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Trillanes still in Senate

OPPOSITION Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV on Friday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte may order his arrest the minute he leaves the Senate premises despite pronouncements from the military that no arrest will be made.
“Kahit sabihin nila walang order ngayon pero kapag nireport nila ‘pag lumabas ako, sabihin ni Duterte ‘Hulihin ‘yan based on the proclamation,” he told reporters outside his office in the Senate. (Even if the military says there is no arrest order, if they report that I have left the Senate premises, [President] Duterte will say, arrest him based in the proclamation.)
“Galit na galit siya sa akin. Natural na the first opportunity he will get, gagawin niya ‘yan (He’s very angry with me. It’s natural that he will do that the first opportunity he will get,” he added.
He was also advised by his lawyers that his pending cases against the presidential proclamation will be moot if security forces apprehended him outside the Senate.
Mr. Trillanes ditched plans to leave the Senate last Thursday after his car was allegedly tailed by motorcyles when it left the premises for a gas-up.
He also noted the additional reinforcements deployed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) near the Senate premises after his statement last Thursday that he may leave the Senate “quietly”.
Meanwhile, the Makati City Regional Trial Court still has not issued a warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Mr. Trillanes for his rebellion case in connection with the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege.
Judge Elmo M. Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150 has instead ordered the prosecution to submit within five days its reply to the comment submitted by Mr. Trillanes today through his lawyer Reynaldo B. Robles.
Mr. Robles is likewise given five days upon notice to submit its rejoinder to the prosecutors’ reply. The case will then be submitted for resolution.
At the hearing, Judge Alameda asked Mr. Robles to present the actual application form of the senator for amnesty, saying that the court would not rely on secondary evidence.
Mr. Robles only presented Mr. Trillanes’ Certificate of Amnesty and other affidavits, including media reports showing he has filed an application for amnesty.
Judge Almeda ordered the submission of all affidavits from both camps. He also suggested to Mr. Robles to submit a sworn affidavit of Col. Josefa Berbigal, the officer who administered Mr. Trillanes’ filing of amnesty in 2011.
In an interview with reporters, Mr. Robles maintained that secondary evidence was sufficient to prove that Mr. Trillanes applied for amnesty.
“Well tinatanong lang ‘yung actual application form but ina-allow naman ‘yung presentation ng secondary evidence. Kasi lahat naman tayo ang experience lang natin sa gobyerno, ‘pag nag-apply ka sa isang bagay, normally ang binibigay lang sayo yung claim stub ‘di ba? Ito ‘yung pinaka claim stub, ‘yung certificate of amnesty. (Well the actual application form was just asked but secondary evidence is allowed. Our experience in the government, when we apply for something, normally they would just give the claim stub, right? This is the claim stub, the certificate of amnesty),” he said.
Contrary to Mr. Robles’ claim, Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said the voiding of amnesty should not be declared by the court.
“Proclamation 572 already declared Proclamation No. 75, the grant of amnesty, as void ab initio…Proclamation 572 is valid…it is not constitutional unless declared otherwise. ‘Yan ang sinusunod namin ngayon (That is what we are following),” he told reporters after the hearing.
“Dahil don, sinasabi natin hindi na natin kailangan hingin nasa korte na i-declare mong void ab initio (Because of that, we are saying that we do not need to ask the court to declare the amnesty void ab initio.),” he added.
Branch 150 dismissed the Rebellion case in Sept. 7, 2011 following the grant of amnesty to Mr. Trillanes and other mutineers.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) on Sept. 6 filed an urgent motion for the issuance of warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Mr. Trillanes following the presidential proclamation voiding his 2011 amnesty.
On Sept. 13, Makati RTC Branch 148 has also not issued an alias warrant of arrest and HDO against Mr. Trillanes’ coup d’etat over the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003. — Camille A. Aguinaldo and Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Guevarra: P500K up for info on Peter Lim

A REWARD of P500,000 would be given by the government to anyone who will give information on the whereabouts of alleged drug lord Peter Go Lim, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said.
In a text message to reporters, Mr. Guevarra said: “The (government) is also ready to give a reward of P500,000 to anyone who can give information on the exact whereabouts of accused Peter Go Lim, provided that such information will lead to the actual arrest of said fugitive.”
The secretary also warned those protecting Mr. Lim.
“The DOJ (Department of Justice) warns persons coddling Peter Go Lim, who has been indicted for conspiracy to trade in illegal drugs, that they will be prosecuted for obstruction of justice and punished accordingly,” he said.
The DOJ in August has formally charged Mr. Lim for the violation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for “conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.”
Initially, the DOJ dropped the complaint charged against Mr. Lim, confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and others due to inconsistencies in the evidence.
Also in August, Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 65 has ordered Mr. Lim’s arrest after affirming the DOJ’s decision.

2 new Dengvaxia complaints filed vs. Garin, others

FORMER Health Secretary Janette L. Garin and others were charged with another two complaints in connection with the Dengvaxia controversy.
The Public Attorney’s Office on Friday filed at the Department of Justice another two complaints on the deaths of Christine Joy G. Asuncion, who died on March 15, 2018, and Roshaine D. Cariño, who died on Feb. 19, 2018. Both deaths are bring linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.
Ms. Garin is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, and violation of the Anti-Torture Act and the Consumer Act.
Others charged are government officials involved in the purchase and issuance of a certificate of product registration for Dengvaxia, manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. and distributor Zeullig Pharma Corporation.
In the separate complaints filed by the parents of both alleged victims, assisted by PAO Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta, it was stated that there were common patterns found in the deaths of the Dengvaxia victims such as: they received three doses of the vaccine, recipients only got sick after the vaccination with the common symptoms of headache, fever, and abdominal pain, forensic examinations of the body showed enlargement and extensive bleeding of organs. — V.M.M. Villegas

Peso firmer after below-forecast US inflation

THE peso firmed below the P54-to-the-dollar level, after the US currency weakened after the release of lower-than-expected inflation data.
The peso ended the week at P53.97 against the dollar, 10 centavos stronger than its close on Thursday.
The peso was stronger the entire session, opening at P54.02. The high was P53.965 and the low was P54.06.
Trading volume rose to $660.15 million from $658.3 million in the previous session.
A foreign exchange trader said the peso strengthened against the dollar but remained in a narrow range.
“I think it traded [stronger] due to dollar index falling overnight,” the trader said in a phone interview Friday.
The dollar index weakened to a two-week low of 94.491 against a basket of six major currencies following weaker-than-expected US inflation data and amid an easing of trade tensions between the US and China, Reuters reported.
The US consumer price index, the government’s broadest inflation gauge, rose 0.2% in August, below the 0.3% expected according to a Reuters poll.
“The weaker-than-expected US consumer inflation report yesterday (eased) some pressure on the dollar,” another trader said in an e-mail.
Meanwhile, White House Economic Council Head Larry Kudlow said in an interview that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin invited senior Chinese officials to restart trade talks as the US prepares to impose steep tariffs on Chinese goods.
The first trader added that the peso also recovered “in preparation for the possible inflows over the weekend.”
“The range was kind of tight due to some corporate demand. We saw some support due to the demand,” she added. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Investors fret as storm threatens

THE PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE index (PSEi) retreated back below the 7,500 mark on Friday from Thursday’s gain that had otherwise snapped six straight sessions of losses, as lack of compelling leads gave way to pessimism in the face of a huge storm that was expected to hit Luzon’s farms hard on Saturday at a time of spiking inflation.
PSEi fell by 104.22 points or 1.38% to close 7,413.15 — down for the second straight week and by 2.44% from its Sept. 7 finish — while the all-share index gave up 47.01 points or 1.02% to end 4,555.3.
Both Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Jervin S. de Celis and Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan cited lack of leads to enable the market to sustain Thursday’s gains, giving way to pessimism as supertyphoon Manghkhut — locally called Ompong — barreled towards Luzon packing 205 kilometer-per-hour winds and gusts of up to 255 kph. Among areas expected to be hit hard are some of the country’s key production centers in Luzon of rice, which has been instrumental in fueling inflation to multiyear highs lately.
“The last-minute selling activity pushed our index down to 7,413 as the typhoon may have dampened investor sentiment since it still remains under category 5 so they might be assessing the devastating effects of it,” Mr. de Celis said in a mobile message on Friday, while Mr. Limlingan noted that there was “little market-making developments” that could have lifted sentiment.
“Despite hefty gains in most Asian markets, the Philippine market ended the day in the red,” RCBC Securities, Inc. said in its Stock Market Weekend Recap prepared by research analyst John Paolo D. Ayson, identifying property firms SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Ayala Land, Inc. as well as holding firms SM Investments Corp. and JG Summit Holdings, Inc. as having “the most negative impact on PSEi, dragging the index by a combined 63.58 points”.
Reuters reported on Friday that technology stocks’ rebound and easing trade worries as China welcomed fresh talks with the United States fueled Wall Street’s rise, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 0.57% to 26,145.99, the Nasdaq Composite Index gaining 0.75% to 8,013.71 and the S&P 500 climbing 0.53% to 2,904.18.
Improved prospects of Sino-US trade talks also enabled most Asian markets to extend gains, with the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices increasing by 1.2% and 1.09%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng going up by 1.01%, the blue-chip Shanghai-Shenzhen CSI 300 edging up 0.17% and the MSCI AC Asia Pacific rising by 0.90%.
All six sectoral indices back home lost: property by 73.11 points or 1.94% to 3,694.4, industrials by 174.36 points or 1.56% to 10,948.94, holding firms by 103.35 points or 1.4% to 7,251.91, services by 9.65 points or 0.63% to 1,517.51, mining & oil by 56.38 points or 0.57% to 9,717.24 and financials by 9.61 points or 0.57% at 1,667.29.
Stocks that declined outnumbered those that gained 115 to 67, while 46 others were flat.
Friday’s list of 20 most active stocks showed only Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. gained, rising 0.96% to P5.28 apiece and by 0.57% to P53.20 each.
BDO Unibank, Inc. and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. steadied at P117 and P68.60 apiece, respectively.
Those that lost on Friday included IRC Properties, Inc.; GT Capital Holdings, Inc.; JG Summit Holdings, Inc.; Manila Electric Co., Bloomberry Resorts Corp.; SM Prime Holdings, Inc.; Jollibee Foods Corp.; Ayala Land, Inc. and SM Investments Corp. whose prices dropped 6.87% to P2.44 apiece, 4.12% to P815, 3.97% to P52, 3.66% to P368, 3.04% to P8.92; 2.93% to P36.40, 2.89% to P269, 2.38% to P41 and by 1.37% to P935 each, respectively.
Trading volume thinned to 715.862 million shares worth P6 billion from Thursday’s 738.471 million worth P6.067 billion.
Foreigners remained predominantly bearish for the 12th straight session, with net sales doubling to P815.355 million from Thursday’s P398.026 million as total sales grew 5.55% to P3.999 billion from P3.788 billion and total acquisitions dropped 6.11% to P3.183 billion from P3.39 billion. — with J. C. Lim

Filipino talents need to start livestreaming. Here’s why.

On March 14, professional gamer Ninja (real name: Tyler Blevin), made history when he and some unlikely friends broke the record for concurrent viewership on Twitch. The game? Fortnite. His crew? Hip-hop artist Drake, rapper Travis Scott, and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster.
At one point in the evening, 628,000 people across the globe tuned in to watch the odd foursome play the online shooter. It was a watershed moment for Twitch in particular and livestreaming in general. Literally overnight, the once-niche platform became as mainstream as, well, hip-hop and the NFL.

There is money to be made in the growing livestreaming industry, usually through digital tips and gifts. Top livestreamers on Twitch boast annual revenues in the millions of dollars. Many others have built humbler, but still notable careers on the platform.
In the United States and China, tipping revenue will soon exceed box office receipts. Unfortunately, the global livestreaming economy is largely limited to those two spheres.

Many countries, like the Philippines, have had no livestreaming economy to speak of, which is unfortunate. Outside of a few tech startups founders, the only real way Filipinos make money online is through freelance, contractual work — often outsourced labor for foreign clients.
They may be paid well, but they are ultimately doing the work — digital marketing, SEO, content creation — for someone else. At the end of the day, they’re simply individual specialists in a foreign company’s sprawling back-office.

In sharp contrast, a local livestreaming economy would give many Filipinos a chance to earn directly from their talents. If they were to capitalize on this market, they could reach an audience, build a fan base, and hone their craft, all while doing so sustainably, if not profitably.

Tech company Kumu is introducing this concept to the Philippines. Founded by Roland Ros, Rexy Dorado, Andrew Pineda, and Clare Ros, Kumu is a content mobile app available on both Android and iOS with livestreaming as its core feature.
As of the moment, Kumu’s most popular livestreaming show is “Quiz Mo Ko”, a trivia game hosted by comedian and actor Maui Manalo, where audience members — every user that tunes in — can compete for cash prizes by answering questions in real-time.

This month, Kumu will be launching virtual tipping and gifting features. While the feature is by no means revolutionary — it is a staple after all of every mature livestreaming platform in China and in the United States — its application to the Filipino context is notable.
Up until the launch of this feature, Filipino performers have had to rely on what is essentially a talent lottery: They can either hope to win a national show like “The Voice” or be discovered by a television network executive.
In the same way that the gifting economy has allowed non-traditional talents in China to earn a living from their livestreaming efforts, Kumu CEO Roland Ros wants the same to happen in the Philippines. He envisions a world where everyone from a jeepney driver to a BPO worker and a college student to a professional comedian can monetize their talents through a direct connection with their audience.

While Kumu is still in the very early stages, Filipino creatives and content creators should give the platform a close look and consider even joining early. Many of the household names that have made it big on now traditional platforms like YouTube began by recognizing the potential of the medium, and taking the leap.
As for the rest of us non-content creators (like me!), all we can do is sit back and watch — if not Kumu’s individual shows, then the platform’s ambitious bid to showcase the best of Filipino talent and creativity.

Ma. Flordelin Ensomo is a Certified Public Accountant. She currently works as an Audit Associate at SGV and Co.

The ‘Trabaho’ tax bill, explained

The Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities Bill — or the Trabaho bill, for short — is the second package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

The bill adds and amends a number of sections under the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code, with the main goal of matching the country’s relatively high corporate income tax (CIT) rate with those of its Southeast Asian peers.
At 30%, the Philippines’ current CIT stands well above the standard 20% rate set in Thailand and Vietnam.
While the first package of the TRAIN law sought to increase Filipinos’ take-home pay by reducing personal income taxes, the Trabaho bill aims to incentivize corporate investments in the country.
Better conditions for big business means more investments in the Philippines, which in turn is better for the economy. Sounds good, right?

What does the private sector think about the bill?

Various business groups have criticized the bill’s “rationalization” of tax incentives — referring to the proposal to scrap supposedly redundant perks that firms registered with investment promotions agencies currently benefit from.

The Trabaho bill proposes a series of fiscal incentives to those that qualify under its Strategic Investments Priority Plan. These incentives include:

  • a three-year income tax holiday (ITH)
  • allowable deductions up to five years for labor, training, infrastructure building, and research and development expenditures

After these prescribed time limits, the business would be subject to the regular tax scheme. However, once the three-year ITH expires, the business can apply for a special rate of 18% in 2021, which can further drop to 13% in 2029.

Under the current set-up, eligible companies can enjoy an ITH of up to nine years, with a 5% tax on gross income. Meanwhile, other incentives aren’t time-bound at all. While the standard CIT would be slowly lowered under the Trabaho bill, critics claim that the scrapped perks and tightened eligibility rules under this new system would ultimately drive out investors.

Multiple versions. Multiple problems.

Last week, on Sept. 10, the House of Representatives passed the Trabaho bill on its third and final reading.
This version would cut CIT incrementally to a regionally competitive 20% by 2029.

On the other hand, the Senate version, filed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, would slash 5% off the CIT by next year “for a more immediate impact.” This, while also delaying the rationalization of tax incentives for another two years afterwards.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte in his recent State of the Nation Address said that he wanted tax reform fast-tracked and on his desk for signing before the end of the year.
The reason? This bill — and the TRAIN Law as a whole — is expected to partially fund the government’s Build, Build, Build program.
However, according to Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service, the “watered-down” tax reform proposed by this bill would only succeed in cutting down tax revenues entirely.
The Department of Finance (DOF) recently proposed their own, more stringent amendments to the bill, arguing that the rationalization of tax incentives would do little to balance out the lowered CIT. Incentives aren’t removed, they said. Companies simply have to meet the new conditions to get them.
Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua says that based on DOF estimates, the current House version could result in a loss of P62 billion in tax revenues. The Senate version could cost up to P130 billion, and with no tax rationalization — effective or not — to mitigate it.
Neither the House, nor the Senate opted to follow the DOF’s suggestions.

Why? Because elections. — DOF

With the filing of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections only a few weeks away, one possible reason that legislators may be wary of pushing for tough tax policies may be that voters don’t take kindly to paying more taxes.
“Tax policy, as we know, is never the best way to be reelected,” said Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez.

Mr. Chua, however, remained hopeful, as there is “ample time” to pass the second package before legislators get caught up in the election frenzy.

“The important thing now is to get the hearings started so that the debate is done objectively, not [subject to] hearsay or opinions,” he said.

Edited by Santiago J. Arnaiz
With reporting by Anna Gabriela A. Mogato and Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan. Read the original piece on TRAIN’s fiscal impact here.

How Ompong will cause chaos when it slams Asia

For days now, Super Typhoon Ompong, known internationally as Mangkhut, has been churning across the Pacific, keeping the millions of people potentially in its path on tenterhooks.

The powerful cyclone is forecast to make landfall in Cagayan on Saturday morning, prompting Filipinos to brace for the worst. Five years ago, Yolanda (Haiyan), one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded struck the country and killed more than 6,300 people.

Mangkhut is forecast to slam across vast swathes of farmland in northern Philippines, threatening food supply at a time when the nation is already grappling with the fastest inflation in Asia. The storm, which caused flooding and power outages in the U.S. territory of Guam, is set to subsequently head to Hong Kong, China and Vietnam. Taiwan is also at risk of heavy rains.

As many as 41.6 million people could be affected, the United Nation’s Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System warned on Friday. The storm, named after a fruit in Thailand, is forecast by the U.S. military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center to pack maximum winds the equivalent of 173 miles per hour (278 kilometers per hour) with gusts as strong as 207 miles per hour.

Here’s how this year’s strongest typhoon could affect Asia.

Destruction in the Philippines
As many as 824,000 of the 4.3 million people living in the path of Mangkhut are in danger and may have to be evacuated, Ricardo Jalad, executive director of the disaster management agency, said in a conference on Thursday. President Rodrigo Duterte and key government officials attended the command briefing.

The Philippine Red Cross estimates that 10 million people, some of whom have been displaced in the past, are at risk. An average of 20 storms pummel the archipelago each year. The deadly typhoon Yolanda in 2013 packed winds as strong as 315 kilometers per hour. The last time a Category 5 cyclone threatened the Philippines was in October 2016.

Shares in Leisure & Resorts World Corp., which helps regulate online gaming operations in Cagayan province, fell 4.2 percent on Thursday. Schools in the capital region and many parts of the main island of Luzon are shut Friday.

“There’s a possibility, albeit remote, that we might be spared,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. “But for everyone, please be ready. Better to be prepared than sorry.”

Food Supply, Inflation
Mangkhut may damage as much as P11 billion pesos of rice and corn in the Philippines, with the storm coming just before the start of harvest, according to the latest estimate of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol. Farmers were urged to harvest their crops early.

“Economic activity will be impacted, but agriculture and fishing would be affected even more, hurting supply, and keeping the upside pressure on inflation” in the Philippines, said Chidu Narayanan, an economist at Standard Chartered Plc in Singapore. “Inflation is likely to remain elevated,” he said, projecting average consumer price gains of 5 percent for this year against the central bank’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Hong Kong
While the track of Mangkhut remains uncertain and it’s forecast to weaken after leaving the Philippines, Hong Kong said it will open 48 temporary shelters for people in need once it issues typhoon signal No. 3. Residents on some outlying islands have been asked to take precautions and move to a safe place.

Trading at the stock exchange is canceled in the morning if typhoon signal No. 8 or higher is announced after 9 a.m. The market will remain shut for the rest of the day if the alert is kept at those levels after noon. At hotels around the financial center, guests were warned to stay away from windows and to remain indoors.

Air Travel, Racing
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. urged passengers traveling Sunday through Monday to or from Hong Kong to rebook their trips, offering to waive any charges. Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd. and Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. are offering similar arrangements.

Officials of The Hong Kong Jockey Club are assessing the situation and will decide if a race meeting at Sha Tin will proceed.

Philippine Airlines Inc. and Cebu Air Inc. canceled almost two dozen flights for Friday and Saturday.

China
China’s National Meteorological Center described Typhoon Mangkhut to possess “strong skills” like a Kungfu master in its Weibo account and advised the coastal area of Guangdong province to take precautions.

Taiwan
In Taiwan, Premier Lai Ching-te urged residents in southern parts affected by floods in August to strengthen their defenses against the typhoon. While Mangkhut isn’t expected to make landfall in Taiwan, it’s forecast to bring heavy rains and strong winds this weekend, according to the Central Weather Bureau.

Power Plants
Energy assets in the typhoon’s projected path include CGN Power Co. Ltd.’s Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong, the oil products and petrochemical ports of Huizhou and Zhuhai in southern China, several oil refineries in Taiwan, southern China and Hainan island, and the Nghi Son port and oil refinery south of Hanoi in Vietnam. — Bloomberg
 

Tech-filled cars for tech geeks

Technology is one of the most important features that every car buyer should consider when looking for a vehicle. According to the 2017 Autotrader Car Tech Impact Study, nearly half or 48% of consumers prioritize in-vehicle technology over brand or body style. The study also noted that 70% of the respondents would consider paying more for driver-assist technology in their next vehicle purchase.

“Technology has become the deciding factor for car buyers selecting a vehicle,” Michelle Krebs, Autotrader senior analyst, was quoted as saying in a statement. “Automakers must deliver innovative features or risk consumers looking elsewhere.”

Considering the market demand, car manufacturers keep on introducing car models with more advanced technological features, offering consumers not only a comfortable ride but also a safer journey. Here are a few worth noting:

Audi A8 L

A8 L exhibits the future of luxury class with its new design language, an innovative touchscreen operating concept and a systematically electrified drive.

Apart from its brilliant style and distinctively structured external surface, this flagship model offers a cozy interior, packed with captivating entertainment features. Two high-resolution 10.2-inch LCD screens are installed in the rear seat. This dedicated entertainment system has its own DVD drive, a hard disk jukebox, two slots for SD memory cards and a separate Audi Music Interface for the integration of mobile players.

Audi A8 L is engineered with advanced driving technologies, including Common Rail System, Audi Valvelift System and Start-stop System. The Common Rail System permits a consistent, smooth and efficient combustion process, while the Audi Valvelift System helps achieve more power and torque, combined with less fuel consumption. Start-stop System, on the other hand, turns off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop — for example at traffic lights — making the car more fuel-efficient.

Jaguar F-Pace

This compact luxury crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV) brings together sporty handling and dramatic beauty, as well as everyday practicality and efficiency. It is technologically advanced to the core, keeping its driver and passengers safe, connected and entertained.

F-Pace features Jaguar’s most advanced car infotainment system sever: Touch, which is standard on every F-Pace, and Touch Pro, which is available as an upgrade.

Touch comes with an eight-inch touchscreen, instrument cluster with five-inch central thin-film transistor display, Jaguar sound system, radio, USB, Bluetooth and auxiliary port connections.

Meanwhile, Touch Pro advances F‑Pace’s connectivity and entertainment to the highest level with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch instrument panel display with virtual dials and full-screen 3D map view, Navigation Pro, Meridian sound system, radio, Bluetooth and two USB connections, 10 gigabytes of usable memory, and CD or DVD drive.

For added confidence and safety, F‑Pace features advanced driver assistance technologies, making every journey more relaxing and easier. One of which is the Lane Departure Warning, which notifies the driver with a visual alert and a gentle vibration of the steering wheel when the car detects an unintentional drift from its lane. It also comes with optional Park Assist that helps driver to easily park in tight spaces, and Surround Camera System that gives the driver 360 degree exterior vision on the touchscreen.

Land Rover Range Rover

The new Range Rover is simply made better with a host of innovative features. It is engineered with standard driver aids, such as Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, and Front and Rear Parking Aid.

The Emergency Braking System displays a warning when a potential frontal collision is detected, and gives the driver time to take action. If no action is taken, it will apply the brakes to help reduce the severity of the possible impact.

Lane Departure Warning, on the other hand, determines when the car is unintentionally drifting out of lane. It notifies the driver through a visual alert and steering wheel vibration.9

Meanwhile, the Front and Rear Parking Aid makes parking in tight spaces easy by showing the driver how close the car is to obstacles.

This full-sized luxury SUV also has an optional rear-seat entertainment system that comes with two eight-inch screens, wireless headphones and remote, and USB and HDMI ports.

Lexus LS 500

Custom-tailored with the finest intricacies for an unparalleled comfort and safety, the new Lexus LS 500 is ultimately a luxury disruptor in the sedan segment.

It is equipped with 14 sensor-controlled SRS air bags that provide enhanced protection for all occupants; a Blind Spot Monitor that informs the driver when vehicles are approaching behind; a Radar Cruise Control that helps maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front; and a Parking Assist feature that guides parking attempts and provides additional driving and braking force to prevent any collisions.

For the highest level of comfort and prestige, all rear seat windows of this luxury sedan have adjustable power sunshades for protection against the glaring sun to achieve optimal lighting. It also features an auto lift-up function, a Lexus-first air suspension system that automatically raises the vehicle for passengers to enter and exit with ease.

Mitsubishi Xpander

This newest addition to Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.’s extensive product lineup perfectly suits a versatile Filipino lifestyle. It comes in four variants: the GLX Manual Transmission (MT), GLX Plus Automatic Transmission (AT), GLS AT and GLS Sport AT.

The all-new Mitsubishi Xpander is engineered with top-of-class safety features, including Mitsubishi Motors’ proprietary RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body, which is reinforced to absorb the impact of a collision. It is also equipped with Anti-locking Braking System to help keep the driver in control of the vehicle when braking on slippery surfaces.

In addition to these features, the top-of-the-line GLS Sport variant has Hill Start Assist and Active Stability Control. The former automatically maintains the brakes to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when driving on a steep slope, while the latter automatically apply brakes and suppress the engine output at the same time in order to stabilize the vehicle during sudden maneuver on slippery surface conditions.

Suzuki Vitara

Suzuki Vitara offers unprecedented value by integrating new concept, advanced technologies and credibility built upon Suzuki’s SUV heritage.

Its sporty yet cozy interior is packed with technology features, including an Android Infotainment Audio System with 10-inch capacitive touchscreen, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, and GPS navigation system.

To ensure that driving is equally safe and comfortable, Vitara has a meter cluster, designed with speedometer and tachometer on the sides, and a multi-information display in the middle. The display shows information such as instantaneous and average fuel consumption, outside temperature, driving mode and parking sonar warnings.

In addition, as long as the user is carrying the remote-control key, doors can be locked and unlocked by pressing a keyless entry button on the car door handle. And once inside the car, the user can start the engine by simply pressing the engine’s start/top button.

Other key features of the Vitara include an electronic stability program, a hill hold control, a lightweight impact-absorbing body, and a brake pedal release system.

Tech-enabled opportunities in the automotive industry

Technology is everywhere. More than halfway into 2018, the emergence of game-changing technologies have disrupted most, if not all of, the world’s industries. Whether it’s blockchain, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, data analytics, or artificial intelligence, technology is changing the way business is done all over the world.

The automotive industry is no exception. Following the lead of electric car makers like Tesla, companies like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are finding new ways to innovate and incorporate the latest battery technology into their cars. Concepts like Volkswagen’s I.D., and Mercedes-Benz’s Concept EQ are exploring car design that has gone beyond the bulk and weight of combustion engines, completely taking advantage of newer, slimmer batteries to power the vehicle.

Meanwhile, tech powerhouses like Google and Uber are pushing forward with their plans for self-driving cars, igniting numerous debates and controversies in the process. Autonomous cars are becoming more sophisticated, as their software evolves to become more adept at interpreting the common road behaviors of other drivers and make intelligent decisions in response.

Yet that’s not all that is changing. Joe Vitale, a global automotive industry expert from the international consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, pointed out in a report how the automotive industry is shifting its focus from a product-centered model to a relationship-centered one. 

“For a long time, competition in the automotive industry has been around product, specifically product quality, performance, and safety. But as cars get better and better, we’re seeing diminishing returns on improvements in those areas,” he said.

“Instead, our research shows that consumers today value their experience with the brand as more important than vehicle design. At the same time, there’s a massive shift toward usage over ownership. Consumers are becoming more interested in mobility on demand, lower cost and higher convenience. That’s creating unique opportunities — and tremendous challenges for traditional business models.”

The more consumers eschew ownership of vehicles in favor of the convenience and flexibility of  on-demand mobility through car-sharing or mobile car services, the larger the opportunity of building meaningful relationships with those consumers grows.

John Hagel, co-chairman of the Center for the Edge of Deloitte Consulting LLP, explained, “The automobile is becoming a rich repository of data about where, and when, each car goes. The value of that data is huge. If I own the car, the manufacturer gets visibility into my mobility patterns. On the other hand, if I take whatever vehicle best fits my needs at that time — through car-sharing, mobile car services, etc. — the data is about the shared vehicle. In that case, the customer’s smartphone becomes the best source of an integrated view of the individual’s mobility patterns, and the site of opportunity to build relationships with individual consumers.”

Increasingly, access to data is becoming more relevant across industries due to the sophistication of interpretive technologies like data analytics and artificial intelligence. If carmakers can tap into the wealth of data available to them and utilize it to enhance the overall experience with their brand, then their future is secured.

Mr. Hagel said: “You need access to data about the individual, so you can get insight through analytics, then use that insight to dramatically enhance the user experience. Next, you need to build a trustworthy relationship with the customer, where the brand promise is redefined: ‘Do business with me, because I know you better than anyone else, and I can give you much more value in return.’”

“The winner is whoever captures the most integrated, holistic view of individual mobility patterns. Who can deliver value in terms of helping people increase the value generated from, and the efficiency of, their mobility? We’re just cracking the surface of how brands evolve to satisfy different consumers, in part because consumer preferences are evolving so rapidly. Where people are in their life cycles affects lifestyle, and Gen Y, Gen X, and baby boomers will have different expectations for transportation. So how brands see their business will need to evolve from selling vehicles to providing mobility on demand for specific segments.”

“They’ll have to serve the consumer not only in the vehicle, but in public transportation, taxi services, car-sharing, bicycles. That creates a unique opportunity for brands that can do that across modes, with a focus on the broader customer experience,” he added.

Mr. Vitale noted that to do so, automotive companies will need to develop three major competencies: how car makers approach relationships, how they create an advantage using software, and how they think about ecosystems.

“The first is this notion of relationships, truly understanding the customer. Today, there’s an intermediary between most automotive companies and the consumer. They need to look beyond vehicle preferences to lifestyles, choices, impact — how people make mobility decisions,” he said.

“Second is software development and data analytics. Not software to enhance vehicle performance or features, but creating competitive advantage through software as a business model.”

Mr. Vitale cited Uber, a company that created a new business by using data to gain knowledge of customer behaviors and needs.

With a software-based business model, Mr. Vitale pointed out the need of the automotive industry to identify shifting market trends and respond to them very quickly, creating a completely different business model from those that they have been using for decades. Times are changing, and the cost is too great to be left behind.

Modern auto safety features

Accidents happen in an instant. But as technology improves, the futuristic ways of avoiding collisions and major vehicular mishaps are starting to show up. Car designs are constantly evolving to adapt to different environments, and advanced safety features are now becoming as standard equipment on a growing number of vehicle models.

Undeniably, these features have drastically reduced the number of fatalities and severe injuries occurring from accidents. Although most of these are only available in expensive cars, it is still logical to spend much than to put the lives of the driver, passengers and other road users at risk.

According to Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), the leading independent vehicle safety advocate in Australasia, the future of vehicle safety lies in active safety assist technologies that prevent or reduce the impact of car crash.

On its Web site, ANCAP listed several advanced features that avoid human error, which causes around 90% of road accidents. Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring and Hill Launch Assist are some of these.

The Autonomous Emergency Braking system uses electronic stability control and sensor technology to detect the speed and distance of the objects in a vehicle’s path. If the driver doesn’t respond, the car will automatically brake to avoid or minimize the impact of the accident.

The Adaptive Cruise Control system uses radar or similar technology to detect vehicles in front. It controls the speed of the vehicle to maintain a safe and suitable traveling distance.

On the other hand, the Blind Spot Monitoring system warns the driver by either visual or audible alarm, or vibration of the steering wheel, if there’s a vehicle on the driver’s blind spot, especially on adjacent lanes.

Meanwhile, when the vehicle is in an uphill condition, the Hill Launch Assist technology is a great help. It automatically uses the brake to hold the vehicle in its position when the driver moves his foot from the brake pedal to accelerator pedal.

In terms of vehicle’s braking and stability, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist systems will help the car deliver an improved braking performance.

The Electronic Stability Control detects if the vehicle is about to lose traction during cornering and braking, while the Electronic Brakeforce Distribution system distributes the brake forces between the wheels to maximize the available traction at each point, and the Emergency Brake Assist helps the driver in providing extra force to car brakes during emergency.

To notify the driver regarding the vehicle’s speed, safety technologies like Speed Alarm and Intelligent Speed Alert are also introduced. The Speed Alarm alerts the driver when the vehicle exceeds a pre-set speed, while the Intelligent Speed Alert automatically limits the speed of the vehicle when it reaches its limit.

Driver’s attention and fatigue can be also monitored with the use of Fatigue Reminder system that monitors the length of continuous driving, and with the use of Attention Assist system that monitors attention. If the system detects that the driver is sleepy, it will alert and encourage the driver to take a break.

Other groundbreaking safety features introduced and included in modern vehicles nowadays are the following: Alcohol or Drug Ignition Interlock that requires the driver to pass a breath test in order for the vehicle to be driven; Electronic Data Recorder, which records vehicle’s information such as speed and tractions; and Smart Key that can be programmed to set the operating restrictions of the vehicle.

IPO rule tweaks favor small investors

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
SMALL INVESTORS can look forward to greater participation in companies’ initial public offerings (IPO) after the corporate regulator approved changes to listing rules in this regard.
In a memorandum posted to its Web site on Thursday, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said the Securities and Exchange Commission has approved amendments to the Consolidated Listing and Disclosure Rules that, among others, increase local small investors’ (LSIs) maximum IPO subscription to P100,000 from P25,000 previously.
“The revised rules for the local small investor program rationalized the program and updated the applicable limits for the program,” PSE Chief Operating Officer Roel A. Refran said via text.
“The access by the LSIs… will be at the same terms and conditions as the rest of the investing public. The revisions present a fair and standard framework for the investing public.”
The PSE defines an LSI as one who is “willing to subscribe to a minimum board lot and whose subscription does not exceed P100,000.”
At least 10% of the entire IPO should be allotted to LSIs and issuers should prioritize subscriptions within this allocation of those investing less than P100,000.
For IPOs exceeding P5 billion, the PSE may opt to increase LSIs’ subscription cap “on a case to case basis… to help facilitate greater participation and subscription to the LSI allocation.”
The new rules also require issuers to employ share “clawback” or “clawforward” mechanisms in the event of over- or under-subscription in LSIs’ 10% allocation.
Alongside the increase of allowed subscription for LSIs, the PSE is requiring issuers to provide an appropriate distribution mechanism for greater participation of small investors nationwide.
The PSE first raised the matter of increasing subscriptions for LSIs back in 2016 in the face of IPOs’ increasing offer size as well as the public’s rising investment interest and capacity.
Analysts said the amended rules could attract more investors into the market, even though current volatility could weigh on sentiment.
“It only makes sense for PSE to adjust the maximum subscription to account for the growing familiarity of these small investors with the facility, as well as to accommodate the public’s growing savings level and increasing propensity to invest,” Reginal Capital Development Corp. Analyst Rens V. Cruz II said in a mobile phone message.
Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Jervin S. De Celis said in a separate text message that “small investors will get the opportunity to get at least a bigger share in the pie when investing IPOs.”
Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Head Justino R. Calaycay, Jr. expects the rules to positively impact future IPOs. “That will give more room for individuals to participate in IPOs. However, given the current times, IPOs in general don’t seem attractive. For those who have investible funds, raising the cap would be a positive,” he said in a separate text.
The PSE index has lately been trading within a 7,500-7,800 range, a far cry from its peak of 9,058 last January. While the main index gained 0.92% or 68.17 points to 7,517.37 on Thursday, it was still 17% lower than its record high posted at the start of 2018.
“If we look at the precarious level of the market right now as well as the internal and external factors that influence the recent move of the index, I think market participants will stay cautious until they see signs of recovery in the market,” Mr. De Celis explained.
For Regina Capital’s Mr. Cruz, the market’s general weakness may present retail investors with buying opportunities. “In reality, from an investors’ point of view, the recent slump of the market can be seen as a buying opportunity, a good entry point to position into stocks that have reduced its valuation. If you’re an investor, you’re looking at prospects long-term, and you enter at dips, such as the recent weakness of the market.”

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