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ASEAN researchers, experts to discuss climate change, urban resiliency

RESEARCH AND development (R&D) practitioners from various academic and research institutions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are meeting this week in Laoag City for the Urban Resilience to Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Management forum. The five-day discussions from Dec. 4-8, will cover policies, programs and experiences that may be replicated among ASEAN members. There will be paper presentations on five topics, namely: 1. Vulnerability assessment in megacities and other highly urbanized areas; 2. Climate change adaptation strategies and coping mechanisms; 3. Green growth strategies and government programs for urban resilience; 4. Disaster risk reduction management strategies in highly urbanized areas; and 5. Financing resilience. The forum is hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB). “With the urban population expected to increase by at least 2.5 billion by 2050 according to UN (United Nations) reports, pursuing urban resiliency should be an important agenda for all policy and decision makers, resource managers, and environmental scientists and researchers,” Dr. Henry A. Adornado, ERDB-DENR executive director, said in a statement.

Mindanao studied as third leg of shipbuilding industry triangle

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is studying Mindanao as a third location for shipbuilding, apart from Subic and Cebu, to be supported with a program of incentives under the second phase of its Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP).

DTI Assistant Secretary for industry development and trade policy Rafaelita M. Aldaba told reporters that the department is currently drafting an incentives program for the shipbuilding industry to attract investors and boost local manufacturing, akin to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy Program for the auto industry.

“We are also preparing a support package which could build a maritime industrial heart in the country along with the promotion of the medium and small-sized vessels (which are roll-on, roll-off capable),” she said.

The MRP’s second phase — which runs from 2017 to 2021 — will focus on high-value added activities for industries such as iron and steel, chemicals, and fabricated metals.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez has said that with the MRP, the DTI believes manufacturing sector growth of 10% by 2018 is within reach.

“The shipbuilding industry road map is still in its planning stage, and it will be tailored depending on the industry’s needs,” Ms. Aldaba said.

Mr. Lopez said the Subic and Cebu hubs are being planned around partnerships with Japanese and South Korean firms.

“If there are more players [willing to participate in the MRP], then the better,” Mr. Lopez added.

Ms. Aldaba told BusinessWorld that the DTI also identified Mindanao as one of the regions which should play a role in the country’s shipbuilding plans.

On Oct. 30, DTI signed a letter of intent with Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for the production of medium-sized marine vessels during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s working visit to Japan.

That month, two Chinese firms involved in the iron and steel and shipbuilding industry expressed their intent to invest a total of $4.5 billion, pending a feasibility study, with Mr. Lopez indicating that Subic and Mindanao are two sites being considered. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Gorenje: High style in the kitchen

PHILIPPINE traditional homes were designed with the living room as the highlight — the kitchen area was always in the background or totally hidden away from the prying eyes of the visitors.

Today — whether they have a house or a condominium — people like to showcase their kitchen area as well, thanks to the appliances available in the market that reconcile function and beauty.

“People like open kitchens nowadays because they take pride in their home appliances,” said Adrien Mousset, senior sales manager at Gorenje AEC.

Gorenje, a 65-year-old European kitchen appliance brand, opened its first showroom in the Philippines in Makati City on Nov. 28. Gorenje — whose origins and name come from a small village in Slovenia — has branched out from Europe to Asia and is now available in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia.

The appliances at the showroom in Makati City are not only functional (of course), but also pretty, which add flair to any home design.

Gorenje kitchen 2
A sleek kitchen designed by Ora Ito.

Gorenje collaborated with world renowned artists including Ora Ito and Philippe Starck, who have come up with sleek, simple, and modern products ranging from dishwashers to refrigerators and ovens.

Mr. Ito, who was appointed Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2011, was included in Wallpaper magazine’s top 40 most influential designers under 40 years old. The Frenchman calls his style “simplexity” as in simple and complex at the same time. International brands Apple, Louis Vuitton, Levi’s, and Swatch have recognized and praised his minimalist philosophy. Mr. Ito’s collection for Gorenje comes in black with a touch of silver.

Philippe Starck’s collection is also simple and classic, but its color palette is silver and utilizes glass. Mr. Starck is the designer behind a multitude of global appliances, restaurants, and buildings. He is the first Frenchman to be invited to the popular TED (Technology, Education, and Design) talks alongside Richard Branson and Bill Clinton.

Gorenje products are energy savers and are designed for everyday convenience.

Gorenje is offering a 30% discount on all appliances until Dec. 31. Its showroom is at 165 Legazpi St., Legazpi Village, Makati City. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

TRAIN bicam sets P250,000 tax-exempt bracket

THE bicameral session reconciling the House and Senate versions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) program approved the tax-exempt ceiling of P250,000 in annual income, among others, while deferring decisions on more contentious matters.

Sen. Juan Edgardo M. Angara, who chairs his chamber’s committee on ways and means, said in a radio interview on Sunday that discussions Friday were moving forward, and “when there is a matter that we cannot agree on we move on and defer action.”

The Friday meeting resulted in both houses approving the P250,000 income ceiling for tax-exempt individuals and the P8 million threshold for the top income tax bracket to be taxed at 35%.

Both sides also approved a four-page income tax return form and electronic filing for easier compliance, a value-added tax (VAT) exemption for lease and condominium dues at a maximum of P15,000 per month, and an estate tax rate reduction to 6%, down from 20%.

“We agreed on the income tax exemption. Our law on income tax has not been amended for 20 years. If we look into the law, those who do not pay income taxes are the jobless and minimum wage earners. In Metro Manila, the minimum wage is P512, which is around P10,000 or P11,000 a month or around P140-144,000 a year,” Mr. Angara said.

Mr. Angara said the committee decided to defer action on the proposal to exempt from tax 13th-month pay and other bonuses. The Senate version sets an P82,000 exemption threshold while the House draws the line at P100,000.

Other deferred provisions that will be tackled at the next bicameral meeting Tuesday are the optional 8% tax rate for the self-employed and professionals, the quarterly filing of VAT and percentage tax instead of monthly, a 15% tax on foreign currency deposits and capital gains for non-listed shares, a VAT exemption on the sale of houses outside Metro Manila worth a maximum of P2 million, and bank secrecy provisions.

Mr. Angara said in a separate interview on Friday that other deferred items were the increased excise tax on the sale of automobiles, fuel, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

“I see long debates (on these three issues). We are dealing with comprehensive tax reform, so a difference in views is unavoidable.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto said in a chance interview on Friday that he expects the bicameral committee to tackle the “most sensitive” provisions involving the so-called “D and E,” or low-income sectors.

“There are many issues to tackle. You’re lifting the exemptions of the NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines), so there will be a hit. Question is, do you want to lessen the impact. Because for sure, the bill will be passed. So that is the role of the Senate, to lessen the impact on consumers.”

Mr. Recto said: “The DoF (Department of Finance) wants its version, (but it will hit the) D and E,, which is 91, 93% of the population.”

“You can look at it this way: the tax reduction will be paid by the D and E. If you think of it that way, remember, we’re giving away P140 billion in income taxes, and we’re taking back P280 billion gross from the public. Most of them are D and E. That’s why we introduced certain amendments here. For example, documentary stamp tax. The D and E will not be affected by it, unlike oil prices or sugar. Our job is to lessen the impact, to adopt a tax that’s fairer,” Mr. Recto said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Mary Joy Tabal sets historic 5 wins in row at the Milo Marathon Finals

CEBU CITY — Mary Joy Tabal is now the first woman to win the National Milo Marathon Queen crown five times in a row. The Cebuana Olympian and SEA Games gold medalist fittingly achieved this impressive feat in the National Finals at her hometown of Cebu, with thousands of Cebuanos cheering her on. Meanwhile, Davaoeño salesman Joerge Andrade is the new name in the game, winning his first Milo Marathon King title.

The 41st National Milo Marathon National Finals in Cebu culminates 16 regional legs, all driven by values such as discipline, resilience, and determination, which runners can take with them in their journey in life. The champions received P150,000 in cash and a trophy each. Tabal received an additional P200,000 for placing third in the 42K female open category. As part of their prizes, both Tabal and Andrade will be sent by Milo on all expense-paid trips to participate in an international marathon next year.

In the female division, Tabal clocked in at 2:58:01 in first place, followed by Christabel Martes (3:04:20) in second and Jho-an Villarma (3:11:26) in third. In the men’s division, Andrade topped the group with a time of 2:39:34, while Erick Panique (2:42:10) and five-time Milo Marathon King and two-time Olympian Eduardo Buenavista (2:43:34) finished second and third place, respectively.

Tabal was in tears as she crossed the finish line. This race is the most difficult one she has experienced to date, as she ran with the sad reality that her father, Rolando, is no longer with her. Rolando Tabal, Sr. passed away on Saturday morning, just one day before Tabal was supposed to see him after the race.

Tabal almost decided on not joining the final, as it was too painful for her to compete. However, she was determined to fulfill her father’s wish of her completing the race.

Dumaguete council gives mayor authority to buy private lot for landfill site

THE DUMAGUETE City Council approved last week a resolution authorizing Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo to enter into and sign the contract for the purchase of a private lot to be used as sanitary landfill site. The vote was five in favor, one against, and three abstentions, after deliberations for the purchase of the 30,530-square meter lot, near a housing subdivision, at a price of P615 per square meter. The lone ‘no’ vote came from Councilor Agustin Miguel A. Perdices, who contended that a qualified majority is needed on this ruling, considering the big amount of money involved, which is about P18.78 million. However, Councilor Manuel R. Arbon countered that a simple majority is enough because the amount was already appropriated in a previously approved ordinance. The site is situated more than 100 meters away from the Bloomington housing site, and 300 to 400 meters away from the waterway. Mr. Arbon said a technical working group, of which he is the chairman, is expecting opposition to the proposed site due to misconceptions that the city is merely transferring the dump site to another site, but still within Barangay Candau-ay. Mr. Arbon said the city government is running against time with no other possible area that can accommodate an average of 60 to 70 tons of garbage daily. He added that a comprehensive information campaign should be conducted to address the misconception that a sanitary landfill, like an open dump site, emits foul odor and poses health hazards. — The Freeman

The Gravy TRAIN is leaving and common sense isn’t in it

Otto von Bismarck once said that “laws are like sausages. Better not to see them being made.” No one would agree more than observers of the ongoing TRAIN legislation.

The just released Senate version illustrates the point. New ingredients surreptitiously found their way into the mix, diluting the DoF’s otherwise carefully thought-out recipe.

Package 1 of the reforms was intended to address the oppressive effects of inflation on taxable income — a phenomenon known as “bracket creep.”

To pay for the consequent revenue losses from raising taxable income thresholds and help fund the government’s ambitious Build, Build, Build Infrastructure program, oil and auto excise taxes were supposed to be raised to reflect current price levels, combined with the scrapping of VAT exemptions for 144 product categories that made our VAT system both unfair and low-yielding.

What has come out instead is a bit of a chop suey, due to the blatant accommodation of narrow-vested interests aiming to avoid paying their share of the tax effort or tilt the playing field against competitors.

Below are some of the more glaring examples.

EXPANDED TAX BREAKS FOR ECONOMIC ZONES, PEZA
Mind you, not just exemptions for the zones themselves but an expanded list for VAT zero rating for locators in the zones, including their suppliers, and tourism sites. Recall that some of these economic zones have been mired in controversy from birth, with reports of rampant smuggling of oil, automobiles etc.

LOWER TAX RATES ON LUXURY VEHICLES
The Senate version establishes two tax brackets for vehicles, 10% for those costing a million pesos or less and 20% for those costing more. Given where tax rates are today, this will have the effect of shifting the tax burden from buyers of high-end luxury vehicles to those of cheaper, everyday cars.

As one investor newsletter put it, “this new proposal looks like it was crafted specifically by and for luxury car dealers.” To illustrate, a Toyota Wigo (retail price of around P500,000) could see a price increase of around 8%. But a Toyota Land Cruiser (retail price over P5 million) could see a price decrease of over 20%.”

How does the Senate version hope to cover the revenue losses from these proposals? Some illustrations —

DOUBLING DOCUMENTARY STAMP TAXES
Taxing financial transactions is a last resort of the poorest African countries that possess few alternatives and weak collection agencies. This is not apt for our country — a supposedly dynamic emerging market economy trying to develop and promote its capital markets in a highly competitive region.

Such a tax raises the already high friction costs of transacting legitimate business in our country and diminishes our image as a center for investment. More fundamentally and over the long term, such costs impose a tax on savings and investment, on economic competitiveness, and on job-creation.

There has been no consultation on this and other measures, which were not meant for consideration until Package 4 of the DoF’s proposal covering capital income taxation. That the Documentary Stamp tax was brought forward way ahead of schedule reflects the size of the hole that will be created by the Senate’s generous exemptions and tax cuts.

COSMETIC SURGERY TAX
Purely cosmetic. A nuisance tax that will yield peanuts and burden revenue authorities and legitimate patients. Imagine every patient having to wait for his or her procedure to be certified as medically required before being allowed to undergo surgery free of tax? Inconveniences aside, this gives birth to new opportunities for rent-seeking and extortion, new income sources for less-than-scrupulous practitioners.

COAL EXCISE TAXES
From the current P10 per metric ton (MT) to P300 per MT — that’s a whopping three thousand percent increase. This measure comes out of nowhere, as it was neither in the DoF or Lower House version of Package 1.

Let me make the case against it.

First, a disclosure. I am an independent director of Aboitiz Power and Phinma, Inc., both of which have investments in coal power plants as well as in renewables. I am also the Private Sector representative in the Steering Committee of the University of the Philippines based Energy Policy Development Program (EPDP), co-chaired by the secretaries of NEDA and the Department of Energy.

The arguments of the proponents:

a) Coal needs to be taxed more due to the negative effect of its carbon emissions on the environment.

Whether this is true or not, the Philippines contributes less than 1% of world total CO2 emissions. At the same time, 35% of all the power we produce comes from renewable sources — a mix that is much more favorable than that of most countries, indeed better than almost all countries at a similar stage of development in the ASEAN and globally. (See “Carbon Footprint, Inclusive Growth and the Fuel Mix Debate in the Philippines,” by Raul Fabella et al, EPDP, PHL Economic Society Conference, Sept 22). We are doing more than our fair share to arrest global warming, even at the expense of cheaper electricity (renewables like solar and wind enjoy tax-payer-funded government subsidies).

b) Gasoline, diesel, and natural gas are taxed more than coal.

My friend, esteemed economist, and columnist, Ciel Habito, estimates that the tax on motor fuels is 10%, on Malampaya gas, 43%. He advocates that coal be taxed at P600 per MT, arguing that at an effective 15%, this will still be lower than the tax on Malampaya gas and the proposed 18% for diesel in the Senate version.

Ciel seems to overlook two considerations. The tax on motor fuels has never been about CO2 emissions and climate change, a recent notion. It is about the “user pay” principle — motorists should pay for the roads that the government builds and maintains. And there is the second reason — to discourage the excessive use of private cars that contributes to traffic and air pollution. In economics-speak, “negative externalities” from urban congestion.

As for the taxes on Malampaya gas, this too has nothing to do with CO2 mitigation. These are royalty payments for the exploitation of the country’s natural resources. The government collects the same 60% share of profits from oil and, yes, coal producers.

Given this, why single out coal for a carbon tax? Why not a carbon tax on every fuel based on its impact on the ozone layer (which incidentally should also include LNG)? And why not throw in cattle-breeding, as cows emit ozone destroying methane with an aggregate impact similar to coal plants?

Regardless, using widely accepted global norms, EPDP Senior Adviser Prof. Jim Roumasset calculated the appropriate carbon tax for coal in the Philippines, given its contribution of 1% of the world’s CO2 emissions — P60 per metric ton. Not P100. And certainly not P300.

The P300 per metric ton tax on coal will add P0.14 per kWh to our cost of generating electricity. This is on top of another measure climate change advocates and renewable energy developers pushed for — feed-in tariffs, a fancy term for what are just subsidies from the taxpayer. Combined, they will add P0.43 per KWh to our electricity bills or, at current consumption levels, a total of P40 billion for 2018.

This resulting 10% hike in generation cost comes at a time when our DoE is working hard to bring down power costs to attract investments and create jobs in manufacturing. Note that power costs represent the bulk of cement production costs, causing our local champions to struggle against foreign competition. High cement prices make it more difficult to provide low-cost housing for the poor.

But all is not lost.

There is still a bicameral committee that can hopefully inject some sense into the tax package. We implore the committee members: Pass the TRAIN but hold the gravy, please.

 

Romeo L. Bernardo is a Trustee of the Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis. He was Finance Undersecretary during the Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos administrations.

romeo.lopez.bernardo@gmail.com

Trump says ‘nothing to hide’ as Flynn brings Mueller closer

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK — Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s guilty plea has given Special Counsel Robert Mueller new leverage that may help him pursue more serious charges against others close to Donald J. Trump, perhaps leading up to the president himself.

Mr. Trump, however, greeted the news with a show of confidence, signaling that he believes his campaign and transition teams are on solid legal footing in Mr. Mueller’s probe. In a Saturday tweet, Mr. Trump said Mr. Flynn’s contacts with Russians before the inauguration didn’t violate law.

“I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice-President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide,” Mr. Trump told his almost 44 million Twitter followers.

Democratic lawmakers seized on the president’s tweet.

“Trump’s claim today that he fired Flynn because of lies to FBI, as well as (Mike) Pence, shows knowledge of lawbreaking he concealed — never before disclosed,” Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a former state attorney general, said on Twitter. “Obstruction of justice in the Oval Office unfolding before our eyes in real time.”

Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, asked in a tweet, “Why did you fail to act until his lies were publicly exposed? And why did you pressure” then-FBI Director James Comey “to ‘let this go?’”

Mr. Trump hit back in a later tweet Saturday night in which he said: “So General Flynn lies to the FBI and his life is destroyed, while Crooked Hillary Clinton, on that now famous FBI holiday ‘interrogation’ with no swearing in and no recording, lies many times … and nothing happens to her? Rigged system, or just a double standard?”

Mr. Flynn is now cooperating with Mr. Mueller, and as part of his plea deal he provided information related to Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, according to two people familiar with the matter — a sign that Mr. Mueller’s probe is closing in on the president’s inner circle. Legal experts said Mr. Mueller may seek to use Mr. Flynn’s testimony to build a broader case of conspiracy or obstruction of justice.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Trump said he wasn’t worried about what Mr. Flynn may tell investigators probing possible collusion between Russia and members of the Trump team during the 2016 presidential campaign. “There has been absolutely no collusion. So we’re very happy,” Mr. Trump told reporters as he prepared to board Marine One at the White House.

CONTACTS WITH RUSSIANS
Senior White House officials have privately backed Mr. Trump’s remarks, saying they believe Mr. Flynn didn’t violate law in his contacts with Russians, but did when he lied to the FBI, one senior administration official said. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, believed that Mr. Flynn didn’t know that the contacts were lawful and therefore felt the need to lie about them.

Mr. Flynn told Mr. Mueller that he communicated with Russia’s ambassador to the US during the presidential transition last December about American foreign policy with the knowledge and direction of senior Trump associates, according to a court document.

The contacts with Russia could violate the Logan Act of 1799, which prohibits US citizens from interfering with relations between the US and foreign governments, said Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It’s unlikely Mr. Mueller would bring criminal charges solely based on the Logan Act, which doesn’t appear to ever have been used as grounds for prosecution, according to 2015 report by the Congressional Research Service. One US official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that a Logan Act case would be a victory for Mr. Trump and laughable as the grounds for impeachment moves by Congress.

Another White House official said the Logan Act wouldn’t apply during the period between Mr. Trump’s election in November and his January inauguration. The administration instead believes that the transition team — which used a government e-mail system and worked out of federal facilities — would be covered by transition guidelines that authorized them to talk with foreign governments.

Still, if Mr. Mueller identifies violations of the Logan Act, they could be a building block in making a broader case against Mr. Trump or his associates, according to Patrick Cotter, who prosecuted mobsters as an assistant US attorney from 1986 to 1994.

“Mueller’s not sitting there saying ‘I’m building the world’s greatest Logan Act case,’” said Mr. Cotter, who now heads the white collar criminal defense practice at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale PC in Chicago. “The Logan Act is rare. Conspiracy — not so much.”

Under his deal with Mr. Mueller, Mr. Flynn pleaded guilty of one count of lying to federal agents and provided details about the controversial conversations he held with then-Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. In those discussions, Mr. Flynn urged Moscow not to react strongly to sanctions imposed by then-President Barack Obama and to help head off a United Nations resolution condemning Israel.

Mr. Trump was president-elect at the time and Mr. Flynn was a private citizen, although the retired Army lieutenant general was expected to be named to the White House national security post.

According to a court filing, Mr. Flynn said that a “very senior member” of the presidential transition team asked Mr. Flynn on Dec. 22 to contact Russian officials to help delay or defeat the UN resolution on Israel. The very senior member was Mr. Kushner, according to the people familiar with the events.

BANNON, PRIEBUS
Another person familiar with the push against the UN resolution said it was a collaborative effort that involved advisers Stephen Bannon and Reince Priebus, who went on to become Mr. Trump’s first White House chief of staff, as well as Mr. Kushner. Ultimately, Mr. Obama decided not to exercise the usual US veto against such condemnations of Israel, and the resolution went through.

Mr. Flynn also said he reported back on Dec. 29 to a “senior official” in the transition team at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on his conversations with Mr. Kislyak about the sanctions that Mr. Obama imposed on Russia because of its meddling in the presidential campaign, the document said.

That official, according to the people familiar with the matter, is K.T. McFarland, who was brought into the transition team and later the White House by Mr. Flynn. The people asked not to be identified discussing internal matters.

The transition official and Mr. Flynn “discussed that the members of the Presidential Transition Team at Mar-a-Lago did not want Russia to escalate the situation,” according to the court document. Shortly after, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he wouldn’t take retaliatory measures against the Obama sanctions.

White House attorney Ty Cobb downplayed the significance of Mr. Flynn’s decision to cooperate with Mr. Mueller. Mr. Cobb noted that Mr. Flynn was ousted from his post in Mr. Trump’s administration for misleading Vice-President Mike Pence about the nature of his conversations with Mr. Kislyak.

“Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn,” Mr. Cobb said in a statement.

But now that Mr. Flynn has “flipped” from target to witness, to use a favorite term of prosecutors, Mr. Cotter said Mr. Mueller has a central figure who can provide insight into what was happening within Mr. Trump’s inner circle.

“Flynn becomes, potentially, the hub of a wheel of conspiracy,” Mr. Cotter said.

“It’s not at all surprising to people who do this kind of work that the actual charges as you are building your case don’t go to the heart of the criminal enterprise that you’re investigating,” Mr. Cotter said. “This is clear evidence that Mueller has now moved an entire level up the ladder of his investigation.”

In a statement released on Friday, Mr. Flynn said his guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the special counsel’s office “reflect a decision I made in the best interests of my family and of our country.” — Bloomberg

Austria named Coach of the Year, takes Perpetual Dalupan Trophy

FOR the third straight year, Leo Austria has been named Coach of the Year by the PBA Press Corps (PBAPC) and the San Miguel Beermen mentor is taking home permanently the prestigious Baby Dalupan perpetual trophy.

In the 24-year history of the PBA Press Corps, no other coach has able to win the award three consecutive times.

Perry Ronquillo of Shell came close to winning the award when he captured the Coach of the Year plum in 1998 and 1999, only to be foiled by Jong Uichico in Year 2000.

Chot Reyes was named co-Coach of the Year awardee alongside Ryan Gregorio in 2002 and won the award anew in 2003, but Siot Tanquingcen, who led Ginebra to two championships in 2004, was chosen as the best coach of that season.

Mr. Austria’s latest feat put him on top of the list.

Although his team was denied of a rare grand slam last season, there was no denying Mr. Austria was the best coach of the season just passed, but the former Rookie of the Year awardee deflected the credit to his players.

“They’re saying, you can bring the horses to the river. But you can’t force them to drink. They’re the real winners. The players execute the plays and win games. Before last season started, they showed respect to everyone. They showed dedication and they built the winning culture,” Mr. Austria said during his speech.

“Winning the Coach of the Year award is not just an individual award, but it is a testament to the team’s success, cohesiveness and the winning culture. I will not be here without them.” — Rey Joble

DPWH budget cuts to spare ongoing projects

THE bicameral conference committee on the 2018 national budget for 2018 will tackle the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget on Monday, Dec. 4, according to Sen. Loren B. Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on finance.

“We will examine the DPWH budget tomorrow in a way that any cuts to be made will not involve ongoing projects,” Ms. Legarda said.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, the committee’s vice-chairman, said in an interview after the first bicameral meeting last week that his proposed amendments to the 2018 budget involving cuts of over P68 billion from the DPWH’s budget, including an P18-billion “lump sum” that the department cannot disaggregate, and another P50.7 billion from projects that have right-of-way issues.

The Senate, during the period of amendments, accepted the P50.7-billion cut. During the interview, Mr. Lacson said the P18 billion can still be removed during the bicameral meeting if the DPWH fails to defend it.

The funds, according to Mr. Lacson, will be diverted to the “Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), teacher’s chalk allowance, feeding programs, and the National ID System (once implemented) of the Philippine Statistics Authority.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Legarda said that the department’s funding largely covers current projects.

“Sen. Lacson has studied the budget to eliminate those with right-of-way issues,” Ms. Legarda said.

Ms. Legarda also said that the committee will restore the funding of those projects that are still ongoing in case they are covered by the 50-billion budget cut.

The senator also clarified that the intention is not to eliminate projects and that the Senate supports the infrastructure program of the administration.

“It is not our intention to remove any projects. We support  Build, Build, Build. But we know that each year there are budgeted funds that go unused, many of them due to right-of-way issues,” Ms. Legarda added.

In a chance interview last week, House appropriations committee chair Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said that the P50-billion budget cuts being considered are part of the government’s Build, Build, Build program.

“This is part of the Build, Build, Build program. If these funds are cut, does that mean they do not support the President’s Build, Build, Build program? Now they’re talking about TRAIN, the tax reform (legislation). Tax reform presumably is something that is being pursued by Congress to finance Build, Build, Build. So what are they trying to say? That they do not support the President’s program? Is that the message they want to send to Malacañang?” Mr. Nograles said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Another Abu Sayyaf member caught

A MEMBER of the kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf was arrested in Isabela City, Basilan last week through an operation of the Joint Task Force Basilan and police. Rahim Abdul, who uses the alias Aman Kabalu, was apprehended bearing a fragmentation grenade. “Abdul was positively identified by a civilian, leading to his arrest without his resistance,” said Brigadier General Juvymax R. Uy, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan. The suspect was immediately brought to the Basilan Provincial Police Office to face legal charges. From January to May this year, 81 members of the group have been killed, 18 apprehended, and 50 who have voluntarily surrendered, according to the Western Mindanao Command. The military estimates that there were about 500 Abu Sayyaf members at the start of 2017. — Albert F. Arcilla

Hit 2 birds with 1 stone at the Sinag ng Pasko bazaar

CHRISTMAS shopping may not only bring joy to a loved one but also help indigenous people, traditional weavers, craftsmen, farmers, and mothers in underprivileged communities.

The BPI Foundation, the social innovation platform arm of the Bank of the Philippines (BPI), will host the third Sinag ng Pasko bazaar on Dec. 13 at the Palm Drive Activity Center, Glorietta 2, Makati City. This year’s one-day holiday bazaar will feature 40 Filipino social enterprises focusing on food, fashion and accessories, and assorted gift items.

Many of the participating enterprises have undergone BPI’s Sinag Accelerate, a program that is aimed at discovering and empowering social entrepreneurs to expand their businesses to have further impact on community development.

The participating social enterprises include CustomMade Crafts which specializes in handmade products designed with traditional weaves; Akaba, which makes high quality travel bags made with hand-woven textiles; Accents and Petals, which features flowers created made from recycled wood and paper by the Ifugao community; and Tsaa Laya, tea made from local mint and organic Tinaw-on rice harvested from the Banaue rice terraces.

“The Sinag ng Pasko bazaar is about gathering businesses that can make people feel good about themselves,” BPI Foundation Communications/Project Officer Dorina Carita Z. Funk said during her presentation on Nov. 23 at Hineleban Café in Makati City. “[You] got your product, [you] have your gifts, and at the same time, [you] also get to help a lot of people.”

The bazaar will include a program where artisans and entrepreneurs will talk about their businesses, and some fun activities. The enterprises will also offer Christmas bundles and discounts. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

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