I was enthralled no end gazing at unopened bottles of some of my dream wines to taste — Chateau Latour 1936, Chateau Petrus 1961, Domaine de Romanee Conti La Tache 1978, Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1982, and Screaming Eagle Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 — all in one room. These five bottles are worth over P4,000,000 (… yup, not a typo), and are some of the most outstanding wines ever made, not to mention, their rarity given the old vintages. But there is much more as these wines are just five among the over 2,000 wine labels the uberly luxurious Okada Manila Casino Hotel carries in its wine list.
Up until my visit to Okada Manila a few weeks back, I never knew a wine list of this magnitude even existed outside the private cellars of hard core wine collectors. But certainly for the Philippines, and most probably even all of Asia, this would be the wine list to beat.
I remembered some of the best wine lists (prior to my visit to Okada) I had seen in Asian countries I frequently visited, including at Blu (before it was closed down) of Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, and Restaurant Petrus of the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong. These two Shangri-La hotel fine-dining restaurants may have better by-the-glass programs, but neither come close to the depth and breadth — including the insane verticals of the most iconic wine brands — of the Okada Manila Casino Hotel wine list. EXCLUSIVE WINES FROM THE OKADA FAMILY
I met with the very affable Damien Planchenault, the new Okada Manila senior wine manager, and formerly a regular fixture in another nearby casino hotel, to talk about the Okada Manila wine list. Damien, an elite French oenophile himself, had also never seen so much Grand Cru Classe Medoc, Premier Grand Cru Saint-Emilion, Domaine de Romanee Conti and Petrus vintages in one place — and now he is proudly the head of serving these wines to the most discerning, or perhaps the more pompous, customers of the Okada Manila.
Instead of a thick Bible-like wine book, the wine list is presented in an iPad for added convenience. On the iPad, guests can browse through two wine sections: the casual wine list, and the collector’s wine list. From the names alone, it is obvious that mere mortals with a budget ceiling (like most of us) will be looking at the casual wine list, and choosing from an extensive list of over a few hundred labels. But for those who can afford it, or who just won a jackpot in the casino, the collector’s list deserves a very serious look.
The iPad wine list is extremely friendly to use. A wine’s name can be typed into the internal search engine, and the wine, its label, the available vintages and the price will pop out. Wines can also be selected by country and by region. And, of course, Damien and his two Filipino sommeliers, Marmi Navarro and Jose Carlos Tongco (both coming from other hotels too), are more than happy to also offer their assistance.
However, if you are like me and want to see and touch the wines physically before ordering, and the wine you are interested in is from the collector’s list, then one of the sommeliers will take you to the collector’s room — this is the room right after the reception area of the La Piazza fine-dining Italian restaurant. From this room, the chosen wine will be taken out of a locked wine cabinet for your viewing and buying pleasure.
Of the over 2,000 wine labels, around 80% come from the Okada family private collection — many of which are rare finds and are therefore only available in this hotel. The 80% are all fine wines and worth a staggering P110 million. Aside from the five wines I singled out at the beginning of this column, the collection also includes multiple vintages of all the five first Growths from the 1855 Bordeaux classification: Chateau Lafite, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (since 1973), and Chateau Latour, and also all the four Premier Grand Cru Classe A from the latest Saint-Emilion classification of 2012: Chateau Cheval-Blanc, Chateau Ausone, Chateau Angelus, and Chateau Pavie.
Aside from Bordeaux, the list also has amazing range of Burgundy, Rhone, and Champagne. Outside of France, some of the biggest names from Italy, Spain, and Napa California are also well represented.
Spain’s most iconic wine label, Vega Sicilia Unico from Ribera del Duero, has several vintages dating back decades. Top super Tuscans from Masseto, Solaia, Sassicaia, Ornellaia, and Tignanello are also in this surreal list. The oldest red wine in this mammoth list is the Chateau Latour 1936, and the oldest white wine is the Chateau Yquem 1940.
The most expensive wine in the Okada Manila list is Domaine de Romanee Conti’s flagship wine, Romanee Conti 1978, which is being sold in the hotel at a whopping P5,295,200. The La Tache 1978, one of the five wines I listed as among my dream wines in the intro paragraph is relatively cheaper at P1,820,300. I am still in awe of all these superb wines being available in one place.
The remaining 20% of Okada Manila’s wines are bought from its accredited local wine importers. These are the wines that constitute the entire casual wine list, inclusive of all the higher turnover wine-by-the glass programs currently being run by the hotel, as well as fine wines that the current wine team, led by Damien and his sommeliers, feel can plug the gap of whatever minor tweaks are needed to further enhance their seemingly unduplicatable wine list. LA PIAZZA RISTORANTE ITALIANO
Of the current 11 dining outlets, Okada Manila’s de facto fine dining restaurant is La Piazza Ristorante Italiano, though many Okada regulars would point to the two Japanese outlets: the high-end, small (only nine seats) sushi bar Ginza Nagaoka, and Michelin-star chef Hiro Imamura’s eponymous Kappou Imamura, as equally fine-dining, price-wise. La Piazza is a very elegant, stylistic, comfortable, roomy 120-seat restaurant that comes with an unparalleled view of the famous, colorful, Las Vegas-like Okada dancing water fountain show.
One-Michelin star chef Gleb Snegin is the chef de cuisine of La Piazza Ristorante Italiano. Born and raised in Russia, Chef Gleb moved to Milan, Italy in 2001 and has built his culinary reputation on his passion for Italian cuisine. His resume reads like a book, with culinary stints at some of the most reputable restaurants in all of Italy. By 2010, he spread his cooking influence into Asia, with chef positions in Tianjin, China, Singapore, and Macau where his Terrazza Italian restaurant at the Galaxy Casino Hotel earned one Michelin star.
The menu may not be as extensive as other Italian restaurants in competing hotels, but it has a broad enough selection. It takes less time to go through the menu too to select your courses. From the very small sample dishes I had, my two immediate favorites are: 1.) Carpaccio di polpo con caponata or octopus carpaccio on top of eggplant. This was a chef’s recommendation as I was used to the very traditional carpaccio di manzo (beef carpaccio), and, indeed, when I tasted this, the polpo carpaccio was not only much lighter, but deliciously tangy because of chef’s liquorice mayo. I never thought eggplant could go so well with octopus; 2.) Costollete D’Angelo con ceci or lamb chop with chickpeas. I was with my business colleague when we both ordered this lamb dish, and we both agreed this was one of the best lamb chops we had ever had in the country. The meat was pan-seared perfectly and oozing with its natural succulent juice, and smartly complemented by the chickpeas, tomato confit, horn peppers, and shallots. The price is actually quite competitive with the other casino hotel menus.
La Piazza is a must place to visit for oenophiles, epicureans, and gastronomes. Even if one cannot afford to buy the fine wines from the Okada collection, the collector’s wine room is right there for one to marvel at. The food is as top quality as you can get, and, adding the conducive ambience and the water fountain show in the backdrop, this is absolutely a dining experience hard to match.
While they say money cannot buy dreams, but if you have a P1 million or so to spare, a nice three-decade-old Chateau Petrus may at least give you a piece of wine heaven…
La Piazza Ristorante Italiano is open daily from 6 p.m. to midnight. For reservations, call (02) 555-5799. The author has been a member of the Federation Internationale des Journalists et Ecrivains du Vin et des Spiritueux or FIJEV since 2010. For comments, inquiries, wine event coverage, and other wine-related concerns, e-mail the author at protegeinc@yahoo.com. He is also on Twitter at twitter.com/sherwinlao.
THE PRESIDENT of The Medical City (TMC) said pushing through with the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting would only undermine the interest of minority stockholders, as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has yet to determine whether previous share purchases orchestrated by one of its top officials were legal.
TMC President and Chief Executive Officer Alfredo R.A. Bengzon was referring to the Corporation and Shareholders’ Agreement (CSA) among TMC, Fountel, and Clermont groups arranged by TMC Director and Treasurer Jose Xavier B. Gonzales back in 2013.
In a phone interview with BusinessWorld, Mr. Bengzon said Mr. Gonzales and the Clermont group together made a number of acquisitions that allowed them to increase their stake in the firm to 54% from 40%, without the knowledge of minority shareholders.
He claimed that the CSA was not publicly disclosed to the board of directors at the time the agreement was made, making the deal questionable. This is also contrary to an earlier statement made by TMC Chairman Augusto P. Sarmiento, who said that the CSA was shown to the board.
“The CSA was never presented to the board…I have seen and reviewed the board minutes at the relevant time in 2013, and there is nothing to the effect being claimed by Mr. Sarmiento,” Mr. Bengzon said.
Mr. Bengzon has since filed a complaint with the SEC, asking the corporate regulator for an indefinite postponement of its ASM until such time that the issues are resolved.
“Any ASM held before this resolution will effectively legitimize and strengthen Eckie (Mr. Gonzales) and Clermont’s control over the board and management, which will be to the disadvantage of shareholders if this control is later proven to be acquired through illicit means,” Mr. Bengzon said.
“Under these circumstances, if you hold an ASM, my vote, and the collective votes of other stockholders, would have very little value, where Eckie and Clermont could outvote as all,” he added.
Mr. Bengzon made this appeal following Mr. Sarmiento’s statement last Tuesday, where he called on the SEC to allow them to push through with the ASM. Mr. Sarmiento claimed that Mr. Bengzon was using the postponement of the ASM to distract the company from the latter’s mismanagement of its operations in Guam.
Mr. Bengzon belied the chairman’s claims, noting that its current operation in Guam is better than the previous year, and is now on an “uphill trajectory.”
“That’s why, in the interest of good governance and the most prudent cause of action would be to allow the SEC to investigate,” he said. — Arra B. Francia
CITIGROUP INC. will roll out a new China desk in India within the year. — REUTERS
HONG KONG — Citigroup Inc. will set up a China business desk in India within the year betting on a pickup in investment flows within the Asian region, its Asia-Pacific corporate banking head said, as concerns grow about the impact of a Sino-US trade war.
Citi plans to establish the desk in Mumbai, adding to a South Korea business desk in the capital New Delhi, Gerald Keefe told Reuters. The desks provide services such as trade finance, corporate loans, cash management and investment banking.
Chinese firms, mainly from tech and pharmaceutical sectors, have been looking to deepen their push into growth markets such as India, with its rising middle-class income and increased spending on big-ticket goods, bankers have said.
The drive comes as the United States imposes tariffs on Chinese imports, with China responding in kind. In the latest battle, the United States on Tuesday added 10% duty to $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
Investors fear a protracted trade war will be detrimental to global growth, but Keefe said investment and trade is growing elsewhere across Asia, and that Citi intends to capitalize through its banking network.
The Wall Street bank’s revenue from institutional business in intra-Asia trade corridors has risen 33% so far this year versus the same period a year prior, and compared with 18% for all of 2017, Keefe said.
“There’s an increasing and absolute amount of investment flow around Asia right from companies that are headed out of China, from companies that are headquartered elsewhere in Asia who are of scale,” Keefe said in a recent interview.
Citi has about 20 business desks supporting investments by companies from China, South Korea and India, into places including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Hanoi, as well as New York, London and Johannesburg.
Plans for additional China desks in Europe and Africa are being finalized, Keefe said.
“Obviously it’s not helpful to have terms (such as) ‘global trade war’ in the news every day,” he said.
“(But) as clients evaluate what all this means in the context of these trade relations being reset, we are finding that they are concluding that additional time, effort, energy and investment in Asia is good for them.”
Keefe said there was growing investment from China in India, where global automakers are raising production capacity, as well as in Southeast Asia in sectors such as technology, real estate and health care.
There is also growing investment from South Korea in India, where Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd on Monday opened what it called the world’s biggest mobile phone manufacturing plant. Citi’s institutional banking revenue from the South Korea-India business corridor has risen 78% this year.
“The macro setup for Asia has been as good as it possibly could have been for the last couple of years, and that has encouraged a lot of outbound investments and a lot of incremental trade has come through those corridors,” Keefe said. — Reuters
IT SOUNDS like something Q, the tech guy in James bond movies, would create: A plane that lands on a runway, shrugs its wings off, turns into a train and rolls on to rails to drop you off at your station.
That’s what a French entrepreneur, who’s made millions by connecting engineers with industrial groups, is pitching to Boeing Co. and others. “Link & Fly” is Akka Technologies’s new flagship aircraft design, with wings that come off to hasten turnover at airports and make boarding easier and closer to passengers’ homes.
“After cars go electric and autonomous, the next big disruption will be in airplanes,” Akka’s chief executive officer, Maurice Ricci, said in an interview in Paris. Boeing is among prime customer targets for Akka, as it seeks to limit its dependence on the likes of Airbus SE and Renault SA in Europe.
With Akka’s futuristic concept, passengers would board a train-like tube at a neighborhood station and have their retinas scanned for security during the ride to the airport. Wings would then be attached to the pod for take-off. The company has showcased the idea in a 3-D mock-up video, gathering interest from potential customers in Asia, Ricci said, without naming any company.
While Akka’s not banking on convincing a plane maker to necessarily build the entire “Link & Fly” concept, it’s betting on the design to be an attention grabber and a showcase, parts of which are likely to end up in customers’ commercial aircrafts down the line. — Bloomberg
EXPERIENCE classic American dishes with a dash of refinement this month from the chefs behind French fine-dining restaurant Impressions at Resorts World Manila. Impressions’ “Vive La Liberté” menu is a nod to the American Independence Day celebrations. History buffs may appreciate the dash of French finesse to American favorites as the American battle for the independence marks the historic alliance between the two countries. For P1,200+ for two persons, diners can choose two salads, two entrées, two side dishes, and two desserts. Entrée choices include Shrimp and Grits, the Special House Burger, Cubano Sandwich, Short Rib and Mushroom Pasta, Everything Bagel Sandwich, and Southern-Style Fried Chicken. As a special treat, diners get 30% off on house wines when they avail of the “Vive La Liberte” set menu. The special menu is available for dinner from Mondays to Saturdays and for lunch and dinner on Sundays at Impressions. Impressions is located at the 3rd floor of Maxims Hotel, Resorts World Manila. For inquiries and reservations, contact the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at 908-8833.
Mid-year treats at Melo’s
MELO’S STEAK is discounted
MELO’S STEAKHOUSE in Westgate Alabang welcomes the second half of the year with special discounts on steaks. Diners receive a 50% discount on all Japanese Wagyu and 25% off on all Australian Wagyu and US Angus any time from the restaurant’s opening until closing time. Meanwhile, every Wednesday and Saturday, the restaurant holds special acoustic nights from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. For details all Melo’s Steakhouse, Westgate at 771-2288, 771-3945, and 0915-592-2777.
50% off at Marriott Café
IN ORDER to keep Mondays special after the recently concluded Lobster Mondays promotion, the Marriott Café is slicing half off the price of its lunch and dinner buffets every Monday until Aug. 27. This means one can enjoy the Monday buffets for P975. The Marriott Manila is located at 2 Resorts Drive, Pasay City. For details call 988-9999.
Thursday is Tapas Night
THE PAN PACIFIC Manila offers a selection of Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and Asian small plates, designed to accompany the guest’s beverage of choice at the Pacific Lounge every Thursday. Eggs Flamenco on Tostadas, Green Pepper Gaspacho Macédoine, Spanish Tortillas, Gambas al Ajillo Skewers, Chorizo Pamplona and Scallops, and Roquefort on Beetroot Chips are just some of the tapas that are offered along with an assortment of premium delicatessen meats and cheese at the buffet spread. Tapas Night is served every Thursday from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at P980 net per person. Pan Pacific Manila is located at M. Adriatico cor. Gen. Malvar St., Malate, Manila. For details call 318-0788 or e-mail fb.ppmnl@panpacific.com.
Chocolates for July
CAFÉ PRONTO’s Chocolate Haven
ENJOY a choice chocolate treats crafted by the dessert masters of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Café Pronto this month. Guests can try out Chocolate Symphony, the café’s medley of desserts composed of Salted Caramel Dome, Chocolate Amara Tart, Fruity Nutty, and Mini Hazelnut Caramel. As part of the featured chocolate collection, there are also Chocolate Truffle Crème Brûlée, and the hotel’s signature creation, Chocolate Haven — three textures of dark chocolate in its sponge, mousse and glaze. Café Pronto is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
By David Webster
IT’S AMAZING to think that within our lifetime we will travel to work in a self-driving car; we’ll have conversations with our refrigerators about what’s for dinner; and we’ll receive customer service from Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chat bots. Developments in technology are taking these once-fictional scenarios and planting them in our very near future.
As we innovate tirelessly to bring these solutions to life, we will fundamentally change the way we interact with machines. In fact, according to a recent Dell Technologies study, ‘Realizing 2030: A Divided Vision of the Future,’ most business leaders (80%) in Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) believe humans and machines will work together as integrated teams within five years.
APJ organizations are embracing new technologies as they digitally transform, and these technologies are creating the pathways to more human-machine partnerships. Take AI for example — the research showed that 81% of business leaders expect to use AI to preempt customer demands within five years. This is encouraging, but for organizations to fully realize the value of emerging technology and the exponential increase in data it will generate, it’s essential they make the right IT transformation decisions around their cloud computing approach; the requirements driven by digital will simply break traditional IT infrastructure otherwise.
Many business and IT leaders from around the region unfortunately still live with the baggage of past decisions; with cloud adoption having often been a tick in the box rather than part of a wider strategy. Over the years, we’ve seen high public cloud adoption but are now also witnessing a shift to private or hybrid clouds, and partnerships with cloud service providers to meet varied business requirements and workloads. For example, for gains in speed and efficiency, certain workloads are being moved back on-premise, while public cloud is increasingly being used for non-mission critical workloads. In fact, we’ll see more than 70% of enterprises in APJ turning to a multi-cloud strategy by 2018, according to IDC.
So, while it’s clear that the future is multi-cloud, organizations are facing significant challenges managing the complexity and demands that this reality brings. They need a strategy that allows them to move data back and forth with ease, and manage their entire multi-cloud infrastructure in a simple, seamless way.
Navigating this complexity to truly realize the value of emerging technologies requires a strong focus on collaboration. Here’s how to build the right collaborative approach in your organization: PUT THE CUSTOMER AT THE CENTER
Customer experience is a key competitive differentiator in today’s market and multi-cloud environments are increasingly being used to transition to new customer engagement models. In fact, making customer experience a boardroom concern is a priority amongst almost 9 in 10 businesses in APJ, according to the Realizing 2030 research. With IT departments and CIOs taking on more strategic roles as facilitators between various internal and external partners, keeping all parties focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience will help foster collaboration and partnership. RECOGNIZE IT’S ALL ABOUT DATA
Cloud native apps are key to delivering innovation, enhanced customer experience, and driving differentiation across all industries. No wonder 45% of APJ leaders are already investing in technology to bring apps into the cloud public or private access (e.g. hybrid cloud) — with another 47% planning to invest over the next five years (Realizing 2030).
However, it’s not just about technology, it’s also about investing in the right talent and skills, and in this multi-cloud world we are seeing the need for DevOps to evolve beyond just delivering cloud native apps. With data volumes increasing thanks to emerging technologies, it will be the organizations that recognize the arrival of DataOps and find effective ways to collaborate to manage data that will accelerate their digital transformations. FORM FUTURE-FOCUSED PARTNERSHIPS
Multi-cloud is just the beginning. As my colleague and Dell EMC CTO, John Roese, shared in his 2018 predictions, the future is the mega cloud, where a system of clouds collaborate and interwork. This is the next generation of IT infrastructure and it will require an even closer collaboration between IT and the business; with a strong focus on building true strategic partnerships internally.
For IT leadership, Hemal Shah, Dell EMC APJ CIO, nicely sums up how he is seeing this partnership approach evolve: ‘Smaller, self-sufficient, dedicated teams are emerging in larger enterprises and are focused on innovation and providing opportunities for application developers, data scientists and others in IT to partner with senior executives in identifying new opportunities.’
As technology continues to evolve, businesses need a strong focus on building strong collaboration today to be efficient and agile enough to take on the bigger transformation challenges of tomorrow, building the foundations for the mega cloud.
Emerging technologies will bring many incredible transformations to our lives, and the cloud will play a vital role in making this future a reality. The way we use cloud infrastructure is changing — and quickly. This evolution needs to be paired with the right culture in order to realize the true value of these new technologies. By focusing on collaboration, APJ leaders will put their organization on a smoother and faster path to digital transformation. David Webster is the president of Dell EMC APJ Enterprise.
THE YUAN could rise as the dollar hits its peak, analysts said. — REUTERS
THE YUAN is about to get bailed out by a weaker dollar, according to forecasters who correctly called the Chinese currency’s recent downtrend.
Investec Bank Plc, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. and Svenska Handelsbanken AB all see China’s currency strengthening in the second half even as bigger-name forecasters have rushed to cut their projections. Among their reasons for the yuan’s advance are a falling dollar, an anticipated easing of China-US trade tensions and the willingness of the Chinese authorities to defend the currency.
The yuan is the worst-performing currency in Asia since mid-June, sliding nearly 4%, hurt by China’s move to relax its monetary stance to counter growth threats including rising tariffs.
“We suspect that the dollar is at or very close to its peak,” said Investec economist Ryan Djajasaputra, who predicts the yuan will rise more than 4% to 6.35 versus the greenback by year-end. “You will see some stability on the trade front and therefore perhaps a degree of appreciation in the yuan over the next 6 to 18 months.”
Bill Adams, senior economist at PNC Financial Services — who like Djajasaputra accurately predicted the yuan’s second-quarter slide — says dollar weakness will help the yuan rally to 6.58 by the end of 2018.
Adams shares the view that the tariffs the US imposes on imports from China are “likely to be less onerous than feared.” He also says a recovery by the euro and pound could lead to “a weaker overall outlook” for the greenback.
China’s currency will strengthen to 6.55 per dollar toward year-end, said Bjarke Roed-Frederiksen, senior economist at Sweden’s Svenska Handelsbanken, in part because China will intervene and use other measures if needed to guarantee exchange-rate stability.
“A key concern of China’s government is stability,” said Investec’s Djajasaputra. “If the trade situation deteriorated and the yuan witnessed further downward pressure, we would expect the authorities to step in, particularly if there were signs of capital flight.” — Bloomberg
By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
THE deadlock on the territorial jurisdiction of the proposed Bangsamoro region was finally resolved on Wednesday, July 11, with the provisions of the House of Representatives being adopted in the final version of the bill.
“Pleased to announce that the President facilitated the passage of the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) by convincing the two Houses of Congress to adopt the House version of the BBL providing that the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and the 39 barangays of North Cotabato could vote to join the BBL territory in a referendum to be conducted on the mother territory of the areas involved,” presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in part in his text message to reporters.
“Provisions and the decisions of the Supreme Court in the case of Umali, the passage of the BBL has been assured. PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) will sign the BBL law before the SONA (State of the Nation Address),” Mr. Roque added.
He was referring to a 2014 Supreme Court ruling that, as House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas explained, ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct a plebiscite for all registered voters in Nueva Ecija, not just those from Cabanatuan City, on whether to approve Cabanatuan City as a highly-urbanized city.
“In the same manner, the House bill provides that in the case of the 39 barangays in North Cotabato, the municipalities to which they belong shall participate in the plebiscite,” Mr. Fariñas said in a phone message to reporters.
The contentious provisions on the proposed Bangsamoro territory concerned the inclusion of six municipalities in Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays in North Cotabato. The areas involved are part of the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
In the House version, the six municipalities in Lanao del Norte needed the approval of the province before being included in the proposed Bangsamoro region. The 39 barangays in North Cotabato also needed the approval of their respective municipalities as well.
Meanwhile, the Senate version did not provide for the approval of the concerned province or municipalities. If the citizens in the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and the 39 barangays of North Cotabato voted in favor of their inclusion in the Bangsamoro territory, their areas will be automatically be part of the Bangsamoro region. The Senate version adapted the provisions proposed by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
The lawmakers sought the advice of the President on the Bangsamoro territory on Wednesday following the deadlock between the House and Senate panels last Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III, House Majority Leader Fariñas, House Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra A. Sema, and Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo were present in the Wednesday meeting with Mr. Duterte.
Mr. Zubiri confirmed the matter in a phone message to reporters, saying the Senate version was unconstitutional according to legal luminaries present in the meeting with Mr. Duterte.
“The legal luminaries in the meeting together with the Executive Secretary (Salvador C. Medialdea) and Justice Secretary (Menardo I. Gueverra) all agreed that not involving the mother provinces and municipalities during the plebiscite for the towns of Lanao del Norte and barangays of North Cotabato would be unconstitutional,” the senator from Bukidnon said.
“And so as not (to be) struck down by the Supreme Court on that provision, the consensus was to adopt the House version on territory. As a good soldier, as that was the direction given, then I submit,” Mr. Zubiri added.
He also said he would have to “manage the expectations” and “temper the emotions” of the BTC since the body favored the Senate version on the issue.
Aside from the lawmakers, the Wednesday meeting was also attended by national security officials, such as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar D. Albayalde, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo M. Año. Lawyers from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) were present as well.
In an interview with reporters at Crowne Plaza in Pasig City after the meeting in Malacañang, Mr. Zubiri said the lawmakers laid down the possible outcomes if the Senate version or the House gets adopted. He said Mr. Duterte just asked if the versions presented were constitutional.
“The decision was not to give false hopes because if you give false hope that we passed it here, they’re happy then it will be elevated to the Supreme Court and it will be shut down by the Supreme Court like the MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain). It is more dangerous. As early as now, they are informed that this is the situation. This is constitutional and there you can manage their expectations,” he said.
The MOA-AD once sought to establish the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity but was stalled during the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after it was met with strong opposition. Peace talks collapsed between the government and the MILF after the SC issued a temporary restraining order on the MOA-AD and later declared it as unconstitutional in 2008. Some members of the MILF then staged attacks in the villages of Lanao Del Norte and North Cotabato.
Mr. Zubiri also said they have explained to the President that certain groups may take “inevitable actions” and disrupt the passage of the BBL because of concerns that they might not be joining the Bangsamoro region due to the provisions on the territory.
The national security officials then assured that they are prepared with any situation with the passage of the BBL, noting that they were still on “double red alert” in Mindanao due to the extended martial law, he added.
However, the senator appealed to the BTC as well as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) for understanding with the outcome on the Bangsamoro territory and hoped they remained committed with the peace process, noting the other gains that was approved from the bicameral conference committee such as the provisions on block grants, the Parliament, and the fiscal autonomy.
The senator also urged for the Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza to coordinate with the MILF leadership as well as the other stakeholders and to explain the situation with them to “temper emotions.”
“Along the way, we must seek the patience of our partners and stakeholders together with the MILF and the MNLF, and all other NGOs there that we really need to follow the Constitution. The Constituion is our basic law of the land. It’s really difficult to deviate or to come up with unconstitutional provisions,” he said.
“We’re passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law not to create trouble, we’re passing the Bangsmoro Basic Law to create hope and achieve peace… These little snags should not dampen the mood of hopefulness and the development of peace and order in the region,”
Mr. Zubiri hoped they would finish the bicameral conference committee this week so they could approve the bicam report on Monday, July 16 and submit the final version to the President for review on Tuesday, July 17.
HOUSE SPEAKER Pantaleon D. Alvarez sees postponing next year’s midterm election as a more practical option for Congress to be able to tackle the draft federal charter submitted by the Consultative Committee (ConCom) last Monday, and other matters.
Mr. Alvarez, in a press briefing Wednesday, also confirmed the draft charter now counts among the priority agenda of the House of Representatives.
Leaders representing both chambers of Congress had earlier said charter change would not be a priority. But on Tuesday night, President R. Duterte’s Cabinet tackled the draft charter, with Mr. Duterte urging the ConCom to introduce a transitory provision barring him from seeking a new mandate under a federal charter.
The House Speaker, when asked if the transition toward federalism will be easier without next year’s polls, said, “Practically, yes.”
He added: “Kung ako tatanungin mo, pag-aralan mo ‘yung kalendaryo. (At the) SONA (State of the Nation Address) ibibigay sa amin ‘yung NEP (National Expenditure Program) at maybe ‘yung draft na natapos ng ConCom. So kailangan mag-double time kami dito para ayusin ang draft na ‘yun. At the same time, maghi-hearing kami sa budget.” (If you ask me, look at the calendar. At the SONA, we will receive the NEP and maybe the draft approved by the ConCom. So we need to work double time to tackle the draft. At the same time, we will hold hearings on the budget.)
“Papaano tayo magka-quorum dito? Ano mangyayari? Siyempre magkakampanya na yung mga congressmen,” Mr. Alvarez also said. (How will we reach a quorum? What’s going to happen? Of course, it will be time for the congressmen to campaign.)
Sought for comment, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said in a text message to reporters: “It’s difficult (to postpone the elections) because we have to amend the Constitution to do that, (in particular) Article VI section 8 of the 1987 Constitution.”
He added that Congress will be required to “amend all pertinent laws mandating elections on the Second Monday of May every three years.”
Mr. Alvarez also said the draft federal charter is “nasa priority namin (now our priority).”
House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas, who was also at the press briefing, said the House of Representatives has received a working draft from the ConCom, but has yet to get the official copy from the President.
“Well, we will have to wait for the official transmittal by the President. Although, out of respect (for) the Speaker, ibinigay nila yung working draft nila (ConCom gave us their working draft),” Mr. Fariñas said.
On the timetable for charter change, Mr. Fariñas said:
“Titingnan namin, babasahin namin, then… magko-caucus kami. ‘Pag sinabi under the leadership of the Speaker, okay ‘to ah, maganda ‘to, di trabahuhin namin.” (We’ll go over it, then we’ll have a caucus. If we agree, under the leadership of the Speaker, the draft is okay, if we find it good enough, we’ll proceed.)
Mr. Fariñas also cited budget deliberations by the end of the month, adding that the House Committee on Appropriations has sought his go-ahead to extend hearings to fast-track the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
By the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
THE PHILIPPINES has a total land area of about 300,000 square kilometer (sq km).
This is according to the cadastral survey and estimated land areas certified and provided to the Department of Budget and Management by the Land Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as of December 2013.
Nearly half or 43% consists of mainland Luzon and the islands of Mimaropa, 40% Mindanao, and 17% the Visayas island group (Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, and Negros Island).
Among the proposed federated regions, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be the largest in terms of land area at 36,650.95 sq km or 12.2% of the country’s total land area, while the National Capital Region is the smallest at 619.54 sq km (0.21%). Infographics by Ojie Sarmiento and John Reiner Antiquerra / PCIJ Data Team
By province, Palawan is the largest in terms of land area at 17,030.75 sq km, followed by Lanao del Sur, 15,055.51 sq km; Isabela, 13,102.05 sq km; Bukidnon, 10,498.59 sq km; and Agusan del Sur at 9,989.52 sq km.
Of the generally smaller island provinces, Batanes is the smallest, at 203.22 sq km, followed by Camiguin, 241.44 sq km; Siquijor, 337.49 sq km; Biliran, 536.01 sq km, and Guimaras, 611.87 sq km.
Here’s how the regions rank, from biggest to smallest, by land area: Infographics by Ojie Sarmiento and John Reiner Antiquerra / PCIJ Data Team POPULATION
The Philippine population has reached more than 100 million, according to the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015) of the Philippine Statistic Authority. Over half or 57% reside in Luzon, 23% in the Visayas, and 20% in Mindanao.
Under the proposed federal system, Calabarzon will be the largest federated region in terms of population, with 14 million people (14.3% of total population), while the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will be the smallest with 1.7 million (1.71%).
Provinces with or near metropolitan areas usually have large populations. Cebu is currently the largest province in terms of population with 4.6 million people, followed by Cavite with 3.6 million; Bulacan, 3.2 million; Negros Occidental, 3.31 million; and Laguna, three million.
Batanes meanwhile is the smallest province in terms of population, with just 17,246 people, followed by Camiguin, 88,478; Siquijor, 95,984; Apayao, 119,184; and the Dinagat Islands, 127,152.
Here’s how the regions rank, from largest to smallest, by population: Infographics by Ojie Sarmiento and John Reiner Antiquerra / PCIJ Data Team POPULATION DENSITY
The current national population density stands at 337 people per sq km.
Among the proposed federated regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) is the most densely populated with 20,785 people per sq km, while CAR is the least densely populated at 87 people per sq km.
Provinces with or near metropolitan areas are also some of the most densely populated: Rizal province has the highest population density at 2,439 people per sq km, followed by Cavite, 2,410 people per sq km; Laguna, 1,574 people per sq km; Pampanga, 1,264 people per sq km; and Bulacan, 1,183 people per sq km.
Apayao is the least densely populated province with 26 people per sq km, followed by Abra at 57 people per sq km; and Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Palawan, all with 65 people per sq km.
Some regions are more crowded than others. Here’s how they rank, by population density: Infographics by Ojie Sarmiento and John Reiner Antiquerra / PCIJ Data Team POPULATION GROWTH RATE
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) defines population growth rate as “how fast a population increases or decreases as a result of the interplay of births, deaths, and migration during a given period of time.”
By the data in POPCEN 2015, the provinces with the highest average annual population growth rates are Maguindanao at 4.4%; Cavite, 3.54%; Basilan, 3.39%; Rizal, 3.03%; and Sulu, 2.8%.
The provinces with the lowest average annual population growth rates are the Mountain Province and Dinagat Islands, both at 0.05%; Abra, 0.54%; Marinduque, 0.58%; and Romblon, 0.62%. Stats on the state of the regions NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 619 sq km (No. 18) Population: 12.88 million (Rank No. 2) Population density: 20,785 persons per sq km (No. 1)
The National Capital Region (Metro Manila) will be assigned as the federal capital of the Philippines. For statistical purposes, PSA grouped the 17 cities and one municipality of NCR into four districts: 1st District, City of Manila; 2nd District, Mandaluyong City, Marikina City, Pasig City, Quezon City, and San Juan City; 3rd District, Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, and Valenzuela City; and 4th District, Las Piñas City, Makati City, Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Pasay City, Pateros, and Taguig City.
NCR will be the smallest federated region in terms of land area at 619.54 sq km (0.21% of the country’s total population) but will have the second largest population at 12.9 million (12.8% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015. With a population density of 20,785 people per sq km, however, NCR will be the most densely populated region in the country.
NCR’s second district is the largest of NCR’s four districts in terms of land area, at 257 sq km (41% of NCR’s total land area), followed by the fourth district at 210 sq km (34%); the third district at 127 sq km (21%); and the city of Manila at 25 sq km (4%).
NCR’s second district also has the largest population, with 4,650,613 people (36% of NCR’s total population), followed by the fourth district with 3,627,104 (28%); the third district with 2,819,388 (22%); and the city of Manila, 1,780,148 (14%). The second district’s population is even larger than that of Cebu, the most populous province in the country.
The district of the City of Manila is the most densely populated, however, with 71,263 people per sq km. It is followed by NCR’s third district at 22,118 people per sq km; the second district at 18,101 people per sq km; and the fourth district at 17,259 people per sq km. CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 19,818 sq km (No. 10) Population: 1.72 million (No. 18) Population density: 87 persons per sq km (No. 18)
The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will comprise the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, and Mountain Province.
It will be the ninth smallest federated region in terms of land area, with 19,818 sq km (5.70% of the country’s total land area), and also the least populated, with 1,722,006% (1.71% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015.
With just 87 people per sq km, CAR will also be the least densely populated federated region. In fact, four of the least populated provinces in the country are in CAR: Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.
Apayao is the largest province in CAR in terms of land area, with 4,502 sq km (23% of the region’s total land area), followed by Abra with 4,200 sq km (23%); Kalinga 3,282 sq km (17%); Benguet 2,827 sq km (14%); Ifugao 2,618 sq km (13%); and Mountain Province 2,389 sq km (12%).
Benguet, however, has the largest population among the provinces in CAR, with 791,590 people (46% of the region’s total population). It is followed by Abra with 241,160 people (14%); Kalinga 21,680 (12%); Ifugao 202,802 (12%); Mountain Province 154,590 (9%); and Apayao 119,184 (7%) as of POPCEN 2015.
Almost half of CAR’s total population live in Benguet, the region’s third smallest province. This makes it the most densely populated province in the region, with 280 people per sq km, or almost thrice the region’s population density. Ifugao ranks second, at 77 people per sq km, followed by Kalinga and Mountain Province, both with population densities of 65 people per sq km, and then Abra at 57 people per sq km. Apayao is the least densely populated province, not just in CAR but also in the whole country, at 26 people per sq km.
Benguet has the highest average annual population growth rate in CAR as well, at 1.84%, followed by Ifugao at 1.2%; Apayao at 1.14%; and Kalinga at 1.07%. Mountain Province has the lowest average annual population growth rate, not just in CAR but also in the whole country, at 0.05%, while Abra has the second lowest, at 0.54%. ILOCOS REGION Fast Facts: (Rank among 18 regions) Land Area: 12,964 sq km (No. 15) Population: 5.03 million (No. 6) Population density: 388 persons per sq km (No. 5)
The Federated Region of Ilocos will comprise the current provinces of Region I: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. It will be the fourth smallest federated region in terms of land area, with 12,964.62 sq km (3.73% of the country’s total land area) and the sixth largest in terms of population, at 5,026,128 (4.98% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015. Ilocos Region ranks fifth in terms of population density, with 388 people per sq km.
Pangasinan is the largest province in the proposed federated region of Ilocos in terms of land area, with 5,450.59 sq km (42% of Ilocos’s total land area), followed by Ilocos Norte with 3418.75 sq km (26%); Ilocos Sur 2,596 sq km (14%), and La Union 1,499.28 sq km (12%).
Pangasinan is also the largest province in terms of population, with 2,956,726 people (59% of Ilocos’s total population), followed by La Union with 786,653 (16%); Ilocos Sur with 689,668 (14%); and Ilocos Norte with 593,081 (12%) as of POPCEN 2015.
Almost 60% of Ilocos’s population occupy only 40% of the region’s land area. Pangasinan is the most densely populated province in Ilocos, at 542 people per sq km, followed by La Union at a close 525 people per sq km; Ilocos Sur at 266 people per sq km; and Ilocos Norte at 173 people per sq km.
Pangasinan has the highest average annual population growth rate in the Ilocos Region at 1.24%, followed by La Union at 1.18%; Ilocos Sur at 0.93%; and Ilocos Norte at 0.87%. CAGAYAN VALLEY Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 19,818 sq km (No. 10) Population: 3.45 million (No. 15) Population density: 116 persons per sq km (No. 15)
The Federated Region of Cagayan Valley will comprise the current provinces of Region II: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.
It will be the second largest federated region with 29,836.88 sq km (8.58% of the country’s total land area) and the fourth smallest in terms of population, with 3,451,410 people (3.42% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015. Cagayan Valley ranks 15th in terms of population density, at 116 people per sq km.
Isabela is the largest province in the proposed federated region of Cagayan Valley in terms of land area, with 13,102.05 sq km (44% of the region’s total land area), followed by Cagayan with 9,398.07 sq km (31%); Nueva Vizcaya with 4,813.88 sq km (16%), and Quirino with 2,319.66 sq km (8%).
The province of Batanes, located in the group of islands north of mainland Luzon, is the smallest province not only in Cagayan Valley, but also in the entire Philippines, with 203.22 sq km (1% of the region’s total land area).
Isabela is also the largest province in Cagayan Valley in terms of population, with 1,593,566 people (46% of the region’s total population), followed by Cagayan with 1,199,320 (35%); Nueva Vizcaya 452,287 (13%); and Quirino, 188,991 (5%). Again, Batanes is the smallest province in Cagayan Valley (and in the Philippines) in terms of population, at 17,246 (0.50% of the region’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015.
In terms of population density, Cagayan ranks first, at 128 people per sq km, followed by Isabela at 122 people per sq km; Nueva Vizcaya at 94 people per sq km; Batanes at 85 people per sq km; and Quirino at 81 people per sq km.
Nueva Vizcaya has the highest average annual population growth rate in Cagayan Valley, at 1.43%, followed by Isabela at 1.36%; Quirino at 1.34%; Cagayan at 1.29%; and Batanes, at 0.76%. CENTRAL LUZON Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 21,906 sq km (No. 6) Population: 11.22 million (No. 3) Population density: 512 persons per sq km (No. 4)
The Federated Region of Central Luzon will consist of the provinces of Region III: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. It will be the sixth largest federated region in terms of total land area, with 21,906 sq km (6.30% of the country’s total land area) and the third largest in terms of population, with 11,218,177 people (11.11% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015. Central Luzon currently ranks third in terms of population density, at 512 people per sq km.
Nueva Ecija is the largest province in Central Luzon in terms of land area, with 5,689.69 sq km (26% of the region’s land area), followed by Zambales with 3,815.35 (17%); Aurora with 3,133.4 (14%); Tarlac 3,046.49 (14%); Bulacan 2,783.69 (13%); Pampanga 2,064.59 (9%); and Bataan 1,372.98 (6%).
Bulacan, though, is the largest province in Central Luzon in terms of population, with 3,292,071 people (29% of the region’s total population), followed by Pampanga with 2,609,744 (23%); Nueva Ecija with 2,151,461 (19%); Tarlac with 1,366,027 (12%); Zambales with 823,888 (7%); Bataan with 760,650 (7%), and Aurora with 214,336 (2%) as of POPCEN 2015.
With almost a quarter of Central Luzon’s population but only a tenth of its land area, Pampanga is the most densely populated province in the region, with 1,264 people per sq km. Bulacan ranks second, with 1,183 people per sq km, followed by Bataan with 554 people per sq km; Tarlac 448; Nueva Ecija 378; and Zambales 216. Aurora is the least populated province in Central Luzon, with 68 people per sq km.
Bulacan’s average annual population growth rate is also the highest among the provinces in Central Luzon, at 2.4%, followed by Pampanga at 2.2%; Bataan at 2.04%; Nueva Ecija at 1.93%; Zambales at 1.74%; Tarlac at 1.42%; and Aurora at 1.27%. CALABARZON Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 16,576 sq km (No. 13) Population: 14.41 million (No. 1) Population density: 870 persons per sq km (No. 2)
The Federated Region of Calabarzon will comprise the current provinces in the current Region IV-A: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
It will be the sixth smallest federated region in terms of land area, at 16,576 sq km (4.77% of the country’s total land area), but the largest in terms of population, at 14,414,774 (14.27% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015. With a population density of 870 people per sq km (thrice the national population density), Calabarzon will be the second most densely populated federated region in the country, next to NCR.
The province of Quezon is the largest in Calabarzon in terms of land area, at 16,576.26 sq km (53% of Calabarzon’s total land area), followed by Batangas at 3,115.05 km (19%), Laguna at 1,928.23 km (1%), Cavite at1,526.28 sq km (9%), and Rizal at 1,182.65 km (7%).
Cavite is the largest province in Calabarzon in terms of population, at 3,678,301 (26% of Calabarzon’s population) followed by Laguna at 3,035,081 (21%); Rizal at 2,884,227 (20%), Batangas at 2,694,335 (19%); and Quezon, at 2,122,830 (15%). Cavite and Laguna also rank third and fifth, respectively, among the provinces in the country in terms of population.
With a fifth of Calabarzon’s population living in just 7% of its land area, Rizal ranks first in terms of population density, with 2,439 people per sq km, followed by Cavite at 2,410 people per sq km; Laguna at 1,574; and Batangas at 865 people.
With a land area covering more than half of Calabarzon and only 15% of the region’s population, the province of Quezon is the least densely populated in the region, at 241 people per sq km.
Cavite has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Calabarzon, with 3.54%, followed by Rizal at 3.03%; Laguna 2.6%; Batangas 2.53; and Quezon 1.33 %.
Cavite ranks second, after Maguindanao, in terms of average annual population growth rate; Rizal ranks fourth, after Basilan. MIMAROPA Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 29,606 sq km (No. 2) Population: 2.96 million (No. 17) Population density: 100 persons per sq km (No. 17)
The Federated Region of Mimaropa will comprise the provinces in the current Region IV-B: Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.
It will be the third largest federated region in terms of land area, with 29,606 sq km (8.52% of the country’s total land area) but the third smallest in terms of population, with 2,596,709 (2.57% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015. With a population density of 100 people per sq km, Mimaropa will be the second least densely populated region in the country, next to CAR.
Palawan is the largest province in Mimaropa, as well as in the country, with a land area of 17,031 sq km (58% of the region’s total land area). Occidental Mindoro ranks second largest in the region, at 5,851 sq km (20%), followed by Occidental Mindoro at 4,238 sq km (14%); Romblon 1,533 sq km (5%); and Marinduque at 953 sq km (3%).
Palawan also has the largest population in Mimaropa, with 1,104,585 people (37% of the region’s total population). It is followed by Oriental Mindoro with 844,059 (28%); Occidental Mindoro, with 487,414 (16%); Romblon, 292,781 (10%), and Marinduque with 234,521 (8%).
Marinduque is the most densely populated province in Mimaropa, at 246 people per sq km, followed by Oriental Mindoro at 199 people per sq km; Romblon, 191;and Occidental Mindoro, 83.
With more than a quarter of the region’s total population living in nearly three-fifths of its land area, Palawan is the least densely populated province in Mimaropa, at 65 people per sq km. Palawan is also tied with Kalinga and Mountain Province (in CAR) for being the third least densely populated provinces in the country.
Palawan has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Mimaropa, at 2.13%, followed by Occidental Mindoro, 1.48%; Oriental Mindoro, 1.45%; Romblon, 0.62%; and Marinduque, 0.58%. BICOL REGION Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 18,114 sq km (No. 11) Population: 5.80 million (No. 5) Population density: 320 persons per sq km (No. 8)
The Federated Region of Bicol will comprise the provinces in the current Region V: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
Bicol Region will be the eighth smallest federated region in terms of land area, at 18,114 sq km (5.21% of the country’s total land area) and a population of 5,796,989 (5.74% of the country’s total population) as of POPCEN 2015. Bicol will rank eighth in terms of population density, at 320 people per sq km.
Camarines Sur is the largest province in Bicol in terms of land area, at 2,277.93 sq km (30% of Bicol’s total land area), followed by Masbate at 4,139 sq km (23%); Albay at 2,575 sq km (14%); Camarines Norte at 2,278 sq km (13%); Sorsogon at 2,119 sq km (12%); and Catanduanes at 1,492 sq km (8%).
Camarines Sur also has the largest population among the provinces in Bicol Region, with 1,952,544 people (34% of the region’s total population); followed by Albay with 1,314,826 (23%); Masbate, 892,393 (15%); Sorsogon, 792,949 (14%); Camarines Norte, 583,313 (10%); and Catanduanes, 260,964 (5%).
Albay is the most densely populated province in Bicol, with 511 people per sq km, followed by Sorsogon with 374 people per sq km; Camarines Sur, 354; Camarines Norte, 256; Masbate, 216, and Catanduanes, 175.
Camarines Norte has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Bicol, at 1.45%, followed by Camarines Sur at 1.39%; Sorsogon, 1.37%; Masbate, 1.35%; Albay, 1.29%; and Catanduanes, 1.16%. Western Visayas Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 12,773 sq km (No. 16) Population: 4.48 million (No. 10) Population density: 351 persons per sq km (No. 6)
The Federated Region of Western Visayas will comprise five of the six provinces in the current Region VI: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo.
It will be third smallest federated region in terms of land area, at 12,773 sq km (3.67% of the country’s total land area) and the ninth smallest in terms of population, with 4,477,247 people (4.43% of the country’s total population). Eastern Visayas will rank sixth in terms of population density, at 351 people per sq km.
Iloilo will be the largest province in Western Visayas in terms of land area, at 5,076 sq km (40% of the region’s total land area), followed by Antique at 2,731 sq km (21%); Capiz, 2,595 (20%), and Aklan, 1,760 (14%). The island province of Guimaras is the smallest in Western Visayas and the fifth smallest in the country, with a land area of 612 sq km (5% of the region’s total land area).
Iloilo also has the largest population in Western Visayas, with 2,384,415 people (53% of the region’s total population), followed by Capiz with 761,384 (17%); Antique, 582,012 (13%) and Aklan, 574,823 (13%); and Guimaras, 174,613 (4%).
Iloilo is also the most densely populated province in the region, with 470 people per sq km, followed by Aklan, 327; Capiz, 293; Guimaras, 285; and Antique, 213.
Aklan has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Western Visayas, at 1.42%, followed by Guimaras at 1.39%; Iloilo, 1.35%; Antique, 1.28%; and Capiz, 1.13%. CENTRAL VISAYAS Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 10,452 sq km (No. 17) Population: 6.04 million (No. 4) Population density: 578 persons per sq km (No. 3)
The Federated Region of Central Visayas will have three of the four provinces in the current Region VII: Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor.
Central Visayas will be the second smallest federated region in terms of land area, with 10,452 sq km (3.01% of the country’s total land area), but the fourth largest in terms of population, with 6,041,903 people (5.98% of the country’s total population). With a population density of 578 people per sq km, Central Visayas will be the third most densely populated federated region in the country.
Cebu is the largest province in terms of land area, with 5,342 sq km (51% of the region’s total land area) as well as population, with 4,632,359 people (77% of the region’s total population). Cebu is also the most densely populated province in the region, with 867 people per sq km, and has the highest average annual population growth rate, at 2.14%. In addition, Cebu has the largest population among the country’s provinces.
Bohol comes second in terms of land area, with 4,772.52 sq km (46% of the region’s total land area), as well as in population, with 1,313,560 people (22% of the region’s total population). It is, however, the least densely populated province, with 275 people per sq km, and has the lowest average annual growth rate in the region, at 0.91%.
Siquijor will be the smallest province in the region, with just 337.49 sq km of land area (3% of the region’s total land area), and in terms of population — 95,984 people or 2% of the region’s total population. Its population density is currently at 284 people per sq km and its average annual population growth rate is at 1.06%. Among the country’s smallest provinces, Siquijor ranks third in terms of land area. EASTERN VISAYAS Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 23,234 sq km (No. 3) Population: 4.44 million (No. 10) Population density: 191 persons per sq km (No. 13)
Eastern Visayas will comprise the provinces of the current Region VIII: Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran.
It will be the fourth largest federated region in terms of land area, with 23,235 sq km (6.68% of the country’s total land area), but the eighth smallest in terms of population, with 4,440,150 people (4.40% of the country’s total population). Eastern Visayas will rank 13th in terms of population density, at 191 people per sq km.
Leyte is the largest province in Eastern Visayas in terms of land area, with 6,537 sq km (28% of the region’s total land area), followed by Western Samar with 780,481 sq km (26%); Eastern Visayas, 4,617 sq km (20%); Northern Samar, 3,695 sq km (16%), and Southern Leyte, 1,801 sq km (8%). The island province of Biliran is the smallest in the region, as well as the fourth smallest in the country, with a land area of 536 sq km.
Leyte also has the largest population among the provinces in Eastern Visayas, with 1,966,768 people (44% of the region’s total population), followed by Western Samar with 780,481 (18%); Northern Samar, 632,379 (14%); Eastern Samar, 467,160 (11%); Southern Leyte, 421,750 (9%); and Biliran, 171,612 (4%).
Biliran is the most densely populated province with 320 people per sq km, followed by Leyte with 301 people per sq km; Southern Leyte, 234; Northern Samar, 171; Western Samar, 129; and Eastern Samar, 101.
Leyte has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Eastern Samar, at 1.91%, followed by Eastern Samar at 1.72%; Northern Samar, 1.43%; Western Samar, 1.25%; Biliran, 1.19%; and Southern Leyte, 1.11%. NEGROS ISLAND REGION Fast Facts (Rank among 18 regions): Land Area: 13,425 sq km (No. 14) Population: 4.41 million (No. 12) Population density: 329 persons per sq km (No. 7)
The Federated Region of Negros Island (NIR) will comprise the provinces of Negros Occidental (currently in Region VI) and Negros Oriental (currently in Region VII).
Then President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Executive Order No. 183 actually created NIR in 2015, but this was suspended by President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s EO 83 in 2016.
NIR will be the fifth smallest among the proposed federated regions in terms of land area, with 13,425.4 sq km (4.48% of the country’s total land area) and the seventh smallest in terms of population, with 4,414,313 people (4.37% of the country’s total population). It will rank seventh in terms of population density, at 329 people per sq km.
Negros Occidental is the larger of the two Negros provinces, with a land area of 8,005 sq km and population of 3,059,136 (the fourth largest in the country). It also has the higher population density, at 382 people per sq km, but has the lower average annual growth rate, at 1.02%.
Negros Oriental has a land area of 5,421 sq km, a population of 1,354,995, a population density of 250 people per sq km, and an average annual growth rate of 1.04 people. ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA Fast Facts: (Rank among 18 regions) Land Area: 16,576 sq km (No. 13) Population: 3.63 million (No. 14) Population density: 215 persons per sq km (No. 11)
The Federated Region of Zamboanga Peninsula will comprise the provinces in the current Region IX — Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay — as well as the component city of Isabela in the province of Basilan (part of ARMM).
It will be the seventh smallest region in terms of land area, with 16,904 sq km (4.86% of the country’s total land area) and fifth smallest in terms of population, with 3,629,783 people (3.59% of the country’s total population). Zamboanga Peninsula will rank 11th in terms of population density, with 215 people per sq km.
Zamboanga del Norte will be the region’s largest province in terms of land area, with 7,300 sq km (43% of the region’s total land area), followed by Zamboanga del Sur with 5,899 sq km (35%), and Zamboanga Sibugay at 3,481 sq km (21%). The component city of Isabela has a land area of 224 sq km.
Zamboanga del Sur has the largest population, with 1,872,473 people (52% of the region’s total population), followed by Zamboanga del Norte with 1,011,393 (28%); and Zamboanga Sibugay with 633,129 (17%). Isabela City has a population of 112,788 (3% of the region’s population) as of POPCEN 2015.
With more than half of the region’s population living in a third of its land area, Zamboanga del Sur is also the most densely populated province in Zamboanga Peninsula, at 317 people per sq km, followed by Zamboanga Sibugay at 182 people per sq km, and Zamboanga del Norte, at 139 people per sq km. Isabela City has a population density of 504 people per sq km, almost twice of the regional average.
Zamboanga Sibugay has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula, at 1.65%, followed by Zamboaga del Sur at 1.17% and Zamboanga del Norte at 1.09%. Isabela City, however, beats them all with its average annual population growth rate of 2.88%. NORTHERN MINDANAO Fast Facts: (Rank among 18 regions) Land Area: 20,458 sq km (No. 8) Population: 4.69 million (No. 9) Population density: 229 persons per sq km (No. 10)
The Federated Region of Northern Mindanao will comprise the provinces of the current Region X, namely, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.
It will be the eighth largest federated region in terms of land area, with 20,459 sq km (5.88% of the country’s total land area) and population, with 4,689,302 people (4.64% of the country’s total population). Northern Mindanao will rank 10th in terms of population density, at 229 people per sq km.
Bukidnon is the largest province in Northern Mindanao in terms of land area, at 10,498.59 sq km (51% of the region’s total land area), followed by Lanao del Norte at 4,168 sq km (20%), Misamis Oriental at 3,544 sq km, and Misamis Occidental at 2,007 sq km. The island province of Camiguin is the smallest in the region, and second smallest in the country, in terms of land area, at 241.44 sq km (1% of the region’s total land area).
Misamis Oriental has the largest population, with 1,564,459 people (33% of the region’s total population), followed by Bukidnon, 1,415,226 (30%); Lanao del Norte, 1,019,013 (22%); and Misamis Occidental, 602,126 (13%). Camiguin has the smallest population among the provinces in the region, and the second smallest in the country, with 88,478 people as of POPCEN 2015.
Misamis Oriental is also the most densely populated province in the region, with 441 people per sq km, followed by Camiguin at 366 people per sq km; Misamis Occidental,300 people per sq km; and Lanao del Norte, 245 people per sq km. With 30% of the region’s total population living in more than half its land area, Bukidnon is the least densely populated province in the region, with 135 people per sq km.
Misamis Oriental has the highest average annual population growth rate — 2.01% — among the provinces in the region as well, followed by Lanao del Norte with 1.83%, Bukidnon 1.73%; Misamis Occidental 1.19%; and Camiguin 1.09%. DAVAO REGION Fast Facts: (Rank among 18 regions) Land Area: 20,433 sq km (No. 9) Population: 4.89 million (No. 7) Population density: 239 persons per sq km (No. 9)
The Federated Region of Davao will comprise the provinces of current Region XI: Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental.
It will be the ninth largest federated region in terms of land area, with 20,433 sq km (5.88% of the country’s total population), and seventh largest in terms of population, with 4,893,318 people (4.85% of the country’s total population). Davao will rank ninth in terms of population density, at 240 people per sq km.
Davao Oriental is the largest province in the proposed federated region of Davao in terms of land area, with 5,679.64 sq km (28% of the region’s total land area), followed by Davao del Sur with 4,608 sq km (23%); Compostela Valley, 4,560 sq km (22%); Davao del Norte, 3,423 sq km (17%); and Davao Occidental, 2,163 sq km (11%).
Davao del Sur has the largest population among the provinces in Davao Federated Region, with 2,265,579 people (46% of the region’s total population), followed by Davao del Norte with 1,016,332 (21%); Compostela Valley with 736,107 (15%); Davao Oriental 558,958 (11%); and Davao Occidental 316,342 (6%).
Davao del Sur is also the most densely populated province in the region, with 492 people per sq km, followed by Davao del Norte with 297 people per sq km; Compostela Valley with 161; Davao Occidental 146; and Davao Oriental 98.
Davao del Sur also has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Davao, at 2.28%, followed by Davao Oriental at 1.55%; Davao Occidental at 1.49%; Davao del Norte at 1.45%; and Compostela Valley at 1.38%. SOCCSKSARGEN Fast Facts: (Rank among 18 regions) Land Area: 22,786 sq km (No. 5) Population: 4.55 million (No. 9) Population density: 199 persons per sq km (No. 12)
The Federated Region of SOCCSKSARGEN will comprise the current provinces of Region X: South Cotabato, North Cotabato. Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and the independent component city of Cotabato in the province of Maguindanao (currently part of ARMM).
It will be the fifth largest federated region in terms of land area, with 22,786 sq km (6.55% of the country’s total land area) and ninth largest in terms of population, at 4,545,276 (4.50% of the country’s total population). SOCCSKSARGEN ranks 12th in terms of population density, at 199 people per sq km.
North Cotabato is the largest province in SOCCSKSARGEN in terms of land area, with 9,317.3 sq km (41% of the region’s total land area), followed by Sultan Kudarat with 5,364 sq km (24 %); South Cotabato with 4,287 sq km (19%); and Sarangani, 3,642 sq km. Cotabato City, meanwhile, has a land area of 176 sq km or 1% of the region’s total land coverage.
South Cotabato has the largest population among the provinces in SOCCSKSARGEN, with 1,509,735 people (33% of the region’s total population), followed by North Cotabato with 1,379,747 (30%); Sultan Kudarat 812,095 (18%); and Sarangani 544,261 (12%). Cotabato City has a population of 299,438 or 7% of the proposed region’s total number of people.
South Cotabato has the highest population density among SOCCSKSARGEN’s provinces, with 352 people per sq km, followed by Sultan Kudarat with 151; Sarangani 149; and North Cotabato 148. Cotabato City’s population density of 1,701 people per sq km is more than eight times that of the regional average.
North Cotabato has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in SOCCSKSARGEN, at 2.38%, followed by South Cotabato at 2.03%, Cotabato City at 1.96%, Sarangani at 1.76%, and Sultan Kudarat at 1.68%. CARAGA REGION Fast Facts: (Rank among 18 regions) Land Area: 29,606 sq km (No. 2) Population: 2.60 million (No. 16) Population density: 123 persons per sq km (No. 14)
The Federated Region of Caraga will comprise the current provinces of Region XIII: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and the Dinagat Islands.
It will be the seventh largest federated region in terms of land area, with 21,121 sq km or 6.07% of the country’s land area, but the second smallest in terms of population, with 2,596,709 people (2.57% of the country’s total population). Caraga will rank 14th in terms of population density, at 123 people per sq km as of POPCEN 2015.
Agusan del Sur will be the largest province in Caraga, and the fifth largest in the country, in terms of land area, with 9,989 sq km (47% of the Caraga’s total land area), followed by Surigao del Sur with 4,933 sq km (23%); Agusan del Norte with 3,428 sq km (16%); Surigao del Norte with 1,953 sq km (9%), and the Dinagat Islands with 817 sq km (4%).
Agusan del Norte, however, has the largest population among the provinces in Caraga, with 700,653 people (27% of Caraga’s total population), followed closely by Agusan del Sur with 691,566 (27%); Surigao del Sur with 592,250 (23%; and Surigao del Norte with 485,088 (19%). The Dinagat islands group has the smallest population among the provinces in Caraga, and the fifth smallest in the country, with 127,152 people.
With almost a fifth of the Caraga’s total population living in a tenth of its land area, Surigao del Norte is the most densely populated province in the region, with 248 people per sq km, followed by Agusan del Norte with 202 people per sq km; Dinagat Islands with 156; and Surigao del Sur with 120. Meanwhile, with more than a quarter of the region’s total population living in nearly half of its land area, Agusan del Sur comes in as the least densely populated province in Caraga, with 70 people per sq km.
Surigao del Norte has the highest average annual population growth rate among the provinces in Caraga, at 1.85%, followed by Agusan del Norte at 1.49%, Agusan del Sur at 1.31%, and Surigao del Sur at 1.08%. Dinagat Islands has the lowest average annual population growth rate in the region, and ties with Apayao for having the lowest in the country, at 0.05%. AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO Fast Facts: (Rank among 18 regions) Land Area: 36,650 sq km (No. 1) Population: 3.78 million (No. 13) Population density: 103 persons per sq km (No. 16)
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will comprise the provinces of Basilan (excluding the component city of Isabela), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao (excluding the independent component city of Cotabato), Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
It will be the largest federated region in terms of land area, with 36,651 sq km (10.54% of the country’s total land area), but the sixth smallest in terms of population, with 3,781,387 (3.74% of the country’s total population). With a population density of just 103 people per sq km, ARMM will be the third least densely populated federated region, as of POPCEN 2015.
Lanao del Sur is the largest province in ARMM, and the second largest in the country, in terms of land area, with 15,056 sq km (41% of ARMM’s total land area). Maguindanao ranks second with 9,968 sq km (27%), followed by Sulu with 4,547 sq km (12%), Tawi-Tawi with 3,627 sq km (10%), and Basilan with 3,453 (9%).
Maguindanao, though, has the largest population in ARMM, with 1,173,933 people (31% of ARMM’s total population). It is followed by Lanao del Sur with 1,045,429 (28%), Sulu with 824,731 (22%), Tawi-Tawi with 390,715 (10%), and Basilan at 346,579 (9%) as of POPCEN 2015.
Sulu is the most densely populated province in ARMM, with 181 people per sq km, followed by Maguindanao with 118, Tawi-Tawi with 108, and Basilan with 100. Lanao del Sur is the least densely populated province in the region, with 69 people per sq km.
The provinces in ARMM have some of the highest average annual population growth rates in the country, notably Maguindanao (highest average annual population growth rate in the region and in the country) at 4.44%, followed by Basilan at 3.39% (third highest in the country), Sulu at 2.8% (fifth highest in the country), and Lanao del Sur at 2.3%. Tawi-Tawi has the lowest average annual population growth rate in the region, at 1.29%.
VICE-PRESIDENT Maria Leonor G. Robredo on Wednesday responded to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s remarks Tuesday that “she’s incompetent.”
“Ayoko na sana i-dignify pero siguro sabihin ko na lang na imbes na insultuhin ako o ang Diyos, asikasuhin na lang muna ang mga problema ng ating ekonomiya,” Ms. Robredo said. (I didn’t want to dignify [that remark] but maybe I’ll just say, instead of insulting me or God, just attend to the problems of our economy.)
Mr. Duterte was asked by reporters Tuesday on his proposed election for a transition president by next year, rather than the constitutional route of the vice-president succeeding him when he steps down.
“I will not resign because it will make her president,” Mr. Duterte said. “Robredo is not capable of running the country. She’s incompetent.”
Ms. Robredo’s political allies also rallied behind her, with Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party of which Ms. Robredo is chairperson, praising the Vice-President as a “compassionate, empowering, and responsible” leader who has managed to help the poor even without a Cabinet position.
“Without a Cabinet position, she has marshalled partners from the private sector to extend P252-million worth of aid for 155,000 families through her Angat Buhay program,” the senator said, adding:
“Rice prices increased by 5 pesos a kilo when the President promised to bring it down to 15 pesos. The prices of goods and services have risen by 5.2%, the highest in nine years. And out on the streets, our citizens are subject to kotong, threatened with arrest or harm, while the Chinese poachers who mistreat our fishermen are treated with kid gloves.”
“The President’s remarks are unfortunate, given that they are untrue, and more so because they digress from the core issues that hound Filipinos every day,” Mr. Pangilinan also said.
LP Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, said for his part: “Sa akin po ang tunay na pamantayan ng kakayanan ng isang lider ay paghanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ng taumbayan (For me, the true measure of a leader’s competence is the ability to find a solution to the problems of the people).”
Ms. Robredo’s legal adviser, Ibarra M. Gutierrez III, said for his part: “Inflation: 5.2%. Bigas (rice): P42/kilo. $1 = P?53.51. Dagdag sa pambansang utang (increase in national debt): P1.19 (Trillion). Sariling karagatan: bawal sa Pinoy (Philippine waters: prohibited to Filipinos). Trapik: palala pa (Traffic: getting worse). Patayan, tila araw araw na lang (killings, just happens everyday). Incompetent? Nagsalita ang magaling (The great one speaks).”
Meanwhile, Ms. Robredo’s camp has asked the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to release CCTV footage which would allegedly prove the camp of Ferdinand R. Marcos was aware of the swimming trip attended by his revisors and several PET personnel and a revisor of Ms. Robredo on June 22 in Laguna.
Ms. Robredo, through her chief legal counsel Romulo B. Macalintal, questioned in a 6-page manifestation submitted on Wednesday why Mr. Marcos “is asking for an investigation despite being fully aware that the Honorable Tribunal already conducted one.”
“Protestant Marcos and his revisors were well aware of the said outing as they were invited as well,” Ms. Robredo’s manifestation went, adding that “an investigation has already been conducted where some of the personalities involved were already meted with penalties.”
“A closed circuit television footage (CCTV) will confirm Mr. Miranda leaving the bag of snacks in the fourth floor of the (Supreme Court) building,” Mr. Macalintal said in the manifestation.
“[P]rotestant Marcos feigns ignorance when by the actions of his own revisor, they were not only fully aware but acquiesced to the said outing by giving snacks,” he added.
Mr. Marcos’s spokesperson, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, responded to the petition by challenging Ms. Robredo’s camp in a statement “to go ahead and produce such footage provided it is authentic.”
Ms. Robredo also petitioned the PET on Wednesday to give the Commission on Election (Comelec) five days instead of 10 to comment on her motion to uphold a 25% voting threshold in the recount.
According to Mr. Macalintal’s motion, the Office of the Solicitor-General “has had a total for 46 days to prepare and file its comment” prior to their request, which Ms. Robredo criticized last month as the Solicitor-General had already sought a third extension. — Charmaine A. TadalanandDane Angelo M. Enerio
