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Chinese traders to join Mandaue investment forum

A GROUP of Chinese investors will visit Cebu this month to explore investment opportunities and link with local businessmen. The delegation will join the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (MCCI) Investment Forum, one of the flagship events of this year’s Mandaue Business Month. Eric Ng Mendoza, MCCI past president and now head of Mandaue Investment and Promotions, said they are still finalizing the forum date in consideration of the schedule of participants, including the group from China. Mr. Mendoza said they have been in discussions with Chinese businesses to explore Mandaue City and other parts of Cebu, and link with local players as they look at the Philippines as an expansion hub. Earlier this year, the Cebu provincial government announced that it is set to sign a formal sisterhood agreement with Fujian province in China, to strengthen trade exchanges. — The Freeman

Partial ban of provincial buses on EDSA starts next week

PROVINCIAL BUSES will be banned along a portion of EDSA beginning Aug. 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced Thursday, August 9. “We are pushing through with the provincial bus ban starting August 15, only during rush hours,” MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo S. Garcia, Jr. said during the inspection of Valenzuela Interim Terminal. The policy will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday. Violators will be fined P2,000. Under the policy, buses coming from the north shall end their route in Cubao in Quezon City while those coming from the south will stop in Pasay City. Bus companies without terminals in Pasay City can use the Southwest Interim Provincial Terminal (SWIPT). Mr. Garcia said the five-hectare terminal in Valenzuela has yet to comply with LTRFB requirements, such as the installation of waiting sheds, comfort rooms, walkways, among others. But once operational, provincial buses from the north will have to drop passengers at the terminal located along Paso de Blas Road. Metro Manila-bound passengers will have to transfer to city operating buses.

PECO to appeal court ruling on electricity consumption monitoring

PANAY ELECTRIC Company, Inc. (PECO) will file a motion for reconsideration on the Iloilo Regional Trial Court’s (RTC) decision in favor of the Iloilo City government’s Meter Reading Card System Ordinance. Under the ordinance, PECO consumers will have a card to monitor their consumption, intended as a validation mechanism to counter the alleged over-billing practice by PECO. The RTC Branch 39, in an Aug. 8 decision, dismissed with prejudice the petition for declaratory relief filed by Iloilo City due to PECO’s failure to appear during the pre-trial conference on Wednesday. Dismissal with prejudice means the case could not be re-filed, but it is subject to appeal. PECO Assistant Vice- President for Operations Randy S. Pastolero said they did not receive a notice of conference. Mr. Pastolero added that the decision was based on a technicality and that their lawyer would address all legal matters pertaining to the ordinance. PECO has previously said that the city council has no jurisdiction to regulate the power distribution firm, as such authority is with the Energy Regulatory Commission. City Councilor Joshua C. Alim, author of the ordinance, said the court’s decision is a “victory” for Iloilo consumers. Mr. Alim added that he expects PECO to exhaust all legal means to block the ordinance. “I don’t think they will stop. They will find all legal ways to defend their interest. On our part, we only defend the interest of customers,” he said. — Louine Hope Conserva

MILF, gov’t start preparations for normalization track of peace deal

DAVAO CITY — The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have started preparing for the normalization track of the peace agreement, particularly the integration of armed MILF members back into their communities.
In a press statement Thursday, Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Nabil A. Tan said following the signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), representatives of all groups involved in the peace mechanisms, including non-government institutions, have met to prepare the normalization process, a key component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The CAB, signed in March 2014, is the final peace agreement between the government and the MILF. It serves as the foundation for the BOL, which will create a new political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“This is also the first time that we are meeting all the mechanisms together, both the ceasefire mechanisms and the normalization process mechanisms which include the socioeconomic component and this security component, among others,” said Mr. Tan, who is also the government panel chair for the Bangsamoro accords.
The normalization process and the ceasefire mechanisms are being implemented by the International Monitoring Team, Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, and several other bodies under the CAB Annex on Normalization.
The ceasefire mechanisms were agreed upon during the early stages of the peace negotiations as part confidence-building while talks were ongoing. The initial ceremonial decommissioning activity was held in June 2015.
“The preparations for the normalization are complex; security concerns are serious matters. We also have the bigger audience to address and showcase that in this partnership, we can maintain our peaceful co-existence on the ground,” Mr. Tan said.
He pointed out that one major challenge in the implementation of the socioeconomic components “is not just to identify the socioeconomic packages for our former combatants and communities but also deliver these in a timely manner, and sustain their transformation into productive civilian lives.”
MILF Implementing Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal, for his part, said both the government and the former revolutionary group recognize that the implementation of the BOL could prove tougher than getting the law in place.
“Implementation is more difficult than the theoretical side of it. We need to be very creative. There are situations on the ground that we haven’t foreseen which we need to navigate,” said Mr. Iqbal, who served as the chief negotiator of the rebel movement. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Davao City bans single-use plastics in government meetings, events

THE DAVAO City government has ordered all department heads to implement a no single-use plastic policy during meetings and other activities. “It has been found out that much of the garbage generated is composed of plastics and all forms of (it). In our own way in the City Government of Davao, we’re coming up with a policy to ban the use of plastic in all our meetings, conferences, etc.,” City Administrator Zuleika T. Lopez is quoted in a statement as saying during the department heads’ meeting last Aug. 6. The executive department has also endorsed a proposed resolution to the city council for an ordinance banning the use of single-use plastics, including water bottles, and encouraging reusable alternatives in all official events of the city.

Nation at a Glance — (08/10/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Which region has the highest proportion of First Class municipalities?

The Department of Finance classifies provinces, cities, and municipalities according to their average annual income.
Income classes range from First Class to Sixth Class, with First Class entities earning the most and Sixth Class, the least.
Income classification for provinces start at P90 million and below (Sixth Class) running to P450 million or more (First Class). For cities, categories start at P80 million and below (Sixth Class) to P400 million or more (First Class). Municipalities are classified by income brackets from P15 million and below to P55 million or more.
One proxy for the wealth of a region is to count the number of first class municipalities, and also cities, which are also centers of wealth.
As of June 30, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) lists 299 of the country’s 1,489 municipalities as First Class. With the exception of the National Capital Region (NCR) — which has only one municipality, Pateros, with the rest cities — the region with the highest number of First Class municipalities (relative to the region’s total count) is Region XII (Soccsksargen). Region XII has 30 out of 45 municipalities in the First Class. The region with the least number of municipalities in the First Class is Region VIII (Eastern Visayas). — BusinessWorld Research
First Class Municipalities (by region)

Batang Gilas barges into U18 Asia semifinals

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Philippine national youth team is through to the semifinals of the FIBA U18 Asian Championship after beating Bahrain, 67-52, in their knockout quarterfinals on Thursday at the Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi in Thailand.
Making the necessary adjustments when it was pushed to the wall, Batang Gilas was not to be stopped after getting its collective groove the rest of the way to stay unblemished in four games and advance to the next round of the tournament.
By winning over Bahrain and being among the top four, the Philippines, which topped Group B in group play with a 3-0 record, assured itself of a spot in the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
The game was tight to start the opening quarter before AJ Edu jolted Batang Gilas to a strong finish to create some distance at the end of the first quarter, 20-11.
Bahrain came charging back to open the second canto, with Rashed Awadh leading, going on a 16-6 run to overtake the Philippines, 27-26, at the 4:39 mark.
It would continue to build on it after to complete the turnaround, 34-26, at the halftime break.
Recognizing that it had allowed Bahrain to get its way in the second period, Batang Gilas got out more aggressive in the third period, capitalizing on its height and size advantage, anchored by Kai Sotto and Edu.
The Philippines went on 10-2 run out of the third-quarter gate to level the count at 36-all at the 6:51 mark.
The two teams went back-and-forth thereafter with Batang Gilas eventually doing just enough to take hold of command heading into the final quarter, 48-45.
Batang Gilas kept at bay Bahrain in the early goings of the payoff quarter, holding an eight-point separation, 53-45, with 8:02 to go in the match.
Bahrain made efforts to come back but the Philippines simply did not allow it to gain much headway.
The Filipino lads had a 57-47 advantage with four minutes remaining and just held from there on their way to the breakthrough victory.
Sotto led the Philippines with 21 points, 17 coming in the second half, to go along with 10 rebounds and three blocks with Edu adding a solid double-double of 16 points and 17 rebounds.
Guard Miguel Oczon finished with 10 points while Dalph Panopio had four points and eight assists.
Bahrain, meanwhile, was led by 13 points each from Awadh and Baqer Ali.
Batang Gilas is to face either Australia or Japan in the semifinals set for today. The two nations were to meet in their own knockout quarterfinals later yesterday.

Kings: A case of rising up when the going got tough

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
WHEN the going gets tough, the tough get going.
That is how Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings coach Tim Cone described the kind of campaign they had in the just-concluded Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup that culminated in them winning the title over erstwhile defending champion San Miguel Beermen in six games, 4-2.
Describing the journey they had in the midseason PBA tournament as filled with “who would have thought moments,” the PBA’s winningest coach was left amazed with how his wards handled themselves amid the adversities and challenges throughout the conference.
“There were so many ‘who would have thought moments’ in this conference. We were 1-5 to start the conference. Who would have thought we would make the playoffs. Then we got matched up with San Miguel in the finals. Who would have thought we would win this series. Who would have thought we would win it in six games. So I’m just amazed at the resilience of our players, the fight they showed,” a proud Cone shared to sports media following their title-clinching 93-77 victory in Game Six of their best-of-seven finals series on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Mr. Cone, now holder of a record 21 PBA titles in an illustrious coaching career, went on to highlight that his players simply just did not give up on their quest in the finals, manifesting it in so many ways.
“LA [Tenorio] and his feistiness. Scottie [Thompson] and his just incredible energy, he just does not have a downtime. Justin [Brownlee] and Joe [Devance] battling through his knee injury. We were not even sure if he was to play today. Japeth [Aguilar] getting injured. And the guy that did not get much credit was Greg Slaughter and the energy he played against June Mar [Fajardo]. He was the difference maker for us. He was the one guy who made them [San Miguel] change the way they play,” Mr. Cone said.
In clinching their third title in six conferences and 11th overall, the Kings used a fiery second half in Game Six from which the Beermen just could not recover from.
Down by three points, 38-35, at halftime, Barangay Ginebra went on a tear in the third quarter, led by Mr. Brownlee, outscoring San Miguel, 27-8, to build a 16-point cushion, 62-46, heading into the final frame.
In the fourth period, the Kings went for the jugular early and was successful in doing so, taking out the fight from the Beermen as early as midway into the quarter en route to the championship.
For his steady play in the series where he averaged all-around numbers of 10.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists, Mr. Thompson was adjudged finals most valuable player.
Mr. Cone said the former National Collegiate Athletic Association MVP was very much deserving of the award.
“I can talk about him [Thompson] for hours. But he is a really special kid. Just scratching the surface of how good he is going to eventually be. I truly believe he will go down as one of the true greats in the PBA,” the Kings coach said.
After starting the conference 1-5 that also saw them call up Mr. Brownlee midway into the tournament, the Kings went on to win 14 of their last 17 games after to win their first Commissioner’s Cup title in 21 years.
Barangay Ginebra now channels its focus next on the PBA Governor’s Cup where it is the two-time defending champion.
After a rough start to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings showed tremendous resilience to finish the conference as the champion. — ALVIN S. GO

NCAA: San Beda Red Lions, Letran Knights collide in battle of streaking teams

DEFENDING champions San Beda Red Lions take on rivals Letran Knights today in a battle of streaking teams in Season 94 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Set for 4 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City, the Lions stake their unblemished 4-0 record against the Knights (4-1), winners of four straight.
San Beda’s most recent victory came at the expense of the Mapua Cardinals a week ago, 88-70.
Javee Mocon starred for the Lions in the victory over the Cardinals, playing his best game to date in the season with a monster double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds.
The Lions had control of the contest right from the start. They struggled a bit in the second quarter to allow the Cardinals recover some ground but eventually steadied their ship collectively to run away with the victory.
Donald Tankoua had 12 points and seven rebounds while veteran guard Robert Bolick had 11 points and eight assists.
“Total team effort did it for us. Javee stepped up big for us. Credit to him as well,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez following their win.
GUNNING FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT
Meanwhile, Letran seeks to bag its fifth win in a row and extend its assault on the top of the heap.
Lost in their season-opener, the Knights have racked up four victories straight since, the latest of which came on Tuesday over the Arellano Chiefs, 88-70.
Forced to a near standstill in the opening half, the Knights sped away in the second fold, outgunning the Chiefs, 51-34, as they made their way to the big victory.
“This is a good win for us. We had a rough start but eventually we found our rhythm in the second half,” said winning coach Jeff Napa.
“Against San Beda we expect a tough fight. They are the defending champions so we have to be ready,” he added on the game today.
Preceding the San Beda-Letran contest is the clash between Mapua (2-4) and Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (1-4) at 12 noon and Arellano (2-3) against Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers (0-5) at 2 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Ceres-Negros FC gracious in defeat after loss to Home Utd in Singapore

THE much-hoped-for away victory did not come for Ceres-Negros FC on Wednesday night, leaving it to lose the AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal title and ousted in this edition of the tournament.
Needing to win over Home United FC in Singapore following a 1-1 draw last week in the first leg of their Zonal final in Bacolod City, the erstwhile defending champions “Busmen” instead saw themselves on the raw end of a 2-0 count with the “Protectors” to bow down, 3-1, on aggregate.
Apart from losing the title, the defeat also prevented Ceres from advancing to the next stage of the AFC Cup.
While admitting that the loss was a tough one, the reigning Philippines Football League champion was gracious in defeat, saying Home United was a deserving winner.
“I think Home United deserved the win,” Ceres’ Serbian coach Risto Vidakovic was quoted as saying by the official AFC Cup Web site postmatch.
“We came a bit tired into this game because we didn’t have pre-season, we played many games, [had] many flights and the players are tired. But I think they deserve the win and we (now) have to look forward to next season,” said Mr. Vidakovic.
Ceres had some solid opportunities for a goal early in the match but failed to consummate them en route to a goalless tie by the halftime break.
In the second half, Home United made its move.
It scored in the 62nd minute care of defender Shakir Hamzah.
The Busmen tried hard to get the point back but was hard luck in doing so.
They got buried deeper 12 minutes later when Korean forward Song Ui-young found an opening to puncture his team’s second goal for a commanding 2-0 lead.
Ceres never recovered after that as it slumped to the loss.
Throughout the Zonal final, Ceres missed the services of top scorer Bienvenido Maranon, who was suspended following his sending-off against Yangon United in group play on May 16.
As the Zonal winner, Home United now plays DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC in the Inter-Zone Semifinals later this month. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

SMC posts 29% growth in recurring net income

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) grew its recurring profit by 29% in the first six months of 2018, following higher volumes and favorable selling prices across its units.
In a statement issued Thursday, Aug. 9, SMC reported a recurring net income of P35.5 billion as of end-June, supported by a 27% jump in consolidated revenues to P499 billion.
The listed company said that including the impact of mark-to-market losses due to foreign exchange translation, net income would have stood at P27.6 billion, six percent higher year-on-year.
“Increased business focus and a lot of hard work were key to our group’s stellar performance. We’re encouraged by the results we’ve had so far, and are very hopeful that this momentum will carry through for the rest of the year,” SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang was quoted as saying in a statement.
SMC’s core interests are in food and beverage, power, fuel and oil, and infrastructure.
Shares in SMC fell by 70 centavos or 0.5% to close at P138.30 each at the stock exchange on Thursday. — Arra B. Francia

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