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FIERCE CLASHES RAGE IN HK; DFA RULES OUT EVAC A POLICE officer was struck in the leg by an arrow shot by a Hong Kong activist on Sunday, the city’s force said, as fierce clashes raged at a university which has become a fulcrum of pro-democracy protests. Activists have vowed to “squeeze the economy” as the increasingly divided city reels from one of the worst weeks of violence in the months-long crisis. Images showed the arrow embedded in the calf of the police officer, who was working with the force’s media liaison team at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the scene of fierce clashes. A statement said he was taken to hospital in “a conscious state.” Police deployed water cannon and tear gas against pro-

testers occupying the campus in the Hung Hom area of Kowloon, now a key battleground as the demonstrators fight to keep a stranglehold on the Cross-Harbor Tunnel nearby, blocked since Tuesday. Protests have swept the global financial hub since June as many in the city of 7.5 million people have vented fury at eroding freedoms under Chinese rule. A marked change in tactics last week to a “Blossom Everywhere” campaign of blockades and vandalism stretched Next page

FIERY PROTEST.

Protesters throw Molotov cocktails at the police outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 17, 2019. As police clashed with pro-democracy activists, an unidentified person shot an arrow in in the leg of a police officer. AFP

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 277 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Drug list triggers feud Leni blows top, chides PDEA for wasting time By Rio N. Araja, MJ Blancaﬂor and Rey E. Requejo

ICE President Leni Robredo on Sunday expressed her impatience with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), saying that members of the InterAgency Committee on AntiIllegal Drugs (ICAD) had no time to waste competing with each other.

GUNS GALORE. Thousands of firearms mostly handguns were presented to media Sunday by Police Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Central Luzon police director and PNP officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa as part of the campaign to ensure the safety of athletes and guests during the fo upcoming SEA Games staring Nov. 30. Jess Malabanan

Regulate vaping, Palace strikes back at US senator: Shameful Go urges Duterte By MJ Blancaﬂor By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Christopher Go on Sunday said he would recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte that he issue an executive order to regulate e-cigarettes and vape before they become a large-scale health hazard. Go noted that at present, there is no law to regulate the manufacturing, distribution and sale of e-cigarettes, and an Next page

WEATHER

‘Ramon’ exits, ‘Sarah’ looms

By Rio N. Araja TROPICAL storm “Ramon” is forecast to weaken into a low pressure area as it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday. Next page

MALACAÑANG on Sunday slammed presidential candidate and United States Senator Bernie Sanders for his “shameful attempt” to criticize human rights situation in the country without validating his information. This came after Sanders denounced the recent police repression of trade unionists as “a shameful attempt to silence people’s rights and freedoms.” In a tweet Friday, Sanders wrote: “In recent years, we have seen abhorrent

Are you a he, she, it, or they? A FEW years ago Emily Gardner, who identifies as “more feminine than not,” instructed family members of a new preference to be referred to as “they” rather than “she.” The 23-year-old represen ts a growing trend among progressive Ameri. Nest page

human rights abuses by the Philippine government. This repression of trade unionists is a shameful attempt to silence people’s rights and freedoms. More than ever, we must stand on the side of global human rights. Sanders was reacting to a report that 57 members of labor and civil groups in the Philippines were arrested and detained during simultaneous raids in Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Manila in Oct. 31. The Philippine National Police raided the offices of the Kilusang Mayo Uno,

Gabriela Negros Center, and the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers. The International Trade Union Confederation has condemned the arrest of unionists and leftist groups. “Under the cover of being tough on crime, this government is targeting human and trade union rights defenders as part of a deliberate political strategy that relies on the suppression of people’s rights and freedoms,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Next page

Oil prices: Gasoline up, diesel down By Alena Mae S. Flores THE oil companies are set to raise the price of gasoline by P0.80 per liter but will implement a price rollback for diesel of P0.30 per liter and P0.20 per liter for kerosene effective Tuesday. Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil firm, was the first to announce the latest weekly price adjustment.

“Petron will implement the following price adjustments effective 6 a.m. on November 19: P0.80 per liter increase for gasoline; P0.30 per liter rollback for diesel; and P0.20 per liter rollback for kerosene,” the company said. Petron said the adjustments would reflect the prices movements in the international oil market week-on-week. Next page

“We have only two-and-a-half years left. Are we still going to waste this just to compete with one another?” Robredo said on her weekly radio program, after her co-chairman in ICAD, PDEA chief Aaron Aquino, refused to furnish her with a list of high-value targets in the government’s war on drugs. She cited the importance of having the list, saying it is within her official function as ICAD co-chairperson “to ensure the arrest of high-value drug personalities.” Aquino, in a Nov. 16 statement, said Next page

Life taking its toll on me, says Rody By MJ Blancaﬂor DESPITE President Rodrigo Duterte’s admission that he is in bad shape due to old age, Malacañang on Sunday said he would continue fulfilling his mandate to serve the public. “Whatever ailment an elderly has, ordinarily, he has that. But he will continue working. He said, ‘I’ll perform my duties, whatever happens to me,’” Panelo said in radio interview. “If you will notice, his schedule does not change, despite his health issues. And he not only does survive, he does it well,” Panelo added. Panelo issued these statements after the 74-year-old leader said he was not in the best of health, given his age. Next page

News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

More Bar takers quit after exams' 2nd round By Rey E. Requejo THE Bar examination being held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila continued on its third Sunday, but the number of examinees fell to 7,691 from the 8,245 who were originally admitted to the take the most grueling tests for aspiring lawyers. The Supreme Court said that, originally, there were 8,245 law graduates whose applications to take the tests on all four Sundays of November were granted, but only 7,691 had taken the tests as of the second Sunday of the examination on Nov. 10. Supreme Court data showed that of the 8,245 examinees originally admitted to take the Bar, 7,699 actually took the first day of the exams on Nov. 3. After the second Sunday, the number went down to 7,691, when the the exams covered Civil Law and Taxation. The third Sunday will cover Mercantile Law and Criminal Law while the last Sunday will cover Remedial Law and Legal and Judicial Ethics. In the 2018 Bar examinations, 1,800 of the 8,158 examinees passed what is dubbed as the most grueling licensing examinations in the country, with a graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University topping the exams.

Budget cuts in VMMC denounced By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Imee Marcos on Sunday questioned the 11- percent cut in the budget of Veterans Memorial Medical Center for next year, saying it would have an adverse impact on sick soldiers. Marcos said more than P211 million was the allocated budget for the hospital next year. From the P1,866,436,000 budget of the VMMC in 2019, only P1,654,818,000 will be allocated for the hospital under the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act. Marcos said she was saddened that many veterans would be affected by the budget cut for the procurement of medical supplies like dextrose and medicines, among other things. “I was just wondering why the VMMC budget was cut by 11 percent or P211,618 million. We know that the number of aging soldiers has been growing,’’ Marcos said.

Oil... From A1

Pilipinas Shell followed suit and raised its gasoline price by 80c while rolling back it price for diesel. On Nov. 12, the oil distributors also raised the price of gasoline by P0.85 per liter but rolled back the prices of diesel by P0.15 per liter and kerosene by P0.10 per liter. On Nov. 3 and 5, most of the oil companies implemented a price cut of P0.10 per liter of gasoline, P0.25 per liter of diesel and P0.10 per liter of kerosene. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy has described as baseless its inclusion in the complaint filed by the Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) alleging the price-fixing and collusion among 16 oil companies. “We find the complaint of LKI President, Atty. Victorio Mario Dimagiba unmeritorious by accusing the Department of colluding with the oil companies by pointing to the pricing formula posted on the DOE website, as having facilitated said unacceptable illegal activities,” the department said. Despite this, the department said, it welcomed LKI’s call for the PCC to look into claims of price-fixing and collusion. It said the pricing formula in question, created by the then Energy Regulatory Board, had been on the department’s website since 2010. The ERB is one of the earlier predecessors of the DOE which was created in 1992. The board was responsible for all regulatory and adjudicatory functions pertaining to the energy sector. “The posting is made in the interest of transparency. The formula is not being prescribed nor dictated by the DOE to the downstream oil industry in any way,” the agency said.

Special fund for rice farmers eyed D By Rio N. Araja

He said the resolution would allow the Agriculture department to use all rice import tariff collections in excess of the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund in setting up a special emergency fund for farmers affected by softening farm-gate prices of palay. The measure, if passed, would allow the department to distribute direct cash transfers to small farmers to help them cope with low palay prices during the

main harvest season as a result of the lifting of the quantitative restrictions on imports under the rice trade liberalization law. “The farm-gate prices of dry palay dropped by as much as P10 per kilo in several rice-producing areas following the implementation of Republic Act 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law in March this year, resulting in huge income losses for rice farmers and the industry, which is now estimated at

around P50 billion at current prices,” Villafuerte said. To modernize the farm sector and make local palay growers globally competitive, RA 11203 provides for the creation of the RCEF that will have an annual appropriation of P10 billion over the next six years, and to be sourced from the tariff revenues collected by the Bureau of Customs from the rice imports. Villafuerte said that, from the time the law took effect in March up to the end of October, Customs collections from rice import tariffs had already reached P11.4 billion, or an excess of P1.4 billion in revenues supposedly earmarked for the RCEF. The excess amount plus subsequent Customs collections until the yea rend should be channeled to his proposed rice farmer financial assistance program to

Drug...

bredo she could be treading on dangerous ground for welcoming foreign officials critical of President Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign Palace Spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the warning after the President said he would fire Robredo as anti-drug czar if she shared screts with officials from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) whom she met last week. “Revealing State secrets to foreign individuals and entities as well as welcoming those who have trampled the country’s sovereignty would be damaging to the welfare of the Filipino people,” Panelo said in a statement. “Such revelation of privileged information is a crime which has perpetual special disqualification from office, among its penalties,” he added. Panelo noted that Robredo has asked agencies under the ICAD, which she has been leading, to produce clear baseline data on the campaign against illegal drugs by the end of the year. The Palace official also noted that Robredo has welcomed United Nations personalities and an International Criminal Court prosecutor, who have described the Philippines as a murderous country and even called for the arrest of President Duterte. “She may not realize it but she could be treading on dangerous grounds. It could be an overreach of the granted authority hence the reminder,” Panelo said. The vice president, who as opposition leader criticized the President’s war on drugs, earlier said she would shift the campaign’s focus on preventing unneces-

sary killings. She also said the UN Human Rights Council may investigate alleged abuses in the campaign, if Philippine authorities fail to do so. The 47-member UNHRC on July 11 adopted an Iceland-led resolution seeking to present a “comprehensive” report on the drug war in the Philippines during the council’s 44th session next year. Phelim Kine, Human Rights Watch deputy director for Asia, also expressed willingness to go to Manila to help Robredo end “murderous drug war” waged by Duterte. Robredo’s ally, detained Senator Leila de Lima, said the vice president is “intelligent and trustworthy enough” and a “conscientious public servant who knows what or may not be disclosed to the public.” “We see a lot of duplicity here. What vicious political game is Duterte and his men playing this time?” she said. Panelo denied claims that President Duterte is hindering Robredo’s work as ICAD co-chair. “Such speculations are unfounded as they are unproductive as well. The President is merely reminding VP Leni of the imperatives as well as the limits of her appointment lest she transgresses it,” he said. He also said the anti-drug czar could share drug war records, but only those which are not considered confidential. The Palace official also warned Robredo to be careful of seeking advice from those who are critical the government’s anti-narcotics drive since it could harm her. “She should be careful about asking

EPUTY Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte said Sunday he will ﬁle this week a joint resolution to provide congressional authorization for an immediate special fund for rice.

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that while the agency did not provide the list of the high-value targets to Vice President Leni Robredo, the agency was willing to present the list to her in a closed-door meeting only with personnel with the needed security clearance. Saying the list is considered classified information, he said not everybody must have a copy of it. “In the most simple explanation, if we give the list to VP Robredo, we would not know who else could have the access to it. That will compromise our... operations,” the PDEA chief. He said it was the rule of law enforcement that “not everybody is given access sensitive and classified information.” He said he himself does not have a copy of the list. “Imagine what will happen to the efforts of the law enforcement if that list landed on wrong hands?” he asked. He said he was not resisting the vice president’s request or disrespecting her. “Rather this is a mere standard operation procedure on law enforcement operations,” he said. The vice president said it would be up to President Rodrigo Duterte to deal with the members of ICAD who would refuse to cooperate. “If the agency-member is not cooperative, that is no longer my fault. But despite the limitations to bar me, I will still do my work,” she said. But the Palace on Sunday warned Ro-

Regulate... From A1

attempt by the Department of Health to impose some rules have been stymied by a preliminary injunction from a Pasig court. As chairman of the Senate committee on health, Go said smoking, in all forms, is a public health problem and it hurts almost everyone nearby— smokers and non-smokers alike. Meanwhile, the Sin Tax Coalition coconvener Dr. Anthony Leachon said he hopes the government steps up and protects the public from the harmful effects of the use of e-cigarettes and vape after the Department of Health reported the first case of electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) in the Central Visayas region. The Coalition urged senators to immediately pass the proposal to raise taxes on

Life... From A1

“I have all the ailments now because I’m old. If you will ask me, are you okay, Mr. President? Are you in the best of health?’ Of course not,” he said in a GMA News interview. “I am old, life has begun to take its toll on my health. And if you say I have an ailment, I do have. You name it, I have it. So there will be no debate,” Duterte added. After he had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan last month, President Duterte learned that he has muscle spasms triggered by his minor motorcycle accident at the Presidential Security Group’s compound in Manila, doctors said. He also used an air purifier on several occasions. In October, he revealed he has a rare neuromuscular disease called myasthenia gravis, characterized by weakness in the muscles that control eye and eyelid movement and facial expression. In his previous speeches, the President said he also suffered from migraines,

‘Ramon’... From A1

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, “Ramon” was estimated at 290 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. Packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kms per hour near the center and

electronic cigarettes and vapor products. In recent months, Leachon said a spike in the number of cases of EVALI has been seen in the United States, with over 2,000 cases reported, and 39 people having lost their lives. Leachon reiterated the coalition’s support for Senate Bill 1074 sponsored by Senate Ways and Means committee chairperson Pia Cayetano, which seeks to significantly increase taxes on heated tobacco products (HTPs) and vape. The measure was certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday. “Raising taxes has proven to be an effective tool in curbing the consumption of sin products, and Senator Cayetano’s bill has already been certified as a priority measure by the office of the President,” said Leachon. “Once again, we urge our legislators to act on the call of the President, and approve Senate Bill 1074 before the year ends,” he added. nausea, spinal injury, Buerger’s disease and Barrett’s esophagus. The Palace has played down health concerns about the President, who will head to Busan, South Korea to attend the commemorative summit between ASEAN and Korea on Nov. 25 to 27. Panelo on Sunday also dismissed as wishful thinking a London-based think tank’s assessment that Vice President Leni Robredo would lure more foreign investors if she were to replace Duterte as head of state and government. Panelo slammed Capital Economics for projecting better economic prospects in the Philippines in the event that Robredo replaces Duterte. “That is wishful thinking. They are interferring with the sovereignty and voice of the people who overwhelmingly elected him,” Panelo said on a radio interview. “They are meddling in the affairs of the government,” he added. Capital Economics’ senior economist Gareth Leather said investors might welcome a leadership change in the Philippines given President Duterte’s alleged “authoritarian tendencies” and controversies hounding his health status. gustiness of up to 80 kph, the typhoon was moving west at 15 kph The weather bureau, meanwhile, is monitoring a low pressure area outside the PAR, or at 2,420 kilometers east of the Visayas. If it develops into a tropical depression and enters the PAR, it would be named “Sarah.”

Fierce... From A1

the police force, shut down large chunks of Hong Kong’s train network and forced schools and shopping malls to close. Students and protesters occupied several major universities around the city – the first time a movement characterized by its fluidity and unpredictability has coagulated in fixed locations. A poster circulating on social media called for the “dawn action” to continue on Monday. “Get up early, directly target the regime, squeeze the economy to increase pressure,” it said. The education bureau said schools will remain closed at the start of the week “for the sake of safety.” The protests started against a now shelved bill to allow extradition to China but have billowed to encompass wider issues such as perceived police brutality and calls for universal suffrage in the former British colony. Two people have died this month as the violence worsened, while the financial hub has been pushed into a recession by

bankroll a cash transfer system for palay farmers. That would be similar to the cash subsidies that low-income households and other vulnerable sectors are now getting separately from the social protection initiatives of different government agencies, Villafuerte said. “Rather than wait for the excess amount to be appropriated under the national budget for the following year when this was collected, the Congress should act now and do its share in helping our distraught rice farmers survive this temporary drop in palay farm-gate prices and the transition to the new rice tariffication regime,” he said. “There is an urgent need to immediately set-up the rice farmer financial assistance as a supplementary and transitional safety measure to serve as compensation to rice farmers.” advice from others. She may get advice that may be detrimental to her and to the country as well,” Panelo said. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said President Duterte can fire Robredo as co-chair of ICAD or any appointee at his pleasure, particularly if trust and confidence are lost. “Needless to say, disclosing sensitive and classified information to unauthorized persons is betrayal of trust, and is therefore a proper and reasonable basis for revocation of one’s appointment,” Guevarra said. Nonetheless, in the event that Robredo is removed as co-chair of ICAD, the committee will continue to do its mandate to implement the government’s anti-drug campaign, he said. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Robredo should reciprocate the trust vested on her by President Duterte when she was appointed as cochair of ICAD. “It’s his way of saying she is now in his complete confidence in his government. No secrets. Total trust. Reciprocate, Leni,” Locsin said on his Twitter account. “So don’t betray that confidence. He went out on a limb with his offer to appoint her. Appreciate that and don’t be an ingrate,” he added. Also on Sunday, party-list Rep. Mike Defensor urged Robredo “to destroy the demand for illegal drugs by sending as many abusers as possible to compulstory rehabilitation.” He said there are two sides to the drug problem, the supply side and the demand side. “We have to suppress both sides at once if we are to succeed in the war on drugs,” Defensor said. the turmoil. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs assured there is still no need to evacuate the more than 370,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong despite continued mass protests. “Contrary to some false reports circulating in social media, the DFA wishes to assure everyone that Filipinos in Hong Kong remain safe and are largely unaffected by the ongoing protests in the area,” the DFA said in an advisory issued over the weekend. “Those wishing to follow the impact of developments in Hong Kong on our nationals there are advised to visit the Consulate’s website for updates and advisories, instead of turning to questionable sources of information in the social media,” it added. The department has advised Filipinos in Hong Kong “to stay alert and avoid areas of protest, and to refrain from wearing or carrying anything that could mistakenly identify them as part of the protest action.” But the DFA said it sees “no need to evacuate them at this time.” AFP with Rey Requejo

Are you...

Palace...

cans, who are claiming a right to choose their own pronoun, regardless of their sex at birth It is a battle playing out on business cards, in email signatures and on social networks, where many people are identifying their preferred pronoun outright. And “they” is gaining ground as the pronoun of choice by “non-binary” people who identify neither as male or female. The Philadelphia bookstore that employs Gardner is on board, with a sign taped to the counter reads: “Please do not assume staffers’ pronouns, ask.” “Non-binary people have existed forever. It’s not something new, not a trend, it’s just who we are,” said Pidgeon Pagonis, a Chicago artist who goes by the pronoun “they.” “When people don’t respect my pronouns I coil up inside, I don’t feel good” said Pagonis, who launched the apparel brand “Too Cute To Be Binary.” Gender-neutral pronouns, long confined to the LGBTQ community, “are becoming increasingly popular, including beyond big cities,” said sociologist Carla Pfeffer.

Panelo responded to Sanders by saying that reciting unverified information public is equally “shameful.” “It is a shameful attempt on his part to give information that was not validated. He only repeated what the critics have been saying which are peddled by [a] foreign news agency... which he believes,” Panelo said in a radio interview. He also defended the raids on the offices of leftist groups offices that resulted in several arrests. “If the PNP conducts raids, it means they have intelligence reports that these organizations are doing something wrong and committing unlawful acts,” Panelo said. “If there were something wrong during raids, they can always go to court and sue them,” he added. The police earlier denied the allegations of some leftist groups that firearms and ammunition were planted during the raids. Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, officer-in-charge of PNP, challenged leftist groups to prove that they are innocent.

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News

MONDAY, NOVERMBER 18, 2019

CNO needed for alien permit FOREIGN nationals who intend to work in the Philippines are now required to secure a Certificate of No Objection from the labor department before they can be issued the appropriate visa and permits from concerned government agencies. The rule is spelled out in Department Order No. 205, series of 2019 or the ‘Implementing Guidelines on the Issuance of Certificate of No Objection on the Applications for Work-Related Permits, Visas, and Authorities of Foreign Nationals’ issued by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. A CNO is necessary to prove that no individual objects or protests against the interest of the foreign nationals to work in the Philippines and perform their desired jobs. The guidelines cover personnel, participants, trainees, professors, technicians, and fellows entitled to 47(a)(2) visa under certain entities and programs of the Codified Visa Rules and Regulations of 2002 of the DFA, and foreign nationals employed and/or seconded in a foreign enterprise that has existing agreement, understanding or document of similar nature with the Philippine government agencies. Foreign applicants are required to submit to the DOLE Regional Offices, which has jurisdiction on their intended area of worksite, a letter request from the foreign enterprise/ entity or project implementer; photocopy of passport bio page and entry visa/ latest admission with valid authorized stay, and a certified true copy of notarized contract of employment between the foreign national and its enterprise/ entity. The DOLE Regional Office shall grant or deny the issuance of CNO to the foreign national applicant within three working days after the receipt and evaluation of the complete documentary requirements and payment of the corresponding fee.

Palace mourns death of wife of PH tycoon By MJ Blancaflor THE Palace on Sunday mourned the death of Gokongwei matriarch Elizabeth Yu, a week after the death of her husband of 61 years, tycoon John Gokongwei Jr. The Gokongwei matriarch was the “other half who helped in realizing the vision and dream of one of the greatest business leaders of our time,” according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo. Elizabeth, who died Saturday, “supported the conviction” of one of the country’s billionaires and businessmen, Panelo said. She was 85. The tycoon and his wife, whose wake will be private, were survived by their six children. “We express our deep condolences to—and relay our commiseration with the family particularly her children, Robina, Lance, Lisa, Faith, Hope and Marcia, friends, colleagues, employees, and loved ones,” Panelo said. Like her husband, Panelo said Elizabeth was also known for her philanthropy as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) where she focused her efforts on providing educational opportunities to underprivileged youth. One of her projects was the awarding of high school scholarships at her alma mater, St. Stephen’s High School to gifted students in 2012. She also published the coffee table book “My Angkong’s Noodles” which is a compilation of heirloom recipes wherein the book’s profits went to GBF’s scholarships and educational endowments.

ARRIVAL HONORS. Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Secretary Raul L. Lambino (third from left), Administrator and CEO, received full military honors from the members of the Philippine Navy upon his arrival at the PN headquarters in Manila on Nov. 13 for the CEZA-PN MOA signing. Lambino was accompanied by Vice-Admiral Robert Empedrad (left) Flag Officer in Command, PN. Lambino was a former Corps Commander of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) during his college days (1978-1981) and later became the PN Midshipman of the year. Joseph Muego

Solon pushes for creation of marshals for PH judges S By Rio N. Araja

URIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel is batting for the creation of marshals to protect judges.

Pimentel filed House Bill 5403 to establish the Office of the Philippine Marshals Service under the Supreme Court. “This is in response to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta’s call for a marshals service for the judiciary,” he said. “Right now, every active judge is a sitting duck with absolutely no protection whatsoever against potential attacks,” he added. The proposed measure came following the Nov. 5 assassination of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Regional Trial Court Branch 25 Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez. On May, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte RTC Judge Reymar Lacaya, and the 31st member of the judiciary

were slain. Under Pimentel’s bill, the marshals service shall be headed by a director to be appointed by the Chief Justice. A marshal shall be a bachelor’s degree holder, and at least 21 years old but not older than 35. “We cannot allow these brazen attacks on judges to go on without a forceful answer,” said Pimentel. “Our judges deserve strong protection considering they have become increasingly vulnerable to aggression and violence, presumably from disgruntled and hateful litigants.” Earlier, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta has denounced the killing of

Banez, the 31st judge killed since January 1999. Peralta has urged law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in their probe to arrest Banez’ killers. Bañez was attacked while he was on his way home in La Union and was declared dead on arrival at the Lorna Hospital in San Fernando City. “On behalf of the Judiciary, I strongly condemn the killing of Regional Trial Court Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur,” Peralta had said in a statement. Peralta also condoled with the family of the slain judge. Peralta then called for the establishment of a US Marshals Service-type agency to protect judges and justices. Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said that of the 31 cases of judges killed since 1999, only five had been resolved so far.

WHILE contradicting statements claiming that the Duterte administration’s “Build Build Build” program is a failure, Senator Sonny Angara however said there is a need to address the delays of its implementation. “It is definitely not a failure. With so many projects, with so many having gone to infrastructure; if we are to compare the yearly expenses for infrastructure, there were additional. So for me, it was not a

By Rio N. Araja

ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has lauded the United Nation Green Climate Fund’s (UN-GCF) $10-million grant for President Duterte’s Climate Change Project proposal to which the UN body will provide another $58 million in February next year. The GCF Board approved the proposal and the $10 million grant during its 24th meeting held last week in Songdo, South Korea. It will fund a multi-hazard impactbased forecasting and early warning system (MH-IBF-EWS) in the Philippines. Legazpi City, which is within Salceda’s second congressional district, is one among the project’s pilot areas. The GCF (also referred to as Fund) is a specialized UN financing mechanism created to fund initiatives towards a global shift to low carbon emission and climate-resilient adaptation measures for developing countries. The MH-IBF-EWS aims to strengthen and ensure the delivery of actionable and timely early warning to communities and ‘last mile’ end users at risk of impending natural hazards. Salceda, House Ways and Means Committee chair, was the first Asian GCF co-chair, elected to represent all 172 developing countries including India and China in 2013-2014. Despite pervasive skepticism, the GCF Board, under the co-chairmanship of Salceda and his German counterpart, delivered two milestone achievements— the completion of the prerequisites that operationalized the GCF, and mobilization that raised the Fund’s initial US$10.2 billion.

Cris Martinez writes 30 GIANT PUPPETS. Filipino children use ‘higantes’ or giant puppets as they participate in a race as part of the celebration of the festival of St. Clement, patron of the fisherman, in Angono on 17 November 2019. AFP

Gov’t needs to address delays in Build, Build, Build program—Angara By Macon Ramos-Araneta

UN to fund Du30’s Climate Change project

dismal failure,” Angara said. He said that of the original 75 projects, ”twenty-eight were removed from the list and replaced with more doable and fundable projects.” “Yung maipopondo at maitutuloy talaga dito sa huling tatlong taon ng administrasyon.” “So, I think, they removed the Mindanao to Visayas bridge because it’s too expensive. Perhaps, it took one year already for the study,” said Angara.

He said that bigger projects and longer bridges were removed from the list and replaced with almost completed projects, more realistic projects. The current administration, he said, has managed to step up its spending on infrastructure, which he said is a positive development. Senate Minority Leader Frankln Drilon earlier criticized the BBB program and branded it a “dismal failure” after he pointed that out of the 75 flagship pro-

jects listed on the website of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), only nine were implemented. Both Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Presidential Adviser on Flagship Projects and Programs Vince Dizon have clarified that the list was not updated and was just a small part of a bigger list of projects under the BBB. The administration has since amended its list of flagship projects, which now contains a total of 100 items.

VETERAN journalist Crispin Martinez died last 15 November 2019. He was born on 19 November 1933. He earned his Bachelor in Literature at the University of Sto. Tomas. He had been in the industry for more than 50 years and was part of Philippine Free Press, Manila Times, Evening News, Manila Chronicle, Evening Post, We Forum, Philippine Star, Morning Free Press, Bagong Diyaryo Express and People’s Journal in various capacities. His last position was as Executive Editor of the Daily Tribune. The wake is at Room 203 of St. Peter’s Chapel along Quezon Avenue until November 19. He will be buried in Cavite on November 20.

Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019

Santiago as drug czar adviser

RETIRED General Dionisio Santiago, the former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Dangerous Drugs Board director, has a good piece of advice for Vice President Leni Robredo. He said there is no need for the VP/Drug Czar to join anti-drug police operations.

He has great experience from his previous post. Santiago warns that Robredo can either only get in the way of police operations or be felled by criminals’ bullets. She should also watch her back as the bullets might come from “friendly fire.” But while Santiago and Senator Panfilo Lacson do not approve of the Vice President joining police drug operations because it’s unsafe, Malacanang supports Robredo going with police. Why? Hmmm. With his wide experience from his former post, Santiago could be tapped by Robredo as adviser in her anti-drug campaign. Asked by interviewer Pinky Webb on The Source TV program on why the Philippines has become a transshipment point for illegal drugs in Asia, Santiago said: “With its porous coastline, it’s easy

to bring in the illegal shipment and also as easy to bring out through the Manila International Airport to other foreign destinations.” Without saying so, Santiago implied that lax and corrupt customs personnel at the international airport and the country’s sea ports make drug smuggling widespread. The Vice President also said something that everybody knows but is unspoken in official circle.”Most of the illegal drugs flowing in to the Philippines come from China,” she said, adding that shabu is manufactured in labs right here by Chinese and Filipino-Chinese operators. Robredo, in her new role and capacity as anti-drug czar, met with US Embassy officials in Manila to work out arrangements for sharing of intelligence in the illegal drug trade in the Philippines. This is something President Duterte didn’t do because of his running feud with the United States starting when he called then President Barack Obama a “son of a wh*re.” Vice President Robredo has been invited also by the House of Representatives who want to be briefed on her plans and strategy of her anti-illegal drug campaign. This is a no-brainer. Why divulge in public during a media-covered House hearing the nationwide strategy of the battle plans against narcotics? Unless it’s a closed-door hearing, Robredo should not go to the House invitation. One or two congressmen could leak the intelligence plans to drug lords. Then, it would be a drug war lost even before it has started. The police in its anti-drug operations are supposed to wear body cam-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Hong Kong fever

T HAS been months since the protests on the streets of Hong Kong began over a proposed amendment to a bill that would allow suspects in Chinese territories to be brought to the mainland for trial. That bill has since been shelved, but the youth-led demonstrations are as vigorous and passionate as ever. The clashes show no signs of abating soon. Every day last week, office workers devoted their lunch hours to joining the rallies. They turned up in their crisp office suits and donned masks as they chanted pro-democracy words. They, like the youth, were undeterred by the menacing look of police officers, who were ready to use tear gas against them. The protests have certainly gone beyond concerns over the extradition bill. It has extended to demands for democracy and for accountability in the harsh police crackdown on the crowd.

Since June, when the protests began, Hong Kong’s economy and tourism have suffered a dive as investors explore other business destinations and tourists fear for their safety. The security of overseas workers’ jobs in China’s Special Administrative Region has also been threatened; this includes the roughly 230,000 Filipino workers there, even as foreign affairs authorities say there is no need yet for an evacuation. Despite all these, protesters appear undeterred until they see concrete changes in how the administrative

region is being run and how sincere the Chinese government is in hearing their concerns and doing something about these. The events in Hong Kong promise to be protracted and longdrawn. We can only hope that the demonstrators do not tire of expressing their conviction, that the police stop employing brute force, and that the rest of the world does not develop fatigue in watching what is happening in what was once Asia’s economic and commercial powerhouse. Such a tense situation may go on for a long and undetermined period of time, but eventually things will come to a head. What is certain is that this will again be a lesson in history, from which future generations will learn how to—or how not to—listen to the people’s real, legitimate and desperate demands.

Turn to A5

Rice, salt, sugar, oil

MANY Filipino families have this practice of entering the door of a new abode with the pater familia bringing a bag of rice, the mother a jar of salt, and the children some sugar and some cooking oil. The food basics, they are called. Bigas, asin, asukal (from the Spanish azucar), at mantika (again, manteca). The Filipino diet revolves around these basics. Protein in fish is preserved by salt, which produces staples like daing and bagoong. From far-off Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, flying fish is dried by the day and anchovies preserved for months. Eaten with rice, the pangs of hunger are remedied. What Filipino drinks coffee without sugar? The day starts with a mug or glass of piping hot-coffee laced with sugar (brown or panocha for Tagalogs, refined white for Negrenses). And cooking oil, to fry the daing, or an occasional pork liempo for bagnet on special days. For the so-called “educated” crowd, the news on the economic front these days revolve around the supposedly excessive cost of the sports arena built for the SEA Games, and how to maintain the facilities thereafter; the quarterly GDP growth; and the “failure,” if at all, of the Build, Build, Build cornerstone of the Duterte administration. Not to forget, Sen. Ping Lacson’s investigative discoveries of pork hidden in the interstices of the House-approved budget for 2020. The headlines of course are reserved for the “war on drugs” starring the newly-minted czarina overseeing it, and the guessing game on the eventual denouement, given the Byzantine whispers about her “powers” and her responsibilities, again … if any. Now back to the basics. As far as the ordinary Filipino is concerned, quotidian economics is all about bigas, asin, asukal at mantika. The palay farmer cries about the low, low buying prices for the produce of his back-breaking labor on small plot of land. Those who claim to speak for the lowly farmer point to the less-thana-year-old Rice Tariffication Law, which opened the floodgates for uncontrolled

imports of milled rice from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, India and Myanmar. The once-upon-a-not-so-distant regulator, NFA, has been castrated. Even the phyto-sanitary permits that are supposed to somehow control the excess of imported rice has been taken away from it and given to the Bureau of Plant Industry headed by a barangay captain from Davao. Ramon and its preceding crop devastators hit palay farmers just as they harvest once-precious crop now debased in value to lower than break-even. Still and all, urban consumers are relieved, because their daily carbo-loader is cheaper compared to a year ago when prices hit the roof, courtesy of quarreling rice industry overlords in government

Now back to the basics. now mercifully no longer around. But damage has been considerably done, and both the executive and the legislature “cured” rice inflation by tariffication hastily enabled. The impact on our future food security is yet to be fathomed with conflicting claims from the economic managers who caution the public about jumping to conclusions which the “champions” of the farmers decry, while the agriculture department is beset by a crescendo of problems descending upon their newly-appointed secretary deluged by several baptisms of fire. But it’s not all about rice. The Department of Health, seeing that “sin” taxes have somehow curbed the appetite for deadly soft drinks and its sugar “poison,” proposed a levy on “salt.” If a Roman emperor could levy a tax on salt, why not Duterte, they posited in their minds? The howl from most every Filipino was deafening. The DOH, plagued as it is with polio and dengue epidemics, beat a hasty retreat. And yet, too much rice and too much salt really pose health problems. White, milled rice turns into sugar in the digestive system, which in turn is a cause for diabetes, illness that bedevils hundreds of millions throughout the universe. And excessive salt intake, from daing, bagoong, patis and local toyo of course, Turn to A5

A new tack WHILE President Rodrigo Duterte is a toughie with regards to the war on illegal drugs, he seems so helpless in his campaign to end hazing in fraternities that he thinks the only way to stop violent rituals in organizations supposedly promoting brotherhood is to totally ban them. But not for this neophyte lawmaker. For Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles, a more effective way of combatting hazing is to include all those involved in the organizations’ violent rituals including the supposed victims themselves. Despite the official ban on the practice, hazing is still being practiced in the military and the police academies as well as fraternities in colleges and even in high schools, and continues to pervade because Nograles says some applicants to these fraternities voluntarily submit themselves to the violent rituals and opting to remain silent. Thus, Nograles, himself a member of an Ateneo Law School-based fraternity, is proposing to amend the anti-hazing law, to include the victims as accomplices and hold them responsible under the law as accomplices. According to the first-term lawmaker, a large number of students join organizations despite knowing that they will be hazed. But by subjecting them to penalties as accomplices in hazing, they

could be deterred from joining groups with a hazing culture. However, they could escape being punished if they opt to become state witnesses and spill the beans and testify for the prosecution.

Perhaps we should try the neophyte lawmaker’s suggestion. According them protection, Nograles says, could give them assurances against possible retaliation, and as such “perhaps future hazing cases would prosper more than fail.” Well, maybe it’s about time to try Nograles’ new approach to stop these violent rituals once and for all. Remember, it takes two to tango. If one won’t one to submit himself to hazing, then who will be on the other end to execute it?

*** Hindi lang pangturismo, pangkanninan pa! Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is optimistic that Filipino cuisine is poised to take the international food scene by storm as the agency aggressively promotes food tourism as one of its main product portfolios. The DOT Chief pointed out that a number of FilAm chefs have made their mark serving Filipino dishes in their restaurants and reaping awards and accolades. She said that the growing pop popularity of Filipino food culture inspired this chef food trip project. On DOT’s invitation, US-based chefs are in the country to visit culinary destinations like Pampanga, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu and Davao including award-win award-winning Filipino-Americans Chef Tom Cu Cunanan (Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic Category, Beards Awards 2019); Chef Grant “Lanai” Tabura (host of food show Cooking Hawaiian Style and winner of the Food Network’s Food Truck Race); and Chef Charles Olalia (of Ma’am Sir and Ricebar restaurants in Los Angeles). Chefs Cunanan and Tabura have been touring different culinary destinations in the Philippines since Sunday. They Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: manilastandard.net 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 Private education THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE TWO weeks ago, I moderated a dialogue between representatives of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) led by its president, Fr. Elmer G. Dizon of the Archdiocese of San Fernando (Pampanga) and officials of the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education headed by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and CHED Executive Director Atty. Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro. The meeting was made possible through the efforts of House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who was also present through most part of the discussion. The CEAP officials, representing more than 1,500 Catholic schools in the country, presented the growing challenges faced by the private education sector in the Philippines. They expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of the private education sector, including the increasing migration of private school teachers to the public school system and apparently skewed competition between private and public schools. Despite the intensity of the issues raised by the CEAP officials, the meeting turned to be warm and congenial. Secretary Briones was quick to point out that she once served as president of Silliman University, a private university in Dumaguete City, and thus she fully understood the concerns of the private schools. In fact, to date, she mentioned that more than 1,000 private schools had already closed down due to dwindling resources and decreasing enrollment. Listening to the friendly exchange of views between government and private education stakeholders validated my personal view that private education in the Philippines needs more attention and support than what it is getting at the moment. A prevailing secularist perspective in governance tends to oppose increase public funding for private, especially sectarian, schools, citing the often-misquoted principle of the separation of Church and State. But it is surprisingly to note that in many strong democracies, including the United States, public funding is afforded to private schools, with the caveat that the subsidy is paid to the private or faithbased institutions that own and manage these private schools in consideration of the public service that they provide. The state of private education in the country is worth examining. The role that private schools has played in the education of young Filipinos cannot be denied, and I daresay, indispensable, if we were to ensure the availability of quality education services. There are two main reasons that I can think of why the government should ensure the sustainability of private educational institutions—cost efficiency

Rice,... From A4

damages the kidneys in time. Damaged kidneys and renal failure is one of the top ailments of Filipinos, whether they have one or two kidneys, the first having been gouged out and sold due to grinding poverty. Of course, both rice and salt are considered by economists as having “inelastic” demand, which means that people will not consume more or less rice or salt regardless of fluctuations on their price. So it is relatively simple, for instance, to predict the annual consumer demand for rice. It is a function of population growth, not price. But tell that to the palay farmer who cannot fathom why the heavens have fallen on the price of his crop. And if imports are the culprit for the low price of palay, does anybody else know that we also import salt? Yes, Virginia, we import mostly from Australia. Even the salt beds of Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte which produce fine salt are mixed

A new... From A4

are currently in Pampanga meeting with the province’s most respected heritage food advocates like Chef Claude Tayag, who hosted a curated Kapampangan degustation feast in his Bale Dutung, and doyenne of Pampangueño cuisines Atching Lilian Borromeo at her lovely home Kusina Matua. Cunanan happily notes traveling all the way to the Philippines just to work side by side with some of the country’s

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019

45 yellow alerts and counting

schools struggle to pay for their operations, relying significantly on income derived from income payments. With the dwindling enrollment in private schools, the logical outcome is almost inevitable. What our public policymakers fail to consider is that neglecting our private schools is a missed opportunity for us in widening access to quality education. With these schools already in place, the more cost efficient course of action would simply to subsidize these private schools. In fact, there are several government subsidies already in place available to both students and teachers in public school. However, it seems that these subsidies are not, in themselves, enough to keep our private schools in operation. More than just subsidies such as vouchers for students and scholarship for teachers, it might be worth to consider performance-based soft loans or grants for private schools that will finance infrastructure projects or purchase equipment and learning materials. For example, if a particular private school can retain or increase its enrollment by a specific percentage, or meet a particular performance indicator such as the passage rate in the national assessment exams—the school can then qualify for a soft loan or grant, subject to certain conditions. Worse, with subsidies being reduced significantly in recent years, private schools have had to raise their income, in most case this means increasing tuition fees. But that they can do only to an extent—or else they risk losing even more students to public schools. Second, the country’s educational system must aim for stronger complementarity between public and private schools, thus ensuring diversity not only

in pedagogical techniques but more importantly in terms of specific learning perspectives. The complementary roles of public and private schools is, of course, provided for by Article XIV, Sec 4 of the Constitution. Unfortunately, the modality of how this complementarity still warrants a clear-cut delineation, or at the very least, definition of roles. CEAP Past President Joel E. Tabora, S.J. defined in clear terms what complementarity means, “combining different things in such a way as to enhance or emphasize each other’s qualities. It could more simply be defined as supplying mutual needs or offsetting mutual lacks.” In the context of the relationship between private and public educational institutions, these means a co-enriching existence between them, with the end of providing educational services to young Filipinos. The opposite appears to happen, though, much to the detriment of our private schools. Educational policies, especially the allocation of resources, seem to favor government school with limited opportunity available for private schools to cope with the demands of the revised curriculum and other learning requirements. Unfortunately, this complementarity is often negatively perceived as competition between government and private schools, instead of both of them mutually enriching the teaching and learning capabilities, benefiting in the end the students of both school types. Until recently, government policy has appeared to favor supporting private schools insofar as it serves the purpose of facilitating access to education or alleviating the congestion in a number of government schools, without taking into consideration what private schools can and has actually contribute towards improving the quality of learning in our schools. Government schools follow a standard curriculum, while private schools have a more pronounced space for innovation, creativity, flexibility, and cultural or ideological specialization—including religious education. This allows not only for greater diversity, but more importantly, in ensuring both learning content and methods that are even more adaptive, if not, responsive to shifting demands of both learners and later on, of the labor market. The dialogue ended well, with Secretary Briones emphasizing her years of working with a private university. It was admitted that much is to be desired in terms of maximizing the role of private education, whether in terms of increasing subsidies or instituting grants or soft loans to private schools. It was also mentioned that education policies must balance interests of both public and private schools, including regulating the establishment of government schools in communities where there is already a private school. I think a window of opportunity has opened to private schools, one that would lead our education policymakers to review the roles that private schools play in our educational system.

with imported ground salt from Australia, “kasi mas mura.” Pati pala asin ini-import. Every Metro Manilan knows of course that the salt beds of Paranaque and Las Pinas have since been converted into residential and commercial land. But wait, some economic managers also want “unli” importation of sugar, because the fields of Negros, Bukidnon, Batangas and Tarlac produce high-priced cane sugar, which impacts on the cost of producing manufactured or processed food products. Mas mura ang imported, whether rice, salt, sugar or about everything else. But see how the legislators immediately balk when it comes to sugar. They found it easy to react to food inflation by allowing unlimited imports of rice, but when it comes to sugar, not that fast. Their families don’t plant palay, my good friend Marlen Ronquillo, columnist for the Manila Times, would likely write, but many of our legislators are sugar barons. See the difference? My comprovincianos from southern Laguna, or Quezon, Bicol and all over

the Visayas and Mindanao decry the ever-declining price of copra. And coconut farmers are among the poorest of the countryside poor. But why, oh why, has the price of cooking oil (now mostly from oil palm) not gone down? Ah!, the mysteries of the price of staple commodities, which would take an entire book, or a semester of Agricultural Economics, a chapter in Macroeconomics, which I now recall having taught the current Executive Secretary and the newly-proclaimed Chief Justice. Isn’t the future of our food staples a terrifying matter to contemplate? Whoever takes over after Duterte must have the toughness of a Thor, the heart of a Pope Francis, and the mind of a Lee Kuan Yew. Believe me. It’s not going to be a walk in the park, as it has not been for our exhausted President. And we’re only talking basic staples, not traffic, not drugs, not corruption yet. Whichever, the metrics for leadership must still be the fundamental: Character, compassion, competence.

eras to dispel allegations of extra-judicial killings of suspects. Whatever happened to the plan? Funds should not be hard to allocate for the body cams considering the 2020 national budget has a lot of “parked” (read: pork) funds in the congressmen’s share for their district projects. Buying these body cameras would be a credit to the congressmen as it would contribute to the peace and order in their districts. Then, there is money to be derived from increased sin taxes on alcohol and tobacco. A portion of this tax collection could be allocated to buy the body cameras for police operatives in the drug war. *** Meanwhile, in nearby Hong Kong, authorities concede that the rule of

law is on the brink of collapse after weeks of violent protests over the proposed extradition law. Pro-democracy demonstrators’ clashes with police have reached a tipping point where the protesters are fighting the police with handmade Molotov cocktails because some of the protesters are being doused with gasoline. A lighted match or cigarette lighter can easily set a gasoline-wet protester on fire. The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong assured that Filipinos in the former British Crown colony are safe and that there are no reports yet of them losing their jobs because of the collapsed economy brought about by the protests. Tourism in Hong Kong is at an alltime low and several foreign firms are thinking of relocating their base of operation to other countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and even the Philippines.

most respected culinary gems. “I traveled here precisely because I want to listen to all the stories they have about their own unique dishes, and I want to capture them for the rest of my life so I can pass them on to my children’s children,” the James Beard awardee remarked how he has been learning from this culinary journey. Lanai, the Emmy-award winning TV presenter, claims of his many learnings during this technical visit saying, “As someone who doesn’t cook that much, save for some collaborations I have, being with these prominent culinary

figures from the Philippines is pretty amazing and I am learning a lot.” The initiative has also been designed to showcase world-renowned Filipino chefs at their respective restaurants in various areas and regions of the country. He added that while the DOT organizes media fam-trips regularly as part of tourism promotions efforts, this time the Department decided to invite opinion leaders, referring to the FilAm chefs, to visit the Philippines, to learn more about Filipino dishes and culinary destinations, so that they could expand their Filipino food offerings, and serve

as ambassadors for Philippine food tourism. Here's to more happy eating! *** I take this opportunity to pay respects to a dear old friend, who has also served as one of my mentors in the media industry, one of my favorite drinking buddies (I looked forward to every drinking session with him as he always had a truckload of stories to share with me regarding his experiences as a media man, from a beat reporter who also covered the society page for a newspaper way, way back, and eventually assum-

ing editorial position for several media outlets)—Tata Cris Martinez. A true-blooded newspaperman, Tata Cris, according to his family, went into depression after he was removed from his last stint with a national daily early this year. After several months, he finally breathed his last. May you rest in peace Tata Cris. You no longer have to worry about reporters missing their deadlines, those heated story conferences, the late-hour breaking stories. You are now in the hands of the Great Editor.

of subsidizing private schools and the complementarity between public and private schools. Simply put, it is far more cost efficient for government to subsidize private schools than construct and operate more public schools. In many cities and municipalities with growing student populations, it will be more affordable for the government to subsidize the enrollment of students in existing private schools than to establish new schools, construct new school buildings and hire additional teachers. Furthermore, with private schools already in place, the results of subsidizing private schools would be immediately available and the students can almost immediately avail of educational services. But instead of maximizing the opportunities and capabilities that private schools provide, in recent years, the subsidy provided to private schools have has been reduced significantly, In fact, seldom is it pointed out that while government schools are financed by public funds, private

It’s worth examining.

AS CHRISTMAS lights start illuminating the traffic clogged avenues of Mega-Manila, a record number of 45 yellow alerts were recorded this year confirming warnings of a looming power supply shortage. To put in context, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) records show that since the start of the Duterte administration in 2016 up to 2018, there have been a total of 39 yellow alerts. Add to that 14 days of Red Alerts and rotational brown outs compared to only eight in the last five years. Now we might hit around 50 Yellow Alerts before the new year. The Department of Energy has seen this coming as predicted in its Luzon Demand and Supply Outlook which estimates by 2040, about 25,000 megawatts (MW) will need to be online to meet the fast-growing demand in Luzon. The DOE was expecting 1,665 MW additional capacity with the construction of five new power plants: SMC Consolidated Power Corp (150 MW), AES Masinloc Power Partners Co. Inc. (300 MW), San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. (500 MW), GNPower Dinginin (600 MW), and Solar Philippines Tarlac Corporation (115MW). This would have been a great start but three of these projects are delayed either under construction or still need to pass commissioning tests. Only two power plants, San Miguel-owned SMC Consolidated Power Corp and the San Buenaventura Power Plant owned by Electric Generating Public Company (EGCO) of Thailand with partner Meralco Power Generation Company started commercial operations. Based on the DOE’s list of existing power plants as of 2018, the 650 MW of additional capacity translates to a 4-percent increase which is short of the 4.9 percent anticipated annual growth in power supply demand under the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) high GDP growth scenario. Typical of stop gap measures, the DOE’s quick “solutions” such as Emergency Power Supply Agreements and the Interruptible Load Program wherein participating buildings are called to switch to their back-up generators during peak demand hours are expensive especially for the ordinary consumer who will eventually end up paying the higher power rates. Adding to the problem is what seems to be a bureaucratic grid lock between the DOE and the Energy

Santiago... From A4

Regulatory Commission (ERC) regarding 6 Power Supply Agreements (PSA) with generation companies (GenCos) who won the required competitive selection process (CSP) held in October. Meralco signed with San Miguel and PHINMA Energy who won three PSAs to supply 1,200 MW of baseload capacity and another three PSAs with the same group and First Gen of the Lopez group for mid-merit capacity of 500 MW.

Failing to deliver adequate, reliable, and affordable water and electricity will be a showstopper for the country’s economic momentum. The rates of these agreements are lower than previous PSAs of Meralco and is seen to save billions for consumers over the validity of the contracts. If these badly needed megawatts are not delivered on schedule this December, the effect may be higher power rates should another shortage force distribution utilities to buy in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) suspected by consumer groups to be prone to the cartel like behavior by some GenCos. It’s basic economics: When there is not enough supply, the cost for consumers will certainly go up. The threat of a full-blown double utility crisis with Mega-Manila now affected by a serious water supply (not distribution) problem and the shortfall in power supply projected by the DOE may become a disruptive political problem that warrants the President’s focused attention. Deflecting the blame to concessionaires won’t solve anything and will only boomerang on the government, because there will be no choice but to address these problems with real solutions. For both the water and power situation, it is a supply problem. Hence, government needs to build new sources to deliver these utilities, and these need to be up and operational fast. For any government, political survival will be precarious when these basic public services critical to the whole spectrum of society start disrupting the already burdened way of life of its people. Failing to deliver adequate, reliable, and affordable water and electricity will be a showstopper for the country’s economic momentum and a will be a self-inflicted blow to the Duterte administration.

News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Biazon: Strengthen anti-terrorism law M

a suspected terrorist, Biazon said, adding "in most instance, only the Revised Penal Code is applied." "Can you imagine if the accused (terrorist) has been detained for 30 days, and then he gets absolved? You multiply 30 days with P500,000 fine a day," he said. "May be, we could lower the amount. It is not even clear in the law who should pay the fine,” Biazon said. Last month, Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, filed Senate Bill No. 1083 seeking to allow the detention of suspected terrorists for a non-extendable period of 14 days without charges.

By Rio N. Araja

UNTINLUPA City Rep. Rufino Biazon is seeking to lower the P500,000 per day penalty against law enforcers over the false prosecution of suspected terrorists.

Biazon said the provision under the Human Security Act of 2007 has been a stumbling block for authorities to run after terrorists. "Under the law, a terrorist is defined someone with a violent action and demand on the govern-

ment," he said. "However, if suspected terrorist is proven not guilty, the law mandates a P500,000 daily fine," he added. Because of this, law enforcers are hindered to apply the law on

Manila

Standard

TODAY

lanterns from the Central Market in Manila as the holiday season approaches.YELLOW Norman Cruz CYAN MAGENTA BLACK

Payment of RPS = kVARh Payment + IERPS kVARh Payment = Compensable : kVARh x P4.00/kVARh Compensable kVARh = Actual kVARh - Base kVARh

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Where: Actual kVAR = actual reactive power provided within each interval Base kVARh = corresponding kVARh at 0.85 power factor lagging or 0.9 power factor leading, for the unit’s MW loading. For clarity, the MW loading is the unit’s Pmin, or RTD schedule, whichever is greater. IERPS = Payment on Energy and Variables = G*(VOM + Actual Fuel Cost) - REVWESM

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND KING ENERGY GENERATION, INC. (MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL POWER PLANT 2 - PANAON), WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND KING ENERGY GENERATION, INC. (KEGI), Applicants. x--------------------------------------------------------x

PAROL OVERLOAD. This man’s tricycle is filled to the brim with traditional star-shaChristmas

Where: G = summation of energy dispatched to produce the scheduled kVar less the energy for the BCQ VOM = PhP 0.5kWh Actual Fuel Cost = rate of fuel in PhP/kWh

ERC CASE NO. 2019-077 RC

13. Applicants submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery of its opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

14. The rates under ASPA was subjected to a simulation by NGCP, the results of which are as follows:

Notice is hereby given that on 15 October 2019, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and King Energy Generation, Inc. (KEGI) filed an Application dated 23 September 2019, seeking for the approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA) between NGCP and KEGI for the Misamis Occidental Power Plant 2 - Panaon, with Prayer for the Issuance of Provisional Authority.

Ancillary Service

Indicative Rate Impact PhP/kWPhP/kWmonth equivalent 7.3488 0.0164 8.9998 0.0201 3.7491 0.00793 3.7261 0.0078

DR w/ WESM DR w/o WESM RPS w/ IE* w/o WESM RPS w/o IE* w/o WESM

The pertinent provisions of the Application are hereunder quoted as follows: 1. This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) between the NGCP and KEGI dated 11 September 2019, and pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority.”

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation for King Energy Genaration, Inc. Misamis Occidental Power Plant 2 (.KEGI MOPP 2) is attached as Annex “C”. 15. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Visayas.

THE PARTIES

2. Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through highvoltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

17. KEGI, as a generation company, falls within the ambit of Sections 6 of the EPlRA. Attached are copies of relevant documents proving KEGI’s due registration as a generation company, relevant permits to operate the Generation Facility and audited financial statements, as follows:

3. Applicant KEGI is a corporation duly organized’ and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal place of business Barangay San Luis, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of the Misamis Occidental Power Plant 2 (“Generation Facility”) located at Barangay Map-an, Panaon, Misamis Occidental which has been certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Ancillary Services (“AS”) in the forms of Dispatchable Reserve (“DR”) and Reactive Power Support (“RPS”).

Document Certificate of Compliance Summary of Existing Power Supply Agreement5 Certificate of Incorporation (SEC Reg. No. 201019693) 2019 General Information Sheet Audited Financial Statement (for the year ended 31 December 2018) Certification issued by Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Inc., dated 13 August 2019

ANTECEDENT FACTS 4. Republic Act No. 9136 (“EPlRA”) provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”)2, adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system3.

Annex “D” “E” “F” “G” “H” “I”

18. While KEGI is a co-applicant, it manifests that the instant Application shall neither modify, diminish or constitute a waiver of KEGI’s rights nor expand its obligations and responsibilities as a generation company under EPIRA. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORTIY 19. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2(b), EPIRA} To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS.

5. Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid AS and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and AS tariffs to the ERC.4 6. AS as defined in Section 4(b) of the EPIRA refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

20.The current levels of available contracted AS in the Mindanao Grid have not yet reached the desired levels necessary for the system security and reliability. Thus, Applicants executed the ASPA. A copy of the relevant actual data showing the required and available levels of AS in the Mindanao Grid, entiled as: “Mindanao Dispatch Reserve Availability” is attached as Annex” J”. 21. As the demand for power in the Mindanao increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability, and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth. The importance of AS, from KEGI to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Mindanao Grid cannot be overemphasized.

7. In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (“ASPP”) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services-Cost Recovery Mechanism (“AS-CRM”) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC. 8. Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on different dates published in newspapers of general circulation a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services· Providers, inviting all grid-connected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services.

22. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Mindanao Grid. In’support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Riza C. Ereno of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP, which is’attached as Annex “K”.

9. NGCP agreed to procure and KEGI agreed to supply AS, under a nonfirm contracted capacities, in the forms of: (a) DR; and (b) RPS. The copy of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement between NGCP and KEGI dated 11 September 2019 is attached as Annex “A”.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:

10. During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on the Generation Facility, and certified that the generating units have met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing:

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the ASPA between NGCP and KEGI dated 11 September 2019; and

Misamis Occidental Power Plant 2: Under Accreditation No. 2018-M013

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA.

Dispatchable Reserve Service Unit 1 - 7.5MW Unit 2 - 7.5MW

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief.

Reactive Power Support Lagging Only The copy of NGCP Accreditation Certificate No. 2018-M013 dated 14 November 2018 is attached as Annex “B”. FIRM AND NON-FIRM CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATE AND IMPACT SIMULATION 11. Under Clause 3 of the ASPA, KEGI shall provide NGCP with the following AS as specified in Schedule 1 of the ASPA, follows:

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 09 January 2020 (Thursday) at two’o clock in the afternoon (02:00 P.M.), at La Elena Pension House, National Highway, Brgy. Butuay, Poblacion Jimenez, Misamis Occidental. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

Types of Ancillary Services (AS) that can be nominated:

The petitioner’s name and address;

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding;and

A statement of the relief desired .

Non-Firm Contracted Capacity: 1. Reactive Power Support (RPS) Available Capacity of Reactive Power outside the range of 85% lagging and 90% leading power factor. 2. Dispatchable Reserve (DR) Available Capacity, up to 15.6MW (Int. 1-9 and 18-24) with Bilateral Contracts from Int. 10-17

All other persons who may want their views’ known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

Once the Bilateral contracts expire by Year 2024, the available units may also be offered for DR.

1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

Note that the capacities listed above are the maximum ancillary services capacity that can be provided for each unit. However, nomination and schedule shall be based on the latest AS Accreditation Certificate. 12. The Applicable Rates for the capacities covered by the ASPAs as provided in both Schedule 3, are as follows: A. Non-Firm Contracted Capacity Applicable Rates: 1. Dispatchable Reserve: . maximum of PhP 1.25/kW/hr 2. Reactive Power Support: PhP 4.00/kVARh B. Incidental Energy Cost The Cost of Incidental Energy (“IEmin”) is the payment of minimum cost of actual energy generated for the Firm and Non-Firm Contracted Capacity which shall be paid and computed using the formula below: Incidental Energy Cost IEDR= G x (AR + VOM + Actual Fuel Cost) - REVWESM Where: G = Summation of energy generated or Dispatched due to Non-Firm Scheduled Capacity, in kWh AR = Applicable Rate per AS type VOM = PhP 0.5/kWh Actual Fuel Cost = rate of fuel in Php/kWh REVWESM = Summation of WESM revenue based on Final Ex-post market clearing price of the AS Provider’s trading Node arising from G above, once WESM is implemented. This will be set to ZERO while WESM is not yet in place in the Mindanao Grid.

3) The grounds relied upon. All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. The applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA, PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, and ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21 October 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

2 3 4

Reactive Power Support:

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Phllippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, andfor other Purposes; Section 9 (c); Section 9 (d); Section 6.3.1.2; The capacity of the Generation Facility is available to provide ancillary services from intervals 1-9 and 18-24, sans intervals 10-17 reserved for its bilateral contracts.

Road traffic victims day pushed By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Grace Poe is pushing for the declaration of a Day of Remembrance for victims and survivors of road crash on the third Sunday of November, coinciding with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. “We hope we will have a law soon to institutionalize a Day of Remembrance and make it an opportunity to advocate for safer roads and road victims’ rights,” she said. Poe underscored the need to raise people's awareness on the causes, consequences and costs of road deaths and injuries, and for the strengthening of advocacy to prevent such traumatic incidents. “There is a great need for public recognition of the loss and suffering of the road crash victims, so that government and the people can act urgently to avert another incident,” she said. Poe’s proposed Senate Bill No. 1122 was approved on third and final reading on Nov. 11. Meanwhile, data from the Department of Health’s online national electronic injury surveillance system showed there were over 3,200 reported fatal and non-fatal road accidents related to alcohol intake in 2018. Sin Tax Coalition’s co-convenor Dr. Anthony Leachon said increasing the tax would help curb alcohol-related road accidents. “We urge our countrymen to be responsible and vigilant by not driving after consuming alcoholic beverages. It goes without saying that doing so greatly increases the risk of injury or even death for both the driver of the car and the people around them,” said Leachon, former Philhealth director. “Studies have shown that increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages has led to a lower number of alcohol-related road accidents, as these products become less affordable and accessible, and people end up drinking less, or stop drinking altogether. We hope our lawmakers keep this in mind,” he added.

Anti-communist cluster bucks release of militants CAMP PERALTA, CAPIZ—The Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support cluster of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 6 filed a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Bacolod City over the latter’s resolution releasing 31 arrested militants last week. The motion was filed through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group RTF-ELCAC 6 Spokesperson CPT Cenon Pancito III said their action is one of the legal remedies they can use to convince the prosecutor to reconsider the resolution dismissing the criminal charges against the 31 militants for lack of probable cause. “Our action is within the ambit of the law. And we believe that

they are still accountable based on the result of the investigation and evaluation of the law enforcement authorities,” Pancito said. “To be guilty of the crime of illegal possession of firearms, one does not have to be in actual possession of firearm. The law does not punish physical possession alone but the possession in general, which includes not only actual physical possession but also constructive possession,” he added. The 31 militants were among the 42 individuals detained and charged by government forces in simultaneous raids in Bacolod City on Oct. 31. All of them were charged with illegal possession of firearms, but the City Prosecutor dismissed the criminal cases against the 31 militants, and only 11 were indicted.

Mining conference set this week VARIOUS stakeholders, mining companies and allied industries will gather for the annual national mining safety and environment conference in Baguio City this week. Organized by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association for almost seven decades now, the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference is the forerunner in the promotion of occupational safety and health , environmental management and social responsibility in the mining industry. The 66th ANMSEC will run from November 19 to 22 at the Camp John Hay Trade and Cultural Center. “We’ve prepared an array of activities that highlights mining’s best practices and commitment to mine safety and environment of member-companies,” said Walter Brown, president of PMSEA. Brown said this year’s gathering will be an opportunity for mining companies and and mining-support industries to affirm their commitment to ensuring mine and environmental safety with the social responsibility to respond to disasters such as the recent Mindanao earthquakes in mind. The four-day event will be capped by dinners, welcome night and cocktails, and mining night for guests and participants. “It will be lots of fun, but also full of work, as we discuss issues and concerns in mine safety and environment,” Brown said. The event will highlight the awarding of the Presidential Mineral Industry Environment Award that recognizes the outstanding levels of dedication, initiative and innovation in the pursuit of excellence in environmental management in the mineral development and utilization. This year’s theme, “Culture, Care, Change,” highlights the resilience of the industry to the challenges felt by the minerals development sector around the globe.

Sports Pirates, Cards test mettle of Japanese in Asian tilt TWO-TIME National Collegiate Athletic Association ﬁnalist Lyceum of the Philippines University and multi-titled Mapua University test their mettle against foreign competition when they see action against separate opponents, kicking off the 11th Asian University Basketball Championship today, 10 a.m., at the Lyceum of the Philippines gymnasium in Intramuros, Manila. The LPU Pirates take on Japan’s Nippon Sport Science University in the 10 a.m. opener, while the Mapua Cardinals clash with another Japanese varsity team from Kindai University at 2 p.m. Ho Chi Min City Basketball team takes on Kuala Lumpur Basketball Association of Malaysia in the only other game at 4 p.m. A brief opening ceremony precedes the games at 9 a.m., featuring invited guest speakers Senators Manny Pacquiao and Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, Presidential Adviser for Sports Dennis Uy and FESSAP President Angelo Ngu.

Also expected to grace the opening rites of the tournament organized by the Federation of the School Sports Association of the Philippines, in partnership with the Asian University Basketball Federation and the Basketball Association of the Philippines are FESSAP Chairman Alvin Tan Lian, FESSAP Vice President Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres, FESSAP Honorary President David Ong, and AUBF Deputy Secretary General Hyun Mo Park, representing AUBF President Shin Dong Pa. AUBC Organizing Committee Chairman Robert Milton A. Calo and Commissioner Leonardo ‘Ding’ Andres have been tapped to supervise the tournament, in coordination with host LPU led by its sports director Hector Callanta. Commissioner Andres said the top team after the single-round elimination automatically wins the championship, but in case of a tie, the quotient system will be applied.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Harden torches Wolves for 49 L

OS ANGELES—James Harden scored 49 points on a career-high 41 shot attempts as the Houston Rockets won their seventh straight game with a 125-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.

Harden shot eight of 22 from three-point range and the team shot 19 of 49 on threes overall. He added six assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes of playing time for his fifth 40-plus game during the current win streak. “We wanted to come here and win this game and we showed them,” Harden said. Point guard Ben McLemore carried over the momentum of his season-high 21 point performace on Friday by scoring 20 against the Timberwolves. McLemore nailed a pair of free throws with 1:29 remaining in the third to give Houston their first double-digit lead of the contest, 89-79 Austin Rivers and Chris Clemons scored Manila

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TODAY

19 points apiece for the Rockets, who also received a career-best 16 rebounds from centre Isaiah Hartenstein. “This game was very, very important for us,” said Harden. “In the ﬁrst half we gave them too many points, in the second half we locked back in. The guys manned up and got a win.” Minnesota missed the offence of second leading scorer Andrew Wiggins who sat out his second consecutive game with an undisclosed problem. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 27 points with 15 rebounds to pace the Timberwolves, while Jake Layman scored 21. Robert Covington chipped in 17 points, and rookie Jarrett Culver added 13 points.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Reactive Power Support: Payment of RPS = kVARh Payment + IERPS kVARh Payment = Compensable :kVARh x P4.00/kVARh Compensable kVARh = Actual kVARh - Base kVARh

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND KING ENERGY GENERATION, INC. (MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL POWER PLANT 3 - JIMENEZ), WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND KING ENERGY GENERATION, INC. (KEGI), Applicants. x--------------------------------------------------------x

ERC CASE NO. 2019-076 RC

Where: G = summation of energy dispatched to produce the scheduled kVar less the eriergy for the BCQ VOM = PhP 0.5kWh Actual Fuel Cost = rate of fuel in PhP/kWh

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

13. Applicants submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery of its opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 15 October 2019, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and King Energy Generation, Inc. (KEGI) filed an Application dated 23 September. 2019, seeking for Approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement Between the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and King Energy Generation, Inc. (Misamis Occidental Power Plant 3 - Jimenez), with Prayer for the Issuance of Provisional Authority.

14. The rates under ASPA was subjected to a simulation by NGCP, the results of which are as follows: Ancillary Service

1. This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) between the NGCP and KEGI dated 11 September 2019, and pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006- 49RC entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority.”

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation for King Energy Genaration, Inc. Misamis Occidental Power Plant 3 (KEGI MOPP 3) is attached as Annex “C”. 15. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Visayas.

THE PARTIES 2. Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Dillman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through highvoltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

16. The ASPA shall be effective for a period of five (5) years, to commence immediately upon the effectivity of the provisional approval, or in the absence thereof, the final approval of the instant Application. In the event that the provisional or final approval, as the case may be, does not state a particular date of effectivity, the Agreement shall be effective on the date agreed upon by the Parties. 17. KEGI, as a generation company, falls within the ambit of Sections 6 of the EPlRA. Attached are copies of relevant documents proving KEGI’s due registration as a generation company, relevant permits to operate the Generation Facility and audited financial statements, as follows:

3. Applicant KEGI is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal place of business Barangay San Luis, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental. It may be Served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of the Misamis Occidental Power Plant 3 (“Generation Facility”) located at Barangay San Isidro, Jimenez, Misamis Occidental which has been certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Ancillary Services (“AS”) in the forms of Dispatchable Reserve (“DR”) and Reactive Power Support (“RPS”).

ANTECEDENT FACTS

3rd base from Iloilo, and Best Pitcher Clariz Padernal Palma from Bacolod display their trophies in the 2019 BFA Women’s Baseball Asian Cup at the Panda Stadium in China, where the Philippines settled for third place in the Super Round.

PH softball teams ready AMATEUR Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier is upbeat about the chances of the Cebuana Lhuillier backednational men’s and women’s softball team in snagging the gold medal in the coming Southeast Asian Games, hosted by the Philippines this November. As preparation for the games, Lhuillier organized a tune-up tournament titled the Lhuillier 2019 Cebuana Lhuillier Men’s Softball Cup Tournament, where the PH Blu Boys are playing against the country’s best softball teams at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The awarding ceremonies will be held on Sunday. “I’m very confident of our Blu Boys’ chances in the SEA Games but we don’t want to be overconfident, thus the need for pre-game tournaments. Our Blu Girls, on the other hand, have been training rigorously for the games. We are aiming to retain the SEA Games gold,” said the longtime softball patron and president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. The Blu Girls are also fresh off the Asia-Oceania Qualifying Tournament, where they played against the region’s top eight softball teams and finished fourth in the games. Both teams also train everyday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Blu Girls’ pitching coach, Ronelon Pagkaliwagan expressed confidence about the preparedness of the softbelles. “This team could be one of the most prepared, if not the most prepared squad ever formed. Pitching is superb, hitting is above average as well as fielding,” he assured. On the other hand, Blu Boys’ head coach, Apol Rosales expects the team to retain their longstanding dominance in softball with the introduction of new and younger players in the roster, who are expected to reinforce the team’s offense and defense. “Our younger players will surely reinforce the team’s offense and defense with their speedy movement, combined with the skills of our veteran players,” said coach Apol. Softball has only been included nine times in the roster of events in the history of the SEA Games, of which the Philippines has consistently dominated the sport. The Blu Girls have remained unbeaten for 42 years, while the Blu Boys have only experienced one upset against Indonesia during the 1997 SEA Games. Softball was first introduced to the SEA Games during its 11th edition in 1981, hosted by the Philippines.

Standard sports ed’s aunt dies

GLORIA Umlas Razon, aunt of Manila Standard sports/tech editor Riera U. Mallari, died in her sleep at her hometown in Sasmuan, Pampanga on Saturday. She was 80. She is survived by brother Jose, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Interment will be announced later.

4. Republic Act No. 9136 (“EPlRA”) provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”)2, adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system3.

19. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2(b), EPIRA} To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. 20.The current levels of available contracted AS in the Mindanao Grid have not yet reached the desired levels necessary for the system security and reliability. Thus, Applicants executed the ASPA. A copy of the relevant actual data showing the required and available levels of AS in the Mindanao Grid, entiled as: “Mindanao Dispatch Reserve Availability” is attached as Annex” J”. 21. As the demand for power in the Mindanao increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability, and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth. The importance of AS, from KEGI to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Mindanao Grid cannot be overemphasized.

22. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Mindanao Grid. In’ support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Riza C. Ereno of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP, which is’attached as Annex “K”.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission: a)

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the ASPA between NGCP and KEGI dated 11 September 2019; and

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA.

Misamis Occidental Power Plant 3: Under Accreditation No. 2018-M014 Dispatchable Reserve Service Unit 1 - 7.5MW Unit 2 - 8.0MW

11. Under Clause 3 of the ASPA, KEGI shall provide NGCP with the following AS as specified in Schedule 1 of the ASPA, follows: Types of Ancillary Services (AS) that can be nominated:

“I”

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORTIY

6. AS as defined in Section 4(b) of the EPIRA refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

The copy of NGCP Accreditation Certificate No. 2018-M014 dated 14 November 2018 is attached as Annex “B”.

Annex “D” “E” “F” “G” “H”

Reactive Power Support Lagging Only

Indicative Rate Impact PhP/kWPhP/kWmonth equivalent 7.6306 0.0170 9.3451 0.0208 3.8159 0.00807 3.7921 0.00802

DR w/ WESM DR w/o WESM RPS w/ IE* w/o WESM RPS w/o IE* w/o WESM

The pertinent provisions of the Application are hereunder quoted as follows:

PH BASEBALL AWARDEES. All-Star Whell Ghene Cagud Camral,

Elsewhere, reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points and 13 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks won the battle between the Central Division’s top two teams by cruising to a 102-83 win over the Indiana Pacers. Antetokounmpo entered the game shooting just 29 percent from beyond the arc but hit three of his six attempts against the Pacers. The contest was supposed to showcase Malcolm Brogdon against his former club but the Pacers guard did not dress because of a back problem. Brogdon joined the Pacers in the offseason. Brook Lopez ﬁnished with 15 points, eight rebounds and ﬁve blocks for the Bucks, who won their third straight and seventh in their last eight games. The Pacers, who had won four in a row before losing Friday at Houston, never got closer than seven in the second half. AFP

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief. The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 09 January 2020 (Thursday) at nine’o clock in the morning (09:00 A.M.), at La Elena Pension House, National Highway, Brgy. Butuay, Poblacion Jimenez, Misamis Occidental. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rille “9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

Non-Firm Contracted Capacity:

The petitioner’s name and address;

Reactive Power Support (RPS) Available Capacity of Reactive Power outside the range of 85% lagging and 90% leading power factor.

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding;and

Dispatchable Reserve (DR) Available Capacity, up to 16.2MW (Int. 1-13 and 22-24) with Bilateral Contracts from Int. 14-21

A statement of the relief desired .

Once the Bilateral contracts expire by Year 2024, the available units may also be offered for DR. Note that the capacities listed above are the maximum ancillary services capacity that can be provided for each unit. However, nomination and schedule shall be based on the latest AS Accreditation Certificate.

12. The Applicable Rates for the capacities covered by the ASPAs as provided in both Schedule 3, are as follows: A. Non-Firm Contracted Capacity Applicable Rates: 1. Dispatchable Reserve: . maximum of PhP 1.25/kW/hr 2. Reactive Power Support: PhP 4.00/kVARh B. Incidental Energy Cost The Cost of Incidental Energy (“IEmin”) is the payment of minimum cost of actual energy generated for the Firm and Non-Firm Contracted Capacity which shall be paid and computed using the formula below: Incidental Energy Cost IEDR= G x (AR + VOM + Actual Fuel Cost) - REVWESM Where: G = Summation of energy generated or Dispatched due to Non-Firm Scheduled Capacity, in kWh AR = Applicable Rate per AS type VOM = PhP 0.5/kWh Actual Fuel Cost = rate of fuel in Php/kWh REVWESM = Summation of WESM revenue based on Final Ex-post market clearing price of the AS Provider’s trading Node arising from G above, once WESM is implemented. This will be set to ZERO while WESM is not yet in place in the Mindanao Grid.

The name and address of such person;

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. The applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA, PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, and ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21 October 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

1 2 3 4 5

UST’s goal: Stop Ravena

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

By Peter Atencio

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019

Sports Rain or Shine’s Jewel Ponferada soars for a basket and challenges Meralco’s Allen Durham.

Skateboard venue for SEAG almost complete THE 30th Southeast Asian Games skateboarding competition venue in Tagaytay is currently 99.5 per cent ready. Skateboarding and Roller Sport Association of the Philippines or SRSAPI President Monty Mendigoria said the national skateboarding team has already been practicing at the Tagaytay street and park courses since last week. Margie Didal and Kiko Francisco, along with coach Daniel Bautista are arriving from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday to start practice next weekend. Filipino-American Cristiana Means is also arriving next week from Oregon to join the team in its final preparations for the biennial games. Skateboarding wilł be played for the first time in the SEA Games and also at the Olympics in Tokyo next year. Jefrrey Gonzales, who also trained overseas, is already in the country and has been practicing with the national team. The 4-man downhill skateboarding team lead by Jaime Delange and Abigail Veloria has also been in rigid practice at the SEA Games downhill course in Maragondon under the tutelage of world Champion Harry Clark of Australia. Mendigoria revealed that Clark actually learned downhill skating in the Philippines when his family was still residing in the country many years ago and improved his skills when he went back to Australia. The SEA Games skateboarding competitions will be on Dec. 3 to 8 with eight golds at stake in the Park, Street, Game of Skate and downhill competitions. Mendigoria is confident of dominating the sport in the SEA Games especially with the full support given to them in training and international exposures by the Philippine Sports Commission. Skateboarders from the six other Southeast Asian countries competing are Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. They will be arriving on November 28 and 29 in time for the official practice at the Tagaytay skatepark and street courses on December 1 and 2.

Elasto Painters edge Bolts to stay in hunt By Jeric Lopez

AIN or Shine is not done just yet.

The Elasto Painters staved off elimination with a fiery finish to escape No. 2 Meralco, 83-81, and stay in the hunt for a spot in the quarterfinals in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night. Richard Ross was brilliant all game, scoring a game-high of 26 points with 12 rebounds for a double-double, while Rey Nambatac was equally as impressive, dropping 24 points to power Rain or Shine. Rain or Shine finished with a 4-7 mark and will now await its fate.

Its placing will be determined depending on the result of the final games of Alaska and NorthPort. It can either get a quarter’s berth if the quotient system favors it or it might play a playoff for No. 8, the last ticket to the next round. The Bolts, with the loss, ended the eliminations at 8-3, and they have to settle for the second seed. Meralco also saw its five-game winning streak snapped and will enter the quarters on a losing note. Still, the Bolts will get to enjoy a twice-to-beat incentive in the next round against a lower ranked team. With their backs against the wall, the Elasto Painters dug deep in the fourth when it seemed that they are headed for the exit. Down 60-69 with under eight minutes remaining, Rain or Shine uncorked

a game-turning 17-2 surge midway the fourth to suddenly earn a 77-71 lead following a Nambatac triple with 4:18 remaining. Still in it, the Bolts inched closer and got within two, 81-83, in the dying seconds with ball in hand following a steal from Allen Durham. However, Durham and Raymund Almazan failed to convert on close range shots, enabling Rain or Shine to keep the win and its campaign alive. Durham paced Meralco in the losing cause with his double-double with 23 markers and 16 boards, while Almazan and Baser Amer each added 18. As of this writing, Barangay Ginebra (7-3) and NorthPort (4-6) are locked in another critical battle for key positioning. The Batang Pier are trying to book a seat in the quarters while the Gin Kings look to improve their seeding in the top four.

Eala’s brod wins in Cyprus

Miko Eala displays his trophy.

UNSEEDED Michael Francis ‘Miko’ Eala stopped Ilya Snitari of Moldova, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, to top the Grade 3 International Tennis Federation Hellenic Bank Masters in Cyprus. In fending off the 238th-ranked Snitari, the 349th ranked Miko, who is older brother of 14-year old Alexandra, has won his second tournament since taking the runner-up honors in the J3 Neuchâtel event in Switzerland back in June. “I won the tournament! Dedicating this win to my Lolo Papa! I am headed to Israel for my next tournament,” said Eala in a statement. Miko is on a tennis scholarship with his sister at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca Spain. In a message, Miko said he will now compete in Israel in the coming days. To reach the finals, the 17-year-old Eala turned back Lukas Pokorny of Slovakia, 7-6, 6-2, in the first round. Then, he eased out Mili Poljicak of Poland, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 in the second round before prevailing against Thibault Virdier of France, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, in the quarterfinals. After that, Eala outplayed Marc Ktiri of Spain, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals. In June last year, Eala claimed his first crown in a Grade 4 event. Peter Atencio

THE University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers can still spoil the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles’ bid to go for a perfect season. To do that, they have to stop graduating veteran Thirdy Ravena from being at his best again in Game 2 of the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball finals on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. “He played well. This is his last year. Hopefully, we can cover him on Wednesday,” said Growling Tigers’ coach Aldin Ayo. The 6’2” Ravena provided headaches to the Growling Tigers’ cause when he led with 32 points and went 14 of 18 from the field in the Blue Eagles’ 9177 toppling of UST. This is the second highest output from a player this season, after Jamie Malonzo of La Salle struck with 34 points at the end of the elimination round. In the past two seasons that Ateneo has reached the finals, Ravena has always been at his best, leading Ateneo with 21 and 38 points in season 81 when the Blue Eagles put away University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons twice for the season 81 crown. In season 80, Ravena made 17 and 20 points in carrying Ateneo past La Salle for top honors. Ravena is just one player whom Ayo will need to deal, aside from others who can step up. “If we want to stop them, we’ll have to stop the whole team. If you focus on Thirdy only, the other guys will step up also,” said Ayo,

Knights try to bounce back THE Letran Knights can still bounce back and deal the defending chanpion San Beda Red Knights their second loss of the season, and get away with the crown. This is what Knights’ coach Bonnie Tan vowed to do after the Red Lions pulled off a 79-76 triumph to tie their best-of-three series after Game 2 of the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball finals. Despite their loss, Tan is still satisfied at how things went as the Knights were able to hold their ground against the Red Lions in the championship. The series decider is set on Tuesday. “No one really expected us to be here and go toe-to-toe with them and also give them their first loss after 32 victories,” said Tan. This time around, point guard Fran Yu is expected to be in better shape. In Game 2, Yu kept the Knights in the thick of the fight after they fell behind by as many as 15 points early in the first quarter. The 21-year-old finished with 23 points, 19 in the second half. And that was before he got cramps on his left leg in the 3:41 mark of the fourth quarter with the Knights up by six, 72-66 at that time. Yu’s absence gave the Red Lions the chance to charge back in the game. Peter Atencio

‘Tour’ champ leads Cycle PH cast

BIKING newbies and enthusiasts get another chance to ride side-by-side with three-time Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen and local celebrities in the Sun Life Cycle PH slated Nov. 23 the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig yesterday. Over a thousand participants are taking part in a weekend of fun, wellness activity and family bonding through cycling with the event featuring the tricycle ride (100-m distance for two- to three years olds), kids’ ride (500-m for 4-5 years old) and the family ride (30-minute ride for 6-15 with adult companion). Other categories on tap are the solo ride (30-minute ride for 6-15), short distance ride (20-km for 10 and above) and long distance ride (40-km for 10 and above) where riders will pedal alongside McEwen and Star Magic artists, led by Piolo Pascual. Meanwhile, the event will be launched in a press conference on Friday (Nov. 22) at 4 p.m. at the SEDA

BGC Hotel. McEwen, an Australian cycling legend and Olympiad veteran, has cited the big improvement on the local cycling scene as he rode alongside former junior national cycling team members and celebrities in last year’s inaugurals of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., now part of the IRONMAN Group. “Looking at them at times riding along at 40-km an hour and they look completely comfortable, it’s obvious to me that the level of Filipino riders over the last four years has really improved. I can see them more at ease with the bike and riding faster, looking stronger,” said McEwen, now in his sixth visit in the country. SunPiology founder Pascual is also thrilled over the huge turnout in the second edition also held to further promote awareness on keeping a healthy lifestyle, diabetes prevention and helping less-privileged kids sustain their education, the event also being staged as a fund-raiser.

PBA CARES. The Philippine Basketball Association donated P1 million to Alagang Kapatid for Davao

Earthquake victims. Also, PLDT Smart Foundation Inc., Cignal TV and Cignal Cares donated P100,000 each to Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc.

IN BRIEF

GrabFood mulls over expansion into 10 cities GRABFOOD, the online food delivery unit of Grab, plans to expand into at least 10 cities in the Philippines next year in a bid to increase market share. “We continue to grow, we are launching at least 10 more new cities in 2020 and hopefully more,” said GrabFood Philippines Edward Joseph de la Vega. GrabFood operates in 35 cities across Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Bacolod. De la Vega said expanding to more cities would open more revenue steams for merchant partners and bring the best of Filipino food cuisine to consumers when they need it. GrabFood remains the number one most often used food delivery platform in the Philippines, a position it has held for 10 consecutive months from December 2018 to September 2019. In a market survey conducted by a global market research firm Kantar in the third quarter of 2019, 76 percent of Filipino consumers said GrabFood was their most often used food delivery platform. Darwin G Amojelar

SSS to give calamity aid to quake victims STATE-RUN pension fund Social Security System will provide calamity assistance to members and pensioners affected by successive strong earthquakes in Mindanao recently. SSS president and chief executive Aurora Ignacio said in a recent statement over the weekend members and pensioners affected by the series of earthquakes in Southern Mindanao could now avail of the calamity assistance package. Ignacio said the pension fund would offer calamity loan, advance three-month pension and direct house repair and improvement loan starting Nov. 18. “It is unfortunate that the series of strong quakes greatly affected their daily living. That’s why we prioritized the immediate approval of granting calamity assistance in order to extend financial help to our members and pensioners in the affected areas,” Ignacio said. Julito G. Rada

Business Govt studying another auto incentive scheme T By Othel V. Campos

HE government is studying another incentive program to encourage automotive players to assemble at least one model per company in the country. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agency was reviewing the Motor Vehicle Development Program to expand the incentives to companies that would invest more in the Philippines. “Right now, this is just an idea. But we have talked about this—on how to improve the MVDP, so we can encourage brands to come in and do their manufacturing or assembly here,” Lopez said at the sidelines of the launch of GoLokal’s premium sub-brand Marahuyo at the Luxe Duty Free Shop in Mall of Asia Complex. The department may either subsi-

dize the high cost of electricity associated with power-intensive industries such as automotive or provide support on a performance-based contract. It was reportedly mulling over another program like the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy scheme, but with a different set of incentives. The new MVDP will also be timebound. CARS, the flagship incentives program for the auto industry, attracted only two players because of the stringent criteria required from participat-

ing companies. The revised MVDP is seen to add more value to the automotive industry and possibly welcome new brands and players to the industry. Automotive players still have the option to register with the Motor Vehicle Development Program to obtain incentives that otherwise will not be given under CARS. CARS is a P27-billion time-bound and performance-based fiscal and nonfiscal incentives program that supports new investments in fixed-capital expenditures in new parts making capability and encourages large scale production in vehicle assembly. Compared to the CARS program, incentives under MVDP are limited to tax rebates and income tax holiday. The government approved Executive Order No. 877-A or the MVDP on June 3, 2010 to boost the local vehicle assembly.

SSI Group’s income surges to P175.4m SSI Group Inc., the country’s largest specialty store retailer, said third-quarter net income jumped 107 percent to P175.4 million year-on-year, driven by strong top line growth, increased same store sales and controlled operating expenses. SSI Group said in a recent disclosure to the stock exchange third-quarter revenues rose 11 percent to P5 billion, while operating income climbed 15 percent to P295 million. The strong third-quarter results pushed the nine-month net income to P521 million, up 42 percent on year. Nine-month revenues reached P14.9 billion, up 7.7 percent on year. The group’s sales growth were driven by healthy consumer demand, with same store sales growth at 6.8 percent. SSI Group said it posted the revenue growth despite a three-percent decline in the group’s total floor area. Jenniffer B. Austria

Group asks LGUs to designate vaping areas, regulate electronic cigarettes USERS of electronic nicotine delivery systems or e-cigarettes asked local government units to enact legislation that will identify and assign designated vaping areas similar to the newly approved Pasig City Ordinance No. 07 Series of 2019. The ordinance, entitled “Regulating the Use and Sale of Vaporized and Heated Tobacco Products in Public Places and Public Conveyances, Advertisements and Promotions, and Providing Penalties Thererfor” requires a DVA to be in an open space or a room with proper ventilation but must be separate from a location that has already been identified as a designated smoking area. Joey Dulay, president of the Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association, said the identification and assignment of DVAs would protect e-cigarette users from the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, including exposure to second and third-hand smoke. “Vaping is not smoking,” Dulay said. “It is therefore counterproductive to continue to expose e-cigarette users to the harms of second hand smoke.” The creation of DVAs will also help vape users use their devices more responsibly, and protect non-smokers from being exposed to secondhand vapor.” According to the World Health Organization, cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 harmful and potentially harmful chemicals. Some of these toxic chemical compounds are ammonia, benzene, beryllium, formaldehyde and cadmium, all of which, through continuous exposure, can induce various respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, as well as cancer.

PREMYO BONDS. State-run Social Security System, in support of the Bureau of the Treasury, holds a briefing on the Premyo (Prize) Bonds Program where investors can purchase bonds for as low as P500 per unit and multiples thereof of up to P10 million. Under the Premyo Bonds Program, bondholders will benefit from features such as principal protection and fixed-interest rates every quarter and join quarterly cash reward draws of up to P1 million. Shown is SSS president and CEO Aurora Ignacio (inset) together with speakers and representatives from the BTr, Development Bank of the Philippines, LandBank, Chinabank and SSS and pensioners who attended the event at the Ramon Magsaysay Hall, SSS Corporate Building, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City on Nov. 8.

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

Megawide gets P52.2b worth of construction jobs By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. said the construction business is expected to rebound strongly in 2020 as order book reached P52.2 billion as of September 2019. Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra said the company secured P14.6 billion worth of new construction projects in the first nine months to boost total order book to P52.2 billion. The amount represents at least three years of construction revenues, he said. Saavedra said for future projects, the company would focus strategically on securing longer gestation projects for the construction business to provide a more stable and visible revenue pipeline and manage the impact of the industry’s natural cyclicality. “The continued recovery in construction this year will serve as a springboard for an even stronger performance next year, when we will embark on big-ticket, long-term projects that will provide better visibility and reduce the volatility for the company’s main revenue driver and business enabler. At the same time, we are also engaging in quick turnaround projects that will augment margins,” said Saavedra. “We see this as a natural progression for our construction business as we lay the foundation for future years’ growth,” he said. Saavedra said the company was interested in bidding for rail projects and sewer treatment plants for the water concessionaires of Metro Manila. The consortium of Megawide, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. and Dong-Ah Geological Engineering Company Ltd. recently submitted the best bid for Package 1 of the Malolos-Clark Railway Project. “We also see our transport-oriented assets thriving in 2020, with airport operations reaping the benefits of our strategic marketing and route development initiatives and the continuous improvements in Cebu’s infrastructure and landport commercial operations reaching full capacity,” Saavedra saidl Megawide said attributable net income was halved to P649.72 million in the first nine months on higher finance costs. Revenues went up 7 percent to P13.69 billion.

NLEX says net income increased 8% to P4.58b in first nine months By Darwin G Amojelar NLEX Corp. said net income rose 8 percent in the first nine months from a year ago, on sustained traffic growth across North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway. The operator NLEX and SCTEX said net income amounted to P4.58 billion from January to September, up from P4.49 billion posted in the same period last year. It said the income growth was driven by higher toll revenues at NLEX and SCTEX during the period which grew by 14 percent on the back of sustained traffic growth. Revenues in the nine-month period reached P11.2 billion, up by 15 percent from P9.8 billion a year earlier. “The growth is attributed to higher traffic during the period for both

NLEX and SCTEX and the implementation of toll rate adjustments in NLEX and SCTEX this year,” the company said. Average daily traffic along NLEX reached 266,888 vehicle entries, higher by 6.3 percent than in the same period last year, while average daily traffic at SCTEX increased 12.6 percent to 68,748 vehicle entries. NLEX traffic was boosted by the opening of Harbor Link Segment 10 in March 2019. The company said it also generated revenues from advertising, toll services and utility facilities and rental and service income in the first three quarters amounting to P229 million. This was 71 percent higher than P134 million posted in the same period last year. The non-toll revenue growth was

driven by rental revenues from NLEX Drive & Dine which started operations in the fourth quarter of 2018. NLEX earlier said it planned to submit a proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board to build a P20-billion extension of North Luzon Expressway from San Fernando, Pampanga to Dinalupihan, Bataan. This would be known as NLEX Phase 3. NLEX Phase 3, with an estimated cost of P20 billion, is 2x2 lane expressway spanning 40 kilometers. Phase 1 of NLEX consists of four segments with a total length of 92 km, including the rehabilitated and expanded 84-km stretch from Balintawak, Quezon City to Mabalacat, Pampanga and the 8.5-km Segment 7 from Hermosa, Bataan to Subic Freeport. Phase 2 of NLEX consists of four

segments with a length of 21 km involving the construction of the greenfield northern C5 to connect the existing C5 from C.P. Garcia Ave. in the University of the Philippines complex in Diliman, Quezon City to NLEX and extending westward to MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, before turning south down to C3 in Caloocan City. North Luzon Expressway now spans 95 kilometers, or 527-lane kilometers, and serves an average of 237,046 vehicles a day. It is the main infrastructure backbone that connects Metro Manila to Central and Northern Luzon. SCTEx, meanwhile, is a 94-km, 2x2 expressway stretching from SubicTipo to La Paz, Tarlac, connecting the special economic zones in Subic and Clark to Tarlac City.

US firm: Chinese hackers can steal SMS US-BASED cyber security vendor FireEye Mandiant said it discovered that APT41, one of China’s most prolific hacking groups, has developed a new malware that can compromise cellular networks by monitoring and saving SMS traffic from specific phone numbers. Named MESSAGETAP, the malware was deployed by APT41 in a telecoms network provider in support of Chinese espionage activities, it said. MESSAGETAP works by tracking SMS traffic and extracting message content that contains certain keywords of geopolitical interest. In addition to stealing messages, the malware collects source and destination phone numbers of targeted individuals – including mobile subscriber identity numbers and data from call detail record databases. “The use of MESSAGETAP and targeting of sensitive text messages and

call detail records at scale is representative of the evolving nature of Chinese cyber espionage campaigns,” FireEye Mandiant said. Also known as ‘Barium’ or ‘Winnti’, APT41 is an active cyber threat group that carries out Chinese state-sponsored espionage activities as well as other financially-motivated activities since 2012. Its growing technical capabilities allow it to conduct surveillance for the Chinese government as well as run data theft or extortion campaigns for profit. The Philippines’ ongoing territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea makes it a particularly vulnerable target for Chinese cyber attacks. In 2015, computer security firm Kaspersky Labs reported that a Chinese-speaking hacker group called “Naikon” had successfully infiltrated governments around the South China Sea region including that of the Philippines.

CONGO’S BEST INFRA. Matadi Gateway Terminal, the Congolese unit of International Container Terminal Services Inc., is recognized as the best investment project in the infrastructure sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. MGT was awarded with the Prix de Reconnaissance aux Investisseurs (Investor Recognition Award) by DR Congo’s Agence Nationale Pour La Promotion des Investissements (National Agency for Investment Promotion), which recognizes outstanding investments that have greatly contributed to the country’s economic growth, in line with the country’s Investment Code.

Business

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks inclined to trade sideways S By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to move sideways over the near term period with the earnings season coming to an end, as the market continues to monitor developments on the US-China trade negotiations.

Online brokerage ﬁrm 2TradeAsia said while the trade issue hangs, investors are looking for other catalysts that could push the market higher. “Apparently the ascent towards 8,200 was cut short after some fund managers seized on the rally to cash out. Viewed from this angle, the ascent would qualify more as a technical breather instead of fundamental shift said,” 2TradeAsia said. “2020 will be a period of continued stimulus, both for monetary and ﬁscal policies, aligned to keep stable growth

trajectory in place,” it added. 2TradeAsia said the aggressive 2020 budget planned by the Duterte administration could give the much needed boost to the market. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week succumbed to proﬁt taking, losing 1.6 percent to close at 7,932.96. The broader All Shares Index also declined 1.5 percent to 4,793.96. All sectoral indices ended in the negative territory, led by mining and oil (-3.85 percent), followed by industrial (-3.78

percent) and holding ﬁrms (-1.55 percent). Financials fell 1.3 percent while property and serviced dipped 1.3 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P2.43 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P5.1 billion from the previous week’s average of P6.7 billion. Weekly top price gainers were Alliance Global Group Inc., which rose 8.6 percent to P11.54, Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which advanced 4.8 percent to P11.38, and East West Banking Corp., which climbed 4 percent to P13.40. Weekly top price losers were Jollibee Foods Corp., which fell 11.4 percent to P202, LT Group Inc., which dropped 7.9 percent to P11.98, and Aboitiz Power Corp., which lost 6.6 percent to P36.95. Meanwhile, Wall Street’s faith in an imminent breakthrough in US-China trade

talks sent stocks sailing to fresh all-time highs on Friday. Stocks elsewhere mostly posted more modest gains, with London creeping forward despite a pledge from Britain’s opposition Labour Party to nationalize parts of telecoms giant BT and offer free broadband internet. Though truces have broken and hopes have been dashed more than once before, positive signals from the White House helped all three major Wall Street indices set new records as the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed the 28,000-point mark for the ﬁrst time. “The biggest driver to new highs was about trade, positive comments coming out of DC,” particularly remarks by top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow on the possible signing of a USChina trade deal, Bill Lynch of Hindsale Associates told AFP. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

NOVEMBER 11-15, 2019 Close Volume Value

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

54.5 156.00 96.00 2.00 1.20 25.35 18.6 13.4 4.45 7.73 1.32 849.00 0.390 67.9 0.85 13.18 43.25 63.5 116.3 173.1 25.7 200 1825.00 60.00 1.09

37,520 7,343,160 7,208,980 9,018,000 134,000 215,500 26,100 8,109,300 602,000 600 99,000 1,750 560,000 9,293,120 540,000 13,600 301,800 9,680 810 3,320 448,600 2,954,770 910 25,260 250,000

FINANCIAL 2,042,888.50 1,139,107,737.00 689,086,416.00 18,040,570.00 153,530.00 5,419,340.00 479,000.00 108,404,254.00 2,659,840.00 4,638.00 130,920.00 1,425,195.00 221,050.00 632,101,839.00 466,510.00 178,946.00 13,240,670.00 574,097.50 94,585.00 579,143.00 11,533,455.00 580,253,079.00 1,694,225.00 1,517,933.50 274,500.00

Aboitiz Power Corp. AC Energy Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Axelum 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 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.

36.95 2.59 15 0.61 1.25 3.68 0.243 103 18.60 2.55 15.12 130 7.28 67.85 69 31 2.09 5.36 5.35 8.800 15.04 10.30 7.24 1.6 24.1 78.35 44.00 2.1800 14.40 8.03 1.460 202.00 45.40 5.1 3.57 9.13 19.26 12.68 17 0.190 338.00 5.30 1.45 4.20 4.91 9.60 11.08 32.4 5.25 5.47 1.92 2.01 1.06 11.52 91 7.89 0.127 1.17 151.1 2.46 1.2 1.04

7,445,300 53,869,000 1,219,300 4,916,000 1,386,000 12,620,000 1,010,000 200 29,600 10,376,000 12,650,000 180 3,448,300 2,050 1,430 35,300 518,000 174,100 261,400 5,013,700 818,700 2,866,900 38,859,600 16,000 5,536,500 951,450 423,210 38,534,000 302,000 556,900 360,000 5,476,890 6,100 55,100 6,000 58,300 5,202,300 3,211,300 7,043,200 220,000 681,800 17,100 52,858,000 36,000 5,708,000 181,300 343,600 1,638,500 358,800 354,800 4,825,000 73,000 2,107,000 2,045,700 860,700 254,900 183,040,000 6,367,000 2,884,290 21,000 36,857,000 5,008,000

INDUSTRIAL 278,485,140.00 143,680,560.00 17,116,914.00 3,080,080.00 1,728,960.00 49,351,450.00 242,190.00 18,506.50 541,766.00 26,626,170.00 191,483,946.00 23,200.00 26,961,613.00 133,690.00 100,168.00 1,093,795.00 1,090,900.00 973,848.00 1,336,891.00 44,100,641.00 12,381,358.00 29,952,468.00 274,580,941.00 25,590.00 134,487,900.00 74,598,918.00 19,622,793.50 83,771,520.00 4,339,058.00 4,499,863.00 518,280.00 1,168,860,522.00 276,395.00 281,427.00 20,960.00 525,955.00 98,867,724.00 41,999,072.00 119,425,760.00 41,800.00 232,752,860.00 88,539.00 85,215,730.00 148,730.00 28,395,723.00 1,729,332.00 3,801,014.00 53,904,155.00 1,870,591.00 1,925,380.00 9,109,410.00 140,260.00 2,164,970.00 24,188,708.00 78,265,624.50 1,986,938.00 26,564,560.00 7,360,090.00 441,488,832.00 50,760.00 47,439,110.00 5,325,420.00

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Ayala Land Log 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’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Lopez Holdings Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.830 53.00 11.54 0.74 6.80 12.46 1.040 1.100 830 3.620 6.95 7.59 3.78 13.40 0.211 900 5.57 77.80 5.75 5.7 5.19 0.51 4.15 11.98 0.570 4.65 0.0360 1.300 2.90 162.50 2.25 1060.00 1.23 0.85 225.000 400.00 0.2250 0.230

62,253,000 5,297,250 97,924,000 934,000 38,900 379,000 18,058,000 1,109,000 2,490,880 9,613,000 17,218,000 96,981,100 24,000 196,300 1,640,000 329,770 27,200 9,781,950 4,300 39,100 368,000 114,000 2,912,000 27,016,500 574,000 62,772,000 86,130,000 1,999,000 58,000 378,040 93,000 926,640 407,000 301,000 4,870 400 890,000 40,030,000

HOLDING FIRMS 52,706,020.00 283,955,617.50 1,116,720,518.00 681,350.00 261,617.00 4,680,026.00 19,364,610.00 1,238,490.00 2,075,079,885.00 34,584,150.00 118,230,871.00 755,562,437.00 91,840.00 2,611,052.00 332,090.00 294,504,720.00 151,706.00 760,025,965.50 22,101.00 222,158.00 2,350,620.00 56,990.00 12,152,380.00 336,339,162.00 317,430.00 293,215,370.00 3,161,000.00 2,679,210.00 151,400.00 61,942,821.00 209,290.00 982,964,860.00 512,600.00 254,790.00 1,078,544.00 160,362.00 193,250.00 9,871,950.00

400,000 2,536,000 11,500 657,000 15,617,000 30,270,600 2,418,000 2,728,000 165,700 181,634,000 460,000 730,000 14,430,000 7,550,000 565,000 1,810,100 4,170,000 170,000 69,951,000 2,342,000 62,769,000 44,490,000 9,912,000 40,000 800,000 1,920 1,780,000

PROPERTY 5,949,924.00 2,021,660.00 107,013.00 1,091,590.00 14,327,560.00 1,406,095,645.00 4,888,530.00 13,169,870.00 1,051,927.00 109,309,440.00 334,820.00 614,910.00 2,888,360.00 3,380,100.00 5,825,526.00 36,128,714.00 1,946,700.00 20,570.00 112,079,890.00 3,075,590.00 303,785,590.00 12,429,000.00 14,277,840.00 16,200.00 297,200.00 94,839.00 3,611,040.00

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 Primex Corp.

14.840 0.80 8.87 1.640 0.900 45.950 2.02 4.83 6.47 0.590 0.76 0.870 0.197 0.440 10.220 19.82 0.460 0.121 1.56 1.26 4.78 0.270 1.4100 0.4150 0.370 50.00 2.03

NOVEMBER 4-8, 2019 Close Volume Value 55 159.50 97.50 1.91 1.23 25.45 18.4 12.88 4.52

18,700 6,906,610 13,777,730 2,169,000 434,000 594,200 14,500 6,145,000 443,000

1,028,355.00 1,092,132,054.00 1,350,716,363.50 4,187,530.00 510,030.00 15,224,060.00 267,360.00 79,302,028.00 2,013,080.00

1.28 825.00 0.400 67.55 0.89 12.72 45.05 57.9 116.9 175 25.85 203 1866.00 60.10 1.09

235,000 1,110 740,000 15,770,640 916,000 35,600 201,300 16,760 90 4,320 831,200 1,623,590 630 117,210 14,000

297,020.00 885,700.00 296,450.00 1,058,576,439.50 808,400.00 462,646.00 9,115,565.00 961,975.00 11,302.00 755,853.00 21,656,080.00 329,189,485.00 1,172,465.00 7,139,164.00 15,310.00

39.6 2.59 13.8 0.65 1.3 4.09 0.247 102.7 18.02 2.5 15.32 125 8 65.15 70 31 2.13 5.54 5.3 8.780 15.5 10.60 7.00 1.65 24.7 78.75 50.50 2.2800 14.56 8.39 1.490 228.00 46.00 5.11 3.58 9.30 19.18 13.3 17.18 0.188 349.80

8,482,700 40,262,000 1,607,900 8,053,000 146,000 22,500,000 7,050,000 320 1,900 6,244,000 5,274,700 990 3,955,800 4,000 1,980 432,200 969,000 106,000 112,500 17,051,900 1,549,700 1,764,900 2,461,500 8,000 5,057,700 339,740 252,910 47,472,000 1,199,600 1,071,500 676,000 2,564,540 1,400 68,600 46,000 27,100 8,558,900 343,700 6,661,800 280,000 1,051,270

333,908,520.00 108,827,790.00 21,963,574.00 5,275,400.00 187,980.00 91,326,080.00 1,699,890.00 28,725.50 33,078.00 15,859,040.00 79,625,716.00 118,501.00 32,684,953.00 262,262.00 139,842.50 13,308,415.00 2,058,210.00 607,864.00 610,889.00 143,278,786.00 23,913,214.00 18,395,986.00 17,219,592.00 13,200.00 128,085,615.00 26,822,857.00 12,630,781.50 107,236,080.00 17,412,258.00 8,743,972.00 994,020.00 521,015,882.00 66,600.00 350,546.00 161,270.00 246,358.00 164,716,648.00 4,568,948.00 115,707,886.00 51,680.00 365,208,672.00

1.67 4.34 5.01 9.50 11.00 33.95 5.4 5.46 1.87 1.94 0.99 11.92 91 7.8 0.129 1.09 151.5 2.52 1.33 1.10

12,930,000 26,000 3,656,200 35,900 266,000 1,384,500 583,200 750,800 11,183,000 455,000 806,000 1,403,900 877,700 634,400 1,360,000 568,000 5,342,000 5,000 28,040,000 6,751,000

21,969,970.00 108,190.00 18,398,795.00 339,622.00 2,903,642.00 46,814,215.00 3,152,923.00 4,087,821.00 20,462,960.00 897,630.00 772,770.00 16,554,410.00 79,690,955.00 4,885,538.00 172,370.00 610,150.00 813,939,174.00 12,480.00 36,515,990.00 7,420,590.00

0.820 56.00 10.62 0.74 6.60 12.88 1.130 1.170 848.5 3.530 6.91 7.63 3.82 13.38 0.205 900 5.57 78.50 5.49 5.3

25,566,000 4,838,670 115,161,400 682,000 6,966,300 71,200 2,871,000 32,000 3,534,990 3,835,000 17,813,300 135,353,100 5,000 71,900 700,000 290,400 321,300 7,564,590 1,000 100

21,225,180.00 270,784,001.00 1,251,986,916.00 497,980.00 46,049,021.00 917,530.00 3,214,400.00 37,740.00 3,074,722,840.00 13,639,950.00 123,350,742.00 1,072,445,069.00 18,900.00 960,418.00 144,170.00 262,831,940.00 1,802,568.00 244,812,603,752.00 5,490.00 530.00

0.52 4.26 13.02 0.590 4.65 0.0370 1.460 2.36 170.00 2.25 1070.00 1.28 0.85 224.400 340.20 0.2120 0.220

205,000 7,480,000 11,098,500 1,493,000 126,237,000 6,800,000 903,000 22,000 759,520 317,000 3,180,665 832,000 348,000 1,520 20 3,820,000 1,360,000

104,810.00 32,286,680.00 147,578,730.00 824,370.00 608,092,560.00 255,800.00 1,289,330.00 54,250.00 128,154,891.00 728,430.00 3,345,494,660.00 1,103,170.00 296,130.00 343,556.00 7,352.00 817,340.00 312,000.00

14.800 0.80 9.53 1.700 0.890 47.000 2 4.63 6.35 0.590 0.86 0.860 0.206 0.460 10.300 20.05 0.460

967,900 1,343,000 24,300 100,000 4,230,000 48,485,800 6,763,000 1,001,000 184,100 140,765,000 81,000 81,000 6,430,000 32,280,000 1,078,700 1,444,400 12,670,000

14,398,476.00 1,083,190.00 232,579.00 170,420.00 3,741,270.00 2,321,184,050.00 13,518,570.00 4,627,000.00 1,153,516.00 84,366,410.00 62,230.00 69,520.00 1,293,330.00 15,808,800.00 11,076,441.00 29,360,954.00 6,004,550.00

1.62 1.24 4.9 0.295 1.4600 0.4000 0.370

72,205,000 908,000 62,594,000 15,650,000 9,371,000 7,750,000 470,000

117,788,760.00 1,130,670.00 307,035,970.00 4,544,200.00 14,261,920.00 3,092,700.00 175,650.00

2.06

2,444,000

4,962,110.00

STOCKS

NOVEMBER 11-15, 2019 Close Volume Value

NOVEMBER 4-8, 2019 Close Volume Value

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings 357,596,817,866.00 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes Vistamalls

26.55 2.2 3.28 39.90

20,387,000 866,000 72,000 28,541,300

534,525,450.00 1,919,860.00 229,740.00 1,125,307,165.00

26.70 2.26 3.3 40.00

7,305,500 694,000 164,000 5 3 , 5 7 3

193,096,765.00 1,574,590.00 540,190.00 , 3 0 0

2.49 1.500 7.690 5.490

4,646,000 81,818,000 10,446,500 133,100

11,451,120.00 126,587,000.00 80,298,276.00 722,313.00

2.56 1.490 7.730 5.500

9,067,000 244,656,000 14,220,700 125,900

22,558,080.00 405,867,530.00 109,416,386.00 684,458.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel AllHome APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel 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. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Waterfront Phils. Wilcon Depot

10.4 17.62 1.68 11.48 0.500 0.040 2.59 11.28 91.95 7.18 6.5 5.90 2.04 8.95 890.5 1917 5.25 419.20 11.08 1.47 122.2 1.71 8 3.11 0.106 4.6700 2.42 13.98 3.02 0.91 18.60 0.415 3.44 2.35 1.05 1.14 3.100 2.69 8.19 2.87 4.73 150.00 2.91 1104.00 0.450 0.650 40.00 75.45 8.97 2.80 0.670 0.325 0.640 18.300

90,600 385,800 197,000 59,125,000 18,669,000 39,600,000 1,158,000 15,366,600 333,650 1,500 2,203,700 20,300 4,000 178,000 10,200 165,195 508,200 2,200 600 5,719,000 5,207,660 59,000 37,200 52,000 483,590,000 5,860,000 9,000 900 1,329,000 627,000 2,235,300 220,000 115,000 5,421,000 227,000 330,000 30,243,000 181,000 208,100 9,000 27,000 2,530 2,136,000 303,790 34,540,000 7,921,000 3,346,500 2,251,460 62,800 20,564,000 3,413,000 33,820,000 4,910,000 61,944,800

SERVICES 939,918.00 6,894,752.00 302,470.00 672,936,414.00 9,290,835.00 1,593,900.00 2,993,960.00 171,658,502.00 31,242,553.00 10,771.00 14,358,792.00 119,770.00 7,890.00 1,599,459.00 9,083,230.00 313,856,875.00 2,677,748.00 933,454.00 6,328.00 8,731,670.00 639,798,861.00 105,750.00 305,375.00 175,160.00 381,800.00 27,605,320.00 20,880.00 12,538.00 4,098,050.00 570,570.00 42,791,174.00 91,200.00 391,040.00 12,960,200.00 253,810.00 348,840.00 98,694,240.00 16,509,060.00 1,683,098.00 24,290.00 127,760.00 393,860.00 6,249,150.00 334,912,875.00 16,081,900.00 5,258,380.00 131,321,225.00 170,904,361.00 567,131.00 57,673,290.00 2,308,660.00 11,252,150.00 3,200,860.00 337,368,470.00

10.98 18.2 1.59 11.38 0.510 0.040 2.52 10.76 94.35 6.9 6.47 5.90 2.06 9.08 920 1900 5.26 439.80 11.46 1.62 123.8 1.71 8 3.62 0.106 4.7700 2.3 13.64 3.16 0.91 19.50 0.405 3.4 2.50 1.05 1.09 3.550 2.79 8.00 2.65 4.82 155.00 3.03 1110.00 0.475 0.680 39.70 77.00 9.12 2.65 0.670 0.33 0.660 17.200

55,200 791,700 438,000 72,127,600 18,895,000 19,900,000 1,950,000 66,547,000 673,220 4,700 3,222,400 741,900 1,000 188,500 30 202,260 545,600 24,920 3,600 3,173,000 9,057,260 152,000 300 5,000 6,690,000 7,130,000 159,000 1,900 3,193,000 383,000 4,844,600 480,000 130,000 4,227,000 76,000 13,000 34,395,000 159,000 1,171,300 81,000 88,100 182,920 1,944,000 485,055 23,520,000 8,742,000 11,021,600 1,957,780 60,100 7,055,000 10,009,000 91,050,000 1,383,000 8,863,400

600,946.00 14,629,694.00 691,670.00 823,965,760.00 9,736,700.00 810,100.00 4,922,220.00 707,450,640.00 64,473,095.50 32,430.00 21,205,302.00 4,071,635.00 2,060.00 1,709,087.00 27,600.00 376,739,770.00 2,877,546.00 10,770,988.00 38,858.00 5,067,290.00 1,119,579,076.00 258,600.00 2,400.00 18,100.00 708,130.00 33,961,680.00 368,740.00 25,828.00 10,087,720.00 354,760.00 97,602,096.00 197,100.00 447,550.00 10,609,450.00 82,780.00 14,170.00 122,940,460.00 426,400.00 10,736,908.00 221,840.00 427,010.00 27,437,120.00 5,864,540.00 543,199,630.00 11,362,000.00 5,902,800.00 439,742,480.00 149,831,355.50 545,665.00 18,918,260.00 6,707,730.00 27,093,300.00 926,890.00 150,650,522.00

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Benguet Corp À’ 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

0.0017 1.10 2.55 11.96 1.0900 2.55 0.290 7.74 1.820 0.211 0.104 0.108 0.0090 0.0090 1.05 3.32 1.06 0.5300 0.8300 0.0120 0.0120 3.37 12.20 0.0110 12.5000 23.90 0.0058

250,000,000 3,673,000 29,000 35,200 26,000 2,114,000 770,000 2,400 37,978,000 2,120,000 5,040,000 20,000 38,000,000 21,000,000 1,926,000 57,495,000 123,000 7,268,000 1,224,000 367,000,000 744,700,000 2,745,000 4,633,600 42,100,000 8,217,500 3,304,900 14,000,000

MINING & OIL 424,500.00 4,095,920.00 73,950.00 424,854.00 28,340.00 5,357,820.00 219,450.00 17,657.00 69,779,380.00 440,220.00 524,510.00 2,160.00 339,100.00 191,800.00 2,038,550.00 203,395,890.00 127,340.00 3,631,120.00 995,470.00 4,368,500.00 9,618,600.00 9,642,360.00 56,465,964.00 467,900.00 98,250,802.00 78,218,325.00 84,500.00

0.0017 1.10 2.57 12.22 1.0900 2.59 0.285 7.76 1.840 0.210 0.105 0.109 0.0089 0.0092 1.1 3.86 1.07

139,000,000 6,515,000 366,000 109,600 1,000 1,623,000 270,000 110,300 171,896,000 2,090,000 5,930,000 3,710,000 17,000,000 2,000,000 1,636,000 57,442,000 100,000

233,100.00 7,292,200.00 935,290.00 1,317,262.00 1,090.00 4,198,060.00 77,050.00 804,923.00 340,081,640.00 438,890.00 615,810.00 388,230.00 152,200.00 18,400.00 1,828,670.00 227,607,550.00 105,880.00

0.8300 0.0120 0.0120 3.44 12.16 0.0110 11.2000 23.80 0.0058

1,236,000 94,300,000 719,800,000 824,000 4,695,300 69,900,000 8,213,400 4,720,600 11,000,000

1,034,090.00 1,087,300.00 7,951,900.00 2,845,100.00 58,160,034.00 765,300.00 91,136,734.00 110,281,095.00 65,100.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Alco Preferred B Alco Preferred C Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 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 2B PCOR-Preferred 3A PCOR-Preferred 3B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred 1 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H

17.02 101.3 101.1 503 101 109 500 506 5.09 975.5 994 98 1.02 100.1 1034 1050 1060 101.9 109.5 1024 1000 78 75.05 77 76.5 75.25 75.05 75.05

439,800 2,560 6,000 7,180 218,650 38,820 1,900 2,830 369,500 5,640 12,130 3,880 388,000 71,730 525 5,445 14,230 26,210 5,820 17,300 3,420 79,620 141,500 13,380 67,590 30,410 231,100 670,260

17.5 100.1

396,200 17,930

6,978,426.00 1,813,147.00

503 101 109.5

14,360 208,310 25,900

7,205,120.00 13,011,790.00 2,836,050.00

505.5 5.14 990 980 99 1.01 101 1034 1050 1070 100.5 109 1036 999 78.2 75.15 75.1 76.1 75.2 75.15 75.7

33,200 399,500 5,690 300 75,610 622,000 183,120 150 4,720 1,750 5,000 1,560 32,165 2,250 122,940 94,410 46,340 328,660 13,400 269,970 803,560

16,768,015.00 2,053,643.00 5,629,000.00 291,360.00 7,422,669.50 628,220.00 18,496,824.00 152,925.00 4,957,630.00 1,870,550.00 502,590.00 169,770.00 14,442,760.00 2,246,730.00 9,611,554.00 6,006,040.00 3,481,666.00 25,014,289.00 1,008,992.00 20,332,145.50 60,830,715.00

LR Warrant

1.520

253,000

1.580

242,000

390,700.00

Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.57 5.59 13.26 0.98

18,000 10,346,600 20,013,500 47,024,000

2.56 6.89 12.48 1.12

30,000 3,646,300 4,032,400 100,114,000

76,850.00 24,955,670.00 48,520,682.00 108,163,590.00

First Metro ETF

118.7

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 572,700 6,324,883.00

120.6

54,870

6,637,281.00

10.06 10 0.96

DDOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 15,630 157,651.00 4,000 40,000.00 122,000 117,120.00

10.3 10.2

17,200 14,430

175,628.60 141,648.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

PREFERRED 7,618,006.00 259,092.00 606,600.00 3,633,620.00 22,077,550.00 4,255,690.00 950,000.00 1,431,980.00 1,175,680.00 5,529,525.00 12,059,810.00 387,042.00 392,040.00 7,293,807.00 543,020.00 5,717,250.00 15,273,755.00 2,670,902.00 634,115.00 17,798,565.00 3,418,990.00 6,217,178.50 10,623,965.00 1,027,390.00 5,144,936.00 2,288,590.00 17,356,450.00 50,686,734.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 389,120.00 SME 46,260.00 66,826,383.00 282,156,634.00 48,968,760.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Oriental Pet. `B’ Island Info Oriental Pet. À’ Abra Mining Swift Foods, Inc. Century Property Alliance Global Inc. DMCI Holdings Pacifica À’ Suntrust Home Dev. Inc.

VOLUME 744,700,000 483,590,000 367,000,000 250,000,000 183,040,000 181,634,000 97,924,000 96,981,100 86,130,000 81,818,000

STOCKS Ayala Corp `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Jollibee Foods Corp. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings Alliance Global Inc. SM Investments Inc. JG Summit Holdings DMCI Holdings Bank of PI

VALUE 2,075,079,885.00 1,406,095,645.00 1,168,860,522.00 1,139,107,737.00 1,125,307,165.00 1,116,720,518.00 982,964,860.00 760,025,965.50 755,562,437.00 689,086,416.00

Cebu Pacific top airline in Palawan and Clark airports CEBU Pacific will close 2019 as the largest carrier in terms of capacity at the Clark International Airport, as well as the Busuanga and Puerto Princesa airports in Palawan. The airline said in a statement the increases in capacity share came following the start of direct commercial service between Clark and Guangzhou, China; Clark and Puerto Princesa; and between Puerto Princesa and Hong Kong. Cebu Pacific by the end of 2019 will hold a 28-percent capacity share at the Clark International Airport. CEB has been operating flights in and out of the Clark International Airport since 2006, with the latter serving as its hub for North and Central Luzon. CEB from Clark 190 flights weekly to Bacolod, Bohol, Caticlan (Boracay), Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Narita (Tokyo) and Singapore. “Cebu Pacific has taken a measured pace of expansion in Clark, but we have always believed in the potential of Clark. Over the past 12 months, our capacity growth in Clark hit over 90 percent. With the growth in passenger traffic in Clark, we are bullish that the new routes we launched over the past few months will continue to perform strongly,” said said CEB chief strategy officer Alexander Lao. Meanwhile, CEB will cap 2019 with a 46-percent total capacity share in Puerto Princesa, the main gateway to Palawan, and the Busuanga Airport, which caters to Coron and the rest of northern Palawan. CEB operates 190 flights weekly to and from Palawan, equivalent to over 1.1 million seats. Aside from Hong Kong and Clark, Cebu Pacific has direct flights to Manila, Iloilo and Cebu from Puerto Princesa. From the Busuanga Airport, meanwhile, Cebu Pacific operates direct flights to Manila and Cebu. “We remain confident that Hong Kong will bounce back, and despite current concerns, there is continued demand for travel between Hong Kong and the Philippines. We are confident in the potential of Palawan to grow tourism sustainably, and we will continue to work with our stakeholders in Palawan to better connect the province to the rest of the Philippines and to key tourist catch points in Asia,” said vice president for commercial Alex Reyes.

PSE introduces mobile app to assist small IPO investors PHILIPPINE Stock Exchange Inc. has launched the mobile application of the PSE Electronic Allocation System, a web-based subscription platform for local small investors planning to subscribe to initial public offerings. “We are pleased to provide investors a more accessible way to subscribe to IPOs. After a one-time registration on the PSE EASy website, LSIs can use the app to subscribe to shares whenever there is an IPO,” said PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon. Launched in June, PSE EASy was introduced to increase participation in IPOs among LSIs and expand the reach of the program. Only investors based in Metro Manila have access to LSI kiosks. The shift to an online platform enabled investors from over 60 provinces and close to 20 countries to subscribe to the IPOs conducted between August and October this year. “For now, the website and app are for subscription purposes of IPOs only. We hope to maximize this digital solution to incorporate a payment facility and to utilize the platform for other types of offerings,” Monzon added. The PSE EASy mobile app may already be used for LSI subscriptions during the IPO of food and beverage kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings Inc., which starts today. The PSE EASy app may be downloaded through Google Play for Android users. The mobile app for iOS users will soon be available in the Apple Store. Prior to the launch of PSE EASy, investors who want to subscribe to LSI shares during IPOs had to personally go to the designated kiosks in the PSE office or select Metro Manila malls or present the required identification cards to obtain a share subscription form. They must also fill out the form and personally bring it to the office of their stockbroker for acknowledgment, and bring the form back to the kiosk to make payment. The tedious requirements have discouraged a lot of small investors from buying IPOs, especially since the maximum amount they could subscribe to at that time was limited to just P25,000. Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business/World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF Thousands march against Maduro CARACAS―Thousands of supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido took to the streets of Caracas on Saturday, demanding the departure of embattled President Nicolas Maduro, but the turnout was far less than expected. Guaido had hoped to capitalize on the situation in Bolivia, where leftist leader Evo Morales resigned in the face of accusations of election fraud, to deal a death blow to his own political nemesis. Opposition demonstrators did answer the call―about 5,000 of them marched, according to AFP’s crowd estimate. They carried national flags and banners with slogans such as “Maduro out” and “Follow Bolivia’s example.” “We are not going to falter,” Guaido, who is recognized as Venezuela’s acting president by about 50 countries, told crowds of supporters gathered in front of Bolivia’s embassy. “Bolivia took 18 days, we have been at it for years. I ask all of Venezuela to keep protesting,” he said. “The struggle is until the takeover ends, until free elections are achieved.” Guaido, 36, the head of the opposition-dominated National Assembly, has thus far failed to capitalize on early momentum built after he declared himself the crisis-wracked country’s acting president in January. His camp believes that the 2018 elections, which returned Maduro to office, were undermined by fraud. The opposition chief has urged the leftist leader, the political heir of late president Hugo Chavez, to call new elections. “We have come today with very high expectations, we don’t want this to be just another march,” said Omar Kienzler, a 19-year-old law student. The numbers of protesters on Saturday was a far cry from the tens of thousands Guaido once rallied, but it was the opposition’s biggest rally since May, after a failed uprising. “Evo is gone, Maduro is going— Venezuela shouts, we want freedom!” chanted 65-year-old Rafael Castillo. Protests in Caracas and elsewhere unfolded without incident. A poll by the Datanalisis firm on October 18-25 showed that 32 percent of respondents were inclined to protest in support of Guaido.

Venezuela is in the midst of its worst economic and social crisis in recent history. Inflation is expected to hit an eye-popping 200,000 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Outside major cities, power outages are frequent and medicines, petrol and cash are scarce. The oil-rich country is subject to crippling US sanctions, including an embargo on crude. The opposition blames the situation on official “corruption” but Guaido has been unable to galvanize enough support to move the political needle. “If nothing major happens, Guaido’s leadership will end up on ice,” political analyst Jesus CastilloMolleda told AFP. AFP

Greece braces for annual demo ATHENS―Five thousand police will deploy in Athens on Sunday for an annual demonstration marking the anniversary of a 1973 anti-junta uprising that regularly descends into violence, authorities say. This year the protest looks set to be dominated by opposition to the new conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, elected in July on a pledge to strengthen law and order. The demonstration marks the 46th anniversary of a student uprising at the Athens Polytechnic against the US-backed military dictatorship that ruled Greece at the time. In recent years, demonstrators have used the anniversary to voice opposition to US “imperialism”, and the harsh austerity measures imposed on Greece by international creditors after the global financial crisis. Mitsotakis’s administration has already come under fire over police operations against anarchist squats and demonstrators. There is also tension over a recent amendment to facilitate police checks in universities, which has prompted several student demonstrations. “We need to be careful these days, and [public] comments must be guarded,” the Polytechnic’s rector Andreas Bantouvas said this week. “We will be there with 5,000 officers,” police unionist Stavros Balaskas told Ellada radio. Athens mayor Kostas Bakoyannis urged respect for the city. AFP

Traffic in a different light company to do this through telecommuting (ability to work from home). This can increase employees’ morale and productivity not only because this gives them the chance to be spared from the stress that a difficult commute brings but also because it gives them discretion and flexibility in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. But to be comfortable and open with this kind of set-up, a culture of TRUST must be present. Since we selected the best people for our organization through the help of the recruitment and staffing processes, we must be confident and able to trust them to design a job arrangement that suits their conditions. This will hopefully translate into better work performance, increased job satisfaction, employee growth and increased retention, things that almost all companies would want to have and achieve. Moreover, telecommuting can result to a decrease in the volume of vehicles and passengers using our already congested roads and public transportation facilities. The horrific traffic and the painful commute can be seen from a different standpoint, which allows for a shift in perspectives. Looking at things from a different light has the potential of unlocking many new opportunities, and could bring positive results and advantages to companies, the people and society in general. Perhaps, one day, we’ll be able to say that traffic isn’t all that bad after all.

JAN PAOLO MANALO LIPAT

Green LiGht ALMOST every day, we see, hear and experience these— red lights, long queues, running people, vehicles emitting smoke, the incessant honking of horns and a sudden break. And it’s not just found on the roads but all over the news and in our news feeds as well. It’s the issue of heavy traffic once again. Arriving at our destination, we often feel stressed, tired and drained. But life must still go on. The same familiar sights and sounds greet us on our way home, a phenomenon that has been a part of our everyday lives. To date, various government agencies and authorities have already proposed and promised solutions (in terms of new policies, infrastructures and collaborations). But as we patiently wait and positively place our hope into them, I wonder if our companies should also develop solutions, or to at least alleviate its effects, not just for the community, but more so for their people who experience these difficulties every day. Should companies consider their people’s transportation/commute journey part of their overall job/ work experience (that companies seek to improve), since this affects their mood, energy, and capacity throughout the day? We can view this issue through the lens of humanistic management, a unique management perspective that focuses on people’s dignity and overall well-being, as what we are taught in the MBA program of De La Salle University. Companies and their leaders should, indeed, consider taking part in solving the horrific transportation/traffic problem that we are all experiencing or should at least help in minimizing its negative impact on their employees. But how? I think one of the ways of helping employees is through the redesign of work systems. Technology allows the

Jan Paolo Manalo Lipat is a Master of Business Administration student at De La Salle University (DLSU) and currently works as a financial markets research analyst at an international financial technology and analytics company. He welcomes comments at jan_lipat@ 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.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Papers reveal Xi’s brutal crackdown in Xingjiang B EIJING―A rare and huge leak of Chinese government documents has shed new light on a security crackdown on Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region, where President Xi Jinping ordered officials to act with “absolutely no mercy” against separatism and extremism, The New York Times reported.

Human rights groups and outside experts say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been rounded up in a network of internment camps across the farwestern region. The 403 pages of internal papers obtained by the Times provide an unprecedented look into the highly-secretive Communist Party’s controversial crackdown, which has come under increasing international criticism, especially from the United States. The documents include previously unpublished speeches by Xi as well as directives and reports on the surveillance and control of the Uighur population, the newspaper said on the weekend. The leak also suggests that there has been some discontent within the party about the crackdown. The documents were leaked by an unnamed member of the Chinese political establishment who expressed hope that the disclosure would prevent the lead-

ership, including Xi, from “escaping culpability for the mass detentions”, the Times said. In a 2014 speech to officials made after militants from the Uighur minority killed 31 people in a train station in southwestern China, Xi called for an all-out “struggle against terrorism, infiltration and separatism” using the “organs of dictatorship,” and showing “absolutely no mercy,” according to the daily. The internment camps expanded rapidly following the appointment in 2016 of a new party chief in Xinjiang, Chen Quanguo. Chen, according to the Times, distributed Xi’s speeches to justify the crackdown and urged officials to “round up everyone who should be rounded up.” Reputed within the party for his handling of minority groups, Chen earlier led ironfisted policies aimed at crushing dissent in Tibet. The trove of leaked documents included a guide to answering questions from students who had

returned home to Xinjiang to a confession by Wang leaked to find their families missing or the Times. AFP detained in camps. Officials were in- EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CORPORATION structed to say the 11-B Sunrise Drive. Brgy. Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Cubao, Quezon City students’ family members had been NOTICE OF CALL FOR PAYMENT OF ANY infected with the OR ALL ERC STOCK SUBSCRIPTIONS “virus” of extremist thinking and needed To All ERC Stockholders: to be treated bebe informed that the Board of Directors fore “a small illness PIease of Educational Resources Corporation (ERG), becomes a serious in a meeting held on July 27, 2019 at Cucina, Marco Polo, unanimously approved the one.” following resolutions: China’s foreign ministry and the RESOLVED THAT: Xinjiang regional 1. The authorized capital of Educational government did not Resources Corporation be raised from P4,000,000.00 to P10,000,000.00. immediately respond to AFP’s re- 2. The twenty five percent (25%) of quests for comment. P6,000,000 additional authorized capital or P1,500,000.00 be offered for subscription to The documents ERC stockholders of record as of October 1, also shed light on 2019 in proportion to their stock ownership of the corporation. the party’s punishment of one official, 3. The Twenty five percent (25%) of the twenty Wang Yongzhi, who five percent (25%) of the additional authorized capital subscribed be paid in full not later than was investigated November 30, 2019. from 2017 to 2018 for disobeying party 4. All unpaid shares of ERC stock as of November 30, 2019 shall be dedared delinquent and orders. shall be distributed to stockholders of record Wang released and fully paid as of December 1, 2019 in proportion to their percentage of ownership of on his own initiaERC shares of stock. tive more than 7,000 people from camps Please give or send your payment to the in Xinjiang, and Treasurer of the Corporation, Mrs. Raquel C. at the office of the Corporation at 11-8 feared that “round- Bilasano Sunrise Drive, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, ing up so many Cubao, Quezon City on or before Novermber people would know- 30,2019. ingly fan conflict (SGD) ATTY. LACANDOLA S. LEANO and deepen resentCorporate Secretary ment,” according to (MS-OCT. 7, 28 & NOV. 18, 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Regional Trial Court NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 107, QUEZON CITY RUEL DOBLON MOLDERA, -versus-

Petitioner,

Civil Case No. R-QZN-18-13107-CV

ROSA VILMA M. ELORDE-MOLDERA, Respondent x-------------------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO : ROSA VILMA M. ELORDE-MOLDERA - with last known address at Lot 1, Block 5 Maple Street comer Oakwood St., Brentwood Parkhomes, Brgy. Mambugan, Antlpolo City

Other pieces of information that can be ascertained from said Certificate of Live Birth of the Respondent are the following: i.

That she was born to parents Cesar Gallardo Elorde and Amonita Cordero Martinez;

ii.

That the Certificate of Live Birth was signed by the attendant at birth on “112-79.”

Thus, when Respondent married Petitioner on 14 September 1996, Respondent was only seventeen (17) years old.

10. In the Certificate of Marriage (herein Annex “B”), however, Respondent was stated to have been born on 12 January 1978, thus making her age at the time of marriage, eighteen (18), when in fact, Respondent was only seventeen (17) then. 11. Such being the case, the parties’ marriage is clearly void under Article 35 of the Family Code:

Greetings:

“Art. 35. The following marriages shall be void from the beginning:

The petitioner prays that after due hearing, judgment be rendered declaring the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent null and void for lack of one of the formal requisites of a valid marriage, which is a parental consent under Article 45 of the Family Code of the Philippines. Pursuant to the Order dated October 9, 2019 service of Summons by Publication is issued considering that the returns of summons to the respondent was unserved, this Summons by Publication was issued in consonance with Section 14, Rule 14 of the Rules of Court. NOW, THEREFORE, respondent. ROSA VILMA M. ELORDE-MOLDERA - with last known address at Lot 1, Block 5 Maple Street corner Oakwood St., Brentwood Parkhomes, Brgy. Mambugan, Antlpolo City, is hereby summoned and required to file with the Regional Trial Court Branch 107, National Capital Judicial Region, Hall of Justice Bldg., Quezon City, his answer to the instant petition within thirty (30) days from last date of publication of this summons. Failure of the respondent to file his answer within the reglementary period, this Court will direct the Public Prosecutor to investigate whether collusion exists between the parties. If the court is convinced that there is no collusion, the petitioner shall be allowed to present her evidence in support of the petition. WHEREFORE, let this summons, together with a copy of the Petition, be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, to be selected by raffle pursuant to P.D 1079, at the expense of the petitioner. Likewise, let a copies of the summons and the Petition be sent by registered mall addressed to the respondent at his last known address, also at the expense of the petitioner and to submit to this court proof of compliance therewith. WITNESS THE HONORABLE JOSE L. BAUTISTA, JR., Presiding Judge of this Court, this 14th day of October 2019, in Quezon City, Philippines.

1) Those contracted by any party below eighteen years of age even with the consent of parents or guardians; xxx xxx xxx [Emphasis and underscoring supplied.] 12. The law declares that an individual below eighteen years of age is as not possessing the legal capacity to contract marriage. Whether or not the consent of the parents was secured at the time of marriage is irrelevant in the sense that, even if present, it will not serve to make the marriage valid. The legal capacity to marry is strictly eighteen (18) years of age. And as had been demonstrated above, Respondent was only seventeen (17) as per her Certificate of Live Birth. PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court: 1.

That after due hearing, a decree be issued by this Honorable Court, declaring the marriage between the Petitioner RUEL DOBLON MOLDERA and Respondent ROSA VILMA MARTINEZ ELORDE-MOLDERA as void ab initio in accordance with Article 35 of the Family Code of the Philippines; and

To order the Local Civil Registrar of Antipolo, Rizal, as well as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to make the proper entries in the registry in its custody to indicate therein the Declaration of Nullity of Petitioner’s Marriage with Respondent.

for.

Other forms of relief just and equitable under the circumstances are likewise prayed Quezon City, 08 October 2018.

ATTY. ANIHAIRAH B. MADJI OMAR Branch Clerk of Court REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT QUEZON CITY BRANCH____

RUEL DOBLON MOLDERA,

Petitioner,

-versusROSA VILMA M. ELORDE-MOLDERA, Respondent. x---------------------------------------------------x

TONGOL JOVEN & ASSOCIATES LAW & COMMUNICATIONS Counsel for the Petitioner Units 1208 & 1210, 12th Floor, Corporate 145 Building, 145 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City 1103 Telephone No. (02) 374.1355 Email Address:info@tovenlaw.com By:

EMIL KARLO LL. JOVEN Roll of Attorney No. 55780 IBP No. 1031644/ January 3,2018/ Quezon Chapter PTR No. 1524025/ January 04, 2018/ Maupan, Quezon MCLE Compliance No. V-0010355 / 16 September 2015

Civil Case No. ____________ For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage under Article 35 of the Family Code

PETITION Petitioner, by counsel, unto this Honorable Court, most respectfully states:

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } QUEZON CITY )S.S. VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION AGAINST FORUM SHOPPING

THE PARTIES 1.

Petitioner RUEL DOBLON MOLDERA (hereinafter Petitioner), is of legal age, a Filipino citizen, and a resident of No. 78-F Molave Street, Brgy. Duyan-Duyan, Project 3, Quezon City. A copy of the Certification from the Barangay to the effect that Petitioner is a resident of Brgy. Duyan-Duyan, Quezon City, is hereto attached and marked as ANNEX “A” and made an integral part hereof.

Respondent ROSA VILMA M. ELORDE-MOLDERA (hereinafter Respondent), is likewise of legal age, a Filipino Citizen, and a resident of Oakdrive Street, Brentwood Subdivision, Masinag, Antipolo City, where she may be served with summons and other court processes emanating from the Honorable Court.

The parties were married on 14 September 1996 at the Iglesia ni Cristo Chapel, Padilla, Antipolo, Rizal, which marriage ceremony was solemnized by Minister of the Gospel Sande C. Francisco. Hereto attached as ANNEX “B” and made an integral part of this Petition is a copy of the parties Certificate of Marriage.

The parties had two (2) children together, namely: a.

KRIZZHIA NICOLE ELORDE MOLDERA (now 21 years old), born on 04 January 1997. A copy of her Certificate of Live Birth is hereto attached and marked as ANNEX “C” and made an integral part hereof; and

KENT NICOLAS ELORDE MOLDERA (now 19 years old), born on 12 September 1999. A copy of his Certificate of Live Birth is hereto attached and marked as ANNEX “D” and made an integral part hereof.

The parties did not acquire any properties, real or personal, during the subsistence of their marriage.

Article 35 of the Family Code declares a marriage contracted by any party below eighteen years of age even with the consent of parents or guardians as void from the beginning.

As will be demonstrated hereunder, Respondent was below eighteen years old at the time she married Petitioner. As declared under Article 35, said marriage is void from the beginning; hence this Petition.

As appearing from the records of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Respondent, whose full name is ROSA VILMA MARTINEZ ELORDE, was born on January 12, 1979 in Valenzuela, Metro Manila. This is evident from Respondent’s Certificate of Live Birth, a copy of which is hereto attached and marked as ANNEX “E” and made an integral part hereof.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION

I. RUEL DOBLON MOLDERA, of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of No. 78-F Molave Street, Brgy. Duyan-Duyan, Project 3, Quezon City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1.

I am the Petitioner in the above-entitled Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage.

I have caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing “Petition” with the Honorable Court.

I have read the said “Petition” and hereby certify that all the allegations stated therein are true and correct and are of my own personal knowledge and based on authentic records.

I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency; to the best of my knowledge and belief, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency;

If I should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency, I undertake to report that fact within five (5) days therefrom to the Honorable Court.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this _______ in Quezon City.

RUEL DOBLON MOLDERA Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me in Quezon City on 0CT 08 2018 with affiant exhibiting to me his government-issued Driver’s License ID No. N02-09-010548 which is valid until 2023/02/09 in accordance with Rule II Section 12 and Rule IV Section 2(b) of the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice.

(MS-NOV. 18 & 25, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

ERC: Impartial resolution to PECO case set

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019

By Alena Mae S. Flores

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

PASPAS PERMIT. Joining Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian (4th from left) during the launch of ‘Paspas Permit,’ the Philippines’ first end-to-end 10-second online business permit application system, last Nov 12. at Marco Polo Ortigas Hotel are Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (beside Gatchalian)—who called the project ‘trailblazing’ and ‘should be emulated by other LGUs and agencies’—AntiRed Tape Authority Director General Atty. Jeremiah Belgica, and and other city officials. Jun David

Vico rips Pasig food maker P

ASIG City Mayor Vico Sotto on Sunday blasted a food manufacturer for allegedly suppressing the rights of its protesting workers.

On Facebook, Sotto told snack maker Regent Foods Corp. that its relationship with the city government “will be at risk” if it does not drop charges it filed against workers who went on strike on November 9. “These people are not criminals; they do not have the goal of hurting you. They are fighting for what they believe to be just. You can continue with the labor dispute without sending the poor and powerless to jail!” the mayor said in his FB post. Sotto said Regent management “hired outside private security to disperse their employees on strike,” causing a scuffle between the firm’s guards and the protesters. Twenty Regent workers, two members of the Defend Job Philippines group, and one tricycle driver, who Sot-

to said was only trying to see what was going on, were arrested. Regent Foods Corp. has not issued a statement as of press time. “I asked Regent to withdraw the charges against the 23. Mr. Irwin See and Ms. Susan See separately asked me to give them some time to ask their board,” Sotto said. “Technically, the complaints were filed by the private security, but the management have admitted that they are behind the complaints,” he added. The mayor said Regent told him on Saturday they would not be withdrawing the charges against the 23 individuals filed at a Pasig court. Twelve out of the 23 arrested have posted bail, Sotto reported, including

the tricycle driver. He also assured the 11 who remain jailed he will “personally make sure that they are out on bail by Monday.” “As the Local Government, we cannot interfere with the labor issues at hand, as this is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor and Employment. However, when my constituents are being deprived of liberty as they fight for their rights as workers, I cannot sit around and do nothing,” Sotto said. The names of those Regent charged, according to Defend Job Philippines, are: 1. Melanie dela Cruz 2. Laarni Gabriel 3. Enrico Ramos 4. Christopher Distor 5. Virulyn Vesuyan 6. Aileen Batanon 7. Alex Batso 8. Gemma Alvarez 9. Aldo Sanchez

10. Crisanta Lagrisola 11. Benjamin Israel 12. Arnel Ocampo 13. Edmund Timbal 14. Cyril Pumaren 15. Generoso Soliven 16. Christopher Arañas 17. Basilio Cudiamat 18. Romel Agcaoili 19. Antonio Regacho Jr 20. Bonifacio Ramirez 21. Gerardo Gaddi (Defend Job Philippines) 22. Carlo Levanta (Defend Job Philippines) 23. Ronald Montilla (tricycle driver) Defend Job Philippines said on Sunday the workers will file countercharges against the illegal dispersal, as it came despite ongoing negotiations between union workers and the management at the National Labor Relations Commission and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.

Malabon wins 3rd straight SGLG plum from DILG THE City Government of Malabon was given its third Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Mayor Lenlen Oreta, a known good governance and nutrition advocate, received the latest addition to more than a hundred awards that Malabon City received since he became its local chief executive. The city also received the SGLG award in 2017 and 2018. “The City Government of Malabon is deeply honored to receive an- Malabon City Mayor Lenlen Oreta receives the city’s third Seal of Good Local Governance Award. other Seal of Good Local Governance Award, the highest recognition given by the DILG to LGUs. I thank our stakeholders and constituents for their unwavering support to the city government,” Oreta said. the theme, “Manage Your Wealth, Pros- ed the achievements of the city during his By Jun David The SGLG is a progressive assessper Your Business.” first 100 days as local chief executive. ment system that gives LGUs disTHE Navotas City Government TuesGoNegosyo Angelpreneur Dean “Much of what we were able to tinction for their remarkable perforday conducted its 10th Business Forum Pax Lapid and Rampver Financials achieve was because of you. Your faithmance in financial administration, to teach Navoteño entrepreneurs how President and Chief Executive Officer ful and honest payment of taxes enabled disaster preparedness, social proto manage their wealth and succeed in Rex Mendoza shared their insights on us to implement projects and programs tection, peace and order, businesstheir ventures. what values and mindsets are needed that are beneficial to our people, infriendliness and competitiveness, Attended by 310 owners and manag- to ensure business success and sus- cluding our business community. This environmental protection, and tourers of micro, small and medium enter- tainability. forum is our way of giving back to you ism, culture and the arts. prises in Navotas, the forum focused on Meanwhile, Mayor Toby Tiangco report- and showing you our gratitude,” he said.

Navotas micro, small biz learn wealth management

BDO builds 2nd school in Marawi WHEN fighting ensued between government forces and terrorists in what would be known as the siege of Marawi, BDO Foundation immediately mounted relief operations, facilitated donations and funded medical missions for the benefit of thousands of evacuees, schoolchildren, soldiers and police personnel affected by the armed conflict. As the fighting ended, the foundation sustained its corporate citizenship initiatives in Marawi, pursuing programs to support the people and the rebuilding of their war-stricken city. The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank recently constructed a new twostorey, four-classroom school building in Lake Lanao National High School in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur near ground zero of the siege. The initiative was welcomed by Marawi

City Councilor Nasif Marangit, representing Mayor Majul Gandamra, Department of Education (DepEd) Marawi assistant schools division superintendent Anna Zenaida Unte-Alonto and Lake Lanao National High School principal Rohanida Mutin. The structure was turned over to school administrators in an inaugural ceremony led by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito and BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa. “This is a gift from BDO Foundation to the people of Marawi especially the schoolchildren and teachers,” Deriquito remarked. “This is our way of expressing our solidarity with all of you as you continue to cope with and recover from the crisis that affected your community more than two years ago.”

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has assured the public it is impartial in resolving the case involving the electric pole fires that plagued the franchise area of Panay Electric Co. “It would be prudent for the Commission to evaluate and analyze the situation surrounding the reported pole fire incidents in PECO’s franchise area holistically and not on a per incident or asset basis,” ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said. “The way that the poles are maintained over the years and the remaining useful life of the poles also needs to be looked into. We are mindful of the urgency of resolving this matter and we wish to assure the public that this is among the priority concerns of the Commission,” she added. ERC has also distanced itself from PEC0 as it asserted its independence particularly in relation into its ongoing inquiry into more than 2,000 electricity pole fires in Iloilo City since 2016. ERC denied it was involved in a press conference PECO held last week. “The ERC has no participation, in any manner, in the said press conference. The ERC remains independent in the discharge of its functions, including the conduct of investigations. Premature reporting of the outcome of our investigation is but a product of speculation that serves no purpose, except to confuse the public,” said Devanadera. ERC has already completed its field inspection and data gathering as part of its investigation on the series of pole fire incidents in the PECO franchise area. “The findings of the technical team will be presented to the Commission Monday and released to the public accordingly,” the ERC chief said. ERC responded to an appeal from Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda and PBA Partylist Rep. Jericho Jonas B. Nograles, vice-chairperson of the House Committee on Energy, to speed up the ERC investigation into the issue. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas earlier filed the complaint to address PECO’s failure to prevent the continuing threat to public safety by PECO’s “inadequately-maintained lines, power outages and hazardous electric posts” because of the numerous and continuing cases of electricity pole fires in the city.

Christmas bonus for Parañaque workers released CHRISTMAS and New Year will surely be a happy and exciting time for employees of the local government of Paranaque City. This after Mayor Edwin Olivarez announced the giving of Christmas bonuses, for regular, casual, job order workers and even government servants serving the barangays, beginning Tuesday, Nov. 19. All regular and casual employees will receive a 13th month and 14th month bonus equal to their monthly pay starting next week until December 15th. In addition, the P5,000 cash gift and productivity will benefit all regular and casual ambassadors, according to city treasurer Anthony Pulmano. Job order workers will also receive a P5,000 cash gift. “Every week starting this Tuesday to Christmas, all city employees will receive their Christmas bonuses,” said Pulmano. An additional incentive for all city employees will be announced by Olivarez this week to make every employee’s Christmas merrier, according to Pulmano. In addition, beginning December 1, all senior citizens in the 16 barangays in the city will also receive their basket of goodies from the city government.

BDO Foundation and local government officials celebrate the construction of the new school building in Lake Lanao National High School in Marawi City, the second of three school buildings the foundation committed to construct as part of efforts to help rebuild the wartorn city.

Life

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

FOOD

Wild honey sourced from Lumad tribes

“T

Lumpiang labong with vinegar

MONDAY, NIOVEMBER 18, 2019

Salted Caramel Cake with popcorn and pretzel toppings

Mixed root crop chips

Annie’s green earth kitchen

RY the vegan bagoong. It’s so good you wouldn’t think you were eating santol instead of shrimp paste,” said Susana “Annie” PascualGuerrero, whose cherished love affair with her kitchen and with the environment for over three decades and counting has led to the setting up of a 4,000-square meter patch of paradise in the urban jungle that is Quezon City.

Annie’s Kitchen, housed in the green compound in Kaingin Road, Quezon City (near the back part of La Vista Subdivision, not the one in Balintawak), has become Guerrero’s passion project and happy place. It is an earth kitchen serving organic food using environmentally friendly and sustainable methods. It is surrounded by an herb garden, fruit trees, various vegetables and root crops, and even a chicken farm and a piggery—the compost of which are turned into biogas which helps power up the compound. “In a world where environmental challenges seem so overwhelming, the easiest way for us to have a large impact is to reduce our individual waste, recycle, and compost,” she said.

Susana ‘Annie’ Pascual Guerrero combines her love of food and the environment through her culinary ventures.

Guerrero, a former president of the Zero Waste Movement and founder of the country’s top culinary school, the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) Manila, has been advocating for a greener culinary scene. The products sold at Annie’s Kitchen are free from artificial ingredients or chemicals and preservatives. These include the vegan bagoong, mixed root crop chips, banana chewies (organic saba), roasted tomato and mango salsa, wild honey sourced from eight Lumad tribes in Mindanao, and organic atchara. There is also the trash can cookies which—never mind the funky-sounding name—are the perfect example of zero wastage in the kitchen. “They’re called trash can cookies because they’re made of ingredients you would otherwise throw away,” Guerrero said. Orange rinds are dehydrated and chopped into small pieces, along with other excess nuts and fruits that can

be found in the kitchen. Combined together, these result in delicious, Mother Nature-approved cookies! Annie’s Kitchen also offers meal sets and packed food that can be delivered for parties and events. Her lumpiang labong with vinegar is simply divine— she intimated that the lumpia wrapper is the only imported ingredient as it absorbs less grease. Her set menus—which include a starter, two main dishes, a vegetable dish, rice, beverage, and dessert—are very affordable, with the lowest at only P300 per person.

And as a great believer of paying it back and paying it forward, Guerrero’s kitchen staff—most coming from indigent communities—are all her scholars, too. And of course, as Annie’s Kitchen leads the way for a holistic approach to sustainable culinary, her restaurant, Cravings is never far behind. Cravings, which has evolved with three generations of Guerrero’s family—her daughter Badjie Trinidad and her grandchildren Pia and Bea—has become an eco-conscious restaurant that supports a waste-free lifestyle. For the first time, Cravings is offering

“Green Christmas” packages highlighted by a sustainable menu made with local produce and prepared through low energy, zero-waste methods. “We want to show our customers and clients that it is possible to go green even with your events and catering,” said Pia Trinidad, Cravings’ business development head. “This is more relevant these days as we know that whatever we do has an impact on our climate and our one and only planet—the Earth. We might as well be responsible citizens who uphold environmentalism in our deeds and daily life,” she added. The lunch/dinner buffet menu Set A features appetizers such as root crop chips and tomato mango salsa and Annie’s organic salad. Hot selections include free range chicken with rosemary garlic rub, organic spaghetti bolognese, and roasted seasonal vegetables. Desserts include a seasonal fruit platter and table praline brownies. For Set B, start with sopa de molo and Annie’s organic salad. Hot selections include pancit palabok, fried lumpiang labong, seared tilapia with coconut pineapple relish, and chicken inasal. Cap it off with assorted kakanin and a seasonal fruit platter. It is a green holidays, indeed, for Cravings, and better yet, a green Annie’s Kitchen all year round. I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com.

Orange Chicken and more

Panda Express bares Manila branch menu ALL bestsellers of Panda Express will be served in its first Philippine branch at SM Megamall, according to Jollibee Foods Corporation, the food chain’s local partner. Yes, the American Chinese food establishment’s Orange Chicken, woktossed crispy chicken in sweet and tangy sauce; and Broccoli Beef made with tender beef and fresh broccoli in ginger soy sauce can be savored here at home. “Get ready for bold and savory flavors cooked fresh straight from the woks, with each dish thoughtfully prepared— from hand-cut vegetables to housemade sauces—making every dining experience even more satisfying,” JFC said in a statement. Other classic favorites to be served include the following: Kung Pao Chicken, a Szechuan-inspired dish made with chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, finished with chili peppers. String Bean Chicken that consists of chicken breast, string beans, and onions wok-tossed in mild ginger soy sauce. Asian Grilled Chicken, a dish made with grilled chicken thigh hand-sliced to order and served with teriyaki sauce. Mushroom Chicken, a delicate combina combination of chicken, mushrooms, and zucchini wok-tossed with light ginger soy sauce. Beijing Beef made with crispy beef, bell peppers, and onions in sweettangy sauce.

Hong Kong MX’s Pastries Trio Deluxe

Panda Express’ famous Orange Chicken, Beef Broccoli, and Kung Pao Chicken will be available at its first branch in Manila.

Plant-based eaters may choose Eggplant Tofu made with lightly browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. Panda Express, first opened in Glen-

dale, California in 1983, currently has over 2,000 outlets around the world. It’s also present in Canada, Japan, Guate Guatemala, Mexico, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, and Russia.

Hong Kong MX returns to PH AFTER a short visit here in the country during the mid-autumn festival, Hong Kong MX returns to offer its well-loved pastries. The brand’s bestselling Eggrolls and Pastries Trio Deluxe that consists of Butter Cookies, Macadamia Nut Cookies, Hazelnut Cookies, Hearty

Butter Pastry Original and Maple Syrup, Almond Mille-feuille, and Hazelnut Mille-feuille will be available at its pop-up stores in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay and Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila. Both pop-ups will open on Nov. 23 until Jan. 26, 2020.

String Bean Chicken Breast

Asian Grilled Chicken

Eggplant Tofu

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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