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Water shortage probe begins House panels seek ways to end lingering crisis By Rio N. Araja

JOINT House panel on Sunday summoned the top officials of the Manila Water Co. Inc., Maynilad Water Services Inc., water regulators and five mayors to today’s congressional inquiry into the water shortage in Metro Manila and Rizal. Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, committee on Metro Manila chairman, along with Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, committee on housing and urban development chairman, will conduct a congressional hearing. “We will need explanations from the concessionaires, regulators and the experts why we got into this mess and their suggestion on how we can get out of it,” Castelo said. Customers of Ayala-led Manila Water have suffered service interruptions and low water pressure for the last two weeks, but those in Maynilad’s service area have experienced no such problems. Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 36 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Catholic faithful recite prayers Manila pullout for deliverance from calamities from ICC in effect,

BURSTS OF WATER. Angat Dam (top) on Sunday (March 17, 2019) continuously releases water following President Duterte’s order to resolve the water shortage in Metro Manila. Angat’s water level remains normal despite the onset of El Niño. Water supply is augmented by the Ipo Dam , which is on top of the MWSS list to ensure reliable and secure water supply. Farmers in Kidapawan are not as lucky as the El Niño has damaged P53 million worth of crops, prompting the city council to mull over the declaration of a state of calamity. PNA and Geonarri Solmerano

CATHOLIC faithful on Sunday started reciting “Oratio Imperata,” a special prayer for deliverance from calamities, amid a water shortage in some parts of Metro Manila. The prayer was recited during a Sunday Mass aired live over PTV4. On Friday, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) assured the public that all available resources will be used to immediately resolve the water shortage in Metro Manila and near-

by provinces. This was in response to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive to MWSS to demand from its concessionaires the release of water from the Angat Dam effective noon last Friday. MWSS concessionaire Manila Water has said affected areas in Metro Manila are starting to experience improvement in water supply as “the reservoirs are continually reﬁlled to enable water to reach highly elevated areas.” PNA

87% of Filipinos Andaya renews tirade at Senate over budget ‘happy’ with their By Rio N. Araja lives, SWS says By Nat Mariano EIGHT out of 10 Filipinos said they were very happy or fairly happy with their lives, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed Sunday. The 87 percent showing, however, was the lowest since 2014, the survey company said. The survey, conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018, showed 39 percent of respondents saying they were “very happy” and 48 percent saying they were “fairly happy.” Only 11 percent said they were “not very happy” and 2 percent said they were “not at all happy.” Next page

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said Sunday the Senate, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and not the House of Representatives under Speaker Gloria Arroyo had been sabotaging President Rodrigo Duterte’s build, build, build program. He made the statement eaven as Fi-

nance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III remained optimistic the two houses of Congress would soon be able to break their impasse over the 2019 General Appropriations Bill. In a statement over the weekend, Dominguez said it would take about a month after its transmittal to Malacañang―and its subsequent enactment into law by the President Rodrigo

Duterte―for this year’s national budget program to take effect. After Malacañang receives the bill, Dominguez said, it would take the Budget department a few days at the very least to go over the transmitted document, after which the President would review it before signing it into law. Andaya, chairman of the committee Next page

THE Philippines is poised to officially quit the International Criminal Court on Sunday, though the beleaguered tribunal has pledged to pursue its examination of possible crimes in the government’s deadly drug war. Manila’s withdrawal is to become final a year after it told the United Nations that it was quitting the world’s only permanent war crimes tribunal, the second nation to do so. “The Secretary-General... informed all concerned states that the withdrawal will take effect for the Philippines on 17 March,” UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko told AFP. The departure of the Philippines follows the court being hit in recent years by highprofile acquittals and moves by several nations to drop out. Manila moved to quit after the body launched a preliminary examination in 2018 of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug crackdown that has killed thousands and drawn international censure. Duterte’s drug war is his signature policy initiative and he defends it fiercely, especially from international critics like Western leaders and institutions which he says don’t care about his country. Next page

WEATHER

‘Chedeng’ enters PH; warning up

Locsin weighs in on PH-US treaty “IN vagueness lies the best deterrence,’’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said as he commented on the almost seven-decade-old Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States during his joint press conference with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after their meeting last week. Locsin said he was conﬁdent about the assurances given by Pompeo, and that there was no need to review or modify the treaty, according to a Manila-based think tank. Locsin’s remarks implied that the long-standing US-Philippines alliance

UN tells members

FIREWORKS SHOW. The three-peat PIPC champion United Kingdom shows why it is the reigning title holder of the prestigious competition with a stunning fireworks display at the SM City Clark, March 16, 2019. UK and Italy’s performances for the day marked the halfway point of the ongoing competition which sees the Philippine’s Platinum Fireworks wrapping up the event with a grand finale on March 30. Peter Paul Duran

TROPICAL depression “Chedeng” entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. The storm’s center was estimated 830 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, at 4 p.m. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph, and was moving west at 27 kilometers per hour. The weather bureau raised tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1 over Davao Oriental. “Chedeng” may make landfall over the eastern coast of Davao Oriental between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, but was expected to weaken into a low-pressure area. Rio N. Araja

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‘Magat Dam nearing critical level’ T

HE water in Magat Dam is approaching its critical low level, but it will likely be able to irrigate its service areas in Isabela province up to the end of April this year, an official said Sunday.

Manila... From A1

However, court officials have said the preliminary probe launched by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in February 2018 into possible crimes against humanity in the drug war would continue. Under the court’s rules, any matter under consideration before a nation leaves the court is still under its jurisdiction. String of setbacks Duterte has made it clear his government will not cooperate with the ICC in any way. “The court “can never acquire jurisdiction over my person. Not in a million years,” he said in a speech on Wednesday. The examination, which is one step before a full-blown probe, zeroes in on allegations the government has been involved in illegal killings as part of the crackdown Duterte launched in mid2016. Police say they have killed 5,176 users or pushers who resisted arrest, but rights groups say the actual number of dead is at least triple that number. Critics have alleged the crackdown amounts to a war on the poor that feeds an undercurrent of impunity and lawlessness in the nation of 106 million. The Philippines’ move to exit follows a string of setbacks for the ICC, including the January acquittal of former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo and the June 2018 not guilty verdict for former DR Congo vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba. Burundi in 2017 became the first ever nation to leave the court, which was founded in 2002. In a wave of unprecedented defections, other African nations -- Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Gambia -- have also made moves to quit or expressed interest in withdrawing as they accused the court of being biased against Africans. However, earlier in March the court got a boost when Malaysia officially joined, making it one of just a handful of Asian members. AFP

Andaya... From A1

on appropriations, said the “line-itemized budgeting by the House will not cripple President Duterte’s Build, build, build program.” “What may stall the acceleration of the infrastructure spending was the Senate’s unilateral decision to remove P17 billion for the right-of-way funding of BBB projects, he said. House Majority Floor Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said Sotto was the only one refusing to sign the national budget. “Before and even up to now, Speaker GMA has been the ally of the President. Who is blocking the budget?” Castro said. “The Speaker has already signed it a week ago. Tito Sotto has not yet signed it, and he has stood ﬁrm not to sign it. Who is now blocking the budget and putting the nation in limbo?” Unlike the Senate, Andaya said, the alleged realignments made by Congress on the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways had remained intact within the department. “With all this talk of alleged realignment by the House of DPWH funds, one thing is clear: the funds were there and were never taken out of the public works’ budget,” Andaya said. “Every single centavo allocated for infrastructure projects was accounted for, line-by-line for each project per district, in the 2019 General Appropriations Bill. “On the contrary, the Senate’s removal of P17 billion worth of right-of-way funding will be the greatest stumbling block for the President’s infrastructure master plan. Without the knowledge of and consent from the House of Representatives, the Senate removed P12 billion of these funds from the DPWH and P5 billion from the Department of Transportation. How can projects be started without these right-of way-payments? Billions of pesos worth of roads will never begin construction even if these projects are fully-funded. “What’s worse, the Senate has yet to inform the House where they realigned the right-of-way funds which were taken out of the national expenditure program. Where will the funds really go? Up to this very moment, the senators are also silent on who are the individual proponents for their realignments. These realignments were made after both chambers ratiﬁed the bicameral conference committee report on the 2019 national budget. I urge the senators to speak up on this issue. The tax-paying public deserves to know where their money will be spent.” With Julito G. Rada

NATURAL CANOPY. Trees provide promenaders with natural canopy that shield them from the noonday sun in the park somewhere in Makati city. Ey Acasio

Water... From A1

“We have to look into the water shortage with dispatch and assure the people that the government is addressing the problem with assurances that it would not happen again,” Benitez said. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate ﬁled House Resolution No. 2518 to investigate the water service interruption. “Rainwater is a free, abundant, and regular natural resource that the Philippines is fortunate to receive year in and out. It is high time that we make use of it for the general advantage of our people,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte said. Invited to the joint House panel probe are Mayors Herbert Bautista of Quezon City, Roberto Eusebio of Pasig City, John Reynald Tiangco of Navotas City., Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa City and Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan City; Manila Water chief executive ofﬁcer Ferdinand dela Cruz; Maynilad Water Services president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez; Local

Locsin... From A1

remained strong despite the apparent growing influence of China in the Philippines, said Dindo Manhit, president of Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute. Since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016, he had put aside the landmark Hague ruling in exchange for economic grants from Beijing, investments and expanded trade, which had been described as a “policy of appeasement,” Manhit said. In his recent visit to Manila, Pompeo offered fresh assurances to the Filipinos that the US was ready to defend the Philippines “in case of armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea.” That was the first open affirmation of American military commitment of support to Philippine sovereignty over the South China Sea. The treaty provides that the Philippines and the United States will come to each other’s aid in case of armed attacks. Pompeo said China’s island-building and military activities in the South China Sea threatened Philippine sovereignty, security and economic livelihood, as well as that of the United States.

87%... From A1

Unhappiness was highest in Metro Manila at 17 percent, up from the previous 10 percent in December 2017. It was followed by Balance of Luzon at 14 percent up from 5 percent. The Visayas came third at 11 percent up from six percent, and Mindanao at 11 percent up from 4 percent. “The resulting Happiness score of 8 percent is a seve-point decline from the record-high 94 percent in December 2017. This is the lowest in four years, since the 85 percent in Dececember 2014,” the SWS said. “On the other hand, the unhappiness score of 13 percent in December 2018 is the highest since the 15 percent in December 2014,” it added. Happiness declined in all areas. Even though it suffered a 7-point drop, happiness was still highest in Mindanao from 96 percent in December 2017 to 89 percent in December 2018.

Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) administrator Jeci Lapus; LWUA chairman Rogelio Uy; Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Reynaldo Velasco; MWSS Regulatory Ofﬁce chief regulator Patrick Ty; National Water Resources Board executive director Servillo David; Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration administrator Vicente Malano; Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines president Rustico Jimenez; Bureau of Fire Protection chief Leonard Bañago; Philippine Hospital Association president Huberto Lapuz, and several others. Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Rep. Jericho Nograles said El Niño should not be blamed for Metro Manila’s water shortage, saying the culprit is Manila Water’s mismanagement and lack of foresight. “The water interruptions are localized within the concession areas of Manila Water. This is simply mismanagement. Manila Water should be truthful to the public instead of blaming Mother Nature for their negligence,” he said.

On Sunday, Senator Richard J. Gordon said local government units should issue ordinances directing their constituents to observe water conservation. Gordon also called on the public to do their part in preventing the water crisis from worsening. To do this, he said people should be conscious of their water usage. “We should conserve water. We can take simple actions at home so we don’t contribute in worsening the problem,” he said. The MWSS, meanwhile, lauded San Miguel Corporation (SMC) for its offer to use its untapped water allocation from Angat Dam to provide water to over 6 million people in the east zone of Metro Manila currently experiencing a supply shortage. Velasco said he is calling for a special meeting among top ofﬁcials of Manila Water, Maynilad, Bulacan Bulk Water, concerned LGUs, and other agencies to map out saturation operations over the next two weeks. With Macon RamosAraneta

There were concerns and apprehensions in the past on the commitment of the US to defend the Philippines amid the tensions in the South China Sea as a result of the belligerent stance of China. However, Defense Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana was not convinced that the ambiguity and vagueness of the treaty with the US would serve as a deterrent. He said it would cause confusion and chaos during a crisis. Lorenzana directed lawyers from his department several weeks ago to review the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, with the objective of either “maintain[ing] it, strengthen[ing] it or scrap[ping] it.” Contrary to the pro-China stance of the Duterte administration, a Social Weather Station survey last year showed that six in 10 Filipinos believed the US would defend the Philippines in case of an invasion by another country. Among those aware of the treaty even before the survey, 80 percent believed that the US would defend the Philippines in case of an invasion. Of the 80 percent, 48 percent strongly believed and 32 percent somewhat believed, SWS said. “As our only treaty ally, the US remains invaluable to us, and we need to recognize the signiﬁcance and importance of this alliance. That said, we also need to recognize that we are required to

strengthen our own defense and security capabilities, former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement. Manhit said in Southeast Asia, the US had a unique opportunity to enhance its cooperation. As countries in the region had intense interest in curbing the spread of terror and the challenge of radicalization above and beyond maritime security, there would be a continuing demand for international cooperation, he said. Moreover, there is no real substitute for the support of the US or its allies in this domain, making it an especially important window of opportunity for the US to showcase what it can offer, according to Manhit. “Nevertheless, as different countries have different assessments of their internal threats, the US defense approach may need to be more multifaceted if it wants to use defense engagement as a way to get more states to support its continued presence, Manhit said. Stratbase ADR Institute has consistently said that for the Philippines to promote a rules-based order, the country must reach out to its allies and Asean partners to create political and economic structures that best secure the region’s future. “It behooves the Filipinos to ﬁnally be provided this speciﬁc assurance which we rightly deserve, Del Rosario said

Happiness declined in all classes as well. “It was highest in class ABC, at 91 percent, down from 93 percent in December 2017, followed by class D, or the masa, at 88 percent, down from 95 percent, and class E, at 79 percent, down from 90 percent,” the SWS said. Unhappiness was highest in class E, at 21 percent, up from 10 percent in December 2017, followed by class D, at 12 percent, up from 5 percent, and class ABC, at 9 percent up from 7 percent,” it added. Happiness was slightly higher among those who had a formal education, SWS said. The reverse was true for unhappiness, which was highest among those that had not even graduated from elementary school. Happiness was highest among Iglesia Ni Cristo members, at 96 percent, up from 93 percent in December 2017; followed by other Christian denominations, at 94 percent, up from 93%; Catholics, at 86 percent down from 94 percent, and

Muslims, at 83 percent, down from 93 percent. Asked how satisfied they are with the lives that they lead, 34 percent of respondents answered very satisfied, 48 percent said they are fairly satisfied, 14 percent said they were not very satisfied, while 3 percent said they were not at all satisfied. “The new satisfaction with life score of 82 percent is a 10-point decline from the record-high 92 percent in December 2017. This is the lowest in over four years, since the 79 percent in September 2014,” the SWS said. “On the other hand, the dissatisfaction with life score of 18 percent in December 2018 is the highest since the 21 percent in September 2014,” it added. The said survey, conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018, used face-to-face interviews with 1,440 adults nationwide. It has sampling error margins of ±2.6 percent for national percentages, and ±5 percent each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Magat may still provide irrigation water for 20 to 35 days more from March 16, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s hydrologist Richard Orendain said. “That dam’s water might already dip to the critical low 160 meters by mid-April when the harvest season ends,” he said. But he expects Magat Dam to recover starting May as Isabela will start experiencing rain by then. “That means Magat will have some water again in time for land preparation activities before the rice planting season starts this June,” Orendain said. He said the water reserve in Magat Dam has been dipping signiﬁcantly as it continues to release water for irrigation. Magat’s water level at 6 a.m. on Saturday was at 167.59 meters, which is 0.41 meter lower than the 168-meter level 24 hours earlier. “The level of water in Magat may already be between 162 meters and 163 meters by the end of this month,” Orendain said. Magat Dam, one of the Philippines’ largest, was built in the 1970s. PNA

Justice chief: Nothing illegal in narco-list By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday denied allegations that President Duterte violated the constitutional rights to due process of the 46 elected officials named in his narco list. Guevarra said the release of the list by the Duterte on Thursday was not a violation of the Bill of Rights in the 1987Constitution, contrary to allegations by critics. The officials tagged in the narco list would be given opportunities to debunk the allegations made against them by the Department of Interior and Local Government. “The so-called narco list was made known after the DILG had filed administrative charges against the local government officials mentioned in the list. These officials therefore would have a forum where they could controvert the charges of gross misconduct, conduct unbecoming a public officer, conduct prejudicial to the service and other charges thrown against them,” Guevarra said. The Justice secretary admitted that the fact-finding probe of the National Bureau of Investigation has yet to start. “The DOJ is awaiting copies of the complaints so far lodged with the Ombudsman and the Anti-Money Laundering Council or copies of the intel reports of the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) and PNP (Philippine National Police) before we commence a more thorough investigation of the criminal aspect,” he said. “Should these charges go to preliminary investigation, we assure all respondents of a fair and impartial hearing,” he added. During the preliminary investigation, the respondents would be given chance to debunk their alleged links to the illegal drug trade and submit counteraffidavits as well as evidence to support their defense. The DOJ chief said the officials in the list still enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court trial. Guevarra added that President Duterte also cannot be held accountable for releasing the narco list to the public, saying he did not prejudge the allegations against the 46 officials. “The publication of their names was made by the President in recognition of the right of the people to be informed of matters pertaining to national interest and public safety, without necessarily prejudging the guilt of the persons cited in the list,” he said. Guevarra earlier announced that the NBI would be determining if any of the 46 could be charged criminally for illegal drugs. The DILG has filed administrative charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming ofa public officer and gross neglect of duty against the 46 officials before the Ombudsman before the President’s announcement of the narco list.

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ROMUALDEZ PRESSES FOR SENATE ACTION ON DISASTER AGENCY WITH the onslaught of El Niño, Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Sunday renewed her appeal for the Senate to act on the proposed creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience when session would resume on May 20. “I believe we still have time to work on the approval of the proposed DDR. I am appealing again to our good senators to consider fast tracking the passage of the bill as this would help drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, the bureaucratic red tape that has caused many delays in the delivery

of immediate assistance needed by disaster and calamity victims,” she said. Romualdez, Tingog Sinirangan partylist ﬁrst nominee and House committee on accounts chairperson, is one of the principal sponsors of the bill. She cited the importance to approve the measure before closing the 17th Congress in June. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte, another principal author of the DDR bill, also appealed for “the Senate to act with a similar sense of urgency in approving its

version that will better equip government to deal with year-round natural calamities made worse by climate change.” “The government can better achieve its zero-casualty goals as the would-be department could go full-blast on preemptive evacuation, especially of people in coastal and mountainous villages,” he said. The Leyte lawmaker said the national and local governments should work double time and unite to mitigate the impact of El Niño and damages to the agriculture sector. Rio Araja

Rep. Yedda Romualdez

Mining policy stalemate costly—think tank By Rio Araja

HE Philippines is losing billions of dollars in potential mining investments because of the policy stalemate plaguing the industry, according to an independent think tank.

300 barangays in Bay areas tapped to help in rehab plan THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking the commitment of barangay officials for their cooperation in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said his depaertment will host today a forum for village leaders of over 300 barangays surrounding Manila Bay to ensure their commitment to the ongoing effort to rehabilitate the heavily polluted water body. The forum aims to remind the barangay executives of their critical role and responsibility in the rehabilitation effort and give them deeper recognition of the advantages their constituents can gain from having clean waterways, especially in terms of health benefits, he said. “The success of the rehabilitation effort hinges on the support from the local government units, particularly the barangays, which are actually the frontliners in the cleanup, rehabilitation and preservation of the waters of Manila Bay,” he added. The barangay leaders represent areas traversing into three important river systems that empty into Manila Bay, such as the Pasig-Marikina-San Juan Rivers (169 barangays), the Muntinlupa-Paranaque-Las PinasZapote Rivers (40 barangays) and the Malabaon-Tullahan-Tenejeros Rivers (68 barangays). Also invited are leaders from 42 barangays in Pasay City and 18 from Navotas City. Cimatu said he would discuss how the barangays can take part in the upcoming simultaneous cleanup of esteros and waterways set on March 31 as part of the extended observance of the World Water Day on March 22. A dialogue between barangay officials and DENR senior executives will take place. Rio Araja

UP IN SMOKE. Firemen battle a fire that engulfed the slums in Tondo district of Manila on March 17, 2019. Fifty houses were destroyed and 150 families were displaced. AFP and Norman Cruz

DOH-Calabarzon trains 2nd batch of lifeguards By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Health – Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) has successfully conducted the second batch of lifeguard training with 32 successful graduates to provide safety and security of tourists and guests of resorts and hotels who will be engaging in water activities in the pool, on the beach or island hopping in various tourism places in the region. “Preventing water incidents and ensuring safety of all individuals going to the beaches this summer is very important and every establishment with pools and beaches must have at least one lifeguard

to immediately address any emergency situation and provide ﬁrst aid treatment including basic life support service,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said during the graduation ceremony. He also reminded the trainees to sustain healthy lifestyle practices learned during their training and maintain a healthy and strong physique. “Refrain from excessive consumption of cigarettes and alcoholic drinks which can affect your perception and awareness while on duty. Presence of mind is very important because you are at the forefront of preventing accidents and saving lives”. Janairo also assured the trainees that

the regional office and the Philippine Coast Guard will be coordinating with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the inclusion of the Lifeguard Qualification Training Course in their curriculum so that every successful graduate will be duly certified and acknowledged. There is now a total of 70 trained lifeguards in CALABARZON to ensure safety and security. “We will continue to provide more lifeguard training until all accredited establishment in the region can have their own duly licensed lifeguard to man their pools, beaches and resorts. We will not only promote health but safety as well.”

Dindo Manhit, Stratbase ADR Institute president, said that while countries, such as Australia and Indonesia, have managed to develop their mineral endowments as a strategic pillar of their economies, the Philippine mining industry has become stagnant, following the issuance of Executive Order No. 79 and DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-10 on April 27, 2017 effectively banning open pit mining. “Our ability to efficiently and sustainably harvest the country’s mineral wealth potential, estimated to be worth more than a trillion dollars, just sitting underground and basically untapped, has been mired in prolonged legal and regulatory challenges,” he said. Manhit spoke during the Stratbase ADR Institute’s roundtable discussion on open pit mining ban organized in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship. “To put in perspective just how much opportunity we are losing, a 2016 list of just 11 pending projects was estimated to total over US$23 billion in capital investments. Compare this to the official figures of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on our total foreign direct investment from January to November last year which totaled only US$9.06 billion,” Manhit said. “Passing a new mining revenue law now pending in the Senate will resolve the impasse caused by EO 79 and will result in substantial revenue gains needed for President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision for economic and infrastructure development,” he added. Carmelo Bayarcal, PBEST convenor, backed Manhit, saying “aligning policies to responsibly develop the country’s resource potential while strictly enforcing existing environmental regulations to harness our mineral resources should be a priority of the government.” According to Manhit, DENR under the leadership of Secretary Roy Cimatu is on the right track for initiating continuous consultations with industry experts to understand the complex technical, social and environmental issues affecting all stakeholders that would “hopefully” result in a more enlightened, pragmatic and stable policy environment. Gerard Brimo, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines chairman, said EO 79 imposing a ban on new mining applications and DAO 2017-10 made mining in the Philippines unattractive to investors. Brimo identified three open pit projects—Tampakan copper project, King-king copper gold project, and Silangan copper and gold project—in Mindanao that are now on hold as a result of the ban.

Court rescinds land deal over tycoon’s failure to meet obligations By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has upheld the right of a property developer to rescind the P321.6 million contracts it signed with one of the country’s real estate tycoons for the sale of a 150-hectare land in Barangay Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas. In a 15-page decision, the CA’s Eight Division through Associate Justice Ronaldo Roberto Martin sustained the judgment

rendered by the Regional Trial Court, Branch 14, Batangas City which ordered RGV Development Corporation owned by real estate tycoon Rodolfo Valencia and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Retirement and Separation Beneﬁts System to reconvey Lot 2-A-1 to Group Developers, Inc, which is composed of 150 hectares of land in Nasugbu, Batangas. The property was then mortgaged to Manila Banking Corporation.

The appellate court ruled that RGVDC did not comply with its obligations to GDI under their memorandum of agreement for the sale of the property, thus, entitling the latter to rescind the agreement and the deed of absolute sale. Under the MOA, the purchase price of the subject property is P321,600,000.00, but out of this amount, P117,166,400.00 is to be distributed to the informal settlers, while P129,474,250.00 is to be spent for

the development of the relocation sites of the informal settlers. Since the subject property was then mortgaged to MBC, it was agreed that out of P321.6 million, , RGVDC will directly pay the amount of P55 million to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the partial settlement of the loan of GDI to MBC, while P16.6 million will be for the legal and miscellaneous expenses incurred in the redemption of the subject property with the MBC.

Opinion

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

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Outsmarting the water companies FILIPINOS are probably the smartest people in the world in dealing with problems. Take the current water shortage crisis for instance. Manila Water it was found out was sourcing its supply from Angat Dam in Bulacan where Maynilad also does. This, aside from drawing water from the La Mesa dam. Yet,water consumers of Maynilad have water from their tap while the familiar cry of “tubi… iii… g !” reverberates in Metro Manila areas being serviced by the Ayala Group’s Manila Water.

Suddenly you have so many friends and relatives.

In fairness, the water woes in Mandaluyong and Pasig, two of the worsthit areas, has eased after lawmakers said they would conduct a public inquiry on the matter and President Rodrigo Duterte himself ordered the water companies to address the problem. Aghast, consumers were also outraged that their monthly payment for the basic commodity would increase. Payment for water which is not there, they wailed. “Pera-pera lang pala ang laro nitong mga profit-driven companies, ha. Sige utakan naman ang gamitin natin sa kanila,” was one feedback. It will be noted that the duopoly of the Ayalas and Manny Pangilinan who operate Manila Water and Maynilad, respec-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

tively, are the same people who own the much complained-about telco carriers of Globe and PLDT Smart. Their revenues, together, are in the billions of pesos. One of them also owns several hospitals in the Metro Manila area. Here’s where creative Pinoys showed their smart stuff. In a hospital in Ortigas, Mandaluyong, nurses were wondering why a certain patient was receiving a lot of visitors daily. He must have a lot of relatives and friends, they thought. Then it dawned on them that the patient was a kagawad or kapitan and why the whole barangay was visiting him in force. The whole barangay neighborhood was taking their hot shower in his private room at the hospital. The nurses and the janitors became suspicious when the patient kept requesting for more towels when his doctor had instructions that only a sponge bath would be given him by the nurses. The barangay captain will surely be reelected in his neighborhood but we doubt whether the hospital will admit him again even if he can afford to pay. Water consumption, plus laundry services, count for a lot in computing a hospital’s cost of operation vis-à-vis profit. A hospital is big business with so many people getting sick because of lack of clean drinking water, and water to wash plates and kitchen utensils. The hospital situation is also being repeated in hotels where Filipino balikbayans are checked in. Friends and relatives who visit take their shower and answer the call of nature in the hotel guest’s room. The same thing goes for someone who lives in a condo developed by the Ayalas with an abundance of water A relative or friend would just suddenly drop in with towel in hand. In another not-so-funny situation, poor people lined up with water pails shouted at firemen for bypassing them to deliver water at a gated community of rich residents. One of the firemen shouted back: “That’s because those people pay their

“

Listen to your mama

he Inday Sara show has packed up,” announced Davao City Mayo and presidential daughter Sara Duterte last week. She was referring to her public tiff with the political opposition, which had taken issue with her pronouncement, among others, that a candidate’s honesty need not be a requirement in running for public office. Duterte called Vice President Leni Robredo a fake vice president, with fake courage. Ms. Duterte’s mother, the President’s former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman, called the mayor, told her to stop picking fights with political adversaries and to be kind before anything else. “She sort of scolded me,” the mayor revealed, even as she added: “Let’s see how long I will last.” In these last few weeks before elections, Filipino voters

are seeing, as always, just how far politicians will go to win their votes. There are different takes on which qualifications reign supreme – executive or legislative experience, for example, educational attainment, leadership potential, public appeal, a moral lifestyle. Out of all these, however, good character is a baseline that must be met by all candidates. This is not to say that any good, upright person would immediately be deserving of a particular office – far from it. Nonetheless, not even sterling expertise, mass appeal or overwhelming name recall would amount to anything if candidates did not posses some basic traits. And contrary to what they may believe, these values are often taught them by their parents, in the nurturing environment of the home – except, of course, if their parents are themselves evil to begin with. The virtues of honesty, kindness and hard work stand out. We will try to imagine our public officials as impressionable children being

taught, for instance, not to take their classmate’s lunch, or not to fight with their siblings, or to always do their homework. We imagine them following these basic rules until these become ingrained in their systems and shape the way they conduct themselves later on in life. Many external factors come into play as they get older. There are conflicts of interest, moral ambiguities, the evil-andlesser-evil dilemmas to contend with. In many cases we are sure they do not anymore recognize themselves from the young, idealistic youngsters they used to be. Amid these real-world, grown-up complexities, candidates would get by if once in a while they would stop and think what their mothers, for instance, would have said to them. Sometimes the simplest and most basic tenets would hold. In the end, Filipino voters would still wish to have leaders with character – not ones who are characters, or worse, caricatures.

Turn to A5

Renewal CAN Manila be saved? Is the Pearl of the Orient still capable of being revived? Six years ago, while visiting Phnom Penh for an Asean pre-summit conference, I remarked to our delegation host how wide the boulevards of their vieux ville (old city) were, clearly a remnant of Cambodia’s French colonial history. To my surprise, he returned the compliment by saying that Manila, especially in the Luneta-Intramuros area, was quite beautiful. He was in Manila in 1980 though. Last 2017, I called upon the Chairman of TAITRA, the Taiwan Trade Association, Mr. James Huang, and was surprised to learn that his engineer-father used to work for Philippine Blooming Mills, the iron-smelting plant owned by a Chinese-Filipino family. He said that as a young boy, his father would send them pictures of Manila, which impressed upon him the beauty and wealth of the Philippines. At that time, Taiwan’s living standards were quite poor compared to ours, then the second-largest economy in East Asia. I was quite embarrassed because of the unspoken underlying message that sunk: how far they had overtaken us. In previous articles I have written about the urban rot that best describes the state of the premier city. I have also disagreed with proposals to reclaim portions of Manila Bay because the same will only be magnets for more migration into the capital region, leaving the inner cities to absorb the influx of migrant workers who will not leave the city and return to their depressed, jobless provinces. Meanwhile, those artificial islands created by reclamation will be jewels of high living reserved for the rich of China, Japan, Korea, and a few of the local elite. The decay of Manila and environs will only worsen. It is heartening to note that even the DILG, with both Secretary Eduardo Ano and his undersecretary, Epimaco Densing, have spoken against reclamation in Manila Bay. Is the urban rot beyond redemption? Is Manila for one, a hopeless case that can no longer be renewed? I sat down over the usual sumptuous lunch with former President Joseph Estrada in his Greenhills mansion When

he was running for mayor of Manila six years ago. I told him that he had the rare opportunity to institute the urban renewal of the premier city. Further, I said that he really had to concentrate on just two districts: District 5 where I reside, which includes Malate-Ermita as well as Intramuros, Luneta and Liwasang Bonifacio; and District 2, which includes most of “downtown” Manila, but especially Chinatown, the Escolta, the Avenida and Quiapo. Invite the best architects and urban planners, I suggested, to draw up a major urban renewal of these historic and cultural jewels, and transform these into tourism magnets for both locals and foreign visitors.

How can we exert pressure on our officials to restore Manila to its old glory? Take Ongpin, I suggested. Imagine if you were to make it a pedestrian walk walkway of cobblestones, considering how narrow this often traffic-clogged artery was. Allow only horse-drawn “caretelas” uniformly decorated with “cocheros” in starched cotton “camisa chinos” the only means of transport, other than in the wee hours when delivery trucks and utility vehicles would be allowed. Illuminate Ongpin and perpendicular streets with 19thcentury lampposts, and require all commercial establishments to sport well-designed facades reminiscent of the Parian district in the Spanish colonial period. You could cover the esteros after dredging and cleaning the same, within and around Chinatown with concrete slabs upon which motor vehicles could park, for a fee that accrues to the city, I further said. Movable concrete slabs would allow periodic inspection and cleaning of the waterways. Light steel structures could be put up and used for parking vehicles. Imagine doing a similar renewal of the Escolta, Dasmarinas and Juan Luna streets in what was once the financial and shopping district of the nation’s capital. Up to now, some of the turn of the century buildings still exist, and some, quite unfortunately, are being torn down by property developers for garish high-rise developments. Turn to A5

Making a killing out of indigent patients WHAT could be the vilest act in the world other than the government taking advantage of poverty-stricken patients? It is the government to whom the people entrust their faith. In a set of documents provided to this writer, it seemed to appear Eastern Samar Acting Governor Marcelo Ferdinand Picardal has been making a killing out of the province’s impoverished patients. The allegation against Picardal actually stemmed from a viral video of a patient claiming she was issued a prescription by a doctor of the Eastern Samar Provicial Hos-

What’s happening in Eastern Samar? pital for a medicine which she was supposed to get from the hospital pharmacy. However, upon presenting the prescription to the pharmacy, she was supposedly told there was no medicine as they had no budget yet. She was instead advised to just buy the the medicine from any drug store and submit the receipt afterwards for reimbursemet, according to the patient. But after three

months of following up her reimbursement, she had to give up as the accumulated cost of her transportation fares was more than the amount shw was trying to recoup. But accordig to the documents provided by a source to this writer, there were actually funds for medicine for indigent patients of ESPH. For 2018, ESPH was alloted by the provincial govermet P8 million for medicine. This was supplemented by another P15 million coming from the Office of the Governor. So, the first question is: How come ESPH has no supply of medicine when it actually has funds? The second question is: Who gets the reimbursement for the medicine of the patients who were advised to purchase their medicines from other drugs stores outside of the hospital? According to the source, this has Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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Opinion

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Transparency deters cartel-like behavior

Income inequality is fair

Meralco to refrain from announcing yellow alerts, as this could affect electricity rates in the spot market. This statement needs to be clarified. If there was anything to be gleaned from the water crisis, it is the importance of transparency. As it stands, regular consumers— the first to bear the brunt of any interruption—are already in the dark, with limited information on how power generators are settling their power rates in the spot market. If there is any collusion at all, transparency is the one weapon that consumers can use against cartel-like behavior.

P100 bills as certificates of performance—proof that I served my fellow man. A system that requires that one who serves his fellow man to have a claim on what he produces is far more moral SOME people have much higher in- than a system without such a requirement. For example, Congress can tell come and wealth than others. President Rodrigo Duterte has called me, “Eric, you don’t have to get out in them “oligarchs and monsters” and that hot sun to wash a car to have a claim on what your fellow man produces. Just wants them destroyed. Former US President Barack Obama vote for me, and through the tax code, I said, “I do think at a certain point you’ve will take some of what your fellow man produces and give it to you.” made enough money.” Look at the mulMany Philippine tibillionaires fea feapoliticians, church tured in BizNews leaders, and intelAsia and Forbes to Where is a society lectuals have asked see whether they them to return their headed that holds have served their money to society. fellow man well. An adviser to its most productive US Representative members up to ridicule They didn’t acquire that wealth through Alexandria Ocasio- and scorn and makes violence. Millions Cortez who has a Twitter account mascots out of its least of people voluntarily plunked called “Every Bil- productive and most down money to lionaire Is A Policy parasitic members? buy their prodFailure” tweeted: ucts and services. “My goal for this That explains their year is to get a great wealth. They moderator to ask ‘Is wantit morally appropriate for anyone to be a discovered what their fellow man want ed and didn’t have, and they found out billionaire?'” US Democratic presidential hopeful ways to effectively produce and serve Senator Elizabeth Warren, in calling for it. Their fellow man voluntarily gave a wealth tax, complained, “The rich and them money. If they had followed polipowerful are taking so much for them- ticians’ advice that “at a certain point” selves and leaving so little for everyone they’d “made enough money” and shut down their companies when they had else.” These people would have an argu- earned their first billion or two, mankind ment if there were piles of money on the wouldn’t have most of the technological ground called income, with billionaires development we enjoy today. Many billionaires have made great and millionaires surreptitiously getting to those piles first and taking their unfair contributions to society. One of my shares. In that case, corrective public favorites is Gordon Earle Moore—copolicy would require a redistribution of founder of Intel. He has a net worth of the income, wherein the ill-gotten gains $6 billion. In 1968, Moore developed of the few would be taken and returned and marketed the integrated circuit, or to their rightful owners. The same could microchip, which is responsible for be said if there were a dealer of money thousands of today’s innovations, such who—because of his being a racist, sex- as MRIs, advances in satellite technoloist, multinationalist, and maybe a Duter- gy, and your desktop computer. Though tard—didn’t deal the money fairly. If he Moore has benefited immensely from dealt millions to some and mere crumbs his development and marketing of the to others, decent public policy would microchip, his benefit pales in comparidemand a re-dealing of the money, or son with how the world has benefited in terms of lives improved and saved by what some call income redistribution. You will say, “Eric, that’s crazy!” the host of technological innovations You’re right. In a free society, people made possible by the microchip. The only people who benefit from earn income by serving their fellow man. Here’s an example: I wash your class warfare are politicians and the corcar, and you pay me P200. Then I go rupt-crony elite; they get our money and to my favorite restaurant and demand control our lives. Plus, we just might ask a meal. In effect, the owner says, “Eric, ourselves: Where is a society headed you are asking your fellow man to serve that holds its most productive members you by giving you a meal. What did you up to ridicule and scorn and makes masdo to serve your fellow man?” My re- cots out of its least productive and most sponse is, “I washed his car.” The owner parasitic members? says, “Prove it.” That’s when I produce the P200. We can think of the, say, two eric.jurado@gmail.com

AT THE approach of the summer months, many Filipinos are understandably on edge. Residents of Metro Manila continue to reel from a very confusing water crisis, which adds another layer of suffering to the already-challenging life in the capital. When reports spread that electric power would be the next to be compromised, the possibility was received with a mix of exasperation and rage. Just last week, the Luzon grid’s power supply situation appeared to show some fragility. Based on a consumer-led monitoring initiative called Power Plant Watch, insufficient reserves brought about by high forecasted system demand and the forced outage of one plant led to a third yellow alert. Two more yellow alerts—the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ code for when the total power reserves becomes less than the capacity of the largest plant online—were issued on March 7, due to the “unplanned” shutdowns of several facilities. Ironically, the alert was issued the day after the Department of Energy (DOE) assured the public that the Luzon grid has adequate power supply. Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the department is investigating the possibility of a collusion in the simultaneous shutdowns of power plants last week, which resulted in thin supply and a yellow alert. “The Luzon Grid is on yellow alert due to the unexpected shutdown and limited generation of some power plants and high power demand,” the NGCP said. The alert took effect from 11am to 5pm and 7pm to 9pm that day, when Luzon’s available capacity of 10,115 MW was nearly depleted by the peak demand of 9,491 MW. Interestingly, Usec. Fuentebella also told the NGCP and power distributor

There are obvious lessons here.

Power outages are also not just inconvenient, they are also expensive as they come with spikes in power rates, in addition to the lost productivity. Considering the country’s already precarious energy situation, summer months and its high demand routinely translate to the threat of supply shortage. What needs to be done? For advocacy group Consumer Watch, it is possible to traverse the tough summer months without shutdowns, price hikes, and brownouts. Highest in the list of priorities, of course, should be the care and maintenance of facilities. All power plants should be diligently conditioned before the summer months to guarantee that they are in their best working condition. Forced and extended outages, when supply is precarious, should be out of the question. In case of a shutdown, authorities must decisively investigate the cause and the operators. Generation companies must be held responsible in guaranteeing that power plants are available during the summer months. If warranted, the possibility of

economic sabotage must be explored in the event of forced or extended outages during summer. In particular, “forced shutdowns” are highly suspect: there are power generation companies that own many power plants and so can shut down one facility and have their functional plant submit high bids to WESM. This is especially dangerous because it’s a process that’s not reported to the public. By the time consumers feel the brunt of a possible collusion in the form of higher electricity bills, it’s too late. And when that happens, because they are left in the dark as regards the process, the knee-jerk reaction is to misdirect the blame to the power distribution companies like Meralco. Aside from potentially safeguarding against collusion, announcing alerts to the public also prompts positive action for consumers to modify their power consumption. If enough people do it, this may even lower demand and thus help in avoiding power outages. It also triggers a state of readiness for preemptive measures. It is in this spirit that Citizen Watch said it will continue to activate its initiative Power Plant Watch, aimed at monitoring power generators that will shut down their services during the though summer months, when the risk of brownouts is at its highest. The measure is envisioned to help arm consumers with timely information on the otherwise little-known process. This way, the people will know which party is responsible for the power shortage. Whether their reason seems justified or not is another question because this information is not disclosed to the public. Agencies like the DOE, ERC, and NGCP, as well as Meralco, should also be transparent in presenting real-time data for the purpose of monitoring. As power is an important public utility, players in the electricity sector must be closely monitored by consumer watchdogs. If the water crisis were anything to go by, there is an obvious lesson here on the fundamental need for transparency when it comes to anything that has an impact on the lives of millions of people.

Mail Matters

Disclosure of beneficial ownership promotes transparency

IT HAS come to our attention that a column published on Manila Standard has assailed a requirement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for corporations to disclose their beneficial ownership in the General Information Sheet (GIS). The opinion piece titled “A formula for corruption” and published on the March 13 edition of Manila Standard alleged that the requirement under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 17, Series of 2018, is “a flagrant attempt to violate our right to privacy” and “a formula for corruption.” The writer also dismissed beneficial ownership as “information which does not need to be disclosed” and questioned the rulemaking power of the SEC as supposedly “it has no authority to require such a disclosure.” The Commission wishes to respond to such claims, which were also brought to our attention by the Department of Finance. On the privacy issue The right to privacy is not absolute. The law admits of exceptions, one of which is when the information is necessary and pursuant to the exercise of the regulatory functions of a government agency. In this case, the SEC collects information about the beneficial ownership of corporations to fulfil its statutory functions to ensure full and timely disclosure of material information, protect the investors, and minimize, if not eliminate, fraudulent or manipulative devices and practices that create distortion in a free market. Such information also helps the Commission fulfill its mandate to assist the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), as a sitting member, in implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which seeks to deter money laundering as well as terrorist financing in the country. The SEC further takes note of the limited scope of the requirement. It only applies to natural persons with direct or indirect ownership of at least 25% of any category of voting shares or capital and those with the ability to elect a majority of the board of directors or any similar body, exert a dominant influence over the management or policies, or direct majority of the board. Nevertheless, the Commission is dutybound to observe and respect the privacy rights of filers, including their right to information, right to access, right to correct, right to remove, right to damages and right to data portability, as provided in the Data

Making... From A4

been the practice at ESPH ever since Picardal assumed the post of governor. In fact, according to the same set of documents, before Picardal assumed office, the Office of the Governor had no budget for assistance for medicines as everything was directly coursed to ESPH. But in 2018, he allotted his office P15 million for that purpose, and increased that to P18 million in 2019. Interestingly, Picardal reduced the budget for medicines of ESPH from P10.3 million in 2017 to P8 million in 2018. Allotting budget for his office for assistance for medicines and yet no available stocks for patients who have to wait indefintely for reimbursements and eventually

Privacy Act of 2012. On the necessity of disclosure The disclosure of beneficial ownership of corporations is necessary in tackling illicit activities perpetrated through the use of corporate vehicles such as money laundering; terrorist financing; bribery and corruption; hiding and shielding assets from creditors and other claimants; illicit tax practices; diversion of assets; and market fraud. The lack of adequate, accurate and timely beneficial ownership information facilitates such illicit activities by disguising the identity of known or suspected criminals, the true purpose of an account or property held by a corporate vehicle, and/ or the source or use of funds or property associated with a corporate vehicle. The requirement aligns with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as adopted by the Asia Pacific Group, co-founded by the Philippines, to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. These include ensuring adequate transparency and timely access by a competent authority to current and accurate information on the beneficial ownership of legal persons and arrangements. This is also a necessary requirement to comply with the decisions of the Supreme Court in Gamboa v. Teves promulgated on June 28, 2011 and October 9, 2012, which required the SEC to look into the beneficial ownership of corporations and ensure compliance with the limit on foreign ownership. Besides, Section 73 (b) of the Revised Corporation Code requires corporations to keep and preserve information about their current ownership structure and voting rights, including lists of stockholders or members, group structures, intra-group relations, ownership data, and beneficial ownership. On the Commission’s rulemaking power The SEC is granted rulemaking power under the Revised Corporation Code and the Securities Regulation Code. It had such authority even under Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, or the old Corporation Code. Section 179 (o) of the Revised Corporation Code, for one, empowers the Commission to “formulate and enforce standards, guidelines, policies, rules, and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Code.” Section 5 (g) of the Securities Regulation Code also grants the Commission

forced to abandon whatver amount they are trying to return? Who benefits from this modus? Food provision for ESPH patients under the Picardal Administration is also questionable. Based on the Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2016-0020, a patient is allocated P150 per day for meal or P50 per meal for a Level 2 Hospital, under which ESPH qualifies. However, according to the documents provided to this writer, the actual budget released by the provincial governmet to ESPH was only P130,000 a month for 3,418 patients which translate to P38.03 per day per patient or P12.67 per meal. Just what nutritious meal can this provide for a patient? For last, Picardal’s administration bragged that the provincial hospitals of East-

the power to “prepare, approve, amend or repeal rules, regulations and orders, and issue opinions and provide guidance on and supervise compliance with such rules, regulation and orders.” The SEC exercised its rulemaking power when it issued Memorandum Circular No. 17, Series of 2018, a measure necessary in the fulfillment of the Commission’s mandate and the policies behind the laws it ought to implement. On the corruption claim The requirement actually promotes transparency and tackles illicit activities, including bribery and corruption. As discussed above, the disclosure of beneficial ownership information will prevent the misuse of corporate vehicles in money laundering; terrorist financing; bribery and corruption; hiding and shielding assets from creditors and other claimants; illicit tax practices; diversion of assets; and market fraud, among others. The requirement will help expose the identity of known or suspected criminals, the true purpose of an account or property held by a corporate vehicle, and/or the source or use of funds or property associated with a corporate vehicle, which could be disguised through bearer shares, nominee shareholders, nominee directors and corporate directors, chains of corporate vehicles, and use of intermediaries. The SEC will appreciate any information that can help it prevent corrupt practices arising from the implementation of the memorandum circular. The Commission is committed to eliminating corruption within and beyond its offices. Recently, the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) recognized the SEC for its efforts to curtail corruption. The private sector, particularly the Makati Business Club, also cited the Commission as one of the best performing national agencies. In addition, the SEC consistently ranked among the sincerest institutions in fighting corruption, per surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations with support from the Integrity for Investments Initiative, funding from the United States Agency for International Development, and in partnership with the National Competitiveness Council and The Asia Foundation. ATTY. ARMANDO A. PAN, JR. Commission Secretary Securities and Exchange Commission

ern Samar earned P164 million, of which 98 percent came from PhilHealth. This means PhilHealth reimbursed the food expenses of the patients accordig to the DOH standards. But why were the patients allotted only P12 per meal? In fact, the provincial government allocated P1.8 million for patients’ meals for 2018 – P150,000 a month. So, why did Picardal release only P130,000 a month to ESPH? Where did the P20,000 a month go? Just how low can a government official go? I have heard of allegations against public officials getting commissions for government contracts. But this is one of the rare times I have encountered accusations of a government official dipping his hand directly to funds intended for his impoverished constituents. If this is proven true, then this could indeed be the apex of corruption.

Renewal From A4

Go to Port Area and weep at the abandoned and rotting warehouses which some enterprising settlers have converted into their illegal habitat. Note in envy how Senator Frank Drilon initiated the renewal of Iloilo’s downtown district, centered on the old Iloilo and its Aduana beside the wharf. Note how Drilon built an esplanade after cleaning the Iloilo River, beautifying the same and making what was once-passe neighborhood into prime real estate. Years before, after the “moralistic” Fred Lim vowed to clean up the Ermita, particularly M.H.del Pilar of its honkytonks, I recall asking his then vice-mayor, Lito Atienza, “what next?” I suggested basically what I proposed to Mayor Erap for Ongpin, to resurrect the feel of Old Ermita, once haven of the elite and upper middle class before the Liberation and the great migration to Ayala’s Makati villages, and Quezon City’s New Manila. Fred Lim just allowed M.H.del Pilar to rot and did nothing else after closing the notorious nightspots. Now the entire Ermita is decked with cheap nightspots catering to flesh-hungry Aussies, Japs, Koreans and backpackers. From what could have looked like Notting Hill and Portobello, Ermita has degenerated into an Angeles or Olongapo during the days when the US military bases were still here. Mayor Atienza did much to improve

Outsmarting... From A4

water bills while most of you have illegal connections while using water freely!” he shouted back in Tagalog even as he assured them they will also be given their share of the precious water of life. Going back to the hospital situation, now is not the time to get sick. It can be a grave situation if you are a diabetic and need dialysis three times a week. Water is needed for this procedure as with other hospital treatment. Yes, the Philippines is an archipelago surrounded by water. Yet as the famous line said “water, water water everywhere,

the Baywalk astride Roxas Boulevard, and lit up most Manila streets, but after him, nothing was done. Lynchpin of course to the urban renewal of Manila is the massive cleanup of Pasig River, including the esteros that flow into it. The massive Manila Bay rehabilitation ordered by the president would do well to focus on the Pasig River clean-up started by President FVR and snail-paced after him by uncaring administrations. It is nice to read about San Miguel’s Ramon Ang volunteering to undertake the clean-up of Tullahan River from Quezon City through Caloocan to Malabon-Navotas where it empties into the putrid bay. Hopefully, more private citizens and corporations would follow the example set by RSA. But urban renewal is not possible unless first, the local and even national leadership are impervious to its need; and second, if the people themselves do not have pride of place or a sense of history. That we have allowed the desecration of what ought to be considered national treasures through all these years speaks volumes of our lack of a sense of history let alone pride of place. Yet we have seen how President Duterte’s political will jumpstarted the rehabilitation of Boracay. And because of this, people are beginning to be conscious about preserving the environment. Would that we could exert pressure on our officials to likewise revive and renew Manila and restore it to its old glory.

but not a drop to drink.” Yes, one can still buy bottled water but whose prices increased just like those drums and pails for storing and fetching water wherever it is available. A word of warning from the Department of Health: Make sure those drums and pails of stored water are well covered so dengue-carrying mosquitoes do not infect them—and you. If you get sick and have to be hospitalized, then you have to deal with relatives and friends you have not seen in a year suddenly visiting you. Or asking to shower in your private room’s toilet and bath. Welcome to the Philppines!

News

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SSS offers employers condonation program SC assigns T HE state-run Social Security System is urging more than 132,000 delinquent employers to avail of the penalty condonation program which stands to beneﬁt close to 1.4 million employees in the private sector.

Finance Secretary Carlos Delinquent employers may now Dominguez III, as ex-ofﬁcio chairman submit their letters of intent to avail of SSS, approved last week a circular themselves of the condonation program on the non-imposition of penalties on at any SSS branch. delinquent contributions. The condonation program for unpaid

contributions will be implemented until Sept. 6, 2019. “This is good news for employees of delinquent employers who may soon avail of the condonation program and make themselves compliant with the social security law. As much as possible, we want to avoid lengthy judicial processes,” Dominguez said. “SSS contributions are savings for the future and hardworking Filipino workers deserve to beneﬁt from the contributions employers are duty-

bound to remit throughout their productive years,” he added. SSS ofﬁcer-in-charge Aurora Ignacio said about P10.66 billion in unpaid premiums based on established collectibles are expected to be collected from this one-time amnesty program. About P13.91 billion worth of penalties are expected to be waived if the employers tagged as delinquent will ﬁle and avail themselves of the condonation program.

temporary judge to Abra regional court By Rey E. Requejo

STAKEHOLDERS ALL. Baseco residents participate in the clean up of the Baseco Beach as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Norman Cruz

‘53 children, teenagers HIV-positive through sexual contact’ ALL of the 53 children and teenagers who were diagnosed as human immunodeﬁciency virus-positive in January “were infected through sexual contact,” said Patrixia Santos, a volunteer of Project Red Ribbon which helps children with HIV. “Heartbreaking. They are not just statistics. They are children and youngsters. They and others their age

need reproductive health education. They need our compassion and care,” Santos said. “Details of how they got infected are serious causes for concern and continuing action,” she added. Of the new cases, 46 involved teenagers aged 18 to 19 years old, while seven were 15 to 17 years old. Forty-ﬁve of them had male to male

sex, ﬁve had sex with both males and females, while three had male-female heterosexual intercourse, according to the January 2019 report of the HIVAIDS Registry of the Philippines. “We really need early detection and testing. We need timely and caring intervention to rescue them from the situations and environment

that led to their getting infected,” Santos said. “At the end of the day, it’s not the virus or the disease that kills people—it’s the hatred, it’s the discrimination against them because that’s the very reason they do not test and that’s the very reason why it is (the virus) is being transmitted,” she added.

Enrile seeks more EVOSS to hasten construction of hydopower projects protection for sugar farmers, workers FORMER Senate President and Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino senatorial candidate Juan Ponce Enrile rallied supporters in Bacolod City as he called on government to protect the local sugar industry amid plans by the country’s economic managers to deregulate sugar imports. Speaking to sugar farmers and laborers from various parts of Negros Island on Saturday, the four-term senator said the sugar industry is the primary livelihood of ﬁve million Filipinos. “The inordinate importation of sugar will have a very negative impact on the local sugar industry and the people who depend on it. Maraming magugutom,” he said. “Other than that, the industry is contributing at least P120 billion annually to the economy not just because we are selling sugar but also for bio-ethanol, bio-power and other products,” he added. Enrile said the government should first aid local farmers with programs to improve the industry’s productivity. “If we want sugar to become cheaper, let’s seek measures to reduce the costs of production such as the costs of fuel, farm inputs, and farm tools. We can also assist farmers by providing them loans to modernize their equipment,” Enrile said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

IT’S time for the government to harness the newly-signed Energy Virtual OneStop Shop Act to mitigate future water shortage in the country, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said. With the law, Gatchalian said the government will be able to streamline process of securing permits for hydroelectric power projects. This, in turn, will pave the way for the immediate construction of hydro-

electric dams that can be used for multiple purposes, such as reservoirs for the daily water need of households, agricultural irrigation, ﬂood control, and recreation. Gatchalian noted that prior to the passage of EVOSS, the bureaucratic labyrinth that developers of run-of-river hydroelectric plants have to go through takes around 1,340 days, or more than three and a half years, to complete.

“I expect that the tedious permitting processes that most hydro plant developers undergo will now be shortened to half the usual time,” he said. “With the implementation of EVOSS, the government is hitting two birds with one stone—we are not only ensuring the country’s energy security but also ensuring that there will be water ﬂowing in the taps of every household,” he added. Macon Ramos-Araneta

DRY SPELL. Dodamin Bojis, owner of a fishpond in Barangay Linangkob, Kidapawan City, feels the effect of the mild El Niño phenomenon. Initial damage to crops in the city, which is planning to declare a state of calamity, stood at P53 million. Geonarri Solmerano

A JUDGE has been temporarily assigned to handle cases in Abra Regional Trial Court where two judges have been recently suspended due to separate administrative cases. Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said the Supreme Court has tapped Judge Richard Domingo of Candon City, Ilocos Sur RTC Branch 23 to serve as acting judge of Abra RTC. Marquez said Domingo will temporarily hear cases pending in Abra RTC “in addition to his regular duties in his own court” until the suspended judges return to Abra RTC or until further orders from the Court. The designation of the temporary judge was made to ensure the continuation of hearing of cases in the Abra RTC, especially with the upcoming May elections when pollrelated cases are expected to clog the courts. The High Court earlier ordered the preventive suspension of Bangued, Abra RTC Branch 1 Judge Raphiel Alzate and Branch 2 Judge Corpus Alzate in separate orders last Feb.12. The twin suspension orders came after Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin vowed to cleanse the judiciary of misﬁts, starting with his home province, Abra. Alzate was ordered suspended for six months pending an investigation of the Supreme Court on administrative charges against him involving cases of nullity of marriage. In the case of Corpus, the SC extended an earlier preventive suspension against him for various administrative cases for another six months. The judge ﬁled a motion for reconsideration and sought lifting of the order, but it was denied by the High Court for lack of merit.

Ejercito wants one health worker for every barangay By Macon Ramos-Araneta SEN. JV Ejercito is pushing for the appointment of at least one barangay health worker in every barangay nationwide. Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said he filed Senate Bill No. 1380 and Senate Bill No. 1406 mandating the Department of Health to provide at least one health worker in each barangay nationwide and to increase the salaries and benefits of BHWs. “Despite the recorded number of health workers of the DOH, there are still barangays in the country which do not have a barangay health worker or barangay health center to attend to the health needs of the people,” Ejercito said. BHWs are one of the frontliners who provide health care services to residents. Under SBN 1380, BHWs shall be appointed by the municipal or city mayor. They shall be under the control and supervision of the DOH, in close coordination with the local government health officer. Under the bill that Ejercito filed, BHWs who are civil service-eligible will receive a monthly salary and benefits equivalent to Salary Grade 10 under the Salary Standardization Law. They shall also be entitled to a Christmas bonus equivalent to one month salary and all the benefits granted to other barangay employees within their city or municipality. Ejercito said around P20 million will be appropriated for the initial implementation of the measures. “The reforms are seen to improve not just the capabilities of the barangay as frontliners in the Primary Health Care Approach but more importantly the availability of the health services to the poor members of the society,” he said.

Sports

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Petron battles McDavid while St Clare meets Batangas-EAC PETRON-Letran eyes to make it backto-back wins when it collides with winless McDavid in the 2019 PBA DLeague on Monday at Paco Arena. The Knights are coming off a huge 10891 victory over AMA Online Education last March 5, giving new head coach Bonnie Tan his first win at the helm. And a big reason for that is the stellar showing of his front court, with Larry Muyang, Christian Fajarito, and Jeo Ambohot forming what’s possibly one of the fiercest frontline in college basketball today. “Very talented itong mga big man na ito,” the soft-spoken mentor said. That bodes well for Petron-Letran, which is also expecting big numbers from super scorer Alvin Pasaol and recovering guard Jerrick Balanza. Tip-off is at 2 p.m. in this Aspirants Group clash, which will be followed by surprise leader St. Clare College Virtual Reality (2-0) looking for its third straight win against BatangasEAC (1-2) at 4 p.m. McDavid, meanwhile, is just hell-bent on ending its two-game skid, losing to Batangas-EAC, 79-57 last Feb. 28. Head coach Allen Ricardo is hoping that the 18-day break worked in favor of his boys, with Rev Diputado and Michole Sorela showing promise for the veteran-laden squad. The PBA D-League, is the Philippine Basketball Association’s official minor league basketball organization. The PBA D-League was conceptualized after the collapse of the proposed merger between the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas after the staging of the Tournament of the Philippines which was composed by PBL and Liga Pilipinas teams. The maiden tournament, named “Foundation Cup” began on March 12, 2011 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The tournament was composed of 13 teams, with five teams (Junior Powerade, NLEX, Maynilad, Freego and Cafe France) having affiliation with existing PBA teams.

Federer faces Thiem at Indian Wells final INDIAN WELLS, United States— The 39th match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal failed to materialize on Saturday as the world No. 2 Spaniard hobbled out of Indian Wells to send Federer into a title clash with Dominic Thiem. Nadal, whose longstanding right knee trouble flared up in his quarter-final victory over Karen Khachanov, couldn’t take the court for the blockbuster semi-final with Swiss great Federer. “I wanted to try my best to be competitive today,” a dejected Nadal said. “I warmed up today in the morning, and I felt that my knee was not enough good to compete at the level that I need to compete, to play semi-finals match of this event.” Federer, seeded fourth as he pursues a record sixth title in the California desert, will battle 25-year-old Austrian Thiem, who is seeking his first title in one of the ATP’s prestigious Masters 1000 events. Thiem, ranked eighth in the world, was rock-solid in a 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 victory over 14th-ranked Canadian Milos Raonic. Thiem, who advanced to the semis on a walkover when Gael Monfils withdrew with a Achilles tendon inflammation, was locked-in from the start, firing 10 winners without an unforced error in the opening set. He couldn’t convert his only break point against Raonic in the second, and Raonic managed to seize the tiebreaker aided by a favorable netcord bounce for a 5-3 lead. Thiem gained the first break of the match for a 3-2 lead in the third and after saving the only break point he faced all day as he served for the match wrapped it up with a sparkling backhand volley. “It was an amazing day,” said Thiem, who will be playing in his third Masters 1,000 final. “His serve is just unreal so even though I played amazing it was so close the first two sets.” AFP

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30 tries to dribble past Oklahoma City Thunder defender Jerami Grant during their game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. AFP

Curry scores 33 as Warriors rout OKC Thunder, 110-88 L

OS ANGELES, United States—Stephen Curry scored 11 of his 33 points in the third quarter as the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors clobbered the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-88 on Saturday. Klay Thompson scored 23 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors, who have been playing more consistently in the last four games after a spell of poor starts to games. “Over the course of the game we imposed our will,” said Curry. “We did our best to take care of the basketball so they didn’t have easy transition opportunities. “And we rebounded the ball well. So all things considered, really solid effort, knowing that if you give them momentum in this building, they are tough.” Oklahoma City fans had been waiting for a chance to boo former Thunder Kevin Durant but he sat out with an injury. Instead they got a cold-shooting night from all-star Russell Westbrook, who

scored just seven points on a dismal two-for-16 shooting. Elsewhere, Kyrie Irving finished one assist shy of a triple double as the Boston Celtics squandered a 25-point lead but managed to hold on and beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-120. Irving had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists and Jaylen Brown scored 23 points for the Celtics, who have won six of their last eight games. Marcus Morris had 19 points and Jayson Tatum scored 18 for Boston. Trae Young led the Hawks with 26 points, John Collins scored 20 with 11 rebounds, Taurean Price had 17 points and Vince Carter scored 16. It could have been a costly win for the Celtics after forward Gordon Hayward

Bottas upstages Hamilton at Australian Grand Prix MELBOURNE, Australia—Valtteri Bottas upstaged his Mercedes world champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton to blitz the field and win the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in a sizzling performance Sunday. The flying Finn started second on the grid but got a jump on the polesitting Briton at the first corner and never looked back, scorching round the Albert Park circuit to take the chequered flag a massive 20.9 seconds ahead of Hamilton. Red Bull’s precocious Max Verstappen came third to join them on the podium after audaciously overtaking Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel midway through the race. Four-time world champion Vettel had to settle for fourth, trailing in 57.1 seconds behind Bottas. Ferrari partner Charles Leclerc was fifth, with Kevin Magnussen in a Haas sixth. “How about that! Yes!” said Bottas over the team radio after also taking the new bonus point for the fastest lap of the race. “Thank you guys.” Bottas was overshadowed last year by Hamilton, failing to win a race, hampered by mechanical problems and bad luck but was fast in qualifying and only narrowly edged out of pole position. Bottas, now in his third year with Mercedes, knows he must perform with promising Frenchman Esteban Ocon, 22, waiting in the wings as the team’s reserve driver. He delivered in spades on Sunday for his fourth Grand Prix win in his 119th race. Driving on soft tires on a fine day, he got an electric start and built a gap

of 1.153 seconds on Hamilton after the opening lap, with Vettel, Ve r s t a p p e n and Leclerc trailing in their wake. The gap kept growing, and when Vettel pitted on lap 14 to swap for medium tires Mercedes called in five-time champion Hamilton soon after. Bottas stayed out, pumping out fastest laps, and when seven laps later he pitted he emerged more than 10 seconds ahead of his team-mate, who was clearly bemused. “What was the reason for stopping so early?” Hamilton asked over the team radio, to be told it was to cover Vettel’s early stop. “I don’t think I’m going to make it to the end on this tire,” added the frustrated world champion. With Bottas having an unsurmountable lead the battle was on for second, with Verstappen hounding Hamilton but unable to find a way through. Mercedes have been in a class of their own all weekend, turning the tables on pre-season testing when Ferrari looked like the team to beat. AFP

suffered a strained neck early in the game and didn’t return. Hayward banged his head into the shoulder of Atlanta’s John Collins and headed to the locker room. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Hayward left the arena at halftime and went home. Westbrook, who was fined $25,000 earlier in the week after an altercation with Utah Jazz fans, missed all seven of his three-point attempts. He had nine assists and eight rebounds. Paul George had 29 points and 13 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder added 15 points for the Thunder, who shot a season worst 32 percent from the field. The Thunder made just 13 of 41 three-pointers. “We were trying to prevent him from getting downhill, beating you from the outside because when he’s getting to the rim, attacking, that’s when everybody’s getting the ball at their best,” Thompson said of stopping Westbrook. AFP

Mariano takes PECA chess Open crown FIDE MASTER (FM) Nelson “Elo” Mariano III put on a strong start and a stronger finish to run away with the Open crown (2000 and above rating) while Roberto Manguiob recovered in time to pocket the Challenger’s plum (1900 and below) in the third leg of the 2019 Alphaland (PECA) National Executives Grand Prix Chess Championships at the Activity Hall, Second Floor Alphaland Makati Place in Malugay Street, Makati City last weekend. Mariano and National Master (NM) Bob Jones Liwagon, a Captain at the Philippine Army, playing under the baton of Colonel Florentino Mendez Jr, Acting Chief, Army Real Estate Office and Army Judge Advocate (AJA) Colonel Maria Victoria Girao scored 4.5 points in 6 rounds but Mariano was declared the champion via tie-break points. Mariano and Liwagon got P6,000 each after equally divideing the combined P12,000 cash prize for the top two finishers in the Open division (2000 and above rating) of this one-day rapid event, organized by the Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) under the leadership of its president Dr. Jenny Mayor. Allen Gandia and Dandel Fernandez tied for third and fourth with 4.0 points while Mark Anthony Yabut and National Master (NM) Robert Arellano scored identical 3.5 points for 5th to 6th place while National Master (NM) Efren Bagamasbad ended up with three points for 7th place. In the Challenger’s section, 1900 and below limit rating, Manguiob and MSI Konstruct president engineer Mark Oliver Ingcad shares the top honors with 5.0 points apiece in six outings. Manguiob took the title with a superior tiebreak score. Manguiob and Ingcad got P4,500 each after equally divided the combined P9,000 cash prize for the top two finishers.

Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas celebrates at the podium after winning the Formula One Australian Grand Prix podium in Melbourne. AFP

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

Munzon named country’s best 3X3 player PASIG Grindhouse Kings bet Joshua Munzon is the Philippines’ top 3x3 player. This after Munzon led the PasigGrindhouse Kings to two of the four titles at stake in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President’s Cup series. According to the FIBA 3X3 rankings for the Philippines, the 6-foot-4 Munzon scored a total of 96 points in 12 games played. This earned Munzon an accumulated 79,380 ranking points from FIBA. Joining Munzon in the top three are Pasig teammates Taylor Statham and Troy Rike. Statham is the third-best scorer in the league with 91 total points and an accumulated 72,220 points. Rike tallied a total of 77,590 points for third. Pasig enters the Grand Finals of the President’s Cup as the top seed with 360 total points from the first four legs. The knockout tournament will have a winner-take-all cash prize of P 1-million as and a ticket to the FIBA 3X3 World Tour Doha. The final stage takes place on Sunday, March 31 at the SM Fairview Events Center. Completing the top five are 1Bataan Risers scorer Alvin Pasaol (56,390) and floor general Anton Asistio (54,750). he Risers are the second-seed for the Grand Finals. Pasay Voyagers’ Jaypee Belencion (45,620), Pasig’s Dylan Ababou (45,070), and Pasay’s Arvin Tolentino (45,040) round out the top eight. The Philippines is currently ranked as the 39th federation in 3x3 basketball with 1,267,280 points. For the men’s side, the country is placed at 47th with 2,626,895 points, which is 12th in Asia. The national 3x3 team of the Philippines represents the country in international 3x3 basketball matches and is controlled by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. The national team qualified for the 2016 FIBA 3x3 World Championships and made their debut in the tournament. They lost two and win two of their four matches. The national team played their second stint in the world championships, now renamed as the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in 2018 held in Bocaue. This time the Philippine national team composed of professional players was supported by Bounty Agro Ventures, the owners of Chooks-to-Go and sponsor of the national team and tournament. Like in 2016, they lost half of their four matches (to Mongolia and Canada) but won over Brazil and Russia which were ranked fifth and third respectively. The team was composed of players who typically plays the full five-on-five basketball. Peter Atencio

INSPIRING SIGHT.

Oregon Ducks cheerleaders run off the court after performing during the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Rain-soaked Batang Pinoy unfolds today By Peter Atencio

LAGAN, Isabela—A week of light rains and cloudy weather conditions, brought about by the arrival of the northeast monsoon, will welcome the start of the Luzon qualifying leg of the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy 2019 here today. For the farmers within the Cagayan Valley region, this is a sign of a good planting season, and a bountiful harvest in the months to come. The rainy weather is a sharp contrast to the dry conditions experienced in other parts of the country. For young student athletes from seven regions who converged at the Ilagan Sports Complex here, this will be an opportunity to show a great performance under windy, cool and wet conditions. “Now that we are improving the

quality of competitions in the Batang Pinoy, I think more junior athletes will be picked up here to join international competitions as well,” said commissioner Celia Kiram before simple opening ceremonies got the Games going yesterday afternoon. Philippine Sports Commission board members Charles Maxey and Ramon Fernandez, and Ilagan City Vice Mayor Vedasto Villanueva and Ricky Laggui, city general services office

chief were also around to grace the opening rites. Fourteen gold medals are at stake on Day 1 in swimming and athletes from Baguio City could make a big splash again. The medals at stake in swimming are in the boys and girls 200m individual medley for both 12 years old and under and 13-15 years old as well as the 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 1500m free and 800m free. Baguio City bets, which dominated the national finals last year, are expected to make their presence felt again. Last year, Baguio City ruled the national finals with 85 golds, 81 silvers and 103 bronzes. To get the games going smoothly, the agency has allocated P35-million to the City of Ilagan for its hosting expenses, with P15-million allocated to sports equipment.

Spence retains welterweight crown DALLAS, United States—Errol Spence Jr. solidified his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world with 12-round masterclass performance over challenger Mikey Garcia on Saturday. The 29-year-old Spence easily beat Garcia by a unanimous decision to retain his International Boxing Federation title in a welterweight homecoming bout in front of 47,500 fans. Spence dominated Garcia throughout with a stinging jab and a barrage of combinations and his hometown crowd at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas cheered wildly as he used his size and reach advantage to put on a boxing clinic. “My motivation was fighting in front of my hometown crowd,” Spence said. “This is where I started it from a pup. From the amateurs all the way up. NLEX Road Warriors guard Philip Paniamogan (9) drives past Blackwater Elite defender Paul Desiderio (18) during their match won by NLEX. PBA Media

“This is my core fan base. I felt good and I wanted to put on a great performance.” The fight was hyped as a showdown of two unbeaten boxers but it didn’t turn out that way with one judge scoring it 120-107 for Spence. The other two had it 120-108 and 120-108. Garcia never landed more than 10 punches in a single round. Spence landed 375 total punches to just 75 for Garcia, who was fighting for the first time as a welterweight after moving up two divisions. AFP Errol Spence Jr. (right) hits Mikey Garcia on the face during their IBF World Welterweight Championship bout at AT&T Stadium on March 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. AFP

Kiram grateful as LGU accepts PSC challenge ILAGAN CITY—Challenge is accepted and now this city is hosting the final qualifying leg of the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) Batang Pinoy. PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram was elated that the city took her challenge seriously when she was here three years ago for a cheerdance competition and will now be the home of more than 6,000 athletes and game officials in the weeklong event organized by the PSC for in-school and outof-school children aged 15 and below. “Nang makita ko ang complex, sabi ko palawakin pa nila ang venue at magtayo ng hotels if they want to host Batang Pinoy and true enough after three years, we are here,” said Kiram, also the oversight committee head of the Batang Pinoy program. “And I’m glad they adhere to that. Now, they are hosting the Batang Pinoy Luzon leg and hopefully, more sports activities to come para magamit ito nang husto and become a sports and tourism hub in the north,” she added. The Batang Pinoy Luzon leg officially kicked off on Sunday with the traditional opening ceremonies participated by 119 competing local government units (LGUs), the biggest among the three qualifying legs. Kiram, together with fellow PSC Commissioners Ramon Fernandez and Charles Maxey, and Ilagan City officials, led by Mayor Evelyn Diaz welcomed the participants in the opening rites held at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex. The PSC earmarked P35 million for this leg and donated P15 million worth of equipment that the city can use to boost its sports programs. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa PSC. We really need more support from other agencies pagdating sa equipment. We are thankful napili kami ng PSC,” said Diaz.

NLEX routs Blackwater to inch closer to PBA playoffs By Jeric Lopez THE NLEX Road Warriors climbed into playoff contention with a decisive 122-101 rout of the Blackwater Elite in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday, March 17, 2019. NLEX made quick work of hapless Blackwater to earn its second straight win. JP Erram showed the way for the victors with 20 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Philip Paniamogan led the scoring with 25 points. Kenneth Ighalo added 17 markers.

Juami Tiongson was a big contributor as well, registering his own double-double with 13 points and 11 assists. Fully in its element, the Road Warriors hardly broke a sweat as they took command early en route to the easy triumph. This was a critical victory for the Road Warriors as they moved up to seventh place with a 4-5 mark and boosted their chance to earning a spot in the quarterfinals. On the other hand, the loss formally ousted the Elite from contention, dropping to 2-8, at the bottom of the standings. The Road Warriors went berserk in

the second, outscoring the Elite 34-20 to build a commanding 15-point cushion, 57-42, at the half. Erram was already putting in the numbers in the first half while Tiongson and Ighalo provided significant support. The trio combined for 31 of NLEX’s 57 first half points. It only got worse for Blackwater in the second half as the Road Warriors continued their assault. Paniamogan’s lay-up at the 4:49 mark of the third hiked NLEX’s advantage to an insurmountable 29 points, 84-55.

IN BRIEF Iran eyes PH partner for nano technology A DELEGATION from Iran engaged in the nano technology is looking for a local partner as the Middle East nation firms up plans to invest in the Philippines. The group reached out to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to relay its search for the most competent local partner. “It was the Iranian ambassador who personally accompanied the group to present to us this very advanced technology. They are planning to bring in the technology thru their products and there is a high probability that they will invest here,” chamber president Alegria Limjoco said over the weekend. The delegation, composed of Iran Ambassador Mohammad Tanhei and the Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council, said it wanted to discuss the significance of Iran nanotechnology that can be used for future cooperation between the Philippines and Iran. “They are introducing their cutting edge technology in Philippines. Considering our economy expanded by more than 6 percent per annum, they are scouting for reliable partner in nanotechnology either in marketing or investment,” said PCCI chairman emeritus Francis Chua. Othel V. Campos

Aragorn prepares geothermal drilling ARAGORN Power and Energy Corp., a unit of listed APC Group Inc., and partners are ready to explore and drill for the proposed 120-megawatt Kalinga geothermal power project in Pasil, Kalinga province. APC, in a report to the Philippine Stock Exchange, said Apec had already completed sub-phases 1 and 2 covering the geochemical and geophysical surveys for the $300-million geothermal project. It said Apec was in the sub-phase 3 stage of the project, and had already secured a certificate of non-coverage from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for access on roads construction, improvement of existing roads and drilling of well-pads. The surveys for the detailed engineering design of these roads and well pads have been completed, while right-of-way negotiations, supplier bidding and contract preparations related to the road construction and drilling will follow. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business Japan firm revives offer for Kaliwa water project A Japanese company revived its unsolicited proposal to build the Kaliwa Intake Weir project under a 25-year build-operate-transfer scheme as a more feasible and cost-efficient alternative to Metro Manila’s potable water supply problem.

Speaking at a press briefing in Quezon City over the weekend, Osaka-based Global Utility Development Corp. Ltd. said it was still keen to build the Kaliwa Intake Weir project, 10 years after it presented the proposal to the government. “Our proposal was first presented to the government in 2009 to address the need for water in Metro Manila and it holds true today, more than ever,” said GUDC chief executive Toshikazu Nomura. “We propose to build a water source that not only meets the capacities needed by MWSS but also utilizes a long-term, sustainable approach in consideration of communities and livelihoods in the area,” he said. GUDC’s alternative offer to the Kaliwa

Dam project, the Kaliwa Intake Weir, was first presented in 2009 to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to address the growing demand for potable water in Metro Manila. The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding at that time. GUDC again submitted the proposal in September 2017 on the request of the MWSS board. Under a BOT scheme, the proposal would be at no cost to the government nor would it require sovereign guarantees. The proposed Kaliwa Intake Weir will have a capacity of 550 million liters per day. It will have a 7-meter-high weir with a 16-kilometer-long tunnel that has a diameter of 3.3 meters. Included in the proposal is the construction of a water treatment plant within

the vicinity. Construction is expected to take 36 months. “If we start by June 2019, the project can be completed within this administration,” said Nomura. Nomura said the proposal would address the issue of the imminent inundation of Daraitan Village under the current MWSS project. “The design of the weir and associated facilities takes a highly sustainable approach. We are conscious of lessening the impact on the surrounding communities, particularly Daraitan Village. This makes it a win-win for all stakeholders, especially the affected LGUs,” he said. A weir, or low head dam, is a barrier across the horizontal width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and results in a change in the height of the river level. Nomura said this would be a viable alternative to building a dam and would sufficiently deliver the capacity required by MWSS.

Current account gap hit record $7.9b in ‘18 CURRENT account, one of the main components of the balance of payments, posted a record deficit of $7.9 billion in 2018, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo said Friday. He said the all-time high deficit was about 2 percent of the gross national income and 2.4 percent of the gross domestic product. “Prior to 2018, the highest current account deficit was recorded in 1997 at $4.4 billion. At that time, we are using GNP at 5.1 percent,” Guinigundo said during the fourth quarter BoP briefing. He said the deficit was also significantly higher than the current account deficit of $2.1 billion deficit (0.7 percent of GDP) registered in 2017. “This developed as the widening deficit in the trade-in-goods account more than offset the higher net receipts posted in the trade-inservices, and primary and secondary income accounts,” he said. The trade-in-goods deficit for full-year 2018 rose 21.9 percent to $49 billion, reflecting the 9.4-percent expansion in imports of goods and the 0.3 percent decline in exports. Julito G. Rada

PILMICO DONATION. The Aboitiz Group, through food business unit Pilmico and the Aboitiz Foundation, turns over a P9million modern livestock training complex at Central Mindanao University to help boost agricultural research in northern Mindanao. Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony are (from third left) CMU president Jesus Derije, Aboitiz Foundation first vice president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan and Pilmico assistant vice president for feeds Jefferson Abian.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

Aboitiz Group increases 2019 capex to P81b By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. earmarked P81 billion for 2019 capital expenditures, up by 65 percent from P49 billion it spent in 2018. AEV said in a presentation during a recent analysts’ briefing that P51 billion, or 63 percent of the total, would be allotted for the expansion of the power generation business. The remaining 37 percent or P30 billion will be allotted for the group’s nonpower generating businesses, including real estate, cement, banking, bulk water project, food and infrastructure. It said funding for this year’s capital expenditures would be partially secured from the group’s planned bond offering. AEV early this month said it would issue up to P3 billion worth of fixed retail bonds with an oversubscription option of up to P2 billion in the first half of 2019. This represents the first tranche of its P30-billion bond shelf registration program. The company appointed BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and First Metro Investment Corp. as the joint issue managers and underwriters for the bond offering. AEV said it would list the bonds with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. The last time AEV raised capital from the local bond market was in 2015 when it sold P24 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds that would mature in October 2020, 2022 and 2027. AEV’s food unit Pilmico International acquired a 75-percent stake in one of Asia’s largest privately owned agribusiness corporations, Gold Coin Management Holdings Limited, for $334 million in 2018. The acquisition paved the way for AEV to expand its animal feed footprint in the region. Gold Coin is a major producer of animal feeds. It operates livestock and aqua feed mills across 11 countries in Asia. AEV started construction of the P12.6-billion bulk water project in Davao City last year. The project will provide the Davao City Water District with more than 300 million liters per day of safe water. Apo Agua plans to commence operations by 2021.

Lucio Co’s group acquiring Alphaland SM Prime, BCDA fined P2m for late merger details tower along Edsa in Makati City for P5b By Jenniffer B. Austria By Jenniffer B. Austria THE group of retail tycoon Lucio Co is acquiring Alphaland Southgate Tower, an office development of Alphaland Corp. led by former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, for P5 billion. The deal was recently approved by the Philippine Competition Commission, the government’s anti-trust body. Under the deal, League One Inc., a real estate company led by Co, will acquire two adjoining parcels of land with a total area of 9,497 square meters at Pasong Tamo Extension corner Edsa in Makati City and registered in the name of Alphaland Corporation. It will also purchase a 19-story building situated in the said parcels of land with a total floor area of 76,976 square meters and various machinery installed/ situated in the building. “Upon evaluation of findings and

recommendation of the Mergers and Acquisitions Office, which included, among others, the information obtained from the parties and other sources to date, finds the proposed acquisition by League One of the assets of Alphaland will not likely result in substantial lessening of competition due to the existence of sufficient competitive constructs exerted brother players in the market for commercial real estate leasing in Makati City and Bonifacio Global City,” PCC said. “Accordingly the commission hereby resolves that it will take no further action with the respect to the proposed acquisition by League One of assets of Alphaland,” the agency said. Co, the principal stockholder of Puregold Price Club Inc. and Cosco Capital, also acquired Alphaland Tower Makati, a high-end office development along Ayala Ave., in 2015.

THE Philippine Competition Commission asked SM Prime Holdings Inc. and state-owned Bases Conversion Development Corp. to pay a P2-million fine for late notification of their P51.27-billion joint venture partnership. PCC ordered SM Prime and BCDA to pay the P2-million fine within 45 days from the promulgation of the decision. SM Prime and BCDA signed a joint venture partnership on Aug. 10, 2018 to develop the 33.1-hectare Bonifacio South Pointe in Taguig City. Under the PCC rules, parties to a merger should notify the PCC within 30 days from the signing of the definitive agreements. PCC said that while SM Prime and BCDA attempted to submit their notification forms to PCC’s Mergers and Acquisitions Office on the evening of Sept. 10, the application was not accepted because it was well beyond office hours. The following day, representatives

from BCDA and SM Prime went to PCC to personally re-submit the notification forms. PCC said it still refused to accept the forms for being non-complaint with the requirements. The anti-trust body said BCDA’s notification form did not include an authorization granting Atty. Aileen Soza authority to file the forms on behalf of BCDA. It said SM Prime’s forms also did not include authorization granting the company to file with the PCC on behalf of its parent firm SM Investments Corp. PCC said while SM Prime and BCDA submitted their forms on Sept. 14 and Sept. 18, respectively through registered mail, the submission of notification forms by mail was not acceptable under the merger rules. It said BDCA resubmitted the forms on Oct. 5, but it was only on Dec. 28 when SM Prime resubmitted its forms. It was only then that the notification for the proposed transaction was deemed submitted.

SM Prime argued that the late filing was due to the volume of documents required for the notification. The property firm also claimed that its first attempt to file on Sept. 10, or 30 days after the signing of the joint venture agreement, should be considered as valid notification. PCC, however, said SM Prime could not use the volume of documents required for the late notification because the only reason its forms were not accepted on Sept. 11 was the lack of authorization from its parent firm. “SM Prime’s explanation that the late refiling was due to the volume of documents required to be submitted is unsatisfactory. The MAO receiving firm issued on 11 September 2018 indicates the lack of authority as the only reason for the non-admission of SM Prime’s form. This could hardly be the of such volume as to prevent SM Prime from complying with the formal requirements for submission of a notification form under Section 5.3 of the merger rules,” PCC said.

DTI gets $1.24-b Japanese investment pledges By Othel V. Campos TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez said the department secured $1.24 billion worth of investment commitments from Japanese companies in a recent trade mission. Lopez said the commitments to invest in or expand in the Philippine would create 16,000 jobs, mostly in the areas of manufacturing, agriculture, retail, real estate, automotive and education. “These expansion projects and new investments are proof that foreign companies have strong confidence in our country’s economic stability and business environment. They wish to grow their business and partner with us in providing more jobs and opportunities for Filipinos,” Lopez said in a statement over the weekend. Lopez and the Philippine Trade & Investment Center engaged with various Japanese firms to provide assistance for their expansion in the Philippines during a business mission to Tokyo on March 11 to 13. These investment pledges include Mitsubishi Corp.’s

joint venture project worth $76 million with a Filipino real estate company for affordable housing and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.’s investment worth $5.3 million for the establishment of the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines’ Maritime Academy in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Itochu Corp., through subsidiary Dolefil, is investing in a waste-to-energy project worth $19.2 million that will convert pineapple waste into biogas. The joint venture with Metro Pacific Investment Corp. will produce electricity that can replace 20 percent of their yearly power requirement. ISE Food also signed a deal with Filipino companies to put up a large-scale poultry farm composed of five integrated facilities, to house as many as six million layers. The farm will employ and train Filipino workers on the latest technology in poultry farming and fortified egg production. Total investment for the project is expected to reach $250 million and generate 1,000 jobs.

INTELLICARE-PBSP PARTNERSHIP. Intellicare (Asalus Corp.) continues its long-time partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress to work together in uplifting lives through projects in health and environment. Intellicare and PBSP will implement 25 Safe Motherhood Caravans, four batches of Trainers’ training on safe motherhood, the reforestation of three hectares in the Marikina Watershed and another three hectares in the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and a water forum in support of the Water Alliance. Shown are (from left) Andrew Jose Yulo, assistant vice president for CSR of Intellicare; Mario Silos, chairman of Intellicare; Reynaldo Antonio Laguda, executive director of PBSP; and Elvin Ivan Uy, director of operations of PBSP.

Business

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market investors cautious By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to continue with their sideways trading this week as investors remain cautious on uncertainties in the global economy amid the US-China trade war.

Analysts said investor sentiments were also dampened by the Duterte administration’s move to reduce the growth of the gross domestic product to 6 percent to 7 percent from 7 percent eight percent due to constraints from the delayed enactment of the 2019 national budget. But with the expected status quo on the the US Fed rate, analysts are expecting foreign funds to continue to flow in emerging markets, including the Philippines. The US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee is scheduled to meet on March 19 to 20, followed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Monetary Board meeting on March 21. There is virtually no chance the US Fed-

eral Reserve will raise interest rates in the coming week, since policymakers have all but promised to hold their fire as the global economy slows. “The likelihood for a status quo on the Fed rate is gaining ground, especially with the recent weakness in select key spending data in the US,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia said. “At home, several players are starting to price in a cut in reserve requirement form the new BSP chief, a move that should help induce lending to support capital rollout,” it added. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week closed flat at 7,798.28 points, saved by last-minute bargain hunting and

portfolio adjustments after a rebalancing of the Financial Times Stock Exchange. The six sectoral indices also ended mixed, with financials, property and services posting week-on-week gains while mining and oil, holding companies and industrial registering week-on-week declines. Foreign investors were net buyers by P1.4 billion, while the average daily value traded jumped to P8.5 billon from last week’s average of P5.9 billion. Weekly top price gainers were DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc., which rose 10 percent to P10.96; PLDT Inc., which advanced by 8 percent to P1,161; and DMCI Holdings Inc., which gained 7.3 percent to P12.40. Weekly top price losers were JG Summit Holdings Inc., which declined 8.8 percent to P61.05; First Gen Corp., which dropped 7.5 percent to P20.50; and Nickel Asia Corp., which dipped 7.3 percent to

P2.53. Stock markets rose across the globe on Friday, lifted by the latest encouraging reports from the US-China trade talks while the pound ended a volatile Brexit-fueled week on a strong note. China’s official Xinhua news agency reported “substantial progress” had occurred in a call that Beijing’s trade enjoy Liu He held with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. That added to a positive tone struck Thursday by US President Donald Trump. “Comments coming from the Chinese side were positive. That helped despite the fact the US president suggested he could walk away from a deal this week,” Quincy Krosby of Prudential Financial told AFP. On Wall Street, the major indices closed with gains for the week, as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit their highest levels since early October. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

MARCH 11-15, 2019 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Banco Filipino Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

58.65 132.00 132.8 88.90 2.32 1.35 27.5 18.4 12.18 4.48 7.81 0.63 1.47 795.00 0.455 79.5 0.96 13.84 22.00 59.60 58.2 111.1 184.5 26.35 164.3 1820.00 60.90 1.13

7,480 10,445,680 1,419,930 6,492,770 108,000 152,000 231,700 306,600 1,826,500 239,000 3,100 4,150,000 169,000 110 780,000 11,457,780 1,158,000 314,000 5,400 3,810,600 3,750 10 3,520 218,300 2,198,410 380 24,220 15,000

FINANCIAL 437,974.00 1,378,114,370.00 188,258,570.00 560,947,251.00 248,060.00 205,370.00 6,394,000.00 5,527,266.00 22,246,298.00 1,057,290.00 24,245.00 2,571,750.00 244,850.00 87,500.00 357,650.00 892,615,317.00 1,122,360.00 4,385,060.00 118,450.00 230,620,256.00 219,276.50 1,111.00 582,463.00 5,784,425.00 368,052,416.00 690,700.00 1,481,080.00 16,950.00

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petroenergy Res. Corp. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

35.5 14.58 1.01 1.46 0.243 97095 15.40 2.75 15.64 120 29.25 71.85 71.05 41 1.91 5.9 6.28 11.500 15.7 9.07 7.45 1.64 20.5 73.9 27.40 2.5100 9.67 12.66 1.660 316.20 54.50 4.05 3.65 11.20 26 11.96 19.98 0.200 370.00 6.17 1.41 3.77 6.52 8.95 1.30 12.20 48.85 5.8 4.67 1.82 2.65 1.3 11.9 106.5 6.38 0.129 1.00 145.7 2.5 1.64 1.30

12,890,100 2,871,600 4,504,000 4,102,000 1,470,000 510 22,500 56,183,000 1,589,600 2,150 361,100 50 100 133,700 725,000 139,100 89,500 4,902,600 1,665,100 3,830,200 711,500 43,000 24,339,600 714,440 1,152,000 150,793,000 10,004,500 3,301,300 901,000 1,955,330 300 467,000 117,000 55,900 10,177,800 2,701,100 13,136,000 2,950,000 896,290 102,000 14,507,000 697,000 119,230,800 41,700 36,350,000 538,700 2,267,500 463,600 28,000 461,000 32,000 611,000 231,300 26,907,450 397,600 810,000 1,887,000 3,841,260 1,485,000 7,508,000 19,621,000

INDUSTRIAL 449,831,695.00 42,777,444.00 4,580,290.00 5,860,870.00 351,630.00 45,736.00 356,814.00 149,086,030.00 24,700,316.00 258,446.00 10,625,840.00 3,340.00 7,105.00 5,481,655.00 1,376,710.00 830,186.00 541,759.00 55,317,568.00 26,182,198.00 34,363,077.00 5,327,926.00 70,920.00 510,572,385.00 52,808,548.50 31,225,715.00 388,080,350.00 96,585,991.00 42,790,968.00 1,509,860.00 614,486,486.00 16,350.00 1,960,790.00 412,750.00 625,782.00 264,986,060.00 32,382,682.00 260,670,419.00 586,870.00 334,242,098.00 629,320.00 20,143,630.00 2,622,510.00 782,426,398.00 372,121.00 47,965,940.00 6,443,094.00 111,159,820.00 2,712,250.00 130,920.00 843,170.00 85,690.00 797,140.00 2,845,314.00 2,869,914,431.00 2,542,343.00 104,510.00 1,906,610.00 548,298,287.00 3,728,960.00 12,253,240.00 26,723,460.00

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings À’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Lopez Holdings Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Wise Holdings A Zeus Holdings

0.750 56.95 15.50 0.74 6.50 20.3 1.430 1.450 920.5 7.45 12.40 4.15 14.90 0.250 995 6.51 61.05 5.86 4.8 0.53 5.24 16 0.560 4.94 0.0400 1.210 3.160 2.55 174.20 2.36 934.00 1.38 0.75 280.000 448.00 0.2450 0.355 0.350

52,231,000 13,349,880 55,213,600 578,000 203,200 172,200 21,416,000 2,899,000 1,286,310 4,574,200 24,154,900 100,000 11,407,400 1,110,000 914,355 142,200 89,948,980 100 5,000 5,167,000 2,776,800 24,984,800 357,000 150,213,000 38,300,000 13,000 17,656,000 44,000 18,100,680 44,000 2,092,950 51,000 298,000 14,010 610 7,570,000 16,830,000 99,120,000

HOLDING FIRMS 39,559,180.00 771,439,318.00 832,040,232.00 433,420.00 1,870,816.00 3,502,145.00 30,337,790.00 4,124,530.00 1,187,743,940.00 34,228,295.00 279,273,318.00 415,000.00 167,539,540.00 269,360.00 901,743,945.00 910,235.00 5,540,772,359.50 586.00 24,000.00 2,794,320.00 14,206,670.00 411,592,424.00 201,410.00 739,297,920.00 1,525,700.00 15,920.00 54,636,300.00 113,380.00 3,148,599,135.00 104,050.00 1,937,660,330.00 69,660.00 226,550.00 3,906,980.00 274,110.00 1,839,590.00 5,990,750.00 34,514,200.00

7,512,100 3,165,000 26,000 193,000 8,281,000 43,597,900 6,850,000 1,320,000 155,000 46,216,000 536,000 272,000 10,640,000 2,920,000 9,536,500 2,002,900 21,903,000 240,000 48,143,000 7,129,000 140,177,900 53,900,000 25,539,000 6,170,000 1,740,000 1,700

PROPERTY 90,373,834.00 2,481,600.00 271,846.00 362,190.00 7,453,450.00 1,873,900,645.00 16,194,030.00 5,650,590.00 1,020,167.00 22,824,190.00 484,720.00 249,180.00 2,560,550.00 1,179,750.00 99,225,351.00 41,860,325.00 11,371,585.00 31,250.00 72,611,620.00 8,741,200.00 772,947,849.00 20,849,850.00 49,814,250.00 2,780,150.00 785,150.00 74,860.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty À’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

12.100 0.78 10.94 1.970 0.880 43.100 2.35 4.34 6.5 0.480 0.91 0.930 0.242 0.400 10.940 20.85 0.510 0.128 1.51 1.22 5.62 0.385 1.9500 0.4550 0.455 46.00

MARCH 4-8, 2019 Close Volume

Value

58.95 133.00

51,580 7,750,180

3,042,368.50 996,689,383.00

86.30 2.40 1.35 27.65 17.86 12.3 4.39 8.00 0.63 1.57 770.00 0.465 78.15 1 13.94 22.90 59.90 58.1 111.1 184.6 26.7 167.8 1805.00 61.00 1.14

6,777,030 546,000 76,000 405,300 126,100 1,965,200 337,000 2,500 263,000 195,000 1,560 1,150,000 8,007,070 2,312,000 206,100 4,700 4,794,480 5,300 250 14,530 600,500 1,139,030 465 56,080 39,000

585,665,964.00 1,278,390.00 102,920.00 11,215,115.00 2,280,034.00 24,180,494.00 1,463,920.00 20,000.00 158,780.00 301,260.00 1,243,550.00 532,350.00 620,216,798.50 2,303,230.00 2,866,962.00 101,495.00 265,381,692.00 310,625.50 27,304.00 2,686,023.00 16,026,210.00 186,276,822.00 839,650.00 3,438,545.00 44,270.00

34 15.9 1.01 1.46 0.243 98.3 15.80 2.59 16.06 121 29.45 71.9 71.05 40.95 1.86 6.24 6.07 11.540 15.8 9.05 7.52 1.65 22.2 74.1 26.30 3.0300 9.57 13.06 1.650 317.60 51.50 4.35 3.5 11.96 27.1 12.3 19.9 0.200 376.00 5.87 1.36 3.74 6.76 8.81 1.34 12.00 48.8 5.9 4.79 1.83 2.72 1.36 12.6 106.4 6.4 0.128 1.06 142.3 2.73 1.63 1.37

10,157,300 2,472,600 5,168,000 8,054,000 7,490,000 370 34,700 65,375,000 1,426,700 230 346,200 470 5,540 2,400 694,000 442,400 275,500 2,953,500 2,527,300 7,806,400 324,900 27,000 17,310,600 821,470 878,300 101,240,000 13,193,200 3,299,500 1,055,000 2,906,050 10,710 5,000 208,000 606,500 965,900 1,056,500 5,698,500 4,500,000 657,200 115,100 39,657,000 551,000 12,141,700 46,900 49,911,000 902,400 2,945,500 554,100 142,000 379,000 20,000 462,000 1,484,500 6,483,040 1,201,000 1,810,000 2,589,000 4,348,570 439,000 10,392,000 16,019,000

351,143,420.00 39,420,500.00 5,239,190.00 11,590,400.00 1,769,450.00 36,365.00 564,600.00 167,495,430.00 21,898,046.00 27,830.00 10,212,130.00 31,038.00 393,868.50 100,080.00 1,307,570.00 2,692,575.00 1,692,481.00 33,634,198.00 40,096,352.00 68,633,458.00 2,466,184.00 44,670.00 382,184,650.00 60,936,189.50 23,401,900.00 316,422,550.00 128,585,741.00 42,103,072.00 1,801,560.00 911,766,222.00 566,662.50 21,810.00 733,130.00 7,501,370.00 26,116,450.00 12,660,994.00 112,301,584.00 904,350.00 181,664,380.00 689,906.00 54,691,340.00 2,085,350.00 81,545,332.00 420,713.00 66,634,520.00 10,771,282.00 144,112,780.00 3,286,605.00 664,080.00 698,430.00 54,180.00 625,680.00 18,657,288.00 679,645,401.00 7,694,866.00 234,130.00 2,714,080.00 608,405,910.00 1,170,910.00 16,873,560.00 21,152,250.00

0.750 58.80 14.62 0.75 6.50 21.15 1.430 1.450 939.5 7.75 11.56 4.15 14.30 0.249 993 6.13 67.00 5.86

86,590,000 8,263,390 31,923,600 1,271,000 308,500 389,400 69,481,000 8,815,000 872,760 12,908,300 17,827,500 100,000 2,084,500 2,150,000 489,110 34,800 19,102,560 65,000

67,171,140.00 487,380,439.50 453,503,830.00 957,960.00 2,005,600.00 8,041,790.00 102,615,940.00 13,063,460.00 820,222,225.00 99,598,058.00 202,124,592.00 415,000.00 29,481,002.00 513,430.00 471,540,670.00 213,408.00 1,283,327,293.50 357,650.00

0.56 5.03 15.8 0.580 4.92 0.0410 1.130 3.020 2.56 174.10 2.4 940.00 1.38 0.75 277.000 450.00 0.2400

1,912,000 1,720,800 5,269,600 1,119,000 179,477,000 132,000,000 396,000 5,818,000 40,000 4,083,690 3,000 694,710 136,000 646,000 34,490 130 12,490,000

1,075,920.00 8,737,082.00 82,159,210.00 642,940.00 881,306,390.00 5,359,400.00 447,370.00 17,356,690.00 102,640.00 703,865,700.00 7,200.00 658,130,300.00 182,820.00 491,470.00 9,636,596.00 58,500.00 3,086,890.00

0.365

321,980,000

125,090,650.00

11.900 0.80 10.22 1.960 0.880 43.000 2.56 4.26 6.85 0.485 0.90 0.940 0.243 0.410 9.940 21.5 0.500 0.130 1.51 1.22 5.45 0.400 1.8900 0.4550 0.450 46.40

41,022,100 4,806,000 4,900 585,000 3,249,000 50,248,000 7,757,000 1,453,000 208,100 37,090,000 671,000 752,000 15,480,000 5,240,000 2,352,000 1,466,200 3,303,000 40,000 45,473,000 12,398,000 109,017,800 84,230,000 37,257,000 4,450,000 3,570,000 3,800

487,827,030.00 3,807,200.00 50,276.00 1,110,970.00 2,800,740.00 2,178,653,285.00 20,069,130.00 6,099,580.00 1,418,951.00 17,646,450.00 585,580.00 679,500.00 3,772,290.00 2,170,450.00 22,867,172.00 31,211,990.00 1,652,140.00 5,440.00 67,674,780.00 15,295,860.00 198,709,927,882.00 33,796,650.00 72,060,300.00 2,087,950.00 1,625,250.00 166,460.00

STOCKS

MARCH 11-15, 2019 Close Volume

MARCH 4-8, 2019 Close Volume

Value

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

2.79 24.00 2.05 3.15 38.40 1.6 7 0.740 7.240

707,000 12,634,000 413,000 554,000 48,220,600 5,826,000 1,699,600 914,000 28,197,600

2,003,770.00 298,657,380.00 842,790.00 1,732,940.00 1,818,531,890.00 8,992,320.00 11,972,872.00 694,840.00 203,795,200.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. PH Resorts Group Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Wilcon Depot

12.28 20.3 1.32 0.410 0.044 15.78 2.74 11.70 0.0770 81.6 6.05 6.84 2.11 13.20 890.5 1916 5.73 381.00 2.86 119.5 1.92 10.6 7.09 0.125 5.6400 3.26 15.26 3.39 0.89 20.70 0.580 4.94 3.00 1.95 2.15 2.810 9.29 10.48 3.15 4.77 7.5 126.00 2.75 1161.00 1.190 0.870 49.00 84.00 8.70 2.37 0.700 0.42 5.63 0.660 15.440

SERVICES 115,900 1,403,704.00 510,600 10,663,990.00 259,000 342,530.00 2,500,000 1,056,200.00 47,500,000 2,135,600.00 25,000 394,500.00 1,799,000 5,018,110.00 30,050,400 354,373,666.00 1,061,520,000 81,619,590.00 835,070 69,258,097.00 4,760,000 27,951,689.00 314,100 2,223,544.00 23,000 50,120.00 1,340,600 18,998,850.00 60 53,430.00 312,490 594,948,000.00 785,300 4,476,331.00 11,280 4,245,344.00 11,958,000 35,653,020.00 20,434,320 2,420,117,527.00 7,000 13,450.00 23,100 248,960.00 44,500 316,010.00 12,850,000 1,633,390.00 23,163,900 126,886,948.00 51,000 158,910.00 12,900 198,790.00 2,525,000 8,496,900.00 967,000 862,180.00 6,650,200 133,864,474.00 8,533,000 5,142,780.00 194,000 918,830.00 7,023,000 21,132,170.00 275,000 526,240.00 60,000 117,750.00 5,244,000 15,059,970.00 3,700 34,184.00 172,400 1,792,846.00 15,000 47,060.00 537,900 2,658,491.00 1,300 9,700.00 123,010 16,120,712.00 4,289,000 11,889,520.00 924,855 1,045,060,835.00 114,123,000 139,159,350.00 21,634,000 19,180,570.00 1,434,300 86,419,745.00 7,560,540 638,417,315.00 145,500 1,243,766.00 34,466,000 81,609,040.00 5,563,000 3,905,570.00 37,180,000 15,887,900.00 2,538,700 14,259,585.00 3,492,000 2,319,210.00 79,028,500 1,225,281,584.00

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp. United Paragon

0.0022 1.45 2.90 13.50 1.1800 1.1100 2.35 0.295 7.98 1.490 0.249 0.124 0.125 0.008 0.0082 1.08 2.53 1.05 0.5700 0.9200 0.0120 0.0120 3.99 14.12 0.0120 3.1800 21.60 0.0072

MINING & OIL 2,331,000,000 4,894,200.00 8,935,000 13,075,970.00 416,000 1,211,490.00 20,800 274,938.00 342,000 403,820.00 872,000 964,800.00 4,339,000 9,896,980.00 350,000 103,500.00 37,800 295,356.00 9,487,000 14,043,440.00 10,620,000 2,646,000.00 9,850,000 1,195,590.00 250,000 31,370.00 14,000,000 115,200.00 7,000,000 58,100.00 881,000 976,990.00 14,169,000 37,145,370.00 1,073,000 1,097,210.00 931,000 548,060.00 1,405,000 1,301,320.00 481,400,000 5,789,600.00 128,600,000 1,554,300.00 3,584,000 14,288,660.00 4,744,400 67,518,476.00 349,400,000 4,171,800.00 124,000 393,230.00 15,821,200 328,644,925.00 46,000,000 336,200.00

2GO Group P ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

20 20 100 470 490 98.4 104.5 476.8 480 5.57 900 900 95 0.98 101.9 990 99.5 103.1 971.5 75.4 77 72.5 74 75 73.6 73 74 1.8

143,200 151,900 10,720 480 1,710 31,180 600 1,160 4,100 200,300 650 4,180 10,560 326,000 6,320 1,710 6,730 210 1,280 5,520 92,360 75,380 68,860 82,010 4,000 216,910 255,140 1,000

LR Warrant

1.940

491,000

PREFERRED 2,868,740.00 3,058,875.00 1,072,000.00 225,580.00 831,618.00 3,052,879.50 61,575.00 522,498.00 1,969,600.00 1,105,901.00 585,000.00 3,753,810.00 1,003,200.00 320,860.00 637,690.00 1,683,110.00 670,555.00 21,683.00 1,244,670.00 415,043.00 7,076,082.50 5,459,652.00 5,062,706.00 6,129,391.50 294,430.00 15,631,570.50 18,726,120.00 1,800.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 938,660.00 SME 8,070.00 8,228,980.00 29,161,350.00

Value

2.78 23.50 2.05 3.15 38.10 1.56 7.2 0.800 7.240

558,000 14,665,400 4,899,000 324,000 24,241,300 18,700,000 3,514,000 641,000 80,684,100

1,568,050.00 341,388,930.00 10,193,340.00 1,015,700.00 922,711,245.00 29,182,010.00 24,957,432.00 504,850.00 583,711,165.00

12 21.3 1.28 0.425 0.047 15.88 2.91 12.14 0.0710 85 5.63 7.00 2.1 15.06 890 1923 5.72 383.80 2.98 114 1.92 11 7.12 0.130 5.6200 3.15 15.24 3.30 0.90 19.68 0.610 4.93 3.01 2.02 1.96 2.980 9.4 10.30 3.44 5.10

133,000 686,100 110,000 2,920,000 42,000,000 539,100 2,929,000 40,354,600 1,103,820,000 653,840 5,894,700 33,700 40,000 3,006,000 6,760 138,740 1,513,400 24,780 9,544,000 18,025,050 1,000 15,200 19,500 5,550,000 12,314,800 236,000 66,000 2,125,000 349,000 3,288,400 19,409,000 216,000 8,140,000 982,000 15,000 9,278,000 117,900 298,600 65,000 661,400

1,602,826.00 14,710,440.00 140,680.00 1,250,050.00 1,942,700.00 8,261,530.00 8,446,250.00 473,946,498.00 79,589,170.00 54,091,243.00 34,115,320.00 238,050.00 83,100.00 47,575,042.00 6,043,270.00 261,650,395.00 8,702,851.00 9,239,036.00 27,164,910.00 2,045,717,795.00 1,920.00 164,288.00 139,040.00 717,050.00 70,367,588.00 733,830.00 1,014,450.00 7,017,640.00 312,700.00 64,001,198.00 12,331,090.00 1,018,310.00 23,778,360.00 1,944,830.00 29,730.00 27,306,860.00 1,089,128.00 3,123,050.00 206,000.00 3,410,111.00

129.20 2.85 1075.00 1.310 0.930 48.85 85.50 8.50 2.35 0.700 0.435 5.61 0.660 15.200

1,545,990 12,482,000 859,005 145,668,000 29,600,000 3,497,400 3,965,550 118,500 31,792,000 8,738,000 27,880,000 4,920,700 7,712,000 35,380,100

208,050,181.00 35,935,400.00 919,258,155.00 191,898,770.00 27,830,640.00 168,167,225.00 340,047,026.50 991,075.00 73,789,610.00 6,160,420.00 12,247,750.00 27,592,306.00 5,112,070.00 532,872,456.00

0.0021 1.50 2.92 13.70 1.2900 1.1600 2.22 0.295 8.17 1.490 0.265 0.125 0.131 0.009 0.0084 1.1 2.73 1.09 0.6300 0.9300 0.0130 0.0120 4.05 14.80 0.0120 3.3000 20.35 0.0078

4,466,000,000 5,487,000 727,000 17,000 830,000 409,000 5,634,000 3,460,000 25,700 3,755,000 28,610,000 7,790,000 1,740,000 132,000,000 170,000,000 1,096,000 9,571,000 275,000 616,000 3,088,000 66,900,000 53,700,000 12,320,000 3,658,700 385,700,000 284,000 16,030,700 181,000,000

9,380,000.00 8,251,630.00 2,121,280.00 226,862.00 1,046,990.00 476,120.00 12,493,460.00 1,040,800.00 201,032.00 5,584,210.00 7,437,840.00 961,810.00 220,950.00 1,128,800.00 1,453,100.00 1,205,960.00 26,608,380.00 290,780.00 379,620.00 2,912,950.00 817,000.00 644,400.00 49,343,450.00 54,266,736.00 4,307,400.00 886,660.00 322,856,673.00 1,390,000.00

20.3 100 465 497 98.25 102.5 450.4 480.2 5.82 871 895 95 0.99 100 980 99 106 970 75.45 76.85 72.6 73.35 74.95 73.6 72 72.5 1.8

236,500 3,060 51,160 5,800 227,560 9,970 1,530 290 124,200 3,580 4,170 7,190 3,205,000 12,010 1,240 2,590 30 4,230 14,430 159,610 123,600 19,850 95,820 6,000 380,310 140,920 3,000

4,767,825.00 306,000.00 24,154,264.00 2,788,880.00 22,289,264.50 1,027,743.00 689,136.00 139,258.00 717,991.00 3,146,100.00 3,750,080.00 683,080.00 3,146,520.00 1,201,189.00 1,205,735.00 256,370.00 3,180.00 4,108,280.00 1,109,330.50 12,191,237.00 8,975,840.00 1,448,682.00 7,141,417.50 445,662.00 27,290,304.50 10,236,487.50 5,400.00

1.900

799,000

1,498,430.00

5.03 1.43

9,671,500 75,322,000

50,165,915.00 104,315,000.00

Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

2.69 5.05 1.38

3,000 1,653,100 21,892,000

First Metro ETF

116

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 37,360 4,302,505.00

116.2

34,000

3,926,552.00

10.4 10.18 0.99

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 10,810 111,983.00 2,500 25,450.00 11,680 11,563.20

10.3 10.2 1

16,800 19,680 7,080

172,258.00 198,908.00 6,980.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Boulevard Holdings Oriental Pet. `A’ Philodrill Corp. `A’ Greenergy Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Megaworld Oriental Pet. `B’ Petron Corporation PremiereHorizon

VOLUME 2,331,000,000 1,061,520,000 481,400,000 349,400,000 150,793,000 150,213,000 140,177,900 128,600,000 119,230,800 114,123,000

STOCKS JG Summit Holdings San Miguel Corp `A’ SMC Food and Beverage I.C.T.S.I. SM Investments Inc. Ayala Land `B’ SM Prime Holdings Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Wilcon Depot Ayala Corp `A’

VALUE 5,540,772,359.50 3,148,599,135.00 2,869,914,431.00 2,420,117,527.00 1,937,660,330.00 1,873,900,645.00 1,818,531,890.00 1,378,114,370.00 1,225,281,584.00 1,187,743,940.00

Jollibee to open first Guam store on April 6 By Jenniffer B. Austria JOLLIBEE Foods Corp., the largest and fastest growing Asian restaurant company in the world, will set foot in Guam on April 6. Jollibee said in a statement over the weekend the opening of Jollibee store in Guam, located near Micronesia Mall in Dededo, was part of the company’s plan to accelerate expansion around the globe. The Guam store is on top of the 37 Jollibee outlets currently in the US in states such as New York, Florida, Texas, California and Hawaii. “This is a special moment in Jollibee’s history. We’ve long dreamed of the day we could serve the beautiful island of Guam, with its unique blend of Pacific, Asian, and American cultures and cuisine,” said Dennis Flores, president and head of Jolibbee’s international business. “We believe that our best-selling Chickenjoy and other favorites will appeal to the diverse people of Guam,” Flores added. Aside from targeting Filipinos overseas as customers, Jollibee is known to cater to each country’s local market. Jollibee last year opened stores in four new markets, namely Italy, Macau, United Kingdom and Malaysia. It has 232 Jollibee stores overseas located across Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Canada, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait Bahrain and Oman. Jollibee as of end 2018 had 14 brands across 4,500 stores and 21 countries. The fast-food chain, to sustain aggressive expansion plans, said it earmarked P17.2 billion in capital expenditures for 2019, primarily for new stores, renovation of existing outlets and investments in manufacturing plants. The 2019 programmed capital sending is almost double the P9.6 billion it actually invested in 2018. Jollibee’s net income in 2018 rose 17 percent to P8.32 billion from P7.1 billion in 2017 after opening a record 502 stores. System-wide sales, a measure of all sales to customers both from companyowned and franchise stores, surged 23.5 percent to P212.1 billion from P171.7 billion in 2017.

Cebu Pacific’s 2018 net profit reached P3.9b By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU PACIFIC said net income fell 51 percent last year due to a challenging macroeconomic environment. The airline company controlled by industrialist John Gokongwei posted a profit of P3.9 billion in 2018 from P7.9 billion in 2017. The airline’s revenue reached P74.1 billion, up 9 percent from the previous year, on the back of continued demand for air travel and robust growth of its cargo business. The growth in CEB’s 2018 business came amid a challenging environment with high fuel prices, a volatile Philippine peso, rising interest rates, increased competition, the six-month closure of Boracay and operational limitations in the country’s key airports. CEB flew 20.3 million passengers in 2018, up 2.7 percent from 2017. On average, CEB flights were 85-percent full during the year, with the carrier mounting 390 flights daily. Revenue growth was driven by sustained growth in passenger revenue, up 9 percent to P54.3 billion, and a 6-percent rise in ancillary revenue. Revenues from cargo, meanwhile, a double digit growth of 19 percent, as CEB carried 210 million kilos of freight. “Despite the pressures posed in 2018, we remained resilient. We were able to expand our network by upgauging our flights touching congested airports. 2019 will be a different story though—we have already received the first of our fuel-efficient A321NEO orders from Airbus, and we expect 10 more new generation aircraft this year,” Cebu Pacific chief operations officer Michael Ivan Shau. “We also just announced four new domestic routes. 2019 is definitely the year we accelerate our growth,” he added.

World/Business

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Medics battle to save lives in a hospital in Christchurch C

HRISTCHURCH―In a city battered by quakes, Christchurch’s medics were tragically well-schooled in tackling mass casualty events―but none could have prepared for the injuries unleashed by a white supremacist with assault riﬂes bent on mass murder. BODY POWER BEACH SHOW. In this picture taken on March 16, 2019, an Indian fitness model performs during the ‘Body Power Beach Show’, India’s first beach body carnival, in Goa. AFP

Tensions rise over burials of shooting victims CHRISTCHURCH―The first bodies from the Christchurch mosque massacres were due to be released late Sunday amid growing frustration from victims’ families over the delays in getting their remains for burial Islamic custom dictates that the deceased should be buried within 24 hours, but authorities said the complex investigation into the massacre of 50 worshipers during Friday prayers made a quick process difficult. New Zealand officials said at least one body would be returned Sunday night, and that all 50 should be back with their families by Wednesday. “It’s a massacre, what else do they need to know?,” Sheikh Amjad Ali, an assistant school principal who had traveled from Auckland to help with the funeral arrangements, told AFP about some frustrations with the wait. “The families are sad but they are getting a bit frustrated. The reasons of their deaths are known ... why not release those who have been identified?” he said.

IN BRIEF At least 50 killed in Papua flash floods JAYAPURA, Indonesia―Flash floods in Indonesia’s eastern Papua province have killed at least 50 people, an official said Sunday, as rescuers raced to help dozens of other victims of the disaster. The floods in Sentani, near the provincial capital of Jayapura, were triggered by torrential rain and landslides on Saturday, leaving some 59 people injured. Dozens of homes were damaged by floodwaters, national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. “The number of casualties and impact of the disaster will likely increase as search and rescue teams are still trying to reach other affected areas,” he added. “The flash floods were likely caused by a landslide.” The waters had receded but officials were still trying to evacuate people from hard-hit areas. “The joint search and rescue teams are still doing evacuations and not all affected areas have been reached because of fallen trees, rocks, mud and other material,” Nugroho said. AFP

Another Mexico journalist slain MEXICO CITY—A Mexican journalist shot dead at his home has become the third newsman killed so far this year in Mexico, authorities said Saturday. The killing of Santiago Barroso adds to a toll of more than 100 media workers murdered in the country over the last seven years, coinciding with a wave of violent crime driven by powerful drug cartels and fueled by political corruption. “I regret the cowardly attack in which journalist Santiago Barroso was killed,” said Santos Gonzalez, mayor of San Luis Rio Colorado, the town where the journalist lived, in Sonora state which borders the United States. The spokesman for the Mexican president’s ofﬁce, Jesus Ramirez, voiced “outrage at this attack on free speech.” Barroso, 47, was shot at home Friday night and rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead, said Contrasena, the online weekly he worked for. Two unidentiﬁed assailants who arrived together at the reporter’s home knocked on his door and when he opened it, Barroso was shot three times point blank, Contrasena said. AFP

“I’m not going to talk against authorities because they have their own rules and regulations, but they are balancing between the culture and religious views and the local laws.” Ali said it was difficult for relatives to know that the bodies had been lying in the mosques for more than a day. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said a “small number” of bodies would be returned to families from Sunday evening. “It is the expectation that all bodies will be returned to families by Wednesday,” she told reporters, adding that six disaster recognition experts from Australia were helping out with the identification process. Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha said the attacks were “totally unprecedented in our history” but that his officers were “working very hard” to support the families. “Our sole focus is to get their loved ones back and to follow the cultural traditions such as the washing and shrouding of their loved ones, and we have made premises available to carry out these sensitive cul-

tural issues,” he said. Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall added that every precaution needed to be taken to avoid any errors. “There could be nothing worse than giving the wrong body to the wrong family,” she said. Earlier, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Abdul Malik, told AFP that six Pakistani nationals were conﬁrmed among the dead and three nationals remained missing. At least two families had also requested that the bodies of their loved ones be repatriated to Pakistan, a process that could take up to 10 days, he said. “The Muslim tradition is that the body should be buried as early as possible. But this is not a normal circumstance,” he added. Outside a meeting between authorities and victims’ relatives about the burial arrangements, a large group of Bangladeshis held up signs with the words “Please help us ﬁnd Zakaria Bhuiyan” and “How long do we have to wait now?” AFP

Doctors, surgeons and nurses have been working around the clock at Christchurch Hospital since Friday’s mass shooting at two mosques, frantically trying to stem bleeding, patch up shattered bodies and save lives. On Sunday, 34 patients remained in the hospital in Christchurch, twelve of them still in critical condition. Another of the injured―four-year-old girl Alin Alsati―was in intensive care at a specialist children’s hospital in Auckland. Greg Robertson, the chief surgeon at Christchurch Hospital, spoke on Sunday of the sheer magnitude of Friday’s massacre. “Horror, stunned, anger,” he said, describing how his team of doctors, nurses and surgeons felt as the wounded poured in―initially in private cars and then in an ever-increasing stream of ambulances. This is not the ﬁrst time the city has dealt with mass casualties. A series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 killed more than 180 people and left many more injured, honing the medical skills of the city’s doctors to deal with a sudden inﬂux of complex wounds. “I don’t think there’s any doubt the earthquake did have a bearing on it―the old adage practice makes perfect works on a lot of things and that’s part of our processes,” he said. But he admitted the horrifying, man-

made nature of the latest tragedy had a much greater psychological impact on staff. “The earthquake was something that we couldn’t control,’ he said. “It’s the fact that someone has done this to our people, our friends, our colleagues, this is just unbelievable.” The kind of injuries surgeons were facing this time around were also particularly horrifying. Robertson said his teams do sometimes encounter gunshot wounds but never on such a scale. New Zealand usually witnesses only 50 murders a year. Suddenly one town had that many people murdered in a single day and dozens more wounded―some struck by multiple bullets. Many of those brought to the hospital have been in and out of operating theaters multiple times, as surgeons prioritize the worst parts of the injuries―such as stemming the bleeding, clearing blocked airways, trying to save limbs―before dealing with the less severe wounds. First responders and paramedics played a crucial role. “I guess that’s reﬂected in the fact we’ve had only one death in a patient that arrived at the hospital. Those who got here, have a chance,” Robertson said. It is likely Pakistani national Mohammed Amin Nas only survived because of the paramedics. AFP

Hero refugee chased gunman away CHRISTCHURCH―When Afghan refugee Abdul Aziz saw a man brandishing a gun outside his mosque in Christchurch, he ran towards the attacker armed with the only weapon he could ﬁnd―a handheld credit card machine. Seven people were killed when a white supremacist stormed Linwood Masjid―the second mosque he attacked on Friday―as worshipers knelt to pray. But the death toll could have been much higher if not for the heroic actions of Aziz, whose efforts to distract and chase the gunman away have attracted widespread praise. “You don’t have much time to think, whatever you think of, you just do it, you know,” Aziz told AFP, brushing off the “hero” tag as local Muslims gathered to thank him for saving relatives and friends. Aziz and his four sons were worshiping at the mosque when they heard the

loud cracks of a gun being fired outside the building. Initially thinking someone was setting off firecrackers, Aziz became suspicious and ran out of the mosque, grabbing a small credit card processing device. Outside, he was stunned to find an armed man wearing military-style fatigues. “At first, I didn’t know if he was the good guy or the bad guy. But when he started swearing, I knew he was not the good guy,” he said. Aziz hurled the machine at Tarrant and then ducked between several cars as the self-confessed fascist unleashed a barrage of shots at him. Aziz then heard one of his sons call out, “Daddy, please come back inside!” Unhurt, Aziz picked up an empty shotgun that the gunman had discarded and shouted “come on here” repeatedly in an effort to draw him away from his sons and the other worshipers. AFP

TV AWARDS.

Melissa Barrera attends The Television Academy Foundation’s 39th College Television Awards at Wolf Theater on March 16, 2019, in North Hollywood, California. AFP

Contractualization in the creative industries: Boon or bane? GLORIFES AMODIO

GREEN LIGHT IN 2016, I gave a talk on the work conditions of cultural and artist workers in a conference for cultural officers and contractual artist-teachers from several Philippine universities. At one point, I asked for a show of hands on who among them would like to have a full-time job, and who wished to remain part-time artist-teachers. Most of those who were married with children responded that they wanted to have a full-time job and all the perks that go with it; while those who were single preferred to hop from one project to another and explore more opportunities that would develop their talents, without worrying about health care or social security benefits. Working with creatives, I have seen people who prefer to work on a contractual or per project basis because they didn’t want to get tied up with the rigidity of the corporate environment. These days, a lot of creative projects are transacted online, from project briefs to payments. Since many creatives are free spirits, they value their freedom in working for passion projects, as they get to manage their own time, learn new skills, and build their networks. With the recent talks on implementing Executive Order 51 protecting the rights of all contractual workers, a relevant question to ask is, will EO 51 benefit the cre-

ative industries? EO 51 grants employees of contractors and subcontractors certain rights and privileges, such as security of tenure, self-organization, the right to strike, retirement benefits, overtime pay, and 13th month pay. Idealistic as these might seem, I wonder if the creative industries are ready to comply with these demands, and if creatives also favor these benefits in exchange for their freedom to explore other artistic opportunities. The creative industries in the Philippines provide jobs in various domains (i.e. cultural and natural heritage, performance and celebration, visual arts and artisan products, books and press, audio-visual, broadcast and interactive media, and creative services, tourism, sports and recreation). According to the 2016 Philippine Statistics Authority figures, approximately 7 million are employed in the creative industries, within government and private organizations. Some creative workers are self-employed or entrepreneurs; and some are either employed full-time or on a perproject or contractual basis. Compliance with the EO will surely be a challenge for creative enterprises, as fledgling owners still have apprehensions about investing heavily on human resources. They share the same concern of most employers, that the regularization of contractual workers will come at a cost to business, and hamper employment growth. For example, in the entertainment industry, it may not be practical to hire regular actors or production staff knowing

that the show’s season might only run for several weeks. In the printing industry, it would also be impractical to keep the contractual people they hire during peak season as regular employees, with their low returns during lean months. It is common knowledge in creative industry circles that jobs in this field are considered precarious. Truly, creative industries are at the forefront of the gig economy, giving less of the needed labor flexibility to opt for more tenured jobs which are preferred by workers with families to support. The incidence of the creatives’ multiple job-holding, varying periods of unemployment or underemployment due to scarcity of projects that match their skills or talents, short-term contractual projects, high mobility, extended work hours, and insufficient access to typical benefits and social security are very much evident in the field. However, these unfair practices continue even as the industries grow, which may have been caused by the vulnerability of the creative workers, with their lack of full-time employment options in the field, or with the lack of government support to provide a sustainable industry ecosystem. Even with the Artist Welfare Protection and Information Act of 2015, which promises benefits and protection for creatives, strict policy enforcement still remains to be seen. EO51 necessitates a balancing act between full-time employment and the need for labor flexibility, especially in newly flourishing fields, such as the creative

industries. Creatives should be provided with more employment options and conditions based on their career goals, and their intended level of commitment and contribution to the company. Work in the creative field requires much mental and physical energy. Thus, the creatives’ financial stability, health, and freedom to develop their craft should be of prime importance, for them to sustain themselves and their families. The government should consider regulated implementing strategies that will still uphold the creativeworkforce’s rights and welfare while managing the possible unfavorable effects on the industry, particularly the in terms of layoffs that might arise with the mandated regularization of employees. At the end of the day, EO51 should be able to unify all stakeholders in pushing for actions that will serve the common good of creatives,employers, audiences, and the Philippine economy as a whole. GlorifeSamodio is a Doctor of Business Administration student in De La Salle University, where she also serves as a director at the Culture and Arts Office. She recently presented her paper, “Assessing the Needs of the Creative Economy Workforce” at the 2018 International Conference on Cultural Statistics and Creative Economy”. For comments or reactions, she may be reached at glorife_samodio@ dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

Bagabag mayor names operator of ‘Peryahan’ By Brenda Jocson BAGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya—Mayor Johnny Sevillena has identified Boy Aleta as the person behind the operations in the town of the Globaltech Peryahan ng Bayan, which has been tagged by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as a front for the illegal numbers game “jueteng.” “Boy Aleta came to my office sometime in the last week of February and showed me copies of the Court of Appeals decision,” Sevillena told Manila Standard, referring to PCSO’s ongoing court battle with Globaltech, which had been licensed by the state firm to operate its Small Town Lottery but had been disqualified after not remitting its proper franchise fees to the government. “(Aleta) asked me if I would let them operate here. I refused him because he can’t show me documents coming from PCSO authorizing them to operate. That’s why I refused Globaltech permit to conduct business in Bagabag,” the mayor added. As early as 2005, Bishop Ramon Villena, who is now the bishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bayombong, had tagged Aleta along with a certain Michael Borja and Alex Mauricio as jueteng operators in his episcopal jurisdiction. The Standard could not reach Aleta for comment as of press time. Sevillena spoke in light of reports that Globaltech was conducting its hidden STL or jueteng draw in Barangay Pogonsino in Bagabag, with the local chief executive supposedly behind the jueteng operations. Apart from denying his role in the illegal numbers game, Sevillena added that Globaltech was renting a house and lot near a piggery the mayor owned in Sulsul village, “and two cabos (bankers) from [the legal PCSO] STL had been doing double jobs with Globaltech.” “As of my knowledge, its’ Mayor Ralph Lantion of Bayombong town who had issued Globaltech business permits, that’s why their office is located in Bayombong,” he said. Sevillena said six fellow mayors had called him and asked if it’s legal to let Globaltech operate in their municipalities -- Mayor Tim Cayton of Dupax del Norte, Norma Miguel of Diadi, Atty. (Ronelie) Valtoribio of Villaverde, and others from Kayapa (John D. Balasya) and Ambaguio (Arnold Pinkihan Dinungon).

VENDORS FOR JPE. Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (seated, center) gets his hands raised by Senator Nancy Binay (left) and Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares (right) during a campaign sortie on Thursday. They are surrounded by a group of suman and cashew nut vendors and city residents who have pledged to support Enrile’s bid to return to the Senate via the May 13 elections.

5 more Makati villages declared ‘drug-cleared’ M

AKATI Mayor Abby Binay has disclosed that ﬁve more barangays have been cleared of drugs by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug-Clearing Program as a result of the intensiﬁed anti-illegal drugs campaign in the city. Barangays-Air, Dasmariñas, Sta. Cruz, Pinagkaisahan, and Post Proper Southside were declared ‘drug-cleared’ last February 27. Mayor Abby commended the barangay captains, Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), Philippine National Police - Makati, the Department of the Interior and Local Government - Makati as well as the anti-drugs taskforce for their hard work and efforts in eradicating drugs in Makati. “Congratulations to the five barangays for achieving a drug-cleared status. We honor the anti-drugs taskforce for your exemplary efforts to eradicate illegal drugs and its accompanying unlawful acts in the city. Let us continue to work hand-in-hand to put an end to the illegal trade and save the future of our young Makatizens,” said Mayor Abby. Recently-awarded barangays, headed by chieftains Constancia Lichauco

(Bel-Air), Martin Arenas (Dasmariñas), Virginia Salenga (Sta. Cruz), Fernando Bolo (Pinagkaisahan), and Maribel Vitales (Post Proper Southside), complied with the parameters set for declaring “Drug-Cleared Barangays” as per Sec. 8 of DDB Regulation No. 3, series of 2017. Among the conditions met by the barangays are the non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit/transshipment activity; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; absence of clandestine drug warehouse; absence of clandestine chemical warehouse; absence of marijuana cultivation site; absence of drug den, dive or resort; absence of drug pushers; absence of drug users and drug dependents; and absence of protectors, coddlers and financiers. Other criteria included active involvement of barangay officials in anti-illegal drugs activities; active involvement of Sangguniang Kabataan representatives

in maintaining the drug-liberated status of the barangay; and the existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information, and other related anti-illegal drugs programs and the existence of a voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk in the barangay. The certifications were validated by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency National Capital Region (PDEA - NCR) Regional Director Dir. III Joel B. Plaza and certified by Makati Chief of Police, PSSUPT. Rogelio Simon. From May 10 to November 23, 2018, the Makati police had conducted 333 anti-illegal drugs operations. This resulted in the arrest of 588 illegal drugs personalities and seizing of a total of P769,021.78 worth of dangerous drugs (DDB value). Additionally, in 2018, the Preventive, Education, Training and Information Dissemination Services (PETID) division of MADAC conducted a Special Drug Education Program Symposium to Makati public schools benefitting some 10,170 students. The symposium discussed the adverse effects of abuse and misuse of dangerous drugs on individuals and families, at the workplace, and the entire community.

Little wins show in big smiles of women in Tala microlending “SMILE!” Everyone’s heard it. You hear it right before school photos. Family pictures. Groupfies. Photographers coax it out of models, and for good reason—it makes the photo look good! Why? Because a bright, confident smile is possibly the most beautiful thing that a person can wear. But a smile does more than just show someone’s best features. In particular, a smile lifts a woman up and gives her the power to lift up everyone around her. This is especially true if the smile comes from a real, beautiful, and empowering experience. This truth provided the inspiration for a photo series called “Ngiting Tagumpay.” Produced by microlender Tala Philippines in celebration of Women’s Month, the campaign features real Tala users who were photographed while remembering their real-life victories. The photos celebrate the countless other women who fight—and win—very real battles day in, and day out.

Tala is a money lending app that underwrites borrowers in real time using non-traditional data from the customer’s phone. The company seeks to provide financial services to people left behind by traditional credit channels, providing loans that help customers build a digital credit history in the long run. One of the photo series’ subjects is Aimee, 42, who was featured with the Ngiting “Confidently Beautiful sa PagBudget.” An entrepreneur and housewife, Aimee grew a small loan into a business venture that made her financially independent. She invested her first P1,000 to sell packed food, then reinvested what she earned until her business took on a life of its own. Now, her business has grown to include frozen food, beauty products, and even a small micro-lending operation of her own. Aimee has many more ideas in her head, and none of them include asking her husband for money. That keeps her

Entrepreneur and housewife Aimee, 42, shows off her “confidently beautiful with budgeting” smile in one of Tala Philippines’ campaigns for the Women’s Month of March.

smiling every day! “Real smiles are drawn from happiness, and nothing inspires happiness more than the feeling that you’re trusted and empowered,” says Angelo Madrid, Country Manager. “These smiles remind us of why we keep doing what we do at Tala.” Tala is a company with a dream to build a world where underserved people have financial access, choice, and control. Founded in 2014, the Californiabased company analyzes data from one’s smart phone to gauge an individual’s

ability and willingness to repay loans. As of today, Tala has already provided loans to over 2.5 million people worldwide. This system of radical trust has proven particularly helpful for women, especially in countries like Mexico, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Philippines— cultures where women have traditionally limited roles in the family’s income generation. To learn more about Tala, visit tala.ph or check out Tala Philippines on Facebook and Google Play.

Joy B partners with EAMC for QC drug testing By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has partnered with East Avenue Medical Center toward the implementation of an annual drug test for all city hall employees. “We expect that the implementation of an annual drug test for our employees will be more efficient. This is to strengthen our drive for a drug-free workplace in Quezon City,” she said. The vice mayor is the chairperson of the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council. Belmonte said she is also working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to combat illegal drug abuse in private establishments, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, subdivisions, condominiums and warehouses, by requiring employees to be educated on its harmful effects. In 2015, the city council passed Ordinance SP-2460 or the Quezon City Drug-Free Work Place Ordinance, requiring all officials and employees at city hall go through an annual drug testing to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. According to Belmonte, in 2018, 23,377 government employees, barangay officials, staff and members of tricycle operators and drivers associations have completed the annual drug testing since 2016. She called on business owners to ensure that their workplaces are drug-free.

Manicad thanks supporters for ‘low-budget’ run DESPITE the millions of pesos being spent by his competitors running for a seat in the Senate, broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad—who is seeking an elective position for the first time—is confident that he still has an edge over them owing to the “excessive contributions” in kind of his supporters embarking on a “bayanihan” (communal spirit) campaign. “We call it the ‘bubong billboard’ (billboards on roofs or walls). We have no funds to put up large billboards on private property like the other candidates, but we are surprised that in some houses that we pass by, my name and number on the ballot has been painted on,” the veteran journalist said ahead of the May 13 polls. “We have also been receiving photos of supporters printing their own shirts, ballers (rubber bands), and even using pentel pens to make their own posters. Some download their designs from Facebook,” Manicad shared. With limited funds mostly coming from his personal income as a media personality and businessman, the neophyte candidate attributed the groundswell of support to his campaign to supporters who are resorting to “bayanihan” through grassroots, community-led efforts, to push him to the Magic 12. On Facebook, the “bayanihan” campaign is led by the “Jiggy Manicad Movement” with more than 40,000 members. Volunteers have established core groups through almost all regions and are printing campaign materials with money from their own pockets, the candidate said. Posts by members of the campaign express admiration for Manicad’s commitment to a platform of governance based on honesty, transparency, and integrity. Since announcing his decision to run last year, Manicad shared that he consciously decided to keep his expenses small to “exert full control over his actions and commitments to the people” if elected into the Senate. “My campaign manager is my wife. My biggest contributors to my campaign are my friends and family. This is really the way we kept this campaign to minimize expenses. We do not want our Senate run to be mixed with vested interests in politics or business,” Manicad shared.

AFP CRS marks 68th year, vows stalwart service THE Civil Relations Service (CRS) of the Philippine Armed Forces is as professional as it can get. On its seven decades of existence the CRS has been instrumental to the past and present successes of the military. The CRS is the AFP unit that engages the populace through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP.” An Armed Forces of the Philippines contingent composed of Philippine Army, Philippine Air CRSAFP vows to continue working Force and Philippine Navy personnel led by Civil Relations Service commander Major General with the people to promote peace and Bienvenido Datuin join a solidarity walk with the theme ‘Lakad Tungo sa Kapayapaan, Iwaksi development in conflict areas. It is the ang Karahasan’ (Walk Toward Peace, Avoid Violence) held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle last February. It was organized by the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos in collaboration primary consideration of the unit in celebrating its 68th Founding Anniversary with the Philippine National Police and AFP.

to involve the stakeholders towards conflict-resilient communities. Over the years, the CRSAFP manifest its deep commitment to have its aspirations and objectives fulfilled. The continuous efforts of the unit in shaping the information environment has gained positive impact. One of the highlights of this development, is the crafting of multiple Information Support Affairs (ISA) products to include the campaign to support the passing of the Bansamoro Organic Law. Further, the CRS has also played a vital role in fostering and maintaining relations between military forces and civilian authorities. The Philippine

Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine Post, Metro Manila Development Authorities (MMDA), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), REACT Philippines, the National Commission on Muslim-Filipino (NCMF) are among the numerous stakeholders the CRS partners with to promote peace building and development program for youth and religious leaders. Likewise, it has built partnerships with private organizations which share the same vision. It has collaborated with business giants like ABS-CBN, Philippine Airlines, JCI Manila to name a few.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

FOOD

OING meatless for Lenten season does not mean opting only for bland, unappetizing meals. Many establishments in the country offer delectable options.

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

Gourmet selection for Lenten season East meets west in a bowl

In addition to its line of meatless salads, SaladStop! this month offers a Japanese fusion recipe with its Mi-so Happy Salad. Mi-so Happy brings together smoked salmon, grilled tofu, edamame, pickled radish, and beetroot hummus on a bed of red and white cabbage and crisp romaine lettuce. A lemon miso dressing, light and flavorful, tops off the mix. SaladStop! is at Central Square, Power Plant Mall, One Palanca, Greenhills, Glorietta 2, Ayala Tower One, Alabang Town Center, Burgos Circle, Ayala Center Cebu, Salcedo, Mall of Asia, Megamall, U.P. Town Center, Robinsons Cyberscape Gamma.

SaladStop!’s Mi-so Happy Salad

TWG Tea’s Lenten Menu infused with tea

Sizzling bangus sisig

Tea-infused menu

TWG Tea serves a Lenten Menu until April 28 featuring a selection of new seafood dishes infused with the finest harvest teas and tea blends. Aside from tea gastronomy, a new range of refreshing tea-infused mocktails also takes center stage. Begin the meal with an appetizing starter of pan-fried soft shell crab with a peanut sauce on a bed of lettuce and cherry tomato salad, drizzled with an 1837 Green Tea infused vinaigrette. For classic oriental flavor with a TWG Tea twist, enticing main courses include the Chinese-style steamed fish with a Midsummer Night Tea infused sauce, served with fragrant Timeless Tea infused rice; and the pan-fried salmon on a bed of vegetables with vermicelli, and served with an Oriental Empire Tea infused broth.

Brimming with bold flavors, the seafood squid ink pasta in a paella sauce, topped with a combination of scallops, mussels and shrimp, and drizzled with Matcha oil makes an excellence choice. The perfect accompaniment to pair with the divine dishes is any of these refreshing tea-infused mocktails: Pick from Black Hawaiian, a special blend of coconut milk, pineapple juice and Number 12 tea; Summer Rouge, a concoction of berries, calamansi concentrate and Eternal Summer Tea; and Dulcet Rose, a delicious mix of lychee juice and Bain de Roses Tea.

Mang Inasal offers diners observing fasting and abstinence from meat with Bangus Sisig. The dish is made of sizzling bangus chunks, seasoned with special spices.

Mang Inasal Bangus Sisig

TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques are located in Greenbelt 5, Shangri-La Plaza, and Central Square.

Desserts for days WHEN M Bakery opened in the Philippines, everyone was eager to try its bestselling Banana Pudding and cupcakes. But the pastry shop makes a case for its other indulgent products that cater to every dessert cravings.

Sweet breakfast

M Bakery makes fresh from scratch, nopreservatives breakfast muffins and scones every morning. The Coffee Cake Pecan Muffins are not too sweet and loaded with cinnamon and pecans, perfect for quick breakfast. The Apple Walnut and Cranberry Muffin, on the other hand, are best devoured when warm. Other muffins M Bakery offers include Banana, Blueberry Crumb, Cappuccino Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Sugar, Lemon Zest, Poppy Seed with Lemon Glaze, and Pumpkin. Scone selections, which are perfect with tea, include Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry Lemon, Cherry Chocolate Almond, Cranberry Pecan, Lemon Poppy Seed, and Maple Pecan.

Chilled treats

Those who love combining two desserts, like ice cream and cake, will find M Bakery’s Icebox desserts a real treat. The popular no-baked chilled treats are available in a variety of flavors such as Blueberry Jamboree (pecan shortbread crust, whipped cream, cream cheese filling, fresh blueberries), Calamansi Icebox Bar (graham cracker crust, calamansi custard), and Peanut Butter Icebox Bar (vanilla wafer crust, caramel and peanut butter whipped cream, cream cheese filling). Rounding up the chilled treats are Chocolate Pudding Parfait (chocolate cake layers, fresh whipped cream, chocolate shavings), and Banana Cream Pie (vanilla wafer crust, fresh bananas, vanilla pudding, fresh whipped cream).

Say cheese...cake

M Bakery also offers decadent mini cheesecakes that are creamy, smooth, and velvety with flavors that linger in the mouth. Bite into that oldfashioned style cheesecake on a cookie crumb crust with flavors like Caramel Pecan, Calamansi, Vanilla Bean, Red Velvet, C ho c o late,

Blueberry Jamboree

Chocolate Pudding Parfait

Lemon, German Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Chocolate, and Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl.

Fresh from the cookie jar

Munch on freshly baked cookies that are the right mix of chunky, chewy, and crispy. M Bakery offers its bestselling Chocolate Chunk Cookie and Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, as well as new favorites such as Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Cookie and Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Chunk Cookie. For the more adventurous, there’s Brown Sugar Whoopie Cookies, which are made with two brown sugar cookies with maple cream cheese filling. Aside from cookies, M Bakery has its own take on coconut macaroons, a popular treat, that come in plain or chocolate dipped variants. Those on-the-go but still want to be able to munch and nibble on a treat, can choose from brownies and bars such as Chocolate Chunk Blondie, Double Fudge Brownie, Lemon Bar, Magic Cookie Bar, Marble Cream Cheese Brownie, and Mini Flourless Chocolate Cake. M Bakery is at lower ground floor, Unit #23 5th Avenue cor. 28th Street, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, Bonifacio Global City.

Marble Cream Cheese

Coffee Cake Pecan Muffins

Go to any of the over 500 Mang Inasal stores nationwide to try this dish.

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Life

Catriona Gray’s ‘best twirl ever’ M

ISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray recreates her confident slow-mo twirl for the new Jollibee campaign featuring the new and improved line of Jolly Twirl.

The new Jolly Twirl is creamier and thicker.

Catriona Gray recreates her famous slow-mo twirl for the new Jollibee ad.

The perfect treat to cap off a delightful meal or to enjoy on its own, the Jolly Twirl is composed of Chocolate Sundae Twirl and Vanilla Cone Twirl In the latest ad for Jollibee’s best-selling dessert, Gray compares her crown-winning move to the Jolly Twirl soft-serve with an all-new formulation that makes it thicker, creamier, and slow-melting. “As part of Jollibee’s commitment to continuous innovation in every aspect of our customers’ experience with us, we’ve made improvements in our

classic dessert to make the soft-serve vanilla ice cream thicker, creamier, and slow-melt,” said Kay Segismundo, Jollibee senior marketing manager for complementary products. “It’s the Jolly Twirl flavor we’ve all grown to love—but made even more delightful!” Indulge in the Chocolate Sundae Twirl, an irresistible treat of thicker, creamier vanilla ice cream drizzled with rich chocolate syrup. Or opt for something classic like the Vanilla Cone Twirl, soft-serve ice cream twirled and perched perfectly on a crispy cone.

From left: Johnjo Paje of Jollibee Philippines’ brand PR team; Jolly Twirl ambassadors Vina Guerrero, Rhea Bue, and Ciacia Mendoza, Jollibee Philippines senior marketing manager for complementary products Kay Segismundo; brand mascot Twirlie; Jollibee Philippines assistant brand manager for desserts Kat Facun; Jollibee Philippines brand communications and PR director Arline Adeva; Jolly Twirl ambassadors Pam Andres and Janina Vela; and Jollibee Philippines brand engagement manager Cat Triviño.

Vaya Tyffin lunchbox lets consumers pack a multi-course meal that stays hot or cold for six hours.

Pancake House’s three mini Classic Pancakes

Pancakes to beat the Monday blues HATE Mondays? As it celebrates National Pancake Month, Pancake House saves the most hated day of the week with a special promo for its Classic Pancakes. Every Monday for the entire month of March, diners can have a hearty fill of three mini Classic Pancakes for only P45. Best paired with a steaming cup of coffee or a refreshing cold drink to perk up the day, this exclusive offering makes Mondays sweeter and echoes the goodness of home cooking, with no minimum purchase required.

Pack your lunch THIS sleek and sophisticated lunchbox will inspire everyone to pack their lunch every day. Now available in the Philippines, the Vaya Tyffyn, designed by a team of highly seasoned professionals all across the globe, seeks to improve the way people take food on the go with a product that is stylish, durable, and travel-friendly. It provides consumers with the option to pack a multi-course meal every day instead of the typical combination of rice and a main dish. Vaya Tyffyn’s unique features include a collapsible handle, proprietary Vacutherm insulation technology that keeps food hot or cold for six hours, leak-resistant lids, heat-protective finger grips, and stainless steel pressurizing latches, among others. It comes in three different sizes for all appetites: 600ml (two containers), 1,000ml (three containers), and 1,300ml (four containers). The lunchbox brand features a collapsible handle, leak-resistant lids, and heat-protective Go to vayalife.com to know more. finger grips.

“We know how challenging Mondays can be and we want to make sure we help make it light and easy for our diners by bringing positive vibes and serving up mini versions of our bestselling Classic Pancakes,” says Cherry Hernandez, senior marketing manager of Pancake House. She added, “We invite everyone to make all remaining Mondays of the month more delightful by celebrating National Pancake Month with us, where it’s #AlwaysAGoodChoice!”

Ruby Jacks celebrates Japanese Meat Day Ruby Jacks’ Steakhouse offers selected beef cuts at half the price every 29th of the month.

TO CELEBRATE the traditional Japanese Meat Day, Ruby Jacks’ Steakhouse at City of Dreams Manila together with its sister branch in Tokyo is offering selected beef cuts at half the price every 29th of the month. In Japan, 29 read as “2” and “9” is “ni” and “ku” in Japanese, respectively. When combined, the word “niku” in Japanese means “meat.” On this day, it’s popular

among Japanese to eat meat. Ruby Jack’s is a popular steakhouse famous for its dry-aged meats and premium grilled steaks. The restaurant, founded in Japan, has become a recognized name in the culinary world because it uses only the best natural ingredients selected from all around the world—making each dish a perfectly sumptuous and enticing experience.

Entertainment

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

FDCP opens film lab for Mindanao filmmakers

Filled with no-holds-barred dialogue and savage comebacks, ‘Father’s Day‘ is a witty take on the ups and downs of family life.

A REFRESHING ODE to imperfect families

E ALL know what being in a family is like. There are happy moments, bitter fights, and a whole lot more in between. Repertory Philippines is giving us a play that examines this shared journey in the most relatable way. Father’s Day is a fitting tribute to imperfect families, so prepare yourself for a fresh and unique theater experience. The second offering in REP’s 2019 season, Father’s Day runs from March 22 to April 14 at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1. Witness the legendary Baby Barredo make her comeback on the director’s chair as she adapts this West End play for Pinoy audiences. Tickets are out now, so don’t miss this sharplywritten story come to life. One unassuming winter evening, Henry Willows receives an unexpected visit from his estranged son, Matthew, and his goth girlfriend, Christine. Still bitter from the divorce that tore his family apart, Henry treats them unkindly. After discovering that Matthew has run away however, he decides to call his ex-wife, Sue, resulting in an uneasy family reunion. When it is revealed that the sixteen-year-old Christine may be

Liesl Batucan stars as mom Sue in this sharply-written production.

pregnant, it prompts Henry and Sue to recall their past, prodded on by the mischievous and conniving Matthew, who wishes to see his parents together again. Though filled with noholds-barred dialogue and savage comebacks, Father’s Day is a touching story about how family sticks together no matter what. Leading the cast is widely respected theater stalwart Miguel Faustmann as Henry Willows, accompanied by Andres Borromeo as Matthew Willows, Liesl Batucan as Sue, and Becca Coates and Rachel Coates

Andres Borromeo is the mischievous Matthew Willows, the son who just wants to see his parents back together.

Becca Coates and Rachel Coates alternate as Christine, Mathew Willows’ goth girlfriend.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, March 18, 2019

ACROSS 1 Church alcove 5 Bathroom fixtures 9 Hardhat’s support (hyph.) 14 Drinks like a cat 15 Up to the job 16 Singer— Haggard 17 DeMille genre 18 Learning method 19 Hazard 20 Double-deck game 22 Patois 24 Rain hard 25 Soars 26 Fine point 29 La Scala site 31 Farewell 32 Construction toy 33 Per capita 37 — — step further 38 Army unit 41 Fish eggs 42 Gin-fizz flavor 44 Pitcher in a basin 45 Dull green 47 Bank transactions 49 Astonished 50 Judge 53 Diagnostic aid

(hyph.) 54 Dash away 56 Wins over 60 Kitchen tool 61 Part of A.D. 63 Spicy cuisine 64 Express one’s views 65 Liverpool poky 66 Lawsuit basis 67 Bad-tempered 68 Transmit 69 Needle holes DOWN 1 A Baldwin 2 Daddy 3 Washer cycle 4 Fugitive 5 Sharply 6 Wolf-pack member (hyph.) 7 Quick lunch 8 Canary’s dinner 9 Veld antelope 10 Direct route 11 Made a wrong move 12 Ms. Walker 13 Thaws 21 Arrangement 23 House of snow 26 Complains persistently 27 Worshiped image 28 Breezy greeting 29 Rations out

30 Horror-film servant 32 Grassy spot 34 Grand Canyon st. 35 Small bay 36 Pay attention 39 Renter’s document 40 Bedouin 43 Periodic table entry 46 Infant’s outfit 48 Fish hawk 49 Action-movie name

50 Famous racetrack 51 Free play 52 Calcutta attire 53 Inert gas 55 Fragmentary pieces 57 Nautical greeting 58 Not common 59 Warms a bench 62 Kilt-wearer’s refusal

A NEW development platform for Mindanao stories has been created by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through the Southern Voices Film Lab (SOVOLAB). This is an opportunity to discover the diverse and unique stories and perspectives from the South and give them the chance to develop and find the path to become fullfledged projects. The SOVOLAB, an intensive script and development lab for Mindanaoan filmmakers, is open to all filmmakers from Mindanao who are developing their first, second, and third feature films. Deadline of submission is on April 12. Six to eighth projects in the advanced stage of development will be selected. Over the course of eight months, the chosen filmmakers will participate in three workshop sessions in Mindanao and will be mentored by international and local experts to improve their screenplays. The first session will be held in May, the second session will be in September, and the third session will

be in November. Sessions include script consulting and talks by industry experts. The fourth and final session will be the SOVOLAB Pitch Showcase, which is the participants’ final pitch to the Jury and Decision Makers in Davao City during the Mindanao Film Festival in December. Two projects will receive a co-production grant worth one million pesos. For more information, visit http:// fdcp.ph/southern-voices-film-lab.

VP Leni Robredo with last year's winners of Istorya ng Pag-asa Film Festival.

Stories of hope

alternating as Christine. After its run, Father’s Day will give way to the rest of REP’s exciting 2019 season. Watch out for The Dresser, which runs from May 3 to 26 and features a dramatic look at what happens behind-the-scenes of a theater. And perfect for kids and kids at heart, The Quest for the Adarna in September transforms the beloved Ibong Adarna tale into a colorful English musical. Purchase your tickets now by calling REP at 451-1474, Ticketworld at 891-9999, or by logging on to www.ticketworld.com. ph. For updates and show schedules, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph, like and follow repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram.

WHETHER in its full motion picture format, documentary or short films, we all know that movies can bring a different kind of inspiration in our lives. My former boss, the late great National Artist for Film Eddie Romero believed that films are the best repository of culture as it mirrors and present the past, present and future of a given people and their country. For Romero, it is a powerful tool for change and movement. Now, I no longer wonder wonder why the Office of the Vice President Leni Robredo utilizes not only the potential but the power of film in bringing stories of hope to the consciousness of every one. Let me share first this short and sweet conversation with VP Leni who, in her cerulean dress, looks so regal and lovely, Since “Istorya Ng Pag-Asa Film Festival 2019” will present short films that will highlight regular Filipino with aspirational and inspirational stories, my curiosity led me to inquire who were her favorite actors and actresses. VP Leni shares, “Growing up, the actresses who were considered the fiercest rivals then were Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. Sila ang movie

queens na pinagtatapat noon pero wala akong pinili. I think the only time I chose an ALWIN actress that I like was IGNACIO when Dina Bonnevie, Maricel Soriano, and Snooky Serna were the most popular young actresses.” She rooted and supported the Diamond Star, Maricel Soriano because, “She was the most authentic.” Fast forward to the present, the actors she likes nowadays are Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz. Watching Filipino films is her therapy of sorts, her mode of unwinding after all the grueling activities she has to attend to as the second most powerful person of the Republic. Some of her recent film favorites are How To Be Yours, That Thing Called Tadhana, Exes Baggage, and in the nearest future, she says, “Naka-linya na ang ang Kita Kita sa panonoorin ko via Netflix.” She admits, “I like feel good movies. My daughters cry and really get affected when they watch movies, ako, hindi.” Amongst the female stars, she likes best, “Bea Alonzo and she knows that I am a fan.” Will be she comfortable with the idea of Bea portraying her in a biopic? She smiles shyly and replies, “Parang ang ganda-ganda naman niya to portray me and wala sa isip ko yang biopic na yan.” She blurts out a hearty laughter with my inquiry about her favorite movie time snacks, “Nagaraya, the green one and Cheetos, yung Jalapeno.” When she is not busy, VP Robredo comes clean, aside from movie watching, what she does for fun is, “House cleaning. Gusto ko organized ang lahat.” Speaking of organized, there is without any doubt that the forthcoming “Istorya ng Pag-Asa Flm Fesival 2019” is most organized. March 25 is set as the deadline for submission of entries, Application forms and FAQs about the festival are available via istoryangpagasa.ovp.gov. ph Winning short films, aside from the bragging rights and showing in all Ayala Cinemas prior to the screening of a main feature, will bring home P80K (best short film), P50K at P30K for second and third best short films. Congratulations to VP Leni Robredo and the Ayala Foundation for this festival, Hope springs eternal indeed for Filipinos from all walks of life because of your quest to highlight the goodness and greatness of Pinoys who find meaning and hope even when they face the most trying of predicaments.

ARIAS

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Entertainment

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

GMA Network recreated an entire Badjao Village in Calatagan, Batangas to give viewers a realistic vision of the Badjao community—a surprising feat only the Kapuso network delivers in a remarkable manner.

Bianca Umali playing the titular role in the series, which starts airing tonight.

Dive into the enthralling world of

‘SAHAYA’

VERY WANG

NICKIE WANG

CCORDING to Sahaya’s lead star Bianca Umali, the new series is not only focused on one aspect of life. It delves into the subject of love, family, education, including women empowerment. “It’s all about the journey of life and how you are going to fight for the things you love and the things that you believe in,” Bianca told Manila Standard in an interview. The series, which aims to capture the richness of Philippine indigenous culture through the humble life of Bianca’s lovely character, also trains the spotlight on the Badjao community. “We want to present and re-introduce their culture and way of life without offending any of their members. That’s why the whole team is very careful and very detailed. We hired experts so we can portray the Badjao people as faithful as possible,” Bianca added. Tonight on primetime, the Entertainment Group of GMA Network fulfills its commitment to bring viewers world-class entertainment with this newest offering. This extraordinary epic-drama series also top billed by Miguel Tanfelix and Migo Adecer will give viewers a glimpse into a world that celebrates our true identity and heritage. “Sahaya is the inspiring story of a determined and special Badjao who rises above all difficult circumstances in life that will challenge her resiliency

The whole cast of 'Sahaya' during the primetime series grand media conference.

as she maps her path towards selfacceptance, success, and admiration,” Bianca said of the series premise. “She is blessed with extraordinary abilities which will lead her to inspire her family and her people, including Ahmad, her simple childhood friend (portrayed by Miguel) who has always been in love with her,” she shared. Adding a twist to their story is Jordan, played by Migo, the wealthy Manileño who will compete with Ahmad for Sahaya’s love. Joining them in this intriguing series are talented actors: Eric Quizon as Hubert, Jordan’s father whose business is coral mining at Sahaya’s village in Tawi-Tawi; Zoren Legaspi as Harold, Sahaya’s father who abandons her mother before he knew that they were about to have a child; Mylene Dizon as Manisan, a Badjao who fell for Harold and ended up raising and teaching their daughter, Sahaya, resiliency and good values; Pen Medina as Panglima Alari, Manisan’s father and the panglima (leader) of the Sama Dilaut; Debra Liz as Babu, Sahaya’s cheerful grandmother; Juan Rodrigo as Bapa, older brother of Panglima Alari; Ana Roces as Irene, Harold’s loyal wife who will do anything to protect her family; Ashley Ortega as Lindsay, Jordan’s spoiled cousin and the school’s

queen bee; and Snooky Serna as Salida. a loving yet vengeful mother who will be the reason why Manisan and Sahaya will be separated. Playing very special roles in the pilot week are Benjamin Alves as Aratu, Solida’s son and Manisan’s husband; Gil Cuerva as the young Harold; Karl Medina as young Atari; and Jasmine Curtis-Smith as the young Manisan. To shed light on the culture of our Badjao brothers and sisters, GMA 7 hired consultants and recreated an entire set reminiscent of a real Badjao village in Calatagan, Batangas. The set promises to bring viewers a realistic vision of the Badjao community -- a surprising feat only the Kapuso network delivers in a remarkable manner. Likewise for this program, the network sets the bar even higher as it uses for the ﬁrst time a highend cinema camera to create clean, sharp and cinematic images. Sahaya is created through the visionary minds of writers Marlon Miguel and Jonathan Cruz. Suzette Doctolero headwrites the show. This grand production is under the helm of esteemed director Zig Dulay. This original series, created by the GMA Drama group, is headed by the SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-

Bianca Umali with leading man Miguel Tanfelix

Sy, Senior Program Manager Helen Rose Sese, Executive Producer Milo Paz. Join Sahaya as she brings pride to her culture through her captivating adventures beginning tonight after Kara Mia, on GMA Telebabad. Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International. For the program guide. visit www.gmapinoytv. com.

Faith-based movie ‘Breakthrough’ to open in PH cinema

'Breakthrough' is a film based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds.

OPENING April 10 in Philippine cinemas, Breakthrough is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle. An extraordinary and timely feature before Easter from 20th Century Fox, the ﬁlm is based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds in recent history. When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientiﬁc prediction. From producer DeVon Franklin (Miracles from Heaven) and Stephen Curry as one of its executive producers, the movie is adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds) from Joyce Smith’s own book, Breakthrough (previously published as The Impossible). Breakthrough stars Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Josh Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama), Topher Grace (Spider Man 3), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Sam Trammel (True Blood), Dennis Haysberth (24) and fast-rising young actor Marcel Ruiz.

‘DORAEMON,’ now a Kapamilya KAPAMILYA kids are in for a world of fun and adventure as Doraemon finally joins the Kapamilya network. In a trade event held on March 5 at the Green Sun Hotel Axon, the titular robot cat from the future, along with his friends Nobita, Shizuka, Suneo, and Takeshi was introduced to the public as a member of the Kapamilya network. ABS-CBN’s Acquisitions and International Sales Distribution (ISD) division partners with Animation Intl. Ltd., ShoPro, and ADK Emoticons, Inc., the companies that owns the rights to distribute the Doreamon franchise. “We are very happy and excited to finally say that Doraemon is a Kapamilya. It has been a long time coming and we believe this is a landmark acquisition for our kiddie viewers, and kids at heart, who have been asking when Doraemon will ever show up on ABSCBN,” said ABS-CBN Acquisitions and ISD head Macie F. Imperial. Set to air on ABS-CBN’s TVplus channel, YeY!, starting May, Doraemon follows the adventures of Nobita Nobi, a young boy who suffers from bullying, and his trusty friend Doraemon, a robotic cat sent by one of his descendants from the future to protect and guide Nobita. Using his fourdimensional pocket from where Doraemon pulls his gadgets, Doraemon helps Nobita in his adventures. “We are very excited because we didn’t have Doraemon on television for a long time and ABSCBN is one of the best channels here so we’re really looking forward to this partnership,” said Animation Intl. Ltd. general manager Tim Kondo, who is elated to finally bring Doraemon to ABS-CBN via their YeY channel on ABS-CBN’s TVplus. Doraemon premieres on May 27 at 5:00 p.m. on YeY, available on ABSCBN’s TVplus. Doraemon, the plumped-face blue cat robot from the future, is a beloved manga character many of us grew up with.