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Assistant manager Thierry Henry’s World Cup experience the ‘missing piece’ for Belgium

SAINT PETERSBURG — Belgium coach Roberto Martinez believes assistant manager Thierry Henry’s World Cup-winning experience can give his side an advantage when the Frenchman faces his countrymen in Tuesday’s semifinal.
Henry, France’s all-time leading goalscorer, was a member of the squads that won the 1998 World Cup on home soil and Euro 2000 alongside French boss Didier Deschamps.
His presence on the opposition bench has been described by France striker Olivier Giroud as “bizarre,” with the Chelsea man keen to show Henry he has chosen the wrong camp.
Henry joined Martinez’s staff in 2016 and the Spaniard explained how his experience of pressure moments at the business end of tournaments offered something other members of the former Everton manager’s staff could not.
“What we didn’t have was international experience, the know-how of winning a World Cup, the know-how of being a footballer, how you are expected to perform in front of the world and knowing how you feel in those moments,” Martinez said on Monday.
“Thierry Henry brings that as an ex-footballer of elite thoughts. Then he is a coach, his dedication, attention to detail and is trying to help any player in this squad, so he was the perfect missing piece in our technical staff.”
Belgium’s “golden generation” finally delivered a big scalp on the international stage in a thrilling 2-1 win over Brazil in the last eight to erase memories of disappointing quarterfinal exits to Argentina four years ago and at Euro 2016 to surprise package Wales.
Martinez claimed a lot of the credit for the win as his tactical changes worked to perfection, including moving Kevin De Bruyne into a more advanced role.
And De Bruyne praised Martinez for instilling a winning mentality in a Belgian squad that believe their time for a major tournament victory has come.
“He brought us tighter together with more belief of winning it,” said the Manchester City midfielder. “Maybe in the World Cup or Euros (before) some players didn’t have the feeling of winning at all.
“Now there are more feelings of trust in each other to perform better than ever. When you are here, you want to go on till the end.”
Martinez urged his players not to waste the opportunity of a lifetime and become the first Belgian side to reach a World Cup final.
“It’s a unique opportunity for all the team, for all of Belgium, for all the hard work that has been done, not just in the past two years but the last 10 to 15 years developing these young players.” — AFP

GM Gonzales holds GM Stella to keep top 10 place in 2018 Spain chessfest

GRANDMASTER (GM) Jayson Gonzales fought seventh seed GM Andrea Stella of Italy to a draw to remain in the top 10 and the highest ranked Filipino after six rounds of the 41st Open International Barbera del Valles 2018 Chess Championship in Barbera de Valles, Spain Monday night.
Gonzales, who was initially here to serve as coach of Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna and International Master John Marvin Miciano in their 51-day European tour, was in the 12-man group at ninth spot with four points apiece and the best placed Filipino thus far.
The Far Eastern University coach and former Olympiad veteran will try to improve his placing as he was gunning for a victory against third seed GM Namig Guliyev of Azerbaijan in the seventh round that was being played at press time.
Not as fortunate was GM Eugene Torre and Miciano, who fell to fifth seed IM Gargatagli Hipolito Asis and Ruano Adrian Jimenez both of Spain, respectively.
The 66-year-old Torre remained with 3.5 points while Miciano three points, the same output of Frayna, who halved the point with India’s Katiyar Deepak.
Torre will try to bounced back from the defeat as he clashes with India’s Shrivatri Anuj while Miciano tackles FIDE Master Aniruddha Deshpande also of India.
Frayna, whose trip here is bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and The Philippine Star president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, faces off with Indian Atharva Jaeel.

All is set for first-ever Tough Mudder Philippines

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
A FRESH challenge to the sport and healthy lifestyle scene in the country is set to be unfurled later this month with the holding of the first-ever Tough Mudder Philippines.
Set for July 21-22 at Portofino Amore in Alabang, the event, which will also be the first to be held in Southeast Asia, is mounted to give participants challenging and obstacle-filled races that will bring out the best in them both as individuals and as groups.
Proactive Sports Management is bringing the event in the country after getting approval from Tough Mudder, Inc., something it said it is excited to see pan out well.
“This is the first time that Tough Mudder will be in the Philippines, and Tough Mudder is not just about being tough, it is also about teamwork and determination,” said Proactive Vice-President Justine Cordero.
Tough Mudder Legionnaire Chris James, who has joined 81 events in the past, provided a clear picture of what Tough Mudder is all about.
“It’s all about fun, it is like being a kid again. It is a fantastic thing to do, and there’s nothing else like it. You get to be human and have fun. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, how poor you are, or what your background is. Everyone just has a really good time, and that’s what it is all about. That’s why I keep on coming back. Helping people is a fantastic thing, by just being putting your hand out, someone else will pull you up, ” Mr. James said.
Adding, “Tough Mudder brings out something tribal and fantastic…it creates a community where people help each other out. And you don’t tend to see that out there in the real world sometimes.”
The event hub and start chute for Tough Mudder Philippines will be at Portofino Amore, Vista Land, located at Daang Hari Road, in Alabang. The course will take in parts of the recently enhanced bike trail along with the rolling hills and various varieties of mud in the adjacent farmland.
Tough Mudder course designers have set about creating a challenging, creative and muddy course, combining elements of the natural surroundings and land-shaping a few more.
Tough Mudder 5K Basic is priced at P1,700, and comes with an event singlet, race bib, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband. While the Tough Mudder Half-Basic is priced at P2,900 and comes with an event singlet, race bib, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband.
The Tough Mudder 5K-Premium is priced at P3,200, and comes with an event singlet, race bib, drybag (10L), towel, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband.
Finally, the Tough Mudder Half-Premium is priced at P4,400 and comes with an event singlet, race bib, drybag (10L), towel, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband.
For more information on the event, check out their Facebook page Tough Mudder Philippines.

France versus England

To say that the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is unpredictable is really an understatement, which is why maybe picking which teams will battle it out in the final, and eventually winning it all, is going to be tricky.
But just the same, if I am to choose who I prefer to see in the final, I would have to go with France versus England.
Two of the powerhouses in world football, they have so much history between them that it is going to be tough not to be caught up with it and take sides.
Did some background reading, and it has been said that they have met 31 times since 1923, two in the group stages of the World Cup (1966 and 1982) which incidentally England won each time.
It helps its cause as a potential marquee World Cup offering that the two teams have produced some of the standout moments in the ongoing tournament.
Les Bleus, World Cup champions in 1998, have been utterly dominant to say the least. Save for the nilgnil draw with Denmark in group play, France has been on point in winning.
In the Round of 16, it flipped the switch against Lionel Messi and Argentina to win, 4-3, and in the quarterfinals it was just a handful for Uruguay.
Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Benjamin Pavard and Raphael Varane have stepped it up to make it a riveting campaign for the French side so far with more seemingly to come.
England, meanwhile, has been dig-deep in the 2018 World Cup.
It finished second in Group G with two wins and a loss, behind top team and fellow semifinalist Belgium (3-0-0).
It squeaked past Colombia via penalty shoot-out, 4-3, in the Round of 16 then topped erstwhile doing well Sweden, 2-0, in the quarterfinals.
Striker Harry Kane has been spectacular in the tournament with a World Cup-leading six goals to date and primed for the Golden Boot.
Also rising up to the challenge for the Three Lions, 1966 World Cup champions, are John Stones, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard and Harry Maguire, among others.
For France-England to happen, the two have to go through a tough semifinal assignment.
France will take on Belgium that boasts of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, who have combined for seven points in the tournament between them. Their matchup is set for 2 a.m. today (Manila time).
England, for its part, has Croatia standing in its way in its “It’s Coming Home” bid. Midfielder Luka Modric has been leading Croatia well as they go for their first-ever World Cup title. Their matchup is also set for 2 a.m. on Thursday.
But while France and England face tough challenges in setting up their final matchup, I still believe their rivalry is to be rekindled in the 2018 World Cup and that a final between them is in the offing.
And who will in the end? I have France for the talent and experience it has, coupled with the confidence to overcome what is in front of it that it has been showing in the tournament.
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@www.bworldonline.com

King of his fate

Subtlety has never been one of LeBron James’ best traits. In fact, he has consistently displayed the opposite, preferring instead to wear his self-assurance on his sleeve despite the waves of criticism he knows it invites. From the moment he was drafted first overall in 2003, he has not been shy in expressing his confidence to the point of cockiness. It’s why, to this day, naysayers — of which there are plentiful — continue to count the myriad times he let his ego get the better of him and juxtapose them with his notable failures.
The flipside, of course, is that James has earned the right to speak the truth himself. When he says he’s “the best player in the world,” he understands his position in the sport’s hierarchy only too well. And not for nothing does he brandish the moniker “King James” with pride. For all his missteps, he has, by and large, walked the talk, and to such a remarkable degree that his place in National Basketball Association annals is secure. By most accounts based on advanced analytics, he’s at worst the second-best player ever to have graced the pro scene.
In this context, it’s no wonder, then, that James was pictured wearing a cap with the outline of a crown stitched in front shortly after he affixed his Hancock on a $153.3-million deal yesterday. With agent Rich Paul on one side and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka on the other, he bore a smile that conveyed enthusiasm for the task at hand. Never mind that, as currently constituted, the roster he will lead cannot but he deemed little better than that of the Cavaliers he just left in free agency. For four years, he will be the face of the purple and gold, and he’s relishing the thought of embarking on a journey of redemption.
Certainly, James has warmed to the thought of resurrecting the prospects of a franchise resident living legend Kobe Bryant left in tatters. It’s a project he deems worthy to invest the medium term in, and enough to commit to even without assurance that any other marquee name will join him. In no small measure, it’s because he believes in himself, in what he says, in the promise he brings. It’s because he knows that he is, in the final analysis, king of his fate.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Peso weakens on PHL trade data

THE PESO depreciated against the dollar on Tuesday after local data showed a wider trade deficit.
The local currency ended Tuesday’s session at P53.46 against the greenback, six centavos weaker than its P53.40-per-dollar finish on Monday.
The peso opened the session flat at P53.40. It slipped to P53.51 versus the US currency within the day, while its best showing stood at P53.35.
Dollars traded slipped to $616.4 million from the $620.2 million tallied the previous day.
“The peso fell [Tuesday] following the release of wider local trade deficit for May,” a trader said in an e-mail.
The country’s trade deficit widened to a five-month high in May on the back of smaller exports and bigger imports, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed.
The country’s exports declined 3.8% in May from the same period last year, a reversal from its 24% growth in 2017.
Meanwhile, total imports grew 11.4% year-on-year, although slower than the 20.2% expansion tallied in a comparable year-ago period.
This resulted in a $3.7-billion trade deficit in May which widened from April’s revised deficit of $3.48 billion.
“The US dollar has slightly strengthened and the May trade data release may have had a considerable impact on the peso,” UnionBank of the Philippines Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said in a text message.
He added the wider trade deficit caused “perception that the peso may further weaken.”
Michael L. Ricafort, economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. noted in a separate message that the trade deficit data came after last week’s gross international reserves data at a six-year low of $77.7 million.
For Wednesday, the trader sees the peso to move between P53.35 and P53.55, while Mr. Asuncion gave a P53.30-P53.50 range.
“The local currency is expected to weaken further [on Wednesday] on expectations of firm US producer prices data,” the trader added. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

PHL stocks climb as trade war fears overseas ease

LOCAL EQUITIES climbed on Tuesday, tracking the positive finishes of its global counterparts.
The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) firmed up 0.64% or 46.67 points to 7,233.29 Tuesday, July 10, while also slightly recovering from a thin value turnover in the previous session.
The broader all-shares index likewise gained 0.64% or 28.14 points to 4,413.44.
“Positive momentum from strength in the US markets last night helped prop up the local index today… The Dow Jones notably gained 320 points [on Monday] to close above its 50-day moving average for the first time in a few weeks (a positive sign in technical analysis) on the back of strong economic data amid trade war fears,” Papa Securities Corp. trader Gabriel Jose F. Perez said in an e-mail.
Wall Street rallied on Monday, lifted by the financial and services sectors after the release of strong economic data, allaying fears of the rising trade war between the United States and China.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1.31% or 320.11 points to 24,776.59, while the S&P 500 index rose 0.88% or 24.35 points to 2,784.17. The Nasdaq Composite index also posted an uptick of 0.88% or 67.81 points to 7,756.20.
Most Southeast Asian stock markets also climbed on Tuesday, with Singapore and Indonesia extending their rally, as US stocks gained overnight on hopes of strong corporate earnings, boosting positive sentiment across Asia.
“Global markets seemed to react better as we head into the first effective week of US-China trade tariffs. However, headlines of China tying new strings and opening up more cooperation globally might smoothen concerns for China imports/exports issues,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile message.
Back home, all sectors ended in positive territory, led by financials which jumped 1.23% or 21.95 points to 1,795.96. Industrials went up 0.66% or 68.45 points to 10,299.50; services rose 0.52% or 7.34 points to 1,419.08; mining and oil added 0.44% or 42.75 points to 9,603.02; holding firms ended 0.39% or 27.48 points higher to 7,078.34; while property inched up 0.1% or 3.6 points to 3,556.73.
Some 697 million issues valued at P5.06 billion switched hands, much higher than the P3.38-billion turnover seen in the previous session.
Advancers outpaced decliners, 113 to 73, while 54 issues were unchanged. Eleven of the 20 most actively traded stocks rose on Tuesday, led by Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., which added 1.4% to P68.80 each, and Ayala Corp., gaining 2.04% to P924 apiece.
Foreign investors remained in a net selling position, albeit thinner at P509 million compared to Monday’s P730-million net foreign outflows.
“Should the PSEi experience further upside [today], we look to its recent high of 7,348 as its initial resistance,” Papa Securities’ Mr. Perez said. — Arra B. Francia with Reuters

Satisfaction with Duterte drops to record-low +45

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating dropped 11 points in the second quarter of the year to a personal low of +45, but still classified as “good,” results from the Social Weather Survey (SWS) showed.
The 2nd Quarter 2018 SWS survey showed that Mr. Duterte at 45+ as of June, from the “very good” +56 rating last March. The polling group noted that the third quarter results surpassed the previous personal low of Mr. Duterte at “good” +48 last September 2017.
“The 11-point decline in President Duterte’s net satisfaction rating from March 2018 to June 2018 was due to declines of 20 points in Metro Manila, 18 points in the Visayas, 6 points in Balance Luzon, and 6 points in Mindanao,” the SWS stated.
The survey also showed 65% of Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of Mr. Duterte as President, while 15% were undecided and 20% were dissatisfied. The latest gross satisfaction rating with the President fell by five points from the 70% in March.
‘I DON’T CARE’
Asked about the latest survey results when he met with reporters in Pampanga on Tuesday late afternoon, Mr. Duterte said, “I don’t care. Make it 15, wala na ako diyan. It does not interest me at all. Basta ako coast along na lang ako, just traveling along (As for me, I’m just coasting along, traveling along)…. And with the new suggestion, since I’m not popular anymore, Congress might decide to find a popular one. You want a popular president? Good.”
The survey was conducted from June 27-30, 2018 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with a sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
At the time the survey was conducted, the public was reacting to Mr. Duterte’s statements calling God “stupid” for the concept of original sin as indicated in the Catholic Bible in a June 22 speech.
The President told reporters later on June 28 that he would not apologize for his controversial remarks. On June 30, Malacañang announced that Mr. Duterte would meet with officials of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Last Monday, Mr. Duterte agreed to stop his tirades against the Church after a meeting with the CBCP president, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles of Mr. Duterte’s hometown of Davao City.
SHARPEST DROP IN METRO MANILA, CLASS D
By area, Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction had the sharpest decline in Metro Manila at +34 in June from +54 in March, followed by Visayas, where his net satisfaction dropped 18 points at +47 in June from +65 in March.
Mr. Duterte’s home region of Mindanao remained steady at “excellent” but declined by six points from +82 in March to +76 in June. In Balance Luzon, Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction remained “good” but down by six points from +39 in March to +33 in June.
By class, Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating dropped by 14 points in Class D or what SWS referred to as “the masa” from +57 in March to +43 in June.
However, his rating in Class E rose by one grade from “good” to “very good” at +52 in June from the +48 in March. Among the ABC, his rating remained steady at very good +66.
The President’s net satisfaction rating also decreased among age groups, except for the 18-to-24-year-old group. His rating among elementary and high school graduates also fell.
Sought for comment, political analyst and former dean of the Ateneo School of Government Antonio G.M. La Viña said the drop in Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating was expected due to the increasing prices of goods and services as well as the President’s remarks against God.
“I think this is expected because of inflation more than anything. His anti-God rants if done during or before the survey would also have an effect,” he said in a text message to BusinessWorld. — with Arjay L. Balinbin

Duterte wants transition leader, general elections in 2019

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte wants general elections in 2019 — the scheduled midterm elections under the present Constitution — for the federal government’s transition leader, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said Tuesday.
“General elections ang iniisip ng ating Pangulo para dun sa magiging (The President is thinking of general elections for our) transition leader natin, dahil (because) under the proposed constitution po, the new government under the new constitution will take effect June 30 of 2022, at kung ma-aprubahan nga itong Saligang Batas na ito, ang sabi ng Presidente bababa siya sa kanyang position ng (if this proposed law gets approved, the President said he will step down in) 2019,” Mr. Roque said in his press briefing in Indang, Cavite on Tuesday, July 10.
In a chance interview in Pampanga on Tuesday evening, the President said he “will not resign because it will make [Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo] president,” noting that his resignation should be “addressed to the people.”
“Para makapili sila ng gusto nila (so that the people can choose who will replace me). Siya, I don’t think she can ever be ready to govern the country. Reason? Incompetence,” Mr. Duterte added.
He likewise stressed that the transitory leader should be elected by the people.
“Hindi ako papayag ng succession (I will not agree to a succession). Would you think that the other guy is better than [me]? Could be anybody. [There should be an] election. Maraming magandang lalaki diyan, mamili kayo (There are many good men there, you choose),” he said.
Last Monday, Mr. Duterte also said he instructed the Consultative Committee (ConCom) on charter change to prepare a transitory provision for an elected transitional president to finish the remainder of his term.
“I instructed Consultative Committee to elect a transitional President. I am willing to cut my term to be co-terminous with (the) start of (the) transition period. Committee agreed. It’s to remove all suspicions, and I am tired. [I am] ready to give it to somebody else,” Mr. Duterte said as posted by Mr. Roque on his Twitter account on Monday afternoon.
The President added: “Electing a transitional leader would enable a younger leader to take over.”
But under the 1987 Constitution, the vice-president steps in a vacancy in the presidency.
Sought for comment, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III told BusinessWorld in a text message that the 2019 elections for a transitional president will be “very difficult.”
“It’s not that easy. There is procedure to follow. We first have to approve a joint resolution calling for a Constituent Assembly. Hence, we have to convene and tackle the proposed change of the Charter into a federal form,” Mr. Sotto said.
For his part, House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas said earlier on Tuesday charter change will not be prioritized by the House of Representatives.
“Timetable (for the charter change) is too far (from) the table as such Draft has not even been officially transmitted to the HoR, if so,” Mr. Fariñas told reporters over a phone message.
Also on this matter, Representative Roger G. Mercado, who heads the House committee on constitutional amendments when sought for comment, “It’s difficult to make decisions now. Prudence dictates that we wait until after the SONA. Congress (is) still on recess and the President might edit the inputs of the Concom.”
Magdalo Rep. Gary C. Alejano, for his part, said in a statement, “I would say that with our weak record of implementing laws there is a huge possibility that the proposed shift will suffer the same fate of RA 7160 (which has not been reviewed after 27 years and has not been fully implemented) and RA 9054 (which was considered a failed experiment which necessitates the passage of BBL).” Mr. Alejano was referring to the Local Government Code and the amended Autonomous Region of the Muslim Mindanao law.
For his part, retired chief justice Reynato S. Puno told reporters that Mr. Duterte himself requested to be barred from seeking a fresh term in 2022.
“Ilalagay na hindi na siya tatakbo sa 2022 (We will put that he won’t run in 2022),” Mr. Puno said.
On the other hand, incumbent officials under the 1987 Constitution can still run in 2022 elections under the new constitution, Mr. Puno said.
“Sinasabi namin ay di mo pwede pagbawalin ang opisyales sa ‘87 Constitution dahil bagong constitution ito eh (We’ve been saying that you cannot refrain officials from the ‘87 constitution to run because this is a new constitution),” he said.
“This is an entirely new government. We will not have a unitary government anymore. We will have a federal government,” he added.
Mr. Puno also said another request of Mr. Duterte is, “There should be a call for an election of who shall preside during the transitory period. Once the charter is approved in a new plebiscite, there will be an election for the transition president.”
As for Ms. Robredo, she won’t be barred from running in the 2022 elections. “She can even run for transition president,” Mr. Puno said.
As for the draft federal charter’s retaining the 60-40% rule on foreign equity in the 1987 Constitution, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) chairman George T. Barcelon said when sought for comment, “Well in that case, I think they’re opening the possibility because Congress has been discussing this before. I think this is just a recommendation of the (ConCom). It may be too much of a big issue for them to tackle so they’re throwing it to Congress.”
“I think Congress will deliberate this properly. Because this has been up in the air for discussion for some quite time. I am confident that when it’s given to Congress, Congress will look at it and probably make some adjustments on the foreign ownership,” he added. — with Gillian M. Cortez, Charmaine A. Tadalan and Camille A. Aguinaldo

Bicameral panel approves block grants in draft BBL

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
CONTENTION ON the annual fund, or block grant, that the national government will grant to the Bangsamoro government has been settled by the Bicameral Conference Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
The Senate panel has agreed to remove conditions on the release of the block grant and automatically appropriate it to the Bangsamoro Government.
“We will keep the block grant similar to the IRA or Internal Revenue Allotment of the local governments, wherein it is automatically appropriated,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri told reporters in an interview late Monday.
The block grant is the proposed annual share for the Bangsamoro region from national revenues. In the congressional version, it is 5% of the net internal revenue collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs, lower than the 6% block grant proposed by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
While the House and Senate versions did not differ much, the Senate Bill had provided conditions in the release of the block grant.
“Previously, there was a reportorial requirement. You have to report the plans and programs first to this intergovernmental body, financial or fiscal body, before the release can actually be made,” Mr. Zubiri said.
The Committee decided at length to delete the provision, on the condition that transparency and accountability measures will be enhanced.
“So (let’s release the fund) with the (collateral) that the parliament must pass the budget and the funds will be appropriated through the approved budget of parliament,” Mr. Zubiri said, adding that the Commission on Audit (CoA) will be tasked to submit audit reports as required by government agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management and Department of Finance.
Aside from the block grant, the House provision allowing the Bangsamoro government to collect the capital gains tax, documentary stamp tax, donor’s tax and estate tax has been adopted by the Committee.
“There are four revenue generating taxes that are really exclusive to the government. The government is willing to seed those four taxes to the Bangsamoro,” Mr. Zubiri explained in a press briefing Tuesday. “But what we are talking about, if we look at the records last year, it’s only about P80 million worth of tax collected.”
Further, the Committee also agreed to retain the House provision on wealth sharing at 75-25, in favor of the Bangsamoro region.
“On the wealth sharing, we agreed on the House version, which is the BTC version of 75-25. 75 percent of the income is retained by the Bangsamoro government, 25 percent is given to national government,” Mr. Zubiri said.
Further, the anti-political dynasty provision of the Senate version has also been removed from the bill.
The House panel, led by the Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas, said by phone message: “It would disqualify the 2nd civil degree relatives by affinity (Muslims are allowed to have four spouses) of a PR (party representatives) but not the same people with whom such PR is cohabiting or living in without the benefit of marriage.”
Meanwhile, the Committee has yet to decide on the provision on territorial plebiscite as discussions heat up among the panelists.
“We decided to hold it to the last day, medyo mainit, napakatindi ng discussions na nangyare dun (the discussions were intense), so we said, let’s put this on hold,” Mr. Zubiri said.
The BTC is leaning towards the provision in the Senate version which will recognize the vote of 39 barangays in North Cotabato and six municipalities in Lanao del Norte separately from their provinces.
“The fundamental difference of the two versions is (in) the House version. It has to be majority vote of the province. In the Senate version, that is not necessary,” Mr Zubiri said.
He added: “the proponents of the BTC version is saying na wala silang chance na manalo kung mother province ang magdidesisyon (they don’t stand a chance if the mother province decides).”

Boracay early reopening would depend on stakeholders’ cooperation — Cimatu

THE POSSIBLE opening of Boracay Island ahead of the October schedule would depend on the stakeholders’ cooperation in the government’s rehabilitation efforts, according to Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.
Citing an example, Mr. Cimatu, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said Stella Hotel Boracay over the weekend promised to demolish its 12-room property after the establishment was found to have encroached the road easement along Bulabog beach on the western side of the island.
“We could have [destroyed] it before, but we gave them due process. Now we can complete the road network, and close the main road so that the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) can finish everything they need to do for the road widening,” he added.
Upon demolition, the DPWH will be able to continue with the construction of the circumferential road, an alternative route to the main road.
The low-rise hotel is a subsidiary of luxury chain hotel Astoria, which also owns two other resorts along the White Beach in Balabag.
Mr. Cimatu earlier noted that the quick improvements on the island within a few months of rehabilitation work would mean the government can open Boracay’s shores to tourists ahead of schedule.
On Tuesday, various fishermen and environmental groups picketed in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) main compound in Quezon City, condemning the closure of the tourist destination.
The protesters also called for the lifting of the Boracay closure, while also criticizing the alleged construction of a resort-casino on the island.
In the meantime, the DENR is also seeking to restore six out of the nine identified wetlands in Boracay.
Boracay is on a six-month closure starting April 26 after the President dubbed the popular tourist destination a “cesspool.” — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Universal Health Care Bill certified as urgent

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has certified the Universal Healthcare Bill as an urgent measure, presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said on Tuesday.
“I am very pleased to announce that our pet bill when we were in Congress, (the) Universal Health Care which we sponsored and defended in the Lower House, was certified urgent by the President,” he said at a press briefing in Indang, Cavite.
The Universal Healthcare Bill provides for the automatic inclusion of all Filipinos under National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (Philhealth).
The proposed measure remained pending at the Senate committee level while its counterpart measure in the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading in September 2017. It has been identified as among the priority bills of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
A bill certified urgent by the President will allow Congress to pass the proposed measure on second and third reading on the same day.
In a statement, Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, chair of the Senate committee on health, vowed to pass the measure when Congress opens its third regular session on July 23.
“I view universal health care as an integral to our anti-poverty drive. Ensuring good health for Filipinos is crucial to economic development as because ensuring the well-being of all Filipinos means that they can be more productive, which further means they can better overcome poverty,” he said.
“Hoping to work on the passage of this landmark legislation once we resume session,” he added.

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