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SC limits Congress to one rep in JBC

By Rey E. Requejo
THE Supreme Court has ordered the Judicial and Bar Council to reconstitute its membership and remove one of its two representatives from Congress. In its decision released on Friday, the high court declared as unconstitutional the present composition of the council, where the representatives of the Senate and the House are given separate seats and a vote each in the deliberations for judicial posts, which has been the practice since 2001. The current numerical composition of the Judicial and Bar Council is declared unconstitutional, the high court said. The Judicial and Bar Council is hereby enjoined to reconstitute itself so that only one member of Congress will sit as representative in its proceedings, in accordance with Section 8(1), Article VIII of the Constitution. The high court made its ruling even as Malacaang on Friday designated an undersecretary directly under its supervision as a replacement for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, a nominee for the post of chief justice, in the JBCs deliberations for the post. Undersecretary Michael Frederick Musngi, a lawyer from the Ofce of Special Concerns of the Ofce of the President, completed the eight members of the council as he attended the meeting in preparation for the oral interview of the 22 candidates for the post next week. Next page

Muslims observe month of Ramadan

MALACAANG expressed its solidarity with the Muslim-Filipinos on Friday in their observance of Ramadan, which started on July 20 and ends on Aug. 18. As the Holy Month of Ramadan begins, we send greetings of solidarity to all our Muslim Filipino brothers and sisters, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. The coming weeks shall be dedicated to the solemn fulllment of the tenets of your spirituality, demanding great sacrice and due discipline as an act of surrender to Allah, the benecent and all merciful. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from
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Govt gains in poverty, corruption in SONA

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Maricel Cruz
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will play up his administrations programs to ght corruption and poverty in his State-ofthe-Nation Address Monday, the Palace said Friday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda declined to say, however, if the President would talk about the ouster of Chief Justice Renato Corona or the ongoing dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea. Lets just see. Better for you to wait for the President to deliver it, Lacierda said. During his address last year, the President promised the public he would catch big sh in his administrations anti-corruption campaign. Certainly, Mrs. Arroyo is considered a big sh, but corruption does not end there, Lacierda
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Vol. XXVI No. 134 16 Pages, 2 Sections P18.00 SATURDAY, July 21, 2012

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PhilHealth cards for poll campaign

P13b worth of cards for distribution next year
By Christine F. Herrera and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Aquino administration will distribute some 5.2 million health insurance cards worth P12.61 billion during the election campaign next year, Gabrieal Rep. Luz Ilagan said Friday.
I believe a huge chunk She said 22 percent of the lion households enrolled in of the Health Departments total allotment would go to the governments program budget will be used for elec- Philippine Health Insurance of giving dole to the poor. tion purposes, Ilagan said. Inc. premiums for 5.2 milShe criticized President Benigno Aquino IIIs policy of privatizing health care services and taking the funding from public hospitals and transferring it to PhilHealth. This is not the mandate of universal health care, where all Filipinos will be given access to doctors and

nurses and all kinds of medical health care, Ilagan said. Why spend P12.6 billion for the distribution of PhilHealth cards when the same amount can be allocated to public hospitals, rural health units and barangay health centers so that they can directly provide services to indigents for free? With this budget, will incumbent candidates be giving out PhilHealth cards in 2013 as they did in 2004 and 2007? Ilagan said Mr. Aquinos privatization of health care would make medical service out of the reach of poor families, and that the situation had already deteNext page riorated.

Asean okays accord on sea issue

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
THE member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations including Cambodia, which chaired the 45th Asean Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Pnomh Penh two weeks ago, have approved the sixpoint principle on the South China (West Philippine Sea) issue, which Manila and Jakarta initially discussed on Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Department said Friday night. In a text message, Foreign Affairs
Friday. DANNY PATA and LINO SANTOS

spokesman Raul Hernandez said it was the Philippines that rst approved the statement during the visit of Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Wednesday. We were the rst ones to approve that statement, and we are pleased that the other member-states including the Asean chairman approved the statement as well, Hernandez said. After his visit to Manila, Natalegawa ew to Cambodia to meet with his Cambodian counterpart, Foreign Minister Hur Namhong, also the ASEAN Next page chairman.

Holy month. Filipino Muslims prayed at the mosque in Quiapo, where women with covered heads and faces started observing the month-long Ramadan starting

Boy cleared of suspected deadly virus

A BOY in Davao City who tested positive for the Enterovirus or EV71 disease has been released from the hospital after treatment from the deadly virus that attacks mainly children, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said on Friday. He said the one-year-old boy had been suspected of being infected with the deadly EV71 virus that killed 64 children in Cambodia early this month. Next page

A night of terror. Shat-

tered glass and police lines are the only signs left by the killer in a shooting rampage in a theater in Aurora, Colorado.

War in Syria: 310 killed in single day

BEIRUTSyrian activists said 310 people were killed across the country on Thursday in what was the single deadliest day of ghting since the beginning of the revolt against President Bashar Assads regime. Syrias civil war escalated dramatically in the past week as rebels closed in on the capital Damascus and launched their most serious blow yet on Assads inner circle, killing three top aides in an assassination. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday at
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12 dead, 50 injured in Colorado theater shooting

AURORA, ColoradoA gunman wearing a gas mask set off an unknown gas and red into a crowded Colorado movie theater at a midnight opening of the latest Batman movie, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 50, authorities said. It was the worst mass shooting in the U.S. since the 2007 shooting on the Virginia Tech campus. Some moviegoers said they thought the attack was part of the show. Then they saw a silhouette of a person in the smoke at the front of the theater, pointing a gun at the crowd. I told my friend, Weve got to get out of here, but Next page

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Gas prices seen inreasing again

OIL prices could go up for the third consecutive week next week, and by as much as P1.30 per liter of gasoline, as a result of Europe and the United States weak economies and fears of violence in the Persian Gulf, industry sources said Friday. They said gasoline prices might go up by as much as P1.30 per liter and diesel by P0.75. On July 17 oil distributors raised companies implemented a P1 per liter increase for gasoline prices by P1 a liter, diesel by P0.50 and kerosene by P0.35. They also raised prices on July 10 by P1.80 per liter of regular gasoline and P1.55 per liter of premium plus and premium unleaded gasoline. The Energy Department said the United States, frustrated by its stalled nuclear diplomacy, had enacted new sanctions against Tehran aimed at further eroding its military industries and oil exports. The US Treasury Department said Swiss, Chinese and Malaysian trading entities were operating as fronts for Tehrans state oil companies, including National Iranian Oil Co. The US has placed 20 Iranian financial institutions on a watch list for their alleged role in sanctions-busting. Alena Mae S. Flores

Muslims...
food, drink and other physical needs during the daylight hours. Muslims are called upon to reevaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. To Muslims, fasting does not only mean refraining from food and drink. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint, to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus on the worship of God. Lacierda said that in the month of Ramadan, the government had been working with all people of goodwill to restore trust and condence in our vital institutions. May we be lled with this spirit of cooperation, respect and condence as we seek the path of peace, Lacierda said. The Education Department sent its greetings to the Muslim Filipinos in their observance of Ramadan, an occasion to reect on the value of education in fostering openness and understanding among people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds. In the Middle East, Muslims from Morocco to Afghanistan steeled themselves for the toughest Ramadan in more than three decades with no food or drink for 14 hours during the hottest time of the year when temperatures climb to over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Theres no choice but to bear the heat, shrugged Jalal Qandil, 38, a sun-browned, sweating construction worker in Gaza City, father of ve school-age children.

Rice again. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon inspects one of 90 container vans loaded with 45,000 sacks of rice smuggled from Vietnam worth P42 million. The container vans contents were declared as construction materials.

Boy...
The boy tested positive but he has recovered and was sent home, Ona said. EV71, a form of hand, foot and mouth disease common in Southeast Asia, is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth and rashes in the palms and soles of the feet. The disease is contagious and transmitted through direct contact. The disease killed 64 children in Cambodia early this month. In April, the world Health Organization said a large outbreak was also recorded in Vietnam. Ona said the boy had no history of foreign travel and no other cases were reported in their household or community, which rules out a possible outbreak of the disease in the country. He said the boy was the only one who tested positive of EV71. The others, which included a 29- year-old female, tested positive in the screening test but negative of EV 71. In Metro Manila, doctors representing various hospitals met at the Department of Health to discuss the guidelines on the surveillance and clinical case management of hand, foot and mouth disease. Prevention lies on personal hygiene and hand washing. Shared toys and teaching tools in day care centers should be cleaned, washed and disinfected as they easily become contaminated, Ona said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

PhilHealth...
Maternal mortality rate has increased to 221 for 100,000 live births in 2010 from 162 in 2006. Women and children are dying of easily preventable illnesses for lack of access to health services, Ilagan said. She also slammed the Department of Social Welfare and Development for enlisting the political poor in its conditional cash transfer program. She said the real poor, who were not listed as beneciaries of

the dole program, were complaining that some political poor, including teachers and policemen who had jobs, had been listed as beneciaries. Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casio on Friday led a resolution urging the House committee on health to look into the administrations plan to phase out charity wards in public hospitals and to give the poor coverage instead under PhilHealth. Casio said the phaseout would displace the poor and make health care even more inaccessible to them.

Also on Friday, the president of an association of 900 private hospitals advised the President not to mention his so-called universal health care program in his State-ofthe-Nation Address on Monday. If I were an adviser of the President, I would no longer include these issues in the SONA... People already know what this UHC and privatization are all about, said Rustico Jimenez, president of the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines. The people will not believe them. Jimenez said the recent state-

ments that PhilHealth had enrolled 82 percent of Filipinos was just rhetoric for the Presidents yearly address. They merely want to boast of their accomplishments, but these are not really good accomplishments because these moves would be detrimental to the interests of the paying PhilHealth members, he said. He said widening PhilHealths coverage to 5.2 million poor Filipinos would reduce the benets to paying PhilHealth members, including minimum wage earners. With Maricel Cruz

War...
least 93 of those killed Thursday were government troops. The Local Coordination Committees, which documents civilian deaths, said 217 civilians were killed Thursday. Death tolls are difcult to verify in tightly controlled Syria, which places severe restrictions on journalists. Syrian troops regained control of a rebellious neighborhood in Damascus Friday as more than 300 people were reported killed the day before in a sharp escalation of the countrys civil war. But Syrian rebels fought for control of some of the countrys border crossings as the government held funerals in the capital for the top security ofcials killed

in a bomb attack two days ago. At the United Nations, Russia and China again vetoed a Westernbacked UN resolution Thursday aimed at pressuring Assads government to end the escalating civil war in Syria, sparking dire warnings of even greater bloodshed and spillover to the wider region. The 11-2 vote, with two abstentions from South Africa and Pakistan, was the third double veto of a resolution addressing the Syria crisis, now in its 17th month, by Damascus most important allies. Fighting has intensied over the past week as rebels closed in on the capital and launched their most serious blow yet on Assads inner circle, killing top aides in a bomb blast Wednesday as they attended a security meeting. National security chief and

close Assad adviser, Gen. Hisham Ikhtiyar, died Friday of wounds suffered in the bombing, the fourth member of Assads inner circle to die in the blast, according to state-run TV. State-run TV also said Friday that government troops were fully in control of the rebellious Midan neighborhood on the southern edge of Damasacus, where ghting has raged for days. The ghting in Midan and several other districts has turned parts of Damascus into combat zones and sent thousands of Syrian families packed in cars streaming across the border into neighboring Lebanon. Our heroic forces have completely cleansed the Midan area from the terrorist mercenaries, the TV said, employing the term used by authorities to refer to reb-

els. It said authorities seized large quantities of weapons including machine guns, explosive belts, rocket-propelled grenades and communications equipment. Damascus activist Khaled alShami, contacted via Skype, said rebels carried out a tactical retreat early Friday to spare civilians further shelling after ve days of intense clashes between opposition ghters and regime forces. Eager to show that authorities were in control, the government took local journalists for a trip to Midan inside two armored personal carriers Friday. An Associated Press reporter on the trip saw scenes of destruction, including dozens of damaged or charred cars, stores with shattered windows, and the corpses of at least six young men on the street. One

of them, near the Saeed Bin Zeid Mosque, appeared to have been shot in the chest. The Mosque of the Free, was written in red grafti on the mosques outer wall. Garbage littered the streets, shops were closed and the streets were almost deserted. The violence in heavily guarded Damascus, seat of Assads power, pointed to an unraveling of his grip on power amid an uprising that began in March 2011 with peaceful protests inspired by the Arab Spring but became increasingly militarized as the opposition took up arms. Even though Assads powerful military remains mostly loyal--suggesting a total collapse may not be imminent---the rebels appeared to be making startling gains in recent weeks.

Asean...
The six-point principle is a call to the Asean to (1) agree to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea or DOC, (2) support the guidelines of the DOC, (3)conclude early a regional code of conduct on the South China Sea, (4) fully respect the universally-recognized principle of international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, (5) continue exercising self restraint and non-use of force, and (6) the peaceful resolution of conicts in accordance with the universally-recognized principles of international law and including the 1982 UNCLOS.

SC...
This is a limited role in so far as selecting the [next] chief justice, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. De Lima inhibited herself from the councils deliberations following her acceptance of her nomination to the post of chief justice, which became vacant when the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, on May 29 declared him guilty of betraying the public trust by failing to declare all his assets. Following the high courts decision, it tossed to Congress the determination which between Senator Francis Escudero and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. should remain in the council.

Supreme Court spokeswoman Maria Victoria Gleoresty Guerra said the high courts decision may still be appealed but the ruling would be implemented immediately. The high courts latest ruling followed its grant of the petition filed by former solicitor general Frank Chavez, who had argued that Congress should have only one representative in Congress and not two. It is clear, therefore, that the Constitution mandates that the JBC be composed of seven members only, the high court had said. Thus, any inclusion of another member, whether with one whole vote or half of it, goes against that mandate. The high court dismissed the claim of Escudero and Tupas that the framers of the

Constitution made an oversight in assigning just one representative of Congress to the JBC, when the legislature they created was bicameral. No mechanism is required between the Senate and the House of Representatives in the screening and nomination of judicial officers. Hence, the term Congress must be taken to mean the entire legislative department, the high court said. The Court said the framers of the Constitution did not err in assigning just one member of the JBC from Congress, since there was also one member each from the two other branches of government, the executive and the legislative. It also said that the JBCs seven-member composition as specified in the Constitution prevented any stalemates.

Govt...
said, referring to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Glora Macapagal Arroyo, who was recently charged with plunder over her alleged misuse of funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofce. The President, however, said more needed to be done to address corruption, which exists in all levels of the bureaucracy. His deputy spokeswoman, Abigail Valte, said Mr. Aquino had fullled the promises he made during last years address. Among those, she said, one priority measureextending subsidized power rates to the poors had been signed into law, while 10 to 11 bills had been passed in the House of Representatives. The ones that have not been passed yet are now in advanced stages of legislation, Valte said. On Friday, lawmakers said they hoped the President would do more than focus on the prosecution of his political rivals in this years address. Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat, a member of the Presidents Liberal Party, said Mr. Aquino should now focus on how to democratize economic growth, particularly for the poor. He said he expected the President to tone down his remarks on the administrations campaign to pursue cases against his political opponents. I expect him to stay the course against corruption, but to tone down a bit on the rhetoric against former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and ofcials of the past administration, Baguilat said. Baguilat also said he hoped the President would be more forceful in pushing for the approval

12 dead...
then he shot people trying to go out the exits, Jennifer Seeger told NBCs Today. She the shooter made his way up the aisle, shooting as he went, saying nothing. Some of the injured were children, with the youngest a 3-month-old baby. The victims were being treated for chemical exposure apparently related to canisters thrown by the gunman. The shooter, a man in his 20s, was arrested shortly after the midnight attack near a car outside the multiplex theater in Aurora. (In Paris, the premiere of the new Batman movie was canceled after the killings in Colorado.) FBI spokesman Jason Pack said there was no indication in the investigation so far of any con-

nection to terror groups. President Barack Obama said he was saddened by the horric and tragic shooting. Federal law enforcement ofcials said the suspect is 24-yearold citizen James Holmes. The ofcials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said there was no evidence of other attackers. There was no immediate word of a motive. A gas mask, rie, handgun at least one additional weapon (were) found, Oates said. It was the worst mass shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, where two students opened re and killed 12 classmates and a teacher. Aurora police spokesman Frank Fania told ABCs

Good Morning America he didnt know yet if all the injuries were gunshot wounds. He said some might have been caused by other things, such as shrapnel. The suspect spoke of possible explosives in his residence, Oates said. Police were at the Denver-area apartment and had evacuated the buildings other residents. Oates did not say whether explosives had been found. He said police also checked for explosives at the theater and secured those areas. Moviegoers spoke of their terror as violence erupted. Police ofcers ran in and told people to leave the theater, Salina Jordan told the Denver Post newspaper. She said some police were carrying and dragging bodies.

Benjamin Fernandez, 30, told the Post he heard a series of explosions. He said people ran from the theater and there were gunshots as police shouted Get down! Jordan told the paper one girl was struck in the cheek and others in the stomach, including a girl who looked to be around 9. Jordan said it sounded like firecrackers until someone ran into his neighboring theater yelling, Theyre shooting out here! KUSA-TV reported that some hospitalized victims were being treated for chemical exposure, related apparently to canisters thrown by gunman. Aurora is home to a large Defense Department satellite intelligence operation at Buckley Air Force Base.

of the reproductive health bill and the freedom of information bill, two measures that have languished in Congress. House Assistant Majority Leader Sherwin Tunga agreed, saying the freedom of information bill was crucial in the battle against corruption and the drive for more transparency in government. Opposition member and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said that, after two years in ofce, Mr. Aquino should nally present his economic blueprint for the country. This is long overdue, he said. But Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento disagreed, saying each department already had a plan until 2016. The 6.4-percent growth during the rst quarter of 2011 under the Aquino administration only proves that the government of President Aquino has provided a blueprint, Sarmiento said. Various workers groups on Friday criticized the sorry state of labor in a forum ahead of the Presidents address. In his forthcoming [address], Aquino will boast about his socalled inclusive growth, but to workers and the poor, GNP growth only means more Gutom Na Pilipino [hungry Filipinos], said Renato Magtubo, national chairman of the Partido ng Manggagawa. More than 40 workers groups under the Nagkaisa banner on Monday will protest the Aquino administrations alleged endorsement of privatization and contractual labor. The Metro Manila Development Authority said Friday it will eld 200 crowd control and disturbance management teams on Monday to help police keep the peace. With Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja

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Govt, MILF near deal, slate Aug. talks

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

THE Philippine government is

cautiously optimistic that the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front would be signed during the tenure of the Aquino administration.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda for his part said that the talks held in Kuala Lumpur remained fragile at this time. Peace between the Philippine government and MILF is knocking on the door, Lacierda said. We are cautiously optimistic that a peace agreement will be signed within this administration, within this term. Even the Malaysian facilitator of the negotiation Tengku Dato Ghafar Tenku bin Mohamed has agreed that the meeting on

Government ofcials said the peace talks would resume sometime next month and hoped that the crucial issues could be nally resolved. These issues include power sharing and the new political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Presidential Communication Secretary Ramon Carandang said on Friday that if the peace negotiation would be signed during the tenure of President Aquino, it would be a great legacy for his administration.

Wednesday night between the government and the MILF are closer to the vision of the Final Peace Agreement. Government panel chairman Dean Marvic Leonen said that both parties have encountered difculties during the three-day negotiation, but the two groups have nally understood the new autonomous political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Leonen stated that both parties have accomplished something which the government and the MILF have never achieved before in these talks. These agreements may be in principle, some in detail. For a centuries-old conflict and years of negotiations, we definitely will face the hardest questions and confront our principals with the hardest decisions yet ever to be made

in these negotiations, Leonel said. The GPH believes that we are at the door of something new, and that something new would be to sign an agreement. And then to go on to the next phase of our relationshipto actually implement and be able to achieve the just and lasting peace that

Leonen

our people so richly deserve, he added. The NPE is one of the 10 common standpoints indicated in the Decision Points on Principles signed by the panels in April. Based on the joint statement, the parties said that they continued discussions on substantive issues, which include power-sharing and other related matters. But there are still many issues to be resolved, he said, including the mechanisms that will ensure the delivery of all these commitments made through broad acceptance by all critical sectors. Leonel said that they have agreed to discuss these mechanisms in August. While agreeing that the parties have achieved something, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal related that

the negotiations are always difcult, particularly during their nal stages. The devils are in the details. We can easily agree on principles, on general framework, on general concepts. But when we discuss the details, the devils are waiting in ambush. So, it is not very difcult to understand why the last stretch of our negotiation is so difcult, Iqbal said. Just wait, because the real matters are yet in the ofng and I think nally it would be disclosed to everyone, to the public, to the people back in Mindanao, he added. In August, the panels will hold their next round of formal exploratory talks. We expect the next meetings not to be less in terms of its intensity, Leonen said as he anticipates discussions to get more difcult.

PWDs told to register and obtain privileges

THE Department of Health wants all people with disabilities to register and be provided with all benets mandated by law. Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo called on all PWDs in Metro Manila to go and register in their respective cities and municipality to avail themselves of health provisions and related discounts afforded to them by the Magna Carta for PWDs. He said that every city or municipality is also required to have a PWD affairs ofce where PWDs can register and obtain documents to enjoy their benets. Among the benets is a 20% discount privilege in the purchase of medicines and other basic services. We are also seeking PWDs in the barangays through the Community Health Teams deployed to the areas in the region who will conduct an intensive house-to-house survey and register those who cannot go to the city/municipal ofce to enlist, including children of families with cleft lip and cleft palate, said Janario. He stressed that this endeavour is in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Developments National Household Targeting System. The latest PWD Registry by the CHD-NCR, as of April this year showed that there are a total of 1,112 PWDs in Metro Manila. Hearing impairment ranks rst among the various types of disability with 476 cases. Visual impairment ranks high with 141 cases. Most PWDs were male (650) while the females numbered 462. NCR also ranks 4th among the regions with the most number of PWDs while Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) had the highest number of cases with 3,149 followed by Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 3,004 and Region 4B (MIMAROPA) with 1,559 cases. Presidential Proclamation No. 361 of 2000 declares every third week of July as the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week which falls on July 17 - 23 this year. Some of the laws that support the implementation of PWD plans and programs are Republic Act No.7277 of 1992 (Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities) which provides for medical benets and related discounts and special privileges for those registered under the PWD program, and Republic Act No.10070 of 2012 which established the institutional mechanism to ensure the implementation of programs and services for PWD in every province, city and municipality. Macon Araneta

Portraits of history. US Ambassador Harry Thomas as guest of honor inaugurates the Camp John Hay photo exhibit featuring the historical
signicance of the ambassadors residence established during the American period. DAVID CHAN

Leaders Arroyo wants to try physical therapy program now open

THE Japanese Embassy on Friday declared as open this years application for Young Leaders Program for Filipino professional aimed to foster the countys next generation of leaders. The program, introduced by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology in 2001, seeks to create comprehensive human network and establish friendly relationships among the leaders in Asia while improving the quality of policy planning in the participating countries. With the aim of fostering future national leaders in Asia and other regions, the program encourages promising young Filipinos to take part in its one-year academic scholarship program in Japan. A masters degree will be conferred by the participating university upon the successful completion of the program. YLP offers four courses: Business Administration, Law, Local Governance, and School of Government. Classes for all courses are held primarily in English. Interested applicants must have a Bachelors degree with excellent academic performance, and must be highly procient in English. Depending on the course, applicants must be 35 or 40 years old and below, with at least 3 5 years of work experience. The screening of applicants is based on the endorsement of the recommending authorities for each course. THE ailing former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has expressed her desire to be allowed to undergo physical therapy in Tagaytay City after doctors said her condition has become life-threatening as a result of several surgeries she underwent last year. The Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112 that handles the electoral sabotage case against Arroyo said the former president conveyed her intention in a latest medical report submitted by the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. She wants to go to a wellness center in Tagaytay for cleansing and other alternatives procedures, court spokesperson Felda Domingo said. Her lawyers have yet to le a formal petition. At the Sandiganbayan, the rst division will rafe off the P366-million plunder case against Arroyo and several former ofcers of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofce. Pasay City Judge Jesus Mupas will review the matter before deciding on whether or not he will allow Arroyo to be brought out of her detention suite at the hospital, Domingo said. But she stressed that security and logistical requirements will be the main factors the court will have to consider. Arroyo, now a representative of the 2nd District of Pampanga, remains in hospital arrest since December after she was charged with electoral fraud for her alleged role in the irregularities in 2007. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The former president has a pending petition for bail before the Pasay court. Mupas has ordered Arroyos camp to submit periodic medical reports to the court in view of the state prosecutors desire to know her real physical condition that may warrant her transfer to a regular detention facility. Arroyo went under the knife thrice at the St. Lukes Medical Center in Taguig City last year due to a bone mineral disorder. Her lawyers said the former president should be allowed to seek medical treatment abroad.

In a medical report submitted during the last week of June, VMMC doctors said Arroyo has been having difficulty in swallowing food as a result of her operation in July 2011. Arroyos physician at the Makati Medical Center, Dr. Roberto Anastacio, described this condition as lifethreatening. Anastacios diagnosis, which was included in the VMMCs report, said Arroyos condition has worsened after the titanium metal plating implanted on her neck to alleviate a spinal problem has protruded to her esophagus. But President Aquino said he would block Arroyos efforts to leave the country and seek treatment abroad. In the Sandiganbayan case, Arroyo and co-accused would not be issued warrants of arrest, according to the justices Efren de la Cruz, Rodolfo Ponferrada and Rafael Lagos. The justices stressed that there wont be marathon or special hearings on the case. Ferdinand Fabella, Merck Maguddayao.

Cha-cha? no; chi-cha? yes. Members of the child welfare group stage the State of Childrens Address (SOCA) to demand food on the table (chi-cha) and call on the Aquino administration to address poverty and injustice. MANNY PALMERO

Drilon proposes granting of perks to barangay execs

SENATOR Franklin M. Drilon on Friday sought additional benets for barangay ofcials particularly the granting of retirement pensions and loan packages. Drilon led Senate Bill No. 3232 which seeks to amend the law expanding and increasing the coverage and benets of the Government Service Insurance System to include elected and appointed barangay ofcials. He said the inclusion of the ofcials of 42,027 barangays in the GSIS will give them opportunity to qualify for retirement benets and other kinds of loans such as housing, salary, education and calamity loans, among others which the insurance agency is providing to state workers. By recognizing them as government employees and thus part of the GSIS, barangay ofcials will be enjoying more benets, said Drilon, senate nance committee chairman. He noted that the allowances and benets being given to barangay leaders do not commensurate with the quality of service and assistance they are extending to the community as well as to the government. Under the bill, the compensation, honoraria and other emoluments being received by the barangay ofcials will be the basis in computing their contributions to GSIS. The proposed measure also instructed the GSIS to work with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the league of barangay captains and officials to formulate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the act, he said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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JULY 21, 2012

ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion
Recently, Santiago delivered another spicy one-liner when she told her critics: Stop molesting me, you mongoloids! She was apparently referring to those who were pestering her to resign from the Senate since she had been picked as one of the judges in the International Criminal Court. While the statement looked funny at rst read, the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines and groups of similar persuasion were not at all amused. They immediately sent a letter to the senator to express their dismay. To her credit, the senator from Iloilo apologized to the group and promised to practice self-censorship in the future when referring to any person with

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EDITORIAL
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has built a reputation as a feisty lawmaker armed with a razor-sharp mind and an even sharper tongue. Her arguments and discourses with fellow lawmakers on the ner points of the law are, for the most part, instructive and beguiling, although some people nd her attitude perplexing, if not downright annoying. One such person was prosecution lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, who drew Santiagos ire when he covered his ears while the senator was lecturing the prosecution at the height of the impeachment hearing of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona. Santiago let out a steam of unsa-

She does it again

vory words directed at the hapless lawyer, and punctuated them with the now-famous Wahhh!!! to the amusement of the crowd. But Santiagos tirade on Aguirre could be considered tame when compared to her verbal assaults on her perceived enemies. The senator once called a congressman fungus-faced. She also declared: I will jump headrst from a helicopter in Luneta if Estrada gets removed from power. When Estrada was indeed kicked out of Malacaang at the height of Edsa 2 in 2001, Santiago, tongue in cheek, simply said: I lied. Hilarious, indeed. disability. Santiagos latest misadventure, however, should remind her and all government gures, for that matterto be more careful and sensitive when speaking in public. While we acknowledge that most politicians suffer from foot-inmouth disease, it is always good to remember that words, when misspoken, carry subliminal messages that sometimes tend to destroy rather than heal and uplift. Still, it would be a sad day when Senator Santiago leaves the Senate. We are not quite prepared for it yet. Shes one of the many reasons it is more fun in the Philippines.

New York revisited

BACK CHANNEL
AFTER a 10-day sabbatical in New York where the natives are sweltering in temperatures of 90plus degrees, its a relief to return to Manilas refreshing rains. Minus the floods, of course. But for a family reunion that saw two daughters flying in from Dallas and San Francisco, my visit was uneventful. Perhaps because I had spent l2 years during two stints at the Philippine Consulate and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, I had become blas with life in this vibrant city. But mostly it was the stifling heat and humidity that kept me indoors and the comfort of air conditioning turned on almost the whole day. I had another reason for taking the 18-hour flight trip from Manila12 and a half on a nonstop PAL to San Francisco and barely catching the red eye night flight on American Airlines for the five and half midnight run to New York. The reason was to visit the final resting place of a brother in nearby New Jersey. Knowing what riding the New York subways is like, I ventured only twice, past the peak commuting hours on a work day, and on a Sunday. The ride through the subterranean labyrinth from Astoria in Queens to Manhattan took no more than 20 minutes as the train hurtled to my midtown destination at such a fast clip I wondered whether the wheels were even touching the rails. When the R train disgorges its passengers on 34th Street to join the rest of humanity like one flowing river, it is then one realizes why this is such a great city. The diversity of people of all racesEuropeans, Asians, Middle Eastern, Latinos and Africans is what makes New York City a true melting pot. The stream of immigrants continues on to this day since the first wave of those fleeing oppressive English rulers, and of the Irish who sailed for America to escape the famine in the Land of Ire. Eastern Europeans comprise the latest wave of white immigrants. With the European economy in decline, the locals have seen the influx of Albanians, Serbs and Ukrainians. How they will cope with the US economy also in a slump is a concern. Somehow,
ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

This has always been a true melting pot.

many of the newcomers manage to make it. Their success stories are woven into the lore of how they overcome adversities, and to use a clich, find their places in the sun. In the Filipino community there, stories of hardship and failure do not make for a good story to tell home. No one likes losers and losers themselves cover up their misfortune, often making up stories they are doing well when in fact they are not. In New York, business establishments owned and run by Chinese, Koreans and Indians are visible testament to their entrepreneurship. Theres a Chinatown, a Korea town and a Little India. The Chinese are in the restaurant business; they also operate Asian food stores. Business is so good that aside from Chinatown in lower Manhattan, theres another Chinatown in Flushing, Queens. The Koreans have found their niche as green grocers or merchants of fruits and vegetables. They are crowding out the Chinese in the Asian food market, establishing stores in Queens outside Chinese enclaves. The Indians, on the other hand, monopolize the newsstands cum convenience stores at street corners, train stations and airports, Hudsons is a familiar sign to stop for a newspaper, magazine or a candy bar. During a Sunday drive to New Jersey, we passed by a town called Edison and saw several blocks of stores on the main street with Indian signs. My nephew who was driving explained that Edison Township is practically Little India and these merchants are its biggest taxpayers. On the news front, the incidence of crime in New York bears a striking similarity with Manila. I dont have the statistics but based on stories of homicide, robbery and rape which are daily fare on the evening news of the major TV networks, its like I never left Manila. The biggest news in New York during my brief stay though, was the departure of NY Knick sensation, the Chinese-American NBA player Jeremy Lin. The Chinese community and American fans of the point guard are fuming mad the Knicks did not match the Houston Rockets offer to keep Lin in New York. It was nothing personal, just business which the National Basketball Association is all about. To keep Lin in its roster would mean the NY Knicks paying $45 million in three years.

The Sonas acid test

POWER POINT
Will he or wont he? This question about the inclusion of the reproductive health bill in President Noynoy Aquinos upcoming State of the Nation Address has been foremost in the publics mind. People have been incessantly calling on the President to strongly push for the RH bills passage. My organization wants PNoy to certify the bill as urgent to assure its passage, and for good reasons. ONE, all recent studies point to the fact that the situation of Filipino mothers has signicantly deteriorated. The Philippines ranking in Save the Childrens 2011 State of the Worlds Mothers report is lower by several notches than previous ones. This means that comparatively, motherhood is safer in some African, South and Southeast Asian countries than it is here. The United Nations Population Funds studies indicate that we now have the highest number of teen-age pregnancies in Asia with more than 200,000 adolescents getting pregnant annually. The National Statistics Offices

ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

2011 Family Health Survey reported a very significant increase in the number of women dying from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. From 162 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2006, it has jumped to 221 in 2010. The FHS also said that unmet need for family planning INCREASED and the biggest need is among poor, uneducated, and young married women. While the need increased, there was a corresponding DECREASE in family planning practice and those who use FP the least are also those who need it the most. The same survey noted a drastic shift in the sources of FP supplies from mainly public in 2006 to the present private sector sources. This explains the problem of access of those needing FP. Whereas before, they could get contraceptives for free, now they need to buy and there is no money for it. An effective FP program can reduce maternal mortality rates by more than 30 percent because high-risk and mistimed pregnancies are prevented. Isnt this a good enough reason for PNoy to push hard for the RH bill? TWO, the bill has been pending in Congress for more than one and a half decades. Its minutest detail has been subjected to scrutiny and questions have been more than adequately answered. No new arguments

against it have surfaced as everything has been discussed repeatedly and exhaustively. Isnt it time for the President to take this matter into his own hands? THREE, the RH bill is overwhelmingly supported by the Filipino people, even by Catholics. All credible surveys including those done in areas of legislators who are staunchly against the bill like Cebu, Manila and Paraaque cities and Bohol clearly showed very strong public support for a government-sponsored FP program and the passage of the bill. Catholic respondents to these surveys ranged from 81 percent to 94 percent of total respondents. Isnt this enough assurance that the President has popular support on this issue? FOUR, the RH bill is a campaign promise and part of the Presidents Social Contract with the Filipino People. It is no secret that many organizations voted for then-candidate Noynoy Aquino largely because of his pro-RH stance. His Social Contract has two RHrelevant items. A Commitment to Transformational Leadership says, 4. From treating health as just another area for political patronage to recognizing the advancement and protection of public health, which includes responsible parenthood, as key measures of good governance. Turn to page 5

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ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion
EAGLE EYES
ON this fourth column of a series on energy, I make the case in general terms - for renewable energy. Later, I will dedicate whole columns on specic RE sources such as geothermal, wind, and solar. Shifting to a renewable energycentric strategy for rehabilitating the Philippine electrical infrastructure is a radical option, and it will require signicant investment of time, resources, and political will, beginning with the implementation (and monitoring) of the Renewable Energy Act. It has, however, the potential to transform the power industry, and establish the foundations of clean energy and energy security. That transformation ironically centers on one complaint of RE technology aired by its critics: that they do not yield as much power as traditional fossil fuel, big hydroelectric, or nuclear generation, in absolute numbers and on a per-peso basis. By their economics and technology the traditional means were suited for large-scale production of electricity, and in particular for baseload generation, to meet the expected, constant demand of consumers connected to a centralized electrical grid (some environmentally-friendly power generation can also serve as baseload power plants, such as geothermal plants, though they have their limitations). In contrast, solar photovoltaic (solar panels) and wind, the two commonly touted RE power options, cannot meet the requirements of baseload generation: small-scale and/or high expense, plus the intermittency of clear skies and wind. Looking at this from the baseload, large-grid perspective, though, is like
DEAN TONY LA VIA

SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

A5

Regulating our own NGOs

BACKBENCHER
RUSSIA is about to pass a law declaring the status of citizens working with non-governmental organizations receiving grants and financial assistance abroad as foreign agents. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the proposed law does not prohibit anythingthe aim is to make political activity of organizations operating in Russia transparent. On the contrary, he is increasing state funding for NGOs by at least three times in anticipation that the new law would reduce the amount these NGOs normally receive from abroad. The author of the bill, Russian MP Aleksandr Sidyakin, dismissed all the hysteria and delirium explaining that the bill used similar US legislation as blueprint. No doubt the bill is intended to regulate and monitor foreign-funded groups disguising as NGOs. If approved, members who fail to register their organizations shall be punished by fines and repeated violations could send them to prison for up to two years. However, works in the field of culture, science, art, health, sports, welfare services, the protection and preservation of flora and fauna, charity work, and philanthropic donations are not considered political activity. This column mentioned this bill because in this country, Filipinos, acting as foreign agents, managed to penetrate the most sensitive positions in government often influencing policies on crucial matters. They even exploited the delegates that drafted the 1987 Constitution resulting in unlimited access to scrutinize and criticize the government. This is evident by the incorporation of Sections 15 and 16, Article XIII of the Constitution pertaining to the role and rights of alleged Peoples Organizations. The attitude of these NGOs towards the government oscillates, and always in accordance to the declared advocacy of their foreign funder. Should the government show signs of refusing to support Western maneuvers, their local agents would no sooner drumbeat the issues of human rights, curtailment of freedom, and even discrediting political parties and their leaders. Such interference in our internal political affairs and in the decisionmaking processes has been justified in the name of freedom of the press, in advancing the rights of women, the cultural minorities, and of their vaunted crusade to protect certain sectors without us being made aware that they are in fact planting the seeds of divisiveness. Sad to say, many of these organizations are operated and even managed by former activists. Such is ironic because many of them are psychotic self-righteous and narcissistic intellectuals who for years had been immersed in romantic chauvinism to change society. To maintain their relevance, they persist on harping the so-called Marcos dictatorship without reexamining that the government they helped install turned out to be more corrupt, although dressed with all the regalia of freedom and democracy.
ROD P. KAPUNAN

The case for renewable energy

missing out the trees for the forest: emphasizing the main point of getting more power into the grid but missing out on the ner details of getting there. Instead of plopping down a few traditional, low cost-high yield-buthigh environmental/fuel cost plants to address a geographic shortfall, why not spread it out across smaller RE plants and smaller grids? RE power opens up the potentials of microgrids, distributed generation, grid energy storage, and grid-tied systems to revolutionize the otherwise traditional and centralized Philippine electrical infrastructure: large geographic grids fed by large-scale plants, transmitted across large distances through multiple substations to serve a large consumer base. Microgrids we should be familiar with, because of projects combining these with RE to distant rural communities too far to be economically connected to the electrical grid. They are what the name implies: small-scale grids fed by small-scale plants to feed a small consumer base. They are perfect for such small-scale communities because households typically do not have the demand and voltage loads of heavy industry and dense urban areas. Distributed generation spreads out the production of electricity from centralized sources, usually placing the power plant much closer to its intended consumer base than the traditional, centralized power plant sometimes even on-site, such as solar panels on the roof of its intended user. Grid energy storage allows the infrastructure to smooth out the peaking nature of electrical demand by storing excess electricity for future use. These technologies also include the emerging use of electrical vehicles to serve as part of the storage medium. Finally, grid ties allow the grid storage system to safely interact with the main electrical grid, allowing the user to feed from the grid when his demand is highand give his own excess electricity to the grid when his own demand is low. These tools afford us an opportunity to decentralize the Philippine power industry in a radical fashion: subdividing and complementing the main grid, turning consumers into part-time producers. Industrial parks, places like seaports and airports, and dense urban communities (like the Makati Central Business District) can be served, even partially (e.g., low-voltage ofce loads in heavy industry) by grid-tied microgrids-cum-storage systems powered by on-site RE, feeding from and to the distribution grid powered by traditional and RE (e.g., large wind farms) power plants. Since these tend to shut down at specic times (e.g., business hours for industry and commercial), they can store energy produced at these times, or sell their production at Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) ratesan attractive incentive for industrial parks, commercial centers, and even household communities to set up their own private RE generators to supplement income. All this will require heavy research and infrastructure investment, not just in the power plants, but also in the gridthe transmission and distribution sides of the electrical industry. But the truth is our power infrastructure, from plants to power lines, is aging. A change is due and the choice is clear. We can continue to do things the oldfashioned way with a business-as-usual approach that dooms us to the current situation of inadequate and expensive power. Or we can be bolder and take the RE route which give us the chance to permanently alter the bad status quo and guarantee in the long term cheaper, more reliable, and environmentally friendlier energy. Facebook Page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

For that drawback, they now act as crusaders against corruption in a system that is more corrupt. They have become crafty mercenaries in doing propaganda work to make sure we have a pliant government susceptible to foreign blackmail. The role of Transparency and Accountability Network with its subsidiary, Transparency International Philippines, is most glaring. While they are consistent in condemning certain public officials and government agencies as corrupt, they have yet to come out with the same stinging report of venalities in countries funding them. For that matter, we are the only country that made formal arrangement with the US-funded NGO called AGILE or Accelerated Growth, Investment and Liberalization and Equity by according to it, access to our state of finances like monitoring the operations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Aside from posting roundthe-clock Filipino agents, they have a voice in shaping the policies of the two agencies. In fact, it was AGILE what lobbied for the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Many of these foreign-funded NGOs possibly act as fronts of foreign intelligence agencies. They also come out with their own reports and statistics, and often designed to embarrass the government. For instance, human rights can readily become a hot issue once the government loses the confidence of the country funding their NGOs. Similarly, they fund investigative journalism, using the usual parameter of freedom of the press to discredit the government. But the same NGOs would not say a word why those who refuse to sing along with them are denied access to their controlled mainstream media. Local agents of foreign-funded NGOs act as effective collaborators in blocking the implementation of legitimate economic policies. Most familiar is their insidious cry to save and protect our environment. They oppose, for instance, the construction of dams that would irrigate vast hectares of lands to boost our food production, and to the new mining act to increase our exports and provide more employment to our people. It was the same NGO that turned out to be more faithful to Shell Corporation by its vigorous campaign to stop the operations of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant despite the loss of $2.2 billion paid to Westinghouse. Today, many Filipinos employed by foreign-funded NGOs are practically engaged in espionage and are working against the interest of their own country. Looking at their stand on certain policies, they amount to nothing more but economic sabotage, for purposely their objective is to undermine our government. Maybe it is high time for our local legislators to pass a similar law. Such is underscored by the fact that they have become a threat to our national security than serving as watchdogs to secure our freedom and democracy. Worse, we take their intrusion into our internal political affairs as legitimate without their local quislings thinking that they cannot do what they are doing here in countries funding their NGOs. rpkapunan@gmail.com

Barriers to the Mindanao trove

By Luzi Ann Javier
Conclusion Feeling unsafe In central Mindanao, more than half of respondents in a World Bank survey released in April said they felt unsafe just going to their nearest market. Only for the most serious crimes of rape and murder did a signicant number say they would contact police -- 24 percent and 27 percent, respectively, according to the study. Continued tomorrow A witness to the Bual murder declined to give a statement and has gone into hiding, fearful the killers may go after him and his family, according to a Jan. 16 police report. Police said Bual may have been murdered in a dispute over a business transaction -- he negotiated the purchase of land needed for the mine. Latest deaths Sagittarius suspended all work on the project following the assassination. Only six months earlier, the company had been forced to do the same following the murder of three contractors. In the most recent fatal attack, Villamindo Hectin, a retired police ofcer working as a security consultant for Sagittarius, was shot by a bandit group near the exploration site, police said June 22. A police ofcer also died. We recognize the challenges to security and we continue to engage with our stakeholders towards enhancing peace and order, Sagittarius spokesman John Arnaldo said in a July 13 email. We remain committed to developing the Tampakan project. From Sagittariuss offices in the coastal city of General Santos, about 65 kilometers south of the Tampakan area, the two- lane national highway snakes past plantations of corn, coconut, banana and pineapple. Dense jungle clads the sides of volcanic mountains. Turning off near Crossing Rubber hamlet, a dirt track not wide enough for two cars to pass leads to Liberty village, home to the Blaan tribal group that owns land at the center of the Tampakan deposit. Difcult lives We cant afford to lose this project, Linsay Sanuhay, 48, a member of the Blaan, said in an interview during a May trip arranged by Xstrata. People who oppose mining and are blocking this project dont know how difcult our lives were. Before Sagittarius built the access road that passes through Liberty on its way to the mine site, the grandmother of 18 said she had to walk all day to get to the nearest market 17 kilometers away. Xstrata plans to hire 2,000 workers from the municipality of Kiblawan to build infrastructure for the mine, Mayor Marivic Diamante said in an interview on the same trip. About 68 percent of the 50,000 people in Kiblawan live on $1.25 or less a day, she said. The biggest threat to the mine comes from the NPA, said Lieutenant Colonel Alex Bravo, the army commander of the district where Sagittarius, also known as SMI, plans to operate. Theres a pronouncement by the NPA -- not just a perceived threat -that SMI needs to leave, Bravo said in a phone interview before the latest killings. If we cannot protect our investors, if they get harassed by threat groups, of course we will lose face. I cannot let that happen. Murders unpunished Other opponents of mining on environmental and indigenous- rights grounds include Catholic missionaries from an Italian group, Ponticio Istituto Missioni Estere, or PIME. Three members of the order have been assassinated in Mindanao. The latest, Fausto Pops Tentorio, was shot dead in October in front of witnesses inside the church compound where he lived. Since 2008, the government has successfully prosecuted only four cases of extra-judicial killings, all under the previous administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, according to Human Rights Watch. The monitoring agency documented at least 10 killings and disappearances attributed to the security forces during the rst year of Aquinos administration. No suspects have been successfully prosecuted in any of these cases, it said. Bogged down Following Tentorios murder, Aquino, who won power pledging to end rights abuses, corruption and bring security, set up a task force to investigate the slaying. After ling charges against four suspects, the case has been bogged down in conicting testimony that PIME says was given under duress. The missionary group called on the government to investigate the role of the military in the murder, and for the withdrawal of Philippine special forces from the area because of documented reports of threats and humanrights violations. Twenty-seven witnesses and their family members are in hiding because of fear of retribution, PIME said in a May 7 statement on its website. There are parts of Mindanao where those who have political connections, those who have arms and plenty of money, can even use the poor to be instruments of violence, Father Peter Geremia, who has been living in the southern Philippines since 1977, said in a phone interview from Kidapawan City. So many killings have happened with no judicial solution. Ten months after Buals murder, the suspects remain free because police are still waiting for a judge to be assigned to the case and for arrest warrants to be issued, Albert Ferro, the ofcer leading the investigation, said by phone on July 13. Death squads The ball is now with the judicial branch of government, Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a brieng in Manila yesterday. We can ask them to hasten the proceedings but it might sacrice due process, he said. We continue to go after the perpetrators. The dawn murder in Davao was surprising because the city is one of the safest in Mindanao. The leadership has a very strong will to maximize the coercive power of the state to deter crime, Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research, said in a phone interview from Manila. According to Human Rights Watch, Vice-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has made it clear that criminals are targets for assassination. There were more than 800 death-squad killings in Davao City in the decade to 2009, it said. I take care of my city, the thenmayor said in a 2009 interview with Al Jazeera television. Its very dangerous for you to do crime here. Duterte didnt respond to requests for an interview. Reward doubled Duterte, whose daughter stood for mayor when the limit on terms in ofce forced him to step down, doubled the reward for capturing Buals killer to 1 million pesos ($23,975) in May, saying the death threatened much-needed investment, according to the Mindanao Times. If youre an ordinary citizen who couldnt care less whether the city is killing criminals as long as you can roam around unmolested, Im sure you will praise Duterte, said Carlos Conde, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. From the perspective of human rights, this is really an anomaly. Bloomberg

The Sonas...
From A4 On Gender Equality, the contract says, 13. From a lack of concern for gender disparities and shortfalls, to the promotion of equal gender opportunity in all spheres of public policies and programs. Clearly, the President promised and now needs to deliver. Isnt the coming Sona the best time to do this? FIVE, the President, in a meeting with RH champions in Malacaang already recommended and discussed specific amendments to the bill. Virtually all those were accepted by the authors who formally wrote the House leadership to put the amendments on record. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the President to follow this through in his Sona. These and other reasons show the urgency of the bills passage. Any bill that will save womens lives, bring down the numbers of adolescent pregnancies, provide for the poor opportunities for a better quality of life, while at the same time fulfilling a Presidential promise deserves to be certified as urgent. If the President wants the RH bill to pass, it will. As Rep. Edcel Lagman said, the problem is not time, it is political will. Malacaang-backed initiatives like the postponement of ARMM elections and impeachment of the former Chief Justice have been approved by the HOR in record time. Why not use the same political will on a life-saving measure like RH? Indeed, this is the acid test for PNoys third Sona. bethangsioco@gmail.com and @ bethangsioco on Twitter

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SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

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Lazarus franchises still in limbo

By Rey E. Requejo

BUS operators opposing the resurrection of 489 franchises of the defunct Pantranco bus line stressed on Friday that the Court of Appeals has not ruled on the validity of the so-called Lazarus franchises and concerned parties should stop citing mythical legal rulings in irresponsible statements.
Lawyer Hazel Minoza, representing the three bus companies opposed to the Lazarus franchises, said the appelate courts recent ruling was only a denial of an appeal for a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Boards ruling in May to award the disputed franchises to former workers of Pantranco. But the ruling, Minoza said, did not delve into the validity of the franchises and the court in fact ordered the parties in the suit to submit their arguments regarding the governments claim that the lines had indeed expired 20 years ago. The two workers groups, the Pantranco Retrenched Employees Association and Pantranco Employees Association, should respect the CA and cease and desist from making such irresponsible statements, Minoza said in a statement. Minoza also hit the workers tendency to cite mythical legal rulings to make the false claim that the franchises are still valid. She said the workers rst cited a supposed 1993 Supreme Court ruling that awarded the franchises to the workers when the high courts rst ruling on the case was made on Oct. 17, 1996, or more than three years after the Pantranco lines had been declared expired, and the decision was a generic award that made no mention of the franchises. Moreover, Minoza said the May 2012 decision of former LTFRB members Manuel Iway and Samuel Garcia to award the franchises to ve bus companies owned by the Hernandez family listed Pantranco and PANREA as vendors when the registrations of the two entities had already been revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Besides, Minoza said, the application for a TRO was no longer urgent after Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas ordered the suspension of Iway-Garcia decision on June 27, 2012 and ordered an investigation of the matter. Moreover, Iway and Garcia both hastily resigned after Roxas ordered the investigation. A Roxas appointee, LTFRB Chairman Jaime Jacob, opposed the decision made by Iway and Garcia but was overruled. Jacob argued that the purported sale was approved by Iway and Garcia although no route measured capacity survey had been undertaken as required by LTFRB policy. Two new appointees replacing the central gures in the Pantranco award have been named by President Aquino to join Jacob at the LTFRB board. Many bus operators outside of the Hernandez family had written Secretary Roxas to express their gratitude for the swift decision to suspend and investigate the award.

Flashood. Motorists attempt to drive through a ooded area in Manila after heavy rain caused ashoods in the metropolis. LINO SANTOS

Wet weekend expected due to Ferdie

By Jonathan Fernandez
THE active low pressure area that caused heavy rain in many parts of the country developed into a tropical depression, named Ferdie, and is expected to bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over the weekend. Boy Soriaga, a weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration, said the center of Ferdie, with maximum winds of 55 kph, was 130 km east of Aparri, Cagayan at 4 p.m. of Friday and is expected to move west northwest at 13 kph toward extreme norther Luzon. It is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon affecting most of the country. Northern Luzon will experience rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough seas until Sunday. The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon which may trigger ashoods and landslides. The weather bureau warned residents living in low-lying areas and along mountain slopes that the three days rain may trigger ashoods and landslides especially in Northern Luzon and eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northwest to southwest will prevail over Northern Luzon and from the southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. On Friday, the poor visibility due to Ferdie caused the cancellation of 17 domestic ights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. No international ights were cancelled at presstime except for a China Southern ight CZ398 that was bound for Guangzhou but was cancelled because of operational problems. With Eric Apolonio

IN BRIEF
Tax court orders arrest of convicted tax evader
THE Court of Tax Appeals has ordered the arrest of the rst convicted tax evader in the country and ordered her to pay the Bureau of Internal Revenue over P15 million in back taxes. The BIR said the court issued a writ of execution for the arrest of Gloria Kintanar, a distributor of Forever Living Products, who was found guilty for failing to le her income tax returns for taxable years 2000 and 2001. The CTA also ordered the sheriff to report to the court within 30 days from July 12 on the progress of the execution of the writ which was issued following the BIRs ex-parte omnibus motion led after Kintanar went missing earlier this month. Kintanar was tagged at-large after failing to appear at the execution of her four-year jail sentence in the CTA on July 2. The BIR slapped Kintanar with tax evasion charges in 2005 at the Department of Justice with tax liability including surcharge and interest amounting P6.3 million. The amount, however, has ballooned to over P15 million because of a 20 percent delinquency interest per annum. Maria Bernadette Lunas

Koko backs appeal of underpaid weathermen

By Macon Ramos-Araneta
SENATOR Aquilino Koko Pimentel III backed on Friday the plea of local weathermen to be given competitive remuneration after Malacaang admitted that their hazard pay and longevity benets were suspended because of an unspecied problem with the Department of Budget and Management. Pimentel noted that weather forecasters, like geologists, are usually offered higher salaries abroad, but many of them opt to stay in the country to be closer to their families and be of service to their country. Weather forecasters and geologists, especially those who help in mapping out geo-hazards in the country like fault lines and landslide- and ood-prone areas, render invaluable public service, Pimentel said. As such, we cannot give them starvation pay and expect them not to go abroad where salaries and perks are at levels up to 10 times as much as what they receive locally, he added. Pimentel made the remark after around 800 workers of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration complained of sub-minimum pay and delays in the payment of the benets mandated by law. Ramon Agustin, president of the Philippine Weathermen Employees Association Inc., said forecasters, astronomers, hydrologists, engineers and other skilled and professional workers of Pagasa only have basic salaries of P3,000 to P4,000. Agustin said their situation has recently worsened because they have not been receiving their mandated benets since March. The benets are mandated by Republic Act 8439, or the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel in Government, he said. Pimentel batted for the provision of more scholarship grants to students who take up courses leading to careers in weather forecasting, geology, and other courses needed in disaster risk management so as to entice more enrollees. He said the graduates from the scholarship programs must serve locally for a period of time, such as what is done by many graduates of the University of the Philippines. But of course, the graduates who beneted from the scholarship must give back to the community and the taxpayers who helped shoulder their education, Pimentel said. Im sure there would be no problem with this as we Filipinos still have a deep sense of patriotism.

Lawmen intercept 90 vans of smuggled rice

By Willie E. Capulong and Joel E. Zurbano
CUSTOMS agents in Subic intercepted 90 container vans loaded with 45, 000 sacks of smuggled rice from Vietnam, worth more than P42 million, and was misdeclared as construction material and gypsum boards, accoriding to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon. Biazon said the rice came into the country between June 13 and June 20 and was consigned to Masagana Import Export Inc. of Binan, Laguna and Oriental Tradelink Express Inc. of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. This is a large scale attempt to smuggle rice into the country by misdeclaring the illegal shipment of rice which, had it not been for our alert customs operatives, could have affected the livelihood of many of our local farmers, Biazon said. Biazon ordered Subic port ofcerin-charge Carmelita Talusan to immediately le appropriate charges against the owners of the shipment. We will vigorously pursue charges against those involved in this attempt, he said. Biazon said the seizure should serve as a warning to smugglers that the Customs is committed to protect the interest of local farmers who have been put at a disadvantage by the misdeclaration of farm produce. The Customs chief also said the smuggled rice will be immediately auctioned. Rice is a perishable good that is why we have to auction this off so we could generate the much needed revenues. We do not want this to go to waste, he said. Biazon lauded the Customs agents at the Port of Subic, headed by Errol B. Albano, for thwarting the smuggling attempt. Masagana Import-Export Inc. is the registered consignee of 40 twenty-foot container vans while Oriental Tradelink Express Inc. is the consignee of 50 twenty-foot vans. The containers arrived on board APL vessels from Taiwan and classied as port user importers in the absence of permits from the Seaport Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. General merchandize importers are allowed to unload their importations as port users and given 30 days period to bring their cargos out of the Freeport upon payment of duties and taxes.

Poll body asks QC court to recall poll list up order

THE Ampatuans and other co-accused in the Maguindanao massacre case may register and vote in Quezon City, but not in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, because they are considered to be temporary residents of Quezon City. The Commission on Elections on Friday rejected the registration of 19 accused in the Maguindanao massacre case and asked the Quezon City court to excuse the poll body from having to comply with its July 17 order. Esmeralda Amora Ladra, director of Comelecs law department, said they cannot comply with the court order because the accused are seeking to register as voters of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, but they are considered temporary residents of Quezon City where they are detained. Rio N. Araja

Anti-HIV services for gay men eyed in Quezon City

By Rio N. Araja
AFTER recording 226 cases of human immunodeciency virus in the city, the Quezon City government will pilot a mobile phone text service, dubbed TextDUDE, that will offer advise, counseling and assessment to gay men who suspect they have contracted the deadly disease. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said the city health department tested 3,879 individuals from January to December 2011 and found 226 of them positive for HIV, all of them involving homosexual sex. Bautista said the city is now nalizing plans to launch the TextDUDE service to provide a more secure, anonymous and condential service to homosexuals in cooperation with the Philippine NGO Support Program and the Philippine National AIDS Council. The two organizaqtions chose Quezon City to be the pilot site of the service whic will involve counseling services at social networing sites, call center networks and workplaces. The city has earlier launched a range of programs to manage and control the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in the city, including a functional Quezon City STD/HIV/AIDS Council, social hygiene clinics, regular counseling and testing to applicants of occupational permits and HIV/AIDS seminars.

Religious art festival. Philippine Realty and Holdings Corporation

recently sponsored the Religious Art Festival and Painting Exhibit of Sacred Art Center which was established under the guidance of Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani Jr. (center). The brainchild of artist Fr. Jose Victor M. Villalobos (left), Sacred Art Center aims to propagate religious art among the youth and instill spirituality, faith and Christian values. The artworks are now on display at Philippine Realty, 5/F Philippine Stock Exchange Centre in Ortigas Center. Individuals and or groups who would like to look or buy the paintings are welcome. Please contact Tel. 2166487 or Mobile 09204957819 for scheduled viewing. Photo includes Philrealty president Amador Bacani (right).

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ManilaStandardToday Riera U. Mallari, Editor

Sports
with the Nets yet, made 7-of-8 shots, going 5 of 6 from 3-point range and adding ve assists. I feel I adjusted pretty well, Williams said. I was a little worried about how my conditioning was going to be, just because I hadnt played 5-on-5, but I just trained really hard coming in so Id just be in the best shape possible, and I feel like Im there. Anthony came in for Durant in the rst quarter - apparently unnoticed to the PA announcer, who credited Durant with the Knicks forwards rst basket - and shook off the change well after being a starter in three previous years with the national team and both exhibitions this year. He rebounded from a poor game in Washington by shooting 8 of 10

SATURDAY

JULY 21, 2012

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Oliver grabs lead

OLIVER Dimakiling grabbed the lead in Fridays eighth round of the 2012 Battle of Grandmasters in Boracay when Darwin Laylo fell to Rogelio Barcenilla. Dimakiling, recovering from two early losses, defeated Haridas Pascua for his sixth point in this 15-man round robin tournament to select ve slots for the national team to the 2012 Istanbul Chess Olympiad. Mark Paragua trounced Randy Segarra to climb to second place with 5.5 points. Laylo fell into a share of third with Joey Antonio and Eugene Torre with ve points. Antonio took his second straight loss in the event, this time to Roland Salvador. In the womens division, Catherine Perena continued to set the pace with 6.5 points, followed Janelle Mae Frayna and Cherry Ann Mejia, sister of grandmaster killer Giovanni Mejia, with six points. The event is using the TorrePichay scoring system, a method formulated by Torre and National Chess Federation of the Philippines president/chairman Prospero Butch Pichay Jr., where a win is equivalent to two points, a draw is one point, a loss is zero, and a stalemate is 1.5. The top three nishers will gain outright seats in the mens national team competing in this years World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey on Aug. 27 to Sept. 10. Top Filipino player GM Wesley So is already assured of a slot, while NCFP has the option to pick the fth player of the mens team.

US clobbers Britain by 40 pts

MANCHESTER, EnglandDeron
Of course, it wouldnt have mattered what lineup the US mens Olympic basketball team used against an inexperienced and overmatched opponent. Williams and Anthony responded to a lineup change with 19 points apiece, and the Americans beat Britain 118-78 on Thursday in an exhibition game. LeBron James added 16 points and Russell Westbrook had 15 for the Americans, who built a 40-point lead early in the fourth quarter and every basket from there seemed to be a dunk. Chicago Bulls All-Star Luol Deng

Williams was in, Carmelo Anthony out, and both were better for it.
scored 25 points for Britain against his former college coach at Duke. He said they just had never faced that speed and quickness, so you cant practice that, Mike Krzyzewski said. You cant simulate that, so I thought it was a great experience for them. And us. Krzyzewski inserted Kevin Durant for Anthony, and Williams for Chris Paul, and both Anthony and Williams ourished in their new roles. Williams, who couldnt scrimmage with the Americans when they opened camp because he hadnt signed his $98 million extension

from the eld. It was ne with me, denitely ne with me, Anthony said of the change. (Krzyzewski) came to us this morning, me and Chris, asked if we were OK with it. Im like, why wouldnt we be? It is what it is. He wanted to put a different lineup out there against this team, see some different things. Hes still trying to gure it out as a coach as well with this new group. Britains home game was similar to the Americans opener against China in the Beijing Olympics, where plays for both teams were loudly cheered. The boos were brief, when a light USA! chant broke out in the fourth quarter. Basketball has little place in British sports, but with the national team returning to the Olym-

pics this year as the games host, the sport got some attention with a visit from the powerful US squad. In an unusual pregame scene, the crowd didnt seem interested in the home teams strange set of pregame warm-up exercises, choosing instead to watch the Americans practice dunks, oohing and aahing along the way. The rules of the game were then written shown on the overhead video scoreboard and explained by the public address announcer before play began. The British, also including the Portland Trail Blazers Joel Freeland and coached by Houston Rockets assistant Chris Finch, hung with the Americans for 10-plus minutes before the visitors athleticism ran them off the oor. AP

IN BRIEF
USA Cycling offers $100k for gold
USA Cycling will reward gold medalists at the London Games with up to $100,000 in bonus money, creating the richest known Olympics nancial incentive program offered by any cycling organization in the world. The new program, called the London 100K Challenge, will be ofcially announced in the coming days. It includes up to $75,000 for silver medalists and up to $50,000 for bronze through funding from the US Olympic Committee, USA Cycling and the USA Cycling Development Foundation. The US team has strong medal aspirations in several events in London, including mens and womens BMX, mountain biking, several track disciplines and the womens time trial, where Kristin Armstrong is the reigning Olympic gold medalist. The bonus money provided by the USOC comes from its Olympic incentive program, which this year will award $25,000 for gold medals, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. There are certain stipulations that accompany the bonus money. For instance, members of the mens road and time trial teams are not eligible to earn money from the 2013 USA Cycling Podium Program due to commitments to their professional teams. Members of the mens and womens road race team will divide evenly any bonuses for which they are eligible, and the womens team pursuit members Dotsie Bausch, Sarah Hammer, Lauren Tamayo and Jennie Reedwill individually qualify for the 2013 USA Cycling Podium Program and divide evenly all additional bonuses earned by winning an Olympic medal. AP

Tirecenter Cup champion. Team Magic Time defeated Team Nougat 74-69 to rule the Tirecenter Cup at the Arellano University Gym, Manila. Shown here are (from left) Edward Lim, Adornado Lim, Ronald Sia, Gavino Go, Avelino Lim, Coby Lim, Christian Lim, Petriezon Hokia, Jon Stuart Chua, Jimson Sy, Steven Tan, Team Manager Marianito Egiya, Dave Gaw, Commissioner Mike Fuerte, Raymond Alborte, Rondon Key, Howard Evangelista, Dexter Quan, Ace Lee, Joel Co, Marco Benitez , Edmund Lim, Lester Ong, John Hall, Mark Ong. Not in the photo Api King.

Top Filipino karters go up against Asias best

ACE Filipino karters test their skills against foreign rivals as the Philippines hosts the second round of the 2012 Asian Karting Open Championship on July 27 to 29 at the Carmona Racetrack. Two Tough Gear-FERN-C Racing kartersVencer John Suba and Milo Riveraplay the crucial role as the countrys top bets, along with Industria Racings CJ Tsui and Javi Benitez and lady karter Sacha Feliciano of Marcelo Racing in this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and sponsored by Yokohama the ofcial tires, Sparco, Vivere the ofcial home of Asian karters, Motorstar and Aeromed. Four other countriespowerhouse Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Konghave so far conrmed their participation to vie for the titles at stake, namely: the Formula 125 Open Senior, the Formula 125 Open Junior, MiniROK, SQ Cadet Novice and Expert, SQ Novice, SQ Expert, SQ Veteran, Yamaha Expert and Yamaha Novice. The event also serves as the second leg of the Denso KF2-KF3 Cup, where Milo Rivera eyes another sweep over Tsui and Bobby Domingo for the KF2 crown. Estefano Rivera, Jette Calderon and Vrei-AR Suba, on the other hand, are locked in a three-way tight battle for the KF3 title. The track has been closed since Monday for necessary renovations in line with the event and will only be opened on the 26th to give all participants equal chances to familiarize themselves with the track. All participants and delegation ofcials will have a welcome dinner and Drivers Brieng on July 27, 7 p.m. at the ballroom of the Vivere Hotel. The last time the Philippines bagged the overall championship was in 2006, when since Marlon Stockinger copped the AKOC Formula 125 Open Senior crown. But this year, the Philippines has high hopes with Suba and Rivera.

Sun shines on Day 2 at Open Gialon nips Lascuna in playoff LYTHAM ST. ANNES, EnglandAfter heavy rain overnight
inundated Royal Lytham & St. Annes, turning some bunkers into ponds and prompting the R&A to request fans delay their arrival so the grounds could dry out, the second round began as scheduled Friday morning under sunny, blue skies. There was just a hint of the feared breezes off the Irish Sea that give the links course its bite, setting up a repeat of the 60s-fest in the opening round. Adam Scott tied the course record with a 6-under 64 on Thursday, while 52 other players shot no worse than par. For the rst time since 1998, no one in the 156-player eld opened with a score in the 80s. It was just like a nice walk in the park, Scott said. The rain which has soaked Britain throughout the spring and summer largely stayed away during the rst round, but returned with a vengeance during the night. One of the main spectator gates was closed at the start of play as workers furiously tried to push away all the standing water. AP BACOLODRookie pro Zanie Boy Gialon made a tap-in par on the par-3 No. 8 to edge Tony Lascuna in the playoff and rule the rain-shortened P1 million ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here yesterday. Heavy rains rendered the par-70 layout unplayable, forcing the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to cancel the nal round of the 54-hole event and hold a playoff between Gialon and Lascuna, who nished tied for the lead at 134 after 36 holes of play. The rains were super strong and the course condition was unplayablewith soaked fairways and ooded greens. They played the par-3 for the playoff in the rains, said PGTI general manager Colo Ventosa. Gialon, 22, held his ground against the

Ardina misses match play

DOTTIE Ardina made an eagle-2 on No. 1 but squandered a solid start with a shaky windup and missed the match play phase by two in the 110th Womens North and South Amateur Championship at Pinehurst No. 8 in North Carolina Thursday. Needing a low round to get a crack at the Last 16, Ardina sank her approach shot on the par-4 No. 2 for eagle then hit two more birdies against a bogey as she bounced back from joint 41st for a coveted slot with a 33 at the turn. But the top ICTSI-backed bet stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 10 on a wayward drive and a poor approach shot, dropped another shot on the par5 11th and reeled back again. She tried to rebound with a birdie on No. 14 but missed a couple of birdie chances in two of the next three holes before blowing it all with a bogey on the 18th. She nished with a 72 for a 54-hole total of 224, two shots short of No. 16. Her three ICTSI teammates Jayvee Agojo, Cyna Rodriguez and Mia Piccio also fell by the wayside.

veteran Lascuna in sudden death, hacking his 6-iron to within 20 feet and barely missing a birdie putt. Lascuna pulled his tee-shot short of the green and ubbed a par-putt from eight feet to yield the crown to Gialon. I did not expect to win but I hit a good shot and coach (Tony) misred, said Gialon after nailing his breakthrough victory in a young pro career. I was prepared to go for 18 holes but the course was unplayable. But Ill take this win, this will surely boost my condence, said the former mainstay of the ICTSI amateur squad of coach Bong Lopez, who missed the cut in this rst two tournaments as a prothe Philippine Open and the ICTSI Splendido Classicbut rebounded in the next four legs of the ICTSI PGT, nishing joint seventh at Sherwood Classic. so long ago they promoted the WBO light yweight title ght of Donnie Nietes against Raul Garcia Hirales in Bacolod City and his rst defense against Felipe Salguero at the Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Metro Manila. Fighting in Thailand is not an option for Banals handlers because the history of Thailand, its hometown decisions and tendency to make things difcult for visiting ghters has been documented many times over. This is why our major corporate sponsors need to rally around our promoters and by extension our ghters, who must be given a fair chance of winning by staging world title ghts in Manila. While we commend them for their support of Manny Pacquiaos title ghts even though they are most often held abroad, it is time the bigger corporations realize that there are other equally deserving ghters in our midst and their promoters and TV networks need all the help they can get.

Supporting the promoters

INSIDE SPORTS
THE disappointing losses suffered by World Boxing Council super yweight silver champion Sylvester Lopez and WBC yweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro should open our eyes to the fact that unless we are able to get television networks and major corporate sponsors to support our promoters and enable them to stage world title ghts in Manila, we will continue to suffer similar setbacks. Most observers believe that if the Jaro title defense was held in Manila, there is no way he would have lost the title. But ghting in Japan and the penchant of the Japanese to entertain the ring ofcials in their

RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

own special way does provide the hometown ghter with a decided advantage as Jaros manager/promoter Aljoe Jaro realized. But there was really nothing Aljoe could do except hope to win by a knockout, which would have taken the decision out of the judges hands. However, Sonny Boy tried his best to catch Hiroyuki Igarashi, who proved to be an elusive target and that sealed Jaros fate. Filipino promoters cannot compete with the Japanese whose TV networks pay substantial amounts for telecast rights and where big sponsors fork out huge amounts to promoters so that Japanese ghters will enjoy a hometown advantage and the country will continue to maintain a number of world champions. Besides, they are able to offer attractive purses to ghters to are willing to ght in Japan which is something we cannot honestly match.

There is no way Filipino promoters, except perhaps the famed ALA Promotions and their TV partners, the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN can even remotely challenge the Japanese promotional outts especially the biggest of them all, Teiken which is owned by businessman-sportsman Akihiko Honda, whose wealth and personal inuence with the major boxing organizations is an established fact. Even now, ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN are in a struggle to stage the AJ Bazooka Banal battle, with Thailands Pungluang Sor Singyu for the World Boxing Organization bantamweight title relinquished by Jorge Traviseo Arce, set for Oct. 20 at the MOA Arena. The negotiations between ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and the huge Thai promotional outt OneSongchai Promotions have been long drawn and testy with the Thais even questioning the promotional outts capacity to stage a world title ght, forgetting that not

Media badminton today

ALL is set for the fourth National Press Club Presidents Cup Media Invitational Badminton Championship, which res off today at the Rizal Badminton Center in Vito Cruz, Manila. Philippine Badminton Association board member Joey San Andres is the guest speaker. He will also join the newly elected ofcers of the NPC, headed by its president Benny Antiporda in the opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Participants in the two-day tourney are last editions runner-up Pilipino Star Ngayon, the Manila Times, ABS-CBN, Tempo, Pang-Masa, Freeman, Manila Bulletin, Banat, Philippine Star, Department of Customs, Jun Magsaysay Badminton Club, Team Ermita and Team San Marcelino.

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NBA NEWS
DALLASThe Dallas Mavericks have announced the signing of O.J. Mayo three days after the free agent shooting guard posted a message on his Twitter account that he was joining the team. In a statement released Thursday the Mavericks said they werent disclosing the terms of the deal with the 6-foot-4, 210-pound West Virginian. Mayo averaged 15.2 points in 301 games over the past four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. He was the third overall pick in the 2008 draft by Minnesota, who then traded him to Memphis in a seven-player deal. AP

Sports
Manila Standard TODAY
Riera U. Mallari, Editor though Marquez is older, he still gave Manny problems even in their rst ght when Pacquiao was substantially faster. Hes just one of those guys, who is a bogey, said Stahaley, who is also not sure a fourth Marquez ght will be good for boxing. If they have another close ght that is controversial, its not really good for the sport. I would rather see him (Pacquiao) move on. I would love to see him ght Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hes the guy, said Stahaley. The trainer said a PacquiaoMayweather ght is what boxing has been waiting for. But if they wait too long, I think the public may say this should have happened three or four years ago and now that its happening it doesnt have the luster. I really think they need to sit down and make this ght happen.

LOTTO RESULTS
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SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

Trainer: Tim a better choice than Marquez

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

who handled Manny Pacquiao when he won his rst world title, believes a rematch with Timothy Bradley, who took the Filipinos World Boxing Organization welterweight title by a split decision that was condemned worldwide, is the best option for the Pacman right now.
Stahaley trained Pacquiao when he scored an eighthround knockout over Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul to win the World Boxinc Council yweight title on Dec. 3, 1998. If you look at Bob Arum as the promoter, he will probably say this is a promoters dream. Everybody in the world says Manny Pacquiao won the rst ght, so the revenge factor is there, lets do it again, Stahaley told the Manila Standard. While Stahaley noted that a lot of times you dont really want to do an immediate rematch, but this is a perfect example to do an immediate rematch. Everybody says Manny got robbed, so I think he (Pacquiao) will probably lean towards that ght, rather than a fourth ght with Juan Manuel Marquez. The trainer said that even

AMERICAN trainer Rick Stahaley,

Adamsons Paulina Soriano (center) is blocked by AMA Computer Colleges Lorie Lyn Longalong (left) in the third leg of the 2012 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament. ROMAN PROSPERO

Casimero declared new IBF champion

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
THE International Boxing Federation has declared Johnriel Casimero the new IBF junior yweight champion because of the inability of Ulises Solis to defend his title on or before Oct. 30. IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker informed promoter Fernando Beltran that they had been provided with a letter from Solis doctor on July 17, 2012, stating that the champ needed a bone insertion on the left side of his jaw. The operation was done on May 29, 2012. The doctor advised Solis cant exercise at all for at least three to four months. After that time, the doctor will examine Solis again. Based on the information, it is the IBFs determination that Solis will be unable to defend the IBF Jr. Flyweight Title on or before Oct. 30, 2012. Therefore, effective immediately, the IBF declares that Johnriel Casimero the new IBF Jr. Flyweight Champion. The IBF wishes Solis the best of luck and a speedy recovery, said Tucker. Solis was injured allegedly after being hammered by the much heavier Saul Canelo Alvarez over a personal issue and was given an extension of nine months under the Medical Exception to complete his mandatory title defense against Interim champion Casimero. Since a further extension would go beyond the Oct.30 date, the IBF afrmed that Casimero has been elevated to full champion effective immediately. Casimero won the Interim title via a 10th round technical knockout over Argentinas Luis Lazarte in a ght that was marred by a post-ght riot. Casimero and his manager/ promoter Sammy Gello-ani were both attacked by angry Lazarte supporters.

UE, San Sebastian pairs lead Petron semifinalists

UNIVERSITY of the East-1s Francislyn Cais and Jessica Paron used their familiarity of their home turf to hold off last years third-leg winner and former La Salle-Dasmarinas Lady Patriot Satchel Senupe and Anna Adolfo, 2110, in the third leg of the 2012 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament at the UE-Caloocan sand courts yesterday. With the win, Cais and Paron earned the first semifinal seat as they topped Group B with a 4-1 record, the same slate of La Salle-Dasmarinas bets MoniqueTiangco and Maribeth Lara, who claimed the second berth in their bracket. Unheralded San Sebastian College spikers Gretchel Soltones and Czarina Berbano came up with a strong showing in Group A, sweeping all their five games and bagging the first semis slot in their division of this spikefest supported by Mikasa and Speedo. Adamson duo Paulina Soriano and Sheila Mae Pineda, who nished with three wins and two losses, clinched the second semis berth due to a better tiebreak over AMA Computer College standouts Lorie Lyn Longalong and Sheila Mae Fajardo. The Lady Falcons barely made it into the semis after they took a 19-21 setback to SSCs Soltones and Berbano during their last eliminationround game. The 19-year-old Cais took charge early on as she and Paron attacked the net and pulled away with a 6-0 advantage. Her service winner and Parons two kills kept their dominance several plays later as they stormed to a 15-4 lead, en route to the win. Nag-adjust kami sa hangin. Kailangang ma-kontrol ang bola, kasi malakas ang hangin, said Cais, whose team will take on Lady Falcons Soriano and Pineda in the seminals. In the other semis match, Lady Stags Berbano and Soltones battle Lady Patriots Tiangco and Lara. The winner and runner-up of this volleyball extravaganza will get berths in the Petron Battle of Champions in October.

Letran five hardpressed against SBC

WITH manpower woes still hounding them, the undermanned Letran Knights are in for an uphill battle when they m e e t Games Today the de(The Arena in San Juan) fending 12 noon Mapua vs Arellano (jrs) champion 2 p.m. San Beda vs San Beda Letran (jrs) Red Li4 p.m. Mapua vs Arellano (srs) ons to6 p.m. San Beda vs day in Letran (srs) the 88th National Collegiate Athletic Association mens basketball tournament. The Knights big man in the middle, Raymund Almazan, has been missing for the last 14 days and this will make their clash with the Red Lions at 6 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan a daunting challenging. It will be tough, it will be tough, especially for my big guys, said Knights coach Louie Alas. Earlier, the Mapua Cardinals take on the Arellano University Chiefs at 4 p.m. Red Lions coach Ronnie Magsanoc wont underestimate the strength of the Knights. The Red Lions will have a complete lineup when they clash against the Knights, with 68 Nigerian center Olaide Adeogun seeing action again after serving a four-game suspension. Peter Atencio

Confident Tigers take on Maroons

By Jeric Lopez
CARRYING all the condence it got from its huge win the last time around, University of Santo Tomas aims to list a second straight win in the 75th University Athletic Association of the Philippines today. After UST pulled off a moraleboosting 71-70 stunner over defending champion Ateneo de Manila last Thursday, Tigers coach Pido Jarencio admitted that his squads condence is sky high heading into yet another challenge against unpredictable University of the Philippines. Maganda ang kumpiyansa going against UP, said UST coach Pido Jarencio. The Tigers (1-1) and Maroons (0-1) will lock horns in the main attraction at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City . In the initial offering, two winless squads will try to carve a rst triumph, with Adamson University and University of the East, dancing at 2 p.m But all eyes are on the Tigers and their new designated gunner--Aljon Mariano--to follow through that remarkable victory. Jarencio is condent that his squad can build on that and impose its capabilities again against the Fighting Maroons. Morale-boosting kasi yung panalo na iyon para sa amin, kaya malaking bagay iyon. May gameplan naman na kami against UP. Mindset and focus talaga ang kailangan dito, said Jarencio. In USTs triumph, Mariano had a breakout game as the versatile wingman produced 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Owners relish Rain or Shines feat

THE rst time is always the sweetest. If you ask Rain or Shine owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que, they will denitely agree, as they now know the feeling of being in the big stage, where the Elasto Painters have a chance to shoot for their rst title. The best friends waited long enough six years in all to at last see their dreams bear fruits in the 2012 Philippine Basketball Association Governors Cup crown. We really feel relieved. Kasi, weve been waiting for the past six years just to get to the finals. Thats what motivated our players to give their all. Masarap sa feeling namin na for the first time, nasa PBA finals na yung team, said Yu. The last time the franchise made a nals appearance was way back in 2006, when it was still part of the defunct Philippine Basketball League, where it lost to Magnolia, 3-2. After that conference, Rain or Shine entered the PBA late that year after buying the Shell franchise. When the Elasto Painters became the rst team in the nals last Wednesday, it was certainly the best gift for Que, who celebrated his 62nd birthday. Napakagandang regalo ng pagpasok namin sa nals, tapos first time pa namin, said Que. The Elasto Painters quest for their rst title begins tomorrow when they play either Barangay Ginebra or B-MEG, which were disputing the second berth in the nals late Friday night. Whichever way, Yu knows that it will be an exciting nals match-up. Mahirap mamili. Parehong malakas and may crowd kaya exciting talaga ang magiging nals, said Yu. The satisfaction is just as sweet for ROS coach Yeng Guiao, who will try to duplicate what he did with Red Bull in 2001, when he led a rst-time nalist to a championship. Jeric Lopez

Rain or Shine rookie Paul Lee will be a marked man in the nals.

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Business
Manila Standard TODAY
Ray S. Eano, Editor extrastory2000@gmail.com Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor quarter following an anemic full-year expansion of 3.7 percent in 2011, prompting economists to upgrade their growth outlook this year. Going forward, growth is expected to stabilize to 4.8 percent and 4.9 percent in 2012 and 2013, respectively, in line with soft global economic conditions in the baseline, the IMF said in a statement, at the end of a fourday staff visit in Manila. The IMF staff that visited Manila was led by mission chief Rachel van Elkan. Other members of the mission were external sector economist Longmei Shang and incoming IMF resident representative Shanaka Janayath Peiris. The IMF team said while macroeconomic conditions remained generally sound and the authorities policy management was supporting condence, the Philippines like other countries in the region was facing a more fragile global economic environment that could produce headwinds in the coming quarters. It said the challenge for the country was how to maintain a macro-nancial stability given that capital inows and robust growth in the baseline was expected. In case tail risks from the global economy materialize, the Philippines has the policy space to support growth if needed, said IMF. It predicted the countrys current account and balance of payments would remain in surplus and ination would remain within the target range of 3 percent to 5 percent. The IMF said public nance would continue to improve along with the nancial system which has been able to withstand the more challenging external market. The IMF team met with Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

B1

IMF raises growth outlook

By Anna Leah G. Estrada

THE International Monetary Fund raised Friday

its 2012 growth forecast for the Philippines from 4.6 percent to 4.8 percent, after the economy performed strongly in the rst quarter.

IN BRIEF
Govt to sustain reforms
FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima said Friday the government is committed to sustain scal reforms and improve the macroeconomic fundamentals to achieve higher growth. Purisima noted both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank upgraded their growth forecasts for the Philippines this year and next, after the gross domestic product expanded 6.4 percent year-on-year in the rst quarter. The forecasting part is their job. The execution part is our job. So we are focusing in the execution of the program and were committed to scal sustainability, Purisima told reporters on the sidelines of the 9th annual meeting and conference of Asia-Pacic Economic Cooperation nancial institutions dealing with small and medium enterprises. Purisima said the government remained committed to promoting stable macroeconomic environment, building infrastructure for businessmen and creating a much better playing eld for industries. He said these efforts were expected to enable the country achieve an investment-grade status from international credit rating agencies. I believe we will get more positive credit rating actions. Were still below investment grade. I believe were still underrated, he said. Maria Bernadette Lunas

It also upgraded the growth outlook for 2013 from 4.7 percent to 4.9 percent, despite the global economic challenges. The IMF growth forecast this year was better than the 4.6-percent estimate by the World Bank, but lower than the governments target range of 5 percent to 6 percent. The countrys gross domestic product grew 6.4 percent in the rst

Negros coal-fired stations backed

By Alena Mae S. Flores
ENERGY Secretary Jose Rene Almendras has expressed support for the construction of coal-red power plants in Negros Occidental, despite opposition from several groups. I agree that a major island like Negros should have generation capacity on the island itself, Almendras told reporters. Philippine Power Corp. proposed to build a 70-megawatt coal project in the area while Philippine Energy Corp. wanted to put up a 100-MW coal facility. Construction of the two plants, however, received resistance from several non-government organizations, which claimed the projects were not in line with the policy of Negros Occidental to promote clean power sources. Almendras said Panay Island must have its own power generation capacity as it gets supply from Leyte and Cebu via the power transmission highway. Im just saying you need generation capacity on the island so that in case you have transmission problems, you will be able to generate electricity there, Almendras said. You need to control the transmission risk by putting generating capacity. You [need to] disperse the generation capacity as best as you can, the energy chief said.

Millennium Bank payments

STATE-RUN Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. said it will start the onsite claims settlement operations for depositors of the closed Cabanatuan City-based Millennium Bank Inc. with balances of at least P10,000 on July 25. It said the claims settlement operations will be conducted from July 25 to Aug. 1, 2012 at the banks premises located at Del Pilar St., Cabanatuan City. Bangko Sentral placed Millennium Bank under the receivership of PDIC in May this year. Millennium Bank had 1,451 accounts with total deposits of P37.5 million as of endMarch. PDIC also advised depositors of Millennium Bank with deposit balances of P10,000 and below who have not yet received their notice of payment to immediately secure their appointment dates. Depositors who were not able to le their claims in the given period are still allowed to submit their claims on Aug. 13 at the PDIC claims counter located at the 4th oor of SSS Bldg., Ayala Avenue corner V. A. Runo Street in Makati City. Anna Leah G. Estrada

Banks probed. The Standard Chartered Bank building (second from right) stands next to the HSBC Holdings Plc headquarters in Hong Kong, China. Traders at Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc, Societe Generale SA and Credit Agricole SA are under investigation for interest-rate manipulation in a global probe that led to a record ne for Barclays Plc last month, a person with knowledge of the matter said. BLOOMBERG

Cebu Pacific, Singaporean firm sign service contract

By Julito G. Rada
CEBU Air Inc. has signed a new ve-year S$166-million ($132-million) contract with SIA Engineering Co. Ltd. of Singapore for the management, maintenance, repair and overhaul of the Cebu Pacic eet. SIA Engineering Co., which has facilities in Singapore and the Philippines, is a major provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services in the Asia-Pacic region. Cebu Air and SIA Engineering rst signed a eet management contract in 2005. Cebu Air president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei said the next ve years would be an exciting time for the airline, which is on an expansion mode. We will continue to grow our eet and widen our network. We look forward to SIAECs extensive and highly-efcient aircraft maintenance services, Gokongwei said. The two companies said with the latest agreement, the total revenue of SIAEC Group contracts with Cebu Air would grow to S$236 million. The ve-year contract covers the rapidly-growing eet of Cebu Air. The company expects its 30 aircraft to increase, with the delivery of 22 A320s over the next ve years. SIAEC chief executive William Tan said the new agreement would further strengthen the strong partnership and excellent relationship between SIAEC and Cebu Air. Both companies have worked in close partnership to uphold the engineering excellence and high dispatch reliability of the Airline, Tan said. SIAEC has three decades of experience in servicing a wide range of Airbus aircraft, including being the rst in the world to undertake heavy maintenance of the A380. Our customers are assured of high-quality and on-time delivery for the Airbus aircraft entrusted to us, Tan said. SIAECs eet management business currently covers 13 airlines with a eet size of more than 211 aircraft.

Energy task force to fine erring power companies PH traders urged to join exhibitions in Thailand
THE Energy Department has come out with a draft circular creating the Grid Reliability Task Force and providing penalties against power generation companies that violate the directive. The body will monitor and assess the overall reliability of the countrys power grid and make studies and policy recommendations. An earlier circular directed power generation companies, the transmission service provider and distribution utilities to ensure adequate and reliable electric power supply in the country. The task force will also complement the functions of the Grid Reliability and Protection Sub-Committee in maintaining and enhancing the reliability of the generation, transmission and distribution sectors of the grid. The task force is composed of the energy undersecretary as chairman, National Transmission Corp. president as vice chairman, Philippine Electricity Market Corp. and National Grid Corp. representatives and other concerned parties. The tasked force will conduct outage investigations such as plant and substation inspections to determine the cause of unscheduled and persistent outages. It will also submit to the department for the Energy Regulatory Commissions consideration proposed nes, penalties and sanctions for noncompliance to the circular. The task force will create its own compliance manual for
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, July 20, 2012
Indonesia Thailand UAE Euro Korea China India Malaysia New Zealand Taiwan Rupiah Baht Dirham Euro Won Yuan Rupee Ringgit Dollar Dollar 0.000106 0.031461 0.272264 1.227900 0.000879 0.156902 0.018129 0.317561 0.802182 0.033358 0.0044 1.3184 11.3466 51.1727 0.0366 6.5389 0.7555 13.2344 3.1565 1.3902
Source: PDS Bridge

market players and protocol in the conduct of inspection duly approved by department. In the event the penalties imposed do not ensure compliance such as when persistent violations lead to more prot despite the payment of nes, [the task force will] recommend actions, including the cancellation of franchise and removal of personnel. The task force will recommend policies on hydro and geothermal plants due to their criticality. Alena Mae S. Flores

FILIPINO businessmen should increase their presence in international trade shows in Thailand to maximize the exposure and saleability of Philippine products in the world market. With the rise of Asean Economic community, exhibition platform in Thailand will help businesses capture the full business potential of the region, Supawan Teerarat, director of exhibition

E ATE PSE COMPOSITE INDEX F OREIGNUnitXCHANGE RPeso Currency US Dollar

Closing July 20, 2012
United States Japan UK Hong Kong Switzerland Canada Singapore Australia Bahrain Saudi Arabia Brunei Dollar Yen Pound Dollar Franc Dollar Dollar Dollar Dinar Rial Dollar 1.000000 0.012723 1.572600 0.128937 1.022495 0.992654 0.797957 1.041124 2.652661 0.266660 0.794786 41.6750 0.5302 65.5381 5.3734 42.6125 41.3689 33.2549 43.3888 110.5496 11.1131 33.1227 5200 4460 3720 2980 2240 1500 1200

P584-P695 LPG/11-kg tank

P47.15-P53.07 Unleaded Gasoline

OIL PRICES
TODAY

PESO-DOLLAR RATE
Closing JULY 20, 2012
40 42 44 46 48

P38.40-P41.05 Diesel P40.30-P52.20 Kerosene P27.20-P31.00 Auto LPG

P41.860
CLOSE

21.52

5,210.89

HIGH P41.750 LOW P41.920AVERAGE P41.845 VOLUME 860.530M

department of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, said during a press brieng in Makati. Supawan said many international trade shows had been anchored in Thailand because of its strategic location, especially the emerging market of Greater Mekong sub-region of Southern China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The Philippines ranks fth among other Asian nations in terms of number of visitors attending Thailand exhibitions. Filipino visitors accounted for 7.5 percent of total overseas visitors attending Thai exhibitions last year, behind Malaysia (10.7 percent), India (9.7 percent), Vietnam (8.4 percent), and Singapore (8.2 percent). Based on the Trade Fair Industry of Asia 7th Edition, 2011, revenues from trade fairs in Thailand in 2010 hit $132 million, the highest in Asean and seventh in Asia. The report covers China, Southeast Asian markets, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan and Australia.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B2 SATURDAY

JULY 21, 2012

ManilaStandardToday

Business
FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
Previous 52 Weeks

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rebounds after 3-day slump

STOCKS rebounded Friday, after a threeday slump, as investors renewed their interest on property companies which announced expansion plans involving new projects this year.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, increased 21 points, or 0.4 percent to close at 5,210.89. The gauge, however, ended the week 0.1 percent lower. The heavier index, representing all shares, also added 14 points, or 0.4 percent, to 3,459.02, as gainers led losers, 85 to 69, with 40 issues unchanged. Some P4.2 billion worth of stocks changed hands Friday. Property stocks led gainers. Robinsons Land Corp. rose 2.6 percent to P18.46 while Ayala Land Inc. added 0.5 percent to P20.45. SM Prime Holdings Inc. climbed 4.3 percent to P13.60. Bloomberry Resorts Corp. rose 0.9 percent to P9.88. The company is poaching Filipino talent from Macau to help it lure Chinese gamblers from the worlds largest gaming hub to its casino resort in Manila, chief operating ofcer Michael French said. Megaworld Corp., a builder of residential and ofce towers, advanced 1.9 percent to P2.15. Megaworld created a new unit, Prime Properties Investment Group, to provide personalized services to buyers of so-called ready for occupancy homes. Geograce Resources Philippines Inc. rose 1.7 percent to P0.61. Oriental Peninsula Resources Group Inc. increased 0.8 percent to P5.05, snapping a ve-day loss. The London Metals Index, a basket of six metals that include copper and nickel, climbed 1.3 percent Thursday to the highest level since July 4. Meanwhile, Asian stock markets wavered Friday as weak US data kept sentiment in check despite continued hopes for new stimulus measures in major economies. Investors have been anticipating further moves by China to prop up slowing economic growth and also have continued to believe the US Federal Reserve will announce additional pro-growth measures despite Fed chairman Ben Bernanke giving no indication of that in his two-day testimony to lawmakers this week. The mood of optimism in markets the past few days linked to stimulus hopes was tempered by a batch of weak economic US data. Weekly jobless claims rose 34,000 to a three-week high of 386,000 and an indicator of regional manufacturing was much weaker than anticipated. Homes sales and leading economic indicators were also soft. The outlook...is clouded by uncertainty surrounding the Chinese and US economies, in addition to lingering risk of a blowout in Europe, analysts at DBS Bank in Singapore said in a report. Growth in China has been especially critical in driving growth in Asia, and even global growth. Japans Nikkei 225 was down 0.9 percent at 8,717.60 while Hong Kongs Hang Seng added 0.2 percent to 19,602.21. Australias S&P/ASX 200 was little changed at 4,206.10 and Chinas Shanghai Composite dropped 0.4 percent to 2,175.75. Markets in Singapore, India and New Zealand were down while Thailand and Indonesia rose. In the US on Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.3 percent to 12,943.36 and the broader S&P 500 index gained 0.3 percent to 1,376.51 as strong corporate earnings buoyed investors. With Bloomberg, AP

MST BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW

High Low
46.00 50.00 0.68 370.00 12.98 18.50 7.56 50.00 1.91 3.00 60.00 1.30 45.00 41.00 63.50 204.80 25.45 77.00 58.00 1.43 26.50 8.00 11.98 0.97 25.00 1.08 70.50 76.80 1.82 595.00 23.90 20.70 22.00 89.00 3.26 39.20 98.00 3.06 126.00 77.80 95.00 500.00 45.50 155.20 140.00 2.06 35.50 13.58 23.90 1.70 48.00 1.65 138.00 2.96 3.07 9.70 7.00 6.75 18.00 78.55 30.90 0.02 12.36 7.40 2.35 120.00 91.25 8.40 1.90 3.20 26.00 15.30 295.00 12.20 3.00 17.40 14.94 3.78 6.50 33.00 132.60 1.90 2.44 0.250 5.30 1.41 69.20 5.50 1.12 18.00 1.18 59.90 0.019 13.70 2.97 5.02 6.98 3.15 485.20 64.80 5.20 0.98 520.00 36.20 4.19 6.21 1.54 3.82 4.65 6.24 7.50 0.0770 2.20 0.490 750.00 1.78 1.57 0.620 1.370 48.00 3.34 0.218 22.85 5.62 9.00 5.66 2.90 1.11 0.90 0.310 3.06 1.44 2.14 2.33 0.42 0.990 0.71 3.50 18.86 7.71 2.70 8.95 18.20 1.03 4.55 0.80 4.50 4.72 42.00 18.98 0.78 102.80 0.5300 24.00 86.90 9.70 5.90 1750.00 1270.00 11.00 77.00 0.98 6.80 4.70 34.50 3.87 0.0760 5.1900 3.79 11.12 3.85 3.96 0.84 3.15 8.58 3.32 10.00 60.00 17.88 2886.00 0.48 30.10 3.30 0.79 0.0083 6.20 6.22 25.20 0.380 30.35 34.00 2.51 61.80 1.21 1.82 2.070 0.085 0.087 36.50 12.84 1.100 8.40 0.032 0.033 7.05 28.95 48.00 0.062 257.80 0.029 47.90 580.00 18.00 11.02 116.70 80.00 1050.00 1.31

45.00 2.12 2.30 7.41 4.83 2.80 12.50 51.50 22.50 0.0099 7.80 3.80 0.74 80.00 25.00 1.04 1.11 1.05 18.10 8.12 215.00 7.50 1.96 9.70 8.05 1.01 2.90 26.50 110.20 1.25 1.80 0.112 3.30 0.90 37.00 1.05 0.310 2.55

0.65 35.50 0.014 8.00 1.80 3.00 0.260 1.49 272.00 30.50 3.30 0.10 455.40 19.00 2.27 4.00 0.61 1.790 2.56 2.55 1.22 0.045 1.20 0.285 450.00 1.00 1.14 0.620 0.185 18.00 1.70 0.150 13.36 3.08 2.26 0.80 1.20 0.67 0.54 0.10 1.63 0.98 0.65 1.51 0.168 0.080 0.41 2.08 10.00 2.51 1.80 6.00 10.94 0.64 1.80 0.45 2.60

Bank of the Philippine Islands provided planning-oriented wealth management advice at the Money Summit and Wealth Expo held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on July 20 to 21. BPI has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive asset management and nancial planning services for individuals and businesses. Cutting the ribbon at the opening of the summit are (from left) Philam Life chief executive Rex Mendoza, BPI senior vice president and Asset Management and Trust Group head Ma. Theresa Javier, BPI senior vice president for Housing Jocelyn Sta. Ana and BPI Family Savings Bank president Jose Teodoro Limcaoco.

BPI supports summit.

Ford recalls brand-new Escapes

DETROITFord Motor Co. is telling owners of one version of the brand-new Ford Escape not to drive the SUVs until dealers can x fuel lines that can crack and spill gasoline, causing engine res. The company issued the unusual warning Thursday and said it was recalling 2013 Escapes equipped with 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines. Dealers will pick up the Escapes and drop off a loaner car that customers can use until the repairs are nished. The company is hoping to ship parts and get all the SUVs repaired in the next two weeks. Ford says it has three reports of res: two at the factory and one while a customer was driving an Escape. No one has been injured. The recall affects 11,500 Escapes in the US and Canada. Only 4,800 have been sold to customers. The rest are on dealer lots and will be xed before they are sold, spokesman Marcey Zwiebel said. We are obviously taking very quick action in the interest of our customers safety, she said. Escapes powered by other engines are not affected, nor are other Ford models with 1.6-liter engines, Zwiebel said. This is the second recall of the redesigned Escape, which went on sale in June. On Saturday, the company said it would recall more than 10,000 Escapes to x carpet padding that could interfere with braking. Problems often crop up when new vehicles are introduced, even though automakers have improved quality in recent years. The new Escape is among Fords top-selling vehicles. People bought 28,500 last month, up 28 percent from June 2011. The Escapes in the latest recall were built at the companys Louisville, Ky., plant from early April through July 11. AP
Close (P) 1.63 0.255 2.50 6.25 6.57 41.00 1.18 59.45 0.620 28.00 Change (%) (13.30) (8.93) (5.30) (5.16) (4.09) (3.53) (3.28) (3.25) (3.13) (3.11)

T OP G AINERS
STOCKS Alaska Milk Corp. Lafarge Rep Bogo Medellin Greenergy Island Info SM Prime Holdings Asia Amalgamated A IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Dizon Robinson's Land `B' Close (P) 19.50 8.85 60.00 0.0150 0.0500 13.60 5.19 0.039 31.80 18.46 Change (%) 14.44 7.27 7.14 7.14 6.38 4.29 3.80 2.63 2.58 2.56

T OP L OSERS
STOCKS Acesite Hotel Forum Pacic City & Land Dev. MJCI Investments Inc. EEI Liberty Flour South China Res. Inc. Universal Robina Ionics Inc Nickelasia

1.20 28.60 1.60 0.45 4.12 10.2000 6.66 62.00 5.40 1.45 800.00 831.00 6.18 43.40 0.36 4.30 2.00 0.036 1.00 0.042 2.550 1.62 5.90 2.60 2.70 0.57 1.10 4.60 1.05 5.00 18.00 12.10 2096.00 0.25 10.68 2.40 0.27 0.0038 3.01 3.00 14.50 0.148 19.98 14.50 1.62 5.68 0.50 0.9000 1.0200 0.042 0.042 15.04 2.13 0.008 2.99 0.012 0.014 5.10 18.50 3.00 0.017 161.10 0.014

T RADING S UMMARY
FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL SHARES 11,818,700 62,000,677 59,291,682 97,825,893 59,098,419 570,269,873 860,305,244 VALUE 475,889,138.85 802,631,347.362 1,372,505,103.808 670,812,409.815 708,525,443.14 708,525,443.14 175,246,738.797 FINANCIAL 1,304.87 (up) 5.26 INDUSTRIAL 7,907.14 (up) 21.75 HOLDING FIRMS 4,369.45 (up) 10.57 PROPERTY 1,908.65 (up) 31.58 SERVICES 1,783.59 (down) 1 MINING & OIL 23,177.38 (down) 59.86 PSEI 5,210.89 (up) 21.52 All Shares Index 3,459.02 (up) 14.18 Gainers: 85; Losers: 69; Unchanged: 40; Total: 194

27.30 535.00 12.50 6.00 107.00 74.50 1000.00 0.62

M S T
STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume
63.85 73.00 0.71 487.00 22.75 18.72 10.24 79.95 2.47 37.00 95.50 1.97 65.50 73.90 86.00 356.00 44.10 140.00 99.80 1.72 1.35 1.04 (1.39) (0.08) 0.22 0.11 (2.48) (0.06) 0.00 0.00 (0.98) 0.00 0.77 (0.14) 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.72 0.00 (0.58)

Net Foreign

Trade/Buying
(74,592,726.50) (44,709,842.50)

Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI Bankard, Inc. China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Metro Inv. I-Remit Inc. Maybank ATR KE Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp. Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A Security Bank Union Bank Vantage Equities Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alaska Milk Corp. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alphaland Corp. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin Calapan Venture Chemrez Technologies Inc. Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI First Gen Corp. First Holdings A Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. Manchester Intl. A Manila Water Co. Inc. Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A Pancake House Inc. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. RFM Corporation Salcon Power Corp. San Miguel Brewery Inc. San Miguel Corp `A Seacem Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. Tanduay Holdings Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Abacus Cons. `A Aboitiz Equity Alcorn Gold Res. Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A Ayala Corp `A DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacic GT Capital JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. Minerales Industrias Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacica `A Prime Media Hldg Sinophil Corp. SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B Belle Corp. `A Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cyber Bay Corp. Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A Megaworld Corp. MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A Primex Corp. Robinsons Land `B Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Development `A SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. Easy Call Common FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Information Capital Tech. IPeople Inc. `A IP Converge IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPVG Corp. Island Info ISM Communications JTH Davies Holdings Inc. Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Macroasia Corp. Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Puregold Transpacic Broadcast Waterfront Phils.

Abra Mining Apex `A Apex `B Atlas Cons. `A Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp `A Benguet Corp `B Century Peak Metals Hldgs Dizon Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A Lepanto `B Manila Mining `A Manila Mining `B Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A Oriental Pet. `B Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex `A PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A Semirara Corp. United Paragon

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `A First Phil. Holdings-Pref GMA Holdings Inc. PCOR-Preferred SMC Preferred 1 SMPFC Preferred

Megaworld Corp. Warrants

FINANCIAL 63.00 63.85 62.45 72.25 73.50 72.25 0.72 0.71 0.71 487.40 487.00 486.00 22.70 22.80 22.70 18.70 18.80 18.68 10.50 11.10 10.14 80.00 79.95 72.00 2.47 2.51 2.45 37.00 37.00 36.90 96.45 98.50 95.50 1.97 2.00 1.97 65.00 65.50 65.50 74.00 73.90 71.00 86.00 86.00 86.00 356.00 356.00 355.20 44.05 44.15 44.05 139.00 140.00 139.00 99.80 99.80 99.50 1.73 1.73 1.72 INDUSTRIAL 34.05 34.75 34.05 8.99 8.86 8.80 17.04 21.00 19.00 1.42 1.45 1.39 29.30 29.40 29.40 1.40 1.43 1.41 29.95 31.75 30.00 56.00 60.00 60.00 2.38 2.38 2.38 2.55 2.55 2.51 9.30 9.49 9.36 6.05 6.17 6.05 6.85 6.92 6.50 17.94 18.06 17.94 76.50 77.30 76.50 20.50 20.60 20.50 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 11.96 11.70 11.60 4.10 4.10 4.07 0.640 0.640 0.620 107.00 106.00 103.90 8.25 8.85 8.25 42.50 41.00 41.00 1.98 2.09 1.96 1.50 1.49 1.49 2.71 2.73 2.72 25.60 25.70 24.90 16.50 16.50 16.00 261.00 265.00 255.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 2.88 2.90 2.87 10.10 10.10 10.06 8.70 8.88 8.70 3.33 3.49 3.30 5.30 5.31 5.20 33.60 34.00 33.80 112.50 114.00 112.30 1.90 1.93 1.90 1.80 1.83 1.82 0.140 0.147 0.143 4.49 4.51 4.49 1.20 1.22 1.20 61.45 61.80 58.80 1.18 1.20 1.16 0.620 0.610 0.610 9.00 9.00 9.00 HOLDING FIRMS 0.92 0.94 0.92 47.95 48.50 47.05 0.0170 0.0170 0.0170 11.48 11.62 11.48 1.99 2.00 1.99 4.83 4.70 4.70 5.00 5.20 5.19 2.22 2.19 2.10 430.20 434.80 429.60 58.80 58.70 57.75 4.02 4.07 4.00 0.280 0.280 0.250 528.50 543.00 529.00 31.85 32.50 31.90 2.87 2.88 2.88 5.90 5.85 5.80 1.14 1.14 1.12 2.50 2.54 2.49 4.12 4.20 4.13 5.40 5.49 5.20 6.59 6.25 5.50 0.0560 0.0560 0.0560 1.380 1.450 1.340 0.330 0.335 0.335 720.00 720.00 715.00 1.51 1.53 1.47 1.22 1.18 1.18 0.3250 0.3300 0.3150 0.450 0.460 0.450 PROPERTY 22.00 21.40 20.05 2.60 2.57 2.52 0.175 0.175 0.175 20.35 20.65 20.35 4.99 5.09 4.99 5.78 5.80 5.72 1.43 1.45 1.43 2.64 2.52 2.50 0.82 0.83 0.81 0.860 0.890 0.850 0.181 0.185 0.185 2.00 2.02 1.98 1.29 1.29 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.20 2.11 2.17 2.11 0.1640 0.1660 0.1620 0.6500 0.6600 0.6400 0.450 0.460 0.460 3.45 3.43 3.04 18.00 18.52 18.20 3.12 3.20 3.12 2.58 2.58 2.57 6.14 6.21 6.12 13.04 13.68 13.04 0.70 0.70 0.70 4.03 4.05 4.00 0.520 0.520 0.520 4.080 4.170 4.080 SERVICES 1.90 1.90 1.90 36.70 36.70 36.00 1.88 1.80 1.55 0.630 0.640 0.630 9.79 9.94 9.82 0.1360 0.1370 0.1320 8.76 8.85 8.70 67.95 67.95 67.50 5.80 5.90 5.50 2.54 2.54 2.54 990.00 980.00 980.00 1148.00 1148.00 1120.00 10.10 10.20 10.00 70.40 71.70 70.50 0.450 0.470 0.405 6.65 6.65 6.65 2.46 2.49 2.45 0.038 0.039 0.038 1.05 1.07 1.05 0.0470 0.0500 0.0500 2.8300 2.9500 2.8500 2.44 2.48 2.44 8.56 8.59 8.50 2.75 2.75 2.73 2.80 2.84 2.80 0.74 0.75 0.75 2.47 2.56 2.46 7.30 7.28 7.25 3.00 3.03 3.00 9.52 9.50 9.50 59.00 60.00 58.95 14.80 14.84 14.76 2724.00 2724.00 2700.00 0.330 0.320 0.320 26.55 26.90 26.45 2.80 2.73 2.43 0.430 0.435 0.430 MINING & OIL 0.0040 0.0041 0.0041 5.00 5.10 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 17.60 17.66 17.50 0.255 0.255 0.255 23.30 23.20 23.15 23.50 23.50 23.35 1.30 1.30 1.28 31.00 32.00 31.00 0.60 0.63 0.61 1.260 1.290 1.250 1.300 1.360 1.320 0.0670 0.0690 0.0670 0.0690 0.0690 0.0680 28.90 28.90 27.90 9.89 9.99 9.81 0.7000 0.7000 0.7000 5.010 5.080 5.010 0.0180 0.0180 0.1080 0.0190 0.0190 0.0190 5.95 6.10 5.95 21.55 21.65 21.25 38.20 39.40 38.20 0.050 0.052 0.051 226.00 228.80 218.00 0.0170 0.0170 0.0170 PREFERRED 34.90 34.10 34.00 550.00 555.00 555.00 103.60 103.90 103.90 10.10 10.10 10.00 110.00 110.20 110.00 74.80 75.00 74.90 1016.00 1020.00 1020.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1.19 1.18 1.18

3,054,460 1,605,670 5,000 3,680 35,700 214,100 7,600 1,010 42,000 7,600 760,840 44,500 1,100 100,350 150 4,890 57,900.00 449,700 20,370 5,001,000

24,350.00 (4,560.00) (622,686.00)

(58,208,331.50)

1,165,500.00 224,280.00 1,764,500.00 (32,793,792.00) (140,718.00) 23,271,015.00 83,302.00 (1,410.00)

34.55 8.80 19.50 1.41 29.40 1.43 30.20 60.00 2.38 2.55 9.38 6.14 6.57 18.04 76.50 20.60 0.0150 11.60 4.09 0.620 105.80 8.85 41.00 2.02 1.49 2.73 25.40 16.20 265.00 11.00 2.90 10.10 8.85 3.32 5.20 33.80 114.00 1.90 1.83 0.143 4.51 1.21 59.45 1.17 0.610 9.00

1.47 (2.11) 14.44 (0.70) 0.34 2.14 0.83 7.14 0.00 0.00 0.86 1.49 (4.09) 0.56 0.00 0.49 7.14 (3.01) (0.24) (3.13) (1.12) 7.27 (3.53) 2.02 (0.67) 0.74 (0.78) (1.82) 1.53 0.00 0.69 0.00 1.72 (0.30) (1.89) 0.60 1.33 0.00 1.67 2.14 0.45 0.83 (3.25) (0.85) (1.61) 0.00

2,788,500 65,700 13,400 84,000 1,000 1,729,000 63,100 300 4,000 40,000 6,600 10,119,100 3,944,600 1,781,900 631,150 26,600 20,600,000 59,700 190,000 293,000 250,510 1,700 2,400 1,543,000 3,000 15,000 4,314,700 1,125,200 105,880 1,000 1,512,000 294,200 568,800 315,000 13,000 243,000 822,140 1,489,000 19,000 900,000 692,000 428,000 3,029,630 851,000 273,000 3,900

75,600.00

22,238,650.00 22,238,650.00 5,171,762.00 2,823,626.50 397,780.00

(11,020,509.00)

80,271,420.00 11,200.00 18,109,966.00 4,103,470.00 (262,240.00) 4,437,193.00 (478,220.00)

6,867,518.00 2,057,600.00 24,310.00 31,500.00

(47,691,459.00) (35,200.00)

0.93 48.50 0.0170 11.56 1.99 4.70 5.19 2.19 429.80 57.90 4.07 0.255 538.00 32.05 2.88 5.80 1.13 2.54 4.20 5.39 6.25 0.0560 1.340 0.335 718.00 1.50 1.18 0.3250 0.455

1.09 1.15 0.00 0.70 0.00 (2.69) 3.80 (1.35) (0.09) (1.53) 1.24 (8.93) 1.80 0.63 0.35 (1.69) (0.88) 1.60 1.94 (0.19) (5.16) 0.00 (2.90) 1.52 (0.28) (0.66) (3.28) 0.00 1.11 (2.73) (3.08) 0.00 0.49 0.80 (1.04) 0.00 (5.30) 1.22 0.00 2.21 0.50 0.00 0.00 1.90 0.00 1.54 2.22 (0.58) 2.56 1.60 0.00 0.81 4.29 0.00 0.25 0.00 1.96

9,093,000 979,300 16,900,000 7,820,700 83,000 10,000 1,200 231,000 879,620 1,501,510 446,000 610,000 457,190 3,126,000 1,000 3,660,600 346,000 528,000 6,948,000 5,500 26,900 1,000,000 20,000 200,000 190,480 92,000 6,000 300,000 580,000 10,100 10,000 20,000 11,339,200 995,000 15,900 897,000 27,000 158,000 21,199,000 200,000 1,174,000 784,000 20,000 32,142,000 1,570,000 2,416,000 20,000 11,000 11,233,000 33,000 116,000 1,815,200 7,851,700 200,000 355,000 261,000 2,917,000

(13,950.00) 18,172,185.00 (48,954,646.00)

(192,317,668.00) (14,452,453.50) 1,265,540.00 36,649,525.00 (27,881,690.00) (17,515,534.00)

(8,921,900.00) (549.00)

(16,165,960.00)

21.40 2.52 0.175 20.45 5.03 5.72 1.43 2.50 0.83 0.860 0.185 2.01 1.29 1.28 2.15 0.1640 0.6600 0.460 3.43 18.46 3.17 2.58 6.19 13.60 0.70 4.04 0.520 4.160

140,320.00

(112,421,150.00) (750,000.00)

311,500.00 (883,570.00) (1,280.00) (2,500.00) 13,711,250.00

(62,929,700.00) (9,620.00) 25,211.00 26,359,844.00

3,491,050.00

1.90 36.00 1.63 0.630 9.88 0.1320 8.73 67.70 5.90 2.54 980.00 1135.00 10.10 71.70 0.440 6.65 2.45 0.039 1.07 0.0500 2.8500 2.44 8.58 2.73 2.80 0.75 2.50 7.27 3.00 9.50 60.00 14.84 2716.00 0.320 26.60 2.73 0.435

0.00 (1.91) (13.30) 0.00 0.92 (2.94) (0.34) (0.37) 1.72 0.00 (1.01) (1.13) 0.00 1.85 (2.22) 0.00 (0.41) 2.63 1.90 6.38 0.71 0.00 0.23 (0.73) 0.00 1.35 1.21 (0.41) 0.00 (0.21) 1.69 0.27 (0.29) (3.03) 0.19 (2.50) 1.16

9,000 3,010,700 5,017,000 123,000 4,545,500 12,900,000 569,100 137,130 91,000 2,000 50 31,830 1,014,700 1,214,320 690,000 200 66,000 20,800,000 80,000 300,000 455,000 39,000 253,700 102,000 79,000 2,000 564,000 18,800 746,000 1,000,000 3,010,700 662,600 67,495 100,000 4,219,300 5,000 100,000

180,171,840.00 130,950.00

(20,774,922.00) 45,920.00 (14,830.00) (220,331.50) (49,000.00) (14,210,925.00) 1,924,616.00 99,300.00

9,760.00 (94,490.00) 30,250.00 168,000.00 (1,236,220.00)

(9,500,000.00) 180,171,840.00 (6,931,494.00) (8,918,770.00) (44,723,005.00)

0.0041 5.00 5.00 17.52 0.255 23.15 23.35 1.29 31.80 0.61 1.270 1.330 0.0680 0.0680 28.00 9.88 0.7000 5.050 0.0180 0.0190 6.00 21.40 38.55 0.051 220.00 0.0170

2.50 0.00 0.00 (0.45) 0.00 (0.64) (0.64) (0.77) 2.58 1.67 0.79 2.31 1.49 (1.45) (3.11) (0.10) 0.00 0.80 0.00 0.00 0.84 (0.70) 0.92 2.00 (2.65) 0.00 (2.58) 0.91 0.29 (0.20) 0.18 0.13 0.39

21,000,000 8,200 7,500 151,800 450,000 14,700 6,000 498,000 178,200 14,685,000 13,283,000 9,131,000 135,940,000 31,390,000 385,800 302,000 100,000 151,200 61,100,000 900,000 37,100 2,122,600 450,400 267,590,000 106,680 10,200,000 1,600 80 360,000 66,000 5,060 8,500 1,800 22,000

(129,190.00)

31,300.00 4,860,930.00

(7,865.00)

(4,995,365.00) 1,895,110.00 (1,463,774.00) (54,410.00) 504,900.00

34.00 555.00 103.90 10.08 110.20 74.90 1020.00 1.18

(0.84)

24,780.00

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Manila ManilaStandardToday

Business

SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

B3

Bloomberry Resorts Corp. chairman Enrique Razon (right) is bullish on the operations of Solaire Manila Resort & Casino as shown in the artists sketch above.

Bloomberry hires Filipinos in Macau

By Clarissa Batino and Norman P. Aquino

Mayer to receive $59-m Yahoo pay

NEW YORKYahoo Inc. is giving its new chief executive Marissa Mayer a compensation package worth more than $59 million over the next several years. Yahoo said in a regulatory ling Thursday Mayer would receive an annual salary of $1 million. Shes also eligible for a $2-million bonus and $12 million in restricted stock and stock options that will vest over the next three years. Mayer, 37, who was lured away from Google Inc., will also receive $30 million in the form of a one-time retention award if she stays at Yahoo for ve years. Yahoo said it would also give Mayer restricted stock valued at $14 million to partially compensate her for forfeiting money she would have received at Google. Those payments will be staggered through 2014, with $4 million due this year. Mayers salary and maximum bonus this year will be capped at $1.4 million, as she went to work at Yahoo Tuesday, with just ve-andhalf months left in the year. Google Inc. never disclosed Mayers compensation during her 13-year career at the Internet search leader. Mayer struck it rich when Google went public in 2004. She joined Google in 1999 as its 20th employee and accumulated stock options that yielded a jackpot when the companys stock soared from its initial public offering price of $85 to nearly $750. Nailing down a precise value of Mayers Yahoo pay package is difcult because so much of the compensation is tied to her ability to lift Yahoo Inc.s sagging stock. She could pocket a much-larger windfall if Yahoos shares soar during her tenure or make less if the stock remains in a funk. The estimated value of executive pay packages can also be calculated in dramatically different ways. After factoring in future grants of restricted stock and stock options due Mayer under her employment agreement, Yahoo said her annual compensation would be worth about $20 million annually, or about $100 million during the next ve years the company hoped to retain her as chief executive. The typical chief executive of a public company in the US made $9.6 million last year, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research rm. Yahoos previous, and short-lived, chief executive, Scott Thompson, had a $27-million pay package. Thompsons salary and bonus were the same as Mayers, but Yahoo dangled more incentives to lure her away from Google to become Yahoos fth chief executive in ve years. Thompson stepped aside in mid-May amid an uproar over misleading information on his resume. Other Yahoo chief executives stepped aside or were shoved aside after failing to revive the companys revenue growth. Yahoo is counting on Mayer to bring the same drive, managerial skills and knack for innovation that she displayed while helping Google build some of its most popular products. AP

BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp. is

poaching Filipino talent from Macau as it prepares to lure Chinese gamblers from the worlds largest gaming hub to its $1-billion casino resort in Manila.
workers from Macau. Talent shortage The jobless rate in the former Portuguese colony of about 500,000 people is 2 percent, the lowest since Bloomberg began tracking the data in 2002, making it harder for local casino operators to find workers. By contrast, the Philippine unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in June. Bloomberry holds one of four licenses the Philippines awarded to operate gambling and hotel complexes in the 110-hectare (272-acre) Entertainment City Manila. Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada, Genting Hong Kong Ltd. and the SM Group of the Philippines richest man Henry Sy also have permits. The companys loss widened to P99 million in the first two months of 2012 from P17.51 million a year earlier as costs rose more than sixfold. Bloomberry rose 1.3 percent to P9.92 at the mid-day break in Manila, snapping two days of declines. The stock is down 65 percent this year amid plans to sell more shares to meet regulatory rules on the public ownership of companies. Among Macau casino operators, Sands China Ltd. is up 8 percent, SJM Holdings Ltd. has gained 11 percent and MGM China Holdings Ltd. has added 10 percent. Even split Locals will make up a majority of Bloomberrys patrons in the first year, and it will take two years to three

The company has already enticed more than 400 Philippine nationals from Macau and Singapore to work at its Solaire Manila Resort & Casino, which will target Chinese and local players, chief operating officer Michael French said in a July 18 interview. Solaire needs as many as 4,500 workers and will open in the first quarter of 2013. Solaires recruitment efforts show how Macau faces rising competition for casino workers and high-stake gamblers from smaller hubs such as the Philippines and Singapore. Visitors from mainland China boosted revenue in the former Portuguese colony by 42 percent to $34 billion in 2011, as casino operators from Las Vegas Sands Corp. to Wynn Resorts Ltd. expanded. A Chinese high-roller is used to a style in Macau, said French, referring to highstake betters. So why not hire someone who has been in that market for two or three years, who knows how these gamers think, understands the service style and the mentality of the Chinese gamer, and bring them back? The Philippine casino market is set to expand into a $3-billion industry by 2015 from $1.3 billion last year, CLSA AsiaPacific Markets estimates. The Philippines gain is Macaus loss, said Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist at BDO Unibank Inc., of Solaires push to draw more

years to increase the share of international gamblers, French said. His ideal client mix is an even split of local and foreign gamblers, who are mostly interested in high-stakes betting. Such high rollers can bet as much as $1 million per trip and at times, per hand in baccarat, he estimates. Philippine casinos such as Bloomberry wont probably get the top high rollers, said Richard Laneda, an analyst at Manila-based CitisecOnline. But these can bring in the lower end of the VIP market in Macau or Singapore. Philippine billionaire Enrique Razon, Bloomberrys chairman, said on June 25 that the company will compete with integrated casino resorts in Macau, Singapore and other developments in Asia. Entertainment City Manila can in a shorter period surpass the gains made by Singapore, where the gaming industry generated $6.5 billion in revenue in 2011, Razon said at that time. Lower tax rate A lower charge or levy for casino operators in the Philippines than in Macau and Singapore will help Bloomberry and other Manila casinos, French said in the interview. The Philippines collects a regulatory fee of 15 percent to 17 percent on revenue from so-called high rollers compared with Macaus 40 percent and Singapores 25 percent, he estimates. Manila is also more accessible than Macau, and improvements in infrastructure and rising investor condence should bolster its allure, he said. The Philippines estimates the Manila casino development will add 1 million tourists each year and employ 40,000. Bloomberry plans to hold one more job fair each in Macau and

Singapore to fill the remaining 150 management positions in the group, targeting Filipinos who have gained experience working in casinos, hotels and luxury liners, French said. Filipinos overseas About 1.3 million citizens left the Philippines last year for jobs overseas, according to government data. Money Filipinos abroad sent home made up almost 10 percent of the economy that grew to $225 billion last year. The countrys economy grew 6.4 percent in the first quarter, the fastest pace in Southeast Asia. Economic expansion in the three months ended June remained healthy, central bank Governor Amando Tetangco said on July 13. Money sent home by more than 9.4 million Filipinos abroad is the Philippines largest source of foreign exchange after exports. Cash transfers climbed to a record $20.1 billion in 2011 and the central bank expects remittances to rise 5 percent this year. Bloomberry is bringing in Filipinos with at least two years of experience and an understanding of the business, French said. Solaires senior vice president for gaming operations is a returning Filipino who has worked for hotels in the Chinese city and Singapore, and its director for hotel services comes from Macau operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., French said. Its vice president for table games is a Filipina coming home after years overseas. This is not a case of a bunch of expatriates running the company, French said. Were bringing in Filipinos who understand the business and these are world-class folk. Bloomberg

Filipino retailers ready Heineken offers $6b to raise Tiger beer stake stage for fun shopping
PHILIPPINE retailers are gungho about the increased number of tourists having more fun in the Philippines with the 13-percent increase in visitor arrivals reported by Tourism Department in the previous quarter. Moving in sync with the promotions blitz of the department is the Philippine Retailers Association, which holds its 21st National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo in August. Themed Shopping. More Fun in the PhilippinesTaking customer experience to new heights, NRCE converges its energies with the governments well-conceived Its More Fun in the Philippines campaign. Considered as the countrys biggest retail industry event, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez will speak on Tourisms campaigns synergy with retail industry growth and more fun shopping experience. Adding to the prestige of the event is Coca-Colas president and chief executive William Schultz, who will be the keynote speaker on the opening day of the conference. Coca-Cola, which celebrates its centennial year this year, is among the well-loved brands in the Philippines. CocaColas participation in this years NRCE is expected to further elevate the fun aspect of the conference as the brand celebrates 100 Years of Happiness. The 21st NRCE is slated on Aug. 9 to 10 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The twoday conference and exhibit is attended by over 800 retail owners, suppliers, chief executives, and top level executives. Its twin event, the Stores Asia Expo, is the countrys showcase of retail suppliers and service providers. HEINEKEN NV, the worlds third-biggest brewer, will offer as much as $6 billion for Asia Pacic Breweries Ltd., blocking one of Thailands richest men from building his inuence in the maker of Tiger beer. Heineken, with 42 percent of Asia Pacic Breweries, or APB, will pay as much as S$7.5 billion ($6 billion) to buy out other shareholders in the Singapore company, including the 40-percent stake held by Fraser and Neave Ltd., or F&N. Thai Beverage Pcl, controlled by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdis TCC group, this week offered to buy a 22percent stake in F&N while his son-in-laws company is buying about 8.4 percent of APB. The deal would be Heinekens largest acquisition after offering $7.4 billion in 2010 for the beer operations of Coca-Cola bottler Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB, or Femsa. Heineken, which has been involved with APB since 1931, is trying to stop Charoen from seizing control at a time when brewing assets in attractive markets are in short supply, said Goh Han Peng, an analyst at DMG & Partners Securities. In the past, Heineken was quite comfortable in the partnership with F&N but the entry of Thai Bev really changed the dynamics of the relationship, Goh said by phone from Singapore. If Heineken had not responded,

A truck driver delivers Heineken beer and other drinks in New York. Heineken, a Dutch brewing company based in Amsterdam, said it is offering $4.1 billion to buy out its partner in the Singaporebased maker of Tiger beer, attempting to neutralize a Thai tycoons competing bid for inuence over the brand as the Dutch brewer expands in emerging markets. AP

over time Thai Bev could have increased its stake in F&N and really controlled the interest. The S$50 per share offer is 19-percent premium to APBs closing price Thursday of S$42. That compares with an average premium of 25 percent paid in 45 takeovers of beer makers announced in the last two years. The stock, along with F&N, were suspended from trade today due to Heinekens announcement. Rising incomes in emerging markets make them attractive for beer, wine and spirits companies, who hope that consumption levels will rise over time to match those in developed markets, said Thomas Jastrzab, an analyst for Bloomberg Industries in Hong Kong. You have large populations with a higher proportion of younger consumers combined with an expanding middle class, he said by phone. As incomes rise consumption of alcoholic drinks will increase and consumers will trade up to premium products. AP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Communications

CEO EXCEL Awards 2012

Lifetime Achievement Award
and business excellence. As a business leader, he has a stellar track record of building and prospering companies, showing resiliency in the face of challenges, continually growing organizations and pursuing revenue streams as models in the industry. There is an ancient Chinese saying Always conHe founded Wellington Flour Mills and the Metsider public good, abide by the law and deal with ropolitan Bank & Trust Company in 1962. Today, all people with trustworthiness. In banking, mak- Metrobank is one of the Philippines top banks ing money is not the only goal, it is more important mostly playing the number 1 to 4 spot. Metrobank to earn the trust of clients and help them succeed. also expanded its services to Filipinos overseas. In Banking is not merely the business of money: it is a Taipei, Metrobank is popularly known as the Filibusiness of trust. pino bank. Finance tycoon Ty epitomizes entrepreneurship Ty dreamed of establishing a foundation to give George S.K. Ty Group Chairman Metrobank Group of Companies back to and serve the community. His dream materialized when he founded Metrobank Foundation and launched signicant projects in health care, education, assistance to the military and police, architecture and design. After decades of being the head of Metrobank, Ty nally passed the torch of handling the business to his sons. He is now focused on their business abroad especially in China. He attributes his success on how you take care of people whether they are your partners, clients, or employees. Establishing a good relationship when you do business is the key, he adds.

Excellence

B4

Manila Standard TODAY

SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

Francisco Alejo III

President San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc. The main reason is that our people are able to translate internal directions to external programs that consumers can relate to. It all boils down to our employees having a clear understanding of our future goals and targets and the role they must play to bring this about. We must read from the same page that is the key for us. What makes Alejos communication activities exceptional is that they are integral to and interwoven with the San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc. businesses. Under his leadership, the company built communities: among internal audiences leading to employee volunteerism for corporate social responsibility, and goodwill with and livelihood opportunities for areas the company served. Because his programs and activities relate to regular business operations and directly impact business results, they are sustainable, and moreover, they provide a continuing venue to deliver corporate messages.

Nicanor Bartolome, PHd/CSEE

Police Director General Chief, Philippine National Police We should not rest on our laurels. We should not be contented with our accomplishments. We should continue to excel. The delivery of public services through mobile technology is emerging in the country. The PNP employed social media as an alternative to traditional channels in addressing issues and concerns. General Bartolome instituted the Isumbong Mo kay Chief, Isumbong sa Pulis and I-text mo kay Tsip campaigns. These programs were a bid to become more accessible to the public and where they can report untoward incidents. I-text mo kay Tsip was launched

so victims of crime can send their complaints. Interestingly, the text hotlines have been receiving praises and congratulatory messages for the swift actions of the police force.

Nestor Tan
President BDO Unibank, Inc. At BDO, we do our best to communicate our message through our banks to our stakeholders. We welcome new ideas and enhance our business practices. We do also recognize that honing our communications prociency is a never-ending work. Tans presence, interaction with clients and handling of the forums question and answer portion highlighted the Banks image of accessibility and support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In every forum, Tan articulated his message that no business was too small for the bank, citing that BDO grew as a result of helping small businesses. Moreover, he conveyed his message that the activity signied BDOs service philosophy of nding ways to better serve and reach out to SME clients, considered as the backbone of the Philippine economy. Tan actively led the investor relations effort by meeting with investment and asset management rms in road shows and investor conferences held in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, New York and London.

Caroline Tanchay

President and Chairman Oriental Peninsula Resources Group, Inc.(ORE) With all the negativity surrounding the mining industry, we have chosen to be the harbinger of good news. Tanchay is the only female chief executive in the mining industry in the country. She believes that to know the people and the community is to personally listen to them so that in return, they will also listen to the company. This is a sure way to earn peoples trust. ORE implemented three communication programs in 2011 namely Communicating with the Community: The Art of Active listening in Implementing CSR Projects, Connecting with the Indigenous Peoples, and A Positive, Proactive,

Participatory Public Relations Programs. She is optimistic that ORE will stay for a long time and she believes that the only way to conduct business harmoniously with the community is through honest and direct communication.

Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe

Chief Executive Ofcer Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) Effective communication means listening, understanding, making yourself understood and making things happen. Atty. Berberabe led the PagIBIG Funds participation in the Pabahay Caravan that went to every corner of the country to make the Local Government Units support their program in solving the housing problems in the Philippines. She also did dialogues with recruitment agencies, sectoral organizations, and overseas Filipino workers abroad to discuss the benets of being a Pag-IBIG member. She used the power of the Internet to make it easier for

the members to access their accounts. Pag-IBIG Fund also set up service desks at shopping malls nationwide to accommodate inquiries

and accept loan applications. Because of these programs, Pag-IBIG now has 11.1 million members compared to 8.8 million in 2011.

Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P.

Quadricentennial Rector University of Santo Tomas Nothing is easier to communicate than love. Love is more contagious than any infectious disease. So I was not surprised of the international and national outpouring of affection and recognition for the university during the Quadricentennial celebration. It was not an easy task to handle a big event such as the 400th founding anniversary of the oldest and biggest Catholic university in Asia. Fr. De la Rosa overcame this challenge. The quadricentennial celebration attracted media that made UST visible in television programs and newspapers. During his term, University of Santo Tomas enrollment increased to 44,000. The university received various

recognitions such as its declaration as a National Cultural Treasure and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute, its distinction as the university with the highest number of accredited academic programs, and as top performing school in numerous government

licensure examinations. He also boosted the support of the alumni which generated donations amounting to Php 72,572,208.25 for the Thomasian Alumni Center. Compassion being one of the institutions core values, UST extended its celebration to the less fortunate communities through various community development programs.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Communications
Excellence
serbisyong totoo lamang. Under her direction, GMA won the prestigious international broadcast journalism George Foster Peabody Awards and other recognition from other award giving bodies. GMA also launched GMA News TV Channel 11, the rst and only News and Public Affairs channel in free TV in the country.

B5

Manila Standard TODAY

SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

Marissa Flores

Senior Vice President GMA News and Public Affairs I know for sure that nothing beats to do the right thing even when nobody is looking. I know for sure that in an industry that is used to pizzazz or image building, substance is what truly matters. That the most maligned persons also need to be heard. Leaders should not only speak but also listen. We must think before we speak and think before we click. Flores was often off-cam but her leadership could be reected with the quality and credibility of GMA News and Public Affairs programs. She keeps a good relationship and maintains communication with her people. As their job entails giving reliable information to the public, she makes sure her subordinates uphold the organizations values and ethics and maintain the fairness in broadcasting. This emanated from the networks famous battle cry walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan,

Rafael Lopez
Chief Operating Ofcer ABS-CBN Global Ltd. We took massive effort to understand our customers needs in the past years. This understanding of the customers evolution allowed our company to modernize and update the TFC brand. Our messages remind them that we are a member of a global community whose achievements contribute and elevate the Filipinos image and status abroad. Our lives are our message. Lopez realized one of his fathers dreams of bridging bridges on air when he launched the rst 24-hour, full service Filipino network in the United States in 1992. Among the major endeavors that spelled his competence in the broadcast industry are Tayo ang TFC to encourage overseas Filipinos to embrace their being Filipino, unify and become active community members; BRO and Cinema One Global to tap into all possible avenues and the latest technology to keep the Filipinos in touch with home, culture, their family and community; A Mothers Story to connect to home and family; TFC Events to show the best in Filipino talent and the spirit of kabayanihan in US and Canada, Barrio Fiesta London; TFC Live Down Under in Australia; Kabayan Its Showtime in Middle East and Sama-sama sa Nagoya.

Maria Susana Ople

President Blas F. Ople Policy Center We, the Blas Ople Center, have become the megaphone of OFWs. We are the stethoscope that checks the rhythm of their lives. We are the magnifying glass that enables their concerns to stand up from so many. OFW advocate and NGO leader Susan Ople carried on her fathers legacy in 2003 by putting up a non-prot organization named after the former Labor Secretary, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute. Susan Ople is a hands-on executive who fully uses strategic and tactical communications to promote her cause of helping distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and pushing for the right government policy and programs to advance their rights and welfare. Her experience and high credibility as an OFW advocate has made her one of the more effective spokespersons of millions of overseas Filipinos.

Oscar Reyes

President and Chief Operating Ofcer Meralco Communicating effectively on such pivotal industry including matters such as power supply and demand, challenging issues, power pricing, power outages, energy efciency, safety, and Meralcos innovation and initiative such as smart grid, prepaid electricity and electric vehicle is critical to Meralcos success. Reyes instituted extra- and intra-company lines of communication, all of which made it easier for ideas, comments and even complaints, to ow freely. These measures also allowed employees and executives, vendors and customers, stakeholders big and small, to interact. Reyes made sure that the company reiterated its commitment to clients and explained that development costs would not be shouldered solely by the broad public. Under his watch, Meralco took advantage of advances in technology for customer service and advocated that special attention be given to Meralcos Corporate Social Responsibility programs.

Owner and Chief Operating Ofcer Flawless Aesthetic Clinic As Helen Keller said the most beautiful thing in the world is never seen or touched, it must be felt through the heart. Flawless offers beauty from the bottom of our hearts.

Rubby Sy

Flawless was meant initially to cater to the upper class individuals but Sy realized that the middle class market also needs dermatological assistance that they could afford. The Flawless clinic, usually found in malls, serves the average Filipino patients with their rst-rate skin and body care. Sy, together with her partners, relaunched Flawless using heavy public relations, constant marketing activities, and close relationship with media. They also used social media such

as Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and Youtube to help promote the clinic to internet users. They regularly release internal newsletters to keep the staff informed on the companys activities and external newsletters to introduce their new services and promotions to clients. For this, she was awarded the Retailer of the Year and Hall of Fame awardee by the Philippine Retail Association and Starpreneur of the Year by the Go Negosyo team.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Communications
Excellence Manila Standard TODAY
B6
SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

Meralco president hailed as one of the countrys top business executives

Meralco president and chief executive Oscar Reyes receives the 2012 CEO EXCEL Award from IABC Philippines president Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo.

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines honored Meralco president and chief executive Oscar Reyes as one of the countrys top business executives during the 2012 Communication Excellence in Organizations EXCEL Awards Night held recently. Described as a master motivator and trailblazer, Reyes has effectively combined communication and leadership in his business management strategy that pushed Meralco to reach nancial milestones and assume more civic responsibilities in the last two years he has been at the helm of the distribution utility. Upon receiving the award, Reyes said the 6,000 men and women of Meralco feel sincerely honored and feel a great sense of pride and distinction with the IABC recognition.

Communicating effectively on such a pivotal service as electricity including such matters as power supply and demand, challenges and issues, power pricing, power outages, energy efciency and conservation, safety and Meralcos innovations and technology initiatives is critical to Meralcos success, he added. Reyes said the award assures Meralco that its efforts in reaching out to the public are duly recognized and further motivates the organization to pursue excellence in communication. The CEO EXCEL Awards is the Philippine counterpart of the global EXCEL. It recognizes the use of outstanding communication strategy, skills and leadership in both public and private organizations.

The Pag-IBIG Fund way

Tasked by no less than by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe took the helm of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) and managed to bring the institution at its best after only 17 months. To learn more about her PagIBIG Fund way, she generously shared some of her insights. For Berberabe, effective communication means listening to all relevant perspectives, understanding the issues, making yourself and the directions that you take understood by your stakeholders, and making things happen. This means that the head of an organization must be able to discern the perspectives that matter before making a decision. After taking a full grasp of the picture, the head should have good discretion on which direction to take, and then present in an understandable way to the internal and external stakeholders. This communication process should be smooth so that the organization could achieve its objectives successfully, she adds. Aside from the rank and le employees who handle day to day operations and personally deal with members as the organizations the rst moment of truth, Berberabe shares her achievement with the three groups that have contributed to their success: the Housing Operations cluster, Provident Operations cluster and Support Services cluster. Together with partner government agencies such as the Land Registration Authority, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines, Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations that kept communication lines open, they worked closely on different programs. She also mentions in gratitude the PagIBIG chairman, Vice President Binay, who has been guiding the management with directions and policies. Since the Pag-IBIG Fund is responsible for almost 50 percent of the countrys home nancing industry, the success of the organization have a signicant impact in the real estate industry. Thus, it is very critical for Pag-IBIG Fund to move towards a specic direction to make things happen at the right time and make the external stakeholders appreciate the improvements brought by such direction. To this end, Berberabe says that I should be able to inspire and energize my organization to make our programs successful, and to make our 11 million Pag-IBIG Fund members feel that our programs affect their lives positively. For aspiring business communicators, Berberabe says Take time to listen to different perspectives. This entails humility because you acknowledge that you dont know everything, and that different perspectives will help you see the whole picture. One simple and doable direction our chairman, Vice President Binay, never fails to remind me is Lelen, do the right thing. Keep in mind that the Fund of the members should be protected. This is exactly what I have personally committed to do. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

adv.mst@gmail.com
Page Compositor: Diana Keyser Punzalan

ManilaStandardToday

Classifieds
Republic of the Philippines

SATURDAY

JULY 21, 2012

B7

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Public Works and Highways

Northern Samar 2 Engineering Office OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
nd

Department of Public Works and Highways

Northern Samar 1 Engineering District OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Catarman, Northern Samar Tel. No. (055) 251-8190
st

Cor. Balite and Garcia Streets Catarman, Northern Samar Telephone No./Fax No. (055) 251-8254

INVITATION TO BID
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office, through Government of the Philippines, invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects: 1. Contract ID: Contract Name: 12110052 Repair/Rehab./Resurfacing of Farm to Market Road, Pambujan Circumferetial Contract Location: Pambujan, Northern, Samar Scope of Work: Aggregate Base Course Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Php 7,373,992.62 Contract Duration: 90 calendar days

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID

The DPWH - Northern Samar 1st Engineering District, Catarman, Northern Samar through the Bids & Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following contract(s): 1. Contract ID: Contract Name: 12IH0054 Repair/Rehab/Improvement of Catarman-Calbayog Road S00004SM, K0747+000 to K0748+800 with exceptions Brgy. Washington Contract Location: Catarman, N. Samar Scope of Work: Reblocking of Damaged Pavement Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 9,873,046.00 Contract Duration: 120 Calendar Days 12IH0064 Rehabilitation/Improvement of Catarman-Laoang Road km. 745+000 - km. 758+000 with exceptions Contract Location: Catarman, N. Samar Scope of Work: Rehab/Improv't. of Road Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 7,719,385.00 Contract Duration: 100 Calendar Days

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

The Bids and Awards Committee will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised 1RR of R.A 9184. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically rejected at the opening of Bids. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB License applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least equal to 10% of Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC). The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) will use non-discretionary pass/ fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Regional Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI The DPWH POCW Regional Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Registration Certificate (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents July 18, 2012-August 7,2012 2. Pre-Bid Conference July 26, 2012 - 2:00 P.m. NS 2nd DEO Sub Office, Brgy. Rawis, Laoang, N. Samar 3. Deadline o f Receipt of LOI August 2, 2012 until 5:00 P.M. 4 Receipt of Bids August 7, 2012 -8:30 Am-2:00 Pm NS 2nd DEO Sub Office, Brgy. Rawis, Laoang, N. Samar 5. Opening of Bids August 7, 2012 - 2:00 Pm -NS 2nd DEO Sub Office, Brgy. Rawis, Laoang, N . Samar The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH, NS 2nd DEO Catarman, Northern Samar, upon payment of a non-refundable fee of P 10,000.00. Prospective bidders may also download the Bid Documents from the DPWH web site, if available. Prospective bidders who will download the Bid Documents from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their Bid Documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be opened only to interested parties who have purchased the Bid Documents. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR of RA 9184 Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the Bidding Documents (BDs) in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of Contractors Registry Certificate (CRC). The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. The Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification. The Department of Public Works and Highways reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.

2. Contract ID: Contract Name:

Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Only contractors duly registered with the DPWH may be allowed to participate in the eligibility screening. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-Central Office will only process contractor's applications for registration, with complete requirements, and issue the Contractor's Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. Interested contractors shall submit their duly accomplished Expression of Interest statements upon presentation of their original Contractor's Registration Certificate in person or through their Authorized Representative as reflected in their CRC to the Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), DPWH - Northern Samar 1st Engineering District, Catarman, Northern Samar not later 2:00 P.M. on August 9, 2012. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Receipt of LOIs from Prospective Bidders 2. Issuance of Bidding Documents 3. Pre-bid Conference 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids July 18-27, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. July 18-Aug. 9, 2012 July 31, 2012 August 9, 2012 at 10:00 am August 9, 2012 at 10:00 am

For fast ad results, please call local 303 or 659-4803 Makati Office

( 659-48-30

( 527-83-51 to 55
locals 227-228 Manila Office
Republic of the Philippines

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH-NS1st Engineering District, Catarman, N. Samar upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Php 10,000.00 for Bidding Documents. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs, if available, from the DPWH web site. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids Documents. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The First envelope contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include the eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification. The DPWH-NS1st Engineering District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. Approved by: (Sgd.) LUCAS N. BACSAL BAC CHAIRMAN
(MST-July 21, 2012)

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

Region X Bukidnon Second Engineering District Pinamaloy, Don Carlos, Bukidnon Telefax No. 088-2262-393
DPWH INFRA-07 Standard Advertisement-Revised IRR

INVITATION TO BID
July 16, 2012 The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bukidnon Second Engineering District, Pinamaloy, Don Carlos, Bukidnon through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the following contract/s: 1.

(Sgd.) ROMULO D. GONZALES BAC Chairman

(MST-July 21, 2012)

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Public Works and Highways

Davao Oriental 2nd District Engineering Office Region XI, Mati, Davao Oriental

Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways

Regional Office No. IV-A

a. Contract ID b. Name of Project

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER

CAVITE DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE

Trece Martires City Tel. No. (046) 419-0058 /Tel. Fax No. (046) 419-0694
c. Location d. Brief Description e. Approved Budget for the Contract f. Project Duration g. Cost Bid Documents 2. a. Contract ID b. Name of Project

INVITATION TO BID
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways, through the Savings derived from CY - 2012 Regular infra invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects: Contract ID: Contract Name: 12LG0031 Widening at Mapaqba and Dawan Section along Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Highway Contract Location Davao Oriental Scope of WorK Project A. Concreting of 364.78 sq.m. Project B. Excavation of 120.00 in.m. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 5.485.233.67 Contract Duration: 80 calendar days Bid Documents Fee: Php 10,000.00 The BAC wiil conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of R A 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase Did documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB licence applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH-POCW Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown beiow: 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids July 19, 2012 to August 08, 2012 July 27, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m. August 02, 2012 @ 12:00 noon August 08, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m. August 08, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m.
Contract ID: Contract Name:

INVITATION TO BID
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH-Cavite District Engineering Office, through the (stated below), invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects: 12DF0108 Construction of Multi-Purpose Building in Brgy. San Agustin III in the City of Dasmarias Dasmarias City, Cavite

12KB00012 Road upgrading (gravel to paved) based on Gravel Road Strategies, Traffic Benchmark for Upgrading to paved road standard (HDM 4 Project Analysis) (intermittent section) including Drainage and Road Facilities Don Carlos-Kadingilan Road; a. K1581+(107) K1581+329; b. K1587+(-323) K1587+(-128) Upgrading (gravel to paved); a. 0.44 km; b. 0.20 km Php 15,459,500.00 55 CD Php 10,000.00 12KB00013 Road upgrading (gravel to paved) based on Gravel Road Strategies, Traffic Benchmark for Upgrading to paved road standard (HDM 4 Project Analysis) (intermittent section) including Drainage and Road Facilities Dologon-Kisanday-Guinoyoran Road, c. K1546+(-035) K1547+000; d. K1547+000 K1547+693 Upgrading (gravel to paved), c. 1.20km; d. 0.69km Php 45,025,120.00 115 CD Php 20,000.00 12KB00014 Road upgrading (gravel to paved) based on Gravel Road Strategies, Traffic Benchmark for Upgrading to paved road standard (HDM 4 Project Analysis) (intermittent section) including Drainage and Road Facilities Kibawe-Kadingilan-Kalilangan Road, K1583+104 K1585+(-101) Upgrading (gravel to paved), 1.80 km Php 44,075,500.00 115 CD Php 20,000.00

Contract Location: Scope of Work: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 5,000,000.00 Contract Duration: 120 calendar days Cost of Bidding Documents: PhP 5,000.00 Contract ID: Contract Name:

Contract Location: Scope of Work: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 5,000,000.00 Contract Duration: 120 calendar days Cost of Bidding Documents: PhP 5,000.00

12DF0109 Construction of Multi-Purpose Building in Brgy. Salawag in the City of Dasmarias Dasmarias City, Cavite

c. Location d. Brief Description e. Approved Budget for the Contract f. Project Duration g. Cost Bid Documents 3. a. Contract ID b. Name of Project

The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of R.A. 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid. To Bid for the contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino Citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/ fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examinations of bids, evaluation of bids and postqualification. Interested bidders are also required to present to the BAC Secretariat, DPWHCavite District Engineering Office, Trece Martires City the original copies of the following documents for authentication and issuance of Bid Documents: a) PCAB License; b) Contracts Registration Certificate; c) Certificate of Materials Engineer Accreditation; d) Latest Copy of Authorizing Officer together with machine copy of two (2) valid IDs; e) Certificate of Safety Officer Seminar from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); f) Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Order From (Documents Request List) and g) CY-2011 CPES Rating. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: BAC Activities 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids Schedule July 20, 2012 Aug. 8, 2012 July 27, 2012 August 2, 2012 August 8, 2012 August 8, 2012 until 9:00 A.M. at 10:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. at 10:00 A.M. at 10:30 A.M.

c. Location d. Brief Description e. Approved Budget for the Contract f. Project Duration g. Cost Bid Documents

Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. To bid this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and must meet the following major criteria: a) prior registration with the DPWH Central Office, b) Filipino Citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative or joint venture with PCAB License applicable to the type and cost of this contract, c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or Credit Line Commitment/Cash Deposit Certificates for at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check, preliminary evaluation of bid. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH Central Procurement Office before the deadline of the receipt of LOI, The DPWH Central Procurement Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH Website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
1 2 3 4 5 BAC Activities Pre-Bid Conference Issuance of Bid Documents Receipt of Letter of Intents from Prospective Bidders Receipt of Bids Opening of Bids Schedule/Deadline July 27, 2012 @ 10:00 am July 19, 2012 to August 8, 2012 August 2, 2012 until 5:00 pm August 9, 2012 @ 9:30 am August 9, 2012 @ 10:00 am

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH, 2nd District Engineering Office, Mati, Davao Oriental, upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of (please refer to individual project). Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH web site, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids Documents. Pre-bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who have purchased the BDs, Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27 2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid. which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification. The Department of Public Works and Highways reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and to annul the bidding process anytime prior Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. Approved by: (Sgd.) FIDELA M. BISEN Engineer III BAC Chairman Noted: (Sgd.) CYNTHIA GRACE C. TIU Assistant District Engineer Officer-in-Charge
(MST-July 21, 2012)

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH-Cavite District Engineering Office, Trece Martires City, upon payment of non-refundable fee of (stated above). Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH website, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids Documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who have purchased the BDs. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in the BDS in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification. The DPWH-Cavite District Engineering Office reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process at any time prior contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s. Approved by: (Sgd.) TEOFILO A. AYON BAC Chairman NOTED: (Sgd.) OSCAR U. DELA CRUZ District Engineer
(MST-July 21, 2012)

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Document (BDs) at Bukidnon II DEO, Don Carlos, Bukidnon upon payment of a non-refundable fee (refer below). Prospective bidders may also download the BDs, if available, from the DPWH web site. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their Bids Documents. Bids must accompanied by a bid security in an acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman, Bukidnon Second Engineering District, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include the eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification. The DPWH-Bukidnon Second Engineering District reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract Award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. (Sgd.) ALBERTO D. ALBIT Acting Asst District Engineer BAC Chairman
(MST-July 21, 2012)

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B8

FRIDAY JULY 21, 2012

Provinces
Manila Standard TODAYEdited by Leo A. Estonilo
www.manilastandardtoday.com leoestonilo@gmail.com

IN BRIEF
Bulacan cleans up river
MALOLOS CITYBulcacan Governor Wilhelmino SyAlvarado led the clean-up on Thursday of the MarilaoMeycauayan-Obando River System. This is part of the longterm solution to erase the bad image associated with our MMORS, he said. We are serious in making our vision a realization, and with the help of other government agencies and the citizens as well, I am positive that we can be successful in this project. Provincial Administrator Jim Valerio said the program in Barangay Saog in Marilao included signing of the implementing rules and regulations to enforce the No Plastic Ordinance. The clean-up was joined by the police, military and reservists together with nongovernment organizations. One rehabilitation drive involves stabilizing the riverbanks by planting bamboos and mangrove with the support of Globe Telecoms, Bulacan State University along with SM City Marilao, Harman Foods Inc. and Multi-Rich Corp. among other benefactors.

Chamber backstops palace mining policy

By Dexter A. See

ITOGON--The Chamber of Mines supports the the mining policy of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, noting the importance of striking a balance in growth that promotes the welfare of host communities, the environment and the extractive industry as a key driver of the economy.
We recognize the hard work ing all the issues brought up undertaken by President Aqui- by the different stakeholders, nos Policy team in consider- Benjamin Franklin Romualdez,

president of the Benguet Corp. and chairman of the Chamber of Mines, told Manila Standard in a brieng. We view the time spent on developing the Policy as recognition of responsible mining as a catalyst for economic growth. According to Romualdez, the sector expects Executive Order 79 to harmonize conicting interests, encourage investments, and foster sustainable development especially in the countryside where it is greatly needed due to the high poverty incidence requiring private investments to create jobs and expand livelihood opportunities for local residents.

The chamber respects the decision about closing certain areas to mining. Environmentally critical and protected areas are, and should always be, preserved for future generations, he said. We appreciate the position recognizing existing operating permits. (Chamber) is committed to cooperate with the executive and legislative branches in developing a rational revenue sharing scheme for the benet of everyone. Romualdez said the policy should also take a long perspective. We submit that legislation should also include a review of the Local Government Code, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, and the

Internal Revenue Code in a purposive effort to harmonize conicting provisions of these laws with the Mining Policy, he said. We will work with his administration and other stakeholders in nding mutually acceptable solutions to the issues of revenue sharing, environmental protection, and sustainable development, Romualdez noted. Our group pledges to assist in the implementation of PNoys mining agenda to help attain the objectives of increasing the countrys economic base and of enhancing the growth of communities in remote poverty-stricken rural areas.

Wheatgrass across Cebu

EASY Pha-max vice president Grace dela Rosa said wheatgrass is now within reach of health-conscious people through SM City Consolacion and ThreeSixty Pharmacy, the latest drugstore-convenience store chain in the Visayas. We want Cebuanos to have easy access to the health benets of our products, she said. Wheatgrass is dense with enzymes, chlorophyll, amino acids that will help users manage their diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive problems. Drinking wheatgrass juice is also a smart way to meet ones daily vegetable needs. Easy Pha-max is holding wellness caravans until August at ThreeSixty Pharmacys 16 branches in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Banawa, Labangon, Lahug, and LapuLapu. Fitness checks include wheatgrass juice tasting with free blood analysis by trained nurses and nutritionists. De la Rosa said inquiries are welcome at www.wheatgrasscan.com or on customer hotline 890-1111 (Metro Manila) or toll-free 1-800-10890-1111 (for those residing in the provinces).

Underground river a vital wetland, too

AFTER its ofcial installation as as one the worlds New 7 Wonders of Nature last April, the Puerto Princesa Underground River has been declared as Wetland of International Importance during the Ramsar Convention held last July 6 to 13 in Bucharest, Romania. The Palawan waterway is the longest navigable river in the world on 8.2 kilometers of navigable waters winding through a cathedrallike cave of limestone formation, stalactites and stalagmites. A natural World Heritage site and Puerto Princesa Citys premier eco-tourism destination, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once again, it has been proven that caring for the environment is the right way to go, Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said. It shows that we were on the right track to commit our leadership to the policy environmental protection and sustainable development, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, who pushed for the underground rivers nomination, urged Filipinos to take pride for taking the lead on the global effort to protect wetlands not only for the economic benefits they provide but also the ecological service we are now enjoying. On Feb. 2, 1971, 18 nations adopted the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in the city of Ramsar, Iran, due to the rate of heedless destruction of wetlands. Today, there are 160 contracting parties who form the nucleus, including the Philippines, who meet every three years for a conference of parties.

First pass. Kawit Mayor Reynaldo Aguinaldo taps his E-card joined by

Toll Regulatory Board director Edmund Reyes and Cavite Infrastructure Corp. president Andrew Deyto as they enter the Cavite Expressway. MANNY PALMERO

Power co-op Batangas aided to fight scale attack By Othel Campos to refund P8.16m
By Ben M. Veridiano
TACLOBAN CITY-The Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered the Leyte II Electric Cooperative to refund its customers P8.16 million in overcharged collection, an advocacy group said. President Pete Ilagan, of the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform Inc., said a resolution penned by ERC Commissioner Maria Castaneda ordered Leyeco II to return the amount over its implementation of the reinstated Prompt Payment Discount for a period of two years. Ilagan said Nasecore took up the overcharging in a petition to ERC and the National Electrication Administration. In 2005, ERC issued an order authorizing Leyeco II to collect under-recoveries from the time the Automatic Generation Rate Adjustment mechanism became effective by using the reinstated Prompt Payment Discount in supply charges for 12 months or until the deciency shall have been fully restored. Upon verication, ERC found the cooperative had used the reinstated PPD for 31 months--January 2001 to July 2008--instead of 12 months that resulted in a overcharge amounting to P8,161,120. THE Department of Agriculture has released P10 million to help Batangas farmers wipe out the scale insects destroying an estimated 179,000 coconut trees in nine town of the province. Scale insect is a small plant parasite that feeds on plant sap causing the yellowing and wilting of leaves, preventing photosynthesis and causing premature nut fall and low productivity. The infestation has changed the landscape of Tanauan City, the hardest hit locality, jeopardizing the livelihood of thousands of coconut farmers. We came here with concrete solutions at hand, and we confer

Tourism co-op pushed

BALANGA CITY-The Bataan Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association is putting up a cooperative to source qualied employees to food service establishments in the province. BHROA president Lino Obana said the Hospitality and Tourism Job Contracting Service Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Bataan is aimed at giving an aternative to the contractualization practice. We will assign employees to the establishments, he said. The employees will have a future. Obana said membership in the cooperative is extended to owners, operators, managers and employees of any hospitality and tourism establishment in Bataan. Teachers and employees of schools offering related courses can also apply. Bel Suarez, owner of restaurant Sandok Palayok here said the cooperative would bolster the position of the province as a magnet attracting investments through highly skilled labor combined with local government incentives to locators. Butch Gunio

with you on how we can best implement them, Secretary Proceso Alcala said. The Philippine Coconut Authority increased the budget for scale insect infestation to P10 million. Administrator Euclides Forbes described a simple method that can easily be adopted by farmers.

State agency ordered to submit for arbitration

A BAGUIO City regional trial court has ordered the Bases Conversion Development Authority to submit to arbitration for resolution of all disputes involving the development of the former American rest and recreation base that it had leased to Camp John Hay Development Corp. In a ruling dated July 13, 2012, Acting Presiding Judge Cecilia Corazon Dulay-Archog of RTC, Branch 6, granted CJHDevcos petition to compel BCDA to submit itself to proceedings before before the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. The Court nds the arbitration clause (of the 2008 Restructuring Memorandum of Agreement between BCDA and CJHDevCo) valid, existing and enforceable, the decison said. Last January, the private deloper served a Notice of Rescission to BCDA of the 2008 RMOA over its continuing breach of its obligation to establish a functioning One Stop Action Center. The OSAC was the contracted mechanism under which BCDA guaranteed issuance of all national and local permits to CJHDevcos projects within thirty days. The company also led led an arbitration case for the resolution of its various claims against BCDA arising from BCDAs breach under the 2008 RMOA. When BCDA refused to appear, CJHDevco les its petition before the Baguio RTC to oblige BCDA to submit to arbitration. Being a party to the RMOA, respondent BCDA must comply and submit itself to arbitration in accordance with its undertaking as contained in the RMOA, the RTC order stated, noting that the respondent (BCDA) never questioned the validity of the arbitration clause in the RMOA as cited. Rey E. Requejo

Nutrition month. Quezon Governor David Suarez presents a cash

prize to Buenavista Mayor Remedios Rivera for outstanding Gulayan sa Paaralan project during awarding rites held at Queen Margaret Hotel in Lucena City. BENJIE ANTIOQUIA

Gawad Saka for farmer

A FARMER and a barangay food terminal in Rizal province recently won the Gawad Saka from among the hundreds of nominees from the Calabarzon region. In a letter to Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III, Department of Agriculture -Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Vilma Dimaculangan cited the achievers in the search for Outstanding Farmers for 2011-2012. Andrenico Zubiaga, a farmer from Tanay town was adjudged the best in adopting the integrated farming system while Barangay Darangan in Binangonan was chosen as the Outstanding Barangay Food Terminal. Gigi Muoz David

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