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Fil-Am Robert Herndon transitioning well as a Magnolia Hotshots rookie

HIS Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) journey took an early detour when his draft rights were traded to another team on draft day, but incoming Magnolia Hotshots rookie Robert Herndon does not mind it especially since he landed with one of the groups he always wanted to play for.

Selected sixth overall by GlobalPort Batang Pier in the 2017 Rookie Draft in October, Mr. Herndon, along with another pick Andreas Cahilig (24th), was immediately sent to the Hotshots for rookies Lervin Flores (9th), Joseph Gabayni (14th) and Julian Sargent (16th) in a multi-player deal, an event that the Filipino-American player was not necessarily cool to, knowing he was set to join Magnolia (formerly Star), a team he was keen on joining.

“When I was drafted no. 6 by GlobalPort it was already a blessing. I was happy and excited that I got drafted. That was the biggest thing for me. My goal was to be drafted in the first round and it happened,” said Mr. Herndon in a recent interview with BusinessWorld.

“But for some reason I just wanted to play for Star. Maybe it was because a friend of mine, Marcus Blakely (an import) played for them. So I’m excited to eventually wind up here,” he added.

The 24-year-old Herndon went on to say that his transition in the PBA has been doing well, thanks in large part to how the Magnolia team has welcomed him and given him the confidence to do what he is capable of.

“So far my transition in the PBA has been doing well. Ever since Day One here with the Magnolia Hotshots, everybody has been welcoming, from the staff to the management, to the players, they have welcomed me with open arms. I’m really happy where I am right now,” he said.

Along with being new in the league, Mr. Herndon said adjustments have to be made, something that he welcomes and bent on doing.

“This is a new team and a new league for me. The system is totally different from that which I ran in the D-League so that was an adjustment. I also need to figure our schemes both offensively and defensively, and see how my teammates play to have better chemistry with them,” said the player, who strutted his stuff with the Marinerong Pilipino Skippers in the PBA Developmental League.

He added that as member of the Hotshots, he looks to make an impact on the defensive end and be an energy guy.

“I pretty much know what they want from me. We are a defensive end and I’m going to do my best in delivering from my end,” Mr. Herndon said.

The Hotshots rookie, who played college ball at San Francisco State, also views playing in the local pro league as a huge honor and said he could not wait to start playing in an actual PBA game.

“Basketball is big here and the PBA is the biggest stage so I’m excited to actually play in a PBA game whether it is in MOA (Mall of Asia Arena), or Araneta or wherever. Looking forward to it. I’m sure there will be jitters but I’m really excited,” said Mr. Herndon.

The PBA opens with the All-Filipino Cup this weekend. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Stanton relishing Yankees role as deal completed

NEW YORK — National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton completed his blockbuster move to the New York Yankees on Monday and revealed the iconic franchise had always been his preferred destination.

Stanton said he had been impressed by the way the Yankees developed last season, where they fell just short of a place in the World Series after losing out to eventual winners the Houston Astros.

The 28-year-old Los Angeles native had been linked with moves to several clubs, with the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers among several teams in the hunt for his signature.

But Stanton said the Yankees had been “on top of my list” that he gave to his former employers at the Miami Marlins when he made it clear he wanted to leave Florida.

“Watching them from afar, their young, dynamic group and the way they flow together,” Stanton told a press conference. “The atmosphere, storied franchise. There’s not much reason why I wouldn’t want to be there.

“The team, the dynamic. They strike from everywhere, they are well-balanced, hungry. They got close enough this year, but hopefully with my addition we will be a better team. We are going to perform. I want to make this team better.”

Stanton will now team up in a formidable looking Yankees batting lineup with American League rookie of the year Aaron Judge.

Stanton blasted 59 home runs for the Marlins last season while Judge smashed 52 in 2017.

It means the Yankees will field a lineup with two 50-homer players for only the second time in major league history. The last team to do it were the Yankees in 1961, when Roger Maris (61) and Mickey Mantle (54) chased down Babe Ruth’s record.

Stanton said Monday he had already spoken to Judge over the weekend once his move was set in motion.

“We respect each other’s game and had fun at the Home Run Derby,” Stanton said.

“We spoke a couple of days ago, excited to work together, learn from each other and make each other better.”

Judge, meanwhile, was similarly enthused about what Stanton’s arrival means for the Yankees already impressive batting lineup.

“I feel sorry for the baseballs,” Judge said on the YES Network. “It’ll be a good dynamic. We are going to be tough, it’s going to be hard to get through us all. They are going to have their work cut out for them.” — AFP

‘Danger’ of nationwide martial law possible, warns senator

A MEMBER of the majority coalition in the Senate warned about the possible nationwide declaration of martial law in the future, as Congress tackles Wednesday President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s request for a second extension of martial law in Mindanao.

Mr. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, when Maute terrorists laid siege on the Mindanao city of Marawi. On July 22, the eve of martial law’s 60-day deadline, Congress extended martial law until the end of this year. Mr. Duterte has written Congress this week seeking a new extension to one year.

On Tuesday, Congress was briefed by defense officials as well as officials of the executive branch on the necessity of a new extension.

For his part, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson of the majority coalition in the Senate warned about the “danger” of the basis of martial law’s new extension being the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

Mr. Lacson noted that the CPP-NPA was not part of the original basis (“di kasama sa original”) of Mr. Duterte’s May 23 declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

“So kung kailangan ng ML (martial law), baka mas appropriate pa ang panibagong declaration kesa sa extension, kasi kailangan ang conditions na nagpe-prevail pareho sa original reasons or conditions noong nag-declare, noong nag-proclaim. Eh di nabanggit ang NPA noon,” the senator noted. (So if martial law is needed, a new declaration might be more appropriate rather than an extension, because the original conditions should prevail. But the NPA wasn’t mentioned before.)

With the communist rebels now being cited as a basis, “Now what will prevent the government or administration from declaring ML (martial law) in other areas outside of Mindanao?” Mr. Lacson asked.

He added: “Halimbawa, may nagbarilang NPA at military sa Nasugbu, Batangas. Para maging consistent ang Kongreso, papayagan namin mag-ML sa Nasugbu o sa Sorsogon, kung saan nagkakaroon ng clashes kung ’yan ang justification?” (For example, there was an encounter between the NPA and the military in Nasugbu, Batangas. Because Congress should be consistent, should we allow martial law in Nasugbu or in Sorsogon, where there are clashes, if that’s the justification?)

That said, Mr. Lacson said he was still “supportive, if only to give the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) the psychological boost.”

“Sabi nila kailangan sa ground kasi mga sundalo namin medyo mataas ang morale at feeling nila nariyan ang authority nila,” the senator also said. (They say this boosts morale among soldiers on the ground, and they feel they have the authority.)

For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said in a press conference with his Liberal Party allies on Tuesday: “There’s no factual basis and that the factual conclusion was validated in today’s briefing, where the security forces said that the threat is continuing, that martial law has psychological impact in the performance of their duty. Unfortunately, these are not sufficient basis under the Constitution to extend martial law.”

Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution, regarding martial law, says in part that, “Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”Mr. Drilon nevertheless acknowledged that approval of the new extension is a “given” and that the ruling PDP-Laban “ay susuporta kay Pangulong Duterte (will support President Duterte).”Senate President Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III, for his part, said: “As long as there is rebellion in Mindanao, then martial law is justified. Di naman niya sinabing (There’s no mention that) the rebellion must be maintained by the same rebels.”

The Senate leader expects the new extension being sought to be approved by Congress. “In the Senate, it will also prevail, even if you deduct or subtract the senators, majority na rin ’yung magsasang-ayon (will approve),” he said in part.

For his part, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez said in his press briefing on Tuesday: “Para sa akin na taga-Mindanao (For someone like me who’s from Mindanao, I don’t see any reason why, na hindi pagbibigyan (we can’t accommodate the extension).”

“Yung nangyari sa Marawi, huwag nating sabihin na since tumigil na ’yung bakbakan sa Marawi ay tapos na ’yun. Hindi pa tapos ’yun; may mga movement pa rin ’yan at saka mayroon pa rin silang kasamahan na nandodoon,” the Speaker also said. (What happened in Marawi, let’s not assume that since the fighting has stopped, it’s over. It’s not. They [the terrorists] still have their comrades there.)

He added: “Pagka bumiyahe kami ngayon sa Mindanao, every kilometer or so merong checkpoint. Sanay na kami doon, mas gusto namin yun. Kasi sa checkpoint, pinababa lahat, tinitingnan kung merong mga baril or explosives na dala. And we feel safer pagka ganyan.” (When we travel now in Mindanao, every kilometer or so there’s a checkpoint. We’re used to that now, we prefer it that way. Because at the checkpoint, we all step out of our vehicles, the police inspect if there are guns or explosives being brought. And we feel safer that way.) — with Arjay L. Balinbin and Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

Budget bicam report ready for ratification, Duterte to sign Dec. 19

THE bicameral conference committee reconciling legislation on the proposed P3.77 trillion 2018 budget has issued its consolidated report, which was set for ratification by both chambers last night, Tuesday.

Senator Loren B. Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on finance, and Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, who chairs the House committee on appropriations, were to present the bicameral report to their respective chambers for ratification as of deadline time.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to sign the ratified budget measure along with the tax reform measure “on the 19th of December” according to Benjamin E. Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management.

Ms. Legarda, at the last bicameral meeting on Wednesday, said the conference committee restored P16 billion cut from the school construction budget by internally realigning funds within the Department of Education (DepEd).

“We also realigned the budget of DepEd to fund the insurance of school buildings. We increased the allowance of teachers from P2,500 to P3,500,” Ms. Legarda said.

In House Bill (HB) 6215, the funds allocated to the DepEd amounted to P555.765 billion, which the bicam reduced to P553.313 billion.

“For the Department of Finance (DoF), we provided P1.493 billion for the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to purchase of X-ray machines,” Ms. Legarda said.

The budget of the DoF based on the bicam report rose to P19.318 billion from P17.973 billion in HB 6215.

Meanwhile, funding for the Department of Health (DoH) rose to P107.300 billion from P104.930 billion “due to the additional fund for medical assistance program for indigent patients, additional medicine for cancer patients, and health facilities enhancement program.”

Ms. Legarda said both Senate and House have “introduced special provisions prohibiting the purchase of dengue vaccines.”

The bicam deleted the P500-million budget of the Masa Masid, a corruption and anti-illegal drugs prevention program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

On police and security spending, she said: “We are allocating P334 million for body cameras and P100 million for CCTV. The Internal Affairs Service will get P70 million as additional funds to ensure they can conduct investigations.”

“We are providing P451 million for the purchase of two helicopters,” Ms. Legarda added.

From P170.778 billion, the DILG’s budget in the bicam report was cut to P170.763 billion.

Ms. Legarda also cited the budget for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), saying “We are restoring the P1-billion cut on the administrative cost to implement the tax reform cash transfer project. We have allocated P2 billion for the repair, construction, and reconstruction of DSWD centers including the purchase of welfare goods.”

In the bicam report, the DSWD’s budget rose to P141.814 billion from P137.022 billion in HB 6215. — Arjay L. Balinbin, Rosemarie A. Zamora

Intelligence our eyes can see

Text and photos by Aries B. Espinosa

“WHAT is essential is invisible to the eye” has been one of the most oft-quoted passages from the classic The Little Prince novel. But it doesn’t necessarily apply to the vision of Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) in its attempt to share the enhanced active safety technologies in the vehicles that it will introduce to the market from now on.

Beginning with the new X-Trail, which NPI introduced just this September, the Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) — the practical application of the Japanese car maker’s vision of “Zero Emissions, Zero Fatality” — can now be seen, heard and felt by drivers and occupants alike.

NPI aimed to share this enhanced active safety technology component of its NIM during the “X-tend your Senses Xperience” drive held on Dec. 2-3.

For this drive that started from the Nissan Quezon Avenue dealership and ended at a Mediterranean-inspired resort in Poro Point, La Union, NPI also gave out a relaxing bonus — a ride in the new Nissan Urvan Premium. The Urvan Premium is a higher, wider, bolder-looking variant that offers more upscale amenities for passengers, and also a five-speed automatic transmission for drivers. This writer practically slept through the entire ride from Manila to La Union, and not a body part was aching when the group reached the destination — a testament to the spaciousness and comfort of the Urvan Premium.

Nissan 2
New to the Nissan Urvan Premium is a five-speed automatic transmission.

At the resort, an area was cordoned off to serve as the “proving ground” for the new X-Trail’s NIM enhancements in its active safety systems — specifically the Around View Monitor that provides drivers a 360-degree perspective for easier navigation, the Moving Object Detection that sends a visual and audible alert when there are movements around the vehicle, the Blind Spot Warning that detects objects in the driver’s blind spot, the Rear Cross Traffic Alert that warns drivers of approaching vehicles whenever they’re backing up onto the street, and the Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Emergency Braking that send a visual and auditory warning, and apply emergency brakes to avoid collisions.

Under professionally supervised conditions, the new X-Trail maneuvered through tight turns, with no pylons harmed — even with the front windshield and front windows completely covered. The driver relied solely on the Around View Monitor that provided a top view of the X-Trail’s immediate surroundings.

The Rear Cross Traffic Alert was also demonstrated during a backing maneuver where another vehicle would quickly drive across the X-Trail’s driveway. In the Blind Spot Warning test, one vehicle was made to tailgate an X-Trail moving at speed on a driveway. Light indicators on the side-view mirrors, as well as audible warnings, were activated when the tailgating vehicle moved onto the X-Trail’s rear right and left flanks — areas where drivers wouldn’t normally see from their side-view mirrors.

Finally, for the Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Emergency Braking, the X-Trail was made to run head-on towards a makeshift styrofoam wall at over 30 kph. The Intelligent Emergency Braking kicked in at about the last three meters, and the X-Trail stopped completely about a meter from the wall.

Nissan 3
X-Trail drivers can see obstacles around the vehicle on a dashboard monitor.

Except in the final demonstration, participants were able to ride in the X-Trail and see for themselves how NIM enhanced the overall driving confidence in the popular compact crossover.

Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI president and managing director, sees the X-Trail as the apt vehicle to demonstrate NIM to the Philippine market, as the vehicle is touted to be roomy enough for families and groups embarking on lengthy road trips. “With Nissan Intelligent Mobility, our customers can enjoy each adventure as they drive safe and sound.”

Mr. Narasimhan also revealed NPI’s growth in the past 18 months. “Until end of October we grew about 40%, while total industry growth was about 13%. Last June was a record, and we broke that in July. We broke that again in September. I was told that we had a new record in November, when we sold 2,809 units. The previous record was something like 2,300, so around 22% higher than our previous record. And all our models performed strongly.”

Even as sales figures do matter for NPI, Mr. Narasimhan made it clear that the welfare of the planet and its inhabitants carry equal, if not more, weight for the car maker. “We are very passionate about our vision for ‘Zero-Emission, Zero-Fatality, and I think this is the start of that wave of products that you’re going to see in the Philippines with intelligent safety features that just makes everyday life easier, a bit more pleasurable to drive.”

Key members of ’78 Philippine basketball team rekindle country’s hosting of world cage tourney

NIC JORGE, known for the creation of the Best Center, an institution that provides basketball training for kids who want to take the next level, was the coach of the Philippine men’s basketball team when the country last hosted the World Basketball Championship in 1978.

Despite facing the difficult task of going up against the best in the world, Mr. Jorge had to utilize his chosen few in the biggest basketball tournament. The team was led by Mon Cruz, Padim Israel and Joy Carpio, who would later on play for the Crispa Redmanizers in the PBA, and Steve Watson, a member of the last Ateneo champion team in the NCAA.

“It’s difficult because the team was split into two,” Mr. Jorge told BusinessWorld. “Mr. Lito Puyat (then the Basketball Association of the Philippines president) wants to win the world juniors championship, so we sent a formidable team there.”

Back in the days, the national team was represented by amateur players, hence PBA players and other pros around the world, are prevented from participating in FIBA-sanctioned events.

“But we cherished the experience of playing against the best of the best. We were simply outclassed and couldn’t match up with the size and experience of the other powerhouse teams,” added Mr. Jorge, also a former coach of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

The Philippines went on to lose all its seven games, but for Mr. Israel, who later would be known as one of the best defensive players the PBA has ever produced, relished the role as stopper of the best players in the world meet.

“It was a reality check for us as every team is bigger than us. We played zone defense most of the time,” added Mr. Israel. “There’s this Russian player, who was the biggest player I ever saw in the tournament . I remember guarding him in a play and I felt I was just like a patch in his uniform.”

One player that caught Mr. Israel’s attention was Drazen Dalipagic, who became the Most Valuable Player in the tournament.

Mr. Dalipagic averaged 20 points per game while leading Yugoslavia to the world championship. — Rey Joble

BoI, DoF agency sign agreement to ease tax exemption application

By Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

THE BOARD of Investments (BoI) and the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance (DoF-BLGF) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to ease up the process for BoI-registered firms registering for local business tax (LBT) exemptions.

In a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 12, Trade undersecretary and BoI managing head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said, “The sustained economic growth of the country benefitted from policy reforms and increased collaboration to improve the ease of doing business in the country.”

“The country’s current investment climate should benefit not only firms — whether foreign and domestic, large or small — but society at large,” he added.

Through the MoA, the DoF-BLGF documents which BoI disseminate would include local finance and memorandum circulars, local tax opinions and rulings, real property tax opinion and rulings on local treasure-related issues as well as assessments at the provincial, city and municipality level.

In turn, the DoF-BLGF will also have access to the list of BoI-registered companies.

The MoA will also require regular coordination between the two agencies to fast-track transactions between the enterprises and the government, with BoI personnel authorized to assist enterprises in dealing with local government units.

According to BoI, both non-pioneer and pioneer BoI-certified enterprises are exempted from paying LBT for a period of four and six years, respectively, but this has not been followed.

The DoF-BLGF is the agency tasked with helping sustain local economic growth and handling investment-related concerns of enterprises among the local governments.

Aside from the MoA with the DoF-BLGF, BoI also signed MoAs with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Tourism, Securities and Exchange Commission, Health Facilities regulatory and Services Bureau of the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

Tax reform will be go-signal for ‘serious’ infra upgrades — DoF

THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT said that it accepts the changes introduced to the tax reform program, for which it drafted the legislation, with the proceeds expected to be sufficient for the government’s infrastructure program.

The bicameral conference committee approved a number of other provisions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) first package which were not originally proposed by the DoF, including the raising of the excise taxes on coal, minerals, and tobacco, while imposing a new tax on cosmetic surgery. Congress also increased the tax on documentary stamps, foreign currency deposit units, and capital gains on sales of unlisted stock.

“We did not propose it in package one. However, we respect the right of legislature to introduce taxes as they see fit, it’s part of the law and we accept that,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters yesterday as the department conducted a ceremonial burning of Mighty Corp. cigarettes in Bulacan.

He said some of the measures inserted in package one were actually planned by the DoF for later tax reform packages.

The adjustments to capital gains were scheduled for package four, while the increase in tobacco and coal taxes were scheduled for the fifth package.

Finance Assistant Secretary Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven of the Revenue Operations Group said “some changes” are thus warranted in future tax reform packages.

Mr. Dominguez meanwhile welcomed the additional revenue in the first year of tax reform, which he estimated at P130 billion.

“The P130 billion that we expect from TRAIN, the net revenue effect is certainly very close to the bill, that was passed in the House. So we are very pleased that the legislature has given us the wherewithal to begin a really serious infrastructure program,” Mr. Dominguez said.

Some 70% of the program’s additional revenues are earmarked for the government’s infrastructure drive — on which it plans to spend some P8.4 trillion over the medium term.

“We are now ready for the TRAIN to leave the station,” Mr. Dominguez said.

Mr. Joven said that the tax agencies are ready to implement the TRAIN measures by Jan. 1 through revenue regulations.

“They are being prepared right now, and it will be implemented on time,” Mr. Joven said. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Rejuvenated Real Madrid eye fifth prize of 2017

MADRID — Real Madrid can round off the most successful year in the club’s already glorious history by claiming a fifth trophy in 2017 at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi this week.

They won La Liga, the Champions League, UEFA and Spanish Super Cup in a thrilling fashion after hitting top form in a four-month spell between April and August, but since then the European champions have faded, understandably fatigued by a heavy schedule.

Madrid trail Barca by eight points at the top of La Liga and finished second to Tottenham Hotspur in their Champions League group, which proved costly as they were paired with free-spending Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster last 16 tie on Monday.

However, traces of the Madrid that swept aside the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona in the spring and summer were back as Real hit five past Sevilla before half-time in a 5-0 rout on Saturday.

Until then Madrid had lacked the same killer instinct as last season with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scoring a combined total of just six times in La Liga, while Gareth Bale has made just one brief appearance as a substitute since September.

“We are improving in every sense,” said Zidane after thrashing Sevilla. “If you play well, you will create more chances. We created plenty of chances.”

Ronaldo scored twice at the weekend to celebrate picking up his fifth Ballon d’Or in style and his return to form is timely, as Madrid face Barcelona in their final game of the year on Dec. 23 once their work in the Middle East this week is done.

“It is a reward just to be here,” said Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. “We have the opportunity to defend our title.

“We are preparing with plenty of desire and excitement. After a great game against Sevilla we are very motivated and our confidence is very high.”

TACTICAL SWITCH
Real’s return to form coincided with a change of tactics from Zidane as the pace of Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez on the wings produced an instant impact.

However, if the Spanish duo are to keep their places then the French coach has to bench two of his preferred midfield diamond of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Isco.

After missing out at the weekend, Casemiro and Isco are expected to feature on Wednesday when Real take on local side Al Jazira, who have already dealt with Oceania’s Auckland City and Asian champions Urawa Red Diamonds to reach the last four.

“We don’t just play as Jazira now, we play for the UAE,” Al Jazira coach Ali Mabkhout told FIFA.com.

“We know Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world and this is incentive for all the players.”

Yet, after the scare of falling behind to Kashima Antlers in last year’s final before a Ronaldo hat trick won the competition in extra time, Zidane warned against complacency and thinking ahead to a potential final with Brazilian giants Gremio on Saturday.

The newly crowned South American champions take on Mexican side Pachuca in the other semifinal on Friday.

“Everyone thinks the game on Wednesday will be easy, but it won’t,” added Zidane.

“We need to think about Wednesday and doing things right to try and win this trophy once again.” — AFP

Nissan readies road tests of ‘robo-taxis’ in Japan

NISSAN Motors said last week it would begin road tests in Yokohama, Japan, of driverless “robot taxis” early next year as its rivals around the world step up self-driving technologies.

The car maker and Japanese mobile game company DeNA have jointly developed the new driverless vehicle services, dubbed Easy Ride. They plan to carry out the test with public participation for two weeks in March in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, using two electric autonomous vehicles based on its Leaf, a Nissan spokesman said, with an aim of rolling out the service by 2020.

Under their plan, customers can use a mobile app to call the robo-vehicle, set the required destination and pay the fare.

The companies also plan to support multiple languages and use a remote monitoring system to ensure passenger safety.

Automakers are racing to get autonomous vehicles in gear, and their competition includes Silicon Valley innovators Apple, Google, Tesla and Uber. Major car companies promised to bring out self-driving models as early as 2020.

Recently, General Motors said it was aiming to overtake its rivals by launching a large-scale fleet of self-driving taxis by 2019. — AFP

NCAA: Lyceum held Arellano

ARELLANO UNIVERSITY (AU) bungled a two-goal edge, a chance of snaring a victory and the solo lead after it was held to a 2-2 draw by Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) in the seniors’ division of the 93rd NCAA football competition at the Rizal Memorial Complex grounds Monday night.

The Chiefs struck hard early as they zoomed to a 2-0 lead on goals by national junior standout Roberto Corsame, Jr. and Randy Guinabang on the 38th and 56th minute, respectively, but floundered in the end after Levi Malihan and Dan Paul Alegre answered back with goals of their own on the 69th and 88th to salvage a draw.

The draw gave AU a point to improve to 10 match points for a share of the top spot with College of St. Benilde Blazers.

The Blazers, however, had better goal differential, 21-6, to hang on to the no. 1 spot.

A victory though would have catapulted the Chiefs to the top and would have been a fitting follow up to their stunning 2-1 win over the San Beda Red Booters, the reigning titlists, Thursday.

San Beda sprung back to life and steamrolled Perpetual Help, 9-0, to remain just a point off the pace with nine.

Nimrod Balabat fired a hat trick, scoring on the seventh, 71st and 72nd while James Pagsanjan chipped in a brace on the 48th and 61st.

Aljo Paul Zabala, Adolfo Abada, Eric Manlapas and James Michael Eje accounted for the Red Booters’ other goals.

LPU kept its grip of the no. 4 spot with five points.

In the only other game, Mapua posted its first win by turning back Emilio Aguinaldo, 2-1.

With Mapua’s Rosstel Mallare (15th) and EAC’s Marvin Lianza (33rd) exchanging goals, Antonnie Gal Cabra entered the fray and blasted away with turned out the match-clinching rocket seconds before stoppage time.

Global vs national tax reforms

“The problem is not that the people are taxed too little. The problem is that government spends too much.”

— former US President
Ronald Reagan

Until 1980, much of the world’s countries and governments were socialistic in their taxation and spending policies. For instance, the top marginal income tax rates that year were 60% in Malaysia and Thailand, 70% in the Philippines, 75% in Japan, 89% in South Korea, 70-75% in the US, and 83% in UK.

Global v National

Then the Reagan-Thatcher era in the ’80s changed this, they cut their respective tax rates by half. Both were advocates of limited government and free market as indicated by Reagan’s statement above. He also once described role of many governments as “if it moves, tax it; if it keeps moving, regulate it; if it stops moving, subsidize it.” Ms. Thatcher on the other hand once said that “the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

In the Philippines, former President Cory Aquino and other world leaders in the ’80s also joined to institute drastic income tax cut.

Fast forward today. The Duterte administration initiated drastic personal income tax cut, which is a good thing. The problem is that it also increased taxes elsewhere as it expanded public spending big time. The average increase in the national government budget of the previous administration was around P250-300 billion/year. Dutertenomics easily doubled this level: P670B increase in the first year (from 2016’s P2.68 trillion to 2017’s P3.35 trillion), another P420B increase next year with 2018 budget of P3.77 trillion.

Among the global NGOs that fight high and multiple taxes, big and wasteful public spending, is the World Taxpayers Association (WTA).

Formed in 1998 as Taxpayers Associations International, it was renamed as WTA IN 2000. It has many members from over 60 countries promoting lower tax rates, limited government, and more individual freedom.

The WTA held its regional forum and meeting last week, Dec. 9-10 at Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, Thailand. I went there and I was the only participant with an institute from ASEAN countries. Other participants were from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, India, Nepal, Australia, UK, Sweden, US and Canada. Former WTA Sec. Gen. Bjorn Tarras-Wahlberg, current WTA Chairman Troy Lanigan who is also the president of Canadian Taxpayers Foundation (CTF), and current WTA Sec. Gen. Cristina Berechet were there.

Among the biggest members of WTA and represented in the Bangkok meeting are the Korea Taxpayers Association (KTA) with 1.2M dues-paying members, CTF with 117,000+ members, Taxpayers Alliance (UK) with 75,000+ members, others.

The Philippine government seems to be the most tax-hungry among the 10 members of the ASEAN as reflected in the total tax rate (TTR) as % of commercial profit. This is reported by the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) in its “Paying Taxes” annual reports. TTR is the sum of corporate taxes + labor taxes (mandatory contributions for employees’ SSS, health, housing insurance, etc) + other taxes and fees (by other national and local government agencies).

On the country list, I chose members of the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), composed of ASEAN 10 countries + 6 regular dialogue partners China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand; then the two tiger economies in the region, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Also included are the biggest economies in North America (US and Canada) and Europe (Germany and UK). Of the 22 countries covered, only four (indicated by *) have experienced increase or deterioration in TTR (see table).

Global vs national tax reforms

The good news is that over the past five years, many countries and governments have learned to cut their various taxes and fees collected from corporate job creators. The bad news is that after such decrease, the level of TTR remains high.

Take the Philippines.

Its TTR has declined from 46.4% of firms’ commercial profit in 2012 to 42.9% in 2017, that’s the good news. The bad news is that this 42.9% is the highest in the ASEAN, even higher than socialist Vietnam.

So can the Duterte TRAIN help remove this dubious image of the Philippines having the most tax-hungry policies in the ASEAN and other neighboring countries?

With new tax hikes affecting the prices of cars, oil, electricity, and sweetened beverages; high VAT affecting many goods and services, the answer seems to be an ugly NO.

Dutertenomics could have improved this situation by cutting the VAT from 12% to 8% or lower with zero exemption except raw agri and fishery products. But Dutertenomics is focused on spend-spend-spend with little regard for the inflationary pressure of its tax-tax-tax policies.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is President of Minimal Government Thinkers, a member-institute of Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Asia.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com.

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