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Pistons snap six-game skid, halt Celtics’ winning streak

LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin had 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists and the host Detroit Pistons snapped a six-game losing streak while ending the Boston Celtics’ eight-game winning streak with a 113-104 victory on Saturday.
Andre Drummond posted 19 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks and three steals for Detroit. Reggie Bullock, returning after a five-game absence due to an ankle sprain, supplied 15 points while Langston Galloway tossed in 14 off the bench and Reggie Jackson chipped in 12. Luke Kennard added 10 points and three assists.
Kyrie Irving’s 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals led the Celtics. Marcus Smart had 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals while Jayson Tatum contributed 17 points and eight rebounds.
Boston led 66-63 early in the second half but the Pistons scored the next 13 points. Jackson got the outburst going with a putback. Drummond contributed a layup and a dunk, and Kennard hit a 3-pointer and assisted on another basket.
That run gave Detroit a 76-66 lead with 5:42 left in the quarter. Griffin made two free throws late in the quarter to give the Pistons an 11-point advantage.
The Celtics closed the gap to 85-78 before the quarter ended.
Sparked by a Drummond three-point play, the Pistons opened the fourth with a 10-1 run. The bench took over the scoring duties the remainder of that spurt. Galloway made a layup, and Jose Calderon and Stanley Johnson drained jump shots.
Smart hit a corner three for Boston’s first field goal of the quarter with 4:29 remaining, cutting Detroit’s lead to 97-88.
Bullock’s three with 3:37 left gave the Pistons a 100-90 lead. The Celtics had a chance to cut to seven with 1:25 left but Drummond swatted a Tatum layup attempt.
Irving eventually made it a seven-point game with a three but Boston couldn’t get any closer.
The Pistons led 57-56 at halftime. Griffin led Detroit with 11 points and Galloway had 10. Irving paced the Celtics with 17.
Boston won the first two meetings in late October. — Reuters

Revised trade sends Ariza to Wizards, two to Suns

LOS ANGELES — The Phoenix Suns traded Trevor Ariza to the Washington Wizards on Saturday morning for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to multiple reports.
The deal capped a confusing series of events that unfolded Friday night when a proposed three-team trade fell apart over confusion about whether Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks would be included.
The trade, as proposed originally, would have sent Ariza from the Suns to the Wizards, Oubre from the Wizards to the Memphis Grizzlies, and Rivers from the Wizards to the Suns. The Grizzlies would have sent Wayne Selden to the Suns.
The Suns thought the Grizzlies would be sending them Dillon Brooks. Grizzlies officials thought it was MarShon Brooks they’d be trading. The mixup happened because the Suns and Grizzlies didn’t talk to each other. The Wizards were the conduit of information and the identity of the proper Brooks got lost along the way, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine will miss at least two games with an injured left ankle, coach Jim Boylen said.
LaVine has a sprained deltoid ligament and will undergo further testing, Boylen confirmed prior to the Bulls’ game at the San Antonio Spurs. The Bulls finish a three-game road trip Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
LaVine, who is averaging a team-high 23.8 points per game, suffered the injury in Thursday’s loss to the Orlando Magic in Mexico City.
Sacramento Kings rookie forward Marvin Bagley III will miss at least 10 days after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee during Friday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The Kings revealed after the contest that an MRI exam detected the injury. Bagley, who is averaging 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in 26 games off the bench, will be re-evaluated in 10 to 14 days.
Bagley was injured in the second quarter after taking a hard fall to the floor. He initially stayed in the game before soon motioning to the bench that he needed to be replaced.
The NBA has fined Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner $15,000 for making an “inappropriate gesture” toward spectators during Friday night’s 113-101 win at Philadelphia.
The punishment was announced by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the league’s executive vice president of basketball operations. — Reuters

Vietnam Golden Stars bag second Suzuki Cup title

VIETNAM is once again the AFF Suzuki Cup champion after claiming the 2018 edition of the biennial regional event with a 1-0 victory over Malaysia in the second leg of their final in Hanoi. The win allowed the Golden Stars to get the better of their opponents, 3-2, on aggregate to claim their second title.
The host team did not waste time in getting on the board with Nguyen Anh Duc scoring just six minutes into the contest, sending their faithful at the My Dinh National Stadium into frenzy.
The two sides continued to battle after but Malaysia would not find the breakthrough it was angling for as it slumped to the defeat.
The latest conquest of Vietnam is its second Suzuki Cup in addition to the one it won in 2008.
Having waited long for another title, the significance of being champions anew is not lost to the Golden Stars.
“For us, after 10 years we did it again. All Vietnamese people were waiting for 10 years so we’re so happy,” Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam was quoted as saying by the official AFF Suzuki Cup Web site following their title conquest.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to do this again 10 years after the last time. The whole team did everything we could and to win here in front of our home supporters at My Dinh and to have a Gold Medal and the Cup we’re just so happy,” he added.
In winning the 2018 Suzuki Cup, Vietnam was dominant, going undefeated in group play with three wins and a draw before defeating the Philippines in the semifinals, 4-2, on aggregate.
Vietnam is now in solo 3rd place in titles won in the AFF Suzuki Cup, behind Thailand (five titles) and Singapore (four). Malaysia is the other team to have won a title with one. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

SE Asian Games 2019 venue clusters identified

THE Southeast Asian Games that the Philippines is hosting next year will be spread across different areas in line with its vision “to strengthen the cities and communities where the events will take place.”
In a Facebook posting last week, organizers of the SEA Games 2019 shared the venues where the sporting events will be held.
The venues are divided into four clusters, as per the posting, namely, Clark, Pampanga, Metro Manila; Subic, Zambales; and the Batangas, La Union and Tagaytay cluster.
In the Clark cluster are aquatics, underwater hockey, athletics, archery, rugby 7’S, arnis, baseball, softball, floorball, indoor hockey, net ball, golf, judo, jujitsu, kurash, smabo, wrestling, lawn balls, petanque, shooting and wakeboarding.
Identified areas in Clark include the Parade Grounds, The Villages, Royce Hotel, Luisita Golf, ASEAN Convention Center, Clark Global City and Clark Wakepark.
Part of the Metro Manila cluster, meanwhile, are badminton, basketball (3-on-3), basketball full court, taekwondo. Bowling, boxing, fencing, kickboxing, wushu, figure skating, ice hockey, football, gymnastics, rowing, soft tennis, tennis, squash, volleyball, Esports and billiards.
Among the venues are Philippine Sports Commission Philippines Arena, SM Mall of Asia Activity Arena, MOA Arena. Ninoy Aquino Stadium, World Trade Center, La Mesa Ecopark, Manila Polo Club and Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Venues for Esports and billards are still to be determined.
In Subic, to be played are beach volleyball, beach handball, chess, muay, vovinam, pancak silat, table tennis, weightlifting, karatedo, sepak takraw, obstacle sports, sailing, windsurfing, traditional boat race, triathlon and duathlon.
Areas of competition include Subic Tennis Court, Subic Bay Exhibition & Convention Center, Subic Gymnasium and Subic Bay Yacht Club.
Polo will be played in Calatagan, Batangas. Surfing is in La Union while cycling and skateboarding are to be held in Tagaytay.
The 2019 SEA Games Philippines will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
Fifty-six sports disciplines were approved by the organizers, who recently started the one-year countdown for the event in ceremonies held in Clark.

Preparing national cage team

Putting Tab Baldwin as head coach of the national youth men’s basketball team is the right thing to do.
That’s one way of streamlining the Philippine squad’s program, one that could smoothen the transition of preparing the youth squad and integrating them to the men’s team.
While Yeng Guiao is feeling his way back as head mentor of Gilas Pilipinas national squad, the top officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas are now preparing and streamlining the program that would link the youth and the men’s squad.
In a subtle way, Guiao had already started that integration by including young talents like Kai Sotto and Ricci Rivero in the program.
Sotto is the only high school player to become part of the national men’s training team and given the chance to compete against some of the best big men in the PBA – June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar among others — the sky is the limit for the 7-foot-1, 16-year-old center.
Rivero, on he other hand, is a talented two guard who was put on red shirt while waiting for the opportunity to play for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons next season. But he had already been included in the national men’s team program by Guiao as early as August while the PBA-backed squad was preparing for the Asian Games.
The integration has just started and it would only be a matter of time for Sotto and Rivero to crack the men’s line up in future tournaments.
Now here comes Baldwin, fresh from steering the Ateneo Blue Eagles to back-to-back championships.
Over the last three years, the American-Kiwi, who had a brief stint handling Gilas Pilipinas and leading the team all the way to the gold medal game in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup, had since then been involved handling the young men’s program of Ateneo.
That two title runs were testament enough that Baldwin deserves another call up to oversee the youth program of the national team. Now you have Guiao for the men’s squad and Baldwin for the young men’s team, if ever the latter pushes thru.
“Nothing is concrete yet as no one has approached me from the SBP regarding that idea, but if ever that happens, it would be an honor to be back in the national team program. We’ll see,” Baldwin says.
Baldwin is no stranger handling the youth team, having coached the under-20 team of New Zealand nearly two decades ago.
For Baldwin, coaching the men’s national team and the youth squad presents two different challenges.
“With the men’s team, especially now that some of them are already playing in the pros, the challenge is how can you make these players believe on what you want to achieve,” he added. “With the young men’s team, it entails a lot of teaching and for me, that’s the most challenging part.”
The SBP has just started streamlining the program and it won’t be surprising to see Guiao and Baldwin exchanging ideas in the future.
 
Rey Joble is a member of the PBA Press Corps and Philippine Sportswriters Association.
reyjoble09@gmail.com

Effusive compliments

Facing members of the media on the eve of the Lakers’ tiff against the Hornets, LeBron James was asked the inevitable queries about how he felt his career stacked up vis-a-vis that of host franchise owner Michael Jordan. Needless to say, he was effusive in his praise of the all-time great, whom he considered his childhood idol and whose trajectory he continues to follow. Growing up under challenging circumstances, he said, His Airness served as one of his few inspirations. Which, no doubt, was why he wound up hitting the ground running in yesterday’s match; he sought approbation from the single most important spectator apart from the record 19,461 on hand at the Spectrum Center.
By the time the first quarter ended, James had 12, five, and two to his name. He was engaged on both ends of the court, unusual in light of his increasing proclivity to pace himself, and his exertions enabled the Lakers to build a nine-point lead when he was subbed out with 55.9 ticks left in the period. He would go on to play 19 more minutes and produce 12 more markers, seven more caroms, and nine more dimes, his triple-double a fitting statement in the face of comparisons with Jordan, who watched the proceedings from a luxury box.
In truth, James is no Jordan, and his peak doesn’t compare to the other’s. That said, he boasts of longevity that, when all is said and done, may yet produce an unparalleled body of work. He’s two weeks from turning 34, and yet he’s still firmly in the Most Valuable Player conversation. When most other stars are already looking to hang up their jerseys, he’s turning in remarkable stat lines. Certainly, his presence is why the Lakers, whose preseason projections had them modestly clinging to a playoff seat, think they can instead claim Top-Four seeding.
First thing’s first, though. For all the heightened optimism, James knows success is a journey and not a destination. From what he sees, the Lakers still have a long way to go. They remain prone to mistakes borne of inexperience and excessive enthusiasm. And, as their loss to the Rockets last week proved, they’re lacking in composure, especially under pressure. It’s where he believes he can most help — and he did yesterday, with Jordan looking.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Theater talents: Binondo musical and Lea Salonga win big in ALIW Awards

Lea Salonga and the team behind Binondo A Tsinoy Musical were the big winners at the annual ALIW Awards night held on Dec. 13 at the Manila Hotel.
Tied with singer Erik Santos, Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga won the Entertainer of the Year award.
“Thank you also for the Entertainer of the Year Award! It was a huge thrill accepting it alongside my friend Erik Santos, who won his own as well! Yup, it was a tie!!! 2018 has been quite the year, and I’m grateful for it all. Grateful for a great cadre of fans that have been nothing but kind… for a wonderful supportive family that has been my grounding force… and for great friends that encourage and lift me up, as well as tell me the truth when I need to really hear it. I can’t say this enough: thank you. You are beyond the word ‘blessing’,” she shared in her Facebook account.
Ms. Salonga’s concert for her 40th anniversary in the industry (“LS40”) won her the Best Major Concert, female, category award. She said in her long Facebook post: “Since it was the concert that won and not the artist, that trophy belongs to my mother, the indomitable and indefatigable Ligaya Salonga, who at 81 years old is one of the fiercest humans on the planet. The concert truly was hers; all I had to do was get up on stage in a cool tux or gown and sing.”
The Binondo team, produced by Rebecca Chuaunsu, bagged six awards:  best original musical production, best stage director (Joel Lamangan), best ensemble performance, best actor-musical (David Ezra), best actress-musical (Carla Guevarra-Laforteza), and best composer for original musical theater (Von de Guzman).
Founded by Alice H. Reyes in 1976, ALIW Awards recognizes live entertainment performances.
2018 ALIW AWARDS RESULTS
Awards night held last December 13, 2018  at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel.
BEST CHILD PERFORMER

  • Kris Robles (Cinderella/Kids’ Acts Philippines)

BEST NEW ARTIST (FEMALE)

  • Janah Zaplan

BEST NEW ARTIST (MALE)

  • Shanti Dope

BEST NEW ARTIST (Group)

  • Ben N Ben

BEST CULTURAL DANCE GROUP

  • Tribu Panayanon (Iloilo City)

BEST CLASSICAL DANCE COMPANY

  • Ballet Philippines
  • Junior Halili Dance Company

BEST CULTURAL/THEATER GROUP

  • Uyat Artista (Angeles City, Pampanga)

BEST CHORAL GROUP

  • Capiz State University Main Chorale (Roxas City)

BEST FESTIVAL CATALYST/ORGANIZER

  • Mayor Mildred Joy Que (Karatong Festival/Dulag, Leyte)

BEST FESTIVAL PRACTICES and  PERFORMANCE

  • Fiesta Republika (Malolos Bulacan)

BEST INSTRUMENTALIST

  • Noli Aurillo (Guitar)

BEST DJ for Electronic Dance Music

  • Jennifer Lee

BEST FEMALE HOST

  • Cherry Maning

BEST MALE HOST

  • RJ Ledesma

BEST CLASSICAL DANCER

  • Nicole Barroso (Ballet Manila)

BEST STAND-UP COMEDIAN/HOST FOR COMEDY BARS

  • Boobay

BEST SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR

  • Rodel Mercado (Michaela Fashion Revolution/Robinsons Manila)

BEST SPECIAL EVENTS/PRODUCT LAUNCH

  • Gabay Guro PLDT (MOA Arena)

BEST CLASSICAL PERFORMER (FEMALE)

  • Jade Riccio

BEST CLASSICAL PERFORMER (MALE)

  • Jon Joven Uy

BEST CROSSOVER PERFORMER  (MALE)

  • Arman Ferrer

BEST CROSSOVER PERFORMER  (FEMALE)

  • Lara Maigue

BEST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN

  • Cinderella (Kids’ Acts Philippines)

BEST NON-MUSICAL PRODUCTION

  • M. Butterfly (Frontrow Entertainment/Jhett Tolentino)

BEST ORIGINAL MUSICAL PRODUCTION

  • Supremo Redux (Philippine Stagers Foundation)
  • Binondo, A Tsinoy Musical (Rebecca Chuaunsu Production/Synergy 88 Digital)

BEST DANCE PRODUCTION

  • Iconic 2  (Ballet Manila)

BEST STAGE DIRECTOR (NON-MUSICAL)

  • Kanakan Balentagos (M.Butterfly/Frontrow Entertainment)

BEST STAGE DIRECTOR (MUSICAL)

  • Joel Lamangan (Binondo, A Tsinoy Musical/Rebecca Chuaunsu Production)
  • Luigi Nacario (Cinderella/Kid’s Acts Philippines)

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE  (MUSICAL)

  • Dulce (Nasaan si Hesus/ Buhay Isang Awit Foundation)

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE  (NON-MUSICAL)

  • Missy MaraMara (Kundiman Party/Dulaang UP)

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE  (MUSICAL)

  • Norman Penaflorida (Geegee at Waterina/Artist Playground)
  • Patrick Libao (Supremo Redux/Philippine Stagers Foundation)

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE  (NON MUSICAL)

  • Vance Larena (Dilaw o Pula/Philippine Stagers Foundation)

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

  • Ensemble Cast of Binondo,A Tsinoy Musical (Rebecca Chuaunsu /Synergy 88)

BEST NEW CONCEPT PRODUCTION

  • Hanggang sa Dulo ng Forever (CLDCAS Jocson College)

BEST PERFORMER in a NEW CONCEPT PRODUCTION

  • Banaue Miclat-Janssen (Ginugunita Kita 2018/Maningning Miclat Foundation)

BEST DIRECTOR IN NEW CONCEPT PRODUCTION

  • Jayson Gantan Pabalan  (Hanggang sa Dulo ng Forever/CLDCAS Jocson College)

BEST ACTOR (NON-MUSICAL)

  • RS Francisco (M.Butterfly/Frontrow Entertainment/Jhett Tolentino)

BEST ACTRESS (NON MUSICAL)

  • Skyzx Labastilla (Ang Dalagita’y ‘Sang Bagay na ‘Di-Buo/Dulaang UP)

BEST ACTOR (MUSICAL)

  • Roeder Camanag (Geegee at Waterina/Artist Playground)
  • David Ezra (Binondo, A Tsinoy Musical/Rebecca Chuaunsu/Synergy88)

BEST ACTRESS (MUSICAL)

  • Tanya Manalang (All Out of Love/Resorts World)
  • Carla Guevarra- Laforteza (Binondo, A Tsinoy Musical/Rebecca Chuaunsu /Synergy 88)

BEST CONCERT STAGE DIRECTOR

  • Floy Quintos (Madly Filipiniana/Pinoy Playlist)

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR

  • Jesse Lucas (Geegee at Waterina/ Artist Playground)

BEST COMPOSER FOR ORIGINAL MUSICAL THEATER

  • Von de Guzman (Binondo/Tsinoy Musical/Grand Leisure Corp)

BEST PERFORMER IN HOTEL, MUSIC LOUNGES, AND BARS

  • Jean Kiley (Centerstage/City of Dreams)

BEST PERFORMER IN HOTEL, MUSIC LOUNGES, AND BARS (GROUP)

  • Silk (Centerplay/City of Dreams)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CONCERT (MALE)

  • Ruben Laurente (PPP Trip ni Bentot/Maybank Performing Center)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CONCERT (FEMALE)

  • Dulce (Saturday Special/Hipodrome/Winford Hotel)

BEST COLLABORATION IN A CONCERT

  • Lani Misalucha/Morissette Amon  (A Lani Morissette Musical Journey/ Solaire)

BEST MAJOR CONCERT (GROUP)

  • 4th Impact (Invasion/Kia Theater)

BEST MAJOR CONCERT (MALE)

  • Erik Santos (My Greatest Moments/MOA Arena)

BEST MAJOR CONCERT (FEMALE)

  • Lea Salonga (40th Anniversary Concert/PICC)

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

  • ERIK SANTOS
  • LEA SALONGA

HALL OF FAME AWARDEES

  • Bambanti Festival (Isabela)  – Best Festival Practices and Performance
  • Merjohn Lagaya – Best Instrumentalist  (Violin)
  • Draybers – Best Performer in Hotels, Music Lounges and Bars
  • Al Gatmaitan – Best Classical Performer
  • Noel Comia Jr. – Best Child Performer

SPECIAL AWARD

  • Mayor Joy Belmonte
  • Maybank Performing Arts Center
  • Anabelle M. Calleja  (Mauban Quezon Tourism)
  • Jose Toots Tolentino
  • Pablo Tariman
  • Madly Filipiniana
  • Dance Xchange (NCCA/Shirley Halili Cruz)
  • Tanghalang Sta Ana

ALICE HERNANDEZ REYES ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

  • Imelda Papin

LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

  • Pocholo Malilin (Executive Producer/Club Mwah)
  • Rey Valera
  • Lisa Macuja
  • Nemesio V. Regalado Jr.

From the Front Page: Trade deficit, halted inflation, ease of business

The BSP voted to keep benchmark interest rates unchanged on Thursday, keeping the range at a nine-year-high 4.25% to 5.25%. Inflation is expected to trek a “lower path” over the next two years, prompting the BSP to steady benchmark rates. BSP Assistant Governor Dakila projects inflation to dip below four percent by the end of Q1 2019.
This decision comes after five consecutive tightening moves by the monetary board, bringing inflation up a total of 175 basis points. Analysts attribute the deceleration to price pressures from food and oil “finally dissipating”. After 10 straight months of accelerating, headline inflation has taken a turn and is likely to head back to target by next year,” said BPI lead economist Emilio S. Neri, Jr.
Meanwhile, Congress adjourned this week for its Dec. 15 to Jan. 13 holiday break, putting discussions on the second tax reform package on hold. While talks will resume come Jan. 14, the Finance Department fears the looming midterm elections may distract from the Senate Ways and Means committee discussions on cutting corporate income tax rates and fiscal incentives.
Preliminary data from the Philippines Statistics Authority showed October trade at a $4.212 billion deficit, a new record high, up from September’s $3.723 billion and October 2017’s $2.585 billion. Cumulatively, the balance of trade yielded a $33.918-billion deficit, bigger than the $20.128-billion gap recorded in last year’s comparable 10 months.
The Trade Department leads a host of state agencies calling for the repeal or amendment of a suite of laws, in a bid to further ease the burden on small businesses and to improve public services. These include the Bulk Sales Law (made obsolete by technological developments) and the Bonded Warehouse Act (made redundant by new government measures to ensure food sufficiency and stable prices).

Wider trade gap seen in 2018, 2019 — BSP

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez, Senior Reporter
THE central bank expects external trade to balloon to a wider deficit this year and in 2019 as imports are seen to surge faster and as global growth tapers off.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) published their latest balance of payments (BoP) projections on Friday, where they expect a bigger trade gap to persist alongside increased investment inflows.
The BoP measures the country’s transactions with the rest of the world at a given time. A deficit means more funds fled the economy than what went in, while a surplus shows that more money entered the Philippines.
The central bank now expects a $5.5-billion BoP deficit this year, more than triple the $1.5-billion forecast given back in May. The BoP tally now stands at a $5.594 billion deficit as of end-October.
This will also surge from a $900-million shortfall posted in 2017, equivalent to 0.3% of gross domestic product.
The BoP deficit will narrow to $3.5 billion in 2019, according to Dennis D. Lapid, director of BSP’s Department of Economic Research.
“One of the key developments that has happened since May is that… we were hearing a lot of trade tensions. Some of those trade tensions have materialized,” Mr. Lapid said during a press briefing.
“We’re also seeing global growth and global trade activity for goods and services, that has had a dampening effect.”
IMPORTS SURGING
Driving the wider gap in external payments is a growing trade deficit, with the current account expected to expand to a $6.4-billion shortfall in 2018, representing a steadily rising import bill.
The latest forecasts show that imports will grow by another 10% this year from an 18% increase in 2017. In contrast, exports will remain in a slump and pick up by just 1%, following a 21.4% jump posted last year.
These imports reflect additional raw material and capital goods, which are seen to support domestic economic activity.
The trade gap will account for 1.9% of GDP, the widest since 2001.
The current account — which measures fund flows drawn from goods and services trading — will broaden further to an $8.4 billion shortfall next year and will account for 2.3% of GDP, also the biggest share in 17 years.
However, Assistant Governor Francisco G. Dakila, Jr. said that these figures are not directly comparable given the different states of the economy.
“We’re not seeing any widening of the current account to unsustainable levels,” Mr. Dakila said. “Looking forward, we’ve already seen a normalization in prices of oil, so this is going to moderate the imports of mineral fuels.”
The current account is now at a $6.47 billion deficit from January-September.
The Philippines has been seeing current account surpluses until a reversal in 2015, although authorities said this simply reflected increased domestic economic activity given heavy importations for the local infrastructure drive.
By 2019, the central bank sees a better exports picture as growth is seen to pick up by 10%, together with an 11% growth in imports.
DOLLAR INFLOWS
The central bank also expects more foreign direct investments (FDI) to enter the Philippines, helping offset softer increases in service inflows.
Cash remittances are expected to grow by 3% this year and in 2019, softer than a 4% increase initially expected.
Travel receipts are seen to grow faster at 13% until next year, up from 10% previously. On the other hand, business process outsourcing revenues will soften to an 8% increase from an earlier 10% estimate.
FDIs are seen to post a banner year at $10.4 billion this year from $10.1 billion in 2017. This will be followed by $10.2 billion in 2019.

Water rates to go up in January

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
CUSTOMERS served by Metro Manila’s two water concessionaires will notice a slight increase in their bills starting Jan. 1, after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) approved rate adjustments based on inflation and the movement of the peso against the US dollar.
MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Lester N. Ty said on Friday that its board of trustees has approved a net upward adjustment of 64 centavos per cubic meter (cu.m.) for east zone concessionaire Manila Water Company, Inc., and a P1.48 per cu.m. hike for west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
“(These adjustments) were approved by the board of trustees yesterday (Thursday night) and will be published on Dec. 16 and to be effective Jan. 1, 2019,” Mr. Ty said in a press conference in Quezon City on Friday. MWSS reviews water rates every quarter.
Manila Water takes into account an upward of adjustment of P1.54 per cu.m for inflation, and a decrease of 90 centavos for foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA).
This indicates a P3.34 increase in the water bills of customers with a monthly billed volume of 10 cu.m. or less; P7.39 for those with 20 cu.m., and P15.01 for those with 30 cu.m.
Meanwhile, the increase for Maynilad is based on a P1.95 per cu.m. increase due to inflation, tempered by 47-centavo decrease for FCDA.
Customers with a monthly billed volume of 10 cu.m. or less will pay an additional P5.30. Those using 20 cu.m. will pay P20.08 more, while those using 30 cu.m. will pay P41.02 more.
Mr. Ty noted that the adjustment due to inflation is based on the 5.7% inflation print recorded last July.
“Based on the concession agreement, it’s the inflation rate as of July. That will be the one used for the purposes of any adjustment in Jan. 1 the following year,” he explained.
The FCDA is a mechanism used by the MWSS and the service concessionaires to provide them a “no gain, no loss” principle. Concessionaires pay foreign currency-denominated concession fees to the MWSS, in addition to loans used to finance service improvement projects.
“Any foreign loan exposure they have will result to an FCDA adjustment. So for example any movement in the peso versus the Japanese yen or US dollars and the euro will result in an adjustment. If the peso is appreciating, then that means the FCDA will result in a negative adjustment. If the peso is depreciating, it will result in an upward adjustment,” Mr. Ty explained.
The chief regulator also noted that the FCDA could post a downward adjustment should the peso continue to appreciate against the US dollar.

No special session for 2019 budget — Palace

MALACAÑANG on Friday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte will no longer call for a special session for Congress to finish its deliberations on the proposed 2019 budget.
“I would like to confirm the announcement that the President will not be calling for a special session,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a televised press briefing on Friday, Dec. 14.
He said Senate members informed the President through Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno “that it’s physically impossible for them to hold a session because it ended yesterday (Dec. 13).”
“I suppose there’s so many activities that will involve the attention, the presence of all members of Congress. So in deference to that, the President is not calling [for a] special session,” he explained.
For his part, Mr. Diokno said in a statement: “The Senators appear exhausted. They requested a break. Congress will resume on Jan 14.”
“Hopefully, the legislators will be fully reinvigorated by then and will act swiftly for the enactment of the 2019 budget. The sooner Congress act on the new budget, the lower the negative impact of a reenacted one on the economy. Since the capital spending is not re-enacted public capital formation will suffer leading to loss of jobs and deeper poverty,” he also said.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President can call on Congress to convene in special session at any time.
Mr. Diokno has warned that a reenacted 2018 budget, as called for if Congress fails to pass budget legislation for 2019, will delay the implementation of new projects in light of the public works ban accompanying the May elections.
The Senate is planning to insert provisions in the General Appropriations Bill or to pass a joint resolution that will remove the election ban on public works for 2019 to address the concerns of the executive branch. — A.L. Balinbin

Malacañang calls lawmakers’ treatment of Diokno ‘unparliamentary’

MALACAÑANG on Friday slammed lawmakers at the House of Representatives for their “unparliamentary behavior” towards Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno.
The House conducted its Question Hour last Tuesday, Dec. 11, subjecting the Budget chief to questioning over the alleged realignment of funds in the proposed budget.
Last Wednesday, the House adopted a resolution urging President Rodrigo R. Duterte to reconsider the appointment of Mr. Diokno over alleged irregularities in the proposed budget.
In a televised press briefing on Friday, Mr. Panelo said some Cabinet members have expressed their opinions on how Mr. Diokno was treated by some congressmen during the Question Hour.
“I will read to you certain salient points. From [Finance] Secretary Carlos (G.) Dominguez: ‘To use a congressional process to bombard Secretary Diokno with preconceived questions and answers in aid not of legislation but of persecution and excoriating him with baseless allegations is a mockery of standard democratic procedures. The fact that the resolution was swiftly approved and submitted the day after indicates that these series of acts was politically motivated and reeks of power play and ill purposes.’”
He added: “From [Transportation] Secretary [Arthur P.] Tugade: ‘We have witnessed the disrespect and utter lack of courtesy displayed by members of the House of Representatives toward the Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno. The congressional resolution urging a reconsideration of the DBM Secretary’s appointment is a sheer violation of the separation of powers on the basis of seemingly biased and hastily called Question Hour.’”
Mr. Panelo said that Malacañang “accordingly hopes that there would be no repeat of the recent incident in the House of Representatives involving our Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno.”
He also said that “this unparliamentary behavior has no place in the hallowed grounds of Congress, where members are referred to as ‘Honorable’ as they represent their districts or sectors.”
“There is no honor in browbeating a fellow worker and officer in government. We will not allow a similar incident from taking place,” Mr. Panelo stressed. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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