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LTFRB reminds PUV operators: No unauthorized fare increases

By Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo
Reporter

THE LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has warned public utility vehicles (PUVs) against raising fares without government authorization.

LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada issued a statement following a social media post of a UV express service going from Meycauayan, Bulacan, to Quezon Avenue, raising its fare to P50 from P45, citing the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law which is set to increase excise taxes on fuel.

“It has come to our attention that some public utility vehicles (PUVs) are increasing their fare rates on their own without authority from the Board. Let this be a warning to all public utility vehicle operators: you need (to go) through the process of a fare hike before any increase can be granted,” Ms. Lizada told reporters in a message.

Ms. Lizada noted that there are currently no pending fare-hike petitions from any UV express operator.

Violations for unauthorized fare changes are a fine of P5,000 for the first offense; P10,000 and impounding of vehicle for 30 days for the second offense; and P15,000 plus cancellation of certificate of public convenience (CPC) where the unit is authorized, for the third offense.

As of October 2017, there are 20,998 total franchises and 22,645 total units for UV express services nationwide. Transport providers have been announcing intentions to raise fares with the impending increase in fuel prices from higher excise taxes on fuel.

Ride-sharing company Grab Philippines (MyTAXI.PH, Inc.) last week filed a petition for a 5% fare increase in response to the expected increase in excise taxes for fuel, among others, under the new tax reform program.

The Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA) also wants to hike its flag down rate to P50 but has yet to petition the LTFRB.

Transport group Pasang Masda also recently said it would seek an additional P4 on top of the P8 base jeepney fare, citing higher excise tax for oil products.

Excise taxes are estimated to increase by P2.50 per liter for diesel, and P7 per liter for gasoline.

Ms. Lizada said last week there would be “no automatic fare hikes” and all requests by transport groups or operators must file their petitions with the LTFRB and go through the process of evaluation.

Hollywood stars declare war on sexual misconduct at Globes

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood spoke with one voice at the Golden Globes on Sunday to declare war on the film industry’s culture of sexual harassment and abuse, as it kicked off its annual awards season on a rare serious note.

Crime drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri was the big winner of the night with four trophies, giving it momentum ahead of the all-important Oscars in March.

But the awards podium played second fiddle at times to the clarion call coming from numerous stars about the need to heal and move forward.

“Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have,” actress and media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey told the audience at the Beverly Hilton as she accepted a lifetime achievement award. (See story on this page. — Ed.)

“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!” she added, earning a standing ovation.

The industry’s elite turned the red carpet black for the Globes, eschewing bright colors in a fashionable repudiation of disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein and others ensnared in allegations of misconduct.

And the overall message at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s champagne-drenched annual prize-giving was a call for continued change.

“People are aware now of a power imbalance. It’s led to abuse in our industry… It’s everywhere,” Meryl Streep, who was nominated for a Globe for her work in media drama The Post, said on the red carpet.

Seth Meyers, making his debut as Globes host, opened the show with joke after joke about Hollywood’s post-Weinstein reckoning.

“It’s 2018, marijuana is finally allowed and sexual harassment finally isn’t. It’s going to be a good year,” the late night NBC funnyman said.

“For the male nominees in the room tonight, this is the first time in three months it won’t be terrifying to hear your name read out loud.”

WOMEN DIRECTORS SNUBBED
Leading the pack by the end of the night was Three Billboards, Martin McDonagh’s searing film about a mother who battles local authorities to solve her daughter’s murder.

It picked up trophies for best drama, screenplay, actress for Frances McDormand and supporting actor for Sam Rockwell. “The women are not here for the food, they’re here for the work,” McDormand said to applause, noting the “tectonic shift in our industry’s power structure.”

But McDonagh lost out in the directing category to Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, whose fantasy romance The Shape of Water came in as joint runner-up alongside coming-of-age film Lady Bird with two awards each.

There were no nominations at all for female filmmakers, prompting withering remarks from presenters Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain and Barbra Streisand.

“Did I hear it right — I was the only woman to get the best director award. And, you know, that was 1984? That was 34 years ago? Folks, time’s up,” Streisand said of her victory for Yentl.

While many fields were wide open, James Franco (The Disaster Artist) was always a shoo-in to win best actor in a musical/comedy movie.

Franco — who also directed the film about Tommy Wiseau’s flop-turned-cult-hit The Room — gave a shoutout to his brother and co-star Dave, telling the gathered celebrities: “I love him more than anything. Thanks to my mother for giving him to me.”

Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird) pipped Margot Robbie (I, Tonya) in the much closer best actress race, and Ronan was back on stage again alongside her director Greta Gerwig when the coming-of-age fable won best comedy movie.

Gary Oldman, acclaimed for virtually disappearing into the role of British wartime prime minister Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, took home best actor in a drama.

BIG NIGHT FOR ‘BIG LITTLE LIES’
On the small screen, HBO’s Big Little Lies scooped up a rare trio of acting awards for Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgard, and Laura Dern, and another trophy for best limited TV series.

“I hope we can elicit change through the stories we tell and the way we tell them,” said Kidman, who portrayed an abused wife in the show.

Dern urged Hollywood to support survivors of abuse and to promote restorative justice.

“May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new North Star,” she said.

Ewan McGregor picked up his first Golden Globe in one of the night’s most star-studded categories, best actor in a limited series or TV movie, for his work on Fargo.

The Handmaid’s Tale followed up its Emmys night glory, when it won four statuettes, by beating perennial awards juggernaut Game of Thrones to the Globe for best TV drama series.

Its star Elisabeth Moss also took home the prize for best actress in a drama, and thanked Margaret Atwood, who wrote the best-selling dystopian novel on which the Hulu series was based. — AFP

And the winner is…

LOS ANGELES — Here is the list of winners for the 75th Golden Globe Awards, which were handed out on Sunday in Beverly Hills:

FILM

• Best film, drama: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

• Best film, musical or comedy: Lady Bird

• Best director: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water

• Best actor, drama: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

• Best actress, drama: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

• Best actor, musical or comedy: James Franco, The Disaster Artist

• Best actress, musical or comedy: Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

• Best supporting actor: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

• Best supporting actress: Allison Janney, I, Tonya

• Best screenplay: Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

• Best foreign language film: In the Fade

• Best animated feature: Coco

• Best original score: Alexandre Desplat, The Shape of Water

• Best original song: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman

TELEVISION

• Best drama series: The Handmaid’s Tale

• Best drama actor: Sterling K. Brown, This is Us

• Best drama actress: Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale

• Best musical or comedy series: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

• Best musical or comedy actor: Aziz Ansari, Master of None

• Best musical or comedy actress: Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

• Best limited series or TV movie: Big Little Lies

• Best limited series or TV movie actor: Ewan McGregor, Fargo

• Best limited series or TV movie actress: Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies

• Best supporting actor in a series, limited series or TV movie: Alexander Skarsgard, Big Little Lies

• Best supporting actress in a series, limited series or TV movie: Laura Dern, Big Little Lies — AFP

Soldier, five rebels dead in southern PHL clash — army

FIVE MUSLIM rebels and a soldier were killed during a weekend ground and air assault by Philippines security forces on militants supportive of the Islamic State (IS) group in a restive southern region, the military said Monday.

The Philippine army pounded some 50 militants with artillery in a five-hour attack on the island of Mindanao Saturday, according to regional military spokesman Captain Arvin Encinas.

One soldier and at least five members of the rebel Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in the clash, he said, adding that while small and fragmented the militant group was a threat in the region.

“They have enough people to conduct atrocities, and they are actively recruiting,” he said.

The Muslim minority of the mainly Catholic Philippines considers Mindanao as its homeland. Decades of armed rebellion in the region has claimed more than 100,000 lives by official estimates.

Last year another group pledging allegiance to IS occupied the Mindanao city of Marawi and fought a bloody conflict with US-backed Philippine government forces for five months, leaving more than 1,100 people dead.

In response to that violence, President Rodrigo Duterte put Mindanao under martial law until the end of 2018.

But sporadic fighting has continued as a network of rebel groups operating on the island splinters, even after the main militant organization the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) engaged in peace talks. — AFP

‘Blackout’ on Globes red carpet for sexual harassment victims

LOS ANGELES — Usually at the Golden Globes, the red carpet is awash in color.

This year, it was a total blackout.

Hollywood’s A-listers on Sunday turned out en masse in black — a sartorial show of force to draw attention to sexual harassment in showbiz and other industries, a culture of abuse revealed in the downfall of mogul Harvey Weinstein and others.

Women and men alike strutted into the Beverly Hilton for the gala event in their finest, the wide majority of them in basic black, with only the slightest hints of color.

Many men wore pins supporting the Time’s Up initiative launched by hundreds of prominent women in Tinseltown to shine a light on sexual misconduct — starting with Sunday’s “blacklash.”

“People are aware now of a power imbalance. It’s led to abuse in our industry… It’s everywhere,” Meryl Streep, who was vying for a Globe for her work in media drama The Post, told E! network on the red carpet.

The women behind the Time’s Up initiative have called special attention to their “sisters” in less than glamorous blue-collar jobs.

Streep — who has come under fire over her denials that she knew about Weinstein’s misconduct — brought Ai-jen Poo, the head of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, as her plus one.

The three-time Oscar winner said Hollywood’s men and women now felt “emboldened to stand together in a thick, black line.”

Indeed, the men of Hollywood took some flack ahead of the gala for saying they too would wear black, with some remarking that they would have worn tuxedos anyway.

But many donned black shirts as well, and offered their impassioned support for the movement.

Nominee Denzel Washington pointed out: “It’s important tonight but it’s important to follow through. It’s important to see what’s going to happen a year from tonight.”

David Thewlis, who starred in last year’s box-office smash Wonder Woman and wore a Time’s Up pin, said the initiative had launched a vital dialogue and admitted he had not been aware of the scale of the problem.

“As a father, as a husband, why wouldn’t you be 100% in support of this?” Thewlis told AFP on the red carpet.

‘AWAKENING’
Streep was not the only actress who walked the red carpet with an activist.

Michelle Williams (All The Money in the World) arrived with Tarana Burke, the creator more than a decade ago of the “Me Too” movement that exploded on social media in the wake of the revelations about Weinstein as women recounted their experiences online.

Amy Poehler entered with Restaurant Opportunities Center United president Saru Jayaraman.

The protest movement did not preclude Tinseltown’s finest from making fashion statements.

Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, who starred in last year’s hit TV series Feud: Bette and Joan, opted for a daring sheer lingerie-inspired black gown with plenty of artfully placed sequins — and emerald green earrings.

Alicia Vikander’s gown had a rather Victorian buttoned-up bodice with full coverage, sheer sleeves — and a bare back.

For the most part, the pops of color were minor — a streak of bright green eyeshadow here, a snippet of white fabric at a neckline there, or an orange sash at the waist.

But Meher Tatna — the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organized the event — caused a stir when she appeared in a bright red ensemble with metallic accents.

A source close to the HFPA said: “She supports the women here tonight. As part of her Indian culture, she chose to wear a red dress.” — AFP

Council eyes new Davao vice-mayor

By Carmencita A. Carillo
Correspondent

MAJORITY FLOOR leader Bernard Al-ag is expected to assume the post vacated by vice-mayor Paolo Z. Duterte when the City Council resumes today for its first regular session for this year.

“I am still the acting vice-mayor until I take my oath (as vice-mayor),” Mr. Al-ag said.

The younger Mr. Duterte resigned from last Christmas after his name was dragged into personal as well as national controversies, including allegations of a so-called Davao Group involved in smuggling and trafficking. Mr. Duterte’s resignation was accepted last week by his father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“Councilor Al-ag will assume as vice-mayor since he has the highest vote,” councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang said. “Once Al-ag assumes the office as vice-mayor then Bong (Victor Advincula, Jr.) will assume as floor leader since he is the assistant floor leader. If that happens, then that will leave his position at the committee on housing vacant.”

But that is just one of the scenarios that can play at the City Council today since Mr. Advincula can have other options.

“There are many possible councilors for the position including Advincula, Melchor Quitain, Jr. and Jesus Zozobrado who are all lawyers,” Mr. Dayanghirang said. He said a reorganization can happen anytime depending on which committee positions would be left vacant by the turn of events.

“We will see if it needs confirmation by the Council since the President has already accepted the (vice-mayor’s) resignation,” Mr. Dayanghirang said of Mr. Alag’s assumption as vice-mayor.

Sex, drugs, and laughter

WHAT better way to mark the new year than watching a comedy show about sex, drugs, and hard-partying? This is Eleanor Conway’s proposition as she comes to Manila with her show Walk of Shame: Sex, Drugs and the Modern Addict on Jan. 19 in Johnny B. Good, Makati City.

The London-based comedian’s former life as a “ferocious clubber and party girl,” as her Web site describes it, has taken her to quite a number of places, not all of them good.

“Walk of Shame is about the extremes I’ve gone to in life and the places it’s taken me,” Ms. Conway said according to a press release.

(“Walk of Shame” is an informal phrase to describe the act of walking back home on the day after an unplanned casual sexual encounter, typically dressed in the same clothes as the previous evening, according to a definition provided by Dictionary.com.)

And it really was a life of extremes as she found herself — a former music journalist — working as a porn star and, at one point, working for the Chinese Triad.

“My story does center around my running away from myself to Asia for six years, so it’s really amazing that I’m at a point where I can bring the show to the place where it all began, it’s really full circle for me,” Ms. Conway said of the Manila show in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld on Jan. 6.

She explained that writing the show — which took an entire year — and finding humor in the situations and experiences she had became a form of therapy for her once she quit drinking and substance abuse.

The result is a touring one-hour stand-up comedy show full of “dark storytelling humor with a modern twist,” as she puts it, which took her through the UK and much of Europe last year after premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

“The success of the show meant that a new future has been created for me. I’m a touring comic now, which I wasn’t when I got sober, so it’s a really beautiful circle. Very satisfying,” she said in a release.

Now known for her high-energy, confessional comedy style (à la Tiffany Haddish, an American comedian Ms. Conway calls her “idol”), expect Ms. Conway to talk about the darker parts of her life alongside effective Tinder dating which she remarked in one of the show’s promotional videos was “easier when she was drunk than sober.”

“Nothing scares me now. And comedy is something I really wanted to do. I just needed the confidence to put myself out there and invest in life in an authentic way,” she told BusinessWorld.

“I like to think that makes me more individual and unique. The challenge is bringing the humanity and common ground into the more ‘unusual’ bits in order that it can relate to a wider audience,” she explained while adding usually after the show, audience reactions would include the mandatory laughter alongside hugs and tears.

Ms. Conway, a Second City alumni, has been performing since 2010. She presented her show Comedy Rumble at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012/13, and co-runs and hosts an interactive comedy night, and has hosted one of the stages at the Glastonbury Festival.

“The reason we got Eleanor for the show is not only because we want to highlight female comics but also because I admire how she managed to turn around her life and find humor in those experiences,” said Dilip Budhrani, founder of Prime i Events, the show’s promoter in the Philippines.

Eleanor Conway’s Walk of Shame: Sex, Drugs and the Modern Addict will be held on Jan. 19, 8:30 p.m. at Johnny B. Good (the former Hard Rock Café) in Glorietta 3, Makati City. Ticket prices are P2,000 for VIP (reserved seating) and P1,500 for Standard (free seating) and include wine and cheese tasting and a performance by the band Part 3. Doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 7:45 p.m.

For ticket reservations and for more information, call 0920-971-7055 and 0917-570-3057. — Zsarlene B. Chua

Nonito Donaire enjoying ‘flexibility’ under Ringstar

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

NOW fighting under a new home in Los Angeles-based Ringstar Sports, former world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. said he has been settling in well and enjoying the newfound “flexibility” he has gotten as a fighter.

In a recent talk with members of media, the 35-year-old Donaire said his newly inked partnership with Richard Schaefer and Ringstar has stoked the fire in him and prove he still has some more to give in the sport of boxing, where has been a multi-weight division champion.

Changed promoter in the middle of last year, Mr. Donaire, who was previously signed with Top Rank Promotions, said that things have been going smoothly with Ringstar, owing to all concerned parties’ willingness to discuss and make things happen.

“Ringstar Sports has been an amazing partner. It has allowed us to fight anyone. At certain times in the past it was difficult for us to fight people that we want because of promotional challenges but with Ringstar they are easy to talk to and create something. They are very open to what the fighter wants to do,” said Mr. Donaire, who holds a professional record of 38 wins and four losses.

The Filipino-American fighter based in California won in his last fight, his first under Ringstar, defeating Mexican Ruben Garcia by unanimous decision last September in San Antonio, Texas, to claim the vacant World Boxing Council Silver Featherweight title.

It was a successful bounce back for The Filipino Flash after losing the World Boxing Organization super-bantamweight title previously to American Jessie Magdaleno in November 2016.

He is set to make his ring return in April this year where he is set to face Ireland’s Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (24-1) in Belfast.

It is a fight that Mr. Donaire is viewing with much significance, feeling a victory there would catapult him back in the mix for a another title contention.

“I’m excited for my upcoming fight. Carl Frampton is one of the exciting fighters in the division. And we are ready to go to Belfast. It’s a fight that we wanted,” said Mr. Donaire.

“We have a mutual respect for each other. And people are excited to see this fight; and now this happening. It’s a good start to the year. This is an important fight for me as this will allow me to position myself for another title shot. I’m looking at this as must-win,” he added.

Asked if he wants to headline another fight here in the country, Mr. Donaire said it’s something that he really likes to happen since it is an opportunity to inspire and make the country proud.

“I have fought here before and I’m sure Ringstar can find a way to make it happen. All it needs is for people to support and sponsor it. Definitely I love that to happen,” he said.

The last time Mr. Donaire fought in the country was in April 2016 when he clashed with Hungarian Zsolt Bedak and won by third-round technical knockout to retain then his WBO belt.

Jumanji bounds out of the jungle to top North American box offices

LOS ANGELES — Sony’s family-oriented movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle roared into first place this weekend in North American theaters as horror film Insidious edged into second past a slipping Star Wars installment, according to industry estimates.

Jumanji, starring square-jawed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and funnymen Jack Black and Kevin Hart, was headed for an impressive $36 million for the three-day weekend, bringing its domestic total to $244.4 million in its third week out, said Web site Exhibitor Relations.

The film, following four teens who find themselves inside the video game world of Jumanji, has grossed more than $500 million worldwide and opens in the huge Chinese market next weekend.

In second place was Universal’s newly released Insidious: The Last Key, with an estimated take of $29.3 million. The horror film, the fourth installment in the Insidious franchise, stars Lin Shaye and Angus Sampson and follows a parapsychologist investigating a haunting in her childhood home.

The news for third-place Star Wars: The Last Jedi was mixed: the latest in the hugely popular series has now taken in $1.2 billion worldwide, but it slowed to below warp speed in North America, totaling $23.6 million in its fourth week and taking in just $28.7 million from its opening in China, below industry predictions.

The space saga stars Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and two members of the series’ original cast, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, and the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.

Fourth place went to Fox’s The Greatest Showman, a “good old-fashioned cornball PG musical” (so says Variety.com) about larger-than-life circus impresario P.T. Barnum. With the popular Hugh Jackman in the lead role, the film logged $13.8 million in its third week, down only slightly from the previous week.

And in fifth was another musical, Pitch Perfect 3, a Universal sequel that took in $10.2 million in its third week. The movie’s cast, led by Anna Kendrick, follows the continuing adventures of glee singers the Bellas.

Rounding out the top 10 were: Ferdinand ($7.7 million); Molly’s Game ($7 million); Darkest Hour ($6.4 million); Coco ($5.5 million); and, All the Money in the World ($3.6 million). — AFP

Activist coalition petitions SC to void martial law in Mindanao

By Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

A COALITION of human rights organizations petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday, Jan. 8, for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction against the extension of martial law and suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.

The petitioners — Makabayan Coalition, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), and five residents of Mindanao — seek to “declare null and void the approval of both Houses of Congress” which voted 240-27 on Dec. 13 last year to extend anew martial law this time for a full year in the region.

Named as respondents are: President Rodrigo R. Duterte; Senate President Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III; House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez; Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea; Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana; Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero; and Philippine National Police Director General Chief Supt. Ronaldo M. Dela Rosa.

The petitioners, led by lawyer Neri J. Colmenares of NUPL, argued “there is no sufficient factual basis that would warrant the extension of martial law” for another 12 months.

“The Marawi siege and other grounds under Proclamation 216 that were used as the alleged bases to justify the assailed declaration of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus have already been resolved and no longer persist, thus there is with even more reason no sufficient factual basis for the extension of martial law or the suspension of the privilege,” the 34-page petition reads.

Mr. Colmenares cited Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution which states that the President may declare martial law “for a period not exceeding 60 days… if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

However, the petitioners noted that Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao, was quoted as saying: “(The) declaration of the liberation of Marawi is a strategic statement, meaning it’s a message that we want to tell the world, that tapos na po itong problema ng Maute ISIS (that the Maute-ISIS problem is over). They cannot be victorious anymore. Wala na po, patapos na po (It’s done, it’s finished).”

“Hence, by the government’s own admission, there actually exists no factual nor legal basis to support the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao — for a longer period than the original one at that — considering that the facts constituting the rebellion and threat to public safety in the assailed original proclamation, have already been resolved and no longer persist,” the petition stated.

New Orleans, Jacksonville advance

LOS ANGELES — New Orleans downed Carolina for the third time this season to reach the second round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday while the Jacksonville Jaguars edged Buffalo to advance as well.

Drew Brees threw for 376 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Saints over Carolina, 31-26, New Orleans holding off the Panthers with a late defensive stand to seal the victory.

“This win is special,” Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “They came back late in the fourth quarter, made this a game. We had to finish out the game.

“We put it on our defense and we responded the way we were supposed to. We wanted it more. We had to fight today to play next week.”

The Saints will visit Minnesota next Sunday in a National Conference semi-final game with Atlanta at top seed Philadelphia next Saturday.

Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles threw for 87 yards and a touchdown and ran for a career-high 88 yards to lead the host Jaguars over Buffalo, 10-3, in a defensively dominated American Conference first-round game.

The Jaguars managed only 230 yards, 33 less than the Bills, in their first playoff game since 2007. It was the first post-season contest for Buffalo since 1999.

“We prepare hard. We’re battle tested. We know if we keep playing ball, good things will happen,” Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell said.

The Jaguars visit Pittsburgh next Sunday in an American Conference second-round matchup while the Tennessee Titans visit New England in next Saturday’s other American Conference semifinal.

Jacksonville routed Pittsburgh, 30-9, in early October on the Steelers’ home field.

“We’ve done it before so we know we can do it,” Campbell said. “We just have to hunker down and get it done.”

SAINTS HANG ON LATE
At New Orleans, Brees connected with Michael Thomas on a 46-yard pass play late in the fourth quarter to put the Saints on the doorstep of Carolina’s end zone and two plays later, Alvin Kamera scored on a 2-yard run as New Orleans jumped ahead, 31-19.

Cam Newton answered with a 56-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers climbing within the final margin with 4:09 remaining, and after Mike Adams intercepted a fourth-down Brees pass, Carolina had one final chance at victory.

Newton guided the Panthers into Saints territory but two throws into the end zone fell incomplete and he was sacked on fourth down to end Carolina’s hopes.

Brees connected with Ted Ginn on an 80-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.

Carolina answered on a 27-yard Graham Gano field goal but Brees then marched New Orleans 75 yards in nine plays, completing the five-minute drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Josh Hill for a 14-3 Saints lead.

After Gano booted a 39-yard field goal to nudge the Panthers nearer, Brees guided the Saints on an eight-play, 75-yard trek capped by Zach Line’s 1-yard touchdown run to put New Orleans ahead, 21-6.

Gano hit field goals of 29 and 58 yards but Wil Lutz answered for the Saints with a 57-yard field goal to put the hosts ahead, 24-12.

Carolina finally found the end zone with 12:47 remaining when Newton hit Greg Olsen on a 14-yard touchdown pass, the Panthers pulling within, 24-19, to set up the late drama.

BORTLES TOSSES WINNING TD
Buffalo’s Stephen Hauschka kicked a 31-yard field goal and Jacksonville’s Josh Lambo answered from 44 yards in the final two minutes of the second quarter to leave the clubs deadlocked 3-3 at halftime.

The winning points came on a tension-packed fourth-down play, Bortles flipping a 1-yard touchdown pass to Ben Koyack with only 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The dramatic score capped a 15-play, 86-yard march by the Jaguars that took nearly nine minutes.

The Bills moved into Jaguars territory in the final seconds but Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor was seriously injured and replaced by reserve Nathan Peterman, who tossed an interception to Jacksonville’s Jalen Ramsey that sealed the outcome.

“That was an incredible play,” Campbell said. “But he does that all the time. That was huge.” — AFP

Duterte’s ouster is movement’s ‘most important task’ — CPP

“THE DOWNFALL of (President Rodrigo) Duterte is the most important task of the revolutionary forces,” crucial both to the “rapid strengthening and expansion” of the movement and to “defending the people from the unrelenting attacks of the regime,” the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said. The editorial of the Jan. 7 issue of the CPP’s official publication, Ang Bayan, predicted that Duterte would become “increasingly isolated” from the people from the combined impacts of the continued killings in both his war on drugs and the counterinsurgency campaign, the predicted increase in the prices of basic necessities brought about by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, or TRAIN, law, and the push for Charter change and federalism — including the possible scrapping of the 2019 elections — which critics of government suspect is intended to establish dictatorship. — interaksyon.com

See full story on https://goo.gl/y6nMEz

HSBC sees inflation peaking near 4% by midyear before receding

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez,
Senior Reporter

INFLATION will likely peak in June at close to 4%, a level that could prod the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to raise rates sometime during the second quarter to keep prices at bay, analysts at a global bank said.

The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) said the full impact of the tax reform package implemented on Jan. 1 will be felt during the first half, which will drive inflation upward in the coming months.

“Headline inflation will also come close to the 4% upper bound of [the target band] in June, before descending below 3% by end-2018. This is partly driven by second round impacts of tax reform — which will add a total of 0.4-0.7 ppt (percentage points) to headline inflation as per BSP forecasts,” bank economists said in a Jan. 8 report, noting that they are “slightly concerned” about the pace of price increases.

The tax reform law, signed as Republic Act 10963, reduces personal income taxes for those earning below P2 million, alongside a simpler system for computing donor and estate taxes. Foregone revenue will be offset by the removal of some exemptions to value-added tax as well as higher duties for fuel, cars, tobacco, coal and sugar-sweetened drinks, among others.

The central bank has acknowledged that inflation will rise this year due to tax reform, although BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said the higher duties will add less than one ppt to inflation this year.

Higher duties to be imposed under the tax reform package will likewise have a “transitory” impact on consumer prices, BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. said, as he assured that the central bank is ready to step in “to ward off any threat” to the 2-4% inflation target.

Inflation is expected to average 3.4% in 2018, slightly higher than last year’s 3.2%.

Despite these comments, HSBC said it still expects several policy responses from the central bank to keep up with rising inflation, with current benchmark rates capped at 3.5%.

“The BSP has made clear its preference not to adjust monetary policy in the absence of pressing inflation risks. However, we forecast one 25bp hike in 2Q18 to defend the upper bound of the inflation target,” the report read.

The policy tightening will be accompanied by a reduction of the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) imposed on banks within the first semester. A cut worth 100 basis points is expected to “keep liquidity flush, and fulfil policy goals to deepen financial markets,” the bank said.

Mr. Espenilla has said that he personally wants to see the RRR reduced to single-digit levels, but such a change will be gradual and will be considered given emerging liquidity conditions. Big banks have said that they also favor an RRR cut as it would unlock more funds and boost their lending activity, which in turn will support robust economic growth.

HSBC expects the Philippine economy to expand 6.7% this year, matching the pace expected for 2017 although below the government’s 7-8% growth goal.

Bank economists expect investment and consumption to drive growth further, particularly with an infrastructure spending boost from the government’s “Build, Build, Build” initiative.

Meanwhile, consumer spending in the Philippines will likely recover in 2018 despite slower growth last year, amid greater scope for increased retail lending at a time of bigger disposable incomes.

“In the Philippines we expect a recovery in private consumption in 2018, partly fuelled by a likely acceleration in remittances in 4Q (more than seasonality usually suggests),” HSBC said.

If realized, this would reverse the slower growth in household spending between July and September at 4.5% from the previous year, compared with an 8.3% climb in government spending. Bank economists attribute the slowdown to a “temporary” pullback in remittances and a transitional pickup in the number of jobless Filipino men.

Consumption is expected to grow faster during the year ahead.

“[T]he outlook for domestic job creation is strong: construction sector employment is likely to increase, tourism flows are recovering, and the BPO sector seems to have resumed a fast pace of hiring after a lull in 2016,” the report read.

“Over the medium term, thanks to having Asia’s lowest stock of household debt, there is significant room for expansion in the mortgage and consumer loan markets.”

BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier said the retail segment will be the battleground for banks this year, with a stronger middle-class segment and as the corporate sector grows saturated.

HSBC, however, noted that the domestic economy has been “slightly less dependent” on private consumption given a sustained increased in infrastructure investment. Still, private spending accounts for roughly 70% of gross domestic product.

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