expected to lead the charge once again for France against the dangerous New Zealand squad. De Colo and Parker combined for 48 points in France’s win over the Philippines. While France is almost certain of a berth in the round of four, a win will guarantee it a top seed heading to the next phase. As of this report, the Philippines and New Zealand are currently locking horns in an intense battle that may very well determine the fate of both teams. Having lost to France the other day, Gilas Pilipinas is now in desperation mode as it needs to win against the Kiwis to put itself in good position to make the semifinals. A lost for the host team eliminates it outright. Only the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout crossover semifinals on Saturday.

Huey, pal make quarterfinals; Williams’ sisters nearing clash By Peter Atencio

FILIPINO Treat Huey and his Belarusian partner Max Mirnyi got past Oliver Marach of Austria and Fabrice Martin of France in a 6-3, 6-2 7-6 (3) victory in the third round of the Wimbledon Championship at the All England Lawn Tennis Croquet Club in London. The 12th-seeded Huey and Mirnyi bucked their foes’ late comeback. Huey and Mirnyi made a total 102 points during their one-hour, 52-minute game. This put them in the quarterfinals against Jonathan Marray of England and Adil Shamasdin of Canada. Marray and Shamasdin prevailed over 15th seed Pablo Cuevas

Juarez is tough, Pagara warned TURN TO A12

of Uruguay and Marcel Granollers of Spain, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 14-12, in a four-hour encounter. In reaching the third round, Huey and Mirnyi won over Spanish duo Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the first round, 6-3, 7-6 (5). They then stopped Brazilian Marcelo Demoliner and Pakistani Aisam Qureshi in the second

round, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-3. For Huey and Mirnyi, this will be their second quarterfinal appearance in a Grand Slam event this year after making it to the quarterfinals in the Australian Open last January. Meanwhile, Serena Williams admits she is shocked to be on the verge of meeting sister Venus in the Wimbledon final seven years after they last slugged it out for a Grand Slam title. For the first time since 2009, both Serena and Venus have made it to the Wimbledon semifinals and the All England Club is abuzz with nostalgic chatter about the potential for a surprise showdown between the American stars in Saturday’s final. To make the dream match-up

Shin grabs 2-shot gold lead TURN TO A13

become a reality, defending champion Serena must beat Russian world number 50 Elena Vesnina on Thursday, while world number eight Venus plays Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber. Between 2000 and 2010, Serena and Venus won a combined nine Wimbledon titles and made a total of 14 appearances in the final, with four of those being allWilliams affairs in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009. But, just when it seemed the Williams’ duopoly in south-west London would never end, in 2011 Venus was struck down by Sjogren’s syndrome, an illness that causes fatigue and joint pain, and Serena’s win over her sister at Wimbledon in 2009 remains their last title clash. AFP

THURSDAY: JULY 7, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Govt pushes solar buildings By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE government plans to require buildings in Metro Manila to install solar panels as an alternative source of energy, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said. Pernia, who serves as the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority, said he was in talks with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for a solar power program in Metro Manila. “If solar panels are installed on all buildings in Makati and Manila, that will be a lot of relief on our power supply requirements,” Pernia said.

He said renewable energy projects such as solar facilities on rooftops would be easier to build than coal-fired power plants which would take three years to be operational. Pernia said because solar power projects would require a lot of space to produce a little amount of electricity, the program should involve installing solar power panels on rooftops

of every building in Makati and Manila. “Coal-fired plants take long— about three years [to build]. Solar and renewables are faster [to build]. That’s the advantage of renewables. I think solar plants can be done in six months. The problem is that solar [facilities] generate little megawatts, so we need a lot of them,” Pernia said. “I have been talking the DoE [Department of Energy] secretary already and he did not seem to be adverse toward it. It would not be households, but buildings owned by businesses that can afford [the cost],” he said. The government recently approved a 500-megawatt installa-

tion target for solar projects that could avail of feed-in-tariff rate of P9.68 per kilowatt-hour under the first round and P8.69 per kWh under the second round. Production cost of solar facilities dropped in recent years, following massive adoption in many countries. Solar players confirmed that actual production cost suddenly fell below P5 per kWh this year, making it comparable to other sources of energy. Among the largest solar farms in the Philippines are the 132.5-megawatt solar farm in Cadiz City developed by Helios Solar Energy Corp. and Soleq Holdings Inc., the 63.3-MW Calatagan

solar farm in Batangas built by Solar Philippines and the 45-MW Sacasol 1 solar farm in San Carlos City put up by San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. Buildings and commercial centers also began drawing a part of their energy requirements from the sun. Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando, Pampanga tapped Solenergy Systems Inc. to put up a 2.88-megawatt solar plant on its roof, making it the world’s largest solar-powered mall, beating SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City with 2.7-MW plant built by Solar Philippines and SM North Edsa with 1.5-MW facility also built by Solar Philippines.

PSe comPoSite index Closing July 5, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,808.13 38.41

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing July 5, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.020

44.00

43.00

HIGH P46.770 LOW P47.020 AVERAGE P46.900 VOLUME 591.100M

P427.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank

Best agribusiness bank.

Land Bank of the Philippines president and chief executive Gilda Pico receives (center) awards for ‘Best Agribusiness Bank’ and ‘Best CSR Bank’ in the Philippines from Global Banking & Finance Review representative Phil Fothergill (right) in a ceremony at the London Stock Exchange. With them are (from left) LandBank executive vice president Jocelyn Cabreza, Philippine Ambassador to the UK Evan Garcia and LandBank ﬁrst vice president Catherine Rowena Villanueva.

PAL to revive ﬂights to New Delhi via Bangkok By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines plans to revive flights from Manila to New Delhi via Bangkok, following the success of its triangulated flights from Manila to Osaka and Taipei. “In the future, we will try to study the possibility of operating in other countries where we have fifth freedom traffic rights,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said. Fifth freedom is the freedom to pick up passengers and cargo from a foreign country and carry them to a second country, which is the final destination. “We have some other entitle-

ments. A correct example is we can fly Bangkok to India. We did this a few yeas ago but we stopped. We will again re-assess the profitability of operating this fifth freedom traffic,” Bautista said. PAL’s flights to New Delhi were stopped in June 2013 amid low demand from local travelers. PAL started Manila to Osaka and Taipei on June 25 through fifth freedom rights held by the Philippines. “This is one of our initiatives to take advantage of our existing fifth freedom rights and the first flights until now is quite good. The load [factor] is very encouraging. We are now happy that we

are serving the Japanese and Taiwanese market,” Bautista said. PAL also has a fifth freedom traffic right to Kuwait via Dubai, but the Kuwaiti government does not allow the country’s flag carrier to exercise the entitlement. “That should also be a good market,” Bautista said. PAL also flies to New York via Vancouver through fifth freedom rights. PAL Holdings Inc., the parent company of PAL, earlier reported a net profit of P2.71 billion in the first quarter of 2016, down by 28 percent from P3.78 billion registered in the same period last year. Revenues rose 4.1 percent in the first quarter to P29.12 billion

from last year’s P27.98 billion. PAL Holdings attributed the increase in revenue to the depreciation of Philippine peso, which averaged 47.27 per US dollar in the first quarter from last year’s 44.42 per greenback. The company said if the exchange rate had remained at the 2015 level, total revenues would have decreased by P609.6 million. Passenger revenues rose to P24.65 billion in the first quarter from P23.09 billion in the same period last year. Cargo revenues fell 31 percent to P1.47 billion from P2.14 billion. Expenses in January to March grew 6.2 percent to P26.2 billion from P24.7 billion last year.

P36.35-P43.45 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P24.75-P29.60 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, July 5, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.8330

Japan

Yen

0.009751

0.4567

Pound

1.329100

62.2457

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128903

6.0369

Switzerland

Franc

1.030078

48.2416

Canada

Dollar

0.778634

36.4658

Singapore

Dollar

0.743329

34.8123

Australia

Dollar

0.753400

35.2840

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653224

124.2584

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

12.4878

Brunei

Dollar

0.740576

34.6834

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028539

1.3366

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.7509

Euro

1.115800

52.2563

Korea

Won

0.000869

0.0407

China

Yuan

0.150033

7.0265

India

Rupee

0.014869

0.6964

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.250438

11.7288

New Zealand

Dollar

0.722600

33.8415

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031064

1.4548 Source: PDS Bridge

THURSDAY: JULY 7, 2016

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

Ford’s car sales rose 50% in June

Trade partnership.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (right) cordially receives Myanmar Ambassador Ye Myint Aung to discuss trade relations on agricultural commodities between the two Asean member countries. Piñol disclosed his plan to send an agricultural trade delegation to Myanmar, including potential investors, to explore trade partnership.

By Othel V. Campos FORD Philippines said vehicle sales rose 50 percent in June from a year ago, on strong consumer spending in the country. It said retail sales in the first six months also increased 61 percent year-on-year, amid strong customer demand for Ranger pickup, Everest and EcoSport vehicles. Ford said it delivered its bestever June performance as sales hit 2,808 units, making it one of the fastest growing auto brands in the country this year. “Consumer confidence and discretionary spending continue to be fairly strong, and our full lineup of Ford vehicles is helping attract a wide range of Filipino customers to our showrooms across the country,” said Ford Philippines managing director Lance Mosley. The all-new Everest mid-sized SUV remained Ford’s best-selling vehicle in the Philippines in June, delivering retail sales of 1,054 units. First-half sales of Everest totaled 6,961 units, as its striking design, advanced connectivity, driver assistance technologies and outstanding capability continued to set the benchmark for the segment. The EcoSport compact SUV also posted its best monthly performance this year with June sales increasing 11 percent to 852 units. The EcoSport also capped a record first-half performance with sales increasing nearly 6 percent to 4,367 units. The segment-defining Ranger pickup truck contributed to the record first-half performance with year-to-date sales of 3,972 units, including 629 units in June. “The Ranger combines the handling and comfort of a passenger car with the ruggedness and dependability of a pickup truck, delivering a combination of features and performance that is unmatched in the market,” said Mosley. June sales of the premium Explorer SUV totaled 87 units, helping drive its first-half sales up 5 percent to 552 units. Mustang also saw a solid month in June with delivery of 37 units, pushing its year-to-date total up 12 percent to 145 units.

PSALM seeks to recover P27.7b from consumers By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is seeking an approval to recover P27.67 billion from consumers to pay for the stranded debts of National Power Corp. The amount would translate into an increase of P0.0283 per kilowatt-hour in power rates for nine-and-half years beginning January 2017, data showed. PSALM asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve an increase in power rate to pay for the stranded debts of NPC. Stranded debts refer to unpaid financial obligation of NPC which were not liquidated by proceeds from the sale and privatization of its assets. The Electric Power Industry Reform Act allows PSALM to recover Napocor’s stranded debts through the universal charge—a line item in the power bill of con-

sumers. PSALM said the actual gross debt service of NPC reached P51.96 billion in 2015, but it was able to earn only P18.957 billion from privatization proceeds and P5.33 billion from proceeds of power plant operations. The gross debt service included Napocor’s outstanding debts following the implementation of the Electric Power Reform Industry Act of 2001, new loans of NPC contracted after Epira law took effect and loans incurred by PSALM on behalf of Napocor. PSALM was formed to privatize the assets of NPC. PSALM said it vigorously pur-

sued its mandate to privatize the generation assets and power facilities but revenues from the sale of electricity of the remaining assets were not enough to cover its operations and provide funds for the payment of NPC debts and obligations. PSALM said it would be forced to resort to borrowing to address the funding gaps but this would form part of the universal charge for stranded debt, “effectively increasing the universal charge burden to all electricity end-users.” “On the other hand, if PSALM will be allowed to immediately recover the UC-SD under this petition through provisional approval, new loans and refinancing to service maturing debts. And lease obligations would lessen,” it said. PSALM said the approval of the petition would redound to the benefit of electricity end-users due to reduced borrowing costs, effectively reducing the universal

charge burden. PSALM said the stranded debt equivalent rate of P0.0283 per kWh was calculated by dividing the P27.67 billion stranded debt with the projected energy sales for the January 2017 to June 2026 based on the Energy Department’s 2014 to 2030 Power Development Plan. ERC rejected in 2013 PSALM’s application to recover P65.019 billion from consumers for the stranded debts of Napocor equivalent to P0.0313 per kWh. “Based on the parties’ submissions and records of the case, the ERC determined that after excluding certain expenditure items, such as the proposed operating expenses for the National Transmission Corp. and the projected capital expenditures for the rehabilitation of the remaining hydro power plants of Napocor, no stranded debts will be incurred,” ERC said previously.

ERC asks distributors to assume spot market trading losses THE Energy Regulatory Commission asked distribution utilities to assume any loss arising from the trading of contracts at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. ERC issued Resolution No. 16 series of 2016 stating that it would adopt the 2008 policy in the monthly computation of generation rates of distribution utilities. ERC said the move aimed to protect the interest of consumers from profiteering or advantages gained by distribution companies at the WESM, the country’s trading floor of electricity. The regulator said it resolved to adopt the policy stated in the let-

ter-reply to National Power Corp. dated Oct. 20, 2008, in the monthly computation of generation rates. ERC said the 2008 rules stated that “where all the gains that the DUs obtain from selling to the WESM, as well as the excess kWh sold back to the WESM, shall be reflected as reduction from the WESM generation cost and kWh purchased.” It said “the losses incurred both in monetary and excess kWh sold back to the WESM due to the trading of contracts [should] all be borne by the DUs as a result of the participation in the electricity market trading.”

The formula for the generation cost was determined by summing up the cost of power from all suppliers, WESM purchases, DUowned generation facility less the generation revenue from time of use customers, cost of power distributed to customers under a sale for resale agreement, if the customers being supplied are not connected with the main distribution grid and the cost is different from those of other regular customers. Former National Power Corp. president Cyril del Callar raised an issue in 2008 on the payments and reimbursements made by the Philippine Electricity Market

Corp., operator of the WESM, to distribution utilities to nominate higher bilateral contract quantities as compared to their actual consumptions. Napocor was forced to buy back such excess nominations of the distribution utilities that were WESM direct members to serve their customers. The state-owned power firm claimed that the practice of excess nomination of BCQs by WESM direct members would ultimately impact on the non-WESM direct member-customers of Napocor by way of subsidization so they could resort in gaining in the market for

additional profit to the detriment of Napocor and customers. ERC responded to Napocor stating that “whatever gains the DUs obtain from selling to the WESM is passed on to the end users through the automatic generation rate adjustment.” “As a regulator, it is the commission’s mission to protect and promote long-term consumer interests. The commission will ensure that losses due to the trading of the contracts to the WESM cannot be passed on to consumers,” ERC said in a letter to former Napocor president Froilan Tampinco. Alena Mae S. Flores

THURSDAY: JULY 7, 2016

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

S&P raises growth forecast By Julito G. Rada

GLOBAL credit watchdog Standard & Poor’s Rating Services raised the 2016 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.1 percent from an earlier estimate of 6 percent, despite the financial turmoil brought about by the United Kingdom’s vote to exit the European Union and the slowdown in China’s economy. S&P said in a regional report the Philippines would continue to outperform its peers in Southeast Asia. “The Philippines continues to be the outperformer with its growing middle class and business process outsourcing boom,” S&P said. The 2016 growth forecast for the Philippines was higher than Indonesia’s 5.1 percent, Malaysia’s 4.5 percent, Singapore’s 1.8 percent and Thailand’s 3.2 percent. S&P also projected that the Philippine economy would grow

6.3 percent in 2017, faster than Indonesia’s 5.3 percent, Malaysia’s 4.7 percent, Singapore’s 1.9 percent and Thailand’s 3.2 percent. It said the first wave of volatility following the Brexit vote was digested smoothly and overall, “markets calmed after only a few days.” S&P said that growth in Southeast Asian economies appeared to have bottomed out as calmer financial markets brought about more confidence and capital inflows.

“We do not see the fallout from the recent Brexit vote as anything more than a downside risk for Asia-Pacific at this juncture. This surprise decision by UK voters to leave the European Union has led to considerable global financial market turbulence, which subsided relatively quickly,” S&P said. S&P did not discount the possibility of revisiting its baseline assumptions for the economies in the region “should the turbulence re-emerge, or should the political fallout broaden to other economies to the point of affecting spending decisions.” British banking giant Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. also raised its 2016 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.3 percent from 5.9 percent and its 2017 growth outlook to 6.3 percent from 5.8 percent, taking into account the expected impact of the planned increase in fiscal spending of the Duterte administration.

Centers of excellence. The Commission on Higher Education awards the center of excellence and center of development statuses to nine degree programs of Mapúa Institute of Technology in a formal ceremony in Diliman, Quezon City. Shown are Mapua officials led by president and chief executive Reynaldo Vea (seated, third from left) with CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan (fourth from left).

Philam Life appoints Filipino executive PHILIPPINE American Life and General Insurance Co., the local unit of AIA Group, named Ariel Cantos as its new chief executive effective June 24. Cantos succeeded Axel Bromley, who decided to relocate to the United States for personal reasons. Prior to his appointment, Cantos was the chief executive of BPIPhilam, the bancassurance joint venture of Philam Life and the Bank of the Philippine Islands, the leading bancassurance operation in the Philippines. “I am delighted that Aibee is assuming the role of CEO of Philam Life. Aibee has spent his entire career with Philam and has successfully held a range of senior leadership positions over the course of his long career. I am confident that Aibee will help lead Philam Life to new levels of growth and success,” AIA Group regional chief executive Gordon Watson said. “I would also like to acknowledge the work of Axel Bromley, who helped to lay the foundation

CANTOS for Philam Life’s transformation journey. We wish Axel and his family all the best in their next chapter of life back in the United States,” said Watson. Cantos, known among peers as Aibee, joined Philam Life as a management trainee and over a career spanning almost 30 years, subsequently held a number of senior roles, including profit center head of accident and health products, sales director of Manila agencies and sales director of provincial agencies.

Cantos’ most recent position at Philam Life was senior vice president and chief agency officer, where he led over 450 agency leaders and 6,000 advisors, before joining BPI-Philam in 2013. As chief executive of Philam Life, Cantos will lead a team that is united in its commitment to achieve Philam Life’s vision to become the undisputed leader in life insurance and wealth management in the Philippines. “I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead Philam Life. The outlook for our company is extremely bright, as we continue to strengthen our distribution channels by advancing our premier agency strategy as well as driving bancassurance growth and expanding our portfolio of corporate clients,” Cantos said. “We will also continue to invest in new technologies and modern facilities to ensure that our advisors are well equipped to provide the best possible experience to our large customer base as we help them to lead longer, healthier and better lives,” he said.

Negative economics of no-contractualization ONE of the principal socio-economic issues that were raised during the 2016 electoral campaign was labor contractualization, i.e., the practice of employers’ signing workers to renewable contracts of less than six months’ duration instead of making them regular employees. Realizing that from the standpoint of competitiveness they had no choice but to match the other candidates’ commitment, all of the five presidential candidates promised to work for the ending of labor contractualization immediately upon election. The issue of putting an end to contractualization brings to mind the old saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” With regard to the contractualization issue, the saying should be changed to “The road to no-more-contractualization is paved with good intentions. Here the good intention is to provide all workers with the legally mandated benefits—chiefly coverage by SSS, Philhealth and Pag-IBIG—that come with regular-employee status. No conscientious and fair-minded employer wants to deprive his employees of these and other legally mandated benefits. For any contractualization-related government action to be widely acceptable and easily implementable, it is necessary to determine the reasons why some employers resort to contractualization. The reasons will determine whether the Department of Labor and Employment will experience much difficulty in enforcing a no-contractualization law. There are three reasons. The first reason is, quite simply, an employer’s instinctive desire, in the absence of adverse government policy, to derive the maximum profit from his business operations. Additional costs reduce profit and SSS, Philhealth and Pag-IBIG coverage for employees are additional costs. Why, the typical businessman asks himself, should I provide benefits for my workers if with the use of legal savvy, I can get away with not providing them with such benefits? The tactic for such legal evasion is of course the hiring of workers for periods shorter than the six-months threshold for compulsory regularization. “Endo,” the shorthand for end of contract, usually comes after five months’ employment. The second reason for the resort of many employers to contractualization is pure-and-simple avoidance (not evasion) of the law. The choice for employers has been clear-cut. They can place their employees on regular status after six months in the establishment—and begin incurring the costs of the legally mandated benefits—or they can avoid incurring those costs through the before-six-months “endo” arrangement. Why incur all those additional costs when the nation’s labor laws leave you a way out? The third reason for many employers’ resort to labor contractualization is the most important because of its virtually certain negative impact on the economy, especially on investment and employment. The plain truth is that the great majority of contractualizing business establishments—mostly small and medium-scale entities, who, according to the government statisticians account for approximately 99 percent of all business establishments—simply cannot afford the financial trappings that go with regular-status employment. They can afford only the basic costs of operating a business, such as rent, wages, utilities and business fees; they cannot afford separation pay, paid leaves, bonuses and social welfare coverages (SSS, Philhealth and Pag-IBIG) for their employees. Putting an end to contractualization has been declared to be one of the legislation priorities in the House of Representatives; the Duterte administration should be able to obtain passage of a no-contractualization law. What would be the impact of such legislation and how are prospective investors likely to react to the enactment of a no-contractualization law? Employees of most of the one percent of business establishments that are classified as big already enjoy the benefits due regular-status employees and those who do not yet enjoy such benefits will be given them once a no-contractualization law is passed. Because they are big—and therefore conspicuous—will have no choice but to comply. The SMEs have a choice: they can either decide to close shop (if their owners are unwilling to break, or are fearful of breaking, the law) or they can decide to defy the law (if their owners are not law-abiding and believe that they can get away with law-breaking). The danger to the economy will come from the reaction of law-abiding would-be investors to a no-contractualization law. If paying the benefits required by such a law will mean that they will not be able to derive profits from their capital, they will not establish businesses. There are such people; they will not go into business if they will be able to make money only by breaking the law. A halfway point, a win-win solution, to the negative economic impact of a no-contractualization law would be to replicate what was done by Congress to mitigate the harshness of the Minimum Wage Act, viz., make allowance for SMEs. In the same manner that business establishments with less than a certain number of employees are exempt from the operation of the Minimum Wage Act, so similarly situated business establishments can be made exempt from no-contractualization. The probable negative impact of a no-contractualization law on investment and employment is one pitfall of legislation placing a ban on contractualization. The other is the usual bugaboo of regulating legislation in this country: enforcement. Not so long ago the head of the Department of Labor and Employment estimated that the agency was able to effectively monitor only around 11 percent of business establishments for compliance with the nation’s labor laws. Given the Labor Department’s present enforcement capability, I doubt very much if a no-contractualization law will be effectively enforced. It has been asked before, but I will ask the question again: what is the point of passing a law that will be widely violated? If the proposed no-contractualization law is not tweaked so as to not discourage investment in SMEs, such a law should, in my view, not be passed at all. Note: In my June 30 column titled “Duterte’s Economic Management Team” I inadvertently left out the Secretary of Public Works and Highways. Mark A. Villar is a key part of the team. My apologies.

UK property sector takes a hit By Simon Kennedy and Sarah Jones

PILLARS of the UK economy are starting to shudder as the cost of Brexit hits home. Three asset managers froze withdrawals from real-estate funds following a flurry of redemptions and the pound plunged to a 31-year low less than two weeks since the nation backed quitting the European Union. Rushing to fill the political vacuum, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney signaled easier monetary policy and urged prudence on households. With the real estate tremors echoing the last financial crisis, the mounting fear is failure to control the aftershocks from the Brexit vote will propel the economy into recession. “I am expecting quite a sharp reduction in investment spending, a sharp hit to the commercial property market, probably a check to consumer spending, all of which could push us towards zero or below growth,” John Gieve, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England and veteran of the last crisis, told Bloomberg Television. Reacting to a rush by investors to redeem

their money, M&G Investments and Aviva Investors followed Standard Life Investments in suspending trading in commercial-property funds that together total 9.1 billion pounds ($11.9 billion). Industry analysts have warned that London office values could fall by as much as 20 percent within three years of the UK leaving the EU. ‘Fire sale’ risk A risk for the economy is that the property funds are forced to sell assets at “fire sale rates,” hitting the commercial sector, said Robin Henry, a partner in the London law firm Collyer Bristow. Aviva bemoaned a “lack of immediate liquidity,” while M&G noted redemptions “have risen markedly because of high levels of uncertainty.” Regulators discussed the Brexit fallout with asset managers on Tuesday in previously scheduled meetings. During the last financial crisis, real estate funds were forced to suspend operations after withdrawals surged, contributing to a property-market slump that saw values drop more than 40 percent from their peak in the UK. “There are enough partial echoes here of the run on US money funds in 2008 to provoke a sharp risk-off flight to safety,” said Krishna Guha, vice chairman of Evercore ISI in Washington. “But we underline

that this appears order of magnitude less worrying than the 2008 money fund episode, being much smaller and much more localized in its effect.” Gilts gain Underscoring the aversion to risk, the yield on the UK’s 10-year gilt yield slid six basis points to 0.77 percent, while the first auction of five-year gilts since the referendum recorded a record low yield of 0.377 percent. The pound slumped to its weakest level since 1985 and slipped below $1.28 in Asian trading Wednesday, breaching the lows seen in the immediate aftermath of the June 23 referendum. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts said they predicted sterling to drop to $1.20 over the next three months. The FTSE 100 Index rose 0.4 percent on Tuesday, led by companies whose profits will be bolstered by the weaker currency. It’s still up 3.3 percent since June 23. The domestic economy is not looking so promising. Pessimism among executives about the outlook almost doubled since the vote, according to an index published Tuesday by YouGov Plc and the Centre for Economics and Business Research on Tuesday. Reports earlier in the week already showed UK construction unexpectedly shrinking at the fastest pace since

2009 in June, while growth in services output slowed. Carney Warning In his third public appearance in 12 days, Carney warned of a “material slowing of the economy” and a “tougher economic outlook.” The Financial Policy Committee he chairs cut its main capital buffer to zero from 0.5 percent of risk-weighted assets. The FPC said that would raise the capacity for lending to companies and households by as much as 150 billion pounds ($197 billion). Carney also spoke of “wellaimed” monetary policy, boosting speculation the central bank will soon provide fresh stimulus in the form of interest rate cuts and perhaps more bond-buying. Carney is serving as the main economic firefighter as politicians in the ruling Conservative Party focus on the jostle to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron, another casualty of Brexit. Home Secretary Theresa May and Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom were the top finishers in the first round of party voting on Tuesday; Former Defense Secretary Liam Fox was eliminated. “Everyone needs to brace for impact as there is now a risk of a confidence shock and recession,” said Lena Komileva, chief economist at G Plus Economics Ltd in London. Bloomberg

Mallorca fights off surge in tourism By Laure Fillon PALMA, Spain—“Tourist go home.” The slogan daubed on a wall in the center of Palma, the capital of Spain’s holiday island of Mallorca, points to growing frustration with a rising tide of tourists. The largest island in the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean, which is home to one million people, expects to receive over 10 million visitors this year, a new record. The crowds have been so large that French tourist Mathilde Boudet, who visited Mallorca and its neighboring island Menorca with her partner last month, found access to a popular cove closed off by police. “We weren’t expecting that,” the 32-year-old said. Spain is enjoying a surge in tourism in part as fears over terrorism drive wary travellers away from rival sunshine destinations in North Africa and Turkey and back to former favorites in southern Europe. But the rise in visitors has led to grumbling from locals in tourist hotspots like Palma who complain of soaring property prices and rents even as they welcome the jobs they help create. The discomfort was reflected in graffiti messages which appeared in April in the historical heart of Palma which were quickly cleaned up by municipal workers. “Tourism is destroying our city” was among the slogans spray painted on city walls along with “Tourist go home, refugees welcome.” Roughly 80 percent of Mallorca’s economy depends on tourism. The island has long been a popular beach destination, especially with visitors from Britain and Germany who favor all-inclusive package holidays and arrive on low-cost flights.

Tourists sunbath on Palma’s beach on the island of Palma de Mallorca on June 30, 2016. Spain is enjoying a surge in tourism in part as fears over terrorism drive wary travellers away from rival sunshine destinations in North Africa and Turkey and back to former favourites in southern Europe. This rise in visitors has led to grumbling from locals in tourist hotspots like Palma who complain of soaring property prices and rents even as they welcome the jobs they help create. JAIME REINA /AFP Many foreigners move to Mallorca, drawn by its cove beaches and mild weather. Foreigners account for 40 percent of property sales in Mallorca, according to German premium real estate agency Engel & Voelkers. ‘Can’t afford it’ In the trendy Santa Catalina neighborhood, a former fisherman’s quarter west of the city center with traditional homes with forest-green shutters, 14 real estate agencies market properties, often in English. The neighborhood is gradually changing as boutiques selling vintage clothing and stores offering Vespa scooters for rent replace traditional shops. A small apartment can fetch hun-

dreds of thousands of euros. An old fisherman’s house that was converted to a luxury triplex is listed for 577,500 euros ($642,665). “Islanders can’t afford it,” said Jacinta Galindo, the president of the Santa Catalina neighbors association. Rents too are on the rise. A two bedroom apartment in Santa Catalina rents for 700 euros a month, while the average salary for a waiter is 1,100-1,200 euros. But despite the complaints from locals over rising real estate prices, Galindo said the graffiti was “an isolated case.” In the central La Seu neighborhood, home to Palma’s main monument such as its imposing cathedral that dominates the city’s palm-lined

waterfront, residents want the arrival of cruise ships to be more evenly spread out. The ships, which are avoiding Tunisia and Turkey due to terrorist attacks, can pump thousands of tourists into the city for just a few hours, said Luis Clar, who heads the La Seu neighbours association. Tourism tax “There is a percentage, which is not yet very high but which exists, of people who question the effects of tourism,” said Biel Barcelo, the tourism minister in the regional government of the Balearic islands. The left-wing government in charge of the archipelago since 2015 began charging in July a tourism tax of up to two euros for overnight stays

which is expected to bring in 60 million euros per year. The money will be used for environmental projects and to restore historical sights. Local green group GOB feels the tax is not enough. They fear rising tourism is putting too much pressure on natural resources like water and demand a limit on the number of tourist lodgings. There are 230,000 hotel beds available in Mallorca, according to industry figures. But this does not count beds available through home rental sites such as Airbnb “contributing to a sense of saturation, which has grown in the past two years,” said GOB spokeswoman Margalida Ramis. AFP

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

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

A pedestrian walks past an electric quotation board flashing numbers of share prices from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in front of a securities company in Tokyo on July 6, 2016. Tokyo stocks plunged in early trade July 6 as a sharply stronger yen hit exporters, while traders nervously eyed record low yields on government bonds. AFP

Brexit messes up Europe’s future Gold hits two-year high amid disorder GOLD climbed to the highest level in more than two years and silver surged as investors piled into haven assets on concern political turmoil and the UK’s decision to leave the European Union will limit global growth. Silver futures in Shanghai traded near the highest since 2013. Gold for immediate delivery advanced as much as 1.1 percent to $1,371.39 an ounce in London, the highest level since March 2014, and traded at $1,368.70 by 12:33 p.m. in Singapore, extending gains to a sixth session. Silver increased as much as 2.4 percent to $20.4103 an ounce and traded at $20.2830. Futures for the metal in Shanghai increased 2.1 percent as volume climbed. “Investors are pouring money into gold as there’s increasing anxiety over the global economic outlook as well as political uncertainty,” said Wu Zhili, Shenzhenbased analyst at Shenhua Futures Co. “The accommodative stance of central banks is also favorable for commodities, especially precious metals.” Precious metals are rising as investors shun risk assets amid market turbulence in the aftermath of the UK vote to leave the EU. The decision is dimming prospects of the Federal Reserve raising US interest rates this year and has prompted speculation that further stimulus may be likely from the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan. Negative rates in Europe and Japan have already boosted the allure of bullion. Bloomberg

BERLIN, Germany—The European Union reacted to the shock of Brexit with a show of unity, but deep divisions quickly resurfaced about the path ahead—whether to seek “more Europe” or less. Pushing for closer integration are EU chiefs such as Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, France and many southern member states, as well as European Social Democrats hoping for more pro-growth policies and less fiscal discipline. The other camp, which wants EU national leaders to keep greater control of European affairs, groups German Chancellor Angela Merkel with her conservative allies and many eastern European leaders. They believe Brexit shows that fed-up European citizens want to repatriate powers from distant, out-of-touch Brussels to the nation state and view EU federalists like Juncker as part of the problem.

The common threat of growing euroskepticism has left all EU leaders scrambling for answers, said analyst Rosa Balfour of think-tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States. “It’s not just Britain that is weakened, it’s also Europe,” she said. “It’s very clear that what happened in Britain could happen in many members states. “Everybody agrees we need more growth and jobs. The question is, who is in the driving seat? That’s where you get this division of more Europe or less Europe.” The question of how to fix the moribund European economy, create jobs and win back people’s trust broadly divides the EU’s north and south, but also the po-

litical left and right. The German and French foreign ministers, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Jean-Marc Ayrault, both of the center-left, in a paper after Britain’s June 23 referendum urged “further steps toward a political union in Europe” with a future joint budget. European Parliament president Martin Schulz, also of Germany’s Social Democrats, has demanded that the European Commission become “a real European government,” overseen by the legislature and answerable to voters. Merkel’s SPD Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is eyeing her job after 2017 elections, has blamed austerity for exacerbating suffering in Europe and said Brexit showed that “poor people vote ‘out’.” That is the view in France and Italy, which want more flexibility on EU budget rules to boost investment, growth and employment. In Germany, the effective EU paymaster whose relative politi-

cal weight is only set to grow after Brexit, Merkel and her conservatives can be expected to fight such costly ideas. For Merkel, Britain has been a key ally in the fight against both EU red tape and loose fiscal policies, and in favor of policies that make the bloc a strong global economic player. “This is not the time for big conventions or treaty reforms,” she said on Tuesday adding that she was “opposed to grand plans for public spending.” While Merkel has urged giving Britain time, and may even quietly hope Brexit will not happen, Juncker, French President Francois Hollande and Italy’s Matteo Renzi have urged Britain to speed up divorce proceedings. Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, a trusted Merkel lieutenant, on Sunday argued that the EU must put lofty visions on hold and quickly resolve pressing issues to regain people’s trust. AFP

Pound, Asian stock markets dive as traders flee HONG KONG—The pound slumped to a fresh 31-year low against the dollar Wednesday while Asian equity markets tumbled as the negative effects of the Brexit vote sent traders fleeing to safety. With last week’s global rally— inspired by promises of central bank stimulus after the poll— consigned to history, high-risk assets such as emerging currencies and oil have also been sent tumbling as fears begin to kick in. The pound sank to $1.2819 at one point, its lowest level since mid-1985, before edging back up. Japan’s Nikkei stock index closed down 1.9 percent—having shed more than three percent at one point—while Hong Kong lost

1.2 percent. Seoul shed 1.9 percent and Sydney eased 0.6 percent but Shanghai bounced in the afternoon to end up 0.4 percent. “Investor sentiment soured over the July 4 long weekend,” said Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA Asia Pacific, in a note. “Just when you thought it was ‘safe to go back in the water,’ the pound got pounded as speculation around Brexit forms into something more concrete.” Hefty selling began in Europe on Tuesday afternoon when the head of the Bank of England said there was “evidence that some risks have begun to crystallize” following the shock June 23 vote for Britain to leave the European Union. A biannual report from the

bank’s Financial Policy Committee said the outlook for the country’s financial stability was “challenging.” The BoE also relaxed commercial banks’ capital requirements to boost lending, which analysts said indicated it was prepared to further loosen monetary policy to support the British economy. The measure provided support to London stocks, but was unable to prevent a sell-off across the rest of Europe and New York. Adding to the sense of panic was news that three commercial property funds worth billions of dollars had suspended trade and blocked client redemptions. The moves come as fears grow that the vote will lead compa-

nies—particularly banks in London—to shift operations from Britain, fueling a surge in selling and a slump in prices. Europe’s financial sector is already under pressure after the European Central Bank warned Italy’s number-three lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world’s oldest bank, it had dangerously high levels of bad debt. Mitsuo Shimizu, deputy general manager with Japan Asia Securities Group, told Bloomberg News there are “fears the global economy will worsen due to Europe. “The UK’s economic outlook is blurred with uncertainty and the pound’s recent weakness is likely to encourage speculative buying in the yen.” AFP

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), AS AMENDED, BETWEEN DON ORESTES ROMUALDEZ ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. WITH PRAYER FOR CONFIDENTIAL ERC CASE NO. 2016-033 RC TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY DON ORESTES ROMUALDEZ ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (DORELCO) AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. (GNPOWER) Applicants. x---------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: On 23 March 2016, DON ORESTES ROMUALDEZ ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (DORELCO) and GNPOWER LTD. CO. (GNPOWER) filed their joint Application for approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA), with prayer for confidential treatment of information and the issuance of provisional authority. In support of said Application, DORELCO and GNPower alleged, among others, the following: 1. Applicant DORELCO is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at National Highway, Brgy. San Roque, Tolosa, Leyte. It is authorized to distribute and provide electricity services to its memberconsumers in the Municipalities of Abuyog, Burauen, Dagami, Dulag, Javier, Julita, La Paz, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Tabon-Tabon, Tanuan, Tolosa, all in the Province of Leyte(collectively, the “Franchise Area”); 2. Copies of DORELCO’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Franchise are attached to the Application as follows: Annex “A” “B” “C” “D”

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

3. Applicant GNPOWER is a duly registered limited partnership 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 to the Application, 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 counsels ofrecord; 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), its Implementing 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), are attached as Annex “G” and “G-1“, respectively, and forms an integral part of the Application;

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; 12.7. 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; 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” “H-2” “H-3” “H-4” “H-5” “H-6” “H-7” “H-8”

13. On 18 September 2015, DORELCO and GNPOWER executed the subject PSA, providing the terms and conditions for the supply of eight (8) MW [sic] baseload power to DORELCO, to assure the adequate and reliable supply of power to DORELCO’s franchise area; 14. Subsequently, through the Amendment Letter, DORELCO requested for a three (3) MW increase in Contracted Capacity, which GNPOWER accepted and conformed to on 14 January 2016; ABSTRACT OF THE PSA AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION 15.

The following are the salient features of the PSA:

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.)

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

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

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) ECs of Region 8 participated in the bidding for PSALM’s 200 strips of energy from the Unified Leyte Geothermal 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: 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 ECs. In addition, prospective bidders (Generation Companies, IPP Administrators and Wholesale Aggregators whose names

Document Invitation to Bid 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 Emails confirming participation of interested suppliers in the bidding Final Instruction to Bidders Bid Forms Bid Evaluation Slips Comparison of Bids Notice of Award

Contracted Capacity GNPOWER shall sell and deliver, or cause to deliver to DORELCO a contracted capacity of five (5) 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. To maximize capacity utilization, Region 8 ECs may exchange quantities of their Contracted Capacities. (Exchange in MW Capacity Protocol annexed to the PSA) Contract Price Under Schedule 1 of the PSA, the Total Monthly Charge, before taxes, for a Billing Period shall be computed according to the following:

Total Monthly Charge = Capacity+Charge+Energy Charge C. 1. 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 such may be adjusted from time to time based on DORELCO’s CapacityUtilization Factor.

Where: Q ACTUAL CC HT EHTO

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 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 the Table below: 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%

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

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

83%

2.7643

0.7475

82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70%

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

0.7566 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 below:

LCRCUF = LFOM CUF = Where,

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

LCR@100% CUF

LFOM

LFOM @100% CUF

LCRCUF

- 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: CUF = max Where: Q ACTUAL

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

= the Contracted Capacity, in kWh, as set forth in Schedule 1 = the total number of hours in such Billing Period

HT = the actual energy delivered, in kWh, to the Buyer at the Delivery Point for the Billing Period. = is the Contracted Capacity in kW. = is the total number of hours in the Billing Period.

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

EHTO

= the sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of Scheduled Outages and Unscheduled Outages in such Billing Period C. 2. Energy Fee and Energy Charge 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 PSA, as amended as 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 DORELCO, in kWh, for the Billing Period

= 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)

TOTAL

69,781,991.00

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

= 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

“S”

D. Currency of Payment The Contract Price shall be paid by DORELCO in Philippine Peso only.

“T”

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 DORELCO 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 DORELCO, shall negotiate on behalf of DORELCOfor 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 DORELCO has no arrears from previous billings, including the Security Deposit or any unpaid charges or penalties, if DORELCO pays the invoice amount in full within 10 days from its receipt of the invoice, DORELCO 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 DORELCO’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, DORELCO 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 DORELCO’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 DORELCO’S RETAIL RATES 16. DORELCO, 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, DORELCO receives a total of 5 MW from its existing suppliers, out of its peak requirement of 11.3 MW. With an annual average growth rate of 3.52 %, DORELCO forecasts that its peak demand from 26 December 2015 to 25 December 2016 will be 14 MW; 18. The additional supply from GNPOWER will significantly augment the supply deficiency of DORELCO 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 DORELCO 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, as amended, provides flexibility in the DUs’ utilization of the Contracted Capacity; 20. DORELCO simulated a rate impact analysis which resulted in a Php0.6140decrease with the execution of the PSA, as amended, with GNPOWER, to wit:1 Amount (PhP)

Percent Share (%)

GMCP

Forecasted 2016 Average Quantity (kWh) 13,902,850.00

19.92%

Resulting Capacity Factor (%) 79%

2016 Average Rate (P/kWh) 4.95

68,780,179.52

FDCUI

26,280,000.00

156,410,676.00

37.66%

100%

5.95

GNPOWER

34,757,869.60

203,225,787..76

49.81%

79%

5.85

WESM

(5,158,728.60)

(44,783,039.16)

-7.39%

TOTAL

69,781,991.00

383,633,604.12

100% Percent Share (%)

Resulting Capacity Factor (%)

68,780,179.52

19.92%

79%

26,280,000.00

156,410,676.00

37.66%

100%

5.95

0.00

0.00%

0.00

29,599,141.00

201,286,651.43

42.42%

Amount (Php.)

GMCP

13,902,850.00

FDCUI GNPOWER WESM

5.4976

10.98

2016 Average Rate (P/ kWh) 4.95

Forecasted 2016 Quantity (kWh)

Weighted Average Rate (kWh)

6.66

Weighted Average Rate (P/kWh)

6.1116

100%

Generation Rate Impact: -0.6140 (Reduction) 21. In addition to the lower generation cost of the power supply from GNPOWER, DORELCO 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 following documents to form integral parts hereof:

ICI n-1

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 DORELCO.

426,477,506.95

DOCUMENT Executive Summary of the PSA 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-13-01-001 valid until January 2018 DORELCO’s Distribution Development Plan (DDP) DORELCO’s Actual and Forecasted Energy and Demand DORELCO’s Average Daily Load Curve DORELCO’s Secretary’s Certificate attesting to the resolution of its Board of Directors to enter into the subject PSA with GNPOWER, designate signatories thereto, file an application with the ERC for PSA approval, and engage the services of Delos Angeles, Aguirre, Olaguer,Salomon, Fabro& Ojeda Law Offices GNPOWER’s General Partner’s Certificate attesting to the resolution of the Board to execute the subject PSA with DORELCO, as amended, and designating signatories thereto

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 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 substantial amount of time is needed to evaluate the documents submitted to support the approval of herein Application, Applicants seek the kind 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 DORELCO, which is set to start on 26 December 2015 at 12:00 A.M.; 36. The Region 8 ECs, including DORELCO, 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. DORELCO, 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;

23. Applicants reserve 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 24. Applicants manifest compliance with the prefiling 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 DORELCO’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 theERC 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. DORELCOrequests 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, DORELCOincluded, 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, DORELCO 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 secrets constitute proprietary rights and jurisprudence has consistently acknowledged the private character of trade secrets3. 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 confi dential treatment. As suc h, 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 their Prayer for the issuance of Provisional Authority (PA) to implement the subject PSA; 33. DORELCO and GNPOWER pray for the issuance of a

37. The additional power from GNPOWER is needed to curtail any power interruptions that may be experienced by DORELCO’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”, and form an integral part hereof; PRAYER 39. Applicant DORELCO and GNPOwer pray before the Commission that: i. All information attached as Annexes “H-2” to “H8”, “K” and “K-1” to the Application be treated as confidential; ii Pending hearing on the merits, a PA be issued authorizing the immediate implementation of the subject PSA, including the rate structure therein, as applied; iii. After due notice and hearing, the instant Application, the PSAand the rate structure contained therein be duly approved; and iv.

In the event that a Final Authority shall be issued after GNPOWER starts actual delivery of power to DORELCO under the terms of the subject PSA, said Final Authority be retroactively applied to the date of such actual delivery. The Commission has set the Application for the hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 03 August 2016 (Wednesday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00A.M.) at DORELCO’s Main Office, National Highway, Brgy. San Roque, Tolosa, 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 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 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

2 3 4 5

Notes: 1. Analysis and simulations is based on DORELCO’s forecasted 2016 hourly load profile 2. GCGI’s contract to DORELCO, 100% Load Factor 3. TRANS-ASIA’s contract to DORELCO, 100% Load Factor 4. FDCUI’s contract to DORELCO, 100% Load Factor 5. GNPOWER’s proposal to DORELCO, with 100%-70% CUF 6. GMCP rate is based on (i) Capacity Fee at Resulting Capacity Factor; (ii) November 14 coal and shipping prices; (iii) AVERAGE FOREX from Jan 2015 - Oct. 2015; (iv) PPD not included 7. WESM Prices is based on 2012 Nodal Points of DORELCO prices of WESM can be change based on standard deviation to much higher or lower 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 GNPower) with a conservative loan interest of 6% per annum and baseload load factor of 81%.

( T S - J U N E 3 0 /J U LY 7, 2 016)

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

End of fasting. This handout picture released by the official website of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in the capital Tehran on July 6, 2016. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

HK offers to protect bookseller HONG KONG—Hong Kong police offered protection on Wednesday to a bookseller who was detained in China for eight months without access to a lawyer, as Beijing warned that he was violating his bail terms. Lam Wing-kee was seized after crossing the border into China and taken away blindfolded for allegedly bringing banned books into the mainland, he said last month. The 61-year-old is part of a group of staff from a Hong Kong firm that published salacious titles about leading Chinese politicians. The five mysteriously went missing late last year and later emerged in mainland China, intensifying concerns in Hong Kong about China’s increasingly tight grasp on the city. Since returning to Hong Kong, Lam has said he fears for his personal safety while other activists have alleged that Chinese agents abducted one of the other booksellers on Hong Kong soil. Although the city has the status of a special administrative region of China, the two have separate

legal systems, distinct police jurisdictions and maintain strict border controls. The city was returned by Britain to China in 1997 under a deal guaranteeing freedoms that would be unimaginable in the mainland, and the case has fanned anxieties that the semi-autonomous city’s fiercely guarded liberties are being eroded. Lam is the only one of the five booksellers to speak openly about the case and has suggested the other four feel too much pressure from China to do the same. He was supposed to return to the mainland after being released to Hong Kong on bail last month but has refused to do so. The case has put the city’s China-friendly Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in a very awkward position, trapped between

his political masters in Beijing and Hongkongers angry about the city’s direction. “The government and I are paying close attention to the issue of Lam Wing-kee’s concerns for his personal safety,” Leung told reporters Wednesday. Hong Kong and China have no extradition treaty, meaning there is no obligation for city authorities to hand Lam back to China even if he is violating the terms of his bail. Police deputy commissioner Tony Wong said officers were willing to offer Lam protection “if he wishes it”. Activists have alleged that Chinese security agents are operating in the city, which would be illegal under the city’s mini-constitution. Lam had been due to lead a prodemocracy march last week on the anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China, but pulled out at the last minute, saying that he had been followed prior to the rally. AFP

Pistorius jailed six years for murdering girlfriend PRETORIA—South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to six years in jail on Wednesday for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home three years ago. High Court judge Thokozile Masipa listed several mitigating factors for sentencing him to less than half the minimum 15year term for murder, including the athlete’s claim he believed he was shooting an intruder. “The sentence that I impose on the accused... is six years imprisonment,” she said. Pistorius, 29, hugged his family before being taken out of the court in Pretoria to begin serving his term. The double-amputee Olympic

and Paralympic sprinter was freed from prison last October after serving one year of a fiveyear term for culpable homicide—the equivalent of manslaughter. But an appeals court upgraded his conviction to murder in December. Pistorius shot Steenkamp, a model, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013, saying he mistook her for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet. The sentencing may not be the end of the saga, as Pistorius or the state could launch a final round of appeals against the length of the prison term. AFP

Venezuelans cross border to stock up

After the meeting. From left, minister for Public service Annick

Girardin, Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, and Junior minister for Local Authorities Estelle Grelier leave the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris following the weekly Cabinet meeting on July 6. AFP

CARACAS—Five hundred hungry Venezuelan women rushed across a bridge into Colombia in defiance of a year-long border closure in search of basic food and commodities that have grown scarce at home due to a crippling economic crisis. The women, dressed mostly in white and coming from towns in western Tachira state, managed to break through a military cordon, across a bridge and into the northeastern Colombian city of Cucuta. One of the women told local media she had bought rice, sug-

ar, flour, toilet paper and oil, all of which are hard to come by in Venezuela. In images and video shared across social media, dozens of the women prayed and sang the Venezuelan national anthem upon their return to the city of Urena. Shortages of basic food and medicine in Venezuela have reached 80 percent, according to private organizations, but the situation in the border area is exacerbated by the closure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered in August 2015.

The president made the decision after an attack by a Colombian paramilitary group against a military patrol that wounded three people in San Antonio del Tachira. Some 70 percent of Venezuela’s small shops have closed, causing the loss of 15,000 jobs, according to the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce, or Fedecámaras. Last week, both countries’ defense ministers resumed talks on border security as they broached the possibility of reopening the 2,200-kilometer frontier. AFP

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

W EL L NES S & EN V IRONMEN T

LIFE

HOW HEALTHY IS THE

TYPICAL FILIPINO DIET M BY MICHELLE BUENCAMINO

any Filipinos don’t get the required nutrients the body needs because they are not eating enough fruits and vegetables, according to a study. A 2013 study of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed that the typical Filipino diet is composed of rice, fish and vegetables—with rice taking up the largest portion in the plate. Despite the consumption of vegetables, the study found that it is meager and does not meet the recommended halfplate of fruits and vegetables per meal or at least five to nine servings daily. Fruits and vegetables are important in the daily food consumption of every individual as they contain a variety of nutrients including vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. The said nutrients are responsible in keeping the body healthy and preventing diseases. In observance of Nutrition Month this July, vitamin and dietary supplement label Nutrilite and FNRI discussed the typical Pinoy diet in a bid to raise awareness among Filipinos. “For how many years that we’re doing the survey, we noticed that we still haven’t addressed the undernutrition among our children […] and we still have problems with overnutrition among adults,” explained FNRI senior science research specialist Divorah Aguila. Undernutrition is due to insufficient food intake, while overnutrition is the excessive intake of food in unbalanced proportions. Aguila explained that undernutrition in the infant stage is high because pregnant and lactating mothers have to feed their children aside from themselves. Comparing the 2008 and 2013 studies on the subject, FNRI discovered that majority of nutrient consumption went down among those aged 6 months to 5 years old; calorie consumption, on the other hand, increased in the 13 to 15 years old age group. Both studies show that only protein and niacin are the nutrients met by Filipino households. FNRI asserted that these are not enough when compared with the required nutrients needed by the body. There is also a drastic decrease in consumption of fruits and vegetables among Filipinos over the years. “This is not a guarantee that requirements for other food nutrients are met because

Fruits and vegetables are important in the daily food consumption of every individual as they contain a variety of nutrients including vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. The said nutrients are responsible in keeping the body healthy and preventing diseases

FNRI senior science research specialist Divorah Aguila talks about the typical Filipino diet

we have so many food items nowadays that can give us enough calories but nutrientwise, it’s not nutrient-dense […] It can be calorie-dense but not nutrient-dense, that’s why we have overnutrition among adults,” Aguila said.

In this situation, taking dietary supplements may be helpful to meet the body’s nutritional needs, especially for those leading busy lives. “If you are to choose just one product under Nutrilite, you have to choose Double X because it already has vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients,” Nutrilite Assistant Product Manager Mia Jamisola told The Standard Life. First introduced in 1948, Nutrilite Double X is the only all-in-one dietary food supplement that contains 11 essential vitamins, nine essential minerals, and 12 phytonutrient-rich plant concentrates from the five different colors of fruits and vegetables.

Double X is recommended for 18 years old and above. To reap the benefits from the all-natural supplement, one must consume one vitamin tablet, one mineral tablet and one phytonutrient tablet two times daily after meals. Those with medical conditions must consult their doctors first before taking it. Having all the nutrients is not enough for one to be considered healthy, though. Aguila recommended that one should also be physically active, make healthy food choices, manage stress, avoid alcoholic beverages and not smoke to prevent lifestyle-related, noncommunicable diseases.

Many rice-loving Filipinos don't get the required nutrients the body needs to function well because they are not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

THE BITTER EFFECTS OF EXCESS SUGAR TO KIDS

hocolates, candies, cakes, cookies are brownies are just a few of the sweet, sugary treats parents love to give their kids. But beyond the colorful wrappers and delightful taste of these food items lie the harm that could affect young ones in the long run. Premier health institution Makati Medical Center (MMC) gives the lowdown on why sugar, when taken excessively, can be a whole lot of trouble.

Children love cake but health professionals aver that when this sugar-rich treat among others is taken excessively could lead to detrimental health conditions

Empty calories

According to pediatric endocrinologist Susana P. Campos, MD, of MMC’s Department of Pediatrics, sugar-rich foods with empty calories often replace the nutritious food children need and can be a huge contributor to nutrient deficiencies or malnutrition (undernutrition or overnutrition). “Added sugars don’t give you essential nutrients at all as these have no essential protein or fats, just pure energy which when taken in excess gets converted to fat,” informs Dr. Campos.

Big fat problems

Dr. Campos states that daily servings of sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with an increased (60 percent) risk of

obesity in children and adolescents, and an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and heart diseases in adult life. The physician adds, “We therefore need to push the brakes on snacking on sweets at school and at home, and on excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. Obesity which begins earlier in life has a bigger and more dramatic impact on the severity of these health conditions.”

Undesirable behavior

Research has shown that children who take in a large amount of sugar show increased aggression, withdrawal and difficulty paying attention. “Children who become overweight often get bullied or become bullies,” claims Dr. Campos.

No sugar, now what?

Parents need to help their kids make smart food choices. Letting go and limiting

child’s sugar intake now can help prevent further complications while they’re growing up. Dr. Campos recommends alternatives parents should consider to curb kids’ sugar craving: Yogurt and fresh fruits – Substitute ice cream with plain or Greek yogurt and top it off with fresh fruits for that added flavor. Yogurt contains power-boosting protein, bone-building calcium, potassium and magnesium, while fruits provide natural sugars – both perfectly healthy and packed with nutrients for your kids. Drink water – Dr. Campos encourages parents to give their children water instead of sugar-sweetened drinks such as iced tea or soda to quench their thirst and keep their bodies hydrated. Oatmeal – Replace those sugary cereals with healthy oats, which are an excellent source of dietary fiber important for kid’s cardiovascular health and good for preventing constipation. Spice up the oatmeal with cinnamon to add flavor that often satisfies sugar cravings. Activities – Not a food item, but children often think of snacking when they are bored—so keep them active. “Encourage your children to join group activities, such as sports, art and dance classes,” says Dr. Campos.

Empowering Filipinos with healthy nerves Neuropathy, or nerve damage, potentially affects millions of people worldwide, every year. Early detection is key as under normal conditions, nerves repair naturally via regeneration. But after a certain time— when approximately 50 percent or more of nerve tissues are damaged—the nerve remains in a state of disrepair and any impairment becomes permanent. Experts call this stage the “point of no return.” Early detection and diagnosis of Neuropathy is vital. For this reason, Neurobion, the worldwide leader in B-vitamins and the nerve care expert from Merck Inc. Philippines, continues its nationwide advocacy, the Neuropathy Awareness Movement. Now on its third year, this year’s campaign is called “Helping True Heroes.” The campaign highlights the importance of nerve health and is designed to help the millions of silent sufferers who are true heroes in their families to take an active role in keeping their nerves in tip-top state. “True heroes are everyday people who push their own boundaries and go the extra mile for the benefit of others,“ said Debbie Go, head of Marketing for Merck Consumer Health. “At the heart of our campaign is raising awareness for nerve care and empowering these true Filipino heroes to keep on making ordinary acts, extraordinary with healthy nerves.” Held at the Market! Market! Activity Center, the whole-day Helping True Heroes launch event was headlined by activities and attractions that demonstrated the crucial role of healthy nerves in the lives of true Filipino heroes. From free nerve health checks with medical experts, NeuroMove exercise demos, life-size functional art displays by renowned local artists Coco Torre and Jonel dela Cruz, to an impressive shadow play performance by international sensation El Gamma Penumbra, all served as wakeup calls and motivation for everyone to be more vigilant about nerve care. Also present during the event and lending their voices to the Neuropathy Awareness Movement were singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla and actor-host Ryan Agoncillo. The two shared their experience with Neuropathy and urged people to care for

The heroes of healthy nerves. From left: Delamar Arias, Merck Inc. General Manager Ferdinand Roxas, Neurobion Brand Manager Loy Dy Buncio, Health Nerves Ambassadors Zsa Zsa Padilla and Ryan Agoncillo, Merck Consumer Health Head of Marketing Debbie Go, Merck CH OTC Sales Manager Marlon Carpizo, Merck CH RX Sales Manager Art Dapasen and Chico Garcia

their nerves the same way they would for other parts of their body. Neuropathy affects one out of three people with progressing age and is common among people who have nutritional deficiencies e.g. vitamin B deficiency caused by special dietary habits (vegetarian, vegan); excessive smoking and drinking; as well as chronic disease like diabetes. Symptoms of Neuropathy can vary and include: numbness or loss of sensation (pamamanhid), muscle weakness (pangangalay), tingling/pins and needles (tusok-tusok), burning sensation (pagiinit), and muscle cramps (pamumulikat). Caring for the nerves is as easy as exercising regularly; eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein; getting at least eight hours of sleep every day; and limiting alcohol intake and cigarette smoking which are toxic to the nerves. Studies also show that healthy

nerves can be achieved by taking B-complex vitamin supplements like Neurobion daily. “I have been taking Neurobion for years now and it has done wonders to my nerves. I do not experience numbness in my hands which is a good thing because I love to cook for my family, and I also don’t experience cramps in my calves even after long hours of standing and performing on stage in high heels,” said Padilla. Agoncillo also shared, “One of my greatest joys in life is spending quality time with my three kids, and having healthy nerves enables me to do just that. I regularly exercise and eat healthy, but sometimes, I still experience symptoms of neuropathy. Before, I couldn’t play with them as much as I wanted to because of the tingling and burning sensations I felt in my feet after a bike ride or a long day at work. When I started taking Neurobion, these symptoms no longer bother me and now I can even

chase my kids around the house.” “Neurobion contains an optimum balance formulation of vitamins B1 (strengthens the nerves), B6 (improves transmission of nerve impulses) and B12 (protects and restores damaged nerves). It is clinically proven to nourish and regenerate the nerves, providing relief for people who suffer from peripheral nerve problems. With more than 50 years of heritage, Neurobion is trusted by doctors worldwide,” said Loy Dy Buncio, brand manager for Neurobion. Neurobion calls for support from healthcare professionals, influencers, media, families and friends to help raise awareness for Neuropathy and encourage sufferers to get detected, diagnosed and treated without delay. For more information on Neurobion and the Neuropathy Awareness Movement, visit www.facebook.com/NeurobionPH.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

NEW HILOT-INSPIRED EXPERIENCE

AT DEVARANA SPA

evarana Spa at Dusit Thani Manila invites spa lovers to experience the magic of the Eastern blend therapies through the new Borehilot Massage. Borehilot Massage is the fusion of Filipino Hilot Massage and Balinese Boreh Remedy. In the traditional Eastern remedies, unbalanced energy within the body causes illness. When the energy pathways are blocked, sickness begins to take form in the body causing harm to your health. The core principle of Eastern therapy is to unblock and stimulate the energy meridians, aiming to maintain health and wellness - mentally, physically and emotionally. Devised to bring your body and mind back into natural balance in 90 minutes, the Borehilot Massage starts with the application of a warm Boreh paste which is the combination of ginger root, cinnamon, clove and rice powder. Therapist applies this warm

paste on the specific area such as upper and lower back, legs and stomach to help warm up the muscles and improve flexibility. The heat and aromatic properties of the Boreh ease the strain and promote circulation. What’s more, a warm banana leaves, soaking into warm therapeutic oil, are arranged to cover on top of the paste to let the heat penetrate deeper in that specific area, this ritual will be left there for a while to reduce the tension and relieve the back and legs pain. The massage therapy is completed with a long soothing stroke massage with medium pressure to stimulate the circulation. The benefits of this new massage are such as relieving fatigue, providing the energy and promoting luminous complexion. For more information, please contact Devarana Spa at Dusit Thani Manila +63 (2) 818 7081 or send e-mail to| manila@devaranaspa.com

Dusist Thani Manila's Devarana Spa lets spa lovers experience the relaxing combination of Filipino hilot and Balinese Boreh Remedy with its Borehilot Massage

Celebrating wellness with Sofitel Manila Half Marathon

Sofitel Manila partners with Coach Rio de la Cruz of running event organizer RunRio for its Half Marathon event this 2016

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila promotes wellness and a healthy lifestyle as it holds the 2016 Sofitel Manila Half Marathon on August 21. Now on its fourth year, the premier urban destination in partnership with the country’s foremost running event organizer, RunRio, led by Coach Rio de la Cruz, brings the much-anticipated event to a new venue. Now taking off from the CCP Open Field, which is next to Sofitel, and offers more activity space and private parking for runners, the Sofitel Manila Half Marathon is an annual event held for the benefit of the children of Virlanie Foundation. “Over 4,300 participants joined last year’s successful run and we continue to encourage more wellness and fitness enthusiasts to participate this year. We were able to raise P750,000 for Virlanie Foundation, enabling the young, less fortunate children of Manila,” shares Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s General Manager Adam Laker.

The 2016 Sofitel Manila Half Marathon will feature three categories (5K, 10K and 21K) with start and end points at the CCP Open Field. The marathon takes runners through a panoramic view of the bay area showcasing the scenic surrounds and promoting a green lifestyle encouraging runners to bring water bottles for refilling at designated hydration stations, minimizing the use of paper and plastic cups. “We hope to continue engaging runners to join events like the Sofitel Manila Half Marathon that not only is a hub for both amateur and professional runners but also serves a noble purpose—to make a difference in the lives of the children of Manila through the Virlanie Foundation,” shares Coach Rio. Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila and RunRio invite you to participate in this worthwhile wellness program. Online registration ends on Aug. 7 and in-store registration starts on July 13 until Aug. 14 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila,

Runnr Store Bonifacio High Street, Runnr Trinoma, Toby’s Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Toby’s Mall of Asia. Registration fees for the available categories are at P750 for 5K, P850 for the 10K and P950 for the 21K. All participants shall receive event race bibs, singlet and finishers’ loot bag. Runners on the 21K category will also receive a finisher’s shirt and medal. An assortment of cash and lifestyle prizes are in store for some of our top running enthusiasts. This event is co-presented by Cebu Pacific GetGo Card by Unionbank, The Sofitel Manila Half Marathon is made possible by the following sponsors: Gatorade, Timex, GoPro, Althaus Philippines, illy Coffee, Nescafe Ready-to-Drink Coffee, Siyana Sweet, Hygienix, Harvey Fresh, Great Image, Gardenia, Star Xpo Enterprises and Delsan Office Systems. For more information, please visit www.sofitelmanilahalfmarathon.com or email feedback@runrio.com.

Motivational speaker without hands and feet Imagine getting through your busy day without hands or legs. Picture your life without the ability to walk, care for your basic needs, or even embrace those you love. Meet Nicholas Vujicic (pronounced VOO-yee-cheech), is a best-selling author and world-renowned motivational speaker. Without any medical explanation or warning, Nick was born in 1982 in Melbourne, Australia, without arms and legs. Three sonograms failed to reveal complications. And yet, the Vujicic family was destined to cope with both the challenge and blessing of raising a son who refused to allow his physical condition to limit his lifestyle. The early days were difficult. Throughout his childhood, Nick not only dealt with the typical challenges of school and adolescence, but he also struggled with depression and loneliness. Nick constantly wondered why he was different than all the other kids. He questioned the purpose of life, or if he even had a purpose. According to Nick, the victory over his struggles, as well as his strength and passion for life today, can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the journey have inspired him to carry on, as well.

Nick Vujicic, a man without limbs, travels the world to share his story and inspire people to reach beyond their goals

Since his first speaking engagement at age 19, Nick has traveled around the world,

sharing his story with millions, sometimes in stadiums filled to capacity, speaking

to a range of diverse groups such as students, teachers, young people, business professionals and church congregations of all sizes. Today, Nick has accomplished more than most people achieve in a lifetime. He’s an author, musician, actor, and his hobbies include fishing, painting and swimming. In 2007, Nick made the long journey from Australia to southern California where he is the president of the international non-profit ministry, Life Without Limbs, which was established in 2005. Nick first visited Manila in 2013, where thousands of Filipinos were inspired by this man’s life – a life filled with hope, perseverance and an unstoppable passion regardless of what you see in and around your current situation. He has been traveling across the globe bringing a message of inspiration that empowers individuals to reach beyond their goals to achieve ultimate success. On July 29, 2016, he returns to Manila, and will speak in two events (2PM and 8PM) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Join and listen to Nick as he talks about overcoming the hurdles. Join him and witness lives moved, mindsets transformed, attitudes shaped, and goals met beyond expectations.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

ew World Makati Hotel joins hands with Habitat for Humanity Philippines in a new commitment to build better homes for the Filipinos. Led by General Manager Farid Schoucair and executive committee members, the hotel’s corporate social responsibility team visited the construction site at Bistekville in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City, for a concrete showcase of civic mindedness and teamwork. Under the supervision of Allan Bermudo, Habitat for Humanity’s safety officer and project supervisor, volunteer hotel associates completed hauling 255 cement hollow blocks, transporting back-fill equivalent to a total of seven cubic meters; and excavating four holes. The team’s efforts contributed to the construction of new, decent homes and a sustainable environment for the informal settlers in the community. In addition to house building, New World Makati Hotel actively promotes camaraderie and supports its surrounding community, environment and local charitable organizations through various activities such as charity fun runs, hospital visits, bazaar fundraisers, donations to calamity-stricken areas and feeding programs. For more information on New World Makati Hotel, please visit newworldhotels.com/manila or call (02) 811 6888.

New World Makati Hotel Resident Manager Randal Linhart (right) receives the Certificate of Appreciation from Habitat for Humanity Philippines

NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL JOINS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

New World Makati employees and Habitat for Humanity Philippines volunteers work together to contribute to the construction of decent and sustainable homes for informal settlers in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City

Revolutionizing Philippine farming Calata Corporation, one of the biggest agricultural conglomerates in the Philippines, and Pessl Instruments, an Austrian technology company who has been a global player in the agricultural industry, celebrated their partnership by leading the country’s agricultural sector into the “Agricultural Internet of Things.” The partnership between the two companies will transform the way Filipinos farm and make a real difference

especially among grassroots farmers. It will introduce data-driven farming with the first Agro-Meteorological System in the Philippines, which will provide accurate weather forecast and substantial data to farmers to help them protect and increase their yield and save energy, water and fertilizer costs. By introducing modern and intelligence-based farming practices, Calata Corporation and Pessl Instruments

are set to revolutionize the country’s agricultural industry. Welcoming guests during the celebration were Calata Corporation President, Chairman and CEO Joseph Calata and Pessl Instruments Founder and CEO Gottfried Pessl. Austrian Ambassador Josef Müllner graced the event. Also joining the event were Calata Corporation’s Parker Ong and Jose Marie Fabella, Pessl Instruments’ Vishnu Nair and business partners.

Warm Hello to Healthy Options in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa Ready to wade into the growing area of healthful eating and therapeutic supplements, and hoping a natural products store is just nearby? Nuvali, Sta. Rosa dwellers and visitors who are health buffs will be happy to find a new Healthy Options store teeming with product finds that include quality brands of vitamins and supplements, some grocery staples, skin care and remedies for health issues, to name some. The new Healthy Options store is located at the ground floor of Building D in Solenad 3, Nuvali, Sta. Rosa. The onestop shop carries a full range of supplements as well as personal care items, organic and natural foods including meats, eggs, fresh olive oils, nuts & snacks, natural make-up, and a whole lot more. Upon entering the store, customers are greeted by a pleasant shopping ambience. Wood lining the shelves, and in the walls and ceiling add a warm touch and natural feel. There is also an area reserved for the

Healthy Options brings its all-natural products to Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna

chillers and freezers with freerange eggs and organic produce. Hie off to Healthy Options, which remains at the forefront of the natural foods movement and continues to make available the best natural products for today’s customers.

Apart from the Nuvali, Sta. Rosa store, Healthy Options can also be found at level 1 of Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City; Rustan’s Supermarket, Makati City; Festival Supermall, Filinvest, Alabang; Ayala Center, Cebu City; SM City, North EDSA; SM City Manila; SM Megamall B, EDSA, Mandaluyong City; SM Pampanga; SM Mall of Asia; SM Clark; Bonifacio High Street, Taguig; Trinoma, North EDSA, Quezon City; SM City Davao; Rockwell-Makati; SM City Cebu; Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City; Commerce Mall, Alabang Town Center; Abreeza Mall, Davao City; Robinsons Magnolia, New Manila, Quezon City; Excelsior, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City; SM Aura, Taguig; Century City, Makati; Glorietta 2, Makati City; Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro; and at Kidzania, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For details on product lines and events, visit healthyoptions.com.ph.

Joseph Corporation Founder and CEO Joseph Calata with Pessl Instruments Founder and CEO Gottfried Pessl

SNAPSHOTS

Solar rooftop challenge Renewable Energy advocates (from left) Illac Diaz, Jun Sabayton, Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Saab Magalona grace the launch of the Greenpeace Solar Rooftop Challenge at the Bonifacio High Street on June 15. The Solar Rooftop Challenge is a massive information campaign that highlights the potentials of producing solar energy in the Philippines and creates a platform for the young and urban Filipinos to join the discussion on renewable energy, particularly the use of solar energy.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

KRING-KRING

NOW MAYOR OF TACLOBAN BY ROBBIE PANGILINAN

ormer actress Cristina “KringKring” Gonzales is now the mayor of Tacloban City. She took her oath of office on June 30 along with the members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod. She succeeds her husband, Alfred Romualdez, who was mayor of the city for nine years. “I will continue the seed we planted in Tacloban. With our leadership, the city will continue to flourish,” said the new mayor, the second female mayor in the history of the city. Alfred and their daughters Sofia and Dianne, together with the family of Cristina, witnessed the inauguration of the second female mayor in the history of Tacloban City. Barangay 88 Chairperson Emelita Montalban, Vice Mayor Jerry T. Yaokasin and the 10 city councilors were all present during the event that also marked the end of the annual Sangyaw Festival. U.S.-based Pastor Ruth Hillary and Tacloban City’s Rev. Father Ronel Taboso offered prayers for the city government leaders. “I will have more time to take care of our

Power couple. Tacloban Mayor Cristina “Kring-Kring” Gonzales (left) succeeds her husband Alfred Romualdez (right), who was mayor of the city for nine years

Mayor Romualdez with her husband (center) and daughter Sofia (left)

Tacloban elected mayor Cristina “Kring-Kring” Gonzales gives a speech during her inauguration

two beautiful daughters and of course, support my wife,” said former Mayor Alfred who is excited to take on his new role as first gentleman of the mayor. “Cristina will be an effective mayor. She has the heart of a leader, a mother, a servant,” said Romualdez’s legal counsel Atty. Alex Avisado who also witnessed the event with his team. Malu Tabao, an employee at the city hall feels blessed to have the Romualdez family as the city’s leaders. “Sa panahon ng hirap noon at ginhawa ngayon, nandiyan silang mag-asawa. Malaking privilege sa amin na magkaroon ng babaeng mayor. Parehas na mabait na lider ang pinagsisilbihan namin (At times of hardship then and prosperity now, the couple has been there. It is a great privilege for us to have a female mayor. The leaders that we serve are both very kind,” she said.

Teri Malvar wins Moscow International Film Festival Best Actress After her win at the New York Asian Film Festival earlier this year, Cinema One Originals actress and the star of award-winning indie film Hamog once again brought pride to the country on the international scene after bagging the coveted Best Actress award at the Moscow International Film Festival in Russia. She is the first Filipino to win an award in the festival. Malvar won the St. George Prize for Best Actress for her role in the Cinema One Originals film Hamog (Haze), directed by Ralston Jover, which also recently won the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Golden Goblet award at the 2016 Shanghai Interna-

tional Film Festival. It was also the festival’s centerpiece presentation. At 15 years old, Malvar is the youngest Filipino actress to win a Best Actress Award in an A-list film festival. It can be remembered that Malvar made waves in 2013 when she beat Superstar Nora Aunor in the Best Actress category at the 2013 Cine Filipino Film Festival. Three years later, the young actress had already collected three Best Actress awards for her excellent and notable performances in her films. Malvar also won Best Actress in the 2015 Cinema One Originals awards night. Director Ralston Jover’s Hamog, a story on the lives of four street children who suddenly get caught in a web of consecutive and unforeseen tragedies, reaped four recognition including Best Editing, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and the coveted Jury Award. Teri Malvar is recognized for her performances in “daring roles that have expanded the range of contemporary Philippine cinema.” She is best known for playing promising roles in Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita, Ralston Jover’s Hamog, and Ice Idanan’s Sakaling Di Makarating. Hamog will have a special screening on July 13 at 7 p.m. at the Dolphy Theater at ABS-CBN Main Building.

Young actress Teri Malvar at the New York Asian Film Fest receiving her Screen International’s Rising Asia Award

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

‘RHYTHM & BLUES REMAKE’ AT CENTRAL SQUARE

hythm and Blues (R&B) enjoys a rich history, which combines soulful singing and a strong backbeat. It was created by African-Americans in the 1940s and gained popularity in the ‘60s with musical legends like Ray Charles, Little Richard, and James Brown as among the most influential and innovative R&B performers. R&B has served as the foundation for everything from rock to pop to hiphop. The late greats paved the way for the talented superstars you see and hear today. Today’s music icons easily combine the street edge of hip hop with the soul of R&B Jay Z, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, even Justin Bieber. The Tokyo Music Jazz and Arts Festival (TMJAF) celebrates the timeless genre of R&B and its tradition of breaking musical boundaries with a new concert open to all music fans.

“Rhythm and Blues Remake” at Central Square is a musical collaboration between stalwarts of jazz like Charito, Yuki Arimasa from Japan, Colby Dela Calzada and Alvin Cornista and young musicians like Bratpack.

Cris Villonco hosts the festival, 7:30 p.m. on July 15. TMJAF Executive Producer and Co-Founder, Maja OlivaresCo, states, “We support not only jazz but the promotion of bilateral collaborations between Japan and the Philippines in all creative forms… Design, Art, Cuisine, Architecture… No boundaries.” “The dream goes on for TMJAF as we again bring together two countries through a bridge called jazz. We hope that musicians and audience alike, especially the young, will experience a great sense of artistic value and continue to be part of our global music network,” adds Charito, TMJAF, Co-Producer and Founder and a highly renowned jazz artist in Japan. The show will be held at Central Square, a premiere retail destination located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 30th Street, Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Central Square is the perfect

Central Square is a premiere retail destination located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 30th Street in Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

site to house this music collaboration - as it is home to an eclectic mix of apparel, footwear, home and lifestyle brands such as Kate Spade New York, Gap, Marks & Spencer, Dune London, Pottery Barn, Charming Charlie and Beauty Bar to name a few. Central Square is owned and operated by SSI Group, Inc.,

the leading specialty retailer in the Philippines with the exclusive franchise rights to some of the biggest international lifestyle brands. So head on over to Central Square on July 15, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and be part of this creative and passionate “musical meeting of minds.” Entrance is free.

YouTube Sensations at Smart Araneta on Saturday Among the various innovations from the digital age, the social media networking sites have transformed people’s lives like no other technological development before them had. Social media have brought about many significant and dramatic changes in the way people think, live, work and communicate at a speed and range never imagined before. Nowhere is the impact of social media more greatly felt than in the field of popular music, where a wonderful array of new and fresh talents wow YouTube viewers through videos of their performances of their songs that subsequently attract the attention of millions of fans from over the world and amass huge number of followers.

“Smart Presents Own It! Concert” kicks off a series of performances and shows

Digital technology has indeed revolutionized the way music

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Bond return 6 Beam 11 Tarzan’s nanny 14 Canine cousin 15 Type of spray 16 Dallas cager 17 Jungian term 18 Clean the slate 19 Before, to Blake 20 Swat 22 Log structure

24 No-no 28 Finally (2 wds.) 29 Brand-new 30 To say the — 32 Reduce speed 33 Wield a machete 35 Egret cousin 39 Coastal flier 40 Hagen of “The Other” 41 Melody 42 Level

43 Polished off (2 wds.) 45 Arm bone 46 Make a bid 48 Accounts book 50 Dairy-case buy 53 Thin layers 54 Georgia campus 55 Has occasion for 57 — Zedong 58 Raise spirits? 60 Implored 65 Codgers’ queries 66 Brief summary 67 Jazzy Della — 68 Glasgow turndown 69 Flowerpot holders 70 Praise highly DOWN 1 Singer — Sumac 2 Ca++, for one 3 Actor — Wallach 4 Take it on the — 5 Chest part 6 Golf’s “Slammin’ Sam” 7 Grape brandy 8 Ms. Dinesen 9 — Palmas 10 Makes a choice 11 Specimen on a slide (var.) 12 Left Bank locale 13 Big occasion

lovers can listen to and enjoy the songs of their favorite artists, who

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2016

21 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 34 36 37 38 43 44 47 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 59 61 62 63 64

Eggsperts? Mountain pass info Obligations Cove Vowed Flood preceder Murmur of content In a while Hairy twin Minstrel’s instrument Swell outward Deeply felt Scorches Behind, at sea Beseeched Chickens for dinner Double-check Saudi Arabia neighbor Insurance center Formation flyer No. 2 people Ocean compound Footnote abbr. (2 wds.) Wahine’s welcome Latin king Acquire Anka’s “— Beso” Dover’s st.

have found a new and effective platform to reach their listeners simply by uploading videos of their performances on the music channel of YouTube. . It has empowered new and upcoming singers to showcase their unique sounds and styles before a worldwide audience that affirm its approval by avidly following them on YouTube. Catch some of the hottest YouTube singers and artists led by Spanish singer Leroy Sanchez when they visit Manila for a onenight concert on July 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum presented by Smart. Performing with Sanchez during the musical event, dubbed “Smart Presents Own It! Concert” are Max Schneider, Sam

Tsui with Kurt Hugo Schneider, and the Australian band At Sunset. The gig will kick off a series of concerts and shows to be presented by Smart. Smart Presents Own It! Concert by Ovation Productions is expected to be one of the biggest and hottest concert events in this year’s musical calendar, as it brings together on the same stage on the same night top artists who command a huge following on YouTube and with a dedicated fan base counting by the millions worldwide. Tickets are priced at P4,224, P3,696, P3,168, P2,640, P1,584 and P792 and are available at all Ticketnet outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph or call Ticketnet at 911-5555.)

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

MANUEL SILOS’ ‘BIYAYA NG LUPA’ OPENS TOFARM FILM FESTIVAL 2016

A scene from “Biyaya ng Lupa” (1959) with Rosa Rosal and Tony Santos, Sr.

iyaya Ng Lupa, the 1959 Filipino drama film directed by Manuel Silos, opens TOFARM Film Festival 2016 on July 13, 6 p.m. at SM Megamall Cinema 7. (See related story on C8.) The Silos classic is a family drama that tells the story of a young married couple, Maria and Jose (Rosa Rosal and Tony Santos) as they start a life together by the countryside planting lanzones. They have four children - Miguel (Leroy Salvador), Arturo (Carlos Padilla Jr.), Angelita (Marita Zobel), and Lito (Danilo Jurado). They are happy until Bruno (Joseph de Cordova), a widower, who is feared in the village, comes along. It is rumored that he caused the death of his wife. And yet he wants to remarry and is courting Choleng (Mila Ocampo), Jose’s niece. Choleng avoids Bruno, but, in trying to get away from him, she slips and falls off a cliff and dies. The village is outraged and Bruno hides in the mountains. There, he plots his revenge on the village, particularly on Jose’s family. A landowner from another town hires Bruno to destroy the lanzones harvest of Maria’s family. Bruno and his group fail because of the villagers. Miguel kills Bruno; Arturo comes back from Manila; and reconciles with his family. Biyaya ng Lupa screened at the 10th Berlin International Film Festival and was a

Actress and philanthrophist Rosa Rosal

Golden Bear Best Picture nominee. At the Asian Film Festival, Salvador bagged the Best Supporting Actor trophy. Produced by LVN Productions, it also won as the Best Picture and Best Story from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS). Celso Al. Carunungan wrote the story which Pablo Naval adapted for a screenplay with the former. Rosa Rosal, who played Maria in the Silos cinematic gem, is expected to make her rare presence during the opening night. Marita Zobel, who played Angelita, will also grace the gala night together with heirs and next of kin members of the cast. Former LVN stars and other VIPs are also expected.

‘The Achy Breaky Hearts’ opens worldwide Star Cinema’s The Achy Breaky Hearts starring three of the most exciting names in Philippine entertainment, opens worldwide via TFC@theMovies. The Achy Breaky Hearts is about love that comes at the most unexpected time and love that’s not entirely lost. In the movie, Jodi Sta.Maria is Chinggay, a thirty something successful career woman who may seem to have it all – intelligence and looks – but seems to have not found love, yet. According to Jadaone, the movie is attuned to the times when society can be judgmental of women her age. “Tina-tackle dito iyong tingin ng mga tao sa 30-year old (and) up na something na babae na kapag single siya, parang may mali sa kaniya. Bakit ka single? Kailan ka mag-aasawa? Parang kung single ka at this age, para kang may sakit. Single siya (Chinggay) for the longest time pero pinatotohanan niya yung when it rains it pours.” Sta. Maria, who has worked with both Richard Yap and Ian Veneracion, is excited to play the role of Chinggay and opposite the two good-looking leading men. However, Sta. Maria says she would not want to be in Chinggay’s shoes in real life. “Siguro ito iyong babaeng single na napepressure ka na magka-boyfriend (BF) tulad ni Chinggay, would you settle for someone just because atat kang magka-BF or feeling mo napag-iwanan ka?” Yap who plays Frank (dubbed Tsinoy) plays her ex-boyfriend of five years who makes a comeback, but different from who he was before. Yap said this movie tries to give viewers an assessment of what one really needs “Ano ba talaga

ang hinahanap mo sa pag-ibig?” Just as the ex makes a comeback, Veneracion who plays Ryan (tagged Tisoy), a man who recently got ditched by his girlfriend, enters the scene. The appearance of the two men in Chinggay’s life may have ended the seven-year ‘drought’ for her, yet leaves her confused. Veneracion’s take on Chinggay’s situation is more on the need - to have a boyfriend or not – at that age just to prove anything. “Kasi there are two kinds of love dito eh. How do you choose ‘pag ang babae dumarating sa certain age. ‘Bakit wala ka pang BF? “Bakit wala ka pang asawa?’ ‘Bakit’ questions. Kailangan ba talagang meron? Kailangan bang kunin yung

happiness mo sa iba?” Joining the star-studded cast of The Achy Breaky Hearts are Beauty Gonzales, Sarah Lahbati, Desiree Del Valle, Erika Padilla, Denise Joaquin, Khalil Ramos, Sharmaine Buencamino, Miles Ocampo, Liza Lorena, Rey Abellana, and more. The Achy Breaky Hearts will captivate movie fans worldwide starting tomorrow in North America and Saipan; on July 9 in Europe; and July 14 in the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit tfc-usa.com/achybreakyhearts, tfc-ca.com/achybreakyhearts, emea. kapamilya.com and TFC’s facebook pages worldwide.

Certified blockbuster: “The Achy Breaky Hearts” starring Ian Veneracio, Jodi Sta. Maria and Richard Yap now it goes global via TFC@theMovies

Actor Carlos Agassi supports Pizza World, a pizza restaurant on Kamagong Street in Makati

Hunk loves pizza Hunk Carlos Agassi has fallen in love. With a new pizza restaurant, that is. The Iranian Filipino showbiz personality just wanted to support his fellow Persians, Drs. Farzaneh Shamsi and Shahideh Nikbin in their first food business – Pizza World, but he fell for the different pizza flavors from the world, especially the Persian Pizza. Pizza World boasts its oh-sospecial, handmade wheat dough, which is not just delicious but also healthy, perfect for Carlos who is a health buff. A diet high in wheat has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Moreover, many of the nutrients and minerals found in whole wheat bread have been found to promote healthy heart function. Whole wheat can help strengthen the immune system and fight many other medical conditions from cancer prevention and improving cardiovascular health to reducing the risks of diabetes and protecting the body from free radicals.

Pizza World’s bestseller is the Special Pizza with its ingredients Hungarian sausage, assorted hams, bell peppers, mushrooms, mozzarella and Gouda cheese. The best of the world is also here: Greek Pizza has shitake mushroom, spinach, feta cheese, and mozzarella cheese; the Persian Pizza is made of Persian sauce, beef, button mushrooms, bell pepper, onions and mozzarella cheese; and Texas Ranch has garlic, chicken, bacon, parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Healthier pizzas include the Six Cheese Pizza with mozzarella, Monterey Jack , gouda, provolone, parmesan and cheddar cheese. The Absolute Pesto contains chicken, shitake mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. The High on Mushroom Pizza’s ingredients are ground beef, shitake mushrooms, onions, and mozzarella cheese. Carlos personally invites you to taste the best of the world’s pizza at Pizza World located at 9677 Kamagong Street, near corner Chino Roces, Makati.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 7, 2 0 1 6

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ ISAH V. RED

ights! Camera! Action! All is set for Dennis Marasigan’s Free Range, Paolo Villanueva’s Pauwi Na, Zig Dulay’s Paglipay, Maricel Carriaga’s Pitong Kabang Palay, Victor Acedillo Jr’s Kakampi, and Jose Johnny Nadela’s Pilapil, the six official film entries to the first TOFARM (The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines) Film Festival. They will hit the big screen Wednesday next week and are expected to inspire, educate, entertain, and touch the hearts of audiences and lovers of world-class Filipino films. This truly original film festival highlights the many aspirations and ambitions, dramas and dreams, obstacles and opportunities, tribulations and triumphs of farmers. They are all celebrated and highlighted in the six competing motion pictures. Dr. Milagros O. How, EVP of Universal Harvester, Inc., thought of holding a film festival about farmers and farming along with award-winning film and TV director, Maryo J. delos Reyes, who she designated as TOFARM Film Festival Director. Dr. How said in a recent interview, “I have sincere and deep concern for the welfare of the farmers. This festival is just one of my means to raise the concerns of Filipino farmers, their aspirations and that the public will not only be aware, but appreciative of their hard work. Through the films we have chosen, the audience will hopefully realize the farmer’s way of thinking, everyday living and their vocation which is planting, harvesting and feeding the entire nation.” Delos Reyes enthused, “TOFARM Film Festival is the entertainment industry’s modest way to educate the public about our dear farmers and their immeasurable contribution to all our lives. These films hopefully will not only be a cerebral experience but an emotionally uplifting journey for all those who will watch it.” The finalists all received seed money to produce thier films. Those who will make it as the first, second, and best film will bring home cash prizes as well. The winners will also have beautifully crafted trophies. Prior to the actual festival run, a gala night, with no less than the Manuel Silos classic, Biyaya ng Lupa, will be screened at the SM Megamall Cinema 7 on July 13. Heirs and next of kin of the cast and director of the film as well as former VIPs of LVN Pictures and its stars are expected to attend the screening. The awarding ceremonies will be held at the Rizal Ball Room of the Makati ShangriLa Hotel on July 20. The entries to the first TOFARM Film Festival include Pilapil, (written and directed by Jojo Nadela) that tells of a man who wants to escape the farm life to seek greener pastures, and a young boy who considers it his paradise. In one stroke of fate, their lives cross. James Blanco, David Remo, Pancho Magno, Diva Montelaba, Bonbon Lentejas, Rez Cortez, and Orlando Sol perform in the film. The other entries are: Pitong Kabang Palay (written and directed by Maricel Carriaga) with Arnold Reyes, Sue Prado, Micko Laurente, Alfonso Ynigo Delen, and Precious Miel J. Espinosa; Free Range (written and directed by Dennis Marasigan) with Paolo O’Hara, Jackie Rice,

Child actors playing best friends in the film entry ‘Pitong Kabang Palay”

FIRST TOFARM FILMFEST UNSPOOLS NEXT WEEK

‘I have sincere and deep concern for the welfare of the farmers. This festival is just one of my means to raise the concerns of Filipino farmers, their aspirations and that the public will not only be aware, but appreciative of their hard work’ – Dr. Milagros O. How. EVP Universal Harvester, Inc.

Dr. Milagros O. How

Director Maryo delos Reyes

Behind-the-scenes: DirectorJojo Nadelas giving last minute instructions to the cast of “Pilapil”

Ivan Abouhamra, Paolo O’Hara and Jackie Rice in a scene from “Free Range”

“Paglipay,” a film by Zig Dulay features an ethnic cast

Character actor Neil Ryan Sese stars in “Kakampi”

Mads Nicolas, Michael de Mesa, Jojit Lorenzo, Leo Rialp and Anna Feleo; Kakampi (written and directed by Victor Acedillo, Jr.) with Neil Ryan Sese, Gloria Sevilla, Felix Roco, Suzette Ranillo, Kate Brios, and Perry Dizon; Pauwi Na (written and directed by Paolo Villaluna, inspired by a news article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (“Family pedals way back home to Leyte,” Sept. 7, 2003), with Bembol Roco, Cherry Pie Picache, Meryll Soriano, Chai

Fonacier, Jess Mendoza, Jack the Dog, Boots Anson Roa, Gio Alvarez, and Tessie Tomas; Paglipay (written and directed by Zig Dulay) with Garry Cabalic, Anna Luna, Joan de la Cruz, Manel Sevidal, Natasha Cabrera, Norman King, Gigi Locsin, Joel Saracho, Upeng Fernandez, Ken-ken Nuyad and JC Santos. TOFARM Film Festival runs from July 13 to 19at SM Megamall and SM North Edsa. Provincial screenings are slated on

Aug. 24 to 30 at SM Angeles Pampanga and SM Cabanatuan; Sept. 14 to 20 at SM Cebu; and Oct. 12 to 18 in SM Davao. Supporting this film festival is LandBank of the Philippines. For more information, visit www.tofarm. org or the festival’s Facebook site, TOFARM Film Festival Philippines. For inquiries, send e-mail to mpjentertainmentproductions@yahoo.com or info. tofarm@gmail.com.