JUSTICE SECRETARY Vitaliano N. Aguirre II on Wednesday said the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) ongoing probe on the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Juan Andres D. Bautista will involve the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).
By Victor V. Saulon
Sub-editor
THE NATIONAL Electrification Administration (NEA) has until Friday to look into the liability of Palawan’s power suppliers as the province continues to be burdened by worsening outages since the start of the year.
THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that the President Quirino Avenue exit ramp of the Metro Manila Skyway (MMS) Stage 3 will be ready for use by the second quarter next year, and that portions of the Skyway will be opened even before the completion of the entire project.“You can expect by 1st half of next year, we will open the 1st exit of Skyway,” DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar told reporters yesterday during a site inspection of the project. Mr. Villar added that succeeding exit ramps to be constructed will be opened about every six months.
PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Wednesday vowed to resign if one of his children, particularly his vice-mayor son, is found involved in a corruption scandal hounding the Bureau of Customs (BoC).
IN A bid to fortify border control units, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday announced that it has deployed additional immigration officers to international ports across the country. Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente, in a statement released yesterday, said he has “already issued personnel orders directing scores of immigration officers to report for duty in the other international ports nationwide.” In a separate text message, BI Spokesperson Ma. Antonette B. Mangrobang said 17 officers were deployed so far to the Kalibo, Clark, Cebu, and Tagbilaran airports, where there had been “lack of manpower”. Mr. Morente further said that the BI continues “to expedite the recruitment of immigration officers” after reported resignations and indefinite leaves of absence by officers due to unsettled overtime pay following the veto on the use of the express lane charges to augment their salaries. — Kristine Joy V. Patag
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter
GILAS Pilipinas made an auspicious debut in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup last night, beating defending champion China, 96-87, despite being reduced to 10 men.
MAYOR GENEVIVE Lim-Reyes of Caluya, Antique has been suspended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman for ordering the cutting down of coconut trees in 2014 without permit from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) as mandated by law. In a statement, the Ombudsman said Ms. Reyes is guilty of grave abuse of authority as the directive to clear and level the land had no legal basis. The clearing operation was on a five-hectare coconut farmland intended for a housing project to relocate residents from Sitio Sabang to Sitio Poocan. The Ombudsman said Ms. Reyes failed to present any application from the PCA and did not have a municipal council resolution supporting the housing project. In July 2014, the Commission on Human Rights requested the mayor to halt all relocation, eviction and demolition due to lack of proper and adequate consultation with the affected residents.
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter
PACE-SETTING Lyceum Pirates look to extend their unbeaten start to Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to seventh straight games today as they take on the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals at the latter’s home gym in Manila.
THE sustained growth of SM Investment Corp.’s (SMIC) retail, banking and property businesses drove its net income 9% higher in the first half of 2017.
MANILA WATER Co., Inc. reported on Wednesday a 3% increase in first half net income to P3.22 billion, as revenues were mostly driven by its non-Manila concession businesses.
Revenues in the first semester hit P9.12 billion, up 4% from P8.77 billion during the same period a year ago.
First half profit last year reached P3.14 billion for Metro Manila’s West Zone water concessionaire. The company has yet to release its quarterly financial data.
In its disclosure to the stock exchange, Manila Water said its equity share in the net income of associates reached P183 million, down 2% from P187 million last year. This year, however, the company posted other income amounting to P3 million, as against a P5-million loss last year.
The company said growth during the period was fueled by a 3% increase in consolidated billed volume to 366.9 million cubic meters (mcm) from 355.7 mcm.
For the Manila concession, billed volume inched up by 1% to 242.2 mcm, which the company said translated in a 3% rise in net income to P2.9 billion.
Next to Metro Manila, the company’s biggest concession area is served by Thu Duc Water B.O.O Corp. in Vietnam, which recorded 55 mcm in billed volume during the period, up 2% from 53.9 mcm a year ago.
Kenh Dong Water saw a 2% drop in billed volume to 28.4 mcm, while Laguna Water increased its billed volume by 19% to 22.7 mcm.
Estate Water, a division under Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc. (MWPV), posted a billed volume growth of 360% to 2.3 mcm from 0.5 mcm in the same period last year.
“Estate Water’s revenues rose to P312 million in the first half of 2017 due to availability charges, income from different contracts, billed volume of customers through water and sewer revenues that resulted to 98% increase from the same period of last year,” the company said.
In terms of billed connections, the Manila concession remained the dominant area with 945,971, up 3% from 915,942 a year ago. This was followed by LagunaAAA Water Corp., which recorded 97,821, higher by 9% from 90,115 in the same period last year.
During the six-month period, Manila Water said consolidated capital expenditure also rose by 48% to P5 billion, “as groundwork for future growth is laid.”
Capital expenditure for the Manila concession hit P3.5 billion in the first half, up 68% from P2.09 billion in the same period last year, the company said.
Of the total spending, 94% was spent to wastewater projects, network reliability and water supply projects. Concession fees paid to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System accounted for the remaining 6%, it added.
On Wednesday, shares in Manila Water slipped 1.26% to P31.35 each. — Victor V. Saulon
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter
THE move to make the global basketball community connected digital has been gaining grounds, this according to world basketball governing body International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
THE JOINT Task Force Marawi reported on Wednesday that the armed forces recovered last week the armored van taken by the Islamic State-inspired Maute terror group at the start of their rampage in Marawi City on May 23. The building where it was found is believed to have been used by the terrorists as a storage area and temporary base.”The recent capture of one of the terrorist’s strongholds connotes that the troops are advancing towards the battle positions of Maute remnants, signifying that the terrorists are already contained in a narrower engagement area,” said Capt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command. She also said that they estimate that the civilian hostages being held by the religious extremists are now down to 50-70. — Jil Danielle M. Caro
