Manila Standard Today - May 12, 2012 Issue

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The Mindanao plantation owners
and farmers urge President Benigno
Aquino III to immediately intervene
and fast-track the settlement of the dis-
pute, Floresta told the Manila Stan-
dard. Chinese traders have stopped
buying bananas and pineapples from
us. With rm resolve, the standoff can
be settled diplomatically.
The Philippine government has to
do it fast. The products are being made
to rot in Chinas ports and we shoulder
the huge losses. The freight alone costs
$1,200 per container.
Floresta said 1,000 containers full of
bananas landed in Beijing and Shang-
hai last week, and that 800 more con-
tainers were in transit.
Each 40-foot container held 1,550
boxes of Cavendish banana or 2.79
million boxes, with each box worth $6,
Floresta said.
The last shipment for the month had
been harvested and were being packed,
but Mindanaos businessmen had found
there were no more buyers, he said.
Floresta says the Philippines exports
30 percent of its banana production
three times a month to China, a voy-
age that takes seven days. Bananas are
planted to 50,000 hectares in Mindanao
and are harvested daily year round.
The Philippine Banana Growers and
Exporters Association on Friday said
the more stringent quarantine measures
By Alena Mae Flores
and Julito Rada
ENGINEERS Engineers brought back
into operation a hydroelectric plant in
Mindanao early this week, but the pow-
er users there will have to pay a higher
rate of P14 a kilowatt hour because the
government has also tapped privately-
owned power barges to deliver electric-
ity, an ofcial said Friday.
There were no more [rolling]
blackouts in Mindanao in the past two
days, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Al-
mendras said.
But the power supply in Mindanao
is still critical as there are no contin-
gency reserves.
The power users on the island
would be paying P14 a kilowatt hour
to the power barges and absorb the
one-peso rate impact, Agham Rep.
Angelo Palmones said.
They have achieved the purpose of
increasing the power rates by one peso
per kilowatt hour by creating the arti-
cial brownouts, He said.
Even with the Agus-Pulangi back on
line, the rate is still up and will remain
so until the more than 100-megawatt
power shortage is eased.
Mindanaos residents struggled from
By Maricel V. Cruz
FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Ar-
royos Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats will
go all out for its candidates in the May 2013
elections, an ofcial said Friday.
And the party will most likely support the
candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance of
former President Joseph Estrada and Vice Presi-
dent Jejomar Binay, according to House Minor-
ity Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, the
Lakas-CMDs vice chairman.
He made the announcement even as the Sen-
ate on Friday approved a joint resolution seeking
to void the voters list in the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao and ordering the Elections
Commission to again register the voters there to
purge the voters list of unqualied voters.
The commitment is that by December 10,
2012, we will have a new voters list in the
ARMM, Senator Franklin Drilon said.
Suarez made his announcement after the Lakas-
CMDs national council meeting to discuss the par-
tys strategies for the coming elections.
FILIPINO-Mexican-American
Jessica Sanchez made it to the
Top 3 with another memorable
performance on Thursday,
when Filipinos started specu-
lating on her becoming the
American Idol on the nal day
of judging.
With her victory, Sanchez
matched the success of Filipino-
American Jasmine Trias, who
made it to the Top 3 in the third
By Macon R. Araneta
SMOKING will be banned
in the 54-hectare Rizal Park,
Asias biggest open park,
starting on May 31 or World
No Tobacco Day, an ofcial
said Friday
The prohibition is in line
with Fridays launching of
the Rizal Park Goes Green
project and the No Smoking
and Anti-Littering campaign,
according to Juliet Villegas,
executive director of the Na-
tional Parks Development
Committee.
The green project and the
anti-littering campaign are
joint initiatives of the commit-
tee and the Metro Manila De-
velopment Authority. Those
will also be implemented in
Paco Park, Villegas says.
Seventy people will ini-
tially enforce the anti-smoking
and anti-littering campaign in
By Joyce Pangco Paares
MALACAANG said Friday the show-
down between Chief Justice Renato Co-
rona and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-
Morales will be the most crucial battle in
the chief magistrates impeachment trial.
The two most important testimonies
will be that of the chief justice and the
ombudsman, presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda said.
That is where the battleground should
be and will be.
Lacierda said it would be an open
season on Corona once he took the wit-
ness stand before the Senate, where Co-
rona is on trial for alleged betrayal of the
public trust.
Once the chief justice sits [in the wit-
ness stand], it will be open season for all
the people who will be cross-examining
himthe prosecution as well as the
senator-judgesas to the existence of
[Coronas alleged $10-million] dollar ac-
count, Lacierda said.
We expect the prosecution will be pre-
pared to cross-examine the chief justice.
Lacierda said the Palace would be
closely monitoring Coronas testimony.
It didnt matter whether the $10 mil-
lion was proven or not as long as it was
shown that he had dollar deposits that
were not declared in his statement of as-
sets, liabilities and net worth.
Two Palace allies who have been sum-
moned by the impeachment courtformer
Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros
and Harvey Kehhad earlier said they did
not have personal knowledge of Coronas
alleged dollar accounts.
Next page
Corona, Morales
to draw trial lines
Power is back in Mindanao, at least for now
Smoking banned in Luneta as park goes green
Jessica joins
Idol top 3
Arroyos party
to go all out in
mid-term polls
Fruit exports worth P700M rotting in four ports
China holds PH bananas
The medium is the message. Protesters mass outside the Chinese Embassy in Makati to deliver their message. Inset shows the police restraining a protester who had been burning Chinese ags. SONNY ESPIRITU
Old Luneta. On a clear day the Rizal Park looks irresistible
to the strollers, joggers and families going there for a picnic.
The city has declared the area a no-smoking zone.
SANCHEZ
He looks familiar. A Chinese protester wears a mask of President Aquino during a demonstration outside the Philippine con-
sulate in Hong Kong as tension increased between China and the Philippines over their territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
Next page
Vol. XXVI No. 73 12 Pages, 2 Sections
P18.00 SATURDAY, May 12, 2012
www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@mstandardtoday.com
TODAY
Standard
Manila
THE global protest by Filipinos against what they claim as Chinese
incursions in the Scarborough or Panatag Shoal kicked off Friday,
spearheaded by advocacy groups and social movements in Manila
and in the United States, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, Thailand,
Singapore, South Africa, Germany, Rome and the United Arab
Emirates.
In Manila, Filipinos demonstrated in front of the Chinese con-
sular ofce, and China told tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to
the Philippines in signs of an escalating dispute over territory in the
South China Sea.
The Philippine government distanced itself from the protest, but
presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said freedom of expression
was guaranteed.
Global protest hits
Chinese bullying
By Christine F. Herrera and Othel V. Campos
ABOUT P700 million worth of Cavendish ba-
nanas from the Philippines have been rotting in
the major Chinese ports after they were denied
entry because of Beijings territorial dispute with
Manila over the Scarborough Shoal, the president
of the Kidapawan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Ramon Floresta, said Friday.
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News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com MAY 12, 2012 SATURDAY
A2
THE two-classroom school
building donated by Sagit-
tarius Mines Inc. to Kimlawis
in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur,
is more than a structure of ce-
ment and stones but a dream
come true for my tribe, Bilaan
chieftain Ernie Dianga said
Friday.
This makes us very happy.
We have been waiting for this
high school building for a long
time, Dianga said.
This school means we can
learn more than basic reading,
and people can no longer take
advantage of us.
Sagittarius Mines turned
over the school building with
its 100 chairs and tables to
Kimlawis this month, mak-
ing it ofcially the Kimlawis
High School under the re-
sponsibility of the municipal-
ity of Kiblawan.
Kimlawis is about 45 ki-
lometers from the nearest
town. It is an ancestral domain
claimed by the Blaan tribe. The
Blaans, who number at least
13,000, have ancestral domain
claims over parts of South
Cotabato and Davao del Sur.
In Kimlawis alone, there are
about 500 households of which
about 40 percent belong to the
Blaan tribe.
People do not realize how
important education is to the
upland Blaans in Kimlawis,
Dianga said.
Our young will no longer
be illiterate like most of their
parents.
Dianga says Kimlawis is
too far from the town proper,
where high school education
is being offered. That discour-
ages many of the young Blaans
from going to school.
If you have to walk 45 kilo-
meters just to get a high school
education, other priorities get
in the way like farm chores or
getting food to your table, Di-
anga said.
My tribes people see the
school building donated by
Sagittarius as a sign that
things are really changing for
the better.
School
building
donated
to tribe
Arroyos...
Mrs. Arroyos sons, Ang
Galing Pinoy party-list Rep.
Juan Miguel Arroyo and Ca-
marines Sur Rep. Diosdado
Arroyo, were among those
who attended the meeting.
Suarez said the party will
provide the logistics to all its
candidates to ensure their vic-
tory.
The Lakas-CMD is still a
force to reckon with, he said.
We are still a huge group
capable of delivering votes to
ensure the victory of our sena-
torial candidates.
Lakas, the majority party
when President Arroyo, now a
Pampanga representative, was
in power, has been hit hard
by its members defections
to President Benigno Aquino
IIIs Liberal Party. It also suf-
fered a setback when its coali-
tion partner, the Kabalikat ng
Malayang Pilipino, severed its
ties with it.
Suarez said the Lakas-CMD
still commanded at least two
million votes---enough to help
its senatorial candidates win.
He said the Lakas-CMD
would likely support the
UNAs candidates for includ-
ing in its senatorial lineup
House Deputy Minority Lead-
er and Zambales Rep. Milagros
Magsaysay, their party mate.
As I said earlier, we will
stick together with the Lakas-
CMD and we rule out the pos-
sibility of mergers and allianc-
es, Suarez said.
But we will reciprocate the
good gesture of UNA, and we
may adopt some of their sena-
torial candidates for support-
ing Congresswoman Magsay-
say.
Another Lakas-CMD can-
didate for the Senate in 2013
is Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-
Revilla, the wife of Senator
Ramon Revilla Jr., the newly
elected Lakas-CMD presi-
dent. But Rep. Mercado-Re-
villa is still undecided about
running.
Revilla said they were con-
sidering Paraaque City Coun-
cilor Alma Moreno, the nation-
al president of the Philippine
Councilors League, as another
senatorial candidate of their
party. With Joel E. Zurbano
China...
in China could jeopardize the
countrys P4.75-billion banana in-
dustry.
This will greatly affect the local
banana industry. Not just exporters
like us but people on the ground,
those who work in the farm and
their families, group president
Steve Antig said.
About 50,000 people depended
on the industry in Mindanao alone,
he said.
Floresta said the Chinese trad-
ers had been told that the tougher
restrictions on Philippine fruit
exports was in retaliation for Ma-
nilas strict restrictions on pork and
chicken imports.
But Customs Commissioner
Runo Biazon said China ac-
counted for very little of the coun-
trys pork and chicken imports,
most of which were coming from
the US, Canada and Europe.
Abono chairman and Swine
Development Council director
Rosendo So said the Philip-
pines stopped importing pork,
chicken and Peking ducks from
China when that country was
hit with foot-and-mouth disease
and bird u.
We stopped importing pork,
chicken and Peking ducks from
China way before the Scarborough
standoff, So said.
Floresta said the farm gate price
of bananas had been dropping.
From $4.50 per 13.5-kilo box it
went down to $3.20, and now the
price was only $2.80 a box.
Even at $2.80 no one is buying
anymore, he said.
During the same period last
year the farm gate price reached as
high as $7 a box.
Floresta said Mindanaos plan-
tation owners expanded their
farms when China opened its mar-
ket to the Philippines. He himself
expanded his banana plantation to
300 hectares from 250.
From 30,000 hectares of ba-
nana plantations in Mindanao, the
region now has a total of 50,000
hectares as a result of expansion,
Floresta said.
Antig said Mindanao growers
would not be able to export their
excess production to traditional
markets since they were already
saturated.
The Philippines also exports
bananas to Hong Kong, Korea,
Japan, the United States and
Australia. China is the second
biggest export market for Phil-
ippine bananas next to Japan.
The banana exports that coun-
try accounted for 19 percent of
the total in the rst two months
of this year.
We do not want to believe that
the situation has something to do
with the ongoing territorial spat
with China, although some say
that this could be politically moti-
vated, Antig said.
Figures from the Bureau of
Animal Industry showed that the
banana exports to China reached
358,000 metric tons in 2011. The
pineapple and papaya exports to
that country reached 1.165 million
metric tons and 309,350 metric
tons, respectively.
Animal Bureau Director Clarito
Baron said the Philippine govern-
ment was already taking the nec-
essary action to reverse the trade
restrictions imposed by China.
We will do our best to restore
Chinas condence in our system
and avert possible ramications to
our banana growers and export-
ers, he said.
Beijing has ordered 100-per-
cent inspection of all fruit com-
ing from Manila after it allegedly
discovered pests from a randomly
inspected shipment.
On Friday, the Palace ordered
the Tourism Department to
work harder on other markets
amid reports that Chinese travel
agencies had suspended travel to
the Philippines with the escala-
tion of the standoff at the Scar-
borough Shoal.
Presidential spokesman Ed-
win Lacierda assured Chinese
nationals that despite the ongo-
ing global protest of Filipinos
overseas to denounce Beijings
actions in the disputed shoal,
cultural and people-to-people
relations between the two coun-
tries remained very good.
Wed like to assure our Chinese
friends that the government did not
have a hand [in the protests.], he
said
It was the decision taken by
private citizens who feel out of pa-
triotism that they have to speak on
the issue.
An ofcial of the National As-
sociation of Independent Travel
Agencies said they were still gath-
ering information on the Chinese
suspension of tours.
Group president Robert Lim
Joseph said they were coordinating
with members to assess the impact
of the latest developments. With
Joyce Pangco Paares and
Macon Ramos-Araneta
Corona...
On Wednesday, Hontiveros
said she didnt know how the
Ombudsman came up with the
$10-million gure. She said her
complaint-letter only contained
evidence on Coronas alleged
$2-million deposits, which had
already been presented to the
Senate.
Kehs spokesman Jess Loren-
zo said his client wasnt not
sure of the authenticity of the
documents on Coronas sup-
posed foreign currency depos-
its. Both Hontiveros and Keh,
however, expressed willingness
to obey the Senate impeachment
courts summonses.
Coronas lawyer on Thursday
told the ANC news channel that
the chief justice decided to take
the witness stand because the
news reports and documents
detailing his alleged dollar ac-
counts had angered him.
When the chief justice was
confronted with the copies, he
got mad, fuming mad, saying in
front of me that these were fabri-
cations, said Ramon Esguerra,
one of Coronas lawyers.
We were ready actually to
close last Tuesday, but this mat-
ter developed and that changed
the entire color of the trial.
Global...
Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua, a
senior member of the minority
block in the House of Representa-
tives, slammed President Benigno
Aquino III for allegedly delaying
the appointment of an ambassador
to China to help the Philippines
nd a solution to the standoff in
the South China Sea.
House Deputy Minority Lead-
er and Zambales Rep. Milagros
Magsaysay underscored the need
for the government to pursue bi-
lateral talks with China.
Senator Ralph Recto pressed
for the immediate deployment
of a team of economic and busi-
ness diplomats to discuss the joint
exploration of oil and gas in the
South China Sea with China.
Shares of Philippine tourism-
related stocks slid for a sec-
ond day after Chinas Xinhua
News Agency reported that
travel agencies in Shanghai
and Guangzhou had suspended
tours. On May 9, Chinese travel
agencies Ctrip.com and Beijing
Caissa International Travel Ser-
vice Co. also suspended trips to
the Philippines.
Tensions have risen since a
standoff began last month be-
tween ships from both countries
over an island called Scarbor-
ough Shoal by the Philippines and
Huangyan by China.
China has become more as-
sertive over its claims to the oil-
and gas-rich waters of the South
China Sea, while the US, which
has a mutual defense treaty with
the Philippines, has shifted its
military posture toward the Asia-
Pacic region.
All we ask is for the Chinese
government to respect the rights
of its neighbors, even while it
needs to assert its national inter-
est, said Bituin Bautista, one of
the protest organizers.
If it continues in this path of
obstinate bullying, it will only
have itself to blame for the conse-
quences of its folly.
About 500 people gathered for
the protest, demanding that China
pull out of the disputed area. Dem-
onstrators sang and danced to the
1974 disco hit Kung Fu Fighting.
Police stopped a man from trying
to burn three Chinese ags.
Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Hong Lei told a daily
brieng in Beijing that the Phil-
ippines should take measures to
keep the dispute from getting any
worse.
The government has incited
the Philippine people to protest,
Hong said.
We again demand the Philip-
pines to take effective actions,
respect Chinas territory and sov-
ereignty and avoid escalating the
situation.
Chinas National Tourism Ad-
ministration warned Chinese
tourists who are already in the
Philippines to abide by the local
laws and mind their security, ac-
cording to a statement posted late
on its website last night.
The Philippines should ensure
the safety of Chinese people and
companies in the country, the For-
eign Ministry said Thursday.
Alliance Global Group Inc.,
which owns the operator of the
Philippines biggest casino, fell
0.3 percent to P12.90 at the close
of trading in Manila, after posting
its biggest loss in more than seven
months on Thursday.
Cebu Air Inc., the nations larg-
est budget carrier, fell 2.3 percent
to P67.25, its lowest close in more
than a month.
Hotel operator Waterfront Phil-
ippines Inc. declined 5.8 percent
to 40.5 centavos, while Acesite
Hotel Corp. decreased 2.7 percent
to P7.59. The Philippine Stock
Exchange Index fell 0.7 percent
to 5,158.14.
The standoff with China may
force Philippine travel agencies to
look to other markets for tourists,
according to Aileen Clemente,
president of the 364-member
Philippine Travel Agencies As-
sociation.
China is the fourth-largest mar-
ket for tourists to the Philippines,
behind South Korea, the US and
Japan. Tourist arrivals from China
rose 78 percent in the rst quar-
ter, more than from anywhere
else among the top 12 markets, to
96,455 or 8.4 percent of the total,
according to government data.
Since there have been can-
cellations from China already,
we have to move strategies else-
where, Clemente said.
We will have to mount new
markets and increase marketing
efforts in countries such as Rus-
sia, India, Europe and the Middle
East. The effect of the cancella-
tions is immediate.
The latest dispute began on
April 10, when Chinese ships
blocked the Philippines from
inspecting Chinese shing
boats in the area. Chinas For-
eign Ministry has summoned a
Beijing-based Philippine diplo-
mat at least three times since the
standoff began.
China has become more as-
sertive in the South China Sea
and Cnooc began its rst deep-
water drilling rig in the area on
May 9. Cnooc chairman Wang
Yilin said the rigs were a stra-
tegic weapon for promoting the
development of the countrys
offshore oil industry.
China has also clamped down
on the Philippines beyond the
tourism sector. It will increase
quarantine and the inspection of
fruits shipped from the Philip-
pines including pineapples and
bananas, the General Administra-
tion of Quality Supervision, In-
spection and Quarantine said in a
release dated May 2.
The Philippines sought to play
down the latest dispute. In an in-
terview with Bloomberg Televi-
sion, Finance Secretary Cesar
Purisima said every bilateral re-
lationship had its issues, and that
the media was blowing the latest
dispute out of proportion.
Filipinos are peace-loving and
most welcoming of foreigners,
and I think our track record bears
that out, Purisima said in the in-
terview.
It is important that we contin-
ue to work on this on a reasonable
basis.
The Philippines has a mutual
defense treaty with the US, which
announced last year that it would
carry out a pivot to focus its mili-
tary in the Asia-Pacic region.
At a meeting with Philippine
leaders on April 30, Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton reafrmed
the US commitment under its mu-
tual defense treaty, which obliges
the two sides to support the other
if attacked.
At a regular brieng on
Thursday, US State Department
spokeswoman Victoria Nuland
urged restraint and said the US
supported any kind of collabor-
ative, diplomatic process by the
claimants to resolve the disputes
without any kind of coercion.
Bloomberg, with Eric B. Apo-
lonio, Maricel Cruz, Rowhela
Mari Codizar, Joel E. Zurbano
and the AP
Smoking...
Rizal Park and three in Paco Park, which is smaller.
We will see to it that the number of enforcers will
be increased during peak season and when there are
events in these areas, Villegas said.
This is a call to action. This is everyones respon-
sibility.
Rizal Parks photographers, security guards and
non-uniformed volunteers will serve as the eyes and
ears of the enforcers of the anti-smoking and anti-
littering campaign, Villegas says.
First-time offenders will be ned P500 to P1,000
or eight hours of community service, while sec-
ond-time offenders will be ned P1,000 to P5,000
or 16 hours of community service. Third-time of-
fenders will ned P5,000 to P10,000.
Cigarettes are the only legal consumer products
that kill half of their users. Specialists says there are
7,000 chemicals and 70 known carcinogens in a sin-
gle cigarette stick.
According to the British Medical Journal, if a
person does not stop smoking before the age of
40, he loses three months of his life every year he
smokes.
Jessica...
season of the hit US television
show, which is popular in the
Philippines.
Sanchez, who became an
early front-runner this season
after her pitch-perfect rendi-
tion of Whitney Houstons I
Will Always Love You, made
a pivotal performance with the
Etta James song And Im Tell-
ing You Im Not Going.
Her town mates in Balanga
City in Bataan were ecstat-
ic and full of praise for the
16-year-old.
Jessica is truly world-class.
We will continue to pray for
her to nally become the
American Idol 2012 champi-
on, Balanga City Mayor Joet
Garcia said.
Sanchez is the daughter of
Editha Bugay Sanchez of Sa-
mal. She is the granddaughter
of retired US Navy ofcer Ed-
die Bugay.
The nal two American Idol
contestants will be announced
on Thursday. Butch Gunio
Power...
the rolling blackouts of up to
eight hours daily in the past sev-
eral months after the Agus-Pu-
langi plant quit after many years
of service. The repairs on the
plant started on April 17.
The government wanted to
build coal- and diesel-powered
plants to prevent further black-
outs in Mindanao, but the busi-
nessmen and residents there
opposed the plan because the
electricity to be produced by
those plants would be more ex-
pensive and the plants would be
pollutive.
Palmones said the govern-
ment also ignored the strong op-
position to the commissioning
of power barges from Therema
Marine, which is owned by the
Aboitiz family.
The Therma Marine power
barges will be in Mindanao for a
very long time. It takes at least
30 months to rehabilitate the
Agus-Pulangi, he said.
But Almendars insisted that
Mindanao must increase its
generating capacity because
the failure of any of the power
generation equipment will auto-
matically result in a shortfall and
more blackouts.
He said he proposed rehabili-
tating the Iligan Diesel Power
Plant that closed down many
years ago and tap the privately-
owned power barges to cover
the decits and meet the islands
power requirements.
We should focus on urgent
measures, Almendras said. He
appealed to the islands business-
men to support the governments
initiatives.
Vincent Baguio of the Co-
tabato Electric Cooperative said
Mindanaos residents must ab-
sorb the one-peso rate impact.
We cannot reduce the rate
despite the Agus-Pulangi being
back in operation because the
National Grid Power Corp. is-
sued an advisory that there is still
a 100- to 200-megawatt decit,
he said.
Miguel Valera, President of
the Philippine Chamber of Com-
merce, welcomed the rehabilita-
tion of the Agus-Pulangi Plant.
We are eying a 100-percent
resolution of the power crisis in
Mindnao before the year ends,
he said.
Candlelight vigil. Advocates protest to push for the passage of the controversial reproductive
health bill which remains stalled in the House of Representatives. The bill mandates sex
education in schools and promotes family planning. DANNY PATA
MAY 12, 2012 SATURDAY
A3 News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com
De Lima aide shot dead
and dumped in Bulacan
Arrest killer of housing
ofcial, Binay tells cops
IN BRIEF
Shells tax refund bid nixed
Mosquera
named to
anti-graft
position
First-time voters urged to list up early
Property firm faces raps over land deal
Panama
rape
suspect
departs
First timers. The First Time Voters Network renewed its commitment to help increase youth participation in next years mid-term
elections and called on the Commission on Elections to help them schedule sattelite registration actvities. LINO SANTOS
By Jonathan Fernandez
THE youth group First Time Voters Net-
work on Friday renewed its commitment
for increased youth participation in the
upcoming 2013 mid-term elections.
In a press conference held in Quezon
City, FTV coordinator Migs Angeles and
other youth leaders called for satellite
registration sites as part of their Mag-
parehistro. Bumoto. Tuloy ang Pagbaba-
go campaign.
According to Angeles, the youth con-
situtes 60 percent of the voting popula-
tion in 2013 elections.
Given this immense number of rst
time and youth voters, it is undeniable
that the youth plays a signicant role
in determining the future of the coun-
try, he said.
He said that youth have to take more
active and progressive stance in engag-
ing electoral and political processes in the
country starting with practicing the right to
suffrage.
For his part, Cleo Leogardo of Student
Council Allliance of the Philippines as-
serted that providing democratic avenue
for greater youth participation in the
electoral and political processes is also
a means to address the generations con-
tinuing disenfranchisement and alien-
ation, one way is through an efcient
satellite registration sites.
It is on this premise that the First
Time Voters Network pushes for the
implementation of satellite registra-
tion sites this year wherein youth and
students can be accommodated for reg-
istration even if they are not residents
of the area where their university is lo-
cated at, Leogardo said.
The Commission on Elections has
held satellite registrations in previous
elections and ofcials said schedules for
such an activity can be arranged in co-
ordination with Comelec ofces in the
concerned local government unit.
The deadline for the registration of
rst time voters is on Oct. 31, 2012 but
ofcials of the Commission on Elections
have started to encourage early registra-
tion to avoid the last-minute rush.
To be eligible to vote in next years
election, a registrant must also be a resi-
dent of the Philippines for at least one
year and a resident of the place where
he intends to vote for at least six months
immediately preceding the election.
Aside from rst-time voters, persons
who want to transfer registration records
to a new residence; change, update or
correct entries such as those for newly-
wed women who changed surnames;
and voters whose records were deacti-
vated for failure to vote in the past two
elections can also le their applications
within the registration period.
All voter applications must be person-
ally led at the ofce of the election of-
cer in the municipal or city ofce where
the applicant resides and wishes to vote.
Voters no longer need to bring photo-
graphs because his or her biometrics re-
cords composed of a digital photograph,
ngerprints, and signature will be en-
tered in data capturing machines during
the ling of registration.
By Joyce Pangco Paares
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino
III has appointed former Com-
missioner Gerard Mosquera of
the Presidential Commission
on Good Government as depu-
ty Ombudsman for Luzon, re-
placing Francis Jardeleza who
was earlier appointed Solicitor
General.
Mosquera obtained his Bach-
elor of Laws degree from the
Ateneo Law School, where he
also joined the Utopia Fraternity,
with honors and placed 2nd in the
1992 bar examinations.
He earned a Masters of Law
degree from Kings College Lon-
don in 2002 under a Chevening
Scholarship Grant and a Mas-
ters in Public Administration de-
gree from the Harvard Kennedy
School of Government where he
received the 2010 Littauer Award
for academic excellence and
leadership.
Previously, Mosquera led anti-
corruption programs for the Unit-
ed Nations and the United States
government in East Timor, where
he also played a key role in the
creation and organization of East
Timors rst Anti-Corruption
Commission.
Mosquera was chosen from a
shortlist of nominees prepared by
the Judicial and Bar Council.
The shortlist, which was then
submitted to President Aquino,
included Mosquera, Ombuds-
man Graft Investigator Roque
Dator, Commission on Elec-
tions director Ferdinand Rafan-
an, and Ombudsman consultant
Arthur Melchor Carandang.
Mosquera got seven votes from
among the eight-member JBC, fol-
lowed by Dator, an ex-seminarian
and graduate of the University of
Santo Tomas College of Law who
received six votes.
In a decision penned by Associate
Justice Martin Villarama Jr., the SCs
rst division granted the petition of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and
reversed the rulings of the Court of Tax
Appeals (CTA) in March and June 2009
directing BIR to refund the excise taxes
paid by Shell on petroleum products it
sold to international carriers.
Records show that Shell asked the
BIR on three separate occassions
in 2002 and 2003 to refund
P100,332,643.69 representing excise
taxes it allegedly paid on sales and
deliveries of gas and fuel oils to
various international carriers.
Since no action was taken by the
BIR on its claims, Shell led petitions
for review before the CTA which ruled
that Shell was entitled to a refund of
excise taxes in the reduced amount of
P95,014,283.00.
The CTA first division relied
on an earlier ruling in the case of
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. vs.
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
where it also granted respondents
claim for refund on the basis of excise
tax exemption for petroleum products
sold to international carriers of foreign
registry for their use or consumption
outside the Philippines.
The BIR argued that the obvious
intent of the law is to grant excise tax
exemption to international carriers and
exempt entities as buyers of petroleum
products and not to the manufacturers
or producers of the said goods.
Since the excise taxes are collected
from manufacturers or producers
before removal of the domestic
products from the place of production,
Shell paid the subject excise taxes
as manufacturer or producer of the
petroleum products.
The tribunal ruled that the CTA erred
in ruling that Shell should have been
exempted from payment of excise tax
for its exported fuel products.
The SC noted that Shells locally
manufactured petroleum products
are clearly subject to excise tax and
the court said the oil rm mistakenly
assumed it was covered by an exemption.
Respondents claim is premised on
what it determined as a tax exemption
attaching to the goods themselves,
which must be based on a statute
granting tax exemption, or the result of
legislative grace, the SC pointed out.
While the exemption found in
Sec. 134 makes reference to the
nature and quality of the goods
manufactured (domestic denatured
alcohol) without regard to the tax
status of the buyer of the said goods,
Sec. 135 deals with the tax treatment
of a specified article (petroleum
products) in relation to its buyer or
consumer, the SC ruling said.
Respondents failure to make this
important distinction apparently led
it to mistakenly assume that the tax
exemption under Sec. 135 (a) attaches
to the goods themselves such that the
excise tax should not have been paid in
the rst place.
Chief Justice Renato Corona and
Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-
De Castro, Lucas Bersamin and
Mariano Del Castillo concurred with
the ruling.
By Rey E. Requejo
THE Supreme Court has dismissed the claim
of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. for a P95-
million refund of excise taxes it paid to the
government.
A SECURITY aide of Justice Secretary
Leila De Lima was found dead in San
Ildefonso, Bulacan on Friday morning.
De Lima disclosed that Alister Quintos,
32, sustained a gunshot wound and his
service rearm was missing.
The DOJ chief immediately ordered the
National Bureau of Investigation to conduct
a probe and determine who could be behind
the killing.
We were shocked, De Lima said, in
an interview as she recalled seeing Quintos
the other night when she went home from
the ofce. They brought me here and he
was ok. He was really a good guynot
talkative and he just smiles all the time.
Quintos, a member of the Department of
Justices (DOJ) Internal Service Operations
Group (ISOG), was dropped off in Cubao,
Quezon City by De Limas other close-in
body guards on his way home to Antipolo
after work Thursday night.
De Lima is clueless about the motive behind
the killing, saying Quintos did not mention any
threats to his life. Incidents like that should not
be taken for granted. Of course, you can never
tell thats why there should be investigation, De
Lima said. Rey E. Requejo
VICE President and Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council Chair
Jejomar Binay on Friday condemned the
killing of an ofcial of the Housing and
Land Use Regulatory Board, and called
on the Quezon City police to nd the
perpetrators soon and bring them to justice.
I strongly condemn the murder of
Atty. Leonard Jacinto Soriano of the
Housing and Land Use Regulatory
Board. I call on the Quezon City police to
nd the perpetrators soon and bring them
to justice, said Binay, who arrive from
Leyte at NAIA Terminal 3 yesterday after
a medical mission in Palo, Leyte.
The Vice President offered his condolences
to the family of Soriano. I hope they remain
strong while allowing their faith to see them
through in this time of sorrow, he added.
Soriano, an HLURB arbiter, was gunned
down Thursday afternoon in front of the
agencys ofce in Quezon City.
While the reason for the murder is still
undetermined, the Vice President said police
should explore all angles, including the
possibility that the killing was work-related.
He said other housing ofcials have received
death threats, which he nds alarming.
If you will recall, more than a week ago
a Pag-IBIG ofcial who led a case against
Globe Asiatique received death threats,
said Binay, referring to Pag-IBIG Deputy
CEO Emma Faria, one of the signatories in
the complaint against GA. Eric B. Apolonio
Panamanian
diplomat Erick
Bairnals Shcks
(left), who
is accused
of raping
a Filipina
teenager, is
accompanied
at the airport
by Panama
Ambassador
Roberto Carlos
Vallarino
Moreno before
they departed
on a KLM ight
to Europe.
ERIC
APOLONIO
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue has led
a criminal complaint with the Department
of Justice against Lerma Lasala and First
Flemming Properties Inc. for fake deed
of absolute sale over two lots in Mindoro
province.
Lasala was charged for failure to le
tax returns for the year 2008 along with
First Flemming president Flemming
Remmer and corporate secretary
Annbrit Chanet Remmer, who were also
accused ot attempting to evade taxes
and failure to le returns.
The investigation was triggered by a
confidential information received by the BIR
on the alleged tax evasion schemes perpetrated
by First Flemming, the BIR said.
Investigation showed that a Deed of
Absolute Sale was executed June 17, 2008
wherein Lasala sold to First Flemming
two residential lots in Brgy. Sto. Nio,
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro covered
by TCT No. T-142879 and TCT No.
T-139185 with an area of 700 sq.m. and
1,000 sq.m., respectively, for a selling
price of only P100,000.
Based on the said consideration, Lasala
paid capital gains tax of P71,400.00 and
documentary stamp tax of P17,850.00 to
BIR. A certicate authorizing registration
was thus issued by BIR paving the way for
the issuance of new titles covering said lots
by the Register of Deeds of Calapan City.
But investigators later discovered that the
said transaction was tainted with fraud as
the actual selling price of the lots was P13.8
million as reected in a Deed of Absolute
Sale earlier executed by both Lasala and
First Flemming on June 14, 2008.
Furthermore, the lot covered by TCT
No. T-139185 was actually commercial
and not residential as declared by both
respondents. The subject lot being an
ordinary asset, the expanded withholding
tax of 6 percent should have been withheld
by First Flemming.
Lasala, for her part, should have
declared the proceeds of the sale as her
income subject to income tax and VAT for
taxable year 2008.
Moreover, First Flemming failed to report
the purchase of said lots in its nancial
statements, giving rise to an undeclared
income subject to income tax which should
have been declared in its ITR.
The P13.8 million that was used to
buy the said lots is an asset which should
have been reported in its 2008 nancial
statements as additional property.
Such failure gave rise to undeclared
income constituting prima facie evidence
of fraud tantamount to tax evasion, the
BIR said in a statement.
By Eric B. Apolonio

THE Panamanian diplomat,
who has been accused of raping
a Filipino teenager, left the
country 7:15 p.m. on Friday
on board a KLM Royal Dutch
Airlines Airlines ight KL808
bound for Amsterdam.
Accompanied by the Panama-
nian Ambassador Roberto Carlos
Vallarino Moreno on the trip, the
two checked in quietly without the
customary diplomatic assistance
given to dignitaries at the airport.
They then presented their
tickets at the KLM counter
where Moreno was a Business
Class passenger while Shcks is
on the economy ight.
Shcks, a 35-year-old technical
ofcer of the Panama Maritime
Authority, presented a diplomatic
passport at the immigration
counter for passport stamping
and immigration formalities.
Shcks is facing a rape
complaint led by the alleged
victim with the Makati police.
She said the rape took place in
Shcks condo on April 23, days
after he befriended her.
Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com MAY 12, 2012 SATURDAY
A4
SUDDENLY, silence.
Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello is
clueless about Chief Justice Renato
Coronas alleged $10-million deposit.
How the Ombudsman came up with
the $10 million [gure], I do not know,
Bello said.
Former Akbayan Rep. Risa
Hontiveros-Baraquel does not know
about it either. Her complaint before
the Ombudsman accuses the chief
magistrate of having undeclared
deposits, but only in the amount of $2
million already presented before the
Senatejust that.
Emmanuel Tiu Santos, another
complainant, has kept mum since the
Senate impeachment court summoned
him for his testimony.
Civil society leader Harvey Keh, who
played eloquent banking and nance
expert in front of the television cameras
at the beginning of the week, now
does his talking through a spokesman.
Never mind that with media in tow, he
had gallantly marched to the Senate to
deliver evidence of Coronas purported
foreign currency account deposits. Now,
his spokesman claims, Keh is not sure of
the authenticity of [those] documents.
Everyone elsepolitician, wannabe
politician, and just about everybody
who craves a minute or two of fame
has taken a step back when previously,
criticisms and allegations were spewed
authoritatively and automatically with
every ick of the on air switch.
Only the Ombudsman, Conchita Carpio
Morales, has thus far stood her ground.
Without denials and disclaimers issued
in advance, she categorically expressed
willingness to appear before the Senate.
Morales called it right: the impeachment
court has spoken; the assessment on the
necessity of her testimony is not for her
to make. She would speak on the ndings
of her Ofce even as the personalities, on
whose complaints the investigations were
based had turned around when taken to
task.
On the surface is the anticipated drama
when the accused nally confronts his
accusers. Beneath it is the supreme and
all-important concepts of justice, due
process and law, all within a single place
and time of reckoning with at least one
would-be hostile witness who knows
the law enough to acknowledge that
it is not for the accused to prove his
innocence; it is for the accusers to prove
culpability and guilt.
When the trial resumes next week,
everyone will know for certain who
among those who have routinely
taken to the pulpit to preach about
accountability, indicting personalities
by name, have had little personal regard
for the word, hurling accusations that
cannot stand scrutiny.
At a time when and in a country
where popularity or lack thereof are
brandished as sufcient justication for
most decisionsincluding verdicts at
impeachmentnext weeks resumption
of trial may just prove to be an antithesis
to the tyranny of survey results.
At the very least, the uncharacteristic
and momentary silence among the
purveyors of propaganda in mass media
is a consolation.
Sound of silence
Why tourism
is a hard sell
THE title of this column is not
originally mine. It is from CNNs
special feature, Eye on the
Philippines. Tourism Secretary
Ramon Jimenez must be red-faced.
He just paid the cable news network
millions of dollars for a series of ads.
Selling the Philippines, contrary
to what adman Jimenez tells us, is
not as easy as selling Chickenjoy.
Jimenez who borrowed the Its
more fun in the Philippines from
Its more fun in
Switzerland, is
learning that its
not as easy selling
Philippine tourism.
CNN cited
high incidence of
crime and other
reasons to say why
the Philippines is
a hard sell. Our
tourism industry
has many shortcomings. We have
a long way to go in catching up with
Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Even Vietnam, and lately Myanmar
which has opened up to the world,
are attracting more tourists.
Here are some of the stats
according to UN World Tourism
Association: Out of the Asia-Pacic
tourism pie in 2010, Malaysias share
was 12.1 percent, Thailands, 7.8
percent; Singapores, 4.5 percent and
Vietnam, 2.5 percent. The Philippines
netted a measly 1.7 percent.
The Philippines has failed to be
a competitive destination because of
scary headlines like the Robinsons
mall armed robbery, kidnappings
in Mindanao and Metro Manila and
cases of locals extorting money
from tourists.
Not as sensationalbut which
has a multiplier effect anyway by
word of mouthis the countrys
substandard travel infrastructure.
Our problem is with our Madison
Avenue mentality. We become
xated with sloganeering even
before government addresses the
myriad problems mentioned above.
Lets look at the big picture,
problems the CNN article didnt even
mention. Recently, the Air Transport
Ofce proposed a reduction of
ights by domestic carriers to ease
ground trafc congestion at the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
There is only one runway and
takeoffs and landings are backed up,
resulting in delays.
We have to consider that
domestic passengers also include
foreign tourists who come here to
visit our beautiful islands. They
are also among the teeming throng,
sweltering in the heat inside the
domestic terminals and cussing
under their breath because of
delayed ights.
When they nally make the
ight to Boracay, Palawan or Puerto
Galera, they have to deal with
another nightmare on the return
ight: The frequency of ofoaded
baggage on domestic ights can
send passengers ballistics as it did
actress Claudine Barretto.
Transportation Secretary Mar
Roxas said air trafc congestion
at NAIA could be reduced if the
other airports in the country had the
equipment to handle nighttime air
trafc. After more than a year on
the job, he plans to install runway
nightlights in the
countrys major
airports.
This was news
to many as it was
news there was
no closed circuit
television camera
at the baggage
claim section of
NAIA 3, scene
of the Tulfo-Barretto incident. One
can only imagine if it had been an
act of terrorism without a CCTV to
record it. No wonder the US Federal
Aviation Administration placed the
Philippines in Category 2 of its
safety ratings.
The Philippines has many
tourism spots but getting there from
the capital Manila is only for the
more adventurous. Take going to
Boracay for example. The nearest
airport is Caticlan and to get to the
world-famous island resort, one still
has to ride a rickety, primitive pump
boat. Not for the faint of heart who
cant swim.
The Philippines is just beyond
Bangkok and before Bali. We
have comparable if not better and
more beautiful beaches. Yet we
are being bypassed by Europeans
seeking refuge from their severe
winters. The last European airline
to y to Manila, KLM direct from
Amsterdam, has been driven to
Taipei because of our onerous
common carrier tax. The Philippines
is probably the only country still
imposing this tax.
Our customs, immigration and
quarantine agents assigned to the
airports add to the burden of foreign
airlines which have to pay for
their overtime pay when ights are
delayed.
Adding to the woes of Philippine
tourism is that China has stopped
its travel agents from booking trips
to the Philippines due to safety
concerns for its citizens. This was
generated by the tension in the
standoff at Scarborough Shoal. Its
going to hurt as the Philippines is a
major destination for visitors from
mainland China.
EDITORIAL
Happy Mothers Day?
MOTHERS are unimportant.
This seems to be this
administrations Mothers Day
message.
I cheered when on CNN, President
Aquino said that he expects a vote on
the reproductive health bill. I thought
that with this aired all over the world,
the bill will at last be voted on.
Then came other statements.
House of Representatives Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte told media that
the bill would NOT be voted on
before the Presidents State-of-the-
Nation Address. This is not a priority
compared with economic measures
that they need to address. They lack
time.
Lack time, my foot! The RH bill
has been pending for well over a
decade now. They could have voted
on it IF they wanted to.
Particularly, the House has been
very lax in exacting responsibility
from its members. It has wasted
many precious days because members
were absent and quorum could not be
achieved.
The House has been too busy
playing politicstrapo politics.
It is possible that the RH bill is
used as a political gambit for anti-
RH representatives who signed the
impeachment complaint against Chief
Justice Corona. This is consistent
with the pronouncement that the bill
has to wait. Surely, until after the
impeachment trial.
Time is not the problem, wasting it
is. Traditional politics is.
Also, Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile, known to be anti-RH, said that
Senate would have to delay the bill
because of other priorities.
Despite this, Senate resumed
consideration of RH last Wednesday
with Senator Koko Pimentel
interpellating. And what questions he
asked!
This Bar topnotcher wanted to
know if RH is connected with human
rights and what specific provisions
of human rights instruments are
relevant.
First, this aspect of the bill has
been established from Day One when
author Senator Miriam Defensor-
Santiago delivered her sponsorship
speech. This heavily dealt with RH as
a human right, and is part of Senate
records.
Second, Senator Pia Cayetano has
repeatedly touched on this as she
answered questions from previous
interpellators. Pimentel was in the
plenary many of those times.
Third, as a topnotch lawyer,
Pimentel is EXPECTED to know this
simple thing.
Last, what is Google for? As an
experiment, I googled RH as human
right and instantly got numerous
answers. The good senator has an
entire ofce of intelligent people to
research for him.
And Pimentel has just started. He
will ask questions on a per-provision
basis, he said.
Clearly, the name of the game
is DELAY FURTHER. After all,
Pimentel has on his side the two most
powerful Senate ofcials, the Senate
President and Majority Floor Leader
Tito Sotto. Between them, the game
is on.
And then, Malacaang said that the
pacing of the bills passage is already
in the hands of Congress even as it
reiterated support for its passage.
Double-talk.
IF President Aquino really wants
the bill to pass, the only thing he
needs to do is to TELL Congress to
immediately put it to a vote. But no,
Malacaang has other priorities. Other
political considerations need to be
nished rst before RH.
These pronouncements from our
honorable ofcials came almost
simultaneously with the release
of various reports stressing how
depressing the situation of Filipino
mothers is, and by extension, how
infants suffer.
Over the past two weeks, news
reports indicated that:
1. Teen-age pregnancies in the
country are about 11 percent of annual
births as of 2009. This translates to
about 192,500 girls aged 15-19 giving
birth yearly. (UNFPA 2011 Annual
Report).
Its not as easy
as Chickenjoy, after
all.
ELIZABETH
ANGSIOCO
POWER POINT
ALEJANDRO
DEL ROSARIO
BACK CHANNEL
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
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Turn to page 5
A5 Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com
THE world knows the so-called
special relation existing between
the Philippines and the United States
is one of a vassal and of a suzerain
state. It has never been one between
two sovereign states where the concept
of national interest is pursued within
the framework of what is mutually
advantageous. It is from this context
where Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Albert del Rosario and Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin committed
a serious diplomatic blunder. It now
appears that their hasty mission to
Washington D.C. was a pilgrimage
made by the representatives of a
vassal state to seek reassurance
given the heightening tension with
the rulers of the re-emerging Middle
Kingdom.
Indeed, the
pilgrimage turned
out to be pathetic
because they acted
more like lackeys
than as diplomats
seeking to obtain
r e a s s u r a n c e
from our current
naval stand-off
with China in
the Scarborough
Shoal or Panatag
Shoal. They blindly equated our
interest as equivalent to US interest,
thus resulting in our being denied
the right to invoke our alliance
under the existing Mutual Defense
Treaty. As emissaries of a vassal
state, del Rosario and Gazmin failed
to look back- that our alliance with
the US was extracted from us in
exchange for our alleged freedom,
and not one we purposely sought
in order to supplement our national
interest brought about by our natural
weakness as a state.
As one exacted from us after World
War II, the US always had the upper
hand on how to interpret the alliance,
and that interpretation was always
along the lines that would advance
their interest.
To begin with, Secretary del
Rosario should not have trumpeted
the purpose of his homage, like
issuing a statement saying his trip
was to seek a reaffirmation from
the US of its commitment to come
to the countrys aid if shots were
fired and Philippine sovereignty is
threatened. It was a costly blunder
because he and Gazmin failed to
read that Philippine interest is not
exactly parallel to that of the US
interest in the region. Rather, the
thrust of the US policy is to pursue
further its ties with China than in
defending a lackey state that has
dared to embroil itself in some
kind of jingoistic adventurism.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
was blunt when she said, the
United States would not take sides
in the sovereignty disputes in the
area, but as a Pacific Power it was
in its interest to ensure freedom of
navigation in the sea lanes in the
region.
The two even failed to observe
the basic diplomatic code of keeping
ones mouth shut, or if not to sound
out to their counterpart what should
be stated in the joint communiqu
after the meeting; that either the US
make an ofcial stand she is on our
side as far as our stand off with China
at the Panatag Shoal is concerned, or
not to make any reference to the crisis
and to our military alliance if the US is
not prepared to give any unequivocal
support to our claim. For our failure
to make an advance feeler on what
should have been stated in that joint
communiqu, the US felt it was free
to say anything, like declaring that it
would not take sides on our current
dispute with China. Invariably,
that put our position stranded in the
middle of the West Philippine Seas
which was embarrassing, for we could
not possibly order our small otilla to
leave the area without losing face.
For that
faux pas,
del Rosario
now tries
to salvage
the blunder
by putting
up some
qualiers that
we could still
draw the US
to our side.
S e c r e t a r y
del Rosario now says the US will
honor the MDT if the Philippines is
attacked by China. That question in
fact compelled Secretary Clinton to
state she is not prepared to discuss
any hypothetical questions, knowing
that China is unlikely to attack the
Philippines. Denitely, the US will
not come to our defense.
Nevertheless, this column is
not saying we have no valid and
legitimate claim over those islands
we now call the Panatag Shoal.
The validity and legitimacy of our
claim is geographical rather than
historical because Panatag Shoal
is just 124 nautical miles from
Zambales, and is well within the
200-mile exclusive economic zone
as defined and demarcated by the
United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Seas, while the disputed
area is more than 250 nautical miles
from the nearest Chinese territory.
As signatory to the convention,
China cannot now give its own
arbitrary qualification to justify its
hegemonistic expansionism that
could reduce the area into a virtual
Chinese lake. In fact, the US Air
Force once used the area for their
strafing and bombing practice when
their facilities at Subic was still
operational with China not lodging
a single protest. Our claim is not
based on ancient times when the
whole of the known world was ruled
by Genghis Khan, but in recent
times when the Philippines, though
the US, had a free hand in operating
in that area.
rodkap@yahoo.com.ph
Vassal
and suzerain
DEAN TONY
LA VIA
EAGLE EYES
Happy...
From A4
What not to give on Mothers Day
By Leanne Italie
NEW YORKWhat were they thinking?
Through plastic smiles or gritted teeth,
moms have to suck it up sometimes
when Mothers Day means a gifted toilet,
unsolicited wash tub or anti-aging cream.
It wouldnt be Mothers Day if some
mom somewhere wasnt disappointed
or downright piqued at gift time. Many
arent looking to break the bank, though
the National Retail Federation expects
Americans to spend $19 billion on the
holiday this year. But unrequested sex
toys? A chainsaw?
Dave Hochman learned the hard way
last year when he presented his ve-
years-older wife with a Cougar T-shirt,
a freebie from a client, no less.
While she does have a great sense
of humor, lets just say it wasnt the best
idea Ive ever had, said Hochman, in
Monmouth, New Jersey.
Glenna Toomans uh-oh moment was
when her now-grown son, Bill, was 10 or
11. He disappeared on his bike in Boise,
Idaho, only to return with a Mothers Day
gift that kept on giving, a tiny bunny.
I was very surprised. Its the last thing
youd expect for Mothers Day, she said.
He spent his allowance money on it. We
named him Garfunkel. We had him for
years.
A rabbit might be better than what a
good chunk of moms surveyed in March
by the Web site Cafemom received last
yearabsolutely nothing. And, while
vacuums have come a long way in design
and efciency, they still ranked among the
worst Mothers Day gifts ever received.
So do unrequested sex toys, guys.
Like the vibrator an exhausted Ashley
Largenthome with a 7-month-oldgot
for her rst Mothers Day in 2004, from
her now ex-husband.
That was the only present I ever
received from him for Mothers Day,
said Largent, in Gaffney, South Carolina.
After that I told him that I didnt want
anything.
In San Francisco, Heddi Cundle joked
that her mother back home in England
hasnt quite forgiven her for a particular
Mothers Day gift: A plastic wash tub with
dish gloves and a scrub brush, all from the
dollar store.
Said her mom, Bev Cundle, in Leeds:
What can I say? How does a mother
smile through gritted teeth. A washing
bowl in blue, not my favorite color, a
square shape to t in a round sink! And
a brush to clean out mugs. How do you
make it disappear?
Other, er, unusual items to make the
worst-gift list at Cafemom: a Cuban cigar
and stale candy left over from Easter.
One mom, RoseMarie Luevano in San
Antonio, Texas, received a chainsaw two
years ago.
My husband had been wanting it so
he kept telling his family about it, but they
thought it was me (who wanted it) and
Mothers Day was just around the corner,
she said. I really wanted a certicate for a
spa. AP
ROD
P. KAPUNAN
BACKBENCHER
A good development
FINALLY, the defense panel announced
that Chief Justice Renato Corona is set
to testify in the impeachment trial.
This after months of dilly-dallying, if
not outright rejection by the defense
lawyers to any suggestion that they
present the principal respondent for
him to testify in his behalf and clear
the air of many questions and issues.
For months, the prosecution and
the defense tussled on the issue of
whether to open the alleged dollar
accounts in the name of the chief
justice and his wife, until it was
finally settled when the impeachment
court put its foot down and said that
the law prevents anybody from prying
into these forbidden accounts without
the waiver of the account owner. And
that neither could the prosecution
present evidence on matters relative
to these accounts. That being so,
the prosecution conceded the issue
and seemed to have resigned to the
better judgment of the impeachment
tribunal.
With no closure, the dollar accounts
issue was left hanging in the air. That
is, until Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-
Morales came up with the ndings on
the alleged existence of these dollar
accounts when her office initiated
an investigation in response to the
complaints of former Akbayan party-
list representative Risa Hontiveros
and Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden
Bello. The Ofce of the Ombudsman
subsequently asked the chief justice to
explain the dollar deposits.
Thi s was fol l owed by anot her
development when Harvey Keh of the
Kaya Natin Movement and the Ateneo
School of Government submitted to
Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile
alleged evidence of dollar deposits in
the Chief Justices account, obtained
anonymously (again) and admitted
he could not vouch for its authenticity.
For the record, I know Harvey Keh very
well, being his Dean, and have always
seen him as a person of integrity. He
always means well and is passionate
about good governance. He did not
inform me about the documents he
had received nor asked my advice
on how to deal with it. Now that he
is summoned to the Senate, I have
advised him to tell the truth and nothing
but the truth and to be always respectful
to the senator-judges.
Together with the other issues
raised during the trial against the
chi ef j ust i ce such as hi s fai l ure
t o i ncl ude i n hi s SALN cer t ai n
condominium units registered in the
name of the Coronas, questioned
transactions including the sale by
the Basa Guidote of many perceive
as undervalued shares to CJ Coronas
daughter, a multi-million loan from
the Basa Guidote, the existence of
multi-million peso accounts which
were also not included in his SALN,
and other corollary issues which have
been piling up, there is a compelling
need for the testimony of the chief
justice. In my view, at least five
votes, maybe morefor acquittal
or convictionwill be determined
by the credibility of his testimony.
Public opinion will also be greatly
influenced by such testimony.
I have a strong feeling that the last
straw that broke the defenses back,
so to speak, which dissipated any
remaining strand of reluctance on their
part to present the chief justice was
the exchange that transpired during
the last hearing between Senator
Enrile and Justice Cuevas. Asking
Cuevas, Senator Enrile said, Is it
your position that there is no prima
facie case presented before this court?
Cuevas replied, In my position, yes.
Then thats your problem. . . We
are all lawyers trained in the art and
we respect your skills and ability to
appreciate the evidence but equally we
respect [that] you respect our ability to
appreciate the evidence presented to
us, Enrile said.
It is now clear that the chief justice
has to do the explaining and not
allow other persons to do it for him.
After all, the accomplishment of the
SALN, which is at the heart of the
present controversy, is a personal act;
and whether one includes or omitted
properties therein is a personal and not
a collective decision. Intent is a state
of mind. It can only be explained by
the actor.
The country waits for the drama
t hat wi l l unf ol d i n t he days t o
come. Hopefully, we will nish this
impeachment saga soon. There are,
after all, so many things out there
the country must pay attention to,
including the confrontation with China
which is increasingly getting out of
control as we engage in our quarrels
at home.
E- mai l : t ony l av s @gmai l . c om
Facebook: t l avi na@yahoo. com
Twitter: tonylavs
2. The Philippines is one of the ten countries in the world with the
highest numbers of premature births. Of the worlds 15 million preterm
births, 60 percent happens in these countries. Some identified causes
are: adolescent pregnancy, hypertension, anemia, and pregnancies that
are spaced too closely. These are rampant in the country. (Born Too
Soon, WHO, May 2012).
3. Philippines is ranked 92nd of 162 countries in terms of the status of
mothers. Mothers in the following countries are better situated: Vietnam
(62), Thailand (63), Tunisia (71), and Sri Lanka (86). (State of the Worlds
Mothers 2012, Save the Children).
No wonder, eleven mostly poor women die from pregnancy and child-
birth complications daily in this country.
Additionally, the Social Weather Stations recent poverty and hunger
survey results further prove how difficult it is to be a poor mother in this
country.
1. Self-rated poverty is 55 percent (estimated 11.1 million) families
claiming to be poor. This is a 10-percent increase from the previous
highest result since this administration started.
2. Involuntary hunger is at record high where 23.8 percent (4.8 million
families) experienced hunger. Severe hunger affected 5.8 percent (about
3.7 million) families.
Its a no-brainer, poor mothers with many children suffer more than
those with less.
Millions of Filipino mothers are poor, hungry, unhealthy, and many, dy-
ing.
The RH bill contains specific provisions that will address these prob-
lems, even overcoming poverty. The Filipino public and the whole world
are telling government how urgent its passage is.
Yet, Congress and the Executive have other priorities.
Happy Mothers Day? Pass the RH bill!
eangsioco@yahoo.com and @bethangsioco on Twitter
Denitely, the US
will not come to our
defense.
By Jonathan Weil
AFTER spending time combing through
the nancial reports of Chinas biggest
publicly traded, state- owned banks, I now
understand what Jim Chanos, the famous
short- seller, means when he keeps
saying they are built on quicksand.
Hes denitely on to something.
Start with Industrial & Commercial
Bank of China Ltd., the worlds most
valuable bank, at least on paper, with a
$238 billion market capitalization. Much
of its capital consists of the remnants
of bad loans dating to the 1990s, which
ICBC now calls receivables. One such
receivable represented about a third of
ICBCs shareholder equity, as of Dec.
31. It was scheduled to start coming due
in 2010 but wasnt repaid, and still sits on
ICBCs books at its original value.
At the same time, ICBC has been
reporting torrid, almost cartoonish,
growth since going public in 2006. Total
assets, about half of which are loans,
rose 15 percent last year to 15.5 trillion
yuan ($2.5 trillion). Earnings jumped 26
percent to 208.4 billion yuan.
It has been quite a transformation. At
the end of 2004, before its most recent
restructuring by the Chinese government,
Beijing-based ICBC said about 21
percent of its loans were nonperforming.
Today the same bank, which is 71
percent state- owned, classies less than
1 percent of its loans that way.
New skills
You can choose to believe that latest
gure if you like. Either the Chinese
government has become extremely skilled
at lending in a very short time, and Chinese
borrowers have become even better at
repaying. Or the numbers are too good to be
true, in which case the quality of the banks
capital matters a great deal, as a gauge of
its ability to absorb losses. If nothing else,
a look at the receivables at ICBC and other
large Chinese banks provides insights into
what passes for normal in the countrys
banking system. Everything is a big circle.
The largest receivable at ICBC is a
313 billion-yuan asset called Huarong
bonds. The footnotes to ICBCs latest
annual report say they were issued to
ICBC starting in 2000 by China Huarong
Asset Management Corp., an asset-
management company established by
Chinas nance ministry. The bonds
book value hasnt changed over the
years.
After ICBC bought the bonds,
Huarong used the cash to buy
nonperforming loans from ICBC at full
face value, cleansing ICBCs books.
In short, ICBC swapped bad loans for
bonds backed by the loans new owner.
The old loans didnt really go away.
Perhaps not surprisingly, ICBC wasnt
repaid its principal when the Huarong
bonds began to come due 10 years later
in 2010. Instead, ICBC received a notice
from the nance ministry saying the
maturity dates had been extended by
another 10 years.
ICBC has said the ministry will
provide support for the repayment
if Huarong cant make good, citing a
separate 2005 notice. Such a notice
isnt the same as a guarantee, however,
which is a point that Carl Walter and
Fraser Howie made in their acclaimed
2011 book, Red Capitalism, about the
frailty of Chinas banking system. The
bonds are non-transferable, meaning
they cant be sold. Maybe ICBC will get
paid eventually, maybe not. The nance
ministry owns 35 percent of ICBCs
shares. A state-owned investment
company holds another 35 percent.
At Beijing-based Agricultural
Bank of China Ltd., a receivable
from the nance ministry represented
474.1 billion yuan, or 73 percent, of
shareholder equity, as of Dec. 31. A
2008 notice from the ministry said the
amount would be settled annually
over a period of 15 years. At least
there, the ministry has been paying the
banks receivable down.
A year earlier, Ag Bank showed the
same asset at 568.4 billion yuan, which
was 5 percent more than its equity then.
It got the receivable as part of its last
restructuring, in 2008, in exchange for
transferring bad assets to the nance
ministry.
Cleaning up
As recently as 2007, Ag Bank
classied about 24 percent of its loans
as nonperforming, compared with 1.4
percent last quarter. After cleaning up its
books, the company went public in 2010,
raising $22.1 billion in the largest IPO
ever. The bank, which is 83 percent state-
owned, now has a $141 billion market
cap. Last quarter alone, Ag Banks total
assets rose 7.6 percent from their Dec. 31
level to 12.6 trillion yuan.
Similar receivables reside at Chinas
other Big Four banks, Bank of China
Ltd. and China Construction Bank Corp.
(939), though the amounts there arent
as large. Before their restructurings
almost a decade ago, Bank of China and
China Construction classied about 16
percent and 17 percent of their loans as
nonperforming, respectively. Now both
show about 1 percent.
The warning signs about Chinas
construction boom and state-owned
banks have been evident for years. News
reports of local-government nancing
vehicles that cant repay their loans are
so abundant, they are hardly surprising
anymore. The Big Four banks each have
set up loan-loss reserves ranging from
about two to three times the size of their
nonperforming loans, which probably
are understated to begin with. Those
reserves wouldnt be enough should loan
losses return to historical norms.
Charlene Chu, a Beijing-based
analyst for Fitch Ratings, wrote in
a Dec. 2 report on Chinese banks
that Fitch expects the authorities
to continue a selective policy of
forbearance and liquidity support for
borrowers, including loan rollovers
and restructurings, new loans, and
bond issuance. As a result, asset
quality issues may not fully appear in
NPL (nonperforming loan) ratios until
well into a deterioration, if at all. By
the time any big problems show up in
the banks numbers, the jig will be up.
The banks would survive, though.
The Chinese government is like Wall
Street in that it always pays itself rst.
Bloomberg
Big banks and paper tigers
News
ManilaStandardToday
mst.daydesk@gmail.com MAY 12, 2012 SATURDAY
A6

IN BRIEF
Muntinlupa answers raps
Dominguez tagged in Mendiola killing
City hall spokesman Omar Acosta said Abel
Sumabat, the former head of the secretariat of the
citys Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), sued the
mayor and 15 city councilors in retaliation to the
swindling and malversation of public funds charges
led against him by the city government.
It was very clear that Mr. Sumabat was playing
squid tactics to confuse and delay the prosecution
of the criminal cases we have led against him. The
real issue here is the illegal activities and under-the-
table transactions he committed when he was with
the BAC, Acosta said.
Among the criminal cases Sumabat is facing
before the Ofce of the City Prosecutor are the
falsication of public documents, usurpation of
ofcial functions, and malversation of public funds
the city government led on April 23, according to
documents released by the city hall.
This pertains to the purported contract for
security services brokered by Sumabat supposedly
on behalf of the city government with Sunstar
Security Agency, where he allegedly pocketed
P873,000 in supposed performance bond paid by
the security rm.
He knew he was going down, thats why he led
this complaint, Acosta said, adding that Sumabat
has long since gone absent without leave.
San Pedro, he said, is ready to answer the graft
complaint at the Ofce of the Ombudsman.
Sumabat, who held the position of Internal
By Ferdinand Fabella
THE government of Muntinlupa on Friday lashed out at the
former city hall ofcial who led a P1.2-billion graft case
against Mayor Aldrin San Pedro, saying the complainant was
using squid tactics to deect the string of criminal cases he is
facing before the local court.
Auditor IV, claimed the city ofcials rigged the
bidding for various projects worth at least P1.2
billion since 2007, which include the P889-million
garbage disposal contracts awarded to different
rms that allegedly did not pass through public
bidding.
Leonard De Vera, the city halls lawyer, has
asked the Department of Justice to expel Sumabat
from the Witness Protection Program (WPP) due to
the criminal cases lodged against him.
In a May 4 letter to Justice Secretary Leila De
Lima, De Vera said the charges against Sumabat
speaks volumes about his lack of credibility to
assist the State in its campaign against corruption.
Truly, there is no greater irony than to have
a corrupt former government employee use the
agencies of the government to protect himself from
the very State he defrauded, De Vera added.
As the good Secretary is aware, evidence to
be worthy of credit, must not only proceed from a
credible source but must, in addition, be credible in
itself. In light of Mr. Sumabats unlawful activities,
he could not possibly be a credible witness for the
State, he told De Lima.
Sumabat has been with the WPP since he rst
led the charges against San Pedro last February.
By Florante S. Solmerin
THE younger brother of Roger and
Raymond Dominguez, leaders of a
notorious carjacking syndicate, will
be charged for murder of state witness
Alfred Mendiola and two other victims,
Philippine National Police chief Gen.
Nicanor Bartolome said on Friday.
Bartolome said Ryan Dominguez,
who was arrested in Bulacan on May
8, yielded a caliber .45 pistol that
matched the bullet shells that were
found at the place where Mendiola
was killed along with his companions
Ireberto Jumaqio and Mark Herrera.
Dominguez was arrested in an anti-
illegal drug operation in Barangay
San Agustin in Malolos City with
three other suspects, identied as
Mark Mario Lacambacal, James
Jimenez and Roy Blanco.
Lawmen seized two sachets of
shabu, two M16 ries, two .45-caliber
pistols and two hand grenades from
the suspects. They also found a
Toyota Innova, a Nissan Navara, and
a Subaru Impreza which had different
carplates and fake registration
documents.
The four shells that were recovered
from where the victims were recovered
in Dasmarinas one of this matched with
the caliber .45 pistol recovered from
Ryan Dominguez. Another spent bullet
shell matched with the caliber .45 pistol
recovered from James Jimenez. This is
the nding of the Crime Laboratory,
Bartolome said.
And then two slugs recovered from
the body of one victim, Ireberto Jumaqio,
matched with the two caliber .45 pistol
recovered from the Dominguez and
Jimenez. So, we now have two shells
and two slugs that matched with the
caliber .45 pistols, he said.
Meanwhile, Bulacan provincial
police director Senior Supt. Fernando
Mendez said Dominguez allegedly
tried to bribe Bulacan policemen
with P3 million in exchange for their
freedom.
Dominguez and his gang was
currently detained the Bulacan
Provincial Jail.
Dominguez and Jimenez were
already charged for illegal possession
of rearms.
Bartolome said they were still
working on scientic examination
some other physical evidence such
as hair strands, blood stains, soil
and latent prints recovered from the
vehicles of the suspects.
By the way, the carnapping case
was just led today at the Quezon City
Prosecutors Ofce against Jimenez
and Roy Blanco, their companion,
because the Toyota Innova was
veried as carnapped, he said.
He said he ordered the directors
of the Regional Police Ofces 3 and
4-A to intensify their intelligence
operations to identify other members
of the Dominguez carjacking
syndicate.
Bartolome stressed that the triple-
murder case is not yet closed as police
are still trying to determine how the
victims were abducted, killed and
dumped in Dasmarias.
(MST-May 12, 2012)
Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
REGION Vll, CEBU CITY
INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID
May 10, 2012
The Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Offce 7 (DPWH
Regional Offce 7), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors
registered with and classifed by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB)
to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the contract to wit:
Contract I.D.: 12H00038
Contract Name: Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of
Traffc Signal Equipment including Asphalting of
Transition Roads, and Asphalt Overlay of Flyover
Structure at the Junction of N. Bacalso Ave. & C.
Padilla St. Mambaling South Road, Cebu City
Approved Budget for the Contract: Php 19,913,433.51
Contract Duration: 60 Calendar Days
Bid Documents: Php 10,000.00
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance
with R.A. 9184 known as Government Procurement Reform Act, and its Revised
Implementing Rules and Regulations. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall
be automatically rejected at bid opening.
To be eligible to bid for this contract, a Contractor must submit a Letter of Intent
(LOI) together with their Class A Documents and must meet the following major
criteria: (a). prior registration with the 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 project/
contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, (d) Net Financial
Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment from a reputable
universal and commercial banks for at least 10% of ABC. (e) Letter of Authority for
the representative /Liason Offcer (As refected in the CRC) to submit LOI and Bids,
Have key personnel and equipment owned and or leased listed in the Eligibility
Forms available for the prosecution of the project. Letter of Intent (LOIs) sent thru
mail or fax will not be accepted. The DPWH - BAC will use non-discretionary pass/
fail criteria in the eligibility check, preliminary examination of bids, evaluation of bids
and post qualifcation.
Unregistered contractors, however, may submit their applications for registration, to
DPWH-POCW, Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LOIs. The DPWH-
POCW Central Offce will process only, the contractors applications for registration
with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certifcate of Registration
(CRC) before processing their LOIs. The DPWH Central BAC-TWO will process only
those with complete registration requirements.
AII particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid security, Performance
Security, Pre Bidding conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualifcation and
Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its
Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown be below.
Issuance of Biddinq Documents From: May 18, 2012-June 6, 2012
Pre Bid Conference May 24, 2012 - 10:00 A.M.
Deadline of Lors from Prospective
bidders
Deadline: June 1, 2012 until 3:00 P.M.
Receipt of Bids June 6, 2012 1:00 P.M.-1:30 P.M.
Opening of Bids June 6, 2012-1:30 P.M.
Prospective bidders may download the Registration and LOI Forms from the DPWH
website www.dpwh.gov.ph. Prospective bidders shall submit their accomplished
LOls and obtain the results of the eligibility check at the same address.
Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents (BDs), if available,
from the DPWH web site. Bidders that will download the BDS from the DPWH
Website shall pay the said fees as stated aboved on or before the submission of
their 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. The BAC will also issue
hard copies of the (BDs) at the same address -upon payment of a nonrefundable fee
as stated above. Interested Bidders may obtain further information and inspect the
bidding Documents at the same address. Bids will be opened in the presence of the
bidders representatives who choose to attend and late bids shall not be accepted.
The DPWH Regional Offce 7 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 and no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify
bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.
Approved by:
(Sgd.) Atty. AYAON S. MANGGIS
BAC Chairman
(MST-May 12, 2012)
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
REGION Vll, CEBU CITY
May 10, 2012
The Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Offce 7 (DPWH
Regional Offce 7), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors
registered with and classifed by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB)
to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the contract to wit:
Contract I.D.: 12H00037
Contract Name: Concreting, Improvement of Sagbaya-Danao Road, Bohol
Scope of Work: Road Concreting
Approved Budget for the Contract: Php 37,792,052.51
Contract Duration: 210 Calendar Days
Bid Documents: Php 20,000.00
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance
with R.A. 9184 known as Government Procurement Reform Act, and its Revised
Implementing Rules and Regulations. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall
be automatically rejected at bid opening.
To be eligible to bid for this contract, a Contractor must submit a Letter of Intent
(LOI) together with their Class A Documents and must meet the following major
criteria: (a). prior registration with the 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 project/
contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, (d) Net Financial
Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment from a reputable
universal and commercial banks for at least 10% of ABC. (e) Letter of Authority for
the representative /Liason Offcer (As refected in the CRC) to submit LOI and Bids,
Have key personnel and equipment owned and or leased listed in the Eligibility
Forms available for the prosecution of the project. Letter of Intent (LOIs) sent thru
mail or fax will not be accepted. The DPWH - BAC will use non-discretionary pass/
fail criteria in the eligibility check, preliminary examination of bids, evaluation of bids
Unregistered contractors, however, may submit their applications for registration, to
DPWH-POCW, Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LOIs. The DPWH-
POCW Central Offce will process only, the contractors applications for registration
with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certifcate of Registration
(CRC) before processing their LOIs. The DPWH Central BAC-TWO will process only
those with complete registration requirements.
AII particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid security, Performance
Security, Pre Bidding conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualifcation and
Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its
Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown be below.
Issuance of Biddinq Documents From: May 14, 2012-June 6, 2012
Pre Bid Conference May 18, 2012-10:00 P.M.
Deadline of Lors from Prospective bidders Deadline: June 1, 2012 until 3:00 P.M.
Receipt of Bids June 6, 2012 1:00 P.M.-1:30 P.M.
Opening of Bids June 6, 2012-1:30 P.M.
Prospective bidders may download the Registration and LOI Forms from the DPWH
website www.dpwh.gov.ph. Prospective bidders shall submit their accomplished
LOls and obtain the results of the eligibility check at the same address.
Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents (BDs), if available,
from the DPWH web site. Bidders that will download the BDS from the DPWH
Website shall pay the said fees as stated aboved on or before the submission of
their 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. The BAC will also issue
hard copies of the (BDs) at the same address -upon payment of a nonrefundable fee
as stated above. Interested Bidders may obtain further information and inspect the
bidding Documents at the same address. Bids will be opened in the presence of the
bidders representatives who choose to attend and late bids shall not be accepted.
The DPWH Regional Offce 7 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 and no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify
bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.
Approved by:
(Sgd.) Atty. AYAON S. MANGGIS
BAC Chairman
(MST-May 12, 2012)
Department of Public Works and Highways
Region IV-A
Batangas 1st District Engineering Offce
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City
Tel. No. 043-402-5900/Fax No. 043-723-7934
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Batangas 1 District
Engineering Offce, Batangas City, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC),
invites contractors to bid for the following contract(s):

1. Contract ID : 12DB086
Contract Name : Rep./Rehab. and Improvement (Asphalt Overlay)
along Balayan-Balibago Road
Contract Location : K0116+000-K0117+021 w/ Exception
Scope of Work : Asphalt Overlay
Approved Budget for the Contract : Php 9,900,000.00
Contract Duration : 60 c.d.

2. Contract ID : 12DB087
Contract Name : Const. of Water Supply System at Brgy. Bisaya
Contract Location : Calaca, Batangas
Scope of Work : Fabricated Steel Storage Tank (Rain Collector)
Approved Budget for the Contract : Php 200,000.00
Contract Duration : 25 c.d.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in
accordance with the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic
Act No. 9184.

To bid for the 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
similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of ten (10) years, and (d)
Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment
for a least equal to 10% of the ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail
criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.

The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
1. Receipt of LOIs from Prospective Bidders : May 9 - 22, 2012,
2:00 oclock P.M.
2. Issuance of Bidding Documents to registered
Contractors : May 16 - 22, 2012
3. Pre-Bid Conference : May 18, 2012 at 10:00 A.M.
4. Receipt of bids : May 29, 2012, until 10:00 AM.
5. Opening of Bids : May 29, 2012 at 2:00 P.M.

Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration
to the DPWH-CPO Central Offce before the deadline set for the receipt of LOIs.
The DPWH CPO Central Offce will only process contractors applications, with
complete requirements, for registration and to be issued the Contractors Certifcate
of Registration (CRC).

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed in
the bidding documents (BDs) in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the
BAC Chairman, DPWH, Batangas 1 District Engineering Offce, Batangas City.
The frst envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, including the
eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the fnancial component
of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as
determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualifcation.
Prospective bidders may download the Registration Form from the DPWH website
www.dpwh.gov.ph. The BAC will issue hard copies of Bid Documents at DPWH,
Batangas 1

District Engineering Offce, BAC Secretariat Offce, Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas
City, upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Php 1,000.00 for Php 200,000.00
and Php 10,000.00 for above Php 9,900,000.00 for Bidding Documents. Bidders
that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or
before the submission of bids. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in
any acceptable forms in the amount stated in Section. 27.2 of the Revised IRR. The
Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who have purchased
the Bid Documents.

Interested contractors are also required to present the originals of their PCAB
License and Contractors Registration Certifcate to the BAC for authentication.

The DPWH, Batangas 1 District Engineering Offce, Batangas City reserves the
right to accept or reject any bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before
Contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or
Bidders.

(Sgd.) GODOFREDO C. DE VILLA
OIC-Chief, Construction Section
BAC-Chairman

Noted by:

(Sgd.) ROSAURO A. ADAPON
District Engineer

Invitation to Bid
Marikina prepares
Mothers Day treat
THE local government of Marikina
invites all mothers in the city to avail
of the free services to be offered
starting today, May 12, in celebration
of Mothers Day.
Dubbed Mothers Day Treat,
the event aims to give the mothers of
Marikina a break by allowing them to
avail free services such as haircut, hair
dye, and massage.
Free trainings for empanada making
and water bonsai making will also be
offered. There will also be free lm
showing throughout the said event.
We are encouraging mothers to avail
the free services prepared for them by the
city government. This way, they could
relax and feel good during their special
day, Mayor Del de Guzman said.
Schedules of the Mothers Day Treat
are: May 12 at Concepcion Elementary
School, and May 13 at Nangka
Elementary School.

Multi-level marketer
detained at airport
A FEMALE distributor of Forever Living
products, who was found guilty of tax
evasion, was asked to deplane on May 4
after she attempted to y abroad from the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Gloria Kintanar was off-loaded by
order of Justice Sec. Leila de Lima after
the Bureau of Internal Revenue sought
her arrest of Kintanar following the
Court of Tax Appeals decision nding
her guilty of two counts of tax evasion.
She was ordered to pay P6.3 million in
tax arrears.
Following the NAIA incident, the
BIR led an urgent motion at the Court
of Appeals on May 8 for the early
resolution of omnibus motion for the
issuance of the court order.
The Kintanar tax evasion case is a
considered a landmark case because
the SC upheld the CTAs doctrine on
willful blindness, which states that an
individual or corporation can no longer
say that the errors on their tax returns are
not their responsibility or that it is the
fault of the accountant they hired.
The BIR led the case against Kintanar
back in 2005 for failing to le her income
tax return for taxable years 2000 to 2001.
Maria Bernadette Lunas
Raymond Dominguez
A7 Sports Riera U. Mallari, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
The Celtics will play Philadelphia,
which eliminated East No. 1 seed
Chicago in six games.
Garnett had ve blocks and three
steals for Boston, while Paul Pierce
had 18 points despite playing with a
sprained medial collateral ligament in
his left knee, and Rajon Rondo had 14
points and eight assists.
Josh Smith had 19 points and nine
rebounds for Atlanta, which failed to
advance in the playoffs for the rst time
in four years. Joe Johnson had 17 points,
Marvin Williams added 16 points and
eight rebounds and Al Horford had 15
points and nine rebounds.
SIXERS 79, BULLS 78
PHILADELPHIAAndre Iguodala
made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2
seconds left and Philadelphia rallied for a
79-78 victory over top-seeded Chicago in
Game 6 on Thursday night, advancing to
the second round of the Eastern Confer-
ence playoffs for the first time since 2003.
The 76ers will face Boston, which
beat Atlanta in six games, in the
conference seminals.
Omer Asik missed two free throws
Lets cheer our boxers
Boston sets duel
with Philadelphia
BOSTONKevin Garnett had 28 points, in-
cluding the jumper to give Boston the lead with
31 seconds left, and 14 rebounds as the Celtics
advances to the Eastern Conference seminals
for the fth straight year.
FILIPINO boxing fans will enjoy
the rare treat of seeing world
championship boxing tomorrow
morning at the Ynares Sports Center
in Pasig City, when Brian Viloria,
one of the nicest young men you
could ever meet, defends his World
Boxing Organization yweight title
against Omar Nino Romero, in their
third encounter, which is expected
to be far better than the rst two.
For the record, Romero won the
rst when Viloria unfortunately
eased up in the last two rounds
which cost him the title he had
won with a spectacular 11th-round
knockout over fancied Ulises Solis,
while the rematch ended in a draw,
but was later declared a no contest
after the Mexican tested positive for
a banned substance in the post-ght
medical examination.
There were many, who felt that
Viloria had done enough to regain
his title, but thats the way pro
boxing goes at times.
This time around, a far more
condent Viloria who has broken
away from the shackles of having
to reduce weight to make the 108
pound limit, settles into the far more
comfortable 112-pound yweight
division, where he demonstrated
not just his skill but his innate
punching power when he battered
Ring Magazine No. 9 in the pound-
for-pound rankings Giovanni
Segura in eight classic rounds in his
last ght.
There are two things that will
surely motivate Brian on Sunday.
One is the burning desire to settle
a score with Omar Nino Romero
who, as Viloria himself has said, is
a monkey on his back. He wishes
to get rid of that and to do it with a
vengeance.
Two, is his sincere wish to
dedicate his title defense to
the late world champion Andy
Ganigan, a charming personality
with incredible punching power
that Ring Magazine ranked in the
top 100 biggest punchers in the
business in 2003.
Behind the devastating sts of
the Hawaii-based southpaw of
Filipino descent was a soft-spoken
individual whom Brian remembers
as the one who approached him at
the age of 13 in a gym in Hawaii
and taught him how to throw the
left hook to the body.
It was Ganigans awesome left
hook, combined with his vicious
right hand that dropped Irishman
Sean O Grady three times in the
second round of their world title
ght and helped him send the great
Alexis Arguello to the canvas in the
opening round of their World Boxing
Council world title ght before the
ashy Nicaraguan got to Ganigan and
knocked him out in the fth round.
With the man he calls Uncle
Andy resonating in the back of
his mind, thousands of Filipinos
at the venue and following the
action on Solar Sports and GMA 7
cheering him on, and his charming
wife Erika probably praying for his
success, Viloria is surely bound to
stamp his class in a division that he
should rule for some time to come.
In a fascinating undercard,
former world champion Rodel
Mayol, cheated of a chance to
regain his title by Hernan Tyson
Marquez, who was two pounds over
the limit, but within the blink of an
eye with his hangers-on preventing
ofcials from having a clear view
of the scales, claimed to have made
the weight without even a sweat,
takes on tough Julio Cesar Pingo
Miranda, the ghter from whom
Viloria won the title.
An ultimate showdown with
Marquez has been promised Mayol
provided he beats Pingo Miranda,
who is the hardest puncher he has
faced, according to Viloria.
No matter what the outcome this
is indeed a blockbuster card and we
need to express our appreciation as
ght fans to Solar Sports for making
it possible. For various reasons, we
havent been able to give our boxers
the privilege and perhaps the subtle
built-in advantage of ghting before
a hometown crowd. At least this
time, that privilege is ours and ght
fans need to show their appreciation
by watching the ghts live at the
Ynares Sports Center. Its the least
we can do.
IN BRIEF
Barriga reaches nals
TASHKENT, UzbekistanThe two
PLDT-ABAP seminalists in the Sydney
Jackson Memorial Boxing Tournament at
the Universal Uzbekistan Sports Complex
went their separate ways Thursday.
London Olympics qualier light
yweight Mark Anthony Barriga stamped
his dominance over Shahobidin Zoirov,
an Uzbek who fought in the World Series
of Boxing for Russia, 13-10. Barriga had
beaten the same boxer in the nals of the
same tournament last year.
On the other hand, 52 kg flyweight Ian Clark
Bautista had his hands full versus Shexriyor
Isakov, also of Uzbekistan, to give up an 8-4
decision. He settles for the bronze medal.
RONNIE
NATHANIELSZ
INSIDE SPORTS
AN inspired College of St. Benilde stunned
Lyceum of the Philippines University, 51-46,
Wednesday night to force a triple tie with
its victim and National University in the
womens division of the Sandugo-Collegiate
Development League at the San Juan gym.
Led by the trio of Best Player awardee Grace
Dadal, Jessamae Sarael and Gamai Bernadez,
who had 14, 12, and 8 points, respectively, the
Lady Blazers had their rst taste of the lead in
the second quarter at 18-17.
LPU rallied immediately to reclaim
the lead at 25-24, only to reel back from a
closing 10-4 run ignited by Sarael as CSB
ended the half at 34-29.
From there, LPU played catch up, but the
Lady Blazers proved steadier in the closing
minutes, bucking league most valuable
player candidate Frances Mae Cabinbins
heroics in the last quarter. Cabinbin was the
games topscorer with 21 points.
With just a game left each for the three
teams, NUs nal game against University of
Santo Tomas will determine the nal placings
for the seminals as LPU and CSB are expected
to win over Miriam College in their nal games.
UP-Diliman (3-3) is expected to join the
Top 4 in the division.
In the mens side of the tournament
also backed by the Philippine Sports
Commission, Phiten, Gatorade and
Primovit Multivitamins, CSB likewise
positioned itself in the Final 4 as it beat
Enderun earlier for a 4-1 record.
St. Benilde 5
stuns Lyceum
Top riders join Grand Prix in Carmona
THE countrys top riders converge anew to dispute the
titles at stake in another major motorcycle event dubbed
as the CORSA-SK Grand Prix set May 27 at the
Carmona Racetrack.
This year, the annual event organized by SK
Racing, headed by Dennis Esguerra is expected to be
a bigger spectacle as it lured the top companies of the
motorcycling industry led by CORSA Tires, Racing
Boy, JVT Scooters, Honda Philippines, Top 1 Action
Matic, Replica Pro, Zebra Helmets, JM MIrasol
Advertising, DBS Custom Bykes, HJC, Jad Racing,
MTRT, Asia, Daredevil Racing, egv, and 101 isaver.
Media Partners are Inside Racing Magazine, Stoplight
TV and Motorsiklo Exclusibo.
Riders will be vying for six titles in the event, namely:
the 110-125 Mixed Stock, Racing Boy 130 Modied, the
Replica Pro 150 Modied, the Top 1 Action Matic 130
Scooter Modied, the JVT Scooters 160 Modied and
the Zebra Helmets 4-Valves 180 Scooters Modied.
Among the top riders, who have conrmed their
participation are Golden Wheel Underbone King
Anthony Roman, Rizaldy Canare, Jeff Chan and Marvin
Mangulabnan in the 150 modied; Gerry Quinones in
the 160 Scooters; JVT riders Mikko Montano and Benjo
Mendoza in the 180 Scooters; Tracy Soyangco in the
130 Modied; Hajime Tadachi in the 110-125 Mixed
and Jeffrey Tria, Edmar Quiambao and lady rider C-Let
Cuison from Cebu in the 130 Scooters, as well as SK
Ynares champions Masato Fernando, Arlan dela Cruz
and Dustin Esguerra.
Registration is extended up to May 13 for the benet
of riders who did not make it to the deadline.
All registered participants of the Corsa-SKGP will
have the chance to practice in the Inside Racing Track
Day set May 13 also at the Carmona Racetrack.
To register and other inquiries, interested participants and
sponsors may contact Dennis Esguerra at 0917-2005387,
0923-9603064, 0929-4244452, 0917-2747807.
Loyola, Kaya dispute No. 1
TIED on points at the top with Global, the
Loyola Meralco Sparks and Kaya square off at
4 p.m. in the latest installment of their budding
rivalry which started in the United Football
League Cup semifinals late last year. The match
will be aired live on AKTV on IBC13.
National team stars Phil and James
Younghusband, who are also the leagues
leading scorers with a combined 27 goals,
will be up against national teammates Jason
Sabio and Lexton Moy in the showdown.
The Sparks are buoyed by a 2-0 conquest
of Kaya in the rst round, where both Phil
and James scored in the rst half to give
Loyola the edge. Kaya has lost one game
since then while winning seven, grinding
out tough victory after another.
OLYMPIA S jins sparkled in the
recent SMART New Face of the
Year taekwondo championships at
the Ninoy Aquino Stadium by bag-
ging two gold and two silver med-
als in the senior womens division.
Finweight Noleen Lagnada and
yweight Koleth Maristela won a
gold medal each while y Margue-
rite Luteria and bantamweight Thea
Ramos settled for a silver each.
Nueva Ecijas bets also made a
good showing by capturing two
gold medals in the senior mens
group.
Bantamweight Roberto Silvestre
and lightweight Greg Papa pro-
duced Nueva Ecijas two golds.
The other winners were:
Senior men (advance)King
Pineda, St. Paul Makati, n; Clyde
Batangan, Las Pinas Gym, y;
Mark Frigillana, Ateneo, feather;
and Carl Pelayo, RTTC, welter.
Senior women (advance)
Chrism Magdaraog, San Sebas-
tian College, bantam; Dafnie
Dumo, UFC Baguio, feather;
Maera Bettina Someros, UP Dili-
man, light; and Nicky Ginson,
VQSMEAX Gym, welter/heavy.
Senior men (novice)Benny
Delno, PLMun, n/y; Cezar
Ivan Banto, PLMun, bantam; and
Vincent Gerald Rebanas, Central
Gym, heavyweight.
Senior women (novice)Dina
Bonsilao, Halili-Cruz, TKD, n;
Mary Rose Sumalpong, TUP, y;
Angelin Gonzales, Amoranto,
feather; and Rojean Saet, PLMun,
light/welter.
Olympia jins sizzle
with 7 seconds left that would have given
the Bulls a three-point lead. Iguodala
grabbed the second miss, sprinted the
length of the court, was fouled by Asik
and made both free throws.
Chicago lost star guard Derrick Rose
to a knee injury in the series opener and
center Joakim Noah didnt play in the last
three games because of an ankle injury.
Iguodala scored 20 points, and
Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams each
scored 14 for the Sixers who were
outrebounded 56-33.
Luol Deng had 19 points and 17
rebounds for the Bulls while Richard
Hamilton scored 19 points and Carlos
Boozer grabbed 13 rebounds.
NUGGETS 113, LAKERS 96
DENVERTy Lawson scored 32
points and Corey Brewer added 18 as
Denver forced a Game 7 in their rst-
round playoff series. AP
Patriots battle Slammers
WITH eyes on the playoffs, AirAsia Phil-
ippines hopes to end its elimination cam-
paign with a big
win against de-
posed champion
Chang Thailand
today in the AirA-
sia Asean Basket-
ball League at the
Thai-Japan Association Gym in Bangkok.
The Patriots have already beaten the
Slammers twice81-72 in the rst round
and 89-68 in the second rondand another
in their 7 p.m. encounter will not only give
them a 3-0 sweep, but more importantly,
an added boost as they head for what is
expected to be a tough grind ahead.
Having secured the number two seeding,
the team will either face Indonesia Warriors
(11-9) or Westports Malaysia Dragons
(11-10) in the best of three series with the
Patriots owning the home-court advantage.
Game today
(Thai-Japan
Association Gym)
7 p.m. Chang Thailand
Slammers vs AirAsia
Philippine Patriots
Cage champ. The Magic Time basketball team emerged Group C Division Champion
in the Chinese-Filipino Friendship Basketball League 2011-2012 with team member
Dexter Quan winning the Tournament Most Valuable Player award. Shown from left are
Edmund Lim, Jimson Sy, Lester Ong, Leika Ong, Ado Lim, Francis Sy, Ace Lee, Matthew Tan,
Steven Tan , Rondon Key, Commissioner Freddy Tanlo, Mark Ong, Dexter Quan, Stevenson
Fenix,Wilson Fenix, Api King. Not in photo are Avelino Lim, Gavino Go, Kenneth Ang and
Edward Lim. Team coach is Steven Tan.
InvItatIon to BId
ConStRUCtIon oF
MadonGan RIS REHaBILItatIon PRoJECt
(MST-May 12, 2012)
The National Irrigation Administration through the General Appropriation Act of 2012 now invites bids for the ConStRUCtIon
oF MadonGan RIS REHaBILItatIon PRoJECt under GAA 101. The project is located in Dingras, Ilocos Norte. Bids received
in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
Contract Ref. No.
Approved Budget
for the Contract
(ABC)
Description of
Work
Contract
Duration
Pre-bid
Conference
Opening of
Bids
Location of Pre-bid &
Opening of Bids
A. PACKAGE 1
R1-INIMO-12-04-127 Php 35,658.744.96
Diversion Works
(Modifcation of
Diversion Dam)
240 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 10:00 AM
NIA-Reg. Offce Conf.
Room, Urdaneta City,
Pangasinan
B. PACKAGE 2
R1-INIMO-12-04-049 Php 3,441,976.46
Repair/
Replacement of
2 units Sluice
Steelgates
150 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 10:00 AM
Pangasinan
C. PACKAGE 3
R1-INIMO-12-04-050
Php 4,473,499.72 Protection Works 180 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 10:00 AM
Pangasinan
D. PACKAGE 4
R1-INIMO-12-04-051
Php
4,473,499.72
Protection Works 180 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 10:00 AM
Pangasinan
E. PACKAGE 5
R1-INIMO-12-04-052
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 10:00 AM
Pangasinan
F. PACKAGE 6
R1-INIMO-12-04-053
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 2:00 PM
Pangasinan
G. PACKAGE 7
R1-INIMO-12-04-054
Php 4,516,285.28
Canalization &
Canal Structures
120 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 2:00 PM
Pangasinan
H. PACKAGE 8
R1-INIMO-12-04-128
Php 4,260,174.40
Canalization,
Canal Structures &
Terminal Facilities
120 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 2:00 PM
Pangasinan
I. PACKAGE 9
R1-INIMO-12-04-129
Php 3,611,273.90
Canalization,
Canal Structures &
Terminal Facilities
110 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 2:00 PM
Pangasinan
J. PACKAGE 10
R1-INIMO-12-04-130
Php 4,121,414.94
Canalization,
Canal Structures &
Terminal Facilities
120 c.d.
May 10, 2012 at
2:00 PM
May 23, 2012
at 2:00 PM
Pangasinan
1. Bidder must have an experience of having completed, within a period ten (10) years from the date of submission and
receipt of bids, a single contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, must be at least 50% of the ABC. The description
of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.
2. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as
specifed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA9184), otherwise known as the
Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships,
or organizations with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens
of the Philippines.
3. Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Irrigation Administration, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
(offce of the Head, BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 PM:
4. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the above address and upon
payment at the NIACashier of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of TWENTY THOUSAND
PESOS (Php20,000.00) for Package 1 and FOUR THOUSAND PESOS (Php 4,000.00) for Package 2 to 10.
5. Issuance & Availability of bidding documents is from the frst day of advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid/ Request
for Expression of interest until submission and receipt of bids. Late bids shall not be accepted.
6. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.
7. All bids must be accompanied by a Certifcate of Site Inspection issued by the implementing offce.
8. The National Irrigation Administration reserves the right to reject bids, declare a failure of bidding, and not to award
the contract without incurring any liability if the funds/allotment for the project to be bid has been withheld or reduced
through no fault of its own.
For further information, please refer to:
ENGR. MYRNA C. MARTINEZ - Head BAC Secretariat
NIA-RegionalOffceNo.1
Barangay Bayaoas, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
Telefax No: (075)568-8442
E-mailaddress:niaengineeing@yahoo.com
(Sgd.) ROBERTO Q. ABULE
BAC Chairman
Republika ng Pilipinas
Department of Agriculture
Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig
(NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION)
Urdaneta, Pangasinan
Tel./Fax No. 075-568-2308; 568-8442; 568-4876
Riera U. Mallari, Editor
sports@manilastandardtoday.com sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
Sports
Manila Standard TODAY
A8
NBA RESULTS
Pacquiao backs Habitat for Humanity
FILIPINO ring icon Manny
Pacquiao has lent his support to
the Habitat Youth Build 2012, a
Habitat for Humanity campaign,
wherein 2,000 student volunteers
will converge starting at 9 a.m. today
to build homes for 200 families,
who lost their homes when typhoons
Pedring and Sendong hit Navotas
and Cagayan de Oro.
The families have lived in tents
and evacuation centers for months
and years, and Habitat wants to help.
Called the Habitat Youth Build 2012,
the unprecedented action is actually
Asia Pacic-wide with simultaneous
builds happening in Thailand, India,
Indonesia, China and the Philippines,
involving 5,000 youth members in
helping 500 families.
In the Philippines, the Youth Build
will be led Fernando Zobel de Ayala,
Habitat Capital Campaign Chairman,
the Habitat Youth Council led by its
Chair and Founder Alexandra Alex
Eduque, and Generation Nowstudents
from all schools and walks of life.
Celebrities supporting the campaign
include Pacquaio, Chinese actor Jet
Li, Hong Kong actor and singer-
songwriter Karen Mok, Bollywood
actress Aditi Rao Hydari, Filipino actor
Matteo Guidicelli, Hong Kong actor
Michael Wong, Indian American actor
Omi Vaidya, Hong Kong entrepreneur
Christie Wo and upcoming Thai singer
Looksorn Bhandhukravi.
For more information or to sign
up, visit www.habitatyouthbuild.
org/philippines, email volunteer@
habitat.org .ph or call +632 846-
2177. You can also follow us on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/
habitatphilippines and Twitter at @
habitatphils #HabitatYouthBuild.
One of the beneciaries of the
Habitat for Humanity in the past was
Fairy Malong, 24, who took up Civil
Engineering specically to work
for the program. Why? Because 12
years ago, Habitat gave her a new
home, a new hope.
In 2000, when Malong was 12,
her family received a home from the
Habitat Global Build in Quezon City.
Up to this day, Fairy, her parents and
four siblings live in that home. And
now, Habitat for Humanity Project
Engineer Fairy Malong works to pay
it forward.
The Habitat experience built her
character. Kapag nakita mo yung
tao na nagbibigay, tinutulungan ka,
ang tendency mo din tumulong sa
iba. So nakatulong siya sa akin na
mabuild yung character ko.
LOTTO RESULTS
6/45 000000000000
4 DIGITS 00000000
3 DIGITS 000000
2 EZ2 0000
P0.0M+
CYCLISTS can become the
bayani of their respective
barangays when they
participate in the 7-Eleven
Tour 700 Race for Charity on
Sunday inside the sprawling
Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles
City, Pampanga to celebrate
the leading convenience store
chains 700th store in the
country.
This event is made possible
with the cooperation of Bases
Conversion and Development
Authority, Tollways Manage-
ment Corporation, SCTEX,
Clark Freeport Philippines, So-
lar TV and Talk TV.
Another banner eld of close
to 3,000 cyclists are vying in the
one-day bikefest featuring 40
and 100-kilometer races running
through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressway and back to the
Clark Parade grounds.
Similar to what we did in
the 7-Eleven Tour 500 in 2010,
we want to return something
to our loyal patrons and to
our community, Philippine
Seven Corporation President-
Chief Executive Ofcer and
bike enthusiast, Jose Victor
Paterno, said. This time we
are looking at barangays as the
beneciaries of this cycling
benet.
We are doing this also
to celebrate our 700th store
nationwide last April, which
is part of our service and
commitment in making
7-Eleven the best retailer
of convenience in the
Philippines, he added.
Unlike the previous edition
of the bike-for-a-cause in 2010,
when charity organizations
were the recipients of cash
donations, the topnotchers
in the different age-group
categories will be awarded
three bicycles equipped with
rst-aid kits each.
They will donate them to
their chosen barangay in a
project done in partnership
with the Firey Brigade.
7-Eleven
bikefest
to benefit
barangays
BEST goes
to Batangas
Pacman looks good in sparring Cuello arrives in Mexico
for WBC title eliminator
Thirteen-year-old Joneza Mie
Sustituendo claimed her second
gold medal in record time in the
2012 Palarong Pambansa at the
Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic
Center in Lingayen.
As Sustituendo celebrated her
feat, the National Capital Region
made its presence felt once more
on different fronts, with swimmers
Axel Ngui and Catherine
Bondad, and track beauty
Maureen Schrijver emerging as
the winningest athletes in the
secondary division of the games.
Sustituendo, an incoming
sophomore at the Sun Yat Sen
High School, smashed the
secondary girls 3,000-meter
run mark on the last day of the
athletics meet with a clocking of
10 minutes and 34.1 seconds.
Last year, Sustituendo set the
elementary mark with 4:53.10.
This year, Cagayan de Oro
standout Jie Anne Calis and
Western Visayas bet Angelica de
Josef erased the mark with nishes
of 4:48.9 and 4:49.9 respectively.
Maayos po iyung pagtakbo ko.
By Peter Atencio
PANGASINANBarefoot Ilonggo run-
ner Joneza Mie Sustituendo did it again.
Barefoot runner
is Palaros toast
Pero, ewan ko. Hindi ko naman
expect ma-break iyung record.
Enjoy ko lang iyung takbo ko,
said Sustituendo, who reset the
10-year-old record of Mary Jane
Campos (10:40.6).
Sustituendo now has two gold
medals after also prevailing in the
1,500-meter run with 4:58.3.
In Dagupan, the 17-year-old
Ngui nished the swimming
meet with seven golds, capturing
his sixth in the 200-meter boys
buttery event, and then anchoring
NCR to the 4x100 freestyle relay
title (3:53.71).
The 14-year-old Bondad
continued to frustrate Delia
Corderos gold-medal campaign,
collecting a total of six golds and
a bronze. She started the afternoon
by beating Cordero again for the
gold in the 100-meter freestyle
action, and then ended the day
with a gold for NCR in the 4x100
meter freestyle relay.
Schrijver nished with ve gold
medals. She captured her third
gold by grabbing the secondary
girls 200-meter run crown in 25.6
seconds, before anchoring NCR
to two golds in the 4x100-meter
relay and the 4x400-meter relay
later in the afternoon.
She earlier shattered the meet mark
in taking the high jump gold and tak-
ing the 100-meter dash honor.
Meanwhile, stick ghters from
the Cordillera region claimed
the secondary boys gold, while
Western Visayas dominated the
secondary girls arnis action.
CELTICS 83, HAWKS 80
SIXERS 79, BULLS 78
NUGGETS 113, LAKERS 96
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
ONE day after strength and
conditioning coach Alex
Ariza expressed his elation
over Manny Pacquiao
going through one of his
best training sessions in
years, the Filipino champ
sparred eight rounds at
the Wild Card Gym on
Thursday.
Adviser Michael Koncz
appeared pleased, too.
The sparring was ne
and Manny looked good in
the eight rounds he did,
Koncz told the Manila
Standard.
Pacquiao sparred with
tough Russian welterweight
Ruslan Provodnikov and
then went two rounds to
sharpen his speed with
super featherweight Roger
Gonzalez.
Trainer Freddie Roach
seeks to keep his plan
of making Pacquiao
overwhelm undefeated
world light welterweight
champion Timothy Bradley
with his hand-speed and
footwork.
Roach believes Bradley
is too slow to handle
Pacquiao, especially at
the welterweight limit,
when the Fighter of the
Decade defends his World
Boxing Organization title
at the MGM Grand Garden
Arena on June 9.
The celebrated trainer,
who will be inducted
into the Hall of Fame a
day after Pacquiao fights
Bradley, said he expects
his ward to knock
Bradley out somewhere
along the way.
HARD-HITTING light yweight Denver
Cuello (30-4-6, 20 KOs) is scheduled
to arrive in Mexico this weekend for
his World Boxing Council world title
eliminator against Ganigan Lopez
(20-4, 14 KOs) in a card promoted by
Canelo Promotions and Boxeo de Gala
at the Palenque de la Feria in Celaya,
Guanajuato next Saturday.
Cuello, who is a protege of promoter
Aljoe Jaro, battles Lopez for the right
to challenge current WBC champion
Japanese Kazuto Ioka of Japan.
The 25-year-old Cuello is the reigning
WBC Silver champion, having won the
title with a rst-round technical knockout
of Carlos Perez last Oct. 15, 2011.
Cuello gured in a third-round draw
with Juan Hernandez in an earlier title
eliminator after being dropped in the
second round, but recovered to deck
Hernandez in the third. Since then, Cuello
has won nine ghts in a row, two by
knockout and seven by TKO.
Lopez, like Cuello, is a southpaw
and has won his last four ghts, one
by knockout and three by TKO after
winning the WBC Silver belt with a
12-round decision over Omar Soto on
Aug. 14, 2010. Ronnie Nathanielsz
YOUNG cage buffs from Bal-
anga City, Bataan will be in for
a treat as the Milo Basketball
Efciency Scientic Train-
ing Center will be conducting
a six-day Summer Basketball
Clinic starting May 14 at the
San Jose Covered Court in Bal-
anga City.
Registration starts today un-
til Monday with the clinic, set
from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, open to
kids nine-years-old-and-above.
Entry fee is P3,000. For inqui-
ries, contact Badeth Navarro at
0917-3735362.
Former Alaska Milk and
San Sebastian College stalwart
Francisco Eton Navarro and
Rei Oseo, both Milo BEST
Center senior coaches, will
conduct the clinic.
Simon Tantoco, the programs Youth Council Communications
ofcer, helps during last years Youth Build.
By Jeric Lopez

FOR the third straight year,
Mark Macapagal and Jonas
Villanueva reigned supreme
in their respective elds.
Macapagal earned his
third consecutive Three-
Point Shootout jewel at the
Ilocos Norte Centennial
Arena in Laoag City, Ilocos
Norte yesterday by scoring
15 points in the nal round,
topping KG Canaleta (13),
Josh Urbiztondo (13) and
Marcio Lassiter (7) in the
process.
Mahirap itong three-
point shootout na ito para
sa akin. Buti na lang nag-
champion pa din, said
Macapagal.
In the elimination round,
it was Canaleta, who topped
with 19 while Macapagal,
Lassiter and Urbiztondo
each had 16 to make it to the
last round.
The rest of the elimination-
round scores are as follows:
Renren Ritualo, 15; Jeff
Chan, 15; Gary David, 14;
Willie Miller, 13 and Cyrus
Baguio, 8.
Macapagal now holds
the record of being the
only player to win three
successive Three-Point
shootout crowns.
Urbiztondo lled in for
James Yap, who backed out
as he wasnt feeling well.
Yap, however, will still
play in tomorrows All-Star
game.
Villanueva retained his
Obstacle Challenge crown
his third straight with a
blazing time of 31.1 seconds
in the nals.
Not far behind was Rain
or Shines Paul Lee, who
was only a shade slower
at 31.3 and Alaskas LA
Tenorio nished third with
43 ticks.
In the elimination round,
it was Lee, who came
rst with 27.2. Villanueva
followed with 29.1, while
Tenorio had 30.
Villanueva,
Macapagal
keep titles
JV Casio of Powerade and Cyrus Baguio of Alaska teach kids the proper way to dribble during the PBA All-Star Basketball Clinic at the
Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena.
Business
B1
Ray S. Eano, Editor extrastory2000@gmail.com
Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor
IN BRIEF
Ayalas
income
up 42% in
1
st
quarter
China seeks lower duties on imported rice
Asiatrust
sale to AUB
approved
PSE COMPOSITE INDEX
Closing May 11, 2012
OIL
PRICES
TODAY
P780-P895.00
LPG/11-kg tank
P54.55-P61.02
Unleaded Gasoline
P46.10-P49.90
Diesel
P52.34-P57.85
Kerosene
P38.50-P39.20
Auto LPG
FOREI GN EXCHANGE RATE
Currency Unit US Dollar Peso
United States Dollar 1.000000 42.4490
Japan Yen 0.012502 0.5307
UK Pound 1.615700 68.5848
Hong Kong Dollar 0.128816 5.4681
Switzerland Franc 1.077935 45.7573
Canada Dollar 0.998702 42.3939
Singapore Dollar 0.800384 33.9755
Australia Dollar 1.012146 42.9646
Bahrain Dinar 2.652661 112.6028
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266660 11.3195
Brunei Dollar 0.797194 33.8401
Indonesia Rupiah 0.000109 0.0046
Thailand Baht 0.032134 1.3641
UAE Dirham 0.272257 11.5570
Euro Euro 1.294800 54.9630
Korea Won 0.000876 0.0372
China Yuan 0.158378 6.7230
India Rupee 0.018744 0.7957
Malaysia Ringgit 0.326264 13.8496
NewZealand Dollar 0.787588 33.4323
Taiwan Dollar 0.034106 1.4478
Source: PDS Bridge
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Friday, May 11, 2012
PESO-DOLLAR RATE
40
42
44
46
48
P42.570
CLOSE
Closing MAY 11, 2012
5,158.14
33.96
5200
4460
3720
2980
2240
1500
1200
VOLUME 1100.260M
HIGH P42.400 LOW P42.570 AVERAGE P42.479
SMCs profit climbs to P8.5b
Security Banks earnings increase 8.2% to P1.1b
By Othel V. Campos
CHINA has asked the Philippines to lower
the tariff on imported rice in exchange for
the continued quantitative restriction policy
of the World Trade Organization.
As previously been mentioned, we are
willing to adjust the tariff as well as the
volume of imported rice that enters the
country under the QR system, Agriculture
Assistant Secretary Romeo Recide said in an
interview.
The restricted volume aims to protect the
local rice sector from the inux of cheap,
imported commodity. The Philippines
imposes a 40-percent tariff and restricts rice
imports to 350,000 metric tons.
Recide, who arrived last week from China,
said the negotiations with the Chinese
government was successful, saying Beijings
request is vey simple.
We just started negotiation with
China. I must say that the talks we had
were very successful. The Chinese are
very reasonable with the concessions that
they are seeking. They are supporting our
request, he said.
He said China was seeking reduced tariff
on imported rice from the current 40 percent
and an increase in the volume of shipments
to the Philippines. The adjustments will be
the topic of discussion during succeeding
negotiations.
Korea and the Philippines are the only two
remaining countries in Asia that still impose
a protectionist policy on rice.
The Philippines will soon kick off a series
of meetings with other countries, including
Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Pakistan and the
US.
So far, not all countries showed support
but if we work hard enough it is possible [that
the QR might be extended]. We should know
by the end of June if all our trade partners
will accede to our request, said Recide.
CONGLOMERATE Ayala
Corp. reported Friday rst-
quarter net income jumped 42
percent to P3.5 billion from
a year ago, driven by strong
performance of its core units.
Ayala Corp. said in
disclosure to the stock
exchange equity earnings
rose 35 percent, as its estate,
banking, and water businesses
registered double-digit growth
in the rst three months.
We are encouraged by the
sustained growth trajectory
of our core businesses and the
improving performance of
our international businesses.
Domestic consumption
remains robust which
continues to benet our core
businesses, Ayala Corp.
president and chief operating
ofcer Fernando Zobel de
Ayala said.
We continue to pursue
our capital investment
and expansion plans,
taking advantage of this
favorable macro-economic
environment and ensure
we sustain our growth
momentum moving
forward, he added.
Property unit Ayala Land
Inc. posted a 31-percent
increase in net income to P2.1
billion as revenues grew by
17 percent to P12.4 billion in
the rst quarter.
Financial unit Bank of the
Philippine Islands registered
a net income of P5.8 billion,
ahead of the previous years
P2.8 billion. This was fuelled
by growth in core banking
operations as well as trading
gains.
Telecom unit Globe
Telecom, however, saw its
net income decline 10 percent
in the rst quarter, on higher
operating expenses and higher
nancing. Consolidated
revenues in the rst quarter
reached a new all-time high of
P20.2 billion, up 6.0 percent
year-on-year.
The conglomerates water
utility Manila Water Co. Inc.
posted a net income of P1.3
billion, or 64 percent higher
than the same period last
year. Jenniffer B. Austria
By Jenniffer B. Austria
SAN Miguel Corp. said Friday net income grew
by 19 percent in the rst quarter to P8.5 billion
from P7.1 billion in the same period last year,
on the back of strong sales by new and existing
business units.
The countrys largest conglomerate
by sales said in a disclosure to the stock
exchange consolidated revenues in the
rst three months jumped 12 percent to
P142 billion from P126.6 billion a year
ago, led by higher output and prices.
San Miguel has recently acquired
a 49-percent equity in the holding
companies of Philippine Airlines and
Air Philippines for $500 million.
Its oil rening unit Petron Corp. has also
completed the acquisition of 65 percent of
Esso Malaysia Berhad and 100 percent of
ExxonMobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Exxon
Mobil Borneo Sdn Bhd.
Beer unit San Miguel Brewery Inc.
booked consolidated revenues of P18.3
billion in the January-March period, up
5 percent from the previous years level.
International sales grew 9 percent,
with China, Indonesia, Hong Kong and
Thailand posting good numbers.
Operating income rose 5 percent
to P5.3 billion in line with improved
efciency, management of xed costs,
and better international operations.
Food unit San Miguel Pure Foods
Co. Inc. posted rst-quarter revenues of
P22.4 billion, up 9 percent from a year
earlier.
The company traced the growth to
higher demand and favorable selling
prices across its businesses. Higher raw
material prices and the proliferation of
import commodity products, however,
took a toll on its operating income,
which stood at only P659 million.
Pure Foods plans to spend P4 billion
in capital expenditures over the next
two years primarily to construct new
grains terminal in Mabini, Batangas.
Pure Foods is also expanding its
Cavite plant, where a second nuggets
line is being constructed as a result of
increased market demand for nuggets
and related products.
Packaging unit San Miguel
Yamamura Packaging posted a
3-percent improvement in revenue
to P5.9 billion, supported by higher
domestic sales and solid performance
from its export business.
Operating income of San Miguel
Yamamura rose 11 percent to P511
million, as a result of efciency
initiatives, xed cost management and
lower raw material prices.
Petron Corp. booked a 4-percent
growth in sales volume, with more than
12 million barrels sold in the rst quarter.
Most of its products registered positive
growth, with domestic volumes growing
by 8 percent, resulting in a 17-percent
rise in revenues to P74.7 billion.
Fijian visitor.
Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas Governor
Amando Tetangco
Jr. (left) welcomes
Reserve Bank
of Fiji Governor
Barry Whiteside
in Manila. The
two discussed
economic
and nancial
developments as
well as initiatives
for nancial
inclusion, a key
program of the
Bangko Sentral.
Whiteside was
recently appointed
member of the
Board of Trustees
of the South East
Asian Central
Banks Trust Fund,
which provides
scholarships to
participants from
Seacen member-
central banks.
SECURITY Bank Corp. Friday
said net income rose 8.2 percent
in the rst quarter to P1.1 billion
from a year ago, as loans rose
more than 20 percent despite the
still challenging global banking
environment.
The rst-quarter prot
translated to a return on equity of
14 percent.
Security Bank said in a
report to the stock exchange net
interest income in the quarter
grew 22.3 percent to P2 billion,
reecting the banks focus on
driving growth through its core
businesses.
Security Bank president and
chief executive Alberto Villarosa
said after over 10 years of under-
investment in the Philippine
economy, a generally positive
tone is becoming evident in terms
of domestic market condence
and an increasing willingness
among bank clients to make
long-term investments.
The expansion in our
loan portfolio particularly in
infrastructure, real estate, mining
and energy has helped us achieve
our targets for the rst quarter
of 2012 and remains to be the
key factors in fueling what we
optimistically anticipate to be a
good year, Villarosa said.
Loans jumped P16.6 billion,
or 20.2 percent, to P98.6 billion
as of end-March.
The bank said the strong net
interest income in the rst quarter
was partly due to the stable 4.0
percent net interest margin which
was achieved despite pricing
pressure in both corporate and
commercial banking segments.
Other income, meanwhile,
fell P119 million, brought about
by the volatility of the foreign
exchange, trading and securities
portfolio.
The bank also reported a
healthy increase in total operating
income to P2.33 billion, up
by 11.7 percent from the same
period last year.
By Elaine R. Alanguilan
THE Bangko Sentral has
approved the acquisition
of Asiatrust Development
Bank by Asia United Bank
Corp.
AUB, the banking unit
of the Rebisco Group, said
in a statement it welcomed
the approval as it could
now pursue plans to fully
integrate the commercial
banks assets and liabilities
into its fold.
Bangko Sentrals policy-
making Monetary Board made
the formal approval during its
regular meeting on May 10.
AUB bought the banking
assets and will assume
the banking liabilities
of Asiatrust under the
transaction. The deal would
increase the total resources
of AUB, a medium-sized
commercial bank, by more
than P4 billion and expand
its nationwide network
presence to 102 branches.
The acquisition is in line
with our aspiration to make
AUB a stronger and more
formidable banking industry
player as we create synergies
with Asiatrust, said AUB
president Abraham Co.
The transaction is targeted
to be completed within the
rst half of 2012. The 28
branches of Asiatrust, most of
which are in Metro Manila,
will become AUB branches
upon completion of the
transaction.
New Ayala bonds
AYALA Corp. plans another benchmark
bond issue next year with a tenor longer than
15 years after raising P10 billion from the sale
of debt paper due 2027.
Ramon Opulencia, treasurer of the
conglomerate, told reporters the high level of
liquidity in the nancial system would make
it possible for project nancing, especially
infrastructure.
The conglomerate has been going to the
market to raise funds every year. It has raised
over the past week P10 billion from the sale of
15-year bonds, the rst corporate bond in the
domestic capital market with a 15-year tenor.
This is not the end. Every year, we go to the
market. Unless there is a big acquisition, there is
no more bond sale this year. We do that once a
year to preserve the scarcity of our issuances,
said Opulencia at the sidelines of the listing of the
companys debt paper at the Philippine Dealing
System in Makati City Friday.
He said the company plans to issue a longer
tenor to create benchmarks when it taps the
market anew next year.
Were looking at another benchmark issue
[next year], which might include a longer tenor
[than 15 years]. Elaine Ramos Alanguilan
Intexs LEAF project
NORWEGIAN-BASED Intex Resources
Philippines Inc. and Aglubang Mining Corp.
launches the Livelihood Enhancement Agro-
Forestry Project, which entails replanting
of various varieties of trees in line with the
corporate goal of propagating safe and green
mining.
Representatives of the Church and local
government ofcials witnessed the projects
formal launching on May 1 at Sablayan,
Occidental Mindoro.
The tree-planting project aims to conserve
and rehabilitate the ecological system and
provide community livelihood. To date,
the proponents have planted about 500,000
seedlings from their nurseries and planted over
300,000 trees. They have responded swiftly to
the call of the government to participate in its
greening program by committing, through the
Chamber of Mines, to plant 600,000 trees.
Both companies are afliate of Intex
Resources ASA, a publicly listed company
based in Oslo, Norway. They are the main
proponents of the Mindoro Nickel Project,
which, if realized, will bring an investment
of $2.5 billion and generate 10,000 in direct
employment during construction and 2,000
direct employment during operation with its
attendant multiplier effect.
Stocks dip; ICTSI,
Rockwell advance
Business
ManilaStandardToday
extrastory2000@gmail.com
B2
52 Weeks Previous % Net Foreign
High Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying
MST BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW
FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012
M
S
T
FINANCIAL
70.00 46.00 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 63.60 64.80 63.00 63.00 (0.94) 296,210 (952,628.50)
76.80 50.00 Bank of PI 72.45 72.95 71.20 71.20 (1.73) 1,051,800 (23,786,284.00)
1.82 0.69 Bankard, Inc. 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.00 10,000
512.00 370.00 China Bank 558.00 560.00 540.00 550.00 (1.43) 30,780 (8,059,500.00)
1.95 1.42 BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. 1.78 1.81 1.76 1.81 1.69 70,000
23.90 12.50 COL Financial 22.70 22.70 22.00 22.65 (0.22) 178,700 (226,500.00)
Eastwest Bank 18.90 19.04 18.80 18.84 (0.32) 3,734,300 (9,321,502.00)
22.00 7.56 Filipino Fund Inc. 10.10 10.20 10.00 10.00 (0.99) 14,500
0.95 0.62 First Abacus 0.76 0.76 0.75 0.75 (1.32) 212,000 75,000.00
80.00 40.00 First Metro Inv. 64.30 66.00 64.35 66.00 2.64 720
775.00 475.20 Manulife Fin. Corp. 530.00 530.00 530.00 530.00 0.00 10
29.00 3.00 Maybank ATR KE 29.10 29.75 27.20 29.65 1.89 232,700 5,880.00
93.50 60.00 Metrobank 88.00 89.00 87.00 87.00 (1.14) 2,764,730 (41,769,369.50)
3.06 1.30 Natl Reinsurance Corp. 2.02 2.02 2.00 2.00 (0.99) 623,000
16.85 41.00 Phil. National Bank 71.00 72.00 69.20 69.20 (2.54) 703,370 (12,158,798.00)
539.00 204.80 PSE Inc. 360.00 365.00 360.00 360.00 0.00 39,910 7,914,000.00
44.40 25.45 RCBC À 44.50 44.50 43.60 43.60 (2.02) 894,600.00 16,074,755.00
151.50 77.00 Security Bank 143.50 144.00 142.20 142.70 (0.56) 1,621,190 30,265,507.00
1390.00 950.00 Sun Life Financial 975.00 990.00 990.00 990.00 1.54 60
140.00 58.00 Union Bank 101.90 104.90 102.00 102.70 0.79 1,363,740 20,742,238.00
2.06 1.43 Vantage Equities 1.87 1.88 1.88 1.88 0.53 5,000
INDUSTRIAL
35.50 26.50 Aboitiz Power Corp. 34.80 35.10 34.70 34.75 (0.14) 3,704,500 22,873,925.00
13.58 7.32 Agrinurture Inc. 11.68 11.64 11.28 11.34 (2.91) 69,100 (86,884.00)
23.50 11.98 Alaska Milk Corp. 23.60 23.60 23.60 23.60 0.00 500
1.86 0.97 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.49 1.50 1.47 1.48 (0.67) 123,000
54.90 26.00 Alphaland Corp. 31.50 31.90 31.50 31.90 1.27 1,000
1.65 1.08 Alsons Cons. 1.38 1.38 1.33 1.33 (3.62) 1,647,000 (81,600.00)
Asiabest Group 36.50 38.00 32.00 32.25 (11.64) 133,300
102.80 3.02 Bloomberry 9.10 9.20 8.90 9.00 (1.10) 39,015,800 (237,749.00)
2.88 2.24 Calapan Venture 2.30 2.30 2.26 2.30 0.00 31,000 69,000.00
144.00 36.00 Conc. Aggr. À 65.00 80.00 80.00 80.00 23.08 10
3.07 2.30 Chemrez Technologies Inc. 2.61 2.62 2.62 2.62 0.38 60,000
8.33 7.41 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 8.19 8.15 8.15 8.15 (0.49) 600
7.06 4.83 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.90 6.07 5.96 5.96 1.02 16,899,700 7,363,889.00
6.28 2.80 EEI 6.20 6.25 6.11 6.16 (0.65) 489,500 1,144,980.00
3.80 1.00 Euro-Med Lab. 2.10 2.40 2.15 2.37 12.86 116,000
25.00 5.80 Federal Chemicals 10.80 13.48 10.80 12.98 20.19 102,700 (210,200.00)
15.58 12.50 First Gen Corp. 13.80 14.00 13.88 13.88 0.58 2,997,500 9,397,222.00
67.20 51.50 First Holdings A 63.50 65.50 64.00 64.50 1.57 739,400 (9,720,324.00)
31.50 22.50 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 22.00 22.30 22.30 22.30 1.36 5,000
0.10 0.0095 Greenergy 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 (6.67) 33,500,000 7,000.00
13.50 7.80 Holcim Philippines Inc. 12.00 12.00 11.44 11.50 (4.17) 12,000 2,150.00
9.00 4.71 Integ. Micro-Electronics 4.75 5.04 4.65 4.65 (2.11) 665,000 111,600.00
2.35 0.95 Ionics Inc 1.360 1.450 1.340 1.380 1.47 280,000 218,420.00
120.00 80.00 Jollibee Foods Corp. 110.90 111.00 108.50 108.50 (2.16) 258,260 (5,626,346.00)
91.25 25.00 Liberty Flour 53.30 62.00 62.00 62.00 16.32 1,000
8.40 1.04 LMG Chemicals 2.21 2.26 1.95 1.95 (11.76) 533,000 (2,150.00)
3.20 1.05 Manchester Intl. A 2.00 2.11 2.11 2.11 5.50 5,000
24.70 17.94 Manila Water Co. Inc. 25.40 25.40 25.00 25.20 (0.79) 1,290,600 (8,096,645.00)
15.30 8.12 Megawide 16.90 16.98 16.60 16.60 (1.78) 2,204,600 59,150.00
295.00 215.00 Mla. Elect. Co À 256.00 258.00 252.00 252.00 (1.56) 189,550 (5,471,502.00)
6.75 4.50 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 6.65 6.40 5.41 6.40 (3.76) 14,500 15,360.00
11.00 7.00 Pancake House Inc. 11.90 11.70 10.00 11.70 (1.68) 1,500
3.00 1.96 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 2.70 2.76 2.66 2.66 (1.48) 62,000 82,240.00
17.40 9.70 Petron Corporation 10.42 10.42 10.36 10.36 (0.58) 2,574,500 (2,029,420.00)
15.24 9.01 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 9.32 9.30 9.10 9.28 (0.43) 365,200 9,200.00
9.50 5.25 Republic Cement À 8.45 8.50 8.45 8.50 0.59 260,200
2.55 1.01 RFM Corporation 2.70 2.70 2.61 2.65 (1.85) 3,567,000 3,113,840.00
2.49 1.10 Roxas and Co. 2.40 2.28 2.28 2.28 (5.00) 18,000
3.49 2.01 Roxas Holdings 3.38 3.00 2.90 2.90 (14.20) 6,000
6.50 2.90 Salcon Power Corp. 3.80 3.80 3.80 3.80 0.00 13,000
33.00 27.70 San Miguel Brewery Inc. 29.90 29.90 29.50 29.50 (1.34) 5,200
132.60 105.70 San Miguel Corp À 113.50 114.40 113.00 113.40 (0.09) 514,220 37,394,402.00
1.90 1.25 Seacem 1.74 1.74 1.73 1.73 (0.57) 3,108,000
2.50 1.85 Splash Corporation 1.85 1.86 1.86 1.86 0.54 5,000
0.250 0.112 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.132 0.131 0.130 0.130 (1.52) 8,640,000 131,000.00
5.46 2.92 Tanduay Holdings 3.79 3.79 3.76 3.79 0.00 137,000
3.62 1.99 TKC Steel Corp. 2.35 2.35 2.22 2.35 0.00 24,000
1.41 0.90 Trans-Asia Oil 1.24 1.27 1.24 1.24 0.00 1,059,000
68.00 36.20 Universal Robina 67.50 68.00 67.50 67.75 0.37 3,466,900 80,597,678.00
1.12 0.285 Vitarich Corp. 0.670 0.650 0.630 0.630 (5.97) 511,000
1.22 0.68 Vulcan Indl. 1.01 1.05 1.03 1.05 3.96 50,000
HOLDING FIRMS
1.18 0.65 Abacus Cons. À 0.72 0.71 0.70 0.70 (2.78) 3,944,000
59.90 35.50 Aboitiz Equity 52.35 53.00 52.10 52.85 0.96 1,627,600 17,625,140.00
0.019 0.014 Alcorn Gold Res. 0.0150 0.0160 0.0150 0.0160 6.67 12,600,000
13.48 8.00 Alliance Global Inc. 12.94 13.20 12.80 12.90 (0.31) 26,230,300 8,170,866.00
2.97 1.67 Anglo Holdings A 2.00 2.00 1.98 1.98 (1.00) 590,000 (299,000.00)
4.60 3.00 Anscor À 4.75 4.75 4.70 4.70 (1.05) 102,000
6.98 0.260 Asia Amalgamated A 3.80 4.35 3.81 4.00 5.26 221,000
437.00 272.00 Ayala Corp À 450.00 458.00 450.00 457.00 1.56 175,200 39,089,344.00
59.45 30.50 DMCI Holdings 63.40 63.30 61.10 62.10 (2.05) 2,628,830 (25,605,699.50)
4.19 1.03 F&J Prince A 2.62 2.61 2.61 2.61 (0.38) 6,000
5.25 3.30 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.20 4.27 4.08 4.18 (0.48) 294,000 76,680.00
0.98 0.10 Forum Pacic 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.00 30,000
GT Capital 493.00 500.00 490.00 491.00 (0.41) 210,990 (30,373,744.00)
5.22 2.90 House of Inv. 4.70 4.70 4.55 4.55 (3.19) 37,000
34.80 19.00 JG Summit Holdings 34.50 34.60 32.90 34.00 (1.45) 3,521,000 66,827,490.00
4.19 2.27 Jolliville Holdings 2.77 2.30 2.30 2.30 (16.97) 15,000
6.95 4.00 Lopez Holdings Corp. 5.45 5.60 5.43 5.54 1.65 2,853,600 4,710,437.00
1.54 0.61 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 1.15 1.18 1.13 1.13 (1.74) 3,892,000
0.91 0.300 Mabuhay Holdings À 0.560 0.630 0.570 0.570 1.79 102,000
3.82 1.500 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 3.120 3.180 3.050 3.050 (2.24) 3,158,000 (691,320.00)
4.45 2.56 Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. 4.40 4.44 4.18 4.19 (4.77) 32,446,000 (12,394,420.00)
6.24 2.10 Minerales Industrias Corp. 4.88 5.00 4.81 4.95 1.43 123,000
0.0770 0.054 Pacica À 0.0550 0.0550 0.0540 0.0540 (1.82) 2,250,000
0.82 0.44 Prime Orion 0.490 0.490 0.480 0.480 (2.04) 400,000 48,000.00
2.40 0.91 Seafront À 1.41 1.41 1.38 1.38 (2.13) 128,000
0.490 0.285 Sinophil Corp. 0.350 0.350 0.345 0.345 (1.43) 900,000
699.00 450.00 SM Investments Inc. 700.00 711.00 702.00 708.00 1.14 391,340 (23,125,960.00)
1.78 1.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.48 1.51 1.45 1.45 (2.03) 793,000
1.57 1.14 South China Res. Inc. 1.26 1.29 1.24 1.29 2.38 126,000
0.420 0.099 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2400 0.2500 0.2500 0.2500 4.17 2,000,000
0.620 0.056 Wellex Industries 0.3700 0.4150 0.3800 0.3800 2.70 23,120,000
1.370 0.178 Zeus Holdings 0.550 0.540 0.500 0.500 (9.09) 3,059,000
P R O P E R T Y
2.82 1.70 A. Brown Co., Inc. 2.51 2.51 2.48 2.48 (1.20) 81,000
22.40 13.36 Ayala Land `B 21.00 21.40 20.45 20.50 (2.38) 3,378,400 (13,829,675.00)
6.12 3.08 Belle Corp. À 4.79 4.84 4.79 4.80 0.21 5,523,000 1,960,270.00
9.00 2.26 Cebu Holdings 7.00 7.00 6.70 6.70 (4.29) 637,700 (11,758.00)
5.60 2.00 Cebu Prop. À 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 0.00 40,000
5.20 2.20 Cebu Prop. `B 5.20 5.00 5.00 5.00 (3.85) 15,000
5.66 0.26 Century Property 1.56 1.63 1.45 1.50 (3.85) 17,916,000 (593,960.00)
2.85 1.20 City & Land Dev. 2.45 2.70 2.40 2.55 4.08 149,000
1.65 1.07 Cityland Dev. À 1.28 1.28 1.27 1.27 (0.78) 176,000
0.127 0.060 Crown Equities Inc. 0.082 0.082 0.080 0.081 (1.22) 5,080,000
1.16 0.67 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.00 605,000 5,040.00
0.90 0.54 Empire East Land 0.750 0.770 0.740 0.740 (1.33) 6,192,000
3.80 2.90 Eton Properties 3.36 3.40 3.40 3.40 1.19 10,000
0.310 0.10 Ever Gotesco 0.175 0.170 0.170 0.170 (2.86) 1,400,000
3.06 1.76 Global-Estate 2.02 2.02 1.95 1.95 (3.47) 1,528,000 (390,870.00)
1.35 0.98 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.34 1.35 1.33 1.33 (0.75) 45,370,000 15,309,050.00
3.80 1.21 Highlands Prime 1.81 1.92 1.69 1.80 (0.55) 26,000
2.14 0.65 Interport À 1.06 1.20 1.07 1.11 4.72 362,000
4.50 1.50 Keppel Properties 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.98 0.00 1,000
2.48 1.51 Megaworld Corp. 2.18 2.19 2.11 2.12 (2.75) 58,210,000 3,610,590.00
0.80 0.215 MRC Allied Ind. 0.1940 0.1940 0.1800 0.1840 (5.15) 10,900,000 5,670.00
0.990 0.072 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.6900 0.7900 0.7100 0.7200 4.35 84,377,000 (527,070.00)
0.71 0.41 Phil. Realty À 0.520 0.520 0.510 0.510 (1.92) 101,000
38.10 12.50 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 14.10 14.54 14.54 14.54 3.12 5,000
18.86 10.00 Robinsons Land `B 17.86 17.96 17.00 17.00 (4.82) 482,600 105,436.00
Rockwell 1.46 7.71 4.02 4.90 235.62 8,191,000 (302,570.00)
2.70 1.74 Shang Properties Inc. 2.52 2.60 2.50 2.60 3.17 485,000
9.47 6.50 SM Development À 7.00 7.03 6.95 6.95 (0.71) 937,700 (195,587.00)
18.20 10.90 SM Prime Holdings 16.00 16.10 15.90 15.92 (0.50) 14,831,100 (51,192,936.00)
1.14 0.64 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.70 0.73 0.69 0.69 (1.43) 193,000
4.30 2.60 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.280 4.280 4.170 4.220 (1.40) 3,924,000 (114,330.00)
S E R V I C E S
2GO Group 1.98 2.00 1.88 1.88 (5.05) 25,000 11,700.00
43.00 28.60 ABS-CBN 36.00 36.30 36.00 36.30 0.83 4,500
14.76 1.60 Acesite Hotel 7.80 8.88 7.00 7.59 (2.69) 153,600 736,000.00
0.80 0.45 APC Group, Inc. 0.660 0.670 0.670 0.670 1.52 3,000
9.30 7.30 Asian Terminals Inc. 9.30 9.00 9.00 9.00 (3.23) 1,200
0.5300 0.0660 Boulevard Holdings 0.1690 0.1700 0.1630 0.1630 (3.55) 40,180,000 (115,050.00)
98.15 62.50 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 68.80 69.95 67.25 67.25 (2.25) 664,710 7,399,956.00
9.70 5.40 DFNN Inc. 6.40 6.60 6.10 6.30 (1.56) 250,900
5.90 1.45 Easy Call Common 4.52 4.75 3.20 3.20 (29.20) 38,000
1750.00 765.00 FEUI 934.50 935.00 935.00 935.00 0.05 80
1172.00 11.70 Globalports 32.10 32.05 32.00 32.00 (0.31) 7,100 (16,000.00)
1270.00 825.00 Globe Telecom 1095.00 1090.00 1055.00 1055.00 (3.65) 24,020 2,506,680.00
10.34 6.18 GMA Network Inc. 9.75 9.75 9.30 9.75 0.00 444,100
69.00 43.40 I.C.T.S.I. 73.20 74.65 73.30 73.50 0.41 1,758,940 29,105,334.00
0.98 0.34 Information Capital Tech. 0.405 0.420 0.420 0.420 3.70 30,000
18.40 5.00 Imperial Res. À 9.00 9.00 8.70 8.70 (3.33) 10,600
6.00 4.00 IPeople Inc. À 6.11 6.20 6.11 6.11 0.00 16,000
4.29 2.20 IP Converge 3.23 3.45 3.13 3.28 1.55 530,000 (36,310.00)
34.50 0.123 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.061 0.065 0.056 0.058 (4.92) 187,250,000 (497,040.00)
3.87 1.16 IPVG Corp. 1.06 1.06 1.00 1.04 (1.89) 1,850,000 (312,800.00)
5.1900 2.900 ISM Communications 2.9000 2.9000 2.8000 2.8900 (0.34) 104,000
3.79 1.58 JTH Davies Holdings Inc. 2.39 2.40 2.35 2.35 (1.67) 112,000
11.68 5.90 Leisure & Resorts 6.97 6.98 6.79 6.85 (1.72) 865,100
3.96 2.70 Macroasia Corp. 2.90 2.90 2.90 2.90 0.00 50,000
3.00 1.00 Manila Jockey 1.55 1.55 1.55 1.55 0.00 1,030,000
9.60 6.50 Metro Pacic Tollways 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 0.00 100
21.00 17.20 Pacic Online Sys. Corp. 20.50 20.95 20.10 20.95 2.20 2,500
8.58 4.50 PAL Holdings Inc. 7.65 7.65 7.50 7.64 (0.13) 20,300
3.32 1.05 Paxys Inc. 2.47 2.50 2.42 2.45 (0.81) 411,000
10.00 4.60 Phil. Racing Club 9.10 9.20 9.00 9.05 (0.55) 16,300 84,165.00
60.00 17.02 Phil. Seven Corp. 44.00 45.00 44.00 44.00 0.00 25,200 1,102,400.00
17.18 14.50 Philweb.Com Inc. 17.00 17.00 16.78 16.78 (1.29) 297,700 488,850.00
6.90 3.80 PLDT Comm & Energy 3.60 3.60 3.58 3.60 0.00 8,000 (18,000.00)
2886.00 2096.00 PLDT Common 2508.00 2522.00 2502.00 2506.00 (0.08) 111,530 (34,877,780.00)
0.48 0.23 PremiereHorizon 0.330 0.330 0.320 0.320 (3.03) 1,160,000
23.75 10.68 Puregold 24.15 24.20 23.50 23.55 (2.48) 2,348,300 (10,009,695.00)
Touch Solutions 3.55 3.53 3.53 3.53 (0.56) 6,000
3.30 2.40 Transpacic Broadcast 2.75 2.75 2.67 2.75 0.00 3,000
0.79 0.26 Waterfront Phils. 0.430 0.450 0.405 0.405 (5.81) 4,110,000 (138,200.00)
MINING & OIL
0.0083 0.0036 Abra Mining 0.0052 0.0053 0.0052 0.0053 1.92 50,000,000
6.20 3.01 Apex À 5.15 5.29 5.05 5.05 (1.94) 140,100
6.22 3.00 Apex `B 5.10 5.06 5.05 5.05 (0.98) 178,000
25.20 14.50 Atlas Cons. À 18.30 18.60 17.98 18.00 (1.64) 1,088,900 544,780.00
31.00 20.00 Atok-Big Wedge À 29.00 30.95 29.95 30.00 3.45 6,700 (11,980.00)
0.380 0.148 Basic Energy Corp. 0.275 0.270 0.260 0.260 (5.45) 21,160,000
30.35 15.00 Benguet Corp À 25.05 25.20 25.00 25.00 (0.20) 11,600
34.00 14.50 Benguet Corp `B 25.50 25.50 25.30 25.30 (0.78) 4,100
2.51 1.62 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 1.66 1.65 1.58 1.63 (1.81) 1,197,000
50.85 4.35 Dizon 38.30 41.35 38.00 39.65 3.52 1,997,300 186,970.00
1.21 0.50 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.81 0.82 0.76 0.77 (4.94) 12,005,000 150,000.00
1.82 0.5900 Lepanto À 1.340 1.340 1.270 1.270 (5.22) 26,978,000
2.070 0.6700 Lepanto `B 1.340 1.370 1.300 1.310 (2.24) 13,250,000 (131,390.00)
0.085 0.035 Manila Mining À 0.0640 0.0660 0.0640 0.0640 0.00 509,350,000
0.087 0.035 Manila Mining `B 0.0650 0.0650 0.0640 0.0640 (1.54) 89,650,000 (95,910.00)
34.80 15.04 Nickelasia 30.00 29.90 28.05 28.05 (6.50) 1,560,800 11,641,990.00
12.76 2.08 Nihao Mineral Resources 10.06 10.50 10.02 10.08 0.20 3,921,400 440,590.00
1.100 0.008 Omico 0.7800 0.7600 0.7500 0.7500 (3.85) 811,000
8.40 2.12 Oriental Peninsula Res. 5.780 5.980 5.500 5.500 (4.84) 10,610,600 1,191,720.00
0.032 0.012 Oriental Pet. À 0.0200 0.0200 0.0190 0.0190 (5.00) 57,500,000
0.033 0.013 Oriental Pet. `B 0.0210 0.0210 0.0200 0.0200 (4.76) 114,800,000 (504,000.00)
7.14 5.10 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 6.30 6.39 6.30 6.30 0.00 12,900
28.95 17.08 Philex À 23.50 23.50 22.75 22.95 (2.34) 3,089,100 (2,209,965.00)
14.18 3.00 PhilexPetroleum 25.90 26.10 23.80 24.85 (4.05) 1,527,100 137,840.00
0.058 0.013 Philodrill Corp. À 0.047 0.047 0.040 0.042 (10.64) 2,068,800,000 409,500.00
252.00 161.10 Semirara Corp. 253.00 253.00 246.00 249.00 (1.58) 111,100 3,543,316.00
0.029 0.013 United Paragon 0.0190 0.0190 0.0190 0.0190 0.00 77,000,000
PREFERRED
109.80 100.50 First Phil. Hldgs.-Pref. 104.90 104.90 104.90 104.90 0.00 7,500
11.02 6.00 GMA Holdings Inc. 9.50 9.40 9.10 9.20 (3.16) 1,294,000 (2,711,673.00)
116.70 106.20 PCOR-Preferred 115.30 115.20 115.20 115.20 (0.09) 1,000
1050.00 990.00 SMPFC Preferred 1040.00 1040.00 1030.00 1030.00 (0.96) 2,500
6.00 0.87 Swift Pref 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.12 0.00 8,000
WARRANTS & BONDS
1.35 0.62 Megaworld Corp. Warrants 1.19 1.20 1.15 1.18 (0.84) 8,577,000 9,409,990.00
0.210 0.00 Omico Corp. Warrant 0.0990 0.0710 0.0710 0.0710 (28.28) 1,000,000
TRADI NG SUMMARY
SHARES VALUE
FINANCIAL 13,847,372 912,304,834.75
INDUSTRIAL 137,126,566 1,258,656,729.31
HOLDING FIRMS 128,160,863 1,468,493,502.739
PROPERTY 406,397,825 898,933,279.3502
SERVICES 253,590,902 943,615,922.603
MINING & OIL 3,068,011,346 586,046,643.133
GRAND TOTAL 4,007,134,874 6,068,050,911.8822
FINANCIAL 1,250.63 (down) 15.50
INDUSTRIAL 7,851.89 (down) 36.85
HOLDING FIRMS 4,556.52 (up) 3.10
PROPERTY 1,862.25 (down) 35.94
SERVICES 1,688.22 (down) 5.95
MINING & OIL 23,993.69 (down) 746.50
PSEI 5,158.14 (down) 33.96
All Shares Index 3,405.22 (down) 16.91
Gainers: 52; Losers: 130; Unchanged: 26 Total: 208
Philex unit eyes Palawan block
STOCKS Close
(P)
Change
(%)
Easy Call "Common" 3.20 (29.20)
Omico Corp. Warrant 0.0710 (28.28)
Jolliville Holdings 2.30 (16.97)
Roxas Holdings 2.90 (14.20)
LMG Chemicals 1.95 (11.76)
Asiabest Group 32.25 (11.64)
Philodrill Corp. À' 0.042 (10.64)
Zeus Holdings 0.500 (9.09)
Greenergy 0.0140 (6.67)
Nickelasia 28.05 (6.50)
STOCKS Close
(P)
Change
(%)
Rockwell 4.90 235.62
Conc. Aggr. À' 80.00 23.08
Federal Chemicals 12.98 20.19
Liberty Flour 62.00 16.32
Euro-Med Lab. 2.37 12.86
Alcorn Gold Res. 0.0160 6.67
Manchester Intl. "A" 2.11 5.50
Asia Amalgamated A 4.00 5.26
Interport À' 1.11 4.72
Phil. Estates Corp. 0.7200 4.35
TOP GAI NERS TOP LOSERS
STOCKS VOLUME
Philodrill Corp. À 2,068,800,000
Manila Mining À 509,350,000
IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 187,250,000
Oriental Pet. `B 114,800,000
Manila Mining `B 89,650,000
Phil. Estates Corp. 84,377,000
United Paragon 77,000,000
Megaworld Corp. 58,210,000
Oriental Pet. À 57,500,000
Abra Mining 50,000,000
STOCKS VALUE
Bloomberry 354,784,622.00
Alliance Global Inc. 338,939,424.00
PLDT Common 280,288,700.00
SM Investments Inc. 277,092,090.00
Metrobank 242,020,724.00
SM Prime Holdings 236,327,210.00
Universal Robina 234,930,708.00
Security Bank 231,561,128.00
DMCI Holdings 162,764,546.00
Union Bank 139,911,874.00
BDO-ANB partnership. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. has partnered with the Arab National Bank to
provide remittance services to Filipino workers overseas in Saudi Arabia. Shown during the partnership
launch are (from left) Philippine Embassy welfare ofcer Romeo Pablo; BDO rst vice president of remit-
tance projects and system support Tomas Victor Mendoza; ANB-TeleMoney product manager Shalimar
Salomabao; and BDO senior vice president and head of remittance origination Jonathan Diokno.
STOCKS fell for the third straight
session Friday, as investors continued
to shun tourism-related companies with
stakes in projects that may be affected by
the withdrawal of Chinese tourists from
the country.
The Philippine Stock
Exchange index, the 30-company
benchmark, shed 33 points, or
0.7 percent, to close at 5,158.14,
its lowest level since April 17.
All six counters, except holding
rms, closed in the red.
The heavier index representing
all shares was also down 16
points or 0.5 percent to 3,405, as
losers outnumbered gainers, 130
to 52, with 26 issues unchanged.
Some P6 billion worth of shares
were traded Friday.
Presidential spokesman
Ricky Carandang said the fall
in tourism stocks was a knee-
jerk reaction. About 10 groups
from China with as many as
500 tourists canceled trips to
the Philippines, according to
Tourism Undersecretary Maria
Victoria Jasmin.
This is unusual because there
is no advisory, Jasmin said by
phone. Its like word of mouth
spreading. We need to be very
careful in the statements that we
make lest we make the situation
worse.
Bloomberry Resorts Corp.
and Alliance Global Group Inc.,
two companies that are building
multimillion-dollar resort casinos
in Manila and aiming to draw
visitors from China and other
Asian markets, fell on a second
day.
Bloomberry lost 1.1 percent to
P9 while Alliance Global shed 0.3
percent to P12.90. Hotel operator
Waterfront Philippines Inc. also
fell 5.8 percent to P0.405.
Meanwhile, International
Container Terminal Services
Inc. advanced after the largest
Philippine port operator reported
a 24-percent gain in rst-quarter
prot and a unit agreed to borrow
$46.5 million. The stock rose 0.4
percent to P73.50.
The companys subsidiary,
Baltic Container Terminal, has
signed an agreement for a $46.5
million loan with Bank Pekao
SA to help fund the upgrade
and expansion of a terminal in
Polands Port of Gdynia, a stock
exchange ling showed.
Energy Development Corp.,
the nations biggest power
producer using geothermal
energy, advanced 1.0 percent
to P5.96, after it forecast this
years prot may range between
P6.8 billion and P7 billion.
Rockwell Land Corp. rose
to P4.90 after listing 6.23
billion shares by introduction.
The indicative listing price
for the shares were at P1.46
each, documents led with the
bourse showed. The company
is targeting prot this year to
exceed P1 billion, company
president Nestor Padilla said.
Asian stock markets were also
lower Friday as traders eyed
political upheaval in Greece
and signs of slowing economic
growth in China. Japans Nikkei
225 index fell 0.4 percent to
8,972.24 and South Koreas
Kospi lost 1.3 percent at 1,919.20.
Hong Kongs Hang Seng fell 1.2
percent to 19,989.54.
With Bloomberg, AP
By Alena Mae S. Flores
PHILEX Petroleum Corp., the
exploration arm of Philex Mining
Corp., has expressed interest
in bidding for a block area in
northwest Palawan basin which
is believed to be rich in oil and
gas reserves.
Philex Mining chairman
Manuel Pangilinan said the
company was looking at Area 5,
one of the three areas the Energy
Department is set to offer to
investors for exploration and
development by end-July.
Philex Petroleum and Philodrill
Corp. had earlier offered a bid
for Area 15 in the Sulu Sea, was
a part of the 15 blocks offered
under the governments oil and
gas contracting round.
Pangilinan said Philex Mining
had set aside P1 billion for Philex
Petroleums capital expenditure
this year. Philex Petroleums
portfolio of energy assets include
Brixton Energy & Mining Corp.
(100 percent), FEC Resources
(51.24 percent), Forum Energy
Plc (38.82 percent), Pitkin
Petroleum Plc. (18.46 percent),
PetroEnergy Resources Corp.
(10.31 percent), Octon Block
under service contract 6A (5.56
percent) and Cadlao block under
SC 6, 1.65 percent.
Its P1-billion [capex for
Philex Petroleum] out of P7.7-
billion capex for Philex Mining,
Pangilinan said.
The Energy Department
remains bullish that large oil and
gas companies would participate
in the bidding for Area 3, 4 and 5,
in northwest Palawan.
We are hopeful that given the
prospectivity of the blocks in
NW Palawan, the major players
will participate and also those
who were pre-qualied, Energy
Undersecretary Jay Layug said.
Layug said the Energy
Department has yet to act on the
motion for reconsideration led
by the oil exploration rms for
the areas earlier offered under the
Philippine Energy Contracting
Round 4.
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH), 1st District Engineering Offce, Patin-
ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, through the CY 2011 Savings from
CARAGA Regional Offce and CY 2012 School Building Projects invites
contractors to bid for the following:
1.) a. Contract D : 12NB0022
b. Contract Name : Restoration of Bayugan Calaitan
Tandag Road, San Juan Section
(Section 4), K1294+000 K1295+000
c. Contract Location : Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur
d. Scope of Work : Embankment, tem 200, Pipe Culvert,
Excavation, Riprap and Gabions
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php8,543,822.00
f. Contract Duration : 195 Calendar Days
g. Bidding Documents Fee : Php10,000.00
b. Contract Name : Construction of 1 -Unit/1CL (7mx9m)
Wooden Type Elementary School
Building at San Roque
c. Contract Location : Sibagat, Agusan del Sur
d. Scope of Work : Carpentry, Concrete and Roofng Works
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php594,000.00
b. Contract Name : Construction of 1 -Unit/1CL (7mx9m)
Concrete Type Elementary School
Building at Magsaysay
c. Contract Location : Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
d. Scope of Work : Carpentry, Concrete and Roofng Works,
Painting (Roofng)
b. Contract Name : Construction of 1- Unit/1CL (7mx9m)
Concrete Type ntegrated School
Building at Salug
c. Contract Location : Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
b. Contract Name : Construction of 1- Unit/2CL (7mx9m)
Wooden Type National High School
Building at Padiay
c. Contract Location : Sibagat, Agusan del Sur
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php1,278,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with
the Revised RR 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 ntent
(LO), 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 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 Offce before the deadline for
the receipt of LO. The DPWH -POCW Central Offce will only process
contractors' applications for registration with complete requirements and
issue Contractor's Certifcate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms
may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown
below:
1. ssuance of Bidding Documents From: May 12, 2012 To: June 5, 2012
2. Pre Bid Conference 10:00am on May 22, 2012
3. Deadline of Receipt of LO from
Prospective Bidders
Until 5:00pm on May 29, 2012
4. Receipt of Bids
Deadline: 12:00 noon on June 5,
2012
5. Opening of Bids 2:00pm on June 5, 2012
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BD's) at
the DPWH 1st District Engineering Ofce, Patin ay, Prosperidad,
Agusan del Sur, upon payment of a non refundable fee scheduled above.
Prospective bidders may also download the BD's from the DPWH web
site, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BD's 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 BD's. Bids must accompanied
by a bid security, in the amount stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised RR.
Prospective bidders shall obtain the results of the eligibility check at the
DPWH 1st District Engineering Offce, Patin ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del
Sur.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as
specifed in the BD's in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC
Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain the technical component of the
bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall
contain the fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the
Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation
The DPWH 1st District Engineering Offce, Patin ay, Prosperidad,
Agusan del Sur reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the
bidding process at any time prior contract award, without hereby incurring
any liability to the affected bidder/s.
Approved:
(Sgd.) MA. SUSAN M. QUISMUNDO
Engineer III
BAC Chairperson
NOTED:
(Sgd.) JAIME T. BERNAT, SR.
District Engineer
Department of Public Works and Highways
CARAGA Region XIII
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Agusan del Sur 1
st
District Engineering Offce
Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
(MST-May 12, 2012) (MST-May 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18, 2012)
Before the court is a
verifed petition fled by the
petitioner through counsel,
praying that after notice
and hearing, an order be
issued declaring JOSE
NONO REYES absent or
presumptively dead for all
legal intents and purposes,
and ordering such other
relief and remedies, just,
necessary and equitable
under the premises.
Finding the petition to
be suffcient in form and
substance, the hearing of
the same is set on May 23,
2012 at 8:30 o'clock in the
morning at which date, time,
and place, all interested
person may come and show
cause, if there be any why
the petition should not be
granted.
Let copies of this petition
be furnished the National
Statistics Offce, the local
Civil Registrar of Porac,
Pampanga, the subject
person of the petition Jose
Nono Reyes c/ /o his father,
Pio Reyes, of M. Pagalaya,
Porac, Pampanga, the
petitioner and Atty. Jose
Eduardo B. Narciso.
Let copies of this Order
be likewise published at the
expenses of the petitioner
for one week in a newspaper
of general circulation in the
Philippines.
SO ORDERED.
Tarlac City, April 12,
2012.
(SGD.) LILY C. DE VERA-VALLO
Presiding Judge
REGONAL TRAL COURT
Third Judicial Region
Branch 64
Tarlac City
N THE MATTER OF THE PETTON FOR
DECLARATOND OF PRESUMPTVE DEATH OF
JOSE NONO REYES,
SPEC. PROC. NO. 4840
JULETA N. SANTOS-REYES,
Petitioner.
x-------------------------------x
O R D E R
The City Government of Makati, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/
manufacturers/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects:
NO. NAME OF PROJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LOCATION APPROVED BUDGET
1 ABG Syringes and other laboratory supplies for the use of
Ospital ng Makati
OSMAK P5,200,627.00
2 Air Humidifer and other medical supplies for emergency
and daily operations of Ospital ng Makati
OSMAK P2,138,229.00
3 nternet Connection for use of various schools of Dep-Ed
Makati
DEP-ED P2,443,500.00
Prospective Bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50%
of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examinations
of Bids shall use non-discretionary "pass/fail criteria. Post-Qualifcation of the Lowest Calculated Bid shall
be conducted.
All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding
Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualifcation and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent
provisions of R.A. 9184 and its mplementing Rules and Regulations (RR).
The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
1. Pre-Bidding Conference at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor May 22, 2012 (02:00 P.M.)
2. Opening of Bids at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor June 05, 2012 (02:00 P.M.)
Bidding Documents will be available only to Prospective Bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount
of ______________________to the City Government of Makati Cashier.
(fee for Bid Documents) (Procuring Entity)
The City Government of Makati assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify
(Procuring Entity)
bidders for any Expenses ncurred in the preparation of the bid.
The City of Makati reserves the right to disqualify any or all proposal, to waive any defects or informalities
therein and to accept such proposal as may be considered most advantageous to the Government.
Approved by:
(Sgd.) MARJORIE A. DE VEYRA
Chairperson

Bids and Awards Committee
J.P. Rizal St. corner F. Zobel St., Makati City
Tel. No. 870-1000 Fax No. 899-8988
www.makati.gov.ph
INVITATION TO BID
REPUBLKA NG PLPNAS
LUNGSOD NG MAKATI
(MST-May 12, 2012)
Business
ManilaStandardToday extrastory2000@gmail.com MAY 12, 2012 SATURDAY
B3
Clark
lures two
investors
Labor groups urge employers
to comply with SSS obligations
Puregold backs sari-sari stores
LEADERS of two big labor
organizations called on employers
to fully comply with all the
provisions of Social Security
Act and other laws intended to
provide social protection for the
countrys workers.
Manny Arias, president of the
National Federation of Labor
Unions, called attention to recent
reports that several companies
seemed to be deliberately
ignoring their obligations
regarding social security benets
mandated by the SSS law and
other similar legislation such
as those of PhilHealth and Pag-
IBIG. Arias deplored the non-
remittance of some P1.9 billion
in SSS contributions that, he
said, had been foregone.
Those reported as having
failed to remit SSS premiums
of their employees included
a telecommunications rm, a
steel company, a medical clinic
and another whose owner was
convicted for violation of the
Social Security Act of 1997,
and the conviction of which was
afrmed by the Supreme Court
in October last year.
Charges have been led
against them by the SSS and I
supposed they have availed of the
one-time condonation. But the
question is, how are they doing
with respect to full compliance
of the SSS law? And are they
up to date in remitting these
premiums? asked Arias.
Arias call for full
compliance with the SSS
law as echoed by Abraham
Bio, president of the Bagong
Alyansa ng Manggagawang
Pangtransportasyon Para sa
Edukasyon at Reporma. Bio
said his group was a national
organization of informal workers
in the transport industry and
that members of Bamper were
laboring without the benet of an
employer-employee relationship.
Bio said that for years, transport
workers had been clamoring and
lobbying for SSS coverage. We
are asking for social protection
of drivers and their families. And
we are batting for a government
policy or the passage of a law
that would compel transport
companies to provide SSS
protection for transport workers,
from drivers to mechanics and
conductors, Bio said, who noted
thousands of drivers of bus,
jeepney and tricycle were not
SSS members.
Nau secretary-general Arnold
Pardo, meanwhile, said his group
had no problem with employers
of union members. We see to it
that our members are protected
when it comes to the social
benets and the remittances of
our members premiums to the
SSS, Pardo said.
PUREGOLD Price Club Inc., one of the
countrys leading supermarket chains, is
committed to support the sari-sari store
sector as it once again gathers sari-sari store
owners during the 7
th
Tindahan ni Aling
Puring Convention from May 16 to 19 to give
them numerous benets and opportunities.
President Benigno Aquino lll will be
the guest of honor at the opening of the 7
th
Tindahan ni Aling Puring Sari-Sari Store
Convention on May 16 at the World Trade
Center in Pasay City.
To reach out and assist more sari-sari store
owners in the country, convention will be
held simultaneously for the rst time in two
venues: the World Trade Center in Manila,
from May 16 to 19, and in Camp John Hay in
Baguio City, from May 16 to 17.
Leonardo Dayao, president of the publicly-
listed supermarket and shopping mall chain,
said the two convention sites reected the
increasing vibrance of growth areas outside
the National Capital Region, which Puregold
has committed to support with more store
launches.
The chain this week opens three new stores
in West Ave., Quezon City; General Trias in
Cavite; and Barangay Putatan in Muntinlupa,
bringing the total network to 106 branches
throughout Luzon.
The annual holding of the convention
shows Puregolds track record of helping the
sari-sari sector. Since 2006, the convention
has become bigger and more substantive,
attesting to the determination of Puregold
in empowering Tindahan ni Aling Puring
members and helping fully develop their
entrepreneurial skills.
Aling Puring represents any modern-
day sari-sari store or business owner who
maintains a positive outlook. She is the
average woman, 26 years old and above,
a risk-taker, an entrepreneur, condent,
aggressive and versatile.
On track. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (second from right) said the countrys palay production
target remains on track, with a projected record rst semester palay harvest of 7.84 million metric tons,
comprising of 3.99 million MT in the rst quarter and 3.85 million MT in the second quarter. Agriculture
grew 1.08 percent in the rst three months of 2012. With Alcala are (from left) Assistant Agriculture
Secretary Davinio Catbagan, Assistant Secretary and Bureau of Agricultural Statistics director Romeo
Recide and Undersecretary Joel Rudinas.
By Julito G. Rada
STATE-RUN Clark Development
Corp. said two new companies
are setting up shop in the Clark
Freeport Zone.
CDC chairman and ofcer in
charge Eduardo Oban Jr. said in
a statement the agency signed
Friday lease agreements with the
new investors.
He said Venzon Manufacturing
Corp. would invest P254 million
to establish a manufacturing
facility for decorative lighting.
The company will export its
products and also distribute
them to the local market. He said
the company would employ at
maximum of 400 workers.
Oban also said the CDC
signed a lease agreement with
NClub Inc., a Korean company
specializing in Internet and
English tutorial services.
He said that the company
would provide fast and reliable
Internet services and operate
a call center offering English
tutorial to Koreans through voice
over Internet protocol.
NClub Inc. plans to invest
$111,052 in its rst year of
operations and employ some 60
workers.
Earlier, the state agency said
export volume in Clark Freeport
Zone in the rst two months
of the year grew 143 percent
over the same period last year,
led by the semiconductor and
electronics sector.
CDC said the export volume
in January and February reached
over $594.2 million from just
$244.3 million last year.
The agency said Phoenix
Semiconductor Philippines
Corp. of Korea topped January
exports with $102.1 million.
Phoenix is one of the biggest
locators inside the free port with
committed investments of more
than $1 billion.
Nanox Philippines Inc. of
Japan was second in January with
more than $72.9 million worth of
exports. It topped February exports
with over $118 million, while
Phoenix fell to number two in the
same month with $96 million.
SOCIAL Security System, the second-largest pension
fund, plans to boost equities holdings to a maximum
limit, undeterred by the most expensive valuations in Asia
as lower interest rates and higher state spending bolster
earnings.
SSS has P15 billion to invest in equities
before reaching its 30-percent ceiling, Edgar
Solilapsi, the funds senior vice president,
said in an interview on May 8. Stocks
currently account for 25 percent of its $7.78-
billion funds, he said.
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index
has surged 19 percent this year, Asias
third-best performer, on expectations cuts
in interest rates and government spending
on infrastructure will boost earnings at
companies including energy producers and
builders. The gauge, which closed at a record
on May 3, is trading at 16 times estimated
earnings, the highest valuation among Asian
benchmark indexes tracked by Bloomberg,
and topping the MSCI Emerging Market
Indexs 10.3 times multiple.
The market valuation is justied because
of the micro and macroeconomic conditions,
Solilapsi said. We have good corporate
results and the economic situation is very
positive, so what should we be worried
about?
The SSS collects and manages contributions
from workers and employers in the private
sector. The fund has 28 million members,
up to 10 million of whom are contributing,
Solilapsi said.
SSS plans to buy shares in infrastructure
builders and power producers, Solilapsi said,
without naming the companies. The fund is
also purchasing tourism-related stocks, he
said.
Infrastructure and energy are very
important components of the economy,
he said. The government wont achieve
and sustain its economic target if the
country doesnt have enough infrastructure
and sufcient energy supply to power its
industries.
President Benigno Aquino III is increasing
spending to a record this year, while seeking
partners for $16 billion of projects from rail
to airports. The economy likely grew at least
5.2 percent in the rst quarter, the fastest
pace in more than a year, Aquino said in an
interview on May 4. The acceleration would
bring the Philippines nearer to Aquinos 7-
percent target for sustained growth.
Growth in the $200-billion economy slowed
to 3.7 percent last year from 7.6 percent
in 2010. The economy is forecast to grow
4.2 percent this year and 5 percent in 2013,
the World Bank said in its quarterly report
released on March 19. Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas cut interest rates for a second time in
March, reducing the overnight borrowing rate
to 4 percent, the lowest level in a year.
The stock gauges rally this year,
eclipsed only by Vietnam and Pakistan,
helped push valuations to 16.5 times
estimated earnings on May 4, the highest
level since December 2007, according to
data compiled by Bloomberg. Robinsons
Land Corp., the second-largest mall
operator, and DMCI Holdings Inc., the
biggest construction company, have surged
more than 54 percent this year, the two
best performers on the Philippine Stock
Exchange Index. Bloomberg
SSS bullish, to invest
P15b in stock market
Provinces
Edited by Leo A. Estonilo
B4
Homing in on Poro Point
Albays
climate
strategy
lauded
By-pass road to link
east, west Zamboanga
Aboitiz aid extended
Iloilo consultation.
Balasan Mayor Filomeno
Ganzon confers with
Paraaque Mayor Florencio
Bernabe following a visit
to Baguio City in a series
of local government
consultations. Councilor
Benjo Bernabe (right) and
SK Federation president
Camille Manansala
joined in brieng the
Balasan delegation on
community programs such
as the Adolescent-Friendly
Reproductive Health
Services which earned
Paraaque its 2009 Galing
Pook Award for Outstanding
Local Governance.
By Oliver Samson
LEGAZPI CITYAlbay
Governor Joey Salceda
welcomed the positive ndings
of a United Nations ofcial on
the provinces record in climate
change adaptation and disaster
risk reduction.
The forum included local
executives led by some 40
mayors from Mindanao to
discuss strategies in governance.
Supported by the United
Nations Development Program,
Salceda hosted the gathering on
A Peer to Peer Exchange on
Reducing Vulnerabilities and
Adapting to Climate Changeat
the Oriental Hotel here.
Margareta Wahlstrom,
UN Special Envoy of the
Secretary General, was joined
by Country Director Renauld
Meyer as principal guests in
the dialogue on measures taken
in recent calamaties that struck
the south.
She commended Albays
best practices during
emergencies particulary
mitigating mechanisms.
Wahlstrom serves as UN
Assistant Secretary-General
for Disaster Risk Reduction
and Special Representative
of the Secretary-General for
the implementation by the
Secretariat of the Hyogo
Framework for Action on
the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction.
In explaining the Albay
experience, Salceda noted
that vulnerability reduction
was a poverty alleviation
strategy becaue the poor were
most vulnerable to the the
destructiveness of climate
change.
Recognized for pioneering
the zero casualty approach,
he has been named UN Senior
Global Champion for CCA and
DRR with Albay as model.
As part of the proceedings,
Salceda arranged an inspection
of evacuation centers in
Legazpi City, Daraga and
Camalig towns along with
holding facilities constructed
through donations from foreign
entities and foundations.
By Dexter A. See and July G. Prada

SAN FERNANDO CITY-Fishermen
lost in the West Philippine Sea who can
paddle toward the shore can count on Poro
Points powerful signal to keep them on
course.
To Mayor Pablo Ortega, the same
aid for navigation attracts foreign
and local visitors to the Northern
Luzon growth quadrangle formed
by the Ilocos, La Union Cordilleras
and Pangasinan.
We are happy about the
declaration of the Poro Point
lighthouse as a national historical
landmark since La Union
province will now be in the list
of places that hosting heritage
sites, he told Manila Standard.
Poro Point Management Corp., a
subsidiary of the Bases Conversion
and Development Authority, will
undertake rehabilitation work
under a memorandum of agreement
of the Coast Guard.
The lighthouse is a celebrated
historical landmark, BCDA
chairman Felicito Payumo said in
a statement. Just as the lighthouse
serves as a beacon to guide boats
safely to shore, the Poro Point
Special Economic Zone serves as a
beacon for development, a guiding
light that brings increased tourism
and investment to the shores of
North Luzon.
Poro Point is part of the Coast
Guards Adopt-a-Lighthouse
program that encourages
preservation and maintenance
of culturally valuable structures
which are protected by the
National Heritage Commission.
Yves Nice, PPMC chairman,
said two lighthouses are found at
the Poro Point Freeport.
He said the old tower was
among the luces (lights) made
in France and installed here by
the colonial government in 1885
while its counterpart was erected
in 1979.
Arnel Paciano Casanova,
BCDA president and chief
executive, commended the
adoption of the lighthouses.
The BCDA group is happy
to participate in preserving our
national heritage, he said.
Florante Gerdan, PPMC
president and chief executive, the
adjoining shotgun house will
be turned into a museum.
We also plan to convert the
vicinity of the lighthouses into
a rest and recreation center, he
told Manila Standard.
Vice Admiral Edmond Tan,
Coast Guard commanding general,
welcomed the interagency and
local government teamwork.
To date, we have 15 to 20
lighthouses around the country
that have historical value, thus,
we are also looking for partners
from other places who could
help us maintain the lighthouses
as a tourist attraction and for
navigational purposes, he
said, noting the upkeep of more
than 500 others around the
archipelago.
By Jessica M. Bacud
DIADIMayor Norma Miguel
and SN Aboitiz Power management
recently inaugurated a concrete road
in Barangay Butao as part of the
rms support to its host community
in Nueva Vizcaya.
SNAP-Magat Assistant Vice
President Wilhelmino Ferrer, plant
manager, said the farm-to-market link
is designed to function also as solar
dryer pavement for harvested grains
for the benefit of the resident planters.
Butao Chairman Dominick
Bandao in turn vowed to care for
the watershed for the upkeep of
the hydroelectric power plant.
In Barangay Escoting, another
roads was opened under the
power rms corporate social
program. SNAP-Magat also
signed a memorandum of
agreement to provide information
and communication technology
for 122 public elementary school
children and nine teachers of the
Escoting Elementary School
along with barangay ofcers.
A motorcycle was donated to
Lamut town in Nueva Vizcaya
for reforestation activities of
seven villages complementing
the National Irrigation
Administrations contribution to
the National Greening Program.
Ifugao Governor Eugene
Balitang thanked SNAP-Magat, a
joint venture between SN Power
of Norway and AboitizPower,
that ownes and operated the 360-
megawatt hydroelectric power
plant.
SUN Cellular now makes available
the new Mobile Landline Plan more
affordable to Cebu residents.
The dual-service on a single SIM
card combines a mobile and a landline
in one subscription.
After a successful launch in
Luzon, were excited to offer this
best-value mobile landline plan to
our dear Cebuanos, said Ricky
Pea, senior vice president for
Postpaid, New Business, Broadband
and Marketing Services.
Be it for their homes or businesses,
wed like them to experience
the convenience of a two-in-one
unlimited mobile and landline call
subscription.
Open to both new and existing
Sun Cellular subscribers, this mobile
landline plan also includes the special
Anti-Bill Shock feature that is
designed to protect subscribers from
incurring expensive bills.
New subscribers may avail of
this mobile landline package with
unlimited Sun-to-Sun calls and texts,
unlimited local landline calls and a
free phone for only P599 per month.
To upgrade, subscribers in Cebu
only need to contact telesales Hotline
1822 or Text SDU(space)ON to 2738.
They may also dial *738# from their
phones.
Sun Cellular is a member of the
PLDT Group.
Sun
shines
all over
Cebu
By Michael Vincent Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITYThe by-
pass road project that will link the
citys east and west coast will open
this year, said Public Works and
Highways Regional Director Jorge
Sebastian Jr. said.
He said Secretary Rogelio
Singson gave the assurance of a
timely completion of the 34.9-
kilometer road starting at Barangay
San Ramon, passing through the
citys highlands, and connecting to
Barangay Culianan in the east.
Sebastian said DPWH Central
Ofce was reviewing the Plans and
Program of Works before public consultations and inventory of lands
to be traversed by the project.
DPWH-IX Information ofcer Ma. Carla Mioza said P310
million has been released to the project.
Sebastian said the road would spur growth in the city and the
region.
This road will provide a direct route for business from the
neighboring cities of Dipolog and Pagadian, and other municipalities
in the peninsula to Zamboanga Free Port Zone, which is situated in
San Ramon, he said.
Sebastian said the infrastructure would decongest decongest trafc
as an alternative route avoiding the central district, and reducing the
number of cargo trucks and container vans that enter city limits.
Mioza said other Zamboangas public works are lined up for
completion.
In addition, a total of 92 various infrastructure projects are being
implemented under CY 2012 DPWH Infrastructure Program for
region IX, she said.
Financial aid. Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado distributes cash grants to victims of typhoon Pedring at
the KB Gym, Capitol compound in Malolos City. The aid is a joint effort of made possible by the Philippine
Development Assistance Fund of Senator Allan Peter Cayetano and the provincial government, covering
six towns of the rst district of Bulacan. Joining him are Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando (right) and Dr. Willie
Buenaventura of Cayetanos ofce. REY L. ESPIRITU
Wave gliding.
Skimboarders slice
through the water
on the shoreline of
Sarangani Bay in a
preview of Mindanaos
iconic sunrise-
to-sunset beach
extravaganza next
week. COCOY SEXCION

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