Manila Standard - 2019 March 5 - Tuesday

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Romualdez confirms bid for speakership By Maricel V. Cruz LAKAS-CHRISTIAN Muslim Democrats president Martin Romualdez on Monday confirmed the statement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio that he is eyeNext page ROMUALDEZ ing the speakership of the 18th Congress. VOL. XXXIII • NO. 23 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FLARING FRONDS. Fr. Jerico Habunal, parish priest of the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish in Muntinlupa City, burns palm leaves to be used tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, which were blessed in the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, when Christians carry palms to recognize the Gospels’ reference to Jesus’ path being covered in palm fronds on the day he entered Jerusalem. Norman Cruz

On narco-list: Convict first Web at 30: ‘Out-ofcontrol monster’? MEYRIN, Switzerland—Thirty years ago this month, a young British software engineer working at a lab near Geneva invented a system for scientists to share information that would ultimately change humanity. But three decades after he invented the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee has warned that his creation has been

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Misuari gets free pass after Rody steps in By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte had asked a court to allow Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari to travel abroad, despite pending graft cases against him. “Misuari came to my office the other night because he wanted to go out, he was not allowed because he has a case. I talked to the police,

Comelec says drug suspects presumed innocent By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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OMMISSION on Elections spokesman Director James Jimenez on Monday said that even if a candidate is included in the so-called ‘narco-list,’ he or she cannot be automatically disqualified for the May 13 midterm elections.

“We maintain na until there is a final conviction, there should be a presumption of innocence and therefore, hindi sya disqualifying,” Jimenez said. The Comelec official said, however, that the list might be useful for law enforcement agencies, but insisted that it would not affect the status of

electoral candidacies. Earlier, Department of the Interior and Local Government spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the “narco-list” made public in time for the barangay or village elections in 2016 showed mixed results on the candidacies of those named in Next page the narco-list.

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Senate bucks budget over pork insertions By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Vicente Sotto III vowed to block the transmittal of the P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 to the Palace if it can be proved that some congressmen made “pork” insertions into the version already ratified by the bicameral conference committee. Reacting to Senator Panfilo Lacson’s allegations that such insertions were made, Sotto said this would be a viola-

tion of the Constitution and the legislative process. Nobody, he said, could add or subtract or otherwise change the budget approved by the bicameral conference committee and ratified by both houses of Congress. The signatures of the Senate president and the House speaker are needed in all proposed measures approved by Congress before they are sent to Malacañang for the President’s signature. Next page

DOJ probes drug-dealing inmate By Rey E. Requejo

THE Justice department on Monday ordered the Bureau of Corrections and the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the drug ring operations done remotely from inside the New Bilibid Prison using the Internet. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he issued the order after Cebu police discovered that a drug ring in their prov-

ince was being run by Rustico Ygot, an inmate from the Bilibid Prison. “I will direct the NBI and BuCor to immediately investigate the matter,” Guevarra said in a text message. Meanwhile, the police arrested a 23-year-old drug trafficker, a woman, and seized P14 million worth of the party drug ecstasy and cannabis during a buybust operation in Quezon City Monday. Next page

PRESIDENTIAL PITCH. President Rodrigo Duterte makes a pitch for this year’s candidates under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan campaign Sunday at the Mayor Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City. Presidential Photo

Rody takes a dig at Otso Diretso: Straight to hell

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday slammed the opposition senatorial slate “Otso Diretso,” saying they would all go straight to hell for their “lack of qualification.”

As he continued to tour the country to campaign for his chosen candidates in the May midterm elections, Duterte took time to mock the capabilities of the opposition senatorial candidates. “Who will you replace them with? The Otso Diretso that will directly go to hell?”

the President said in his speech, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd during a campaign rally of the ruling PDP-Laban party in Zamboanga City. “Just to be honest, I’m not [impressed] with them. Those people did Next page

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News

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

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SWS findings on EJKs questioned T

HE Philippine National Police on Monday expressed doubt over the type of questioning used in a recent survey showing that more Filipinos fear being victims of extrajudicial killings.

Albayalde said the kind of questioning being done by SWS in relation to the public’s perception on extrajudicial killings was incorrect. “Responses to the question ‘How worried are you that you or anyone you know will be a victim of ‘extrajudicial killing’ or ‘EJK?’ cannot be validated by respondents without keen awareness or understanding of EJK as we know it from Administrative Order 35 Series of 2012 by President [Benigno] Aquino,” Albayalde said. He said the survey missed the crucial point of determining the respondents’ awareness of EJK before going any further, or at the very least providing a briefer to define EJK for the respondent. “Nonetheless, that doesn’t change the fact that a large majority continue to support the national crusade against

illegal drugs and show appreciation to the improved drug situation in their own communities,” Albayalde said. He asked SWS to be responsible in conducting surveys. “This is a private corporation, a private agency that we have no control of. We do not know whether they are really being used by somebody or not. We really do not know. What we are asking here is that we humbly ask them to be responsible,” Albayalde said. But he expressed hope that SWS would remain impartial and apolitical. “Let us all be fair to the Filipino people. They deserve the truth. Let’s not let our offices be used by any political party because it will be reflected in the way the people perceive the information we are releasing. We give the public the truth,” Albayalde said.

“I do not want to dispute the statistics derived by SWS [Social Weather Stations], except that there is something amiss with how the questions were framed in relation to the perception of alleged police involvement in illegal drugs and alleged EJKs,” PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, told reporters. After a recent survey showed that the majority of Filipinos were fearful of becoming victims of extrajudicial killings, Malacañang on Monday assured the public that the Duterte administration would never tolerate extrajudicial killings. Impunity has no place in the Duterte administration, Malacañang asserted

following the survey. Albayalde was referring to the SWS survey conducted Dec. 16 to 19, 2018 showing that 78 percent of the Filipinos it polled were worried that they, or anyone they knew, would be a victim of summary killing. This figure is higher by five points from the 73 percent recorded in June 2017. “I take the latest survey results on public perception to alleged extrajudicial killing with a full cup of salt. It shouldn’t be surprising that 78 percent are afraid of getting killed. Who isn’t afraid to die, anyway?” Albayalde told reporters.

Missuari...

Oil prices swing high and low; biodiesel blend up

the military, and the court to allow him to leave. I guaranteed that he will come back,” the President said during a campaign rally of the ruling PDP-Laban in Zamboanga City Sunday night. On Feb. 25, Duterte held a 15-minute meeting with Misuari. A day afterward, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division granted Misuari’s request to travel to attend several assemblies in the United Arab Emirates. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President was not interfering in an independent branch of government, but merely using “his persuasive powers” to fulfill his mandate to protect and serve the people. Panelo said the President merely sought to inform the court that Misuari plays a vital role in achieving peace in Mindanao. “If the problem of Mindanao lies in the hands of a person like Misuari who has a large influential group that can create discord, then it’s the duty of the President to use his persuasive powers to tell the courts to give him temporary freedom because Misuari will help achieve peace,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. He said this could not be seen as interference because the President did not order the court to grant the request. “I don’t think the courts will allow itself to be coerced or intimidated by any person,” he added. “What’s important is that it’s for the interest of the country. You don’t meddle with the decisions of the judiciary. You just let them do their job, you provide them with information or inputs then let them evaluate. And I think given that consideration, they allowed Misuari to go out. But he will come back, without a doubt.” Misuari was allowed to travel to attend the 46th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on March 1 and 2. He will then stay in the UAE until March 11 and attend the 14th session of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States in Rabat, Morocco on March 13 and 14.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

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Senate... From A1

Earlier, Lacson said some congressmen made insertions into the budget even after it was ratified by both the House and the Senate. He said this is the reason the proposed budget remains in the Senate and has not yet been transmitted to Malacañang. He said these congressmen, whom he did not name, violated the Constitution and described them as “shameless.” “We will not agree. The approved budget by the bicam should stay,” Sotto said Monday. “The Legislative Budget, Research and Monitoring Office [LBRMO] will kmow if that happened, and I will know what to do. I’ll coordinate with Ping [Lacson] and [Senator] Loren [Legarda] on my strategy.” In a text message on Monday, Lacson said he was assured by Senate finance committee chairman Legarda that she would present any changes found by the LBRMO to the other senators.

Romualdez... From A1

“I confirm the statement of Mayor Sara that I am interested in the speakership race of the 18th Congress,” said Romualdez, former House independent bloc leader of the 17th Congress and a three-term Leyte congressman, when

PTT Philippines, PetroGazz Philippines and Eastern Petroleum Corp. implement the price adjustment while other oil firms are expected to follow. The oil firms implement price adjustments every Tuesday. Year-to-date adjustments now stand at P3.75 per liter for gasoline, P4.35 pe rliter for diesel and P2.70 per liter for kerosene, according to the latest monitoring report of the Department of Energy. Fuentebella, meanwhile, said the DOE will still study the proposal of the Agriculture Department to increase the biodiesel blend from two percent coco-methyl ester to 5 percent CME blend in diesel. “We will listen first kung ano pro-

posal of DA the increase ng biodiesel because at the end of the day, it’s full appreciation is comprehensive analysis. If we sit down together, we will look at the price and the effect on the environment at entire economy,” he said. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, for its part, is urging the DOE and the National Biofuels Board to thoroughly study the proposal of the DA, particularly its impact on the pump price of diesel. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol announced that he would lobby for the increase of biofuel content in diesel from B2 to B5 to absorb oversupply in the copra industry.

naman siya ground for disqualification. In the Senate, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Aquilino Pimentel III urged the government to file criminal charges against politicians allegedly linked to the illegal drug trade instead of releasing the narcolist ahead of the midterm elections. Gatchalian said the Interior Department should file appropriate charges to bar narco-politicians from joining the upcoming polls. “Shaming them can only do so much. They have the money and local relationships that will ensure their victory,” Gatchalian said. “The best strategy is to remove them legally through the proper courts,” he added. Pimentel, meanwhile, said that the Comelec cannot prevent those on the list from running for office in May because “being on a list, even on a narco-list” is not recognized as a legal ground for disqualifying candidates since they are all presumed innocent until proven guilty. “If the government has included them in a list because the government is convinced, by evidence, of their involvement in the narco trade, then it is government’s duty now to file charges against them using the evidence which made them land in the said list,” he said. Senator Nancy Binay echoed Gatchalian and Pimentel’s stand, as she likewise urged the Interior and Justice departments to file cases against politicians in the “narco-list” instead of publicly naming them. She added that those in the list should be afforded their Constitutional rights. Binay also reminded the DILG and other government agencies to be careful in validating and vetting the list. “Kasi kung hindi pa 100 percent sure ang involvement ay magiging kakatawanan lang ang laban na ito,” she said. The reelectionist senator also warned that the list could be used to shame candidates for the May elections. Senator Franklin Drilon, for his part, said that the DILG “exposes itself to an administrative complaint for abuse of authority, libel and damages for the release of such list.” He also urged the DILG should file cases against these candidates. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed support for the DILG’s proposal to release the narco-list ahead of the May 13 midterm elections. But Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said releasing the list would

be “unfair” as it is a form of negative campaigning. The PDEA said the list currently includes 83 politicians. The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups started on Feb. 12 while the one for local aspirants will kick off on March 30. Amid the controversy, Davao City Mayor and Hugpong Ng Pagbabago party head Sara Duterte-Carpio said HNPbacked candidates who are included in the list will be given a chance to explain and answer the allegation. “I think that is fair doon sa mga tao na nakalista to make sure na meron silang opportunity na sumagot so we will ask them to answer kung ano yung accusation,” she told reporters on the sidelines of a campaign caravan in Pasay City. (We will ask candidates that will figure in the narco-list to answer the accusation against them.) The presidential daughter said that there is actually no law that prohibits the release of a narco-list. “There is no law na nagbabawal na maglabas ang PDEA ng narco-list of politicians,” she said. The Philippine National Police had said that releasing such a list would depend on the President’s decision. But Hugpong-backed senatorial aspirants former police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and former broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad are in favor of releasing a vetted list to aid national security and public interest. “Additional information din yun para sa mga botante just in case hindi nila alam kung sino at ano yung kanilang mga binoboto,” Dela Rosa said. (It will serve as additional information to voters just in case they don’t know who they are voting for.) Dela Rosa served as PNP chief and led Duterte’s war on drugs and later became head of the Bureau of Corrections. Manicad, on the other hand, said the list should be verified before releasing it to guide the public properly. “It’s a matter of national security. Imagine niyo kung makaboto kayo ng isang drug lord. It’s a matter of public interest. Dapat alam natin sino yung tamang leaders para di mapariwara ang bansa natin,” he said. (People should know who the right leaders are so that our country will not suffer setbacks.) With PNA

not do anything but criticize. They’re all doubters,” Duterte said. Led by Vice President Leni Robredo, the opposition Otso Diretso senatorial slate is composed of Senator Bam Aquino, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary

Alejano, former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II. Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal completed the eight-man slate. Duterte then hit each opposition candidate for supposedly being supporters

of the communist rebels and for their supposed “inexperience.” “Erin Tañada? Left. And they’re proud of the left. They think that it’s popular. Look, they even have the guts to create a ticket ‘Otso Diretso’,” the President said. “Macalintal is a lawyer. However, he’s only a lawyer when he has the money.” Duterte also belittled the Senate bid of Hilbay.

asked to comment. “Many congressmen aspire for that position. I am humbled and honored that she [Mayor Sara] mentioned my name as one of the contenders,” Romualdez added. During a recent interview in Pateros, Duterte said she learned that Romualdez might seek the House leadership. Romualdez reaffirmed his commit-

ment to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda. “As a Malacañang ally, it is my duty to push the legislative agenda of the President. Right now, I am working very hard to ensure my victory in the coming election,” said Romualdez. A nephew of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, Romualdez is a known ally of Arroyo.

His wife, Leyte First District Rep. Yedda Marie Romauldez is running as the first nominee of Tingog party-list based in Eastern Visayas. Aside from Romualdez, the others contenders for House speakership are Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

THE country’s oil firms cut pump prices by as much as P0.35 per liter for kerosene and P0.10 per liter for diesel but raised the price of gasoline by P0.10 per liter effective 6am Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices. “Demand from China and Japan weakened. Activities of Chinese factories declined, followed by the second biggest economy in Asia, which is Japan. America has ample supply and there is also an impact from the slowdown of India activity,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.,

On narco-list:... From A1

Malaya said that despite repeated warnings, some still won, while some also lost. The DILG plans to release a similar document before the May 13 elections and it has again raised concerns that it would violate the right to due process of those on the supposed narco-list. Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino on Monday said he is against the move to release the so-called narco-list ahead of the May 2019 elections. Aquino said he’d rather work silently, and build up and file cases against narcopoliticians, instead of coming up with a list of politicians who may be involved in the illegal drug trade. “Since the very first time, I for one don’t want the disclosure of the narco-list. [I would] just work silently and file necessary charges against those involved,” he said in an interview. As early as November last year, Aquino had said that he was not in favor of releasing a narco-list months before the midterm elections, saying that based on his experience in the May 2018 barangay polls, the disclosure of politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drugs could only make things more chaotic. Malacañang had stood by its ground that the voters must know who they should vote, and that they should not be deprived of the information about any politicians supposedly involved in the illegal drug trade. Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections said it cannot stop the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency from releasing the names of candidates on their list of politicians involved in illegal drugs. “Call ‘yan ng DILG at PDEA. Wala kaming problema diyan,” Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said. “Siguro may basis din sila. May mandato sila,” he added. Still, the Comelec official said that a candidate’s inclusion in the government’s narco-list is not a basis for disqualification in running for an elective position. “As far as Comelec is concerned, hindi naman ibig sabihin na nandoon ka sa listahan eh talagang accused ka na. Hindi

Rody... From A1

Dengvaxia raps vs Aquino up for resolution THE Justice department may resolve within the month the criminal complaints against former President Benigno Aquino III and the others implicated in the speedy procurement of the multibillion-peso government contract for the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. “Maybe within the month it will be released,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters Monday when sought for comment on the status of the complaint filed against Aquino by the Volunteers Against Crime Corruption and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. Senator Richard Gordon earlier urged the Justice department to look closely into Aquino’s possible liability in the P3.5-billion purchase of the vaccine. “I have already explained to Senator Gordon that former President Aquino, [former Budget] Secretary Butch Abad et al are facing different complaints [anti-graft, violation of the procurement law, etc.] which are also up for resolution by the DOJ very soon,” Guevarra said. Aquino and his co-respondents are accused of having violated Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, misuse of funds under Section 65(3) of RA 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, and reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide through criminal negligence. Charged along with Aquino are Abad, Garin and former and current Department of Health officials, including Undersecretaries Carol Tanio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth David, and Mario Villaverde; Assistant Secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; Directors Laureano Cruz, Joyce Ducusin, Mar Wynn Bello, Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Ariel Valencia, and Julius Lecciones; retired Undersecretary Nemesio Gako; resigned Undersecretaries Vicente Belizario Jr. and Kenneth Hartigan-Go; and resigned executive assistant to Garin, Dr. Yolanda Oliveros.

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National Capital Region Police Office Chief Guillermo Eleazar said the suspect, Evette Tividad, was arrested in room 2516 of Studio A Condominium on Xavierville Avenue and Esteban Abada in Loyola Heights village around 8:30 a.m. Eleazar said Tividad was arrested following a month-long surveillance operation. The Philippine National Police conducted twin operations in Cebu over the weekend and yielded over P190 million worth of shabu. Ygot was giving instructions to his girlfriend, Jocelyn Encilla, in a house with closed circuit television that Ygot could gain access to through the Internet from prison. This is not the first time that the police discovered that a Bilibid inmate has been involved in illegal drugs. In July last year, the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group discovered that Tyrone dela Cruz, who has been detained at the NBP since December 2017, negotiated for the P15-million ransom payment in exchange for the release of a Chinese businessman abducted in Laguna. With Joel E. Zurbano

Web at 30:... From A1

hijacked by crooks” that may spell its destruction. Berner-Lee’s old office at Europe’s physics lab CERN now looks no different than the others lining the long, nondescript corridor within the expansive compound. The only indication that history was made here is a small commemorative plaque and a page from an old CERN directory hung on the door, with “MOMENTARILY OUT OF OFFICE!” written in jest next to Berners-Lee’s name. “Tim worked a lot,” said technician Francois Fluckiger, who took charge of the web team after Berners-Lee left for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. “The lights were always on in his office,” Fluckiger told AFP.

History in the making

Berners-Lee was responsible for CERN’s internal directory but was interested in ways to allow the thousands of scientists around the world who cooperated with the lab to more easily share their work. AFP

News Arroyo highlights importance of infrastructure development By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in the growth of a community saying it is what brings investments and employment opportunities. The former President made this statement during her weekend trip to Naga City in Cebu in which she visited one of her biggest priority projects for Cebu during her presidency—the Cebu South Road. Arroyo said the P1.2-billion expansion and rehabilitation project of the Cebu South Road project during her time may have spurred growth in the southern part of Cebu specifically in Naga since it became a city two years after the road was expanded during her administration. “So I was remembering how all of these things probably helped in the development of this part of Cebu so I was happy that in 2008 Naga became a city. Congratulations to the people of Naga that you have done so much to develop the city—the town before that eventually became a city,” Arroyo said. Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. of Cebu agreed with Arroyo’s pronouncements, saying the road has attracted investments and businesses to Naga. This is the reason why, he mentioned, the Department of Public Works and Highways has been allocating budget for its maintenance and improvement year after year. “Actually, the National Government allocates money every year to improve the road. Actually, now, we are in the process of widening these roads and making them better for everyone who uses the roads. We’re continuing widening Naga, San Fernando, and Carcar. So that’s the reason why a lot of investments and businesses come to Naga, because of the infrastructure that’s in place because of these projects,” Gullas said. Arroyo narrated that when she visited Cebu in 2004 to thank the Cebuanos for their landslide vote for her presidential bid, she was shocked to see that Cebu South Road, which was built by her maternal grandfather, was in an “ugly” state. “I remember in 2004, my first visit to Cebu to thank the people of Cebu for the one million landslide that you gave me, we passed this way. And that time the road was horrible. I called it the ‘ugly road.’ What’s the name of this road? Ugly road. I said, ‘my grandfather must be turning in his grave so we have to fix this road’. Because it was first built by my grandfather, Juan Macaraeg. He was district engineer of the Visayas during the Commonwealth,” she said.

ACT seeks reversal of CA’s dismissal of PNP profiling case By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has been asked to reverse its recent ruling denying their petition to declare as unconstitutional the profiling of its members and affiliates in public schools by the Philippine National Police. In a motion for reconsideration, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers pleaded the CA’s Eleventh Division to overturn its Feb. 4 decision, saying its decision to dismiss their petition was “too harsh” due to technicalities considering that its petition involves gross violations of the fundamental constitutional rights of its members, which include right to association, right to assembly and right to privacy, freedom of expression, and right to protection of labor. “Petitioners submit that while the procedural rules should not be belittled or disregarded, their strict and rigid application must be avoided if the same would result in technicalities that tend, wittingly or unwittingly, to frustrate rather than promote substantial justice,” ACT, through the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said. In its Feb. 4 decision penned by Associate Justice Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, the appellate court dismissed the petition on the ground of technicalities citing the failure of the group to comply with the requirement under Rule 65, Section 2 in relation to Rule 46, Section 3 of the Rules of Court. The CA stressed that petitioner failed submit certified true copies of the assailed memoranda issued by the PNP’s intelligence units. The Rule requires that a petition should be “accompanied by a certified true copy of the judgment, order or resolution subject thereof, copies of all pleadings and documents relevant and pertinent thereto.” Besides, the CA pointed out that ACT, through its national chairperson Joselyn Martirez and secretary general Raymond Basilio, did not state material dates in their petition, specifically the dates when the petitioners received the various assailed PNP Memoranda.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sabah possible on the agenda during Mahathir-Duterte meet By Nat Mariano

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ALAYSIAN Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad and President Rodrigo Duterte will meet on Thursday to discuss economic and political cooperation between the two countries, with the Philippine claim to Sabah possibly on the agenda, Malacañang announced Monday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the 93-year-old Malaysian leader will pay an official visit to the country from March 6 to 7 upon the President’s invitation.

“President Duterte will officially welcome Prime Minister Mahathir at ceremonies in Malacañang Palace on March 7, 2019. The two leaders will then hold a bilateral meeting and discuss

cooperation in the political, economic and people-to-people spheres, and exchange views on topics of mutual importance,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. “This is Prime Minister Mahathir’s first visit to the Philippines since he assumed his position as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia in 2018. During his previous term as prime minister, he undertook bilateral official visits in 1987 and 1994,” he said. Asked if the Philippines’ claim on the disputed Sabah island would be among the topics discussed by the two leaders, the Palace official said this was a “possibility.” “Everything is possible when you meet a head of state, every issue is open,” Panelo said.

Since the 1870s, Sabah, or North Borneo has been disputed by the two countries. The territory was originally yielded by the Kingdom of Brunei to the Sultanate of Sulu. The residents, however, voted to become part of Malaysia when it became independent from Great Britain in 1963. The visit of the Malaysian leader reciprocates President Duterte’s trip to Malaysia in July 2018 where the Chief Executive watched the world title fight of boxer Senator Manny Pacquiao. During their meeting last year in Putrajaya, Malaysia, the two leaders “renewed and reaffirmed the long-standing brotherhood and friendship between the Philippines and Malaysia.” With PNA

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Opinion

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

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Will the US defend PH? I HEARD this lament from a parent whose two children migrated to the United States some years ago. They have acquired their US citizenships and are now living there with their families. The father complained to me that he finds it peculiar that Filipinos who have migrated to the US soon acquire the habits and values of Americans. Worse, they lose their filial devotions. He asked: What is it with the United States that makes Filipinos living there act like Americans? They lose their morals. Young people live with their boyfriends or girlfriends outside the sacrament of matrimony.

Don’t bet on it.

Sympathizing with him, I said it’s because of peer pressure and the American environment. This is nothing new. I’ve heard countless similar stories. *** There is this debate on the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines, after the US Secretary of State visited last week. He said the US had our back. This supposedly means that if the Philippines is attacked, the US would come to our defense and vice versa. There were earlier moves to have the 1951 MDT reviewed in the wake of a possible confrontation between the US and China, especially so with the continued bullying done by China in the West Philippine Sea. When somebody says “I’ve got your back,” it means I will protect

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

and defend you. While there are those who believe that the US would really come to our defense, there are those who say that the treaty has some vague provisions. This is exactly why Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other experts want the MDT revised. The entire issue gets further muddled because the Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin claims there is no need for review. But when it comes to defense, whom would you rather believe—Lorenzana or Locsin? I am all for the review of the treaty. Many things have happened since 1951. For instance, does United States President Donald Trump really believe it? I will not bet on it. Trump has disregarded other treaties and agreements, like the one on climate change. Note also that when it comes to China, Trump would rather tiptoe. I cannot see the logic of Locsin and the others who claim there is no need for review in the wake of what is happening now. *** The only salutary effect of all these scheduled media debates is for people to know who are running for the Senate. There are some 60 candidates vying for 12 slots. This kind of introduction of newnew bies over television is most welcome. The debates could also reveal where they truly stand on various issues. Sometimes, they expose how candidates are ignorant of the job they are aspiring for. I’d like to ask the newbies: Why are they running for an office that demands no less than half a billion pesos for just the hope of winning? Yes, that’s how much it costs these days to run for the Senate. *** I had hoped that when the opposition, meaning the Liberal Party, came out with its list of candidates, it would have had names that are winnable. I was disappointed. The only possible winner in the pack is former Senator Mar Roxas. I think this is tragic. I want the opposition to have a louder voice in providing check and balance to the government.

About a list

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OVERNMENT officials have contrasting opinions on whether or not a list of candidates involved in illegal drugs should be released ahead of the May 13 elections.

The Palace leads those who want this list, now containing 83 names, released. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo says the Constitution guarantees Filipinos' right to information. Voters should know what kind of people they are electing to office. Panelo says President Duterte will not oppose the release of the list because he in fact has done it before.

But Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino is not inclined to disclose the “narco-list” because it could only make things more chaotic. Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said releasing the list would be "unfair" as it is a form of negative campaigning. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the Commission on Elections cannot prevent those on the list from running for office in May because "being on a list, even on a narcolist" is not recognized as a legal ground for disqualifying candidates. And indeed the spokesman for the Comelec said candidates can still seek public office even if they are on the list, because only a final convic-

tion can disqualify them from seeking a public post. The matter could be decided by answering one question: How much can the list be actually trusted? What guarantee do we have that the list contains every name that must be there, and that it does not contain names that must not be there? Only until we are sure of the merits of the vetting process can we even begin to debate on whether or not it is prudent to make the list public. Without this certainty, it would be wiser to hold off the naming and shaming, and simply let voters discern for themselves whether or not a person awash with unexplained cash, for instance, deserves the post he or she is seeking.

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‘A humbled church is good’ THIS Ash Wednesday, we are once again called to mind our sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. It ushers in the season of Lent to commemorate Christ’s passion and death on the cross. It is the season of prayer, fasting and asking for forgiveness for the many times that we deliberately and intentionally transgressed God’s commands and obstinately refused to follow God’s will and perfect plan for us. Ash Wednesday is especially significant and thought-provoking this year. Finally, after years of trying to cover up and evade the issue, the Roman Catholic Church during the pontificate of Francis has finally owned up to its accountability for the horrific sexual depredations committed by the clergy around the globe. No continent—Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and North America—has been spared from this plague. The Philippines is no exception. We will have our day of reckoning too. In my view, this is likely to happen after the presidency of Duterte who has no credibility on the issue given his political statements against the Catholic Church. It’s about time, though, to face the child sex abuse and related to it the behavior of priest and church leaders to all persons in vulnerable situations such as religious nuns, lay workers, and students of Catholic schools. As a Catholic who loves the Church and will defend it always, I believe this is a welcome development. The Church has a long history of mishandling clergy sex abuse cases—by covering it up or playing down these cases to protect the erring priests and the institution. The perpetrators can be found across the entire hierarchy of the Catholic Church—from the lowly parish priest in a remote village up to the highest cardinal. Cardinal Geoge Pell, a close advisor of the pope and other cardinals close to popes before him (Cardinal Theodore McCarrick), has been accused and found guilty (Pell’s case is still under appeal while McCarrick has already been tied and found guilty by a Vatican tribunal) of such wrongdoing. Many others have been accused of covering up child abuse within the Church, actions that are also very reprehensible and has caused immense suffering to victims and their families. The shameful scandals committed

against the young by their supposed shepherds have compelled the highest authorities of the Catholic Church to go into a long and careful soul searching and look for ways to protect the young and exact accountability from the guilty. As a result of the mounting pressure from the numerous victims, civil authorities and the Catholics themselves, Pope Francis called on all the bishops for a four-day sexual abuse summit, officially called the Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church that ran from 21 to 24 February 2019. On the first day of the summit, Francis said, “The holy people of God are watching and expect not just simple and obvious condemnations, but efficient and concrete measures to be established. He called on the participants to come up with concrete actions and not just words.

The summit drew mixed reactions.

The Cardinals called for accountability and transparency. Our very own Cardinal Chito Tagle opened the summit with the elephant in the room question: “Our lack of response to the suffering of victims, even to the point of rejecting them and covering up the scandal to protect perpetrators and the institution, has injured our people, leaving a deep wound in our relationship with those we are sent to serve.” Cardinal Blase Cupich called for transparent legal procedures on how to report and investigate those accused of abuse and those negligent in handling abuse cases. During the summit, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx made a shocking revelation, admitting that the Catholic Church destroyed files that documented sexual abuse of children. The four-day summit ended with a speech by Pope Francis that condemned the abuses by clergy but cautioned against being too extreme in response to the crisis. He called the Abusers “tools of Satan” and characterized such criminal behavior as “utterly incompatible with [the church’s] moral authority and ethical credibility.” However, he also cautioned the church about falling Turn to A5

Jeepney modernization: What’s in it for you? PART of the horrible traffic problem in Metro Manila at present, no doubt, are the ubiquitous jeepneys that descended from Willy’s jeep, the reliable workhorses of American troops during the Second World War. Filipino ingenuity transformed the jeeps left by the Americans into what were known as auto-calesas or ACs. The ACs initially carried two riders on the front seat beside the driver and two to three more in two parallel rows for a total of six to eight passengers. Later, realizing that bigger units could give drivers more daily income, manufacturers lengthened the jeepneys to accommodate as

The public deserves better.

many as 20 or more riders. The jeepneys still ply major streets in Metro Manila and other urban areas even as a few light rail networks are already in operation, with another one under construction. While there have been calls for the total phaseout of jeepneys, the government wants instead to modernize them.

The public utility vehicle modernization program of the Department of Transportation stanwants new jeepneys to conform to certain stan passendards. The ceiling height would allow passen gers to enter without stooping, for one thing, just like in minibuses. They will be safer because they feature side doors and front-facing seats with safety belts for each passenger. The modern jeepney would use automated cards for fare payment, similar to the LRT and MRT. They would also be equipped with a speed aircondilimiter. The new jeepneys would be aircondi tioned and equipped with global positioning system (GPS). And they would be powered by bio-ethanol fuel, thus reducing air pollution in the city since jeepneys now using second-hand diesel engines emit toxic fumes and contribute to heavy air pollution. Lawyer Vigor Mendoza of the Kilusan sa Turn to A5

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Opinion Four giant steps IN THE last couple of weeks, and with hardly any fanfare, the Duterte administration has launched at least four initiatives that promise to shake up vital areas of the national enterprise. Amidst all the brouhaha ovaer what our promdi mayor-president can’t help saying whenever he speaks off the cuff, the daily task of nation-building quietly unfolds by leaps and bounds under him. As people should do with him or any other leader: Watch what Duterte does, not what he says. *** In agriculture, Duterte wisely put his weight behind the objective of rice security, not the chimera of rice self-sufficiency that was being pushed by some Cabinet members. As a result, rice tariffication was recently enacted into law, and those same Cabinet members have thankfully changed their minds. As NEDA leads the drafting of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the new law, here are its highlights: One, quantitative restrictions on imported rice have been completely abolished in favor of a 35-percent import tariff. With imported rice prices only as low as half the price of local rice, this tariff captures most of the cost savings from imports and allows the balance of savings to be enjoyed by our rice consumers. This also has the salutary effect of bringing down local inflation by up to 0.7 percent. Two, the NFA will no longer buy rice high and sell rice low (at subsidized prices of P27 to P32 per kilo), a sure formula for fiscal disaster in this government agency. Instead it will just focus on stocking buffer rice from our farmers (equal to 15-30 days consumption) for emergencies. Considering how often these guys have missed their targets, we can only be glad that they’ll be doing less. Three, the tariff will fund a P10-billion rice competitiveness enhancement fund (RCEF) to finance farming tools, seeds, and other productivity improvements. If this fund is further means-adjusted, it also becomes a safety net for the poorest of our rice farmers. More broadly, government will draft a rice industry roadmap to coordinate all industry players. All in all, this is the biggest reform program to hit the agricultural sector in recent memory. *** In mass transit, after a two-year delay, the Department of Transportation finally broke ground last week on what is being called the “project of the century”—the P355.6-billion Metro Manila subway project. For those among us who routinely travel underground whenever we’re abroad, this promises to be an eye-opener. The new subway system will span

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With Mar Roxas in the Senate, the opposition will still be in the Minority. Mar will be with Francis Pangilinan, Frank Drilon, Riza Hontiveros and Leila de Lima. This means the “supermajority” of either Duterte senators or so-called independent senators, who are actually with the majority, are still in control of the Senate. This means another three years of Duterte having the Senate under his thumb. The Senate should remain as the

‘A humbled... From A4

into the extreme of “justicialism.” The summit drew mixed reactions with some praising the positive steps taken while others including many among the abuse victims criticizing the summit as not being comprehensive and concrete enough. In the next few weeks, for my Lenten columns, I will summarize some of the speeches and discussions during the summit. This is a good season to do this for it is a time of conversion and that includes ourselves as individuals but also of our social institutions. The Church is not excluded from that call for conversion. I end with and make mine the final words of Pope Francis in his opening address during the summit: “Allow me now to offer a heartfelt word of thanks to all those priests and consecrated persons who serve the Lord faithfully and totally, and who feel themselves dishonored and discredited by the shameful conduct of some of their confreres. All of us—the Church, consecrated persons, the People of God, and even God himself—bear the ef-

Jeepney... From A4 Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon (KAPIT) was our guest in the Saturday news forum at Annabel’s. He declared at the outset that his group supports the government move to modernize PUVs, especially jeepneys. He is pushing this advocacy through his Bagong Jeeps (BEEPS) project. Mendoza informed the news forum that every jeepney serves an average of 300 passengers a day. Drivers can rack up between P3,000 to P4,000 gross sales daily, but the higher cost

36 kilometers, with 15 stations crossing seven cities, taking passengers end to end from Valenzuela to NAIA in about half an hour at speeds averaging 80 kilometers per hour. Only three stations will be partly operable by the time Duterte steps down in 2022. Upon full buildout in 2025, the subway will carry up to 370,000 passengers a day, with design capacity of 1.5 million passengers a day.

Watch what Duterte does, not what he says.

them with safety nets (DSWD/DOLE/ DTI) • Compel LGUs to implement the necessary sanitation and sewerage projects to improve water quality in the bay • Public information and education support (DepEd/CHED/PCOO) The nearly-unspeakable pollution of Manila Bay has long been the butt of jokes, especially among Filipinos at their own expense. Thus I sense that the President’s real but unspoken agenda here is to rebuild some self-esteem and once again rally voluntarism at its finest from our people, forcing them to learn civic spirit and love of country and Nature the hard way: By actually working at it. *** Finally, in governance, Duterte through his executive secretary has created another inter-agency task force (IATF), this time to continue pushing his campaign promise way back in 2016 of transitioning the country from a unitary to a federal system. As a federalista myself, I must admit to having also been discouraged by what lately seemed to be the President’s waning interest in this unprecedented reform. Perhaps, I thought, having outgrown his regional/mayoral roots, he’s become enamored of the vast powers conferred by the presidency, which in fact helped him drive through his reform agenda including the first three initiatives discussed above. However, it turns out that this federalism IATF was created way back last October, just when Duterte was starting to dial down his Chacha rhetoric. In its present form, the task force will oversee the creation of ten different clusters, each to be led by its own national government agency. The clusters will address the following issue areas promulgated in the draft constitution submitted to Duterte last year by his hand-picked consultative commission (ConCom): (1) Structure of federal government (2) Structure of regional and local governments (3) Intergovernmental relations (4) Fiscal and financial administration (5) National economy and patrimony (6) Accountability of public officers (7) Constitutional commissions (8) Rights and obligations (9) National territory and security (10) Transitory provisions. I’ve already been assigned the clusters that I’ll be supporting on behalf of DILG. It promises to be an even more exciting Act 3 after the first two acts I was privileged to join in, i.e. helping to write the PDP-Laban draft, then helping to disseminate the ConCom draft. The entire exercise goes way beyond the simplistic parody to which ignorant ideologues tried to reduce the scale and scope of the grand enterprise called Charter change. As I said at the start of this piece: Watch what Duterte does, not what he says.

This project is funded by the Japanese (through JICA) and driven by Japanese technology. As someone who became deeply skeptical about the quality and efficiency of Chinese financing and technology—from a number of years spent with the ill-fated Northrail train project—I am cheered by the Chinese absence from this milestone project, which instead features the participation of Japanese companies Shimizu, Fujitsu and Takenaka, together with local partner EEI. I estimate that Chinese industrial quality today is about where Japan was in the seventies, or nearly 20 years behind. Our countrymen can only be more comfortable partnering with a nation with whom we are not interminably wrestling for control of maritime territories. And credit for this newfound partnership interest from the likes of Japan, Russia, even the EU, must go to Duterte, who has played his China card most cannily. *** In issues of the environment, Duterte has created a Manila Bay Task Force to “expedite the rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of the coastal and marine ecosystem of Manila Bay.” This should immediately silence his congenital critics, who were already dismissing the recent coastal cleanup of the bay as just a one-off media event. Unlike the six-month environmental blitzkrieg conducted in Boracay, the cleanup of Manila Bay is a massive undertaking that will take billions of pesos and literally years to complete. There are many tasks to be accomplished by this new task force: • Enforce compliance with the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws (DENR) • Monitor and apprehend violators of pollution laws (PNP/PCG/PPA) • Demolish all illegal structures built along rivers that discharge into the bay as well as implement flood control and drainage services (DPWH) • Relocate informal settlers away from Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ the bay (NAPC/PCUP/NHAand provide yahoo.com.

voice of the opposition! Don’t believe Duterte’s favorite candidate Bong Go who says he will serve as the link between Duterte and the people. *** The Philippine Constitution Association wants Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen to inhibit himself from the cases challenging the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The petitioners say that the Constitution only recognizes two autonomous regions—the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Obviously, this does not include the

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Leonen had participated in an earlier agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Aquino administration. Will Leonen inhibit himself? If yes, well and good. At least he has some self-respect. If not, that is his problem. Still, the biggest factor in the petitions is that any decision by the Supreme Court will be after the fact. The BOL has already been ratified. Can the Supreme Court nullify the ratification of a plebiscite?

fects of their infidelity. In the name of the whole Church, I thank the vast majority of priests who are not only faithful to their celibacy, but spend themselves in a ministry today made even more difficult by the scandals of few (but always too many) of their confreres. I also thank the faithful who are well aware of the goodness of their pastors and who continue to pray for them and to support them. Finally, I would like to stress the important need to turn this evil into an opportunity for purification. Let us look to the example of Edith Stein—Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross—with the certainty that “in the darkest night, the greatest prophets and saints rise up. Still, the life-giving stream of the mystical life remains invisible. Surely, the decisive events of history of the world have been essentially influenced by souls about whom the history books remain silent. And those souls that we must thank for the decisive events in our personal lives is something that we will know only on that day when all that which is hidden will be brought to light.” The holy, faithful People of God, in its daily silence, in many forms and ways continues to demonstrate and at-

test with “stubborn” hope that the Lord never abandons but sustains the constant and, in so many cases, painful devotion of his children. The holy and patient, faithful People of God, borne up and enlivened by the Holy Spirit, is the best face of the prophetic Church which puts her Lord at the centre in daily giving of herself. It will be precisely this holy People of God to liberate us from the plague of clericalism, which is the fertile ground for all these disgraces. The best results and the most effective resolution that we can offer to the victims, to the People of Holy Mother Church and to the entire world, are the commitment to personal and collective conversion, the humility of learning, listening, assisting and protecting the most vulnerable.” A humbled church is good. That can lead to conversion. Likewise, there is no grace greater than acknowledging one’s sinfulness. Conversion comes also to a humbled person. This Lent, I pray for such humiliation for the Church and for myself, and for all Christians serious in their faith.”

of diesel fuel nowadays brings their take-home pay to around P1,100. In contrast, a modern jeepney can make P10,000 a day, because passengers enjoy airconditioning and comfortable seats. There are roughly 200,000 jeepney units nationwide at present. But each one has two to three drivers. So there’s roughly 400,000 to 600,000 jeepney drivers. Most of them have had limited education and therefore are lowskilled. So it’s important to train the drivers and mechanics in new technologies. The government should evaluate the program and see where change is needed, Mendoza said. The public transport sector consumes about P6 billion worth of fuel every year, and half of

that is consumed by jeepneys. They contribute to the national economy P36 billion a year, but not a single centavo goes to modernization, Mendoza lamented. Jeepney drivers cannot afford to buy new vehicles unless the government helps them, he pointed out. “Most commuters are workers, but they have no choice but to take old, rickety jeepneys during rush hours, and they are packed like sardines. They have no choice really.” The government has set a target of March 2020 for old jeepneys to be taken off the streets and replaced by modern units. But how can that goal be achieved without funding support, Mendoza asked. He said those who wanted to take part in the modernization program were

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Otso Diretso: the Opposition powerhouse Senate slate the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the streets and in Free Legal Assistance Group-initiated lawsuits. Otso Diretso boasts of something that its opposition does not have: a first-placer in the Bar examinations. That person is Florin Hilbay. Pilo Hilbay rose from humSOMETIMES one comes across a phrase ble beginnings in Tondo to become UP or slogan so creative and so catchy that College of Law dean and Solicitor General. one is led to say to oneself, “I wish I had The most recent of the many feathers in his thought of that first.” I found myself say- cap is being part of the government panel ing exactly that when I first read the phrase that successfully argued the Philippines’ Otso Diretso, which is the name of the case against China before the Permanent eight-member senatorial slate of the Lib- Court of Arbitration. A legal heavyweight eral Party in the May 13 election. How Pilo Hilbay truly is. The military is represented in Otso Diclever, I thought—a play on the Spanish phrase for ready-made, hecho derecho. retso. Gary Alejano, who represents the Seven men and one woman ready-made party-list Magdalo party, was a captain in the Philippine Marines. Apart from govfor election to the Senate. Otso Diretso’s eight candidates are ernment corruption, Rep. Alejano’s intermade up mostly of currently-serving or est has centered on assertion of Philippine former government officials; only two sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea have not held government positions. The and Benham Rise and the creation of a six who are either currently serving or have Cabinet government to protect and oversee served the government are Bam Aquino, the nation’s maritime and oceanic affairs. Alejano will doubleMar Roxas, Lorenzo team with Hilbay ‘Erin’ Tañada III, in pushing for the Florin Hilbay, assertion of this Gary Alejano and country’s sovereign Samira Gutoc. The They are readyrights over the West two candidates Philippine Sea. who have come made for service to the The only womfrom the private an and Muslim sector are Jose nation. in Otso Diretso Manuel Diokno is Samira Gutoc. and Romulo MaBefore deciding calintal. to join the SenBam Aquino, ate race, she was a who was formerly chairman of the National Youth Commis- member of the governing assembly of the sion, is seeking a second term in the Sen- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ate. During his first days in the Senate Bam (ARMM). Smart and articulate, Samira Aquino was regarded as just another mem- Gutoc is recognized as one of the most ber of the famous clan, but with the pas- competent of this country’s female Muslim sage of time the young senator from Tarlac professionals. When the history of the human rights gained the acceptance and respect of his peers for his dedication, industry and pro- movement in this country is written, two of fessionalism. Ninoy Aquino would have the most prominent names in it will be former Senator Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno and been proud of his nephew. A former senator, Mar Roxas was a his son Jose Manuel. Chel, the nickname candidate for the presidency in the 2016 of Jose Manuel Diokno, is the dean of the election. Mr. Roxas rode to victory in his college of law of De La Salle University. first senatorial bid as Mr. Palengke, a title The Chel Diokno-Erin Tañada tandem will he earned from his having been Secretary be in the forefront of the new Senate’s huof Trade and Industry in the administration man-rights promotion activities. Last but by no means least among the of President Estrada and President Arroyo. Roxas was also Secretary of Transporta- Otso Diretso Eight is Romulo Macalintal. tion in the Arroyo administration. With his Mac Macalintal’s principal area of expertraining and broad experience, Roxas is tise may be election law, but by no means can it be said that the formidable election Otso’s business point-man. Lorenzo Tañada III, who is better lawyer will be unwilling or unable to parknown by his nickname Erin, represent- ticipate effectively in Senate discussions of ed the 4thDistrict of Quezon in the 13th, other weighty national matters. Not at all. 14thand 15thCongresses. The grandson Romulo Macalintal will in time become of the Grand Old Man of the Senate, the one of the new Senate’s most influential first Lorenzo Tañada, Erin represents the members. The Liberal Party has fielded, for the third generation of a family of political activists and human-rights advocates. His coming Senate election, eight of the most father Wigberto completes the Trio Tañada worthy individuals in this country. They that relentlessly fought martial law and are ready-made for service to the nation.

CIDG chief means business IN TIMES of change, like now, we need not emphasize the crucial role played by the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies like the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). In this bloody war against organized crime and illegal drugs, we have to ensure that only the best in uniform are on the line. Needless to say, what our police officers do out there on the streets reflects not only on the PNP but on the national government itself. There is no room for misfits, and for abusive, and “engot” police personnel—thus the constant cleansing of the PNP ranks. It is just reassuring that we have officials like Police Director Amador Corpuz, CIDG Chief, who will act swiftly on any complaint pertaining to the conduct of his men. General Corpuz wants to keep only the best of the best, meaning only a few good men and women, in this elite branch of the PNP that handles high-profile and heinous criminal cases. That is why we did not hesitate to bring to the attention of the CIDG Chief a recent complaint where in two cameramen were unnecessarily removed from a sports event venue by CIDG men on orders of one Col. Cezar Paday-os. The two online sports crewmen were merely setting up for live coverage at outside a sports complex in Baguio City when the popromised a subsidy of P80,000 to purchase new units, but this has not happened. He suggested that part of the excise tax on fuel should be given as assistance to the public transport sector. “All we want is fair and equal treatment,” he said. Mendoza’s group supports a fixed-income scheme for jeepney drivers so they do not have to compete among themselves to get riders. Based on their calculation, if drivers work ten hours a day, they earn an average of a little over P1,000 a day. Some drivers even earn an average of P32,000 a month, working 10 hours a day and six days a week. Not bad, as they earn more than entry-level BPO workers. He said there’s even a financial analyst who works in

licemen pounced on them and hauled them to the local CIDG office. They were reportedly detained overnight until this Col. Paday-os told them the next day to have a hefty amount of money to bail out of their “illegal gambling” case. It was clearly an act of harassment on questionable motive, misrepresentation and abuse of authority. Upon learning about the complaint of the two cameramen, General Corpuz ordered the immediate relief of the colonel. The investigation resulted in Paday-os’ transfer to another PNP unit. General Corpuz assured the public that there is no room for such abuses and “kapalpakan” in a reputable police office like the CIDG. Way to go, General! *** A lot of people will surely miss my good old friend, “kumpadre” and “manong” Antonio “Bebot” Villar who passed away last Friday, March 1 in Quezon City. Villar served as mayor of Santo Tomas, Pangasinan for several years until former President Arroyo took office. He was then tapped to contain the rampant smuggling at the pier through the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG). However, his stint at PASG didn’t last long as the drug problem in the country worsened. Arroyo put him in charge of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). Villar, who is the “darling of the press,” retired from office when PNoy assumed power in 2010. His remains now lie at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes along Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Interment will be on Wednesday in his hometown in Santo Tomas, Pangasinan. Makati on weekdays, but drives a jeepney on weekends to supplement his income. “Modernization is meaningless unless it improves the lives and well-being of jeepney drivers,” Mendoza says. “We must stop the practice of cramming jeepneys with passengers. And there are so many run-down jeepneys plying the roads. We must give passengers a better choice. If we stop modernization, ten years from now, we will still have the same problems, such as overcrowded jeepneys. So let’s pursue modernization, let’s improve the lives of everybody. We support modernization because the public deserve better.” ernhil@yahoo.com

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Gov’t urged to forge pact with China By Maricel V. Cruz

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CONGRESSMAN from Mindanao on Monday urged the government to enter into a labor agreement with China after finding out from Philippine labor authorities and the Chinese embassy that the two countries do not yet have a bilateral labor agreement. “The time is right and circumstances are ripe for having such an agreement,” Rep. Frederick Siao of Iligan City said. “There is a crucial need for this because, as President Rodrigo Duterte has pointed out, there are about 300,000

Filipinos in China,” said Siao, who was part of the congressional delegation that welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Mindanao last November during his state visit. “Many Filipino workers in China are professionals and skilled workers. Some

are in the tourism and arts sectors. Many are also undocumented migrants. Having a labor pact with China will protect them and see to their welfare,” he added. The congressman said either a bilateral executive pact or a treaty could be crafted. “The executive agreement would be easier to do, so we could do that first. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment can jointly work on this on our side and while they do, their counterparts in China can do their work as well. When working documents are

ready, bilateral meetings can be held,” said Siao, vice chairman of the House committee on tourism. Noting that an executive agreement takes time to develop, Siao said, “we can learn from how current related agreements with China are working out.” “We have education, scientific, technical, and business agreements in place and underway through different exchanges and projects. These agreements can be upgraded or expanded. The mechanisms and lessons learned from the existing agreements would be inputs to the bilateral labor pact,” he said.

IN BRIEF SSS clarifies contribution hike implementation THE state-run Social Security System (SSS) on Monday clarified that the contributions rate increase under Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2019 would not be implemented Tuesday, contrary to recent media reports. The SSS Management clarified the law would take effect Tuesday but would still wait for the approved and published Implementing Rules and Regulations for the proper implementation of the law, especially as regards its new features. Based on the published copy of the law, the Social Security Commission is given not more than 90 days after effectivity or until June 3 to draft and publish the IRR. “The Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act not later than 90 days after its effectivity,” Sec. 30 of the law reads. The erroneous report came from an ambush interview with the SSS spokesperson during the sidelines of the recently conducted Public Forum on SS Act of 2018 in Cebu last Friday wherein one reporter asked when is the effectivity date of the law. “The misinformation caused by the erroneous report could have caused panic among our members especially to the employers who are yet to be informed of the guidelines of the new law. We are appealing to our friends in the media for an accurate and verified news report about the pension fund, especially with the new SS Act of 2018,” the SSS said in a statement.

POEA now accepting applicants THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is now accepting qualified applicants for nurses and care workers for deployment in Japan under the Framework for the Movement of Natural Persons of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. The POEA said that Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services needed qualified applicants to fill up another batch of vacancies for 50 nurses or kangoshi and 300 careworkers or kaigofukushishi. Candidates for nursing positions must be a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with PRC Board license, with at least three years hospital experience, and must be motivated and committed to work and study as a candidate for “Kangoshi” to obtain a National License in Japan. Meanwhile, those who wish to apply as care workers must be a graduate of any four-year course, a certified NCII caregiver by TESDA, and a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (with or without PRC license). The candidate-nurses to be hired shall first complete a six-month onsite Japanese language training and thereafter undergo on-the-job training at their respective hospitals. They should be able to pass the licensure examination in Japan before they can work as registered nurses. They have three chances to take the nursing licensure examination. Vito Barcelo

SMC pledges P1b for Tullahan SAN Miguel Corp. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Monday formalized a joint commitment to undertake an extensive cleanup of the Tullahan River system―a crucial step to rehabilitating the Manila Bay. Ramon Ang, SMC president and chief operating officer, and DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu signed the landmark memorandum of agreement that will implement a comprehensive dredging and cleanup of the 59.24-km tributary that starts from the La Mesa Reservoir and traverses the cities of Valenzuela and Malabon, before reaching the mouth of Manila Bay through Navotas City. Ang said SMC would provide the DENR P1 billion to fund the massive cleanup effort. “The cleanup of the Tullahan river, like other river systems going out to Manila Bay, is crucial to bringing back the glory of the Manila Bay,” said Ang in a statement. “We are proud to partner with the DENR on this project. In the last couple of months, we have seen what can be done when our government has both political will and a clear understanding of what can be done to make a difference,” he said.

IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH. Employees

of DSWD NCR in Manila (above) participate in a ‘1 Billion Rising’ revolution dance to call for an end to the exploitation of women this March, marked as women’s month, which gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on women’s achievements as well as problems they have faced in the struggle to be free and the important role they play in society. Senator Nancy Binay (below) joins the celebration in Mandaluyong. Norman Cruz

STARTING today, when RA 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law takes effect, the National Food Authority will no longer exercise regulatory functions over the international and domestic trading of rice. Aside from removing NFA’s regulatory powers over the import and export of rice, RA 11203 also repealed the following NFA functions over the domestic rice industry: Licensing and registration of persons and entities engaged in the grains business, collection of regulatory fees, issuance of negotiable warehouse receipts, warehouse inspection, authority to seize hoarded stocks, and enforce rules and regulations in the grains business, among others. “The implementing rules and regulations [IRR] of the law are yet to be finalized. But as spelled out in the law’s self-executing provisions, we have already instructed our field offices to cease all regulatory functions over our local grains business starting March 5,” NFA OIC administrator Tomas Escarez explained. Section 4 of RA 11203 repealed “laws and all other laws or provisions of law prescribing quantitative import restrictions or granting government agencies the power to impose such restrictions… hindering the liberalization of the importation, exportation and trading of rice…” It also enumerated subparagraphs of Section 6 (a) of Presidential Decree No. 4 as amended, which pertains to the abovementioned regulatory functions of NFA. “We will just be waiting for the release of the final IRR before we fully shift our focus on buffer stocking for calamities and emergencies, as stated under the law, and on the eventual restructuring of our agency to suit its new functions,” Escarez said. Before the signing of RA 11203 by President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 14, the NFA had aired its concerns regarding the possible implications of the removal of the agency’s regulatory powers over the local grains industry. These were sent to the concerned legislators, members of the NFA Council, and the President. “Now that the law has been signed and due to take effect starting March 5, we have to abide by it,” Escarez said.

Labor official: Economy can create jobs

Philippines 8th with low gender gap, says WEF THE Philippines has landed in eight place among the top 10 countries with low gender gap or, according to the World Economic Forum, the top 10 best countries to be a woman. However, the WEF’s annual report said the global rate in gender gap had slowed down, and it would take 108 years to close the gender gap. “Although progress continues to proceed at a very slow pace, the fact that most countries are moving toward greater gender parity is encouraging,” the report said. Despite the Philippines’ high rank in Global Gender Gap, women in the labor force are still outnumbered by men. According to the 2017 Labor Force Statistics of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the labor participation rate of women is only 46.2 percent while men is 76.2 percent.

However, the PSA’s data from 2001 to 2014 showed that women have higher average pay compared to men, and there are more women (66.3 percent) professionals compared to men (33.7 percent). The data also shows that men have slightly higher underemployment rate with 6 percent while there is only 5.2 percent in women. According to the report, the PSA said, ân understanding where, why, and how gender inequality arises is a vital step in addressing gender and development problems and issues. The Philippines also has laws catering to women in the workplace, like the recently signed Expanded Maternity Leave Act which increases the number of paid maternity leave to three and a half-months.

Japanese military official visits PH Army counterpart JAPAN Ground Self Defense Force chief of staff, Gen. Koji Yamazaki, and his party formally called on Philippine Army commander, Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto, at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Monday. The purpose of the visit is to reinforce the two country’s strategic partnership and exchange insights on mutual interests. The Philippines and Japan signed the Memorandum on Defense Cooperation and Exchanges in January 2015. The agreement is meant to provide a framework for defense cooperation between the two defense ministries and their respective armed forces. On June 8, 2015, the Philippine Army—Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Terms of Reference was signed, strengthening the friendly relations and cooperation while promoting open discussion of subjects of mutual interest for both armies.

NFA to cease regulatory functions over grains

As a result, the PA-JGSDF Working Group was established as a platform for both armies to plan or develop bilateral engagements that will enhance capabilities, interoperability and promote discussions of topics which are of mutual interest or mutually beneficial. Yamazaki started his military career in 1983 as an army engineer later holding various key positions in the engineer field of specialization of the JGSDF. He served as 9th Division commanding general in 2014 and Northern Army head in 2016 before assuming the position of JGSDF chief of staff in 2017. The two army chiefs expressed both their nation’s willingness to continue the exchange of information as both countries recognize each other’s expertise particularly in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The JGSDF chief also recognized the PA’s counterterrorism efforts dur-

ing the Marawi siege and the leadership decisions that helped resolve the crisis. “My visit implies that my country recognizes the Philippines as a significant strategic partner in East Asia,” Yamazaki said. “I’m very honored to be here to strengthen our bilateral relations,” he added. For his part, Alberto said he is optimistic that the visit of the JGSDF chief will boost the bilateral cooperation between Japan and the Philippines. “Both armies can learn from each other’s experiences in terms of counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster response through the conduct of training exchanges. We will continue the cooperation with renewed vigor in order to better tackle the various security challenges that both our countries are facing,” he added. PNA

A PHILIPPINE labor official believes the local economy can meet both social and environmental goals with the creation of green jobs, and that it behooves government itself to address this pressing need. “The government supports the enactment of policies that address the current needs of the economy for the benefit of the present and future generations,” said Bernard Paul Mangulabnan, acting chief Labor and Employment Officer, Institute for Labor Studies, Department of Labor and Employment, at the recently concluded Barangay Walang Iwanan Summit. “Today, the need lies in having more decent jobs available for our people, protecting our environment, and promoting ecological integrity. This is why we are helping to facilitate the creation of green jobs to achieve all these,” he said in a subsequent press statement BWI Summit 2019 is a collaborative effort among leading non-profit organization Gawad Kalinga, French NGO ACTED, as well as the French discussion platform Convergences that aims to gather stakeholders to discuss and act on urgent social and environmental issues, transforming Filipino communities towards the 3Zero Philippines goal (Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty). Among the key topics discussed during the summit was the impact of Green Jobs and how it is being heavily promoted in the country. Green jobs, according to the International Labour Organization, are “decent jobs that contribute to preserve or restore the environment, be they in traditional sectors such as manufacturing and construction, or in new, emerging green sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.” In addition, ILO says green jobs are those that “help improve energy and raw materials efficiency, limit greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste and pollution, protect and restore systems, and support adaptation to the effects of climate change.”

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

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sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Park’s feat big boost to TCC Ladies S

UNG Hyun Park sets out for a much-awaited local stint before an expected big gallery eager to get a glimpse of her world-class skills she displayed in beating the best of the best in the Women’s World Championship Sunday as she top-bills the $100,000 The Country Club Ladies Invitational unfolding Wednesday in Laguna.

And there is no fitting time to drum up the biggest, richest event on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour than the world No. 2’s stirring comefrom-behind victory in Singapore where she battled back from four strokes down off world No. Park 1 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand then edged Aussie Minjee Lee by two on a closing 64 for a 273. “I didn’t think I would win this fast ... I think I will play really comfortable the rest of my season,” said Park, who vowed to emerge as world No. 1 at the end of the season after signing a two-year sponsorship deal with Solaire Resort & Casino two weeks ago. The two-time Major champion is actually the handsdown pick to win the inau-

gural TCC Ladies and her presence and victory further lend prestige and honor to the 54-hole championship put up by ICTSI which features some of the leading players on the LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA) and the best local shotmakers. For details and reservations for tickets to the TCC Ladies, contact Jocelyn Duque at 09157974751 or email lpgtinvitational@gmail.com. She tests the long, wind-raked TCC layout in today’s (Tuesday) pro-am tournament where she and a select group of pros team up with the guests and officials of the event’s chief backers. She will then rush to the Solaire Casino & Resort to grace the press conference at 6 p.m.

SMC Media Affairs Group Head Mary Jane Llanes, RMN’s Ely Saludar (1st runner-up), Manila Standard’s Roger Garcia (champion), BusinessMirror’s Anton Cabangon Chua (2nd runner-up), and SMC Media Affairs Group Manager Jayson Brizuela.

Broadcaster tops SMC media golf tournament ORLY Trinidad of radio station DZBB won the overall title at the San Miguel Corporation Media Invitational Golf Tournament held recently at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club West Course. Trinidad carded a gross score of 74 while the Class A, Class B, and Class C championship trophies went to Manila Standard Today’s Roger Garcia (70 net), DZRH’s Ricky Alegre (72 net) and Marlon Purificacion (80 net) of People’s Journal. RMN’s Ely Saludar (71 net) placed second and BusinessMirror’s Anton Cabangon Chua (72

net) ended at third in Class A. The Class B runners-up were DZAR’s Mike Abe and Manila Bulletin’s Ding Marcelo. Abe and Marcelo tied for 72 but the former scored better at 47-50 in the last nine holes. Meanwhile, Class C second and third placers were Balita’s Edwin Rollon (80 net) and Manila Bulletin’s Badong Hilario (81 net), respectively. Fun hole awards went to ABSCBN’s Jun Sepe (nearest to the pin), Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Conrad Banal (accurate drive) and Jong Arcano (longest drive).

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offer shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes will be on the date of bidding from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. only. Opening of Bids will immediately follow. Late bid envelopes will not be accepted

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he wants to buy, as long as, he posts the required 10% bid deposit of the total bid price for each property. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or through External Financing Institution. MODE PAYMENT DUE DATE Cash Payable either in cash or Manager’s Checks within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of bidding EFI Shall submit the Letter of Guarantee (LOG) within forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of bidding A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a. Date of Bidding b. Name of the bidder c. Exact address of property you are interested to bid d. Transfer Certificate of Title No. e. Mode of Payment f. Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) g. Signature of the bidder/representative

A participant is trained the proper way of playing basketball.

Jr. NBA PH trains 3,000 kids

JR. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska staged its first open clinic for 2019 at the Sisters of Mary Boystown and Girlstown in Silang, Cavite on Feb. 23 and 24, teaching over 3,000 boys and girls the fundamentals of basketball and Jr. NBA core values. As part of the league’s efforts to promote inclusion, Jr. NBA Philippines provided opportunities for young girls of Sisters of Mary Girlstown from Grades 7-10 to participate in basketball drills and skills development exercises on Feb. 23, with a total of 2,248 female athletes experiencing world class basketball instruction from Jr. NBA Coaches Natalia Dos Santos and Jeffrey

Cariaso with the Alaska coaches. On Feb. 24, the Jr. NBA Philippines program hosted 1,060 kids that learned the fundamentals of shooting, passing, dribbling, defending and conditioning, while Alaska and Gatorade facilitated nutrition and hydration talks respectively. “Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska distinguishes itself by reinforcing an active lifestyle and instilling positive values for kids while enjoying the game of basketball,” said Dos Santos. “Through the Jr. NBA program, we empower children from varying backgrounds and help them fulfill their potential as young players and future leaders of society.”

6.

7

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and shall not be lower than the Minimum Acceptable Officer of the property. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

8.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System

9.

The following shall be inserted on the sealed bid envelope: a. b.

the properly accomplished downloadable bid form Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative d. Pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable e. Two (2) proofs of occupancy, if applicable e.1. Barangay certificate that Bidder is occupying or residing in the subject property e.2. (1) Valid Government Issued IDs, or (2) Latest Billing Address under Bidder’s Name f.Pro-forma Certificate of due diligence (for occupied or unoccupied) 10. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope)

11.

Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. b. c.

he/she is present during the bidding participated in actual bidding presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1. Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding. 13. If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/ she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS). The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount. 14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: a. b. c. d. e.

duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding. 16. In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension. 17. In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount. 18. Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other nonwinning bidder/s shall be returned immediately. 19. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit. 20. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS. 21. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice. 22. For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619. (MS-MAR. 5,6 &7, 2019)

Sports

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

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TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

Petron, F2 try to keep clean slates intact Games Today

(FilOil Flying V Centre) 2:00 p.m.—Foton vs Sta. Lucia 4:15 p.m.—United VC vs Petron 7:00 p.m.—Generika-Ayala vs F2 Logistics

POWERHOUSE Petron and F2 Logistics seek to keep their immaculate records intact when they tackle separate foes in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. The Blaze Spikers take on surging United VC at 4:15 p.m., while the Cargo Movers battle hungry Generika-Ayala in the nightcap at 7 p.m. of this prestigious women’s club tourney that has Asics, Mueller, Mikasa, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Cocolife, Hotel Sogo and Data Project as technical sponsors. Also tipped to go all out are struggling Foton and Sta. Lucia, which will collide in the 2 p.m. opening salvo of this league that has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners. With Lindsay Stalzer on board, the Cargo Movers dominated Foton, 2520, 25-20, 26-24, last week to race to their fourth consecutive win and forge a tie with the Blaze Spikers on top of the team standings. But head coach Ramil de Jesus knows that facing a hungry team like the Lifesavers will never be easy. “We still have to polish our game,” said De Jesus, who was elated by the experience and leadership displayed by three-time Grand Prix champion Stalzer. “We still have to step up our game to be able to match the intensity of the imports of the other team. Also, I need our locals to step up and double their effort, especially when the game is on the line.” After a tough five-set loss to United VC, 23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 2523, 11-15, at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center over the weekend, the Lifesavers are determined to snap the string of misfortune that hobbles them. New import Kanjana Kuthaisong of Thailand is tipped to blend perfectly with Kseniya Kocyigit of Azerbaijan as well as the local crew of Patty Orendain, Fiola Ceballos and Marivic Meneses not that she’s in the country for more than a week now.

Novis earns 2 PPS Digos tennis crowns MA. Angelica Novis achieved a two-title target but Reyman Saldivar Jr. settled for one as they shared MVP honors in the PPS-PEPP Digos City national age-group tennis tournament at the Digos City Tennis Club in Davao del Sur yesterday. The top-seeded Novis dropped just nine games in three matches, capping her romp in the girls’ 16-and-under singles finals with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Coleen Carvajal. The Malita, Davao ace later crushed Zkyla Cervantes, 6-3, 6-2, in the 18-U finals of the Group 2 presented by Dunlop. Saldivar, on the other hand, survived the big 32-player field in the boys’ 14-U side, foiling Roy Niegas, 6-2, 6-3, in the finals. The Kabacan bet, however, stumbled in the 16-U division, dropping a 6-1, 3-6, 9-11 semis decision to Kidapawan’s JV Comendador, who went on to overpower Steve Aton, 6-1, 6-2, for the crown. Other winners in the five-day tournament sponsored by Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala and sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg were Kabacan’s Yusuf Maldo (10-unisex), Digos’ Charles Jumawan (boys’ 12-U) and Juliana Carvajal (girls’ 14-U), Sultan Kudarat’s Sanchena Francisco (girls’ 12-U), and Brent Magno of Kidapawan (boys’ 18-U). Maldo blasted Inigo Barrios, 4-2, 4-0; Jumawan outlasted Raphael Duay, 7-5, 1-6, 11-9; Carvajal held off Jemarie Manggarai, 6-4, 6-3; Francisco subdued Ysay Wong, 6-0, 6-4; and Magno turned back Bruce Hurtado, 6-2, 5-7, 10-8. “The matches that went through deciders only underlined the level playing field with new faces continuing to emerge. And this is all part of our program to discover fresh talents, especially in the countryside,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro.

GOLF CHAMPIONS. Members of the champion Luisita Team in the 33rd Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub Golf Team Championships are shown with PAL President & COO Jaime J. Bautista (center) during the awarding ceremonies. They are (from left, 1st row) Edmund Yee, Benjie Sumulong, Chito Laureta, (2nd row) Raffy Gracia, Rodelio Magulabnan, Demy Saclot, Eddie Bagtas and Chino Raymund. Angelica Villanueva

Pretty Fil-Am pole vaulters raring to go I

LAGAN CITY—After a long wait, Filipino-American pole vaulters Natalie Uy and Alyana Nicolas will finally be out to prove their worth when they compete in the coming 2019 Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships starting this Wednesday here at the Ilagan City Sports Complex.

And they vow to make the most out of this opportunity against regional counterparts in a bid to start their buildup on a high note for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) to be held here in the Philippines this November. “I’m looking to win here for sure. My goal always is to win. Natalie Uy My target is to jump around 4.20 meters,” said Uy whose father is a Cebuano. “In the SEAG, I’m very confident. I think if I can get the right training and get everything I need, I think I can go for gold.” To do this, the 24-year-old Uy seeks to clear her personal-best of 4.30 meters, which she tallied last year in Spain, where she spent most of her training while waiting for her citizenship. Her 4.30-m pole vault leap is more than

enough to shatter the winning 4.10-m in the 2017 SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia. Uy could have campaigned for the national team as early as last year in the Asian Games, but she only secured her Philippine passport mid-August at the height of the said quadrennial sports showAlyana Nicolas piece in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. “I’m just excited to be here. It’s a dream come true for me to come here,” added the Eastern Michigan University standout. “It’s all worth it to be here. It’s just awesome. I love being here. It’s just, like I said, a dream. I’ve been working to come here for a while, working on my citizenship and figuring out all the hurdles to get here,” she said. For now, however, Uy is just relishing her golden chance to learn the Philippine culture

which she has been longing to embrace after spending most of her life in Ohio. “I was not able to get my citizenship unfortunately. It’s a long process to get everything. I’m just excited to finally have my passport on hand,” said Uy. “It’s my heritage. It’s me. My dad is Filipino. It’s a channel to me to get to know my culture, the other half of me.” Organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and supported by Ayala Corporation, Milo, Soleus and the City of Ilagan, the three-day national open will run from March 6-8 here at the Isabela capital. Like Uy, Nicolas is just so thrilled to finally be back in the Philippines after moving to the US since her childhood. “I was born here actually. I was born in Quezon City but I grew up in Pagsanjan, Laguna,” the 24-year-old vaulter from California State Northridge said. “I’m very excited. The Filipino people here are very welcoming. It’s really fun to see everybody working together and I’m just really excited for all the people watching us even in practice. It’s really awesome.” More than having fun in her Philippine return though, Nicolas is also out to compete with a mission of finishing in the podium of this national open against regional counterparts who are also training for SEAG.

MOTOCROSS AWARDEE. Kenneth San

Andres displays his Philippine Sportswriters Association Award for Motocross during the PSA Awards Night at the Manila Hotel recently. San Andres, who is backed by CleanFuel and is the reigning National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association Rider of the Year, begins his 2019 motocross season by plunging into action in the NAMSSA-sanctioned 1st Cap. Nelson Acob and Council Riotuba Invitational Motocross Competition in Bataraza, Palawan on March 9 and 10, before heading over to the Middle East to participate in the International Kuwait Motocross on March 15 and 16.

Ceres, 6 other teams join inaugural PH football meet By Peter Atencio SEVEN teams led by Ceres-Negros FC are taking part in the inaugural season of the 2019 Philippine Premier League Football tournament. PPL Commissioner Bernard Sumayao said the participants will join both the League Competition and Paulino Alcantara Cup. Matches will begin with a double header on March 30 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. Also joining are Green Archers United Globe FC, Kaya-Iloilo FC, Mendiola FC, Philippine Air Force FC, Stallions-Laguna FC and Global Cebu FC. Organizers are taking on the challenges of forming a new club-league football tournament. The PPL recently replaced the Philippines Football League and boasts of an increase of participants from six to eight teams when action kicks off this month. Sumayao believes that many factors will make things happen for the PPL. This includes the involvement of sponsors and the introduction and inclusion of local government units which have football in their sports programs. The changes in club-level football competition took place following the withdrawal of the Davao FC Aguilas late last year. Among these changes include efforts to do away with a franchise scheme. Here, teams will instead pay an annual registration fee that will be a fraction of the cost from the last two years. Then, there’s the triple roundrobin format. Games will not be purely homeand-away and there will be matches played in 3-4 grounds in and around Metro Manila. And, the University of Makati, which is a new artificial turf, will be one of the main venues.

CDO boxers a force to reckon with DESPITE difficulties and struggles of keeping the boxing program alive, the young amateur boxers of Cagayan de Oro City remain a force to reckon with in the national front. The CDO boxing team’s latest victory came when it bagged the overall championship in the Mindanao leg of 2019 Batang Pinoy Games held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte last month. The City of Golden Friendship captured four gold medals, courtesy of Lady Jane Payla in the junior girls’ pinweight division, Angelou Lofranco in the junior boys’ pinweight, Jhasli John Illudar in the junior boys’ light flyweight and Rhein Jhon Gidor in the junior boys’ flyweight. Rise to victory Whatever sporting success now enjoyed by Cagayan de Oro can be traced all the way back to a province-wide sportsfest held in January 2005, when Oscar Moreno, who was the then gover-

nor of Misamis Oriental, launched the sportsfest hoping to discover potential homegrown young talents for competition not only in boxing but also in basketball, chess and volleyball. Out of the hundreds of youthful aspirants who saw action in the sportsfest, a select pool was chosen and a stable of boxing talents slowly developed into the core of the Misamis Oriental Amateur Boxing Team. The team’s baptism of fire came in the National Invitational Amateur Boxing Tournament in Magpet, North Cotabato where Daryl Basadre bagged the silver medal under the tutelage of two-time Olympian and Asian Games medalist Roberto Jalnaiz as head coach and Roel Densing as team manager. Basadre’s victory marked the start of the team’s long journey to fame and glory. “Didto na dayon naka-decide si Governor Moreno nga magbutang og training pool sa boxing (That’s the time when Governor

The Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation and the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines recently donated P1-million worth of financial aid and boxing equipment for Cagayan de Oro City’s amateur boxers.

Moreno decided to form a training pool in boxing),” Densing recalled. Bolstered by Moreno’s committed support, the CDO Amateur Boxing Team competed with renewed vigor and enthusiasm in virtually most of the country’s major amateur boxing competitions. In 2018, Team CDO won overall championship honors in the Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg in Ozamiz City, the Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur; the Philippine National Games in Cebu City; and the

Philippine Sports Commission-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup in Davao City. World-class boxers Moreno’s amateur boxing program produced world-class boxers like world champion Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo and the Pagara brothers, Jason and Prince Albert, who are now making a name for themselves in the professional boxing world. Another pride of CDO is Carlo Paalam who won the bronze medal in the 2018 Asian Games.

IN BRIEF DoE assures public of stable power supply THE Department of Energy assured the public that power supply will be stable during the dry months until June even as output from the hydro plants are expected to be reduced due to the El Niño weather phenomenon. Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said preparations were ongoing to ensure adequate supply during the dry months. “We want to make sure there is no impact of El Niño on power supply,” Fuentebella said. Fuentebella said the DoE was making sure that the maintenance schedule of power plants were synchronized with the grid to prevent forced outage from them. He said the agency was also discussing the output of hydro power plants and impact of the El Niño with generators. Fuentebella also urged consumers to implement demand side management and energy efficiency campaign measures. “We are also making preparations for any unforeseen incidents like unscheduled outage. We also have the interruptible load program which we are preparing for,” he said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Cebuana expanding rural bank network THE banking unit of Cebuana Lhullier will soon expand its rural bank network from Cavite and Batangas to Northern Luzon and Mindanao. Cebuana Lhullier Rural Bank president Dennis Valdez said the bank was looking to expand to three to five sites nationwide. “Expansion will be carried on a small scale. We’re looking at Davao, Cebu, General Santos City and up north in Luzon,” he said. He noted that the expansion would be based on the population density of an area. However, plans for the bank’s expansion is dependent in the success of the microsavings scheme it launched in the last week of February last year. Through the micro-finance scheme, the bank aims to tap the 70 million unbanked Filipinos, giving special focus on some 10 million active clients of Cebuana Lhullier from a total of 24 million clients nationwide. Othel V. Campos

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

B1

By Julito G. Rada

ADAMCO’S CAMPAIGN. Ada Manufacturing Corp. and Yanmar Philippines Corp. launch their newest brand campaign called ‘Kita Tayo sa Adamco’ with their first brand ambassador Robin Padilla. The launch coincides with Adamco’s 20th anniversary of empowering the lives of Filipino farmers by increasing profitability and productivity in agribusiness through advanced farm mechanization. Attending the launch are (from left) Adamco president Ada Alethea Alingog-Nanayakkara, Yanmar chairman Dr. Geronimo Collado, Adamco chairman Roberto Alingog, Robin Padilla, Yanmar Agribusiness Co. Ltd. president Hiroaki Kitaoka and Yanmar Philippines president Hideaki Ikezawa.

Aboitiz poised to bag Laguindingan airport By Darwin G. Amojelar

A

BOITIZ InfraCapital Inc., the infrastructure business unit of the Aboitiz Group, secured an original proponent status from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for its unsolicited proposal to upgrade, expand, operate and maintain the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental province.

“The granting of the OPS for the Laguindingan Airport opens up an opportunity for us to play a major role in improving our country’s vital gateways,” AIC chief operating officer Cosette Canilao said. “We believe we can be instrumental in connecting our country’s local economies, thereby uplifting the lives of Filipinos. We look forward to progressing beyond project development, and into project execution and operations in 2019,” she said. The P42.7-billion project involves

the capacity augmentation through expansion or construction of new passenger terminals, installation of required equipment and enhancement and development of airside facilities. Businessmen in northern Mindanao said the rehabilitation and upgrade of the airport would be critical to the growth of investments and development of various industries in the region, particularly tourism. “The airport is a very important factor. We are excited to know that Aboitiz got the OPS. It took us 20 years before

this airport was built. We don’t want to wait another 20 years for its expansion,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries Region 10 Governor Ghaye Alegrio said. Alegrio said northern Mindanao got the lion share of the country’s newly registered investments in 2018. “The Board of Investments reported that BOI-registered companies last year was about P900 billion and 25 percent of that was in northern Mindanao,” she said. Passenger traffic at Laguindingan Airport has been above the airport’s design capacity of 1.6 million passengers a year from the time the airport began operations in 2013, based on statistics from CAAP. Some two million passengers passed through this airport in 2018. AIC earlier obtained an original proponent status from the government to operate and maintain the future development and expansion of the New Bohol International Airport.

Meralco, partners investing $580m in Ghana company POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. and other members of the Power Distribution Services Ghana Ltd. consortium will invest more than $580 million to strengthen the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana. Meralco said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the assets and operations of ECG were handed over to the PDS, a consortium of Meralco, through Meridian Power Ventures Ltd., AEnergia SA, an Angolan company and three Ghanaian firms―TG Energy Solutions Ghana Limited, Santa Power Limited and GTS Power Ltd. on March 1. “PDS Consortium intends to invest over $580 million for capital expenditures and is expected to strengthen the governance, management and operations of the ECG and improve the delivery of power to end users as well as support Ghana’s socio-economic growth,” Meralco said. The hand-over was pursuant to the award to the PDS Consortium, which will be the electricity service provider in all of ECG’s operational areas in the Southern Distribution Zone of Ghana, under a 20-year concession agreement approved by the government of Ghana. ECG’s assets would be leased to the PDS, the concessionaire, while the ECG would become an asset holding company. After the end of the concession, all assets would be transferred back to it. “The board of directors and the ECG PSP [private sector participation] stakeholders anticipate a smooth transition, and count on the support and cooperation of all Ghanaians to ensure the success of PDS as the new electricity distribution operator in the Southern Distribution Zone of Ghana,” the Millennium Development Authority of Ghana said earlier. Alena Mae S. Flores

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

S&P Global upgrades credit rating of PH banks

Intellectual property filings up 15% in 2018 INTELLECTUAL property filings in the Philippines rose 15 percent in 2018 to 43,461 applications from 38,801 in 2017, the Intellectual Property Office said Monday. The five-year average growth rate of IP filings has increased to 7 percent. “We are now seeing the results of our deliberate move for closer engagement with the academe, businesses and industry in regions outside of Metro Manila. In 2018 alone, we opened three intellectual property satellite offices in Dumaguete, Naga, and Zamboanga to reach out to IP creators there,” said IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago. Increased filings at both the local and global level signaled a rising recognition of the economic added-value of intellectual property in commercial activity and in research and development. “This signifies that more and more people are utilizing IP to enhance competitiveness in business, and as an incentive to make commercially-viable technology,” Santiago added. Another contributing factor to the growth was IPOPHL’s deployment in 2018 of its full suite of online filing systems for trademarks, invention, utility models and industrial design, allowing easier filing for applicants. Othel V. Campos

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

PHIRST’S 1,000 HOMES. PHirst Park Homes Tanza in Cavite, the first horizontal development launched under Century Properties Group’s affordable housing brand, is constructing 1,000 homes and has completed more than 250 units to date. The company also achieved a 100-percent unit acceptance rating with buyers from the turnover of the first 100 homes. As of end-2018, PHirst Park Homes Tanza has sold 1,566 units with a sales value of P2.2 billion.

First Gen likely to receive clearance on Batangas LNG project By Alena Mae S. Flores FGEN LNG Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen Corp., will likely receive a notice from the Energy Department to proceed with its liquefied natural gas project in Batangas City. “I think so. It will still be presented to the Centralized Review and Evaluation Committee. But the recommendation is that it [proposal] is alive and good,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said when asked about the status of FGen’s LNG project application. First Gen signed a joint development agreement with Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. on Dec. 5. The JDA is a preliminary agreement between the parties to jointly pursue the development of the FGen Batangas LNG Terminal Project at First Gen Clean

Energy Complex in Batangas City. Fuentebella said FGen LNG’s application “looks positive” but it has to be formalized by the CREC. First Gen earlier said it would pursue and develop the import and re-gasification LNG terminal and complete it by 2024. First Gen is one of the biggest independent power producers in the country and the leading gas power generation with 2,000 megawatts in operating gas assets composed of four gas-fired power plants–the 1,000 MW Santa Rita Power Plant, the 500-MW San Lorenzo Power Plant, the 414-MW San Gabriel Power Plant and the 97-MW Avion Power Plant. Tokyo Gas, headquartered in Tokyo, is a leading LNG player with more than 50 years of experience in the LNG business. Tokyo Gas is one of the largest purchasers

of LNG in the world with an annual volume of 14 million tons per annum. It has over 63,000 kilometers of gas pipelines serving more than 11 million customers. Fuentebella said the application for NTP of Excelerate Energy L.P., a USbased LNG company located in Texas, looked insufficient. He said the department was not likely to grant the application of Excelerate. The department earlier issued an NTP to Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc. for its LNG facility in Batangas. Tanglawan is the joint venture of CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp., China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines led by Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy.

MAJOR debt watcher S&P Global Ratings upgraded the Philippine banking sector’s credit rating by a notch with the significant improvement in the country’s regulatory environment following the signing of the New Central Bank Act into law. S&P said in a report on Feb. 27 it raised the Philippines’ banking industry country risk assessment score from ‘6’ to ‘5’ owing to the favorable provisions of the newly-signed law. BICRA scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 reflecting the assessment of highest risk. The announcement came less than two weeks after President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Feb. 14 Republic Act No. 11211 or the New Central Bank Act―a landmark policy reform that took years of deliberation in Congress. “We view these amendments as a positive step toward greater independence [of] and more effective implementation of prudent policies and measures [by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas],” S&P said. BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said the amendments to the BSP Charter were “important gamechanging policy reforms.” “We are pleased to learn about the quick recognition by S&P of the significant benefits of the New Central Bank Act,” she said. “The law, which unleashes a new and more progressive era of financial sector supervision in the country, further enhances the ability of the BSP to serve as a pillar of strength for the Philippine economy,” Fonacier said. S&P said that on top of the favorable regulatory development, the Philippine banking system was expected to withstand various risks such as currency volatility and higher interest rates given sufficient capitalization and a strong domestic franchise that supports growing deposit base. RA No. 11211 affirms and strengthens existing frameworks and practices of the BSP in carrying out its supervision mandate. It supports the application of risk-based principles in allocating examination resources and in setting out capital requirements in banks.

Govt debt rose to P7.5t as of January THE government’s outstanding debt surged P768 billion or 11.4 percent to P7.494 trillion as of end-January from P6.726 trillion a year ago, data from the Bureau of Treasury show. The Treasury said on a month-onmonth basis, government debt rose 2.8 percent or P201.66 billion from P7.292 trillion in December 2018. It said the month-on-month increase was “mainly due to net availments of both foreign and domestic loans amid efforts to take advantage of generally favorable market conditions to raise foreign and local funding.” Data showed that of the total debt stock as of January, 34.5 percent was sourced externally while 65.50 percent was borrowed onshore. Domestic debt increased 2.8 percent month-on-month to P4.909 trillion while foreign debt grew 2.7 percent to P2.584 trillion. “For January, the growth in domestic debt was principally due to the net issuance of government securities amounting to P133.18 billion, which more than offset the P0.20 billion downward valuation of onshore dollar bonds brought about by peso appreciation,” the Treasury said. “The rise in external obligations was primarily caused by net availments of foreign loans amounting to P83.29 billion. Meanwhile, the weakening of the dollar, on one hand, decreased the peso value of dollar-denominated debt by P19.24 billion; but on the other hand, increased the peso equivalent of third currency-denominated debt by P4.63 billion, thereby resulting in a net downward revaluation effect of P14.61 billion,” the Treasury said. Government guaranteed obligations decreased by 0.1 percent or P301 million month-on-month to P487.29 billion in January. The Treasury said the peso appreciation which reduced the local currency value of external guarantees by P2.22 billion and net repayment on domestic guarantees of P0.52 billion underpinned the decline. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market climbs to end 3-day slide T HE stock market rose slightly on bargain hunting Monday ahead of the release today of an expected favorable inflation figure for February.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 33.70 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,675.47 on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 103 to 94, with 52 issues unchanged. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier said the inflation in February likely slowed further to as low as 3.7 percent from 4.4 percent in January due mainly to the lower prices of rice. BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, added 1.5 percent

to P125.60, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest bank, climbed 1.7 percent to P76.50. First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group advanced 3.3 percent to P22, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group rose 1.6 percent to P945. The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Monday on growing optimism for a trade deal between China and the United States after reports said the two sides were close to a breakthrough. With a busy week of data releases and events coming up, investors got off to a positive start as they cheered stories saying the tariffs stand-off between world’s top two economies that has dragged on global growth could soon be resolved. The Wall Street Journal said negotiations last month had narrowed key differences and an agreement could be ready for signing at a summit

between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in late March. The newspaper, as well as Bloomberg News, also said Beijing had tentatively agreed to lower tariffs or ease certain restrictions, work quicker to open up its auto market and increase its purchases of US goods. In exchange for Chinese concessions, Washington would do away with most of the trade sanctions it imposed last year, the reports said. Shanghai rose 1.1 percent, while Hong Kong put on 0.7 percent in the afternoon and Tokyo ended one percent higher. Sydney rose 0.4 percent and Singapore 0.8 percent, while Wellington added 0.7 percent. However, Seoul edged down 0.2 percent while Taipei slipped 0.4 percent. Tai Hui, Asia-Pacific chief market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management, said that while there were

a number of hurdles to a final agreement such as on intellectual property rights, traders were broadly confident. “Investors are fully aware of these long-term challenges, but a more sustained ceasefire on tariffs will help to reduce business uncertainty. This could provide a much-needed lift to business sentiment and improve growth momentum entering the summer,” he said. Focus turns Tuesday to the start of China’s annual National People’s Congress where it will unveil its growth forecast for this year, while dealers will be looking for any measures to stimulate the stuttering economy. This week also sees the release of Chinese trade data and key US jobs figures, which will provide a fresh look at the state of the US economy and the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy plans. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 3,050 85.15 1,505,240 2.34 227,000 125.6 2,200,670 1.35 16,000 27.65 111,200 18.36 40,700 12.18 351,400 4.39 33,000 0.64 125,000 1.55 174,000 800 660 0.47 10,000 76.5 1,713,610 0.99 1,359,000 13.88 65,200 51.15 203,100 181.3 2,910 110.1 240 58.3 540 26.6 259,500 160.2 296,410 1,840 5 61.55 6,270

179,125 127,940,352.50 527,330 275,077,168 21,600 3,084,140 745,614 4,248,780 144,210 76,000 270,150 528,000 4,700 130,427,036 1,356,050 907,506 10,285,305 536,118 26,193 31,624.50 6,923,780 47,610,402 9,200 386,416

118,000 10,345,344.50 -61,953,251 -323,900 -775,566 -1,640 160,000 -43,088,445 -60,610 2,414,505 -264,814 -1,508,770 -9,312,890 -314,266.50

34.1 15.12 1.01 1.45 0.235 2.35 15 28.7 16.22 40.05 65.5 1.88 5.98 6.2 11.16 15.78 8.7 7.59 21 73.5 26.95 3.28 9.19 12.62 1.7 308 3.64 11.28 26.85 11.78 19.46 367 0.206 6.15 1.37 3.83 6.64 9 1.3 11.8 48.25 5.97 4.65 1.84 1.34 12.68 99.3 6.38 0.136 1.01 137 2.7 1.59 16 1.25

INDUSTRIAL 34.7 1,495,600 15.4 471,600 1.03 456,000 1.47 34,000 0.24 1,960,000 2.38 3,013,000 15.14 567,200 29.3 23,800 16.22 21,700 40.05 400 71.95 440 1.9 222,000 6.29 249,100 6.3 74,300 11.26 512,400 16 215,300 8.7 1,495,400 7.59 83,600 22 5,995,600 73.5 91,110 26.95 100 3.34 13,189,000 9.61 2,399,500 12.64 245,000 1.71 471,000 309 357,810 3.7 21,000 11.8 486,800 27.1 104,800 11.82 316,900 19.58 1,196,900 370.2 205,890 0.214 160,000 6.15 400 1.38 6,415,000 3.83 2,000 6.64 1,716,200 9 500 1.34 21,943,000 12.2 169,000 48.25 277,300 6 31,900 4.65 4,000 1.84 24,000 1.4 41,000 12.7 494,800 103 369,320 6.4 124,300 0.136 20,000 1.03 513,000 138 1,774,910 2.7 6,000 1.6 1,728,000 16 6,100 1.25 1,569,000

52,021,710(22 7,231,634 466,620 49,760 467,700 7,124,770 8,532,490 710,475 357,380 16,020 28,953.50 420,220 1,496,613 463,665 ( 5,752,302 3,406,346 13,132,036 634,735 130,703,190 6,714,413.50 2,695 44,036,990 23,072,730 3,105,564 820,800 110,743,898 77,220 6,086,580 2,833,360 3,741,854 23,319,908 76,199,124 33,360 2,460 8,957,860 7,660 11,432,123 4,500 29,223,060 2,042,742 13,413,610 190,785 18,600 44,400 55,120 6,284,174 37,312,217 796,743 2,720 524,470 245,575,041 16,340 2,768,670 97,600 1,994,250

,640,890.0003) -925,136 11,220 1,811,110 -310,262 -53,185 41,000 5,730 -600,200 240,658.9997) -2,171,670 -2,631,008 -117,658 15,148,090 -4,535,391.50 -4,102,970 -11,821,912 1,126,698 -975,246 -31,770 1,692,960 -2,532,646 12,821,754 6,667,862 924,160 2,949,781 4,500 -8,549,510 -240,000 -2,140,570 22,876 466,010 8,111,457 9,585 100,653,737 -301,780 0

0.76 59.95 13.98 0.81 6.6 21.7 1.57 1.56 943 7.7 11.5 13.8 4.15 0.24 956 6.12 67.6 5.5 0.61 5.13 15.4 0.59 4.63 0.042 1.14 3 2.58 172.9 2.4 949.5 0.78 1.39 284.8 0.25 0.42

0.75 58.6 13.66 0.79 6.5 20.05 1.46 1.47 930 7.22 11.18 13.4 4.15 0.231 930.5 6.12 64.2 5.45 0.56 5.06 14.8 0.57 4.55 0.04 1.13 2.88 2.57 168.6 2.4 938 0.78 1.35 271 0.246 0.37

HOLDING FIRMS 0.75 10,106,000 59.8 1,346,780 13.9 3,833,500 0.81 14,000 6.5 10,000 21.3 74,700 1.47 32,512,000 1.47 4,382,000 937 181,430 7.5 1,799,200 11.32 4,852,000 13.7 197,800 4.15 100,000 0.231 1,390,000 945 84,010 6.12 1,500 66.2 4,216,280 5.5 64,500 0.61 407,000 5.09 67,400 15.4 442,100 0.57 283,000 4.57 11,944,000 0.04 16,900,000 1.13 312,000 2.95 886,000 2.57 20,000 169.5 642,170 2.4 3,000 940 205,230 0.78 23,000 1.39 25,000 284.8 3,680 0.249 1,130,000 0.415 135,280,000

7,620,690 79,957,527.5 ( 53,257,502 11,160 65,160 1,559,905 49,313,050 6,646,720 170,053,140 13,604,866 54,931,640 2,692,040 415,000 325,620 79,025,585 9,180 280,642,447 354,720 228,120 342,699 6,714,128 164,080 54,820,850 677,100 353,220 2,609,950 51,420 109,239,414 7,200 193,000,355 17,940 34,070 1,013,040 280,590 54,023,000

-445,980 33,517,846.5) 4,291,652 50,700 2,268,020 -47,399,615 696,981 -32,292,306 -246,236 -21,116,355 10,424,326.50 -20,937 751,262 -11,020 -35,637,470 -155,680 11,349,973 -52,278,085 -5,526 533,900

12.04 0.8 10.6 1.9 0.88 43.65 2.58 4.2 6.86 0.485 0.84 0.9 0.247 0.425 9.74 21.05 0.51 1.45 1.27 5.3 0.42 0.46 2.1 0.475 2.91 23

11.66 0.79 10.6 1.84 0.85 42.8 2.56 4.15 6.3 0.47 0.83 0.9 0.241 0.415 9.58 20.6 0.5 1.43 1.21 4.96 0.4 0.46 2.02 0.46 2.82 22.15

17,265,402 593,450 1,060 433,990 487,270 310,713,910 1,486,710 687,310 39,746 2,635,750 123,870 11,700 1,065,540 651,600 7,264,737 11,085,610 124,000 6,175,970 5,568,430 106,394,812 14,252,600 32,200 10,239,590 520,400 291,270 76,898,500

-3,614,488 -79,000 -114,000 -131,930,700 138,040 -58,370 37,900 730 9,800 3,287,380 -6,708,575 -3,147,460 3,770 52,175,430 287,000 195,780 35,778,220

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ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

58.2 83.35 2.29 124 1.35 27.9 18.3 12.1 4.36 0.64 1.52 800 0.47 75.5 1.02 13.96 49.5 184.7 109 59 26.6 162.6 1,840 61.65

59 85.4 2.35 125.6 1.35 27.95 18.36 12.2 4.39 0.64 1.64 800 0.47 76.9 1.02 13.96 51.5 185 110.1 59 27 162.6 1,840 62.1

58.2 83.3 2.23 123.8 1.35 27.65 18.3 12 4.36 0.6 1.52 800 0.47 75.25 0.98 13.88 49.1 181.3 109 58.3 26.6 158.1 1,840 61.55

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

35 15.8 1.02 1.45 0.245 2.41 15 28.7 16.5 40.05 65.6 1.9 6.04 6.3 11.18 15.8 8.75 7.6 21.3 74.8 26.95 3.36 9.19 12.98 1.71 309 3.64 11.28 27.25 11.82 19.6 370 0.206 6.15 1.44 3.83 6.69 9 1.32 11.8 48.5 5.98 4.65 1.84 1.4 12.78 100 6.48 0.136 1.07 137 2.84 1.64 16 1.28

35.5 15.9 1.04 1.49 0.246 2.42 15.2 30 16.8 40.05 71.95 1.92 6.29 6.4 11.36 16 8.89 7.63 22.2 74.8 26.95 3.45 9.7 12.98 1.85 312 3.7 13.54 27.25 11.9 19.6 371.4 0.214 6.15 1.44 3.83 6.74 9 1.35 12.2 48.65 6 4.65 1.87 1.4 12.78 103 6.48 0.136 1.07 140.8 2.84 1.64 16 1.31

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.75 59 13.7 0.79 6.55 20.75 1.54 1.53 932 7.7 11.22 13.8 4.15 0.24 937 6.12 65.8 5.5 0.61 5.13 15 0.58 4.57 0.04 1.14 2.88 2.58 170 2.4 940 0.78 1.39 271 0.247 0.375

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND

12 0.8 10.6 1.84 0.86 43.2 2.56 4.2 6.85 0.48 0.83 0.9 0.247 0.425 9.62 21 0.5 1.44 1.27 5.09 0.42 0.46 2.1 0.465 2.9 22.8

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NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

2.07 3.13 37.8 1.56 6.72 0.79 7.3

2.16 3.15 38.5 1.58 7.1 0.79 7.38

2.01 3.12 37.3 1.54 6.72 0.79 7.22

2.13 3.15 38.5 1.58 6.91 0.79 7.22

2,568,000 81,000 7,501,600 3,246,000 403,800 71,000 24,894,000

5,351,670 254,520 286,192,630 16 5,075,320 2,799,989 56,090 181,028,254

,443,915.0003 -94,200 -81,515 -52,025,157

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

12.24 21.35 1.29 0.435 0.048 14.62 2.86 11.42 0.065 81 7.71 6.01 15.1 1,890 5.72 360.2 2.88 112 11 0.132 5.87 15.38 3.35 0.89 19.28 0.61 4.71 2.92 2.02 2.01 2.96 9.26 11 3.25 5.28 133 3.09 1,030 0.97 1.3 46.8 86.5 8.67 2.27 0.71 0.445 5.65 0.68 14.4

12.4 21.8 1.29 0.44 0.048 14.62 2.9 11.42 0.068 81.7 7.71 6.01 16.4 1,890 5.73 373 2.88 113 11 0.132 5.87 15.38 3.35 0.92 19.28 0.63 4.97 2.92 2.06 2.01 3.04 9.26 11 3.27 5.38 140 3.09 1,045 0.98 1.35 47.5 86.5 8.68 2.3 0.72 0.45 5.65 0.68 14.88

12.24 21.35 1.29 0.43 0.046 14.26 2.8 11.14 0.065 80.5 7.7 5.8 15.1 1,863 5.71 356.2 2.81 108.8 10.7 0.127 5.74 15.24 3.28 0.89 18.84 0.61 4.71 2.89 2 2.01 2.93 9.23 10.52 3.16 5.15 133 3.02 1,025 0.96 1.29 46.35 84.8 8.34 2.24 0.7 0.44 5.57 0.66 14.38

SERVICES 12.38 21.5 1.29 0.44 0.047 14.26 2.9 11.14 0.067 80.85 7.71 5.82 15.54 1,870 5.72 373 2.83 113 10.7 0.128 5.76 15.24 3.3 0.92 19.08 0.61 4.97 2.9 2.05 2.01 2.93 9.23 10.9 3.16 5.19 138 3.08 1,036 0.97 1.3 47.3 85.3 8.35 2.28 0.72 0.445 5.61 0.67 14.64

5,200 365,200 5,000 340,000 22,600,000 3,300 363,000 4,082,300 22,820,000 212,130 1,700 2,255,100 897,500 53,805 104,900 4,800 570,000 3,126,440 9,400 1,290,000 3,995,000 4,600 576,000 44,000 402,000 2,937,000 205,000 1,284,000 117,000 5,000 1,221,000 600 99,800 18,000 333,000 778,890 1,028,000 204,860 10,611,000 17,045,000 487,900 642,180 15,800 2,842,000 2,958,000 5,330,000 152,800 436,000 3,920,200

63,838 7,877,285 6,450 149,050 1,041,200 47,778 1,035,960 45,748,594 1,515,580 17,151,757.50 13,102 13,314,043 14,108,584 100,907,560 599,864 1,752,120 1,611,320 346,381,769 101,940 165,240 23,167,070 70,352 1,906,910 39,560 7,642,906 1,798,660 965,810 3,727,600 236,810 10,050 3,628,730 5,553 1,068,698 58,110 1,758,707 104,878,539 3,125,570 212,073,610 10,288,620 22,410,560 22,860,420 54,776,193 133,638 6,435,440 2,093,390 2,374,600 857,067 292,930 57,674,254

468 -34,050 -23,861,434 -24,130 648,984 -1,154,230 -17,176 -72,749,835 18,010 -70,750 39,510,988 -1,671,170 99,470 2,875,442 208,990 -45,400.00 10,600 -5,990 -21,120 1,416,165 -61,837,780 -956,260 254,100 7,779,200 -2,046,060 2,658,400 305,450 551,800 -150,215 28,306,010

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0021 1.53 2.91 13.36 1.26 1.2 2.2 8.07 1.5 0.29 0.127 0.128 0.0091 0.0093 1.1 2.75 1.08 0.6 0.95 0.013 0.012 3.15 4 14.9 21.65 0.008

0.0021 1.53 2.92 13.36 1.26 1.2 2.2 8.07 1.5 0.295 0.128 0.128 0.0091 0.0093 1.1 2.8 1.09 0.64 0.97 0.013 0.013 3.25 4.05 14.98 21.65 0.0082

0.0021 1.51 2.91 13.36 1.26 1.2 2.19 8.02 1.49 0.26 0.122 0.128 0.0091 0.0092 1.06 2.73 1.04 0.6 0.95 0.012 0.011 3.08 4 14.52 20.25 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0021 328,000,000 1.52 456,000 2.92 66,000 13.36 100 1.26 5,000 1.2 6,000 2.2 505,000 8.02 200 1.49 441,000 0.28 7,130,000 0.123 2,920,000 0.128 280,000 0.0091 10,000,000 0.0092 12,000,000 1.06 91,000 2.77 1,810,000 1.08 18,000 0.64 175,000 0.96 327,000 0.012 15,300,000 0.011 24,000,000 3.25 279,000 4.05 1,706,000 14.56 913,000 20.35 2,779,900 0.0082 2,000,000

688,800 691,380 192,320 1,336 6,300 7,200 1,106,690 1,609 660,200 1,958,550 362,210 35,840 91,000 110,500 96,560 4,990,280 18,990 106,740 313,760 191,800 286,800 870,160 6,850,610 13,397,320 57,178,685 16,200

-21,000 -51,640 -5,840 -651,500 61,800 -36,000 3,514,160 -2,088,888 -7,043,440 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

20.05 475 481.6 97 450.4 480.2 900 95.95 0.99 101.9 971.5 106 970 75.45 76.6 72.6 71.65 74.9 72 73.5

20.2 475 497 97 450.4 480.2 900 95.95 0.99 101.9 971.5 106 970 75.45 76.7 72.6 73 74.9 72.15 73.5

20.05 472 480 97 450.2 480.2 900 95 0.99 101.9 971 106 966 75.45 76.5 72.6 71.65 74.9 71.35 73.4

PREFERRED 20.15 125,500 472 42,080 497 5,420 97 3,490 450.2 220 480.2 290 900 1,060 95 600 0.99 210,000 101.9 10 971 240 106 30 966 1,990 75.45 50 76.7 11,550 72.6 62,200 73 3,680 74.9 1,000 71.35 219,330 73.4 12,700

2,517,875 19,868,000 2,602,460 338,530 99,048 139,258 954,000 57,028.50 207,900 1,019 233,090 3,180 1,925,670 3,772.50 884,524 4,515,720 267,398 74,900 15,708,119.50 932,850

-12,080 -900,000 99,000 73,000 721,000 -

LR WARRANT

1.91

1.91

1.89

WARRANTS 1.9 210,000

400,770

-

696,180 30,462,440

-7,893,180

838,922

-

1,010 100,988 3,000

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 11.9 0.79 10.6 1.9 0.87 42.9 2.58 4.17 6.86 0.475 0.83 0.9 0.242 0.42 9.62 20.8 0.5 1.44 1.22 5.29 0.405 0.46 2.03 0.47 2.82 22.8

1,462,600 751,000 100 229,000 566,000 7,216,400 578,000 165,000 6,000 5,550,000 149,000 13,000 4,380,000 1,550,000 752,300 530,800 246,000 4,290,000 4,523,000 20,372,200 35,090,000 70,000 5,000,000 1,130,000 102,000 3,383,100

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.82 1.39

4.82 1.41

4.76 1.31

FIRST METRO ETF

114.1

114.7

114

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.1 10.04 1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

10.1 10.04 1

SHARES 9,594,948

75,396,652 236,743,848

PROPERTY

146,519,363

SERVICES

119,188,336

MINING & OIL

411,330,590

GRAND TOTAL

1,021,573,238

10.1 10 1

4.77 1.35

SME

146,000 22,646,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 114.5 7,350 10.1 10 1

DDS

100 10,080 3,000

VALUE 1,701.73 (up) 18.34 665,283,477.15 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,364.79 (up) 26.78 1,180,445,909.81 HOLDING FIRMS 7,717.84 (up) 24.87 1,429,785,602.34 PROPERTY 3,939.71 (up) 13.72 SERVICES 1,518.69 (up) 0.27 1,465,526,366.555 MINING & OIL 8,149.42 (down) 210.31 1,344,033,191.73 PSEI 7,675.47 (up) 33.70 90,247,045.6508 All Shares Index 4,748.97 (up) 19.04 6,207,319,345.13 Gainers: 94; Losers: 103; Unchanged: 52; Total: 249

NLEX says new toll road, higher traffic to lift sales By Darwin G. Amojelar NLEX Corp. said it expects higher revenues this year, boosted by the opening of a new toll road and an increase in vehicle traffic at the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway. NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said revenue was projected to reach P16 billion this year from P12 billion in 2018. Bautista said the growth in revenue this year would be driven by higher traffic growth at NLEx and SCTEx and the opening of the NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10. Traversing the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon and Caloocan, the 5.65-km, six-lane NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 is seen to divert 30,000 vehicles daily away from the busy streets of Metro Manila. With the new link, travel time between C3 and NLEx will only take 5 minutes. It will also facilitate the efficient delivery of goods as cargo trucks will have alternative access from the Port Area in Manila to the provinces in Central and Northern Luzon. The elevated expressway will enable travelers from Manila to Central and North Luzon to have a shorter travel time as they can head straight to NLEx, bypassing Edsa and the Balintawak Toll Plaza. The next phase of the project is the 2.6-km section from C3 Road, Caloocan City to R10, Navotas City. NLEX and the government last week broke ground for the P23.3-billion NLEx Connector Road, an eightkilometer elevated toll expressway over the right-of-way of the Philippine National Railways. The project starts at the junction of NLEx Segment 10 at C-3 Road/5th Ave. in Caloocan City and will connect to South Luzon Expressway through Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project in Manila. Upon completion, the toll road is expected to benefit around 35,000 vehicles per day. The NLEX spans approximately 95 kilometers, or 527-lane kilometers, and serves an average of 237,046 a day. It is the main infrastructure backbone that connects Metro Manila to Central and Northern Luzon.

Belle registers consolidated net income of P3.2b By Jenniffer B. Austria

BELLE Corp. posted a consolidated net income of P3.2 billion in 2018, down eight percent from P3.5 billion in 2017 when it booked capital gains on sales of non-core investments and extraordinary items. Excluding one time gains, Belle’s 2018 recurring net income of P3.6 billion was 10 percent higher than P3.3 billion in 2017, the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Consolidated revenues climbed six percent to P8.5 billion from P8 billion a year ago. Belle’s gaming unit Premium Leisure Corp. reported a 23-percent increase in its share of gaming earnings from City of Dreams Manila to P3.2 billion in 2018 from P2.6 billion in the previous year. Belle’s real estate business also contributed to its banner year with P3.4 billion in revenues, up nine percent from P3.1 billion in 2017. About 2.4 billion came from Belle’s lease of the land and buildings comprising City of Dreams Manila to Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp., a six-percent hike over the 2017 level. Belle’s real estate sales and property management activities in Tagaytay Highlands and Midlands residential and leisure complexes contributed the balance of P979 million, up 19 percent from the previous year’s level. The company said the strong 2018 results enabled it to declare a regular cash dividend of P0.12 per share in February for a total dividend payment of approximately P1.2 billion, payable on March 28, 2019 to shareholders of record as of March 14. Belle owns a 78.7-percent stake in PLC, which has an operating agreement with the Philippine affiliate of Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd. that gives it a share of gaming revenue or earnings at City of Dreams Manila. Belle also owns approximately one hectare of undeveloped land across from the site of City of Dreams Manila.

B3

World

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Up to 100 still feared trapped in gold mine

CARNIVAL.

JAKARTA―Indonesian authorities warned Monday that up to 100 people could still be trapped and feared dead inside a collapsed illegal gold mine despite a painstaking rescue effort that has so far plucked 19 people alive from the rubble, but also seen nine deaths. Search teams at the unlicensed mine on Sulawesi island have been hampered by steep terrain, unstable soil and dangerously narrow mining shafts since a landslide caused the accident last Tuesday. While authorities said the search and rescue effort would continue for another week, they made no mention of continuing efforts to get food and water to any possible survivors. National disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the number of miners inside the shafts at the time of the accident was still not known as survivors had given varying tallies. “Some say 30 people, 50, 60 people -- even 100 people, because at the time there were many in the main pit [and] ... an unknown number in the smaller ones,” he said in a statement. Because of the precarious conditions, rescue workers initially had to dig by hand to try to reach any survivors, but relatives of those trapped last week gave permission for heavyduty machinery to be deployed. Although mechanized diggers cleared debris from the entrance of one hole on Sunday, they found no more survivors. AFP

Brazilian actress Claudia Raia performs during the parade of Beija-Flor samba school in the first night of Rio’s Carnival at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 4, 2019. AFP

Tornado kills at least 23 in US state of Alabama WASHINGTON―A tornado tore through the southern US state of Alabama on Sunday, killing 23 people, uprooting trees and causing “catastrophic” damage to buildings and roads, a local sheriff said. “Unfortunately our toll, as far as fatalities, does stand at 23 at the current time” Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones told the local CBS affiliate, acknowledging that children were among the dead. Other people have been hospitalized, some with “very serious injuries,” he had earlier told reporters. Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday night due to hazardous conditions, but Jones added they would resume on Monday morning. “The devastation is incredible,” he said. “I cannot recall at least in the last 50 years... a situation where we have had this loss of life that we experienced today.” The swath of destruction left by the storm was a quarter mile (0.4 kilometers) wide and stretched for the “several miles that it traveled on the ground,” according to Jones. Still and video images showed trees that had been snapped in two, debris-strewn roads and wrecked houses in the wake of the storm. More than 6,000 homes were left without power in Alabama, according to PowerOutage.US, while 16,000 suffered outages in neighboring Georgia. Authorities warned the death toll could rise further as rescuers search through the debris in Beauregard, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) east of the state capital Montgomery. Television images showed the heavy rain had relented by dusk but many roads in the worst-hit areas were left littered with debris and impassable. Residents in the town of Smith Station told local TV news crews of their shock at turning up to work to find their businesses destroyed, and seeing crying co-workers comforting one another. AFP

March set as Guaido returns to Venezuela C ARACAS-Opposition supporters in Venezuela were set to take to the streets Monday after leader Juan Guaido called for mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro—as the selfdeclared interim president prepared to return after a week touring Latin American allies.

Guaido’s reappearance in Venezuela would pose an immediate challenge to the embattled Maduro, who will have to decide whether to arrest him for defying a travel banthereby provoking strong international condemnation―or allow him to enter unmolested, which would undermine his authority, analyst say. “I’m announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilize all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT),” Guaido wrote Sunday on Twitter. Later, in a video with his wife shared on his social networks, he said if Maduro’s government “tries to kidnap us ... it will be one of the last mistakes it makes.” Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela’s interim president, did not say how or when he would return, though speculation is rife that a flight from the Colombian capital Bogota to Caracas is the most likely route. However, it is possible that he plans to slip across the

border with Colombia in the same way he left Venezuela, claiming on that occasion that he had help from Maduro’s military. Guaido held talks in Salinas―a coastal resort town west of Guayaquil―on Saturday with President Lenin Moreno, and met with Venezuelan refugees. On Sunday around noon he flew out of Salinas without revealing his destination. Defying a Venezuelan government travel ban, Guaido slipped across the border to Colombia on February 23 in an attempt to escort in truckloads of international humanitarian aid. While in Colombia he met with visiting US Vice President Mike Pence. The 35-year-old political newcomer then traveled to Brazil, where he met the country’s new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and on Friday traveled to Paraguay and Argentina. In a poke at Maduro during his trip, he said he was invited to visit Chile later this month. Guaido, who heads the opposition-led National Assembly, stunned the world on January 23 when he proclaimed himself Venezuela’s acting president after the legislature declared Maduro a usurper and illegitimate over his May 2017 reelection, which was widely criticized as fraudulent. Maduro’s new term in office began on January 10. Guaido wants to oust Maduro and set up a transitional government ahead of new elections. Guaido “must return to Venezuela and continue to press internally, as the international support is enormous,” Eufracio Infante, 64, a Venezuelan lawyer and history teacher, told AFP. AFP

MASS WEDDING. Indian Muslim brides-to-be gather as they participate in a mass wedding ceremony in Ahmedabad on March 3, 2019. AFP

CAIRO―Award-winning Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid was released on Monday after spending nearly six years in prison following his arrest while covering a bloody crackdown on protests, his lawyer said. The photographer, widely known as Shawkan, last year received UNESCO’s World Freedom Prize, dismaying the Egyptian authorities who accused him of “terrorist and criminal acts”. “He was released at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) from the Al-Haram police station (near the Giza pyramids) and is currently at home,” his attorney Taher Aboul Nasr told AFP. Shawkan was detained in August 2013 while covering clashes between security forces and supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi that turned into a bloodbath in which hundreds of demonstrators died. The photojournalist was jailed and put on trial along with 739 defendants, most of them charged with killing police and vandalising property. It was one of the largest mass trials since the 2011 uprising that toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak. In September an Egyptian court upheld death sentences against 75 defendants and gave Shawkan a five-year jail term—which covered the time he had already served—but he remained in jail awaiting his release. AFP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation), Mortgagee/s, -versusFRE No. 12577 SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA, Mortgagor/s. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED)

Upon exta-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Real Estate Mortgage executed on July 1, 2015, by SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA, Mortgagor/s, with residential address at 25 North Lawin St., Philamlife Homes, Quezon City, in favor of BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation), Mortgagee/s, with address at 4201 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, Metro Manila, to satisfy the mortgage debt now in the total amount of FORTY SIX MILLION ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE AND 33/100 (Php 46,115,921.33) PESOS as of October 31,2018, inclusive of interest, penalties, charges and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Office of the Clerk of Court and the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on April 2, 2019, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at the Office of the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will SELL thru public auction to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit:

Transfer Certificate of Title No. 21454 Registry of Deeds – Quezon City

From camps to factories: Detainees say China using forced labor ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN―As Gulzira Auelkhan toiled stitching gloves in a factory in China’s troubled Xinjiang region, her managers made no secret of where her production would be sold. “They told us openly that the gloves will be sold abroad, so we should do a good job,” Auelkhan recalled of a labor stint she says was enforced by Chinese “re-education” officials. Auelkhan, a 39-year-old Chinese citizen of Kazakh descent, says she was part of a network of mostly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang who pass from what China calls “vocational training centers” to factories where they are forced to work for far less than the local minimum wage. China says the education centers are part of its efforts to fight terrorism and separatism in Xinjiang―a region populated by mostly Muslim minority groups―and denies any use of forced labor. But rights groups, and former workers like

Photojournalist released from jail

Auelkhan, say the practice used against Chinese minorities is widespread and at least one foreign company has dropped its Chinese supplier over the concerns. Auelkhan says she was transferred to the glove factory at the Jiafang industrial estate in Xinjiang’s Yining county after spending 15 months in two different “re-education” facilities. More than a million people from Muslim minorities―mostly ethnic Uighurs, but also Kazakhs like Auelkhan, Kyrgyz and Hui―are being held in internment centers across Xinjiang, according to a United Nations panel of experts. Auelkhan has residency rights in Kazakhstan but had traveled to China to see family when she was detained and put into a re-education centre. She said life in the camps was brutal, with residents struck over the head with electrified batons for spending more than two minutes in the bathroom.

So even though they were not free to leave, it was an improvement when she and hundreds of other camp inmates were transferred to work at the factory, Auelkhan told AFP in Kazakhstan’s biggest city Almaty. “Every day we were taken to and from a dormitory three kilometres from the factory,” she said, hugging the five-year-old daughter she didn’t see for nearly two years. “When we were studying at the camp they told us we would be taught a trade and work for three months,” Auelkhan said. Auelkhan said she was paid only 320 yuan ($48/42 euros) for close to two months’ work before her time at the factory was curtailed in December and she was allowed to return to her family in Kazakhstan. Xinjiang’s average minimum wage ranges between 820 and 1,460 yuan per month, according to official statistics. AFP

“A parcel of land (Lot 6 Blk. 23 of the amd. Plan Pcs4048 Amd. Being a portion of the cons of Lots 1-A & 1-B Esd-20031 & Lot 2 & 3 Esd-10937 LRC Rec. No. 7681), situated in the Dist. Of Diliman Q. City bounded on the SE., along line 1-2-3 by north Lawin Ave., (Rd. Lot 19) on the SW., along line 3-4 by Lot 5 Blk. 23; on the NW., along line 4-5 by Lot 8 Blk. 23 & on the NE., along line 5-1 by Lot 7 Blk. 23 all of the amd. Plan. Beginning at a pt. marked /1” on plan, being N. 26 deg. 55’W., 1707.12m from BLIM 7, Q. City; thence S. 48 deg. 43’W., 5.11 m. to pt. 2; thence S. 48 deg. 56’N., 9.59m. xxxxx containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR (464) SQ.M., more or less xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid Office on the above stated date and time. Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title/s to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if there be any. In the event that pubic auction should not take place on the said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on April 10, 2019, at the same time and place without further notice. Quezon City, Metro Manila, February 8, 2019. (Sgd.) ARNULFO O. LIM Sheriff IV (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII & Ex-Officio Sheriff Copy Furnished: BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation) 4201 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, WARNING: Metro Manila SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA 25 North Lawin St., Philamlife Homes, Quezon City

It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law

(MStandard-Feb. 26, Mar. 5 & 12, 2019)

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

ART AT WORK. Almost 200 hundred students from San Mateo Municipal College and Jose F. Diaz Memorial High School joined an art contest where each participant created unique masterpieces from reusable discarded items like tin cans, plastic wrappers, and bottle caps, at SM San Mateo over the weekend. Manny Palmero

Cops, politicians operating jueteng, PCSO exec asserts BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— Policemen and politicians are the operators of the illegal numbers game “jueteng” in this province and across the country, an official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said here over the weekend. Without naming the policemen and politicians concerned, Manuel Fraginal Sr., PCSO executive assistant VI and Chief of the Nationwide Inter-Branch Security Monitoring, said these officials refused to conduct raids on illegal gambling centers that undermined the operations of the state lottery firm. “These jueteng operators are no other than cops and politicians. PCSO gives them allocation but still they continue to be scalawags and crooks,” Fraginal told the Standard in an interview. The former Marine major said the PCSO gives the Philippine National Police P800 million monthly to combat illegal numbers games such as jueteng, “and yet they refused to conduct raids on illegal gambling draw centers like those of Globaltech Peryahan ng Bayan.” Politicians are also given allocations, but some are even illegal gambling operators. I’m not saying that all politicians are like that, but some are, especially in the local level,” Fraginal added. He said PCSO had conducted surveillance in the provinces of Zambales, Cebu, Bohol, Albay, Pangasinan, and Nueva Vizcaya, and have found more evidence against the alleged jueteng activities of Globaltech. “All these provinces bear signs that jueteng operations had become proliferate because the daily total sales have become lower, meaning the [lottery] franchise holders are having competition. PCSO don’t permit and allow two franchise holders to operate in one area simultaneously because it would result in chaos and killing, like what happened in Albay,” Fraginal said.

TWG for motorbike taxi services hailed

T

HE creation of a technical working group to assess the operations of motorcycle taxi services such as Angkas is an “important step in solving an issue that’s been plaguing the country for years.” Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, chair of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, said this as he lauded Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade’s green light for the TWG, following calls for a series on hearings on motorcycle taxis. “I’m pleased with this kind of decisive leadership from the DOTr [Department of Transportation] and it shows they are sensitive to the needs of the people,” Castelo said. Hearing the public clamor on the legalization and regulation of motorcy-

cle taxis, Tugade directed the TWG to discuss the prospect of motorcycle taxis operating as public transport. “We at the DOTr know how to listen. So even if the SC [Supreme Court] has yet to issue a final ruling, we already formed a TWG to study the prospect of motorcycles serving as public transportation,” Tugade said. The TWG is headed by Undersecretary Mark de Leon and is comprised of representatives from the DOTr, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory

Board, Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group, Metro Manila Development Authority, Senate, House of Representatives, commuter welfare groups, road safety advocates, motorcycle manufacturers, motorcycle organizations, and law schools. The group has met three times to discuss the appropriate standards and capacities of motorcycles for public transportation service. It included determining the proper type of motorcycle that can be granted a franchise, the minimum Cubic Centimeter capacity of the motor, travel speed of motorcycle taxis, franchise route, seat and helmet requirements, and training requirements for motorcycle bikers looking to register as a Public Utility Vehicle driver.

HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE. Senator

Cynthia A. Villar (third from left) signs a memo that will provide housing for 2,000 families residing at Isla Puting Bato in Parola, Tondo, Manila. She joined House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, lawmakers and representatives from the Philippine Ports Authority, National Housing Authority, and Philippine National Railways. Later in the day, Villar joined a PDP-Laban campaign rally at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna (inset), asking residents to support the administration’s senatorial slate. Lino Santos and Roy Tomandao

QC passes measure setting fines, penalties on ordinance violators By Rio N. Araja

THE 37-member Quezon City council has passed an ordinance imposing fines and community service penalties on ordinance violators. Ordinance No. SP-2752 is authored by District 2 Councilors Ranulfo Ludovica and Godofredo Liban II.

It provides procedural enforcement of various ordinances by barangay public safety officers, Department of Public Order and Safety officers, environmental protection officers, and the Quezon City Police District members on city ordinance violations, such as drinking of liquor in public spaces, being halfnaked in public places, disregarding

Bill to compensate housewives filed HOUSEWIVES, the stay-at-home mothers who work all day raising their children and taking care of their husbands, or women who are out of the labor force and are commonly considered “unproductive” should now be compensated for their contribution to society, according to a bill filed in the House of Representatives. Authored by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, House Bill 8875 stresses it is high time to recognize the job of these women “as valuable economic activity” and to highlight their worth in nation-building, “make payment for their housework and give them wages for the work they continue to bear out at home.” Salceda noted that as of January

2018, an estimated 12 million individuals—11.2 million of whom were women—were not in the labor force due to “unpaid care work,” which means they were working at home and tending to the family. Out of this number, 4.168 million have at least one child under 12 years old, with some 1.790 million living below the poverty line, said the lawmaker. A noted economist, Salceda proposes to focus initially on women with at least one child under 12 years old and living under poverty line and seeks to provide them with a monthly P2,000 compensation until they either graduate from poverty or no longer have children under 12.

curfew hours for minors and smoking in public spaces. The new procedure exercises necessary, appropriate and incidental powers for the city’s efficient and effective governance that are essential for the promotion of the general welfare of the residents. “This ordinance also aims to maintain the peace and order in the city, the

protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare for the benefit of the QC constituents,” the measure read. Meanwhile, in commemoration of the National Intellectual Disability Week, the city government donated adjustable wheelchairs to kids with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus.

Yellow Card members now at 62k—Abby By Joel E. Zurbano MORE than 62,300 residents in Makati City are now getting health benefits from the Yellow Card project since Mayor Abigail Binay initiated reforms in the Makati Health Plus (MHP) program in 2017. Of the total 62,307 cardholders, 4,101 were already granted lifetime membership and no longer need to renew their MHP Yellow cards. MHP Office reported there were 4,845 new applications approved and 56,048 renewals in 2018. The new cardholders included 2,687 new lifetime members, in addition to 1,414 approved in 2017. Upon assuming her post in 2016, Mayor Binay had identified Access to Quality Health Care Services as one of the main policy directions of her administration and vowed to pursue 100 percent Yellow Card coverage of all eligible Makatizens, including residents and City Hall employees. “The Yellow Card Program is one of our greatest legacies to the city. It was born out of my father’s sincere desire to give the poorest of the poor quality health care services and medical benefits,” Binay said, mentioning longtime former mayor and Vice President Jejomar Binay. “We continue to improve and expand the benefits and privileges Yellow Card members receive, to ensure the health of the future generation of Makatizens. Residents are assured that they will continuously be treated by medical experts and receive free medicines,” Mayor Abby explained. The MHP Office reported the breakdown of Yellow Cards issued by type, as follows: 21,152 family cards (with dependents); 19,780 solo cards; 14,351 senior citizens; 2,923 city government employees; and 4,101 lifetime or permanent card holders. Yellow Card holders and registered dependents are entitled to free outpatient consultation and subsidized hospitalization and diagnostic tests at the cityrun Ospital ng Makati, which recently earned its ISO 9001:2015 certification.

SBMA releases P222-m shares to 8 neighbors By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has released its revenue shares to neighboring local government units, this time in the amount of P222.13 million for the second semester 2018 dividends. SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Ramon Agregado distributed the shares to representatives of eight LGUs at the SBMA Board Room on Tuesday. The biggest share went to Olongapo City at P51,663,390.29, followed by Subic, Zambales with P33,960,079.44; Dinalupihan, Bataan, P27,628,579.88; and San Marcelino, Zambales, P26,622,181.11. The rest went to Hermosa, Bataan with P23,129,326.47; Castillejos, Zambales, P20,791,833.84; Morong, Bataan, P19,303,258.14; and San Antonio, Zambales, P19,035,516.74. The revenue shares are taken from corporate taxes collected from registered Subic Bay Freeport enterprises, which are rated at 5 percent of their gross income. Under Republic Act No. 9400, which amended RA 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, business enterprises within the Subic Freeport Zone only pay a 5 percent tax on their gross income earned within the zone. Three percent of the 5 percent corporate tax directly goes to the national treasury, while the other 2 percent is distributed to neighboring LGUs as revenue share.

ACER MILESTONE.

Sue Ong Lim, Acer Philippines sales and Marketing Director, Maciek Gornicki, IDC Client Devices Research Manager, and Manuel Wong, Acer Philippines Managing Director (from left) put their thumbs up as Acer Philippines maintains its No. 1 spot in the country’s personal computer market for 10 years during a press conference at the Shangri-La at The Fort BGC in Taguig City. Manny Palmero

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

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Lifestyle choices

that affect climate change

CONTRARY to popular belief that climate change is a large-scale issue that a person’s everyday choices don’t as much as exacerbate it is a mistake. The little things a person does on a daily basis have a huge impact on the environment. Something as simple as consuming food and buying clothes could affect the planet as they produce tons of garbage that end up in landfills which then produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Buying too much food

NO TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS. The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines dedicates this year’s Earth Hour celebration to raising awareness of the dangers of single-use plastics.

Earth Hour 2019

focuses on plastic pollution

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, onethird of food items produced yearly are wasted. The unconsumed or excess food adds to carbon emissions that harm the environment. Getting only the amount of food a person or the household can consume helps avoid wastage.

F

OLLOWING the global #Connect2Earth theme of Earth Hour, the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines shines a light on the issue of single-use plastics and the solutions to help address it in this year’s nationwide switch-off event. “The last decade of Earth Hour has contributed so much to the global climate agenda and has paved the way for many conservation wins. Now that we are ushering in the second year of the movement’s new decade, our efforts will still be centered on raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity to counter the worsening impacts of climate change,” said WWF-Philippines head of climate and energy program and Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Gia Ibay. Last year’s launch of #Connect2Earth saw more than 17,900 landmarks and monuments in over 180 countries and territories switching off their lights to show their commitment to and support for raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity. According to WWF-Philippines, both #Connect2Earth and #EarthHour trended in 33 countries and garnered more than 3.5 billion impressions worldwide. WWF-Philippines is anchoring this year’s celebration on single-use plastics, one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. Leveraging on the momentum of its #AyokoNgPlastik movement, WWFPhilippines hopes to further create

Buying too many clothes

From left: WWF-Philippines president and chief executive Joel Palma, Youth Programme and AIS development executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Yasser Sarona, Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Gia Ibay, Iza Calzado, Janine Gutierrez, and Rovilson Fernandez.

awareness of the dangers of single-use plastics, spark conversations, change mindsets and habits of consumers, urge businesses to operate more sustainably, and influence policy. Adopting the WWF network’s “No Plastics in Nature” initiative, WWFPhilippines believes that Earth Hour 2019 is the best way to send out a clear message to take a stand against plastic pollution toward its ultimate goal of mobilizing public support for legislations on plastic waste management. “The Philippines is the third major plastic polluter of oceans in the world and we, Filipinos, must unite and create concrete steps to stop this worsening situation,” stated WWF-Philippines president

The Philippines is the third major plastic polluter of oceans in the world.

and chief executive Joel Palma. He continued, “We have to realize how nature is vitally important in our daily lives and preventing single-use plastics from entering nature is a big step towards a greener, more sustainable planet,” Palma reiterated the importance of working together to achieve a long-term solution to this environmental problem that significantly contributes to nature loss. The kick-off event of Earth Hour 2019 on Feb. 28 saw commitments for nature formalized and renewed as the Boy Scouts of the Philippines inked a memorandum of agreement with WWFPhilippines. National Ambassadors Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado, as well as National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez, renewed their contracts to reaffirm their declaration of support to conserve natural assets to ensure a living planet for future generations. The main switch-off event of Earth Hour 2019 is slated on March 30 at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the actual one-hour switch-off at 8:30 p.m. At least 3,000 scouts will be deployed to the public event that will feature booths, activities, and performances that will honor the planet. Meanwhile, everyone from all over the Philippines is also encouraged to switch off nonessential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in solidarity with millions around the world who will do the same.

Coastal cleanup volunteers pick up plastic trash among other waste. (Photo from WWF-Philippines/Facebook)

The fast-changing fashion landscape comes at a huge cost to the environment as it contributes to water pollution, toxic chemical use, and textile waste. To help Mother Nature, re-use old clothes and practice smart shopping for new clothes. Buy clothes that will not go out of fashion and/or those that can be styled in different ways.

Using disposable products

Disposable items lead to more waste. While they make life more convenient, they also cause pollution and resource depletion. Paper cups, plastic water bottles, disposable cutlery, plastic bags, and food packaging are harmful to the environment. Avoid using them and opt for portable tea mugs, tumblers, reusable cutlery, eco bags, and airtight containers that can be used again and again.

Owning a lot of electronic gadgets

E-waste or e-scrap is waste from electronic and electrical devices like DVD and music players, televisions, telephones, computers, vacuum cleaners and similar things. Some e-waste (like TV) contains lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominates flame retardants that are harmful to humans and the environment. Proper disposal of such waste is very important.

But here’s a viable solution

In a developing country like the Philippines, the garbage problem is worse because of rapid urbanization, economic growth and development, and changes in lifestyle and consumption patterns. Major cities in the country, particularly Metro Manila, face massive solid waste management problems due to lack of landfills, over-flowing dumpsites, and improper disposal of garbage. An effective solution to the mounting garbage problem is the use of incinerators that use the innovative technology Incinerators use the innovative technology pyrolysis called pyrolysis. Pyrolysis which breaks down large molecules of waste. breaks down large molecules of waste such as agricultural residue, scraps, tires, and non-recyclable materials into smaller molecules of gas, oil, and carbon black. The common by-product of pyrolysis technology is ash which can be mixed with aggregates for construction purposes. This type of technology has no harmful smoke, smell, or loud noises. If integrated with solid waste management, incinerators can reduce carbon emission from waste transfer, reduce cost of solid waste disposal, and promote zero-waste-to-landfill. Depending on the type and capacity of waste, there are different kinds of incinerators: rotary kiln, which are mostly used in developed countries; grate incinerators, which use waste-to-energy technology; and liquid, gases, and fumes incinerators, which are used for thermal destruction of gas and fumes and are not suitable for the incineration of solid waste. In the Philippines, Clean Air Act of 1999 banned the use of incinerator because it is believed to emit poisonous and toxic fumes. However, in 2002, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources released a clarification on the incinerator ban in the country and wrote, “Section 20 does not absolutely prohibit incineration as a mode of waste disposal, rather only those burning process which emit poisonous and toxic fumes are banned.”

Life

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TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

SEEING CLEARLY. Allan Pineda Lindo, more popularly known as Apl.de.ap of American musical group The Black Eyed Peas (third from left) personally turned over the retinal imaging camera his foundation donated to Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Apl.de.ap gives back to his hometown

A

LLAN Pineda Lindo, popularly known as Apl.de.ap of the international Grammy award-winning group, The Black Eyed Peas, has delivered on a promise he made almost three and half years ago.

In October 2015, the Apl.de.ap Foundation International began its first healthcare program called “Campaign for Filipino Children” to address retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a cause of childhood blindness among premature newborn babies in the Philippines. The first outcome of the initiative was the purchase of a retinal imaging camera system to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of ROP. In collaboration with the Philippine

Academy of Ophthalmology, it was successfully delivered and installed at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, a public hospital in Davao City. Apl.de.ap brought with him Dr. Thomas C. Lee, director of the Vision Center at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and a leading pediatric retina specialist in the US, to train practitioners on the use of the RetCam. At the time, Apl.de.ap promised additional ret-

Apl.de.ap was born with a visual impairment.

inal imaging camera systems to other regional hospitals in the Philippines. On February 19, Apl.de.ap and his foundation installed a second retinal imaging camera system at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga. “I’m really proud to donate this in my hometown of Pampanga. As a kid who grew up with visual impairment, I know firsthand what it is to navigate this region without being able to see. I’m glad I can make a small impact to changing this, but there’s still a long way to go,” he shared. The campaign’s approach is to assist the medical community in the Philippines through five regional/ provincial hospitals to increase the capacities of these regions to adequately diagnose ROP, an affliction among pre-term infants that can cause lifelong blindness if not addressed within 48 hours of birth/diagnosis. “The Campaign for Filipino Children’s choice to address ROP is both strategic and sustainable,” said Sonia Delen, chairperson, and member of the Apl.de.ap Foundation International Executive Committee. She added, “The capacity of the Philippines to effectively address this issue is enhanced tremendously by the continuing professional development of the medical community and the provision of proper diagnostic equipment. It is a medical issue that hits home for Apl.de.ap because he himself has a visual impairment.”

2019 Childhood Immunization Schedule released IN LIGHT of the measles outbreak in five regions in the country, the Philippine Pediatric Society and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines together with the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, have released the 2019 Childhood Immunization Schedule for the Philippines. The annual schedule indicates the recommended vaccines for children and adolescents. It has been released with a recommended indication for measles vaccine for infants as young as six months of age. Pediatricians now recommend that the first measles vaccine be administered at six months old. Measles vaccines are usually given to infants at nine months old, but they can be given as early as six months of age in cases of outbreaks. Similar to last year, the schedule contains 13 vaccinations that Filipino children need from age 0 to 18 years. These include the anti-tuberculosis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and the Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) given to children right after birth. Both the HBV and BCG are included in the National Immunization Program, which identifies vaccines that are available for free at health centers. The Childhood Immunization Schedule also covers vaccines that can protect children from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type B, polio, pneumococcal infections, rotavirus infections, influenza, measles, Japanese encephalitis,

The 2019 Childhood Immunization Schedule indicates that measles vaccine for infants be administered at six months old.

mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A, and human papillomavirus. The PPS and PIDSP remind parents that vaccination is a safe and scientifically proven way of fighting deadly and infectious diseases. During PIDSP’s 26th annual convention on Feb. 21, the doctors launched the “Save The Future” movement to restore the public’s confidence and trust in vaccination, alongside the release of the national Childhood Immunization Schedule. “Vaccinating our children is one of the most basic medical interventions to ensure that our children develop as healthy adults. Some fears and myths persist that vaccines could harm infants, but decades

of studies have shown that vaccines prevent unnecessary child deaths instead of causing them,” said PIDSP president Dr. Anna Lisa T. Ong-Lim. PPS president Dr. Salvacion Gatchalian also emphasized the need for collaboration between parents and doctors. “While the Childhood Immunization Schedule contains our ideal vaccination routine, we acknowledge that some patients will require schedules that are different from our recommendations,” said Dr. Gatchalian. “That is why it is important for parents to consult their pediatricians so they can make the best possible decisions for the health and well-being of their children.”

Sardinella tawilis

Forum tackles endangered tawilis THE University of Santo Tomas recently staged the Tawilis Summit 2019 in a bid to shed light on the most recent scientific information on Sardinella tawilis which was declared endangered species. Tawilis, a freshwater sardine found exclusively in the Philippines, is the only known member of the genus Sardinella that can exist entirely in freshwater. Keynote speaker Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos from the UST Graduate School, who is also an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, presented “The IUCN assessment of Sardinella tawilis as an endangered species,” of which he is the main author. Other speakers included Dr. Maria Theresa M. Mutia, who tackled “Tawilis fishery reserves and spawning grounds;” Dr. Jonas Quilang, who presented “Phylogeny of S. tawilis;” Alicia Ely J. Pagulayan, who discussed “Reproductive biology of S. tawilis;” Rey Donne S. Papa, Ph.D., who talked about “Updates on the limno-ecological studies on Lake Taal;” and Ipat Luna, who

explained “Management and conservation initiatives.” A roundtable discussion followed with Roberto C. Pagulayan, Ph.D., as the rapporteur. The whole-day event culminated with the reading of the PSFS Declaration, which summarized the key points of discussion from various stakeholders and participants. From this summary, PSFS will come up with its official stand on the declaration of Sardinella tawilis as an endangered species, which will be submitted to the appropriate government agencies for their perusal. Spearheaded by the Philippine Society for Freshwater Science, the summit was made possible through the cooperation of the UST Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Diliman Institute of Biology, National Fisheries Development and Research Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Region 4A.

Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia talks about tawilis fishery reserves and spawning grounds.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

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OVE and music recently returned to SM City Bicutan with Heart Beats 3.0, the biggest Valentine concert in the South metro. Now on its third year, Heart Beats 3.0 is SM City Bicutan’s highly anticipated outdoor concert event that brings the best of OPM closer to mallgoers in the South. And for this year, Moira Dela Torre, Callalily, and December Avenue top billed the annual music festival. On the Heart Beats 3.0 live playlist were December Avenue’s alternative rock and power ballads. These ranged from their early singles in 2010 to their current hits including “Kung ‘Di Rin Lang Ikaw” where a lucky audience member joined lead singer Zel Bautista onstage to perform the song. The crowd also cheered for Callalily and vocalist Kean Cipriano who made hearts beat faster through rock n’ roll, their trademark tracks and a stellar firework display that lit up the stage. Last but not the least, singer/songwriter Moira Dela Torre shared her love story through songs of heartbreak and hope. Making it more special for the audience, the concert ended on a

December Avenue’s alternative rock and power ballads set the perfect mood for a night of music and love.

South metro’s biggest Valentine show returns to SM City Bicutan

Kiana Valenciano unravels self in full-length album

perfect note as the newlywed couple—Moira and Jason Marvin Hernandez sang a duet of one of her best hits, “Tagpuan”. Setting the mood for the perfect date for couples, night out with friends, and bonding with the family—were a 360-selfie photo booth, a special food corner and ball pit while enjoying the most requested love songs just in time for the most romantic month of the year. The event was held in partnership with SKY Cable, Sun Cellular, Jollibee, Pancake House, Dairy Queen, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chowking, Pizza Hut, Hukad, Gerry’s Grill and Max’s Restaurant. Heart Beats 3.0 is one of the many exciting events at SM City Bicutan.

Callalily and vocalist Kean Cipriano made hearts beat faster through their trademark rock ‘n roll tracks.

By Seymour Barros Sanchez

The event aims to inspire a community of young creative people capable of identifying powerful visual contributions as well as recognizing the prevailing impact of art in our socio-emotional, cultural and moral development. This reunion exhibition also connects the works of selected and award-winning alumni artists of UE-CFAD and invited artists in the contemporary art scene today.

Singer/songwriter Moira Dela Torre shared her love story through songs of heartbreak and hope.

The exhibit showcases the works of selected Buklod Sining student members, namely Allan Soriano, Angela Nicole Alarilla, Harmsley Bantillo, James Benedict Calleja, Jayrol Bonito, Jerome Daguplo, Jesse Camacho, Kenneth Sunga, Kiko Moran, Maica Borlagdan, Melo Adriano, Reyster Delos Reyes, Rolandson Operio, Shane Delfin, Tatel, Vincent Santos and Ysabela Santos. Participating Buklod Sining alumni

FOR the third time, Buklod Sining, the oldest art organization of the University of the East College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (UE-CFAD) is recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as one of the selected art groups all over the Philippines to receive the 2019 NCCA Gallery Exhibition Grant. ‘From Above and From Below: Narratives that Deserve to be Uncovered and Made Known” is the 30th founding anniversary theme of Buklod Sining. It gives reverence to narratives coming from different classes in Philippine society. Through this, the participating artists will be able to understand and contemplate about their immense responsibilities in creating relevant art projects outside the confinement of art studio and salon walls. This milestone is not only a commemoration of 30 years of being relevant but also the start of another 30 years of its continuous commitment in helping UE in honing young artists in diverse artistic disciplines. The exhibit opened on Feb. 14 at the NCCA Gallery, Intramuros Manila. Exhibit runs until 'Komunidad,' an art installation by Bayani Galera tomorrow, March 6.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, March 5, 2019

ACROSS 1 Swabber’s need 5 Host’s request 9 Patriarch of an Arab family 14 Part of aka 15 Is very thrifty 16 Colossal 17 Actress Tyne — 18 Equips 19 Irritate 20 Skulked about 22 Motormouths 24 Rent 26 Friend or —? 27 Revised 30 Yellow wildflower 35 Upholstery choice 36 Truth bender 37 Broadcast 38 Mrs. Peron 39 Broke to bits 42 NYC opera house 43 Not any 45 Bustling commotions 46 Less green 48 Kept from falling 50 Fourscore 51 Energy source 52 Ms. Burstyn 54 Discolored by spots or streaks

58 Provided funds 62 Turned down 63 Italian wine city 65 Early VCR format 66 Biscotto flavor 67 Man-goat deity 68 Spinks of the ring 69 Adhesive 70 Spelling error 71 — St. Vincent Millay DOWN 1 Water lily leaves 2 Ladd of films 3 Ait 4 Devotion 5 Go over again 6 Fishtails 7 — out (relax) 8 Classroom sound 9 Downhill race 10 Longs for 11 Sea eagle 12 Mad scientist’s aide 13 Pocket janglers 21 Hull parts 23 Burning 25 TV serial part 27 Levels off 28 Fairway clump 29 Lacking sense

31 Super Bowl cheers 32 Get-up-and-go 33 Like honey 34 Doorway 36 Take on cargo 40 Mt. Katahdin locale 41 Helped with the dishes 44 Least hard 47 Of low character 49 Paul Hogan role 50 Climate af-

fecter (2 wds.) 53 Quit raining (2 wds.) 54 Be grouchy 55 “Typical Male” singer 56 Poles’ connector 57 Senseless 59 Garden intruder 60 Bond’s alma mater 61 Emmy winner — Delany 64 Utter

Kiana Valenciano drops her first fulllength album, a 10-track record entitled 'See Me.'

artists are Jay Ragma, Lei Manto, Olan Ventura, Loren Dayrit, John Rey Aquino, Ace Aquino, Angeline Tabilog, Bernadette Banigoos, John Lanbert Rafols, Trish Dijamco, Elvin Macanlalay, Bryan Marticio, Mars Sanchez, Ayan Padilla, Nico Nunag, Kimi Teves, Richard Soriano Legaspi, Bayani Galera, Ronwell Jason Bacani, and Jay Condeno. Invited artists include Fitz Hererra, Michael Villagante, Wipo, Nikko Pelaez, JM De Olazo, JP Duray, and RC Camarines. Buklod is always true to its core about arts for social change initiatives since 1989. Their first exhibition grant under NCCA gave homage to Philippine Cinema as part of their 20th anniversary in 2009 and it traveled to two more relevant exhibition spaces such as the former PhilAm Life lobby in Manila and Ishmael Bernal Gallery in UP Diliman. The second exhibition grant was for Buklod’s 25th Anniversary, which was entitled “Pinaeba: Filipina sa Lahat ng Panahon,” an art exhibition dedicated to the Filipino woman throughout the century and how they triumphantly surpassed the challenges of the times through their huge global contributions in diverse fields.

SINGER and occasional model Kiana Valenciano is all set to shake airwaves with her much-awaited See Me album, consisting of ten original tracks, under Tarsier Records and top-gun producers Moophs and Marcus Davis. Her “baby” as she calls it, See Me shows off Kiana’s writing ability to cross genres without losing her sonic brand. She pushed her limits to find the perfect balance between what she wants and not making the songs seem too generic. More than all the technical details and artistic creation, however, the hardest to deal with was the vulnerability of showing her true self. Working on the album, she developed a renewed perspective: being unapologetic about her craft. This resulted to her having bursts of writing sessions that took as quick as an hour with Want You to See Me that took a full month. In the creative process Kiana aimed to focus on her emotions as well as the rawness of her music. See Me lists 10 tracks including the carrier single “5:30,” a soulful summer score on that ‘can’t-get-enough-ofyou’ feeling, and “Keep It Secret,” a reunion with rapper Curtismith. See Me became available on all digital music platforms on March 1. For updates and the freshest releases, follow@tarsierrecords on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

International.. From C4

In the half century since it was established, Fespaco has never awarded its top prize to a female director—a fact that faced uncomfortable scrutiny during the week-long event. Only four of the films in competition at the festival were directed by women. “Where are the women?” asked South African actress Xolile Tshabalala, who starred in Miraculous Weapons made by Cameroonian director Jean-Pierre Bekolo. “Can it be that in 50 years, there hasn’t been a single woman capable of telling a great story to win the Fespaco?” Burkinabe director Apolline Traore whose film Desrances won a special prize on Friday said recognition had to be on merit, not a token gesture in the fight against discrimination. But she added: “Of course there’s a problem” in gender equality for directors. “There’s no equality for the craft of a woman director, not just in Africa, but in the world,” she said. Encouraged by the #MeToo movement, some took the opportunity to use the festival to also highlight alleged sexual abuse within the African film industry. “It’s time to speak out,” said French actress Nadege Beausson-Diagne, who told AFP that she was setting up the movement called #Memepaspeur (“Not even scared”) to help women speak out in Africa. Violence “is everywhere—against actresses but also directors, scriptwriters and technicians, who live with harassment, sexual aggression and rape,” she said, adding that she had twice been assaulted during film shoots in Africa. An online petition was launched urging Fespaco to exclude a TV series from the competition after an actress accused its director of assault. The director, reached by AFP, refused to comment. AFP

Entertainment

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

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TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

HARNESSING STARS’ POTENTIAL

Star Magic Workshops opens language class, Artist Registry to highlight Summer 2019

ON A MISSION.

Celebrity hairdresser and philanthropist Ricky Reyes, initiated 'Isang Suklay, Isang Gunting' outreach program to continue his mission to empower LGBT members by providing skills training and livelihood opportunities.

NICKIE WANG

Star Magic Workshop head Rahyan Carlos (center, back row) with workshop trainers and instructors.

ON TOP of the established and reliable acting, voice and dance workshops, Star Magic’s premier training group led by director-scriptwriter and Star Magic Workshop head Rahyan Carlos is spearheading a new class for those who are willing to make the most out of their summer or to explore new facets of themselves. The Star Magic Workshops is adding a Conversational Tagalog Class for Non Tagalog Speakers class on the curriculum. This specific class, which will be taught by Weena Sadorra, aims to improve the students’ Tagalog proficiency. After years of being limited to Star Magic artists alone, the said class will now be available to public workshoppers starting this summer. In order to make the intensive training a lot more exciting and conducive for learning, the Star Magic Workshops is also debuting its newly-renovated training halls for the summer workshop participants. In line with its consistent pioneering of innovations in talent management and development, Star Magic Workshops is also launching the Artist Registry in collaboration with ABS-CBN Production teams very soon. Star Magic Workshoppers, who has shown notable aptitude and impeccable discipline and passion, would have the chance to be selected by Carlos and Johnny Manahan for the soon-to-launch platform aimed at providing acting opportunities within ABS-CBN shows. “We want to reintroduce to the public that we are number 1 in the Philippines in terms of training for the performance arts such as acting, voice and dance,” said Carlos during a recent press conference. “In fact we have recorded a total of 1,400 enrollees last year alone.” Carlos is the only certified Chubbuck Technique teacher behind the molding of some of the most sought after and award-winning actors of today such as

Julia Barretto, Jake Cuenca, Anna Luna, EJ Falcon, Alora Sasam, Jessy Mendiola, Christian Bables, Arjo Atayde, Paulo Avelino, and Joshua Garcia, among others. More than the new elements in the Star Magic Summer 2019 Workshops, the same exclusive, focused and international-grade lessons through the help of the award-winning and seasoned teachers remain as its core. Compared to other trainings, Star Magic Workshops’ are not only comprehensive they are also exclusive to only a limited number of participants, thereby allowing the teachers to focus in each students’ progress. The adult acting classes are still handled by Carla Martinez and Rubi Rubi along with Lynette Conception, Heart de Guzman and Air Paz Pablico, while the kids’ acting classes are still handled by Edna Mae Landicho and HB Benitez. The dance classes are divided into three different genres namely jazz funk, hiphop and urban led by Nesh Janiola of Hotlegs, Brion Lim of Maneuvers Ignite and Geejay Romano, respectively. Meanwhile, the voice classes are still going to be led by Philippine Madrigal Singer alums Luningning San Jose, Julie Anne Reyes, and Roland Roldan. Those who aspire to be trained by professional and practicing teachers in acting, dance, voice and language are all welcome to join the workshops. Enrollment will be on a first come, first serve basis. Registration starts on March 16 and 17. For inquiries and enlistment, please call ABS-CBN Star Magic at 415-2272 local 5142, 5243 and 5244 or Star Magic Workshops’ Facebook page or email them at starmagicworkshops@abs-cbn.com. You may also visit the Star Magic Hub at starmagic.abs-cbn.com and our official Instagram and Facebook page @starmagicphils for more updates.

INTERNATIONAL

Rwandan film picks up top honors at Africa film festival RWANDAN director Joel Karekezi’s The Mercy of the Jungle on Saturday scooped best film at Africa’s top film festival, following a fierce debate about gender equality and sexual aggression in the continent’s movie industry. The film was among 20 vying for the top Golden Stallion of Yennenga award at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco). A road movie focusing on the wars in Democratic Republic of Congo through the eyes of two soldiers lost in the jungle, it also picked up the best actor award for Belgian Marc Zinga. Egyptian director Khaled Youssef won second prize for his drama Karma, while third prize went to Tunisia’s Ben Hohmound for Fatwa about a father who discovers that his dead son had been a jihadist. Continued on C3

Joel Karekezi's road movie focuses on the wars in Congo through the eyes of two soldiers lost in the jungle.

CHANGING PEOPLE’S LIVES...one comb and

a pair of scissors at a time Scheduled to arrive in the country to comprise the panel of judges are some country leaders of the Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association (APHCA) from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. ***

A memorable exit

TV host and beauty guru Ricky Reyes (center) with partners and sponsors of FilHair's 35th-anniversary event

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GBT community exponent Ricky Reyes explained why he chose not to be in politics amid numerous offers to lead government agencies or run for public office. While the TV host and beauty guru is into public service, he’s one of those people who find politics too complicated and toxic at times. On his television show, he tirelessly calls for those blessed to share their blessings with the less fortunate, and whenever he goes around the country, he inspires people with his messages of hope and perseverance. “If I really wanted to, dapat matagal na. But I have found a different avenue to serve and help other people,” Reyes, who is simply known as Mother Ricky, shared in a recent press conference for the celebration of FilHair’s 35th anniversary. FilHair or the Filipino Hairdressers Association is a premier association of professional hairdressers, makeup artists and salon owners in the country. It is set to launch a landmark event that will gather together people in the beauty industry to a daylong event this summer. “We’re calling it Jade Anniversary Beauty Event, it’s going to be a glitzy gathering of beauty trade practitioners and suppliers at the Metrotent in MetroWalk in Pasig City on April 23,” Mother Ricky cheerfully shared. The popular hairdresser and philanthropist, who is at the helm of this “colorful event,” named the categories that the beauty practitioners can compete in: the Best in Men’s Haircut, Best in Evening makeup and Best in Bridal makeup categories. Also for this year, a Color Master Award is at stake for the Best in Creative Hair Coloring category. “This year’s event is even more exciting because we added new categories,” he said. One such is “Do-Me-a-Barbie,” a category that will test the competitors’ talent in creating a total Barbie Doll look, together with Nail Art and Flask Makeup categories. Ultimately, expect the beauty goddess of Egypt come to life as hairdressers compete on Metrotent stage to showcase their creations in the Fabulous Cleopatra category. “It’s truly something to look forward to,” Mother Ricky chimed. As run up to the main event, the TV host

and beauty guru said that FilHair members have started embarking on a nationwide tour that started last week in Iloilo City and Bulacan. They engage people to FilHair’s livelihood training programs with the help of the Local Government Units. To make this year’s event more relevant, Mother Ricky also invited members of LGBT Pilipinas who were, in tum, just too grateful to forge alliance with FilHair to conduct livelihood training programs in some marginalized sectors of society around the country. “The beauty of this is that, the LGBT group is tasked to serve the community that, instead of the usual gay pageant activities, street parades asserting equal rights, people will see a different LGBT now asserting instead its valuable role in helping and making a difference in other people’s lives.” Mader Ricky enthused. “My vision is for people to realize the mislabeling the LGBT group, that LGBT members have the capacity to help and be relevant to the society that they belong, that it is not about whether you are straight, gay or lesbian, but just another human with a heart and a life’s purpose. I told them (the LGBTs) to change gears and join hands in serving our countrymen,” he continued. FilHair, with the participation of the LGBT group, sees hundreds of people gathered together in one place in some key cities and municipalities wherein livelihood training on professional Hair Coloring technique, proper Makeup application, medicinal Foot Spa with Magnesium will be conducted. Also included in the program are some popular salon services. Furthermore, Mother Ricky announced that the overall champion among all categories will be receiving a complimentary round-trip ticket with 4 days/3 nights hotel accommodation to compete in the APHCA Hair Olympics slated in Singapore later this year in November.

Action star Lito Lapid’s character in ABS-CBN’s action drama series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano took an exit a day before the start of the official campaign for national candidates in the midterm elections. His character, Romulo “Pinuno/ Leon” Dumaguit, died in an encounter. Lapid, a former senator, is eyeing a Senate comeback. “That death scene lasted for 20 minutes,” Lapid said in vernacular recalling his last appearance on the top-rating primetime series. In the episode, Lapid’s character was shot dead by Jhong Hilario’s character Alakdan after the former killed a number of his men. “It was well executed and it’s funny that people remember the scene not only because of my death but because of Angel Aquino. It’s like we’re the oldest love team on TV,” Lapid added in jest. Since Coco Martin’s character Cardo Dalisay started to search for justice over the death of his son, his scenes were often with Lapid’s character, which is why televiewers have come to love the character and were saddened by his demise. In an interview with Manila Standard, Lapid revealed that he has finished a new full length film even before he left Ang Probinsyano. But they have to keep the film first until after the elections because they were unable to promote it early this year due to other commitments. “We were able to finish the film before my exit in Probinsyano and before the campaign period started. Sayang nga, pwede sana naming maipalabas before the campaign period started, ” he shared. According to the 63-year-old action star, Lumang Banal is the film’s working title and his being part of the Coco Martin starrer series somehow inspired the film, not to mention that it has also helped his action career take flight once more. “Maraming nagsa-suggest na gawin na lang Vendetta ang title kasi kilalangkilala ang vigilante group called Vendetta sa Probinsyano. In the story, I play a retired army officer. My daughter was kidnapped by bad guys, and my character will do anything to get her back,” Lapid shared adding that the story is similar to Liam Neeson’s blockbuster action film, Taken.

Lito Lapid as Pinuno in the toprating primetime series, 'FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.'