The Standard - 2016 July 18 - Monday

VOL. XXX NO. 156 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONDAY : JULY 18, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DAR freezes Luisita order

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SURRENDER NOW, NARCO-COPS TOLD

AMID an aggressive anti-drug campaign in which more than 100 drug suspects have been killed, the Philippine National Police on Sunday urged cops who are users to surrender now to avoid charges and get help.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said cops who confess that they are drug addicts will be given a chance to reform in a rehabilitation center.

Dela Rosa also said police of-

ficers who surrender to their unit commander before undergoing a drug test would be spared charges.

In line with the government’s zero tolerance policy for drug abuse, the PNP continues to con-

duct random drug tests on the police force.

Dela Rosa said the drug tests aim to show transparency in the organization and to assure the public that PNP officials are capable of being role models in leading the fight against illegal substances.

Dela Rosa said he was furious over the report of the PNP Crime Laboratory that showed 20 cops tested positive for illegal drug use.

“I want to strangle them in front of you,” Dela Rosa told members

of the PNP Press Corps in Filipino.

Dela Rosa said those who tested positive in drug test should not stay in the service because they did not only violate the law but also embarassed the organization.

He said policeman who test positive in the confirmatory test will be dismissed from service.

In line with this, Dela Rosa said he already directed all regional directors to ensure that all their personnel involved in anti-drug operations have a clean record.

PNP Crime Laboratory Director Chief Supt. Emmanuel Aranas said of the 20 policemen who tested positive for drug use, five were from Luzon, six were from the Visayas and nine were from Mindanao.

The PNP Crime Lab has tested 22,238 PNP personnel nationwide as of June.

A Palace official said Sunday there are some 1.8-million people involved in the illegal drug trade.

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That sinking feeling. A Panamanian-registered cargo vessel m/v Captain Ufuk sinks halfway along Manila Bay after sea water got inside the ship on Saturday night July 16. In 2009, the ship was seized by the Bureau of Customs for smuggling high-powered firearms. DANNY PATA

HIV found in 25 Filipinos Vietnam activists thank Philippines every day, report shows

AROUND 25 Filipinos were diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus daily as the total number of these cases had risen to 34,158 since January 1984 following the recorded 3,802 new cases from January to May 2016.

The latest HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines or HARP report showed 739 new HIV cases were reported in May 2016.

Out of the 739 cases, 106 devel-

oped into full-blown acquired immune deficiency virus cases and 52 died of AIDS in May. Among the 739 new cases, 687 (93 percent) happened through sexual transmission, and mostly from menhaving-sex-with-men, which accounted for 589 cases or 86 percent.

Homosexual contact was responsible for 357 cases, followed by bisexual contact with 232 cases and 98 cases from heterosexual contact. Next page

ACTIVISTS in Vietnam held a brief rally outside the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi Sunday, holding up a banner that said “Thank you Philippines. You have a brave government.”

The group was part of demonstrations in the Vietnamese capital to protest against China, after it rejected a recent international ruling that dismissed Beijing’s claims to much of the South China Sea. Anti-Chinese sentiment runs deep in communist Vietnam but

the country’s authoritarian rulers move swiftly to tamp down expressions of public anger, fearful that allowing such protests might embolden criticism of their rule.

Activists had used social media to call for protests in Hanoi on Sunday in the wake of this week’s ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, which found there was no legal basis for Beijing’s claims to vast swathes of the South China Sea. The case was brought by the

Philippines but the ruling has been a boon for other regional countries like Vietnam who also have competing claims to the strategic sea.

Authorities in the capital Hanoi were ready for protests on Sunday.

Plainclothes security forces were out in force, blanketing much of the city center and keeping a close eye on any crowds that might be gathering.

Throughout the morning around 30 activists were swiftly bundled onto waiting buses and

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M O N D AY : J U LY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Quarantine staff sacked amid bilking complaints AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol relieved the Bureau of Plant Industry quarantine officer stationed at the Sasa Port in Davao City amid complaints from businessmen that he had been demanding grease money from exporters of Cavendish banana.

“After I received complaints from small exporters of Cavendish banana that the BPI Quarantine Officer in Sasa Port, Andres Alemania, and some of his people were demanding ‘fees’ for every container van, I immediately directed BPI Acting Director Vivencio Mamaril to issue a relief order,” said Piñol in a statement on Sunday.

Piñol said he will also issue on Monday another directive to Mamaril to “relieve the whole BPI Quarantine Service staff in Sasa Port down to the janitor and replace them with a fresh group of Quarantine Officers.”

“Corruption ends now,” he said, but clarified that “there will be due

process” for those who will be relieved.

“I will dispatch graft investigators belonging to a new unit I organized in the Department of Agriculture to proceed to the Sasa Port in Davao City to validate the charges. They will interview the over 200 Cavendish banana exporters who have reportedly been paying the ‘special fees’ to the BPI Quarantine Office for so many years now. The going rate, according to sources I talked with, is PHP8,000 per container or PHP40,000 per exporter per transaction,” the DA chief said.

“Considering that there are over 200 exporters, not to mention the huge players like Dole Philip-

pines, Sumifru, Tadeco, Uni-Frutti and others, I can just imagine how much these people, granting that the charges are true, have been raking in all these years,” he added.

As such, Piñol said a lifestyle check will be conducted on the said officials and if the charges are validated, “I will officially ask the Office of the Ombudsman to start an official investigation and recommend the filing of graft charges.”

Aside from port personnel, the port itself has been at the center of controversy recently with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry demanding transparency in the P18.99-billion Sasa Port modernization project following the conclusion of the second round of oneon-one consultations with bidders scheduled last month.

The chamber’s president Bonifacio Tan said the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center has been secretive about the

project, raising suspicions in the business sector.

“The problem is that unless you are a qualified bidder, you cannot access the terms of reference and evaluate whether the project is advantageous or not. This is because the administration shelved the freedom of information bill,” Tan said.

The top official of one of the buyers of the pre-bid documents, Anflo Management and Investment Corp., said the Sasa package is “practically impossible for local operators to bid for.”

Another firm, Spain’s Obrascon Huarte Lain SA, also bought a prebid document but did not participate in the July 29, 2015 prequalification conference.

Among the requirements for the bidder are: 10 years of port operations, international experience for at least three years, a minimum net worth of P3 billion as of December 2014, and a letter from a bank affirming the bidder could obtain a loan facility of at least P7 billion.

HIV...

From A1

Injecting drug use accounted for the transmission of 50 new cases, while two others were cases of motherto-child transmissions.

Fifty-six of the new cases were found to be migrant Filipino workers who were infected through sexual transmission.

Since 1984, 3,070 AIDS cases and 1,759 deaths from the total of 34,158 HIV cases have been recorded in the Philippines.

Genesis Samonte, Epidemiology Program Manager of the Health Department, raised the alarm on the increasing number of cases.

He said iån 2008 only one person was getting infected daily, but the number had surged to 17 per day by 2014.

“Our neighbors in Asia have seen a decrease in new cases and we’re the only one—along with Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan—increasing in HIV prevalence,” she said.

She said the problem could even get worse since the statistics were based only on who got tested.

“This is an underestimate of people who actually have HIV because some refuse to be tested or do not know where and how to get tested, especially in the urban areas,” Samonte said. Macon RamosAraneta

Vietnam protests. A policeman reacts as activists hold up anti-China banners in Hanoi on July 17, 2016. Activists were detained in Vietnam’s capital as they gathered to protest against China after it rejected a recent international ruling that dismissed its claims to much of the South China Sea. AFP

Vietnam...

From A1

cars by security forces after they gathered to hold a protest near the city’s famous Hoan Kiem lake, a common spot for demonstrations.

Some chanted “Down with China invasion!” as they were led away to detention.

Activists posted pictures on social media of similar flashmob rallies in southern Ho Chi Minh City with protesters riding around the city on motorbikes holding banners criticizing China.

Beijing lays claim to virtually all of the South China Sea, putting it at odds with regional neighbors the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, which also have partial claims.

China boycotted the PCA hearings, saying the court had no jurisdiction, and has reacted furiously, vowing to ignore the ruling and arguing it misin-

terprets international law.

Vietnam and China frequently trade diplomatic barbs over the disputed Paracel island chain and waters in the South China Sea. China has encouraged patriotic citizens to visit the contested Paracels, which are known as Xisha in Chinese.

Such acts have deepened already simmering anti-Chinese sentiment in Vietnam while domestic critics accuse Hanoi of being too meek towards its giant northern neighbor.

At least three Chinese nationals were killed in 2014 when rioting broke out in Vietnam after Beijing sent an oil rig into contested waters.

A former lawmaker in the Philippines, meanwhile, said China has finished its three-kilometer runway in two reefs that can accommodate fighter jets and commercial airlines.

In an interview over radio dzBB, former Magdalo Rep. Ashley Acedillo said based on his last monitoring of the activities in the contested seven reefs,

the runway in Mischief Reef and Fierycross Reef were done.

“These reefs are very crucial and they look like islands now because of China’s nonstop reclamation over the areas and construction of infrastructure. On top of having runways, the two reefs also can accommodate huge ships, especially warships. They have beefed up their naval and air power,” Acedillo said.

The seaport and runways would complete China’s plan to convert them into islands and military bases in months and years ahead, he said.

Acedillo said the two reefs were strategic in being made military bases so that China would have control over the routes used by international vessels passing along the West Philippine Sea. In fact, Chinese soldiers were deployed to these reefs, he said.

“We cannot allow China to have the upper hand and claim the international seas and control the trade,” he said.

AFP, Christine F. Herrera

Surrender...

From A1

“What I know is that I’ve seen the matrix of those who are highly involved in the sale of illegal drugs. What I can only tell you, is that if you see the matrix, you’ll probably say that it is unbelievable that there are so many, and you would vomit if you see the data shown by the PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency],” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, over state-run radio dzRB. “It is already conservative if we say 1.8-million people involved in drugs.... Millions of our countrymen have destroyed their lives on this,” Andanar said.

Also on Sunday, incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez warned House members against using Congress to protect drug lords and drug syndicates as he rejected calls for a probe on extra-judicial killings involving drug-related cases.

Alvarez’s warning came after lawmakers, including Liberal Party’s Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza called for a probe to shed light on the summary killings of “small fry” suspected drug criminals.

Baguilat filed House Resolution 61 seeking a probe on 23 cases of summary killings “under vague circumstances” since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed power while Atienza said at least 135 persons, mostly suspected neighborhood pushers, have been killed this month under the new administration’s war on drugs.

“We want all those engaged in the illicit drug trade, big and small, but especially the big ones, captured and locked up.

But we cannot tolerate summary executions, especially if all those targeted are mere streetlevel pushers,” Atienza said.

But Alvarez said interference

by Congress would invite suspicion that some lawmakers were protecting drug lords by investigating the government’s antidrug campaign.

Atienza hit the government for targeting the small fry.

“We have to eradicate the bigtime traffickers first, as well as their coddlers in law enforcement, if we are to effectively suppress the supply side of the drug problem. We’re afraid getting rid of the easily replaceable smallest players in the supply chain won’t make much of a dent,” Atienza said.

“If these victims of extrajudicial killings were really known pushers, then they should have been in jail a long time ago in a corruption-free drug enforcement drive,” Atienza said.

“The spate of extrajudicial killings of suspected drug criminals by people we expect to uphold the law hints at a disrespect for the Constitution and the deterioration of the rule of law, and if we don’t stop it or look into its causes, soon enough, people will take the law into their own hands, leading to anarchy and the disintegration of society,” Baguilat added. Sandy Araneta, Christine F. Herrera, PNA

M O N D AY : J U LY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Suspension of AO 3 supported THE farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on Sunday supported the move by Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano to suspend former President Benigno Aquino’s “midnight resolution,” signed by former Agrarian Reform secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, which seeks the “parcelization” or subdivision of collective Certificates of Land Ownership Awards to individual land titles.

The KMP issued its statement after recent reports quoted Mariano saying that Administrative Order 3, series of 2016, may tempt cash-strapped farmerbeneficiaries to pawn or sell their individual farm lots instead of tilling the land for lack of money to buy farm inputs.

AO 3 was signed and issued by Delos Reyes on June 8, 2016, days after Mariano’s appointment as Agrarian Reform secretary was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The ulterior motive of this ‘midnight order’ approved by Aquino’s DAR is to pave the way for the reconcentration of vast tracts of lands to landlords,” said KMP secretary-general Antonio Flores.

“First, AO 3 seeks to ensure that farmer beneficiaries would pay amortization for the land supposedly awarded to them through the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Individual farmer beneficiaries’ failure to pay will obviously lead to the cancellation and disqualification of farmer beneficiaries.”

Flores said that “LandBank data would show that nine out of 10 farmer-beneficiaries were not able to pay for amortization.”

Worse, the subdivision of collective CLOAs would make individual farmer beneficiaries highly vulnerable to land-grabbing.

“Big landlords will surely exploit the farmers’ poverty and compel beneficiaries at gunpoint to sell their land,” Flores said.

“The issuance of AO 3, among several other Administrative Orders approved at the last hour by Delos Reyes, was a ‘conscious and deliberate move of the former DAR management to undermine whatever drastic reforms and changes that Ka Paeng is set to implement at DAR,” Flores said.

“We are confident that Ka Paeng will junk this anti-farmer and anti-land reform AO 3.”

AO 3 covers all the collective CLOAs issued by Agrarian Reform to farmers’ cooperatives and associations and groups of farmer-beneficiaries who are not organized.

With individualized CLOAs, the farmers would become all the more vulnerable to the deception and manipulation of landowners, Flores said.

They could be forced to sell their land or enter into unfair lease contracts with landowners and agribusiness corporations. Sandy Araneta

Search. A man searches for recyclable materials on the shore of Manila Bay after the MMDA cleared the area of trash. EY ACASIO

Bill extends validity of passports to 10 years SENATOR Ralph Recto has filed bills that would extend the validity of a driver’s license to five years from three and that of a Philippine passport to 10 years from five.

Recto said “lengthening the expiry date of these two important documents” would spare the holder the hassle of applying for their renewal.

“This is a common-sensical anti-red tape measure which should have been done a long time ago,” Recto said.

In his bill extending the validity of the license to operate a motor vehicle, Recto sought amendments to Republic Act 4136 and Batas Pambansa 398,

which constitute the nation’s “Land Transportation and Traffic Code.”

The five-year validity would not, however, apply to student permits and new licenses.

“Except for student permits and new licenses, all drivers’ licenses shall be valid for five consecutive years reckoned from the birth date of the licensee unless sooner revoked or suspended,” Recto’s proposed amendment reads.

“This is not an unconditional permit to drive for five years. The rules allow for early disenfranchisement if the holder is a serial violator of traffic rules.”

With the Land Transportation Office, the agency that issues licenses to drivers, “saddled with a myriad of problems,” Recto said, “minimizing the frequency of the public’s transactions with the LTO will dramatically reduce red tape and promote ease in doing business in that image.”

In a separate measure, Recto wants Section 10 of Republic Act 8239, or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, amended so that the validity period of a Philippine passport will be lengthened to 10 years.

In his bill’s explanatory note, Recto specifically cited the inconveniences experi-

enced by migrant Filipino workers in securing a passport.

“Most [migrant workers] are allowed to return to the Philippines from two weeks to a month while the processing of applications and renewal of passports can take from 10 to 15 days—not including the waiting period for an appointment,“ he said.

“This might be too short a time for [migrant workers] to secure new passports. Many spend their entire vacation in queues for multiple government-issued permits needed for their employment.”

Macon Ramos-Araneta

More rehab centers planned

From the north. A fruit vendor arranges newy unloaded pineapples from the north at the Balintawak Market in Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo R. Duterte plans to build more regional drug rehabilitation centers as the government faces shortage of facilities for drug dependents because of the growing number of persons using illegal drugs who surrendered voluntarily.

“I have to build regional, itong [this] drug rehabilitation. I would need time but the law and order cannot wait,” the President said during a meeting with law enforcers at the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency office here.

Duterte has reiterated his all-out war against the illegal drugs and crime in the country.

“There is crime in the streets. People are getting raped, robbed, [even mothers, fathers are killed],” he said as he emphasized the important role of the barangay officials in the campaign against illegal drugs and crime.

“I will charge also the barangay captains who do not do anything about it,” he said.

The President said barangay officials can help find activities for the people like playing basketball.

Meanwhile, PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña said there are five regions which do not have rehabilitation centers except for privately oper-

ated facilities.

Lapeña said they are working on ways to establish drug rehabilitation centers for government to cope with the big number of persons involved in drugs who surrendered and wanted to undergo rehab.

One way of addressing this is to determine those who can be considered “outpatient.” Lapeña said these are people whose addiction is not serious.

In Davao region, Lapeña said local chief executives have already indicated to put up rehabilitation centers.

“This should be the trend now in Local Government Units [LGUs],” Lapeña said. PNA

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA) BETWEEN SOUTHERN LEYTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. WITH PRAYER FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION ERC CASE NO. 2016-024 RC AND THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

12.4.

SOUTHERN LEYTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (SOLECO) AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. (GNPOWER) Applicants. x---------------------------------------------x

12.5.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: On 15 March 2016, Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOLECO) 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 issuance of provisional authority.

12.6.

In support of said Application, SOLECO and GNPower alleged, among others, the following: 1.

Applicant SOLECO is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, existing under laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at Brgy. Soro-Soro, Maasin City, Southern Leyte. It is authorized to distribute and provide electricity services to its member-consumers in the Municipalities of Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus, Bontoc, Sogod, Libagon, Lilo-an, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, St. Bernard, San Juan, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan and Silago, and the city of Maasin, Province of Southern Leyte(collectively, the “Franchise Area”); 2.

Copies of SOLECO’s Articles of Incorporation, ByLaws, Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Franchise are attached to the Application as follows Annex “A” “B” “C” “D”

Document SOLECO’s Articles of Incorporation SOLECO’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 Francisco Ortigas 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

12.7.

Attached to the Application are copies of the relevant documents issued relative to the Joint Competitive Selection Process undertaken by the Region 8 ECs for the supply of their aggregated base load demand: Annex “H” “H-1” “H-1-a” “H-2” “H-3” “H-4” “H-5” “H-6” “H-7” “H-8”

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

A.

B.

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 are listed on the Department of Energy (DOE) website) were invited; 12.3. The capacity offered by the winning bidder/s was

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.) Contracted Capacity GNPOWER shall sell and deliver, or cause to deliver to SOLECO a contracted capacity of 5MW at the delivery point of the facility.

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) C.

for All Income Households – All Items (2006=100), as published by the Philippine National Statistics Coordination Board (or its substitute or replacement agency, as the case may be).

PHCPI0

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

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

The corresponding Capacity Fee price component for a given Capacity Utilization Factor is set forth in 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:

Term The Agreement shall be effective from 18 September 2015, the date of the execution of the PSA.

Unutilized Capacity. The unutilized capacity of the Buyer may be made available for utilization of other Region 8 ECs or sold to the WESM.

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;

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

13. On 18 September 2015, SOLECO and GNPOWER executed the subject PSA, providing the terms and conditions for the supply of 1MW[sic] baseload power to SOLECO, to assure the adequate and reliable supply of power to SOLECO’s franchise area; ABSTRACT OF THE PSA AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION 14. The following are the salient features of the PSA:

5.

Applicants may be served with orders, notices and other legal processes of the Commission through its counsels of record; 6.

The instant Application is filed pursuant to Sections 23, 25, 43 (u), and 45 (b) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA Law), itsImplementing Rules and Regulations, and other pertinent rules and regulations.A copy of the PSA signed by Applicants on 18 September 2015 is attached as Annex “G“andforms an integral part of the Application; 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

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; 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; 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; 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; 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;

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

LCRCUF =

Where,

EHTO

Where: Q ACTUAL

CC

CFCUF LCRCUF

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,

CUF

= the actual quantity of energy, in kWh, delivered to SOLECO 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 = 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 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 sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of Scheduled Outages and Unscheduled Outages in such Billing Period = the CapacityFee in PhP/kWh for a given CUF in a Billing month. = the local component of the Capital Recovery Fee in PhP/kWh at the given CUF.

LFOM @100%

CUF = max

EHTO

CC HT

LFOM

- 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:

HT

Where: Q ACTUAL

CUF

LCRCUF

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 SOLECO’s Capacity Utilization Factor.

LFOM CUF =

LCR@100%

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 Where: Q ACTUAL

+ 1.5256 x

+ 0.2375

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

EF

= Energy Fee in PhP/kWh

PHCPIn-1

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

PHCPI0

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

ICI n-1

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

ICI0

= Base Indonesian Coal Price Index for the month of December 2014 = US$67.28/Mton D. Currency of Payment The Contract Price shall be paid by SOLECO in Philippine Peso only.

E. Scheduled and Unscheduled Outages Under the PSA,GNPOWER shall be allowed Scheduled and Unscheduled Outages not to exceed forty-five (45) days per Contract Year, during which time reduced or no delivery will be available to SOLECO.

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 SOLECO 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 SOLECO, shall negotiate on behalf of SOLECO for 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 SOLECO has no arrears from previous billings, including the Security Deposit or any unpaid charges or penalties, if SOLECO pays the invoice amount in full within 10 days from its receipt of the invoice, SOLECO 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 SOLECO’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, SOLECO 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 SOLECO’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 15. SOLECO, 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; 16. Currently, SOLECO receives a total of 21MW from its existing suppliers, out of its peak requirement of 17MW. With an annual average growth rate of 4%, SOLECO forecasts that its peak demand from 26 December 2015 to 25 December 2016 will be 18.451 MW; 17. The additional supply from GNPOWER will significantly augment the supply deficiency of SOLECO and will decrease the adverse effects thereof by providing a stable and adequate source of electricity; 18. Among alternative suppliers capable of providing additional energy to SOLECO and the rest of the Region 8 ECs, GNPOWER’s rates proved to be more reasonable and competitive. While GNPOWER’s offer is primarily intended for its base load requirements, the Capacity Factor Pricing under the PSA provides flexibility in the DUs’ utilization of the Contracted Capacity; 19. SOLECO simulated a rate impact analysis which resulted in a PhP1.2619/kWh decrease with the execution of the PSA with GNPOWER, to wit: Simulation of Generation Mix Rate with GNPOWER for the Year 2016 Power Supplier

Forecasted 2016 Quantity (kWh)

Amount (PhP)

Percent Share (%)

Resulting Capacity Factor (%)

2016 Average Rate (P/kWh)

FDCUI

19.43%

100%

5.2959

17,520,000.00

92,784,168.00

TRANSASIA

17,520,000.00

93,279,984.00

19.43%

100%

5.3242

PCPC

17,568,000.00

96,806,707.20

19.48%

100%

5.5104

GNPOWER

43,800,000.00

243,576,180.00

48.58%

100%

5.5611

WESM

(6,244,918.68)

(36,831,078.56)

-6.93%

90,163,081.32

489,615,960.64

100%

TOTAL

Weighted Average Rate (kWh)

5.4303

5.8978

Simulation of Generation Mix Rate without GNPOWER for the Year 2016 Power Supplier

Forecasted 2016 Quantity (kWh)

Amount (Php.)

Percent Share (%)

Resulting Capacity Factor (%)

2016 Average Rate (P/kWh)

FDCUI

17,520,000.00

92,784,168.00

19.43%

100%

5.2959

TRANSASIA

7,520,000.00

93,279,984.00

19.43%

100%

5.3242

PCPC

17,568,000.00

96,806,707.20

19.48%

200%

5.5104

37,555,081.32

320,523,812.94

41.65%

90,163,081.32

603,394,672.14

100%

GNPOWER WESM TOTAL

Weighted Average Rate (kWh)

6.6923

8.5348

Generation Rate Impact: -1.2619 Notes: Analysis and simulations is based on SOLECO’s forecasted 2016 hourly load profile PCPC’s contract to SOLECO, 100% Load Factor Trans-Asia’s contract to SOLECO, 100% load factor FDCUI’s contract to SOLECO, 100% load factor GNPower’s proposal to SOLECO, with 100% -70% CUF

WESM Prices is based on 2012 Average prices of Nodal Points of SOLECO plus 3% Inflation Factor for 2016 Simulation 20. In addition to the lower generation cost of the power supply from GNPOWER, SOLECO is also entitled to a Prompt Payment Discount (PPD), if conditions are met, equivalent to PhP0.08/kWh; 21. 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 and the rate structure embodied therein, Applicants attached to the Application following documents to form integral parts hereof: ANNEX “I” “J” “K” “K-1” “L” “M” “N” “O” “P” “Q” “R” “S”

“T”

“U”

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 SOLECO’s Distribution Development Plan (DDP) SOLECO’s Actual and Forecasted Energy and Demand SOLECO’s Average Daily Load Curve SOLECO’s Board Resolution authorizing the approval and signing of the PSA, authorizing its Board President, Atty. Marian C. Donayre-Pelin and / or General Manager, Engr. Jonathan S. Empeno, to sign the PSA on behalf of SOLECO, and the filing of the Application with the ERC for the approval of the PSA SOLECO’s Secretary’s Certificate attesting to there solution of its Board of Directors authorizing its General Manager, Engr.

Jonathan S. Empeno, to jointly file with the ERC the Application for the approval of the PSA between SOLECO and GNPOWER, and designating Engr. Melvin L.Cadao as witness GNPOWER’s General Partner’s Certificate attesting to the resolution of the Board to execute the subject PSA with SOLECO, designating signatories thereto

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

COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 23. 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: 23.1. Certifications acknowledging receipt of the Application with annexes to be issued by the Legislative Bodies of Pasig City, City of Maasin, and the Province of Southern Leyte, to be appended as Annexes “V”, “W” and “X”, respectively; 23.2. Notarized Affidavit of Publication stating that the Application was published in a newspaper of general circulation within SOLECO’s Franchise Area, to be appended to the Application as Annex “Y”; and 23.3. 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” 24. Under Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and 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; 25. SOLECO requests for the confidential treatment of Annexes “H-2” to “H-8” of the Application, consisting ofthe 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, SOLECOincluded, 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, SOLECO 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; 26. 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 Applicant GNPOWER, contain information which areconsidered 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; 27. 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.

28. 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 information1 that is used in one’s business and gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information . It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights and jurisprudence has consistently acknowledged the private character of trade secrets2 .

Further, as ruled in Garcia vs. Board of Investments3, trade secrets and confidential, commercial and financial information are exempt from public scrutiny; 29. 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; 30. 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

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

33. Considering substantial amount of time is needed to evaluate the documents submitted to support the approval of herein Application, Applicants seek consideration of the Commission to approve the instant Application, immediately, albeit, provisionally; 34. 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 SOLECO, which is set to start on 26 December 2015 at 12:00 A.M.; 35. The Region 8 ECs, including SOLECO, 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.

SOLECO, Moreover, it was projected, as shown in the table below4, 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;

36. The additional power from GNPOWER is needed to curtail any power interruptions that may be experienced

by SOLECO’s member-consumers due to inadequate power supply in the region; 37. 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 38. Applicant SOLECO 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 SOLECO 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 11 August 2016 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00A.M.) at SOLECO’s Main Office, Brgy.

SOro-Soro, Maasin, Southern 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

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 LY 18 / 2 5 , 2 016)

M O N D AY : j u lY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Media killings probed

By Sandy Araneta The Duterte administration will investigate all media killings, including those committed in the past administrations, Malacañang said on Sunday.

“Right now, we have the 20/20 hindsight of what happened in the previous years. But most important is we get through this task force against media killings,” said Secretary Martin Andanar, head of the Presidential Communications Office.

“Then, it’s a very positive direction for us to be able to investigate, to be able to seek justice for those who has been victims of extra-judicial media killing,” said Andanar.

“That’s the goal of this [task force] to put a final period or ex-

clamation point in finding out the root of these unnecessary and illegal killings of our brothers and sisters in the media,” said Andanar. ‘‘A legal panel led by Secretary [Salvador] Panelo and the other lawyers under the Office of the Executive Secretary are scheduled to draft an order for the President’s approval,” said Andanar. ‘‘The current secretary of the Department of Justice also would agree to hasten [review] of all past cases and give justice

to those families who have been victimized by the overdue process,” said Andanar.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said there was nothing contentious in the creation of an executive order implementing the Freedom of information.

“As a matter of fact, this [draft EO] has been finalized. it has passed our legal counsel led by Secretary Salvador Panelo. This passed through our lawyers of the Executive Secretary. What happened last week was we were overtaken by the events right for instance the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration of The Hague.

This was our focus this week.

We will try our best to have the EO signed by the President,” said Andanar.

A draft of the EO has already

been handed to President Rodrigo Duterte for his scrutiny even as it is expected to be signed next week.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella has said the order was still being finalized.

He said the “finer points” of the order were still being worked out but there were no sticking points.

The E. O. is expected to make the government more transparent and give the people easier access to public records.

Andanar earlier said that with the order, the executive branch hopes to lead the way for transparency.

The FOi executive order was also a campaign promise of the President.

Andanar had said that the President would leave it up to Congress, an independent branch, if it would pass an FOi bill.

New round of oil price cut looms

By Alena Mae S. Flores Oil prices are likely to go down this week by as much as P0.70 per liter following the movement of world oil prices last week.

Sources said gasoline and diesel will likely go down by P0.60 to P0.70 per liter.

Energy Department spokesman Wimpy Fuentebella said on Friday that international global oil prices were going down.

“The good news is there is a possibility that oil prices will go down because of oversupply. So the trend is downward.Hopefully it will continue to go down,’’ he said.

Fuentebella said the oil market reacted to the foreign exchange movements, additional discovery of oil rigs in America, supply disruptions in Nigeria, among others.

The official said the department is still considering proposals for oil stockpiling. “it’s more on policy question, what we will do about it. Still being studied that is a proposal that was carried over from the previous administration,” he said.

“We are considering all options, what would be the best for the country,” Fuentebella said.

The Philippines imports more than 90 percent of its fuel requirements and as such is merely a “price taker” of oil prices in the market.

Airports open up to regular taxicabs

By Joel E. Zurbano

Post-arbitration forum. Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario (right) enjoys a light moment with Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr. of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, USA and Lawrence Martin, counsel for the Philippines in the recent proceedings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The event is a well-attended forum on ‘Upholding the Law of the Sea Convention and the Post-Arbitration Philippine Challenge’ held on July 15, 2016, three days after the PCA ruled in favor of the Philippines and rejected China’s territorial claims over the West Philippine Sea. Venue was the Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law in Diliman, Quezon City sponsored by the ADR Institute. SONNY ESPIRITU

Pimentel bill gives LGUs bigger slice of revenue pie

By Macon Araneta THE incoming Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel iii on Sunday said faster development and progress in the countryside would be attained if local government units are given more resources to make them fulfill their role as front liners to their constituents.

Pimentel has refiled his bill under the 17th Congress “Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice” seeking to amend Republic Act 7160 and expand the tax base and increase the lGUs’ share in the national taxes. lGUs have been given numerous mandates but, most of the time, their resources have been overlooked and have not been coming to them, Pimentel said. if enacted into law, his proposal will boost the revenue share of lGUs—provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays—from 40 percent to 50 percent.

Their tax base would also be expanded because these would cover Bureau of internal Revenue taxes and the tariffs, duties, fees and

PIMeNTeL

charges and national internal revenue taxes of the Bureau of Customs.

Senate Bill 110 topped 10 bills filed recently

by Pimentel that included the creation of a framework for the right to adequate food and

the Mindanao railway, end to labor contractualization and abolition of the Road Board.

His other bills include changes to the bank secrecy law; modernization of procurement during calamities; creation of a committee for the prevention of torture; increased penalties on reckless imprudence and negligence in the Revised Penal Code; and strict enforcement and compliance with the national building code.

Pimentel said the full empowerment of lGUs has been a long standing advocacy of the administration party PDP laban which he heads and, “we intend to see through its desired fruition by the passage of the necessary legislation.”

The Constitution provides that “local government units shall have a just share, as determined by law, in the national taxes which shall be automatically released to them.”

He said another collateral result of the bill is that it converts the fight against smuggling into a national and grassroots concern because the lGUs would be more sensitive on matters concerning smuggling operations.

REGUlAR white taxis can now pick up passengers at the arrival areas of all Ninoy Aquino international Airport terminals beginning Monday (July 18). in its advisory Saturday, the Manila international Airport Authority-Public Affairs Department stated that MiAA general manager Ed Monreal will “oversee the conduct of regular taxi operation at Naia Terminal 3, 7 a.m., Monday, July 18, 2016. implementation will be simultaneous in all Naia terminals.”

The move, according to Monreal, was made to give passengers other option or choice of transportation to their destination. He said allowing the white taxis will also address the shortage of airportaccredited transportation units.

The airport authority last Friday held a dry run where regular white taxis were allowed to queue up at the designated areas and pick up points in their assigned terminals.

“The Naia does not have enough accredited taxis and vehicles-forhire to take thousands of domestic and international passenger arriving daily,” Monreal said, adding that the previous MiAA management was on the right track when it introduced accredited buses and allowed Grab car services at the airport.

M O N D AY : j u lY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

A7

CA upholds ex-gov’s recall of workers

By Ferdie G. Domingo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Court of Appeals has upheld the order of former governor Ruth Padilla recalling the appointment and promotion of 21 provincial government employees issued by her predecessor.

The court described as “illegal, null and void” the appointments made by Padilla’s predecessor, former Gov. and now Rep. Luisa Cuaresma who it said, circumvented established laws.

The appeals court upheld Executive Order no. 3 issued by Padilla revoking the appointments and promotions of the Capitol employees, effectively recalling and nullifying the acts made by Cuaresma.

The ruling also reversed a subsequent Civil Service Commission order directing Padilla to reinstate the employees and to pay their back wages.

A few months back, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed “for lack of probable cause and substantial evidence” charges of grave abuse of authority and corrupt practices against Padilla and provincial legal officer Voltaire Garcia.

The twin cases arose after the employees questioned before the CSC Padilla’s authority to revoke their appointments and promotions. The CSC favored the employees.

But in reversing the CSC, the appellate court took cognizance of the fact that Cuaresma—in carrying out the appointments and promotions—violated pertinent provisions of the Civil Service Law, the Local Government Code and the Omnibus Election Code.

The CA noted the absence of appropriations and availability of funds to cover the salaries of the respondents.

The CA also lamented that the sheer number of about 214 appointments made by Cuaresma immediately preceding and after the elections, manifests the circumvention of the prohibition.

Drugs destroyed. Illegal drugs worth an aggregate amount of P1.77 billion are destroyed through thermal decomposition at the Integrated Waste Management Facility in Barangay Agudo, Trece Martirez City in Cavite. DANNY PATA

Red tide alert still up in 2 W. Samar bays

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources yesterday warned that the waters of Cambatutay Bay and Irong-Irong Bay in Western Samar are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona said all types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these coastal areas are still not safe for

human consumption.

But fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking, Gongona said.

Areas which continue to be free from toxic red tide include the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan, Bataan, Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos, Sual, Wawa and Bani in Pangasinan, Masinloc

Bay in Zambales, Mandaon in Masbate, Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, Honda and Puerto Bays in Puerto Princesa City and Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan.

Other areas include coastal waters of Capiz, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Calbayog City in Samar, Leyte, Biliran province, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Camiguin Island.

Foundation to build 100 houses in Iloilo

By Julito G. Rada

Playtime. Children do not appear to mind playing in the muddy rice paddies of Mainit, Bontoc, Mountain Province as the rice-planting season starts in the hinterlands.

DAVID CHAN

THE Greg Secker Foundation, a non-profit organization seeking to improve the lives of people and communities around the world, is aiming to complete the building of 100 houses by March 2017 for the victims of super typhoon ‘‘Yolanda,’’ which struck on Nov. 8, 2013, in Lemery, Iloilo.

Greg Secker said the town has not received ample national and international attention in the aftermath of the typhoon.

Secker is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and renowned international speaker who owns Learn to Trade, a global trading education company based in London.

In a briefing in Makati City, Secker said the foundation has started building 20 houses in Lemery and completion is expected soon.

Aside from building homes for the typhoon victims, the foundation is also currently putting up a training center to provide livelihood skills to the residents.

“Sustainability is a key issue for us and we are building a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose training center to provide skills training and livelihood program for our beneficiaries,” Secker said.

“We want to help our beneficiaries thrive, not just survive. Providing them with the skills will make them resilient,” he said.

The screening process for the beneficiaries usually takes six weeks. Secker said they made sure that those really affected by the typhoon would be the ones to be given the house and provided with skills training. The foundation also takes into account the age of the beneficiaries, their economic status, and monthly income.

A8

opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

Big fat irony ANYONE with a knowledge of recent history will appreciate just how ironic it was for Senate President Franklin Drilon to file a bill seeking to penalize political turncoats.

Drilon, no doubt, was motivated by the recent defeat at the polls of the presidential candidate of his Liberal Party—and the ensuing hemorrhage of members from the erstwhile ruling party to President Rodrigo Duterte’s winning PDP-Laban.

While some in the LP saw the defections as understandable acts of political survival, Drilon would have none of it. His bill would either stem the exodus or make the turncoats pay.

“It is about time that we pass a measure that will institutionalize and strengthen political parties as pillars of the country’s democratic system,” Drilon declared as he filed Senate Bill No. 226 or the Political Party System Act. In the past, Drilon said, attempts to reform political parties “away from the concept of traditional politics” had failed because there was no legal institutional framework to govern political parties.

Drilon said his bill was aimed at promoting party loyalty, discipline and adherence to ideological principles, platforms and programs.

“Most political aspirants change political parties for convenience, rather than because of conviction. This only shows the lack of ideological commitment of the members of party because they choose parties based on the rise and fall of the tide of opportunity,” the Senate president said.

Under the Drilon bill, political turncoats will be disallowed from running under any political party for any elective position in the next succeeding election after changing affiliations.

They will also refund any amounts they received from their political party, including a 25 percent surchage.

“Political parties in our country are normally used as political vehicles to win an election. The political party system is centered on personalities rather than ideology and political platform,” Drilon declared. “Political turncoatism should never be encouraged nor tolerated.”

In championing his bill, however, Drilon may have overlooked the biblical admonition that it is he who is without sin that should cast the first stone.

Loyalty, if we go by his track record, has not been one of Senator Drilon’s strong suits.

In 1995, Drilon ran and won under the Lakas-Laban coalition, but bolted Lakas in 1998 to join the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino and supported Joseph Estrada in the presidential race. While he was installed as Senate president in July 2000, he turned on Estrada in October of the same year. In 2001, he was one of the senators who voted in favor of opening a second bank envelope that was expected to pin President Estrada down in his impeachment proceedings—then cried when he was outvoted and impeachment lawyers walked out of the session hall in protest.

Returning to the Senate presidency in July 2001 after Estrada’s ouster, Drilon joined the Liberal Party in 2003.

He actively supported President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she sought a fresh mandate in 2004, but broke with her in 2005 when her election to office was stained by allegations of cheating.

On July 8, 2005, Drilon joined the so-called Hyatt 10—Arroyo Cabinet members who resigned to protest the alleged cheating—and demanded that she resign. The turnaround must be among the most abrupt in Philippine political history: just a few days before that, he famously told Mrs. Arroyo at a rally in his hometown of Iloilo that if Manila didn’t want her, she should consider moving Malacañang to Iloilo “where we love you.”

As far as ironies go, that’s a big, fat one.

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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impoverishing higher education penSéeS fr. ranhiliO callangan aquinO We have lately been crowing about the fact that more Philippine colleges and universities have made it to the world recognition list. That is all very good, but it is not these institutions that most Filipinos attend. The millions who cannot pay the steep costs of exclusive education or garner the high points required for admission settle for provincial colleges and universities—and other less-recognized schools in Manila. Not that provincial colleges and universities are necessarily “less” than those in Manila. Many, in fact, have distinguished themselves for excellence in program and in output. But I am terribly concerned about the overwhelming majority that get by with mediocre facilities, mediocre faculty members, mediocre students and mediocre outcomes.

Mediocrity is not something

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

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PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Mediocrity is not something you can solve by increasing regulation.

you can solve by increasing regulation. In fact, to my mind, the Commission on higher education is overregulating, reaching over, unlawfully, I believe, into that reserve of academic freedom that the higher education institutions, by Constitutional decree, enjoy. That is really one of the problems. Because of the surfeit of regulations, including standardized syllabi forms that must include a separate column on how gender-sensitive the Rolando G. Estabillo Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

course delivery is, teachers are more occupied with filling out these inane forms and complying with requirements that are as inane, with less time in their hands for assiduous research and the preparation of more satisfactory instructional materials, let alone writing research papers and books!

We should have learned the lesson by now that when you put in place more requirements, you only trigger more clever and devious forms of circumventing the requirements or putting up appearances of compliance!

Research is a good example.

It is correct that university professors publish or perish.

It is correct to make research a basis for determining rank and remuneration. But what regulations-setting research requirements and output have in fact achieved is a plethora of really pathetic papers made to pass for research, with well-worn, much-abused, hackneyed and downright stupid subjects and topics, a 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

A10

M O N D AY : J U LY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE IMPACT OF TIME TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA RULING N E WSPA PE R headlines blared on Wednesday last week that the RITA LINDA South China Sea V. JIMENO is ours, as ruled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

This should be cause for a national celebration but the government and the Filipino people have rightly avoided gloating amidst victory. The way forward is not an easy one, after all, with China having already built artificial islands on the reefs declared by the arbitral tribunal as our exclusive economic zone, therefore, within our territory. It does not seem likely either that China will simply move out and hand over the South China Sea back to us after it has built a naval base, an air strip and defense facilities on the reefs now declared as ours.

J u s t what is the signif ica nce The upper hand of the decision is ours and the of the South C h i n a international Sea to us, community is Filipinos? In watching China. an interview with Senior J u s t i c e Antonio T. Carpio, aired on national television, he said the arbitral ruling confirmed that we indeed own as our exclusive economic zone that maritime space in the South China Sea with an area of about 381,000 square kilometers plus a continental shelf of about 150,000 square kilometers. The Philippine land area, Justice Carpio said, is smaller —with an area of 300,000 square kilometers. That maritime space declared as ours which is bigger than our land mass includes the fish, oil, gas and mineral resources, Carpio added. What is most significant is that within the area encroached upon by China’s nine-dash line is the Reed Bank. Explaining further, Justice Carpio said that the according to estimates, the methane hydrates present in the Reed Bank can power the economy of China for 300 years. Right now, he said, 40 percent of the energy requirement from Luzon comes from Malampaya. It’s the largest operating gas field we have and Malampaya is going to run out of gas in 10 years so there is urgency for us to develop the Reed Bank which is just beside Malampaya. The South China Sea, Justice Carpio stressed, is the future of Philippines’ energy source, food source and mineral source.

The next question that comes to mind now is, how then do we move forward? Is there a chance of getting the Arbitral Court’s ruling enforced?

Back when no case was yet filed by the Philippine government under the rules of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it seemed impossible to get a fair deal in any bilateral talks with China. From 1995 to 2012 the Philippines tried to negotiate with China but China doggedly and belligerently insisted that it owned the entire South China Sea based on an alleged historical nine-dash-line configuration. Now, with the Arbitral Tribunal’s declaration that China’s ninedash-line claim has no legal basis, we can negotiate from a position of strength.

If bilateral talks with China are resumed, as in fact, former President Fidel V. Ramos was asked

OUT OF THE BOX

A GLOBAL war is being waged

by Islamist terrorists. The world need not wait for this war to be declared. It has been going on since 9/11. The body count has been mounting since terrorists hijacked three US airliners and crashed two of them into the twin towers of the New York World Trade Center that reduced the iconic landmark into rubble.

Many thought it was only America that was the target of Islamist terrorists. Two Chechyan brothers exploded bombs at the finish line of the Boston marathon. Islamist gunmen also killed innocent civilians in San Bernardino in the US West Coast and a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

London’s underground trains and street buses plying the city’s busy shopping area also came under attack.. Gunmen broke into the office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing two of its editors. This was followed by the coordinated attacks on a café-lined street of Paris. The latest carnage was in Nice on Bastille Day when a Tunisian ploughed a trash truck into a crowd that left 84 people dead, including women and 10 children. It was the third major terror attack on French soil in 18 months.

Germany which accepted hundreds of thousands of Muslim migrants from strife-torn Syria and Iraq was shocked when IS terrorists indiscriminately fired guns and detonated explosives in a movie house outside Frankfurt.

Hosting the migrants and giving them safe haven was no guarantee the country would be immune from terrorists who mixed with

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

the tide of migrants that flooded Europe.

Brussels’ Zavantem airport was also rocked by explosives set off

by IS extremists. Istanbul in Turkey, a Muslim nation, was not spared by the terrorists.

The United Nations has not taken a strong stand against global terrorism except to issue statements condemning its brutal acts against humanity. Perhaps it’s time to put boots on the ground with troops of countries struck

by IS.The world might yet see a coalition force composed of troops from the US, Britain. France.

Germany, Belgium and Turkey which is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member but not of the European Union which it had wanted to join. Turkey is currently in the throes of a military coup and it’s unclear where this staunch ally of the West is veering. There are concerns the country might go to the far end of Islam, although Turkish President Erdogan has the support of the people who are protesting the military’s takeover attempt which resulted in 161 dead and more than 2,000 wounded.

Drones and air strikes by American, British and French warplanes on IS strongholds in Syria and Iraq don’t seem enough to wipe out the Islamist terrorists.

IS instead has stepped up its attacks to show that no place and no one is safe from its reach.

Nice, the playground of the rich and famous and home of the

by President Rodrigo Duterte to initiate the move, what are the likely possibilities? Justice Carpio said that, as a starting point, we could consider a proposal made in the 1990s by an American marine biologist, Professor McManus, who taught in UP with respect to the Spratly group of islands which remains the subject of conflicting claims by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. McManus said that the Spratlys should be turned into an international marine peace park. All countries with territorial claims over the islands should suspend their claims for 50 or 100 years and allow the reefs to regrow and be the breeding ground of fish. Justice Carpio said that McManus’ proposal can even be improved by converting China’s military installations in the Spratlys into marine research and ecotourism facilities. This is not an impossibility, Carpio explained, citing what the Israelis and the Jordanians agreed upon to settle a dispute over a water area. They declared the disputed water area as a peace park. If this is achieved in the Spratlys, it will be a breeding ground of fish and everyone will benefit from it, Justice Carpio said.

If China remains stubborn and continues to reject the Arbitral ruling, what happens, then?

To this, Justice Carpio replied that based on an article by a Filipino scholar, containing a survey of decisions by ICJ, the ITLOS and the other arbitral tribunals, over 95 percent of their decisions were

Cannes film festival, was full of revelers on the city’s promenade to celebrate the Fall of the Bastille on July 14.The celebration instead turned into a night of terror.

Tourists and families with their children had just watched the fireworks when a huge lorry came careening down the main avenue with the driver firing a gun at people. Bent on a killing rampage, he then rammed the truck against a crowd huddled on the sidewalk.

The scene that followed was one of death and destruction with the lone assassin, a Tunisian, finally shot dead by French police.

Where in the world is the next target of the Islamist terrorists?

Only these cunning and coldblooded killers know.

There are unconfirmed reports IS has gained a foothold in Mindanao and linked up with the kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf Group. There are pictures of ASG waving the ISIS banner, but it could just be a ploy to strike terror among the villagers and government soldiers pursuing them. The AFP insists there’s no proof IS is already operating in our backyard in Mindanao. Still, IS could just be waiting for the right time to pull off an attack— even in Metro Manila.

These are trying times for the country. We are facing an armed conflict in our southern backdoor from Muslim secessionists and the notorious ASG and MILF and an external threat from an aggressive China in the West Philippine Sea. Yet there are some elements in our society that look at the US as an interloper instead of a deterrent against the perils facing the country.

eventually complied with. Initially the losing party would refuse to comply but in the end, they did. It may take time, Justice Carpio said, because—as in the case of China—it has to prepare its people to comply since the mindset of its people is that the South China is theirs.

Can the Philippines enter into a joint development agreement with China over what has been declared as the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea? That is not allowed by our Constitution, Justice Carpio said. The Philippines can enter into a commercial contract with China where it will pay rentals to use a portion of our EEZ, or enter into a contract with foreign companies with the needed technology to, perhaps, drill or perform activities in our territory, but we must pay them as contractors. The Philippines cannot enter into a state-to-state agreement to jointly develop any portion of our territory, Justice Carpio said, because the Constitution does not allow us to give up our sovereign rights.

However the bilateral talks now go, one thing is certain. Unclos has defined our exclusive economic zone which was confirmed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The upper hand is ours and the international community is watching China.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

m o n D AY : j u lY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Madness WHAT is the whole world coming to?

This line from Burt Bacharach and Hal Davis’ classic, “The Windows of the World,” sang lyrically by Dionne Warwick, was what came to mind after being shocked by the recent mass murder in Nice.

And it had to happen on Bastille Day, when France and the whole world revels on liberte, egalite, fraternite, on that day when ordinary men and women decided to write finis to the notion that some mortals could invoke divinity to make their megalomania an immortal right.

Promenade des Anglais is one of the most beautiful walkways on earth.

Would that our own Roxas Boulevard (which Rodrigo Duterte still refers to by its old name, Dewey Boulevard) had been as preserved. It is your principal go to in Nice, the acclaimed heart of the French Riviera, with a view to the Mediterranean as breathtaking as the cliffside sight of it from nearby Eze on the way to Monaco.

At daytime, the wide pebble beach recessed from the promenade is filled with bodies soaking the sun in bronze splendor. When the sun sets, everybody from tourist to long-time resident descends upon the Promenade to just sit and watch perhaps with a glass of wine from a nearby bistro, the end of another day and the start of a

night of revelry a la sud Hussein’s “tyranny.”

So de France.

Children in these i See As this is written, countries live in daily 84 men, women, even trauma from the Lito children are dead, horrors of civil war. banayo with 50 more in its They happen in some throes, and more parts of our very own than a hundred injured by one man’s Muslim Mindanao, from the tragedy sudden seizure of madness. Whether of Mamasapano in January last year, it was just a fit of one’s lunacy or a to the banditry of the Abu Sayyaf, to carefully-planned attack by soldiers the never-to-be-forgotten massacre of some demented cause, the mass of journalists and innocents in murder at the Promenade recalls to Maguindanao years back. mind several other incidents of terror: And in a larger scope of mayhem, to The most recent being the bombing Nine-Eleven, that unforgettable Sept. of the Ataturk airport in Istanbul, 11, 2001, when the World Trade Centre the economic capital of Turkey now was demolished by the mad followers convulsed by a failed coup. Before of the Al-Qaeda. All these are images that, the same tragic airport assault and memories of a world gone mad. in Brussels last March, at the height of our own electoral frenzy.

“The windows of the world are covered In November last year, we were with rain, shocked at the news coming from Paris, What is the whole world coming to? about how more than a hundred were Everybody knows when men cannot killed at Bataclan Theatre in a series of be friends bombings that reached up to the stadium Their quarrel often ends where some near St. Denis. Paris was bleeding, even have to die; if it had yet to emerge from the tragic Let the sun shine through.” memory of Charlie Hebdo, when some “The windows of the world are covered Islamic cultists decimated an entire with rain, editorial staff of the French satire.

There must be something we can do Of course these things happen. They Everybody knows whenever rain occur daily in Syria and Libya, and appears in Iraq since George Bush decided It’s really angel tears to impose “freedom” upon Saddam How long must they cry?

published only in those journals that it accredits.

In God’s name, what gumption is this? Is it for Ched now to determine which societies are learned collage of plagiarized, and rehashed and regurgitated or not, which publications are worthy of academic material. How many papers have been written on attention or not? Many of history’s greatest supposed correlations between employee morale and minds—Galileo, Spinoza, Wittgenstein, Rahner, to performance, on the correlation between profile name just four —at one time got their papers and and attitude and other similarly useless correlative manuscripts rejected by some publisher or other. studies? Particularly abhorrent is the fact that But they are the very thinkers who have changed to get their works to print, professors have to the way the world rotates on its axis! Since when pay journals and publishers—even online—to has Ched become the arbiter of what is scholarly accept their output for publication. How did we and what is not? get ourselves into intellectual prostitution of this Accreditation is turning into another joke. Some kind? Time was when publishers vied with each forms of accreditation are creditable, while others other to get some outstanding writer or authority are disguised money-generating devices. In fact, I to publish, and then to proffer the writer with an propose the following definition of accreditation, honorarium for the honor of publishing the work. in the light of the accreditation practices prevalent It is completely the opposite now, no different from in many colleges and universities: Accreditation what happens in a brothel, really: Professors pay is the process of evidencing what in fact does not publishers for the pleasure of seeing their names exist! The written profile of many an institution on some unsung publication that will readily find that carries Level 3 or even Level 4 accreditation its way into a shredding machine, forever unread will easily make it pass for a Cambridge, or an and unmourned!

Oxford, or a Salamanca, or a Leiden, or a Leuven.

And the Commission on Higher Education is But the harsh reality is concealed behind a wall of definitely infringing into the academic freedom paper, and beneath of ton of exhibits! of a professor by requiring that research output be College students today do not know Shakespeare,

impoverishing... From A8

#failocracy

Let the sun shine through.”

My children and their spouses were with me enjoying the crisp autumn breeze wafting from the sea at the Promenade in early October of 2014, watching how la belle vie unfolded through the night. One of the dreams in my bucket list is being strong enough to yet bring my grandchildren through a stroll in the same place.

Their grandma and great grandma had enjoyed the same leisurely stroll with me in our younger days.

Now this. Madness. And it is getting to be commonplace all over. *** On happier note, one must congratulate the new government for its sober approach to the “victory” at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague Tuesday last. No gloating; no victory chants. Just a proper assessment of where we are now in our relations with China, and where we ought to be in the years to come.

Watch how Rodrigo, the avatar against drugs and crime, plays the calculating diplomat from here on. And pray that God grants him the wisdom and sagacity to navigate the now troubled waters of the West Philippine Sea as it embraces the South China Sea. Take note of the words “navigate” and “embrace.”

Marlowe, Hemingway, Cummings, Frost and will not recognize quotes from their works, to say nothing of quoting them…because they are Westerners? But classics are exactly that—classical, and part of the patrimony of all of humankind. Then at least they should know Villa and Tiempo and Joaquin and Hufana and Sionil Jose. But even these could very well be, to many a college student, the names of Martians or other extra-terrestrials. Their repertoire of quotes comes from the lyrics of the silly songs that abound and that have made of our world a stupider place to be in. And obviously, when you pare down philosophy in the curriculum to ethics (without even room for logic) taught by one whose familiarity with the subject goes no further than “the science of correct thinking,” then we have hit rock-bottom, indeed.

And that is just the tragedy: In an age when the great works of the centuries are available at the click of a mouse, there are far less students passionate about looking them up and clicking links to them, and far more interested in just the mouse! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

chong ardivilla

M ONDAY: J ULY 18, 2016

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pocari, Air Force dispute Shakey’s V-League crown POCARI Sweat and Air Force put a fitting climax to a surprise-filled conference as they slug it out one last time for the Shakeys’ V-League Season 13 Open crown at the Philsports Arena in Pasig tonight.

The Lady Warriors go to their 6 p.m. showdown enjoying the proverbial momentum after pulling off a come-from-behind a 17-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20 victory last Saturday to force a sudden death in their best-of-three series for the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

“We showed composure, which was lacking in our previous game,” said Pocari interim coach Rommel Abella, pointing to his wards’ poise, particularly in the second and third sets that was close throughout.

The match will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23 and on via streaming at www.v-

points, Siemens league.ph, acGame today Dadang, Lutgarcording to the (Philsports Arena, Pasig) o r g a n i z i n g 6 p.m. • Pocari Sweat vs Air Force da Malaluan and skipper Michelle Sports Vision.

Myla Pablo also atoned for Gumabao, who chipped in her lackluster performance in seven markers apiece.

But stats, momentum Pocari’s 25-17, 20-25, 25-15, 24-26, 11-15 defeat in Game and other factors are often One by pumping in 19 hits, set aside in a rubber match the bulk of which she deliv- with coaches of both teams ered in the last three sets that expected to come out with helped the Lady Warriors surprises to startle the other side’s play-patterns and stop the Lady Jet Spikers.

“I just want to forget what strategies, guaranteeing a happened in that game slam-bang action between (Game One) and focused on the best teams in the feathis one (Game One),” said tured conference seeking the power-spiking Pablo, who their maiden titles in the also drew solid back-up from league where it all started.

It will also be a question of Elaine Kasilag, who had 11

desire and heart, plus hunger with the Lady Jet Spikers also tipped to make the necessary adjustments as they resume their quest for a first-ever Shakey’s V-League crown after a couple of fourth place finishes in 2013 and 2014.

Expect Judy Ann Caballejo to step up after the former UST star, which normed 12 points in the elims to help power Air Force to a surprise top finish, struggled for eightand six-hit efforts in the first two games of the finals. Caballejo, however, made up for the scoring slack by coming through with 11 excellent digs last Saturday.

Wilder punishes challenger

By Ronnie Nathanielsz UNBEATEN heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) finished three-time world title challenger Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (36-5-1, 31 KOs) in eight rounds despite fighting with a broken right hand in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

Boxing Scene reported that in front of a hometown crowd of 11,974, Wilder “controlled the fight from bell to bell, dropping Arreola in the fourth round, and dominating the battle-tested challenger. Despite a broken right hand and a torn bicep muscle, Wilder managed to persevere and secure the stoppage.”

“It was very satisfying to punish a guy like Chris Arreola. I straight punished him. I didn’t get my knockout like I want, but it was a knockout. I’ll take that on my record. I still advanced to 37-0 with 36 KOs,’’ said Wilder In a post-fight interview.

The heavyweight champion added: “It (win) let’s me know I’m a force to be reckoned with. If I have one hand or two hands, you can’t deny that I’m the best in the world. I’m going to still give it to you whether I have one hand or two hands. I won’t stop. As a champion it’s my duty to keep going no matter what I’m going through.

Pain ain’t nothing to me.

I got a high tolerance on pain. When you’re dealing with fights, it’s not over until it’s over.”

Blu Girls prevail, advance THE Cebuana Lhuillierbacked RP Blu Girls posted back-to-back wins in the Women’s World Softball Championships to advance to the next round of the 31-nation tournament held in Softball City, Surrey, Canada.

The Filipinas beat Pakistan, 7-0.

“Our girls are in great form now. It shows that they just need more exposure in worldclass competitions and they’ll get more used to it. I’ve always believed that we can excel in softball and they’re showing it here. I’m confident they can continue their good performance and make it to the Top 8,” said ASAPHIL president Jean Henri Lhuillier.

The perennial Southeast Asian champion Blu Girls next play Netherlands, which share the same 2-0 record with the Filipinas in Pool F of the tournament.

In other games, China beat Greece, 5-1; USA blanked Austria, 15-0; Mexico blasted Serbia, 15-0; Ecuador outclassed India, 14-0; while New Zealand edged Peru, 7-0.

FEU bet bags gold

May Ann Pantino (6), hammering in a kill against Lutgarda Malaluan and Michelle Gumabao in Game Two, is raring to uncoil more of the same as she tries to help deliver the first Shakey’s V-League championship for Air Force.

Enrgized champions win 1st race of Milo Marathon DAGUPAN—The electric opening race of the 40th National MILO Marathon kicked off with over 9,300 runners crossing the finish line in Dagupan, Pangasinan.

Last year’s Dagupan champion Cesar Castañeto placed first once again in the 21K male category, together with Lany Cardona in the female category.

They each took home the top purse of P10,000 in cash and a trophy, and booked their slots to the National Finals in Angeles on December 6 to try and claim the MILO Marathon King and Queen titles.

Castañeto posted a time of 01:11:23 to clinch first place, while Julius Sermona (01:13:38) and Hernane Sore (01:14:56) grabbed the second and third places, respectively.

In the distaff side, Cardona clocked in at 01:31:48, followed by Shane Acosta (01:42:27) in second place and Eunice Lata-an (01:44:11) in third.

The National MILO Marathon proves that its champions are truly agents of motivation who inspire others to achieve their goals.

A two-time silver medalist at the 2015

Philippine National Games, the 27-yearold Castañeto shares that former MILO Marathon Queen Cristabel Martes is the one training him to be in tiptop shape.

“I am grateful for all the motivation Cristabel has been giving me,” said Castañeto. “All her coaching, tips and advice has pushed me to focus and persevere in my training.” Castañeto has been running in the National MILO Marathon since he was in elementary.

Cardona, a 25-year-old full time runner from Lingayen, is also a MILO Marathon regular, having won first place in Dagupan thrice.

Fresh from her first place win in the Phuket International Marathon held last June, Cardona added another feather to her cap today.

“I was not expecting to win because I am not that prepared for this leg. I did not have enough time to train,” shared Cardona. “I will now train for the Singapore Marathon and Hong Kong Marathon, which will also prepare me for the MILO Marathon National Finals in December.”

FAR Eastern University student Marilyn Avila claimed one gold for the Philippines in athletics in Day 1 of the 2016 ASEAN University Games in Singapore.

The 20-year-old Avila clocked one minute and 2.22 seconds in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.

She beat Juthamas Khonkam of Thailand in 1:02.44, while Saidatul Suhaimi of Malaysia settled for the bronze in 1:03.61.

Avila’s teammate Michelle Loterte landed fourth in 1:02.92.

Her clocking was better than the 1:02.78 she did in the recent Hong Kong Inter-cities.

This also put her within range of the 1:02.53 qualifying time of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. Peter Atencio

PH pug kayoed in Round 1 FILIPINO flyweight prospect Joebert Alvarez made the same mistake as previously unbeaten super bantamweight Prince Albert Pagara and suffered a stunning first-round knockout against 24-year-old Miguel “No Fear” Cartagena of Philadelphia in Kissimmee Civic Center in Florida over the weekend.

Nicknamed “The Little Pacquiao,” Alvarez started aggressively and hammered Cartagena with solid jabs and straights early in Round 1. But Cartagena quickly turned the fight around when he floored Alvarez with a left hook late into the round.

And although Alvarez recovered, Cartagena connected with a flurry of punches to drop the Filipino one more time.

While Alvarez beat the count, he was clearly on wobbly legs and the referee promptly called a halt with 46 seconds remaining in the opening round.

The loss dropped Alvarez to 15-2-1 with 7 knockouts, while Cartagena improved to 15-3 with 6 knockouts.

Alvarez, who whose only previous setback was to WBO\/WBA flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada in a close battle, won the vacant WBONorth American Boxing Organization flyweight title with a smashing knockout of Jonathan Gonzalez in Puerto Rico last March.

Joebert’s trainer, Dodong Donaire, the trainer/father of five-division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire told The Standard: “He did pretty good and hurt the guy (Cartagena), he just jumped in there and tried to knock him out early in the round and went after Cartagena without protecting himself. It was a big mistake because that was not our strategy.”

Donaire lamented the fact that a title fight in September has to be put back.

“We have to start all over again,” said Donaire. Ronnie Nathanielsz

M ONDAY: J ULY 18, 2016

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

F2 rips Navy; Fajardo joins PSL team F2 LOGISTICS made a quick, merciless work of Standard Insurance-Navy as it pulled off a 26-24, 25-16, 25-14 victory in the 2016 Philippine Superliga AllFilipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Aby Marano and Ara Galang were impressive, but it was Kim Fajardo who provided the spark as she controlled the game from start to finish to carry the Cargo Movers to an easy win in this prestigious interclub tourney bankrolled by KLab Cyscorpions, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Marano manned the middle with authority, finishing with eight kills and four blocks for a game-high 12 points while rookie Galang chipped in 10 markers for the Cargo Movers, who conquered their fifth straight win to gain a share of lead with idle RC Cola-Army.

But the day belonged to Fajardo.

The 22-year old La Salle star took charge of the playmaking chore as she registered 29 excellent sets, completely outplaying her counterpart, Janet Serafica, who had only nine excellent sets.

More than that, Fajardo officially became the third member of the prestigious PSL All-Star squad that will see action in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena from Oct. 18 to 23.

PSL president Ramon Suzara and Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. vice president Peter Cayco awarded the golden ticket to Fajardo, who is regarded as one of the brightest young setters in

the country today after leading La Salle to the UAAP crown early this year.

“She’s young and overflowing with potential,” said Suzara, a ranking member of the Asian Volleyball Confederation executive council. “An exposure in a high-caliber tournament such as the FIVB Women’s CWC will have a massive impact on her career and to the rise of Philippine volleyball in general. We expect Kim to do everything to make us proud.”

The announcement of the fourth member of the team is set tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Batangas City Coliseum in Batangas City right after the 2 pm battle between F2

Logistics and Petron.

“We’re not yet done,” Suzara said. “We’re still deliberating and discussing about the four other local members of the team.”

Competing against the PSL All-Star team are the world’s best club teams like Rexona Ades of Brazil, Bangkok Glass of Thailand, Volero Zurich of Switzerland, Hisamitsu Springs of Japan, Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul and VakifBank Istanbul of Turkey and Pomi Casalmaggiore of Italy.

F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus said Fajardo’s selection didn’t come as a surprise as she is known as a quick thinker who never stops working. In fact, against Corvettes, she dis-

Games Tomorrow (Batangas City Coliseum) 2 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petron 4 p.m. – Generika vs RC Cola-Army 6 p.m. – Standard Insurance-Navy vs Foton

tributed the ball pretty well to spearhead the Cargo Movers’ well-oiled offensive assault.

“She made the team looked good,” said de Jesus.

“She anchored our offense and distributed the ball pretty well, giving Aby, Ara and, to some extent, Mika (Reyes) and Kim (Dy) a lot of easy attacks.”

Veteran Pau Soriano finished with 10 points while Lilet Mabbayad had seven markers for the Corvettes, who fell to fifth spot with a 2-3 win-loss mark.

PH-Mighty Sports faces rough sailing

Members of the F2 Logistics team celebrate after scoring a point against Standard Insurance-Navy.

F2’s Kim Fajardo (inset), who provided the spark as she controlled the game from start to finish, also officially became the third member of the PSL All-Star squad that will see action in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena from Oct. 18 to 23. ROMAN PROSPERO

Filipino jins bag 1 gold, 4 silvers in Korea Open CARRYING the colors of SMART/MVP Sports Foundation, the Philippine taekwondo jins made international waves once again recently by winning one gold, four silver and two bronze medals in the 2016 Korea Open championships at Geongju City, Korea.

Middleweight Alvaro Joaquin Aranton led the Filipinos’ creditable performance in the 53-country competition by bagging the gold medal in the junior men’s free sparring event.

The silver winners also in free sparring were heavyweight John Shadrack Tan in junior men and bantamweight Veronica Garces, Jessica Canabal and welterweight Florence Mae Chavez,

all in junior women while bantamweight Raymundo Alombro III bagged a bronze in junior men.

The other bronze came the women’s team of Elizabella Cesista, Angelica Joyce Gaw and Clare Therese Gascon in poomsae.

“It was a well-deserved finish for our taekwondo bets in the strong field of 2,480 participants,” said Philippine Taekwondo Association OIC Sung Chon Hong.

The Filipino athletes were supported in their participation by PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.), Meralco, Philippine Sports Commission the Philippine Olympic Committee.

PHILIPPINE representative Mighty Sports Apparels faces a daunting task of hurdling its opening assignment after being pitted against host Taiwan a day after the opening of the 38th William Jones Cup on Saturday.

Game is set at 7 p.m. with Mighty Sports team manager Jean Alabanza hoping the presence of Filipino migrants in the game will give his boys the added motivation.

Also out to boost the campaign of Mighty Sports are NBA veteran Al Thornton, FIBA Manila Olympic Qualifying veteran Hamady N’Diaye of Senegal and former PBA import Zach Graham.

After Taiwan, Mighty Sports, backed

by Scratch It Pera-Pera Agad-Agad! and Symarom, will face South Korean on Monday, a team from the United States on Tuesday and Japan the following day.

Coach Bo Perasol described the team’s first four days as a killer stretch.

“The field is one of the toughest in the history of the league so it’s going to be a ‘mission impossible’ for us,” added Alabanza.

“That’s going to be a crucial stretch for us because certainly it will set the trend,” added Mighty Sports President John Sy. After its clash with India on Thursday, Mighty Sports then faces defending champion Iran with NBA veteran Hamed Haddadi leading the team.

Then on Saturday, Mighty Sports will face another crack squad from Egypt before capping its campaign against Taiwanese B.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

Shown are the PLDT/MVPSF medalists in the recent 2016 Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships. They are (standing, from left) Veronica Garces, Raymundo Alombro III, Alvaro Joaquin Aranton, John Shadrack Tan, Florence Mae Chavez (kneeling, from left) Jessical Canabal, Angelica Gaw, Elisabella Cesista and Clare Therese Gascon.

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT (PPSA), AS AMENDED, BETWEEN TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. WITH PRAYER FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION ERCCASENO.2016-024RC AND THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

11.

TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC (TARELCO II AND GNPOWER LTD. CO. (GNPOWER)

On 16 March 2016, Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TARELCO II) and GNPower Ltd. Co. (GNPower) filed their joint Application for approval of their Power Purchase and Sale Agreement (PPSA), with prayer for confidential treatment of information and issuance of provisional authority.

In support of said Application, TARELCO II and GNPower alleged, among others, the following:

2.

Applicant GNPOWER is a duly registered limited partnership existing under Philippine laws. It is engaged in the business of developing, constructing, operating, and owning power generation facilities.

Its principal office is at 28th Floor, Orient Square Building, Don Francisco Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Copies of its Certification of Registration issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Amended Articles of Partnership are attached as Annexes “B” and “B1”, respectively, of the Application;

3.

Applicants may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes of the Commission through its counsels of record;

4.

Pursuant to Sections 25, 43 (u) and 45 (b) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, this Application is submitted to the Commission for its due consideration and approval of the Power Purchase and Sale Agreement (PPSA), as amended, executed by and between Applicants TARELCO II and GNPOWER;

12.

On 10 March 2014, CLECAFLAG declared GNPOWER as the winning proponent, evidenced by the attached copy of CLECAFLAG’s letter of the same date as Annex “E” of the Application.

GNPOWER shall, then, execute individual power supply agreements with the twelve member-ECs;

13.

Copies of relevant documents used in the competitive selection process conducted by CLECAFLAG to bid out the forward power needs of its member-ECs, particularly, for the supply of 300 MW of aggregated base load power, are attached to the Application as follows:

ANNEX “F” “F-1” “F-2” “F-3” “F-4” 14.

During the negotiations conducted between GNPOWER and each of the twelve (12) member-ECs for the finalization of a PPSA and the final review of the latter's projected base load electricity demand, it had come to their attention that the twelve (12) member-ECs would not be able to procure 300 MW of aggregated base load power in the first Contract Year, as committed in the transaction;

15.

As a result, GNPOWER and the member-ECs negotiated to have an interim supply period, which is estimated to commence on December 2018 subject to the ERC's approval process;

16.

On 10 June 2014, .GNPOWER executed with each of TARELCO II and nine (9) other member-ECs. The PPSA between GNPOWER and TARELCO II is attached as Annex "G"2 of the Application; GNPOWER agreed to extend the negotiations ,with CLECAFLAG and its two member-ECs that have not yet signed their respective PPSAs to allow CLECAFLAG to significantly fulfill its obligation under the MOA;

STATEMENT OF FACTS 5.

TARELCO II, along with eleven other electric cooperatives1 in the Central Luzon region, created Central Luzon Electric Cooperative Association — First Luzon Aggregation Group, Inc. (CLECAFLAG), a corporation duly registered with the SEC, as evidenced by the attached copy of its Certificate of Registration, as Annex “C” of the Application;

6.

CLECAFLAG, owned and controlled by twelve (12) member-Electric Cooperatives (“ECs”), was formed to coordinate and manage the administration of power supply process including joint planning and selection process, contracting of power of the member-ECs to ensure sustainable power supply and reduced electricity rates in the region;

7.

Accordingly, in 2013, CLECAFLAG conducted a competitive selection process to bid out the forward power needs of its member-ECs, particularly, for the supply of 300 MW of aggregated base load power from new generating capacity/ies for twenty (20) years starting late 2018, subject to the Commission’s approval process and the signing by all the member-ECs of the PPSA, as per the award notice and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to meet the growing demand of the member-ECs;

8.

17.

18.

GNPOWER offered to assist CLECAFLAG and its member-ECs in fulfilling their obligation to cause the signing of an aggregated 300MW PPSA as a requirement for GNPOWER's project milestones, and on 18 September 2015, GNPOWER, in its appreciation to TARELCO II and other member-ECs for being early supporters of the GNPOWER project, executed an amendment3 to the PPSA reducing the rate indicated in the PPSA in favor of TARELCO II. ABSTRACT OF THE PPSA, AS AMENDED, AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION 19. The following are the salient features of the subject PPSA, as amended: A.

In the selection of a new power provider, CLECAFLAG employed extensive evaluation parameters and procedures, and with all twelve member-ECs further represented through their own Technical Working Groups. The selection process was conducted in two stages, including a Swiss Challenge, as follows: a.

b.

B.

The first stage is the selection of a Generation Company (“GenCo”) that will submit a Firm Proposal (the “Firm Proponent”) for the aggregated base load to be contracted by the member-ECs. The GenCo shall be selected based on the committed price cap, among other key contract terms. CLECAFLAG’s proposed price cap was PhP4.09/kWh or PhP4.5808/kWh, inclusive of VAT. Nonetheless, the evaluation of the price cap shall be based on expected levelized price for the duration of the contract; and The second stage is the announcement of the Firm Proposal, or that offer of the GenCo which submitted the lowest proposed committed price cap. The Firm Proposal shall then be subjected to “Swiss Challenge” by other GenCos who were declared qualified during the first stage. The Original Firm Proponent has the right to match the proposal of the Challenger;

9.

On the first stage of the selection process, three GenCos participated by submitting their respective bids, namely: GNPOWER, AES Philippines (AES), and San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC);

10.

Based on the ranking determined through CLECAFLAG’s evaluation using a specified set

DOCUMENT Invitation to participate in the power supply aggregation and contracting of CLECAFLAG Notice of Eligibility to participate in the bidding sent to GNPOWER Transaction Information Memorandum Supplemental Transaction Information Memorandum detailing the Evaluation Framework (i.e., terms of reference) Evaluation Result

C.

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Term of Agreement. The PPSA, as amended, shall be effective at the date of its execution, and shall terminate after 240 months from the date specified in the Commencement Notice4 defined as the written notice that indicates the commencement of the first delivery of electric capacity at full commercial operation of the first unit of GNPOWER's facility5.

Source of Supply. GNPOWER shall make available, sell, and deliver or cause to be delivered to TARELCO II the Product6 at the Delivery Point, whether sourced from GNPOWER's facility or from other electricity generators, including the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

GNPOWER's facility shall be constructed and operated in Mariveles, Bataan. The Technical Details of the Project is attached to the Application as Annex "I"; Contracted Capacity. TARELCO II is contractually entitled to receive from GNPOWER, at any hour, subject to GNPOWER's Available Capacity (as defined in the PPSA, as amended) for such hour, the Contracted Capacity (as defined in the PPSA, as amended), as follows: Contracted Capacity 19,000 21,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,000 23,000 24,000 25,000 38,000

38,000 38,000 38,000 38,000 38,000 38,000 38,000 38,000 38,000 38,000 C.1. Option to Increase Contracted Capacity. Section 2.7 of the PPSA, as Capacity amended, provides that upon written notice to GNPOWER, TARELCO II may, upon approval by GNPOWER, increase its Contracted Capacity which increase shall be subjected to the same terms and conditions contained in the PPSA, as amended. In considering whether or not to approve the request for increase in Contracted Capacity, GNPOWER may take into consideration the capacity available for such increase from its facility in its sole opinion, and/or the willingness of any other buyer to assign its Contracted Capacity.

Such increase in Contracted Capacity shall be effective on the date GNPOWER gives its written approval.

D. Contract Price. The Contract Price shall be composed of Capacity Price and Energy Price.

D.1 The Capacity Fee is the component of the Contract Price allocated to pay for the cost, as well as the operations and maintenance of the power plant and is designated as the Capacity Fee in Schedule 1 of the PPSA, as amended, as such may be adjusted from time to time based on GNPOWER's Capacity Factor.

The corresponding Capacity Fee for a given Capacity Utilization Factor is set forth in the table below:

CLECAFLAG shall allow only AES to participate in the Swiss Challenge of GNPOWER’s Firm Proposal (Section 4.6); b.

CLECAFLAG shall immediately award the PPSA with finality to GNPOWER in any of the following circumstances xxx (a) AES’ failure to submit Letter of Intent to Challenge (Section 4.7); and c.

After awarding the PPSA with finality to GNPOWER, CLECAFLAG shall enter into a PPSA with GNPOWER and/or cause its member-ECs to enter into a PPSA. AES failed to submit a counter-proposal to match GNPOWER’s Firm Proposal.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

Applicant TARELCO II is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative organized under Philippine laws, with principal office address at San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac. It is authorized to distribute and provide electricity services to its member consumers in the Municipalities of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion, and La Paz, all in the Province of Tarlac, and the Municipality of Zaragoza in the Province of Nueva Ecija (hereinafter, “Franchise Area”). A copy of TARELCO II’s Certificate of Franchise is attached to the Application as Annex “A” and forms an integral part thereof;

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

a.

Applicants. x---------------------------------------------x

1.

of bid parameters and references in the transaction documents, GNPOWER was declared as the Firm Proponent, while AES, submitting a bid that was PhP0.23/kWh greater than that of GNPOWER, was the Challenger who had an opportunity to counter GNPOWER’s proposal through Swiss Challenge.

Meanwhile, SMEC was disqualified for submitting a price offer that is higher than CLECAFLAG’s proposed price cap of PhP4.09/kWh; On 8 November 2013, CLECAFLAG and GNPOWER entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), Annex “D” of the Application, with the individual member-ECs as witnesses, to define each of CLECAFLAG and GNPOWER’s (as the Firm Proponent) rights and obligations under transaction, such as the following, among others:

Capacity Utilization Factor (%) 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

Capacity Fee ($/kWh) 0.0466 0.0470 0.0474 0.0477 0.0481 0.0485 0.0489 0.0493 0.0497 0.0502 0.0506 0.0510 0.0515 0.0519 0.0524 0.0529 0.0534 0.0539 0.0544 0.0549 0.0555 0.0561 0.0567 0.0573 0.0579 0.0585 0.0592 0.0599 0.0606 0.0613 0.0621 0.0629 0.0637 0.0645 0.0653 0.0662

In case the Capacity Utilization Factor is not a whole number, the Capacity Fee shall be computed using the formula below: Capacity Fee = - 0.10773 x (CUF)3 + 0.33975 x (CUF)2 0.3932 x (CUF) + 0.2078 Where: Capacity Fee = is the Capacity Fee in /kWh CUF

= is the Capacity Utilization Factor between 65% and 100%, provided that if the actual CUF is below 65% (the "Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor"), the Capacity Price shall be calculated based on the Capacity Fee and quantity associated with the Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor.

The Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) shall be computed as follows: Capacity Utilization = Q Factor (CF) CC x (HT – EHTO) Where: Q CC HT EHTO D.2

= Quantity of kWh = Contracted Capacity, in kW, as set forth in Schedule 1 = Total number of hours in such Billing Period = The sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of Scheduled Outages and Unscheduled Outages in such Billing Period The Energy Fee is the component of the Contract Price allocated to pay for the coal, including Government Charges, designated as the Energy Fee in Schedule 1 of the PPSA, as amended, as adjusted from time to time due to changes in the delivered price of coal. The Energy Fee shall be computed in accordance

with the following formula: Energy Fee = IEF x Where: IEF CIFn CIFo

a.

ANNEX CIFn CIF0

= Initial Energy Fee equal to $0.0370/kWh = CIF Cost of Fuel for Billing Period n

= Base CIF Cost of Fuel equal to $11.5573/ million kCal E. Prompt Payment Discount. Section 4.3 (c) of the PPSA, as amended, provides that if TARELCO II pays the invoice in full within ten (10) days of receipt from GNPOWER, TARELCO II shall receive a credit on the next subsequent bill equal to $ 0.0 012/kWh multiplied by the actual quantity of the Product actually delivered set forth in such invoice for the Billing Period for which the credit was earned.

F. Capacity Utilization Discount. Section 4.3 (d) of the PPSA, as amended, provides that if TARELCO II pays the invoice amount in full in accordance with GNPOWER's invoice instruction on or before the twenty-fifth (25th) day of the succeeding calendar month from the relevant Billing Period and TARELCO II's CUF is greater than or equal to 65%, aside from the Prompt Payment Discount, TARELCO II shall receive a credit on the next subsequent bill equal to 2.8% of the Energy Fee multiplied by the actual quantity of the Product actually delivered set forth in such invoice for the Billing Period for which the credit was earned.

G. Scheduled and Unscheduled Outage.

Pursuant to Section 2.2, GNPOWER is allowed Scheduled Outage not to exceed five hundred forty (540) Equivalent Hours for each Contract Year, during which times reduced or no deliveries will be available to TARELCO II. Likewise, GNPOWER is allowed Unscheduled Outage of five hundred forty (540) Equivalent Hours for each Contract Year during which times reduced or no deliveries will be available to the Buyer; COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT PRICE AND IMPACT ON TARELCO II'S OVERALL RATES 20. The PPSA, as amended, was executed between TARELCO II and GNPOWER to respond to the growing power demand of TARELCO II's member consumers, which its current providers may not be able to meet and supply; 21. Currently, TARELCO II receives a total of 37 MW from its existing suppliers, out of its requirement of 45 MW. With an annual average growth of 5%, TARELCO II's peak demand is forecasted to increase to 54 MW by 2020. Copies of TARELCO II's Supply-Demand from 2013 to 2022, Historical and Forecasted Data, and Average Daily Load Curve, are attached to the Application and made an integral parts thereof as Annexes "J" to "J-2"; 22. The additional supply from GNPOWER assures the member-consumers of TARELCO II of adequate and reliable power service, thus, less likelihood of power outages and brownouts; 23. TARELCO II conducted a rate impact analysis which resulted in a lower effective rate of PhP4.0836/kWh with supply coming from GNPOWER, compared to a rate of PhP7.1227/kWh without GNPOWER, as follows: Allocation of energy requirements and the combined generation rate from TARELCO II's current power suppliers: LOAD BCQ/WESM FACTOR, PURCHASED, % KWH

KW

GMCP

22,000

100%

16,060,000

65,910,240.00

4.1040

SCPC

15,000

100%

10,950,000

50,314,155.00

4.5949

WESM

19,000

100%

13,870,000

174,949,870.85

12.6135

TOTAL

56,000

100%

40,880,000

291,174,265.85

7.1227

b.

ENERGY COST, Php

EFFECTIVE RATE, Php/ KWH

NAME OF SUPPLIER

Allocation of energy requirements and the combined generation rate from TARELCO ifs current power suppliers with GNPOWER:

NAME OF SUPPLIER

KW

GMCP SCPC GNPOWER TOTAL

22,000 15,000 19,000 56,000

24.

25.

ANNEX “K” “L”

“M” “N” “O” “P” “Q” “R” “S” “T” “U”

LOAD BCQ/WESM FACTOR, PURCHASED, % KWH 100% 100% 100% 100%

ENERGY COST, Php

16,060,000 65,910,240.00 10,950,000 50,314,155.00 13,870,000 50,711,494.00 40,880,000 166,935,889.00

EFFECTIVE RATE, Php/ KWH 4.1040 4.5949 3.6562 4.0836

Aside from the lower generation cost of the power supply from GNPOWER, TARELCO II is also entitled to Prompt Payment Discount and Capacity Utilization Discount, if conditions are met, which makes even more competitive the proposed rate contained in the subject PPSA, as amended; In support of the instant Application for the approval of the PPSA, as amended, Applicants further attach the following documents to form integral parts hereof, to wit: DOCUMENTS Details of the PPSA, as amended GNPOWER’s Financial Assumptions including Project Cost, Sources of Financing, Debt-Equity Ratio, WACC computation, and Projected Equity IRR Breakdown of Costs including Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Costs, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Costs, and Projected Fuel Costs Projected Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Revenue and Cash Flow Details of Fuel Procurement Rate Impact Analysis GNPOWER’s 2014 Audited Financial Statement GNPOWER’s Transmission Plan for the Dinginin Project Certificate of Endorsement from DOE that the Project is included in the DOE’s Power Development Plan TARELCO II’s Distribution Development Plan TARELCO II’s Contracted Demand for 25 years

DOCUMENTS

GNPOWER’s General Partners’ Certificate on, among others, the authority to execute, ratify, “V” accede, perform and deliver the PPSA with TARELCO II, and the designation of duly authorized representatives for said purpose TARELCO II’s Board Resolution with Secretary’s Certificate authorizing the approval and signing of “W” the PPSA, designating representatives thereto and authorizing the filing of an Application with the ERC 26. Applicants TARELCO II and GNPOWER reserve the 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 Applicants manifest compliance with the pre-filing requirements mandated under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the EPIRA and Rule 6 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, to be established by the following: a.

Certifications acknowledging receipt of the Application with annexes issued by the Legislative Bodies of the Province of Tarlac, the Municipality of Concepcion, and the City of Pasig, to be appended as Annexes "X", "Y", and "Z", respectively, of the Application; b.

Affidavit of Publication stating that the Application was published in a newspaper of general circulation within Applicants' Franchise Area and/ or area of its principal operation, to be appended as Annex "AA" of the Application; and c.

Complete newspaper issue where the Application was published, to be appended to the Application as Annex "AA-1", and the relevant page thereof where the Application appeared, as Annex "AA- 2"; MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF ANNEXES "F-4", "M", "N", and "O" 28. Under Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and 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; 29. TARELCO II requests for the confidential treatment of Annex "F-4" of the Application, consisting of the Evaluation Result. This annex shows the individual offers of the bidders which participated in the competitive selection process (CSP). The members of CLECAFLAG, TARELCO II included, are bound by their undertaking to secure and keep in confidence the offers and the proposed terms of supply, so as not to prejudice or pre-empt any future CSPs in which these bidders will participate.

Otherwise, TARELCO II and the rest of the members of CLECAFLAG may be held liable for damages for breach of confidentiality, and eventually, risk their good relations with the suppliers concerned; 30. GNPOWER moves for the confidential treatment of Annexes "L"7, "M"8, "N"9, and "O"10 of the Application. These annexes, exclusively owned

by GNPOWER, contain documents which are considered part of its business and trade secrets.

As such, GNPOWER has the sole proprietary interest and will be unduly prejudiced should they be disclosed to the public; 31. These annexes contain numbers, data, formula, methodology, and calculations involving valuable and sensitive commercial, financial and technological information reflecting GNPOWER's business operations and financial trade secrets. Therefore, the disclosure of GNPOWER's confidential, proprietary, and private information included in the aforesaid annexes should be protected from public dissemination.

Otherwise, such information can be illegally and unfairly utilized by business competitors who may use the same for their own private gain and to the irreparable prejudice of GNPOWER. Negotiations with prospective customers may also be affected; 32. The information contained in Annexes "L", "M", "N", and "O", 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 information11. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights and jurisprudence has consistently acknowledged the private character of trade secrets12. Further, as ruled in Garcia vs. Board of Investments13 , trade secrets and confidential, commercial and financial information are exempt from public scrutiny; 33. It submits that the aforementioned Annexes must be accorded confidential treatment. As such, they are to be used exclusively by the Commission and for the sole purpose of evaluating this Application, thereby protecting these data from unnecessary public disclosure; 34. In accordance with Section i(b), Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicants hereby submit one (1) copy each of Annexes "F-4, "L", "M", "N", and "O" in a sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the documents stamped with the word "Confidential".

ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 35. All the foregoing allegations are re-pleaded by reference in support of the instant Prayer for provisional authority;

38.

39.

26.

The basis of TARELCO II and GNPOWER for prayer for the issuance of a Provisional Authority or interim relief prior to final decision is Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure: "Section 3. Action on the Motion. — Motions for provisional authority or interim relief may be acted upon with or without hearing. The Commission shall act on the motion on the basis of the allegations of the application or petition and supporting documents and other evidences that applicant or petitioner has submitted and the comments or opposition filed by any interested person, if there be any." [Emphasis Ours]

40.

Based on the Department of Energy's (DOE) 20152030 Luzon and Visayas Grids Supply-Demand Outlook, Luzon's peak demand in 2015 is 8,974MW with an Annual Average Growth Rate (AAGR) of 4.25%

41.

Part of the funds needed to construct GNPOWER's facility will be sourced from loans coming from banks/financial institutions. The Commission's provisional approval of the instant Application is a vital requirement for the release of the loan proceeds.

Hence, a timely financial close ensures stable source of funds and timely construction of the generation facility, and the implementation of the PPSA, as amended, as contemplated by the Applicants;

42.

With continuous financing, the timely implementation of the project shall be assured, to the full benefit of TARELCO II and the Luzon and Visayas' Grids.

Otherwise, any delay in the implementation of the project shall expose TARELCO II to supply risk and unstable market prices in the future;

43.

A copy of the Judicial Affidavit to support the prayer for provisional authority will be attached to the Application as Annex "BB";

44.

In recognition of the fact that a substantial amount of time is needed to evaluate the documents submitted to support the approval of herein Application, Applicants seek the consideration of the Commission to approve the instant Application, immediately, albeit, provisionally, at the soonest opportune time.

PRAYER

1.

Applicants TARELCO II and GNPower pray before the Commission that:

All information attached as Annexes "F-4" "L", "M", "N", and "O" to the Application be treated as confidential; ii. Pending hearing on the merits, a PA be issued authorizing the immediate implementation of the subject PPSA, as amended, including the rate structure therein, as applied; iii. After due notice and hearing, the instant Application, the PPSA, as amended, and 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 TARELCO II 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 initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 16 August 2016 (Tuesday) at ten o'clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at TARELCO II's Main Office, San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac.

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 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.

This Notice of Public Hearing supersedes the 18 May 2016 Notice issued by the Commission.

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 28th day of June 2016 in Pasig City. i.

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

36.

37.

while Visayas' Peak Demand is 1,847MW with AAGR of 3.4%. Therefore, Luzon's peak demand is expected to increase to 10,884MW in 2020, and to 16,465MW by the year 2030 and for Visayas, 2,042MW in 2020 and 3,025MW in 2030. This electricity demand growth has led to DOE's call for planning and investments in the power sector; Contributing to the Luzon Grid's demand growth is TARELCO II's peak load demand which increases at a rate of 5.0% per year. By 2020, it is projected that TARELCO II's existing power suppliers will not be able to meet the power needs of its member consumers, which is expected to have increased to 28.6%; Thus, the PPSA, as amended, with GNPOWER is crucial for TARELCO II to guarantee that its forward power needs are satisfied, without compromising the reasonableness of the generation rate to be passed on to its member-consumers; While actual delivery of power at full capacity under the terms and conditions of the PPSA, as amended, is expected to commence only in 2020, Applicants, nonetheless, shall begin at the earliest opportune time their compliance with all financial and regulatory requirements and processes leading up to the timely completion of GNPOWER's facility;

1

2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Aurora Electric Cooperative (AURELCO), Nueva Ecija I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEECO I), Nueva Ecija II Area 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEECO II-Areal), Nueva Ecija II Area 2 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEECO II-Area2), Pampanga Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PELCO I), Pampanga II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PELCO II), Pampanga III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PELCO III), Pampanga Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (PRESCO), Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TARELCO III), Zambales I Electric, Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMECO I), and Zambales II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMECO II) Each of the PPSA entered into with the other 9 individual MECs are also made an integral part hereto as Annexes G-1 to G-9.

Attached as Annex “H” of the Application.

Section 1.3, Schedule 1. Contracted Capacity, Contract Price and Terms of Agreement, PPSA, page 31 Section 1.1, Article 1. Definitions and Interpretations, PPSA, page 4 Refers to Electric Capacity, contracted on a variable Capacity Utilization Factor basis, together with energy, as specified in Schedule 1 of the PPSA, as the context requires, or as otherwise agreed by the Parties. (Section 1.1, Article 1. Definitions and Interpretations, PPSA, page 8) GNPOWER’s Financial Assumptions including Project Cost, Sources of Financing, Debt Equity Ratio, WACC computation, and Projected Equity IRR Breakdown of Costs including Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Costs, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Costs, and Projected Fuel Costs Projected Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Revenue and Cash Flow Details of Fuel Procurement Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell Inc., G.R. No. 172835, December 13, 2007. 12 Ibid., Ibid., 177 SCRA 374 (1989). ( T S - J U LY 18 / 2 5 , 2 016)

M O N DAY : J U LY 1 8 , 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

Reid powers SMB past Phoenix

By Jeric Lopez

ARIZONA Reid is back.

The resident import of San Miguel Beer muscled his way to a game-high 41 points and 10 rebounds as he powered the Beermen to a 124-113 rout of Phoenix and started their title defense with a bang in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

10 straight points One of the finGames Wednesday bridging the last est imports in the (Smart Araneta Coliseum) two periods to league the past 4:15 p.m. - GlobalPort give his team a few years, Reid vs. Mahindra 7 p.m. - Talk ‘N Text 103-94 lead with continued to show vs. Rain or Shine just under 11 his dominance, minutes to go. exploding in the San Miguel, overall, manusecond half as he scored 15 points in the third and 22 overall in the factured a deadly 22-1 blast to final 24 minutes of action to help get that advantage and never San Miguel turn a double-digit looked back as Phoenix, which deficit in the third to a comfort- was playing really well before Reid’s explosion, wasn’t able to able finish in the fourth.

“This win is important to recover in the final minutes.

The defending champions us because we want to have a good start,” added San Miguel started their quest for a second straight title on the right Beer coach Leo Austria.

With the Beermen down, note with this 1-0 start, while 81-93, with over four minutes the Fuel Masters have lost left in the third, Reid took mat- their second game in the last ters on his own and carried San three days to start at 0-2 at the Miguel’s fightback, racking up bottom of the pack.

Reid said he badly wanted to win this opening game for San Miguel to get a good start.

“Phoenix played hard, but we just got to win,” said Reid. “Last time last season, we had a 0-2 start and I wanted to get this first win on our belt now.”

Despite being depleted, San Miguel, which is playing sans big men Arwind Santos and Gabby Espinas as they are out due to knee injuries, managed to find a way to win despite a tough challenge from the improving Phoenix Petroleum.

Reid got plenty of support from his pals as well, with June Mar Fajardo adding 21 points and Alex Cabagnot scoring 20 for the Beermen.

Marcus Simmons led the stillwinless Phoenix with his teamhigh 28 points.

It was a game of spurts through the first three quarters, but San Miguel’s decisive run in between the third and fourth periods was the big difference.

The scores: SMB 124 —Reid 41, Fajardo 21, Cabagnot 20, Lassiter 12, Heruela 8, David 7, Tubid 5, Reyes 4, Ross 4, Arana 2, Semerad 0.

Phoenix 113—Simmons 28, Torres 19, Baguio 13, Cruz 13, Enciso 12, Lee 9, Caperal 7, J Wilson 7, Pennisi 3, Ron BUenafe 2, Sorongon 0, W Wilson 0.

Quarters: 33-29; 64-69; 97-93; 124-113.

Phoenix’s Marcus Simmons drives to the basket against SMB’s AZ Reid in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the Beermen, 124-113.

Stenson eyes major golfing glory, at last TROON—Henrik Stenson admits he is desperate to go out and “finish the job” as he takes a one-shot lead into the final round of the British Open at Royal Troon.

The 40-year-old Swede has never won a major despite several near misses in his career but he put himself in pole position with a superb 68 in blustery con- Stenson ditions on Saturday.

That left him at 12 under par for the championship and allowed him to leapfrog Phil Mickelson, whose round of 70 left him at 11-under, at the top of the leaderboard ahead of the finale.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I’ve worked hard these first three days to put myself in this situation and, once again, I’m going to try my hardest tomorrow (Sunday) to finish the job,” Stenson said.

Mickelson had held the advantage after each of the opening two rounds and claimed that already having won the Claret Jug in the past meant he felt less pressure.

Stenson, meanwhile, accepted that he couldn’t afford to let his mind wander to tantalising thoughts of victory yet.

“Yeah, thoughts of the outcome is never really helping you. I know what I would like to see tomorrow. There’s no question about it,” said the Swede, who was the runner-up at Muirfield in 2013 and finished tied third at The Open in 2008 and again in 2010.

“But in a way I’ve got a second and two thirds at The Open, so it’s not like I’m looking to pick up anymore of those finishes. There’s only one thing that matters tomorrow. AFP

Rio-bound athletes sent off today SOME of the Filipino athletes bound for the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics will have a courtesy call and sendoff ceremony with President Rodrigo Duterte today in Malacañang.

The simple rites will be held five days before the teams leaves for Brazil on July 23.

The President will hand over the Philippine flag to chef de mission Joey Romasanta, while Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco

will speak. President Duterte will also give a message to the delegation.

With some of the athletes not in the country and are training abroad, only six of the 12 Olympians are expected to come, namely Kirstie Elaine Alora of taekwondo, Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia of weightlifting, Miguel Tabuena of golf, Marestella Torres-Sunang of athletics and Ian Lariba of table tennis. Peter Atencio

MONDAY: JULY 18, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Shortage in Venezuela. Venezuelans cross the Simon Bolivar bridge linking San Antonio del Tachira, in Venezuela with Cucuta, Colombia in order to buy supplies, on July 16, 2016. Thousands of Venezuelans crossed into the Colombian city of Cucuta to buy food and medicine, taking advantage of another brief opening in the border that’s been closed nearly a year. Caracas authorized the temporary opening a week after some 35,000 Venezuelans poured across the border during a 12-hour opening of the pedestrian bridge. AFP

Higher fuel excise tax pushed

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE Finance Department will likely push through with a plan to increase the excise tax on fuel products amid the slump in global oil prices.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters it was about time to adjust petroleum taxes following the soft oil prices in the world market.

“Besides, now is the time to do it, because the price [of fuel] is low,” Domin-

guez said.

The DoF is studying several proposals to raise fuel taxes.

“We have to [adjust], because [the last adjustment] was set in 1997. It’s P4.50, something like that since then. P4.50 then [is] not worth as P4.50 right now. So we have to adjust it, at least to index it,” he said.

Petroleum products are taxed in varying rates, ranging from an exemption to P4.50 per liter.

The government has not made any upward adjustment in excise tax rates since 1997 and they have been fixed in nominal terms, reduced or eliminated.

Earlier, former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima recommended a Comprehensive Tax Reform Program that ncluded an

increase in excise tax on gas, diesel and other oil products.

Purisima noted that the proposal might generate around P132 billion in revenues.

Purisima’s proposal would generate additional revenues of P132 billion if the current excise tax on gasoline was raised to P10 per liter and that of diesel to P6 a liter.

Purisima said the P10 per liter rate was derived by indexing the existing excise tax rate of gasoline of P4.35/ liter by cumulative inflation factor of 2.37 (1997-2014) and applying the same amount of increase (P5.96) to diesel.

“For simplicity and administrative ease, the P5.96 was rounded off to

Govt to review P19-b Davao Sasa port project

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE government will review the P19billion Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project to resolve project cost and capacity issues, state-run Philippine Ports Authority said over the weekend.

“I think the intention is to proceed with the development of the port.

However, considering the issues, the initial discussion in terms of policy with Transportation Secretary [Arthur] Tugade is to review that first and let’s see,” PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago told reporters.

Santiago said the port authority and the Transportation Department would evaluate the project in terms of capacity and cost.

“We have to evaluate that on how we will implement it. Either we adopt whatever is on the table or implement it based

on the projected volume and projected cost. We will try to determine if we can still implement it at a more reasonable level,” Santiago said.

“It will be done. It is just a matter of how big or how small the project will be,” he said.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Davao issued a resolution in December 2015, stopping the Sasa port bidding because of “the irregular procedure as well as the various questions raised against the Sasa Port Modernization project,” which was allegedly “being bid out without prior consultation and expressed approval of the local government as provided for by the Local Government Code.”

The city council resolution cited Section 2 (c) of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, which provides that national agencies and offices

should “conduct periodic consultations with appropriate local government units, non-governmental and people’s organizations and other concerned sectors of the community before any project or program is implemented in their respective jurisdictions.”

The Transportation Department recently prequalified Asian Terminals Inc., International Container Terminal Services Inc., Bollore Africa Logistics, Singapore-based Portek International Pte. Ltd. and San Miguel Corp. for the Davao Sasa Port project.

Sasa Port is actually designed for break bulk cargo vessels, which is vital to the economy of Davao City.

About 500,000 metric tons of steel, wheat, fertilizer, motor vehicles, heavy equipment and other cargo not suitable for containers went through Sasa Port in 2014, according to PPA data.

P6,” Purisima said.

His proposal calls for the indexing of the excise tax by 4 percent every year.

The same recommendation called for a subsidy if global crude oil prices reached over $90 per barrel.

MONDAY: JULY 18, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

JULY 11-15, 2016 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.71 47.5 114.00 99.00 37.9 4.05 1.36 9 15.1 19.3 7.00 2.01 609.00 0.590 95 0.98 14.86 23.40 59.55 101 276 32.2 199.5 1470.00 67.00 1.49

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.4 3.79 0.83 2.02 12.16 52.55 220.00 16 169.9 150 20.9 49.85 2.16 5.89 12.28 9.640 7.29 5.75 8.97 1.8 24.5 69.8 12.00 15.20 5.8 2.400 250.00 41.00 1.94 3.9 35.50 27.25 29 8 311.00 0.280 4.39 3.45 11.22 3.05 11.68 6.40 1.65 3.15 4.20 2.3 3.96 209.4 3.03 0.151 2.22 2.55 199.9 4.69 0.97 30.55 1.27

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Baguio Gold `B’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.390 80.00 16.30 1.33 6.05 0.385 0.375 884 149970 8 12.76 5.95 6 6.83 0.255 1553 6.45 85.65 4.15 5.3 5.55 7.9 0.73 15.84 0.490 7.19 3.29 0.0330 1.340 1.970 2.65 78.00 2.4 1011.00 1.23 0.93 188.900 0.3100 0.2060 0.305

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind.

7.900 7.20 1.32 2.340 0.290 40.700 3.43 5.02 0.540 1.06 1.050 0.135 0.700 62 0.810 0.155 1.07 1.94 1.24 5.00 5.14 0.107

Value

FINANCIAL 2,828,460.00 5,287,990.00 1,209,085,886 1,128,711,145.00 18,399,115.00 41,011,440.00 665,110.00 41,560.00 7,427,290.00 55,697,094.00 106,040 4,960,080.00 207,220.00 6,929,240.00 2,096,633,492.50 3,251,880.00 66,914,870.00 521,895.00 66,944,294.50 526,548.00 7,923,538.00 21,684,380 629,870,358.00 3,095,730.00 31,291,869.50 966,120.00 INDUSTRIAL 11,450,700 512,332,900.00 8,489,000 32,576,950.00 2,253,000 1,884,540.00 10,077,000 20,255,420.00 22,400 259,428.00 230 12,076.00 10 2,200.00 17,519,300 315,815,278 440 71,818.00 5,010 761,891.00 38,266,400 768,988,441.00 243,000 11,951,985 10,897,000 23,073,510.00 19,429,400 110,642,342.00 391,200 4,885,326.00 20,845,500 203,380,037.00 15,561,300 113,601,510.00 71,341,300 400,799,478.00 7,851,100 66,225,900.00 72,000 130,970.00 22,973,200 570,100,385.00 1,414,710 98,918,621.00 84,800 1,019,368.00 1,062,200 16,152,004.00 2,358,600 13,302,141.00 10,310,000 24,840,110.00 4,356,160 1,088,221,416.00 3,100 121,035.00 21,000 39,350.00 877,000 3,307,700.00 55,700 1,984,155.00 4,074,800 111,668,950.00 3,430,400 98,752,655.00 14,135,800 106,887,608.00 1,454,970 452,273,548.00 1,950,000 554,100.00 41,000 179,100.00 11,216,000 38,579,090.00 48,702,200 520,891,682.00 28,000 86,270.00 110,800 1,289,150.00 15,404,100 98,027,441.00 2,460,000 4,061,670.00 7,031,000 22,181,680.00 3,218,000 13,481,470.00 3,000 6,900.00 164,000 648,600.00 5,700 1,204,432.00 12,088,000 36,059,940 7,860,000 1,182,140.00 47,808,000 106,337,620.00 16,333,000 41,548,340.00 432,917,842 1,615,747,052.00 202,000 893,950.00 64,167,000 62,517,650.00 200 6,110.00 7,767,000 10,248,540.00 HOLDING FIRMS 13,940,000 5,643,200.00 9,290,700 734,340,662.00 35,623,500 562,918,700.00 5,799,000 7,665,450.00 41,800 253,295.00 33,260,000 12,585,200.00 3,390,000 1,282,800.00 1,174,280 1,022,148,435.00 131,098,125 104,462,365.00 14,758,300 116,972,253.00 16,538,900 211,027,260.00 1,316,800 7,655,228.00 98,500 602,565.00 5,011,600 34,063,543.00 3,920,000 975,990.00 805,125 1,223,762,215.00 80,300 518,319.00 13,901,220 1,191,870,425.00 25,000 97,080.00 12,800 67,119.00 5,600 31,080.00 13,974,100 109,144,769.00 1,469,000 1,055,500.00 52,709,800 840,887,984.00 520,000 264,400.00 239,304,300 1,695,972,939.00 49,000 158,460.00 146,700,000 4,897,400.00 80,000 104,200.00 6,364,000 12,313,790.00 17,000 45,580.00 760,070 59,334,651.50 118,000 263,940.00 2,335,495 2,346,105,030.00 12,740,600 16,569,880.00 2,090,000 1,914,290.00 44,310 8,424,737.00 18,220,000 5,719,600.00 2,700,000 545,700.00 14,500,000 4,449,200.00 PROPERTY 27,510,900 208,810,626.00 8,200 57,250.00 12,571,000 16,538,950.00 9,851,000 23,076,560.00 3,030,000 861,100.00 101,899,400 4,078,530,830.00 6,039,000 20,472,160.00 28,300 143,254.00 38,024,000 20,341,740.00 953,000 1,095,540.00 936,000 1,023,250.00 35,000,000 4,680,160.00 70,073,000 49,105,470.00 7,919,230 503,319,346.00 7,579,000 6,134,830.00 90,000 13,930.00 83,638,000 85,310,860.00 100,001,000 196,292,430.00 1,736,000 2,114,290.00 23,200 107,248.00 359,830,600 1,799,775,457.00 61,250,000 6,572,350.00 748,000 111,600 10,584,550 11,397,700 484,200 10,074,000 498,000 4,600 469,950 2,890,500 15,600 2,388,000 340 12,053,000 22,509,620 3,434,000 4,519,200 22,400 1,122,700 5,140 29,040 673,700 3,185,880 2,210 470,510 654,000

JULY 4-8, 2016 Close Volume

Value

3.68 47.5 112.80 99.00 37.8 4.09 1.34 9.04 14.5 18.86 6.80 1.91 628.00 0.530 90.9 0.92 14.94 22.25 57.00 105 270 31.6 191 1340.00 65.15 1.49

421,000 240,200 7,502,700 3,669,470 304,400 213,000 434,000 100 99,400 3,140,200 3,700 1,570,000 740 2,447,000 11,549,020 13,677,000 524,600 2,515,000 324,670 1,810 13,120 740,000 6,190,080 405 206,720 514,000

1,535,690.00 11,282,290.00 847,775,610 363,804,563.50 11,598,415.00 869,180.00 585,370.00 904.00 1,420,122.00 58,900,858.00 24,984 3,059,980.00 463,360.00 1,291,090.00 1,029,540,699.50 12,391,400.00 7,838,292.00 55,411,075.00 18,591,851.50 190,924.00 3,507,120.00 23,608,285 1,183,539,085.00 546,055.00 13,449,829.00 771,180.00

44 3.89 0.85 2.03 12.1 55

11,815,800 6,114,000 7,415,000 13,985,000 48,400 610

529,556,685.00 23,298,210.00 6,411,910.00 27,917,070.00 577,974.00 33,590.00

22.65 155 150 17.92 47 2.16 5.35 12.54 9.700 7.35 5.50 7.65 1.69 24.05 69.45 12.20 15.20 5.54 2.400 244.80 38.00 1.87 3.29 36.00 27.2 28.5 7.04 311.40 0.290 4.25 3.43 10.28 3.04 11.46 6.25 1.64 2.9 4.19 2.4 3.98 213.8 2.58 0.150 1.86 2.49 200 4.4 1 30.50 1.34

22,780,800 250 12,110 22,341,100 579,500 18,459,000 4,457,700 394,200 10,217,000 3,785,200 60,118,900 1,139,700 28,400 11,988,900 1,109,540 44,000 240,000 852,200 20,926,000 2,831,390 9,800 31,000 20,000 10,600 3,432,800 3,081,100 2,441,000 879,470 3,010,000 10,000 16,299,000 38,843,700 3,000 1,400 4,986,100 1,537,000 4,543,000 3,173,000 21,000 68,000 11,450 404,000 14,740,000 12,740,000 6,906,000 7,355,300 6,111,000 265,847,000 4,000 22,121,000

525,590,575 38,110.00 1,879,358.00 381,884,380.00 26,833,850 38,763,750.00 24,416,826.00 4,904,000.00 97,793,385.00 27,722,906.00 335,078,018.00 8,716,147.00 54,080.00 296,298,785.00 76,767,829.00 529,082.00 3,670,768.00 4,753,590.00 51,146,370.00 692,203,444.00 350,330.00 58,930.00 64,420.00 375,485.00 93,075,700.00 91,250,675.00 16,969,721.00 275,043,624.00 862,150.00 42,500.00 55,826,240.00 413,974,162.00 9,120.00 15,908.00 31,009,494.00 2,508,740.00 13,647,680.00 13,292,960.00 50,160.00 271,770.00 2,477,174.00 1,035,690 2,251,290.00 24,058,090.00 16,980,040.00 1,867,116,554.00 26,896,740.00 274,519,110.00 122,015.00 30,857,710.00

0.390 78.00 15.26 1.45 6.01 0.370 0.390 844

21,790,000 5,322,570 12,302,700 39,464,000 38,000 11,530,000 2,240,000 1,082,890

8,114,400.00 415,515,053.00 187,489,998.00 47,911,660.00 230,719.00 4,231,050.00 840,450.00 920,839,445.00

7.69 12.50 5.33 5.7 6.55 0.222 1470 6.46 84.25

18,574,800 12,962,100 410,400 10,400 816,900 790,000 541,515 3,700 10,175,250

143,492,991.00 164,667,832.00 2,185,257.00 59,280.00 5,358,596.00 190,930.00 794,016,495.00 23,691.00 856,699,014.50

5 5.51 7.7 0.69 15.98 0.480 6.82 3.33 0.0330 1.230 1.910

7,400 1,700 9,949,200 18,650,000 14,031,500 10,363,000 128,132,900 23,600 157,100,000 35,000 3,639,000

39,558.00 9,367.00 76,245,921.00 12,878,110.00 223,753,132.00 5,091,445.00 875,653,225.00 96,180.00 5,147,100.00 43,170.00 6,768,760.00

78.25 2.26 987.00 1.21 0.93 190.000 0.3000 0.2000 0.290

1,507,450 25,000 1,100,570 956,000 592,000 68,530 10,220,000 1,770,000 8,010,000

117,814,692.50 55,550.00 1,088,492,890.00 1,133,140.00 666,350.00 13,057,011.00 2,988,750.00 358,810.00 2,317,700.00

7.550 7.44 1.32 2.180 0.270 38.200 3.32 5.11 0.510 1.00 1.050 0.132 0.670 60.8 0.790 0.150 0.99 1.98 1.24 5.00 4.65 0.106

5,485,500 200 49,955,000 4,345,000 850,000 59,664,800 6,883,000 54,400 15,558,000 215,000 199,000 7,510,000 84,205,800 3,613,390 38,466,000 26,990,000 6,791,800 41,027,000 228,000 42,000 229,807,000 151,650,000

41,486,505.00 1,488.00 67,430,410.00 9,815,310.00 240,500.00 2,291,873,360.00 22,560,910.00 279,061.00 7,933,720.00 219,490.00 204,940.00 978,890.00 61,988,690.00 222,053,336.50 30,388,250.00 4,048,670.00 9,126,630.00 81,047,560.00 277,990.00 189,824.00 1,079,553,480.00 16,406,730.00

STOCKS

JULY 11-15, 2016 Close Volume

Phil. Estates Corp.

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

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.2750 0.460 42.00 14.3 31.40 1.74 3.29 30.00 0.99 7.05 1.050 5.830

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.28 49.4 1.25 0.620 11.2 6.5 6.71 0.0990 2.9 100.1 9.84 2.05 5.01 3.22 974.5 2324 6.30 17.04 21.00 1.16 63.3 14.20 170 11.7 0.0093 9.38 0.370 1.7300 2.8 12.94 6.49 3.04 1.18 2.71 19.98 0.580 2 4.03 5.07 3.710 11.96 5.18 2.5 142.00 17.46 2160.00 0.450 1.200 45.95 87.85 6.38 3.63 0.640 1.84 3.52 0.330 6.490

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0040 3.27 4.36 11.80 0.227 6.6000 6.7000 0.61 0.500 8.70 0.900 0.290 0.240 0.250 0.0120 0.0130 1.86 6.09 2.81 0.5500 1.2000 0.0120 0.0120 4.11 8.79 4.79 0.0130 120.30 4.02 0.0110

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

49.5 540 546 115.5 541.5 6.1 1.07 111.7 1120 1019 106.3 78.5 80.1 76 79 78 79 77.7 76.9

LR Warrant

2.550

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

6.05 3.33 5.79 16.5

First Metro ETF

132

JULY 4-8, 2016 Close Volume

Value

22,130,000 6,210,200.00 2,891,000 1,471,150.00 14,500 593,280.00 3,834,800 52,326,156.00 16,762,900 452,246,705.00 2,255,000 3,908,270.00 616,000 2,016,480.00 167,314,200 4,949,796,310.00 33,353,680 23,886,650.00 12,000 81,450.00 11,523,000 12,090,510.00 38,684,100 222,618,186.00 SERVICES 384,400 2,815,944.00 382,700 18,782,275.00 20,000 37,170.00 4,412,000 2,656,200.00 6,700 74,824.00 370,700 2,459,412 58,169,000 397,923,329.00 4,039,340,000 371,797,640.00 16,376,000 47,179,610.00 2,386,870 238,277,759.00 15,200 149,022.00 67,000 131,030 1,452,900 7,293,070.00 4,000 12,880.00 20 18,855.00 391,805 914,736,540 864,800 5,486,697.00 3,921,000 68,836,740.00 95,900 2,019,860 200,000 231,020.00 9,196,660 581,314,338.50 617,100 8,674,438 400 62,630 7,500 86,742.00 72,000,000 664,500.00 1,696,100 15,905,300.00 324,020,000 116,088,450.00 136,172,000 231,909,370.00 7,651,000 21,019,710.00 48,800 630,866.00 994,100 6,419,514 3,911,000 11,925,260.00 2,000 2,230.00 95,000 251,250.00 2,500 49,940 162,000 94,510.00 280,000 556,010.00 104,226,000 422,666,290.00 124,551,000 603,237,070.00 109,233,000 426,534,930.00 511,000 6,113,676.00 220,900 1,145,662 33,000 81,590.00 37,890 4,839,275.00 8,812,400 145,603,920.00 746,150 1,569,695,880.00 19,580,000 8,858,800.00 73,391,000 87,960,730.00 14,705,000 677,553,685.00 6,532,040 561,139,441.50 4,835,600 31,275,979.00 28,949,600 138,773,480.00 22,315,000 13,673,850.00 2,000 3,740.00 8,276,000 28,703,860.00 2,590,000 845,250.00 1,329,500 8,457,938.00 MINING & OIL 1,137,000,000 4,567,900.00 9,375,000 21,002,790.00 854,000 3,690,930.00 22,300 251,718.00 5,680,000 1,296,680.00 140,300 895,208.00 24,100 167,506.00 3,163,000 1,985,990.00 6,723,000 3,365,755.00 61,800 539,210.00 72,167,000 63,914,910.00 4,150,000 1,200,200.00 163,090,000 39,627,880.00 21,490,000 5,394,780.00 341,900,000 4,106,500.00 204,400,000 2,575,000.00 2,264,000 4,169,790.00 71,165,800 413,868,157.00 4,618,000 12,906,300.00 906,000 490,340.00 1,619,000 1,932,060.00 292,700,000 3,613,600.00 16,500,000 209,100.00 91,000 369,730.00 23,604,900 206,119,613.00 147,661,600 750,748,396.00 148,100,000 1,902,100.00 1,349,820 163,202,794.00 5,795,000 23,820,020.00 187,400,000 1,968,800.00 PREFERRED 892,800 43,928,900.00 4,050 2,187,150.00 3,180 1,733,200 75,230 8,696,052.00 150 81,200.00 1,425,400 8,722,838.00 4,000 4,280 55,730 6,225,220.00 1,570 1,758,450.00 9,135 9,323,330.00 20,160 2,143,010.00 19,010 1,497,091.00 321,590 25,848,610 184,690 14,091,140.00 145,360 11,446,735.50 254,670 19,834,781.00 484,060 38,114,957.00 362,970 27,936,113.00 602,620 46,341,116.50 WARRANTS & BONDS 2,228,000 5,789,840.00 SME 131,985,100 729,080,193.00 73,000 268,940.00 26,785,100 141,904,010.00 6,429,200 105,527,336.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 74,320 9,668,405.00

Value

0.2750 0.435 37.30 11.86 30.10 1.77 3.3 27.50 0.94 7 1.020 5.570

260,000 13,170,000 5,600 1,943,300 10,597,400 1,140,000 902,000 86,500,400 46,559,000 33,600 5,497,000 71,588,700

67,400.00 5,697,750.00 212,495.00 21,941,084.00 319,859,095.00 1,994,510.00 2,953,710.00 2,387,198,325.00 43,955,780.00 233,490.00 5,511,240.00 393,585,175.00

7.35 48.6 1.29 0.610 11 7.04 6.78 0.0580 2.93 98.5 9.6 2.05 5.12 3.20 975 2356 6.36 18.00 24.05 1.14 62 12.92 152 11.7 0.0094 9.35 0.340 1.6500 2.45 13.34 6.56 3.17

151,000 465,300 42,000 19,319,000 19,700 129,700 35,359,700 162,300,000 33,036,000 1,908,230 11,000 55,000 2,354,100 1,000 10 243,555 619,500 12,578,000 100,300 98,000 6,807,100 101,800 440 57,100 184,000,000 1,334,600 124,260,000 9,259,000 296,000 71,400 8,955,100 3,028,000

1,096,910.00 22,569,695.00 54,240.00 11,239,960.00 216,716.00 912,719 235,009,758.00 9,417,740.00 95,495,840.00 188,480,071.00 104,942.00 111,100 11,893,342.00 3,200.00 9,750.00 574,422,320 3,934,284.00 226,351,258.00 2,133,095 112,340.00 431,095,552.50 1,322,374 64,810 637,522.00 1,701,900.00 12,507,050.00 41,598,400.00 15,190,050.00 688,560.00 944,886.00 58,504,522 9,623,120.00

2.60 19.00 0.580 1.99 3.78 4.57 3.900 12.08 5.20 2.5 137.00

108,000 1,800 237,000 98,000 43,821,000 175,814,000 244,385,000 136,700 236,700 5,000 214,050

271,550.00 34,310 133,420.00 195,520.00 167,743,290.00 796,760,030.00 925,127,990.00 1,640,864.00 1,255,648 12,500.00 26,708,339.00

2094.00 0.455 1.190 44.90 84.00 6.41 3.65 0.570 1.92 3.42 0.330 6.280

563,020 29,040,000 45,832,000 11,789,900 6,011,910 2,534,200 71,194,000 29,508,000 3,000 3,905,000 1,230,000 203,600

1,188,752,810.00 13,043,550.00 53,772,130.00 519,408,750.00 513,685,788.00 16,249,773.00 249,278,750.00 17,107,800.00 5,720.00 13,297,890.00 410,400.00 1,251,612.00

0.0041 3.48 4.40 11.80 0.230 7.0900 7.6500 0.62 0.500 8.80 0.890 0.285 0.248 0.250 0.0130 0.0140 1.87 5.53 2.78 0.5800 1.2200 0.0110 0.0120 4.00 8.75 4.55 0.0120 121.90 3.89 0.0110

7,784,000,000 17,594,000 1,208,000 4,900 32,760,000 100,400 31,200 2,935,001 25,593,000 166,200 104,334,000 115,310,000 218,470,000 9,570,000 1,214,600,000 313,400,000 5,235,000 47,991,700 1,709,000 1,304,000 810,000 521,500,000 7,200,000 274,000 28,359,100 40,861,000 932,400,000 1,550,910 2,711,000 274,200,000

31,266,700.00 62,987,380.00 5,335,510.00 56,322.00 7,539,510.00 736,328.00 221,346.00 2,026,290.00 12,855,240.00 1,437,406.00 94,057,900.00 33,731,450.00 54,824,820.00 2,510,350.00 14,942,900.00 4,367,900.00 9,774,170.00 265,087,058.00 4,746,790.00 726,280.00 1,003,770.00 5,907,500.00 86,500.00 1,085,430.00 252,302,532.00 189,554,600.00 11,226,300.00 190,562,379.00 10,779,120.00 2,942,800.00

47.3 536 541.5 115.4 540.5 6.26 1.07 111.9 1160 1021

518,900 1,890 9,770 40 3,070 1,292,800 1,186,000 26,950 1,260 8,020

24,837,665.00 1,029,165.00 5,289,655 4,616.00 1,664,050.00 8,172,676.00 1,256,020 3,016,705.00 1,461,600.00 8,170,920.00

79.9 79.65 76 76.5 78 78.3 77 77

27,000 202,020 280,550 202,270 75,190 605,910 704,770 278,010

2,154,100.00 15,941,934 21,321,800.00 15,473,375.00 5,865,581.00 47,266,175.00 54,267,978.00 21,397,747.00

2.650

4,943,000

12,859,020.00

3.8 3.68 4.49 16.12

4,042,000 35,000 8,379,000 2,388,000

15,269,010.00 124,270.00 36,497,810.00 38,875,894.00

127.9

34,250

4,404,616.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Boulevard Holdings Abra Mining Universal Robina Megaworld Manila Mining `A’ Island Info Oriental Pet. `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Manila Mining `B’ United Paragon

VOLUME 4,039,340,000 1,137,000,000 432,917,842 359,830,600 341,900,000 324,020,000 292,700,000 239,304,300 204,400,000 187,400,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Metrobank Megaworld Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Universal Robina PLDT Common GT Capital Banco de Oro Unibank Inc.

VALUE 4,949,796,310.00 4,078,530,830.00 2,346,105,030.00 2,096,633,492.50 1,799,775,457.00 1,695,972,939.00 1,615,747,052.00 1,569,695,880.00 1,223,762,215.00 1,209,085,886

MONDAY: JULY 18, 2016

B3

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

Used water management. Laguna Water, in coordination with Metro Manila’s east zone concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc., implements Mobile Lakbayan and Toka-Toka programs to highlight the importance of proper used water management as a significant contributor to clean water systems in Calamba, Biñan, Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao in Laguna. Shown are Laguna Water regulatory and external affairs head Real Magtangob (sixth from left) and Sta. Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas (seven from left) as they lead the signing of the Toka-Toka pledge for the environment during Silakbo8.

McDonalds eyes 900 PH stores

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GOLDEN Arches Development Corp., the local franchise holder of fast-food chain McDonalds, said over the weekend it expects the number of stores in the Philippines to reach 500 this year and 900 outlets over the next few years.

Golden Arches vice president for marketing Margot Torres said in an interview the company’s expansion was focused on Metro Manila and provincial areas.

“We are going to hit the 500 stores before the end of the year because we had 494 as of June,” Torres said.

Arches opens 40 stores annually.

Torres said sales had remained strong for McDonalds stores since the second half of 2015 after the restaurant chain tapped celebrities Maine Mendoza and Alden Richard as endorsers and sold ‘Minions’ toys with meals.

Torres said expansion plans would depend on the availability of good locations and completion of new shopping malls.

“There is still room for growth in Metro Manila but [there] is also huge potential for expansion outside Metro Manila, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao,” Torres said.

Torres said while the aggressive expansion of convenience stores posed a threat to the fast-food industry by offering affordable meals within the stores, Golden Arches was also making it convenient for customers to buy food at McDonalds through online delivery.

Most stores operate 24-hours a day and are located in

Cirtek Holdings ups antenna production TECHNOLOGY company Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp. ramped up smart antenna production that is expected to bring in $45 million in sales by 2017.

Cirtek said it expected to ship the first 1,000 units in the next few days.

The MultiServ and soon to be SonWav antennas are being manufactured for Quintel, a leading innovator of spectrum and spaceefficient base-station antennas for wireless networks. Among Quintel’s major customers are two of the top five telecom carriers in North America. “[For] The entire antenna systems business of Cirtek in 2017, we expect at least $45 million in sales,” Cirtek said.

The company said it intended to win new customers for the smart antenna business.

Quintel recently expanded its

industry-leading MultiServ slimline antennas portfolio. In addition to the 12-port multiband antenna, Quintel now has 10 port antennas, both of which come in 4, 6 and 8 foot lengths.

The latest slimline antenna utilizes the same 12”/300mm wide form factor that all Quintel antennas use providing the industry’s only “one size fits all” portfolio of 6, 8, 10 and 12-port antennas in the same single form factor. The new antenna types are being introduced into Cirtek’s manufacturing line.

Cirtek is adding a new manufacturing space and increasing production capacity to support Quintel’s growing market share in North America.

Cirtek expects business from Quintel to increase by 200 percent by 2017. Cirtek has hired over 400 new personnel since the start of the Quintel project.

key areas in Metro Manila.

Sixty percent of McDonalds outlets are companyowned while the remaining 40 percent are franchise stores.

The 500 store count target was originally set in 2015 but was moved toward the middle of 2016 due to construction delays.

Golden Arches reported a 9.7-percent growth in revenues in the first quarter to P5.24 billion from P4.78 billion a year ago while net income surged 18.6 percent to P191 million.

This followed the opening of 29 new restaurants, reimaging of 28 existing restaurants, business extensions and introduction of new products.

The new restaurants contributed 5 percent to total system sales while business extensions, such as the drive-thru service, accounted for 23 percent of the total.

Stock index seen to hit record high STOCKS are expected to sustain their rally and reach a new alltime high this week, driven by fund flows and data releases locally and globally.

Analysts said the market could re-test the Philippine Stock Exchange index’s all time high of 8,136 points in the near-term.

“Chartwise, the week’s close at 8,030.06 [on Friday] continues to support the market has still some gas to retry the 8,136 levels in the near-term. However, one may note that momentum indicators are at overbought territory and volume is declining. An early indication that the market may be nearing a top,” BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said.

Luis Limlingan, managing director of Regina Capital Development Corp., advised investors to have a more careful approach especially on accumulating positions as the lack of significant pullbacks could increase the probability of a downward reversal.

“We prefer a pullback to 7,800

level this week to provide a breathing room for prices and allow formation of higher low bases to sustain the upward trend,” Limlingan said.

PSE president and chief executive Hans Sicat attributed the market’s strong performance last week to positive developments overseas and expectations of positive second-quarter financial report of listed companies.

“While Asian markets, including ourselves, benefitted from positive news abroad, moving past the 8,000 level shows that investor confidence in our market remains high and provides some early momentum as companies prepare to disclose their mid-year earnings results in the coming weeks,” Sicat said.

The PSEi, the 30-company benchmark, surged 3.3 percent over last week’s five-day market trading to close at 8,030.06 on July 15, on stronger-than-expected US jobs addition in June and the Philippines’ victory in arbi-

tration over West Philippine Sea. The bellwether was also up 15.5 percent since the start of the year.

All sub-inidices ended in the green led by property which jumped 7 percent, followed by holding firms which rose 3.1 percent and financials which increased 2 percent.

Hot money from foreign investors continued to flow in the stock market, registering a net buying of P7.4 billion last week, as total foreign buying hit P27.9 billion while foreign selling amounted to P20.5 bullion.

Top gainers last week were Megaworld Corp. which climbed 10.5 percent to P5.14, Petron Corp. which went up 9.1 percent to P11.22 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which advanced 9.1 percent to P30.

Losers included Roxas and Co. Inc. which declined 4.2 percent to P2.30, Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc., which went down by 4.1 percent to P3.04 and LBC Express Holdings Inc. which dropped 3 percent to P12.94. Jenniffer B. Austria

B4 Rotary medallions.

Newly-installed Rotary Club of Forbes Park president Angel Buñag (with microphone) honored the past presidents of the Club with the firstever Presidential Award medallions during its recent 20th induction of its 2016-2017 officers and directors and 20th anniversary year celebration. Buñag and District 3830 Governor Edna Sutter (center, left) presented the awards to the past presidents.

Cusi seeks review of renewable objectives THE Energy Department plans to review the proposal of the National Renewable Energy Board to raise the installation target for wind and solar by an additional 500 megawatts each to shield consumers from high power rates.

“We intend to review NREB’s proposal... to ensure that power consumers are not unduly burdened with preference for a continuous 24/7 electricity,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said over the weekend.

NREB proposed a third round of feed-in tariff rate for solar and wind to former Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada, who deferred the decision to the new administration.

Cusi said the proposal needed thorough review for several reasons.

He said “a cost competitive effective alternative is to go on open competitive selection process [like] bidding the right to serve the requirements of distribution utilities and other mandated power industry players.”

He cited other renewable energy sources, such as hydro, run-of-river, biomass and geothermal power plants, with lower feed in tariff rates that could serve the requirements from solar and wind systems.

Among the renewable energy sources granted feed-in tariff, only solar and wind were oversubscribed or had very strong investor interest.

The entire 400-MW approved installation target for wind and the 500-MW goal for solar was already fully taken up.

Alena Mae S. Flores

San Miguel unit sale requires PSALM nod

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SAN Miguel Corp. may require the approval of the government to sell its 49 percent stake in affiliate South Premiere Power Corp., the independent power producer administrator of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant, to Manila Electric Co. “On the part of the government, we maintain that any disposition made by SMC will be subject to the claims of PSALM [Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.] unless otherwise adjudged by the ours,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

A source said that even if there was no pending case involving the Ilijan contracts, “the clearance of PSALM is necessary for any planned transfer/assigment of contract.”

The source said the planned sale of the Ilijan corporate vehicle stake would involve a change of ownership and needed PSALM approval.

San Miguel confirmed it was in talks with Meralco “for a possible investment of up to the extent of 49 percent by Meralco in South Premiere.”

The conglomerate said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the sale was subject to the resolution of the pending case initiated

by South Premiere against Pow-

er Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp. as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

“SMC plans to sell 49 percent of power generating plant. By doing that, we are sure to have market for our power because our off-take agreement is up to 2022,” San Miguel president Ramon Ang told reporters earlier.

Meralco is the country’s biggest electricity retailer with over 5.8 million customers in its franchise area. San Miguel sold its stake in Meralco to JG Summit Holdings Inc. in 2013.

“So far we have agreement with Meralco on Ilijan and Mariveles.

So far, that’s it,” Ang said.

The Ilijan natural gas plant is one of the three natural gas power plants in Batangas. It is operated

by Kepco Philippines for the gov-

ernment, but its contract is managed by South Premiere under an IPPA agreement with PSALM. South Premiere won the contract as the independent power producer administrator of the Ilijan plant during a bidding conducted by PSALM in 2010 with an offer of $870 million.

South Premiere has an ongoing dispute with PSALM over the Ilijan contract. The dispute arose from interpretations of certain provisions related to generation payments under the Ilijan IPPA agreement.

PSALM advised South Premiere on Sept. 4, 2015 that it was terminating the Ilijan IPPA agreement because of the latter’s alleged failure to settle the alleged outstanding generation payments.

PSALM was demanding payment of unpaid obligations amounting to P6.6 billion from South Premiere.

SteelAsia wants level playing field in PH, hits imports

By Othel V. Campos THE steel industry called for a level playing field against importers to realize the potential of local producers.

“All we’re really asking is a level playing field. If it’s easy for the importers to bring in imports, then all of them will come here,” SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. said over the weekend.

“With them it only takes 45 days to get their products here but with us, it takes us two to three years to put up a manufacturing plant. That’s not fair,” it said.

The company noted that the Trade Department was lways keen on attracting investors in the Philippines, “but if it’s easier for a non-investor to do business, all investments are put to naught.”

It said bringing in imports during times of crisis or a production shortfall to meet the demand was reasonable “but we have to safeguard quality.”

The local steel sector, a source said, was also facing a challenging period amid an expected rise in demand once public infrastructure program of the Duterte

government took off.

The government vowed to increse public spending to support the economy and create more jobs.

“So there is much room for expansion. Capitol Steel Corp. and Pag-Asa Steel Works Inc have expansion programs in the pipeline, and so are we. We’re bridging the gap of supply and demand and preparing to address the future needs [for steel],” SteelAsia said.

SteelAsia registered with the Board of Investments its two expansion projects in Bulacan and Cebu that will add 2,000 metric

tons of capacity for rebar production. Philippine consumption of rebars is placed at 4,000 MT annually.

The Philippines is expected to post a significant increase in steel consumption, along with Indonesia and Vietnam, due to relatively fast-growing economies.

The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute said the combined per capita consumption of the three economies comprised about a third of the world’s average per capita consumption of 225 kilograms.

M O N D AY : J U LY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

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

B5

Switch deposits, govt firms told

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE Department of Finance said over the weekend it will give more time to state-owned and -controlled corporations to transfer their bank deposits to qualified government financial institutions.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez issued a circular giving GOCCs until June 30, 2017 to transfer their bank deposits to state lenders.

The extension also covers national government agencies, local government units and GOCCs that have not complied yet with an older DoF circular

issued last year.

The directive states that “all NGAs, GOCCs and LGUs specifically allowed by law, rules and regulations to retain income and/or for operations and/or working balances shall deposit and maintain accounts with GFIs with a universal bank license and CAMELS rating of at least “3.”

“Accordingly, all NGAs, GOCCs or LGUs maintaining accounts with banks not compliant with the requirements of Section 5.2 of DC No. 01-2015, as amended... shall have until June 30, 2017 to transfer all funds and cash balances to a bank compliant with the provisions of said Section 5.2,” the order read.

Dominguez said in the new circular it granted the extension “in view of the numerous requests received by the Department, and to minimize operational impact among NGAs, GOCCs and LGUs.” Circular 002-2016, meanwhile, said NGAs, GOCCs and

LGUs may maintain existing accounts with a non-compliant bank but may not increase deposit balances beyond what they were as of the effectivity of the directive.

When the June 30, 2017 deadline lapses and the bank is still unable to meet the requirements of the circular, NGAs, GOCCs or LGUs may request the DoF to extend the deadline... subject to the submission of a transition plan, for DoF’s evaluation and approval.

“The request for extension must be submitted at least ninety days before the deadline.

DoF has until the day before

the deadline to evaluate, and approve or disapprove the request,” the circular stated.

If the government agency or GOCC does not request for an extension, or if its request is disapproved, it “must transfer all funds and cash balances to banks that meet the requirements of Section 5.2 of DC No. 01-2015.”

The DoF issued DC No. 012015 on June 1, 2015 directing NGAs, LGUs and GOCCs to deposit funds only in qualified GFIs to help ensure that public funds were tightly safeguarded and as part of government efforts to strengthen its overall fiscal position.

PLDT sees improved income in 3rd quarter

By Darwin G Amojelar PLDT Inc. said it expects a “more positive” bottom line in the second quarter of 2016 from a quarter ago.

PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan told reporters the comnpany’s second quarter profits would be “slightly more positive” than in the first quarter.

PLDT, partly owned by Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd. of the Salim Group and Japan’s NTT group, reported a net income of P6.22 billion in the January-toMarch period, down 34 percent from P9.48 billion year-on-year.

When asked if the company could achieve its profit guidance of P28 billion this year, Pangilinan said “I think we should be able to meet our guidance numbers.”

Core profit, which excludes foreign exchange gains or losses and other non-recurring income, dropped 22 percent to P7.21 billion in the first quarter from P9.28 billion last year.

Consolidated revenues amounted to P42.78 billion in the January-toMarch period from P42.55 billion in the same period last year.

PLDT Group’s mobile phone subscribers stood at 64.4 million at end-March.

PLDT has raised its capital expenditures this year to P48 billion from the original target of P43 billion to transform its network from legacy to purely digital.

The company plansto use the additional capex to roll out new cell sites using the 700-megahertz spectrum in key cities nationwide.

PLDT’s mobile unit Smart recently rolled our long-term evolution or LTE cell sites using the 700-MHz spectrum and posted peak download speeds of up to 222 megabits per second.

Unit Smart Communications Inc. said it planned to activate 360 cell sites with 700 MHz this year, initially in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao as a part of a threeyear program to bring faster, affordable and reliable internet to users.

Boat donation. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (third from left) leads the ceremonial turnover of 21 motorized fiber glass boats (20 footer) and 40 paddle boats (12 footer) with insurance coverage to the poorest fishermen of Catbalogan City and seaweed farmers of Zumarraga, Samar respectively. With Piñol are Undersecretary and Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Eduardo Gongona (leftmost), Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan Delos Santos (second from left) and BFAR regional firector for Eastern Visayas Juan Albaladejo (second from right).

Agusan LGU backs drive vs erring mining firms AGUSAN del Norte Governor Angel Amante-Matba reiterated her call for mining companies to shape up as she vowed to support the Duterte administration’s efforts to purge the “undesirable” mining operators in her province.

Amante-Matba asserted that mining operations in her province were operated and managed by responsible miners and urged the government to assist her in setting up a more stringent regulatory mechanism to further pursue best practices among mining companies operating in Agusan del Norte.

She cited San Roque Metals Inc., which operates in Tubay, Agusan del Norte as one of

those. Amante-Matba said SR Metals this year renewed its ISO certification year, which will expire in 2018.

“SRMI was a holder of ISO 14001 certification for our mining processes and our environmental management since 2008. They have complied and continue to comply with all government requirements and standards both for mining process and environmental management,” she said.

Amante-Matba said SR Metals was among only four mining companies that hold an ISO 14001 certification many years before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources required firms to secure an ISO

certification.

“It is a fact that SRMI is the first nickel mine and the third metal mine in the country to have secured ISO 14001 certification,” she said.

In addition to ISO 14001 certification, SRMI was also the Platinum Awardee for Surface Mining Operation during the 61st Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference in 2014, and the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awardee for Surface Mining Operation in the 62nd Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference in 2015.

PMIEA is given only to those that meet the award criteria

set by a selection committee composed of representatives from the mine safety association, mineral exploration association, the Chamber of Mines, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology.

The award gives a weight of 50 percent for rehabilitation and environmental protection, 20 percent for safety and health, 20 percent for social and community development, and 10 percent for information, education and communications.

MONDAY: JULY 18, 2016

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Lower cement prices sought

BSP toughens rules on money laundering

By Othel V. Campos

By Julito G. Rada

THE Trade Department’s consumer protection group asked cement companies over the weekend to keep prices within the reasonable level of P225 to P230 per 40-kilogram bag.

Trade Undersecretary for consumer protection Victorio Dimagiba said it would be for the benefit of consumers if prices would remain competitive.

“The data we gathered, based on price monitoring, show the prices of cement are all the same and they are all high. We have to ensure the price in certain areas is reasonable.

At this time when there are a lot of imports, prices should go down,” Dimagiba said.

He said despite the optimized operations of cement factories, with 70 percent to 85 percent capacity utilization, the industry still needed to import cement to fill the huge local demand.

“We should see prices of cement in the vicinity of P225 to P230 per bag because of competition,” Dimagiba said.

The Trade Department said it saw no reason to raise prices of local cement, as it could be cheaper to import cement to augment supply.

The agency’s monitoring showed that cement prices in some areas hit as much as P250 to P260 a bag, compared to prices in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu at P220 a bag.

The department has yet to assess the reply of manufacturers and traders who were asked to explain the price discrepancy.

The consumer protection group sent letters to Holcim, Eagle Cement Corp., Lafarge Republic Inc. and Cemex Philippines to explain the prices of their brands Holcim Excel, Advance, Republic, Rizal and Apo. The letters were also sent to cement traders Bojourno Trading, Summit Koncrete Products Corp. and Cohaco Merchandising & Development Corp.

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas said it will strengthen regulations on non-bank financial institutions to make the industry players comply with antimoney laundering measures.

CESAR ERNESTO M. SUPLIDO

GREEN LIGHT

IN A family that does its best to contribute and give back to society, Gawad Kalinga was not something new to me. My parents, uncles, aunts and even my grandparents, were all, one way or another, active in GK. Aside from the service they provide, my family even donated hectares of land to GK Enchanted Farm.

Learning from the founder Consequently, hearing that there will be series of talks from GK made me quite excited. These talks were not only a way for me to hear about what was happening in GK presently, but also to learn more about social entrepreneurship because as an Applied Corporate Management major, this will help me discern what I want to do in the future.

The Social Change Series were led by three speakers. The first speaker was Tony Meloto, the founder and chairman of Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. The next two speakers were

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the move was in line with the move to prevent the recurrence of money laundering activities in the country, the latest of which involved $81 million that was believed stolen by cyber thieves from the account of Bank of Bangladesh in the Federal Reserve in New York.

The dirty money entered the Philippine banking system through a branch of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in Makati City in

February. One of the conduits in the transfer of the illegal funds was remittance company Philrem Service Corp.

“We are reviewing Circular 471 which is the regulation on non-bank financial institutions which includes remittance businesses…. So we are upgrading the regulations,” Espenilla told reporters.

“It is under exposure right now, so we are taking industry comments. We are tightening the oversight over non-bank financial institutions such as remittance businesses, money changers and foreign exchange dealers,” Espenilla said, adding that it would “also reflect the recent experience.”

He said the upgraded rules, with clearer and well-defined obligations particularly on money laundering responsibilities, would apply to all existing players. “So we want to basically make sure that everybody follows the same money laundering protocol same as banks,” he said.

Espenilla said in April the regulator was also closely monitoring activities of pawn-

shops and non-stock savings and loans associations. He said pawnshops, in particular, had evolved beyond the traditional construct of a corner establishment where anybody could bring their jewelry in exchange of money as payback.

He said a significant chunk of pawnshop business was actually derived from remittance activities and other kinds of cross-solling activities. He said pawnshops were the top distributors of micro insurance more than banks, competing with the traditional insurance agents.

Espenilla said the country’s pawnshop law was based on presidential decrees that were issued during the Martial Law and implemented by Bangko Sentral.

Espenilla said shadow banking was an area of growing interest and concern because an unintended consequence of strengthening oversight over the formal banking system might result in the potential enlargement of shadow banking.

Infrastructure Wi-Fi. Network security

provider Fortinet introduces Infrastructure Wi-Fi, a highspeed connectivity with world-class threat protection platform designed for medium to large public venues at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Shown during the launching are (from left) Fortinet channel account manager Rachelle Alcantara, product sales manager for Fortinet at MEC Networks Corp. Jennifer Margaret Carreon, Fortinet Philippines country manager Jeff Castillo, Fortinet regional systems engineer for Wi-Fi business in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong Daniel Hwang and MEC Networks Corp. sales manager Sherryl De Guzman.

Reflections on the Social Change Series lead entrepreneurs Fabien Courteille of Plush and Play and Alvie Benitez of Goldenduck Inc. Seeing Tony Meloto after quite a long time brought back memories. Years ago, my family and I were personally invited by him to visit GK Enchanted Farm. Our visit there was truly enjoyable and fulfilling that it was an experience that I will never forget. I felt quite lucky and sentimental getting a chance to listen to a talk from him.

Promoting social entrepreneurship From Tony Meloto’s talk, the audience was introduced to what Gawad Kalinga does, specifically the GK Enchanted Farm. He talked about how the Enchanted Farm was GK’s platform and development to raise and promote social entrepreneurs, to help our local farmers by providing them opportunities and to create wealth in the rural areas or the countryside as there is an unequal distribution of wealth in our country.

He talked about how many of his social entrepreneurs, employees and volunteers have received so much opportunities because of their work in GK Enchanted Farm. He even let these specific employees and volunteers talk by sharing their experience as to how GK Enchanted Farm has really helped them in their quest to be social entrepreneurs.

Addressing community concerns The next two speakers, Fabien and Alvie, talked about their social enterprise, and why they went into it. In summary, they both started being a social entrepreneur to address a specific concern of the community by making a business out of it. They said they did not regret it as their social enterprise has helped the underprivileged by providing them employment. As a result, the community developed and their enterprise has been profitable for the both the community and the entrepreneurs.

They acknowledged that they owe much of their success to GK Enchanted Farm as it truly supported them and even contributed to developing the concept of their social undertaking. The opportunity to develop their business concepts at the farm gave their enterprise that innovative and unique edge.

Realizing opportunities After listening to the talks from the Social Change Series: Mighty Ducks, I felt both disappointed and motivated. There was regret in my life knowing that I come from such a socially—active family yet I have not done much to be like them. The talks have helped me realize that there is so much opportunity out there, yet I have been too blind to even notice them or to take them.

I even could have talked to my parents or my relatives about how I could give back and do whatever I can to uplift the conditions our society is facing.

Nonetheless, I am motivated

now, as I know there is so much I can do. Because of the talks, I found out there is Gawad Kalinga —DLSU that I can be part of. This could be the avenue for me to support and participate to help GK— DLSU promote and instill a culture of nation-building and excellence beyond academics. However, if GK—DLSU is not meant for me, I know there are other opportunities in store for me now that I believe I have the knowledge and tools necessary to bring about social change from the talks.

The author is a B.S. Applied Corporate Management student of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This reflection was written as part of the course requirements for Leadership in Organizations.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty and its administrators.

M O N D AY : J U LY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Two more held after truck attack NICE—French investigators arrested two more people Sunday as they pieced together details about the motives and preparations of the Tunisian who rammed a truck into a crowd in an IS-claimed attack that killed 84.

Mohamed LahouaiejBouhlel visited the Nice promenade with his rented truck on the two days before he smashed the vehicle into a crowd of people watching Bastille Day fireworks in the French Riviera city on Thursday night, according to a source close to the probe.

Mangled bodies were left strewn across the storied seafront, including children, in the grisly attack by a man

described by those who knew him as a loner with tendencies towards violence and depression.

In Nice, many people were still desperately looking for news of their loved ones among the dead and 121 still hospitalized.

“We have no news, neither good nor bad,” said Lithuanian Johanna, who was looking for her two friends, aged 20.

Juliette Meadel, state

secretary for victims’ support, conceded the process was “long and cruel”.

At least 10 children were among the dead as well as tourists from the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland and Germany.

As the promenade re-opened and Nice struggled to come to terms with the horror of the attack, police had questioned hundreds of people who knew the Tunisian, said the investigative source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A man and a woman were arrested on Sunday, and another five people including his estranged wife were still in custody.

While he had a record of being a petty criminal, LahouaiejBouhlel had never appeared on the radar of intelligence services for links to radical Islam.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Saturday the father-of-three “seemed to have been radicalized very quickly, from what his friends and family” have told police.

Several people have told police that Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, had shown signs of being religious, despite previous reports from those who knew him that he smoked, drank and never went to the mosque, said a source close to the investigation.

People who went to the same gym as Lahouaiej-Bouhlel—where he did salsa dancing and lifted weights—described him as “conceited” and someone who “would flirt with anything that moved”.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the killings, saying that one of its “soldiers” carried out the attack “in response to calls to target nations of coalition states that are fighting [IS]”.

Cazeneuve described the massacre as a “a new kind of attack” that highlighted “the extreme difficulty of the anti-terrorism fight”.

“We are now confronted with individu-

als open to IS’s message to engage in extremely violent actions without necessarily having been

trained or having the weapons to carry out a mass [casualty] attack,” he said. AFP

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF LICENSE TO TRANSACT BUSINESS IN THE PHILIPPINES OF CONTINENTAL MICRONESIA, INC. Notice is hereby given that on 20 January 2016, the Board of Directors of CONTINENTAL MICRONESIA, INC. (”CMI”) through its duly authorized officer, approved the withdrawal of the license to transact business in the Philippines of CMI – Philippine Branch. The Petition for Withdrawal of this license will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

All persons having just claims against CMI are requested to present the same at the 4th Floor, IPT Building, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City, Philippines.

This serves as notice to all parties concerned of CMI`s petition for withdrawal of license.

(TS-JULY 11,18 & 25, 2016)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION 12 JULY 2016 FDA CIRCULAR No. 2016-008 SUBJECT I.

:

Recognition of Licenses and Identification (IDs) Cards Issued by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) to Pest Control Operators (PCOs) and Pesticide Applicators, Respectively BACKGROUND

On 08 February 2007, during the case of Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) vs. Manila Pest Control Company (MAPECON) and Woodrow Catan, G.R. 161594, the Supreme Court has ruled that the FPA shall have jurisdiction only over agricultural pesticides and not over pesticides used in the household, business establishments, and offices in urban areas. As a consequence of such pronouncement, DOH-BFAD Advisory No. 2008-003 entitled, “Import Permits; Initial Registration and Renewal of Existing Certificates of Product Registration covering Household Pesticide Products, as well as, Licenses to Operate of Entities Manufacturing or Importing/Exporting/Distributing such Products and Raw Materials” has been issued, transferring the jurisdiction over household pesticides from FPA to the Department of Health (DOH), through the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), now known as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

II.

OBJECTIVES

This circular is being issued for the purpose of recognizing the licenses and identification cards issued by the FPA to pest control operators (PCOs) and pesticide applicators, respectively, prior to the 23rd day of November 2007, until such time that the FDA has issued the implementing guidelines on the licensing and training program of the aforementioned entities.

III. SCOPE

Backstage. Models dance backstage at the Revel Ray 2017 Collection in SwimMiami at W South Beach on July 16 in Miami Beach, Florida. AFP

This circular shall apply to FPA licenses issued to PCOs and the FPA identification cards issued to pesticide applicators signifying their completion of the FPA’s training and accreditation program.

IV. DEFINITION OF TERMS As used in this circular, the following terms shall be defined as:

Bad times in Angola after post-war boom LUANDA—After the end of Angola’s long civil war in 2002, the capital Luanda became an unlikely African version of Dubai as oil money poured in and a clutch of skyscrapers sprang up along the coast.

But many new office blocks now stand empty or unfinished as the country suffers the painful aftermath of a boom that came crashing down with the fall in oil prices two years ago.

Last month, after the local kwanza currency plunged in value, Luanda lost its top spot as the world’s most expensive city for expats as rated by Mercer’s annual survey.

The city still sits at number two, just below Hong Kong, thanks to the pumped-up price of everything from im-

ported bottled water and restaurant seafood to renting modern apartments.

At the upmarket Candando supermarket in Talatona district, customers like Katia Carreta say the economy’s roller-coaster ride has left even wealthier families uncertain of whether they have a future in the country.

“Prices are far too high for the current level of wages,” Carreta, 46, an Angolan whose husband works for a construction company, told AFP as she pushed her trolley out of the store.

“Things simply cost too much for the lifestyle that we were hoping to have,” said the mother of four.

Candando—slogan: “Everything will be bet-

ter”—is a large, chic supermarket with brightly-lit aisles, fresh food displays, a coffee shop and prices to match.

But its target audience is under strain.

Even after the fall of the kwanza, six eggs cost the equivalent of $3.50, as does a packet of imported cheese, while a large bag of rice or three salmon steaks cost $30.

Away from newlydeveloped Talatona, many of Luanda’s residents still live in slums, with tin shacks spreading to the horizon.

A deadly yellow fever outbreak has spread through the city since last year, while rubbish has piled up in the streets and many major roads need repair after municipal spending was slashed. AFP

1.

V.

Certified Pesticide Applicator (CPA) – refers to the one who has attended a four-day training course and passed an examination administered by the FPA. [Reference: FPA Pesticide Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines, December 2001]

2.

FDA – refers to the Food and Drug Administration

3.

FPA – refers to the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

4.

Household Pesticides – refers to any material or mixture of substances used for the control of pests (e.g. flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, rodents) found in places of human habitation, work and recreation. They shall include pesticides used for the control of pest in homes, yards, and gardens but shall exclude chemicals used in commercial agricultural production, golf courses, maintenance, pest extermination in industrial products and related uses. [Reference: FPA Pesticide Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines, December 2001]

5.

Pest Control Operator (PCO) – means an establishment allowed to enter into contracts for the commercial application of pesticides for extermination and/or fumigation work. [Reference: FPA Pesticide Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines, December 2001]

GUIDELINES: The following guidelines shall be implemented: 1.

The FDA shall honor and recognize all existing licenses and identification cards issued by FPA to PCOs and pesticide applicators respectively, prior to 23 November 2007.

2.

All FPA licensed PCOs and FPA-CPAs shall only use FDA-registered household pesticides.

3.

Handling and actual application of household pesticides shall only be done by FPA-CPAs with the knowledge and approval of the FPA-licensed PCOs.

4.

The FPA-licensed PCOs shall be responsible for the activities of their respective FPA-CPAs.

5.

The rules and regulations promulgated by FPA prior to 23 November 2007 shall be in effect while the recognition of the licenses and identification cards issued by the FPA as provided in this Circular is in effect. Entities found to be in violation of FPA’s rules and regulations shall be subjected to appropriate legal actions.

6.

PCOs and CPAs shall be subject to FDA’s post-marketing surveillance.

VI. EFFECTIVITY This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation and shall remain valid unless otherwise revoked, repealed or rescinded.

Standard – July 18, 2016

MARIA LOURDES C. SANTIAGO, MSc, MM OIC, Director General

M O N D AY : J U LY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

B8

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

After the coup attempt. Women gather in Taksim Square in Istanbul on July 16, 2016, during a demonstration in support of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who battled to regain control over Turkey on July 16, 2016, after a coup that claimed more than 250 lives staged by discontented soldiers. AFP

Turkey rounds up coup plotters Brother of murdered social media star held ISLAMABAD—The brother of a controversial Pakistani social media star has been arrested for her murder, confessing he strangled Qandeel Baloch for “honor”, police said Sunday.

The killing of Baloch, infamous for selfies and videos that by Western standards would appear tame but were polarizing in deeply conservative Muslim Pakistan, has sent a wave of shock and revulsion throughout the country.

Her brother Muhammad Wasim was arrested late Saturday, Multan City police chief Azhar Akram told AFP. “Wasim confessed to his crime, saying he killed his sister for honor after her recent objectionable videos, mostly posted on Facebook,” he said.

Wasim told police he drugged his sister and then strangled her.

Baloch, believed to be in her twenties and whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, rose to fame for her provocative Facebook posts that saw her praised by some for breaking social taboos but condemned by conservatives.

She was killed on Friday night at her family’s home near Multan. Wasim went on the run and was arrested late Saturday in the neighboring Muzaffargarh district.

In a police complaint, his father accused Wasim of killing Baloch for honor because he “wanted her to quit showbiz”.

Hundreds of women are murdered for “honor” every year in Pakistan. AFP

ISTANBUL—Turkish authorities rounded up dozens of senior military personnel and judges in a ruthless crackdown Sunday, after thousands massed in the streets nationwide overnight to denounce a coup aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

World leaders including US President Barack Obama have strongly condemned the attempted putsch but also urged Turkey to respect the “rule of law” in its aftermath, especially after pictures emerged showing the rough treatment of some coup plotters when arrested.

According to the government, 161 civilians and regular troops lost their lives when a group within the army sought to overthrow the authorities by seizing key strategic points in Istanbul and Ankara.

Over 100 coup plotters were also killed, the military has said.

The botched coup bid marked the biggest challenge to Erdogan’s rule in 13 years as prime minister

and now president. But he successfully mobilized supporters into the streets to face down the plotters.

Thousands responded late Saturday to a new call by the president to pour into the squares to celebrate the “victory of democracy” with mass rallies of flag-waving Turks reported in cities including Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir.

The Turkish authorities have made clear they will show no mercy in the wake of the coup, accusing the plotters of acting on behalf of Erdogan’s arch enemy, the USbased preacher Fethullah Gulen.

The government has already said that almost 3,000 soldiers had been detained on suspicion of involvement in the putsch, which

raised fears of chaos in the strategic Nato member state of almost 80 million.

Turkish television has shown images of captured coup plotters forced to lie face down on the tarmac after arrest while AFP photographers have seen suspects roughly being led away pursued by angry mobs.

NTV television said that 34 generals of various grades had been detained so far. They include senior figures like Erdal Ozturk, commander of the third army and the commander of the Malatyabased second army, Adem Huduti.

In an operation early Sunday, authorities detained the commander of the garrison in the western town of Denizli, Ozhan Ozbakir, along with 51 other soldiers, according to the state-run Anatolia news agency.

Turkey also detained a senior air force general and other officers accused of backing the failed coup at a key air base used by US forces for raids in Syria. AFP

Arrested for renting out flat to attackers DHAKA—Police in Bangladesh have arrested a professor from an elite university alleging he had rented a flat to gunmen who attacked a cafe in Dhaka earlier this month and killed 20 hostages.

In the first arrests police have made outside the cafe, Gias Uddin Ahsan of the private North South University was detained late Saturday along with two other people and is expected to appear in a court in the capital to face charges Sunday.

Police allege that in May he rented out a flat he owned—without registering the tenants’ informa-

tion as required by law—to some of the gunmen responsible for the attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

The professor was arrested for “renting the house to the Gulshan [cafe] attackers and hiding information,” police said in a statement, adding that the men had “gathered at the flat” before the attack.

Bangladesh authorities made submitting tenants’ information to the nearest police station mandatory in recent years as part of efforts to curb crime and extremist activities.

The other two people who were

arrested included a nephew of the professor and the manager of the apartment building, police said.

Police seized sand-filled cartons from the flat, which they suspect were used for storing grenades, the statement added.

At the time of the cafe siege police said they had detained two people including a teenage kitchen assistant, who died in custody, with his family alleging torture.

Rights groups have also expressed concern for two attack survivors they say are being held by investigators, though police deny the two are in their custody. AFP

Rehearsal. Actors of ‘Raoul Collectif’ perform during a rehearsal of the play ‘Rumeur et petits jours’ on July 16, 2016, at the ‘Cloitre des Carmes’ in Avignon during the Avignon theater festival. AFP

M ONDAY : J ULY 18, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

isahred @ gmail.com

WRITER

SIP & SAVOR

LIFE

C1

Uma Uma Ramen features the tonkotsu broth, Fukuoka's most famous culinary export.

A SEVEN-DECADE RAMEN AFFAIR (WITH ALCOHOL ON THE SIDE)

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

O

ne could say that ramen broth runs in the blood of Chef Masahiko Teshima, who traces his roots to Fukuoka, a seaside city on the island of Kyushu in Japan which is recognized as the spiritual home of the tonkotsu (boiled pork-bone broth).

“My uncle worked at San Maru in the 1940s, which was the oldest Hakata-style ramen in Fukuoka.

My father, on the other hand, opened his own ramen house, Wu Maru, in 1953,” said the bespectacled, longhaired Teshima in calm Japanese, with real time English translation provided by his friend and business partner, Junji Okabayashi.

Hakata-style ramen has a milky tonkotsu broth, which is probably Fukuoka’s most famous culinary export, and thin flat noodles. The ramen is usually topped with sesame seeds, crushed garlic, slices of wood ear mushroom, and tamago or egg that has been marinated for hours in soy sauce and mirin, a Japanese sweet rice wine.

Uma Uma Ramen's secret bar has a wide selection of cocktails, beer, sake and wine.

Yakitori skewers and other Japanese appetizers complement Uma Uma's hearty ramen, perhaps with a glass of cocktail or two.

“My family has had a love affair with ramen for 70 years now. I am probably half tonkatsu and half wine,” added Teshima, who is also a sommelier.

It came as no surprise then that when the younger Teshima took over Wu Maru in 1994, he renamed it to Uma Uma Ramen – a pun on the casual Japanese word “umai” which means tasty – and transformed it into a ramen-byday, izakaya-by-night place.

Offering a wide range of alcoholic drinks in an affordable and casual izakaya setting in Fukuoka, it became an instant hit among Japanese whitecollar workers and office ladies.

An izakaya, of course, is never complete without yakitori (grilled skewers over charcoal) and kushikatsu (deep-fried breaded skewers), and Uma Uma did not disappoint.

The company has already established five outlets in Japan (three in Fukuoka and two in Tokyo), two branches in Singapore, and one in Bangkok.

And this month, Uma Uma opened its first branch in the

Philippines at S Maison, a highend retail complex at the edge of Manila Bay. “Filipino people like ramen and pork, so I am sure Uma Uma will be accepted and loved,” said Teshima, who disclosed their plan to open a second branch in Uptown Bonifacio within the year.

Their signature dishes, which are topped with chasiu or marinated pork belly, include the Uma Uma Ramen, which uses spicy miso; tonkotsu ramen; and the garlic ramen which features fried shallots. All are served with tonkotsu broth made from pork bones slow-cooked for 16 to 20 hours over high heat to release the flavor and give the broth its trademark richness.

“Our strength is we have the leeway to come up with ramen that is influenced by local culture and locally sourced ingredients,” said Russell Yu, director of Iki Concepts that brought the ramen house to Singapore.

In Singapore, for example, their mazesoba, a dry-style ramen with bamboo shoots and soft-boiled

tamago, became such a hit that Teshima decided to bring it to their Japan-based branches.

At their Manila branch, Uma Uma opens its secret bar at 4 p.m., offering a wide variety of cocktails and sake, plus a modest selection of wine. The drinks are complemented by a special menu of 11 yakitori and kushikatsu, prepared a la minute, as well as one-bite gyoza, a traditional Hakata offering.

Since it is inside a mall, Uma Uma closes at 10 p.m., but Yu said they are hoping to be allowed to remain open beyond mall hours.

“Ramen is staple fast food. It is a very simple noodle and broth combination. For lunch or dinner, Japanese people order ramen. In the evenings, they come to our izakaya for yakitori and drinking.

Afterwards, they eat ramen again to sober up,” Teshima said. “It is not just eating and drinking – it is a culture.”

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

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LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

#BESTOPOTATO EXPERIENCE

ack ‘n Jill Calbee has taken the besto potato experience to a whole new level as it invites everyone to bite into life’s best experiences with its #BESTOPOTATO pop-up store.

Drop by with your friends at the Jack ‘n Jill Calbee #BESTOPOTATO pop-up store at UP Town Center on July 30 and 31; and Robinsons Place Manila on Aug. 5 and 6 – and other malls in the coming months.

The Japanese-themed pop-up store offers Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s lineup of premium potato snacks such as Jagabee Potato Fries that’s available in Cheese, Classic Salted and Garlic; Pizza Potato that comes in Regular and Spicy flavors; Potato Chips that is available in Classic Salted, Wasabi and Cheddar and Sour Cream variants; and the new Ripples that comes in Nori and Sour Cream and Onion variants. Visitors of the booth can grab a hold of

Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s premium items such as Jaga plush toys, stationery, tees, pillows, and a lot more limited-edition items for you to choose from.

Also, the pop-up store offers one-of-a-kind experiences with its activity booths. Get transported into an adventurefilled dimension in Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s Virtual Reality Booth.

See the world in a different perspective and have your creative snapshot taken with the Jack ‘n Jill Calbee Trick Art Booth. Try to catch as much cheese in a flurry inside a glass tube with the Jack ‘n Jill Calbee Pizza Potato Game.

Potato chip lovers can also experience what it’s like to be the star in front of the camera with Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s TV Commercial booth.

And they can actually be part of the online video that will be released on the brand’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/ JacknJillCalbee.ph. By simply picking their Calbee variant of choice and saying why they love it, they instantly get the chance to be a part of the online video.

Jaga, Calbee's potato mascot, poses with (from left) Calbee URC Assistant Brand Manager Kate Barrios, CURC General Manager Mickey Manalang, Ashley and Alodia Gosiengfiao, and CURC Marketing Manager Jenny Chang

The #BESTOPOTATO experience gets better as Jack ‘n Jill Calbee will raffle out three all-expense-paid trips to Japan for four. Every P199.00 worth of purchase at the pop-up store will entitle customers to a raffle entry.

The Jack ‘n Jill Calbee pop-up store will also be present in 15 universities in Metro Manila.

Students can delight in the popup store’s fun activities and also get a chance to join its trip to Japan promo. To earn a raffle entry, students can post about their pop-up store experience on Facebook and include the hashtags #JacknJillCalbee #BESTOPOTATO and #TakeUsToJapan.

Jack ‘n Jill Calbee is indeed the #BESTOPOTATO for using only the best potatoes to ensure a premium and best-tasting potato snack experience in every pack.

Experience only the best by catching Calbee and its pop-up store around the metro.

Jack ‘n Jill Calbee Virtual Reality Booth

Calbee URC (CURC) Assistant Brand Manager Kate Barrios, CURC General Manager Mickey Manalang, Ashley and Alodia Gosiengfiao, and CURC Marketing Manager Jenny Chang

Beating energy gap among children Does your child seem sluggish, weak, or lacking in focus? He may have Energy Gap. According to a recent study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), four out of five Filipino children ages 6 to 12 years old experience energy deficiency or Energy Gap, a condition brought about by an imbalance between the number of calories a child consumes each day and the number they require to support normal growth, physical activity and body function.

MILO, the world’s leading chocolate malt beverage, invites parents to learn more about energy deficiency and how they can help address it. The campaign #BeatEnergyGap encourages moms and dads to give their kids the right amount of energy by serving nutritious meals, making them energized and active throughout the day.

“Energy is a basic need of the body as it fuels all body processes from breathing, blood circulation, digestion, and growth. It is also needed for physical activities like walking,

Chocolate malt beverage brand Milo leads the fight to #BeatEnergyGap

running, and even sitting, and mental activities like reading and thinking,” said Nestle Philippines Corporate Nutritionist Executive Ivy Sicat.

“If children don’t get enough energy from their meals, they will experience energy deficiency or Energy Gap.

Having Energy Gap can lead to poor performance inside and outside the classroom; it can also impact on a child’s mood, and affect their holistic growth.”

According to Sicat, the three of the most common signs of Energy Gap among children are

sluggishness, weakness, and lack of focus. A child may feel sluggish when he lacks motivation in doing physical and mental activities. He may constantly look sleepy or lazy, which can affect the way he absorbs new knowledge.

When a child feels weak or lacks in physical strength, he often needs to exert extra effort in doing even simple movements like moving the arms, legs, and other muscles. The feeling of weakness affects a child’s performance not only in sports, but also in doing daily physical activities that will develop and strengthen his body growing up.

Lack of focus occurs when there is not enough energy to fuel the brain. When a child lacks focus, it affects how they acquire new lessons in classes and can give a negative impact on his behavior. Other signs a child is experiencing Energy Gap are headaches, tummy aches, and being irritable and restless.

Parents shouldn’t be too alarmed because it’s not too late to #BeatEnergyGap. According to Sicat, one of the best ways to prevent it is by giving kids

a complete and nutritious meal that contains the right amount of energy, vitamins, and minerals. Milo has Activ-Go, which contains Protomalt® that provides the energy to help fuel physical and mental activities. It also has Vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12, C, and D, Calcium, and Iron, which help convert food energy to body energy. A complete and balanced meal, along with a mug of Milo, can help moms and dads energize their kids for physical and mental activities.

“For over 50 years, Milo has always encouraged parents to build champions by being a source of Winning Energy. The recent study of FNRI inspiredus to rally parents around the importance of proper food intake,” said Ellen Grace Isturis, Team Lead for MILO Philippines. “We hope the #BeatEnergyGap campaign helps parents understand how they can address Energy Gap so that they can raise their kids to become champions not only in the court, but also in life.”

Visit https://www.milo.com.ph for more information about MILO and the Energy Gap.

M ONDAY : J ULY 18, 2016

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LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

OUTSTANDING FOOD RETAILER

T

he largest buffet restaurant in the Philippines did it again. The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) chose Vikings Luxury Buffet as the recipient of the prestigious award for Outstanding Food Retailer 2015 Small Category. This is the second time Vikings has been given the honor.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and PRA give the award to establishments that have reached a certain standard in service and quality to the community.

The award was presented to Viking Luxury Buffet

during the awards night at the Marriott Grand Ballroom at Newport City Complex in Pasay City. Operations Managers Divine Villanueva and Hazel Rodriguez supported by some company officials receive the award.

The largest buffet restaurant in the country is on its fifth year in providing quality food and service to its guests. It operates eight restaurants in Metro Manila, and one each in Davao City, Bacolod, and Cebu City.

With its various national and international awards, the Vikings group of restaurants has promotional efforts the

whole year round. Among them are free birthday treats, a wedding anniversary discount, OFW free dining, monthlong birthday celebrant free birthday blow-out coupled with its creatively-promoted food offers during special holidays.

The awards received by the company are a true manifestation of the reataurant’s high standards in the food industry. The table reservation system it adapts is an innovative process of providing easy access by its enthusiastic diners who come in groups to enjoy truly what good food is all about.

Vikings Luxury Buffet wins Philippine Retailers Association’s Outstanding Food Retailer 2015 Small Category Award

Your New Favorite Spot

Brewmaster and Dean of San Miguel School of Brewing Emil Macapugay (right) toasts with lady Brewmaster Rose Ringor at the launch of San Miguel Lifestyle Brews Draft Beer

San Miguel Beer goes draft Draft beer has always been around but it was only recently that it has created a revolution among discerning beer drinkers as it fulfills their craving for more distinct flavors and unique drinking experience.

Acknowledging this trend, local beer label San Miguel Brewery introduces some of its beer variants in their draft format.

Dubbed San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, it’s a selection of beers especially mastercrafted to appeal to the crowd of beer lovers with sophisticated palate.

“The San Miguel Lifestyle Brews is the premium line of artfully-crafted beers that we brew locally to retain freshness,” said Brewmaster Emil Macapugay.

“Beer drinkers have enjoyed these variants for years, and as people’s tastes evolve, we bring them fresher ways to enjoy the flavors they love and exactly as our Brewmasters intended them to be.”

San Miguel Brewery has partnered with select bars and pubs in Metro Manila to offer San Miguel Super Dry, San Miguel Premium AllMalt and Cerveza Negra in draft.

San Miguel Super Dry is known for its crisp and clean finish with aromatic hop notes, while San Miguel Premium All-Malt is characterized for its distinct flavor and notes of sweetness counterbalanced with a pleasant bitterness, and the full-bodied Cerveza Negra is popular for its flavor of roasted malt that serves as the backbone

for pleasant caramel notes. Each variant showcases San Miguel Brewery’s mastery and standard of over-a-century tested brewing technology, now served in draft for drinkers to enjoy them at their best and freshest.

All three San Miguel Lifestyle Brews have consistently received accolades and recognition from both the drinking public and award giving bodies, the most recent of which is the Monde Selection which is considered as the Michelin Star of consumer goods industry.

San Miguel Premium All-Malt and Cerveza Negra received the Monde Selection Gold Medal while San Miguel Super Dry received the Silver Medal.

Since 2005, The Fireplace has been the go‐to, high‐end venue in Manila for corporate functions as well as celebrations with loved ones. It has been a beacon of elegance and quality fine dining for 11 fruitful years, and this year, it’s about to get even better.

Under Chef James Williams from Australia, a new and improved The Fireplace is wowing loyal patrons and enticing more people to explore its new menu with new irresistibly delectable fare featuring local and organic produce at a better price point.

Now you can enjoy The Fireplace any day at a friendlier price. But do not fret: For The Fireplace’s loyal patrons, their classic dishes are still available for you to enjoy. Simply ask for the separate Classics Menu from their servers.

With more than two decades of experience in the culinary and hospitality industry under his belt, Chef Williams promises a stronger and bolder selection from The Fireplace, featuring the best produce that the Philippines has to offer.

“One of the main focuses has been on local ingredients and highlighting them throughout the menu,” explains Chef Williams.

“The Philippines is rich in produce and diverse, so it’s easy to source.

From the menu, we use some quality local pork, oxtail, local baby lobster, uni (sea urchin),

heirloom tomatoes, burrata, chicken, beef cheek, mahi mahi, tuna, exotic Ifugao rice, sweet corn, potatoes, prawns, calamari, octopus, calamansi, and a host of local craft beers.”

Chef Williams adds, “The new dishes at The Fireplace will be product‐driven and paired with good technique. The menu will change every few months to keep it interesting for regular guests... It’s time for the restaurant to give its customers more reasons to return.”

With all the new changes at The Fireplace, everyone can expect “a host of fun events, cooking classes and dinners with an ever changing menu” to keep things interesting and exciting—both for newcomers and for regular diners, according to Chef Williams.

With his culinary creativity, Chef Williams created new dishes exclusively for The Fireplace.

From new appetizers, salads, soups, main course, and dessert, you will soon find your new favorite at The Fireplace. Some dishes are inspired by Michelin starred Chef Dani Garcia from Spain after the successful ‘Dinner with the Stars’—a well‐attended gastronomic event prior to Madrid Fusion Manila 2016.

With the same clean and crisp design, The Fireplace’s new Beverage Menu features a carefully curated selection of beverages

from high‐end international brands as well as local artisans.

Newly offered drinks include selections from old and new world wines, signature cocktails, imported whiskey, and hand‐ crafted beer from local brewers.

The Fireplace now also exudes a more relaxed vibe, making fine dining more accessible to a wider range of clientele without compromising its quality—that unparalleled service that The Fireplace has been known for in the past decade. The Fireplace gets a revamped look to maximize comfort without sacrificing aesthetics and durability. The new flatware are hand‐made by local artist Lanelle Abueva, lending a more personal touch and adding charm to the already personalized service at The Fireplace. Most of the drinks are now served in a copper mug, prolonging the coldness of the drink and adding a certain rustic charm to the place.

Lastly, their servers are wearing more comfortable outfits so they can move swiftly to attend to our guests’ needs.

Keeping the classics, introducing the best, and loving the new. Expect a more impressive and an even more unforgettable The Fireplace on your next visit.

Book a table now and find out what’s making The Fireplace Manila’s newest favorite spot.

Baby Lobster

One of The Fireplace's signature dishes

Beef Tartar

Tomato and Burata Salad

San Miguel Lifestyle Brews Draft Beer multi tap column head

M ONDAY : J ULY 18, 2016

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LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

F

COINTREAU PAYS HOMAGE TO ICONIC FRENCH MUSES

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

Cedric Cello of Smith Butcher and Grill Room wins La Maison Cointreau Manila 2016 with his Marion Cotillard-inspired cocktail, Gossip

Sean Carlo de Vera’s Brigitte Bardot cocktail

Shelom ‘Togs’ Exconde presents his concoction inspired by Daft Punk

Orman Bag-ao and his Annecy Venetian Festivalinspired cocktail

Manila Burlesque performs during La Maison Cointreau

Guests celebrate with Cointreau

DJ Badkiss

rench orange spirit Cointreau assumed different personas as the brand’s cocktail competition for this year, La Maison Cointreau, brought together some of Manila’s visionary bartenders to create concoctions based on icon from France.

Held recently at The Belle and Dragon in Makati City, the by-invitation only tilt saw seven fine drinks whose varied taste— creamy, citrusy and minty, among others— was heightened by Cointreau’s perfect balance of bitter and sweet.

The winning cocktail Gossip, by Cedric Cello of Smith Butcher and Grill Room, was inspired by French actress Marion Cotillard. The delightful pink drink featured hints of basil leaves and was presented with a slice of watermelon.

Cello took home P50000.00 cash prize and he will be representing the Philippines at the La Maison Cointreau regional finals in Bangkok, Thailand.

Other cocktails presented were just as delicious as they were interesting.

Jason Ranario Hussein Ali served up a cocktail inspired by Marie Antoinette, Shelom “Togs” Exconde called upon Daft Punk, Christian Gonzaga Uy’s muse was Rene Lacosté, Sean Carlo de Vera based his drink on Brigitte Bardot, Orman Bag-ao created a cocktail with glazed chicken intestine inspired by the Annecy Venetian Festival, and Larry Guevarra had the idea of combining the nationalistic and sophisticated French and Filipino cultures in his East-meetsWest cocktail.

“This year’s La Maison Cointreau is a full portfolio competition focusing on the unique aspects of each brand to bring new and challenging tasks for the bartenders hoping to claim the title,” Cointreau said in a statement.

The participants were judged based on presentation, story and relevance, technique, taste and flavor, and use of Cointreau—however other labels under the Remy Cointreau Group, namely Remy Martin cognac, Mount Gay rum, Bruichladdich single malt whisky and The Botanist gin also made an appearance in some of the cocktails.

Foodie and blogger Cyrene de la Rosa, bar owner Michael Tayag and RemyCointreau’s Richard Gillam judged the preliminary round. The final round, on the other hand, was decided by international journalist Cheryl Tiu, Lit bar owner Chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara and RemyCointreau representative KC Queyquep.

Spirited journey Take a sip of Hennessy XO and embark on a journey unlike any other. Smooth yet complex, delicate but strong, bold but subtle – each drop opens a new door to facets of sophistication. With eaux-de-vie (a clear, colorless fruit brandy) carefully selected and aged for a long time, the result is a cognac that is undeniably rare. And with every kiss of Hennessy XO, a distinct sensation opens you up to an unparalleled experience.

The 7 Chapters of Odyssey – An invitation to awaken the senses

Throughout its 250-year history, Hennessy has proudly perpetuated an exceptional heritage based on adventure and discovery. And today, we go aboard on a new sojourn as the hallmark brand has unleashed a sensorial voyage for you to enjoy. Inspired by the Hennessy Comité de Dégustation’s profound know-how, the journey articulates seven tasting notes into distinct chapters that flow seamlessly into one another. Take flight into the seven chapters representing the Hennessy X.O Odyssey – an exquisite expedition where every perception varies depending on palate, experiences and vision of each individual. The chapters unfold as follows: Sweet Notes: The palate is warmly

embraced by flavours of candied fruit the faint sweetness of oranges fused with the subtle tartness of apricots.

Rising Heat: The intriguing sensation of an intense, rising heat slowly reveals the complex taste of eaux-de-vie that have patiently aged in oak barrels.

Spicy Edge: A strong spicy note tantalizes the palate with a distinct peppery flavour.

Flowing Flame: A wave of warmth grows, crests and then breaks; the mouth is awash with the sensation of an immense roundness. A robust presence, full and voluptuous, is felt.

Chocolate Lull: There is the gradual discovery of something familiar. It is the well-rounded flavor of a rich, dark chocolate. Slightly sweet and silky smooth, it gently caresses the palate.

Wood Crunches: A striking sensation is suddenly felt – the vigorous ebb and flow of oak notes interlaced with vanilla.

With their bold and complex taste, they make their powerful presence felt and then vanish.

Infinite Echo: The evanescent oak notes leave a long, omnipresent finish in their wake, echoing the subtleties of each flavour and sensation that has preceded it, as well as the complexity of X.O’s blending and long aging process.

Hennessy X.O Odyssey’s seven chapters unfold from sweet notes, rising heat, spicy edge, flowing flame, chocolate lull, wood crunches, to infinite echo

An amalgam of artistry

Hennessy X.O is proud to inaugurate its new Odyssey campaign with film director Nicolas Winding Refn. For the project, Hennessy granted the director of Drive free rein to express a universally subjective theme: the sensation of Hennessy X.O. Refn weaves a rich tapestry illustrating the cognac’s taste and feel. The result perfectly depicts the spirit of the campaign’s storyline, “Each drop of Hennessy X.O is an odyssey.”

True to Refn’s conceptual signature, this striking narrative quickly pierces a smooth

veneer and flows through a dreamscape of color, texture and elements such as water, earth, fire and metal. Through a topography of flowing liquid and gentle curves, the director offers powerful images that capture such intangible sensations enveloped in a cascade of flavors.

“Taste is a powerful sense” the director Nicolas Winding Refn notes. “Experiencing certain tastes creates the sensation of a journey.

The complex flavours in Hennessy X.O excite the palate and offer rich contour and contrast, opening the door to unique experiences.” And this is very much evident in his film.

M ONDAY : J ULY 18, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

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THE STYLISTICS

T

AND THE MAIN INGREDIENT AT BIG DOME

he smooth and sweet sound of one of the most successful soul vocal groups in the 1970s will fill the concert scene when The Stylistics return for a one-night concert on Aug. 14 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The twin bill dubbed The Stylistics with The Main Ingredient featuring Cuba Gooding, Sr. Live will be mounted by Ovation Productions.

A frequent Manila visitor, The Stylistics will enthrall fans with its hits, such as “Stop, Look, Listen,” “You Are Everything,” “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “People Make The World Go Round,” “I’m Stone In Love With You,” “Break Up To Make Up” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New.” The Main Ingredient, on the other hand, became known for its biggest hits, “Everybody Plays The Fool,” “Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely,” “Girl Blue,” “I’m So Proud,” “Spinning Around” and “Who Can I Turn To,” while the group’s lead singer, Cuba Gooding, Sr., attained international success in his brief solo career for “Happiness

Soul. Vocal group The Stylistics in a one-night concert in Manila

The Main Ingredient lead singer Cuba Gooding, Sr.

Is Just Around The Bend.”

The Stylistics was formed in 1968 from two soul groups from Philadelphia, The Monarchs and The Percussions, and first attracted attention when its single, “You’re A Big Girl Now,” released in 1970 under Sebring Records, became a regional hit and eventually climbed to no.7.

After signing to Avco Records in 1971 and with Thom Bell as producer, The Stylistics became the leading Phily soul group of the early ‘70s. It scored 12 straight Top Ten hits, including “You Are Everything,” “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “I’m Stone In Love With You,” “Break Up To Make Up” and

“You Make Me Feel Brand New.” It was acclaimed as one of the smoothest and sweetest soul groups of the era, and all of its hits were ballads distinguished bay their soaring falsetto vocals and the lush yet graceful production of Bell – a perfect combination that contributed in making The Stylistics one of the most successful soul groups of the first half of the ‘70s.

The Stylistics made Billboard magazine’s Easy Listening singles chart 12 consecutive times from 1971 to 1976, with three entries (“Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and “You’ll Never Get To Heaven [If You Break My Heart]”) reaching

the Top 10.

It enjoyed immense popularity in Europe, particularly in Great Britain, where “Sing Baby Sing” (1975), “Na Na Is The Saddest Word” (1975), “Can’t Give You Anything” (1975) and “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (1976) became Top Five hits.

The present Stylistics is composed of Airrion Love (1968-present), Herb Murrell (1968-present), Eban Brown (2000-present) and Jason Sharp (2011-present).

Tickets are priced at P4755.00, P4225.00, P3170.00, P2115.00, P1060.00 and available at Ticketnet outlets and online through www.Ticketnet.com.

SKY’s pay-per-view options Families will once again get an upgrade on their TV entertainment as Sky Cable beefs up its roster of pay-per-view offerings every month with fresh-off-thecinema releases, hit and criticallyacclaimed movies, and special live events that subscribers can enjoy in the comforts of their homes.

Starting this July, families can enjoy the widest selection of pay-perview options on high definition like blockbuster movies from Star Cinema and Viva Films on SKY Pay-PerView Box Office, restored titles on SKY Pay-Per-View Classics, awardwinning independent films on SKY Pay-Per-View Critics’ Choice, live or recorded coverages of concerts and special events on SKY Pay-Per-View VIP Access, and live coverage of must-see sports events on SKY PayPer-View Sports.

“The demand for a wide selection of entertaining content among Filipinos is rising. Entertainment now isn’t just about hit TV shows. Filipinos are looking for engaging world-class content that they can conveniently access at home and SKY Pay-PerView aims to address this need,” Alan Supnet, marketing head of Sky Cable Corporation, said.

He added that SKY realized the need to develop a richer content

“Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis” lead stars Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz with directors Lav Diaz and Paul Soriano

Relive the story of “Just the Three of Us” topbilled by John Lloyd and Jennylyn Mercado

library for pay-per-view when they observed how most Filipinos struggle to find avenues to watch movies, restored classics, indie films, and live coverage of events.

“When Filipinos miss the chance to catch a film on its theatrical release, they have to wait for months to watch it on TV, DVD, or during a limited screening. When they are in the provinces, they don’t have the opportunity to be part of highly anticipated events that are usually held in Manila. SKY Pay-Per-View now becomes their portal to get front-row access to all these enriching TV viewing experiences,” Supnet added.

the epic showdown between Prince Albert Pagara and Cesar Juarez.

Apart from the promise of convenience, Sky Cable also takes into consideration viewing flexibility among Filipinos as it offers all its Pay-Per-View content on SKY On Demand, its video-ondemand platform. Through SKY On Demand, Filipinos can watch any of the Pay-Per-View offerings they subscribed to on any device anytime, anywhere. They also have the power to pause and rewind the content they are streaming. Access to SKY On Demand is available when subscribers are using a SKYbroadband or SKYmobi

Beginning this month, SKY Pay-Per-View opens doors to a world of banner premium offerings. For SKY Pay-Per-View Critics’ Choice, the eight-hour Lav Diaz opus Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis will be having a seven-day continuous viewing until July 24, while the blockbuster hit Just The 3 of Us starring John Lloyd Cruz and Jennylyn Mercado which hit the theaters in May will be the star offering for SKY Pay-Per-View Box Office until July 31.

SKY Pay-Per-View Sports also became the platform for the live coverage of Pinoy Pride 37 Fists of Fury two Sundays ago that featured

(mobile internet) connection.

SKY aims to bring a wide array of premium content closer to Filipino families that they can conveniently watch using multiple devices. Sky Cable Corporation is a unit of ABS-CBN, the country’s leading media and entertainment organization.

To activate subscription to Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis on SKY PayPer-View Critics’ Choice and Just The 3 of Us on SKY Pay-Per-View Box Office, subscribers can call their local SKY office or text SUBSCRIBE <SPACE> 9-digit account number to 23662. For more information, visit mysky.com.ph.

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M ONDAY : J ULY 18, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

LEAVING CUTESY ROLES BEHIND

J

ake Vargas recently renewed his contract with the GMA Artist Center and expressed his excitement with said development.

“That’s right!” he says. “There will be changes for sure, which I think will be for the better. I hope the fans will get delighted.”

Does this include his departure from cutesy roles?

“Well…yes! I’m 22 and GMAAC thinks I should be doing more mature roles and so am I. There should be some sort of evolution.”

With this, many anticipate that he’ll sport a sexy image on screen just like his contemporary Derrick Monasterio who, of late, stirred the interest of the public once more through this career move.

“Actually, I’m open to doing

more challenging and daring roles in the coming days. Yes, Derrick has done sexy pictorials already and I think it did him well. The public took notice of him once again. As for me, I’m okay with the thought provided that my physique is ready. That’s what I have to work on.”

His followers might be shocked.

“On the contrary, I believe it’s a welcome change for them. I’m

Dominic Ochoa

certain they are excited and happy to see me grow as an actor.”

In undergoing this transition phase, won’t he feel awkward?

“As in, I’ll feel shy or have reservations? No I won’t! As long as I’ve already achieved the ideal physique!” Jake avers.

Asked who his personal choice is for his next leading lady, the good-looking lad reveals: “Someone who has the same height as mine. Ha-ha-ha! But honestly, I have Kris Bernal in mind. I remember we played siblings in one soap opera in the past. To be paired with her on screen will be refreshing, don’t you think?”

Apart from being a mainstay of the long-running sitcom Pepito Manaloto headlined by Michael V, the singer-actor is also busy preparing for his upcoming concert titled Oh Boy! at the Music Museum this August along with Aljur Abrenica, Derrick Monasterio and Rocco Nacino.

“I’m just so happy with these developments in my career. I feel so blessed,” ends Jake.

Most talked about program ABS-CBN’s newest primetime series Born for You continues to make waves here and abroad.

Aside from consistently winning the ratings game every night, it also topped worldscreen.com’s “Social WIT List” of the most talked about shows launched in June worldwide.

According to World Screen, a 31-year-old publication that covers the international media business and analyzes global media trends, the series starring Kapamilya stars Elmo Magalona and Janella Salavador was well received in the online world and garnered thousands of tweets from netizens.

Aside from Born for You, joining the list were Disney Channel’s Adventures in Baby Sitting, Greenleaf that was produced by world-renowned host Oprah Winfrey, and other programs from countries such as the UK, Brazil, France, and Turkey.

Don’t miss the teleserye that proves destiny exists, Born for You weeknights after Dolce Amore on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable 167). Catch up via iWant TV and skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona: the new love team on the primetime block

CROSSWORD PUZZLE org.

Wins at rummy “— new?”

Kind of prof.

Hydrocarbon suffix 42 Twins, e.g.

43 Fly 45 Dizzy feeling 47 Resident 48 “Kidnapped” monogram 49 Tack 50 Space shuttle’s path 53 Go off-course 54 Ph.D. exams 58 Difficult (2 wds.)

61 Not a repro.

62 Backless slipper 63 Grimm heavies 64 Without the ice 65 Skewer 66 Bamboo muncher 67 Spade et al.

DOWN 1 Line of stitches 2 A Guthrie 3 In — (as found) 4 Sensations 5 Aries mo.

6 Irish tongue 7 Old saying 8 Gruff 9 Remark 37 38 40 41

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Mouth off 5 Culture mediums 10 Hong — 14 Mr. Clapton 15 Galileo taught there 16 Black-and-white snack 17 Wasatch ski resort 18 Wallet contents (2 wds.)

20 22 23 24

Pitcher’s spot Size choice Cub Scout leader “The Many Loves of — Gillis” 26 — alai 27 Following the herds 30 Olive stuffer 34 Play wrap-up (var.)

35 Pear-shaped fruits 36 Amateur-sports

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

10 “Lend Me Your Comb” guy 11 Sarah — Jewett 12 Explorer Alexandra David- — 13 Prado painter 19 Polite addresses 21 Long-gone bird 25 VIPs 26 Picture puzzles 27 Mideast desert 28 Say one’s piece 29 Sourdough 30 Quarry 31 Twangy 32 Preference 33 Exterior 35 Mi followers 39 Cable network 40 Wing parts 42 Like river bottoms 44 Kill a bill 46 Hot dish stand 47 Grew light 49 Aberdeen kid 50 Electrical units 51 Stay in the Army (hyph.)

52 “— Ha’i” 53 Guru’s practice 55 Land measure 56 Mr. Neeson 57 Some NCOs 59 Ike’s party 60 Cookie-selling org.

******** According to Dominic Ochoa, he isn’t sad that his ABS-CBN starrer My Super D recently had its curtain call.

“Actually, more than sadness, I feel more overwhelmed. Imagine, who would have thought that at this point in time, I’d still be given the chance to play a title role on television?

I’ve been here in the ‘biz for decades and it was fortunate that I was picked to breathe life to said superhero part,” he avers.

If there’s one thing he would miss about the show, it’s his working rapport with child star Marco Masa who played

Young actor Jake Vargas renews his ties with the Kapuso Network

his son in the story.

“He’s such a talented and professional kid! We had great fun on the set. I wish we can still work again in future projects.”

After My Super D, many ask if it’s just okay with him if he’d play supporting roles again.

“Of course! I’ve never been choosy with the roles I portray on screen. It is still work. As I’ve said, My Super D came as a surprise.

It’s no big deal to me if I’d be back playing support,” states Dominic.

M ONDAY : J ULY 18, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C7

DINGDONG AVANZADO

PAYS HOMAGE TO ENGLISH OPM

W

ho says OPM has to be a strictly Tagalog affair?

Some of the most enduring, well-loved OPM classics were penned in English, and could very well stand up to the equally immortal standards penned by foreign composers.

Prince of Pinoy Pop Dingdong Avanzado revisits some of

these memorable pop ditties in his forthcoming concert dubbed e-OPM at the Zirkoh Bar on T. Morato in Quezon City, 9 p.m. tomorrow (July 19). Sharing the spotlight is his back-up band, The Doorbells.

Politics takes a backseat for Avanzado. He was the Vice Governor of Siquijor but opted not to seek re-election last May. He now focuses his time and atten-

tion to music, and eagerly anticipates the release of his latest single and music video.

Just recently, Dingdong, together with wife Jessa Zaragoza and daughter Jayda returned from Hawaii where they mounted the first overseas leg of Jessa’s I Am Me concert series.

The couple is expected to kick off their world concert tour soon.

OPM singer Dingdong Avanzado (center) with his back-up band The Doorbells

Music icons honor Levi Celerio in ‘ASAP’

OPM icons Hajji Alejandro, Rico J. Puno, Rey Varela and Marco Sison

An evening of music, laughter and nostalgia That’s how the mood will be on Aug. 27 as the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) luminaries of the 70s and 80s grace the stage of The Theatre at Solaire in an evening of enduring songs that will surely strike a chord in a concert dubbed as The OPM Legends – The Reunion concert.

Rey Valera, Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, and Marco Sison – the voices that serenaded many love-inspired, hopeless romantics from days not so long ago, and whose songs ruled the airwaves and topped the charts.

“This is one of a kind show we all want to look forward to”, exclaimed Audie Gemora, Solaire Resort and Casino’s director for Entertainment.

“It’s a perfect balance of beautiful music and fun antics this bunch is widely known for. An evening of total entertainment”, he added.

Unbeknownst to those who may not have been born in that era, “Maging Sino Ka Man,” “Tayong Dalawa,” and “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko” are just three of the popular hits by legendary singer and songwriter, Rey Valera. His strings of songs have now been musical inspirations and title to several television drama series. Marco Sison’s “My Love Will See You Through,” “Make Believe,” and “Si Aida, Si Lorna, at Si Fe” have repeatedly made their course in videoke bars and have remained a popular choice.

Before many local singing matinee idols, it was Hajji Alejandro who melted the hearts of many Filipina teenagers with his hits like “Nakapagtataka,” “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika,” and “Panakip Bu-

tas.” Hajji’s charm on stage earned him the title “kilabot ng mga kolehiyala” of the 70s. On the other hand, with his signature punch lines and jokes - Rico J Puno is one act you should not miss. Rico’s “Lupa,” “Macho Gwapito,” and “May Bukas Pa” are still considered a favourite these days with the latter made into a theme song of a popular local television soap opera of the same title.

“The concert will surely be a trip down memory lane that will equally appeal to all generations,” said Gemora.

Two years since its launch in 2014, The Theatre at Solaire continues to flourish in the industry that is now building a whole new level of interest especially from international producers.

“Somehow, somewhere there will always be a Filipino talent in every act – be that on stage or off stage. With the most recent Les Misérables, we have seen three Filipinas playing major roles in that sensational production. The Theatre at Solaire continues to be a catalyst in supporting our world class Filipino talents and we are serious in that way”, said Gemora.

“We have so much lined up for the Filipino audience. The Entertainment City is getting livelier and we are making sure that Solaire Resort & Casino is at the forefront of world class performances and shows”, he added.

The OPM Legends – The Reunion Concert is set on Aug. 27, Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Theatre at Solaire. Visit www.ticketworld. com.ph for tickets.

The biggest names in the Philippine music industry once again gathered to celebrate the music of another OPM icon, Levi Celerio in ASAP yesterday.

Joining Tribute Master Ariel Rivera were Rachel Alejandro, Cris Villonco, Bituin Escalante, Isay Alvarez, Robert Sena, Chad Borja, and Eva Eugenio plus a special performance by Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales.

Sarah Geronimo raised the excitement with an ultimate concert treat while the ASAP Birit Queens – Morissette Amon, Klarisse de Guzman, Jona Viray, and Angeline Quinto—take on James Bond themes.

There was a sexy dance battle among Ritz Azul, Arci Munoz and Sarah Lahbati and the Kapamilya heartthrobs – Jerome Ponce, Joshua Garcia, Grae Fernandez, Brace Arquiza, John B, Joaquin Reyes, Paolo Angeles, and Ryle Santiago thrilled their fans.

McNeal “Awra” Briguela and Simon “Onyok” Pineda from FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano also invaded the ASAP stage with a performance that surprised their fans.

The show also featured the Grand Album Launch of Rayver Cruz. There was also a special acoustic treat from Iñigo Pascual, Yohan Hwang, CJ Salvador plus Sue Ramirez, Maris Racal, and Loisa Andalio.

Meanwhile, in ASAP LSS, Toni Gonzaga, Kean Cipriano, Bailey May, Ylona Garcia, Dingdong

Levi Celerio was a prolific songwriter, lyricist and composer with over 4,000 songs to his credit

Avanzado, and Jolina Magdangal made the audience felt being in love again, and later sand their hearts out with Adele hits from ASAP Soul Sessions.

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Cagayan de Oro; July 21 - Lispher Inn Davao; July 22 - Bayfront Hotel Cebu; July 23 - Metro Centre Bohol; July 24 - Bethel House Dumaguete; July 28 - Cavite; and on July 28 - Bicol.

For details, call Jhee (099527023 04/09990074698/09151792087) or (02)6593834)/www.myjavita.com Javita founder and CEO Stan Cherelstein, Juvs Pabilonia and Ramos Estaris with the students of River Spring School in a CSR activity held at Sky Ranch in Tagaytay

M ONDAY : J ULY 18, 2016

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

KAPUSO GREETS EVERYONE

‘AVISALA’

ISAH V. RED

T

his July, GMA Network proudly brings back the popular telefantasya that changed the landscape of primetime TV with the long awaited “requel” of Encantadia. (“Requel,” by the way, is from the words “prequel’ and “sequel,” the former meaning prelude and the latter follow up. The network insists this edition is neither a prelude nor a follow up, hence, it is a requel.)

This highly acclaimed saga won the hearts of Filipinos 11 years ago, and upon its return, the Kapuso Network is all set to bring superior and world-class entertainment to its loyal Kapuso fans.

Back in 2005, playing the roles of the four Sang’gres were Iza Calzado, Karylle Tatlonghari, Diana Zubiri (all three now in another network), and Sunshine Dizon. And this year, the Kapuso stars who bagged the much-coveted roles of the four

Sang’gres are Kylie Padilla, Gabbi Garcia, Sanya Lopez, and Glaiza de Castro.

Holding strong values of forgiveness, acceptance, and responsibility, the “requel” tells the story of sisterhood, family, and a great forbidden love that bridges two different worlds—that of humans and the magical world of Encantadia.

In the series, Kylie Padilla is Amihan, the keeper of the gem of air. She is known for being mature and nurturing as she protects her loved ones no matter what. Raised by her father in the land of mortals, Amihan learned to be an independent thinker--a characteristic envied by her sisters.

Gabbi Garcia breathes life into the character of Alena, the third among the four, who keeps the water gem. Romantic and carefree, she lives to love and to find that one person who will complete her. She finds that love in Ybarro (Ruru Madrid), a charismatic Barbaro whose past is as much a mystery to him, as it is to her.

Meanwhile, the fearless and headstrong Danaya (Sanya Lopez) is the youngest among the four. She keeps the earth jewel and has an unwavering sense of justice.

Glaiza De Castro is Pirena, keeper of the

gem of fire and eldest of them. Passionate and outspoken, the fiery young woman wishes to become the next queen of mga diwata. However, she feels neglected as her mother’s decision chooses her sister, Amihan.

At the helm of Encantadia’s new version is no less than director Mark Reyes. He shares that the well-planned preparation of the show’s comeback makes it one of the grandest television series to date.

“There’s so much more reasons to watch the show. Encantadia’s requel is one of the biggest projects in Philippine television. It’s the story that you’re going to get. Ang naging paghahanda rito—from the costumes to the script to the set hanggang sa graphics, lahat— three times bigger sa unang version.”

Playing special roles are Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera-Dantes as Raquim and Ynang Reyna Minea, respectively.

Completing the stellar cast are John Arcilla as Hagorn, Rocco Nacino as Aquil, Ruru Madrid as Ybarro, Sunshine Dizon as Adhara, Christian Bautista as Apitong, Rochelle Pangilinan as Agane, Vaness del Moral as Gurna, Pancho Magno as Hitano, Buboy Villar as Wantuk, Carlo Gonzalez as Muros, Kate Valdez as Mira, Mikee Quintos as

Keepers of the four gems in Encantadia: (From left) Pirena (Glaiza de Castro), Amihan (Kylie Padilla), Alena (Gabbi Garcia) and Danaya (Sanya Lopez)

Lira, Starstruck finalist James Teng as Pako, introducing Starstruck winners Klea Pineda as Muyak and Migo Adecer as Anthony, and Solenn Heussaff as Cassiopea.

Adding glimmer to the powerhouse ensemble are Julia Lee as Alira Naswen, Leandro Baldemor as Dado, Neil Ryan Sese as Asval, Ryan Eigenmann as Berto, Angelu de Leon as Amanda, Ana Feleo as Ades, Roi Vinzon as Arvak, Jestoni Alarcon as Armeo, with special participation of Max Collins as Amihan, the sister of Ynang Reyna Minea.

What is the prophecy that led the queen of Encantadia to bear four children? And will the four princesses be able to find camaraderie in one another to fight for their kingdom as they find unity among themselves?

Catch the enchanting story of Encantadia beginning tonight on GMA Telebabad and will premiere worldwide on GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. Get the latest updates about Encantadia from the official Facebook page of GMA Drama www.facebook.com/GMADrama, twitter account @GMADrama and the GMA Network website www.GMANetwork.com.