The Standard - 2016 February 10 - Wednesday

VOL. XXIX NO. 363 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDay : FEBRUaRy 10, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Endorsement. Vice President Jejomar Binay endorses Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, a candidate for senator, during the start of the United Nationalist Alliance’s campaign in Mandaluyong City. (Story on A6) VEr NoVENo

marcos closes in on escudero

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

SENATOR Francis Escudero still led over other vice presidential candidates even as Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gained six percentage points to narrow the gap, the latest The Standard Poll showed.

MALACAÑANG PHoTo BUrEAU

The survey, conducted by resident pollster Junie Laylo from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4, had 3,000 respondents—all of whom are registered voters with biometrics and who said they are sure to vote. The respondents came from 79 provinces across the country, the National Capital Region, and 21 highly urbanized cities outside of Metro Manila. The survey has a national margin of error of +/- 1.8 percent.

POLL While Escudero retained his lead, his rating fell two percentage points from 33 percent in December to 31 percent in January.

Marcos, on the other hand, gained six percentage points, rising from 19 percent in December to 25 percent in January.

The biggest improvement, however, was posted by Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who jumped to third place with 20 percent, up nine percentage points from 11 percent in December.

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DANNY PATA

Cliffhanger race for President on MANNY PALMEro

Proclamation Day. From top counterclockwise: President Benigno Aquino III presents LP

candidates Manuel Roxas II and Leni Robredo in Roxas City; Independent candidate Grace Poe and her son pray inside Quiapo Church before proceeding to Plaza Miranda; Jejomar Binay and Gringo Honasan attend a rally in Mandaluyong City; Rodrigo Duterte proclaims his candidacy in Tondo, Manila; Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Miriam Defensor-Santiago announce their bids in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

A CLIFFHANGER race to lead the Philippines began Tuesday with the adopted daughter of a dead movie star and a toughtalking politician who claims to kill criminals among the top contenders.

The three-month election campaign got under way with four presidential aspirants

standing a genuine chance of succeeding Benigno Aquino, who is prevented by the Constitution from running for a second term.

Since emerging from dictatorship three decades ago, the Philippines has seen its political scene dominated by elite families, celebrities, corruption and violence. Next page

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MMDA starts removing illegal campaign posters

By Joel Zurbano

THE Metro Manila Development Authority has started removing campaign materials posted in prohibited areas as part of its “Oplan Baklas” campaign, a joint effort with the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police.

Prohibited areas include electrical posts, bridges and overpasses, main buildings, public buildings, center islands, and trees.

Those who violate the rules could be sentenced to one to six years of imprisonment.

The candidate featured in the materials will also be charged if it is proven that he gave instructions or permission for his campaign materials to be posted in illegal areas.

The MMDA group started this campaign along Lacson Avenue in Manila, from SM Sta. Mesa all the way to Dimasalang and to España Avenue.

MMDA personnel took down tarpaulins hanging from lamp posts,

Cliffhanger...

From A1

Those factors are once again dominant themes in this year’s contest for the presidency, as well as the thousands of national and local posts up for grabs in the May 9 elections.

The current presidential frontrunner is Grace Poe, an inexperienced politician who is riding a wave of popularity among the tens of millions of poor Filipinos for her adopted father, Fernando Poe Jr. “I owe this top ranking... to the Filipino people, who continue to put their faith in my capacity to lead the country,” Poe said Tuesday after a second national survey released in recent days put her on top with about 30 percent support.

Poe’s father became one of the nation’s most loved actors by playing characters who championed the poor, then nearly translated

plastered on foot bridges and sidewalks, and nailed onto trees.

“Those are not allowed as there are designated common poster areas. Those posted on electric lines are dangerous. Violators will be penalized. We take photos before, during, and after. Then we show it to the chairman who will then coordinate with the Comelec,” said team leader Francis Martinez.

The MMDA said that in the last elections, illegally posted campaign paraphernalia from all over Metro Manila filled about 22 trucks.

Authorities warned candidates and supporters that campaign materials would be removed unless they are in common poster areas, includ-

that into political success by coming second in the 2004 presidential elections.

Poe, 47, only launched her political three years ago when she entered the Senate, but has enjoyed huge success by trading on her father’s name while portraying herself as a reliable, honest advocate of the poor.

However, opponents have petitioned the Supreme Court to disqualify Poe, arguing she cannot prove she is a “natural-born Filipino” because she does not know who her biological parents are.

The Supreme Court could also disqualify Poe for failing to meet residency rules, because she spent many years living in the United States and gained US citizenship before renouncing it and returning home.

Aquino wants to hand over the keys to the presidential palace to longtime ally Mar Roxas.

“Roxas has competence and integrity, tried and tested,” Aquino said as he stood alongside his friend

ing some public markets and parks identified by the city government and the Comelec.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the illegal posting of election materials are very visible despite the numerous warnings and reminders.

“It’s disappointing to see that many [violations], such as those nailed to trees. Again, that is very disappointing. I don’t think the Comelec was amiss, nor the people, in reminding candidates of our disdain for such practices,” he said in a press conference.

Jimenez added that they have been receiving reports, including those from their deputized agencies like the MMDA, regarding numerous violations of election campaign rules.

He warned that they will give erring candidates only three days to take down the illegally placed campaign materials.

Candidates who will fail to comply with the order will be summoned by the poll body.

“We will submit them to the

and fellow Liberal Party stalwart at a campaign rally in Roxas’s home province of Capiz in the central Philippines.

“We have come a long way and this upcoming election is a referendum on the straight path. You will decide whether the change we have fought for will be permanent or a mere vacation from our long history of widespread corruption and poverty.”

However Roxas, 58, a US-educated investment banker from one of the nation’s richest families, has consistently trailed in the polls.

Analysts blame a lack of charisma and inability to connect with the poor masses.

In contrast, controversial populist politician Rodrigo Duterte, 70, is making a charge for the presidency by vowing a ruthless crackdown on crime.

“There will be killings. There will be a lot of blood,” Duterte said this week, as he pledged to wipe the streets clean of criminals.

Law Department for evaluation, whether or not they can be cited for violations of the Omnibus Election Code,” he added.

Jimenez again called on the public to report violations by posting them on social media with the hashtag #SumbongKo. “What is important is that the materials are documented and once they are documented, then, we can take them down,” Jimenez said.

Other election violations may also be reported to the Comelec such as raffles, contests, and other activities that promise cash prizes or gift items.

Jimenez also reminded candidates that conducted kick-off rallies on Tuesday to immediately take down their streamers posted in their respective venues.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10049, streamers for the public meeting or rallies may be displayed five days before the date of the meeting and should be removed within 24 hours after the event. With PNA

Human rights groups have accused Duterte of running vigilante “death squads” that killed more than 1,000 suspected criminals during his many years as mayor of the major southern city of Davao.

Duterte has acknowledged the existence of the death squads and said in speeches and press conferences in recent months that he had overseen the killings of drug traffickers.

The final major contender is Jejomar Binay, who heads the main opposition party and is the current vice president—the nation’s two top posts are elected separately.

Binay, 73, has spent decades building a vast political machine but he has had to endure a barrage of corruption allegations that have seen him lose his front-runner status.

A Senate committee recently recommended Binay be charged with graft for kickbacks allegedly taken during his long stint as mayor of the nation’s financial capital, Makati. AFP

Marcos...

From A1

Senator Alan Cayetano slid to fourth place with 15 percent, falling three percentage points from 18 percent in the previous survey, followed by Senators Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV with five percent and four percent, respectively.

Across geographic areas, Escudero was the top choice of voters from the NCR (37 percent), South Luzon/Bicol (40 percent) and Mindanao (26 percent).

A plurality of respondents from the North/Central Luzon at 46 percent said they will vote for Marcos.

Robredo, however, shot past all other vice presidential candidates in the Visayas with 33 percent, a jump of 17 percentage points. In the December survey, the Visayas area was dominated by Escudero (32 percent, now down to 27 percent) and Cayetano (20 percent, now down to 16 percent).

By economic class, Marcos posted a slim lead over Escudero among respondents belonging to the upper and middle classes ABC with 31 percent and 28 percent, respectively. Escudero, however, had a clear lead among Class D (31 percent) and Class E (32 percent) voters.

By gender, male voters were split between Escudero and Marcos with 28 percent each while a plurality of 34 percent of female voters said they will vote for Escudero.

By age group, most of the youth (ages 18 to 34) and middle-aged (ages 35 to 55) voters said they will vote for Escudero while most seniors (56 years old and above) said they will go for Marcos.

Escudero enjoyed a clear lead among Catholic (31 percent), Born Again (32 percent) and Muslim (31 percent) voters, showing that the strong pull of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in Mindanao was not automatically transferable to his running mate, Cayetano. Marcos, on the other hand, was the top choice of Iglesia ni Cristo (40 percent) and Aglipayan (48 percent) voters.

By ethnicity, most Tagalogs chose Escudero, while Robredo led among Ilonggos and Bicolanos. Marcos, on the other hand, was the top choice of Ilocanos and Pangasinenses. Cebuano votes were split among Escudero, Cayetano and Robredo while Marcos and Escudero were tied among Kapampangans and Warays.

The top reasons given by respondents for supporting their vice presidential bets are as follows: 39 percent said they will support Escudero for his experience and clean reputation; 44 percent said they will support Marcos in the hope that he will continue the good deeds of his father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, and in the belief that he could be a good leader; 42 percent said they will go for Robredo for her potential as a leader and in the hope that she will continue the good deeds of her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo; 33 percent said they will vote for Cayetano for his experience and untainted reputation; and 38 percent said they will support Trillanes for his experience in the military and for being perceived as principled.

The top reasons for junking vice presidential candidates are as follows: 31 percent said Escudero is only their second choice and they would prefer him to remain in the Senate; 42 percent feared Marcos will be like his father and impose martial law; 57 percent said they won’t vote for Robredo because she is inexperienced and not well known; 33 percent said they don’t know much about Cayetano, who is perceived to lack experience; 34 percent said they do not like Honasan because he led coup attempts and is not well known; and 36 percent said they will not support Trillanes because they do not know him and he is a member of the Magdalo Group.

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Binay to undo incumbent’s ‘sins’ AS THE presidential campaign period officially kicked off on Tuesday, the opposition United Nationalist Alliance said it will undo the underspending and oppression by the Aquino administration of the overtaxed middle class and the poorest of the poor.

Changing of the guard. New Eastern Mindanao Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista (left) bids goodbye to outgoing deputy commander and now 3rd Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Harold Cabreoros in Davao City.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, UNA’s presidential candidate, vowed to scrap the 30-percent income tax being paid by salaried state and private-sector workers who receive P30,000 a month and below.

At least six million salaried employees, including the middle classes and daily wage earners, would take home their salaries in full when he became the next President, Binay said.

In contrast to the “insensitive, heartless and lack of compassion” by the Aquino administration, Binay adopted the “malasakit” or compassionate platform of senatorial candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, one of the guest candidates who showed up at his proclamation rally in a slum area in Mandaluyong City.

On Day One of the campaign trail, Binay, like Romualdez, vowed to bring back malasakit in public service.

“With all the problems that we will inherit from this administration, we need a president who does not evade the problems, who does not just keep quiet, who does not blame and does not get confused in times of crisis, and does not abandon his people in the middle of a fight,” said Binay, apparently referring to President Benigno Aquino III who, his critics say, is known for his “selective justice,” his being vindictive, and his slow response and inaction in such crises as the Luneta hostage incident, the Yolanda tragedy and the Mamasapano massacre.

The senior citizens, who got furious when

Aquino vetoed the proposed the P2,000 increase in their pensions, would be included in the coverage of the 4Ps, he said.

Binay said some 20 million students would also see themselves enjoying free books, school supplies and uniforms, which were implemented in Makati City when he was mayor.

He said at least P65 billion would be allocated to public school students to be provided with free supplies.

Binay said all these were possible because more revenues could be raised by curbing smuggling, enforcing efficient tax collection and ending government underspending.

“To those who were saying all these will not happen because the government will go bankrupt, my answer is simple: Billions of revenues are lost in smuggling. Billions more are wasted due to government agencies’ wrong spending,” Binay said.

He reminded his supporters that the present administration had promised that, in six years, poverty would be eradicated.

“Six years is almost over but instead of eradicating poverty or even reducing it, the poor got even poorer,” Binay said.

He took potshots at the administration’s much-tauted “tuwid na daan” that, he said, had brought massive poverty, joblessness, expensive health care and education and hunger instead of good public service.

He said the peace-and-order situation had become worse.

Binay introduced and proclaimed his running mate Senator Gregorio Honasan and senatorial candidates Alma Moreno, Princes Jacel Kiram, Rey Langit, Alan Montano, former Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas, and world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao.

He described Romualdez as a “friend who has malasakit for the poor.”

Romualdez aside, Susan Ople, also a guest candidate, showed up at the rally. Christine F. Herrera

Miriam: When I’m gone, Bongbong will replace me “IF I AM no longer around it will be Bongbong. I will give him my advice at night while he’s sleeping with Liza,” Senator Miriam DefensorSantiago said Tuesday.

She was referring to her running mate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos.

Speaking at the Imelda Cultural Center in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Santiago said if she was elected President and something happened to her, “we want someone young and idealistic to replace me.”

“You are never too young to make a difference,” Santiago told the audience

as she and Marcos kicked off their campaign for the May elections.

“You will choose one who is excellent, with good academics and with concern.”

Santiago had earlier said she had won her battle over stage 4 lung cancer but was still feeling its symptoms.

She promised their supporters in her opening speech that she will send all those involved in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam to “brand-new jails.”

She vowed to jail the corrupt once elected, and they could choose be-

tween a standard jail or a deluxe jail.

She and Marcos will come up with three types of jail: ordinary, business class and first class.

Marcos told the crowd he chose Santiago to run with him because they’d been “desk mates” in the Senate.

“The one thing I learned from our candidate is meritocracy: the recognition of excellence,” Marcos said.

But he said he learned his leadership skills from his mother, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos and his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos.

“In this coming elections no one will be left behind. Long live Ilocos Norte!” Marcos said. He asked the Ilocanos to “get rid” of their regionalistic mentality and to revive nationalism.

“Wherever we came from— whether we are Ilocano, Bicolano, Tagalog, Bisaya or Ilonggo, we are all Filipinos,” Marcos said.

“So we must vote for a leader who will remind us that nobody will love the Filipinos except we Filipinos.”

Marcos is running second in the latest survey on the preferences for vice president. The Marcos fam-

ily is banking on the so-called Solid North to deliver the votes for him on election day.

Santiago said she had given a lot of thought on where she would launch my presidential campaign.

“Some have advised that I begin in the South because I come from the Visayas,” she said.

“But here I am now in the North to show the strength of my alliance with Senator Bongbong Marcos.”

Santiago hails from vote-rich Iloilo. She enjoyed strong support from the Visayas in the past elections.

Macon ramos-Araneta

Can’t do without Alan—Duterte DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday called on his supporters to vote not only for him but also for his running mate Alan Peter Cayetano under the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

“I cannot make it without Alan,” Duterte said. “It is only through a Duterte and Cayetano administration that we can truly make a meaningful change for the Philippines and for the Filipinos.”

Duterte said it would be useless if he won the presidency but Senator Cayetano failed to be elected vice president, or if Cayetano won and he lost.

“It has to be the two of us running the Philippines, the two of us leading the people, solving the problems that are making the lives of the people very miserable,” Duterte said.

“It should be the two of us running the

government, making all the changes and reforms for a country and the people who badly need them.”

Duterte said he and Cayetano should both win.

“Don’t vote for me if you do not vote for Alan,” he said.

Duterte’s party mate Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the Duterte-Cayetano tandem was the best.

“This is a partnership that must never be separated. This is a solid tandem standing on a solid platform of government,” Pimentel said.

Duterte’s political agenda are anchored on stamping criminality, raising living standards, improving social services, ending internal conflict and building peace, and shifting to a federal-parliamentary system of government. rio n. Araja

Job fair. Caloocan City residents join a job fair at city hall organized by Mayor Oscar Malapitan. Andrew rAbulAn

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Roxas, Robredo stump in Panay

By Sandy Araneta and John Paolo Bencito

Strength in prayer. Tolosa, Leyte parish priest Msgr. Alex Opiniano (left) leads a prayer for leaders for senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (3rd from right) and wife first district congressional candidate Yedda Romualdez (4th from right) who kicked off their campaign at the community center in Tacloban City. Also in the photo are Tingog Sinirangan party-list first nominee Jude Acidre (right) and second nominee Shan Palami.

VER NOVENO

Poe: Govt with heart for oppressed Pinoys

By Macon Araneta and Rey E. Requejo INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace PoeLlamanzares launched her bid for the presidency on Tuesday, promising a “government with a heart” to all her “ fellow Filipinos” who have been oppressed and belittled by the Aquino administration.

Poe kicked off her campaign at historic Plaza Miranda in Manila’s Quiapo district as another magistrate of the Supreme Court questioned the Commission on Elections for making a conclusion of law on the citizenship of foundlings like Poe, even before duly ascertaining the facts.

“I have been oppressed and be-

littled, but I rise to fight again after each battle, after the passing of each storm of my life and fate,” said Poe who is facing disqualification charges before the Supreme Court due to questions on her citizenship and residency.

“They may well call it drama, but this is my real life,” she said.

“It is the reality that many Fili-

pinos live everyday.”

“Despite all these, I stand before you today as a Filipino, a woman who knows how to fight bullies and oppressors, a leader with a heart that loves our country and people. It is from the people that I draw strength so I may serve them truly and effectively,” she added.

Poe, accompanied by her husband Neil and son Bryan, vowed to address the issues for which the Aquino administration has been severely criticized.

She said she will pursue inclusive programs for the economy, education, universal health care and vowed to run a government against corruption and discrimination.

“We are all the same,” she said.

“Each of us should be able to realize our dreams. Every child should be able to dream of becoming a teacher, a policeman, a prosperous farmer, a lawyer and even a president of our country.”

“I am Grace Poe, and in our Gobyernong may Puso [government with a heart], you are my family,” she said even as the citizenship of foundlings like her were being discussed in the Supreme Court.

During the continuation of the oral arguments on Poe’s petitions seeking to reverse the Comelec decision disqualifying her from the presidential election, Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza questioned the Comelec’s factual basis in disqualifying the senator for being a foundling.

ILOILO CITY—Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II and running-mate Leni Robredo led on Tuesday the administration party’s campaign in Roxas City in Capiz and Iloilo City.

During his speech in his home province of Roxas City, Roxas vowed not to be defeated by a corrupt member of the opposition.

“Our future relies on this. This fight is not that easy,” Roxas said, during his speech at the campaign kick-off of at the Capiz Gynasium, Roxas City, Capiz. “[But] this is a fight worth fighting for.”

“We will not allow ourselves to be defeated by abusive candidates, foolers, and most of all thieves,” Roxas said, as the crowd of more than 7,000 Roxas City residents cheered.

Aside from Roxas, his runningmate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, and the rest of the LP senatorial candidates on Tuesday morning launched their campaign.

President Benigno Aquino III, as guest of honor, called on the Roxas City residents to vote for Roxas, Robredo, the senatorial bets and the party’s other candidates.

Supporters who attended the morning event at the Capiz Gymnasium wore yellow shirts, the LP’s color.

Without naming names, Roxas attacked the previous administrations whom he claimed were filled with corruption for about three decades.

“For 30 years, we have shouted, ‘Enough already, too much already, change already,” said Roxas, echoing the call that powered the 1986 People Power revolution.

Members of the Cabinet were also present, including Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, and Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin, among others.

Poll codes not in escrow

AFTER holding a press conference last month to show that the source codes for the May elections would be placed in escrow with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Commission on Elections admitted Tuesday that the codes were actually not with the central bank yet.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the three sets of codes for the canvassing consolidation system, election management system and the vote counting machine were actually not deposited in escrow contrary to the poll body’s earlier claim.

Jimenez said there was a delay because of a problem

with the trusted build for the CCS after technology provider Smartmatic-TIM had to redo the final trusted build of the EMS, some two weeks after the first version of it was deposited at the BSP, but there was no cause for alarm.

“What I know is that the EMS is ready, the VCM didn’t encounter any problems, and it’s just the CCS,” Jimenez said.

“Sure it’s the end part, and sure, it’s the consolidation part, but it’s one out of three... The build will happen tomorrow, that’s what I was told,” he said.

Despite a day’s delay, Jimenez said this still comes “within tolerance” in the

Comelec’s timelines.

“Our timelines are not do-or-die in the sense that everything will collapse if it doesn’t happen today. There is some flexibility allowed in our timelines. Should I be worried? I’m not worried right now,” he said.

Jimenez also said the loading of the EMS at the Comelec warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, is pushing through on Tuesday.

The EMS generates the ballot design and produces the configuration of each and every clustered precinct, in terms of the number of voters, as well as the serial number that will be read by a particular VCM.

Child labor issues. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (left) discusses child labor and youth unemployment during a forum at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila. With the Secretary are Mark Anthony Bercando of the Department of Education, Pablo Acosta of the World Bank, Jesus Far of Unicef, Giovanni Soledad of the International Labor Organization and forum moderator Julius Caingit.

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Court deletes anti-INC raps

By Rey E. Requejo

The Court of Appeals has ordered to strike out several allegations made by expelled minister Lowell Menorca II against the leaders of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, in connection with the Writ of Amparo he filed against the INC leaders.

Ash Wednesday. Fr. Jerry Habunal of the Sta. Rita de Casia Parish burns dried palm fronds (palaspas) on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 in Baclaran to be used for today’s Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40-day Lenten season. DANNY PATA

Caregivers’ welfare bill okayed

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill establishing standards of protection for local caregivers.

The House passed House Bill 6424, authored by Bataan Rep. Herminia Roman which covers all caregivers employed and working within the country. Roman said professional and responsive care giving is very vital to medically and physically challenged individuals. The country’s aging population, the increase in the number of children born with medical issues and prevalent illnesses are the reasons the demand for caregiving service continues to rise in the Philippines.

“In recognition of the very important role of caregivers in national development, policies in the practice of the caregiving profession must be instituted to protect the rights of caregivers and to promote their welfare towards a decent em-

ployment,” Roman stressed.

The bill, which was approved last Feb. 3 or during the last day of session of Congress, enumerates pre-employment requirements for caregivers, requires an employment contract between the caregiver and the employer and provides for the conditions governing termination of contract.

The bill specifies benefits that are due to caregivers such as the basic necessities of board, lodging and medical assistance to caregivers shall be provided for by the employer.

It provides that caregivers shall be entitled to daily and weekly rest periods, wages of caregivers shall be paid in cash twice a month, with pay slips, and that no deductions shall be made from such wages without the written consent of the caregiver.

Caregivers shall be entitled to an annual leave benefit of five days with pay and shall be covered by the Social Security System, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the

Home Development Mutual Fund or PagIBIg. Under the bill to be known as the “Caregivers Welfare Act,” caregivers are provided with the minimum wage rates such as P7, 000 a month in the National Capital Region, P5, 500 a month in chartered cities and municipalities and P4, 000 a month in other municipalities.

It also includes a provision for the protection of the employer from public disclosure of privileged information and provides for settlement of disputes.

The measure mandates the institution of a system of licensing and regulation to protect caregivers hired through private employment agencies.

It directs the Department of Labor and Employment in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Ex-MRT head: DoTC papers to bolster anti-graft defense

By Rio N. Araja FORMER Metro Rail Transit-3 general manager Al Vitangcol III on Tuesday urged the Sandiganbayan to subpoena the dossiers of the Metro Rail Transit Corp. that have something to do with the MRT-3 interim maintenance contract.

He asked the anti-graft court’s Presiding Justice and Third Division chairperson Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to order the Department of Transportation and Communications and other concerned agencies to present in court the letter from MRTC chairman Tomas de Leon Jr. addressed to former Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas dated July 25, 2012; letter from De Leon to incumbent Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya dated June 3, 2013; letter from Philippine Trams Rail Management and Services Corp.

(PH Trams)-COMM Builders and Technology Philippines Corp., former MRT maintenance provider, to De Leon dated Aug. 31, 2012, and

all other letters sent by De Leon to the secretary of the DoTC on the maintenance of the MRT-3 between July 2012 and October 2013.

Vitangcol said he could use the documents to defend himself in the graft charges he is facing before the Third Division.

In a motion, Vitangcol said “as a private citizen, herein accused would no longer be entertained

by MRTC, much more be provided with said documents.”

The Office of the Ombudsman charged Vitangcol with graft for the alleged anomalous award of the MRT’s multi-million-peso maintenance contract to the joint venture of PH Trams and CB&T. An uncle of the wife of Vitangcol was one of the incorporator.

Vitangcol earlier asked the Sandiganbayan to question Abaya why he was not included in the graft charges over the MRT maintenance contract controversy.

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This came after the CA’s Seventh Division found those allegations made by Menorca in his testimony to be “speculative, conjectural, argumentative, non-assertive of truth, have no relevance to the issues to be resolved, and/or opinions inadmissible as evidence.”

In a 42-page resolution authored by Associate Justice Victoria Isabela Paredes, the CA granted the plea in the opposition filed

by INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo and Sanggunian or Council members Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago and Rolando Esguerra questioning entries in Menorca’s 53-page judicial affidavit.

The appellate court specifically deleted the statement of Menorca that some of the respondents were “threatening us that the Church Administration will not let us live once we get implicated with Antonio Ebanghelista,” referring to the fictitious blogger who publicly hurl allegations of anomalies against the INC leadership.

It also dropped Menorca’s statement pertaining to Manalo: “Bro. Mabasa talked to us inside our house and told us that the decision given by Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo was to give us another chance.”

It also deleted Menorca’s account attributed to Ka Eduardo supposedly uttered by one “Ka TJ,” saying it was hearsay and irrelevant.

The appellate court also ruled as hearsay the statement of the petitioner stating that an INC official “told me not to worry because that people who had the power and influence to put to jail are the same people who has the power to make it disappear, too.”

Associate Justices Magdangal de Leon and Elihu Ybañez concurred in this ruling promulgated last Jan. 13 but released only yesterday.

Respondents INC leaders, through lawyer Patricia-Ann Prodigalidad, have sought the deletion of the entries in Menorca’s affidavit in earlier hearings.

The CA has already approved the deletion of some statements of petitioner, including his claim that he was “forcibly taken upon orders of the INC.” They said Menorca “has no authority and personal knowledge” over such claim.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

QC treasurer seeks to stop Ombudsman

Woodcraft.

Lola Alvina, 68 years old, and her husband, sculpt pestle made of mango wood along the highway of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur on Monday, Feb. 8.

The couple also makes chopping boards, serving trays, figurines, and sungka for more than three decades.

Arching, sculpting and carving wood are the most accessible means of livelihood for locals in the area. Mortarand-pestle combo costs from P35 to P500. OMAR MANGORSI

By Rio N. Araja QUeZON City Treasurer edgar Villanueva on Tuesday filed a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Ombudsman to prevent his dismissal from government service over the auction of the seven-hectare Manila Seedling Bank Foundation Inc. In an interview, Villanueva said the Ombudsman has overlooked a “vital” piece of evidence that could clear him of the administrative case of grave abuse of authority.

In a 20-page resolution, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved Villanueva’s dismissal, perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

Special prosecutor I Loreto Cunanan recommended Villanueva’s removal from service, citing the Manila Seedling was auctioned for lack of a notice of assessment from the Quezon City assessor’s office.

The city treasurer, for his part, challenged the Ombudsman’s decision, saying he was the “less guilty” (among the respondents).

“The Ombudsman investigator has overlooked the revised form of tax declaration that has already incorporated the notice of assessment in it,” he told The Standard.

He said he did not err when he auctioned the seven-hectare property for tax delinquency of P57 million from 2001 to 2011.

“I can prove it [technically] based on solid evidence,” he added.

The Quezon City government, along with the Mitsubishi electric Corp. and National Housing Authority, the lawful owner of the disputed land, planned to build the world’s tallest tower in the area to be called the Philippine Diamond Tower.

During the city’s 75th Diamond Jubilee foundation on Oct. 12, 2014, Quezon City, Mayor Herbert Bautista announced the tower’s construction in 2016.

A city hall source, however, told The Standard that the Manila Seedling represented by its president Leonardo Ligeralde may face another legal battle not with the Quezon City government, but with NHA. “This, after NHA withdrew negotiations with Bautista to develop the site into a P15-billion 612-meter telecommunications tower,” he told The Standard.

“The Manila Seedling could not claim victory over the Ombudsman’s decision that the city’s auction was unlawful because NHA will not allow the Manila Seedling’s return to the disputed lot.”

Romualdez kicks off campaign in Tacloban

By Maricel V. Cruz

Senatorial candidate and leyte rep. Martin romualdez on tuesday launched his campaign bid, wooing the electorate to vote for him in the May polls to push his platform and programs in the Senate aimed at returning “malasakit” [compassion] to public service.

Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, started the 90-day campaign period in his hometown Tacloban City where ordinary people especially survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” reiterated their support for his senatorial bid.

“Today is the beginning of the big battle. I seek people’s trust and support for me to carry and fulfill my platform and programs in the Senate. Let the unity begin here in Tacloban City like what we did during Yolanda and let us return malasakit to public service,” Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc and a three-term

congressman who is running for the Senate under a platform anchored on compassionate governance, told at least 5,000 supporters who attended his political event.

Romualdez, a shared senatorial candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who are both running for president, conveyed a message of hope to the local candidates in his district during the kick-off ceremony of his campaign at the Community Center in Tacloban City.

Tolosa Leyte parish priest Monsignor Alex Opiniano administered the Prayer for Leaders to Romualdez and his wife, Leyte first congres-

sional candidate Yedda Romualdez.

After the event in Tacloban City, Romualdez flew to Ilocos Norte where he joined the kick-off rally of Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in Batac town.

Romualdez was endorsed last week by his aunt, former First Lady and reelectionist Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos.

“I appeal for the solid north vote.

We have to unite to attain true democracy, justice and progress for Filipinos,” said Romualdez.

The tandem of Santiago and Marcos was graced by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos before they visited the Mariano Marcos State University to ask for the support of the students.

Romualdez was scheduled to join the kick-off rallies of Binay in Mandaluyong City and Duterte in Tondo, Manila, as of press time Tuesday afternoon.

Aspiring to get a Senate seat, Romualdez has vowed to push for free

education and good health services, better livelihood and job opportunities, ensuring public safety from various calamities, eliminate corruption and red tape, fight efficiency in public service, and delivery of other social services for Filipinos.

“Let us all work to champion people’s interests and return the malasakit to public service. Let us help each other in seeking true democracy, justice and progress for Filipinos,” Romualdez pointed out.

“Let us fulfill our duties and responsibilities to provide Filipinos better economy and better lives.

There is a need to allocate more funding for education, health and other social services to ensure that those with less in life would enjoy more as malasakit of the government,” Romualdez added.

“The government should work truly in giving Filipinos free and quality education because this would provide an expressway for them to escape poverty and unemployment,” Romualdez said.

Govt: Hybrid train to ease Metro traffic woes

By Macon Araneta

QC Treasurer Edgar Villanueva

SCIeNCe and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo expressed hopes the Hybrid electric Road Train can help declog roads and address the worsening traffic situation in the National Capital Region.

Montejo said that HeRT is a “very practical mass transport solution” that can augment existing systems since it can move a big number of passengers at any given time just like the LRT and MRT.

He also said this is also intended to make the cityscape greener, more livable and conducive to healthy living.

“The Hybrid electric Road Train is environmentfriendly because it can run on electric power batteries instead of solely diesel fuel, therefore creating lesser carbon emission compared with vehicles that run purely on gasoline,” said Montejo.

Moreover, Montejo stressed this innovation will provide private investors an opportuni-

ty to engage in a more efficient and viable enterprise because it is cost-effective.

He said most of its parts are locally sourced, particularly the coaches which are fabricated here in the Philippines.

The hybrid road train, developed by Filipino engineers from DoST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center, is a 40-meter long system of five interlinked and air conditioned coaches.

The front coach contains

the pilot chamber while last coach holds the fuel and power generation system composed of 260 ordinary motor vehicle batteries.

The three remaining coaches can accommodate as much as 60 passengers each for a total of 240 per trip or an estimate of 650,000 passengers in a day.

The train can run at a top speed of 50 kph on a dedicated lane in the existing major thoroughfare in Metro Manila.

The road train is part of the three-component project of

DoST’s Advanced Transport Program under the Makina at Teknolohiya Para Sa Bayan Program or MakiBayan.

The road train is an ideal mode of transport for the Bayanihan sa Daan’s advocacy for a more efficient and environment-friendly mass transport system in big cities across the country. Bayanihan sa Daan pushes for equal sharing of the road to non-motorized means of transportation like bicycles and those who simply chose to walk.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Cebu mayor celebrates lifting of suspension CEBU CITY—Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama celebrated the lifting of his suspension by hearing mass with hundreds of his supporters Monday morning at the Plaza Sugbo in front of the Cebu City Hall.

Rama’s 60-day preventive suspension over the allegedly unlawful demolition of a center island and a street lighting project on Katipunan St., Barangay Labangon, Cebu City started Dec. 10 and ended Feb. 8.

The suspension, arising from an administrative case filed against him by Labangon barangay captain Vic Buendia, was imposed by the Office of the President.

Rama said he did not feel as though he had been suspended.

“I keep on moving around. I keep on serving.

I keep myself busy. That is why precisely I didn’t even think the eighth was approaching. I felt I was not suspended because I didn’t deserve a suspension, too,” he said.

Rama said he went around during Christmas and attended the Misa de Gallo or the traditional Christmas dawn mass.

He also spearheaded the preparation for the Sinulog celebration as chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. He was also active in the city government’s preparation for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.

Rama’s case is still being heard before the Department of Interior and Local Government–Region 7 but DILG hearing officer lawyer Isidro Barrios III has indefinitely suspended formal investigations on the case until after the May elections.

Davao court dismisses farmers’ suit versus UP DAVAO CITY—The Regional Trial Court in Davao City has dismissed the civil suit filed by Davao farmers against the University of the Philippines-Mindanao involving the construction of an P8-billion sports complex because of forum shopping.

RTC Branch 17 Presiding Judge Evalyn ArellanoMorales junked the specific performance case lodged by 117 members of the Bago Oshiro Farmers Association Inc. against UP after learning that another civil suit involving the same property is pending before the RTC Branch 11.

The complex is to be

built by UP and the city government.

The case involved the more than two-million square-meter lot presently occupied by UP-Mindanao, which is part of the one-million-hectare lot previously owned by Japanese firm Otha Development Co. In their complaint, the farmers claimed they had

occupied the lot since 1946 and on the process of the titling the land when the government gave the lot to UP in 1995.

The farmers said they were not informed when President Fidel V. Ramos, on July 3, 1996, signed Proclamation 822 segregating 2,044,312 square meters to UP. They claimed the lots they had been occupying were the ones given by the Board of Liquidators to UP. The complainants argued that they could not be held guilty of forum shopping since the case pending before RTC Branch 11 is for injunction while before RTC Branch 17 is for spe-

cific performance.

But Morales ruled that in the civil case before RTC Branch 11, the complainants also had a counterclaim demanding from UP to follow the terms and conditions in the MoA, which is also the same cause of action they sought in the case they had filed before RTC Branch 17.

The Board of Liquidators is the administrator of the property after the government took it from the Japanese firm in 1946.

“Plaintiff‘s members were prejudiced and defrauded by the registration of the aforesaid lands in the name of the defendant, because it

was done without informing them,” the farmers said in their complaint.

In 1999, the complainants said they had signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Board of Liquidators stating among others that the rights of the occupants should be respected and recognized by UP and to relocate them to any portion of the property as well as to compensate them for the improvements on their occupied lots.

Despite several demands, the complainants said UP refused to comply with the terms and conditions of the MoA prompting them to seek legal action. PNA

Rice terraces. An elderly woman from Bontoc, Mt. Province goes about her farm chores, planting heirloom rice varieties by the famous terraces.

DAVID CHAN

Vizcaya bans plastics within capitol’s premises

Roadworks. President Benigno S. Aquino III and DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson lead the inauguration of the National Road Mianay-Duyoc-Calaan-Panitan Road in Capiz. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has imposed the prohibition of plastic use within its premises in this town of Bayombong.

The prohibition was embodied through the Memorandum No. 02, s-2016 banning the use of plastic materials such as plastic bags or containers within the provincial capitol compound.

Provincial administrator Maybelle Dumlao-Sevillena said that in the provincial capitol alone, tons of plastic wastes are being collected daily due to rampant use of plastic materials.

“The rampant practice of vendors selling plastic products in offices has contributed much to the piling of plastic wastes on a daily basis,” DumlaoSevillena said. PNA

A8

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR W E D N E S D AY: F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

REWARDING INCOMPETENCE THE main character in a popular comic strip that pokes fun at the corporate world one day discovers that in his company, the pay’s the same whether you try or not.

This epiphany is similar to what we have come to realize about the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. When failure to achieve goals consistently goes unpunished, you create a culture of indifference and incompetence that permeates the entire bureaucracy.

We have already documented many times before how the President’s refusal to remove his inept Transportation secretary has led to suffering for millions of hapless commuters, motorists and travelers.

The same can be said of the President’s Agriculture secretary, who has gone unpunished despite various graft and corruption cases filed against him, and his inability to make good on his boast that the country—under the leadership of this administration—can achieve self-sufficiency in rice.

This secretary, however, has proved far more effective at making excuses and clinging to his job.

The lackadaisical attitude towards real work might also explain why there have been no major infrastructure projects completed during Mr. Aquino’s six years in office—despite hefty budget allocations set aside for this purpose.

In law enforcement, this failure to punish the incompetent has had disastrous results. Would the 44 Special Action Force police commandos have died in the covert Mamasapano operation on Jan. 25, 2015 had the President not relied on his friend, the suspended national police chief, to oversee the mission?

This culture of incompetence has seeped into constitutional bodies as well. After compelling millions of registered voters to submit biometric data for their IDs, the Commission on Elections said most of those IDs would not be issued until after the May 2016 elections are over. Frontline personnel at the Comelec, in fact, offer no apologies to people who lined up hours for the IDs, and instead told them nonchalantly that they should expect to receive them years from today.

This week, the Comelec announced too that it would be late in printing the official ballots for this year’s elections, missing its self-imposed deadline for doing so. Worse, one commissioner admitted, problems with the automated vote counting system could actually postpone elections in some provinces. The suggestion is unacceptable, striking as it does at the heart of our democratic system.

The chairman of the Senate committee on electoral reforms expressed disappointment in the Comelec’s lack of foresight and preparedness.

Still, these poll officials continue to draw their pay, along with congressmen who cannot be bothered to attend sessions, Cabinet secretaries who do more harm than good, and a President who delights in the company of fawning incompetents. All this is inevitable when the pay’s the same whether you try or not.

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.

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IT’S NOT JUST A RACE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES

SURE it’s a race. But it’s not only the candidates who will win or lose—it’s us, as well.

The constant danger, when reporting about an electoral contest, is to focus on the horse race and to forget about the issues.

And for reminding us in the media—and the electorate in general—about what really matters in an election, I must thank Bernie Sanders, the American candidate who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the upcoming US polls later this year.

Sanders, in what journalists hereabouts call an “ambush” interview, declared recently that he will not play the game that media wants him to play, which is to hit at his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Sanders said that he and Clinton disagree on certain issues but insisted that he likes her and respects her even when their opinions diverge.

As Sanders explained it, he wants to divide the American electorate less and to unite them more

behind issues like raising the minimum wage, the destruction of the middle class, the lack of universal health care and the problem of most of the country’s wealth going to the top one percent of the population. All these problems, he said, are more important than the daily back-and-forth sniping that media expects the candidates to engage in.

As we plunge headlong into our own campaign period, we would be doing ourselves and our country a huge favor if we are able to set aside our bitter partisan feelings and consider candidates the way they should be considered: As applicants for various jobs that can improve our lives or cause us to sink deeper into the mire of poverty and stagnation.

If the Second Aquino administration has taught us anything, after all, it should be that polarizing the people may be a good strategy for winning elections, if you can rile up enough people against other people. But picking a winner doesn’t necessarily mean the entire country benefits—it just means you picked a winner.

It could also mean electing someone who will keep

Picking a winner doesn’t necessarily mean the entire country benefits; it just means you picked a winner.

alienating the people, because that is what he thinks the people want by choosing him. And ensuring that the cycle continues.

In the current race, we have no shortage of people who are once again claiming to be the opposite of other people. There are even those who promise to continue the politics of polarization, using the same tired, old formula that gave us six years of a President who will not even wear a Philippine flag

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

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on his lapel, so proud is he of dividing the nation.

These are the politicians who, according to Bernie Sanders, may have forgotten that people may be tired of the ceaseless bickering and oneupmanship in the media. Let’s hope the Filipino voters are just as tired as Sanders thinks their American counterparts are.

It’s not just a race, after all. It’s really closer to a matter of life or death for an entire country. *** While most people and politicians seem to have come down hard with election fever, you have to worry about who’s minding the store. In particular, you have to wonder what the precipitous fall of world oil prices is doing to millions of Filipinos working in the hardhit Arab economies—and not just those working in the oil fields, who actually make up the minority of our workers there.

Senator Ralph Recto is one of the few doing the worrying. And he’s come up with a proposal for government to use its vast financial resources to give aid to Filipinos working in the flagging Arab states.

Continued on A11

Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

W E D N E S D AY: F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

TREASON CHARGE AWAITS AQUINO TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO WHEN I asked Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile what crime BS Aquino III could possibly be charged with when he steps down, the senator said without hesitation: “Treason, among many others.”

No doubt about it, the group composed of prominent lawyers, ex-justices and even incumbent judges and justices will file multiple criminal and civil charges against BS Aquino III when he is no longer immune as president. The most damaging of all is his betrayal of public trust.

This is what you call karma.

BS Aquino III’s betrayal of public trust is seen in his attempt, through the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro embodied in the Bangsamoro Basic Law, to create a substate within the republic. This is violative of the Constitution.

BS Aquino III has to account to the people why he had to meet clandestinely with Hashim Salamat, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a secessionist and separatist rebel group, at a small hotel at Narita Airport in Japan. After this, the President has to frame, with Malaysan Prime Minister Najib Razak, the BBL with the MILF. Santa Banana, BS Aquino III was so willing and ready to cede to a Moro rebel group a portion of Mindanao. This is a clear act of treason.

The “other crimes” Enrile said could well be bribery of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the passage of the Reproductive Health Law and the abuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program to have Chief Justice Renato Corona impeached, convicted and ousted. This, for the non-impeachable crime of not revealing all his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

No doubt about it, BS Aquino III will face criminal and civil cases when he steps down. It’s karma.

Retribution.

*** We have three months to go until May 9, Election Day. With my 66 years experience as a journalist and observer of past presidential elections, I don’t give much credit to poll surveys these days. The results can change as the end of the campaign nears.

Poll surveys at this point in time are just that, poll surveys which serve as road maps for candidate whether local or national. It’s poll surveys a month or weeks before Election Day that should provide us a glimpse of the outcome.

For those leading, they have to ascertain their lead, and for those behind, they must work harder.

As far as I am concerned, the presidential candidate with a well-funded grassroots machinery has that distinct advantage. That’s why I ask: Does Mrs. Mary Grace Natividad Kelly Poe Llamanzares have this to ensure her election? I ask this because her popularity does not guarantee her victory. In 1992, Miriam Defensor Santiago was leading in all poll surveys, but President Fidel Ramos eventually won.

This is why Miriam could never forget election strategist Ronnie Puno, whom she blamed for making FVR win. Similarly, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had Puno also as her political and election strategist, who knew how to win elections by pinpointing who could deliver the necessary votes to win.

That’s what I mean by having a well-funded political grassroots machinery.

As I have been saying all along, the administration also has that distinct wellfunded political grassroots machinery. Most of the local government units, mayors, governors and congressmen belong to the Liberal Party.

But can they all be trusted to deliver the necessary votes on Election Day? Santa Banana, we need only to recall the time when Ramos wanted to be nominated as the presidential candidate of his party in that Cavite Convention. He lost, but his strategists led

by Puno did not give up.

With the help of many contributors, Ramos ran just the same, and won finally.

Popularity and name recall give no assurance of victory. Despite the fact that movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. was a byword in every home, particularly among the “masa” who can never distinguish reel from real, FPJ lost to GMA. I am not predicting a Llamanzares defeat (that is, if she is not disqualified by the Supreme Court). All I am saying is that winning an election is not all about

POE VS BINAY THE 90-day campaigning to select the Philippines’ leaders that will govern the country for the next six years began yesterday.

Four are the leading choices for president—Senator Grace Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Araneta Roxas, and long-time Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Analysts are claiming the election is anybody’s game. Not true. The frontrunner is obvious—Senator Grace.

This is because despite her problems with her being disqualified by Comelec as a candidate and questions about her qualifications or lack of them, like her dubious natural-born citizenship and her apparent lack of 10-year residency immediately preceding the May 9, 2016 election, she managed to top two major surveys last January 2016—the Pulse Asia survey of Jan. 24-28, 2016 and the Standard Poll survey of Jan. 27-Feb. 4, 2016.

Both surveys have a margin of error of 2 percent and large sample sizes (1,800 for Pulse Asia) and 3,000 for Standard-Laylo. So you can consider them better-than-average and reliable polls.

In Pulse Asia, Senator Poe tops with 30 percent picking her nationwide, 7 percentage points ahead of VP Binay who has 23 percent. Roxas and Duterte are tied with identical 20 percent of voters choosing them if elections were held today. On a voter turnout of 75 percent of 54 million or 40.5 million, 7 percentage points is a huge advantage—2.835 million votes.

In Standard-Laylo, Poe is also No. 1 with 29 percent, 7 percentage points ahead of No. 2, surprise, a tie between VP Binay and Sec Mar, with identical 22 percent. Again, Grace’s margin is 7 percentage points or 2.835 million votes.

Instructive are the two main reasons in the Standard-Laylo survey given by those voting for the freshman senator despite the defects in her qualifications—they want to try her style of governance (30 percent say so) and they hope she will continue the good deeds of her father (19 percent), a total of 49 percent, exceeding the total of the two main reasons why voters don’t like her—19 percent say she is inexperienced while another 16 percent say she has unproven competence. So despite Grace’s lack of experience and apparent incompetence, voters still want her.

Now, that’s charisma.

Grace seems to be a beneficiary of fanciful mythmaking. Voters think she is a good person and can manage the country. Voters also think her fapopularity and glamor. The bottomline is funding. *** February 14, Valentine’s Day, is the most commercialized day of the year. I have a sneaking suspicion that flower shops, hotels and chocolate stores are in connivance to jack up their prices more than a hundred times.

I know from experience that flowers costing only P750 to P1,200 will now cost from P2,500 to P3,500 depending what kind. My gulay, even on Dapitan Street at the Dangwa terminal where you can buy flowers, they now cost more than a thousand pesos.

Five-star hotels have all their restaurants reserved only for the rich costing from P8,000 to P10,000 per person. Is Valentine’s Day only for the rich?

Santa Banana, even motels and places for trysts

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ ther has done good deeds (what those are is not clear to me, except that in the one time I interviewed FPJ for an hour when he was a presidential candidate in 2004, he came across as a very sincere and earnest person).

Conversely, Binay is a victim of myth, which is that he is very corrupt.

Corrupt too is his family. Surely, the Binays cannot last that long in politics (29 years) if they are venal and corrupt.

The 29 percent who say they won’t vote for Binay point to corruption issues, while another 22 percent note his family’s involvement in anomalous transactions. That’s 51 percent or majority, exceeding, though by a small margin, the total percentage of the two main reasons why voters want him—20 percent because he has done well in Makati, and 19 percent because he has broad experience in governance, a total of 49 percent.

Mar Roxas polled 20 percent in Pulse Asia, the same as Duterte’s. In the Standard-Laylo survey, Mar tied with Binay. That means the second placer could either be Mar Roxas (unbelievable) or Binay (credible).

The Roxas believers want him because he could continue President BS Aquino’s programs like cash for the poor (42 percent) and they want to try his style of governance (13 percent).

Only 11 percent say they vote for Mar because of his broad experience.

About 42 percent like Duterte because he is a disciplinarian (22 percent of 42 percent), and he could stop the drugs menace (20 percent).

Interestingly, Roxas and Duterte are strong because of regionalism. About 35 percent of Visayan voters will go for Roxas; that’s 3.3 million votes. About 44 percent of Mindanao voters will go for Duterte; that’s 4.15 million votes. The 3.3 million votes of Roxas in the Visayas is 37 percent of his total votes of 8.91 million. The 4.15 million Mindanao votes of Duterte is about 51 percent of his total votes. This implies that both Roxas and Duterte do not have the broad appeal of either Poe or Binay.

Poe and Binay are tied in Metro Manila (NCR), 33 percent vs. 32 percent, in Pulse Asia but the senator is far ahead of the VP, 35 percent vs 22 in the national capital. This could be the result of sampling error.

Makati, I assume, is represented by

jack up their prices. That’s what they tell me—in case you may suspect I have been there.

For those who can’t afford to have their wives and loved ones experience Valentine’s Day, McDo will do.

Next only to Valentine’s Day as the most abused and commercialized day is Mother’s Day. *** If you are wondering why the anti-dynasty law will never be enacted by Congress, just take a look at the many political dynasties running in local elections.

There are those in Congress who are in their third term and can no longer run. In their place, it’s either the wife or son or daughter now running.

Santa Banana, in some places, there are sons, daughters, mothers and fathers,

one only respondent (yes, one person in a big city will represent that city).

If the Pulse Asia pollster chooses every third person as respondent, and that third person happens to be a squatter (where Binay has 30 percent of the vote), that persons skews the result in favor of veep. If the third person happens to be middle class or D, where Poe has 32 percent of the vote, to Binay’s 22, that third person affects Poe positively, in the overall results.

How do you cure the sampling error?

Well, you keep interviewing more people—which makes the survey a very expensive exercise.

This makes the Standard-Laylo survey more accurate. Its Metro Manila sample size is 300 (or 10 percent of 3,000), which means Makati could be represented by at least 10 people. More than 3 of those 10 want Poe for president.

That is why it is important for pollsters to disclose their sample sizes by city or town. For all we know, the reason why Roxas is strong in the Visayas is because the pollster concentrated on getting respondents from the Capiz area. And the reason why Duterte has nearly half of Mindanao is that most of the respondents asked were from the Davao area.

This explains why Poe and Binay are such viable frontrunners. They have broad appeal. In the Standard-Laylo January poll, Poe has 35 percent of NCR votes, 37 percent of North Central Luzon, 38 percent of South Luzon/Bicol, 23 percent of Visayas, and 17 percent of Mindanao. Visayas and Mindanao in the MST survey have identical 23 percent share of national votes.

For his part, Binay in January had 22 percent of Metro Manila (same as Duterte’s), 31 percent of North Central Luzon, 23 percent of South Luzon/Bicol, 17 percent of Visayas, and 16 percent of Mindanao.

The combined voting weight of North/Central Luzon (700 respondents or 23.3 percent) and South Luzon/Bicol (also 23.3 percent) or 46.6 percent is enough to neutralize either Visayas (23.3 percent) or Mindanao (23.3 percent).

Conclusion: The candidate who dominates Metro Manila (which has 10 percent of overall votes or 4 million ) will win the presidency in 2016.

So far, per surveys, that’s Grace Poe with 35 percent or 1.4 million votes (against Binay’s 22 or less than 900,000 votes) in Standard-Laylo; and 33 percent (against Binay’s 32 percent) in Pulse Asia. It seems to me about 2 million voters will decide the election. They are in Metro Manila. biznewsasia@gmail.com

cousins running for other positions, if not running against each other.

The next question to be asked is: Why do people of the same surname, almost always win during local elections? Aren’t the people tired of them? No. In local elections, what is important for the people is food on the table, jobs and livelihood. And it’s the members of political dynasties they run to in times of need.

I know this very well because I visit some members of Congress in their homes.

There’s always a long line of people going there to take breakfast, lunch and dinner. When I asked a congressman from La Union, who had a house in Metro Manila, why this was so, he told me: “That’s how it is.

Aside from providing food I have to give them money for

their trips back home and for other things like burials, birthdays, and for basketball courts and uniforms.”

It’s a vicious cycle, actually. Where do you think politicians get their money for all their constituencies?

From graft and corruption.

That’s why I say, so long as people depend on political patronage, my gulay, there will never be an end to graft and corruption.

Similarly, so long as those running for president rely on funding from donors and contributors— a presidential candidate needs at least P3 billion—there will always be graft and corruption.

Donors and contributors just don’t part with their money because they love the face of a candidate.

They do it because it’s an investment for the future and payback comes in the form of contracts in government.

W E D N E S D AY: F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO WHOEVER gets elected the next president has his/her work cut out.

He/she can and should build on the political capital that President Benigno Aquino III squandered in the past six years. To be fair, Aquino scored a plus in the areas of national defense and foreign affairs when he pushed for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement which the Supreme Court upheld. In light of China’s menacing moves on our territorial waters, the Aquino administration must be credited for filing a case in the International Arbitration Court in the Hague challenging our giant neighbor’s nine-dash claim of nearly the entire South China Sea. These two initiatives are vital to our survival as a sovereign nation. Defense cooperation agreements with the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia which provided the country with military hardware (albeit piecemeal and some second hand) is still something to be thankful for.

Whether these countries acted out of genuine concern or were just looking out for their own interests, it’s still good to know we have friends out there. It is reassuring that US Ambassador

THE NEXT PRESIDENT’S PRIORITIES to Manila Philip Goldberg reiterated President Barack Obama’s pledge to defend the Philippines in the event of an external attack.

Going back to domestic issues, the next President and the 17th Congress should (This is not unsolicited advice, these are what we the people as taxpayers demand) focus on the following: Ban political dynasties and lower the ceiling on election spending so the cost of a presidential campaign need not be daunting to qualified candidates.

Pass the Freedom of Information Bill: This is a must for transparency in governance.

LP presidential bet Mar Roxas promised to pass the FOI. President Aquino also promised to do this during the 2010 polls but reneged on it.

Improve the mass transit system to ease commute in the metropolis. This includes a railway run by professionals and more elevated roads to cope with the volume of vehicles Put an end to the exploitative and illegal contractualization of employees to stem the tide of our workers going abroad and being separated from their families. Only the late former Ambassador Roy

IT WAS on Jan. 8, 2015 that I met Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City to try to convince him to give the presidency of the land a try.

After a dinner of inihaw na manok Bisaya, tinowang imbao (clam soup) and a good dinuguan at unairconditioned Conching’s, we hied off to the executive lounge of the Marco Polo Hotel.

We started our conversation at 9:40 p.m. and ended at 2:30 in the early morning of the 9th. By then, he agreed to move around the country on a “listening tour,” peddling his advocacy of a shift to federalism.

To be sure, the idea of revising the present Constitution in order to pave the way for a shift from a highly centralized unitary system to one where power is shared more generously and more responsibly to the periphery is not new.

In 1988, I was appointed secretary-general of Unladbayan, a political movement preaching the merits of a federal system. The group was spearheaded by thenindustrialist Enrique Zobel de Ayala and then-Vice President Salvador H. Laurel. At about the same time, Mindanaoans led by Reuben Canoy, Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Homobono Adaza and others such as Dr. Jose Abueva of the state university were already advocating the same.

But as fate would have it, Zobel had an accident which left him virtually paralyzed, and the na-

It’s not... From A8 Recto has proposed the use of the P2.5-billion contingency fund of President Noynoy Aquino to help returning Filipino workers, thousands of whom are being laid off in the Middle East because of declining oil prices. The use of the fund

agreement his peace panel put together. Peace in Mindanao is a priority for its economic development.

Amend the Charter after the first year of the incoming president and change the form of government from presidential to parliamentary like our neighbors Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and India. There must be merit in the parliamentary form for these countries to stay with it that long.

We do not claim to have a monopoly of good intentions. There are like-minded citizens and some responsible public officials who have the nation’s interest at heart.

The best minds with the best intentions can gather together for a Constitutional Convention to amend the Charter. It’s time we do. Let’s not leave this to the politicians who prefer a Constitutional Assembly so they can perpetuate themselves in power. What this country needs is not the meaningless change and loose change offered by the politicians. What this country needs is a sea change in the composition of Congress and a president who can think out of the box.

These must be addressed.

Otherwise, the change we might all witness could be cataclysmic.

The people have had enough of corruption and political dynasties.

The blooming business After the Year of the Monkey business comes the blooming business of flower sales for Valentine’s Day. Growing flowers for commercial purposes is something entrepreneurs of the trade cannot leave to feng shui or the Chinese belief in energy and harmony for good fortune. For the Andayas of Islandrose in the Tagaytay highlands, it’s mostly sheer hard work.

Giving Baguio which is famous as the country’s flower basket a run for the roses, the Andayas offer an alternative source for those who wish to buy their flowers on or before Feb.14 when the prices of roses rise and the flowers are harder to find in their usual outlets. Even at the Dangwa bus terminal on Dimasalang street where truckloads of flowers from Baguio are delivered, roses cost thrice as much on V Day—if you can still get hold of them.

Ah, the whole world loves a lover, but none more so than a woman willing to settle for a box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses.

Of course, diamonds are preferred, the De Beers kind, if you please.

DUTERTE-CAYETANO

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

Señeres, OFW Family Party List Representative, advocated this.

Increase the Social Security pension for retirees at least by P1,000 to augment their medical bills. The government need not worry about the System’s collapse if we have enough workers supporting the base of the pension pyramid. This, plus some creative management those highly paid SSS executive failed to do.

The funds can be sourced from the Conditional Cash Transfer that encourages mendicancy and from the earnings of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Instead of remitting the government share of revenues to the Office of the President for its social amelioration fund, why not augment the SSS fund?

Generate jobs and disperse industries to other regions like Mindanao by addressing its recurring power outage so the poor won’t have to look for work in Metro Manila which is already bursting at the seams.

Revive the stalled Bangsamoro Basic Law with a new improved autonomous Moro homeland bill to replace the divisive and constitutionally flawed BBL Aquino proposed and the framework peace

scent movement ground to a halt.

VP Laurel continued to advocate a federal system, but his quarrels with then-President Cory colored the advocacy into the partisan.

I have always believed that the country would be better off with regional “states” competing with each other in the field of economics, but united in political vision and purpose. I have studied the systems of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Federal Republic of Germany, Canada, Australia, the United States, even the hybrids that are France, Spain, China and Switzerland.

Which was why there was a commonality of vision with Duterte since that meeting in Davao. I volunteered to help.

The first visit was to Butuan City, my adopted hometown. Like Duterte’s family, mine moved to this Northeastern Mindanao city, then enjoying a logging boom, to seek better economic fortunes back in the early 60s. Duterte’s father was a native of Danao in Cebu, while his mother had roots in Cabadbaran, Agusan, and they moved to Davao del Sur for the proverbial greener pastures after the war.

That was the earlier “diaspora” of people from Luzon and the Visayas going to Mindanao, the proverbial “land of promise” because of an abundance of fertile soil and gentle climate. Now the diaspora is outward and international, borne more out of despair than challenge.

Duterte’s listening tours caught fire. Not a political wildfire, but a regulated blaze that caught a sub-

stantial voter interest. More than just interest in this raw diamond from the South, there was fierce loyalty.

I have written several articles about the man, and so I shall end the description of his current political odyssey here. *** When it was becoming clear to me that he would decide to run for the presidency sometime towards the end of September, I asked him about his choice of a vice presidential teammate. He intimated that it would be either Bongbong Marcos or Alan Cayetano.

I have worked with Cayetano in the past, particularly in the failed impeachment attempts against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Bright and upright, passionately committed to causes, that is what Cayetano is.

My “punto de vista” is always the presidency, and whatever would help promote his victory, not in the narrow arithmetic sense of politics being addition, the conventional wisdom of South plus the vaunted “solid” North which clearly sympathized with the late dictator’s son, was what got me to weigh in for Alan.

Sure, the instant numbers show Marcos ahead of Cayetano, but the latter is “yang” to the Duterte “yin.”

He complements Duterte, both in temper and language. He is humble, and he sees himself as part of a larger vision and a noble purpose, which, in his own words, is about bringing to this benighted land and its despairing people—“tunay na pagbabago.”

Not the “pwede na” and undefined change of Grace and Chiz.

Not the continuity peddled by Mar and Leni. And certainly not the “happy days are here again” of this campaign’s quintessential trapo, Jojo Binay.

I have cast my lot. *** I first entered the political scene when after a series of meetings and intellectual encounters with Ninoy Aquino in Boston in 1981, I was inveigled to help the above ground opposition to the authoritarianism of Ferdinand Marcos. Ninoy “assigned” me to Doy Laurel, who had in 1982 forged together a loose political alliance called the Unido (United Nationalist Democratic Organization). I became Unido’s Deputy Secretary-General until Edsa Uno materialized.

Before Ninoy came back on Aug. 21, 1983 (the original date was Aug. 7), together with the son of Senator Rene Espina of Cebu, we coined “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa” for the homecoming that turned into bloody tragedy, but sparked a popular emotional revolt throughout the land.

The change of leaders through the last three decades have been characterized by cycles of economic mini-booms and not-too-deadly busts. But due to lack of vision, bad implementation and a clear lack of political will, the people are mired in almost hopeless poverty. It gets worse and worse. The gap between the haves and the have-nots gets wider and wider.

The chasm cannot be bridged by the “stateside” rhetoric of the

popular Grace Poe, nor the razzma-tazz perorations of Chiz.

Having learned of the magnitude of the unanswered corruption charges against the former mayor of Makati, now the vice president, I cannot support a “happy days are here again” scenario. Continuing a failed “daang matuwid” which began with so much promise of “pag walang korap, walang mahirap”, yet now ends with more poverty caused by the sheer incompetence of many of the trusted and close allies of the leader, and a pre-disposition to cold insensitivity towards the people’s simple needs, also simply leaves me cold.

Duterte-Cayetano, to be sure, is not without any faults. And the presidential candidate is, as earlier described, a raw diamond, who prefers to be uncut than polished. Still, I would take a leap of faith, on a team that promises real and meaningful change, and on a president with clear political will—“tapang at malasakit.”

Being the consummate political technician I have always tried to be, I have weighed the tandem from my preferred metrics of Character, Competence and Compassion.

They pass with flying colors.

Because of my voluntary commitment to their cause, I have written our publisher, the highly esteemed and respected Rollie Estabillo, and sought leave from writing articles for The Standard, until such time that my writing shall not be construed as propagandizing. He has graciously accepted.

And so, goodbye for now.

for retraining returning workers and providing them with other aid was made necessary, according to Recto, because the national budget could never have predicted that oil would fall to its current $30 per barrel price.

“This is one macroeconomic assumption which the current budget missed,” Recto said. “In fact, the

budget, which will be financed in part by taxes on imported oil, was based on an oil price forecast of $55 to $75 a barrel for 2016.”

Another possible source of funding to aid returning OFWs, according to Recto, is the P67.5-billion Unprogrammed Fund in the budget, which can be only drawn if spe-

cific or general revenue collection for the year exceeds target. “What is funny is that while the language of this fund reserves P30 billion of it for contingent liabilities of Public Private Partnership projects, not a single centavo is earmarked for displaced OFWs,” Recto said.

I wonder if there are still admin-

istration officials who aren’t so busy with the elections that they will heed Recto’s call. Maybe, just maybe, these people will also spare a thought for our distressed overseas workers and nudge Aquino—never mind if this is the same President who famously said “buhay pa naman kayo, di ba?”

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

ii.

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

REVISED IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7656, “AN ACT REQUIRING GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR -CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS TO DECLARE DIVIDENDS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

b.

As a general rule, GOCCs shall declare and remit Dividends in the form of cash in order to raise additional revenues for the National Government. GOCCs intending to remit Dividends in any form other than cash, i.e. stock or property, may do so only upon express written permission from the Secretary of Finance. Request for remittance of Dividends in stock or property shall be submitted to the DOF on or before 15 May of the year following the relevant Dividend Year, with the documentary requirements under Annex A.

c.

In the case of a stock corporation, GOCCs may declare stock dividend to the National Government provided that their authorized capitalization has not been fully paid-up. Stock dividends shall be valued at par or the book value of shares based on the latest audited financial statements of the GOCCs.

Pursuant to Section 7 of Republic Act No. 7656, which was approved on 09 November 1993, the following rules and regulations are hereby promulgated to implement the provisions of the said Act: Section 1. Title These rules shall be known as the “Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations to Republic Act No. 7656 (2016),” hereinafter referred to as the Rules.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy It shall be the policy of the State that in order for the National Government to realize additional revenues, Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), without impairing their viability and the purposes for which they have been established, shall share a substantial amount of their Net Earnings to the National Government.

These Rules are also intended to promote fiscal discipline among GOCCs and improve National Government cash management.

b.

“Acquired Asset Corporation” refers to a corporation: (1) which is under private ownership, the voting or outstanding shares of which were: (i) conveyed to the Government or to a government agency, instrumentality or corporation in satisfaction of debts whether by foreclosure or otherwise, or (ii) duly acquired by the Government through final judgment in a sequestration proceeding; or (2) which is a subsidiary of a government corporation organized exclusively to own and manage, or lease, or operate specific physical assets acquired by a government financial institution in satisfaction of debts incurred therewith, and which in any case by law or enunciated policy is required to be disposed of to private ownership within a specified period of time.

c.

d.

e.

“Dividend Year” refers to the calendar year during which Net Earnings were realized by a GOCC.

f.

“Financial Institutions Owned or Controlled by the National Government” refer to financial institutions or corporations in which the National Government directly or indirectly owns majority of the capital stock, and which are either: (1) registered with or directly supervised by the BSP; or are (2) collecting or transacting funds or contributions from the public and thereafter, placing them in financial instruments or assets such as deposits, loans, bonds and equity including, but not limited to, the Government Service Insurance System and the Social Security System.

g.

h.

i.

“Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (“GOCCs”)”, refer to corporations organized as a stock or non-stock corporation vested with functions relating to public needs, whether governmental or proprietary in nature, and owned by the National Government directly or through its instrumentalities either wholly or, where applicable as in the case of stock corporations, to the extent of at least fiftyone percent (51%) of its capital stock. This term shall also include financial institutions owned or controlled by the National Government, but shall exclude acquired asset corporations, state universities, and colleges.

“National Government” refers to the entire machinery of the central government, as distinguished from the different forms of local governments.

“Net Earnings” refers to income derived from whatever source, whether exempt or subject to tax, net of deductions allowed under Section 291 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and income tax and other taxes paid thereon, but in no case shall any reserve for whatever purpose be allowed as a deduction from Net Earnings. For the avoidance of doubt, “Net Earnings” shall include: i.

Income subject to income tax, as provided in the Annual Income Tax Return2, net of tax;

ii.

Income subject to final tax, as provided in the Annual Income Tax Return Schedule on Supplemental Information3, net of tax;

iii.

Income exempt from tax, as provided in the Annual Income Tax Return Schedule on Gross Income/Receipts Exempt from Income Tax4, net of tax; Provided, further that:

1.

Net Earnings shall not include program subsidies and subsidies granted to settle tax obligations for prior years if included in the income statement as revenues, and actual disbursements of program subsidies treated as expenses. In the case of operating subsidies, these shall be considered part of revenues;

2.

Net Earnings shall not include dividend income remitted directly to the National Government in compliance with Section 5(h) of these Rules; and,

3.

This definition of Net Earnings shall likewise apply to GOCCs that are exempted from income tax.

j.

“Parent GOCC” refers to a GOCC receiving Dividends from another GOCC;

k.

“Property” refers to land and buildings, securities issued by the National Government, other marketable securities, and other assets to be approved by the Secretary of Finance;

l.

“Reserves” refer to the portion of Retained Earnings of a GOCC that has been appropriated by its governing board for a specific purpose, i.e. legal or contractual obligation, plant expansion, and other contingencies.

Section 11. Resolution of Related Issues

(i)

that are owned directly by the National Government and whose shares are listed in the Stock Exchange, shall deliver to the BTr the stock certificates with the aggregate value corresponding to the dividend due on or before May 15 following the dividend year.

All cases for clarification not covered by the provision of these Rules shall be referred to the DOF for resolution.

(ii) that are owned directly by the National Government and whose shares are not listed shall earmark the same and shall deliver to the BTr the stock certificates upon issuance by the DBM of the appropriate document based on the provisions of the General Appropriations Act.

Implementing Rules and Regulations issued on 28 January 1994 and 5 August 1998 are hereby amended, revised, modified or repealed accordingly.

(iii) that are corporations with majority of its outstanding capital stock owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, by one or multiple GOCCs, shall deliver to the parent GOCCs the stock dividend which in the latter shall, in turn, assign the same to the BTr within ten (10) working days upon receipt of the stock certificate.

If for any reason or reasons any part of the provisions of these Rules shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.

g.

Corporations with majority of its outstanding capital stock owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, by one or multiple GOCCs, shall remit directly to the National Government all Dividends declared in compliance with Section 5(a) of these Rules.

h.

For the purposes of computing Net Earnings, Parent GOCCs shall not include as part of its Net Earnings any dividend income received from shareholdings in other GOCCs which were remitted directly to the National Government. Neither shall the former credit Dividends directly remitted to the National Government by the latter as part of its own Dividend remittance.

i.

Government-owned banks shall declare and remit Dividends to the National Government pursuant to the applicable banking laws and regulations.

j.

These Rules shall apply to Dividends which shall become due and payable after the effectivity of these Rules, in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Section 6. Schedule of Remittance a.

All GOCCs shall declare and remit to the BTr in the name of the Treasurer of the Philippines the Dividend due for a given Dividend Year subject to Section 5 (a) of these Rules.

b.

Simultaneous with the payment of the Dividends to the BTr, the GOCC shall send the DOF: (i) schedule showing the computation of Dividends due (copy furnish BTr); (ii) copy of its Annual Income Tax Return, duly received by the BIR or authorized agent banks, for the relevant Dividend Year; (iii) Financial Statements for the relevant Dividend Year duly received by the BIR or authorized agent bank; and (iv) schedules on program subsidies and subsidies granted to settle tax obligations for prior year/s treated as revenues, and actual disbursements of program subsidies treated as expenses. The schedules should be signed by the GOCC’s chief executive officer.

c.

The DOF-Corporate Affairs Group (DOF-CAG) shall determine and review the correctness of the computation of dividend remittance.

d.

Any amendment to the Annual Income Tax Return resulting to an increase in the Net Earnings shall warrant a reevaluation by the DOFCAG. Within ten (10) working days of filing the amended tax return, the GOCC shall submit to the DOF documents enumerated in Section 6 (b) of these Rules related to such amendment and remit to the BTr any deficiency.

e.

In the case of GOCCs which may encounter cash flow difficulties in remitting cash dividends to the National Government, the GOCC may request an alternative schedule of payment through the submission of a request to the Secretary of Finance on or before 15 May of the year following the relevant Dividend Year, with the documentary requirements under Annex A.

a.

Except as otherwise provided herein, all GOCCs covered by these Rules, regardless of shareholdings, shall annually declare and remit Dividends directly to the National Government in the name of the Treasurer of the Philippines in accordance with following guidelines: i.

On or before 15 May of each year, at least fifty percent (50%) of their Net Earnings, as Cash, Stock and/or Property Dividends to the National Government.

In addition to the penalties which may be imposed on the GOCC pursuant to Section 9 of these Rules, any member of the governing board, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of a GOCC who violates any provision of these Rules, in addition to other sanctions provided by law, upon conviction thereof, shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than three (3) years, or both at the discretion of the court, without prejudice to other appropriate sanctions provided by law.

Section 12. Repealing Clause

Section 13. Separability Clause

Section 14. Effectivity These Rules shall be applicable immediately upon publication.

Done in the City of Manila, this 26th day of January, 2016.

CESAR V. PURISIMA Secretary of Finance

ANNEX A Documentary Requirements a.

a.

b.

In the interest of the national economy and general welfare, and in consideration of the viability of the GOCCs and the purposes for which they were established, the percentage of annual Net Earnings that shall be declared by the GOCC may be adjusted by the President of the Philippines below the minimum 50% Dividend rate, upon recommendation by the Secretary of Finance.

b.

Requests for downward adjustment should be submitted to the Secretary of Finance on or before 15 May of the year following the relevant dividend year. The requesting GOCC shall submit the documentary requirements as provided under Annex A of these Rules.

The BTr shall record the dividends as follows: Cash dividends - recorded as income to the General Fund;

b.

Property dividends - recorded as assets upon receipt of the property and, upon sale of the property, income to the General Fund;

c.

i.

Letter from the Head of the GOCC or its duly designated officer requesting the approval from the DOF citing details to the request and specific reasons and justifications;

ii.

Copy of the GOCC Board Resolution on the request;

iii.

Copy of the quarterly financial statements for the relevant Dividend Year and the year prior;

iv.

Detailed Dividend computation and necessary supporting schedules, including Income Tax Return and financial statements of the relevant Dividend Year, duly received by the BIR or authorized agent banks;

v.

Copy of the Corporate Operating Budget, including projected financial statements and supporting schedules, for the year following the relevant Dividend Year as submitted to the DBM. In the case of applications for an alternative schedule of payment, projected financial statements shall cover all applicable years up to the end of the proposed payment schedule;

vi.

In the case of GOCCs, except those expressly exempted under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7656, which may be exempted or may not apply provisions under Republic Act No. 7656 as a result of special laws (e.g. charters), copy of the DOJ opinion providing such exemption;

viii. All other information that the DOF may require in the course of its evaluation.

Subject to Section 7 (a) of these Rules, a downward adjustment in Dividend rate below the minimum 50% may be allowed for the following cases: (i) where there is a presence of a deficit as reflected in the GOCC’s latest Statement of Equity, (ii) where the GOCC’s viability or the purpose for which the GOCC has been established will be impaired by the payment of the required Dividends; (iii) where the declaration and remittance of Dividends at the minimum Dividend rate will result in a breach in minimum regulatory requirements (e.g. capital level and ratios as may be required by BSP); and, (iv) for GOCCs governed by Batas Pambansa Blg. 68 (or the Corporation Code of the Philippines), where declaration and remittance of Dividends at the minimum Dividend rate exceeds the unrestricted retained earnings of the GOCC.

a.

In requesting for downward adjustments or an alternative schedule of payment or remittance in the form of stocks, the GOCC shall submit the following to the DOF not later than 15 May of the year following the relevant Dividend Year. The DOF shall not entertain requests beyond the period specified herein.

vii. Details of existing and additional reserve requirements necessary pursuant to regulatory benchmarks and underlying supporting documents and computations, if any;

Section 7. Flexible Clause

Section 8. Recording of Dividends

Section 5. Dividends

In case of failure to remit the declared Stock or Property Dividends on the specified deadline, the GOCC shall immediately remit in the form of cash the equivalent cash value of stock or Property Dividend within ten (10) days upon the advice of the BTr. Additional sanctions and penalty charges, as provided for in Section 9 (a) of these Rules, shall be imposed on the GOCC should it further fail to remit the equivalent cash Dividend within this period.

GOCCs remitting stock dividend:

f.

These Rules shall apply to all GOCCs, as defined herein, including GOCCs whose profit distribution is provided by their respective charters or by special law: Provided, however, That the GOCCs created or organized by law to administer real or personal properties held in trust for the use and benefit of its members shall not be covered by these Rules such as, but not limited to:

Provided, finally, that Net Earnings derived from operations funded by monies not held in a fiduciary or trustee capacity by the above cited GOCCs shall be subject to declaration of dividends as herein required.

b.

Section 10. Criminal Liabilities of Directors and Officers

c.

Government Service Insurance System; Social Security System; Home Development Mutual Fund; Employees Compensation Commission; Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

The governing board of the GOCC shall be responsible for approving the declaration of the proper amount of Dividends in accordance with these Rules. The chief executive and finance officers of the GOCC shall be responsible for the remittance of said Dividends. In case of failure of a GOCC to declare and remit the proper amount of dividends in accordance with these Rules: (i) The DOF shall recommend to the GCG or DBM the deferral or disapproval of the performance incentive of the GOCC’s Appointive Directors (including the chief executive) without prejudice to other sanctions as may be imposed by the GCG or DBM; and, (ii) The BTr, in coordination with DOF, shall assess the GOCC a penalty charge for late payment equivalent to the prevailing 364-day regular Treasury bill rate plus five percent (5%) on the Dividend due.

GOCCs may declare property dividends, upon obtaining DOF approval for its declaration. GOCC shall execute and deliver in the name of the Treasurer of the Philippines the necessary deed of transfer or other instrument of conveyance in favor of the National Government. GOCCs shall be bear the cost of transferring title, notarial expenses and other fees and charges incidental to the transfer. Land and buildings declared as property dividends, as accepted and approved by the DOF, shall include assets which are owned, but not used in operation, by a GOCC. The property shall be free from all liens and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse judicial process at the time of conveyance. The value of the property shall be based on its fair market value as approved by the COA.

Section 4. Coverage

a. b. c. d. e. f.

a.

e.

“BIR,” “BSP,” “BTr,” “COA,” “DBM,” “DOF,” “DOJ,” and “GCG” refer to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Bureau of the Treasury, the Commission on Audit, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice, and the Governance Commission for GOCCs, respectively.

“Dividends” refer to distribution of profits to stockholders of a corporation in proportion to the number of shares held by the respective owners which may take the form of cash, shares of the company’s own stock or property, as allowed by law. All dividends declared and remitted to the National Treasury shall be non-refundable.

Section 9. Responsibility, Sanctions and Penalty

GOCCs owned directly by the National Government and whose shares of stock are not listed in the stock exchange shall, upon obtaining written DOF approval for its declaration of stock dividends, request from DBM the corresponding appropriation following its declaration.

As used in these Rules, the term: “Act” refers to Republic Act No. 7656.

one or more intermediaries, by one or multiple GOCCs, and whose shares are not listed in the stock exchange, dividends shall be recorded as income to the General Fund.

d.

Section 3. Definition of Terms

a.

In the interest of promoting fiscal discipline and improving revenue generation efforts, the Department of Finance, upon consultation with the DBM and the GCG, may request the GOCC to remit above the 50% minimum dividend rate in the event that the GOCC has excess cash or windfall earnings; provided that the viability and purposes for which the GOCC has been established are not impaired.

In requesting permission to pay Dividends in the form of Property Dividends, the GOCC shall submit to DOF the following requirements in addition to Annex A (a) hereof not later than 15 May of the year following the relevant Dividend Year, as may be applicable: i.

Statement of confirmation from the head of the GOCC or its duly designated officer that the property (i) is not used in operations by the GOCC, (ii) is free of all liens and encumbrances, (iii) is not occupied by informal settlers, (iv) is not subject to any adverse judicial process at the time of conveyance; and (v) the property is under the name of the GOCC;

ii.

In case where the GOCC has an identified beneficiary or implementing agency, a letter from the head of the GOCC or its duly designated officer identifying the implementing agency and reason/s for utilizing the Property;

iii.

Fair market value of the property as determined by COA no later than one year prior to the proposed date of conveyance or 15 May of the year for which the Property Dividend is proposed to be paid, whichever is later;

iv.

Presidential issuance transferring the Property declared as Dividends to a government agency, instrumentality, or GOCC;

v.

Deed of transfer or other instrument of conveyance in favor of the National Government from the head of the GOCC or its duly designated officer. The conveyance shall be supported with (i) certified true copy of the Certificate of Title under the name of the GOCC; (ii) real property tax declaration; (iii) proof of payment of real property tax; and (iv) proof of payment of other taxes and fees required by law;

vi.

Draft memorandum of agreement between the GOCC and the Republic of the Philippines thru the Department of Finance; and,

Stock dividends: (i)

For GOCCs whose shares are listed in the stock exchange, dividends shall be recorded as asset upon receipt of the shares of stock and the excess over the par value of shares, and, upon sale of the shares of stock, income to the General Fund;

(ii) For GOCCs directly owned by the National Government whose shares are not listed in the stock exchange, dividends shall be recorded as income to the General Fund and as additional paid-up equity by the National Government to the GOCC upon issuance by the DBM of the appropriate document based on the provisions of the General Appropriations Act. (iii) For corporations, where at least a majority of the outstanding capital stock is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, through

vii. All other information that the DOF may require in the course of its evaluation.

1 2

3 4

Now Section 34 of the amended National Internal Revenue Code under Presidential Decree No. 1158 and Republic Act No. 8424 (Tax Reform Act of 1997).

BIR Form No. 1702 as of June 2013. Part IV – Computation of Tax for BIR Form No. 1702RT; Schedule 1 - Computation of Tax per Tax Regime for BIR Form No. 1702-MX; Part IV Computation of Tax for BIR Form No. 1702-EX. BIR Form No. 1702 as of June 2013. Schedule 12 for BIR Form No. 1702-RT; Schedule 13 for BIR Form No. 1702-MX; Schedule 9 for BIR Form No. 1702-EX. BIR Form No. 1702 as of June 2013. Schedule 13 for BIR Form No. 1702-RT; Schedule 14 for BIR Form No. 1702-MX; Schedule 10 for BIR Form No. 1702-EX. (TS-FEB. 10, 2016)

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Alvarez leads net winners in Cebu THE 2016 Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group tennis Championship Series, a nation-wide grassroots tennis development program, now on its 10th year, kicked off this year’s series at the Citigreen Tennis Resort, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, and Pardo Tennis Club in Cebu City, with over 200 participants coming from all over Visayas and Mindanao.

“Cebuana Lhuillier takes pride in having the country’s longest-running grassroots tennis development program that provides young provincial tennis talents the opportunity to play in an organized series of tournaments to hone their potentials,” said sportsman/ businessman Jean Henri Lhuillier, President /CEO of cebuana Lhuillier and PHILTA Chairman.

And true enough, it was a combination of familiar names and new ones, who emerged winners in the different categories with Naga

City, Cebu bet Zethley Mae Alvarez taking both the 16-under and 18-under girls’ titles, beating Carlyn Bless Guarde from Sultan Kudarat, 7-6, 2-6, 10-6, in the 16-under and repeating over Guarde in the 18-under finals with a straight-set victory, 6-2, 6-2.

Other female winners in the event supported by Dunlop Sports as official ball, were Pasig City’s Macie Carlos, who beat Zamboanga del Norte’s Sydney Ezra Enriquez, 6-2, 2-6, 10-6, in the 14-under, and Tiffany Claire Nocos from Lapu-Lapu City, who took the 12-under crown at the expense of Zamboanga del Norte’s Ma. Maxiel Rica Labrador, 6-1, 6-4.

In the boys’ side, multititled Rupert Ohrelle Tortal from Surigao City was a three-set winner over another familiar name, Brent Sigmond Cortes from Lanao del Norte, 6-2 , 2-6, 10-8 to rule the 12-under.

Head Coach Derek Fisher of the New York Knicks meets Carmelo Anthony at the sideline during the New York Knicks’ game against the Golden State Warriors at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. Fisher was fired by NY management. AFP

Knicks sack head coach Fisher NEW YORK—The slumping New York Knicks sacked Derek Fisher on Monday, promoting Kurt Rambis to the job of interim head coach in a bid to reverse their sagging NBA fortunes.

“It’s time for us to make a change, turn this team around and move forward,” Knicks President Phil Jackson said Monday afternoon, hours after the team confirmed the move in a statement posted on its website.

The decision to axe Fisher, who was hand-picked by Jackson prior to the 201415 season despite his lack of coaching experience, came a day after the Knicks fell 10196 to the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden —the Knicks’ season-high fifth straight defeat and their ninth defeat in their last 10 games.

“We have never been truly consistent,” Fisher admitted Sunday night. “The reality is that we have chances to win these games, but we are not winning them.”

Jackson said that just wasn’t satisfactory.

“Some of the onus is on the players,” Jackson said. “It’s a lot easier to fire a coach than 15 players. Unfortunately, it’s not always the coach.

“There’s a way for them to play better that we should see. ... We want this team competitive day in and day out.”

Fisher was hired on June 10, 2014 after the Knicks were unable to lure Steve Kerr—

who instead coached the Golden State Warriors to last season’s NBA title.

Fisher finishes his Knicks coaching career with an overall record of 40-96.

The Knicks have shown vast improvement from their 17-65 campaign of 2014-15, but they have veered off course in recent weeks and fallen from playoff contention to 12th in the Eastern Conference —five games behind the number eight team.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to (owner) James Dolan, Phil Jackson, (general manager) Steve Mills and the entire New York Knicks organization for giving me this incredible opportunity,” Fisher said

in a statement.

“I also want to thank my staff, players and the fans for their passion and support. This is a very talented team with strong character and I am confident they will succeed.”

Rambis, who was serving as associate coach, becomes the 27th head coach in franchise history. His 18 years of NBA coaching experience include a stint as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

Rambis was a part of eight Los Lakers NBA title-winning teams, four as a player and four as a coach or executive.

“I have big confidence in his ability to coach this team,” Jackson said of Rambis, who met with

Young...

From A16

Joaquin Garrido, shown here with parents Jerome and Candy, displays his Golden Wheel trophy. RAMON D. BOADO

“What really came as a surprise not only with my team and family but even to me was in the mini-ROK, I was able to finish 3rd out of 22 drivers with only 5 drivers from the Philippines in the KAT-AKOC in Thailand and 6th out of 21 drivers in the Macau International Kart Grand Prix.

That was the biggest grid I ever raced, which really helped me a lot in both Cadet and mini-ROK,” said Joaquin, who is also competing in the Sodi World Series, where participants earn points using rental karts. “It’s racing against 35,000 drivers worldwide. I’m currently ranked 3rd in the country and 65th in the world!”

Of course, all champion racers like Joaquin, who want to compete in the highest level in the CIK-FIA Karting World Championship in the future, feel the need to improve on their times.

“I’ve been fortunate enough through my

players on Monday.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to right this ship so we can make a push for the playoffs,” Rambis said.

Meanwhile, Cleveland superstar LeBron James posted his 40th career triple-double—and his first this season—to lead the Cavaliers to a 120-100 NBA win over the reeling Sacramento Kings on Monday.

James had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and teammate Kyrie Irving added 32 points and 12 assists to pile on the misery for the Kings, who have lost four straight and eight of their last nine.

Sacramento coach George Karl reportedly could be fired before next weekend’s All-Star break.

AFP

team to be exposed with people from different countries. So the chance of racing abroad is the plan we are exploring, experience as my dad said is the best training I could get. For now, I will continue 120-150 laps of practice every chance I get, spending time in the gym and other sports to improve my overall physical fitness,” said Joaquin, who unlike other kids, is so serious about his racing, he wants to become a full-time professional driver or even a race engineer someday.

“As long as I can remember I live and breathe motorsports, I see myself spending my life in motorsports. Some kids my age would like to grow up as a doctor or lawyer.

Me, I want to be a professional race driver, a test driver. I’m even thinking of understanding what it takes to be a race engineer,” he said. “For now, to be able to compete in a full series anywhere in Europe would be my dream. To compete in that level and have a chance of maybe someday being able to drive in F1 is closer if I compete in Europe.”

“Through racing, I have developed discipline, the value of hard work and team work,” said Joaquin.

FEU, Ateneo begin semis battle today THE fourth-seeded Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws will still have a chance to make it to the next stage of the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.

But they need to get past defending champion Ateneo Blue Eaglets at 2 p.m. today at the start of the stepladder semifinals at the Arena in San Juan.

The Baby Tams formally made it to the semis last Saturday, despite losing to the Blue Eaglets, who drew 17 points from Jollo Mendoza, 53-78, in their last elimination-round encounter.

The winner of today’s match advances to the second semis playoff and will clash with the La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers.

In other games over the weekend, Justine Baltazar and three other teammates scored in double-digits to lead the Nazareth School of National University bring down the Junior Archers, 8057, last Saturday at the Arena in San Juan.

With Baltazar firing 18 points and hauling down 18 rebounds, the NU Bullpups finished the elimination with a 14-game sweep to formally clinch the first outright finals slot and a thrice-to-beat incentive that goes with it.

The second-running Junior Archers, led by Aljun Melecio with 18 points, finished with an 11-3 win-loss record.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Swimmer, taekwondo jin named top junior athletes A MULTI-TITLED multi-titled swimmer and a rising taekwondo jin emerged as the top choices for the MILO Junior Male and Female Athletes of the Year in Saturday’s gala night of the Philippine Sportswriters Association at the One Esplanade in Pasay City.

Kyla Soguilon and Justine Kobe Macario are the latest recipients of the special award given to young outstanding athletes by the country’s oldest media organization during its Annual Awards Night co-presented by San Miguel Corp. and MILO. This marks the fourth straight year the sportswriting community is partnering with the Olympic energy drink in recognizing promising athletes, whose achievements and excellence help inspire the Filipino youth.

MILO sports executive Andrew Neri cited Soguilon and Macario for “exemplifying the values of leadership, disciple, perseverance, and integrity in life through their exceptional athleticism in their respective sports.”

A prominent member of the Philippine Swimming League, Soguilon had a banner year in 2015 which saw her emerge victorious in a various meets both local and international, including the MILO Little Olympics national finals with four golds.

For his part, Macario bannered the country’s campaign in the 1st Asian Cadet Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chinese Taipei.

He won two golds in the cadet freestyle individual and the cadet team competitions.

Macario and Soguilon are part of the total 111 awardees to be recognized during the formal rites with the Philippine Sports Commission as major sponsor and supported by long-time friends of sports such as Smart, MVP Foundation, Maynilad, SM Prime Holdings, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Basketball Association, Globalport, Rain or Shine, One Esplanade, and National University.

On top of the honor roll list are the three co-winners of the Athlete of the Year award, namely boxing champions Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire Jr. and rising golf star Miguel Tabuena.

Uncontested layup. Michole Sorela (light) of University of the Philippines-QRS Jam Liner soars for a layup during his team’s Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants’ Cup game against Phoenix Petroleum-Far Eastern University at The Arena in San Juan.

Republic of the Philippines

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health-National Capital Regional Office

Department of Health-National Capital Regional Office

SAN LORENZO RUIZ WOMEN`S HOSPITAL

SAN LORENZO RUIZ WOMEN`S HOSPITAL

O. Reyes St., Santulan, Malabon City Tel. No. (02) 294-4853/294-4854 Website:www.slrwh.doh.gov.ph

O. Reyes St., Santulan, Malabon City Tel. No. (02) 294-4853/294-4854 Website:www.slrwh.doh.gov.ph

I N V I TAT I O N TO B I D

I N V I TAT I O N TO B I D

PU B L I C B I D D I N G : S L R W H I B 2 016 - 0 0 6 PRO CU R E M E N T O F VA R I O U S M E D I CA L S U PPL I E S FO R CY 2 016

PU B L I C B I D D I N G : S L R W H I B 2 016 - 0 07 PRO CU R E M E N T O F VA R I O U S M E D I CA L E Q U I PM E N T ( H FE P 2 015 ) FO R CY 2 016

PhilHealth Accredited Facility

PhilHealth Accredited Facility

1.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, through the General Appropriations Act of 2016 intends to apply the sum Four Million One Hundred Two Thousand Two Hundred Eighty One Pesos Only . (Php 4,102,281.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Various Medical Supplies; SLRWH IB 2016-006 . Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The SLRWH now invites bids for the Procurement of Various Medical Supplies, Delivery of the Goods is required within ten (10) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

1.

2.

3.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

5.

Interested Bidders may obtain fur ther information from the San Lorenzo R u i z W o m e n ’s H o s p i t a l B i d s a n d A w a r d s C o m m i t t e e ( B AC) S e c r e t a r i a t c / o M r. A l l a n G . N i e v a , R R T l l o r M s . J u l i e t V. C h i q u i t o a t Te l e p h o n e N o .

2 9 3 9 112 a n d i n s p e c t t h e B i d d i n g D o c u m e n t s f r o m 9 : 0 0 a . m . t o 3 : 0 0 p . m ., M o n d a y s t o Fr i d a y s f r o m F e b r u a r y 10 , 2 0 16 t o M a r c h 1, 2 0 16 .

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on February 10, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand pesos Only (Php 5,000.00) It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the non refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

4.

5.

6.

The SLRWH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 17, 2016, 10 am at the SLRWH Training Room, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

6.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 1, 2016 ,10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

7.

Bid opening shall be on March 1, 2016 , 10:15 am at SLRWH Training Room. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

9.

For further information, please refer to:

9.

ALLAN G. NIEVA JULIET V. CHIQUITO SLRWH-BAC Secretariat SAN LORENZO RUIZ WOMEN’S HOSPITAL O. Reyes St., Santulan, Malabon City Website: www.slrwh.doh.gov.ph Email Address: slrwh.procurement@yahoo.com.ph Telefax No.293911 (SGD) NOEL D. VALDERRAMA, MD BAC Chairperson ( T S - F E B . 10 , 2 016)

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, through the General Appropriations Act of 2016 intends to apply the sum Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos Only . (Php 4,800.000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Various Medical Equipment ; SLRWH IB 2016-007 . Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The SLRWH now invites bids for the Procurement of Various Medical Equipment.

Delivery of the Goods is required within sixty (60) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Interested Bidders may obtain fur ther information from the San L o r e n z o R u i z W o m e n ’s H o s p i t a l B i d s a n d A w a r d s C o m m i t t e e ( B AC) S e c r e t a r i a t c /o M r. A l l a n G . N i e v a , R R T l l o r M s . J u l i e t V. C h i q u i t o a t Te l e p h o n e N o . 2 9 3 9 112 a n d i n s p e c t t h e B i d d i n g D o c u m e n t s f r o m 9 : 0 0 a . m . t o 3: 0 0 p. m ., M o n d ay s t o Fr i d ay s f r o m Fe b r u a r y 10 , 2 0 16 t o M a r c h 3 , 2 0 16 .

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on February 10, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand pesos Only (Php 5,000.00) It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the non refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The SLRWH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 18, 2016, 10 am at the SLRWH Training Room, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before March 3, 2016 ,10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on March 3, 2016 , 10:15 am at SLRWH Training Room. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: ALLAN G. NIEVA JULIET V. CHIQUITO SLRWH-BAC Secretariat SAN LORENZO RUIZ WOMEN’S HOSPITAL O. Reyes St., Santulan, Malabon City Website: www.slrwh.doh.gov.ph Email Address: slrwh.procurement@yahoo.com.ph Telefax No.2939112

(TS-FEB. 10, 2016)

(SGD) NOEL D. VALDERRAMA, MD SLRWH- BAC Chairperson

Rich Anvaya Cove ICTSI golf on MORONG, Bataan— The best and the brightest slug it out beginning today (Wednesday, Feb. 10) – all aiming for a hot start and the momentum in what promises to be an explosive launch to the new ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour season – the P3.5 million ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club.

They’re all here.

From Order of Merit winner Miguel Tabuena to defending champion Angelo Que to former OOM champion Tony Lascuna and veteran campaigners Elmer Salvador, Jay Bayron, Frankie Minoza, Mars Pucay and Cassius Casas to the young guns Clyde Mondilla, Keanu Jahns and Edward Reyes.

Put in the qualifiers from both the local and foreign elims and a host of lesser lights ready to steal the thunder from the big guns, the kick off leg of this year’s 15-stage circuit put up

by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. could easily rank as a major championship from among the country’s premier golf tournaments.

Tabuena, the hottest player on the land today with a Philippine Open victory and a strong joint fourth place effort at Singapore Open last month, faces an early test of will as he drew Lascuna, Bayron and the long hitting Marvin Dumandan in one of the featured flights at 8:48 a.m. on No. 1.

Lascuna and Que, who tied for 38th with Tabuena in last week’s Myanmar Open, opted to skip yesterday’s traditional pro-am for the much-needed rest following a grueling two-week grind on the Asian Tour, eager to fuel their respective title campaigns with strong starts.

The 45-year-old Lascuña, the former threetime PGT OOM winner, is actually fighting off flu-like symptoms but confirmed he’ll play together with the former three-time Asian Tour winner Que. “I hope to get better tomorrow (today) but I’ll be there,” said Lascuna, who played nine holes in Pampanga yesterday to hone up for the big event.

W E D N E S D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

‘Bedak will pressure Donaire’

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THE trainer/father of World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire said title challenger Zolst Bedak of Hungary is likely to try and pressure the champ in their title fight scheduled at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 23.

Dodong Donaire told The Standard/boxingmirror.com that Bedak likes to pressure his opponents and is likely to try and do the same against his son, but once he feels the power of the champion “he will run.”

He said the stockily built former Hungarian Olympian, who scored a big win over Ab-

ner Maresin the Athens Olympics in 2004 and who later became International Boxing Federation bantamweight and World Boxing Council featherweight world champion, is “fast but has no power and looks like an average fighter.”

Donaire, who will be honored as the Phil-

ippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year, along with WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and champion golfer Miguel Tabuena, will fly to Las Vegas to continue his training for the Bedak title defense, which will be his first since winning the title for a second time with a lopsided unanimous decision over Cesar Juarez of Mexico in a brutal fight that was a contender for Fight of the Year.

Dodong Donaire said Fred Bowen is “the one I want him (Nonito) to spar with,” even as he indicated he was “looking for other sparring partners.”

Bowen was a sparring partner of Donaire Manila

Standard

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

when he was preparing for the Juarez fight.

The trainer/father of Donaire said they would return to Manila two weeks before the April 23 title defense.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration

TODAY

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) UPPER PAMPANGA RIVER INTEGRATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM Office Address : Bayanihan, Gapan City TELEPHONE Nos. : (044) 486-0308/0307 Website : www.nia.gov.ph

TELEPHONE No. : (044) 486-0308 TIN No. : 916-415-027

INVITATION TO BID No. D4-UPRIIS-P-2016 1.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Division IV (NIA - U PRJIS, Division IV), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the year 2016 intends to apply the hereunder Approved Budgets for the Contract (ABC) to payment of the corresponding contract below. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening: a. 1. Contract Package No.: 2. Contract Name: 3. Contract Location: 4. Approved Budget for the Contract: 5. Contract Duration: b. 1. Contract Package No.: 2. Contract Name: 3. Contract Location: 4. Approved Budget for the Contract: 5. Contract Duration: c. 1. Contract Package No.: 2. Contract Name:

slipped past fancied Jobim Carlos for a one-stroke lead while Princess Superal (right) matched par 72 and stood two shots clear off Harmie Constantino in women’s play in the 21st W Express RVF Cup Amateur Golf Championship at Cangolf’s North Course in Canlubang on Tuesday.

Garcia’s handlers deny fight with Nietes THE handlers of Raul Garcia have denied any plans for him to face World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes in the Philippines on May 21 after Zanfer Promotions’ Fernando Beltran told ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer he had no objections to pushing back the mandatory challenge of Moises Fuentes to September, possibly at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California.

Jake Donovan of Boxing Scene said: “The suggestion is compelling, given that Nietes outpointed Raul’s twin brother Ramon to win the junior flyweight ti-

tle in 2011, having since successfully defended it eight times.”

Nietes is now the longest-reigning Filipino world champion.

“Moving past the ‘brother’s keeper’ angle, there are several concerns regarding the aforementioned matchup. Chief among them is the fact that Garcia’s team has yet to be properly contacted,” Donovan reported.

Promociones del Pueblo’s Oswaldo Kuchle informed BoxingScene. com on Monday: ”We read plans for Nietes to face our fighter, Raul Garcia. We vehemently deny this to be true.”

Boxing Scene said there are a number of red

TNT...

From A16

line-up against the Elite, but the good news for the Manny V. Pangilinan owned franchise is that everyone is healthy in its roster and resident star Ranidel De Ocampo will finally suit up after missing most of the Philippine Cup with a back injury.

flags that raise the question of whether such a bout would even be sanctioned by the World Boxing Organization, whom recognizes Nietes as its junior flyweight champ. Garcia (36-3-1, 22KOs) – a former twotime strawweight titlist – hasn’t fought since November of 2014 and is unranked by any sanctioning body.

In his last fight on March 13, Garcia dropped a 12-round split decision to former champion Pedro Guevara in their junior flyweight title eliminator.

He has since won three bouts versus pedestrian opposition, including a 10-round decision over Andres Garcia (no re-

Blackwater, which made some progress last conference by making the playoffs for the first time even as it exited right away in the quarterfinals, will lean on import Alex Loughton to bring in the goods and lead the youthful squad against the loaded Tropang Texters.

In the second game, the return of a familiar name is also being anticipated.

lation) in November of 2014, before sitting out all of 2015.

Garcia won the IBF strawweight title with a split decision over Filipino Florante “Little Pacquiao” Condes and picked up the WBO belt after Nietes moved up to light flyweight division in October of 2010, outpointing Luis de la Rosa on the road in Colombia.

His reign lasted just under one year before losing the title in August of 2011 in dropping a 12-round split decision to Fuentes, who has since drew with and was knocked out by Nietes in two previous bouts. Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former Best import awardee Denzel Bowles returns to start his fourth tour of duty for the Hotshots as he is once again expected to man the middle for his team against the Bolts.

Bowles will join old pals James Yap, Peter June Simon and Marc Pingris in spearheading the Star, who had a disappointing season opening conference under rookie coach Jason Webb.

RREN IS-D4-1 602 Construction of CHB Lining @ Lateral CX-8b, Sta. 0+000-1+000 Candaba, Pampanga Php 5,941,126.88 120 Calendar Days

3. Contract Location:

RRENIS-D4-1603 Construction of CHB Lining @ Lateral C9b Extension, Sta. 0+000-1 +022, Construction of Elevated Flume @ Lateral C9b Extension & Construction of RCBC @ Lateral C9b Extension Candaba, Pampanga

4. Approved Budget for the Contract: 5. Contract Duration:

Php 5,823,183 .15 120 Calendar Days

d. 1. Contract Package No.: 2. Contract Name:

Castro, Superal set pace. Luis Castro (left) put in a gutsy two-under 70 in cloudy, windy day as he

RRENIS-D4-1601 Construction of CHB Lining @ Lateral CX-8, Sta. 2+350 3+350 (L-1.000 kms.)

Candaba,Pampanga Php5,697,191.22 120 Calendar Days

3. Contract Location: 4. Approved Budget for the Contract: 5. Contract Duration:

RRENIS-D4-1604 Construction of Concrete Lining @ Lateral C-Extension, Sta. 14+949-16+254 (L-l .305 kms.)

Candaba, Pampanga Php 9,237,498.73 120 Calendar Days

2.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Division IV now invites bids for the above-named project. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations(IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Division IV, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below on February 08, 2016 to February 28, 2016 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents (BD’ s) may be purchased by the interested Bidders from the address below upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount shown below:

CONTRACT PACKAGE NO. RRENlS-D4-1601 RRENIS-D4-1602 RRENIS-D4-1603 RRENIS -04-1604

AMOUNT 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00

also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhiIGEPS) www.philgepsgov.ph provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The Pre-Bid Conference to be held at the Conference Room of the National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Division IV, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija at 2:00 P.M., February 16,2016 shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable fonns and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:

ACTIVITIES 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents 2. Deadline for payment of Bids Docs. Receipts and submission of Bids 3. Opening of Bids

DATE AND TIME February 08-28, 2016 @ 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. February 29, 2016 @ 12:00 Noon February 29, 2016 @ 1:00 P.M.

Prospective bidder s shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’ s in two (2 ) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, including the eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification.

8.

The National Irrigation Administration - Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System, Division IV (NIA - UPRIIS, Division IV), reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process and to reject all bids at any time prior to Contract award , without there by incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. Submit your bids and for further information refer to: MAGNO A. PATIAG BAC Chairman Operations & Maintenance Section Gapan City, Nueva Ecija (044) 486-0308/0307 d4upriis_nia@yahoo.com Noted:

(SGD) MAGNO A. PATIAG Chairman, BAC Division

(SGD) EUGENIOP O. CONDE, JR. Division Manager

(TS-FEB. 10, 2016)

(SGD) ENGR. FLORENTINO R. DAVID, CESE Department Manager A. UPRIIS

A16

W E D N E S DAY : F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 16 RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Young karter lives, breathes motorsports TNT opens bid sans Johnson

By Jeric Lopez F O U R Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) t e a m s 4:15 p.m. - Talk ‘N Text vs. will seek Blackwater redemp7 p.m. - Star vs. Meralco t i o n when the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup kicks off today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The mid-season conference starts with an encounter between Talk ‘N Text and Blackwater at 4:15 p.m. and an intriguing tiff between Star and Meralco set 7 p.m.

All four squads didn’t perform up to par in the PBA Philippine Cup and a fresh start is certainly what they’ve all been waiting for.

Defending champion Talk ‘N Text will play with a handicap, although it is still considered a favorite against the upstart Elite in their initial encounter.

After figuring in an altercation in a tune-up game, incidentally against Blackwater more than a week ago, returning Tropang Texters import Ivan Johnson was suspended for one game by league. Johnson was meted a suspension for punching Elite big men Poy Eram and Frank Golla. Johnson, who led Talk ‘N Text to the crown of last season’s edition of the tournament, will serve his suspension against Blackwater.

Hence, Talk ‘N Text is expected to field an All-Filipino Turn to A15

Joaquin Garrido leaves his rivals behind during one of his karting conquests. PHOTOS BY RAMON D. BOADO

By Randy Caluag

HE TINKERS with his cars, looking for ways how he can make them go faster and trying to understand its setup and how it works. He tests his own engines and drives his racing machine some 90 to 110 kph.

And by the way, he’s just 10 years old.

Christopher Joaquin Garrido, last year’s Formula Cadet Expert overall champion, is a car nut at this early age and proud of it.

“I probably got it (passion for cars) from my dad, tinkering with cars looking at how to make them go faster is what got me hooked into motorsports. I just don’t drive, I also try to understand how the kart works and perform as it should. I’m the one that breaks-in and tests my own engines. My team always works with data and I always want to understand how this affects my performance,” said Joaquin, a Grade 5 student from Colegio de San Agustin and an accomplished young racer.

“The same fascination is why I only play video games where in I can tinker with the car’s setup and performance. I relax playing Real Racing in my iPad. I easily get bored with other games, but with simulation racing games, there’s always something different for me to do and adjust which makes it really exciting for me,” Joaquin continued.

Joaquin’s fascination for cars was triggered by his father Jerome and mother Candy. At age six, Joaquin knew about cars even before learning anything, associating car brands with their logos.

“My dad would use my love for cars as tools to learn the alphabet and even bugged him to let me join his fun run and track days with his friends. Instead of watching basketball, we would watch F1 races and get excited discussing technical and team strategies, it’s not just about racing and seeing great overtaking moves, I was also interested on why one team did a pit stop earlier than the other team. I was fortunate enough to have a dad, who’s willing to spend the time to explain and break it down for me,” he said.

But learning how to race verbally is entirely different from actually doing it.

“My first experience with karting was with

Joaquin Garrido holds his Golden Wheel trophies.

my dad when I was 6 when he brought me to City Kart in the parking of Park Square in Makati. I was a slow poke even with multiple karting clinics, but there’s something with driving go-karts that got me hooked. For the next few years, my parents exposed me and my siblings to different sports given our diverse personalities. I would do swimming, taekwondo, football and even golf, which I all enjoyed but not as quite as karting,” Joaquin said.

His life took a dramatic turn when City Kart reopened in Circuit Makati, which was very near where they lived.

“I felt like the happiest kid since it was only 10 minutes away from where I lived. The owner and City Kart Racing Team Principal, Coach Jean-Marc Freihuber, being a good friend with my dad, let me do a clinic at the Carmona Race Track as my lap times were improving and shall I say the rest is history. I am now part of the City Kart Racing Team and for the longest time, the only Filipino in the team. My other teammates, I consider my brothers, Tai Zulberti and Constantin Reisch, both of whom I consider to be a big part of my development as driver. I wouldn’t be as good as I am today without them.”

Joaquin transformed that love for cars and racing into a virtuoso performance on the race track.

“Winning takes a lot of hard work and I’m sure not a lot will agree, a bit of luck knowing that everything has to be perfect in a race weekend to take the win. But if you have the mindset and perspective that you get to conquer your challenges, may it be getting a perfect start, being able to brake later or even just breaking your personal best time, then you’ll always have a sense of achievement regardless of the race outcome,” said Joaquin.

He started seriously competing in the sport in the middle of the 2014 season, with him missing two legs. He was so far behind in the national series, but still ended up securing the 2014 3rd Overall in Formula Cadet Novice.

“That was supposed to be my learning and formative season, so being recognized was more than enough to motivate me during the 2015 season. I was fortunate enough to compete in two classes, Formula Cadet Expert and mini-ROK, which is very tiring and but definitely made me a better driver,” he said.

And a better driver, he indeed become.

Joaquin went on to take the 2015 Formula Cadet Expert Overall Championship. He also bagged the Cadet Karter of the Year and in international races, he secured the 2015 Asian Karting Open Championship Cadet Overall Championship by winning the KATAKOC in Bira, Thailand last October and the Macau International Kart Grand Prix in Turn to A13 Macau last December.

WEDNESDAY: FEBRUARY 10, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

PSe comPoSite index Closing February 9, 2016

8000 8340 7880

BUSINESS

B1

7420 6960 6500

6,637.43 127.70

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing February 9, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.650

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P47.650 LOW P47.790 AVERAGE P47.737 VOLUME 398.100M

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

oPriceS il P today

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

F oreign e xchange r ate Unit

Aquino okays merger of LandBank and DBP

By Julito G. Rada

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Currency

New Year at PSE. Philippine Stock Exchange officials ring the opening bell to start the first day of trading for the Lunar New Year as dragon and lion dancers perform at the trading floor of the local bourse in Makati City. AFP

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

Japan

Yen

0.008636

47.7100 0.4120

UK

Pound

1.443800

68.8837

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128330

6.1226

Switzerland

Franc

1.013582

48.3580

Canada

Dollar

0.718030

34.2572

Singapore

Dollar

0.711997

33.9694

Australia

Dollar

0.709522

33.8513

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656748

126.7534

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266702

12.7244

Brunei

Dollar

0.709471

33.8489

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028169

1.3439

UAE

Dirham 0.272264

12.9897

Euro

Euro

1.119800

53.4257

Korea

Won

0.000829

0.0396

China

Yuan

0.152332

7.2678

India

Rupee

0.014708

0.7017

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240674

11.4826

New Zealand

Dollar

0.662383

31.6023

Taiwan

Dollar

0.029909

1.4270

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has approved the merger of state-run Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines to create the second largest lender with total assets of over P1.6 trillion.

Aquino issued Executive Order No. 198, approving the merger of the two government-owned banks, with LandBank as the surviving entity, given its bigger assets and branch network.

The merger will create the second largest bank, behind BDO Unibank Inc. with P1.88 trillion in assets as of end-September 2015. It will surpass Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.’s assets of P1.37 trillion and Bank of the Philippine Islands’ P1.16-trillion resources.

LandBank, the fourth largest

lender, had P1.14 trillion in assets as of end-September while DBP had P465 billion.

President Aquino issued the order after the Government Commission for GOCCs determined it was in the best interest of the state to merge the two banks.

“The functions of DBP and LBP duplicate and/or unnecessarily overlap with one another; The merger of DBP and LBP will further enhance the financing of priority projects and sectors such as infrastructure, public services, agri-

culture/agrarian reform and SMEs; and the merger will provide better access and extend quality financial services and products to more unbanked and underserved areas,” the EO said.

GCG earlier sent a draft executive order to Malacanang that would authorize the merger without the need for a legislative measure. GCG will undertake a reorganization plan that will affect hundreds of employees of both banks and implement a compensation and position classification system for the merged bank.

Affected employees with more than 31 years of service will receive a merger incentive pay equivalent to 1.5 of basic monthly pay for every year of service while those with 21 to 30 years in service will get 1.25 of basic monthly pay. Those with 20 years of service and below will receive a merger incentive pay equivalent to 1 month of basic monthly pay for every

year of service.

The government will also infuse P30 billion into the merged bank to support its capital.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said a written consent from Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. and the approval of Bangko Sentral were needed for the merger.

“The BSP has yet to receive a formal application from the parties involved, which is the normal procedure for a standard merger of entities in the banking system. This should include the national government’s plans and business case for the merger,” he said.

Tetangco said a merger of the two banks was actually in line with Bangko Sentral’s advocacy for bigger and better banks, and would potentially allow the national government to benefit from economies of scale in the banks’ operations.

Source: PDS Bridge

ADB extends $400-m loan to fund conditional cash transfer

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Asian Development Bank on Tuesday approved a $400-million loan to the Philippines to finance the conditional cash transfer program of government.

The government’s CCT program provides regular health and education grants to millions of the country’s poorest households.

“The support, which builds on ADB’s initial loan to the project of the same amount, will help

the government support more families, now also including high school students,” said Karin Schelzig, senior social sector specialist in ADB’s Southeast Asia department.

“This is important, as impact evaluation shows that the CCTs are keeping vulnerable young people at school, opening the door to a better future,” she added.

The approved loan assistance will finance a share of the grants to all participating households

nationwide.

ADB said the number of CCT partner beneficiaries increased from 340,000 since the program’s inception to more than 4.4 million at the end of 2015, making it the fourth-largest in the world after similar programs in India, Brazil and Mexico.

“The program has expanded rapidly since it began in 2008 and has evolved over time based on lessons and experience,” the bank said.

“Examples of evidence-based program adjustments include first increasing the grant amount for older children and expanding the eligibility cut-off from 14 years of age to 18 to raise the rates of high school graduation of children from poor families,” it said.

The CCT program, known locally as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, provides grants to poor families if they send their children to school, visit health centers and attend family development

sessions. CCTs are an investment in human development that pays off when healthier and better educated young people grow up to get better jobs and break out of the poverty trap.

ADB approved the initial loan in 2010 to strengthen the program’s poverty targeting system, finance a share of the cash grants to 637,000 households in selected areas, build capacity among program staff and support monitoring and impact evaluation.

WEDNESDAY: FEBRUARY 10, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, February 9, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

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

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

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

2.89 44.8 101.00 90.00 35.2 1.31 14.3 16.6 6.70 570.00 0.450 75.3 0.91 15.00 51.35 275 33.5 144.1 1310.00 56.50 1.45

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

79 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 2.17

34.1 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 161 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 1.2

42.2 4.52 0.67 1.26 10.2 145.00 16.32 19.56 37.5 2.09 1.88 11.6 8.200 7.30 5.23 5.50 18.9 56.55 13.80 5.2 2.510 214.60 8.5 25.00 2.9 26 15.02 5.5 312.80 2.97 6.69 11.50 3.60 1.36 2.3 3.80 4.91 139.5 2.44 0.142 1.01 2.10 199 1.02

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837

76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

49.55 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI First Gen Corp.

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

LBC Express Liberty Flour Mabuhay Vinyl Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Vulcan Ind’l.

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

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

0.325 57.7000 14.70 6.20 0.208 0.230 694.5 7.35 11.90 4.72 4.74 0.220 1273 9.72 66.70 5.13 0.55 16.32 0.52 5.7 0.0290 1.130 2.040 73.00 847.00 1.07 0.80 122.000 0.2800 0.2050 0.270

10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 1.44 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96

6.74 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 0.79 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Century Property Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon

7.100 0.77 1.180 32.150 2.46 0.510 0.960 0.120 0.400 21

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

SHARES 3,315,129 47,417,230 126,891,203 87,555,798 130,187,660 3,892,117,788 4,288,426,168

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.97 2.82 44.8 44.7 100.90 96.20 90.10 89.00 35.2 35 1.36 1.30 14.4 14.3 16.58 16.4 6.70 6.70 585.00 575.00 0.430 0.420 74.8 72.55 0.89 0.89 15.00 15.00 51.00 50.25 275 265 33.5 33.2 144.5 142.7 1310.00 1310.00 56.50 55.10 1.47 1.45 INDUSTRIAL 42 41.5 4.61 4.45 0.7 0.63 1.31 1.27 11.96 10.1 122.00 120.00 16.48 16.3 20.1 19.1 38 37.1 2.17 2.01 2.06 1.86 11.82 11.5 8.180 8.000 7.34 7.12 5.27 5.17 5.46 5.35 18.9 18.4 56.9 55.15 14.30 14.00 5.19 5 2.480 2.350 214.20 211.00 9.2 8.35 25.00 25.00 2.9 2.9 26 25.8 15 14.52 5.69 5.65 316.00 312.40 3.14 2.95 6.69 6.50 11.50 11.38 3.60 3.60 1.36 1.32 2.3 2.22 3.90 3.80 4.9 4.8 139.5 139 2.42 2.38 0.146 0.145 1.03 1.00 2.10 2.08 198.7 194 1.03 1.02 0.330 0.330 57.8000 56.5000 14.66 14.36 5.90 5.90 0.204 0.200 0.191 0.190 689 668 7.49 7.26 11.86 11.42 4.8 4.75 4.79 4.71 0.220 0.202 1258 1230 9.80 9.60 65.50 64.95 5.23 5.13 0.65 0.55 16.38 15.62 0.53 0.53 5.82 5.63 0.0290 0.0280 1.090 1.090 2.040 2.010 73.00 70.95 847.00 824.00 1.07 1.04 0.78 0.72 126.000 118.000 0.2850 0.2750 0.2010 0.2010 0.335 0.285 PROPERTY 7.100 7.080 0.76 0.73 1.190 1.180 31.950 31.000 2.41 2.36 0.51 0.495 0.970 0.970 0.119 0.117 0.415 0.400 21.05 20.5

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.9 44.7 96.20 89.95 35.15 1.35 14.3 16.5 6.70 585.00 0.420 72.8 0.89 15.00 50.25 274 33.2 143.6 1310.00 56.40 1.46

0.35 -0.22 -4.75 -0.06 -0.14 3.05 0.00 -0.60 0.00 2.63 -6.67 -3.32 -2.20 0.00 -2.14 -0.36 -0.90 -0.35 0.00 -0.18 0.69

134,000 7,000 342,830 283,870 8,600 57,000 4,100 15,000 1,100 70 160,000 757,250 5,000 91,200 15,750 130 56,600 157,150 30 49,630 256,000

42 4.59 0.63 1.3 11 121.00 16.32 19.44 37.1 2.17 2.04 11.5 8.100 7.20 5.20 5.35 18.4 55.5 14.30 5.18 2.350 212.20 9.2 25.00 2.9 25.9 14.9 5.65 315.00 3 6.62 11.50 3.60 1.32 2.25 3.81 4.8 139 2.4 0.146 1.03 2.09 195 1.02

-0.47 1.55 -5.97 3.17 7.84 -16.55 0.00 -0.61 -1.07 3.83 8.51 -0.86 -1.22 -1.37 -0.57 -2.73 -2.65 -1.86 3.62 -0.38 -6.37 -1.12 8.24 0.00 0.00 -0.38 -0.80 2.73 0.70 1.01 -1.05 0.00 0.00 -2.94 -2.17 0.26 -2.24 -0.36 -1.64 2.82 1.98 -0.48 -2.01 0.00

109,000 528,000 462,000 181,000 38,500 600 1,910,600 182,700 63,800 426,000 12,986,000 41,600 2,586,400 116,700 11,201,200 176,500 1,506,600 117,120 13,900 39,600 4,859,000 404,140 2,400 500 2,000 221,300 705,600 9,600 191,450 176,000 537,700 1,100 4,000 252,000 219,000 120,000 6,000 3,490 149,000 770,000 69,000 4,659,000 1,313,360 27,000

0.330 57.8000 14.38 5.90 0.200 0.191 685 7.32 11.60 4.75 4.73 0.220 1250 9.80 65.15 5.14 0.63 16.06 0.53 5.65 0.0290 1.090 2.040 73.00 825.00 1.04 0.72 126.000 0.2750 0.2010 0.315

1.54 0.17 -2.18 -4.84 -3.85 -16.96 -1.37 -0.41 -2.52 0.64 -0.21 0.00 -1.81 0.82 -2.32 0.19 14.55 -1.59 1.92 -0.88 0.00 -3.54 0.00 0.00 -2.60 -2.80 -10.00 3.28 -1.79 -1.95 16.67

120,000 447,920 2,290,900 20,500 200,000 30,000 232,860 3,750,400 4,453,600 18,000 60,000 180,000 62,305 1,936,000 1,299,280 7,114,700 279,000 578,800 30,000 52,230,600 14,600,000 8,000 717,000 1,182,410 30,710 97,000 22,000 117,280 510,000 40,000 16,570,000

7.100 0.76 1.190 31.000 2.38 0.500 0.970 0.117 0.410 20.8

0.00 -1.30 0.85 -3.58 -3.25 -1.96 1.04 -2.50 2.50 -0.95

302,400 235,000 11,000 7,281,900 1,031,000 840,000 2,000 1,830,000 470,000 356,900

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

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

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

Empire East Land Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 4 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 2.58 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping 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 Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ 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. Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 553

33 490

-18,901,706.50 -14,931,125.00

515 8.21 12.28

480 5.88 6.5

-1,471,049.00

1047

1011

117,050.00

78.95 84.8

74.5 75

1.34

1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

144,120.00 277,140.00 -6,621,663 7,012,135.50 -21,045.00

-2,977,854.00 -147,418.50 989,105 4,563,709.00 2,255,408.00 2,535,785.00 242,390.00

14,477,564.00 -291,600.00 2,045,675 280,840.00 4,610,520.00 -56,103.00 38,342,631.00 311,718.00 -2,676,786.50 -93,850.00 -251,450.00 -3,256,176.00

4,039,490.00 1,120,800.00 -14,635,752.00 -52,622.00 194,300.00 -101,030.00 -190,380.00 -241,335.00 -4,840.00

14,432,320.00

3,707,723.00 5,325,002.00

-11,978,860.00 1,600,911.00 -9,760,576.00 47,400.00 -47,774,495.00 -18,162,339.00 10,098,000.00 -2,817,650.00 181,685,906.00

1,278,000.00 39,682,510.00 -314,480.00 -9,900.00

-419,750.00

Alterra Capital Italpinas Xurpas

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

High

VALUE 259,106,154.70 638,295,407.92 1,098,022,052.31 570,763,946.85 601,484,175.25 304,727,496.749 3,478,835,856.78

FINANCIAL 1,505.45 (down) 31.37 INDUSTRIAL 10,636.87 (down) 112.76 HOLDING FIRMS 6,284.82 (down) 106.20 PROPERTY 2,637.05 (down) 70.68 SERVICES 1,498.32 (down) 21.35 MINING & OIL 10,539.36 (up) 702.49 PSEI 6,637.43 (down) 127.70 All Shares Index 3,816.77 (down) 51.84 Gainers: 61; Losers: 119; Unchanged: 30; Total: 210

Close

0.890 0.94 1.50 1.25 3.6 0.075 0.365 8.39 25.50 1.45 21.00 0.75 4.59 0.960 4.250

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.890 0.840 0.860 0.94 0.90 0.91 1.51 1.48 1.50 1.28 1.23 1.23 3.52 3.41 3.44 0.090 0.075 0.084 0.350 0.350 0.350 8.48 8.48 8.48 25.50 24.80 25.00 1.47 1.45 1.47 20.85 20.60 20.65 0.77 0.75 0.77 4.22 4.22 4.22 1.000 0.900 0.930 4.200 4.020 4.200 SERVICES 6.3 6.48 6.2 6.23 55.5 55.5 54.8 54.9 1.14 1.21 1.15 1.15 0.420 0.415 0.415 0.415 10.06 10.06 10.06 10.06 4.11 4.16 3.96 4.00 0.0430 0.0450 0.0410 0.0420 3.23 3.2 3.05 3.11 77.5 77.5 76.5 77.4 9.99 9.99 9.99 9.99 1.6 1.49 1.49 1.49 6.00 6.00 5.83 5.83 3.19 2.38 2.35 2.38 1898 1905 1825 1875 6.51 6.54 6.45 6.46 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 58.7 58.5 57.45 57.8 11.24 11.96 11.96 11.96 0.144 0.146 0.141 0.145 1.1700 1.1800 1.1400 1.1400 2.07 2.07 2.07 2.07 7.12 7.14 7.14 7.14 4.12 4.10 3.94 4.10 1.21 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.94 1.97 1.97 1.97 2.05 2.06 1.84 1.86 3.47 3.40 3.29 3.38 0.730 0.730 0.700 0.700 18.3 18.28 16.52 17.9 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 100.00 99.00 98.00 99.00 28.00 28.50 24.50 26.75 2190.00 2188.00 2136.00 2164.00 0.390 0.380 0.375 0.380 0.710 0.700 0.660 0.700 33.85 33.65 33.10 33.40 61.10 60.30 59.50 60.00 5.06 5.02 4.83 5.02 3.25 3.30 3.05 3.20 0.415 0.420 0.400 0.420 3.8 3.75 3.7 3.7 0.330 0.320 0.310 0.310 4.200 4.280 4.200 4.200 MINING & OIL 0.0041 0.0044 0.0041 0.0043 1.82 2.28 1.83 2.10 4.32 4.75 4.40 4.74 12.00 12.00 11.50 11.50 4.0000 5.5 5 5.5000 4.8000 5.4800 3.7700 5.4800 0.54 0.6 0.52 0.56 0.400 0.400 0.375 0.395 6.80 7.88 6.55 7.78 0.670 0.680 0.640 0.650 0.260 0.280 0.260 0.280 0.182 0.270 0.191 0.270 0.199 0.295 0.205 0.295 0.0110 0.0150 0.0110 0.0150 0.012 0.015 0.013 0.014 1.81 1.8 1.73 1.8 5.05 4.97 4.68 4.96 2.55 2.62 2.45 2.5 0.4850 0.5500 0.5300 0.5300 1.1300 1.2400 1.1200 1.2400 4.85 5.65 4.98 5.60 1.56 1.61 1.46 1.58 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 126.10 126.00 122.00 123.90 1.92 1.92 1.87 1.88 0.0075 0.0085 0.0077 0.0085 PREFERRED 54.65 55 53.5 53.6 500 528 528 528 500 500 500 500 523 522 522 522 6.02 6.49 6.04 6.49 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1065 1056 1056 1056 1025 1025 1025 1025 108 108.5 108 108.5 79 79.5 79.5 79.5 82.5 82.6 82.5 82.5 77 77 77 77 79.5 79.6 79.5 79.6 2.56 2.3 2.2 2.3 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.530 2.640 2.380 2.400 SME 3.45 3.33 3.01 3.33 2.49 2.65 2.49 2.49 12.8 12.98 12.38 12.48 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.5 110 108.6 108.6

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-3.37 -3.19 0.00 -1.60 -4.44 12.00 -4.11 1.07 -1.96 1.38 -1.67 2.67 -8.06 -3.13 -1.18

455,000 1,783,000 7,769,000 292,000 35,075,000 8,650,000 10,000 2,200 2,249,100 5,000 4,041,300 592,000 1,000 2,082,000 12,180,000

-1.11 -1.08 0.88 -1.19 0.00 -2.68 -2.33 -3.72 -0.13 0.00 -6.88 -2.83 -25.39 -1.21 -0.77 0.00 -1.53 6.41 0.69 -2.56 0.00 0.28 -0.49 -7.44 1.55 -9.27 -2.59 -4.11 -2.19 0.00 0.00 -1.00 -4.46 -1.19 -2.56 -1.41 -1.33 -1.80 -0.79 -1.54 1.20 -2.63 -6.06 0.00

137,300 188,910 2,000 10,000 45,000 5,011,000 36,300,000 506,000 316,600 100 3,000 212,800 25,000 33,325 126,600 62,000 303,550 1,000 6,470,000 1,698,000 4,000 800 232,000 3,000 1,000 35,370,000 807,000 4,045,000 125,200 2,000 300,000 2,160 127,200 28,975 100,000 23,330,000 556,400 28,860 665,200 8,306,000 1,190,000 481,000 1,000,000 133,000

4.88 15.38 9.72 -4.17 37.50 14.17 3.70 -1.25 14.41 -2.99 7.69 48.35 48.24 36.36 16.67 -0.55 -1.78 -1.96 9.28 9.73 15.46 1.28 10.00 -1.74 -2.08 13.33

1,084,000,000 62,500.00 3,202,000 -3,428,800.00 1,485,000 -466,390.00 2,500 39,000 21,000 -31,870.00 1,388,000 28,420.00 780,000 285,700 21,249,000 627,000.00 350,000 237,850,000 91,180,000 93,840.00 1,786,900,000 596,000,000 278,000.00 537,000 52,410.00 7,463,800 942,997.00 845,000 73,000.00 220,000 244,000 -12,000.00 9,177,000 -216,630.00 1,741,000 -111,300.00 36,200,000 530,580 -6,266,250.00 106,000 18,800.00 10,000,000

-1.92 5.60 0.00 -0.19 7.81 0.00 -0.85 0.00 0.46 0.63 0.00 0.00 0.13 -10.16

451,920 500 2,000 540 10,200 500,000 50 1,150 11,020 2,000 49,160 46,930 67,200 11,000

-5.14

829,000

-3.48 0.00 -2.50

30,000 520,000 390,100

-1.72

760

6,879,880.00 50,700.00 -10,328,100.00

-11,752,035.00 33,286,770.00 9,000.00 -9,180,090.00

-56,890.00 8,800.00 -2,455,150.00

-12,021,100.00 -9,493,085.00 43,440.00 -27,360.00 3,960.00 -9,064,430.00 -107,820.00 69,560.00 -4,500.00 198,000.00 -356,215.00 11,402,500.00 148,970.00 9,988,375.00 -19,908.50 39,026.00 -3,107,060.00

5,302,353.00 264,000.00 261,000.00

3,663,000.00

16,050.00 -13,250.00 1,276,482.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Lepanto `A'

0.270

48.35

Easy Call "Common"

2.38

Lepanto `B'

0.295

48.24

ATN Holdings B

0.191

-25.39 -16.96

Benguet Corp `A'

5.5000

37.50

C. Azuc De Tarlac

121.00

-16.55

Manila Mining `A'

0.0150

36.36

Swift Pref

2.3

-10.16

Manila Mining `B'

0.014

16.67

South China Res. Inc.

0.72

-10.00

Zeus Holdings

0.315

16.67

Melco Crown

1.86

-9.27

Philex `A'

5.60

15.46

Starmalls

4.22

-8.06

Apex `A'

2.10

15.38

Lorenzo Shipping

1.12

-7.44

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

0.63

14.55

Discovery World

1.49

-6.88

Dizon

7.78

14.41

MEDCO Holdings

0.420

-6.67

WEDNESDAY: FEBRUARY 10, 2016

B3

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

AEV spending P58.4b in 2016

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. said Tuesday it will spend P58.4 billion in 2016 primarily to build more power plants in the country.

This year’s capital expenditure is slightly lower than the company’s P60-billion budget in 2015.

AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange 75 percent or P52 billion of this year’s budget was earmarked to finance power expansion projects in line with the goal to increase total power generation capacity to 4,000 megawatts by 2020.

Aside from power projects, AEV is also engaged in banking and financial services, food, property development and infrastructure.

“Each of our businesses has the potential for higher financial return and growth, as well as sufficient scale and capability to deliver long-term value for all our stakeholders,” said AEV president and chief executive Erramon Aboitiz.

AEV said unit Aboitiz Power Corp. planned to launch its first solar power project in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental in the first quarter of 2016.

Therma South Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, inaugurated the 300-MW baseload plant in Davao City, providing the much-needed capacity to the Mindanao grid. Unit 1 started operations in September last year while Unit 2 started full commercial operations Tuesday.

Other projects being built by Aboitiz Power are the 68-MW Manolo Fortich hydropower plant in Bukidnon, 8.5-MW hydropower plant in Isabela, 300-MW Therma Visayas baseload plant in Cebu and 400-MW Pagbilao III expansion in Quezon province.

Aboitiz Power also identi-

fied 200 MW of potential runof-river power projects that it would build across the archipelago over the next five years.

Meanwhile, AEV’s banking and financial services companies will have a combined capital expenditure of P968 million.

The budget includes P871 million for Union Bank’s initiatives to push growth in customer businesses supported by loan expansion and P97 million for remittance business unit PetNet for its branch network expansion.

AEV’s food unit Pilmico is spending P2.3 billion this year to support Asean expansion while property unit AboitizLand Inc. is spending P2.7 billion to acquire more industrial and residential land, as it continues to expand outside Cebu to other key cities.

Form 2B (Revised June 2014)

16th to 19th Floors, Fort Legend Towers 31st Street corner 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634

New DHL executive. DHL Express, a leading international express services provider, appoints Ken Lee as the new chief executive for Asia Pacific, succeeding Jerry Hsu, who is retiring after an illustrious career with DHL Express since 2001. As chief executive Asia Pacific, Lee’s focus will be on driving further operational efficiencies and service innovations, particularly through greater investment in training and technology, to consolidate DHL’s market leadership throughout the region.

Market sinks; mining up STOCKS Fell amid thin trading Tuesday, following overnight losses on Wall Street as signs of distress in financial markets accumulated amid deepening concern over the health of the global economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 127 points, or 1.9 percent, to close at 6,637.43, mirroring the slump in Asian markets. The gauge was also down 4.5 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also sank 51 points, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 3,816.77, on a value turnover of P3.5 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 119 to 61, while 30 issues were unchanged.

Mining stocks ended in the green, led by Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., which surged 48.4 percent to P0.27. Power retailer Manila Electric Co. also gained 0.7 percent to P315.

Meanwhile, Tokyo stocks led a rout across Asian markets Tuesday, while Japanese government bond yields turned negative, the dollar dived against the yen and gold jumped as fears about the global economy sent investors scrambling to safety.

While most the region was closed for the Chinese New Year holiday, trading remained thin but dealers took their lead from New York and Europe where banking

shares were battered.

The sell-off is the latest this year, which has seen trading screens from Asia to the Americas awash with red.

The latest round of blood-letting came on the back of worries about the financial sector as the global economy slows down, without the support of the Federal Reserve’s easy monetary policies.

London, Paris and Frankfurt all finished down more than 2.5 percent, with the German DAX ending below 9,000 for the first time since October 2014. And Wall Street’s three main indexes all lost more than one percent.

Financials were in focus as a slowdown in the world economy raises the prospect of loan defaults and lower interest rates, which eat into their bottom lines.

In Asian trade, Tokyo slumped 5.4 percent by the close, putting the market back into bear territory, represented by a 20 percent fall from its recent highs.

Banking giants Mitsubishi UFJ and rival Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group each tumbled almost nine percent. Major brokerage Nomura also tanked nine percent.

Exporters such as Toyota and Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing were each down more than six percent as they were hit by the strong yen.

With Bloomberg, AFP

Statement of Condition (Head Office and Branches) As of December 31, 2015 AMOUNTS ASSETS

CURRENT QUARTER

Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Other Assets-Net

PhP

TOTAL ASSETS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PREVIOUS QUARTER

MR. JACK LEE Chairman

422,896,718.39 3,971,812,073.57 1,653,114,080.82 203,616,861.06 931,125,061.15 298,657,799.26 102,740,220.44 12,440,816.63 22,095,559,477.48 1,719,375,674.90 20,607,618,944.40 231,435,141.82 119,570,959.52 220,031,109.36 7,600,826.68 554,791,036.43

340,190,729.80 3,349,213,132.61 2,549,413,728.18 722,616,129.71 1,013,862,578.43 299,567,931.77 126,594,597.54 12,440,816.63 19,829,040,442.52 989,294,915.26 19,053,936,027.18 214,190,499.92 103,440,062.58 201,491,864.13 7,927,444.40 625,717,906.59

PhP

30,593,957,040.79

29,181,517,364.89 President and CEO

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable a) Interbank Loans Payable Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

PhP

46,490,151.88 19,323,474,062.62 2,749,161,040.00 2,749,161,040.00 130,360,196.54 1,564,691,668.76

Senior Executive Vice President 69,057,543.74 18,668,918,653.65 MS. TAMMY HUANG 1,707,878,400.00 Executive Vice President 1,707,878,400.00 465,408,939.00 1,477,237,579.80 MR. JIMMY ARSENIO Y. SAMONTE

TOTAL LIABILITIES

PhP

23,814,177,119.80

22,388,501,116.19

Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

PhP

2,533,200,985.17 250,450,952.58 3,996,127,983.24

2,533,200,985.17 MS. CECILIA E. TABUENA 263,687,280.28 Senior Vice President 3,996,127,983.25

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

6,779,779,920.99

6,793,016,248.70 MR. EDGARDO A.M. MENDOZA, JR.

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

30,593,957,040.79

29,181,517,364.89

Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts Derivatives Others

PhP

1,958,265,604.41 295,672,863.59 1,566,156.80 625,683,551.40 1,419,456,115.67 695,653,752.75 723,802,362.93 13,840,034,886.19 323,033,028.52

1,285,047,035.43 397,210,987.46 0.00 2,558,238,468.60 1,337,156,070.32 682,903,825.71 654,252,244.61 23,042,076,583.70 1,804,013,291.85

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

PhP

18,463,712,206.58

30,423,742,437.36

PhP PhP

22,567,216,445.15 240,221,825.85

20,279,842,479.83 236,611,537.39

PhP

355,322,184.41 1.57% 115,100,358.56 0.51%

352,143,947.69 1.74% 115,532,410.30 0.57%

PhP

620,735,611.46

528,638,078.31

PhP

21,079,906.54

20,669,218.89

PhP

0.09% 94,295.03

0.10% 361,600.74

0.00%

0.00%

2.95% 5.96% 4.13%

3.02% 4.93% 5.72%

24.31% 23.49% 23.49%

24.74% 23.97% 23.97%

DIRECTORS MR. STEVE TSAI MR. FRANK SHIH MR. CHIH-CHUNG HUANG MR. EDWIN B. VILLANUEVA MR. NG MENG TAM EXECUTIVE OFFICERS MR. STEVE TSAI

MR. ISMAEL R. SANDIG

LIABILITIES

Senior Vice President

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PhP

MS. MA. GRETCHEN S. MACABASCO Senior Vice President

Senior Vice President

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) Specific Allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses Ratio of DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to TLP (%) Gross Non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivable to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis a. Total CAR (%) b. TIER 1 Ratio (%) c. CET 1 (%)

MR. WILLIAM B. GO Vice Chairman

MR. OLIVER D. JIMENO Senior Vice President MR. JOSEPH B. ESTAVILLO Senior Vice President MR. DEOGRACIAS A. JACINTO Senior Vice President MR. REMO ROMULO M. GAROVILLO JR. Senior Vice President MR. FLORENTINO T. GONZALEZ, III Senior Vice President

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) TAGUIG CITY ) S.S. I/We, ANDRE P. PAYAWAL and STEVE TSAI of the abovementioned Bank, do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above statement of condition are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

(Sgd.) ANDRE P. PAYAWAL Chief Finance Officer, SVP (Signature Over Printed Name)

(Sgd.) ISMAEL R. SANDIG (For) Steve Tsai, President and CEO (Signature Over Printed Name)

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this February 01, 2016 affiants exhibiting to me his/their TIN 150-031-779-000 and 102-213-187-000.

Doc. No. 360; Book No. 73; Page No. 14; Series of 2016

(Sgd.) ATTY. JOWELL A. MENDOZA NOTARY PUBLIC FOR AND IN TAGUIG CITY, PASIG, PATEROS, SAN JUAN METRO MANILA UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2016 APPT. NO. 254 (2015-2016) PTR NO. 1383551, 1/4/2016, PASIG CITY IBP No. 0998446, 2/25/2015 ROLL NO. 59661 MCLE COMPLIANCE NO. IV-0017486-4/19/13 32nd ST. CAR PLAZA BONIFACIO GLOBAL, TAGUIG CITY

B4 Govt says Agus plant rehab on schedule

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE rehabilitation of the AgusPulangi hydro complex is on track for completion this year, an official from the Mindanao Development Authority said Tuesday.

Romeo Montenegro, MinDa investments promotion director, said the P4.96-billion rehabilitation work on the hydro complex was ongoing.

“Yes, we are that’s why a number or Agus units have been derated due to ongoing rehab, except, however, for the Baloi flood control which will increase Agus 1 and 2 output. It has not been started and is now being reckoned with the eventual construction of Agus 3. Meanwhile, Pulangi goes through just selective dredging,” Montenegro said.

The official said the P4.96-billion budget was the total amount earmarked for the Agus-Pulangi rehab project since 2013.

The government created the Mindanao power monitoring committee to spearhead efforts to address the Mindanao power supply situation.

The committee instituted measures to address the power supply issues of Mindanao, such as the immediate rehabilitation and upgrade of the Agus-Pulangi complex.

The government, meanwhile, allocated P1.72 billion for the Agus 1 and 2 uprating essentially for the flood control project on Balo-i plains to increase the hydro power plants’ combined generating capacity by 30 MW to 40 MW, without flooding the communities in the Balo-i area.

The committee earlier said the Public Works and Highways Department planned to complete the Agus 1 and 2 uprating within the year.

The government also approved P2.6 billion for the Agus 6, Units 1 and 2 uprating, which involves the rehabilitation and replacement of plant components to increase the generation output by 19 MW and extend the plants’ economic life for another 30 years.

Commissioned in 1953, Agus 6 is the oldest plant in operation, already twice the standard economic life of 30 years. Completion of the rehab for Agus 6 Unit 2 is planned in the first quarter, while Unit 1 is set for the second quarter.

SSS study tour. The Social Security System shares the highlights of its 58-year experience in pension fund management, grant of various benefits and calamity assistance during the SSS Study Tour for officials of the Bangladesh Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at the SSS main office in Diliman, Quezon City on January 5. SSS senior vice president for administration group May Catherine Ciriaco (seventh from left) delivered a lecture for the Bangladeshi delegates.

Jollibee’s net profit drops 10% to P4.8b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, said Tuesday net income in 2015 declined 10.4 percent to P4.8 billion from P5.3 billion in 2014 due to extraordinary costs incurred in the fourth quarter last year.

Net profit in the fourth quarter of 2015 dropped 45 percent to P948 million from P1.72 billion year-on-year.

Jollibee chief finance officer Ysmael Baysa said the company’s 2015 net income was adversely affected by significant short-term costs amounting to almost P1 billion. The costs covered information technology upgrade, increase in network development organization, acquisition of US-

based hamburger chain Smashburger and extra supply chain and logistics costs.

“These are necessary investments that are helping make possible growing faster than we anticipated. These are necessary investments that are helping make possible JFC’s short and long term sales and profit growth,” Baysa said.

Minus the extraordinary cost items, Jollibee’s net in-

come would have increased 8.2 percent and 7.8 percent in the fourth quarter and the entire 2015, respectively.

“We do not expect the same rate of expense increases in 2016.

We look forward to a strong profit recovery in 2016 and in the years ahead,” Baysa added.

Systemwide sales in 2015, meanwhile increased by 10.9 percent to P130.7 billion from P117 billion in 2014 as the company opened a record 303 stores last year.

The stores consist of 246 in the Philippines, 39 in China, 17 in Southeast Asia and the Middle East and one in the United States.

“The new stores are performing well, particularly those in the Philippines, exceeding their sales target and return on investments,” Jollibee chief executive

officer Ernesto Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee as of end 2015 was operating a total of 2,475 restaurant outlets.

Including stores from affiliates and joint venture partnership, namely Highlands Coffee, Pho 24, 12 Hotpot and recently acquired Smashburger, Jollibee group’s total number of stores totaled 3,635 as of end 2015.

Jollibee in November said it would spend P10.4 billion in capital expenditures for 2016, including P7.5 billion for new stores and renovations of existing outlets.

“We look forward to a robust business in 2016 and in the years ahead,” Tanmantiong said.

Share price of Jollibee on Tuesday declined fell 1.1 percent to P212.20.

Globe Telecom upbeat on partnership with tourism body

By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Tuesday it expects to earn as much as P500 million this year from a partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Tourism Department.

Globe, through its international business group, renewed its partnership with the TPB to promote the Philippines as one of Asia’s top tourist destinations through its Visit the Philippines Again 2016 campaign.

With the partnership, Globe will once again offer its Globe Traveler SIM to millions of tourists and returning migrant Filipino workers for free for affordable and worry-free connectivity during their stay in the country.

“We are privileged to once again partner with the TPB this year to help boost the travel experience with affordable call, text and data services, enabling them to stay in touch as well as share the beauty of the Philippines to the rest of the world through social media,” Globe senior vice

president for international business group Nikko Acosta said.

“With Globe, we ensure that even travelers get to live and embrace their digital lifestyle as their connectivity partner while in the country,” he said.

Acosta said the company expects to double its Traveler SIM subscriber base and revenues this year with the renewal of its partnership with TPB. Since the launching of the Traveler SIM in July, Globe recorded a total of 80,000 subscribers and P220 million in revenues.

“The Traveler SIM was one of the best services of Globe. It’s pretty successful. We expect sales target to increase substantially,” Acosta said.

Data on Globe Traveler SIM usage from August to November 2015 showed that 90 percent of the Traveler SIM users came to the Philippines for vacation, and the top three countries with the most number of visitors were from Korea, China and Singapore.

The same data also showed 97 percent of Traveler SIM customer

base used data and 85 percent for local calls.

“This year will be another competitive year for Philippine tourism, as TPB intends to remain aggressive in securing its rightful share of the tourist market. Because of our competitive fire, we are confident that more foreign travelers will choose to visit the Philippines over any other destination and more will be delighted to return to the country this year,” said Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III.

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

B5

Foreign groups push agenda

By Othel V. Campos

Opium-laced seasoning served up in restaurants WE came across news that several restaurants in China are now under prosecution for using opium poppies as seasoning for their dishes. And it’s not just dimsum and dumpling joints and noodle shops that have been found with this kind of illegal and scary practice but even popular hot pain chains in the capital of Beijing—making it a very scary scenario because unscrupulous people bent on doing monkey business can use this to make drug addicts out of people, one of our buddies pointed out.

According to reports, China’s Food and Drug Administration is now investigating these restaurants and food joints numbering 35, ascertaining truth to allegations that cooks sprinkle ground poppy powder containing low levels of morphine and codeine in the food served. This latest issue is just one more black eye against China which has been hounded by all kinds of food scandals in the past, like melamine-laced milk, fake rice, seafood injected with gelatin, etc.

While we have yet to see if the amount of opiates sprinkled in the food is enough to get a customer hooked on drugs, why risk it? Here in the Philippines, we have heard about these drug lords spiking lollipops and candies with illegal substances to get kids—elementary school children in fact— hooked on the drug habit. So it’s not unlikely that the same unscrupulous low-life primates would get a leaf from this news and bribe restaurant cooks and servers to sprinkle the food with powder containing illegal substances masquerading as food seasoning. According to reports from Xinhua, the official news agency of the Chinese government, the additives—or perhaps we should call them “addictives”—were usually mixed with chili oil and chili powder to make it difficult for the ordinary customer to detect. Imagine getting a buzz from drug-laced chili oil?

OFWs lose a father in Señeres News about the demise of OFW Family party list Rep. Roy Señeres on Monday due to cardiac arrest brought about by diabetes complications has brought a pall of gloom to overseas Filipino workers, who see a father in the late ambassador who is regarded as a moving force in upholding the rights of OFWs. Señeres, 68, was largely credited for saving Sarah Balabagan from death row. Balabagan, who was a young domestic worker at the time, was on death row for killing her employer who raped her. Balabagan, who is now based in Milipitas, California, expressed her sorrow over the passing of the party list politician who filed a certificate of candidacy for president under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka party but announced his withdrawal from the race shortly before he died due to health reasons.

The Capiz-born Señeres obtained a political science degree from the University of Santo Tomas and finished his Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College. He started in government as a case officer at the Department of Labor and worked his way up until his promotion as labor attaché with the rank of consul-general in Washington DC in the ’90s, which started him on the path of being an OFW champion. He was a good man, gone too soon, our buddies said.

Our condolences to the family and loved ones of Congressman Roy Señeres.

Ople, local recruitment agency keep promise to repatriate OFW remains The OFW community may have lost a champion in Roy Señeres, but they are thankful that they still have champions in the person of Susan Ople who, along with John Bertiz, are helping ease the plight of OFWs and their families. True to their word, Ople (who is running for senator in the upcoming May elections) and Bertiz moved to have the remains of domestic helper Lotis Camocamo brought home. The domestic helper died after falling from the third floor of an apartment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last Oct. 29.

John Bertiz, who is also the president of Global Asia Alliance Consultant Inc., said he and Ople are accompanying Camocamo’s husband, Domingo, to bring home Lotis’ remains to Toledo City in Cebu, where her three children and surviving family are waiting.

“We are one with the Camocamo family in grieving over the loss of Lotis.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them, especially during this time of grief and great loss. May Lotis find eternal rest in the hands of her Creator,” Bertiz expressed.

Based on the Saudi Police report, Lotis, a native of Bgy. Sto. Nino, Toledo City, suffered serious head injury from the fall that caused her death. The OFW was apparently alone when she went out through the window using an improvised rope that snapped. Saudi authorities had reportedly ruled out foul play in the fatal accident. Unfortunately, the local recruitment agency only learned about her death last Dec. 9, and immediately sent its welfare officer to Riyadh to assist her husband.

Bertiz’s agency shouldered the cost of returning her remains to Cebu, along with her husband’s airfare and even extended personal financial aid to the family. He also helped facilitate the claim for insurance amounting to $10,000 and for financial aid by her employer amounting to some 18,000 riyal to benefit her children and family.

It was Ople, who heads the Ople Policy Center, who was instrumental in locating Camocamo’s family and facilitating the repatriation of the domestic helper’s remains.

••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you. Cheers!

THE Joint Foreign Chambers proposed an economic growth target of 10 percent and about $10 billion to $12 billion of foreign direct investments in the mid-term period starting in 2018 as guidance to the next administration.

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines vice president Henry Schumacher announced the group’s wish list for the succeeding president and elected government officials during the pre-briefing for the 5th Arangkada Forum on March 1, 2016.

“Good governance has been high on our agenda on the integrity initiative and looking at the last five years. This administration understood the value of having integrity and good governance. These are the visions we try to carry in the last four years and I think these justify all that can be achieved,” he said.

The forum in 2010 endorsed seven sectors that will push

growth of the Philippines economy. These are agribusiness, business process outsourcing, creative industries, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics, mining, and tourism, medical travel and retirement.

The group said it was proposing the same set of recommendations to the next government.

The group, Schumacher said, would continue to be critical of the required economic and political reforms, a task that the next Arangkada Forum will seek from the platforms of presidential candidates.

The JFC is calling for the government to respect the sanctity of contracts, relax restrictions on foreign investments, pursue

trade treaties such as free trade agreements as well as the TransPacific Partnership, implement tax reforms, deliver better judgment on traffic woes, put up more efficient broadband connection and increase foreign investments.

The group cited the current administration’s effort to attract foreign investments did not reach its target, although the Aquino government had the biggest FDI so far since the Marcos administration in 1970.

The FDI in 1970 stood at $117 million and increased to $644 million during the time of president Corazon Aquino in 1987 to 1992, $1.5 billion during president Fidel Ramos’s term, $1.74 billion in president Joseph Estrada’s administration, $1.54 billion during President Gloria Arroyo’s tenure; and $4 billion during the current administration.

Despite increased FDI, the JFC noted that business and economic reforms failed to move faster in the 16th Congress with about 17 laws approved compared with 34 in the 15th Congress.

Organic trading post. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala discusses the potential markets and

economic contribution of organic produce at the newly-opened trading post in Legazpi City, which will cater to the agricultural output from Legazpi and nearby municipalities. The P1.5-million trading post will serve as a center for marketing and show-window of latest technologies and good agricultural practices for organically grown and produced crops. With Alcala are Mayor Noel Rosal (second from left) and members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.

Frontier Capital acquires Clark hotel FRONTIER Capital Group Ltd. of Australia announced Tuesday the acquisition of Stotsenberg Leisure & Hotel Corp. in the Philippines.

The acquired assets consist of the Stotsenberg Hotel and Casablanca Casino, both located at the Clark Freeport Zone.

“Frontier Capital has moved into the lucrative gaming and hospitality industry with the acquisition of Stotsenberg Hotel and the Casablanca Casino. The directors see the acquisition as a bold initiative that they believe will greatly enhance shareholder value,” said Frontier director Ram Navaratnam.

He said the company bought

Stotsenberg through a scrip only payment with a $25-million profit guarantee over five years from E!xcite Gaming and Entertainment Inc., the appointed managers of the hotel and casino.

E!xcite provides full and comprehensive advisory, development and business management services to casino and integrated resort owners.

“Looking at our peers on the ASX, we believe Frontier Capital is considerably undervalued with a market cap in the order of only $45 million, while Donaco International’s market cap is around $400 million,” Navaratnam said.

The company is pinning growth expectations on the re-

cently announced $1.5-billion passenger terminal expansion project at Clark International Airport aimed at doubling traffic to 8 million in 2017 and hitting 80 million passengers by 2032.

“The development of the Clark International Airport, which is less than 2 kilometers from the hotel and casino, will help drive our expansion targets. Forecast profit is expected to more than double to $11.7 million over the next two years,” said Navaratnam.

Frontier Capital launched a new Web site coinciding with the re-listing at fcgl.com.au, where recent presentations and broker analysis can be viewed.

Othel V. Campos

WEDNESDAY: FEBRUARY 10, 2016

B6

Govt, firms prepay $2.34b

By Julito G. Rada THE government and private companies prepaid $2.34 billion worth of medium- and longterm foreign debt in the first nine months of 2015, up 110 percent from $1.1 billion a year ago, to take advantage of low interest rates.

Data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed the public sector, including the national and local governments and stateowned and –controlled corporations prepaid $1.467-billion loans in the January-September period, up from $953.7 million a year earlier.

Private companies settled $875.2 million in debt ahead of maturity, up from $159.7 million year-on-year.

Debt prepayments surged from a year ago, ahead of the interest rate increase by the US Federal Reserve.

Bangko Sentral kept interest rates unchanged last year, due to the low-inflation environment.

The benchmark interest rates were kept at 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending.

Bangko Sentral urged both private and public companies to pre-pay their foreign-denominated financial obligations, especially when the peso was strong and interest rates were low.

Bangko Sentral earlier said the low-interest regime and strengthening of the peso against the dollar would help companies save money through the pre-termination of their foreign-denominated debt.

Loans and other obligations normally have provisions for prepayments where the borrower could save money by either pre-terminating or pre-paying without penalties.

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

Mirae Asia completes 20-MW solar project

By Alena Mae S. Flores

RENEWABLE energy developer Mirae Asia Energy Corp. has completed a 20-megawatt solar power facility in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, ahead of the March deadline for availment of the feed- in-tariff rates.

The $20-million project was developed through a partnership between San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group Inc. and Soleq, one of Southeast Asia’s largest independent solar utility generation platforms.

“We are happy to be able to contribute clean and sustainable energy to this community and create additional employment opportunities

for its constituents,” Mirae Asia chairman Anthony Violago said in a statement.

The company is hoping to avail of the FIT rate of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour under the second wave of approved installation targets.

The project is expected to make a significant contribution to meet the current energy demand in the Philippines by using solar as a clean and cost-competitive alternative energy source to coal.

The 20-MW plant is designed to produce 33,000 megawatt-hours of solar energy per year, which will power an estimated 29,328 households.

The project also created substantial local employment opportunities in Ilocos Norte during the construction stage.

Mirae Asia committed to a significant corporate, social, responsibility program in order to support local communities in the province and municipality to help improve health, infrastructure and education as well as signifi-

cant investment in new tree planting.

San Lorenzo pioneered the construction of the $150-million Casecnan hydropower project although the company’s shares were already sold.

Soleq, meanwhile, is one of Southeast Asia’s largest independent solar utility generation companies.

Soleq, an Equis invested company, has commissioned 12 projects across Thailand and the Philippines.

Founded and headquartered in Singapore, Equis is Asia’s largest independent renewable energy developer and investor with more than $2.7 billion of funds under management.

Mirae Asia was previously owned by a group of Korean investors but the project experienced delays due to undisclosed reasons.

The Energy Department issued a certificate of commerciality to Mirae Asia in July 2013 allowing the company to proceed with the construction of the solar project in Currimao.

Korean envoy.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (right) receives a token of appreciation from Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-Shin during the latter’s visit at the Office of the Secretary in Intramuros, Manila.

EastWest Bank bullish, says 2016 good year for investments ECONOMIC prospects in the Year of the Fire Monkey bodes well for investment-seekers, according to the head of the trust division of EastWest Banking Corp.

“There are a lot of opportunities for both individual and corporate investors although it is going to be a roller coaster ride,” said EastWest first vice president and trust officer Angel Marie Pacis said.

Financial markets in the Philippines and Asia in general have

taken a beating since the start of the year after China released weak economic data. Pacis said it was a good time to buy equities or shares of stock at good prices.

“Since hot money is going out, financial markets are correcting.

Stock prices, in particular, are down,” she said.

She warned, however, that investors should do an overview of the stock market and pick companies that were doing well but whose prices were at a discount.

“Know that good companies aren’t always good stock investments. If the trading price is already high, price appreciation and return on investment will be limited. Investors really need to assess potential upside,” she said.

Pacis said the market decline was temporary, as the real economy was doing well.

“While stock market and investment values are going down, a lot of people are buying cars and houses. There are

jobs especially in the BPO sector, OFW remittance growth remains positive, and election spending is starting to pump prime the economy. These are signs that equities, for one, will surely recover. The strong economy and the stock market will synchronize at some point,” she said.

There are a lot of easy investment options such as unit investment trust funds, said Pacis.

She said these are investment products wherein money from

various investors are pooled together, invested and managed by a trust entity, such as the EastWest trust division.

“There’s no one best investment; it always depends on the situation of the investor.

People with money to invest should choose the UITF that matches their time horizons, the kinds of returns they need, and their risk appetites. Our branch people are equipped to guide them in doing so,” said Pacis.

W E D N E S D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Germany to try 2 former SS men BERLIN—Two former SS men will go on trial this month for their alleged complicity in the murder of thousands of people at Auschwitz, as Germany accelerates its bid to prosecute aging Third Reich criminals.

Reinhold Hanning, 93, faces court in the western town of Detmold from Thursday, charged with at least 170,000 counts of accessory to murder in his role as a former guard at the camp in occupied Poland.

Hubert Zafke, 95, will have to answer at least 3,681 counts of complicity in killings in separate proceedings in the eastern town of Neubrandenburg from February 29.

Zafke was a medical orderly at the camp in a period when 14 trains carrying prisoners—including the teenage diarist Anne Frank—arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where many would eventually be killed in the gas chambers.

Holocaust survivor Angela Orosz, who will take the witness stand in the Hanning trial, told AFP that all Auschwitz staff “were part of this killing machine.”

“Without these people and their active support for the Holocaust, what happened in Auschwitz, the murder of 1.1 million people in just a few years, would not have been possible, and perhaps many of my family members would still be alive,” said Orosz, who was born in Auschwitz just over a month before it was liberated on January 27, 1945.

The defendants face between three and 15 years in jail, but in view of their advanced age and the period required for any appeals, they are unlikely to serve time.

Nevertheless, Andreas Brendel, who leads the prosecuting team against Hanning, said Germany “owes it to victims and their relatives” to pursue Third Reich criminals.

“Age has no bearing for me,” he said.

Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, agreed.

“If anyone deemed responsible for any aspect of the Holocaust is still able to stand trial, he or she should be prosecuted,” he told AFP. AFP

B7

Police fire warning shots during riot in Hong Kong HONG KONG—Baton-wielding Hong Kong police fired warning shots and pepper spray early Tuesday after a riot erupted when officials tried to shift illegal hawkers, the worst clashes since mass pro-democracy protests in 2014.

Police said nearly 90 officers were injured by broken glass or hard objects, while dozens of protesters were also hurt in the Chinese New Year clash.

Footage showed protesters levering up bricks from pavements in the busy Mongkok district, charging police lines with homemade shields and setting rubbish on fire in the middle of the road.

One officer was seen pointing his gun at crowds who hurled bricks, bottles and pieces of wooden pallets at police.

Police fired at least

two warning shots in the air, multiple news outlets reported, a very rare occurrence in the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city.

Police Commissioner Stephen Lo defended the officer who fired the warning revolver shots, saying rioters were continuously attacking his already injured colleague.

“With no alternative, his police colleague used his firearm in accordance with the use of force principles to prevent his fellow colleague from being further attacked,” Lo said, adding there would be a

full investigation.

Police said 54 protesters aged between 15 and 70 were arrested for assaulting police, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in a public place, among others offenses.

“We will consider charging the arrested persons for participating in a riot,” Lo said.

This carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Social media has dubbed the street battles that erupted after officials tried to move illegal food hawkers as the “fishball revolution”.

Demonstrators, including members of radical “localist” groups that stress Hong Kong’s separate identity from the mainland, tried to defend the hawkers whom they say add to the festive atmosphere.

Reports said one of those arrested was

Edward Leung, a “localist” candidate for an upcoming by-election on February 28.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying said the government “strongly condemns such violent acts”.

“There was a riot in Mongkok in the early hours of today,” the chief executive told reporters. “A few hundred mobs attacked police officers and media.”

Footage from Cable Television News showed police and protesters still in a standoff at daybreak while EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF CORAZON P. ARCILLA Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late CORAZON P. ARCILLA has been extrajudicially settled among her heirs as per Doc. No. 391, Page No. 79, Book No. 3, Series of 2016 of Notary Public Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio with CA-M. No. NP-013(2016 -2017) of Quezon City. ( T S - F E B . 3 ,10 ,17, 2 016)

Republic of the Philippines

PhilHealth Accredited Facility

2.

3.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, through the General Appropriations Act of 2016 intends to apply the sum Three Million Six Hundred Eighty One Thousand Eight Hundred Fifteen Pesos Only . (Php 3,681,815.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Various Drugs and Medicines; SLRWH IB 2016-008 . Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The SLRWH now invites bids for the Procurement of Various Drugs and Medicines.

Delivery of the Goods is required within seven (7) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

5.

The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for FY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Two Million Three Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP 2,397,500.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Configuration of Various IT Equipment (DOF) (the “Project”). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Configuration of Various IT Equipment (DOF). Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project which is equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC for the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/ fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (R-IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications.

4.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens, sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. St. Roxas Boulevard, Manila starting February 10, 2016 during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 10, 2016 at the General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila upon payment of a non-refundable fee provided as follows: Lot Particulars ABC Non-refundable fee No. 1 Computer, workstation, set PhP 1,497,500.00 PhP 5,000.00 2 Laptop PhP 900,000.00 PhP 1,000.00 The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

7.

The SLRWH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 16, 2016, 10 am at the SLRWH Training Room, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before February 29, 2016 ,10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to: ALLAN G. NIEVA JULIET V. CHIQUITO SLRWH-BAC Secretariat SAN LORENZO RUIZ WOMEN’S HOSPITAL O. Reyes St., Santulan, Malabon City Website: www.slrwh.doh.gov.ph Email Address: slrwh.procurement@yahoo.com.ph Telefax No.2939112

( T S - F E B . 10 , 2 016)

(SGD) NOEL D. VALDERRAMA, MD SLRWH- BAC Chairperson

SCHEDULE February 10, 2016 Starting February 10, 2016 February 17, 2016, 10:00 am February 19, 2016 (by email) February 22, 2016 February 29, 2016, 9:45 am February 29, 2016, 10:00 am

Bids must be delivered at the 7th Floor, EDPC Building cor. P. Ocampo Sr. St., Manila on or before February 29, 2016, 9:45 am. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address.

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

Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.

Bid opening shall be on February 29, 2016 , 10:15 am at SLRWH Training Room. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the non refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

( T S - J A N . 2 7/ F E B 3 /10 , 2 016)

1.

Interested Bidders may obtain fur ther information from the San Lorenzo R u i z W o m e n ’s H o s p i t a l B i d s a n d A w a r d s C o m m i t t e e ( B AC) S e c r e t a r i a t c / o M r. A l l a n G . N i e v a , R R T l l o r M s . J u l i e t V. C h i q u i t o a t Te l e p h o n e N o .

2 9 3 9 112 a n d i n s p e c t t h e B i d d i n g D o c u m e n t s f r o m 9 : 0 0 a . m . t o 3 : 0 0 p . m ., M o n d a y s t o Fr i d a y s f r o m F e b r u a r y 10 , 2 0 16 t o F e b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 16 .

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on February 10, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand pesos Only (Php 5,000.00)

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

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION OF VARIOUS IT EQUIPMENT

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

O. Reyes St., Santulan, Malabon City Tel. No. (02) 294-4853/294-4854 Website:www.slrwh.doh.gov.ph

1.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Estate of the late ALEJANDRO L. PAUCO and LOURDES I. PAUCO was extrajudicially settled among their heirs on Jan. 17, 2016, as per Doc. No. 95; Page No. 20; Book No. 1, Series of 2016 (Extrajudicial Settlement of the Estate of Alejandro L. Pauco and L:ourdes I. Pauco) before the Notary Public Atty. Ernesto D. Urbano of City of Ls Piñas.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

SAN LORENZO RUIZ WOMEN`S HOSPITAL

PU B L I C B I D D I N G : S L R W H I B 2 016 - 0 0 8 PRO CU R E M E N T O F VA R I O U S D R U G S A N D M E D I C I N E S FO R CY 2 016

The so-called “localists” seek to severely restrict Beijing’s influence in the city. Some even want an independent Hong Kong.

The clashes come at a time when residents are on edge over concerns the city’s freedoms are being eroded by China, which resumed sovereignty in 1997.

There is particular concern at the fate of five Hong Kong basedbooksellers believed to be detained in mainland China after disappearing last year from various places. AFP

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health-National Capital Regional Office

I N V I TAT I O N TO B I D

the city’s subway operator the MTR closed Mongkok station.

It later reopened and the district was quiet later in the day.

At least four journalists were injured, one of which was on the head by a brick thrown by rioters, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said in a statement on its Facebook page.

TVB news footage showed protesters harassing and attacking their cameraman who sustained injuries to his hand.

“LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.” 8.

The DOF reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to: Lilia R. Tan, Head - BAC Secretariat Department of Finance BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo, Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telephone No.: 526-8475 Telefax No.: 525-4227 Email Address: ltan@dof.gov.ph

(TS-FEB. 10, 2016)

(SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and DOF- BAC Chairman

W E D N E S D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

B8 Reluctance affecting refugee relocation BRUSSELS—European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker’s flagship plan to stem Europe’s migration crisis by redistributing refugees around the bloc risks crumbling as EU states balk at sharing the burden, diplomats, officials and experts have told AFP. Since adopting the scheme last September to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from front line states Greece and Italy, European Union countries have moved at a snail’s pace, taking in just 500 people.

Having pushed through his pet project for easing a crisis that saw more than one million people flood Europe’s shores last year, former Luxembourg premier Juncker last month vowed “not to give up” on the scheme.

But two EU diplomats, an official from an EU country, an analyst, and a person working on relocation spoke of growing doubts the plan will succeed in the face of the reluctance of many governments in the 28-nation bloc.

“I think people are afraid it’s going to fail,” one diplomat told AFP. “Some are losing hope and some are exploiting this loss of hope.”

European sources blame the delays on a series of factors: governments trying to screen jihadists in the wake of the Paris attacks, a lack of housing and education for asylum seekers, and logistical problems over chartering planes.

They say some countries are setting unacceptable conditions by refusing Muslims, black people or large families, with Eastern European states the worst for discriminating on religious or racial grounds.

“They [other countries] ask us not to be black, they ask us not to be big families, they ask us for more security,” Greece’s interior minister for migration Yiannis Mouzalas said, adding that less than half of all EU states had offered relocation places.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been the most vocal eastern European opponent to admitting Muslims, saying in October that “Islam has never been part of Europe.” AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Terrified thousands leave Aleppo in Syria BEIRUT—The camps for the displaced along Syria’s border with Turkey are at full capacity, aid workers say, as tens of thousands flee a major government offensive in Aleppo province.

Ageless Jane. Actress Jane Fonda speaks onstage at the AARP’s Movie For GrownUps Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on February 8, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

In and around the border town of Azaz, families are sleeping in the streets, or up to 20 people to a tent, having left their homes with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

The United Nations says up to 31,000 people have fled Aleppo city and surrounding areas in recent days, as government forces press an offensive that could encircle the rebel-held part of the city.

“There are no longer enough places for families to sleep,” said Ahmad al-Mohammad, a field worker with Doctors Without Borders or MSF who enters Aleppo province from Turkey daily.

“Many of them in the first days were sleeping in the streets and outdoors without blankets or covers,” he told AFP. He said up to 20 people were crowding into tents being distributed by aid groups and which are usually meant for seven only, with homes in towns receiving displaced people also filled to capacity.

“Most of the families left with just the clothes they were in,” he said, adding that the cold and the crowded conditions were causing health problems including diarrhea.

He said aid groups were also distributing warm clothes and mattresses, with Turkey allowing humanitarian goods across the border, which remains closed to the fleeing Syrians.

“They are trapped,” Mohammad said in a late Monday telephone interview.

“They’ve left their homes and everything they have behind, and they can’t get into Turkey.”

The UN’s humanitarian aid

agency OCHA said on Monday that eight informal camps on the Syrian side of the border were at “full capacity.”

And the UN’s aid chief Stephen O’Brien said he was “gravely concerned” by the mass displacement, noting that about 80 percent of the tens of thousands of people on the move were believed to be women and children.

“We have reports that civilians have been killed and injured, and that civilian infrastructure, including at least two hospitals, has been hit,” he said in a statement.

“People urgently require shelter, food and basic household items.”

He called on all parties to end targeting civilian infrastructure and allow civilians to move to safer areas.

Syrian government forces backed by allied militias and Russian air strikes began a major operation in northern Aleppo province last week.

They have advanced around much of Aleppo city, virtually encircling the rebel-held eastern part, and prompting tens of thousands to flee their homes in the northern countryside.

They are now around 20 kilometers from the Turkish border.

“It’s the first time since 2013 that the Syrian regime has been this close to the Turkish border in Aleppo province,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Turkey has said it fears the violence could drive up to 600,000 people to its border, in a “worstcase scenario.” AFP

‘North Korea rocket had longer range’ SEOUL—The rocket launched by North Korea at the weekend seemed more powerful than its 2012 predecessor, but Pyongyang still lacks the expertise to transform it into a ballistic missile capable of reaching the US mainland, South Korean officials said Tuesday.

The comments came as leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan discussed how to punish the North for its latest defiant launch and nuclear test, eying “strong and effective” UN sanctions.

The rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off on Sunday morning and, according to North Korean state TV, achieved orbit within 10 minutes.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, was widely seen as an act of open defiance just weeks after Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test.

It sparked strong international condemnations and resulted in an agreement at the UN Security Council to move quickly to impose new sanctions.

The Pentagon said it wanted to send a sophisticated missile defense system to South Korea and that the two sides would start formal discussions on placing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System on the North’s doorstep.

“Without getting into a time line, we’d like to see this move as quickly

as possible,” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

A South Korean defense ministry official said on condition of anonymity that the latest rocket was similar to the Unha-3 launched in December 2012 but was believed to have an enhanced range of some 12,000 kilometers The older version of the rocket had an estimated range of some 10,000 kilometers He was quick to emphasize, however, that the North has yet to master key technology needed to turn the rocket into an inter-continental ballistic missile, which would require a re-entry vehicle to protect the warhead from heat. AFP

Second night. Revelers of the Mangueira samba school perform during the second night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2016. AFP

WEDNESDAY : FEB RUARY 10, 2016

C1

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

H OME & L I V ING

LIFE Jeon Yong Sung, president and chief executive of Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, introduces Samsung 2016 innovations

Head of product innovation Ken Ding and director of corporate marketing for Thai Samsung Electronics, Sasitorn Khoopatanakul introduce the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator that has a built in camera inside the refrigerator so you can check what you need to buy when doing grocery

TRANSFORMATIVE INNOVATIONS

FOR SMARTER LIVING WITH SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

BY TATUM ANCHETA

T

he digital age is already here and the way we live today is already heavily reliant on technology. Five to 10 more years from now, our homes would be different, and so many living conveniences would readily be available. A lot of big electronics companies have been testing and developing product innovations, competing with and outplaying each others’ release in the market. What we used to

see in The Jetsons’ utopian future is not so distant anymore.

Currently the number one electronics brand in Asia, Samsung Electronics recently announced the latest innovations for tits product offerings this year at the Southeast Asia Forum 2016 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Though some technology will still not be available in the Philippine market, in some parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania, the company has released the latest innovations that transform the future into

Innovative hybrid touch monitors that can be used for schools or offices

Smart living room

Samsung Family Hub refrigerator

reality for the home, entertainment, retail, hospitality, office, educational settings and meeting places.

Samsung also unveiled the latest updates on Windows tablet, the Galaxy TabPro S, and the elegant and classic new design of smart watch Gear S2. Personalization was also highlighted during the forum as Samsung Pay, the new way to pay with your Samsung Galaxy device, will be coming to the Southeast Asia and Oceania region this 2016, starting with Singapore and Australia.

Likewise, the company also released its regional mySamsung program that aims to help customers manage their devices, enabling bearers to get direct access to customer service representatives, and extend other ownership privileges.

The center of the innovation launch was of course the home, as Samsung highlighted state-of-the-art and practical innovations that could make a big difference to household chores. “At Samsung, we have always placed our customers’ needs at the heart of everything we do, and we have a stellar track record of launching thoughtful innovations that enhance our customers’ quality of life,” said Yong Sung Jeon, president and CEO, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania.

During the forum, they showcased the smart spaces for the home enabled by the Samsung SmartThings Starter Kit which was already circulating in the market since last year. The kit lets you connect with hundreds of compatible smart devices in your home,

starting with the entertainment hub – the living room. The center of anyone’s living room is the TV and the company unveiled the 2016 SUHD TV, the first bezel-less curved design product with Quantum dot display that makes TV viewing seamless from every angle, including in brightly lit living rooms.

Moving to the kitchen, Samsung’s got everything covered from the stove, oven, and microwave, but the center of attention is focused on Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator, everyone’s favorite during the forum. The Family Hub is like your best friend in the kitchen, with a 21.5-inch full HD touchscreen display tht houses all the communications located on the upper right exterior door where you can access a series of technological practicalities. First and foremost, this ref becomes not just your main repository for food, it also acts as a family communication center where the screen allows users to post, share and update calendars; no need for magnets as you can digitally send your pinned photos including your kid’s award-winning stick figure sketches in school, or view notes your husband left for you. One thing anyone hates when doing the grocery is actually remembering what is still on the ref, but with Family Hub’s three high quality cameras inside the fridge to capture an image every time the door closes, users can now access what’s inside their refs by just checking on their smartphones.

Continued on C3

SmartThings Starter Kit

WEDNESDAY : FEB RUARY 10, 2016

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

How does one capture in words the infinite depths of love?

Lets Talk About Love, Baby LIV.E SIMPLY

BY LIV E.

I

t’s been spoken in all the languages of the world. It’s been sung about in countless songs. It’s even been written about in the oldest book in the world by a great man called Paul in a letter to the Corinthians. It was there since the beginning of time, and it will be the one thing left when all else fades away.

And yet, for me, it’s the hardest thing to write about. I mean, how does one put into words the meaning of this great, big, marvelous thing called love?

If you type in “what is love” on Google, you’ll get 1,560,000,000 results in 0.44 seconds (yes, I actually tried it). But when I attempt to define and explain love for this column, it takes me days of gutwrenching brainstorming, and I know why it’s been such a struggle for me: My knowledge of love is the result not of half a second of searching, but of a lifetime of experiencing it in all its facets as a daughter, sister, wife and mother.

So for today, allow me to share with you the result of that mighty struggle to come up with my own definition of this oftrepeated, oft-used, multi-faceted thing called Love.

Love is a commitment. It’s not a feeling; for me, to define it as such would be to demean it. Sure, it’s incredibly thrilling when the guy you’ve been swooning over winks at you from across the room, takes your hand in his, says those three words you long to hear. But it’s so much more than just that. Feelings change from day to day; love is constant. Years down the road, that wink might not be so thrilling, your hands will probably be too occupied with keeping little fingers out of mischief, and the three words you long to hear might very well have morphed into “Good night, dear” as you reach over to turn off

the light at night. But when you hear the same voice whispering good night, night after night, till the day you breathe your last, you know that you’ve been blessed with a love that is truly committed, that has stayed for the long haul, that has taken you and carried you and lifted you, not in spite of but rather together with all your little factory defects.

Love is limitless. I think it’s uncanny

know isn’t going to be with a good crowd.

It’s what makes us perfectly happy to sit quietly, holding our beloved’s wrinkled hand in our own, even as weakened eyes and rheumatism plague us in our old age.

Love is giving… in all forms and shapes and sizes. It’s a husband giving his name to his wife, a mother giving her body to house her child, a friend consoling a jilted bestie late at night armed with pep

Sometimes a touch says much more than three words ever can

how the universal token of love is a ring.

Like a circle, without a beginning and an end, love just goes on and on and on.

It knows no bounds; it rises above petty squabbles and huge fights; it travels through space and time and distance. It doesn’t keep count on a scoreboard and it never gives up, even when the going gets tough. It has no expiration date and sets no conditions. It’s what makes us wake up at night to mop up the contents of our kid’s stomach for the fifth time as he suffers from intestinal flu. It’s what moves us to steel our soft hearts and still our tears when our teenager screams at us for not allowing her to attend a party that we

talk and a tub of ice cream. It’s giving in and saying sorry even if you don’t think you’re at fault, because it’s what will keep the peace. It’s giving up myriad comforts for the sake of the other. It’s doing the right thing, even when it hurts. And the amazing thing about love is its power to transform sacrifice into a deep and lasting joy.

Love is trusting and believing that you’re never going to be left behind, that you’re always going to have someone watching your back, that you’ll always be in each other’s corner till the end of time. And sometimes it means reminding yourself of these truths when faced with

little jealousies and insecurities that threaten to eat away the bonds of trust.

Love is touching. Sometimes words are not enough. Sometimes a look, a touch, a hug can say more than three words – or three hundred – ever can. You see it in the twinkle that lights up the eye of a guy as he bends on one knee, a diamond ring in his hand. You see it in the mother’s gentle ruffling of the hair of her little boy. You see it in the sweet kiss a daughter drops on the forehead of her mom who barely recognizes her. Sometimes love can only be accurately expressed in the profundity of silent touches.

Love seeks only the best for the other.

I’ve always told my children that the opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s selfishness.

And when my boys have grown old enough for The Talk, the one thing I emphasize above all others is this: You will know that you really love her and she really loves you when you both seek what is best for each other, and what leads you to true happiness is a clean and pure expression of love. Anything less than that might feel good, but if it leads you away from the right path, then it can’t be true love and it won’t last. Impressing this on my boys’ minds might not insulate them from mishaps as they careen through their teenage adventures, but at least it will serve as a constant flashing reminder at the back of their heads of what they should look for and what they should be, if they truly want a long and lasting love.

And finally, love is the greatest legacy.

It is what I want my boys to think of, to aim for, to live for. It’s what I want them to keep in their hearts as the greatest gift we’ve ever given them. Because love is a legacy that lives forever, passed on from one generation to the next, transforming this world in its own unique way, until the end of time when we are all united with the Great Author of Love Himself.

Follow me on Twitter @ LivE_LiveSimply and like my page, follow all my articles, and send me feedback at live. esimplywithLiv on Facebook

WEDNESDAY : FEB RUARY 10, 2016

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

From C1

Another feature that makes this ref the most important part of the kitchen is its entertainment capability. Yes, what do you need on your ref that’s missing? Music, TV, and games. Imagine the drawing board and brainstorming session back in Samsung headquarters for this one. We sure can use some of that function! Imagine cooking while singing with Justin Bieber’s latest song or watching your noontime show or telenovela while preparing dinner, all this on your ref monitor screen. But for us in the Philippines, we might have to wait before it becomes available as Samsung is only releasing the latest Twin Cooling Plus ref in our market. Its feature?

A separate cooling system for the freezer and the door below.

And then, there’s the laundry. Samsung released the AddWash Washing Machine that comes with a SuperSpeed feature, making the regular washing faster. The highlight of the washer is the added small door where you can shoot in socks or single items that you forget in your laundry bin so you wouldn’t have to stop your washing process just to put those in. But you know, maybe you won’t need that feature if you’re not so forgetful.

One of the best ones we’ve seen during the exhibition is the part of the house that is dedicated to the elderly. In the Philippines, we sure take care of our lolos and lolas, so this technology makes it very convenient for the family as it monitors heart rates and the elderly ones’ condition through wearable watches, while the Virus Doctor split type air con takes care of adjusting the humidity and airflow depending on what granny’s vitals are showing. Oh, and it’s called Virus Doctor because it reduces viruses circulating in the air.

All these things can be monitored via your smartphone.

“Beyond product innovation, we want to engage our consumers more deeply to ensure that the experience with Samsung is personalized and delightful. And this experience does not stop after they purchase, it is beyond that,” shares Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania’s corporate marketing vice president, Irene Ng. “Through strong CSR programs, Samsung wants to continue to grow with our customers, fulfilling their evolving needs and passion as they go through different stages of their lives,” she adds. “We speak to the millennials in their language on digital and social platforms, we engage with young professionals and families with thoughtful content and services that meet their aspirations. We believe in progress for all,” Ng asserts.

In the coming years, we’re sure excited about what Samsung will come up with next. We’ll definitely hold on to Samsung’s promise. “We will continue to deliver innovations that matter, now, and in the future.”

You may now assist aging loved ones with one touch of a button

The new classic designs of Samsung Gear2

Samsung Virus Doctor aircon

To discover more, and for the latest news of Samsung in the Philippine market, visit www.samsung.com/ph/home.

APPLIANCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY HAIER EXPECTS STRONG PERFORMANCE IN 2016

Haier refrigerators are designed to complement any kitchen

Q

ingdao-based Haier Group is confident of a strong performance in 2016, starting the year with the release of new appliances in line with its continued efforts to expand into international markets. The company ended 2015 on a high note when it was awarded the World’s No. 1 Home Appliance Brand by Euromonitor for the seventh year in a row.

In the Philippines, Haier is known for its variety of quality and affordable appliances, believing that the success of its business comes from its belief that consumers are the heart of the company. New product offerings continue to provide innovations and value-added services for every Filipino home.

Adding to its wide range of products is the recently launched Small Domestic and Kitchen Appliances line that

includes coffee makers, ovens, electric kettles, induction cookers, gas ranges, and kitchen hoods.

Haier also released the side by side, two-door top and bottom mount inverter, and French door refrigerators, which are all equipped with a silent compressor, rapidcooling refrigerant, and innovative energy-saving inverter technology. Energy efficient with a sleek and modern look, these refrigerators have been designed to complement any kitchen.

Customers will also welcome the new television sets – the Android, Smart, and Ultra 4K HD LED TVs – that display shows in full HD and are compatible with tablet and smartphone media sharing.

The Android TV is also capable of downloading Google applications directly. The B7000U Ultra HD 4K TV is also slated for release this first quarter.

Haier has also launched the Top Load Washing Machine which comes with numerous functions that can be personalized for ease of use. New split-type and window-type inverter air conditioners have been released, with extended warranties of two years for parts and labor and five years for the compressor.

Company president and CEO Nobuhito Hayashi is confident that “2016 will definitely be another great year for Haier,” sharing that new product releases and an even stronger company dynamic will augur good things. “We firmly believe that success lies in the synergy and passion of our employees in all plans, decisions, and executions,” he added.

Haier is aiming to achieve around 40 percent sales growth this 2016 especially with the new products to drive the business. The company will continue its expansion with more products in major stores such as SM, ABENSON, Anson, and Robinsons. E-commerce is also being explored as an option to make the products more accessible.

For more information, visit the website www.haier.com/ph/ or connect with Haier.Philippines on Facebook

Small appliances include electric kettles, ovens, coffeemakers, induction cookers, gas ranges, and kitchen hoods

The Android TV can download Google applications directly

The Soak Master helps get rid of stains more effectively

WEDNESDAY : FEB RUARY 10, 2016

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Feng shui: The basics before buying that property CALEIDOSCOPE WORLD

S

BY CAL TAVERA

ometimes, I come across clients who rely on feng shui to guide their home design. I remember we had to change the whole floor plan of a home even though the structure was almost done because in the middle of the process, the client decided to bring in a feng shui guru. It was a little costly but they are happy with the end result.

Since that incident, I’ve encountered more clients who take feng shui seriously.

This practice is not exclusive to the Chinese but to everyone who would like to improve their conditions in general. It was practiced by the emperors in China to enhance their power and fortune. It was also applied to the designs of the houses of the nobles to accumulate more wealth. With the Chinese New Year we just celebrated, I thought it would be interesting to revisit and apply some of these basic practices to our own lives.

For the whole month, I will be focusing on how we can apply feng shui on different areas as this practice may help preserve the favorable chi of a place, bring in more beneficial energies from the surrounding environment into the interiors, help develop a more harmonious flow and encourage good health and fortune to the occupants of the home. If you happen to be in the market for buying a home or about to build that dream home of yours, here are some factors and information to consider.

1.

1.

The past matters. Study the history of the plot you are interested in before purchasing it. Avoid building a home on land that used to have a hospital, cemetery, funeral home, temple or church, slaughterhouse, or police station built on it. Due to the previous activities that went on in the previous establishments, the negative energies may still linger and affect the fortune and wellbeing of the new occupants.

If the former property was burned down, do not build upon that land immediately. To remedy the energies

Home with slope at the rear

The location of the swimming pool matters

Home on topmost level

2.

3.

4.

Avoid buying property that used to have a cemetery or other establishments with negative activity

5.

6.

House with tree as a backing

of the plot, do remove a meter of the top soil. Fill the loss with new soil from a good place that holds beneficial chi.

Avoid purchasing or building a home near the fault line. Research on the location of the fault lines as this will be disastrous to the homeowners during earthquakes.

Aside from the plot, the topography is also important. Being on top isn’t always a good idea. If you build your home on the topmost level, the house will be exposed to all the natural calamities. This is important since our country experiences several typhoons a year. It will not retain the good energies as well because the wind will blow them away.

If the home is situated on the bottom, that isn’t great either. If the house is built on the lowest portion on the area, then it will collect all the energies. Aside from accumulating all the different kinds of energies, it will also be vulnerable to floods.

An important condition of feng shui is to have backing at the rear of the house. Backing can be in the form of a tall building or a big tree.

An absence of backing suggests a dwindling family. It can also hinder the next generation from surpassing the success of the present generation.

We love swimming pools. It connotes fun and good times, right? According to feng shui, the location of the pool matters. The most common mistake we make is to place it right behind the home. The worst case is having a creek at the rear of the house. This signifies loss from loved ones which can affect health and wealth. Lower grounds should be situated in front of the plot, not behind. If the plot slopes towards the rear, don’t worry.

The cure is to fill it with materials to create more elevation than the front.

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WEDnESDAY : F EbRuA RY 10, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C5

KapusO aRTIsTs cElEbRAtE

G

ThE gIfT Of lIfE

MA Artist Center stars opened the year by reaching out to their chosen charities and sharing what they have with the people they care about.

Kylie Padilla and Mikael Daez lived up to their advocacy of caring for the environment as they spent their birthdays at the GawadKalinga Enchanted Farm on Jan. 16, while Kapuso singer-actress Glaiza de Castro extended her loving arms to the patients of Emmaus House of Apostolate last Jan. 20.

Glaiza recalls her experience, “Their peace is overwhelming at mahirap isiping nalulungkot sila, kaya malaking bagay sa’kin na nabigyan ko silang oras ko at nakita ko silang naka ngiti kahit sandali lang.”

For Yasmien Kurdi, exchanging thoughts with the young ladies of Cribs Foundation was inspiring. “seeing the girls live their life to the fullest after going through unimaginable things made me reflect on my life and be thankful for what i have.”

Meanwhile, Little Nanay star Chlaui Malayao went to star City on Jan.18 and enjoyed the day with her fans in snow World. According to the child star, it was nice to see them having fun in the small get together she prepared.

On Jan. 24, the kids of Holy Trinity Home for Children

were delighted as Joyce Ching organized a mini birthday party for them. “i have a soft (spot in my) heart for kids talaga. Kapag nakikita ko sila, parang naaalala ko nung bata pa ako, and then i forget about my worries,” admits the Kapuso actress.

As for Ken Chan, he enjoys immersing himself in the colorful world of the LGBT Community making him understand more the role he is portraying in the top-rating series Destiny Rose. He decided to celebrate his birthday with the Golden Gays and shared his experience, “First time lang daw ito na may nag-imbita sa kanila kaya proud akong naging part ako nito. Sobrang sarap nilang pagmasdan at masaya ako dahil marami akong natutunan sa kanila.”

The triple platinum recording star Alden Richards has a lot to be thankful for but giving back has already been an annual thing for him. This year, he joined Habitat for Humanity in spreading smiles to the children of Payatas.

He read them stories and played with them, which filled his heart with happiness.

Alden expresses, “it has been an incredible year for me.

Angdamingnangyari in a short span of time, and i can’t be thankful enough. Doing something familiar makes me look back and reflect, at the same time reminding myself to be grounded.”

Alden Richards is all smiles with the children of Payatas

Destiny Rose star Ken chan celebrates his birthday with the Golden Gays

child star chlaui Malayao (center) in Star city

Glaiza De castro with the patients of Emmaus House of Apostolate

Yasmien Kurdi exchanging thoughts with the young ladies of cribs Foundation

joyce ching with young orphans

Environmental advocates Mikael Daez and Kylie Padilla

EjAY FAlcon’S nEW loVE

Kapamilya star Ejay Falcon is thankful to jaime Acosta, the man behind PSAlMStRE nEW PlAcEntA skin care products, for choosing him once again as new Placenta for Men ads model

His star is on the rise with a hit afternoon TV series, an indie film in the can and a romantic-comedy film in the offing. One of local filmdom’s handsomest faces, Ejay Falcon is also returning as celebrity endorser of New Placenta for Men, one of the top labels for younger-looking skin care products.

A hot item as one of the male lead stars of the popular ABs-CBN afternoon series Pasion de Amor, Ejay said that he is ready to take on more mature roles in other film genres. Proclaiming that love can wait after his split from Pasion co-star Ellen Adarna,

the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus 2008 big winner wants to focus this time on improving his craft and his commitment as endorser of Psalmstre products.

Ejay is thankful to Jaime Acosta, the man behind Psalmstre New Placenta skin care products, for choosing him once again as New Placenta for Men model with Miss Earth Air 2012 Stephany Stefanowitz and Mister international Puerto Rico 2015 Fernando Alvarez.

The 28-year-old actor was the Psalmstre Olive C soap endorser after he won the PBB Teen Edition in 2008. Acosta said that Ejay

and other Psalmstre endorsers will be very busy in promotional tours in the coming months.They added excitement with their participation to the f 2016 Panagbenga Flower Festival in Baguio City on Jan. 27.

Ejay, who stars in the Toto Natividad indie-film Resbak with Nash Aguas, is set to do a romantic-comedy film which he considered a dream come true. He would not say no to playing gay characters similar to Dennis Trillo’s My Husband’s Lover, Coco Martin’s Paloma in Ang Probinsyano and Joross Gamboa’s transgender role in Maalaala Mo Kaya.

– Text and photo by Eton B. Concepcion

C6

WEDnESDAY : F EbRuA RY 10, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

STaR CInEma

touching moments to please the audience. And that right mix makes this Star Cinema offering a hit.

Date movies on V-Day

STaRTS yEaR wITh anOThER bOx OffICE hIT

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday this month, you may find yourself preparing for an entire weekend devoted to bonding time with your honey, mahal, beh or whatever terms of endearment that may apply in your relationship.

And a trip to the movie house, to watch a romantic movie of course, might be a good part of the whole plan.

Perfectly timed releases are ready to please those who are going out on a movie date: All Roads Lead To Rome and

FEBRUARY 10, 2016 Vilma Santos in an emotional scene from Everything About Her

How To Be Single; and the locally produced Love is Blind (starring Derek Ramsay, Solenn Heussaff and Kiray Celis) and Girlfriend for Hire (which stars Andre Paras and Yassi Pressman).

Love is Blind is about an unattractive girl that turns to using a love potion to win someone’s heart. Girlfriend for Hire, as the title suggests, follows the story of a rich kid who hires his classmate to pretend to be his girlfriend to appease his father. Meanwhile, All Roads Lead to Rome is about an uptight woman who reconnects with an old flame, and How To Be Single talks about lonely hearts seeking for the right match.

So, take your pick. For singles, don’t fret. There’s Deadpool, Spotlight and Lost in the Pacific, which are all certified better movies than all the romantic flicks mentioned above.

Angel Locsin and Xian Lim in the Star Cinema hit movie

wIThOuT edy-drama crossed the P100-million BS-CBN’s film prowang2 duction arm has provmark nine days after it hit the theaters nICKIE wang en once more that it is nationwide on Jan. 27. the undisputed leader The basic premise of Everything in movie production.

About Her is kind of sad because it From last year’s record-breaking box centers on a successful businesswoman office performances of Beauty and the Bestie, named Vivian (Santos), who learned that which is now considered as the highest gross- she is suffering from cancer when diaging Filipino movie of all time, A Second Chance, nosed was already on the advanced third Crazy Beautiful You and The Love Affair, which stage. Yes, she’s wealthy but she’s broken all breached the P300 million mark in terms of deep inside. With no close family member domestic box office earning, Star Cinema has to take care of her, she hires a private nurse, produced another big screen winner - Every- Jaica (Locsin). The younger woman plays a thing About Her. bigger role in Vivian’s life. As the film proLike most of the movies produced by Star gresses, Jaica turns to become the bridge Cinema, the rom-com that stars Vilma Santos, between Vivian and her son Albert (Lim), Angel Locsin, and Xian Lim was expected to who had felt neglected all his life. achieve blockbuster status. And the Joyce E. At first glance, there’s nothing unusual Bernal helmed movie did exactly that. about the plot, but why the story works?

In a post on Star Cinema’s official Instagram Simple, it offers enough laughs, hysterical account, the film outfit announced that the com- lines (which Ate V. is known for) and enough

A

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Grumble 5 Zen riddle 9 Got lighter 14 Ocean fish 15 Lane who sang with Cugat 16 Love in a gondola 17 Novelist — Bagnold 18 Winning margin 19 Rock climber’s foothold

20 Tact 22 Place for leisure (2 wds.)

24 Roomful of students 26 King, to monsieur 27 Tent securers 30 Bit down hard 35 Search party 36 “Read ‘em and —” 37 Autobahn vehicle 38 It may be abstract

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016

10 Either of two 39 Sun orbiters continents 42 Tonic partner 11 Long-gone bird 43 DEA operative 45 Made cheddar bet- 12 Thus 13 Form an opinion ter 21 Lie dormant 46 Total, maybe 23 Spew ash 48 Take upon oneself 25 Vistas 50 Not lukewarm 27 Reaches across 51 Family mem.

52 Investment return 28 Scroll in an ark 29 Jetsons’ dog 54 False move 31 It may be frail 58 Keep a promise 32 Even bigger 62 Concede 33 Royal decree 63 — lang syne 34 Small-time 65 Real estate unit 36 Hourly pay 66 — gotta be kid40 Tureen partner ding!

41 Rise, as a river 67 It has rings 44 Handwritten 68 Slow run 47 Extend, as spokes 69 Make different 49 Scrabble tile 70 Rustler’s target 50 Listened to 71 To be, to Brutus 53 Loafer DOWN 54 Ancient empire 1 Upscale cook builder 2 Rajah’s consort 55 Goddess’s statue 3 Similar 56 Soot 4 Adorns 57 Hiking trail 5 Sunflower State 59 TV hookups 6 Bassoon cousins 60 Romantic deity 7 Tummy muscles 61 Nerve network 8 — -do-well 9 Han Solo’s “Millen- 64 Suffix for forfeit nium —”

KIDS ChOICE

The kids have spoken nominating Enrique Gil and Kathyrn Bernardo in the 2016 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Favorite Pinoy Personality category.

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (KCA) is an annual star-studded awards show held in the US created just for kids to give them the power to support and vote for their favorites across various categories including TV show, movie, music artist, sports star, and more.

This will be held in Los Angeles on March 12 and telecast live across the globe.

The KCA continues to be a global event with the localized international categories.

Nickelodeon fans across North and Southeast

Asia are given the opportunity to support their favorite artists by voting in a brand new local category, Favorite Pinoy Personality.

With Enrique being one of this year’s nominees, he will be vying for the award against other home-grown artists from the Philippines.

Past nominees from the Philippines were Charice, who won the very first Favorite Asian Act award (2012), Sara Geronimo (2013), and Anne Curtis (2014), and Daniel Padilla (2015)––who won the global SlimeA-Star award.

The KCA voting is now live via http:// kca.nick-asia.com/vote and Twitter! Don’t forget to use the hashtags #VoteEnriqueFPP ,. #VoteKathrynFPP and #KCAto make those votes count. You can vote via the website and thru Twitter as many times as you want.

W EDNES DAY : F EBRUA RY 10, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C7

From C8

THE COMPANY HEADLINES ‘MUSIC & MEMORIES’ ON VALENTINE’S DAY Make new memories and enjoy a night of your favorite tunes with the country’s premier vocal ensemble, The CompanY, as they put together a Valentine’s show at the Palacio de Maynila you will certainly remember.

With 30 years in the business, The CompanY has been a veteran of concert circuits here and abroad. Their worldclass act is marked by amazing vocal harmonies and covers wide genre music from pop and R&B to jazz and contemporary a capella, and everything in between.

This Valentine’s Day, expect a highly Premier vocal group The CompanY entertaining show from The CompanY’s founding members Moy Ortiz and An- OJ Mariano.

The group has wowed the most nie Quintos, as well as roster veterans Sweet Plantado, Cecile Bautista and discerning audiences around the globe, and for this special one-night concert, local fans will be reminded why they remain a most sought-after act to this day.

The group has just released their Richard Yap 25th album Nostalgia. With songs like the touching “Both Sides Now,” the happy “Up, Up and Away,” the upbeat “If All We’re Gonna Do Is Dance,” the stirring “The Times of Your Life,” and many others, the album is a success and offers proof that The CompanY still knows how to tug at the heartstrings of their listeners.

The CompanY may be a successful recording act but that’s just one facet of their genius. They are best seen live so listeners can experience their music in ways that will definitely move them. This muchawaited show, Music & Memories, will give their local fans a dash of romance and bit of a throwback as they perform songs that have remained favorites among listeners

throughout the years.

What’s more, they have invited a special guest to give the audience a sweet treat.

Joining them on the day of hearts is heartthrob Richard Yap. A favorite among many television fans, Ser Chief—as he is known and remembered from his hit daytime soap — will send hearts a-flutter as he shows his musical side and serenades audiences with songs of love and romance.

Ser Chief, lauded for his mellow and cool voice, will provide a nice contrast to the rousing numbers and the harmonized hits The CompanY is known for.

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday this year, give yourself and your loved ones a treat of a truly romantic weekend with music that will feed your passionate soul, and memories that will live on in your hearts for a very long time.

Music & Memories is on Feb. 14, 7 p.m., at the Palacio de Maynila along Roxas Boulevard in Malate, Manila.

For inquiries, you may call Palacio de Maynila at 524-7606. Tickets are also available thru SM Tickets, 470-2222.

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BAGATSING WANTS TO RECLAIM MANILA

Amado Bagatsing

Vowing to reclaim leadership in Manila, Amado Bagatsing promises to work with businessmen, urban planners, historians and artist groups to make historic Manila a center for the appreciation of arts, culture

and history.

“There’s a need for us, Filipinos, to revisit our history, culture and arts.

Not only art for art’s sake but also we can touch base with who we are as a people,” said Bagatsing in a tete a tete with showbiz writers recently.

“If elected mayor, we will bring back the glory days of Manila and rescue it from the urban decay that is the result of the neglect and apathy of the present and past administrations,” he added.

Bagatsing said among his

plans are the revival and reconstruction of the Metropolitan Theater, the inventories of movie theaters and fuller support for Philippinemade films, music, art pieces, among others.

“We have so many beautiful and socially relevant films, especially those from indie producers and directors. We need to support them as well as those coming out from the yearly Metro Manila Film Festival,” he said.

A congressman of the Fifth District of Manila for six terms now, Bagatsing said his administration will also

display the glory of Manila through float parades and the showing of history, arts and cultural materials.

“Roxas Boulevard will be a place for painters and musicians and not beerhouses.

There, the painters can draw sketches for tourists with the breathtaking Manila Bay sunset as backdrop,” said Bagatsing.

“We will also revive Intramuros and all of our efforts will be in coordination with the hotel and restaurant associations, the police and the barangay.”

As a young boy, Bagatsing said he was brought by his father to Escolta, describing it as “the answer of Manila decades ago to the Rodeo Drive of LA.” “I know how beautiful Manila was and I intend to reclaim that beauty and glory if elected mayor,” he said.

BOYCE AVENUE FEVER GRIPS PINOY FANS A Boyce Avenue fever has gripped millions of Pinoy music fanatics across the country as the singing group touted as the biggest band on YouTube gears up to head for Manila after a year for a live performance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Sharing the spotlight as special guests at the Big Dome gig are American singer, songwriter-musician Savannah Outen and the fast-rising Australian band, At Sunset, both enjoy huge following on YouTube.

The post-Valentine presentation from Ovation Productions will kick off Boyce Avenue Philippine Tour 2016, a five-city concert series that includes shows at Waterfront Hotel & Casino Cebu on Feb. 18, Limketkai Mall Cagayan de Oro City on Feb. 19, St. La Salle Coliseum Bacolod City on Feb. 20 and University of Baguio on Feb. 22.

The concert, which is part of Boyce Avenue’s ongoing Be Somebody world tour, is expected to draw

Cover band Boyce Avenue with Savannah Outen and At Sunset

a huge attendance from diverse classes and types of music fans -- mostly from its large digital fan base, where it reigns as the No. 1 most streamed international artist in the Philippines.

The group was here for a Valentine’s Day gig in 2015 at the Big Dome, followed by another show the next day at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City.

Tickets are available at Smart Araneta Coliseum (concert on Feb. 16 – P5,280, P4,755, P4,225 , P3,700, P2,115 and P785), Ticketnet outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph or call Ticketnet at 911-5555; Waterfront Hotel & Casino Cebu show on Feb. 18 -- (032) 232-6888/0917622-8705; Limketkai Mall,Cagayan de Oro City show on Feb. 19 -- +63 88 856 8881; St. La Salle Coliseum Bacolod City show on Feb. 20 -- (033) 514-0199/0928-691-6661; University of Baguio show on Feb. 22 -- (074) 423 3912/0923 216 8038).

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TRIXIE DISCOVERS SHE IS NOT ALFONSO’S DAUGHTER KATRINA’S (Angel Aquino) worst nightmare happened when Trixie (Julia Barretto) found out Alfonso (Tonton Gutierrez) is not her father in the afternoon series And I Love You So. Upon seeing the DNA test conducted before Alfonso’s death, Trixie was in shock as the result said she is not genetically matched

with the person she knew to be her father. With so much rage in her, Trixie immediately confronted Katrina and burst out in anger with all the lies her mother has been keeping for years.

Now that the truth is finally revealed, how can Trixie accept that she is a Valdez? Can Katrina convince her daughter that the DNA test is not true?

Don’t miss the thrilling scenes in And I Love You So, weekdays on ABS-CBN. For more information about the program, visit the official social networking site of Dreamscape Entertainment Television at Facebook.com/ DreamscapePH, Twitter.com/ DreamscapePH, and Instagram.com/DreamscapePH.

Angel Aquino

Julia Barretto

C8

W EDNES DAY : F EBRUA RY 10, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Enrique Gil is a hardworking lad in Dolce Amore

Liza Soberano plays a young girl raised in Italy by her adoptive parents

LIZQUEN’S

Matteo Guidicelli plays the third wheel in the new Kapamilya romantic series

sweet return on primetime

F

rom the phenomenal success of their top-rating series Forevermore, Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil - one of the country’s hottest love teams - return to primetime to give viewers a taste of love’s sweetness in ABSCBN’s newest romantic drama, Dolce Amore.

After making the whole country fall in love and believe in forever, Liza and Enrique take on Dolce Amore, a story of two young wandering souls. They are both in search of themselves and will be brought together by destiny and feel an infallible connection with each other.

“It’s a project I think almost everyone will be able to relate to. It’s about finding your identity and finding love and the story is just so fun and uplifting,” said Liza.

She plays Serena, a young girl raised in Italy by her adoptive parents. Though she lives a good life, she cannot shake off the feeling that an important part of her identity seems to be missing - the truth about where she came from.

ISAH V. RED

Bearing the same struggles is the character of Enrique, Tenten, who grew up in an orphanage suffering from the pain of his real parents’ rejection. A hardworking raketero, Tenten takes on different jobs to help his adoptive family.

“It’s a ‘peasant meets a princess’ kind of feel. It’s a very light teleserye, like what we all love - kind of Forevermore’ feels,” shared Enrique.

Aside from Forevermore, the success of LizQuen also translated in the big screen, with Just the Way You Are and Everyday I Love You being certified boxoffice hits.

Moreover, Liza said that fans should expect her team-up with Enrique to level up in terms of kilig, and that they will be more open to experimenting with their characters in Dolce Amore.

Serena and Tenten’s worlds will

collide while, in search of herself, she wanders off and travels to the Philippines, a country she is strangely drawn to and heard about from her Filipina nanny.

From their unexpected meeting, the two will discover a sense of belonging with each other and will find exploring the greatest adventure of all - falling in love.

Kapamilya singer-actor Matteo Guidicelli, meanwhile, will take on the role of Giancarlo, Serena’s best friend who is secretly in love with her. Liza’s adoptive parents in the series are Cherie Gil (Luciana) and Ruben Maria Soriquez (Roberto), while Edgar Mortiz (Dodoy), Rio Locsin (Paps), and Kean Cipriano (Binggoy) will depict Enrique’s simple but loving adoptive family. Also included in the Dolce Amore cast are Sunshine Cruz, Andrew E, and Frenchie Dy. Dolce Amore airs weeknights on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

For exclusive updates, log onto Twitter.com/StarCreativesTV and Instagram.com/StarCreativesTV.

The lead stars of the Korean light drama You're The Best!

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YOU’RE THE BEST! ON GMA

ONE of the most talked about Korean drama series premiered on GMA on Feb 8.

Entitled You’re The Best!, the newest GMA Heart of Asia feature is about love, self-discovery, and the true meaning of family.

This light drama focuses on a girl who is having a hard time living up to her name Soon Shin Lee (IU). The war general who she was named after was respected because of his triumphs, but our heroine is a klutz and she seems to be helpless about it. When her father dies, she tries to help her family by signing a contract with a talent agency that turned out to be a hoax.

Just when everything is about to fall apart, she meets Jonas (Cho Jung Seok), a well-known C.E.O. of a respected talent agency. Their partnership becomes an easy deal until secrets begin to unfold and their feelings for each other grow fonder.

You’re The Best! airs on GMA Heart of Asia Mornings, 9:50 a.m.

Monday to Friday. Continued on C7