TAX COLLECTIONS picked up by double-digit pace last month but fell short of targets, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.
Taxpayers flock to the Bureau of Internal Revenue office in Quezon City on the last day of filing non-paying taxes in this file photo. BW FILE PHOTO
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) raked in P134.18 billion in July, up 14% from P117.61 billion a year ago but still a tad short of a P134.72-billion target for last month. “… BIR… performance is marginally slower than target. Actually, we are only short… by about P500 billion,” Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven, assistant secretary for revenue operations, told reporters at the DoF head office in Manila on Friday last week.
He attributed BIR’s collection hike to the P3.44-billion initial payment of a P25-billion tax settlement which Japan Tobacco International made on July 20 on behalf of Mighty Corp. as part of a deal to acquire the latter’s assets.
The Bureau of Customs (BoC), Mr. Joven said, collected P34.82 billion in July, up 12.35% from the year-ago P30.99 billion but 11% short of a P39.18-billion target.
July took year-to-date collections to P987.790 billion for BIR, 9.65% more annually and 54% of its P1.829-trillion target this year, and to P246.980 billion for BoC, 11.48% more than a year ago and 52.78% of its P467.9-billion full year goal. — Elijah J. C. Tubayan
THE Department of Agriculture’s (DA) announcement last Friday of the country’s first avian influenza outbreak in a poultry farm in San Luis, Pampanga did not see only chicken and egg prices in wet markets promptly fall — it sent big food firms scrambling on Monday to assure that their products are safe.
Monday’s top 20 losing stocks included Vitarich Corp. and San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc. that saw share prices fall 5.88% to P1.92 apiece and by 3.17% to P305 each, respectively. Others like Max’s Group, Inc. and Universal Robina Corp. (URC) lost 0.56% to P17.90 apiece and 0.49% to P142.30 per share.
But shares of Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC), which yesterday reported net income attributable to majority equity holders grew 18.1% annually to P1.956 billion last quarter, gained 2.59% to close P222 each.
Those compare to the 0.33% rise of the industrial sectoral index to which their shares belong and the Philippine Stock Exchange index’s own 0.43% increase yesterday.
Reynaldo D. Ortega, Vitarich vice-president and general manager for poultry and foods, said yesterday the outbreak should have “no impact at all” on operations. “Ang aming (our) operation is located in Bulacan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. Ang bulk ng aming production nanggagaling sa (is from) Nueva Ecija because all our tunnel-ventilated buildings are located there,” he said by phone.
DA’s temporary ban under Memorandum Circular No. 09 on the transport of poultry products from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao, Mr. Ortega said, “doesn’t affect our operations because we have our own breeding farm operation in Mindanao and Visayas.”
Aside from feeds, Vitarich supplies, among others, chicken to hotels, restaurants, institutional clients, as well as supermarkets and wet markets.
Vitarich, which exited corporate rehabilitation in September 2016 and is poised for quasi-reorganization next year, yesterday bared unaudited financial results showing net income rising to P49.8 million last quarter from a year-ago P2.747 million. Operating profit edged up 1.66% to P57.534 million from P56.596 million, while gross profit (sale of goods less cost of goods sold) grew 35.51% to P188.846 million from P139.360 million.
Its report said Vitarich has lined up various thrusts for this year, including expanding the poultry business by increasing breeder capacity, widening its contract grower base and continuous monitoring of dressing plant compliance with good manufacturing practices to assure good meat quality.
In a separate statement, San Miguel Pure Foods said its Magnolia Whole Chicken comes from poultry farms free of avian flu. “The company’s poultry houses utilize state-of-the-art climate controlled system and not conventional housing, that protects broilers from contact with wild birds,” the firm said. “The cool environment inside the houses provides broilers greater protection against respiratory infection and increased resistance to viruses. “
It added that, “[u]pon immediate testing,” its “farms and its broiler flocks within the vicinity of the affected area yielded negative results for avian influenza.”
URC said in a statement that its poultry layer farms are far from the affected area in Pampanga. “Nonetheless, we continue to implement strict biosecurity measures in our farms and submit our eggs to industry and government standards of testing and quality control,” URC said.
Restaurant operators JFC and Max’s separately assured customers that their products remain safe for consumption. “Our chicken supply is sourced outside Pampanga,” Max’s Deputy Compliance Officer Paul C. Cheah said via text, while JFC said in a statement that it “sources its local poultry product requirements only from accredited and reputable suppliers in the Philippines that employ the safest food practices in sourcing, manufacturing, preparation and delivery.”
Max’s yesterday reported that total comprehensive net income that went to the parent’s equity holders grew 15.2% to P149.29 million last quarter from P129.594 million a year ago, buoyed largely by a boost in restaurant sales. Income before tax rose 7.98% to P218.127 million from 202.002 million. Gross profit increased by 4.39% to P838.032 million from P802.805 milllion, as total revenues rose by 13.58% to P3.136 billion from P2.757 billlion and cost of sales climbed 17.61% toP2.298 billion from P1.954 billion. Restaurant sales alone increased by 18.46% to P2.62 billion from P2.212 billion in the same comparative quarters.
THE CENTRAL BANK will have to raise policy rates to contain rapid credit growth and a widening trade deficit in order to ease the downward pressure on the peso, analysts at ANZ Research said.
A customer at a money changer shop counts Philippine peso bills in this photo taken in Manila on August 14, 2017. — KJ ROSALES/PHILIPPINE STAR
“Against this backdrop of strong import growth and export performance which has at best followed the global trade cycle, the trade deficit has widened…,” ANZ economists Sanjay Mathur and Eugenia Fabon Victorino said in a report released on Monday.
“These imbalances are unlikely to fade without adequate tightening of monetary policy.”
The bank analysts held on to their forecast of one rate hike from the central bank this year, even as other economists have said that a rate increase is unlikely anytime soon with inflation remaining within a 2-4% official target range.
ANZ observed “intensifying” imbalances in the Philippine economy, as seen in the double-digit credit growth particularly for the real estate sector, alongside a reversal in the country’s external position.
The monetary authority said the rapid rise in credit relative to gross domestic product (GDP) — with the annual uptick roughly at three percentage points — “calls for vigilance”, the bank analysts said.
Bank lending grew by 19% to P6.713 trillion in June from a year ago, according to latest available data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
On the other hand, ANZ also pointed out the widening gap in external trade, as imports continue to outpace export receipts to a level beyond what remittances and business process outsourcing sales can offset.
The Philippines posted a $318-million current account deficit in the first quarter, equivalent to 0.4% of gross domestic product.
This compares to a $600-million deficit expected by the central bank for full-year 2017 and constitutes a reversal from the $601-million surplus posted in 2016.
The BSP kept benchmark borrowing rates steady during last week’s policy review, pointing out that inflation remains “manageable” alongside firm domestic demand.
Inflation averaged 3.1% in the seven months to July, just below the central bank’s latest 3.2% estimate for the entire year.
“Considering the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ hesitation to tighten monetary policy, it is likely that these imbalances will persist. As a result, it will be the Philippine peso that would need to bear the burden of adjustment,” the bank’s market report read.
BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. sought to calm markets over the weekend, saying that the peso would not do a “free fall” with the central bank armed with enough buffers to temper sharp swings in exchange rate.
The central bank chief also downplayed the pessimism over the current account, saying that it was “natural” for an emerging economy to incur deficits as it stocks up on capital goods and raw materials for investment needs.
Despite this, the peso yesterday weakened to P51.08 to a dollar from Friday’s P50.98 finish, marking its weakest value in nearly 11 years or since Aug. 28, 2006’s P51.21-per-greenback finish.
The peso averaged P50.0263 against the greenback in the seven months to July, according to latest central bank data, against an official P48- to P50-per dollar assumption for 2017 and 2018. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez
By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral and Kristine Joy V. Patag Reporters
THE MILITARY on Monday said it is verifying claims that Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants who attacked Marawi City, provincial capital of Lanao del Sur, are getting reinforcements from nearby areas to augment their “less than 40” fighters in the southern city.
59 alleged members of the Maute group at the Department of Justice yesterday. — PHILIPPINE STAR_MIGUEL DE GUZMAN
Clashes between government forces and the pro-Islamic State (IS) Maute extremists broke out in Marawi on May 23 — triggering what may be the biggest internal security crisis in the Philippines since the Zamboanga City siege in 2013.
The bloody standoff, which prompted President Rodrigo R. Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao, enters its 84th day today.
In a press conference in Malacañang, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Restituto F. Padilla, Jr. said the military has received information that Maute terrorists are ushering “elements” inside Marawi through the Lanao Lake to back its dwindling forces.
“We did get those information and the information actually made mention that at the height of a heavy rain, there were elements that made their way inside [the city],” Mr. Padilla said, adding that the army is still vetting such reports.
“Unfortunately, we have not confirmed that and we are still checking as of the moment.”
The band of gunmen that overran Marawi was led by Lanao-based Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute, who had joined forces with Isnilon Hapilon — leader of the dreaded kidnapping-for-ransom gang Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and IS’s Southeast Asia “emir.”
According to authorities, some of the more than 100 inmates who had escaped a local jail in Marawi during the initial rampage allegedly joined in the fighting.
Mr. Padilla also said the military believes there are “less than 40” Islamist fighters holed up in the besieged city, adding that the remaining terrorists are still capable of inflicting harm.
“They still have arms, they still have adequate ammunition and they still continue to hold hostages. So that’s the compounding factor,” Mr. Padilla said.
Last month, Congress overwhelmingly voted to extend Mr. Duterte’s martial rule in Mindanao until yearend to defeat the band of jihadist fighters that occupied the predominantly Muslim city and to dismantle the terror network in the region.
As of Aug. 13, the number of enemies neutralized by pursuing state forces rose to 562 while civilians killed by the Maute group remained at 45. Meanwhile, 128 troops were slain in the clashes.
Also on Monday, more than 50 suspected members of the Maute group sought the Department of Justice (DoJ) to drop the rebellion complaints against them during a preliminary hearing that day.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter L. Ong led the panel of prosecutors in conducting the second preliminary investigation hearing on the rebellion complaints filed against 58 suspected Maute members and their lone recruiter.
The hearing was mostly held in the vernacular language of Tausug, since some of the arrested said they cannot understand Tagalog.
The suspected Maute members filed their counter-affidavits, also written in Tausug, before the panel of prosecutors.
After the respondents had sworn in their counter-affidavits, parts were read by the prosecutors where the respondents asked the DoJ to dismiss the complaints. They also claimed they were duped into joining the army, but were instead said to have joined the Maute group.
However, their alleged recruiter, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) member Nur Supian, failed to submit his counter-affidavit. He was given until Friday, Aug. 18, to file his at the Special Intensive Care Area of Camp Bagong Diwa, where he and the other suspects are currently detained.
The Supreme Court (SC) had granted Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II’s request to move the trial away from Cagayan de Oro City — currently under martial law due to the fighting in Marawi City — citing threats to the prosecutors’ lives.
Once the case reaches court trial, it will be handled by Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) following the SC’s order.
MALACAÑANG ON Monday, Aug. 14, announced it will submit to Congress this week the new version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), adding that it is up to lawmakers to harmonize other measures related to the peace process in Mindanao.
L to R) Philippine Secretary of the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, Al-Hajj Murad, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Ghazali Jaafar, vice chairman of MILF, join hands holding a proposed draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during a ceremony at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on July 17, 2017. AFP
The BBL will serve as the legal foundation of the future Bangsamoro government in Mindanao. It was approved by the 21-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) last June 6 and was formally turned over to the Palace last month.
In a press briefing yesterday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) will officially transmit the draft BBL to Congress anytime this week so lawmakers can act on the bill with “dispatch.”
The Palace spokesman said it is now the solons’ task to “consolidate” the Executive’s version of the BBL and the Bangsamoro bill separately filed last week by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“I’m sure she has certain positions regarding the matter and it will be up to Congress to consolidate that, which is pertinent to the BBL,” Mr. Abella said of Ms. Arroyo’s proposal.
According to a statement on Aug. 11, Ms. Arroyo filed House Bill No. 6121, or the “Basic Act for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,” in response to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s call for a “just and lasting peace for a unified nation.”
Under Ms. Arroyo’s bill, a new political subdivision called the “Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR)” will be established that will be composed of the present geographical area of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
BAR will remain a part of the Philippines while its Bangsamoro Regional Government (BRG) will have a parliamentary system with the right to “self-governance that is free to pursue its economic, social and cultural development.”
Nonetheless, under Ms. Arroyo’s measure, the President has the power to “exercise general supervision over the BRG to ensure that all laws are faithfully executed.”
Mr. Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno S.C. Aquino III, championed the previous BBL but lost support after a highly controversial manhunt operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, whose aftermath became the biggest political crisis in Mr. Aquino’s presidency.
While the raid on January 25, 2015, did neutralize its terrorist targets, it also claimed the lives of 44 elite police officers, 18 Moro fighters, and five civilians.
Mr. Duterte, who hails from Mindanao, earlier said he will certify the BTC’s version of BBL as urgent to “give rise to a genuine autonomous region as well as bring forth healing and reconciliation to the historical injustices committed against the Bangsamoro people.”
Originally consisting of 15 members, the “expanded” BTC under the Duterte administration has 21 members — of whom 11, including the BTC chairperson, are from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and 10 are nominated by the government.
MISUARI’S PROPOSAL
The government previously said Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nurulaji “Nur” P. Misuari agreed to join the peace process, but will not take part in the predominantly MILF-composed BTC. The MILF broke away from the MNLF in the 1980s.
According to Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza, Mr. Misuari will work on drafting an amendment to the 1996 final peace agreement his group had forged with the government of then president Fidel V. Ramos.
That peace deal paved the way for Mr. Misuari’s leadership of the ARMM until the early 2000s.
In a mobile phone message yesterday, Mr. Dureza said Mr. Misuari’s MNLF faction has yet to submit its own proposal, but noted that the “42 consensus points” that appeared in a tripartite review of the 1996 peace agreement have been “inputted” in the new BBL of BTC.
Asked if Mr. Misuari’s faction still has plans to present any proposals, Mr. Dureza said: “We cannot say that with certainty but that is what we have been informed.”
THE Senate on Monday, Aug. 14, passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to prohibit expiry dates on gift checks, certificates or cards. A statement by the Senate quoted Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri as saying: “A gift certificate, check or card is, for all intents and purposes, good as cash. It is purchased with money and money having no expiry date, it follows that gift checks must bear no expiry date.” Mr. Zubiri is the chairman of the Senate committee on trade, commerce, and entrepreneurship and author of Senate Bill No. 1466, under which commercial establishments are prohibited from issuing gift checks bearing expiry dates.
“It is also deemed unlawful to impose an expiry date on the stored value, credit, or balance of the gift check. Further, the proposed law prohibits merchants from refusing to honor the unused value, credit or balance stored in the gift check,” the statement said.
Under the measure, sellers are prohibited from issuing a gift check that bears an expiry date. It is also deemed unlawful to impose an expiry date on the stored value, credit, or balance of the gift check. Further, the proposed law prohibits merchants from refusing to honor the unused value, credit or balance stored in the gift check.
Violators of the proposed measure, once enacted into law, shall upon conviction be subject to a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P1 million.
The bill defined gift checks as “any instrument issued to any person, natural or juridical, for monetary consideration, honored upon presentation at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants as payment for consumer goods or services. The instrument may be in the form of paper, card, code, or other device.”
Mr. Zubiri noted, however, that coupons or vouchers are not covered by the bill’s provisions.A coupon or voucher is defined by the bill as “any instrument issued to any person, natural or juridical, for monetary consideration or otherwise, that entitles the holder to a discount off a particular good or service, or that may be exchanged for a pre-identified good or service specified on the instrument.”Excluded too from the provisions of the measure are gift checks issued to customers “under loyalty, rewards or promotional programs, as determined by the Department of Trade and Industry.”
“Once enacted, this will firm up the gains of consumers, both buyers and recipients of gift checks,” Mr. Zubiri said in the statement.
SANDIGANBAYAN Associate Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo has been appointed to the Supreme Court (SC), as announced by the High Court on Monday, Aug. 14.
File photo of newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Alexander Gesmundo from the Supreme Court Public Information Office
In the transmittal letter signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea dated that Monday, Mr. Gesmundo takes the seat of retired Associate Justice Jose C. Mendoza, who retired on Aug. 13.
Mr. Gesmundo is the fourth appointee of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. His first two appointees are fellow alumni of the San Beda College of Law, Associate Justices Samuel R. Martires and Noel G. Tijam. Mr. Duterte’s third appointee is Court of Appeals (CA) Presiding Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr.
Mr. Gesmundo first started public service at the Office of the Solicitor-General (OSG) as trial attorney in August 1985. During his stint at the OSG, he was recognized as Most Outstanding Solicitor in 1998. He was later appointed to Assistant Solicitor-General in August 2002.
He was also a member of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) 2004 Committee on Revision of the Rules of the CTA.
Mr. Gesmundo was then appointed to the graft court on Oct. 15, 2005, where he currently sits as chair of its 7th Division.
He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University of Law, where he currently teaches Remedial Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Lyceum of the Philippines in 1977.
Mr. Duterte will appoint at least 10 justices in his six-year term. — Kristine Joy V. Patag
THE Senate on Monday, Aug. 14, concurred with the ratification of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 151 which seeks to protect the right of civil servants to organize, as well as procedures for determining conditions of employment in public service, a statement by the chamber on Monday said.
ILO, as defined by its Web site, is the tripartite United Nations agency that brings together governments, employers and workers representatives of 187 member states to set labor standards, and develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all women and men.
With 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes, the Senate approved on third reading Proposed Senate Resolution No. 454 in line with the convention, as authored and sponsored by Senator Loren B. Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations.
Ms. Legarda said in the statement the Philippines is the first Asian country to ratify the convention, which is also known as the “Convention Concerning Protection of the Right to Organize and Procedures for Determining Conditions of Employment in the Public Service.”
ILO Convention No. 151 was first adopted on June 27, 1978 in Geneva, Switzerland, and entered into force on Feb. 25, 1981.
According to the resolution, “the Convention promotes sound labor relations between public authorities and public employees’ organizations through the protection of the right to organize, granting of facilities or privileges to its representatives, full development and utilization of machinery for negotiation of terms and conditions of employment, and promotion of civil and political rights of public employees.”
“The resolution applies to all persons employed by public authorities. The extent to which the guarantees in the Convention shall be applied, in so far as the high-level managerial, policy making and confidential employees are concerned, as well as the armed forces and the police, shall be determined by national law and regulations,” the resolution added.
Under the resolution, the Convention “shall take effect 12 months after the date on which its ratification has been registered with the Director-General of the ILO.” President Rodrigo R. Duterte ratified the Convention on May 26, the Senate statement said.
JUSTICE SECRETARY Vitaliano N. Aguirre II on Monday said government protection may be offered to the estranged wife of embattled Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Juan Andres B. Bautista.
File photo of Justice Sec. Vitaliano N. Aguirre II — KRIZJOHN ROSALES/PHILIPPINE STAR
In a text message to reporters, Mr. Aguirre said: “She can apply with the Witness Protection Program (WPP) and we will consider, especially since there are reported threats against her.”
Under the rules of the WPP a person should first submit an affidavit to the Department of Justice (DoJ), which will then evaluate the case.
Patricia Cruz-Bautista, in an affidavit and other documents submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), has made accusations that her husband has amassed about P1 billion in unexplained wealth and did not declare these in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) for 2016.
The SALN is required from all government employees.
IMPEACHMENT
Meanwhile, Volunteers against Crime and Corruption (VACC) lawyer Manuelito R. Luna yesterday asked the NBI for copies of the documents submitted by Ms. Bautista to strengthen a planned impeachment case against the Comelec head.
Mr. Luna, on behalf of VACC member and former solon Jacinto V. Paras, sent a letter to NBI Director Dante A. Gierran requesting for “certified true copies of the Affidavit of [Particia Paz Bautista] and the 35 Luzon Development Bank (LDB) passbooks, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) peso account document and other documents submitted to your office.”
The one-page letter dated Aug. 14 was submitted to the NBI yesterday afternoon. Mr. Luna said that his request is “in connection with the filing of an impeachment complaint against [Mr. Bautista].”
“Our said client is resorting to this request owing to the fact that the Committee of Justice of the House of Representatives will not accept any documents other than certified or original, appended to impeachment complaints,” Mr. Luna said.
In her affidavit, Ms. Bautista claimed that her husband has LDB accounts, RCBC accounts, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) account, several real properties, foreign investment and properties, and several checks and commission sheets from Divina Law, where Mr. Bautista practiced law before engaging in public service.
For a copy of Mr. Bautista’s SALN, Mr. Luna said he will send his request to the Office of Ombudsman Central headed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
The NBI is conducting a separate investigation on Mr. Bautista as ordered by Mr. Aguirre. The Justice chief said that the probe will include Mr. Bautista’s previous stint at the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Mr. Aguirre said that the NBI probe “can be used as basis in filing an impeachment complaint” against the Comelec chief.
Mr. Bautista has denied the allegations and last week filed charges against his estranged wife. — Kristine Joy V. Patag
MAYNILAD WATER Services, Inc. has earmarked P291 million to replace more than 36 kilometers of what it described as “old, leaky pipes” in the northern part of Quezon City, the company said on Monday.
The water concessionaire for Metro Manila’s west zone said the pipe replacement project would benefit nearly 13,000 customers from improved water pressure once completed in September this year.
The covered areas are barangays Fairview and Batasan Hills, which are expected to have a water pressure of 16 pounds per square inch (psi) from only 7 psi at present.
Maynilad said the improvement “is strong enough to bring water to the third floor of a house without need for a pump.”
“There is a need to sustain investments in the rehabilitation of deteriorated pipelines in the West Zone, as this will help to further enhance water supply reliability for our customers,” said Ramoncito S. Fernandez, Maynilad president and chief executive officer, in a statement.
The company said replacing the old pipelines will allow Maynilad to cut water losses in the area and recover around 70 million liters per day of potable water.
That volume can meet the daily requirement of about 120,000 households, it added.
This year, Maynilad is targeting to replace up to 328 kilometers of old pipelines within its concession area, including in Quezon City, Navotas, Valenzuela, Pasay, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Cavite.
It has allotted a budget of P2.7 billion in 2017 for its non-revenue water reduction program, which includes pipe replacement projects.
Maynilad serves the west zone of the greater Manila area comprised of parts of Manila and Quezon City, the portion of Makati west of the South Super Highway, the cities of Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon in Metro Manila.
Outside the capital, the company serves the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite province.
Maynilad is the biggest private water concessionaire in the country in terms of customer base. — Victor V. Saulon
THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday echoed President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s recent pronouncement that illegal drugs in the country cannot be phased out.
“I said, America as America…it cannot even control drugs. How much more for us?… If others cannot, do you think we can?,” said Mr. Duterte on Friday after waging an all-out campaign against the narcotics trade since he took office in July last year.
DILG Officer-in-Charge Catalino S. Cuy, for his part, said in a press briefing yesterday: “I think the President saw that until now, there are still [drug activities]. This will really be a serious campaign.”
“We notice that the drug personalities tend to lie low for a while, then if you slack off, they will once again continue. So this will really be a challenge for law enforcers,” he added.
Mr. Cuy also confirmed that there are numerous mayors who are included in Mr. Duterte’s latest ‘narco-list’ of politicians who are allegedly involved in the drug trade.
The administration’s drug war has been flagged by local and international human rights groups for the related killings carried out by police as well as suspected vigilante groups.
Mr. Cuy assured that all reports received by the DILG concerning police personnel are being acted upon.
Mr. Duterte has repeatedly assured police officers that he will support and protect them against charges that may arise from the implementation of the anti- drug campaign.
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
Similar to illegal drugs, Mr. Cuy said that illegal gambling would also be difficult to control and wipe out.
Police Director-General Ronald M. dela Rosa said last July 31 that he wants illegal gambling phased out in the entire country, particularly in Luzon, within 15 days.
“It is [difficult] because it (illegal gambling) seems to be a part of our culture already. We need a whole-of-nation approach for that,” he said. — Jil Danielle M. Caro
EARNINGS of Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) jumped 18.1% in the April to June period, fueled by the growth of its stores in Southeast Asia, North America and Middle East amid the company’s aggressive worldwide store expansion.
The homegrown fastfood giant in a statement on Monday said its net income attributable to the parent increased to P1.956 billion, against the P1.656 billion posted in the second quarter of 2016.
System-wide sales, which measures all sales to consumers from both company-owned and franchised stores, rose 14.7% to P42.54 billion in the second quarter.
Jollibee’s Southeast Asian business, excluding the Philippines, showed the fastest acceleration in terms of system-wide sales, up by 42% in the quarter. North America followed at 32.5%, the Middle East by 32%, China by 17.2%, and the Philippines by 12.5%.
JFC noted these figures exclude the impact of 2016 divestments and the consolidation of the SuperFoods group, the company’s joint venture with Viet Thai International Joint Stock Co. Including SuperFoods, systemwide sales of JFC’s foreign business increased by 24.3%.
“These strong growth rates were driven by the acceleration of profit growth in foreign businesses, lower losses in joint ventures — which consist mostly of new businesses abroad, and lower income taxes,” the company said.
With this, JFC’s first half attributable profit amounted to P3.489 billion, up by 14.2% year on year, following a 13.5% growth in systemwide retail sales to P81.078 billion.
By the end of the first semester, JFC has spent a capital expenditure of P4.1 billion, up by 46% from the P2.8 billion from 2016’s first half, but less than a third of its 2017 capex of P14.7 billion. The accelerated spending is in line with the company’s efforts to further expand its store network, as it saw 157 store openings as of end June. Of this, 108 are located in the Philippines, while 49 are based abroad.
This brings the company’s worldwide store count to 3,570, keeping it on track to hit its target of 4,000 stores by end 2017.
Most of these are located in the Philippines at 2,701, with 1,005 under the Jollibee brand, 496 under Chowking, 257 for pizza chain Greenwich, 395 for Red Ribbon, 470 under Mang Inasal, and 78 under Burger King. Overseas, JFC has a total of 869 stores, spanning across China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Brunei, the Middle East, the United States, Singapore, Canada, and Australia.
JFC also has two joint ventures, namely a 48% partnership with 12 Hotpot in China that owns 16 stores, as well as a 40% stake in US-based Smashburger, composed of 362 outlets. These stores are excluded from the company’s consolidated store count, which would have added 378 more to its network.
Shares in JFC closed at P222 apiece on Monday, up 2.59% or P5.60. — Arra B. Francia
